The Best VPNs of 2020
Our experts did the heavy lifting of testing out dozens of VPNs, and these services worked best.
We’ve all thoughtlessly joined a public Wi-Fi network before, whether it’s standing in line for coffee and checking our emails, hopping onto the subway’s public network to see if it was still raining or logging into the library’s Wi-Fi to catch up on some work. But browsing the web on public Wi-Fi networks is not the safest practice when it comes to digital security. It actually makes it much easier for hackers to access your device, which could lead to some of your sensitive information being stolen, like usernames, passwords, bank account information, and so on. Fortunately, VPNs encrypt your web traffic in a tunnel and replace your IP address, making it safe to join public Wi-Fi networks. We’ve tested out dozens of VPNs for their speed and security, and here are our top recommendations.
Best Overall
NordVPN
Best for iPhone
ExpressVPN
We test all of our VPNs on multiple devices to see how they perform in terms of both speed and security. We’re also looking at the company behind the VPN; we want the companies to be based in areas outside of the jurisdiction of Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes, meaning that they can never be legally forced to hand over customer data. We also read each company’s privacy policy to see what customer data they keep and whether or not it’s shared with third parties. Finally, we test out the VPN’s apps on both iOS and Android, as well as review their customer support system. In a nutshell? We do all the hard work so you can just download a VPN and be protected!
The Best VPN Service for 2020
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NordVPN - Best VPN Overall - ExpressVPN - Best VPN for iPhone
- CyberGhost - Best VPN for Mac
- Surfshark - Best VPN for Torrenting
- IPVanish - Best VPN for Android
- Private Internet Access - Best VPN for Windows
- Tunnelbear - Best Free VPN
- Windscribe - Best VPN with Double Hop
- Encrypt.me - Best VPN with Unlimited Devices
- Hotspot Shield - Best VPN for Netflix
Comparison of the Best VPNs
| System | NordVPN | ExpressVPN  | CyberGhost  | Surfshark  | IPVanish  | Private Internet Access VPN  | TunnelBear  | Windscribe VPN  | Encrypt.me  | Hotspot Shield  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
| Ratings | 9.5/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.9/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Monthly Plan | $11.95 and Up | $12.95 and Up | $12.99 and Up | $11.95 and Up | $10.00 and Up | $9.99 and Up | $9.99 and Up | $9.00 and Up | $9.99 and Up | $12.99 and Up |
| Contract Length | 1 - 36 Months | 1 - 12 Months | 1 - 36 Months | 1 - 24 Months | 1 - 12 Months | 1 - 24 Months | 1 - 12 Months | 1 - 12 Months | 1 - 12 Months | 1 - 24 Months |
| Split Tunneling | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Android Only | Yes | Android Only | No |
| Netflix | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | US & UK Only | No | Yes |
| Torrenting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| IP Addresses | Dynamic, shared or dedicated | Dynamic | Static, shared | Dynamic or static | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Static, shared | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes and 14 Eyes Member | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Read Review class="bg" | NordVPN Review | ExpressVPN Review | CyberGhost Review | Surfshark Review | IPVanish Review | Private Internet Access VPN Review | TunnelBear Review | Windscribe VPN Review | Encrypt.me Review | Hotspot Shield Review |
A Detailed List of the Best VPNs
1. NordVPN - Best VPN Overall
NordVPN has over eight million customers around the world making it one of the most popular VPNs, so we were excited to test it. Overall, it performed swimmingly; we used to it torrent films and watch TV on Netflix with pretty insignificant slowdowns. Plus, we love that NordVPN is based in Panama, a non-member to Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes. Legally, the company can never be forced to hand over data, so NordVPN is a great choice for those concerned about privacy.
What We Like
- Non-member to Five Eyes, Nine Eyes and 14 Eyes
- Netflix access
- Strict logging policy
- High app ratings
What We Dont Like
- No split tunneling
- Static IP addresses
- Hard to reach customer support
- Kill switch doesn’t shut off all applications with iOS app
Netflix Access
We loved watching Netflix from other countries on NordVPN; did you know that the TV shows and movie options are different depending on where you watch? NordVPN let us watch Netflix on Linux, Mac, or Windows computers. Or, if you want to watch on the go like we did, do so on Android or iOS devices; it also works on smart TVs and TV devices. But note that Netflix only works on servers from the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, or Japan, so it may not work for all users.
Double The Encryption
In our full NordVPN review, we go deep into its encryption methods. One of the things we liked most about NordVPN is its use of double-VPN, meaning that our web traffic was encrypted not once but twice through multiple servers. This is ideal for anyone super-concerned about privacy; activists, bloggers, journalists, or anyone working in a place filled with surveillance and censorship, we’re talking to you!
Low Prices
When we were testing out NordVPN, we signed up for a month, which cost us $11.95. However, if we signed up for longer, we could’ve unlocked some amazing discounts. The monthly rates if we signed up for one year, two years or three years would’ve gone down to only $6.99, $3.99, or $2.99, respectively. That’s discounts of up to 75%! It pays to commit long-term, in sum.
2. ExpressVPN - Best VPN for iPhone
It’s no big surprise that most of our digital security expert team members have iPhones; after all, we’re young and live in Brooklyn, where we’re constantly joining public Wi-Fi networks. ExpressVPN easily connected us with fast speeds, and with a kill switch, if our connection was lost, we were still protected. Aside from our iPhones, ExpressVPN also worked quite well on our Mac and Windows computers, and best of all, we could be on public and private networks at the same time, which came in handy when we were multi-tasking, which is pretty much all the time.
What We Like
- No data retention laws
- Great app ratings
- Netflix access
- Fast speeds on Windows
What We Dont Like
- No phone support
- Slow speeds on Mac
- Five simultaneous connections per subscription
- No browser extension for Internet Explorer
OpenVPN
When it comes to VPN software, OpenVPN is the gold standard, a crowdsourced option that’s being constantly updated to avoid surveillance. ExpressVPN defaults to OpenVPN, which required us to download third-party software. We agree with ExpressVPN when they say it’s the “ideal combo of speed, security, and performance”!
Strict Logging Policy
Of course, ExpressVPN didn’t keep our web traffic or activity, which is the most basic thing we expect from VPNs meant to give us privacy. But they also didn’t keep much more of our information than necessary; they only knew which app and version we used, when we used it, the server we connected to, and the amount of data we transferred in MB. Our traffic, metadata, and DNS queries weren’t logged, thankfully.
Split Tunneling
Sometimes when we were working, we had to be on a private and a public network simultaneously. With most VPNs, that meant switching off the connection when we had to access files on the public network, but that wasn’t the case with ExpressVPN. That’s because they have split tunneling, which let us access both networks simultaneously. Some of our traffic went through ExpressVPN’s encrypted tunnel, while some connected with the Internet directly like usual. We loved the convenience of split tunneling, which prevented us from having to do too much toggling.
3. CyberGhost - Best VPN for Mac
CyberGhost has over 5,500 servers in 90 different countries, so although we only tested it out in the United States, wherever in the world you are, you probably won’t have trouble connecting either. The company is based in Romania, not a member of those international surveillance networks we keep mentioning; plus, Romania as a country has almost no data retention laws of its own, making CyberGhost a great pick for privacy.
FYI: CyberGhost doesn’t have split tunneling, so if you’re connected, you’ll only be able to access private and not public networks.
What We Like
- Non-member to Five eyes, Nine Eyes and 14 Eyes
- Great customer support
- Great customer support
- Thousands of servers around the world
What We Dont Like
- Logging policy
- No split tunneling
- Static IP addresses
- Slow performance on Windows
Military-Grade Encryption
CyberGhost uses AES-256, which is the current industry standard when it comes to encryption. Whenever we connected, we got an anonymous IP address that we shared with other CyberGhost users on the same server. Combined with the encryption, we felt confident that our identities were hidden when we used CyberGhost to browse the Internet.
Discounts Available
We’re always looking for a great deal, which is why CyberGhost appealed to us greatly. While we signed up for a month for $12.99, a pretty standard price compared to other VPNs, we could’ve signed up for one, two, or three years. With these plans, our monthly rates would’ve gone down to $5.99, $3.69 or $2.75, respectively, which is pretty incredible. Each subscription let us connect to seven devices with unlimited data. Not too shabby!
Great Customer Support
We’ll be honest with you: most VPN companies seriously skimp when it comes to customer support, with few options available and unresponsive agents. However, CyberGhost doesn’t fit the mold in that respect. With 24/7 live chat, we got answers in just a few seconds, that is, if we couldn’t find what I was looking for in their extensive blog and FAQs.
4. Surfshark - Best VPN for Torrenting
Surfshark made it easy for us to torrent and download movies and TV shows without fear of retribution. With unlimited devices per subscription, this VPN gave us a different IP address every time we connected, which makes tracing much harder; however, if we wanted to stick with the same IP address, that was an option as well. In addition to that, Surfshark is based in a country that’s a non-member to Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes, and it allows for Netflix in addition to torrenting.
What We Like
- Based in Virgin Islands outside of surveillance alliances
- Unlimited devices per subscription
- Low costs with one or two-year subscriptions
- 30-day trial period
What We Dont Like
- No phone support
- Have to set up kill switch manually on Windows
- Only about 1,000 servers
- Not the fastest
Virgin Islands Location
Based in the Virgin Islands, Surfshark will never be forced to hand over customer data, as these islands aren’t members of Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes. Although they’re a territory of the United Kingdom, the Virgin Islands are self-governed and have their own laws. Plus, they have no data retention laws of their own, and surveillance isn’t legal, even when it’s the government. It sounds like the perfect place to start a VPN company, in our humble opinion!
International Servers
While we only connected to Surfshark from the good old U.S of A, they have options in over 60 countries, from Vietnam to Albania. In the U.S, there are servers in over 20 cities, including L.A, Chicago, Dallas, Boston; you get the picture. The closer we were to the server, the better our connection would be, so when it came to server locations from Surfshark, we were more than satisfied.
Streaming Services
It’s no secret that we love streaming, and what was awesome about Surfhsark is that we didn’t have to try out a bunch of different servers to stream on different platforms. Let us give you an example. We were dying to watch National Treasure on Disney +, for obvious and Nick Cage-related reasons. Normally with VPNs, we have to try connecting from a few different servers before we find one that the streaming service hasn’t blocked, but Surfshark actually did that work for us, automatically finding the right server for the right streaming service. Aside from Disney +, we also streamed from Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, Spotify, and Youtube, although the VPN works with even more services.
5. IPVanish - Best VPN for Android
IPVanish worked really well on our Android devices, with strong encryption methods, great download speeds, and split tunneling, which really helped us out when we were working from home. Plus, unlike many other VPN companies on the market, IPVanish has really fantastic customer support, available 24/7 over email, phone, or live chat. This is a rarity, as most VPNs only have email support for a limited number of hours per week.
What We Like
- Fast download speeds
- Torrenting
- Split tunneling
- Up to 10 simultaneous connections
What We Dont Like
- History of sharing customer logs
- Based in United States
- Not all servers work with Netflix
- Slow speeds on Windows
Kill Switch
While a kill switch doesn’t sound pleasant, it’s actually a pretty essential part of a VPN. We used IPVanish at the library one day, and when the VPN failed, all of our Web windows were closed automatically, ensuring that our IP address and web traffic weren’t exposed. This was a lot better than the alternative, although we had to reopen the windows that were “killed”. But when we were downloading large files and didn’t want to be interrupted even if the VPN failed, we simply turned the kill switch off.
Robust Customer Service
IPVanish also wins when it comes to helping customers with problems. Not only do they have 24/7 live chat and a comprehensive FAQ section, but also a phone line, a huge rarity for VPN companies. We got responses within five minutes, and other customers had similar experiences according to reviews on Amazon and Trustpilot.
User-Friendly iOS App
We’re constantly on public Wi-Fi networks on our iPhones, so we liked connecting to IPVanish from their iOS app. Connecting was super easy and intuitive, and we didn’t experience any bugs or glitches. Other IPVanish iPhone-users seemed to agree with us, as the app has a 4.5 rating from over 42,000 reviews.
6. Private Internet Access - Best VPN for Windows
If you have a Windows computer, look no further than Private Internet Access. We got really fast speeds when we tested it out on our Vivobook, but it also has great apps for iOS and Android devices. Plus, we were satisfied with their privacy policy, which is super strict. The company has never even been asked to hand over user data, not that they would have any to hand over even if they were. According to the founder, “We don’t log, period”. However, the company is based in Denver, so that’s something to keep in mind, as the United States is a Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes member.
What We Like
- Strict logging policy
- Fast on Windows
- High app reviews
- Netflix access
What We Dont Like
- Based in United States
- So-so customer support
- No split tunneling
- Slow on Mac
Encryption Options
Most VPNs didn’t give us many choices when it came to encryption methods, authentication modes, and handshakes, but Private Internet Access actually let us customize how their VPN worked. We had four options: the default, recommended protection, an option that was more focused on speed, an option more focused on security, and an option with no authentication whatsoever. While we went with the recommended option, we could see the other options being useful if we weren’t concerned about speed or security.
Dynamic IP Addresses
We got a new IP address every time we connected to Private Internet Access, which is definitely preferred over static IP addresses. That made us harder to trace, ensuring our anonymity online. Think of it like wearing a mask; if you wore the same mask every time, people would eventually start to catch onto your identity. With Private Internet Access, we got a fresh new mask every time we logged on, which kept any potential hackers guessing.
7. Tunnelbear - Best Free VPN
Tunnelbear’s free subscription option gave us 500 MB of data on five different devices. While this wasn’t enough data for us to watch TV or listen to music, it certainly did the job for our basic web browsing, and if we wanted to upgrade, there were affordable monthly and yearly plans. With the yearly plan, we would’ve gotten an unlimited amount of data across five devices for only $59.88, or $4.99 a month if you break it down monthly. Plus, we love the fact that a third party has audited Tunnelbear, as it means they’re serious about their no-logging policy.
What We Like
- Free version available
- Great apps for iOS and Android
- Trustworthy logging policy
- Audited by independent third party
What We Dont Like
- Based in Canada
- Disappointing customer support
- No Netflix access
- Torrenting only available on Android devices
High Speeds on Mac
While we test our VPNs out on both Mac and Windows computers, we use Macs almost exclusively during our day-to-day operations. That’s why we were fans of TunnelBear; compared to when we weren’t connected to the VPN, we saw our download speeds decrease by 45% and our upload speeds decrease by 15%, better than average. It’s a fact that every VPN slowed our Internet down at least a little, but Tunnelbear performed better than most on our Macbook Pro.
Plans for Personal and Business Use
Most VPN plans are targeted at individuals, but Tunnelbear also has an option for teams, with discounted prices per user. Compared to the price per user in the monthly plan, the team price per user is only $5.75 a month compared to $9.99. If you opt to pay yearly, that price is only $69 per user, making Tunnelbear a great option for either businesses or even families. All paid plans include unlimited data on up to five devices per user, which was more than enough for us personally.
Solid Encryption Methods
We don’t want to bore you with the technicalities, but when we took a look at TunnelBear from the back-end, we were satisfied with its encryption methods, AES-256, as well as its data authentication with SHA256. Plus, Tunnelbear uses what’s called the Diffie-Hellman Exchange, commonly abbreviated as DH, which is a method of sending cryptographic keys over a public network. This option worked whether we tested out Tunnelbear on our Windows computer, Mac computer, iPhone, and Android, although it was most secure on our Android phone.
8. Windscribe - Best VPN with Double Hop
Windscribe is one of the only VPNs we’ve reviewed with a double hop, which means that our web traffic was encrypted multiple times as opposed to once. It performed really well on our Vivobook, plus, there’s a free option in the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and other places. However, only servers in the U.S and U.K allow for Netflix use; well that worked for us, those outside of these countries shouldn’t choose Windscribe if they’re looking to Netflix and chill.
What We Like
- Multi-hop encryption
- Free subscriptions in certain countries
- Quick speeds on Windows
- Great app ratings
What We Dont Like
- Canada-based
- Slow on Macs
- Netflix only available in the United States and the United Kingdom
- Logging policy isn’t as strict as it could be
Free and Affordable Options
They say the best things in life are free, and Windscribe is one of them. We could actually use their VPN without paying anything, so long as we connected to servers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Romania, Norway, Switzerland, or Hong Kong. For the rest of their more than 40 countries, the cost starts at just $9 a month or $49 a year, which comes out to $4.08 a month. All in all, Windscribe won’t break the bank no matter which option you go with.
Digital Security Bonus Features
We paid for a subscription from Windscribe, which meant that we didn’t just get a VPN; we also got some other helpful digital security features, like a blocker for ads, trackers, and malware. We also got unlimited data and the ability to configure our generator to our needs. This was more than worth the $9 a month we paid!
Great Apps for iPhones and Androids
Windscribe’s apps for iOS and Android only took us a few seconds to download and connect. It was easy to choose our server, and we enjoyed the app’s clean interface. Clearly, we weren’t the only ones that were satisfied with Windscribe’s app
9. Encrypt.me - Best VPN with Unlimited Devices
One of the lesser-known VPNs, Encrypt.me’s subscriptions start at only $2.99 per month for 5 GB of data or $9.99 a month for unlimited data. No matter which plan you choose, you’ll be able to use as many devices as you want on your Encrypt.me subscription. For us, this meant testing it out on a Windows Vivobook, Macbook, iPhone, and Android with no issues. We also like that they have an option for week-long passes, which we haven’t seen from any other VPN. Encrypt.me’s drawbacks are mostly privacy-related; they’re U.S-based with a logging policy that keeps customer data for 16 days before deleting it. However, if privacy isn’t a huge concern and affordability is, Encrypt.me is a fantastic choice.
What We Like
- Unlimited devices per subscription
- User-friendly apps
- Plans for individuals and families
- Dynamic IP addresses
What We Dont Like
- No Netflix
- No torrenting
- Kill switch only on iOS, MacOS and Android
- United States-based
Mini Subscription Option
Sometimes people only need VPNs for a limited amount of time, and if that’s the case, you’ll appreciate Encrypt.me’s Mini subscription option. For only $2.99 a month, it would have given us up to five GB of data, which may be enough for some activities like doing a quick web search on a coffee shop’s network. Encrypt.me also offers a week-long pass, which costs $3.99, and options for families of up to five people, costing either $12.99 a month or $149.99 per year with unlimited data.
Solid Mobile Applications
We tested out the Encrpt.me app on our iPhones and Androids, although it also works on FireOS, Windows, and macOS. All we had to do to connect was to push a big button, so easy that even less tech-savvy people could do it. We weren’t the only ones who liked Encrypt.me’s app, as it has a 4.5 rating on the Apple store and a 3.9 on the Google Play store. Plus, we could sign up for a week, month, or year-long passes in the app itself as opposed to having to go onto the desktop or mobile site, which was convenient.
OpenVPN
Encrypt.me uses the open-sourced VPN software OpenVPN on Macs and Androids. This created secure tunnels to hide our web traffic, combining speed with security and 256-bit encryption. Plus, we could configure Encrypt.me as we desired, choosing from the L2TP, PPTP, IKEv2/IPSec, or SSTP protocols.
10. Hotspot Shield - Best VPN for Netflix
When it came to Netflix-watching parties, Hotspot Shield had us covered with fast speeds on our Mac and Windows computers. We also didn’t experience huge delays or lags on Netflix when we used the app on our Android devices, which came in handy during commutes. Plus, Hotspot Shield has a free option for those that don’t want to spend money on a VPN; however, you’ll be limited to a daily data cap of 500 MB, which may make watching movies and TV shows on Netflix and other streaming services a bit difficult. We went with the monthly plan, which cost us $12.99 a month, although there were cheaper options if we had signed up for one or two years.
Money Saver: To get discounts, sign up for long term-lengths; typically, one or two-year subscriptions are cheaper than monthly plans.
What We Like
- Fast speeds
- Free option
- Netflix access
- Torrenting access
What We Dont Like
- Five simultaneous connections
- Based in U.S.
- Unresponsive customer support
- Keeps IP address
Regular Transparency Reports
Clearly, we don’t love the fact that Hotspot Shield is based in the United States. However, we were impressed that they have annual transparency reports to prove that they don’t hand over customer data, even when asked. In 2019, for example, they were asked to hand over users’ data 56 different times, refusing every time. Clearly, Hotspot Shield is dedicated to protecting users’ privacy, and their transparency reports prove that.
Free VPN for Android
They say that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but with Hotspot Shield, there is a free option that works on Android. It has a bandwidth limit of 500 MB daily, which means it’s not ideal for watching Netflix or torrenting files, but for those quick Internet users searches, this option will work for many users. However, note that there will be ads, but they’re a small price to pay for a free VPN, in our opinion at least.
Super-Fast Speeds
Hotspot Shield was one of the fastest VPNs we tested on our Windows and Mac computers. Download speeds decreased by 30% and 18% while upload speeds decreased by 0.2% and 26% on Mac and Windows, respectively. Although the latency was a bit more than we would’ve liked, Hotspot Shield is a great option for torrenting files or watching Netflix.
Aside from our best VPNs list that you’re currently reading, we’ve also reviewed the best VPNs for gaming, iPhones, and Androids, plus the best free VPNs. Most of the above VPNs are on these lists, along with a few other options that we tested out and liked.
Video Review
We made a video review so you can see the VPNs for yourself! Watch it below or on our Youtube channel (and be sure to subscribe once you’re there).
Methodology
Want to learn more about how Security.org reviews VPNs? Take a look at our methodology, which will truly make you an expert when it comes to Virtual Private Networks.
First, we start with the VPN itself, making sure it has all the features necessary to a VPN and putting it through speed and security tests.
Speed
Like we say in individual reviews, we test all of our VPNs on a private Optimum network in our Brooklyn office. Using only one device at a time, we make sure that our Internet speed without a VPN is an objective control to measure against.
We also test everything on both a Macbook Air and a Windows Vivobook to give useful information to more readers. To test download speed, upload speed, and ping (latency), we use the website SpeedTest.net, performing tests with and then without the VPN. While download and upload speed are measured in megabits per second, latency is measured in milliseconds. After we determine these figures, we figure out the difference between the two measurements in terms of a percentage, as the natural speeds of Macs and Windows computers differ wildly.
Did You Know: To see how much your VPN affected your web speeds, be sure to perform a speed test on SpeedTest.net without the VPN first so you can have a control to compare against.
Ideally, VPNs have no more than a 40% difference in any of the speed categories, but it’s always important to remember how much speed can vary by a number of factors: distance to the server, operating system, device, etc. So while we try to be as objective as possible, we also urge readers to take the speed test results with a grain of salt.
Security
Many people who use VPNs are doing so in order to protect their web traffic, composed of domain name servers (names of websites) and their respective IP addresses. We also want to make sure that users’ private IP addresses are not being leaked due to WebRTC, which allows browsers to communicate directly with each other and is the default on browsers like Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera.
We test for DNS leaks using DNSLeakTest.com. By comparing my computer’s IP address with the IP addresses that come up on the website, we can see if there was a DNS leak with the VPN or not. Next, we test for WebRTC leaks using the tool available on ExpressVPN’s website. Again, by looking at the local and Public IPv4 IP addresses, we can determine if there were any WebRTC leaks.
Aside from testing for DNS and WebRTC leaks, we also look into a company’s privacy jurisdiction and data-logging policy. Ideally, companies are based in countries that are non-members to Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes, international surveillance alliances that could legally force companies to hand over customer information. As far as data-logging goes, we prefer companies that only keep users’ account information like their name, email, and payment information. We don’t think that it’s necessary for VPNs to keep any information about when customers use their VPNs, for how long, how much data they’ve transferred, etc.
In our longer reviews, we analyze the VPN’s encryption methods and Internet protocols to ensure that they meet industry standards, which typically include AES-256 and OpenVPN, the most secure methods around. We also look for private domain name servers and anonymous and dynamic IP addresses, as they are harder to track. Finally, we make sure that each VPN has a kill switch, which will shut down all Internet browsers in the event that the VPN fails.
Performance
As many people use VPNs for media like movies and television, we look for VPNs with Netflix and torrenting access. Keep in mind that Netflix constantly updates its code to block any VPN connections, so there is no guarantee that it will ever work on a VPN.
Another feature we look for is split tunneling, which allows users to access the VPN and the public network at the same time. This allows for lower bandwidth, which can create faster speeds. We also prefer double or multi-hop VPNs, as they encrypt data multiple times through multiple servers.
Subscriptions
Not only do we give readers the most objective information about a company’s subscription options, but we also tell them whether or not the price is reasonable, based on competitors’ pricing as well as features offered. VPNs can be anywhere from under a dollar to $15 a month in the most expensive case, mostly falling around $4 a month. We prefer plans that offer monthly as well as annual options, to give users flexibility, and we also point out if they have a trial period or money-back guarantee, common for VPNs. Finally, we outline what a subscription actually entails in terms of the numbers of server switches, simultaneous connections, and devices allowed. Typically, VPNs allow for unlimited server switches and devices and anywhere from one to unlimited simultaneous connections.
Customer Support
Although VPN companies are not known for their customer support, ideally they have a live chat feature in addition to their online help center. 24/7 live chat is preferred, and extra points if they also have a phone line.
App
Finally, we review the app for both iPhone and Android, as well as its ratings. If an app has a rating below three stars, we cannot recommend the product to the device-owner which the app goes with.
VPN FAQs
- What is the best VPN for 2020?
The best VPN for 2020 is ExpressVPN. There’s very few bad things to say about ExpressVPN. They have a strict no data logging policy and will never keep your IP address, browsing history, traffic, or DNS queries. The VPN offers split tunneling, so you’ll be able to access a public and a private server at the same time. You can use Netflix with ExpressVPN, its app is highly-rated, and most customers rated their customer support to be top-notch.
Finally, ExpressVPN killed it in my speed and security tests for both my Mac and Windows computer, so overall, it’s a great choice.
- What is the top rated VPN?
On our website, ExpressVPN is top-rated, followed by CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, NordVPN, Windscribe and FastestVPN.
- What are some good VPNs?
Some good VPNs include ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, NordVPN, Windscribe and FastestVPN.
- Are VPNs trustworthy?
In general, VPNs are trustworthy, as nearly none of the companies we review logged our web traffic or activity. However, some VPNs are definitely more trustworthy than others; we prefer companies based in countries that are non-members to Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes, international surveillance alliances. We also look for VPNs with strict logging policies that only keep the minimum amount of customer data to run their services; these kinds of VPNs are more trustworthy than most.
- Which free VPNs are best?
The best free VPNs, most of which have free trial periods, include ProtonVPN, Windscribe, Hotspot Shield and Tunnelbear.
- Can you be tracked if you use a VPN?
Typically, you can’t be tracked if you use a VPN. VPNs hide your web traffic and activity and replace your real IP address with a stand-in. However, some VPN companies do keep your real IP address along with your device type, the times you went online, and more information that could be used to track people. That’s why it’s important to look at the VPN’s privacy policy and make sure that it’s strict.