The Best VPN Services of 2023

1. NordVPN - Best VPN for Privacy

Editors Rating:

9.7 /10

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Why We Picked It

VPNs don’t get much more secure than NordVPN. With a NordVPN subscription, you’ll enjoy the very best security features, like AES-256 encryption, the OpenVPN protocol, and Nord’s proprietary NordLynx protocol. Plus, there are extra features you won’t find anywhere else, like Meshnet that essentially turns NordVPN into a global Local Area Network (LAN).

NordVPN stands out in the oversaturated VPN market. Because it’s an innovative VPN, it even earned a place in TIME’s Best Inventions of 2022 list. NordVPN is commended because of its ability to provide high-quality security and privacy without compromising internet speed, which we’ve also proven when we tested NordVPN.

Double The Encryption

Using a VPN instantly makes you more secure online, but with NordVPN, you can double down on that security.

First, NordVPN has a built-in multi-hop or Double VPN feature, which essentially connects you to two VPN servers and encrypts your traffic twice. This makes it doubly hard for prying eyes to see your traffic.

Second, Nord is one of the few VPNs that support Tor, an anonymity network. With NordVPN’s Tor Over VPN, you can combine the VPN with the use of Tor to gain online anonymity and privacy in one shot.

Netflix Access

VPNs aren’t just for privacy. Since they use servers to reroute internet traffic, they also make websites think that we’re browsing from a different location (i.e. the server location).

Because of that, we were able to stream Netflix shows that are only available in other countries. When we connected to a U.K. server we got to enjoy British comedy. And since NordVPN works across all major platforms — Windows, Mac, iOS, etc. — we could stream on whatever device we were using.

Low Prices

NordVPN wasn’t the cheapest VPN we’ve tested. In fact, its $14.19 monthly rate for the Complete plan was one of the highest we’ve seen. If you take into account what’s included, though, NordVPN’s price becomes tolerable — affordable, even. Check out NordVPN’s pricing below:

So, which NordVPN plan is best for you? Go with the VPN plan if all you want is a VPN. Go with the Plus plan if you want a VPN plus a cross-platform password manager. And last but definitely not least, go with the Complete plan for Nord’s complete suite of digital security tools — NordVPN, NordPass, and NordLocker.

Who It’s Best For:

NordVPN offers best-in-class digital security, making it the ideal option for those who are ultra-concerned about their privacy. That said, even novice and casual VPN users can benefit from NordVPN’s impressive suite of extra features.

2. Surfshark - Best VPN for Security

Editors Rating:

9.5 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

Security is the name of the game for Surfshark. It offers the usual privacy of features of VPNs, but often with added twists that make them extra secure. If you want to use a VPN, for instance, but don’t want your network administrator, school, or government to find out you’re using a VPN, that’s possible with Camouflage Mode.

Surfshark is more than just a VPN. The brand offers a vast array of cybersecurity features under the Surfshark One offering. This subscription offers things like antivirus software, data leak detection, a secure search engine, and lately, it added webcam protection to the mix. Head over to our page on Surfshark subscriptions to see all your options.

Camouflage Mode

VPNs encrypt and hide your browsing data, but those who have access to your network can tell if you’re using a VPN based on how your data packets look. This could spell trouble if you’re in a restrictive country that doesn’t allow VPNs.

Surfshark’s nifty workaround is called Camouflage Mode, also known as obfuscation. Basically, it camouflages your internet traffic to make it look like just a regular connection. No one would know you’re using a VPN.

RAM-only Servers

Surfshark’s use of servers that run on random access memory or RAM instead of hard disk drives speaks to the company’s commitment to its no-logs policy. Once a VPN session is closed, all the data related to it is wiped.

All of Surfshark’s over 3,200 servers are RAM-only, and there’s at least a few servers in every continent except Antarctica.

Streaming Services

Everyone loves streaming, and with Surfshark, there’s not much trial-and-error required to find servers to stream on. When we tried to stream National Treasure on Disney+, for instance, Surfshark automatically found the right server for the right streaming service.

And it’s not just for Disney’s streaming service — although yes, Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for Disney+. Surfshark works quite well with any streaming service, including Netflix, HBO Max, Spotify, and even YouTube. So the next time you’re shopping for the best Hulu VPN for your travels abroad, consider taking a look at Surfshark.

Who It’s Best For:

Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode makes it a good VPN for users worried about government restrictions. If you think you might get into trouble if you connect to a VPN — in school, at the office, or countries that are not VPN-friendly, Surfshark is for you.

3. Private Internet Access VPN - Best VPN for Windows 

Editors Rating:

9.4 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

Private Internet Access is fast, in general, but we found its speed on Windows exceptional. Not only that, but the app works great. It offers endless customizations to satisfy VPN pros, yet it’s simple enough even for VPN novices to use.

While its being headquartered in the United States might raise some eyebrows, Private Internet Access’ watertight privacy policy assures us that our personal and browsing data will remain private. And with its strong encryption combined with speedy and stealthy VPN protocols, Private Internet Access makes a strong case for itself.

Encryption Options

Encryption is a big part of the VPN game, and with Private Internet Access, you’re in the driver seat when it comes to choosing the level of your encryption.

Why is that good? Well, to put it simply, when a VPN uses a higher level of encryption, it tends to become slower. Private Internet Access knows that, and it recognizes that not every internet activity requires a high level of security. By default, you get balanced speed and security from PIA, but you can actually lower the encryption level to enjoy faster speeds or increase it to be more secure. You can even turn encryption off altogether if the situation calls for it.

Advanced Split Tunneling

Split tunneling is an often undervalued VPN feature, but Private Internet Access recognizes its importance and even made it more advanced. PIA’s split tunneling allows the creation of rules for both apps and websites. It’s highly customizable, so whatever your reason is for using split tunneling — multitasking, accessing websites that block VPNs, remote work connections, bypassing the VPN for individual hosts, etc. — you can find a way to make PIA’s split tunneling work for you.

Here’s one example: You can set a website that blocks VPN IP addresses to automatically bypass your PIA connection whenever you visit it. That way, you can work seamlessly without having to turn your VPN on and off.

Highly Efficient Apps

A good VPN app is one that doesn’t disrupt your workflow, and that’s exactly what the Private Internet Access app is. It works out-of-the-box, and once you set it, you’ll never have to touch it again. Just open the app, turn on the VPN, and you’re good for the day. That said, if you need to customize your connection, you can always go back to the app and play around with the settings until you get it right. The PIA app is one of the most highly-customizable VPN app we’ve ever used.

Who It’s Best For:

While PIA has pretty good mobile apps, the desktop apps offer the best functionalities. So this VPN is best for people who mostly use desktops for work and play.

4. Hotspot Shield - Best VPN for Netflix

Editors Rating:

8.9 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

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.

Overall, we’re big fans of Hotspot Shield’s Netflix streaming capabilities, and its $7.99 per month pricing for the yearly plan doesn’t hurt, either.

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

We usually avoid free VPNs because of how prone they are to shady privacy practices. Hotspot Shield, however, is a reputable company with a proven track record, so we had no issues trying out its free VPN.

It still has limits; for instance, only one device can connect at a time, and there’s a 500 MB daily data limit (which we think is generous). But we liked that the free VPN was covered by the company’s no-logs policy, so we didn’t worry that Hotspot Shield would log our activity and sell our data to third parties.

Super-Fast Speeds

We recently tested and compared the speeds of the top VPNs, and even though Hotspot Shield didn’t take the top spot, it was right up there. We were most impressed by the download speed, as Hotspot Shield only made a negative 3.17-percent impact on our regular internet speed. That meant that with our roughly 95 Mbps connection, Hotspot Shield maintained an average download speed of 91.5 Mbps.

Who It’s Best For:

Hotspot Shield has strong streaming potential. Plus, Hotspot Shield is affordable, so it’s best for young people looking to expand their entertainment options without spending much.

5. IPVanish - Best Customer Support

Editors Rating:

9.3 /10

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Why We Picked It

What sets IPVanish apart from other companies is its commitment to customer service. We can’t tell you how much trouble we have sometimes getting companies to respond to our technical questions. Many VPNs don’t offer phone support, and a fair number don’t provide answers 24/7.

IPVanish has friendly customer service agents you can talk to any time, via both phone and online chat. Yet, the company doesn’t charge any more than other VPNs. A one-year subscription, for example, is just $3.33 a month.

Kill Switch

A failing VPN could put your privacy in jeopardy. If your VPN suddenly disconnects while you’re browsing, the website you’re on and your ISP will see your real IP address, and they might be able to tie your current IP address to your encrypted browsing history.

Unfortunately, any VPN could fail any minute, and so a kill switch is important. IP Vanish has a kill switch, which kills all internet traffic on our devices when the VPN connection fails. Don’t worry, you can get your devices back online by reconnecting IPVanish.

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, four out of five and 4.6 out of five respectively.

An Audited Privacy Policy

All of the VPNs we’ve reviewed have privacy policies that outline what types of data they collect, why they collect those types of data, and how they use the data. Not all of them, though, have been audited like IPVanish.

The Leviathan Security Group, an independent security and privacy auditing firm, audited IPVanish’s privacy and security practices just this year. They’ve found that IPVanish’s claim that it doesn’t log browsing and usage data is true. The firm also determined that IPVanish is non-invasive to its users’ privacy, making it a solid VPN for privacy-conscious users.

Who It’s Best For:

IPVanish has great mobile apps and it’s also affordable, so students looking to improve their digital security and privacy, not to mention access blocked sites on their school’s network, could benefit from this VPN.

6. Ivacy - Most Affordable

Editors Rating:

9.2 /10

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Why We Picked It

It’s hard to find a VPN that costs just over a dollar per month, but it’s harder to find such a cheap VPN that won’t sell your data to make a little extra cash on the side. With subscriptions as low as $1.19 per month, though, Ivacy was both.

We went through its privacy policy with a fine-toothed comb and found that Ivacy doesn’t keep IP addresses, timestamps, and browsing histories. Plus, its location in Singapore means that it’s outside surveillance bodies such as the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes.

Strict Logging Policy

All VPN companies have to keep some information if only to conduct business. Ivacy VPN, though, keeps as little of our information as possible. Yes, it does keep our:

• Names
• Emails
• Payment methods
• Crash event reports
• Performance data
• Failed connection attempts
• Application usage
• Aggregated bandwidth use

It would be hard to operate a successful VPN without this information, though. More important is what Ivacy VPN doesn’t keep:

• IP addresses
• Browsing histories
• Timestamps

As long as it’s not tracking any of this data, we feel pretty safe and secure.

Smart Purpose Selection

VPNs serve multiple purposes, but Ivacy actually configured servers optimized for specific purposes. It has servers optimized for streaming, downloading, unblocking content, and so much more.

We enjoyed its streaming capabilities the most, as it let us access Netflix uninterrupted. It’s not just for Netflix, though, as we were able to use Ivacy to stream on Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Kodi, BBC, and other streaming platforms.

Low Prices Plus Discounts

A VPN need not be expensive. With Ivacy, it’ll cost you just $1.19 per month to gain online anonymity. The tradeoff? That’s the rate for the five-year plan, and you’ll need to pay the full amount of $71.64 upfront. It’s still not bad, considering how much cheaper the monthly rate is compared to other one- or two-year plans from other VPN providers.

That being said, you can always buy a shorter subscription for a slightly lower upfront cost but eventually a higher monthly rate. The one year plan costs $47.76, which is about $3.99 per month.

Who It’s Best For:

If you’re looking for a cheap VPN, this could be it. Because of the long-term subscription, however, it’s best suited for those looking for a solid VPN they could use for the next few years.

7. Atlas VPN - Best Data Breach Monitoring

Editors Rating:

9.0 /10

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Why We Picked It

Atlas VPN is a relatively new player in the VPN market, but we’re already impressed by what it can do.

We got all the security we expect from a top-tier VPN, with AES-256 encryption and a strict privacy policy. In addition, we got tons of extras, like access to multiple streaming platforms, unlimited simultaneous connections, IP addresses that rotate while we’re browsing, and a free data breach monitor. We predict you’ll be hearing lots more about this VPN in the months and years to come.

IP Address Safeswap

We always prefer VPNs that use dynamic rather than static IP addresses because dynamic addresses change regularly. When our address changes every time we log on, we’re harder to track.

Atlas VPN goes one better than dynamic addresses, though. The company’s Safeswap technology didn’t just assign us a new address every time we logged on. We got new addresses as we browsed, every time we visited a new site. You can’t get much more anonymous than that.

Data Breach Monitor

More and more VPNs have begun offering extra perks to their customers, like free cloud storage or free antivirus. Atlas provides a data breach monitor on all its paid plans. This monitor scans leaked databases looking for your personal information.

While it isn’t quite as thorough as the best ID theft services, it does provide important early alerts so you can change your credentials and lock down your accounts at the very first signs of trouble. Compare Atlas’ data breach monitor and ID theft services below.

Free Option

What’s better than Atlas VPN’s affordable plans? Its free VPN. Unlike other free VPNs, Atlas won’t limit your bandwidth or cap your speed. It also won’t roll you over into a paid plan after a certain amount of time.

With the Atlas free VPN, you’ll have unlimited speeds, unlimited data, and unlimited time to use the product. The only limit is that you can only use up to three of its hundreds of servers. If you’re fine with that, then by all means, don’t ever pay for a VPN again.

Who It’s Best For:

Atlas VPN is a great option for families. The data breach monitor that comes free with a paid plan can provide basic identity protection for kids and parents alike. The VPN itself supports unlimited simultaneous connections for families with lots of devices.

8. ExpressVPN - Best Encryption

Editors Rating:

9.1 /10

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Why We Picked It

ExpressVPN excels at doing the one thing every VPN should be able to execute well: Encryption. It uses 256-bit AES as the standard, and then improves on that by offering a swath of secure VPN protocols. ExpressVPN even came up with its own VPN protocol that is both well-encrypted and agile.

Sure, the slightly higher cost of ExpressVPN subscriptions may be a bit hard to swallow, but ExpressVPN is nothing if not one of the most secure VPNs around.

Lightway Protocol

ExpressVPN is at the forefront of VPN technology. In addition to adopting existing VPN protocols, it developed a proprietary protocol that is both secure and fast, called Lightway. This VPN protocol runs on only 2,000 lines of code, much less than protocols like OpenVPN. And as a result, it’s lightweight and it provides a smooth user-experience.

Here’s how it compares to OpenVPN:

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.

On top  of that, though, ExpressVPN 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.

IP Leak Blocking

There are VPNs that we consider “leaky” because their technology doesn’t effectively block IP address and browsing data leakage. ExpressVPN is far from being that, though. It’s one of the most secure VPNs on the market, capable of blocking DNS leaks and WebRTC leaks.

In fact, once you’re connected to ExpressVPN, you can use its website’s WebRTC leak detector to make sure it isn’t leaking your IP address through your browser’s WebRTC feature. Each time we tested ExpressVPN for those leaks, we didn’t find any — just the result we were hoping for.

Who It’s Best For:

ExpressVPN offers agile data protection, which is particularly ideal for frequent travelers. It has strong privacy features, and its lightweight proprietary VPN protocol also makes it a good travel companion, as it runs fast on most mobile devices and computers.

9. PureVPN - Best Server Base

Editors Rating:

8.9 /10

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Why We Picked It

PureVPN is one of the best VPNs for travel, with more than 6,500 servers in over 78 countries including the U.K., Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

This made it easy for us to travel without joining shady Wi-Fi networks and running into internet censorship. PureVPN hid our browsing history and IP address so we could be more anonymous online.

Huge Global Network

PureVPN has one of the largest global networks of servers and is available in more than 78 countries. Specifically, the VPN has servers in:

No wonder PureVPN is one of the best VPNs for Australia, the best VPNs for France, the best VPNs for Germany, and more.

Strict Logging Policy

While we were jet setting and connecting to international PureVPN servers, PureVPN hid our IP address, along with our browsing history. In fact, the VPN only collected our:

• Names
• Email addresses
• Payment information
• Total bandwidth consumed.

Everything we did online, on the other hand, was ours to keep. And since PureVPN is based in Hong Kong, a Five Eyes non-member, the company can’t be forced, legally, to give any of our information to the government. Add in some AES-256 encryption, the highest standard around, and PureVPN is certainly trustworthy when it comes to privacy.

Dedicated IP Address Available

With PureVPN, we got the same IP address every time we connected, shared with thousands of other PureVPN users. That was great for security, since we were lost in the crowd. For some websites that recognize these shared IP addresses, though, that was an issue and we got blocked. That’s why we were happy that, in addition, PureVPN offers dedicated IP addresses for only $2.04 a month with a two-year subscription. Dedicated addresses are just as secure as shared addresses, but we were the only ones using this IP address. That made it easier for websites to remember who we were.

Who It’s Best For:

If you need a VPN to access websites blocked in your country, or to access Netflix libraries in other countries, then PureVPN is for you. With a huge global network and fast servers, PureVPN is great for unblocking websites.

10. CyberGhost - Best VPN for Mac

Editors Rating:

8.9 /10

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Why We Picked It

CyberGhost has over 7,500 servers in 91 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.

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

CyberGhost offers a wide array of subscriptions to choose from, and this makes the VPN very flexible. You can sign up for a month subscription to try things out, or go all-in on a one-, two-, or three-year subscription. The best part is, you’ll get a discount depending on the length of your plan.

The highest discount is over 80-percent off, which you can get by signing a three-year subscription. All in all, you’ll pay only $89.31 every three years, which breaks down to just over $2 per month.

NoSpy Servers

CyberGhost, like most of the VPNs we review, doesn’t keep logs of its users’ browsing data. Bur CyberGhost takes things up a notch with its NoSpy servers. These data centers operated by CyberGhost itself are located in Romania, which is outside the reach of the 14 Eyes alliance.

Romania’s laws also makes it a VPN-friendly country, as it doesn’t require data gathering and mass surveillance tactics used by other countries. When you connect to one of CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers, you can rest assured that your data is safe.

Who It’s Best For:

It’s true that the longer subscriptions offer the best prices, but CyberGhost’s flexibility makes it a great-value VPN for pretty much anyone.

11. ProtonVPN - Best VPN for Zoom

Editors Rating:

8.8 /10

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Why We Picked It

ProtonVPN is now Proton, which seems like an ignorable change, but is actually big for the VPN company. As Proton, it now includes the entire Proton suite of cybersecurity tools. That includes ProtonMail, ProtonCalendar, ProtonDrive, and ProtonVPN. As such, Proton is a good personal VPN to use at work.

Focusing on the ProtonVPN tool, we experienced great speeds when we tested it, both on Windows and Mac. And because the app was easy to use, it’s easy to set up before Zoom meetings.

Regular Transparency Reports

Their transparency speaks tons for VPN companies. It builds confidence and trust in the company. Proton has been releasing regular transparency reports about data requests it receives from governments. In 2019, for instance, we know that the Swiss courts requested browsing data from the company. We also know that Proton didn’t hand over any because of its strict logging policy.

Things like that may seem small, but if you’re shopping for a VPN for your privacy, you’re going to want to know small details like that. And thanks to its transparency report, we know we can trust Proton’s discretion.

Stealth VPN

Proton recently joined the growing number of VPNs with their proprietary VPN protocols. Proton’s VPN protocol is called Stealth, and it has one special feature: obfuscation. Basically, it encrypts your traffic, but it also makes it look like regular traffic, hiding it from network, ISP, and government filters. Obfuscation is particularly useful in countries where the use of VPNs is highly controlled or monitored.

Right now, however, Stealth is only available for Android, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS users, but Proton will roll out support for the Windows platform soon.

Fast Upload Speeds

With more of us working from home than ever, we need fast upload speeds and low latency so our meeting software works smoothly. There’s nothing more embarrassing than when you laugh at someone’s joke but they don’t hear it until two minutes later. ProtonVPN was one of the fastest VPNs we tested on our Windows and Mac computers when it came to both upload speeds and latency.

Proton VPN Speeds

Who It’s Best For:

Digital privacy is Proton’s main priority, with a whole suite of privacy-focused online tools. So if your profession calls for extra privacy, like if you’re a journalist, you should consider Proton.

12. Norton Secure VPN - Best VPN With Dynamic IP Addresses

Editors Rating:

8.4 /10

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Why We Picked It

Norton, perhaps most famous for its LifeLock identity theft protection (read more in our LifeLock review) and its Norton antivirus software, also has a VPN, and it’s not half bad. Every time we connected to the macOS app, we got a different IP address, which made it difficult to trace us online. Since online anonymity is what we’re after, we were satisfied with this VPN app.

Affordable Prices

How much does the Norton Secure VPN cost, you ask?

Well, if you only sign up for a month on one device, it’s $4.99. However, for 10 devices for a year, the cost is only $59.99, which amounts to only about $0.50 a per device per month. If you need a VPN for the whole family, this plan is incredibly affordable, and one of the best VPN deals we’ve seen in a while.

Strong Encryption

Norton Secure VPN encrypted our web activity and hid our IP address using AES-256, the same encryption that the U.S. government and military use, so you know it’s secure.

Beyond that, in some locations, the VPN encrypted our web activity and changed our IP addresses multiple times, a process called multi-hop or double hop. That made it that much harder to track us online, from our personal emails to the items we bought on Etsy. No one needs to know about our obsession with vintage cookie jars, after all.

User-Friendly Mobile Apps

With how much we’re on our phones these days — from our commute to work to falling in line for croissants — having a good VPN app is necessary. Fortunately, Norton does mobile apps well, specifically the Norton Secure VPN— Security & Privacy WiFi Proxy Android app and the Norton Secure VPN & Proxy VPN iOS app.

After we downloaded the apps, we connected to nearby servers in seconds without any bugs or glitches. Other Norton customers agree with us, as the Android app has a 4.4 rating and the iOS app has a 4.3.

Who It’s Best For:

Norton Secure is best for those who are just starting to utilize cybersecurity tools to protect themselves online. Besides being easy to use, Norton Secure is from a brand most famous for its antivirus software.