Best VPN Service For 2024: Expert-Rated & Ranked (2024)

Editor,Forbes Staff

Updated: Apr 29, 2024

• NordVPN: Best VPN Overall
• TorGuard VPN: Best Customizable VPN
• Private Internet Access: Best VPN for Customizable Security
• ProtonVPN: Best VPN for Tor Integrations
• hide.me: Best VPN for Wi-Fi Security
• Surfshark: Best VPN for Unlimited Connections
• VPN Unlimited (aka KeepSolid): Best Multi-Device VPN
• ExpressVPN: Best VPN For Smoothest App Interface
• CyberGhost: Best VPN for International Server Locations
• PureVPN: Best VPN with Reasonable Pricing

We did hands-on testing for 23 of the top VPNs on the market on 37 decision factors to come up with this list, but that doesn’t explain what factors we graded a provider on. Below we’ll list the broad categories we use when scoring VPN providers and talk about some of the factors considered in each category.

Below, we provided some tables showcasing our first-person VPN test results. This isn’t a comprehensive list of all the factors we considered, but it should provide some useful data for your own decision making. We tested each VPN’s speeds, how well it handled unblocking streaming services and how it handled DNS leak testing through websites such as dnsleaktest.com. These tables are updated monthly to ensure that all services on this list are still providing the best performance possible for their users.

VPN Speed Testing

Methodology: Our VPN speed comparison is tested on a Windows 11 machine using Cloudflare’s publicly available speed test. VPN services are connected to the nearest possible server.

VPNs are virtual private networks that encrypt your data and mask your online activity from snooping third parties. When you do things, such as check your email, chat with colleagues and browse websites, a VPN can help keep you anonymous.

What Does a VPN Do?

When you do just about anything online, your computer connects to the server that hosts whatever website or service you’re using. The website can typically see certain data about you and your device, which isn’t ideal if you don’t like your activity being monitored. A VPN service connects you to a remote server before connecting you to your favorite sites, so that when a website checks for your user information, it only “sees” the VPN and does not trace it back to you.

How VPNs Protect Your Privacy & How They Don’t

You can safely use a VPN on your personal and business devices, and it’s a great way to keep your personal data and browsing habits private. The scrambled data is nearly impossible to decipher, so it’s useless to hackers and sites that want to track that data.

However, VPNs can’t protect against everything you do on your computer, laptop or mobile phone.

A VPN can protect:

• Your identity online
• Data you send and receive online

What a VPN doesn’t protect you from:

• Malware
• Phishing scams
• Data on your devices

A VPN protects active transmissions of data online, so it cannot do much for the data that lives on your phone or computer. For physical data protection, you would need antivirus and anti-malware software. It’s also important to be careful which links you click in email and online. Phishing attacks can be cleverly disguised as emails from someone you know.

While one of the most popular methods, VPNs aren’t the only way to encrypt your online traffic. Below we’ve listed a few VPN alternatives. The list isn’t comprehensive, and some of the options are more business-focused than consumer-focused. Keep that in mind if you decide to give one of these a try yourself.

• Proxy Servers: Proxy servers function similarly to VPNs, providing users with a sort of middleman or gateway between their computer and the Internet. This can help anonymize users’ traffic, though unlike a VPN, proxies don’t encrypt traffic.
• SSH Tunnels: Short for “Secure Shell,” SSH Tunnels route traffic from a user’s computer to a remote device. This is also known as SSH port forwarding and is a common way to encrypt data being transmitted to hide it from third-party observation.
• SD-WAN: A more business-focused option, a software-defined wide area network or SD-WAN leverages the cloud to deliver encrypted traffic across the aforementioned wide area network. This is good for businesses looking for a more centralized version of the sort of privacy VPNs can offer but is more or less useless for most individual users.
• Tor Browser: The Tor Browser hides user activity through the use of onion routing, a multi-layered encryption technique which bounces traffic through a series of relays before hitting its final destination. Each bounce is encrypted until the traffic reaches its final destination, making it look to the recipient like the data is coming from the last relay node used instead of from the sender’s computer.

How to choose the VPN that’s right for you and your needs is something only you can really decide on, but there are a few key factors worth considering.

To help you figure out if a VPN is offering what you need, we’ve listed some of the deciding factors below and the effect they can have on your user experience.

Essential VPN Features

• Trust: The number one deciding factor for a VPN is how much you trust the provider. You are essentially trusting them with your data in lieu of your regular ISP, and that comes with a lot of responsibility. This is obviously a very subjective factor, but part of your research should involve checking the company’s privacy policy, to make sure it doesn’t log user data. On top of that, research the company’s history and make sure it has not been caught logging user data in the past or had a severe data breach. Your data and safety online are more important than a company’s bottom line, and if a provider has a history with either of these or other shady activity, that should be an immediate concern.
• Network of server locations: A good VPN will have a large network of servers and server locations, preferably with variety in the type of servers it offers. This can help keep periods of high user traffic from bottlenecking your internet speeds, as well as let you pick the server best-suited for what you need.
• Compatibility: Your VPN should be compatible with every device you plan to use it with, whether that’s your home or work PC, your mobile device or your router.
• Performance and reliability: While internet speed slowdowns are in some cases inevitable when using a VPN, you want to find a provider with consistent speeds, as well as minimal lag and downtime. Otherwise, you’re just paying someone to slow your internet down for you. For the fastest speeds possible, we recommend using a VPN that supports the open-source WireGuard protocol.

Server Number and Locations

Server numbers and locations are important factors to consider when choosing a VPN because they can affect the VPN’s overall performance and the level of privacy and security it can provide.

• Server numbers: A large number of servers generally means more options for connecting to the VPN. This can help ensure you can find a fast and reliable server near your physical location. A VPN with many servers also allows for more flexibility in terms of server switching and load balancing, which can help improve overall performance.
• Server locations: A VPN with a wide range of server locations is also considered to be a good thing because it allows you to choose a server that is located in a specific country or region. This can be useful if you want to access geo-restricted content or if you want to ensure that your data is transmitted through a specific country’s jurisdiction. The more server locations a VPN has, the more options you have to choose from and the more flexibility you have to ensure that your connection is fast and reliable.

A VPN service with few servers and few locations is considered bad because it could lead to over-congestion, low speed and difficulty in finding a server near your location.

It is also important that the VPN provider has servers in countries which are privacy-friendly and not part of any surveillance alliance, such as the 5-eyes, 9-eyes or 14-eyes.

Speed and Performance

Speed is an important decision factor when choosing a VPN because it affects the overall performance of the VPN and your ability to use the internet effectively. A VPN that’s slow can cause delays in loading web pages, buffering when streaming video and difficulty using real-time applications, such as online gaming or video conferencing.

Other performance factors include:

• Latency: Latency refers to the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the VPN server and back. A low latency is important for real-time applications such as online gaming or video conferencing.
• Bandwidth: Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted over a connection. A VPN with high bandwidth can support more data-intensive activities such as streaming high-definition (HD) video.
• Uptime: Uptime refers to the amount of time a VPN server is available and online. A VPN with high uptime will be more reliable and less likely to experience disruptions or downtime.

There may be some differences in speed across devices, as some devices may have faster processors or better network connectivity than others. However, a good VPN provider should be able to provide fast and reliable connections regardless of the device.

To evaluate a VPN’s performance, you can use online speed test tools to measure the VPN’s download and upload speeds, as well as its latency and jitter. They can also look at the VPN’s uptime records and read reviews from other users to get a general sense of the VPN’s performance.

Before subscribing to a VPN service, it’s important to have a free trial or money-back guarantee period. This way you can test the performance and see if it meets your needs prior to committing to a plan.

What is a reasonable price for a VPN will vary from person to person. However, we find that, in general, most VPNs will have a monthly subscription around the INR 666.80 ($8) to INR 833.50 ($10) per month range, with some reaching the $12 per month range. Most providers will provide discounts if you opt into a longer plan, but we recommend starting with a monthly subscription first, preferably one with a 30-day money-back guarantee. That way, you can give the service a proper test-drive without breaking the bank.

For business use, the number of simultaneous connections allowed can be a more important purchasing factor than base price. The more connections a service allows on one subscription, the more cost-effective it becomes. Add-on fees for features such as Dedicated IP can also put a bigger dent in your budget but might be necessary if the VPN doesn’t come with those features as part of the base package.

Here is a list of popular VPN uses and key features to look for:

General Internet Browsing

Your internet service provider (ISP) can track what you do online, such as what sites you visit, the time you spend browsing and more. Depending on the terms of service and what you’ve agreed to, your ISP may even sell your data to advertisers. Your stored data is kept confidential otherwise, according to most internet providers.

In India, ISPs are required to keep browsing history logs for 90 days. If the government requests your internet history, an ISP must comply. In fact, in cases of national security, the government doesn’t even need a warrant to access your internet data. Theoretically, with a warrant, local law enforcement can use your data to help convict you of a crime. Using a VPN can cover your tracks or, at the very least, give you peace of mind.

Key Features To Look For:

• Strong encryption
• No-logs policy with at least one independent audit of said policy
• Access to a wide range of server locations
• No prior history of logging or sharing user data

Streaming and Accessing Blocked Content

A VPN does more than protect your data—it can unlock your access to region-locked media. The most obvious benefit to using a VPN for this purpose is that you can use it to find shows and movies you can’t see otherwise. For example, Netflix and Hulu offer different types of programming per location.

A country might also restrict access to certain websites or content for political reasons, such as YouTube being blocked in China or recent legislation that has led to certain adult websites blocking access for users in seven different U.S. states. A VPN can make it appear as though you’re accessing the internet from a different location so that you can access websites or media that might otherwise be blocked in your country. Your connection to the VPN can keep your actual location and IP cloaked, so you can’t be pinpointed.

Key Features To Look For:

• Access to a wide range of server locations
• No-logs policy
• Dedicated streaming servers
• Fast download and upload speeds

Read More: Best VPN for Streaming

Gaming

While VPNs can cause performance issues while gaming, the right VPN can minimize those slowdowns while still keeping your network activity from being compromised or harvested. It can also be useful for getting around geo-locked content such as region-specific events in gacha games such as Genshin Impact.

Key Features To Look For:

• Low latency
• Fast download and upload speeds
• No-logs policy
• Access to a wide range of server locations

Read More: Best VPN for Gaming

Torrenting

Torrenting is a controversial practice since it’s a popular method for users to illegally download copyrighted materials. Countries including the U.S., Russia, Australia and Italy have banned or taken down torrenting platforms in the past, and if not properly vetted, downloading the wrong torrent can infect your computer with a debilitating virus. These peer-to-peer platforms are also well-suited to tracking and harvesting user data.

While we here at Forbes Advisor do not condone or support any illegal acts performed on torrenting websites, there are legitimate reasons to legally torrent content, and it’s important to be protected when doing so. A VPN can be a great way to keep you and your data safe from any malicious actors you might find while using torrenting services. It’s important to check and make sure your VPN supports P2P file sharing, however, as not all VPNs do so.

Key Features To Look For:

• No-logs policy
• Strong encryption
• Support for P2P file sharing

Read More: Best VPN for Torrenting

Business Use

As more employees have begun working hybrid or fully remote schedules, companies have been hit with major security concerns regarding remote workers logging in to company servers from home. Unless you provide the internet yourself, you can’t know how secure an employee’s connection is. They could even be working from home or in a coffee shop. If a connection is intercepted, there’s a possibility that active data could go from an employee to a hacker, rather than the Wi-Fi the employee is trying to use.

As such, companies have turned to VPNs as a way to keep their company data safe, no matter where an employee logs in from. This is also useful for employees who travel a lot due to business, as they can still access company resources even in countries that might otherwise restrict internet access.

Key Features To Look For:

• Strong encryption
• Support for simultaneous connections
• No-logs policy
• Ability to establish a site-to-site VPN
• Dedicated IP add-on

Read More: Best Business VPN

The majority of today’s VPNs are exceptionally easy to use. Once you’ve created an account with the provider, all you need to do is download the VPN app on your computer or smartphone. Once you’ve signed in with your account, you typically choose from a list of remote servers located around the world. Click on the one you’d like and the system should connect you automatically. Once you get confirmation that you’re connected, you can use your device as you normally would without your VPN. You can disconnect or change your server from your app’s home screen.

To set up your VPN manually, you can follow specific steps for your operating system. Many of the apps follow a similar process, as outlined below.

1. 1. Download and install the app or software.
2. 2. Click on “Settings” or “System Preferences.”
3. 3. Choose “Network” or “VPN.”
4. 4 .Fill out fields for “Server Name,” “VPN Type,” “Remote ID,” “Local ID” and your account info (some of the fields may vary depending on the OS).
5. 5. Connect to your VPN.

For more detailed information, check out our step-by-step guide on how to set up a VPN.

How To Check if Your VPN Is Working

There are a number of ways to check if your VPN is working, from checking your location or IP address to looking for domain name system (DNS) leaks or WebRTC leaks.

Here are the most common ways to quickly check if your VPN is working:

• Check your VPN’s connection status: Most VPN software has a connection status indicator that tells you if the VPN is connected or disconnected. This is a reliable way to check if your VPN is working.
• Check your IP address: One of the most basic ways to check if your VPN is working is to check your IP address. If you’re connected to a VPN, your IP address should be different from the one that you see when you’re not connected to the VPN. You can check your IP address by googling “what is my IP address.”
• Check your location: You can also check your location to see if your VPN is working by visiting a website, such as mylocation.org. If your VPN is working, your location should be different from the one that you see when you’re not connected to the VPN.
• Check for domain name system (DNS) leaks: DNS leaks can occur when your device is using a different DNS server than the one provided by the VPN. You can check for DNS leaks by checking a website such as dnsleaktest.com.
• Check for WebRTC leaks: WebRTC leaks can occur when your browser is leaking your real IP address. You can check for WebRTC leaks by using a website such as browserleaks.com.
• Try accessing blocked content: If you are trying to access content that is blocked in your region, you can try accessing it to check if your VPN is working properly. If your VPN is working, you should be able to access the content.

It’s important to note that even if your VPN appears to be working, it does not guarantee that your internet connection is secure. It’s always a good idea to test your VPN regularly to ensure that it’s working properly and to check for any potential leaks or vulnerabilities.

Using a VPN at home can keep your data safe from those who want to use your data for targeted advertising. On your mobile device, a VPN can protect your login details and other data you send when you connect to public Wi-Fi. It can be especially useful for businesses that have proprietary information to protect.

Here are nine of the most common VPN uses:

1. Keep Your Data Private From Your ISP

Because of the relationship between you and your internet service provider (ISP), it can track what you do online, such as what sites you visit, the time you spend browsing, and more. Depending on the terms of service and what you’ve agreed to, your ISP may even sell your personal data to advertisers. Your stored data is kept confidential otherwise, according to most internet providers.

In India, if the government requests your internet history, an ISP must comply. In fact, in cases of national security, the government doesn’t even need a warrant to access your internet data. Theoretically, with a warrant, local law enforcement can use your data to help convict you of a crime.

Even if you’re a law-abiding citizen, you might not want your ISP documenting every URL you visit. If you use a VPN, you can cover your tracks. At the very least, it can give you peace of mind.

2. Use Public Wi-Fi Safely With a VPN

Whether you’re at an airport waiting for a flight and checking your email or at a local restaurant reading news on your phone, you may be tempted to use public Wi-Fi. It seems safe enough, right? The free internet connection is offered by the airport or business and they mean well.

The good news is that browsing online has become safer in recent years, thanks to most people adopting HTTPS over HTTP. That “S” is a security protocol that comes from a secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate and helps protect internet data that’s shared to and from a site. That’s what makes it safer for you to pay for products and services online, for example.

However, most public Wi-Fi connections are open and not password protected, so you might put yourself at risk of your connection being intercepted by a hacker who is trolling the Wi-Fi network..

If you have a VPN service to log into first, you can anonymously connect to public Wi-Fi and essentially remain hidden on the network. A VPN will hide your identity on an open internet connection and encrypt active data, so even if a cybercriminal is on the same network, you’ll be safe.

3. Protect Your Personal Data From Businesses

Lots of retailers offer apps and free Wi-Fi to shoppers and they make it hard to not use them. For one, if you download a retailer’s app, you may get access to exclusive coupons and deals, so that’s tempting. Also, a lot of physical locations block cell phone service simply because of the metal in structures.

Businesses that offer these perks for free or incentives to use their apps and Wi-Fi are doing so to collect your data, which is extremely valuable to them. This is another good reason to use a VPN if you want to protect your personal data. Plus, you’ll still be able to safely access your apps and use free Wi-Fi while you’re shopping at malls or stores.

4. Protect Proprietary Information

Many companies adopted a remote or hybrid work policy recently, which is convenient for a lot of employees. However, there is a security concern about having remote workers log into company servers from home because you don’t know how secure an employee’s connection is. They could be working from home or in a coffee shop. If a connection is intercepted, there’s a concern that active data could go from an employee to a hacker, rather than the Wi-Fi the employee is trying to use.

Providing all employees with remote access and a VPN will help keep your company’s files and projects safe.

5. Access Blocked Content

A VPN does more than protect your data—it can unlock your access to media you can’t get to now. There are benefits here for a few different reasons.

Some citizens in countries with strict governments may not be able to visit websites with opposing views to their politicians. A VPN can make it appear as though you’re located in a different location, so you can access otherwise blocked websites or media. Your connection to the VPN can keep your actual location and IP cloaked, so you can’t be pinpointed.

Another benefit to using a VPN is that you can use it to find media you can’t get otherwise. For example, Netflix and Hulu offer different types of programming per location. If you’re in the U.S., you might not be able to watch what’s available on Netflix in the United Kingdom. A VPN can make it appear as though you’re in another country, thereby unlocking that exclusive content.

6. Data Privacy From Your Government

While many ISPs, apps and internet data hubs suggest they don’t sell your browsing data to governments, the information nonetheless finds its way into their hands. If you have qualms about governmental overreach, a VPN is a good investment in protecting your data.

7. Security When Working Remotely

One benefit of a VPN is its data encryption features. Encryption, or putting data into a coded format so its meaning is obscured, allows you to keep confidential information safe.

If you are an individual thinking about investing in a VPN for your company, one benefit is that workers can connect to your office network and look at sensitive materials on their own devices while away from the office. As remote work seems a possibility even after the pandemic ends, a VPN is a helpful investment to keep confidential material safe off-site.

8. Smart Savings

If you are willing to put in a little research, a VPN can help you save money via its location spoofing capabilities. Many types of businesses, such as subscription services and airlines, offer the same amenities or products for different prices. If you change the appearance of your location to a place where services are offered cheaper, you can end up with big savings.

These are just a few examples of how a VPN can help protect you or help you access blocked information. There are plenty of other reasons why everyone should use a VPN.

9. Adaptable to Numerous Smart Devices

While many of us may first try a VPN on a company-loaned laptop, many VPN services also protect other smart devices such as your phones, tablets and desktop computers. Each VPN company may offer slightly different protection plans and have different capacities to protect different devices, but many providers offer plans that help keep you safe on multiple devices.

A VPN protocol is similar to a set of instructions not unlike “if this, then that” scripts. The protocols tell the VPN to encrypt data if and when a user logs in and to encrypt data that’s sent or received through that connection. These protocols also determine the type of encryption and security to use. Below is a list of protocols most often supported by providers. For more information, check out our article on Common VPN Protocols.

• OpenVPN: OpenVPN is a free and open-source security protocol commonly used by most VPN providers. It is one of the oldest security protocols in the VPN space, being initially released in 2001. It is a solid, if unremarkable, protocol by today’s standards.
• IKEv2: IKEv2 is a protocol that encrypts communication between a VPN client and a VPN server and securely exchanges keys over the internet. It was the standard protocol used for years, but multiple vulnerabilities in its architecture have been found and exploited in the past, particularly when poorly or improperly implemented.
• WireGuard: The current standard-bearer of VPN protocols, WireGuard is a free and open-source security protocol known for its speeds and consistency. Many VPNs use WireGuard as their default protocol, even in cases where a proprietary protocol exists.

That depends on your personal definition of “safe” and on which provider you use. Most VPNs won’t infect your computer with malware if downloaded, but that doesn’t mean they’re 100% safe.

A provider could be harvesting the internet traffic you route through its VPN to sell or to hand off to government entities, for example. The VPN could also not work as well as intended, such as if it accidentally drops without cutting your internet connection or leaks your IP address, leaving your activity exposed.

In general, we recommend picking a provider with a clear, independently audited no-logs policy.

VPNs are legal in most countries, including the U.S., the U.K. and Canada. Certain countries, such as China and Russia, have laws against using a VPN to bypass banned websites.

Regardless of the country you’re in, doing anything illegal while you’re connected to a VPN is still illegal.

We hope that the following resources will help you to select the right VPN for you and learn how to get started with your new VPN.

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