The best VPN service 2024

VPN apps running on various devices during TechRadar's testing

Welcome to the TechRadar best VPN buying guide. Our aim is to give you the information to buy the best VPN for your needs as quickly as possible.

With that in mind, we believe that NordVPN is the best VPN for most people and we'll explain why just below. Surfshark and ExpressVPN are also excellent. You're unlikely to go wrong with any of them. We know this because we regularly perform in-depth and rigorous VPN testing which you can also read about further down.

We've been writing about and reviewing VPNs at TechRadar for over 11 years and believe we know more about them than any other website. When it comes to guiding our readers to the right choice, we think that's worth something.

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Best VPNs at a glance
ProviderReview scoreTotal priceBest for...
1. NordVPN89/100$2.99 / month (2-year Basic plan)Most people
2. Surfshark87/100$1.99 / month (2-year Starter plan)Low cost
3. ExpressVPN86/100$4.99 / month (2-year plan)Ease of use
4. Proton VPN83/100$2.99 / month (2-year Plus plan)Privacy
5. PrivadoVPN Free79/100FreeNot paying

NB: All VPNs are advertised by their monthly cost but payment for the full term of service is taken up-front.

Recent updates

There have been some big changes in our rankings following our latest round of testing. Surfshark has jumped from third to second position, pushing ExpressVPN from two down to three, while Proton VPN has replaced Private Internet Access at number four. We have also redesigned the page for a better user-experience.

The best VPN services 2024

NordVPN apps running on various devices during TechRadar's testingTechRadar Editor's Choice award logo

1. NordVPN

For streaming, security and everyday use, this is the best VPN you can buy.

Flawless for streaming
Cutting edge privacy & security
Good price
Not the best for torrenting
Few Middle East & Africa servers

NordVPN is more than enough for most people: it's fast, cheap, and relatively easy to use – but with plenty of tools for even the biggest technophiles. There are some niche cases where you may be better off with another service (ExpressVPN is a better choice for countries with extreme censorship, for example). But if you just want a VPN for streaming your favorite shows, gaming, and keeping yourself safe on public WiFi, NordVPN is the best VPN for the job.

Surfshark – the best low cost VPN

Surfshark VPN apps running on a laptop and mobile during TechRadar's testing

2. Surfshark

The cheapest and fastest VPN – an excellent choice on a budget.

The fastest VPN around
Unlimited device coverage
Perfect streaming scores
No post-quantum protection
Apps a little cluttered
No port forwarding

For a straight-up VPN with all the basics of privacy, security and streaming included, Surfshark really is excellent value. It costs less than NordVPN, it's half the price of ExpressVPN and there are no limits to the number of devices you can install it on with just a single, simple account.

Surfshark has some brilliant web browsing anonymity features that every casual user will love. You should be rightly tempted to choose it over NordVPN even though it loses out to the top dog on usability, connection consistency and security but only by a shade.

ExpressVPN – the best VPN for usability

ExpressVPN apps running on a laptop and mobile during TechRadar's testing

3. ExpressVPN

Just choose your location and switch it on; it's pricey but ExpressVPN makes VPNs easy.

Super simple apps
Good for streaming
Automatically configures everything
Double the cost of NordVPN
Light on additional features
Not as fast as NordVPN and Surfshark

Price is the main reason that ExpressVPN sits behind NordVPN and Surfshark in our best VPN list. It costs a lot of money and there are no cheaper price plans to fit lower budgets. In terms of what you get, it's more in-line with the upper tiers of the two above, NordVPN Ultimate and Surfshark One+, but the lack of flexibility is frustrating.

What's more, ExpressVPN had a few gaps in streaming our most recent testing and, while it's the best VPN for beginners, neither of the others above are so complicated that they should put you off spending half as much on your VPN.

Proton VPN – the best VPN for privacy

Proton VPN iOS homescreen being shown in a living room setting

(Image credit: Future)

4. Proton VPN

Proton VPN is the best choice if privacy features and widespread server access are top of your wishlist.

Extensive global coverage
Strong third-party audits
Protocol for bypassing VPN blocks
Poor OpenVPN performance
Poorly rated Chrome extension
Limited live customer support

Proton VPN is one of many privacy-centric products built by Proton. It's a CERN-scientist founded, Swiss company committed to the "societal problem of surveillance capitalism" rather than a Silicon Valley venture capitalism get-rich-quick machine. So long as Proton sticks to that mission, that makes it a quite an ethical VPN choice and one that works pretty much as well as all the others on this best VPN list.

The big reason to choose Proton VPN over the others is if privacy is of paramount importance to you – or if you need a good range of server locations across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

There is a free version of Proton available but it's Proton VPN Unlimited that we're recommending in fourth.

PrivadoVPN Free – Best Free VPN

PrivadoVPN running on an iPhone during TechRadar's VPN tests

5. PrivadoVPN

For occasional use, including some worldwide TV show streaming, it's hard to beat the best free VPN.

Free!
Some streaming available
No security audits
Limited data usage
Fewer server locations

It's not all about money. The best things in life are free. Well, the fifth best things, at least. PrivadoVPN does have a paid service but it also has an excellent free tier which we happen to rate as the best free VPN around. It's PrivadoVPN Free that we also rate as one of the best VPNs in general too.

Unlike most free VPNs you can stream with PrivadoVPN Free but you only get 10GB of data to use each month. That makes Privado a pretty good way to save money if all you need is occasional use but bear in mind that's only about 10 standard definition TV episodes every 30 days. If you want HD streaming or more viewing, this probably isn't your best choice.

Other VPNs we've tested

We rate the five VPNs above as the best available right now but there are plenty of other VPNs that we've reviewed. If you see a killer VPN deal out there for one of them, it might be worth your consideration, certainly if it's high up this list. We've put the highest scoring VPNs at the top. The ones near the bottom are VPNs you should avoid.

Mullvad ★★★★

Mullvad ★★★★½
A major player in the industry, and a great advocate for privacy. Mullvad is one of the only VPNs that still lets you pay with cash for true anonymity.

▶ Read more: Mullvad review

IPVanish ★★★★

IPVanish ★★★★
A fast VPN with a decent track record for unblocking streaming services. It sits in the middle of the pack because we find its apps to be a little clunky.

▶ Read more: IPVanish review

Windscribe ★★★★

Windscribe ★★★★
This privacy-friendly service doesn't believe in bells and whistles. It has an excellent free plan for you to get a taste of the service.

▶ Read more: Windscribe review

CyberGhost ★★★★

CyberGhost ★★★★
Part of the Kape conglomerate, CyberGhost is a popular VPN that's good for beginners. Decent speeds and a high unblocking score make it a great pick for newcomers, but it's still not as good as our top picks.

▶ Read more: CyberGhost review

What is a VPN?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a tool that creates a secure and encrypted connection between your device and another location on the internet. VPNs can be used to ensure privacy and security online by masking your IP address – and therefore your location – and encrypting data that's transmitted to and from your device, making it impossible for third parties to intercept or track your activities.

Without a VPN, your ISP can monitor and track which websites you access and the data you're transferring. Install a VPN and no one can see your data or what you're doing online.

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What does a VPN do?

A VPN provides security, privacy, and anonymity to you and your devices when using the internet. VPNs can also unblock your favorite streaming services from abroad, help you get cheaper prices when shopping online and they're a terrific tool for protecting yourself on public Wi-Fi.

Most good VPNs have ad-blockers and will deal with those annoying cookie-consent pop-ups too. You can read more about the benefits of using a VPN.

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How to buy a VPN

There are two important things to note when buying a VPN: you have to pay the full amount up-front BUT most come with 30-day money-back guarantees, so you can change your mind for a full refund.

So, for example, if NordVPN's Basic plan is advertised at $2.99 per month for 27 months (including 3 months free), that means you'll need to pay the whole $80.73 when you sign up. You'll then receive 27 months of service before you'd get the choice to pay again for another term.

As for the money-back guarantee, we've tried it, and it works. Most of our top picks also have 24-hour live customer support which makes it all the easier.

Finally, once you've bought and installed your chosen VPN, we'd advise deactivating any auto-renew settings. Some auto-renew prices can be eye-watering compared to the initial fee. Take a look at more things to consider when buying a VPN.

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What to look for in a VPN

NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN are probably going to fit most people's needs but if you've some specific use cases or have some key criteria, then you should probably consider the following. You can read more about each in our article on choosing a VPN.

Price

Anything under $2.50/£2.50 per month is a cheap VPN; up to $4.50/£4.50 per month is about average; and anything over $5/£5 per month is on the expensive side. There are also free VPNs but they usually come with limited usage and features. They're not great for streaming or gaming. The longer the term of your agreement, the cheaper the price. Anything less than a year tends not to be great value.

Apps

Most VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android but do check. Linux users and anyone looking to install a VPN on an Amazon Fire Stick, a router or smart TV should definitely read the small print on this one.

Security & Privacy

Is it meeting industry standards for encryption? Is there a kill switch? Does it have a no-logs policy, and has it been audited? Look out for nifty security features that ensure no patterns to link you and your given IPs, and for anything that will help prevent encrypted data from getting cracked either now or in the future. And check the company's track record to make sure they have kept customers safe in the past.

Server locations

Does the VPN you're interested in have physical servers in the countries you need or just virtual VPN servers? That might be one where you live or one in a country with a geo-blocked streaming service that you're trying to access.

Performance

Can you trust VPN speed tests? Well, you can certainly trust performance. Consistency and quality are critical. You'll suffer poor performance if the VPN you've chosen has issues with latency or jitter. The end result will be packet loss during data transfer which you'll experience as buffering or a stream dropping when using video-based applications eg: video calls, online gaming, watching Netflix.

Extras

Many providers include more than just the VPN. There are ad-blockers, password managers, anti-virus system and even cyber insurance bundled in sometimes. Are these things you'd like too, or are you better off keeping costs down? Picking the right price plan is usually the key here.

Customer support

Most of our top VPN providers have excellent, 24/7 live customer support. They're there to help you with any issues from solving your streaming problems to arranging the refund from your money-back guarantee. If the service you're looking at doesn't offer something similar, then you might want to think again.

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Are VPN's legal?

Yes. VPNs are legal to use in most places around the world. The exceptions are North Korea, Belarus, Oman, Iraq and Turkmenistan, where VPNs are illegal, and China, Russia, Turkey, UAE, India, Iran, Egypt, and Uganda where you can only use a state-approved VPN, the actual privacy of which would be questionable at best.

But, as far as everyone in the US, UK, Europe and most other places go, yes, VPNs are perfectly legal to use. Go get one!

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Do you need a VPN?

Good question. No. Not everyone needs a VPN. But they can be useful depending on who you are, what you do and how you like to use the internet and online services.

If you want to access to streaming services from all around the world – BBC iPlayer, ITV, SBS On Demand, 9Now, RAIPlay, Max, ESPN+, Sling, Hulu, etc – then a VPN is the best way to do that. Equally, a VPN is perfect for making sure you can access the right libraries for Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus.

Primarily, though, VPNs are about online security. For the everyday user, that might mean staying safe while using public Wi-Fi, or minimizing cookies and trackers harvesting your details as your browse the web and use other connected services. That should lead to less email spam and fewer chances of cybercrime attacks too because you're far less likely to have your details stolen in any online database hacks.

Some VPNs can offer a more ad-free online experience too while others have built-in tools to help steer you away from fraudulent websites and malware.

The only group for whom we'd say that VPNs are a must are journalists, political activists and people around the world who need to protect themselves from oppressive governments, access foreign media, and learn and report on global truths. If you want to make sure you're able to evade censorship and propaganda while maintaining anonymity and privacy online, a VPN is a non-negotiable.

For any of those reasons above, or if you just want peace of mind that you're more in control of your personal data in a rapidly progressing digital age, then a VPN is probably a good idea. Give one a go and try for yourself. Most have a 30-day money back guarantee if you decide a VPN is not for you.

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Are free VPNs as good as paid VPNs?

A free VPN might be enough if you don't intend to use it much or don't need to use it for streaming or gaming. There are some bad free ones out there but if you choose one of the best free VPNs then you won't come unstuck.

A free VPN is usually limited in the amount of data it offers each month or by the number of server locations it offers. That's why streaming on a free VPN isn't usually going to work. You can certainly expect far fewer features on a free VPN too.

Take a look at our free vs paid VPNs page for a better idea, and do check out these free VPN trials of paid services. All those listed there will offer a refund inside of 30 days if you're not happy with the service.

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How we test VPN services

We've been testing VPNs for longer than almost any other online publication and feel very confident about our methodology.

Each VPN is tested twice per year on TechRadar. That way, we can be sure that this guide is as up-to-date as possible whenever you happen to be reading it. Every recommended VPN on this page has been fully reviewed.

We test all the VPNs on the following categories:

Feature analysis: Technical details, network size, server locations and supported protocols.

Privacy and security: Privacy policies, encryption methods, independent security audits, data leak protections.

Performance testing: Connection speeds, connection times, video streaming performance, web browsing performance, gaming performance, torrenting performance.

Unblocking abilities: VPNs are tested against over 20 of the most common streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and many more.

Support and reliability: Customer support facilities, such as live chat and email support and help sections on provider websites.

You can read more about about our full VPN testing methodology here.

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Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Dan Sung
Editor-in-Chief, VPN and How to Watch

Dan is Editor-in-Chief, VPN and How to Watch, at Future. He heads up all the VPN content and how to watch articles. So, if you want to know about what is the best VPN or how to watch just about anything on TV, anywhere in the world, he's a good bet to ask. Dan has worked in tech journalism for over a 15 years, writing for Tech Digest, Pocket-lint, MSN Tech, Wareable and What Hi-Fi? as well as freelancing for T3, Metro and the Independent. Dan has a keen interest in playing and watching football. He has also written about it for the Observer and FourFourTwo and ghost authored John Toshack's autobiography, Toshack's Way.