The best VPN service 2024

Ease of Use ★★★★

Getting started with NordVPN is well handled thanks to the onboarding wizard that springs to life when you fire up the Mac or Windows version for the very first time. It'll walk you through Nord's features and make sure you understand what's going on.

So, why just four stars for ease of use? NordVPN has users well covered for apps but the browser extension isn't great. There's also no GUI for the Linux version which is a bit disappointing. Lastly, Surfshark and ExpressVPN are just a little bit more obvious when it comes to basic use. Unless you're a Linux user, or you're all about browser extensions, though, you shouldn't let that put you off.

Read more details on NordVPN apps.

Streaming ★★★★★

We rate NordVPN as the best streaming VPN that money can buy. All of its servers are optimised for streaming and it unblocks all major streaming services – including international Netflix libraries, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus – as well as a host of other other regional streamers such as BBC iPlayer, 9Now, SBS On Demand, ITVX, Sling, FuboTV, Max and many, many more. In fact, it's not often we find a streaming service that NordVPN can't get round the back of.

Speeds are easily enough to handle 4K HDR video. The only streaming-related caveat is that NordVPN isn't the best torrenting VPN. That accolade goes to ExpressVPN. That's because there are only a handful of NordVPN servers optimised for P2P use.

Read more details on NordVPN unblocking.

Privacy & Security ★★★★★

NordVPN comes with cutting-edge security and privacy features. It runs both OpenVPN and its own proprietary WireGuard-based Nordlynx protocol with super-secure, zero-trust AES-256 encryption, meaning you can be confident that nobody has access to your data or devices but you. If someone ever did manage to pilfer it, it would take them millions of years to crack the encryption with current technology, particularly as NordVPN's quantum-safe encryption is theoretically future-proofed.

The company has a strict no-logs policy, meaning that not even NordVPN itself has a record of your browsing data. There's a kill switch for further assurances and DNS leak protection to prevent your ISP from getting even a whiff of what you're up to.

Read more details on NordVPN privacy and security.

Speed & Performance ★★★★½

The NordLynx proprietary protocol performed brilliantly in our speed tests. It clocked consistent speeds upwards of 950 Mbps in servers to the UK as well as when heading across the Atlantic to the US. The latter of these is where many others struggle to perform, and that's worth something given that plenty of people will be looking to access streaming services and other content across The Pond.

OpenVPN speeds are much slower, as with all VPNs. It's only Surfshark that stands out in this area but, again, it shouldn't put you off unless you happen to insist on using OpenVPN over NordLynx.

Read more details on NordVPN speed and performance.

NordVPN price plan comparison

There are three NordVPN price plans to choose from. NordVPN Basic is the just VPN software. If you want to add in some anti-virus functionality (Nord Threat Protection Pro), then go for NordVPN Plus. For a password manager (NordPass), cloud storage (NordLocker) and up to $5000 of cyber insurance on top, then go for NordVPN Ultimate.

Just to make things really confusing, NordVPN recently launched a different pricing structure in the US with the arrival of its NordProtect programme which includes up to $1M in identity theft insurance and $100K in cyber extortion insurance. There's confidence for you!

So, instead of the Plus and Ultimate tiers, the USA gets Basic, Plus, Complete and Prime.

For our money, the Basic plan is the best value but if you really need the extras on offer in Plus, Complete, Ultimate or Prime, then go for it. Each plan type comes with a different possible contract length: 1-month, 1-year or 2-year. The best value is by a long shot is the 2-year plan. Do remember that you need to pay the full amount up front and that, whichever you choose, you get 30 days to change you mind and ask for a full refund.

Here's a comparison table of the NordVPN plans and what each one offers:

Ease of Use ★★★★

Surfshark has an app for pretty much every platform and is one of the few to have a proper GUI for Linux. It's got you covered for routers, browsers, Fire Stick and Apple TV, as well as all the regulars.

It's pretty straightforward to use – we love the QR code log-in for your secondary devices – but, with the location guide and quick access feature buttons all competing for screen real estate, there's a fair bit going on at a glance. That makes the interface a little tougher on the eye than NordVPN or ExpressVPN but it's not going to be a problem for beginners.

If you do need help, the built in AI chatbot will spit out some decent how-to type articles and there aren't many layers between you and a real, live customer support operative if that doesn't do the trick.

Read more details on Surshark ease of use.

Streaming ★★★★½

Surfshark is good for streaming. It had no problems unblocking all the major streaming services in all kinds of geos, and, with 140 server locations across 100 countries, you won't be short of options of places to pretend to be.

All of Surfshark's servers are optimised for streaming and torrenting but we did have a couple of issues of jitter with which meant that video streams dropped out once or twice in our test. Obviously, just reconnect the VPN and press play again should that occur.

A problem, you say? Well, maybe but balance that against Surfshark's unlimited connections policy. That's right, you can use Surfshark on as many devices as you like simultaneously, all from just the one account!

Read more details on Surfshark's unblocking and content.

Privacy & Security ★★★★½

Surfshark's AES-256 encryption tech puts it at the top table for security. Its CleanWeb browser add-on blocks ads from appearing on websites and denies cookie requests without you having to bother which we really, really like.

It also has a rather wonderful Alternative ID tool which effectively creates a fake persona – complete with name, email address and phone number – to autofill into online forms when you'd rather not give your real details. Emails, calls and messages get forwarded to your real versions until you pull the plug.

Surfshark's Camouflage Mode obfuscation technology helps you bypass VPN blocks by hiding the fact you're using a VPN. Its No Borders feature, meanwhile, detects if your current network is facing any restrictions and automatically recommends servers that perform best under those restrictions. There's no post-quantum protection future-proofing, like NordVPN or ExpressVPN, to prevent possible "store now, decrypt later" attacks but you can't expect everything for a bargain price.

Read more details on Surshark privacy and security.

Speed & Performance ★★★★★

You want speed? You got speed. Surfshark is the No.1 fastest VPN, maxing out beyond 950 Mbps for local and trans-Atlantic servers. Like we said above, though, it can be prone to jitter which might make you come a-cropper during gaming and streaming. If you're looking at pure up/download speeds, though, then Surfshark is hard to beat.

Read more details on Surfshark speed and performance.

Surfshark price plan comparison

The Surfshark Starter plan is where to go to keep costs at rock bottom. That's your VPN use, including ad- and cookie pop-up blockers, and the Alternate ID personal detail mask and masked email generator.

But it's very hard to turn down the upgrade to the Surfshark One plan given that it's only about $15 more over 2 years or less than 10 bucks over 12 months. That adds a built-in anti-virus, webcam protection and real-time credit card, ID and email breach alerts.

Surfshark's premium plan, One+ is a tougher sell. It's about double the price of Starter. That adds the Icogni data removal tool into the mix. It's a decent service but it's probably only worth opting for Surfshark One+ if you were considering Icogni anyway.

Here's a comparison table of the Surfshark plans and what each one offers:

Ease of Use ★★★★★

The ExpressVPN user-interface is just great. There's nothing glitzy about the look of its apps but there's a simplicity that belies a lot of very clever design. It's red when it's off, it's green when it's on and the first two sections that draw your eyes are the massive Connect button and the server location option which opens up a list of countries either recommended or by continent. The casual user need go no further and get everything they need right there.

There are apps for every platform. ExpressVPN even has its own Aircove router if you want the VPN working at the heart of your home network. Only those on Linux should feel irked with just command line access to work with.

The other place your money goes is the 24/7 live chat in the help section of the app. Waiting times to get connected to human support can be as little as 30 seconds. We were never left hanging more than 5 minutes in our tests. There just is no better VPN for usability.

Read more details on ExpressVPN's ease of use.

Streaming ★★★★

With over 148 locations to choose from in 106 countries, ExpressVPN will have you covered for most of your streaming needs – certainly when it comes to accessing streaming services across the States, UK and Europe. It has the most Oceania server locations in our top three although we did run into some trouble with Netflix and 10Play in Australia. Use the 24/7 live chat for advice on the best server choice if you find a similar issues and that should sort it.

ExpressVPN is a bit short across the Middle East with just two countries to choose from. Not great for BeIn sports content in that part of the world, or watching Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League or any other local content from Saudi, UAE and the like.

In terms of stream stability, ExpressVPN does pretty well, although it does feel like NordVPN has the edge here with fewer issues off dropping out when viewing trans-Atlantic content. Another reason why you might want to make another choice if streaming is your no.1 VPN use case.

Read more details on ExpressVPN unblocking and content.

Privacy & Security ★★★★★

You might pay more – pretty much double the cost of all the other VPNs here – but you do get a lot of security features with ExpressVPN. You just need to decide whether you need them or not. These include the ExpressVPN Keys password manager, parental controls to stop access to adult sites, a tracker and malware threat manager and one of the best built-in ad blockers on this list. The only disappointment is the fake website warning system which let far too many slip the net to really trust.

Fortunately, ExpressVPN gets the basics of security bang on. It uses top-end, rotating key, AES-256 encryption as well as a 1000-dimension secure ML-KEM key which is designed to future proof your data for the quantum computing age too. We're also big fans of the randomly allocating Shuffle IP system which ensures there's no correlation between your identity and your online activity.

Combine that with the provider's TrustedServer technology and it's full marks here. The company is so confident that it offers a $1 million bug bounty should you ever get inside an ExpressVPN server.

Read more details on ExpressVPN privacy and security.

Speed & Performance ★★★★

Lightway is the name of ExpressVPN's bespoke VPN protocol. It's not quite as fast as NordLynx or WireGuard, as used by Surfshark, but it's easily enough for the needs of the casual user. It's optimised for mobile use – certainly no bad thing in the modern age – and outperforms OpenVPN by a long shot.

Sightly disappointing that Lightway's 898 Mbps speeds dropped to more like 396 Mbps once we started connected to the US from the UK but it's worth remembering that you only need a fraction of that to stream 4K video.

Read more details on ExpressVPN speed and performance.

ExpressVPN price plan

There's only one price plan for ExpressVPN which makes things a lot more straightforward. Granted, it's a very expensive price plan but that's because you get the kind of optional extras found in NordVPN and Surfshark's top tier packages included as standard.

Here's how it breaks down in this table showing ExpressVPN's main features:

Ease of Use ★★★★

Proton VPN is easy enough to use, in the main, but there are some slight irritations on a few platforms. There are apps available for pretty much all your devices – including Linux with a graphic interface – but the Chrome browser extension version isn't quite as reliable as the VPNs higher up, and, given the popularity of both Chrome and browsing when it comes to VPN use, it's quite the frustration. It's also a bit of an annoyance that the split tunneling feature isn't available on MacOS with Proton VPN either.

Proton VPN also loses marks in this category for customer service. Like the others in this list, the live chat isn't 24/7. It's only available during Swiss work hours – not great if you're based on Pacific Time in the States or you live in Australia or New Zealand.

Read more details on Proton VPN's apps and ease of use.

Streaming ★★★★★

Proton VPN is a good choice for both streaming and torrenting. Port forwarding is available and there are dedicated, P2P-optimized servers, which is great for the latter.

Proton also has more country locations than any other VPN. If you're looking to connect to a regional streaming service in Africa (22 countries) or the Middle East (14 countries) then it should be high on your list. It also has more Asia locations covered than any other provider on this page.

The trade-off is that there aren't so many server locations in the US or across Europe, but most countries are covered in those places, even if there's not much at the city/region level. More to the point, Proton VPN had no trouble with any local or international streaming services we tried. We managed to access the desired Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus libraries with every server we tried.

Read more details on Proton VPN unblocking and content.

Privacy & Security ★★★★½

Proton VPN has been built from the ground-up as a privacy-first product and there are plenty of features to use that show that off. Proton's Secure Core sends your VPN traffic through an extra secure server in a privacy-friendly location (Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden) and then on to the endpoint VPN server. Similar to NordVPN's Double VPN system, that means your traffic is secured twice, reducing the risk of your IP getting exposed if the endpoint server is hacked.

As well as OpenVPN and WireGuard, Proton uses its own Stealth protocol which hides the fact you're even using a VPN at all which could be very important if you're in a region where VPN use is banned.

Equally, you can opt to use the Alternate Routing feature instead which sends your IP-relocated internet traffic through a third-party server, like Amazon's, for example, and that helps you get around sites that don't like VPNs being used.

You can also connect direct to the Tor network through some Proton VPN servers which might be handy if you're in a line of work that requires extra anonymity.

Proton VPN Unlimited also brings use of the NetShield Ad-blocker feature. It did a decent job with ads and trackers, although the malware blocking end wasn't particularly comprehensive. Get a decent AV for that instead.

Read more details on Proton VPN privacy and security.

Speed & Performance ★★★½

Proton VPN plays second fiddle when compared to the speeds on offer with other VPNs on this list. The VPN Accelerator feature does a decent job of automatically finding the routes with better speeds when connecting to long-distance servers but if a fast VPN is your no.1 feature, then Proton won't be the best choice.

As ever, do bear in mind that for streaming purposes, Proton VPN has plenty under the hood. Indeed, its latency and jitter scores were nice and low, which arguably, is more important for some use cases.

Read more details on Proton VPN speed and performance.

Proton VPN price plan comparison

The free version of Proton VPN is one of the best free VPNs on available, and definitely worth your consideration, depending your needs. The paid version of Proton VPN is the one to go for if you want to use the streaming functionality, though. Upgrade to Proton Unlimited if you want all of that plus access to the full suite of Proton web products including Proton Mail, Proton Drive and more.

Here's a comparison table of the Proton VPN plans so you can see for yourself:

Ease of Use ★★★★

With simple apps for MacOS and Windows and a stylish feel to the Android and iOS software, PrivadoVPN is nice and straightforward to use. You don't get the same breadth of platform support as the others above and there's no live chat either but the help team will get back to you within 24 hours if you mail them with a problem. There's not a huge amount in the way of support articles on the PrivadoVPN site either.

What you do get a is a very clear display of how much data you have left in your month at all times in the user-interface. There's even unlimited access to the 1 Mbps emergency server for the rest of the 30-day period if you do happen to overshoot the mark. And you can't say fairer than that.

Read more details on PrivadoVPN Free apps and ease of use.

Streaming ★★★

PrivadoVPN's free tier gives users access to servers in nine different countries: US, UK, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico, and Switzerland. Windscribe is the only free VPN service to offer more. That's great for people trying to watch Premier League football, road cycling events, boxing and some of the best TV shows from around the BBC, NBC and much, much more – so long as you stay within your 10GB monthly limit, of course.

We had no trouble accessing US and UK Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer in our tests. As it's a free service, you shouldn't be surprised that you only get one device connection at a time but you can still install the app on as many different gadgets as you like.

Read more details on PrivadoVPN Free streaming performance.

Privacy & Security ★★★

PrivadoVPN scores pretty well for privacy, certainly for a free service. Naturally, there aren't as many features as those above but its VPN protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2) seem robust and should keep your data safe. Sadly, PrivadoVPN has, so far, not had an audit of its security systems or its no-logging policy, so we, and you, will just have to take its word for it, which isn't ideal.

There are no password managers or anti-virus protection extras thrown in, of course, but there is still a kill switch to protect you and the split tunneling inclusion is incredibly handy because you can minimize any unnecessary VPN data use. That's key given the free plan only allows 10GB per month.

Read more details on PrivadoVPN Free privacy and security.

Speed & Performance ★★★

PrivadoVPN's speed was perfectly respectable in our tests, coming out at over 900 Mbps; just as fast as the paid version and easily enough for most needs. Connection times are also very good. We were up and running on both desktop and mobile apps in two or three seconds at most. That's more than we can say for a lot of paid providers that haven't made this list.

Read more details on PrivadoVPN speed and performance.

PrivadoVPN price plan comparison

PrivadoVPN Free is a good choice if you really don't think you'll use it that much. In fact, you can always give it a go first and see how you get on. It is free, after all. It's slightly hidden on the PrivadoVPN website. Hit the 'Get Deal' button and look out for the grey 'Try Free Plan' on the bottom right corner of the next page.

If you do get to the point where you want a paid VPN provider, there are better ones on this list to choose from. All the same here's a feature comparison table of the PrivadoVPN Free and paid plans just to get an idea of what else is on offer:

PureVPN ★★★★
A near-perfect streaming score and exceptional WireGuard speeds make this budget VPN a worthy consideration. However, there are still a few kinks that need working out in the apps.

▶ Read more: PureVPN review

Hide.me ★★★★
Decent speeds and streaming unblocking put Hide.me centre of the pack for functionality, but its complicated apps and lack of audits undermine an otherwise great service.

▶ Read more: Hide.me review

Private Internet Access ★★★½
One of the best VPNs for Linux, and a popular VPN for torrenting, PIA is an industry veteran that has proven its no-logs policy in court (twice). Some connection issues and underwhelming speeds saw it fall out of our top ranks, but it's still a good app that's particularly well-suited for power users.

▶ Read more: Private Internet Access review

Hotspot Shield ★★★½
A popular free VPN that claims to be the fastest on the market. Our tests show otherwise, and it struggled in our stream unblocking tests, too.

▶ Read more: Hotspot Shield review

TunnelBear ★★★½
A popular brand that's had some excellent marketing campaigns, but the VPN itself is lackluster and can't hold a candle to the market leaders.

▶ Read more: TunnelBear review

VyprVPN ★★★½
Previously hailed for its proprietary Chameleon protocol, Vypr has lost a lot of that venom that kept it nipping at the heels of the top three.

▶ Read more: VyprVPN review

PrivateVPN ★★½
Once upon a time, this was a go-to VPN service. However, it's fallen behind the pack and now struggles to offer the same features and functionality.

▶ Read more: PrivateVPN review

Hola VPN ★★
Hola VPN collects some concerning log data, including your "IP address, operating system, browser type, web pages you visit, time spent on those pages, access times and dates." In our opinion, this logging undermines the entire purpose of using a VPN for privacy, even if it's doing it to prevent people from abusing your IP address, which it uses as one of its so-called "nodes."

▶ Read more: Hola VPN review

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