Virtual Private Networks are privacy tools that help you watch blocked overseas Netflix movies. Yes, it’s true, but if you’re also looking to encrypt all your online activities and remain anonymous online, you should also invest in a VPN. With the ability to reduce your risk of being tracked online, even on public Wi-Fi networks, VPNs have come to stay, and it’s good that they are straightforward to use.
However, with dozens of VPNs worldwide, the problem shifts from staying anonymous and safe to find the best service, whether free or paid. As it is with almost every tech product, to find a good provider, you have to pay for it. With free VPN services, the adverts alone are enough to discourage you, and you don’t know how secure your connection is. Here’s how to find the best VPN service for you.
How to find the best VPN service
It would help if you first highlight your needs to find the best VPN service. Most VPNs have many locations and cover a lot of apps, which on the surface may look good, but if the focus is on your needs, then what you want is for your ideal VPN service to cover the locations and accommodate your platforms of interest.
If you’re interested in streaming, search for a VPN that unblocks your favorite services. Also, as a torrent user, you may be looking for a VPN service that facilitates P2P support on many servers, effectively keeping your identity secret and ensuring your activities are kept private. Also, if you’d like to connect on multiple devices, then you would do well to avoid a VPN service that allows simultaneous connections without limits.
To know a good or unreliable VPN service, you should check its support site. A support site with live chat, email support, and lots of detailed and helpful content will come in handy when you’re in need. The next factor to consider after functionality is price. You want to buy the best VPN service at the best price. Here are the best VPN services available on the market today.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our best VPN service provider and deserves a 5-star rating. With ExpressVPN, you can unblock Amazon, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney, and many more. One of the best features of this VPN is the 24/7 support. With 160 server locations in 94 countries, you only connect up to 5 devices simultaneously. ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers globally and offers a refund period of 30 days. ExpressVPN is of top quality, and its apps are well-engineered.
It is easy to run on most platforms and has a strong unblocking and encryption feature. This VPN service supports Windows, Android, iOS, Mac, Amazon Fire TV, Kindle Fire, Chromebooks, and routers. Also, it has simple setup guides for all these and many more platforms. Although the service allows five simultaneous connections, it is lower than the industry standard. While using ExpressVPN, we had downloads peak at over 630Mbps consistently. With its new 40Gbps bandwidth servers, we expect these download speeds to improve significantly.
Other features offered by ExpressVPN include secure DNS, leak protection, split Tunnelling, Network Lock, and top-quality VPN protocols. Also, you can customize your toolbar to launch your favorite websites and apps from the ExpressVPN app. An ExpressVPN subscription costs between $13 for a month and $6.67/month if you subscribe for a year, depending on the plan. It may be pricey, but you also get three months free.
NordVPN
NordVPN is our second best VPN service, primarily due to its top-rated security features. It offers 24/7 support and refund within 30 days of subscription. With over 5,500 servers in 80+ locations in over 60 countries, NordVPN has outstanding security features. With NordVPN, you can simultaneously connect six devices. NordVPN reliably unblocks most websites and apps. It has a High-speed NordLynx protocol, and with its diverse subscription options, you are assured of a good deal.
Aside from supporting Windows, iOS, Android, Mac, Chromebooks, Android TV, and more, NordVPN also offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and even compatible routers. Due to its data breach a few years ago, NordVPN now manages and owns many of its servers ensuring that no one has access to them. NordVPN apps use very secure protocols with reliable AES-256 encryption. NordVPN offers a Double VPN, also known as multihop, as an added security measure. Multihop means that your traffic is routed through two servers.
The secure DNS shields your browsing, and a robust kill switch is a backup protection in case the VPN fails. With Nord, you can get download speeds up to 950Mbps, although the average is 760Mbps. Also, you can scan your downloads for malware with its threat protection feature. The disadvantage of NordVPN is its below-standard user experience, and some of its features need improvement. The subscription for NordVPN starts at $12 per month, and you can get as low as $3.29/month if you buy a 2-year plan.
Surfshark
Surfshark is an excellent VPN service, and it made our list because it scores well using all factors. It has a 24/7 support and refund policy that lasts 30 days after subscription. Surfshark has 3200 servers in 100+ locations in 65 countries. The best feature about Surfshark is that you can connect simultaneously from as many devices as you want. It has an amazing unblocking feature and supports different operating systems and hardware.
The VPN service has an extensive privacy feature that covers WireGuard or OpenVPN secure protocols, a kill switch, and strong encryption that protects your traffic if the VPN fails. With Surfshark, you also get a private DNS to shield your browsing activities and a Multihop to make tracking you more difficult. Also, malware, ad trackers, and other privacy dangers are blocked. With the WireGuard protocol, you can get download speeds up to 790Mbps, while OpenVPN is sluggish at around 150Mbps.
We’ve noticed that it is easier to get the WireGuard protocol if you’re using Surfshark from the standard apps. It’s a different case if you’re using the VPN service on a router. The interface on Surfsharks apps is a bit more complicated than the other CPNs in the market, but that can be attributed to the various features you would have to explore. Surfshark can also be customized to work the way you want. The subscription price for Surfshark starts from $13/month to as low as $2.30 per month if you’re buying for two years.
Conclusion
In our world, it is easier to track anyone, so investing in a reliable VPN service is essential, especially if your line of work needs the utmost privacy. Also, if you’re only looking for access to banned sites and apps, these VPNs will serve you well. VPNs are great, but to enjoy a good VPN service, you need a good smartphone, and in this article, we reviewed the best smartphones for 2022.
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