32 Best VPN Services in 2026

NordVPN is consistently ranked the best overall VPN in 2026 by independent reviewers. Based in Panama, outside Five Eyes jurisdiction, it operates 9,000+ servers in 130 countries and achieves industry-leading speeds via its NordLynx protocol (WireGuard-based). Its audited no-logs policy has been verified multiple times by independent auditors. Threat Protection Pro blocks ads, trackers, and malicious downloads even when the VPN is off. Double VPN routes traffic through two servers for extra protection. Meshnet allows encrypted direct connections between devices.

Surfshark is the best value premium VPN, offering unlimited simultaneous device connections at $1.99/month on a two-year plan, the lowest price of any premium provider. Owned by Nord Security (same parent as NordVPN) since 2022. Notable unique features include GPS spoofing on Android, Alternative ID for generating fake personal details to reduce spam, and Nexus network routing through multiple servers simultaneously. CleanWeb ad and malware blocking is included. The Surfshark One bundle adds antivirus and breach alerts.

ExpressVPN is the most polished and beginner-friendly premium VPN, consistently praised for its intuitive apps across all platforms and its reliable streaming performance. Based in the British Virgin Islands, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction. Lightway protocol provides fast connections. TrustedServer technology stores nothing on disk: all servers run entirely in RAM and are wiped clean on every reboot. It introduced tiered pricing in 2024 with Basic, Advanced, and Pro plans offering progressively more features. ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies.

ProtonVPN is made by Proton AG, the team behind ProtonMail, based in Switzerland under Swiss privacy law. Switzerland is not a Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, or Fourteen Eyes member. Open-source apps are independently audited and publicly verifiable. Secure Core routing chains connections through hardened servers in Iceland, Sweden, and Switzerland before exiting to the destination, providing an extra layer against VPN endpoint compromises. The free plan offers unlimited bandwidth with no data caps, restricted to 5 servers and no streaming or P2P.

Private Internet Access is the oldest major VPN brand still operating with an open-source client, offering the largest confirmed server network of any consumer VPN at 10,000+ servers. It is owned by Kape Technologies, the same company that owns ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. PIA's open-source apps allow independent verification of what the software actually does. Port forwarding is a key feature for torrent users that most other providers have removed. The 3-year plan with 3 months free is one of the cheapest in the category.

CyberGhost is the most beginner-oriented premium VPN with the largest collection of streaming-optimised servers of any provider. It labels servers specifically by streaming platform and region, so users can select a Netflix UK or Disney+ Germany server directly without trial and error. Over 12,000 servers in 100 countries. NoSpy servers are independently operated in Romania with enhanced privacy protections. 45-day money-back guarantee is the longest of any major VPN. Owned by Kape Technologies.

IPVanish is a US-based VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections, strong speeds, and a large global server network covering 112 countries. It is particularly strong for US-based users and IPTV/live television streaming. Independently audited no-logs policy. Owned by Ziff Davis, the publisher of PCMag. The ownership by a major US media company is a point of concern for privacy-conscious users who prefer non-Five Eyes jurisdiction providers.

Mullvad is the privacy-extremist's VPN. No email address is required to create an account: the system generates a unique account number. Cash payments by post, Bitcoin, and Monero are all accepted. No personal data is ever collected. The price is EUR 5 per month with no discounts and no long-term commitment: you pay for however many months you want and refill like a parking meter. All servers are real bare-metal hardware, not virtual, with RAM-based storage. DAITA (Defense Against AI-guided Traffic Analysis) obfuscates packet patterns against advanced surveillance.

Windscribe is a Canadian VPN with a standout free tier offering 10 GB of monthly data across servers in 10 countries, and a paid plan that competes with the top providers on streaming performance. R.O.B.E.R.T. is Windscribe's custom blocking system that lets users create their own blocklists for ads, malware, trackers, and social media. In 2026 testing, Windscribe Pro unblocked 32 Netflix libraries, one of the highest counts of any VPN. Independently owned: no corporate siblings and no ownership connection to VPN review sites.

TunnelBear is a Canadian VPN with a distinctively playful interface that makes VPN use accessible to users who find the category intimidating. It was one of the first VPN services to commission independent security audits of all its apps, annually. Unlimited device connections on paid plans. A free plan provides 2 GB of monthly data with access to servers in 47 countries, one of the largest free server networks of any provider. Teams features support small businesses. Owned by McAfee since 2018.

PureVPN is a Hong Kong-based VPN with one of the broadest country coverage lists of any consumer provider at 88 countries. A 2017 incident in which PureVPN provided user data to the FBI damaged its privacy reputation significantly, though it has since moved to a no-logs policy and commissioned independent audits. It offers an Aura security platform with an antivirus add-on. Split tunneling and 10 simultaneous connections are included on all plans. Best suited for users who prioritise server location breadth over privacy credentials.

Hide.me is a Malaysia-based VPN offering strong privacy credentials, a powerful free plan, and a highly configurable interface that power users appreciate. The free plan provides 10 GB per month with access to 5 server locations, no registration required. Malaysia is outside Five Eyes jurisdiction. An independent audit by Cure53 verified its no-logs policy. The paid plan unlocks 2,400+ servers across 90+ locations. Advanced settings including connection per-app control and custom DNS make it a power-user's VPN.

StrongVPN is a US-based mid-tier VPN with a straightforward feature set covering the basics reliably. Owned by J2 Global (now Ziff Davis), the same company that owns IPVanish. It offers 950+ servers in 30+ countries, all protocols including WireGuard, and unlimited connections. SCRAMBLE obfuscation helps bypass VPN blocking in restrictive environments. Historically notable for offering a 30-day money-back guarantee. Suited for users wanting a no-fuss VPN at a mid-range price without extensive research.

VyprVPN is a Swiss-owned VPN that owns all its own server hardware, eliminating third-party data center dependencies. Its Chameleon protocol uses scrambled OpenVPN traffic to bypass deep packet inspection in countries like China and Iran. Golden Frog, VyprVPN's parent company, has operated since 2009 and maintains zero-knowledge DNS to prevent DNS-based surveillance. The standalone monthly plan at $5/month is among the cheapest monthly rates of any premium VPN.

Astrill is the most recommended VPN for users who frequently need a working VPN in China, where most other providers are blocked. Based in the Seychelles, it operates StealthVPN and OpenWeb protocols specifically designed to bypass the Great Firewall. The trade-off is price: at $30/month for the monthly plan or $12.50/month on the 2-year plan, it is the most expensive consumer VPN in this list. Logs IP address and connection time during sessions but deletes them on disconnect. Only 5 simultaneous connections.

PrivateVPN is a small Swedish company operating since 2009 that owns all its own servers. The small team means a smaller server network but more direct control over infrastructure. It has a strong reputation among privacy researchers for transparency. Stealth VPN mode for bypassing censorship, strong AES-256 encryption, and 10 simultaneous connections. Sweden is an EU member and part of Fourteen Eyes, which is a privacy limitation. Best suited for users who value supporting independent operators over the large corporate providers.

TorGuard is a US-based VPN purpose-built for torrent users and privacy enthusiasts needing advanced configuration. It offers dedicated streaming IPs, SOCKS5 proxy support, and stealth protocols for bypassing restrictive firewalls. Port forwarding support is available. The name refers to torrents, not the Tor anonymity network. Highly configurable, appealing to technically advanced users. Business plans for teams are also available. Less suitable for casual users looking for a polished consumer experience.

AirVPN is an Italian VPN operated since 2010 by privacy advocates, offering one of the most technically rigorous privacy implementations of any consumer VPN. It supports port forwarding on dynamic ports, Tor over VPN (routing through Tor exit nodes), and custom Tor network entry. Eddie is AirVPN's open-source client with advanced routing controls. Italy is an EU member and Fourteen Eyes participant, which is a jurisdiction limitation. Primarily used by technically sophisticated privacy researchers and activists.

FastestVPN is a budget VPN provider based in the Cayman Islands offering one of the lowest-cost long-term plans in the market, including lifetime deal options. It provides 800+ servers in 50+ countries, 10 simultaneous connections, and basic security features including AES-256 encryption, kill switch, and NAT firewall. The lifetime deal is targeted at users who want the lowest possible total cost without a recurring subscription. Limited third-party audits and small server network mean it is best for casual privacy needs.

ZenMate is a German VPN owned by Kape Technologies, the same company that owns ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access. It began as a browser extension and retains a strong browser-extension-focused user experience. Offers 4,300+ servers in 70+ countries. Basic features including kill switch and AES-256 encryption. Primarily positioned as a budget alternative to CyberGhost for users in the same ownership ecosystem. The no-logs policy has not been independently audited.

Outline is an open-source VPN project developed by Jigsaw (a Google subsidiary) and distributed by the Digital Rights Foundation. Unlike commercial VPNs, Outline lets users and organisations run their own VPN servers on cloud providers or private hardware, maintaining complete control. It uses the Shadowsocks protocol, which is designed to be resistant to detection and blocking. Free to use, with no company holding user data because the user hosts their own server. Widely used by journalists, activists, and organisations operating in censorship-heavy environments.

IVPN is a privacy-specialist VPN operated since 2009, positioning itself alongside Mullvad in the maximum-privacy category. It accepts payment in Bitcoin and Monero and does not require an email address to register. Multi-hop connections are standard across plans. WireGuard, OpenVPN, and Obfsproxy are supported. The AntiTracker blocks ad and tracking domains at DNS level. IVPN is independently operated, and its no-logs policy has been independently audited. Based in Gibraltar.

AdGuard VPN is developed by the team behind AdGuard ad blocker, offering a VPN that integrates closely with AdGuard's existing ad and tracker blocking technology. It uses a proprietary protocol designed to mimic HTTPS traffic for stealth operation. Exclusions mode lets users choose which apps and websites bypass the VPN rather than which ones use it, an inverse of the standard split tunneling approach. Russian-origin company now headquartered in Cyprus. Free plan provides 3 GB/month.

Mozilla VPN is a consumer privacy VPN operated by the Mozilla Foundation and technically powered by Mullvad's server infrastructure. It uses WireGuard exclusively. Multi-hop, DNS ad blocking, and split tunneling are available. Because Mozilla uses Mullvad's servers, the underlying privacy technical stack is comparable. Mozilla VPN's main differentiators are the Mozilla brand trust, simpler consumer interface, and the charitable mission connection. Limited to 5 simultaneous connections.

Bitdefender VPN is the VPN component of Bitdefender's antivirus suite, powered by Hotspot Shield's Catapult Hydra protocol. The antivirus bundle includes a 200 MB daily VPN data cap unless you purchase the standalone Premium VPN product. The standalone Premium VPN offers unlimited data. Bitdefender's antivirus is consistently rated as one of the top three antivirus engines by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. The VPN itself uses strict no-logs policy. Primarily valuable when bundled with Bitdefender antivirus rather than as a standalone VPN product.

Norton Secure VPN is included in Norton 360 bundles and provides unlimited VPN data, making it more useful than most antivirus-bundled VPNs. It uses OpenVPN on Windows and Android, and IKEv2 on iOS. Split tunneling and an ad tracker blocker are included. However, Norton's privacy policy logs the originating IP address and device type, which is a meaningful privacy limitation. Server coverage spans approximately 30 countries. Not effective for unblocking Netflix or other streaming platforms in independent testing.

Kaspersky Secure Connection is the VPN component of Kaspersky's security suite, using Hotspot Shield's Catapult Hydra protocol. The free tier is limited to 300 MB per day with no server selection. Paid plans lift the data cap and add server selection. Kaspersky's Russian origin has been a significant concern since the US government's advisory in 2022 recommending organisations remove Kaspersky software from systems. The antivirus engine itself remains highly rated, but the Russian ownership is a privacy concern for many users.

Avira Phantom VPN is included in Avira's security suite and is also available as a standalone product. The free version provides 500 MB per month with no server selection. Paid plans offer 1,400+ servers in 37 countries, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and unlimited data. Avira is a German company, placing it under EU data retention laws and Fourteen Eyes jurisdiction. The VPN is lightweight and minimal, suitable as a supplementary privacy layer for Avira antivirus users.

Betternet is a free VPN with an ad-supported model and a Premium paid tier. The free plan provides unlimited data with no account required, but includes ads and collects user data to monetise the service. Multiple independent security analyses have identified data collection practices in Betternet's free apps. The paid Premium plan removes ads and reduces data collection. Betternet is Chinese-owned, raising additional concerns about data governance. Best treated as an emergency last resort rather than a regular privacy tool.

Speedify is not a standard VPN: it is a bonding VPN that combines multiple internet connections simultaneously to improve speed, reliability, and stability. Its Channel Bonding technology merges Wi-Fi and cellular data to prevent dropped connections and reduce latency, particularly useful for live streamers, video callers, and users with unstable single-connection internet. It uses AES-256-GCM encryption and a proprietary Speedify protocol. Its US base and parent company's historic funding from intelligence-connected venture capital are concerns for privacy-focused users.

X-VPN is a consumer VPN with 8,000+ servers in 50+ countries, broad platform coverage including smart TVs and routers, and a simple interface. It offers auto protocol selection for optimised connections. The company behind X-VPN is Chinese-owned, which is a significant concern for privacy-conscious users. The no-logs policy has not been independently audited. Best suited as a basic IP masking tool for users who are not prioritising privacy credentials and primarily need basic protection on public Wi-Fi.

UrbanVPN is a free VPN that operates on a peer-to-peer model: when you use UrbanVPN, your device also functions as a VPN exit node for other users. This means your bandwidth is used by strangers, and their internet traffic exits through your IP address. This creates serious privacy and legal risks: activities performed by other users will appear to originate from your IP address. Multiple independent VPN security reviewers classify UrbanVPN as unsafe for regular use due to this model and its vague data practices.