A VPN provides you online anonymity and privacy by converting public internet connection to a network system. A VPN masks your IP (internet protocol) address so your online actions cannot be traced virtually. Moreover, VPN services establish encrypted and secure connections to provide more privacy than a secured Wi-Fi hotspot.
The need for a VPN service
Transacting on an unsecured Wi-Fi network or surfing the web through the unsecured network means you could be exposing your browsing habits and private information. That’s the cause why you should use a VPN. A VPN is a must for anyone concerned about their online privacy and security.
Imagine about all the times when you have been on the go, checking your bank account while waiting at a railway station or reading emails while in line at the coffee shop.
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The anonymity and encryption that a VPN provides help you protect your online activities like shopping online, sending emails, or paying bills. VPNs also help keep your web browsing encrypted and secured.
How a VPN protects your privacy and IP address?
VPN creates a tunnel between your local network and the exit node you are visiting, which could be a thousand miles away. This feature allows online freedom, the ability to access your favorite apps and websites anytime, anywhere.
VPN use encryption to scramble the data when it is sent through a Wi-Fi network. Encryption makes the data unreadable. Data security is most important when using a public Wi-Fi network because it prevents you from eavesdropping on your online activity.
Without a secure VPN, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) can know your whole browsing history. With a VPN, your browsing history is kept hidden. That is because your web activity will be secured with a VPN server.
A VPN service provider may have many servers from all over the world, which means your search activity could seem to originate at any one of them. Keep one thing in mind; search engines also track your search history. Again, your VPN will grasp your online activity secure and private.
How to choose a VPN?
To hold your data protected while using public Wi-Fi, it is best to use a VPN. But what’s the best way to select a VPN? Here are some points that you should consider before purchasing any VPN.
- Do they respect privacy? The foremost point of using a VPN is to protect your data & privacy, so your VPN provider must respect your data & privacy. They should have a feature of the no-log policy, which means that even they can never track or log your online activities.
- Do they run on most platforms? A VPN that runs on all operating systems like Android, Windows, and Mac would be best for you. In that way, you can secure your android phone, windows desktop/laptop, and your office’s laptop with macOS.
- Do they set data limits? Depending on your data usage, bandwidth may be a large deciding factor for you. Make sure the VPN service matches your needs by checking if you’ll get full, unmetered bandwidth without any data limits.
- Where are the servers located? Decide which server locations are significant for you. If you want to appear as if you are accessing the internet from nearby, make sure there is a server in that country.
- Will you be able to access the VPN on multiple devices? If you are an average consumer, you typically use more than one device. So, you would need a VPN for all your devices. But if the VPN providers give you the feature to set up the same VPN on all devices so that you can use them simultaneously.
- How much will it cost? If the price is essential for you, then you may think that a free VPN is a good option rather than the paid ones. But remember, however, some VPN services are free. Still, you might pay them in a different way, such as being served various advertisements or having your personal data obtained and sold to third parties.
If you compare paid vs. free options, you may find that free VPNs:
- don’t offer adequate security
- don’t offer the high bandwidth and connection speeds
- do have a higher disconnection rate
- don’t have as many servers
- don’t offer support
There are many points to consider before purchasing a VPN. Regardless of which provider you choose, rest guaranteed that a good VPN will provide privacy, security, and anonymity online than a public network can.
Here are some of the best VPNs of 2023:
1. ExpressVPN
If you’re a fan of Netflix or torrent, check out ExpressVPN, which provides the fastest service, with servers in 94 countries. It is for all platforms, and they use OpenVPN, with AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, port forwarding, shared IPs, and auto-connect. ​
ExpressVPN is flexible so that you can toggle with any feature easily. It allows three simultaneous connections. Their monthly subscription is around $10, and the annual plan is the best deal, which comes in about $99.00. All the subscriptions come with a 30-day refund policy.
Pros:
- Cross-platform software
- Reliable encryption and OpenVPN and doesn’t log traffic and DNS queries
- Incredible speeds for gaming, streaming
- Unblocks Netflix with unlimited bandwidth
- Kill switch
- 30-day refund
Cons:
- Three simultaneous connections only
- Doesn’t block ads
- Expensive
2. NordVPN
If you’re concerned about privacy, then try NordVPN, which offers excellent security features. Strong AES-256 encryption, zero-logs policy, Open VPN, and a kill switch. Moreover, it has a network in more than 800 server locations.
It allows six connections at a time and supports all the popular platforms. It is to switch servers for Ultra-Fast streaming and gaming, and it is ultra-secure for privacy.
NordVPN comes with a $70 annual plan and $12 monthly subscription, with a 30-day refund policy.
Pros:
- Reliable encryption with zero logs
- Six connections at a time
- Cross-platform software
- Wide range of servers
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- No ad blocker
- Its double encryption connection makes it slow sometimes
3. IPVanish
IPVanish offers excellent value for the money; it is simple and flexible enough for users. Fully-featured apps with a kill switch, 256-AES encryption, DNS leak protection, OpenVPN protocol, and SOCKS5 web proxy.
IPVanish software is cross-platform, but you’ll need to download the OpenVPN Connect app to set up in Android. You can make five simultaneous connections per account.
IPVanish offers excellent speeds and allows HD streaming, file-sharing, and unblocking restricted websites. They have servers in more than 60 countries.
It comes with a $10 for a monthly subscription and $78 for the annual plan. It is affordable with a seven days refund policy.
Pros:
- Simple cross-platform software
- Zero logs
- Unlimited bandwidth with a kill switch
- OpenVPN, 256-bit encryption and SOCKS5
- Allows five connections at a time
Cons:
- No port forwarding
4. PureVPN
PureVPN is a cross-platform software winner. It supports 50+ operating systems, including smart TVs, routers, and more. You can use PureVPN in five devices at a time. PureVPN has one of the largest networks with more than 700 servers in 141 countries.
It gives you an excellent speed for online gaming and HD streaming. It lets you choose protocols and switch to servers optimized for streaming, stealth browsing mode, and secure FTP access and unique connections for online banking.
It has 256-bit AES encryption, OpenVPN, and unlimited bandwidth. It keeps no activity logs, but do maintain session logs file for troubleshooting that might leak DNS. It is quite affordable. PureVPN will set you back $12 in a month-to-month plan and $72 for a two-year program.
They come with a three-day free trial and a seven-day money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Affordable and fast
- Split tunneling
- 24/7 support
- Great server coverage
- Supports 50+ platforms
- Five connections at a time
- Servers optimized for gaming and streaming
Cons:
- Speeds might drop during peak hours
- No Perfect Forward Secrecy
- Might leak DNS
5. Private Internet Access
It is the most affordable VPNs on the list. PIA lets you customize settings easily. PIA allows up to five connections at a time and has 34 cross-platform software. It is easy to install and setup.
Unlimited bandwidth and incredible speeds for gaming and streaming, an ad blocker, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and a malware blocker. Private Internet Access has a system of more than 3,200 servers in over 25 countries. It is excellent for unblocking Netflix.
It uses 256-bit AES encryption, and OpenVPN provides zero-logs policy. PIS is cheap, and the $40 annual and $7 monthly plans all come with a 7-day money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use cross-platform software
- Solid encryption, OpenVPN
- Up to 5 simultaneous connections
- Blocks ads, malware, and trackers
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Keeps no logs
Cons:
- US-based
6. VPNArea
VPNArea offers a great combination of performance, privacy, and price. They provide several features like DNS leak protection, a kill switch, server speed test, dedicated IP change, auto IP address, port forwarding, and auto-connect. They provide excellent customer services.
You can run six connections at a time, and its cross-platform software is easy to use. You’ll get the experience of online gaming and HD streaming. They provide zero log policy, AES 256-bit encryption, OpenVPN, and servers in more than 60 countries.
They come in $10 monthly and $59 annual subscriptions with a 7-day refund policy.
Pros:
- AES-256 encryption and OpenVPN
- Zero logs
- Six connections simultaneously
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Cost-effective
Cons:
- Outdated installation instructions
- May leak DNS
- The customer support is available only during office hours
7. Buffered
BufferedVPN has features like auto-connect, Port Discovery Mode that lets you connect to a public network without a password, and DNS leak protection. BufferedVPN is conscious of privacy with AES 256-bit encryption, zero-logs policy, and OpenVPN.
The speeds for HD streaming is reliable and consistent. They have networks across 37 countries. Buffered can let you watch Netflix shows. BufferedVPN works simultaneously in 5 devices. The refund your money if you don’t use their VPN within the first week.
Their monthly plan is for $12.50 and an annual subscription for $93 with a 30-day refund policy.
Pros:
- Great speed for streaming
- Great security
- Port Discovery Mode
- Unlimited bandwidth
- No logs
Cons:
- The monthly plan is expensive
- No-kill switch
8. CyberGhost
CyberGhost let’s you enjoy Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO, and many more from anywhere seamlessly. It is available for all the operating systems, and it has Chrome and Firefox browser extensions. It has a huge network of fast servers. It does not log IP or any other online activities.
It comes with US$5.99/mo for 12 Months and US$12.99/mo for one month. Besides that, it comes with 45 days of the money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Fast download speeds
- Unlocks Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and many more
- Supports HD streaming and gaming
- Largest server network with over 6,400 of working servers
- Cross-platform
- Excellent 24/7 customer support
Cons:
- Limited features on mobile & macOS
- Doesn’t work with Chromebook
- Adblocker is ineffective
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9. PrivateVPN
If you’re looking to stream block content securely, and with lightning-fast speeds, you must try PrivateVPN. With PrivateVPN, you can stream Hulu, Netflix, ABC, Amazon Video, and many more. PrivateVPN lets you access torrent with unlimited file sharing.
It has the feature of Port forwarding. It is privacy-friendly and follows a no-logs policy. It will keep your activity anonymous and private. You can use unrestricted bandwidth with PrivateVPN. It is also DNS leak-proof and uses AES 256-bit encryption.
It comes in $7.12 /mo for 1 Month and $1.89/ki for 24 months with a seven-day free trial and 30 days money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Easy mobile and desktop installation
- No logs
- 2048-bit encryption with AES-256
- Can stream BBC Live and US Netflix
- Impressive speeds and unlimited bandwidth
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Six connections at a time
- Virtual remote help with 24/7 customer support
Cons:
- Inconsistent server speeds
