[multi_title]

With online privacy becoming a necessity, VPNs may be the only piece of tech rising to the task of being the guardians of our online identities. But given there literally are hundreds of VPNs out there, the question is – how do you choose the best VPN?! To save you from the hassle of having to go through listicles and reviews, we’ve done the job for you and created this guide along with a list of some of the most popular VPN service providers. Read on for the outcome!

Top VPN Leaderboard

Compare VPN Services to Choose the Right One For You

Regardless if you’re shopping online, streaming, or banking, your VPN should shield all your digital activities. When your VPN is on, no one on the outside should be able to see what you’re doing. And with this much responsibility, how do you know which is the best VPN for your needs? Below is a list of aspects to consider, or rather, compare, when choosing a VPN. Take a look!

Security: Encryption and Protocols

Some say VPNs are the cornerstones of today’s security, others render them essential players in online privacy. Regardless of what you believe is true, one thing is certain, your VPN must use the latest technologies in this field. 

The primary and most important aspect of the best VPN software is encryption, or the algorithm the software uses to scramble your data into unreadable text. And in this case, the longer, the better. At present, most VPNs use symmetric-key encryption for which the ‘gold standard’ is 256 bits combined with AES cipher. There’s also the 128 bits used together with the Blowfish block cipher as the default for OpenVPN protocols. However, as you will see in the table above, most of the best VPN services we’ve listed use AES 256-bit encryption.

Protocols are the core of a stable and secure VPN connection. They are the instructions or the process by which your computer, or any other device, will be routed to the VPN server. Naturally, there are different sets of rules by which this game is played, but the most widely used are OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, IPSec/IKEv2, Microsoft’s SSTP, and the latest WireGuard protocol, which most top VPN providers are now adopting. The great thing about WireGuard is that it’s designed to resolve frequent disconnections instantaneously and uses modern ciphers. However, despite its many positive testing results, if you’re not confident about using new tech, we’d recommend the OpenVPN or L2TP/IPsec protocols.

Server Locations and Network

The way VPN providers work is they rent servers in different locations across the world. That’s how they establish the routes by which your data will travel to its destination and back. A common misconception, though, is that the more servers the vendors offer, the faster the service, which of course, is not true. It’s actually all about the locations and how much control the provider has over its armada of servers. 

Most top VPN services have over 2,000 servers in 40 or 50 countries, so for this part, you should consider which locations make a difference to you. And remember,  VPNs do not speed up your internet connection, they actually slow it down, so whether your baseline connection will be affected and to what extent largely depends on the reliability and encryption of the server network. 

No-Log Policy 

The second most important feature when choosing a VPN is to check their policy on data collection. And in this department, there should be no compromise. In order for your activities to be completely protected, you don’t only need the best-rated VPN but also one that has a strict no-log policy. 

But while most claim they do not keep any logs of the information you transmit through the network, very few should be taken for their word. Instead, we recommend you read the privacy policy claims of the VPN you’re eyeing and opt for one that is based outside the so-called Five Eyes countries (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the US). Believe it or not, some of the best VPNs are located in Privacy Heaven nations like Malaysia, Switzerland, and Iceland.

Number of Simultaneous Connections

Since you’re paying for a VPN service, you might as well use it to protect all your devices. So for this part, we’d say the more simultaneous connections the provider allows, the better. Most top-level VPN providers we’ve reviewed offer unlimited or at least five simultaneous device connections with a single account. 

If, however, you’ve targeted one that’s been ranked the best VPN for home usage and allows just one connection, your best bet to keep everyone secure is to install it on your router. Just make sure it’s compatible with your router model.

Optimized for Streaming

One of the most common reasons people use VPNs is to unlock international streaming content or movies and shows they wouldn’t normally be able to watch in their home country. If you’re part of this gang, we suggest going with one of the top VPNs that have managed to crack the toughest nut–-Netflix, but also other streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, Amazon, BBC iPlayer, etc. Again, the more, the merrier. Plus, this way, you’ll get the most for the price you pay.

P2P and Torrenting Friendly

If you plan on downloading torrents, you need that extra layer of security in your VPN. And when you compare VPN services, you’ll see that most providers have an automatic kill switch. This is an excellent feature as it immediately shuts down the connection on your computer, phone, or any other device when a VPN connection drops. And yes, connections can momentarily drop, it happens to some of the best VPN service providers, which is why most of them, to prevent unexpected data leaks, have integrated this feature. 

VPN Cost

And finally, there’s the price which, according to our research, ranges from around $2 per month to $10 for top VPN service providers. Some VPN software offer extra features or add-ons for a certain fee which, if you are happy with the basic service, you can purchase later on. 

Another important thing regarding VPN cost is that most providers reserve the best pricing plans for users who get longer subscriptions. Also, even though some of the best providers do offer free plans, it’s important to remember that nothing is completely free. Free VPNs usually come with ads, slower connection speed, subpar features, or worse, sell users’ data. Therefore, when looking for the best VPN, our recommendation would be to go with one that offers a free trial or 30-day money-back guarantee. This way, if you’re not happy with the results, you’ll at least be able to get your money back and move on to the next best candidate.