The best VPN services in 2023

The best VPNs to help you stay safe online, tested by our experts

Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are becoming increasingly popular as more users look for ways to protect themselves when browsing the web. VPN services can mask your IP address and hide your location, ensuring your private data is kept away from third-party sites. 

Some of the best VPNs come with a wide array of features to help you protect yourself, including high levels of encryption, kill switches and split tunnelling. Other key advantages include the ability to bypass geographical restrictions, secure online transactions and allow for a safer connection to public wifi services

Not only do these features ensure a higher level of privacy and security, but they can help reduce the likelihood of a cybersecurity attack from hackers and cybercriminals. Some VPN services can be expensive investments, but there are some cheap VPN services available – and even free VPNs – that offer a similar level of security for a more affordable price. 

Our team of experts have spent hundreds of hours testing over 70 VPN services for performance, speed, security, privacy features and value for money. In this guide, we’ll also be detailing what you should look for when signing up for a VPN and bring you all the latest news on VPNs so you can stay up to date with the newest technology.

This week we’ve updated our news section and provided details of the latest Black Friday deals on offer from our top providers.

These top VPN providers are offering Black Friday deals – enjoy premium services for less.

• Subscribe to NordVPN’s two-year plan and get three months free for just £2.39 per month with a 30-day money-back guarantee – that’s 68 per cent off the normal price. It’s our best overall VPN, with secure, fast, optimised servers and a double VPN encryption   
• Our best value VPN, Surfshark, is offering its two-year plan for just £1.69 with a 30-day money-back guarantee. That’s a savings of up to 86 per cent, plus you can get three, four, or five months free on a two-year plan depending on the level of protection you choose
• ExpressVPN has lowered its 12-month plan by nearly half and is offering three months free. Sign up now for just £5.50 per month with a 30-day money-back guarantee 
• Our best VPN for gaming, CyberGhost’s two-year plan is currently 84 per cent off at £1.78 per month and comes with an extra four months free. The plan covers seven devices with optimised servers for gaming  
• Install Atlas VPN on an unlimited number of devices for as little as £1.34 per month with a whopping six months extra when you subscribe to its two-year plan
• Proton VPN is offering a generous six extra months for free when you buy a two-year subscription at 60 per cent off (£3.47 per month), while its 12-month plan comes with 52 per cent off and three months free. If you’re not looking for a commitment, even the monthly plan is 10 per cent off
• Private Internet Access has an impressive performance and allows for an unlimited number of device connections. Subscribe now for £1.57 per month for a two-year plan with four months free and a 30-day money-back guarantee
• Windscribe is offering 58 per cent off its 12-month subscription, lowering the monthly price to just £1.93
• IPVanish is now up to 82 per cent off. Plus, take out a two-year subscription for £1.94 and get three months free

Table definitions – why are these the most relevant criteria to measure a VPN by?

• Servers: The more servers a VPN provider has, the less likely it is to slow down when the service is under heavy load.

• Server locations: The number of countries where you can relocate your IP to

• Devices supported: How many devices the system supports with native apps

• Independent audit: Has the provider had a recent independent security audit to assess its security protocols

Our researchers have spent hundreds of hours testing the most best VPN services to assess the quality of their service for privacy and security levels, performance, ease of use, and cost and value for money. Here are the best VPN UK providers right now.

Specifications

• Number of servers: 5,500+
• Server locations: 60
• Number of devices supported: Six
• Operating systems and browsers supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge
• Cancellation policy: 30-day money-back guarantee
• Pricing:
• NordVPN 2 year

  £2.39

  /month

  NordVPN 1 year

  £3.59

  /month

  NordVPN 1 month

  £10.49

  /month

  VIEW

  At NordVPN

Our researchers spent several hours extensively testing NordVPN (Independent Advisor)

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Grab our Editor’s Choice for two years and get 66 per cent off the total price

NordVPN is one of the most popular providers among those who value privacy and performance above all else when it comes to choosing a VPN. Like all providers, it enables users to securely connect to the internet by encrypting their connection and encrypting their IP address. However, the company offers a range of extra features with its upper-level subscriptions that enhance the level of security. This makes it ideal for anyone who wants to protect their online privacy, bypass internet censorship, or access content that is restricted in their region. 

With a wide-ranging set of features, NordVPN is suitable for everyone from individuals to businesses and organisations of all sizes. Among its key features are AES-256 encryption (touted by VPNs as ‘recommended by the NSA’), independently verified no-logs policy, automatic kill switch, unlimited bandwidth and the option to connect up to six devices simultaneously with a single account. What’s more, NordVPN offers a large network of more than 5,500 VPN servers across 60 countries, making it easy for users to find a fast and reliable connection. 

For the security-conscious, its double VPN encryption adds more privacy to your browsing, while private DNS protection means no threat of hijacking and no log of your online activities.

NordVPN is also a great choice for streaming thanks to its SmartPlay feature, which combines smart DNS technology with your base VPN connection, meaning it will change your DNS server to access blocked content while cloaking your IP address – allowing you to access streaming content without compromising privacy.

NordVPN is one of the best services you can subscribe to because it offers such a comprehensive range of privacy features aimed at protecting your security online, alongside a large fleet of servers. NordVPN uses some of the strongest encryption protocols to protect your data and browsing history from snooping and other cyber threats, and is also incredibly easy to set up and use.

How to use

For all of its comprehensive features and numerous levels of encryption, NordVPN is surprisingly fast. (NordVPN)

The easiest way to use NordVPN is to download and install the companion app on your device. The app is available for both desktop and mobile devices, and is compatible with both Linux and ChromeOS devices. In fact, our researchers believe it has the best mobile VPN app, naming it the best VPN for iPhone and the best VPN for Android, as well as the best VPN for PC and a top-performer on MacOS. Once you have installed the app, you can connect to one of the NordVPN servers located in over 60 countries. 

NordVPN also lets you set up the service directly on your router. This means that any device that is connected to your wifi network is also connected to the VPN. These users can then access NordVPN without having to install the app. 

Security

NordVPN does not log user activity. It features data privacy features such as military-grade encryption, an automatic kill switch, double data encryption and private DNS. It also has a strict no-logs policy, meaning that it does not collect or store user data. What’s more, NordVPN regularly invites auditors to check its no-log policy and scrutinise its security protocols, which to date it has passed with flying colours.

The kill switch feature is an option in the Linux, iOS and MacOS versions of the app, although you can also enable something similar on devices running Android 7 or higher. Aimed at activists, journalists and political bloggers, the kill switch is constantly scanning your connection to NordVPN’s server, and if there’s a disconnection it will immediately block your device or designated apps on your device from accessing the internet until a connection is restored.

NordVPN also offers its unique Meshnet feature, which allows users to create a private network for up to 60 devices (10 on your account, plus 50 external devices). Rather than being routed through a VPN server, Meshnet allows devices to communicate directly for safe file sharing, work collaboration, and multiplayer gaming.

Onion Over VPN is Nord’s unique feature that gives users all the benefits of The Onion Router (Tor) and combines them with a secure VPN tunnel. To access Tor securely, it’s always best to connect it with a VPN – Onion Over VPN servers allows access to the Onion network without the need for a Tor browser. By using the dedicated server, your online activities will be safe from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), third parties and whoever set up the Onion server you’re using (they’re volunteer-operated, so anyone can set them up).

User experience

On Trustpilot, NordVPN gets overwhelmingly positive reviews. More than three-quarters of its reviews are five-star, with another 8 per cent awarding four stars. Most people praise how easy it is to set up and the depth of the security protocols. The trade-off, however, is that users report it can sometimes be slower than other VPNs.

Performance 

Testing NordVPN yet again revealed its relatively strong performance, with the expected upload speed degradation and ping increase in long-distance connections. Connecting from the UK to a UK VPN server indicated impressive download speeds, slightly exceeding the baseline at 101 per cent, although the upload speed dropped by half. 

Transatlantic connections to the US showed robust download speeds, maintaining a substantial percentage of the reference level, but upload speeds decreased dramatically, retaining only 15 per cent of the baseline. Connecting to an Australian server, we registered strong download speeds, providing a 72 per cent retention and consistent uploads at 14 per cent of the baseline. Overall, despite the significant slowdowns in uploads across vast distances, NordVPN maintains robust download speeds, which makes it an excellent choice for users prioritising fast, secure, and resilient connections.

Speed test result without activating NordVPN. This is the baseline against which we measure the impact of the VPN on speed and latency. Below the readings of the download and the upload speeds are the ping (latency) in milliseconds and the amount of data downloaded (green) and uploaded (purple) during the test (in megabytes)

Speed test results

Date tested: 15/11/23

Customer service

NordVPN has a fantastic customer support page that’s bustling with tutorials on how to use and troubleshoot its products. Of all the best UK VPNs in this guide, NordVPN produces the most comprehensive tutorial content. If you need that human touch, there’s an option to live chat with the support team, send them an email, or even reach out to their support communities on social media. The support team is also very active on review sites like Trustpilot, actively engaging and commenting on almost every review. 

Cost

NordVPN offers three levels of service: its Standard, Plus and Complete plans. Each plan offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and can be paid monthly or on an annual or two-year basis. The longer commitment you make, the cheaper it becomes if you break it down by monthly cost.

For those wondering, the Complete option includes 1TB of encrypted cloud storage, NordVPN’s Data Breach Scanner and cross-platform password manager. The Plus plan doesn’t include the cloud storage, and the Standard plan further excludes the Data Breach Scanner or password manager.

Verdict

NordVPN may not be the cheapest option on our list, but it has some great privacy features, plenty of server options and excellent support. Its use of AES-256 encryption paired with its multi-layered privacy options such as double VPN make it ideal for those who are looking to protect their online activity. Its no-logs policy is regularly audited by independent third parties, backing up all of its security and privacy claims.

The provider’s range of extra features help it stand out from the crowd, including Meshnet, Dark Web Monitoring, NordLynx protocol, and Threat Protection. Meanwhile, more than 5,500 servers in 60 countries, including a selection of speciality servers, give users plenty of options for connecting to a server that’s best for the task at hand.

The main downside we found with NordVPN is its complicated pricing structure, which can make it difficult for users to determine which subscription level is right for them. However, by offering various options, NordVPN is able to appeal to a wider range of potential customers depending on their budget.

Overall, we feel that NordVPN offers a smooth, professional product that delivers excellent results.

★★★★½

Read our full NordVPN review.

Specifications

• Number of servers: 3,200+
• Server locations: 100
• Number of devices supported: Unlimited
• Operating systems and browsers supported: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Safari
• Cancellation policy: 30-day money-back guarantee
• Pricing:
• Surfshark 24 month

  £1.69

  /month

  Surfshark 12 month

  £3.29

  /month

  Surfshark 1 month

  £11.99

  /month

  VIEW

  At Surfshark

Surfshark performed well in our tests and our researchers were impressed with its app (Independent Advisor)

Surfshark is one of the more popular VPN services due to its all-rounder mix of features, security, privacy, customer support, and a user-friendly interface. Surfshark promises to keep your data safe and secure while you browse the internet, and it offers a wide range of features to help you do so. 

The service appeals to a wide user base, with a feature set designed for individuals, families and businesses of all sizes who are looking to secure their online activities and protect their personal information from prying eyes. Surfshark’s selling points include AES 256-bit encryption, no-log policy, multi-hop VPN, automatic kill switch, unlimited simultaneous connections and a large network of more than 3,200 servers in more than 63 countries. 

Its user-friendly interface and affordable pricing make it a popular choice for people who want to enjoy a secure and unrestricted internet experience without breaking the bank, which is why our reviewers named it the best cheap VPN on the market. Additionally, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 customer support, making it a reliable VPN service for those looking for peace of mind.

Surfshark is ideal for anyone who wants to keep their data safe and secure while browsing the internet. It’s particularly useful for people who want to bypass geo-restrictions, access censored websites, or protect themselves from hackers and trackers.

Surfshark allows for an unlimited number of simultaneous device connections, which means you could stream on your Mac, Smart TV and mobile phone devices – all simultaneously, under one subscription plan.

In 2023, Surfshark merged with NordVPN, but both will continue to operate as autonomous companies relying on separate infrastructures and different product development plans.

How to use

Surfshark is easy to use, and its user-friendly interface is designed to be intuitive (Surfshark)

Using Surfshark is very easy. All you need to do is download the app to your device, sign in and click your country of choice and connect to a server. Once you’re connected, you can start browsing the internet securely and anonymously. 

Surfshark is compatible with devices that run Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, as well as Chrome and Firefox web browsers. You can even use Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch gaming consoles, along with Fire TV and AppleTV.

If you don’t want to use the app, there’s also the option to install Surfshark on your router. This means that any device connected to your wifi network can use the VPN to surf or stream anonymously. And because Surfshark supports unlimited devices, you don’t need to place limits on who is using it at any one time. 

Security

Surfshark offers a number of security and privacy features to keep your data safe. Its Multihop option, for example, is essentially a double VPN browsing mode that lets you encrypt your connection for added security. 

Other security features include 256-bit encryption, a no-logs policy and, like others, a kill switch to help protect your data in the event of a connection drop. It also offers a variety of VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard, giving users a choice of split tunnelling protocols to enhance security.

Surfshark’s headquarters used to be based in the British Virgin Islands but moved to the Netherlands in 2021. The Netherlands has a liberal political environment and legal system which allows the company to retain its no-logs policy. However, one concern is that the Netherlands is a part of Nine Eyes – an intelligence-sharing network.

Surshark has acknowledged such issues and has been independently audited. Surfshark recently passed its first independent audit of its no-logs policy, and regularly has its server infrastructure independently assessed.

User experience

Surfshark VPN is incredibly easy to use, and its user-friendly interface is designed to be intuitive. No technical knowledge is required for you to quickly start using Surfshark. Log in, click on the country and server you want to access, and away you go. And if you do get stuck, Surfshark’s 24/7 support team or wealth of handy tutorials and blogs will get you moving again. 

Performance

In our latest speed tests, Surfshark demonstrated robust performance for local connections. The service displayed a negligible reduction in the download speed and maintained a strong 82 per cent of the reference upload speed when connected within the UK. Latency also maintained close to no-VPN levels. However, international scenarios saw more significant performance degradation. 

The UK-to-US connection maintained 84 per cent of the download speed, but uploads suffered significantly, dropping to 11 per cent. The most dramatic reduction occurred when connecting to a VPN server in Australia, where download speeds hovered at a quarter of the base speed, and uploads fell to as low as 7 per cent. Latency increased substantially for long-distance servers, potentially affecting time-sensitive applications. While local UK performance is strong, the long-distance connection to Australia presents substantial challenges, suggesting that Surfshark is best suited for users prioritising closer regional connections.

Speed test results

Date tested: 15/11/23

Customer service

Like the other best VPN providers, Surfshark goes all in on customer service, providing tutorials and troubleshooting guides, while also offering a live chat service with its team and the option to email them directly. 

Surfshark receives favourable reviews on Trustpilot, where reviewers can comment on the provider’s security, apps and customer service. Customers praised the company for its helpful customer service personnel and their solutions to issues. While some reviews shared negative experiences surrounding refunds and difficulty downloading the app – Surfshark takes its customer service very seriously and replies to both positive and negative reviews.

Cost

Verdict

Surfshark offers a brilliant service – it’s fast, accurate, secure and one of the cheapest if you go for a longer-term subscription. It’s hard to find many faults with what it offers. 

With that being said, a few features aren’t available in some apps, with iOS platforms, in particular, feeling slightly forgotten – an issue we think should be addressed by Surfshark. The issues with the kill switch alert on Windows could be another sticking point for some users. As well as this, features like  Surfshark Alert, Antivirus and Search, all look like brilliant tools – but they aren’t included in your subscription. They’re add-ons you must pay extra to use. This is fine in a vacuum, but other VPNs tested here offer similar tools as part of the overall package.

However, for the vast majority of people who just want a VPN for unblocking and some extra privacy online, which had been independently verified, Surfshark is a great choice.

★★★★½

Read our full Surfshark VPN review.

Specifications

• Number of servers: 3,000+
• Server locations: 105
• Number of devices supported: Eight
• Operating systems and browsers supported: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux, routers
• Cancellation policy: 30-day money-back guarantee
• Pricing:
• ExpressVPN 12 month

  £5.50

  /month

  ExpressVPN 6 month

  £8.24

  /month

  ExpressVPN 1 month

  £10.68

  /month

  VIEW

  At ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN may be pricey, but its ability to bypass geo-restrictions impressed our researchers (Independent Advisor)

BEST PRICE: Get ExpressVPN for just £5.50

ExpressVPN is probably the best-known VPN service in this guide and for good reason: it’s an excellent all-rounder. It offers a good mix of features, from strong download and upload speeds to privacy protections such as a strict (audited) no-log policy, automatic kill switch, unlimited bandwidth and simultaneous connections, and a large network of servers in nearly 100 countries.

Stable connection speeds and reliable performance make ExpressVPN a popular choice, and its customer support gets rave reviews online. As such, ExpressVPN is one of the most popular services on the market and is compatible with Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux and routers, as well as other devices.

ExpressVPN’s ability to bypass geo-restrictions makes it a good choice of VPN for streaming – it’s the best VPN to use in China thanks to its ability to bypass China’s robust firewall. Its fast connection speeds and large server base allow for a smooth streaming experience.

ExpressVPN is suitable for anyone who is a casual internet user up to a business professional. It’s a trusted brand – one of the most well-known in the VPN market – and has a large 24/7 customer service team to help with any query or unique need.

How to use

The desktop app window is very small and thin, in portrait orientation – almost like a smartphone screen. (ExpressVPN)

Using ExpressVPN is very easy. It offers both PC and Mac versions of its app (in fact, we named it the best VPN for Mac), as well as Android and iOS versions for your smart devices. It’s also been named by our researchers as the best VPN for Chrome thanks to its slick browser extension, and also the best VPN for Firestick. ExpressVPN can also be installed directly onto your router so that all the devices on your network can use the service. 

What’s more, ExpressVPN sells its own router, called Aircove. Aircove has VPN built into it, which allows all of the devices on your wifi network to benefit from the features of your ExpressVPN subscription. You can run up to five VPN locations at one time, and even block certain devices from the VPN or others from accessing the internet. 

Gamers will also love ExpressVPN thanks to the service’s unlimited bandwidth and option for split tunnelling, which essentially means you can route some devices through the encrypted VPN and let others access the internet directly, improving the speeds for all devices. What’s more, it supports just about any gaming console you can think of.

Security

ExpressVPN offers a range of security and privacy features, including 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a no-logs policy. Additionally, it offers a kill switch, which will automatically disconnect you from the internet if your VPN connection fails.

ExpressVPN makes safeguarding privacy its mission statement and also vows to be transparent. It openly calls for independent auditors to review its privacy policy and test its technology.

User experience

The ExpressVPN desktop app interface is very intuitive. The window is very small and thin, in portrait orientation – almost like a smartphone screen.

From the main screen, simply click on the menu button, navigate to Locations and everything is organised by continent. A really nice feature in ExpressVPN that we didn’t see in other VPNs’ interfaces is the option to run a speed test on your desired server before you connect. In the menu, you’ll find the Speed Test option, and here you can select your desired region and test before connecting. This can save some real headaches should you be intending to stream or download large files. 

ExpressVPN gets very favourable reviews on sites like Trustpilot, where reviewers comment on the ease of setup and reliability of connections. Quite a few commenters, in fact, point out that they live in countries ruled by oppressive regimes and ExpressVPN’s consistency has enabled them to publish and engage with other like-minded citizens. This is a testament to ExpressVPN’s commitment to privacy and security. 

What’s more, ExpressVPN’s support team is very active on such review sites, commenting and offering suggestions on nearly every post.

Performance

Along with providing robust security and privacy features, ExpressVPN showed strong performance in local UK tests. The service maintained 65 per cent of the base download speed and a relatively healthy 73 per cent of the baseline upload speed. However, longer distances imposed more pronounced challenges on performance.

Switching to a US server resulted in a considerable slow down to 56 per cent of download reference speed levels and a sharp decline to only 6 per cent for uploads. The connection to Australia saw a further drop in the download speed to 40 per cent of the base, raising concerns for data-intensive tasks. Upload speed kept 14 per cent of the baseline, outperforming the UK-to-US scenario. High latency, particularly noticeable on distant servers, could impact streaming and gaming experiences.

Speed test results

Date tested: 15/11/23

Customer service

ExpressVPN’s customer service is perhaps the best you can find amongst VPN providers. Its support page has a wealth of content, from set-up and troubleshooting guides to a Knowledge Hub with tips on how to make the most of the service. There’s also a live chat option where you can speak to real humans to resolve any issues – a real rarity these days. 

There’s also a very large and clear button to email the support team if you don’t want to have a chat. That doesn’t sound like much, but how many times have you needed to contact a company’s support team and had to scan through multiple pages or answer questions from a chatbot in order to get there? So many companies make it difficult to contact them, but thankfully ExpressVPN is not one of those. 

Cost

All three ExpressVPN plan options include a 30-day money back guarantee, and each offers the same features and support for all devices.

Verdict

ExpressVPN boasts the highest level of security – AES-256, an encryption protocol that has never been hacked (and is highly unlikely ever to be).

Its desktop and mobile apps are easy to use and are available for all major platforms, including iOS/iPadOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Linux, as well as devices such as Chromecast and Google TV. ExpressVPN also has robust router compatibility, so you can protect all devices on your network with just a few clicks.

With over 3,000 servers in 94 different countries, the service’s internet speed and usability for streaming content is best-in-class. For the privacy-conscious, ExpressVPN has a strict no-log policy, which has been tested via independent security audits.

The only real downside to ExpressVPN is its pricing when compared to other top VPN providers – better value can be found elsewhere.

★★★★½

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

Specifications

• Number of servers: 9,700+
• Server locations: 91 countries
• Number of devices supported: Up to seven
• Operating systems and browsers supported: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox
• Cancellation policy: Up to 45-day money-back guarantee depending on your plan
• Pricing:
• CyberGhost 27 month

  £1.78

  /month

  CyberGhost 6 month

  £6.19

  /month

  CyberGhost 1 month

  £10.89

  /month

  VIEW

  At CyberGhost

CyberGhost performed the best in our online gaming and streaming tests (Independent Advisor)

CyberGhost is another popular VPN designed for all manner of users. It’s a good choice for anyone seeking to game online or download torrents, to families wishing to watch videos and businesses who are looking to protect their online activities.

CyberGhost offers a range of privacy features, including AES 256-bit encryption, strict no-log policy, automatic kill switch, unlimited simultaneous connections and a large network of nearly 10,000 servers across 90 countries. It’s this server fleet that gives it a real advantage over rivals in terms of accuracy, as it can optimise certain servers to cater to certain activities, such as streaming, online gaming, or P2P file sharing (the provider was named by our researchers as the best VPN for torrenting).

CyberGhost’s user-friendly interface and affordable pricing make it a popular choice for people who want to enjoy a secure and unrestricted internet experience without compromising on speed or reliability. 

What’s more, CyberGhost again reigns over other VPNs in this guide by offering a 45-day money-back guarantee for longer-term plans. Backed by 24/7 customer support, it’s a reliable VPN service for just about anyone. It provides peace of mind both in its security and accuracy. 

CyberGhost is the best VPN for anyone who is not very tech savvy and prefers a simple, one-click method of getting online securely. The interface is the most user-friendly of those in this guide. For general browsing, simply click on any of the countries in the list and it will pair you with the best server in that location. If you want to stream or download large files, there are options in the side menu for these where you can choose the best server for your needs. 

As well as ease of use, CyberGhost stands out because of its incredible accuracy. With more than 9,700 servers around the world, if one doesn’t do what you need, the next one is bound to. Keep trying and you’ll get there. This is what we found in our test; nothing was out of reach. 

CyberGhost is also suitable for anyone who wants to protect their online privacy and security, with a wealth of features to keep your data safe and anonymous.

How to use

CyberGhost really feels like the complete package. Its download and upload speeds aren’t quite at Surfshark’s levels, but they’re not far off. (CyberGhost)

Using CyberGhost couldn’t be easier. Simply download and install the app to your device of choice, log in with your username and password, and then select a server from the list of countries or presets for different activities (e.g. Streaming and Downloading). You can then start browsing the web securely. It’s no more complicated than that.

Like other VPNs tested here, CyberGhost lets you install it directly onto your wifi router so that any device connected to your network can browse the web securely. CyberGhost’s support page has a number of handy tutorials for installing the VPN on different types of routers.

Security

CyberGhost offers a range of security and privacy features. These include 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, anti-malware protection, and IP leak protection. Its kill switch is available for iOS, macOS and Windows applications and users will receive an instant alert when the switch is actioned, ensuring the user’s privacy is maintained at all times. 

Another security feature is CyberGhost’s VPN protocols, which include IKEv2, WireGuard and OpenVPN – all of which NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark also offer. Said protocols add a layer of safeguarding and have been proven to produce fast internet speeds.  

It also offers a no-logs policy, which means that it does not keep any logs of your online activities. The company also invites auditors, such as Deloitte, to verify its no-logs policy and security controls.

However, CyberGhost is based in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, and operates under Romanian law. According to its website, in 2011, the Romanian Senate unanimously rejected the European Union’s Data Retention Directive, enabling the provider to strictly enforce its no-log policy. 

User experience

CyberGhost is so simple to use that you will get to grips with the software within minutes even if you don’t consider yourself tech-savvy. The app is intuitive and very simple to navigate. It is also compatible with a wide range of operating systems and browsers, making it ideal for users of all skill levels.

Many customers comment in online reviews on the overall easy experience of using CyberGhost and its accuracy thanks to the wealth of servers available. The only complaints are that sometimes its speeds aren’t as fast as other VPN services.

Performance

In our latest tests, CyberGhost delivered satisfactory performance in local connections but indicated considerable speed degradation over longer distances. Connecting to VPN servers within the UK offered adequate download speeds, retaining 61 per cent of the baseline. However, the upload speeds plunged to 35 per cent, potentially affecting content sharing. 

Connections to US servers showed a download speed retention of 56 per cent, with uploads plummeting dramatically, indicating potential limitations for content sharing. Connecting to servers in Australia, we registered a slight further decrease in speeds, with download speeds remaining acceptable at 47 per cent of the baseline. The uploads saw an additional slowdown, accompanied by high latency, which could hinder real-time applications. CyberGhost is a viable choice for browsing and streaming within the UK, but it may experience challenges with demanding tasks over long distances.

Speed test results

Date tested: 15/11/23

Customer service

Users love CyberGhost, judging by the fact that a whopping 96 per cent of CyberGhost’s reviews on Trustpilot are four and five stars. Many customers mention the service’s affordability, smooth-running apps, and privacy features.

Some users do report that customer service response times are slow, but as you can see from the ratings, these complaints are few and far between.

CyberGhost also has a customer support page that is teeming with content of all kinds, from guides to FAQs and troubleshooting. Support content is also specific to your device or operating system. The detail is pinpoint accurate. The company also offers a live chat service with its support team. 

The only negative is that it’s a little hard to find this. It would make sense, as the other VPNs tested here have done, to put the live chat and email contact for the support team on the customer support page. Instead, you have to navigate to the site’s footer and find this in the Contact page. 

Cost

Verdict

CyberGhost is the most complete service, offering the best mix of speed, performance, security, accuracy, features and customer service, and all at the cheapest price of any other VPN provider tested here, should you choose to invest in the longer subscription plan.

CyberGhost performed well on its speed tests and we’re confident that users can use the VPN without video lags. Its level of privacy and security is also comparable to other providers and its no-log policy had been independently verified. 

CyberGhost offers the largest server network, and its standard features are of good use, although it doesn’t offer as many privacy features as some other providers, it’s an excellent choice for gamers and those wishing to stay protected.

★★★★

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review.

• Number of servers: 2,706
• Server locations: 67
• Number of devices supported: 10
• Operating systems and browsers supported: Windows, Linux, MacOS, android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox
• Cancellation policy: 30-day money-back guarantee
• Pricing:
• Proton VPN 2 years

  £3.47

  /month

  Proton VPN 12 months

  £4.16

  /month

  Proton VPN 1 month

  £8.68

  /month

  VIEW

  At Proton VPN

Proton VPN’s superior privacy credentials nudged it into our top five VPNs (Independent Advisor)

Proton VPN is a good provider for a number of use cases, one of those being torrenting. It’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to share files using a secure and fast connection. The company says it takes its users’ privacy seriously, adhering to a strict no-logs policy, and is headquartered in Switzerland – a country that has strict data protection laws and is not part of any intelligence-sharing alliance. 

Proton VPN offers a range of security features, including AES-256 encryption, split tunnelling, a kill switch and its NetSheild ad-blocker, which protects users from ads and stops trackers from monitoring any browsing history. Its VPN Accelerator feature has the ability to boost your connection speed by up to 400 per cent, smoothing out buffering time when streaming and improving connection stability.

Offering both a paid and free plan (in fact, we’ve named it the best free VPN), Proton began as a crowdfunded project but continues to be supported by its community, and its free plan is subsidised by its paid users. With that being said, its paid subscription is very reasonably priced and good value for money, considering the privacy and security features that come with the plan as standard.

How to use

The Proton VPN app makes it easy to set your preferences for connecting to its servers (Proton VPN)

Proton VPN offers apps for Android, Mac, iOS and PC, and its sleek back and purple design is aesthetically pleasing. There is also a Chrome browser extension, as well as options to install it straight onto your router, providing it’s compatible. 

Security

Proton VPN offers a range of security and privacy features, including military-grade encryption – AES-256 – as well as ChaCha20, an encryption type that is faster than AES-256. It also allows users to choose between three different protocols – WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2 – all of which offer a great level of security for users who are seeking to stay protected. 

What’s more, Proton VPN has a no-logs policy that has been independently audited, and the company is based in Switzerland, which has strict data protection laws. Switzerland is also not part of any intelligence-sharing alliance like some of the other VPN providers we have reviewed. 

User experience

Proton VPN is very user-friendly for both beginner and advanced VPN users; its app has a sleek interface and all of its mod-cons are easy to locate. Once the app is loaded, you can see which server you’re connected to and where it’s located on a map of the world. Changing server locations can be done in just a few clicks. 

In the settings menu, you’ll find you’re able to toggle on the in-built ad-blocker, kill switch and split tunnelling features. There is also an option to create profiles, which save your preferred settings so you can use them over and over. 

The service receives mixed reviews on Trustpilot, with some reviewers complaining about pricing and the VPN connection dropping out. However, five-star reviews praise its customer service and privacy features.  

Performance

The latest speed tests conducted by our reviewers indicated the impressive performance of Proton VPN when connecting within the UK. The service maintained most of the baseline download and upload speeds, making it an excellent choice for regular users, streamers, and gamers looking for a secure and fast nationwide connection. 

Switching to a US server delivered strong download speeds, retaining 90 per cent of the baseline. However, upload speeds dropped sharply to 18 per cent of the reference levels, raising concerns about transferring massive amounts of data. Connections to Australia exhibited dramatic speed degradation, with the download speed plummeting to 4 per cent of the no-VPN levels, likely affecting streaming quality, although uploads at 10 per cent could still handle basic tasks. Overall, Proton VPN offers stellar local performance, but global connections experience noticeable slowdowns.

Speed test results

Date tested: 15/11/23

Customer service

There are several ways to contact Proton VPN’s customer support team, including a 24/7 live chat service available for paid users, an email address and an online support form. 

Live chat puts you straight through to a member of the customer service team without needing to answer a chatbot’s questions. The provider also has an email address for less urgent requests – contact@protonvpn.com – though the company clearly states it will take them longer to reply to this service. 

For customers who need to report a specific issue, the online support form allows users to report on their specific operating system and describe their issues. 

Cost 

All of Proton VPN’s plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee, and each offers the same level of support and features. There is also a scaled-back free version of Proton VPN, which only allows one device connection and 22 servers in three locations.

Verdict

Proton VPN is one of the newer providers on the market, and it has achieved a lot of credibility since starting out in 2014. Its no-log policy has been independently audited, and even put to the test when the company was ordered to share a user’s data but was unable to comply because no data had been logged. The company is also headquartered in Switzerland, which has some of the strongest privacy laws in the world. 

Proton VPN is perfect for torrenting and when we tested the provider, we found our speed tests were above average across all of the servers tested. What’s more, the provider offers an excellent level of online privacy without compromising on user experience.  

★★★★

Read our full Proton VPN review.

These providers didn’t quite make our top five, but our researchers still believe they’re worth considering on your search for a VPN.

Specifications

• Number of servers: 500+
• Server locations: 84
• Number of devices supported: Unlimited
• Operating systems and browsers supported: Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows, Linux, Chromebook, routers
• Cancellation policy: 30-day money-back guarantee 
• Pricing:
• PIA 2 years

  £1.57

  /month

  PIA 6 months

  £5.39

  /month

  PIA 1 month

  £10.99

  /month

  VIEW

  At PIA

Private Internet Access offers a few extra privacy features our researchers liked (Independent Advisor)

Private Internet Access (PIA) was founded in 2010 and was acquired by Kape Technologies, which also owns ExpressVPN, CyberGhost and ZenMate, in 2019. With 500+ VPN servers located in 84 different locations worldwide, PIA offers its users a good level of privacy and security. The provider is headquartered in the United States, which is part of Five Eyes – an intelligence-sharing alliance. This could be problematic for the privacy-conscious. 

However, PIA follows a no-logs policy which has been independently audited, which means its user’s data and IP addresses are never stored or logged. 

How to use 

Private Internet Access has downloadable apps for both desktop and mobile devices, and our researchers found that both were user-friendly and came armed with many features. PIA’s app is compact, has a sleek black background and can be opened in front of your browser tab, which makes it incredibly user-friendly. 

PIA can also be installed directly onto your router, providing that it’s compatible. PIA’s VPN is also compatible with numerous game consoles including Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation. 

With PIA, users have access to a number of different privacy and security features including a kill switch, split tunnelling and a no-logs policy. PIA can also be used on an unlimited number of devices simultaneously, which is more than some of its top competitors like ExpressVPN and NordVPN.  

Security 

When it comes to security, PIA takes its user’s privacy very seriously and all of its subscribers benefit from lots of features. 

Private Internet Access’s VPN comes with a choice of two ciphers – 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption. Both of these have been proven to hide users’ IP addresses and protect all sensitive data. The provider also offers a choice of three protocols – OpenVPN, IKEv2 and Wireguard. 

Another layer of protection that PIA has is its proxy servers, ShadowSocks and SOCKS5 – these allow users to route their VPN connection through an additional server location, which further protects the origin of your connection. This is sometimes referred to as a multi-hop VPN. 

PIA’s split tunnelling has two variations – standard or inverse. With standard split tunnelling, users can choose which apps, websites and IP addresses to run inside or outside the VPN. Inverse split tunnelling allows users to run all traffic through the VPN, and choose what to run outside of it. 

The kill switch offers complete protection at all times no matter what happens with your internet connection. PIA’s kill switch disconnects you from the internet when your VPN connection drops.

User experience 

Private Internet Access’s desktop and mobile apps are sleek in design and the desktop app is an ideal size to not cause too much disruption. Changing server location is a breeze with a handy search bar to find your preferred server, as well as showing the latency for each one. 

Our researchers found all of PIA’s privacy features including the kill switch, split tunnelling and protocols were easy to locate within its settings. From there, you have options to turn features on or off and our researchers were impressed by how streamlined PIA’s apps were. 

Performance

Testing Private Internet Access indicated a noticeable impact of the VPN service on connection speed, coupled with the expected speed degradation associated with the increase in distance from the server. When connected to a UK server, download speeds retained only a third of the no-VPN benchmark, while uploads displayed marginally better levels at half the base speed. The local connections suggested a tangible, yet manageable, slowdown for UK users. 

Transatlantic exchanges with a US VPN server revealed more pronounced performance degradation, with download and upload speeds retaining 20 and 28 per cent of the baseline levels, respectively. When connecting to Australia, download speeds surprisingly saw a slight increase as compared with the US scenario. However, the dramatic drop in upload speed accompanied by a considerable increase in ping could challenge real-time communications. PIA may suit moderate browsing needs but could strain under more demanding internet tasks.

Speed test results

Date tested: 15/11/23

Customer service 

Private Internet Access receives favourable customer reviews on Trustpilot, with 69 per cent of those reviews being five-star rated reviews. The provider has been praised by customers for retaining similar speeds to non-VPN connections, fair pricing and working on a variety of computers and devices. 

Customers can contact PIA via its live chat service for any urgent enquiries or make use of its support centre, where users can ask and ask questions within PIA’s community. 

Cost 

Verdict 

Private Internet Access offers more than 500 servers in 84 different locations, including servers in all 50 US states. It doesn’t offer the highest number of locations, but it does offer connection to an unlimited number of devices simultaneously. 

The provider’s privacy and security features are some of the best available, with a choice of three VPN protocols, AES-256 bit encryption and a no-logs policy that has been independently verified. 

PIA’s speed tests were excellent and would be well-suited to anyone who is considering gaming. PIA offers an advanced level of privacy and security while retaining great internet speeds, there aren’t many downsides with this VPN service. 

★★★★

Read our full Private Internet Access VPN review.

• Number of servers: 750+
• Server locations: 49 countries
• Number of devices supported: Unlimited
• Operating systems and browsers supported: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Chrome
• Cancellation policy: Up to 30-day money-back guarantee
• Pricing:
• Atlas VPN 2 years

  £1.34

  /month

  Atlas VPN 12 months

  £2.69

  /month

  Atlas VPN 1 month

  £9.83

  /month

  VIEW

  At Atlas VPN

Atlas VPN may be lacking a privacy audit, but it performed well in our tests (Independent Advisor)

Atlas VPN was founded in 2019 and offers both free and paid subscriptions. In 2021, it joined Nord Security with the aim of making online privacy and security accessible for everyone, irrespective of their budget or technical ability. 

Atlas VPN offers more than 750 servers in 49 different locations, as well as various protocols and AES-256 bit encryption. Atlas also follows a no-logs policy, however this has not been independently audited, and the company is headquartered in the US – a part of the Five Eyes, an intelligence-sharing alliance. 

How to use

Atlas VPN has downloadable apps for PC and mobile versions. Logging into its apps is slightly different from other VPNs we have used, as the service sends a one-time log-in link to your email address. Several of our researchers had to repeat the process as many as eight times, with the emailed link not working each time, before finally achieving a successful login. 

Unlike other VPNs we’ve tested, Atlas VPN is not compatible with router configuration – while this may not be an issue for some, it’s something to bear in mind when choosing the right VPN for you. 

Security

Atlas VPN offers a good level of privacy and security for its users. There is a choice of two protocols – WireGuard and IKEv2 – but this is less than some other providers we have reviewed, which offer three or more protocols. 

Its protocols are encrypted by AES-256 encryption, which is the highest level of security available. As well as this, Atlas VPN also uses ChaCha20 for symmetric encryption, Poly1305 for verifying data integrity and authenticity, BLAKE2s to add another security layer, and SHA-384 for message authentication. These extra security measures are not provided by competitors like Surfshark and NordVPN. 

Atlas VPN claims to adhere to a strict no-logs policy, which means none of its users’ IP addresses, web sessions, or personal information is stored. However, this policy is yet to be independently verified. 

User experience

As previously mentioned, Atlas sends a log-in link to your email address when you try to log in to its apps. Its apps are clean and straightforward, and navigating your way around is easy. Its server location list could be improved by adding each location’s distance from you and its latency rate, as is the case with NordVPN. Another downside is that some servers carry the exact same name. For example, the three New York servers are all labelled the same, and the ability to rename them would make finding a particular server easier. 

In terms of protocols and other security features, the process for changing these in the settings was straightforward and we’re confident beginners would find the app user-friendly. 

Performance

In our speed tests, Atlas VPN delivered modest performance, particularly in uploads, which experienced significant degradation over longer distances. Within the UK, the service operated at 43 per cent of the base download speed, which may impact streaming experience and download times. Uploads were fairly poor at 18 per cent of the no-VPN scenario, which could be challenging for content creators and cloud services users. 

The US connection retained the download speeds of local connections, while uploads deteriorated dramatically to 8 per cent of the baseline, likely affecting real-time online interactions. The Australian server saw a further decline in both download and upload speeds, along with considerable ping spikes, suggesting significant slowdowns for any data-intensive operations.

Overall, Atlas VPN is an excellent option for users prioritising affordable privacy and VPN servers within shorter distances.

Speed test results

Date tested: 15/11/23

Customer service

Atlas VPN receives good customer reviews on Trustpilot, with 78 per cent of reviews awarding it four or five stars. Many users mention its affordability, functionality, and good customer service experience.  

The provider offers a 24/7 live chat for all of its paid subscribers, and this is the quickest way to contact support. There are also various troubleshooting articles, which are a great tool to have for setting up the app on various devices and for figuring out how to use different security features. 

Cost

In addition to its paid subscriptions, there is a free version of Atlas VPN, but this is limited to 5GB of data per month and only offers three servers in three locations.

Verdict

Atlas VPN offers robust encryption and its apps offer a user-friendly experience. Our researchers found the speeds were comparable with some other providers we’ve reviewed, but by no means the best on the market. 

The provider also offers good levels of security for its users, including AES-256 encryption, split tunnelling and a kill switch, however this is currently only available on Android. 

The company says it follows a strict no-logs policy, but this is yet to be independently audited and it is headquartered in the US, which is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. Overall, Atlas VPN delivers a good service, offering online security, unlimited device connections, and a range of privacy features. 

Overall score: ★★★½ 

Read our full Atlas VPN review.

Specifications

• Number of servers: 400+
• Server locations: 69 countries
• Number of devices supported: Unlimited
• Operating systems and browsers supported: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox
• Cancellation policy: 30-day money-back guarantee
• Pricing:
• Windscribe 12 months

  £1.93

  /month

  Windscribe 1 month

  £7.17

  /month

  VIEW

  At Windscribe

Relative newcomer Windscribe held its own in our performance tests (Independent Advisor)

Windscribe is a relatively new VPN, having been founded in 2016 in Canada. The provider offers three different plans; free, Build a Plan and Pro. The company offers options for users to not hand over any personal information by signing up without providing an email address and paying via Crypto. 

Windscribe says it follows a strict no-logs policy – although this has not been independently verified – and its VPN is encrypted by AES-256. However, the company is headquartered in Canada – part of Five Eyes, an intelligence-sharing alliance. When tested, the provider’s internet connection was stable, and it has apps for Android, Windows, MacOS and Linux. 

How to use

The Windscribe desktop app takes up little real estate on your screen but is very easy to navigate

Windscribe’s pocket-size app is compact and user-friendly. We liked how the app is non-intrusive and is so small it can appear in front of your web browser without too much interruption. 

The provider offers both Mac and PC versions of its app, as well as Android and iOS versions. It can also be installed directly onto your router, providing it’s compatible. Windscribe is also compatible with FireTV and Amazon Firestick. 

The company offers various privacy and security features, such as a kill switch and split tunnelling, both of which can be toggled on for both PC and mobile app versions.  

Security

Windscribe offers a range of privacy and security features, including AES-256 encryption and a no-logs policy. However, the company is yet to be independently audited to verify its privacy features. 

Windscribe’s kill switch automatically disconnects users in the event their internet connection is interrupted. Its split tunnelling feature allows users to route selected traffic and apps through the encrypted VPN tunnel, and choose what routes outside. 

With Windscribe, users have a choice of three VPN protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2 – all of which are encrypted and offer a high level of privacy. 

The provider’s R.O.B.E.R.T. feature, available for Pro plan users, blocks ads, stops tracking, has a customisable block list and improves browsing speeds. It is customisable and users can choose which block lists they would like to include, from malware and ad trackers to gambling and social networks

User experience

Windscribes’ desktop and mobile apps are compact and non-intrusive. The window is small, yet you’ll find all the settings you need on the pop-up window. 

On the main screen, there is an option to connect to a server, change location and toggle on the firewall option – which acts as Windscribe’s kill switch. 

Performance

In our most recent speed tests, Windscribe impressed with robust performance on a UK server, maintaining most of both download and upload baseline speeds and ensuring excellent local connections. Increasing the distance brought about performance deterioration, which was particularly pronounced in upload speeds.

When connected to a US and an Australian server, the service retained the acceptable 77 and 44 per cent of the download reference speeds, respectively. However, the uploads were slowed down at 19 and 12 per cent of the no-VPN speed levels. Combined with a ping increase, these speed drops could impede activities demanding fast connection and low latency. Overall, Windscribe remains a strong option for local and some international browsing, streaming, and gaming, but users may notice the lag in more remote connections.

Speed test results

Date tested: 15/11/23

Customer service

Windscribe receives admirable customer reviews on Trustpilot, with 86 per cent of reviews giving a five-star rating. Customers praise the provider for its reasonable pricing, stable VPN connection and selection of protocols. 

There are multiple channels of support available to users, including a live chat, subreddit and Discord community. Its live chat service is available 24/7. For non-urgent queries, users can post questions in its subreddit as well as engage with community members on its Discord server. 

Cost

Verdict

Windscribe is a newcomer in the VPN market, but in its short time in business has gained good customer reviews and offers a wide range of security features. 

The company offers a no-log policy, but this is yet to be audited, and it’s headquartered in Canada – part of Five Eyes. Privacy-conscious users might feel this is a good reason not to choose Windscribe for their VPN needs. 

However, its security features are of a good standard, and it offers AES-256 encryption, ad and malware blocking and a kill switch. 

Windscribe is reasonably priced and good value for money, but for the privacy-conscious, you may want to choose a VPN that has been audited. 

★★★½

Read our full Windscribe VPN review.

Specifications

• Number of servers: 330
• Server locations: 48
• Number of devices supported: 10
• Operating systems and browsers supported: Windows, Linux, MacOS, android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox
• Cancellation policy: 30-day money-back guarantee
• Pricing:
  PrivadoVPN 2 year

  £1.99

  /month

  PrivadoVPN 12 month

  £2.50

  /month

  PrivadoVPN 1 month

  £10.99

  /month

  VIEW

  At PrivadoVPN

Our researchers liked PrivadoVPN’s uncluttered app interface (Independent Advisor)

Founded in 2019, PrivadoVPN is a relative newcomer to the VPN industry – despite this, the provider has gained excellent customer reviews and steadily grown its user base in its few short years in business. Headquartered in Switzerland, PrivadoVPN benefits from some of the best data privacy protection laws in the world. 

PrivadoVPN offers both a free and paid plan – with the latter providing 330 servers in 48 different countries and 63 different cities. With a paid plan, customers can enjoy an unlimited amount of data to use and connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.

How to use

PrivadoVPN’s apps are downloadable for Android, MacOS, iOS, PC and Amazon Firestick. Once downloaded, Privado prompts you to log in with your username and password and then you’re able to select a server from the list provided – top tip: customise the service by adding servers to your favourites list.

Security 

PrivadoVPN has a lot to offer its customers in terms of privacy features. All of its data is transmitted through servers encrypted with AES-256 – a cipher used to protect classified information. As well as this, Privado has three protocols to choose from  – WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2 – all of which add an extra layer of security. 

PrivadoVPN is headquartered in Switzerland, which benefits from some of the best data privacy protection laws in the world. The provider also has a no-logs policy, which states the service never stores or logs its customer’s data. However, this policy is yet to be independently audited. 

User experience

PrivadoVPN’s desktop and mobile apps follow a polished design that is straightforward, and beginners would find it easy to use. One feature that is a nice touch: users can choose how the app appears on their screen – docked or window style. 

Customising the PrivadoVPN apps was simple. Changing servers can be done from the app’s interface and there’s also an option to add any server to your favourites, which will all then be stored under the favourites tab for easy access. Within the settings, you’ll find all of its privacy features, from VPN protocols to the kill switch and an option to auto-connect. 

Performance

Testing PrivadoVPN delivered robust performance in local connections, but speeds deteriorated as distance increased. Connecting to a UK VPN server nearly mirrored our no-VPN speeds at 96 per cent for downloads, though uploads saw a more noticeable drop to 73 per cent of the baseline. 

When switching to a US server, the service sustained a strong download speed, but uploads fell to 20 per cent, potentially impacting data-heavy tasks. Connecting to servers in Australia, download speeds stayed acceptable at 61 per cent, whereas upload performance was dramatically impaired. Accompanied by a considerable latency of 304ms, the speed degradation could disrupt streaming and gaming experiences. Therefore, PrivadoVPN stands out for its local connection quality, but international performance tends to decline in long-distance scenarios.

Speed test results

Date tested: 15/11/23

Customer service

PrivadoVPN is well-liked by its customers and receives four out of five stars on Trustpilot from over 2,000 customer reviews. The provider has been praised for its user-friendly apps, affordable subscription price and retaining similar speeds to a non-VPN connection.

There are multiple ways to access PrivadoVPN’s customer support – via an online support form, utilising installation guides, or contact through the live chat – with the latter providing an instant response and in our opinion the best channel of communication for any urgent issues or requests.  

Cost

PrivadoVPN offers both a free and paid plan, though the free version limits users to one connection, 12 servers located in 10 countries, and just 10GB of data per month. 

Paid subscriptions can be taken monthly, annually, or every two years – with the latter working out the most cost-effective when broken down per month. Customers can also try the service before committing to a paid plan with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Verdict

PrivadoVPN offers 330 servers in 48 countries and 83 cities and a range of privacy features. When compared with some of its top competitors, it falls short on performance as well as server count. 

It offers a no-logs policy, but unfortunately, this is yet to be audited. Our researchers did find that Privado’s apps were easy to use but not all of its privacy features were available for all devices. 

PrivadoVPN is ideal for beginners thanks to its easy-to-use app and range of privacy features. For users looking for a more premium VPN service, this might VPN may not be a good fit. 

★★★½

Read our full PrivadoVPN review.

Specifications

• Number of servers: 2,200+
• Server locations: 75
• Number of devices supported: Unlimited
• Operating systems and browsers supported: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Firestick, android TVand Kodi
• Cancellation policy: 30-day money-back guarantee
• Pricing:
  IPVanish 24 months: £1.94/month
  IPVanish 12 months: £2.49/month
  IPVanish 1 month: £10.49/month

IPVanish was slow in our performance tests, but its app is very easy to use (Independent Advisor)

IPVanish has changed hands numerous times since being founded in 2012 by Mudhook Media – part of Highwinds Network Group. More recently, the provider was acquired by J2 Global – now known as Ziff Davis – in 2019. 

IPVanish has more than 2,200 servers located in 75 different countries, which is less than some of its competitors, and it’s headquartered in the US – a part of Five Eyes, an intelligence-sharing alliance. However, this shouldn’t deter the privacy conscious, as IPVanish has a no-logs policy that has been independently audited. 

How to use

IPVanish has a variety of downloadable PC and mobile apps, as well as TV apps, including Amazon Firestick, Android TV and Kodi. 

Our researchers found both the desktop and mobile apps were easy to download and the login process was straightforward. Once logged in, you’re able to change server location and customise privacy features – it should be noted that for MacOS (one of the devices we tested on) to change the protocol you’ll need to click on IPVanish’s logo in the menu bar rather than inside the app. 

Security

IPVanish’s 2,200 servers are encrypted with AES-256 and it offers four VPN protocols – WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 and IPSec – all of which add an extra layer of protection, and the average number of protocols offered by VPN providers is three, according to our extensive research. 

The company is headquartered in the US, and while the country is part of Five Eyes, the provider has a strict no-logs policy, which has been independently audited. 

Like most other providers, IPVanish offers privacy features such as a kill switch and split tunnelling. Its kill switch feature blocks all internet traffic from your device if your VPN connection drops, while split tunnelling allows you to choose which apps or internet traffic is routed through the VPN – currently, this is only available for Android and Amazon Firestick, which is a downside for the provider. 

User experience

IPVanish’s desktop and mobile apps were easy to download and set up. Its desktop app for MacOS caused some confusion for our researcher, as to change protocols you’ll need to right-click on the app’s logo in the menu bar. With other providers, this is usually actioned within the app’s privacy settings. 

Aside from the above, connecting to server locations was user-friendly and customising privacy features is easy and clearly located within the app’s settings.  

Performance

In our speed tests, IPVanish demonstrated impressive speed retention, particularly with local UK connections. It maintained robust 98 and 96 per cent of base download and upload speeds, respectively. The outstanding performance makes IPVanish a strong VPN option for fast and secure local connections.

The transition to a US server resulted in only a slight reduction in download speeds, but upload performance exhibited a more significant decline to less than 20 per cent of the no-VPN level, indicating some limitations for massive data uploads and sharing. Performance degradation was more pronounced when connected to an Australian server, although downloads were still acceptable at 59 per cent of the baseline. Upload speeds were particularly reduced, plummeting to as low as 6 per cent, paired with a latency spike to 295ms, which might affect real-time communication. Overall, IPVanish shows strong local performance, yet it struggles to uphold upload speeds across long distances.

Speed test results

Date tested: 15/11/23

Customer service

Customers appear to be impressed with IPVanish, giving the provider four out of five stars on Trustpilot from over 8,000 customer reviews. Many reviews have commented on the commendable privacy features and stable connection. 

IPVanish’s customer support is of a high standard, and customers can contact the provider via 24/7 live chat – where customers can speak to a human within a few clicks – and email, for non-urgent enquiries. There are also set-up guides for customers to utilise when setting up various IPVanish apps. 

Cost

Verdict

IPVanish, when compared with other VPNs, offers advantageous privacy features and a no-logs policy that has been independently audited. 

Its performance was not the best, but also by no means the worst we’ve tested and reviewed. Its apps are relatively straightforward, bar the MacOS protocol issue, and the service is reasonably priced for the features it offers. 

IPVanish has a lot to offer customers in terms of privacy features, and though its speed performance lets it down slightly, the provider offers a safe and secure VPN. 

★★★½

Read our full IPVanish review.

A VPN creates a secure tunnel between your device and the internet by encrypting your data and routing it through a remote server. This means your online activities are kept private, as your data is not visible to anyone monitoring your connection. When you connect to a website, your data is sent through the VPN’s server, hiding your real IP address and location while also protecting your data from being intercepted.

A VPN acts as a secure tunnel that encrypts your data while using the internet (Adobe)

All the latest Black Friday deals from top VPN providers

Black Friday is just around the corner, and VPN services are offering some unmissable deals. The best deal with the highest savings is Surfshark – you could save up to 86 per cent with a two-year plan, and you can get three, four or five months free depending on the protection level you choose. NordVPN’s Black Friday deal could save you up to 68 per cent with three months free for a 24-month plan, or save 49 per cent and get three months free on ExpressVPN’s 12-month plan. As well as lowered prices, most providers are offering freebies as part of their Black Friday deals. Both CyberGhost and Private Internet Access deals come with four months free with a two-year plan, while Atlas VPN and Proton VPN are offering a generous six months free when you subscribe to one of their two-year plans.

Russia to limit VPN services which pose a “threat” to security

Russia’s communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, plans to restrict seven different VPN services that a commission of experts deem to pose a threat to Russian authorities, according to a Reuters report. 

Restricted services include Windscribe, Proton VPN, Browsec VPN, VPN Proxy Master, VPN-super unlimited proxy, Melon VPN, and VPN RedCat secure unlimited. 

Demand for VPNs in Russia skyrocketed after President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine in February 2022 as more citizens attempted to access Western social media platforms and independent news sources. 

Lawmaker Anton Tkachev raised concerns about the plans to block multiple VPNs, claiming that it would increase pressure on Russians by cutting them off from using some household appliances. 

State news agency RIA quoted the Russian digital ministry as saying: “On the basis of a decision by the expert commission… the filtration of certain VPN services and VPN protocols can be carried out on the mobile communication network for foreign traffic which is identified as a threat.” 

The ministry also claimed that circumvention of restrictions on certain information was considered a threat, according to RIA.

Although Surfshark and IPVanish deliver acceptable performance in local and transatlantic connections, NordVPN still stands out as an excellent choice, ensuring the strongest overall performance across all the distances and locations tested.

Download and upload speed degradation per cent compared

Download and upload speeds compared

Identify your needs

Work out why you want a VPN in the first place: do you want to access content from another country, or do you need security for connecting to public wifi? Do you want to connect a lot of different devices, and is connection speed important? Our research will help you understand all these and more.

Level of security

 A good VPN should use strong encryption protocols and have a clear privacy policy. Typically, this will be outlined in an FAQ – or similar – page on their website. If it’s not, then you might want to consider an alternative. 

Audited ‘no-logs’ privacy policy

A ‘no-log’ privacy policy means the VPN provider won’t collect (or log) your browsing data. You can know this claim is true if it has recently been audited by a third party (often by Deloitte) to confirm this.

Download/upload speed and latency (ping)

A VPN should provide fast speeds to ensure a smooth browsing experience. There will be some drop-off in speed to be expected when using a VPN, particularly to access international sites. If you want to use a VPN while gaming then you’ll need to choose one with low latency, otherwise game response time will be negatively impacted. We’ve put together a handy guide for achieving faster speeds when using a VPN.

Time in the market

The VPN market is a lucrative one, which tends to attract new providers all the time. It’s not that new providers are necessarily worse than existing ones, but there’s a lot to be said for experience and providers who have stood the test of time.

What devices you want to protect

All VPNs will support PC, Mac, iOS, and Android, while only some will work with specific devices and operating systems such as TVs and Linux. Check that the device you want to protect is supported. Alternatively, a lot of VPNs can simply encrypt your router, so that every device that connects to it will be secured.

Where the company is located

A VPN provider will have to comply with the data laws of the country in which it is registered, so this can affect the data it does and does not collect, which can affect your privacy.

Payment options

If you commit to a long-term contract with a provider you’ll usually get a much better price when compared to a monthly recurring plan. With long-term contracts, it’s important to note that the advertised price will be per month, but the period of the contract must be paid upfront.

Free VPNs aren’t free

While you may not pay for a free VPN with money, the provider might still make money from you through advertising or by selling your data. If you’re tired of intrusive ads, but don’t wish to pay a hefty price tag, you could consider a cheap VPN. Cheaper VPNs can be just as effective as premium ones, so long as they offer a good level of security and have an audited no-logs policy to protect your data.

Our reviewers are dedicated to bringing you the most accurate and up-to-date information so you can make an informed decision when it comes to buying a VPN. We will only recommend a VPN after hours of testing, head-to-head feature comparisons, and after taking into account verified customer feedback and reviews and the opinions of industry experts.

Our review scores are determined the following categories:

• Privacy and performance (30%)
• Features and functionality (30%)
• Reputation and credibility (20% of the overall score)
• Plans and pricing/value (10%)
• Customer experience (10%)

We research and test a total of 25 elements within these categories including:

• Number and location of servers
• Streaming service accessibility
• Security features such as AES-256
• Performance (upload, download, latency)
• Value for money, guarantees, and customer service
• Independent server-site security audits

All of our VPN articles are fact-checked and verified by our in-house team of fact-checkers, so you can be assured that our content is accurate and up to date as possible. To find out more, read our article on how we review VPNs.

The data in this review is reported from a neutral stance and should be used for informational purposes only. We review VPN services from the perspective of:

• The quality of the product based on the security it affords the user
• User experience of the application(s)
• Level and quality of customer service

Independent Advisor does not endorse the streaming of content from regions other than where the subscription is held, nor does it endorse the downloading or consumption of illegally pirated content.