The Best VPNs On The Internet — Complete Guide for 2020
Choosing the perfect VPN for your needs can feel overwhelming. I’ve narrowed down to just a few choices to help find the right VPN for you.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
VPN Reviews
1. NordVPN
Server Locations: 62 | Devices Supported: 6 | Cost: $2.99 per month
NordVPN is a personal virtual private network (VPN) service provider. It has desktop applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux, mobile apps for Android and iOS, as well as an application for Android TV. Manual setup is available for wireless routers, NAS devices and other platforms. In 2017, PC Magazine rated NordVPN as the year’s best VPN service.
NordVPN is based in Panama. The country has no mandatory data retention laws and does not participate in the Five Eyes or Fourteen Eyes alliances.
Product Highlights
- Military-Grade Encryption
- Strict No Logs Policy
- Automatic Kill Switch
- DNS Leak Protection
- Dedicated IP Address
- 24/7 Assistance
The Good/What I Like
- Double Encryption
- No Logs
- Largest SErver Network
- No IP/DNS Leaks
The Bad/What I Don’t Like
- Slow connection in some locations
- Limits to Torrenting
2. ExpressVPN
Server Locations: 148 | Devices Supported: 3 | Cost: $8.32 per month
I selected ExpressVPN because it is one of the most widely used and recognized VPN providers on the market. It effectively hides your IP address and offers IPv6 and DNS leak protection. While other VPNs have issues with certain sites blocking their users, ExpressVPN is able to avoid most of these issues.
Internet Privacy Guy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Other Ratings:
Product Highlights
- Quick and Simple Setup
- No Activity or Connection Logs
- High-grade Encryption
- Built-in Speed Test
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- 24/7 Customer Service
The Good/What I Like
- Supports All Major Devices
- Minimal Speed Loss
- No DNS/IP Leaks
- No Logs
The Bad/What I Don’t Like
- Limited Connections (3 simultaneous connections)
3. Private Internet Access
Server Locations: 52 | Devices Supported: 5 | Cost: $2.91 per month
Private Internet Access is a great choice for anyone, with over 3000 servers in 33 countries. One unique feature is that P.I.A. accepts anonymous payment via major brand gift cards (so you can pay for a VPN with that Starbucks gift card you got for Christmas.) When choosing a VPN, Private Internet Access sets itself apart by offering high speeds, OpenVPN support and low prices.
Product Highlights
- Quick and Simple Setup
The Good/What I Like
- Affordable
- Large Server Network
- Faster Than Competitors
- No Logs
The Bad/What I Don’t Like
- U.S. Based VPN
- No Live Support
4. Perfect Privacy
Server Locations: 23 | Devices Supported: Unlimited | Cost: €8.95+ per month
Perfect Privacy offers 42 servers in 23 countries. It offers high level privacy protection because it doesn’t keep any logs and includes a kill switch feature. Another perk to Perfect Privacy is that you can have unlimited devices on a single license. It is based in Switzerland, which means it falls under strict European privacy laws.
Our Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Other Ratings
Product Highlights
- Multiple Hop VPN Chain (Up to 4 Servers)
- Zero Logs
- Unlimited Connections
- IPv6 Support
The Good/What I Like
- No Logs
- Switzerland Based VPN
- Unlimited Devices
The Bad/What I Don’t Like
- Expensive
- Less User-Friendly Than Others on This List
Pros
- No Logs
- Switzerland Based VPN
- Unlimited Devices
Cons
- Expensive
- 2. Limited Connections
Buyer’s Guide
While each VPN is unique in the exact features it offers, there are a few features that any good VPN should have. If you’re looking for privacy and security, it’s essential that your VPN doesn’t store traffic logs and that it uses a so-called “kill switch” tool.
Read More: How to Choose The Perfect VPN for Your Needs
No Log Policy
From a privacy standpoint, a VPN is worthless if the provider collects and stores information about how you’re using the internet. If you’re concerned about protecting your private information, choose a VPN with an audited and verified no logging policy.
There are a few VPNs that do log some information, but are transparent about how it is used, and why they collect it. Some of these are well-respected and widely used, but with so many alternatives that don’t store any logs there is no reason to run that risk.
“Kill Switch” Tool
A kill switch is a vital part of a private and secure VPN. It works whenever the VPN connection fails, by turning off your network communications or by closing any internet applications. Without this feature, if your VPN loses connection, your computer will continue to make requests over your local network. This could reveal your location and other personal information.
Router Support
An alternative to installing a VPN on your devices, you could install it on your router so that any device connected to your network would run through the VPN. If you plan on using your VPN only on your local network with multiple devices, this may be the best path forward for you.
Read More: How to Install a VPN on Your Router — Tech Radar
Remote-Access VPN
If you work remotely but need to access your companies servers, you can use a VPN for remote access. The VPN will assign you a specific IP address within your company rather than a randomly generated IP address within the VPN’s network.
VPN FAQs
What Are The Benefits of Using VPNs?
- Privacy: VPNs can help protect your identity from internet advertisers, hackers, government organizations, ISPs and other third parties. If you don’t want these groups knowing where you’re located, who you are, and what you do online a VPN is a great tool.
- Security: By keeping your information private you prevent online security threats like identity-theft and virus or malware injection.
- Bypassing Censorship: Authoritarian governments censor content on the internet, but even in the U.S. networks at work or school often block certain websites. If you use a VPN you can circumvent these content filters.
- Minimize Ad Tracking: Advertisers are constantly looking for new ways to collect your information for ad targeting purposes. By using a VPN and making it look like you’re browsing from another location, you make it more difficult for companies to advertise to you.
Are VPNs Completely Legal?
Yes. In most countries, VPNs are completely legal. However, some authoritarian governments make VPNs illegal as they can undermine the power of their regimes. For example, VPNs are illegal in China and Russia (that’s not to say they aren’t still used there).
What Makes a “Good” VPN?
The best VPNs are reliable, have strong privacy measures and are based in jurisdictions with consumer-oriented privacy laws. What is considered a “good” VPN depends entirely on what you plan on using it for.
- Price: Most VPNs are fairly reasonable (most cost less than $5 per month), but check to see if there are other VPNs with the same features for less.
- Reliability: A good VPN should work when you need it to and deliver the level of privacy you expect to get with a VPN. Check to see if your VPN has been audited by an independent third-party. Most well-respected VPN providers have been tested and verified.
- Security: While VPNs are intended to hide your IP addresses or DNS requests, some leak IPs or DNS requests without user knowledge. A good kill switch can help protect your data in these cases, but you should look for a VPN that has been tested for and data leaks.
- Device Compatibility: The best VPN choice for you, is the one that is compatible with all of your devices. The VPNs in this list all work with PC, Mac, Android and iOS.
How Much Do VPNs Cost?
The cost of a VPN service depends on the provider. There are free VPNs (not recommended) and there are VPNs that cost up to $15 per month. As with many other products, you often get what you pay for, so if you’re looking for a quality, reliable product you will end up paying a little more.
Can You Use Free VPNs?
Free VPNs can work, and be very effective tools. However, if a VPN is free it’s likely that it is collecting data about how you use the service. Free VPNs can be great for streaming location specific content, but should never be relied upon for privacy or security. If you’re using a free VPN, you are trading your information in exchange for using the service.
Does a VPN Work with Mobile Devices?
Yes. Most VPNs provide support for mobile devices, which lets you browse the web on you phone with the same added security you would have on your desktop.
The Final Verdict
If you’re looking for the best all-around VPN for privacy, streaming, and security our number one choice is: NordVPN. It’s reliable, easy-to-use and privacy-friendly.
If you’re looking for a VPN that performs slightly better than NordVPN, ExpressVPN is a great alternative. ExpressVPN provides a faster connection, is rated as more reliable, and offers similar features to NordVPN.
Our Winner: NordVPN
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Runner Up: ExpressVPN
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Originally published at internetprivacyguy.com on February 11, 2019.
