Best Recommended VPN Services of 2024
A virtual private network, or VPN, is a service that conceals your identity while accessing the internet and encrypts your activity. VPNs give you an additional degree of anonymity, let you visit websites located abroad, and let you send critical data over secure connections.
VPNs are useful for both personal and professional purposes, and there are many different kinds on the market. We’ve examined 23 of the top VPN services available, evaluated their features and functionality, rigorously tested every product, and created this list of the top VPNs of 2024 to help you choose the one that best suits your needs.
What is a VPN?
Virtual private networks, or VPNs, encrypt your data and prevent outsiders from prying into your online activities. A VPN can help you stay anonymous when you surf websites, check your email, and communicate with coworkers.
Your computer establishes a connection with the server hosting the website or service you are using whenever you do almost anything online. Usually, the website has access to certain information about you and your device, which is undesirable if you don’t want your online behavior to be tracked. Before allowing you to access your preferred websites, a VPN service connects you to a distant server. This way, when a website requests your user information, it only “sees” the VPN and cannot identify you.
10 Best Recommended VPNs of 2024
- NordVPN: Best for Most General Users
- TorGuard VPN: Most Customizable VPN
- TunnelBear: Excellent User Interface, Great for Beginners
- Private Internet Access: Unlimited Simultaneous Connections but Expensive
- ProtonVPN: Open-Source Privacy Protection With Solid Features
- hide.me: Reliable Privacy Protection But Limited Performance
- Surfshark: Unlimited Connections and a Huge Server Network
- VPN Unlimited (aka KeepSolid): Good Features, but Add-Ons Can Get Pricey
- ExpressVPN: Dependable Streaming With a Lot of Servers
- CyberGhost: Respectable Speeds and Interesting Customization Options
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How To Choose the Best VPN
You are the only one who can truly determine how to select the VPN that best suits your needs and preferences, but there are a few important variables to take into account.
The decisive elements and their potential effects on your user experience are mentioned below to help you determine whether a VPN is supplying what you need.
Essential VPN Features
- Trust: The number one deciding factor for a VPN is how much you trust the provider. You are essentially trusting them with your data in lieu of your regular ISP, and that comes with a lot of responsibility. This is obviously a very subjective factor, but part of your research should involve checking the company’s privacy policy to make sure it doesn’t log user data. On top of that, research the company’s history and make sure it has not been caught logging user data in the past or had a severe data breach. Your data and safety online are more important than a company’s bottom line, and if a provider has a history with either of these or other shady activity, that should be an immediate concern.
- Network of server locations: A good VPN will have a large network of servers and server locations, preferably with variety in the types of servers it offers. This can help keep periods of high user traffic from bottlenecking your internet speeds, as well as let you pick the server best-suited for what you need.
- Compatibility: Your VPN should be compatible with every device you plan to use it with, whether that’s your home or work PC, your mobile device or your router.
- Performance and reliability: While internet speed slowdowns are in some cases inevitable when using a VPN, you want to find a provider with consistent speeds as well as minimal lag and downtime. Otherwise, you’re just paying someone to slow your internet down for you. For the fastest speeds possible, we recommend using a VPN that supports the open-source WireGuard protocol.
Server Number and Locations
Server numbers and locations are important factors to consider because they can affect the VPN’s overall performance and levels of privacy and security, as well as speed and functionality.
Number of Servers
A large number of servers generally means more options for connecting to the VPN. This can help ensure you can find a fast and reliable server near your physical location. A VPN with many servers also allows for more flexibility in terms of server switching and load balancing, which can help improve overall performance.
Server Locations
A VPN with a wide range of server locations allows you to choose a server located in a specific country or region. This can be useful if you want to access geo-restricted content or if you want to ensure that your data is transmitted through a specific country’s jurisdiction. The more server locations a VPN has, the more options you have to choose from and the more flexibility you have to ensure that your connection is fast and reliable.
It’s also important that the VPN provider has servers in countries that are privacy-friendly and not part of any surveillance alliance. If you’re concerned about data collection and retention laws, you may want to choose a VPN server that resides in a country with no data retention laws, such as Switzerland or Panama.
If you’re looking for the fastest load times, quick downloads, gaming or streaming online, choose a VPN server nearest your location.
Speed and Performance
Speed is an important decision factor when choosing a VPN because it affects the overall performance of the VPN and your ability to use the internet effectively. A VPN that’s slow can cause delays in loading web pages, buffering when streaming video, and difficulty using real-time applications, such as online gaming or video conferencing.
Other performance factors include:
- Latency: Latency refers to the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the VPN server and back. Low latency is important for real-time applications such as online gaming or video conferencing.
- Bandwidth: Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted over a connection. A VPN with high bandwidth can support more data-intensive activities, such as streaming high-definition (HD) video.
- Uptime: Uptime refers to the amount of time a VPN server is available and online. A VPN with high uptime will be more reliable and less likely to experience disruptions or downtime.
There may be some differences in speed across devices, as some devices may have faster processors or better network connectivity than others. However, a good VPN provider should be able to provide fast and reliable connections, regardless of the device.
To evaluate a VPN’s performance, you can use online speed test tools to measure the VPN’s download and upload speeds, as well as its latency and jitter. They can also look at the VPN’s uptime records and read reviews from other users to get a general sense of the VPN’s performance.
Before you purchase a VPN subscription, always be sure to check if the VPN has a free trial or money-back guarantee period. This allows you to use the VPN and see if it’s a good fit for you or your team without committing any money before you’re sure it’s the right choice. Always make sure to cancel your subscription before the free trial period ends, though.
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How much does a VPN cost?
What is a reasonable price for a VPN will vary from person to person. However, we find that, in general, most VPNs will have a monthly subscription around the $8 to $10 per month range, with some reaching the $12 per month range. Most providers will provide discounts if you opt into a longer plan, but we recommend starting with a monthly subscription first, preferably one with a 30-day money-back guarantee. That way, you can give the service a proper test drive without breaking the bank.
For business use, the number of simultaneous connections allowed can be a more important purchasing factor than the base price. The more connections a service allows with one subscription, the more cost-effective it becomes. Add-on fees for features such as dedicated IP can also put a bigger dent in your budget, but might be necessary if the VPN doesn’t come with those features as part of the base package.
How To Use a VPN
The majority of VPNs today are exceptionally easy to use. Once you’ve created an account with the provider, all you need to do is download the VPN app on your computer or smartphone. Once you’ve signed in with your account, you typically choose from a list of remote servers located around the world. Click on the one you’d like, and the system should connect you automatically. Once you get confirmation that you’re connected, you can use your device as you normally would without your VPN. You can disconnect or change your server from your app’s home screen.
To set up your VPN manually, you can follow specific steps for your operating system. Many of the apps follow a similar process, as outlined below:
- Download and install the app or software.
- on “Settings” or “System Preferences.”
- Choose “Network” or “VPN.”
- Fill out fields for “Server Name,” “VPN Type,” “Remote ID,” “Local ID,” and your account info (some of the fields may vary depending on the OS).
- Connect to your VPN.