Best VPN Services of 2023

NordVPN gives you almost everything you need to browse the internet without compromising your privacy. To ensure encryption integrity, the company uses standard AES-256-CBC encryption coupled with Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS), an automated process that frequently changes keys meant to encrypt and decrypt information. NordVPN offers online privacy and security, a fast connection, no limits on bandwidth, and stores no activity logs.

With NordVPN, you won’t need to sacrifice speed for security, as the ultra-fast connection allows you to stream whatever you want uninterrupted. NordVPN is made for users new to VPN services and offers an easy-to-use product. The flip side of simple products at a low price is the limitations put on NordVPN users, such as the six-device limit.

NordVPN also offers NordVPN Teams, a service designed specifically for the B2B user. With NordVPN Teams, you can conveniently manage all of your employee accounts from a single dashboard. And the billing is centralized, so you won’t need to sort out a payment every time you add a new account.

Considering all these fantastic features at the given price point, you can easily see why we ranked NordVPN as the best overall VPN solution.

Who is NordVPN best for?

NordVPN is great for beginners. We found that with Nord's fantastic customer service, users can quickly walk through the setup to ease the overall burden of onboarding.

NordVPN’s administrative dashboard system is dynamic and easy to use.

Recent upgrades to NordVPN

NordVPN recently added tracking parameters to its threat protection stack. This feature removes the extended URL bits, thus limiting URLs and making them cleaner for enhanced privacy and convenience. On top of this significant enhancement, NordVPN constantly addresses the performance fixes around its product to improve speeds.

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN’s pricing plans are on par with the other leading competitors like ExpressVPN and IPVanish, and NordVPN is not the cheapest. With NordVPN, you get the most premium features within an intuitive VPN solution. An Individual plan starts at $3.29 per month for the first two years on its standard plan; Plus and Complete plans cost $3.99 and $5.29 monthly for a two-year subscription.

The best offering is the Complete package, which offers you a full suite of security features like malware protection and ad blockers.

Surfshark customers get access to some unique VPN features. One of them is Whitelister — a split-tunneling technology that allows you to exclude certain apps and websites from connecting to the VPN. It also includes CleanWeb, a built-in blocker for ads, trackers, and malware.

Besides the privacy credentials, Surfshark also has a strict no-logs policy, so you can browse safely, knowing your VPN provider isn’t holding personally identifiable information.

Surfshark earns our badge for its unique double VPN multihop as its best security feature. The double VPN multihop is a plus for security-conscious individuals such as journalists and activists who may need to hide their actual location. Surfshark's network stretches across 63 countries and boasts more than 1,700 servers, all of which are peer-to-peer-friendly (P2P) to encourage the overall usage of the double hop feature.

Who is Surfshark best for?

Surfshark works best for personal users, as it offers a fantastic customer support hotline 24/7. It also provides ideal self-service options like tutorials and guides to encourage users to find the answers needed. Unfortunately, Surfshark may not be the perfect candidate for businesses as it does not offer a business plan.

You can still use the company for business, but other solutions may include more business-centric features to explore first.

Recent upgrades to Surfshark

Surfshark recently overhauled its entire VPN architecture and infrastructure by upgrading its 1GBps servers to 10GBps servers across the globe. Since 5G is here to stay, Surfshark took a protective step to ensure its speeds will be cutting edge for the foreseeable future.

Surfshark pricing

Surfshark offers an affordable VPN solution for individuals and small businesses. The two-year subscription plan starts at just $2.49 per month and gives users VPN connections for an unlimited number of devices. While this is still an affordable option, these prices are up from older rates that started at $1.99 per month.

Surfshark removed its one-year plan at $5.99 per month and moved to a six-month plan at $6.49, effectively doubling the cost yearly in hopes that users will commit to a two-year contract.

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, a jurisdiction with strict privacy legislation. The company also offers a network lock kill switch that instantly blocks all internet traffic if your connection is lost.

ExpressVPN advanced security features include split tunneling, zero-knowledge Domain Name System (DNS), 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption, and Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS).

ExpressVPN assures customers are never far from a safe, secure VPN connection. While many VPN providers brag about a no-logs policy, Express VPN has a history to back this claim. In 2016, the Turkish government seized an ExpressVPN server in hopes of pulling conversation logs regarding the assassination of Russia’s ambassador, but their digging turned up nothing. So if privacy and anonymity are essential to you, ExpressVPN is a worthwhile option.

One selling point ExpressVPN hammers home is the ability to unlock nation-gated streaming content. The company boasts its capabilities to unlock content thanks to its large number of servers. So if you’re in the U.S. looking to open U.K.-locked content (or vice versa), ExpressVPN has you covered.

Who is ExpressVPN best for?

ExpressVPN is great for individuals, families, and small businesses. There are a lot of features, and the UI is intuitive. We found that larger businesses tend to outgrow ExpressVPN as the experience is tailored towards that smaller family mindset, with the company only supporting up to five devices connected simultaneously.

Recent upgrades to ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a reputable VPN solution that has taken the proactive approach of upgrading its entire server infrastructure to support the new 5G availability speeds.

Most of its fleet (roughly 70%) has been upgraded to a minimum of 10GBps, while the rest have been prompted to a whopping 40GBps. With these upgrades, customers can expect a nearly 50% jump in overall speed and bandwidth.

ExpressVPN pricing

ExpressVPN lets you subscribe for one month ($12.95), six months ($9.99), or 12 months ($6.67). You can connect up to five devices, and ExpressVPN is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android devices, smart home devices, and video game systems. The six and 12-month plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

IPVanish provides its users unlimited bandwidth, zero traffic logs, 256-bit AES encryption, and multiple VPN connection protocols (IKEv2, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPsec). The company also gives its customers the perk of 250GB of encrypted storage and backup with SugarSync.

IPVanish is the best in customer support for a fundamental reason, leading its competitors with robust customer service support, available via 24/7 live chat, email, and phone. You can also access information about updates, server statuses, and incidents via IPVanish’s System Status log.

Subscription plans are available for one month, three months, and one year. IPVanish supports all major operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS, and offers VPN support for routers to connect non-native Internet of Things (IoT) devices to the internet. It has more than 1,500 servers in over 75 countries, so customers can feel confident about having a safe, fast, and reliable Internet connection no matter where they are.

IPVanish is based in the U.S., a country that is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing agreement. The agreement means that IPVanish could be forced to hand over weblogs to the government if requested. Always keep in mind where your VPN provider is based and check the laws associated with that nation.

Who is IPVanish best for?

IPVanish is great for families. If you are just starting, you will find that IPVanish is likely compatible with your operating system of choice. Still, the only browser extension it currently supports is Google Chrome. We also found that most people enjoy that IPVanish offers an unlimited number of connected devices per plan.

IPVanish’s administrative dashboard system is fully optimized for usability.

Recent upgrades to IPVanish

IPVanish recently added support for the latest VPN protocol, WireGuard. It also updated the overall look and feel of the application’s performance. IPVanish posts major monthly updates to its community websites, but don't expect many details or up-and-coming features.

IPVanish pricing

IPVanish currently has three different plans: monthly for $10.99, quarterly for $5.32, and yearly for $3.99. Be mindful that it often changes pricing discounts or only offers advertised pricing for the first three months of your subscription before setting it back to full price. IPVanish also offers a 30-day risk-free guarantee trial.

CyberGhost’s standard security features include 256-bit military-grade encryption, multiple VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Wireguard, and a strict no-logs policy. It was also the first VPN service to publish a Transparency Report. Since 2011, the company has been transparent with consumers about how many Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaints, malware activity flags, and police requests it receives each year.

CyberGhost earns its title as the most transparent VPN solution for several reasons. Most important is its ability to routinely publish its DMCA and police reports to the public.

The company offers unlimited bandwidth, reliable high-speed connections, and a simplified system for unlocking nation-gated streaming content. CyberGhost makes accessing content easy: you can select the country of your choice from a list dedicated to streaming services. It then chooses the best server for your purposes.

CyberGhost allows you to connect up to seven devices simultaneously and supports the most popular operating systems and apps. You can try CyberGhost free for 24 hours.

Who is CyberGhost best for?

CyberGhost is only compatible for individuals, the only demographic it advertises to, and is tailored to serving. Also, we found it offers wide support for operating systems, smart devices, and gaming systems.

We recommend giving CyberGhost a try if you are a sole proprietor looking for personal or professional protection over your assets.

Recent upgrades to CyberGhost

On top of addressing bugs and fixes promptly, CyberGhost posts monthly reports on its transparency efforts to the public. This practice instills trust in its customer base that it is doing the right thing regarding privacy.

Also, earlier in 2022, it revamped its offering called CyberGhost 7.0 to include new features like One-click VPN, compact/extended view, and even smart rules for whitelisting.

CyberGhost pricing

CyberGhost customers can choose from a monthly, six-month, one-year, two-year, or three-year subscription to the company’s VPN services. For as little as $2.29 per month, CyberGhost gives subscribers access to more than 7,200+ servers in over 60 countries.

Also, if you subscribe to the three-year bundle, the company will provide you with the first three months free.

Proton VPN creates online tools and services that empower people to take control of their data privacy. It is incorporated and headquartered in Switzerland, a no-logs nation. As for encryption, Proton VPN uses AES-256 as well as PFS to randomize and protect encryption/decryption keys.

Proton VPN is best for privacy based on its privacy-first approach, with no intrusive privacy ads and a strict no-logs policy. Also, it was founded by scientists from CERN and MIT, using the same approach applied to its research: analysis, peer review, and transparency. All Proton VPN apps are open source and audited so anyone can use, verify, and trust them.

Lastly, with more than 1,000 servers in over 50 countries on six continents, Proton VPN offers a fast, reliable, and secure VPN solution that supports all use cases.

The best features include P2P file sharing, media streaming, accessing geo-blocked content, and anonymous browsing. It also offers an entirely free version of its VPN service, initially developed for activists and journalists looking to protect themselves from the prying eyes of the government.

Who is Proton VPN best for?

Proton VPN is popular amongst small legal firms or individuals that value privacy. We found that most users have utilized a password manager before and are considered more advanced clients seeking a tailored experience.

Proton VPN’s sleek design provides optimal visibility options.

Recent upgrades to Proton VPN

Proton VPN recently released new speeds for its P2P offering, which was targeted to help with download speeds on gaming platforms. Only users on a paid plan will get the upgrade. Outside of these latest releases, Proton VPN only prioritizes major feature releases once or twice a year.

Proton VPN pricing

Proton VPN’s free plan may be sufficient for some individual users, but small businesses may need more resources and connections. The best deal is the two-year plan for $4.99 a month. Proton VPN offers yearly and monthly plans for $5.99 and $9.99, respectively.

All Windscribe VPN plans include essential features such as unlimited data and devices, access to 610 servers in more than 60 countries, and split tunneling for choosing which apps work through the VPN. Windscribe also protects customers with 256-bit AES encryption, zero logs, port forwarding, and multiple VPN protocols.

Windscribe VPN has earned its reputation as the best customizable plan based on customers seeking a VPN service with more flexibility than a monthly or yearly subscription. The company offers a Build-A-Plan option that lets customers access its features for $1 per location per month. The customizable plan can help optimize costs and only provide VPN services where required or needed.

On top of this feature, Desktop users can create a proxy gateway. Customers using its browser extension apps can take advantage of unique features like TimeWarp, which changes the timestamp, so it appears to be in the country through which they are connected. Windscribe VPN also offers R.O.B.E.R.T., a proprietary tool that blocks malware and pop-up ads on mobile devices.

Who is Windscribe VPN best for?

Our testing showed that Windscribe VPN is best for individuals and small businesses. Windscribe VPN offers a tailored experience with its pro plans and a centralized billing and admin management interface.

We recommend that if you plan on using Windscribe VPN, you have some experience with configuring a VPN beforehand, as it does not have 24/7 support to assist with implementation.

Windscribe VPN’s debug feature allows for advanced troubleshooting.

Recent upgrades to Windscribe VPN

In its most recent release, Windscribe VPN updated its servers to 10GBps to support 5G speeds. The company also added Wireguard NT support, including some Wireguard fixes. Lastly, it patched a handful of lingering security vulnerabilities in relation to privilege escalation.

Ultimately, Windscribe VPN does a great job advertising every change or fix that is added to the platform.

Windscribe VPN pricing

Windscribe VPN offers several standardized plans, such as a monthly plan for $9 and a yearly plan for $5.75. But its best price is its build-a-plan feature, which allows you to create a tailored plan for as little as $1 a month. It also occasionally releases promo codes to provide even better discounts and offers a limited free version.

Norton Secure VPN is compatible with all major operating systems, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. With more than 2,000 servers in 31 countries, Norton Secure VPN customers will have peace of mind knowing that a secure VPN connection is always available. Norton Secure VPN also protects its customers with a no-logs policy, ad blocking, and more.

Norton Secure is the best security-bundled VPN because of its related tools. The Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus plan allows users to connect unlimited devices, which may make it a viable option for businesses, especially those that expect to grow.

Norton LifeLock offers customers more than just a VPN service. Its comprehensive cybersecurity packages are ideal for those seeking solutions to various internet safety concerns.

This company lacks a few critical features found with other VPN services. Norton Secure VPN doesn’t have OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols, a kill switch for the desktop client, support for Linux operating systems, or P2P sharing or torrenting. Just keep those in mind when making your decision.

Who is Norton secure best for?

Norton Secure is best for users looking for an all-encompassing solution and willing to pay a little more.

Recent upgrades to Norton Secure

Norton recently released the Norton Family Companion App for IOS to best support its services on Apple mobile devices.

It also announced a partnership with LifeLock and the ability to merge LifeLock and Norton accounts if you have both. These were the most notable additions outside of the normal bug fixes.

Norton Secure pricing

Norton Secure is offered in several different security bundles, each providing you with a different subset of features. Bundle prices start at $34 per month. You can also try Norton Secure for 30 days free to see which bundle suits your needs best.

VyprVPN has over 700 servers in 64 countries and utilizes dynamic server switching to ensure that connections are always fast and reliable. This VPN service supports Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices, routers, and smart TVs.

Additional security features with VyprVPN services include VyprDNS, VyprCloud, a kill switch, automatic public Wi-Fi protection, high-end encryption, and a Network Address Translation (NAT) firewall.

VyprVPN touts its business services as a VPN solution for traveling employees, distributed workforces, journalists, and entrepreneurs. It offers two business plans: VyprVPN for Business and VyprVPN for Business Cloud. Both come with unlimited usage, an easy-to-use admin interface, and the proprietary Chameleon technology, which scrambles OpenVPN packet metadata, so it’s not recognizable via deep packet inspection.

In lay terms, VyprVPN users can bypass any government, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), or corporation restrictions without sacrificing security or speed. If privacy is your concern, you’ll be pleased to know that VyprVPN is based in Switzerland, a privacy-friendly nation. Some VPN providers are based in countries that are part of what is known as the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing agreements.

Additionally, VyprVPN, the first publicly-audited VPN provider to back up its no-log policy, bolsters its commitment to privacy. Another benefit is VyprVPN’s money-back guarantee, which offers a refund within 30 days if you’re not completely satisfied.

Who is VyprVPN best for?

VyprVPN is great for businesses and has a tailored product for each type of business user. We found that for small businesses looking for a VPN solution, VyprVPN is worth considering, as it offers two business-specific plans. However, small business owners should be prepared to pay a higher price than other VPN services.

VyprVPN offers enhanced protections for untrusted networks.

Recent upgrades to VyprVPN

VyprVPN rarely posts updates to its websites about regular pushes. About every six months, it releases a new version with a high-level overview of what the release entails but not too much detail. The latest release from January 2022 stated it no longer supports Windows 7, 8, and 8.1.

Lastly, it also addresses performance bugs to improve the quality of the application.

VyprVPN pricing

The company offers several different pricing terms and plans to fit any businesses needs. It offers a self-install model as well as a cloud offering. The pricing starts at $5 per month when you sign up for a year at a time. All plans come with 24/7 customer support including a chat line and email outlet.

Hotspot ShieldVPN protects its customers with military-grade AES-256 encryption, malware blocking, and no browsing activity logs. It also offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, one of the best customer satisfaction guarantees in the industry. Although Hotspot ShieldVPN offers a limited Basic plan for free, customers will have to subscribe to its Premium plan to access advanced features and connections to virtual locations in over 80 countries.

The Premium plan also includes perks like free access to 1Password, Robo Shield, and Identity Guard.

A fast VPN connection is essential to many customers, and speed is one of the areas where Hotspot ShieldVPN shines. It was named the World’s Fastest VPN in the 2019 Ookla Speedtest Awards, and many other leading reviewers rank Hotspot ShieldVPN among the fastest VPN services.

In April of 2021, VPN Mentor found a few security leaks with the Chrome plug-in, including the potential for traffic hijacking, DNS leaks, and IP leaks. Since then, Hotspot ShieldVPN has claimed to have fixed these issues.

Additionally, Hotspot ShieldVPN had two previous scandals. In 2017, there was a Federal Trade Commission complaint regarding privacy violations when serving ads to users, and in 2018 the company was caught unintentionally leaking its users’ Wi-Fi network information. Both of these issues were addressed and fixed by the provider.

Who is Hotspot ShieldVPN best for?

Hotspot ShieldVPN is great for novices. We found that you won't go wrong signing up for a Hotspot ShieldVPN plan if you're just starting. The free plan allows you to test drive Hotspot ShieldVPN to determine if it is the right fit for your personal life or business; if you purchase a plan and grow tired of it, you have 45 days to get your money back.

Hotspot ShieldVPN is streamlined and visibility easy on the eyes.

Recent upgrades to Hotspot ShieldVPN

Hotspot ShieldVPN recently patched CVE-2018-6460 by effectively removing the internal web server. On top of this patch, it addressed some minor bugs as well as a flaw within the interface. Release notes are posted periodically on its website.

Hotspot ShieldVPN pricing

The free version of Hotspot ShieldVPN is a great way to get the basic VPN features and give them a test run. It also offers a $7.99 premium monthly bundle and a $11.99 premium family bundle. Family plans cover up to five members that are aged 13 and up, and these plans have a 45-day money-back guarantee.