The Best VPN Service for 2023

We hand-tested all of the best VPN services and go into exactly what makes them worth checking out! We discuss features, pros, cons, and more.

Last Update: May 18, 2023
MOST POPULAR

Overall Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
Features:
  • Unlimited P2P and Torrenting
  • High-End Military-Grade Encryption
  • Confirmed Zero Logs Policy
  • Ad-blocker Feature
  • High-Speed Servers
  • Unblock 400 Streaming Services
  • 100% diskless encrypted RAM servers
Available on:
 available_devices

Overall Rating: 4.8 / 5.0
Features:
  • Strict No logs Policy
  • AES-256-GCM Encryption
  • Very Secure Protocol
  • Fast Torrent Speed and Unblocking Netflix
  • Unlimited Devices
Available on:
 available_devices

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Features:
  • Unblock Any Content
  • Internet Kill Switch
  • Split Tunneling
  • Confirmed Zero Logs Policy
  • Unbreakable Encryption
Available on:
 available_devices

What's The Best VPN Service?

Best VPN Services to use

For a number of reasons, now is one of the best times to purchase a VPN service. The main reason is that setting up a VPN is becoming more straightforward. VPNs aren't just for geeks and techies working with sensitive data any longer. 

However, finding the right one can be complicated, with many VPN providers to choose from. The most crucial factor to consider when choosing a VPN is what you want to use it for. 

Many VPNs claim to do everything from streaming to obfuscating servers. If a VPN service doesn't have this feature, don't use it for Netflix or Hulu. Free services, on the other hand, should be avoided. These services put your privacy at risk. 

Some even steal personal information. Premium VPN services are no longer prohibitively expensive, so invest in one to protect your privacy. 

We put some of the best VPN services to the test and ranked them. We discovered that choosing a VPN should be based on which features you use the most, not on which features are claimed!

The Best VPN Services for 2023

The following are the 5 best VPN services, detailing their cost, features and advantages:

NordVPN screenshot

One of the most well-known VPN providers is NordVPN. The company provides an excellent price-to-feature ratio. When compared to competing VPN services, NordVPN has the fastest VPN speeds, as well as excellent privacy policies, so you won't have to worry about the company disclosing your browsing habits, real IP address, or any other personal information.

Another appealing feature that many people overlook is the ease of use. The interface is consistent across iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac computers. As a result, even those who have never used a VPN before will be able to get up and running quickly. 

It also allows up to six different devices to connect simultaneously. That means all of your personal devices are secure. The service has more than 5700 servers and is available in 60 countries. As a result, you'll always have access to a server when you need it. 

This could be a major selling point for people who want to stream movies, shows, and other content online because the chances of running into a crowded server are slim to none. 

NordVPN, on the other hand, is known for providing excellent speeds across the board, which we thoroughly tested in our hand-tested NordVPN review. Prices are reasonable for the quality of service you get.

You can get the price down to if you sign up for a two-year subscription. You can also get a refund if you don't like NordVPN within 30 days of signing up. The 30-day money-back guarantee means you can give the service a try and get a refund if it doesn't work out.

NordVPN logo in white color
Overall Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
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CyberGhost screenshot

CyberGhost is one of the most well-known VPN service providers for various reasons. To begin, the business was established in 2011. Furthermore, because it is based in Romania, it is exempt from laws requiring the logging and storage of user sessions. 

Crossrider and Robert Knapp recently acquired the company, and it now has over 15 million users, which should be enough to convince most people that they are doing something right. 

CyberGhost also provides several encryption options, such as WireGuard, OpenVPN, L2TP-IPsec, and PPTP. The software also allows up to seven devices to connect to the VPN simultaneously while using their apps. 

If that weren't enough, the company also provides access to over 9371 servers in 91+ countries. As a result, you'll always be able to connect to a server. CyberGhost, like most other VPN providers, offers three options in terms of pricing. 

Per month, the first option is the most expensive. A two-year subscription, is the cheapest option per month. In consideration with the market, it's a real low price for the quality of service you get.

Furthermore, everyone receives a 45-day money-back guarantee, except monthly plan subscribers, who only have 14 days to request a refund if they are not satisfied. There are many other reasons to choose CyberGhost VPN, in addition to the major points mentioned above, which you can learn about by reading our full review.

CyberGhost logo in white color
Overall Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
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pia-screenshot-new

Private Internet Access, or PIA, is one of the most affordable VPN services we've tested. However, while it is low-cost, it isn't low-cost in terms of performance. PIA may fall short in speed and consistency compared to other high-end VPNs. Subscriptions to Private Internet Access start at less than $2 per month for a three-year commitment. 

The monthly subscription is the way to go if you just want to test the waters. In addition, PIA's service comes with a 7-day money-back guarantee. This means the company will refund your money if you are dissatisfied with the service or perform as expected. 

A PIA subscription can be purchased in a variety of ways. The first is that PayPal, as well as credit and debit cards, are all readily available. Gift cards from over 90 retailers worldwide, including Bloomingdales and Starbucks, are also accepted. 

You can also make your payment with a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. Anyone wishing to cancel their account can do so by clicking the large "Cancel" button on the "your account" page. The service can be used by unlimited devices simultaneously with PIA. 

Apps for Windows, iOS, Android, and Mac computers make this possible. In addition, PIA offers cutting-edge encryption algorithms like PPTP, OpenVPN, WireGuard and L2TP/IPSec. Peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing is supported, as well as adware, malware, and tracker blocking. 

All of this means that not only is your connection secure, but it is also secure against third-party eavesdropping. PIA has a total of 30000 servers spread across 84 countries, allowing you to connect to any server at any time. Furthermore, the chances of you encountering an overburdened server are slim to none.

PIA new horizontal logo
Overall Rating: 4.4 / 5.0
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Surfshark screenshot

Surfshark VPN has made a name for itself as one of the most dependable virtual private network (VPN) services available in recent years. It comes equipped with many features, such as unlimited simultaneous connections, 24/7 customer support, and a kill button. 

When it comes to online security, Surfshark employs the most up-to-date protocols and features, such as AES-256-bit encryption, kill switches, and leak protection, to keep you safe. 

Additionally, their no-logs policies ensure that your data is never stored or monitored, which is a significant advantage over the policies of their competitors in this regard.

It is rare for users to experience dropped connections or slow download speeds while using Surfshark, which is a testament to the service's superior performance. 

During our tests, the high-definition video streamed by this VPN was flawless, and we had no issues with it at all. All of this with a combined server count of over 3,000 in 94 countries!

Surfshark logo in white color
Overall Rating: 4.8 / 5.0
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Expressvpn-screenshot-new

ExpressVPN is a popular virtual private network (VPN) service that can be used on a wide range of devices, including Android, Windows, Mac, iOS, and others. With over 3,000 servers spread across 160 locations in 94 countries, it's one of the largest networks we've seen in terms of sheer size. 

You can log in with the same account on up to five different devices at once, and there are apps for all major operating systems. The service is prompt and dependable, and you can contact a customer service representative at any time of day or night for assistance. 

ExpressVPN offers a wide range of security features in addition to 256-bit AES encryption and a strict no-logging policy. Split tunneling allows you to choose which applications use the VPN and which do not. 

According to our tests, ExpressVPN provides secure, global, and extremely fast connections, and it is one of the best-performing VPNs we have tested so far. Your privacy is protected at all times thanks to military-grade encryption and AES 256 bit. 

Customer service is available via live chat or email, and in my experience, it has always been extremely helpful. They're also very open and transparent about their logging policy, so you can rest easy knowing that your data will never be stored or monitored. 

If you want a fast, dependable VPN with strong security features and a large network of server locations, ExpressVPN is an excellent choice. 

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
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Ivacy VPN Screenshot

Ivacy VPN impressed us and continued to impress us in various ways. To begin with, the company offers one-of-a-kind single-purpose servers. Furthermore, the software can recommend a server based on your online activities. 

Frequently, the most appropriate server for the task at hand is recommended. The company has provided virtual private network (VPN) services for over a decade, with its headquarters in Singapore. Over time, the features and the user interface have evolved dramatically. The interface is modern and straightforward today, but it still gives users access to various features. There are seven options when you open the left rail. Smart Connect is the most important, but Unblocking, Streaming, and Secure Download are also options.

By selecting any of these options, the software will recommend the best servers for the job. IVACY operates 3500 servers in over 100 locations across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and South America. 

Multiple users can log into the service simultaneously with a single subscription, accommodating up to 5 devices. 

IVACY also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, and monthly plans start around $3 If anything, it propels IVACY to the top of the list of the most cost-effective and dependable VPN services on the market.

Ivacy VPN logo white
Overall Rating: 4.2 / 5.0
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Rating Methodology

When we review and rate VPNs, we consider several factors. Of course, each of these features would work flawlessly in an ideal world. 

They do not, however, in practice. In a nutshell, we are most likely to recommend VPNs with the most features and the best performance, i.e., the best VPN services. 

Keeping up with all of the updates can be difficult, however, with an increasing number of VPN services adding new features almost every few months. 

As a result, we've settled on a set of standard features. In all of these areas, we expect all VPNs to perform admirably. 

But, exactly, what are these qualities that we keep mentioning? Here's a rundown of the criteria we use to rank VPN providers:

Encryption

There should be a couple of different encryption algorithms available for users to choose from when using a VPN service to provide them with various options. 

The most popular and widely used is OpenVPN, the most commonly available. On the other hand, others include SHA, AES, PPTP, SSTP, L2TP/IPSec, and IKEv2. 

Generally speaking, the greater the number of encryption options available, the better the security. Therefore, we put these encryption algorithms through their paces and created a ranking of the VPNs that offer the most secure encryption features currently available.

Ease of use

It serves no purpose to have a virtual private network (VPN) service if you cannot access it when you require it. Because most people who read our reviews are not technologically savvy, ease of use is one of the most important considerations we make. 

In addition, we have many readers who are regular people who want to use a VPN to stream movies or hide their identity while browsing the internet. 

The greater the ease with which a service can be used, the higher our rating. As a result, the most user-friendly VPN services should be among the best available.

Speed

When using a VPN, speed is also an essential factor to consider. VPNs will, by definition, slow down your internet connection. 

This is because when you connect to a VPN server, your connection is first rerouted to the VPN server, which may be halfway around the world, and then to the internet. 

The speed is determined by two factors: first, the distance between you and the server, and second, the load on the server. 

Your connection will be slower if you connect to a VPN server in the United States from Asia than if you connect to a server in India or Malaysia, for example. 

Some services, on the other hand, can help to reduce the so-called "slowdown" or "latency" (in technical terms). As a result, we always double-check the connection speed to establish a baseline average compared to the competition.

Number of Servers

The more, in our opinion, the better. Furthermore, the quality of the servers is a source of concern. Having more servers available allows you to connect to a server at any time. 

Aside from that, fast loading times are associated with high-quality servers. Furthermore, because users are spread across a large number of servers, there will be no significant performance degradation. 

As a result, we always recommend VPN services that continue to expand their network of servers in different parts of the world.

Privacy policy

VPN services are used for various reasons, the most common of which is to keep online browsing, chat, email, and other activities private. Many people are unaware that ISPs log and share internet activity with the government in most countries.

Internet service providers in countries like China and Iran effectively spy on so-called "persons of interest," but the general public is not immune. Not all VPNs, however, provide complete privacy protection. 

For a variety of reasons, many people keep track of your activities. Some VPNs, for instance, rent your data while others sell it. 

Most intelligence agencies in first-world countries like Canada and the United States have access. VPN services that are completely anonymous and do not track user activity are the best.

Multi-Platform Support

We believe that adding support for more platforms is a positive step forward because it gives users more options. As a general rule, the vast majority (if not all) of the VPNs we've recommended have mobile apps for iOS, Android, and Windows. 

Some support Mac OS X, Linux, and Chrome OS, but some do not support any of these operating systems. 

If you're using an obscure operating system, check to see if it's supported, as this is the only way to connect to a VPN in that situation.

No-Logging Policy

Only VPNs with a proven strict no-logging policy are considered. There's no such thing as taking a service provider's word for it. 

That's why we're looking into where the VPN is based and whether or not they're legally required to keep logs of all activity on their servers. 

We automatically exclude VPN services from consideration under this policy because we assume that a VPN service's no-logging policy is in place even if it does not explicitly state that it is.

Price

Many of our readers consider price to be a critical factor in their purchasing decisions. However, you don't want to spend a lot of money on virtual private networks (VPN). 

As a result, overall prices are falling every year, and with special deals and offers, what more could you want from your retailer? 

The most effective virtual private network (VPN) services, on the other hand, offer the best value for money in terms of the price-to-performance ratio. Finally, we'd all prefer the best VPN also to be the most affordable, but this isn't always the case.

Extra Features

All VPN services, particularly those at the top of our list, have a feature that distinguishes them from the competition. Furthermore, some services may have two distinct characteristics that set them apart from others. 

We make it a point to look over those distinguishing characteristics to see if they are useful and free of gimmicks. 

If the VPN's unique features are discovered to work and work well, the VPN will be given an extra point. According to our research, gimmicks outnumber the unique features that actually improve your browsing or internet experience.

Common Questions about VPNs

We recognize that many people reading this article may be unfamiliar with computer security and the best to protect their computers. 

Virtual private networks (VPNs) are probably familiar to most visitors to our website, and they were probably directed here from another article. 

Regardless of your level of knowledge about virtual private networks (VPNs), the following FAQs should help you make sense of things and, in some cases, dispel some common myths.

What is a VPN?

In this day and age of open public WIFI connections, adware, spyware, and malicious websites, as well as government-sanctioned spying, everyone should use a virtual private network (VPN). 

If you're not paranoid, a virtual private network (VPN) will give you access to websites and streaming services that you wouldn't have access to in your home country otherwise. 

Residents of China, for example, will be able to stream Netflix from the United Kingdom and the United States by connecting directly to the VPN server in those countries.

Who needs a VPN?

Because of the proliferation of malicious websites and government-sponsored spying, the use of a virtual private network (VPN) is strongly recommended for everyone (VPN). 

A virtual private network (VPN) enables you to connect to the internet through a secure, private tunnel, preventing anyone from spying on your traffic or stealing your personal information. 

As a result, VPNs are becoming increasingly popular. Additionally, using a VPN can assist you in accessing websites and content that has been blocked in certain countries.

What can you do with a VPN?

You can accomplish a lot more with a VPN than you could with a standard internet connection without one. To begin with, you will be able to access websites and services that would otherwise be inaccessible. 

You can also use the internet without being concerned about Big Brother watching you. You can also engage in activities like torrenting, video streaming, and other similar activities that are illegal in your home country, such as the United States. 

As a result, using a VPN gives you access to far more content on the internet than you would otherwise have.

Does a VPN ban in my country mean it will not work?

In China, Turkey, Iraq, Russia, Belarus, North Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Oman, VPN use is restricted or prohibited. This is not an exhaustive list; these are the only countries we are aware of that prohibit VPN use. 

However, this does not rule out the possibility of VPNs functioning in your country. It simply means that you will face the full force of the law if you are caught using them. If you're going to use a VPN in one of these countries, make sure it has 'Obfuscated Servers.' 

Only the best VPN services employ obfuscated servers, but doing so ensures that your ISP is unaware of and unable to block your VPN connection.

How to choose a VPN service?

There are a few things to think about when selecting a VPN service. The ease of use, features, number of servers, speed, and cost are all critical considerations. Use a VPN service that accepts a payment method you are comfortable with. 

It should accept Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency payments if you don't want to use your credit card, debit card, or PayPal wallet, for example.

Because their data cannot be traced back to them, many people who value their privacy choose to use a VPN service that accepts cryptocurrencies. 

Finally, consider how the VPN will be used daily. If you want to watch movies or download torrent files, the service should allow you to do so. Because many VPNs have issues, read their reviews to see how well these features work.

Will a VPN service give my money back?

Almost all VPN services, if not all, offer a money-back guarantee, as most people who have read our reviews have noticed. However, most people are hesitant to trust this so-called guarantee, particularly those who have had a bad experience with a similar service in the past. 

As a result, most VPN services will attempt to prevent you from canceling your subscription. Instead, they will do everything they can to keep you, including offering you a discount, to avoid losing you. In the end, if the service is reputable, you will be refunded. 

However, the time it takes is determined mainly by the service you choose, the payment method, and your location. Our top-rated VPN services process refund requests quickly after customers answer a few questions, most of which are related to why they weren't satisfied.

Why pay for a VPN when there are free options?

Answer: There are several free VPN services to choose from. But first, think about how these services will continue to make money. They appear to be taking steps to ensure that they can make enough money to keep the servers and software running for years. 

As it happens, they profit from selling your personal information to advertisers, marketers, and anyone else willing to pay for it. They can see everything you do because free VPN services keep track of everything you do and don't use the most up-to-date encryption algorithms. 

Furthermore, the majority of servers are of poor quality and frequently overcrowded. Expect your internet speeds to slow by up to 89 percent as a result.

 

Does a VPN slow down my internet connection?

Yes, it most definitely does! Virtual private networks (VPNs) all slow down your internet connection, but some are much slower than others. What you get is determined by the VPN service you're using, your current internet connection speed, and the server you're connected to. 

Consider the fact that each time you connect to the internet through a VPN, the traffic between your computer and the internet must pass through the VPN server, which is an additional layer of security. 

If the VPN server is slow or located a long distance away from where you are trying to access the internet, the speed will be significantly reduced.

According to our research, you can expect a speed reduction of up to 10% in most cases when using a high-quality VPN service like the ones we recommend.

Will using a VPN affect my internet connection?

Your home internet connection has nothing to do with using a virtual private network (VPN). It will not affect your router's configuration or any other devices in your home. 

As the name implies, virtualization software is used to create a virtual connection between your computer and the server. As a result, even if you connect to a VPN on your smartphone, your desktop computer, laptop, and other devices will be unaffected. 

In addition, the majority of apps are so well-designed that you won't even need to change your computer's internet settings to use them. As a result, there are no errors or other issues when disconnected from the internet.

Takeaways

VPN services have always been put to the test by us. These services have evolved from clunky software that requires a computer science degree to services anyone can use. VPNs have also improved in recent years, becoming more user-friendly, faster, and feature-rich. 

Your final VPN service provider choice will be influenced by two factors: your budget and your requirements. The best VPN service you can trust to do the job. 

This includes watching Netflix movies through a VPN. Peer-to-peer (P2P) and torrent networks are in the same boat. As a result, our in-depth VPN service reviews go over the benefits and drawbacks of each service. 

So, if what you want is within the service's capabilities, go for it. Our top picks are the safest, fastest, and most cost-effective VPNs we've tried.

The Future of Online Security
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By: Michael Miller
Michael is the CEO of VPN Online, one of the fastest-growing media companies in the cyber-security space. VPN Online was started in 2019 after Michael consulted with many Fortune 500 companies and saw the lack of understanding about cybersecurity many of their employees had.
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