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The best VPN services of 2024, tested and reviewed

Here's who to trust with your privacy (and money).
By Haley Henschel  on 
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Don't let it go to your head, but everybody wants you — more specifically, your browsing data. Personal information about the links you click on and the sites you visit is highly valuable to third parties, including your internet service provider (ISP) and Google, who may want to share or monetize it. Certain government and law enforcement agencies are also eager to peek at your activity online for their own surveillance purposes, as horny Texans learned earlier this year.

One way to reclaim some of your digital privacy is by getting a virtual private network, or VPN, a service that creates an encrypted connection between your device and one of the VPN provider's private, remote servers before spitting it out onto the open web.

Why do you need a VPN?

Even the best VPNs can't make you totally anonymous on the web — the providers themselves can still see what you're doing while you're using their servers. But they can secure your data and hide your true IP address from prying eyes on the outside.

While not its primary purpose, a VPN's ability to conceal your real IP address also makes it useful for spoofing your location. This will allow you to bypass geo-restrictions on content that's not available in your country or region. If you're someone in the U.S. who wants access to a streaming service like BBC iPlayer or ITVX, for example, a VPN can make it happen.

What is the No. 1 best VPN?

Deciding which VPN to trust with your privacy and your money can be tough, especially if you're not familiar with the technology, which is why we're testing and re-testing a slew of popular VPN services. As of mid-2024, we believe TunnelBear is the best free VPN we've tried so far and NordVPN is the best premium VPN we've used. Read on to learn more about them (and a couple of alternatives).

Note: Prices for most VPN providers' long-term plans change frequently. The rates below were accurate at the time of publication.

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  • Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, PCMag.com's parent company. For more, see the ethics policy in our Editorial Mission Statement.

Our Pick

Read Mashable's full review of NordVPN.

Who it's for:

It's overkill for VPN newbies and casual users, but NordVPN is the primo paid choice for power users who want the freedom to mess around with lots of settings and servers. If you opt for a long-term plan, it's also reasonably priced.

Why we picked this:

Nord Security's well-established VPN has a clean and highly customizable app, which presents its server network in the form of a list and a minimal map. That network is the most geographically diverse server network out of all the VPNs I've tested thus far, with locations in 111 countries worldwide. It also includes specialty servers for multi-hop connections ("Double VPN"), Tor connections ("Onion Over VPN"), P2P connections, and obfuscated servers. (The latter make it so no one can tell you're using a VPN.) It could be quite slow to initially connect in testing, but it ran well once I got on a server and consistently unblocked international streaming sites. Split tunneling is available on its Windows, Android, and Android TV apps.

One NordVPN subscription gets you support for up to ten simultaneous connections. Its service comes bundled with security extras like an anti-malware/tracker tool and a dark web monitor, plus a unique MeshNet feature that lets you steer traffic through other devices running its app (essentially creating your own private network). It's an excellent value if you opt for one of its lower-cost yearly plans.

Users should be aware of a transparency blunder in NordVPN's past, but may find peace of mind from the network upgrades, boosted security standards, and bug bounty program it launched in its wake. These all supplement regular third-party audits of its no-logs policy and its monthly transparency reports, which recently replaced a warranty canary. Its fourth and most recent audit was published in January 2024 — though you'll need an account to read it.

The Good

The Bad

Details

Read Mashable's full review of TunnelBear.

Who it's for:

TunnelBear is an easygoing VPN with a restricted but workable free tier that's good for short-term, occasional use. It's also a good pick for those who didn't know what "VPN" stood for prior to reading this guide: The TunnelBear app is extremely easy to navigate and jargon-free.

Why we picked this:

McAfee's TunnelBear democratizes the VPN experience, forgoing supplementary security features and convoluted industry lingo in favor of a charming, basic app. (It'll underwhelm power users, but VPN beginners should find it refreshingly approachable.) Users can connect to servers by sending a little bear to yellow pipes on its posterized map interface — pretty cute — or by selecting locations from a list. It was reliably fast in testing, but I'd only recommend it for casual browsing (not traveling or streaming): TunnelBear's network is on the smaller side and can't unblock regional content. Split tunneling is available on all platforms, though it's usually limited to web- or app-based traffic, not both. There's no multi-hop.

TunnelBear gives users the option of signing up for a free tier, which includes one simultaneous connection, country-level server selection, and 2GB of browsing data per month. Per a TunnelBear rep, free users are subsidized by the provider's paid subscribers and covered by the same no-logs policy. (There's also no credit card required to sign up; some premium VPNs' free trials mandate it.) If you decide to upgrade, a paid Unlimited plan unlocks unlimited bandwidth, unlimited simultaneous connections, and city-level server selection. However, users should be mindful that TunnelBear doesn't offer any sort of money-back guarantee, and refunds are only available on a case-by-case basis.

TunnelBear gets special props for its commitment to transparency, having been the first consumer VPN to publish a third-party audit of its infrastructure and technologies back in 2017. It's done one every year since, and the seventh and most recent one was published in February 2024. (You can read it in full without an account.) The company also posts transparency reports about the government authority requests it gets.

The Good

The Bad

Details

Read Mashable's review of ExpressVPN.

Who it's for:

ExpressVPN could be worth the steep cost of entry for users who need a privacy-forward VPN that can access content around the globe. And frequent travelers may get good use out of its Aircove routers, which come with its VPN built-in.

Why we like this:

ExpressVPN maintains a widespread server network across 105 countries, making it a decent option for skirting geo-restrictions and spoofing locations. In my testing, it was always fast to connect and good at unblocking regional streaming sites. The app is stylish and user-friendly, revolving around a list of servers instead of a visual map, and you can use it on up to eight devices per account. It comes with a built-in password manager called "Keys" and blockers for trackers, malicious sites, ads, and adult sites.

The catch is that all of this comes at a premium: ExpressVPN is expensive no matter the length of your plan, and it doesn't give you a ton for the money beyond Keys and those blockers. (For example, there's no multi-hop for extra protection, and its split tunneling tool is restricted to Windows and older Macs.) On the bright side, ExpressVPN offers a free and unrestricted weeklong trial on mobile so you can try it before you commit.

Notably, ExpressVPN also makes WiFi 6 routers with its VPN software installed: the AirCove ($189.90) and the portable AirCove Go ($169.90). Both of them support unlimited simultaneous connections so you can protect entire households' worth of devices, from gaming consoles to smart home devices. I think that's probably excessive for most people, but they could be handy for working remotely from hotels or Airbnbs, though I haven't tested or reviewed them personally.

ExpressVPN takes a strong approach to user privacy via a bug bounty program and service-wide audits, which include third-party scrutiny of its no-logs policy, server technology, Lightway protocol, Aircove router, mobile apps, and desktop apps. (It published its most recent no-logs audit in May 2024, and you can read it without making an account.) As of early 2024, it's also publishing biannual transparency reports. However, ExpressVPN's ownership by Kape Technologies might concern security sticklers.

The Good

The Bad

Details

Read Mashable's full review of CyberGhost VPN.

Who it's for:

If you care about speed and location spoofing more than anything else, CyberGhost VPN has a gigantic server network that should make it easy to find a fast, dependable connection almost anywhere. Note that it's significantly cheaper than ExpressVPN if you opt for a longer-term plan, but its privacy practices pale in comparison. (It's also owned by Kape.)

Why we like it:

The closer a VPN server is to your actual location, the faster your connection is going to be. With CyberGhost, you should never find yourself stuck in a no man's land: It lays claim to the largest server network out of all the VPNs I've tried, boasting more than 11,500 locations worldwide. That includes specialty servers optimized for streaming, torrenting, and gaming, which only allow traffic for their respective activities.

I tested CyberGhost out of my home in Chicago, and found its list-based app clean and intuitive. It was quick to get me online, reliable when I was browsing, and adept at unblocking regional content. Its servers never improved my connection speeds — no VPN can — but using it felt like I didn't have a VPN running at all... well, most of the time. I got prompted to complete a reCAPTCHA every time I switched CyberGhost servers, which meant Google could tell I was using a VPN. This suggests that the servers I used were crowded, but since I personally didn't notice any slowdowns, I just consider it a slight hiccup. If you want to see if you run into the same issue, CyberGhost offers a free trial (up to seven days long, depending on the platform) and an industry-leading 45-day money-back guarantee.

Feature-wise, CyberGhost only offers split tunneling on Android. Multi-hop is a no-go.

I don't love the fact that CyberGhost only just started completing regular independent audits, and that you can only get a copy by requesting it via email, filling out a contact form, or by creating a CyberGhost account. Security wonks may pass on it simply because it's owned by Kape. But CyberGhost deserves a teensy bit of credit for issuing transparency reports longer than anyone else (since 2011). As of 2019, they come out quarterly.

The Good

The Bad

Details

Topics Cybersecurity

How we tested

Making picks for this guide to the best VPNs involved hands-on testing, which I'll describe in more detail shortly, but it also hinged heavily on guidance from cybersecurity experts. When it comes to the types of things consumers should look for in VPN services, they told me in separate interviews, much of what separates the good from the bad can be gleaned before anything is installed. These experts include:

What the experts said

When you surf the internet freely without a VPN, you're being tracked online constantly by multiple third parties, including your Internet Service Provider (ISP), search engines like Google, and possibly even your employer or school. Connecting to a VPN means taking your traffic away from them and putting it in the hands of one lone entity instead, conceding exclusive, unfettered access to all of your browsing data. It's a privilege that needs to be earned, and the true caliber of a VPN ultimately comes down to whether you can wholly believe it's keeping you safe.

Unfortunately, the VPN industry is notorious for hyperbolic marketing, especially when it comes to privacy practices. This can "give VPN users a false sense of security if they don’t realize that the protections offered are not comprehensive," according to a Consumer Reports investigation into 16 providers. (Many popular VPNs shout about offering "military-grade" encryption, for example, which isn't a thing.) It's unwise to take a provider's "trust me bro!" claims at face value.

So how do you know for sure if a VPN is trustworthy? A single Google search can be enlightening: A good provider won't have a long rap sheet for mishandling users' personal data or succumbing to server breaches, and bad headlines should raise a red flag — including those about a VPN's ownership or parent company. A swift, effective response to crises and a healthy dose of corporate accountability can offset these concerns in some cases, but I also place a high value on a pristine reputation.

The best VPN services should also be willing to open themselves up to scrutiny. Bragging about a strong "no logs" privacy policy that specifies how users' personal information gets protected is one thing, but subjecting that policy to independent audits — and making the results public — provides a much higher level of assurance. 

The most trustworthy VPNs will also issue regular transparency reports disclosing any requests for data they've received from government or law enforcement agencies. (These requests won't yield anything if a provider's privacy policy holds up.) Some go the extra mile by offering in-house bug bounty programs to researchers who comb their software and servers for vulnerabilities.

Tests we run on VPNs

After assessing their company policies, histories, and overall reliability, I hands-on test VPNs on mobile and desktop. (For reference, I use my personal iPhone 11 and my work-issued M1 Pro-powered Apple MacBook Pro.) I have each VPN connected for approximately four to eight hours at a time to get a general sense of the user experience as part of the average person's everyday workflow. I also put them through a handful of performance benchmarks:

DNS leak tests

Often described as "the internet's phone book," the DNS (Domain Name System) is basically a back-end directory that translates website domain names into computer-speak, aka internet protocol (IP) addresses. An IP address is a unique number that's assigned to a device when it's connected to the internet; it identifies the device's general location and the name of the ISP.

Without making things overly complicated (bear with me): When you search for a website, your browser sends a query to one of your ISP's DNS servers to track down its matching IP address(es) so it can send you to that page. Without the DNS, you'd have to type out a long string of numbers every time you wanted to visit a website. Instead of "Mashable.com," for example, you'd enter "104.18.33.218" or "172.64.154.38" into your search bar.

A VPN is supposed to reroute your DNS queries to its own DNS servers while you're connected to it — that way, your ISP (and possibly other snoops) can't see where you are or what sites you're looking up. If the VPN is faulty, it may continue to send DNS queries to the ISP's DNS servers, putting your security at risk. That's the gist of a DNS leak.

Some VPN apps have built-in DNS leak tests that tell you if your connection is secure and whether your real IP address is being hidden. Otherwise, you can perform them via DNSleaktest.com. When I try a VPN, I run its standard test twice: once with the VPN off, and once with it connected.

Trying different use cases

The No. 1 purpose of VPNs is to make it difficult for anyone other than the provider to identify and track your online activity, so every VPN I recommend must do that well — no exceptions. However, VPNs are also widely used to spoof user locations and skirt geo-restrictions on content, especially overseas streaming libraries. (Services like Netflix limit their libraries abroad because of region-specific distribution rights.)

While a VPN will never be disqualified simply because it can't get users access to geo-blocked content, it's a plus if it succeeds, so I still test for it. I do so by connecting to one of the VPN's UK servers from my home in Chicago and running a DNS leak test to see if my IP address changes accordingly, then attempting to watch Love Island UK on the UK streaming service ITVX.

Speed tests

The connection speed of a VPN depends on a lot of different variables, but it will almost always be slower than your regular internet connection, so it's not a huge factor in my final recs. That said, I try to get an idea of how well a VPN performs by using it for a lengthy period of time and running it through some quick Ookla Speedtests. (I do three of them: one with the VPN off, one with the VPN connected to a local server, and one with the VPN connected to a French server.) If a VPN is noticeably sluggish to the point where it affects usability, I'll call it out. 

A general rule of thumb for any VPN is that your connection speeds will be fastest when you're connected to a server that's geographically close to your actual location.

Other important details

I also take following factors into account as I use a VPN and decided whether to recommend it, listed in no particular order:

Included features

Most premium VPNs come with similar privacy tools, so I don't encounter major provider-to-provider discrepancies in this regard. Still, it's worth noting some of the important ones I look out for:

  • A kill switch will immediately disconnect your device from the internet if your VPN drops. (This one's non-negotiable.) 

  • Support for multi-hop connections that route your traffic through two or more of the VPN's servers. This adds an extra layer of protection. 

  • Split tunneling, a tool that sends some of your traffic through the VPN and some outside it to conserve bandwidth, can be useful for streaming and gaming.

Oftentimes, providers will also bundle their VPN with additional security features like malware/adware blockers, data breach detectors, and cloud storage. These won't make the VPN itself any better, but they're good to have alongside your go-to antivirus software and password manager. (If you have to choose between a reputable VPN or one that comes with a bunch of add-ons, always go with the former.)

Protocol type

A VPN's protocol is the set of instructions that determine how data gets communicated between its servers and your devices. Many VPN providers have developed proprietary protocols within the past few years, but OpenVPN remains the most popular and widely respected option: It's stable, secure, and open-source, meaning anyone can inspect its code for vulnerabilities. WireGuard is another good pick that's newer than OpenVPN and supposedly faster.

Encryption type

A VPN protects your data by encrypting it, or scrambling it up into unreadable "ciphertext" that can only be decoded with a secret key or password. Virtually all premium VPNs use Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption, which is pretty much uncrackable to third parties.

Server network size and distribution

Picking a VPN with a large server network means there's a lower likelihood of you sharing one with a bunch of other users, which is especially valuable for streaming (since there's more bandwidth to go around). 

Relatedly, a VPN with a geographically diverse network of servers in many different parts of the world will make it easier for you to spoof specific locations and find one close to you to optimize connection speeds. Most premium VPNs maintain servers throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia; few have a big presence in Africa.

Number of simultaneous connections

Most VPNs can be used on five to 10 devices per account (depending on the provider), which should be plenty for individual users. A handful of them support unlimited simultaneous connections to better serve bigger households.

Customer support options

Users should have access to some kind of help around the clock in case an issue arises with their VPN connection or account, whether it's by phone, email, or live chat. (Online help forums and tutorials are nice, but not enough on their own.) I also give preference to VPNs that offer some kind of money-back guarantee; in most cases, it's 30 days long.

Overall value

Premium VPN providers typically charge anywhere from $2 to $12 per month for access to their clients, depending on the subscription length. It's easier to justify the higher end of that spectrum if it gets you a reliable and responsible VPN with some useful security features.

Ease of use

Some VPNs are more intuitive and beginner-friendly than others.

It's important to note that many popular VPN providers posit their jurisdiction, or the location of their headquarters, as something that can have serious privacy implications based on local surveillance laws (such as the Five, Nine, and 14 Eyes alliances). Without getting too in the weeds, the experts I spoke to said the average consumer shouldn't put a big stake in these claims, and that authorities will get access to user data one way or another if the need is great enough. What's more concerning, they added — to bring things full circle — is whether any data is being retained by a VPN provider in the first place. 

If anything, users might be better off choosing a VPN headquartered in a country with strong consumer protections against deceptive marketing (like the U.S. and many countries in the European Union). These could come in handy if a provider's privacy policy was ever questioned.

Note: Ookla is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis.

Frequently Asked Questions


In the simplest terms, using a VPN (which stands for "virtual private network") lets you hide who you really are and where you really are while using the internet from everyone except the VPN. In less simple terms, a VPN is a service that sends your traffic through an encrypted connection to a remote server maintained by the VPN provider before it's dispatched to the public internet. The encryption part makes it so your traffic is unreadable to third parties like your ISP and Google; routing that traffic through a remote server then gives you a different IP address, which makes it look like you're browsing from somewhere you aren't actually located IRL.

Using a VPN is often likened to driving around in a rental car with tinted windows and a license plate that doesn't match your home state, or arriving at a location via secret trapdoor and wearing a mask while you go about your day.


There are a few notable downsides to using a VPN, besides the obvious "it costs money" thing, one being the VPN's affect on your browsing speed. It will virtually always be slower than your normal, unprotected connection.

Another issue is that sites may restrict your access to their content if they detect VPN usage. Some maintain blacklists of IP addresses that are known to belong to VPNs, including major streaming sites like Netflix. If your IP address is frequently associated with multiple users, that's usually what gives it away.

Finally, there's always the risk that a VPN provider is shadily collecting and selling your personal information (see below) — hence the importance of picking one that's transparent and trustworthy.


The answer is a little nuanced. VPNs that are completely free outright are generally not safe to use, as free VPN providers have been known to secretly log and sell user data, bundle their apps with malware, and/or maintain poor security practices. (You know the saying about free lunch.) However, we do stand by certain premium providers' free tiers or trials that are protected by the same vetted policies as their paid counterparts; these are safe to use. This includes TunnelBear Free and CyberGhost VPN's free trial of up to seven days.

It bears mentioning that free versions of premium VPNs tend to be limited in terms of their server selections, browsing data allotments, available features, and abilities to unblock streaming sites, so they're best for situational or occasional use. Those who want a dependable, everyday VPN should opt for a paid subscription.


VPNs maintain separate apps for separate platforms, so no — you'll need to install your VPN on every individual device you want secured. Most VPN providers offer support for at least five simultaneous connections, for what it's worth. (If you have a bunch of devices that need protecting or live in a larger household, look for a provider that offers unlimited simultaneous connections — TunnelBear, for instance.)


Your browser's Incognito/private mode only gets you so far — it'll clear your history, searches, cookies, and login deets, preventing other users of the same device from seeing what you've been up to, but it won't hide and secure your connection from your ISP and other prying eyes. Incognito mode is not a substitute for a VPN.


Aside from the few countries that have restricted or outright banned them (including Belarus, China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and the United Arab Emirates), VPNs are perfectly legal in most of the world. But keep in mind that illegal activities like torrenting copyrighted material, buying prohibited goods, and hacking are still illegal even with a VPN. Let's not get too brazen, here.

Along those same lines, using a VPN to unblock streaming services from a country where it's not available isn't technically against the law, but it is a violation of the company's terms of use — i.e., you may get slapped with a warning, IP ban, or error message if caught.

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Haley Henschel
Senior Shopping Reporter

Haley Henschel is a Chicago-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable who reviews and finds deals on popular tech, from laptops to gaming consoles and VPNs. She has years of experience covering shopping holidays and can tell you what’s actually worth buying on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Her work has also explored the driving forces behind digital trends within the shopping sphere, from dupes to 12-foot skeletons.

Haley received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and honed her sifting and winnowing skills at The Daily Cardinal. She previously covered politics for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, investigated exotic pet ownership for Wisconsin Watch, and blogged for some of your favorite reality stars.

In her free time, Haley enjoys playing video games, drawing, taking walks on Lake Michigan, and spending time with her parrot (Melon) and dog (Pierogi). She really, really wants to get back into horseback riding. You can follow her on X at @haleyhenschel or reach her via email at [email protected].

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