5 Best VPN Services (2024): For Routers, PCs, iPhones, Android, and More

In my testing, TunnelBear's speeds were competitive with the other options listed here. One of my favorite parts of TunnelBear is the free trial option, which makes it easy to test drive and see how fast you get without any commitment. TunnelBear has fewer geoserver locations than some of our other options, but unless you travel internationally or need to bypass specific geo-restrictions, this shouldn't matter to most users.

If you buy a year in advance, TunnelBear costs $3.33 per month.

Fastest VPN

NordVPN has been in our guides for years, but after some bad customer service incidents, we pulled it to retest. After testing NordVPN for the past six months and repeatedly asking customer service to fix the problem (which they did), I'm adding it back to our recommendation list.

In 2020, Nord Security merged with Surfshark VPN (recommended above). Both VPNs continue to operate independently, but there is considerable overlap in the services they offer. Nord’s parent company is based in Panama and is not part of the 14 Eyes alliance, which means NordVPN does not collect user data.

There’s a lot to recommend about NordVPN, but perhaps the highlight is the speed, especially upload speeds, which make it a popular choice for sharing torrents. I love the built-in ad and tracking blockers in mobile apps, and NordVPN is great for unblocking entertainment sites like Netflix, Hulu, and Max. The NordVPN app provides a kill switch that automatically stops your traffic if your VPN connection fails, and it supports multi-hop VPN connections. NordVPN supports multiple protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec for mobile devices, and what the company calls NordLynx (based on WireGuard).

NordVPN also has a pretty good record when it comes to privacy. In October 2024, NordVPN received a binding warrant from the Panamanian government demanding user data as part of a criminal investigation. “The only information we are able to provide is payment-related data and confirmation of the existence of an account linked to the email address provided to us by the authorities,” the company said.

Best for high-risk use cases

If you're in a situation where your personal safety is critical, don't rely on a VPN. Please use Tor instead (preferably via Tails). Using the Tor network can accomplish some of the same things as a VPN, but with some differences. Tor provides anonymity, which means no one can know who you are, but doesn't necessarily protect privacy. People may still be able to see what you're doing, but they won't know it's you. (VPNs provide privacy because no one can see what you are doing when you step out of the VPN tunnel, but you have no anonymity because the VPN provider knows who you are.)

Setting up Tor is simple. All you need to do is download the Tor browser and it will connect you to the network. Once connected to the Tor network, you can browse the web normally. Except everything will be slower. When using Tor, your request for a website hops around the Tor network, jumping between servers, before emerging and connecting to the website you want to visit. This makes Tor slow, sometimes incredibly slow, but is necessary to protect your anonymity. Yes, you can combine a VPN with Tor, although that's a bit beyond the scope of this guide.

Other VPNs We’ve Tried

• ExpressVPN: We also used to recommend ExpressVPN, but we no longer do so because it has a new parent company and we were unable to verify any information about it.
• Google One VPN: Google One VPN is part of Google One but is expected to be shut down. We'd never recommend it – and let's not forget that Google has been caught multiple times collecting data it claims it doesn't, which isn't what you want to hear from a VPN provider. We also don't recommend the VPN that comes with Google Fi or the VPN that comes with Pixel phones. If you don't pay for a VPN, two things will happen: it will either shut down, or you will be the one being sold. Most of the VPNs we recommend cost around $5 per month; true privacy value at $5 per month.

There are many VPNs on the market, but most of them are not worth your money. If you just want to circumvent some Netflix geo-restrictions, then pretty much any of them will do (we still recommend sticking with our recommended options, but if you can't block, then move on). For more serious things, like truly protecting your privacy and data, learn to use Tor. Yes, it's a bit technical, but trust me, it's worth learning how to do it if your life, family, and job are at stake.

Best free VPN

As mentioned above, ProtonVPN has a free version. It's limited to a single device and can only connect to three servers, which means it can be slow. No logs, no ads, and no other restrictions. In my testing, it was slower than the paid account, but it does work. Several other VPNs offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, here are the details of NordVPN’s refund policy.

Beyond that, it’s worth remembering the adage: “If you’re not paying, you’re the product.” Don’t trust a VPN that won’t take your money (and don’t trust many of them). The good news is that all of the above options offer free trials, allowing you to evaluate how well each VPN works in your unique situation and needs.