Are you looking for the best VPN in 2022? That’s logical, the last couple of years these services have gained enormous popularity, almost 30% of the internet users has been using VPN services over the past 5 years. We at Globalwatchonline.com tested and tried all different providers for you, read our comprehensive top 10 best VPN guide and learn everything about this service, we are sure that once you’re done reading you will know if this provider suits you.
Top 10 best VPN software in 2022:
After researching and using tons of providers we came to the conclusion that the following 10 providers are the best VPN services in the world:
- NordVPN
- Surfshark
- ExpressVPN
- Cyberghost
- IPVanish
- Private Internet Access
- Mullvad
- VyprVPN
- CactusVPN
- ProtonVPN
What is the best VPN to use?
There are a lot of VPN services out there. Counting both free and paid services, you’re looking at over 1,000 different options to choose from. They all have a lot of the same features, many of them look and sound alike, and all of them promise to keep your online connection both anonymous and secure. So how can you possibly find the best VPN for you? As we said, there are a lot of VPNs out there.
But there are also a lot of VPN reviews. With so many biased choices, it can be difficult to separate fact from profit-driven fiction. We’ve tested and reviewed more than 100 popular VPN services to date. Every review includes background information on the VPN, along with an in-depth look at its features, a speed test, and a list of VPN pros and cons.
Most important VPN factors that we’ve compared in 2022:
- Download speed
- Customer service
- Privacy and logging policy
- Security and reliability
- Netflix availability
- Jurisdiction
- Ease of use
- Torrenting
- Servers
- Usability
- Support
- Cost
1. NordVPN | The Best VPN Available in 2022 | All-Round And Cheap ($3.71/mo)
NordVPN is an extremely reliable provider with a wide global server base (5500+ servers in 59 countries), advanced encryption and a competitive price. NordVPN is the most popular VPN worldwide according to Google Trends for a reason.
In fact, NordVPN is currently the largest VPN provider in the world. NordVPN has invested a lot in the past few years to prove that user security is guaranteed.
This has worked well for them. It is and will continue to be a fine VPN with good applications, offering an awful lot of features. NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee. So you can try out NordVPN for a month to see if you are as satisfied with it as we are.
Why is NordVPN is the best rated VPN in 2022?
- Good security options with double data encryption technology
- Beautiful application that works intuitively
- Online with six devices at the same time
- 30-day money-back guarantee on all packages
- Very competitively priced if you subscribe for an extended period
- Very fast servers (they have 5000+ available)
- Torrenting/P2P allowed
- Works with Netflix
- Strict no logging policy
- Easy to use VPN apps
- Double data encryption
- No IP/DNS leaks found
What can NordVPN still improve?
There’s one thing in particular that we’re not so keen on with using NordVPN. To log in via the app, you are redirected to your browser. We find this a bit cumbersome and somewhat user unfriendly. And it doesn’t benefit privacy, our browser doesn’t need to know we’re using NordVPN, does it? Another thing that can be improved is the pricing strategy, discounts are only available for longer subscriptions. Apart from that there isn’t a lot of bad to say about this provider.
NordVPN is compatible with:
Whenever the subject of the best VPN in the world comes up, mentions of NordVPN aren’t far behind. NordVPN is known by many as the best all-around VPN. While many services focus on one particular feature (whether security, speed, anonymity, number of servers, etc), NordVPN manages to check every box that we have. For P2P traffic (torrenting), NordVPN has dedicated servers.
Interface of the app
These are easily identified within the interface of the NordVPN app. NordVPN is also one of the better VPN services for Hulu, BBC iPlayer and Netflix. NordVPN even has an additional option called SmartPlay that allows you to access Netflix USA with any servers (even if they are not in the United States). So you’ll always have the largest selection of movies and series on Netflix. Just be careful to choose the right server, though.
Is NordVPN the best VPN solution for privacy?
Do you value your (online) privacy? Then you’re definitely in the right place with NordVPN. After a security incident involving one of NordVPN’s servers in Finland in 2018, it became clear that NordVPN takes the security of its customers very seriously.
NordVPN has since undergone multiple “security audits” by an independent party and taken the necessary measures. Thus, NordVPN is still a very good choice for the privacy- and security-conscious VPN user. NordVPN is one of the most private and secure services we’ve encountered.
One of the best and safe VPN’s in the market
It’s currently based out of Panama, which exists outside of established international data sharing alliances (5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, 14 Eyes alliances). Panama even has a “no mandatory data retention” law that makes it so NordVPN doesn’t have to store anything about you or your activity.
Why is it important to use the best premium VPN like NordVPN in 2022?
Because some countries have privacy laws that run counter to the purpose of a VPN. Every VPN will claim that they don’t keep logs or share information. However, if they’re in a country that has laws which require it, they don’t have a choice. NordVPN uses a service called “Double VPN,” which takes two different servers and merges them into one.
- This gives you twice the encryption and makes for an ultra-secure connection. There’s even a VPN kill switch that will ensure that, should a leak be detected in your browsing session, you’ll automatically be alerted and logged out. Speaking of IP leaks, there are none.
- We tested NordVPN for IP/DNS/WebRTC leaks and found absolutely nothing. This was as secure of a service as has ever existed. It also uses military grade encryption to protect your internet connection. You can choose from IKEv2/IPsec or OpenVPN for VPN protocols.
What are the best overall VPN features of NordVPN?
NordVPN has a truly massive server park, and that’s seriously important when you’re selecting a VPN. You’re looking at more than 5,600 different servers spread out among a whopping 60 countries. That means no matter what corner of the globe you want to establish a connection on, you’re going to find a functional VPN server somewhere nearby.
- You’ve also got a number of specialty servers such as dedicated servers, double encryption servers, obfuscated servers, Tor servers, and P2P servers. NordVPN works on devices for both Windows and MacOS, including mobile phones.
- You’re able to have six simultaneous devices connected for one account. You can also use NordVPN to connect to a router. That means you’ll be able to secure every device that is linked to your WiFi signal all at once, and it only counts as one of your six connections.
Is NordVPN the best VPN software for torrenting and Netflix?
Torrenting and P2P connections are supported on certain servers. You can easily find a P2P server using the server recommendation feature. It will instantly provide you with a suggestion based on your needs.
We named NordVPN our top VPN for torrenting because of some stellar security features. Among them, a rerouting feature that automatically sends you to servers in either Canada or the Netherlands if you connect to a non-torrenting server with a P2P connection.
NordVPN Pricing
NordVPN has three different plans that vary in price based on the commitment period that you choose. NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee. So you can try out NordVPN for a month to see if you’re as happy with it as we are.
- First off, you have the month to month plan. This is the most expensive option and clocks in at $11.95 per month.
- Then you have a one year commitment plan, which saves you 58%, costing $4.92 per month, all paid in one lump sum.
- Finally, there’s the two year plan, which is only $3.71 per month, with savings of 68%. Again, this is all collected in one lump sum, so you’re paying for the entire two years up front.
- As for payment options, NordVPN takes all major credit cards and payment services. It allows you to pay using cryptocurrency, which would make for a totally anonymous experience.
-> Read the full NordVPN review here <-
-> Check NordVPN out right now! <-
2. Surfshark | The Best Cheap VPN In 2022 | Low Cost Subscription ($2.49/mo)
Surfshark is a great and inexpensive VPN that has quickly emerged from being a newcomer to a premium service in VPN land in recent years. With its low price, easy-to-use software and strong security options, this VPN offers a good and cheap alternative to other best VPNs.
We ranked Surfshark as our number two VPN service in this top 10. That’s because it’s a powerful yet affordable VPN service with a ton of success in unblocking services like Netflix. It boasts an impressive server park featuring connections all over the world, and uses some of the most advanced encryption protocols out there.
Why is Surfshark one of the best VPN for money in 2022?
- User-friendly and simple application
- Addons like Multihop and Ad-Blocker
- Plays Netflix in all countries
- Excellent price-quality ratio
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Secure easy to use system
- Strict no logging policy
- Torrenting is available
- No device limit
What can Surfshark still improve?
Compared to competitors like NordVPN and CyberGhost, Surfshark lags a bit behind with its server offerings. In fact, as a customer, you have a choice of about 3,200 servers in 65+ countries. This is because Surfshark is still a relatively young provider; the server supply will definitely continue to grow in the coming years. In addition, we found the difference in speed between servers to be somewhat large at times.
Surfshark is compatible with:
Surfshark works with many streaming services, including Netflix. In fact, of all the VPN providers, Surfshark even provides access to the largest number of Netflix libraries. At the time of writing, that’s a whopping 30 different Netflix libraries, including the American Netflix.
Works on all operating systems
Combine that with the fact that Surfshark works well on all major operating systems, and you can understand why Surfshark is such a popular choice among VPN users. Not only are there good apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Linux, but there are also dedicated browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
Is Surfshark the best basic VPN solution for privacy?
When it comes to your online privacy, Surfshark takes a lot of measures to ensure that you have a secure and 100% confidential connection. It uses top of the line encryption and protocol options, featuring AES-256-GCM across both OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec.
Camouflage mode
There is also a special “Camouflage Mode,” which is not something a lot of other VPN providers offer. When this is active, your VPN use will be hidden. You ISP won’t even be able to tell that you’re using one. That makes it one of the most secure and private services in the world.
- One issue we had when researching Surfshark from a privacy standpoint was pinning down its physical location. Jurisdiction wise, they fall under the British Virgin Islands, which does not have an obligatory data retention law.
- That means they don’t have to store logs, which is good news for everyone. However, the lack of transparency regarding an actual location was concerning. Speaking of logging, Surfshark has a strict no logging policy. The only thing that it stores is your login information, which is just an email address and password. We tested Surfshark for IP leaks, and found it to be completely secure.
Why is it important to use the best VPN for money like Surfshark in 2022?
Let’s say that you’re connected to a server somewhere in Asia, but you want to check your bank balance. Your financial institution is going to flag your login attempt as coming from another country and potentially lock you out of your account and freeze your funds. With Whitelister, you can be connected to a VPN tunnel in Asia while still accessing your financial information from your home address. It keeps you from having to log in and out of your VPN over and over again.
- You’re able to connect an unlimited number of devices to Surfshark, which is rare in a VPN provider. That means one account can protect every device in your home without ever having to spend more.
- Surfshark is available on just about every device you can think of, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android capable hardware. The only negative we encountered when testing Surfshark was inconsistent speeds.
What are the best overall VPN features of Surfshark?
Surfshark is the only provider in our best VPN top 10 that has no limit on the number of devices that can use one subscription at a time. So you can use Surfshark with the whole family without worrying about limitations. Surfshark has a unique option to run your connection through two VPN servers at the same time, so your privacy is even better guaranteed.
Truly secure and anonymous
This makes Surfshark a great choice for truly secure and anonymous internet browsing. Surfshark has a ton of high quality servers. You’re looking at a park of about 1,000 servers spread over 60 countries.
That means Surfshark is going to give you a lot of options when it comes to relocating your IP. You also have a kill switch installed on the service, which will automatically terminate your connection if an IP leak is detected.
Is Surfshark the best personal VPN service for torrenting and Netflix?
Torrenting and P2P are allowed on Surfshark, so you’ll have no issues there when connecting to other people from all over the world. Then there’s Netflix, which was another area where this service truly shined.
Netflix can be the bane of a VPN’s existence, with advanced detection programs blocking access to the streaming library. We tested six different Surfshark servers and every one of them fired up the streaming service with no issues. That makes Surfshark one of the best VPNs for streaming Netflix.
Surfshark Pricing
Surfshark is a great VPN for the price you pay. Even after already running for several years, they are maintaining their great success well. Like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, Surfshark has been able to maintain its quality so far, despite greater pressure on the servers. They simply offer good security, lots of options and anonymity for a fantastic price.
- Surfshark is one of the best priced VPNs we’ve seen, with plans as low as $2.49 per month. Of course, that’s the price for the two year commitment, which means that you’ll have to pay for the entire period up front.
- Then you have a six month plan for $6.49 per month. After that, the one month plan is $12.95.
- They offer a 30-day money back guarantee and accept PayPal, Apple Pay, Alipay, and cryptocurrencies for payment options.
-> Read the full Surfshark review here <-
-> Check Surfshark out right now! <-
3. ExpressVPN | Best Reviewed VPN For Streaming Performance ($6.67/mo)
ExpressVPN is one of the largest and best-known VPN providers in the world. This provider offers a complete package with almost all the benefits you could want from a VPN. There are more than 3,000 stable servers in 94 countries.
No other VPN in this list has servers in so many countries. Because of this good server network, it is not surprising that ExpressVPN comes out well in any speed comparison of VPNs: it is without a doubt one of the fastest VPNs.
Why is ExpressVPN one of the best vpn options in 2022?
- Fine, user-friendly applications for all your devices and operating systems
- Suitable for anonymous and safe surfing, streaming and downloading
- Stable connections and good customer support
- Fast servers with minimal speed loss
- No IP leaks or DNS leaks found
- Unblocks Netflix worldwide
- Torrenting and P2P allowed
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Simple and easy to use
- Supports ALL devices
- No logging
What can ExpressVPN still improve?
ExpressVPN has a pretty high price compared to the other providers on this list. This is why many users end up choosing NordVPN or Surfshark, as they are also good choices at a more reasonable price.
Kill switch activation
Another shortcoming we ran into with ExpressVPN is that the kill switch sometimes activates when you switch to a different network. You don’t get any notification of this. This means that the Internet connection is temporarily interrupted without you realizing it. Notifications from WhatsApp or other social media, for example, will no longer arrive on your phone, which can be inconvenient.
ExpressVPN is compatible with:
Our number three VPN is ExpressVPN, which a lot of sites list as their number one service. ExpressVPN could very easily be considered the king of the VPN mountain, if it weren’t for its higher than usual price point.
Use ExpressVPN on 5 devices at the same time
It was founded back in 2009, making it a relative newcomer to the VPN world, with just over a decade in existence. When using ExpressVPN you will find excellent streaming performance, fast speeds, and tight security.
You can use an ExpressVPN subscription on up to five devices at once. We really like the simple and well-functioning applications for Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac and Linux. What’s more, you can set these apps up in both English and many other languages available.
Is ExpressVPN the best VPN client for privacy?
This provider’s security is top of the bill. Protocols offered include OpenVPN and ExpressVPN’s own Lightway. This ensures that your data traffic is excellently protected by 256-bit encryption.
No activity logs
ExpressVPN does not keep any activity logs, so your surfing behavior cannot be traced. However, it may be possible to track on which days and from which location you have connected to the ExpressVPN servers, although this has no serious implications for privacy.
Diskless servers
ExpressVPN works with so-called “diskless servers”, which means that even the provider itself cannot see your data and browser history. This provider has therefore built up a good reputation over the years. Another thing to note about ExpressVPN’s level of privacy is location, location, location. It is located in the British Virgin Islands, which means that this service exists outside of the 14 Eyes alliance and any other intelligence sharing agreements.
Why is it important to use the best online VPN like ExpressVPN in 2022?
Privacy is the number one priority when using one of the best VPN services, as you could read above, this is taken very serious by ExpressVPN. It also uses a ton of high quality VPN protocols to ensure continued privacy.
This includes OpenVPN, IPSec, IKEv2, and others. All of these protocols are backed up by AES-256 encryption standards, which has proven to be completely uncrackable. There were no IP, DNS, or WebRTC links present when we tested the connection. On top of that, the installation files were free of any harmful viruses or malware.
What are the best premium VPN features of ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 servers spread out among 160 cities in 94 countries. That makes ExpressVPN one of the widest spread VPNs in the world. The user interface is incredibly easy to operate.
Easy and quick installation
Installation and activation are quick and painless. Connections can be manually configured through OS-level VPN settings, or you can use the Smart Location feature to connect quickly.
ExpressVPN watches out for your browsing session with a kill switch. If any IP leak were detected during a session, the kill switch would kick in and end your session before you leaked private information before the eyes of your ISP.
- It’s also one of the faster VPN services we’ve encountered, making for a seamless experience with very little drop off once you’re connected. You can connect ExpressVPN to five different devices simultaneously, and it has a massive number of compatible devices. This includes Linux, Mac, Window, iOS, Android, wireless routers, Chromebooks, Kindles, browsers, gaming consoles and Smart TVs.
Is ExpressVPN the best VPN available for torrenting and Netflix?
In addition, ExpressVPN allows you to easily download anonymously over torrent networks. We tested this with several P2P applications, including uTorrent and Bittorrent. This works flawlessly. You also get quick access to all kinds of international streaming services with ExpressVPN.
Works on almost any streaming service
As a result, you can always be sure to watch Disney Plus, Hulu and the American Netflix, for example. This service supports both the Tor network and torrenting. Tor is going to give you the strongest security, as it essentially doubles your privacy. Torrenting was seamless. It worked with uTorrent perfectly.
ExpressVPN Pricing
ExpressVPN is a VPN that is easy to use and has many stable servers. This VPN service is perfect for people who want to surf, download and stream (Netflix, among others) anonymously. The only caveat to be made is that it is not the cheapest VPN, especially if you opt for a loose monthly subscription. But if you are willing to go for an annual subscription, you will benefit from a more favorable price.
- The monthly rate for this service is $12.95 per month.
- Then, you have a six month plan that will cost you $9.99 per month.
- Finally, the 15 month plan is the cheapest option at $6.67 per month.
You can pay with a credit card, or with either PayPal or Bitcoin, depending on your preferences. There’s also Alipay, UnionPay, IDEAL, Klarna, and many more. ExpressVPN offers a 30 day money-back guarantee with every purchase.
-> Read the full ExpressVPN review here <-
-> Check ExpressVPN out right now! <-
4. CyberGhost | Best VPN To Buy For Features But Average Speeds ($2.75/mo)
Are you looking for a good, inexpensive and easy-to-use VPN provider that has a large server base with thousands of servers around the world? Then you need to be with CyberGhost VPN.
Their wide server range and extremely user-friendly software, make CyberGhost one of the most popular providers on the market. This is a good VPN that you can quietly try out as a beginner because of the extended money-back guarantee. Read more to learn everything about it:
Why is Cyberghost ranked in the best VPN list in 2022?
- Low price for a VPN of this quality
- Works with the American Netflix
- User-friendly software
- Large server park
- Torrenting is allowed
- No logging
What can Cyberghost still improve?
You may be wondering why CyberGhost is in fourth place in our list of best VPN providers. There are a number of reasons for this, most of which have to do with security. For example, CyberGhost does not offer diskless RAM servers or a dual VPN option, while ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark do.
Customer service is slow
Also, CyberGhost’s customer service is not always fast or accurate. Apart from that, with some servers we reached average speeds, and the questionable parent company raised concerns about the security of this service with some users over the years.
CyberGhost is next on our list. It touts itself as the truly complete VPN solution. It is definitely a complete experience, with good pricing, an easy to use app, and a positively massive server park.
Cyberghost is compatible with:
With one account, you can connect to CyberGhost’s servers on seven different devices at the same time – handy if you’re looking for a VPN for the whole family. In addition, CyberGhost also allows you to request a dedicated IP address.
Among other things, this can help you bypass VPN blockades. Also, the software of CyberGhost VPN is available for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android and Linux. So, you can easily secure all your devices with this app.
Is Cyberghost the best VPN subscription for privacy?
CyberGhost features solid security with 256-bit AES encryption. As a user, you also have a choice of encryption protocols such as OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard. CyberGhost does keep an anonymous record of how often you use their app, in order to improve their service.
Other than that, nothing at all is stored about how you use the app. It’s also located in Romania, which exists outside of the 14 Eyes security alliance. That means no government organization can demand information on you or your browsing sessions.
Why is it important to use the best VPN sites like Cyberghost in 2022?
We put CyberGhost through the ringer, testing to see if there were any DNS leaks or IP leaks plaguing our connection. We conducted six thorough tests and every single one had the same result.
Safe, and no data leaks
No leaks whatsoever. There was an alleged security concern that popped up back in 2016 that has dogged CyberGhost ever since. It was alleged that the no logging policy is not upheld, which eroded trust in the service for a lot of people. But that is something that CyberGhost denies. It uses all of the major VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, L2TP, and IPSec, coupled with AES-256 encryption.
What are the best overall VPN features of Cyberghost?
CyberGhost has over 4,000 servers in more than 60 countries, which is huge feather in its cap. The service is also available on devices that run Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, and Amazon fireTV.
Up to seven devices connected at the same time.
That’s a huge improvement CyberGhost has made over the years. At one time, they had a one device limit, but expanded that in a truly positive change. The company also makes use of live chat customer support and a kill switch to help you get the information that you need an add an extra layer of protection for your browsing experience.
Is Cyberghost the best VPN software for torrenting and Netflix?
CyberGhost once discouraged torrenting, but now it touts it as one of its main selling points. You won’t be able to torrent on every server in the CyberGhost park, however. There are specific servers that are designed for torrenting, and they are easy to find through a tab located in the app.
- Downloading with Bittorrent, uTorrent and other P2P providers is easily done with CyberGhost’s dedicated P2P servers. Therefore, it is very easy to download torrents anonymously from multiple countries around the world with this VPN provider. CyberGhost also tries to directly tackle the issue of Netflix blocking.
It uses a streaming server that continuously changes its IP whenever Netflix identifies it. We tested this out and it worked perfectly. They specifically label the servers that work for Netflix, so you won’t have to look too hard.
CyberGhost Pricing
CyberGhost is a high quality VPN at a competitive price. All of this makes CyberGhost an excellent VPN for torrents and Netflix. Although the more extensive options of other providers caused CyberGhost to end up at number 4, it is still an excellent choice.
Most VPN services offer monthly, yearly, and two year subscriptions. CyberGhost has this as well, but they take it a step further. CyberGhost offers a three year subscription, which is undoubtedly its best value.
- The month-to-month pricing, which is the most expensive, is $12.99 per month.
- Then you have the one year subscription, which drops all the way down to $5.99 per month.
- Two years will cost you $3.69 per month. Finally, you have the three year plan at just $2.75 per month.
- That two year option makes CyberGhost one of the cheapest VPN options out there.
As for payments, you’ve got credit and debit cards, but also BitPay and PayPal. There’s even an option to pay in cash. When it comes to money back guarantees, you have some stingy seven day periods and the more common 30-day money back guarantee offered by most. By CyberGhost gives you 45 days to decide that you want a refund.
-> Read the full Cyberghost review here <-
-> Check Cyberghost out right now! <-
5. IPVanish | The Best Secure VPN Available In 2022 | Fast But Expensive ($6.49/mo)
IPVanish is a well-known player in the VPN industry and has been around since 2012. IPVanish has been able to gain a good position because of its good coverage area and security features. The group behind IPVanish has more than 20 years of IT expertise, including IP services, content delivery and network management.
IPVanish is a top 10 VPN provider with a large network and is among the largest players in the market. In addition, IPVanish distinguishes itself from the competition with some unique features and applications. They are best known for their lightning fast and stable servers. Because of their flexible torrent policy, IPVanish is probably the best VPN for downloading from The Pirate Bay, for example.
Why is IPVanish one of the best VPN websites in 2022?
- Fast top class provider
- No artificial limits on connection speed
- Unlimited bandwidth (no data limits)
- 10+ simultaneous connections
- Works on all devices
- Allows torrenting
- Unblocks Netflix
- No logs
What can IPVanish still improve?
IPVanish is the next service on our list, coming in at number five. It’s a fast service with no logs that works for both Netflix streaming and torrenting. There are a few downside to using this VPN service though, one of these is that it’s part of a large US-based company which might be a problem if you want absolute certainty about privacy and safety.
Slow customer service
While testing we found that their customer support response is quite slow. Another thing that can be improved is the price, at the moment IPVanish is one of the more expensive providers in our list of best VPN services in 2022.
IPVanish is compatible with:
IPVanish offers almost everything you need, including excellent encryption, a wide choice of server locations and thousands of IP addresses. The ability to switch between IP addresses whenever you want is a very nice feature that works well. The price is fine, especially at the time of discount offers.
We recommend this VPN provider for anyone who wants to bypass online restrictions or limitations of a country. For people who want to improve their online privacy or hide their browsing and downloading habits, we recommend other VPN providers.
IPVanish has servers positioned in over 75 different countries around the world. With access to more than 1,500 servers and the ability to hide behind more than 40,000 IP addresses, you have plenty of choices.
Is IPVanish the best VPN provider for privacy?
On the technical side, IPVanish scores very well, and its OpenVPN encryption (256-bit AES-CBC, with SHA256 data authentication and 2048-bit RSA handshake) is excellent. IPVanish works with five separate protocols. You can use L2TP/IPsec, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP or the basic tunneling protocol (PPTP). The advantage of the many protocols offered is that you can decide which one works best for you.
A big downside is that IPVanish is based in the USA.
The United States is a major part of the 5 Eyes security alliance, meaning that not only can authorities demand your personal information, but it can be shared with the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Our connection to IPVanish was totally secure. We ran our tests for leaks and viruses and found nothing.
Why is it important to use the best VPN services like IPVanish in 2022?
IPVanish presents itself as a “no logs” VPN provider. Even upon inquiry, they indicate that they do not keep logs. However, in 2016 IPVanish was found to have released information about a user to U.S. authorities. This means that some form of logs were kept after all, which could also be used to identify users.
Because of this breach of trust, IPVanish does not score very well in terms of security; logging simply poses a privacy risk. In essence, IPVanish claims to be working with a sealed network, which government agencies should not have any insight into. Nevertheless, user data were handed over to the authorities.
What are the best overall VPN features of IPVanish?
IPVanish’s app was smooth and straightforward. The user interface is intuitive and you can connect with the click of one button. The VPN uses a kill switch to protect your browsing, which is always nice to see.
- While we were unable to find any IP leaks, it’s good to know that if one happened to pop up, the system would identify it and shut down your session right away. It’s an added level of protection that doesn’t go unnoticed. You have a 10-device connection limit using IPVanish.
While that’s not as inclusive as some of the services that allow unlimited connections, it’s still way more than the five or six allowed by some of the other top services that we’ve reviewed.
IPVanish claims that it offers 24/7 support, but we did not find this to be the case when we reviewed them. It took more than 60 hours to get any kind of response from their supposed around the clock support team.
Is IPVanish the best VPN service for torrenting and Netflix?
IPVanish touts your ability to torrent with 100% privacy while using this service.They allow torrenting and P2P connections and, in many cases, encourage the practice. It’s also compatible with TOR, which allows you to add extra encryption to your session.
That comes in handy if you’re trying to browse privately in a country with strict internet laws, like China, North Korea, or Russia. When it comes to Netflix, we were able to find connection, but only on one server. We checked servers in Canada, the UK, and The Netherlands, all with no luck. However, a US-based server located in Chicago was able to unblock the streaming service.
IPVanish Pricing
In our IPVanish review, we looked at the different VPN subscriptions. Each subscription offers the same options and functionalities. The prices differ purely on the basis of the duration for which you take out a VPN subscription. The longer the subscription runs, the cheaper you will pay per month.
- The base monthly price is $7.50 per month, which is not bad considering most companies want over $10 per month for no commitment period.
- They also have a three month subscription for $6.75 per month and a one year commitment for $4.87 per month.
- IPVanish has a seven day money back guarantee and allows you to pay with a credit card, PayPal, and even cryptocurrencies like BitCoin, if you’re looking for an untraceable payment.
-> Read the full IPVanish review here <-
-> Check IPVanish out right now! <-
6. Private Internet Access | Very Fast And Reliable In Best VPN List | Average Streaming ($3.33/mo)
Private Internet Access is a VPN that consistently scores well. The main focus of this provider is on security and privacy. You can count on strong security and a large selection of VPN servers when you choose Private Internet Access. Incidentally, as of 2019, PIA has been acquired by the company that also owns CyberGhost, so perhaps the service will go through some changes in the coming years.
Why is Private Internet Access in the best rated VPN list in 2022?
- Strong focus on privacy and security
- Large server base with fast servers (30,000+ servers)
- Many options for the advanced VPN user
- Relatively cheap yet good quality
- Huge server park
- Torrenting possible
- No logging
What can PIA still improve?
PIA, due in part to the lack of a live chat, is not the most accessible VPN provider in this list. For people who have never used a VPN before, the other providers in our top 5 may be better choices. That said, PIA can still rightfully be called one of the best VPNs. One of the big downsides of this provider in the best VPN service list is that they have to comply with US jurisdiction and that most of the servers barely work with Netflix.
PIA doesn’t have a comprehensive customer service
On the site you will find an extensive database of frequently asked questions and useful guides. If you can’t work it out you can also contact the customer service via email. An answer can sometimes take a while, but then you will be well served. Unfortunately, unlike other providers in this top 5, PIA does not have a live chat function.
Private Internet Access is compatible with:
PIA software works on Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS and Android. In addition, you can also easily use the PIA browser extension for Chrome, Firefox or Opera. PIA is also a good option in terms of Internet freedom.
- PIA gives you support for viewing other countries’ Netflix offerings. However, they do use their powers primarily for additional privacy and security. Because of this, Netflix does not constantly work on all their servers, as it is not the focus of the company.
Is PIA the best VPN solution for privacy?
As mentioned earlier, they value online security and privacy at PIA. PIA works with various protocols, including OpenVPN and the new WireGuard. Furthermore, PIA maintains a strict no-log policy so no information about you is stored. In addition, PIA has a built-in kill switch to prevent you from ever being unprotected.
Ad and malware blockers
PIA is also happy to help its customers block ads, trackers and malware with the PIA MACE feature. As such, the VPN provider is truly ideal for the VPN user who likes to tinker with settings to make their Internet connection as secure as possible.
Why is it important to use the best premium VPN like PIA in 2022
PIA claims that it does not log any of your information, recording no data points associated with VPN activity. While it confirms that it doesn’t monitor traffic and communication logs, it does hold onto your payment data and email address.
- What’s more, PIA is located in the United States, which is a member of the 5 Eyes security alliance. That means at any time the US government could request your information and then share that data with several other countries. The connection was secure when we tested it.
There were no DNS or IP leaks after a series of six tests. Encryption is done using AES-256 standards for the maximum level of protection. It comes with AES-128 by default but you can up the ante to the more powerful 256. It uses OpenVPN as a tunneling protocol, which is the industry standard. It also uses IPSec/L2TP, PPTP, and Socks5 proxy.
What are the best overall VPN features of Private Internet Access?
The first thing to note about PIA is that it’s fast. All VPNs are going to sap some of your speed, but some go overboard with it. With PIA, we noticed very subtle speed reductions while testing servers in the US, UK, Asia, and the EU. There’s also a kill switch, which is going to monitor the integrity of your connection and immediately disconnect you if there’s any kind of leak detected.
- As for device compatibility, you’ve got Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and Firefox. Extensions have also been created for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera browsers. Routers can be set up as well, though if you want to use OpenVPN, that’s going to take some manual setup time.
PIA also supports smart TVs and gaming consoles. Because PIA scores well in terms of privacy, you can of course use it to download torrents safely and anonymously.
Is PIA the best VPN client for torrenting and Netflix?
PIA not only allows torrenting, it specializes in it. They won’t restrict of monitor any of your P2P connections. The company doesn’t come out and specifically say that it allows torrenting, so if you’re looking at its website then you might be confused.
It does, however, say that P2P connections are supported. As for Netflix, it worked but it just worked. We tested five of PIA’s servers and only one of them actually worked when we fired up Netflix. So, is it possible to run Netflix using PIA? Absolutely. But you’re going to have to go through some trial and error.
Private Internet Access Pricing
We do like a little competition in the VPN market. It would concern us if all the major VPN providers were owned by the same company. But even though CyberGhost and PIA are from the same parent company, they both deserve a spot in our best VPN review at the moment.
Private Internet Access has been in the VPN market for a very long time and has built a good name for itself. Hopefully they will continue to innovate and renew well in the coming years. PIA has a month to month subscription along with one year and two year commitments.
- The monthly version of PIA comes in at just $9.95 per month, and renews monthly.
- This is a good price for a month to month service, as its hard to find one for under $10.
- The you have the one year option, which is paid upfront at $71.88 per year. That boils down to just $5.99 per month.
- Then there’s the two year plan, which costs just $3.49 per month, paid one time at $83.87.
-> Read the full PIA review here <-
-> Check PIA out right now! <-
7. Mullvad | Best Basic VPN With Most Anonymous Signup ($5.45/mo)
Mullvad is a strongly privacy-oriented VPN provider from Sweden (unfortunately one of the “14 eyes” countries). This is evident from the mere fact that you don’t need an email address to register an account. For example, Mullvad gives you, through their website, a unique code with which you can log in and which you can link a subscription to through payment. This payment can be made extremely anonymously.
Why is Mullvad VPN one of the best reviewed VPN in 2022?
- Mullvad is a minimalist but very user-friendly VPN provider
- Mullvad’s software is quick to master
- Creating an account is quick and fairly simple
- Mullvad has no App in the AppStore for iOS
- Mullvad customer service is very quick to respond via email
- Anonymous signup process
- Mullvad is easy to install
- No logging policy
- Secure encryption
- Kill switch
What can Mullvad still improve?
At Mullvad, they do not do dedicated IPs. All IP addresses are shared and we don’t expect this to change. Mullvad focuses on privacy and security and static IP addresses are easier to trace back to one person. Mullvad is not a VPN that helps you unblock Netflix.
Netflix unblocking does not work
Because of their focus on security and privacy, they chose not to focus on unblocking Netflix. This is somewhat unfortunate, but we can understand it for such a privacy focused provider. Another drawback is that Mullvad is located in one of the Zit in a “14 eyes” countries, that may pose a problem for many users if privacy is the most important part.
Mullvad VPN is compatible with:
Mullvad is a VPN without many bells and whistles. Besides a well-functioning Kill Switch and Bridge servers, they have no extra features such as a Whitelister, MultiHop servers or tracking blocker like Surfshark, for example. Yet therein lies Mullvad’s strength. They focus on privacy and security, everything else is secondary.
- Mullvad doesn’t seem to work with the US version of Netflix. Netflix is actively trying to bar VPN users, and the Mullvad servers don’t seem to allow us access to Netflix USA either.
- Although Mullvad does not have dedicated P2P servers the local servers do seem to work just fine with torrent downloads. Files are brought in quickly because of the high speed of the Mullvad servers.
Is Mullvad the best VPN solution for privacy?
Mullvad has a strict “no logs” policy. Their privacy policy is clearly worded and they specify what they do and do not track. In general, they don’t keep anything (or as little as possible) of you and they even indicate how it is stored and for how long.
- They are open and honest in that, if you use specific payment methods, there are third parties who do have certain information about you.
- Mullvad is unique in that regard. Although several providers are now more open about their policies, Mullvad is perhaps the only one that is so open about it.
Not surprising when you realize that they log almost nothing and that the only thing they need for your account is a payment (with any additional payment information). Even an e-mail address is not necessary with this provider. If you do email them for support, for example, you can also use PGP-encrypted email. Mullvad has thought of everything in terms of privacy.
Why is it important to use the best most secure VPN like Mullvad in 2022?
Mullvad uses AES-256 encryption standards and had no IP leaks or viruses whatsoever when we tested the connection. Mullvad is based in Sweden, which is not good news when it comes to VPN privacy.
Sweden is a member of the 14 Eyes security alliance, which would usually be a dealbreaker. But thanks to Mullvad’s anonymous account number system, it’s not a major problem from a privacy standpoint. We tested the VPN connection for leaks and found no security breaches or viruses whatsoever.
What are the best VPN features of Mullvad?
Mullvad is nice and easy to use. It connects with the push of one button and has a minimal and easy to understand user interface. It has 311 OpenVPN servers in 38 countries around the globe.
- Mullvad also has 60 WireGuard servers located in 27 countries, and 14 Bridge servers in nine countries. That makes for a total of 385 servers across 38 countries in all. Mullvad has no mobile apps, but you can still use it through an Android or iOS device.
However, to operate OpenVPN on your mobile device, you’re going to have to go through a lengthy 15 step process, which isn’t fun. While Mullvad’s customer support department has no live chat function, they got back it is within two hours, which was impressive. Mullvad also has a built in kill switch that will immediately end your session if there is an IP leak or DNS leak detected.
Is Mullvad the best VPN client for torrenting and Netflix?
You’re able to torrent and utilize P2P connections when working with Mullvad, which is rare in a VPN that operates out of a 14 Eyes jurisdiction. Mullvad doesn’t really advertise that torrenting is ok on its servers, but they do have a Bittorrent guide that lets you know that P2P connections are perfectly fine.
We tested a number of Mullvad’s servers for Netflix use, and were pleased to find some promising results. Five of the US-based servers we tested were all blocked, but a UK server fired Netflix right up with no issues whatsoever.
Mullvad Pricing
All in all, Mullvad is an excellent, secure VPN provider. Despite the fact that they focus mainly on security and privacy, the speed and usability is also very good. As far as we are concerned, Mullvad is definitely one of the better VPNs.
The only regrets are that Mullvad is relatively pricey and that this VPN does not work with American Netflix. This will be a reason for some users to still choose a cheaper provider that does provide access to Netflix. Mullvad’s pricing is so simple that it doesn’t even have a pricing page on its website. There are no monthly plans or gated features.
- You have an account number that provides you with 30 days of access for $5.61, or 5 euros.
- You can pay with a credit or debit card, or use PayPal. It also accepts Bitcoin and Bitcoin cash.
-> Read the full Mullvad’s review here <-
-> Check Mullvad’s out right now! <-
8. VyprVPN | Best VPN With Unlimited Connections And Top Features ($8.95/mo)
VyprVPN is a strong player in the VPN market and is owned by Golden Frog. VyprVPN maintains offices in Switzerland, where privacy laws are very favorable. To ensure the best security, Golden Frog makes and manages many of its own technologies.
For example, they have developed their own VPN protocol and manage their own server network, rather than renting servers from outside parties. This quickly gives this service an edge over many other VPNs. Unfortunately, the speed you achieve with their servers is not always as fast as they claim. However, this VPN does work with Netflix and torrents. Read on quickly for our exact experiences with this provider.
Why is VyprVPN one of the best paid VPN in 2022?
- VyprVPN works with OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, PPTP, WireGuard and Chameleon (a proprietary protocol).
- Golden Frog manages all the servers on their network themselves.
- This VPN service has a no-log policy that is externally audited.
- VyprVPN has a good kill switch that you can configure yourself.
- For a VyprVPN account, you need to provide a first and last name, email address, password and payment information.
What can VyprVPN still improve?
VyprVPN’s dedicated IP option is only available if you purchase a Premium subscription. This is because it is part of VyprVPN Cloud. VyprVPN Cloud is an additional service that provides greater security when working with public or personal cloud servers.
Unfortunately, VyprVPN’s servers didn’t always turn out as fast as we wanted. We experienced some problems while gaming and downloading. We also experienced occasional delays during other activities. In addition, some options, such as the dedicated IP address, are only available when you opt for the more expensive Premium subscription and there is no option to pay anonymously.
VyprVPN is compatible with:
VyprVPN has more than 700 servers in more than 70 locations. In addition, they have multiple IP addresses per server, bringing VyprVPN’s number of different IP addresses to over 200,000. Many VPNs also have a variety of additional features.
For example, a VPN quickly has an edge if the service works with Netflix. Safe downloading of torrents is also important to many users, of course these are features that VyprVPN offers.
NAT Firewall
There is also a NAT Firewall that is built into your VyprVPN software. This is an extra layer of protection for your internet connection. It automatically blocks incoming data traffic if it is not directly requested by the user. When you use VyprVPN you automatically benefit from this extra protection.
Is VyprVPN the best VPN provider for privacy?
VyprVPN offers five different protocols. These are OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, PPTP, WireGuard and Chameleon. OpenVPN is a very strong protocol that is actually always a good choice. In addition, Chameleon is a proprietary VPN encryption format developed by Golden Frog.
- This is based on OpenVPN, but it also encrypts the metadata. This allows the Deep Packet Inspection (DPIs) of VPN traffic to be bypassed by governments and online video services like Netflix. VyprVPN is a zero log VPN service. This means they do not store any data about your usage.
This has been tested with an external audit by Leviathan which showed that no identifiable logs are stored without user consent. In their privacy agreement, Golden Frog explicitly states that VyprVPN does not store data.
Why is it important to use the best VPN like VyprVPN in 2022?
In the past VyprVPN did keep logs, although at the time this was also described in their terms and conditions. So they were very open about their practices. Since the introduction of their no-log policy, there has been no evidence that they have violated the trust of their customers by secretly keeping logs.
So everything seems to be in order here. Additionally, VyprVPN manages its own servers (including DNS servers) for optimal security and privacy. There are no third parties involved in their services. This makes the chance of a DNS leak much smaller and they can guarantee your online anonymity better than many other VPN providers.
What are the best basic VPN features of VyprVPN?
Overall, VyprVPN is a good VPN provider that has done a good job of regaining trust after their initial log policy, in which data was collected. Through an independent audit, they can guarantee their log policy: VyprVPN now does not store any identifiable information about its users.
They also have a server network of reasonable size, managing all the servers themselves. This is good for security. Also, with their proprietary Chameleon protocol, they have a good, unique profile aimed at protecting customers’ data. You can also use VyprVPN with Netflix and while downloading.
Is VyprVPN the best VPN client for torrenting and Netflix?
VyprVPN works not only for streaming Netflix, but also for many other streaming services. Think Amazon Prime, HBO GO, Hulu and so on. Again, these services are only available with specific servers from VyprVPN. These are the servers located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany.
In addition to streaming, VyprVPN also allows you to safely download torrents. VyprVPN supports P2P networks, so you can remain anonymous even while downloading. Unfortunately, in our experience this does take a little longer than usual. Download speeds were slower than we were used to, causing us to wait more than twice as long to download a file.
VyprVPN Pricing
As with many other VPN providers, VyprVPN’s prices vary depending on the length of time you subscribe. Choose an annual subscription? Then on average you will spend less per month than if you pay per month. Below are the subscriptions currently offered by VyprVPN.
- 2 months: $2.42 per month
- 18 months: $1.56 per month
- 36 months: $1.39 per month
-> Read the full VyprVPN review here <-
-> Check VyprVPN out right now! <-
9. CactusVPN | Simple, And Super Fast Top VPN ($2.77/mo)
CactusVPN is a VPN that has been on the market since 2011. This VPN once started as a small company, founded by three friends with the goal of ensuring privacy and security for everyone who needs it. CactusVPN is run like a family business: everyone knows each other.
You can see this in the customer service, for example. No bots, no call centers in another country, just personal contact. The headquarters of CactusVPN is in Moldova. This falls outside the 14 eyes countries, but is not a privacy haven like, say, Panama. CactusVPN is characterized by simple, user-friendly software and very fast servers.
Why is CactusVPN one of the best rated VPN providers in 2022?
- CactusVPN has a somewhat strange subscription setup where DNS and VPN are offered separately
- CactusVPN’s software has a handy ‘sort by speed’ button that allows you to rank servers by speed
- CactusVPN is a user-friendly VPN that is somewhat similar to CyberGhost
- All options and features are easily found in the software
- Installing CactusVPN is very simple
What can CactusVPN still improve?
It is not possible to request a dedicated IP address with CactusVPN. So you will regularly have a different IP address here when you connect to one of their VPN servers. It also means that others are using the same server as you. However, this is not something to worry about.
- In fact, it only makes for more anonymity. CactusVPN’s server network is not that large. Unlike the larger VPN providers, CactusVPN only has 25 VPN servers. These are spread across 19 locations in 15 countries. Most of the servers are in the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
CactusVPN is compatible with:
CactusVPN has clear and straightforward software that looks a bit like CyberGhost’s software. They have put all the functionalities in 4 tabs: VPN Service, Smart DNS, Settings and App. Killer.
The VPN Service tab allows you to choose a server, have servers sorted by speed (using the ‘sort by speed’ button), and connect to the chosen VPN server. The Smart DNS tab can be used to unblock certain content, for example.
Configure your VPN software
The Settings tab gives you some options to configure the VPN software. You can choose which VPN protocol you want to use, which region you want to use for the DNS server and you can check or uncheck some default options. At App. Killer you can indicate if you want specific applications to close automatically when the VPN connection is suddenly lost.
Is CactusVPN the best VPN solution for privacy?
CactusVPN itself claims to have a no-logs policy. While there is no indication that they still collect data about their customers, we do find that the privacy statement uses some vague language. For example, they state that they may block some sites or applications if they violate certain rules.
They also state that they can impose a restriction if a server is too busy. Whether this limitation applies to the bandwidth of a server or of an individual user is unclear. As mentioned earlier, we expressed our doubts to customer service. The latter stated that they do not keep any information on users and therefore do not know anything about the data of individuals.
Why is it important to use the best premium VPN like CactusVPN in 2022?
CactusVPN is a reasonably secure VPN in our opinion. Most of the problems we encountered are issues that many VPN providers struggle with. In addition, we would also like to see their “Terms of Service” updated or more clearly articulate exactly what they do.
All in all, we drew the following conclusions about CactusVPN’s security: CactusVPN gives you a choice of many different protocols, including the highly secure OpenVPN and IKEv2, CactusVPN does not seem to keep any logs but CactusVPN’s ‘Terms of Service’ are somewhat ambiguously worded and contain terms that don’t seem to match their no-log policy
What are the best overall VPN features of Cactus VPN?
CactusVPN looks very similar to larger, better-known VPN providers such as CyberGhost and IPVanish in appearance. In any case, the software of many VPN providers is very similar these days.
The App Killer of CactusVPN
This doesn’t make VPNs very distinctive in that regard, but it does ensure that they are all good when it comes to ease of use. In addition to the standard VPN features, CactusVPN also has some handy extra options. Perhaps the most useful is the App. Killer.
While CactusVPN doesn’t have a Kill Switch, you can use the App. Killer does allow you to shut down specific apps or applications the moment the connection to CactusVPN is lost. This gives you a variant of the Kill Switch, so to speak, where you can choose what will and will not be shut down.
Is Cactus VPN the best VPN software for torrenting and Netflix?
CactusVPN works with Netflix. Or well, CactusVPN’s Smart DNS option works with Netflix. Without the Smart DNS option, you can’t access the American version of Netflix. Also, you have to turn off IPv6 if you want to use the Smart DNS option to watch American Netflix.
The Netflix does seem to work just fine while the VPN is on. Whether you can watch the American Netflix from abroad using the Smart DNS feature is not clear.
Downloading torrents anonymously is also possible with CactusVPN. For this you need to connect to one of the following European servers: the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Latvia or Romania. You need to manually select these servers from the server list.
Cactus VPN Pricing
CactusVPN is not a cheap VPN. In fact, if you want to use CactusVPN to watch Netflix USA, for example, you need VPN + Smart DNS. This is the best option anyway for anyone who signs up for a VPN subscription with CactusVPN. In addition to the VPN+Smart DNS option, you can also choose US VPN, UK VPN or ‘Smart DNS’ option(s). As far as we are concerned, these are all considerably inferior to the VPN + Smart DNS option.
- A loose monthly subscription costs $6.99 per month.
- A 3-month subscription costs $5.99 per month. An annual subscription costs $4.58 per month. None of this is very cheap, but it is better priced than, say, ExpressVPN.
-> Read the full Cactus review here <-
-> Check CactusVPN out right now! <-
10. ProtonVPN | Simple, Safe And Fast Top VPN ($5.77/mo)
ProtonVPN is a relatively new VPN provider from Switzerland managed by the company ProtonVPN AG. They offer both a free and a paid version of their software. This company started in 2014 with ProtonMail. This is the world’s largest secure email provider that prioritizes privacy, anonymity and encryption. Soon after ProtonMail, ProtonVPN was developed to offer secure connections beyond email.
These two projects – ProtonVPN and ProtonMail – are housed by different companies for the security and privacy of their customers. The team behind ProtonVPN is constantly training journalists, educating the public and confronting governments.
They also started a partnership with Mozilla in 2018. Because their headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland, they are not required to keep logs. ProtonVPN is available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android and Linux and has many different options.
Why is ProtonVPN one of the best VPN providers in 2022?
- ProtonVPN’s website has a lot of information but is organized
- The installation process of ProtonVPN is quick and fairly easy
- The ProtonVPN software has a lot of options
- ProtonVPN has a free version with a few servers
- With an annual subscription to ProtonVPN, you get a 20% discount
- ProtonVPN has many payment options, including anonymous ways
- Customer service is helpful, but only works through forms and email
What can ProtonVPN still improve?
At this time, ProtonVPN does not appear to offer dedicated IP addresses. This means that you can only use servers where you share an IP address with multiple people. This better protects your privacy: if everyone uses the same IP, it is indeed more difficult, if not impossible, to trace data traffic back to one person.
ProtonVPN only has dynamic, shared IP addresses.
ProtonVPN has a dashboard that looks clear, but is somewhat busy. The advantage of this software is that you get a lot of options and thus can set up how you want to be protected. This is useful for people who already have a bit more experience with VPNs, but can be an obstacle for beginners.
ProtonVPN is compatible with:
ProtonVPN’s apps have recently become open source, which means that anyone can take a look behind the scenes and inspect the technology behind the app. It also means that anyone can investigate whether the claims that the company makes are true.
- In this way, the company can’t hide anything. They also invite experts to take a look and publish their findings. In this way, ProtonVPN shows that they really do what they say they do. ProtonVPN has a built-in kill switch.
You can turn this on or off in the settings on the dashboard.
An activated kill switch ensures that you are not at risk if your VPN connection is temporarily lost: all your Internet traffic is automatically blocked so that you cannot be traced. Besides the kill switch, ProtonVPN also has an Always-on VPN feature. This option lets you automatically connect to another VPN server if you have connection problems. Then you stay online, but are still continuously protected.
Is ProtonVPN the best VPN solution for privacy?
ProtonVPN uses several protocols to get its VPN servers working and encrypt your data traffic. The two protocols they use are IKEv2/IPSec and OpenVPN. Within ProtonVPN’s software, you can specify whether you want to use UDP (default) or TCP. The creators of ProtonVPN have decided not to work with servers that use PPTP or L2TP/IPSec.
These protocols are cheaper to maintain, but not as secure as, say, OpenVPN. ProtonVPN wants to offer its customers only the very best. That is why they only work with the most reliable protocols.
Secure Core Network
A special feature of ProtonVPN is their Secure Core network. With Secure Core they are able to offer their users an even more secure VPN service.
With a double VPN tunnel they offer protection against network-based attacks. Secure Core redirects your Internet traffic past several servers before it leaves the ProtonVPN network. The dedicated Secure Core servers used for this purpose are based in Switzerland, Iceland and Sweden, where ProtonVPN’s data centers are established.
Why is it important to use the best premium VPN like ProtonVPN in 2022?
ProtonVPN claims on its website that they work with a strict no-logs policy. No information is stored about your connection or the websites you visit. There is, however, a small caveat: connection logs are kept. However, this is only to secure your account.
- They only save the time when you last logged in. This time is overwritten when you log in again and is then gone. No information is stored about your location, the time you spent on the VPN connection, or where you logged in.
What are the best overall VPN features of Cactus VPN?
In addition to all the options available within the dashboard, as we already discussed under the usability section, ProtonVPN has a number of other features. ProtonVPN is a fairly new player in VPN land, but has already built a strong reputation. They handle the security of their servers very well and offer many options to strengthen it.
Secure Core ensures that premium users are even more secure. In addition, the VPN is decently priced, provides access to Netflix and the ability to download torrents, and is fairly straightforward and easy. Also, especially the Dutch and European servers have high speed. Unfortunately, the American servers are slightly slower.
Is ProtonVPN the best VPN client for torrenting and Netflix?
ProtonVPN is a VPN provider that offers many features. In addition to all the options available within the dashboard, as we already discussed under the usability section, ProtonVPN has a number of other features.
- For example, with ProtonVPN you have (limited) access to the American Netflix and you can download torrents anonymously with special servers. We’ll tell you more about this in this section.
Downloading torrents was very fast. In no time at all, we had downloaded a sizable file with ProtonVPN. This was done without any problems and in the background, while we could surf as usual without noticeable slowdowns. Just make sure that you use one of ProtonVPN’s dedicated P2P servers while downloading, otherwise it won’t work.
Proton VPN Pricing
All paid ProtonVPN subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. With anonymous forms of payment, it is a lot harder for the provider to return money. There are many different options and prices depending on the type of subscription you want. The advantage of ProtonVPN is that they offer a very decent free VPN.
- The cheapest paid package is called Basic and costs €5 per month. If instead of monthly payments you go for an annual contract, you get a 20% discount on each subscription. So for the Basic subscription you pay $;4 per month.
- If you choose the two-year subscription then you get a whopping 33% discount and pay only $3.29 per month. With the Basic ProtonVPN service you have access to all the server locations they offer , you can protect two devices at once and download torrents.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best VPN provider?
When trying to determine the best VPN for you, there are a number of key criteria you should be examining. It just happens to be the same criteria that we look for when conducting VPN reviews. Some notable things to watch out for include:
1. Logging policy
2. Are there any IP leaks?
3. How fast is the VPN?
4. Does it allow torrenting?
5. Will it unblock Netflix?
6. How many servers does it have?
7. What countries are those servers in?
8. How many connections can you have at one time?
9. Is there a kill switch?
10. Does the VPN parent company fall under the jurisdiction of a surveillance alliance?
What are the benefits of using a VPN?
A VPN will hide your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic so that your session remains completely anonymous. But how does it make that happen? First, the VPN masks your IP address, which is why it’s important to make sure that the service you’re using doesn’t leak your DNS or IP address.
– Appearing like you’re somewhere else allows you to bypass geo-blocked content or uncensor websites.
– It also helps journalists and privacy activists under authoritarian regimes escape backlash, jail time, or worse. VPN’s create a secure tunnel around your entire internet connection (mostly using OpenVPN tunneling protocol), protecting not just your browser, but also your app activity, too.
– Most VPNs use 256-bit AES encryption that makes it virtually impossible for your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to track which websites you’re visiting. But it also means your personal data stays protected.
Is a VPN fully legal?
Yes, VPN use is perfectly legal in 97% of countries worldwide. However, we fact-checked 196 VPN country laws to confirm that some countries control VPN use, while others ban them outright. Only “Government Approved” VPNs are supposed to be used in:
1. China
2. Iran
3. Oman
4. Russia
5. Turkey
6. United Arab Emirates
Getting caught using one that’s not sponsored could mean fines, jail time, or both. Beware when in these countries, though. Because you can pretty much assume that “government approved” means they share some (if not all) data with each government when called upon.
Can you use a VPN to stream or watch Netflix?
You can use VPNs to stream content and watch Netflix, but not all of them work with certain streaming services. We found that roughly 70% of the VPNs we tested can fly under Netflix’s geo-blocking radar. Those numbers are pretty good, considering Netflix has aggressively gone after VPN connections and proxy servers in the last few years.
– Their licensing restrictions are under extreme pressure, so they’re doing anything and everything necessary to prevent people in the U.K. from streaming U.S. content (and vice versa). Our tests revealed both Surfshark and NordVPN work flawlessly on multiple servers.
– That means they’re proactively avoiding detection from Netflix. And it means you can count on them working successfully in the future, too. Besides Netflix, people also use VPNs to bypass geo-restrictions, watch sports channels, or even other streaming services like Kodi.
Are VPNs safe for torrenting?
Yes, VPNs can keep your connection safe and anonymous when you’re torrenting or using P2P connections. We’ve compiled the best VPNs for torrenting and found that most fall in one of four categories:
1. Allow unlimited, unrestricted torrenting
2. Allow limited torrenting only on specific servers
3. Allow but don’t encourage and don’t
4. Don’t allow
Torrenting connects you to peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing to download massive files at lightning speeds. Without a VPN, you leave yourself exposed from the other people on that same connection. The problem is that torrenting is most well known for bypassing copyright laws to illegally download content. And many VPN companies shy away from the potential blowback from authorities.
Do VPN providers keep log files?
VPN companies should not be keeping log files, and all of them claim that they don’t. However, many still do, which is why it’s important to do your research. After going through tons of different VPNs, we found that quite some of them will collect three or more important log files that would easily reveal your personal actions. They all say they “don’t log.”
– But many of them do. The trick is to dig into their privacy policies and terms of service to see what, exactly, they’re logging. For example, pretty much all of them will track aggregate bandwidth usage so they can monitor their own server performance.
– That stuff is no problem. It starts to get a little tricky when they track when you log in or out of their service. And you’ll want to run for the hills when they track the individual websites you visit.
– To make matters worse, a lot of them use overly-complicated legal mumbo-jumbo to confuse the issues. They’ll word it in such a way that makes it sound innocent. Where it doesn’t seem like they’ll track the files you download.
Will a VPN slow down internet speed?
All VPNs will impact speed in some way. You can expect a 30% drop from even the fastest VPN providers in the world. Really, it all boils down to what VPN you’re using. Some of them only slow you down a little, while some absolutely gut your speeds. Why is this? Think about it this way:
Sure, they’re adding another layer of security. However, that also means they’re adding more hoops for your traffic to jump through. Those additional speed bumps mean you can always expect a slowdown of some sort. The key is to find a VPN that doesn’t completely derail your traffic, either.
1. We repeat the same speed test for each VPN we review. First, we get the benchmark reading without a VPN so we can compare. Then, we connect to a few different servers to try and compile an unbiased, combined rating.
2. Throughout this process, we’ve seen some that might only dock your connection a few percentage points. Chances are, you wouldn’t even notice it.
3. But we’ve also seen some awful ones, too. Some of the providers we’ve reviewed have slowed our connection down by over 100%! That would make streaming content virtually impossible. Even answering emails would be a struggle. We’ve ranked each VPN from first to the last place. So reference the ranking on each if you’re concerned.
Can a VPN help with ISP throttling?
Typically, a VPN is capable of helping you with ISP throttling. This occurs when your Internet Service Provider throttles your connection in an attempt to intentionally slow your connection speed. While this shouldn’t be legal, it absolutely is. If you’re using a ton of bandwidth, streaming HBO or Netflix, they might purposefully slow down your connection to indirectly force you to stop. Using these services mean two things:
Fewer resources are available for their other customers, and you’re not watching their own services or shows. Many times, they’ll use sophisticated methods like ‘peering’ to basically spy on your traffic data. The problem is that it’s not always possible to escape throttling. A VPN can help, though. It will encrypt your device, and help hide it from these peering-type activities. It’s not foolproof. But it can help hide data packets buried below the surface that would identify you.
What are the risks of using a VPN?
VPNs are mostly safe. If you’re doing something very illegal, however, there is a risk involved. There are certain actions that you can take which can cause some legal issues. Make sure you’re not doing one of these things:
– Using a non-government sponsored VPN in a country that requires one
– Downloading copyrighted information through a VPN and torrenting
– Performing other illegal activities while under a VPN connection.
Obviously, any of those questionable details can land you in hot water, no matter what type of connection you’re running. But for everything else, you’re mostly risking time and money. If you’re wasting money on a VPN with terrible performance, for instance, it might take forever to stream something until you eventually abandon it. Then you’ve wasted money you can’t get back. We’ve highlighted some of the ‘spying’ and malware risks with free VPNs, too. Fortunately, these are pretty rare. But it definitely does happen. So we’ll let you know if we found any potential red flags in each of our reviews.
Is there a totally free VPN?
There are some free VPNs but we do not recommend using them. The old adage of something appearing “too good to be true” blazes like a warning alarm around these services. You know what they say about “free” services, at the end of the day you are the product.
Shady free VPNs will commonly track your data and sell it to the highest third-party bidder. Many have even been caught doing far worse, like injecting ads or referring affiliate traffic to boost profits on your behalf. See if the VPN you’re interested in offers a free trial. Or, if you look around, you can find coupons or discounts like our NordVPN coupon.
Is a VPN safe for banking?
As long as you know what you’re doing, a VPN is perfectly safe when banking. Typically, VPN use can only improve your online security, and who wouldn’t want an added layer of security in place when you’re dealing with your financial information? The only issue you might encounter would be the bank’s security system, especially if you’re connected to the VPN through a server located in another country.
That would show up as suspicious activity and might get flagged in the bank’s system. This could cause a temporary hold to be placed on your account. But if you connect to a server that’s in your general area, the added encryption can be a great boost to your online security. We advice you to not use one of the cheapest VPN's.
Can a VPN connect to another VPN?
Yes, you can use more than one VPN at the same time, but it’s a complicated process that shouldn’t be undertaken unless you’re a tech savvy individual. Though, it should be noted that while running two VPNs together is possible, it’s really not necessary and doesn’t provide much benefit, especially when you consider the work that it takes.
– When you use two VPNs, one will likely connect while the second will show a routing error. The two services will then duke it out among one another until one takes the lead. That would then be the only one running.
– The best way to have two VPNs working together would be to set one up on your operating system with another running on a virtual machine. To do this, the virtual machine would have to be installed with OpenVPN added.
– You’d then use the system on the virtual machine to have two tunnels connected. This routes your IP address through the first computer before being routed through the virtual machine. It should also be noted that this will slow your speeds down by quite a lot. If you want to double up your security, we suggest using the TOR network while connected to a VPN.
Can the police track a VPN?
Police are not able to track a VPN, as long as the service is not keeping any log files. That’s why it’s so important to check on your chosen VPN’s logging policy. Every provider is going to say that they don’t keep logs. But, that’s not always true. You need to check the service’s privacy policy to see the real story. Logs show the IP addresses that you were connected to while using the VPN. It’s then a simple matter for police or other law enforcement agencies to connect the dots and determine who was using that IP.
Can you protect routers, Smart TV, or game console with a VPN?
You can absolutely use a VPN with your router, Smart TV, and gaming console, as long as the VPN you’re using has support for those devices. Thankfully, most of them do. If they don’t, they often have a workaround like a manual OpenVPN setup. Ideally, go with a VPN that natively supports the platform you have in mind. Let’s say that’s a router. Setting up a VPN connection at your Internet source means you can lock-down your entire connection, even a VPN for Mac is no issue with most security measures.
But it also means you can effectively add as many devices to a secure network as you’d like, too. If you do need to do a little more manual labor, click here to read our full guide on setting up a router VPN. Additionally, setting it up on your Smart TV will help you more easily stream geo-blocked content on Netflix, Hulu, and others. You can change server locations right from the device itself and simply cycle through the best options to finally access whatever content you desire.
How many unique IP addresses and locations can a VPN offer?
Every VPN has a different number of IP addresses and locations for you to connect with. This is one of the features that you should look at when deciding on the best VPN for your personal and business use. Something like VyprVPN, for instance, has 300,000 IP addresses, but that’s not going to be the same with every service that you look at. Do you want to learn more? Then read our guide about what a VPN is.
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