1. NordVPN

Ease of Use ★★★★

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Getting started with NordVPN is easy thanks to the onboarding wizard that springs to life when you fire up the Mac or Windows version for the very first time. It'll walk you through Nord's features and make sure you understand what's going on.

So, why just four stars for ease of use? NordVPN has users well covered for apps, but the browser extension isn't great. Also, Surfshark and ExpressVPN are just a little bit more obvious when it comes to basic use.

We were delighted, however, to see theMay 2025 addition of a NordVPN Linux app complete with a GUI and even more pleased to seethe company make the interface app open source in October 2025 too.

AnyFire Stick VPN users should also take note that NordVPN has been the first VPN provider to readyan app for the September 2025 launched Fire Stick Select and its new Vega OS.

Read more details onNordVPN apps.

Streaming ★★★★★

We rate NordVPN as thebest streaming VPN that money can buy. It boasts over 7600 ultra-fast servers covering over 120 countries, all of which are optimised for streaming.

It unblocks all major streaming services – including internationalNetflix libraries,Amazon Prime Video, andDisney Plus – as well as a host of other regional streamers such asBBC iPlayer, 9Now, SBS On Demand, ITVX,Sling, FuboTV, Max, and many, many more. In fact, it's not often we find a streaming service that NordVPN can't get around the back of.

Speeds are easily enough to handle4KHDR video. The only streaming-related caveat is that NordVPN isn't thebest torrenting VPN. That accolade goes to ExpressVPN. That's because there are only a handful of NordVPN servers optimised forP2P use.

NordVPN also has a special, if slightly niche, treat on the streaming front with itsMeshnet private network feature whichhad been scheduled for shutdown, in August 2025, until useruproar saw it saved on just one month later. We asked NordVPN what happened here along witheverything you've always wanted to know about NordVPN.

Meshnet can be used for remote desktop access and file sharing and that includes using it to turn your home computer into a media server. So, you could usePlex to set up your media server and then access it remotely on all kinds of devices over Meshnet. That's not something you get with other VPNs.

Read more details onNordVPN unblocking.

Privacy & Security ★★★★★

NordVPN comes with cutting-edge security and privacy features, including its recently launchedNordWhisper protocol forVPN obfuscation and censorship avoidance. It also runs bothOpenVPN and its own proprietaryWireGuard-based Nordlynx protocol with super-secure,recently audited, zero-trustAES-256 encryption, meaning you can be confident that nobody has access to your data but you.

If someone ever did manage to pilfer it, it would take them millions of years to crack the encryption, particularly asNordVPN's quantum-safe encryption is theoretically future-proofed. In fact,NordVPN extended its post-quantum encryption (PQE) in May 2025 across all of its apps, making the service theoretically invulnerable to so-called "store now, decrypt later (SNDL)" attacks, which await the availability of quantum computers and their increased code-cracking powers.

The company has a strictno-logs policy – which wassuccessfully audited for the fifth time in February 2025 – meaning that not even NordVPN itself has a record of your browsing data.

It's also legally headquartered in Panama – a country with strong data protection laws – meaning that it would be very difficult for any third parties to have any successful claims to NordVPN's customer base, even if it did log anything significant.

Finally, there's also akill switch for further assurances andDNS leak protection to prevent your ISP from getting even a whiff of what you're up to.

NordVPN'sThreat Protection Pro feature set (available on the NordVPN Plus plan and above) includes anti-malware and anti-phising security for file downloads as well as while browsing.

The company alsoadded a crypto wallet checker, in September, 2025, to scan for fraudulent addresses, after $1.5 billion was stolen in scams, in Q1 2025 alone. It also addedsession hijacking protection which aims to keep your stolen cookies off the dark web.

And if you think that the security provided by your antivirus is enough, then you might want totake a look at NordVPN's October 2025 Times Square demonstration of just how exposed we are online without a VPN.

Read more details onNordVPN privacy and security.

Speed & Performance ★★★★½

The NordLynxproprietary protocol performed brilliantly inour speed tests. It clocked consistent speeds upwards of 1200 Mbps in servers to the UK, dropping to more like 900 Mbps when heading across the Atlantic to the US. The latter of these is where many other VPNs struggle to perform. That's worth considering given that plenty of people will be looking to access streaming services and other content across The Pond.

OpenVPN speeds are a little slower, at more like 900 Mbps both locally and long distance, but we'd rate NordVPN as one of the very fastest out there on this protocol, along withExpressVPN.

NordVPN has a great deal of pride in its server network and has recently looked tochange the conversation from server count to server quality. From our results of putting its network performance to the test, NordVPN has a good point.

In fact,NordVPN has just undergone a third-party audit of its performance speed and connection time, as well as its functionality and security. West Coast Labs determined that every was satisfactory.

Read more details onNordVPN speed and performance.

NordVPN price plan comparison

There are four NordVPN price plans to choose from if you're based in the US – three if you live anywhere else in the world.

NordVPN Basic is just the VPN software. It's available everywhere. If you want to add some anti-virus functionality (Nord Threat Protection Pro), then go for NordVPN Plus. For a password manager (NordPass), cloud storage (NordLocker), and up to $5000 of cyber insurance on top, go for NordVPN Ultimate.

NordVPN Ultimate alsorecently extended its ID theft recovery insurance to UK Ultimate users up to a value of £5000 – useful in light of the recent UK big retail cyber attacks.

NordVPN has a slightly different pricing structure in the US with itsNordProtect program which includes up to $1M in identity theft insurance and $100K in cyber extortion insurance. There's confidence for you!

That's a lot more fraud protection US customers but, then, apparently,Brits are better than Americans at spotting phishing scams, so perhaps that's a good idea.

So, instead of the Plus and Ultimate tiers, the USA gets Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime.

For our money, the Basic plan is the best value, but if you really need the extras on offer in Plus, Complete, Ultimate, or Prime, then go for it. Each plan type comes with a different possible contract length: 1-month, 1-year, or 2-year.

We particularly rate the NordVPN PlusBlack Friday deal at the moment. The price is down to $3.30 per month which makes itan excellent VPN and password manager bundle offer, along with Proton VPN Plus andFastestVPN.

Do remember that you need to pay the full amount upfront, though, and that, along with Surfshark, NordVPN adds local tax at checkout. That means that its quoted monthly prices might well be a little higher depending on where you live. In some parts of the United States, that could mean another 8% or so added on. For those in the UK, it's a full 20% extra.

The other major warning – and this is true for most VPNs – do not let your subscription auto-renew, or you'll end up with a pretty sharp price hike. Currently,NordVPN auto-renews for $139, for just one year, for those on the Basic plan.

That's around 50% more than you might have paid for the original 2-year plan you subscribed to. In fact,a US law firm is taking NordVPN to Court over what it has deemed to be "deceptive" auto-renewal pricing. Our advice is to make sure you switch off auto-renew in your subscription settings as soon as you sign up and install.

Whichever subscription you choose, though, you get 30 days to change your mind and ask for a full refund.

Below is a comparison table of the NordVPN plans and what each one offers. Just be careful not to fall for afake NordVPN ad scam when you come to buy.

2. Surfshark

Ease of Use ★★★★

Surfshark has an app for pretty much every platform and is one of the few to have a properGUI for Linux. It's got you covered for routers, browsers, Fire Stick, andApple TV, as well as all the regulars. It's alsorecently added macOS to the list of platforms which support itsSurfshark Bypasser feature. That means that you can now choose to route some traffic through your normal connection, while still using the VPN for other functions, on a Mac computer.

Apple users should beware, though, thatSurfshark announced that it will only support the four most recent versions of iOS and macOS. So, you will need your device to be able to keep up with Apple firmware updates if you're planning on choosing Surfshark in the medium to long term.

Should you wish to purchase adedicated IP address, for easier access to sensitive online services with fewer annoying CAPTCHAs, then that's now available as a feature across all apps withbrowser extensions included since October 2025.

Surfshark is very straightforward to use – we love the QR code log-in for your secondary devices – but, with the location guide and quick access feature buttons all competing for screen real estate, there's a fair bit going on at a glance. That makes the interface a little tougher on the eye than NordVPN or ExpressVPN but not so much that it should put off any beginners.

If you do need help, the built-in AIchatbot will spit out some solid how-to type articles and there aren't many layers between you and a real, live customer support operative if that doesn't do the trick.

Read more details onSurshark's ease of use.

Streaming ★★★★½

Surfshark is great for streaming. It had no problems unblocking all the major streaming services in all kinds of geos, and, with 140 server locations across 100 countries, you won't be short of options of places to pretend to be.

All of Surfshark's servers are optimized for streaming and torrenting but we did have a couple of issues of jitter which meant that video streams dropped out once or twice in our tests. Obviously, just reconnect the VPN and press play again should that occur.

A problem, you say? Well, maybe but balance that against Surfshark's unlimited connections policy. That's right, you can use Surfshark on as many devices as you like simultaneously, all from just one account!

Read more details onSurfshark's unblocking and content.

Privacy & Security ★★★★½

Surfshark's AES-256 encryption tech puts it at the top table for security. ItsCleanWeb browser add-on blocks ads from appearing on websites and denies cookie requests without you having to bother which we really, really like.

It also has a rather wonderfulAlternative ID tool that effectively creates a fake persona – complete with name, email address, and phone number – to autofill into online forms when you'd rather not give your real details. Emails, calls, and messages get forwarded to your real versions until you pull the plug.

Surfshark'sCamouflage Modeobfuscation technology helps you bypass VPN blocks by hiding the fact you're using a VPN. Its No Borders feature, meanwhile, detects if your current network is facing any restrictions and automatically recommends servers that perform best under those restrictions. There's no post-quantum protection future-proofing, like NordVPN or ExpressVPN, to prevent possible "store now, decrypt later" attacks but you can't expect everything for a bargain price.

The company's most recent security addition isthe October 2025 arrival of Web Content Blocking which allows parents using One or One+ to deny access to adult websites, gambling sites or content with profanity, phishing, and malware to others on their network. This is something thatWindscribe already offers and is a handy borrowed ideas fromparental control services.

In the same month,Surfshark also launched its email scam checker tool for the Chrome browser extension. It uses AI to scan for any suspicious looking messages in your Gmail inbox and sends a warning if you find one, and all without recording any user email data.

Lastly, it's worth noting that Surfshark's headquarters, for legal purposes, is the Netherlands which is a member of the 14 eyes intelligence sharing community along with the United States, UK, Canada and Australia among others. If privacy is your top reason for using a VPN, for this reason alone, Surfshark is probably not the best choice.

Read more details onSurshark privacy and security.

Speed & Performance ★★★★★

You want speed? You got speed. Surfshark is the No.1fastest VPN under ideal conditions. We clocked it in with average download speeds of 1615 Mbps over a local VPN connection.

Do bear in mind, though, that it can drop considerably when connection to a distantVPN server. We averaged just 355 Mbps with a hop over the Atlantic, while the likes ofProton VPN (1242 Mbps) andNordVPN (626 Mbps) fared much better.

Surfshark can also be prone to more jitter than others, which might make you suffer during gaming and streaming. If you're looking at pure up/download speeds, though, then Surfshark is hard to beat.

We can expect Surfshark to get even faster in the coming months, however, withthe recent launch of its FastTrack route optimization technology which is designed to improve long distance connection speeds. More significant perhaps, though, is Surfshark's October 2025 launch of theworld's first 100 Gbps VPN server. Now that's commitment to performance.

Right now, FastTrack is only available for Mac users accessing the Sydney, Seattle, or Vancouver servers, and the only 100 Gbps server is in the Netherlands but expect these technologies to rollout across the global network over the next year.

Better still,Surfshark announced a 40% expansion of its network to include 4200 servers as of October 2025. Always a good sign to see reinvestment.

Read more details onSurfshark's speed and performance.

Surfshark price plan comparison

The Surfshark Starter plan is where to go to keep costs at rock bottom. That's your VPN use, including ad and cookie pop-up blockers, plus the Alternate ID personal detail mask and masked email generator. The price has just gone down to its bargain basement $1.99 per month on the two-year plan, which makes it a really good moment to buy. It doesn't ever get cheaper.

However, it's very hard to turn down the upgrade to the Surfshark One plan, given that it's only about $9 more over 2 years and only about a $3 difference on the 12-month plan. That adds a built-in antivirus, webcam protection, and real-time credit card, ID, and email breach alerts.

In fact, we rate Surfshark One as one of thebest Black Friday VPN deals. It's a particularlygood option for those looking for a VPN and antivirus bundle along withNorton VPN.

Surfshark's premium plan, One+, is a tougher sell. It's around double the price of Starter at $4.19. The most noticeable benefit of One+ is that you get theIncogni data removal tool into the mix. It's a decent service, but it's probably only worth opting for Surfshark One+ if you were considering Icogni anyway.

As with NordVPN, do beware that Surfshark's prices may not be quite as good as they look, depending on where you're based. The company adds local tax at checkout, unlike the other VPN providers below, whose prices already include tax.

Also, like most VPNs, auto-renewal prices are steep. There's a handy article here onhow to make sure your Surfshark subscription doesn't auto-renew without having to set yourself a calendar reminder.

If you'd like to get a taste of one of Surfshark's features for nothing, then you can try out itsrecently announced free private DNS service. It's a way of routing your internet traffic without allowing your ISP to block certain domains, log traffic or create targeted adverts based on your browsing.

Better still,Surfshark has introduced a 7-day free trial for the first time. It's the only one of the best VPNs to offer that which makes taking it for a spin something of a no-brainer. Our bet: you'll probably stick with it.

Be careful, when you click through to buy, that you select the 'Start a free trial' button and not the 'Get Surfshark' one, or you won't get the best prices on the Surfshark One+ plans.

All Surfshark plans come with a 30-day money back guarantee. Just in case you need to, here'show to cancel Surfshark and get a refund.

Here's a comparison table of the Surfshark plans and what each one offers and a direct comparison ofNordVPN vs Surfshark:

3. ExpressVPN

Ease of Use ★★★★★

The ExpressVPN user interface is just great. There's nothing glitzy about the look of its apps but there's a simplicity that belies a lot of very clever design. It's red when it's off, it's green when it's on and the first two sections that draw your eyes are the massive Connect button and the server location option which opens up a list of countries either recommended or by continent. The casual user needs to go no further and get everything they need right there.

There are apps for every platform. ExpressVPN even has its ownAircove router if you want the VPN working at the heart of your home network, and, in fact a recent software update for Aircove andAircove Go has improved their core infrastructure to make the user experience more stable and easier.

Likewise,ExpressVPN updated its iOS and Android apps in May 2025. They now include built-in speed testing tools, access to more VPN protocols and a Smart Location connection for an automated link to the best server at any given moment. There are alsonew ExpressVPN widgets and Siri shortcuts on the iOS app to enjoy.

ExpressVPN continued its charm offensive on Apple users in September, 2025, with updates for its iPad and macOS apps too. Tablet users will now get a screen-filling app UI that's more responsive and easier to use. Mac owners get a streamlined install process.

Only those on Linux should feel irked with just command line access to work with.

Whichever apps you use, do take note that you'll need to update them ahead of January, 2026.ExpressVPN has announced that apps using older certificates will expire and need replacing for you to stay connected.

The other place your money goes is the 24/7 live chat in the help section of the app. Waiting times to get connected to human support can be as little as 30 seconds. We were never left hanging for more than 5 minutes in our tests. There is just no better VPN for usability.

Read more details onExpressVPN's ease of use.

Streaming ★★★★

With over 148 locations in 105 countries, ExpressVPN will have you covered for most of your streaming needs – certainly when accessing streaming services across the States, UK, and Europe. It has the most Oceania server locations in our top three although we did run into some trouble with Netflix and 10Play in Australia. Use the 24/7 live chat for advice on the best server choice if you find similar issues and that should sort it.

In fact, ExpressVPN has just expanded its server network so thatit now has a server location in every single one of the 50 US states. That's great news in terms of both speed for folks in the US and for ensuring you get the correct online state laws when you connect to your nearest server.

ExpressVPN is a bit short across the Middle East with just two countries to choose from. Not great for BeIn sports content in that part of the world, or watching Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League or any other local content from Saudi, UAE, and the like.

In terms of stream stability, ExpressVPN does pretty well, although it does feel like NordVPN has the edge here with fewer instances of dropping out when viewing trans-Atlantic content – another reason why you might want to make a different choice if streaming is your no.1 VPN use case.

Read more details onExpressVPN unblocking and content.

Privacy & Security ★★★★★

As with Surfshark and NordVPN, you do get a lot of security features with ExpressVPN. The only difference since the September price changes is that, now, they're not available to every customer.

Advanced and Pro subscribers get theExpressVPN Keys password manager, parental controls to stop access to adult sites, free eSIM use, and a tracker and malware threat manager. Dedicated IP address access is the big perk for the Pro tier.

All users, from Basic upwards, benefit from one of the best built-in ad blockers on this list, as well as the VPN product itself. The only disappointment in our tests was the fake website warning system which let far too many slip the net to really trust.

Fortunately, ExpressVPN gets the basics of security bang on. It uses top-end, rotating key, AES-256 encryption as well as a1000-dimension secure ML-KEM key designed to future-proof your data for the quantum computing age too. We're also big fans of the randomly allocatingShuffle IP system which ensures there's no correlation between your identity and your online activity.

Combine that with the provider'sTrustedServer technology, itscommitment to post-quantum encryption, and the fact that data requests are made very difficult thanks to its British Virgin Islands choice of jurisdiction, and it's full marks here.

In fact,ExpressVPN passed its 23rd successful security audit in July 2025 (courtesy of KPMG) confirming that it never stores user data as indicated in its privacy policy.

The company is so confident in its security that it offers a $1 million bug bounty should you ever get inside an ExpressVPN server. Sadly, you've just missed a shot at that jackpot aftera bug was spotted in the Windows app in April and patched in July.

Good luck finding the next one first!

Read more details onExpressVPN privacy and security.

Speed & Performance ★★★★

Lightway is the name of ExpressVPN's bespoke VPN protocol. It's not quite as fast as NordLynx or WireGuard, as used by Surfshark, but it's easily enough for the needs of the casual user. It's optimized for mobile use – certainly no bad thing in the modern age – and outperformsOpenVPN by a long shot.

It's slightly disappointing that Lightway's 898 Mbps speeds dropped to more like 396 Mbps once we connected to the US from the UK but it's worth remembering that you only need a fraction of that to stream 4K video.

Lightway's performance gets a serious boost through the ExpressVPN Windows apps, however, thanks to the rollout ofLightway Turbo and DCO and with therecently launched Lightway 2.0. and it's more streamlined coding in Rust.Lightway in Rust is already on Aircove devices and is expected to land elsewhere in 2025.

We clocked Lightway Turbo in at an average local download speed of 1479 Mbps, second only to Surfshark (1615 Mbps), and it also performed well when we connected to long distanceVPN servers. Its 1374 Mbps transatlantic speed was the best of any VPN.

What's more ExpressVPN is one of thefastest VPNs overall when using OpenVPN, matched only by NordVPN's OpenVPN performance.

ExxpressVPN's speeds are looking to extend into the post-quantum era, too.The provider adopted WireGuard, on August 13, 2025, in addition to its proprietary Lightway protocol; the move gives users a quantum-secure, high-speed protocol, thanks to adopting ML-KEM encryption. Plus, it's already available across Windows, iOS, and Android.

As it turns out,Opera VPN has been so impressed by ExpressVPN's protocol technology that it's decided to switch to Lightway itself – quite the vote of confidence when it comes from a third party, and a bit of a slight to NordVPN and NordLynx too.

Read more details onExpressVPN speed and performance.

ExpressVPN price plan

A subscription to ExpressVPN Basic brings access to the VPN product and Lite Protection (a DNS-level ad-blocker and malicious website blocker) on up to 10 devices simultaneously. ForBlack Friday 2025, all ExpressVPN plans are down by 30% meaning that, at $2.44 per month on the two-year plan, it's now undercutting NordVPN.

Pay a little extra ($3.14 per month) for the Advanced plan over two years and you'll get the sweet spot. It's a pretty compelling package with advanced browsing protection, the password manager, and three days per month of free eSIM use. If you're in the US you get ID monitoring with fraud alerts, and identity restoration too.

If you really want the dedicated IP service, then Pro is worth it but it's a big step up. If that's not something you need, you're best off with Advanced.

ExpressVPN's auto-renewal prices (subject to change) are a lot better than Surfshark and NordVPN. All the same, here's an article onhow to cancel your ExpressVPN subscription before your subscription ends, which we recommend doing. That will stop the auto-renewal and still allow you to use ExpressVPN right up until the last day of your agreement.

Here's a table showing ExpressVPN's main features and a direct comparison ofExpressVPN vs NordVPN:

4. Proton VPN

Ease of Use ★★★★

Proton VPN is easy to use, thanks to arecent UI refresh of its Windows, iOS and Android apps. It may not have a Chrome browser extension that's as reliable as others but it does boast a Linux application with a decent graphic interface and those new-look mobile and desktop apps. We really like the added home screen widgets for mobile and upgrades to the Profile feature which allowed us to switch protocol and server by use cases like streaming, anti-censorship and gaming, really quickly.

Proton also recently partnered with privacy-focused browser Vivaldi. So, if you really do want a VPN browser extension for Proton, you might consider Vivaldi instead of Chrome. Best of all, though, is that Proton is finally bringing thesplit tunneling featureto macOS and Linux users this summer along with a host of other upgrades that we saw when the other major platform apps were upgraded in April. That's a terrific result.

If you're interested in a VPN app for Android TV, then Proton's definitely one to consider. There's a plenty of focus from the company onGoogle's TV interface which might be of note to anyone followingAmazon's Fire Stick crackdown.Proton updated its Android TV app in November, 2025, to include support from the NetShield advert and tracker-blocking tool.

Sadly, Proton VPN loses a few marks in the Ease of Use category for customer service. Like the others in this list, the live chat isn't 24/7. It's only available during Swiss work hours – not great if you're based on Pacific Time in the States or live in Australia or New Zealand. That said, we're assured that this is an area where Proton VPN is soon to improve.

Read more details onProton VPN's apps and ease of use.

Streaming ★★★★★

Proton VPN is a good choice for both streaming and torrenting. It's one of the few VPNs whereport forwarding is still available and there are dedicated, P2P-optimized servers, which, again, is great for torrenting.

Proton VPN also has more country locations than any other VPN. If you're looking to connect to a regional service in Africa (22 countries) or the Middle East (14 countries) then it should be high on your list. It also has more Asia locations covered than any other provider on this page.

The trade-off is that there aren't so many server locations in the US or across Europe, but most countries are covered in those places, even if there's not much at the city/region level. More to the point, Proton VPN had no trouble with any local or international streaming services we tried. We managed to access the desired Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus libraries with every server we tried.

Read more details onProton VPN's unblocking and content.

Privacy & Security ★★★★½

Proton VPN has been built from the ground up as a privacy-first product and plenty of features show that off. But expect its privacy credentials to get an even bigger boost over the last few months of 2025 with company CEO Andy Yen announcing that an all-new, in-house VPN architecture is on the way as part ofProton's 2025 autumn/winter roadmap.

In the meantime, there are still plenty of excellent features already available.

Proton'sSecure Core sends your VPN traffic through an extra secure server in a privacy-friendly location (Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden) and then onto the endpoint VPN server. Similar to NordVPN'sDouble VPN system, that means your traffic is secured twice, reducing the risk of your IP getting exposed if the endpoint server is hacked.

As well as OpenVPN and WireGuard, Proton uses its ownStealth protocol which hides the fact you're even using a VPN which could be very important if you're in a region where VPN use is banned.

Equally, you can opt to use the Alternate Routing feature instead which sends your IP-relocated internet traffic through a third-party server, likeAmazon's, for example. That helps to get around sites that don't play nice with VPNs.

You can also connect directly to theTor network through some Proton VPN servers which might be handy if you're in a line of work that requires extra anonymity.

Proton VPN Plus also brings the use of theNetShield Ad-blocker feature. It did a decent job with ads and trackers, although the malware-blocking end wasn't particularly comprehensive. Get a decent AV for that instead.

Lastly, and by no means least, Proton has a tightno-logging policy – successfully audited for the fourth time in September, 2025 – and an excellent system of handling customer data, whichreceived a 'SOC2 Type II" audit to prove its worth in July of the same year.

Read more details onProton VPN privacy and security.

Speed & Performance ★★★½

In previous rounds of testing, Proton VPN has always played second fiddle when compared to the speeds on offer with other VPNs on this list, but not any more. Proton VPN was arguably the fastest VPN we tested in October 2025, using theWireGuard protocol.

The VPN Accelerator feature does a good job of automatically finding the routes with better speeds when connecting to long-distance servers, meaning that both short and far-flung server download speeds were consistent at 1521 Mbps and 1242 Mbps, respectively.

Sadly, Proton VPN is behind the game for those looking to useOpenVPN, though. Its 240 Mbps local connection performance was a long way back from ExpressVPN (1038 Mbps) and NordVPN (974 Mbps).

Do bear in mind, though, that for streaming purposes, Proton VPN still has plenty under the hood. Indeed, its latency and jitter scores were nice and low, which arguably, is more important for some use cases.

Read more details onProton VPN speed and performance.

Proton VPN price plan comparison

The free version of Proton VPN is one of the best free VPNs available, and worth your consideration, depending on your needs.

The paid version of Proton VPN is the one to go for if you want to use the streaming functionality, though. Upgrade toProton Unlimited if you want all of that plus access to the full suite of Proton web products includingProton Mail,Proton Drive,Proton Pass and more.

Soon you'll be able to do that direct from Apple's App Store and still get the best online price aftera US ruling found against "the Apple Tax".

Proton VPN's two-year plan is the best value. You only need to subscribe to the full Proton Unlimited package for a year if you want the best monthly price for all the Proton products, though.

Best of all, it's a really great time to sign-up withProton VPN's Black Friday deal now live. It's currently down at a year-long low of $2.49 with more than $1 off per month. That's excellent value on a terrific VPN. What's moreProton says it's reinvesting its Black Friday revenue directly into future server network expansion.

And, if you already love Proton VPN, how about going all in? You can pick up Proton Unlimited with a 50% discount for Black Friday. So, that's $6.59 per month for 12 months, which might just be the VPN bargain of the year.

Proton VPN comes with a 30-day money back guarantee. We have a guide onhow to cancel your Proton VPN subscription and get your money back.

Here's a comparison table of the Proton VPN plans so you can see for yourself:

5. PrivadoVPN Free

Ease of Use ★★★★

PrivadoVPN Free doesn't come with as much customization and functionality as a paid VPN, the upside of which is that it’s certainly easy to use. There are apps for Windows, MacOS, Android, Android TV, iOS, Apple TV, and FireTV and there’s a Chrome extension too. If you're struggling to install them, then the online knowledge base is good but live chat access is limited.

By default, the layout is a lot simpler than many, and the user interface is uncluttered. There’s the location manager, where you choose which server you wish to connect to; the recently revamped and stabilized kill switch; the connect button; and a handy reminder of how much data you have left; and that’s pretty much it. Hit ‘Click to Connect’ and away you go!

Read more details onPrivadoVPN Free apps and ease of use.

Streaming ★★★

Streaming is where PrivadoVPN Free stands head and shoulders above other free VPNs. There’s not really much streaming on offer elsewhere, without paying, because of very low data allowances and limited, or often no, server choice.

PrivdoVPN Free allows you to access its 13 servers across 10 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Netherlands, UK, and the USA. You also get 10 GB of data to use each month. That’s about 10, hour-long, TV shows at standard definition. If you need more than that, then maybe it’s time to pay for your VPN.

The split tunneling feature is handy for minimizing your data use but, if you do bust the limit of your allowance, then PrivadoVPN Free will let you connect still but only on the 1 Mbps server. With no servers in Australia, New Zealand or Italy, there are a lot of great free streaming services that you miss out on here but it did still manage to unblock Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, and ITV in our recent tests.

Read more details onPrivadoVPN's Free streaming performance.

Privacy & Security ★★★

PrivadoVPN Free brings access to its VPN but not much else in the way of privacy and security features, aside from thekill switch. It uses AES-256 encryption and offers OpenVPN, WireGuard protocols as well as the usually slowerIKEv2, if you need.

We love that PrivadoVPN doesn’t sell its free users’ data to fund the gratis access. We love its strict no-logs policy. We love that it’s based in Switzerland too, where data protection laws are super tight. But the fact that PrivadoVPN has never had a third-party audit to check all this? Not so much. But then audits cost money and the users aren’t paying, so, you know.

Read more details onPrivadoVPN's Free privacy and security.

Speed & Performance ★★★

You might expect a free VPN to be significantly slower than the paid options on this page but that’s not the case with PrivadoVPN Free. It recorded a frighteningly fast 1045 Mbps average download speed on ourVPN speed testing rig using WireGuard.

So, as we say, you get a lot more than the otherbest free VPNs with PrivadoVPN Free. What you don’t get is the unlimited ability to use it.

As we say, you get a lot more than the otherbest free VPNs with PrivadoVPN Free. What you don’t get is the unlimited ability to use it.

Read more details onPrivadoVPN's speed and performance.

PrivadoVPN price plan comparison

PrivadoVPN would much rather you sign up for its paid VPN service. The free version is not easy to find on its website. It's usually a greyed-out button buried pretty deep on the sign-up page.

In many ways, it has a point, though. PrivadoVPN Free is a good service but if you need a VPN on the regular, you're better off reaching into your pocket. We even havea special $10 discount through our link which is how you get the prices below.

Here's a feature comparison table of the PrivadoVPN Free and paid plans and you can see if you agree:

PureVPN ★★★★
A near-perfect streaming score and exceptional WireGuard speeds make this budget VPN a worthy consideration. However, there are still a few kinks that need working out in the apps.

▶ Read more:PureVPN review

Hide.me ★★★★
Decent speeds and streaming unblocking put Hide.me center of the pack for functionality, but its complicated apps and lack of audits undermine an otherwise great service.

▶ Read more:Hide.me review

Private Internet Access ★★★½
One of the best VPNs for Linux, and a popular VPN for torrenting, PIA is an industry veteran that has proven its no-logs policy in court (twice). Some connection issues and underwhelming speeds saw it fall out of our top ranks, but it's still a good app that's particularly well-suited for power users.

▶ Read more:Private Internet Access review

Hotspot Shield ★★★½
A popular free VPN that claims to be the fastest on the market. Our tests show otherwise, and it struggled in our stream unblocking tests, too.

▶ Read more:Hotspot Shield review

TunnelBear ★★★½
A popular brand that's had some excellent marketing campaigns, but the VPN itself is lackluster and can't hold a candle to the market leaders.

▶ Read more:TunnelBear review

FastestVPN ★★★½
With a $30 lifetime use deal on the table, FastestVPN makes a serious statement. But its server network comes up short and, despite its name, it's a bit slow.

▶ Read more:FastestVPN review

VyprVPN ★★★½
Previously hailed for its proprietary Chameleon protocol, Vypr has lost a lot of that venom that kept it nipping at the heels of the top three.

▶ Read more:VyprVPN review

AngelVPN ★★★½
A relative newcomer, AngelVPN is speedy and has the bonus of servers in Russia and China but a lack of extra features and some logging issues mean it can't go head-to-head with today's top dogs.

▶ Read more:AngelVPN review

Amnezia VPN ★★★½
Created by Russian activists looking to avoid state censorship, Amnezia VPN is an open-source VPN, with both free and paid tiers, that allows you to set up your own personal VPN server. It isn't the best for unblocking, streaming, or pure performance but that niche use case might be just what you need.

▶ Read more:Amnezia VPN review

AdBlockVPN ★★★
An open-source VPN with anad blocker included is a great idea but AdBlockVPN is just too short on features to offer value for money – no kill switch, no WireGuard, and just 38 server locations. At this price, there's far better out there.

▶ Read more:AdBlockVPN review

NymVPN ★★★
Of course, a VPN based on blockchain technology has to exist. Zero-knowledge trust and decentralized privacy certainly make sense but, still in beta, NymVPN isn't quite there yet.

▶ Read more:NymVPN review

OysterVPN ★★★
Another new kid on the block, OysterVPN has plenty of great security tools and strong unblocking credentials. Missing WireGuard support and sluggish speeds are a major drawback for now, though.

▶ Read more:OysterVPN review

PrivateVPN ★★½
Once upon a time, this was a go-to VPN service. However, it's fallen behind the pack and now struggles to offer the same features and functionality.

▶ Read more:PrivateVPN review

SweatVPN ★
It may be aimed at Warzone players but SweatVPN is not thebest VPN for gaming. If bot lobby after bot lobby is all you want, then it's just about a maybe but don't expect long before you get yourself banned.

▶ Read more:SweatVPN review

Hola VPN ★★
Hola VPN collects some concerning log data, including your "IP address, operating system, browser type, web pages you visit, time spent on those pages, access times and dates." In our opinion, this logging undermines the entire purpose of using a VPN for privacy, even if it's doing it to prevent people from abusing your IP address, which it uses as one of its so-called "nodes."

▶Read more:Hola VPN review

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