All About Cookies is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some of the offers that appear on this site are from third-party advertisers from which All About Cookies receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
All About Cookies does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products. Information is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your traffic and increases your privacy by stopping potential hackers from seeing your data. Whether you’re using shared Wi-Fi or just want extra security at work or at home, a VPN can protect you from accidentally giving out too much information.
We think NordVPN is the best overall, but Proton VPN is the best free solution, and Surfshark is the best VPN for additional security features. Depending on your devices and needs, one of these is probably perfect for you.
Check out what we loved, what we didn’t, and how these three top choices stack up side by side.
 Best Overall
|
 |
 | |
| Starting price | Starts at $3.39/mo (billed every two years) | Starts at Free | Starts at $2.19/mo (billed every two years) |
| VPN protocol | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, Stealth | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 |
| No-logs policy | No logs | No logs | No logs |
| Headquarters | Panama | Geneva, Switzerland | The Netherlands |
| Extras | Split tunneling, torrenting support, double VPN, dedicated IP, streaming support, threat protection | Split tunneling, ad blocker, torrenting support, double VPN, dedicated IP, streaming support | Split tunneling, ad blocker, antivirus, data broker removal service, torrenting support, double VPN, dedicated IP, streaming support |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get Proton VPN | Get Surfshark |
We complete standardized hands-on tests for each VPN we review so we can put their claims to the test. This includes vigorous third-party testing by comparing our internet speed while connected to different servers, checking for DNS leaks, making sure the kill switch actually works, and more. We also make sure we can comfortably access popular streaming sites, like Netflix, and still do our day-to-day work without interruption.
Once we’ve completed the testing, our editorial rating is calculated by taking into account key features you’d expect from a good product. We score each VPN in the following categories and use a weighted average to calculate the final rating out of 5 stars: price, server count, speed, security, and features.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full VPN methodology here.
#1 rated VPN with over 7,000 ultra-secure, high-speed servers in 118 countries
Reliably unblock popular streaming services like Netflix with a single click
Excellent all-in-one security product with antivirus, ad blocker, password manager, and more
Privacy-minded folks who want the best VPN that’s focused on privacy will appreciate NordVPN's advanced security features and seamless functionality. NordVPN has impressive features, all of which enhance privacy and aren’t always found in competitor VPNs:
/images/2024/10/10/nordvpn_review_1024_refresh_02.png)
Double security features: NordVPN offers some features that not all competitors have. We like the double VPN option, which lets you route your internet traffic through two separate VPN connections, giving you double the privacy. Onion over VPN is also a nice feature, which works with the secure Tor Browser, one of the most secure browsers you can use.
/images/2024/10/10/nordvpn_review_1024_refresh_03.png)
Threat Protection Pro security: In addition to other features, NordVPN includes a product called Threat Protection Pro, which provides web and file protection. The tracker and ad blockers included in Threat Protection enhance your online privacy by stopping those tools from building a profile of your online activity. The included search results safety indicator can also help protect you from phishing attempts by flagging suspicious results.
/images/2025/01/27/nordvpn_threat_protection_dashboard.png)
Pricing: NordVPN offers a lot of privacy protection, but it can get a little pricey. There are a variety of plans, but purchasing it month to month can cost more than some streaming services. There are VPNs with lower monthly rates, but NordVPN isn’t one of them.
| Price range | $3.39–$17.99/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days |
| Number of servers | 7,200+ servers in 118 countries |
| Number of connected devices | 10 |
| Average speed | 253.96 Mbps |
| DNS leak test | Pass |
| Kill switch test | Pass |
| VPN protocol | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
| Torrenting support | Yes |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN |
Stream from anywhere with 11,300+ high-speed servers
VPN Accelerator tech improves speeds by up to 400%
Block ads, trackers, and malicious scripts
It’s rare for a free product to have excellent security, but Proton VPN protects privacy with its no-logs policy, different VPN protocols, and features like a double VPN. When most free products are harvesting data in some form, Proton VPN protects you even on its free plan.
/images/2024/02/02/best_free_vpns_for_linux_protonvpn_protocols_available_01.png)
Security-minded function: Most free software collects data to sell as compensation for offering itself for free. Proton VPN, however, institutes a strict no-logs policy that’s been independently audited. This means that even if you use only the free version, you don’t have to worry about data being collected and shared. It’s one of the most secure VPNs, and it has a fully functional free tier.
/images/2025/01/27/proton_vpn_review_1024_refresh_08.png)
DNS leak protection: There are plenty of free VPNs on the market. Some will steal your data, but others will leak it because they simply aren’t strong enough to encrypt your traffic. Proton VPN has strong leak protection, meaning no identifying information will be exposed while you’re online.
/images/2025/01/27/proton_vpn_review_1024_refresh_17.png)
Limited support: The free Proton VPN tier has a lot of benefits, but support isn’t one of them. The 24/7 support is available only to paid subscribers. Support options are available if you run into an issue, just not live chat.
| Price range | $3.59–$9.99/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days |
| Number of servers | 11,500+ servers in 117 countries |
| Number of connected devices | 10 |
| Average speed | 248.69 Mbps |
| DNS leak test | Pass |
| Kill switch test | Pass |
| VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
| Torrenting support | Yes |
| Learn more | Get Proton VPN |
Rare perk: Unlimited simultaneous connections
3,200+ servers fast and reliable servers worldwide
Block ads and malware
Surfshark lets you bundle a VPN, antivirus, CleanWeb 2.0, and online data removal into your Surfshark plan. The antivirus can protect your web camera, CleanWeb includes an ad blocker, and Surfshark One+ gives you access to online data removal via Incogni.
/images/2025/01/27/surfshark_review_1024_refresh_14.png)
Unlimited simultaneous connections: Part of keeping you and your family’s data private is covering every device with a VPN to encrypt online traffic. Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so whether it’s just you and all your devices or a household full of people and their technology, you’ll keep everyone protected online with Surfshark’s VPN, antivirus, CleanWeb, and data removal.
/images/2025/01/27/surfshark_review_1024_refresh_09.png)
Alternative IDs: Surfshark offers some interesting and unique additional security features, one of our favorites being the alternative ID option. You can mask your email and phone number by creating alternative ones with Surfshark, so you never have to worry about your private information being put out there. It helps you avoid spam, online data leaks, and even stalking.
/images/2025/01/27/surfshark_review_1024_refresh_15.png)
Headquartered in a 9 Eyes country: Privacy aficionados aren’t fans of the Eyes Alliance countries. These are countries that cooperate to spy on each other’s citizens and report back. Even though Surfshark doesn’t keep activity logs, being in an Eyes Alliance country means you won’t have the ultimate privacy offered by other VPN providers headquartered outside of an alliance.
| Price range | $2.19–$20.65/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days |
| Number of servers | 3,200+ servers in 100 countries |
| Number of connected devices | Unlimited |
| Average speed | 254.03 Mbps |
| DNS leak test | Pass |
| Kill switch test | Pass |
| VPN protocol | WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
| Torrenting support | Yes |
| Learn more | Get Surfshark |
Of our top 3, NordVPN is definitely the fastest. It actually increased our speeds when we tested it, likely because it stopped our internet service provider (ISP) from throttling our connection. Don’t worry, though, because Proton VPN and Surfshark still showed impressive results when it came to speed.
VPN speed is important because people won’t use a privacy tool if it slows their internet too much. We left dial-up behind decades ago, and no one wants to revisit those slow speeds while trying to keep their data secure.
| VPN speed to U.S. server | Normal speed | Speed loss | |
| NordVPN | 272.71Mbps | 280.88 Mbps | +3% |
| Proton VPN | 310.54 Mbps | 306.53 Mbps | -1.29% |
| Surfshark | 309.06 Mbps | 274.92 Mbps | -11.05% |
If our top 3 picks aren’t for you, try one of the additional VPNs below. We’ve tested them all and rated them highly for privacy and security.
/images/2022/11/08/logo-expressvpn-2.png){kind=logo}
Hides intrusive display ads when browsing the web, improving page speed and easing data usage on mobile
Privacy and safety benefits of a VPN with best-in-class encryption and innovative server technology in 105 countries
Enjoy no activity logs, malicious sites and trackers protection, and more on up to 8 devices
/images/2023/04/28/logo-cyberghost-horizontal-3.png){kind=logo}
High-speed global servers offering industry-leading 256-bit AES encryption and no data logs
Unlimited bandwidth, DNS and IP leak protection, and automatic kill switch available for up to 7 devices
Configurable with your router, smart TV, Amazon Fire TV stick, or gaming console
/images/2022/11/11/logo_private-internet-access.png){kind=logo}
More affordable than most other VPNs, including ExpressVPN and NordVPN
Fast internet speeds and strict no-logs policy
Unblocks Netflix and other streaming services
A VPN encrypts your data, so anyone trying to spy on you won’t be able to understand the data being transmitted across your devices. VPNs also hide your IP address, which is unique to your device, so that no one can track you.
While nothing is 100% guaranteed, a VPN with a no-logs policy will keep you from being tracked. Make sure your VPN has an independently audited no-logs policy to ensure it does what it says it will.
We consider NordVPN to be the most secure VPN with features like a double VPN, Onion over VPN, and Threat Protection Pro. Other VPNs we’ve tested and trust include Proton VPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access.
The fact that you’re online may be detectable, especially with some details regarding your device, but your VPN will hide your traffic, identifying information, and other sensitive data. It might still be possible for a website or entity to see you’re using a VPN, but it won’t be able to see your activity.
We’ve tested over 50 VPNs, and NordVPN is the best. But that doesn’t mean it’s the only one you can use. We like how secure Proton VPN’s free tier is and how many extra security features come with Surfshark. Our runners-up are still some of the best VPNs available.
Privacy and security are important online, especially with the prevalence of spam, scams, phishing, identity theft, and more. You should always have protection when using shared Wi-Fi, but having a VPN on your device at any time can give you an extra layer of privacy to help you feel secure.
| Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
|
Starts at $3.39/mo (billed every two years) | Best VPN for privacy | Get NordVPN |
|
Starts at Free | Best free VPN | Get Proton VPN |
|
Starts at $2.19/mo (billed every two years) | Best VPN for security bundle | Get Surfshark |
Rare perk: Unlimited simultaneous connections
3,200+ servers fast and reliable servers worldwide
Block ads and malware
/images/2024/01/12/best_vpns_for_fanduel.jpg)
/images/2022/09/09/woman_looking_at_phone_1.jpg)
/images/2025/01/27/best_vpns_for_privacy.jpg)
/images/2024/11/24/best_black_friday_software_deals.jpg)
/images/2024/11/15/streaming_concept_selecting_a_show_from_hulu.png)
/images/2024/10/31/cyberghost_alternatives.png)
/images/2024/10/30/privadovpn_alternatives.png)
/authors/mary-james_allaboutcookies-author.jpg){kind=small}
/authors/kate_quinlan_headshot_april_2024.png){kind=small}
/images/2022/05/26/logo-nordvpn.png){kind=logo}
/images/2022/10/20/vpn-logowordmark-black-purple-transparent-bg.png)
/images/2022/09/02/logo-surfshark-vpn.png){kind=logo}
/authors/mary-james_allaboutcookies-author.jpg)