VPN providers compared

One of the largest networks on the map and a strong set of security features.

• NordLynx protocol (WireGuard)
• Threat Protection: ad and malware blocking
• Double VPN, Onion over VPN, 10 devices

A Swiss VPN from the makers of Proton Mail, with a free plan and no data cap.

• Free plan with no data cap
• Open-source apps and yearly audits
• Secure Core and the Stealth protocol

Its own Lightway protocol and servers with no hard drives.

• Lightway protocol
• TrustedServer: RAM-only servers
• Router app

Open-source apps, servers in every US state and a no-logs claim tested in court.

• Open-source apps
• Locations in every US state
• Unlimited devices

A US VPN with no device limit, owned by Ziff Davis.

• Unlimited devices
• 100+ countries (some virtual)
• No-logs audit

The VPN from the Romanian antivirus maker, included in its security suites.

• Included in Bitdefender suites
• Runs on IPVanish’s network
• 10 devices on Premium VPN

Norton’s VPN, sold on its own or as part of Norton 360 plans.

• Mimic protocol for blocked networks
• 10 devices on the Standard plan
• Two VerSprite no-logs audits

Servers sorted by purpose and 45 days to ask for a refund.

• Servers matched to specific uses
• 45-day refund window on longer plans
• RAM-only servers, 7 devices

One account for as many devices as you like.

• Unlimited devices
• CleanWeb: ad and tracker blocking
• MultiHop, Camouflage and split tunneling

A wide choice of locations and paid extras such as a dedicated IP.

• Dedicated IP address add-on
• Port forwarding
• Up to 10 devices at once

A long-running US VPN with its own Hydra protocol and a free plan.

• Own Hydra protocol
• Free plan with 500 MB a day
• 10 devices on Premium

Avast’s own VPN, formerly SecureLine, now sold as Avast Premium VPN.

• 10 devices per subscription
• Proprietary protocol for blocked networks
• Double VPN and IP rotation

A sensible free plan and the option to pay only for the countries you need.

• Free plan with 10 GB a month
• Pay only for the locations you need
• Unlimited devices, RAM-only servers

The VPN from Slovak antivirus maker ESET, included in ESET HOME Security plans.

• Included in ESET HOME Security Ultimate and Premium
• 10 devices on the Ultimate plan
• Stealth and Wstunnel modes for blocked networks

The VPN that began as a free web proxy in 2005, now part of Gen Digital.

• No-logs review by VerSprite (2020)
• 5 or 10 devices
• Lightning Connect and split tunneling

Its own servers and a protocol that’s hard to block.

• Own servers
• Chameleon protocol
• No-logs audit (2018)

A Swedish VPN with a Stealth mode for getting around blocks.

• Stealth VPN
• 60+ countries
• 10 devices at once

A decentralised VPN with a fast two-hop mode and a five-hop mixnet.

• Fast 2-hop mode and 5-hop mixnet
• Open source, Cure53 audit
• 10 devices per account

A KeepSolid VPN with a lifetime plan and its own Wise protocol for beating blocks.

• Lifetime licence
• KeepSolid Wise obfuscation
• 5 devices, more as an add-on

A Malaysian VPN with a free plan and no data cap.

• Free plan with no data cap
• 10 devices on the paid plan
• Audited no-logs policy

A VPN designed to work in censored countries.

• AmneziaWG and XRay
• Open source, 7ASecurity audits
• Self-hosted option

A simple VPN from MacPaw that picks the server for you.

• Automatic server choice
• 50+ countries
• 6 devices

Known for working on networks that actively block VPNs.

• StealthVPN and OpenWeb
• Multi-hop
• 5 connections at once

A VPN from the makers of the AdGuard ad blocker, with its own hard-to-detect protocol.

• Own TrustTunnel protocol
• Free plan with 3 GB a month
• 10 devices on the paid plan

A VPN from the makers of Firefox, running on Mullvad’s network.

• Mullvad’s network
• Open source, Cure53 audit
• 5 devices

No email, one price, nothing else.

• Account without email or personal data
• Pay with cash or cryptocurrency
• One flat monthly price

A budget VPN with lifetime deals.

• Lifetime licences
• 10 devices at once
• Altius IT audit

A VPN with a free plan of 10 GB a month.

• Free plan with 10 GB a month
• 10 devices on the paid plan
• Based in Iceland

For power users: lots of protocols, Stealth mode and dedicated IPs.

• Stealth mode
• Dedicated IP addresses
• 8–12 devices

The simplest app in our comparison, with a free plan.

• Very simple app
• Unlimited devices on the paid plan
• Annual independent audits

A small, transparent service for people who take privacy seriously.

• Open source and yearly audits
• No virtual locations
• Multi-hop and V2Ray

A long-running US VPN from Ziff Davis, with 12 devices and OpenVPN Scramble.

• 12 devices at once
• WireGuard and OpenVPN Scramble
• 30-day money-back guarantee

The VPN from Germany’s Avira, now part of Gen Digital, with 500 MB of free data a month.

• 500 MB a month free, 1 GB with an account
• No data cap on Pro
• Kill switch on Pro for Windows

A Swedish VPN on diskless servers, now owned by Malwarebytes.

• Diskless servers
• X41 D-Sec audit (2026)
• WireGuard

A VPN from Malwarebytes on its own diskless servers.

• Physical server in every listed country
• Diskless servers, 2026 audit
• Free version with 10 GB

Many ways around blocks, including VLESS and Shadowsocks.

• VLESS, Trojan, Shadowsocks
• 3-day trial, no card
• Based in the Seychelles

A VPN inside the DuckDuckGo subscription, alongside other privacy services.

• Part of the DuckDuckGo subscription
• 5 devices
• Securitum audit

A small Moldovan VPN with no device limit.

• Unlimited devices
• Securitum audit
• Obfuscation (obfsproxy)

A Romanian VPN that’s honest about what data it processes.

• Public server status
• Multi-hop and obfuscation
• 12 connections at once

A VPN from the Finnish security company F-Secure, formerly called FREEDOME.

• Finnish company, EU data protection
• Tracking protection and kill switch
• Up to 5 devices, 30-day free trial

An Italian VPN for technical users: port forwarding and an open-source client.

• Port forwarding
• Open-source Eddie client
• Public server status

A simple Dutch VPN with no device limit.

• Unlimited devices
• Lifetime licence
• EU company (Netherlands)

Diskless servers on its own hardware, owned by Pango since 2023.

• Diskless servers
• Own hardware in data centres
• Multi-hop