Sometimes it seems like it's impossible to find a VPN that protects you online. Hundreds of VPNs on the market advertise themselves as the best of the best.
Our experts have spent several months thoroughly testing over 100 services and determining which of them truly lives up to their promises, and at the same time does it well. We connected to these VPNs from all over the world, including countries with strong internet censorship, checking their security, reliability, and connection speed.
We even reached out to Google and PayPal to check the rumors surrounding some VPN providers. We've also brushed aside a few questionable VPNs: they haven't been caught selling sensitive user data yet, but there is every reason to believe that we will soon hear about it.
Our honest, in-depth reviews will help you choose the VPN that's right for you, whether you want to watch US Netflix from any part of the world, bypass government censorship, or completely anonymize yourself online.
And it's not about size at all: some small VPN companies can easily bypass the heavyweights of the industry, even though they don't have enough money for large-scale advertising. During testing, we even found that some popular VPNs can be completely useless - and even dangerous!
After thorough testing and in-depth research of all the available materials, we can confidently say that our selection of 10 VPNs includes only those providers that will protect your data, your privacy and give you lightning-fast speeds to browse content online.
Once? Here's a quick rundown of the best VPNs in 2021
- NordVPN is the fastest VPN in the world and the leader in our rankings for 2021 - all thanks to outstanding security technologies, consistently high speeds and reliability.
- ExpressVPN: A secure, fast and reliable service for all types of online activity, including web browsing, torrenting, and streaming content
- Surfshark: Unlimited concurrent devices and unique data protection features make this VPN one of the best VPN for those with many devices at home that need protection.
- ZenMate: Simple VPN
- Private Internet Access: Due to the reliability of the service and the ease of use of the applications, this is a good choice
10 Best VPNs Of 2021: In-Depth Analysis
We've run hundreds of tests over several months to find out which VPNs offer the best connection speeds, data protection, and reliability. We've been browsing websites, downloading files, watching videos on streaming services, and torrenting files for weeks on end to collect these field-proven results for you.
1. NordVPN: Great Price / Performance Balance
- Dedicated torrent profiles: yes, dedicated servers available for P2P networking
- Works with: Netflix (various libraries), Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, SkyTV, Disney + and many more
- Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox and routers
- Data logs: strict no-log policy
- Money back guarantee: 30 days
NordVPN is our best, even basic recommendation. The provider provides good performance in all aspects and an excellent feature set at a price that not all competitors will be able to offer you.
256-bit AES encryption and support for OpenVPN and IKEv2 / IPSec security protocols will protect and hide your traffic. Since the company is registered in Panama, NordVPN is also outside the influence of the 14-eye alliance and user data retention laws. Therefore, there is no confidential user data on the servers of the provider - great news for those who seek to protect them.
Function CyberSec from NordVPN blocks advertising and an additional level of protection against malicious software. Servers that mask traffic will allow you to visit any site on the Internet, even if you are in a country with strict Internet censorship. Two of our colleagues tested this VPN from Beijing and Shenzhen in China and managed to access Netflix, Facebook, Gmail and other services blocked in that country. With NordVPN, you don't have to worry about unsecured data entering the open network, with two separate kill-off features and the ability to customize DNS to keep you out of trouble.
NordVPN's extensive network of over 5,390 servers in 55 countries is growing regularly. There are dedicated servers for P2P networks, double encryption, and dedicated IP addresses. For this reason, this VPN is flexible enough to successfully bypass geoblocks by connecting to dedicated servers, as well as getting faster connection speeds. We tested the VPN in 12 regions where it had to contend with restrictions from Netflix, Disney +, Hulu, and several other major streaming services; every block was defeated.
NordVPN also consistently delivers excellent speed results in every country we've tested it. When connecting to local servers, connection speeds dropped by only 5% - and this is very small! Most of all, we lost speed when connecting to servers in Australia and the UK. However, even in these cases, the loss was only 30%, and we were still able to download files at speeds of about 38 Mb / s.
| Connection | Ping | Download speed | Transmission speed |
| Initial Velocity UK Server | 10 ms | 54.83 Mb / s | 11.21 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, UK server | 10 ms | 52.03 Mb / s | 11.10 Mb / s |
| Manually connecting to a UK server | 15 ms | 46.73 Mb / s | 10.84 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, US server | 149 ms | 45.84 Mb / s | 10.86 Mb / s |
| Manually connecting to a US server | 239 ms | 31.84 Mbps | 10.74 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, server in France | 39 ms | 52.05 Mb / s | 11.62 Mbps |
| Fast connection, server in Brazil | 357 ms | 23.14 Mbps | 2.06 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, server in Australia | 434 ms | 37.97 Mb / s | 9.64 Mbps |
Safely browsing streaming services and sharing torrent files is a one-click task for NordVPN. With its proprietary DNS SmartPlay technology, the NordVPN client automatically provides stable access and high connection speeds when you open US Netflix or another streaming website. Imagine this: this VPN can unblock 400 different services - no other VPN provider can match this number!
If you ever need help, you can always reach out to 24/7 tech support via live chat. We asked for help several times during the testing period to check how responsive and professional the staff was, and each time we received detailed answers to all questions. You might also find NordVPN's huge knowledge base full of useful information, setup instructions, and server details to help you out.
What's the bottom line? We think NordVPN is a versatile and multitasking VPN, but we don't like that you can't pay with PayPal, even though it has its own secure payment platform. You can test intuitive apps with an amazing variety of functions on six devices at the same time thanks to the 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. ExpressVPN: fast, secure and reliable
- Dedicated torrent profiles: no (but all servers support P2P activity)
- Works with: Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney +, HBO NOW, Spotify, Amazon Prime Video and many more
- Available on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chromebook, Kindle Fire, web browsers and routers
- Data logs: strict no-log policy
- Money back guarantee: 30 days
ExpressVPN came in second on our list, but that doesn't mean it is in many ways behind the leader. It consistently takes top places in many ratings, including the ratings of the best VPN for iOS devices, torrent exchangers and routers, as it is a quality and reliable choice.
ExpressVPN has over 3,000+ high-speed servers in 160 regions around the world. It's also one of the fastest VPNs we've tested. We ran many different speed tests to confirm this, and we have included the test results on UK servers which you can see below in the review. As expected, we got the best results when connecting to the nearest servers. But we were also impressed with the results of connecting to servers in the US and Australia: the speed dropped by only 22% and 35%, respectively. This is great news for all users who often watch videos online and exchange torrent files.
| Connection | Ping | Download speed | Transmission speed |
| Initial Velocity UK Server | 10 ms | 54.83 Mb / s | 11.21 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, UK server | 12 ms | 50.03 Mb / s | 10.94 Mb / s |
| Manually connecting to a UK server | 13 ms | 49.87 Mb / s | 10.10 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, US server | 142 ms | 42.64 Mb / s | 6.71 Mbps |
| Manually connecting to a US server | 134 ms | 37.61 Mbps | 9.24 Mbps |
| Fast connection, server in France | 41 ms | 40.39 Mb / s | 11.13 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, server in Brazil | 179 ms | 38.46 Mb / s | 6.02 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, server in Australia | 288 ms | 35.28 Mb / s | 6.13 Mbps |
The split traffic tunneling feature allows you to customize ExpressVPN to suit your needs and choose which applications and services traffic will be encrypted. I tested this feature while watching videos from my local Netflix library through a web browser and sending BitTorrent client traffic over a VPN. This setup took me less than a minute and then everything worked without problems.
Here's another thing: ExpressVPN helps you watch your favorite content even on platforms that don't support VPN. Thanks to the MediaStreamer function and the ability of this VPN to bypass any geoblocks, our colleagues were able to watch Netflix USA, Hulu and BBC iPlayer from six different countries using smart TV boxes, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV, game consoles and other devices.
ExpressVPN supports P2P connections on all of its servers, so you don't need a separate torrent profile. The Smart Location app feature will select the best server for you. You can download a movie from torrents in just 15 minutes, so it's quick and easy.
ExpressVPN offers users 256-bit data encryption and OpenVPN support on all platforms to keep you secure. In addition, you will have DNS leak protection and a Network Lock setting (that is, the function of kicking off the Internet).
ExpressVPN's innovative TrustedServer technology ensures that every ExpressVPN server always downloads the same secure and updated application, so the risk of infection is greatly reduced. TrustedServer technology also allows ExpressVPN servers to run using only RAM. Server data is never written to hard drives, so it is impossible to save any data from them after a reboot - even by accident. This guarantees a previously unimaginable level of protection for user data.
Once again, we reached out to our peers in Asia to test ExpressVPN's ability to bypass censorship. Fortunately, the service is consistently dealing with the Great Firewall of China, so this is the first VPN in line for countries with similarly tough internet censorship.
Also, we were not disappointed with customer support, because there is a useful 24/7 communication channel (online chat) and detailed guides for installing and configuring the application for a variety of compatible platforms. Every time I contacted the online chat for help, I started communicating with the friendly employee within two minutes.
ExpressVPN offers a great balance of performance and privacy, and it's worth the money for sure. You can always take advantage of the win-win opportunity to test the service on five devices, that is, a 30-day money-back guarantee. In short, this VPN can satisfy the needs of even the most fastidious users.
3. Surfshark: Unlimited Devices and Unique Features
- Dedicated torrent profiles: no (P2P activity is supported on all servers)
- Works with: Netflix, Hulu, SkyTV, Fox Go, BBC iPlayer, DAZN, Spotify and many more
- Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, FireTV, Apple TV and many other platforms
- Data logs: strict no-log policy
- Money back guarantee: 30 days
When you read about Surfshark, one thing immediately catches your eye: This VPN has taken seriously the issue of providing its users with unlimited Internet access. This can be seen in a set of unique features and low subscription costs.
Surfshark offers a rather rare bonus among competitors: an unlimited number of simultaneously connected devices, so it is a great choice for a large family with many devices.
Of course, none of this would have mattered if Surfshark didn’t provide quality service, but it does. Among the app's features and functions are split traffic tunneling, double encryption, kill switch, and the CleanWeb suite of security features. that block malicious viruses and programs. To ensure that all of these features work as advertised, we:
- Tried watching BBC iPlayer from the US at the same time as Hulu (it worked!)
- We turned on the BitTorrent client and watched what happens if the VPN connection was interrupted (the application paused all downloads, so there were no leaks!)
- We went to the most suspicious and ad-laden websites they could find (no pop-ups or viruses!)
You will also find in the application additional settings for masking traffic in NoBorders mode. We tried to work in this mode, and in principle, it coped with the task, although not perfectly. In China and Iran, our colleagues had to additionally manually configure this mode in order to gain access to the external Internet, but the bottom line is that they did it.
Surfshark's constantly growing server network currently consists of more than 3,200 servers in 65 countries. We tried connecting to dozens of different servers to test the connection speeds and the ability to access blocked resources. We've been able to visit several different libraries from Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and other popular streaming platforms. Connection speeds have remained fast and stable the entire time.
| Connection | Ping | Download speed | Transmission speed |
| Initial Velocity UK Server | 11 ms | 54.83 Mb / s | 11.21 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, UK server | 15 ms | 46.13 Mb / s | 11.18 Mb / s |
| Manually connecting to a UK server | 22 ms | 51.87 Mb / s | 10.87 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, US server | 134 ms | 51.64 Mb / s | 9.42 Mbps |
| Manually connecting to a US server | 197 ms | 45.31 Mb / s | 6.92 Mbps |
| Fast connection, server in France | 20 ms | 53.01 Mb / s | 10.55 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, server in Brazil | 276 ms | 42.34 Mb / s | 8.30 Mbps |
| Fast connection, server in Australia | 274 ms | 34.97 Mb / s | 6.71 Mbps |
Our speed tests have shown that the Surfshark network, while not the fastest we have tested, guarantees minimal speed loss without affecting the loading of websites, videos, or torrent files. Even connecting to a remote server in Australia was surprisingly fast, and that's 15,000 kilometers for a minute!
Speaking of Australia, our colleague from this country has become a fan of the Camouflage Mode, which prevents even the ISP from seeing that you are connected to a VPN. Its internet connection speed even increased slightly as the ISP could no longer interfere and lower the speed.
Overall, Surfshark is an impressive VPN that gives you access to many premium features through apps with a simple and stylish design. The provider offers huge discounts on long term subscriptions and a one month money back guarantee.
4. ZenMate: Great VPN for Watching Online UK TV
- Dedicated torrent profiles: yes
- Works with: BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and many more.
- Compatible with: macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, web browsers and routers
- Data logs: strict no-log policy
- Money back guarantee: 30 days
ZenMate's server network of 3,700+ servers in over 70 countries has proven itself as a successful key to many blocked services around the world. During testing, we had no problem accessing Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, HBO Max, and HBO Go - all thanks to streaming-optimized servers. However, none of the tested US servers were able to access Hulu.
Good news for UK TV fans! Our colleagues from the USA and Australia have been able to gain stable access to all major UK streaming platforms including BBC iPlayer, BritBox, ITV Hub and All 4.
Despite the fact that the server network is vast and powerful, the connection speeds could be higher. While testing a connection from the UK, we noticed a significant drop in speed when connecting to servers in many locations around the world. For example, when we connected to the recommended server in the US, the speed dropped by more than 85% (8.39 MB / s) . It was still fast enough to watch unbuffered videos, however, 3.59 Mb / s when connected to a server in Canada was not fast enough to watch HD Netflix videos.
| Connection | Ping | Download speed | Transmission speed |
| Initial Velocity UK Server | 12 ms | 61.63 Mb / s | 18.54 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, UK server | 33 ms | 29.05 Mb / s | 13.91 Mb / s |
| Manually connecting to a UK server | 15 ms | 15.79 Mb / s | 17.26 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, US server | 118 ms | 8.39 Mb / s | 16.12 Mb / s |
| Manually connecting to a US server | 146 ms | 7.94 Mb / s | 9.25 Mbps |
| Fast connection, server in France | 22 ms | 8.30 Mbps | 15.65 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, server in Brazil | 91 ms | 3.59 Mbps | 13.79 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, server in Australia | 290 ms | 3.78 Mb / s | 14.30 Mbps |
So, it's not always convenient to watch online with ZenMate, but when it comes to torrenting activity, everything is much better here thanks to P2P-optimized servers. Large files can be transferred without problems due to the good file transfer speed.
Worried about your torrent activity being tracked down? Not worth it. When you connect to the ZenMate network, everything you do online becomes completely anonymous and untraceable thanks to military-grade encryption.
Advanced security features also include an automatic kill switch, a strict no-log service policy, and a free ad blocker that can be downloaded separately from the app.
If you have any questions about the security features of the ZenMate app, the technical support will be very helpful to you. The ZenMate team recently added a new support channel via live chat, and when I asked a question about security protocols, I got a response almost instantly.
ZenMate is compatible with a wide range of devices, and five devices can be connected to one account at the same time. Test ZenMate for yourself with a 7-day free trial. You don't need to enter any billing information, just an email address to register your account. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Private Internet Access: secure global server network
- Dedicated torrent profiles: no (P2P activity is supported on all servers)
- Works with: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, HBO Go, HBO Now, Showtime, and SkyTV
- Available on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, PS4 / Xbox and routers
- Data logs: strict no-log policy
- Money back guarantee: 30 days
Recently, the Private Internet Access service has become very popular due to its outstanding data protection features and modest prices.
With Private Internet Access, you'll be in safe hands: military-grade data encryption and support for multiple security protocols keep your data and privacy safe from intrusion by hackers, tracking programs, and third parties. Also, the service does not collect any data from its users, so you can surf the web in complete anonymity.
The built-in blocker of malicious codes MACE guarantees you protection from adware and other viruses. We tested this technology by visiting torrent exchanges with lots of ads and other suspicious resources, and the MACE blocker did a great job.
While we were at these sites, we also tested the capabilities of this VPN to work with torrent exchanges. With the service's network of over 29,890+ servers located in 75 countries, we expected to see high connection speeds and smooth file downloads, and our expectations were not disappointed.
| Connection | Ping | Download speed | Transmission speed |
| Initial Velocity UK Server | 10 ms | 54.83 Mb / s | 11.21 Mb / s |
| Recommended UK server | 12 ms | 53.74 Mb / s | 11.30 Mb / s |
| Manual Connection, UK Server | 13 ms | 34.52 Mb / s | 11.47 Mb / s |
| Recommended server in the USA | 142 ms | 22.98 Mb / s | 11.34 Mb / s |
| Manual connection, US server | 130 ms | 18.07 Mb / s | 11.31 Mb / s |
| Manual connection, server in France | 45 ms | 16.95 Mb / s | 11.34 Mb / s |
| Manual connection, server in Canada | 171 ms | 26.78 Mb / s | 11.42 Mbps |
| Manual connection, server in Australia | 227 ms | 12.93 Mb / s | 6.95 Mb / s |
Connection speeds were good not only for fast file downloads but also for watching HD video with minimal buffering and latency (if any). Private Internet Access bypass technology allowed us to access Netflix USA, Netflix UK, Amazon Prime Video, HBO GO and several other streaming sites. Unfortunately, we were unable to open Hulu and Disney +.
You can protect up to ten devices simultaneously with one Private Internet Access account, and the applications are compatible with all major platforms. We made sure that the applications of the service are simple and convenient, but if you need help, you will always receive it via online chat (each time we quickly received an answer to our question). You will also have access to a huge knowledge base with a FAQ section, tips for working and instructions for setting up applications.
Overall, Private Internet Access provides excellent value for money and is a great choice for those who care about protecting their online privacy. Test the advanced security features of Private Internet Access yourself with a win-win 30-day money-back guarantee.
6. PrivateVPN: Try it yourself with a free trial
- Dedicated torrent profiles: no, but P2P traffic is supported on all servers
- Works with: Netflix, Sling TV, Fox Go, Hulu, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer
- Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android and routers
- Data logs: strict no-log policy
- Money back guarantee: 30 days
PrivateVPN operates a small network of 150+ of its own servers in 60 countries, but this does not prevent the service from being a great option for accessing any content from anywhere in the world. Our experts have tested servers from the USA, Britain, Italy and Australia to determine how confident PrivateVPN is bypassing geo-based access blocks. We tested Netflix US, Sling TV and BBC iPlayer - and got access to all of them.
Connection speed tests have shown that PrivateVPN performs best when connected to servers located as close to the user as possible. The further from you the server is, the more noticeable the loss of speed will be. However, it's important to note here that even after that, our connections were fast enough to stream HD video without any lag.
This Swedish provider will do whatever it takes to protect users' privacy and security. Yes, Sweden is part of the 14-eye intelligence alliance, but PrivateVPN will not be able to transfer your data to anyone - the service simply does not save it. You will also get simple and convenient applications with AES-256 encryption and support for OpenVPN, L2TP, IPSec, IKEv2, and PPTP.
In terms of the kill function, PrivateVPN provides protection against IPv6 and DNS data leaks. There is also a stealth mode designed specifically to bypass VPN blocking systems and deep packet inspection firewalls. All of this will provide you with unlimited access to global content. And we were personally convinced that this stealth mode works - our employees tested it in China.
If you are looking for a service with great discounts on both short and long term rates, PrivateVPN may be the option. Its 7-day trial and 30-day money-back guarantee will give you plenty of time to test this VPN inside and out.
7. CyberGhost: impressive server network and reliable protection
- Dedicated torrent profiles: yes
- Works with: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Kodi, Spotify, Vudu, Crunchyroll and more
- Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, web browsers, streaming devices and routers
- Data logs: strict no-log policy
- Money back guarantee: up to 45 days
CyberGhost is one of the best VPNs out there, and we rank it on our Recommended ratings quite often. It is a great choice for anyone looking for reliability, safety, ease of use and great prices.
This Romanian service has incorporated everything you need - reliable encryption, a no-log policy and an impressive network of 6100 servers in 90 countries. The service's apps are protected from data leaks and are equipped with a kill switch, so this VPN service can be called stable and secure.
The CyberGhost application can be installed and prepared for work in one click with the mouse, while the connection will be automatically established to the nearest server - so, when connecting for the first time, I connected to a server in the USA in 15 seconds. Working with the basic and advanced settings of the application is quite simple. You can also create your own rules and customize the connection as you see fit.
Our experts in the UK, Australia, USA and several other countries have tested this VPN to find out if it can open access to popular streaming sites. With dedicated streaming servers, we've got access to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Crunchyroll, Facebook and more.
Of course, in terms of speed, this isn't NordVPN or ExpressVPN. Still, CyberGhost delivers excellent connection speeds, sufficient for streaming content without buffering. We connected from the UK to a number of servers and noticed that sometimes the speed decreased significantly. For example, when connecting to a server in the United States, the speed dropped to 18.26 Mb / s - that is, by almost 66%. However, this did not stop us from watching Netflix in HD. Well, even the server connection in Australia was faster than the minimum 5Mbps required to watch Netflix in HD.
| Connection | Ping | Download speed | Transmission speed |
| Initial Velocity UK Server | 10 ms | 54.83 Mb / s | 11.21 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, UK server | 16 ms | 36.01 Mb / s | 10.17 Mb / s |
| Manually connecting to a UK server | 12 ms | 16.21 Mb / s | 10.64 Mbps |
| Fast connection, US server | 201 ms | 8.75 Mbps | 7.87 Mb / s |
| Manually connecting to a US server | 163 ms | 18.26 Mb / s | 9.36 Mbps |
| Fast connection, server in France | 39 ms | 26.73 Mb / s | 11.02 Mb / s |
| Fast connection, server in Brazil | 549 ms | 7.64 Mbps | 5.96 Mbps |
| Fast connection, server in Australia | 521 ms | 5.65 Mbps | 2.00 Mbps |
Working with CyberGhost is incredibly easy, and in case of problems, you can turn to the online chat for help. For two whole weeks, I tested the work of the technical support staff through the online chat every day, asking various questions about the service and its features, and was very pleased with the answers received.
We believe CyberGhost is a simple VPN service that does a great job of everything. Therefore, this is another great option that deserves your attention. Yes, it doesn't work in China, but it's basically hard to find a VPN service that can work in China right now. You can test it yourself on 7 devices at once without risking anything if you take advantage of the service's 45-day money-back guarantee.
8. IPvanish: Great for streaming content
- Dedicated torrent profiles: no
- Works with: Netflix, Vudu, Fox Go, HBO Go, Disney +, Sling TV, and DAZN
- Available on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Amazon FireTV, Linux, Chrome OS and routers
- Data logs: strict no-log policy
- Money back guarantee: 30 days
The perfect balance between security and performance has put IPVanish in this ranking. This VPN's server network includes 1400+ servers in over 75 countries with over 40,000 IP addresses. While testing the servers of the service, we came to the unequivocal conclusion that they do an excellent job of bypassing the blocking of access to Netflix, Vudu, Fox Go and Disney +. However, it will not suit British TV fans, as BBC iPlayer turned out to be an exception.
The connection speed of the service is quite good. Yes, the further the distance, the slower the data transfer, but this is true for all VPNs. However, our connections were fast enough to watch HD content.
IPVanish also supports P2P connections and SOCKS5 proxies for fast torrent downloads. We tested servers in Canada, Spain and Malaysia and the download speed was sufficient everywhere. IPVanish is a US-based service, which means it must comply with the DMCA regulations, however, it has a strict no-logs policy.
256-bit encryption and a variety of VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, provide IPVanish users with strong protection. The kill switch and DNS / IPv6 data leak protection provide IPVanish users with 24/7 security.
IPVanish also allows you to use traffic obfuscation settings and additional settings related to IP addresses - for example, you can set up regular IP changes and even choose an interval. All this, as well as the ability to connect up to 10 devices at the same time, help this service stand out from the competition.
But in terms of user support, of course, everything could be better: they respond quickly enough in the online chat, but they respond to tickets within 48 hours, which is prohibitively long.
IPVanish is not the cheapest service on this list, but the prices are quite reasonable when you take into account all the features of this VPN service.
9. Hotspot Shield: reliable protection and comfortable streaming
- Dedicated torrent profiles: no
- Works with: Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney + and Sling TV
- Available on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Opera and Chromebook
- Data logs: yes, some personal data and data about network operation are saved, but other than in network maintenance, this information is not used in any way
- Money back guarantee: 45 days
Hotspot Shield's paid VPN plan, aka Hotspot Shield Premium, offers access to over 3,200 servers located all over the world, stylish apps, and responsive email and live chat support. But is it worth the money?
Perhaps yes. This VPN will be a great option for both beginners and experts. The service provides access to 128-bit and 256-bit encryption and proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol based on OpenSSL technology.
Hotspot Shield provides fast connections and compresses data when streaming content so you can avoid buffering and lags. Through testing, we got access to Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney + and a number of other popular platforms, and we were also able to watch HD streams.
As for the functions, there is an emergency shutdown function and ... in general, nothing else. Custom DNS settings? Not. Additional options for torrents? Not. P2P traffic is allowed, yes, but you would be better off using another VPN if your main priority is torrents.
The point is that Hotspot Shield keeps logs. Yes, it works great, but it is registered in the US, so you can experience all the pleasures of communicating with copyright trolls and face requests filed under the DMCA. This is especially true for US residents.
Hotspot Shield certainly has its drawbacks, however, it is a popular, powerful and affordable VP service. We advise you to pay attention to it since the service provides a 45-day money-back guarantee.
10. ProtonVPN is a simple and reliable workhorse
- Special torrent profiles: no
- Works with: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer
- Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Chromebook, Android TV, routers
- Data logs: strict no-log policy
- Money back guarantee: 30 days
ProtonVPN has 1,000 servers in 54 countries around the world. This service can even open access to sites and services such as Netflix and Hulu. Plus, all of its servers support P2P, so you can use them to download torrents.
The service uses AES-256 encryption and the OpenVPN protocol, which is the industry standard for quality. In other words, your actions and identity will be safely hidden from websites, ISP and authorities.
ProtonVPN is registered in Switzerland and has a strict no-logs policy. The service does not store data about your online activities - however, even if it did, the government would not be able to obtain it due to the country's data protection laws.
You can connect up to 10 devices under one license. This will be enough to protect your devices and access your favorite movies and TV shows from anywhere in the world.
During the tests, ProtonVPN has seamlessly opened up access to a number of the most popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and HBO Max. But he failed to open access to Disney + and ESPN, and this should be taken into account if you need a VPN primarily for watching movies and TV series.
You can actually try ProtonVPN using the free version of the service - it does not limit the connection bandwidth, and you also don’t have to look at a continuous stream of ads. But you won't get to bypass geoblocks on a free plan, and the connection speed will no longer please you.
ProtonVPN is a stable service with excellent encryption and access to a variety of streaming services. If you want to put it to the test, take advantage of the service's 30-day money-back guarantee and see for yourself if it works for you.
Quick Comparison Chart
| Free trial | Money back guarantee | Compatible streaming services | |
| NordVPN | - | 30 days | 440+ including Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu, Showtime, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, ... |
| ExpressVPN | - | 30 days | Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, Amazon Prime Video, Showtime, Sling TV, DAZN, BBC iPlayer, ... |
| Surfshark | - | 30 days | Netflix, Hulu, CBS, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, ... |
| ZenMate | 7 days | 30 days | Netflix |
| Private Internet Access | - | 30 days | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, HBO Go, HBO Now, Showtime, SkyTV. |
| PrivateVPN | 7 days | 30 days | Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ... |
| CyberGhost | 24 hours | up to 45 days | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, Comedy Central, Eurosport, ESPN, ... |
| IPVanish | - | 7 days | Netflix, Vudu, Fox Go, HBO Go, Disney +, DAZN, ... |
| Hotspot shield | 7 days | 45 days | Netflix (no access to US catalog), BBC iPlayer |
| ProtonVPN | - | 30 days | Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer |
Why do you need a VPN?
Online threats compromise your freedom of choice and anonymity:
- Cybercriminals are constantly looking for new ways to get hold of your sensitive data in order to steal your money or even your identity while using advanced tools
- Companies track your online activities, setting a different price for each one because they use dynamic pricing tactics and hide the underlying cheap prices.
- ISPs slow down their users' Internet connections when they decide to use torrent exchanges
- Governments Censor Your Internet Options
A VPN is a valuable tool for protecting your data and online freedom. With it you can:
- Access the full library of US Netflix and other streaming services and bypass the geo-restricted content policy to take full advantage of your subscription.
- Protect your sensitive data from falling into the hands of hackers, marketers and other third-party companies
- Maintain complete anonymity with every Internet session, whether you browse the news feed, exchange torrent files, shop or research a topic
- Increase the speed of your Internet connection, especially if your ISP is deliberately underestimating them now
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