Over 1,800 data compromises were reported in the United States alone in 2022 and more than 422 million people were affected. The most reported events were data exposure, leakage, and breaches. The use of insecure networks will further make it easier for hackers to invade your privacy. That is where a virtual private network (VPN) comes in. This article discusses the VPN in brief along with a list of the top 10 best VPN providers.
VPNs make use of encryption technology to create secure connections—even when you are surfing with unsecure internet networks. This makes it tougher for anyone to track your activities on the internet. It is one of the hurdles individuals and corporate organizations use to prevent unauthorized data access.
Apart from protecting personal data, VPN can keep some of the user’s resources like IP address and location hidden while surfing the internet. Consequently, a VPN user can access websites that are blocked for visitors from their country.
Best VPN providers of 2024
Keeping online privacy is a big deal, and it all begins with choosing the right VPN because only the best VPN providers can guarantee these aforementioned benefits. With over 100 VPN providers on the market, choosing which VPN provider to use can be exhausting—but it shouldn’t be. Below are the best 10 VPN providers in 2024.
NordVPN
NordVPN is another top VPN service on this list. Provided by Nordsec Ltd and first released in 2012, NordVPN stands out for its wide compatibility that includes Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, and Android TV. It can even be set up manually for wireless routers.
NordVPN has a no-log policy, meaning users’ data is not tracked or shared. They offer interesting security features including double encryption and a DNS leak test that allows users to test if their traffic is secure. NordVPN has over 5,300 servers in 60 countries, spread across 84 locations making it possible for users to access content from any location across the globe.
NordVPN is fast and user-friendly which makes it a great choice for those looking for a secure and reliable VPN solution.
- Price: Starts at $12.99/month. The yearly plan starts at $68.85 with 3 extra months. There is also a 2-year plan.
- Simultaneous connections: 6
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the product of Express VPN International Ltd and was first released in 2009. It also has broad compatibility including Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. ExpressVPN is popular as one of the fastest VPNs and its mobile app connects quickly without a fuss.
It comes with two leak testers, an IP address checker, and a password generator. The VPN provider has over 3,000 RAM-only servers scattered in 94 countries across 160 locations. By default, ExpressVPN will try to connect to the fastest server located closest to you. However, you can change this using the server location selector.
ExpressVPN has useful security features like kill switch protection and split tunneling which makes it a great choice for securely surfing the internet.
- Price: Starts at $12.95/month. The yearly plan drops the price to $8.32/month. There is also a 6-month plan for $9.99/month.
- Simultaneous connections: 5
Surfshark
Surfshark was launched in 2018 as a VPN provider with interesting security features like a leak detection system and a host of other security tools. It has broad compatibility across different platforms including macOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and FireTV. Surfshark is also available as a browser extension for Edge, Firefox, and Chrome.
Surfshark has an easy-to-use interface. It is fast with over 3,200 servers scattered across 100 countries. Arguably the standout feature that separates Surfshark from other VPN providers is the camouflage mode that conceals the fact that the user is using VPN. Also, the NoBorders mode makes it possible to use Surfshark in regions where VPNs are prohibited.
If we talk about VPN pricing, Surfshark beats the competition by having the lowest price and offering an unlimited number of simultaneously connected devices. It has an upcoming feature called Nexus network which works like Tor but faster. The fact that this VPN provider is continuously innovating makes it a great ally for maintaining online privacy.
- Price: Starts at $12.95/month or $59.76/year or $59.76 for 2 years (billed annually after first 25 months)
- Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
CyberGhost VPN
Founded by Robert Knapp, CyberGhost VPN was first released in 2004. It is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and routers. However, it also has a Chrome extension. The VPN provider has continued to expand the number of its servers with the number now standing at more than 8,000 servers across 91 countries.
Those just trying VPN for the first time will find CyberGhost very friendly. Also, the VPN is extremely fast with a low-latency connection and uses less of the device’s processing power which has won it a large number of loyal users.
While CyberGhost VPN features include a variety of security suits, it has been knocked for using a traffic manipulation system for its ad blocker which is both unethical and untrustworthy. Nevertheless, it is still one of the most affordable VPN providers with VPN security support.
- Price: Starts at $12.99/month or $41.95/6 months or $56.94/2 years (billed yearly after the first 24 months)
- Simultaneous connections: 7
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access is a subsidiary of Kape Technologies PLC and was first launched in 2010. This private VPN provider is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, FireTV, Android, and iOS. According to Forbes, Private Internet Access has more than 35,000 servers located in over 84 countries including servers in 18 different cities in the United States.
Users searching for the most affordable VPN provider will easily pick Private Internet Access because of its low subscription fee. In addition to that, subscribers can use it on an unlimited number of devices at the same time. It also offers a kill-switch feature.
- Price: Starts at $11.95/month or $39.95/year or $79 for 3 years (plus 3 free months)
- Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
VyprVPN
Launched in 2009, VyprVPN has more than 700 servers spread across 70 locations in Asia, Europe, South America, and North America. VyprVPN maintains high security and privacy standards and is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
VyprVPN doesn’t place restrictions on bandwidth or speed and allows up to 30 simultaneous connections. It can be installed manually on supported routers to expand its connections. VyprVPN uses the Chameleon protocol to hide the fact that the user is using VPN which is extremely useful in countries that restrict VPN use.
VyprVPN is one of the few VPN providers with a strict no-logs policy which makes it a great choice for secure internet surfing.
- Price: Starts at $10/month or $60/year
- Simultaneous connections: 30
IPVanish
IPVanish was launched in 2012 by a team of developers. When talking about VPN server locations, this VPN provider has over 2,000 servers spread across 75 locations in 52 countries. IPVanish is one of the few VPN providers that offer unlimited simultaneous connections.
One of the cool features of IPVanish is its configurable interface allowing users to experiment limitlessly. With IPVanish, users can tune their VPN connection, thanks to its vast switches like split tunneling, kill switch, and so on. It is most suitable for tech-savvy users that love to control their mobile internet traffic.
It is a great choice for torrenting. Also, it is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and FireTV, and it is configurable for routers. It also has a Chrome extension. IPVanish is fast and a great choice for those that want to maintain their online privacy.
- Price: Starts at $11.99/month or $53.99/year or $79.99 for first 2 years
- Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
Hotspot Shield
AnchorFree first released Hotspot Shield in 2008. People in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt used it to sidestep government censorship and get information out during the Arab Spring. It is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and FireTV. Hotspot Shield has over 1,800 servers scattered across more than 80 locations.
This VPN provider is super fast and was ranked second by CNET in terms of speed, just behind Surfshark. However, security appears questionable with Hotspot Shield because a large percentage of its servers are virtual.
Also, Hotspot Shield doesn’t offer a no-logs policy meaning a large amount of users’ data is collected and this VPN provider will share information gathered from free version users with advertising firms. Nevertheless, Hotspot Shield is a great choice for those looking for a VPN with reliable speed.
- Price: Basic plan is free but the Premium plan is $105.12 when billed annually or $14.24 when billed monthly
- Simultaneous connections: 10
OpenVPN
Unlike all the other VPNs that we have mentioned, OpenVPN makes use of unique techniques to establish site-to-site or point-to-point connections in remote access facilities and bridged configurations. Also, OpenVPN uses different ciphers including Blowfish, CAST-128, 3DES, Camelia, and AES to achieve hard-to-break encryption. It first came to the limelight in 2001 and is available on Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux, and Android.
OpenVPN has a plethora of tools that make it one of the best VPN providers for end-to-end encryption. It allows peer-to-peer authentication using either username/password, certificates, or pre-shared secret keys. It doesn’t have any official servers, but it is possible to access third-party servers through the protocol.
When installed on a multiclient-server configuration, OpenVPN makes it possible for the server to send an authentication certificate to all the clients on the server using certificate authority and signatures. OpenVPN has a friendly user interface and pricing, making it a great VPN for server deployment.
- Price: Starts at $9 monthly or $70 when billed annually
- Simultaneous connections: 2 for the free plan and up to 2,000 for the standard plan
TorGuard
TorGuard was launched in 2012 by Benjamin Van Pelt and offers an anonymous email platform in addition to VPNs. It is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android but also has browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome, and Microsoft Edge.
TorGuard is a great choice for torrenting. It offers a range of security features including a no-logs policy, WireGuard tunneling protocol, and Stealth proxy that conceals the fact that the user is using a VPN. However, the split-tunneling feature is only available on Android.
TorGuard has a friendly user interface with over 3,000 servers spread across 50 countries. Sadly, TorGuard still doesn’t circumvent geo-restriction on some streaming websites like Netflix. Although TorGuard doesn’t offer discounts like other VPN providers, it is still a great option for torrenting with high VPN speed. Also, it is one of the best VPNs for streaming.
- Price: Starts at $9.99/month for the Standard plan and goes up to $32.99/month for Business VPN. The anonymous Email plan starts at $3.58/month.
- Simultaneous connections: 8 to 12 depending on the subscription plan
How To Choose The Best VPN Service?
Choosing the best VPN service is very important for a better experience. To select the best VPN service based on your needs, we should consider the following factors:
- Security and Privacy: When choosing a VPN service, it is essential to consider VPN security. Secured VPN services will provide you with strong encryption and protocols for data protection. Additionally, you can choose a VPN that has a no-logging policy that does not keep records of your activity.
- Speed and Server Location: Always choose a VPN service that has minimal latency and fast servers. It should also be located in the area from where you need to access the content.
- User-Friendly: The VPN should be easy to use and contain simple setup apps for different devices.
Conclusion
Most people view VPN as a tool for hiding their identity when surfing online. However, VPN can serve as a barrier that stops hackers from gaining unauthorized access to your data. Also, VPN can help you to access websites with geo-blocking that restricts people from your country.
If you surf the internet using an unsecure network, consider getting a VPN to protect your data from leaks, and review more information that can be useful for preventing cyber attacks by learning about cybersecurity.
