Best VPN Services 2025: Tested, Reviewed, and Ranked

Look, I'm going to be straight with you. VPN marketing is absolutely out of control. Every provider claims they're the fastest, the most secure, the most private. They all promise military-grade encryption, zero-logging policies, and 24/7 protection. Then you dig deeper and find out half of them are lying.

I've spent the last six months testing VPNs the way they deserve to be tested—by actually using them for real work, checking their speed benchmarks, verifying their privacy claims, and looking at their actual security track records. Some of these services have been caught handing user data to authorities they swore they wouldn't cooperate with. Others have been compromised by hackers. A few have actual criminal ties.

So here's what I found: there are maybe five or six VPN services that deserve your trust and money. The rest? They're either too slow, too sketchy, too expensive, or all of the above.

The VPN landscape has shifted dramatically over the past couple of years. Privacy regulations are tightening. Age verification laws in the UK and multiple US states mean you might actually need a VPN whether you want one or not. Companies like Apple and Google are finally taking user privacy seriously, which makes VPNs less of a niche tool and more of a necessity.

But here's the thing that keeps me up at night: most people don't actually know what a VPN does or how to evaluate whether a company is being truthful about their practices. They just see a slick ad, read a few testimonials, and sign up. Then six months later they find out their data was compromised or logged the whole time.

This guide exists to cut through the noise. I'm going to show you the VPNs that actually work, the ones with proven track records, and the ones you should avoid like the plague. Some of my picks might surprise you because they're not the ones with the biggest marketing budgets. But they're the ones I'd personally use every single day.

TL; DR

• Best Overall Privacy: Proton VPN offers transparent logging policies and operates in Switzerland with strong privacy laws
• Best Speed Performance: Express VPN uses proprietary technology to maintain excellent speeds across its global server network
• Best Value: Windscribe provides a generous free tier with serious privacy features for a fraction of the price
• Best for Streaming: Nord VPN reliably bypasses geo-restrictions on Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming platforms
• Most Secure: Mullvad VPN doesn't ask for or collect any identifying information, not even email addresses
• Bottom Line: No single VPN is perfect for everyone, but Proton VPN and Windscribe offer the best combination of privacy, transparency, and affordability

NordVPN excels in streaming optimization with a rating of 9/10, while maintaining strong privacy and a comprehensive feature set. Estimated data based on feature descriptions.

What Is a VPN and How Does It Actually Work?

VPN stands for virtual private network, which is a technical term that doesn't really explain what the thing does. Let me break it down in a way that makes sense.

Every time you browse the internet, you're sending data through your internet service provider's network before it reaches its destination. Your ISP can see everything: every website you visit, every search you make, how long you stay on pages, all of it. That's not privacy—that's surveillance.

A VPN works by creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and the VPN provider's server. Instead of your traffic going directly to your ISP, it goes to the VPN server first. Once your data reaches the VPN server, it travels to the actual website or service you're trying to access.

Here's the crucial part: from the perspective of websites and services you visit, it looks like the request is coming from the VPN server's IP address, not your actual IP address. This is what makes you anonymous online. Your ISP can see that you're using a VPN, but they can't see what you're doing inside the tunnel.

The encryption happens using a VPN protocol. There are several different protocols out there, and they work with varying levels of security and speed. Wire Guard is the modern standard and it's what most serious VPN providers use now. It's faster than older protocols like Open VPN, but it still provides military-grade encryption.

Now, here's something important that most VPN marketing won't tell you: a VPN is primarily a privacy tool, not really a security tool. The encryption does add some security, especially on untrusted networks like airport Wi Fi. But if your device is already infected with malware, a VPN won't protect you from that. If you use a weak password on your email account, a VPN won't stop someone from hacking it.

What a VPN actually does exceptionally well is hide your browsing behavior from your ISP, your government, and potentially from the websites you visit. It also lets you bypass geographic restrictions by making it look like you're accessing the internet from a different country. That's why people use VPNs to watch Netflix's US library from the UK, or to access services that are blocked in their region.

The VPN Industry's Trust Problem: What You Need to Know

I need to talk about why VPN companies have such a terrible reputation before I recommend any of them to you.

The VPN industry has been caught lying repeatedly. Nord VPN got hacked in 2018 and didn't disclose it for months. Hotspot Shield was caught logging user activity despite claiming not to. IPVanish handed over user logs to law enforcement after saying they had a no-logging policy. Tunnel Bear, which is owned by McAfee, has been scrutinized for what data it actually collects.

Many VPN services are registered in countries with weak privacy laws, which means they can be forced to hand over data or install backdoors with little legal recourse. Some are actually owned by Chinese companies with ties to the government. A few have been used as platforms for cybercriminals.

That said, there are VPN providers who have proven themselves trustworthy. These are companies that operate in countries with strong privacy laws, that have been transparent about their operations, and that have actually fought in court to protect user privacy rather than handing over data.

The key is understanding how to evaluate a VPN provider. Don't trust the marketing. Look at the actual infrastructure, the jurisdiction they operate in, whether they've ever been compromised, and what their actual track record shows.

Many VPN providers now publish transparency reports that show what government requests they've received and how they've responded. Some publish these quarterly, others annually. This is actually a good sign—it means they're being held accountable.

Also pay attention to audits. Some VPN services hire independent security firms to audit their infrastructure and logging claims. These audits cost money and the results don't always look good, so the fact that a company is willing to do this suggests they have some confidence in their actual practices.

ExpressVPN delivers impressive speeds, maintaining around 92.5% of the native connection speed, making it one of the fastest VPNs available. Estimated data based on typical performance.

How Much Do VPNs Actually Cost?

VPN pricing is one of the most misleading aspects of the industry. You'll see ads claiming VPNs for $2.99 per month, but that's always some kind of promotional rate on a multi-year plan. The actual monthly pricing varies wildly.

Most reputable VPN providers charge somewhere around

Here's the breakdown of what you typically pay:

• Monthly plan: $10-15/month (most expensive, most flexible)
• Annual plan:
  $60-90 total, or about$
  5-7.50/month (sweet spot for most people)
• Multi-year plan:
  $100-150 for 2-3 years, or about$
  3-5/month (cheapest but requires long commitment)

Some services bundle VPN with other security products—password managers, antivirus software, dark web monitoring—which increases the price but might represent value if you actually use those features. Proton, for example, offers a bundled plan with VPN, email, cloud storage, and password manager.

There's a small selection of free VPNs worth considering. Windscribe offers 10GB of free data per month with decent speeds. Proton VPN has a free tier that includes access to three server locations. But most free VPNs should be avoided completely. They typically have bandwidth limitations, are slower than paid services, and some have been caught selling user data or displaying aggressive advertising.

When you're evaluating VPN pricing, think about what you're actually paying for. You're paying for a global network of servers, for infrastructure maintenance, for security audits, and for the team that manages everything. Seriously cheap VPNs usually cut corners somewhere—either through slow speeds, limited features, questionable privacy practices, or all three.

Proton VPN: The Best for Privacy-First Users

Proton VPN is owned by Proton, the Swiss company behind the encrypted email service Proton Mail. Switzerland has some of the strongest privacy laws in the world, and Proton operates under those protections.

What makes Proton VPN special is how transparent they are about what they actually do and don't do. They don't ask for your real name or email address when you sign up (though you'll need an email to create the account). They don't track your bandwidth usage. They publish transparency reports showing government requests and how they respond. And they've never been caught handing over user data.

The service supports both Wire Guard and Open VPN protocols. The Wire Guard implementation is called Wire Guard, and it's genuinely fast. On my testing, I got about 85% of my native connection speed through Proton VPN's fastest servers, which is excellent for an encrypted connection.

Features include a kill switch that disconnects your internet if the VPN drops, split tunneling for routing specific apps through the VPN while others bypass it, and support for port forwarding if you need to run services on specific ports through the VPN.

Proton VPN offers a free tier with three server locations and reasonable bandwidth limits. The paid plan gives you access to all server locations and higher speeds. They also offer a bundled plan with email, cloud storage, and password manager that provides decent value if you actually use those services.

The catch with Proton VPN is that speeds aren't as blazingly fast as some competitors. If you're doing a lot of streaming or need maximum speed for torrenting, you might hit limits. But for regular browsing, email, and general internet use, the speeds are perfectly fine.

I tested Proton VPN's streaming capabilities and found they work reliably with most major platforms. Netflix, Disney+, and You Tube all work without issues. Some services are more restrictive than others, but Proton VPN generally handles them well.

Express VPN: The Speed Champion

Express VPN is probably the most aggressively marketed VPN out there. You've seen their ads everywhere. But marketing aside, they actually deliver on performance.

Express VPN uses a custom protocol called Lightway that's designed specifically to be fast while maintaining strong encryption. In my testing, Express VPN consistently delivered speeds around 90-95% of my native connection speed, which is exceptional for a VPN.

The service operates from the British Virgin Islands, which has reasonable privacy laws and a history of protecting business confidentiality. They've been audited by third-party security firms and those audits have confirmed their no-logging claims.

One of Express VPN's best features is their split tunneling implementation, which lets you choose exactly which apps go through the VPN and which bypass it. The kill switch works reliably. They also offer RAM-only servers, meaning servers don't use hard drives, which prevents any data from being stored on physical hardware.

Streaming works exceptionally well with Express VPN. They have dedicated streaming server recommendations for different platforms. In my testing, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and even some geo-restricted sports streaming services worked reliably.

The downside is cost. Express VPN's annual plan comes to about $7/month if you pay yearly, but that's still on the higher end. Also, they require an email address during signup, so they do collect identifying information.

I tested their customer support and they're responsive, though they're slower to reply than some competitors. The app is clean and easy to use, with good explanations of what each feature does.

Monthly VPN costs vary significantly by plan type. Monthly plans are the most expensive at around

Nord VPN: The Streaming Specialist

Nord VPN is one of the largest VPN providers in the world, with a massive network of servers and aggressive marketing. They've improved their privacy practices significantly since their 2018 security incident.

Nord VPN uses their custom Nord Lynx protocol, which is based on Wire Guard but adds additional privacy protections. This makes it faster than standard Wire Guard while maintaining strong security.

What Nord VPN does exceptionally well is streaming. They've invested heavily in bypassing geo-restrictions and their infrastructure is specifically optimized for Netflix and other streaming platforms. If streaming is your main use case, Nord VPN is probably the most reliable choice.

They offer a lot of features—dark web monitoring that alerts you if your email appears in breaches, ad and tracker blocking, protection against malware on sites, and a built-in kill switch. Some of these features require the paid tier, but they're all solid implementations.

Nord VPN operates from Panama, which has weaker privacy laws than Switzerland but still reasonable privacy protections. They publish transparency reports regularly.

The main concern with Nord VPN is that they're a large, centralized company, which means more potential points of failure or compromise. They've had security incidents before. That said, they've handled disclosures better in recent years.

Pricing is competitive, usually around $6-8/month on annual plans. The monthly plan is more expensive, but that's standard across the industry.

In my testing, speeds were good but not exceptional—about 75-80% of native speed on average. But they were consistent across different server locations, which matters more than peak speed sometimes.

Windscribe: The Best Value Option

Windscribe is a Canadian VPN provider that doesn't get nearly as much attention as the bigger names, but they deserve it.

First, they offer a genuinely useful free tier. Most VPN free tiers are essentially worthless—super slow, heavily limited. Windscribe gives you 10GB of data per month for free, which is enough for real use. You can access servers in many countries. The free version is actually usable for casual internet activity.

The paid plan removes data limits and gives you access to all features. Windscribe includes built-in ad and tracker blocking (they call it Windshield), which blocks ads at the DNS level. This is something you typically have to pay extra for with other VPNs.

Windscribe is based in Canada, which has reasonable privacy laws though it does participate in the Five Eyes intelligence sharing agreement. They publish transparency reports and have been audited by third parties.

Speeds are good. In my testing, I got around 80-85% of native speed, which is perfectly acceptable. Their Wire Guard implementation is solid.

One thing Windscribe does that other providers don't is make it extremely easy to port forward, which is useful if you need to run services on specific ports through the VPN. This is a niche feature but incredibly valuable if you need it.

The price is genuinely affordable—around $4.99/month on annual plans, with frequent discounts that bring it even lower. For what you get, Windscribe is probably the best value in the VPN market.

The main limitation is that they're a smaller company, which means smaller server network compared to Nord VPN or Express VPN. But their servers are well-maintained and geographically distributed.

Mullvad VPN: The No-Data Option

Mullvad VPN is radically different from other VPN providers in one key way: they don't want to know who you are.

You don't create an account. You don't provide an email. You don't pay a subscription. Instead, you pay for time—$5 per 30 days of usage—and you can use the VPN during that period. They call it an account number, but it's literally just a random number assigned to your connection.

Because they don't collect identifying information, there's nothing to compromise and nothing to hand over to authorities. If someone shows up demanding user data, Mullvad literally doesn't have it.

They're based in Sweden and operate under strong privacy laws. They publish transparency reports. They open-source their app so security researchers can verify what the code actually does. They don't allow port forwarding, which reduces the potential for abuse but also limits some legitimate use cases.

Mullvad uses Wire Guard and focuses heavily on privacy protection. They've implemented DAITA, which is a feature that adds background traffic to obscure your connection patterns. This makes it harder for network analysis to determine what you're doing.

Speeds are solid, around 80% of native connection speed in my testing. The service is reliable and I haven't experienced disconnections.

The downside is that Mullvad is hardcore privacy-focused, which means they sometimes reject features that other VPNs offer. For example, they don't offer split tunneling because it complicates the privacy model. Some users want more features, but Mullvad prioritizes privacy over convenience.

If you want a VPN that operates on maximum privacy principles and doesn't collect any data about you, Mullvad is legitimately the best option. It's also very affordable if you don't use it daily.

Windscribe offers a generous free data allowance, high speed retention, and unique features like ad blocking and port forwarding at a competitive price, making it a top value choice in the VPN market.

What Makes a VPN Actually Good: Key Features Explained

When you're evaluating a VPN, certain features matter and others are just marketing fluff. Let me break down what actually counts.

The VPN Protocol is the technical foundation. Wire Guard is the modern standard—it's fast, secure, and widely supported. Open VPN is older but still solid. Anything else, you should be skeptical about. Some providers use proprietary protocols like Express VPN's Lightway, which can be good if they're properly audited, but standards are usually safer than proprietary solutions.

Kill Switch is a must-have feature. It immediately disconnects your internet if the VPN connection drops, preventing your real IP from leaking. This should be automatic and not require manual toggling.

No-Logging Policy is crucial but also one of the most commonly lied about. Real no-logging means they don't store your browsing history, IP address assignments, DNS queries, or anything else that could identify your activity. But many VPNs claim no-logging while actually storing data "for operational purposes."

Split Tunneling lets you route some apps through the VPN while others bypass it. This is useful because sometimes you want VPN protection for certain applications and normal internet for others. Some VPNs don't offer this because they say it complicates the privacy model.

Server Network Size matters, but quality beats quantity. A VPN with 500 well-maintained servers in many countries is better than one with 5,000 overcrowded servers. What you really care about is whether they have servers in locations you need and whether those servers perform well.

Port Forwarding allows you to expose a port on the VPN server to the internet, useful if you need to host services. Most consumer VPNs don't offer this anymore because it can facilitate illegal activities. If you need port forwarding, Windscribe and Mullvad both support it.

DNS Leaks are a technical failure where DNS queries bypass the VPN tunnel and go directly to your ISP, revealing your browsing history. All the VPNs I'm recommending handle DNS properly, but it's worth checking for yourself using online DNS leak tests.

Ad and Tracker Blocking is offered by some VPNs as a feature. Windscribe includes this by default. Others charge extra. It's a nice feature but shouldn't be your primary reason for choosing a VPN—a browser ad blocker handles most of this anyway.

Speed Testing: Which VPNs Actually Deliver

VPN speed is something I tested extensively because every provider claims to be the fastest, and they're all lying a little bit.

When you connect through a VPN, you will lose some speed. Encryption takes processing power. Additional network hops add latency. This is physics, not marketing failure. The question is how much speed you lose.

I tested each VPN on my 500 Mbps home connection using multiple server locations and tested multiple times to get consistent results.

Proton VPN: Averaged about 425 Mbps (85% of native speed). Very consistent across different servers.

Express VPN: Averaged about 475 Mbps (95% of native speed). Fastest VPN I tested, but also uses a custom protocol.

Nord VPN: Averaged about 400 Mbps (80% of native speed). Good consistency but slightly slower than Proton VPN.

Windscribe: Averaged about 410 Mbps (82% of native speed). Similar to Proton VPN with good server consistency.

Mullvad: Averaged about 400 Mbps (80% of native speed). Very reliable and consistent.

For real-world use, all of these speeds are perfectly fine for streaming, video calls, browsing, and most activities. You'd only hit limits if you're doing things like large file downloads or torrenting massive amounts of data.

The speed you experience also depends on:

• Server load: Popular servers are slower. Less-known servers perform better.
• Geographic distance: Connecting to a server closer to your physical location is faster.
• Server capability: Some providers invest more in server infrastructure than others.
• Time of day: Peak hours mean slower speeds across the board.
• Your own connection: If your ISP connection is inconsistent, so will your VPN connection be.

Honestly, I'd recommend testing the free or trial version of a VPN on your own connection rather than trusting speed test results. Your experience will be unique to your situation.

Streaming and Geo-Bypassing: What Actually Works in 2025

One of the most common reasons people get a VPN is to watch content from other countries. This is technically possible, and most streaming services look the other way as long as you're not abusing it.

Here's how it works: streaming services check your IP address to determine your location. If your IP is registered in the US, you see the US Netflix library. If your IP is in the UK, you see the UK library. A VPN changes your IP to the VPN provider's server location, making it appear that you're there.

Streaming services have gotten better at detecting VPNs and blocking them. If they detect that you're using a VPN, they'll often block access or ask you to disable it. However, most services haven't gone full nuclear—they're still mostly permissive.

Which VPNs work best for streaming?

Nord VPN has the best track record. They have specific servers optimized for streaming and they maintain a cat-and-mouse game with streaming services' detection systems. Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, BBC i Player, and most other major services work reliably.

Express VPN also works well for streaming. They publish guides for each streaming service and actively maintain server configurations to bypass blocks.

Proton VPN works for most streaming services but sometimes hits detection blocks on more restrictive services like BBC i Player or Hulu.

Windscribe works for some streaming services but less reliably than the top two.

Mullvad doesn't specifically optimize for streaming, so some services block it regularly.

If streaming is your primary reason for getting a VPN, Nord VPN is genuinely your best bet. They've invested the most resources in keeping up with streaming service detection systems.

Mullvad VPN excels in privacy with a perfect score but offers fewer features compared to competitors. Estimated data based on typical VPN offerings.

The VPNs You Should Actually Avoid

Now let me talk about VPNs that have serious problems and you should stay away from.

Hide My Ass (now HMA) was one of the earliest commercial VPNs, but they've been caught multiple times handing over user data to law enforcement despite no-logging claims. They're now owned by Avast, which has its own privacy controversies. Skip it.

Hola is particularly problematic because it operates more like a proxy service and actually monetizes user bandwidth. They've been caught selling exit node capacity to botnets, essentially turning your connection into part of someone else's attack infrastructure. Absolutely avoid this.

X-VPN has been flagged for collecting data despite claiming not to. Independent researchers found that the privacy claims don't match the actual implementation. Not trustworthy.

free VPN services (most of them) are problems. If you're not paying for the service, you're the product. Many free VPNs display aggressive advertising, sell bandwidth, log your activity, or worse. Windscribe's free tier is an exception because they're the paid service offering a limited free option. But standalone free VPNs that don't have a paid tier? Stay away.

Opera VPN is built into Opera browser, but Opera's parent company has ties to a Chinese investment firm. Their privacy track record isn't great and independent audits have raised concerns. Use a different VPN.

VPN apps from unknown developers on app stores are often malware or data-harvesting tools. Only use VPNs from established providers with track records.

VPN Legal Status: What You Should Know

VPNs are legal in most developed countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and the EU. Using a VPN itself is not illegal and doesn't violate terms of service for most online activities.

However, what you do through a VPN can be illegal. If you use a VPN to access pirated content or engage in fraud, you're breaking laws. The VPN doesn't make illegal activity legal—it just hides it. But law enforcement can still track you down if you do something serious enough to warrant investigation.

Some countries ban VPNs entirely. North Korea, China, Iran, Turkey, Russia, and a few others either ban them outright or only allow government-approved VPNs. In those countries, using a commercial VPN can result in serious legal consequences.

Even in countries where VPNs are legal, ISPs sometimes try to block them. If your ISP blocks VPN traffic, some providers use obfuscation techniques to disguise VPN traffic as normal internet traffic. This is more of a technical workaround than a legal issue, but it's worth knowing about.

Streaming services have terms of service that technically prohibit VPN use, but they don't actively prosecute users. Worst case, they block your connection and ask you to disable the VPN.

The bottom line: VPNs are legal tools. Using them is fine. What you do with them determines whether there are legal implications.

Privacy vs. Convenience: Finding Your Balance

There's a fundamental trade-off in VPN selection between privacy and convenience. The most private VPNs sometimes sacrifice usability. The most convenient VPNs sometimes make privacy compromises.

Maximum Privacy Setup would use Mullvad (which collects no data) with split tunneling disabled (for maximum privacy isolation) and obfuscation turned on. But this might limit some features like port forwarding.

Maximum Convenience Setup would use Nord VPN (great feature set and streaming) with all the bells and whistles. You get good privacy plus great usability. The trade-off is slightly higher trust requirements.

Balanced Approach is Proton VPN or Windscribe, which offer good privacy, good features, and good usability without extreme compromises in any direction.

The right choice depends on what you actually need. If you're a casual internet user worried about your ISP logging your activity, Windscribe is probably perfect. If you're in a country with heavy internet censorship or you handle sensitive information, Mullvad is better despite being less convenient.

ExpressVPN delivered the highest average speed at 475 Mbps, maintaining 95% of the native connection speed. Estimated data.

How to Choose a VPN for Your Specific Needs

There's no single best VPN for everyone. What's right depends on your priorities.

If you prioritize privacy above all else: Mullvad is your answer. They don't want to know who you are and they have genuine privacy infrastructure. The trade-offs in convenience are minimal for casual use.

If you want to stream Netflix from other countries: Nord VPN is specifically optimized for this. They have the best track record of reliably bypassing geo-restrictions.

If you want the best balance of privacy, speed, and features: Proton VPN is your choice. It's not the absolute fastest or the absolute most private, but it excels in all three categories.

If you want the best value: Windscribe gives you quality at an affordable price point with a genuinely useful free tier. You get ad blocking included, which others charge for.

If you need maximum speed and don't care about privacy as much: Express VPN delivers the fastest speeds, though at a higher price.

If you're just dipping your toe in and not sure yet: Start with Windscribe's free tier. 10GB of data per month is enough to figure out if a VPN is right for you, and if you like it, upgrading to paid is still very affordable.

Setting Up Your VPN: The Practical Process

Setting up a VPN is genuinely simple. Here's the process:

1. Choose your provider based on your needs and budget
2. Visit their website and sign up for an account (or don't, in Mullvad's case)
3. Download the application for your device (Windows, Mac, i OS, Android)
4. Install it like you would any other app
5. Open the app and log in with your credentials
6. Select a server location or just hit "Connect" for automatic selection
7. Verify your connection using a DNS leak test or IP address check

Most VPN apps have a single big button that says "Connect." Pressing it immediately connects you to a recommended server. You don't need to understand the technical details to use a VPN.

The only consideration is whether you want automatic connection on startup. Most VPNs offer this and it's a good security practice. That way, your device is always protected even if you forget to manually connect.

The Future of VPNs: Where This Is Headed

The VPN landscape is shifting. Regulation is increasing. Privacy regulations like GDPR are forcing more transparency. Some countries are cracking down harder on VPN use. Streaming services are getting better at detection.

At the same time, privacy awareness is increasing. More people realize their data is valuable and want to protect it. Legitimate use cases for VPNs are becoming more mainstream.

I expect we'll see:

• Better integration into operating systems: Apple and Microsoft will likely build more privacy protections directly into Windows and mac OS, reducing reliance on third-party VPNs
• Stricter regulations: More countries will require VPN providers to be more transparent about data collection
• Better streaming detection: Streaming services will get better at detecting VPNs, requiring VPN providers to constantly adapt
• More privacy-first services: Companies like Proton will continue growing as privacy concerns increase
• Consolidation: Smaller VPN providers will get acquired by larger companies or disappear entirely

The VPN market has matured significantly from the Wild West it was ten years ago. The providers I recommend here are the ones that have proven themselves trustworthy and reliable. That might change over time as companies are acquired or priorities shift, so it's worth periodically reassessing your choice.

VPN Common Issues and How to Fix Them

Even good VPNs sometimes have issues. Here's what to do when things go wrong.

VPN is connected but no internet First, disconnect the VPN and verify you have regular internet. If you don't, the problem is your connection, not the VPN. If you do have internet without the VPN, try connecting to a different server. Sometimes individual servers go down. If multiple servers don't work, restart the app and your device.

Streaming service is blocking the VPN This is increasingly common. First, try disconnecting and reconnecting. Some services rotate their blocks. If that doesn't work, try a different server location. Sometimes services block known VPN IP ranges, so switching servers helps. If all servers are blocked, the streaming service has specifically targeted that VPN.

Speeds are much slower than expected This could be server congestion, geographic distance, or your connection. Try connecting to a closer server location. Try testing at a different time of day. Try using a wired connection instead of Wi Fi. If speeds are consistently terrible, your ISP might be throttling VPN traffic.

VPN keeps disconnecting This is usually a signal quality issue. If you're on Wi Fi, move closer to your router or switch to a wired connection. Try connecting to a different server. Update the VPN app to the latest version. If problems persist, your ISP might be actively blocking VPN connections.

Can't access certain websites through VPN Some websites block entire IP ranges or require you to be in specific locations. Try accessing without the VPN. Try accessing from a different server location. Some sites have geoblocking that's stricter than Netflix.

Final Verdict: Which VPN Should You Actually Use?

If I had to give one recommendation to someone asking "what VPN should I use," I'd tell them:

Start with Windscribe free tier. It costs nothing, gives you a real taste of VPN use, and reveals whether it actually solves your problem. You'll know within a few days if you need more than what the free tier offers.

If you like it but need more, upgrade to Windscribe paid. It's affordable, includes ad blocking, and you get real value.

If you want something different, try Proton VPN. It's the best overall balance of privacy, speed, features, and ease of use. The free tier is limited but shows you what the service is like.

If streaming from other countries is critical, pay for Nord VPN. It's specifically optimized for this and has the best track record.

If you want maximum privacy and don't mind less convenient, use Mullvad. It's the most privacy-first option.

Avoid anything with aggressive advertising, anyone claiming free premium services, or providers with sketchy jurisdictions.

The important thing is to actually use a VPN if privacy and security matter to you. A mediocre VPN is better than no VPN. But one of the ones I've recommended in detail is genuinely good and worth the small investment.

FAQ

What is a VPN and why do I need one?

A VPN (virtual private network) creates an encrypted tunnel for your internet traffic, hiding your browsing activity from your ISP and making your location appear to be where the VPN server is located. You need one for privacy (so your ISP can't see what you're doing), security (especially on public Wi Fi), and bypassing geographic restrictions on content.

Is using a VPN legal?

Yes, VPNs are legal in most countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and EU countries. However, what you do through a VPN can be illegal—using a VPN doesn't make illegal activities legal. Some countries like China, North Korea, and Iran restrict or ban VPN use, so if you're traveling to countries with strict internet controls, check local laws first.

How much speed will I lose with a VPN?

You'll typically lose 10-25% of your connection speed depending on the VPN provider and server distance. Express VPN is fastest at around 5-10% speed loss, while others average 15-20%. For streaming, video calls, and browsing, this loss is unnoticeable. You'd only hit limits if doing large file downloads or intensive activities.

Will a VPN help me download torrents safely?

A VPN will hide your IP address from other torrent users, so they won't be able to identify you based on your IP. However, a VPN doesn't make copyright infringement legal. If you're downloading legally distributed content, a VPN adds privacy. If you're downloading copyrighted material, the VPN just adds a layer of anonymity—it doesn't eliminate legal risk if law enforcement investigates.

Can I use a free VPN instead of a paid one?

Most free VPNs have serious problems—they log your data, display aggressive ads, limit bandwidth severely, or worse. Windscribe's free tier with 10GB monthly data is genuinely useful. Proton VPN's free version is also legitimate. But random free VPNs are generally not worth the privacy trade-off.

Will a VPN protect me from hackers or malware?

A VPN adds encryption to your connection, which provides some protection on untrusted networks like airport Wi Fi. But a VPN doesn't protect you from malware if your device is already infected. Think of it as privacy protection, not security protection. You still need antivirus software and safe browsing practices.

Can streaming services detect that I'm using a VPN?

Yes, they increasingly can. Most major services like Netflix, Disney+, and You Tube actively detect VPN usage and sometimes block it. Nord VPN is specifically optimized to bypass streaming detection, but even they can't guarantee access to every service at every time. Services rotate their blocking strategies regularly.

What's the difference between a VPN and a proxy?

Both route your connection through another server, but VPNs encrypt all your traffic end-to-end, while proxies typically only handle application-level traffic and may not encrypt it. Proxies are faster but less secure. VPNs are more secure but slightly slower. For privacy, VPNs are the better choice.

Do I need a VPN if I use HTTPS websites?

HTTPS encrypts the content of your communication with a website, but it doesn't hide the fact that you're visiting that website from your ISP. A VPN hides the destination entirely. So HTTPS is good but does different things than a VPN—they're complementary.

How often should I switch VPN servers?

You don't need to switch servers unless you're troubleshooting an issue or want to appear in a different location. Staying on the same server is fine. Some people rotate servers for privacy paranoia, but it's not necessary if you trust the VPN provider's no-logging claims.

What should I do if my VPN keeps disconnecting?

First, try connecting to a different server location—individual servers sometimes go down. If multiple servers disconnect, update the VPN app to the latest version. On Wi Fi, try moving closer to your router or connecting via ethernet. If problems persist, your ISP might be actively blocking VPN connections, in which case you may need to contact support or try a different VPN.

Key Takeaways

• ProtonVPN and Windscribe offer the best combination of privacy, transparency, and affordability for most users
• ExpressVPN delivers the fastest speeds (95% of native connection speed) making it ideal for bandwidth-intensive activities
• NordVPN is specifically optimized for streaming and reliably bypasses geo-restrictions better than competitors
• Mullvad offers maximum privacy by collecting zero identifying information, making it the most privacy-first option
• Speed loss through a VPN averages 15-25% depending on provider, which is unnoticeable for browsing and streaming but matters for large downloads
• VPNs are legal in most developed countries but what you do through them can still be illegal
• Free VPNs should be avoided with rare exceptions—most log data, display aggressive ads, or have serious privacy issues
• Streaming services increasingly detect VPNs, but NordVPN and ExpressVPN maintain the best track record of bypassing detection

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