Best VPN Service of 2024 – Safeguard Your Online Activity

To ensure top-level security, Surfshark uses highly secure AES-256 encryption and a speedy WireGuard tunneling protocol. The service operates on RAM-only servers and has a strict no-log policy that has been independently audited by Deloitte. The third party has consistently confirmed that no user data is being stored.

Surfshark also has numerous other features to enhance your online security. Providers CleanWeb tool allows secure ad and malware-free web search for more private browsing.

The alternative ID feature enables you to create and use an alternative email and persona online. NoBorder mode supports internet access around the globe, even where VPN use is limited or restricted. And Nexus technology automatically rotates your IP address in the chosen VPN country.

Surfshark offers 3,200+ servers in over 100 countries worldwide. Such a large server fleet enables users to access content from anywhere.

During our testing, we’ve tried streaming content on the most popular platforms, like Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and more. After testing numerous locations, like the US, Europe, Australia, and Japan, we have not encountered any difficulties and were left pleasantly surprised.

During our latest tests performed in January 2024, Surfshark has demonstrated very consistent performance. When using the WireGuard VPN protocol, on average, the provider managed to retain 73.43% of the original dowload and 79.82% of the upload speed. This makes Surfshark one of the fastest VPN providers on the market.

Surfshark is one of the most affordable premium VPN services on the market, offering three different plans. Regardless of which plan and billing term you choose, with each subscription, you secure an unlimited number of devices.

• Surfshark Starter – The starter pack comes with a VPN, adblocker, and an alternative ID.
• Surfshark One – In addition to the Starter pack, the plan also includes antivirus, data breach alerts, and CleanWeb.
• Surfshark One+ – Featurewise, you get everything from Surfshark One, plus Incogni data removal service Incogni.

It’s important to note that once the billing term ends, prices will go back to the standard monthly rate. However, if the service isn’t what you expected, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark offers a superb package with fast connections, excellent security and privacy features, and the option to connect unlimited devices. It’s also remarkably affordable, making it a great pick for individuals and families.

While WireGuard is a popular protocol option, ExpressVPN uses an in-house-developed alternative, Lightway. The protocol uses the market-standard AES-256 encryption and is just as fast as its counterpart.

Furthermore, just like Surfshark and NordVPN, ExpressVPN also has an independently audited no-log policy. PwC and Cure53, third-party audit firms, have confirmed ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology, which runs on RAM-only servers, does not collect user data.

The only skeleton in the closet here is that ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies, a company known for previously creating malicious adware. However, it seems that currently the VPN company is heavily focused on cybersecurity and has left its sketchy activities in the past.

ExpressVPN comes with more than 3,000 servers in 105 countries all over the world. While some competitors, like NordVPN, offer a larger server fleet (6,000+ servers), ExpressVPN covers more countries (105, compared to 61 with NordVPN).

To test providers’ geo-unblocking capabilities, we tried accessing different content on the most popular streaming sites, like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and more.

Throughout the testing, we have not encountered any issues and managed to access different streaming libraries in the US, the UK, Australia, and more.

In January 2024, we put ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol to the test. And I must admit, the results weren’t very impressive. On average, the provider kept only 49.91% of the original download and 52.55% upload broadband speed.

What made these results fairly conflicting was that the provider retained over 75% speed in some locations, while in others, the number dropped to just 36% at times.

Like Surfshark, ExpressVPN offers additional months free of charge when you subscribe to its long-term subscription plan at $6.67, or you can try it for 1 month for $12.95. Unlike Surfshark, though, which comes with unlimited connections, ExpressVPN caps simultaneous connections at eight devices.

Be mindful that these rates are available for the initial VPN service purchase, and after the renewal, prices will go back to a standard monthly rate.

So if you want to test the provider risk-free, it offers a 7-day free trial for Android and iOS mobile devices only. Plus, there’s a standard 30-day money-back guarantee in place.

ExpressVPN is a first-rate premium VPN provider. In addition to a large global server network and robust security features, it also has great tools for secure and private gaming and streaming.

The provider uses NordLynx, an in-house-developed protocol built on the backbone of WireGuard. Additionally, the provider uses RAM-only servers and AES-256 and ChaCha20 (with NordLynx) encryption. To prove its commitment to its users’ safety, NordVPN has an independently audited no-log policy in place.

Other notable features include a Dark Web Monitoring tool, which scans the internet for any personal information leaks. Provider’s Threat Protection provides real-time protection against malware, ads, and more. Plus, a fully functional (yes, we did test it) kill switch is in place.

NordVPN comes with a very large server fleet of 6,400+ servers worldwide. Said servers are located in 111 countries and are mainly owned by NordVPN, making them that much more secure.

The VPN offers obfuscated servers, making it seem that you’re not using a VPN at all. This helps in connecting to streaming platforms like Netflix, which may be limiting VPN use. Additionally, due to Smart DNS technology, it is possible to enjoy geo-unblocked content on devices that typically don’t support VPN apps.

NordVPN boasts about being blazing fast, so we put that claim to the test. We performed extensive speed testing in January 2024 using the NordLynx protocol.

During our testing, we registered a stable 5-10% drop in speed in the nearby locations. Servers located further away saw a bigger drop of up to 20%. However, on average, NordVPN retained 73.37% of the original download and 73.39% of the upload speed. Overall, NordVPN proved to be the fastest VPN that we have tested.

Just like Surfshark, NordVPN also offers three different tiers and multiple billing periods. While each tier offers additional features, the number of simultaneous connections remains the same, allowing you to secure up to six devices.

• Standard – This plan comes with an ad blocker and malware protection.
• Plus – This option includes everything in the Standard plan, plus a password manager and data breach planner.
• Ultimate – Includes everything in the Plus plan, alongside 1TB of file storage and NordLocker file encryption.

Unlike ExpressVPN or Surfshark, NordVPN doesn’t include any additional months for free. However, just like with the other two, you’ll be able to make use of its 30-day money-back guarantee if needed.

NordVPN is an excellent premium VPN that excels when it comes to security. As well as tools like NordVPN’s Meshnet, the package also includes everything from web security tools and a password manager to encrypted storage – providing excellent value for money.

Just like our top 3 VPN providers, CyberGhost also uses military-grade AES-256 encryption and provides users with multiple protocol options, including WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. In addition, its no-log policy passed an independent audit, confirming that the VPN is not collecting any user data.

Additionally, the provider uses RAM-only NoSpy servers that are fully managed by CyberGhost and are regularly wiped of any user data. However, be mindful, that just like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost is also owned by Kape Technology.

CyberGhost has one of the largest server fleets available on the market, with over 11,500 servers in 100 countries worldwide. On top of that, a large number of them are optimized for streaming specifically.

So we’ve put the dedicated streaming servers to the test and managed to successfully unblock content on Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and Disney+. However, it’s worth noting that, due to significant speed reductions, we’ve experienced lagging when streaming HD videos.

We tested CyberGhost’s connection speed when using the WireGuard protocol. During our examination, we’ve registered consistently good speeds from close-by locations (85-90% of the original speed), while farther away servers struggled to provide good results.

Overall, on average, CyberGhost managed to keep 62.73% of the original download and just 26.33% of the upload speed.

You can gain access to CyberGhost’s impressive server fleet of nearly 10,000 servers for just $2.19/month if you opt for its two-year-long plan.

Like Surfshark, CyberGhost rewards first-time users with four months free of charge when they subscribe to its long-term plan. In addition, the plan allows for seven simultaneous connections.

Overall, the provider is fairly affordable. Especially when compared to ExpressVPN. However, if you’d like to test the provider before making the commitment, it offers a free VPN trial. Multiple options, actually – 24-hour trial for Windows and macOS, 3-day free for Android users, and 7-day for iOS.

Now, if you did make the commitment, yet CyberGhost didn’t live up to your expectations, there’s a 45-day money-back guarantee. What’s very unique is that even its 1-month subscription has a money-back guarantee of 14 days.

CyberGhost is a great pick for encryption and security, making it ideal for privacy-conscious users. Having access to multiple VPN protocols and RAM-only servers means you can be confident in the security of your data.

PureVPN is among the few VPN providers that offer Peer-to-Peer (P2P) optimized network connections integrated into apps for each major platform.

It provides a virtual IP for P2P traffic that keeps your identity confidential, even from your ISP, since the files shared with you go through your VPN-provided IP instead of the ISP-provided address.

That makes it easy to get around regional limitations and avoid bandwidth throttling, and it increases your security while downloading files over the P2P networks with the industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption.

PureVPN operates 6,500 servers in 65+ countries and offers access to 300,000+ IP addresses.

Regarding its speed, PureVPN is a futureproof VPN service, thanks to its 20Gbps servers in various locations. All of its servers in France, Germany, and the Netherlands are ready for the advancement of 5G technology and hypersonic speeds, as well as Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City US servers.

Besides its superb connectivity, PureVPN keeps you safe with its DNS and IP leak protection, Internet Kill Switch (IKS), and no-log policy.

Paying for a 12-month subscription that costs as little as $3.19/month nets you four additional months free of charge.

Stream content from Netflix and other popular platforms, connect to 6,500+ servers on up to 10 devices simultaneously, and stay anonymous while browsing with this affordable VPN service. Try it risk-free today, thanks to its 31-day money-back guarantee.

PureVPN is great for streaming, torrenting, and bypassing geo-blocks. The substantial global server network, a large library of IP addresses, and optimized servers ensure you’ll always have a positive experience.

With its 5-year plan, you can get outstanding value for your money, saving over $500 as you pay only $1.17/month for 60 months.

With its no-logs policy and cryptocurrency payment options, you can achieve complete anonymity using this VPN. Try it risk-free for a month, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

IvacyVPN is an outstanding service when it comes to streaming and its smart technology makes it easy to find a server for your needs. In addition, the low cost marks it out as being among the best cheap VPNs.

TotalAV offers a single subscription option to its users, although it’s well-priced at $39.00/year. It’ll send you an email 30 days before it charges you again, making it easy to cancel its renewal.

You’ll appreciate that TotalAV allows up to five simultaneous connections, ensuring all your devices are protected. It offers a dedicated Windows app, macOS, iOS, and Android apps and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try its services risk-free.

If you’re looking for a VPN-antivirus package, TotalAV is the answer. While Surfshark and NordVPN include security tools, TotalAV is a dedicated antivirus solution that can ensure your online safety.

You’ll probably be faced with the dilemma of whether to go for the free or paid versions. With the free plan, you can have 1 connection and use up to 10GB of data. For casual VPN users, this might be enough.

On the other hand, for only $1.99/month, you can get up to 10 connections and unlimited data. Not to mention you’ll have virus protection. If you need a stable and secure connection with almost zero to no drops, then PrivadoVPN will be worth your buck.

Offering an intuitive interface, easy-to-use tools, and affordable pricing, PrivadoVPN is great for beginners. It’s simple to get started and includes all the core features you need.

With IPVanish, you can connect to over 40,000 addresses for as little as $2.19 for a 2-year subscription. On top of that, you get a 30-day refund guarantee. So, if there’s anything you don’t particularly like about this VPN, you can get your money back with no fuss.

When it comes to torrenting, PrivadoVPN may seem like a better choice. However, with IPVanish, you can connect an unlimited number of devices at a decent speed for a significantly lower price.

IPVanish is a solid pick for speedy connections, and it’s also rated as one of the best VPNs for iPhones and iPads. The inclusion of an unlimited number of connections is also a major bonus.