Proton VPNBest overall
Five consecutive Securitum no-logs audits, open-source apps, 20,000+ servers in 149 countries, the best free plan and a fair $83.88 yearly renewal.
VPN services
A VPN is a service that encrypts the traffic between your device and the provider's server, so your Wi-Fi network and internet provider see less. These VPN reviews compare eight services on audit evidence, ownership, device limits and the price you pay once the first term ends.
NordVPNBest for built-in security extras
Six no-logs audits, post-quantum NordLynx in every app and an AV-Comparatives-certified scam and malware blocker; renewal at $139.08 a year is the catch.
SurfsharkBest value for big households
Unlimited devices, post-quantum WireGuard by default and RAM-only servers from $2.49 a month.
Private Internet AccessBest long-term price
A 3-year plan that renews at the same $79, unlimited devices, open-source apps and a no-logs record tested in two US court cases and three Deloitte audits.
MullvadBest for anonymity
No email, cash accepted, one flat €5 price and post-quantum WireGuard by default; Swedish police with a search warrant found nothing to take in 2023.
ExpressVPNBest for routers and TV devices
The widest device support, including its own Fortify router, plus KPMG-audited no-logs and RAM-only servers.
WindscribeBest for pay-as-you-go plans
A 10 GB free plan, Build-A-Plan from $3 a month and unlimited devices, with open-source apps; no dedicated no-logs audit yet.
CyberGhostLongest money-back guarantee
45 days to claim a refund on longer plans, a free 24-hour desktop trial and a $56.94 yearly renewal.
Compare side by side
Every score and price in one table. Select a column to sort. Prices are US list prices; hover a price for the full terms.
| Proton VPN | 9.1 | 9.6 | 9.0 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 8.5 | $3.49/mo | Yes | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 9.1 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.5 | 7.8 | $3.49/mo | – | 30 days |
| Surfshark | 9.0 | 8.9 | 9.2 | 8.9 | 9.2 | 9.0 | $2.49/mo | – | 30 days |
| Private Internet Access | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 9.4 | $2.03/mo | – | 30 days |
| Mullvad | 8.7 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 7.1 | 7.6 | 8.6 | €5/mo flat | – | 14 days |
| ExpressVPN | 8.7 | 8.8 | 9.3 | 8.7 | 9.2 | 7.5 | $2.99/mo | – | 30 days |
| Windscribe | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.8 | 7.7 | 8.8 | 8.8 | $5.75/mo | Yes | 7 business days |
| CyberGhost | 8.2 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 8.6 | $2.19/mo | – | 45 days |
What does a VPN do, and what doesn’t it do?
A VPN encrypts your connection to one of its servers and swaps your IP address for that server’s address. It hides traffic from the café network and your internet provider, not from sites you sign into.
So trust moves. Your provider sees less; the VPN company could see more. That’s why ownership and audits matter more than server counts. The FTC’s tips on choosing a VPN app make the same point: check whether an app shares your information with third parties before installing it.
Which VPN fits you?
Start with the one constraint you can’t bend. Each points somewhere different.
- Want to start free? Proton VPN: no data cap, no ads, and Securitum audits of its no-logs policy every year from 2022 to 2026 (audit reports). See our Proton VPN review.
- More than 10 devices? Surfshark or Private Internet Access. Both are unlimited.
- Hate renewal hikes? Private Internet Access. Its 3-year plan renews at the same $79, the apps are open source, and its no-logs claim survived US court cases in 2016 and 2018.
- Anonymity first? Mullvad. No email, cash accepted, €5 flat.
- Scam blocking bundled in? NordVPN, which adds post-quantum NordLynx and six no-logs audits (2025 Deloitte report).
- Router or TV stick? ExpressVPN.
When is a VPN a waste of money?
When you want privacy from accounts you’re logged into, don’t bother. Google still knows it’s you, whatever IP address you show.
Skip the subscription at home, too, if the network is yours and nearly every site loads over HTTPS. Taking one trip abroad? Proton’s free tier or Windscribe’s 10 GB monthly allowance handles a week of hotel Wi-Fi without a two-year contract.
What pricing traps catch VPN buyers?
Renewals. Device caps. Refund conditions. Most people miss the first one entirely, because the checkout page shows a monthly figure for a term billed upfront.
| Service | First term | After that | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN Plus | $83.76 for 2 years | $83.88 a year | 10 |
| NordVPN Basic | $3.49/mo for 2 years, billed upfront | $139.08 a year | 10 |
| Private Internet Access | $79 for 39 months | $79 every 3 years | Unlimited |
| CyberGhost | $56.94 for 26 months | $56.94 a year | 7 |
- Renewal jumps. Proton and NordVPN both advertise $3.49. Across four years, Proton totals $251.52 and NordVPN about $361.92.
- Device caps. Mullvad stops at 5, CyberGhost at 7. Count the television.
- Refund rules. Windscribe refunds within 7 business days under 10 GB used; Mullvad won’t return cash or crypto payments.
In practice, compare four-year totals, never first-month prices.
How should you read our VPN reviews and scores?
Each number is a research score out of 10. It applies a published rubric to evidence you can check yourself: audit reports, court records, official pricing and terms. Nobody here runs speed benchmarks, so throughput claims earn nothing.
Privacy and trust weigh 30%, cost 20%. When two services tie on display, as Proton VPN and NordVPN do at 9.1, the unrounded figure decides. VPNs sit within our security and privacy section, beside password managers.
How we score VPNs
Every product here is scored 0 to 10 on the same criteria, using published evidence. The overall score is the weighted average.
Privacy & trustLogging policy and how often it has been independently audited (auditor, date, scope); real-world tests such as court cases, police searches and server seizures; ownership transparency; legal jurisdiction; incident history and how the provider handled it.weight30%
Security & protocolsWireGuard or audited in-house protocols, post-quantum key exchange, kill switch and leak protection, RAM-only or diskless servers, open-source apps, app and infrastructure audits, bug bounty.weight20%
Network & performanceCountries covered (and how many are virtual), server capacity, obfuscation for restrictive networks, multi-hop options, port forwarding.weight15%
Apps & featuresPlatform coverage including Linux, routers and TV devices; simultaneous device limit; split tunneling; ad and malware blocking; dedicated IPs and other extras.weight15%
Price & valueIntro price on each term, renewal price after the first term, monthly price, free plan or trial, refund window and its conditions.weight20%
Questions people ask
Do you need a VPN at home?
Usually not, if your home network is trusted and sites use HTTPS. It helps when you want your browsing hidden from your internet provider. On public Wi-Fi in hotels, airports and cafés, it earns its keep more clearly.
Are free VPNs safe to use?
Some are. Proton VPN's free tier comes from a company whose no-logs policy Securitum has audited yearly since 2022, and Windscribe gives 10 GB a month. With unknown free apps, the FTC advises checking whether they share your information with third parties.
What is a VPN no-logs audit?
It's an outside firm checking that a provider's servers don't keep records of user activity. Proton VPN has had Securitum audits every year since 2022; NordVPN has six from PwC and Deloitte. Look for the auditor's name, the date and the scope.