Top Fastest VPN & Best Cheap VPN Service Providers for PC, Mac, and Mobile

Short on time? Here’s the best VPN service for most users:

Many VPNs claim they offer high security and lightning-fast speeds for a low price. However, most VPNs are not secure or fast enough to handle most internet activities.

I spent the past few months testing 72 top virtual private networks (VPNs). These ranged from well-known brands to obscure brands, and many other brands in-between. In 2022, I was looking for the best VPN to serve most users.

I compared, rated and ranked every VPN I tried based on various metrics. I also verified this through extensive research and testing.

• You will only work with reputable and secure companies.
• All online activities can be done quickly
• Support P2P traffic by working with streaming sites.
• We can help you regain internet freedom in countries where there is censorship.
• Apps that are intuitive for all platforms.

After conducting speed tests, reviewing privacy policies, stress-testing every feature of all the available VPN services, I have ranked and compared the best 10 VPNs. This was based on security and ease of use.

Quick summary list of the best VPN services in 2022:

• 1.🥇 ExpressVPN Best overall VPN in 2022 — Top security, best features, fastest speeds.
• 2.🥈 PIA VPN Most versatile VPN — Secure, flexible, good for streaming & torrenting.
• 3.🥉 ProtonVPN Best for high-end privacy — Advanced privacy, feature-rich, fast.
• 4. CyberGhost High performance VPN — Reliable + large server network (good for gamers).
• 5. PrivateVPN Good streaming support — Works with popular streaming sites, fast & intuitive.
• 6. TunnelBear — Best VPN for Beginners
• 7. VyprVPN — Good for Getting Around Internet Restrictions (+ Top Choice for Small Businesses)
• 8. Mullvad VPN — High Privacy + Strong Security (and Simple Payment Plan)
• 9. CactusVPN — Unlimited Connections on Unlimited Devices
• 10. IPVanish — Unlimited Connections + Good for Torrenting

🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for 2022 Top Security, Speeds & Performance

ExpressVPN runs extremely fast and has simple-to-use applications. It also comes with excellent security features, including 256-bit AES encryption and an independently verified no-logs policy. It also offers advanced security features such as its own VPN protocol and strong security server architecture. Split-tunneling is available for both Mac and Windows clients.

ExpressVPN has its own DNS encryption service. This adds an additional layer of security to DNS requests that are sent through ExpressVPN’s servers. ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology saves server metadata in memory (RAM), rather than a hard drive. This means that all your personal data will be removed when servers are rebooted.

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for restricted countries. It can be used to bypass firewalls and restore internet freedom. ExpressVPN can also be used for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. It works with most streaming sites including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and RaiPlay.

ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol is another option. ExpressVPN claims it’s more reliable, faster and offers greater security than other VPN protocols such as WireGuard and OpenVPN. Lightway was the fastest VPN protocol I tested in my tests.

ExpressVPN supports 5 simultaneous connections and accepts a variety of payment methods (including Bitcoin). It also has a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN Security Facts

• Worldwide servers 3,000+
• Protocols: IKEv2/IPSec and OpenVPN UDP/TCP. L2TP/IPSec
• Data encryption: 256-bit AES
• Specialty Servers: Obfuscated and Split-tunneling
• Protection: DNS WebRTC, IPv6
• Kill switch Yes
• No-logs policy: Yes

ExpressVPN Speed Tests

ExpressVPN has VPN servers in 94 countries. It also has at least 15 countries that have servers in multiple cities. The US, for example, has more than 20 server locations in New York, Chicago and Salt Lake City. The UK, on the other hand, has four locations: Docklands, East London and London. I tested the connection in each country and each city in countries that have multiple server locations.

Some highlights from

ExpressVPN’s Smart Location tool connected me. This selects the best server for you. I connected to all servers almost immediately and experienced extremely high speeds, even though the server was more than 10,000 miles (or 16000 kilometers) away from my home server. ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol performed better than any other VPN protocol (including WireGuard) and gave me these high speeds. ExpressVPN’s “Lightway” protocol reduced my speed by 15% on average, which is significantly lower than other VPN protocols.

ExpressVPN Streaming: Strong

ExpressVPN is my favorite streaming service. It is compatible with all streaming apps, including less-known ones like Sling TV and Kodi. It was easy to watch HD movies and TV shows on Netflix, Hulu and YouTube.

ExpressVPN Torrenting: Strong

ExpressVPN supports torrenting and file sharing on all of its more than 3,000 servers. This is contrary to other VPNs that only support P2P files.

Split-tunneling is another feature of ExpressVPN. This allows you to have both your internet traffic through a VPN as well as your local server. Split-tunneling is a great tool that ExpressVPN offers. It’s easy to use, and very intuitive. Split-tunneling is a great feature for torrenting. It allows you to send only P2P traffic through your VPN. This increases your download speed. ExpressVPN is the only VPN that offers split-tunneling on Mac OS 10.15 or lower. Private Internet Access is also the only VPN that offers split-tunneling on macOS (all versions).

ExpressVPN Bypassing Censorship: Strong

ExpressVPN’s obfuscated servers are designed to allow you to regain your internet freedom and bypass firewalls. ExpressVPN’s security focus makes it the best and most secure way to bypass internet restrictions and VPN blocks.

ExpressVPN Plans + Pricing

ExpressVPN offers both a monthly and an annual plan. ExpressVPN is more expensive than other providers, but it offers the best performance, with great security, speed and privacy features, as well as strong streaming capabilities. You can save 49% on the annual plan, making it only D152,600 per month. ExpressVPN also gives away 3 months from time to time, so you could get a total 15 months.

ExpressVPN accepts payment using many methods, including 7 credit cards, PayPal and Bitcoin. They also offer various online banking services, such as Mint, WebMoney and Alipay. Each plan comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.

🥈2. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Flexible, Fast + Highly Versatile Great for Streaming & Torrenting

Private Internet Access is secure and maintains high speeds across all servers. It also supports torrenting and streaming. PIA supports torrenting and works with all the major torrent clients. It also offers port forwarding which allows you to connect to peers for faster download speeds. PIA can also bypass firewalls and other restrictions in censor-heavy areas.

My favorite part about PIA’s commitment to user privacy – while many VPNs claim that they don’t log any user data, but can’t back it up, Private Internet Access’s claims that they don’t log any user data have been proved true in numerous court cases. PIA releases regular transparency reports that show how it does not produce logs to investigators. Its apps are also fully open-source.

PIA offers the most customizable and flexible apps of all VPNs on this list. Its apps are intuitive and well-designed. Advanced users can customize their settings to include IP and app whitelisting, encryption levels, local port connections, automation rules and many other features. PIA, like ExpressVPN has high-security features such as its own DNS.

PIA supports up to 10 concurrent connections, and offers a 30-day money back guarantee on all purchases.

Private Internet Access Security Facts

• Worldwide Servers: Unknown
• Protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec (iOS only)
• Data encryption: 128-bit AES, 256-bit AES
• Specialty Servers: Obfuscated. Port forwarding. Split-tunneling. SOCKS5
• Protection: DNS WebRTC, IPv6
• Kill switch Yes
• No-logs policy: Yes

Private Internet Access Speed Tests

PIA displays the ping of every server in its network. This will help you choose the fastest server. When I tested PIA’s connection speed, I selected the server with the lowest ping.

Here are some highlights:

PIA offers very fast internet speeds. My speed dropped by only 6% when I connected to the fastest servers during my PIA test. My speed fell to 40% when I connected with PIA servers in Asia or South America. This is still a great result. Overall, PIA slowed my internet connection by approximately 22%. This is slower than ExpressVPN but still faster than many competitors.

Private Internet Access Streaming: Strong

PIA is great for streaming. It can be used with most streaming services as well as some lesser-known ones. During my testing, I was able access Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu as well as Disney+, Pluto TV. USA Network, VRV and many other streaming sites.

Private Internet Access Torrenting: Strong

ExpressVPN and PIA allow torrenting on all servers. This means you don’t need to look for or connect directly to a P2P server as you would with other VPNs. PIA is my favorite torrenting VPN. I was able to share files with both BitTorrent and uTorrent from random PIA servers around the globe.

I ran a series of DNS leak tests on PIA, and it passed all with zero leaks. I like the fact that PIA automatically disables IPv6 traffic. I don’t have to manually disable it like with VyprVPN.

Private Internet Access Bypassing Censorship: Strong

PIA uses Shadowsocks to bypass firewalls. This protocol conceals the fact that you are using a VPN, so that you can visit any site you wish.

Private Internet Access Plans + Pricing

PIA offers 3 payment options that are reasonably priced. Plans start at D46,450 per month.

PIA accepts credit cards and PayPal. It is also nice that you can use an Amazon gift card to pay. This allows you to keep your identity private. Each plan comes with a 30-day money back guarantee from PIA.

🥉3. ProtonVPN — Best High-Privacy VPN Excellent Security & Very Fast Speeds

ProtonVPN, a highly secure, fast and intuitive VPN, was created by the same team who made ProtonMail. It’s also based outside of the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances countries.

ProtonVPN’s Secure Core VPN architecture bounces user data through multiple ProtonVPN servers. These servers are located in underground bunkers in Switzerland, Iceland and Sweden before data leaves ProtonVPN’s network. All of ProtonVPN apps are open-source so anyone can examine the source code and find security holes or privacy issues. The apps have been independently audited, and verified.

ProtonVPN offers perfect forward secrecy and extras such as split-tunneling or ad blocking. It also works with major streaming services and supports torrenting. ProtonVPN allows you to access Tor via VPN connections. This allows you to browse.onion websites in your regular browser, while hiding your IP address from any Tor nodes.

ProtonVPN offers both a free and paid version. All subscriptions are covered by a prorated 30-day guarantee.

ProtonVPN Security Facts

• Worldwide servers:1,500+
• Protocols – OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec. WireGuard
• Data encryption: 256-bit AES
• Specialty Servers: Secure Core. P2P. Streaming. Tor over VPN. Split-tunneling.
• Protection: DNS WebRTC, IPv6
• Kill switch Yes
• No-logs policy: Yes

ProtonVPN Speed Tests

To see how ProtonVPN compared to its competition, I tested random servers in each of the 60+ countries ProtonVPN has.

Here are some highlights:

My speed tests showed that ProtonVPN was very fast. Although it did reduce my download speeds by 24%, which is a little slower than ExpressVPN, I was still able seamlessly surf the internet, stream videos and make VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), calls even though I was not connected to a remote server.

ProtonVPN Streaming: Mostly Strong

ProtonVPN offers detailed instructions for how to access more than 30 streaming services. These include popular ones such as Netflix, Hulu and HBO, but also lesser-known ones such as Peacock TV and Pluto TV. Keep in mind, however, that ProtonVPN works only with iOS and Android devices.

ProtonVPN Torrenting: Strong

ProtonVPN supports torrenting using dedicated P2P server — there are 140+ servers in 12 countries including North America, Europe and Iceland. If it detects P2P traffic, ProtonVPN will automatically redirect to one of its dedicated servers. ProtonVPN has several P2P servers that I tested. I was able download torrents quickly from all the most popular torrenting sites.

ProtonVPN offers DNS leak protection, just like ExpressVPN. I ran a DNS leak test for each ProtonVPN P2P server — there were zero DNS leaks.

ProtonVPN Bypassing Censorship: Weak

ProtonVPN doesn’t offer obfuscated servers, so it isn’t a good option for bypassing internet restrictions in countries that limit internet access. ProtonVPN acknowledges that it does not work in China, and recommends that users try Tor bridge instead.

ProtonVPN Plans + Pricing

ProtonVPN’s Free Version allows you to connect only one device, and you have access to 3 servers locations (in the USA, Japan and the Netherlands). ProtonVPN’s Free Plan includes Unlimited Browsing Data, which is a major reason it ranks among the top free VPNs.

ProtonVPN offers 3 premium plans: Basic . These include 2 VPN connections, accessing servers in over 40 countries, torrenting support and an ad-blocker. ProtonVPN plus allows for up to 10 VPN connections. It also includes Secure Core and Tor over VPN servers. You can also access streaming services. ProtonVPN Visionary works the same as before, but adds a ProtonMail address.

ProtonVPN plans start at D91520 per month and are backed by a prorated 30-day guarantee.

4. CyberGhost VPN — High Performance with Large Server Network (Recommended for Gaming)

CyberGhost VPN has a speed of just 30%. This is well below the average. CyberGhost has a large server network with over 7,000 servers, so it is easy to find a server in many different locations.

CyberGhost allowed me to stream 40+ streaming services (Netflix and Hulu) without interruptions. I also downloaded torrents with all the major torrenting clients without any issues. CyberGhost’s user interface makes it easy to choose the right server for streaming content and torrent files.

CyberGhost’s performance is exceptional, making it an excellent choice for gamers who need a reliable and fast VPN. CyberGhost VPN was connected to my router to protect my consoles.

CyberGhost VPN supports 7 simultaneous connections. It comes with a 14-day guarantee for its monthly plans and a generous 45 day guarantee for its yearly plans.

CyberGhost VPN Security Facts

• Worldwide Servers: 7,000+
• Protocols: IKEv2, WireGuard
• Data encryption: 256-bit AES
• Specialty Servers: No Spy (based in Romania), streaming, streaming, gaming and split-tunneling
• Protection: DNS WebRTC, IPv6
• Kill switch Yes
• No-logs policy: Yes

CyberGhost VPN Speed Tests

CyberGhost boasts 7,000+ servers across 90 countries, more than any other VPN provider. CyberGhost VPN connection speeds were tested in each country.

Here are some highlights:

CyberGhost VPN is slower than Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN, but it still reduced my speed by 32% on average — which is much better than many of its competitors. Even on the most distant servers, I was still able play my favorite games without any lag.

CyberGhost VPN Streaming: Strong

CyberGhost offers servers optimized for over 40 streaming services. The app will tell you which server is best for each streaming service. It tells you, for example, whether a particular US server can access Hulu and if another US server can access Amazon Prime. If a specific UK server is available for Netflix UK, the app will also inform you. My tests showed that I could access US streaming services via CyberGhost’s designated streaming server. My Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services streams were uninterrupted in HD.

CyberGhost VPN Torrenting: Strong

CyberGhost supports torrenting and has designated P2P Servers all around the globe. This means that you can find a P2P Server near you with high speeds, no matter where you are located. CyberGhost VPN also shows you how far away the P2P servers from you. Simply select the nearest server to receive the fastest download speeds.

CyberGhost VPN Bypassing Censorship: Weak

CyberGhost does not have encrypted servers like Private Internet Access or ExpressVPN. Therefore, it isn’t the best VPN for bypassing internet censorship from restricted countries. CyberGhost VPN is great for streaming, gaming, torrenting and anonymizing your internet browsing if you don’t reside in or plan to travel to countries with restrictions on internet access.

CyberGhost VPN Plans + Pricing

CyberGhost VPN offers a variety of plans. There’s a monthly plan (D297.190 per month), and there’s a multi-year plan (D74.360 per month). Multi-year plans are not only affordable, but often include several months free of charge. The month-to-month plan comes with a 14-day guarantee and the long-term plan includes a generous 45-day guarantee. CyberGhost allows payment via credit cards, PayPal and Bitcoin.

5. PrivateVPN — Good VPN for Streaming

PrivateVPN works fast and securely, and offers streaming support. PrivateVPN allowed me to stream videos in HD without interruptions.

PrivateVPN supports torrenting on all its servers and works with all the most popular torrenting clients.

PrivateVPN offers standard security features such as 256-bit AES encryption and multiple connection protocols. PrivateVPN also has extra features such as obfuscation to bypass VPN blocks or online restrictions in countries that block the internet. Tor support is available for extra security when browsing the Tor network. PrivateVPN does not have split tunnelling, unlike top competitors like ExpressVPN or ProtonVPN.

PrivateVPN accounts can be used on 10 devices. There’s a 30-day money back guarantee and flexible payment options, including cryptocurrency payments.

PrivateVPN Security Facts

• Worldwide Servers: 200+
• Protocols OpenVPN UDP/TCP L2PT/IPSec and IKEv2/IPSec. PPTP, SOCKS5
• Data encryption: 256-bit AES
• Specialty Servers: Obfuscated. Tor over VPN
• Leak Protection: DNS. IPv6
• Kill switch
• No-logs policy: Yes

PrivateVPN Speed Tests

PrivateVPN has over 200 servers worldwide. I tried a random server from each of the 60+ countries, and measured how slow each server affected my baseline connection. Each server was connected almost immediately.

Here are some highlights:

PrivateVPN speeds are excellent, especially the L2PT/IPSec protocol. During my testing, no server’s downtime was below 50% (the standard for high-quality international connections). PrivateVPN does not have WireGuard, like ProtonVPN or Private Internet Access. It also lacks its own protocol, such as ExpressVPN’s Lightway.

PrivateVPN’s speed tests have shown that it is capable of streaming, downloading and video calling. There was a slight slowdown in connections close by, but not in international connections.

PrivateVPN Streaming: Strong

PrivateVPN is able to access Netflix and other streaming services such as Hulu, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer or Disney+. PrivateVPN’s speed allowed me to consistently access all streaming sites during my testing. I also enjoyed clear, crisp videos thanks to PrivateVPN.

PrivateVPN Torrenting: Strong

PrivateVPN supports torrenting via all of its servers (just like ExpressVPN). PrivateVPN supports torrenting on all servers (like ExpressVPN). I tested random servers with the most popular torrenting clients — uTorrent. BitTorrent. Bitport.io. and many more — and PrivateVPN was fully capable downloading and sharing content from all these clients.

PrivateVPN was also subject to a series of DNS leak tests. I found no DNS leaks.

PrivateVPN Bypassing Censorship: Strong

PrivateVPN offers a Stealth Mode feature. This is an obfuscation tool which masks your VPN traffic. It’s very effective at bypassing internet censorship.

PrivateVPN Plans + Pricing

PrivateVPN’s monthly plans can be a little more expensive than others, but the multi-year plan is much cheaper — it costs D45,760 per month. This is less than many of its competitors. PrivateVPN accepts six credit cards, including JCB and Diner Club International, PayPal, and Bitcoin. Every payment plan comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.

6. TunnelBear — Best VPN for Beginners

TunnelBear has been rated as one of the best VPNs on the market. It’s intuitive and easy to use, even if you have never used a VPN before.

TunnelBear is very secure and offers decent speeds. It also has all the usual VPN security features such as a strict no logs policy. This policy is audited annually and verified by an independent cybersecurity firm. TunnelBear has a kill switch and obfuscation. Split-tunneling is only available for Android.

TunnelBear isn’t as compatible with streaming services as top competitors like ExpressVPN or ProtonVPN. TunnelBear does not offer a money back guarantee. TunnelBear offers a free trial (only 500MB per month) if you are interested.

TunnelBear Security Facts

• Worldwide Servers: Unknown
• Protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2
• Data encryption: 256-bit AES
• Specialty Servers: Splittunneling.
• Protection: DNS WebRTC, IPv6
• Kill switch Yes
• No-logs policy: Yes

TunnelBear Speed Tests

TunnelBear’s servers are located in 45+ countries, which is less than other premium VPN providers like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. TunnelBear servers are well-spread across the globe, in North, Central and South America, Europe and Australia as well as Singapore, Japan and New Zealand. To test TunnelBear’s speed, I connected to servers in each country.

Here are some highlights:

TunnelBear reduced my download speed by 42% on average, which is still quite good, but slower than ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. My browsing speed was almost the same without TunnelBear (USA), and I could stream video with no lag. (My upload speed also increased!) I was able to browse the internet, stream content and download files from both the UK and Germany servers. However, my download and upload speeds dropped significantly when I connected to servers in Australia, India, and Japan. It took 7 seconds for websites and 10 seconds for streaming content to start playing.

TunnelBear Streaming: Mostly Strong

TunnelBear is an excellent choice for streaming. TunnelBear worked well with Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu. It also supported lesser-known sites such as Pluto TV and Kodi. TunnelBear does not work with ESPN+ or Disney+.

TunnelBear Torrenting: Strong

TunnelBear, like ExpressVPN allows P2P sharing across all its servers. TunnelBear’s speeds are not the fastest so I recommend you use the Fastest Connect option to connect to a server or manually choose a server in your country.

TunnelBear Bypassing Censorship: Strong

TunnelBear offers an obfuscation (GhostBear), which you can activate with one click. TunnelBear’s VPN tool, like ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access is effective at bypassing internet restrictions and VPN blockers.

TunnelBear Plans + Pricing

TunnelBear is not like ProtonVPN which offers unlimited data to all users. TunnelBear’s free plan only includes 500 MB per year — this is more than enough to just test TunnelBear’s browsing speed, but it’s not sufficient for torrenting and streaming.

The Unlimited plans are paid and include 3 yearly subscriptions. Each plan allows for 5 simultaneous connections. TunnelBear Premium Plans start at D76.190 a month. Although they are more expensive compared to other competitors, TunnelBear is a great choice if you are looking for an intuitive and simple VPN.

TunnelBear accepts Bitcoin (no PayPal) and credit cards. The company website also states that you can pay with honey jars, but I have not tested this. TunnelBear does NOT offer a money-back promise.

7. VyprVPN — Good for Getting Around Internet Restrictions (+ Top Choice for Small Businesses)

VyprVPN has a remarkable ability to bypass firewalls and censorship — it’s able access 45+ streaming service, including all of the most popular, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. VyprVPN was consistent in working with major streaming websites. Also, the content started right away, and there was very little buffering (even on distant servers).

VyprVPN’s Chameleon protocol is a proprietary protocol that allows you to bypass VPN restrictions. It uses obfuscation (obfuscation) to hide your VPN traffic and allow for unlimited internet access.

VyprVPN can also be a great choice for business users. VyprVPN owns and operates all servers, is based out of Switzerland (which has strict privacy laws), doesn’t keep logs on internet activity or files that employees share.

VyprVPN allows up to 30 connections. It offers monthly and yearly plans and offers a 30-day guarantee.

VyprVPN Security Facts

• Worldwide servers:700+
• Protocols: WireGuard. IKEv2/IPSec. OpenVPN. Chameleon (obfuscation).
• Data encryption: 256-bit AES
• Specialty Servers: Splittunneling
• Leak Protection:DNS
• Kill switch Yes
• No-logs policy: Yes

VyprVPN Speed Tests

VyprVPN servers are located in more than 70 locations around the globe. I tested VyprVPN’s speed by selecting a server from each of VyprVPN’s locations.

Here are some highlights:

VyprVPN gave me excellent speeds when connecting to servers in the US, Europe, and distant locations such as Japan and Australia. VyprVPN speed dropped more than I expected when I connected to servers located in Asia and South America. However, overall my speed decrease was only 21% which is quite good.

VyprVPN Streaming: Strong

VyprVPN is compatible with Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, as well as AppleTV, BBC iPlayer and ESPN+. VyprVPN does not work with Disney+ if you are a fan of Marvel and Disney titles. Other top VPNs, such as Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN, are recommended to access Disney+.

During my testing, I was able access all streaming services. VyprVPN’s speed allowed me to stream in HD without interruptions.

VyprVPN Torrenting: Strong

VyprVPN, a torrent-friendly VPN service, allows file sharing via P2P on all its servers. During my testing, I was able to enjoy fast speeds as well as seamless torrenting. VyprVPN passed all DNS leak testing that I did with 0 leaks.

VyprVPN Bypassing Censorship: Strong

Chameleon is a protocol that VyprVPN uses to keep your VPN traffic hidden. Chameleon regularly refreshes your IP address while you are connected to VPN. This helps protect your privacy and prevent IP blockers.

VyprVPN Plans + Pricing

VyprVPN has several plans available, starting at D190 580 per month. This is the most expensive VPN option on the market. VyprVPN, like CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN, often gives away additional months for free. You may be able to get as many as 12 months. Every plan comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.

VyprVPN offers a VyprVPN Businessplan as well as a VyprVPN Business Cloudplan. Each business plan comes with a free trial.

8. Mullvad VPN — High Privacy + Strong Security (and Simple Payment Plan)

Mullvad VPN charges a flat monthly fee. This applies regardless of whether you want to use the VPN for one month, one year or more.

Mullvad does not ask for personal information such as email addresses or phone numbers when you make a purchase. Instead, it gives you an account number that will serve as your ID/password. Mullvad, an open-source VPN that doesn’t store or record any of your online activities, is also available. Mullvad is also fast, allows torrenting and can bypass internet censorship, but it’s not the best choice for streaming.

Mullvad allows 5 devices to be connected simultaneously, and offers a 30-day money back guarantee.

Mullvad VPN Security Facts

• Worldwide servers760+
• Protocols: WireGuard and OpenVPN
• Data encryption: 256-bit AES
• Specialty Servers: Bridge, Split-tunneling and SOCKS5, port forwarding
• Protection:DNS and IPv6
• Kill switch Yes
• No-logs policy: Yes

Mullvad VPN Speed Tests

My speed tests showed that Mullvad was very fast. In each of the 35+ countries Mullvad servers are located, I connected to a server within 10 seconds. My connection speed did not drop by more than half.

Here are some highlights:

Although Mullvad doesn’t have the same speed as ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access, it is faster than CyberGhost VPN and ProtonVPN. However, it maintains decent speeds when connecting to distant servers.

Mullvad VPN Streaming: Weak

Streaming is one weakness of Mullvad. My tests showed that Mullvad VPN worked well with Netflix. My colleague from the UK was able access BBC iPlayer. However, we both were unable to access Hulu or Disney+.

You can use ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access or CyberGhost VPN to connect to major streaming services.

Mullvad VPN Torrenting: Strong

Mullvad supports P2P file sharing, torrenting and file-sharing on all its 760+ servers. During my testing, I was able download files at high speeds. Split-tunneling is also available on Mullvad. I was able to use it to send P2P traffic over the VPN and browse local websites using my ISP’s network.

Mullvad VPN Bypassing Censorship: Mostly Strong

Mullvad makes it possible to access the internet without restrictions by using a combination of “Bridge” servers, which doubles as a VPN, and a Shadowsocks proxy. This open-source proxy bypasses internet firewalls. ExpressVPN offers obfuscation for all its servers. Mullvad however requires that you manually select your “Bridge” locations. “Bridge mode” only works on desktop and not on mobile.

Mullvad VPN Plans + Pricing

Mullvad offers a monthly subscription at a reasonable price (D124 830 per month). There are no long-term deals. You can choose to pay monthly or roll it over, or you may opt to pay in advance for the whole year at the same rate.

Mullvad accepts PayPal, credit cards, bank wires, cash and cryptocurrency. You get a 30-day money back guarantee on your purchase

9. CactusVPN — Unlimited Connections on Unlimited Devices

CactusVPN has many security features. It allows connections on unlimited devices.

During my tests I connected 8 devices with my CactusVPN account. I was able to maintain consistent and fast internet connection on each device. I was able to access all the major streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu and Disney+. I was able download torrents with no issues.

There are four payment options available, with each plan covered by a 30-day risk-free guarantee.

CactusVPN Security Facts

• Worldwide Servers: 39
• Protocols, OpenVPN, TCP & UDP, WireGuard SSTP SoftEther IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec and SOCKS5
• Data encryption: 256-bit AES
• Specialty Servers: Obfuscated and Split-tunneling
• Protection: DNS and WebRTC.
• Kill switch
• No-logs policy: Yes

CactusVPN Speed Tests

CactusVPN offers 39 servers in 22 countries (high speed servers only). I tested CactusVPN’s speed by connecting to each of the servers, even those in countries such as the US, UK and the Netherlands, which have multiple servers.

Here are some highlights:

CactusVPN has good speeds — almost every server I tried was fast. There were a few times when I tried connecting to the Japanese and Australian servers where I experienced a few interruptions, but overall, my average drop in connection speed was 43% — which is comparable to TunnelBear, but slower than ExpressVPN and, Private Internet Access.

CactusVPN Streaming: Strong

CactusVPN claims that it works with over 340+ websites, from more than 12 different countries. In my tests, Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ were all accessible without any interruptions.

Although most videos were immediately started, it took some time (up to 30 secs in some cases) to get videos loaded on Netflix. I was connected with CactusVPN servers. But streaming was uninterrupted and smooth once a show began.

CactusVPN Torrenting: Mostly Strong

CactusVPN offers dedicated P2P servers in seven countries (Netherland, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Latvia, Romania, and Malaysia). Each of CactusVPN’s P2P servers was tested using all major torrenting clients such as Deluge, BitTorrent, and Vuze. My files were downloaded quickly and without any problems. However, I believe there are better alternatives. ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access both allow torrenting on all servers. They also maintain faster speeds.

A few DNS leak tests were also performed and no leaks were reported.

CactusVPN Bypassing Censorship: Mostly Strong

CactusVPN offers obfuscation but a support representative told me that the service is not guaranteed to work in restricted countries. ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access and ProtonVPN have the ability to access blocked websites in countries that block them.

CactusVPN Plans + Pricing

CactusVPN provides monthly and yearly plans. They start at D90.430 a month and are fairly affordable. CactusVPN provides more than 10 ways to pay for the service. These include credit cards, PayPal, cryptocurrency and other services like AliPay or YooMoney (Yandex.Money). The money-back guarantee covers every purchase for 30 days.

10. IPVanish — Unlimited Connections + Good for Torrenting

IPVanish allows unlimited connections and is great for torrenting. IPVanish has 25+ SOCKS5 server, which offer faster downloads than VPN servers. However, they don’t use encryption and still change your IP address.

IPVanish offers good security including advanced security features such as perfect forward secrecy. Its apps are simple to install and feature an intuitive design.

IPVanish, however, isn’t as good for streaming as other competitors such ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.

IPVanish has monthly and annual plans. The yearly plans come with a 30-day money back guarantee.

IPVanish Security Facts

• Worldwide Servers: 2,000+
• Protocols L2PT/IPSec/IPSec/IPSec IPSec OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec IPSec IPSec IPSec IPSec IPSec IPSec IPSec PPTP WireGuard
• Data encryption: 256-bit AES
• Specialty Servers: Splittunneling and SOCKS5
• Protection:DNS and IPv6
• Kill switch Yes
• No-logs policy: Yes

IPVanish Speed Tests

IPVanish boasts over 2,000+ servers across 50+ countries. IPVanish provides metrics like load and ping for every server, which makes it easy to locate the fastest servers.

I connected to IPVanish from a server that had the lowest load across 50+ countries in order to test its speed.

Here are some highlights:

IPVanish connected me almost immediately to each server, and I maintained an above-average speed throughout my speed tests.

My speed dropped by an average 33%, which is comparable to CyberGhost and other top-rated VPNs. IPVanish is an excellent choice if you are looking for a VPN that offers fast speeds.

However, I did not like the fact that it took between 10 to 30 seconds to connect with a VPN server. With top VPNs such as ExpressVPN, it took me less than 5 seconds.

IPVanish Streaming: Mostly Weak

IPVanish was able to connect to Netflix. However, it could not access Hulu, Disney+ or other streaming sites that I tested. This list also includes CyberGhost VPN, Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN. These VPNs are all great for streaming.

IPVanish Torrenting: Strong

IPVanish has over 2,000 servers, all of which are P2P-friendly. It also offers SOCKS5 proxy server servers that offer faster downloads since they don’t encrypt data. I tested this and found that the SOCKS5 proxy server provided 10% faster download speeds.

IPVanish Plans + Pricing

IPVanish has paid monthly and annual plans starting at D85860 per month. You have two options: get a VPN subscription, or the VPN + Security subscription which includes 500GB of storage.

IPVanish allows you to pay with credit, debit, and PayPal. Cryptocurrency is not accepted. The yearly plan comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.

What Did I Look For in this VPN Comparison?

• Strong security. Only recommend VPNs with industry-standard security features such as 256-bit AES encryption and secure VPN protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard. A kill switch also prevents your internet data being exposed if your VPN is disconnected. Split-tunneling allows you to route some traffic through a VPN while others through your local connections. I also look for other features such as an ad blocker and ad-blocker. Although not all my top choices offer all these features, all my top picks such as ProtonVPN, Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN have strong security.
• No logs policy. A VPN must have a policy that prohibits it from storing any personal information or internet activity (websites visited and files shared). All of the VPNs here have no-logs policies. Some VPNs, such as ExpressVPN and TunnelBear, have had their policies independently audited, confirmed, or proven to be true, by court documents.
• There should be hundreds of servers around the globe. Good VPN providers should have at least 100 servers. The faster an internet connection is, the more VPN servers there are in a given location. A VPN with many servers in one location reduces the chance of overloading that server and allows for faster speeds.
• Speedy speeds. While every VPN can slow down your internet connection in some way, the best VPNs will reduce the speed of your connection even when you connect with distant servers. My speed was reduced by 50% by the VPNs listed here. The fastest VPNs, like ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access, slowed my connection by between 15 and 25% on average. This is very good. Even though my internet speeds were significantly slower, I was still able to surf the web, download files, and stream videos with a stable connection using all the VPNs on the list.
• Streaming/torrenting/circumventing censorship. A good VPN should allow you to access streaming services, download files safely, and bypass internet restrictions in countries that restrict internet content. Many of the VPNs in this list are not compatible with streaming platforms and don’t allow you to access restricted internet sites. However, many top VPNs, such as ProtonVPN, Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN are great for streaming, torrenting and bypassing firewalls.
• A great value. All my options allow you to connect 5-10 devices simultaneously under one account. Some, like IPVanish or CactusVPN, even offer unlimited simultaneous connections. Many VPNs offer flexible payment options, including cryptocurrency, and 30-day money back guarantees. CyberGhost has even a 45-day guarantee.

Top Brands that Didn’t Make the Cut:

• HMAVPN. HMAVPN is safe, fast, and allows torrenting from dedicated P2P servers. HMA VPN isn’t compatible with many streaming sites such as Netflix or Disney+. It also doesn’t support restricted countries. The customer service is poor and the price is high.
• HolaVPN. holaVPN is a free, P2P VPN that offers fast speeds. It leaks user IP addresses and keeps logs. However, it does not use encryption. Hola is a P2P VPN. This means that you are assigned an IP address by another user and that your IP address is assigned to someone else. An attacker could also use your IP address for criminal purposes.
• Avast SecureLineVPN. Avast SecureLineVPN is one of the most well-known names in cybersecurity. However, it was found selling user data. Avast did use its antivirus software, not its VPN, to collect user information. I can’t recommend any Avast product until they can regain my trust. Read more about the scandal

VPN Comparison Charts

There are many things to take into consideration when selecting a VPN provider. The color-coded charts below show the features, pricing, support and other details of each VPN provider.

Each column in the chart below represents an important aspect of each product. A simplified color-coded system is used to show how VPNs perform in each category.

What information does this show?

• Virtually all. Privacy, security and download and upload speeds, pricing and customer support, website usability and government data sharing and cooperation, technical specifications and many other things.

There are two types of charts: a Simple VPN Comparison Table and a Detailed VPN Comparison Table.

For non-technical users, the Simple Chart can be a great way to quickly see what’s good, bad and ugly. The Detailed Chart provides a more detailed view of each VPN service provider.

Use the VPN Comparison Tables:

• Use color-coded systems. This color-coded system can be used for both tables and gives you an overview of each aspect of a VPN provider. This simplified chart shows a 3-color system: Red (Major concern), Green (Good), and Yellow (Some concerns). To make it a 5-color scheme, the detailed chart includes two additional colors: Orange (It’s okay), Yellow (Some concerns), and Green (Good). To make it color-blind, just click on the “# Version” button.
• Use filters. Click the “Filter” button underneath the list. This will allow you to select the brand you wish to evaluate. You can arrange the table by clicking Filter beneath each column to display the best/worst VPNs that offer a particular feature.
• Select the number you would like to see.
• View a list of term definitions. Below the Simple and Detailed VPN Comparative Charts are explanations that explain what each term means.
• Horizontal scrolling. Use vertical scrolling to view each column. Horizontal scrolling is required to view all columns in the detailed VPN Comparison Chart.

Simple VPN Comparison Chart

Below is a quick overview of each VPN company. This chart provides information about each VPN company’s location, logging policies and pricing.

View the explanation infographics to see a list and reasons for term definitions.

Detailed VPN Comparison Chart