Best VPN Services
The best VPNs for privacy, streaming, and value — ranked after testing speed, security, and price.
We ranked 5 picks for VPN Services. NordVPN takes the #1 spot at 4.6/5 (from $4/mo). Entry pricing runs $2–$7/mo. 1 offers a free tier.
Our picks at a glance
Proton VPN
Genuine free tier — test it before committing budget.
NordVPN
4.6/5 across 19,800 reviews.
Proton VPN comes from the makers of Proton Mail, with a strong privacy reputation, open-source apps, and the only reputable unlimited free plan.
ExpressVPN is known for reliability, strong unblocking, and apps on virtually every platform including routers. Premium-priced but consistently dependable.
The full ranking
| # | Tool | Starts at | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NordVPN Fast, feature-rich consumer VPN | $4/mo | 4.6/5 | Privacy-conscious consumers |
| 2 | Proton VPN Privacy-first VPN with a real free tier | Free | 4.6/5 | Privacy purists |
| 3 | ExpressVPN Reliable, easy VPN with wide device support | $7/mo | 4.5/5 | Users wanting simplicity |
| 4 | Surfshark Unlimited devices at a low price | $2/mo | 4.5/5 | Households & budget users |
| 5 | Mullvad Anonymous, flat-rate privacy VPN | $5/mo | 4.5/5 | Privacy enthusiasts |
Side-by-side comparison
| Comparison | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Starting price | $4/mo | Free | $7/mo | $2/mo |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium | Paid | Paid |
| API available | ||||
| Best for | Privacy-conscious consumers | Privacy purists | Users wanting simplicity | Households & budget users |
| NordLynx (WireGuard) | ||||
| Threat Protection | ||||
| 6,000+ servers | ||||
| No-logs (audited) | ||||
| Kill switch | ||||
| Unlimited free tier | ||||
| Secure Core | ||||
| Open-source apps | ||||
| Tor over VPN | ||||
| Lightway protocol | ||||
| 94 countries | ||||
| Router app | ||||
| TrustedServer (RAM-only) | ||||
| Unlimited devices | ||||
| CleanWeb ad-block | ||||
| WireGuard | ||||
| MultiHop | ||||
| Visit | Visit | Visit | Visit |
What to look for in VPN services
- Check whether pricing is per seat — it multiplies with team size.
- Headline prices usually assume annual billing; monthly costs more.
- Confirm the integrations you already depend on are supported.
- Start on a free tier or trial before committing to a year.
How we rank: we weigh user ratings, feature depth, pricing value, and fit for this specific use case — not rating alone. Rankings are updated as products and prices change, and affiliate relationships never affect the order.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best VPN services?+
NordVPN is our #1 pick, rated 4.6/5 and starting at $4/mo. Very fast The full ranked list with pricing and trade-offs is above.
Is there a free VPN services option?+
Yes — Proton VPN offers a free tier, so you can start without paying.
What is the cheapest VPN services?+
Surfshark at $2/mo. Across our picks, entry pricing runs $2–$7/mo.
How did you rank these tools?+
Rankings weigh user ratings, feature depth, pricing value, and fit for this specific use case — not rating alone. We update them as products and prices change.