Best VPN Service in 2021
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Best VPN – short for “Virtual Private Network” – is software traditionally used to help keep your identity online and virtually change your location. Once the preserve of hardcore techies, they are now in the mainstream, and millions of users around the world are discovering that there is more to VPNs than torrenting and staying private on the internet.
They can allow users to access geo-blocked streaming content on sites like Netflix, secure online banking, evade hackers and trackers, and even face government and ISP censorship. And now, almost all providers offer apps for just about any device, from your Windows PC to the Amazon Fire Stick.
The only problem is choosing the best VPN for the job – we’re here to help you find a balance between speed, streaming, security and of course value for money.
What is a VPN?
In its simplest form, the best VPN works by tunneling your connection through its encrypted servers, which hides your activity from your ISP and anyone else who might be watching – including the government, advertisers, and nefarious hackers. This also allows you to access restricted websites, stream a wide variety of shows, and avoid network throttling.
For example, if Facebook or YouTube is blocked in your school, you will be able to access them through your VPN. If you are traveling to the UAE or China, you can use a VPN to access blocked websites and apps that you use daily, such as Gmail and WhatsApp. And if you are on vacation anywhere outside your home country, you can use the best VPN to access the Netflix shows you love, as they may not be available abroad.
What is the best VPN?
The competition to be crowned as the best VPN is getting tougher every day, but there is still a clear winner out there – ExpressVPN.
One of ExpressVPN’s main assets is that it’s incredibly easy to use on any platform – whether that’s a phone, PC, or even PlayStation. It also performed well in our streaming tests, where you can easily get around the geo-restrictions of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video – and because it offers such fast connections, you’ll be able to watch in HD or 4K just as usual.
On top of that, you’ll also be covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee which means you can test out the service and its 3000+ servers for an entire month before buying – you can find out all the details in our full independent ExpressVPN review.
Take an in-depth look at the best VPNs for 2021
(Image credit: ExpressVPN)
1. ExpressVPN – The Best VPN Available Today
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Number of servers: 3000+
Speed: up to 580Mbps
VPN locations: 160 in 94 countries
Maximum supported devices: 5
24/7 live chat: Yes
30-Day Money Back Guarantee: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Among the fastest VPNs out there + Extensive hardware support + 30-day free trial + Ace 24/7 support
Reasons to avoid
A little more expensive, but worth it
In the latest round of VPN reviews, ExpressVPN confidently defended its place as the best VPN on the market. And when you look at the facts, figures, stats, and user experience, it becomes quite clear why.
First, no matter what device you’re using — iPhone, Windows PC, Amazon Fire Stick, or even a router — ExpressVPN is easy to download, nice in appearance, and very simple to operate. While there are plenty of features below the surface, it is 100% plug and play, perfect for VPN beginners and experts alike.
It also has all the extra features that you wouldn’t want to do without. This includes a highly reliable kill switch to cut off your connection and avoid leaks if the VPN drops, split tunnels so you can route some apps through the VPN and whitelist others, as well as DNS leak protection, class-leading encryption, servers in 94 countries, and a strict no-no policy Keep records.
ExpressVPN complements its excellent privacy credentials with great streaming performance as well – which is increasingly important in today’s market. Compared to every other VPN we tested, ExpressVPN unblocked most of the Netflix sites, and it also delivers when streaming BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and many more.
This is all the more impressive given the fact that Netflix has recently cracked down on VPNs, and while ExpressVPN was initially affected, it bounced back much faster than any other service. Besides the great connection speeds, it is the perfect streaming companion.
However, there are several minor reasons why ExpressVPN does not exist. First, one plan only covers 5 simultaneous connections. This means that you can only be logged in on 5 devices at the same time – although you can log in and log out as you wish and install the VPN on any and all of your devices.
ExpressVPN is also a bit more expensive than the competition, but given its unmatched streaming performance and privacy tools — not to mention excellent live chat support and full support for torrenting — we think the slight extra expense is worth it.
The best thing though? Tom’s Guide readers can now claim a free 12-month plan with BackBlaze cloud backup software on a 12-month plan. However, if you’re not sure, ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Therefore, in the event that you do not like the service, you can claim a full refund.
2. NordVPN – Very Fast & Secure
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Number of servers: 5100+
Server locations: 80+ in 59 countries
Maximum supported devices: 6
24/7 live chat: Yes
30-Day Money Back Guarantee: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Excellent focus on security + New security audit in mid-2020 + NordLynx delivers incredible speeds + Tons of servers
Reasons to avoid
Renewal prices are high. – Some recent issues with Netflix
If you have only heard about one of the best VPN providers on this page, then it is very likely that it is NordVPN. With a massive presence that includes YouTuber plugs, TV ads, and even sports team sponsorships, it’s a brand that isn’t afraid of the spotlight. Fortunately, it’s not all just bragging.
Since it is very likely the only VPN on the market that has a chance to challenge ExpressVPN’s dominance, NordVPN is well rounded and does many of the jobs very well. With a kill switch, all the essential protocols plus WireGuard-based NordLynx, excellent encryption and superb connection speeds, it’s an all-in-one package.
While we are not leaked For lovers of the map-based interface, Nord Apps is stable and reliable, and within it you’ll have a choice of more than 5,100 servers in 60 countries. Additionally, P2P is supported, and along with additional privacy features like Double Hop and Onion over VPN, it’s a great option for those looking to stay under the radar.
In the past, NordVPN was a reliable VPN for unblocking Netflix, but since the streaming site has changed tactics, the results are heartbreaking and overwhelming. In our most recent tests, we had access to UK Netflix (plus iPlayer, Disney+, and the rest), but unfortunately US Netflix wasn’t available. As annoying as it is, these results can vary from day to day, so if you’re likely to depend on something, you have a 30-day money-back guarantee until you test it out.
Other than that, NordVPN is an excellent service and we’d totally be happy to recommend it to our readers – and it only misses the lead thanks to a couple of small issues, and the fact that the competition is pretty tough.
(Image credit: Surfshark)
3. Surfshark – Best Cheap VPN on the Market
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Number of servers: 3200+
Server locations: 100+ in 65 countries
Maximum supported devices: Unlimited
24/7 live chat: Yes
30-Day Money Back Guarantee: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Unlimited Device Support + Reliable Connections + Longer Plans Great Value + Great for Streaming
Reasons to avoid
-Apps are not in-depth from Netflix issues
If you are looking for the British Virgin Island based Surfshark, it should definitely be on your radar. At less than half the price of some of its competitors while offering similar performance in many areas, it is a great option for those looking to save their money.
Surfshark’s apps are simple and effective, but don’t think they lack power. While they can’t quite compete with the most technical of groups, you’ll have a kill switch, over 3,200 servers to choose from, split tunneling, and industry-standard AES-256 encryption.
If you have a lot of hardware to cover, Surfshark also stands out. While ExpressVPN offers 5 simultaneous connections and Nord offers 6, all of Surfshark’s plans are absolutely unlimited. This means whether you have 5 or 105 devices on which you want to install a VPN, one Surfshark plan can do it all.
However, unfortunately, Surfshark has been affected by the changes to Netflix as well, and is currently only able to unblock US Netflix – not the UK, Canada, Australia or others. BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and many other streaming sites are available. Speeds are also low in the competition, but unless you have a basic connection over 400Mbps, you won’t notice any difference.
Overall, Surfshark is an excellent budget option, and when you consider its incredibly low price, it seems like any small issues may go away!
(Image credit: ProtonVPN)
4. ProtonVPN – Best Optimized VPN
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Number of servers: 1400+
Server locations: 61 countries
Maximum supported devices: 10
Live chat support: Yes
30-Day Money Back Guarantee: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Focus on privacy and security + Excellent speeds + Premium Netflix streaming + Very stable apps
Reasons to avoid
– Somewhat expensive – live chat is not 24/7 (yet)
We’ve always loved ProtonVPN as a powerful privacy tool, but in our latest ProtonVPN review, we’ve seen massive improvements in terms of daily usability and customer service – so much so that the Swiss VPN jumped from 9th to 4th place in this guide!
Almost all the issues we had last time were fixed. The lackluster connection speeds have shipped in big – WireGuard speeds are up there with the best, and thanks to VPN Accelerator technology, ProtonVPN now offers the fastest OpenVPN connections, without exception.
We were also disappointed last time that ProtonVPN did not offer live chat support. Well, that is also settled. Although it’s not 24 hours a week yet, this is said to be coming in the near future, and the service we received when we tested the chat was excellent.
ProtonVPN is also the only service other than ExpressVPN that can unblock more than one Netflix library in our tests, giving us access to UK, US and Canadian libraries.
It’s not just about broadcasting. ProtonVPN offers unique “secure hubs”, which are ultra-secure servers in secure countries like Switzerland. The apps are also powerful and stable on all devices (if a bit complicated), and features like a kill switch are some of the best out there. For those who truly value privacy, ProtonVPN is a great option.
Selecting defects with a proton is becoming more and more difficult by the day, but there are still a few sticking points. First, while some servers support P2P traffic, there are relatively few compared to the competition. Prices are also a bit low, but sign up for 2 years and you’ll get a good deal, with a generous 10 simultaneous connections to boot.
Overall, ProtonVPN works a lot on its progress, and it’s clear that the developers are putting in some serious work rather than resting on their laurels – thanks to that, ProtonVPN has become a service we can wholeheartedly recommend.
subscribe now ProtonVPN website
(Image credit: Private Internet Access)
5. Private Internet Access – Comprehensive Founder
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Number of servers: 10000+
Server locations: 78 countries
Maximum supported devices: 10
24/7 live chat: Yes
30-Day Money Back Guarantee: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Great value + Unblock US Netflix, iPlayer and more + Trusted apps and kill switch + Very useful browser extensions
Reasons to avoid
WireGuard speeds never reach zero
Private Internet Access remains on its upward trajectory, and in the last two rounds of reviews, we’ve seen the veteran service provider find a new lease on life and begin challenging dogs again.
Boasts the largest server network of any provider -…
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