Security, streaming and all the privacy you need – want to buy a VPN? You’ve come to the right place.
Welcome to the TechRadar best VPN buying guide. Our aim is to give you the information to buy the best VPN for your needs as quickly as possible.
With that in mind, NordVPN is the best VPN for most people, and we’ll explain why just below. Surfshark (don’t miss its 7-day free trial) and ExpressVPN are also excellent. You’re unlikely to go wrong with any of them. We know this because we regularly perform in-depth and rigorous VPN testing, which you can also read about further down.
We’ve been writing about and reviewing VPNs at TechRadar for over 11 years, and we know more about them than any other website. When it comes to guiding our readers to the right choice, we think that’s worth something.
5 best VPNs: a quick overview
1. NordVPN – The best VPN overall
NordVPN came out on top in our latest round of deep testing. It is our top pick as the best VPN for most people. We’re confident that virtually anyone can sign up for NordVPN and get what they need. It’s easy to use, has robust security, seriously fast speeds for downloads and gaming, flawless unblocking (it’s our top choice for streaming), plus a host of compelling extra features. It’s also good value for money: $3.09 per month plus tax if you sign up for two years (though it needs to be paid upfront). You can try it before committing by using the 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark – get the 7-day free trial
Surfshark beats NordVPN on price and speed – although both services are so blisteringly fast you won’t notice the difference. It’s excellent for unblocking global streaming services and has servers in more countries than NordVPN, which may be beneficial if you travel a lot. The trade-off is a busier app interface and a slightly lower score than NordVPN in our malware, phishing, and ad-blocking tests. ExpressVPN (below) edges Surfshark on security, too. Its two-year Starter plan (paid upfront) is $1.99 per month plus tax. Best of all, there’s currently a 7-day free trial of Surfshark available for the very first time. That’s something that none of the other top VPN services offer.
3. ExpressVPN – The best VPN for beginners
ExpressVPN is the easiest VPN to use on our list. You’re connected in one click and the interface is very user-friendly, making it a great option for anyone less tech-savvy. It’s also the most secure VPN we’ve tested, with many extra features to keep you safe online, and it’s seriously fast too – though not quite to the level of Surfshark and NordVPN. Until recently, the main drawback was the price but, since switching to a three-tier structure, subscriptions start at a competitive $3.49 on the two-year plan (again, all needs to be paid upfront) which puts it on a par with NordVPN for value. As with the others, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can give it a go without committing.
4. Proton VPN – The best VPN for privacy
If you want extreme privacy above all else, choose Proton. Based in Switzerland, this extremely capable VPN offers good speeds and has servers in 117 countries around the world – including across Africa and Asia where other providers tend to struggle – which makes it excellent for streaming and torrenting too. It’s privacy that’s the big differentiator for Proton VPN, though. Proton VPN offers tools for protecting your browsing and connecting data. That’s not to say that the options above have weak privacy credentials: they don’t. But Proton gives that extra layer of protection. Proton VPN’s recent improvements in app user-interfaces also make it a good choice for beginners, with explainer pop-ups for most functions.
5. PrivadoVPN Free – The best free VPN
We don’t advise using a free VPN for most purposes but, if you do need one – as a one-off, say, or to do something that doesn’t require privacy credentials – Privado’s free version is the best of the free services we’ve tested. Its speed rivals the services above. But of course, you don’t get the same features or guarantees of privacy and security. There are also just 13 server locations and a 10 GB data cap, so it isn’t suitable for heavy streaming or downloading lots of files. Our tests revealed it’s also nowhere near as good at unblocking, so if you’re trying to unblock something from another territory it’s worth paying for NordVPN or Surfshark. Of the free options, though, it’s the best. (You’ll find the ‘Try free plan’ button in light grey below Privado’s paid options.)