Best VPN 2026: ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark Tested & Ranked
A good VPN is vital to protect yourself from online restrictions and potential cyber threats these days. But how do you choose the best one, and for the best price?
We’ve tested and summarized the best VPN providers available – whether you’re looking for private browsing, security features, or ways to bypass geo-blocks.
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The short answer
ExpressVPN
Fast, reliable, works in 105 countries. TrustedServer technology ensures no data touches a hard drive.
From $3.49/mo
Get ExpressVPN Now
Why we picked it ↓
NordVPN
Fastest speeds in our testing. NordLynx protocol. Works with Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and more.
From $3.09/mo
Get NordVPN Now
Why we picked it ↓
Surfshark
Unlimited devices on one account. Competitive long-term pricing with CleanWeb ad blocker included.
From $1.99/mo
Get Surfshark Now
Why we picked it ↓
Best Overall: ExpressVPN
Pros
- High-speed servers in {countries} countries
- Unblocks Netflix, great for gaming and P2P
- Rock-solid security and privacy
- Works with almost all devices
- Supports split tunneling
Cons
- Limited port forwarding
- No dedicated IP options
ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies. See ownership map ↓
ExpressVPN is a well-established service that’s been operating for more than a decade. It stands out for its speed, privacy, and unblocking capabilities, and is generally regarded as one of the highest-quality VPNs overall.
In 2017, the Turkish Government seized an ExpressVPN server, but it held no useful information for the authorities – verifying ExpressVPN’s no-log policy in the most dramatic way possible. The service also accepts Bitcoin and other anonymous payment methods for users who want zero paper trail.
Best for Streaming: NordVPN
Pros
- Compatible with many popular streaming services
- Fast NordLynx protocol
- Dedicated IP option
- Multihop and split-tunneling support
- RAM-only servers capable of up to 10Gbps speeds
Cons
- Premium pricing compared to budget VPNs
- Some advanced features require higher-tier plans
NordVPN is owned by Nord Security. See ownership map ↓
With a host of features, fast speeds, and a proven reputation, NordVPN is a relatively inexpensive service considering other market offerings.
The standout feature is Threat Protection – it filters harmful content before it reaches your device, scans files for malware during downloads, and blocks ads, trackers, and malicious URLs. Most VPN services charge extra for these kinds of anti-virus features, but NordVPN includes Threat Protection with all its plans.
Best Value: Surfshark
Pros
- Fast connection speeds
- Unlimited devices
- No logs policy
- Private DNS and leak protection
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Not all features available on all platforms
- Antivirus features and dedicated IP cost extra
Surfshark is owned by Nord Security. See ownership map ↓
Surfshark offers a large number of features at a low price. The headline feature: unlimited simultaneous device connections on one account, where most providers cap this below 10. This makes it perfect for large families or anyone with a lot of devices.
The no-log policy has been independently verified, and features like Clean Web 2.0 (ad and tracker blocker), camouflage mode, and NoBorders come included at the base price.
Best for Privacy: ProtonVPN
Pros
- Wide server network
- Open-source WireGuard VPN protocol
- Free version
- Split tunneling support
- Secure Core Servers
Cons
- No dedicated IP address options
- No RAM-only servers
- No live support for free users
ProtonVPN is owned by Proton AG. See ownership map ↓
ProtonVPN was created by the makers of ProtonMail, the encrypted email service established in 2013 by CERN scientists. Based in Switzerland, it benefits from some of the world’s strongest privacy laws.
The free tier is genuinely usable – one device, three countries, no data cap. Paid plans add Secure Core (routes traffic through privacy-friendly countries before exiting), NetShield ad-blocker, and servers in 70 countries with 10 Gbps connections.
Best Free VPN: Windscribe
Pros
- Generous free plan (10GB/month)
- Unlimited connections
- Built-in ad blocker
- Flexible pricing
Cons
- Canada (Five Eyes)
- Only 3-day refund window
- Smaller server network
Windscribe is owned by Windscribe Limited. See ownership map ↓
Windscribe is one of the few free VPN options we can genuinely recommend. Unlike most free VPNs, Windscribe’s no-logs policy has been tested in court – in 2025, Greek authorities requested user data and Windscribe had nothing to hand over.
The free plan includes 10GB of data per month across 10 server locations, which is generous enough for casual browsing and basic privacy protection. The built-in ad blocker (R.O.B.E.R.T.) works at the DNS level, blocking ads, trackers, and malware before they reach your device.
For users who outgrow the free tier, Windscribe’s paid plans offer unlimited data, servers in 69 countries, and the ability to build a custom plan by choosing individual server locations.
Extreme Privacy: Mullvad
Pros
- No personal info required to sign up
- Accepts cash, crypto, and anonymous payments
- Independently audited multiple times
- RAM-only servers
- WireGuard pioneer
Cons
- No annual discount (flat EUR 5/mo)
- Smaller server network than competitors
- No streaming optimization
- No 24/7 live chat support
Mullvad VPN is owned by Amagicom AB. See ownership map ↓
Mullvad takes a fundamentally different approach to VPN services. There are no email addresses, no usernames, and no passwords – you get a randomly generated account number, and that’s it.
Based in Sweden, Mullvad is one of the few VPN providers that accepts cash sent by mail, making it possible to sign up with zero personal information. They charge a flat rate with no long-term discounts or marketing tricks.
In April 2023, Swedish police executed a search warrant at Mullvad’s office. The police left empty-handed because Mullvad’s infrastructure genuinely holds no customer data. This is the gold standard for verifying a no-logs claim.
Mullvad is also fully open-source and regularly audited. It’s not the cheapest or most feature-rich option, but for users who prioritize anonymity above all else, nothing else comes close.
Also worth considering: TorGuard
TorGuard is a torrenting specialist with AES-256 encryption, multi-hop cascading, Tor through VPN, and SOCKS5 proxy access. It has a no-log policy and passed our DNS leak tests. The caveat: it’s based in the US (Five-Eyes Alliance), so it could be legally compelled to disclose data if it had any to share. Read our full TorGuard review.
Also worth considering: Hide.me
Hide.me is a Malaysia-based VPN with servers in 79+ countries and a free tier covering 8 locations. The self-managed server network stores cryptographic keys in temporary storage only. It’s especially router-friendly – you can buy hardware pre-configured with Hide.me, or follow their setup guides for almost any router firmware. Read our full Hide.me review.
Also worth considering: PrivadoVPN
PrivadoVPN is Swiss-based and operates its own IP backbone for fast speeds. The free tier includes 10GB per month with unlimited speeds. Torrenting users get SOCKS5 proxy servers for faster P2P. Additional features include a kill switch, split-tunneling, ad blocker, and parental controls. Read our full PrivadoVPN review.
Our picks compared
| ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | ProtonVPN | Windscribe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best rate | $3.49/mo | $3.09/mo | $1.99/mo | $3.59/mo | $5.75/mo |
| Monthly price | $12.99 | $12.99 | $15.45 | $9.99 | $9.00 |
| Servers | 3,000+ | 8,400+ | 4,500+ | 15,000+ | 480+ |
| Countries | 105 | 167 | 100 | 120 | 69 |
| Devices | 8 | 10 | Unlimited | 10 | Unlimited |
| Jurisdiction | 🇻🇬 BVI ⓘ | 🇵🇦 Panama ⓘ | 🇳🇱 Netherlands ⓘ | 🇨🇭 Switzerland ⓘ | 🇨🇦 Canada ⓘ |
| Money-back | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 7 days |
| Kill switch | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Split tunneling | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No-logs audited | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated IP | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Review | Read review → | Read review → | Read review → | Read review → | Read review → |
| Get ExpressVPN Now | Get NordVPN Now | Get Surfshark Now | Get ProtonVPN Now | Get Windscribe Now |
Best VPN by category
By use case
By device
By country
Who owns your VPN?
Six of the ten most popular VPN services are owned by just three companies. Knowing who controls your VPN matters - parent companies can compel data sharing between subsidiaries, and owning both VPN services and review sites creates an unresolvable conflict of interest.
Read our full corporate ownership investigation →
Kape Technologies
Formerly Crossrider. Now private (Teddy Sagi/Unikmind). Also owns vpnMentor and Wizcase review sites.- ExpressVPN acquired 2021, $936M
- CyberGhost acquired 2017
- Private Internet Access acquired 2019, $95.5M
- ZenMate acquired 2018
Nord Security
Lithuanian company. NordVPN registered in Panama. Also operates NordPass, NordLocker, Incogni.Ziff Davis
NASDAQ: ZD. Also owns PCMag, Mashable, Lifehacker, IGN.- IPVanish acquired 2019
- StrongVPN
- Encrypt.me
Independent operators
No corporate parent. Fewer layers between you and the people making privacy decisions.- Mullvad Sweden. No investors. Cash accepted.
- Proton VPN Switzerland. Proton AG (also Proton Mail).
- Windscribe Canada. 100% founder-owned.
- TunnelBear Canada. Acquired by McAfee 2018.
VPNs we don't recommend
Transparency matters. Not every VPN earns our recommendation. Here's why some rank at the bottom:
Hola VPN
- Routes traffic through other users' devices, not VPN servers
- Your bandwidth is sold to third parties
- No encryption on free tier
- Logs all user activity
- Previously linked to a botnet incident
Ivacy VPN
- DNS leaks detected in our testing
- Leaking DNS queries defeats the purpose of a VPN
- Disputed ownership (Gaditek/Disrupt connection)
Avast SecureLine VPN
- Parent company fined $16.5M by FTC (2024)
- Sold user browsing data via Jumpshot subsidiary
- Only 55 servers in 34 countries
How we chose these VPNs
Every VPN on this page goes through the same independent testing process. No provider pays for a ranking. ExpressVPN is our featured partner (clearly disclosed), but that relationship does not influence the testing methodology applied to every other provider on this page.
Leak tests
IP address, DNS, and WebRTC leak detection using our own testing tool
Speed tests
Download, upload, and latency measurements across multiple server locations
Streaming access
Testing against Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and other major services
Privacy policy review
Jurisdiction analysis, logging policy audit, and independent audit verification
App quality
Usability testing on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and browser extensions
Value assessment
Price per month, money-back guarantee terms, and feature-to-cost ratio
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the #1 best VPN?
According to our testing, the best VPN is ExpressVPN. This is based on in-depth leak tests, speed tests, and privacy audits carried out by VPNTesting.
Other high-quality services on the market include NordVPN, Surfshark, ProtonVPN, Windscribe, and Mullvad, but the best one for a specific user often depends on their needs and use.
Which free VPN is the strongest?
Windscribe is the recommended VPN for those wanting the best free VPN – its no-logs policy was court-tested in 2025 and it offers 10GB of data per month with no ads.
ProtonVPN is another strong option, with a verified no-logs policy and no data cap on its free tier, though free users are limited to servers in three countries.
What is the best VPN for Netflix?
Based on testing, ExpressVPN is recommended as the best VPN for streaming Netflix, offering fast server speeds with no buffering.
Netflix, like Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and many other streaming services, often tries to block VPN providers. But ExpressVPN has a range of solutions for bypassing these blocks.
What is the safest VPN in the world?
ExpressVPN is considered one of the safest providers in the industry, with a long and reliable track record. For those seeking extreme privacy, Mullvad is the strongest option – it requires no personal information to sign up and has survived a police raid with zero data disclosed.
Is VPN safe for torrenting?
Some VPNs are better suited for torrenting than others. Users wishing to use a VPN for torrenting should ensure their provider has P2P servers designed for file sharing, such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, or ProtonVPN.
While torrenting through one of the best VPNs does offer an extra layer of protection, a VPN can’t prevent a user from clicking on dangerous or illegal files.
What are the risks of using a VPN?
There are very few risks involved in using a VPN from a reliable and trustworthy provider, such as those mentioned above.
However, when using less reputable providers (particularly free VPNs), users should check whether the service records activity logs or sells users’ data. Some services create free plans by sharing their users’ IP addresses when not in use.
Update history
This page was revised 38 times between June 2021 and April 2026.
Added source references for jurisdiction and corporate registration details.
Added new guide section with VPN selection criteria, top 8 provider list, and detailed ExpressVPN review including specs table, pros/cons comparison, and privacy information.
Updated year references from 2023 to 2026, corrected incomplete sentence about Turkish government seizure, and refreshed provider data and pricing information throughout.
Updated page title and intro to reflect 2026 (from 2023), refreshed VPN provider rankings and specifications, corrected incomplete sentence about Turkish government server seizure, and modernized all pricing and feature data.
Added introductory paragraph, "Quick Guide to Choosing a Good VPN" section with encryption and server criteria, and detailed VPN provider comparison table with ExpressVPN specs and privacy information.
Added introductory paragraph, created "What To Look For" and "What To Avoid" guidance sections, and populated ExpressVPN profile with specs table, pros/cons comparison, and detailed privacy information.
Added introduction, VPN selection guide with key features and red flags, and detailed profiles of 8 VPN providers with specs tables and pros/cons comparisons.
Added introductory paragraphs, new "What To Avoid" section with unverified logging policy guidance, and provider comparison tables with pricing and pros/cons for ExpressVPN and other VPN services.
Added new introductory section covering VPN selection criteria, quick feature guide with key requirements and red flags, and detailed comparison tables for eight leading VPN providers.
Updated page title and heading from 2023 to 2026 to reflect current year.
Added new introduction section, quick selection guide covering server networks and no-logs policies, and detailed review of ExpressVPN with specifications table and pros/cons breakdown.
Removed duplicate/garbled text ("Ready? Let's so let's jump right into it"), cleaned up empty heading tags, and consolidated redundant introductory paragraphs for clarity.
Fixed duplicate text ("so let's"), removed empty heading tags, and cleaned up formatting inconsistencies in the VPN services section.
Corrected redundant phrase "let's so let's" to "let's" in introduction.
Removed redundant text ("Ready? Let's so let's jump right into it. Read below!"), cleaned up empty HTML elements, and corrected outdated TechRadar reference from 2018.
Removed duplicate introductory paragraph, corrected grammatical error ("let's so let's"), cleaned up empty heading tags, and updated year references from 2022 to 2026.
Removed duplicate/malformed heading markup, fixed grammar error ("let's so let's"), and cleaned up excessive whitespace throughout introduction section.
Removed duplicate/redundant introductory paragraphs and cleaned up malformed HTML markup in the opening section.
Removed duplicate/garbled introductory content, fixed grammatical error ("let's so let's"), removed empty heading tags, and corrected "NordPVN" to "NordVPN".
Removed duplicate/redundant introductory text, fixed typo "let's so let's", and cleaned up excessive whitespace and empty heading tags.
Removed duplicate heading, corrected grammar ("Ready? Let's so let's" to single statement), and cleaned up excessive whitespace in introduction section.
Corrected grammar error ("let's so let's" to single "let's"), removed empty headings and formatting artifacts, and fixed typo in company name ("NordPVN" to "NordVPN").
Removed duplicate/empty heading, fixed grammatical error ("let's so let's" to single instance), and cleaned up excessive whitespace throughout introduction section.
Removed duplicate/broken heading tags, corrected "NordPVN" typo to "NordVPN", and fixed grammatical error in introduction ("let's so let's" to single instance).
Removed duplicate heading, corrected "Ready? Let's so let's" grammar error, and fixed "NordPVN" typo to "NordVPN".
Removed duplicate/broken heading, eliminated grammatical error ("Ready? Let's so let's jump"), deleted empty sections, and updated year references from 2021 to 2026.
Removed duplicate/redundant introductory paragraphs, corrected "NordPVN" to "NordVPN", and updated year references from 2021 to 2026 in title.
Removed redundant phrases and cleaned up grammatical errors in the introduction and opening sections.
Removed duplicate text ("so let's"), cleaned up malformed HTML markup, and corrected "NordPVN" to "NordVPN".
Removed duplicate/broken heading tags, fixed grammar error ("let's so let's"), and cleaned up excessive whitespace in opening section.
Removed duplicate/redundant introductory text, cleaned up empty heading tags, and corrected "NordPVN" typo to "NordVPN".
Fixed double word "so let's" to "let's", removed redundant empty headings, and corrected typo "NordPVN" to "NordVPN".
Removed duplicate and malformed heading text, fixed grammatical error ("let's so let's jump"), and cleaned up excessive whitespace and empty elements throughout the introduction section.
Removed duplicate/malformed heading, corrected "NordPVN" typo to "NordVPN", and cleaned up redundant introductory text.
Fixed 1 spelling error ("Bes" to "Best"), removed duplicate/empty heading, corrected redundant phrasing ("let's so let's"), and cleaned up extraneous whitespace throughout.
Added VPN review guide covering 10 providers with detailed feature comparisons, pricing, server information, and protocol specifications.
Removed excessive whitespace and empty heading tags, streamlined introductory paragraphs for clarity.
Removed empty heading tags and consolidated introductory section to eliminate redundant copy about VPN methodology.
Myth: VPNs make you completely anonymous online. Reality: VPNs hide your IP but can't prevent tracking via cookies, logins, or fingerprinting.