There seems to be an endless number of VPN (virtual private network) services available these days, and it can certainly be a headache to decide between them. Some of them boast unique features and come bundled with different services or sometimes an entire antivirus suite, while your favorite YouTuber or podcaster might have advertised others. VPNs can be useful in some instances, like preventing your ISP (internet service provider) from seeing your online activities, bypassing geo-restrictions and censorship in your country, or as an extra layer of security when connecting to an untrusted Wi-Fi network. If you want to learn more about the limitations of VPNs and how they work, or if you even need one, check out our article on VPN privacy.

But how do we test VPNs? Our team of experts evaluates each VPN using the same standardized test bench to ensure fair and unbiased product comparisons. We subscribe to every service we test with our money and have complete editorial independence. See how we test VPNs and judge for yourself.

We've tested 20 of the best VPNs on the market, and our picks are below. If you want to learn more about kill switches, check out our R&D article. If you're on a budget, check out our recommendations for the best cheap VPNs or the best free VPNs. If you want to stay protected while downloading torrents, check out our recommended VPNs for torrenting.