Top VPN Picks
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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 providing 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.
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 article on kill switch robustness. 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.
Popular VPN Comparisons
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NordVPN and Surfshark VPN are VPN services owned by Nord's parent company, Nord Security, but operate independently. They both have similarly disappointing privacy policies and company practices that prioritize their bottom line over transparency and preserving your privacy. The two generally perform similarly, but NordVPN has more consistent latency, while Surfshark's latency fluctuates more over time. Feature-wise, Surfshark supports WireGuard while Nord doesn't, and instead offers NordLynx, their proprietary protocol. Lastly, doesn't limit how many of your devices you can connect at once, while Nord has a maximum of 10.
