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Best VPN for 2024: Our Top 10 Favorite VPN Services

It’s never too late to look for the best VPN in 2024. Securing your online presence is a challenge for many, given the amount of ISP surveillance and online censorship. In addition, people are bothered by geo-restrictions, as they prevent them from accessing more content.

The Internet, as much as it’s awesome and handy, can be a dangerous place. Your private data will inevitably end up in the wrong hands and your privacy will be exposed. ISPs know your browsing habits, while hackers can exploit your IP address and steal even more info through phishing.

The good news is that our top picks can and will alleviate all these terrifying issues. A VPN is designed to keep your privacy intact by routing your traffic through an intermediary VPN server. It hides your IP address and encrypts your traffic, making your online presence more anonymous.

Beware that this is only a theory. In practice, only the best of the best VPN services can provide such benefits, while the rest fall short of glory. What are the top VPNs to use in 2024 then? Find out by reading further!

Best VPN of 2024: Detailed List

This is it – our definitive list of the most reliable VPN services you can get.

Our team of experts tested ALL of them (110+ tests to date), so we’re talking from experience. This is a comprehensive ranking based on at least 15 years of experience with VPN services. Take note of these services.

NordVPN
Mac Windows Android iOS Linux Router

 6300 servers

 111 covered countries

 30 days money-back guarantee

 10 simultaneous connections

Mac Windows Android iOS Linux Router

9.4 /10

Monthly price
3,25 $
24 MONTHS
4,99 $
12 MONTHS
11,99 $
1 MONTH
Our opinion: The best overall VPN for reliability and security
Speed
Security
Features
Ease of use
Customer support
Value for money
SEE MORE
1
ExpressVPN
Mac Windows Android iOS Linux Router

 3000 servers

 105 covered countries

 30 days money-back guarantee

 8 simultaneous connections

Mac Windows Android iOS Linux Router

9.1 /10

Monthly price
6,67 $
15 MONTHS
9,99 $
6 MONTHS
12,95 $
1 MONTH
Our opinion: The fast and easy to use quality VPN
Speed
Security
Features
Ease of use
Customer support
Value for money
SEE MORE
2
Private Internet Access
Mac Windows Android iOS Linux

 27000 servers

 45 covered countries

 30 days money-back guarantee

 10 simultaneous connections

Mac Windows Android iOS Linux

9 /10

Monthly price
2,19 $
24+2 MONTHS
7,50 $
6 MONTHS
11,99 $
1 MONTH
Our opinion: The best VPN at affordable rates
Speed
Security
Features
Ease of use
Customer support
Value for money
SEE MORE
3
Surfshark
Mac Windows Android iOS Linux Router

 3000 servers

 65 covered countries

 30 days money-back guarantee

 Unlimited connections

Mac Windows Android iOS Linux Router

8.7 /10

Monthly price
2,30 $
24 MONTHS
3,99 $
12 MONTHS
12,95 $
1 MONTH
Our opinion: The best VPN for beginners
Speed
Security
Features
Ease of use
Customer support
Value for money
SEE MORE
4
CyberGhost
Mac Windows Android iOS Linux Router

 12000 servers

 100 covered countries

 45 days money-back guarantee

 7 simultaneous connections

Mac Windows Android iOS Linux Router

8.4 /10

Monthly price
2,19 $
26 MONTHS
6,99 $
6 MONTHS
11,99 $
1 MONTH
Our opinion: The perfect VPN for streaming enthusiasts
Speed
Security
Features
Ease of use
Customer support
Value for money
SEE MORE
5

1. NordVPN – the best overall VPN

Nordvpn Best VPN
© Gizmodo

Pros

  • 6,300+ servers in 110+ countries
  • Several security audits
  • Rock-solid AES-256 encryption
  • Obfuscated servers for use in China
  • Affordable 2-year plans
  • Excellent VPN for streaming and P2P
  • Fast speed thanks to NordLynx
  • Meshnet is handy for remote control

Cons

  • Rare connection problems for some users
  • No GUI on Linux

If you want the absolute BEST VPN for 2024 and you tolerate no compromises, NordVPN is for you.

Features

This is easily our favorite paid VPN, offering a whopping 6,300+ servers in more than 110 countries. NordVPN is many people’s preferred choice for privacy and security.

As one of the leading services, it has AES-256 encryption to let you go online without ISP monitoring. We’ll add to that its amazing Double VPN servers that route your traffic through two servers (instead of one), ensuring two encryption layers for double the security.

NordVPN proudly offers Threat Protection on all devices. It can block ads, malware, and viruses, providing 360-degree protection swiftly. This top-rated VPN uses an automatic kill switch to prevent IP leaks, while Private DNS servers deter DNS leaks.

Being from Panama, NordVPN is a no-logging service as well. It sports several third-party audits from companies like Deloitte and PwC – some of the most renowned auditors.

NordVPN is also the most reliable VPN for streaming and torrenting, both of which are very enjoyable.

The NordLynx protocol provides fast speeds, properly utilized by NordVPN’s 10 Gbps servers. Its technological prowess is reflected in P2P servers whose torrenting speeds are astonishing. Better yet, NordVPN works with 20+ Netflix libraries for plenty of amazing content.

We love NordVPN’s recent improvements, such as 10 simultaneous connections and more locations worldwide. It even offers obfuscated servers that work in China thanks to VPN obfuscation for bypassing DPI and various firewall restrictions.

Visit NordVPN

Price

As the best VPN in 2024, NordVPN’s price is surprisingly low. Considering its addition of 24/7 live chat support, Smart DNS, Meshnet, and even dedicated IPs in dozens of countries, NordVPN is a service whose faults are non-existent. In our experience, NordVPN is the epitome of a leading VPN.

It works on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and many other devices, and it’s one of the few to offer a VPN app for Apple TV.

Our team’s advice is to grab a special time-limited discount on one of NordVPN’s 2-year plans. The company has a generous 30-day money-back guarantee to make your purchase risk-free.


2. ExpressVPN – best for speeds and stability

Expressvpn Best Premium VPN
© Gizmodo

Pros

  • Unlimited monthly traffic
  • Based in the British Virgin Islands
  • Split tunneling is included
  • Great VPN apps for tvOS and Firestick
  • MediaStreamer
  • Perfect Forward Secrecy
  • Compatible with routers

Cons

  • It’s not the most affordable option
  • Double VPN servers could be added

Right behind our top VPN pick is ExpressVPN.

Features

It’s one of the best VPN services with state-of-the-art encryption and RAM servers for the highest level of security.

ExpressVPN takes pride in its Lightway protocol, offering a splendid balance of safety and speed. ExpressVPN is as fast as NordVPN.

Our test of ExpressVPN showed impressive performance for gaming, streaming on Hulu, and downloading torrents. Coupled with unlimited traffic and mighty 10 Gbps servers, ExpressVPN’s status as one of the top-rated VPNs is clear as day.

ExpressVPN works on all your devices, each app coming with Advanced Protection which can block ads, trackers, and adult sites. The VPN uses split tunneling and there’s a kill switch to protect you from all sorts of leaks. We’re thoroughly impressed by this VPN’s compatibility.

In particular, its tvOS app is amazing for streaming. We should also mention its router support and 8 simultaneous connections per subscription. Our team appreciates its built-in obfuscation and OpenVPN TCP support for added variety and bypassing censorship.

Being one of the best VPN services to use in 2024, ExpressVPN uses something called Perfect Forward Secrecy. It assigns unique encryption keys to each connection, preventing data theft as a result. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, a well-known off-shore location.

This allows it to keep no traffic logs or anything related to your IP and browsing history. Besides, it’s one of the leading VPNs with a lot of security audits under its belt.

Visit ExpressVPN

Price

ExpressVPN’s only downside is the price, which can be hellishly expensive for some.

However, let us cheer you up with an amazing offer. How about you get 3 free months for the annual plan and as a result, enjoy a 49% price reduction? On top of that, we’ll squeeze some juice out from the 30-day money-back guarantee. Claim the deal below and test ExpressVPN now.


3. Private Internet Access – best for VPN users on a budget

PIA Best Cheap VPN
© Gizmodo

Pros

  • Incredibly affordable 2-year plan
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • PIA MACE for blocking ads
  • No-logs policy proven in court
  • Multiple proxies (Shadowsocks/SOCKS5)
  • DNS leak protection

Cons

  • No Firestick app
  • Not working in China

Almost at the very top of our VPN ranking is Private Internet Access – the best Virtual Private Network in 2024 for budget-obsessed users.

Features

PIA is the biggest VPN with 30,000+ servers in nearly 100 countries globally. While not the fastest paid VPN around, PIA is incredibly secure. It doesn’t store logs and offers advanced security features, such as bank-grade encryption and port forwarding.

We like its WireGuard inclusion, with the option to use a custom port and customize each protocol additionally. Users appreciate PIA’s MACE function, which is a renowned ad blocker. PIA is torrent-friendly, which we’ve come to love after years of using it.

Streaming is also possible on a few Netflix catalogs. Private Internet Access is our favorite choice – or one of – if we’re talking about logging. Despite the US jurisdiction, PIA is a no-log VPN whose claims were proven in the audit by Deloitte. Not only that!

Private Internet Access proved its claims in court multiple times, where the authorities couldn’t extract a single bit of data from it! PIA VPN is an excellent choice for router users or those looking for a simple-to-use VPN for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, or Android.

Despite the low price, PIA offers UNLIMITED simultaneous connections, 24/7 live chat support, and all the other bells and whistles from before. They include RAM-only servers, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, a kill switch, and even Shadowsocks/SOCKS5 proxies.

At the moment, PIA isn’t working in China – NordVPN and ExpressVPN do. This explains why this still respectable VPN isn’t a #1 provider. However, its price, reliability, security, and privacy make Private Internet Access an incredibly popular option worldwide, and by extension, one of our favorites.

Visit Private Internet Access

Price

PIA is one of the best cheap VPNs and with a 2-year plan with a couple of free months at around $2/mo is more attractive than Scarlet Johansson. Let’s not lose from our eyesight a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, making PIA completely risk-free to test and use.


4. Surfshark – best VPN for protecting unlimited devices

Surfshark Apps
© Gizmodo

Pros

  • NoBorders adds obfuscation
  • Works with Netflix and Prime Video
  • Private Browser
  • Offers many Static IP addresses
  • No limits on simultaneous connections
  • RAM-only servers

Cons

  • Not the fastest VPN in 2024
  • It lacks discounts for monthly plans

If you seek problem-free, anonymous, and smooth surfing, you might want to rely on a leading service like Surfshark.

Features

This provider’s amazing security with features like MultiHop and 256-bit encryption make it special. Even better, users get NoBorders, which adds obfuscation.

This allows Surfshark to work in China and get over stubborn firewalls. This is the best VPN if you seek additional value in unlimited concurrent connections. In addition, it has IP Rotation, which rotates your IP and keeps your online location the same, adding to your security.

Surfshark is an incredible VPN for streaming. We used it to unblock 30+ Netflix libraries, with platforms like Hulu, Prime Video, and MAX working like a charm. It’s one of the rare VPNs that offer Static IP addresses as standard, which you’ll find nowhere else among quality providers!

We should point out its WireGuard support, which makes this provider’s performance stable. Sure, it’s not the fastest but our tests showed its gaming and torrenting prowess too. Paying slightly more for the One plan gives you access to Surfshark’s Antivirus.

Better yet, you’ll get a superior private browser for going online without tracking. While the company is registered in the Netherlands, in the 14 Eyes region, it’s a strict no-log VPN provider with many audits. We know that it uses RAM servers and keeps no logs of your IP address or DNS queries.

Visit Surfshark

Price

Surfshark is flexible and affordable for pretty much anyone. Its dedicated IP addresses are slightly expensive and NordVPN is better in this regard. However, as one of the best-rated VPNs around, Surfshark is hard to blame for such small inconveniences.

Think about this. You can get this highly-rated service at around $2/mo and enjoy all of the features mentioned earlier. While not better than NordVPN by any means, it’s good to know that it merged with that company, explaining a sudden rush of improvements on both sides.


5. CyberGhost – best VPN for streaming and torrenting convenience

Cyberghost Apps
© Gizmodo

Pros

  • WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols
  • Cheap antivirus software for computers
  • Dedicated IP addresses
  • Suitable for P2P and streaming on all devices
  • NoSpy servers owned by CyberGhost

Cons

  • No obfuscated servers
  • Longer connection times with OpenVPN

CyberGhost is the best paid VPN for those who don’t want to spend a fortune on such a service.

Features

It also comes with thousands of dedicated streaming and torrenting servers in each app. Connect to a server for Hotstar, for example, and stream this platform anywhere! As a service based in Romania, CyberGhost is free of logging and storing your private data.

This is complemented by transparency reports published a few times a year. CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers are excellent for added privacy, too. This VPN is characterized by exquisite performance thanks to WireGuard whose implementation is perfect.

Remember that CyberGhost has unmetered traffic, allowing for ideal gaming even on distant servers. The service doesn’t have obfuscation and isn’t the best VPN for China. On the flip side, it’s equipped with 256-bit AES encryption and a reliable kill switch to prevent IP leaks.

It offers an array of Dedicated IP addresses in over 21 locations for cheap. We also adore its Smart DNS support, with IP addresses in plenty of locations for superior streaming.

CyberGhost gives you an ad blocker, which can be handy on streaming or gambling sites. It’s a good VPN if you need all devices protected, as it offers 7 simultaneous connections. Granted, it’s not much compared to our best VPN in 2024, NordVPN, but still plentiful for many users.

Overall, it’s a pretty impressive option with intuitive apps, reliable support, and maximum transparency. This is, in the end, why it’s one of our favorite VPN services. Find out more about it in our comprehensive review of CyberGhost.

Visit CyberGhost

Price

Like PIA, CyberGhost’s long-term plans are killer deals, especially with a gargantuan 45-day money-back guarantee. Apart from the price, the VPN offers access to 12,000+ servers and has an antivirus that you can buy for $1 on top of your subscription.

Even if you decide to get an antivirus, the entire package won’t cost you above $3.5/mo. At such a price, it’s almost as if you were stealing the VPN from CyberGhost.


6. Proton VPN – best VPN for privacy and zero logging

Protonvpn Apps
© Gizmodo

Pros

  • Swiss privacy
  • 4,400+ worldwide servers
  • Onion over VPN support
  • Port forwarding
  • Includes a free plan with unlimited traffic

Cons

  • Does not work in heavily censored countries
  • Not the best value for the money
  • Smart DNS isn’t supported

Proton VPN is for many the best overall VPN for privacy.

Features

This comes down to its Swiss jurisdiction and a verified no-logs policy. Proton VPN offers a wealth of unique features, such as Secure Core servers, Stealth VPN, and OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols.

We appreciate Proton VPN for its free plan with unlimited traffic. Paid users will get more, though. The VPN is fast enough and there’s the VPN Accelerator to speed things up. The VPN’s encryption is bank-grade and you’ll find its NetShield ad blocker pretty nifty for blocking ads.

Another perk of Proton VPN is the server park. As a widely adopted VPN in 2024, it covers almost 100 countries with 4,400+ 10 Gbps servers. They’re optimized for streaming on a variety of services, with full support for P2P in any location. Proton VPN even has onion over VPN servers.

They can be used with Tor to visit the dark web privately. Proton VPN doesn’t limit your traffic, and is, as such, useful for gaming even on mobile devices. With 10 simultaneous connections, it protects all your devices with easy-to-use apps filled to the brim with features.

We should praise Proton VPN’s port forwarding for speeding up your torrent downloads. Proton VPN can be installed on your Fire TV Stick as well, and with a free app for this platform, you can enjoy countless hours of streaming and watching movies and series.

The VPN doesn’t have Smart DNS and its performance, while still excellent, isn’t on the level of the top-rated VPNs like NordVPN or ExpressVPN.

Visit Proton VPN

Price

Proton VPN is quite expensive too, at around $4.5/mo for the 2-year plan, so you’ll need to decide whether it’s worth it for you. For us, NordVPN is a better value for the money, hence the first in our ranking.

After all, Proton VPN doesn’t work in China despite the Stealth protocol, so it’s a poor option for users in censored regions. For a VPN of this price, we’d appreciate Proton VPN’s improvement in this field.


7. Hide.me – best for advanced security features

Hide Me Apps
© Gizmodo

Pros

  • 256-bit AES encryption with 8192-bit keys
  • Works with BBC iPlayer
  • MultiHop offers two encryption layers
  • Cheap long-term plans

Cons

  • The free plan forbids P2P
  • It could benefit from more servers

Hide.me has seen some massive improvements lately. This isn’t our absolute favorite VPN but it does quite a few things right.

Features

One is privacy produced by the Malaysian jurisdiction. An off-shore country like this allows Hide.me to keep ZERO logs of your online activities.

As one of our top picks, Hide.me offers multiple secure protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and SoftEther. Moreover, Hide.me uses 8192-bit keys for its AES-256 encryption, making you untraceable online, even if we’re talking about NSA-level hackers.

Recent improvements to this amazing premium VPN include streaming, which makes Hide.me viable for Netflix or BBC iPlayer. Torrenting works well, as Hide.me offers fast speeds to tackle your bandwidth-hungry needs. No doubt, Hide.me’s profession is security.

You’ll get a LOAD of features like dynamic port forwarding, IP leak protection, and even MultiHop to add another layer of encryption. Hide.me comes with SmartGuard, which can block ads, trackers, and malicious sites. Similar to CyberSec in NordVPN but slightly inferior.

Hide.me has around 2,400 servers in 90 locations, making it among the smallest VPNs on this list. This isn’t a deal breaker considering its amazing 10 simultaneous connections and well-optimized applications for all desktop and mobile systems.

Price

Like Proton VPN, this top VPN in 2024 has a free, unrestricted plan with respectable security. You’ll get the most out of its free plans, however. Hide.me used to be expensive back in the day but now, you can get the cheapest plan at under $3/month. It’s worth experiencing, let us tell you.


8. IPVanish – best for app simplicity

Ipvanish Apps
© Gizmodo

Pros

  • Threat Protection
  • SOCKS5 proxy
  • Unlimited connections
  • Stellar P2P performance

Cons

  • No advanced security features
  • It lacks a refund policy for the monthly plan
  • Logging issues in the past

As we move on with the list of the top-rated VPNs, we have a less impressive option – IPVanish.

Features

This VPN doesn’t impress with speed or performance. It is, however, pretty stable overall and offers above 2,400 servers in almost 100 locations. Similar story to Hide.me.

IPVanish is streaming-friendly to an extent but we noticed great performance for torrenting. Also, a recent addition of Threat Protection made this VPN much better. It can now block trackers, ads, and malicious sites but unfortunately, malware/virus protection is absent.

IPVanish’s apps are intuitive enough but slightly outdated. This is countered by many servers in the US usable for Netflix and Hulu. A long time ago, IPVanish used to store logs under another owner. In 2024, it’s one of the top VPNs for a reason – it obviously doesn’t store logs anymore!

With an external audit that it proudly bears, IPVanish is a 100% safe VPN to use. When it comes to advanced features, the provider doesn’t offer many. However, a kill switch, IP/DNS leak protection, and split tunneling are there, making the VPN better than most rivals.

IPVanish supports the SOCKS5 proxy, which can be used for both safety and torrenting. The good news is that the provider offers unlimited connections, making it a leader in device support. Speaking of which, IPVanish works on all devices – mobile, desktop, or TV.

Price

This VPN doesn’t offer a free plan but this isn’t an issue in our book. Its affordable 24-month plan at under $3/mo is worth checking out but be aware that its monthly plan isn’t covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. We expected a bit more generosity from this reputable VPN.


9. TunnelBear – best for teams

Tunnelbear Apps
© Gizmodo

Pros

  • The best-looking VPN app
  • Offers a VPN for teams
  • GhostBear masks your VPN traffic
  • Free plan available

Cons

  • It’s a bit slower than expected
  • Can’t bypass the Great Firewall of China
  • Poor free plan with only 2 GB of monthly bandwidth

We know TunnelBear as a popular free VPN.

Features

Alas, its free plan is purely average, with no excitement on the horizon. It’s a tad better as a paid option, with unlimited bandwidth and slightly faster, although far from impressive speeds. We’ve got to give some credit.

TunnelBear looks amazing, with beautiful in-app animations and the furry bear mascot. Additionally, the VPN is optimized for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android, and while all apps work smoothly, this is all you get. No other devices are supported.

TunnelBear has been audited multiple times for storing no logs. Yes, it’s a Canadian VPN but we know your private info doesn’t linger on its servers. This VPN uses a kill switch for additional security but there’s GhostBear, obfuscation for circumventing firewalls.

TunnelBear habitually doesn’t work in China, so don’t expect miracles. Its server fleet is unimpressive for a premium VPN. It consists of a little over 3,000 servers in around 50 countries. Think about NordVPN or ExpressVPN with over 100 countries on offer.

On the brighter side, the VPN has unlimited concurrent connections and supports P2P in the paid version. We noticed below-average streaming performance, as Netflix and Prime Video usually won’t work that well.

Price

At least TunnelBear won’t charge you much for its plans.

1-year and 3-year plans are just above $3.3 a month and TunnelBear has special “Teams” plans for companies. A free plan is there too but with 2 GB of monthly bandwidth, it’s hardly worth your time, let alone day-to-day use, which seems, and IS impossible.


10. Hotspot Shield – best for live sports streaming

Hotspot Shield Apps
© Gizmodo

Pros

  • Hydra VPN protocol
  • Lots of supported devices
  • DNS Filter can block unwanted sites

Cons

  • US jurisdiction breeds privacy issues
  • No GUI on Linux
  • Questionable logging in the free version

One thing we like about Hotspot Shield is its nice-looking and modern VPN app for Windows.

Features

This usually isn’t our preferred or favorite premium VPN but we enjoy some of its features, such as an automatic kill switch, military-grade encryption, and split tunneling.

Hotspot Shield users get another unexpected perk – Hydra. This is the VPN’s in-house protocol built on OpenVPN TLS for impressive performance and added obfuscation. We tested it in China and it’s not working but milder firewalls can be bypassed promptly.

Our tests also demonstrated that the VPN works for streaming and watching live sports. Torrenting is quite fast and the VPN’s unlimited bandwidth results in a staggering experience. Its paid version is characterized by many servers – around 3,200+ in 70+ countries.

Hotspot Shield also supports routers, allowing people to “inadvertently” protect gaming consoles. The VPN allows for 10 simultaneous connections and properly supports Linux. However, Proton VPN offers a GUI for Linux distros, which you’ll find more pleasing.

As one of the top VPNs around, Hotspot Shield has built-in phishing protection, Tor over VPN support, and DNS Filter to block specific websites. Smart VPN is its name for split tunneling and the VPN stores no logs. Beware that this isn’t the case with its free plan.

In this case, the VPN will store logs and possibly sell your data because it displays targeted ads in mobile apps. Hotspot Shield is a US-based VPN, so it’s at the core of the 5 Eyes alliance. Its history wasn’t the best and some logging incidents were present.

Betternet, a VPN from the same father company, is also to blame.

Price

Hotspot Shield is a tad expensive for what it offers but its 45-day refund policy is quite impressive. And while it’s surely a solid VPN, its price is unjustifiably high at just under $8/mo, leaving it to hang at the bottom of our ranking of the best of the best VPNs for 2024.


How We Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs in 2024

As stated, our team of cybersecurity experts stands behind everything said so far. We tested all of these VPN services – and hundreds more! However, we hold no secrets and will gladly explain and divulge our testing process to aid your selection of the top picks for this year.

Security, Privacy & Reputation

The top paid VPNs have incredible reputations as some of the most secure options in 2024. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and PIA all have no-logs policies and audits by the most respected companies like PwC, Deloitte, Cure53, KPMG, and others.

Let’s not forget their top-tier encryption standards that don’t go below 256-bit. Our best picks are proven to not keep ANY logs while asserting dominance over other VPNs with features like a kill switch, DNS leak protection, RAM servers, Private DNS, and plenty more.

Streaming & Torrenting

Streaming is paramount for many of the best-rated VPN services. NordVPN is the #1 VPN here, as it works with a wealth of Netflix libraries and all other platforms under the sun.

Simultaneously, it offers thousands of P2P servers for anonymous, fast, and stable torrenting. It’s no coincidence that we think NordVPN is also the best VPN for torrenting.

All the VPNs are equipped with powerful 10 Gbps servers to take full advantage of your internet speed. This ensures torrenting, streaming, and even gaming with low latency and excellent performance.

Performance

Speaking of this factor, our top VPN picks in 2024 offer a creme de la creme of performance. NordVPN and ExpressVPN lead the pack, with PIA and Surfshark following closely. This is important for a smooth browsing experience even on more distant servers.

Try NordVPN Risk-Free Now

Our experts performed a myriad of tests across thousands of servers for this purpose. We wanted to provide you with the fastest VPNs for every device.

Server Locations

We’re huge fans of large server fleets among the most reliable paid VPNs. NordVPN has 110+ countries and over 6,300 servers! Think about PIA with 30,000 and more. Then, we have CyberGhost with 12,000+ servers and Proton VPN’s fleet that counts 4,400+ and more.

Their server locations are varied. All top-rated VPN services are equipped with US servers too.

NordVPN has 2,000 of them in this country, while PIA offers servers in every American state. This tells a lot about the sheer quality of these services.

Always keep in mind that a large server network doesn’t not always mean high-quality VPN. Indeed, the quality of the servers is extremely important, sometimes even more than the number.

Bypassing Censorship

Getting over harsh censorship is a bloody hard job and one that our preferred VPNs do well for the most part.

We tested ALL of them in China, Russia, Turkey, the UAE, and other censored regions. While some are incapable of working in China, the majority will work.

We’d like to mention NordVPN as the most notable pick but ExpressVPN and even Surfshark are amazing thanks to obfuscation and masking your traffic. Henceforth, these amazing VPNs can get over Deep Packet Inspection and provide a safe internet experience.

With these services, whatever the country, you’ll have no trouble unblocking a blocked site.

Compatibility & Ease of Use

This experience translates to any device your mind can fathom. Sure, your fridge won’t support our favorite VPNs but other devices will. They work on:

  • iOS
  • Android
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • Routers
  • Gaming consoles
  • Smart TVs
  • Fire TV Stick
  • Apple TV, and dozens of other systems.

All great VPNs are designed with at least 7 simultaneous connections. Many options, like PIA, Surfshark, IPVanish, and TunnelBear allow for unlimited connections per account. All of them are easy to use, with one-click connections to get you safely online.

Customer Service

Customer support was important in our testing procedure. The #1 rated VPN – NordVPN – excels in this regard, with round-the-clock 24/7 live chat support. The same applies to ExpressVPN, PIA, CyberGhost, and other top picks on this list.

This is crucial if you run into problems and want them fixed promptly. You can be sure these support teams will come to your aid faster than you can say “Virtual Private Network.”

Price (Affordability)

You’d be surprised at how inexpensive the best VPN services in 2024 are. They cost around $2 to $6.8 a month, which is what you’ll pay for a coffee in Starbucks. Their money-back guarantee and free trials in some cases make them pretty attractive and risk-free.

Take NordVPN – our number 1 provider. It costs just over $3/mo and provides all the benefits we mentioned. Think of something more valuable than an excellent VPN like this one. At a price cheaper than a Starbucks coffee, you’re getting all the online protection you’ll ever need!

Why We Avoid Free VPN Providers?

We have a separate guide discussing free VPNs. Our team opts for the best paid VPNs because they’re limitless. Free services limit your bandwidth, they’re slower and usually don’t offer impressive security. Storing logs is another dangerous game they’re playing.

This is prevalent in low-quality and “totally” free options like Hola VPN or Urban VPN. They admit to storing logs regarding your IP address, location, traffic destination, and social-media-related data. Streaming and torrenting are often problematic with them.

Many free options intentionally block P2P traffic. They also don’t work with Netflix or BBC iPlayer. A glaring issue is poor device compatibility and apps that lack basic stuff like WireGuard, a kill switch, and servers. Most of them offer 3-5 server locations, also!

These providers are by no means the top picks if you’re looking for an excellent premium experience. However, we encourage your curiosity and want you to test them. Just be aware of the lack of simultaneous connections, poor customer support, and other shortcomings.

Conclusion

With the 10 best VPN services to use in 2024, it’s time to sign off. We made this list according to the VPNs’ qualities and our personal experience. NordVPN is at the top of our ranking due to its extreme performance, strong security, streaming/P2P capabilities, and much more.

It’s a no-brainer as a leader in the VPN industry and an exquisite paid service. ExpressVPN’s expensive price is a downside for many but the provider is filled with impressive security features, excellent compatibility, and fast 10 Gbps servers.

We shouldn’t forget Private Internet Access as one of the most popular VPNs in the US and abroad. It’s perfect for unlimited connections, advanced security, and streaming on a few popular services. Other options have their qualities worth looking into if you’re curious.

It’s your move now. Which VPN provider are you going to choose? You’re spoilt for choice at this point!

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FAQ

We know you’re fully informed about the most dependable VPNs in today’s day and age. Still, we feel obligated to clarify things even more and address some of your burning questions about them. No one got hurt by learning more!

Are VPNs legal?

Yes, they’re perfectly legal in the majority of the world, including Europe, the USA, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Very few countries openly ban VPNs, such as Oman, Iraq, North Korea, Turkmenistan, and Belarus. In most other countries, VPNs are allowed.

Do I really need a VPN?

It depends on your needs and expectations. VPNs are great privacy tools that will rid you of ISP throttling, surveillance, geo-blocks, and other annoying stuff. If you don’t think you need all the VPN benefits and you’re feeling your internet experience is fine, you likely don’t need a VPN.

But since you’re reading this article, you likely do for one or more reasons mentioned earlier. VPNs aren’t mandatory but they vastly improve your privacy and give you more internet freedom. Whether you need one is totally up to you.

How to set up and use a VPN?

Like any other application. You don’t need to be tech-savvy, so follow these steps:

  1. Get the best VPN from our list – we advise NordVPN.
  2. Download and install NordVPN on your device.
  3. Open the application and sign in with your email/password.
  4. Select the server and connect to it. Done!

All VPNs function the same and the initial setup is done in a minute. After that, it takes one click or tap on the screen to connect and enjoy.