Best VPN 2022: NordVPN, ExpressVPN, IPVanish, and More

• Country of registration: Panama
• Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Apple TV
• Cost: $12 per month; $59 for the first year; $99 for the first two years
• Number of servers & locations: 5,280+; 80+ locations across 59 countries
• Number of simultaneous connections: Up to six
• Special features: Split tunneling

• Country of registration: British Virgin Islands
• Cost: $13 per month; $60 for the first six months; $100 for the first year
• Number of servers & locations: 3,000+; 160 locations across 94 countries
• Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, Apple TV, Routers
• Number of simultaneous connections: Up to five (but you can have more if you install ExpressVPN on your router)
• Special features: Free cloud backup, split tunneling

• Country of registration: British Virgin Islands
• Cost: $13 per month; $39 for the first year; $60 for the first two years (plus two free months)
• Number of servers & locations: 3,200; 100+ locations across 65 countries
• Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Apple TV
• Number of simultaneous connections: Unlimited
• Special features: Double VPN hop

It may not quite rank as the best VPN, but when it comes to price, Surfshark is hard to beat and is a great option for those looking to protect their privacy while minimizing costs. Surfshark is available for as cheaply as $60 for the two-year plan, and to sweeten the deal even more, that includes an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.

• Country of registration: United States
• Cost: $11 per month or $45 for the first year (VPN only); $13 per month or $55 for the first year (VPN + Backup)
• Number of servers & locations: 1,600+; 75+ locations across 50 countries
• Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android
• Number of simultaneous connections: Unlimited
• Special features: Automatic data backup and restoration with VPN + Backup plan

IPVanish offers all the key features you could need from a VPN at a great price. With regular sales being part of the IPVanish experience, you can commit for a year at a very low cost, enjoying the protection that comes from a choice of more than 1,600 VPN servers across more than 75 different locations.

Besides offering extensive protection whether you’re browsing from home or using a public Wi-Fi hotspot, IPVanish also makes it simpler to avoid Deep Packet Inspection — a method used by ISPs to limit your internet speed at times. The VPN offers unmetered data transfer caps and there’s no limit on how many devices you can use it with so it’s incredibly flexible for high-volume users and larger local networks.

No logs are kept, plus there’s a choice of multiple connection protocols which is useful if you want to get more involved in your VPN settings. 24/7 customer support means the VPN is always on hand to help you out, too. Not that you should need it too often thanks to simple-to-use apps for all major platforms.

If you want even more from IPVanish, you can also opt to sign up for its VPN + Backup plan. This offers all of the above along with 500GB of secure cloud storage including multi-folder syncing and ransomware protection. Combined, it’s a great service and it’ll even help you avoid geo-restrictions on many of your favorite streaming apps.

• Country of registration: United States
• Cost: $11 per month; $48 per year; $72 for three years
• Number of servers & locations: 750+, 37+ locations across 27+ countries
• Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Android TV
• Number of simultaneous connections: Unlimited
• Special features: Unlimited simultaneous connections for full-coverage protection.

AtlasVPN is a newcomer to the VPN industry, but it comes packed with secure and steadfast features that challenge even the big players. What’s amazing about this VPN is that it has a comprehensive free data plan that is one of the best on the market, and if you decide to upgrade to the faster, premium servers, then it only costs $48 per year or $72 for three years. While the server network may be considerably smaller than its competitors, it is a newer service with much more room to expand.

In terms of security, although the service is young, it didn’t cut any corners when constructing the server security. You can feel comfortable knowing you’re protected behind 256-bit encryption, WireGuard protocols, IPv6 leak protection, and a whole host of other features. Whether you’re browsing the internet casually, conducting important transactions, gaming, or streaming, you’ll find that AtlasVPN’s servers are ideal for you.

• Country of registration: United States
• Cost: $13 per month or $96 per year for Premium plan; $20 per month or $144 per year for Premium Family plan
• Number of servers & locations: 1,800+; 110+ locations across 80+ countries
• Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Routers, Apple TV
• Number of simultaneous connections: Up to five, or up to 25 with Premium Family plan
• Special features: Gigabit speeds, free speed-capped basic plan, 45-day money-back guarantee

Speed can be a limiting factor with even the best VPN, and Hotspot Shield — a relatively new player in the virtual private network space — sought to make that problem its main focus. With up to gigabit speeds, we can safely say that Hotspot Shield seems to have succeeded in that endeavor.

The virtual private network was named the fasted VPN in 2019 and 2020 by Speedtest.net, too, so that doesn’t appear to be mere marketing. But Hotspot Shield isn’t a one-trick pony and has more to offer than just fast speeds. Its list of features also includes military-grade encryption and unlimited bandwidth (at gigabit speeds, mind you).

Hotspot Shield is also very simple to set up and use, but we’d like to see a little more customization options, such as control over encryption protocols. This is part of the deal you get with this VPN, though, as Hotspot Shield utilizes its own proprietary “Hydra” encryption protocol which the company claims is what makes it so fast. That’s just the nature of this beast, it seems.

• Country of registration: Switzerland
• Cost: $8 per month; $60 for the first year
• Number of servers & locations: 517; 57 physical locations across 47 countries
• Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Fire TV Stick
• Number of simultaneous connections: Up to 10
• Special features: P2P transfers, SOCKS5 proxy support, free data-capped basic plan

With VPNs, it’s all about location, location, location. PrivadoVPN is a Swiss company and is thus free from the laws of the U.S. and the European Union. Switzerland has pretty robust privacy laws, as well. It’s also not a member of the “fourteen eyes surveillance network,” so user traffic isn’t logged and passes through privacy-friendly countries. That means you needn’t worry about your true IP address being revealed.

Interestingly, PrivadoVPN operates one of the smaller server networks of all the providers on our list, measuring in at 517 servers spread between 58 physical locations in 47 countries, but that doesn’t preclude it from being a contender for the best VPN of 2022. That’s because it only offers physical server locations not virtual ones because it is not willing to compromise the quality of its service so it can promote a higher number.

If routing around region-based content restrictions and other geographical hassles is your priority, you might be better served with a VPN that has a wider global server spread, such as ExpressVPN. Although, having said that, PrivadoVPN is a fraction of the cost and covers a large chunk of countries, so if the one you’re wanting to virtually jump to is on its list, then we’d recommend taking it for a spin.

PrivadoVPN has it where it counts, though, with several encryption protocols to choose from: OpenVPN, IKEv2, and SOCKS5. The addition of SOCKS5 proxy support is noteworthy, as it allows for fast and seamless peer-to-peer transferring of large files, which is something many VPNs shy away from. This makes PrivadoVPN perhaps the best VPN service for peer-to-peer file transfers if that’s your primary use case for one of these services.

It’s a little more expensive than some others at $8 per month or $60 for the first year (which comes to $5 per month on average), although that’s offset by the fact that you can use the VPN on up to ten devices simultaneously. There’s also a free app-based package that gives you 10GB of bandwidth per month.

• Country of registration: Romania
• Cost: $13 per month; $47 per year; $76 for two years; $84 for three years (plus three free months)
• Number of servers & locations: 7,000+; 500+ locations across 90+ countries
• Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Xbox, PlayStation, Apple TV
• Number of simultaneous connections: Up to seven
• Special features: P2P support, 45-day money-back guarantee

With more than ten million active users and over 7,000 servers spread across the globe, CyberGhost is a giant in the VPN space. It’s also one of the most versatile virtual private networks out there, both in terms of supported devices/platforms as well as what activities it’s useful for.

CyberGhost VPN is compatible with computers, mobile devices, smart TVs, and even gaming consoles, and one great feature of the VPN is that it will automatically connect you to the best server for whatever you’re doing at the moment. That’s a vital consideration for bandwidth-heavy activities like gaming and streaming.

Another feather in the CyberGhost cap is that it supports peer-to-peer file transfers (read: It’s good to go for torrenting, and as we mentioned, it’ll select the best server for it so you get the fastest upload/download times). The interface is great, too, particularly on the computer. It gives you complete control and lots of configuration options including preferred server setups for your most-used programs and apps.

For encryption protocols, CyberGhost supports OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard, wrapping your connection in AES 256-bit encryption to keep your data and IP address hidden. CyberGhost is based in Romania and has a no-logs policy, and while this should keep you safe from certain prying eyes, this hasn’t been independently audited.

• Country of registration: Hong Kong
• Cost: $20 for three months; $48 for the first two years; $70 for five years of service
• Number of servers & locations: 6,500+, 180+ locations across 140 countries
• Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, routers, smart TVs, Xbox, PlayStation
• Number of simultaneous connections: Up to 10
• Special features: P2P support, split tunneling

With a name like PureVPN, this virtual private network had better offer some viable protection — and it does. The software’s hallmarks lie in its ability to connect to a mélange of services for different activities, with wide compatibility with various devices and software interfaces.

The service runs from $20 for three months to $70 for five years, making PureVPN another one of the best cheap VPNs on our roundup. That subscription includes port forwarding, multiple encryption protocols (PPTP, SSTP, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2, and OpenVPN UDP/TCP), malware blocking, P2P support, and an audited no-log policy.

As with any good virtual private network service, PureVPN will prevent websites from viewing your personal IP address, thus preventing others from identifying you or your geographic location. And with more than 6,500 servers on six continents, you won’t be at a loss for worldwide connection points to choose from.

Like NordVPN, PureVPN features split tunneling that allows you to whitelist certain activities you don’t need or want to go through the VPN, allowing you to use online services and browse the web through the VPN and on the clearnet simultaneously. PureVPN also offers you a personal IP address for you to use with certain sites and services — a good idea for those that require logins.

• Country of registration: Canada
• Cost: $10 per month; $60 for the first year; $120 for the first three years
• Number of servers & locations: 1,000+, 41 countries
• Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android
• Number of simultaneous connections: Up to five
• Special features: Free data-capped basic plan available

Our second-to-last pick isn’t as feature-rich as the others listed on our best VPN of 2022 roundup, but it’s nonetheless worth a mention if you’re looking for another no-frills (read: cheap) virtual private network that doesn’t bog you down with features you don’t need. TunnelBear puts ease of use and newbie-friendliness front and center. If you’re new to VPNs and find all this a bit intimidating, this big bear might be the one for you.

The main appeal of TunnelBear is simplicity and ease of use. You don’t have to fuss around with choosing encryption protocols or any other complicated setup. That’s bad news for advanced users who want more control and customization options, but it’s great for average folks who don’t want or need all that stuff getting in the way. TunnelBear does what it needs to do with good encryption, a kill-switch, and a no-logging policy, with the added benefit of full yearly independent audits that the company releases to the public.

That simplicity does, however, bring a couple of bear-sized caveats. Firstly, there’s no free VPN trial or money-back guarantee, which could be a non-starter for many who are new to the VPN game and don’t want to fully commit to a service right away. If this describes you, you’re probably better served with a VPN that has a 30- to 45-day refund period.

On the other hand, TunnelBear does have a limited free plan that stands in as a trial of sorts, but that won’t give you a good feel for what the VPN can actually do. The second drawback with TunnelBear — and this could be a doozy, depending on your needs — is that it’s not really optimized for streaming (and you can forget gaming). The server network is also relatively small.

If you can live with those limitations, though, then TunnelBear is a reliable and extremely user-friendly VPN that gets the job done for web browsing, online work, and general internet use. It’s one of the cheaper picks, too, so long as you spring for the $120 three-year plan which averages to $3.33 per month.

• Country of registration: United States
• Cost: $10 per month; $40 per year; $79 for three years (plus three free months)
• Number of server & locations: 29,000+; 106 locations across 78 countries
• Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, routers
• Number of simultaneous connections: Up to 10
• Special features: Publicly available source code, split tunneling, anonymous payments

Private Internet Access does everything you could want from a good VPN. It hides your IP address, protects your information, and scrambles your browsing activity using a variety of encryption methods including OpenVPN and Wireguard. Private Internet Access also has one of the largest numbers and selections of servers of all the VPN providers on our roundup.

The PIA client source code is also publicly available, leaving no doubts about how the software works (or whether or not there are any backdoors or other nasties lurking in the code). Other nice features include split tunneling, a kill switch in the event of a dropped connection, dedicated IP addresses, and anonymous payments when making online purchases.

We tested Private Internet Access using its Windows installer, which configures the VPN protocols and provides a simple utility in the taskbar to turn the VPN connection on and off. While the interface was spartan, the performance was excellent. Our test system consistently maintained over 110Mbps download and 19Mbps upload speeds with the VPN connection turned on, very close to our usual 125Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speeds.

On the downside, Netflix complained about a proxy and Amazon Prime Video wouldn’t play due to a geographical restriction. These errors occurred whether we used the automatic setting or selected a local U.S.-based server. However, Private Internet Access claims that users can get “unrestricted access to all the content you want” since their VPN service supports Netflix and “all other major streaming services.”

• Country of registration: Russia
• Cost: $5 per month; $30 per year
• Number of servers & locations: 2,000+, 70+ locations across 30+ countries
• Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, any standard OpenVPN client (enabled routers/NAS, linux, etc)
• Number of simultaneous connections: 5
• Special features: Free data client with up to 300MB per day, per device; unlimited traffic and streaming support with premium version.

For those looking for an affordable VPN option that hides your IP address well and protects you online, then Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection might be for you. You can get a full year subscription of Kaspersky for only $30, or $5 per month.

What’s perhaps even more enticing is the free data service that Kaspersky VPN provides its customers. If you’re unsure about how VPNs work and want to test one out before you commit to a subscription, then you can utilize the free data service first. While there may be other providers that gift users more megabytes per month, the benefit of using Kaspersky’s VPN is the combination of its free service as well as its cheap monthly price. There’s even a 30-day money back guarantee for the premium product if it’s not a fit.

NordVPN is our pick for the best VPN of 2022, but there are some things to consider before you hit that “buy now” button. While the core of VPN services is simple, it’s often surrounded by a wide range of features, statistics, and modes that require some study to fully understand.

To help narrow down your choices, we suggest starting with a few questions. First, where do you want a VPN? Do you just want it on your phone for public areas? Do you want it directly on a router or a specific browser (Opera, for example, comes with its own built-in VPN, as do others)? Do you want a whole-house VPN for all the computers and smart devices connected to your local network?

Then, take a look at important features like the number of simultaneous devices supported (if you have a lot of devices online at once, some VPNs may be automatically disqualified here). If you want to beat geoblocking, look for VPNs that have a lot of different server locations. If you want a business VPN, look for advanced security features and broad compatibility with different platforms. Features like split-tunneling to help speed up specific services may also be very important for gamers or high-definition movie streaming.

All of the VPNs on our list have high ratings for security, but there are a few specific things you should look for if your safety threshold is a bit higher than that of an average user. We suggest paying attention to:

• No-log policies: This is the VPN promising that they don’t log locations or activities for any user. Certain VPNs offer third-party verified audits, while others provide detailed information on their code so users can see for themselves.
• Location: A variety of countries have specific regulations requiring data retention so they can investigate illegal activities, etc. Certain VPNs claim they avoid these restrictions by having their headquarters in places like the Bahamas or Panama. This is a somewhat murky subject, but worth watching for.
• Kill switches: When a VPN service suddenly drops or has an outage, a kill switch will automatically keep you from connecting to the internet, ensuring that your location or data are not accidentally exposed.
• Double encryption: Some of the best VPN services offer a double encryption mode that will encrypt data twice instead of just once. It may not be necessary, but if you are truly worried about hacking attempts it could be useful.
• A choice of security protocols: For those who really want to dig into privacy options, the ability to switch between security protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2 can be useful.

Due to the fact that it ticks all of these boxes, and thanks to additional advanced features like split tunneling, NordVPN takes the cake as the most secure VPN you can subscribe to right now.

In the most basic terms, a virtual private network allows you to safely send information when using public networks via a group of networked computers and faraway servers. And while VPNs are effective at what they do, you should be aware of their limitations.

For general data encryption and protection when online, they are an excellent choice. They can help prevent data throttling by hiding you from your ISP (internet service provider). They can get around regional restrictions or price changes by allowing users to switch servers at will. Additional features can restrict web access, help detect malicious sites, and other services.

On the other hand, even the best VPN is not a security panacea. They can be detected and banned by governments, for example, and low-quality versions can log and even sell your data. Services can also block access to content when a VPN is used, which is why trying to get around something like Netflix’s regional restrictions can be hit or miss.

All that said, so long as you understand their limitations and adjust your expectations accordingly, we definitely think that you should use a VPN in 2022 if you’re concerned with online privacy and security.

Signing up for free VPNs, while tempting at first glance, can be a risky business. Know that all “free” services are making money off of you somehow (the old axiom that states “if something’s free, you’re the product” comes to mind), whether it be from advertisements or something less innocuous, such as selling user activity data. The best VPNs typically promise no activity or user logs and many boast third-party audits of this claim but do have fees.

Virtual private networks themselves are perfectly legal in most jurisdictions, including the United States, and there’s nothing illegal about using one for anything you’d do on the internet that’s not an unlawful activity. At its most basic, a VPN is simply a network of privately operated servers that you connect to and through which your internet traffic is routed. That said, VPNs can still put the user in a legal gray area under certain circumstances. This largely comes down to geography.

Certain countries and jurisdictions, particularly those where the state engages in censorship, have laws against circumventing these government restrictions, up to and including blanket bans on virtual private networks. China, Cuba, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, and Russia are a few countries known for restricting or completely prohibiting VPN usage. If you’re concerned about this, make sure to read up on your national and local laws before you start shopping for a VPN.

It also should go without saying that a VPN doesn’t cast a magic spell that makes illegal activities legal. Any action that is unlawful when conducted online without a VPN is still unlawful when using a VPN. This includes piracy. Peer-to-peer file-sharing protocols such as BitTorrent have many legitimate uses (open-source software distribution, for example), but illegally sharing copyrighted materials isn’t one of them. Bear this in mind if you’re specifically looking for a good VPN for torrenting.

Also know that virtual private network providers are beholden to the laws of whichever country they’re registered in and may have to hand over information to law enforcement during the course of an investigation. Virtually all VPN operators boast a “no logs” policy, meaning that they do not keep a record of user activity. In this case, there would be nothing to hand over, although there’s no way to be fully certain that a VPN provider’s “no log” policy is being followed to the letter.

Some VPNs have their no-log practices audited by independent third parties on a regular (typically annual) basis, but this still doesn’t offer 100% certainty. The only way to be sure that you stay out of trouble while using a VPN is to simply obey the law. A virtual private network is for protecting your privacy and keeping your sensitive personal information secure — not for conducting illegal activities outside of the purview of law enforcement.

Finally, note that while not illegal, using a VPN does violate the terms of service of certain websites and apps (Netflix is one notable example). While breaking a company’s terms of service is not a crime, it can still result in that site or app restricting your access to its services and even shutting down your account. Virtual private networks often advertise that they are streaming- and gaming-friendly, but in our own tests we have frequently found this to be hit-and-miss. Be sure to do your research if you plan to use your VPN activities like these.

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