All the best services use at least AES-256 encryption and offer a good range of protocols. WireGuard is becoming the industry standard due to its strict security and excellent speeds, and some providers like ExpressVPN have developed their own protocols, but many users still support OpenVPN for its proven reliability. Our best option: ExpressVPN meets all of those criteria and more, and it's the one we use to protect our own data. However, there are several other reputable providers, and below we have our top five for you to choose from.
The Most Secure VPN on the Market If you're looking for the most secure VPN to protect your data and browsing habits, ExpressVPN should be at the top of your list. TrustedServer is another great addition to Express's arsenal of security features. In essence, this means that all ExpressVPN servers run on RAM, not traditional hard drives. All data is erased every reboot and information cannot be stored by design.
Servers running on hard drives can be difficult to completely erase and pose a security threat. However, arguably the best thing about ExpressVPN is the fact that, while it incorporates state-of-the-art security features, for the user it's as simple as selecting a server and tapping “connect”. While you can change tons of options behind the scenes, you can also go with the recommended settings and feel safe. As a general package, ExpressVPN is the easiest and most effective way to stay safe online.
It's perfect for novices and experts alike, and that's why it's our best choice for the most secure VPN. Incredible encryption and usability Known as a trusted name in the world of web security, in our NordVPN review we found that the famous provider is an excellent choice if you want to keep your data private and secure. In terms of specifications, NordVPN offers excellent encryption and is one of the fastest VPNs we still rely on to keep even the most sensitive information safe. You'll also have a kill switch to protect you if your connection drops, and interesting features including Double VPN and Onion over VPN, which uses the Tor Onion network.
With the recent rebrand, no more complicated payment plans. There are no more levels and now any subscription will provide you with 10 simultaneous connections and, most importantly, access to Proton Secure Core servers. These are ultra-secure underground servers in Sweden, Switzerland and Iceland, countries known for their good data privacy laws. Anyone connecting to a less secure location where the provider cannot be 100% sure of the server's security can choose to first target a secure core, ensuring that activity cannot be traced back to the user, even in the event of a breach.
This is a lot like NordVPN's Double Hop, and for the security conscious it will be a big draw. If you want to be really safe, you might want to set up a VPN with a router, and only VyprVPN and ExpressVPN offer dedicated apps for doing so. That means there's no way to forget to activate your VPN, and even your Alexa and Ring doorbell will benefit from it. We rated ExpressVPN as the most secure VPN on the market (opens in a new tab), thanks to its excellent encryption, extensive protocol support, useful additional features, and overall reliability and ease of use.
NordVPN is close by (opens in a new tab), with useful apps and excellent performance, and Proton VPN is definitely worth considering (opens in a new tab). CyberGhost is one of the best and most intuitive VPNs on the market. CyberGhost strikes the ideal balance between a powerful set of features and an interface that's intuitive enough for users of all levels. Features include dedicated server locations for streaming and torrenting, as well as privacy-focused NoSpy servers.
CyberGhost offers a generous 45-day refund period, so you can test the system yourself without having to commit. NordVPN is a fast and secure VPN service with a host of unique features. It's one of the most secure VPNs out there, combining AES-256 encryption with an ad and malware blocker, as well as dual VPN services, also known as multihop connections. If you want to bury your online presence, NordVPN provides the tools.
NordVPN has a robust set of add-ons for its VPN plan, including NordLocker, a file encryption service; NordPass, a password manager; and most importantly, a dedicated IP address. If you need it, NordVPN also offers a Team subscription for small businesses, although its price is opaque. What sets IPVanish apart from the competition, according to our standards, is its lack of additional features and, most importantly, its lack of a dedicated IP address add-on. Without a dedicated IP, IPVanish may not be the best option for heavy duty or business use.
Where IPVanish stands out is its sensible user experience, top-notch security, and affordable pricing. It's also available with SugarSync, in case you're looking for some online storage. ExpressVPN is a kind of poster for the personal VPN market. It is unmatched in security and ease of use, providing an intuitive VPN application that has a wealth of advanced technology behind the scenes.
In addition to AES-256 encryption via standard VPN protocols, ExpressVPN offers its patented Lightway protocol that increases speeds without compromising security. ExpressVPN aims to intentionally protect individual VPN users and not companies, who apparently can track the behavior of their employees through a business VPN. Therefore, ExpressVPN doesn't offer any of these services. In a market for copycat VPNs, Surfshark manages to stand out with a list of unique features.
This includes split tunneling, which allows you to send only selected applications through the VPN tunnel, and multi-hop connections, which bounce your tunnel across multiple servers for added security. Unfortunately, Surfshark doesn't offer dedicated IP addresses. However, it allows you to manually connect to a limited number of shared static IP addresses for free, which can help access working documents remotely. This feature alone could make it the perfect choice for users with specialized workflows.
Check out our Surfshark review for more information. Finding the best free VPN is an exercise in balancing those restrictions. TunnelBear, for example, allows you to use any server on your network, but limits it to 500 MB-1 GB per month. Hotspot Shield also doesn't limit the number of devices, but restricts it to 500 MB per day and only to US-based servers.
UU. Kaspersky Secure Connection doesn't limit your devices, but it doesn't allow you to choose a VPN server; the app does this automatically. Nord owns and manages many of its servers, for example, which ensures that others cannot access them. Apps use only the most secure protocols with strong AES-256 encryption and are packed with high-end privacy features.
Double VPN (known as multihop elsewhere) routes your traffic through two servers for added security, secure DNS protects your browsing, a reliable kill switch protects you even if the VPN fails, and Nord has recently added the ability to scan downloads for malware with its protection against threats (somewhat limited) feature. The Best Comprehensive VPN for Security and Encryption With ExpressVPN, you'll get all the security you could want. The provider uses 256-bit AES encryption and OpenVPN almost exclusively. In addition, the company uses an RSA-4096 handshake (a form of connection negotiation between your device and a VPN server) and a SHA-512 hash message authentication code (HMAC), along with PFS (Perfect Forward Secrecy).
Some VPN companies have an intelligent view of virtual servers and use them to provide VPN support in regions where it might be too risky to physically host a server. The range of VPN offerings is wide, but those two things will help you find a VPN that has the right mix of speed, security, and cost. Blowfish and AES are by far the most common ciphers found in everyday VPN use, and most commonly you'll see VPN providers offering 256-bit AES encryption. However, because all the data you send and receive through the VPN tunnel is encrypted, your ISP will not be able to see what you are actually doing online when you connect to the VPN.
However, because the VPN market is so crowded, it can be difficult to find a secure VPN with all the features you need to properly protect your digital privacy. By testing across multiple devices and platforms, we can assess which VPNs are the best for gaming versus the best for streaming, torrenting, or sharing sensitive information. While a VPN funnels your web traffic to a VPN server, Tor bounces around your traffic through several voluntary nodes, making it much more difficult to track. That said, many of the most secure VPNs offer obfuscated (stealthy) servers that will effectively hide the fact that you're using a VPN by disguising your online traffic as normal HTTPS traffic rather than VPN traffic.
VPN connections sometimes go down, for a variety of reasons, and this is something that happens to even the best services. Since a VPN should focus on protecting your privacy, that's one place where savvy VPN providers can pick up points. Because a VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your computer and the VPN operator's servers, all traffic traveling between these two points is hidden. .
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