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The best VPN services compared
Which VPN service fits you? Our short comparison shows the best options for beginners, budget buyers and families – with a clear recommendation.
Transparency: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through one, we earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you. It does not influence our ratings. Mehr erfahren
Our short recommendation
At a glance
Best overall package: NordVPN. Unlimited devices and low cost (families): Surfshark. Most stable: ExpressVPN. Cheapest entry: CyberGhost. Details and our ratings are below.| Best for | Price from | Devices | Strengths | Weaknesses | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 NordVPNBest all-rounder | People who want speed and features | cheap on the 2-year plan, monthly is costly | up to 10 devices | Very fast (NordLynx), large server choice, independently audited | High monthly price, many upsells | 4.6/5 | |
 SurfsharkUnlimited devices | Families and budget buyers | cheap on a long plan | unlimited | Unlimited devices, low price, good apps | Speed varies by server | 4.4/5 | |
 ExpressVPNSimple and reliable | People who value stability over price | premium priced | up to 8 devices | Very stable, simple apps, RAM-only servers | More expensive, fewer settings to tweak | 4.3/5 | |
 CyberGhostCheap for beginners | Beginners on a long plan | very cheap on a long plan | up to 7 devices | Low price, many servers, ready-made profiles | Monthly plan is costly, needs a long commitment | 4.1/5 | |
 Private Internet AccessLots of control, low price | Tech-minded privacy users | cheap on a long plan | unlimited | Open-source apps, unlimited devices, highly configurable | US jurisdiction, more technical interface | 4/5 |
Ratings are our editorial assessment against our criteria (security, ease of use, value, features, support) – not a lab test. Prices change often, so we describe them in general terms and you check today’s price with the provider.
What a VPN does – and what it does not
The most common disappointment comes from the wrong expectations. A VPN protects the connection, not your accounts:
| A VPN helps with … | A VPN does not help with … |
|---|---|
| Someone reading your traffic on another network’s Wi-Fi | Phishing and scams |
| Hiding your IP address from websites | Being recognized after you log in |
| Hiding which sites you visit from your internet provider | Tracking through your browser fingerprint |
| Reaching your home network while you travel | Malware on your device |
| Getting around regional blocks | Being anonymous to a service you are signed in to |
How we rate
We rate on security and trustworthiness (where the company is based, who owns it, independent audits, how it handles connection logs), ease of use, value including the renewal price, features and support. The full criteria, weightings and disqualifiers are in our testing method .
What we weight heavily: the renewal price. Almost every provider attracts you with a very cheap multi-year deal and then renews at a much higher rate. Always do the math with the price from the second term, not the advertised one.
The services in brief
- NordVPN has the most rounded package of speed, features and server choice. The monthly plan is expensive, and the interface pushes a lot of add-on products.
- Surfshark is the obvious pick for families and shared households: unlimited devices per account.
- ExpressVPN stands out for stability and very simple apps, but sits at the top of the price range.
- CyberGhost and Private Internet Access are the cheapest entries on a long subscription.
Who a VPN is worth it for
A good fit if …
- You regularly use other people’s or public Wi-Fi
- You would rather your internet provider did not see which sites you open
- You travel a lot and need access to services from home
- You work with sensitive data while you are out
Probably not, if …
- You browse almost entirely on your own well-secured Wi-Fi
- You expect protection from phishing or viruses – wrong tool for that
- You have not set up a password manager and two-factor authentication yet
- You want to be anonymous to services you are logged into
Check before you subscribe
The five points that save trouble later
- Read the renewal price in the small print, not just the advertised price.
- Look at how you cancel before you sign up: can you do it in your account, or only through support?
- Note the money-back window and actually test the service inside it.
- Match the device count to your household.
- Independent audits – is there a published report, and how old is it?
Read on
- Free vs. paid VPN – why free offers are often paid for in other ways.
- Who owns which VPN service? – the owner behind the brand, in one table.
- Set up a VPN on your phone – step by step, Android and iPhone.
- Do you need a VPN for online banking? – when it makes sense and when it does not.
More of the basics are in our privacy section .
Frequently asked questions
Is a free VPN enough?
Free VPNs are usually slow and limited, and some of them pay their bills with your data. For regular use, a cheap but reputable paid service is worth it.
Is using a VPN legal?
In the United States, using a VPN is legal. Illegal acts stay illegal with a VPN, of course, and some services block VPN connections in their terms of use.
Topics: VPN, Comparison