crackthe.netDeutsch
Menu

VPN comparison: 7 providers, server locations measured

Every VPN provider in the archive on one page: find the ones that fit you, compare locations, measurements, and prices, and follow every change.

The 7 providers list 1,193 locations in 176 countries. Of their lists, 5 mark virtual locations, and 4 publish server addresses that can be measured.1

As of November 9, 2026.

Find a VPN that fits you

Where
Money
Trust
Features stated by the provider2

7 of 7 providers meet this.

NordVPN

Lowest price per month
€3.49as of Nov 9, 2026
Per month after the initial term
€11.59
Countries
150
Money back
30 days
Devices at the same time
10
List marks virtual locations
yes
Owner
Nord Security
Apps for
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • iPhone/iPad
  • Android
  • Browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
  • TV (Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV)
  • Router
Features stated by the provider
  • ad and tracker blocker

Go to NordVPN Review NordVPN

Screenshot of protonvpn.com, November 9, 2026
Top of the Proton VPN home page

Proton VPN

Lowest price per month
$2.99as of Nov 9, 2026
Per month after the initial term
$6.99
Countries
149
Money back
30 days
Devices at the same time
10
List marks virtual locations
no such field in the list
Based in
Switzerland
Owner
Proton Foundation (primary shareholder)
Apps for
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • iPhone/iPad
  • Android
  • Browser extension (Chrome, Firefox)
  • TV (Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV)
Features stated by the provider
  • free plan
  • streaming
  • ad and tracker blocker
  • P2P / BitTorrent
  • Tor over VPN
  • 10 Gbit/s servers
  • multi-hop

Go to Proton VPN Review Proton VPN

Screenshot of www.expressvpn.com, November 9, 2026
Top of the ExpressVPN home page

ExpressVPN

Lowest price per month
not collected
Countries
113
Money back
not recorded
Devices at the same time
not recorded
List marks virtual locations
yes
Owner
Kape Technologies
Apps for
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • iPhone/iPad
  • Android
  • Browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave)
  • TV (Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV)
  • Router

Go to ExpressVPN Review ExpressVPN

Screenshot of www.privateinternetaccess.com, November 9, 2026
Top of the Private Internet Access home page

Private Internet Access

Lowest price per month
$2.03as of Nov 9, 2026
Per month after the initial term
$2.26
Countries
113
Money back
30 days
Devices at the same time
unlimited
List marks virtual locations
yes
Based in
United States
Owner
Kape Technologies
Apps for
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • iPhone/iPad
  • Android
  • Browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
  • TV (Android TV, Apple TV)
  • Router
Features stated by the provider
  • streaming
  • 10 Gbit/s servers

Go to Private Internet Access Review Private Internet Access

Screenshot of www.cyberghostvpn.com, November 9, 2026
Top of the CyberGhost home page

CyberGhost

Lowest price per month
not collected
Countries
100
Money back
not recorded
Devices at the same time
not recorded
List marks virtual locations
yes
Owner
Kape Technologies
Apps for
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • iPhone/iPad
  • Android
  • Browser extension (Chrome, Firefox)
  • TV (Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV)
  • Router

Go to CyberGhost Review CyberGhost

Screenshot of surfshark.com, November 9, 2026
Top of the Surfshark home page

Surfshark

Lowest price per month
$2.49as of Nov 9, 2026
Per month after the initial term
$8.25
Countries
100
Money back
30 days
Devices at the same time
unlimited
List marks virtual locations
yes
Based in
Netherlands
Owner
merged with Nord Security under one holding company in 2022; both operate independently
Apps for
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • iPhone/iPad
  • Android
  • Browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
  • TV (Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV)
  • Router
Features stated by the provider
  • free trial
  • ad and tracker blocker
  • 10 Gbit/s servers
  • multi-hop

Go to Surfshark Review Surfshark

Screenshot of hide.me, November 9, 2026
Top of the hide.me home page

hide.me

Lowest price per month
$2.33as of Nov 9, 2026
Per month after the initial term
$2.33
Countries
57
Money back
30 days
Devices at the same time
10
List marks virtual locations
no such field in the list
Based in
Malaysia
Apps for
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • iPhone/iPad
  • Android
  • Browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
  • TV (Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV)
  • Router
Features stated by the provider
  • free plan
  • streaming
  • port forwarding

Go to hide.me Review hide.me

If the archive has no information for a criterion, the provider stays on the list with the note “Not known in the archive.” A provider is hidden only when the archive knows that it does not meet a criterion. The number next to an option shows how many providers stay on the list when you select it. If none stay, the providers missing the fewest criteria are shown. Prices are in each provider's own currency and, depending on the provider, with or without tax. The figure for a provider's own website comes from the country named with it. From another country, the page may load other services. Providers are ordered by number of countries. An affiliate link never affects the order.345

Compare VPNs

Coverage

  • countries with at least one location that is not marked as virtual
  • countries where all locations are marked as virtual
  • list has no marker
ProviderCountriesCountries not listed only as virtual6LocationsServers listedChart
NordVPN150552265,265
Proton VPN149no information in the list19518,944
ExpressVPN11349226not stated
Private Internet Access11352215The list gives only one name per location or a changing sample. Neither is a number of servers.
CyberGhost100441259,661
Surfshark10054142The list gives only one name per location or a changing sample. Neither is a number of servers.
hide.me57no information in the list64The list gives only one name per location or a changing sample. Neither is a number of servers.

Markers and measurements

  • fits the listed country
  • no conclusion possible
  • server outside the country
Providermarked as virtual6Measured7fits the listed countryserver outside the countryChart
NordVPN58%2267972
Proton VPNno information in the listnot measurablenot measurablenot measurable
ExpressVPN46%not measurablenot measurablenot measurable
Private Internet Access44%2159946
CyberGhost45%not measurablenot measurablenot measurable
Surfshark33%1426318
hide.meno information in the list64542

Networks and intelligence alliances

  • Locations in shared networks
  • In Fourteen Eyes countries
ProviderNetworks8Locations in shared networksIn Fourteen Eyes countries9Chart
NordVPN1573%41%
Proton VPNnot measurablenot measurable27%
ExpressVPNnot measurablenot measurable54%
Private Internet Access2090%47%
CyberGhostnot measurablenot measurable31%
Surfshark2354%39%
hide.me2383%30%

Prices

ProviderLowest price per month3Per month after the initial termRequested from
NordVPN€3.49as of Nov 9, 2026€11.59 Germany
Proton VPN$2.99as of Nov 9, 2026$6.99 United States
ExpressVPNnot collectednot collected
Private Internet Access$2.03as of Nov 9, 2026$2.26 United States
CyberGhostnot collectednot collected
Surfshark$2.49as of Nov 9, 2026$8.25 United States
hide.me$2.33as of Nov 9, 2026$2.33 United States

A dash means the list does not contain this information, or that it has not yet been collected or measured. “Servers listed” also shows a dash where the list gives only one name per location or a changing sample. Neither is a number of servers. The lowest price is the lowest monthly price a provider states on its pricing page for the initial term of a full plan. Free plans and plans for single locations do not count. Prices are in each provider's own currency and, depending on the provider, with or without tax. The provider's page says which.

Two providers side by side

Select a provider, then choose the provider to compare it with.

NordVPN vs

Proton VPN vs

ExpressVPN vs

Private Internet Access vs

CyberGhost vs

Surfshark vs

hide.me vs

Networks

The published endpoints of 4 providers are in 56 networks. Of these networks, 16 host locations from more than one provider.

Network8Registered inLocationsCountriesProviders
Datacamp Limited AS212238 United Kingdom284140NordVPN (153), Private Internet Access (58), Surfshark (53), hide.me (20)
M247 Europe SRL AS9009 Romania6640Surfshark (33), Private Internet Access (16), NordVPN (13), hide.me (4)
Datacamp Limited AS60068 United Kingdom4728Surfshark (26), hide.me (19), NordVPN (1), Private Internet Access (1)
Clouvider Limited AS62240 United Kingdom3414Private Internet Access (12), NordVPN (10), Surfshark (10), hide.me (2)
Latitude.sh AS396356 United States104Private Internet Access (8), NordVPN (1), Surfshark (1)
GSL Networks Pty LTD AS137409 Australia10252Private Internet Access (92), NordVPN (10)
Zenlayer Inc AS21859 United States1917hide.me (17), Private Internet Access (2)
Hydra Communications Ltd AS25369 United Kingdom124NordVPN (6), Surfshark (6)
Host Universal Pty Ltd AS136557 Australia113Surfshark (7), NordVPN (4)
HostRoyale Technologies Pvt Ltd AS203020 India109Surfshark (8), NordVPN (2)
Interconnecx, LLC AS13737 United States31Surfshark (2), hide.me (1)
UAB Bacloud AS61272 Lithuania31Private Internet Access (2), hide.me (1)
Trabia SRL AS43289 Moldova21hide.me (1), Private Internet Access (1)
Limestone Networks, Inc. AS46475 United States21hide.me (1), Private Internet Access (1)
Keminet SHPK AS197706 Albania21hide.me (1), Private Internet Access (1)
HostRoyale Technologies Pvt Ltd AS207990 India21NordVPN (1), Surfshark (1)

Changes

The 20 latest changes. The feed lists every change of the last 90 days.10 RSS feed for changes

DateProviderChangeLocation / Plan
Private Internet AccessVirtual marker changed: marked as virtual → not marked as virtualsaudiarabia
Proton VPNPlan addedProton VPN Plus, 12 months (requested from the United States)
Proton VPNPlan removedProton VPN Plus, 24 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNPlan addedNordVPN Basic, 24 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNPlan addedNordVPN Complete, 24 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNPlan addedNordVPN Prime, 24 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNBonus time changedNordVPN Basic, 12 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNAdvertised monthly price changed: 5.49 → 4.99NordVPN Basic, 12 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNInitial-term price changed: 65.88 → 74.85NordVPN Basic, 12 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNCrossed-out price changed: 139.08 → 173.85NordVPN Basic, 12 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNBonus time changedNordVPN Complete, 12 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNAdvertised monthly price changed: 6.49 → 5.99NordVPN Complete, 12 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNInitial-term price changed: 77.88 → 89.85NordVPN Complete, 12 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNCrossed-out price changed: 219.48 → 274.35NordVPN Complete, 12 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNBonus time changedNordVPN Prime, 12 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNAdvertised monthly price changed: 9.49 → 8.99NordVPN Prime, 12 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNInitial-term price changed: 113.88 → 134.85NordVPN Prime, 12 months (requested from the United States)
NordVPNCrossed-out price changed: 296.28 → 370.35NordVPN Prime, 12 months (requested from the United States)
ExpressVPNThird-party service removed from the websiteamazonaws.com (requested from the United States)
ExpressVPNThird-party service removed from the websitebing.com, advertising (requested from the United States)

Guides for this page

Level 0 · BasicsWhat is a VPN? Meaning, how it works, and what it hides Level 0 · BasicsDo you need a VPN? Advantages and disadvantages Level 0 · BasicsIs it legal to use a VPN? Level 0 · BasicsIs a free VPN safe? Free plans, trials, and refunds Level 0 · BasicsVPN vs proxy: what is the difference? Level 1 · First stepsHow to choose your first VPN: 7 points to check before buying Level 1 · First stepsHow to use a VPN: set it up and connect, step by step Level 1 · First stepsHow much does a VPN cost per month? Prices explained Level 1 · First stepsVPN apps for iPhone, Android, PC, Mac, TV, and router Level 2 · Know your providerWhat is a virtual VPN location? When the server is elsewhere Level 2 · Know your providerWho owns your VPN? Owners, headquarters, and the Five Eyes Level 2 · Know your providerWhat VPN websites track before you buy Level 2 · Know your providerHow to read a VPN review on this site Level 2 · Know your providerVPN features explained: kill switch, split tunneling, multi-hop Level 3 · How it worksVPN protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, and what they change Level 3 · How it worksVPN tunnel and encryption: what is protected and what is not Level 3 · How it worksThe networks behind VPN servers Level 4 · ExpertHow latency reveals where a VPN server really is Level 4 · ExpertReading measurement evidence: probes, limits, and open results Level 4 · ExpertVPN server lists as data: what providers publish Level 4 · ExpertThe real cost of a VPN over three years Level 4 · ExpertAudits and no-logs claims: what they can and cannot prove Level 4 · ExpertBeyond the VPN: private email with Proton Mail and Hushmail

Questions about choosing a VPN

Which VPN is the best and most recommended?

There is no single best VPN for everyone, and the most popular names are not automatically the right fit. It depends on the countries you need, your budget, and how much you care about privacy. The finder above shows which of the 7 providers in this archive meet the criteria you pick. They are ordered by number of countries; an affiliate link never changes the order.

Compare VPN providers

Which VPN is the most trustworthy?

Trust cannot be measured directly, so this site shows signs you can check. Home pages without advertising or analytics services: 3 of 7. Server lists that mark virtual locations: 5 of 7. Providers based outside the Five, Nine, and Fourteen Eyes countries: 2 of the 4 with known headquarters. Published audits recorded so far: 4; for the other providers, audits are not recorded yet.

Which VPN is best for streaming or torrenting?

Streaming and P2P support appear here only as the providers state them. Pricing pages that name streaming: 3. Pricing pages that name P2P: 1. This site does not test whether a streaming service works through a VPN.

Geoblocking explained: why websites answer differently by country

A VPN in brief

VPN stands for virtual private network. A VPN routes your traffic through one of the provider’s servers and encrypts it on the way there.

A VPN does not make you anonymous. Cookies, logins, and browser fingerprints continue to work as before.

The full explanation: What is a VPN? Meaning, how it works, and what it hides.

With and without a VPN

Without VPN

  1. Your device
  2. Internet provider sees which sites you open
  3. Website sees your IP address

With VPN

  1. Your device
  2. Internet provider sees only an encrypted connection to the VPN
  3. VPN server sees which sites you open
  4. Website sees the VPN server's address
encrypted by the VPN not encrypted by the VPN

What are the pros and cons of a VPN?

AdvantagesDisadvantages
Websites you visit see the VPN server's address instead of yours.You now trust the VPN provider instead of your internet provider.
Your internet provider and the Wi-Fi operator see only the encrypted connection to the VPN.A country in the list does not always mean the server is there. Countries listed only as virtual
Traffic is protected on open or untrusted networks.Longer routes can reduce speed and increase latency.
Services that are not available in your country may become accessible.Some services block known VPN addresses.
This applies to every app on the device, not just the browser.With some providers, low prices during the initial term are followed by higher renewal prices. Stated prices by provider

Do you need a VPN? Advantages and disadvantages