How to choose the best VPN services

With the advent of virtual private networking, VPN services have become necessary for every computer, smartphone, and tablet. However, finding the right one can take time to research with abundant VPN services available. If you’re looking for a way to protect your privacy on the web, you’ll want to find a VPN service with a strong reputation. Here’s a guide to help you choose the best VPN service.

What is a VPN and its significance?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It’s a technology that allows you to create a protected and secure connection to a remote network, such as your company’s network while permitting access to the Internet. A VPN provides

• encryption,
• a unique IP address, and
• a secure connection to your internet to protect your privacy and keep your network safe. 

Businesses, individuals, and organizations use VPN networks to allow remote users or branch offices to access a company’s intranet or extranet securely. In addition, it secures your connection to the Internet by encrypting your data before it reaches your local network. Using a VPN when you’re using public wifi is essential because it’s a way to ensure that your personal information, like financial account information and password credentials, isn’t being tracked. 

Why do people use VPN services?

When choosing a VPN service, there are many questions that people have. Why should I use a VPN? What are the benefits of using a VPN? How is a VPN service different from other VPN services? It is essential to understand what a VPN is to get the answers to these questions. 

A VPN is a service that allows a user to connect to the internet from an area that the user is not physically located in. When a user connects to their VPN service, their traffic is encrypted. This is important for people who want to protect their privacy, want a safe online browsing experience, and for those who want to keep their internet traffic safe from hackers, ISPs, and other people. Some popular reasons for using VPN services include increased privacy and safety. 

While we are at it, below are a few reasons to use a reliable and trusted VPN service.

• If you’re on a public network, you may be more vulnerable to hacking because you have easy access to web traffic and IP addresses. However, when you join a VPN, your IP address is replaced, and your web traffic is encrypted, thus giving you increased security and privacy on public networks.
•  With VPN, you can simultaneously access public and private networks even if you are in another location. 
• When making an online transaction with an unfamiliar platform, VPN protects your financial information and hides your web activity. 
• With VPN, you can access international content on Netflix that is otherwise blocked in your region.
• Whether you’re browsing social media at work or want to download a torrent file in a country where torrenting isn’t allowed, a VPN connection allows unlimited access to the internet without restrictions.
• Connecting to a VPN is one of the only ways to avoid having your information tracked and sold online.
• If you have a different online identity, always using a VPN connection will help safeguard your identity by allowing you to be an anonymous user. 

How to find the right VPN?

To help you pick the right choice, we’ve compiled a checklist of the crucial factors to consider when choosing a VPN. So, let’s get started.

Determine your needs

The first step to picking the right VPN service for your needs is to determine what those needs are. Ask yourself what you expect from the VPN service and what features you need. Do you need access to certain websites, or do you need to secure your online activity? Having clarity is a must, as not all VPN providers are the same. Some are cheaper, while some are more effective.

If privacy and security are your primary concerns, choose a VPN provider that offers independently verified no-logs policies and high levels of encryption features.

Research the providers

Once you know what you are looking for, you can start researching different providers. Look into their security protocols, encryption standards, and customer support services. It is also important to consider the service’s cost and the connection’s reliability.

Analyze the payment methods

Make sure your VPN supports effective payment methods like credit cards and PayPal. If privacy is an issue, you should look for a VPN that offers cryptocurrency payments. This allows you to sign up for the service anonymously without disclosing your personal payment information. 

A good VPN service doesn’t require you to commit to a subscription in most cases. Look for providers that offer a reliable money-back guarantee. This way, you can get your money back if your expectations are unmet.

Consider the speed

The speed of a VPN connection is an essential factor to consider. You want to ensure the service you choose can provide the needed speeds. Look for a VPN with fast speeds to avoid constant delays and slowdowns. A VPN affects your internet speed to some extent, as it takes time for your traffic to pass through your VPN server and be encrypted. However, the best VPNs only significantly affect your speed. 

You can check your chosen VPN’s speed by looking at three things – 

• Fast VPN protocols
• Speed tests results
• Additional speed-boosting features, such as optimizing the encryption level, servers, split tunneling, etc. 

Reliable server network

Choose a VPN that actively manages an extensive network of servers. They should also perform regular server maintenance, including bug fixes, software updates, hardware upgrades, IP updates, and server reboots. This ensures stable performance and easy access to geo-restricted websites like Hulu without getting blocked.

You will know your VPN provider offers a reliable server network when you can;

• Access to high speed without lagging and instability, even with multiple connections.
• Experience secure gaming with closeby server locations where you can play with minimal lag and the lowest pings.
• Stream geo-restricted content at lightning speeds.

Ensure strong security and privacy policies

Ultimately, the goal of a VPN is to provide a secure connection with minimal risk. For this reason, Radar should have features like AES-256 encryption and OpenVPN capabilities. VPNs with open-source software and accepting anonymous payments are even better. If your VPN doesn’t offer robust security features or has a transparent privacy policy, check out the following attributes of the VPN providers.

• Extra security and privacy features – VPNs offering additional security and privacy features like server obfuscation are excellent options. Server obfuscation hides the fact that you’re using a VPN and allows you to bypass strict government censorship safely. Multi-hop is another additional privacy feature that allows your traffic to be routed through two VPN servers and encrypted twice for added security.
• Strict no-logs policy – VPNs’ strict no-logs policy guarantees that it doesn’t log your personal information or browsing history. An external audit independently verifies this claim to confirm its credibility. Also, the provider must regularly wipe all data from their servers. 
• Two-factor authentication – Hackers can easily access your account via phishing emails, but adding two-factor authentication to your VPN account prevents hackers from logging in with your credentials. Find a VPN that can send you a passcode or use your fingerprint or facial recognition to log in to prevent unauthorized access.
• Privacy policy – Most VPNs claim to have a no-log policy, but this is not the case in most cases. You must review your VPN’s privacy policy to see what data it stores. At the very least, you shouldn’t be logging web traffic and IP addresses.
• Jurisdiction – Depending on how important your privacy is, you should look for VPNs based in countries that are not members of the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliances. This ensures that the VPN provider cannot provide your data to the government.
• Strong security protocols – Your VPN should support the most secure (and fastest) protocols available today. These include OpenVPN, WireGuard, and ExpressVPN’s own Lightway. Multiple options allow you to customize your connection based on your preferences. 
• Military-grade encryption mechanism – VPNs using the military-grade encryption protection, AES 256-bit, is the best. They guarantee 100% confidentiality of your sensitive information. 
• Auto-kill switch for leak protection – Leakproof and automatic kill switch prevent your IP address and browser data from being exposed. A kill switch ensures this even if the VPN drops for any reason.

Ease of use and setup

Everyone needing VPN services may not be fluent with a complicated VPN. But a good thing is that there are many VPNs with user-friendly interfaces. It should be easy to use even if you are not tech-savvy. VPNs with apps working on most devices are easy to install on any device, such as Windows, Android, iOS, or macOS. If your VPN doesn’t have the app for the device you want to use, setup can be very frustrating. Also, the VPN should have an easy-to-use interface and be pre-configured in a working state. This will allow you to connect to your server in seconds.

Torrent friendly

If you want to torrent, you need peer-to-peer (P2P)-enabled VPN servers, solid security, and a no-logs policy. This feature enables you to download torrent files quickly without interruption. If your VPN includes port forwarding, that’s a big plus as it increases the number of peers you can connect to, thus improving download speeds. 

Additionally, some providers allow connections to SOCKS5 proxy servers instead of their usual VPN servers that hide your IP address like a regular VPN but skip data encryption. It’s also worth noting that SOCKS5 proxies are perfect for torrenting, as they send smaller data packets to improve download speeds.

Compatibility

If you intend to use many devices, the VPN you choose should support them. Most VPNs provide excellent connectivity on desktops, laptops, and smartphones. There are many situations where VPN access is useful, so limiting yourself to a VPN that only works on one device are a mistake. Always look at the big picture and consider every possibility.

Having multiple simultaneous connections to your VPN means you don’t have to disconnect one device to reserve another. Alternatively, you can look for a VPN compatible with your router. 

Read the reviews

Reading reviews of different VPN services can provide valuable insight into their performance and reliability. Reviews can also help you make an informed decision about the best option for your specific needs.

Reliable and skilled customer support

Choose a VPN that offers fast and helpful customer support via multiple modes, including email, contact form, and 24/7 live chat. Even the best VPN can have problems, so having reliable and technically competent support is useful sometimes. The most convenient customer support will help you get answers to all your questions almost instantly. 

Try it out

The best way to identify if a VPN service is right for you is to try it out. Many services offer a free trial or a money-back guarantee, so you can test the service before committing to it.

Now that you know what to check when choosing your VPN provider, we shall discuss the best five VPNs of 2023 ahead.

Best 5 VPNs of 2023 – in detail

NordVPN

NordVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) provider. It encrypts users’ internet traffic, hides their IP addresses, and enables them to access restricted websites and services. It offers additional privacy features, such as double VPN, automatic kill switch, and DNS leak protection. It is based in Panama, which makes it a good choice for users looking for privacy and anonymity. 

Notable features:

• Sophisticated security protocols include OpenVPN, IKEV2/IPSec, and the latest WireGuard protocol. 
• obfuscation features
• Zero-logging policy
• Strict no-logs policy
• Double VPN
• Kill switch
• CyberSec
• Automatic wifi protection
• AES 256-bit encryption
• DNS leak protection
• Multi-support platform
• Dedicated IP address
• 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

• Multi-hop option with double VPN
• Super secure encryption
• Not a member of 5/9/14-Eyes Alliances
• Mobile application available with high ratings
• Split tunneling and Tor connection
• Multiple server locations
• Uses WireGuard VPN technology
• Meshnet features

Cons: 

• Limited torrent support
• Occasional cramped interface
• Static IP addresses
• Somewhat costly
• Poor malware restricting results

Pricing plans:

• Standard ($11.99 per month)
• Plus ($12.99 per month)
• Complete ($14.29 per month)

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN does not store any record of your connection logs, such as source IP address, connection timestamps, and any ExpressVPN IP addresses your computer uses. Split tunneling, available on all of ExpressVPN’s supported devices, allows you to choose what traffic goes through the VPN and directly to the internet. While it doesn’t offer a dedicated IP address as many competitors do, the flexible money-back guarantee makes it easy to try for yourself. 

Notable features

• AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit keys
• 24/7 customer support
• Lightway protocol 
• Strict logging policy
• Auto-kill switch
• IP leak blocking
• Built-in password manager
• Apps for multiple devices
• Ultra-fast RAM-based servers
• No activity or connection logs
• Access geo-restricted content
• 30-day money-back guarantee 

Pros:

• Mobile app available for all devices with high ratings
• No data retention
• Five simultaneous device connections
• P2P friendly
• Split tunneling
• Strong security and privacy features
• Diverse distribution of servers

Cons:

• No multi-hop connections
• Slow speed on Macs
• Somewhat expensive
• No browser extension

Pricing plans: 

• 1-month plan at $12.95 per month
• 6-month plan at $9.99 per month
• 12-month plan at $6.67 per month

Ivacy 

Ivacy is the cheapest VPN service you can find today. But due to its price, you will have to compromise on some of its security and privacy features. Your browsing history, timestamps, and IP addresses are not securely protected. Ivacy is a good VPN that fulfills all your basic needs despite these drawbacks. One good thing about this VPN is that you can optimize the server for specific purposes like streaming, unblocking content, downloading, etc. 

Notable features:

• Strict logging policy
• Smart purpose selection 
• Malware protection
• Smart connect feature
• Dedicated Kodi app
• Internet kill switch
• No browsing logs policy
• Military-grade 256-bit encryption 
• Advanced IKEV and IPsec protocols
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Pros:

• Supports multiple streaming platforms
• Split tunneling
• Cheap long-term subscription plans
• Netflix access
• Upto 10 devices simultaneous login
• P2P support
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Multiple payment methods
• Protection of public wifi hotspots

Cons:

• Part of the 5/9/14 Alliances
• Low download speeds
• Kill switch supports only Windows and Mac
• Mac app is poor performance

Pricing plans:

• 1-month plan at $9.95 per month
• 1-year plan at $3.50 per month
• 5-year plan at $1.00 per month

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is easy to use and set up and perfect for VPN beginners. It offers split tunneling on Android devices only. So if you’re using a Windows, Mac, or iOS device, you can only access private networks and not public networks. It also has dedicated streaming servers, making it super easy to unblock your favorite platforms. 

CyberGhost VPN has the most extensive collection of VPN servers available in over 90 countries. It also offers numerous options for spoofing locations. The monthly subscription rate is higher than the historical average, but the annual rate is below most of the competitors. The only downside to CyberGhost is that long-distance connections can be slow.

Notable features:

• No log policy
• Free ID guard monitoring
• Dedicated apps for multiple devices
• Public wifi protection
• Access to geo-restricted content
• 256-bit AES encryption
• 45-day money-back guarantee
• Auto-kill switch
• NoSpy servers

Pros:

• Works on seven devices at once
• 24/7 customer support
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Superfast speed
• Affordable
• Amazing speed test results

Cons:

• Spilt tunneling only for Android
• Static IP addresses
• Poor Windows performance

Pricing plans:

• 1-month plan at $11.66 per month
• 6-month plan at $6.77 per month
• 2-year plan at $1.99 per month

SurfShark

SurfShark VPN is an easy-to-use, affordable, and reliable way to protect your online privacy. SurfShark has servers in multiple countries, which means you can connect to a server close to you and get the fastest speed possible. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which means you can try it out risk-free. In addition to the standard VPN service, SurfShark provides a proxy service that can be used to unblock censored websites and unblock content from certain countries. 

Notable features:

• 30-day money-back guarantee
• 24/7 customer support
• Cookie pop-up blocker
• Ad & malware blocker
• Public wifi protection
• Super fast connection
• Advanced security features
• Multiple devices compatible
• RAM-only servers

Pros:

• Camouflage mode available
• Diverse global server
• Multi-hop connections
• Split tunneling 
• No limit to simultaneous device connections
• Two-factor authentication 
• Travel-friendly 
• No information collection

Cons: 

• Unclear privacy policy
• No proper phone support
• Static IP addresses
• Manual kill switch on Windows

Pricing plans:

• 1-month plan at $13.27 per month
• 12-month plan at $3.99 per month
• 24-month plan at $2.29 per month

Conclusion

We know how difficult it can be when looking for VPN services. We took the time to make it easier for you by highlighting the things you need to consider. VPN services are one of the hottest topics in the tech world. They are becoming increasingly popular and are necessary for many people who use their devices for work and personal use. We hope you find our article about choosing a good VPN helpful service.