VPNs are absolutely booming right now. Age verification laws are being passed in the UK and US, while censorship is at an all-time high – VPNs are the talk of the town.
The thing is, there's a huge amount of substandard VPNs out there. I've tested plenty of them. What's even more worrying is that some of the worst offenders often sit above legitimate options in the App Store.
1. NordVPN: the best VPN overall
You've heard of it. NordVPN is the most well-known VPN around, and according to my in-depth testing, I consider it the best as well. It's not too technical to use, but it also includes some useful security features like Double VPN and VPN obfuscation.
If you're new to VPNs, it's a great starting point, although Surfshark and ExpressVPN are simpler alternatives. It's also one of the best VPNs for streaming, has had its privacy policies independently audited and is very reliable, whether you're on Wi-Fi or out and about using your data.
Premium features include malware protection with Threat Protection Pro, encrypted cloud storage, and the NordProtect identity protection package.
2. Surfshark: the best cheap VPN
Surfshark doesn't like to be described as such, but it's essentially NordVPN Lite. It's owned by the same parent company, it's more targeted towards beginners, it isn't quite as configurable and costs considerably less. Thanks to this, I rate it as the best cheap VPN.
However, it's certainly not underpowered, and actually includes some unique features not available from any other VPN.
A standout feature is Alternative ID, which allows you to make fake "personas," including disposable spoof email addresses that allow you to sign up to newsletters for discounts and then delete the inbox.
3. ExpressVPN: the best VPN for ease-of-use
Thanks to its UI and range of simple apps, ExpressVPN is s great choice for VPN beginners. There's technical settings for those who want it, but if you're after simplicity then ExpressVPN could be for you.
Following a pricing and plan overhaul, ExpressVPN is more affordable than it used to be – and has three tiers of plan to choose from.
If extra features aren't your thing, its entry-level plan will be for you. But if you want it, ExpressVPN now gives you the option to subscribe to a complete privacy suite. Extra features include cyber insurance to protect you from scams, a password manager, malware and phishing protection, personal data removal and more.
What's the point of using a VPN?
VPNs are primarily designed to help you improve your online privacy. This is done by encrypting your data so your internet provider can't see what you're doing. They also send your traffic through an intermediary server that makes sure your internet provider can't see what website you're visiting, and hides your real IP address from that website.
You can also choose to connect to servers located all around the world. This allows you to see different regional pricing, access streaming content that's exclusive to another country and avoid censorship and internet restrictions in your own country.
Of course, VPNs aren't a silver bullet. Accessing illegal content with a VPN is still illegal. What's more, although a VPN can hide your real IP address from websites and mask what you're doing from your internet provider, there are still many ways you can compromise your privacy.
For example, if you want to avoid targeted ads, VPNs can help, but you still need to make conscious decisions about staying private. For instance, if you're using a VPN and log into your Facebook account, and then start searching for running shoes, websites with tracking cookies can link this activity to your social media accounts.
With the continued introduction of age verification laws, most recent seen in Arizona, we expect VPN popularity to remain high. This could lead to increased attacks on the privacy tools, such as attempts to ban VPNs in Michigan.
A VPN Day of Action occurred on September 25, 2025, where privacy advocates called on governments to "leave VPNs alone."
Although they're not flawless, VPNs are the perfect starting place for improving your online privacy – they're not illegal and they're not tools to be attacked.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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