Do you want to know which are the best VPN for quality price in 2021? It is important to compare the best VPN providers (not all are the same, nor do they offer the same), know their prices (know how much a quality VPN costs). And understand their strengths and weaknesses (speed, number of servers, multi-device usage, privacy).
There are many options, and the truth is that it is challenging to choose the best virtual private network. Not only do you have to look at the price, but you also have to make sure that the quality of their servers is good, that they do not keep your records.
It allows you to watch Netflix and HBO in other countries or the best vpn for torrenting reddit
torrents, that they have good apps and that your privacy policy is exceptional …
It doesn’t seem like an easy task… So you have to clarify the picture a bit, select the best-paid VPN options, and see if free VPNs are worth it (and if they are safe).
As in past years, in 2021, We will also select the best VPN, but since it is clear that everyone’s needs are different, We have chosen the best VPN for each situation, also a couple of cheap VPN providers and even a free one from total confidence. Do not miss them.
A small summary of this comparison? This time, in addition to NordVPN, which still has a simple interface and many options, We have also considered PIA, one of the most reputable VPN providers in the world. ExpressVPN, one of the best options for performance. Windscribe, Cheap VPN, possibly the best free option of the moment, and CyberGhost, an opportunity for all kinds of uses. We have also included Mullvad, a VPN with a great payment plan and very transparent, and Surfshark, an excellent VPN with a beautiful program for Windows and excellent server speed. You can’t miss ProtonVPN either with a paid version and its free plan… one of the best you’ll be able to find. They all offer a money-back guarantee for a certain period if you don’t like the service.
- Personally, We are continuously using two of these VPNs: NordVPN and Windscribe. And we have tried the rest for a couple of months.
- EYE! Not all VPN networks are the same. You have to choose your VPN provider very well. We don’t want them to sell our browsing records or keep our records … Right? Probably the most important thing when choosing a good VPN is that it has a really good privacy policy that does not keep logs of our online activity. We have already told you that a free VPN is not advisable.
How have we done the reviews of these VPNs? We have tried all the VPNs in the review for some time, some even for many years. We have run several speed tests over time (Are you experiencing speed drops?) And have used various server locations around the world to check their performance. We have also installed several of their apps on different operating systems (Mac and mobile devices). We have checked its security features (level of encryption, encryption protocols) and verified its privacy policy. And finally, We have checked if these VPNs work with different streaming services, these are best vpn for torrenting reddit …
1. Quick comparison of the best VPNs
“Are they the best VPNs in the world? It could be… If you know a better one, don’t hesitate to leave your option in the comments.”
Best Paid VPN | VPN stands out for |
---|---|
Windscribe | Paid and free version. The best free VPN. Very stable and good speed. Base in Canada. They respect your privacy. |
NordVPN | The best VPN for quality price. Base in Panama. They respect your privacy. |
Surfshark | Cheap, fast and with good programs for Windows |
PIA | Good all-round option with good privacy, although with some possible but ... They respect your privacy. Base in USA. |
ExpressVPN | Excellent server speed although somewhat expensive. Base on Virgin Island. |
CyberGhost | Good service but with some but in the privacy policy ... Based in Romania. |
Mole | Perfect VPN to maintain your anonymity. Good server speed. |
ProtonVPN | VPN with an excellent free option. The payment plan is expensive. |
“If you are looking for VPN providers that do not have affiliates, Mullvad and ProtonVPN are your services to choose from: the others that we recommend are VPNs that we are affiliated with (We earn a small commission when you sign up). But that does not mean that they are good options. We are not recommending them to make a percentage of the sale. We recommend them because they seem like good VPN services to us. We are even permanently subscribed to two of them, NordVPN and Windscribe (religiously paying the subscription every year). But in case you don’t trust us, check out more reviews and opinions on Reddit or the internet to confirm our data and opinions … or sign up for ProtonVPN or Mullvad … you won’t go wrong with them.”
If you are looking for privacy and security when browsing the internet, you need to sign up for a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service. Much better than using a proxy in every program that connects to the internet.
A VPN creates a secure tunnel between a client device and a local area network (LAN) by encrypting the data. In addition, a VPN service manipulates the data in the header in the packet stream, replacing your IP address with one of its own and masking the origin of the information you are sending.
What influences the quality of a VPN service? Number, speed, and location of VPN servers, personal data retention policy, customer support, encryption, protocol support, and payment methods.
2. How much does a VPN cost? VPN prices that we recommend in this article
If we recommend that you choose a paid VPN, maybe it would be interesting to compare the prices of the VPNs, right? There are some cheap VPNs and some not so much. We will try to explain why each is worth it: you will find out which are the best paid VPNs.
Eye! We are only going to indicate the cheapest plan … We suppose that no one will register for just one month and that we are looking for the best quality-price in these services. What we do indicate is the monthly price of the offer to compare both services better.
Eye! The prices were updated in December 2020. They tend to change a lot because there are many offers throughout the year, but it is perfect for giving you an idea of the cost of a VPN. Each provider has positioned itself in a specific price range, and it does not usually come from there.
VPN price comparison table
VPN provider | VPN price | Price opinion |
---|---|---|
Windscribe | $49/1 year ($ 4.08 / month) | Average price for a VPN |
NordVPN | €84.15 / 2 years (3.12 / month) | Average price for a VPN |
Surfshark | €49.14 / 2 years (1.82 / month) | One of the cheapest VPNs |
PIA | €70 / 3 years (€1.94 / month) | One of the cheapest VPNs |
ExpressVPN | €84.89 / 1 year (€7.07 / month) | The second most expensive VPN of all |
CyberGhost | €76.56 / 2 years (€3.19 / month) | Average price for a VPN |
Mullvad | €60/1 year (€ 5 / month) | The VPN that only offers to signup for one month |
ProtonVPN | €96/1 year (€8 / month) | The most expensive VPN of all |
You may be interested in reading the following VPN comparisons (in case you can’t decide):
- NordVPN vs PIA (Private Internet Access): VPN comparison
- NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: VPN Comparison
- NordVPN vs CyberGhost: VPN Comparison
- NordVPN vs Surfshark: VPN Comparison
- NordVPN vs ProtonVPN: VPN Comparison
What conclusions do we draw from looking at the different prices?
- Windscribe, NordVPN, and Cyberghost have a medium price, neither high nor low… if you catch them on sale.
- SurfShark and PIA are the cheapest VPNs right now. The first is a newcomer. The second is one of the oldest and most established providers.
- ProtonVPN and ExpressVPN are the two most expensive VPNs. ProtonVPN has the best free plan of all. ExpressVPN has speedy servers.
- Mullvad is the only VPN that only offers monthly plans. You cannot pay for an entire year. In case you don’t like the service … you leave without much problem. And you can subscribe entirely anonymously. Its price is not bad.
3. What do you need to know to sign up for the best paid VPN? The best VPN for your needs
Well, in this post, you will find the best VPN services of the year, but you may have very specific needs.
Not all VPNs offer the same. Not all VPNs work the same on macOS, Linux, or Windows … There are VPNs that are perfect for unblocking Netflix, others for YouTube, others for downloading torrents …
You can check the following entries:
- The best VPNs for Movistar
- The best VPNs to download torrents
- The best VPN for your Android tv, smartphone or tablet – iOS
- A VPN with every country in the world?
- The VPN you should use in Spain
- What VPN works with Netflix?
- Best VPN Services for PC (Windows)
- The best VPN service for Mac
- The best VPNs that accept Bitcoin as payment
- The best VPNs for Bet365
- Best VPNs for KODI
- VPN for YouTube: how to watch videos from anywhere in the world
- The best VPNs for your NAS Synology or Qnap
- The best VPNs that accept Bitcoin as payment
- How to unblock The Pirate Bay with a VPN
And do not forget that you have to protect your security in other ways, such as using a good password manager:
And taking into account that your privacy matters and that it must be protected as if it were good gold. Don’t give your data lightly:
4. What should you look for in a good VPN? Which to choose?
The main thing is that the provider is trustworthy, that it does not sell your data, that your connection is anonymous (that it hides your IP), that its servers are fast, that it has apps for Android and iOS in official stores …
The security offered by the VPN?
A VPN will offer to hide your IP and encrypt your online traffic, but… What technology should it offer for the encryption to be good at this time? Normally all providers use OpenVPN, and now Wireguard is catching on. But these protocols must use good encryption to be secure. It would help if you searched at a minimum:
- 256-bit AES encryption
- RSA-2048 encryption, and yes, it can be RSA-4096 better than better (it is a form of connection negotiation between your device and the VPN server)
- SHA-512 Hash Message Authentication Code (HMAC)
- Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) so that each connection you use uses a different key. If someone manages to “get into” one of your connections, they can’t get into the next one.
- And within its apps, the “Kill Switch” option: Does the VPN fail? You lose your internet connection.
And make sure what protocol you are using at all times. Please don’t leave it to chance.
Security and privacy
Does a security auditing company check the security of the VPN from time to time? Good question. It would not hurt to check the security of the VPN from time to time.
If the VPN has a security breach, have you reported it? Very important. If the VPN suffers a security breach, we want to know about it. It would help if you didn’t hide it.
Does the VPN website respect your privacy? We got off to a bad start if they “watch” us when we enter their website. Choose a company that respects your privacy enough to use few or no tracking cookies, that their website is HTTPS (with SSL certificate).
VPN privacy policy?
It should not save your browsing history. It should not save your data. It must have a good encryption protocol, and it must hide your real IP. A few things to keep in mind regarding VPN privacy:
- Support for OpenVPN and Wireguard, the two protocols that most VPNs use.
- Anonymous payments with Bitcoin, cash, gift cards. We have already commented on it before.
- Strong encryption – We will comment on it a bit more later.
- Who are they, and why have they founded the company?
- Where is your headquarters located? Does the country respect the privacy of its inhabitants and their companies? Is all the information of the company public, and is it clear who the owner is?
- Are your programs Open Source or proprietary? Being Open Source, everyone can access the code and look for security problems
- Does your website track you with cookies or Google Analytics?
Speed and apps
Server speed? It is essential that the VPN servers are fast and that there are locations around the world.
And what about VPN apps? They must be intuitive, easy to use, and available for all types of devices. It is useless to have the best VPN in the world; without then its applications are useless. They should offer you an automatic connection to the VPN, the ability to change the VPN protocol, and even block ads and malware from the web pages you visit.
On how many devices will you be able to use your VPN connection? It is very important. Maybe you don’t want to pay for your VPN subscription to use it on your Android phone, iPhone, or home computer. Most VPN providers offer several simultaneous connections on multiple devices (between 5 and 10), and some offer unlimited connections.
Does the VPN service have a Double VPN (Double VPN) to maximize your privacy, anonymity, and online security? With a Double VPN service, you can connect to two VPN servers, making it even more difficult for someone to locate you or reach you. And if you use the multi-hop VPN option (Multi-VPN), your security is increased by 4.
Do your servers allow connections for torrenting? Adblocking?
And not only that … Are your servers fast enough to download these types of files? These are usually files of many GB. We need a good connection, and we don’t want to spend weeks downloading the file. We will download torrents or any other file through P2P networks, and we want to have some anonymity.
Does the VPN have ad and malware blocking? It is becoming fashionable for VPNs to offer online ad blocking and malware blocking in recent times. It is an interesting option if they have implemented it well. Your online browsing speed will improve, and it will be safer. And you will have fewer distractions. It would be interesting if they offered some modularity in this service. That is, they let you activate and deactivate what ads you want to see or what type of pages you want to block or allow.
VPN trial period and services
VPN free trial period? Being able to sign up for the VPN yourself and try it out for a while. Most of the services have trial periods of between 7 to 30 days, but in case you don’t have it … Why don’t you sign up for a single month to try it out and then decide if you want to switch to an annual or biannual plan which will be cheaper?
Customer service and support? You are paying good money, so ask for good customer service in case we have problems at some point.
Configuration guides? Normally it is easy to configure VPNs on your computer or smartphone (install their apps, and that’s it), but if we get into the router and other devices, it might not be bad if the VPN provider has written us some help guide.
Any free VPN? We have selected a few that have some free plans, but you always have to bear in mind that they will have limitations: speed, number of servers and countries, number of devices… some can even put ads on you. We have only selected the ones you can trust.
Anonymous payments? It would not be bad if they offered us to pay in cash, in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency, and with checks or gift cards that you can buy in large establishments. It is the most anonymous with what we will be able to pay at this time. But they must offer you many more options such as payment with PayPal, card, transfer, etc. And that you choose the method that interests you the most. You’re looking for anonymity with your VPN… If they don’t offer you anonymous payments… we’re off to a bad start.
VPN in countries within 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, or 14 Eyes.
What is this? They are alliances between countries. They share safety information. Should it matter to me that the VPN headquarters we choose is located in one of these countries? The jurisdiction of your VPN shouldn’t be important… You should only be concerned if you are a criminal.
Five Eyes:
- Australia
- Canada
- New Zealand
- UK
- USA
Nine Eyes :
- Countries in 5 Eyes
- Denmark
- France
- Netherlands
- Norway
14 Eyes :
- Countries in 9 Eyes
- Germany
- Belgium
- Italy
- Sweden
- Spain
And if you are a criminal, you should use Tor and some more personalized encryption. Not a commercial VPN.
If you are using a VPN to bypass Netflix or YouTube blocking, the NSA will not come after you. You have to worry that the VPN you choose doesn’t keep logs of your online browsing.
” EYE! Where the servers you connect to are located is more important than where the headquarters of the VPN company is located: this way, you protect yourself from the excesses of governments. Avoid connecting to countries that have limited internet freedom. ”
That said, if you are seriously concerned about the security of your data, you should avoid the countries in Five Eyes. These governments can shut down uncooperative companies, or they can force data collection from VPN users.
- Many of the Nine Eyes and 14 Eyes countries offer very strong privacy laws, especially compared to the top 5 countries. For instance? Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden …
For example, Tutanota, the email service we recommend for your privacy, is located in Germany. The Mullvad VPN is in Sweden.
Multiple VPNs owned by the same company?
Important point. You have to take it into account. For a few years, there has been a company called Kape Technologies (formerly called Crossrider) that has been taking ownership of different VPN services:
- In 2017 they bought CyberGhost VPN
- In 2018 they bought Zenmate VPN
- In 2019 they bought Private Internet Access (PIA)
- In 2021 they bought ExpressVPN
In theory, they maintain high privacy standards with their users’ data, but it is something to keep in mind if you want to sign up for one of these VPN services. Better to know in advance and assess whether it is worth it or not.
Eye! You also have to remember that Kape Technologies bought the WEBSELENESE company that owns VPN service review pages such as vpnmentor… We won’t say more…
As you can see, the world of VPNs is getting complicated, and it is increasingly difficult to choose a good option.
The moral of all this is that many times it is not worth signing up for a VPN for many years. Suddenly the company is sold, and you can get reasonable doubts about its mode of operation and privacy policies.
5. The best VPN in 2021: prices and comparison
5.1. The best VPN in 2021 for quality, price and functionalities: NordVPN
NordVPN and it's Features
Features | NordVPN |
---|---|
Use with torrents | Yes |
Streaming Services | Netflix, HBO, Disney +, Hulu etc ... |
Privacy policy | Does not keep records of you |
Apps | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, routers, FireTV, Apple TV |
Servers | 5,488 NordVPN servers in 59 countries around the world |
No. of devices | Up to 6 |
Trial period | 30 days without obligation |
It is a company located in Panama that currently has servers in more than 59 countries. Panama does not have data retention legislation in force.
It has a free trial. The company usually has discounts almost all year round to lower the price of the subscription. Payment options? Credit card, Bitcoin (impossible, more anonymous).
You can access your subscription on their website, where they have all their services at your disposal: NordVPN, NordPass and Nordlocker. And where you can download their apps.
NordVPN offer! 68% off!
NordVPN is currently offering a very significant discount on its 2-year subscription (69%).
2-year plan: € 3.15 per month, € 75.65 in total (68% discount)
1-year plan: € 4.18 per month, € 50.15 total (58% discount)
1-month plan : € 10.16 per month (0% discount)
About the speed of this VPN. You better go to the next entry, where We tell you it in detail. It is usually good, but it depends a lot on the server you choose and your location.
NordVPN: 10 anonymity and privacy issues for this VPN service
- They do not monitor, record or store any VPN user logs. They do not store connection timestamps, bandwidth used, traffic logs, or IP addresses.
- The name of the registered company is Tefincom co SA, and it operates under the jurisdiction of Panama. They operate under the jurisdiction of Panama, where DMCA and similar orders have no legal influence.
- Court order or subpoena? If a Panamanian court issues the order or summons, they would have to provide the information if we had it. However, our zero logs policy means that we do not have any information about our users’ online activity.
- They use Google Analytics and a live chat/tickets tool (Zendesk / Zopim).
- They allow P2P traffic. They have optimized several servers specifically for file sharing.
- You can pay by credit card, PayPal and Bitcoin. They store standard billing information in case a refund needs to be made.
- NordVPN uses NGE (Next Generation Encryption) on IKEv2 / IPsec. The ciphers used to generate the Phase1 keys are AES-256-GCM for encryption, along with SHA2-384 to ensure integrity, combined with PFS (Perfect Forward Secrecy) using 3072-bit Diffie Hellmann keys.
- They provide the option to close applications in case of connection failure and protection against DNS leaks. OS X, Windows, iOS, and Android apps have IPv6 leak protection in place.
- They have custom VPN apps for all operating systems: Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
- They use a hybrid server model, whereby they control some of their servers and partner with premium data centers with strong security practices. No one can retain or collect data. They have their DNS.
NordVPN – Performance, Features, and Settings
Depending on the region you want to connect to, there are servers with different options, each one more interesting:
- “Dual” VPN servers, which send your data to two encrypted VPN servers for added security
- Tor through VPN servers – After you have connected, route all traffic through the Tor network.
- Anti-DDoS servers to protect against network disruption attempts.
- Dedicated IP Servers in the US
- 30 days without obligation
- NordVPN offers an automatic “Kill-Switch” to close apps or the entire internet connection.
- Adblocker: NordVPN has an option called CyberSec that blocks dangerous websites and allows users to avoid annoying ads
- Restricted countries: With the help of obfuscated servers, NordVPN works in countries like China or the Middle East countries where Internet access is restricted, and there is heavy censorship.
- SmartPlay – A feature that unlocks more than 150 streaming services by circumventing geographic restrictions. You can access Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and other services.
NordVPN also has “Ultra Fast for TV” servers for the UK, US, Germany, Canada, and Spain. Who doesn’t want to watch services like Netflix at full speed? NordVPN has some of the few VPN servers in the United States that Netflix does not detect as a proxy. There are also no problems viewing content from the BBC (BBC iPlayer) or YouTube that are covered in other regions.
What about the apps and programs available to install NordVPN?
We have a wide variety of systems:
- Mac Os X
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- ios
- Synology
- RaspberryPi
- Tomato
- D-WRT
- Offers encrypted proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers
And the best of all is that we have tutorials on installing each one of them with beautiful photos so as not to have problems installing this VPN on any computer, NAS or Router. You can connect up to 6 devices at the same time. The applications are very visual and easy to use, as you can see in the screenshots We have taken (for Mac).
Pros:
- Many servers available
- Works with Netflix
- Security and anonymity
- Connection speed
- Supports Torrent and P2P
- Own applications
- Supports up to 6 devices
- Configuration simplicity
- Works with Netflix
- You have a 30-day trial version without obligation
- Block web Trackers and ads
- Compatible with DD-WRT VPN (you can install it on your router)
Cons:
- Somewhat expensive without discount coupons in their shorter-term plans, although their 3-year plan is quite cheap.
- If you sign up with Paypal, it is difficult to eliminate the subscription renewal (you have to do it in Paypal).
2. Windscribe VPN: The best free VPN (with interesting options like paid VPN)
Windscribe VPN and it's Features
Features | Windscribe VPN |
---|---|
Use with torrents | Yes |
Streaming Services | Netflix, HBO, Disney +, Hulu etc ... |
Privacy policy | Does not keep records of you |
Apps | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, routers, FireTV, Apple TV |
Servers | Servers in 63 countries around the world |
No. of devices | Unlimited |
Trial period | 3 days without obligation |
The first thing you have to keep in mind with this VPN is that Windscribe is a free VPN in one of their plans (one of the best at the moment), in which they offer you 10 GB of bandwidth per month and a limited number of locations. Of their servers.
Its extensions for Chrome or Firefox are some of the most used for this reason and perhaps because this VPN offers great 256-bit AES and OpenVPN encryption. And they also give you access to Netflix in the US and UK with Windflix, but in this case, you will need to use their payment plans.
Price? They have a free plan with up to 10GB of bandwidth per month, and then they have monthly plans that cost $ 9 / month or yearly plans that cost $ 4.08 / month. You can also “build” your plan by accessing only specific servers: you will pay $ 1 for each country you want to access, with 10 GB per month per country … OR you pay $ 1 / month if you want unlimited data. The approach is not wrong if you only want to access certain countries.
Windscribe has programs for Windows, Mac, and Linux (command line only). Extensions for Chrome, Opera, and Firefox (no Safari). Applications for Android, iOS, compatibility with OpenVPN, SOCKS5, and even the possibility of configuring the VPN on your router (DD-WRT, Tomato…).
- Servers in more than 55 countries and 100 cities.
- Block malware and ads on all your devices.
- The policy of not keeping logs
- AES-256 encryption with SHA512 auth and a 4096-bit RSA key
- Unblock US and UK Netflix
- Portforwarding and static IP
- Free plan with up to 10 GB of bandwidth
- Applications for most computers and mobile platforms
- Browser extensions
Windscribe and privacy
Windscribe is a Canadian company… Is that bad? We do not think so. Mainly because they don’t keep your records … or your email …
The settings Windscribe uses to protect your privacy are extreme: they use SHA-512 encryption for authentication and a 4096-bit RSA protocol that establishes the secure connection. All data is transferred using AES-256 encryption.
Windscribe PC and Mac applications have a firewall to protect you from the ” data leak ” (leave it in automatic mode). You are safe from WebRTC, IP, or DNS Leak.
Do you keep any log of yours? Only one thing, and only for 1 month: the bandwidth you are consuming, but most VPNs do too.
Windscribe performance and features
Windscribe has fewer options than other VPNs: they don’t let you choose as many parameters as in other apps from other VPN providers. You can change your connection between TCP and UDP, the protocol and port, the firewall mode (a kind of Kill Switch but without choosing specific apps on your computer), the proxy, or see the logs. They don’t have as many server options as the other options.
And what about the speed of your servers? We have done several tests. We have a symmetric fiber optic connection with 600MB upload and 600MB download. These results were obtained by connecting Madrid, Spain, to a server in Belgium, another in the USA (to watch Netflix), and another in the UK.
This means that We have managed to have more than 90% of my connection connected to Belgium, approximately 35% in the UK, and 15% -20% in the USA. It’s not bad at all.
The results are excellent, especially from Belgium. In the case of the UK and the USA, you will be able to watch Netflix without problems at these speeds.
Pros:
- 10 GB of free data
- Good speed on many servers
- You can watch Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney +
- Very flexible plans, even a personalized one
Cons
- Improved speed compared to other services
- Could improve support
3. Surfshark : cheap, fast and with good programs for Windows
Surfshark VPN and it's Features
Features | Surfshark VPN |
---|---|
Use with torrents | Yes, on all servers |
Streaming Services | Netflix, HBO, Disney +, Hulu etc ... |
Privacy policy | Does not keep records of you |
Apps | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, FireTV, Apple TV |
Servers | More than 1700 servers in 63 countries around the worl |
No. of devices | Unlimited |
Trial period | 30 days without obligation |
- Price: 1.75 euros/month in the 2-year plan (4.99 euros/month in the annual plan)
- CleanWeb: ad blocker
- Unlimited devices
- Whitelister: Allow certain apps and websites to bypass the VPN.
- Policy “no logs.”
- Kill Switch
- Private DNS
- Camouflage mode
- Multihop (multiple VPN connections)
- Noborders Mode – Allows Surfshark to be used in restrictive regions.
- AES-256-GCM encryption
- IKEv2 / IPsec and OpenVPN protocol
- Audited by Cure53
- Using torrents and Netflix
- More than 1700 servers in 63 countries.
An excellent option for Windows, especially since they offer all its functionalities for this platform. The speed of their servers is really good. Your privacy policy too.
You can use this VPN on unlimited devices. It has VPN Multihop, they are edited by Cure53, and it works with Netflix and torrents. You can not ask for much more.
Surfshark uses AES-256-GCM with RSA-2048 with IKEv2 (excellent performance) and OpenVPN protocols .
” Surfshark is a highly recommended VPN with a great price and very good server speed. One of the best VPNs of the year. “
They do not keep records of you, which is very good for our security and anonymity.
You can go to its Terms Of Service and its Privacy Policy and check it yourself:
” We do not store IP addresses, browsing history, session information, bandwidth used, connection timestamps, network traffic and other similar data. We can guarantee such a policy, as we are located in the British Virgin Islands, which does not require data storage or reporting, and the processes related to the provision of our Services are automated.”
Server speed? Spectacular in the tests. One of the best I’ve had in recent years.
One of the few drawbacks that you will find is that it’s Android app has many trackers (checked in exodus ), but it is common in most VPN apps on Android.
It has an ad blocker, camouflage mode, Kill Switch, which allows certain applications and websites to ignore the VPN, private DNS, and noborders mode to use the VPN in China (for example).
Pros
- WireGuard available in all apps
- You can watch Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney +
- Very cheap
- Good support
Cons
- OpenVPN speed could be better
- Kill Switch failures
4. The best VPN by number of options in 2021: Private Internet Access (PIA)
Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN and it's Features
Features | Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN |
---|---|
Use with torrents | Yes, on all servers |
Streaming Services | Netflix, HBO, Disney +, Hulu etc ... |
Privacy policy | Does not keep records of you |
Apps | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux or routers |
Servers | More than 15,000 servers in 74 countries around the world |
No. of devices | 10 devices |
Trial period | 30 days without obligation |
It is one of the “VPN” companies with the best reputation on the market for quite some time, and this year it continues to be one of the best options for value for money to secure your internet connection.
Eye! It seems that they were bought at the end of 2019 by the same company that already owns CyberGhost. It doesn’t have to be bad, but it does have to be taken into account.
There is no free trial, but you get your money back within 30 days of signing up. Price? € 1.94 / month in your 3-year plan (the cheapest). The company accepts payments in Bitcoin, Paypal, credit cards, and many other options.
Private Internet Access: 10 anonymity and privacy questions of this VPN service
- They do not store records related to traffic, session, DNS, or metadata.
- It is operated by London Trust Media, Inc., with branches in the United States and Iceland, some of the countries that still respect privacy and do not have a mandatory data retention policy. They do not monitor their users, and they do not keep any logs.
- All their VPN systems and tools are proprietary. They use some third-party tools to provide a better customer experience.
- Although they have not received valid court orders, they periodically receive subpoenas from copyright agencies that they examine for compliance. They do not record customer data other than their username and registration email.
- BitTorrent and file-sharing traffic are allowed and treated the same as all other traffic.
- You can pay with PayPal, Credit Card (with Stripe), Amazon, Google, Bitcoin, CashU, and any gift card bought in stores and OKPay.
- It uses AES-256 + RSA4096 + SHA256 encryption.
- It has Kill Switch, DNS Leak, IPv6 Leak, MACE (protection against malware)
- PIA has clients for the following platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
- They use their servers in third-party data centers that business partners operate. They have their DNS.
PIA – Performance, Features, and Configuration
It has more than 15,000 servers in 74 countries around the world and supports 10 devices. PIA has been offering one of the best services on the market for quite some time. The service supports up to five devices, PPTP / OpenVPN and L2TP / IPSec protocols, SOCKS5 proxy, and has no restrictions for P2P. It also protects the DNS and has a Kill Switch.
The upload and download speeds are not the best globally, but it is still perfectly possible to download torrents.
They recently added an ad and tracker blocking tool called MACE to block web page ads and trackers.
On its website, you can configure payments, dedicated IP, subscription, or download its apps.
What about the applications and programs available to install PIA?
- Mac Os X
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- ios
The PIA interface for their programs has improved a lot in recent years, and they have quite a few options to configure. As soon as you download the app, it gives you good instructions on everything you can configure:
All of this is quickly forgotten when we see that we can watch 4K videos without latency. Unfortunately, PIA does not work with Netflix.
All of this is quickly forgotten when we see that we can watch 4K videos without latency. Unfortunately PIA does not work with Netflix.
Pros
- Very cheap VPN
- Good apps with great design and functionalities
- Supports many operating systems
- Very good speed on all your servers
- Very safe apps with ad blocker and malware
- Good privacy and security
- Does not keep records
Cons
- Sometimes it doesn’t work with Netflix
- Located in the United States (5 eyes; country with bad privacy policy)
- Geo-located servers (virtual locations)
5. The best option in 2021 for the speed of your servers: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN and it's Features
Features | ExpressVPN |
---|---|
Use with torrents | Yes, on all servers |
Streaming Services | Netflix, HBO, Disney +, Hulu etc ... |
Privacy policy | Does not keep records of you |
Apps | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux or routers |
Servers | More than 3000 servers in 94 countries around the world |
No. of devices | 5 devices |
Trial period | 30 days without obligation |
Works on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
This British Virgin Islands VPN provider offers good download speeds and great options for iOS, Android mobiles, routers, Fire TV, Xbox, Playstation, Linux, and many more. It supports up to 5 devices and does not keep logs. It works perfectly to connect to Netflix in the United States.
Too bad you can’t choose the servers due to latency, although the app itself gives you the best options automatically.
It only allows 5 simultaneous connections, but we can probably live with it. Another great feature of this VPN is the ExpressStreamer DNS, which unblocks Netflix on devices that are not VPN-compatible (such as Apple TV, smart TVs, and game consoles).
Eye! If you don’t want to renew the VPN subscription, be careful always to check the button not automatically to renew subscription… and there are a few… don’t trust it… there is even one at the end that you don’t expect.
It has the following outstanding features:
- OpenVPN: ExpressVPN’s Mac application uses OpenVPN, the VPN protocol that offers the highest security and best performance, by default.
- We recommend that you use the Lightway UDP protocol: it is the fastest option by far. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, or Android.
- Network Lock kill switch: If your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, ExpressVPN prevents your traffic from being exposed to third parties.
- Per-App Connection (Split Tunneling): You choose which apps will use the VPN and which will not when you connect to ExpressVPN
Speed of your servers? After a few tests, you realize that they may not have the best rate on the server that is closest to your location. Still, it does have one perfect thing: the speeds on all of their servers stay at the same level in almost all their locations, which is very good, especially if you want to see live movies from a particular country.
ExpressVPN: 10 anonymity and privacy issues for this VPN service
- ExpressVPN is an anonymous, offshore, zero-logging service provider.
- Express VPN International Ltd. is a BVI (British Virgin Islands) company. The British Virgin Islands is a small independent nation in the Caribbean recognized as an offshore jurisdiction with strict privacy regulations and no data retention laws.
- They use third-party website analysis tools, such as Google Analytics. They use Zendesk for support and Snapengage for live chat.
- Court orders? As they are a network service provider rather than a content host, there is nothing to give. They also don’t try to identify ExpressVPN users. They would have to send a court order in the British Virgin Islands to be legally valid. If they receive a request from another jurisdiction, they let them know that they do not keep logs that allow them to match an IP address to an ExpressVPN user.
- ExpressVPN allows all traffic, including BitTorrent, on all VPN servers and does not impose restrictions based on the type of traffic.
- Payment options: VISA, MasterCard, and American Express. They also accept PayPal and a large number of local payment options or bitcoin.
- They use 4096-bit CA encryption, AES-256-CBC encryption, TLSv1.2, and SHA512.
- They have a Network Lock that prevents all types of traffic, including IPv4, IPv6, and DNS, from escaping outside the VPN network.
- They have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers.
- VPN servers are housed in trusted data centers with strong security practices. Datacenter employees do not have server credentials, and server disks are fully encrypted to mitigate physical seizure risks. They run their DNS servers.
It has 256-bit encryption in OpenVPN, L2TP – IPSEC, PPTP, and SSTP protocol. This VPN is a bit more expensive than other options, but it has a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN offers three pricing plans. It costs about $ 8 a month on the 12-month plan. It is not the cheapest, but it is one of the best works.
- ExpressVPN, recommend the following to watch Netflix: “To find the fastest VPN server location to use Netflix, do the speed test and choose the server location in the USA with the highest Speed Index.”
Pros
- Apps for all types of operating systems
- Simple to use apps
- Large number of servers
- It respects your privacy and does not save “logs”
- Great customer service and support
- Excellent speed across your entire server network with the Lightway protocol
- Servers that work only with RAM memory
- Works with Netflix, Disney + and torrents
- Good encryption.
Cons
- Somewhat high prices
- Connection via OpenVPN works slower
- Apps need a more modern design
- They don’t have as many features as other VPNs (Double VPN, ad blocker, Tor servers …)
6. Best free VPN for Reddit: ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN and it's Features
Features | ProtonVPN |
---|---|
Use with torrents | Yes |
Streaming Services | Netflix, HBO, Disney +, Hulu etc ... |
Privacy policy | Does not keep records of you |
Apps | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux |
Servers | More than 1000 servers in 54 countries around the world |
No. of devices | 10 devices |
Trial period | 30 days without obligation |
Using a free VPN always has its risks, but in this case, we can trust it. ProtonVPN has a free version and after some exciting payment plans.
You can always start with their free plan, and when you sign up and install the app, they offer you a 7-day trial in their paid plan.
Depending on the payment plan you choose, you will have better features. In the basic $ 4 / month package, you can connect with 2 devices in 50 countries and P2P support. Then it goes to Plus for $ 8 / month, 5 simultaneous connections, P2P support, Secure Core VPN, Tor over VPN … and finally the Visionary plan for $ 24 / month with all Plus sales plus 10 simultaneous connections and access to ProtonMail, your mail service.
If you only need a VPN for one device, this is a perfect service: it has no usage limit. Eye! You can only use their servers in the US, Holland and Japan, and the speed is not the maximum.
Speed in your payment plans? Spectacular. We have tried a few, and the truth is that they go like a shot. Look at the following graph:
Your app is very visual, although later, you cannot configure many options in it. It can only create profiles with your favorite VPN servers. Perfect for newbies (nothing to change protocols and so on). They have an exciting thing: “Secure Core,” which offers extra security by routing your connection through the ProtonVPN network. And it has a Kill Switch.
Pros
- Excellent server speed
- Good app design: very easy to use
- The best free plan to sign up for a VPN
- Various pricing plans
- Works with streaming services
- Has P2P servers, Tor
- Secure Core network with extra security
- They do not keep records of you and are located in Switzerland
- Applications are open source and audited
Cons
- One of the most expensive VPNs in their plans with more features
- Small server network
- Little configuration in your apps (protocols)
- Has no ad blocker
- You have to sign up for the ProtonVPN Plus plan to have the best options
How does a VPN work: What is a VPN?
Do you know what a VPN is? And how does a VPN work? Do you know how to choose the best Virtual Private Network to keep your anonymity and privacy safe online? It is becoming more and more important to keep in mind that you have to be safe when browsing the internet. We must defend our privacy and security online tooth and nail.
The problem we have many times is that we do not know how to avoid online snoopers, and the answer is simple: we have to use a VPN, a Virtual Private Network.
Now that we are clear about which VPN to choose in 2021, we must be clear about what a VPN network is and how they work.
You have to take certain precautions so that your connection to the network is secure … What does that mean? Your computer’s IP address is like your physical address, and you don’t want anyone to know it. If you also manage to hide all your traffic from prying eyes … well, better than better … that’s what a VPN does: it hides your IP and encrypts your traffic, careful you browse online.
What is a VPN?
A VPN will simply encrypt all your data as soon as you install its software on your computer, tablet or smartphone.
How does a VPN work?
You will create a kind of tunnel where your data will travel in a completely encrypted secure way (you will only see random numbers and letters): only you and the VPN know “the word” that encrypts your communication, so to speak (the process is quite complex).
Even if someone is able to penetrate into that tunnel, everything they see inside it will seem unintelligible.
Ok … and what does all this mean? I will give you a very simple example. When you try to access the internet from home, your ISP (internet service provider – Movistar, Vodafone … -) receives your request and directs you to what you want to see. Come on, and it can see all your traffic and what you are consulting on the internet. You can sell your browsing data to third parties.
And for that, we use a VPN. The VPN will redirect your traffic to a specific VPN server that hides your IP address and encrypts all your data. All your browsing will be hidden.
Only you and the VPN know “the word” that encrypts your communication, so to speak (the process is quite complex). Even if someone is able to penetrate into that tunnel, everything they see inside it will seem unintelligible.
- Works with Linux, Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, routers, NAS
- You can use OpenVPN
- Easy setup (VPN providers usually offer their apps)
- Protect and encrypt all your communication, not just a program
How is your data encrypted when using a VPN? It depends on the VPN provider, but the same encryption protocols are usually used: OPENVPN (the most common and configurable) or IKEv2 / IPSec (perfect for mobile users due to their speed in changing the connection) are two of the most common.
Are VPNs legal? Is using a VPN legal?
Are VPNs legal? Can you use a Virtual Private Network in your home connection or with your smartphone and be perfectly legal? I already anticipate that the use of a VPN is legal. A resounding yes. We have to clarify what we are going to use them for.
Privacy has become a significant issue when you go online. And we don’t even want to talk about security. Governments, hackers, ISPs … everyone wants your data, your passwords, to know where you navigate … information is the new gold of the 21st century.
And users can defend themselves using VPN networks that protect their privacy and online security. This technology encrypts the data from your computer through specific servers and makes you practically anonymous when you browse. Not only does your identity remain hidden, but it is also challenging to track your actual location.
Is using a VPN legal?
There are several questions about the legality of VPNs. Still, the most significant source of this debate is whether it is legal to access blocked content in specific geographic regions using a VPN. Example? Netflix movies and series in different countries. Its catalogue is not the same all over the world.
Using a VPN to access online content is not illegal. We are simply using a different IP address than the one offered by your internet service provider. There is nothing illegal in doing this.
If you are using your VPN to access Netflix in Spain (if you live in Spain), you are doing nothing wrong as long as you pay for your monthly Netflix subscription.
And what if you live in Spain and want to access Netflix content in the United States through a VPN? Even if you are paying for your Netflix subscription, you are violating a civil agreement. Is something wrong with this? You are not going to get in trouble legally. No one will arrest you, and it is doubtful that Netflix will take your account as long as you pay every month.
Some examples of the legal use of a VPN:
- To improve your privacy and security online when you browse: you will hide your IP from prying eyes, and It will encrypt all your traffic.
- You can use a VPN when you connect online in unsafe public WIFIs, for example, in cafes, hotels, buses, etc.
- To bypass geographical restrictions of certain streaming video companies.
- To ensure a network of work in a company and keep the information of the corporation safe.
Countries like the US, UK, Canada, Spain, the entire European Union and many others allow VPNs. It is legal to use a VPN in these countries.
So when is it illegal to use a VPN? Specific uses of VPN networks are considered illegal.
- Using a VPN in countries that have explicitly banned its use (China, North Korea)
- Access to child pornography
- Perform online hacking
- Use the VPN to spread computer viruses or spam.
- Commit fraud, scams, or theft
- Buying or selling illegal substances such as drugs and weapons
You are made of pine drawer. It is clear then that if you use the VPN to protect your online identity and security, you are not doing anything wrong. 90% of people will use VPN networks correctly, so worry no more and ensure your privacy and security when browsing the internet.
Countries like China, Iraq, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, UAE do not allow VPN networks for different reasons. It is illegal to use a VPN in these countries. If you travel to these countries, be careful with using a VPN network.
Do you know how to use your VPN provider correctly?
The first thing you should do when you sign up for your VPN would be to use the following page to check if it hides your IP, DNS and others: ipleak.net.
- IP address: it will check your IP address. If you have a VPN activated, an IP address will appear different from your telephone operator’s.
- DNS address: It will tell you which DNS servers you are using. It is always good practice to configure DNS servers other than the ones that your ISP “offers” you. VPN and DNS: How to Protect Yourself from DNS Leak with a VPN Network and Changing Your DNS Servers
- WebRTC detection: check that your browser does not support WebRTC or that it has been disabled. If you are connected to a VPN, and you see the IP of your Internet provider or ISP, in barrels, your browser is filtering your data through WebRTC.
You may be wondering what to use your VPN for, where to activate it, or how to use it on your router or smartphone … All doubts are resolved in:
The moral of all this is that you can and should use a VPN both on your home computer and your smartphone or tablet: they are undoubtedly the devices you use the most in your day-to-day life. Then, if you want a more advanced user, you can install a VPN profile on your router to give encrypted access to all the devices that connect through your home Wi-Fi.
Is it easy to use a VPN on your smartphone or tablet?
Of course, all the VPNs in the previous list offer an app compatible with Android and iOS. You install it, enter your credentials, and you already have access to the internet through your VPN.
In general, VPNs are very easy to use: you have to download their programs and applications and get going. If you’re trying to bypass a block, China’s great firewall, want to torrent anonymously or wish to increase your security online, a VPN is your best chance to do just that.
Where to use the VPN, and what is it for?
You can use your VPN network in your home network so that your ISP does not know which web pages you are visiting or take the app installed on your smartphone.
When you go on a trip to encrypt your connection in hotels, restaurants or beach bars that offer Wi-Fi networks The public ones you’ve been happily connecting to… they are a real danger… don’t use them without connecting your VPN first.
Tor vs VPN vs Proxy: What service should you use to improve your privacy?
Each service has its own uses and depends a lot on your personal situation, but I’m going to give you a few tips. I’m using all three, so you can trust.
- Tor: I use the TOR network to connect to the DEEP WEB. It provides true anonymity online thanks to its network of servers, but the connection is much slower than that offered by a VPN. Eye! I use a computer with the Qubes OS that comes with Whonix pre-installed. I will tell you more things about The best operating system to improve your privacy and security.
- VPN: I use several VPNs to regularly connect to the internet and prevent my operator from knowing which websites I visit or accessing content with geographical restrictions. I usually use NordVPN and Windscribe, but also Mullvad.
- Proxy: I use proxies in specific Internet scraping programs to obtain information. They can also be used in your torrent download program or directly in your browser.
In the following table you can quickly see what a Proxy does and what a VPN does
Proxy | VPN | Tor | |
---|---|---|---|
Hide IP | AND | AND | AND |
Encrypted traffic | NO | AND | AND |
Improve security | NO | AND | AND |
Use in just one APP | AND | AND | AND |
Use on the whole computer | NO | AND | NO |
Browse DEEP WEB | NO | NO | AND |
Easy setup | AND | AND | AND |
10. What can you use a VPN for?
1. Avoid geoblocks to view online content
Well, maybe you don’t care about your privacy or that your data is safe in your online adventure. Still, perhaps you are interested in watching a video that only people from a particular country can see. You are in Spain, and you want to see a series of NetFlix in the United States or the UK, and obviously, they will not let you. With a VPN, you will be able to do it.
You will be able to watch YouTube videos with geographic restrictions. Or all those BBC documentaries that they won’t let you see because you’re living in Spain. You are also going to prevent your telephone operator from playing with your data.
Is this legal? Using a VPN to access online content is not illegal. We are simply using a different IP address than the one offered by your internet service provider. There is nothing illegal in doing this. If you are using your VPN to access Netflix in Spain (if you live in Spain), you are doing nothing wrong as long as you pay for your monthly Netflix subscription.
2. Increase your online security when you travel and use public WIFI networks
Do you travel a lot? So using a VPN is essential. When you connect to public Wi-Fi networks or networks in hotels or coffee shops, you run a significant risk of suffering information theft. Using a VPN in these situations is almost a must.
3. Download P2P content more anonymously (torrents)
Another possible use that you can give to VPN networks is to download content from P2P networks in a more anonymous way. If you use the Bittorrent protocol, using a VPN may be a good idea to prevent your IP from being located.
You can bypass your internet provider’s censorship (some support P2P downloads) by using a VPN.
4. Improve your security and privacy online when browsing the internet at home
It is already quite clear. It is its primary use. You are going to encrypt all your communication, and you are going to mask your real IP. There is nothing better than being able to surf the internet freely.
If you are telecommuting from home or are a Freelancer, napping on a VPN to connect to the internet is one of the most innovative options you will be able to take: you are going to protect your work.
5. A VPN can protect you from identity theft
That’s it. If someone accesses your data online, you may suffer identity theft. This data can be used to commit crimes or to sell them. With a VPN, you can avoid it … How?
A VPN encrypts your entire connection so no one will be able to steal your data. It is essential when you use public Wi-Fi or go on a trip and connect to the networks of hotels or coffee shops.
6. A VPN can eliminate Internet advertising
Many VPN providers offer an exciting extra service: blocking online advertising and unsafe web pages.
You have to find a provider that offers it like NordVPN or Windscribe and activate it, as it is usually not started by default.
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