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The best VPN in 2026: six paid VPNs ranked by the proof behind their no-logs promises

The best VPN isn't the one with the most servers or the boldest speed claims. All six paid VPNs on this page encrypt your connection and say they keep no logs of what you do online. What separates them is the proof behind that promise, who runs the service and under which country's law, and whether features such as the kill switch work on the devices you own.

PrivacyTechReview Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief: Kirill Prosandeev Reviewed Oct 30, 2026 15 min read
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A laptop on a dark desk at night sending six thin glowing tunnels of light in different colors, each to its own small glass gateway

We rank six VPNs we review by fit, not by a score: first by the evidence behind each no-logs promise (a named, dated independent audit you can read), then by company and jurisdiction, then by platform coverage, the kill switch and split tunneling by platform, and device limits. Facts come from each vendor's own pages, checked on October 29 and 30, 2026; we haven't tested these VPNs and don't publish prices, speeds or scores. This covers the six VPNs we had reviewed when we ranked them on October 30, 2026, not the whole market; our later reviews of Hotspot Shield, Betternet and hide.me aren't ranked yet. All six are partners: we may earn a commission when you buy through our links, and that doesn't decide the order.

Want a free VPN instead? Our best free VPN guide compares free tiers that need no payment details. For one kind of device, see our picks for iPhone, Android, Windows PCs and Macs.

What to look for in a paid VPN

A no-logs policy is a promise; an independent audit is the closest thing to outside evidence for it. Check who did the audit, when, what it covered and whether you can read the report. Then check the rest:

  • No-logs audits. Proton publishes Securitum's yearly reports for anyone to read; NordVPN and Surfshark show their Deloitte reports only to customers; PureVPN offers its report by email sign-up. An app security test is different: Cure53's 2021 test of VeePN covered its browser extensions, not its logging. And, as NordVPN says of its own, an audit is a point-in-time assessment.
  • Company and jurisdiction. NordVPN and VeePN say requests for user data must follow Panama's legal process; Proton says it complies only with requests approved by the Swiss courts, though in 2025 it said it was moving most of its physical infrastructure out of Switzerland over proposed surveillance laws. Surfshark contracts through a Dutch company under British Virgin Islands law, PureVPN through a BVI company and VirtualShield through a Delaware LLC.
  • Device limits. Surfshark allows unlimited devices at once, under a fair-usage policy; Proton's paid plans, NordVPN and PureVPN allow 10. VeePN's and VirtualShield's own pages give conflicting limits.
  • Kill switch and split tunneling. A kill switch stops your traffic if the VPN drops; split tunneling lets chosen apps or sites skip the VPN. Both vary by device: NordVPN and Proton have no split tunneling on iPhone, Surfshark's iPhone app splits by website only, NordVPN has no kill switch on Fire TV Stick, and PureVPN doesn't state one for iPhone. Proton warns that on Macs and iPhones some DNS requests from Apple services can bypass the VPN even with the kill switch on.

How to choose a VPN

  1. 1

    List the devices you'll protect

    Check there's an app for each phone, computer and TV box. For a Roku or a game console, NordVPN, Surfshark and PureVPN list no app and describe router or other manual setups instead.

  2. 2

    Read the audit, not the badge

    Look for a named auditor, a date and a scope that covers logging, and check whether you can read the report before you pay.

  3. 3

    Check the kill switch on your platform

    Kill switches and split tunneling differ between a brand's Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and TV apps, so read its help page for each device you use.

  4. 4

    Pay for extras only if you'll use them

    Antivirus and identity tools sit in higher plans and can cover fewer devices than the VPN: Surfshark's antivirus allows five, VirtualShield's three.

The six VPNs we review, ranked

6 compared
Editors' choice
1

Proton VPN

Best overall: public no-logs audits and a free plan to start

Our take: Swiss company Proton AG has had Securitum audit Proton VPN's no-logs policy every year since 2022, and it publishes the reports, the latest from May 2026, for anyone to read. Its transparency report lists 458 orders approved by Swiss authorities from 2017 through June 2026, none of which, it says, it could fulfill because it keeps no such logs. Paid plans cover 10 devices, with open-source apps and a kill switch on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android. A free plan for one device lets you try it first.

Strengths

  • Yearly Securitum no-logs audits, reports public
  • Kill switch on every desktop and mobile app
  • Free plan for one device

Worth knowing

  • No split tunneling on iPhone or iPad
  • Port forwarding only on Windows, Mac and Linux
  • Its pages disagree on server counts and protocols
Platforms: WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidAndroid TV & Fire TVApple TV (paid plans)Chrome & Firefox extensions

Bottom line: Pick Proton VPN if you want no-logs evidence you can read for yourself.

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2

NordVPN

Best for audited privacy plus desktop malware scanning

Our take: nordvpn S.A. of Panama, part of the Netherlands-based Nord Security, has had its no-logs policy reviewed by PwC in 2018 and 2020 and by Deloitte since 2022, most recently in late 2025, but only signed-in customers can read the latest report. Complete and higher plans add a malware scanner on Windows and the Mac version from NordVPN's site, and one account covers 10 devices. It ranks second: its kill switch varies by platform, and its pages disagree on plan names and on how many audits it has passed.

Strengths

  • No-logs reviews by PwC and Deloitte since 2018
  • Malware scanner on Windows and Mac in Complete and up
  • Apps for Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV

Worth knowing

  • Latest no-logs report for customers only
  • No split tunneling on iPhone or Mac; no kill switch on Fire TV Stick
  • Plan and feature names vary by page
Platforms: WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidApple TVAndroid TV & Fire TVChrome, Firefox & Edge extensions

Bottom line: Pick NordVPN if you want the VPN and download scanning in one app on a Windows PC or Mac.

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3

Surfshark

Best for unlimited devices

Our take: Surfshark B.V. of Amsterdam lets every plan connect unlimited devices at once, under a fair-usage policy, with apps for Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV and a kill switch on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android. Deloitte checked its no-logs policy in 2023 and 2025, a shorter record than NordVPN's, and only subscribers can read those reports. In September 2026 Surfshark reported that an outsider had accessed an internal test server; it says no user data was affected.

Strengths

  • Unlimited devices at once on every plan
  • Deloitte no-logs checks in 2023 and 2025
  • Published SecuRing and Cure53 findings on its apps and servers

Worth knowing

  • Deloitte reports only inside a Surfshark account
  • Split tunneling on iPhone handles websites only
  • Antivirus needs One and covers five devices
Platforms: WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidApple TVAndroid TV & Fire TVChrome, Firefox & Edge extensions

Bottom line: Pick Surfshark if you'd rather not count devices: one account for every phone, computer and TV box at home.

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4

PureVPN

Best for port forwarding on phones and routers

Our take: GZ Systems Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, sells the most network add-ons of the six: a dedicated IP in eight countries, port forwarding for up to 15 ports, residential IPs and Multi-Login, which lifts the 10-device limit to 50. Its no-logs evidence is weaker: the latest dated assessment it describes is from 2023, its text no longer names the latest auditor, and no report is linked. A 2017 FBI affidavit says PureVPN's records tied a customer to his home and work IP addresses; PureVPN says it revised its privacy policy in 2018.

Strengths

  • Port forwarding on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and routers
  • Multi-Login add-on for up to 50 devices
  • Apps for Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV

Worth knowing

  • No audit report linked; latest assessment from 2023
  • No kill switch or split tunneling stated for iPhone
  • Its pages disagree on court orders, the trial and split tunneling
Platforms: WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidApple TVAndroid TV & Fire TVChrome, Firefox & Edge extensions

Bottom line: Pick PureVPN if you need port forwarding on a phone or router, or a US or UK residential IP, and accept no-logs evidence you can't read first.

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5

VeePN

Best for trying a free browser extension first

Our take: VeePN Corp. of Panama offers Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions whose free tier, its extension pages say, needs no account and covers six locations (its terms say connecting needs a paid subscription), plus apps for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Android TV and Fire TV, with a kill switch on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. It ranks fifth because no independent audit backs its no-logs policy: the one audit it cites, Cure53's in 2021, tested its browser extensions. Its pricing page gives 5, 10 or 20 devices by plan, while its terms say 10 per account.

Strengths

  • Free tier in its Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions
  • Kill switch on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS
  • Antivirus and Breach Alert in Pro and Max

Worth knowing

  • No independent audit of its no-logs policy
  • Pricing page and terms give different device limits
  • No Linux app and no dedicated IP
Platforms: WindowsmacOSiOSAndroidAndroid TV & Fire TVChrome, Firefox & Edge extensions

Bottom line: Pick VeePN if you'd like to start with a free browser extension and add the full apps later.

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6

VirtualShield VPN

Best alongside VirtualShield's antivirus

Our take: VirtualShield LLC, a Delaware company, fits best inside VirtualShield One, which bundles the VPN with its antivirus, identity monitoring and personal data removal. The apps cover Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android, each with a kill switch. It ranks last: it cites no independent audit, one help article limits users to five devices until a two-factor feature still marked coming soon arrives, and there's no app for smart TVs, Fire TV sticks, routers or browsers.

Strengths

  • Bundles with VirtualShield's antivirus and identity tools
  • Kill switch on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone
  • Choose a state or province, not just a country

Worth knowing

  • No independent audit cited
  • Device limit tied to a two-factor feature not yet available
  • No smart-TV, router or browser-extension app
Platforms: WindowsmacOSiOSAndroidChromebookFire tablets

Bottom line: Pick VirtualShield VPN if you already use VirtualShield's antivirus or identity plans and want one account.

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VPNs at a glance

What each VPN's own pages say, side by side.

Proton VPN

Company and jurisdiction
Proton AG, Geneva, Switzerland
No-logs evidence
Securitum, yearly since 2022; May 2026 report public
Devices at once
10 on paid plans (Free: 1)
Kill switch
Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android
Split tunneling
Paid plans; not iPhone or iPad; experimental on Mac
TV, Linux and browser apps
Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV (paid); Linux; Chrome, Firefox
Extras beyond the VPN
Secure Core, NetShield; Mail, Drive and Pass in Proton Unlimited
Refund window (first purchase)
30 days

NordVPN

Company and jurisdiction
nordvpn S.A., Panama; parent Nord Security (Netherlands)
No-logs evidence
PwC (2018, 2020), Deloitte since 2022, latest late 2025; report for customers only
Devices at once
10
Kill switch
Windows, Android 8+, Linux; per-app on the website Mac app; "bypass prevention" on iPhone and the App Store Mac app; none on Fire TV Stick
Split tunneling
Windows, Android, Android TV, Fire TV; not iPhone or Mac
TV, Linux and browser apps
Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV; Linux; Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Extras beyond the VPN
Malware scanner (Windows, Mac), NordPass, NordLocker in Complete and up
Refund window (first purchase)
30 days

Surfshark

Company and jurisdiction
Surfshark B.V., Amsterdam; terms under British Virgin Islands law
No-logs evidence
Deloitte, 2023 and 2025; reports for subscribers only
Devices at once
Unlimited, under a fair-usage policy
Kill switch
Windows, Mac, Linux (not Flatpak), iPhone, Android
Split tunneling
Windows, Mac, Android, extensions; websites only on iPhone
TV, Linux and browser apps
Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV; Linux; Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Extras beyond the VPN
Antivirus and leak alerts in One; Incogni data removal in One+
Refund window (first purchase)
30 days

PureVPN

Company and jurisdiction
GZ Systems Limited, British Virgin Islands
No-logs evidence
Altius IT, then an unnamed firm, latest dated 2023; no report linked
Devices at once
10; up to 50 with the Multi-Login add-on
Kill switch
Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Fire TV; not stated for iPhone
Split tunneling
Windows, Android, Android TV, Fire TV; not stated for Mac or iPhone
TV, Linux and browser apps
Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV; Linux; Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Extras beyond the VPN
Password manager in Plus; data removal and full dark web monitoring in Max
Refund window (first purchase)
31 days

VeePN

Company and jurisdiction
VeePN Corp., Panama; terms under the law of England and Wales
No-logs evidence
None; Cure53 tested its extensions in 2021
Devices at once
5, 10 or 20 by plan; terms say 10
Kill switch
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Split tunneling
Apps on Windows and Android; websites on iOS and extensions
TV, Linux and browser apps
Android TV, Fire TV; no Linux app; free Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Extras beyond the VPN
Antivirus (Windows, Android) and Breach Alert in Pro and Max
Refund window (first purchase)
30 days on 12- and 24-month plans; 14 on monthly

VirtualShield VPN

Company and jurisdiction
VirtualShield LLC, Delaware, US
No-logs evidence
None cited
Devices at once
Unlimited, or 5 per user, depending on the page
Kill switch
Windows, Mac, Android; automatic on iPhone
Split tunneling
Local-network access only, per its help center
TV, Linux and browser apps
Android app on Nvidia Shield only; Linux app obsolete; extensions retired in 2023
Extras beyond the VPN
Antivirus, identity monitoring, data removal in VirtualShield One
Refund window (first purchase)
60 days from the first charge

Proton VPN

An audited no-logs VPN with a no-data-cap free plan

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NordVPN

Audited VPN with desktop download scanning

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Surfshark

One VPN account for every device in the house

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PureVPN

VPN with port forwarding and dedicated IP add-ons

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VeePN

One VPN account for computers, phones, TVs and browsers

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VirtualShield VPN

One VPN account for computers and phones

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What a VPN doesn't do

A VPN encrypts the traffic between your device and the VPN's server, and the sites you visit see that server's IP address instead of yours. It doesn't scan your files for malware, which is why NordVPN, Surfshark, VeePN and VirtualShield sell antivirus in higher plans. Our guide VPN vs antivirus explains when you need both.

It moves your trust rather than removing it: the VPN provider handles the traffic your internet provider no longer sees. Some features add to what it holds. PureVPN says that with its Tracker Blocker on it can see the domains you visit while connected, and Surfshark says that with a Dedicated IP some activity could be linked back to your account.

Nor does it guarantee access. VirtualShield says some banks, online stores and streaming services block VPN users, and Surfshark says streaming services block individual IP addresses. And the vendors say a browser extension covers only that browser's traffic.

Before you pay for a VPN

  • Its no-logs audit is named, dated and readable, or you accept that it isn't.
  • Its device limit reads the same on every page, from pricing to the terms. VeePN's and VirtualShield's don't.
  • There's a kill switch on every platform you use, not just on your computer.
  • The terms name the company you contract with and the law that governs them.
  • You install it only from the official app stores or the vendor's site. NordVPN, Surfshark and VeePN each warn about fake or modified apps.

Keep reading

Sources · checked Oct 30, 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the best VPN in 2026?
Of the six we rank, Proton VPN, for the most public evidence behind its no-logs promise: yearly Securitum audits since 2022 that anyone can read. NordVPN suits you if you also want malware scanning on Windows or Mac, and Surfshark if you want unlimited devices.
Is a VPN worth it?
It is if you want your traffic hidden from the Wi-Fi network or your internet provider, or need to appear to be in another country. It isn't antivirus or anonymity, and the VPN provider sees what your internet provider no longer can, so pay only for one whose no-logs promise you can check.
What is the most secure VPN?
We can't rank security without testing, so look at what each vendor publishes. Proton's apps are open source, an independent researcher audited them in 2025, and its no-logs audits are public. In 2025, Cure53 found no critical vulnerabilities in NordVPN's apps and servers, nor SecuRing in Surfshark's apps. Both have disclosed incidents: a 2018 intrusion on a rented NordVPN server in Finland, which NordVPN says exposed no activity logs, and a 2026 one on a Surfshark test server, which Surfshark says affected no user data.
Which VPNs have a verified no-logs policy?
All six say they don't log your activity; the evidence differs. Proton (Securitum, yearly since 2022), NordVPN (PwC, then Deloitte since 2022) and Surfshark (Deloitte, 2023 and 2025) name and date independent no-logs audits. PureVPN describes no-log assessments, the latest dated 2023, but links no report. VeePN's only cited audit tested its browser extensions, and VirtualShield cites none.
Which VPN is best for multiple devices or a whole household?
Surfshark: every plan allows unlimited devices at once, under a fair-usage policy, and its help center says you can share the account with your household. Proton's paid plans, NordVPN and PureVPN allow 10, and PureVPN's Multi-Login add-on raises that to 50, though its terms bar two people from sharing one account. Proton Family gives up to six people 10 devices each.
Which of these VPNs work on Fire TV and other TVs?
NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, PureVPN and VeePN have Fire TV and Android TV apps; NordVPN, Surfshark and PureVPN also have Apple TV apps, and Proton's needs a paid plan. NordVPN says its Fire TV Stick app has no kill switch. VirtualShield has no app for smart TVs or Fire TV sticks.
Which VPNs include antivirus?
NordVPN's Complete and higher plans add malware scanning on Windows and on the Mac version from its site; Surfshark One adds antivirus for Windows, Mac and Android; VeePN Pro and Max add it for Windows and Android; and VirtualShield One includes VirtualShield's antivirus. Proton's and PureVPN's plans list none.

Our top pick: Proton VPN

An audited no-logs VPN with a no-data-cap free plan

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