VPN
VPNs, reviewed and explained
What a VPN does and doesn't do, which of the VPNs we review fits which person and device, and where a free tier is enough. Every product fact comes from the vendor's own pages; we don't publish prices, scores or speed claims.
Ad-supported — we may earn a commission from links on this page, at no cost to you, and it never changes our assessments. How this works.
Rankings and picks
- Best VPN
Six VPNs we review, ranked by who each one fits.
- Best free VPN
Free tiers you can use with no payment details, and their catches.
- VPN free trials
Which VPNs have a free trial, where it runs and what happens when it ends.
- Cheap VPN
Ways to pay less for a VPN, and what each one renews at.
- Best VPN for gaming
NAT, port forwarding and consoles, and what Roblox and Minecraft allow.
- Best VPN for torrenting
P2P rules, port forwarding and leak protection, for legal downloads.
- Best VPN for routers
Which VPNs run on your router, and what you give up.
- Best VPN for Chromebook
Android apps that cover more than the browser.
- Best VPN for Firestick
Fire OS and Vega OS apps, free plans and kill switches.
- Best VPN for iPhone
What each app does on iOS, and where Apple's Private Relay fits.
- Best VPN for Android
Kill switch, split tunneling and TV apps on Android.
- Best VPN for PC
Windows 11 and 10: kill switches, split tunneling and desktop extras.
- Best VPN for Mac
Website vs App Store versions, and what each Mac app leaves out.
VPN reviews
We haven't tested these VPNs ourselves: each review sets out what the vendor's own pages, terms, privacy policy and audit reports say, checked claim by claim.
- NordVPN review
Audited VPN with desktop download scanning
Pick NordVPN if you want a VPN with a repeatedly audited no-logs policy and apps for nearly every device, plus download scanning on Windows and Mac in its Complete and higher plans — not if you need a full antivirus for files already on your computer, or an app on Roku or a game console.
- Surfshark review
One VPN account for every device in the house
Pick Surfshark if you want one VPN account for an unlimited number of devices, with apps for Linux and three TV platforms and a no-logs policy Deloitte has checked twice — not if you want to read that audit before you sign up, or need a VPN app on a Roku, a console or a smart TV without Android TV or tvOS.
- Proton VPN review
An audited no-logs VPN with a no-data-cap free plan
Pick Proton VPN if you want a free VPN for one device with no data cap, or a paid no-logs VPN with yearly published audits for up to 10 devices — not if you need to choose a country for free, or split tunneling on an iPhone.
- PureVPN review
VPN with port forwarding and dedicated IP add-ons
Pick PureVPN if you want one VPN account for computers, phones and TV devices, with port forwarding or a dedicated IP as add-ons — not if you want a published audit report or P2P on US, UK, Canadian or Australian servers.
- VeePN review
One VPN account for computers, phones, TVs and browsers
Pick VeePN if you want one VPN account across Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Android TV, Fire TV and browser extensions, with an ad blocker and Alternative ID in every plan — not if you need a no-logs policy backed by an independent audit, or one clear device limit.
- VirtualShield VPN review
One VPN account for computers and phones
Pick VirtualShield VPN if you want one VPN account for Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, especially next to VirtualShield's antivirus — not if you need a no-logs policy backed by a cited audit, or a VPN on a router, TV or in a browser.
- Betternet review
An ad-supported free VPN with a 10-device Premium plan
Pick Betternet if you want a free, ad-supported VPN for light use on one device, or a Premium plan for up to 10 devices across Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and Chrome, with a kill switch and split tunneling in the device apps — not if you want a free tier without ads or a data cap, or a recent, full independent audit.
- hide.me VPN review
A no-sign-up free VPN with an audited no-logs policy
Pick hide.me VPN if you want a free VPN for one device with no account or data cap, or a Premium plan with Multihop and port forwarding for up to 10 devices — not if you need streaming servers for free, or split tunneling on an iPhone.
- Hotspot Shield review
Freemium VPN with an ad-supported free tier
Pick Hotspot Shield if you want to start with a free VPN on one device and move to Premium for up to 10 phones, computers and Android or Fire TVs — not if you need Linux or router support, an ad-free free app, or a no-logs policy audited more than once.
Head-to-head
VPN guides
- What is a VPN? What it does, what it hides and what it can't protect you from — A VPN sends your traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a server run by the VPN provider. That helps on a network you don't trust, but it moves your trust rather than removing it, and it doesn't stop malware, phishing or tracking by the sites you sign in to.
- VPN vs antivirus: what each one protects, and do you need both? — Antivirus deals with harmful software on your device. A VPN deals with who can see your traffic on its way out. Here's what each one covers, what neither stops, and when you need one, the other or both.
- Antivirus with a VPN: when the bundle is worth it — and when it isn't — Most big security suites now include a VPN in at least some plans. Whether that's a bargain depends on what you'd actually use a VPN for.
- Norton VPN (formerly Norton Secure VPN): what it includes, which plans have it, and its limits — Norton's VPN comes with every Norton 360 plan and is also sold on its own. Here's what Norton says it includes, how many devices each plan covers, what it logs, where it falls short on some devices, and what Norton tells you to try when it won't connect.
- Avira Phantom VPN: is the free VPN enough, and what does Pro add? — Avira's free suite comes with a VPN — which sounds like a reason to skip paying for one. Here's what the free Phantom VPN actually covers, where its limits bite, and when VPN Pro or Avira Prime is worth it.