NordVPN, Norton VPN and more

Using a virtual private network (VPN) is one of the best ways to stay secure online and enjoy a more seamless web browsing experience.

These applications work by routing your internet traffic through an encrypted connection — also known as a VPN tunnel —  between your device and a remote server operated by a VPN provider, bypassing your internet service provider (ISP).

In the process, they hide your internet protocol address, which is the unique identifying number assigned to every internet device. This makes it harder for broadband companies to slow down your internet connection at peak times of the day — an issue known as internet throttling — and subsequently helps improve streaming, gaming, and torrenting speeds.

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VPNs also use robust encryption algorithms, so your internet traffic is unreadable to third parties. Consequently, ISPs and advertisers can’t track your web browsing activity. Such services also strengthen the privacy and security of public Wi-Fi networks, allowing you to use them without the threat of hackers stealing your personal data via insecure connections. 

In addition to enhancing your online security and privacy, a VPN will enable you to circumvent geo-restrictions by connecting to foreign servers that mask your IP address and make it look like you’re in a different location. That’s super handy if you want to stream content that hasn’t been released in your location, or if you travel abroad and a TV show from back home isn’t available in other countries.

You can use VPNs on virtually any device, including smartphones, tablets, computers, laptops, smart TVs, and even broadband routers, the latter of which will protect any device connected to your WiFi network. And there’s certainly no shortage of VPN services available today, catering to all user needs and budgets. A good VPN service will offer lots of international servers with fast speeds, easy-to-use apps, clear privacy policies, access to popular streaming services, additional security features like ad blocking, and more. But to help you pick one, we’ve ranked the best VPNs of 2024.

NordVPN is arguably the most well-known VPN provider on the market today, having invested large sums in TV commercials over the past few years. And it certainly lives up to its reputation, delivering top performance, security, and easy-to-use apps. 

One of its headline features is an extensive network of 6,800 high-speed VPN servers spanning 111 countries.  What’s great is that you can quickly begin using the best available server by clicking the quick connect button. There’s also an interactive global map that allows you to browse NordVPN servers in different parts of the globe.

You can choose servers based on specialty, too. For example, DoubleVPN servers protect your internet traffic with double encryption — routing it through two VPN servers rather than a single server. There are also P2P servers for torrenting, obfuscated servers that hide your VPN usage using extra encryption, and Onion over VPN servers that combine the power of a VPN with the anonymity provided by the Tor network. 

Thanks to a built-in kill switch, NordVPN will disconnect your device’s internet access to protect your data from exposure if your VPN connection suddenly drops. When it comes to streaming, NordVPN’s servers can be used to access the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and DAZN.

Another area where NordVPN excels is cybersecurity. It offers the impenetrable AES-256 encryption standard, a dark web monitor that warns you if any of your account credentials are leaked online, ad and web tracker blockers, malware scanning, protection against malicious URLs, a world-class password manager called NordPass, and a no-logs policy. 

What’s more, NordVPN provides connections for up to 10 devices, a money-back guarantee, 24/7 customer support, and multi-platform apps. NordVPN has Basic, Plus, and Ultimate plans across one-month, one-year, and two-year options, with varying features and prices. The cheapest option is the Basic two-year plan, which works out at $2.99 per month for a biannual fee of $96.93. 

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The best for simplicity: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is another well-known VPN service that provides a large suite of privacy and security features to keep you safe online.  

It offers more than 2,000 servers in 105 countries, which is considerably less than the nearly 7000 offered by NordVPN. But with 80% of ExpressVPN’s server network now delivering 10 Gbps of bandwidth, you can expect fast speeds and reliable connections. ExpressVPN also offers a built-in VPN speed test that measures latency and download speed to help you pick the best-performing VPN server. 

ExpressVPN has developed its own VPN protocol called Lightway, which helps to deliver high-speed, secure, and reliable connections. Every server operated by ExpressVPN has its own private domain name (DNS) system, protecting your traffic and DNS queries from prying eyes as it travels through cyberspace. Because ExpressVPN’s servers are also RAM-only, your data will never be stored on a physical hard drive and is wiped from the server when you end the connection. 

In terms of other VPN features, ExpressVPN also offers a kill switch, a no-logging policy, AES-256 encryption, and split tunneling for routing specific apps through VPN servers. It provides access to a range of popular streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, HBO, Apple TV+, and many others. 

Aside from being a VPN service, ExpressVPN also offers cybersecurity functions like a password manager, a web tracker blocker, and an ad blocker. You also get multi-platform apps, 24/7 customer support, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and eight connections per subscription, compared to the ten you get with NordVPN. ExpressVPN offers monthly, yearly, and biannual plans, which cost $12.95, $99.95, and $149.95. 

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The best VPN for families: Surfshark  

If you’re looking for a premium VPN service that won’t break the bank, Surfshark should definitely be at the top of your list. You can pick up this highly respected and feature-packed VPN service for as little as $1.99 per month. 

So, what do you get with this uber-cheap VPN? For starters, Surfshark provides unlimited connections, which means you can protect your entire family with just a single subscription. Surfshark operates a modest network of more than 3200 servers, but because they’re spread across 100 different countries, you have plenty of international IP addresses to choose from. 

Surfshark has all the bells and whistles of a leading VPN provider, including Double VPN servers, obfuscated servers, split tunneling, a kill switch, a no-logging policy, AES-256 encryption, and a wide variety of VPN protocols. Its apps are also very easy to use, with a quick connect button that finds the best available server or one located in a country of your choice. There’s also an auto-connect option that ensures you’re always connected to a VPN when accessing the internet.

Like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, Surfshark isn’t just a VPN. It provides advanced cybersecurity features. This includes CleanWeb, which blocks ads, banners, popups, web trackers, and malicious websites. Another nifty Surfshark feature is Rotating IP, which constantly changes your IP address to make web tracking near impossible. Surfshark is great for streaming, too — offering access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, and more. You can even get a seven-day free trial through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, allowing you to give it a whirl before committing to a paid plan. 

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Private Internet Access is best known for offering one of the largest server networks of all VPN providers. Today, it operates more than 35,000 connections in 91 countries across the globe, including servers in all 50 US states. 

Thanks to 10-Gbps VPN servers, Private Internet Access will let you enjoy streaming, gaming, and torrenting without any buffering. And you can use it for securely accessing streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and many others. 

Because each Private Internet Access VPN server has unlimited bandwidth and data, you can use them right around the clock. You can also connect to RAM-only servers, ensuring your data is always deleted when they reboot, and switch between different VPN protocols so that your connections suit your needs. These include OpenVPN and WireGuard.

What’s also great about Private Internet Access is its unlimited connections, making it ideal for gadget hoarders and families. Its other core VPN features include a no-logs policy, strong encryption, split tunneling, a kill switch, and multi-platform apps with quick-connect functionality. If you ever get stuck setting up or using these apps, you can access 24/7 customer support. 

Besides VPN features, Private Internet Access has an advanced online privacy and security suite that offers protection against ads, web trackers, and malware. You can pick up a monthly subscription for $11.95, although a multi-year plan will work out cheaper in the long run. Every plan is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, too. 

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The most transparent VPN provider: CyberGhost

CyberGhost positions itself as a VPN service that offers “impenetrable security,” which is certainly a bold claim. But it pulls out all the stops to achieve this, offering a strict no-logging policy, AES 256 encryption, ad blocking, DNS leak protection to stop ISPs from seeing your web activity, RAM-only servers, split tunneling, personalizable VPN protocols, and a kill switch. 

In another sign of CyberGhost’s commitment to online security and privacy, the company releases quarterly transparency reports detailing the number of data requests received from law enforcement and copyright holders. CyberGhost was actually the first VPN company to begin doing this in 2011. 

What also sets CyberGhost apart from many other leading VPN companies is its extensive network of over 11,500 servers, which are located in more than 100 countries globally. Many of them are optimized for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. When it comes to streaming, CyberGhost can unblock Netflix, Disney+, HBO, and countless other platforms. 

You can download CyberGhost on a range of operating systems, although you are limited to seven connections per subscription. There is, however, unlimited bandwidth and traffic. CyberGhost also provides 24/7 support and a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, which is longer than the 30 days offered by most other VPN providers. A monthly plan will cost $12.99, but there are longer plans that work out cheaper. 

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For anyone who wants a free VPN service that won’t compromise their security or sell their data to advertisers, look no further than PrivadoVPN. Unlike most other free VPN services, PrivadoVPN’s free tier offers streaming support and can unblock platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. But you are limited to 10GB of free data each month, which you can quickly max out if you’re an avid streamer. 

With a free PrivadoVPN account, you also get access to 13 global VPN servers, IP address masking, stable transfers, point-to-point encryption, and a no-logging policy. However, you’ll only be able to use it on a single device. Something to bear in mind is that you can upgrade to a premium account at any point. 

A premium plan will include support for up to 10 devices, servers in 48 countries, unlimited data, IP leak protection, a built-in ad blocker, online threat protection, split tunneling, a kill switch, parental controls, the ability to choose different protocols, and 24/7 customer support. PrivadoVPN offers easy-to-use apps for all major operating systems, with a quick-connect button allowing you to begin using the best server instantly. 

You can pick up a monthly premium plan for just $10.99 per month, though there are also one-year and two-year subscriptions. Whichever one you choose, you can try out a premium PrivadoVPN account risk-free thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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A highly capable VPN service from a cybersecurity leader: Norton VPN

American cybersecurity giant Norton also offers a range of highly capable VPN services worth considering. Its entry-level service, Norton Secure VPN, costs just $9.99 for the first year and provides features like AES 256-bit encryption, a no-logging policy, a kill switch, split tunneling, ad blocking, an auto-connect button, warnings for insecure networks, P2P optimization, and more. 

Norton Ultra VPN, the medium offering in this range, is priced at $29.99 for the first year. It offers support for five devices, a password manager, real-time online threat protection, dark web monitoring, and 10GB of cloud backup — in addition to all the features you get with Norton Secure VPN. 

There’s also a third option, Norton Ultra VPN Plus and you can currently buy it for $39.99. Aimed at families, it allows parents to set screen time limits, block access to inappropriate websites, and track their children’s location. There’s also 50GB of cloud storage. That’s all on top of the features offered by Norton’s other VPN services. Norton’s VPN products are available on Android, iPhone, PC, and Mac. You can also sign up for a free trial, although you will need to provide your payment information upfront. 

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How to Choose the Best VPN: Is a VPN worth it?

If you’re worried about ISPs slowing your internet speeds, hackers stealing your personal data, or advertisers spamming you with targeted adverts, then investing in a good-quality VPN service is an excellent idea.  It’ll also be worthwhile for anyone who spends a lot of their time streaming, gaming, and torrenting. That said, paying for a premium VPN service may be pointless if you’re not hugely concerned about your online privacy, don’t need to bypass geo-restrictions, and aren’t affected by ISP throttling. 

Do I need a VPN for home Wi-Fi?

The reality is that no one is immune to online security threats. And as they continue to increase in scale and complexity, using a VPN at home will keep you and your loved ones safe in an increasingly dangerous cyber world. 

If you work from home, a VPN is a necessity as it’ll enable you to access corporate systems and data securely. Plus, you’ll be able to clamp down on internet throttling, which causes laggy streaming, and watch the latest TV shows and films, regardless of location. 

Should you own lots of devices or want to protect the whole family, it’s probably a good idea to choose a router VPN. That way, any device connected to your broadband will be covered by your VPN automatically.

What is the fastest and most secure VPN?

If you’re looking for a fast and highly secure VPN service that provides loads of additional features, NordVPN is a good shout. From a security point of view, a strict no-logging policy, robust encryption, double VPN, a dark web monitor, and online threat protection have you covered. Not to mention, it offers an extensive and high-speed server network perfect for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. And you can quickly connect to the fastest available server using the quick-connect button.

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