Best VPNs For PC in 2021

ExpressVPN is widely considered the best VPN service on the planet. It uses its own Lightway protocol for the utmost security, high-level AES 256-bit encryption, and is one of the few VPNs that has recently upgraded to RAM-only. This helps keep your information safe because all data is automatically deleted when the servers are rebooted.

Speeds here are above average on the whole, though the VPN doesn’t reach the soaring heights of Hotspot Shield. 

ExpressVPN Key Features

ExpressVPN Bottom Line 

As an externally audited VPN, ExpressVPN’s privacy and security policies have been confirmed. That’s a huge leg up on competition. You won’t find a more reliable, functional VPN on the market, but you’ll have to pay well for it.

NordVPN, just like ExpressVPN, is a well known as one of the best VPNs on the market. NordVPN is based in Panama, which is a privacy-friendly country whose laws favor internet users. Since it is located outside the 14 Eyes surveillance alliance, NordVPN does not have to retain any user data. In fact, its no-logs policy has been verified by third-party agencies.

NordVPN is a bit slower than ExpressVPN, with speeds topping out at 100Mbps+, but it is still a serviceable speed for most users. Its security protocols are top-notch, and it is less expensive than ExpressVPN.

NordVPN Key Features

NordVPN Bottom Line 

NordVPN has earned its place among the ranks of the best VPNs in the world. It has a larger server size than ExpressVPN, though not in as many geographic locations. What it lacks in supersonic speed it makes up for in usability, easy interfaces, and an advanced customer support system. We also like that the VPN allows for up to six simultaneous connections.

IPVanish is great at what it does, but it does have some issues. Its security measures are high-level, its protocols top-notch. Its main attraction is its unlimited device policy, which many users may think justifies its slight expensiveness. There was a controversy surrounding possible user data logging in 2016, but the company has denied these claims. IPVanish also has an impressive array of servers in over 75 locations around the world, allows torrenting, and has received accolades from some of the top technology magazines and blogs. On these levels, IPVanish ranks quite highly.

Here’s the somewhat bad news. A lack of a kill switch on mobile devices may be a bit of a concern for some users. Its interface, while offering more features and stats than some of its competitors, may have sacrificed user friendliness in the name of providing lots of configurability.

IPvanish Key Features

IPVanish Bottom Line 

IPVanish is especially suitable for those of us who have worked with VPNs before or are familiar with their inner workings. Configurability is high, though that might put off some new users. Though it still has some work to do to re-establish trust in its privacy policies, its encryption techniques and protocols are top-notch, its speed is nothing to sneeze at, and its unlimited device connection policy is incredibly generous.

CyberGhost boasts an impressively large network of available servers, takes security seriously, has strong pro-privacy language in its policies, is located outside of a 14 Eyes surveillance alliance country, and offers a complete array of features. While its short-term pricing structure is at the high end for VPNs, it’s worth the money. Plus, it clearly incentivizes long-term subscriptions, with its year-long and three-year subscription packages prices at extremely low monthly rates.

There are some issues with the VPN, though. It hasn’t been audited by an external agency, which means all of its strong language about privacy is just that: talk. Without an audit to back it up, users may distrust the company’s boasts about no-log policies and various security measures. Plus, some of its more in-depth features require a working knowledge of VPNs that many users may find confusing.

CyberGhost Key Features

CyberGhost Bottom Line 

This is a solid VPN. We highly recommend CyberGhost for your virtual private network needs. That said, just like others on this list, it needs to upgrade to RAM-only storage on all its servers and should get an independent company to run a full check on its no-logs and security policies. That way, more users will develop trust.

Surfshark is a comprehensive VPN that offers a wide range of unique features like CleanWeb and NoBorders VPN masking. It is easy to use, based in a privacy-friendly location, and has an impressive array of over 3,200 servers in 65 countries. Couple this with 24/7 support, an external audit to confirm its security and privacy claims, and unlimited device connections, and you’ve got yourself a perfect mix of VPN offerings.

On the downside, there are some reported glitches with Surfshark’s kill switch that we’d like to see improved for added safety. There is also no information about whether the VPN can be used on routers, nor is there a list of firmware requirements. However, if you’re just looking for a VPN for your computer, you can’t go wrong here.

We didn’t have any issues unblocking Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, but Windscribe does struggle to unblock some of the British streaming apps such as BBC iPlayer and ITV Player, partly due to the fact that it’s not clear how many servers Windscribe actually has access to. It’s important to note that Windscribe only works on desktop and browsers, which means it won’t be much use if your primary way of watching Netflix is through your PS4 or TV. Thankfully, if you are watching through Chrome or Firefox, you won’t have to worry about any annoying ads or malware, as Windscribe has some excellent antivirus software included with it. 

Surfshark Key Features

Surfshark Bottom Line 

We recommend Surfshark wholeheartedly as a VPN that lives up to the hype. Its monthly payment plan is rather expensive, but it’s worth it. Plus, if you need to use a VPN for the long term, your monthly fees will be substantially lower (at only $2.49 per month for a two-year subscription).

PureVPN is already popular, with over 3 million reported users worldwide. That makes sense, as it offers comprehensive services, plenty of options for customization, a generous 10-connection limit, and effective unblocking services for the most popular streaming sites. It uses the high-level 256-bit encryption strategy and a host of protocols, and it has been externally audited to be No-Log Certified.

There are some downsides, though. Reports of glitchy kill switches and encryption problems with the Windows client keeps PureVPN really being in the top five list of VPNs.

PureVPN Key Features

PureVPN Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to unblock Netflix directly through your Mac or Laptop, Windscribe is a cheap and cheerful VPN choice that has been proven to work with some of the biggest streaming services. That said, we did come up against some issues when we were using Windscribe with streaming platforms located in the UK and Netflix didn’t work in all of the country locations.

VyprVPN is all about value. While pricey on the short-term spectrum, its long-term plans are actually quite cheap. The VPN provides in-depth security features, including its own Chameleon protocol for DNS protection. It also uses the same 256-bit encryption that modern militaries and banks often use. In short, it is very effective at keeping your connection secure. Plus, it’s one of the only VPNs that has been verified through independent audit to keep no user logs.

We’d like to see some improvements in the future, though. For starters, it’s time for VyprVPN to upgrade to RAM-only servers, expand the number of servers available, and get audited on a more regular basis. We’d also like to see the company provide a kill switch for iOS devices.

VyprVPN Key Features

VyprVPN Bottom Line 

If you’re looking for a VPN to browse the internet, torrent files, increase your security, or stream shows that are blocked in your area, VyprVPN is a perfect match for you. Even though it might not have browser extensions, and reportedly does not allow cryptocurrency transactions as a payment method, its features are wonderful and its usability is among the best on the market.

If you’re simply looking for a cost-friendly way of ensuring your online security, RusVPN may be an ideal option for you especially with its reasonable and fair pricing structure. You’ll also be happy to know that its user interface is simple but still offers a superb range of popular VPN features such as unblocking streaming services like Disney+ and Netflix. Thanks to the company’s top-notch commitment to privacy and security, the RusVPN’s military-grade encryption should provide you with the confidence to surf the web anonymously, privately, securely and safely. Moreover, its headquarters in Dominica will ensure that you can enjoy all these features for the foreseeable future.

Take note, however, that RusVPN may not be ideal for those who are looking for the more advanced features of a VPN. Thus, if you’re planning to use RusVPN for your work or for complex tasks, you may want to reconsider. For one, it has a comparatively small network and its servers do not utilize RAM disks. Moreover, those using the VPN in South America or Asia may experience issues since many of RusVPN’s servers are based in Europe. Lastly, its tendency to suggest servers, pick the protocols as well as engage in other “hand-holding” procedures can frustrate the more advanced VPN users.

RusVPN Key Features

RusVPN Bottom Line 

RusVPN has been a top competitor on the market for a while now. It is a bit too frustratingly on-rails to be in the top five, plus its servers have not been upgraded to RAM-only storage. That keeps it on the Top Ten list, but in the lower ranks for us.

TunnelBear is arguably the most audited VPN, with yearly external audits performed by Cure53. We like its dedication to transparency, its lack of any usage logs, and its high level of encryption protocols. However, it doesn’t use the WireGuard protocol currently favored by most VPNs, and it isn’t set up to be friendly to any kind of in-depth configuration or customization.

Also, a huge mark against TunnelBear is its inability to unblock Netflix. That is one of the main streaming sites that causes people to seek out a VPN in the first place, so this is problematic. What it lacks in streaming, though, it makes up for in its torrent-friendliness despite its location in a Five Eyes country.

PrivateVPN Key Features

Bottom Line 

TunnelBear might be the best option for beginning or casual VPN users and those who have very specific features they’re after that are performed well by this VPN. It does a lot of things well, but it also lacks plenty of features and doesn’t have the most up-to-date protection on the market. Check out its features to see if it’s right for your specific purposes.

IvacyVPN is a cheap but cheerful provider that can unblock anything you want to watch in Japan, Europe, and the United States with little difficulty. It supports all major platforms, and its excellent compatibility with routers means you can connect to Ivacy servers through your PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles to access Netflix and Amazon Prime Video apps in other countries. It’s simple to use, easy to install, and will protect your devices against most common forms of intrusion thanks to excellent security features like AES 256-bit encryption, DDoS protection, and IPv6 leak protection. 

We tested IvacyVPN with all of the major streaming services that are out there, including Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Now, BBC iPlayer and Netflix, and didn’t encounter any issues, even when we were connected through servers in locations such as Japan and India. You won’t have to mess around figuring out which servers offer the best connection either, as IvacyVPN offers an instant connect feature for servers that’ve been optimized for streaming Netflix. 

Ivacy Key Features

Ivacy Bottom Line 

Ivacy offers some of the best value on the market, with low prices and high effectiveness across the board. In order to break into the top five VPNs in the world, it needs to upgrade its servers to use RAM-only storage and get an external audit of its no-logs policy, security protocols, and encryption methods. That level of trust, combined with its extremely attractive value, will make Ivacy a direct competitor with some of the bigger names like NordVPN and even ExpressVPN.