2026年最佳VPN服务推荐

内容来源:https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/best-vpn-130004396.html?src=rss
内容总结:
【2026年度最佳VPN服务综合评测报告】
经过严格测试与长期追踪,七款虚拟专用网络(VPN)服务在安全性、速度、功能及性价比方面表现突出,为全球用户提供了可靠的网络隐私保护方案。在当前网络监管日趋复杂的环境下,选择一款优质的VPN服务已成为许多用户维护自身数字权益的重要途径。
综合排名首位:Proton VPN
凭借全方位的均衡表现,Proton VPN荣获本次评测榜首。该服务在应用程序设计、连接速度及隐私保护方面均达到行业领先水平:全球平均下载速度仅降低12.5%,且提供基于瑞士隐私法的严格数据保护机制。其独特的非营利组织背景与无限流量免费计划,进一步彰显了其对用户隐私权的长期承诺。值得注意的是,该服务在物理服务器安全方面采用“安全核心”架构,并通过全磁盘加密技术实现双重防护。
高性能优选:ExpressVPN
作为老牌优质服务商,ExpressVPN在连接速度方面表现尤为出色(平均下载速度仅降低6.9%),其覆盖105个国家/地区的庞大服务器网络,特别适合需要频繁切换节点的流媒体解锁用户。简洁直观的操作界面降低了新手使用门槛,但相对较高的订阅价格使其更适用于对预算不敏感的高端用户。
极速体验代表:Surfshark
在速度测试中以平均5.4%的下载损耗率夺得首位,其创新的Nexus网络系统支持动态IP轮换与多跳连接定制。虽然短期订阅方案价格偏高,但长期套餐性价比突出,且支持无限设备同时连接,适合多设备家庭用户。
功能创新标杆:NordVPN
在基础VPN功能之上,该服务提供双VPN、洋葱路由混淆等进阶隐私工具,配合仅6.4%的平均速度损耗,在功能与性能间取得良好平衡。其服务器网络覆盖117个国家,在流媒体跨区访问测试中成功率领先。
高性价比之选:CyberGhost
凭借深度定制的自动化规则与流媒体优化服务器,该服务在易用性方面表现突出。虽然连接稳定性偶有波动,但其26个月长期套餐提供了极具竞争力的价格优势,适合追求实用功能的普通用户。
隐私至上方案:Mullvad VPN
采用完全匿名注册机制(无需邮箱即可通过数字账户注册),甚至支持现金邮寄付费方式。该服务在官网完全禁用营销追踪Cookie,其技术架构原生支持IPv6协议,虽然服务器节点数量相对有限,但为高度注重隐私的用户提供了独特选择。
免费服务首选:hide.me
在免费VPN服务中独树一帜,不仅提供无流量限制的免费套餐,还允许用户自主选择服务器节点。尽管免费版仅支持8个节点,但其速度表现与付费版差异微小,成为真正适用于基础流媒体需求的免费解决方案。
行业现状与选择建议
当前VPN市场仍存在大量重营销轻基础设施的低质服务。建议用户在选择时重点关注以下维度:
- 技术基础:优先选择采用WireGuard、OpenVPN等成熟协议的服务
- 隐私政策:核查服务商所属司法管辖区及历史安全审计记录
- 实际性能:通过试用期进行速度测试与流媒体解锁能力验证
- 长期成本:注意超低价长期套餐往往存在续费价格大幅上涨的情况
本次评测基于2026年1月的最新测试数据,所有推荐服务均通过IP泄露检测、速度衰减测试及隐私政策合规性审查。随着行业技术发展,我们将每季度更新评估结果,为用户提供持续可靠的选购参考。
(注:使用VPN服务需遵守所在国家法律法规,部分国家/地区对VPN使用有特殊限制,用户应事先了解当地相关规定。)
中文翻译:
2026年最佳VPN服务
经过严格测试,七款虚拟专用网络脱颖而出,位居我们的榜单前列。
尽管政府和企业在肆意践踏我们的网络自由令人沮丧,但至少我们有许多优秀的VPN可供选择,以保护我们的在线安全。市场上有如此多速度快、设计智能、功能全面且价格实惠的服务,最大的问题反而是如何挑选。对于任何使用场景,你都可以确信至少有两家提供商在争夺榜首位置。
另一方面,VPN领域在某些方面仍像"蛮荒西部"。组装一个廉价的VPN非常容易,导致市场充斥着低质量的应用程序,它们在广告上的投入远多于基础设施。这些应用可能看起来不错,但内里全是"泡沫塑料"。
经过密集测试,我整理出了这份最佳VPN列表,旨在帮助你重新关注那些真正值得你投入时间和金钱的提供商。哪一款真正适合你的需求,取决于你的身份和在线活动,但如果你选择了我推荐的这七款中的任何一款,基本不会出错。如果你对免费使用的服务感兴趣,可以查看我的最佳免费VPN列表——如果你愿意付费但想省钱,我每周都会更新最佳VPN优惠信息。
对于列表中的每一款VPN,我都分享了其支持的平台、对下载速度的影响程度、服务器分布地区、包含的其他功能以及当前最佳优惠价格。最后,我会列出一些值得表扬和批评的提及,并回答一些关于VPN最常见的问题。
编者注: 本列表更新至2026年1月。我们计划至少每三个月重新审视此列表,届时我们的选择可能会根据价格、功能、测试结果等因素的变化进行调整。
目录
- 2026年最佳VPN
- 我们测试过的其他VPN
- 选择VPN时需要注意什么
- VPN常见问题解答
2026年最佳VPN
Proton VPN
- 平台: Windows、macOS、Android、iOS、Linux、Chromebook、Chrome、Firefox、Android TV、Apple TV、Firestick、路由器
- 平均下载速度下降: 12.5%
- 服务器位置: 122个国家/地区的154个地点
- 显著功能: NetShield广告拦截器、Secure Core服务器、Tor over VPN
- 最佳价格: 24个月107.76美元
- 阅读我们的完整Proton VPN评测
Proton VPN荣登榜首的原因很简单:它各方面都做得很好。所有最接近的竞争对手都有其短板——ExpressVPN功能不够丰富,NordVPN使用起来可能有些烦人,Surfshark的定价迫使你选择长期套餐,等等。Proton VPN并非完美,也并非在每个单项上都最好,但它是唯一一款无论我怎么测试都找不到严重弱点的VPN。
Proton的成功始于其设计出色的应用程序。如果你不知道如何使用VPN,VPN应用很容易显得杂乱或令人恼火,但Proton绝不会给你设置任何障碍。每个功能都在你期望的位置,无需费力寻找,也不会让你对某个设置的作用感到困惑。不同平台之间的质量也没有下降:Proton显然同样重视其Windows、Mac、iOS和Android客户端。
这种易用性也延伸到了Proton VPN对你浏览速度的影响上。在我的测试中,它在全球范围内平均使我的下载速度降低了12%,上传速度仅降低了4%,这些影响只有在初始连接速度非常慢的情况下才会明显。更令人印象深刻的是,它将全球平均延迟保持在300毫秒以下——延迟总是随着距离增加,但Proton的基础设施使这个数字保持在低位。
它还是一款特别注重安全和隐私的VPN。作为唯一一家由非营利组织控股的具有竞争力的VPN,Proton可以专注于保障用户权利,而不用担心被收购或滥用其访问权限。它不仅在我的泄漏测试中毫发无损,而且在物理VPN安全方面也是领导者——其Secure Core服务器通过现实世界中加固的地点连接你。其所有服务器都使用全盘加密,确保隐私免受黑客和Proton自身的窥探。
Proton VPN还以另一种重要方式践行其隐私使命:提供无限数据量的免费计划,你可以用它无限期地保持在线匿名。虽然你不能选择服务器位置(因此不适合用于解锁特定流媒体服务),但如果你只是想在不付费的情况下采取安全预防措施,它是理想选择。
- 优点
- 保持互联网速度快速
- 物理安全的数据中心
- 提供无限数据的免费计划
- 缺点
- 虚拟服务器位置比例较高
- 仅付费用户享有实时聊天支持
ExpressVPN
- 平台: Windows、macOS、Android、iOS、Linux、Chromebook、Chrome、Android TV、Apple TV、Firestick、路由器
- 平均下载速度下降: 6.9%
- 服务器位置: 105个国家/地区的164个地点
- 显著功能: Threat Manager跟踪器和恶意软件拦截器、广告拦截器、家长控制、Aircove路由器
- 最佳价格: 28个月97.72美元
- 阅读我们的完整ExpressVPN评测
ExpressVPN是一款高性能的VPN服务,缺点很少。唯一阻止它登顶的真正问题是,就其提供的功能而言,价格仍然偏高。这就是为什么我将其命名为最佳高端VPN——虽然不是整体最佳,但如果你有预算,值得额外付费。即使在2025年9月引入新的分级定价计划后,这一称号依然成立,该计划提供了比过去更好的价值,但通常仍比Proton和Surfshark的同等计划贵。
选择ExpressVPN的最佳理由是其应用程序、速度和全球服务器网络。让我们按顺序来看。每个ExpressVPN客户端都经过精简,达到了软件所能达到的最简单程度。你在任何客户端上要做的最复杂的事情就是选择服务器位置——其他所有操作都是点击开关按钮的问题。对于VPN初学者,或者任何希望服务在后台安静运行的人来说,这简直是天堂。
速度甚至比Proton VPN更好,这是ExpressVPN价格略高的另一个原因。在六个不同地点进行的多次每日测试中,我的速度平均仅下降6.9%,平均延迟保持在300以下。上传速度仅微降1.6%。这很难被超越(尽管Surfshark做到了)。
ExpressVPN在105个不同国家和地区拥有164个服务器位置,是本列表中服务器网络最大的VPN。无论出于何种原因需要更改虚拟位置,它都是完美的选择。更近的服务器提供更好的速度,但更大的网络也增加了你伪装IP地址的选择范围——你将能够解锁世界上一半以上地区的流媒体网站(并且在一个服务器失效时有大量备用选项)。
ExpressVPN没有太多额外功能,但当它在最重要的工作上表现出色时,这很难抱怨。此外,也并非一无所有。在所有平台上你都能找到网络锁、恶意软件检测器、广告拦截器和家长控制功能,在Windows、Android和macOS 10及以下版本上还有分流功能。Aircove路由器也值得一提——作为唯一拥有自己界面的VPN路由器,它易于操作,无需专业知识即可提供全屋VPN覆盖。
- 优点
- 快速的下载和上传速度
- 随处解锁Netflix
- 易于使用的应用程序
- 缺点
- 额外功能较少
- 套餐价格昂贵
Surfshark
- 平台: Windows、macOS、Android、iOS、Linux、Chromebook、Chrome、Firefox、Edge、Apple TV、Fire TV、路由器
- 平均下载速度下降: 5.4%
- 服务器位置: 100个国家/地区的141个地点
- 显著功能: Dynamic MultiHop、Everlink、IP轮换器、无限同时连接、CleanWeb、NoBorders模式
- 最佳价格: 28个月53.73美元
- 阅读我们的完整Surfshark评测
由于"最快的VPN"是VPN服务商喜欢自夸的流行说法,我想澄清我的意思。最快的VPN是指对你的速度影响最小的VPN——VPN让你的网络比正常情况下更快是极其罕见的。因此,如果你一开始就没有快速的网络连接,也就不可能有快速的VPN。另外,无法保证Surfshark将永远是最快的,因为顶部的竞争一直很激烈。
澄清之后,以下是事实:在我的速度测试中,Surfshark击败了列表中的所有其他VPN。对于每个VPN,我选择全球均匀分布的六个服务器,并在连续几天内进行测试。Surfshark在所有六个测试点平均使我的速度下降了5.4%。如果没有南非的异常值(即使那里也只使我的速度下降了11%),平均值将是4.3%。
上传速度平均仅下降3.6%。这些都非常出色,使得使用Surfshark上网感觉完全无缝,无论你身在世界的哪个角落。从俄勒冈州连接到印度尼西亚的服务器时,我只感受到了微不足道的减速——是的,我确实确认了它确实在加密我的连接。
除了速度快,Surfshark还是一款具有前瞻性的VPN,拥有几项你在其他地方找不到的功能。Nexus让你在浏览时不断轮换IP地址,并为多跳连接选择自己的起点和终点。它的安全性也很高,在我的泄漏测试中没有任何失误,其隐私政策也没有漏洞(并且在2025年6月的审计中获得了健康证明)。
阻止Surfshark登顶的几个问题可能有些烦人,但都不是致命缺陷。其应用设计有点过于依赖弹窗,其月度计划是业内最贵的,使其更适合长期使用。
- 优点
- 速度非常快
- 所有应用上都有分流功能
- 无限同时连接
- 缺点
- 单月定价过高
- 桌面端弹窗较多
- NoBorders模式有用但可能不必要地开启
NordVPN
- 平台: Windows、macOS、Android、iOS、Linux、Chromebook、Chrome、Firefox、Edge、AndroidTV、tvOS、路由器
- 平均下载速度下降: 6.4%
- 服务器位置: 117个国家/地区的153个地点
- 显著功能: 双VPN、洋葱网络Over VPN、混淆服务器、P2P服务器、威胁防护、暗网监控器
- 最佳价格: 27个月83.43美元
- 阅读我们的完整NordVPN评测
NordVPN以其提供的增强常规VPN体验的功能而脱颖而出。尽管领先于时代的Meshnet功能今年遗憾地即将关闭,但仍有一系列出色的选项。基础套餐包含双VPN连接、洋葱网络Over VPN服务器、P2P服务器、威胁防护杀毒软件和网络锁,以及在Windows和Android上的分流功能。
功能创新并不意味着NordVPN忽视了基础。它的速度不言自明。观看视频需要大量下载带宽,尤其是4K UHD视频。在我的测试中,NordVPN仅使我的下载速度下降了6.4%,这使其仅次于Surfshark。单个服务器的性能表现从高下降10.4%(仍然很好)到低下降3.4%不等。这足以在几乎任何家庭网络上进行高质量流媒体播放。
NordVPN的服务器列表包括117个国家的153个城市,这意味着在查看替代流媒体库时有巨大的选择范围。它也能以近乎完美的精度更改我的虚拟位置。在对五个服务器位置的测试中,Netflix从未成功阻止过NordVPN,只有一次(在尼日利亚)未能更改显示的内容。
在安全方面,NordLynx协议是WireGuard的优化版本,既快速又安全,而NordWhisper则能在不过多损失速度的情况下向审查者隐藏你的VPN使用情况。它也毫无问题地通过了我的所有泄漏测试。其隐私政策稍微不那么严密,因为没有列出所有合作的第三方处理商——因此对于敏感任务可能不是最理想的选择。不过,提供给第三方的任何信息几乎肯定都是经过汇总和匿名化处理的。
- 优点
- 出色的下载速度
- 有用的独家功能
- 广泛的服务器网络
- 缺点
- 界面选择有些笨拙
- 默认收集设备信息
CyberGhost
- 平台: Windows、macOS、Android、iOS、Linux、Chrome、Firefox、Amazon Fire Stick、Android TV、路由器
- 服务器位置: 100个国家/地区的125个地点
- 显著功能: Smart Rules自动化、流媒体优化服务器、NoSpy服务器、广告拦截器
- 最佳价格: 26个月56.94美元
- 阅读我们的完整CyberGhost评测
CyberGhost有很多值得推荐的地方。其流媒体优化服务器在播放质量上达到了高标准,其Smart Rules提供了市场上一些最可定制的VPN自动化功能。广告拦截器效果很好,NoSpy服务器是个好主意——CyberGhost将其严密保管在罗马尼亚总部附近,并精心微调所有设置。
CyberGhost最近也努力将其应用程序提升到标准水平。我本来就喜欢其设计理念,实际体验也有所改善,界面旨在欢迎新用户,同时精心组织了丰富的功能。连接后,你很可能会享受到快速的下载和上传速度,以及较低的平均延迟。
仍然存在一些问题:连接到VPN服务器时经常有延迟。此外,网络锁可能过于敏感,有时即使在VPN工作完美的情况下也会阻止互联网访问。我对其处理用户信息的方式也有一些担忧,因为其隐私政策保留了与其母公司Kape Technologies共享你个人数据的权利——虽然没有直接迹象表明存在滥用,但对于任何高度私密的事情,我会谨慎使用CyberGhost。
但承认所有这些缺点后,我必须承认这款VPN就其价格而言非常出色。随着Private Internet Access在我心中的地位最近有所下降(见下文),CyberGhost是取代它的明显选择。其26个月的计划可能不如PIA的三年选项便宜,但按月计算并没有贵太多——而且物有所值。
- 优点
- 深入的自动化功能
- 大型服务器网络
- 价格非常实惠
- 缺点
- 可能与母公司共享数据
- 连接有时有延迟
Mullvad
- 平台: Windows、macOS、Android、iOS、Linux、路由器
- 服务器位置: 49个国家/地区的89个地点
- 显著功能: IPv6支持、Bridge Mode多跳、广告和跟踪器拦截器
- 最佳价格: 每月5欧元
- 我们正在重新测试Mullvad以进行完整评测。
Mullvad VPN的名字在瑞典语中是"鼹鼠"的意思,作为一款隧道应用的形象代言,这比一只熊(抱歉,TunnelBear)合理得多。Mullvad的首要任务是隐私,这影响了从营销到应用程序再到注册流程的一切。它是唯一一款无需电子邮件地址即可注册的VPN——每个账户都由一串数字指定,因此无法与任何在线身份关联。
为了真正的不可追踪性,你甚至可以用现金支付,只需在信封上写上你的账号,连同他们支持的九种货币之一邮寄到Mullvad总部。定价系统不寻常但极其简单:每月从你的账户中扣除5欧元(目前略低于6美元),直到扣完为止。你可以随时充值任意金额。请注意,价格始终以欧元计算,因此如果你使用其他货币支付,需要考虑汇率。
最重要的是,Mullvad拒绝使用营销Cookie来跟踪你在其网站上的活动——据我所知,它是唯一做到这种程度的VPN。幸运的是,所有这些隐私创新都配以一款真正优秀的产品。Mullvad的速度出人意料地快,甚至能在远距离保持低延迟。其应用程序易于使用,除了少数对经验不足的用户可能略显晦涩的功能(而且你可以不去碰它们)。
它甚至是少数真正设置好以处理IPv6流量的VPN之一,即使你的ISP仍然阻止它。主要缺点是Mullvad不使用虚拟服务器位置,因此其服务器列表相当小,但至少你可以确信每个位置都名副其实。另外,如果实时聊天支持对你很重要,请注意Mullvad网站上没有此项服务。
- 优点
- 完全匿名的注册
- 网站上无跟踪器
- 支持IPv6
- 缺点
- 服务器列表小
- 无实时技术支持
hide.me
- 平台: Windows、macOS、Android、iOS、Linux、Chrome、Firefox、Edge、Apple TV、Android TV、Fire TV、路由器
- 服务器位置: 58个国家/地区的81个地点
- 显著功能: 可定制的分流、Stealth Guard强力网络锁、动态端口转发、IPv6支持
- 最佳价格: 27个月69.95美元
- 我们正在重新测试hide.me以进行完整评测。
我最初对hide.me评价不高,但在过去几年里发生了一些奇怪的事情:当其他免费VPN(甚至Proton VPN)都在削减服务时,hide.me却在不断改进。截至目前,它是唯一一款让你无需付费即可使用、不限制数据量且允许你选择自己服务器位置的VPN。这使其成为极少数真正适合流媒体的免费VPN之一。
诚然,有限制——hide.me只有八个免费服务器,并且一次只能在一个设备上连接。但由于它对免费速度几乎没有限制,我并不抱怨。甚至没有任何广告。实际使用应用程序从下载到操作都极其简单;大多数事情只需点击一下即可完成。
付费订阅hide.me可将位置选项增加到91个国家,并将同时连接限制提高到10个。根据hide.me网站的说法,付费还会移除速度上限,但我从未注意到显著差异。免费和付费计划的速度通常都很棒,对下载和上传的平均影响非常小。不过,延迟可能会很高。
除了免费计划,hide.me还有许多有趣的功能,包括动态端口转发,可以使通过NAT防火墙的流量更快、更稳定。它有一个类似PIA的强力网络锁选项,可以阻止指定应用在VPN未激活时连接。还有一个名为SmartGuard的多功能功能,可以拦截广告、捕获与恶意软件相关的网站并作为家长控制工具。
- 优点
- 动态端口转发
- 提供无限数据的免费计划
- 速度快
- 缺点
- 免费计划仅限于八个位置
我们测试过的其他VPN
本节中的VPN未能进入我们上面的顶级榜单,但我们在此进行总结,以便你了解我们评估时它们的优缺点。
Windscribe
Windscribe是另一款由付费订阅支持的知名免费VPN。在许多方面,它汲取了Mullvad和Proton VPN的优点,既有前者的务实隐私,也有后者的健康免费计划。在不付费的情况下,你可以在无限数量的设备上同时连接到Windscribe的10个服务器位置。
遗憾的是,Windscribe没有复制Proton VPN免费计划最重要的部分——无限数据。你每月只能使用10GB,这不足以进行常规流媒体播放。它还坚持使用一个局促且令人头疼的用户界面,以最糟糕的方式脱颖而出。
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access(
英文来源:
The best VPN service for 2026
After rigorous testing, seven virtual private networks hit the top of our list.
As frustrating as it is that governments and businesses are running roughshod over our online freedoms, at least we have plenty of good VPNs to choose from to keep us protected online. There are so many fast, intelligently designed, full-featured and affordable services on the market that the biggest problem is picking one. For any use case, you can bet at least two providers will be neck-and-neck for first place.
On the other hand, the VPN world is still the Wild West in some ways. It's easy enough to slap a cheap VPN together that the market is flooded with low-quality apps that put more money into advertising than infrastructure. They may look good, but it's all styrofoam under the hood.
I built this list of the best VPNs after intensive testing to help you reorient your focus on the providers that actually deserve your time and money. Which one truly fits your needs is dependent on who you are and what you do online, but if you pick any of my seven recommendations, you can't go too far wrong. If you're interested in a service you can use without paying, head over to my list of the best free VPNs — and if you're willing to pay but want to save money, I keep a list of the best VPN deals updated weekly.
For each VPN on this list, I've shared which platforms it works on, how much it cuts into your download speed, where it offers servers, what other features are included and how much the best available deal costs. At the end, I'll list some honorable and dishonorable mentions, then answer some of the most common questions I hear about VPNs.
Editor's note: This list is up-to-date as of January 2026. We intend to revisit this list every three months at a minimum, at which time our picks may be adjusted based on changes in pricing, features, testing results and other factors.
Table of contents
Best VPNs for 2026
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chromebook, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Apple TV, Firestick, routers | Average download speed drop: 12.5 percent | Server locations: 154 in 122 countries | Notable features: NetShield ad blocker, Secure Core servers, Tor over VPN | Best price: $107.76 for 24 months
Read our full Proton VPN review
Proton VPN clinches the top spot for one simple reason: it does everything right. All its closest competitors have one area in which they fall short — ExpressVPN doesn't have as many features, NordVPN can be irksome to use, Surfshark's pricing forces you into a long-term deal, and so on. Proton VPN isn't perfect, nor is it the best in every individual area, but it's the one VPN where I can't find a serious weakness no matter how I poke and prod.
Proton's winning run starts with its excellently designed apps. If you don't know how to use a VPN, it's easy for VPN apps to feel cluttered or aggravating, but Proton never puts anything in your way. Every feature is where you expect it to be, never demanding any digging or leaving you perplexed about what a certain setting is for. There's no drop-off in quality between platforms, either: Proton has clearly paid equally close attention to its clients for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.
That ease of use extends to Proton VPN's impact on your browsing speeds. In my tests, it reduced my download speeds by an average of 12 percent worldwide and my upload speeds by only 4 percent, factors that are only noticeable on a connection that's very slow to begin with. Even more impressively, it held the global average ping below 300 ms — latency always increases with distance, but Proton's infrastructure keeps that number low.
It's also a VPN uniquely devoted to security and privacy. As the only competitive VPN majority-owned by a nonprofit, Proton can focus on guaranteeing the rights of its users without being bought out or misusing its access to customers. Not only did it pass my leak tests without a scratch, but it's also a leader in physical VPN security — its Secure Core servers connect you through locations fortified in the real-world. All its servers use full-disk encryption, ensuring privacy from both hackers and Proton itself.
Proton VPN also commits to its privacy mission in one more important way: offering a free plan with unlimited data you can use to stay anonymous online for as long as you want. You can't choose your server location, so it's no good for (as an example) unblocking a specific streaming service, but it's ideal if you just want to take security precautions without paying.
- Keeps internet speeds fast
- Physically secured data centers
- Free plan with unlimited data
- High proportion of virtual server locations
- Live chat support only for paid users
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chromebook, Chrome, Android TV, Apple TV, Firestick, routers | Average download speed drop: 6.9 percent | Server locations: 164 in 105 countries | Notable features: Threat Manager tracker and malware blocker, Ad blocker, Parental controls, Aircove router | Best price: $97.72 for 28 months
Read our full ExpressVPN review
ExpressVPN is a high-performing VPN service with very few flaws. The only real issue keeping it from the top spot is that it remains a bit overpriced for the functionality it offers. That's why I've named it the best premium VPN — not the best overall, but worth paying extra for if you have the cash. That designation stands even after the new tiered pricing plans introduced in September 2025, which offer better value in the past, but are still generally pricier than equivalent plans from Proton and Surfshark.
The best reasons to pick ExpressVPN are its apps, its speeds and its global server network. Let's take those in order. Each ExpressVPN client is stripped down to be as simple as software ever comes. The most complicated thing you'll do on any of them is pick server locations — everything else is a matter of clicking a button on or off. For a VPN beginner, or anyone who wants their service to run unobtrusively in the background, it's paradise.
Speeds are even better than Proton VPN's, another way ExpressVPN earns its slightly higher price. In multiple daily tests across six different locations, my speed dropped an average of just 6.9 percent and my mean latency remained below 300. Upload speeds went down a miniscule 1.6 percent. It's hard to get much better than this (although Surfshark manages it).
With 164 server locations in 105 different countries and territories, ExpressVPN has the largest server network of any VPN on this list. It's perfect for changing your virtual location, whatever reason you have for doing that. Closer servers grant better speeds, but a bigger network also increases your range of options for spoofed IP addresses — you'll be able to unblock streaming sites in more than half the world (and have plenty of fallback options in case one server fails).
ExpressVPN doesn't have many additional features, but that's hard to complain about when it's so good at its most important job. Besides, it's not like there's nothing. You'll find a kill switch, malware detector, ad blocker and parental controls on all platforms, plus split tunneling on Windows, Android and macOS 10 and under. The Aircove router is also worth mentioning — as the only VPN router with its own interface, it's easy to operate and provide whole-house VPN coverage without technical knowledge. - Fast download and upload speeds
- Unblocks Netflix everywhere
- Easy-to-use apps
- Few extra features
- Expensive plans
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chromebook, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Apple TV, Fire TV, routers | Average download speed drop: 5.4 percent | Server locations: 141 in 100 countries | Notable features: Dynamic MultiHop, Everlink, IP rotator, unlimited simultaneous connections, CleanWeb, NoBorders mode | Best price: $53.73 for 28 months
Read our full Surfshark review
Since "the fastest VPN" is such a popular superlative for VPNs to tout about themselves, I want to make it clear what I mean. The fastest VPN is the one that reduces your speeds the least — it's exceedingly rare for a VPN to make your internet faster than it is normally. As a result, if you don't have a fast internet connection to start, you can't have a fast VPN. Also, there's no guarantee that Surfshark will always be the fastest, as the race at the top is continually close.
With the disclaimer out of the way, here are the facts: Surfshark beat out every other VPN on the list in my speed tests. For each VPN, I pick six servers spaced evenly across the world and test them on several consecutive days. Surfshark dropped my speed an average of 5.4 percent across all six test sites. Without an outlier in South Africa (which still only dropped my speeds by 11 percent), the average would be 4.3 percent.
Upload speeds only dropped by an average of 3.6 percent. That's all outstanding, and makes using the internet with Surfshark feel completely seamless, no matter where you are in the world. From Oregon, I got a negligible slowdown on a server in Indonesia — and yes, I did make sure it was actually encrypting my connection.
Beyond being fast, Surfshark is an envelope-pushing VPN with several features you won't find anywhere else. Nexus lets you rotate your IP address constantly as you browse and pick your own starting and ending points for a multi-hop connection. It's also highly secure, with no slip-ups anywhere in my leak testing and no loopholes in its privacy policy (plus a clean bill of health from a June 2025 audit).
The few issues that keep Surfshark from the top spot can be annoying, but none of them are dealbreaking. Its app design relies a bit too much on popups, and its monthly plans are the most expensive in the game, making it a better choice for long-term use. - Very fast speeds
- Split tunneling on all apps
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Single-month pricing is excessive
- Lots of popups on desktop
- NoBorders Mode useful but can turn on needlessly
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chromebook, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, AndroidTV, tvOS routers | Average download speed drop: 6.4 percent | Server locations: 153 in 117 countries | Notable features: Double VPN, Onion over VPN, obfuscated servers, P2P servers, Threat Protection, Dark Web Monitor | Best price: $83.43 for 27 months
Read our full NordVPN review
NordVPN distinguishes itself with the features it offers to boost the usual VPN experience. Even though the ahead-of-its-time Meshnet is sadly shutting down this year, there's a great menu of options. A basic plan comes with double VPN connections, Onion Over VPN servers, P2P servers, Threat Protection antivirus and a kill switch, plus split tunneling on Windows and Android.
Innovating on features doesn't mean NordVPN sleeps on the fundamentals. Its speed speaks for itself. Watching videos takes a lot of download capacity, especially in 4K UHD. In my tests, NordVPN only dropped my download speed by 6.4 percent, which puts it ahead of everybody except Surfshark. Performance on individual servers ranged from a high drop of 10.4 percent (still great) to a low drop of 3.4 percent. That's fast enough for high-quality streaming on almost any home network.
NordVPN's server list includes 153 cities in 117 countries, which translates to a huge range of options for checking out alternate streaming libraries. It also changed my virtual location with near-perfect precision. In tests of five server locations, Netflix never once managed to block NordVPN, and only once (in Nigeria) failed to change the content that turned up.
In the area of security, the NordLynx protocol is a tuned-up version of WireGuard that's both fast and safe, and NordWhisper hides your VPN usage from censors without too much speed loss. It also passed all my leak tests without issues. Its privacy policy is a little less watertight, since there's not a full list of all the third-party processors it works with — so it might not be ideal for sensitive tasks. However, any information provided to a third party would almost certainly be aggregated and anonymized. - Excellent download speeds
- Useful exclusive features
- Extensive server network
- Clunky interface choices
- Collects device info by default
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Amazon Fire Stick, Android TV, routers | Server locations: 125 in 100 countries | Notable features: Smart Rules automation, streaming-optimized servers, NoSpy servers, ad blocker | Best price: $56.94 for 26 months
Read our full CyberGhost review
There's a lot to recommend with CyberGhost. Its streaming-optimized servers meet a high standard for playback quality and its Smart Rules offer some of the most customizable VPN automation on the market. The ad blocker works well, and the NoSpy servers are a neat idea — CyberGhost keeps them under lock and key near its Romania headquarters and carefully fine-tunes all their settings.
CyberGhost has also worked hard recently to bring its apps up to scratch. I already liked the designs on paper, but the actual experience has improved as well, with interfaces built to be welcoming to new users while carefully organizing a deep well of features. Once connected, you're likely to enjoy fast download and upload speeds, and low latencies on average.
There are still some problems: there's often lag when connecting to a VPN server. Also, the kill switch can be overactive, sometimes blocking internet access even when the VPN is working perfectly. I also have some concerns about how it handles user information, since its privacy policy retains the right to share your personal data with its parent company, Kape Technologies — although there's no direct indication of misuse, I'd be careful about using CyberGhost for anything deeply private.
But with all those flaws acknowledged, I have to admit this VPN is fantastic for the price. With Private Internet Access having fallen in my esteem lately (see its entry below), CyberGhost is the obvious choice to replace it. Its 26-month plan may not be quite as cheap as PIA's three-year option, but it's not that much more expensive month-over-month — and you get a lot more for the money. - Deep automation features
- Large server network
- Highly affordable
- May share data with parent company
- Sometimes lags on connection
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, routers |Server locations: 89 in 49 countries | Notable features: IPv6 support, Bridge Mode multihop, ad and tracker blocker | Best price: 5 Euro per month
We're in the process of re-testing Mullvad for a full review.
Mullvad VPN's name is Swedish for "mole," which makes a lot more sense as a mascot for a tunneling app than a bear does (sorry, TunnelBear). Mullvad's first mission is privacy, which influences everything from its marketing to its apps to its registration process. It's the only VPN you can sign up for without an email address — each account is designated by a series of numbers so it can't be connected with any online presence.
For true untraceability, you can even pay in cash by writing your account number in an envelope and mailing it to Mullvad headquarters with one of their nine supported currencies. The pricing system is unusual but extremely simple: every month, 5 Euro (currently just under $6) will subtract from your account until it runs out. At any time, you can top it up as much as you'd like. Be aware that the price is always figured in Euro, so if you're paying with anything else, account for exchange rates.
On top of all that, Mullvad refuses to use marketing cookies to track your activities on its own website — to my knowledge, it’s the only VPN that goes that far. Fortunately, all this privacy innovation is matched with a product that's actually good. Mullvad is surprisingly fast and even keeps latencies low at a distance. Its apps are easy to use, barring a few features that might be slightly opaque to inexperienced users (and which you can get away without touching).
It's even one of the few VPNs that's actually set up to conduct IPv6 traffic, even if your ISP still blocks it. The main downside is that Mullvad doesn't use virtual server locations, so its server list is pretty small, but at least you can be sure every location is where it claims to be. Also, if live chat support is important to you, note that Mullvad doesn't have this on its website. - Completely anonymous signup
- No trackers on website
- Supports IPv6
- Small server list
- No live tech support
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, routers | Server locations: 81 in 58 countries | Notable features: Customizable split tunneling, Stealth Guard strong kill switch, dynamic port forwarding, IPv6 support | Best price: $69.95 for 27 months
We're in the process of re-testing hide.me for a full review.
I didn't initially think much of hide.me, but something strange happened over the last few years: while other free VPNs, even Proton VPN, cut back their services, hide.me kept improving. As of now, it's the only VPN that lets you use it without paying, doesn't cap your data and lets you choose your own server location. This makes it one of the very few free VPNs actually suitable for streaming.
True, there are limits — hide.me only has eight free servers and can only be connected on one device at a time. But since it barely throttles free speeds at all, I'm not complaining. There aren't even any ads. Actually using the apps is extremely simple, from download to operation; most everything happens with one click.
A paid subscription to hide.me raises the total location options to 91 countries and increases the simultaneous connections limit to 10. According to hide.me's website, paying also removes a speed cap, but I've never noticed a significant difference. Speeds on both free and paid plans are generally great, with very little average impact on both downloads and uploads. Latencies can get high, though.
Aside from its free plan, hide.me has a number of interesting features, including dynamic port forwarding that makes traffic through your NAT firewall faster and more stable. It's got a strong kill switch option reminiscent of PIA's, preventing designated apps from connecting unless the VPN is active. There's also a versatile feature called SmartGuard which can block ads, catch malware-associated websites and serve as a parental control. - Dynamic port forwarding
- Free plan with unlimited data
- Fast speeds
- Free plan limited to eight locations
Other VPNs we tested
The VPNs in this section didn't crack our top list above, but we're summarizing them here so you can see their positives and negatives as of the time of our evaluation.
Windscribe
Windscribe is another well-known free VPN supported by paid subscriptions. In many ways, it takes the best from both Mullvad and Proton VPN, with the former's no-nonsense privacy and the latter's healthy free plan. Without paying, you can connect to 10 of Windscribe's server locations on an unlimited number of devices at once.
Unfortunately, Windscribe didn't copy the most important part of Proton VPN's free plan — the unlimited data. You're only allowed to use 10GB per month, which isn't enough for regular streaming. It's also committed to a cramped and headache-inducing user interface that stands out from the crowd in all the worst ways.
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) has a deeply annoying name — I assume whoever invented it also likes to hop in their Toyota Forward Motion to grab a gallon of Sustaining Cow Extract from the grocery store — but it's a worthwhile VPN whose pricing provides incredible value. Its monthly and yearly plans are good enough, but its three-year plan is the clincher. Not only is it longer than average, but you can continue to renew at the three-year level, so you won't see an unpleasant price jump the first time you re-up.
PIA's apps have a dark UI reminiscent of Proton VPN, which is always a good thing. It also supports port forwarding, custom DNS and the use of a SOCKS5 or Shadowsocks proxy as a second step in the VPN connection. You can even set the maximum data packet size to help out a struggling connection, as I cover in my full PIA VPN review.
The downside is that your connection will struggle a lot. While well-designed, PIA's apps have a tendency to lag. In my most recent battery of tests, it dragged oddly on my internet in ways that weren't directly reflected in the speed tests. It's also not always capable of unblocking streaming services in other countries, and while its server network offers 152 IP address options in 84 countries, it's heavily bulked out by virtual locations.
TunnelBear
TunnelBear has a decent interface, which its target audience of VPN beginners will find very easy to use. Its speeds are perfectly good too, and I appreciate the depth and breadth of its transparency reports. But it's far too limited overall, with few extra features, less than 50 server locations and a free plan that caps data at 2GB per month.
VyprVPN
VyprVPN often flies under the radar, but it has some of the best apps in the business and a very good security record (there was a breach in 2023, but it didn't crack the VPN encryption itself). It's also got a verified privacy policy, a solid jurisdiction and runs every connection through an in-house DNS to prevent leaks.
Despite all that, it didn't make the top seven because its connection speeds aren't up to scratch — you'll likely notice a bigger slowdown than average. It also has a troubling history of wild, seemingly experimental swings in its pricing and simultaneous connection limits.
Norton VPN
Norton VPN is part of the Norton 360 package that includes the well-known antivirus software and other security apps. It's a nice bonus if you use Norton already, but as a standalone VPN, it falls short. My tests repeatedly showed it dropping encryption and revealing my IP address whenever I switched servers, and not all of its locations managed to unblock Netflix.
This isn't to say Norton VPN is terrible. It has a fairly large server network, user-friendly apps and some cool features like an IP rotator. It also recently revamped its OpenVPN infrastructure to improve speeds on Windows. But you probably won't find those things sufficient to balance out significant speed drops on other platforms or poorly written FAQs. I especially advise against Norton VPN for Apple users, as its Mac and iPhone apps are much more limited than their Windows and Android counterparts.
What to look for in a VPN
Choosing a VPN can quickly get you mired in analysis paralysis. We're here to help, but since only you know your particular needs, you should know the major red and green flags so you can make the final call yourself. Every reputable VPN provider offers a free trial or refund guarantee you can use to run the tests below.
Compatibility: First, make sure your VPN works on all the platforms you plan to use it on. Most VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, but those apps aren't always created equal — check that the app for your chosen OS is user-friendly and has all the features you need.
Speed: Use a speed testing app to see how fast your internet is before and after connecting to the VPN (I use Ookla's speedtest.net). To check security, look up your IP address while connected to a VPN server and see if it's actually changed your virtual location. Be sure it's using expert-vetted protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2. Try connecting to streaming services and seeing whether the VPN changes the available content.
Background: Do some outside research into the VPN's origins, especially its parent company, privacy policy and any past incidents. It's a dealbreaker if you can't figure out where the VPN is headquartered (which indicates a lax approach to transparency) or if it seems to have never passed a real third-party audit.
Server network: Look at the server network to make sure the VPN has locations near you and in any countries where you'll want an IP address — e.g. if you need a VPN to unblock Canadian Netflix, look for multiple server locations in Canada.
Customer Service: I also advise testing the customer support options by looking for the answer to a straightforward question. If phone support (versus email and chat) is important to you, make sure to prioritize that — and make sure it's available at convenient times in your timezone.
Pricing: Finally, check prices. See if the VPN is affordable and decide whether you're comfortable taking a long-term subscription for better savings. If you do get a multi-year plan, check what price it will renew at, since many of the cheapest subscriptions are only introductory deals.
VPN FAQs
To wrap up, let's answer some of the most common questions we get about VPNs. Feel free to get in touch if you have a query I don't cover here.
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for virtual private network. There are a few different types of VPNs, but for this list, we're talking about commercial services that let individual users access the internet with an assumed identity.
Whenever you get online, you're assigned an IP address — a digital nametag that tells websites where to send the information you request. For an IP address to work, it needs to be unique, which means it's possible to create a record of what an individual does online.
When you use a VPN, all the data you send to the internet goes through one of the VPN's servers before heading to its final destination. The VPN encrypts the connection between your computer and its server so the data won't trace back to you. Any website, ISP or third party that cares to look will only see the VPN's IP address, not yours. If you're interested in more detail, I've written a whole article on how a VPN works.
What are some things VPNs are used for?
The three main use cases for a commercial VPN are security, privacy and entertainment. Using a VPN conceals your real IP address from anyone who might want to use it for nefarious purposes like cyberstalking, DDoS attacks or deducing your real location. It also keeps your ISP from profiling you for ads based on where you live or what you do online.
One side effect of borrowing a VPN's IP address is that you can make it appear as though your connection is coming from another country. You can use this to access streaming content and platforms that are only available in certain regions due to copyright. Changing your location can even get you better prices when shopping online.
Location spoofing can also be used to get online in countries that censor internet access, like China and Russia, as well as certain US states or countries — like the UK — that are adding barriers like age-gating to previously unfettered online access. All you have to do is connect to a neighboring country (or locality) where the internet isn't blocked. If you plan to do this while traveling, make sure you have the VPN downloaded before you go, as some nations prevent you from even loading a VPN's homepage. Make sure you check with local laws regarding the legality of VPN use as well — just because your VPN traffic is encrypted doesn't mean that authorities can't detect that it's being used in a given location.
Are VPNs worth it?
Whether a VPN is worth the price depends on how much you value those three use cases above. It's no secret that your personal information is profitable for a lot of people, from illicit hackers to corporations to law enforcement. A VPN will not make you completely anonymous, nor is it a license to commit crimes (see the next question) but it will give you a lot more control over what you transmit to the world.
With entertainment, the value is even clearer. You can use a VPN to fight back against streaming balkanization by getting more shows and movies out of a single platform — for example, a lot of shows that have been kicked off American Netflix are still on Netflix in other countries.
What information does a VPN hide?
A VPN does not make it impossible for you to be unmasked or taken advantage of online. It prevents you from passively leaking information, keeps your IP address undiscoverable on public wi-fi networks and gets you around online censorship.
However, if you share personal information of your own volition, there's nothing the VPN can do. If you reveal your password in a social media post or click a link in a phishing email, that information bypasses the VPN. Likewise, if you do anything sensitive while logged into an account, the account holder will have that information even if you're using a VPN.
A VPN is a critical part of your online security, but it can't do the whole job by itself. Healthy passwords, malware scanners, private search engines and common sense all have roles to play. Never forget, too, that using a VPN means trusting the VPN provider with access to information that's concealed from everyone else — make sure you trust the privacy policy before signing up.
Are VPNs safe?
As far as we can determine, all the VPNs recommended in this story are safe to use. As with anything you subscribe to online, due diligence is important, but there's very little inherent risk; generally, the worst thing a bad VPN will do is fail to work, leaving you no worse off than before.
All that said, there are some VPNs (usually offered for free) that transmit malware, and others that pretend to be independent services while all secretly working off the same backend. Always make sure to look up any complaints or warnings about a service before you download it.
Can you get a VPN on your phone?
Absolutely — almost every VPN has apps for both desktop and mobile devices. A good VPN will redesign its app to be mobile-friendly without dropping too many features. Both iOS and Android natively support VPN connections, so you're free to choose whichever provider you like.
What about Google's One VPN?
Google One VPN was, as you might expect, a VPN provided by Google. It was launched in 2020 for Google One subscribers and discontinued in 2024 due to lack of use. If you really want a Google VPN, you can still get one if you have certain Pixel models or if you're a Google Fi subscriber.
That said, I don't recommend using a VPN from Google even if you do still have access to one. Google is one of the worst big tech companies at protecting user privacy. While its VPN might not leak, I wouldn't trust it to guard your sensitive information.
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