VPN providers comparison (2024)

FAQs

Is there a difference between VPN providers? ›

Most premium VPNs are similar in what they do — encrypt online traffic. However, the difference in VPNs boils down to VPN pricing, available VPN protocols, encryption, the VPN provider's upheld policies, and additional features.

While VPNs have a lot of perks, there are potential downsides, too. A VPN can reduce internet speed and increase latency, which slows down online activities. Using a VPN can get your accounts blocked by social media sites for suspicious activity.

Here are a few steps you can take to ensure your VPN program doesn't contain any malware: Choose a secure VPN. Check your VPN provider's reputation before purchasing a service. Read some reviews and comments, and check its privacy policy, no-logs policy, and encryption methods to ensure the VPN is trustworthy.

Torrenting: Although NordVPN allows torrenting on its servers, not all servers work with torrent clients. Finding a server for torrenting requires trial-and-error. Device limit: You can't connect all your devices to NordVPN all at once like you can with options like Surfshark and Private Internet Access.

NordVPN is cheaper at the onset for an annual or two-year subscription, although eventually, both companies charge you the same price per year. We recommend ExpressVPN for most folks because of its fast internet speeds, excellent streaming support and unmatched transparency.

ExpressVPN is currently CNET's pick for the best VPN overall, scoring an 8.8/10 on our VPN rating scale. It's a veteran VPN provider that consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to privacy and transparency. It's also excellent for streaming and the easiest VPN app to use on any platform.

In short, NordVPN has a larger server network, offering over 6,000 servers in 111 countries, while Surfshark has 3200 servers in 100 countries. However, Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connected devices, while NordVPN caps the number of devices at ten. Pricing-wise, Surfshark costs less across all plans.

Not all VPN providers are equal.

Using a reputable VPN provider like NordVPN won't cause you any problems – but some shady VPNs actually engage in data logging practices and will happily sell your data to other companies, while others don't secure their networks and leave their users exposed to threat actors.

Governments, advertisers, and hackers can sometimes try to monitor your web browsing history. Without a virtual private network (VPN), your internet service provider (ISP) may record your online activity and sell it to the highest bidder.

As of September 2021, ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies and reportedly has 4 million users.

Can I trust my VPN provider? ›

However, a VPN can sometimes include flaws that result in the user's IP location being leaked. It is therefore important to look for a provider that actively prevents IP address leaks. Check reviews online to see if they have a history of IP address leakage.

It can't prevent cookie tracking, viruses, or malware, and it can't protect against phishing scams. Data leaks could occur. But most pivotally, a VPN is only as secure as the company that runs it. A VPN provider that uses out-of-date protocols, leaks IPs, and logs your data isn't one you can trust.

Many users and experts position NordVPN as one of the best VPNs on the market. And there are many reasons for it. This VPN provides robust security essentials like AES-256 encryption, two kill switches, reliable leak protection, an ad blocker, and specialized security server categories.