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Commissions do not decide our rankings, scores or reviews. Those come from our own research and a published methodology, and we apply the same standards to every product whether or not it pays us. Not every product in a category is included, and the companies on our lists can change over time.
These are the top VPN services we rate, compared on the four things that decide most purchases: what it costs per month on the vendor's own plan, the deal running right now, how many devices one plan covers, and whether the no-logs promise has been independently audited. We compared the leading providers on their audits, privacy policies, apps and plans in 2026; the order follows our ratings, and the award on each card says what that VPN is best at.
NordVPN earns its place at the top of our VPN ranking on security fundamentals: a no-logs policy checked repeatedly by Big Four auditors, post-quantum encryption on a fast protocol, a well documented kill switch, apps for almost everything and a desktop security layer that does real work. Go in knowing that the malware protection has limits, that renewal costs much more, and that its breach history is part of the record. With those points understood, and with auto-renewal switched off until you decide, it remains the VPN we would point most people to first.
Surfshark combines unlimited devices, audited no-logs claims, RAM-only servers, a full set of privacy features and an optional security suite in one account, and the independent reviewers broadly agree it performs well. Its weak spots are the renewal price and the strict refund terms on recurring payments, both of which you can manage by choosing a long term and diarising the renewal. If you want one privacy subscription that covers everyone's devices without counting slots, it is one of the best value choices available.
Total VPN does the core job of a consumer VPN with modern encryption, a kill switch and leak protection, wrapped in some of the simplest apps in the category, and it slots neatly next to TotalAV if you already use it. What you give up is independent proof of its privacy claims and the advanced tools that heavier users expect. Treat it as an easy, low-friction privacy layer for everyday browsing and public Wi-Fi, and use the money-back window on an annual plan to confirm the speeds suit you.
Pros
Kill switch and DNS leak protection built in
Apps for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS on one subscription
Proton VPN is one of the most trustworthy VPNs available. Its open-source apps, five years of published no-logs audits and Swiss base give it a privacy record few competitors can match, and its free plan is the only one in the category that most experts recommend without heavy caveats. VPN Plus is worth paying for if you want the full server network, Secure Core, NetShield and up to ten devices. Choose a rival only if raw low latency or a large bundle of extras matters more to you than verifiable privacy.
PIA combines unlimited devices, open-source apps, RAM-only servers, quarterly transparency reports and a no-logs policy backed by both court records and audits, which is a rare set of credentials in this market. MACE is a genuinely useful addition that blocks many trackers and malicious domains across your whole device. Just treat it as one layer of an ad-blocking setup rather than the whole thing, and you will get the most from both the VPN and the blocker.
CyberGhost is an easy, well-audited VPN that adds network-wide ad and tracker filtering at no extra cost. Its strengths are simplicity, a clear and repeatedly audited no-logs policy, RAM-only servers and a generous refund window on longer plans. Its Content Blocker is a convenience rather than a best-in-class ad blocker, and reviewers agree on that. Buy it if you want a privacy tool first with lighter ad filtering built in, and add a browser blocker if a clean page matters to you.
ExpressVPN is worth it if you value reliability, clean apps and a long audit record and are willing to pay more for them. Its RAM-only servers, KPMG-assessed no-logs design and default post-quantum encryption put it among the most security-minded VPNs, and its ten-device minimum covers most households. The Basic tier is the sensible starting point; the higher tiers only make sense if you want the bundled password manager, identity tools or dedicated IP. Buyers who mainly care about price, or want multi-hop, should look elsewhere.
Every VPN on this page says it keeps no logs of what you do online. A no-logs audit is an outside firm checking servers, configuration and procedures against that promise. The table lists the latest audit each provider has made public, checked on 5 October 2026.
Latest no-logs audits, checked 5 October 2026
VPN
Auditor
What was audited
Latest report
Link
NordVPN
Deloitte Lithuania
IT systems and operations against the no-logs policy, including standard VPN, Double VPN, Onion Over VPN and obfuscated servers; ISAE 3000 (Revised); sixth such assessment
Access from 10 November to 12 December 2025; announced 6 February 2026
Configuration of IT systems, management of supporting IT operations and dedicated IP technology against the no-logs policy, as of 31 October 2025; ISAE 3000 (Revised); third such review
VPN server network, configuration, change management, incident response and the token-based dedicated IP system; ISAE 3000 (Revised); third such review
TrustedServer system controls against logging of browsing history, traffic destination, data content, DNS queries and connection logs; ISAE 3000 Type I (design at a point in time)
NordVPN and Surfshark make their full reports available to signed-in customers; Proton VPN and Private Internet Access publish theirs openly.
An audit confirms that the setup an auditor examined matched the no-logs policy at that time; it does not monitor the service continuously, and a point-in-time (Type I) check says less than one covering a period.
We do not test VPNs ourselves. Every score is built from the providers' own plans and policies, independent no-logs audits, speed measurements published by other reviewers and user feedback.
Speed (30%): published download and upload loss figures from independent reviewers, across regions.
Privacy (30%): no-logs audits, jurisdiction, results of independent leak tests.
Features (20%): protocols, kill switch, split tunnelling, streaming.
Value (20%): price per month, devices, money-back guarantee.
How to compare VPNs
Most VPNs encrypt your traffic well enough. What separates them is everything around the tunnel, and these are the five lines worth comparing before you buy.
Price per month over the same term. Every vendor quotes its lowest rate on its longest plan. Compare one-year against one-year or two-year against two-year, never a monthly price against a multi-year one, and check what the plan renews at.
Devices per plan. Limits differ widely between the VPNs on this page, and two put no cap on devices at all. If the subscription has to cover a household, divide the price by the device limit before anything else.
An audited no-logs policy. Every VPN says it keeps no logs. The ones worth trusting have paid an outside firm to check, and say who and when.
Modern protocols. WireGuard, or a vendor protocol built on it, is the fast option on most connections. OpenVPN is the fallback that gets through restrictive networks.
The refund window. Every provider here offers money back, from 30 to 45 days. It is the cheapest way to test speed from where you actually are.
VPN prices and deals, explained
VPN pricing works the same way at every vendor. The headline discount is measured against the monthly plan and applies to the longest term, which is why the percentages are large. The deal on each card is the one the vendor shows on its own pricing page when we last checked; we never invent one. Two things to watch: the percentage tells you less than the monthly figure in the compare table, because a big discount on a dear plan can still cost more than a small one on a cheap plan, and the introductory rate ends at the first renewal. Be wary of lifetime deals from brands you have not heard of; a service that is never paid again has to fund itself somehow.
Which of the top VPNs fits you
The most complete package. Our top-rated pick bundles the widest feature set, with ad and malware blocking alongside the VPN.
A whole household. Two VPNs on this list put no limit on devices, which changes the maths for a family more than any discount does.
Privacy first. Look for a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, open-source apps and repeat no-logs audits, and read the Privacy award on its card.
Lowest outlay. If price decides it, compare the monthly prices in the table rather than the discount percentages: the cheapest plan is not always the biggest discount.
Simplest to use. Two providers here are built for people who want to press one button and forget about it.
What users rate them
Checked October 5, 2026
User ratings show how people who chose to leave a review felt about a company or app. They are useful for spotting patterns, such as repeated complaints about billing, renewals or support, but they are not a measure of how well a product works: happy customers review less often than unhappy ones, some companies invite reviews more actively than others, and a score built on a few dozen reviews can move a lot with a handful more.
Trustpilot rates the company behind a product, usually for all of its products and services, and often reflects buying and billing experiences. Apple App Store ratings cover one iPhone and iPad app in the US store, so they say little about a desktop or web version. An App Store rating is shown only when the app is published by the vendor itself. The two scores come from different groups of reviewers and are not combined here.
User ratings for the products on this page, as read on Trustpilot and the US Apple App Store on 5 October 2026
Product
Trustpilot
Apple App Store (US)
NordVPN
4.2 / 5 from 50,849 reviews
4.7 / 5 from 706,704 ratings (NordVPN: VPN Fast & Secure, Nordvpn S.A.)
Surfshark
4.3 / 5 from 31,424 reviews
4.7 / 5 from 130,992 ratings (Surfshark VPN: Fast & Secure, SURFSHARK LTD)
TotalVPN
4.1 / 5 from 917 reviews
4.2 / 5 from 1,208 ratings (Total VPN - Fast & Secure VPN, Total Security Limited)
Proton VPN
2.1 / 5 from 1,006 reviews
4.6 / 5 from 115,429 ratings (Proton VPN: Fast & Secure, Proton AG)
Private Internet Access
4.3 / 5 from 11,010 reviews
4.7 / 5 from 149,724 ratings (VPN by Private Internet Access, Private Internet Access, Inc.)
The VPN at the top of this page holds our highest rating, and the award on each card says what each one is best at. The best service for you depends on whether you are paying for one device or a household, and whether audited privacy or price matters more.
What is the best VPN deal right now?
The deal on each card is the one the vendor is running on its own pricing page when we last checked. The biggest percentages are always on the longest plans, so compare the monthly price in the table rather than the percentage.
How do I compare VPN prices fairly?
Compare the monthly price on the same term length, check what the plan renews at, and divide by the number of devices it covers if you are buying for more than one person. The cheapest headline rate is not always the cheapest per device.
What does a VPN actually do?
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address, keeping your activity private even on public Wi-Fi and letting you browse securely from anywhere.
Do I need a VPN on all my devices?
Ideally yes. The VPNs we recommend let you connect multiple devices on one account, so you can protect your phone, laptop and tablet at once.
Are VPNs legal?
In most countries, yes. Using a reputable VPN for privacy and security is perfectly legal: just don't use one to break the law.
Will a VPN slow down my connection?
A little, because traffic is encrypted and routed through a server. With a fast provider and a nearby server the difference is usually small.
Do free VPNs work?
Free VPNs often cap data, throttle speeds, and some monetise your data. For privacy, a reputable paid VPN is far safer.
What is a no-logs policy?
It means the provider does not record what you do online. The strongest providers have this independently audited to prove it.
In-depth reviews of every pick
NordVPN9.8/10A security powerhouse with a huge server network and extra tools.
Surfshark9.6/10Unlimited devices on one plan, outstanding value.
TotalVPN9.3/10A straightforward VPN from the makers of TotalAV, with AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection and servers in 50+ countries.
Proton VPN9.2/10Swiss-based, open-source privacy from the team behind Proton Mail.
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