A VPN is a virtual private network, which connects your device to the internet through an encrypted tunnel.
This post will provide you with information on the top ten best VPN services for 2023 as it is important to use a reliable VPN service to keep your data safe.
Do you know according to SurfShark, around 50% of all VPN users use only free VPN services but most free VPNs don’t offer online security.
However, the services that we’ve found are some of the most reliable and trustworthy providers in this field, so you can be confident that they will keep your data safe and secure while giving you access to any content or service that may otherwise be restricted depending on where you live.
They also offer different pricing plans for various budgets, so there’s something here for everyone!
For more information about how their work and what they offer, please continue reading below!
What Is a VPN and How Does It Work?
A commercial virtual private network (VPN) is a technology that enables you to establish a secure connection over a public network by creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet.
On your smartphone or computer, you can install a VPN just like any other software or application.
A VPN can help you bypass censorship in your own country or access geo-restricted media material from another nation, as well as protect your privacy by preventing your internet service provider from spying on your online browsing.
VPNs do this by making it look as though you’re connected from another location or country.
Anyone who uses public, unsecured Wi-Fi, such as that found in airports, clubs, or coffee shops, will benefit from a VPN.
Your VPN secures your sensitive data, such as work projects and bank account login details, from malicious actors that scour public Wi-Fi networks.
When you use a VPN to access the internet, your computer connects with the website over the VPN’s encrypted connection.
The VPN will then forward your request to the website and get the response over its encrypted connection.
Also Check Top 10 Best Project Management Software
Best VPN Services
Here are our 10 best options based on:
- Express VPN — Best Overall
- NordVPN — Best For Security and Reliability
- Surfshark — Best For Connecting Unlimited Devices
- IP Vanish — Best VPN For Beginners
- Hotspot Shield — Best VPN For Incredible Speeds
- CyberGhost — Best Feature-Packed VPN
- PureVPN — Best VPN For Travelers
- Private Internet Access — Best All-Rounder
- TunnelBear — Best Cheap
- Windscribe — Best For Multiple Devices and Browsers
1. Express VPN — Best Overall
Of 2023, ExpressVPN remains our top pick for the best VPN service overall. First and foremost, no matter what device you’re using – an iPhone, a Windows PC, an Amazon Fire Stick, or even a router.
ExpressVPN is simple to install and quick to set up. While it has a lot of features beneath the hood, it’s completely plug-and-play, making it ideal for VPN beginners and experts alike.
It also comes with all of the extra features you don’t want to be without.
This includes a very reliable kill switch to cut your connection and avoid leaks if the VPN goes down, split tunneling so you can route some apps through the VPN while whitelisting others, DNS leak protection, class-leading encryption, servers in 94 countries, and a solid zero-logging policy.
ExpressVPN not only has exceptional privacy credentials, but it also has fantastic streaming performance, which is becoming more crucial in today’s market.
ExpressVPN unlocked the most Netflix locations of any VPN we tested, as well as BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and a slew of other services.
Pricing:
- Monthly VPN Subscription: Starts at $12.95 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No data retention laws
- Great performance on Windows.
- Netflix access
Cons
- Sluggish speeds on Mac
- There is no phone assistance.
- Per subscription, there are five simultaneous connections.
2. NordVPN — Best For Security and Reliability
In the VPN industry, NordVPN is one of the most well-known companies.
It has a large number of simultaneous connections, with six available on its network, compared to practically all other providers’ five or less.
For those searching for a more advanced VPN connection, NordVPN also provides a dedicated IP option.
NordVPN has a kill switch and the ability to connect to Tor over VPN.
NordVPN is a full-rounded VPN that does a lot of things extremely well.
It’s very probably the only VPN on the market that has a chance of challenging ExpressVPN’s supremacy.
It’s a full suit, with a kill switch, all the fundamental protocols plus the WireGuard-based NordLynx, great encryption, and absolutely scorching connection speeds.
Pricing:
- Monthly VPN Subscription: Starts at $11.95 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Netflix access
- High customer reviews
- Stringent logging policy
Cons
- Customer service is difficult to contact.
- With the iOS app, the kill switch does not turn off all applications.
3. Surfshark — Best For Connecting Unlimited Devices
While Surfshark’s network isn’t as large as others, the VPN service makes up for it with features and speed.
Let’s start with the most significant benefit: unlimited device support.
You don’t have to worry about how many devices are on or connected if you want to use Surfshark’s VPN to run your complete house or workplace.
Its software also includes antimalware, ad-blocking, and tracker-blocking.
The company’s app support is extensive, including Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Fire TV, and routers.
Surfshark can be customized for other devices, such as gaming consoles, using DNS settings.
We particularly like the option that allows you to whitelist certain applications and websites to bypass the VPN automatically.
This can be important for certain business uses.
Pricing:
- Monthly VPN Subscription: Starts at $12.95 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Per subscription, you get an unlimited number of devices.
- 30-day trial period
- Low subscription fees for one or two years
Cons
- There is no phone support.
- Not the fastest
4. IP Vanish — Best VPN For Beginners
IPVanish provides all of the main VPN features at an affordable price.
Regular discounts are part of the IPVanish experience, so you can commit for a year at a reasonable price and enjoy the protection that comes with a choice of over 1,600 VPN servers in over 75 different countries.
Apart from providing comprehensive protection whether you’re browsing at home or on a public Wi-Fi hotspot, IPVanish also makes it easier to avoid Deep Packet Inspection, which is a technique used by ISPs to reduce your internet speed.
The VPN has no data transfer limitations and no limit on the number of devices it can connect to, making it ideal for high-volume users and bigger local networks.
Pricing:
- VPN: Starts at $3.20 per month
- VPN + Backup: Starts at $5.50 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Fast download speeds
- Up to 10 concurrent connections
- Split tunneling
Cons
- Sluggish speeds on Windows
- Not all servers are compatible with Netflix.
5. Hotspot Shield — Best For Incredible Speeds
Even the best VPNs have speed limitations, and Hotspot Shield, a relatively new player in the virtual private network industry, set out to solve that problem.
We can say confidently that Hotspot Shield seems to have succeeded in that attempt, with rates of up to gigabits per second.
It’s also fast enough to stream, and it can unblock a variety of streaming services, including BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.
The loss of Netflix access, on the other hand, is a significant disadvantage.
Pricing:
- Basic: Free
- Premium: Starts at $12.99 per month
- Premium Family: Starts at $19.99 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free option
- High-speed operations
- Netflix access
Cons
- Saves IP address
- Non responsive customer support
6. CyberGhost — Best Feature-Packed
CyberGhost is a VPN powerhouse with over ten million active users and over 7,000 servers located throughout the world.
It’s also one of the most comprehensive virtual private networks available, both in terms of the devices/platforms it supports and the activities it can be used for.
CyberGhost VPN works on desktops, mobile devices, smart TVs, and even gaming consoles, and one of its biggest features is that it automatically connects you to the optimal server for whatever you’re doing at the time.
For bandwidth-intensive activities like gaming and streaming, this is essential.
Pricing:
- Monthly VPN Subscription: Starts at $12.99 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Affordable costs
- Excellent customer support
- Thousands of servers worldwide
Cons
- Only Android users can use split tunneling.
- Sluggish performance on Windows
7. PureVPN — Best For Travelers
With a name like PureVPN, this virtual private network had better provide some viable protection – and it does.
The service’s distinguishing features include its ability to connect to a diverse set of services for various activities, as well as its broad compatibility with a variety of devices and software interfaces.
PureVPN, like any excellent virtual private network service, will hide your unique IP address from websites, preventing anyone from identifying you or your geographic location.
With over 6,500 servers spread across six continents, you’ll have plenty of options for global connectivity.
Pricing:
- Monthly VPN Subscription: Starts at $10.95 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Affordable pricing
- OpenVPN protocol
- More than 6,500 servers across 78 countries
Cons
- There is no free trial available.
- Latency on Mac and Windows
8. Private Internet Access — Best All-Rounder
Private Internet Access (also known as just PIA) is a decent VPN service with more than enough features to deserve a spot on your shortlist, despite not being the fastest, cheapest, or most powerful.
Recent VPN reviews have noted a significant rise in PIA’s server count. It pushed things from a decent 2,000ish to an almost unbelievable 30,000+.
The most recent count we’ve heard is about 10,000, which still puts it miles ahead of the competition in terms of sheer server numbers.
That seems impressive, but it wouldn’t be worth a thing if you didn’t have good VPN clients and a lot of security knowledge.
Thankfully, PIA provides a balanced combination of privacy features and security methods (including WireGuard) – this includes their excellent Chrome extension, which has the ability to prevent location access, third-party cookies, website referrers, and more.
Pricing:
- Monthly VPN Subscription: Starts at $9.95 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Fast on Windows
- Netflix access
- Positive app reviews
Cons
- Customer service is mediocre.
- Split tunneling unavailable for iPhones
9. TunnelBear — Best Cheap
TunnelBear isn’t as feature-rich as some of the other VPNs in our top VPN of 2023 list, but it’s still worth mentioning if you’re looking for a low-cost virtual private network that doesn’t overwhelm you with unnecessary features.
TunnelBear prioritizes simplicity of use and newbie friendliness.
This big bear could be the one for you if you’re new to VPNs and find it all a little intimidating.
TunnelBear’s key selling point is its simplicity and convenience of usage.
There’s no need to fiddle with encryption methods or any other difficult setup.
That’s bad news for expert users who want more control and customization choices, but it’s wonderful news for regular people who don’t want or need all of that complexity.
TunnelBear does what it needs to do with solid encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logging policy, with the extra bonus of comprehensive annual independent audits that the company discloses to the public.
Pricing:
- Free Plan: Unlimited for free: $3.33 per month
- Teams: Starts at $5.75 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers a free plan
- Netflix access
- Up to 5 device connections
- VPN connection with high speed
Cons
- Unusual Services and Terms
10. Windscribe — Best For Multiple Devices and Browsers
Windscribe is a well-known VPN provider that offers a high-quality service with a lot of features.
From the perspective of a beginner, there are clients for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux, as well as stylish browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.
A single subscription also covers an unlimited number of devices, so you can use Windscribe to protect them all.
Experienced users will appreciate some of Winscribe’s more complex features that aren’t available anywhere else.
Take, for example, the ability to connect to other providers’ servers using OpenVPN configuration files from Windscribe’s software.
Pricing:
- Free Plan: Free
- Monthly VPN Subscription: Starts at $9.00 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 10GB of data is included in the free version.
- Netflix access
- Unlimited connections
Cons
- Issues with speed might arise.
- WireGuard is only available for Android.
Comparison
| VPN Service | Best For | Price | Best Feature | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express VPN | Overall best | Starts at $12.95 per month | Netflix access | 4.7/5 |
| NordVPN | Security and Reliability | Starts at $11.95 per month | Dedicated IP option | 4.5/5 |
| Surfshark | Connecting unlimited devices | Starts at $12.95 per month | Customizable for other devices | 4.5/5 |
| IP Vanish | Beginners | Starts at $3.20 per month | Up to 10 concurrent connections | 4.6/5 |
| Hotspot Shield | Incredible Speeds | Free | High-speed operations | 4.8/5 |
Conclusion
In conclusion, when you need a VPN service for your small business or personal use Of 2023, there are many factors to consider.
You should be looking at the strength of encryption and protocols that they offer as well as their logging policies.
In order to find out more about these features before purchasing a plan from any provider, it is important to read reviews online by other customers who have purchased services with this company in the past. We hope our list has been helpful!
FAQs
Why do I need a VPN service?
A virtual private network service is used to protect your internet traffic by encrypting it. This way, all of the data that you send online will be kept secure and safe.
The government cannot spy on your internet activity because it cannot decrypt the VPN connection.
All of your browsing data will not be stored on your computer ever again.
Can free VPNs be trusted?
Free VPNs are definitely not recommended for many reasons. Some free VPN providers may run ads, collect your data, or sell your information to third parties.
Many of them will cap the amount of bandwidth you can use per day or month. However, the free VPNs listed in this article are fully reliable and take their users’ privacy seriously.
Is it legal to use a VPN?
Yes, it is legal to use a VPN because nothing in the laws of most countries prevents its citizens from using a VPN service.
They are also allowed by law enforcement agencies around the world as they do not breach any rules.
Amit Gupta is the founder of National Planning Cycles, a company that helps startups, individuals, and small businesses with their financial planning. He has a vast amount of experience in the finance sector, having managed Google Play accounts for some of the world’s most successful unicorns. Amit is an expert in his field, and he uses his knowledge to help others achieve their individual goals.