Best VPN’s Money Can Buy in 2020
If there’s one worry when it comes to using technology and the internet in 2020, it’s privacy. By using a VPN, you can, in theory, prevent your internet service provider and government from seeing your internet history. And with everyone stuck at home, your internet usage will be a lot higher than it would’ve been before the self-isolation. VPN’s are a dime a dozen, so here is a list of the best ones you can get today.
SurfShark
SurfShark is one of the new players on the market and arguably the best right now and when it comes to keeping you and your online identity secure, it’s all business. It’s one of the few VPNs that offers unlimited device coverage and a majority of its connections are fast and stable. Price-wise it’s also a winner as well as the 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to give it a try before committing for a longer period. And even then, annual plans are very reasonably priced indeed. It has over 1,000 servers to choose from as well as more than 60 locations.
ExpressVPN
This well-known VPN service offers access to more than 3,000 servers in 160 locations across 94 countries, alongside maybe the widest platform support you’ll find anywhere. We’re not just talking about native clients for Windows, Mac, Linux, plus iOS, Android and even BlackBerry. There’s custom firmware for some routers, DNS content-unblocking for a host of streaming media devices and smart TVs, and surprisingly capable VPN browser extensions for anything which can run them. The only downside is that it only supports up to five devices, so if you’re a family of tech heads, you might have to get multiple accounts.
NordVPN
Once seen as the best in the business, a recent data breach has put a slight doubt over this VPN, yet in their defense they quickly plugged that hole. You get a choice of over 5,500 servers in 60+ countries, 2048-bit encryption, strong DNS leak protection, kill switches, proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers, and with payment options that include Bitcoin, PayPal and credit cards. There’s also a fast, smart DNS-like SmartPlay feature which can be used to get around geo-restrictions and unblock a large number of streaming and other services. Sadly it’s another service that only offers up to a maximum of six devices.
TunnelBear
If all this talk off encryption and DNS protections has you running scared then TunnelBear is without a doubt the easiest VPN service to use. The focus on simplicity means there’s not too much here for demanding users. TunnelBear only offers 20 locations, for instance. There are very few low-level tweaks or settings, not even the ability to change protocol. But if you’re happy with the basics, there’s plenty to like here. TunnelBear has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, for example, as well as extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Opera. TunnelBear scores plus points for privacy, too, with the company hiring independent specialists to run a public security audit on its servers, systems and code.
IPVanish
Another VPN service that has some impressive stats: 40,000+ shared IPs, 1,300+ VPN servers in 70+ countries, unlimited P2P traffic, ten simultaneous connections and 24/7 customer support. On the subject of support, we really like that you can access it directly from your Android or iOS app on mobile. The apps are a powerful highlight. Not only are there loads of them (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, even Fire TV), but they’re absolutely stuffed with unusual features, options and settings, trampling all over the basic apps you’ll usually get elsewhere. This is definitely aimed at the power user who loves to tweak every single setting.
VyperVPN
This VPN is perfect if you’re on Apple platforms with very fast performances and powerful clients. With over 700 servers and over 70 plus locations, VyperVPN boasts more than 200,000 IP addresses and generally has very good download speeds. Unfortunately, the one big downside is the poor client services and if you’re one that likes to get help from the professionals then VyperVPN will let you down sadly. It does work on Windows platforms but has shown quite a few problems and is therefore highly recommend for the Apple fans out there.
CyberGhost
The Romanian and German-basedCyberGhostis a popular VPN provider whose mix of power and ease of use has won over more than ten million users. The company covers the basics well, with more than 5,000 servers spread across 90-odd countries, apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, torrents allowed and speedy live chat support. There are plenty of extras, too. The service can block ads, trackers and malicious websites. Automated HTTPS redirection ensures you’re always making the most secure connection. Optional data compression can save money on mobile devices. Overall, though, CyberGhost offers you a lot of unusual functionality for a very fair price, and it’s well worth a closer look. Plus, its 45-day money-back guarantee is longer than most of the competition.
Hotspot Shield
Unlike other services mentioned above, HotSpot Shield offers a free VPN service, on top of its premium offering. This is a great opportunity to test out the service and see if a VPN is the way to go for you. Of course, paying for the service gives you so much more than the standard free version. For just a few dollars a month you’ll get unlimited bandwidth, full access to 3,200+ servers in more than 70 countries, support for connecting up to five devices, 24/ 7 support, and of course absolutely no ads at all. If you’re just looking for raw speed at a very low price then Hotspot Shield is well worth a look, and the 7-day trial makes it easy to test the service for yourself.