Best VPN 2022: Our Top Picks For Virtual Private Networks
We’ve rounded up what we think are some of the best VPNs out there.
What’s the best VPN out there today? If you’ve been on the hunt for a virtual private network, chances are you’ve been asking the same questions.
Utilising a virtual private network, in a general sense, can be handy to help encrypt your network traffic and aid in keeping your own data safe, as well as to just add an extra layer of security.
Some of the best VPNs can also work on multiple devices, including PCs, laptops, phones, and even games consoles, so you can extend that extra layer across different platforms you use around your home.
So, if you’ve picked up one of the best mid-range phones, or best gaming PCs under 500 for instance, getting a VPN can make sure all your traffic is encrypted.
With all that in mind, we’ve selected these virtual private networks based on the services they offer, general reviews, and features that we think make them worth considering, plus, we’ve answer some of your most frequently asked questions so you can pick the best one for you.
So, let’s get to it – here are some of the best VPNs out there today.
Best VPN
NordVPN
Server Locations: 80+ | Number Of Servers: 5,300+ | Countries: 60 | Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux | Max Concurrent Connections: 6
NordVPN is undoubtedly one of the best options out there today with a marvellous all-round offering that works across a whole range of platforms.
It features AES-256 bit encryption as standard to keep your data secure, as well as allowing a ‘Double VPN’ feature that encrypts all your traffic twice over.
Speaking of security, there’s also some strong DNS leak protection and kill switches for both the app itself and across your system, which can disconnect your device from WiFi if your VPN does go down, so your IP address doesn’t become visible at any point.
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There’s a vast range of different servers to pick from with a total of over 5,000 in 60 different countries, as well as the ability to connect with more than one device at six different locations too.
In addition, NordVPN also works across Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Linux so no matter what device you have, you should be covered by a secure tunnel.
ExpressVPN
Server Locations: 160 | Number Of Servers: 3,000+ | Countries: 94 | Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux | Max Concurrent Connections: 5
ExpressVPN is also a well-known entry in the world of virtual private networks, and it’s also one of the best candidates out there today.
You’ll find over 3,000 servers to pick from across 94 countries with 160 different locations, giving you plenty of choice as to which country to go to.
Moreover, ExpressVPN also features the ability to connect with five simultaneous devices so you know your entire sect of devices. can be protected at once, which is handy.
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Expect to also find plenty of different supported platforms including but not limited to Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux, as well as on Apple TV, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, and even more, so you can basically protect every device you own.
On the point of protection, ExpressVPN also features industry-standard protection and plenty of other protocols out there including its own Lightway and OpenVPN to keep speeds up, too. It also comes with DNS leak protection and a kill switch, as well as support for P2P.
Surfshark
Server Locations: 100+ | Number Of Servers: 3,200 | Countries: 65 | Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux | Max Concurrent Connections: Unlimited
For those wanting a nice and accessible experience with a VPN, Surfshark should certainly have you covered.
The UI is nice and simple to use with an option to ‘Quick connect’ to the service, as well as a list of loads of locations to easily connect to and a settings menu. Using a VPN doesn’t need to be tricky business, after all.
Speaking of loads of locations, Surfshark provides you with the chance to connect up to over 3,200 servers across 65 countries with over 100 different server locations, so you’ve got a shedload of choice.
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Moreover, this particular service also allows for unlimited connections so you actually can protect every single device you own with no limits on the amount you can connect to the service, whilst it remains nice and speedy to use.
Surfshark also boasts a private DNS and, with its double VPN setting, an extra layer of security, which can just help to provide you with a little bit more peace of mind that your data is safe.
Private Internet Access
Server Locations: 100+ | Number Of Servers: 10,000+ | Countries: 78 | Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux | Max Concurrent Connections: 10
Private Internet Access, or PIA, for short, is a marvellous all-round service that certainly stands out based on the number of locations you can connect to.
It features over 10,000 different servers in 78 countries with 100 different server locations so you have quite the choice to pick from.
Once you’ve picked one of oodles of servers to pick from, it’s also good to know Private Internet Access will work on 10 different devices at once, which means you don’t have to worry about having an unprotected device anywhere.
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Moreover, there’s also a handy selection of privacy features bundled in, whether you’re using Windows, macOS, Android, iOS or Linux, including Smart DNS.
There’s also PIA‘s clever Chrome extension that can allow you to toggle extra settings such as blocking location access, third-party cookies, and website referrers.
Windscribe
Server Locations: 110 | Number Of Servers: 400+ | Countries: 63 | Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux | Max Concurrent Connections: Unlimited
For those just wanting to try out a VPN with a handy free tier, Windscribe is a great choice.
Whilst others may offer a 30-day free trial, Windscribe is a reputable VPN provider that offers a free tier that allows you to access 10 locations with a generous data allowance of up to 10GB a month. This is particularly useful if you just want to keep data safe and don’t need extra bandwidth for gaming or P2P downloads.
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With that being said, there is a paid tier that gives you access to 400 servers across 60 countries which, whilst it may not seem a lot, still provides you with a good selection of locations to connect to and will be more than enough choice.
Moreover, Windscribe also allows you to use other providers’ OpenVPN setup files from within the app which just adds another layer of convenience
In addition, the fact there’s an unlimited quantity of connections can just keep things easy, and also means you aren’t trying to juggle which devices you want to have connected at any given time.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are always some questions that can pop up time and time again when it comes to VPNs, so here are our two cents to help you make an informed decision.
What is a VPN?
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a program that allows you to use the internet with end-to-end encryption that can aid in keeping your data secure.
They can be used for everything from watching region-locked content to just simply adding an extra layer of encryption to your internet traffic.
Should I leave a VPN on all the time?
Quite simply, yes. Leaving a VPN on all the time simply ensures your internet connection will be secure wherever you go, and just helps to give you that peace of mind.
This goes for whether you’re moving from using public to private WiFi, or you’re swapping between devices. Luckily, as all the VPNs we’ve listed above can feature multiple concurrent connections to it, you can protect up to 5, 6, 10 and even an unlimited amount of devices at once.
Is getting a VPN worth it?
In short, yes. We’d say a VPN is worth getting simply due to them being useful aids for encrypting your internet traffic and keeping your personal data safe.
Fundamentally, they act as an extra barrier of protection, and can also be useful if you want to view region-locked content, as well as just for the sake of peace of mind.
Are all VPNs slow?
Whilst we do have a handy guide on if a VPN will slow your Internet down, let’s break things down a little here.
A VPN, in general terms, is likely to slow down your internet due to adding things such as end-to-end encryption, routing your connection to somewhere else in the world with a different IP address and all the different protocols involved.
The extent to which your connection is slower than without a VPN can depend on factors such as which server you’re using and which country your new IP address is within, as well as the case of how quick your network speed is usually from your ISP.
Luckily, some VPN providers, such as ExpressVPN feature their own protocols such as Lightway which they say can help to increase speeds, and therefore, for some VPNs, the difference in speed may be negligible.
Does VPN help ping?
In short, no. A VPN doesn’t necessarily have the ability to improve your ping simply based on the fact it’s routing your connection through a proxy server.
If anything a VPN is likely to slow down your game a little bit simply due to the fact your connection will be routed to one server and then to another in order to connect to the game as opposed to being a little more direct.