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The best paid VPN services
The coronavirus pandemic has forced many individuals to shift to a work-from-home model. There are also more people shopping online and just being more digitally connected than before.
Although there are many positive things that have come from this shift, there’s also one massive challenge that we face: data breaches.
Essentially, cybercriminals have seen this shift as a splendid opportunity to ramp up their activity, not just in frequency but also in the scope of attacks. And while you may think that cyber-attacks only happen to large corporations, research shows otherwise. Statista reports that a whopping 155.8 million internet users encountered data exposures in 2020.
Question is, what’s the best way to protect yourself when using the Internet? Three words, Virtual Private Network (VPN). In the following, we’ll explain what a VPN is, how it works and why it makes sense to get one.
Best for PC, Mac and Netflix streaming
ExpressVPN VPN Service
Its ability to provide more than 3000 servers in 160 locations makes it stand out from other paid VPNs. Comes with 3 months for free deal if you use our link! Costs $6.67/month.
- Speed:
- Protection:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
If you’re looking for a paid VPN that checks all the boxes, ExpressVPN is your best bet. With a network server that spans across 94 countries, this VPN never disappoints: be it in speed, ease of use or reliability.
When it comes to protecting your data, ExpressVPN delivers an unmatched performance. This is thanks to the 256-bit AES encryption, offering one of the most advanced technologies for encrypting data.
Its zero-logging mechanism is another feature that guarantees safety of data. This shows that it doesn’t keep tabs on your login time, your IP or any details relating to the websites you visit.
Best app for iPhone & Android
NordVPN VPN Service
Powered by the latest VPN technology, NordVPN provides top-notch protection and a range of privacy features. Costs $3.71/month.
- Speed:
- Protection:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
As mentioned earlier, the number of servers a VPN provider offers is crucial. The higher the number of servers, the greater the flexibility you have when deciding which one to connect to.
In return, this increases the likelihood of finding a fast and stable connection. Now, NordVPN has 5,400 servers, which are spread across 59 countries.
Its double VPN feature is another one of its strong points. It operates by routing your connection via a second server as opposed to just one. This ensures that if one connection stream is compromised, your connection through the second server will remain secure.
Best for speed
Hotspot Shield VPN Service
Its premium plan provides unlimited data transfer, gets rid of ads, and allows access to all Hotspot Shield’s features and locations. Costs $2.99/month.
- Speed:
- Protection:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
Don’t want your VPN slowing you down when you’re browsing the Internet? If so, you’ll want to invest in a VPN with an impressive speed, like Hotspot Shield.
It achieves this by employing a unique feature called Catapult Hydra protocol. This works by amending any latency issues in the OpenVPN and IPsec, which are known to reduce speed significantly.
Furthermore, this VPN conceals your P2P activity from your Internet service provider. Like Surfshark, it also has a kill switch, although this only works for Windows users.
Best for security
ProtonVPN VPN Service
The most comprehensive VPN puts enormous efforts in protecting user privacy. Costs $6.63/month
- Speed:
- Protection:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
It can be difficult to find a VPN that has every feature under the sun, but ProtonVPN comes close. It uses some of the most secure VPN protocols, namely OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) and IKEv2.
It also has a decent coverage with servers spread across 54 countries. In fact, it’s crucial to note that some of its servers are located in areas with repressive internet regulations, such as China, Turkey and Russia.
Better yet, all of its servers are multihop Secure Core. This typically means that they offer a level of advanced protection from network attacks, which you wouldn’t get from other VPNs.
What is a Virtual Private Network?
As with most things relating to tech and network, the nitty gritty details of how a VPN works can seem a little sophisticated.
In simple terms though, a VPN is a system that creates a secure connection between you and the Internet.
The way this works is that it encrypts any data coming from your device- including your IP address – so that nobody can read it. Encrypt here simply means that it converts the data into a series of numbers and letters or codes. Once the data reaches its destined location, the server then decrypts it.
In doing so, VPNs ensure that no unauthorized parties can access your IP address or know the information you’re surfing on the internet. In summary, a VPN hides your identity, the location of where you’re browsing from, and your online activity from prying eyes.
Are paid VPNs worth it?
The short answer to this is a resounding yes. But, perhaps, you’re not entirely convinced about paying for a VPN. If this is the case, it might help to weigh the pros against the cons.
When it comes to advantages, a VPN falls in the same category as an antivirus in terms of how well it protects your data from a breach.
But to get a really good idea of how much you can expect to get, let’s compare the different levels of services offered.
For instance, Hotspot Shield offers buyers a free package. However, this tier only gets you 500MB of data usage daily. This works fine for most online activities. But if you’re planning to watch dozens of videos or send attachments, you’ll probably need more than that.
The good news is paid packages offer so much more for just a small fee. For instance, in the case of ExpressVPN, it charges slightly over $5 a month, to afford you unlimited access at a much faster speed. And it gives you access to more than 3,000 servers, which increases your chances of finding a secure connection.
The main takeaway here is that with VPNs, you will often get what you pay for. Although there are a couple of free VPNs, or free tiers on some of the paid VPNs, these don’t offer much.
With a paid VPN, you’re guaranteed of getting the highest level of protection, and then some. For example, a lot of paid VPNs come with an additional safety feature called a kill switch. It works by automatically disconnecting you from the internet in case the VPN fails.
What to look for when choosing a VPN
Speed
This is one of the factors that separates a paid VPN from a free one. Providers that offer paid VPNs have advanced configurations that help you enjoy a fast and stable connection. Unpaid ones, however, do not give much thought to this so you will often experience a sluggish connection.
Level of security
Although it’s an important factor, speed is not the only thing you should consider when picking a VPN. You should also examine its level of protection. More specifically, look for those extra features that enable the VPN to provide a higher level of security. These include a zero-logging policy, anonymity, IP hiding and kill switches.
Accessibility
A quality VPN is one that you can access with ease regardless of where you are. In that regard, you should check the number of servers the VPN has, and where these servers are located. The more the servers, the better. It means you’re more likely to find a server in the location/country you are in.
Connectivity
As soon as you understand the significance of a VPN, chances are, you’ll want to connect all your devices to it to secure your data and personal information.
Unfortunately, almost all VPN providers have a limitation on the number of devices that can be supported. In some cases, this depends on the tier or package you subscribe for. If you intend to connect multiple gadgets, look for VPNs that have a higher maximum limit.
Pricing
This is one factor that really sets VPNs apart from one another.
Want to test the waters before going all in for a particular VPN? Then, look for ones that offer a free trial. This way, you can try out their services and see how good they are before paying for them. Alternatively, you can opt for pocket-friendly VPNs like SurfShark.
FAQ
Can I use VPN on my router?
Depending on the VPN you choose, you should be able to connect it to your router. This is a handy feature because it ensures that all your Internet devices are secure.
What type of data is protected when I use a VPN?
Any information that you transmit to and from your laptop or other device is protected. This means that in addition to your web browsing activity, your instant messages, emails, and others are also protected.
Final verdict
If you use public networks often, the best way to secure your connection is to invest in a paid VPN. These software enable you to access information from different websites or streaming services while retaining complete anonymity. This is particularly important considering the rising number of cyberattacks and increased surveillance by governments.
But before you spend several hundreds of dollars on any VPNs, remember to check its speed, ease of accessing it, level of security, connectivity, and price.
