A virtual private network, personal or business, is technology that allows you to create a private connection over a less private network by creating a secure connection between your computer and the internet.
What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)?
A VPN is great for anyone using public, unprotected Wi-Fi, such as what’s offered in airports, bars or coffee shops. Your VPN protects your sensitive information — from your work projects to bank account login information — from being seen by malicious actors who hack into public Wi-Fi networks. A VPN will give you an extra layer of security on public Wi-Fi networks as well, which is especially critical if you ever send or receive sensitive information over the internet. The best VPN helps you evade ISP throttling and boosts your personal safety by making it harder for private and public entities to see your search and browsing history.
VPN does not only provide protection from hackers and network vulnerabilities but it also helps mask you identity from legitimate websites tracking you around the internet. You may have run into situation where you are looking for a new iPhone and suddenly whichever website you go on interest you start seeing ads for mobile phones and mobile service providers. With VPN you can limit this surveillance significantly.
You can install a VPN just like you would any other app or program on your smartphone or computer. A VPN can let you get around censorship in your country or access geographically restricted media content from another country — and prevents your internet service provider from being able to intrude on your privacy by snooping on your web browsing. VPNs do this by allowing you to appear as though you’re connecting from a different location or country.
In somewhat technical terms a VPN mask your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic so your browsing activities are hidden from your ISP, network admins and Websites tracking you for marketing intent. A VPN gives you extra privacy and anonymity online, adding another layer of encryption to your internet usage. And because a VPN changes your IP address, it also helps you access content that would otherwise be restricted because of your geographic location — thereby increasing digital privacy and online freedom.
If you want to keep your browsing habits under wraps and stay private online, a VPN is essential.
We’ve analyzed the key features you should consider in order to choose the best VPN service for your needs. Here are our top picks in 2022.
Express VPN
VPN that just works.
- Launched in 20.
- 3000+ server in 94 countries.
- $3.09 to $5.29/month.
- One of the fastest VPN providers offering tools such as DNS leak test.
Nord VPN
Take Cybersecurity to next level.
- Launched in 2012.
- 5600+ servers in 59 countries.
- $3.09 to $5.29/month.
- Unique features such as dark web monitor.
PIA
Private Internet Access.
- 10+ years in the VPN industry.
- Servers in 84 countries.
- Price plans from $2.03 to $11.95/month.
- Custom add-on such as a dedicated IP address.
How Did I test Different VPN Service Providers
I analyzed multiple factors to select the top 3 among more than 12 VPN providers.
Product Features
Most VPN providers have a core set of features such as number of devise simultaneously using the service, strength of encryption, number of countries they have servers (connection points) and types of devices they run on. I have assigned points to each of these core features to identify who provides the most services. In addition to that I also look at add-ons being offered such as dedicated IP address which provide protection against black listing of IP when a shared IP address is used.
Pricing
From monthly pricing to yearly discounts I look at the range of prices being offered for these services.
Personal/Work Use
One factor that is important is the ability to use the software not only for personal use on your cell phones but also the ability to install it on Routers so multiple devices can benefit in a shared environment such as in a business. A business VPN has many more features in addition to what a personal VPN service provider would offer, such as having the ability to monitor users on your own network. Although the vendors for personal VPN software do not have all of the features businesses need but if they do offer router installation support you expand the usability to additional uses cases. This way you can avoid the hefty business-tier price tag.
Connectivity
Do note that the software selected was tested by me personally during my travel to multiple countries to ensure that the service is available for the digital nomad and works just like it would in their home country. To be honest I was not able to test all the software everywhere but did test the three shortlisted in at least two countries to ensure the functionality promised was working as expected.
Performance
I tested the VPNs for browsing and streaming speed as well as connection stability. My testing included installations on my laptop as well as my mobile phone. The features tested also included torrenting, accessing banned websites as well as accessing geo-blocked media and services.Do note that I did not consider a free service tier to be a factor in ratings. The reason was that the top 3 contenders all offered money back guarantees. Considering the limitations of the free service tier I would recommend that you try out the service without limitations to enjoy the best value.Product Features: Most VPN providers have a core set of features such as number of devise simultaneously using the service, strength of encryption, number of countries they have servers (connection points) and types of devices they run on. I have assigned points to each of these core features to identify who provides the most services. In addition to that I also look at add-ons being offered such as dedicated IP address which provide protection against black listing of IP when a shared IP address is used.
Hybrid (personal/work) Use
One factor that is important is the ability to use the software not only for personal use on your cell phones but also the ability to install it on Routers so multiple devices can benefit in a shared environment such as in a business. A business VPN has many more features in addition to what a personal VPN service provider would offer, such as having the ability to monitor users on your own network. Although the vendors for personal VPN software do not have all of the features businesses need but if they do offer router installation support you expand the usability to additional uses cases. This way you can avoid the hefty business-tier price tag.
Regarding Free Service Tier
Do note that I did not consider a free service tier to be a factor in ratings. The reason was that the top 3 contenders all offered money back guarantees. Considering the limitations of the free service tier I would recommend that you try out the service without limitations to enjoy the best value.
Fast Connectivity
| Activity Log | No. Does not maintain an activity log for the user. |
| Ad blocking | No. ExpressVPN has a Threat Manager feature to block trackers and malicious sites, but they do not have an ad blocker. |
| Additional add-ons | ExpressVPN Keys (free) / IP address rotation (free) |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited |
| Browser extensions | Chrome / FireFox / Edge |
| Gaming Consoles | Nintendo / Playstation / XBox |
| Customer Support | 24/7 support is available. |
| Encryption | Uses 256 bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). |
| Number of devices | Total of 5 simultaneous connections are allowed. |
| Platforms | Windows / Mac / Linux / iOS / Android / Routers / Chromebook / Kindle Fire. |
| Split tunneling | Yes |
| Server & Locations | 94 countries with over 3000 RAM only servers spread across 150+ locations. |
| Smart TV | Android TV / Apple TV / Chromecast / Fire TV / Nvidia Shield / Roku / Samsung |
| Static IP | No. They rotate IP randomly to increase user anonymity resulting in no extra charges. |
| Pricing | $8.32 – $12.95 per month. |
| Trial? | No free trial is available. But if you get their service they offer a 30 day money back, no question asked guarantee. |
Based on my testing I have found ExpressVPN to be one of the fastest networks in connectivity. It has worked flawlessly in multiple countries providing high speed connectivity. I did not run into a situation where the connection would drop. One test I performed was disconnecting the network and then reconnecting it. What I found was that ExpressVPN was able to reconnect without any issues almost as soon as the network was active.
Many people use VPNs to access geo-blocked services, such as media stream (NetFlix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Disney+) and websites and I found that with ExpressVPN I was able to successfully access blocked content.
Privacy/Security
ExpressVPN does not use WireGuard VPN for securing connections. It has its own technology called LightWay that it claims allows more security and higher speeds. Now I have not looked at the code myself but from using their service I can attest to the higher speed claims. (Btw, if you are interested in looking at the LightWay code, you can do so as it is released as an opensource software).
Private DNS also allows additional layer of anonymity that shields your browsing behavior such as which websites you visit, from prying eyes.
Static IP
Express VPN does not offer static IPs. Their IP rotation algorithm in my opinion is a better option and does not cost extra providing more anonymity and security. In general I don’t see a need to use static IP for most people, although in some special circumstances a static IP may be needed.
Pricing
ExpressVPN is priced on the high side. But if you consider the cost of static IP which may run anywhere from $5-7/month in addition to your basic subscription you will find ExpressVPN to be competitively priced.
What I like about ExpressVPN
The interface is easy to use and the connectivity is fast. Getting the benefit of IP address rotation is a great plus. But what I have found to be something that is even more useful to me is their built-in KEYS feature that can store an unlimited number of passwords and makes my life easy by allowing auto-fill for logins.
Free add-ons are always nice but the core feature set of anonymity, safety and high speed connectivity is at the core of the product.
Most Widely Used
| Activity log | No. Does not maintain an activity log for the user. |
| Ad blocking | Yes. Blocks ads, malware and trackers. |
| Additional add-ons | Static IP($70/year) – Password Manager (comes with higher priced plans) |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited |
| Browser extensions | Chrome / FireFox / Edge |
| Customer support | 24/7 support is available. |
| Encryption | Uses 256 bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). |
| Number of devices | Total of 6 simultaneous connections are allowed. |
| Platforms | Windows / Mac / Linux / iOS / Android / Routers |
| Server & Location | 59 countries with over 5,600+ servers. |
| Smart TV | Android TV |
| Split tunneling | Yes (with multi-hop) |
| Static IP | No. They rotate IP randomly to increase user anonymity resulting in no extra charges. |
| Pricing | $3.09 – $14.19 per month. |
| Trial? | No free trial is available. But if you get their service they offer a 30 day money back, no question asked guarantee. |
As of of the largest player in the market with over 14 million subscribers (sitting just below PIA). They keep on growing by not only adding new customers but also by buying competitors and adding new and unique features to their product.They are the only provider on this list who offers a business VPN that allows you to scale and offer additional monitoring and permission management with single sign on (SSO) features.
Privacy/Security
Meshnet is a NordVPN feature that lets you access devices over encrypted private tunnels. Even though this sounds similar to how a VPN works, it practice works differently by letting you connect directly to other devices no matter where in the world they are. Meshnet is powered by NordLynx, a technology built on top of WireGuard enhanced with privacy features. This foundation ensures top-grade security for all connections between devices via Meshnet. With NordLynx you are also able to configure advanced traffic routing.
NordVPN also has malware blocking capability built-in, but many users have reported that is does not always work. This basically means that you still have to rely on external solutions. This is not necessarily a negative, just something to be aware of.
Unique Features
Meshnet, Onion over VPN, Dark Web Monitor are some of the unique features of NordVPN. With deep pockets they keep on buying smaller players in the marketplace and add additional features to their product offering.
Pricing
Plans go from $11.99 to $14.19 per month when paying on a monthly basis and then drops to a range of $3.09 to $5.29 per month when selecting a longer term subscription. I highly recommend that you go with the longer term plans to save significant amount of money.
What I like about NordVPN
NordVPN is loaded with features. I enjoyed using the Meshnet feature, allowing an additional layers of security by having a direct connection to my selected devices. NordVPN does come with many more features built-in such as a private DNS which further prevents prying eyes to monitor your online behavior such as websites you may access.
In summary I will say that NordVPN takes a kitchen sink approach and bundle many services, including unique features others do not offer. These although not required are definitely good to have.
I highly recommend NordVPN over many of its competitors.
Best Price Plans
| Ad blocking | Yes. Ad and malware blocking. |
| Additional add-ons | Privacy first Anti-Virus / Private IP |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited |
| Browser extensions | Chrome / FireFox / Opera |
| Customer Support | 24/7 support is available. |
| Encryption | Uses 256 bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). |
| Gaming consoles | Nintendo / Playstation / XBox |
| Number of devices | Total of 10 simultaneous connections are allowed. |
| Platforms | Windows / Mac / Linux / iOS / Android / Routers / Chromebook / Kindle Fire. |
| Servers & Locations | 84 countries and over 9,000 servers (estimated) |
| Smart TV | Apple TV |
| Split tunneling | Yes (with multi-hop) |
| Static IP | No. They rotate IP randomly to increase user anonymity resulting in no extra charges. |
| Pricing | Plans start at $11.95/month but drop to $2.03 if you get longer term subscription. |
| Trial? | No free trial is available. But if you get their service they offer a 30 day money back, no question asked guarantee. |
Private Internet Access (PIA) is the largest player in the consumer VPN space. They use open source software to provide complete transparency into their security policy and tools.
Privacy/Security
Regarding security, PIA uses 100% open source software with all the bells and whistles that come along with it. They have not yet provided a independently audited reporting security of their infrastructure. So that could be a bit concerning for some.
Regarding their support security protocols: They provide servers using Wireguard, OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec on all of their servers worldwide.
Provided as ads on are Anti-Virus and Private IP features as well, although they cost a bit more.
Pricing
There are no tiered plans like other providers in my short list. If you go monthly payment route then the cost is $11.95/month, while going with a longer term plan costs only $2.03/month when paid for 3 years in advance. Like the others on this list I highly recommend that you go with the longer term plans to save significant amount of money.
What I like about Private Internet Access (PIA)
Surely I used the other software on this list in both US and abroad but I have used PIA VPN product the longest, over a period of three years. PIA software falls middle of the road in terms of performance but provided me with excellent connectivity and security in multiple countries. I was able to access all of the websites and streaming providers without any issues.
When selecting a software product you want to make sure that all core features are available and unrestricted to use. Next comes the pricing and on that front PIA beats all the rest.
Which VPN Product I would select?
The reality is that after looking at many vendors in the marketplace I selected these as my top three choices. All of them are very good and whichever product you choose will give you all the core features you will need. But if I must categorize them one I should buy, my reasoning will be the following:
- ExpressVPN: Fastest network with rotating IP feature. For my general needs I think it is the service I would use if streaming speed was of the highest concern to me.
- NordVPN: Has a kitchen sink approach. I just don’t like pricing tiers. But they really have the most features and if customization of the service was important then I would use them.
- Private Internet Access VPN: Best pricing with all the required features. I have used it for many years and have been a satisfied customer.