VPN, also known as Virtual Private Network, makes your online activities more secure and anonymous by masking your real IP address and stopping third-party trackers from intercepting your network traffic. It also allows users to access content censored in their region by fooling websites into thinking as if they are from a different country.
You can set up a VPN on almost every smart device, be it your smartphone, desktop, laptop, or even the smart TV you have in your living room. Some VPNs can also be configured on a Wi-Fi router, routing your entire network traffic through an anonymous server instead of your ISP’s DNS server.
Whether you are trying to secure your web activities or get around streaming restrictions, choosing a VPN service can be pretty confusing. You have probably heard about or seen advertisements for various VPNs recently and are looking to set up one for your devices, but now you need to pick up the perfect option. Luckily, we have already scoured the web for the best VPN services to make it easier for you.
In this guide, we have showcased the best VPN services and discussed each of them briefly. All you have to do is keep on reading to learn which VPN providers offer top digital privacy and protection in 2021.
Surfshark VPN
Surfshark is one of the youngest competitors in the VPN market, yet it has managed to build up a fairly strong reputation for its security tools and affordability. Users can connect to more than 3,200 in over 65 countries. Every server enforces military-grade encryption and is instructed to keep zero logs of customers’ web activities.
Surfshark works across several major platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, along with smart TV platforms like Android TV and Amazon Fire TV. It’s also available as a browser extension for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPN providers out there, currently offering a significant discount on their semi-annual and 24-month plans. It also gives customers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try out Surfshark VPN for free for a month.
Features
- Servers in 65+ countries worldwide
- Compatible with all major operating systems
- Doesn’t log any of the user data
- No limit on simultaneous connections
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPN providers, with thousands of satisfied customers around the globe. Sure the plans aren’t the most affordable out there, but the security and reliability the service offers are alone worth the premium.
ExpressVPN serves 160 server locations in 94 countries, with 3000+ encrypted servers to offer. It natively supports Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad, Chromebook, as well as web browsers like Edge, Firefox, and Chrome.
The app is straightforward and intuitive to set up, offering easy access to every feature and protocol setting. ExpressVPN even provides thorough step-by-step guides on their official website to help you get VPN up and running on supported devices.
According to their privacy policy, ExpressVPN does log untraceable info like dates when connected to a VPN server, its location, and the total amount of data transferred per day (in MB). However, they don’t collect user IP addresses, browsing history, DNS queries, or traffic destinations. This amount of transparency makes ExpressVPN stand apart from other providers.
If you are in the market for a reliable VPN service, consider trying out ExpressVPN. In case it doesn’t meet expectations, you can simply take advantage of their 30-day money-back guarantee and expect a full refund.
Features
- 3000+ servers in more than 160 locations
- It doesn’t log user-sensitive information
- Works with various devices
- Easy-to-use app
IPVanish
IPVanish is another long-time VPN provider renowned for its features, anonymous servers, and cheap pricing. It offers unlimited peer-to-peer bandwidth, supports WireGuard protocol, and is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and Fire TV devices.
With over 1,900 servers across 75+ locations, IPVanish gives its user the power to browse the web without being tracked, no matter where they are. Its servers also use specialized IPs to bypass the proxy detection of streaming services, unlocking a whole new library of on-demand content. There’s no limit on device connections, and none of your traffic gets logged.
At the time of writing, IPVanish is offering a substantial discount on their yearly plan for new users. Additionally, users can sign up for the VPN + SugarSync bundle, which includes 500 GB of cloud storage. You can try it out risk-free today thanks to its 30-day guarantee.
Features
- Secure and reliable servers in 50+ countries
- Undetected by streaming services like Netflix and Hulu
- Free cloud file sharing
- 24/7 customer support
CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a value-for-money service that provides almost every feature and functionality you expect from a VPN provider, with a few added benefits. Some of its features include AES 256-bit encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, strict no-log policy, as well as support for WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols.
CyberGhost gives you access to over 7,300 servers worldwide dedicated to streaming, torrenting, and privacy. For instance, when you wish to access the American or German Netflix library from a different country, you can simply choose to connect to one of the optimized servers from the list. It also offers specialized servers for Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Crunchyroll, and YouTube.
For those interested, CyberGhost currently has monthly, semi-annual, and 2-year plans backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee. If you get lucky, you can grab the 2-year plan for a massive discount. Note that a single subscription allows up to seven devices.
Features
- 7,300+ servers in over 90 countries worldwide
- Specialized servers for geo-blocked video streaming
- Automatic kill switch
- 45-day money-back guarantee
NordVPN
NordVPN is a Panama-based VPN provider highly regarded by tech reviewers, influencers, and thousands of customers. It offers over 5,200 high-speed and secure VPN servers in 60 countries, with P2P connectivity and no bandwidth limits. It follows a stringent zero-log policy and keeps user data safe behind military-grade encryption.
One of its key features is CyberSec, which protects you from adware and malware-hosting sites when browsing the internet. It also offers obfuscated servers for ISPs that don’t allow a VPN connection, as well as dedicated IP addresses.
NordVPN even lets you route your traffic through the Onion network, where third parties can’t track your online activity. In addition, you can use the “Double VPN” feature for an extra layer of anonymity. Its servers successfully pass DNS leak tests.
You can sign up for up to a 2-year NordVPN subscription plan to get a big discount. In terms of bundles, you can opt for the NordPass password manager or the 10 GB of cloud storage on NordLocker. Every plan allows for up to six devices, including Android, iPhone/iPad, Windows, Linux, macOS, and Fire TV. It’s also available as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
In terms of privacy and security, the closest competitor to NordVPN is CyberGhost. We recommend checking out this in-depth CyberGhost vs. NordVPN comparison guide to learn more.
Features
- 5,200+ servers with AES-256 encryption
- Uninterrupted high-speed internet access
- Obfuscated servers, support for Onion routing
- CyberSec blocks ads and malware
Private Internet Access
Launched in 2010, Private Internet Access has over a decade of experience in the VPN industry. It’s one of the top-rated American VPN services to this date and has an utmost focus on user privacy. It also offers exceptional 24/7 customer support and a 7-day free trial period for Android and iOS users.
With a staggering 33,000+ servers across 78 countries, PIA allows users to browse privately and securely from almost every corner of the world. You get unrestricted access to not only websites that are blocked in your country but also the geo-restricted content on all major streaming services. Not to mention, it supports WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols and features split-tunneling.
Although the VPN provider is based in the U.S. where government agencies can lawfully request user information, PIA doesn’t keep any logs to hand over anyway. Unlike its competitors, PIA’s client apps are open-source and publicly available to everyone to check.
The pricing is also reasonable, with heavily discounted plans that go up to three years. A single PIA subscription lets you connect ten devices simultaneously, including your Android or iOS smartphone, Windows or Mac PC, and your Android TV or Fire TV device.
Features
- 33,000+ secure servers around the globe
- Fairly affordable long-term subscription plans
- Exceptional track record
- Anonymous payment options
Finishing up
This is where our picks for the best VPN services in 2021 come to an end. Although we have mentioned six of the most reliable and feature-rich VPN providers above, there are plenty of other options out there offering an anonymous browsing experience and more affordable plans.
We would strongly recommend going for free VPNs since most of them are very loose around privacy policies. However, you can try out ProtonVPN and Windscribe as they provide a limited free-tier right alongside premium plans.
Aftab Hussain is a versatile journalist who covers a wide range of news topics with depth and precision. His commitment to delivering unbiased reporting ensures that readers stay well-informed about the most significant events and stories shaping India and the world.