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The Best VPN Services in 2019

Last updated on January 15, 2019 Views: 547 Comments: 0

Forget what you think you know about VPN because odds are you’ve been misinformed. There’s a lot of misconceptions about how VPN works, what it can do and how it can benefit your daily digital life. Can you tell the differences between a quality VPN service or one that will leave you at risk?

If you’re looking to find the best VPN service, then you’ve come to the right place. On this site, you’ll find expert advice on top VPN services. You’ll learn exactly how a VPN works, why it is important to use a VPN and how we review each service. We will teach you how to find the best VPN service for you and give you recommendations for the best cheap VPN services.

The best VPN that we tested is ExpressVPN.

With this information, you’ll be able to make an informed decision when choosing the best VPN service for your needs.

Anonymous Means 100% Private

You can see on the table below named TOP VPN list For 2019, which VPNs offer an anonymous VPN connection (row name “Anonymous connection” on that table below) and which ones do not.

Not all VPNs are created equal, and while some hide your IP address completely, others do not. For example, if you are torrenting, an anonymous VPN will guarantee that the seeder you are getting the P2P file from cannot see your original IP address. If your VPN does not offer an anonymous connection, even if you have your VPN running, the seeder will see your true location.

TOP VPN list For 2019

	ExpressVPN review	Cyberghost review	NordVPN review	SaferVPN review	PrivateVPN review	PureVPN review	IPVanish review
Rating	9.6/10	9.4/10	9.2/10	8.6/10	8.3/10	8.2/10	8/10
Allows 3+ Simultaneous Connections	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
500+ Servers	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔
Geographically Diverse Servers	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Streaming	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✘
Torrenting	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✘
Advanced Features	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔
Anonymous connection	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔
Blocks Ads	✔	✔	✔	✘	✘	✔	✔
1 Month Plan	$12.95	$11.99	$11.95	$9.99	$10.95	$9.95	$10.00
	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site

How it Works

VPN is short for Virtual Private Network. This private network allows external connection from your personal computer or mobile device and then takes over and effectively serves as your ISP.

Start by installing the VPN app onto your computer or mobile device. Using the client, you’ll select a VPN server and connect. This will establish an encrypted tunnel to the VPN server.

Once a VPN connection is established, your computer is then assigned a new IP address from the VPN network. From this point forward, anyone monitoring sites you connect to will see the IP address assigned by the VPN server and not your physical IP.

In addition, all data both ways is encrypted using the encryption algorithm of the network. The only people that will be able to decipher the data are you and the intended recipient of the data. Anyone else will simply see noise if anything at all.

From this point, all internet activity is routed through the secure VPN server. The server acts as your internet proxy and controls the routing of the data as well as the speed of which you are surfing the web, streaming or downloading files. This continues until you disconnect from the VPN service.

There are numerous benefits to using a VPN online. It masks your identity from anyone wishing to track your online activities. It also helps you get around various geo-restrictions and content blocks place by companies, schools or businesses. For those that use internet over mobile devices, it can also help protect you over public Wi-Fi.

Reasons You Need a VPN

As internet technology has grown, so has the need to use VPN to ensure unrestricted access to the web. Below are several reasons why you may need a VPN.

Bypass Geo-Restrictions

Some websites will geo-restrict content, meaning only those in the same region as the content are allowed access. Streaming sites such as US Netflix and Hulu use geo-restrictions to prevent access to content from outside the United States. The best VPN providers will allow you to bypass these restrictions and allow unrestricted access to streaming content. Other sites that might use geo-restrictions include gaming sites, streaming music, and online sports channels. Using a VPN, you can connect to a server in the country the content is located and unblock the content.

Access Blocked Websites School & Work

Those of you with internet access at school or work will encounter restricted access to websites. This is because local IT has installed content filtering on their systems or network to prevent access to sites they feel will either harm their networks or that are productivity killers. Examples of such sites include social media sites, dating sites, porn sites, websites that match a set of “banned keywords,” streaming sites and more. VPN establishes a tunnel that bypasses the content blockers of the local network and allows you to surf the internet as you desire.

Access Blocked Websites: Country Bans

If you regularly travel on business, then you will run into content blocks established by local governments. These blocks are often used to censor the citizens of a country such as China or Iran, often from content deemed “harmful” to a government. Social media sites are almost always a target of this form of censorship as are news sites, blog sites or any site that doesn’t conform to local regulations. By using a reliable VPN you’ll bypass these restrictions and enjoy uncensored access to the internet.

Surf on Unsecured Networks

Public Wi-Fi is one of the greatest threats to your privacy. The majority of Wi-Fi is unsecured, meaning that anyone with the right technology can intercept your data, steal your identity and even infect your devices with malware. When using a safe VPN over Wi-Fi, you establish an impenetrable secure tunnel that’s used to transmit your data. Your data cannot be sniffed or intercepted and your privacy remains secure.

Prevent ISP Throttling

Some ISPs will slow your internet connection if they feel you’re using too much data or using it too fast. Gamers often have this problem because their games are constantly streaming data over a live connection. Torrent users also have this problem due to the size of downloaded files. If you game or torrent over a fast VPN server, your internet speed is controlled by the VPN server and not your ISP, meaning that your ISP cannot slow your connection.

Price Discrimination

You may not know this, but what you pay for an item online can be determined by your physical location. If you live in an area of the world where a company feels you can afford to pay more, you’ll often be charged more for flights, hotel rooms, or most anything you shop for online. If you shop online while using a popular VPN, you can choose a server in a less-affluent country or area of your own country and enjoy the discounts associated with that area. It’s one way that buying a VPN subscription can actually save you money.

Stop Identity Theft

In addition to providing a secure tunnel for your internet, VPN also encrypts all of your data both ways. Anyone trying to intercept your data will be unable to decipher it. Top VPN providers use military-grade encryption. This means that you can shop online, pay bills, and check banking statements and more without worrying about someone stealing your identity.

Why You Should Trust Us

What makes us different from the thousands of sites offering VPN reviews? We don’t just say we are experts…we actually are. Our tech experts range from PC technicians to network administrators and IT security professionals.

Every person on our staff knows what to look for when reviewing a VPN and are not simply trying to sell you a product. They thoroughly test each program and provide a knowledgeable review to help you decide which service to use.

What’s the best VPN to use? Find out with our list of the best-rated services. We’ve tested the majority of services on the market and the services on our list can handle anything that you’ll need to do while online.

How We Test Each VPN

Our reviewers extensively test each service to ensure it will provide you with the service and features you need. Below is a quick checklist on what we test on each service reviewed.

Installation – How difficult is it to install?
Ease of Use – Is the client simple to use or do you need to be a computer geek to use the software?
Speed – On a fast VPN, you’ll have no problems surfing, streaming or downloading files.
Number of Countries and Servers – How many servers are available and what parts of the world are covered?
Log Policy – Does the VPN have a no-log policy? If a VPN does collect logs, which logs?
Unlimited Bandwidth and Data Transfer – Will you have to worry about throttling when streaming, gaming or torrenting? We’ll tell you.
Multiple OS Support – Find out which platforms and devices are supported by the client.
Multiple Connections Available – Can you connect your computer, smartphone, and other devices at the same time for one fee?
P2P Capabilities – Find out whether this service allows P2P and torrenting.
Available for Streaming Platforms – Does this service allow access to Netflix, Hulu, or any streaming content?
Other Useful Features – Other helpful features offered by some VPN services include an internet kill switch, auto Wi-Fi protection, and IP leak testing.
Pricing – How much is a VPN subscription? Find out how much service costs and whether a cheap VPN is a good value compared to other services.
Customer Support – If you have problems, what support options are available. Is the support “do it yourself” or can you actually speak or chat with a support agent?
Free Trials and Money Back Guarantees – We’ll let you know if you can “try it before you buy it,” and also whether a service offers a money back guarantee.

#1. ExpressVPN

Since its foundation in 2009, ExpressVPN has been a tough one to beat. Not only do they boast some of the fastest speeds, but they also have cutting-edge technology that gives users military-grade encryption and security and one of the most robust privacy policies in the industry.

While most VPNs claim to have a no-logging policy, ExpressVPN’s has been proven time and again, meaning that all your online secrets are safe. With over 2000 servers distributed across 94 countries, the ExpressVPN network gives you access wherever you are in the world.

ExpressVPN is one of the few that have consistently managed to navigate the most advanced geo-blocks, leaping over China’s robust firewall and sneaking into Netflix year after year. ExpressVPN also allows P2P and torrenting on all its servers, while giving users unlimited bandwidth, excellent security, and superfast speeds.

Just as a cashmere sweater will cost you more than a wool one, ExpressVPN is a little pricier than some of its rivals, but its value for money is undeniable.

Price:

$12.95/month for one month
$9.99/month for six months
$8.32/month for 12 months

#2. CyberGhost

Not only is CyberGhost fast and reliable, but it also allows you to connect up to seven devices simultaneously, making it one of the more generous VPN providers in this respect. Since its inception in 2011, CyberGhost has gone from strength to strength and now offers one of the world’s leading cybersecurity solutions.

Although their server network is limited compared to ExpressVPN’s, over 1000 global servers mean you can connect from anywhere in the world… except for China where CyberGhost is struggling to overcome the increasingly restrictive government bans. Having said that, CyberGhost has carefully situated its servers to ensure international coverage, even in often-ignored regions like Africa.

Nevertheless, CyberGhost manages to consistently navigate the advancing geo-blocks of Netflix and the likes, via their streaming-optimized servers in the US. With their base situated in Romania, CyberGhost is also outside the 14-eyes’ countries, ensuring their users’ privacy remains guarded at all times.

CyberGhost has a strong no-logging policy and excellent customer support, making it easily our second choice in the battle of the top VPNs for 2019.

Price:

$12.99/month for one month
$5.25/month for 12 months
$4.13/month for two years
$2.75/month for three years

#3. NordVPN

If you thought ExpressVPN had an extensive server network, then NordVPN’s grid of over 5,000 servers will blow you away. Not only do NordVPN have coverage all over the world, but they’re also renowned for their cutting-edge encryption and advanced security options. With DoubleVPN, your data will be encrypted not once, but twice, giving you top-grade protection.

Although NordVPN’s speeds can rarely compete with the likes of ExpressVPN, it still does an impressive job and is an excellent choice for those living or working in more remote regions. Combined with their specialty servers which offer both Onion over VPN and P2P streaming, NordVPN is an excellent all-rounder.

NordVPN’s customer support is, as is its privacy policy and, being situated in Panama gives extra weight to their commitment to user privacy. Furthermore, the consistency with which it navigates geo-blocks both in restricted countries and on heavily-guarded streaming sites like Netflix makes it one of our top VPN options for 2019.

Price:

$11.95/month for one month
$6.99/month for 12 months
$3.99/month for two years
$2.99s/month for three years

#4. SaferVPN

Competitively priced and offering an appealing 24-hour free trial, SaferVPN is establishing itself in the cut-throat world of VPNs. Although relatively new to the scene, having been around only since 2013, SaferVPN manages to achieve the perfect balance between performance and security.

Although their server network is limited when compared to giants like NordVPN, each server has been carefully positioned and designed to offer excellent speeds and reliable connections globally. Not only does SaferVPN have top-of-the-range encryption and one of the best customer support services we’ve encountered, but it also has all the features we’d expect to find with a top VPN service. These include a kill switch, automatic protection when you connect via a public Wi-Fi hotspot and a watertight privacy policy.

While its location in Israel may cause a little consternation, SaferVPN’s ease of use and well-designed cross-platform apps make it perfect for standard users. SaferVPN also offers a Chrome extension, making it easy to use on Linux devices and eliminating the need for complex network configuration processes.

Overall, a reliable, affordable and, unsurprisingly safe option, SaferVPN is nipping at the heels of the top VPNs for 2019.

Price:

$10.99/month for one month
$4.99/month for 12 months
$2.99/month for two years
$2.29/month for three years

#5. PrivateVPN

One of the top choices for privacy and streaming, PrivateVPN’s 2048-bit encryption gives users military-grade protection anywhere in the world. Although they may not have thousands of servers, those PrivateVPN does operate are well positioned and use High Quality Network internet capacity to maintain high speeds and reliable connections.

Excellent for both streaming and gaming, PrivateVPN does experience a few bottlenecks from time to time, but more than compensate for that with their configurable connection protocols and competitive pricing. Having said that, we would love to see PrivateVPN introduce a 2-year subscription option.

PrivateVPN is solid and reliable VPN provider but a few improvements could see up rise up the ranks even further. The online customer support system, for example, is somewhat sluggish and could be vastly improved with the introduction of a 24/7 live-chat service. Their Windows app could also use a little tweaking, although its connection protocols exceed industry standards and its ability to navigate Netflix has proved consistent.

An excellent and affordable choice for streaming and privacy, PrivateVPN is simple to install, while its interface’s clean design makes it inviting and user-friendly.

Price:

$7.67/month for one month
$4.88/month for 3 months
$3.82/month for 13 months

#6. PureVPN

If simplicity is the order of the day, then PureVPN is tough to beat. With very few unnecessary bells and whistles, PureVPN provides a holistic service that is affordable, fast and reliable. Their customer support is as fast as their connections and their prices extremely competitive.

PureVPN has over 2,000 servers worldwide and one of the most extensive server networks in Africa, making it an ideal option for those who travel frequently. By utilizing SoftEther VPN protocol, PureVPN is also able to offer reliable connections in the most tricky of places, including heavily censored China.

With an excellent privacy policy and commitment to no logging, PureVPN is as reliable as it is secure. Compatible with pretty much every device under the sun, from Android to Smart TVs, PureVPN is extremely versatile while giving excellent protection against leaks and featuring an in-built ad-blocker.

There is certainly nothing wrong with PureVPN and, at its current price, it provides excellent value for money while enhancing security with a variety of add-ons, including Ozone which protects your identity and your device even while you’re sleeping.

Price:

$10.95/month for one month
$8/month for 3 months
$2.95/month for 12 months

#7. IPVanishVPN

IPVanish is probably one of the most effective VPNs around for torrenting and P2P file sharing, with each of its servers enabled for such activities. This US-based VPN provider has also committed to providing coverage in some less popular areas, including Israel and Serbia.

Unlike many top VPNs, IPVanish actually manages its network in-house, meaning users enjoy the security of over 2000 anonymous servers knowing that no third parties are involved.

In the past, IPVanish has struggled to unlock Netflix but specific US-based servers do an excellent job of giving you access to your favorite shows. Although not all IPVanish’s US servers will unlock Netflix, those in Chicago, Dallas, and Las Vegas are providing consistent access.

Affordable, fast and reliable, IPVanish has pretty much everything you could want from a VPN provider, although some users have experienced problems with their email apps simply because their IP provider blocks emails being sent from an IP address outside their network. This is a small hitch but an irritating one nonetheless.

Being based in the US isn’t ideal for a VPN provider, but IPVanish does practice a firm no-logging policy which offsets this drawback, making them one of our top VPN choices for 2019.

Price:

$10.00/month for one month
$8.99/month for 3 months
$6.49/month for 12 months

VPNs to Avoid

Contrary to popular belief, VPNs are not all the same. In fact, there are many that should be avoided. The easiest way to determine whether a VPN should be avoided is by checking to see if it fails to provide any of the basic requirements for modern internet users.

For example, if a service cannot consistently get around geo-blocks, it’s probably not going to be good for streaming Netflix or other sites. If you’re a torrent user and the service blocks P2P ports, then you’re simply wasting your money on the product.

For many, security is a top concern. If your service falls short in ANY area of security, move on. The biggest offenders are VPNs that keep logs of any type. If they are keeping logs, then they will probably turn you in if law enforcement contacts them.

Bandwidth limitations
Anything less than 256-bit AES encryption
Slow speeds
Very few server locations in popular countries (like the US and UK)

Slow connection speeds
Data caps
Ad popups
Fewer server options
Limited customer support
PPTP connection only (limited encryption)
Inability to access certain streaming sites

Worse yet, for free VPNs to make money off customers using their free service, they will often sell your browsing data to third-party companies. This means that your data is not 100% private. Do you really want your online history sold off to the highest bidder? Probably not.

While it is always good to “try before you buy,” we highly recommend sticking with a premium VPN service.

Why We Don’t Mention all VPN Brands

You’ll notice that the number of services we recommend is limited despite the fact that there are hundreds of available services on the market. That’s because they have fallen short in one or more major areas and aren’t worth your time.

Inconsistent Speeds – Common symptoms include users having to switch servers to improve speeds, fluctuating download speeds and the inability to stream high-quality video.
Small Network – VPNs with small networks will make it difficult to get around some geo-blocks. They also often have speed issues due to capacity issues.
P2P Not Allowed – Some VPNs actively block ports necessary for P2P.
Security Issues – If we find evidence of logging, IP leaks, or any type of security problem, we drop them.
Usability Issues – If there are consistent usability issues with a service, such as an inability to stream on major services, we will drop them. Other usability issues include the inability to get around certain geo-blocks, regular downtime and limited device or OS compatibility.

Wrapping it Up

The internet is not safe, nor is it as free as we all like to think. Every time you log in, your privacy and personal identity are at risk. Furthermore, the web is becoming increasingly restrictive to the point to where a VPN is no longer a luxury but a requirement for everyday web usage.

We can help you find the best VPN to use. By using one of our recommended VPN providers you’ll enjoy enhanced data security, consistent speeds without throttling, the ability to bypass geo-restrictions and the ability to surf public Wi-Fi securely. However, it is important that you pick the right VPN service. That’s why we’ve assembled a team of computer experts to thoroughly test each VPN service to ensure that each service lives up to their claims.

When you use one of our recommended services you can rest assured that you stay safe and secure and that you will be able to use the web as you see fit from anywhere in the world.