VPN Review: Virtual Private Networks Explained
What is a VPN?
VPNs are Virtual Private Networks, and they’re a service provided to users, typically for a monthly fee. Basically, when you sign up for a service plan, you get a software bundle or an app for your device.
When you select a server, your traffic is routed through that location and completely encrypted – even if it is intercepted, it’s indecipherable to anyone else.
VPNs aren’t just handy for keeping your data private from government agencies and hackers though.
A huge draw of using one if that it also gets you access to any blocked content you want, no matter where you are.
When you select a server location, you’re getting access to any content available in that country.
The VPN blocks your IP address and assigns you the one associated with that server, so any content available in that region is available to you, regardless of where you’re actually accessing it from.
Why is my information at risk?
Personal data theft has become a major concern.
Around the world, identity theft and fraud rates are through the roof, with more and more people having their personal information intercepted on public Wi-Fi networks.
Even on private home networks, hackers hang out nearby in the hopes of swiping login credentials and other sensitive personal data.
As we continue to move towards a more digital and convenient life, that convenience has come with a steep price tag, and our personal information is more vulnerable to criminals than ever before.
There are a lot of common sense measures you can take to protect yourself, but when the basics fail, a VPN is the best way to protect your data from hackers and snoops.
Announcing the best VPN service of 2016
Last update 12 hours ago
Below, we review 3 top VPN companies and let you know what you can expect from their service. Below that, we show you the best in several categories. Check them out to find the best fit for you.
#1 Choice: Express VPN – 9.5/10 – Fastest, most secure connection, with the best customer support
Express VPN has the most comprehensive, professional VPN service I’ve ever used.
Their software is incredibly simple and user-friendly, making them a great one for beginners and those that may be intimidated by the concept of a VPN initially.
What’s really amazing is how fast and effective Express VPN’s customer support is though.
If you ever run into problems, you get prompt, professional service that gets you on your way and up and running in no time.
They’re 24/7, and have a live chat option in addition to an e-mail ticketing system.
Unlike most VPN services, Express VPN gets to you in record time, with average e-mail responses coming back in less than 20 minutes – totally unheard of.
This is also a company that really believes in what they’re selling, which I love – gives you a sense of confidence about where you spend your money.
They back their service is a rock-solid 30-day money back guarantee.
You can even get a month of free service for you and a friend through their referral program if you get them to sign up – a really rare perk.
All of that aside, Express VPN’s connection is top of the line – always super-fast and reliable, making them great for streaming and downloading and accessing blocked websites.
Plus, their service plans come with unlimited bandwidth, so you never have to worry about hitting a monthly cap.
You can even connect both a home and mobile device to their servers at the same time under one account, without having to pay additional service fees.
Express VPN’s software is also universally compatible, so you can use it on everything – Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and even Linux devices.
It provides the most secure connection available, with 256 bit military grade encryption.
It also has fail-safe features to protect exposed data should the VPN ever fail, like a ‘Kill App List’ that shuts down apps that you add to it if you’re ever disconnected.
See, I told you. This VPN has more features than I can even list without boring you out of your mind, but it’s definitely the most all-inclusive service you’ll see, and for only $13 a month.
You’ll be hard pressed to find a VPN for any purpose that tops Express VPN.
#2: IPVanish – 7/10 – Fast, reliable connection, but with limited compatibility
Another really popular VPN that has been getting some attention is this one, IPVanish.
While there are definitely some shortcomings that make it fall quite short of Express VPN, their service does offer some advantages for people that may not be able to use Express VPN.
Their software is also simple and straightforward, with a basic interface that even the most novice VPN user can easily navigate.
However, their customer support isn’t nearly as all-encompassing as Express VPN’s.
For starters, there’s no live feature – no chat, no phone support, just e-mail.
Keep this in mind, because it means that if you can’t connect, you’re just going to have to hang out and twiddle your thumbs while you wait for an e-mail response, which can take hours with IPVanish.
In addition, while they do offer a money back guarantee, it’s not nearly as long as Express VPN’s – you have just seven days to get a refund if you decide IPVanish isn’t for you.
And of course, IPVanish also doesn’t have a referral program. It’s not all bad though.
IPVanish does have a fast connection that’s comparable to Express VPN’s, so they’re another option if you’re looking for a VPN that can keep up with streaming and downloading.
Their service plans also come with unlimited bandwidth and two simultaneous connections, so on that level, they’re pretty comparable to Express VPN.
IPVanish has one major shortfall though, that may take them out the running for a lot of customers right here and now – their software isn’t compatible with iOS.
It works just fine with Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux systems, but their software still doesn’t have a version that’s available for iPhones or iPads, so keep that in mind.
However, their connection is secure, with 256 bit OpenVPN protocols, and a reliable connection to keep your data safe. And at just $10 per month, the price is right on this one.
They may not have all of the features of Express VPN, but IPVanish’s fast connection and low price point make them another good option.
IPVanish can be found at this website.
#3: HideMyAss– 5.5/10 – Very slow support, unreliable connection
HideMyAss has a large customer following, and on the surface seems to have a pretty impressive list of features.
However, there’s a long line of ‘buts’ with this one, and you’ll want to be wary of signing up for a service plan with them.
So their software is okay, not great, but okay. It’s not quite as simple and intuitive as Express VPN’s, but it gets the job done.
And it is compatible with all major operating systems, so you can use it on just about anything.
The really big problem with HideMyAss is that their connection is terribly slow and unreliable.
I’ve had multiple issues getting and staying connected to this VPN, despite their very large network of servers.
When I did get connected, it was extremely slow, and streaming was an absolutely mind numbing experience (the buffering never ends).
Though their connection is secured with the same 256 bit encryption as Express VPN, the unreliability of it makes it a huge liability in terms of your privacy and information security.
My connection got dropped several times, leaving my data wide open for the taking – not good.
Their customer support appears to be pretty comprehensive – they even have phone techs in addition to live chat and e-mail assistance.
However, the real issue with HideMyAss seems to be that they just don’t put the same kind of priority on helping their customers as Express VPN does.
E-mail inquiries always take overnight to hear back on, and even their live options usually had me waiting for a representative for at least ten minutes – it’s far from instant support.
They also don’t have a referral program, which is just icing on the cake. The only thing I can really say that is solid about HideMyAss is that they do have a 30 day money back guarantee as well.
However, unlike Express VPN, with these guys, you may actually wind up using it. If it were me, I wouldn’t even waste my time – just stick with Express VPN for a reliable and secure connection.
HideMyAss is here.
37 Comments
Hi Jen,
What a joy to be here today,
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I am so glad to note that this page has been mentioned in our latest post on the Guest Post series.
Thank you for providing such a lot of information for the benefit of your visitors and readers.
Keep up the good work
Keep sharing
I am for the first time here, lot of tremendous knowledge is packed in here, Keep going! Keep informed.
Best Regards
~ Philip
The internet security software, Webroot Security Anywhere report that expressvpn.com is a dangerous site. What is your comment on that?
This is the message I got from the security software:
This is a high risk site. There is a high probability that you might be exposed to malicious links or payloads.
Hey Roland!
Thanks for the question – Webroot Security Anywhere is a great program, but there are known issues with getting reports of false positives – sites being marked dangerous when they aren’t – read more about that here:
https://community.webroot.com/t5/Webroot-SecureAnywhere-Antivirus/Large-number-of-false-positives-on-sites/td-p/201613
or in this review:
http://www.comparedandreviewed.com/internet-security-software/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-plus/review
I understand your concerns completely, and we wanted to make sure, so we contacted ExpressVPN directly about this issues, and you can rest assured, ExpressVPN is a reputable service with a history of providing secure connections to their customers – they have never had a single problem with any kind of malicious software on their site.
Thanks to
sharing
Best VPN Service Reviews for 2015
Ooh! i am using 2nd number of vpn. However thanks for sharing such a nice review report i usually read reviews from vpnranks.com but you guys are doing too good work and i really inspired securethoughts working.
Thanks for sharing VPN Knowledge with your viewers
Where a vpn service is registered is important. If in the US or Nations connected, by law data can be collected or made to hand over, hence why i get a vpn from a Nation with good human rights laws and a good record of not handing over data. Does express keep logs also?
Mark,
Express does not keep logs and is based in the British Virgin Islands and is not part of the Five Eyes data laws.
Cant figure out why OpenVpn isn´t on this list. It has never had a broken connection, or malfunctioned. Not that expensive either…
Jim, We’ve tested and reviewed 145 VPN’s and this is the results we have come up with. We did test OPENVPN.net for our purpose they didn’t have a large enough server network to be considered the best. I am sure they serve your needs well. We aren’t saying they are a bad VPN we are just saying for the majority of people these options are the best.
Boy, is this information timely! I’ve been searching for a VPN since so much of my work and personal bill-paying depends on the computer. Not only is it great to have some honest reviews and recommendations, but I really appreciate the clarity with which you’ve described what exactly a VPN is. Many of my friends have no idea what they are, and everyone needs to be concerned with security these days! This is probably the clearest definition I’ve seen.
Again, thanks so much, and I’ll be looking into the first two on your list.
Thanks Andrea
Thanks for the great post. I will definitely be checking out Express VPN. It’s a little more than the one I use now, but I’m just not that happy with how slow my current one is. I use it mainly for security for paying my bills online, and my friend borrows my laptop for accessing content from all over the world. It’s amazing how much great and interesting info is out there that we don’t have access to!
Thanks Kelly!
I’ve been thinking about getting a VPN, but am not one to buy a service or product until I really understand it and do a lot of research. You’ve just done all the work for me. This is an excellent, informative article and I’ve learned a lot. This is why I love the internet. You never know what you’ll find. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, LibraryLadyTwo!
I’ve been looking into IP Vanish, and was interested since they have a lot of features that appeal to me. It seems simple and pretty user friendly – something that’s important to me since I am still something of a novice. But after reading your review I’ll have to think twice about this service. You say there is no live customer service? No chat or phone support? I see there is email support, but that can take days. This is definitely a problem since, as I mentioned, I’m not really a whiz at this type of thing and may need support now, not three days from now. Sigh . . . the one good thing is the free trial period. I think I’ll still try it and see how it goes. Thanks for the helpful review.
Hope it works out well for you, Darlene. Thanks for your comment.
Well this was a good read. Honestly I had never heard of VPNs before and now I see that I need one. For my money, the (#1) Express VPN sounds like the way to go. $13.00 a month for all that protection? Not a problem. I have a friend whose computer was hacked and it was a mess. It certainly ended up costing him a lot more than the monthly service for the protection he could have had. Thanks for the 101 graphics too. I now feel somewhat knowledgeable on this subject.
Charlie, I’m glad you found the information helpful. That’s awesome to hear.
You didn’t mention a cost on Hide My Ass and I was curious so I looked it up. Apparently it can be as low as $6.00 a month. That’s pretty minimal, but for an additional $7.00 you can get the premium Express service – not much difference to my pocketbook for better benefits. I’m worried about the increasing problems with people’s personal information getting into the wrong hands, and I feel like I need to do something to protect myself. There are other ways to go about it, but having a VPN is an interesting idea which I will seriously consider – and as I said the price is certainly right. Thanks for the great information.
You’re welcome, Bob.
I’ve been considering getting VPN services for the last year or so for the added privacy. I was always kind of put off by the cost before but its actually so worth it. I’ve heard of Hide My Ass a lot but the other two I was unfamiliar with. Express VPN looks pretty good, I like that they make themselves so readily available for support.
Super informative post. Thanks!
Glad you found it helpful, Jamie.
I tried their free service for a month by using their referral program for a friend of mine. I was very happy with the service, and both me and my friend ended up paying for the service from then on. We can now see a lot of blocked content that was usually unavailable in my country and it’s well worth the money. Their support is top-notch with fast and clear replies that solve the problem without further messaging needed from our part.
I really don’t get it why HideMyAss is so popular. Could it be because they invest the most in marketing? They are clearly not the best and I would actually place them somewhere in the middle pack when it comes to VPN services. Yet so many people choose them because they are present in a lot of places and their names sticks out. I think Express VPN needs to market itself better since they are so much better than HMA.
Hi Jen,
Great post here. You’ve outlined the importance of VPN services really well.
I’ve been a user of VPN’s for many years now, but they were never a viable option due to slow speeds and long ping times. That seems to have changed completely now, however.
I have actually used your second listing, IPVanish, and found it to be a really good VPN. Your glowing review of Express VPN has made me curious, though. You aren’t the only one who thinks very highly of them. If they have a free trial, I’ll give them a go.
With so much snooping going on these days, VPN services are almost essential for those who value their privacy. I use them all the time on public WiFi at airports etc.. but I need to make a habit of using it 24/7 at home. For such a minimal hit to browsing speeds, the privacy benefits are so worth it. I’d also like to use Netflix more to watch shows from other countries, and unblock some YouTube videos.
Will you be reviewing LimeVPN and PureVPN in future? LimeVPN for the amazing price, and PureVPN for the astonishing amount of servers available. Both of these services appeal to me, a review from you would really help!
Another post I’d like to see is free VPN’s vs paid VPN’s, it would be interesting to see how much more you get for your money.
Again, great post! Look forward to reading more.
Thank you.
Hi Britanica,
We’ve added LimeVPN to the list. We have a PureVPN review coming up.
Express VPN can get back to you in as low as 20 minutes?! Are you kidding me? I haven’t seen or heard of anything like this ever before. The best I’ve encountered when it comes to support tickets is 12 hours from my hosting company. But usually, it takes others between 1-2 days to reply to my support tickets. I also can’t believe they are offering unlimited bandwidth. I mean, what if a lot of users take advantage of this wouldn’t the service have problems coping with a lot of requests?
Unlimited bandwidth? I don’t know what to say. Most of the times when I hear the word “unlimited” I am thinking there must be a catch or something. In most cases I found that unlimited never means that because once you hit a certain margin they contact you or something. I had this happen to my with my hosting provider. Nonetheless I would try Express VPN because they look pretty solid and who knows, maybe they are actually offering unlimited bandwidth which would be out of this world.
I can’t understand why IPVanish wouldn’t have a live chat. In this business, you will lose a lot of potential client and existing ones because of this. I can’t just wait for you to reply in a few hours if I want to connect right now! That’s why I am paying the money: to be able to connect whenever I want to. And if something unexpected happens I want you to be on it right away not waiting for your reply email.
At $13 a month, Express VPN seems like a good choice. I mean, they offer so much, unlocking blocked content, keeping me safe with 256 bit military grade encryption and offering that juicy unlimited bandwidth. Been looking for a good VPN service for a few weeks and I’m finding this to be the best option available. I can’t say for sure until I test them out, but right off the bat, it’s hard to find another comparable service.
Wonder why the IPVanish isn’t compatible with iOS. I mean this is not a very smart move on their part since they are losing a lot of potential clients. Any reputable service should offer their services on all platforms. A lot of people that have iPhones might be tempted by IPVanish but won’t be able to try them. Anyway, since I own an iPhone and this doesn’t work on it, I will probably try Express VPN and see how it goes. Thanks for the review.
I used hide my ass and it was ok but you do have a point about their slow connections. I experienced them myself and that was one of the reason I ended my membership with them. Their support is sometimes amazing, with very fast response times but I also experienced times when I had to wait 20 minutes to get someone to talk to me on the live chat. So I had mixed experiences with them but I wouldn’t go back to them now that I know about better options like Express VPN.
I also had a so-so experience with HMA. I remember asking for their help and it was very urgent for me and yet it took them almost an hour to give me a reply and help me fix the problem. I’m not saying that their support is not well trained, but in my case, it took them a long while to find a solution. Thanks Jen for writing your review of Express VPN – I will most likely give them a try.
What I like about Express VPN is the fact that you can connect a mobile device and a home one under the same account with any extra or hidden fees. This right here is very important for me and it actually sealed the deal when I was looking around for a VPN. Not many companies offer this from what I’ve seen and surely not for this kind of money. And, just like you said, their support staff is amazing! Very timely and always helpful.
If you just have basic VPN needs, would like to pay less and are not on iOS then IPVanish is a good choice. They have a great price, they work on almost all OSs and platforms (except iOS which is a bit of a drawback) and their connections are very good. Once you realize you have bigger requirements, IPVanish stops being as good (in my opinion). Then Express VPN is the best solution. And it’s only slightly more expensive.