To identify the best VPN to choose, we do extensive independent testing. At the top of the pile, NordVPN distinguished itself as our number one choice for 2021. It's simple to use, secure, has a range of great features, and also has some welcome discounts to make it great value.

Our top-rated VPN providers have tight privacy settings, good speeds and a range of useful features. All of that is important, as picking the wrong VPN could mean stuttering download speeds, or even worse, security and privacy issues such as having your data tracked and logged without you realising it.

You don’t need to spend much to enjoy a brilliant VPN service. But there's no sense wasting your money on a VPN that won't do everything you need. Before you sign up for a VPN, check our reviews and recommendations to help decide which is the best VPN for you.

Which are the Best VPNs?

We’ve reviewed and rated the best VPNs for 2021, and NordVPN comes out top in our testing. Our expert VPN tests are completely independent and based on hands-on ease-of-use assessments plus real-world speed tests and security tests.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you browse the web and download files anonymously, and using a VPN can be a smart way to boost your online privacy. But, there are some big differences in the features and speeds you’ll get from one VPN service to another. In this guide we’ll tell you why you should use one, the features to look for, and the best VPN services for 2021. Here are a few of our other VPN recommendations:

You can get a brilliant VPN service for just a couple of dollars a month. For this, you can enjoy online security and privacy, plus unlock overseas streaming services. So, which VPNs are worth your money?

We've done the research, and the top 10 VPNs for 2021 are:

1. NordVPN – The best VPN we've tested, fast and easy to use.
2. IPVanish – An excellent choice for expert users, with deep features.
3. PureVPN – A user-friendly VPN with great security features.
4. Torguard – Great data protection, and unlocks Netflix.
5. Private Internet Access – A good all rounder that offers good value for money.
6. Windscribe – Fast and effective, although not best suited for beginners.
7. Proton VPN – An expensive option, but with an impressive suite of options.
8. Express VPN – Easy to set up, but struggles to compete on price and speed.
9. Hide Me – Straightforward and stress-free, if a little more expensive than others.
10. Air VPN – Doesn't have the slick interface of other apps, but a powerful tool regardless.

NordVPN

NordVPN is fast, it's powerful, and it's a cost-effective solution to what ails anyone in need of a VPN service. Granted, you'll need to commit to a service plan of a year or longer in order to get the best value for your money, but the service is more than worth it.

The 256-bit AES encryption is military grade, so you'll be retain your anonymity and safety regardless of which public wifi outlet you log your laptop into. Additional security features include the ability to use two VPN links at the same time and access to the privacy-centric TOR network. And, with 3600 servers in 62 countries, NordVPN has a network of servers that's even larger than it needs to be.

PureVPN

Easy to use while also offering a large suite of options for those that like to dabble. Incredible value for the service if you pick up a two-year subscription. PureVPN can also unblock Netflix in other countries, something which not many VPNs can boast.

PureVPN offers a selection of ‘modes' that make it easy to ensure your VPN experience is a smooth as possible, including Privacy', which masks your identity when using file sharing networks, and a dedicated ‘Streaming' mode.

It also allows you to set up your computer as a VPN hotspot, so other devices can connect to it and browse anonymously.

TorGuard VPN

Excellent choice for the tech-savvy, with plenty of options to deep dive into. TorGuard VPN also super fast, and passed our privacy tests with flying colors, even where others failed. It's a real powerhouse of a VPN that grants you a high level of control.

TorGuard turned out to be one of the fastest VPNs on our test, with even long-distance transatlantic connections proving refreshingly speedy. While some VPNs can do a number on your broadband speed, you're in safe hands with TorGuard.

The software's security settings are absolutely superb, and it passed all our leak tests with flying colors.

Private Internet Access

More aimed at confident users, Private Internet Access offers solid, good-value privacy and anonymity while you’re online. It comes with features to block ads and tools that companies use to track your internet activities.

A built-in killswitch will automatically halt any activity should you lose your VPN connection, ensuring that it won't be transmitted over your standard ISP network.

In advanced features, you'll find the Mace option, which provides tools for blocking online adverts and disabling any tracking tools that companies may use.

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is another solid option for experienced users intent on keeping their civil liberties: The speed isn't the fastest, but the privacy and level of control it offers users is unbeatable. The raft of advanced features includes multiple profiles with settable protocols and server types.

The concern for privacy extends to the company itself. It's based in Switzerland, a country with privacy laws strong enough to border on stereotypical, and ProtonVPN internally enforces a strict no-logging policy.

ExpressVPN

A popular VPN service around the globe, ExpressVPN is largely a strong offering, but with two massive downsides. The good: It's very secure, with an intuitive interface and features that make it easy to set up and to use. The bad: It's also very slow and very expensive.

To be more specific, ExpressVPN's internet speeds were a little erratic in our tests, in which we were able to connect at 12Mps once only to see our speeds drop almost in half when connecting to the same server ten minutes later. Still, the service is workable, including its great mobile app, and it does the job well enough to earn a spot on our list of the best VPNs out there.

Hide Me VPN

Beginners who might be scared off by ProtonVPN or Private Internet Access would do well to check out Hide Me VPN: It's easy to set up, has an intuitive interface, and delivers on its promise of helping users stay private.

The one downside is that Hide Me's speed leaves something to be desired, and the price tag is a little above average. Still, for anyone who's new to the internet and just wants to keep their privacy intact, taking things slow in exchange for a simple, understandable VPN service is a smart trade-off. If that's you, Hide Me might be the right option.

AirVPN

AirVPN is another option that serves up all the technical details upfront, which certainly appeals to those who know what they're doing, but also earns it just three out of five stars in the “ease of use” section of our full AirVPN review. Still, its service plans are flexible and at relatively low costs, making this one of the best options for power users who just need a VPN service for a few days.

Each plan offers the hefty encryption and privacy that VPN users need, and AirVPN is clear about its no-logging policies, which should keep expert users happy.

What is a VPN Service?

A VPN is a service that can be used to mask your own internet access, and works by tunnelling your web activity through to a proxy server, which you then access all online content through.

VPNs have something of a sketchy reputation in some quarters, but there are plenty of legitimate reasons why you would want one, especially if you value your online privacy and security.

Think of the last time you accessed public Wi-Fi, in a coffee shop or hotel. Did you send any personal data? If so, there’s a very good chance it wasn’t secure.

A VPN can also allow you to access services that are “geo-locked”. For example, if you’re overseas but want to watch U.S. Netflix, a VPN can make it appear as if you are accessing the service from the U.S.

Still unclear? Read our full guide on What Is a VPN?

Are VPN Services Legal to Use?

You might question whether or not a VPN is legal. In most countries they are, including the USA and Europe, although there are a handful of exceptions. In Iraq and North Korea, they are banned outright.

In other territories, including China, they are government controlled, which could expose the user to data-logging and defeat the purpose of using one in the first place.

Read our detailed explainer on whether VPNs are legal to use

VPN Features to Look For in 2021

To help you decide which VPN service is best for you, it’s best to consider a few key features.

Security and Privacy Features

It pays to be security-conscious, and if you’re looking to use a VPN, then you’re probably well aware of the risks of exposing your online activity to nefarious third parties. Some VPN services offer more robust security features than others, such as strong encryption or built-in anti-malware protection.

While you might think that your online activity is under wraps using a VPN, some VPN providers still log your activity on its servers. This could include the sites you have visited or the names of files you have downloaded. The logging may be anonymized, but, given you need to sign up to paid-for VPNs with your email address and card details, any sort of data collection is potentially off-putting.

Whether or not this is something to look out for depends on what you’re using the VPN for in the first place and whether or not you’re comfortable with a third party logging your data in this way. Our reviews make clear the providers that log your information, and those that don’t.

VPN Speeds

Speed is key when it comes to VPN, especially if you’re doing something data extensive. If you’re browsing the web, then you might not be too affected by a slow VPN, but you’ll soon notice when you start downloading data or streaming a movie.

There are several factors that can contribute to slow speeds – a lack of servers, the VPN itself throttling the service, or just the physical distance between yourself and the providers servers. We’ve taken this into account and tested each provider for speed.

Streaming over a VPN

Many people use VPNs for media streaming, such as gaining access to the vast, region specific catalog of movies and TV show from the likes of Netflix. Unsurprisingly, streaming services aren’t hugely keen on you doing this, and are taking increasingly sophisticated steps to try to quell this activity.

Netflix actively blocks access from overseas users to its U.S. service, for example. It’s been a battle of inches between the streaming giant and the VPN providers. Netflix keeps developing ways to detect VPNs and prevent their use, while VPN providers keep trying to outfox Netflix’s detection.

Some VPNs claim to provide unfettered access to the global library, but in our testing, we found that this wasn’t always the case. Read our reviews to find which ones will let you access Netflix overseas, trouble-free.

Support

If you find yourself lost at sea when attempting to navigate the web with a VPN, then having an expert on hand to answer your questions is vital, especially if you’ve never used one before.

Any decent service worth its salt will have a help guide built in, but if you need guidance beyond that, then speaking a human, whether by email, live chat or over the phone, could be invaluable, especially if you’re dealing with a level of technical knowledge that is slightly beyond your grasp.

We’ve identified those providers that offer chat services or will pick up the phone when you come unstuck, and those that will leave you with just a help page and a prayer.

Should You Pay or Use a Free VPN?

The big question then – should you pay for a VPN? The answer to this really depends on what you want to use it for, and how determined you are to have the best browsing speeds and privacy features.

While there are some strong free VPN options out there, even the best tend to offer a considerable trade-off in performance and experience. They will also be fairly limited feature wise, and basic.

Don’t forget the old adage that if something is free, then you’re the product. For VPNs, this means that you might have to put up with adverts, or they may collect data as you browse – in itself, that’s a privacy concern.

For anyone but the most casual of users, paying for a VPN is the way forward. For a small fee – typically around $60 per year – you’ll enjoy more features, better speeds and an advert-free experience.

You don’t have to spend big bucks for a reliable service, either. We’ve found some great VPN tools that are reasonably priced. You’ll get the best value deals by signing up for a year or more of service – paying monthly is rarely the cheapest way to go.

Jack is the Content Manager for Tech.co. He has been writing about a broad variety of technology subjects for over a decade, both in print and online, including laptops and tablets, gaming, and tech scams. As well as years of experience reviewing the latest tech devices, Jack has also conducted investigative research into a number of tech-related issues, including privacy and fraud.