Best 10 VPNs of 2023

A virtual private network, also known as a VPN, gives users an additional layer of privacy, enables them to access websites located in other countries, and can provide secure connections for the transfer of sensitive business information. VPNs are most frequently used by individuals; however, businesses can take advantage of their ability to manage multiple user accounts, block specific types of content, and keep your data secure from prying eyes by using a VPN.

Here is Best 10 VPNs of 2023

Private Internet Access

There is a good reason why Private Internet Access is one of the most well-known names in the virtual private network (VPN) industry. It gives users access to more than 30,000 servers located in 78 different countries. Even better, one year of service costs only $39.95, making it one of the least expensive virtual private networks (VPNs) available. We have found that PIA is the best option for the majority of small business users because it strikes the perfect balance between pricing, features, and usability. Other providers may offer more advanced features, but we have found that PIA is the best choice overall.

PIA employs the industry-recognized AES-256 encryption standard and makes the brand-new open-source WireGuard protocol available to its customers. This translates to significantly increased speeds while maintaining the same level of safety.

If you intend to use a virtual private network (VPN) for work-related activities, investing an additional $4.25 per month will allow you to take advantage of a feature known as a dedicated IP address.

Private Internet Access is an excellent choice for the majority of users because it allows for as many as ten connections to be maintained at the same time, has a vast server network, and has received positive feedback from customers using all types of devices.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Large-scale network of server computers
• provides a dedicated IP upgrade option
• 10 simultaneous connections

Cons

• There have been a few complaints regarding the customer service.

CyberGhost

One of the most user-friendly and effective virtual private networks (VPNs) available today is CyberGhost. CyberGhost achieves the ideal balance between a comprehensive feature set and a user interface that is simple enough to be understood by users of varying levels of expertise. Dedicated server locations for streaming media and torrenting, as well as servers focused on protecting users’ privacy, are among the features offered.

CyberGhost, a leading VPN service, protects your data with AES-256 encryption and is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, and more. CyberGhost costs $78 for two years or $89.31 for three years, excluding any additional features or add-ons, making it a little more expensive than PIA. However, if you intend to use your VPN for an extended period of time, purchasing a plan that covers multiple years can help you save a significant amount of money.

CyberGhost gives customers a generous 45-day refund period, during which they are able to test out the service without making a long-term commitment.

Pros

• Add-on service for a dedicated IP
• 45-day refund period
• Affordable, particularly when considering the multi-year plan options.
• Simple to operate

Cons

• The NoSpy servers have an additional fee.
• No split tunnelling

Torguard VPN

TorGuard is a VPN service that offers a lot of personalization options and has a lot of happy customers singing its praises. TorGuard is not affiliated in any way with Tor, the open-source and free privacy software, despite the fact that its name may give the impression that it is.

TorGuard offers a wide variety of different privacy-related features and services, which can be purchased at a variety of different subscription tiers depending on how you intend to utilise them:

• An anonymous VPN plan
• A business Virtual Private Network (VPN) plan
• A VPN service that allows streaming
• And a plethora of encrypted email services, each of which comes with its own unique set of subscription tiers

We focused most of our attention on the anonymous VPN plan, which provides more than enough features to shield you from danger during normal, day-to-day activities online. It is also the most affordable option, coming in at $59.99 for the first year of service. You can also purchase a direct IP address as an add-on for the low monthly price of $3.99, making it the VPN with the cheapest direct IP address that made it onto our list of the best VPNs.

The basic plan provides unlimited bandwidth for up to eight devices that can be connected at the same time. TorGuard is compatible with computers running MacOS, Windows, Linux, as well as mobile devices running iOS and Android. Even though they require manual configuration, platforms such as Kindle, Playstation, Xbox, and Chromebook can all be used with the game.

Business plans costing between $32 and $169 per month are available to start-up companies that require more than eight simultaneous connections. These plans come with at least one direct IP address, numerous email accounts, and other features as standard.

Pros

• Add-on service for a dedicated IP address for $3.99
• Multiple strategies for a variety of applications, one of which is a distinct business tier
• Excellent feedback from customers.
• Plentiful options for personalization and functionality

Cons

• Free-trial policies that are unclear
• Quick refund of the purchase price guaranteed
• Fewer server locations available

NordVPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) service that is both quick and safe, NordVPN also offers a wide variety of features that are its own. A combination of AES-256 encryption, ad and malware blockers, and double VPN services, also known as multi-hop connections, make this one of the most secure virtual private networks (VPNs) currently available. The tools necessary to obliterate any trace of your online presence are made available by NordVPN.

The standard plan of NordVPN comes with a price tag of $59.88 for one year, which is a reasonable price considering its range of features, allowance for six simultaneously connected devices, and access to more than 5,000 servers located in more than 55 different countries.

When you sign up for a NordVPN plan, you have access to a robust collection of add-ons, such as a file encryption service called NordLocker, a password manager called NordPass, and, most importantly, a dedicated IP address.

In the event that you require it, NordVPN also provides a subscription geared toward small businesses called Team; however, the pricing for this plan is not transparent.

Pros

• Malware and an ad blocker are already built in.
• Dedicated IP address add-on
• Simple to operate

Cons

• Pricing for business tiers is not transparent and there is a lack of it.

IPVanish

IPVanish is able to distinguish itself in the competitive market despite the fact that it has some weaknesses. IPVanish makes up for what it lacks in server locations with unlimited simultaneous connections and a low annual price tag of $39.99. Its roughly 1,600 server locations look modest in comparison to our top two picks, but IPVanish makes up for that. Users who place a premium on their privacy will appreciate IPVanish’s ability to manage its own servers.

According to our criteria, what differentiates IPVanish from its rivals is that it does not offer any additional features, and more specifically, it does not offer an add-on that provides a dedicated IP address. IPVanish might not be the best option for heavy work or for use in a business setting because it does not provide a dedicated IP.

IPVanish stands out from the competition thanks to its straightforward approach to the user experience, top-tier security, and competitive pricing. In the event that you require some online storage, it is also offered by SugarSync and can be accessed through their website.

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Unlimited number of connections simultaneously

Cons

• Lacks unique features
• There is no add-on for dedicated IP.

VPN Unlimited (aka KeepSolid)

KeepSolid VPN Unlimited, also known as VPN Unlimited, is a New York-based provider of virtual private networks (VPNs) that made the cut due to its compatibility with multiple platforms (it provides separate apps for a variety of devices), its positive user experience, access to a dedicated IP as an upgrade, and a subscription plan that is specifically designed for businesses.

Even though it satisfies all of those requirements, a closer inspection reveals some shortcomings that prevent it from being truly great. The standard annual plan costs $59.99, which is on the higher end of the price spectrum when compared to its competitors, and it includes five “slots” for connected devices. This system is more rigid than its competitors, and it requires you to assign each device to a particular slot in order to function properly. Regardless of whether or not that device is actively connected to the VPN, it will still take up a slot.

You have the option to unlock additional device slots for an additional monthly fee of $7.49. Additionally, dedicated IP addresses can be purchased, albeit at one of the most expensive price points we’ve come across. You will be required to pay a monthly fee of $12.49 for a dedicated IP. The price of the upgrade to the business plan begins at $19.99 per month for groups with five users or fewer.

Even if some of the fine print causes you to have second thoughts, it is still worth giving VPN Unlimited a try because they offer a seven day free trial as well as a thirty day money back guarantee.

Pros

• IP address with dedicated resources available
• Personalized commercial stratum
• Powerful safeguards for one’s privacy

Cons

• Configuration issues with the device
• Expensive software updates and accessory additions
• a small number of available servers

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has become somewhat of a model service within the personal VPN industry. It offers a user-friendly virtual private network (VPN) application while simultaneously making use of a significant amount of cutting-edge technology in the background. It is unparalleled in both its level of security and its simplicity of operation. ExpressVPN provides its customers with AES-256 encryption through standard VPN protocols as well as its own proprietary protocol known as Lightway, which increases download speeds without compromising data security.

ExpressVPN caters to a wide variety of individual requirements and provides access to more than 3,000 servers located in 94 different countries. Nevertheless, it offers a restricted set of functionalities for commercial enterprises: There is no business VPN tier, and the business-friendly features that we are looking for—a dedicated IP address and a standard number of devices that can connect simultaneously—are neither available nor scalable. Because of these various considerations, we were unable to award it a higher rating.

ExpressVPNs prioritises the privacy and security of individual VPN users over the privacy and security of businesses, which, by using a business VPN, are able to potentially monitor the activities of their employees. Therefore, ExpressVPN does not provide any services of this kind.

When viewed through the lens of personal use, its fatal flaw is found in its pricing. ExpressVPN’s annual price of $99.95 places it firmly in the “expensive” category. However, while the prices of most VPNs go up when the subscription is renewed annually, ExpressVPN’s price remains the same year after year. When viewed over a longer period of time, its price may become more acceptable.

Pros

• VPN protocol that is exclusive to Lightway.
• Simple to operate
• App for routers that protects a greater number of devices
• Large scale distribution of server networks

Cons

• Expensive
• Functional limitations in the workplace and in business.

Surfshark

Surfshark is able to differentiate itself from the competition despite the saturated market for virtual private networks (VPNs) by providing a number of features that are not offered by its competitors. This includes split tunnelling, which gives you the ability to route only certain applications through the VPN tunnel, and multi-hop connections, which give you an additional layer of protection by bouncing your tunnel across multiple servers.

A one-year subscription to Surfshark costs a reasonable $59.76, despite the relatively large size of its network (3,200+ servers to be exact). Other features, such as CleanWeb for ad-free browsing, Camouflage Mode to limit snooping by your ISP, and NoBorders mode for accessing the VPN in restricted areas, are also available. Additionally, the standard plan enables an unrestricted number of concurrently connected devices to use the service. Overall, it’s fantastic for use in one’s own life.

Dedicated Internet Protocol addresses are not currently available through Surfshark. It does, however, allow you to manually connect to a limited number of shared static IP addresses for free, which may be helpful when attempting to access work documents from a remote location. Users who have specific workflows may find that this feature alone makes it an ideal choice for their needs.

Pros

• Multiple unique features
• Unlimited number of connections simultaneously
• Simple to operate

Cons

• There is not a specific IP address.
• Fewer server locations available

Windscribe

Even though it offers a paid tier, Windscribe’s free version is widely regarded as one of the most reliable virtual private networks (VPNs) available today.

Free Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are typically out of the question due to their limited feature sets and issues with user tracking to gain advertising dollars. However, Windscribe provides a feature-rich and usable free option that does not compromise security or privacy in any way. Your bandwidth and the number of locations you can connect from are both capped in the free version; however, for a small monthly fee, you can increase both of these limits.

The most basic paid tier costs $69 per year and is paid for all at once. It provides access to servers in as many as 69 countries around the world.

One of the most notable features of the basic tier is that it supports an unlimited number of devices that can be connected at the same time. In addition, you will receive R.O.B.E.R.T., a tool that can be configured to block advertisements, malware, and trackers.

In addition, Windscribe offers static IP addresses based out of 13 different locations, but the company does not provide dedicated IP addresses.

Pros

• Solid free version
• Easily affordable entry level
• Unlimited number of devices that can be connected at the same time

Cons

• a lack of visibility into the number of servers
• Functional restrictions for the business

Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield has, by a wide margin, the most user reviews of any VPN that we looked into, and it also consistently earns high ratings from users across a variety of app stores and TrustPilot.

As a result of its generous free plan and high-quality streaming capabilities, Hotspot Shield has amassed an enormous number of users. The free version has several restrictive constraints, including a restriction to a single device, slowed connection speeds, and a daily data limit of 500 megabytes.

Be ready to make a financial investment in order to remove those restrictions. The annual cost of the paid plan comes in at $95.99, but there is a good reason for this price. Premium users have access to a spam call blocker, a password manager, and antivirus protection in addition to being able to connect five devices at once, including routers. Premium users also have access to additional features.

A “family plan” costs an additional $4 per month and includes accounts for five members (or teammates or employees), each of whom can connect five devices simultaneously. The cost of this plan is the same as the standard plan. A dedicated IP address is not a selectable option at this time. Nevertheless, Pango, the company that is behind Hotspot Shield, provides distinct business VPN plans that can be purchased through Twingate.

Pros

• Highly recommended VPN service
• Included in the package are an anti-virus programme, a blocker for spam calls, and a password manager.

Cons

• Expensive
• Lackluster free version

FAQ

Reference

15+ Best VPN Services in 2023 – The Advertising Review