A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a secure and decrypted connection that allows users to browse the internet privately and safely. The number of VPN users is increasing each day. Since more and more people are using the internet for their daily needs and so much personal and sensitive information is circulating, people have taken to VPN protection.
With growing cyber threats and the era of remote work, safeguarding personal and sensitive data from criminals is pertinent. While it is essential to use a VPN today, it’s important to make the right decision when choosing one.
The rise in the number of VPN users has resulted in a corresponding rise in the number of VPN services. You’re basically spoiled for choice now. It’s vital you choose the right VPN for your needs, which is also tricky. We’ll help you with the decision.
Why VPNs Are Getting So Popular These Days
1. They Provide Online Privacy
VPNs have been around for about two decades but have only gained global popularity with everyday users in recent years. This is in no small part due to the efforts of government agencies like the NSA and GHCQ to actively spy on their citizens.
When Edward Snowden publicized the NSA’s Prism program, everyone got a harsh reality check. People then flocked to VPN providers to hide their online activity and regain their online privacy—if they ever had it in the first place.
2. Help with Online Streaming
Streaming services are always geo-restricted, but a good streaming VPN can help you unblock these services from wherever you are. With a rise in internet users, streaming services like Netflix and devices like Kodi are more popular than ever.
With VPNs, you can unblock Netflix and all other streaming services and hide your activity. This is especially important for Kodi users, who often use free streaming links.
3. Help Bypass Censorship
The Internet is restricted worldwide for various reasons. Schools, for example, block access to entertainment websites and services. Workplaces often block their employees from accessing social media platforms to avoid the leak of sensitive information, accidentally or maliciously.
A bigger example is countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, China, etc., blocking huge parts of the internet, such as Wikipedia, news websites, social media, etc. With VPNs, you can overcome these filters and browse the web freely. Many of these countries have banned the use of VPNs. This is to ensure that the netizens cannot access these otherwise banned sites.
What are Your Reasons for Buying a VPN
The need for a VPN varies based on individual and business requirements. Therefore, it is wise to analyze your own needs before diving into VPN shopping. Not all VPN are suitable for every user. Figure out why you need a VPN, and that will help you make a better decision. There are many reasons, but which one is yours? Is it even reason enough to subscribe to a VPN? Find out below.
1. Do You Travel a Lot?
VPNs are important for expats and frequent travelers. They allow you to connect to public networks and access corporate data securely, so you and your data are always safe when you travel.
They also help you overcome geo-restriction and censorship. It also depends on where you are traveling since many countries like the UAE have made it illegal to use a VPN. However, some vendors can also help you in those countries, so keep this in mind.
2. Is Unblocking Geo-restricted Services Your Only Requirement?
If this is the case, you can do it without a VPN. If it’s just a school/workplace issue, there’s absolutely no need to invest in a VPN. Just wait to get back home! If the content is unavailable in your region, you can use SmartDNS services since they help unblock and are faster. But if you want privacy and anonymity, which Kodi users require, you should go for a VPN.
3. Do You Live Somewhere with Severe Restrictions?
In some countries, governments impose strict internet censorship. If you live in such a region, you will probably need a VPN to bypass these restrictions. But the question is which one is the best for you. You need a VPN with strong encryption and features like kill-switch, which can evade techniques like deep packet inspection, which can sometimes give away the fact that you are using a VPN. Countries like China use this tactic.
4. Does Your Work Involve Research on Sensitive Issues in Sensitive Locations?
If this is true for you, you absolutely need a strong VPN. While government filtering is obviously an issue, working on sensitive topics can attract unwanted and dangerous interest from government and non-government groups. If you go about your business without any protection, it’s not just your privacy that’s in danger.
5. Does Your Country Have Strict Data Retention Laws?
There are many countries that enforce strict data retention laws. Your ISP is required to maintain detailed usage and activity logs by law, which include your browsing history and online activities for a specific period. The government can also ask them to hand over users’ data as well. It can be a bit scary to think that all your online history can end up in the hands of others, but the countries that are doing this are steadily increasing in number. They even share this info with each other if they are part of collaborations like Five Eyes and TPP. So, find out about the data retention laws in your country.
These are not the only reasons you need a VPN. Considering the online threats, a VPN is no longer a choice; it is a necessity. Here are 10 reasons why you must use a VPN all the time.
How to Choose the Best VPN Service
Once you have analyzed your VPN needs, you are in a better position to determine whether you need one or not. Although it is recommended that you use one, it’s important to also know which is the right VPN for you. There are a few things that you need to see before you make the decision to buy a VPN.
1. Encryption and Protocols
VPNs encrypt your connection, but the strength of that encryption determines whether your data and activity are actually secure. The most secure protocol currently is OpenVPN, and most of the top VPNs support it. If your VPN only provides PPTP support, then move on to a different vendor. PPTP is fast but the least secure.
2. Logs Policy
Here is the catch. While VPNs hide your online activity and data from everyone, the VPN itself can see everything you do. If your VPN records all this information and then shares it with third parties, it not only defeats the entire purpose of buying the VPN in the first place but also risks your anonymity. Free VPNs often do this to generate funds, and VPNs based out of locations with strict data retention laws are often compelled to do so. So always check the privacy policy of the VPN before subscribing to it. Make sure it follows a no-logs policy and is preferably based in a privacy-respecting location.
3. Speed
Since they encrypt all the traffic, VPNs somewhat reduce your internet browsing speed. But how big the speed reduction is depends on the vendor. The best VPNs ensure minimal reduction; sometimes, VPNs can also improve your download and upload speeds.
4. Global Coverage
The more the number of servers under a VPN’s name, the more connectivity options you have. This prevents server congestion, making you less likely to face connection drops. This also helps improve your connection speed, especially if you are connected to a server close to your geographic location.
5. Cross-Platform Support
Gone are the days when people used the internet only through their computers or laptops. Today, people use smartphones, tablets, Smart TVs, Fire Stick, Kodi, gaming consoles, etc., to connect to the internet. If your device is interacting with the internet, it needs VPN protection. So, it’s important that your VPN supports as many devices and operating systems as possible and allows simultaneous connections.
6. Cost
Whenever you pay for a service, you want to make sure that you get your money’s worth. Free VPNs do not charge you money, but your identity, data, and activity are never secure with them, and they have bandwidth and server limitations. Here’s why you should avoid free VPNs.
But that doesn’t mean all paid VPNs are good. Look for a VPN that offers you everything you want but doesn’t make a massive hole in your wallet. Many VPNs offer a money-back guarantee ranging from 7 to 30 days. It’s best to choose these VPNs and test the service thoroughly within this period. If you aren’t satisfied, you can ask for a full refund.
7. Customer Support
Sometimes, you can hit a snag when setting up or using the VPN. The chances of this happening are relatively high if you are a first-time user and aren’t well-versed in the field. Having a friendly and able customer support team that offers round-the-clock assistance is a big boost in these cases. It’s best to have a VPN that offers not just email and ticket support but also live chat support. If the VPN offers setting up the service remotely, then there’s nothing like it.
Which VPN Should You Use?
Now that you know the role of VPNs and how to choose one for yourself, here is a table of 5 VPNs that I find the best in the industry due to their blazing-fast speeds, military-grade encryption, number of server locations, and value for money. If you need more information about these VPNs, check out our guides on the best Kodi VPN and FireStick VPN.
Jurisdiction
British Virgin Islands
Servers
3000+
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
Supported Apps
Works with
Kodi, Torrenting, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Sky, HBO
Pros
- VPN Servers in 105 Countries
- Super fast speed – great for streaming
- Strong no-logging policy
- Very secure 256-bit encryption
- No Streaming restrictions
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Network Lock (Killswitch)
- Unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- Safe for P2P and torrent use
- Dedicated apps & easy setup on all devices
- 8 simultaneous connections
- Excellent 24/7 Live chat/email support
- Bitcoin accepted
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- No free trial
Jurisdiction
United States
Servers
1200+
Money-back guarantee
7 Days
Supported Apps
Works with
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Sky, HBO, Torrenting, Kodi
Pros
- VPN Servers in 60 Countries
- Good speed
- 256-bit encryption
- No Streaming restrictions
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Killswitch
- Unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- 10 simultaneous connections
- Dedicated apps for all devices
- 7-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Unresponsive Customer Service
- Unfriendly design & layout
- No free trial
Jurisdiction
Panama
Servers
3300
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
Supported Apps
Works with
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Sky, HBO, Torrenting, Kodi
Pros
- VPN Servers in 60 Countries
- Good speed
- 256-bit encryption
- No Streaming restrictions
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Killswitch
- Unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- 6 simultaneous connections
- Dedicated apps for most devices
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- IPv6 leak in macOS IKEv2 app
- No dedicated Fire TV app
- No free trial
Jurisdiction
Romania
Servers
3600
Money-back guarantee
45 Days
Supported Apps
Works with
Kodi, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Sky, HBO, Torrenting
Pros
- VPN Servers in 55 Countries
- Average speed
- Anti-malware & no tracking
- 256-bit encryption
- No Streaming restrictions
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- 7 simultaneous connections
- Dedicated apps for all devices
- 45-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- No free trial
- Torrenting issues on American servers
- No 24/7 support
Jurisdiction
Switzerland
Servers
700+
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
Supported Apps
Works with
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Sky, HBO, Kodi
Pros
- Average speed
- 256-bit encryption
- No Streaming restrictions
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- 5 simultaneous connections
- Dedicated apps for most devices
- 3-day free trial or 30-day money-back
Cons
- Some logging of your data
- Slow ticket support
- Not good for torrenting
Conclusion
Choosing a VPN is not an easy task anymore, with more than 800 VPN vendors as of now. But if you figure out why exactly you need a VPN, you can make a better choice. Also, if you do a little research and read some reviews, you can get a better idea of the service. Don’t be hesitant to ask customer support all kinds of questions before you subscribe to the service. If the VPN offers a money-back guarantee or a free trial without restrictions, use it and see if it’s what you are looking for. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to use the comment box below.
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