Nowadays, we spend a large part of our lives using the internet. But in spite of all the amazing things you can do online, the web can also be an unpleasant place. It presents many growing threats, from web crawling to cyber crime. However, there is a way to control these problems: installing a virtual private network. A VPN will not only hide your internet protocol address, it will also encrypt your wi-fi connection. You can access the Internet anonymously, protect your data with end-to-end encryption and ensure that cybercriminals do not compromise your Wi-Fi network.
However, VPNs are capable of much more than just keeping you safe online. When you connect to global VPN servers, you can circumvent problematic geographic restrictions and unblock online content around the world. These services can also prevent Internet service providers from speeding up the Internet, improving streaming and gaming performance.
The fact is that you can do a lot more online by downloading a VPN service on your smartphone, tablet, computer and other connected devices. But given that there are hundreds of VPNs today, you may be having a hard time choosing one. To help you make the right decision, we rank the best VPNs of 2021.
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Best overall VPN: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is at the top of our list of the best VPNs in 2021 due to its simplicity, wide range of features, excellent performance, large network of servers and much more. In short, the British Virgin Islands-based company has all the essentials for a first-class VPN service.
With ExpressVPN, you have more than 3,000 servers in 160 global locations at your fingertips. By connecting to one of the ExpressVPN high-speed servers, you can unlock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, YouTube and many other streaming services all over the world.
What’s more, ExpressVPN is available on all popular operating systems. You can get your official app on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux and other platforms. Its user interface is super easy to navigate, allowing you to connect to the best VPN server available or browse a list of global VPN servers.
There are many other great features offered by ExpressVPN, including a non-registration policy, 256-bit encryption, an integrated kill switch, VPN split tunneling, TrustedServer technology, private DNS, a speed test, instruction guides, 24 Support for / 7 and much more. But something to remember is that ExpressVPN has a limit of 5 devices rather rigid.
If you are looking for the best general VPN, look no further than Express. It offers many great features, exceptional performance, a large global server network, access to major streaming sites and more.
Best affordable VPN: Surfshark
VPNs can do very good things, whether it’s making public Wi-Fi networks more secure or allowing you to unblock restricted online content. And you can automatically assume that these tools will be expensive. But Surfshark is an excellent example of a VPN service that can do all these amazing things (and more) for a cheap price.
For less than $ 3 a month, Surfshark offers many impressive features. For example, it operates a network of more than 3,200 servers in 65 countries. Each of these servers is not only fast, but also protected by private DNS and a strict no-registration policy. Surfshark claims that its servers are also “P2P friendly”.
By connecting to one of Surfhark’s high-speed VPN servers, you can access streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and many more globally. Surfshark is also very exclusive, as it allows you to connect as many devices as you want from an account. This is certainly useful if you want to stream content on a variety of different devices. By the way, Surfshark has applications for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux and many other platforms.
But Surfshark is not just a great streaming VPN; it is also great for all your security and privacy needs. In fact, it will prevent malware, phishing, web crawlers and spammy ads in its path. In addition, there is a no-logging policy, a kill switch, private DNS and leak protection, a cloaking mode, a borderless mode, strong 256-bit encryption and secure protocols.
For those who want a cheap but effective VPN, their best option is Surfshark. Costing less than $ 3 a month, it offers an excellent range of features, easy-to-use applications and impressive performance.
Most known VPN: NordVPN
If you are looking for a well-established and reliable VPN service to try in 2021, take a look at NordVPN. In fact, you may have seen NordVPN appear in a television ad at some point; has invested a lot of money in marketing and advertising in recent years.
NordVPN definitely lives up to its reputation, offering a large network of more than 5,500 servers in 59 countries globally. You can unlock Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, Dazn and more by connecting to one of Nord’s fast and reliable VPN servers.
Like Surfshark, NordVPN has a useful cybersecurity feature that allows you to block malicious websites and annoying ads. Another impressive security feature is the dual VPN, which will route your online traffic through two VPN servers. NordVPN says it encrypts personal data twice. In addition to these unique security features, NordVPN also offers a switch kill, a DNS leak test, Onion Over VPN and a no registration policy.
If you decide to sign up for NordVPN, you can download its official app on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux and other types of devices. The quick connect button is very useful, allowing you to connect to the best VPN server quickly. But you can only use the NordVPN app on up to 6 devices with a subscription.
NordVPN may be known for its sophisticated TV ads, but it certainly lives up to its reputation, offering a huge network of servers, useful security features and more.
Best Free VPN: Hotspot Shield
For those who don’t have the money to spend on a premium VPN application and are instead looking for a first-class VPN service that won’t cost a penny, in addition to the Hotspot Shield. The free version of Hotspot Shield offers impressive features, including military-grade encryption, a kill switch, multiple VPN protocols and 500 MB of data to use every day.
Unfortunately, you can only connect to one server (which is located in the USA) and use a single device with a free Hotspot Shield account. But that shouldn’t be a problem if there is a specific website you want to unblock or if you want to try Hotspot Shield before signing up for a paid subscription. Premium subscriptions start at $ 7.99, which is very expensive.
But Hotspot Shield is also one of the fastest VPN services on the market, claiming to reach speeds twice as fast as its rivals. In terms of other features, the Hotspot Shield offers unlimited bandwidth, the patented Hydra protocol, applications for different operating systems, 24/7 support and an extensive 45-day refund period.
Not everyone can pay for a premium VPN service, but Hotspot Shield offers one of the best free VPN services on the market. It offers a lot at no cost, from a kill switch to 500 MB of daily data.
Best VPN with many servers: Private Internet access
When it comes to choosing a VPN service, one of the main things to consider is the number of servers it offers. Generally, the best VPN services provide large networks of servers, and Private Internet Access offers 24,364 jaw-dropping servers in 77 countries.
Thanks to such a large selection of global servers, you should find it very easy to unblock restricted sites and streaming services around the world. In fact, Private Internet Access works with Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and many other streaming platforms.
By installing Private Internet Access on your devices, you can protect yourself from malware, web crawlers and unwanted ads. You also have a wide variety of VPN protocols, including WireGuard, PPTP, OpenVPN and L2TP / IPSec.
Other great features provided by Private Internet Access include P2P support, the ability to use up to ten devices in one subscription, unlimited bandwidth, a no-traffic registration policy, instant configuration, a SOCKS5 proxy and a wide range of applications. Premium subscriptions are also very reasonable, with the two-year plan running at just $ 2.69 a month.
There is a lot you can do with a large network of VPN servers, and Private Internet Access offers countless 24,000 servers worldwide.
Alternative option: IPVanish
Another VPN service that you should consider is IPVanish, which offers many good features at a very affordable price. Although IPVanish operates a smaller network of 1,600 servers than the other VPN services mentioned in this list, its servers are very reliable and provide access to popular online services like Netflix, YouTube, Kodi, Facebook, WhatsApp, Google and Spotify on any part of the globe.
But it is worth mentioning that many people reported problems when trying to access Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer with IPVanish. So, of course, you will need a different VPN service if you want to unblock these sites. Despite this, IPVanish proves that it is still a competent VPN service thanks to features such as strong encryption, unlimited connections, zero data transfer limits, shared IP addresses, a zero traffic registration policy, a proxy Web server, different protocols for connection, 24/7 support, multiplatform software and more.
IPVanish is another highly respected VPN service to consider, offering a decent sized server network and many different features.
As you can see, there is a VPN service available for all users, needs and budgets. Regardless of the provider, a VPN service will ensure that you are always safe when using the Internet and will provide access to much more excellent online content. But if we had to choose a provider, it would definitely be ExpressVPN, thanks to its wide variety of international servers, easy-to-use applications, fantastic performance and an impressive range of comprehensive features.