(Credit: Shutterstock/TunnelBear/Surfshark/CyberGhost/NordVPN/Proton VPN)
PCMag tests and rates dozens of VPNs yearly to help you make an informed decision when it comes to your online privacy and security. With decades of experience under our belts, we use a mixture of objective measurements and subjective observations to give as thorough a recommendation as we can manage.
Did you know that Internet service providers are allowed to sell your data, so long as it is anonymized? This is just one of many reasons why you should purchase a VPN. A Virtual Private Network, keeps sensitive data safe and your browsing history private. A VPN can even let your computer appear to be in a different country–which can open up whole worlds of discounts, new streaming content, or let users dodge restrictions in countries that have tighter controls over online publishing.
ProtonVPN
NordVPN
Surfshark VPN
TunnelBear VPN
Private Internet Access VPN
IPVanish VPN
If it’s up to you to procure your own VPN, whether for work or personal use, there’s good news: We’ve found a number of early-year discounts from a variety of providers. Even better: Today’s VPNs don’t just safeguard your data. You can have multiple simultaneous connections running under one VPN, and many also include helpful extras like password managers and encrypted file storage. New users often get massive discounts to join up, while existing users can also find some strong savings as well, so take a look at the best deals we’ve found for VPN access right now:
Read our full Proton VPN Review
Proton VPN is our top choice for VPNs, earning itself a rare 5 out of 5 from our experts as well as the Editors’ Choice award. Among Proton VPN’s many features, our expert applauded the excellent speed test scores, numerous advanced privacy tools, and accessibility of the client. This VPN is available for all of your devices—Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS—with 500-plus servers in 67 countries for a broad level of support for your online activities. Proton VPN also offers a free VPN subscription tier that doesn’t limit the amount of data you can use; you just need to create an account, which also gives you access to the rest of the Proton product line.
Read our full NordVPN Review
Like many VPNs nowadays, NordVPN has moved beyond just VPN protection to offer password management and encrypted file storage, both of which can be purchased separately or bundled with the core VPN product for a few extra bucks. NordVPN covers up to 10 devices; some routers can also be configured to connect via NordVPN to protect other connected gadgets, like smart home devices. Extend that coverage even wider with the Meshnet feature, which lets you share access to your device with other NordVPN members you approve.
NordVPN received PCMag’s Editors' Choice award for offering a slick client that has grown beyond just VPN protection into a privacy juggernaut, offering antivirus and unique tools. While it’s on the more expensive side in comparison to others on the market, it’s still an outstanding value.
Read our full Surfshark Review
Surfshark VPN is a top contender on our list due to the company's large global server presence, multihop and split tunneling tools, and unlimited simultaneous connections. The company long-term commitments with discounts, though you may want to start small and work your way up to a multiyear plan if Surfshark works for you. Surfshark offers VPN servers in 100 countries, meaning you’ll be able to find a stable, secure connection while traveling—even to countries with more repressive internet policies. Surfshark works on Windows, Android, and Apple/Mac devices as well as Chrome OS and linux, so all of your internet-connected devices are covered. That split-tunneling tool, dubbed Bypasser, lets you decide which apps and websites use the VPN connection, which is helpful since some sites block access to VPNs. Other noteworthy features include a custom DNS service, a built-in ad-blocker, and access to static servers.
Read our full TunnelBear Review
TunnelBear has cartoon bears and a team with a great sense of humor, which makes it a win in my book. Its user-friendly UI, excellent privacy policies, and growing roster of features are enough to win it a PCMag Editors' Choice stamp of approval. The free subscription tier restricts you to 500MB of data per month with allowances granted for tweeting about the company (up to 1.5GB). This is a brilliant business model: TunnelBear gets free advertising and you get to see if the product suits your needs before committing to a purchase.
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If you do take the plunge, TunnelBear VPN will set you back $120 for a three-year plan, a savings of $239.64. TunnelBear secures your connection with the OpenVPN protocol on Android, iOS, MacOS, and Windows. With servers in 48 countries, TunnelBear has less of a global presence but can still spoof your location to a wide variety of places. You'll also be more likely to find a server while traveling abroad for a more reliable connection than you would get from a distant server.
Read our full Private Internet Access Review
Headquartered in the United States, Private Internet Access offers features like split-tunneling, dedicated IP addresses, and encryption settings that set it apart from the competition. Private Internet Access VPN includes its own ad- and tracker-blocking tool called MACE and also supports port forwarding on some servers. The company recently lifted its 10-device cap to allow unlimited simultaneous connections without increasing the price. Currently, the best deal is the two-year plan, which includes two months free. Private Internet Access has servers in 84 countries, which is an above-average number, and they’re a mixture of physical and virtual locations. Our experts gave it an excellent rating for offering a robust VPN service with advanced network and privacy tools packaged into a clever interface.”
Read our full IPVanish Review
PCMag's review praises IPVanish for offering "good value with a robust collection of server locations and excellent customizability." There’s no limit to the number of devices you can connect simultaneously, and IPVanish supports both OpenVPN and WireGuard VPN protocols. With servers spread across 52 countries, IPVanish has very inclusive geographic diversity, minus regions like China and Russia, where internet restrictions are more oppressive.
IPVanish offers split tunneling (both domain-based and application-based) for all major platforms and has access to the Tor anonymization network via VPN. IPVanish is also available for Windows, iOS, Android, MacOS, and linux, which, combined with unlimited simultaneous connections, means that every internet-connected device you own can be protected when you go online.
Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by PCMag's parent company, Ziff Davis.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN Review
CyberGhost offers the largest VPN server network, has a snazzy client, and supports a generous seven simultaneous connections. While VPNs often slow down internet speeds, CyberGhost VPN yielded excellent speed test results in PCMag's tests. Its servers are encrypted and run in RAM only, meaning no data is stored on a hard drive. Even if an attacker physically removed the server, there would be no data to examine. In our review, we found that CyberGhost VPN is expensive for a VPN that doesn't include all the privacy features found among top competitors, but you can save up to 83% if you commit to a two-year plan (which offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, plus four months free).
The Best VPN Deals Available Now
- ProtonVPN — PCMag Exclusive: $2.99 Per Month (70% Off 2 Years Plan)
- NordVPN — Get up to 76% Off 2-year Plans + an Amazon Gift Card
- Surfshark VPN — 86% Off 2-Year Plan + 3-Months Free
- TunnelBear VPN — 67% off 3-Year Plan for $120
- Private Internet Access VPN — 82% Off 2-Year Plan + 2 Months Free
- ExpressVPN — $6.67 Per Month + 3 Months Free (48% Off 1 Year Plan)
- CyberGhost VPN — 83% off 2-Year VPN Subscription + 2-Months Free
- IPVanish VPN — $2.19 Per Month (83% Off 2 Year VPN Plan)
What is a VPN?
The individual letters stand for “Virtual Private Network”—but what does that mean? Consider your home router. That connection is your private network. A virtual private network offers a secure connection to a location that mimics the appearance of a home network. It does all this while scrambling your data by means of encryption. If a snooper were to catch that data stream, it would be a mess of meaningless characters tied to the virtual IP address associated with the VPN instead of your real location. Anyone who is looking for your information won’t know where in the world you’re actually browsing from. This applies both to hackers seeking to harm you and annoying advertisers looking to sell you a product.
Who Benefits From Using a VPN?
Everyone. You don’t need to be in a niche profession or handle sensitive data to benefit from the privacy protections that a VPN offers. We all have information that would be best kept private, such as your bank details, identity, and web traffic. Frequent flyers and remote workers gain an extra layer of security when accessing networks away from home. Even gamers can use a VPN to protect themselves from DDoS attacks and bandwidth throttling. You may even want to use a VPN at home. VPNs allow you to spoof your location, which not only anonymizes your web browsing but also gives you access to region-locked content.
What’s the Best VPN For Me?
How to choose a VPN depends on your individual needs. Consider you and your household’s needs. Everyone will have different priorities regarding the number of connected devices permitted, the location of servers, and privacy features. All of these features are important considerations to make, and that isn’t even considering the cost. It is best to try any service you are interested in for yourself. Start with a short-term subscription (or some VPNs even offer a free trial) and test whether you can access all the sites and services you require. Pay special attention to the user friendliness of the interface as well.
What Is the Best VPN for TikTok?
Unless the situation changes, a TikTok ban is imminent for the United States. ByteDance has until June 19, 2025 to comply with the government’s order to find a state-side buyer for the company. Proton VPN was named the best overall VPN for TikTok, and it offers a free tier of service in addition to paid plans.
What's the Cheapest VPN?
Free is technically as cheap as a VPN can get, but if the restrictions often placed on the free accounts don’t suit your purposes, check out our list of the Best Cheap VPNs for 2024.
Is There a Free VPN Option?
Yes. There are several free VPNs, but they often have limitations, such as fewer simultaneous device connections and less data. Also, be wary of any completely free service. Many of them are predatory with user data. Sometimes, it can be worse to use a free VPN than no VPN at all.
Is There a Free Unlimited VPN?
The free version of Proton VPN places no limit on the amount of data free subscribers use, though they are limited to accessing servers in five randomly selected countries. Coverage extends to one device at a time, so you’ll want to purchase a subscription if you have more devices.
What Are the Latest VPN Discount Offers?
VPN providers are constantly cycling out fresh deals. The article you’re currently on will be continuously updated with the newest deals from our top picks for the month.
When Do VPNs Go on Sale?
Holidays, during certain e-commerce events, and sometimes at random. Many VPNs offer flash sales at various times of the year to attract new customers. That’s why we have this article. Keep it bookmarked to stay up-to-date with the best deals from the most competitive VPNs on the market.
Which VPN Services Have the Biggest Discounts During Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
There’s no telling exactly what deals will be offered by each VPN. Still, if history is anything to go on, you can expect our top picks, such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark, to offer competitive pricing on their long-term plans during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Do VPN Providers Offer Lifetime Discounts?
Some smaller VPNs do, but a lifetime subscription can be risky. VPNs as a service have undergone constant changes and updates over the years, and most popular providers lack lifetime subscription options due to this. If a VPN goes defunct or does not maintain its privacy standards, it is good to have the option to back out and move to another provider. A lifetime subscription can also be quite expensive, and you could end up stuck with a lackluster service.
Are There Free Trials for Premium VPNs?
Yes! In fact, it’s the best way to determine whether a premium service is right for you. VPNs like Proton offer limited access to their premium server network so prospective customers can get the complete experience and see if the service is right for them.
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