How to choose the best VPN service for 2020 and the top 5 vpn

You’re looking for a VPN?

VPN stands for ‘virtual private network’ and is a piece of software that that helps to make you more anonymous online, encrypts all of your internet traffic, and let’s you effectively trick your laptop or mobile device into thinking it’s in another location.

The best VPN services are increasingly being used as a replacement for or in addition to traditional online security, but have plenty of other uses, too.

Install the best VPN possible and you’ll have a tool that not only helps keep you secure online, but also get around blocked websites, access the freshest TV shows and much more.

The industry has witnessed exponential growth over the last few years, and competition is fierce with new options popping up from time to time. With more than 300 VPNs available, choosing the best one for your needs can be challenging.

Fret not though, as we’ve got your back! Below, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to choose a VPN service.

1. Supported Protocols

VPNs utilize a variety of security protocols to protect the data as it passes through the tunnel, but not all of them are created equally. Each protocol brings its own set of advantages and disadvantages to the table.

Unless you’re into streaming, you should avoid using PPTP at all costs. It’s an outdated protocol that uses weak encryption and has many known security vulnerabilities. While PPTP might be an excellent option to access location-locked websites and protect your non-sensitive browsing, it can’t be relied on for serious security.

L2TP/IPSec is considered an upgraded and better version of PPTP. It provides much better security than its predecessor but lacks in the speed department. SSTP is one of the safest protocols available but has limited support for non-Windows devices. Though it’s somewhat fast, the high level of encryption can slow it down to some degree.

IKEv2/IPSec is among the fastest and most secure protocols out there, but it’s better suited for mobile devices that switch between Wi-Fi and data. The best all-round protocol is OpenVPN, as it offers robust security without compromising greatly on speeds. Remember, good VPN providers will allow you to choose from all these options.

2. Cross-Platform Compatibility

Although most VPNs support the main platforms of Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, and iOS, some VPNs are not available on all platforms.

If you have a Windows computer but use an iPhone, then you want to ensure your VPN has a platform and app for both.

It’s also a good idea to see how many devices you can connect to at once. Some VPNs allow unlimited devices, while others only let you connect up to three.

3. Number of Servers & Locations

Interested in accessing US streaming services like Netflix without geo-locks? Then, let’s face it – choosing a VPN provider with the vast majority of its servers in Asia and Africa will be of no use to you. Don’t settle for anything less than a vast array of servers in multiple countries.

Ideally, you should look for one with hundreds, if not thousands, of VPN servers in all the important locations across the world. The more servers you have, the better as you can switch between them freely to access different types of geo-restricted content.

4. Simultaneous Connections

You’re using a VPN on your laptop or desktop, and that’s great. But what if you want to set up a VPN connection on all the devices in your household? What you’ll need is a VPN service that supports multiple sessions at a time, of course.

You should go for a VPN provider that offers up to five concurrent connections, at least. Also, the ability to connect your router to the VPN is preferred. It allows you to secure all your devices in one go without exhausting all your simultaneous logins.

5. Unlimited Bandwidth

One of the main reasons why people use VPNs is to get around ISP throttling, so paying for VPN service only to get throttled again is a terrible idea. Bandwidth limitations may not have been a problem before the dawn of the streaming era.

Due to the increasing popularity of music and video streaming, though, the bandwidth available isn’t sufficient. As such, you should steer clear from VPNs that enforce bandwidth restrictions – unless they’re intended to prevent the risk of service abuse.

Nonetheless, a worthy VPN service will put no caps on the amount of bandwidth you can use. With no quotas to worry about, you can enjoy the convenience of downloading, browsing and streaming as much as you want.

6. Connection Speed

When you use a VPN, your connection speed slows down to some extent because of the encryption process that takes place. If you want to stream your favorite content or download files without any interruptions, this can be a deal-breaker.

The most popular VPNs have workarounds in place to ensure you get speedy connection speeds at all times, no matter where you’re located. Take, for instance, dedicated servers optimized for streaming and P2P file sharing.

7 .User-Friendly Interface

The setup and user-interface on a lot of VPNs can be quite complex. So, if you’re not tech savvy and do not want to trouble yourself trying to configure a VPN, it’s important to find one that offers simple procedures and a user-friendly platform.

Some VPNs offer a virtual setup, so you never have to lift a finger.

8. Payment Methods

Payment is always important to consider when looking for a VPN. Prices differ depending on a VPN’s features and subscription length.

How you pay is also important. Some VPNs offer completely anonymous payment systems, like BitCoin, while others allow you to buy gift cards to avoid using personal information.

While free VPNs are tempting, we do not recommend you use one. Even if you don’t pay for it with money, you will be paying for it another way, whether that’s with ads, unreliable protection, or bad quality streaming.

If the price is an issue, consider using one that offers great discounts and coupons.

9. Money-Back Guarantee

A money-back guarantee is a great way to ensure you don’t get stuck with a product you do not want.

If you happen to choose a VPN but decide it is not the right one for you, getting out of your contract can be a big issue.

Look for a VPN that promises your money back within a specific amount of time, so you are not obligated to stay with one until your contract is up.

10. reliable customer service

One of the most overlooked but super important factors of a VPN is if the provider offers 24/7 customer service.

VPNs change all the time, and it’s important you can easily contact someone who will help you with whatever snag you hit.

We prefer VPNs who offer live-chat because emails and tickets can take hours – if not days – to answer.

To summarize, here are the best VPNs in 2020…

1. ExpressVPN

The best all-round VPN service for speed, privacy and unblocking

ExpressVPN offers access to more than 3,000 servers in 160 locations across 94 countries. That’s a good start, but one of the first things you should be aware of is just how easy ExpressVPN is to use. No matter what device you want to use it on, you’ll have it downloaded, installed and operational in no time at all.

Indeed, Express has maybe the widest platform support you’ll find anywhere. We’re not just talking about native clients for Windows, Mac, Linux, plus iOS, Android and even BlackBerry. There’s custom firmware for some routers, DNS content-unblocking for a host of streaming media devices and smart TVs, and surprisingly capable VPN browser extensions for anything which can run them.

All that functionality could sound intimidating to VPN newbies, but ExpressVPN does more than most to help. An excellent support website is stuffed with detailed guides and tutorials to get you up and running. And if you do have any trouble, 24/7 live chat support is on hand to answer your questions. It really works, too – we got a helpful response from a knowledgeable support agent within a couple of minutes of posting our question.

The good news continues elsewhere, with ExpressVPN delivering in almost every area. Bitcoin payments? Of course. P2P support? Yep. Netflix unblocking? Naturally. Industrial-strength encryption, kill switch, DNS leak protection, solid and reliable performance and a clear no-logging policy? You’ve got it.

Downsides? Not many to speak of. The ExpressVPN service supports five simultaneous connections per user (increased from three), and it comes with a premium price tag. But if you want a speedy service, crammed with top-notch features, and with all the support you need to help you use them, ExpressVPN will be a great fit. While they don’t have a free trial, ExpressVPN has a no-questions-asked 30-day money back guarantee if you aren’t happy with the service.

2. Surfshark

One of the fastest swimmers in the VPN sea

If you’re somebody who is easily bamboozled and, ultimately, put off by complicated menus and myriad options, Surfshark – like ExpressVPN above – could be the ideal VPN for you. It keeps its interface completely stripped back and free from complication. All you’ll really see are options for ‘Quick connect’ and ‘All locations’, accompanied by a Settings icon, and nothing else at all really. Whether that level of detail (or lack thereof) is a boon or a drawback entirely depends on your perspective.

The basics are all in place for starters. So that includes OpenVPN UDP and TCP, IKEv2 security protocols, AES-256 encryption, and a kill switch ready to stop your details leaking if ever your connection fails. In addition, Surfshark boasts a private DNS and an extra security blanket via a double VPN hop. Not to mention a logging policy whereby only your email address and billing information are kept on record. It’s fast, too, whether you’re connecting to a US or UK server or somewhere further away – say in Australia and New Zealand. Handy if you’re trying to access your Netflix account from abroad.

One of our favorite things about this VPN service (other than the price) is the fact that your subscription covers an unlimited devices and services. So if you plan to use your VPN on your laptop, desktop (compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux), tablet, a couple of mobile phones (iOS and Android both covered) and Amazon Fire TV Stick for watching overseas TV, the one account will cover you on all of them simultaneously.

Surfshark offers a 30-day money back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to give it a try before committing for a longer period. And even then, annual plans are very reasonably priced indeed.

3. NordVPN

The biggest name in VPNs is also one of the best

NordVPN‘s current products match or beat the competition in just about every area.

You get a choice of around 5,000 servers in roughly 60 countries, 2048-bit encryption, 6-device support as standard, strong DNS leak protection, kill switches (application-specific and system wide), proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers, and with payment options that include Bitcoin, PayPal and credit cards.

There’s also a fast, smart DNS-like SmartPlay feature which can be used to get around geo-restrictions and unblock a large number of streaming and other services.

Our performance tests found that Nord has upped its game from previous testing, connecting to all servers each time. And download speeds were well above average on all but the most distant connections.

If we have one quibble, it would be with the user experience that NordVPN supplies. Just little things like the destination cities not being listed in alphabetical order or searching through menus for specialist task functions left us scratching our heads about whether Nord has done enough user testing. But, as we say, these are pretty minor minus points.

Following the recent news that the popular virtual private network was hacked in 2018, Nord appears to have taken all the right steps to up its security measures and has had its privacy policy independently audited by Pricewaterhouse Cooper this year. We will of course be keeping a keen eye on any future developments in this regard.

NordVPN has a few options available included monthly subscriptions and an excellent value two-year special offer. If you want to give the service a whirl before you commit, NordVPN provides a 30-day money back guarantee. So if you want something much better than one of the best free VPN choices, Nord would be an obvious choice.

4. CyberGhost

Feature-packed clients and impressive configurability

The company covers the basics well, with way more than 6,000 servers spread across 90-odd countries, apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, torrents allowed and speedy live chat support.

The task-based app interface is a major highlight. CyberGhost doesn’t just leave you to guess which server to use to unblock a website, for instance. Just choose a geo-blocked service from the list – Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, more – and the app automatically connects to the best server and opens a browser window at the target site. Now that’s what we call helpful.

There are plenty of extras, too. The service can block ads, trackers and malicious websites. Automated HTTPS redirection ensures you’re always making the most secure connection. Optional data compression can save money on mobile devices.

It’s not all good news. The desktop interface can seem complicated, the support site is poor, and although US and European speeds are good, a few of our long-distance connections barely reached 10Mb.

Overall, though, CyberGhost offers you a lot of unusual functionality for a very fair price, and it’s well worth a closer look. Plus, its 45-day money-back guarantee is longer than most of the competition.

5. Private Internet Access

A strong all-round VPN for a fair price

The network covers more than 60 locations across more than 40 countries, for instance, with P2P supported on all servers (expert-level extras like port forwarding and SOCKS5 support are thrown in).

Apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Linux, along with browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Opera, and detailed tutorials for routers and other devices, meaning the service can run almost anywhere.

The apps aren’t always as easy to use as we’d like, but they’re strong on the security fundamentals and have plenty of expert-level extras. The Android app doesn’t have a Favorites system, for instance, which means it takes fractionally longer to find commonly-used servers. But it’s otherwise easy to use, can automatically protect you when you access unsecured Wi-Fi, has a kill switch to protect you if the VPN drops, and can even vibrate your handset to tell you when it connects.

Good-looking browser extensions also deliver more than you’d expect, and include a host of privacy-related extras along with the VPN (Flash blocking, cookie cleaning, camera and microphone protection, and more).

Speed was above average in our performance tests, and although prices have risen slightly recently, Private Internet Access still looks like good value to us.