10 best VPNs - quick menu
A virtual private network (VPN) is a security tool that keeps your device (and the information on it) secure when you browse the web. By encrypting your data, a VPN makes it unreadable to any nosy third-parties, like cybercriminals, your internet service provider (ISP), and even government agencies. You'll also be assigned a new temporary IP address. This makes you look like you're in a location of your choosing, and is how your VPN can unblock geo-restricted content from around the world. Whether it's Netflix shows, social media platforms, or news sources, you'll have full access.
There are a lot of VPNs on the market, however, and sorting the trustworthy options from the duds can be a tricky task. Luckily, me and the T3 team have been testing, evaluating, and reviewing VPNs for a long time. Our test team has several cyber experts, IT personnel, and users who are passionate about online security.
I've compared the security tools and features of the best VPNs on the block, along with their apps, how easy they are to use, and their performance. I've also investigated which streaming platforms they can reliably unblock to curate this list of the top 10 VPNs in 2025.
1. ExpressVPN: the best VPN for just about everyone
ExpressVPN is the cream of the crop. It's super-secure, easy to use, and has apps for every gadget in the house. It's an awesome streaming VPN, too, thanks to servers dotted across 94 countries and lightning-fast speeds.
Admittedly, ExpressVPN is more expensive than the competition, but you're getting a premium product in exchange for the price tag. Sign up for a 12-month plan and you'll get a year of cloud storage and 3 extra months of coverage for free—as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. NordVPN: a major player in the VPN world
NordVPN doesn't pull any punches when it comes to digital privacy—you'll be covered by rock-solid encryption designed to keep snoopers at bay. Plus, NordVPN is wickedly fast, and more than capable of keeping up with HD streaming (which is great news for Netflix fans).
Take NordVPN for a test drive by making good use of its 30-day money-back guarantee, and see how it compares to ExpressVPN.
3. Surfshark: fast, feature-packed, and affordable Surfshark proves that you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for a reliable VPN. It's jam-packed with features and capable of unblocking all your favorite streaming platforms, and I'm constantly recommending Surfshark to VPN newbies thanks to its straightforward apps.
Pick up a Surfshark subscription and you'll also get unlimited simultaneous connections—meaning you can cover all of the family's devices with one plan. Try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Our list of the best VPN services in 2025
Why you can trust T3
We spend a lot of time during the year testing and evaluating VPNs to help you know which ones are the best for securing your online experience. Here are the top 10 VPN services we recommend right now.
The best VPN overall
1. ExpressVPN
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Subscribe if:
✔️ You need a reliable VPN: you get auto-connect, preferred servers, and other set-and-forget features.
✔️ You want the best protection: ExpressVPN is our #1 pick for a reason, and it's because of how secure it is.
✔️ You want a VPN with servers in lots of places: Express has servers in more locations than most VPNs.
Don't subscribe if:
❌ You're on a budget: ExpressVPN is expensive. We recommend NordVPN or Surfshark if you need something cheaper.
❌ You want added security tools: it doesn't come with antivirus like NordVPN does.
❌ You want a fast VPN: its speeds are just above average. Check out Surfshark for an ultra-fast VPN.
Bottom line ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔒 ExpressVPN is safe, keeps your connections secured, has a solid kill switch, and has a no-nonsense privacy policy. There's a reason it's top in our book, and it's because of its overall security.
Want to learn more?
Read our ExpressVPN review to see how it compares to other VPN services.
ExpressVPN is still the most secure and best VPN in the industry, a spot it has maintains since we started testing VPN services. It continues to make quick adjustments when needed to stay ahead of the competition and ensure only the top and best tech security measures are incorporated into its apps. While other VPNs are creeping up, and some are getting close, none have been able to topple ExpressVPN as our #1 top pick for VPN.
This VPN continues to grow its server network. Our last count showed over 3,200 secured servers in 160 different locations. This is more server locations than most other VPNs, which means you won't have difficulties finding an open and fast server in your preferred area. Since there are ExpressVPN servers in over 94 countries, this is a good VPN for traveling.
▶ Try ExpressVPN and get 3 extra months and a year of cloud storage free
For unblocking geo-restricted content, ExpressVPN is one of the best. There isn't a lot that can stop it, so it's a handy tool for tapping into websites that are blocked if you're traveling in China, Russia, or other countries that tend to restrict access to content. It's fairly good for unblocking tv streaming services, too, though we did find a few that were troublesome.
During our streaming tests, most services were easily unblocked. This included Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and HBO Max. It unblocked Australia dn Japan Netflix, but it wasn't always successful with either the US or UK sites. We were never able to unblock Netflix Canada. If you need a Netflix VPN, we recommend NordVPN. NordVPN opens all regions of this streaming service.
Another sticky point for ExpressVPN is its connection speeds. At 560 Mbps, it's certainly fast enough to support streaming in 4K and even torrenting. However, this is far from being the fastest VPN. NordVPN clocks a high speed of 820 Mpbs while Surfshark tops them all with 960 Mbps.
Offering some of the best support, both with its 24/7 team and excellent online guides, new subscribers to ExpressVPN will benefit from the added reassurance of its risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee on top of 3 months free and one-year of Backblaze cloud storage.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Design | Easy, uncluttered, and intuitively designed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ease of use | Auto-connect functions and good for beginners | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | Slower than we'd like to see, but still good for streaming and torrenting | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Unblocking | Struggles with some popular Netflix regions everything else is a breeze to access | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Security and privacy | The best and most secure VPN period | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Customer support | Excellent, helpful, and available anytime you need it | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | More expensive than most other VPN services | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Best VPN with antivirus
2. NordVPN
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Subscribe if:
✔️ You want top security: NordVPN comes with antivirus and ad blocking, plus double-encrypts your data by passing it through two servers.
✔️ You want to watch Netflix: this VPN unblocks Netflix in every region, including Canada and Japan.
✔️ You need a fast VPN: NordVPN's speeds leave ExpressVPN in the dust.
Don't subscribe if:
❌ You want a simple interface: the interactive map causes the app to look cluttered and feel overwhelming.
❌ You need VPN for multiple devices: mobile apps work better than desktop ones. ExpressVPN is good with all devices, though.
❌ You need a larger server network: PIA has over 20,000 servers while Surfshark has servers in more countries.
Bottom line ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
🔒 NordVPN is secure, private, and an overall great value, plus it unblocks every Netflix service. It's not the greatest for new users, though.
Want to learn more?
Check out our NordVPN review to read details of what we learned during testing, how well its antivirus works, and how it compares to our top pick.
NordVPN is the closest competitor to ExpressVPN and while it hasn't been able to topple the VPN king just yet, it still has a great number of features and functions unique to NordVPN. To begin with, it sends your data through two servers to double encrypt that information. No one going to be able to trace your online activity back to you. NordVPN also has dual kill switches, just in case one fails. But our tests show that both are quick, solid, and work.
This VPN gives you a few extra online security tools. First, it has antivirus software. This particular tool doesn't stop threats coming through your network or USB drives, but it does keep malware files from downloading from websites and other online areas. it also stops you from visiting a website that is known to hide malware. NordVPN also includes an ad blocker. This strips most of the ads from the websites you visit.
▶ Try NordVPN and get added security with antivirus and ad blocking
Removing ads means companies can't see that you're there and bother you with additional advertisements once you leave. But more importantly, some cyber criminals hide malware files in an ad so when you click the link the file is downloaded and your computer becomes infected. Using NordVPN's ad blocker cuts down the risk of accidentally clicking on a malicious file.
One big benefit of using NordVPN is being able to work around geo-restrictions, especially with streaming services. NordVPN tops our best Netflix VPN list because it doesn't have a problem giving access to all Netflix regions. Other VPNs struggle with one or two, usually in Japan or Canada. NordVPN opens them all. It also unblocks other popular streaming sites including Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and the BBC iPlayer.
NordVPN has a cool interactive map to help you find the best of its 5,670 servers to connect to. This is a neat feature, but it takes up a lot of room on the view screen, feels overwhelming, and isn't the easiest to navigate, especially for new VPN users. There are differences between the mobile app and the desktop apps, which can cause some disconnect. If you're new to VPN, we recommend starting with a simpler app like Surfshark or CyberGhost until you feel more confident.
Overall, NordVPN is a great value and much cheaper than ExpressVPN. You get great deals as a new user, and continue you to get great deals if you commit to its 2-year subscription plan. NordVPN lets you try out its services risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Design | Beautifully designed, but a bit busy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ease of use | The interactive map is big and causes some navigation issues | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | A fast, reliable VPN | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Unblocking | Unblocks all regions of Netflix and other popular streaming sites | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Security and privacy | Very secure and includes malware protection and ad blocking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Customer support | Friendly, helpful, and always available | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | A good balance between a good value and the number of security tools included | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Best cheap VPN
3. Surfshark
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Subscribe if:
✔️ You want a fast VPN: Surfshark is at the top of the fastest VPN list with its top speed of 960 Mbps.
✔️ You're new to VPN: the apps are simple and so easy to figure out, and it doesn't have a lot to configure.
✔️ You're on a budget: it's cheap, but with all the perks included, Surfshark is also an excellent value.
Don't subscribe if:
❌ You want a little more protection: we saw some kill switch issues during testing.
❌ You want a personalized VPN experience: this is as close to a plug-and-play VPN as you'll get. Try Private Internet Access for impressive customization options.
❌ You need to torrent: though it can be done with Surfshark, it doesn't have the same dedication to this task as PIA or NordVPN.
Bottom line ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
🔒 Surfshark is fast, has servers in more countries worldwide than most VPN services, is great for beginners, and is the best cheap VPN out there.
Want to learn more?
Our Surfshark review goes into more detail about its kill switch issues, which apps we've seen it happen with, and if it's something you need to be concerned about.
Surfshark earns a top spot on our VPN list because it's fast, uses a high-encryption level, and is cheap. It isn't complicated to use, either, so it's one of the VPNs we recommend if you're a VPN beginner. There isn't a lot that needs to be configured, In fact, it doesn't allow for much customization at all. It's as close to a plug-and-play VPN as you'll get.
When it comes to speed, Surfshark can't be touched. In our sped tests it reached an average speed of 960 Mbps. To put this into perspective, you need only 14 Mbps to stream Netflix in high-definition (HD) without buffering. Surfshark is so fast you can have everyone in the house watching Netflix at the same time and never experience slowdown. In fact, Surfshark is one of the few VPNs that don't cap how many devices or connections you can have.
▶ Try Surfshark, the cheapest VPN and best-value VPN
For unblocking geo-restricted content, it helps that Surfshark has servers in 100 countries. It unlocks tv streaming services with ease, including most Netflix regions, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus. It works on Xbox and PlayStation, and tv streaming devices like Apple TV and Roku. With its fast speeds, Surfshark easily supports online gaming, too.
Surfshark supports P2P transfers and has split tunneling. However, it doesn't focus a lot on torrenting tools and tasks. So, while it can be done using Surfshark, we recommend Private Internet Access for torrenting. PIA focuses heavily on torrents and has more tools and configuration options for this. Private Internet Access also configures all of its servers for torrenting whereas Surfshark doesn't.
This VPN uses the highest level of encryption, AES 265-bit. This is the same level used by militaries and banks to secure their information. When we tested Surfshark, we saw that it didn't allow any DNS leaks while the VPN was connected. However, there were some intermittent issues with the kill switch during our Windows testing. Sometimes the switch turned on but didn't notify us that the VPN connection had dropped. We didn't see any leaks with the kill switch engaged, but even minor issues with a kill switch give us pause for what bigger problem could happen when using it.
Surfshark is the cheapest VPN and the best value because of the number of tools you get, its unblocking capabilities, plus its worldwide server network. It's our pick for new users and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Design | Simple, detailed, and good looking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ease of use | One of the best for beginners | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | Faster than any of our top VPN picks | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Unblocking | Struggles with one or two sites, but overall is good for streaming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Security and privacy | Kill switch issues on Windows, plus its antivirus isn't one we'd recommend | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Customer support | A healthy library of online support articles, but it isn't easy to find the one you need | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | The cheapest VPN and the best overall deal that's hard to beat | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Best torrenting VPN
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Subscribe if:
✔️ You want to remain totally private: PIA has been challenged in court twice and both times proved its no-logs policy.
✔️ You need a torrenting VPN: all 20,000+ servers are designed to support torrents, plus it has port-forwarding and split-tunneling.
✔️ You want a Linux VPN: PIA has one of the best GUI Linux apps.
Don't subscribe if:
❌ You need an easy VPN: we don't recommend this VPN for beginners because of the configuration needed. Try Surfshark instead.
❌ You want fast connection speeds: overall, PIA logged lower-than-average connection speeds.
❌ You want a free VPN: this service doesn't have a free version. Proton VPN has one of the best that even works with Linux.
Bottom line ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
🔒 Private Internet Access is our pick for torrenting and Linux users. We don't recommend it for new users because there is a lot to configure and can quickly become overwhelming if you don't know what you're doing.
Want to learn more?
Read this Private Internet Access review to see what other features are included to help with torrenting.
Private Internet Access (PIA) has Smart DNS, which allows you to set up the VPN on smart TVs and gaming consoles. It has one of the best Linux apps using a graphical user interface (GUI), plus is great for mobile giving full access to every tool found in its desktop applications.
This VPN takes privacy seriously. It uses military-grade encryption, but also solemnly swears to never log your personal information or online movements. It never gives information about its users to government agencies, internet providers, company partners, or law enforcement. PIA's privacy policy has been challenged in court twice. Both times it proved just how private it keeps your information.
▶ Try Private Internet Access and tap into one of its 20,000 secure servers
Its features are extensive. Its kill switch is solid, but it also has cookie cleaning and protections for both your device's webcam and microphone. One of PIA's best traits is its international server network. No other VPN has the number of servers Private Internet Access does - that's 20,000 and growing. On top of that, PIA configures each one to support torrenting and streaming.
PIA is our pick for torrenting because of its tools like port-forwarding and split-tunneling, and the number of customizations you can make for torrenting. For tv streaming, this VPN unblocks Netflix in the US, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney Plus.
Because of the amount of setup and configuration in this VPN client, it isn't the best for beginners. There's just too much and it's easy to get lost in the app and overwhelmed. But for seasoned VPN pros, this is what you need to create the precise VPN experience you want.
PIA's other downfall is its speed. They are certainly fast enough to support tv streaming and torrenting. However, at 510 Mbps, it's below the industry average of 560 Mbps. What's more, Surfshark has it beat with a top speed of 960 Mbps.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Design | Lots of customization, though it looks simple and basic | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Ease of use | Not a good choice for new VPN users, great for seasoned pros | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | Average speeds, not easy to use | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Unblocking | Thousands of servers worldwide and each one optimized to support torrenting and streaming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Security and privacy | Sellar security and a privacy policy that has been proven in court twice | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Customer support | Excellent online support articles and helpful agent available to chat 24/7 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | Great overall value for the price | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Best free VPN
5. Proton VPN
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Subscribe if:
✔️ You want a free VPN: Proton VPN doesn't put a usage cap on its free version.
✔️ You need extra privacy: in addition to a solid no-logs policy, Proton VPN lets you pay for its services with Bitcoin and even cash.
✔️ You want a deeper look: all Proton VPN apps are open-source so you can see if there is anything fishy going on.
Don't subscribe if:
❌ You need lightning speeds: it's fast enough to support most tasks, but Surfshark is almost two times faster.
❌ You need lots of server locations: it's getting better and continually adding more servers, but Proton VPN still falls behind our top VPN picks.
❌ You're looking for a good value: though it has a good feature set, Proton VPN's paid apps are expensive. You can find better protection and a bigger feature set with NordVPN at a much lower cost.
Bottom line ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
🔒 Proton VPN offers a decent free version with unlimited bandwidth to let you decide if it's worth upgrading. Its paid subscriptions include extra features including unblocking tv streaming services.
Want to learn more?
Our Proton VPN review goes into more detail about what is limited in its free VPN and the benefit of upgrading to a paid version.
Proton VPN has a mighty free VPN that doesn't put a cap on how many devices you can use it on and gives you access to 64 servers in three countries. Though you can't unblock tv streaming sites with the free app, you still get great protection and AES 265-bit encryption of your information, a solid kill switch, and covered by its no-logs policy.
For paying users, Proton VPN ups its server network to 2,900 servers in 67 countries. You also get some limited antivirus protection, ad blockers, and a password manager. You're also allowed to pay for your subscription with Bitcoin or even cash to remain completely anonymous.
▶ Try Proton VPN for free without a data cap
Speeds are on the slow side if you use the WireGuard protocol. We only got up to 510 Mbps in our tests, which is below average. OpenVPN speeds, however, were impressively fast at 440 Mbps, nearly double what we expect to see using this protocol. Both are fast enough to support TV streaming.
During our unblocking tests, Proton VPN unlocked Netflix in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, It also let us watch shows on our Amazon Prime, Disney Plus and BBC iPlayer accounts. Other geo-restricted websites aren't a problem for Proton VPN to get to, which makes it a good VPN to have if you travel overseas.
A good one for those users with a more technical understanding, Proton VPN has quite in-depth online support articles - though this could be a drawback for those not quite so tech-savvy. You can always try it out by initially signing up for its limited free plan, before splashing out on one of the paid-for plans.
Proton VPN is expensive if you choose a paid app. While you do get a better deal if you sign up for its 24-month plan, this is still nearly double what you would pay for Surfshark's 2-year plan. You do get a 30-day money-back guarantee if you want to try out the full Proton VPN app.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Design | A stunning, dark mode design | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ease of use | Pretty easy on mobile, more complex on desktop | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | Lots of variation between apps, and lower speeds | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Unblocking | Free version doesn't allow blocking, paid version unblocks a lot | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Security and privacy | Very secure with military-grade encryptione articles are helpful | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Customer support | It's not easy to get a hold of live support, but online articles are helpful | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | The free plan is great, paid subscriptions are on the pricy side | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Best of the rest
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Subscribe if:
✔️ You're new to VPN: CyberGhost is very simple to use without a lot of set up needed making it a perfect choice for new users.
✔️ You need time to decide: other VPNs give you a 30-day refund period. CyberGhost gives you 45 days to decide if it's right for you.
Don't subscribe if:
❌ You want to stream Disney Plus: this site is a struggle for CyberGhost to unblock, though it doesn't have the same issue with other streaming sites.
❌ You want good support in your corner: you can reach out to agents via chat, but other support avenues aren't as in-depth as we'd like to see.
Bottom line ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔒 CyberGhost is excellent for new users because of its simple interface and intuitive layout, plus you get a 45-day money-back guarantee to try it out.
Want to learn more?
Our in-depth CyberGhost review gives you more about the pros and cons of using this VPN service.
CyberGhost may be Romanian and German-based, but it's a very internationally used VPN. I recently gave a hefty boost to its network of servers, which is now up to over 9,260 across 91 countries.
For new VPN users, this is a great VPN to start with. It's simple to use with a clear interface that won't overwhelm you with too much on the dashboard. It does have a few settings you can configure when you're ready to dabble. But, overall, it doesn't require a lot to get it up and running, and you get great protection from the start.
▶ Try CyberGhost VPN with a 45-day money-back guarantee
It has a super effective kill switch, which is pretty handy in terms of security, alongside a stream of excellent, reputable features, including blocks on malicious websites, ads, and trackers. With both WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols included, your data will be highly encrypted with AES 265-bit encryption, the most secure.
CyberGhost still has impressive speeds, though we did see it dip from 850 Mbps using WireGuard in earlier tests to 730 Mbps in our latest round. Still, it's considered one of the fastest and certainly fast enough to support torrenting, tv streaming, and even gameplay. Its OpenVPN protocol speeds have become faster and logged a higher-than-average speed of 400 Mbps in our latest speed tests.
If you're after a good streaming unblocker, CyberGhost circumvents geo-restrictions on US Netflix, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and HBO Max. Its innovative filtering system automatically displays suitable servers for what you're after – for example, torrenting or streaming using a VPN. In the past CyberGhost was able to open Disney Plus, but our latest tests showed it now struggles to unblock this service.
The speedy live chat support is also pretty handy for anyone who's a VPN newbie or has any questions or queries, though its support site could do with some work if it wants to climb up the rankings and join the big boys. CyberGhost does lead the charge with its 45-day money-back guarantee.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Design | Beautiful, nice details, intuitive, and easily customiz | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ease of use | One of the best for beginners | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | Decent speeds support all VPN tasks | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Unblocking | Dedicated streaming servers, but struggles with Disney+ and some Netflix regions | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Security and privacy | Reliable and audited by independent auditing company Deloitte | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Customer support | Lacking in the online support area, but agents are helpful through live chat | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | Competitive prices and an overall great deal | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |