When it comes to security, few tools are quite as steadfast as a VPN. Whether you’re wanting to protect yourself on the go, keep your private information secure when using the internet on holiday or just keep prying eyes off your web traffic, there’s always a good reason to have a VPN equipped on your devices.

The early days of the internet were a bit of a Wild West; there was very little protection to prevent bandits making off with people’s private data. Fortunately, thirty years ago researchers hit on new protocols that allowed users to guarantee the confidentiality and integrity of their internet connection. This formed the basis of VPN technology, which allows you to form a virtual private connection between your device and your destination using end-to-end encryption, which ensures nobody can snoop on or hijack your online traffic.

But the security picture has changed enormously since those early days. While the internet is much better regulated and businesses and platforms have significantly beefed up their security, the threats to your safety online have evolved as well. From man-in-the-middle attacks on public Wi-Fi to the mass-harvesting of consumers’ private data, security risks in the digital world have become much more complex. This means that it’s only become more important to have a personal sheriff to help keep outlaws at bay. And that’s where a VPN comes in.

So how can a VPN help you?

Protect yourself in public

It’s unlikely we’re the first to point this out to you but public Wi-Fi is a huge security risk. Using an unsecured Wi-Fi connection means the owner of that network can peek at any of your traffic travelling on their network. Worse, man-in-the-middle attacks can allow malicious actors to spoof the network you’re wanting to connect to, meaning they’ll intercept any data you send before passing it on to the network and gain access to any personal or financial information you might send.

Naturally, the ideal solution would be to never use public networks. But we recognise that this isn’t always an option – sometimes patchy mobile networks can let you down and you can’t always wait until you’re home to pay that bill. Fortunately, a VPN can be absolutely invaluable here: given it forms an encrypted tunnel between your device and your intended destination, it’s much harder for anyone else on that network to snatch your private info.

Stay safe abroad

When you’re holidaying overseas, the internet is a lifeline, allowing you to stay in touch with your loved ones, keep an eye on your finances and keep yourself entertained. But it can also make you especially vulnerable: you’re much more dependent on airport or hotel Wi-Fi and you can’t be 100% sure local ISPs will employ the same security standards you’re used to. That’s why a VPN is as much a travel essential as your passport and mozzie spray: it helps keep your connection private and secure wherever you roam.

Not only that but the fact the connection is encrypted means that you can connect to your local networks in the UK as though you’re still at home. You no longer need to worry about not being able to access your bank’s website or favourite TV shows; you can browse the internet like you’re sitting on your sofa, even when you’re chilling on a beach in the Seychelles.

Avoid trackers

Almost everywhere we go online, we’re being tracked. Whether it’s your internet service provider logging your browsing history or advertisers monitoring your searches and purchases, it’s become so commonplace to be observed online that it’s hard to know how to protect yourself. But VPNs can help here as well.

Thanks to the end-to-end encryption VPNs employ, it’s impossible for companies to snoop on the specifics of your browsing habits, from which clothing you’ve browsed to the medical advice you’ve sought out. Keeping this data from ever being logged ensures it can’t be bought or sold on data exchanges, giving you much better control over what’s done with your personal information.

Sidestep ISP throttling

While the internet was once a level playing field in terms of the speeds you could access, internet service providers are increasingly controlling the speed of your internet connection depending on the site you’re visiting. This can mean that your bandwidth can be dictated more by their commercial interests than your needs. Want to make sure you have plenty of capacity for binge-watching shows or uploading files for work? Subscribing to a VPN will obscure the kinds of destination you are visiting, helping to ensure the speeds you enjoy are truly platform agnostic.

Maintain your anonymity

There may be times when you’d prefer to stay anonymous online. And while private browsing or incognito mode might sound like they’d conceal your identity from the sites you’re visiting, that isn’t the case. If you prefer to maintain your privacy when you’re browsing, a VPN can prove invaluable: thanks to that encrypted network, your IP address is concealed from prying eyes, making it much harder for companies or malicious actors to identify you or your home network.

Clearly, a VPN can offer unparalleled protection in a range of circumstances. So where can you turn to find this kind of protection? Norton’s Secure VPN offers all of these online privacy features for just £19.99 for your first year. And should you require additional protection, the Norton 360 Advanced Powerful Device Security package has you covered for £34.99 for your first year, offering identity protection tools like dark web monitoring, to see if any of your sensitive data turns up on malicious sites, Identity Restoration Support in case of identity theft and Credit Report & Score to monitor changes to your credit score.

To discover more, visit Norton’s product page here.

When it comes to privacy online, using one of the best VPNs is a really good idea. It allows you to hide some of your details, making it tougher for them to be stolen or used by others.

If you own a Google Pixel 7 or a Google Pixel 7 Pro, the Google One VPN is included free of charge. That's a massive benefit, allowing users to enjoy the benefits of a VPN without any extra outlay.

Now, it's getting a decent upgrade. Previously, the location data used by the VPN was fairly broad. That could bring up some issues. For example, if you're in the USA and the VPN sets your location to the wrong state, it could change a lot. Taxes are different if you're shopping, and some sites may not be visible altogether.

In the new update, that should all change. Users will be able to set their location to a local region by default. That should make it more accurate, allowing users to surf as normal without finding themselves locked in a different part of the country.

It's not just Pixel users who stand to benefit. While the software is included on those devices, it's also available on other Android phones and iPhones. That's available with a Google One plan, which also brings other benefits to users.

The update is set to roll out at the end of the month. Users should get an email in the coming days, with the 29th of July seeming to be the launch date for the new functionality.

Oh, and don't panic if you'd prefer to use the broader setting still. That will be a user-configurable option in the settings, allowing you to decide exactly how you want it to operate.

I think it's a solid upgrade. While some may be unscathed by the broader setting, many others may struggle. That's particularly true in places like the USA, where things – laws, taxes and other fun stuff – can vary pretty dramatically from state to state.

It should allow users to hone in on the specific location they are in, or they're trying to mimic being in. And that can only be a good thing.

Want to know how to watch Tyson Fury vs Derek Chisora on a new-fangled streaming device? Fury Chisora 3 is on NOW. The latest and probably not greatest Tyson Fury fight is on now and it probably won’t go the distance.

This is an all-British fight, taking place at Tottenham Hotspurs' football ground. Interest outside of the UK may be in slightly short supply, other than among ex-pats and tourists, but there are several viewing options around the world if you're looking for a live stream. Speaking of which, if you're out of the country and can't access your preferred domestic broadcaster, you can use a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions. 

What time is Fury vs Chisora 3?

Tyson Fury vs Derek Chisora is on now, and will be over shortly.

Tyson Fury vs Derek Chisora 3:  what’s the story?

Amazingly enough, this is the third time the mercurial Tyson 'Gypsy King' Fury and the slightly more journeyman-esque Derek 'War' Chisora have fought. The first time was actually 11 whole years ago, and Fury has fairly comfortably won both fights so far. He's certainly a very short-odds favourite for this rematch, with the (slightly fading) hope being that he'll then get it on with either Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk – a man who is pretty much a match for Fury in terms of eccentricity and also perhaps in terms of boxing skill. Hopefully we'll get to find out before Fury 'retires' again, or we all die of old age. 

In the meantime, we have this to get through. Despite being possibly the most dangerous man ever to be called Derek, Chisora looks out of his depth this time around. The bookies have him at a borderline disrespectful 33/2, with Fury at 1/20. For Derek Chisora – who is not to be confused with Derek Acora, the late spirit medium and TV personality – his best and perhaps only chance here is to come out slugging, and try to knock Fury out in the first three rounds. Good luck with that, mind you. The travelling community's man mountain has the advantage in terms of age, reach, weight and just about any other metric you care to think of.

How to watch and/or live stream Fury vs Chisora in the UK

How to watch and/or live stream Fury vs Chisora in the USA

How to watch Fury vs Chisora 3 in Australia

How to watch the big fight, Tyson Fury vs Derek Chisora, if you're abroad

If you're out of the country on holiday or business, you can still get access to a live stream - simply use the best VPN around to get past those geo-restrictions. A streaming VPN is a very handy thing, as it means you can hop on a server within the US, UK or anywhere else  and it will switch your IP address to make it appear as if you're browsing right from the comfort of your own home.

• VPN - standing for virtual private network - offers security and anonymity as you browse online, using set protocols to encrypt your data and make it unreadable to outsiders.
• As a part of that, you can also switch your IP address, which identifies your location.
• Most VPNs offer a list of locations where its servers are based to join. Connecting to them switches your IP to appear as if you're browsing from that country/city. In turn, you can then access content locked to that country.
• When it comes to finding a VPN, you should make sure you find the best one that's suitable for your chosen device, with VPN providers offering compatibility for a ton of devices, including VPN for Mac, and even a range of fairly nifty free VPNs.
• Once you've made the decision for the most suitable VPN for your device and your means for using a VPN, sign-up and install it. 
• To live stream Wimbledon 2022, all you need to do is select a UK server from its list of available servers and connect. You'll then be able to hop over those geo-restrictions, with the likes of BBC iPlayer opening its online gates to you.
• We also want to ensure your money is well spent, so we would recommend going for a VPN that offers a risk free trial. ExpressVPN is one of many providers that has a 30-day money back guarantee.

• New to VPN? Find out how to use a VPN to unblock geo-restrictions

When the Google Pixel 7 and the Google Pixel 7 Pro launched a few months ago, they came with a host of exciting new features. One that wasn't available straight away, though, was the inclusion of a VPN in the devices.

That's starting to change though, as users are reporting the first sightings of the Google One VPN on Pixel devices. It had previously been expected to arrive in December, so Google are right on cue. 

It's a fantastic free upgrade for Pixel 7 users. VPN's are brilliant security devices, allowing you to keep your personal information safe while online. But the best VPNs aren't cheap, so getting one completely free of charge is a triumph for the Pixel range.

How to get the free VPN on Google Pixel 7

To access the Google One VPN, users will need to go to the Google One app and log-in with their Google account details. You should get a pop-up which tells you that your device is eligible. 

Once through this, go to the "Benefits" tab and hit "View Details" under the section about the VPN offering. From there, you should see an option called Use VPN, which can be freely toggled on or off.

That's it. Once activated, the VPN will hide your IP address online, to make you less vulnerable to tracking, and make you less vulnerable when connecting to public WiFi networks.

It's worth noting that this functionality isn't available to users in Singapore or India, sadly.

I think this is a brilliant feature for the Pixel 7 range. Sure, it may not be the most feature-rich VPN in history, but it doesn't really need to be. The fact that you're getting a free security feature that would normally cost money is a welcome boost. 

One of the most interesting announcements during the launch of the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro was that anyone who bought either of the firm's new best Android phones would get a VPN at "no extra cost".

Precise timing on when Pixel 7 owners would get access to this VPN was not forthcoming during the event, though. However, as of today, that has changed, with Google officially confirming when the elite freebie is dropping.

As reported by 9to5Google, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro users "can access VPN by Google One at no extra cost on those devices through the Google One app without a Google One subscription in December of 2022."

So, there you go, the free VPN is unlocked in December 2022.

For those not in the loop with VPNs, a VPN (which stands for 'virtual private network', is a tool that helps people stay secure online, enhancing privacy by encrypting all internet traffic from the user. This means that third parties, such as their internet service provider, bots, advertisers and more cannot spy on them.

T3 reviews and rates all the best VPN on the market today, and we recommend them highly to anyone who takes their online privacy seriously. The thing is, though, good VPNs cost money, so the fact that Google is giving Pixel 7 users VPN access for free is a really nice bonus. Google is showing its customers it is serious about user privacy and offering a really good reason to upgrade to one of its new Android phones.

Want to know what owning a Pixel 7 is like? Then be sure to check out T3's 5 things I wish I knew before buying the Google Pixel 7 feature now.

The Italian Grand Prix starts at 2pm BST, 6.30pm IST, 11pm AEST, midnight NZST, 9am ET, 6am PT, and 3pm CEST. It’s the latest stage of the procession towards Max Verstappen retaining his F1 title, but should provide plenty of thrills of its own. Here’s how to watch the Italian Grand Prix from anywhere in the world, including some rather obscure free options.

F1 is at Monza for Ferrari's home race, and it seems the Tifosi's prayers might just be answered at the Temple of Speed. Charles Leclerc is on pole, while championship leader Max Verstappen starts back in 7th because of a five-place grid penalty! Mind you, that happened last week too, and he still won.

We've got all the info on how to live stream F1 at the Italian Grand Prix no matter where you are in the world. If you're outside of the country and can't access your preferred domestic broadcaster for F1, you can always use a VPN to bypass those pesky geo-restrictions. If you’re after something slightly more sedate (although not by much) the Asia Cup T20i cricket final starts an hour later. Here’s how to watch Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in that match. 

What time is the F1 Italian Grand Prix?

The race takes place today, Sunday September 11. Times are as follows: 2pm BST, 6.30pm IST, 11pm AEST, midnight NZST, 9am ET, 6am PT, and 3pm CEST

FREE F1 live stream options around the world

Thankfully, not everywhere in the world has their F1 live stream behind a paywall. Certain races are still available to watch for free.

From our research, we can see that the following countries and broadcasters will be showing the Italian Grand Prix for free: Albania on RTSH, Austria on ORF Eins, Azerbaijan on Idman TV, Brazil on BandSports, Iran on IRIB Varzesh, Luxembourg on RTL Zwee, and the Middle East and North Africa on MBC Action.

How to live stream F1 2022 Italian Grand Prix if you're abroad

If you're out of the country for this weekend's action from Monza, you can still get access to a live stream - simply use the best VPN around to avoid geo-restrictions. 

With most domestic broadcasters locking streaming services to their country, you may hit a wall when it comes to accessing the likes of Sky, ESPN and TSN when overseas. However, by getting yourself a handy streaming VPN, you can hop onto a server within the US or UK (or anywhere else for that matter depending on where your online content is geo-restricted to), and this will switch your IP address to make it appear as if you're browsing right from the comfort of your own home.

• New to VPN? Find out how to use one to unblock geo-restrictions

How to live stream F1 2022 Italian Grand Prix in the US

How to  live stream the Italian Grand Prix in the UK

How to live stream the 2022 Italian Grand Prix anywhere else in the world

There's a live stream option for petrolheads in pretty much any corner of the world.

If you don't mind going without a bit of sleep Down Under, Fox Sports has the rights to show live F1 races in Australia, including this weekend's action. That means Foxtel and Kayo Sports subscribers can also watch online. Kayo Sports is currently offering a handy 7-day free trial - after that, you'll be on a rolling one-month contract. Basic is $27.50 while Premium is $35. Lights out for the Italian GP is 11pm AEST on Sunday night.

New Zealanders can live stream this year's Italian GP via pay TV streaming platform Spark Sport. Spark Sport usually costs $19.99 per month, but if you only want to watch this weekend's race, you're in luck, as there's a 7-day free trial. The Italian Grand Prix is set to start at 1am NZST on Sunday night/Monday morning.

F1 followers in Canada can watch the 2022 action on English-language TSN or French-language RDS , with both premium channels also offering live streams online to subscribers. If you're not a cable customer, you can also watch the race online via the TSN Direct and RDS Direct streaming services, which cost just CA$7.99 a day or (much better value) $19.99 a month. The Italian Grand Prix starts at 9am ET / 6am PT for Canadian viewers.

French and Dutch motor racing fans can watch every race live on F1 TV Pro for just €7.99 a month, while Sky Germany has the exclusive rights to every live F1 race this season, having taken over the rights from national broadcaster RTL (which is still showing four races for free). 

Sky Italia will be showing all of the 2022 F1 season action in Italy - which means motor racing fans in the region can stream every GP live via Sky's Now TV app. A 24-hour pass starts at €14.99.

The Italian GP is set to start at 3pm CET.

How to use a VPN to unblock any restrictions

If you're outside of your preferred broadcaster's boundaries, you can use a VPN to unblock any geo-restrictions and live stream the F1 Italian Grand Prix as if you were right at home. Here's our step-by-step guide on how to do just that.

• VPN - standing for virtual private network - offers security and anonymity as you browse online, using set protocols to encrypt your data and make it unreadable to outsiders.
• As a part of that, you can also switch your IP address, which identifies your location.
• Most VPNs offer a list of locations where its servers are based to join. Connecting to them switches your IP to appear as if you're browsing from that country/city. In turn, you can then access content locked to that country.
• When it comes to finding a VPN, you should make sure you find the best one that's suitable for your chosen device, with VPN providers offering compatibility for a ton of devices, including VPN for Mac, and even a range of fairly nifty free VPNs.
• Once you've made the decision for the most suitable VPN for your device and your means for using a VPN, sign-up and install it. 
• To live stream the F1 Italian Grand Prix, all you need to do is select a UK server from its list of available servers and connect. You'll then be able to hop over those geo-restrictions, with your broadcaster of choice opening its online gates to you.
• We also want to ensure your money is well spent, so we would recommend going for a VPN that offers a risk free trial. ExpressVPN is one of many providers that has a 30-day money back guarantee.

Italian Grand Prix buildup

Ferrari have been off-color recently, so it's fitting that Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are clad in yellow to mark 75 years of Scuderia Ferrari. But it seems Leclerc's luck may be in this weekend. Verstappen and Sergio Perez have both been handed penalties, with the Mexican way back in 13th. Sainz, unfortunately for the locals, will start in 18th, but it's shaping up to be a perfect weekend for his teammate.

Monza Circuit has developed a wonderful habit of producing surprise race winners over recent seasons. There was Daniel Ricciardo last year, Pierre Gasly the year before, and Leclerc came out on top three years ago. With Verstappen way out in front in the drivers' championship standings, boy could we do with another curveball. 

It's here that Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton had their worst collision last year, the one that ended with the Red Bull straddling the Mercedes' halo, and the pace we saw from the Silver Arrows at Zandvoort last week has given rise to the hope that those two could be set for more close-quarters battles. 

However, Hamilton will have to catch him first, as he also has to start today's race in 19th, as punishment for using too many engine parts.

The Italian Grand Prix starts at 3pm CEST (local time) on Sunday, which is 2pm BST / 9am ET / 6am PT / 11pm AEST / 1am NZST.

The second half of the 2022 F1 season gets underway with what could be a pivotal race in the battle for the driver's championship this weekend at Circuit Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix. Read on to discover all your F1 Dutch Grand Prix 2022 live stream options, including FREE options.

Home turf hero Max Verstappen will have the full backing of the Orange Army , with the Red Bull star leading the F1 World Driver's Championship by a seemingly unassailable 93 points.

Verstappen arrives in the Netherlands having won last weekend's Belgian GP by over 17 seconds, despite starting in 14th position on the grid.

Another win for the 24-year-old would all but end any hope of his rivals catching him, but this circuit on paper appears to suit Ferrari rather than Red Bull, and may give hope to Sergio Perez pf keeping his fading title dream alive.

We've got all the info on how to live stream F1 at the Dutch Grand Prix no matter where you are in the world with our guide below. And if you happen to be outside of the country and can't access your preferred domestic broadcaster for F1, you can always use a VPN to bypass those geo-restrictions.

What time can I live stream the F1 2022 Dutch Grand Prix?

The action is set to take place at Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands on Sunday, September 4, with the green light is set to get lit at 3pm local time (CET), which is 2pm BST / 9am ET / 6am PT / 11pm AEST / 1am NZST.

FREE F1 live stream options around the world

Thankfully, not everywhere in the world has their F1 live stream behind a paywall. Certain races are still available to watch for free.

From our research, we can see that the following countries and broadcasters will be showing the Dutch Grand Prix for free: Albania on RTSH, Austria on ORF Eins, Azerbaijan on Idman TV, Brazil on Band, Germany on RTL, Iran on MBC Persia, Luxembourg on RTL Zwee, Middle East and North Africa on MBC Action, and Russia on Match TV.

How to live stream F1 2022 Dutch Grand Prix if you're abroad

If you're out of the country for this weekend's action from Circuit Zandvoort, you can still get access to a live stream - simply use the best VPN around to avoid geo-restrictions. 

With most domestic broadcasters locking streaming services to their country, you may hit a wall when it comes to accessing the likes of Sky, ESPN and TSN when overseas. However, by getting yourself a handy streaming VPN, you can hop onto a server within the US or UK (or anywhere else for that matter depending on where your online content is geo-restricted to), and this will switch your IP address to make it appear as if you're browsing right from the comfort of your own home.

• New to VPN? Find out how to use one to unblock geo-restrictions

How to live stream F1 2022 Dutch Grand Prix in the US

Formula One fans Stateside need look no further than F1 TV and its unparalleled coverage. Its F1 TV Pro package gives you access to every race of the season live, as well as highlight reels and classic races from years gone by. The top tier offering also includes F2, F3, and Porsche Supercup coverage. The US subscription costs $79.99.

ESPN will also be offering comprehensive coverage of this season's action live in the US, with this race set to start Stateside on the network at 9am ET / 6am PT.

That means there's plenty of options for tuning in, but arguably the best for those wanting to watch an F1 live stream is Sling TV, whose Sling Orange package features ESPN channels, now with 50% off your first month - save big with the latest Sling TV deal.

If you're already an ESPN subscriber, but are abroad during the 2022 F1 season, don't forget that you can still tune in like you're at home with the help of a good VPN.

How can I live stream F1 Dutch Grand Prix 2022 in the UK?

As with every Grand Prix of the 2022 season, Sky customers have the option of watching the Dutch Grand Prix live stream via Sky Sports F1 and online on the Sky Go app. 

If you don't have a Sky subscription – and if you do, come to that – you can watch the race on Now TV with a day or monthly Sports pass. A one-month pass currently costs £25.99 – £14 off the usual price – and Now Boost is thrown in for free as well, so you can watch Verstappen probably win in full HD instead of crappy old 720p.

Motor racing fans will be able to catch all of the action from Circuit Zandvoort live with coverage starting at 12.30pm BST on Sky.

How to live stream the 2022 Dutch Grand Prix anywhere else in the world

There's a live stream option for petrolheads to tune into the action from Zandvoort, from pretty much any corner of the world they find themselves in.

If you don't mind going without a bit of sleep Down Under, Fox Sports has the rights to show live F1 races in Australia, including this weekend's action. That means Foxtel and Kayo Sports subscribers can also watch online. Kayo Sports is currently offering a handy 14-day free trial- after that, you'll be on a rolling one month contract. Basic is $25 while Premium is $35. Green light time for the Dutch GP is at 11pm AEST on Sunday night.

New Zealanders can live stream this year's Dutch GP via pay TV streaming platform Spark Sport. Spark Sport usually costs $19.99 per month, but if you only want to watch this weekend's race, you're in luck, as there's a 7-day free trial. The Dutch Grand Prix is set to start at 1am NZST on Sunday night/Monday morning.

Canadian F1 followers can watch 2022 the action on English-language TSN or French-language RDS , with both premium channels offering livestreams online to subscribers. If you're not a cable customer, you can also watch the race online via the TSN Direct and RDS Direct streaming services which cost just CA$4.99 a day or (much better value) $19.99 a month. The Dutch Grand Prix starts at 9am ET / 6am PT for Canadian viewers today.

French and Dutch motor racing fans can watch every race live on F1 TV Pro for just €7.99 a month, while Sky Germany has the exclusive rights to every live F1 race this season after taking over the rights from national broadcaster RTL (which is still showing four races for free, including the Dutch Grand Prix). 

Sky Italia will be showing all 2022 season F1 action in Italy - which means motor racing fans in the region can stream every GP live via Sky's Now TV app. A 24-hour pass costs from €14.99.

The Dutch GP is all set to start at 3pm CET.

How to use a VPN to unblock any restrictions

If you're outside of your preferred broadcaster's boundaries, you can use a VPN to unblock any geo-restrictions and live stream the F1 Dutch Grand Prix as if you were right at home. Here's our step-by-step guide on how to do just that.

• VPN - standing for virtual private network - offers security and anomality as you browse online, using set protocols to encrypt your data and make it unreadable to outsiders.
• As a part of that, you can also switch your IP address, which identifies your location.
• Most VPNs offer a list of locations where its servers are based to join. Connecting to them switches your IP to appear as if you're browsing from that country/city. In turn, you can then access content locked to that country.
• When it comes to finding a VPN, you should make sure you find the best one that's suitable for your chosen device, with VPN providers offering compatibility for a ton of devices, including VPN for Mac, and even a range of fairly nifty free VPNs.
• Once you've made the decision for the most suitable VPN for your device and your means for using a VPN, sign-up and install it. 
• To live stream the F1 Dutch Grand Prix, all you need to do is select a UK server from its list of available servers and connect. You'll then be able to hop over those geo-restrictions with the likes of Sky Sports or Sling TV opening its online gates to you.
• We also want to ensure your money is well spent, so we would recommend going for a VPN that offers a risk free trial. ExpressVPN is one of many providers that has a 30-day money back guarantee.

The 2022 F1 season is almost at the halfway stage, making this weekend's action at Silverstone crucial for title-chasing drivers Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc. Read on to discover all your F1 British Grand Prix 2022 live stream options, including for FREE in the UK.

Verstappen has opened up an increasingly comfortable 46-point gap between himself and teammate Sergio Perez following his win at the Canadian Grand Prix as the Red Bull comeback continues apace. 

Having made a superb start to the campaign, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc now hasn’t taken victory since the Australian Grand Prix back in April, meaning a win here could be crucial for the now third placed Monégasque driver to keep his fading title hopes alive.

We've got all the info on how to live stream F1 at the British Grand Prix no matter where you are in the world with our guide below. And if you happen to be outside of the country and can't access your preferred domestic broadcaster for F1, you can always use a VPN to bypass those geo-restrictions.

What time can I live stream the F1 2022 British Grand Prix?

The action is set to take place at the Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, England on Sunday, July 3, with the green light is set to get lit at 3pm local time (BST), which is 4pm CET / 10am ET / 7am PT / 12am AEST / 2am NZST.

How can I live stream F1 British Grand Prix 2022 for free in the UK?

• Desktop: Windows and Mac
• Mobile: Android and iOS
• Media streamers: Roku, YouView, Amazon Fire Stick, Now TV, Chromecast
• Consoles: PS4, Xbox One
• Select Smart TVs

As with every Grand Prix of the 2022 season, Sky customers have the option of watching a British Grand Prix live stream via Sky Sports F1 and online on the Sky Go app. Motor racing fans will also be able to catch all of the action from Silverstone live and in 4K from 2.55pm BST.

FREE F1 live stream options around the world

Thankfully, not everywhere in the world has their F1 live stream behind a paywall. Certain races are still available to watch for free.

From our research, we can see that the following countries and broadcasters will be showing the British Grand Prix for free: Albania on RTSH, Austria on ORF Eins, Azerbaijan on Idman TV, Brazil on Band, Germany on RTL, Iran on MBC Persia, Luxembourg on RTL Zwee, Middle East and North Africa on MBC Action, and Russia on Match TV.

How to live stream F1 2022 British Grand Prix if you're abroad

If you're out of the country for this weekend's action from the Silverstone, you can still get access to a live stream - simply use the best VPN around to avoid geo-restrictions. 

With most domestic broadcasters locking streaming services to their country, you may hit a wall when it comes to accessing the likes of All4, Sky, ESPN and TSN when overseas. However, by getting yourself a handy streaming VPN, you can hop onto a server within the US or UK (or anywhere else for that matter depending on where your online content is geo-restricted to), and this will switch your IP address to make it appear as if you're browsing right from the comfort of your own home.

• New to VPN? Find out how to use one to unblock geo-restrictions

How to live stream F1 2022 British Grand Prix in the US

Formula One fans Stateside need look no further than F1 TV and its unparalleled coverage. Its F1 TV Pro package gives you access to every race of the season live, as well as highlight reels and classic races from years gone by. The top tier offering also includes F2, F3, and Porsche Supercup coverage. The US subscription costs $79.99.

ESPN will also be offering comprehensive coverage of this season's action live in the US, with this race set to start Stateside on the network at 10am ET / 7am PT.

That means there's plenty of options for tuning in, but arguably the best for those wanting to watch an F1 live stream is Sling TV, whose Sling Orange package features ESPN channels, now with 50% off your first month - save big with the latest Sling TV deal.

If you're already an ESPN subscriber, but are abroad during the 2022 F1 season, don't forget that you can still tune in like you're at home with the help of a good VPN.

How to live stream the 2022 British Grand Prix anywhere else in the world

There's a live stream option for petrolheads to tune into the action from Silverstone, from pretty much any corner of the world they find themselves in.

If you don't mind going without a bit of sleep Down Under, Fox Sports has the rights to show live F1 races in Australia, including this weekend's action. That means Foxtel and Kayo Sports subscribers can also watch online. Kayo Sports is currently offering a handy 14-day free trial- after that, you'll be on a rolling one month contract. Basic is $25 while Premium is $35. Green light time for the British GP is at 12am AEST on Sunday night.

New Zealanders can live stream this year's British GP via pay TV streaming platform Spark Sport. Spark Sport usually costs $19.99 per month, but if you only want to watch this weekend's race, you're in luck, as there's a 7-day free trial. The British Grand Prix is set to start at 2am NZST on Sunday night/Monday morning.

Canadian F1 followers can watch 2022 the action on English-language TSN or French-language RDS , with both premium channels offering livestreams online to subscribers. If you're not a cable customer, you can also watch the race online via the TSN Direct and RDS Direct streaming services which cost just CA$4.99 a day or (much better value) $19.99 a month. The British Grand Prix starts at 10am ET / 7am PT for Canadian viewers today.

French and Dutch motor racing fans can watch every race live on F1 TV Pro for just €7.99 a month, while Sky Germany has the exclusive rights to every live F1 race this season after taking over the rights from national broadcaster RTL (which is still showing four races for free, including the British Grand Prix). 

Sky Italia will be showing all 2022 season F1 action in Italy - which means motor racing fans in the region can stream every GP live via Sky's Now TV app. A 24-hour pass costs from €14.99.

The British GP is all set to start at 4pm CET.

How to use a VPN to unblock any restrictions

If you're outside of your preferred broadcaster's boundaries, you can use a VPN to unblock any geo-restrictions and live stream the F1 British Grand Prix as if you were right at home. Here's our step-by-step guide on how to do just that.

• VPN - standing for virtual private network - offers security and anomality as you browse online, using set protocols to encrypt your data and make it unreadable to outsiders.
• As a part of that, you can also switch your IP address, which identifies your location.
• Most VPNs offer a list of locations where its servers are based to join. Connecting to them switches your IP to appear as if you're browsing from that country/city. In turn, you can then access content locked to that country.
• When it comes to finding a VPN, you should make sure you find the best one that's suitable for your chosen device, with VPN providers offering compatibility for a ton of devices, including VPN for Mac, and even a range of fairly nifty free VPNs.
• Once you've made the decision for the most suitable VPN for your device and your means for using a VPN, sign-up and install it. 
• To live stream the F1 British Grand Prix, all you need to do is select a UK server from its list of available servers and connect. You'll then be able to hop over those geo-restrictions with the likes of Sky Sports or Sling TV opening its online gates to you.
• We also want to ensure your money is well spent, so we would recommend going for a VPN that offers a risk free trial. ExpressVPN is one of many providers that has a 30-day money back guarantee.

A carnival of camp, questionable costumes, and quirky lyrics, it's that time of the year again as the Eurovision Song Contest hits our screens tonight. Last year's triumph by Italy's representatives Måneskin means this year's event is being held in Turin, and we've got all the details on how to bag a free Eurovision 2022 live stream below.

The semi-finals earlier this week saw Finland's The Rasmus make the cut for Saturday's Grand Final with their track 'Jezebel' alongside the hotly-tipped Sheldon Riley for Australia, and Sweden's Cornelia Jakobs. Meanwhile there was heartbreak for Ireland's Brooke, after the song failed to receive enough votes from viewers to progress.

TikTok star Sam Ryder will be representing the UK with his song 'Space Man', and is being well-backed to win this year's contest. The out-and-out favourite to win this year, though, is Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra, who are unsurprisingly set to fare strongly in the popular vote.

If you're in the UK you can live stream Eurovision 2022 for free. Happen to be out of the country so unable to catch your native broadcaster? You can always use a VPN to bypass those geo-restrictions.

What time can I live stream the Eurovision Song Contest?

Taking place at the PalaOlimpico in Turin, Italy,  the final of Eurovision 2022 takes place on Saturday, May 14 at 9pm CEST (local time).

That's 8pm BST / 3pm ET / 12pm PT and 5am AEST on Sunday morning in Australia.

How to watch the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 for FREE in the UK

• Smart TVs: Samsung, FreeviewPlay 
• Desktop: Windows, Mac
• Mobile: iOS, Android
• Media streamers: Amazon Fire TV, Now TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku
• Consoles: Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X

Outside of the UK? Install the best BBC iPlayer VPN onto your device and live stream Eurovision from anywhere using the details below.

How to watch Eurovision 2022 if you're abroad

If you're out of the country for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, you can still get access to a live stream - simply use the best VPN around to avoid geo-restrictions. 

With most domestic broadcasters locking streaming services to their country, you may hit a wall when it comes to accessing the likes of BBC iPlayer when overseas. However, by getting yourself a handy streaming VPN, you can hop onto a server within the UK or Europe (or anywhere else for that matter depending on where your online content is geo-restricted to), and this will switch your IP address to make it appear as if you're browsing right from the comfort of your own home.

• New to VPN? Find out how to use one to unblock geo-restrictions

How to watch Eurovision 2022 anywhere else in the world

While the US don't have an entrant - somewhat compensated by the new American Song Contest which took place for the first time earlier this month - there's still plenty of interest Stateside for Eurovision, which is being served by NBC's streaming platform, Peacock TV. The service costs $4.99 a month, with coverage of this year's Grand Final set to start on Saturday at 3pm ET / 12pm PT.

Down under and want to watch the Eurovision Song Contest? While it will be an early start of 5am AEST on Sunday morning, you can enjoy coverage for free thanks to SBS and SBS On Demand in Australia. 

For those across the shores in New Zealand, sadly there is no Eurovision broadcaster available, so you may be better off getting yourself a VPN and tapping into Australia's free coverage, or another country of your choosing. The action starts at 7am NZST on Sunday morning.

It's a similar story in Canada sadly. While OMNI Television has broadcast Eurovision to Canadians in recent years, that's not the case for 2022, with no confirmed broadcaster in the region for this years event. 

Your best option for watching is to get raw coverage (without commentary) through its YouTube channel, or get yourself a VPN to tap into coverage elsewhere around the world and tune in at 3pm ET / 12pm PT.

How to use a VPN to unblock any restrictions

If you're outside of your preferred broadcaster's boundaries, you can use a VPN to unblock any geo-restrictions and live stream the Eurovision Song Contest as if you were right at home. Here's our step-by-step guide on how to do just that.

• VPN - standing for virtual private network - offers security and anomality as you browse online, using set protocols to encrypt your data and make it unreadable to outsiders.
• As a part of that, you can also switch your IP address, which identifies your location.
• Most VPNs offer a list of locations where its servers are based to join. Connecting to them switches your IP to appear as if you're browsing from that country/city. In turn, you can then access content locked to that country.
• When it comes to finding a VPN, you should make sure you find the best one that's suitable for your chosen device, with VPN providers offering compatibility for a ton of devices, including VPN for Mac, and even a range of fairly nifty free VPNs.
• Once you've made the decision for the most suitable VPN for your device and your means for using a VPN, sign-up and install it. 
• To watch Eurovision 2022, all you need to do is select a UK server from its list of available servers and connect. You'll then be able to hop over those geo-restrictions with the likes of BBC iPlayer opening its online gates to you.
• We also want to ensure your money is well spent, so we would recommend going for a VPN that offers a risk free trial. ExpressVPN is one of many providers that has a 30-day money back guarantee.

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 2026.

Our list of the best VPN services in 2026

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

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.

Best VPN with antivirus

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.

Best cheap VPN

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.

Best torrenting VPN

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.

Best free VPN

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.

Best of the rest

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.

For those who love a good map interface when it comes to their servers, IPVanish delivers one of the best map designs, with a bunch of status information for you to get a handle on. This is especially for those who prefer a more in-depth reading on their VPN provider, like current connection speeds.

IPVanish has fewer servers in its network than most other providers. But don't let its 2,200 servers fool you. It hosts more than 40,000 IP addresses, so you can't be easily tracked or discovered using a VPN by your device's IP address. Subscribers get unlimited peer-to-peer sharing and as many simultaneous connections as you can handle - it's a VPN with some serious credentials. 

▶ Try IPVanish and be covered by its 30-day money-back guarantee

This service manages to sustain its reputation as one of the most speedy VPNs thanks to its WireGuard infrastructure offering results of 880-890Mbps. This does see a slight drop from our last round of testing - and Surfshark has trumped it with a 960 Mbps peak - but this performance is still exceptional. Speeds using the OpenVPN protocol are below average, so this may not be the best one to use with IPVanish.

For keen streamers, IPVanish may not be your first choice depending on what you want to watch, but we have seen some good progress in this area. It still struggles to unblock Netflix in most areas, though it does give you access to US Netflix. It also unlocks Disne Plus, BBC iPlayer, C4, and ITV. PVanish now unblocks Amazon Prime.

IPVanish encrypts your data using only the highest, military-grade level, and its kill switch is reliable if your VPN connection drops. You're also protected by its no-logs privacy policy. IPVPanish allows in-depth independent audits of all its services to prove its overall security. It consistently passes, and if anything unnerving is found, IPVanish quickly fixes it. This doesn't happen often at all, so rest assured you're well protected using this VPN.

As with most VPN services, IPVanish doesn’t offer a free trial, but there is still a 30-day money-back guarantee if the service doesn’t live up to your expectations. Its annual plans have dropped a bit in price, but are still on the expensive side. If you decide to renew after your first year of service, the annual cost skyrockets so high that it isn't worth it.

Hide.me is going from strength to strength since its arrival on our best list at the end of 2021, offering an excellent tool that offers a few key developments that see it staking its claim as one of the best VPNs. Boasting a generous free option, too, this could be a great stepping stone for those new to VPN and looking for one to give a whirl.

Hugely configurable, you can choose between a number of protocols, including OpenVPN and IKEv2. But its WireGuard speeds are where it stood out this time, with performance peaks of 900Mbps. This places it right behind Surfshark in our speed testing, which is an impressive feat indeed. You'll also find port forwarding, as well as leak checks for DNS, IP, and the like, and a generous 10GB monthly usage allowance with its free offering.

▶ Try Hide.me for free

Hide.me is a great option for unblocking streaming platforms. Over the last few years, we've seen it struggle to work around streaming restrictions to unblock everything including Netflix, Amazon, and BBC iPlayer. for UK and Australian users, you can watch your favorite shows on 10Play, 9 Now, ITV, and All4.

Hide.me has MultiHop VPN that lets you route your connection through two servers making it easier to work around geo-restrictions, and providing extra privacy. It's impossible for trackers to find out who you are or the device you're using with your server hop. Your info will be encrypted using AES 265-bit encryption, the most secure level available. This VPN does have a no-logs policy, but unfortunately, it doesn't allow independent audits, so it's tough to verify these claims. It's also worth noting we did experience some kill switch niggles during testing. 

When we stopped a server connection, Hide.me's kill switch engaged for a brief moment, but then assumed we were done using the VPN and dropped the kill switch altogether. We were exposed for a few seconds while we connected to a new VPN server. In theory, most users are done after disconnecting a VPN connection, but we don't see this same issue with other VPNs that wait a bit longer before disabling its kill switch, just to make sure we really are done.

The website isn't the best (though if you can talk to an actual human being, you'll be better off), and for some, the interface may prove too complex if you're a newbie to VPN. That said, it's still a clean and smooth one to work with and is definitely one to check out if you're at all enticed by its free offering.

Windscribe is a great option for those looking to avoid spending a penny with its generous 10GB free plan. There are apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, and the service also offers browser add-ons with useful features such as ad-blocking. In fact, its Chrome browser is one of the best we've tested.

It offers unlimited device connections that allow the freedom to simply add Windscribe to your gadgets as you go, never having to think about how many you're already using it on. If you’re looking to protect the data from a whole bunch of devices - an office, perhaps, or just a smart home - the support for unlimited connections is a real stand-out feature.

▶ Try Windscribe for free and get 10GB of usage per month

In terms of speed, its performance has improved. It jumped from an average of 490 Mbps, substantially below the average for a VPN, to an impressive 700 Mbps. This is fast enough to support torrenting, streaming, and online gaming. It also pushed Windscribe up closer to the top of the fastest VPN list.

For tv streaming, Windscribe does a good job of unblocking  Netflix in all regions except Japan, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer. This VPN works with Amazon Fire so you can watch on the big screen rather than a small device. Windscribe also works with Kodi TV and routers.

Windscribe doesn't have the largest server network. In fact, it only has 400 total servers worldwide. Compared to ExpressVPN, which has 3,200, and PIA, which has over 20,000, this is very minimal. It does have a virtual server in Antarctica if you want to look like you're browsing from there. Otherwise, you are very limited, especially since these servers are spread thin between 69 countries.

When you make the leap from free to its paid-for service, Windscribe allows you a ton of options here, too. Get a monthly or annual plan, or even build your own. If you're not fully satisfied with its paid subscription, Windscribe only has a 3-day money-back guarantee, so be sure to use it quickly to decide if it's worth keeping.

For those who want to put a VPN through the wringer before committing, Hotspot Shield is a great shout with its completely free VPN service. While it has dropped off in some areas of its performance, for many it will still be a reliable VPN to have in your arsenal with a decent streaming service unblocking track record, a powerful Windows kill switch, and a great value bundle that loads you up with a call blocker and password manager.

It has a great selection of apps to load onto your chosen devices including a CLI Linux and router apps. We have clocked some inconsistencies across apps, with its mobile clients missing out on key features. This isn't unheard of in the VPN industry, but more and more the top VPN services are ensuring all their apps have the same tool set and user experience. 

▶ Get started by trying Hotspot Shield for free

In terms of functioning as a great streaming VPN, Hotspot doesn't do too badly in this area. You'll be able to access BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, YouTube, and a bunch of other sites. However, for Netflix bingers, there are stronger, more consistent VPNs out there, specifically NordVPN. Also, popular channels in the UK and Australia, other than BBC iPlayer, can't be unblocked with Hotspot Shield, 

Hotspot Shield was once one of the fastest VPNs. Over the last few years, however, we've seen it drop. Our latest speed tests saw it reach a peak of 375 Mbps. This is certainly fast enough to support streaming in high-definition and even 4K but is still so much slower than the industry average of 550 Mbps. Since it's logged lower speeds before, we see Hotspot Shield making improvements in this area. It still has a long way to go to reach Surfshark's 960 Mbps, or even NordVPN at 820 Mbps. 

It's worth noting Hotspot is based in the US, and so required to collect some information on its users. However, this is minimal and what it collects can't be tied back to your activity, so we've got no real qualms about it. But Private Internet Access is also US-based and has proven its absolute no-log policy in court twice, so we know there are ways for Hotspot Shield to do better in this area.

After giving the free app a whirl, Hotspot Shield has some decent subscriptions when you're ready to upgrade. Its month-to-month package is more expensive than most, but you do get a decent deal if you choose its 3-year subscription. Hotspot Shield gives you a healthy 45-day money-back guarantee to give you enough time to decide if its paid offering is right for you.

How to choose the best VPN

Choosing the best VPN for you, it's more than just whether to go for a free VPN versus a paid-for provider. Put short, don’t just look at the price, not least because many services offer massive discounts if you take out a longer-term subscription. 

Start with the basics: how many simultaneous connections can you have? Are there particular security protocols you want to use? Does the provider have servers in the places you’ll want to use it from and the places you want to connect to? How much data will they log about you, and how long do they keep it? Most important of all, will you be able to unlock Netflix and Disney Plus?

Wherever possible try before you buy. In some cases, there won’t be a free trial, but most reputable VPN providers offer a money-back guarantee if the service doesn’t meet your expectations.

How we test VPN services

We test dozens of VPN services to ensure they are safe, fast, and reliable enough for us to recommend. This is done through hands-on evaluations several times throughout the year, so we can stay on top of any changes.

When it comes to security, we check for any DNS leaks, both when the VPN is connected and when the kill switch is engaged. We want to make sure nothing sneaks through while you're using one of our top-rated VPNs.

Part of our evaluation process includes reading the fine print of each VPN service's no-log policy. Sometimes there are conditions where a service might hold on to some information, such as which servers you connect to and how long you use a VPN. This information is collected so the service knows where to put additional servers to prevent slow connections during peak times. Companies that collect this info delete it once it's received, and won't record or tag it as yours in order to maintain your online privacy.

We test the speeds of the VPNs we get our hands on. Using several online speed test sites, like nPerf and SpeedTest, we connect to multiple servers around the world no less than 120 times. This gives us a good overall average speed that you can expect when you connect to the VPN.

If there are any specialty tasks a VPN claims to support, like torrenting or tv streaming, we check it out. We'll let you know if there are any issues we find, like sites that aren't unblocked, or slowdown during P2P transfers so you are completely in the know before picking a VPN.

Best VPN FAQs

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One of the best VPN providers right now, Surfshark, is giving a juicy free gift in its time-limited offer for boosting your online security even further.

Already one of cheapest VPN services on the market, new subscribers prepared to commit to its discounted two-year plan will have the opportunity to benefit from its new Surfshark One package for free. 

At the tiny cost of $2.30 a month with 2 months extra for free you can boost your online protection with its own antivirus software, search engine and data leak detection system, on top of benefitting from the company's feature-packed VPN.

Taking advantage of this incredible offer is really easy. Simply add the discount code FREEUPGRADE when you sign up (it should actually already be added when you click through) to claim the Surfshark One bundle for free.

Surfshark VPN deal: 82% discount, 2 months and security bundle free

What is Surfshark One?

Surfshark One is the new all-in-one privacy suite offered by Surfhsark, that include four cybersecurity tools with only one subscription. These are its feature-packed VPN service, its own antivirus software, private search engine and data leak detection system.

Surfshark VPN has been among our favorites for a while now - currently on the #3 place in our best VPN buying guide. With an easy-friendly apps interface, unlimited devices connections and top-notch security features - like WireGuard protocols, kill switch and Camouflage Mode - it is among the most reliable and secure VPN services on the market. It also brilliantly unlock all the major streaming platforms - like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video - boosting an array of more than 3,000 servers across 65 countries. 

If the VPN protects your online activities, Surfshark Antivirus software is meant to prevent your devices to be infected with malware or virus using the virus protection engine from Avira. It offers both real-time protection and scheduled scans for being always on the top of your devices' digital hygiene. Every time you download, install or use programs and files your safety will never be compromised. 

Surfshark Search is a private and ad-free search engine software developed by the provider. It commits never to track your search history or keeps logs of your data, while preventing web-trackers from snooping on you and disturbing your browsing experience. It may also improve your search results with the possibility to swap between regions.

Finally, Surfshark Alert is a data leak detection system that gives you real-time alerts of any breaches around your personal information. These include email accounts, passwords, credit cards and even personal ID numbers. 

To take advantage of this special time-limited offer, head to the Surfshark website now before it's too late.

A question that arises often when considering the necessity of a VPN on Apple devices is whether or not one comes built-in on Mac computers, iPhones and so on. This is a fair question considering Apple gadgets have the reputation of being incredibly secure compared to their competitors. 

And the very straightforward answer is no, VPNs don't come built-in on Macs. You'll therefore need a VPN from a third-party provider in order boost your security and online privacy while also reaping the other benefits of the best Mac VPN, including streaming service unblocking and getting around blocked or banned websites.

Read on as we explain how Mac computers support the use of VPN software, and the most suitable provider whether you're looking to install on your iMac, MacBook laptop, iPhone, or iPad.

Is there a built-in VPN for Mac?

While there isn't strictly a built-in VPN on your Mac readily available to encrypt your connection while surfing the web, Apple does provide the interface to either manually configure a VPN or directly install a client onto its devices. 

On a Mac, you can manually set up your VPN by heading to System Preferences > Network. From here you can manually add a VPN by clicking '+' and selecting 'VPN'.

You'll need the server address, remote ID, as well as a username and password. For those wanting to configure their personal VPN, you'll be able to find these details within the account of your chosen service on its website. For those wanting to set up a VPN to access files remotely from your work or school's private network, your institution will be able to provide these details.

The easiest way to get your Mac VPN set up, though, is to simply sign up to a specific provider and download the dedicated app, with all our top VPN to recommend for Mac coming with dedicated clients for macOS. 

What's more, if, for instance, you want to set up a VPN on your iPad or iPhone, most VPN providers also have specific clients in their roster of apps for these devices, too.

Which VPN is the best for Mac?

Why do I need a VPN on my Mac?

As mentioned, Mac computers are considered fairly sturdy beasts in terms of any vulnerability to viruses and hackers. However, it can never hurt to be too careful, especially as such online threats could continue to mutate and grow in strength in order to take down targets. 

Of course, where MacBooks are concerned as particularly portable devices, a Mac VPN offers that extra layer of reassurance of better online anonymity thanks to their all-encompassing encryption. This is especially prevalent when you consider the use of public networks while sitting in a café to do some work, or while traveling and wanting to stream on your long train journey. By connecting to a VPN, you can completely conceal your IP address and any details identifying your device and your online activity. 

Partnered with a number of great privacy features including kill switches, DNS leak tests, auto-connect, and a variety of protocols and encryption types to keep you browsing safely, there's also the added bonus of bypassing geo-restrictions. 

Whether your institution has blocked certain apps or websites, or you're abroad and want to access content back home, the best streaming VPNs are those with servers based all around the world. Hop on and appear as if you're elsewhere in order to watch your native broadcaster, or stream titles exclusive to foreign Netflix libraries.

• Outside of the UK and want to watch iPlayer? Here's the best BBC iPlayer VPN for that
• Those hunting for a good rate can find the best VPN deals in our guide
• Here are all the reasons you need a Mac VPN

ExpressVPN continues to maintain its stronghold as T3's best VPN in 2022. Our go-to choice across a number of categories, read on below for our our short and sweet overview, or get an in-depth breakdown of its features, streaming unblocking capabilities, speeds, cost, and more.

One minute ExpressVPN review

It's no secret that we really rate ExpressVPN. Its consistently strong performance lends itself to that top spot on many of our VPN buying guides, and leads the charge as a market-leading piece of software that protects you against the uglies of the online world, and much more. 

On surface level, it's an intuitive and sleek interface that's with easy-to-use and in-depth enough for more tech savvy folk. It adopts this user-friendship interface across the board, integrating its client on a whole roster of devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and many other go-to operating systems.

Transparent from the offset, ExpressVPN boasts excellent security and privacy with its logging policy breaking down all the information it does and doesn't retain from its customers. You'll also be able to make use of a whole array of features, including its powerful kill switch and DNS servers for optimum security, and split tunneling.

Its Lightway protocol sits at the helm, providing speeds that, while not the fastest, are consistently good. This bodes well with its ability to unblock all the top streaming platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer.

Reaching across 94 countries with a network spanning 3,000+ servers, ExpressVPN's only real negative is it is a lot pricier than a lot of its competition. However, with an industry standard 30-day money back guarantee period, new customers can try the service risk-free before well and truly committing. And, really, there's no price on the security of your personal and sensitive information.

The stats:

• Servers: 3,000+
• Locations: 160 cities across 94 countries
• Devices: 5 simultaneous connections
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, router, Chromebook, Kindle Fire, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku, Chromecast, gaming consoles
• Protocols: ExpressVPN’s Lightway, OpenVPN UDP or TCP, IKEv2, and L2TP
• Top features: Threat Manager, Parallel Connections, Kill switch, split tunneling, DNS leak test

• Sign up directly with T3 customers benefiting from a 49% saving on one-year plans

ExpressVPN review: How much does ExpressVPN cost? Is there a free trial?

Admittedly ExpressVPN is not a cheap VPN. It finds itself sitting on the higher end of the spectrum with many more affordable services finding themselves sub the $3 mark, including Surfshark at $2.49/£1.76/AU$3.19 a month for its 2-year plan and CyberGhost for $2.29/£1.75/AU$3.11 a month when you commit to 3 years. Like with any VPN, though, ExpressVPN’s cost becomes more affordable the longer you’re prepared to commit.

• 1 month plan: $12.95/£9.88
• 6-month plan: $9.99/£7.62
• 12-month plan: $6.67/£5.09

Subscribe directly through T3 to its 12-month plan, you can save 49% and get 3 months extra for free, extending it to a 15-month plan. 

The best value for money, through T3 you can also benefit from a free 1-year subscription to Backblaze, too. This is a cloud storage service, allowing you to backup important files, including photos, videos, and other documents with unlimited storage, usually setting you back $60/approx. AU$77 if purchased directly with Backblaze.

But does ExpressVPN come with a free trial? Strictly speaking, no. If you decide to get the iOS or Android client directly through their respective app stores, you can get a 7-day free trial - however, you won’t benefit from T3’s exclusive deal. As previously mentioned, though, ExpressVPN offers all new customers a 30-day money back guarantee, functioning much the same as a free trial period with the option to get a complete refund if you decide the service isn’t for you within that 30-day timeframe. 

Does ExpressVPN work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

Let’s face it, while of course security on your device is of the utmost importance, many are after a VPN for its geo-unblocking properties, especially when it comes to a streaming VPN. Great if your office or school blocks the use of certain websites or social media apps, hop on a server and access the likes of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

For many, though, it’s all about Netflix and other streaming services. Unfortunately many are locked to the country your account is set to, meaning the service is almost completely redundant if you’re abroad for work or leisure. 

ExpressVPN is pretty upfront about its claims, listing on its website the access its tool can give you to over 25 different services. While ExpressVPN is happy to talk-the-talk, we put it through the ringer. 

Admittedly, while Netflix has doubled down on its anti-VPN infrastructure, ExpressVPN maintains its ability to unblock Netflix country exclusives in the US and UK, Canada, and Australia.

For those that have well and truly ditched Netflix - or simply subscribe to other services, too - you'll also be able to unblock Disney Plus, Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.

Disney Plus saw similar results as Netflix and Prime Video. Of course, this isn’t the reality every time, but we’ve found incredible support from ExpressVPN when, on the rare occasion, its service didn't do the trick. 

Offering advice on troubleshooting and alternative server locations to try, ExpressVPN is then quick to log the issue and resolve it always appearing to have a quick turnaround for a fix.

ExpressVPN review: What features can you expect and how do they boost security?

Allowing its long list of features to do the talking in terms of the kind of privacy and security ExpressVPN offers users, it’s good news from here on out. ExpressVPN is transparent, with the proof to back up any claims. In terms of logging, you can easily find their ‘Policy towards logs’, detailing exactly what information it does and doesn’t log. This is further supported by its frequent system audits carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

If that wasn’t enough, ExpressVPN now has ioXt Alliance certification for its Android client. This certificate looks at the company’s network security, software building, updates, and cryptography.

In terms of features, ExpressVPN offers a dedicated kill switch, which automatically kicks in when your connection is lost, ensuring your information isn’t vulnerable in these critical seconds. You’ll also find a whole host of protocols available, giving you freedom to choose based on your task. Select between ExpressVPN’s Lightway, OpenVPN UDP or TCP, IKEv2, and L2TP, with each offering perks whether speed, security, or a combination of the two. Note, though, the latter two have now been dropped from the Windows client.

When it comes to encryption, ExpressVPN comes out all guns blazing here, too, using AES-256 encryption with a 4096-bit SHA-512 RSA certificate and HMAC (Hash Message Authentication Code) to protect from real-time data alterations. DNS support also boosts ExpressVPN’s privacy, with its zero-knowledge, 256-bit encrypted DNS working on all its own servers.

The same versatility can be seen when it comes to ExpressVPN and torrenting. ExpressVPN has no need to talk about its torrenting specific servers, because all 3,000 of its servers are available for those who want torrent, complete with no transfer or bandwidth catches. This makes ExpressVPN a service with few - if any - limitations.

ExpressVPN review of speed and overall performance

When putting ExpressVPN through its paces, we ensured a thorough test that trialled servers both near and at longer distances to get a more rounded idea of ExpressVPN's performance. We did this using ExpressVPN's Windows 10 client on a 1GBps connection, and connecting to each of ExpressVPN's protocols to get an array of results.

While its OpenVPN speeds saw averages of 270-280Mbps in the UK and 375-385Mbps (up from 310Mbps) in the US, its Lightway protocol results were the true standouts with peaks of 420-630Mbps (up from 580Mbps). 

While not as fast as some of the best performers, including CyberGhosts's 830-850Mbps, ExpressVPN still delivers above average results that continue to see it as a reliable and powerful provider. What's more, the introduction of Parallel Connections aims to reduce connection times, so you can connect to your server that bit faster.

Client set-up and available support from ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN makes the set-up of its variety of clients a straight-foward task no matter which device you wish to make the most of your five connections on. Simply log in to your account on a web browser to access the dashboard. ‘Set up your devices’ appears in a big square at the top on the right with a list of devices, as well as the option to click ‘More’ if you need to take a deeper dive into their selection of apps.

Better still, if you’re on your smartphone, console, or other device, ExpressVPN can usually detect the device, directing you to download this specific client.

Whichever device you click on, ExpressVPN offers the download link, as well as step-by-step instructions to help you get it installed and working on your chosen gadget. The likes of the Android or iOS app will direct you straight to the Google Play Store and App Store (alternatively you can scan a QR code on the dashboard), while setting up a router will ask you to select the model of your modem in order to download the right firmware.

In terms of design, ExpressVPN holds on to its uniform across the board no matter what device you download it on. From Windows to Android, Mac to iOS, you’ll open a familiar interface that is sleek and smooth-sailing to use, offering a big, obvious ‘on’ button, as well as the location you’ve currently selected, a ‘Smart Location’ which detects the server nearest you, and ‘Recent Location’ for the last server you joined.

Need any help along the way? ExpressVPN’s supporting material is incredible. Alongside a number of lengthy and detailed troubleshooting guides available across all ExpressVPN’s compatible devices, there are also set-up guides for each gadget, too. In fact, with over 250 articles, you’ll be hard pressed not to find the answer you were looking for.

In the event that you don’t, ExpressVPN have a 24/7 support team on hand, with the option to email or talk over live chat, with responses to emails promised within 24 hours, though we found responses to be far more prompt.

ExpressVPN review: Our final verdict

Whether you’re new to VPN or a veteran user, ExpressVPN ticks all the boxes and packages its service in an accessible and brilliantly vast piece of software. Everything from speed to security to streaming is catered for here, making it easy to recommend as the top VPN on the market. 

Read more about VPN:

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There's nothing quite like British TV, whether it's BBC, ITV or Channel 4, Brits are well-served by the UK's free-to-air channels. However, with on-demand platforms geo-locked outside British shores, you might struggle to access your favourites shows from abroad.

But, good news, because a good-quality VPN can unblock UK TV from abroad. Not all VPNs are equal, and some of the 'free' ones are useless when it comes to streaming the likes of Traitors, Love Island, or live sports, such the Winter Olympics or Six Nations rugby.

No need to worry. Below we'll show you how to watch UK TV abroad with a VPN...

How can I watch UK TV abroad?

Ever tried to access BBC iPlayer or the UK BBC News homepage from outside the UK? Yep, doesn't work. BBC iPlayer might load, but when you hit play, an error message will pop up.

It's all down to your location (IP address). In order to bypass these geo-restrictions, you'll need to trick your device into thinking it's back in the UK.

This is easy - grab a good VPN (we recommend NordVPN for watching UK TV abroad) and set the server location to the UK.

Provided you have a UK TV license, and it's with the streaming service terms, you can watch all your UK-based streaming services as normal (and even peruse the proper BBC News homepage).

But which VPN is up for the job? We've put providers through rigorous testing and this is the one that comes out on top...

Best VPN for watching UK TV abroad

Cheapest VPN for streaming from abroad

How to use a VPN to watch UK TV abroad

While the innerworkings of a VPN may sound complicated, the process of using a VPN to watch UK TV abroad really isn't.

All you need to do is sign up and install your VPN on your chosen device. This takes a matter of minutes, especially if you go for Nord or Surfshark as recommended above.

Once it's installed on your device, you simply need to select and connect to a server based in the UK. We recommend connecting to it before visiting the streaming platform's website or using an Incognito window (Google Chrome web browser).

You'll need to login or create an account, but this is free to do so, and, of course, you won't be asked to provide any payment details. While you will have to enter in a postcode.

From there, pick what you want to watch, hit play, and enjoy watching TV abroad, no matter where you are in the world.

Is watching UK TV abroad legal?

In the UK, Brits will need to be in possession of a valid TV licence in order to watch the UK's free-to-air channels live. The same goes for when you're abroad and wanting to watch any live broadcasts from BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5, or just about any other Freeview channel.

It's also worth noting that a good VPN will provide excellent online security, helping you to surf the web safely and away from prying eyes.

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When it comes to the best VPN providers and their money saving offers, NordVPN loves to make a song and dance to celebrate its birthday. Kicking around for ten years now, its one of the best VPN deals currently available, throwing in a freebie for good measure.

Sign up to its 2-year plan before the 10-hour timer runs out and save 70%, bringing it down to just $3.49 a month - and it gets better. Each new subscriber will receive either an extra month, year, or two years free on top of NordVPN's 2-year plan. All you have to do is sign up and you'll get an email with your randomly selected reward thereafter.

An excellent deal that gets you one of the most secure VPN services out there, keep reading for this VPN deal in full, or keep scrolling for an even cheaper VPN option.

Be aware, while NordVPN's two year plan works out as a rate of $3.49 a month before the timer runs out (before going back up to $3.99 a month) you'll have to pay $83.76 up front for the two years.

Want an even cheaper VPN deal?

While you won't get your VPN for as long (if you happen to get a free year or more with NordVPN's birthday promotion), you still get plenty of the bells and whistles with Surfshark at an even cheaper cost, currently with 82% off its already affordable 2-year rate.

Is NordVPN any good?

NordVPN is beaten only by ExpressVPN in most instances as the overarching top-tier VPN, offering exceptional performance across multiple devices in a variety of areas. 

With 5,200+ servers across 59+ locations around the globe, NordVPN is an exceptional streaming VPN with the ability to unblock popular streaming giants like US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, and Prime Video with next to no hassle. 

NordVPN also puts security at the top of its priorities with an abundance of security features that make it one of the safest VPN providers around. From a dedicated kill switch to DNS leak protection, NordVPN also comes with built in CyberSec, detecting and blocking ads and malicious websites.

For lightening fast speeds, NordVPN is certainly the way to go as one of the fastest VPN around with its WireGuard NordLynx protocol in its holster, alongside Double VPN, Obfuscated and Dedicated IP, P2P and Onion support protocols.

Its unique map interface sets it apart from its competitors, breaking up the usual list format for a more interesting visual. While it can be clunky at times, we found it works best as an iPhone VPN, able to easily zoom in and out to select the server location you need.

Offering fantastic live support, as well as its 30-day money back guarantee, you can rest assured of only the best service - if you're not happy, you'll get a complete refund.

To take advantage of this special offer, head to the NordVPN website now.

• Follow our guide on how to download NordVPN onto your device
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It gets earlier and earlier every year with Black Friday 2021 prices already beginning to trickle in. And while you might associate the biggest sale of the year with getting your hands on a discounted Amazon Echo or a 4K TV, we're here to tell you there are going to be plenty of software offers, too, with two of the best VPNs around already having dropped their hot season offers.

NordVPN has slashed the price of its 2-year plan by 72%, while Surfshark is offering a huge 83% saving with an additional three months tagged onto its 24-month subscription.

• Sign up to NordVPN and pay $3.29 a month with this 72% Black Friday saving
• Want to get Surfshark instead? Pay $2.21 a month for 27 months!

Both equipped with powerful security and geo-spoofing capabilities, NordVPN and Surfshark rank highly across our VPN buying guides. From kill switches to top-tier data encryption, a huge network of servers and clients available across a range of devices, you can't go wrong with either choice of VPN provider - and now both are available at a discounted rate in two superb Black Friday VPN deals.

Are these the best VPN Black Friday deals?

While NordVPN and Surfshark have both thrown their hat into the ring already for this year's wave of Black Friday savings, we expect other providers to join up in the lead up to the official day itself. 

The likes of VyprVPN, Private Internet Access, as well as ExpressVPN have introduced special VPN Black Friday deals to meet customer demand over the years. These offers have included discounted prices on plans, ranging anywhere from 1-month rolling, to longer term two and three-year plans. Much like Surfshark, some VPN providers also tag a few months in free, too.

That said, if you were eyeing up a subscription to either NordVPN or Surfshark, there's no need to wait around. We're under good authority these are the prices both services will be leading with across the month of November before going back up in price as we step into December. There's no need to worry about any further savings or freebies being thrown in at the last minute, so you may as well sign up now and start reaping the benefits of either of these fantastic VPN services.

• Prepare for the Black Friday sales with our A-Z retailer guide
• Follow our guide on how to download NordVPN onto your device
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Bitdefender VPN is one of the best VPN choices for anyone that wants a simple setup that does the basics of keeping you anonymous online. But for features beyond that this might not be the ideal VPN to pick. Keep reading to get our full Bitdefender VPN review.

One minute Bitdefender VPN review

Bitdefender VPN combines simplicity with speed. The first part of that is a positive for beginners that want a VPN that just works with minimal effort on their part. For more advanced and demanding folk, this might be found lacking. The second part of that two-part appeal, speed, comes as this VPN is actually powered by the already well established Hotspot Shield VPN, which is a good thing - check out the Hotspot Shield VPN review to see why.

Connection speeds are above average and there are plenty of servers dotted about the globe. These are effective at getting around some geo restrictions and accessing US Netflix and BBC iPlayer, for example. But they failed to unblock the likes of Disney Plus or Amazon Prime Video.

For all other issues, there is a decent support service with live chat available. There are lots of apps for the big name operating systems with Mac, Windows, iOS and Android all covered. Plus you get 10 simultaneous connections at once so you can take advantage of all those offerings. 

The stats:

• Servers: 1,300+
• Locations: 30 countries
• Devices: 10 simultaneous connections
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
• Protocols: Catapult Hydra
• Top features: Unblocks Netflix, fast, Catapult Hydra

Bitdefender VPN review: How much does Bitdefender VPN cost? Is there a free trial?

Bitdefender VPN keeps pricing very simple, with two options to pick from: annual or monthly. Go for the longer term investment, with the year paid up front, and you stand to make a saving of up to 40%. While you have more freedom to end when you like using the monthly option, it's so affordable to go for the year it makes sense, especially when you take the 30-day money-back guarantee into account – but more on that below. 

• 1 month plan: $6.99/£4.99 per month
• 12 month plan: $2.49/£2.49 per month (billed $29.99/£29.99 annually)

Compared to the competition, at the more affordable end you've got Surfshark at $2.49 a month for its two-year plan. Then there's CyberGhost for $2.25 a month when you commit to three years.

Of course if you're already going to use, or use the Bitdefender security software, then you may find it a better deal to get the VPN as part of one of those packages on offer.

If all that sounds too much like commitment, you can make the most of their 30-day money back guarantee. You will need to give over your account details but won't be charged. Then, if you pay for a month, or year, and decide within 30 days this isn't for you, all your money will be given back.

This is a good option as one of the best cheap VPN choices. Though if you want to get more for less check out the best free VPN choices instead.

Does Bitdefender VPN work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

Bitdefender VPN is a good option if you want to unblock Netflix. This can be a tricky service when it comes to geo restrictions, with many VPN services failing to unblock. Bitdefender had no issues accessing Netflix US and offers decent speeds while streaming too.

Another tough streaming service to get access to via a VPN is BBC iPlayer, but once again Bitdefender made short work of getting you up and running.

Where the service fell down in terms of streaming was with Disney Plus, which it wasn't able to access. The same happened when trying to get into Amazon Prime Video where the VPN was detected and access was denied. 

This doesn't quite fit in among the best streaming VPN services. However, for managing to crack those two tough nuts of Netflix US and BBC iPlayer, it may still be the ideal VPN for you unless you wish to watch Disney Plus and Prime Video.

It's worth making use of your 30 days to see what you can get access to from where you are with your local servers. We recommend checking out the speeds as well as accessibility to see if this performs well enough to suit your needs.

Bitdefender VPN review: What features can you expect and how do they boost security?

Bitdefender VPN is not a feature rich service but that isn't to say it doesn't offer a lot. You have apps for iOS, Android, Mac and Windows all of which offer features. On the Windows app, for example, you can search by country to find the ideal server location for what you need – perfect when streaming abroad. 

A kill switch is a useful feature here which works well, cutting off internet access when the connection drops – something that can save you from being attacked.

There is a lack of split tunnelling. This would allow you to access multiple locations for various apps – ideal if you want to keep your online browsing local but your streaming apps set to another location, for example. 

A feature we like was the auto connection when a P2P app is launched. This means if you have a torrent client setup, the VPN will fire up as this is opened to make sure you remain anonymous while using the service. 

Dark Mode is another feature worth mentioning as it will allow you to run the client with a blackout background that's ideal for night time use. It's also a nice addition if you're running dark mode on your machine and want your apps to fit in the same. 

The privacy policy of Hotspot Shield, which this runs via, is clear in saying that there is no monitoring of your web traffic or browsing history. The downside comes from session logging, with more done than on most other services. That means things like recording device identifiers, browser types, device settings and network information. It doesn't mean they know what you're doing online, or who you are, but it's more information than some will feel comfortable giving up. 

Bitdefender VPN review of speed and overall performance

To test the speed and performance of Bitdefender VPN we used US locations on a 1Gbps connection. Testing was done by measuring the download speeds using Ookla's SpeedTest and Netflix's Fast.com. Each one is done across morning and evening times.

Bitdefender VPN uses the bespoke Hydra Protocol from Hotspot Shield which means it's all about speed balanced with security. The top speed hit was 410Mbps which is impressive. It doesn't hit the top end, from ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol which managed 610Mbps in our tests, but it's still a lot faster than many. 

The key here is that our testing of Hotspot Shield found similar speeds. That means you're not getting a limited version of the service just because it's running through Bitdefender. 

Client set-up and available support from Bitdefender VPN

Bitdefender VPN, as mentioned, comes with apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. These are decent, if not the most feature rich, and all work as you'd hope. What's not so helpful is a lack of support for other services and the inability to install on a router, for example. 

A router install can be helpful as a way to get lots of devices running behind the VPN connection at the same time. However, since this service does offer an impressive 10 simultaneous device connections at once, the need for a router client may not be so great in this case. 

Setup of the clients is super simple, as is the use of them after that time. This service is all about keeping things minimal so it's as easy as possible to use even for those new to the service. 

Should you run into any issues, setting up or getting access to services when online, there is a helpful support service. The online live chat is decent with a quick response time and fairly well-clued up people on the other end. Failing that, or if you're in less of a rush, there is an email response service which works well too. Keep in mind the VPN is just part of the Bitdefender service, so any support you get is from people trained on the wider security system. This means they may not be as helpful as someone working for a dedicated VPN service. 

Bitdefender VPN review: Our final verdict

Bitdefender VPN is a fast VPN service that does a good job of offering smart torrenting support, unblocking of Netflix and BBC iPlayer as well as decent live chat support, a selection of easy to use apps and a pretty good privacy policy.

For those that want tighter security, more features and access to Disney Plus or Amazon Prime Video you may find something better suited to you in our best VPN guide.

Read more about VPN:

• Confused? Find out what a VPN is
• Check out our buying guide for the best VPN
• Get binge-watching with the best iPlayer VPN

TunnelBear VPN has made it onto our list of the best VPN services despite being less feature rich than many. What it does have going for it is a stand-out ease of use that makes this perfect for beginners or anyone that wants an easy VPN life.

One minute TunnelBear VPN review

TunnelBear VPN is a Canadian based setup which is now owned by security giant McAfee. Unlike a lot of the other VPN services out there it doesn't focus on the technical details, but rather creates a setup that works and communicates that in clear language that everyone can understand. Refreshing in the world of VPNs.

The network isn't so simple though, with a respectable 41 countries covered at time of publishing. That means lots of options from everywhere you'd expect as well as new additions like South Korea, Cyprus, Portugal, Peru, Chile and more. All of which are P2P supported, making it a great option for torrent fans.

Setup is super simple and can be added to lots of platforms including Mac, Windows, iOS and Android devices with dedicated apps. You can have this up and running on five devices at once using that single account which is well priced, especially if you go for the longer term plans.

The stats:

• Servers: 3,000+
• Locations: 41+ countries
• Devices: 5 simultaneous connections
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, with extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Opera.
• Protocols: OpenVPN
• Top features: Ease of use, unblocks Netflix, decent speeds

TunnelBear VPN review: How much does TunnelBear VPN cost? Is there a free trial?

TunnelBear VPN pricing is relatively straightforward with three tiers to pick from each offering better rates the longer you commit. The shortest is a month to month payment and the longest is a three year payment, up front – with an annual plan in between. There is also a free option but more on that below.

• 1 month plan:  $9.99 per month
• 12 month plan:  $4.99 per month (billed $59.88 every 12 months)
• 3 year plan: $3.33 per month (billed $120 every 3 years)

Compared to the competition, at the more affordable end you've got Surfshark at $2.49 a month for its two-year plan. Then there's CyberGhost for $2.25 a month when you commit to three years. So this isn't the cheapest, for longer term commitment, but it is still competitive.

There is also a free option which allows you access but you are limited to just 500MB of data per month. You will also find that you have limited access to servers which can affect speeds, so this is more for testing it out or very limited use.

If you do sign up it's worth taking into account that there is no money-back guarantee, unlike a lot of the other services out there. But since you have the free tier this can act as a try-before-you buy option – only without the performance you'll get when you pay for the full service. 

This is a good option as one of the cheapest VPN choices. Though if you want to get more for less check out the other best free VPN choices instead.

Does TunnelBear VPN work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

For getting around geo restrictions to get access to video streaming services, TunnelBear VPN works well in areas where some others fail, but fails in areas they work. By that we mean this will unblock BBC iPlayer as well as Amazon Prime Video, but can't seem to get passed the walls of Netflix or Disney Plus. 

It's not ideal but two out of the big four is better than some offer. If they're the ones you use then this is a great option but for Netflix and Disney Plus fans you may want to keep looking.

BBC iPlayer can be a tough service to get access to outside of the UK, with many VPNs failing to unblock – and lots failing to working inside the UK too. TunnelBear managed this across three separate tests, unblocking right away each time. 

For Disney Plus, we tried lots of locations yet all remained locked without access to the streaming service. With Netflix we were only able to access Netflix Originals, accessible no matter where you're based around the world. Not ideal if you're looking to watch something only on US Netflix.

If streaming is your main use for the VPN then it might be worth checking out some other very capable options from our best streaming VPN guide.

TunnelBear VPN review: What features can you expect and how do they boost security?

TunnelBear VPN is Canadian based and it is McAfee owned, which are both good things for security. But the real sell in terms of privacy and anonymity is down to the independent audits carried out on the VPN. These are separate companies that effectively try to find your data in order to test how secure and private the VPN is. The results show that this is a very reliable service if you are looking for online anonymity. 

Crucially, TunnelBear VPN is crystal clear about how it works with every detail of its data and uses clearly laid out – more so than any other service, in fact. There is a bullet-proof no-logging policy that means the company collects absolutely no data so it can't link any actions to those carried out by specific IP addresses. The audit by Cure53, to summarize a broad report, found that this is accurate and your identity is totally safe. 

For those that use torrents and want security while doing so, TunnelBear VPN is a great choice. Not only are all its servers P2P friendly but they also offer fast speeds that are ideal for downloading large files. Like many VPN services, there is little mention of this torrent support on the company's website but the support is still there nonetheless. TunnelBear VPN does offer a recommended list of torrent tunnels to use but even when we tested others off that list they also worked just fine.

TunnelBear VPN review of speed and overall performance

To test the speed and performance of TunnelBear VPN we used both US and UK locations on a 1Gbps connection. Testing was done by measuring the download speeds using Ookla's SpeedTest and Netflix's Fast.com. Each one is done across morning and evening times.

The OpenVPN speeds from TunnelBear VPN when using US servers were decent at a top end of 260Mbps. This means it outperforms a lot of the competition including CyberGhost and IPVanish but wasn't quite as fast as ExpressVPN and HMA.

But keep in mind this only offers OpenVPN while other services have more protocols which can get even higher speeds. ExpressVPN with WireGuard hits over 600Mbps, for example.

For UK testing the speeds managed to get even higher, hitting a top end of 370Mbps which is really high for an OpenVPN protocol setup. This beats Private Internet Access but also manages to defeat the mighty NordVPN which is well known for its high-speeds. Again, this is just on OpenVPN and when other protocols are taken into account TunnelBear slips behind.

Client set-up and available support from TunnelBear VPN

Starting setup is – as it is the case for most digital platforms these days – done by giving over your email to create an account. Then you either go for the free option or pick a tier to pay for before downloading the client on the platform or platforms you want. It's worth noting that for anyone that wants to set this up on a router or games console, you're going to be left wanting. 

The apps, across Widows, Mac, iOS and Android, all offer maps based server interaction from the outset which helps simplify the process visually. The browser extensions also work well but in a more simplified layout, as you might expect. 

It's worth noting that the extensions work as proxies only, meaning they only give you protection within the browser itself. That said, this can be useful if you want to use the benefits of a split tunneling style system without the hassle of setting it up. A useful keyboard shortcut of Ctrl+Shift+U lets you toggle the VPN on and off as you need, which can be really handy if you're jumping in and out of cover.

TunnelBear VPN review: Our final verdict

TunnelBear VPN is a great option for anyone new to the world of VPNs or anybody that just wants a simple service that's easy to use. This extends to those using the platform for torrents or for streaming from BBC iPlayer or Amazon Prime Video. 

For anyone that wants more complexity, greater protocol options or to access Netflix and Disney Plus, this isn't the best service for you.

Read more about VPN:

• Confused? Find out what a VPN is
• Discover the best Mac VPN for your iMac or MacBook Pro
• Get binge-watching with the best iPlayer VPN on the market

StrongVPN is one of the best VPN options you can have thanks to a combination of good speeds, Netflix unblocking, lots of simultaneous connections and free cloud storage thrown in too. But do you need all that and does StrongVPN perform in the areas you want?

One minute StrongVPN review

StrongVPN crams in lots of features to make this very appealing. The front runner has to be the use of the latest WireGuard protocol which means speeds are fast. This works well since you can run this acoss 12 devices at the same time, potentially making high-speed connections a necessity.

For streaming this is a decent option as it does well at unblocking Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. But it does fall down when it comes to BBC iPlayer where it wasn't able to give access outside the UK.

Thrown in to sweeten the deal is 250GB of SugarSync cloud storage and you also get a 30-day money-back guarantee making this a good VPN to try before you buy.

This is a US based service though, meaning it's subject to US law, which could mean it's not secure enough for some users, but more on that below.

The stats:

• Servers: 950+
• Locations: 46 cities across 35 countries
• Devices: 12 simultaneous connections
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, Kodi, Amazon Kindle, Chrome OS
• Protocols: L2TP, IKEv2, SSTP, OpenVPN and WireGuard
• Top features: Unblocks Netflix, 250GB cloud storage, fast

StrongVPN review: How much does StrongVPN cost? Is there a free trial?

StrongVPN is simple in its pricing structure with two tiers to pick from. Pricing, if you go for the longer term annual deal, is very competitive – in fact it's one of the cheapest options out there. If you prefer to pay month to month you'll find it jumps up a lot and is actually one of the most expensive services.

• 1 month plan: $10.99 per month
• 12 month plan: $2.66 per month for the first year billed once at $31.99

Compared to the competition, at the more affordable end you've got Surfshark at $2.49 a month for its two-year plan. Then there's CyberGhost for $2.25 a month when you commit to three years. Allowing you to commit for just one year then, with our exclusive discount on StrongVPN's 12-month plan, you can benefit from a whole year at a rate of just $2.66 a month.

StrongVPN also offers 250GB of SugarSync cloud storage across both plans, gaining great value for money regardless of which price point you opt for.

The lack of free trial means you will need to give your credit card details to get up and running. Be sure to cancel the service before the 30-days are up to avoid being charged for a longer period, based on whatever subscription tier you paid for up front.

This is a good option as one of the cheapest choices. Though if you want to get more for less check out the best free VPN choices instead.

Does StrongVPN work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

When it comes to geo restrictions that apply to streaming, StrongVPN is a great option for getting access. This will get you up and running with unblocking Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. 

Using a variety of servers to access US Netflix from other locations, it was easy to get up and running with no lag and content streaming across various devices. The same can be said for Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video, despite this last one being notorious for blocking.

The downside to streaming with StrongVPN came when trying to access UK content from BBC iPlayer from a US location. It was apparently able to detect the use of a VPN and blocked access so no content was available to watch. It also didn't exactly pass with flying colors when trying to unblock Netflix. While it could access Netflix's US library on some servers, locations elsewhere across the world failed.

If streaming is your main use for the VPN then it might be worth checking out some other more capable options from our best streaming VPN guide.

StrongVPN review: What features can you expect and how do they boost security?

When it comes to security some people will immediately be put off by a VPN that is US based. This means it is subject to US law, so should the government demand to have access to all the data stored, then the company will have to comply. However, if there isn't any useful data on you then that isn't so much of an issue. This is where we dive into the privacy policy.

StrongVPN is a "zero-logging VPN" which means it won't track or store your data. It will only collect information that's needed to create an account and even that isn't sold to third-parties. Since you can pay by PayPal or Alipay it is possible to add another layer of security even at this stage. All lovely stuff but without more detail on the privacy policy, and no audit, it's tough to tell just how tight that zero-logging really is.

The actual security protocols, while using the service, are as tight as you might expect. That means a military-grade 256-bit encryption backed by a kill switch, should your connection drop and your device need blocking from potentially invasive network attempts. 

So while privacy appears to be kept secret and security protocols are strong, there may always be a lingering doubt in the mind of the most secure seeker, as this is US based and not totally transparent with its privacy plans.

Torrenting is another area where this service is strong, with over 950 servers all of which are P2P friendly. That's a lot more than plenty of the competition, making this a great option for those that want to download torrent files. 

StrongVPN review of speed and overall performance

To test the speed and performance of StrongVPN we used both US and UK locations on a 1Gbps connection. Testing was done by measuring the download speeds using Ookla's SpeedTest and Netflix's Fast.com. Each one is done across morning and evening times.

The OpenVPN speeds were pretty average, to be kind, while the IKEv2 speeds were impressively fast, topped only by ExpressVPN. But fire up the latest WireGuard protocol and that's where the magic happens.

We were getting WireGuard speeds up to 600Mbps in the US. When you consider this is on a 1Gbps line, which rarely reaches that even with no VPN in use, that's some very impressive speed. Crucially this works across devices at this level so you can take advantage of the 12 simultaneous connections at once all while enjoying high-speed data.

Over in the UK the speeds tested were done for WireGuard alone because that's likely all you'll need. This was as blisteringly fast as the US, and even topped it on some occasions.

The UK StrongVPN test with WireGuard maxed out at 660Mbps. Even a low score was at the 650Mbps mark. This means you're going to be getting a very fast connection speed that is also consistently kept at that level. This is a very reliably fast VPN option which is ideal for those using it regularly, especially for work use.

Client set-up and available support from StrongVPN

StrongVPN comes with a good selection of clients, aka apps, for the likes of Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. But it can also be manually setup on Linux, Kodi, Amazon Kindle, Chrome OS and a host of routers. That means you could set this up on your router and have all devices in your home connected to the VPN while only using up one of those 12 simultaneous connections you get. You can even buy a router with StrongVPN already installed, making it potentially super simple.

Register online and pay for the service. Then you can download to any devices you need. All that's left to do is sign in and you're up and running for the future. 

The mobile and desktop apps are similar, but one noticeable difference is the lack of kill switch on the iOS and Android apps. That said, you do still get split tunnelling which is a useful feature if you want use your VPN for streaming, say, but keep your local connection for banking. 

Customer support is great with a 24/7 live chat service available when you need it. That said, you can always use the website's FAQ or blog to find answers, or submit an email via the website and you'll get a response within the hour. You can even pick up the phone and call the StrongVPN team during their working hours of 9AM and 5PM CT (UTC -6), Monday through Friday.

StrongVPN review: Our final verdict

StrongVPN is a super fast VPN which offers lots of device connections at once and is very capable at unblocking most streaming services. The customer service is excellent with more options and a faster performance than most other VPN providers out there. The privacy policy could be more detailed, which may create security concerns for some users, especially since the company is US based. But with some great apps, decent pricing and ease of use this is a stand out example of what a VPN can be like.

Read more about VPN:

• Confused? Find out what a VPN is
• Check out our buying guide for the best VPN
• Load up your MacBook Pro with the best Mac VPN

HMA, formerly HideMyAss, is the VPN from security giant Avast which is good enough to make it onto our prestigious list of the best VPN options out there right now. Need we say more? We shall.

One minute HideMyAss VPN review

HMA VPN is one of the older options out there and that is a good thing as it means more than 15 years experience in protecting customers' privacy online. It also means the service has amassed a huge number of servers that are dotted all over the world. At 1,000 servers in more than 290 locations this is one of the better options out there for wide coverage.

What stands out for HMA is its privately audited no logging policy, which means you can be reassured that your privacy is being upheld to the highest level. The backing of lots of encryption layers, P2P support and a privately owned DNS service all add to that security online.

This isn't the cheapest option out there but it does work across a host of devices and supports geo restriction evasion. Although for the best streaming service unblocker this isn't top of the list, but more on that below.

The stats:

• Servers: 1,000+
• Locations: 210+ countries
• Devices: 5 simultaneous connections
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux
• Protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2
• Top features: Privately audited no-logging, lots of servers, good support

HideMyAss VPN review: How much does HMA cost? Is there a free trial?

HideMyAss VPN is not cheap, but it's not too expensive either. Much like the service itself this straddles the line, offering you a reassuringly good experience that's charged at a fair price you'd expect for what you get. That means you can pick a tier that suits you and feel you're getting your money's worth.

• 12 month plan: $4.99/£3.29 a month (billed $59.88/£39.48 annually)
• 36 month plan: $2.99/£2.39 a month (billed $107.64/£86.04 annually)

These prices are based on offering up to 5 device connections. Pay from $5.99 a month for a 10 connection plan. 

Compared to the competition, at the more affordable end you've got Surfshark at $2.49 a month for its two-year plan. Then there's CyberGhost for $2.25 a month when you commit to three years. 

There is a free trial of HideMyAss but it's only a seven day experience. That said, it should be long enough to get a feel of whether the service is going to work for you or not. 

Be warned though, this requires you to give you payment details and you'll be charged automatically for the annual plan when the trial ends. Not to worry, though, it is easy to cancel online before then. Worst case, you have a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can get your money back if you need.

This is a good option as one of the best cheap VPN choices and could even be one of the best free VPN choices for you if you take that seven day trial into account.

Does HideMyAss VPN work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

This is a decent streaming service but it's not the best. Yes, you can unblock Netflix and yes indeed you're good to go with BBC iPlayer. But should you need this for Amazon Prime Video or Disney Plus then you're going to be left wanting as we struggled to get these services working.

Usefully, the Windows client offers a filter which shows the location list with just streaming servers available. Sounds great but the downside is there are just six servers which apply here. Four of those are in the US with one in London and the other in Frankfurt.

When it came to streaming on services we could get access to, like Netflix and BBC iPlayer, the streams were fast. That meant loading up the app or website as quickly as without a VPN on and it also meant getting the highest quality feed right away without any buffering to worry about.

This is where that one week free trial is useful as you can try to unblock what you need and should you find this isn't up to the task, where you need, you can try another service with a better track record. For that check out our best streaming VPN guide.

HideMyAss VPN review: What features can you expect and how do they boost security?

HMA VPN is super private with a very impressive no logging policy. That means no details are kept about you, about your machine or about your internet activity. As we mentioned, that policy is privately audited by a company specialized in this area. It has found the no logging claims to be accurate with no way of tracking you based on your HMA account.

There is some very general logging, like if the data connection was AM or PM, and a rough idea of the amount of data transferred, but that's it. And with no originating IP address logged, all that data is largely useless for locating anyone.

The security is super tight when you consider this uses AES-256-GCM data encryption as well as an RSA-4096 handshake all topped off with SHA-256 data authentication. That's also backed by dual app kill switches in case your connection should drop and otherwise leave you open.

There is P2P support, for those torrent users. The downside is that server support is minimal with only a small selection of locations available. But better that than no support since five are in Europe and two are in the US.

HMA VPN review of speed and overall performance

To test the speed and performance of HMA VPN we used US locations on a 1Gbps connection.

Testing was done by measuring the download speeds using Ookla's SpeedTest and Netflix's Fast.com. Each one is done across morning and evening times.

As you can see this service only offers OpenVPN as a protocol which is never a good sign. Yet it did mean a stable connection and actually did offer some very decent speeds at up to 330Mbps. That beats out some of the competition that use the latest same OpenVPN protocols. But compare it to the latest WireGuard and it gets blown away with speeds of 630Mbps from ExpressVPN, for example.

It's not the best or the fastest but offers decent speeds that should serve the needs of many very well.

Client set-up and available support from HMA VPN

HMA VPN offers some great support, in fact this is one of the features that really makes this stand out. From a wide range of online resources including setup guides and FAQs to forums you also have a 24/7 live chat support service.

We can't stress how helpful this live chat is. Say you want to know what's the fastest server in a certain country to get you streaming Netflix. Simply get on the chat, ask for that and you'll be directly immediately. This means you're getting the best possible speeds and security from your connection, making that service very valuable. Also great for installation guidance should you need it.

That said, getting setup is straight forward. Pick a plan online, select a payment and download the client for the platform you need to get started with. The Windows interface installs as any other app, with a clear and easy to use interface as the end result. Explore the server locations sitting front and central in an organised list format. The filter for P2P servers or streaming unblockers is really helpful here.

For the mobile apps you can download right from the app store and install easily and quickly before signing in. Expect features you don't usually see on apps like UDP/TCP connections and IP shuffle as well as auto-connections options like Wi-Fi only or phone network and Wi-Fi, for example.

HideMyAss VPN review: Our final verdict

HMA VPN is a super secure and very private VPN option. It only offers OpenVPN but that means a stable connection with some decent speeds. The pricing isn't the cheapest but the level of 24/7 live chat service and quality of app features make this worth that price. Some may miss certain streaming services remaining blocked but with easy to filter servers and P2P support this does have a lot to offer.

Read more about VPN:

• Confused? Find out what a VPN is
• Check out our buying guide for the best VPN
• Outside of the UK? Here's the best iPlayer VPN to help you get access

So, you’ve heard of the best VPN services (virtual private networks) and are wondering why you need one. Although Apple Mac products pride themselves on having excellent privacy and security settings, a Mac VPN will provide you with an additional layer of security, online anonymity, and protection of your data. 

Essentially, a VPN works by creating an encrypted tunnel for your data traffic and will change your IP address to ensure the protection of your online identity and activity. However, aside from safety on the internet, there are many other advantages of using a VPN you might not be aware of such as unlocking blocked sites and accessing streaming content across the globe. Keep on reading to find out the key benefits of downloading a VPN to your Mac. 

• Try out ExpressVPN and get 3 months free + 30 day money back guarantee

1. Protect your data

Data protection is one of the main functions of a VPN as it works to conceal your online activity by transferring your data through an encrypted tunnel to a secure server. What this means is that your IP address is changed and hidden from your ISP and third-party companies. 

By installing a VPN, it can prevent your ISP or any third-party from harvesting your data - whether that be browsing history, personal information, or your location - and selling it to potentially dangerous third-party organisations. 

Apple has in-built anti-virus and Mac OS software which means Mac users are fairly safe from many forms of cyber attacks or online hackers. However, we recommend using a VPN for added security when online, since any protection your Mac provides ends when you send your data into the wild.

2. Stream content 

On a brighter note, one of the best things about a VPN is being able to access streaming content in other countries. Mac users with a streaming VPN can easily switch up their location to a different country and bypass any geo-restricted content.

Netflix and other streaming services have regional blocks which prevent residents from accessing content libraries with a huge variety of shows to choose from. 

If you’re someone who spends a lot of time on the Netflix library searching for a new series, or a sports fan wanting to catch the Superbowl in the US, a quality VPN will allow you to access these streaming sites and watch the latest content. 

3. Access blocked content  

Similar to above, some schools or workplaces block content, such as social media or streaming sites, which means when you are connected to their Wi-Fi you won’t be able to access certain sites. The same goes for those in countries with strict censorship laws like China.

With a good VPN, you can gain access to blocked sites securely as the VPN changes your server location and unlocks these sites. 

So, whether you’re a college student, abroad, or find you can’t access censored content for whatever reason, a VPN is one of the easiest ways to safely overcome this issue. 

4. Avoid tracking 

Online privacy is increasingly important for everyone who uses the internet and is something that everyone has a right to have. Without a VPN, many companies such as Google, your ISP, and even the government are able to trace your internet activity.

By using a VPN, your online activity is encrypted which means the authorities and your ISP cannot track what you are up to. If online privacy is particularly important to you then having a VPN installed is a secure way to hide your activity. 

5. Torrent safely

A VPN is especially important for Mac users who torrent files. While torrents are a hugely useful way of downloading large files at speed, even if the content you’re downloading is perfectly legal your ISP may not be pleased to see you doing so. If they detect any P2P activity, you may find your connections slowing to a crawl thanks to network throttling.

Not only that, but connecting to a torrent puts you at risk of being hacked. While that risk is small, sharing P2P does expose your computer to others on the same network, and if someone targets you, without a VPN your personal info could be seriously compromised.

Finally, while we in no way condone the downloading of illegal files, when torrenting we sometimes don’t get what we expect. A torrenting VPN can put your mind at ease should you accidentally download copyrighted material, and make sure that activity isn’t linked back to you.

Streaming services are a staple in most of our lives but we’ve all had our struggles with location restrictions when it comes to watching our favourite shows. The simplest solution is to use one of the best streaming VPN services and here we’re going to explain how to make the most out of all of your favourite streaming services by using the best VPN. 

If you’re new to the world of VPN, they are a simple bit of software that tricks your device into thinking it is in a different location. This helps to get around geo-blocks and improves the security of your device, keeping your personal information protected at all times. 

Whether it is Netflix, BBC iPlayer or Amazon Prime you are looking to watch, keep reading to find out how a VPN works with all of your favourite streaming services. But do note a lot of these streaming services have VPN blocking technology because using a VPN is against some Ts&Cs. Even though this means your account may be terminated, this isn’t something we have ever seen reported – so proceed at your own (very minimal) risk.

• Try out ExpressVPN and get 3 months free + 30 day money back guarantee

How to use a VPN with Netflix

Streaming giant Netflix is well known for its extensive library of films, series and originals that varies from country to country. The 1000s of titles available are great until you want to watch a show that is only available on another nation's Netflix. Fear not - just download and install one the best Netflix VPNs to trick your device into thinking it is elsewhere. So if you’re halfway through a series and it’s about to leave your local Netflix, or you’re after film favourites like The Ice Roads that are only available on the US site, grab yourself a VPN. 

Streaming BBC iPlayer from outside of the UK

If you’re a sucker for a classic UK soap like EastEnders or need your fix of a British drama, BBC iPlayer is the streaming service for you. But what if you’re out of the country and blocked from the BBC iPlayer website? Easy - just download an iPlayer VPN, set your location to the UK and watch any of the 100s of shows available, including the coverage from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

 Watch Amazon Prime from abroad with a VPN

If you’ve paid for an Amazon Prime subscription you’re going to want to make use of it all year round right? Make the most of your subscription by using one of the best Fire Stick VPN services to dodge geo-blocks if you’re out of the country on holiday. 

Amazon Prime is a little bit different when it comes to using a VPN though. You will only be able to access the content from the country that you signed up in. So if you’re from the US and are away from home, download a VPN, put the location to the US, and watch all of your usual shows wherever you are.

How to use a VPN with All 4

Similar to BBC’s iPlayer, All 4 is a UK-only streaming service, hosting BAFTA award winning series like It’s A Sin and American favourite, A Handmaid’s Tale. With so many favourites available online, you’ll want to know how to stream all the big titles for free from wherever you end up this summer. Download and install a VPN, set the location to the UK and watch as if you were here at home in Blighty.

Stream UK exclusive shows on ITV Hub from anywhere 

For all of you Love Island fanatics out there who want to keep up to date with how many eggs are in each contestant's basket, ITV Hub is the place to be. If you’re out of the country during the 8 weeks of summer romance, use a VPN and set your location to the UK to watch Love Island 2021 as soon as it airs. Not a fan of this year’s contestants? Watch the previous 6 series on the ITV Hub. Or if the reality show isn’t your type on paper, there are 100s of other titles to explore from anywhere when you use a VPN with the ITV Hub.

Using a VPN with YouTube to avoid restrictions

Over the years most of us have learnt that schools and places of work love to block YouTube to stop us from getting distracted. But there is a simple way around these restrictions. All you need to do is download and install the best VPN for YouTube onto your device and set it to a different location. Then you can browse the millions of videos on YouTube to your heart’s content. 

Stream Peacock TV from outside the US

This is the USA's very own free online service, much like the BBC iPlayer in the UK. Although you can watch for free, there is the option of an ad-free premium tier that comes at a small price. If you do not want to waste your hard earned cash by leaving the premium subscription unused whilst you’re out of the country, download and install a US VPN. Once downloaded, set your location to the US and stream the Peacock library as if you never left the States. 

Watch Channel 7 / 7 Play from anywhere with a VPN

The Aussies among us will know this service well, especially during this Olympic fortnight when Channel 7 are offering some seriously good Olympic coverage. If you want to continue streaming the local Olympic broadcasting or watch some other Aussie classics whilst you’re abroad, this is where a VPN comes into play. Download and install a VPN to whichever device you are watching on, set the location to Australia and you’ll have all of the home comforts of being Down Under from wherever you are in the world. 

In search of more info about VPNs

• Explained: what is a VPN server?

In recent times, ProtonVPN has increasingly become a contender for the best VPN around. That's in part thanks to its generous free plan and its excellent performance across both its interface, features, security, and speed. A rare and powerful combination, we detail at a glance and in full why ProtonVPN is one of our favorite VPNs to recommend.

One minute ProtonVPN review

ProtonVPN ticks our boxes both as one of the best free VPN - and especially its premium iteration. One of the most generous and competent free options out there, ProtonVPN gives its users unlimited data, access to 147 of its 1,700+ servers across three countries, and medium speeds. Upgrade and the benefits just continue. 

While you'll need to stretch for its Plus plan for streaming unblocking, it's worth it when you consider ProtonVPN is one of the top performers for unblocking streaming services. It makes easy work of accessing Netflix around the world, BBC iPlayer, Prime Vide, and Disney Plus. Throw into the mix its fantastic performance across both WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols - it may not be the fastest, but it still soars above average.

We are also huge fans of its mobile apps. They come as feature-packed as their desktop counterparts with a boatload of features including P2P friendly servers for torrenting, its own adblocker (Netshield), kill switch and always-on technologies, and more.

Of its 1,700+ servers you'll also find its Secure Core servers, which reroute your traffic through the likes of Sweden, Iceland and other privacy-friendly countries before traveling to your desired destination. This adds that additional layer of security, alongside encryption and its other features.

Able to support up to 10 devices at once, ProtonVPN certainly shouldn't be missed off of your list of VPNs to consider.

The stats:

• Servers: 1,700+
• Locations: 63 countries
• Devices: 10 simultaneous connections
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, and Chromebook
• Protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
• Top features: Free, unlimited data, kill switch, always-on, Netshield ad-blocker, Secure Core, VPN Accelerator

ProtonVPN review: How much does ProtonVPN cost? Is there a free trial?

With ProtonVPN you have the option of both its free and more premium plans, the latter of which allows you to benefit from the full service with maximum speeds and unblocking capabilities. In terms of its paid-for subscriptions, you can choose between Basic, Plus, or Visionary. You can then choose between paying a monthly, annual, or two-year rate

A great stepping stone into the world of VPN, we recommend its pricier Plus plan to enjoy top speeds, all 10 connections, streaming service unblocking, and its full network of servers. This costs $8 annually or the reduced rate of $6.63 a month for two years.

From the competition, at the lower end you've got Surfshark at $2.49/AU$3.19 a month for its two-year plan, or Private Internet Access, currently $2.19 for two years. That said, ProtonVPN's Plus plan is more affordable than ExpressVPN, which only gives you the option of 12-months at most for $6.67 a month.

Like its competition, ProtonVPN offers a 30-day money back guarantee, allowing you to see if the service is for you, with the ability to cancel before the period is up and receive a full refund if Proton isn't for you.

Does ProtonVPN work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

ProtonVPN is one of the current best streaming VPN services about. The catch? You'll need to cash out for its Plus plan to reap the benefits. Once you've taken the plunge, though, ProtonVPN has increasingly become one of the the most reliable VPNs for circumventing each platforms anti-VPN infrastructure. 

In terms of Netflix - one of the hardest nuts to crack - in our most recent round of testing, ProtonVPN could get Netflix exclusives in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, which is more than many can do. NordVPN and Surfshark are currently the only providers that outperform it, also unblocking Netflix in Japan.

ProtonVPN also ticks off BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, and Disney Plus without issue, making it a trusty VPN to have in your back pocket if you're looking to access your favorite platforms while overseas or at school or the office where it may also be blocked.

ProtonVPN review: What features can you expect and how do they boost security?

ProtonVPN comes from the company behind the famously secure ProtonMail. As such it runs all of its own end-to-end encrypted servers. Most servers are in Europe and North America with others in the likes of Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea and beyond. All that means lots of access no matter where you find yourself, physically or digitally, worldwide, spreading across a total of 63 countries.

ProtonVPN features a secure kill switch which is further backed by DNS leak protection, keeping you super safe. That security extends to P2P torrenting too and there is even built-in Tor support for accessing Onion websites securely. 

Split tunnelling is another addition which lets you route varying websites through different server locations. The native apps for Windows, Android, Mac and iOS all work well with lots of features, which are audited and continually being updated.

NetShield is a DNS-based web filter which will help to protect you and your device from malware. It'll even stop ad tracking to help keep you anonymous online.

ProtonVPN review of speed and overall performance

To test the speed and performance of ProtonVPN we used both US and UK locations on a 1Gbps connection and checked performance against benchingmarking services, including SpeedTest, SpeedOf.me, nPerf and other sites. Each one is done with at least five times at morning and evening times.

ProtonVPN has really improved a lot in the last year, and one of the areas in which it has is its performance. This time around, both Proton's OpenVPN and WireGuard speeds were very promising, scoring averages of 440Mbps when we tested its OpenVPN protocol, leading the way, sitting behind only Hide.me (450Mbps) and Mullvad (480-490Mbps).

WireGuard results proved even faster, though the lower side of its range have dipped a touch from our last round of testing. Still, 360-670Mbps peaks see its highs leap above average and ahead of much of its competition, including ExpressVPN peaking at 630Mbps.

Client set-up and available support from ProtonVPN

The client selection is decent and setup for each one is simple, as you'd expect to install any app on a mobile or software on a computer. Sign up, download and you can pay by card or by using Bitcoin, PayPal and even cash if you're going for the paid tiers.

Once in your account dashboard, which is a web-based portal, you can setup the OpenVPN or get links to download various other clients. Installation takes under a minute to download and get running, it couldn't be easier. 

The desktop clients use large maps as the VPN menu screen, if you want. This is easily resized to suit and is super clear with zooming in and out as well as scanning about done easily. Or go for a server menu style display with a list that lets you pick based on location. This is handy for P2P as it shows which will support that and those that won't. 

There's also a useful indicator load for each server, shown in color with green being low and red being high. It all makes browsing for the ideal server a very easy and quick process. That said, you can just quick auto connect at a click if you prefer.

ProtonVPN has, in more recent times, introduced live chat, which we've found to be incredibly helpful. While not yet 24/7, we can't imagine it'll be long before it is. That's alongside its support site filled with guides, and the ability to also send an email or raise a support ticket.

Admittedly its support site can feel a bit daunting. For those in the know, its guides are detailed and range across topics. However, for some they may be a touch complex. It's also fair to say it could do with a bit more organization for a more intuitive and easy-to-navigate experience.

ProtonVPN review: Our final verdict

ProtonVPN has gone from strength-to-strength, making it a T3 favorite. Its free option is a great stepping stone into the world of VPN, and offers a secure and reliable experience with the support of its premium infrastructure. Boasting incredible apps, performance, features, and unblocking capabilities, there's very little that holds us back from saying it's one of the best.

Read more about VPN:

• Confused? Find out what a VPN is

Windscribe VPN is a real stand-out option since it manages to offer the advanced features of some of the best VPN options out there yet also does this with a free-to-use plan. You can still unblock streaming video options but there is a limit on data if you're not a paying user. So is this worth paying for? Read our Windscribe VPN review to find out.

One minute Windscribe VPN review

Windscribe VPN is a powerful option that crams in features across its many apps, all while supporting strong AES-256 encryption. This all works with a generous free plan that makes this a great option for anyone new to VPNs looking to give it a try.

We found Windscribe VPN was able to unblock all streaming services we tested thanks to a great obfuscating process. This also doubles as a powerful positive for those looking to use this in regions where VPNs are blocked, since it won't get spotted.

Speed performance wasn't the best and support was less impressive too with a lack of 24/7 or live chat customer services.

But with some great flexibility on plans this could provide you with what you need at the right price – which may indeed be free in those cases where 15GB per month is enough data.

The stats:

• Servers: 500+
• Locations: 110+ locations
• Devices: Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Kodi, Amazon Fire TV, OpenVPN, and more
• Protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth and WStunnel
• Top features: WireGuard, free plan, streaming unblocking

Windscribe VPN review: How much does Windscribe VPN cost? Is there a free trial?

Windscribe VPN uniquely has a free plan as well as plenty of options on its paid tiers meaning there should be something to suit everyone.

• Free plan: Limited to up to 15GB of data per month (not available in Australia)
• Monthly: $9/AU$12 a month
• Yearly: $4.08/AU5.50 a month (billed $49/AU$65 a year)
• Build your own plan: Adjust to what you need

Pricing might not go as low as some, but then this does have that free option. What's also nice to see is a bespoke option where you can build you own bundle and spend exactly what you want to get what you need.

From the competition, at the lower end you've got Surfshark at $2.49/AU$3.19 a month for its two-year plan and CyberGhost for $2.25/AU$3.11 a month when you commit to three years. 

The free trial is limited to 15GB of data per month which makes it alright for a high-res movie or two a month, or a few show episodes streamed in 4K. But it's likely more for those wanting to browse the internet, check emails and use maps, perhaps while in another country. 

This isn't the best cheap VPN on the market in terms of low price, but it offers a lot for your money, and does find itself on our best free VPN list.

Does Windscribe VPN work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

As the best streaming VPN options go this is right up there as we found it was able to unlock everything we wanted to stream. We tested all these services in three different locations using the US version of the setup, meaning we were getting access to the US content even when in different locations.

Netflix can be notoriously difficult to unblock but here Windscribe made it seem simple, offering US Netflix in varying test locations. 

BBC iPlayer can also be a very difficult contender when it comes to VPN streaming but, once again, Windscribe had no issues at all. It's worth noting that in previous tests Windscribe did have issues with this player but these seem to have been resolved as that wasn't a problem this time.

The same can be said for Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus, which Windscribe unblocked every time. Since it can handle all these big name streaming services you'll likely find anything in your local region will also be taken care of.

This perfect score of streaming unblocking is rare so it's worth keeping in mind if you use a VPN for this. It's also another reason to justify spending the subscription fee to get you over that 15GB limit, especially if you stream in 4K and HDR to your big screen.

Windscribe VPN review: What features can you expect and how do they boost security?

Windscribe VPN is crammed full of useful features including some more advanced options for those that know what they're doing. The OpenVPN router compatibility, for example, is a useful way to get your VPN working across all your devices connected to that router – ideal for smart TV use. That said, Windscribe does also offer the fantastic feature of having no device number limits so you can use it across unlimited devices all at the same time.

Windscribe VPN also comes with a tool that is there to block ads, malware and trackers when online – offering you another layer of protection. This system is named ROBERT and it allows you to configure your setup beyond what even many dedicated services offer.

WireGuard is now featured on the service everywhere for the latest in security and speeds. You also have split tunneling on desktop as well as mobile apps and all that is configurable for great control too.

We like the MAC address spoofing which can add another layer to your ability to avoid tracking – particularly useful for those that are very privacy and security focused.

For torrent fans you can rest easy knowing this offers P2P support. The company is quite refreshingly open about this and even offers a status page showing what's available and where.

For those really hardcore users there is even command line interface scripting. On the other end of that spectrum, Windscribe has totally automated updates and re-connecting which make for a super easy-to-use setup that's ideal for newbs.

Windscribe VPN review of speed and overall performance

To test the speed and performance of Windscribe VPN we used both US and UK locations on 1Gbps connections. Testing was done at least five times by measuring the download speeds using SpeedTest, Netflix's Fast.com, TestMy.net and more. Each one is done with at least two protocols where possible at morning and evening times.

The UK based scores were decent with a low of 180Mbps and a high of 240Mbps. It's worth also noting that at time of testing WireGuard was just launching, so we expect speeds now to be even faster than the results shown here.

That said, even without WireGuard taken into account, this still beat Surfshark that got 165-170Mbps and KeepSolid that topped out at 85Mpbs in our tests.

The US tests, once again, were before WireGuard was available to test. So on OpenVPN it was limited and certainly appeared that way with a frankly poor 20-120Mbps set of results. That's a very low bottom end for any VPN, while the top end is low but not terrible and will still serve most well. Considering we got results of 60-80Mbps in our previous test, this doesn't appear to be a temporary speed issue.

Client set-up and available support from Windscribe VPN

Head over to the Windscribe page and hit get started and you're all set to download the app. This automatically detects the device you're using and gives you the appropriate app for that software. This also includes extensions for browsers like Chrome, for example.

Links for download include Mac, Android and iOS, with those extensions for Firefox and iOS. You also get guides for setup on routers, Linux, Kodi, Amazon Fire TV and beyond.

In addition, there is the option to access older versions. This can be a helpful feature as sometimes a rewind to a previous version can mean a better setup and it's nice to have that option after you update your machine and notice lags, for example.

Once the app is installed you can create an account easily with a username and password. Then you have 2GB of data for free each month. If you give your email address this gets bumped up to that 10GB data access per month. Then you have the option to tweet about Windscribe and get boosted to 15GB per month.

For setting up other devices you have OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 and SOCKS5 connections available in the web control panel.

Windscribe VPN support is an area that could be improved upon for sure. There is no 24/7 customer support that some services offer and that means no live chat either. Instead it's a ticket based system that you can use via a webform.

There is a support page which can help with setup guides and technical problems, but even the tutorials could be more in depth.

Windscribe does stipulate that it has chosen this method of support as it can offer all its customer care from in-house. That should mean an answer from a knowledgeable specialist rather than, as the company puts it, "outsourced minimum wage workers on the other side of the planet who are reading off a script."

Windscribe VPN review: Our final verdict

Windscribe VPN is a really impressive option that offers a large amount of features and data all within a free platform. Its tailored pricing is also welcoming as is its ROBERT security tool. Apps work well, and for streaming video content this is a reliable option. Customer support isn't the quickest and speeds are also lacking in the US at time of publishing. Although with WireGuard now up and running this could be a very difficult VPN to fault.

Read more about VPN:

• Confused? Find out what a VPN is
• Check out our buying guide for the best VPN
• Get binge-watching with the best Netflix VPN on the market

VyprVPN is a great option for anyone looking for a secure way to stay private online thanks to a clear and audited no logging policy. This is backed by some of the most impressive streaming unblocking out there, meaning this is a top choice for anyone wanting to watch Netflix from anywhere in the world. It's not without its minor issues but we dive into all that.

One minute VyprVPN review

VyprVPN stands out on two major points: security and streaming. The first is thanks to that no logging policy which means you will stay totally anonymous online without any data to track you with. 

The second, streaming, is a big one as it means you can unblock everything from Netflix and Amazon Prime to Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer, no matter where you are in the world.

WireGuard is another appealing feature although we'd like to have seen better speeds than the below average ones we got in testing. There was also an issue with the Windows kill switch, which was a little disconcerting.

Aside from those niggles, this is a powerful and impressive VPN option that's also reasonably priced on some of its tiers.

The stats:

• Servers: 700+
• Locations: 70+ locations
• Devices: Five simultaneous connections
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, smart TVs, router, Blackberry, Synology, Apple TV, NAS, OpenELEC, Android TV, Chromebook, Kindle Fire and more
• Protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Chameleon 2.0
• Top features: WireGuard, no logging, great streaming unblocking

VyprVPN review: How much does VyprVPN cost? Is there a free trial?

VyprVPN might not start out at an eye-catching price but go up in tier commitment and that starts to change with the two year option offering a decent price.

• 2 months: $6.47/AU$8.71 a month (billed $6.47/AU$8.71 every 2 months)
• 18 months: $2.50/AU$3.37 a month (billed $45/AU$60.61 every 18 months)
• 3 years: $1.67/AU2.25 a month (billed $60/AU$80.81 every 3 years)

While some of the competition offer deals up front that then double in price after a while, this is the set price you can expect to pay with no hidden fees or price hikes lurking down the line.

By comparison there's Surfshark at $2.49/AU$3.19 a month for its 2-year plan and CyberGhost for $2.25/AU$3.11 a month when you commit to 3 years. 

But does VyprVPN come with a free trial? While there isn't a free trial you won't have to make your first payment for three days, having given your credit card or PayPal details up front. Cancel before that time and you won't have to pay anything.

For free trial comparisons, Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost give a whopping 45 days as a trial.

This isn't the vert best cheap VPN on the market in terms of low price, but it gets close and offers a lot for your money. 

Does VyprVPN work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

Among the best streaming VPN options, VyprVPN sits right there at the top alongside ExpressVPN. Thanks to its very own Chameleon 2.0 protocol it is able to get around geo-restrictions with ease, hitting some of the top, most popular streaming services.

First up is Netflix, where we were able to access and watch libraries in the UK, US and Canada with no issues, while Australia and Japan did throw up more issues.

BBC iPlayer outside the UK was a bit hit and miss - however we saw some success on multiple tests. One of the most difficult streaming services to bypass geo-restrictions, this is a great sign for those abroad.

VyprVPN also unblocked Amazon Prime and Disney Plus, meaning no matter where you find yourself – you can watch them all as if you were back home.

VyprVPN review: What features can you expect and how do they boost security?

VyprVPN has a standout feature that no other VPN can claim to offer and that is its very own protocol now in its second generation as Chameleon 2.0. This is specifically built to help get around VPN blocking. This obfuscation protocol is not only helpful for unblocking streaming video services but also for using the VPN in countries that block VPN use.

In China, Iran and the like it can be risky to use a VPN so hiding the fact that your IP address is not your own is very important. The more recent versions of VyprVPN now include the Chameleon protocol not only on the desktop clients but also on the iOS and Android apps.

VyprVPN is also a great option for use on lots and lots of different devices. Sure you can only use it on five simultaneous connections at one time but you'll be amazed at how many devices that can include. Platforms supported include Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Tomato-based routers, QNAP, Anonabox, Smart TVs and Blackphone. But the list goes on thanks to guides that help you get it up and running on Chromebooks, Linux, Blackberry, Synology NAS, OpenELEC, Android TV, Apple TV, and via DD-WRT, AsusWRT, OpenWRT and more.

That no logging policy is also worth mentioning in more detail here. VyprVPN offers a zero-knowledge DNS service which is encrypted meaning no middle man is there to get at you. Not that there is much to get at since that strict no logging policy is independently audited as secure. That said, the last audit published by Leviathan Security Group was in 2018, so this could do with an update.

Other security features like kill switches and protection against DNS leaks also feature, although we did find some flakiness with the Windows client kill switch. That said this was only for the IKEv2 connection where the kill switch took a few seconds to kick-in.

Bonus features on the apps include optional URL filtering to keep your safe from malicious websites. Individual app VPN connections is another great option that could have you connected to US Netflix but UK banking, for example.

VyprVPN review of speed and overall performance

To test the speed and performance of VyprVPN we used both US and UK locations on 1Gbps connections. Testing was done at least five times with SpeedTest.net, Netflix's Fast.com, TestMy.net and more.

UK based connections started out very poorly when using OpenVPN, topping out at 32Mbps. But when we changed up to WireGuard this saw a dramatic change topping out at an impressive 420Mbps. That makes it good enough to beat NordVPN's NordLynx 240-280Mbps, which is one of the top in our best fast VPN guide. But the lack of consistency across protocols was worrying.

The question then was, how did the US servers compare with the varying protocols connections?

The US tests also offered a wide range of results across protocols, starting as low as 24Mbps on OpenVPN and topping out at 170Mbps for WireGuard. These are below average to put it mildly. Many other services in our tests saw closer to the 600Mbps mark with StrongVPN, Surfshark and TorGuard all exceeding that number.

Client set-up and available support from VyprVPN

VyprVPN setup is easy enough since you can do it all via the company's website. That means you sign up, give your details and then download the client or app you want to get started with. The site even gives you details on what each program offers, including protocols, operating system requirements and a changelog.

Setup is easy following the usual installation process for the device you're using. Manual installation is also an option which is easy enough with guides to help and APK files, for example, ready to download.

The website has more than 50 tutorials available which can help you get started to set up the service on Chromebooks, Linux, Synology NAS, OpenELEC, Android TV, Apple TV, and via DD-WRT, AsusWRT, OpenWRT and more.

VyprVPN support is very good with an impressively quick to reply live chat service. But before you get there you can check the VyprVPN website which has a decent database full of information to help with things like setup, troubleshooting and device specific advice. Although don't expect this to be catered for beginners as some guides do presume knowledge about these sorts of things.

Email is another contact option where, in our experience there was a response within an hour. Impressive stuff.

VyprVPN review: Our final verdict

VyprVPN is a very secure option which is great for streaming and keeping your VPN use secret when in countries than prohibit use. The longer term tiers are very affordable and the no logging policy appears to be impressively privacy focused. While there are a few app related glitches, like kill switch slowness, they're nothing to really worry about and speed although slower than some are still plenty usable even for streaming 4K video.

Read more about VPN:

• Confused? Find out what a VPN is
• Check out our buying guide for the best VPN
• Get binge-watching with the best Netflix VPN on the market

IPVanish is an impressive VPN which stands out from the competition thanks to its rich selection of features and unique draws. It's not without its flaws but even these are not deal-breakers in most cases. So if you want to learn about IPVanish as your potential browsing buddy this is the place to find out about speeds, privacy, device support, streaming unblocking and more.

One minute IPVanish review

IPVanish is a stand out VPN as it manages to cram in lots of features while still offering standout positives like unlimited device use, all while keeping the price relatively reasonable. 

A mid-2021 upgrade saw system wide infrastructure improvements to 25Gbps network cards as well as a jump up to over 1,600 servers worldwide. All that means speeds are decent as is the security provided by this service which even offers cloud storage to sweeten the deal.

It's worth noting that while IPVanish can be useful for geo-restriction side-stepping, it won't work on all streaming services. You can get Netflix and Disney Plus access, from anywhere you find yourself. Just don't expect the same to apply for BBC iPlayer or Amazon Prime Video.

So, while IPVanish might not excel particularly well in any one area, it does most things above the average.

The stats:

• Servers: 1,600+
• Locations: 75+ locations
• Devices: Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, router, Chromebook, Kindle Fire
• Protocols: IKEv2, SSTP, PPTP and L2TP, plus OpenVPN TCP and UDP.
• Top features: Kill switch, P2P support, superb map interface

IPVanish review: How much does IPVanish cost? Is there a free trial?

IPVanish isn't the most affordable. You get a first month for less, then the price hikes up. While the plan auto renews you can stop this after that first year deal is done.

• Monthly plan: $3.19 for your first month ($9.99 a month thereafter)
• Annual plan: $28.79 for your first year ($89.99 a year thereafter)

You can also opt for a version that gets you 500GB of SugarSync cloud storage. This starts at $3.51 per month then $10.99 after that, or annually at $31.99 for the first year then $99.99 after that. Since SugarSync at 500GB is charged standalone at $18.95 per month, this looks like a really good deal.

By comparison there's Surfshark at $2.49 a month for its 2-year plan and CyberGhost for $2.25 a month when you commit to 3 years.

But does IPVanish come with a free trial? While there's technically no free trial you do get a 30-day money-back guarantee. That means you can't try without entering your card details. But it also means you can easily cancel at day 29 and not pay a penny. 

It's worth noting this only applies to the yearly plans, so you'd need to pay that $31.49 up front and then get it back if you choose to cancel.

So while this might not be the best cheap VPN on the market, it does offer you a lot for the money and if you want to use it for a month – to unblock a series on Netflix say – you could do that and still get your money back at the end.

Does IPVanish work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

You can't call a VPN a decent streaming VPN if it isn't able to get around the geo-restrictions on the likes of US Netflix. You could be in an office, at school or on holiday in another country. Whatever the restriction in place, a VPN will let you get around it and in the case of IPVanish that also works on Netflix. You'll also be able to access region free Disney Plus so you can watch from anywhere in the world.

The downside? Unlike some of the competition – ExpressVPN for example – you can't unblock every streaming service. When it came to getting BBC iPlayer outside the UK, access was totally blocked. The same can be said for Amazon Prime Video where use through a VPN was detected and meant access was denied.

IPVanish review: What features can you expect and how do they boost security?

IPVanish is a really feature rich VPN service, making it appealing both to new users and those who are a bit more experienced and want more complex tools. The standout feature has to be the map based interface. For a start this is dynamic, allowing you to click, drag and move about, but also it usefully shows server locations, grouped and spreading as you zoom in. Since this can be freely resized it's a great option on large displays.

To focus more on privacy and security, you've got some great protocols including IKEv2, SSTP, PPTP and L2TP, plus OpenVPN TCP and UDP. There's also a kill switch which, when turned on, works really well giving a desktop notification every time the connection dropped unexpectedly. 

As for privacy, you can enjoy the ability to control your OpenVPN port of choice (1194 or 443) which is a rare and welcome option. The "Scramble OpenVPN Traffic" is another great addition which helps better hide your from detection and is ideal for use in China, Iran or any other anti-VPN country.

IPVanish has a clear no logging policy with a few points of data collected at sign-up but nothing unusual. The only exception is that its website says it uses Google Firebase "to understand the source and cause of app crashes, and to develop & improve our Services." What that means is unclear. Since crash data can include lots of system information and this can't be turned off, this is a potential issue for the security focused user. The fact IPVanish isn't externally auditing, as many VPN services are, isn't ideal.

For those looking to torrent with IPVanish, it provides P2P on all its servers. In our test, this proved true, able to successfully download torrent files on all five test locations.

IPVanish review of speed and overall performance

To put IPVanish to the proper test for speed we ran tests using a UK data centre and made sure to check on benchmarking sites Speedtest.net and Testmy.net for the fairest display of results.

UK based connections to US servers saw impressive results as fast as 380Mbps. Sure, it's not the benchmark level of 600Mpbs but it's pushing fast and with a low of 290Mbps this was impressive. Certainly good enough to beat NordVPN's NordLynx 240-280Mbps, which is one of the top in our best fast VPN guide.

But you're not always going to be connected to the US from the UK, which is going to offer some very clear and high-paced connections. So we also tested at longer distances in less easy to access locations to see how well IPVanish can hop.

Malaysia was a poor start with connection speeds that felt like we'd gone back a decade. Topping at 2Mbps you'd struggle to stream Netflix even at its most basic setting, but it is good enough for basic web browsing and emails.

Far better were the connections of Australia and Japan at 55Mbps and 57Mbps respectively. When you consider that is the other side of the world and you can stream 4K Netflix at that speed, it's not bad. Not stunning, but certainly very functional.

Client set-up and available support from IPVanish

IPVanish setup is a relatively simple process, be it on desktop or mobile device. There are lots of clients including Windows, Mac, iOS and Android but also Fire TV, Chromebooks, routers, Linux and more. You can access helpful tutorials so even those newer to the VPN world should be able to get IPVanish up and running on any device they need.

To get started you can head over the IPVanish website to sign-up and download the client onto that device. Windows and Mac install like any other, taking you through the automated process. For iOS and Android you can access them from their respective app stores, though you'll get a better price when signing up directly and then visiting the app store. Or, in the case of Android, you can download the APK file for those that want a more controlled manual installation.

There are a total of 15 manual setup tutorials across devices, so there are lots of options and these cover varying protocols like OpenVPN, L2TP, IKeV2 and more.

Both the mobile apps and the desktop clients offer a clear interface which cuts right to the important business of connecting to your chosen location right away. In the case of the desktop clients you can dive a little deeper, especially with Windows, but for most people the basics are going to be enough. While the Quick Connect opening screen is great on the mobile apps you don't get that fantastic map layout like you do on desktop versions.

The IPVanish help centre is useful but not as impressive as the competition from NordVPN or ExpressVPN. Many of these are a bit too wordy, waffling around what you actually need to know. However there is live chat available on the website which can be a great way to get right to what you need within a couple of minutes.

IPVanish review: Our final verdict

For a well featured VPN that is able to offer impressive mapping, unlimited device connections and lots of protocols across many device clients, IPVanish is a great option. It's not the best and it's not the cheapest but it's above average across the board and that, coupled with the freedom of more complex options, makes it a great VPN option.

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Offering one of the largest networks of servers (so big it no longer gives a number - though it's somewhere beyond the estimated 10,000+), Private Internet Access (PIA) sets out its intention as one of the best VPN providers by its sheer reach alone. More than just a (big) number, we give the lowdown on what makes its strengths and drawbacks with our digestible 'one minute review' below, or you can get a more extensive look further down the page.

One minute Private Internet Access review 

Private Internet Access presents one of the biggest server networks in our list of favorite VPN services to recommend, boasting over 10,000 servers across 83 countries (up from 78). It's an impressive feat and works in its favor, helping to pick up the slack where PIA falls short elsewhere.

At the forefront of its strengths are its array of interesting, customizable features, allowing you to set up the client to truly work for you and your endeavours - and not just on desktop either. While PIA doesn't have a long list of clients, apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and browser extensions have been primed to work as well as the multi-faceted Windows client. 

We are fans of its smartphone and tablet apps across iOS and Android, bringing the full experience to these smaller blueprint devices, as well as assimilating interfaces to work uniquely for each operating system.

Streaming is another strength. While you'll have to give BBC iPlayer a miss this time, PIA soared through our testing of geo-unblocking for US Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus. It's worth noting, though, it's certainly slower than its competition. However, for the average Joe, it's 320Mbps speeds on WireGuard will be more than enough for most.

It also shows great efforts in being more transparent in terms of privacy with plenty of features to back it up. You'll find a beautifully efficient kill switch and its very own DNS set-up, alongside a choice of encryption and protocol settings at your fingertips.

The stats:

• Servers: 10,000+
• Locations: 83 countries
• Devices: 10 connections
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Opera
• Protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard
• Top features: Kill switch, smartphone apps, MACE, DNS, browser blockers

Private Internet Access review: PIA price and is there a free trial?

Want in on PIA's extensive VPN service? Luckily for you, you can get a lot for some very affordable monthly rates, making this a great option if you're after one of the best cheap VPN providers available. Considering Surfshark sets the mark for the most affordable VPN services out there, PIA actually finds itself at an even more affordable rate with our exclusive deal, costing $2.19 a month for its 2-year plan.

Much like its competitors, PIA offers a money back guarantee period of 30-days, allowing you to try before you buy - or, at least, get a full refund for your first month if you're not happy with your experience and decide it isn't the VPN for you. While this isn't a PIA free trial, then, it's fair to say you get all the buyer security of one and for a far longer period than the more standard 7 days.

Does Private Internet Access work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

As streaming service unblocking goes, PIA isn't the strongest, but depending on what platform you want access to it could be a fine option. In terms of Netflix, like many VPN, it's struggled against the streaming giant's latest crackdown on IP addresses. However, it still manages to access US Netflix exclusives. It also continues to unblock Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video without trouble.

This time around, however, it couldn't bypass geo-restrictions in place on BBC iPlayer. BBC iPlayer has certainly been one of the trickier ones for VPNs to circumvent, and this time around PIA was a victim of its fierce anti-VPN infrastructure. However, while it didn't work for us this time around in our testing, it's fair to say it could very easily work in the future. While not our choice BBC iPlayer VPN, then, it may be a fine choice depending on what you want to watch, as a streaming VPN.

Private Internet Access review: What security features can you expect?

With VPN services often throwing around much of the same lingo, it's difficult to discern one from the other and decide which is actually offering the most reputable tool, especially when it comes to privacy, which can get very complicated. However, PIA attempts to offer something slightly different when it comes to its amalgamation of protocols, encryption, and features.

Utilising OpenVPN and WireGuard, you can set encryption from AES-128 to AES-256 CBC or GCM for more secure coding of your information, with the choice of WireGuard, too. This, combined with its own DNS and kill switch, intends to catch anything that's likely to fall through the net, as well as its MACE feature, which helps to detect and block websites using trackers, malware, etc. And this is just on its Windows VPN client.

Throw into the mix PIA's Chrome extension, and you can play around with additional features like a URL website whitelisting, WebRTC blocking, and more.

While PIA has yet to carry out a full security audit, it has made many of its clients open-source. This means developers and the like can freely dive into its code and have a snoop and see for themselves if there is any kind of compromise in privacy. This in itself is PIA giving its users full disclosure. You'd have to know what you were looking for, of course, but it certainly shows confidence in its product.

Alongside NordVPN and ExpressVPN, PIA has been certified by the ioXt Alliance for its Android app. While not quite the extent of a full audit, this does show one of PIA's clients to be trustworthy in its functionality.

When it comes down to a VPN for torrenting, PIA is a great choice with little on limits. No need for specialist servers, you can torrent from any of PIA's locations. You also won't run into any bandwidth throttling issues. PIA also offers port forwarding, which could help to improve speeds with any P2P transfers.

Private Internet Access review of speed and overall performance

Though perhaps not quite as important as security, speed performance is still fairly integral to the overall running of a VPN in ensuring that it doesn't completely deplete your connection. We tested speeds on both PIA's protocols, OpenVPN and WireGuard across both UK and US locations.

Unfortunately, speed is certainly where Private Internet Access has began to lack. While its competitors soar ahead, PIA remains below average in both its WireGuard and OpenVPN performance. With highs of 320Mbps, in our testing it performed better in the UK than the US, though it's fair to say even these figures are faster than the average person needs. It's worth taking these results with a pinch of salt, then, unless you're doing heavy duty tasks online that require optimum performance to avoid lagging.

Client set-up and available support from Private Internet Access

Installation of PIA is straightforward. Once you've subscribed to the service, it will direct you to a page of the devices it is compatible with, proceeding to then download the dedicated client for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, or your chosen browser extension. Select your chosen device and it will not only install the file you need to set-up, but also direct you to a guide on its website to follow.

For those wanting to dig a little deeper with their VPN, an Android APK file is also available for manual configuration.

When it comes to its interface, each client offers a sleek grey/green colour scheme that is easy on the eyes and sharp in design. Its easy to navigate, with the option to scroll through a list of cities/countries, and dive further into a whole host of settings, including selecting encryption type, protocol, and so on.

Of course, you've also got a kill switch for shutting down internet access when the VPN loses connection, as well as the aforementioned MACE system and DNS specific servers.

If there is one thing that PIA excels at, it's smartphone apps. You can expect much of the same features you'll get on the full desktop clients on iOS and Android, making it not only a great iPhone VPN, or Android VPN, but also a great choice for those after an iPad VPN.

What's more, it again offers an intuitive interface that assimilates well from desktop to a smaller blueprint in a clean and clear design. You'll be presented with the standard On/Off button, as well as the server you previously connected to, and other Quick Connect options. From there you can dive into a number of the great features available on desktop, including those tailored to the operating system like Siri shortcuts and a Safari content blocker for iPhone users.

Private Internet Access review: Our final verdict

While Private Internet Access may not be the fastest VPN on the market, it offers some of the niftiest, feature-packed smartphone apps available, and works beautifully at unblocking Netflix. For those after a middle-of-the-road VPN that is both affordable and good value for money, PIA is a great shout.

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• Find the best free VPN to save you money

Hotspot Shield makes a name for itself with both its completely free service, as well as exceptional connection speeds in the past. But how does it stand up against its competitors in this round of testing? You can take a look at whether we rank Hotspot Shield as one of the best VPN services with our review in brief below, or keep scrolling for all the nooks and crannies of our Hotspot Shield testing.

One minute Hotspot Shield review 

Hotspot Shield offers over 1,800 servers across 80 countries, and is known in these parts as a consistently good performer, ticking boxes across streaming, security, and speed. While some of its key competitors have finally outdone it in terms of sheer performance, Hotspot Shield is still a reliable contender in the VPN wars.

Offering a selection of fantastic features across a number of clients, Hotspot Shield is perfect whether you're new to the world of VPN or not, with the option to get your hands dirty, or simply select a server, click connect and get going. 

Encryption is top tier, combining Transport Layer Security with AES-256 and AES-128 encryption, 2048-bit RSA certificates. On top of that, it utilises Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman, ensuring - every step of the way - your data remains safe and off limits to prying eyes.

Nifty features like a kill switch and Smart VPN allow for even more intuitive usage. Not to forget you'll be able to bypass geo-restricted content across the board on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, and Prime Video.

However, while its Catapult Hydra retains its excellent speed performance, we have seen other VPN providers overtake in the race for the fastest VPN. That said, sometimes consistency is all you really want from a VPN, which Hotspot Shield certainly offers. Better still, it's even more affordable - especially when you opt for its 3-year plan.

The stats:

• Servers: 1,800+
• Locations: 80+ countries
• Devices: 1 device on free plan, 5 devices on Premium, 25 devices on Premium Family
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, router, smart TVs
• Protocols: Hydra, IKEv2
• Top features: Streaming specialist servers, P2P support on all servers, kill switch

• Get Hotspot Shield at an exclusive rate of $2.49/AU$3.99 a month now

Hotspot Shield review: Hotspot Shield price and is there a free trial?

There are many reasons to be excited about Hotspot Shield, not least because, as well as seeing a reduction in price across a number of its plans, T3 is able to offer its readers an exclusive rate on Hotspot Shield's 3-year plan, bringing it down to a cost of just $2.49/AU$3.99 a month. In turn, the provider is giving Surfshark a run for its money as the best cheap VPN on the market.

• 1 month: $9.99/£8.99/AU$15.99 a month
• 1 year: $7.99/£6.99/AU$11.99 a month (billed $95.88/£83.88/AU$143.88 every year)
• 3 years: $2.49/£2.29/AU$3.99 a month (billed $89.64/£96.84/AU$143.64 every three years)

For those new to the world of VPN and unsure where best to spend their money, Hotspot Shield also has your back with its free service. More than simply a Hotspot Shield free trial, with its free client you can give the service a go with no time limit - though there of course will be other limitations in comparison to its premium version, or any paid-for VPN service. This includes the choice of just 1 server, a data limit of just 500MB or unlimited with the Chrome extension. You'll also be unable to unblock Netflix with it - this is advertised as a premium feature.

After a true free trial of its premium offerings? Those using the free service will be prompted to make the most of a Hotspot Shield 7-day free trial of its premium service. Once you are onboard with a subscription to Hotspot Shield, there is an additional safety blanket with its 45-day money back guarantee. While not explicitly a free trial, this gives you well over a month to see if Hotspot Shield is the VPN for you. If the answer proves to be a big fat no, you'll be able to get a full refund as long as you pipe up within that period.

Does Hotspot Shield work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

One of the joys of Hotspot Shield is its specialist servers. Rather than coming face-to-face with an endless list of servers labelled by country/city and not much else, Hotspot Shield points you in the direction of its specialist streaming servers, ideal for bypassing restrictions and binging content on the likes of Netflix.

Across the board, Hotspot Shield was able to unblock all of the major streaming platforms we like to test - Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime, with the former two prone to putting up the biggest fights. Little to no problems here, though, making Hotspot Shield a contender for the best streaming VPN.

In our Netflix testing, the only real issue we found was in accessing Canadian Netflix. Here we were only able to access Netflix Originals, so if you were after any titles exclusive to Netflix in Canada, Hotspot Shield may not be the go-to choice. Otherwise, it's a great Netflix VPN for those in the UK, US, Australia, and even Japan.

Hotspot Shield review: What security features can you expect?

There are a few things to consider when it comes to the security of a VPN, from the features it offers, to its protocols, encryption, and policy on logging your data. In terms of both protocols and encryption, Catapult Hydra certainly sounds impressive, with the kind of specifications to match. Based on TLS (Transport Layer Security), Hotspot Shield offers both AES-256 and AES-128 encryption, with the use of forward secrecy techniques, ensuring each session's keys are changed, meaning you can't be tracked by one set of details. This is done with Ellipstic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDHE).

When it comes to Hotspot Shield's protocols, you'll find its very own Hydra Catapult, as well as IKEv2. Hotspot claims Hydra to be "verified by experts as the fastest, most secure on the market", which we certainly saw some of the power of in our speed testing. In terms of features, you'll find a dedicated kill switch for when your connection drops.

Hotspot Shield is transparent when it comes to logging. It states on its website it does not retain records of IP addresses or any other means of identifying you/your device. It does go on to state a list of what it does log, including duration of sessions, domains visited, and IP addresses in regards to fraud protection. It's fair to say, while this is promising, it could very well be empty words, with no privacy audit carried out to back up these claims.

P2P support is available on all servers, which means great news for anyone looking to sign up to Hotspot Shield for torrenting purposes. We had success putting these claims to the test, able to download torrent files while connected to servers in the UK, US, and Japan.

Hotspot Shield review of speed and overall performance

Previously Hotspot Shield has found itself sitting pretty at the top of our best fast VPN buying guide. Did it manage to maintain its top spot? Well, sadly not.

While Hotspot Shield still delivered some excellent results, it's fair to say it has been overtaken with many more providers having their own WireGuard-based protocols that manage to outshine. Surfshark, for instance, saw highs of up to 700Mbps, while NordVPN hit between 480-820Mbps.

That said, results were still consistent at 360-380Mbps in the US in comparison to our last testing. It therefore seems to be more a case of other providers improving than Hotspot Shield deteriorating.

It makes sense to avoid IKEv2 protocol unless, for whatever reason, you need to use it, showing poorer results than Hotspot Shield's Catapult Hydra.

When it came to testing other locations, we also tried out connections further afield to ensure Hotspot Shield offered universally good speeds for those not based in the UK or US. Good news, with the likes of Vietnam regularly registering speeds of 60Mbps and more - more than enough oomph for those looking to use Hotspot Shield for streaming.

Client set-up and available support from Hotspot Shield

Available to install on a range of devices, including Linux, Hotspot Shield offers a client that is straight forward to set up, opening up to reveal a sleek yet detailed interface, offering ample control for those who want it, while still being accessible for VPN novices. 

With an obvious On/Off button, connection happens within seconds, including those locations at a much further distance, getting you up and running - and, more importantly, secure - in practically no time.

Very visual in its design, once connected you're presented with a map to pinpoint your new virtual location, as well as being able to see other data clearly displayed. This includes speed and your newly appointed IP address.

Servers are arranged by country, and you're able to click on any one and take a deeper dive into their locations, whittled down to cities. Sadly, there is no favorites system, though you can filter to find its special streaming servers.

Discover features like auto-connect, allowing your VPN to take the wheel and automatically connect to a server when it detects unsecure networks, as well as Smart VPN, which gives you the option to choose domains that don't route through the VPN connection.

The client even offers gateways to support pages, including advice and a direct link to the live chat. Convenient, it simply takes out the middle man of opening up a browser to find the answers yourself.

In terms of apps for smartphones, Android's Hotspot Shield client feels like a close copy of its Windows counterpart, meaning you're not likely to be fobbed off with a more diluted version when using the Android VPN version. The interface is streamlined but still just as detailed, offering easy usability, with its iOS client offering much the same experience, making this a decent option for iPhone VPN users, too.

Hotspot Shield review: Our final verdict

While not the market leading VPN in terms of speed anymore, Hotspot Shield offers consistently good performance with the features to match. Want a VPN purely for streaming? It's got your back, able to access all the most popular platforms. It's also got some nifty features up it's sleeve to ensure reassurance in terms of security and privacy, though a proper audit certainly wouldn't go amiss.

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The Eurovision Song Contest returns to our screen with all its empowering, brilliant, and downright bizarre showcasing of European talent. Yes, after a year void of the garish, wonderfully celebratory event, Eurovision 2021 finally kicks off in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Find out how to watch a Eurovision live stream where you are.

After its unceremonious cancellation back in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Eurovision fans can delight in a night of flamboyance, celebrating music across Europe (and Australia, apparently).

Considering it had to miss its annual slot last year, it's hoped to be an even more joyous occasion - though the UK should lower expectations of scoring points anything above 'nil pois' considering current international relations.

Still, if you're in the UK you can benefit from a free live stream of the Eurovision Song Contest. Happen to be out of the country to catch your native broadcaster? You can always use a VPN to bypass those geo-restrictions.

What time can I live stream the Eurovision Song Contest?

Taking place at the Ahoy in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the final of the 2021 Eurovision takes place on Saturday, May 22 at 9pm CEST (local time).

That's 8pm BST / 3pm ET / 12pm PT and 5am AEST on Sunday morning in Australia.

How to watch the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 for FREE in the UK

In the UK, Eurovision fanatics are lucky enough to get a full Eurovision 2021 live stream completely 100% for free on BBC iPlayer, with coverage kick off at 8pm BST. 

You can watch coverage beamed straight into your living room on BBC One on your TV, or online via iPlayer on a number of compatible devices, including:

• Smart TVs: JVC, Philips, LG, Polaroid, Panasonic, Samsung 
• Desktop: Windows, Mac
• Mobile: iOS, Android
• Media streamers: Amazon Fire TV, Now TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku
• Consoles: Xbox One, PS4

How to watch Eurovision 2021 if you're abroad

If you're out of the country for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, you can still get access to a live stream - simply use the best VPN around to avoid geo-restrictions. 

With most domestic broadcasters locking streaming services to their country, you may hit a wall when it comes to accessing the likes of BBC iPlayer when overseas. However, by getting yourself a handy streaming VPN, you can hop onto a server within the UK or Europe (or anywhere else for that matter depending on where your online content is geo-restricted to), and this will switch your IP address to make it appear as if you're browsing right from the comfort of your own home.

• New to VPN? Find out how to use one to unblock geo-restrictions

How to watch Eurovision 2021 anywhere else in the world

Down under and want to watch the Eurovision Song Contest? While it will be an early start of 5am AEST on Sunday morning, you can enjoy coverage for free thanks to SBS and SBS On Demand in Australia. 

For those across the shores in New Zealand, sadly there is no Eurovision broadcaster available, so you may be better off getting yourself a VPN and tapping into Australia's free coverage, or another country of your choosing. The action starts at 7am NZST on Sunday morning.

Admittedly, the early start may not be worth it since Montaigne was wiped out in the first semi-final, but it promises to still be an excellent evening for those bleary-eyed Aussies. Tune in live or watch back the whole show at 7.30pm in the evening.

For those in the US - never one's to be left out of the action - you can get a live stream of the Eurovision Song Contest through NBC's streaming platform, Peacock TV, costing $4.99 a month. Better still, you can make the most of its 7-day free trial and not pay a thing to catch every second of the 3 hour and 45 minute event.

US coverage starts on Saturday at 3pm ET / 12pm PT.

In Canada, you should be able to tune into OMNI Television to watch Eurovision 2021. OMNI showed both semi-finals this week, though has yet to confirm it will be showing tonight's grand finale event. Cross your fingers, you should be able to tune in at 3pm ET / 12pm PT.

If in doubt, sign up to an excellent VPN and access your chosen broadcaster no matter where you are around the world.

How to use a VPN to unblock any restrictions

If you're outside of your preferred broadcaster's boundaries, you can use a VPN to unblock any geo-restrictions and live stream the Eurovision Song Contest as if you were right at home. Here's our step-by-step guide on how to do just that.

• VPN - standing for virtual private network - offers security and anomality as you browse online, using set protocols to encrypt your data and make it unreadable to outsiders.
• As a part of that, you can also switch your IP address, which identifies your location.
• Most VPNs offer a list of locations where its servers are based to join. Connecting to them switches your IP to appear as if you're browsing from that country/city. In turn, you can then access content locked to that country.
• When it comes to finding a VPN, you should make sure you find the best one that's suitable for your chosen device, with VPN providers offering compatibility for a ton of devices, including VPN for Mac, VPN for Android smartphones, an iPad VPN, and even a range of fairly nifty free VPNs.
• Once you've made the decision for the most suitable VPN for your device and your means for using a VPN, sign-up and install it. 
• To watch Eurovision 2021, all you need to do is select a UK server from its list of available servers and connect. You'll then be able to hop over those geo-restrictions with the likes of BBC iPlayer opening its online gates to you.
• We also want to ensure your money is well spent, so we would recommend going for a VPN that offers a risk free trial. ExpressVPN is one of many providers that has a 30-day money back guarantee.

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CyberGhost is often one of the names you might think of instantly when it comes to VPN, and there's a good reason why. It's a great tool that will suit most people. Want to find out why this is one of the best VPN on the market? Below you'll find our review-in-brief, or you can keep scrolling for our more in-depth testing on CyberGhost.

One minute CyberGhost review 

Smooth out some of its slight niggles and CyberGhost could be one of the best. As it goes, it's certainly a competent tool that offers a neat interface and selection of features to mess around with and meet your needs. 

A Romanian and Germany-based company, it's interesting to note that CyberGhost isn't required to collect and pass over data under Romanian law. For many concerned about their personal information being handed over, then, this may have CyberGhost hitting the top of your list as a VPN. 

With around 7,000 servers around the world across 90+ countries, it's certainly a vast set-up, with a huge range of fantastic features to try out. These include tailored lists, including Favorite server lists, and choosing apps and websites you want vetoed from going through your VPN connection - in other words, split tunneling. 

It also offers a dedicated kill switch, as well as a filtering system to find the server correct for your purpose - i.e. if you want a server you can watch US Netflix on, or a P2P server for sharing files through torrents.

Speaking of streaming, while it wasn't able to bypass iPlayer's hefty geo-restrictions, CyberGhost breezed through the other big boys, including Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video, though you can only access US Netflix.

The stats:

• Servers: 7,000+
• Locations: 91 countries 
• Devices: 7 simultaneous connections 
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Android TVs, Apple TV, Xbox One and Xbox 360, PS3 and PS4, routers
• Protocols: OpenVPN TCP and UDP, IKEv2, WireGuard, L2TP/IPSec
• Top features: Server filters, customisable favorites list, WireGuard protocol

• Make the most of CyberGhost's 45-day money back guarantee and sign up

CyberGhost review: CyberGhost price and is there a free trial?

CyberGhost gives its customers a decent choice of payment plans to suit financial needs, as well as the option of shorter and more long term plans, depending on how long you want to commit to a VPN service. Its lowest price is a rate of $2.25/AU$3.11 a month when subscribing to its 3-year plan, which beats Surfshark's $2.49/AU$3.19 rate. That said, Surfshark offers a happy medium with its 2-year plan rating, with CyberGhost making customers commit for an extra year to secure its cheapest rate.

• 1 month: $12.99/£10.89/AU$18.49 a month
• 1 year: $3.99/£3.45/AU$5.55 a month (billed $47.88/£41.40/AU$66.60 every year)
• 2 years: $3.49/£2.89/AU$4.85 a month (billed $83.76/£69.36/AU$116.40 every two years)
• 3 years: $2.25/£1.99/AU$3.11 a month (billed $87.75/£77.61/AU$121.29 every three years)

Still, there are plenty of options and even its yearly plan works out at an incredibly affordable cost of $3.99/AU$5.55 a month.

With plenty of options, CyberGhost also sets itself apart from its main competitors with an even longer money-back period. Yes, on top of a short but sweet 24-hour free trial generally, you can get a 45-day money back guarantee period. This means you essentially have a whole 45 days to give CyberGhost a whirl, and if you decide it isn't for you during that time you can get a complete refund.

There is also a 7-day free trial for Apple and Android users who purchase from their dedicated app stores. However, you won't benefit from any of CyberGhost's current promotions, including a whopping 82% off its 3-year plan, with 3 months added on top.

It's also worth noting CyberGhost gives the additional option of signing up to its CyberGhost Security Suite for Windows users. This comes at an additional cost of up to $4.45 a month depending on the payment plan you go for when adding on to your VPN subscription. In the Security Suite, you'll get Antivirus software, Privacy Guard, and a Security Updater.

Does CyberGhost work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

One of the most interesting and nifty aspects of CyberGhost is it has specialist servers. That means it categorizes servers based on the tasks they're best for. When it comes to streaming, then, you can select the 'Streaming' filter to find those best suited to bypassing geo-restrictions and offering the kind of speed to buffer TV shows and films.

Better still, when selecting the streaming filter, it doesn't only give a variety of servers generally for this task, but specifically labels those that are the best for watching Netflix in the US, as well as other specific platforms such as Hulu, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime. This gave us a lot of confidence we'd have great success with accessing our favorite streaming services.

There were a few strange, niggling issues when we tried accessing US Netflix via a browser. However, accessing US Netflix through its app proved absolutely fine. In our books, this still equates to a pass in terms of unblocking Netflix, though we found we could unblock US Netflix and US Netflix only. For those looking to access Netflix libraries in other countries, you're out of luck.

CyberGhost was also slain by BBC iPlayer. While we could access the website, we were unable to actually stream any of the content on a UK server.

Still, unless you're desperate to tune into iPlayer content, CyberGhost had no issue with accessing both Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus, making CyberGhost a decent choice for a streaming VPN.

CyberGhost review: What security features can you expect?

Looking to optimise online anomality, pay an additional $5 a month and get a unique-to-you IP address for every time you log onto CyberGhost.

What's more, while its apps do gather anonymous information to help develop the app and better understand how its service is being unused, unlike other VPN providers, CyberGhost addresses this in its set-up process, so users are aware and given the option to opt-out.

In terms of its functionality in use, CyberGhost comes with a filter that stops ads, trackers, and any malicious websites in their tracks, making your online experience far more clean and streamlined. 

In its Wi-Fi Protection panel, you have a lot of control over how CyberGhost responds to connecting to different/new networks, with the ability to prompt the VPN to connect when detecting an insecure network and so on.

Able to choose between OpenVPN, IKEv2, and CyberGhost's fully implemented WireGuard protocol, there's also the option of a dedicated kill switch, as well as IPV6 connections and DNS leak protection. While some of these features don't appear to always work in perfect tandem (kill switch and DNS leak ran into some issues), there are a good variety of features here to play around with. Just be aware you won't receive a notification from your kill switch of lost connection outside of its own interface.

While P2P protocols aren't available on all servers for those looking to use CyberGhost as a torrenting VPN, there is a list specifically for this use case. In terms of usability, this allows you to more quickly make your way around the app. What's more, there seem to be a healthy amount of P2P-friendly servers around with the world, with a count of 59 on the Windows app when we last checked.

It's also worth noting, CyberGhost is a Romanian and Germany-based company. This means, when it comes to its very direct no-logging policy, the company is under no obligation by Romanian law to gather data. Ultimately, though, these could very well be empty words, and sadly CyberGhost - as of yet - hasn't carried out independent audits like the likes of NordVPN and others, though hopefully it will soon follow suit.

CyberGhost review of speed and overall performance

Perhaps one of the exciting aspects in our latest testing with CyberGhost is that its WireGuard protocol has come out of beta and been rolled out across all its clients, allowing you to benefit from some astonishing speeds, across both UK and US servers.

Admittedly OpenVPN was far more reliable than WireGuard, though WireGuard did offer higher results. CyberGhost's OpenVPN results weren't far off its competitors, including Hotspot Shield weighing in at 360-380Mbps, and TunnelBear at 290-370Mbps.

WireGuard proved inconsistent in the UK, though more reliable in the US. Still, we reached some of the highest speed figures, which is exciting now that CyberGhost's WireGuard protocol is available across all its clients.

The US shows a bit of a different story. Speeds were far lower on OpenVPN, but showed a more steady performance connected with a WireGuard protocol. Not quite reaching the heights of ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol (which hit highs of 630Mbps), this is a healthy and reliable performance in the US where WireGuard is concerned.

Client set-up and available support from CyberGhost

For the most part, installation is quite simple. As one of the few VPNs with a free trial, when it comes to making use of your 24-hour CyberGhost free trial, it will either immediately download the file, or take you to designated app store for your device for you to proceed from there. You can set-up and use CyberGhost without parting with any payment details, allowing you complete peace of mind you won't be charged if you forget to cancel after the trial ends, etc. 

If you're after a more hands on process and want the OpenVPN configuration files, you're looking at a slightly more complicated process, so it's worth bearing that in mind.

Once you're all set up, you'll be faced with CyberGhost's clean looking interface, that is simple to navigate, with an array of features and toggles to set to your preferences. As previously mentioned, finding the correct server is also easy for you with the ability to set different filters, whether you want a P2P server, or the right one to stream Netflix. There is even a Favorites feature, allowing you to add the servers you most use into one place.

When it comes to CyberGhost's mobile counterparts, you'll find an excellent array of tools, matching in the same dark, sharp interface. Swapping orientations changes from the simple 'Connect' button in portrait, to more options in landscape mode, with the ability to change protocol between OpenVPN and WireGuard, as well as utilising features like split tunneling. This allows you to choose which apps go through your VPN connection, and which don't.

Looking at the online support documents, CyberGhost does a good job of offering resources and advising across a number of areas, including setting up your VPN on any given client. That said, it is far more limited than the likes of ExpressVPN, which provides far more depth in its guides. We also found some outdated guides talking about features that no longer appeared to exist on the latest version of CyberGhost.

It's probably more reliable, then, to make use of their live chat, where we were able to get a fairly quick response.

CyberGhost review: Our final verdict

CyberGhost offers a great, versatile service with lots of interesting features to dabble with and boost you online anomality. It also opens the gates to the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video with little to no fuss, and offers a number of plans to suit you and your price point. A competent service not to be overlooked.

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Surfshark is your guy if you want the best VPN at an affordable price. Better still, while it is one of the cheapest VPNs around, that by no means means it lacks in terms of its sheer power and usability. In fact, this is one feature-packed VPN that provides expert security and speed, streaming and support for a competitive rate - all of which you can find out more about below.

One minute Surfshark review 

As a VPN with a great introductory price point that is affordable for many, it’s easy to underestimate Surfshark’s prowess in the VPN market. Often cheap can mean a far more limited product. However, Surfshark is a great, versatile tool that will more than do the job for the large majority of VPN users. 

Offering 3,200+ servers across 65 countries, Surfshark has clients and apps available across a number of devices. Great news considering it offers unlimited connections, which will allow you to protect all your devices and even share with the rest of your household - a huge plus against Surfshark when you consider a lot of providers limit you to 6 or so connections per subscription.

Its feature list is pretty extensive, offering a kill switch, URL and ad blocking functionality, P2P available on most servers (which is great news for torrenting), and split tunneling. It also has a great security foundations, too, with its no logging policy, as well as an array of protocols including WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2 support, on top of AES-256-GCM encryption.

Surfshark also makes easy work of getting access to any geo-restricted content. For keen streamers, then, Surfshark has no issues with any of the top streaming platforms, including Netflix and Disney Plus.

The stats:

• Servers: 3,200
• Locations: 65 countries
• Devices: Unlimited connections
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and other smart TVs.
• Protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
• Top features: Kill switch, Clean Web, whitelister, Camoflage Mode

• Is Surfshark the one for you? Head straight to its website to sign up

Surfshark price: How much does it cost? Is there a Surfshark free trial?

When it comes to our recommendations for the best cheap VPN providers, Surfshark sits at the top of the list for its 2-year plan rate. Often it’s the case that the longer you’re willing to commit to your VPN, the cheaper the monthly cost will work out to be. Surfshark more than lives up to this assumption, coming to just $2.49 a month in its 24-month plan. That’s a billing of $59.76 for your first two years. Thereafter, it's worth noting the renewal rates can be quite expensive.

Compare this to other affordable VPN services on the market like CyberGhost, where you’ll pay $2.49 for three years, or Private Internet Access' $2.19 for two years with two months thrown in free and there are other options out there - but do they work as well as Surfshark?

It's also worth noting the huge difference  when you look at ExpressVPN, setting customers back $12.95 a month or, at its cheapest, $6.67 a month for 12-months. While you will get the very best service, Surfshark doesn’t fair all that far behind ExpressVPN, and offers a far more affordable monthly rate for those looking to cut costs.

In terms of a Surfshark free trial, Android, iOS and macOS users can get a 7-day free trial if they go via the Google Play Store or App Store. However, if you go direct to the website, you'll benefit from promotions like 2 months free on its 24-month plan, which is nearly always available. Better still, Surfshark offers a 30-day money back guarantee, which may as well be a month free trial. This allows you to give the tool a go and get your money back within that 30-day period if it's not for you.

Does Surfshark work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

Listed under ‘Benefits’ on its website, Surfshark cites giving you access and unlocking content otherwise geo-restricted. “Escape restrictions”, “use the internet uncensored” and “stream privately” come alongside the promise that using Surfshark helps you avoid buffering, and enjoying a secure connection while accessing online content.

When it comes down to hitting those all-important popular streaming platforms, Surfshark has great success as one of the best streaming VPN services, able to unblock Netflix, stating it can bypass geo-restrictions and get you access to Netflix libraries in 20 countries, including the US, Australia, India, Japan, France, and more. We found this to be true, able to access Netflix in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan.

It’s the same story for Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus.

BBC iPlayer can offer a bit more of a challenge. However, Surfshark breezed through with all three of our attempts, allowing us to access the predominantly British content.

Surfshark review: What features can you expect and how do they boost security?

Surfshark certainly isn’t messing around when it comes to the selection of features it offers to better protect your internet connection. In fact, Surfshark breaks its features down into four categories: Protect, Control, Access, and Unlock. Offering a plethora of features that will boost your privacy online, Surfshark isn’t one to be underestimated, going above and beyond the basics of any given VPN service.

Setting the foundations, it offers a number of protocols as well as AES-256 encryption. Protocols include WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP and TCP, on top of a kill switch to cover you if and when connection drops. You’ll also find features like Surfshark Search, which puts a stop to any tracking or targeted ads, in addition to CleanWeb for blocking ads and malware.

Surfshark will even notify you if any of your personal details are leaked online. This includes passwords, which you can receive periodic reminders to change in order to keep on top of your online security.

Concerned about logging? Surfshark keeps things pretty transparent, stating it doesn’t log “Incoming and outgoing IP addresses; Browsing, downloading or purchasing history; VPN servers you use; Used bandwidth; Session information; Connection timestamps; Network traffic.”

In terms of an official audit, Surfshark’s credentials are a lot more promising, undergoing a second audit by Cure53 of its servers in May 2021 following on from its previous one carried out in November 2018 on its browser extension. Both returned good results, though it's fair to say we would like to see audits delve into Surfshark's no logging policy for better peace of mind.

While the results are highly satisfactory, it’s fair to say if your priorities for a VPN have a heavy emphasis on the inner workings of the service’s privacy policy and implementation, there may be other providers that can better put your mind at ease.

For keen torrenters, there are a couple aspects worthy of note about Surfshark. Firstly, most servers offer P2P. The Whitelister feature may also be ideal for those looking to use Surfshark as a torrenting VPN. This allows you to choose applications on your device to specifically go through your VPN connection, rather than every task going through VPN and potentially impacting other tasks you’re trying to carry out.

Surfshark review of speed and overall performance

In the past it's fair to say Surfshark has fallen short and lagged behind its competition when it comes to its speeds. However, that is no longer the case in our most recent rounds of testing. In fact, Surfshark proves to be one of the fastest of the lot, soaring ahead with above average speeds, particularly on its WireGuard protocol.

With peaks of 550-700Mbps in the UK and even more exceptional highs of 720-790Mbps in the US, Surfshark rides high alongside the likes of NordVPN (730-760Mbps).

Its OpenVPN speeds were a touch less exciting, ranging 140-150Mbps. This is a good 50Mbps behind top VPNs in this area which were hitting 200-300Mbps. However, in most scenarios these numbers will do the job. What's more, Surfshark has its WireGuard protocol doing the brunt of the work.

Client set-up and available support from Surfshark

With an affordable price point, it makes sense that Surfshark’s interface would be just as accessible, making it a great VPN service for the average, every-day user who wants greats features - and it has the clients to match. 

Offering a clean interface across its devices, Surfshark’s clients are easy to navigate, hosting a number of settings that make it simple to tailor the service to you and your requirements. That said, its Windows client certainly offers the most full-fat, comprehensive experience, with the option to reduce the size of the window itself, or expand to get a more detailed dashboard.

Connecting is easy, with the interface changing to reflect your new IP address. You will also receive notifications, though we did find we weren’t always notified by the kill switch when a connection was lost, making this feature almost completely redundant in potentially leaving us vulnerable. 

The client comes with the option of a favorite list, allowing you to save servers you want to use frequently, as well as the aforementioned features including CleanWeb and Whitelister.

On Android, you’ll find a fairly similar, streamlined Android VPN, boasting much of the same features - great considering mobile apps usually get a far more diluted overall user experience. It’s much the same story on the iOS app for iPhone and iPad, too.

In terms of support, you can find plenty of helpful resources on Surfshark’s website, including FAQs, tutorials for installation, as well as troubleshooting guides. If information doesn’t help, Surfshark also has 24/7 support via live chat, which appears to be both prompt and friendly - can’t get better than that?

Surfshark review: Our final verdict

Surfshark is the VPN service for the masses, ticking off affordability and accessibility in equal measures. While there are some teething issues with its kill switch notifications, and OpenVPN speeds aren’t optimal (though WireGuard performance more than makes up for it), for many this service more than does the job with a surprisingly long list of excellent security features, and the ability to unblock your favorite streaming platforms. 

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NordVPN, for many, is the provider that brings to mind when we think, not only about VPN but the best VPN. Second only to ExpressVPN in our books, NordVPN makes top security its focus with a whole reel of features, as well as its impressive NordLynx WireGuard protocol. Get an idea of exactly what this provider can offer you with both our quick overview below, as well as a more in-depth look at our testing and NordVPN's results further down the page.

One minute NordVPN review 

From PewDiePie to Liverpool FC, NordVPN is one of - if not the - most well known VPN service on the market. Beyond its marketing campaigns with well known names (and teams), it also builds this reputation on being an excellent provider that has security at its forefront.

Providing intelligent AES-256-GCM encryption, it also hosts security and privacy features like Double VPN, which functions as an additional middleman between your device and the network its connected to. It also adds Threat Protection to its roster, which works to protect against malware, as well as blocking unsecure websites and any incoming ads.

Concerned about speed? With NordVPN's NordLynx protocol you can expect incredibly high speeds, ideal for any heavy duty tasks. You'll also find a dedicated kill switch, and split tunneling. Specialist P2P servers are available, ideal for torrenting, with well over over 5,400 servers around the globe in total.

Falling short on user interface (though this could be simply down to personal preference) its uber reliable when it comes to unblocking streaming services, including top dog, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus and the often difficult BBC iPlayer.

The stats:

• Servers: 5,400+
• Locations: 60 countries 
• Devices: 6 simultaneous connections 
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Amazon Fire Stick, gaming consoles, Chromecast, Kindle Fire, Chromebook 
• Protocols: NordLynx, OpenVPN TCP and UDP 
• Top features: Obfuscated servers, split tunneling, double VPN, CyberSec 

• There’s a reason NordVPN is so popular - sign up now and benefit from a 30-day money back guarantee. 

NordVPN review: How much does it cost? Is there a NordVPN free trial?

Considering it’s not far behind ExpressVPN in expertise, NordVPN is far more affordable. Still not the cheapest in comparison to the likes of Surfshark, which offers customers a monthly rate of $2.49, NordVPN's monthly rate is still a dollar cheaper than ExpressVPN’s $12.95 a month. But Nord's value really shows if you commit to a whole 2-years upfront where the effective price comes down to just $3.29 a month (though watch out, as 2-year plans will renew on annual plans for a rate of $8.29 a month).

While it doesn’t offer any freebies like ExpressVPN with its Backblaze bundle, NordVPN does give you one more simultaneous connection than its main competitor. You can load up NordVPN on up to six devices (ExpressVPN only offers five), allowing you the freedom to have it on most (if not all) of your devices, or even share your NordVPN subscription with your household.

Though NordVPN doesn’t have an explicit free trial, you can benefit from its 30-day money back guarantee. This policy essentially offers you the safety net to give NordVPN a go for a month and get a complete refund if you decide within that period it’s not for you. 

Android users subscribing through Google Play Store can enjoy a 7-day free trial on their smartphone or tablet, though we always recommend purchasing directly through NordVPN to make the most of any current promotions - of which there is always at least one on, regularly offering free extensions on top of your plan.

Does NordVPN work on Netflix? What other streaming services can it unblock?

For avid streamers, this is where a VPN can truly matter, depending on how expertly and efficiently it can bypass geo-restrictions and allow you to rinse through your watchlist no matter where you are in the world across the top streaming platforms. 

NordVPN has no problems when it comes to Netflix, Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer or Amazon Prime Video. In fact, NordVPN proves to be one of the strongest streaming VPN currently, with its ability to bypass Netflix's anti-VPN infrastructure and stream Netflix libraries in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan.

In the past BBC iPlayer has proved a problem for NordVPN, but lately NordVPN has functioned as an excellent BBC iPlayer VPN without trouble.

NordVPN review: What features can you expect and how do they boost privacy?

When it comes to privacy and security, NordVPN has a lot of ammo in its holster, offering a dedicated kill switch, and the option for split tunneling - allowing you to bypass your VPN connection on certain websites and apps. Its new Threat Protection package is able to detect malicious malware, as well as blocking ads and pop-ups, and websites it deems untrustworthy. It'll also scan any files you download and catch anything sinister. Currently, though, Threat Protection is only available on Windows and Mac NordVPN clients.

In terms of encryption, NordVPN uses AES-256-GCM, partnered with 4096-bit Diffie-Hellman, which regularly changes keys to ensure any attack will be limited to just one before the code changes again to avoid further attacks. 

Then there’s NordVPN’s Double VPN strategy for when you’re connected to a server, giving you an extra layer of security, running your traffic NordVPN before re-encrypting and changing to another server. This makes it harder to track your activity, great for if you’re handling a particularly sensitive task.

NordVPN is pretty explicit about its no-logging policy, too, stating on its website: “Nord guarantees a strict no-logs policy for NordVPN Services”, going on to list that this includes no storing of information like IP addresses, internet history, used bandwidth, and so on.

We think it’s fair to say that, in the past, NordVPN hasn’t had the best reputation for privacy - many people will recall the 2018 hacking incident. While, yes, this was a cause for concern, NordVPN has certainly more than redeemed itself since then in the last four years.

Its first port-of-call was to update its entire server network to run in RAM, meaning there are no local files to speak of that anyone could hack and subsequently read. This, as well as audits carried out by VerSprite into its apps, shows NordVPN’s constant dedication to improve and secure its service, with it joining the likes of ExpressVPN and other VPN providers in receiving a certificate from the ioXt Alliance for its Android app. This checked its Android client’s cryptography, update procedure across software, and network security, securing top marks.

Some VPN servers limit torrenters to just a few servers, however NordVPN is not false its claims as the leading P2P VPN, with hundreds of servers available for this purpose. It also has a designated list within its client just for P2P servers, making it easier to narrow down what you want and find the most suitable location.

NordVPN review of speed and overall performance

When it comes to using a VPN, that expectation can be that you may see a dip in your download speed, especially when connecting to servers much further afield.

That’s why it’s important to us to put each provider to the test across a number of locations to get a better picture for its performance around the world. For NordVPN, we ran speed tests on both OpenVPN and its own NordLynx WireGuard server.  

NordVPN comes out on top as one of the fastest VPN. While its speeds saw a slight drop since our last round of testing, it still saw a range of 730-760Mbps on average, with both WireGuard and OpenVPN soaring above average.

This sees it not far behind the likes of Surfshark (720-790Mbps), and some of the big-hitters for performance, including Hide.me at 900Mbps and IPVanish at 880-890Mbps.

Client set-up and available support from NordVPN

Installation is straight forward. All you have to do is click on VPN App link and it’ll detect the type of device you’re on and take you to where you can download it. This is accompanied by well over 50 tutorials to support you through manual set up across a number of devices, going into extensive detail with a number of tutorials for Windows versions alone.

NordVPN tries to add some excitement when it comes to its interface. Unfortunately, it falls short when it comes to actual usability with its notorious map design still not quite having the desired effect. 

While the design is better spaced out with its country markers, there is largely only one marker per country, therefore not differentiating from city to city where one country might have multiple servers dotted around. These markers also aren’t marked in less you right click over it, so you had better brush up on your geography skills.

Ultimately this costs points for pure convenience. It means clicking around a bit more to connect to the server you want, which may seem like a small gripe, but VPNs at their best are meant to be efficient and convenient. There is the option of connecting through Nord’s list format of countries, though this again means a lot more clicking around and scrolling to get to what you want. 

Unfortunately this downfall does stem into its apps. While widely kitted out with all the most important features across the board, from its Windows client, to its smartphone clients, the map interface is a sore point in terms of ease-of-use. Admittedly it looks nice blown up on an iPad, or on a smart TV, but the navigation itself, time and time again, isn’t made any easier - though larger screens do lend themselves a touch better to this design.

Apple users can rejoice as, it’s fair to say, NordVPN’s map interface does work fractionally better on iOS devices, with a limitation on how far you can pinch to zoom out of the map. This means all markers always remain visible and - more importantly - legible. The NordVPN extension streamlines its interface, allowing you to connect within your browser.

It’s worth pointing out that it doesn’t offer a ‘smart location’ or ‘recent server’ option, unlike ExpressVPN, which is certainly an intuitive addition for users who regularly want to connect to the same servers. NordVPN also lacks a dedicated router or media streamer client, with the former in particular causing a huge gap where connecting multiple devices is concerned for users.

NordVPN review: Our final verdict

NordVPN isn’t far behind its main competitor, ExpressVPN. If not for some necessary fine-tuning to its user interface, and its less consistent abilities in unblocking of BBC iPlayer, the two services could very well be neck-and-neck. NordVPN’s WideGuard protocol, NordLynx offers exceptional performance and reliability in its speed tests across locations, with NordVPN hosting a long list of features to offer better customization in the security of your device - making it pretty clear why this is the most well known VPN on the market. 

Read more about VPN:

• Follow our guide on how to install NordVPN on your device

VPN APK might sound like a complex term, but in reality, it just describes VPN technology that’s compatible with Android devices. The best VPN services provide options for all operating systems, but it’s important to check that the option you choose offers this level of compatibility.

In this article, we explain what APK is, how it can enable you to install a VPN on your Android device, and the protection it offers. Read on to learn how to benefit from an extra layer of security and privacy when using your Android phone or tablet. 

• Try out ExpressVPN and get 3 months free + 30 day money back guarantee

What is an APK? 

APK (Android Package Kit) is a file format that’s compatible with Android devices. APK files are used for sideloading apps - those not typically listed on the Google Play store. They are available via third-party vendors and, as a result, may contain malicious content. 

For this reason, you need to be extra vigilant before downloading an APK file. Do your due diligence and check the legitimacy of the VPN vendor site before downloading the APK file.

Why do I need an APK file for an Android VPN? 

When you visit a VPN provider’s website, you’ll see that there are multiple download options. These options have specific software that’s compatible with particular operating systems, and each will have a different file extension. 

For example, Apple iOS files typically end in .ipa. Unless you use a compatible file type on your Android device, you can’t access all the security and anonymity features provided by VPN technology. APK is the file extension that’s compatible with Android VPNs.

Most legitimate VPN providers will make it easy for you to locate and download the APK file for your Android device. You’ll usually see a range of options for compatible operating systems. Just follow the instructions to download and install the technology as you would any other app.

What are the benefits of VPN APK? 

Typically, a VPN that's compatible with Android devices will provide you with the same level of privacy and protection that you might receive when downloading a VPN for another device or operating system. 

A VPN offers an extra layer of security when browsing online. It also enables you to access geo-restricted content such as region-specific content streaming services, and makes it possible to access the internet anonymously. 

Online anonymity provides many legitimate benefits, such as data protection and the avoidance of targeted marketing and ad tracking.  

APK enables VPN providers to offer Android users the same benefits that other users on different operating systems enjoy. Of course, these benefits can sometimes come with drawbacks if the technology you download is unsafe, so always do your research before committing to a provider.

There are lots of free providers for VPNs out there, but you must be extra vigilant before signing up to a free service as there is often less regulatory oversight. You should also weigh up whether a free VPN is right for your requirements as, more often than not, a free VPN provider offers a very limited service.  

In search of more info about VPNs

• Want to binge-watch? Here's the best streaming VPN
• Outside of the US? Get the best US VPN for bypass geo-restrictions
• Explained: what is a VPN server?

As more of us begin to work remotely, the VPN has become a staple of our online lives. Whether for providing enhanced privacy or for bypassing geo-restrictions on content, a VPN gives you greater and more secure access to the vast internet landscape. What’s even better is that everyday users can now access the best VPN services in the market.

While it’s a relatively straightforward task to install a VPN service on your computer and phone, it’s a little more complicated to install it on the PS4. In this article, we provide step-by-step instructions on how you can install a VPN on PS4. 

How to install a VPN on PS4: Preparation 

The Sony PlayStation store doesn’t support the use of VPN, so you cannot install a VPN service on the PS4 the way you do it on your other devices. 

However, there are two methods for using a VPN on your PS4. The first is a simple process that uses the Wi-Fi router, and for this, you’ll need access to a VPN provider. The router VPN method is the one we’ll be explaining in our guide. 

The second method is more elaborate and needs a computer with a VPN service and an ethernet cable. We’ll not be covering this in the article. 

Step 1: Log in to your router 

Enter the IP address in your internet browser to log in to your router. Generally, routers have 192.168.1.1 as their default address, but if you’re not sure about your login credentials, you can check your router’s manual for information.  

Step 2: Update the VPN setting  

After logging in to your router, you’ll have to find the VPN section. This section varies from router to router, so you’ll need to search for it in your router’s admin panel and then input the details of your VPN connection. This information includes the name of the VPN service, your username, password, and the VPN server ID. 

Save the details once you have added them. If you need help gathering this information, you can contact your VPN provider. 

Step 3: Connect the PS4 to your router 

Turn on your PS4 and head to Settings > Network > Set up Internet Connection > Use WiFi > Easy. Lastly, the Do Not Use a Proxy Server option has to be ticked. 

After saving the settings, test your connection to see if the VPN is working. 

Summary

Setting up a VPN on PS4 is certainly more tedious than doing so on other devices. But with the steps given above, you can use a VPN on your PS4 and enjoy unrestricted internet freedom with the best gaming VPN, allowing you to bypass geo-restrictions on particular games, as well as avoiding bandwidth throttling by your internet provider.

Also, make sure you find a VPN that’s perfect for your needs. ExpressVPN once again finds itself taking the top spot for gaming. Better still, if you sign up directly you can benefit from 3 months free and a 30-day money back guarantee, allowing you to give it a whirl before fully committing for the long haul.

• Read our ExpressVPN review in full
• Get your next binge watch wherever you are with the best streaming VPN
• New to VPN? Here are all the VPNs with free trials

The first grand tour of 2021 is upon us as the world's best riders take on arguably cycling's most picturesque and most demanding event - read our guide to getting a Giro d'Italia 2021 live stream, and watch online from anywhere in the world.

The 104th edition of the race covers 3,500km of mountains, hills, sprints, ITTs across its gruelling 21 stages. Kicking off with an 8.6km Individual Time Trial in the picture postcode city of Turin on Saturday, May 8, the tour takes in the breath-taking Alps before finishing in Milan on Saturday, May 30. 

British rider Tao Geoghegan Hart shocked the sporting world by winning last year's Giro, but the UK-born rider won't be on hand to defend the Maglia Rosa. 

Despite Hart's absence, his team Ineos Grenadiers remain a decent bet to defend their Giro title, with their star rider Egan Bernal tipped to battle it out for this year's pink jersey alongside fellow favourites Simon Yates (BikeExchange), and Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-QuickStep).

We've got all the info on how to live stream Giro d'Italia 2021 cycling action no matter where you are in the world with our guide below.

Where can I live stream Giro d'Italia 2021?

This huge three-week tour of Italy will be available to watch in the UK via Eurosport and the free-to-air S4C for Welsh speakers (which is available to watch on BBC iPlayer) and dedicated cycling network GCN in the US. Down Under SBS Viceland, making it free for Australia-based cycling fans. 

In Italy all the action from the tour will be available to watch free-to-air in the host nation via terrestrial broadcaster RAI Sport. The network will also be live streaming the event via its RaiPlay online portal. French cycling fans looking to tune into the action need to head to L’Equipe who will be showing the event in full 100% free, while Sporza will air the event in Belgium.

Overseas in May but trying to watch your usual domestic coverage? Then scroll down the page to understand how using the best VPN can help.

What time can I live stream Giro d'Italia 2021?

The event takes place across Italy between Saturday, May 8 - Sunday, May 30.

Schedule and start times for each stage are as follows:

•Stage 1 (ITT) - Saturday, May 8 at 2pm CEST, 1pm BST, 8am ET

•Stage 2 - Sunday, May 9 at 12.55pm CEST, 11.55am BST, 6.55am ET

•Stage 3 - Monday, May 10 at 12.20pm CEST, 11.20am BST, 6.20am ET

•Stage 4 - Tuesday, May 11 at 12.05pm CEST, 11.05am BST, 6.05am ET

•Stage 5 - Wednesday, May 12 at 1.10pm CEST, 12.10pm BST, 7.10am ET

•Stage 6 - Thursday, May 13 at 12.45am CEST, 11.45am BST, 6.45am ET

•Stage 7 - Friday, May 14 at 12.50pm CEST, 11.50am BST, 6.50am ET

•Stage 8 - Saturday, May 15 at 12.40pm CEST, 11.40am BST, 6.40am ET

•Stage 9 - Sunday, May 16 at 12.30pm CEST, 11.30am BST, 6.30am ET

•Stage 10 - Monday, May 17 at 1.40pm CEST, 12.40pm BST, 7.40am ET

•Rest - Tuesday, May 18

•Stage 11 - Wednesday, May 19 at 12.55pm CEST, 11.55am BST, 6.55am ET

•Stage 12 - Thursday, May 20 at 11.25am CEST, 10.25am BST, 5.25am ET

•Stage 13 - Friday, May 21 at 12.55pm CEST, 11.55am BST, 6.55am ET

•Stage 14 - Saturday, May 22 at 11.30pm CEST, 10.30am BST, 5.30am ET

•Stage 15 - Sunday, May 23 at 1.30pm CEST, 12.30pm BST, 7.30am ET

•Stage 16 - Monday, May 24 at 10.50am CEST, 9.50am BST, 4.50am ET

•Rest - Tuesday, May 25

•Stage 17 - Wednesday, May 26 at 12pm CEST, 11am BST, 6am ET

•Stage 18 - Thursday, May 27 at 11.35am CEST, 10.35am BST, 5.35am ET

•Stage 19 - Friday, May 28 at 12.10pm CEST, 11.10am BST, 6.10am ET

•Stage 20 - Saturday, May 29 at 12.20pm CEST, 11.20am BST, 6.20am ET

•Stage 21 (ITT) - Sunday, May 30 at 1.35pm CEST, 12.35pm BST, 7.35am ET

How to live stream Giro d'Italia 2021 if you're abroad

If you're out of the country for the big race, you can still get access to a live stream - simply use a VPN around to avoid geo-restrictions. 

With most domestic broadcasters locking streaming services to their country, you may hit a wall when it comes to accessing the likes of iPlayer, SBS and RaiSport when overseas. However, by getting yourself a handy VPN, you can hop onto a server within the US or UK (or anywhere else for that matter depending on where your online content is geo-restricted to), and this will switch your IP address to make it appear as if you're browsing right from the comfort of your own home.

• New to VPN? Find out how to use one to unblock geo-restrictions

How to live stream Giro d'Italia 2021 in the UK

Cycling fans in the UK have three solid options to watch this year's event. Eurosport will be showing the tour in full, with live coverage each day usually starting around noon.

Eurosport is available with a basic Sky TV packages or via a Eurosport Player for £9.99 a month or £39.99 a year.

Another option comes in the form of dedicated cycling streaming service GCN Race Pass, which will also be showing the Giro d'Italia live and in full. The service costs £39.99 for a year, with the only real downside being that it's mobile-only.

Finally, free-to-air Welsh language station is offering daily live coverage of the 2021 Giro d'Italia on its linear TV channel and via its app and S4C Clic streaming and catch-up service. Its also worth noting that S4C can also be streamed for FREE via BBC iPlayer.

How to live stream Giro d'Italia 2021 in the US

Dedicated cycling streaming service GCN+ will be broadcasting this year's instalment of this iconic race live and in full Stateside.

Coverage most days will begin around 7am ET, 4am PT, but this can vary between stages.

Race Pass costs $8.99/month or $49.99 annually for USA customers.

How to live stream Giro d'Italia 2021 anywhere else in the world

Looking to catch a Giro d'Italia 2021 live stream? Here are the details for tuning in to watch the cycling event around the world.

Much like the US, Canada will be able to use streaming service GCN+ to broadcast both the race live and in full.

Race Pass costs CA$8.99 per month or CA$49.99C annually for Canadian customers.

For those down under in Australia, SBS Viceland is your go to, who will be showing the races live and in full, and, more importantly, for free. Most stages should start around 9pm AEST each day

New Zealanders, meanwhile, are covered for live Giro d'Italia coverage on Sky Sport, which is available as part of a range of pay TV packages with start time for Kiwis around the 11pm NZST mark each day.

How to use a VPN to unblock any restrictions

If you're outside of your preferred broadcaster's boundaries, you can use a VPN to unblock any geo-restrictions and live stream Giro d'Italia 2021 as if you were right at home. Here's our step-by-step guide on how to do just that.

• VPN - standing for virtual private network - offers security and anomality as you browse online, using set protocols to encrypt your data and make it unreadable to outsiders.
• As a part of that, you can also switch your IP address, which identifies your location.
• Most VPNs offer a list of locations where its servers are based to join. Connecting to them switches your IP to appear as if you're browsing from that country/city. In turn, you can then access content locked to that country.
• When it comes to finding a VPN, you should make sure you find the best one that's suitable for your chosen device, with VPN providers offering compatibility for a ton of devices, including VPN for Mac, VPN for Android smartphones, an iPad VPN, and even a range of fairly nifty free VPNs.
• Once you've made the decision for the most suitable VPN for your device and your means for using a VPN, sign-up and install it. 
• To live stream Giro d'Italia 2021, all you need to do is select a UK server from its list of available servers and connect. You'll then be able to hop over those geo-restrictions with the likes of Eurosport and RAI Sport opening its online gates to you.
• We also want to ensure your money is well spent, so we would recommend going for a VPN that offers a risk free trial. ExpressVPN is one of many providers that has a 30-day money back guarantee.

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Many of the best VPN services provide apps and firmware for routers. By installing a VPN on your router, you can improve the security of every device in your household and ensure your Wi-Fi connection is protected right around the clock.

Besides offering a wide range of security and privacy benefits, a router VPN will also let you bypass geo-restrictions and unblock websites on all your connected devices. As well as this, a router VPN can be used on smart TVs, game consoles, and any other devices that don’t have dedicated VPN apps (as long as they’re connected to your VPN router).

If you’ve not used a router VPN before, you might be questioning what it is, how it works, why you need one, and how to install it. Keep reading to find out all the answers to those questions. 

What is a router VPN?

First things first...what is a router VPN, and how does it work? Router VPNs do the same thing as VPNs clients do on smartphones, tablets, and computers. They route your internet traffic through end-to-end encrypted servers, steering it away from servers operated by internet service providers.

In doing so, router VPNs will allow you to browse the internet and use online services without the threat of your web traffic being accessed by ISPs, companies, cybercriminals, and other third parties. At the same time, it’ll allow you to circumvent geo-restrictions and unblock websites regardless of your geographic location. 

As you can probably tell by its name, a router VPN is installed on your internet router. It’ll extend the many capabilities of a VPN service to all the devices connected to your internet router, including smart TVs and games consoles. On the other hand, non-router VPNs need to be installed, set up, and used on individual devices. 

Why do you need a router VPN?

Now that you know more about router VPNs and how they work, you’re probably wondering why you actually need one. 

The biggest benefit of using a router VPN is that it’ll let you secure all your connected devices, no matter how many you own. That’s great news for those who want to enjoy the benefits of a VPN on a wider number of devices than many even premium VPN providers offer.

If you own lots of devices, you’ll also find a router VPN quicker to set up compared to individual VPN clients. You only need to install the VPN onto your router, and then every device connected to the router will automatically be protected by the VPN service, rather than installing an app on each individual gadget.

This will also make any future updates faster to install, too.

What's more, some VPN providers only provide apps for major operating systems such as Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. With a router VPN, you can connect any device or operating system to it, equipping your gaming console with the best gaming VPN to protect your high score, or access the best streaming VPN on your smart TV.

Providing all the same advantages as a standalone service, too, a router VPN will encrypt your internet traffic, unblock websites, improve Wi-FI security, stop bandwidth throttling, protect against cyberattacks, and offer many other benefits.

Are there any disadvantages to a router VPN?

While router VPNs have lots of benefits, there are some aspects to keep in mind when it comes to router VPNs.

For starters, not every router will allow you to install VPN software onto it. You may require a specific router for use with a VPN. 

Generally speaking, they’re also more fiddly to install and set up than single-device VPNs. As routers don’t have displays, you’ll need to configure and control the VPN using the router’s clunky dashboard via a computer or mobile device. 

How to install a router VPN

Router VPNs have lots of impressive capabilities, but how do you install and set up a VPN service on your router? The simplest method of installing a router VPN is by choosing a VPN with a comprehensive and easy-to-use router app. We always recommend ExpressVPN and NordVPN, two services that reign supreme in our buying guides.

When you’ve selected and purchased a susbcription to either ExpressVPN or NordVPN, you’ll have access to all its VPN clients (including a dedicated VPN app for routers). You'll also need to ensure your chosen VPN client is compatible with your router, with most VPN providers offering a list on their help forum of the models it works with. 

Once you’ve determined this and downloaded the firmware, power up your VPN router and install the appropriate firmware using instructions which will be provided by your chosen VPN. If you get stuck, you can always fire up customer support, with the likes of ExpressVPN and NordVPN offering stellar 24/7 live chat.

As soon as you’ve installed the firmware onto your router, the next step is connecting your computer to the VPN router using Wi-Fi or a physical wire. 

When you’ve successfully connected your device to the VPN router, the VPN dashboard should automatically appear on the screen. Here, you can log into your VPN account. Now, you’re done. 

If you own a router that isn’t supported by your chosen VPN service or choose a number of different VPN providers, the process will likely differ, though the fundamental steps remain much the same.

Generally speaking, the vast majority of top VPN providers support routers and provide clear instructions on how to install a router VPN. Whichever provider you choose, we’d recommend finding and reading their router VPN setup guides. 

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Whether or not you're completely new to the intricacies of VPN software, it's understandable that - even when we say it's the best VPN out there - you're still going to want to know for sure before you part with your money. VPNs with free trials are pretty common, then, allowing you get to grips with the software and whether it's the one for you and your device before you fully commit.

• VPN with free trial: Sign up to our favorite VPN and get a 30-day all your money back guarantee

Keep reading to find our summary of numerous VPNs with free trials on offer, as well as weighing up free trials versus money-back guarantees, and how they're not so dissimilar, allowing you an even greater selection to choose from.

Top picks for VPNs with free trials

Is there a VPN without a subscription?

Want to dip your toes into the world of VPN but not ready to part with your cash? You can always check out our selection of the best free VPNs, getting a picture of the kinds of features available to you.

Of course, with many of our favorite VPNs to recommend offering a money back guarantee period of at least a month, there's no reason not to dive straight into a VPN subscription with the safety net of knowing if it really isn't right for you, you'll get a refund.

Money an issue? We also have a list of the best cheap VPNs for those of you on a budget.

Does ExpressVPN have a free trial?

As explained above, while not explicitly advertised as a free trial, you can try ExpressVPN and not lose out on money if it's not the service for you with its 30-day money back guarantee. This means if you decide you aren't happy with ExpressVPN within that initial 30-day period, you'll be able to receive any money spend back.

There is also the option of a 7-day free trial when purchasing through the Apple App Store of Google Play Store - however, you won't benefit from the 49% discount on ExpressVPN's website, or any of the freebies thrown in with your subscription.

Does NordVPN have a free trial?

The same as ExpressVPN, NordVPN comes with a 30-day money back guarantee policy, allowing you to give it a whirl and get all your money back if you decide you don't like it and don't want to continue with your subscription. 

While you can get a 7 day free trial when subscribing through the Google Play Store for Android smartphones and tablets, you won't benefit from that huge 68% saving when signing up directly through NordVPN's website.

What is the best free unlimited VPN?

First off, what is a free unlimited VPN? For those looking to hold on tight to their funds but still benefit from a completely unlimited experience of a VPN service, from no data limitations to free rein of all its features, you may be in for a rude awakening, as nothing ever truly comes for free. Read our explainer above to see what is available to those of you after a fully featured VPN at no cost.

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When you put the words 'free unlimited VPN' together, it might sound like a bit of a longshot. It's fair to say when the best VPN offers just about anything 'unlimited', you're likely to have to pay for it, regardless of what we actually mean by 'unlimited'. 

Are we talking about data, servers, or features? Wherever your search is taking you, we're here to breakdown what a free unlimited VPN entails, as well as those no fee VPN services, and our recommendation of the best free VPN to tick all your boxes.

Simply want our top VPN recommendation? Sign up to ExpressVPN below:

What is a free unlimited VPN?

When it comes to a free unlimited VPN, this could mean one of a few things. Free-to-use VPN services can be subject to limitations, including data allowance. With many free services instating an allowance, you may not be able to do much before running out, especially when you consider many use them for streaming, which uses large amounts of data.

For streaming VPNs, you'll want a high or unlimited allowance, allowing you to consume media without being caught short. The same goes for gaming VPNs, where online games will require a lot of data to run.

Free services can also see limitations on servers, with many providers reducing their offering considerably. It's fair to say this massively reduces the functionality of a good VPN, where a variety of servers across a wide range of locations around the world give users not only choice and the ability to bypass geo-restrictions, but also reliability that if one server is down, there are plenty of other options at your disposal.

Of course, those after a free unlimited VPN may just be after the full package without cost. To that we say, while we do have cost-free services we recommend, you'll never get the full package, even with those that seemingly offer access to all their features, with no limitations on data or otherwise.

Why a free unlimited VPN doesn't exist

Quite honestly, VPNs that come completely 'free' do come at a cost. Nothing in the world is free, and so to create the infrastructure needed to offer the kinds of security and reliability of a paid-for service, these providers need to pay for it in some way. 

You'll likely see no mention of a 'no logging-policy' and that's probably because the data you give in using these freebie VPNs will be sold onto third-party companies to fund the upkeep of such software. That is, unless it offers an upsell to paid-for plans. In which case, you can definitely expect limitations on its free service.

This is why we always recommend weighing up the pros and cons of cost-free VPNs and what you want from the service. With plenty of cheap VPNs available, it needn't cost a fortune to get the very best, especially when it comes to a VPN's security features. 

What's more, many of our favorite VPNs come with money-back guarantees, spanning anywhere from 30-days to well over a month, allowing you to try before you commit. This includes ExpressVPN, which allows you to essentially trial its product for 30-days and, within that time, if you're not a fan you'll get any money paid so far for the service. 

Surfshark offers the same 30-day policy and weighs in with excellent features at an even more affordable rate, especially on its more long-term plans.

Get the best of an unlimited VPN with these free services:

While it's difficult to find a VPN that offers unlimited services across the board, we do have recommendations of free services that tick one or two of these boxes. Check out these three options below, offering a great free tool that might just quench your appetite for a free unlimited VPN that we trust.

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After one of the best VPN services and want to bag a good price? NordVPN is in the last 48 hours of its phenomenal double whammy offering. One of the current best VPN deals available right now, make sure you don't miss it.

Usually setting you back a steap $286.80 for two years, you can save 68% on NordVPN's 2-year plan, working out as just $3.71 a month for your VPN subscription. And it doesn't end there. 

On top of this whopper of a discount, those who sign up to the 2-year plan will receive an additional month or whole year added on top of their subscription for free!

All you have to do is sign up to NordVPN's 2-year plan to reveal  your surprise free gift.

Please be aware, while NordVPN's two year plan works out as a rate of $3.71 a month, you'll pay $89 up front for your first two years.

Why to make the most of NordVPN's VPN deal

As previously mentioned, NordVPN is beaten only by ExpressVPN in most instances as the overarching top-tier VPN, offering exceptional performance across multiple devices in a variety of areas. 

With 5,500 servers across 59+ locations around the globe, NordVPN is an exceptional streaming VPN with the ability to unblock popular streaming giants like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, and Prime Video with next to no hassle. 

NordVPN also puts security at the top of its priorities with an abundance of security features that make it one of the safest VPN providers around. From a dedicated kill switch to DNS leak protection, NordVPN also comes with built in CyberSec, detecting and blocking ads and malicious websites.

For lightening fast speeds, NordVPN is certainly the way to go for the best fast VPN with its WireGuard NordLynx protocol in its holster, alongside Double VPN, Obfuscated and Dedicated IP, P2P and Onion support protocols.

Its unique map interface sets it apart from its competitors, breaking up the usual list format for a more interesting visual. While it can be clunky at times, we found it works best as an iPhone VPN, able to easily zoom in and out to select the server location you need.

Offering fantastic live support, as well as its 30-day money back guarantee, you can rest assured of only the best service - if you're not happy, you'll get a complete refund.

To take advantage of this special offer, head to the NordVPN website now.

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With advanced internet security measures becoming more easily available to the public, and the hunt for the best VPN ever more prevalent, you might be wondering: what is a VPN proxy? 

Although a VPN and a proxy provide similar benefits and are used interchangeably, these are different services. In this article, we go over each service and the differences between them.

• Try out ExpressVPN and get 3 months free + 30 day money back guarantee

What is a proxy?  

During a normal web browsing session, your browsing device connects to a website directly and downloads its pages for you to use. It’s a straightforward way of browsing the internet, but it leaves a record of your IP address and can be monitored by your internet service provider. 

With a proxy in place, your browsing device won’t connect directly to the website. It’ll first send your web traffic to the proxy server, which will then send your request to the target website. Once the proxy server downloads the information from the website, it’ll send it back to your browsing device. 

Since the proxy server is the one connecting with the target website, your IP address is kept hidden, so you can enjoy an anonymous browsing experience. You can also use proxies to bypass geo-blocking and access content from other regions. 

Proxies are limited because they work only on an application level. This means a proxy could be set up for your web browser, but it wouldn’t apply to the other applications on your device, like Netflix.

A point of concern is that when using a proxy, the data that you send from your device to the proxy server is not encrypted, so it can be hacked by intruders. 

What is a VPN? 

A virtual private network (VPN) is similar to a proxy because it also sends your web traffic through a remote server and masks your IP address. But with a VPN, all your device’s web traffic is rerouted. So, other web applications, like YouTube and Netflix, will also be routed through the remote server. 

Another important distinction is that all your internet traffic is encrypted when using a VPN. This means the data sent from your device to the remote VPN server cannot be intercepted by hackers. 

What are the differences between a VPN and proxy?

The primary difference between VPN and proxy is that a VPN works on the operating system of the device, while a proxy is limited to a single application (like a web browser). This means you can get a VPN client for each specific device you own, like an iPhone VPN, or an Android VPN.

A VPN is more secure because it encrypts your web traffic data, and a proxy doesn’t do that. VPNs also tend to be slower than proxies because they have to encrypt the user’s data, but they’re more reliable. That said, you can find the best fast VPNs, if you're looking to boost your download speeds, or carry out tasks that might usually slow you down like streaming, or get a specific gaming VPN.

Although a VPN and a proxy offer similar advantages, like bypassing geographic restrictions and anonymous browsing, these are different services. The former is encrypted and works across the operating system, while the latter is not encrypted and works solely on the application level.

Keeping the features of both services in mind will help you decide what’s best for your internet needs.

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The best VPN technology is becoming increasingly popular and is compatible with most digital devices, from smart TVs to cell phones. Sitting at the core of any VPN platform is the VPN server. But what exactly is it, and what does it do? We explain all in this article.  

• Try out ExpressVPN and get 3 months free + 30 day money back guarantee

VPN services provide an extra layer of privacy, enable enhanced security when browsing on public Wi-Fi connections, and mask the location of a user. It’s a VPN's location masking ability that enables users to bypass geo-restrictions and access content from anywhere in the world. With many services like video streaming limited to specific regions, and with internet restrictions becoming more widespread, this feature has become a key selling point for VPN providers.  

What is a VPN server? 

A VPN server is actually no different from a regular server. What makes it special is the software installed on it, which enables the VPN client you are using to connect to the server. The VPN server is the essential hardware required for a VPN platform to operate successfully. 

VPN providers are rated for numerous things, such as uptime. But one of the most important factors to look for is the number of servers they incorporate, and the spread of locations covered. For example, ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers spread across 94 different countries. It's this variation of server locations that yields the biggest benefit for users trying to bypass geo-restrictions. 

 How does a VPN server work? 

When you launch a VPN, the VPN client connects to a server. You can usually choose the location of this server from a drop-down on the VPN app dashboard. From this point, your internet traffic is routed via this server, using an encrypted connection. This means your browsing session is more secure, but it also enables you to obscure your location by using the VPN server as a proxy. 

The VPN server will mask your IP address and use its own as a replacement. For example, if you were logging on in the US while on holiday but wanted to access content solely for UK consumers, a VPN could reroute your internet traffic to a server based in UK territory. 

What are the benefits of masking your location? 

There are many reasons that a user might wish to conceal the location of their IP address. Some countries use internet censorship measures, such as China’s Great Firewall, to limit the online content available to their citizens. A VPN server enables you to avoid these geo-restrictions.

For many, IP masking simply allows them to gain access to more online entertainment. For example, many consumers now use VPN technology to access region-specific streaming services with the best Netflix VPN, or the best iPlayer VPN to watch BBC’s iPlayer when you find yourself outside of the UK. You can also use a VPN server to access content from home whilst traveling abroad. 

A VPN service enables you to operate with enhanced anonymity, allowing you to bypass country-specific internet barriers. The key to avoiding geo-restrictions is to connect to a VPN server in a different location to the one you’re in.

By doing so, you can trick the website or application you’re using into allowing your IP address access to content which would otherwise be blocked. With VPNs becoming increasingly popular, there are now a range of options to suit all budgets. So everyone can benefit from this handy technology.  

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We talk a good game about how the very best VPN can bypass geo-restrictions, allowing you to stream the likes of Netflix and Disney Plus no matter where you are in the world. However, streaming isn't just about the content you watch. It's also about what you listen to. That's why we're taking a look to see whether getting a dedicated Spotify VPN is worth it.

There are a number of reasons you might be in want of a Spotify VPN. Of course, due to licensing, Spotify libraries may look different from region to region. It may come as a surprise to some, too, that Spotify isn't available in every country. In fact, of the 195 countries in the world, Spotify is only available in 92, leaving out big nations like China, as well as many African states. Whether you're after music or a podcast your Spotify doesn't have - or Spotify hasn't launched in your country at all - it would make sense that downloading the best Spotify VPN could help you out.

To add to that, dedicated music fans always hot on the latest releases may want to listen to new music that little bit sooner. It's been known that those individuals not residing in the Southern Hemisphere might have their very own Spotify account set-up in New Zealand where the clock strikes midnight first, allowing the headphones to be slipped on and new music heaven to begin.

From travelling or lack of accessibility, to pure impatience, there are plenty of reasons as to why you might want a VPN for Spotify. That being said, it's worth noting it's not quite as straight forward a process as simply connecting your VPN and loading Spotify in New Zealand. In fact there's a lot of hoops to jump through for an outcome that doesn't feel entirely worth it. However, if you live and breathe music, we've done the legwork to show you how it can be done and if a Spotify VPN is actually essential for streaming abroad.

How to use your Spotify account while abroad

Going on holiday but want to have access to your tunes while you lounge by the pool? Spotify makes this easy for you whether you hold a Free or Premium plan. 

For the latter, your Premium account will continue to work like normal as if you're still back home. The library you see on Spotify is tied to your payment details, so if your card is in the US, you'll see the Spotify US library, even if you're vacationing in Lanzarote. 

With Free plans it's a little bit different. You'll be able to enjoy your library back home for 14 days, thereafter you'll have to update to the country you're currently in. If you're travelling for a longer period, it's a matter of going into your Account Settings and changing the country. You'll then benefit from the library wherever you're listening from in that moment.

If you were concerned about being able to listen to your Spotify playlists and saved tracks as usual, in this instance you certainly don't need a Spotify VPN to get your groove on. Just make sure - if you're a Premium account holder - you've downloaded music to listen to offline, or you've got a decent data roaming package so you avoid racking up a huge phone bill.

How to access Spotify in another country using a VPN

There are a few different things to consider when looking to access Spotify in a different country, whether to experience a minutely different library or get access to new music when it's dropped in New Zealand.

Having a Free Spotify account is the most straight forward way to access Spotify in another country using a VPN. 

Switch on your VPN and hop onto a server in your desired country to listen to its Spotify library. By connecting to a VPN, you'll then be able to go into your Spotify settings and the server location will appear in the drop-down menu. 

When you reload your Spotify, the best way to check the change has taken effect is to go to Charts, where you'll see the Top Albums and Top Songs playlists in the country your account is linked to.

The good news is that thereafter you won't need to have the VPN switched on to listen. But if you don't then Spotify will know you're not in that country and you'll have to connect to that country again via VPN within 14 days to ensure you can continue listening.

Worse news for Premium account holders... even using a VPN won't allow you to listen to a Spotify library from another region. Premium account locations are locked to their payment method, so your best bet is to create a separate account on the Spotify Free plan if you really are desperate to listen to songs only available abroad.

It's certainly difficult going from the uninterrupted music bliss of Premium to a Free plan. However, download yourself an ad-blocker and listen on Spotify's web player to replicate that Premium experience.

See, we told you it was complicated...

How to get Spotify if your country doesn't have it

Herein lies the issue. In our opinion, allowing you access to a Spotify library where the music streaming service is already readily available when not currently launched where you are is the only real reason a Spotify VPN could come in useful.

While it is difficult for us to test - short of jumping on a plane and travelling to Africa or China to give it a whirl - from our own findings trialling setting up an account and changing countries using a VPN, it would appear to be near-impossible to do.

To even secure the Spotify app on your device, you'll likely have to change Settings within your phone to pull up the App Store or Google Play Store. In the event that that works, it is uncertain whether you'd be able to get much further in actually signing-up to Spotify.

With a pre-existing account, you can switch on a VPN to change the country. However, when it comes to signing-up for the first time, if you've got a VPN switched on, Spotify will detect it and ask that you turn it off before submitting your sign up form. 

Without a VPN on, however, you won't even be given the option to sign-up in the first place, facing a message stating: "Spotify is currently not available in your country."

Our only advice would be to call in a favor if you have friends located in a country with Spotify to create a free account for you, or - if you happen to be going abroad any time soon - to make the most of access to Spotify whilst you're there. Only then, once home, would a Spotify VPN come in use.

Is there any real need for a Spotify VPN?

In conclusion, honestly, no. It's a lot of work for not a whole lot of reward. When it comes to the kind of different content you can get in another country's Spotify library, we couldn't even find a definitive answer on what kind of exclusive content might be available in different regions. Even those in search of niche Japanese artists, you'll be thrilled to find it streamable beyond Spotify account holders in Asia - perhaps we have the rise in popularity of genres like K-Pop to thank for that?

For those who want to listen to new music that bit sooner, we're not sure it's worth all the hoop jumping just to get music less than a day early. However, if you're craving that new album, knock yourself out. It does work. The set-up is just a bit of a nightmare. Plus, we're sure that artist would appreciate your streams within your own country.

The only real use we can see for a Spotify VPN is for those who don't yet have Spotify available in their country. However, as we said, it's not something we can test and say with confidence will actually work for you, especially in terms of successfully signing-up in the first place.

With the likes of YouTube and SoundCloud offering alternative ways to listen to music you're struggling to access, it may be worth trying the best YouTube VPN to listen to the kind of content you enjoy.

Spotify VPN FAQ:

Which Spotify VPN should I get?

It's fair to say you may be happy to jump through those hoops and get the few benefits there are for having a Spotify VPN. If you're on the hunt, then, our top recommendation - and the one we used predominantly for our own Spotify VPN testing - is ExpressVPN. While it does sit on the more expensive side where VPN providers are concerned, you can benefit from its risk free 30-day money back guarantee to ensure it's the one for you before you part with your cash.

If price is a real concern, our best cheap VPN, Surfshark offers exceptional value for money, particularly on its longer term payment plans. Better still, Surfshark comes with unlimited connections, meaning you can have simultaneous connections across all your devices - and share it around the family, too.

Does Spotify work with VPN?

Spotify does and doesn't work with VPN. When it comes to signing-up for a Spotify account, Spotify will stop you in your tracks with a VPN switched on, detecting it and asking you to turn it off before proceeding.

However, once you've got your Spotify account, Spotify doesn't show up any kind of messages when connected to a VPN. 

That said, in order to access a different country's Spotify library, you'll only need a VPN switched on to your desired location when going in the settings to change your country/region. Once done, you won't have to have one on to listen to music as your library will  now remain set to that country.

Of course, it's always a good idea to keep a VPN switched on purely for all the other benefits a VPN offers beyond allowing you to stream more content. They also offer better overall performance from security to the best fast VPN levelling up your Internet speed.

Can you use Spotify Premium with VPN?

When it comes to Spotify Premium account holders, there is really not much point in a VPN, in less you happen to have a ton of credit cards tied to different countries in your wallet - and we kind of hope that isn't the case...

Spotify Premium allows you to listen to music no matter where you are - even if you're out of range of a good signal as long as you've remembered to download your favorite playlists and albums for offline listening.

While a streaming VPN can be an excellent way to unblock certain streaming services, where a Spotify VPN for Premium Spotify users is concerned, it proves fairly redundant.

In search of more info about VPNs

• Check out our how to for setting up VPN on iPad
• Find the best iPhone VPN right here
• Not looking for an iOS VPN? Check out our Android VPN guide

It's fair to say that - to quite a substantial extent - day-to-day life is ruled by how far we can stretch out the battery life of our handset. You may be concerned, then, by how much the best VPN might drain your battery. Particularly when it comes to an iPhone VPN, with these handsets notorious for not having the most efficient battery lives.

With screens stretching to the very ends of the earth (or the width of the smartphone, anyway), not to mention dual, triple and even quad camera modules weighing down the backs of our handsets, smartphones have to work a lot harder. Unfortunately these flagship phones don't necessarily have the big ol' battery cell to support these features and the heavy daily usage a lot of us put our handsets through, either.

Add to that an additional piece of software like a VPN and you may concerned it'll drain your battery even faster. But will the use of a VPN on your iPhone completely deplete the longevity of your battery day-to-day? 

We put our top VPN to the test on an iPhone to find out how much a VPN drains iPhone battery, as well as offering advice on ways to salvage your battery life while using a VPN, and explaining why they're a great tool to use on your Apple handset.

Test: Does using a VPN drain iPhone battery?

In order to determine whether using a VPN substantially drains the battery on an iPhone, we put an iPhone 12 Pro through the ringer with our top-tier choice ExpressVPN, carrying out three different, every day tasks the average user would carry out. This included:

• Watching Netflix for 15 minutes in each condition with the VPN on and then off
• Scrolling and watching Instagram stories for 5 minutes in each variable
• Browsing on Safari for 5 minutes in each variable

While we carried out this test in a real life context, we kept the control variable of only having the ExpressVPN iPhone app and either Netflix, Instagram, or Safari open. Our other control variable was a consistent connection throughout, relying on Wi-Fi over cellular signal. 

Of course, this test won't take into consideration performance on different iPhone models. With an A14 Bionic chip and iOS 14 released with the 12 Pro, the iPhone 12 Pro is currently the best performing iPhone on the market. Results for other models like the iPhone 11, or iPhone SE (2020) could see variations, particularly in far older models like the iPhone 6, 7 or 8.

No, we're not going to pretend that this was done in strict laboratory conditions, but it's also important to note external factors like background refresh settings. Every iPhone owner will have their own range of apps downloaded to their handset, as well as different apps toggled on and off for background refresh. With background refresh meaning apps are constantly running, this means battery usage could be happening elsewhere as well as from our VPN testing. Push notifications were also kept onfrom the likes of iMessage, WhatsApp and emails to replicate real life usage.

Results: Does using a VPN drain iPhone battery?

The first task we carried out was watching 15 minutes of Netflix with the VPN on and then off. Hopping on to a server in our own country (the UK in this instance) so as not to activate a foreign Netflix library, we continued our rewatch of the cosy, quick-witted Gilmore Girls.

Starting battery life - 97%.

After 15 minutes of Netflix with VPN on - 95%

After 15 minutes of Netflix with VPN off - 93%

During both variables, there was a loss of 2% across both tests.

Next we spent 5 minutes scrolling through Instagram and watching Instagram stories with the VPN on and then off.

Starting battery life - 91%

After 5 minutes of Instagram with VPN on - 90%

After 5 minutes of Instagram with VPN off - 89%

Here with a VPN on battery dropped by 1%, whereas when the VPN was switched off, it stayed the same. While this could be down to having the VPN off, it's fair to say interaction with Instagram content can differ, with both the feed and stories presenting a mix of images and video, with watching video content draining battery more rapidly than loading pictures.

Finally we spent time browsing on Safari for 5 minutes

Starting battery life - 89%

After 5 minutes of Safari with VPN on - 88%

After 5 minutes of Safari with VPN off - 87%

Once again, much like with Netflix, we see the same drop of battery in both variables, this time by 1%.

Diving into Settings, iPhone offers the ability to see your battery health and what apps are sucking up the most battery. 25 minutes of running ExpressVPN in the background is said to use up just 1% of battery. In a 24 hour period with ExpressVPN on continuously, then, this could see a usage of roughly 48% a day if burned through a rate of just under 2% an hour.

What do other tests say about VPN draining iPhone battery?

Of course, our small testing of VPN usage on iPhone wasn't exactly the most strenuous and lacks the wider picture of different ways one might use their iPhone, as well as the plethora of iPhone models in circulation.

However, there's no definitive testing around the web, although some sites speculate that you may lose between 5-15% throughout the day.

How does a VPN drain iPhone battery?

As an app that sits on your phone right alongside other iOS apps, ExpressVPN and other VPN clients for iPhone will use up battery as they run. Of course, VPN has to run in the background as you complete other tasks. Much like emails where you receive push notifications, or any kind of mapping app that allows you to navigate where you're going on a journey, they run quietly in the background, therefore using up battery and, indeed, data if you're out of reach of Wi-Fi.

How much battery it uses up can depend on a number of things, too, including:

• How strong your signal is whether on Wi-Fi or 3G/4G/5G - this is the case with or without VPN usage, with your handset having to crank up the power to deliver on tasks when signal is low.
• CPU - it's likely the iPhone 12 Pro worked well under the pressure of a switched on VPN because its CPU is optimised to work more efficiently with no detriment to battery life. It's probably fair to say, then, that older iPhone models will have batteries that drain faster.
• Encryption level - there are a variety of encryption formatting options out there depending on just how secure you need your information to be. This of course uses up more processing power when heavily encrypted.

How you can save battery life when using a VPN on iPhone

• Only turn on your VPN on your iPhone when you need it and turn it off when you don't.
• If you're finding your VPN is draining your iPhone at an exceptional rate, it may be worth trying out a different VPN provider. There are plenty of fantastic options out there. The same goes for the best iPad VPN, with each service having its own perks and weaknesses.
• See what settings options there are for your VPN - some may offer battery saver mode features, switching off features you don't need, or even boasting a auto-connect function so it only connects to a server when it detects an untrustworthy connection.

Why to use a VPN on iPhone

There are plenty of reasons to use a VPN on your iPhone, as well as across your Apple devices - why not find the best Mac VPN for you with our dedicated buying guide? 

While Apple is known for building gadgets that are incredibly secure in comparison to its Windows and Androids counterparts, malicious hackers and malware are out there to make every attempt to break through and steal your sensitive information and spy on what you're up to. For security's sake alone, having a decent VPN for your iPhone helps to keep your details under lock and key, encrypting any data end-to-end as you carry out the likes of online shopping, or whilst dealing with private information at work.

If your download speeds are lagging, hopping on a VPN can also deliver lightening fast speeds with many VPN providers offering thousands of servers across the globe that could give your connection that extra omph.

Of course, with servers all around the world, this also blows any geo-restrictions you're faced with out of the park. If you're holidaying abroad but want to access your Netflix subscription, hopping on a server based in your native country can open up the gates to watch as if you were right at home.

Similarly, if you face blocks on websites or apps when travelling, or in an office or school, changing your server can allow you to bypass any of this geo-restricted content.

• Discover how to connect a VPN on your iPad with our handy guide
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• Unsure what the fuss is all about? Here's why you should use a VPN on your phone

So you’ve waded through the onslaught of advice and found the best VPN, but now you’re facing the potentially daunting prospect of not only installing it on your chosen device, but also navigating how exactly to use it.

Thankfully a fairly straightforward task, we’re going to take you through a helpful step-by-step guide on how to install a VPN straight on to your Apple iPad. It’s worth noting there is a more direct way to install a VPN on your iPad, but we’ll be taking you through the way that benefits you and your wallet the most.

In our ‘how to’ guide, we’ll be using ExpressVPN as our model, as we deem it not only the best overarching VPN, but also the best iPad VPN for Apple tablet users specifically. That said, regardless of which VPN made it through the hunger games of virtual private network wars, when it comes to iPads, you can pretty much guarantee the installation process will be the same, whether you’re looking to install ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Private Internet Access, or another provider altogether. So let’s get started… 

Where should I buy my VPN from?

While your first port of call might be to launch the App Store, it can be more beneficial to go directly to your provider to purchase your VPN subscription. Going straight to the App Store means the chance of missing out on the latest VPN deals. In this instance, subscribing to a VPN package directly with ExpressVPN gets you an additional three months for free when choosing the provider's 1-year plan. Better still, while there is the lure of a 7-day free trial via the App store, all customers benefit from a 30-day money back guarantee regardless of where you download your iPad client from.

Choose the payment plan you want. Typically VPN providers offer a monthly and annual plan, as well as two and three year packages, where you can secure a better monthly average when you lock in for longer, as well as those additional free month benefits.

How to install the VPN onto my iPad

With ExpressVPN, once you’ve subscribed, it will then pull up a handy list of devices that you can pick from to install ExpressVPN on. Tapping on iPhone & iPad will take you to further instructions, breaking down how to install the software onto your device.

You can choose to visit the App Store or follow the link on Safari to manually configure your VPN. This allows you to connect to your chosen server straight from Settings on your iPad rather than entering a VPN app. There are pros and cons to both, with many preferring a more punchy app to work through. However, if you don't want apps clogging up the place, this may be an ideal step for you, though it's worth noting an app can give you more features like ExpressVPN's auto-connect component.

Open the Safari link and you will be prompted to allow the ExpressVPN to download a configuration profile. Once this is done, you'll then be told to visit your Settings. 

When opening Settings, Profile Downloaded will be sat on the left-hand side beneath your iCloud account at the top. Tap this and the ExpressVPN profile will appear. From here you can install the profile. Beware a warning message will flag up, which states the use of the VPN. Whilst it does sound a little scary, it is essentially describing the very means you'll be wanting a VPN for on your iPad, allowing you to shift between various servers and keep your device more secure.

Once the installation is complete, you'll see a list of servers you can connect to across a range of countries.

For those who wish to download the ExpressVPN app, visit the App Store and search ExpressVPN. Download as you normally would and launch the app. You'll then enter the login details you chose when signing up for your subscription and may be prompted to authorise your device with ExpressVPN emailing you a code you'll need to enter.

Much like with the manual set-up, it'll ask you to proceed with configuration, taking you to your settings. Here, depending on how you unlock your device - whether passcode, Touch or Face ID - you will do either of these three things to allow the configuration to proceed.

Once that is set up, going back to your app you can choose to allow push notifications. These are useful to know when you are and aren't connected to a server, so we'd certainly recommend turning notifications on. At this point, you'll also be asked to help improve ExpressVPN by sharing crash reports, etc. You can either tap 'OK' or 'No Thanks' here.

After that you're all set-up. It's then time to explore the app. You can see all the available countries by pressing on the '...' below the big 'Tap to Connect' button and it'll pull up more servers. Pressing the hamburger button in the top left corner brings up settings where you can explore features like Auto-connect and choose VPN protocol depending on if you're after security over speed, etc.

You'll also find Help & Support, showcasing a bunch of handy articles to better explain how to use the app and all its functions.

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One of the world's best VPN providers CyberGhost is still going strong with its New Year Sale, offering you one last chance to make the most of an exceptional value VPN deal before it finally expires.

Saving you a whopping 82% off across CyberGhost's three year plan, customers can also benefit from three months completely free tagged onto the end in this VPN deal.

With this exceptional discount, that works out as a rate of just $2.25 (£1.99) a month and it also offers a 45-day money back guarantee so you can cancel within that time if you don't feel like its the VPN for you.

CyberGhost is the last VPN provider to offer such a massive saving on its services after most of the competition went big with promotions during Black Friday and December. What's more, with no clear end date, we'd suggest acting fast to make the most of this great tool - featured as one of T3's most revered VPN services - at a reduced rate.

Bear in mind, though, as one of CyberGhost's three year plans, you'll pay an upfront payment of $87.75 (£77.61) when you sign up.

Why you should grab this CyberGhost VPN deal

When you're saving such a huge amount of cash, there is probably little need to go into further detail about why you should be jumping on CyberGhost's New Year Sale offer. It practically sells itself. Especially when you consider the fact it features as one of T3's best VPNs for the average Joes out there.

An excellent, cheap VPN, then, CyberGhost comes with a vast range of great tools that will get the most from your browsing experience, all whilst making it more secure with data encryption, its kill switch, and zero logging policy.

Hosting over 6,000 servers across 90 countries, CyberGhost is available across a range of devices, including Windows and Mac desktops, iOS, Android, Linux and more.

It also has torrent-enabled servers, making this a great choice if you're in search of a reliable torrenting VPN. For those who just want to binge everything and anything in sight, our tests allowed us to unblock Netflix, as well as Prime Video, too.

With a clear, easy-to-use interface across its platforms, CyberGhost ensures it can meet your every query with 24/7 support to boot.

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As the new year rolls in, all the best bargains are gradually fading – and the best VPN deals are no exception. However, there's still time to catch one of the best-value bargains of the season. 

Surfshark – our top-rated cheap VPN – is excellent value at full price, but until January 5, you can bag three FREE months on a two-year plan. That drops the effective monthly price to just £1.62/$2.21 a month, which is, frankly, unbelievable value.

Seeing as this deal ends tomorrow, if you've been pondering whether or not to give Surfshark a go, now's the time to pull the trigger and make the most of getting three months free. And, if it doesn't meet your expectations, you'll have a whole 30 days to claim your money back, risk free. 

What's so great about Surfshark?

While it's known as a budget option, Surfshark gives premium rivals such as ExpressVPN and NordVPN a real run for their money.

With excellent streaming performance you'll be able to watch overseas Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime, and you'll also get access to geo-restricted sites like BBC iPlayer. 

On top of that, Surfshark has a wide range of top security features like Double Hop (which routes you through two consecutive servers), a kill switch, split tunnelling, and a range of protocols so you can tailor your experience. 

While it's not quite as fully featured as our #1 VPN, at $6.67 a month ExpressVPN is considerably more expensive. So, if you want a bargain VPN which can pretty much do it all, Surfshark is well worth considering.

• Find the best antivirus software for you
• The best VPN apps for iOS and Android

You might already use one of the best VPN services at work or on your home computer, but what about your smartphone? It's probably the device you use most often, certainly on your own time – so should you be using a VPN with that, too?

Let’s look at the reasons why you might want to install a VPN on your mobile.

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• The best out there? Read our ExpressVPN review

Privacy and security

A key reason for using a VPN is to maintain the privacy of the data you send online – and you send data from your smartphone just as you do from your PC or any other device. Indeed, as we increasingly use our phones to carry out all manner of tasks online – even sensitive tasks like, say, online banking – the benefit of an Android or iPhone VPN protecting your mobile becomes an even stronger argument.

With a VPN connection, your phone’s data is sent via an encrypted tunnel to a VPN server, before heading to its destination online. And that means the likes of your ISP and other third-parties can no longer see that data, thus avoiding the possibility of them monitoring things like your browsing habits which, potentially, can be leveraged for financial gain.

A VPN also provides security with this encrypted tunnel, and this is particularly useful in scenarios where you’re away from home and using your phone on the go with potentially insecure public Wi-Fi networks – maybe at a café, or airport. In these higher risk scenarios - where the Wi-Fi network in question could potentially be compromised - even if the data sent from your smartphone is somehow intercepted by an attacker, they won’t be able to do anything with that data because it’s encrypted.

• Save your cash with the best Cyber Monday VPN deals

Traveler’s friend

Following on from that last point, when you’re traveling abroad and only have your smartphone (and perhaps your laptop) with you, a VPN may come in handy on all your portable devices for getting around censorship and restrictions. Some regimes ban certain services or social media networks, for example, and with a VPN – which can make it appear as if you’re based in a different location (namely where the VPN server is) – you can get round these blocks and still access the online content you need.

Of course, you can similarly use a streaming VPN which may be geo-blocked based on your region; and watching the likes of Netflix might be a nice benefit for those with phablets, for example.

VPN fears?

To flip the question for a moment: why wouldn’t you want to use a VPN on your phone? What we’re getting at here is that you may have heard stories about VPN software for Android being loaded with malware, and therefore decided that this is just an area you might want to steer clear of with your precious smartphone.

There’s some truth to this, as well – there are dodgy VPN operations out there which produce borderline malicious apps, and even software which is a carrier for malware. So you do have to be careful, although to an extent, that’s true for the entire sphere of mobile apps.

However, if you stick to reputable VPN services – like our favorite providers as seen in the best VPNs roundup – then you won’t have to worry about these kind of security concerns. Indeed, if you stick to providers who are regularly independently audited, you have the assurance of a third-party that the security of the VPN is watertight (and that the VPN will maintain your privacy as per its policies on that matter).

Another argument against using a VPN on your phone might be that you don’t want to pay for this service – and that’s fair enough. Depending on exactly how you use your phone and your personal circumstances – such as how much you’re out and about – it may not be worth it. But for some folks, it definitely will; and don’t forget, there are free VPN services out there, albeit with caveats. Again, stick to reputable services like our recommended free downloads, and bear in mind they will have limitations compared to paid plans – or may potentially cost you in other hidden ways such as your privacy.

Why should I use a VPN on my phone?

As we’ve seen, there are some pretty robust arguments in favor of installing a VPN on a smartphone, particularly these days when we tend to carry out a lot more sensitive tasks online with our mobile. Both the security and privacy afforded by a VPN can also be a major boon if you use public Wi-Fi networks a lot when on the go with your phone, or indeed if you’re a frequent traveler.

We know what makes the best VPN, but the question is whether or not you have to pay for one to get a fully-fledged experience. There’s no shortage of free VPN services out there, whether that’s more obscure operations, or indeed premium providers like the companies we recommend in our best of buying guide. Often these providers may offer a free plan – which will inevitably have a good few limitations compared to the paid service.

While these services are free on the face of it – insomuch as that you can use the VPN without paying a solitary penny – as you may have heard, there can be hidden costs to free services. What might they be exactly? Read on to find out.

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• The best out there? Read our ExpressVPN review

Privacy, where art thou?

Two of the main things that users flock to VPNs for are security and privacy online, and a no-fee VPN could potentially fall short on both those fronts – with perhaps costly results.

In terms of privacy, what you have to bear in mind about unpaid VPNs is that they need to monetize their service just like anyone else. With a paid-for VPN, cash comes in from subscriptions, obviously enough, but a free one has to turn a profit differently – often by somehow leveraging user data.

Remember that with a VPN, you're using an encrypted tunnel and the company’s servers to go online, which means that your ISP can no longer see your browsing data. However, the VPN can.

And despite whatever promises it makes about maintaining your privacy in no uncertain terms – let’s face it, every VPN website does this – the likelihood with some free services is that they may be playing fast and loose with your data, perhaps selling it to third-parties who are paying them for information on you (and other users) in order to, say, better target ads. Naturally, this completely defeats the idea of using a VPN to maintain your privacy online.

Security worries?

Another danger with free options is that too many of the massed ranks of services out there are simply set up to make a quick buck and, as a result, may be badly implemented. They might be incompetent services that suffer from IP leaks or DNS leaks, and worse still, they could be outright malicious.

There have been incidents of free clients which come loaded with malware, for example – particularly with Android apps – and obviously if you end up with malicious software on your device, that could eventually cost you far more dearly than any monthly subscription.

This is why for the sake of your device’s security, if you do go the free VPN route, it’s vitally important to be sure to pick out trusted and reputable providers, like the companies we recommend in our list of best free VPN services.

Other considerations

Another danger of am unpaid VPN is that while it may not cost any money, it could end up costing you time instead (at least a small amount of it). That’s because these free apps can be supported by adverts. In some cases where the company goes overboard with the advertising – perhaps in combination with timers that force you to watch the ads for a certain duration – this can get pretty annoying and time-wasting.

Furthermore, free services likely won’t come with any tech support (at least not beyond simple online resources). That means if the software causes your device to go wrong somehow, you’ll have to sort it out yourself – which could be a costly headache in itself. Paid VPN services will (usually) have a full range of technical support that should include live chat or even a phone service, so you can talk to someone and hopefully get any troubleshooting done swiftly.

A final point to bear in mind is that it's quite possible to get a subscription to a seriously cheap VPN, particularly if you don’t mind committing and signing up for a longer contract term. So if you shop around, you might find you’re not actually paying that much more than nothing anyhow, for a long list of potential benefits as we’ve seen.

Are any VPNs actually free?

It seems clear enough that while you might have to fork out money for a premium VPN, that subscription payment could actually be less costly than some of the potential drawbacks of free services in the longer run.

Of course, we can’t tar all free providers with the same brush – far from it – so the other message here is that if you want to go the free route, choose carefully, and go for a firm which is reputable and trustworthy, and preferably independently audited in terms of its privacy policy and systems.

We reckon IPVanish is one of the best VPN services on the market, and it’s currently holding a sale that makes it one of the best value VPNs, too.

Not usually the cheapest provider on the market, this sale knocks down prices across the board. The pick of the bunch is the 12-month plan, which has been slashed to a cracking $3.25 a month, which will save you 73% compared to going for a monthly rolling plan.

But that’s not all – IPVanish has cut the price of said monthly plan down to just $5.00. While some providers dip under $3 a month on long-term plans, no other service that we’d recommend comes close to this deal on a monthly contract.

And, if that wasn’t enough, all plans come bundled with 250GB of SugarSync secure cloud storage – which, by the way, usually costs about $10 a month. If you need that, this could be a nifty way to bag a hefty discount on cloud storage that’s more secure than Google Drive, plus a class-leading VPN for free.

These savings will only be available until October 25 at the very latest, so if you’re in the market for a VPN, IPVanish is looking seriously tempting right now.

• Make your money go further with the best Black Friday VPN deals

Why should I go for this IPVanish deal?

IPVanish is a stalwart of the VPN industry, and has cemented itself as a go-to provider for countless people all over the world. It’s especially great in the US, delivering excellent speeds on domestic connections, but it’s swift pretty much everywhere else too.

Also, if you like to know what your software’s up to, IPVanish’s interface is full of rolling graphs of upload and download speeds, plus useful pointers like your current IP address, the server you’re connected to and more. It’s not cluttered, though, and we appreciate being able to see behind the scenes. Plus, you’ll get excellent streaming and torrenting support.

If we were going to recommend our very favorite VPN service, it’d have to be ExpressVPN. It makes the whole process simple, is great for streaming, has apps for almost all devices and is a dream to use. However, at $6.67 a month, it’s a fair bit more expensive than IPVanish – and it’s limited to five simultaneous devices compared to IPVanish’s unlimited connections policy.

To save some money, you might want to investigate Surfshark. While a little simpler than IPVanish, it’s hard to complain about a monthly cost of $2.49 – but monthly plans are more than double this $5.00 offer.

If you want to save some money on one of the more expensive VPNs on the market, or just need a short-term plan to see you through a holiday, this IPVanish deal is offering serious value – so it’s worth giving it a go before October 25.

• Best antivirus software
• Check out the best iPhone VPN...
• ...or the best Android VPN

Having decided that you want to benefit from the protection provided by one of the best VPNs on your phone, you may be wondering exactly how you get and use such a service on your handset.

Well, wonder no longer, because in this article we’ll take you through everything you need to know about the process of grabbing a VPN app and installing it, and the basics of using the service thereafter.

• So...what is a VPN and how does it work?
• Discover what you can do with the best Android VPN
• The best out there? Read our ExpressVPN review

Choose and install your app

The first step in getting a VPN on your phone is to choose the provider you wish to go with. If you’re happy paying for a service, we recommend picking one of our highlighted best providers (where ExpressVPN leads the way) and using its mobile app. Or if you don’t want to pay for a provider, check out our best free VPN list, or source the best cheap VPN.

The reason you should stick to recommended providers with a good reputation is that certainly in the world of Android apps, there are dodgy developers out there who may be looking to make a profit off your data in some malicious way, or could even load their software up with malware (yes, the latter has been known to happen in the past).

So choose carefully, and once you’ve picked, find the relevant mobile app in the respective app store - Google Play for Android, or Apple’s App Store for the best iPhone VPN or best iPad VPN - then download and install it. This happens just the same as with any other mobile application.

The basics of using a VPN on your phone

Once the VPN app is installed, obviously you should then run it – and exactly how to proceed from here will differ depending on the software you’re using, naturally enough. But there are some common and key basic tasks that are worth knowing about with any VPN, whether it’s on Android or iOS, and the good news is that mobile apps are generally designed to be streamlined and easier to use than desktop software.

Usually, what you’ll be confronted with when you start a VPN app for the very first time will be the account creation screen – though you may have already created one on the VPN’s website, so you might just have to login. Once past that, you’ll typically see a switch to turn on the VPN, or turn it off, and some kind of server list or more usually a global map showing server locations.

These are the primary basic ways you’ll interact with most VPN apps, and obviously the most fundamental of interactions will be to turn the VPN on or off. When it’s off, you aren’t protected by the VPN, so your data won’t be encrypted, your IP won’t be hidden, and you won’t be private and anonymous online.

When the VPN is on, you’ll be protected in all these respects, being connected to your chosen VPN server, which can be anywhere across the world. The global map – or server list – is where you can choose that server.

Choosing a VPN server

So which server should you use? That depends on what you want to do. In many cases, you’ll want to connect to a server which is nearby to your geographical location, because you will get a faster and more responsive connection this way. The further away the VPN server, the more convoluted the route across the internet, meaning you’re more likely to get a sluggish connection – and if you’re connecting to servers on the other side of the world, speeds will probably drop like a stone.

Sometimes, the VPN service will provide some kind of indication of the speed or latency you can expect with its servers, presenting these servers in order of the best performance first – or perhaps simply recommending the optimal location for you.

However, even if no such guidance is provided, the general rule of thumb is the nearer the server, the better. Although it is still perfectly possible to get a fast connection from the US to, say, Europe, this will naturally depend on the provider’s network and, quite possibly, other variables.

Of course, the fastest server isn’t always the best, and in some cases you may wish to choose a server in a specific country to get around geo-blocking, for example. This is when, say, a US resident wants to stream the UK service BBC iPlayer: to do this, they must choose a server location in the UK, because this makes the content service (iPlayer) think the user is a resident of that country, and therefore they’re allowed to watch. Within those UK servers, though, if there are multiple options, you still want to choose the fastest one.

Going a little deeper

We’ve now covered the bare basics of running a VPN on your phone, but the app you’re using may offer some more advanced features. We’re not going to go into these in-depth here, but we will highlight a few elements that you should make sure are enabled. Or read more about why people use VPNs for more use cases.

Most importantly, you should ensure that your VPN’s kill switch – if it has one (and hopefully it does for your operating system) – is turned on. Look under the app’s settings or options screen, and you should find something labeled kill switch; or at least a feature which promises to stop all your internet traffic if the VPN connection breaks somehow (TunnelBear calls its kill switch ‘VigilantBear’ for example). This is important, because it protects your real online identity should the VPN drop out like this - otherwise you may not longer be hiding your IP address.

Often a VPN will also have the option of enabling it to be automatically switched on if you connect to an unsecure Wi-Fi network, like for example the public Wi-Fi down at your local diner. It’s wise to use a VPN and its encryption to protect your data from potentially being compromised in such situations. These networks can’t be guaranteed to be safe, so make sure the VPN is set to come on automatically even if you aren’t using it (often this is labeled an ‘auto-connect’ feature or similar).

Should you leave your VPN on all the time? Well, there can be a bit of a performance overhead running a VPN, as your traffic is being routed via a VPN server and then to its destination rather than straight to the destination on the internet. So if you don’t need it, you may want it switched off.

As we’ve already mentioned, mobile apps tend to have fewer options and settings to play with under the hood compared to desktop software, but your VPN app will likely still have a small collection of advanced features to tinker with. So use the help available in the application, or the support section of the VPN provider’s website to research what they do, and perhaps get the further benefit of those capabilities.

Above all, enjoy the fact that your smartphone is getting VPN protection when you’re online, and hopefully top-notch protection at that.

• Check out all the best VPN services with T3's dedicated guide