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Private Internet Access VPN
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Plan costs
£32.49 per year
or £8.09 a month
Number of servers
35,000
Encryption
AES with 256
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VPNs or ‘Virtual Private Networks’ have been around since the mid-1990s, but they experienced a massive increase in interest last year as the Coronavirus pandemic forced thousands to begin working remotely.
Even before the emergence of COVID-19, search interest in VPN had been rising steadily for the last 10 years, according to Google Trends data.
Whether it’s for unblocking the geo-restricted libraries of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime in other countries, adding an increased layer of security against cyber criminals or protecting our privacy online – more of us are finding reasons to sign up for a VPN service.
With a huge and growing market, there are a lot of products to choose from – each with unique specifications, advantages and drawbacks. Shopping for a VPN product can be complicated, especially if you’re trying to get the best value for your money – that’s why we’ve compiled a list of what we think are the best VPNs for 2021.
£32.49 per year
or £8.09 a month
35,000
AES with 256
3,000+ No.
160
5
Express VPN takes the top-spot in our Best VPNs list for its value for money, user experience and consistently fast download speeds.
Details
In Forbes Advisor UK tests, we were able to quickly connect to any of Express VPN’s 3,000+ servers across 160 locations without suffering big drops in download speeds. With the most intuitive and accessible user experience of all the VPN products we tested and at a relatively affordable price, Express VPN more than earns our #1 spot.
Like every VPN we tested, Express VPN uses military-grade AES-256 encryption for robust security whether you’re accessing it via Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux or your router.
While Express VPN only allows for five devices to be connected simultaneously, it gave us the least significant drop in download speeds of all the VPNs we reviewed once connected. That means users sacrifice less Megabits per second (Mbps) in return for access to geo-locked content from the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube and even newcomer HBO Max.
Express VPN scores particularly high for user experience. It has a simple, visual and intuitive user interface that still offers a degree of configurability for advanced users – such as the ability to switch VPN protocols or set one automatically, DNS leak detection and an in-built download speed test.
Price
£44.04 for six months, £73.43 for 15 months, £9.51/month
5,500
59
6
With more servers than Express VPN, NordVPN comes out on top in terms of raw numbers, but a slightly lesser user experience than the winner, Nord VPN takes a narrow second place.
Details
NordVPN provides a good but not-quite-best user experience, and while we were able to connect quickly to most of the servers in its impressive library of 5,500, a few hiccups tainted an otherwise fantastic experience.
In test, we achieved fantastic download speeds via an Australian server, but found speeds were far slower using US servers. Meanwhile, repeated attempts to connect to a server in Mexico timed out. While we obviously couldn’t replicate speed tests with like-for-like network conditions, the failures to connect stood out.
With that said, we were able to access all the geo-restricted content we could think of once connected, with all video streaming in high definition without buffering. The user interface is simple to understand if not quite as visual as that of Express VPN’s.
Like Express VPN, Nord features DNS-leak detection and kill switches. Elsewhere, the VPN supports six simultaneous devices, and its split-tunnelling feature is very easy to use.
When signing up for 12 months, Nord VPN is cheaper than its rival at £45.48. Unless you pay per month, Express VPN only allows you to sign up for six months at £45.72 or 15 months at £76.23.
Price
£69.36 for 2 years, £41.40 for 1 year, £10.89/month
6,800+
89
7
Cyberghost goes almost toe-to-toe with the like of Nord VPN and Express VPN, providing a range of features and some clever extras that add up to a great experience at a slightly lower cost.
Details
Cyberghost has more servers than the providers in the top two spots, and allows users to connect more devices simultaneously than both. On paper and in practice, it’s a real contender.
We were able to connect to all the servers we tested in around five seconds and recorded some impressive download speeds from servers in France and the US, if not from all we reviewed. All of that was made simple by Cyberghost’s accessible user interface.
The VPN sports some unique features that make the experience all the better. For example, there are one-click options to connect to the best servers for streaming, gaming and torrenting. It also has an in-built ad-blocker and options to either switch VPN protocols or have it set automatically. In terms of pricing, Cyberghost is similar to its rivals, if a little more competitive.
Cyberghost’s user interface is a lot more basic than the biggest names in the market. In fact, if you’re new to VPNs in general and you’ve been sold on the idea of accessing the libraries of foreign streaming services, you might feel thrown in the deep end when you boot up Cyberghost for the first time, since there’s little in the way of hand-holding, signposting or contextualisation for novices.
Price
£41.40 for 1 year, £69.36 for 2 years, £77.61 for 3 years, £10.89/month
3,200+
65
Unlimited
With an easily understandable user interface and no limits on the number of devices you can connect simultaneously, Surfshark is a great option for families or shared households.
Details
In test, we were able to get both impressive and disappointing speeds from a selection of 3,200+ severs. At the top end, our download speed barely changed from the 35Mbps we were able to get while disconnected. However, some servers gave us download speeds of less than 1Mbps. Connection to severs often took around 15 seconds too, which was noticeably slower than other VPNs we reviewed.
But there is a lot to like about Surfshark. Most of all, it places no limits on the number of devices you can connect at the same time. If your home is full of smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, smart televisions, tablets and other web-connected devices, this is great feature.
There are also quick connect options to jump onto your nearest and fastest server. This might be a boon for gamers, but may be less useful if you’re using a VPN to unblock the libraries of foreign streaming services.
Add an in-built ad blocker and ‘multi hop’ feature than effectively gives you the protection of a double VPN connection and Surfshark is an attractive package.
Price
£27.65 for 6 months, £42.43 for 24 months, £9.20/month
24,926
77
10
24,926
77
10
Private Internet Access’ massive number of servers far surpasses its competition while offering more simultaneous connections than many other providers.
Details
In test, we were able to achieve good download speeds, particularly from servers in the US and Australia, and connection was fast to every server we selected from Private Internet Access’ ample library.
We found its user interface a little basic, and while there are options to switch between VPN protocols, the presentation of these options felt a little techy, which could be daunting for less-savvy users.
Private Internet Access uses the same AES-256 encryption as its peers for security, and was able to unblock all the usual streaming services you’d expect around the world. Its pricing is also very competitive at both the 12 month and 24-month subscription levels.
Price
£32.49 for 1 year, £56.99 for 2 years+, £8.09/month,
3,200
80+
5
3,200
80+
5
Fast connections, powerful features and good speeds earn Hotspot Shield a place on Forbes Advisor’s Best VPNs list.
Details
Hotspot Shield was able to provide good download speeds, even from the farthest-flung servers, and connecting always took a couple of seconds in our tests. Categories for streaming and gaming take the guess work out of which server is fastest and there’s an in-built speed test to keep an eye on the Mbps rate you’re getting.
The okay, if slightly under-intuitive, user interface has a range of options to get the most of out of the VPN, including the option to switch protocols. In terms of pricing, Hotspot Shield is certainly in the more expensive range if you want to sign up for 12 months, and only allows for five simultaneously connected devices.
Still, we were able to enjoy smooth streaming from the full gamut of streaming sites and if you’re not sure you want to commit, Hotspot Shield offers the joint- longest free trial of all those we compared at 45 days.
Price
£83.88 for 1 year, £10.99/month
1,600
75+
Unlimited
Scoring similarly to Hotspot Shield but with half as many servers, IPVanish provides an uncomplicated and competitively priced option.
Details
We achieved reasonable to good speeds through IPvanish’s servers, which it owns and manages itself -a bonus for more security and privacy-concerned users. The user experience is straight-forward, but less visual than a lot of its rivals.
Again, an unlimited number of simultaneous connections makes it a good option for households with a lot of devices looking to connect.
Overall, its lower number of servers, basic user experience and some problems getting its map view to work properly went against it, but IPVanish is still a more-than-capable and great value for money option.
Price
£63.83 for 1 year, £7.09/month
1,080
54
10
1,080
54
10
With a user interface that’s visually slicker than many in the list and quick connect options that make streaming and gaming easier, ProtonVPN is a worthy member of our best VPNs list.
Details
In test we were able to access every major streaming platform from every server location we chose. Like its peers, ProtoVPN offers super-secure AES-256 encryption and allows for up to 10 simultaneously connected devices, putting it at the upper-end of the non-unlimited scale.
Users don’t get the 24/7 support offered by other suppliers, but prices do start from just €4/£3.55 a month, making it one of the cheapest options out there.
If you’re more au fait with how VPNs work, ProtonVPN allows you to choose between protocols and has split tunnelling so that you can connect different apps through different servers. Add to that some swift connections and good download speeds from the servers we tested and it’s a decent package.
Price
4€/month for Basic, 8€/month for Plus, 24€ for Visionary
480
63
Unlimited
480
63
Unlimited
A solid user experience and no limits on the number of devices that can connect combine in an attractive, cost-effective VPN.
Details
Windscribe is just one of five VPNs we reviewed with fewer than 1,000 servers to connect to, but connecting to them is swift and results in generally fast download speeds.
The user interface is basic, but offers advanced users a choice of protocols and even a debug mode for greater connection insight than many other providers. And, at $49 (£35.85) for 12 months, Windscribe is competitively priced.
Price
$49USD for 1 year, $9USD/month
1,060
290+
5
1,060
290+
5
With the ability to connect through all your devices, including PlayStation and Apple TV HideMyAss VPN offers a versatile option.
Details
HideMyAss VPN users can connect five devices simultaneously and take advantage of 1,060 servers across 290+ locations with military-grade AES-256 encryption.
In test, HideMyAss VPN offered quick connection and good download speeds, but was the only VPN we were unable to connect to HBO Max with through US servers that should have unblocked it. In fact, Netflix and YouTube were the only major video platforms we were able to consistently unblock. On one occasion, while connecting to a Canadian server via a German one, we were presented with the German Netflix catalogue.
But with a focus on security, a built-in speed test and competitive pricing, HideMyAss VPN is still worth your attention, particularly if you’re not just using a VPN for unblocking foreign content.
Price
£39.48 for 1 year, £69.36 for 2 years, £86.04 for 3 years
When you use the internet without a Virtual Private Network, you send and receive unencrypted data from your computer or device to the places you visit online.
This means the website, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and potentially other third parties can see what you do online, where you are and lots more information about how you use the web.
When you connect to the internet via VPN, however, this data is first encrypted before being sent, via your ISP, to the places you visit online.
VPNs act as a shield against people looking to steal data, a cloak to those who want to invade your privacy, and as a mask you can wear to access parts of the web that are normally blocked because of your location.
The best way to think of a VPN is as a private tunnel between you and the website you’re visiting. Only you are allowed through this tunnel, and nobody (ISPs, criminals, governments, and so on) can see into the tunnel.
We whittled down a long-list of 17 VPNs to a shortlist of 10 by comparing each provider’s number of servers, server locations, number of simultaneous connections, encryption standards, pricing, support, content unblocking and the extent of their free trial periods.
We then put each VPN in the top 10 to the test to get a feel for their user experience, checking download* and connection speeds, content unblocking, user interface and unique features.
Finally, we totalled the scores – with special weighting given to user experience – and gave each a Forbes Advisor star-rating out of a possible five stars.
* Download-speed tests were not conducted under scientific conditions. The time of day/week each was tested, the broadband connections that were available to the reviewer and other factors are likely to have affected the results.
£32.49 per year
or £8.09 a month
35,000
AES with 256
A VPN creates a secure ‘tunnel’ between your computer/device and the places you visit online. The information you send and receive through this tunnel can’t be intercepted by anyone else, making it private, anonymous and secure.
There are lots of good reasons to use a VPN, including:
In our tests, we found Express VPN to be the best overall VPN, offering good value, a decent number of servers and locations, fast download speeds and connections, as well as a user-friendly interface.
If, however, you have a large family or share your home with others who want to connect, the best VPN may be one that offers unlimited connections, such as Surfshark.
This best VPN for you really depends on what you want to use a VPN for, how much you want to spend, how many people need to connect and many other factors – that’s why we’ve created this list of the best VPNs for 2021 – breaking down 10 VPNs to look at the most important aspects of each.
Each VPN has a different user interface, but you essentially download an application to your computer or device, choose a server from a list or map of the world and press a connect button. In a few seconds, you’ll connect to that server and you can start using apps through it – whether that’s your web browser or the Netflix app.
You’ll stay connected until you tell the VPN to disconnect or choose another server to connect to.
Setting up a VPN is simple. Once you’ve chosen a VPN, you set up an account, pay for your subscription and download the app. Once downloaded, you log into the app using the account details you provided and you’re ready to begin.
VPN costs vary from supplier to supplier. You can pay for a month’s access at a time, a year’s access or more. Longer subscriptions tend to be more cost effective, but payment is taken up front, which means then initial outlay tends to be higher.
In our list of the best VPNs for 2021, the average price for a 12-month subscription tends to fall in the £30-£40 region.
Here are some common VPN terms you may come across and what they mean.
ISP – Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is the company you pay for access to the internet. Big UK ISPs include the likes of SKY, BT, Plusnet and TalkTalk.
Server – A machine (physical or virtual) that serves a computer (your laptop or smartphone) with the resources, data, services, or programs they ask for.
Tunnelling – The process of creating a secure and private channel of communication between a user (you) and a website or service.
Split-tunnelling – The ability to send data from different apps to different servers through separate tunnels. For example, you might use one tunnel for your web browser and another for your Netflix app.
Logs – In VPN parlance, a log is a record of your online activity. Every VPN in our best VPNs for 2021 list has a strict no-log policy, which means they don’t keep records of how you use them and therefore can’t be ordered to hand them over to anyone else.
Encryption – The process of translating information into code that can’t be deciphered without the correct encryption keys.
Megabits per second (Mbps) – Units used to measure download and upload speeds. Megabits per second is an expression of the amount of digital data transferred from one terminal to another in one second.
DNS – DNS stands for Domain Name Servers. A DNS translates a web address like forbes.com into a string of numbers. When you type a web address into your web browser, you make a request to a DNS and it returns the corresponding string of numbers your web browser needs to visit the website.
DNS leak – When you use a VPN, DNS requests as described above should be encrypted and sent through a ‘tunnel’. It’s possible that this information can ‘leak’ from the tunnel if your VPN doesn’t properly protect you or was misconfigured, exposing details of the website you visit to your ISP and other third parties.
Protocol – A protocol is way of doing things. A VPN protocol is a set of rules that determine how a VPN application connects to a server. Some protocols offer faster download speeds than others, while others are more secure or offer a balance between speed and security.
Kill switch – A VPN kill switch automatically disconnects you from the internet in the event your VPN connection is lost. This protects you from temporarily exposing unencrypted data.
Double VPN – Some VPN services allow you to connect from your computer to another server via a server in the middle as an additional layer of security. For example, you might connect to a server in Germany and then connect to a server in Canada via that German server.
Staff writer Mark Hooson has been a journalist within the personal finance, consumer affairs and fraud sectors for more than 10 years. He is also Forbes Advisor UK’s resident tech expert. Mark says he thrives on making ‘complicated and dry topics easier to digest’.