In today’s working environment, no one knows when remote work will be going away, if at all. This makes remote VPN access all the more important for protecting your privacy and security online. As the landscape for commercial VPNs continues to grow, it can be a daunting task to sort through the options to find the best VPN to meet your particular needs. That’s exactly what inspired us to write this article. We’ve put together a list of the five best and most reliable VPN options for you.
What is a VPN and why do you need one?
A VPN is short for a virtual private network. A VPN is what allows users to enjoy online privacy and obscurity by creating a private network from a public internet connection. A VPN disguises your IP address, so your online actions are virtually untraceable. More importantly, a VPN creates secure and encrypted connections to provide greater privacy than a secured Wi-Fi hotspot can.
Think about all the times you’ve read emails while sitting at the coffee shop or checking the balance in your bank account while eating a restaurant. Unless you were logged into a private network that required a password, any data transmitted on your device could be exposed. Accessing the web on an unsecured Wi-Fi network means you could be exposing your private information to nearby observers. That’s why a VPN, should be a necessity for anyone worried about their online security and privacy. The encryption and privacy that a VPN offers, protect your online searches, emails, shopping, and even bill paying.
Take a look at our top 5 server picks for 2021.
Our Top 5 List of VPN’s for 2021
ExpressVPN
- Number of IP addresses: 30,000
- Number of servers: 3,000+ in 160 locations
- Number of simultaneous connections: 5
- Country/jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands
- 94-plus countries
ExpressVPN is powered by TrustedServer technology, which was built to ensure that there are never any logs of online activities. In the privacy world, ExpressVPN has a solid track record, having faced a server removal by authorities which proved their zero-log policy to be true. ExpressVPN offers a useful kill switch feature, which prevents network data from leaking outside of its secure VPN tunnel in the event the VPN connection fails. ExpressVPN also offers support of bitcoin as a payment method, which adds an additional layer of privacy during checkout.
Protect your data using an airgap with LTO Tape: Read the Blog
Surfshark
- Number of servers: 3,200+
- Number of server locations: 65
- Jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands
Surfshark’s network is smaller than some, but the VPN service makes up for it with the features and speeds it offers. The biggest benefit it offers is unlimited device support, meaning users don’t have to worry about how many devices they have on or connected. It also offers antimalware, ad-blocking, and tracker-blocking as part of its software. Surfshark has a solid range of app support, running on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Fire TV, and routers. Supplementary devices such as game consoles can be set up for Surfshark through DNS settings. Surfshark also offers three special modes designed for those who want to bypass restrictions and hide their online footprints. Camouflage Mode hides user’s VPN activity so the ISP doesn’t know they’re using a VPN. Multihop jumps the connection through multiple countries to hide any trail. Finally, NoBorders Mode “allows users to successfully use Surfshark in restrictive regions.
NordVPN
- Number of IP addresses: 5,000
- Number of servers: 5,200+ servers
- Number of server locations: 62
- Country/jurisdiction: Panama
- 62 countries
NordVPN is one of the most established brands in the VPN market. It offers a large concurrent connection count, with six simultaneous connections through its network, where nearly all other providers offer five or fewer. NordVPN also offers a dedicated IP option, for those looking for a different level of VPN connection. They also offer a kill switch feature, which prevents network data from leaking outside of its secure VPN tunnel in the event the VPN connection fails. While NordVPN has had a spotless reputation for a long time, a recent report emerged that one of its rented servers was accessed without authorization back in 2018. Nord’s actions following the discovery included multiple security audits, a bug bounty program, and heavier investments in server security. The fact that the breach was limited in nature and involved no user-identifying information served to further prove that NordVPN keeps no logs of user activity.
Looking for even more security? Find out how to set up a Zero Trust Network here.
IPVanish
- Number of IP addresses: 40,000+
- Number of servers: 1,300
- Number of server locations: 60
- Number of simultaneous connections: 10
- Country/jurisdiction: US
A huge benefit that IPVanish offers its users is an easy-to-use platform, which is ideal for users who are interested in learning how to understand what a VPN does behind the scenes. Its multiplatform flexibility is also perfect for people focused on finding a Netflix-friendly VPN. A special feature of IPVanish is the VPN’s support of Kodi, the open-source media streaming app. The company garners praise for its latest increase from five to ten simultaneous connections. Similar to other VPNs on the list, IPVanish has a kill switch, which is a must for anyone serious about remaining anonymous online.
Norton Secure VPN
- Number of countries: 29
- Number of servers: 1,500 (1,200 virtual)
- Number of server locations: 200 in 73 cities
- Country/jurisdiction: US
Norton has long been known for its excellence in security products, and now offers a VPN service. However, it is limited in its service offerings as it does not support P2P, Linux, routers, or set-top boxes. It does offer Netflix and streaming compatibility. Norton Secure VPN speeds are comparable to other mid-tier VPNs in the same segment. Norton Secure VPN is available on four platforms: Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android. It is one of the few VPN services to offer live 24/7 customer support and 60-day money- back guarantee.