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All this work is to suggest just thebest VPN serviceson the market today.

The previous round of testing sawNordVPNstealing the crown as a top recommendation fromExpressVPN.

Various VPN services shown across multiple devices and platforms with “VPN test results” overlaid.

Our VPN speed testing in progress

This time, ExpressVPN lost another ranking position asSurfsharkjumped from third to second.

Other changes in rankings includeProton VPNreplacingPrivate Internet Access (PIA)at number four.

This comes thanks to the provider’s improvement in speeds, service unblocking, and server connection.

1. The best VPN on the market today: NordVPN

Put the premium plan to the test with a30-day money-back guarantee.

you’re able to take it for a spin risk-free with its30-day money-back guarantee.

Proton VPN climbed the ranking a little, too, moving from the fifth to fourth position.

2. The best budget VPN: Surfshark

IPVanish mantained its seventh place in our rankings, followed byWindscribe,CyberGhostand Mullvad.

It’s one of the key reasons ExpressVPN held the crown for so long.

We had so much confidence in what Express was doing.

3. The best VPN for beginners

With its enormous wealth of features and fantastic value for money, it had finally overtaken its biggest rival.

Stream unblocking results

VPNs regularly claim they unblock all of your favorite shows, but which onesreallydo?

I would recommend taking the results with a pinch of salt.

4. The best of the rest: Proton VPN

This allows us to keep track of who’s really the best, and for which use cases.

Next, we ask ourselves the following questions: what security tools does the provider offer?

Does it promise the world, or is it more realistic?

5. The best free VPN: PrivadoVPN

Does the privacy policy clearly say how your data is handled?

Are there any catches in the small print?

Is the pricing open and honest?

nPerf performance benchmark for VPNs testing a VPN server in London

Our VPN speed testing in progress

There’s more to a VPN than just what its marketing says.

A good VPN should be able to unblock multiple streaming services.

We carry outconstant real-world testingto verify our analysis is always accurate and relevant.

PrivadoVPN

However,I don’t just trust what I see on the surfaceof a VPN provider’s website.

Want to know more about how we test VPNs?

We have a much more in-depth explanation on ourVPN testing methodologypage.

ProtonVPN

If there’s a skeleton in the closet, he’ll find it.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses.

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services.

Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.