Many people using the internet have been on the search for the best VPN services, and they have good reasons for it. In recent years, the world has seen one too many cybersecurity issues that have. The VPN can be used on a number of devices, including Windows, Mac, Linux, BlackBerry, iPhone, and Android. Cost: To pay for NordVPN on a monthly basis will cost you $11.95/month. However, you can get it cheaper at $6.99/month if you buy 12 months at once for $83.88 or for $3.99/month when you purchase a 2 year plan for $95.75. IPhone IOS, iPad or Mac OSX to DrayTek Vigor 2860 or 3900 via VPN Connection. The newer Mac and IOS versions no longer support the Microsoft PPTP versions and so connecting to your office or home has become more difficult unless you are using MAC OSX Server or similar.
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What Is a VPN?
A virtual private network (VPN) service is indispensible for those who are serious about their online security and privacy. The device used doesn't matter: maintaining an encrypted tunnel between yourself and your online destination protects not only protects your data in transit but also protects your identity and even your location. Once the province of IT professionals looking to securely connect different network sites, VPN technology has evolved into a personal service that lets individual users connect to the internet by using encrypted traffic to block third-party snooping.
This VPN evolution occurred because it has become increasingly easy for hackers to exploit constantly changing operating systems (OSes), applications, and networks. This means sophisticated tactics, such as man-in-the-middle attacks, aren't just being aimed at businesses anymore. It's happening to everyday folks who are frequenting their favorite coffee shop. This means these folks need to upgrade their security arsenal.
Editors' Note: IPVanish is owned by j2 Global, the parent company of PCMag's publisher, Ziff Davis.
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A VPN encrypts and tunnels all of your web traffic through a secure proxy out in the cloud. Imagine all of your web traffic flowing to and from your computer as a stream of water flowing through a hose. Now simply pretend that hose is made up of encrypted traffic; that's a basic VPN, wrapping your data in a layer of encryption so everything stays safe and private. Additionally, because you're initiating your VPN from a server originating with your VPN service provider, all your surfing will appear to come from the VPN server, and nobody, in theory, can see what you are doing by simply observing the network traffic since there are thousands of other users all sending data through that same Internet Protocol (IP) address.
Why Do I Need a VPN?
If you use your computer or device on a network connection that you don't personally own, then you definitely need a VPN. Public WiFi is a favorite attack vector for cybercriminals who are trying to lift your passwords. By reducing the chance of a man-in-the-middle attack, VPNs keep you and your most valuable personal information safer. In fact, in a recent PCMag survey, these we've seen these apps go from being a tool for the paranoid to personal data safety tool that's as ubiquitous as using antivirus software or a hosted endpoint protection suite.
Another reason is to maintain privacy from increasingly invasive Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and government agencies. This is especially true if you use a peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing service such as BitTorrent, which, while it's most commonly used for perfectly legal file-sharing activities, continues to be associated with a certain amount of illegal activity. Even if you don't fall into the nefarious user category, it's not uncommon to have your connection throttled simply based on the kind of surfing you're doing. If you don't want your ISP or anyone else differentiating between Netflix and standard browsing traffic, then you need to consider a VPN.
What to Consider When Buying a VPN
While most personal VPNs need to focus on ease of use, Linux users tend to be willing to tinker a bit when it comes to software. This fact hasn't been lost on most VPN providers that, based on our experiences during this review, have put decidedly less effort into setup and configuration ease under Linux than you'll see in Apple Mac VPNs or even VPNs for iPhone or VPNs for Android. While they make the directions generally clear in most circumstances, you should expect to get your hands dirty to get a VPN working especially under Linux.
OpenVPN is the major protocol path when trying to connect under Linux, though other protocols will work, too. For Ubuntu users, it's a simple apt-get command away from working right from the Unity user interface (UI). It's a good idea to brush up on your terminal skills if you are feeling a bit rusty, though, because some command line typing is going to occur. Some VPN services offer a graphical user interface (GUI) but they're relatively rare. For example, only two out of our three Editors' Choice winners in this VPN (for Linux) review roundup
No matter what kind of apps you intend to use, however, you'll also want to investigate carefully, not only for compatibility with a particular VPN but also to see what kinds of data retention policy the service has so that, if data is handed over to a legal authority, your identity and activity will remain private. All of these factors will be critical in selecting which service to use.
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Can I Trust a VPN?
One of the primary challenges with using a VPN service is determining to what extent you can trust that service. Even though all traffic from your computer to the VPN is encrypted, that doesn't mean the VPN service itself couldn't sniff and analyze your web traffic. Without some careful research, you could be trading one devil (your ISP) for another (the VPN service). The Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) does a good job of outlining what it believes are some of the most trustworthy VPNs. For those traveling abroad, this kind of research could mean the difference between going to prison or going home. Beyond this, any VPN that's worth considering publishes a lengthy description of what they do and don't do when it comes retaining and disclosing your data. The best of the best retain no logs and exist in a legal jurisdiction that makes no demands for providing or logging any browsing or network connection data.
Why consider services outside those jurisdictions then? The biggest downside is speed. At its core, a VPN is encrypting traffic, which takes time, especially when it's happening on a constant stream like when you're surfing the web. Plus, you're sending all of your traffic requests not straight to the web hosting provider who's serving up the website, but first to another computer, namely, the service's VPN server, and from there to the website—all of which takes yet more time. Combined haphazardly, these two factors can have a significantly negative impact on your browsing enjoyment, even if they do keep you safer.
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In addition, depending on where your VPN is hosted, you may find that some services are less trusting or serve up different content than what you expect. Thankfully, most VPNs offer a wide variety of endpoints across a diverse geographic landscape. At the end of the day, you'll need to consider a VPN based on your needs and those can often vary significantly.
VPNs deserve a lot of credit for making the web safer. However, they also represent a range of often difficult-to-decipher policies and features. The fact that you're accessing these under Linux doesn't make things any easier since Linux isn't always for the technically faint of heart (and their users are typically not considered first-class citizens when it comes to commercial software updates). Windows users typically enjoy some kind of GUI and additional tools to help confirm that the VPN is doing what it's supposed to be doing. In Penguin land, though, you are largely on your own, but there are a few gems worth looking at. With our help, you'll know just where to look.
Best Linux VPNs Featured in This Roundup:
NordVPN (for Linux) Review
MSRP: $11.95Pros: Well-written setup instructions. Solid privacy policy. Excellent speed.
Cons: No graphical user interface for Linux users.
Bottom Line: A standout on other platforms, NordVPN does equally well under Linux. While you'll have to use the command line to get it running, you'll be mollified with great support and an exceptional privacy policy.
Read ReviewPrivate Internet Access VPN (for Linux) Review
MSRP: $6.95Pros: Graphical user interface application. Fast. IPv6 leak protection.
Cons: Weaker protocols when connecting from China.
Bottom Line: Private Internet Access VPN (for Linux) does a great job of combining additional security and privacy capabilities without sacrificing speed. But if you need to stream video through your VPN, you may have to look elsewhere.
Read ReviewTorGuard VPN (for Linux) Review
MSRP: $9.99Pros: Dedicated graphical user interface for Linux. Good support for BitTorrent. Excellent security features.
Cons: Streaming services requires an additional charge.
Bottom Line: TorGuard VPN (for Linux) provides a refreshingly easy experience for software intended to run with the Penguin. The only hiccup is for those who want to stream video as they'll need a static IP address.
Read ReviewHide My Ass VPN (for Linux) Review
MSRP: $11.99Pros: Excellent speed. Good documentation for Linux users. Command line interface utility for Linux.
Cons: Limited support for Netflix. Restricted access to BitTorrent. Not a complete zero logging policy. No IPv6 leak detection.
Bottom Line: Those who need a fast VPN to use with Linux should find a lot to like about Hide My Ass (for Linux) as long as the company's privacy policy doesn't bother you. But if BitTorrenting is a big part of your life, you'll probably want to look elsewhere.
Read ReviewIPVanish VPN (for Linux) Review
MSRP: $10.00Pros: Better-than-average download speeds. Decent setup instructions for Linux. Solid privacy policy.
Cons: Underperforms on upload. No graphical client.
Bottom Line: IPVanish VPN does a good job of documenting how to connect using Linux. It's a bit lopsided on performance, however. The upload speed is noticeably lower, making this a virtual private network (VPN) mostly for consumers.
Read ReviewProtonVPN (for Linux) Review
MSRP: $4.00Pros: Fast. No connection logs are retained. SecureCore lets you tunnel through multiple servers. Tor access is built in.
Cons: No graphical user interface (GUI) application. No Netflix support.
Bottom Line: ProtonVPN (for Linux) hits all of the right notes for security and speed. It's a great option for Linux users that will only improve as they bring over features to the command line interface (CLI) app and unveil a matching GUI.
Read ReviewPureVPN (for Linux) Review
MSRP: $10.95Pros: Linux command line tool. Static IP for services. Excellent upload speeds.
Cons: Inconsistent speed. Access to streaming services requires browser plug-ins.
Bottom Line: PureVPN is one of the fastest VPN options out there but it's a little inconsistent. While it has a downloadable management utility, that tool only works off the command line, and the product lacks other commonly available features, like IPv6 and DNS leak prevention.
Read ReviewKeepSolid VPN Unlimited (for Linux) Review
MSRP: $9.99Pros: Graphical client under Linux. Easy-to-use web interface for generating configurations. Accessible from China. Excellent speed.
Cons: Torrenting is limited to certain servers. Device management is overly restrictive.
Bottom Line: KeepSolid VPN Unlimited (for Linux) offers a well-designed GUI for Linux and some excellent performance numbers; however, it suffers from an overly restricted device connection policy.
Read ReviewTunnelBear VPN (for Linux) Review
MSRP: $9.99Pros: Defaults to best encryption. Easily understandable instructions. Plain English privacy policy.
Cons: Few servers. Limited Linux support. No BitTorrent support.
Bottom Line: TunnelBear isn't overly straightforward when it comes to installation for Linux users. It has a wonderfully simply privacy policy, but neither configuration nor performance earned top marks against the competition.
Read ReviewGolden Frog VyprVPN (for Linux) Review
MSRP: $9.95Pros: Fast. Zero-knowledge domain name server.
Cons: No Linux support for Chameleon VPN protocol. Lackluster setup instructions. No graphical client.
Bottom Line: Golden Frog VyprVPN (for Linux) does well in terms of speed and security once you get it working. But for Linux folks, that's not as easy as it could be thanks to no graphical interface and difficult setup instructions.
Read Review
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The Rundown
- Best Overall:NordVPN, 'Earns top marks in categories like server choice, speed, strength of privacy policy, and even price.'
- Best for Kodi: ExpressVPN, 'Super fast, easy to use, supports the peer to peer connections that are essential to so many Kodi apps.'
- Best for Torrenting: Cyberghost, 'You can rest assured that your identity won’t be exposed.'
- Best Free VPN:Windscribe, 'An excellent free VPN that offers a surprisingly high level of service.'
- Best for Android: TunnelBear, 'Well designed, easy to understand, and allows you to turn the VPN on and select a server with a few intuitive taps.'
- Best for Gaming: VyprVPN, 'Runs on a network of servers that are designed with speed in mind, which is rare among VPN services.'
- Best for Fire Stick: IPVanish, 'Allows you to connect up to 10 devices at once, which is a lot more than most of the competition.'
- Best for Privacy:Mullvad, 'Doesn't require users to provide an e-mail address or any identifying information.'
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: NordVPN
NordVPN is our pick for the best all-around VPN service, earning top marks in categories like server choice, speed, strength of privacy policy, and even price. They manage to offer a similar, or higher, level of service across the board while maintaining one of the most affordable multi-year subscription prices in the industry.
When you use NordVPN, you get to take your pick of over 5,000 servers located in more than 60 countries. Connection speeds are excellent, latency is acceptable, and the service supports up to six simultaneous connections. That means you can have NordVPN installed on multiple devices, and receive the same high-level protection on all of them.
Native apps are available for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and even devices like routers and smart TVs. That makes it a good choice if you have lots of devices, like a Windows computer, iPhone, and Fire Stick that all need protection.
NordVPN features a strict no-logging policy, so you can rest assured that your anonymity will remain secure.
Best for Kodi: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN was a strong runner up for our top overall pick, and it definitely ticks all the right boxes to make a fantastic Kodi VPN. It’s super-fast, easy to use, supports the peer to peer connections that are essential to so many Kodi apps, and it has native apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
While ExpressVPN is a little more expensive than most of the competition, it offers a comparatively high level of service. You get to choose from more than 3,000 different servers in over 150 locations across 94 countries and access the sort of high-speed connections that are necessary for streaming 4K ultra high definition content through Kodi.
If you need a good general VPN that works outside of Kodi, ExpressVPN has those bases covered as well. The service works for unblocking Netflix, offers a fantastic no-logging privacy policy, high-level encryption, a kill switch to protect your anonymity, and even accepts cryptocurrency like Bitcoin as payment.
Want to take a look at some other options? See our guide to the best VPNs for Kodi.
Best for Torrenting: Cyberghost
Setting torrents up with a VPN can be complicated and confusing if you’ve never done it before, but Cyberghost makes it easy. The service provides native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and Fire TV. Install the appropriate app, press the button to secure your torrents, and you can rest assured that your identity won’t be exposed.
While this service is as easy to use as they come, it also has a rock-solid privacy policy and a fantastic feature set. Cyberghost doesn’t log your activities while using the service, so there’s no way for anyone to find your real IP address, or your identity, through a torrent.
If you ever lose connection to the service, it includes a kill switch that will immediately cease all torrent activities and prevent exposing your identity. It also provides excellent data transfer speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and allows you to leverage extremely secure 256-bit AES encryption.
Cyberghost also works for unblocking streaming services, accessing blocked websites, and even playing region-locked games, so you aren’t limited to torrenting.
Best Free VPN: Windscribe
Free VPN services usually suffer from problems like slow data speeds, a lack of servers, and poor overall performance. In most cases, and for most types of use, you’re just better off paying for a VPN. If that isn’t an option, Windscribe is an excellent free VPN that offers a surprisingly high level of service.
When you sign up for a free Windscribe account and provide a valid e-mail address, you get access to 10GB worth of data per month. That isn’t enough to stream 4K video every day, but it’s a whole lot more than competing services offer.
Windscribe also allows you to connect to servers in 10 different countries, establish an unlimited number of connections each month, and enjoy surprisingly fast data transfer speeds.
The free version of Windscribe includes access to Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS apps, so you can use it on a wide range of different devices. It’s also compatible with VPN routers, but that feature isn’t available unless you pay for a subscription.
Best for Android: TunnelBear
There are a lot of great VPN services that include Android apps, but TunnelBear stands out due to how easy and straightforward it is. The TunnelBear Android app is well designed, easy to understand, and allows you to turn the VPN on and select a server with a few intuitive taps.
TunnelBear offers great speeds, has servers in over 20 countries, supports 256-bit encryption, and has a strict no-logging policy to protect your anonymity.
TunnelBear also includes a totally free version if you want to check out how it works on your Android device without paying for a subscription. The free version is limited, and only allows you to transfer 500MB of data each month, but it’s there if you need it.
In addition to the fantastic Android app, TunnelBear also works with Windows, macOS, iOS, and has browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. The service also allows you to use it on up to five devices at once, so you can easily run it on your computer and Android phone at the same time.
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Best for Gaming: VyprVPN
Gaming on a VPN can be a challenge because connecting to the Internet through a VPN typically slows your connection and introduces latency. VyprVPN is an excellent VPN for gaming because it’s blazingly fast, and it keeps the latency increase to a minimum.
VyprVPN runs on a network of servers that are designed with speed in mind, which is rare among VPN services. They also have servers located in close physical proximity to major gaming servers for a lot of popular games, which can help cut down on latency.
If your internet service provider throttles your connection, or routes you through congested nodes, connecting through VyprVPN may actually increase your connection speed and decrease your ping to the game server that you’re trying to connect to.
In addition to being an excellent gaming VPN, VyprVPN is also great for streaming video and other uses that require fast download speeds. It includes native apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, VPN routers, and even smart TVs, so you can use it for more than gaming.
Best for Fire Stick: IPVanish
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IPVanish is the best option for Fire Stick users, with a native Fire TV app that you can install right on your device. The app is even available from the official Amazon app store, so you don’t need to go through a complicated sideloading process.
One of the best things about IPVanish is that it allows you to connect up to 10 devices at once, which is a lot more than most of the competition. That means if you have IPVanish installed on all of your Fire Sticks and Fire TV devices, you can run it on your computer or laptop, and even your phone, all at the same time.
This service includes access to more than 1,300 servers in over 75 countries, supports peer to peer connections, and provides speeds that are fast enough to stream high definition content.
In addition to the excellent Fire TV app, IPVanish also has native apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Best for Privacy: Mullvad
Privacy is one of the most important concerns when choosing a VPN, but Mullvad is on another level. This VPN features the same strict no-logging policy that all the best VPN services stick to, but they go even further by not requiring users to provide an e-mail address or any identifying information.
When you create a Mullvad account, you are assigned an account number. That number is the only thing that Mullvad has to identify you, as they don’t ask for your name, or even your e-mail address when you sign up.
Mullvad even accepts multiple cryptocurrencies as payment options, so they can’t even track or keep a record of your identity through billing information. In the event that anyone ever went to Mullvad and asked for records on your internet activities, they simply wouldn’t be able to provide anything relevant.
Mullvad is a highly competent VPN service outside of their excellent privacy measures, with decent connection speeds, a wide variety of servers to choose from, and an affordable monthly billing plan. You can pay for VyprVPN with a credit card, PayPal, or Alipay.
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Our writers spent 8 hours researching the most popular VPN service providers on the market. Before making their final recommendations, they considered 30 different VPN service providers overall, screened options from 30 different brands and manufacturers, and tested 5 of the VPN service providers themselves. All of this research adds up to recommendations you can trust.