Data privacy and the need for encryption has never been higher with more and more of our lives being on the internet. ISPs are constantly tracking your web habits and collecting metadata for the government. And some governments even restrict and censor anything from news media to games. VPN apps help you protect your data and let you access the web how you like. This could be accessing different Netflix libraries, getting around government censorship, or simply protecting your data. Since everyone is stuck at home and constantly on the internet, we compiled the top 5 VPN apps out there to help you stay safe and secure.
Top 5 VPN Apps
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is generally considered to be one of the best all-round VPN app and with one of the best mobile apps available. The VPN is based in the British Virgin Islands and boasts a server network of over 3000 servers in 93 countries. The combination of easy to use mobile apps and excellent overall performance and speed makes it a reliable and great choice for a VPN. Through it, you will be to access a large selection of streaming service libraries from Netflix and Hulu. The VPN provider has an excellent privacy policy and doesn’t collect or log traffic data, browsing activity, or connection IPs.
The main drawback of ExpressVPN is the lack of a kill-switch which might be an issue for some. Its prices are also not the cheapest when it comes to VPNs. ExpressVPN does provide a 30-day money-back guarantee to help encourage giving the VPN a try.
Seller: ExprsVPN LLC
Size: 64.1 MB
Languages: English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, and more.
Price: Free
Subscription: 1-month – $12.95
6-months – $59.95 ($9.99 per month)
1-year (with 3 free months) – $99.95 ($6.67 per month)
NordVPN
NordVPN is another one of the best all-round VPN apps. The VPN provider is based out of Panama, and it is highly regarded mainly because it is one of the most secure VPNs out there. NordVPN has a massive amount of servers with more than 5,600 servers all spread out over 60 different countries. Its mobile apps are very functional and user-friendly helping you quickly connect to the closest server and get the information needed. For security, NordVPN offers an automatic kill switch while also supporting 256-bit encryption and double data encryption. The VPN provider shares a similar excellent privacy ‘no-logs’ policy.
One of its main drawbacks is the price of its monthly billing starting at $11.95, but if you go for the 3-year subscription that goes down to $2.99 a month. Its app UI can also be better but it is good enough to get the job done.
Seller: Tefincom SA
Size: 153.3 MB
Languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish
Price: Free
Subscription: 1-month – $11.95
1-year – $83.88 ($6.99 per month)
2-years – $95.75 ($3.99 per month)
3-years – $107.55 ($2.99 per month)
SurfShark
SurfShark VPN is considered to be the best budget option for VPN apps. It’s relatively new, but with a reliable service and excellent encryption standards, it quickly went to the top of many lists. The mobile app is very easy to use and helps you quickly connect to one of over 1000 servers in 60 different countries. SurfShark also lets you connect an unlimited amount of devices which means you can freely use it on all your devices.
One of the useful features included in SurfShark is the ability to ‘whitelist’ certain connections. This works great for accessing banking services that might flag a potential breach otherwise. Another useful feature is the ‘camouflage mode’ which lets you hide the fact that you are using a VPN even from your ISP. SurfShark’s drawback, however, is that according to tests, its speed is not the best when compared to other VPNs.
Seller: SURFSHARK LTD
Size: 106.3 MB
Languages: English, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish
Price: Free
Subscription: 1-month – $11.95
1-year – $71.88 ($5.99 per month)
2-years – $47.76 ($1.99 per month)
IPVanish
IPVanish is a great VPN app option, delivering fast connections to more than 1300 servers in 75 different countries. The VPN provider supports all the major encryption standards including AES-256 encryption to ensure that no one can track you. Its mobile app works well even on the iPad and can connect automatically when internet traffic is detected. With the support of up to 10 connections and support of all devices, it is a great option for the many use cases of a VPN.
One of the main concerns about IPVanish is that it belongs to StackPatch a US-based company. This means authorities can demand your personal information and share it among the U.S., U.K., Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Another issue is the cost, it is on the more expensive side of VPNs and without a trial and only a 7-day money-back guarantee it’s not the best.
Seller: Mudhook Marketing, Inc.
Size: 30.7 MB
Languages: English, Spanish
Price: Free
Subscription: 1-month – $7.50
3-month – $20.24 ($6.74 per month)
1-year – $58.49 ($4.87 per month)
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access is another VPN app that performs well. Its native mobile apps are a bit light on features but they work great for what they do. Security-wise they support all the protocols and encryptions you will need. PIA also offers a kill-switch as well as a no-logging policy similar to other top VPNs.
Unfortunately, similar to IPVanish, PIA doesn’t offer a free trial and only offers a 7-day money-back guarantee. It’s also US-based and under their jurisdiction. However, their prices are reasonable for the service they offer. Despite being short on features PIA is still one of the top VPN options.
Seller: London Trust Media Incorporated
Size: 80 MB
Languages: English, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, French, German, and more.
Price: Free
Subscription: 1-month – $6.95
1-year – $39.95 ($3.33 per month)
2-year – $69.95 ($2.91 per month)
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