VPN — Ranked & Reviewed

NordVPN is a Panama-based VPN with 9,000+ servers across 130+ countries and a NordLynx protocol (built on WireGuard) that consistently clocks the fastest speeds among major VPN providers — around 900 Mbps in independent tests on a 1 Gbps line. Its no-logs policy has been audited by Deloitte five times as of 2025, providing more third-party verification than most competitors. A few things worth knowing: renewal pricing is higher than introductory rates, and parent company Nord Security has expanded its portfolio to include Surfshark — giving users more options within the same ecosystem.

ExpressVPN is one of the most established VPN providers, operating since 2009 with servers in 105+ countries and its proprietary Lightspeed protocol delivering consistently fast speeds across long-distance connections. Its apps are among the most polished in the category — simple to set up on any device, with reliable performance that rarely requires troubleshooting. Where it sits in the market: ExpressVPN commands a premium price relative to NordVPN and Surfshark, making it easier to justify for users who prioritise reliability and app quality over squeezing out the lowest per-month rate.

Proton VPN is built by the team behind ProtonMail in Switzerland, with a privacy-first architecture that goes further than most VPN providers. Its apps are fully open source and independently audited, its free plan has no data cap (unusual in the category), and its Swiss jurisdiction keeps it outside EU and US data-retention requirements. Speeds on paid plans are competitive and NetShield blocks ads and trackers. For users where privacy is the primary concern rather than price or streaming breadth, Proton VPN is the most credible option available.

Surfshark is the best-value mainstream VPN available, offering unlimited simultaneous device connections at the lowest 2-year introductory price of any major provider. Its WireGuard-based speeds are competitive with NordVPN and ExpressVPN, and its no-logs policy has been independently audited. The unlimited-device policy makes it the obvious choice for households or users who run VPNs across many devices. Trade-offs to know: the apps are functional but less polished than ExpressVPN, and the gap between introductory and renewal pricing is notable — worth budgeting for before locking into a multi-year plan.