The Best VPN in May 2024

VPNs are powerful security tools that can protect your identity and data, bypass online content access restrictions, and more. If this is all very new to you, you probably have a lot of questions. Don’t worry because we can help you.

We’ve done all the hard work for you and thoroughly researched these services to bring you the information that’s important to you. Here’s everything you need to know about VPNs.

What is a VPN?

VPNs (or Virtual Private Networks) provide important protection for your data and identity when you are online. They provide this online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address (digital location). This means that all your activities are untraceable and secure.

Basically, you can think of VPNs as encrypted tunnels through which all your online traffic passes. No one can see inside the tunnel and everything in the tunnel is protected from online threats such as viruses, hackers and malware.

Do you need a VPN?

Any type of activity on an unsecured WiFi network exposes your private data and browsing habits to the public unless you use a VPN. There is no need to panic because whether you are sending important emails, shopping online or paying important bills, VPNs ensure that everything stays private and anonymous.

VPNs are primarily intended to provide online security, but there’s another reason millions of people use these services: streaming more content from around the world. By hiding your real IP address and connecting you to a server in a different location, you can trick your favorite streaming services into thinking you’re based in another country. This means you can watch all shows and movies from global libraries, as well as all additional content on US Netflix. This is the quickest and easiest way to expand your content options without relying on a shady stream.

What should you consider before subscribing to a VPN?

There are many things to consider about VPNs, but we don’t have all day. Instead of listing all the features of the best VPNs, we’ve highlighted a selection of the most important things to think about.

Before making a decision, you should keep an eye on the connection speed, server network, number of logins and other important features:

• Bandwidth — There are some VPNs that limit network bandwidth monthly, meaning you can only download a certain amount of data. You should avoid these services unless you are taking advantage of a free trial. If you pay for a VPN, you should be able to download and upload as much as you want.

• Connection speed — Using a VPN will result in a drop in your connection speed, but you should not accept a significant drop that results in buffering. Make sure you choose a VPN that won’t affect your connection speed to the point where you can’t watch a movie or download a file in frustration.

• Encryption — There are different levels of encryption, and while it’s important to consider the level provided by your VPN, the best options all offer powerful protection for your data. You’ll likely come across terms like “military grade” and “enterprise grade,” which simply means you can trust it to get the job done.

• Number of connections — Some VPNs allow you to connect an unlimited number of devices to the same account. Others limit you to just a single device. You should look for a service that offers multiple simultaneous connections so you can stay protected on all your devices at the same time.

• Server network — The very best VPNs offer access to literally thousands of geographically distributed servers. This is useful if a VPN has many servers in key locations, as you should always find a stable and fast connection for streaming, shopping, or browsing anonymously. It’s not entirely clear that more is better, but it’s always good to have options.

• Privacy Policy — It’s worth paying particular attention to the data processing, storage and usage practices of the VPN you plan to use. These practices should be outlined in a privacy policy, and if they are not clear, it is best to avoid them. Most VPNs require access to your IP address, online transactions and browsing history, and personal information when you sign up. If privacy is the goal, it is absolutely important that your VPN does not store this data. If so, the whole thing is kind of pointless.

There are other things to consider, such as price and subscription plans, but these features are a good starting point.

Should you use free VPNs?

There are many free versions of popular VPNs, as well as free trials of VPNs with full access to everything you get with a premium plan. So why would you ever pay for a VPN?

As with most things in life, with VPNs you get what you pay for. There is always a catch with free versions, and it usually comes in the form of limited data usage. If you are just a casual user, these plans work well. But if you stream or download, that won’t work. Free trials are a little different: they include everything you get in a paid plan, but obviously don’t typically last for very long. Trials are great for testing out a service before committing to it, but they’re not a long-term solution.

We say that the best option for safe streaming and unrestricted access to the online world is a paid VPN subscription. To get access to advanced security features without usage restrictions, you must pay. The best VPNs are generally the most expensive, but there are plenty of affordable plans available, especially if you’re willing to commit to a longer contract.

What is the best VPN?

There are many VPN providers, all offering different feature sets and different pricing structures. We recommend you take some time to think carefully about your options and decide what you really need from a VPN. Once you’ve determined your priorities, you can check out this definitive list of the best VPNs this month.

We’ve tracked down all the offers and put together a selection of the very best VPNs for streaming, shopping and everything else. We tried to find something for everyone and every budget. In this list you will find popular services such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN and CyberGhost VPN. All you have to do is weigh these options against your own priorities and then choose a favorite from the crowd.

These are the best VPNs in 2024.