Mullvad offers apps for all major platforms as well as routers. The applications are all open source and you can check the code on GitHub. The service has also been independently audited. Advanced users can download configuration files and use them directly with OpenVPN or Wireguard.
In my tests the speeds were very good. I’ve never encountered a situation where I couldn’t get a fast connection. Over the years, Mullvad is still the VPN I rely on every day.
Mullvad VPN costs 5 euros per month, in cash or for a fee.
Best free VPN
Proton VPN is part of a suite of privacy tools from Proton, best known for its encrypted email service ProtonMail. The company is based in Switzerland, where there are no data retention laws, so Proton VPN may have a no-logs policy. It has been independently audited and maintains a Warrant Canary page. All the usual features of a good VPN are there, including support for multi-hop connections, an in-app kill switch, split tunneling support, pretty good geo-bypassing for Netflix to work, and support for torrents. There is also support for ad blocking, custom DNS, and high-speed streaming.
One thing Proton VPN offers that others don’t is a free plan that gives you full access to all the features of the regular plan. However, it is limited to a single device and there are only three server locations (Japan, Netherlands and USA). If your needs are limited and you want to keep costs down, this is a good option.
Proton’s pricing structure can be confusing as you can combine it with other services to reduce prices. For testing purposes, I used a one-year Proton VPN Plus plan that costs $6 per month. If you use other Proton services, the Proton Unlimited price is a better deal ($10 per month gets you access to all five Proton services).
Proton’s VPN app is open source and available for macOS, Linux, Windows, Android and iOS. The Plus plan allows 10 devices to be connected at the same time. Proton VPN uses a mix of IKEv2, OpenVPN and WireGuard for connections. By default the app chooses for you, but you can make a selection in Settings. I also like the Permanent Kill Switch, which prevents your device from reconnecting to the internet without a VPN even after a reboot.
In my testing over the past few months, Proton VPN speeds varied significantly depending on the server and time of day. Overall, Proton VPN is very fast and only reduces my speed by around 7 to 8 percent compared to the unprotected speed. I also didn’t experience any DNS leaks on any of the servers I tested.
Proton VPN has a free plan, but it is limited to one device. Otherwise, it costs $5 per month if you buy two years in advance, $6 per month if you buy one year, and $10 per month if you pay monthly.
Best for bypassing geographic restrictions
Surfshark wouldn’t be my first choice if my life depended on my VPN, but for most of us that’s not the case. If you want to bypass some geo-restrictions on content (aka access to Netflix) and protect your data traffic while using an open Wi-Fi hotspot, Surfshark is a good choice. It’s safe and offers good value for money if you pay two years in advance.
In my testing over the years, Surfshark has consistently had some of the best speeds of any VPN I’ve used. Yes, it’s slower than not using a VPN, but I’ve never had any problems streaming HD content via Surfshark. It’s fast enough that you won’t notice a drop in speed.