Top 20 VPN you should buy in 2020 [Proxy Server]

An abbreviation of Virtual Private Network, a VPN service allows you to change your IP address to a secure server. That helps to make you more anonymous online and lets you effectively trick your laptop or mobile device into thinking it’s in another location. It’s no surprise that the best VPN options have become so popular, increasingly being used as a replacement for or in addition to traditional online security. The following are the list of best VPN’s in 2020:

Express VPN:

The best all-round VPN service for speed, privacy and unblocking

Number of servers: 3,000+ | Server locations: 160 | IP addresses: 30,000 | Maximum devices supported: 5

• Runs on almost any platform
• Enterprise-level encryption
• Speedy VPN servers in 94 countries
• Superb 24/7 live customer support
• Fewer simultaneous connections than some

ExpressVPN offers access to more than 3,000 servers in 160 locations across 94 countries, alongside maybe the widest platform support you’ll find anywhere.

This is not just the regular Windows, Mac, Linux,iOS, Android and even BlackBerry client we’re talking about. Some routers have custom firmware, a host of streaming media devices and smart TVs have DNS content unblocking, and surprisingly capable VPN browser extensions for anything that can run them.

All this can sound intimidating to VPN newbies, but it is more important than ExpressVPN that helps. There are extensive guides and tutorials for an excellent support website to help you get started. And if you have a problem, support for live chat 24/7 is available to reply to your questions. It works also-within a few minutes of posing our question we got a helpful reply from a knowledgeable support agent.

IPVanish:

A really solid VPN solution

Number of servers: 1,300 | Server locations: 75 | IP addresses: 40,000+ | Maximum devices supported: 10

• Owns and manages its own servers
• Speedy live chat support
• Powerful, configurable apps
• Excellent download speeds
• Shorter guarantee/trial than competition
• The odd usability issue

In our VPN tests, IPVanish is also a strong performer. The service also contains some impressive statistics: more than 40,000 shared IPs, more than 1,300 VPN servers in more than 70 countries, unlimited P2P traffic, ten concurrent connections and 24/7 customer support. With regard to support, you can access it directly from your mobile Android or iOS app.

The apps are a powerful feature. They are not only loaded with unusual features, features and settings (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and even FireTV), but they are also absolutely packed with all the terribly basic “flags list and connect button” apps you will normally find elsewhere.

There are some issues, too. The apps are powerful, but that means there’s a lot to learn, and we noticed a few small usability issues. A small number of servers didn’t appear to be in the advertised locations, and there is no kill switch in the iOS app.

Overall, if you need its ten simultaneous connections or the power and configurability of its apps, take the plunge with this VPN service, and if somehow you end up unhappy you’re protected by a 7-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark:

One of the fastest swimmers in the VPN sea

Number of servers: 1000+ | Server locations: 60+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: Unlimited

• Unlimited devices covered
• Generally fast connections
• Reasonable prices
• A bit basic
• Android app unstable at times

Surfshark has an enjoyable and playful branding based in the British Virgin Islands. But it’s all business when it comes to safeguarding you and your online identity.

For beginners, the basics are all in place. This includes OpenVPN UDP and TCP, IKEv2 security protocols, AES256 encryption and a kill switch that stops leaking your details when your connection is missing. Surfshark also features a private DNS and an additional safety blanket through a double VPN hop. Not to mention a logging policy that records only your e-mail address and accounting data. Whether you are connecting to a US or United Kingdom server or somewhere else, say in Australia and New Zealand, is also fast. Mobile if you are trying from abroad to access your Netflix account.

CyberGhost:

Feature-packed clients and impressive configurability

Number of servers: 5,700+ | Server locations: 110+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 7

• Clients have plenty of smart features
• Good performance levels
• Torrents are supported
• Some irritations with the interface

Romanian and German-based CyberGhost is a popular VPN provider whose mix of power and ease of use has won over more than ten million users.

With over 5,000 sites across 70-scale countries, Windows, Mac, iOS and Android apps, permitted torrents and fast live chat support, the company is fully involved.

An important highlight is the task-based app interface. CyberGhost does not simply leave you to imagine which server to use, for example, to unblock a website. You can choose from the Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, or more geoblocked services, and the app connects automatically to the best server, and opens a browser window on the target site. Well, we call that helpful now.

Hotspot Shield:

Fantastic VPN service for browsing online privately

Number of servers: 2,500+ | Server locations: 70+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 5

• Low price
• Great download speeds
• Super-easy to use
• Only works with the official apps
• Didn’t unblock iPlayer

Hotspot Shield is a decent free VPN, but the commercial Hotspot Shield Premium is a whole lot better. Paying from just a few dollars a month gets you unlimited bandwidth, full access to 2500+ servers in more than 70 countries, support for connecting up to 5 devices, 24/ 7 support, and of course absolutely no ads at all.

Performance was a highlight of our tests and the proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol of Hotspot Shield helped provide some of the best download speeds we have seen, even from the most remote places. This is not only the case, but also the speeds.

But a problem also exists. As Hotspot Shield uses its own Catapult Hydra protocol and no longer supports standards such as the OpenVPN system, you can not set it manually on your router, on your games console, in Chromebook or elsewhere. This means that you can only work with devices that run Windows, Mac, Android or iOS applications.

NordVPN:

Previously one of the best – but security concerns have been revealed

Number of servers: 5,600+ | Server locations: 60+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 6

• Quality mobile and desktop clients
• Up to six connections and value pricing
• Good performance in our tests
• Tainted by security breaches
• Not the best user experience at all times

NordVPN‘s current products match or beat the competition in just about every area.

You get a choice of over 5,600 servers in 60+ countries, 2048-bit encryption, 6-device support as standard, strong DNS leak protection, kill switches (application-specific and system wide), proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers, and with payment options that include Bitcoin, PayPal and credit cards.

There’s also a fast, smart DNS-like SmartPlay feature which can be used to get around geo-restrictions and unblock a large number of streaming and other services. Our performance tests found that Nord has upped its game from previous testing, connecting to all servers each time. And download speeds were well above average on all but the most distant connections.

Private Internet Access:

A strong all-round VPN for a fair price

Number of servers: 3,300+ | Server locations: 50+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 10

• Covers up to ten devices
• Ultra-configurable apps
• Good value
• Windows client can be awkward to use

It may not be quite the fastest VPN, or the cheapest, or the most powerful, but Private Internet Access is still a likeable VPN provider with more than enough features to justify a place on your shortlist.

The network covers more than 50 locations across 32 countries, for instance, with P2P supported on all servers (expert-level extras like port forwarding and SOCKS5 support are thrown in).

Apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Linux, along with browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Opera, and detailed tutorials for routers and other devices, meaning the service can run almost anywhere.

The apps aren’t always as easy to use as we’d like, but they’re strong on the security fundamentals and have plenty of expert-level extras. The Android app doesn’t have a Favorites system, for instance, which means it takes fractionally longer to find commonly-used servers. But it’s otherwise easy to use, can automatically protect you when you access unsecured Wi-Fi, has a kill switch to protect you if the VPN drops, and can even vibrate your handset to tell you when it connects.

StrongVPN:

Strong by name…

Number of servers: 650+ | Server locations: 26 | IP addresses: ?? | Maximum devices supported: 12

• Impressive connection speeds
• No logging
• Money-back guarantee option
• Basic
• Limited servers

With a name like StrongVPN, you expect a VPN service that will be a heavyweight when it comes to privacy and security. So of course there’s the usual array of zero-logging, minimal personal information gathered at the start, no information selling and turn off-able cookies. All of which is admirable – we’d just have liked to see a bit more specific detail readily available on the provider’s website without digging into the 1,000+ pages of small-print.

Outside sheer brawn, StrongVPN takes something of a minimalist approach, favouring strength over style. But what it does, it does with aplomb. For starters, you have to applaud the decision to include the ability to connect up to 12 of your devices at any one time. So that will cover your desktop, laptop, mobile, tablet, streaming device and…well, a fair few more.

It’s certainly sparser than some of the competition in terms of numbers. Read up and down this page and the 650-odd servers, 46 cities and 26 countries perhaps feels a bit short. But what that doesn’t reveal is the performance on show from StrongVPN, with some of the best connection speeds we’ve seen from any provider. With the exception of the Poland server (for some reason), our test speeds were impressive across the board.

TunnelBear:

If you want an easy-to-use VPN service, you got it

Number of servers: 1,000 | Server locations: 20+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 5

• Extremely user-friendly
• Wide range of client software
• Transparent privacy policy
• Long-distance connections can be slower

TunnelBear is a Canadian-based VPN service with a strong emphasis on ease of use and bear-related humor. (Ease of use does get priority over the bear puns, fortunately, though sometimes it’s a close-run thing.)

This focus on simplicity means there’s not too much here for demanding users. TunnelBear only offers 20 locations, for instance. There are very few low-level tweaks or settings, not even the ability to change protocol. And if you want to manually set up the service on a router, games console or anything else, the feeble support website leaves you mostly on your own.

But if you’re happy with the basics, there’s plenty to like here. TunnelBear has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, for example, as well as extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Opera. We got connected easily, and had no problems downloading torrents or accessing US Netflix (although BBC iPlayer remained out-of-bounds.)

TunnelBear scores plus points for privacy, too, with the company hiring independent specialists to run a public security audit on its servers, systems and code. If only other providers were that brave.

Performance was another highlight, with speedy UK and European servers, solid results from the US, and even the slowest Asian locations managing a very acceptable 20Mbps.

VyprVPN:

Great for performance and security

Number of servers: 700+ | Server locations: 70+ | IP addresses: 200,000+ | Maximum devices supported: 5

• Very fast performance
• Powerful, configurable clients
• Strict no logging
• Some problems on Windows
• Support could be better

Swiss-based VyprVPN is a well-specified service which boasts more than 70 server locations and a stack of unusual high-end features.

The company has its own zero-knowledge DNS service, for instance. Its proprietary Chameleon protocol could help you get online even in VPN-blocking countries like China and Iran. And platform support covers everything from the regular Windows, Mac, Android and iOS apps, to routers, Android TV, QNAP, Blackphone, Anonabox and more.

Download speeds are mostly high, too, with only a few of the more unusual and out-of-the-way locations – Taiwan, Macao, the Maldives – lagging behind the rest. Even they managed around 8-10Mb, enough for many tasks.

We like the fact that VyprVPN has turned the logging situation on its head. Losing significant brownie points in the past, we now see that VyprVPN has had an independent audit to confirm that there is absolutely no logging whatsoever occurring. And there’s more good news if you’re looking for website unblocking, with the service giving us easy access to US Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

Windscribe:

A VPN service which gives you unlimited connections

Number of servers: 400+ | Server locations: 60+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: Unlimited

• Unlimited device connections
• Free plan with 10GB of monthly data
• Clear and detailed privacy policy
• Only average speeds

Windscribe is a capable VPN service which delivers more than you might expect in many areas. You get clients for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Linux, for instance, as well as Chrome, Firefox and Opera extensions, and guides for manually setting up the service on routers, Kodi and more.

The network is a good size with locations in 110 cities spread across more than 60 countries.

While this sounds great on paper, real-world testing highlighted some problems. Connections times could be slow, and although performance was generally good, some long-distance servers barely managed a crawl. There was mixed news on website unblocking, too: we could view US Netflix, but Windscribe didn’t get us access to BBC iPlayer.

There’s no 24/7 support, either, so any questions you have might not get answered for a while. Although the company does at least point out that it uses its own in-house staff, rather than outsourcing it to some minimum wage worker who just reads off a script, so it could be worth the wait.

KeepSolid VPN Unlimited:

Some multi-device hassles, but a fine VPN underneath

Number of servers: 400+ | Server locations: 70+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 5-10

• Very fast
• Unblocks Netflix, iPlayer
• Low three-year price
• Limits access to specified devices

VPN Unlimited from KeepSolid isn’t perfect – in fact, it’s got one or two real irritations – but if you can get past those, it’s still a quality VPN.

Our main issue here is the five-device limit on the basic plans. This refers to specific devices, so if you connect two phones, two laptops and a Smart TV, for instance, you can’t connect anything else, even if all your devices are turned off. You can delete items from the list to connect others, but only one a week, which can be hugely inconvenient.

If you’ll never hit the device limit, or course, that won’t be an issue. And even if you do, there are solutions. You can add support for extra devices at $0.99 a month each, or opt for a plan which supports up to ten.

Once you’re past any multi-device issues, VPN Unlimited performs very well. It runs on almost anything (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Apple TV, even Windows phone), and unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer with ease. Torrents are supported on some servers, but whatever you’re doing, high performance servers mean it won’t take very long.

Norton Secure VPN:

• Number of countries: 29
• Number of servers: 1500
• Number of server locations: 200
• Country/Jurisdiction: US

Symantec, long known for excellence in security products, has a relatively limited offering in its VPN product. It does not support P2P or BitTorrent, it does not have a kill switch feature, and it does not support Linux, routers or set top boxes.

On the other hand, it’s a VPN product from Symantec, a publicly-traded company with a clearly documented management team. In most software categories, this might not be a notable advantage, but in the VPN world, where most companies have shadowy management and impossible-to-track-down ownership structures, it’s refreshing to know exactly who we’re dealing with and know through independent sources (the company’s annual filing, the SEC, and analyst reports) that the company is trustworthy and accountable.

Norton Secure VPN also gets big points for its 24/7 live customer phone support and 60-day money back guarantee.

PureVPN:

• Number of IP addresses: 300,000
• Number of servers: 2000
• Number of server locations: 180
• Country/Jurisdiction: Hong Kong

PureVPN does not log connection information. The company joined the “no log” movement in 2018, which was recently verified via a third-party audit by Althius IT (albeit one commissioned and paid for by PureVPN).

We like that PureVPN offers a 31-day refund policy and supports Bitcoin payments, to further extend anonymous browsing. We also like that PureVPN has both Kodi and Chromebook solutions available. In addition, PureVPN was the first VPN service we noted to fully implement the GDPR.

Webroot WiFi Security:

• Country/Jurisdiction: United States

As VPN services go, Webroot WiFi Security is relatively bare-bones — but it’s also cheap. Starting at $39.99 for a year of VPN service, you can get a bundle with both VPN and Webroot’s antivirus software for $69.98 for your first year. Unfortunately, both of these prices bump up after the first year. VPN protection jumps to $59.99 and the bundle jumps to $119.98.

While we applaud the combination of VPN and antivirus in one package, Webroot has had a troubled few years. In 2017, it mistakenly flagged Windows’ system files as malicious. In 2018, a kernel exploit was found in the company’s Mac antivirus client. In 2019, the company was acquired by backup firm Carbonite.

Goose VPN:

It’s clear that the goose is an ideal mascot for a service that’s meant to guard your digital communications. And so, we have Goose VPN.

Goose VPN has a couple of standout features. First, you can have an unlimited number of simultaneous connections (or devices) using the VPN at once. Second, if your bandwidth needs are 50 GB or less per month, you can sign up for $2.99/month, the cheapest monthly rate we’ve seen.

If you want unlimited bandwidth, the company definitely is pushing you towards buying a year at a time. Their monthly fee for unlimited bandwidth is a middle-of-the-road $12.99/month, but if you spend $59.88 for a year’s service, you’ll find it’s the second-lowest by-the-year price of the services we’ve reviewed.

Goose provides all the usual clients, including iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows, and adds support for routers, Android TV, and Linux. They are working on a kill switch feature, which may even be up and running by the time you read this review. The company also offers 24/7 ticket-based support.

Buffered VPN:

• Number of IP addresses: 11,000
• Number of servers: 800
• Number of server locations: 46
• Country/Jurisdiction: Gibraltar

Buffered VPN doesn’t disclose much about the size of its network, but the 30-day money back guarantee means that you can take their service for a test drive and really get a feel for how well it performs for you. The company saddened us because they do keep some connection information. They cheered us up, though, due to their client support, unlimited bandwidth, and generous number of simultaneous sessions allowed.

The company is relatively new, founded in 2013. It’s based in Europe, so those who prefer an EU-based company might prefer Buffered. We like how Buffered has made a strong commitment to Internet freedom, and an equally strong commitment to providing quality customer support.

At $12.99 per month and $79.00 for a year of service, they don’t offer the least expensive plan, but we do recommend giving them a try.

Hide My Ass:

• Number of IP addresses: 3,106
• Number of servers: 830
• Number of server locations: 280
• Country/Jurisdiction: United Kingdom

We have to give these folks an extra shout-out just for the name of their service. The firm has a strong network with a good selection of protocols supported. While they have an extensive (and very clearly written set of policy documents), the company explicitly allows P2P and torrents.

We like how HMA offers support on a wide range of devices including game consoles. We gave them kudos for bitcoin support and their excellent money-back guarantee. They did make us frown a bit because they do log connection data. They also offer five simultaneous connections.

While their monthly pricing of $11.52 is at the high end of the spectrum, their yearly pricing is competitive at $83.88 for a full year.

Private VPN:

• The Fastest Growing VPN Worldwide
• Stay private and enjoy the entire internet at lightning speeds

Unleash the internet in just 60 seconds, whether you’re on a computer, smartphone, tablet or router. Our apps let you surf unrestricted with no coding or complex setup required. Simply download and connect.

With this VPNs you’re protected by military-grade 2048-bit encryption, the most secure, rapid connection of its kind. This means you can stream HD video, surf the web and download content at lightning speeds, often faster than non-VPN connections.

PrivateVPN isn’t just a network of VPNs, but of real people. Our industry-topping support team is always on hand to help. You won’t be talking to some VA in India either, you’ll talk directly with our in-house developers to get your problems solved quickly and easily.

Ultra VPN:

• Get Your Risk-Free, Ultra Fast VPN Today!
• Get our ultra fast & ultra secure VPN today with a 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked
• 6-Months Free VPN Access
• Free Premium Streaming Locations
• Free Remote Firewall

UltraVPN hides your IP address and encrypts your network data so no one can see what you’re doing. Become anonymous in seconds.

Unlock geo-restricted media from wherever you are in the world. You can get around geo-restricted sites, bypass censorship and safely access all your favorite websites when travelling abroad.

With UltraVPN, all the data you send and receive online travels through an encrypted tunnel. This way no one can get their hands on your private information.

UltraVPN works on all popular platforms, including Windows, Mac OS, Android and iOS. Besides, you can secure up to 6 devices with a single account, including your smart TV and router.

Overall Comparison:

No.	VPN	Price per Month	Price per 6 months	Price per 12 months	Price per 2 years	Price Per 3 years	Server Locations	No. Of Servers	No. of Devices
1.	Express VPN	$12.95	$9.99	$6.67	———-	——–	160+	3000+	5
2.	IPVanish	$7.50	———-	$4.87	———-	——–	75+	1300+	10
3.	Surfshark	$11.95	———-	$5.99	$1.99	——–	60+	1000+	Unlimited
4.	CyberGhost	$12.99	———-	——–	$3.69	$2.75	60+	3700+	7
5.	Hotspot shield	$12.99	———-	$7.99	———-	$2.99	70+	2500+	5
6.	Nord VPN	$11.95	———-	$6.99	———-	$3.49	60+	5600+	6
7.	Private Internet Access	$6.95	$5.99	$3.33	$83.87	——–	37	3252	10
8.	Strong VPN	$10	———-	$5.83	———-	——–	26	650+	12
9.	Tunnel Bear	$9.99	———-	$4.17	———-	——–	20+	1000	5
10.	Vyper VPN	$12.95	———-	$3.75	$2.50	——–	70+	700+	5
11.	Windscribe	$9	———-	$4.08	———-	——–	60+	400	unlimited
12.	Keep solid VPN unlimited	$9.99	———-	$59.99	———-	——–	70+	1400	10
13.	Norton secure VPN	$3.33	———-	$39.99	———-	——–	200+	1500+	10
14.	Pure Vpn	$11	$9	$5	———-	——–	180	2000+	7
15.	Webroot wifi security	——–	———-	$39.99	———-	———	32	500+	5
16.	Goose VPN	$12.99	———-	$4.99	$2.99	——–	31	60	unlimited
17.	Buffered VPN	$12.99	———-	$6.59	$4.12	——–	27	1500	5
18.	Hide My Ass	$6.65	———	$78.72	———-	——–	290+	1000+	unlimited
19.	Private VPN	$6.95	$5.99	$3.33	$83.87	——–	37	3252	10
20.	Ultra VPN	$6.99	$4.99	$2.99	———-	——–	100+	1500+	7