Best VPN Providers 2023: Anonymous Surfing On The Internet With Increased Security And Data Protection

Internet security and data protection has never been as big an issue as it is today. More and more often you hear from fraudsters who want to empty our accounts online and from large companies who follow our activities at every turn and sell the data on to third parties. Even governments, with their secret services, do not stop at our privacy to get information.

That is why VPN services have developed from a real niche product into an indispensable service for all internet users in recent years. VPN is now widespread and can be used for pretty much all devices that are connected to the Internet. The increasing competition among the providers ensures a wide range, continuously improved services and an extremely attractive price. So the perfect time to start with your own VPN!

In this post you will find the best VPN providers 2020 in our opinion as well as all the important information about their products. We also explain what a VPN actually is, what you need it for and how to use it correctly.

The 10 best VPN providers

1. EXPRESSVPN

Best VPN provider and all-rounder in many areas

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The VPN provider ExpressVPN * has been around for a good 10 years and has long been one of the most famous services. According to its own information, the company is even the # 1 market leader in the VPN sector. ExpressVPN offers access to more than 3,000 servers in 160 locations in 94 countries with 40,000 different IP addresses as well as the largest platform support that any VPN provider offers. In 2018 Techradar and Comparitech even honored the service with the coveted “Editor Choice” award.

Numerous test and experience reports also write that ExpressVPN is currently one of the best services in the VPN sector. The client is already available not only for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, etc., but routers, browsers such as Chrome and Firefox, game consoles such as the PlayStation and Xbox, smart TVs and a variety of streaming media devices also benefit from unbreakable AES 256 bit encryption.

Other functions include reliable P2P support, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, MediaStreamer, OpenVPN, as well as high bandwidth thanks to high-speed servers and a global network and many more. ExpressVPN can even bypass China’s huge firewall and access censored content. So if you live in a strictly censored area, ExpressVPN is your chance for anonymous and secure privacy.

Even if all of this sounds extremely complicated to a layperson, we can reassure you. ExpressVPN strives to provide its customers with the best experience and has extensive guides and tutorials on their website. Should you still have any questions, 24/7 live chat support is always available.

ExpressVPN does not have any serious disadvantages. Only the price was a thorn in the side for some testers. Compared to other VPN providers, we feel this is absolutely justified. If you consider which technology, functions and extensions the service brings with it.

So do not lose any time and protect your data and privacy today on up to 5 different devices at the same time. And best of all: If you are not satisfied with the service, you can benefit from the 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. NORDVPN

Very good VPN provider despite security gaps in the past

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NordVPN * is one of the best-known VPN providers and is a direct competitor to ExpressVPN. The current products are either equally good or superior to the competition. You get a choice of over 5,300 servers at over 60 different locations in 59 countries across the globe.

NordVPN has the great advantage that you don’t have to save any user logs at all and can therefore focus completely on the privacy of the customers. Because unlike the competition, the provider is registered in Panama and therefore has absolutely nothing to do with 14-eyes surveillance . NordVPN also scores points when it comes to data protection and privacy, as they use an AES-256-GCM encryption algorithm with a 2048-bit DH key.

In addition to the usual functions such as a kill switch, strong DNS leak protection, proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers and the ability to bypass geographic restrictions and thus gain access to streaming and other services, NordVPN offers a function called “CyberSec” which acts as an ad blocker and at the same time protects against trackers and malware.

The download speeds of torrent or streaming are also well above average according to several tests. There is, of course, some penalty with servers very far away, but that is the case with pretty much every VPN provider.

Only the user interface (UI) and thus the user experience (UX) attracted negative attention. Because this is partly confusing and so begins the search for some functions or target cities, as these are unfortunately not listed alphabetically. Otherwise no real problems could be noticed.

NordVPN offers an excellent product at a really good price-performance ratio and lets you surf the Internet anonymously and completely securely with up to 6 devices at the same time. By the way, if you still have a few bitcoins lying around you can also pay with them. But other payment options such as various cryptocurrencies, Paypal, credit card and so on are available. And as always, if you are not satisfied with the product, you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee or take advantage of the 24/7 live chat support.

3. IPVANISH

A really solid VPN solution

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With over 1,300 servers in over 75 different locations and over 40,000 available IP addresses, IPVanish * can boast. Even if this provider is rather unknown in Germany, it is one of the big players in the VPN services market.

AES 256-bit encryption and various VPN protocols such as OpenVPN make IPVanish extremely secure. Additional security features such as a kill switch and protection against DNS / IPv6 leaks guarantee continuous security. You can also use various camouflage settings to carry out additional IP configurations such as reset intervals.

IPVanish end-to-end encryption is currently available for a maximum of 10 devices at the same time and for pretty much all common systems. No matter whether Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Windows Phone, Linux, Chrome or even your own router. The cool thing is: They are packed with interesting functions, options and settings that other VPN providers don’t have. We are sure that there is something for everyone!

In terms of speed, IPVanish is definitely above average. Fast and reliable servers ensure sufficient bandwidth and ensure that there is no annoying failure. Unlimited P2P traffic and SOCKS5 proxies ensure super fast torrent downloads. So nothing stands in the way of a chilled movie evening with Netflix & Co.

Only small things were noticed negatively. As already said, the apps are equipped with many functions and thus seem confusing. That means the usability suffers a bit, but we think you can overlook it. In addition, there is no kill switch for the iOS app, which we cannot understand because, in our opinion, it should be standard.

If you need 10 simultaneous connections, then we can recommend IPVanish with a clear conscience. If you have any questions, the 24/7 customer service will of course be happy to help. And if you don’t like the services, you can claim your money back within 7 days.

4. VYPRVPN

Focus on safety and speed

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Based in Switzerland, VyprVPN * manages over 700 servers in 73 different locations and offers its users an incredible selection of over 200,000 IP addresses and a range of real high-end features!

The specially developed “Chameleon ™” technology, which is highly regarded in the community, bypasses geographical barriers better than any other and offers you the opportunity to view censored content or to access services from other countries such as Netflix. The absolute “no-logs policy” is also highly regarded by users and ensures that there is absolutely no logging of your activities when using the VPN provider.

The download speed is also above average thanks to the extensive network and only a few remote locations such as Taiwan, Macau or the Maldives are slightly below and achieve a value of around 8-10 MB. But that is still a decent value and is completely sufficient for most activities.

VyprVPN supports a maximum of 5 devices at the same time and is accessible for all common platforms such as Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers, smart TV and more.

The only thing that made a negative impression was the design of the Windows client, which comes across as clumsy and reminds of the early days of the Internet. The functions that can be used are also not described in as much detail as with other providers and you should be a bit more familiar with the subject before you arbitrarily press any buttons.

Nevertheless, VyprVPN is one of the best VPN providers with its functions and, in our opinion, has a fair price model. The 2 year package is a real bargain and if you are not satisfied with the service, you can easily claim the 30 day money back guarantee.

5. HOTSPOT SHIELD

Great VPN provider for privacy

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Hotspot Shield * offers a free plan to try out the service. However, this is limited to 500 MB per day, the speed is greatly reduced and only one server is available in the USA. Certainly cool to test, but in our opinion nothing for everyday use. The premium version, on the other hand, offers over 3,200 ultra-fast servers in 70 countries, 5 linked devices at the same time, 24/7 live support and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Thanks to the specially developed and patented “Catapult Hydra” protocol, the Hotspot Shield servers are among the fastest VPN servers in the world. Big magazines like ZDnet, Techradar, PCWorld and Comparitech confirm this. However, since standards such as OpenVPN are no longer supported, the service can only be run on devices that support Windows, Mac, Android or iOS apps. But if that is not a problem for you, then with Hotspot Shield you have the best download speeds, regardless of location, that you can only get from a VPN provider.

In addition, Hotspot Shield offers you excellent security functions such as 128-bit / 256-bit encryption, super fast loading times for streaming services such as Netflix thanks to compressed files, a kill switch and P2P data traffic. Although the latter works better with other VPN providers, in case your main interest is torrenting.

One of the disadvantages of Hotspot Shield, as already mentioned, is that the app does not work on all devices. If you want to use the VPN service on your router, your game console, your Chromebook or Smart TV, you should make sure beforehand that the devices support Windows, Mac, Android or iOS apps. The configuration options were also noticed negatively, as, for example, no own DNS settings are possible.

In summary, Hotspot Shield is ideal for you if you are looking for extreme speeds at a very low price. If you choose a 3 year subscription (€ 2.99 / month) you get unbeatable value for money for speed. And as always, if you don’t like the service, you can claim your 45-day money-back guarantee.

6. SURFSHARK

Perfect for families and small businesses

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A relatively new but not unknown VPN provider is Surfshark *. Based in the British Virgin Islands, the service has 1,000 servers in over 60 countries and is the only provider on our list to offer an unlimited number of simultaneously connected devices (!). So if you want to protect all your family’s devices with a VPN, Surfshark offers you the option. Of course, all of this makes little sense if the service is no good, so let’s get to the facts!

One of the functions of Surfshark is CleanWeb ™, which protects you from advertisements, trackers, malware and phishing attempts. In addition, Whitelister ™ to allow certain apps and websites to bypass the VPN, ideal for mobile banking apps. MultiHop ™ to connect to several countries at once and be even safer on the go. And of course the NoBorders ™ mode, which enables you to gain access to censored content.

But the list doesn’t end there and we could go on and on. Surfshark follows a strict no-logs policy, has a kill switch, private DNS and protection against data leaks, a stealth mode, AES 256-bit encryption and secure protocols such as IKEv2 / IPsec. If desired, the well-known OpenVPN protocol can still be selected.

In terms of operation, Surfshark is designed more for the “normal user” and therefore dispenses with complicated menu navigation and an unnecessarily large number of options. While this may be ideal for the layman, it will put off old VPN professionals. It is best to test for yourself whether the given configuration options are sufficient. If this is not the case, you have 30 days to benefit from the money-back guarantee.

By and large, Surfshark offers an excellent price-performance ratio with its product. Many functions, ease of use and an unlimited number of linked devices. And if you opt for a long-term subscription, you will also benefit from high discounts of up to 82%!

7. CYBERGHOST VPN

Many functions and configuration options

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CyberGhost VPN * , a company from Bucharest, Romania, has 15 years of experience and can boast a well-developed network with over 5,600 servers at 112 locations in 90 different countries. The mixture of price, performance and user friendliness has already convinced more than 10 million users.

The functions of the VPN provider include access to the NoSpy servers, which are all secured with AES 256-bit encryption and, according to the company, are stationed outside the 14-Eyes surveillance. A strict no-logs policy and seamless end-to-end encryption. All servers are also equipped with high-quality premium hardware and dedicated uplinks so that maximum speed can be achieved at the push of a button. A connection to the NoSpy servers means maximum anonymity and the strongest data encryption standard. Special torrent servers ensure that your downloads are safe and anonymous. If the secured connection is interrupted even briefly, the kill switch is automatically triggered and you are disconnected from the Internet,

The CyberGhost apps are suitable for all common devices. This includes the desktop apps which cover Windows, Mac and Linux. Mobile apps for iOS and Android. TV apps for the Amazon Fire TV Stick and various Android TVs. And there are additional browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox and even your own router can be secured with an individual connection.

An additional highlight of CyberGhost is the usability of the apps. These are super understandable for inexperienced users, but offer experienced users enough configuration options. Simply select a blocked service like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, DAZN, etc. from the list and the app will automatically connect you to the fastest server available. This is what we call service and we would like to see this feature from other VPN providers as well.

CyberGhost VPN is undisputedly one of the best VPN providers. The simple operation, the excellent performance, as well as the connection of 7 devices at the same time convince not only us, but also the well-known technology magazine CHIP . For an affordable price, you get everything you would expect from a comprehensive VPN solution. If you have any problems with the service or if you don’t like it, friendly support and a 45-day money-back guarantee are available to you.

8. STRONGVPN

Interesting but provides few details

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With StrongVPN * you are probably thinking of a super secure VPN provider that focuses on the protection and anonymity of your data, right? That’s right, at least we think. The information on the website all sounds great, but there is no detailed insight into the functions of the service. What we do know is that StrongVPN has over 950 servers in 59 locations in 35 countries with over 59,500 different IP addresses.

The “Best VPN Features” advertised by the provider include apps for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Fire TV and your own router (including light and dark mode). A maximum number of 12 connections at the same time should be enough to secure all devices in your household with a VPN. The possibility to connect to the best server currently available and without the annoying speed limit. Security and anonymity in public WiFi networks. A no-logs policy, 24/7 customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee. And of course numerous protocols such as L2TP, SSTP, OpenVPN, IPSec and IKEv2.

Unfortunately, we can’t say much more about this provider. According to Techradar *, StrongVPN’s connection speeds are some of the best you have ever measured with a provider, and we recommend them to unblock streaming services such as Netflix and Co. from overseas.

9. TUNNELBEAR

The perfect VPN provider for beginners

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TunnelBear * is a Canada-based VPN provider and not only catches the eye with its transparency and super user-friendly design, but also with cute bear puns. Although the server network with over 1,000 servers in 23 countries is comparatively small, it can still convince with good speeds.

The focus here is clearly on the ease of use of the service. In our opinion, TunnelBear is ideal for every layperson who has contact with a VPN service for the first time. The service dispenses with complex menus and technical terms and ensures easy handling of all functions. This is great for beginners, but experienced users will look in vain for advanced configuration options. The Canadians leave hardly any leeway for settings or optimizations and there is not even the option of changing the protocol.

The apps are available for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android as well as extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Opera. There is also the option to set up a VPN manually on a router, game console, etc., but you are on your own. The renouncement of complex menus has probably also prevailed on the website and so the support page is unfortunately very tight.

The company doesn’t have to hide in the area of ​​data protection. You have dared to hire independent audit specialists to check servers, systems and code for the required standards. So much transparency has to be praised and we would like it to be from other VPN providers as well.

All in all, TunnelBear remains a good choice for laypeople and, despite its small network, can score points with fast servers in Europe, the USA and Asia. So ideally suited for downloading torrents or streaming from various providers. If you are unsure whether TunnelBear is the right VPN provider for you, you can test the service for free. The data traffic is limited to 500 MB per month, but it is sufficient to test the functions.

10. PRIVATE INTERNET ACCESS

Sympathetic all-rounder at a fair price

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Private Internet Access * may not be the fastest, cheapest, or most powerful VPN provider, but they are incredibly personable and offer enough features to secure a place on our list of the best VPN providers. The network currently hosts over 3,300 servers in 30 countries and it’s growing all the time.

Features include port forwarding and SOCKS5 support. Automatic protection if you access a public and unsecured WiFi network. In addition, a kill switch that is triggered immediately as soon as the VPN fails and your connection is unsecured. Of course P2P support as well as access to PPTP, OpenVPN and L2TP / IPSec protocols. Protection against advertising, trackers and malware. Unlimited bandwidth and multiple VPN gateways (dial-in nodes). Of course, a simultaneous connection of up to 10 devices and a 7-day money-back guarantee should not be missing. A little bit, but still better than none.

The service is available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux and as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox and Opera. Simple setup instructions for alternate configurations allow the service to run virtually anywhere. In addition to the VPN, the browser extensions offer a number of data protection-related extras. These include a flash blocker, the ability to clean up cookies and protection around the microphone and camera to protect against unwanted access.

Only the slightly confusing operation of the apps was noticed negatively. For example, the Android app does not have a server favorites system, so finding the desired location takes a little longer. But you can overlook this when you consider that private Internet access offers a lot of scope for your own configurations and provides numerous security functions and extras at expert level.

The 1 month subscription is one of the cheapest offers we have compared, so it is ideal for testing the service. The longest subscription is only 1 year (other providers have 3 year subscriptions) and is priced in the middle. So you can save more money with other VPN providers, but you also have to commit to a longer period of time.

Find the best VPN provider

Before you decide on a VPN provider, you should definitely consider our 6 most important criteria:

• Security: If you are looking for a VPN, privacy and data protection is important to you. Before choosing a provider, make sure that they have a verified “no logs policy”. This means that nobody collects, stores or shares your data with third parties while you are on the Internet.
• Speed: The best VPN provider always tries to provide the fastest connection and thus the shortest loading times. A connection to servers that are spread across the globe can logically have a negative effect on the speed. With high-quality servers, however, this loss is hardly noticeable and you can surf, download torrents and stream around the clock. If you have slow internet through your internet provider, you can bypass the throttling with a VPN and achieve higher speeds.
• Features: VPN providers’ apps now have dozens of features, some more, others less. In most cases, these are listed in detail on the websites and you can create an overview of all the functions available. The most important functions of a VPN are actually always available, no matter which provider you choose. But if you are looking for something special, you should find out more before buying.
• Streaming: did you know? VPNs are often only bought to get access to popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and DAZN. These services usually limit their library to certain regions. Will your favorite series be available in the US first? No problem! Just connect to the right VPN server and get instant access.
• Torrents: Sharing torrents is very popular, all the more annoying that it is banned in many countries. Large companies with their copyright lawyers hunt down illegal downloads of films, games and the like. Hackers also like to use torrents to smuggle malicious programs such as a keylogger into the system. A good VPN for torrenting hides your real IP address and ensures a secure and anonymous connection to the server. So watch out for features like SOCKS5 proxies and P2P profiles.
• Censorship: If you are interested in accessing censored content, then you should choose a reliable provider that works in countries that are trying to block VPNs. Most VPN providers manage to bypass simple censorship, but large firewalls like those of China can only be avoided by sophisticated networks like that of ExpressVPN *.

VPN: Frequently Asked Questions

VPN: what is it actually?

VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network” and creates a private, encrypted connection between you and the Internet. This means that you surf completely anonymously, so that no one can see who you are and what you are doing on the Internet.

Even your Internet service provider (ISP) cannot see in its activity log which pages you are on, what you are downloading or currently viewing. The encryption technology used (usually AES-256-bit encryption) is structured in such a way that nobody can penetrate your device and steal personal data. A VPN connection thus not only protects your privacy, but also your confidential data.

In addition to the additional security and data protection, there are also other useful uses of a VPN. Would you like to access a website that your Internet provider is blocking? No problem! With just one click you can easily release them again. You can also change your location in a matter of seconds and thus access content from other regions. Will the new season of your favorite series first air in America? No problem! Just switch to the US version of Netflix. Do you enjoy surfing websites that you don’t want anyone to know about? No problem! A VPN connection is incomprehensible and your privacy is secured.

Using a VPN is child’s play, because most providers offer their services in the form of a classic app. That means you can use them for pretty much all internet-enabled devices. No matter if Windows or Mac, Android or iOS, game consoles, routers, smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV sticks and much more. Just install, open and set up. The app handles the encryption of your data and the anonymization and runs unnoticed in the background. With virtually every VPN provider, you also have the option of registering several devices at the same time and benefiting from a VPN connection. Practically!

Important: Some VPN providers have to save logs and thus data from you, even if they do not like to admit it. If requested by the authorities, for example, the provider must hand them over without exception. So this means you are mostly, but not 100% anonymous, on the Internet. Some providers such as NordVPN * have their company headquarters outside of the so-called 14-Eyes monitoring and therefore do not have to save any user protocols (logs). So if you place great value on anonymity, then you should take this into account.

How does a VPN work?

A VPN is supposed to make surfing the Internet safer, more anonymous and more convenient, but how does it actually work? Well, in and of itself, how a VPN works is explained quite quickly and easily.

If you want to establish a connection to a website or a service, all data traffic is first encrypted and sent to the destination server via detours. This increases your security and data protection enormously.

Ordinary data traffic on the Internet looks like this:

Your device> Website / service
website / service> Your device

Encrypted data traffic through a VPN looks like this:

Your device> Secure VPN server> Website / service
website / service> Secure VPN Server> your device

It doesn’t matter where you are with your device, the website or service only ever sees the location of the server from which you are currently connecting. So if you are based in Germany and choose a VPN server from India, it seems to the website operator that you really come from the south of Asia.

Thus, a VPN not only protects your personal data and disguises your location, but also makes it possible to bypass geo-blocking and gain access to censored content.

Is a VPN legal?

Basically, VPNs are legal in most countries around the world. There is nothing wrong with hiding your IP address and encrypting your data traffic, as long as you have no illegal intentions to do so. This includes, for example, infringement of copyright by downloading films, games, music or even pictures that are subject to copyright using a VPN.

However, some countries have banned VPNs or at least severely restricted their use. In China, for example, only government-approved VPNs are allowed to be used; violating this rule and using an unapproved VPN provider can result in a heavy fine.

In other countries like the United Arab States, Russia or Iran, you can be fined up to $ 500,000 or, if things go bad, you land in jail for using an unapproved VPN. Iraq, Belarus, Turkmenistan, and North Korea all ban VPNs.

How safe is a VPN?

If you choose a VPN provider, you want more security on the Internet. VPNs encrypt your data and ensure that it cannot be intercepted by anyone. Your confidential data (e.g. online banking), business communications and any other type of information is essentially completely secure.

Why only basically? As already mentioned, VPN providers have to save logs within the “14-Eyes monitoring” and forward them to the responsible authorities if there is an urgent need. Although this is only an exceptional case, it can still happen.

What makes a VPN really unsafe are devices that have already been manipulated. If a device has already been infected with malware, a keylogger, or other security threats, then even the best VPN can no longer guarantee protection from third parties. It is therefore important to keep the operating system up to date and to install a high-quality antivirus program.

How good is a free VPN?

Although the use of the free VPN providers is severely restricted, in our opinion they offer a great opportunity to get a first impression of the service.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many services that offer a free version of their VPN. In our top 10 best VPN providers, only Hotspot Shield * and TunnelBear * offer this service.

The restrictions usually take the form of advertising, restricted data traffic, connections with low priority, session limits and blocking of some functions.

Of course, you can’t expect the same functionality or service from a free VPN that you get from a paid service. But if you only want to use it now and then to protect your laptop in the public WLAN of a café, then nothing speaks against it.

To ensure that your data and your privacy are protected at all times, we recommend the paid version of a VPN provider. In addition to the full range of functions, you also receive excellent customer support and the maximum quality of the service. And let’s be honest. If you don’t like the product in the end, you can simply claim your money-back guarantee.