VPNs have long evolved from just hiding your IP address. Today, if you needed to watch a movie, you’d also need one that can help you access streaming media from anywhere in the world.
So whatever your needs are, there are a range of VPNs that combine speed, content accessibility, privacy protection and flexible payment plans all in one. NordVPN and the Surfshark VPN for iOS are just a few to mention.
But that’s the tricky part. There are over 100 VPNs on your Google or Apple store alone. That’s where this post comes in for the rescue. You’ll learn how to choose the best VPN by considering these nine important factors.
Still trying to understand what VPNs are? Read our guide on how VPNs work and why you should use them.
9 Factors to Look At When Choosing the Best VPN
1. Privacy and No-logging
Privacy should be your primary concern when choosing a VPN. Malicious web users are constantly on the prowl for their next victim. You wouldn’t want to lose sensitive data to the wrong hands.
A VPN with a no-log policy prevents that problem. No-log or logless VPN means that your virtual private network provider won’t keep records of any information your computer transmits through their network. So no one can know where you go online, what you search for, and the content you download.
Many VPNs claim to be logless, however only few rise to the claim. For example, ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Tunnel Bear are among the least invasive VPNs. Others may store information like your connection times and bandwidth usage.
One way to choose a truly logless VPN is to look at the country. For example, Panama is one of the most airtight locations for VPNs because it falls outside the radar of the Five Eyes and Fourteen Eyes alliances. They are a group of countries with intelligent means of retrieving user data from any company within their reach.
Check that your VPN has servers in different locations, especially if you plan to access geo-restricted content frequently. But don’t get greedy chasing VPNs with thousands of servers. Target those that have them in locations you actually need. The more servers a VPN has, the less control they’ll have over all of them at once. This can affect your experience while using the VPN.
Additionally, never consent to the Privacy Policy or Terms and Conditions of any VPN without reading them thoroughly. This way, you don’t accidentally sign over the rights to your personal data.
2. Security and kill switches
VPNs keep you anonymous as long as you stay connected to them. But what happens when that connection is abruptly cut short? Your identity will be exposed and you’d be made vulnerable to attacks.
A kill switch immediately terminates your connection to the internet the moment you’re disconnected from your VPN. This way, your IP address and other sensitive information stay hidden.
Kill switches in VPNs are optional. So you can choose to toggle on the feature or leave it, although it’s advisable that you leave it on. You can also set the kill switch for specific apps or apply it to every part of your system that requires Internet connection.
3. Streaming media accessibility
Netflix is one of the most popular streaming TV services. It has the best shows and movies to watch available. Sadly, if you’re not a US resident, you’re going to have a tough time viewing them.
Over the years, Netflix has cracked down on VPN solutions that give users illegal access to its content. Now, you can’t just download anyone you want from the store to watch restricted media.
So if you plan to use Netflix, and others like BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and Amazon Prime, check that your VPN is guaranteed to work with them.
4. Multi-device compatibility
The VPN network you choose should be compatible with your devices. If you plan to switch between your TVs, laptops and smartphones often while streaming, this will come in handy.
Get a VPN that allows you to connect up to five of them simultaneously. This way, you don’t need to pay for separate VPN subscriptions on each device or disconnect one device to make room for another.
5. User-friendliness
You don’t need to be a tech expert to use a VPN. You just need to have the basic sense of installing one and then connecting straight away to a server.
This is why it’s important to choose a VPN that has an interface fit for both beginners and professional computer users. A VPN with one-click connectivity should do the trick.
For example, Tunnel Bear has a mobile friendly interface that allows you to connect to the fastest server with just the click of one button. You don’t need to make any adjustments to the settings.
6. Customer support
No VPN is flawless. Eventually, you’re going to run into some difficulties or bottlenecks while using your new privacy powerhouse. When that happens, you’ll need a customer support system that’s on-call 24/7.
You should also be able to reach the representatives via multiple communication channels. For example, live chat, email, and phone calls. As a bonus, check that they have a knowledgebase for the product. This will help you find solutions to common problems with your VPN when you can’t reach the support team.
7. Unlimited Bandwidth
VPN bandwidth and speed are terms often used interchangeably. However, they’re not the same. The bandwidth is simply the amount of data your VPN can transfer within a second. Meanwhile, VPN speed refers to how fast that data is traveling from and to your connection.
To determine how much bandwidth you’d need in a VPN, first consider how many people are going to use the VPN and what they’re going to be using it for. The bandwidth needed for streaming videos and browsing websites will vary.
If you’re getting the VPN for a large space, like a restaurant or cafe for example, you’d need at least 3 mbps. So if you had 100 people using the VPN, you’d need a bandwidth of 300 mbps.
8. Connection speed
To determine the connection speed of your VPN, you must consider these three factors; the download speed, upload speed, and ping time.
- Download speed: the rate at which your VPN receives data.
- Upload speed: the rate at which your VPN sends data.
- Ping time: the amount of time existing between when your VPN receives and sends data.
To check for these speeds, you can use third party websites like Ookla and Xfinity. But the ideal speed for your VPN should be between 10 to 45 mbps.
That’s because browsing web pages and working on your laptop will cost 10 to 12 mbps. Playing console, PC and laptop games should cost 20 to 30 mbps. Streaming 4K resolution content will reach 40 mbps.
9. Pricing & plans
While we love freebies, a free VPN will do you no good. Most free VPNs have limitations, such as limited bandwidth, slow Internet connectivity, and poor security features. In the end, you’d need to pay for premium packages to access the better features.
Companies that offer free VPNs also put your data at risk. They need to make up for costs incurred from putting out their product for free. So they either spam you with suspicious ads or sell your data to whoever is buying, making them a security risk for you.
If you do opt for premium plans, don’t be tempted to subscribe monthly. You’ll spend more money that way as most VPN companies offer a price slash for yearly or two-year plans and you don’t have to renew the subscription yourself, which can be annoying.
For example, VyprVPN charges $15 for one month, which will cost you $180 if you choose to continue paying that way for 12 months. If you pay for 12 months at once, you’ll be charged $8.33 per month, billed at $100 total. So you’ll save $80.
But before you commit to a plan, ensure that there’s a free trial version. This will allow you to do a test run of all the available features. It will help you decide whether the VPN fits your needs.
Final thoughts
Tunneling through the Internet with a VPN is a great way to hide from prying eyes. No one besides you and your VPN provider will know what you’re up to, which is the best part.
These nine tips are sure to help you choose the right VPN for you. But don’t forget to read product reviews before making your purchase decision. This should give you clear insights on how the VPN works from real-time customers like yourself.
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