Looking for a VPN, but overwhelmed by the many options out there?

Lady pointing at herself, holding her hand up.

Using a VPN — a virtual private network — to access the internet can increase privacy, security, and allow you to access content only available in certain countries.

Pick a VPN that best suits your needs!

Let's Start With The Essentials

Don't go picking a VPN without making sure it offers these six core features:

Flaticon Icon An intuitive interface to be able to enable and disable the VPN easily.

Flaticon Icon Compatibility so that you can use the service on all of your devices.

Flaticon Icon A trusted provider that won't sell your data to advertisers or track your activity (be wary of free VPNs).

Flaticon Icon Friendly and reliable customer service to help you out if you get stuck.

Flaticon Icon An affordable service that won't break the bank.

Flaticon Icon Reliability so that your security and speeds are maintained when using the VPN.

Some Optional Extras

Think of these features as the sprinkles on your ice cream. They're not essential, but for some people, they sure do make it better!

Flaticon Icon Region availability so that you have a server close to home for responsiveness, but also the ability to appear from another country — choice is a big deal for some.

Flaticon Icon A large quantity of servers can be beneficial because it means the service is capable of offering better performance for a large number of users.

Flaticon Icon Service compatibility so that you can use the VPN with popular streaming sites to access content only available to users outside your region, for example.

Flaticon Icon A choice of payment and pricing options allows you to pay for "lifetime", annual, or monthly subscriptions. Some let you pay with cryptocurrency for extra privacy.

A Word On Free Versus Paid VPNs

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Hold on, there! There's no such thing as a free lunch.

Free VPNs can be appetizing and get your mouth watering, but stop and thinkfree services have to pay their own costs somehow.

Free services can make their money in a number of ways:

Flaticon Icon Tracking methods can be used to permit advertisers to collect information about your browsing history and show you targeted ads.

Flaticon Icon Selling your data such as your email address or browsing history puts you at an increased risk of cyber-threats.

Flaticon Icon Using you as an "exit node" allows your device or network to be used by other users to access an internet connection in their desired country, i.e. yours.

Flaticon Icon They set limits to encourage you to part with your cash for unlimited or unrestricted use.

It's ultimately up to you to decide if these are dealbreakersmost people use a VPN for privacy, so don't undermine the reason for using it in the first place!

Which VPN Is Best For Krissy?

Flaticon Icon Meet Krissy, a freelance writer who often works on her laptop in coffee shops, by using public Wi-Fi. She wants to protect her privacy with a VPN.

Flaticon Icon

"Hide My Activity" VPN

  • Their Facebook page has 271 likes

  • It's free of charge

  • Easy to use

  • Works on all devices

  • Speeds are quick in the mornings

Flaticon Icon

"Stealth" VPN

  • Scored 4.5/5 on TrustPilot

  • $6 a month

  • Easy to use

  • Works on laptop and desktop computers

  • Speeds are fast all the time

Quiz

Which is the best VPN for Krissy?

Take Action

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The right VPN will protect your online privacy without compromise. By taking the following actions, you're making a big step towards protecting yourself online.

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