VPNs are growing in popularity due to privacy and security concerns. VPN short for virtual private network allows you to protect your privacy, secure information, and bypass censorship. If you’re looking for the best VPN services, then you are in the right place. In this article, we will explain what is a VPN, why you need a VPN, and share our handpicked list of the best VPN services for WordPress users.
What Is A VPN?
VPN is a Virtual Private Network that helps you secure your internet connection and protect your identity. We all use internet on multiple devices, from multiple locations, and sometimes from public internet spots.
Do You Need A VPN?
- Do you value your privacy?
- Do you travel a lot and frequently use public Wi-Fi?
- Are you running into issues with censorship?
If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, you need a VPN. Hackers, state surveillance, censorship, copyright laws, geo-blocks – a myriad of hazards can be avoided if you use a VPN.
Think of every time you shop online, the passwords you’re typing, the credit card details you’re throwing into the digital vortex – all that data is vulnerable to cyber crooks preying on the unencrypted pieces of your life.
VPNs keep you safe, open your digital boundaries and give you granular control over how you appear online. In a perfect world, privacy online should be the default for every program we use, but in the real world, the Internet is the wild west.
How to Choose The Best VPN Service?
There are plenty of VPN service providers available that you can use. However, not all of them offer the same level of security, privacy, and ease of use.
Here is what you need to look for in the best VPN service:
Ease of use – You will need easy to use apps for all your devices, so you can quickly connect to your VPN, switch servers, change IPs without any technical skills.
Speed and Bandwidth – VPN services can be slow if they don’t have enough bandwidth to support faster connections for all their customers. You need to choose a company that has the infrastructure to support faster connections.
Locations and Servers – More servers on multiple locations mean you can choose servers from different countries with different IPs. It also allows you to switch from a slower server to a faster one.
Privacy and Security – You need to make sure that your VPN service provider is offering the best layer of security to protect your privacy. This means not keeping logs and using layers of encryption for all data transfers.
5 Best VPN Services for 2021
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is hands down the best VPN if you’re after maximum privacy at all times. It sports a nicely designed interface, which is intuitive and comes with a nifty search feature that makes things as simple as they can be. I like how they sorted their servers into Ultra-fast and Ultra-secure, which is ultra-convenient.
NordVPN is rock-solid on privacy with headquarters in Panama, which is well beyond the 14 Eyes. So, you can count on zero logs policy, and software packed with all the bells and whistles that make a VPN robust – OpenVPN, 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, double encryption, VPN into Tor – you get the idea.
It’s also fast with impressive 830+ server locations, which makes it an excellent choice for P2P file-sharing, online gaming, and HD streaming. There are no annoying bandwidth caps here, and you can connect to Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, or France’s Canal+ if you wish – there’s a server for every need. The double encryption will understandably slow things down.
They offer apps for all popular platforms, and you can use it on up to six devices for $12 a month, $48 for one year, $70 for two years, or $99 for three years which is the best value for the money topped with a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Streaming Services
- Pay using Bitcoin, PayPal, Credit Cards and more
- Multiple Device Support: iPhone, iPad, Routers, Game Consoles and More
- Free proxy list (up to 3000 free proxies)
- Custom software for Windows, OS X, iOS and Android
- OpenVPN AES-256-SHA
- Ads blocker “CyberSec”
- Extensions for Firefox and Google Chrome
- Convenient server map & custom software
Cons
- NordVPN is comparatively a slow service
- It does not have the capability to prevent ad trackers
- Double encryption can be sluggish
2. PureVPN
PureVPN has a huge choice of 750 servers in 141 countries and counting. The sheer volume of features, toggles, and tools they provide makes it a top contender for the advanced users. There is a stealth browsing mode, online banking security, secure FTP access, multiple protocols and more. They have server lists optimized for P2P and video streaming, so switching is easy.
They’re based in Hong Kong, which is a no data retention haven. Count on 256-bit AES encryption, Open VPN protocol, and transparent privacy policy – they do log the time when you connect to a server and the bandwidth used. They log nothing other than that but may leak DNS.
PureVPN allows up to five simultaneous connections, supports a staggering amount of platforms from routers and smart TVs to ROKU and Boxee, and unblocks streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Note that speeds might drop during peak hours though.
As far as pricing goes, it’s one of the most affordable VPNs on the list. They offer a three-day free trial and three plans – $12 monthly, $9 per month on bi-annual plan and $3 per month for a two-year subscription. Each comes standard with a 7-day money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Affordable
- HQ in Hong Kong
- Supports split tunneling
- 24/7 tech support
- Awesome add-ons
- Huge range of servers
- Compatible with 50+ platforms
- Allows up to 5 simultaneous connections
- Optimized servers for P2P and video streaming
- Accepts gift cards
Cons:
- Speeds drop during peak hours
- Leaks DNS
- No Perfect Forward Secrecy
3. HideMyAss
HideMyAss is a big-name Virtual Private Network (VPN), provider. Within the VPN industry, however, HideMyAss (HMA) has a poor reputation. This is largely down to a history of it handing the extensive logs it keeps on customers over to the authorities, but it is also plagued by consumer dissatisfaction with the quality of the service provided.
There is also no getting away from the fact that the service is very feature-light.
What HideMyAss does have to go for it, however, is a huge number of servers located in just about every country imaginable. No other VPN company has anything like this scale of the network. Our latest speed test results are also quite impressive.
This makes HideMyAss a compelling proposition for the limited subset of VPN users who might need either access to a huge range of VPN server locations or access to a VPN server in a country that only HMA serves.
It offers one simple “all-in” plan, which now starts at $11.52 per month. This price goes down for six or 12-month subscriptions, dropping to $6.56 per month for the annual subscription.
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use
- 45+ countries, 800+ servers
- 30 days money back
- Good download speed
Cons:
- Blocked in some parts of China
- HMA is being accused of keeping logs
- Negative reviews on Reddit
4. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is simple and speedy. It’s also one of the higher-end providers. Ease of use and its awesome features justify the price though. It’s reliable and lag-free with a staggering network of servers in 94 countries. You’ll get access to the American Netflix, and if you run into any issues, their support is fast and efficient.
The software comes with AES-256 encryption, OpenVPN support, SmartDNS, auto-connect and a kill switch. You can torrent and play online, sans traffic or bandwidth caps, but you can only install it on three devices, which is a tad disappointing if you ask me. That said, the client is sleek and intuitive.
They offer a 30-day refund, and while the $13 monthly plan is expensive, the bi-annual subscription is $60, and the annual is justly set at $100.
ExpressVPN keeps no logs or DNS queries, and even though it’s beyond the 14 Eyes, its headquarters in the British Virgin Islands is somewhat of a gray zone.
Pros:
- Simple cross-platform client
- Zero logs, solid encryption, OpenVPN, kill switch
- Good speeds for gaming, streaming
- Unlimited bandwidth for P2P
- Accepts Bitcoin
- 30-day refund
Cons:
- No ad blocker
- 3 simultaneous connections
- Logs non-identifiable metadata
- Expensive
5. PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN is a zero-logs Swedish provider with 80+ servers in 52 countries around the world. It features a firewall-based system kill switch and aper-app kill switch, which is great. Full IPv4 and IPv6 DNS leak protection are also built-in to its client.
We have been particularly impressed by PrivateVPN’s high level of customer service, which even features remote installation for technophobes! 6 simultaneous devices are permitted, which is very generous – and port forwarding plus HTTPS and SOCKS5 proxies are a nice bonus.
With a 30-day no-quibble money-back guarantee, why not give PrivateVPN a try?
Additional features: works with US Netflix and iPlayer, kill switch and auto-connect, website available in English, German, Dutch, and Swedish.
Pros:
- Helpful customer service
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- DNS leak protection
- 6 simultaneous connections
- Excellent mobile apps
Cons:
- Some minimal connection logs for 90 days
- No Perfect Forward Secrecy
Conclusion
We expect you would like our guide to best VPN services for 2020. Through our guide, users can select VPN services that offer the highest level of anonymity and protection. Furthermore, the subscribers can evaluate the benefits of VPN in terms of pricing, speed, connectivity, server’s network, and others.
Likewise, the subscribers may secure their online privacy from intruders or hackers to another level. In addition, users can continue performing various online activities like gaming, streaming video services, web surfing, and others. By doing so, you can circumvent issues like online censorship, ISPs surveillance, region blocking from anywhere.
