After writing about and testing VPN products on MUO and WizCase for the past few years, I’ve started compiling a series of in-depth reviews that will publish sometime soon.
As a result of all the work in the VPN space, I realized that my VPN recommendations may not be entirely relevant to your personal needs. Therefore, I was thinking of a better way to help you decide how to choose a VPN.
See, not all VPNs are created equal and a service that works for one user may not meet the needs of another user. But there are some boxes that you want a VPN to check so that you don’t run into issues down the road.
To make the process easier, I’ve compiled a list of important factors that you should consider when choosing a VPN. From encryption levels and security features to speed and reliability of a VPN service, I’ve included all the information to help you make an informed decision.
10 Things to Consider When Choosing a VPN
It is not possible for a VPN to excel in all areas and tasks. Some services tend to focus on the security aspect and offer a high level of encryption and verified zero-logs service. Others provide excellent speeds that are ideal for streaming and torrenting.
Additionally, some VPNs boast strong unblocking capabilities that can reliably bypass content restrictions. Similarly, there are services that offer unlimited simultaneous device connections, so you can protect all your devices with a single subscription.
It’s important to figure out what you’ll primarily be using a VPN for. I’d recommend that you write down all the features that you want in a VPN and those that you can do without. With a list like that, it will be much easier for you to decide which VPN to use.
Once you’ve your needs figured out, consider these 10 factors to choose the right VPN.
1. VPN’s Business Model (Free Vs. Paid VPN)
A VPN’s business model tells you how a VPN makes money to keep its services afloat. You can find it on the VPN’s official website or contact customer support for more clarity on their monetization strategies.
There are some services that advertise themselves as free VPNs, but as the popular adage goes “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”. Free VPNs cover their costs by showing ads or even selling your data to third parties. They also come with bandwidth and data caps, making them impractical for most use cases.
Additionally, free VPNs lack necessary security features like kill switch and leak protection and may expose your identity to cybercriminals. Therefore, I always recommend that you choose a service that has transparent policies and encrypts your data for maximum protection.
If you aren’t sure which VPN to choose, I highly recommend NordVPN. It uses military-grade encryption and offers a useful kill switch and leak protection. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try all its features completely risk-free.
2. Location and Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is often an overlooked aspect when choosing a VPN. Every VPN provider has to comply with local laws and regulations, so it’s important to understand how these laws might affect your privacy.
Ideally, you should avoid choosing a VPN headquartered in any of the member states of the five-, nine-, or 14-eyes alliance. But in theory, you can ignore jurisdiction if the provider has a zero-logs policy that is independently audited and verified.
Jurisdiction also shouldn’t matter in case the provider employs RAM-based server architecture. Unlike HDD-based servers, RAM-only servers hold data only when connected to a power supply. All the data is deleted as soon as the server is rebooted or turned off. A popular example is Private Internet Access (PIA) which is based in the US (a member state of the 5-Eyes Alliance), but has a proven no-logs policy and uses RAM-only servers.
That being said, you should explore how a VPN service responds to requests from law enforcement irrespective of its logging policy. Any legitimate VPN provider should have clear guidelines about data protection if a third party requests access to its servers.
You should also check the company’s history in terms of data leaks and cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
3. Security & Privacy
Security and privacy should be the primary goals of a VPN. At the bare minimum, the provider you’re considering should not keep any data logs (also called no-logs or zero-logs service).
There are several types of VPN logs but not all logs can expose your real identity. Some VPNs that call themselves “zero-log services” still log anonymous information like connection times and bandwidth usage, but this data isn’t enough to trace your geolocation or identity. Premium VPN providers like ExpressVPN claim to not log any data at all. Ideally, the less a VPN knows about you and your data, the better.
A VPN should also offer security features like an automatic kill switch and built-in leak protection. When enabled, a kill switch automatically disconnects your device from the internet in case your VPN connection is lost. Doing so, it prevents your actual IP address and browsing data from being exposed.
Similarly, you should check your provider for IP and DNS leaks. These leaks can render a VPN effectively useless as they can expose your real identity and approximate location. Some services offer built-in tools that let you check for leaks from the VPN app, but you can also use third-party sites like browserleaks.com or dnsleaktest.com to test IP and DNS leaks.
4. Reliable Encryption
If data protection is super important to you, look for a service that uses AES 256-bit encryption. It’s the highest level of encryption that is used by banks and government agencies to protect confidential data.
You can also choose a Double VPN (also called MultiHop VPN) which encrypts your data twice, thus making it more secure. But since encryption and decryption are time-consuming processes, the extra protection often comes at the cost of speed.
Some VPNs, PIA for instance, also allow you to change the encryption to your desired level, depending on the protection you need. But for most users, I always advise using AES 256-bit encryption.
5. Strong Protocols
Many users don’t care about VPN protocols, but some do have a preferred protocol they want to use. If you are one of those, make sure the VPN supports your desired protocol.
There are several VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, PPTP, L2TP, etc.) that define how the client app and servers connect with each other and encrypt your data. OpenVPN is a widely used protocol that has been around for some time. But the relatively new WireGuard protocol is quickly becoming the gold standard for privacy and security.
Major VPN providers like CyberGhost VPN and PIA now offer WireGuard, while NordVPN and ExpressVPN have developed their own protocols optimized for privacy and speed.
6. Speed
There’s nothing more frustrating than sluggish speeds, especially when you are streaming videos or torrenting. While a VPN will inevitably affect your internet speed, the best VPNs won’t slow you down in a noticeable way.
When choosing a VPN, it’s important to determine which speed metrics matter the most to you. Will you be streaming videos and downloading large files? If so, you’ll need a VPN service that offers fast download speeds. Similarly, if you send an excessive amount of data or have large backup files and pictures, you might need a service with high upload speeds.
A low ping time is ideal for users who play online games or use real-time applications like Zoom and voice-over IP (VoIP). Ping time translates to the amount of time it takes for a data packet to travel from your device, through the VPN encrypted tunnel, to the destination, and back to your device. The lower the ping time, the better.
Some VPN providers offer different configurations to ensure that you get versatile speeds for different purposes. For instance, if you’re simply streaming Netflix with a VPN, you probably don’t need military-grade encryption, since it’s a CPU-intensive task and will slow down your speed.
The only way to find out the speed that you can expect from a VPN service is by conducting speed tests when connected to the VPN. Simply go to a speed testing website and check your ping, download, and upload speeds, and then compare it with your regular internet speeds. I tested several VPNs and found NordVPN as the top service in terms of connection speeds. Thankfully, NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test its speeds risk-free.
7. Server Network
Make sure that the VPN you are considering has an extensive server network. A large number of servers means that a VPN will handle a considerable number of users without getting overcrowded.
Besides the number of servers, the location of those servers is equally important. You should ideally look for a service that has servers spread across multiple locations around the world. This will allow you to change your IP to your desired location and access geo-blocked content.
It’s also pertinent to consider the versatility of the servers. Some VPNs offer servers optimized for particular activities like streaming that can provide access to regional libraries without compromising on speed. You should also look for gaming and P2P servers if that’s what you will use a VPN for.
Top VPN services are transparent about the number of servers and their locations. For example, ExpressVPN states that it has over 5,500 servers in 60 countries. This is quite an extensive server network which means that you can connect to any of these locations to change your IP address and bypass content restrictions.
8. Simultaneous Device Connections
If you use many devices, make sure the VPN you choose supports them and allows simultaneous connections to all the devices at once. This means you won’t have to disconnect one device from the VPN to make room for another.
Surfshark supports unlimited connections on a single subscription, making it ideal for large households and users who own multiple devices. It’s also important to ensure that the VPN provides native apps for multiple devices and platforms so that you can protect your data and identity across all devices. These should include apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, Linux, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and more.
9. Ease of Use
Most VPN providers have their own applications and dedicated clients that are easy to use, even for non-tech-savvy users. Providers have worked hard on creating user-friendly interfaces, but consider taking a look at the apps and software to know if you’re comfortable using them.
10. Customer Support
Even the best VPN services can have hidden problems, so having responsive customer support can be really handy in case you run into any issues. Choose a service that offers reliable support, whether via phone, email, or live chat. Live chat is the most convenient of all as you get answers to your queries almost instantly.
Reclaim Your Privacy and Internet Freedom With the Right VPN
The key to choosing the right VPN is to understand your priorities and what you’re looking to achieve with a VPN. By keeping the 10 important factors in mind, you can make an informed decision that will provide you with the privacy, security, and convenience you need while browsing the web.
While there are many VPN options available on the market, I recommend that you explore different providers, and compare their features and prices before making the final decision.