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The Best VPNs

Five leading VPNs, scored on privacy, speed, features and value.

Last updated Jul 3, 2026

A VPN is only worth running if you can trust the company behind it. We scored five well-regarded providers on privacy, speed, features, and value, weighting privacy the heaviest, and named a clear pick. Every commercial link on this page is disclosed and never changes the ranking.

  1. 1

    Mullvad VPN

    Our pick

    The most privacy-respecting option, with anonymous account numbers and a flat €5/month.

    8.9
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Anonymous account numbers, no email needed
    • + Flat pricing with no upsells
    • + Independently audited no-logs policy

    Cons

    • − Smaller server network than rivals
    • − No bundled extras like antivirus
    From $5.00 /month
    Visit Mullvad VPN
  2. 2

    Proton VPN

    Best free

    Open-source and audited, with the only unlimited free plan worth using.

    8.9
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Genuinely useful unlimited free plan
    • + Open-source, audited apps
    • + Secure Core multi-hop routing

    Cons

    • − Fastest speeds need the paid plan
    • − Free tier has fewer server locations
    From $4.99 /month
    Visit Proton VPN
  3. 3

    ExpressVPN

    Best for beginners

    The easiest VPN to just install and use, with consistently fast servers.

    8.7
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Very easy apps on every platform
    • + Fast, reliable for streaming
    • + Servers in 100+ countries

    Cons

    • − More expensive than most rivals
    • − Owned by a large ad-tech parent (Kape)
    From $6.67 /month
    Visit ExpressVPN
  4. 4

    NordVPN

    Fast and feature-packed, with threat protection and a large server fleet.

    8.6
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Excellent speeds via NordLynx
    • + Loads of extra features
    • + Large server network

    Cons

    • − Best price only on 2-year plans
    • − Renewal price jumps significantly
    From $3.39 /month
    Visit NordVPN
  5. 5

    Surfshark

    Best value

    Unlimited devices at a low price makes it ideal for households.

    8.5
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Unlimited simultaneous connections
    • + Low introductory pricing
    • + CleanWeb ad and tracker blocking

    Cons

    • − Cheapest price needs a long commitment
    • − Speeds vary by location
    From $2.19 /month
    Visit Surfshark

Side-by-side

The Best VPNs — score by criterion for each product.
Product Privacy Features Speed Value Overall
Mullvad VPN 9.7 8.0 8.5 9.0 8.9
Proton VPN 9.5 8.5 8.3 8.8 8.9
ExpressVPN 8.9 8.6 9.2 7.6 8.7
NordVPN 8.7 9.0 9.3 7.2 8.6
Surfshark 8.5 8.5 8.6 8.4 8.5
How we scored this

Each VPN is scored 0–10 on four weighted criteria: privacy (weight 3), speed (2), features (2), and value (1.5). The overall score is the weighted average. Ranks are our editorial verdict from those scores plus hands-on testing; they are independent of any affiliate payout.