Group test
Reviewed by NICK PEERS
ON TEST…
> ExpressVPN >NordVPN > Norton VPN > Proton VPN > Surfshark VPN > TunnelBear
Group test
Reviewed by NICK PEERS
ON TEST…
> ExpressVPN >NordVPN > Norton VPN > Proton VPN > Surfshark VPN > TunnelBear
For those worried about privacy and security
F when online, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a must. This encrypts all your internet traffic, to not just hide your identity and location from online trackers but also your internet provider. It also protects you when connected to public Wi-Fi hotspots.
We’re entering a golden age of VPNs, where there’s little – if any – performance penalty when connected to local servers, meaning you don’t have to suffer slower transfer speeds when using one. But you still need to choose with care to pick the right blend of features and security to always remain protected. You also need to trust your VPN provider to do what it says – namely, not keep logs of your activities that could be traced back to you.
In this round-up, we’ve picked out six major VPN providers and tested them in the key areas of security, privacy, performance, ease of use and trust. All six work across desktop and mobile, and some work on other devices too. Read on to discover which VPN best meets your individual needs when you’re online.
How we tested
First, we tested security by conducting a series of leak tests at ipleak.net and dnsleaktest.com to make sure your actual location and IP address were kept hidden while connected to the VPN. All six VPNs passed with flying colours.
We then used speedtest.net to compare the performance of each VPN in three locations: locally, on the other side of the Atlantic and even further afield in Australia. This was conducted through a standard fibre (30Mbps) connection.