Best VPN Services In Canada For May 2024

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Our team analyzed 21 VPN providers with 30 factors such as transparent pricing, number of server locations, the number of devices it can cover, access to customer support and customer ratings to organize this list of the ten best VPN services. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

• Private Internet Access: Best Overall
• CyberGhost: Best for International Server Locations
• Torguard VPN: Most Customizable VPN
• NordVPN: Best VPN Add-Ons
• IPVanish: Most Intuitive VPN
• VPN Unlimited (aka KeepSolid): Best Multi-Device User Experience
• ExpressVPN: Smoothest App Interface
• Surfshark: Best for Unlimited Connections
• Windscribe: Best Fully-Free VPN
• Hotspot Shield: Best for Streaming

VPNs are virtual private networks that encrypt your data and mask your online activity from snooping third parties. When you do things, such as check your email, chat with colleagues and browse websites, a VPN can help keep you anonymous.

What Does a VPN Do?

When you do just about anything online, your computer connects to the server that hosts whatever website or service you’re using. The website can typically see certain data about you and your device, which isn’t ideal if you don’t like your activity being monitored. A VPN service connects you to a remote server before connecting you to your favourite sites, so that when a website checks for your user information, it only “sees” the VPN and does not trace it back to you.

How VPNs Protect Your Privacy & How They Don’t

You can safely use a VPN on your personal and business devices, and it’s a great way to keep your personal data and browsing habits private. The scrambled data is nearly impossible to decipher, so it’s useless to hackers and sites that want to track that data.

However, VPNs can’t protect against everything you do on your computer, laptop or mobile phone.

A VPN can protect:

• Your identity online
• Data you send and receive online

What a VPN doesn’t protect you from:

• Malware
• Phishing scams
• Data on your devices

A VPN protects active transmissions of data online, so it cannot do much for the data that lives on your phone or computer. For physical data protection, you would need antivirus and anti-malware software. It’s also important to be careful which links you click in email and online. Phishing attacks can be cleverly disguised as emails from someone you know.

Now that you know what a VPN is, here’s a closer look at why you might need a VPN:

1. Security on Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is convenient but comes at the expense of security. When you’re answering emails at a local coffee shop or absent-mindedly scrolling through social media at the airport, someone may be tracking your online activity. Using a VPN protects your data while you are on other networks, hiding your browsing history, banking information, account passwords and more from ill-intentioned internet strangers.

2. Data Privacy From Your Internet Service Provider

While connected to your home Wi-Fi, you are less likely to be attacked by strangers than on a public connection. However, your data is still vulnerable. Your ISP or internet service provider—Comcast, Spectrum, Verizon or other company who you pay for Wi-Fi each month—can access all your internet data. Your ISP can see when, where and how you browse. This data can be collected and sold to advertisers even if you’re using the “private” browsing function, and it can be dangerous in the wrong hands in the case of a data breach. A VPN can help obscure your IP address from your own ISP.

3. Data Privacy From the Apps and Services You Use

Your ISP isn’t the only potential liability that you’ve brought into your own home. Unfortunately, many of our favorite apps and internet services—most notably Facebook—have been called out for the way they’ve used the data of their users. A VPN will prevent apps and websites from attributing your behavior to your computer’s IP address. It can also limit the collection of your location and browser history.

4. Data Privacy From Your Government

While many ISPs, apps and internet data hubs suggest they don’t sell your browsing data to governments, the information nonetheless finds its ways into their hands—even in Canada. Since 2013, when Edward Snowden first revealed that Verizon had been selling users’ internet and phone data to the NSA, People all over the world have become more aware of the different ways governments surveil and collects their data. Following the Snowden leaks, and subsequent outrage, several laws were enacted in the U.S. to curb government surveillance. However, as recently as January of this year, the Defense Intelligence Agency bypassed a law demanding that government agencies produce warrants before compelling phone companies for their user data by paying third-party data brokers for that same data, according to the New York Times. Just because you live in Canada, doesn’t mean you’re immune. According to reporting in The Guardian that was first uncovered by Politico, between 2018 and 2020 the RCMP would routinely use covert software during at least 10 investigations to infiltrate the mobile devices of Canadian citizens. The software gave them access to audio files, text messages, emails, photos and videos, as well as giving them the ability to turn on a mobile device’s camera and microphone remotely. If you have qualms about governmental overreach, a VPN is a good investment in protecting your data.

5. Access to Any Content in Any Place

While Hulu may frown upon your use of a VPN to stream the latest Criminal Minds episode in Canada, where the content isn’t offered, this VPN usage is not illegal (in the U.S. and in most countries), and it helps provide a useful workaround to content restrictions. VPNs spoof your location, making it seem as if you are browsing from another place. That means you can get your Criminal Minds fix even if it’s not available locally.

6. Security When Working Remotely

One benefit of a VPN is its data encryption features. Encryption, or putting data into a coded format so its meaning is obscured, allows you to keep confidential information safe. If you are an individual thinking about investing in a VPN for your company, one benefit is that workers can connect to your office network and look at sensitive materials on their own devices while away from the office. As remote work seems a possibility even after the pandemic ends, a VPN is a helpful investment to keep confidential material safe off-site.

7. Adaptable to Numerous Smart Devices

While many of us may first try a VPN on a company-loaned laptop, many VPN services also protect other smart devices such as your phones, tablets and desktop computers. Each VPN company may offer slightly different protection plans and have different capacities to protect different devices, but many providers offer plans that help keep you safe on multiple devices.

8. Smart Savings

If you are willing to put in a little research, a VPN can help you save money via its location spoofing capabilities. Many types of businesses, such as subscription services and airlines, offer the same amenities or products for different prices. If you change the appearance of your location to a place where services are offered cheaper, you can end up with big savings.

VPNs are used in many different ways. Let’s take a look at how many businesses, gamers, and streamers use VPN:

VPN Uses for Business

Here are some of the most common things VPNs are used for in a business setting:

• Work From Home Without Worry. It looks like returning to the office may not happen for many people, at least not anytime soon. Utilizing a VPN allows everyone working remotely to securely log into the shared company network, while also providing data protection for projects and files.
• Keep Your Shared Network Secure. Using a VPN across your shared network will help ensure that business communications remain secure. It will also make your company less susceptible to cyber attacks.
• Control Access. VPNs also offer access control options, so that confidential information is not accessible by every employee. Users will need to log in and verify that they have authorization before access is granted.
• Browse Safely on Any Device. Securely connect to your business cloud, no matter what device you are using. Since a VPN is encrypted and remotely hosted, you can log in from anywhere without the risk of a security breach.
• Bypass Geo-Blocking. When traveling for business, you may encounter locations that block or censor parts of the internet. This can potentially be a huge hindrance, especially if you are not able to access work-related websites. Using a VPN with your home location will help bypass any blocked content.
• Protect Financial Transactions. It’s essential to know that every transaction is protected. A VPN anonymizes your outgoing traffic and encrypts your connection, ensuring unauthorized tracking of your business transactions or transfers.
• Connect to Public Wi-Fi Confidently. Nearly everyone connects to the free airport Wi-Fi during a layover or delay, but doing so leaves you wide open to potential theft. Using a VPN before you open that email or check an account balance will help keep your data secure.
• Avoid Social Media Blocks. Some parts of the world have blocked social media channels such as Facebook. If you are traveling to China or Iran and can’t survive without your network, a VPN can help work around the ban.
• Maintain Account Access. Banks are on high alert for fraudulent activity, and logging into your account from a foreign country may raise a red flag. Using a VPN that shows you are still at your regular address will help avoid possible account freezes due to suspicious activity.

VPN Uses for Gaming

Outside of the business world, VPNs are also popular with gamers. Here are some of the most common gaming VPN uses:

• Access a Wider Library of Games. Since using a VPN means your internet connection is re-routed, you have more options when it comes to gaming access, especially regarding cloud gaming services such as Stadia. Depending on the provider, certain VPNs can help you access games available outside your region. Likewise, some countries ban games due to graphic content. With a VPN, you can get around those restrictions by connecting through a server in a different country.
• Play In Public Without the Worry. It’s great to take advantage of free public Wi-Fi when you’re ready to play, but using an unsecured network carries risks. Keep your gaming devices safe by using a VPN.
• Protect Yourself From the Trolls. The stakes can get high in multi-player games and occasionally people overreact. Having a VPN protects your identity and IP address, so that if you inadvertently upset someone, they are not able to track your location.
• Sidestep ISP Slowdowns. Some internet service providers knowingly slow down their network for one reason or another. With a VPN, you can avoid unnecessary ISP lag.

VPN Uses For Streaming

You can also use a VPN when streaming your favorite movies or TV shows:

• Watch Your Favorite Foreign Films. Some paid subscription streaming services implement “geo-blocking” technology. This means in some geographical locations, you’ll have restricted access to certain content. Using a VPN bypasses this issue and allows you to stream nearly anything you want to watch, no matter where you are.
• Improve Buffering Issues. Since streaming services are so popular, it’s not unusual for the bandwidth to get overloaded and cause buffering issues. A VPN can help circumvent this, ensuring a smoother viewing experience.

When it comes to choosing the best VPN, there are a few key factors to consider. According to Michael Gargiulo, CEO of VPN.com, “A great VPN covers employees and contractors automatically on their work devices, especially over Wi-Fi. A VPN that allows easy account/device access management, simplified billing and a robust user experience across all major device operating systems is important for a successful small business VPN experience.”

Taking these features into account can help you find a VPN that offers the protection and privacy you need. Here are some details to watch out for:

Essential VPN Features

• Security and encryption: A VPN should offer robust security measures, such as AES-256 encryption, to protect your online data and activity from hackers and other malicious actors.
• Privacy policy: A VPN’s privacy policy should be clear, transparent and not allow any logging of your online activity.
• Network of server locations: A VPN should offer a wide network of server locations, allowing you to choose the server that best meets your needs in terms of location and performance.
• Compatibility: Your VPN should be compatible with all your devices and operating systems, such as Mac, iOS, Windows, Android and Linux.
• Performance and reliability: Your VPN should have fast and reliable connections with minimal lag or downtime.
• Killswitch: A killswitch is a feature that terminates your internet connection automatically if the VPN connection drops. This helps to protect your online data and activity from being exposed in the event of a disconnection.

Types of VPN Services

There are different types of VPN software that you may use in different situations. The most common of all are personal VPNs, but you may find that you’ll need a remote access VPN, site-to-site VPN or mobile VPN.

• Personal VPN: A personal VPN (also known as consumer VPN) shields your IP address and encrypts active data transfers (from you and to you). It also spoofs your location, which is how you can access previously inaccessible content from your country.
• Remote access VPN: The most common use of a remote access VPN might be if you work for a company that requires you to log into a private network when you’re on open/public internet. The VPN protects the connection and the data transfer between the employee and the private network.
• Site-to-site VPN: A site-to-site VPN is useful for companies that want to establish a single wide area network (WAN) between two or more other networks. A good example of this is a corporation that has multiple branches across the country with employees that need to access data across the combined network, such as AT&T or PetSmart.
• Mobile VPN: A mobile VPN is similar to a remote access VPN, except it’s designed for those using mobile devices when there’s an expectation that one’s internet service could be on Wi-Fi or a cellular network. So, if you log into a company’s network using Wi-Fi, but the Wi-Fi goes out, your phone may swap over to cellular data, but the VPN keeps the connection going.
• Zero-trust VPN: Zero-trust VPN is a security model that assumes that all devices and users trying to access a network are untrusted until proven otherwise. This type of VPN is used by organizations with strict security requirements, such as financial institutions and government agencies.
• Cloud VPN: Cloud VPN is a type of VPN that connects a user’s device to a cloud-based virtual private network. It allows users to access cloud-based applications and services securely and is particularly useful for organizations that use cloud-based infrastructure.
• Free VPN: Free VPNs are VPNs that are offered for free, usually with limited features and capabilities. They may be suitable for casual internet users who want to protect their data on public Wi-Fi networks, but they may not be as secure or reliable as paid VPNs.
• Split tunnelling VPN: A Split Tunnelling VPN allows you to route specific applications or web traffic through the VPN tunnel, while other traffic goes through your regular internet connection. This can be useful for organizations that want to protect sensitive data while still allowing employees to access nonsensitive information.
• TOR over VPN: This type of VPN routes your internet connection through both a VPN and the TOR network. This provides an additional layer of encryption and anonymity, but it can also slow down your internet connection.

Server Number and Locations

Server numbers and locations are important factors to consider when choosing a VPN because they can affect the VPN’s overall performance and the level of privacy and security it can provide.

• Server numbers: A VPN with a large number of servers is generally considered to be a good thing because it means that there are more options for connecting to the VPN and more servers to choose from. This can help to ensure that you can find a server that is fast and reliable and that is located near your physical location. A VPN with many servers also allows for more flexibility in terms of server switching and load balancing, which can help to improve the overall performance of the VPN.
• Server locations: A VPN with a wide range of server locations is also considered to be a good thing because it allows you to choose a server that is located in a specific country or region. This can be useful if you want to access geo-restricted content or if you want to ensure that your data is transmitted through a specific country’s jurisdiction. The more server locations a VPN has, the more options you have to choose from and the more flexibility you have to ensure that your connection is fast and reliable.

A VPN service with few servers and few locations is considered bad because it could lead to over-congestion, low speed and difficulty in finding a server near your location.

It is also important that the VPN provider has servers in countries which are privacy-friendly and not part of any surveillance alliance, such as the 5-eyes, 9-eyes or 14-eyes.

Speed and Performance

Speed is an important decision factor when choosing a VPN because it affects the overall performance of the VPN and your ability to use the internet effectively. A VPN that’s slow can cause delays in loading web pages, buffering when streaming video and difficulty using real-time applications, such as online gaming or video conferencing.

Other performance factors include:

• Latency: Latency refers to the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the VPN server and back. A low latency is important for real-time applications such as online gaming or video conferencing.
• Bandwidth: Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted over a connection. A VPN with high bandwidth can support more data-intensive activities such as streaming high-definition (HD) video.
• Uptime: Uptime refers to the amount of time a VPN server is available and online. A VPN with high uptime will be more reliable and less likely to experience disruptions or downtime.

There may be some differences in speed across devices, as some devices may have faster processors or better network connectivity than others. However, a good VPN provider should be able to provide fast and reliable connections regardless of the device.

To evaluate a VPN’s performance, you can use online speed test tools to measure the VPN’s download and upload speeds, as well as its latency and jitter. They can also look at the VPN’s uptime records and read reviews from other users to get a general sense of the VPN’s performance.

Before subscribing to a VPN service, it’s important to have a free trial or money-back guarantee period. This way you can test the performance and see if it meets your needs prior to committing to a plan.

VPN pricing ranges from free to about $13 USD ($17.33) per month. Free VPNs usually limit you in the number of devices you can connect and locations. The cheapest VPNs generally give you deep discounts for agreeing to pay for a VPN for multiple years in advance. The higher prices are typically reserved for business VPNs, which usually have several devices connected simultaneously (justifying the premium cost).

Factors Impacting the Cost of a VPN

Factors that impact the cost of a VPN include the number of devices that can be connected simultaneously, the number of server locations available, the level of security and encryption provided and the quality of customer support. Michael Gargiulo, CEO of VPN.com, points out that no VPN is truly free. Those that advertise as such are likely not offering the strongest privacy settings and putting your data at risk. It is always preferable to test out a safe, paid service with a money-back guarantee, rather than choosing a free option.

Premium VPNs offer more features and better performance than free VPNs, of course with a higher cost. Pricing plans for VPNs are typically structured as monthly, annual or multiyear subscriptions, with longer commitments offering the best prices. Some VPNs offer a free version with limited features, while others offer a free trial period for users to test the service before committing to a paid subscription.

Promotional plans and discounts are often available, especially for new users or during special events, such as holiday sales. Check the provider’s website or subscribe to their newsletter to be informed of any promotions.

What’s a Good Price for a VPN?

A good price for a VPN can vary, but generally, a monthly subscription of around $8 USD ($10.67 CAD) to $10 USD ($13.33 CAD) is considered to be reasonable for a premium VPN service. Some VPNs can cost less or more than this range, but it depends on the features and level of service they provide.

How To Reduce the Cost of a VPN

To reduce the cost of a VPN, users can opt for a longer-term subscription, as VPN providers often offer significant discounts for committing to a multiyear subscription. Users can also look for VPNs that offer a free version or a free trial period. Additionally, users can compare different VPN providers to find the one that offers the best value for the features they need.

• Choose a testing website: There are tons of websites that allow you to test VPN speeds, such as speedtest.net, fast.com and vpnmentor.com. Different websites can give you different results based on their testing methods and servers, so when you periodically check your VPN speed, ensure you’re using the same platform each time.
• Connect to your VPN: Before running the speed test, turn on your VPN and connect to the server you want to test. Most VPNs have a simple “connect” button on the app that will automatically connect you to the closest server. If it doesn’t, you’ll want to choose a server that’s closest to your location to ensure the best possible speeds.
• Run the speed test: Once you have connected to your VPN, go to the testing website you selected in step 1 and run a speed test. The website will measure your download and upload speeds, as well as your ping (latency), which is the time it takes for a packet of data to travel from your device to the server and back.
• Record the results: Write down the results of the speed test, including the download speed, upload speed and ping (latency). This will allow you to keep track of the results and compare them later.
• Repeat the test: It’s important to repeat the speed test multiple times, at different times of the day and on different days, to get an average of the results. This will give you a more accurate picture of the VPN’s speeds, as VPN speeds can fluctuate throughout the day because of factors such as network congestion and the number of users on the server.
• Compare the results: Weigh the results of the VPN speed tests with your internet connection speed without the VPN. This will give you an idea of how much the VPN is slowing down your connection and whether it’s worth using. You may even find that performing certain tasks, such as streaming or watching videos while testing, will garner varying results.

Many factors can affect VPN speeds, such as the distance between you and the server, the number of users on the same server and the type of encryption used by the VPN. Factors such as these can all impact the overall speed of your VPN connection, so it’s important to test multiple times and on different servers to find the best one for your needs.

Here is a list of popular VPN uses and key features to look for:

• General internet browsing: Strong encryption, a no-logging policy and a wide range of server locations.
• Streaming: Fast speeds, plenty of server locations and the ability to unblock geo-restricted content.
• Gaming: Low latency, fast speeds and lots of server locations.
• Torrenting: Strong encryption, a no-logging policy and support for P2P file sharing.
• Business use: Strong encryption, support for simultaneous connections, no-logging policy and the ability to establish a site-to-site VPN.

Every use case may require different features. For more information on specific use cases, learn more about the reasons to use a VPN.

To start, a VPN service hosts servers on which the VPNs reside. When you sign up for a service, you’ll get software to log into before you connect to the internet. What the VPN does when you log into your account is encrypt your data before you go online and continue to encrypt and decipher that data until you log off. VPNs do this by following a script or a series of protocols.

VPN Encryption Protocols

A VPN protocol is similar to a set of instructions not unlike “if this, then that” scripts. The protocols tell the VPN to encrypt data if and when a user logs in and to encrypt data that’s sent or received through that connection. These protocols also determine the type of encryption and security to use.

• OpenVPN: Many VPN providers use OpenVPN, an open-source VPN protocol, to run encryptions. It’s a flexible option that works on transmission control protocol (TCP) or user datagram protocol (UDP) network protocols (TCP is most commonly used for its reliability in data transfer, while UDP is better for fast transfer).
• SSTP: Microsoft created the secure socket tunnelling protocol (SSTP) that works well for any VPN, regardless of the operating system (OS) on the VPN’s server. It is secure with AES-256 encryption, which is a standard secure encryption. However, because it’s a Microsoft product, some users are skeptical of how secure it is and whether there are backdoors.
• IKEv2/IPsec: One reason to look for a VPN service that uses the IKEv2 protocol is for its ability to maintain your connection to a VPN while swapping between Wi-Fi and mobile data, for example. It uses IP Security (IPsec) to establish secure data transfers (typically on UDP networks). The IKEv2 protocol was also created by Microsoft, such as SSTP, but it’s less versatile—it can only be used on Windows OS.
• PPTP: Point-to-point tunnelling protocol (PPTP) is one of the first VPN protocols that was adopted for the mainstream. It’s unlikely you’ll see VPN services that use this protocol anymore because it’s far less secure than newer protocols. Still, if you want a VPN that runs this protocol, you shouldn’t experience any lag and it works on almost any system.
• L2TP/IPsec: Layer 2 tunnelling protocol (L2TP) is kind of the updated answer to the outdated PPTP. It isn’t an encryption protocol, rather it’s a protocol that helps establish a connection between your device and a VPN.
• WireGuard: Another open-source protocol, such as OpenVPN, is WireGuard. It’s a tunnelling protocol that establishes a connection between a user and a VPN very quickly. However, there are questions about how secure it is, so if you want a VPN that uses WireGuard, be sure it combines this with strong encryption protocols.
• NordLynx: NordVPN created its own version of a private and secure protocol using WireGuard. The benefit of this blended protocol solution is that you’ll still get secure encryption from NordVPN’s own encryption (it’s proprietary) with WireGuard’s foundation for speed.
• VPN tunnelling: The purpose behind VPN tunnelling is to shield prying eyes from seeing your IP address and internet activity when you go online. When a connection is established from a user to a VPN, an encrypted tunnel is created from you to your destination (the internet). Not all tunnelling protocols are created equally. The older PPTP tunnelling protocol can quickly establish a connection when you log into a VPN that uses it, but it isn’t the most secure method of encryption. Whereas L2TP (with IPsec) provides multiple layers of encryption and thereby a higher level of security.

VPN Servers and Locations

Most VPN services offer a variety of servers and locations for you to use. So, does it matter where a VPN server is located? There are a few different answers to this question and it comes down to why you’re using a VPN. Here’s what you should consider:

• Speed: If you’re looking for the fastest load times, quick downloads or you’re
  gaming or streaming online, choose a VPN server that’s nearest to your own location.
• Unblocking content: If you want to find U.K.-based television shows on streaming services and you’re located in the U.S., you’ll need to connect to a VPN in the U.K. This also applies to accessing content on websites that your government may require ISPs to block—choose a VPN located in a country where these restrictions don’t apply.
• Security: Any location should suffice when it comes to security and privacy. There is a caveat, though. If you’re concerned about data collection and retention laws, you may want to choose a VPN server that resides in a country with no data retention laws, such as Switzerland or Panama.

The majority of today’s VPNs are exceptionally easy to use. Once you’ve created an account with the provider, all you need to do is download the VPN app on your computer or smartphone. Once you’ve signed in with your account, you typically choose from a list of remote servers located around the world. Click on the one you’d like and the system should connect you automatically. Once you get confirmation that you’re connected, you can use your device as you normally would without your VPN. You can disconnect or change your server from your app’s home screen.

To set up your VPN manually, you can follow specific steps for your operating system. Many of the apps follow a similar process, as outlined below.

• Download and install the app or software.
• Click on “Settings” or “System Preferences.”
• Choose “Network” or “VPN.”
• Fill out fields for “Server Name,” “VPN Type,” “Remote ID,” “Local ID” and your account info (some of the fields may vary depending on the OS).
• Connect to your VPN.

How To Check If Your VPN Is Working

There are a number of ways to check if your VPN is working, from checking your location or IP address to looking for domain name system (DNS) leaks or WebRTC leaks.

Here are the most common ways to quickly check if your VPN is working:

• Check your IP address: One of the most basic ways to check if your VPN is working is to check your IP address. If you’re connected to a VPN, your IP address should be different from the one that you see when you’re not connected to the VPN. You can check your IP address by googling “what is my IP address.”
• Check your location: You can also check your location to see if your VPN is working by visiting a website, such as mylocation.org. If your VPN is working, your location should be different from the one that you see when you’re not connected to the VPN.
• Check for domain name system (DNS) leaks: DNS leaks can occur when your device is using a different DNS server than the one provided by the VPN. You can check for DNS leaks by using a website, such as dnsleaktest.com.
• Check for WebRTC leaks: WebRTC leaks can occur when your browser is leaking your real IP address. You can check for WebRTC leaks by using a website, such as browserleaks.com.
• Check your VPN’s connection status: Most VPN software has a connection status indicator that tells you if the VPN is connected or disconnected. This is a reliable way to check if your VPN is working.
• Try accessing blocked content: If you are trying to access content that is blocked in your region, you can try accessing it to check if your VPN is working properly. If your VPN is working, you should be able to access the content.

It’s important to note that even if your VPN appears to be working, it does not guarantee that your internet connection is secure. It’s always a good idea to test your VPN regularly to ensure that it’s working properly and to check for any potential leaks or vulnerabilities.

While a VPN is a great tool to help separate your location (and in many ways, you) from your data, it doesn’t obscure everything about you. If you take a Facebook quiz or like a post on Instagram, the app you are using while connected to the VPN is still able to use your behavior to tailor in-app ads and content. They might not know where you are browsing from, but they will still know what you are doing on their apps.

Similarly, if cookies are enabled on your computer, companies can follow you while you are on their site—and after. Your full data isn’t obscured with a VPN alone. Combining a VPN’s protection with Tor, an open-source tool that allows you to browse the web anonymously, and other security measures are necessary for a fuller security.

VPNs aren’t perfect tools. Like any computer program, they are susceptible to malware and online attacks. If infected, a VPN’s security benefits are nullified.

The likelihood of attacks and security breaches is increased by using a free VPN service. To recoup their business costs, “free” VPN services may sell user data or run ads that could be infected with malware. If your goal is to increase your data privacy, then investing in a paid VPN is your best bet.

Global Legality Concerns

Beyond questions of security are questions of legality. If you happen to be based in or visiting a wide list of countries including Russia and China, VPNs are banned or highly regulated.

It’s important to know the laws of your country and any country you are visiting before using a VPN as well as to understand whether your VPN usage is being monitored by a government, thus nullifying its privacy benefits.

Forbes Advisor analyzed 10 primary factors and 20 subfactors to organize this list of the best VPN services. Based on those factors, each VPN provider could score a total of 50 points. We then translated that point system into an easily digestible 5-star rating.

Our criteria includes factors such as device compatibility, user reviews, maximum number of devices, number of servers, location of servers, number of discrete server locations, pricing for the basic annual plan, availability of a dedicated IP add-on and the price of that add-on (if available).

The various pricing systems for VPNs can get confusing. We looked at a VPN’s standard subscription tier, which is typically an annual plan that requires upfront payment.

To account for business and work uses for VPNs, we paid special attention to the ones that allow you to connect numerous devices simultaneously (in case your household, coworkers or employees also need protection) and offer a dedicated IP address as an add-on—a core feature of most business VPNs because it reserves a private IP address for only you (and all devices attached to your account). Luckily, it’s a feature you can find a la carte to skirt the hefty business-tier price tag.

Canadian spelling conversion and Canadian-specific pricing and other research provided by Anna Rey.