10 Best VPN Services Of 2024

Mullvad VPN is an outstanding service for individuals who value privacy and transparency. Its numbered account model is relatively unique in the industry and allows users to sign up without an email address, password or username. IVPN is another vendor that uses a similar anonymous registration solution. Cash and crypto payment options provide additional anonymity.

We appreciate that founders Fredrik Strömberg and Daniel Berntsson entirely own Mullvad VPN AB and its parent company, Amagicom AB, and remain actively involved. The VPN provider’s transparency extends to every part of its service, from open-source code and yearly audits to detailed server information and a robust no-logs policy.

Still, its small server network and device limitations may not appeal to everyone. If you’re willing to pay up front for longer terms, some alternatives have cheaper rates for more simultaneous connections on networks extending across double the number of countries with thousands of servers.

Mullvad’s interface is slick and features smooth animations.

The Mullvad application uses intuitive menus.

Features

Mullvad VPN’s functionality and tools are more than enough for personal use. It features an integrated kill switch, OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols and split tunneling on Windows, Linux and Android devices. The server network is considerably smaller than competitors’ but spread across 45 countries.

Mullvad doesn’t support as many protocols as other providers, but two of the best are here.

Mullvad’s browser support is more limited than that of hide.me or Surfshark. Mullvad only works with Mullvad or Firefox-based browsers, whereas rivals typically support Chrome.

We like that Mullvad rolls out new features, such as its Defense against AI-guided Traffic Analysis (DAITA), which fights sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) surveillance. The desktop-enabled quantum-resistant VPN tunnels solve a problem we haven’t encountered yet: powerful quantum computers.

Pricing

Mullvad’s gimmick-free pricing model is refreshing. The VPN provider charges €5 (around $5.50) monthly, and you can add funds to your account to pay ahead for a few months, a year or a decade. The rates haven’t increased since Mullvad launched in 2009.

Customers paying with accepted cryptocurrencies receive a 10% discount. It offers a standard 30-day money-back guarantee, but the refund doesn’t cover cash or crypto payments.

Customer Service

For U.S.-based customers, Mullvad’s customer support options could be a drawback. The Sweden-based team operates on Central European Time. You can email Mullvad’s in-house support team, but they only respond during weekday office hours. So, if you live in America and have an issue after lunch, chances are good that Mullvad offices are closed.

If you’re wondering how responsive Mullvad’s customer support team is, though, I can tell you Mullvad does not play around. I sent an email asking for help with a technical issue, and I received a response in under an hour, which is exceptional.

Reputation

Mullvad doesn’t have an affiliate or influencer program. Nor will you see many paid advertisements for the VPN service across various channels. Consequently, it has fewer reviews than its rivals. While there are fewer reviews, those who comment generally stand by the company and its services. Mullvad’s name popped up in the news over the years, but ultimately, nothing came from it, and Mullvad addresses concerns on its site.

Learn more: Read our full Mullvad VPN review.

Proton VPN tops our list for its exceptional free service, but it also earns high ratings for transparency, an extensive global server network and security features. The free VPN doesn’t have ads or speed limits, which are common among free tools. Proton VPN mentions the free version has medium speeds, possibly due to the limited server selection and more heavily used network.

Based in Switzerland and founded in 2014, Proton AG is an employee-owned company that launched Proton VPN to support Proton Mail users such as journalists and activists working in repressive regions. Understanding the business’s mission and who’s behind it helps us decide a VPN provider’s trustworthiness.

Secure core servers and the VPN Accelerator set Proton VPN apart from rivals. With over 6,500 servers, Proton VPN’s network rivals NordVPN’s for a cheaper monthly fee. These capabilities, combined with the organization’s commitment to security, benefit users by improving speeds and supporting safe browsing.

Features

The free VPN can establish connections automatically to encrypted servers in the U.S., Poland, Japan, Romania and the Netherlands. While competitors like hide.me offer free versions, we appreciate the enhanced anonymity and trusted reputation of Proton VPN. In hide.me’s case, it restricts speed, whereas Proton VPN doesn’t.

Brett Day, Forbes Advisor’s project management expert, shares his thoughts on the service: “Proton’s free plan is ideal for users who are dipping their toes into the VPN world for the first time. While you cannot choose a location to connect to, Proton VPN does a good job of choosing the fastest of five available servers for you. The fact that you also get unlimited data is fantastic. If you haven’t tried a VPN before, Proton VPN is a good place to start.”

The Plus plan has an impressive feature set, including one-click Tor over VPN access and 107 secure core servers for extra safety. Proton VPN’s Stealth protocol works well for bypassing detection, or you can use WireGuard or OpenVPN.

Proton VPN built the VPN Accelerator into all VPN apps. This technology reduces code inefficiencies and latency, improving VPN performance.

Pricing

The free forever plan includes one device and is a reasonable choice for secure browsing. For streaming and P2P activities, consider a paid subscription. Proton VPN’s paid plan costs $9.99 monthly and offers new user discounts for one- and two-year terms.

Proton’s one-year plan starts at $4.99 per month ($59.88 for the first year) but then increases to $9.99 per month or $119.88 annually. The two-year plan costs $4.49 per month for the first 24 months ($107.76) but then increases to $9.99 monthly ($239.76 after the first two years). You can request a refund within 30 days if you paid by credit or debit card, PayPal or bitcoin.

Customer Service

Proton VPN provides 24/7 support to free and paid VPN users through a ticketing system or email. Upgrading to a paid plan adds live chat and priority support. Live chat is available between 9 a.m. and 12 a.m. CET (Central European Time). If you like to fly solo regarding help, Proton VPN provides users with a robust knowledge base full of guides.

I put Proton VPN’s customer service to the test by asking questions through live chat and email. Even though it was late in Europe when I requested help, a friendly live agent offered help quickly. My email received a slow yet helpful reply. It took nearly two business days to hear back from the service team.

Reputation

Customers and reputable organizations stand behind Proton AG’s services. VPN users praise the vendor’s ethics, server selection and business model. In addition, the nonprofit foundation Mozilla and the European Commission have thoroughly vetted Proton AG.

While a Windows vulnerability was reported in 2018, the company remedied the situation by pushing an update to users and following up with a statement. Apps through various vendors may require patches to fix vulnerabilities, but most occur automatically without acknowledgment unless users are affected.

Learn more: Read our full Proton VPN review.

Whether you’re short on cash or need a VPN occasionally, IVPN’s weekly rates are an excellent deal. The vendor also offers longer terms and anonymous registration to protect your identity. IVPN also earns a top spot because of its dedication to privacy and transparency.

Nicholas Pestell founded IVPN Limited in 2009 and remains the 100% owner. It’s incorporated in Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory. We appreciate IVPN’s commitment to customer anonymity and the effort it takes to earn customer trust. IVPN self-hosts and operates its servers, including those for email and customer service, ensuring no outside organization can access customer data.

It provides a feature-rich VPN and thoroughly explains your risks. However, IVPN may not be ideal for households wanting to share VPN services or those living far from nearby servers. Several competitors offer larger networks and seven or more simultaneous connections for a few more dollars monthly.

IVPN’s interface is simple and on the bland side but is easy to navigate.

Features

Although IVPN’s server network is smaller than NordVPN, it offers the functionality you’d expect from the best VPN services. Windows, Linux, iOS 15 and macOS apps have a kill switch, and you can configure a custom DNS. It supports WireGuard, OpenVPN and IPSec with IKEv2 protocols.

Servers and their responding ping times are listed clearly.

We love the updated IVPN AntiTracker. This optional tool lets users choose Basic, Comprehensive or Restrictive levels to balance privacy with usability. Along with competitors, IVPN also has a split tunnel feature for bypassing the VPN tunnel.

The option to define trusted Wi-Fi networks is a time-saver for users who want a VPN for public Wi-Fi but need to connect directly to their work or home services. Additional security measures include multi-hop for better privacy and Obfsproxy to prevent censorship.

Pricing

IVPN offers Standard and Pro subscriptions, which are cheaper than many competitors. Standard allows two devices, costing $6 monthly, whereas Pro supports seven for $10 monthly. Weekly fees are $2 or $4. However, only the Pro package includes the multi-hop feature. One-, two- or three-year terms are discounted, and the 30-day refund applies to all payment methods except cash and vouchers.

Customer Service

We appreciate that IVPN responds to most emails within a few hours but says it can take up to 24 hours in rare cases. I sent an email and received a detailed response to my question in one and a half hours. The company also provides a PGP (pretty good privacy) key to encrypt your email. It has an active Reddit community, comprehensive guides and a help center.

Reputation

Although many new customers find IVPN through word of mouth, professional reviewers and mobile app users cited trust and privacy as reasons for using this VPN. Notably, IVPN sponsors privacy-focused development projects and nonprofit organizations including Tor Project, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and WireGuard.

The published independent annual audits show IVPN’s dedication to transparency, whereas its online community involvement and resource allocation support the company’s mission to resist online surveillance.

Learn more: Read our full IVPN review.

NordVPN’s vast server network of over 6,500 servers and robust security features give it an edge over less expensive platforms. It’s the best VPN for specialty servers, dedicated IPs and threat protection. Indeed, the vendor claims to be the “most popular VPN service” worldwide.

It was incorporated in Panama in 2012 and placed under the Nordsec brand. After merging with Surfshark in 2022, the rebranded Nord Security opened a new headquarters in 2023 in Lithuania. While its VPN services are top-notch, it’s important to note that NordVPN suffered a server breach in 2018, and Nord Security oversees multiple security products.

Still, NordVPN is a well-known and trusted brand used by consumers and businesses. Its NordLayer service provides excellent network security for all sizes of companies, while NordStellar helps organizations prevent threats from escalating.

NordVPN’s price is higher and lacks a renewal pricing guarantee, meaning rates could change. Before committing, consider testing the features and support options to ensure they meet your standards.

NordVPN’s Android application is easy to use.

Features

NordVPN built SmartPlay into its apps for simple streaming without extra steps. Chrome, Firefox and Edge proxy browser extensions and apps for phones, tablets, Android or Apple TVs make NordVPN accessible to all users. The specialty servers let you choose your protection level, while allowlists enable specific applications to bypass the VPN.

NordVPN is very customizable.

Threat Protection works across devices to block malicious and suspicious domains. The pro version goes even further by preventing trackers and links at the JavaScript and URL levels. Plus, anyone can use the free Meshnet tool. It’s great for travelers who want to access their files on home computers or as a secure space for remote teams to collaborate on a private network.

Pricing

NordVPN offers three service plans and steep introductory discounts. The Basic subscription costs $12.99 monthly, more than double IVPN and Mullvad VPN. However, it lacks an ad tracker, which is standard on rivals’ base packages. The Plus plan adds data breach and password manager tools for $13.99 monthly. NordVPN’s Ultimate package costs $15.99 monthly and offers cyber protection and cloud storage

One- and two-year subscriptions renew at the current rate for an additional year. NordVPN’s renewal prices aren’t as clearly noted as we’d like, and its terms of service don’t specify how or if the company informs you of price increases before the auto-renewal.

Customer Service

The support center has plenty of helpful articles, and customers can reach NordVPN through email or live chat 24/7. I found NordVPN’s live agents to be very responsive. They made short work of walking me through the steps to install NordVPN on my router. I asked the same question through email, and I received another response within seven hours, which is very respectable.

Reputation

NordVPN’s over 14 million users worldwide speaks to its credibility. It has thousands of reviews across review sites and app stores. Many customers trust NordVPN and find it user friendly. Yet, some reported nonstop product ads and notifications, whereas others faced frequent disconnections.

Learn more: Read our full NordVPN review.

As more people use virtual private networks, the best VPN services tend to have nearly identical feature sets. In Surfshark’s case, it offers identification and email generators to enhance its plans. We like this approach, as we’re not fans of bundling too many cybersecurity tools under one vendor, such as password managers and antivirus software. However, we always need more ways to avoid spam emails and identity theft.

Although Surfshark was initially launched in Lithuania in 2018, the company is now registered in the Netherlands. It merged with Nord Security under a holding company in 2022 and moved into Lithuanian headquarters in 2023.

While we’re not fond of the high monthly rates, Surfshark wants to lock subscribers in for longer terms and does so by slashing annual prices to a third of the monthly cost. These low rates, combined with unlimited simultaneous connections, allow users to share one account with household members for extra savings.

Surfshark’s interface is well designed, and every tool is clearly labeled with text or icons.

The settings menu is simple and clutter-free.

Features

Surfshark’s entire server network of over 3,200 servers supports IKEv2, WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols. The locations cover 100 countries, more than Mullvad VPN or IVPN. It offers Edge, Chrome and Firefox browser extensions and works on Apple and Fire TVs. The app for Apple TVs is a nice perk, as not many providers have this option.

All subscriptions come with the Alternative ID tools. We like the convenience these offer when registering for random websites. They could significantly cut back on inbox spam. The standard ad and pop-up cookie blockers also improve browsing experiences.

Surfshark recommends the Bypasser (split tunneling) tool for mobile banking. It works on Android and Windows operating systems and allows users to specify which apps or websites should always go through the VPN or which ones to block from using the tunnel.

Pricing

Along with NordVPN, Surfshark offers three subscription tiers and low-priced introductory terms for one- and two-year plans. Yet, the monthly rates are expensive, ranging from $15.45 to $20.65. All vendors we reviewed have cheaper monthly VPN solutions.

Paying annually reduces monthly fees substantially, from $15.45 monthly for Surfshark Starter plan to $2.99, and the highest tier costing only $5.99. VPN website purchases come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can claim the refund twice, which is less typical in this industry.

Customer Service

Surfshark offers 24/7 email and live chat support. The self-service guides include tutorials for getting started and fixing issues or viewing videos and articles through Surfschool. Most customers said they had a positive experience interacting with Surfshark support agents, which is a great sign.

I put Surfshark’s customer support to the test by sending them a request for help through live chat and email. I submitted my help ticket at the start of my business day and received a response within four hours. I found the live chat easy to use. The service agent helped me clear up an issue with my account in just a matter of minutes. If you need help, you won’t have to wait long to receive it.

Reputation

Professional reviewers and customers mention Surfshark’s ease of use, helpful support and value. Yet, mobile app reviews are mixed, with many users reporting glitchy connections and features that don’t work. The company hasn’t experienced a data breach or hacking incident.

Learn more: Read our full Surfshark review.

New users may find VPN apps with cluttered interfaces confusing. ExpressVPN’s straightforward dashboard and quick setup process won us over when selecting the best VPN for beginners. It has essential features plus a few perks backed by responsive customer service.

The password manager is one way that ExpressVPN differentiates its services. ExpressVPN Keys comes with all VPN subscriptions, and no one, not even ExpressVPN, can see your stored information. Although we tend to avoid bundling too many security services, we like how ExpressVPN built the convenient and user-friendly password manager functionality into its iOS and Android VPN apps.

Still, ExpressVPN’s ownership and lack of transparency concern fans of IVPN and Mullvad. It was founded in the British Virgin Islands in 2009 and acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021. Kape has a checkered past and owns several companies, including Private Internet Access and CyberGhost VPN.

Brett Day, Forbes Advisor’s project management expert, shares his thoughts on the platform: “I have used ExpressVPN for a few years now, and I have never had any issues while using the service. Yes, ExpressVPN is more expensive than most, but it’s incredibly easy to use, unblocks all streaming services with ease, and the built-in password manager is a nice feature.”

Nothing leads us to believe ExpressVPN is anything less than secure. Therefore, newbies needing a simple fix, whether app or router-based, can check out the services and request a refund, if needed, within 30 days.

Despite the very small macOS interface, ExpressVPN is easy to navigate.

Features

Every ExpressVPN subscription provides fundamental security tools, including a kill switch (Network Lock), split tunneling and private DNS. In addition, you can block ads with one tap, and the Threat Manager protects devices from trackers and malicious sites.

You can also store your logins in the password manager to get more value from your VPN plan. The VPN app will automatically select the best protocol for your network, but you can switch this off and choose Lightway, OpenVPN or IKEv2.

ExpressVPN simplifies usage with routers for home and travel. These devices let users protect all hardware, even smart doorbells or pet cameras. You can set parental controls and sort home devices into groups with distinct settings and locations. Amazon and ExpressVPN sell the two Aircove routers.

Pricing

ExpressVPN offers one VPN subscription for $12.95 monthly. The included password manager makes this a decent value, and the vendor has promotional rates for six- and 12-month terms. Upon renewal, the six-month plan totals $9.99 monthly, whereas the one-year package at the normal price without the discount is $12.95. The 30-day refund policy doesn’t apply to Apple App Store sales.

Customer Service

The startup guides and troubleshooting tutorials include screenshots and videos, which are helpful to first-time VPN users. ExpressVPN also offers 24/7 live chat and email support, with many users commending the company’s quick responses and supportive services.

Over the past few years, I have dealt with ExpressVPN’s service agents a lot through live chat, and I can say they are always very responsive and knowledgeable. The level of support through email was unknown to me, so I fired off an email and received a response in under 30 minutes. To say my mind was blown is an understatement.

Reputation

Along with many VPN companies, ExpressVPN leverages influencers, advertising and marketing campaigns to increase brand awareness. Most reviews seem credible, and users appear satisfied with the company’s services. When an issue occurs, ExpressVPN responds, and customers return to revise their ratings upward.

While we commend the strides toward a privacy-first approach and the public disclosure of recent audits, ExpressVPN fails to share corporate leadership structure and server network details. Without this information, overcoming its parent company’s past reputation is challenging.

Learn more: Read our full ExpressVPN review.

Fans of the privacy-focused, open-source Firefox browser can increase security while supporting their favorite nonprofit with a Mozilla VPN subscription. The Mozilla VPN encrypts and routes your internet traffic through Mullvad’s trusted networks while offering unique features such as the ability to establish different locations for each browser tab.

Although the VPN is a relatively new Mozilla product, released in 2020, the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation was established in 2003, followed by the Mozilla Corporation in 2005. Both are dedicated to keeping the internet free and open.

While we appreciate Mozilla’s mission, the five simultaneous connections and limited protocol selection aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. WireGuard is arguably the fastest protocol, but many reasons exist for using an alternative. In these cases, most rivals support OpenVPN or IKEv2.

If you’re torn between Mullvad and Mozilla VPN, try both. They use the same server network but have different pricing models and apps. We also found some differences between Mozilla VPN’s privacy statements and those of other top-rated providers.

The macOS Mozilla VPN application is tiny and doesn’t provide users with much information.

Features

Mozilla VPN has customizable privacy-focused tools, including split tunneling for Windows, Linux and Android devices, which lets users select apps to exclude from the VPN. The multi-hop function routes traffic through two locations, while the VPN always works to block ads and prevent malware downloads.

Firefox browser users can download the Multi-Account Containers add-on and use custom locations for each tab. Advanced users can also change their DNS server to increase speeds or improve security.

We like that Mozilla VPN suggests nearby servers. From this same screen, you can select single or multi-hop, which we found really simple to navigate and convenient to use.

Pricing

Mozilla VPN has one subscription with monthly or annual billing. The displayed price doesn’t include tax, so the $9.99 monthly fee is $10.75. Annual billing after taxes and fees costs $59.88 ($4.99 monthly) plus tax, making Mozilla VPN among the cheapest VPN services. Mozilla refunds subscriptions within 30 days unless you purchased it through Google or Apple app stores.

Customer Service

Existing customers can find troubleshooting tips in the Mozilla VPN apps or send a support ticket by clicking “Contact Support.” Alternatively, you can find answers through the knowledge base and community forums. The app also lets users request assistance with an email address in cases where they forget or lose their login information.

To test the responsiveness of Mozilla VPN’s customer service team, it took a little over 48 hours to receive a response to my question, which is quite disappointing. The customer service on offer is far cry from the service received from ExpressVPN.

Reputation

Mozilla VPN doesn’t have thousands of reviews like some competitors, but mobile app users and forum members report reliability, security and adequate speeds. They trust the Mozilla brand and Mullvad server network.

As with many apps, third-party auditors and bug bounty hunters often find vulnerabilities. Mozilla discloses the results and its response publicly, as was the case with findings and remediation of security flaws in a 2023 report.

Learn more: Read our full Mozilla VPN review.

Whether catching game highlights on ESPN, keeping kids busy with Disney or binging a whole season on Hulu or Netflix, CyberGhost’s one-tap connect and streaming-optimized servers have your back. The vendor maintains these servers and checks them daily to ensure they’re only used for streaming traffic. The network extends across 100 countries, and a smart algorithm finds the best server for your location.

The company was founded in 2011 in Romania. It was also the first VPN organization to publish transparency reports showing requests for information. However, on its “About” page, CyberGhost doesn’t disclose that Kape Technologies owns it or disclose VPN audits. The most privacy-focused VPN vendors provide detailed leadership information and link to yearly audits instead of summarizing them.

Customers also must provide an email address to activate accounts. These factors could be drawbacks for consumers who prefer 100% transparency and anonymity. For streaming purposes, CyberGhost checks off all boxes for a secure, no-logs VPN.

CyberGhost’s interface is basic but gets the job done.

Features

CyberGhost supports OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols and offers apps for most devices. You can install VPN apps for Android, Fire Stick and Fire TVs, whereas other models require workarounds through router setup or by enabling Smart DNS. We liked the server recommendation tool, which displays servers based on your preferred streaming service.

Split tunneling on Android was recently revamped. It displays icons for your applications, and you can click the box to exclude them from the VPN tunnel. The Windows app uses Smart Rules. In this case, you would enter the website address to exclude from the tunnel. Unfortunately, split tunneling isn’t available on macOS or iOS.

Notably, only Windows users can access the ad-blocker and no-tracking tools. Still, we appreciate that the apps usually ask users if they want to connect to the VPN when they detect a Wi-Fi signal. Plus, the optimized torrenting and streaming profiles allow users to jump into their favorite activity without configuring the settings.

Pricing

CyberGhost’s $12.99 monthly fee isn’t a steal compared to rivals, especially considering the shorter 14-day refund timeframe. But you have 45 days to test the service with the six-month or two-year plans. The biennial subscription is steeply discounted for the first 28 months, costing $2.03 monthly. CyberGhost charges $56.94 yearly ($4.75 monthly) upon renewal, making it a low-cost VPN.

Customer Service

CyberGhost’s VPN services include 24/7 live chat support through its website, online ticketing and email. It also provides screenshots in its guides and tutorials. We liked the hints at the bottom of some guides, which offer helpful reminders and best practices for using the VPN features.

To ensure CyberGhost offers stellar customer service, I interacted with support staff through live chat and email. As you would expect, help through live chat was rapid. The representative was attentive and provided the help I needed before asking if I needed assistance with anything else. I also reached out through email. I didn’t think a company would best ExpressVPN in this area, but I was wrong. CyberGhost responded with helpful advice in less than 20 minutes.

Reputation

CyberGhost has many testimonials across review sites, with most users expressing satisfaction. It hasn’t suffered a significant breach and publishes transparency reports regularly.

Learn more: Read our full CyberGhost review.

Private Internet Access, known as PIA, caught our attention when it added servers to all 50 U.S. states. To our knowledge, no other VPN providers come close to this type of coverage. Yet, its bespoke split tunneling features truly differentiate PIA from competitors. You can run all DNS requests through PIA on Windows and Linux devices or choose to allow or exclude docker or virtual machine (VM) packets on Linux.

While not the cheapest VPN, we feel the features, including port forwarding, ad-blocking and multi-hop, are worth it. We also love that PIA provides open-source apps. Yet, we wish it was more transparent. Finding its latest Deloitte no-logs audit report was difficult, and the website doesn’t mention its leadership or business structure.

Since Kape Technologies acquired PIA in 2019, we would prefer to know who runs Private Internet Access and how the parent company influences decision making. Additionally, we would like to see more details on PIA’s transparency reports.

The PIA control panel shows a wealth of data.

PIA’s settings panel is well-designed, making it easy to update settings.

Features

We were impressed with the sheer number of features available on PIA apps. They support port forwarding for faster downloads while torrenting and allow multi-hop for those wanting an extra layer of encryption. The free email breach monitoring service is a nice touch.

PIA uses WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec and OpenVPN protocols, which are standard among many VPN services. The ad-blocking tool PIA MACE works on Linux, Windows, macOS and Android apps. PIA updates blocklists monthly, whereas some vendors don’t even mention updates.

It offers standard and inverse split tunneling, so you can choose which apps run through the VPN or ISP. In browser extensions, you can add sites to an allowlist. This is useful if you know certain webpages hog too much bandwidth or flag your VPN yet don’t impact your security level. Windows and Linux users can run DNS requests through split tunnels to bypass filtering or geo-restrictions.

Pricing

PIA has one VPN subscription and three billing options: monthly, yearly or three-year. Monthly billing is $11.95. The promotional rates for long-term plans save customers over 70%. PIA doesn’t mention renewal rate increases but says it reserves the right to increase them. Professional reviewers suggest fees typically remain the same. Yet, we found several online threads with customers referring to price increases from the past few years.

Customer Service

PIA offers 24/7 support through email and live chat. The agents can assist customers in English, German, French and Romanian. We found the knowledge base easy to use, with sections for best practices, billing and frequently asked questions. However, some support guides didn’t load or took a long time.

In light of the issues with the knowledge base, I reached out to PIA’s customer support. First, I spoke with agents through live chat. While the help received was satisfactory, and the agent was friendly, it took 15 minutes for an agent to hop online and answer my question. I also sent a message to customer service through email and received a very detailed response with links to multiple guides in just over four hours.

Reputation

On average, PIA users are satisfied with service quality, ease of use and accessibility. Some mention occasional disconnections, and others discuss concerns about its parent company, Kape Technologies. We couldn’t find any notable data breaches.

Learn more: Read our full Private Internet Access review.

Budget-conscious users won’t be surprised when their hide.me subscription renews because the company backs every plan with a pricing guarantee. You pay the same low rate for the same duration. This refreshing approach differs from competitors who lure customers into long-term subscriptions with low fees and double prices one or two years later. There’s even a free version of hide.me’s VPN to try before committing.

The zero-logs policy, independent company ownership model and self-managed server network are solid pluses. CEO Sebastian Schaub founded hide.me in 2012. It’s run and operated under eVenture Limited and registered in Malaysia. However, the vendor doesn’t provide many details about the team members or other interests, except that the company acquired the esports team Valiance in 2022.

We like that hide.me keeps email addresses on a separate encrypted server and doesn’t save payment information. In addition to low rates, hide.me supports more VPN protocols than competitors and offers standard and inverse split tunneling.

The hide.me interface on macOS is on the small side but is still serviceable.

Features

The server network includes over 2,600 servers, all maintained in-house, covering 91 locations and six continents. Overall, it has a smaller footprint than NordVPN or Proton VPN but larger than IVPN or Mullvad. Individuals with connectivity issues can try different protocols, including WireGuard, OpenVPN, SoftEther, IKEv2 and SSTP.

Picking a server to connect to in hide.me’s application is straightforward.

With hide.me, you can choose from a variety of protocols.

Along with most VPNs, hide.me provides a kill switch. It also offers StealthGuard for desktops, which lets users block specific apps from establishing an internet connection unless the VPN is activated. Windows users also benefit from the Bolt technology, which can reduce ISP throttling and increase connection speeds.

Gamers and P2P users can use dynamic port forwarding on hide.me’s desktop apps, whereas the split tunneling feature works with Windows, Android or macOS applications.

Pricing

In addition to the free plan, hide.me has an affordable paid option. Although Mullvad and IVPN offer lower monthly fees, hide.me’s $9.95 monthly rate supports more connections and protocols. It also offers 12- and 24-month plans.

Best of all, hide.me subscriptions include a pricing guarantee: all plans renew for the same duration and price. The one-year plan costs $4.49 monthly, billed at $53.88 yearly, while the two-year plan costs $2.59 monthly or $62.16, billed every 24 months.

Customer Service

Even though hide.me is inexpensive, the vendor doesn’t skimp on support services. It provides 24/7 live chat, email and ticketing support. Customers can ask questions on community forms, search the knowledge base or view setup guides.

In order to see how hide.me compares to its competitors regarding customer service, I used live chat and email to get help with a technical question. I asked about router installation and an agent joined the chat instantly and referred me to guides in the knowledge base. I asked the same question through email and received a response in just under two hours.

Reputation

While hide.me isn’t the most reviewed VPN on our list, it certainly receives high praise from authentic users. Customers appreciate supportive service agents, features that work out of the box and a decent selection of settings. Our research didn’t turn up any noteworthy breaches or security incidents.

Learn more: Read our full hide.me review.