Best VPN services in 2024

Best VPN - quick menu

VPNs (or Virtual Private Networks) sound like complex, techy tools and services only an IT specialist might find use for. However, that couldn't be further from the truth. Not only are VPNs incredibly easy to set up, they're impressively affordable, widely available, and offer a range of uses for every kind of internet user out there.

It only takes a few clicks for most VPNs to instantly route your internet traffic through secure tunnels bridging to servers across the world. If you'd like to know why a VPN is such an important tool, then picture being able to shop for the cheapest prices by switching your region, browse the best geo-locked content from around the world on your favorite streaming service, or surf the web with peace of mind — knowing your data is safe from prying eyes and ne'er-do-wells.

In an age when everything we do online is tracked, traced, recorded and sold off to marketers, a VPN is also a fantastic tool to ensure your anonymity, even in stricter regions of the world like China or the UAE.

That's just a few examples of what you could (and should) use a VPN for, and no matter what you spend your houses doing as you browse the World Wide Web, there's no harm in taking your online safety seriously. Want to know which tools are best at ensuring just that? Read on for our guide to the best VPNs in 2024.

The three best VPNs in 2024

Need a quick answer? Here are my top three VPNs of 2024:

1. ExpressVPN: the best VPN of 2024

1. <a href="https://go.expressvpn.com/c/4550836/1330033/16063?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expressvpn.com%2Foffer%2Frecommended-deal%3Foffer%3D3monthsfree" data-link-merchant="expressvpn.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ExpressVPN: the best VPN of 2024
ExpressVPN is the cream of the crop—it's wickedly fast and unblocks more streaming platforms than you can shake a stick at, and is compatible with most devices, too. You'll also have access to a built-in password manager that'll remember your login details for you.

ExpressVPN won't suit every budget, but it's a high-quality service that delivers on every front. Pick up a 12-month subscription and you'll get an extra 3 months of coverage for free, a year of unlimited cloud storage, and a handy 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. NordVPN: a real speed demon

2. <a href="http://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=564&url_id=10992&aff_id=3013&aff_click_id=hawk-custom-tracking&aff_sub2=hawk-article-url" data-link-merchant="go.nordvpn.net"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NordVPN: a real speed demon
NordVPN is a one-stop-shop of security, with a ton of handy tools designed to keep your browsing sessions secure from snoopers. It's the fastest VPN I've tested in a long time, too, making it a great pick for avid Netflix fans.

You can try NordVPN for yourself, and take advantage of the built-in ad-blocking and malware protection, with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Surfshark: the best budget-friendly pick

3. <a href="http://get.surfshark.net/aff_c?offer_id=61&aff_sub3=i%3Dbest&aff_id=1691&aff_click_id=hawk-custom-tracking&aff_sub2=hawk-article-url" data-link-merchant="get.surfshark.net"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Surfshark: the best budget-friendly pick
I often recommend Surfshark to VPN newbies thanks to its sleek, clean apps available for most platforms. It's a joy to use, has servers around the world, and can unblock all of your favorite streaming platforms in just a few clicks.

Surfshark offers real value for money, too, with unlimited simultaneous connections and prices that seem almost too good to be true. Take Surfshark for a test run with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

What are the best VPN services in 2024

Why you can trust Laptop Mag Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Let's take a closer look at my top VPN picks, where I discuss what I liked and disliked about each provider, reasons you might be better off looking elsewhere, and each service's most recent test results.

The best VPN overall

ExpressVPN (Image credit: ExpressVPN)
Best VPN overall

Specifications

Works on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, gaming consoles, routers
24/7 support: Yes
Trial period: 30 days
VPN servers: 3,000+
Server locations: 160+
Countries: 105
Maximum devices supported: 8

Reasons to buy

+
Best servers with speedy connections 
+
Multiple VPN protocols
+
Incredibly helpful support
+
Lightway protocol 

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited devices for the price

If you haven’t heard this anywhere else by now, let it be known by us: ExpressVPN is the best VPN service around. From its large number of servers that connect wicked fast despite its global reach, to its incredible accessibility for users, it’s the VPN service that will never disappoint. ExpressVPN offers multiple security protocols including OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, IKEv2, and its very own Lightway protocol. Even better, it uses 256-bit AES encryption which is nearly impossible to break. That, along with its no-log policy and Perfect Forward Secrecy so your encrypted data won’t be captured and deciphered later put any security fears at ease. 

All that with lightning-fast speeds? Indeed, made even faster with its new Lightway security protocol. Even playing online multiplayer games isn’t a bother, and it’s all done with a one-click connection that links to the fastest server. Speaking of, user accessibility is the real star of the show, offering easy connections for those who simply want to be anonymous, along with DNS leak prevention, split tunneling, a kill switch, and then some. It also works on pretty much every device including laptops, web browsers, smart hubs, gaming consoles – you name it. 

While ExpressVPN isn’t the cheapest for the five devices it supports, it can also be used on a router thanks to the router app, meaning you can link all those devices and still be secure with one connection. Continue to shine, ExpressVPN.

Read our full ExpressVPN review

The best VPN security suite

NordVPN app working on mobile, PC, tablet, and other devices

Fastest VPN service in the world

Specifications

Works on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux
24/7 support: Yes
Trial period: 30 days
Number of servers: 5,800+
Server locations: 100+
Countries: 60
Maximum devices supported: 6

Reasons to buy

+
Fastest VPN servers
+
Fantastic price for features
+
Huge number of servers
+
NordLynx protocol

Reasons to avoid

-
Certain devices better optimized

The fastest VPN in the west… and the world over. It would be strange not to put NordVPN on this list, as it beat its competition in terms of server numbers and their speeds. It has multiple servers in nearly every country, and each one, whether it’s in the U.S. or Hong Kong, delivers amazing connection speeds. From watching Netflix, Amazon Prime or Hulu, to playing online multiplayer games, it didn’t seem to matter what server we used – connected speeds barely dipped. In fact, in some cases, increased our speeds.

NordVPN also combines the very best speeds with brilliant security. It has AES 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, and two security protocols including OpenVPN UDP/TCP and IKEv2/IPsec. It also has CyberSec to avoid ads and protect you from malware, an app-specific kill switch, and split tunneling. Keep in mind, the service is not for desktops. NordVPN seems to have a few little quirks when it comes to different devices, from iOS to Android, including presenting different security protocol options. That said, this is a minor thing to an otherwise incredible VPN with an even more incredible quick connect feature, which means lightning-fast VPN speeds at a click of a button. In need of speed? NordVPN is a no-brainer. 

See our full NordVPN review

The best cheap VPN service

Surfshark VPN app running on several devices

Best all-purpose VPN

Specifications

Works on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux
24/7 support: Yes
Trial period: 7-day trial on macOS, iOS, and Android
Number of servers: 3,200+
Server locations: 100+
Countries: 100
Maximum devices supported: Unlimited

Reasons to buy

+
Unlimited simultaneous connections
+
Bargain at price
+
Ease of use
+
Plentiful security options

Reasons to avoid

-
Some connection dips

King of the internet ocean, some might say, and it's quite simply because of the maximum number of devices it supports: Unlimited. Whether you’re a family of five with three devices — each streaming Netflix or Hulu — or a company with rows of PCs, Surfshark supports simultaneous connections at one of the cheapest prices on this list. And it does it all with the high-security protocols and speed a VPN user could ask for. 

Surfshark uses unbreakable 256-bit encryption, along with DNS and IPv6 protection, to prevent anyone from trying to get your real IP address. If that wasn’t enough, it also has an automatic kill switch when your VPN drops, a MultiHop mode that routes your data through two different VPN servers, its CleanWeb, which is a built-in ad and malware blocker, and a multitude of other nifty security features. For those overwhelmed, not to worry, as it also handily comes with a one-click fast connection found on an easy-to-navigate interface.

The only downside of Surfshark is its speeds. While still top-tier on this list, they don’t quite match the speeds of other VPN services, especially when some servers suddenly dip out of nowhere. That’s okay, the unlimited devices more than make up for it.

See our full Surfshark VPN review

The best VPN for streaming

CyberGhost VPN app running on multiple devices and operating systems

Best VPN for streaming

Specifications

Works on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, PS5, Xbox Series X, routers
24/7 support: Yes
Trial period: 24-hour trial for Windows and macOS, 3-day triial for Android, 7-day trial for iOS
Number of servers: 9.500+
Server locations: 125
Countries: 100
Maximum devices supported: 7

Reasons to buy

+
Optimized servers for streaming
+
Brilliant selection of locations
+
Fast P2P for torrenting

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited streaming services
-
Inconsistent servers

Aside from having the slickest name on the list, CyberGhost is perfect for streaming and torrenting – among the most popular uses for a VPN. Its security features are at the top of the VPN game – offering AED 256-bit encryption, OpenVPN TCP/UDP, IKEv2, and WireGuard security protocol options (although not for all devices), a kill switch, DNS and IP leak protection, no logs and split tunneling (only on PCs).

All that with fantastic server speeds and seven supported devices? Not bad seeing as you can get a three-year subscription for a fairly desirable price with three months included completely for free.

CyberGhost VPN is a fast and reliable VPN service, especially for streaming. While it’s disappointing it doesn’t work with Prime Video despite having optimized streaming servers for it, having servers dedicated to select streaming services across multiple countries is a stellar feature.

While internet speeds in many countries were just as fast as my normal internet speeds, certain regions were severely lacking. This could be an issue for those who are all about server speeds, especially if you’re opting for its very pricey monthly subscription plan.

But the pros far outweigh the cons. Overall, CyberGhost VPN offers a premium service for streaming with tons of locations and fast P2P for torrenting. 

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review

The best of the rest

Proton VPN apps running on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android devices.

Best VPN security

Specifications

Works on: Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Linux
24/7 support: No
Trial period: No, but free plan available
Number of servers: 3,000+
Server locations: 100+
Countries: 66
Maximum devices supported: 10

Reasons to buy

+
Puts main focus on security
+
Simple to use on multiple devices
+
Free service with unlimited bandwidth

Reasons to avoid

-
Few servers with slow speeds

For those leaning more toward security, ProtonVPN is your top choice. It’s the only VPN available that uses its own ‘Secure Core’ network, meaning your traffic first goes through privacy-friendly countries such as Switzerland and Iceland to prevent compromised VPN servers (unfortunately, that happens) so your IP address is never revealed.

Even better, it uses Perfect Forward Secrecy so your encrypted data won’t be captured and deciphered later. Along with its no-log policy, Tor connections, and being based in Switzerland (a country known for its privacy laws), rest assured your data is safe with ProtonVPN. 

Oh, and it can be completely free to use. While that alone is a major plus on this list, this does only give you access to three countries on one device, with limited speeds. For simple browsing, this works fine (especially seeing how not a dollar is being spent). However, the service does offer neatly priced paid plans, and it even comes with its one-of-a-kind ProtonMail that encrypts your emails.

However, its lack of servers and countries is where ProtonVPN falls behind. Even with its all-access Plus package, connection speeds can be a tad slow, and that’s quite a bit more expensive than the speedier VPNs on this list. Once it offers more servers, the (internet) sky’s the limit for ProtonVPN.

See our full ProtonVPN review


IPVanish apps running on PC, phone, routers, and tablets

Best VPN for gamers

Specifications

Works on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, FireTV, PlayStation, Xbox, routers
24/7 support: Yes
Trial period: 7 days for iOS and Android
Number of servers: 2,200+
Server locations: 75+
Countries: 59
Maximum devices supported: Unlimited

Reasons to buy

+
Unlimited device connections
+
Great internet speeds
+
Attractive “gamer” user interface
+
SugarSync file storage

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited amount of servers
-
No BBC iPlayer

Depending on what you get out of a VPN service, IPVanish could tick all the right boxes or completely strikeout. For the more experienced VPN user who requires the best privacy, they’ll probably not like the idea that IPVanish is based in the U.S., even though it has a no-logs policy. They’ll also not like the idea that different platforms offer different security features and protocols.

But for the average VPN user, it’s a reliable service that offers stable and good internet speeds, being able to bypass geo-restricted content (except for BBC iPlayer) without sacrificing speed. Having such consistent speeds is also a major plus for online gaming, and its user interface seems catered for it, making ping rates a priority.

There are definitely more affordable VPNs offering a variety of better features, but if you’re after a reliable service, with the added bonus of having unlimited devices with simultaneous connections, IPVanish is a great choice. 

Read our full IPVanish VPN review

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Darragh Murphy
Editor

Darragh Murphy is fascinated by all things bizarre, which usually leads to assorted coverage varying from washing machines designed for AirPods to the mischievous world of cyberattacks. Whether it's connecting Scar from The Lion King to two-factor authentication or turning his love for gadgets into a fabricated rap battle from 8 Mile, he believes there’s always a quirky spin to be made. With a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from The University of Sheffield, along with short stints at Kerrang! and Exposed Magazine, Darragh started his career writing about the tech industry at Time Out Dubai and ShortList Dubai, covering everything from the latest iPhone models and Huawei laptops to massive Esports events in the Middle East. Now, he can be found proudly diving into gaming, gadgets, and letting readers know the joys of docking stations for Laptop Mag.