ExpressVPN provides online protection and security for phones, tablets, computers, routers, game consoles, and smart TVs. 

We like that it’s compatible with almost every operating system, such as Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Also, we are impressed with their vast server network, which is helpful for clients who travel a lot, even out of the country. 

Having over 3000 servers in 94 countries makes it easy to connect to the nearest server with the fastest speeds possible for both local and long-distance servers.

Notably, we discovered that there were only minor and unnoticeable reductions in their speeds, and we can enjoy buffer-free streaming with ExpressVPN.

In addition, we love how it unblocks most apps with geo-restricted content, especially for streaming platforms, sites, and services. It means we can access platforms like Hulu even in Canada.

Unfortunately, their impressive features come with a steep price compared to other VPNs. And as a heads up, you can only run it on five different devices simultaneously. 

Another thing we like is that new subscribers have a 30-day money-back guarantee. So if you aren’t satisfied with your experience, you can immediately get a refund.

Finally, we admire that their 24/7 live agents can look into any issues you have with the VPN and resolve them as soon as possible.

Private Internet Access specializes in secure, encrypted VPN tunnels to ensure safety on the internet, as its name suggests. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Firefox, Opera, consoles, Smart TV, and Chrome.

We discovered that they have competitive subscription plans in terms of pricing and features. You can pay as low as $2.19 per month and enjoy the same features across all payment plans, which we think is accessible for budget-conscious subscribers.

It’s also good to note that they support up to 10 simultaneous device connections, which is a solid choice for family and friends.

They only have servers in 74 countries–fewer than most VPNs on this list. We learned that they have more than 20,000 servers, but several servers are virtual locations, giving you many options.

However, a word of caution: we found out that they don’t have a third-party security audit, which we believe is crucial to provide us with an independent and unbiased evaluation of their security.

Nonetheless, subscribers have customizable options for their security features, and multiple tests for leaks, kill switch options, and encryptions have come out with flying colours. 

Another thing we appreciate is their unrestricted torrenting. In other words, you can still have reliable download speeds while using a VPN.

Lastly, we noted some slow response time for their customer support via emails and some instances where the online live agent wasn’t available. 

NordVPN offers a secure gateway to the internet through their apps that are compatible with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. You can also choose their lightweight VPN extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge to encrypt only your browsing activity.

We love their user-friendly interface, so subscribers can easily navigate NordVPN. Although, we did learn that their Linux client has no graphic interface.

It’s also impressive that it has security and privacy features since it has AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy.

Notably, their privacy and security protocols and features went through an independent audit, which makes them a more reliable option in our books! 

Furthermore, their HQ is in Panama, which falls outside the surveillance alliances Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes. In other words, the government can never force NordVPN to surrender its subscribers’ data.

However, we noticed some unblocking issues for location-based restraints on some streaming platforms.

We also noted slow connection time on some servers, particularly with US and Canadian servers. Most of the time, we had to force quit the app and re-attempt to connect, which we think may lead to data loss and inconvenience.

On a positive note, they charge at competitive prices that give access to features similar to those that cost two to three times as much.

Established in 2018, Surfshark is a relatively new VPN on the market that offers services and features that are up to par with the best ones on this list.

We are pleasantly surprised with its affordable rates — one of the cheapest in the market — given its industry-standard AES-256-GCM encryption and a reliable choice of protocols.

They are a solid choice for first-timers since it has an easy-to-navigate interface and the messaging is straight to the point. We believe this awareness is essential for users to have the best experience. 

Another thing we appreciate is that Surfshark lets you connect to as many devices as you want — no limits on simultaneous connections. We like the idea of a one-sub, multiple-device subscription since it will save us a lot of money.

On the downside, they still have a smaller server network coverage, so subscribers from areas that use long-distance servers may experience slower speeds or disconnections.

We also noted some kill switch failures where it doesn’t automatically disable your internet when your VPN disconnects. These instances may cause unprotected connections.

Fortunately, they have a 24/7 live agent and fast customer email support ready to assist users during encounters like this.

Finally, we love how they can easily unlock content from foreign TV streaming catalogues, including Hulu, BBC iPlayer and Disney+, even up to 20 foreign Netflix libraries.

Founded in 2011, CyberGhost protects and safeguards user privacy using industry-standard encryption and authentication. They also have leak protection to ensure web requests are not outside the VPN tunnel.

We like that they have a large and well-distributed server fleet, with  6,800 servers distributed across 90 countries. These servers allow protected streaming, torrenting, and gaming. 

With that said, CyberGhost provides easily accessible streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more geo-restricted content.

Although, we noticed slower speeds on long-distance servers, which caused some inconsistencies and errors while gaming and streaming. Nonetheless, their local servers are relatively fast and reliable.

We also heard some reports regarding cases of poor ad-blocker performance, which we think is something they should work on to avoid unwarranted sites.

On a better note, we also like that subscribers can connect up to seven devices simultaneously — perfect for the entire family to enjoy!

But, as a heads up: we learned that they don’t have a third-party audit of their security and privacy, which makes us concerned about their integrity and reliability.

Moreover, if you have any reservations or you’re simply unhappy with your experience, it’s good that they offer a 45-day money-back guarantee. If this happens, you can get a refund within five days after your request.