VPNs (virtual private networks) might sound technical, but at their core, they’re just a way to stay private online. The best VPNs hide your real IP address, encrypt your internet traffic, and route it through a secure server somewhere else in the world – that means when you’re browsing from Newcastle, a site thinks you’re in New York. Basically, no one can spy on what you’re doing online.
While VPNs began as a corporate security tool, consumer use has exploded in recent years. The uptick can be attributed to ad trackers, streaming restrictions, general privacy concerns, and even censorship. As Rick McElroy, founder of cybersecurity consultancy NexaSure, tells me: “For those who are concerned about governments around the world infringing on their privacy and security, VPNs create a great way to prevent this behaviour”.
I’ve been testing VPNs for years at The Independent, and there have been some major updates as of late 2025. Surfshark’s new Everlink system has made connections more stable. Proton VPN’s speeds are now among the fastest I’ve seen. NordVPN has finally redesigned its Mac and Windows apps to remove the map-based view for a cleaner dashboard. For the first time, ExpressVPN has introduced three pricing tiers (instead of one), making it more affordable than ever. It now also offers a free VPN for iOS and Mac, called EventVPN.
With all that said, if you’re looking to stay secure online, I’ve found the best VPNs in 2025 (as well as the best cheap VPNs if you’re on a budget).
How I tested
I’m constantly putting VPNs to the test across a range of devices, including an iPhone 15 Pro Max, an Android Nothing Phone (2a), a MacBook Pro laptop, a Fire TV Stick and a Windows laptop.
My main goal is to assess how they perform in real-world scenarios, analysing everything from speed and stability, security tools, user experience, customer support, streaming support, pricing and renewals. My full testing methodology is detailed at the bottom of the article, and I’ve written a guide that explains how we test VPNs at The Independent in more detail.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
With more than eight years of experience testing and writing about tech and cybersecurity – including VPNs – Alex Lee knows what makes a service worth your time and money. He’s personally used VPNs for everything from streaming UK shows while travelling abroad to keeping his online activity private, so he understands which features actually matter. His recommendations are based on hands-on testing, detailed research and comparisons of key essentials such as speed, security and pricing. Having also written extensively about cybersecurity, he knows all the complicated tech to look out for beyond superficial user interfaces.
Best VPN services of 2025:
- Best overall – NordVPN: From £2.59 per month, Nordvpn.com
- Best cheap VPN – Surfshark: From £1.69 per month, Surfshark.com
- Best for streaming – ExpressVPN: From £3.98 per month, Expressvpn.com
- Best for privacy – Proton VPN: From £3.59 per month, Protonvpn.com
What is a VPN? An expert guide and how to choose the right one for you
The best cheap VPNs that actually work
Best VPNs for Amazon Fire TV stick 2025, tried and tested by an expert
NordVPN review 2025: The best VPN on the market
Is Proton VPN’s free plan any good? We put it to the test
The best VPN services for Windows in 2025, expert tried and tested
NordVPN
Best: VPN overall
Number of servers: 7,155
Number of server countries: 118
Number of simultaneous devices supported: Up to 10
Devices supported: Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV and more
Why we love it
- NordLynx is fast and reliable
- Strong security credentials
- Excellent set of features, such as Double VPN
- Unblocked UK streaming services
Take note
- OpenVPN speeds could be improved
If you’re after a VPN that ticks all the boxes, NordVPN is my top pick. It’s fast, affordable compared to rivals, private and packed with features that add loads of value.
At last, NordVPN has finally overhauled all of its desktop apps, removing that clunky map-based interface for something much more streamlined and user-friendly. The Windows UI finally matches the cleaner dashboard layout introduced on macOS in July, with servers on the left and extra security features on the right. It’s never been more likeable.
NordVPN currently offers the widest range of server locations among all the VPNs I’ve tested, with 118 countries and more than 7,150 servers. Last year alone, it added new locations, including Greenland, Bermuda, and the Isle of Man.
You can also connect up to 10 devices simultaneously – the highest number of multi-device connections on a single account among the major VPN providers. It was perfect for juggling a phone, laptop and tablet while working abroad.
It was no slouch when it came to speed, either. It uses its own NordLynx protocol, built on WireGuard. Running speed tests on my 67 Mbps fibre broadband with NordVPN’s recommended UK server, I only saw a four per cent drop in download speeds. The US server was just nine per cent slower. That’s impressively fast, and I had no issues streaming content on BBC iPlayer or Channel 4. However, OpenVPN connections were noticeably slower, so I mostly stuck with NordLynx.
All the standard privacy and security features are checked off – AES-256 encryption, an automatic kill switch and split-tunnelling support. But NordVPN goes beyond the basics with advanced features that give it an edge over the competition, recently rolling out post-quantum encryption, which is designed to keep your data secure against next-generation cyberattacks.
Double VPN routes your traffic through two servers instead of one, and you can even combine a VPN server with the Onion network, meaning you don’t need to use The Onion Router (TOR) separately – it hides your use of the Onion network from your ISP and encrypts your traffic before it enters the network. NordVPN was also going to get rid of MeshNet, one of its cleverest features, in December, but it’s now backtracked on that decision. It lets you create encrypted private networks between devices, essentially letting you share secure files privately.
For the full cybersecurity suite, you’ll need to pay a bit more. The basic plan includes a lite version of Threat Protection, blocking phishing and malware links. But NordVPN Plus and Ultimate plans unlock Threat Protection Pro, a password manager, encrypted cloud storage and even cyber insurance to cover you if you get scammed online. In November 2024, NordVPN also introduced NordProtect, an identity theft protection tool that constantly scans the dark web, marketplaces and forums, alerting you if your email or phone number appears in a data breach. It’s recently launched in the UK.
I was also pleased to see NordVPN pass another independent audit in early February 2025 on its IT systems, infrastructure and no-logs policy. Deloitte confirmed that the service provider didn’t store any logs and that its infrastructure was set up to prevent it from storing any user data. This was its fifth no-log audit in recent years.
NordVPN offers a 24-month subscription, and the cheapest will effectively see you pay £2.59 per month. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re not impressed, you can cancel within the first month for a full refund. It’s the best VPN around right now – it provided me with the speed, features and security I needed from a VPN, just make sure to cancel within your renewal period – I’ve seen users get caught out by NordVPN’s auto-renewal process before.
Read the full NordVPN review now
Buy now £3.00, Nordvpn.com
Surfshark
Best: Value VPN
Number of servers: More than 3,200
Number of server countries: More than 100
Number of simultaneous devices supported: Unlimited
Devices supported: Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV and more
Why we love it
- Great value for money
- Fast and reliable
- Great user interface
- MultiHop feature is a nice addition
- Unlimited device support
Take note
- CleanWeb needs work
If NordVPN is a bit too expensive, Surfshark is a great alternative that offers the best value for money. Owned by Nord Security, but run independently, you can often find it for half the price of NordVPN without missing out on key features or a superior level of security.
One of Surfshark’s biggest selling points is its unlimited device connections. That means you can connect every single device in your household without worrying about hitting a limit – something most other VPNs don’t offer, making it perfect for families or anyone with multiple devices.
I also really like how clean and approachable the interface is. The server list is super easy to read, with handy buttons for recommended locations and quick connect. While it doesn’t have as many servers as NordVPN, with more than 3,200 servers across 100 countries, there are enough options.
Though Surfshark used to be a bit rubbish on iOS – missing some of the features you’d find on Windows and Android – in late 2024, it finally added split-tunnelling to the app, giving me way more control over which apps use the VPN and which don’t.
Surfshark is now one of the fastest VPNs I’ve tested. After lagging behind in previous years, it’s finally caught up. Using the WireGuard protocol, Surfshark’s UK servers only dropped download speeds by around five per cent, and even servers further afield saw just an 11 per cent drop. Streaming UK content on Disney+, iPlayer and Disney+ was seamless, with no buffering or lag.
Surprisingly, connecting via OpenVPN was just as fast. It was especially handy when I wanted to use Camouflage Mode – an OpenVPN-exclusive feature that hid the fact I was using a VPN.
In terms of privacy and security, Surfshark covers all the essentials. It offers AES-256 encryption, a recently improved kill switch (though it still needs to be toggled on) and split tunnelling for more control over your traffic. MultiHop is another standout feature, routing your connection through two servers instead of one for an extra layer of security. Sadly, CleanWeb still doesn’t block many ads when browsing, and I’m hoping this will improve over time.
Like other VPN providers, Surfshark wants to be a cybersecurity suite. The Surfshark One bundle includes antivirus protection, data breach alerts and a secure search tool, offering more all-in-one protection for those willing to pay a little extra.
Surfshark offers 24-month subscriptions, and right now, prices effectively start from £1.69 per month. If you’re not completely sold, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you subscribe via the website, and has a seven-day free trial if you subscribe through the App Store or Google Play Store. It’s a fast and cheap VPN.
Read the full Surfshark review now
Buy now £2.00, Surfshark.com
ExpressVPN
Best: VPN for streaming
Number of servers: More than 3,000
Number of server countries: 105
Number of simultaneous devices supported: 8
Devices supported: Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV and more
Why we love it
- Cybersecurity features are improving fast
- Great for streaming
- Very simple and intuitive to use
Take note
- Pricier compared to the competition
- Only one tier, so you can’t pick and choose features
A former top overall pick, ExpressVPN is still one of my favourite VPNs, but it has been edged out by the likes of NordVPN, which has evolved more quickly and now offers more features, a larger selection of server locations and support for more simultaneous device connections.
Where ExpressVPN truly shines is in its user interface – it’s still the best-looking and easiest VPN I’ve used. If you’re new to VPNs, ExpressVPN is a no-brainer, with its UI consistent across all devices. All you have is a big, round on/off button in the centre and a simple button that takes you straight to the server list. It’s intuitive and straightforward – you really can’t go wrong.
Performance-wise, ExpressVPN delivers solid speeds. Its proprietary Lightway protocol remains fast and stable, even over long distances. In my tests, UK servers only dropped download speeds by around eight per cent, while US servers saw a 12 per cent dip. That’s still quick enough for smooth streaming and browsing. It worked flawlessly with BBC iPlayer and ITVX, and while the server list isn’t as expansive as NordVPN’s, it covers Asia particularly well.
In early 2025, ExpressVPN launched an even faster version of its protocol, Lightway Turbo, which cut the average speed drop to around five per cent in tests. Brief connection hiccups when waking from sleep mode have since been ironed out as well. The service also added full WireGuard support, and with it, post-quantum encryption, making ExpressVPN one of the first VPNs to offer future-proof protection across both Lightway and WireGuard.
On the security front, ExpressVPN is rock solid. It uses AES-256 encryption, an automatic kill switch, split tunnelling support and RAM-only servers. The provider has also been gradually expanding its privacy tools. Alongside a password manager, ad blocker and tracker protection, it added Identity Defender in late 2024, a feature that scans data-broker sites and requests the removal of your personal information. There’s also now an optional dedicated IP add-on.
ExpressVPN used to bundle everything into one expensive plan, but in September 2025, it switched to a three-tier model. Now you can choose between the basic tier, advanced tier and pro tier, with the higher tiers including stronger ad and tracker blocking, a built-in password manager, dedicated IPs and even a small eSIM data allowance. It’s still pricier than rivals, but at least you don’t have to pay for features you’ll never use.
As well as a new pricing structure, ExpressVPN also launched a new free VPN called EventVPN for iOS and macOS. It works on the same infrastructure as ExpressVPN, and gets you unlimited bandwidth, access to over 35 server locations and a kill switch. But there are ads (some last 30 seconds) every time you connect or run a speed test, and only one device is supported on the free plan.
The cheapest way to get ExpressVPN is now through its two-year plan, which works out at $3.49 (£2.58) per month on the basic tier, $4.49 (£3.32) on advanced and $7.49 (£5.55) on the pro tier. It’s billed upfront in USD, and every plan includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, and mobile users can still try a seven-day free trial on iOS or Android. Despite the higher cost compared with some rivals, it remains one of the most beginner-friendly VPNs I’ve tried.
Read the full ExpressVPN review now
Buy now £2.58, Expressvpn.com
Proton VPN
Best: VPN for security
Number of servers: 8,633
Number of server countries: 117
Number of simultaneous devices supported: 10
Devices supported: Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV and more
Why we love it
- Fast and secure
- Good access to streaming services
- Backs up its security credentials with third-party audits
Take note
- UI is a bit messy
- Not the cheapest
Proton is a company known for taking a strong stance on privacy, and its VPN offering is no exception. Like many providers, Proton VPN has a strict no-logs policy – something it successfully passed in an independent audit for the third time last year. On top of that, all of its apps are open-source, so it’s really transparent.
Its Secure Core feature takes things even further by routing your traffic through servers in privacy-friendly countries like Switzerland and Iceland before it leaves the Proton VPN network, adding another layer of security.
While Proton VPN’s free tier offers unlimited bandwidth – a rarity among free VPNs – you won’t be able to access streaming services while abroad, and you only get access to a handful of servers, which offer slower speeds. What you get, though, is peace of mind knowing you’re using a fully-audited, no-logs VPN provider with some serious security credentials.
You really need the Proton VPN Plus plan to get the full experience. It includes split tunnelling support, the ability to connect up to 10 devices at once, and NetShield – its ad-blocker and malware protection tool, which is the best I’ve tested on any VPN service. Plus, it comes with a double VPN feature that routes your traffic through multiple servers for even stronger security, and the VPN Accelerator, which significantly improves speeds over long-distance connections.
Just as fast as NordVPN, I found my speeds only dipped by around 4 per cent when streaming over the WireGuard protocol – successfully lettingm e access BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and Channel 4. Its vast number of servers is a real bonus, giving me plenty of options for a smooth and reliable connection.
While ProtonVPN isn’t the cheapest – it costs slightly more than NordVPN – it’s still more affordable than ExpressVPN and offers just as many features. The user interface, though easy to navigate, isn’t the sleekest and can feel a bit confusing at times. But for what it offers, I think it’s worth it.
For those wanting the full Proton experience, you can upgrade to Proton Unlimited for just over £8 per month. This bundles Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, Proton Pass, and ProtonVPN into one comprehensive privacy suite. Both Plus and Unlimited subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you time to decide if it’s the right fit. A two-year plan currently starts from £3.59 per month.
Read the full Proton VPN review now
Buy now £4.00, Protonvpn.com
Private Internet Access
Best: VPN for advanced users
Number of servers: More than 20,000
Number of server countries: 91
Number of simultaneous devices supported: Unlimited
Devices supported: Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV and more
Why we love it
- Great advanced settings
- Successfully unblocked UK streaming services
- Lots of server choices
Take note
- A little overwhelming for regular users
- Not the fastest
- Username system is a pain
Private Internet Access (PIA) has been in the VPN game for more than a decade. If you hung around internet forums in the late 2000s, you probably saw PIA popping up in every conversation about online privacy. While NordVPN and ExpressVPN are now my go-to’s, that doesn’t mean PIA has fallen off.
It’s still going strong and is still the VPN provider I recommend if you’re a techie. Catering more towards advanced users, the application, when fully expanded, displays server locations, connection details and real-time performance metrics, but when in its original, compact view, it’s just as clean and simple as ExpressVPN. Its advanced settings are where things get really interesting.
There are roughly more than 20,000 servers spread across 91 countries – that’s one of the largest server networks out there, though a chunk of those are in the US.
While you get access to the basics, such as a kill switch and split tunnelling, for the more tech-savvy out there, PIA lets you toggle between AES-128 and AES-256 bit encryption, letting you choose between security and speed. There’s also port forwarding, which improves P2P connections, handy if you’re torrenting online.
Speeds also remained consistent – though not the fastest out of the bunch (NordVPN and Surfshark are the speediest), it let me access UK streaming services when connected to UK servers. While there aren’t many fancy cybersecurity features in the package, PIA’s small monthly price tag is attractive, especially with its strong privacy credentials, as is the fact that you can use it with an unlimited number of devices.
One thing I really didn’t like was that PIA gives you a username that can’t be changed – you can’t log in to the service with an email address, just the gibberish username.
A three-year plan starts from just £1.67 per month. You can try it out, and if you’re not happy, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Buy now £2.00, Privateinternetaccess
Windscribe
Best: Free VPN
Number of servers: More than 1,000
Number of server countries: 10 (free), more than 69 (pro version)
Number of simultaneous devices supported: Unlimited
Devices supported: Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV and more
Why we love it
- Unblocks UK streamers effectively
- A generous free plan
- Features aren’t locked behind a paywall
Take note
- App is quite cluttered
If you’re after a free VPN, Windscribe is a good option. Based in Canada (which might raise privacy concerns for some due to local data laws), Windscribe offers 10GB of free data per month if you sign up with an email. You can also sign up without entering an email address – a rarity among VPN providers – but you’ll be capped at 2GB of data per month, which is still reasonable. While some free VPNs offer more data, few can reliably unblock streaming services abroad – it performed admirably when accessing BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and more.
It’s also the only VPN with a sense of humour – there are funny names for its server locations, such as “custard and biscuits” for its London data centre, making it an easy VPN to fall in love with, even if the user interface can feel a bit cluttered.
Yegor Sak, founder of Windscribe, tells me that it goes beyond humour, however. The company deliberately obscures the individual servers within its creatively named data centres, with users only interacting with the data centre as a whole. While he doesn’t disclose the exact number of physical servers, he says that there are well over 1,000.
Plus, with the exception of Fake Antarctica, all of its servers are hosted on location (no cheeky virtual locations). That’s great news for the truly privacy-obsessed. With virtual servers, you don’t know which country your data is being rerouted through; the server could be physically located in China, which is unhelpful if you’re trying to avoid Chinese censorship. On top of that, physical servers are usually faster and more stable because they’re located in the country you want to access, instead of somewhere further away.
The free version lets you switch between multiple protocols, including IKEv2, WireGuard, and OpenVPN (TCP and UDP). However, you’re limited to servers in 10 countries: the US, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Switzerland, the UK and Hong Kong. Like PIA, you use a username to log in rather than an email address, but at least you can customise it.
Windscribe’s “R.O.B.E.R.T.” tool lets users block malware, ads, trackers, gambling sites, social networks, adult content and even “fake news and clickbait”, with customisable filters you can toggle on or off. Free users can create up to three custom rules, while Pro users can set up to 1,000. Other free features include split tunnelling support, a kill switch and a decoy mode to generate fake traffic.
You can also connect an unlimited number of devices, which is rare even among paid VPN services. While Windscribe says it doesn’t store logs, it does keep a record of the last time a user used the service and the total amount of data used in 30 days. The company has also open-sourced its apps and published a third-party independent audit of its service last summer. More importantly, this no-logs claim was proven in court. Sak was taken to court in Greece when a Windscribe user allegedly used the service to commit a crime. When Greek prosecutors asked Windscribe to hand over data logs, it could not do so, and the case was dismissed.
The question is – is the Pro version worth the price of admission? Starting at £4.82 per month, it might seem pricey compared to its competitors, but Nord’s renewal rates can jump dramatically, making it far more expensive over time. Windscribe, by contrast, offers much cheaper and more consistent monthly pricing, with Windscribe offering a £2.41 per month Build-a-Plan. And while it doesn’t boast as many servers, all of them are hosted physically, which can be risky.
For casual users, the free version delivers unthrottled speeds and generous limits, but the Pro version offers unlimited data and a transparent subscription plan.
Buy now £5.00, Windscribe.com
IPVanish
Best: VPN for techies
Number of servers: More than 2,400
Number of countries: More than 108
Number of simultaneous devices supported: Unlimited
Devices supported: Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV and more
Why we love it
- Lots of advanced features
- Secure Browser is a neat add-on
- Free threat protection feature
- Fairly affordable
Take note
- Clunky app
Another VPN aimed at techies who like to tinker, IPVanish offers decent performance, but it’s not quite as good as budget rival Surfshark, which provides a more user-friendly experience and better streaming support for around the same price.
That said, IPVanish does have its strengths. It’s got loads of advanced settings, letting you tweak everything from protocol selection (WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2) to split tunnelling and even a Scramble mode, which disguises VPN traffic to help you bypass restrictions in certain countries (such as China). It also throws in threat protection at no extra cost, unlike Surfshark.
One feature I really like is Secure Browser, which goes beyond incognito mode. While a VPN hides your traffic, websites can still track you with cookies, fingerprinting and malware. IPVanish’s Secure Browser feature isolates your session in the cloud, so none of that ever touches your device at all. You do only get a limited number of hours per month, however, and it’s only available on the higher tier.
Performance-wise, IPVanish has decent speeds. In tests, UK servers reduced download speeds by around 10 per cent, which was sufficient for gaming and 4K streaming. IPVanish worked well with Netflix UK and BBC iPlayer, but there were issues accessing Amazon Prime Video.
My biggest gripe is the app’s clunky interface. It has lots of settings, but it feels a bit outdated, especially on Android, and isn’t the most beginner-friendly.
At the time of writing, a two-year essential plan costs £45.55 (£1.58 per month) – which doesn’t come with Secure Browser. There’s no free trial, but you do get a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s a decent pick if you like tweaking settings, but if you want something easier to use with more features, Surfshark is the better deal for around 10p more per month. As always, be sure to cancel before the two years are up, or you’ll be hit with a whopping £239.76 renewal fee.
Read the full IPVanish review now
Buy now £2.00, Ipvanish.com
Your questions on VPNs answered
What are the best VPNs in 2025?
NordVPN is the best VPN service, receiving a five-star rating in my review. It’s my go-to VPN for a reason. It nails the balance between lightning-fast speeds, security, with apps that just work out of the box. Threat Protection and Double VPN are great security features, and it unblocked UK streaming services successfully. Its suite of cybersecurity features also gives it an edge over its rivals, who often focus purely on the VPN side of things.
If you’re after something a little cheaper, Surfshark is a great shout. It’s affordable, offers unlimited device connections (which is rare) and still does well where security is concerned. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, is a perfect VPN for anyone new to VPNs and wants a beginner-friendly interface.
Best of the rest
I’m constantly reviewing VPNs, but not all of them make the cut; CyberGhost VPN is one such case. This service starts from £1.78 per month, making it one of the most affordable VPNs I’ve tested. I loved CyberGhost’s user-friendly interface. It’s a great VPN if you’re looking for something streaming-focused, with servers specifically labelled for different streaming services, so you know which one works best, but it’s not the fastest VPN I’ve tried. It’s also quite barebones in terms of features – P2P servers and gaming servers are locked to Windows users, and it recently got rid of its password manager. Others offer more for less.
How I test VPNs
I’ve been using VPNs for nearly 10 years, and writing about them for six of those. During my time as senior tech critic, I’ve analysed just about every feature there is. When testing, I consider the following:
