As of writing this, there are currently close to 400 VPNs out there in the industry. With such a huge number to pick from, it can be super-difficult to find the best VPN service that would suit your wants and needs. Whether you're trying to avoid things like identity theft[1] or information leakage, you'll need the best of the best - mediocre tools just won't do it.
This is exactly the reason why I decided to put this article together.
Me and my colleagues have tested and reviewed the majority of the viable options out there, and have come up with a list of VPN providers that are actually worth paying attention to. I’ll list them out right here, and then we’ll take a more in-depth look at each one.
The best VPN providers of 2023 are:
With that out of the way... How do you pick the right one?
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The Best VPN: How to Pick the Right One?
Before we actually get to the list of the top VPN services in the world, let’s first quickly run down the main criteria by which we’ll be judging these services.
The best VPN 2023 should have four big aspects covered:
- Security
- Speed
- Data encryption
- Additional features
Security and data encryption are no-brainers - that's kind of the whole point of a VPN, in the first place. The best VPN service should also offer its users the best speed in the game - after all, what’s the point of using a VPN to torrent files if it’s gonna take you 10 years to actually download what you want?
That brings us to the final point - additional features. In the context of VPNs, the most sought-after “additional features” would be Netflix USA unlocked for international users and torrent support. Everything else is cool, too, but these two features are the benchmark.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s start talking brand names. Throughout the list of the best VPN services out there, I’ll point out all of the main features that these VPNs have, and give you some brief explanations for why they’ve made it into this list, in the first place.
Without further ado, here’s the “Best VPN 2023” list.
What is important to consider when choosing a VPN service?
Choose a service that is proven, reliable, and that has good reviews from both users and cybersecurity experts. Don’t jump into using a new service because it has a cool name or because it’s cheap. Do your research using reliable and trusted sources for information, such as top50vpn.com
1. NordVPN - Super-Secure
Ranks #1 out of 7 VPNs
- + Amazing prices
- + Easy to use
- + Safe jurisdiction
- + Great security
- - Some plans could have higher discounts
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What are the main NordVPN Pros?
Here's the list of the benefits NordVPN offers:
- Security: Kill switch, no DNS or IP leaks, safe jurisdiction. No logging.
- Data Encryption: AES 256-bit, OpenVPN
- Speed: 8/10
- Additional Features: Supports torrenting and unlocks Netflix.
NordVPN is one of the main contenders when it comes to the “top VPN services” lists. And with good reason, too - Nord is seen by many as one of the most trusted and secure VPN providers in the world.
In addition to offering its users advanced security features (such as a kill switch), NordVPN supports the industry-standard AES 256-bit data encryption and the OpenVPN protocol. The VPN does not leak user DNS, IPs or WebRTCs, and has a strict no-logging policy.
Speed-wise, NordVPN is also on the top of the game. The VPN barely slows down your connection - a rare occurrence indeed! To add to that, the fact that Nord supports torrenting and has working Netflix servers only boosts its rank in the best VPN lists.
If you decide to purchase their most popular plan - the 3-year one - you’ll have to pay a measly $2,99 per month. All things considered, that’s an amazing deal!
All in all, a great choice both pricing and quality-wise.
2. CyberGhost - No Leaks & AES 256
Ranks #2 out of 7 VPNs
- + Strict No Logs Policy
- + Lots of Features & Add-Ons
- + Allows Torrenting
- + Amazing Customer Support
- + Compatibility with TOR
- + Fast
- - A Little Bit Pricey
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What are the main CyberGhost Pros?
Here's the list of the benefits CyberGhost offers:
- Security: Doesn’t log information, no leaks.
- Data Encryption: AES 256-bit, OpenVPN, IPSec
- Speed: 6/10
- Additional Features: Torrenting and Netflix supported; is easy to use.
A Romanian company, CyberGhost is often viewed as one of the VPN industry’s “small giants” - it might be a less-known VPN provider than Express or Nord, but is still huge in its own right.
Security-wise, CyberGhost offers all of the standard features that you would expect from one of the best VPNs - it doesn’t log your information, has no known leaks (neither DNS, IP, nor WebRTC).
The provider also offers great data encryption with the standard 256-bit information encryption and OpenVPN. It also supports alternative protocols, too (such as IPSec)!
The one place where CyberGhost is a little bit lackluster is the speed department. By no means is the speed bad, but compared to the VPN’s two above-mentioned competitors, it could definitely be better.
Where the company lacks in speed, however, they make up in price - the 3-year plan will cost you only $2,75 per month! That’s outrageously cheap!
With the usual Netflix and Peer-to-Peer file sharing (torrenting) support, CyberGhost definitely deserves a place in the “Best VPN 2023” list!
3. ExpressVPN - Superb Speed
Ranks #3 out of 7 VPNs
- + Great security
- + Super-high speed
- + No logging
- + OpenVPN protocol support
- - Small number of devices available to be connected simultaneously
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What are the main ExpressVPN Pros?
Here's the list of the benefits ExpressVPN offers:
- Security: No logging policy, located in the BVI.
- Data Encryption: AES 256-bit, OpenVPN
- Speed: 9/10
- Additional Features: Supports torrenting and unlocks Netflix; more than 3000 servers.
ExpressVPN is the main competitor of the above-discussed CyberGhost - these VPN providers are constantly competing for first places in the majority of the “Best VPN” lists found online.
One of the best security features about ExpressVPN is that it’s based out in the British Virgin Islands. Because of this location, you can rest assured that there will be no governmental interference with the company’s work.
Not that it would bring any merits, either - the company does not log your information, and would thus have nothing to show to the authorities even if such a situation were to arise.
ExpressVPN offers users absolutely amazing speeds (a rare thing in the VPN industry, in general!) and more than 3000 servers to choose from! That’s probably more than one might ever have a need for. Naturally, being part of the top VPN services, Express supports both Netflix USA and torrent-dedicated servers.
If you were to purchase ExpressVPN’s most popular plan (12-months), you’d be charged $8,32 per month. Even though that’s quite a bit pricier than what, say, Nord offers, it’s still a great deal for all of the features and security that you’ll receive.
Obviously, ExpressVPN is a very strong player in the game, and together with CyberGhost, they represent VPNs as the two giants of the industry.
Did you know?
Compare VPNs Side by Side With Others
All VPNs may look similar to you but they're NOT all the same!
Yes! Show me the Comparison Chart4. Private Internet Access - 3000+ Servers
Ranks #4 out of 7 VPNs
- + Super affordable
- + Doesn't log your data
- + Good speed
- - Located in the United States
- - No live customer support
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What are the main Private Internet Access Pros?
Here's the list of the benefits Private Internet Access offers:
- Security: No logging policy, no leaks.
- Data Encryption: 128 and 256-bit.
- Speed: 9/10
- Additional Features: More than 3000 servers, Netflix and torrenting allowed
The “underdog” of the top VPN providers, Private Internet Access offers a stable and clear no logs policy, in addition to the various data encryption methods that you could choose from (128-bit being the default one, and 256-bit being the recommended one).
Speed is the name of the game with PIA. The company’s servers are superb - you might not even notice that you’re actually using a VPN, in the first place! To add to that, PIA offers its users more than 3000 servers to choose from - an insane number indeed!
It unlocks Netflix USA on one of its servers, does not leak your information, and has great security + torrenting. So… Where’s the catch? Well, the company does not have live support - although it’s not a detrimental problem, it’s still something worth keeping in mind if that’s important to you!
PIA’s prices are also pretty good. If you go with the 2-year plan, you’ll be charged $3,49 each month. A pretty good deal, considering all of the great features that this VPN offers!
Visit Private Internet Access
...or read our Private Internet Access review
5. IPVanish - Strict No Logging Policy
Ranks #5 out of 7 VPNs
- + Great Speed
- + Torrenting/P2P Allowed
- + Does Not Keep Logs
- + AES-256 Military-Grade Encryption
- + DNS and IPv6 Leak Protection
- + Netflix Works With Some Servers
- - Price Relatively High
- - Bad Third Party Reviews
What are the main IPVanish Pros?
Here's the list of the benefits IPVanish offers:
- Security: No logging policy.
- Data Encryption: AES 256-bit, OpenVPN
- Speed: 5/10
- Additional Features: Netflix works on one server, torrenting is allowed.
Venturing into the lesser-known VPN territory, IPVanish is a US-based VPN provider. Now, it being based in the US isn’t a particularly good sign, but worry not - IPVanish isn’t on this “Best VPNs” list without reason.
First of all, IPVanish offers a strict no logging policy. To add to that, there’s the standard AES 256-bit data encryption in place. Even more - not only does the company support OpenVPN, but it also allows you to choose from other protocols, too.
With so many data encryption and security features in place, you can remain almost completely calm about your information security.
Torrenting is allowed and Netflix does work, but only on one of their servers. Even though it’s a bit sad, you gotta give it to IPVanish for unlocking Netflix for international users, in the first place - it isn’t that common of a feature outside the top VPN services.
Even though the speed could be better, IPVanish’s pricing is quite affordable. A 12-month subscription will cost you $6,49 per month. Not the cheapest, but far from being the priciest!
With stats like these, IPVanish definitely deserves a place in this best VPN list.
6. Trust.Zone - Netflix and Torrenting
Ranks #6 out of 7 VPNs
- + Supports torrenting
- + Unlocks Netflix
- + No logging policy
- + Good speed
- - Customer support could be better
- - A longer money-back guarantee would be nice
What are the main Trust.Zone Pros?
Here's the list of the benefits Trust.Zone offers:
- Security: Does not log data, no leaks or malware.
- Data Encryption: AES 256-bit, OpenVPN, L2TP
- Speed: 6/10
- Additional Features: Netflix works, torrenting allowed.
Created in 2014 and based out in Seychelles, Trust.Zone deserves a spot on this “Best VPN” list for a few solid reasons.
First of all, they offer one of the strongest no-logging policies out there. A really good sign! The VPN does not leak DNS or IP addresses, and in addition to the industry-standard 256-bit data encryption and OpenVPN, it offers an additional protocol to use - the L2TP one.
In addition to perfectly working Netflix servers and the ability to freely use torrents, Trust.Zone also has a kill switch in place. Since the industry top-dogs all employ this tool to ensure the maximum amount of security, it’s great to see that Trust.Zone fits into the elite perfectly.
The speed that the VPN provides isn’t anything spectacular, but it’s definitely more than acceptable. I experienced a mediocre decrease from my original speed whilst using this VPN, which is not even close to being a game-breaker.
Price-wise, Trust.Zone is also up there with the best of them. The company’s most popular 2-year plan would cost you $2,99 per month - one of the most-affordable alternatives on this list.
7. Surfshark - Amazing Price VS Quality
Ranks #7 out of 7 VPNs
- + Extremely affordable
- + Doesn't log your information
- + Allows torrenting
- + Supports an unlimited number of devices
- - Speed tends to fluctuate
- - Not too many servers
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What are the main SurfShark Pros?
Here's the list of the benefits SurfShark offers:
- Security: No logging policy.
- Data Encryption: OpenVPN
- Speed: 5/10
- Additional Features: Super cheap, allows torrenting & Netflix and supports TOR.
SurfShark is one of the “younger” VPN providers out there, but this fact hasn’t prevented the company from some exponential growth.
Why is Surfshark one of the best VPNs out there? Well, for starters, you have all of the great things that you’d come to expect - no-logging policy, the OpenVPN protocol, and so on.
To add to that, same as ExpressVPN, Surfshark is located in the British Virgin Islands - one of the best locations to base a VPN in!
Furthermore, there are no DNS leaks, no data security breaches and nothing else of that nature. For the most part, Surfshark has a pretty clean track record!
In addition to Netflix and torrent support, the company also allows its users to utilize the TOR browser for maximum data security and anonymity.
While Surfshark’s speeds are somewhat inconsistent, they make it up with unlimited device support and simply unbelievable pricing. Purchasing the 24-month plan, you’d have to pay $1,99 per month. Now THAT is what I call affordable!
Overall, even though the company is still finding its place in the industry, that place is definitely going to be “up there”! A great addition to any “best VPN” list!
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Conclusions
So, there you have it - a list of the 7 best VPNs that are currently dominating the game.
Depending on the reasons for why you might want (or need) to use a VPN, either one could suit you.
Some people only focus on the speed factor, while others need the maximum amount of information security and anonymity features. Whether it’s CyberGhost or Trust.Zone, all of the VPN providers on this list have great reputations and attention-worthy features.
The list is a bit varied mostly because of the term “best” itself. It’s tough to objectively define what “best” means, since every single person has their own interpretation of the word. That being said, wherever you lie in the spectrum, this list should definitely have a VPN that will suit your wants and needs.
And remember - there’s a huge variety of VPNs out there! The industry is constantly expanding and there are new providers coming up every single day. These VPNs are only the top of the mountain - if you so wish to, you could always venture down and explore other ones, too!
Also, make sure to check out our to-the-point comparison of the best VPN providers out there!
| EXPRESSVPN | CYBERGHOST | IPVANISH | |
 |  |  | |
| All-round security | Speed & convenience | All-round security | |
| All ExpressVPN Coupons | All CyberGhost Coupons | All IPvanish Coupons | |
| One of the fastest VPNs in the industry. Trustworthy and safe. | Secure and Fast VPN with Great UX | Zero Logs Policy, Strong Encryption, 7-Days Money-Back | |
| Visit site Read review | Visit site Read review | See TOP10 Brands Read review |
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Table: Top 3 of the best VPNs in the current industry
Contributed by: John Watkins , vCIO at Capital Business Systems
John is vCIO at Capital Business Systems - a large IT provider in the Midwest - as well as an accomplished MSP prof...
Read Full Bio...Scientific References
contributed by: John Watkins, vCIO at Capital Business Systems1. Keith B. Anderson, Erik Durbin, Michael A. Salinger: 'Identity Theft'
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