Final review based on VPN test results
This review presents the Top 10 VPN services according to Cooltechzone’s test results. We have compared more than 80 VPNs and selected those that showed the best results in terms of speed, servers, streaming, and torrenting,
We'll talk about the most advanced VPN features that help you maximize your security and privacy even under strict censorship.
Choosing a VPN is becoming increasingly difficult. The market leaders are rapidly evolving, while others are stuck in outdated technologies. At the same time, each provider claims to be the best. In this article, we will tell you about the true top VPN services that you can trust.
If you choose the right VPN, you can set it up on any of your devices within minutes and use it 24/7 without slowing down your Internet speed or reducing your battery life.
You may also receive additional discounts when signing up for a VPN using our links.
We have developed our own VPN research methodology, which has been refined over 5 years and involves multiple application tests for each platform. This ensures that only the top VPN services make it onto our list of the best VPNs in 2022.
In this article, you will find answers to these questions:
In this section, you will learn what is a VPN and how it works. Also, I'll explain how to choose the right VPN by evaluating the most important criteria.
You probably already know that VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service that encrypts and redirects your traffic through a dedicated server.
In fact, this is true and false at the same time.
VPN technology itself was designed to create private networks, some of which didn't communicate with the rest of the Internet. Computers within the virtual network saw each other as if they were on a physically isolated network.
This technology formed the basis for the modern VPN.
A tunnel is created between the user's device and the VPN, which is additionally encrypted. One of them also acts as a gateway to the internet.
This scheme has 3 major advantages:
Due to the fact that VPN services use the same technology necessary for the normal operation of state and many corporate networks, it is practically impossible to prohibit the Virtual Private Network at the legislative level (relevant for countries with Internet censorship).
Today, there are several reliable VPN tunneling protocols used by most providers. The most common are OpenVPN and IKEv2. The most technologically advanced and actively implemented is WireGuard.
These protocols also allow data to be encrypted inside the tunnel. The most common effective encryption standard is AES-256, which is used in the vast majority of VPN programs and applications.
AES-256, also known as military-grade encryption, is recognized as the official data protection standard of the US government.
Thus, VPN is a legal, simple, and effective technology that has been proven over time.
If you were to set up and configure your own open-source VPN server, then your system would be quite secure.
But can we trust third-party companies with our data?
Can we be sure that they take everything into account, applying encryption, implementing protection against leaks, and so on?
It's a difficult question. After all, if we’re just using a VPN to register another free account for smartphone games, then it’s not a big deal.
But what if we use VPNs all the time? Is our personal data that we want to hide from the Internet Service Provider (ISP) secure?
In this case, we need to choose a VPN that we can trust.
Here's what you should consider when evaluating the quality of a VPN service:
Few VPNs can meet all of these criteria and it’s easy to make a mistake in choosing a service.
What happens if you don't go into details and get the first VPN that you find?
Let's take an example.
Recently, while we were analyzing reviews of VPNs on Reddit, we noticed a comment with negative feedback about one of the major VPN providers. It said that VPN didn’t bypass the geo-restrictions of the Hulu streaming platform.
But the service worked perfectly against the Great Chinese Firewall and helped the residents of China gain access to blocked sites outside the country.
So is it a good VPN or bad?
The main mistake of inexperienced users is choosing a service randomly, without learning its capabilities.
In the next section, we will list the main characteristics to take into account when choosing your VPN, and in the Top 10 VPNs according to test results part you will find fact-driven data to quickly select your VPN.
The main parameters of the best VPN services in 2022:
Image source - nordvpn.com
The latest testing, conducted in 2022, identified three leaders. It was difficult to single out any of them, but given a large number of positive reviews, excellent performance, and top-notch security standards, we decided that the best VPN overall is NordVPN.
All of our best VPNs overall use military-grade encryption and use reliable kill switches. Moreover, each provider has a strict no-logs policy, meaning your data isn't monitored or stored. Finally, these Top 10 VPN services have apps for major platforms and support plenty of other devices.
|
PROS
|
CONS
|
|---|---|
|
|
The best overall VPN in 2022 is NordVPN. It is the perfect choice for long-term use, as it has perhaps the most user-friendly interface and a full set of features. At the same time, it has excellent security, privacy, and performance.
It all starts with military-grade encryption, two kill switches, and protection against leaks. Furthermore, NordVPN has an independently-audited no-logs policy and is registered in the privacy-friendly jurisdiction of Panama. Features like Double VPN and Tor VPN will get you extra protection and obfuscated servers will hide your connection in countries with restricted internet access. You can also pay for NordVPN with cryptocurrencies or cash.
Thanks to the proprietary NordLynx tunneling protocol, you'll have some of the fastest, if not the fastest, speeds across the globe. Besides, all 5500+ servers in 60+ countries are bare-metal, and most use RAM-only technology, meaning they don't store any data at all. Therefore, expect 4K streaming and quick P2P downloads.
NordVPN unblocks Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, and more streaming platforms. It's also great for safe torrenting, enhanced by split tunneling and a SOCKS5 proxy. There are dedicated apps for major platforms, including Android TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick, but NordVPN supports most smart TVs, routers, and game consoles.
All pricing plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 7-day free trial (requires Android). The Complete version will add NordPass password manager and 1 TB of NordLocker cloud storage. At the moment, the best deal is $3.29/month for a 2-year plan with 60% off.
Learn more about NordVPN:
|
PROS
|
CONS
|
|---|---|
|
|
Combining high speed and powerful functionality, Surfshark does not limit the number of devices used. It's also one of the cheapest providers with an excellent price-to-value ratio.
In many cases, Surfshark is the go-to option for bypassing VPN blocks in censored countries due to its Camouflage Mode. This provider also unlocks Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and more streaming options. Torrenting is allowed on all servers, with Bypasser (split tunneling) letting you choose which apps should use the VPN tunnel. The WireGuard protocol will ensure maximum performance on all 3200+ RAM-only servers in whopping 95+ countries – the best selection among all VPNs on this list.
Surfshark uses bank-grade encryption and a reliable kill switch for your protection. It has a strict no-logs policy and is based in the Netherlands (Nine Eyes country). Moreover, users get CleanWeb which works against ads and malware. There's also the Surfshark One package with antivirus, safe search, and protection against identity theft.
Surfshark has apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, and Amazon Fire Stick. New subscribers also get a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 7-day free trial which can be activated with a smartphone. You can get Surfshark VPN for just $2.49/month for a 2-year plan with an 82% discount.
Learn more about Surfshark:
|
PROS
|
CONS
|
|---|---|
|
|
Atlas VPN is the top freemium option on this list. With multi-platform support, awesome speeds, and unblocking capabilities, Atlas VPN seems too inexpensive to be true. Yet it is, while also offering a viable free version.
Furthermore, one account gives you an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.
Choose Atlas VPN if you seek quality for the lowest price!
Briefly about Atlas VPN:
Premium account owners are also entitled to 24/7 live chat. You can grab Atlas VPN for a mere $2.05/month – that's two years with 81% off.
Learn more about Atlas VPN:
|
PROS
|
CONS
|
|---|---|
|
|
The first American VPN on our list is IPVanish. This service has been operating for more than a decade and during this time has gathered a whole army of fans. It was up till recently the most popular VPN in the US but has been replaced by the more progressive giants ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
However, it is a time-tested quality VPN. It is suitable for most tasks other than unblocking geo-restricted video streaming.
Briefly about IPVanish:
IPVanish can be a great option if you're not into watching Netflix and other streaming platforms. For $3.99/month, you get the annual plan and save 63%.
Find out more about IPVanish:
|
PROS
|
CONS
|
|---|---|
|
|
PureVPN is one of the most controversial VPNs out there today. Many people think it has a dubious reputation, but after running a number of tests, we believe it to be reliable.
PureVPN does not have any special advanced features, but it can be indispensable in cases when you're on a budget.
Briefly about PureVPN:
This VPN is a great all-rounder that offers security, privacy, and streaming without breaking your bank. Try the two-year PureVPN plan for $1.99/month with 82% off.
Learn more about PureVPN:
|
PROS
|
CONS
|
|---|---|
|
|
PrivateVPN may have the lowest number of servers, but it retains a global presence thanks to the quality of its self-owned network. At the same time, this provider comes with good speeds for streaming and torrenting. PrivateVPN takes your online safety seriously, offering military-grade encryption, a reliable kill switch, and solid leak protection.
We at Cooltechzone especially liked the price-to-value ratio of this VPN. PrivateVPN offers ten simultaneous connections, which means you will have no problem protecting all of your devices.
The only reason why it's not higher in our rankings is the lack of WireGuard protocol, which should unlock the full potential of this service.
Briefly about PrivateVPN:
If price is more important to you than speed, we recommend choosing PrivateVPN. The 3-year deal comes with an 85% discount and will cost you $2.00/month only.
Learn more about PrivateVPN:
|
PROS
|
CONS
|
|---|---|
|
|
ExpressVPN was always one of the top providers, but in the last few years they've done even more to compete for the best VPN spot:
However, in 2021, ExpressVPN was bought by Kape Technologies, a company tied to adware injection and Israel surveillance agencies.
ExpressVPN in a nutshell:
ExpressVPN is a great service that knows its worth and isn't afraid of charging for it. You can grab the annual deal for $8.32/month and save 35%.
Learn more about ExpressVPN:
|
PROS
|
CONS
|
|---|---|
|
|
ProtonVPN is one of the two best VPNs with a free plan, which makes it ideal for beginners. However, it's the premium version that shows its full potential with hundreds of 10 Gbps servers plus support for P2P and streaming.
Cooltechzone recommends Proton VPN because of its focus on user protection which shows in the number of available features. This service uses NASA-grade encryption, accepts anonymous payments, and had its no-logs policy audited by a third party, among other things.
What's more, ProtonVPN is characterized by offering extra-protected servers in a special data center in Switzerland buried 1000 meters deep!
Briefly about Proton VPN:
Testing has confirmed Proton VPN to be working without a hitch. You can try it for free or get the premium version for one year for $5.99/month with a 40% discount.
Learn more about ProtonVPN:
|
PROS
|
CONS
|
|---|---|
|
|
VyprVPN used to be higher on the list of top VPNs until it decided to ramp up its price. While it added WireGuard, audited its no-logs policy, and focused on streaming support, there are still quite a few providers that will get you even more for a much smaller amount of money.
Putting the cost aside, VyprVPN offers top-notch privacy and security. Additionally, it unblocks multiple content platforms and reliably protects torrenting activities.
Briefly about VyprVPN:
Testing has proven VyprVPN to be highly effective in censored countries when using the Chameleon protocol. You can get the annual plan with 44% off for $8.33/month.
Learn more about VyprVPN:
|
PROS
|
CONS
|
|---|---|
|
|
While CyberGhost VPN is easily the largest VPN by server count, not all of them offer the same performance despite the next-gen WireGuard protocol. What's more, it's operated by the ill-reputed Kape Technologies, which also owns ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access (PIA), and ZenMate.
Apart from that, CyberGhost is a good choice for P2P and streaming with apps for major platforms and 7 simultaneous connections allowed. The long-term prices are low and the browser extensions are completely free, which is great when you want to quickly change your IP address.
CyberGhost in a nutshell:
CyberGhost VPN is the best choice if you need a low-cost provider with servers in countries that aren't covered by the competitors. The 3-year + 3 months plan is available for $2.29/month with 82% off.
Learn more about CyberGhost:
Most of the best VPNs are quite affordable, but there are also both cheap and expensive options, not to mention free versions. At the same time, as our experience has shown, paying more for a VPN doesn't guarantee you'll get a better service.
We offer you a price comparison of all top VPNs in the same order as they were listed above. Not all VPNs have plans for each period, though. In such cases, we added the price of the shorter term in italics.
Comparison of the best VPN services prices per month (including discounts)
|
Service
|
1 month
|
6 months
|
1 year
|
2 years
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $11.95 | $11.95 | $4.99 | $3.29 |
| Surfshark | $12.95 | $6.49 | $3.99 | $2.49 |
| Atlas VPN * | $10.99 | $10.99 | $3.29 | $2.05 |
| IPVanish | $10.99 |
$10.99
|
$3.75 | $3.75 |
| PureVPN |
$10.95
|
$8.33 | $3.24 | $1.99 |
| PrivateVPN | $8.99 | $6.00 | $6.00 | $6.00 |
| ExpressVPN | $12.95 | $9.99 | $8.32 | $8.32 |
| Proton VPN * | $9.99 | $9.99 | $5.99 | $4.99 |
| VyprVPN | $15.00 | $15.00 | $8.33 | $8.33 |
|
$12.99
|
$12.99
|
$4.29
|
$3.25
|
* There is also a free plan. Read more in our review of free VPNs.
At the moment, only PrivateVPN and CyberGhost VPN have three-year deals for $2.00/month and $2.29/month respectively.
As you can see from the table, Pure VPN has the cheapest 2-year deal ($1.99/month), closely followed by Atlas VPN ($2.05/month). The average price of a bi-annual deal is around $4.40, but it's inflated by expensive ExpressVPN and VyprVPN deals and the fact that PrivateVPN doesn't have any plans between three months and three years. If we take a median price, we get a more down-to-earth $3.50/month.
The best one-year deal also comes from PureVPN ($3.24/month) with Atlas VPN right behind ($3.25/month). Since 9 out of 10 VPNs have annual plans, we've counted the average price, which turned out to be $5.20/month.
Only four providers offer 6-month plans and Surfshark VPN is the cheapest at $6.49/month. Alternatively, you can grab PrivateVPN's 3-month deal ($6.00/month). Users of the Top 10 VPNs pay $9.99/month on average.
Finally, the cheapest monthly deal belongs to PrivateVPN ($8.99), followed by ProtonVPN's $9.99. However, the prices don't matter much in this case because you can always take a long-term plan and exercise your 30-day money-back guarantee.
Cooltechzone has made agreements with some VPN services, which allows our users the opportunity to get discounts and participate in hot offers.
Current discounts and promotions
|
Service Name
|
Additional discount
|
Conditions
|
|---|---|---|
|
3%
|
When subscribing for 2 years
|
The number of security risks is increasing at an alarming rate. As we spend more and more time online, it's time to think about protecting ourselves from snoopers, hackers, viruses, and other dangers. A VPN is essential cybersecurity and privacy tool that can integrate anti-malware features for all-around safety. We at Cooltechzone strongly believe that getting the best VPN is a well-worth investment. And since the prices are rising while the plans are becoming shorter each year, the best time for protecting yourself is now.
Below are the key reasons why you need not just any but a top VPN service.
Free Wi-Fi in cafeterias and hotels is great, but it comes with a cost. If a network is not protected with a password, that means cybercriminals can easily access it as well. A VPN makes sure that your information is encrypted with a military-grade cipher and your IP address is hidden from all the snoopers. Learn more about Wi-Fi security.
In recent years, VPNs have evolved into feature-rich tools that literally break boundaries and limits. They are now not simply used for work, but for play as well.
With a VPN, you can change your virtual location and access video and audio content from Netflix and other geo-restricted video services and TV channels.
Video services try to block the IP addresses of VPNs, so not all providers are capable of fully working with popular streaming sites. This is especially true for BBC iPlayer, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix. Choose only VPNs that have been tested with these video services. Read more in the review VPN for streaming.
While we don't condone piracy, torrenting is unsafe even when you're downloading freeware. That's because any peer can see your IP address and approximate location. When you turn on the VPN, you get its server's IP in addition to traffic encryption. What's more, using a VPN might even increase the speed if your ISP throttles P2P bandwidth.
You may have already noticed that certain goods and services cost differently across the world. And we're not talking about shipping costs. For example, users in India pay less for Netflix and those in the US. The same can be said about flight tickets, hotels, and so on.
The best VPN providers have servers in dozens of countries. That lets you easily compare the prices and save a substantial amount of money.
Not all countries care about freedom, be it offline or online. China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and many other block certain websites and services like YouTube or Facebook while also actively monitoring citizen behavior. Some even implement sophisticated Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to detect VPN usage.
Luckily, our top VPNs armed with traffic obfuscation tools can bypass even the Great Firewall of China.
VPNs are designed in such a way that data protection occurs only inside the virtual tunnel. However, some less-reputable providers have problems with keeping your personal data hidden. For this reason, you simply might not notice that your IP or DNS address is visible to everyone.
Of course, even the best VPNs might fail sometimes and even if they automatically reconnect, some of the data may have already been sent to the internet without protection.
IP and DNS leaks can occur due to:
But, fortunately, there is an effective way to protect against such leaks – a kill switch technology. It blocks all traffic outside the VPN tunnel in case of failure. There is also a kill switch variant that closes only specified applications. Learn more in the article Best VPNs with a kill switch.
Is using VPN legal everywhere?
Countries with strong censorship may have laws or technical means that prevent VPNs from working.
We have compiled a list of countries and the specifics of their VPN countermeasures. If you are in one of them, it may not be possible or safe to use a regular VPN.
Use the following services to bypass blocking and mask your VPN connection:
|
Countries
|
VPN status
|
Service for circumventing restrictions
|
|---|---|---|
|
China
|
VPN services not controlled by the government are legally prohibited. Together with this, the so-called Great Chinese Firewall operates in the country. It not only blocks IP addresses but is also capable of detecting and blocking VPN activity.
|
NordVPN (with obfuscated servers)
Surfshark (with CamouflageMode)
VyprVPN (with Chameleon)
|
|
UAE, Oman
|
The degree of blocking is highly ISP-dependent. Some VPNs are allowed for businesses.
|
NordVPN (with obfuscated servers)
Surfshark (with CamouflageMode)
IPVanish (with scramble OpenVPN traffic)
|
|
Russia, Belarus
|
Only state-authorized VPNs are legal.
|
NordVPN (with obfuscated servers)
Surfshark (with CamouflageMode) IPVanish
|
|
Iran, Iraq, Turkmenistan
|
Blocked IP addresses + DPI (Deep Packet Inspection)
|
NordVPN (with obfuscation enabled)
Surfshark (with CamouflageMode)
|
|
Turkey, Egypt
|
Blocking VPN servers and websites. However, VPNs are usable.
|
NordVPN (with obfuscated servers)
Surfshark (with CamouflageMode) VyprVPN
|
|
North Korea
|
Banned for the locals. Visitors should have no trouble. | NordVPN Surfshark Atlas VPN |
|
India
|
VPNs are required to log data on Indian servers. | Any VPN without servers in India |
After testing dozens of VPN providers, we came to the conclusion that NordVPN is the best VPN in 2022. It offers excellent security and privacy, blazing-fast speeds, and the ability to unblock most streaming services, including Netflix. At the same time, it will protect your torrenting activities and work just fine in countries with internet censorship. Most importantly, it has a strict no-logs policy which has been audited independently.
Of course, NordVPN might not be the best service for you. Therefore, make sure you check the whole list where you can find some alternatives. And once again, don't put yourself at danger with a free VPN and use a reputable freemium option instead.
According to our test results, the best VPN in 2022 overall is NordVPN.
Only VPNs that have been tested by experts are worthy of your trust. A Virtual Private Network works by transmitting your data through the VPN service’s servers. Only a few services have been able to prove that they do not record user activity. Cooltechzone recommends NordVPN and Surfshark as the top options.
Absolutely, yes. You can take advantage of a money-back period, a VPN with a trial period, or a limited free plan, such as the one offered by Atlas VPN.
NordVPN is the best VPN according to Reddit. Check out the full list of top Reddit VPNs.
HMA VPN has servers in more than 210 countries. However, this VPN has poor security and is known to cooperate with the authorities. Among the best VPNs, Surfshark has the most countries with 95+.
Other helpful VPN articles:
