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5 best premium services according to Reddit users
This article covers two topics:
In addition, you'll learn:
You can use the quick navigation to access any section you want:
1. The Analysis of the Reddit Reviews of a VPN
2. How Can You Unblock Reddit?
Here at Cooltechzone, we’ve published hundreds of articles, reviews, and ratings based on our experts' evaluations. These articles take user feedback into account as well.
Now we’ve decided to combine the reviews and offer a comprehensive review of VPN services based on Redditors’ opinions.
At the same time, we have also taken expert opinion into account, as even the most experienced users may not be aware of all the technical details of VPN software.
All in all, it has turned into quite a long read. To make this review more convenient, we have divided it into five parts. Each part describes a certain aspect of VPN use.
Let's start with the most general section, which is dedicated to identifying the best universal VPN service that lets you do "everything".
There are many VPNs being discussed on Reddit. However, we selected only those that have been actively discussed recently. Outdated and tiny VPN providers do not have enough user reviews to allow us to judge them objectively. That's why these are not included in our review.
Of the remaining VPN apps, we chose those that, in addition to having a sufficient number of positive reviews, also:
And so I present to you the Top 5 VPNs according to Reddit:
NordVPN is the leader of the popularity on Reddit. It is good for everything. And you can hardly find a topic about a VPN where NordVPN isn’t mentioned.
There is a vast majority of positive reviews but there are also negative reviews.
I’ll give you some examples.
Positive reviews:
The use of NordVPN allows unblocking Netflix:
The user karmakoma1980 received two responses to the question about NordVPN: ‘’What VPN is to choose to replace PIA for Netflix?’’
The user UncleMyers was concerned about NordVPN speed dropping recently. But the user was given an answer about the necessity to change a server:
This response also claimed that there weren't any problems with NordVPN:
The user yanno88 is looking for a VPN for using with crypto. NordVPN was recommended to the user:
Negative reviews
NordVPN is cheap only with a 3-year plan:
There are problems with iPadOS:
You can find a lot of different comments, both positive and negative, about NordVPN. The same is true for any other VPN service. While some people have been using this provider for years and have no intention of looking for a different one, others aren’t satisfied with the speed on certain servers. You can always find differing opinions.
Then why is NordVPN rated #1?
That’s because the number of positive reviews and recommendations is significantly larger than that of the negative opinions about the provider. Besides, there are recent comments about NordVPN in regard to almost every sphere of application of the VPN technology. For many other providers, you can only find information on the most popular topics or read 6 to 12 months old comments.
Read more about NordVPN in our review
As of early 2019, almost nobody has heard about Surfshark. But now, Redditors recommend it as one of the best affordable VPNs.
It combines one of the lowest prices with a high level of technical capabilities. The rate of its popularity growth on Reddit matches the rate of its technical development. Our experts agree that Surfshark has quickly become one of the top VPN options for security, privacy, and streaming.
So what is the word about Surfshark?
Positive reviews:
Redditors praise Surfshark for its reliability, ability to manage difficult tasks, and even bypass the Great Firewall of China.
Here are some posts from a thread about anonymous internet access:
And here’s a recent post saying that Surfshark unblocks Disney+:
And another one about its successful use in China:
Negative reviews:
It seems that Surfshark doesn’t work with Dreamlink set-top boxes:
Having analyzed dozens of comments about Surfshark, we concluded that it is regarded as one of the best VPNs on Reddit. There were so many positive reviews that we struggled to find at least one negative.
Besides, the opinions of Reddit users match those of our experts, who have placed Surfshark in the second spot in our rating of the best VPN providers.
Read more about Surfshark in our review
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPN services, with a large number of positive reviews.
The provider shows up due to the number of positive posts and comments almost in all investigated subreddits and reviews. However, it's less reliable at circumventing online censorship in China and is one of the most expensive VPN providers available.
What do Reddit users mean when they recommend using ExpressVPN?
Positive reviews:
Traditionally, Reddit users spend a lot of time discussing Netflix:
The high score of ExpressVPN speed for torrenting:
ExpressVPN is used in China:
Negative reviews:
ExpressVPN does not support all Netflix countries:
Some have complained about the reliability of split tunneling on PC and that the feature doesn't always work.
Overall, you may use the service for other purposes without worries. And we agree with users that cheaper VPN providers are definitely worth a shot if ExpressVPN seems too pricey.
With Lightway, you can experience solid performance and security.
Read more about ExpressVPN in our review
Mullvad is a popular VPN that Redditors use for torrenting and anonymity. Many customers who have been using Mullvad for a year or more still keep using it.
The provider is well-respected for its unique take on anonymity, fast connectivity with WireGuard, and good security features.
At the same time, some Reddit posts complained about Mullvad’s Windows app working poorly, as well as about the lack of mobile apps.
Positive reviews:
Mullvad reviews often mention its good level of privacy, high speed, and the WireGuard protocol.
Privacy:
Speed:
WireGuard:
Negative reviews:
Redditors are unhappy with Mullvad’s customer support. They also complain about the lack of Android and iOS apps.
We on CoolTechZone.com do not consider Mullvad VPN to be one of the best services and have to agree with negative reviews. On the other hand, satisfied customers have valid points when recommending Mullvad for specific use cases. Overall, this VPN has a lot of unique gimmicks that make it an acquired taste for most VPN users.
Read more about Mullvad in our review
Private Internet Access (PIA) is known for its blazing speed and the highest security standards. It is perfect for hiding your IP address and torrenting securely. Plus, advanced users praise the VPN for its customizable VPN connection settings.
How do Reddit users assess PIA?
Positive reviews:
The users discuss VPN provider speed. Some users like @SonicIPTV simply prefer PIA over well-known providers like NordVPN:
PIA “No-Logging” policy was confirmed once again:
And you may find the attached link that confirms this information.
Negative reviews:
Is PIA good for Netflix? No, it isn’t:
Like any other service, PIA has occasional failures:
Private Internet Access is not so good for Netflix, but the proven high speed and extended connection settings make it attractive for power users and security enthusiasts. Therefore, PIA has many dedicated fans and few opponents. In general, after analyzing the topics of the Reddit posts with the mention of Private Internet Access, I believe that it’s a reliable company. However, you may come across posts talking about corporate takeovers and cooperation with other companies.
Read more about PIA VPN in our review
Unblocking Netflix is one of the most popular topics on Reddit concerning VPNs. It wasn't difficult for us to analyze the opinions of users and come to a clear conclusion which VPNs are better with unblocking Netflix.
NordVPN unblocks a wide range of Netflix libraries without any issues. Despite the fact that it doesn’t have special servers for streaming, it copes well with geo-restrictions. But there is one remark. Users report that sometimes it is necessary to look for a suitable server in unpopular locations. But everything works well for the US, CA, and UK. Some users complain about the speed. But as practice shows, it is a matter of choosing a server.
Surfshark went from a nobody to absolute stardom in less than a year. It is a relatively young VPN service compared to other established providers but has gained quick favor among Reddit users.
Surfshark, as well as NordVPN, doesn’t have special servers for streaming, but it also easily unblocks Netflix, Hulu, and others.
There are some Reddit reviews:
The user NetflixViaVPN asked if it was possible to change NordVPN for Netflix to Surfshark. And here’s the answer:
Another user likes Surfshark:
We did not analyze the reviews of 2018 when Surfshark began to develop. We could not find negative posts or reviews of the work of this provider with streaming in 2021.
ExpressVPN is a reliable VPN for streaming yet unfavored due to the hefty price tag.
When conducting our latest tests in March 2020, the provider has managed to unlock all the regions (DE not with the second shot).
The reviews are generally positive. Also, ExpressVPN is recommended for other streaming services including Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus and so on.
What is the difference between a good Android VPN and a regular VPN? The difference is in application operation. Indeed, the comfort and safety of the user depend on the application operation. It facilitates a VPN connection, blocks leaks, and is responsible for all additional functions. So, according to Reddit, we know about the three leaders of VPNs. Are they in line with the three leaders of Android VPN? Yes, they are ☺
The user SRT47 asks others what is the best VPN for Android? Here’s the answer:
This is not the only opinion where the main VPNs are listed. We constantly analyze Reddit, updating our reviews of VPN services, and have seen many other VPNs that are successfully used on Android devices. However, it seems that other providers don’t have as many positive reviews as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access have.
Also, you may find ProtonVPN (read the review of ProtonVPN). But it’s difficult to find anything about IPVanish and VyprVPN. But they were among the leaders in the reviews 2 years ago. All these providers offer frequently-updated applications for Android. They do not require additional settings, are easy to use, and are not too different from the desktop versions in terms of functionality.
Millions of users around the world actively use torrents - video content, music, software, books, and tutorials. But it is also well known that torrenting is illegal in many countries. Reddit users have repeatedly complained that they were fined for downloading completely harmless files. But it would not have happened if they used a good VPN that does not keep logs and has a kill switch. Which VPN services do Redditors recommend when torrenting?
It is expected that the VPN leader will also be the number one option for torrenting. NordVPN allows torrenting, has specialized P2P servers, and adheres to an independently-audited zero-logs policy. Plus, it's based in privacy-respecting Panama and has no history of cooperating with authorities. We won't quote from Reddit. Believe me that there are a lot of positive reviews.
Reddit users don't mind entrusting their torrenting activities to ExpressVPN. They talk about its spotless reputation, no-logging policy, and safe BVI jurisdiction outside “5/9/14 Eyes”.
I also want to mention that ExpressVPN doesn’t conceal the fact that it protects its torrent users and updated its server fleet with TrustedServer technology. It guarantees the absence of user activity logs.
PIA is recommended by users because it doesn’t keep logs. If other VPNs only claimed their “No-logging” policy, but PIA proved it in 2016 and 2018.
Here’re some reviews about PIA:
The majority of so-called free VPNs are, in fact, paid VPN services that have a limited free plan. Those restrictions can affect speed, the choice of countries, functionality, the amount of traffic, or all of the above. There are no 100% free VPNs without some downsides.
That’s why it’s harder to choose a free VPN than a regular service based on Reddit posts. Some users praise them, but most customers criticize them.
The use cases of free VPNs aren't as diverse as those of paid services. Judging by the comments, they work poorly with Netflix and have slow speeds. Besides, they usually collect customers' personal data and impose a lot of limitations on them.
Here are a few comments to further illustrate our points.
Another user doesn’t recommend using a free VPN:
We will analyze the example of the three most popular free VPNs among users of Reddit to know more about their nuances.
ProtonVPN is discussed on Reddit pretty frequently. It is quite natural since it is the best free VPN as of this day.
ProtonVPN is a very capable service, and what it does, it does for free, although with a caveat. Its features include:
But only for the first 7 days. This is how long the “Plus” plan free trial lasts.
After that period is over, ProtonVPN’s users can’t engage in P2P activities or unblock bonus content on Netflix while on the free plan. Connection speed is capped, and the number of locations and device connections goes down. However, using ProtonVPN for simple tasks such as unblocking websites and anonymous web surfing with an average speed is still possible.
Positive reviews:
The review of ProtonVPN application operation:
There are two messages about connectivity using ProtonVPN:
Negative reviews:
There is a post with a warning about the danger of using Free VPN:
The user YellaDef (ProtonVPN customer support pointed out his error) tried to unblock Netflix with a free server on a paid plan by mistake and it did not work:
Read our review of ProtonVPN.
Windscribe VPN is popular on Reddit. Its free plan is limited to 10 GB of traffic per month – more than other similar VPNs provide. Besides, it provides special offers on Reddit from time to time. One such special offer allowed increasing one’s bandwidth to 50 GB per month.
Windscribe’s paid plan is often used, for example, to access the VPN in China.
The free version of Windscribe, however, has severe issues with speed. This fact is confirmed by our tests.
Positive reviews:
The user 420BAXTER is looking for a good free VPN and here are the responses:
Negative reviews:
There are complaints about the speed. For example:
Connection problems on Android:
Keep on reading more in our review of Windscribe.
TunnelBear is convenient to use, provides great functionality, doesn’t contain ads and is, generally, a reliable VPN.
Redditors do not recommend TunnelBear very often now. Apparently, its popularity has sharply decreased over the past few years.
Positive reviews:
Negative reviews:
On Reddit, there is a huge Reddit post talking about the flaws of TunnelBear. In it, a user speaks about their bad experience with the paid version of this VPN. Since the paid and the free version have the same functionality and software, that post may be of interest to you.
Opinions have also been voiced that TunnelBear is not to be trusted after its acquisition by McAfee in 2018:
You can also read our full TunnelBear review.
VPN Gate is a collection of VPN servers owned by volunteers. It does not have dedicated apps for devices, and instead, users need to configure OpenVPN software manually. It is not as easy as using dedicated applications, but it is quite effective regardless.
Users share their positive VPN Gate experiences on iOS:
But there are some negative reviews. For example, in this review, it was called “sketch”
Keep on reading more in the review of VPN Gate.
So, Reddit can offer a lot of useful information. But some messages aren’t entirely truthful. We have seen a lot of posts where users expressed their dissatisfaction with the quality of VPN services, but their problems were only the result of their inexperience or high expectations.
Therefore, you should not choose a VPN based only on Reddit user reviews. I recommend you to take into account the opinions of professionals and compare information from Reddit with the reviews created by experts. It will allow you to save time and money.
It was no easy feat to find the fifth free VPN recommended by Reddit. Most often, Redditors advise against using free providers at all or endorse ProtonVPN or Windscribe. Other VPNs are mentioned nowhere near as frequently.
In our opinion, Opera VPN is number 5.
Redditors use Opera VPN to unblock and anonymously visit websites through the Opera browser. This service isn't really a VPN but a proxy, so Opera VPN doesn’t protect other apps’ traffic. Redditors know about it and often reiterate this when comparing the service to premium options.
Positive reviews:
Negative reviews:
We don't recommend proxies as they are inferior to virtual private networks. There are many full-fledged VPN services that support proven and reliable tunneling protocols. These are crucial for data protection and hiding one’s real location.
If for some reason you can’t open Reddit, then your ISP or network administrator blocked it. The first thing you may try is to change your DNS in the configurations of your IPv4 connection.
The list of freely-accessible public DNS servers:
If these didn’t work, you'll need a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to bypass Reddit blocking.
All providers presented here have the technical features to bypass geographical restrictions and VPN limitations on public Wi-Fi.
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is the best for unblocking Reddit because it offers:
It works in China, Iran, and other countries with strict online censorship. To get started, you only need to subscribe anonymously on the NordVPN website. The service costs $3.29 per month, but there are two ways to use NordVPN for free:
We highlight that you may subscribe anonymously. NordVPN accepts conventional payment methods like credit cards. Alternatively, you can pay with cash or using cryptocurrencies. Visit the NordVPN website or read more in our review of NordVPN.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is less popular than NordVPN, but it is also effective for unblocking Reddit.
These are the essential characteristics to bypass blocking that Surfshark has:
We tested the apps for all devices and found that No Borders mode (obfuscation) is only available for the desktop version. It means that mobile applications may not help to use Reddit in China, Iran, etc.
But Surfshark is cheaper than NordVPN and costs $2.49 per month.
You also additionally get:
Surfshark is available anonymously with cryptocurrencies as a payment method. Visit the Surfshark website or read more in our review of Surfshark.
3. AstrillVPN
AstrillVPN is popular among citizens in Asia. It has many servers in the region, is adapted for use in China, and offers two VPN protocols with obfuscation.
AstrillVPN will easily unblock Reddit in any country, but it costs higher than most VPN providers. Subscriptions start at $8.33 per month.
However, AstrillVPN is available for free with a limited choice of countries:
You can pay for the service by card, UnionPay, PayPal, Alipay, Perfect Money, and bitcoins.
According to most Reddit users, NordVPN is the best VPN service. It is frequently used to achieve confidentiality, access geo-restricted content, bypass censorship, protect public networks, and more.
NordVPN is also recommended in the posts dedicated to the search for the overall best VPN service.
Take a look:
“Don’t use free VPNs.” There are a lot of similar posts on Reddit. Users often warn against opting for free VPN services.
Why, though?
Having analyzed dozens of comments criticizing free VPNs, we have come up with this list of the main reasons for disliking them:
We should add that not all free VPNs have these drawbacks. However, we have to agree that they have a lot of serious limitations and require caution while using.
The VPN industry is a dynamically developing market where key changes can happen at a moment's notice. Some providers can support Netflix today, but they won’t do it tomorrow. Others have a free trial today but won’t offer it tomorrow. And we can say the same thing about user complaints. Good VPN services quickly correct defects, and then the relevance of complaints is lost.
Reviews of VPN services should be analyzed from latest to oldest. However, these reviews should be posted within a year. Otherwise, their objectivity is completely lost, which was confirmed by us. Another aspect worth considering while discussing VPNs on Reddit is the large number of paid reviews and advertising. It is connected with the competitiveness and low prices in the VPN market. Companies actively use marketing and manipulate potential users. You need to distinguish objective posts and recommendations from advertising.
But even good intuition and search experience do not guarantee that a chosen VPN will be the best for you. There are some technical features that few ordinary users can understand: nuances of encryption protocols, authentication, application protection, and others. It may cause unpleasant surprises and confusion. Thus, we suggest combining professional studies with the analysis of the experience of Reddit users.
We choose VPN technology to bypass blocking and have anonymous Internet access because it is both the most efficient and the most versatile way. There are other methods (TOR and proxy), but they have many limitations (although their use in combination with a VPN is desirable in particularly complex tasks).
The high efficiency of VPN technology is often puzzling. Is it legal?
The answer is clear: it is absolutely legal in most countries in the world.
Technically, this is only a feature of the TCP/IP Protocol, which is used by absolutely everyone who is connected to the Internet.
Many companies and government agencies could not operate without a VPN. However, in some countries, the use of foreign and unapproved VPN services by a government is limited or prohibited. This is because virtual private network are so effective at curbing online censorship and surveillance.
You can find more information about adapted VPNs in our review of VPN providers for China.
We have discussed two large topics related to VPNs and Reddit in this review: analyzing Reddit posts and the ways to unblock reddit.com.
What are our conclusions?
The opinions of regular users and experts generally match. It's worth reiterating, though, that regular users may not know everything about a VPN’s obscure app features or its privacy policy. A service can work perfectly on one platform while having huge issues on another. This is why we recommend a healthy dose of skepticism while reading the most-upvoted comments. Naturally, expert opinions should also be taken into consideration.
On our site, we have professional reviews and ratings of every provider listed in this article. These reviews also have sections dedicated to consumers’ comments.
Reddit holds vast troves of knowledge of millions of netizens. Not everyone has access to that information, but it can be easily and safely accessed with a reliable VPN, such as NordVPN.
We hope you find this review useful. Discover many more articles and reviews on CoolTechZone.com.
Leave a comment
I don’t understand how could it possibly be that you’ve created a list of the best VPN services based on Reddit reviews. There are millions of them. I’m just interested in how have you managed to count them. Any formulae?
Got a Torguard recommendation from Reddit a while ago. I dunno, it’s not too bad I suppose but not super good either. I bought it for a year and now I’m just sort of low key waiting for it to run out because all things considered I’m not fully satisfied with its performance. I guess the problem of following Reddit recommendations is that every person is going to recommend the particular service he or she is using even if it’s not very good. I dunno if it should be called bias or tribalism or whatever… The best way is probably to try several VPNs out if it can be done for free.
Searching for smth privacy-focused, I’ve looked through some subreddits. There I’ve found a solution – VPN. I understand that some content is promotional even on Reddit and some VPNs pay for good reviews on this site. So that I decided not to pay for the most praised service and search for smth average. Here’s how I’ve found Avast VPN among thousands Reddit comments. I don’t see it on your rating. But it doesn’t make me upset.
Hello. Thanks for your article. The funny part is, that from website to website, from one subreddit to other, these tops vary. For example I've just read Best VPN according to Reddit in 2020. They say Express is the best . So, i guess there are no BEST.
Thanks for this overview!!! I guess you had to spend weeks to study tons of subreddits to check what people really like. When I concluded I have to use a VPN, the first thing I’ve done was to visit Reddit to learn what people think about it and what services are most praised. In so doing, I’ve found on Reddit a VPN comparison chart. It was compiled by one of the users. That guy picked up everything an average user needs to know about VPNs. Of course, it simplifies the choice. But the chart lacked some points, I’ve found on here. Based on this, I’m going to start using Astrill because of its free trial option and non-standard protocols that work even in China.
Two years ago, when I was looking for a good vpn for gaming, a redditor convinced me to buy Ivacy as it seems to work fine for him. I read through all possible ivacy vpn reviews on reddit and found out that many users recommended the provider. I paid for the subscription and was disappointed by the speed of its servers. It was rather low, so online gaming was almost impossible. The fact is that there are a lot of paid comments on reddit and I don’t trust the site.
While trying to choose between purevpn vs pia I went to reddit among other places and I wasn’t really impressed by comment quality there. Like it seems half the posts I saw there were just paid shills of this vpn or that one. I have no idea how they moderate that website. But I suspect it was just a bad subforum with little to no moderation. I get that anyone can make an account there but there’s got to be some restrictions. Anyway what’s the best subreddit to get straight info in your opinion?
Unfortunately, there is no best one. Every subreddit, sadly, is used in marketing purposes to some extent. The less popular a service is, the harder it is to base any objective opinion on Reddit information. All useful data has to be gathered bit by bit. That’s why we made this review.
