Privacy is the name of the game when VPNs are concerned, and you can't have Virtual Private Network without privacy. Online privacy is bread and butter for the best VPNs, and some of the biggest names have been doing it for nearly a decade. The most secure VPN providers offer online security like nothing else. In a world where cyber threats are an ever-growing concern, give your devices and your personal data the protection it needs.
There are some very basic measures VPNs have to take in order to defend your devices against the threats of the World Wide Web. A truly great provider has to stand out though. At What's the Best, we believe that premium security makes a premium VPN. When you go shopping for a VPN, you need to keep your eye out for what security measures a provider has in place and also the level of control users will have over these features.
The most secure VPN providers at a glance:
• The best secure VPN provider: NordVPN - View on NordVPN
• The best secure VPN provider with the best apps: ExpressVPN - View on ExpressVPN
• The best secure VPN provider with a free plan: ProtonVPN - View on ProtonVPN
What to look out for
Encryption is a huge part of how a VPN works, it's how it hides your data from those prying eyes. AES-256 is the current military-grade encryption run by the best providers today, we wouldn't advise settling for any less.
A kill switch has become vital to the security of a VPN. If your connection ever drops, a kill switch jumps in to stop your device from joining the unprotected network.
The most secure VPN provider will have an arsenal of blockers which will prevent plenty of unwanted attention from getting at your device. Social media trackers, cookies, and fingerprinters are least of what gets blocked before it can reach you. The real deal providers can run deep scans of the internet and assess whether your data has been leaked in any way.
Another thing to look out for, which has more to do with trust more than anything, is whether the provider runs independent audits and how in-depth they are. An independent audit is when an outside body carries out an investigation on a VPN provider. The investigation is to determine how secure the provider is and also if they are honest about not storing any of your data. This is a huge determiner for making a truly private VPN.
When it's security you care about, never settle for anything but the best. These providers are the most secure on the market, you'll never know online privacy like it.
About our expertise
At What's The Best, we live and breathe technology. Among our team of tech experts, we have pretty much every base covered - from televisions and speakers to cameras and smartphones.
To say we spend a lot of time on the internet is a bit of an understatement, and most of the time, we're using a VPN. Whether for work or recreation, we're regularly connecting to VPN servers near and far.
It's by collecting this shared knowledge, experience and passion that we are able to select the best VPNs for you. We trust each of our picks implicitly - in fact, many of them we use ourselves. That's because at What's The Best, if we wouldn't buy it ourselves, we don't recommend it. Simple.
Please note: All prices are correct at time of writing. VPN deals and savings are subject to change at short notice.
The best secure VPN provider
nordvpn.com
Not all heroes wear capes, but they do protect your online privacy. NordVPN goes above and beyond for online security, the provider has some of the market's leading privacy credentials. You won't find a safer VPN on the planet.
Nord's double data encryption is a force to be reckoned with. The dynamic duo of Nordlynx and WireGuard turns the tables on any internet threat in favour of your privacy. The kill switch is well-tested and relied on by millions of users around the world. Nord also runs completely obfuscated servers, meaning even the fact that you're using a VPN will be hidden.
Nord users are desperately after some aesthetic polishing of the mobile apps, with a superior experience currently residing on desktop and Mac versions. But that's not to say they're any less secure.
Pros
- Double data encryption
- Reliable kill switch
- Obfuscated servers
Cons
- Mobile apps could be cleaner
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Kill switch | Yes |
| Audits | Yes |
| Simultaneous devices | 6 |
- Customer review: "This is a must have VPN. It's perfect if you're someone that appreciates privacy, and you don't want all your browser history and personal info to be collected. After trying a few other VPNs for streaming movies regularly Nord is by far the fastest and most secure."
The best secure VPN provider with the best apps
go.expressvpn.com
If it's a secure VPN with fantastic apps that you're after, look no further than ExpressVPN. It's a provider that leaves no stone unturned, Express is a no-nonsense Virtua Private Network with A-grade security across all operating systems,
Every Express app is highly intuitive, polished, and a pleasure to use. Not to mention, Express is the only provider that has a dedicated router app, meaning the security of your router and all the devices under it is vastly improved by customisation.
ExpressVPN has a highly legitimate track record of verified no logs. An absence of obfuscated servers is a bit of a shame though, where even more peace of mind could've been given to users.
Pros
- Dedicated router app
- All apps are seamless
- Super secure
Cons
- No obfuscated servers
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Kill switch | Yes |
| Audits | Yes |
| Simultaneous connections | 5 |
- Customer review: "Excellent provider. Customer service is top notch. I highly recommend ExpressVPN."
The best secure VPN provider with a free plan
protonvpn.com
A provider that's slowly gaining more and more recognition (and rightfully so) is ProtonVPN. Some powerful security measures have played a significant role in this. Proton makes our ranking for the most secure VPN provider based on its free plan.
Most premium VPNs offer a very limited free plan, that's if they even offer one at all. Proton is one of the most secure providers, and the free plan it offers is on par with the security of any premium plan.
ProtonVPN runs very reputable independent audits that consistently churn out great results. The kill switch is highly effective on all operating systems, and that's before we even get into the added encryption layers, which just add to the already airtight security. Other free VPNs don't even come close to the Proton plan.
For all Proton does, it's still sorely lacking in the customer support department. It has support, it's just very minimal and not at the standard of 24/7 live support yet.
Pros
- Free plan has amazing security
- China-based VPN
- Extra encryption layers
Cons
- No 24/7 live support
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Kill switch | Yes |
| Audits | Yes |
| Simultaneous connections | 10 |
- Customer review: "Safe, secure, and dependable. Very happy with the function and performance. Well worth the subscription, and all the other services included. Highly recommend."
The best secure VPN provider for value
surfshark.com
You might think that in order to get your hands on the most secure VPN, you have to shell out a small fortune, but this simply isn't the case. The kind folks at Surfshark have made it so you can experience a premium VPN with the greatest security for a very attractive price tag.
There's nothing cheap about the privacy measures in place at Surfshark. Camouflage mode is Surfshark's unique obfuscation feature. Users also get real-time alerts notifying you when it blocks a risky ad or prevents unwanted trackers from reaching your device. There are very few compromises with Surfshark. You get impressive speeds and unlimited simultaneous devices, all protected by the best in online security.
Surfshark's kill switch can be relied on for the most part, users have only found minor issues when the VPN endures extreme pressure. It might be a good idea to not test the unlimited device capacity too much.
Pros
- Effective blockers and trackers
- Solid speeds
- Unlimited simultaneous devices
Cons
- Kill switch problems under stress
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Kill switch | Yes |
| Audits | Yes |
| Simultaneous connections | Unlimited |
- Customer review: "Highly affordable & reliable. Simple setup & sign in for multiple family users & compatible with many apps & sites such as streaming services."
The best secure VPN provider audits
www.purevpn.com
If a provider puts time and effort into its audit process, you can guarantee it cares deeply about security. No VPN is providing an independent audit procedure like PureVPN. If you subscribe to Pure, you can zero doubts of malpractice to any extent.
What makes PureVPN stand apart from the competition is that it runs always-on audits. Like the name suggests, Pure's independent audits run 24/7, in contrast, most providers carry out one audit annually.
There's a handy password manager feature called PureKeep, where users can securely store their passwords. On top of this, you get a solid kill switch that's been well-tested in practice. These are just some of the intuitive privacy features you get with Pure. They might be a little clunky at times on the WireGuard protocol, but when they work, by God, do they work.
Pros
- Always-on audits
- Useful security features
- Reliable kill switch
Cons
- Some features are a tad clunky on WireGuard
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Kill switch | Yes |
| Audits | Yes |
| Simultaneous connections | 10 |
- Customer review: "Very reliable app on both on PC and mobile. Great selection of locations and fantastic signal strength when connected."
Key terms
VPN – Virtual Private Network
Encryption – The method in which your data is converted into code to prevent unauthorised access
Obfuscated servers – VPN internet servers that hide the fact you're even using a VPN
Kill switch - When internet connection is lost, it's a feature that kills any internet connection until a secure VPN link can be attained once more.
What VPN means
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, and it's a privacy tool used to protect the online data held by your devices. It means a lot to the people using them, you are inherently safer from cyber-attacks, data breaches, and other very real online threats.
How secure are VPNs?
Despite other benefits, a VPN is a privacy tool first and foremost, VPNs prioritise security. Of course, some VPNs have better security than others, and there are a few ways to spot the differences. The latest military-grade encryption is a must, as is a reliable kill switch and other features like ad and tracker blockers.
How a VPN works
A VPN creates a tunnel through the regular flow of internet traffic from your device to the network. While you're in this tunnel, your device is protected from data breaches and other online entities that are set on stealing your data.
Jack Barrell is the Commercial Content Writer for VPNs. He's hands-on when it comes to producing best-of articles, how-to guides, and product reviews for Virtual Private Networks. On his off-days, Jack can be found in the gym, at the movies, or flicking through a car mag.