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VPN is a security and privacy tool that uses encryption (to make it harder to crack) and tunnels (to propel data inside the tunnel or channel) to safeguard internet traffic from bad guys. It’s not foolproof but it certainly helps.
Without further ado, we will investigate which VPN service providers offer such features at their best. For this purpose, we will use four factors: speed, number of servers, logging policy, and amount of simultaneous connections allowed.
Let’s begin!
1 . NordVPN
As expected, this VPN service offers excellent performance when it comes to speed, currently being the fastest virtual private network in the industry. NordVPN boasts over 5,200 servers in 61 countries worldwide with no restrictions on server switching. They have an advanced logging policy that includes only connection logs stored for 6 months and payment records stored for 2 years. An infrastructure featuring double data encryption allows for up to 6 simultaneous connections per subscription (a great number geared towards privacy-conscious users).
Pros: very fast; more than 5000 servers worldwide; strong security and privacy credentials; no bandwidth limitations; supports P2P activity; good logging policy; software for all platforms available.
Cons: can get expensive fast if you go for their 3-year plan; no free trial or money-back guarantee.
2 . Private Internet Access (PIA)
PIA is another top contender when it comes to VPN services that can secure your data with fast speeds and high encryption levels. Recently, they introduced new features into their software including ad-blocking and malware protection. They offer about 3,275 servers in 33 countries worldwide which you can hop between without worrying about bandwidth restrictions. There are no restrictions on server switching either. Their logging policy states only payment information is stored but it goes away after 7 days of inactivity. The installation is simple yet has plenty of options for those who are tech-savvy enough to tinker around with the settings a bit more. You get up to 5 simultaneous connections per subscription, a respectable number for a VPN provider.
Pros: very fast; more than 3000 servers worldwide; strong security and privacy credentials; no bandwidth limitations; client software available for all platforms.
Cons: Limited amount of countries on offer (33); has some connection logs stored (for 7 days).
3 . ExpressVPN
The “world’s fastest VPN” is one way to describe this company – they currently provide about 1,500 servers in 94 countries supporting P2P activity and an impressive 3 simultaneous connections per account. Lately, they’ve introduced a speed test feature within their client application and it works wonders! Their logging policy states only the date the user connects and disconnects from their service along with the amount of data transferred during that session.
Pros: fast; very user-friendly; the big number of servers in many countries; no bandwidth limitations; allows P2P activity and port forwarding; strong security and privacy credentials and amazing 24/7 customer support.
Cons: only 3 simultaneous connections are allowed per subscription (but you can always get a router and connect more devices).
4 . PrivadoVPN
PrivadoVPN is yet another tier-one VPN provider offering great speed, vast numbers of servers worldwide, no restrictions on server switching or port forwarding plus P2P compatibility. They don’t log any personally identifiable information either which makes their policy better than most competitors’. The downside here is that they only let you connect one device at a time, however, you can always get your hands on some DD-WRT & Tomato routers and use them in conjunction with OpenVPN client software. In fact, PrivadoVPN was entitled as the best free VPN of 2021.
Pros: servers in 60 countries worldwide; strong security and privacy credentials; no bandwidth limitations; fast speeds even over long distances; supports P2P activity; good logging policy (no personally identifiable information is recorded).
Cons: limits the number of simultaneous connections to one account (can be circumvented by using DD-WRT or Tomato firmware with OpenVPN client software); the application doesn’t work on iOS devices.
5 . PureVPN
Another VPN service that’s popular among all kinds of users for many reasons. They operate 750 servers in 140 countries and their network is fairly fast, too. They also offer a unique feature called “Split Tunneling” which basically lets you decide what traffic goes through your VPN connection and what doesn’t (by creating a separate network adapter for the latter). Their logging policy states they don’t monitor users’ activity nor do they store any of their information thus they’re suitable even if you’re an activist or someone who’s serious about privacy.
Pros: fast; can be used on 5 devices simultaneously; allows P2P activity and port forwarding; good security and privacy credentials; do not log user activities or personal data.
Cons: only 750 servers worldwide which might not be enough for some users (but this number is always increasing).
