Six established VPN providers compared on facts you can verify on their official sites — network size, free plans, device limits, and privacy features. No invented speed scores. Facts checked October 2026.
Fast, private VPN with thousands of servers.
The largest network on this list (9,300+ servers in 137 countries, per NordVPN), a strict no-logs policy, Threat Protection against malicious sites and trackers, and apps for every major platform. Paid only — there is no free plan — with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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High-speed VPN from the makers of Proton Mail
The only pick here with a genuinely usable free plan: no data cap and no logs, funded by paid subscriptions. Based in Switzerland, with open-source apps, Secure Core multi-hop servers, and the NetShield blocker on paid plans (up to 10 devices).
Premium VPN with its own Lightway protocol and RAM-only servers.
A premium, set-and-forget option: its own Lightway protocol, a RAM-only TrustedServer network (nothing is written to hard drives), and independently audited no-logs claims. Based in the British Virgin Islands.
VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections on one account.
Unlimited simultaneous connections on one account — no other pick here matches that — plus servers in 100 countries, CleanWeb blocking, and MultiHop routing. Based in the Netherlands.
Beginner-friendly VPN with streaming-optimized and NoSpy servers.
Servers labeled and optimized for specific streaming services, gaming, and torrenting make it easy to pick the right server. Its NoSpy servers in Romania are run only by CyberGhost staff, and long-term plans carry a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Open-source VPN apps with advanced settings and port forwarding.
Fully open-source apps, port forwarding, split tunneling, and deep settings for advanced users, with unlimited simultaneous connections and the MACE ad and tracker blocker. Based in the United States.
| NordVPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Panama | Switzerland |
| Free plan | No — paid only | Yes — no data cap, 1 device, limited servers |
| Simultaneous connections | 10 | Up to 10 on paid plans (1 on free) |
| Protocols | NordLynx (WireGuard-based), OpenVPN | WireGuard, OpenVPN, Stealth |
| Signature feature | Threat Protection (malicious-site & tracker blocking) | Secure Core (multi-hop via Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden) |
| Ad / tracker blocking | Yes — Threat Protection | Yes — NetShield (paid plans) |
| Apps open source | No | Yes — all apps open source and audited |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days on paid plans |
| Pricing model | Paid subscription | Freemium (free plan + paid Plus) |
Parameters as published on each provider’s official site, checked October 2026. We do not publish speed-test numbers we have not measured ourselves.
On the facts that can be checked on official sites — network size, features, and device coverage — NordVPN is our top pick: 9,300+ servers in 137 countries, a strict no-logs policy, Threat Protection, and apps for every major platform.
Proton VPN is the only provider on this page with a free plan that has no data cap. It limits you to one device and a smaller server set; the paid Plus plan removes those limits.
It varies by provider: NordVPN and Proton VPN (paid) allow 10, CyberGhost allows 7, while Surfshark and Private Internet Access allow unlimited simultaneous connections.
No. A VPN encrypts your connection and hides your IP address from the sites you visit and your traffic from your network provider, but it does not make you anonymous — you still sign in to the VPN provider itself, so its no-logs policy matters.