Top VPNs To Try Today

We may earn compensation from reviewed products. Learn about our editorial policies.

Need-to-knows

• Obscura VPN is the best for privacy
• ExpressVPN is probably the option in terms of pure speed
• NordVPN offers the most extra features
• Mullvad VPN is growing in popularity
• Proton VPN has a solid free tier

---

VPNs used to be something only IT departments and the privacy-obsessed cared about. Now, with more people working remotely, streaming across borders, and thinking twice about public Wi-Fi, having a good one installed feels less like a luxury and more like a basic requirement.

The problem is there are hundreds of them, as I’m sure you’ve probably seen in countless YouTube ads, and most of them only really work in very basic ways. For example, some of the big hitters don’t necessarily have the most robust security protocols nor do they work in some countries where a VPN really makes a difference.

I’ve pulled together five that are worth your attention right now, each for a slightly different reason. Whether you want raw speed, serious anonymity, or just something that quietly does its job in the background, there’s something on this list for you.

1. Obscura VPN

Most VPNs ask you to trust them. You’re swapping the risk of your internet provider seeing your traffic for the risk of your VPN provider seeing it instead. That’s a trade-off a lot of people don’t think too hard about, but it’s worth considering as you explore VPN options.

Unlike the rest of the VPN’s on this list which are a single party relay (themselves), Obscura VPN is a two-party relay. Obscura encrypts your traffic and relays it to an entirely separate entity that connects you to the internet, so in the end they can’t see what you’re browsing. This means that Obscura is cryptographically unable to link who you are with the sites you’re visiting. You don’t need to trust them to not see your traffic, because they literally can’t.

Obscura is open source, their code and the servers are there to be checked. And you don’t need to hand over a personal email address to sign up, which is also great for privacy. Their offering is in development so it is smaller than some of the others. It’s available on Mac,iPhone and Android right now, with Windows and Linux coming soon. 

I’ve been using it myself because I travel so much, especially in China, and it’s become the one I reach for first. If online privacy matters to you, this is where I’d start.

2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has been at the top of most VPN conversations for years, and it’s earned that position. The server network is massive (over 3,000 servers across 105 countries) and the speeds are consistently among the best you’ll find.

The apps are polished across every platform, and setup is about as straightforward as it gets. There’s a reason this is the VPN a lot of people go for because it feels very easy to use. It runs quietly in the background and doesn’t cause any problems.

It is on the pricier side, and if your main concern is hardcore anonymity rather than access and speed, there are better options below. It also doesn’t necessarily work in all of the places you may want it to, but for the EU/USA, you’ll be fine.

3. Mullvad VPN

Mullvad is a bit of a different beast. It doesn’t ask for your email address to sign up. You get an account number, you pay (they even accept cash in an envelope, which is wonderfully absurd), and that’s it. There’s no account tied to your identity in any meaningful way.

If that sounds extreme, it is. But for a certain type of user, it’s exactly what they’re looking for. Journalists, activists, or anyone who genuinely needs their VPN provider to know as little about them as possible will appreciate how seriously Mullvad takes this, much like Obscura. It’s also based in Sweden with a solid no-logs policy that has been independently audited.

Speeds are good, the app is clean, and the flat-rate pricing (one price for everyone) is refreshing. It used to be a reliable option for some of the harder-to-bypass countries, but it’s popularity is growing which means the places it works will likely decrease over time. Still, a great option.

4. NordVPN

I’m sure you’ve heard of this one.

NordVPN is the Swiss Army knife of VPNs. Alongside the standard VPN features you’d expect, you get a built-in ad blocker, a dark web monitor that alerts you if your details turn up in a data breach, and a feature called Double VPN that routes your traffic through two servers for extra protection.

It’s a big provider too, so you shouldn’t have any service issues in most places around the world with over 6,000 servers in 111 countries. There’s also a decent family plan if you want to cover multiple devices without paying for separate subscriptions. For the price, the amount you get here is hard to beat in terms of extra features, sort of doubling as a VPN-cum-security package.

Just be aware that the renewal pricing after the first term can be a bit of a jump and that, if you’re looking for total privacy over anything else, it isn’t the primary option.

5. Proton VPN

I’ve included Proton on this list because it’s one of the only VPNs to offer a usable free tier: unlimited data, no ads, and you don’t need to give over a credit card in exchange.

It isn’t ideal, you can only use it with one device, speeds are slightly restricted and you can only connect to 10 other countries which are selected at random. But, in a pinch, it does work.

The paid plan unlocks faster speeds, more server locations, and access to the Stealth protocol, which is particularly useful in countries that try to block VPN traffic.

Which one should you buy?

If privacy is your main concern, and you still want a VPN that will do all of the other VPN things, then Obscura is where I’d go. The fact that it can’t link your identity to your activity by design is a fundamentally different proposition from everyone else on this list. Mullvad is well respected in the VPN community and is also a solid choice.

For most people who want something fast, reliable, and easy to set up, ExpressVPN is the low-risk choice. You pay a premium, but you get convenience. The same can be said for NordVPN, especially if you want multiple users added to your plan.

And if you’re not ready to pay, Proton VPN’s free tier is there. Which would you go for, let me know below!

This post was supported by Obscura VPN