Best VPN Services for 2020

Comments

1. John says

   March 12, 2020

   I am using Perfect Privacy for Mac, and the kill switch settings are at the highest level – TRAFFIC LEAK PROTECTION is enabled PERMANENTLY. Yet, the “Messages” app RECEIVES updates when NO connection has been activated/established. What are the implications – that apple has a backdoor?

   Reply

   • Sven Taylor says

     March 12, 2020

     Hi John, I can’t say for sure what’s going on here, but perhaps your Mac has update notifications queued up for a certain time, regardless whether there’s an internet connection or not.

     Reply

2. blush says

   March 11, 2020

   Hi Sven! Just came across your site tonight… thank you so much for all the work you put into it.
   I’m so glad I made the choice to go with ExpressVPN. (Seeing all these Youtubers promoting NordVPN kinda ruined them for me.)
   So, as a VPN novice, I have some questions for you!
   1. “Use the closest server possible to your physical location”
   Does this mean if my city has a server, I should use it? I’ll get quicker speed, but will my location be protected still?
   2. Sometimes I like to bypass the “this content is unavailable in your country” by choosing a US server. Since ExpressVPN is situated in the BVI, that means the US can’t get their grabby little hands on my info?
   3. DuckDuckGo… I like it, but does the fact that they are U.S. based mean I should be concerned?
   4. Gosh, you really have to pay attention and get up to speed with some of this stuff… just went and uninstalled Opera & Epic; they were my 3rd & 4th choice as back-up browsers.
   5. Sometimes, I have to use Safari. However, the uBlock Origin app is no longer compatible with it. Do you think Ghostery is an apt substitute? Or is there another extension you’d recommend instead? (I heard that configuring privacy.firstparty.isolate = true breaks Paypal, so that’s why I still keep Safari around as an option.)
   ** please guide me to the appropriate channels if you’ve already addressed these issues!

   Reply

   • Sven Taylor says

     March 12, 2020

     1. Choosing a server in your general area will give you better speeds then a server on the other side of the world. There are other factors at play, however, but the general rule holds true. And the encryption (protection) will be the same with all servers.
     2. Correct, ExpressVPN will never be under US jurisdiction and is safely incorporated in the BVI.
     3. See the Private Search Engines guide.
     4. Browser recommendations and tips are in the Secure Browser guide.
     5. Not sure on this one, but Ghostery seems to be an OK option. I like AdGuard as well.

     Reply

   • sonar says

     March 12, 2020

     at blush,
     #5 PayPal will limit your account to being essentially non-usable, if it finds your active behind a VPN connection while making online purchase. It happens as you can pay for a vpn with PP but can’t login to your PP account and then pay an online merchant. As it deems it’s fraud in it’s own messed up and only stupid ideology way. Why is this I haven’t a clue… Cases are on the web shouting about it.

     Reply

3. The Tall Man says

   February 25, 2020

   Hi Sven
   A fantastic site, and am glad I found it, great work!
   2 questions/comments

   1.Can you speak about the current controversy regarding Kape purchasing PIA? They also bought out Cyberghost. In case you were unaware,Kape is the company that used to crank out browser malware under a different name,and in the fineprint for Cyberghost seem to say they will give up your info if they feel like it. PIA insists this will not happen, but people seem to be leaving in droves.

   2. Regarding Express VPN. A well respected site https://thatoneprivacysite.net/ recommended by Krebs says ExpressVPN does log timestamps, and bandwith. Does this not contradict the no logs part of what they stand for? If they yell at you for using too much bandwith, are they not logging you?

   Thanks!

   Reply

   • Sven Taylor says

     February 26, 2020

     Hello,
     1. Yes, see here:
     https://restoreprivacy.com/private-internet-access-kape-crossrider/
     2. Although there is the option to collect some basic app statistics, this can easily be disabled. Additional, these statistics are not personally identifiable, as has been verified in the no-logs VPN audit.

     Reply

4. Mike says

   February 22, 2020

   Very good reviews. Have you or do you plan to review Surfshark? The features they have look very impressive and they seem on park with Nord or Express.

   Reply

   • Sven Taylor says

     February 22, 2020

     Yep, Surfshark looks good and I will be testing it out for a review within the coming weeks.

     Reply

     • Mike says

       February 22, 2020

       Okay great. Look forward to your review. I also came across another known as IVPN and it looks very good too. One protocol that is getting a lot of buzz is the WireGuard protocol and is said to be better than OpenVPN. IVPN offers this arrangement and I believe a few others do as well. I haven’t found who else has yet.

       Reply

       • sonar says

         March 7, 2020

         at Mike,
         I can’t recall exactly where but, ST replied to someone that Surfshark uses less than an appropriate encryption protocol standard to offer the fast speeds it has advertised. (though without visual proof of rereading it again – it’s only worth my memory of what it was exactly ST had said).

         As far as this here site’s covering the WireGuard protocol, at the time (JUNE 28, 2019), it was to experimental in advising people as trying it just for now as it’s many Con’s for VPN use. ” Conclusion: not recommended ”
         There is a part in it’s review of ‘Which VPN services (try) to support WireGuard?’,
         7 VPN’s were trying to adopt it’s protocal to their business models – as ST review tells his readers… see the link.
         https://restoreprivacy.com/wireguard/

5. David says

   February 19, 2020

   Hi there, great reviews and recommendations. I wonder if you can tell if PureVPN is good, bad or worst too? I know you get this a lot but only if you have the time, I would appreciate this. Thanks

   Reply

   • Sven Taylor says

     February 19, 2020

     Hi David, PureVPN has some issues. Aside from the data leaks I found when doing the PureVPN review, there was also the case of PureVPN logging user data and handing it over to the FBI, while claiming to be “zero logs”.

     Reply

6. NedM says

   February 18, 2020

   First I’d like to commend you for all the thorough reviews of variety of privacy offerings on your web site. However, reading this article as well as your latest reviews of ExpressVPN posted on Jan 24 and NordVPN posted 12 days later on Feb 1, I fail to see how do you justify placing ExpressVPN above NordVPN? Let me summarize.

   Extracting from your own reviews, NordVPN has the following advantages:
   – has a safer jurisdiction (do you really think that UK will not get the cooperation from British Virgin Islands if it seeks it?);
   – is slightly faster (3% – 4%);
   – has double-hop feature (vs. no such feature with ExpressVPN);
   – has CyberSec for blocking ads and malware (vs. no such feature with ExpressVPN);
   – allows up to 6 simultaneous connections (vs. 5 max connections on ExpressVPN);
   – works with other streaming services, such as BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime (no such statement for ExpressVPN);
   – 5,500 vs. 3,000 servers;
   – is best VPN for a static IP (vs. no such feature with ExpressVPN);

   On the other hand, there are few important material omissions/errors:
   – you have failed to point out that, unlike NordVPN, ExpressVPN retains the following data tied to your account:
   + Apps and app versions that are activated,
   + Dates when connected to the VPN services,
   + Choice of VPN server location,
   + Bandwidth used per day;
   – you have completely missed the fact that, unlike NordVPN, EspressVPN’s iOS app does not have the kill switch feature, which is clearly quite importantly for many users;
   – you say that the only drawback with NordVPN is “The 70% discount is only available for three-year plans”, as if discounts of 58% on the 2-year plan and 41% on the 1-year plan are insignificant?! That’s a wider variety of terms and discounts than what ExpressVPN has to offer. The fact is – any way you slice it, NordVPN service give you considerable savings relative to ExpressVPN.

   Compare all that to the advantages the ExpressVPN has:
   – the split-tunneling feature (except on iOS);
   – servers in 94 vs. 59 countries;
   – servers already use RAM disks (albeit, NordVPN is in a process of adding the same feature).

   So, comparing these lists of advantages, combined with the higher cost, it’s not clear why do you rank ExpressVPN higher than NordVPN? Would you care to elaborate?

   Reply

   • Sven Taylor says

     February 18, 2020

     Hey NedM, good attention to detail. At the end of the day, ExpressVPN and NordVPN are both great choices. One of the big differences for me (personally) is how the VPN clients (apps) are designed. The ExpressVPN apps are more user-friendly with a better layout. NordVPN apps feel a bit clunky and over-sized, but still work pretty well. But not everyone may share this opinion, and it’s not a big enough issue to be listed as a con per se. So with UX, there’s a difference, whereas many other areas are similar for both VPNs:
     – Jurisdiction: both are great (and no, I’ve seen no evidence of the UK having political or legal authority to send data requests/demands to BVI businesses)
     – Speeds: Both are excellent.
     – Connections are basically the same (5 vs 6)
     – Server networks: Both are large and provide plenty of bandwidth and location diversity
     – No logs: both have been audited to be verified no-logs VPN providers. The connections stats are minimal (no IPs) and can be easily disabled, but even still, ExpressVPN is an audited and verified no-logs provider, just like NordVPN.
     – Streaming: Both are excellent choices and unblock all major services in regions around the world.
     On pricing, if you look at the one-year plans, ExpressVPN actually comes out on top:
     – ExpressVPN is $6.67 per month with this 3-months-free coupon
     – NordVPN is $6.99 per month (70% off coupon for 3-year plans)
     Honestly you’d be good with either option.

     Reply

   • sonar says

     March 11, 2020

     Admire your leg work and brain power guy!
     Trust is a critical component to a thriving digital ecosystem. We trust banks to keep our money & financial information secure, as we trust secure search engines to get us the information we want with minimal user data/meta-data retained, and even for map apps to show us the most efficient route without giving up our location data to others.

     Ironically, virtual private networks, or VPN’s are often the go to tool for web users who lack any more trust in the practices of the other apps and online entities that abound. Part of that same digital ecosystem very much laced in is the content marking types. Often so, their VPN score in rank gives them a lead as by the affiliates commission % rate received of new sign-ups from such a type of content marking review sites. The higher a subscription month costs the user, you’ll see their placement listed over as above the other being listed.

     However, providers of your commercial VPN services must still foster a high trust level where they’ve adequately obscured their users IP’s, as that’s basically all the do in thwarting any associations of your ISP IP by encrypted tunnels to their server networks held in chained to the VPN service. Facts remains you’ve only shifted your trust in an employed ISP to a VPN service that has an ability more so now, to see every site you visit as they hold the server hops your device now takes to evade this IP linking by other entities.

     Reply

7. J.M. says

   February 9, 2020

   @Sven,

   Just a quick thought. Under the Free VPN section, you could put down ProtonVPN as a recommended free on.

   It was mentioned in a comment but having it here may be good as well.

   Just my .02.

   Reply

   • Sven Taylor says

     February 9, 2020

     Good point. I would agree that ProtonVPN is about the only free VPN I’d recommend, although the free version is quite limited.

     Reply

     • J.M. says

       February 9, 2020

       @Sven,

       I agree. The limitation, while not bad, is still limited.

       But I have to give them kudos for offering privacy to all for free.

       Reply

8. A nobody says

   February 8, 2020

   Hello, Sven. I just found that Nord have supported Router installation. I would advised you revise this (and related) article.

   source:
   https://support.nordvpn.com/Connectivity/Router/1087269942/Which-router-should-I-use-with-NordVPN.htm

   Reply

   • Sven Taylor says

     February 8, 2020

     Yes, NordVPN, and generally all VPNs for that matter, work with specific types of routers.

     Reply

9. Travis Huffman says

   February 7, 2020

   Personally I like Mullvad. Speeds are some of the fastest I’ve ever used. You don’t even need an email to sign up, it creates a random number user name. The downside of this is that if you lose your username you lose your account, that’s why it’s good to have back ups. Mullvad also supports anonymous payment methods. You can pay in crypto, and you can even send them cash in an envelope and they’ll take it. Their logging policy is very transparent, they don’t log any IPs or any traffic or anything like that. Good company would recommend.

   Reply

10. Seth xmpp says

    January 26, 2020

    I only like windscribe for its USER configurable server side adblocking. What others have this?

    I could be happy adjusting DNS also should clients allow

    Reply

11. Ray says

    January 20, 2020

    Been using ProtonVPN for over a month now and I really like it. What it does not do however, at least not in any way that I have discovered, is allow Netflix.
    I have the Plus account and I’ve tried multiple US “Plus” servers at varying times, without success.

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      January 20, 2020

      Ray, you should be able to find the exact servers to use by emailing ProtonVPN support.

      Reply

12. Marcus Aurelius says

    January 18, 2020

    Sven, should I have any concerns with the payment method when hiring a VPN service? Which VPN service accepts payment by bank slip?

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      January 19, 2020

      No, I don’t think there’s any reason for concern. Most accept credit cards, PayPal, and Bitcoin, although I’m not sure if any of these accept bank transfer.

      Reply

      • Marcus Aurelius says

        January 19, 2020

        I don’t think I made myself clear. English is not my primary language.

        I meant that it would be better if I could pay the bill at the bank in cash. That way, the vpn service would only have one email account to keep. No transfer.

        That’s better than believing that the vpn service wouldn’t deliver your payment information to the authorities or leak it.

        Is there that risk? Specially with a credit card? Thankx

        Reply

      • HardSell says

        January 19, 2020

        Sven,
        Search the web for complaints of people using PayPal while connected to a VPN service and their PP accounts then limited as a result.
        PayPal’s got one stuporous policy regarding your VPN usage.
        Sure you can pay for a VPN subscription with paypal but it’s only time till you find out your PP account has been limited by them.
        I was told it’s for my VPN usage in my other PP transactions was the reason.
        Asked me why I would want to hid that information to a secure payment.
        I said because of all the breaches in the last few years why not be as protected as possible.

        FlashBack – – I went through this about a year and half ago with PP.
        Ended up closing both my eBay and my PP accounts because of it.

        Then recently I’d called PP for a payment dispute and forgot about which phone to use. That wrong phone used and in talking with an agent has hooked up both the old and my current PP accounts and now being limited once again.
        *You can use PP with a VPN connected but the kicker is you can’t log in to your PP account to pay with it.
        Though, if the merchant takes PP as a payment method you can pay with PP by not logging in to your PP acc and by entering your CC information through it’s own sites PayPal payments processor via CC.

        Last time – I’d just had changed banks and got another phone and it worked till I called PP with the old accounts linked phone, that I had prior asked them to close out as I was done with them for their policy on VPN use.
        They didn’t because my account was in limited status.
        ***I feel I shouldn’t have to prove my identity by sending a copy of my states ID and whatever else they wanted besides it – after having a 1 1/2 years record of making good cleared purchases that raised no red flags. Then about 3 years prior on the other (old) PP accounts time frame and not one red flag till a VPN’s use is discovered.
        Thoughts ??? Stupid policy or any merits in a no VPN connection to paying through your logged on PP account.

        Reply

        • HardSell says

          January 20, 2020

          Hi Sven,
          I do hope you have related my post above to my mentioned Dec 7th *Secure Payment – for an addition of need to your Privacy Tools knowledge page. This I think may help you for some of that.
          https://restoreprivacy.com/privacy-tools/#comment-61987

          – PayPal Holdings Inc. is an American company operating a worldwide online payments system that supports online money transfers and serves as an electronic alternative to traditional paper methods like checks and money orders.-
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PayPal
          I don’t know where PayPal fits in the payments channel as rank of the powerful – liken to (Ex:FB,M$,G).
          But Braintree was acquired by PayPal (2013) with the goal of providing world-class payments globally.
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braintree_%28company%29

          PayPal is out there everywhere but such a low talked about company or category for privacy – more for security of payments.
          A review can look at peoples privacy aspect from their using online secure payments and payment gateway’s. Might be due or wise to include other means of payments as it expands – see below.
          Then I noted 2019, they launched Braintree In-store Payments and began helping bring virtual storefronts to life.
          https://www.braintreepayments.com/about-braintree

          I was wondering Sven, of our privacy aspects when online purchases are made and then having used most of the other Privacy Tools / advise of the RP site that’s given us knowledge of – and are employed.
          Do we fair any better or what’s known in the Pro’s & Con’s of our privacy expenditures that can remain and what can’t – to shop online securely – but not necessarily privately…because of required info you must give – name, contact, payment, address.

          Thanks a great deal.

        • Sven Taylor says

          January 20, 2020

          Hi HardSell, yep, that’s a good idea for a guide. Real quick, you may want to check out Privacy.com. It allows you to create virtual credit cards, which you can use with any name and address (real or fake) when purchasing things online. It’s also good in that it allows you to set limits on transactions, cancel cards, block transactions through limits, etc. You may want to check it out.

    • HardSell says

      January 19, 2020

      Hi Marcus Aurelius,
      Bank slip ? – a Bank transfer if it’s close, you’d probably have to check with your bank first for international transfers information – then go after a VPN in researching the one you like in offering payments by that method.
      I guess your not concerned with any possible linking of payments to a VPN users account. I’d say there’s a trail here in using bank transfers.
      Most VPN’s as Sven’s already mentioned take credit cards, PayPal, and Bitcoin. (All still are link-able transactions I’d say in different degrees back to you).

      Simplest way I’ve found for myself in the US as to pay outside the US, is with store gift cards bought with cash – leaving no trail back to me in the VPN account.
      A lot of VPN’s take payments globally with PAYMENTWALL.
      In the US “PAYMENTWALL” if an accepted payment by a global VPN service, PW accepts here of Credit Cards, Mint, and Openbucks.

      Openbucks is a prepaid payment card system that enables online merchants to monetize and accept cash payments from consumers who do not have credit cards or prefer not to use them online.
      Openbucks has partnered with major retailers in the United States and Canada such as CVS Pharmacy, Dollar General, MoneyGram, Canada Post and more to allow consumers to use their gift cards or POS to convert cash to an online form of payment accepted on thousands of third party online merchants.

      For your country use this link below to see what are the payment options that PAYMENTWALL accepts for it, and narrow the VPN field down for yourself as of any payments options to your anonymity – like the gift cards bought with cash are for me in the US.
      https://www.paymentwall.com/en/payment-methods

      Reply

      • Marcus Aurelius says

        January 19, 2020

        Thanks HardSell . I ll check

        Reply

        • HardSell says

          January 20, 2020

          @Marcus Aurelius
          Your welcome and I hope you find a way.
          Hope you enjoy the RP site.

13. J.M. says

    January 17, 2020

    @ Sven,

    Have to reply here as the reply button is down.

    I agree. Having them on the team is a huge help and what I said was not to diminish their work at all. I was just commenting that even with the three of you, you could almost have four more and have enough work 😃.

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      January 17, 2020

      True enough. On comment replies, try clearing your browser cache, closing out, then reloading the page. That should hopefully fix it.

      Reply

      • J.M. says

        January 20, 2020

        @Sven,
        That seemed to have fixed it. Thanks.

        Reply

14. J.M. says

    January 16, 2020

    @ Sven,

    Based on your comment below, I imagine you could use about three or four extra helpers.

    Hopefully you can get that help as this is a big job for sure.

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      January 17, 2020

      Indeed, but fortunately, Heinrich has joined the team and Mirimir is working on some advanced online anonymity guides, so I appreciate their help as well.

      Reply

15. Setzen says

    January 16, 2020

    HI Sven,

    Would you review Mullvad Vpn? On Mullvad website, one can see the company’s effort to teach users to keep privacy. Another question is, is there anyway to test the where is the DNS server that these VPN companies use?
    Is it possible some VPN companies also funded by US government indirectly to separate the sheeps from goats?

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      January 16, 2020

      Currently I’m struggling just to keep the existing reviews and guides on the site updated for 2020 and I have a list of new reviews to do as well. So it will get done, but not sure when, but Mullvad does look like a good option, similar to some of the other Swedish VPN providers, such as OVPN in this guide.
      Test DNS servers here.
      Who knows for sure, but I recommend avoiding VPNs based in 5 Eyes countries, but even this is no guarantee with anything.

      Reply

      • Setzen says

        January 16, 2020

        Sven,
        Thanks for your opinions. I happened to see a VPN provider (pure VPN),
        [https://www.purevpn.com/dns-leak-test]
        it talks about how to avoid VPN leaking. If the VPN provider doesn’t have its own DNS, the users can setup up DNS provided by google. Sure, users can avoid monitoring from local ISP, but all of the information goes to Google and then eventually to the US intelligence.

        Reply

        • Sven Taylor says

          January 16, 2020

          Yes, and I’ve found PureVPN to have issues with DNS leaks, so perhaps that’s what they tell people, “Just use Google DNS” or something along those lines. But that’s correct, this gives Google (and anyone else they share data with) all of the websites you visit. There are some good, privacy-focused DNS providers, but a good VPN should handle all DNS requests encrypted (no leaks) on their own servers.

      • HardSell says

        January 17, 2020

        Sven,
        Sounds real demanding as chores guaranteed to multiply in size liken to the snowball rolling down the hillside.
        The Work in it – not The Fun in it…
        Maybe it’s time to consider as in archiving some of the existing reviews and guides offered on the RP site – to no further updates till it’s breaking news that happens for them. As regarding their up-keep cycles to recent events as well in their maintenance on the site.

        They (all) still are being shown, but some might be labeled as ARCHIVED – meaning it is not maintained in the sites periodic update table of schedule(s) in up-keep for it.
        Otherwise to, with their maintenance mode as being in a rotation time-set position to be inspected by you – in needing of updates and additional information as for any relevant refinements -or- considerations for movement in/out of an archived status.

        I just hope you don’t burnout, let the site be run in your name by someone else. Sell it – all without first asking for our help…
        Hope this is viewed with my good intents purpose.

        Reply

        • Sven Taylor says

          January 17, 2020

          Hi HardSell, all good, no worries. I never intend to sell the site under any circumstances. I want to continue to grow and expand the content and reach more people. This is important information for the times we live in. The ship is steady and on course!

        • J.M. says

          January 18, 2020

          @ Sven,

          I have not been on here long but if you wish to expand, of all the posters that I have seen, there are several that would be a great addition to your team.

        • HardSell says

          January 19, 2020

          Thanks to Sven and the sites ambassadors, oh what a relief it is…
          I tend to see the dark side of things in a semi-balanced stance as being prepared for anything to happen – as abilities to rebound.

          J.M. seems to understand the NPO model (which I understand as – non profit organization), maybe he could help in pointers to know about looking at that avenue, and, since RP is established under US law as the rule of thumb in the matter.
          Above me it all is – but a cost to operate the hardware and software and employees salaries are a write-off to keeping the NPO going.
          Isn’t that basically it and that’s right as mostly being correct ???

          *Achieving an NPO status with RestorePrivacy.com, could it be as simple as covering articles on the nations “Digital Divide” and relating to them with your honest, useful, and up-to-date information about privacy, security, and related topics in these US demographics of the populous to get that – NPO rating in benefits.
          Mission of RP https://restoreprivacy.com/mission/
          Even look at colleges and universities for getting in to a NPO status of some connection in where both of you can optimise an outcome.

          The wish to expand and reach more people, I’ve never seen you express on here before – that’s enlightening to me (us all) for sure.
          Could you express this well in a sites roadmap for us at some point?
          Hope you’ll consider your readers input in it – to the direction of least resistance to implementations as useful to successful outcomes.
          Ex: https://restoreprivacy.com/privacy-tools/#comment-64404
          Starting at the point – Maybe for “Rants”.

          I’m so accursed with being an ideas man – extends from many hours spent standing in the corner as punishment of my youthful independence – with nothing but my mind to keep me from being there again or as well entertaining self in my precarious predicament.
          ; )

        • J.M. says

          January 22, 2020

          Hey @HardSell,

          You are right. NPO is Non-Profit Organization.

          As far as the NPO, it requires several things of documentation. IRS forms, org. docs showing articles of corporation. and a few board notes to show who is what in the organization. Once that is set, those documents are then used to show that you are an NPO.

          At the same time, the form to become tax exempt should also be pursued which can give you yet more forms to use at local businesses and services.

          One of the tricky things is what your NPO is engaged in. There are many for historical, religious, cultural, social aspects that all are entitled for an NPO rating. The question is what is needed. I know for ours, what we had to do to get our NPO but what I had to do was not necessarily what someone else has to do.

          There are some crossovers but I would talk to a lawyer if there are any questions as they would be a big help in this.

          Hope that helps a little on my end 🙂

        • HardSell says

          January 23, 2020

          Thank you J.M. for that info. on NPO.
          Found that the Grammy awards in way / The Grammy Foundation, is using Nonprofit Fundraising of the past.
          [https://miratelinc.com/blog/grammy-musicians-online-nonprofit-fundraising-auction-ends-tomorrow/]

          IF
          RP can’t aline to an NPO agency then – offer hats and t-shirts logo – ed with Sven’s avatar and Restore Privacy address.

        • J.M. says

          January 24, 2020

          @HardSell,

          I don’t know about Restore Privacy. But I heard the NFL is an NPO and if so, maybe Sven can as well.

16. Solarel says

    January 11, 2020

    Hello there, Sven !

    I was wondering what you thought about the company Pine64 and their products. What they propose seem like a good way to possibly protect against spying at the hardware level (such as with Intel or AMD processors).
    They will lauch the PinePhone soon which is also linux-based.

    Happy new year to you !

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      January 11, 2020

      Yep, very cool. I’d like to get a PinePhone to test out. It has hardware kill switches as well and is very reasonably priced.

      Reply

      • J.M. says

        January 12, 2020

        I couldn’t see what service they work on. Any idea how to get them on all services or are there limitations?

        Reply

        • Sven Taylor says

          January 12, 2020

          I haven’t looked into it too much yet, but I’d assume they’d run fine on any cell network.

17. Richard Allen says

    January 5, 2020

    One thing that does concern me is a number of the providers are still have servers based in Russia, yet Vypr, NordVPN & ExpressVPN all left Russia publicly, after receiving letters from their communications watchdog, demanding encryption keys…or else.

    Kaspersky & Hotspot Shield (for what they’re worth…) have both given in to Russian government demands, yet Proton, Perfect Privacy, VPN Area & Trust Zone all maintain a presence there.
    Did the Russian government simply miss them? I just can’t believe that, an authoritarian state like Russia just doesn’t make a mistake like that, nor can I believe they’re not enforcing their own rules, after making noise about it before.

    Thoughts?

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      January 5, 2020

      I think some VPNs operate under the radar, and others can’t because they are too large and high-profile. I’ve seen Perfect Privacy comment in their forums on this issue. They haven’t gotten any flak from the Russian government, but will pull out when that day comes. The VPNs you mentioned (Perfect Privacy, ProtonVPN, VPNArea, and Trust.Zone) are pretty small compared to ExpressVPN and NordVPN.

      Reply

    • Dan says

      January 7, 2020

      So glad I found your website. Your favorite vpns for privacy does not have nord but they offer multihop. Is express encryption that much better? I dont need super high speed so I am trying to decide between the two.

      Reply

      • Sven Taylor says

        January 7, 2020

        ExpressVPN and NordVPN both use strong encryption standards and offer good leak-protection features in their apps. NordVPN, however, also offers multi-hop (double-VPN) servers and Tor-over-VPN servers, as well as a CyberSec ad-blocking feature. So NordVPN is also a solid choice, and it has passed a third-party audit.

        Reply

18. J.M. says

    December 31, 2019

    Just a quick note about ProtonVPN. I just received an email about their new app for Android. It now supports OpenVPN protocols.

    The only thing I really wish they would do is to put their app either on F-Droid or have the APK for download right from their website. Maybe one day. I will wait until I can get it from APKPure.

    Reply

    • J.M. says

      December 31, 2019

      Follow up: They do have the APK’s if you wish to get it straight from the source. I emailed them this morning and by this afternoon I was able to have the APK, downloaded it, installed and changed to OpenVPN protocols.

      It is automatically chosen to run on a the IK4 (I think) protocol. Before you access a server, you need to change this under settings and then access the server. Will still have to play with it to see what it can do.

      Reply

      • J.M. says

        January 1, 2020

        It is actually IKEv2 protocol.

        Reply

19. J.M. says

    December 29, 2019

    @Sven,

    You have Startpage as recommended under Perfect Privacy VPN.

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      December 29, 2019

      Thanks, fixed.

      Reply

      • J.M. says

        January 1, 2020

        Your welcome.

        Reply

20. Batman says

    December 22, 2019

    Hi Sven, I am reading your websites, almost when it was first went online. And, it’s impressive for sure. But I wanted to ask you something. I have subscription of both ExpressVPN(for streaming services obviously) and Perfect- Privacy. Recently I got interest in Qubes-OS and switched to it for some days(20 to be specific) but I found it hard to use VPN with it ( frankly, did not get a hold). Can you advice on using VPN in Qubes.

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      December 22, 2019

      Qubes routes traffic through Tor, which will be slow.

      Reply

21. Frank says

    December 18, 2019

    Hello Sven,

    what are you thoughts about Surfshark VPN? They’re based in BVI and have a no-logging-policy, I have been using them for a few weeks now and so far everything’s fine, also they mostly use physical servers.

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      December 18, 2019

      Hi Frank, I intend to do a Surfshark review early next year after the holidays, but no opinion on it yet.

      Reply

      • MarkR says

        February 21, 2020

        I’ve been in the process of testing a number of VPN services the past few months and would love to see your Surfshark review. I found their Windows and Android apps to be feature rich, the price is low, email/chat support excellent, and speeds about on par with Nord and Express. I’m just not sure about the other details that you cover so well. Please let us know if you might be publishing a review soon.

        Reply

        • Sven Taylor says

          February 22, 2020

          Hey MarkR, yes, Surfshark looks like a good VPN from what I can tell. I hope to have a Surfshark review up in the next month or so. We have a lot on the To Do List right now, but we’ll definitely be getting to a Surfshark review soon.

    • pelle says

      December 30, 2019

      I’m very curious about that one as well. Also one of the cheapest options out there.

      Reply

      • Joe says

        January 24, 2020

        +1 Surfshark review plz, so I’ll know that I’ve made the right choice 🙂

        Reply

22. Ray says

    December 17, 2019

    Hey Hardsell.
    Thanks for that info.
    That’s not the problem though. When it works, it works fine. It’s when it doesn’t work; then it’s the problem. I’m am totally against troubleshooting software, particularly when I am paying a premium for it. When I was using PerfectPrivacy I never had such issues…..the only reason I stopped using them was because of the Netflix issue.
    I’m going to try out ProtonVPN from the end of this month – hopefully it will be better.

    Reply

    • HardSell says

      December 18, 2019

      Hey Ray,
      Thanks, I do try to give help and I to dislike troubleshooting as well when I’d first have to learn digital troubleshooting skills to carry any out.
      I should mention then, to by-pass VPN.ac as for me it drops a connection and seems to crash the client all at/within the same time. Using US servers in the US…

      This had started sometime back with the kill-switch enabled and as I was getting the yellow network warning icon in the taskbar of windows (it’s VPN.ac client v4.0.7).
      [I had run a few different branded VPN clients and services in years prior – Never witnessed the triangle warning before I’ll say on any Win box]
      It wasn’t dropping the connection as often (back then v4.0.7/v4.0.8 clients) – just visually disturbing to see some connection error from windows while running with the VPN.ac service.

      I opened a ticket or two and understand VPN.ac has since re-worked the kill-switch some. Fixed – not to me as it still drops out today worst than when I first reported of the triangle warning issue in windows. Back then it wasn’t a connection issue – just enabling the kill-switch gave the triangle warning in windows.

      My particular trouble I’ve attributed to the mobile data internet’s speed I was getting from Sprint to the hotspot delivering internet to my PC over a USB cable. But that would be wrong because it’s happening on my cable’s internet today.
      Before that and 3 years prior of the past, I had been tethering business grade Sprint mobile internet from my smartphone, USB cabled over to my PC.
      With about three different VPN’s usage it’s only VPN.ac as the only one I had dropouts with. Then the client started crashing and would close after their support worked on it.

      Even today running without the VPN.ac kill-switch enabled on their latest versioned VPN.ac windows client and with a little faster cable’s internet service it still drops connection and crashes randomly.
      If I were a troubleshooter I’d probably look at VPNCheck Pro – (another kill-switch) type of software, I’m running as having some conflicts because I’ll have to take it offline (close it) to get VPN.ac client back online at most times.

      VPNCheck Pro I’ve used for quite awhile now not so much for it’s kill-switch functions but, for the gray noise I can create from my system using it.
      [[ Why is Computer ID protection important?
      Did you know you’re exposing yourself on the network even if using VPN. It is possible to find out who you are by looking at your Hostname, Computer name or MAC address by those on the web or local network. ]]
      http://www.guavi.com/vpncheck_pro_computer_id.html
      It has other features (all housed in a oldish looking little interface) but I like that I can control changing my Hostname, Computer name or MAC address with every restart of the PC. Never giving off a same digital exhaust or trail.
      I believe this to all be true.

      Reply

23. Manoa says

    December 17, 2019

    NordVPN, really?? They shouldn’t be on that list at all. Instead, Windscribe should replace Nord VPN.

    Nord’s speeds have now become consistent. In the past, they were hit and miss. Now, they’re just consistently poor. While Windscribe has also taken a hit, it still offers better value when on sale than Nord ever will.

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      December 17, 2019

      Windscribe is based in Canada (Five Eyes) and does not meet the criteria to be listed. NordVPN’s inconsistent speeds are noted above, but still, the speeds weren’t horrible. Windscribe uses IKEv2 protocol by default to achieve better speeds, rather than OpenVPN, which is open source and arguably more secure than IKEv2, as noted in the Windscribe review.

      Reply

    • Pelle says

      December 28, 2019

      I’m using NordVPN for over a year now and i’m not experiencing slow speeds at all. Maybe it has more to do with your internet speed.

      Reply

    • Richard Allen says

      January 5, 2020

      Nord’s speeds are inconsistent because I’d guess they’re a victim of their own success with increased server loads.

      That said, I’ve never seen them be that slow, I always get between 30-70 mps, nothing wrong with that unless you’re playing 4K multiplayer.

      Reply

24. J.M. says

    December 15, 2019

    @ HardSell,

    I appreciate your thoughts. I posted and then did some searching as well. I asked about NPO and they only offer the 80% off right now. No mention of what an NPO would be after the two years.

    I agree. Their response was and is fast. I also see your thought on the number of connections and it is a good price.

    If I calculated my spending right, they are a tad bit more expensive with combining my email and their VPN than.having my VPN and email where it is. That is if I am doing it right.

    Reply

    • HardSell says

      December 17, 2019

      Hey J.M.
      That sounds like really good pricing for NPO’s and especially if it’s the business accounts price it’s used towards. I don’t have the background in a business world and know much in any tech that confronts businesses in an online present. As any web contact is not to different than for casual users but, more in scale of the contacts that continue in a business within a days time.

      VyprVPN offering two types of service (standard-business) must mean something ? What that is or how they differ – I don’t know.
      To bad I couldn’t see fast and clear where it’s printed up front in what the differences would be between the two – other than the obvious price it’s business account is offered at.

      The standard accounts like I have comes with 5 simultaneous connections. I didn’t spend a lot of time readings of the business account and it wasn’t clear landing there how many can use the business account. I’d only ran across you can add seats or users to it.

      Small world with the internet giving all of us the same risks to whoever is connecting and using it.
      A connection is all it takes to be in the same boat of privacy and security loss.
      Maybe food for thought – shop around or not.

      Reply

25. J.M. says

    December 13, 2019

    @HardSell,

    I am interested in your experience with VyperVPN.

    I read the review and while many positives, the users experience does not seem to agree.

    Thanks.

    Reply

    • HardSell says

      December 14, 2019

      Hi J. M.
      There in a post below I’d mentioned a Tip – Sven had given in that link I gave.
      I’d reported on VyprVPN there a little – but it didn’t take .. as it’s not found.
      I’ll re-post it here and it’s subjected to speed and router use with trying both vpn clients – (Vypr’s and my routers).

      Trouble I made for self, was I wanted a router in my setup and I shopped for one’s I could afford, and as having merit to my $$ choice-style, not the practical applications side of would it served in beneficial purpose and harmony to my privacy and security protections plan I’d create.
      “Everything behind a VPN router flashed with DD-WRT.” Is My goal…
      VPN over my Router to PC running an installed VPN Client and service as well.
      -Not some hosh-cosh ménaging things together as I tend to do, being doomed to fail without further reinforcements in understanding the principles to be applied before a start [like walking in the dark – no sense of direction].

      I have never ran a router setup before, so just making sure this unit works for being a ‘new’ one.
      It’s Administrators account offers a VPN Client & linking to .ovpn files, one at a time, to use of it’s VPN function, and I’m trying it out for sure.
      Till I get the Linksys WRT32X flashed over with it’s version in DD-WRT firmware, ***I’m going to run Both my VPN Clients to function as this way for now.
      Is that bad Sven ?
      Even though, my unencrypted speeds are still slow but, much faster than I’m used too (data over ISP mobile towers). Encrypting to a closer vpn server helps maintain my base unencrypted speed.

      So lets go !
      I downloaded the Vyprnvpn (ovpn) files package (160-256 encryption schemes) and linked router to a Vyprvpn server and connected the Router’s vpn client up to it’s service – works okay for what it is.
      The ISP cable’s speed alone, seems 3+ x’s as fast as the cell data (LTE/4G) internet’s best speed I’d gotten from it’s source.
      Though we’re looking at wired compared to wireless carrying the data load and others around here pulling in that wireless mobiles cell signal in the area I live.

      Speed Tests:
      I can’t remember my old speeds I’d checked to long ago from the mobile ISP data internet my PC got over the sprint hotspot.
      Windows own handling of downloads registered at best speed around 150 kilobytes and mostly in the range of 20-50 kilobytes generally at peak times.
      @@I’m trying to let people know even with only an advertised 15-Mb cable speed and a use of the VyprVPN service – it works better than I had experienced in prior years with any internet traffics speed – and to tunneling through a vpn.

      The Linksys router’s online administrators account has a speed-test checker built in and quite handy that I’ll run and post the results here.

      My base unencrypted speeds from the cable ISP are below – (all VPN traffic off in this test here)
      – Download 18-MBits/s, Upload 3-MBits/s, Ping-7ms – local ISP server [Ping can go higher ms at times on same ISP server]
      – Download 16.89-MBits/s, Upload 2.35-MBits/s, Ping-61ms / different test, browser with Speedtest.net New York, NY server.

      VPN ON:
      1st test, only the VyprVPN client installed to my win OS, I connected to it’s server less than 600 miles (20 ms) away from my cable’s ISP location.
      – Download 18-MBits/s, Upload 3-MBits/s, Ping-11ms
      After a 30 min wait I tried again with the same VyprVPN server (it’s client read 62ms for that 600 mile distance) this time round.
      – Download 17-MBits/s, Upload 2-MBits/s, Ping-38ms

      2nd test, I’ll used the Linksys router’s admin. VPN Client with my VyprVPN credentials /and it’s own Vyprvpn client in my OS has been STOPPED.
      – Download 17-MBits/s, Upload 2-MBits/s, Ping-20ms // USA – (19ms) Chicago.ovpn 256
      – Download 17-MBits/s, Upload 2-MBits/s, Ping-39ms // USA – (44ms) New York.ovpn 256
      – Download 14.52-MBits, Upload 2.16-MBits, Ping 45-ms // Speedtest.net/Chicago, IL server.

      3rd test, with the Linksys router’s admin. VPN Client & with the VyprVPN client both are RUNNING & Connected to different (2) servers Vypr offers.
      Traffic route > (64ms) Chicago.ovpn 256 / Router VPN Client > (40ms) New York.ovpn 256 / VyprVPN Client
      – Download 17-MBits/s, Upload 3-MBits/s, Ping 49ms
      – Download 11.66-MBits, Upload 2.02-MBits, Ping 77-ms – Speedtest.net // New York, NY server.

      Every time I’ve changed to / from a VPN client running or stopped I’ve restarted the router to reset my connection.
      Sometimes the Vypr client when disconnected & stopped required the PC being restated to restore the internet connection. (kill-switch Not used in any of these tests).
      All results are from the Admin UI speedtest of the Linksys router – unless the line has Speedtest.net in it – as that’s where it was conducted.

      No Real Change in the results – unless I double teamed the VPN clients (in tandem use), I’m getting better up and down cable speeds than was advertised, even when using VyprVPN or with any VPN for the matter.

      Though, I’m not double hopping per se’ as Sven’s explained it – from behind one VPN client chaining it’s servers together.
      Not sure what it’d this be called here, but as it’s posted in my speed results, they did diminished a little with my use of both VPN clients running in tandem to encrypting my network traffic.

      Anything specific you’d want to know J.M. ?
      One thing – I live in the mid-west and right off the bat in servers diversity VyprVPN has good coverage, but VPN.ac had a little better coverage with it’s many city’s having two servers offered. Liked to see VyprVPN have this too.
      As far as to my knowledge these are two VPN services that maintain and own their own whole servers interstructure. That should be required ! ! ! when shopping for a new VPN ; )
      Thanks

      Reply

      • J.M. says

        December 14, 2019

        @ HardSell,

        The speeds seem good. I was also wondering about their customer service, NPO discounts and stability.

        Always trying to save a few pennies if I can. Thank you for the info.

        Reply

        • HardSell says

          December 15, 2019

          Howdy J.M.
          Their customer service was helpful and pretty fast responding.
          I didn’t respond and a few days later they followed up wanting to know if it helped or I need more help. Initial install I could’t connect and sent the log in to find what was in error – it’s with a server timing out because in the slooow Mobile data internet that I’ve since ditched.
          Had the same problems with ExpressVPN and got $ refunded no trouble.
          Network wise so far No drops I’ve seen besides the kill-switch and reconnect are set, shouldn’t be any fear for it to drop.

          Lowdown/headsup, best clients UI of the three is VPN.ac (dark) theme and really the layout and what’s covered tops…

          The NPO discount if VyprVPN has one probably would be based on the business accounts side and pricing.
          https://www.vyprvpn.com/business-vpn
          If it’s like a few people and then your needs required less this may not benefit unless the other features make it worthwhile for you.

          With a VPN for business, your connection remains safe when sending emails, using office chat, sharing files and accessing network resources – both in and outside the office.
          VyprVPN for Business also offers unrestricted access to essential online business tools from any location around the world.
          https://www.vyprvpn.com/features/cloud

          I have no ideal of your scope involved and to a # of seats, to what more than an encryption of your data’s traffic per device you’d actually require. Don’t need to as I can’t give you any quotes.
          I can break the ice with you looking at it here from this side.
          You might better benefit to jump on the deal presently for $2.50 a month and having 5 Simultaneous Connections / $60.00 billed every 2 years.

          If you have departments or teams where there isn’t more than five people in each = 1 account.
          Fill your seats to see how many accounts (5seats=1) to a dollar amount that covers in the next coming two years period.
          Then compare it to the business accounts costs, with thoughts in considerations of what a NPO discount % usually understands, and then is subtracted to get an idea where you stand for what your actually in need of to what it costs.

          Two accounts would be 10 seats for $120.00 covering the next two years. You’d spend at least double that on an business account per year before any NPO discount.

          Hope it helped : )

26. Ray says

    December 13, 2019

    About three months ago I switched from Perfect Privacy to Express VPN. The main reason I did that was so that I could watch Netflix and the RWC on British TV – things I couldn’t do on Perfect Privacy.
    When the service works it’s great, but I’ve found their grade of service is not the best. The connection drops out at least once per day and it can take multiple attempts across a number of different servers before I can get connected again. These were problems I never had with Perfect Privacy. Has anybody else had these problems with Express VPN? (note: located in Germany and internet connection is great).

    Reply

    • HardSell says

      December 13, 2019

      Hi Ray,

      Maybe you can find answers here-
      VPN disconnect problems: Possible causes and solutions
      https://www.expressvpn.com/support/troubleshooting/vpn-always-disconnecting/

      VPN Connection Suddenly Dropped
      https://www.expressvpn.com/support/troubleshooting/vpn-connection-suddenly-dropped/

      Cannot connect to a VPN server location
      https://www.expressvpn.com/support/troubleshooting/failed-connection/

      Websites still blocked
      https://www.expressvpn.com/support/troubleshooting/blocked-sites/

      Reply

27. HardSell says

    December 13, 2019

    Good Morning Sven,

    You have given a Tip on https://restoreprivacy.com/isp-spying-solved-vpn
    “When using a VPN, the router will be processing encrypted data from the VPN server. You will need the higher CPU, especially if you want faster speeds and plan on using multiple devices.” I’m interested to hear if both are run.

    What if you wish and try to run VPN clients from both your router and the computing devices OS. EX: Devices in the chain as a Cable Modem – Wireless Router – PC are hardwired together hosted by an ISP cable provider.

    [Router used is not a custom VPN firmware flashed unit (DD-WRT)]
    But offers a VPN function of a client in the Administrations online UI.
    Does this have a name – or term when the VPN clients are to be combo employed to more-less tunnel within an encrypted tunnel ?
    Is that a correct description ?
    What kind of cryptography format scheme could this be considered as what happens really in play as . . . T-n-T (tunnel in tunnel) – -or- – 2X’s Encrypt ?
    It’s seems more to a double encrypting of the data – say OS VPN client encrypts the browser data traffic and then it gets encrypted again leaving through the routers VPN client.

    The encryption of this type in it’s setup (duel VPN clients) when applied to the sending and receiving of the data within the transmission system happens as how ?
    Mental us in a picture then cause as I’m seeing it this is looking like the path.
    _______@___@_____@./……………ENCRYPTED………ENCRYPTED…………………………|
    ……………………………. Modem > Router(VPN) > Computing Device(VPN) > Browser
    (this is how I see the connection to my browsers window loading up)
    So reverse the route when I take some key action in the browser requesting a reply in fashion from a server.

    I do understand the benefits of everything behind your Router and would appreciate an explore of this option in the VPN client of the OS tandem used with the router VPN client and I’m wishing to understand in Pro’s & Con’s.

    Routers Admin UI VPN clients features (basic) – select 1 server opvn file’s at a time, credentials entry, and connect/disconnect to it’s server, – delete file to replace with another. To where that’s about it.
    Logically, you could use the same VPN server for both clients or could you ? Thinking about a server pretty close of a few hundred miles and both clients set to the server.
    Thank you, and please if you could say any to answer.

    Reply

    • HardSel says

      December 13, 2019

      My mental image illustration got messed up in the above comment.
      Path was to look closer to this image.

      ….WEB…ISP…> Modem > Router(VPN) > Computing Device(VPN) > Browser.
      Anyways where (VPN) is shown above – the transmission is encrypted…

      Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      December 14, 2019

      Hi HardSell, yes, you can definitely do this and it is basically a tunnel within a tunnel, with your traffic being encrypted across two different VPN services. This also distributes trust in the case that one VPN is compromised.
      What you describe is a simple way to execute this setup. In other words:
      VPN1 on your router & VPN2 on your computer, connected through your VPN router
      The obvious drawback here is speed, but if you are connecting to nearby servers, it shouldn’t be too bad.

      Reply

      • HardSell says

        December 14, 2019

        Thank you Sven,
        The distribution of trust is a good philosophy when privacy and security are paramount. If my speed reduces so be it as my privacy increases…

        Something I wondered, when the VPN clients installed to the Windows OS – they always come with baggage of the Tap-Adapter.
        What does the Router w/VPN client use (in a case here) ?
        Maybe the Tap (driver) is just required only on Windows because of the opvn protocol, or something I don’t know as it compartmentalized inside the Routing device firmware for that VPN client function.
        Thanks

        Reply

        • Sven Taylor says

          December 14, 2019

          No, the router firmware (if it supports OpenVPN) handles this without the need for installing anything other than the OpenVPN config files you want to use.

28. HardSell says

    December 9, 2019

    I’m just a few days in with VyprVPN.
    I find them good for my internet’s speed. Like the kill switch options.
    Saved $30.00 at least over last years VPN.ac’s two year pricing at BF time.
    I’m covered by two VPN’s right now with that set for the next 3 years.
    Just for the record, VPN.ac = 1 year left / VyprVPN – nearly 2 years to go.
    Overall I’ve now spent $160.00 total on two VPN’s – each one coming with their own two years subscription term.

    I don’t have but 15 dn / 2 up nor can I afford a faster internet so, why pay more ? I’m forced to be thrifty.

    Reply

29. J.M. says

    December 3, 2019

    @ HardSell

    I saw your comment on the Black Friday sales and wanted to respond. That blog was taken down so I will respond here. First, I appreciate your thoughts. I really do and I really think you bring a lot to the site. I am sorry for the length of the reply but I wanted to share with you that this decision was not just because of a name or some careless thought. Here are my main reasons I went to them:

    1) I am sorry your contact with them was as bad as you described. I have not experienced anything like what you are saying. However, I am not brand loyal as much as I am customer service loyal. To me, jumping from one company to another is no big deal, regardless of how big it is. I suffer from Squirrel syndrome (my own term) and I sometimes…Oh Look! Cookies :). To me, I get bored really easy with things. I have literally switched bank accounts and entire banks just because I got bored going into the same parking lot. So if I do start getting treated as you have, I have no issue up and leaving. I would change my cell number every month if I could but then I would get into problems with several friends and family, LOL!
    However, as it has stood, Proton worked really hard with me in regards to setting up my account. There was some things going on that I could not figure out on my end and they were struggling to get it to process on their end and it took about three hours to set it up. They stuck with me all the way through. Tutanota, if I could get a response, was very short and UN-yielding.

    2) Cost also played a part. I am an NPO. As such, I have documentation that I use to set up my NPO, the bank accounts, the internet that I use and anything else. I reached out to Tutanota and that documentation was not good enough. They wanted several more things that I just did not have. Trying to explain this to them as well as explaining what I was sending was as though I was a problem. When I reached out to ProtonMail, they did not even blink an eye at my documentation. They gave me the NPO discount which is as good if not a little better than their black friday deal they were running. They gave me a code to use. When I went to get a VPN, I reached out to them. All I had to do was activate the VPN under my NPO, punch in the code and I would get that discount as well! I am paying less for both email and VPN than I would if I were to go to two separate companies.

    3) As far as privacy, I do wish to have privacy. However, my email for my NPO has my name, my organization and my tag line all connected to it. It literally would be impossible to not find me. I took this into account as to why I wanted a VPN. The main reasons for my VPN was to hide myself if I was on public WIFI, hide myself from other peoples ISP and to hide myself from my cell phone carrier ISP. My NPO ISP encrypts everything before it even reaches me as well as the traffic between me and the Internet. It is a local company and the owner and I are friends so I trust what they say. Besides, my ISP is again connected to my NPO. Hence for me privacy in this regard is only for what I mention above. As I then considered, what I am really paying for is my custom domain name. Hence this leads me to number 4 below.

    If I need true privacy, I do not go online. I treat the internet as a postcard. Everything I say and do is filtered through that thought. If I need true privacy I just unplug and avoid all internet. Very easy for me to do as I prefer being outdoors anyway.

    4) Security of the system then came into play. I will state right off the bat, I hate Google and Microsoft. For that matter, Fakebook and Tweety are also on my despised list. I am sure there are others but those are the big ones. Therefore, when I was looking, I was using this site as a reference point. It came down to two options to me. First was Tutanota and the second was Protonmail. Tutanota was and is in a 14 eye country. ProtonMail and VPN is not. I am not big on the 14 eye country, but was willing to give them a chance. After #2, my choice was pretty easy to make.
    I also have a friend whose job is to discover and uncover weaknesses and exploits in Technology security. I guess his title is IT security and hardening (he kind of makes his own titles he is that good). I had him look at the systems for both Tutanota and Proton. I cannot phrase what he said as I understood a little of it but to break it down as he did for me, I can. He said that you have two solid companies from what he has seen. Both with really good security. However, he said it came down to trust. On one end, you trust the company that runs both a VPN and email to keep everything separate and encrypt (as they say they do) everything going and coming from their data centers. You have to trust that they follow through with what they say (as we do for any privacy and security). On the other hand you have Tutanota that encrypts everything but they are the ones who made and handle their own encryption and keys. His concern was if they set it up correctly, monitor it correctly, upkeep it correctly and handle the systems appropriately. Combined with my conversation with them and also #5, I needed to go with the one I felt safer with.

    #5) I also looked at having a constant connection. As I am part of my NPO, my position requires me to be on 24/7/365. I do get days off but even those can be interrupted by a call or email. I have had times, while trying to log in on my Tutanota account, that the system does not connect. That happens on three platforms so I know it is not just me. I never have had an issue with ProtonMail. This of course takes away from any fact if I just do not have cell service. I must, as my NPO is dependent on it, be able to be reached unless it is pre-approved for me to be out of touch and then there are backup systems in place with others who can handle it while I am gone or out. But that is what it is for me. I love it and would not trade my life for anything. I just have to be realistic about my needs.

    #6) This website also helped me make a decision. While I know Sven promotes a few other systems first, he does have some glowing reports for Proton.

    #7) As far as website and internet, I have also learned to just narrow down my visits. I do have to be on the net but whereas before I had more than two dozen websites I would visit on a regular basis, I have at most ten. Seven or eight of those are only one time a month to either pay bills or some other issue. There are really only two or three sites I visit regularly. This one, and a couple of others. The only one I really post anything to is this one. Everything else I need for my NPO is done with software and only when I add anything to that software base do I visit their website which is a little out of the norm for me.

    #8) Lastly, ease of downloading and use. While I wish Proton would move away from Google services (I disabled google off my cell so I do not get push notifications) I was able to download the APK, the bridges for my laptop and Linux and the VPN for my phone and laptop. As I have said, I hate Microsoft but one of my programs requires me to have one working Microsoft laptop. However, I have shut Microsoft off of the computer as much as possible and have gone to LibreOffice and several other platforms that I can. I recognize this not as preferred but just as necessity. If could get my program to work on a Linux, I would do a complete switch and be done with Microsoft as well. To date, that does not work. My work desktop is Linux and to install the VPN was a little more than I could figure out so I am going to need to speak with someone. Tutanota would cover most if not all these basis but when looking at #1-7, I really had to make the best choice for my situation.

    So, HardSell, that is my thought going in. As to your comment, the UI for the VPN and Mail are very slick indeed. Easy to use and understand which is good as Technology and I are not on the best of terms many times. I can use it but as I say, I am knowledge enough to get into trouble…not enough to get out. Hope that helps with my understanding. I am sure I had a few other thoughts that I marked down last night in my response to the other thread but I am not remembering them right off the top of my head. If I am wrong in any of the above points, please tell me. I am still learning and I want to be right in my thoughts. @ Sven, if you wish to add anything that maybe I have missed, please also chime in. I appreciate your thoughts, HardSell and I do enjoy reading your comments.

    Reply

    • J.M. says

      December 3, 2019

      When I speak of them and your comments, it was in connection to me using Proton for my VPN and my Email service. I guess I should have made that clearer in my statement above. Sorry.

      Reply

    • J.M. says

      December 3, 2019

      @HardSell

      Last thought and then I will end. I agree with your thought of not giving too much information to one company. Having both a VPN and Email in one place does give a lot of information and information is power. I just had to look at my specific situation when making the decision and this was the best I could come up with. If another company comes along that gives me these same aspects as Proton, I would really consider switching one of my services.

      Reply

      • HardSell says

        December 5, 2019

        Hey J.M.

        I’ve come to know the site rotates the tiles that you see of the articles when you land on the homepage – I’m guessing in a set time or when Sven updates one not being shown for a time.
        – The search symbol in the top right corner opens the box and a single term returns the title results first and everything after – I’ve not studied it’s function for accuracy but that’s what I’d seen for my term.
        – – blackfriday in it will bring up that topic and you’ll see the 24 comments there yet. It died till next year I suppose to making a homepage tile’s spot.

        I’d say you’d know more than I about your devices and systems from your professional and personal life needs. There’s growth in experimenting I find, like you could always find an email service to try out like a burner account. Sign up using it for when any new account isn’t important to you and it needs an email entered.
        Same with a VPN that offers a guarantee to refund in full by x days in. There are VPN’s offering you 30 days given time and use to claim a refund in and some say no reason needed – but you know their going to ask you why.
        I”d say you were comparing it to X to see if it seemed a better service to you. As to knowing if X was a problem or your system was causing so slow speeds you had gotten.

        I got in to really using the online world with a sony laptop running Vista, never was an XP’er – so I’m thinking it had to be around 2009. Had a smartphone before that nothing like the screens of now, that I surfed from a little.

        I got in to trying to modify win 8 OS when I updated to a desktop. There was a couple of programs out and a community following each helping others doing the same modifying theirs (like here just a different topic) where one could modify the OS code I’d guess to omit out different stuff – included in the windows OS version they had. Mainly to strip out the business crud a home user don’t need.

        I got a lot of practice of reloading the stock win 8 OS anew on the desktop. Never did fully grasped on to what I was doing tech wise but I could follow a TUT or guide to the letter getting the results.
        It’s was like here user choice and nothing set in stone to do – but pointers of what this being discarded has in an effect that to the other functions of the OS.
        That was in the days when M$ hadn’t locked the OS down as they seem to have with win 10.
        I’ve read a guys pursuit to strip out the telemetry components of his 10 OS when it first was out- long story short every M$ update rolled out had reversed the tweaks he made to the OS. He went as far to have a scrip to redo his tweaks after an update. He busted, in the end as each update changed the OS enough to make his scrip ineffective and it was harder to get the tweaks to hold form restart to restart manually going in setting things as he had.

        My focus now of late it to finger the areas that give off clear texts of our personal info related to just going online in the modern age of today. Trying to understand then any ways to defend against these, and if not possible to add some noise to the info give off by my system in someway.
        Basically I’m thinking it’s all the areas were the info is collect to fingerprint the device and OS as they can and use.

        Have a good December

        Reply

        • J.M. says

          December 7, 2019

          @HardSell,

          Thanks. I found that after my long post.

          I agree with you. The trial works great to test. I guess I am not as fast or smart to take that…and putting money upfront always bothers me because of bad past experiences.

          I guess if the company is sure of their product, don’t make me pay first. Give me the test full on and let me see.

          I did reach out to a couple of the VPN’s on here and they either did not respond or the discount was still more than I pay now, I couldn’t get to them.

          7 days free, full service, no money down. That was what Proton offered. Then the NPO discount after…hard to beat.

          I do wish, should say hope, they follow my advice and get a third party verification on the no logs. Especially after the links I sent them and the issue and potential due to PIA.

          As far as the OS, I should also add that I really hate Windows as well. My wife jokes and says there is nothing I like (LOL). I like Linux and am have a work computer built for me based on Linux (my old system just died today).

          If I could figure how to ditch Windows and have Wine work with my required software…I would be happier than a fish in a flood.

          Maybe a VM on a linux? I don’t know. But I do agree. While I know my NPO is easy to find and get to me…it is more just the casual snoopers and data copiers and hogs I am hiding from (cell and work ISP) and public Wifi.

          Hope you have a great December and a Merry Christmas!

30. HardSell says

    November 30, 2019

    Hey Sven,
    Switched to ExpressVPN via your Black Friday/Cyber Monday page and it’s link / supporting the site to I hope.

    Things I don’t like are so far.
    I paid with paypal and my expressvpn invoice has my real name used there.
    I tried finding a way through paymentwall but not for the US was anything offered that I could use. I don’t do crypto-coins and that’s still link able isn’t it to user then account.

    Something that might fly under the radar was the activation code needed to install the windows application and with expressvpn’s no logs policy, then with IP address shared amongst users. I don’t need to worry about my account’s payment and the account itself I’ll use be to of an association being linked in anyway.
    Could you offer anything specific you’d understand here?

    I did notice that with adguard AD BLOCKER running and set as I have, the link from your site was for the EXPRESS ad without any mention of the +3 months and then stating the 15 months for $99.95 and 12 billing to follow of the next year. It was the plan old 12 month ad I seen – so I disabled AG and tried again.
    Finding the 15 month deal…

    Anyways I still have a year on VPN.ac but the setup I use (ISP over cellular data) and it’s kill switch with the network disconnects I face was a bust for me. I have notice that my slow internet is still slow with first impressions of Express.

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      November 30, 2019

      Hey HardSell, thank you.

      Reply

31. Switched to Mullvad says

    November 29, 2019

    After seven great years with PIA, I finally called it off due to news of the Kape acquisition. Or really, not because of the acquisition, but because of how PIA handled the situation and dodged important questions. If they had just opened up with a clear plan for how they would continue to verify their trustworthiness under the new ownership (audits, etc.), I would have stayed. But they didn’t, and I’m not waiting around for them to figure it out. I switched to Mullvad and it’s going great. I expected it to be clunky and slow, but it’s faster than PIA and super easy to use.

    Reply

32. Frank says

    November 27, 2019

    Hi Sven,

    I noticed you removed VyprVPN from the toplist. Any particular reason(s) for that?
    Also do you know if Trust.Zone uses Virtual Private Servers? I couldn’t find any information on their website and they don’t respond to requests thru their website.

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      November 27, 2019

      I’ll be updating my VyprVPN review soon, but mainly due to performance issues.

      Reply

33. Vector Space says

    November 27, 2019

    I am curious, does Perfect Privacy support perfect forward secrecy (PFS)? It was not listed in the comprehensive review but it is quite important feature imo.

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      November 27, 2019

      Yes, it does.

      Reply

34. Anonymous says

    November 27, 2019

    Dear Sven,
    Longtime reader here. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed perusing all of your reviews, articles, exposés, etc. and have always been satisfied by the quality. You clearly are a man who cares about privacy. As such, I’ve been somewhat shocked at the silence from you, and similar reviewers, about MLATs: Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties. A lot of “private” jurisdictions have been tooting their horns lately, and so I’ve been looking them up
    here: http://www.cbi.gov.in/interpol/mlats.php
    and here: https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2014/vol2/222469.htm
    and there are a lot of results! An MLAT with the United States basically guarantees an entry into a proto-Eyes situation. It’s just like being in the 14 Eyes, in essence, and it’s scary! Many of the so-called private jurisdictions which VPN providers procure host MLATs with the US, thus making their claims worthless. What are your thoughts?
    Sincerely,
    Anonymous
    P.S. I’ve created a list of some of the more private jurisdictions which don’t have MLATs, appear in the eyes, and have strong data protection laws. Here it is:
    1. Iceland
    2. Seychelles
    3. New Zealand
    4. Malta

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      November 27, 2019

      Interesting, thanks for the info!

      Reply

    • HardSell says

      November 28, 2019

      @Anonymous I agree and an email service as with the vpn jurisdictions as where our personal data is involved.
      https://restoreprivacy.com/5-eyes-9-eyes-14-eyes/#comment-58133

      List of government mass surveillance projects
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_government_mass_surveillance_projects

      At the core of it all was the alliance forged after the last world war. Never was good in history. But with so much of the internet’s existence starting in the US and a majority of the traffic routed through it – it’s a core player.

      Then no companies privacy policy or the privacy laws in any one location of the world can stands up against it’s own countrys court system. Then the connected eyes network work through these governments down the ladder.

      Reply

      • Anonymous says

        November 29, 2019

        @HardSell I always see you in the comments, and I sincerely admire your dedication. Totally agree. It gets made into a political issue to divide “the masses”, but really, nothing good has ever come out of these shadowy transnational agreements; that goes for corporations too! The Wikipedia articles you linked alone are pretty jarring, even to me, someone probably more read in these areas than the average consumer. Litigious is the word — the death of privacy, clear and simple. This is why we need a decentralized, federated web!

        Reply

        • HardSell says

          November 29, 2019

          Thank you Anonymous.
          Yes something better than the seemingly mafia like hierarchically structured organizational control in a gestapo’s like grip on the web, that we – all the nations use.
          As the “eye’s nations” have presented over the modern internet and it’s traffic these symptoms above to warrant our concerns or simply put – to catch and store with the profiling of all users data in a database having that knowledge and control over us.

          The MLAT’s as I understood were to help aid the exchange of evidence and information in criminal and related matters.
          Of course being used in the Nations outside of the 14 eyes.
          Interesting is the “Asset Sharing” https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2014/vol2/222469.htm
          I could see this as (foot in the door) to the nations that enter into a MLAT to cooperate fully in any request, and then it does speak of getting laws changed.
          [offering the possibility of sharing in forfeited assets. A parallel goal has been to encourage spending of these assets to improve narcotics-related law enforcement. The long term goal has been to encourage governments to improve asset forfeiture laws and procedures so they will be able to conduct investigations and prosecutions of narcotics trafficking and money laundering that includes asset forfeiture.]

          As we’ve seen with the modern web and in advertisings polluted roll with our privacy’s loss there. The web emits digital exhaust that fingers us and everything then goes into the data profile. It’s probably not hard to get laws changed
          in a nations government if the monetary incentive is there as well – then general as a rule of law and not specific.
          THE INTERNET AGE has nations far behind in their own privacy protection laws to the tech used today…

          Enjoyed your insights in the quest for an online privacy too.

35. Debaccik says

    November 13, 2019

    There’re so many useful information mentioned. It is great to see that more and more people starting understand how much data security is important at the ages of tech world. I use so many security programs, so never been hacked or my data leaked. I see you mentioned Nord, so I use their business solution NordVPN Teams. I am working as freelancer and I like their services, feel secured with it on my computer and phone app. I think their prices are the most relevant, aren’t they?

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      November 13, 2019

      Yes, NordVPN is one of the best values you’ll find. They are also running a cyber security month special right now.

      Reply

36. Cotay says

    October 31, 2019

    Hey, I liked your article and all your thoughts.
    I’m now opening a small company and I will need a VPN which could be used by 20 people. For my personal use, I was using NordVPN, I kinda liked it and now I saw that they launched a new product for b2b which is called NordVPN Teams. So I’m thinking to take a VPN which is designed only for business, so I could take more benefits from it. Maybe you have any thought about business VPN?

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      October 31, 2019

      Hi, I haven’t looked into this area too much. I think most VPNs could offer a custom plan if you ask them for a small business. I also know VyprVPN has a business product as well.

      Reply

37. Jason Roth says

    October 15, 2019

    Hi Sven,
    Having followed your guides on use of VPN, browser choice and modification there are a couple of questions based on best practice when using a VPN.

    ISPs can see that an individual is connected to a VPN server so
    a) Is it best practice to use just one VPN server for everything you do day to day – all traffic.
    b) or use different VPN server in a country with strong data protection laws when downloading (raising the question that if your ISP sees high data throughput when connected to a VPN in a given country, is this likely to raise any flags).
    Thanks for all you do to help the community.

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      October 15, 2019

      Hi Jason, to be honest, I don’t think it really matters. VPNs are becoming mainstream with many people using VPNs for torrenting and Netflix streaming, which are both high-bandwidth activities. So I don’t think you have to worry about any “red flags” so to speak. Connecting to a closer server should give you better performance.

      Reply

38. Ray says

    September 20, 2019

    I just stopped using Perfect Privacy. Too often recently the connection would cut out or I would not be able to connect to a particular server(s) on the server list (I’m in Germany and could never connect with Frankfurt and only rarely with Erfurt). Also, not being able to access Netflix and other IP dependent streaming services – such as ITV – was a bummer.
    Gonna try ExpressVPN for a few months to see what they’re like.

    Reply

39. Jack sea says

    August 11, 2019

    Hi Sven.
    First thank you for your website, it has helped me a lot and I have learned many things with it. And I keep learning.
    I am currently a VPN.AC user. What it has caught my attention are their policies, they are very clear and technically give concrete explanations. I think they provide solutions that I don’t know if they have any other VPN service.
    In general, it is a good VPN service. Good speeds even with the double server jump. I have implemented the VPN on the router and through the computer I use the double jump, which makes it triple and the speeds are still good. The kill switch works perfectly and also allows you to stop the VPN service and not have an Internet connection. The kill switch works both when changing servers and if you stop your VPN service directly. I have not had service interruptions for months.
    As for the daily connection log policies, I don’t think it’s a problem.
    The company indicates that it is for safety reasons and work procedures and for the own VPN infrastructure. As they own everything (including servers in countries) I understand that they need some control over the system. Besides, I think it’s even good. It is true that there are companies that work with “marketing” to reassure a client by offering many things that personally make me doubt. There are many users who use paid VPN, and they don’t know what is behind them with respect to the loggs, and although they promise that they do not exist, putting reasons of speed, location of servers, I have reason to doubt … I think all VPN companies have some type of log (except Perfect privacy), such as determining the number of simultaneous connections.
    Besides, they don’t have a tracking connection to Google or Facebook (indicated in their policies).
    I also consider it important to be the owner of the entire infrastructure, including own servers. This makes exclusively they are those who handle the entire system, without third parties.
    My attention is largely the work with own DNS servers. As they say, the privacy with a VPN depends of many things, and DNS requests are something that many people forget and it is no less important.
    I have used several VPNs for several years: VYPRVPN, EXPRESS VPN, PERFECT PRIVACY and VPN.AC. Everyone has their good and less good things and there is no perfect VPN. There are very good things about some that do not have others, but I prefer to use PERFECT PRIVACY or VPN.AC.
    I apologize if there is a mistake in making the comments, I would like to be told it.
    Thank you.

    Reply

40. Gerhard says

    August 5, 2019

    Hello Steve, I have been using Surf Shark for several days. Supposedly does a lot for security and privacy and the servers are very fast in my opinion. So far, I am thrilled. Although I’m skeptical about new VPN, but it is recommended everywhere, even by independent, on Reedit there is a discussion and they are also excited. However, the app makes some problems with Windows 10 Spring Update. Sometimes it just hangs, does not react at all, and then it’s back after 2 minutes. Although I had to shoot it completely once, because it completely hung up. In my eyes Promising VPN. Let’s see what else they can think of.

    Reply

41. anon says

    August 2, 2019

    Do you think chaning VPN across different countries is BETTER done in VM or better done on VPN routers made by different companies?

    also, with TOR as the endpoint and multi chained VPN behind it, if TOR is compramised, they would just see your last VPN, and then need to go to your next vpn etc this seems like the best approach as far as I can tell.

    I would still like to hear your thoughts on Qubes OS with Whoonix and TOR as a less exploitable surface than VPN chain due to virtualization compartmentalization

    Reply

42. anon says

    July 28, 2019

    I would like to ask a meta-question about VPNs

    I like and use a few of your top picks.

    I recently argued with a secuirty professional about the security of VPNs, he argued that something like Qubes OS with whoonix/tor, is far more secure way to protect your real ip than a VPN. His claim was that virtualization of Qubes os and the non-business model of TOR is more secure than a VPN business that could give up your information if pressured or hacked. What are your thoughts?

    Do we have a lot of cases of the best VPN’s in the best countires giving up customer information by court order, or are there enough cases of VPN companies not having any data to actually give (no log etc) ?

    It is hard to argue with the idea that a VPN can see everything you are doing online and you are basically trusting them in a way Qubes/whoonix/tor would not require.

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      July 29, 2019

      After thoroughly researching Tor, I have my doubts, many red flags:
      https://restoreprivacy.com/tor/
      Recent news, also illustrating Tor de-anonymization work going all the way back to 2012:
      https://www.zdnet.com/article/hackers-breach-fsb-contractor-expose-tor-deanonymization-project/
      With VPNs, yes, there are also risks and examples of VPNs giving up logs. But there are also examples of verified no logs VPN providers that have passed real-world tests:
      https://restoreprivacy.com/no-logs-vpn/

      Reply

43. ewuh says

    July 27, 2019

    Add CryptoSTorm!!!

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      July 28, 2019

      CryptoStorm is run (or was founded?) by Douglas Spink:

      1) Spink was accused of running an illegal “farm” where people engaged in “animal cruelty” acts (sources here, here, and here).

      2) Spink was busted for smuggling millions of dollars worth of cocaine. While others in the ring received 17-year sentences, Spink got off with a “lenient, three-year sentence because of his extensive cooperation with investigators.” Key words here: extensive cooperation.

      For years there have been rumors this “cooperation” entailed giving authorities backdoor access to CryptoStorm, but again, who knows for sure.

      Reply

44. dog says

    July 7, 2019

    just trying the Protonvpn trial, and for the record, they got great speeds, same datacenter as airvpn, again around 100Mbps, fast also with double hop. The windows and android clients are very very nice, fast to log in and don’t drop connections, don’t leak that much:
    – leaks during user’s configuration change, you need to stop connection to make some changes, weird but it’s one time and can be controlled
    – leaks during VPN server change (which is quite fast, but even 100ms is enough for GMS to connect to Google and add your real IP to their unique_ip list)
    – no leaks on connection change
    – routing messup, packets not coming back will make app stuck & “connected” while there’s no connectivity.. -> restart wifi router to spice it up and it won’t switch to mobile while wifi is already off, -> set wifi back and it will leak via wifi while still stuck
    Isn’t it funny that only “Block connections without VPN” works these days…
    Still this as a reminder where airvpn needs to improve because it’s even worse on Android: opensource Openvpn client is slow and leaks in every possible situation (at boot, during connection change, during VPN server change or simply by system apps like Download manager), while eddie for android is, while new, a total mess (chaotic UI, long boot leak, boot connect not possible via login, nonstop connection drops, with no other leaks at least). PC and router clients perfect with no leaks there.
    I consider using protonmail on mobile device due to 2 less leaks. I’m not having big expectation on android devs grasping the programming logic, but If there’s really leakproof android VPN client/service, i’m interested.

    Reply

45. Lode Runner says

    July 1, 2019

    What do you think about RiseUp VPN?

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      July 1, 2019

      It’s based in the US, so it doesn’t meet the criteria. See also here and here.

      Reply

46. matt-l says

    June 30, 2019

    Hi all, I’m considering to get a VPN to torrent some obscure film that is generally unavailable to the public and/or unavailable to purchase. However my upload and download speed is mediocre, sitting at just 2Mb and 15Mb (may dip to below 10Mb) respectively. I live in SEA, if that helps.
    Should get NordVPN, VPNac, or Zorro?

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      July 3, 2019

      VPN.ac might be a good option: fast speeds, servers in Seattle, torrenting friendly…

      Reply

47. Sebastian M says

    June 16, 2019

    Hi Sven, I read your thoughts and I am now trying to choose between ExpressVPN and vpn.ac. I had a IVPN account for about one year, they were ok, but I want to move on as they are too expensive and also as you mention just „ok“ – no netflix, no browser add-on and ok speeds for Germany. On the positive side I can say there were flawless with a lot of updates among this year. However, everywhere you look for a vpn review you can find ExpressVPN as the total leader and I am not sure if they pay their way in to be on the top or are they that good. Does it worth the price difference (ExprssVPN vs. vpn.ac)? You tested both, so I would relate my question in terms of speed and „feeling of anonymity“. Because vpn.ac logs, but they say they keep only check in and out times and data volume – and only for one day.
    Would you consider moving from IVPN to one of your recomended VPNs an improvement (you mentioned you have also tested IVPN)? Thank you

    Reply

    • Sven Taylor says

      June 17, 2019

      Yes, ExpressVPN is the best all-around VPN in my opinion: excellent speeds (verified with the recent review update), 24/7 Netflix access, very secure apps, support for all devices and operating systems, verified no logs provider, and quite reliable. VPN.ac is also a great option, and even though they don’t advertise it, they do support American Netflix. VPN.ac is also a good value at only $3.75 with the two-year plan. IVPN is also a good provider from everything I’ve seen, although lacking a bit in some areas as you pointed out.
      If you’re on the fence about switching, you can get a cheap one-week trial for $2 on the VPN.ac website (see FAQ page). ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day refund window, no questions asked.

      Reply

    • Johnny Mnemonic says

      June 18, 2019

      Sebastian,

      You should read the VPN.ac legal stuff. I like the site and what they seem to provide, but the TOS is a bit hard to digest.

      Policy is very broad and basically renders VPN.ac service useless by prohibiting legit VPN use cases.

      EG: (couple tos violations)
      –
      * Transmit any copyrighted, trademark, or patented content
      –
      service is unusable as worded, too many legit and legal reasons to mention which would fall under this violation
      –
      * Use P2P programs on other VPN Nodes than those where we allow it
      –
      peer-to-peer is attractive for many uses other than BitTorrent and many emerging software and services could be considered P2P
      –
      Regards,
      JN

      Reply

      • Sven Taylor says

        June 18, 2019

        Johnny, nearly every VPN has a clause in their TOS saying “don’t torrent copyrighted material on our servers.”
        Why? Because when they inevitably get DMCA takedown notices and threats from data centers, they can say “Well, we don’t allow copyright infringement, it’s right here in our Terms.” Meanwhile, I know for a fact that VPN.ac does not close accounts for torrenting copyrighted material.

        Reply

        • Sebastian M says

          June 18, 2019

          Thank you both for the reply. I think when it comes to sharing copyright material and torrenting illegal stuff nobody will encourage the use of their service :-). I was interested in speeds and non leaking apps on the long run. Sometimes they put you on the right server with very good speeds during the test phase and then, after signing up it all goes down (it happened to me with some providers). I was happy with IVPN, but now I‘m also thinking about trying US-Netflix. And also using just a browser extension which will for sure use less memory on the computer. I’ve asked about vpn.ac because not long ago I saw a strange review about them. Somebody wrote on his site he used some servers in Asia, checked the IP and got IPs from Europe or something like that. I am just speculating, maybe it was just intended to discourage the use of the service. BTW Sven, please take a look at Surfshark if you have the time. It‘s the new kid in town and I think many of us would like to hear some unbiased opinions about it (I am sure your readers have a lot of questions and doubts). Once again thank you very much for your answers and your privacy blog

        • Sven Taylor says

          June 18, 2019

          VPN.ac does not use any virtual locations, so the servers are located where they are advertised, you can test this.