Best VPN Service Report

What if many of the “best VPN services” that claim to protect your privacy are actually leaking your identity all over the internet?

In my search for the best VPN service I tested dozens of popular providers – and the results were alarming. Extensive testing identified leaks, failures, and flaws with VPNs that are listed as “editor’s choice” or “best VPN” on large, trusted websites.

To simplify your search, this guide reveals only the top-performing VPNs based on months of testing. If a VPN did not pass all the tests, it did not make the list – and most VPNs fail.

Example: here is one popular VPN that is leaking both IP addresses and DNS requests. This exposes your identity through a globally unique IPv6 address. Similarly, DNS leaks reveal your internet service provider, your browsing history (through DNS requests), and your location.

Many highly-recommended VPNs may look perfect on the surface but fail when put to the test.

Now let’s take a look at the top performers.

Which VPN is best?

The VPN that performed the best in all categories of testing is ExpressVPN.

The rankings of the VPNs below are based on extensive test results to check for IP address leaks, DNS leaks, connection issues, app performance, reliability, speed, and whether the features work correctly. Additionally, I also considered company policies, jurisdiction, logging practices, and the trustworthiness of each VPN provider.

British Virgin Islands

Switzerland

Panama

Bulgaria

Romania

Now we will take a deep dive into the top five best VPN services for 2018, discussing the pros, cons, features, and test results for each provider.

ExpressVPN

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In an overcrowded VPN market, ExpressVPN continues to stand out from the rest and remains the top recommendation at Restore Privacy. It is based in the British Virgin Islands and offers a great lineup of applications for all devices. Extensive testing for the ExpressVPN review found the apps to be very secure, with exceptional speeds and reliability throughout the server network.

ExpressVPN is also a service that continues to get better. In the past year, they have made significant improvements to their apps to protect users against rare leak scenarios that plague most VPNs. These efforts culminated in the public release of their leak testing tools, which can be used to test any VPN for flaws/failures (free, open source, and available on GitHub).

ExpressVPN’s logging policies (no activity or connection logs) were recently put to the test when authorities in Turkey seized one of their VPN servers to obtain user data. Thankfully, all customer data remained safe due to ExpressVPN’s no logging policies (further explained here). This eve1nt shows us that ExpressVPN takes customer privacy seriously and their logging policies pass real-world tests.

ExpressVPN is also one of the best VPN services available for streaming. Whether you are using a VPN with Kodi or streaming Netflix with a VPN, ExpressVPN offers applications to support all devices as well as a high-bandwidth network with great performance. Their customer service is also superb, with 24/7 live chat support and a 30 day money-back guarantee.

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Perfect Privacy

Perfect Privacy holds the top spot as the best VPN for advanced online anonymity. You may have never heard of Perfect Privacy because they largely ignore marketing and instead focus on providing a high quality, privacy-focused service with advanced features. Nonetheless, this is a well-respected VPN provider that has earned high praise from the tech community for exposing vulnerabilities with other VPN providers.

Their network is composed entirely of dedicated, bare-metal servers that provide you with fast speeds, great reliability, and plenty of bandwidth at all times (you can see real-time server bandwidth here). They have also passed real-world tests when two of their servers were seized by Dutch authorities last year. However, no customer data was affected due to no logs and all servers operating in RAM disk mode (no saved data).

For features they offer multi-hop VPN chains, advanced firewall configuration options (DNS and IP leak protection), port forwarding, NeuroRouting, Socks5 and Squid proxies, obfuscation features to defeat VPN blocking (Stealth VPN), and a customizable TrackStop feature to block tracking, malware, advertising and social media domains. They also give you an unlimited number of device connections and offer full IPv6 support across their server network.

While Perfect Privacy offers very advanced features that you won’t find anywhere else, it also comes with a Swiss price tag at €8.95 per month. Additionally, these advanced features may be overkill for some users, especially if you are new to VPNs. But for those seeking the highest levels of online anonymity and security, Perfect Privacy is worth the price.

Visit Perfect Privacy >>

NordVPN

NordVPN is a popular no logs VPN service based in Panama. It performed well in testing for the latest update to the NordVPN review and offers very competitive prices.

NordVPN is a great choice for privacy-focused users. Aside from the Panama jurisdiction and no-logs policies, NordVPN also provides advanced online anonymity features. These include double-hop VPN servers, Tor-over-VPN servers, and a lineup of obfuscated servers to conceal VPN traffic. Last year NordVPN rolled out a CyberSec feature that blocks advertisements, tracking, and malicious domains.

NordVPN’s customer service is also top-notch. They provide 24/7 live chat support directly through their website, and all plans come with a 30 day money-back guarantee. NordVPN offers a good value with the current 77% discount price.

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VPNArea

Visit VPNArea

Good for
+ Speed and performance
+ Online privacy and security

VPNArea is a no-logs VPN service based in Bulgaria. Despite being a smaller name, VPNArea is a serious, privacy-focused VPN provider that has been operating since 2012. In the past year they have released new, updated VPN apps while also adding support for the IKEv2 VPN protocol.

Another recent improvement to VPNArea is in the area of speed. The latest speed tests for the VPNArea review show significant improvements over older tests. VPNArea’s new apps are also full of features and advanced settings. These include ad-blocking DNS servers, advanced leak protection (two levels for the kill switch), as well as direct access to Netflix and other streaming services.

Even though VPNArea continues to fly under the radar and not receive too much attention, this is a solid VPN service worth considering, especially with the discount pricing currently being offered.

Get Started with VPNArea >>

VPN.ac

VPN.ac is Romania-based VPN service with excellent overall quality for a very reasonable price. It was created by a team of network security professionals with a focus on security, strong encryption, and high-quality applications. Their VPN network is composed entirely of dedicated, bare-metal servers with good bandwidth.

VPN.ac is one of the fastest VPNs I have tested, as shown with the speed tests in the review. Performance is also maximized with reliable applications and excellent bandwidth on their network at all times. (You can see their real-time bandwidth stats by selecting VPN Nodes Status at the top of the website.)

For a lower-priced VPN service, VPN.ac offers an impressive lineup of features: maximum encryption strength, obfuscation features, double-hop VPN servers, and a secure proxy browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, and Opera browsers. The secure proxy browser extension works independently from the VPN app, which allows you to proxy your traffic in a dedicated browser, while still going through the VPN app running in the background.

The main drawback is that VPN.ac maintains connection logs – but all data is erased daily, which they clearly explain on their website. All support inquiries are handled internally by the network security professionals who run the service (no third-party support).

Visit VPN.ac >>

Best VPN considerations

Choosing the best VPN all boils down to determining which factors you consider the most important and then selecting the best fit for your situation. In other words, it’s a very subjective process, which is why it’s difficult to say there is one “best VPN” for everyone.

Here are seven factors to consider when selecting a VPN service:

• Test results – How well does the VPN perform in testing? This includes both performance testing (speed and reliability) and leak testing (IP leaks and DNS leaks).
• Privacy jurisdiction – Where the VPN is legally based affects customer privacy. Many people avoid VPNs based in the US and other surveillance countries for this reason. For more of a discussion on this topic, see the guide on Five Eyes / 14 Eyes and VPNs.
• Server network – Three considerations when examining VPN servers are quality, locations, and bandwidth. Some VPNs prioritize server quality, while others prioritize locations. A few services offer both.
• Privacy features – One good privacy feature for more online anonymity is a multi-hop VPN configuration. This will encrypt your traffic across two or more servers, offering more protection against surveillance and targeted monitoring (similar to the Tor network, but with much better performance).
• Operating system – Be sure to check out if the VPN you are considering supports the operating system and devices you want to use with the service.
• Obfuscation – Obfuscation is a key feature if you are using a VPN in China or anywhere that VPNs may be blocked. Obfuscation is also important for school and work networks that may restrict VPN use.

There are many other factors to consider when selecting the best VPN for your needs – but this list will get you started.

Best VPN speed and performance

Many people are wondering how to achieve the best VPN speed and overall performance. If you are using a good VPN service, you really shouldn’t notice a huge reduction in speed with casual browsing. Of course, the extra work that goes into encrypting/decrypting your traffic across VPN servers will affect speed, but usually it’s not noticeable.

To optimize your VPN speed and achieve better performance, here are some factors to consider:

• Internet service provider interference – Some ISPs interfere with or throttle VPN connections. This seems to be a growing problem in certain parts of the world. Solution: use a VPN with obfuscation features, which will conceal the VPN traffic as HTTPS.
• High latency – You can generally expect slower speeds when you connect to servers further from your location. Using multi-hop VPN configurations will also increase latency and slow things down. Solution: Use servers closer to your location. If you utilize a multi-hop VPN chain, select nearby servers to minimize latency.
• Server congestion – Some of the larger VPN services oversell their servers, resulting in congestion, minimal bandwidth, dropped connections, and slow speeds. All of the recommendations on this page performed well in testing and offer adequate bandwidth for good performance.
• Antivirus or firewall software – Antivirus and third-party firewall software may interfere with and slow down VPNs. Some software will implement their firewall on top of the default (operating system) firewall, which slows everything down. Solution: Disable the third-party firewall, or add an exception/rule for the VPN software.
• WiFi interference – WiFi interference problems are unrelated to the VPN, but it can make a difference in overall speed. Solution: It may not be convenient, but using a wired (ethernet) connection will improve speed and security.
• Processing power – Many devices don’t do well with the extra processing power that is needed for VPN encryption/decryption. This is especially the case with older computers, most routers, and some mobile devices. Solution: Switch devices or upgrade to a faster processor (higher CPU).
• Network setup – Some networks do not work well with certain VPN protocols. Solution: The best solution is to experiment with different VPN protocols and/or ports (OpenVPN UDP / TCP / ECC / XOR, IPSec, etc.). Some VPN providers also allow you to modify MTU size, which may improve speed.

To achieve the best VPN speed possible, it’s a good idea to experiment with the different variables.

Assuming the servers are not overloaded with users, the two main ways to optimize performance are choosing a nearby server with low latency and selecting the right protocol. As mentioned above, the best protocol may vary depending on your unique situation.

What is the best VPN for online anonymity?

The best VPN for achieving the highest levels of online anonymity and security would be Perfect Privacy with the NeuroRouting feature activated.

Perfect Privacy is the best VPN available if you are serious about online privacy and security, for the following reasons:

• No logs with no restrictions – Perfect Privacy refuses to carry out any kind of logging whatsoever and they run all their servers in RAM disk mode (no saved data). They put a premium on customer privacy.
• Multi-hop cascades + NeuroRouting – Perfect Privacy’s apps give you the ability to create multi-hop VPN cascades across up to four different servers in the network. This protects you against the possibility of a rogue data center logging traffic, targeted monitoring, and other threat scenarios. Additionally, the NeuroRouting feature takes this concept even further by dynamically routing all traffic through multiple hops in the server network, corresponding to the location of the site you’re visiting. (No other VPN offers these features.)
• TrackStop – Ads are basically advanced tracking to record your browsing, so you can be hit with targeted ads based on your online activity. To protect users against this threat, Perfect Privacy developed TrackStop, which is a powerful filter that blocks advertising, tracking, and malicious domains at the VPN server level.
• Advanced leak protection – Perfect Privacy offers very secure apps to ensure you are protected against any and all leaks. In the Perfect Privacy review I discuss the three different levels of the kill switch and DNS leak protection. Users are also protected from IPv6 leaks because Perfect Privacy offers full IPv6 support across their server network (giving you both an IPv4 and IPv6 address for all your devices).

If you want the highest levels of online anonymity and security, then Perfect Privacy is probably the best choice, even though it is more expensive.

What is the best VPN for streaming?

Many people who enjoy streaming are turning to VPNs to access content that is blocked or restricted. VPNs are also crucial for protecting yourself against ISP snooping and potential copyright issues.

The best all-around VPN for streaming is ExpressVPN because it always works with Netflix, has excellent performance, and offers the best support for different streaming devices. As we covered above, ExpressVPN has a huge lineup of apps for whatever streaming device you may be using – from Android TV boxes to tablets.

Using a VPN with Netflix will allow you to access all the content you want wherever you are located in the world. Below I am running a speed test through a US Netflix server from my location in Europe (100 Mbps connection speed). As you can see, the speeds with ExpressVPN are great considering the long distance – further explained in the ExpressVPN Netflix guide.

ExpressVPN is also a great choice if you’re looking to access World Cup 2018 live streams or any other sport content.

The other thing to keep in mind when streaming content is the potential for copyright violation issues. A VPN can help protect you by anonymizing your online activity, which prevents third parties from going after you for alleged copyright issues. This is also why it’s important to use a VPN for torrenting.

What is the best VPN protocol?

As discussed in the ‘what is a VPN‘ guide, a VPN protocol is just a method by which a device creates a secure connection to a VPN server. As a general rule, OpenVPN is considered the best all-around VPN protocol, although each has its pros and cons.

Here is a brief overview of the main VPN protocols in use today.

OpenVPN – This is an open-source project that offers a great combination of performance and security. It is widely considered to be the best VPN protocol, although it does require its own software client and can be more CPU-intensive than IPSec.

IPSec – Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) can be utilized with Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) or Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2). While it is not open source, it does do well in the performance category and can be used natively (without apps) on most operating systems. IPSec/IKEv2 may be the best protocol to use with some mobile devices (iOS), which do not work well with OpenVPN.

PPTP – Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol is a basic, older VPN protocol that performs well, but also has known security vulnerabilities. PPTP should generally be avoided because it is now considered to be breakable.

So the takeaway here is that OpenVPN is arguably the best VPN protocol to be using, although IPSec/IKEv2 may be a good alternative in certain cases.

What is the best FREE VPN service?

In general, the words “best” and “free VPN” do not belong together due to the awful reputation that free VPNs have earned over the years.

Just like with Google and Facebook, free VPN services will give you a free product and then collect your data for profit. Here is a brief overview illustrating why free VPN services are dangerous:

• Malware – Free VPNs make money by collecting user data and selling it to third parties. Malware is often embedded in the VPN code to infect the user’s device and collect their data. One study found malware in 38% of free VPN apps.
• Tracking – Tracking libraries hidden in the VPN are just another tool for tracking the user, targeting him/her with ads, and collecting data for sale to third parties. Betternet was caught embedding 14 different tracking libraries in its VPN apps.
• Third party access to your data – If you used a free VPN, you should keep in mind that third parties may be getting access to everything you do when using the service. These practices may or may not be disclosed in the VPN’s privacy policy.
• Stolen bandwidth – One free VPN was even busted for stealing user bandwidth and reselling it through its sister company – see HolaVPN.
• Browser hijacking – Some free VPNs have been found to hijack and redirect browsers to e-commerce sites, such as Alibaba and eBay, through partner networks.
• Fraud – When third parties have access to your data and online activities, this makes you susceptible to fraudulent activities.
• Traffic leaks –  This is perhaps the greatest risk for people using a free VPN because it exposes your identity. One study found that 84% of free Android VPN apps leaked user data.

There are also a few VPN services that give users a limited amount of free bandwidth – i.e. the ‘freemium’ business model. Examples of this are TunnelBear and Windscribe. But the problem here is that all the regular paying customers will be forced to subsidize the costs of all the free VPN users.

This once again illustrates that nothing is free.

For all these reasons and more, it is best to avoid free VPN services and stick with trustworthy, paid VPN providers.

If you’re serious about privacy and online freedom…

Start using a VPN whenever you go online.

In just the last few years we’ve seen a number of unprecedented developments in the areas of corporate and government surveillance:

• Internet service providers in the United States can now legally record online browsing history and sell this data to third parties and advertisers. Mass surveillance also continues unabated…
• Residents of the United Kingdom are having their online browsing history, calls, and text messages recorded for up to two years (Investigatory Powers Act). This private information is freely available to various government agencies and their global surveillance partners.
• Australia has also recently implemented mandatory data retention laws, which require the collection of text messages, calls, and internet connection data. This data is available to authorities without any warrant.

Free speech and free thought are increasingly under attack all around the world. While this has traditionally been a problem in China and other Middle Eastern countries, it is now common throughout the Western world. Here are a few examples of what we see unfolding:

• YouTube videos that are blocked or censored (how to unblock YouTube).
• Social media accounts, tweets, posts, and/or entire platforms that are blocked.
• Websites of all different varieties (torrenting, Wikipedia, news, etc.) are blocked (how to unblock websites).

What you are seeing is the continual erosion of privacy and online freedom. And it’s now unfolding throughout the world.

The point here is not to sound alarmist, but instead to illustrate these trends and how they affect you.

The good news is that there are very effective solutions for these problems. You can protect yourself right now with a good VPN, which will put you back in control of your data.

Best VPN services for 2018

As a brief recap, here are the best VPN services for 2018. If you have any questions or comments about a specific provider, feel free to drop a comment on the respective VPN review.

British Virgin Islands

Switzerland

Panama

Bulgaria

Romania