Home Best VPN for Windows Best VPN for Android Best VPN for iPhone/iOS Best VPN for Mac & Linux
Reviews
ZoogVPN ReviewProton VPN ReviewMullvad ReviewNordVPN ReviewSurfshark ReviewHide.me ReviewPureVPN ReviewExpressVPN ReviewStrongVPN ReviewPlanet VPN Review Our Methodology About
Language / 语言 / Язык
EN EnglishZH 中文RU РусскийJP 日本語PT Português
Lab-tested · Updated September 2026

10 VPNs. One Lab.
Ranked by Security.

Encryption, jurisdiction, kill switches, obfuscation and audits - ranked independently. Security and privacy account for 55% of every score.

10
VPNs tested and ranked
6
independent scoring criteria
55%
Security + Privacy
See Full Ranking
Scoring Criteria - 2026
Security & Encryption
30%
Privacy & Jurisdiction
25%
Speed
15%
Stability
10%
Apps & Devices
10%
Value
10%
Read full methodology ->
31%
of breaches involve credentials stolen over unencrypted connections
14
intelligence-sharing nations that can legally request VPN user data
6
providers in our ranking with published independent security audits
9
of 10 providers with obfuscation protocols - Shadow, Stealth, Camouflage, DAITA and more

Overall Ranking - 2026

Weighted: Security 30% · Privacy 25% · Speed 15% · Stability 10% · Apps 10% · Value 10%

#1
EDITOR'S CHOICE
ZoogVPN
Built for Censored Networks
Shadow obfuscation: China/Iran/Egypt/QatarEU jurisdiction · outside 5/9/14 Eyes10 devices simultaneously
9.5
9.5
/ 10.0
Securi
Privac
Speed
Stabil
Apps
Value
Get VPNRead Full Review
#2
Proton VPN
Open Source · Swiss Law · Audited
Swiss law - no data-retention mandateFully open-source apps (all platforms)Secure Core double-hop routing
9.3
9.3
/ 10.0
Securi
Privac
Speed
Stabil
Apps
Value
Get VPNRead Full Review
#3
Mullvad
No Account. No Email. Just a Number.
No account - 16-digit number onlyPay by cash or MoneroDAITA: defeats traffic-shape analysis
9.1
9.1
/ 10.0
Securi
Privac
Speed
Stabil
Apps
Value
Get VPNRead Full Review
#4
NordVPN
Largest Network · Annual Deloitte Audits
6,400+ servers in 111 countriesNordLynx: fastest protocol in testsThreat Protection: malware blocking
9.0
9.0
/ 10.0
Securi
Privac
Speed
Stabil
Apps
Value
Get VPNRead Full Review
#5
Surfshark
Unlimited Devices · CleanWeb Blocker
Unlimited simultaneous connectionsCleanWeb: ad & malware DNS blockerMultiHop: route through two countries
8.9
8.9
/ 10.0
Securi
Privac
Speed
Stabil
Apps
Value
Get VPNRead Full Review
#6
Hide.me
No Email for Free Plan · SoftEther Support
Free plan: no email, no credit cardMalaysia - outside Eyes, no retention lawSoftEther protocol (rare at consumer price)
8.7
8.7
/ 10.0
Securi
Privac
Speed
Stabil
Apps
Value
Get VPNRead Full Review
#7
PureVPN
31-Day Refund · KPMG Audited · 6,000+ Servers
31-day refund - longest in comparisonKPMG-audited no-logs (2022 & 2023)6,000+ servers in 70+ countries
8.6
8.6
/ 10.0
Securi
Privac
Speed
Stabil
Apps
Value
Get VPNRead Full Review
#8
ExpressVPN
Lightway Protocol · TrustedServer RAM-Only
Lightway: proprietary protocol for speedTrustedServer: RAM-only, no disk writesAudited by Cure53 AND KPMG same year
8.3
8.3
/ 10.0
Securi
Privac
Speed
Stabil
Apps
Value
Get VPNRead Full Review
#9
StrongVPN
12 Devices · 250 GB SugarSync Storage
12 simultaneous devices250 GB SugarSync storage includedP2P on all servers
8.1
8.1
/ 10.0
Securi
Privac
Speed
Stabil
Apps
Value
Get VPNRead Full Review
#10
Planet VPN
Unlimited Free Data · Romania EU Jurisdiction
Unlimited free data - no capRomania/EU - outside EyesUnlimited devices on paid
7.6
7.6
/ 10.0
Securi
Privac
Speed
Stabil
Apps
Value
Get VPNRead Full Review

Scoring Criteria

Security + Privacy = 55% of the total.

Security & Encryption
30%
Cipher strength, protocol suite, kill switch, DNS-leak & WebRTC protection, obfuscation capability
Privacy & Jurisdiction
25%
Country of registration, data-retention law, Eyes membership, no-logs policy, independent audit status
Speed
15%
Download and upload throughput measured across 15+ server locations vs unprotected baseline
Stability
10%
Connection drop rate, reconnect behaviour, kill-switch reliability under network transitions
Apps & Devices
10%
Simultaneous connection limit, OS coverage, UI quality, feature parity across platforms
Value
10%
Long-term plan price, free tier availability, refund window, per-device cost