By Charles Perrin
The online streaming and gaming markets have surged in popularity over the past few years, and it should come as no surprise that more people are beginning to tap into the virtues of using a VPN. After all, having a VPN will open up a whole world of opportunities and enable consumers to get access to content that was previously deemed to be off-bounds.
If you are tech-savvy or privacy-conscious, then VPNs are laden with benefits, but there are a few things to take into account. In this guide, we have assessed several of the finest VPNs and placed them into categories based on specific performance criteria. Read on to see what we discovered.
Best budget VPN (SurfShark)
VPNs can vary wildly in price, but for those who are on a budget or have tight pursestrings, then SurfShark is fast becoming a go-to option. With plenty of potential, don’t be underwhelmed by the small price tag.
Aside from being devoid of any latency issues and being incredibly smooth, prices start at just $2.15 a month for a 24-month subscription, and what’s even better, is that SurfShark throws in two months for free which is a big incentive and worth capitalizing on.
Essentially, across the board, it is one of the cheapest packages we have encountered, and there is plenty of functionality value. With the SurfShark plan, you can cover every device in your house, and if you’re feeling generous, you can extend the goodwill to family and friends, so if your gaming spans multiple systems, SurfShark will give you bang for your buck.
Oh, and it excels as a Fire Stick VPN since it has a custom app for the Amazon Fire TV. A great all-rounder that is intuitive and easy to use for beginners.
Great choice for reliability (ExpressVPN)
Reliability is something that is innately a big part of a strong VPN, and while Express VPN comes with a big reputation, it ticks this box. Indeed, Express VPN delivers a top-tier service, its speed was clocked at 750 Mbps, and it has 3,000+ servers to count on.
Although more expensive than SurfShark with a 12-month subscription starting at $6.93 per month, Express VPN isn’t overly techy or complex, making configuring a relatively seamless process. With an audited no-logs policy and state-of-the-art encryption built in, you can kick back and enjoy your favorite TV show or movie. With a whole host of streaming services unblocked, such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu, the world is your oyster!
With 24/7 customer service available too, help is never far away should you need it, and the customer support team is very attentive and responsive, so you will be in good hands.
Fastest VPN (NordVPN)
Naturally, VPNs aren’t worth their salt if they have latency or buffering issues. Speed is a necessity and a basic requirement which sorts out the best from the rest. However, some have jumped ahead of their rivals.
For those who crave speed, then they should take a closer look at NordVPN, which has undergone a reboot, and it is now the fastest VPN according to Additive Tips. Indeed, during recent tests that were carried out, NordVPN recorded speeds of over 950 Mbps, and it is the best way to enjoy lag-free gaming or streaming. It has over 5,000 servers, and you should take NordVPN out for a test run first. If you are dissatisfied, NordVPN has a 30-day money-back policy, so if you don’t like it, you will be entitled to a 100% refund.
Best for newbies
Although probably not as heralded as the other VPNs mentioned on this list, CyberGhost is arguably one of the best for newbies. Boasting solid speeds of 630 Mbps, its servers are well optimized for streaming and gaming, and it is great for busting any cybersecurity threats.
Interestingly, the money-back guarantee is eminently more generous (45 days), however one area for improvement should be the quality of customer support afforded, but perhaps that will be addressed moving forward. But don’t let that put you off, and explore for yourself today.
Conclusion
In summary, this guide has drawn your attention to just a handful of VPNs, but it should give you a flavor of what you can get based on the carefully considered categories. No two VPNs are the same, but striking a balance between quality and cost can be a challenge for some.
If we are to judge VPNs solely on speed, then NordVPN blows its rivals out of the water, but you have to weigh up each package as a whole. Anyway, if you have been inspired by what you have read, then bookmark this page so you can return to it for reference.