PCMag tests and rates dozens of VPNs yearly to help you make an informed decision when it comes to your online privacy and security. With decades of experience under our belts, we use a mixture of objective measurements and subjective observations to give as thorough a recommendation as we can manage.

Did you know that Internet service providers are allowed to sell your data, so long as it is anonymized? This is just one of many reasons why you should purchase a VPN. A Virtual Private Network, keeps sensitive data safe and your browsing history private. A VPN can even let your computer appear to be in a different country–which can open up whole worlds of discounts, new streaming content, or let users dodge restrictions in countries that have tighter controls over online publishing. 

If it’s up to you to procure your own VPN, whether for work or personal use, there’s good news: We’ve found a number of early-year discounts from a variety of providers. Even better: today’s VPNs don’t just safeguard your data. You can have multiple simultaneous connections running under one VPN, and many also include helpful extras like password managers and encrypted file storage. New users often get massive discounts to join up while existing users can also find some strong savings as well, so take a look at the best deals we’ve found for VPN access right now:

Proton VPN is our top choice for VPNs, earning itself a rare 5 out of 5 from our experts as well as the Editors’ Choice award. Among Proton VPN’s many features, our expert applauded the excellent speed test scores, numerous advanced privacy tools, and accessibility of the client. This VPN is available for all of your devices—Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS—with 500+ servers in 67 countries for a broad level of support for your online activities. Proton VPN also offers a free VPN subscription tier that doesn’t limit the amount of data you can use; you just need to create an account, which also gives you access to the rest of the Proton product line.

Like many VPNs nowadays, NordVPN has moved beyond just VPN protection to offer password management and encrypted file storage, both of which can be purchased separately or bundled with the core VPN product for a few extra bucks. NordVPN covers up to ten devices; some routers can also be configured to connect via NordVPN to protect other connected gadgets, like smart home devices. Extend that coverage even wider with the Meshnet feature, which lets you share access to your device with other NordVPN members you approve.

NordVPN received PCMag’s Editors’ Choice award for offering a slick client that has grown beyond just VPN protection into a privacy juggernaut, offering antivirus and unique tools. While it’s on the more expensive side in comparison to others on the market, it’s still an outstanding value.

Surfshark VPN is a top contender on our list due to the company’s large global server presence, multi-hop and split tunneling tools, and unlimited simultaneous connections. The company long-term commitments with discounts, though you may want to start small and work your way up to a multi-year plan if Surfshark works for you. Surfshark offers VPN servers in 100 countries, meaning you’ll be able to find a stable, secure connection while traveling—even to countries with more repressive internet policies. Surfshark works on Windows, Android, and Apple/Mac devices as well as Chrome OS and Linux, so all of your internet-connected devices are covered. That split-tunneling tool, dubbed Bypasser, lets you decide which apps and websites use the VPN connection, which is helpful since some sites block access to VPNs. Other noteworthy features include a custom DNS service, a built-in ad-blocker, and access to static servers.

TunnelBear has cartoon bears and a team with a great sense of humor, which makes it a win in my book. Its user-friendly UI, excellent privacy policies, and growing roster of features are enough to win it a PCMag Editors’ Choice stamp of approval. The free subscription tier restricts you to 500MB of data per month with allowances granted for tweeting about the company (up to 1.5GB). This is a brilliant business model: TunnelBear gets free advertising and you get to see if the product suits your needs before commiting to a purchase.

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If you do take the plunge, TunnelBear VPN will set you back $120 for a three-year plan with a savings of $239.64. TunnelBear secures your connection with the OpenVPN protocol on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. With servers in 48 countries, TunnelBear has less of a global presence, but can still spoof your location to a wide variety of places. You’ll also be more likely to find a server while traveling abroad for a more reliable connection than you would get from a distant server.

Headquartered in the United States, Private Internet Access offers features like split-tunneling, dedicated IP addresses, and encryption settings that set it apart from the competition. Private Internet Access VPN includes its own ad- and tracker-blocking tool called MACE and also supports port forwarding on some servers. The company recently lifted it 10-device cap to allow unlimited simultaneous connections without increasing the price. Currently, best deal is the two-year plan which includes two months free. Private Internet Access has servers in 84 countries, which is an above average number, and they’re a mixture of physical and virtual locations. Our experts gave it an excellent rating, for offering a robust VPN service with advanced network and privacy tools packaged into a clever interface.”

Recommended by Our Editors

PCMag’s review praises IPVanish for offering “good value with a robust collection of server locations and excellent customizability.” There’s no limit to the number of devices you can connect simultaneously and IPVanish supports both OpenVPN and WireGuard VPN protocols. With servers spread across 52 countries, IPVanish has very inclusive geographic diversity—minus regions like China and Russia where internet restrictions are more oppressive. 

IPVanish offers split tunneling (both domain-based and application-based) for all major platforms and has access to the Tor anonymization network via VPN. IPVanish is also available for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and Linux, which combined with unlimited simultaneous connections means that every internet-connected device you own can be protected when you go online.

Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by PCMag parent company Ziff Davis.

CyberGhost offers the largest VPN server network, has a snazzy client, and supports a generous seven simultaneous connections. While VPNs often slow down internet speeds, CyberGhost VPN yielded excellent speed test results in PCMag’s tests. Its servers are encrypted and run in RAM only, meaning no data is stored on a hard drive. Even if an attacker physically removed the server, there would be no data to examine. In our review, we found that CyberGhost VPN is expensive for a VPN that doesn’t include all the privacy features found among top competitors, but you can save up to 83% if you commit to a two-year plan (which offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, plus four months free).

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About Jade Chung-Lee

Merchandising Associate

When she isn’t perusing online stores for deals, Jade enjoys playing video games (mostly JRPGs and roguelikes), sorting board game components neatly into containers, and building Gundam models. Her love of electronics has persisted through her youth and has resulted in a collection of gaming peripherals including keyboards and controllers, scale figures, and art work. Jade lives in blissful harmony with her wife, cat, and two chinchillas—as well as a host of houseplants.

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About Justyn Newman

Senior Security Analyst

I’ve been writing about technology since 2012, focusing on privacy. With companies vying for user data, AI skimming it for tools, and countless bad actors seeking to exploit it, safeguarding the information we put onto the internet is more important than ever. I have always been passionate about protecting user privacy, data, and anonymity. Prior to joining PCMag as a senior analyst to cover VPNs, I was the lead editorial manager at WizCase, where I spent four years honing in on the finer details of privacy networks and tools.

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Read the latest from Justyn Newman