To find the best VPN service in 2022, you need to consider several factors. Among these is privacy and security. Also, you need to consider speed. We tested 10 of the top VPNs against servers across the world, and based on this we’ve determined which are the best VPN services for 2022. However, you must remember that VPNs are illegal in some countries, such as China, Russia, and Cuba. On the other hand, if you live in a democratic country, such as the United States, then you can use a VPN.
ExpressVPN
When it comes to privacy, ExpressVPN is the clear winner. They have an in-house privacy research lab and are on the forefront of the i2Coalition, a consortium of top-tier VPN services. This group aims to raise transparency standards in the VPN industry and educate policymakers. ExpressVPN has even increased its bug bounty to $100,000 after a competing bounty program called for the company’s head.
The service has thousands of servers worldwide. Depending on where you are, they may be crowded and slow your connection. However, you can select a server location closer to your current location to avoid this problem. However, you should keep in mind that if you live in a country with restrictive internet policies, it will be difficult to find a server in your area. Luckily, ExpressVPN offers servers in 94 countries around the world.
ExpressVPN has excellent mobile apps for both iOS and Android systems. These apps feature many of the same features as the desktop apps, including app shortcuts and protection summary. The ExpressVPN Android app requires you to sign up on the website before downloading it. Additionally, you must have an Android system that has at least version 5.0.
ExpressVPN’s Lightway deployment has upended the conventional belief that you need to choose between privacy and speed when choosing a VPN service. While most VPN services offer a good combination of both, ExpressVPN is still vulnerable to certain software and OS settings. That’s why it’s crucial to choose a VPN provider that provides a high level of security.
Although ExpressVPN is not cheap, the service is worth every penny. If you’re looking for a high-quality VPN service that can bypass the Great Firewall of China, you’ll find it here. ExpressVPN also offers a long-term subscription that is great value. When you sign up for a year-long plan, you’ll get three months free and unlimited cloud storage.
NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the best VPN services, and it has more than five thousand servers across 59 countries. Many of these are located in major business centers and cities. The service offers double VPN protection, meaning that your traffic is routed through two different VPN servers. This protection ensures that your data is encrypted and protected against hackers, which is particularly useful for journalists and business travelers.
The service keeps no logs on its users. It also offers multiple connection protocols, 24/7 customer support, and simple apps for all major operating systems. It can also help you get around geo-restrictions and use streaming apps. This makes NordVPN one of the best VPN services in 2022.
NordVPN is available in over 20 languages. It has a user-friendly website in seven languages and an iOS app that can help you get online faster. Its dedicated IPs are a great option for torrenters. However, you should note that content piracy can be illegal, and can result in jail time or fines. To avoid this, you can sign up for NordVPN’s dedicated IP service, which uses the OpenVPN protocol. This service costs around $70 a year and includes two devices.
NordVPN has improved its platform support, including dedicated apps for iOS and Android. Users can download the app on up to six different devices. The client is simple to use and features a beautiful interface. It is also very fast to connect to a server. The client also offers a free trial and a money-back guarantee.
NordVPN is one of the most popular consumer VPNs. It has great encryption and streaming capabilities. It’s also one of the fastest VPNs, with consistent speeds.
PIA
If you’re looking for a VPN service with good performance and a reasonable price, PIA is a solid option. Its service is fast and reliable and offers over three thousand IP addresses in 44 countries and 64 cities. It has a dedicated IP address that helps avoid flagging on safe sites, and you can turn it on and off from the app. Moreover, it also blocks malicious domains.
The company has an excellent reputation for protecting customer privacy. In fact, their no-logs policy was independently audited by Big Four auditing firm Deloitte in June 2022. PIA’s server architecture is designed to prevent data retention. In addition, PIA only uses RAM modules on its servers. This helps ensure that no logs are kept by the service.
PIA is constantly improving its server infrastructure. They have recently increased the number of servers they have and created a brand-new network that is optimized for users. This NextGen VPN Network encrypts data using RAM memory and deletes it once the server is offline. This new network is used by all of PIA’s desktop and mobile apps.
PIA VPN is great for torrenting, privacy protection, and general security. It also works well with most platforms. However, there are a few areas where it could use improvement. It has a wide network of VPN servers and good streaming speeds. However, it is based in the US, which is not a privacy-friendly country. It also does not unblock some streaming services. Furthermore, it is not independently audited.
PIA VPN has excellent customer support. Its live representatives are responsive but sometimes take a while to get to you. However, once you reach them, they’re very helpful and informative. There is a kill switch under the privacy menu, which lets you know if your private information has been exposed while using PIA VPN.
VPN Unlimited
VPN Unlimited will continue to offer its premium browsing features and will offer new ones as the service becomes more popular. For as little as $25 per month, VPN Unlimited users can get private servers and personal IPs. Each private server has a data limit of about 1TB, depending on the plan. The company also offers a free trial period of seven days. The free trial period doesn’t require payment details, but after that, you’ll be prompted to pay or cancel.
VPN Unlimited has desktop clients for macOS, Windows, Linux, and iOS. It also offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. The company also supports streaming devices like Apple TV and Amazon Fire. Users can also manually configure VPN Unlimited on routers. While the service is geared towards the desktop, it’s not perfect for mobile users.
VPN Unlimited offers dedicated servers for its subscribers and users have better speeds than non-subscribers. However, the company has a lot of room for improvement, especially on speed. It’s not a perfect service, but it’s still worth considering if you’re interested in security and privacy.
VPN Unlimited’s mobile app and desktop client are both functional, but their interfaces are less dynamic than their competition. Still, they offer basic features like low device caps and static IPs. VPN Unlimited also includes a kill switch to protect your internet traffic. This will prevent your real IP address from being exposed. VPN Unlimited is also known for its DNS Firewall feature, which can block malicious websites and customize your own blacklist.
VPN Unlimited uses the KeepSolid Wise protocol, which is based on OpenVPN. This protocol uses TCP 443 and UDP 33434 ports to disguise traffic. It’s useful for dealing with Chinese censorship and Netflix VPN filters. However, it doesn’t support split tunneling, so you’ll have to use another service for that.
TunnelBear
TunnelBear has a great user interface and is fast. The app connects you to the fastest server, depending on your location, in a few seconds. You can also choose to connect manually to a specific server. The service is also available on desktop. Its desktop application is nearly identical to its mobile application, with a simple, intuitive interface.
While it does not offer as many servers as other popular VPN services, TunnelBear does have servers in 45 countries. This number is a bit smaller than other leading VPN services, such as ExpressVPN, CyberGhost VPN, and Private Internet Access, but is still larger than the number of countries provided by the other services. With a server in your country, you’ll likely be able to watch Netflix or stream 4K movies.
Moreover, there’s no data cap on the paid plan. You can connect five devices simultaneously. There are different subscription plans available, and you can choose one that best suits your needs. There are also different subscription durations, and you can get steeper discounts for longer terms. The paid plan costs $9.99 a month.
Customer support is adequate but could be better. You have to create an account before you can contact the company, but you can ask questions through the help page. You can also use the live chat feature. You can also check their FAQ to answer common questions. But this service is not as advanced as other VPN providers, so make sure you understand all the details of the VPN before you sign up.
TunnelBear offers a wide range of servers. It supports Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. It also works with compatible routers. Premium accounts also allow you to connect up to five devices simultaneously. Its VigilantBear feature prevents unencrypted data from being sent back to your ISP. It also automatically reconnects to the best server.