ExpressVPN is launching a new cybersecurity suite consisting of four standalone products: a password manager called ExpressKeys, a masked email relay called ExpressMailGuard, an encrypted AI platform called ExpressAI and an app called Identity Defender that monitors public information for any threats to your identity. All four apps are being rolled into ExpressVPN’s existing multi-tiered pricing structure.
ExpressKeys and ExpressMailGuard have officially launched and are now available to subscribers. Identity Defender launches for U.S. customers only on February 26. ExpressAI was originally planned to launch today, but ExpressVPN decided yesterday to hold it back in order to refine the experience. Its new launch date remains to be determined.
ExpressKeys and Identity Defender are based on existing products, but they’re being relaunched for the new suite. ExpressKeys replaces ExpressVPN Keys, the password manager formerly controlled from the ExpressVPN app. By separating password management into its own app, ExpressVPN hopes to be able to update it more quickly without needing to ship a whole new version of the VPN. Everyone who currently has an Advanced or Pro subscription with ExpressVPN Keys will see it automatically replaced with ExpressKeys.
Identity Defender is only available in the United States, and so far only to users who created their accounts after October 28, 2024. Available for Advanced and Pro subscribers, Identity Defender consists of a data removal service, an identity theft insurance policy and a set of crawlers that scan for any suspicious activity around your personal information. Like ExpressKeys, it’s transitioning from an integrated VPN feature to a standalone app.
ExpressMailGuard is a service for creating burner email addresses. If you’re not comfortable handing over your real email address when creating a new account, you can use MailGuard to generate a fake address that forwards all email to your real inbox. If one of your aliases starts getting a lot of spam, you can cut off its access. It’s managed through a separate dashboard that will be available to all ExpressVPN subscribers.
ExpressAI is an AI platform that saves all user-inputted data on strictly encrypted servers. It’s apparently end-to-end encrypted, doesn’t use your prompts to train its model and never saves uploads on persistent memory. It also has guardrails against processing harmful requests.
All these apps are in line with ExpressVPN’s usual ethos. They’re not innovations; all four can be easily compared to existing products. Instead, like the VPN itself — which rode this model to a spot on my best VPN list — they’re focused on performing unsexy tasks well. The ability to bundle them with an ExpressVPN subscription should make them appealing to customers who are already fans of the core VPN product.
It’s the night before Christmas, and holiday VPN deals are going strong. It’s a great time to grab a last-minute subscription for yourself or a loved one. With access to a virtual private network (VPN), you can stream TV shows and events from all over the world, protect your information from hackers and thwart online trackers. It might be cute that Santa sees you when you’re sleeping and knows when you’re awake, but Russian hacker collectives and the Amazon marketing department don’t really share St. Nick’s charm.
Although we strongly recommend using a VPN, jumping on the first deal that comes along might get you stuck with a substandard app. Beyond that, even otherwise respectable VPNs sometimes frame their prices in misleading ways, with advertised deals not always as available as they seem to be.
Even so, there are some great bargains on the table. For the holiday season, plenty of the best VPNs — including our top pick, Proton VPN — have end-of-year deals live that can save you anywhere from 67 to 88 percent on annual subscriptions. Most of these discounts only apply if you sign up for a year or more, but as long as you’re comfortable with a service before you take the plunge, committing actually makes sense. You pay more at the start, but if you divide the cost by the months of subscription, it’s much cheaper over time.
Best VPN deals
Proton
This Swiss VPN is Engadget’s top VPN of choice right now, for reasons I’ve laid out in a full Proton VPN review. It looks and feels good to use on every platform, which makes it fantastic for multiple-device households. It keeps your browsing speeds fast and latencies low, even over long distances. For those who need a VPN to stay anonymous, Proton VPN is the only service implementing full-disk encryption, which means it can manage all your traffic without any of it being visible to Proton itself.
ExpressVPN Basic — $97.72 for a two-year subscription with four months free (73 percent off): This is one of the best VPNs, especially for new users, who will find its apps and website headache-free on all platforms. In tests for my ExpressVPN review, it dropped my download speeds by less than 7 percent and successfully changed my virtual location 14 out of 15 times. In short, it’s an all-around excellent service that only suffers from being a little overpriced — which is why I’m so excited whenever I find it offering a decent deal. This discount, which gets you 28 months of ExpressVPN service, represents a 73 percent savings. Be aware, though, that it’ll renew at the $99.95 per year price.
NordVPN Basic — $80.73 for a two-year subscription with three months free (74 percent off): NordVPN gets the most important parts of a VPN right. It’s fast, it doesn’t leak any of your data and it’s great at changing your virtual location. I noted in my NordVPN review that it always connects quickly and includes a support page that makes it easy to get live help. NordVPN includes a lot of cool features, like servers that instantly connect you to Tor. This holiday deal gives you 74 percent off the two-year plan, which also comes with three extra months.
NordVPN Plus — $105.03 for a two-year subscription with three months free (74 percent off): In another holiday discount, NordVPN has also taken 74 percent off its Plus subscription. For only a little more, you get a powerful ad and tracker blocker that can also catch malware downloads, plus access to the NordPass password manager. A Plus plan also adds a data breach scanner that checks the dark web for your sensitive information.
Surfshark Starter — $53.73 for a two-year subscription with three months free (87 percent off): This is the “basic” level of Surfshark, but it includes the entire VPN; everything on Surfshark One is an extra perk. With this subscription, you’ll get some of the most envelope-pushing features in the VPN world right now. Surfshark can rotate your IP constantly to help you evade detection — it even lets you choose your own entry and exit nodes for a double-hop connection. That all comes with a near-invisible impact on download speeds. With this year-round deal, you can save 87 percent on 27 months of Surfshark.
Surfshark One — $61.83 for a two-year subscription with three months free (88 percent off): A VPN is great, but it’s not enough to protect your data all on its own. Surfshark One adds several apps that boost your security beyond just VPN service, including Surfshark Antivirus (scans devices and downloads for malware) and Surfshark Alert (alerts you whenever your sensitive information shows up in a data breach), plus Surfshark Search and Alternative ID from the tier below. This extra-low deal gives you 88 percent off all those features. If you bump up to Surfshark One+, you’ll also get data removal through Incogni, but the price jumps enough that it’s not quite worthwhile in my eyes.
CyberGhost — $56.94 for a two-year subscription with two months free (83 percent off): CyberGhost has some of the best automation you’ll see on any VPN. With its Smart Rules system, you can determine how its apps respond to different types of Wi-Fi networks, with exceptions for specific networks you know by name. Typically, you can set it to auto-connect, disconnect or send you a message asking what to do. CyberGhost’s other best feature is its streaming servers — I’ve found both better video quality and more consistent unblocking when I use them on streaming sites. Currently, you can get 26 months of CyberGhost for 83 percent off the usual price.
hide.me — $69.95 for a two-year subscription with four months free (75 percent off): Hide.me is an excellent free VPN — in fact, it’s my favorite on the market, even with EventVPN and the free version of Proton VPN as competition. If you do want to upgrade to its paid plan, though, the two-year subscription offers great savings. Hide.me works well as a no-frills beginner VPN, with apps and a server network it should frankly be charging more for.
Practically every VPN heavily discounts its long-term subscriptions year-round, with even sharper discounts around occasions like the holidays. The only noteworthy exception is Mullvad, the Costco hot dog of VPNs (that’s a compliment, to be clear). When there’s constantly a huge discount going on, it can be hard to tell when you’re actually getting a good deal. The best way to squeeze out more savings is to look for seasonal deals, student discounts or exclusive sales like Proton VPN’s coupon for Engadget readers.
One trick VPNs often use is to add extra months onto an introductory deal, pushing the average monthly price even lower. When it comes time to renew, you usually can’t get these extra months again. You often can’t even renew for the same basic period of time — for example, you may only be able to renew a two-year subscription for one year. If you’re planning to hold onto a VPN indefinitely, check the fine print to see how much it will cost per month after the first renewal, and ensure that fits into your budget.
A cybersecurity company claims that a number of web browser extensions are secretly logging and selling users’ conversations with AIchatbots.
KOI, an Israel-based cybersecurity firm focused on developing protections against extension-based attacks, has released a report alleging that Urban VPN Proxy, a popular VPN extension on Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, has a hidden function to “harvest” user conversations on AI platforms including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity, DeepSeek, Grok, and Meta AI. The extension was updated with this new capability in July, according to KOI.
The report says that when users with the extension visit any of the above platforms, the extension injects an “executor” script directly into the webpage, so that “every network request and response on that page passes through the extension’s code first.” This means the extension sees every message sent by users and generated by the AI platforms. Once the info has been collected, it’s sent to the extension’s external servers.
Urban VPN Proxy wasn’t the only extension that KOI identified as containing AI harvesting functionality. The firm identified the following extensions, all of which come from the same organization, as containing the same malicious code:
Google Chrome Extensions:
Urban VPN Proxy – 6,000,000 users
1ClickVPN Proxy – 600,000 users
Urban Browser Guard – 40,000 users
Urban Ad Blocker – 10,000 users
Microsoft Edge Extensions:
Urban VPN Proxy – 1,323,622 users
1ClickVPN Proxy – 36,459 users
Urban Browser Guard – 12,624 users
Urban Ad Blocker – 6,476 users
In total, according to KOI, over 8 million users have installed these extensions. The company behind these extensions is Urban Cyber Security, which KOI says is affiliated with BiScience, a data broker company.
It looks like the holidays aren’t a bad time to shop for a VPN subscription. ExpressVPN, Engadget’s pick for the best premium provider, currently has a less premium price. This deal gives you two years of the Advanced plan (with a bonus of four free months) for only $101. When it isn’t on sale, the same subscription would cost $392.
Engadget’s VPN guru, Sam Chapman, praised ExpressVPN’s service. He described it as “high-performing” and having “very few flaws.” The service received high marks for its speeds, easy-to-use interface and global network availability. The only significant mark against it was its relatively high standard pricing. But with this holiday sale, that criticism is (temporarily) null and void.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN recently switched to a multi-tier pricing structure. (That previously mentioned Advanced plan is the mid-range one.) There’s a cheaper Basic plan that allows 10 simultaneous devices (compared to the Advanced plan’s 12) and doesn’t include perks like a password manager. You can also choose the highest-priced Pro plan. It allows for 14 simultaneous devices and adds several extras. You can compare plans on ExpressVPN’s website.
When buying a two-year plan, the Basic tier is available for $2.79 per month (78 percent off). The Advanced plan is $3.59 per month (74 percent off). And the Pro plan is $5.99 per month (70 percent off). All three include the bonus of four additional months, giving you 28 total.
Now is arguably the best time of year to sign up for a VPN, or gift a subscription to someone. Black Friday VPN deals are already available, with one of the best being on our favorite VPN overall. Proton VPN is offering two years of access to its VPN Plus tier for $59.76, which works out to $2.49 per month.
That’s a discount of 75 percent compared with the regular price of $10 per month. Overall, you’d save $180.
Proton
Two years of protection with the Proton VPN Plus plan can be yours for under $60.
Proton VPN is our pick for the best VPN overall because it checks all of the boxes it needs to. There is a free plan with unlimited data, but with that you can only connect to servers in a few countries and the connection might not be fast enough for you to watch anything from your preferred streaming service’s library in that locale. The VPN Plus tier unlocks a lot more options, such as the ability to connect to 15,000 servers across more than 120 countries and simultaneous protection for up to 15 devices.
The apps are well-designed — Proton has clients for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android — and it’s easy to find a feature or setting you’re looking for. In our testing, Proton VPN Plus had a relatively small impact on browsing speeds. Our download speeds dropped by 12 percent and uploads by 4 percent, while the global average ping remained below 300 ms (which is especially impressive if you’re connecting to a server on the other side of the planet).
Perhaps, most importantly, though, it’s Proton’s commitment to privacy that helps make its VPN an easy recommendation. There’s a no-logs policy, meaning it does not log user activity or any identifiable characteristics of devices that connect to the VPN. Proton’s servers use full-disk encryption to bolster privacy as well.
Proton VPN is not the only service to offer a Black Friday VPN deal this year, of course. There are plenty of others available on services we like. Here are the best of the bunch if you’re looking for an alternative to Proton VPN.
Surfshark One (24 months + 3 free months) for $59.13 (88 percent off): A VPN is great, but it’s not enough to protect your data all on its own. Surfshark One adds several apps that boost your security beyond just VPN service, including Surfshark Antivirus (scans devices and downloads for malware) and Surfshark Alert (alerts you whenever your sensitive information shows up in a data breach), plus Surfshark Search and Alternative ID from the tier below. This extra-low deal gives you 88 percent off all those features.
NordVPN Plus (24 months + 3 free months) for $105.03 (74 percent off): NordVPN has taken 74 percent off its Plus subscription for Black Friday. For only a little more, you get a powerful ad and tracker blocker that can also catch malware downloads, plus access to the NordPass password manager. A Plus plan also adds a data breach scanner that checks the dark web for your sensitive information.
CyberGhost (24 months + 4 free months) for $56.94 (84 percent off): CyberGhost has some of the best automation you’ll see on any VPN. With its Smart Rules system, you can determine how its apps respond to different types of Wi-Fi networks, with exceptions for specific networks you know by name. Typically, you can set it to auto-connect, disconnect or send you a message asking what to do. CyberGhost’s other best feature is its streaming servers — I’ve found both better video quality and more consistent unblocking when I use them on streaming sites.
Private Internet Access (36 months + 4 free months) for $79.20 (83 percent off): Private Internet Access (PIA) is giving out the best available price right now on a VPN I’d recommend using. With this deal, you can get 40 months of PIA for just under $2 per month — an 83 percent discount on its monthly price. Despite being so cheap, PIA has plenty of features, coming with its own DNS servers, a built-in ad blocker and automation powers to rival CyberGhost. However, internet speeds can fluctuate while you’re connected.
ExpressVPN Basic (15 months) for $74.85 (61 percent off): ExpressVPN may be the most user-friendly VPN for sale right now, with fast download speeds (only 7 percent losses in our last test), quick connections and apps designed to stay out of your way. It’s not the most feature-rich, but it excels at any bread-and-butter VPN task, staying leak-free and unblocking Netflix everywhere. You also get access to server locations in 105 countries.
You might be surprised how similar the three VPNs I chose are when you break down their features, but that’s not an accident. Given how restrictive I was with who made the final cut, there’s a pretty high bar for inclusion. Although there are some minor differences, I designed this list in a way that you can choose one of my picks without reading a single word and still come out the other side with an excellent VPN for iPhone.
Other iPhone VPNs We Tested
Surfshark
Courtesy of Surfshark
Surfshark: Surfshark was a strong contender for the main list. Even its Starter plan comes with extra features like a masked email generator. Features like ad and tracker blocking, as well as unlimited simultaneous connections, come standard across plans. However, it was a bit slower than my top picks, dropping around 20 percent of speed on average, compared to around 15 percent for the top options.
Mullvad: Mullvad is a favorite among privacy enthusiasts, and for good reason. It doesn’t fuss with multi-year discounts or referral programs, and you don’t even need to provide an email to sign up for an account. You can even pay the static monthly fee by mailing Mullvad cash. It’s a great service if privacy is your top priority, but it trades speeds and features in the process. VPN services like Nord and Proton have quickly grown into full privacy and security suites, while Mullvad is more focused on making a robust VPN. In the context of an iPhone, the scales tip more toward those security suites, but Mullvad is still a great privacy-focused option to keep in mind.
ExpressVPN: By the numbers, ExpressVPN should be at the top of the list. It has a ton of servers, a featureset that can go toe-to-toe with Nord, and speeds only a touch below Proton. However, ExpressVPN has found itself in a spiral of increasing controversies over the past four years, and the brand has yet to get back on solid footing. After being purchased by Kape Technologies—the company behind the infamous adware company Crossrider—former US intelligence official Daniel Gericke took over at CTO and continued in that role for two years, even after being fined over $300,000 by the US Department of Justice for hacking activities on behalf of a foreign government. Gericke left in 2023, but that same year, ExpressVPN experienced a large swath of layoffs, and Kape, its parent company, was delisted from the London Stock Exchange. The vast majority of shares went to Unikmind Holdings Limited, a company owned by Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi, who got his start by creating gambling software Playtech. That’s an extremely condensed version of what ExpressVPN has gone through over the past few years. The company hasn’t done anything nefarious, but the revolving door of executive control tied to controversial names doesn’t inspire confidence.
Private Internet Access: Private Internet Access, or PIA, is also owned by Kape Technologies, and it followed a similar playbook as ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, which Kape also owns. After the acquisition and community backlash, there’s been very little transparency about what’s going on in the company. A connection to Kape definitely raises questions, but that doesn’t immediately disqualify a service from being included. Unfortunately for PIA, it had much slower speeds than any of the other VPN services I tested, so regardless of ownership, it isn’t a top pick for iPhone VPNs.
iPhone VPNs to Avoid
X-VPN: X-VPN is one of many different VPNs that show up high in the search results on iPhone. There’s a desktop app, but X-VPN mainly targets mobile users with its free plan. It was featured in a Tech Transparency Project report about VPNs with ties to the Chinese government, alongside apps like TurboVPN. I haven’t tested TurboVPN, but X-VPN has issues. Even without questionable ties, X-VPN doesn’t have the best speeds, and it lacks basic features like split tunneling, all while charging the same price as top VPNs like NordVPN and Proton VPN.
Hola: Hola is an infamous name if you’ve been around the VPN space long enough. Around a decade ago, Hola fell under fire. It owns a data collection company known as Bright Data (formerly Luminati), and that network is made up of users who use Hola. This network was used for a public distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. Even a decade on, Hola still logs user data, including your IP address, and it still sells access to its peer-to-peer network, meaning you could become an exit node without knowing.
EventVPN: EventVPN comes from the same team behind ExpressVPN, but it takes a very different approach to privacy. It’s free, and it’s only available on iPhone and Macs, but most importantly, it’s supported by ads. EventVPN says it’s able to leverage an ad-supported model with Apple’s advertising privacy features, which allows for tailored ads without giving out personally-identifiable information. That’s the story, at least, but as you can read in our iPhone privacy guide, Apple’s privacy-focused advertising model still shares some critical information, including your zip code. Further, the pervasiveness of ads in EventVPN makes it hard to recommend. You have to wait through a 30-second video each time you connect or disconnect from a server, and a banner ad lives at the top of the app at all times. EventVPN has a paid plan to remove ads, but at that point, you might as well pick up ExpressVPN. And, on the free end, there’s ProtonVPN and Windscribe, both of which I’d recommend over EventVPN.
How We Tested
To earn the best iPhone VPN title, a service needs to satisfy three criteria. It needs to be secure, fast, and easy to use. That may seem straightforward enough, but there’s a little more that goes into it. For ease of use, I only looked at VPNs that offer a one-tap connection. If you need to configure anything, that’s a disqualification. That still encompasses a lot of the most popular VPNs on iPhone, so I narrowed the field further by focusing on apps that balance usability with power. You should have all the relevant features in the iOS app that are available in the desktop app, and organized in a way that they don’t disrupt that one-tap experience.
Speed testing is where I focused a lot of my testing time. Speed testing is highly variable, and trying to come out with one singular number to encompass the speed of thousands of servers is a fool’s errand. The numbers I gathered for this guide are the result of 20 tests I ran for each VPN, then averaged.
I tested five locations for each VPN, measuring my unprotected speed immediately before testing and running three passes before averaging. Each location was tested at a different time of day, and I removed any outliers before averaging. For this guide, that meant if there was greater than a 10 percent deviation between two of the three passes. After averaging the speed drop for each location, I gathered all of those numbers together and averaged them for a final speed drop.
Finally, security. The traditional wisdom with a VPN is that you, at some point, have to put some faith in the company that its privacy policy is accurate and it isn’t lying about its logging practices. That didn’t do it for me. Again, I set a high bar for inclusion.
Every VPN I’ve included here has not only been independently audited, but also been forced to uphold its no-logs policy in legal proceedings. You indeed need to put some trust that the VPN provider you’re using is telling the truth, but the options I included all have rock-solid track records when it comes to transparency.
Now is arguably the best time of year to sign up for a VPN, or gift a subscription to someone. Black Friday VPN deals are already available, with one of the best being on our favorite VPN overall. Proton VPN is offering two years of access to its VPN Plus tier for $59.76, which works out to $2.49 per month.
That’s a discount of 75 percent compared with the regular price of $10 per month. Overall, you’d save $180.
Proton
Two years of protection with the Proton VPN Plus plan can be yours for under $60.
Proton VPN is our pick for the best VPN overall because it checks all of the boxes it needs to. There is a free plan with unlimited data, but with that you can only connect to servers in a few countries and the connection might not be fast enough for you to watch anything from your preferred streaming service’s library in that locale. The VPN Plus tier unlocks a lot more options, such as the ability to connect to 15,000 servers across more than 120 countries and simultaneous protection for up to 15 devices.
The apps are well-designed — Proton has clients for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android — and it’s easy to find a feature or setting you’re looking for. In our testing, Proton VPN Plus had a relatively small impact on browsing speeds. Our download speeds dropped by 12 percent and uploads by 4 percent, while the global average ping remained below 300 ms (which is especially impressive if you’re connecting to a server on the other side of the planet).
Perhaps, most importantly, though, it’s Proton’s commitment to privacy that helps make its VPN an easy recommendation. There’s a no-logs policy, meaning it does not log user activity or any identifiable characteristics of devices that connect to the VPN. Proton’s servers use full-disk encryption to bolster privacy as well.
Proton VPN is not the only service to offer a Black Friday VPN deal this year, of course. There are plenty of others available on services we like. Here are the best of the bunch if you’re looking for an alternative to Proton VPN.
Surfshark One (24 months + 3 free months) for $59.13 (88 percent off): A VPN is great, but it’s not enough to protect your data all on its own. Surfshark One adds several apps that boost your security beyond just VPN service, including Surfshark Antivirus (scans devices and downloads for malware) and Surfshark Alert (alerts you whenever your sensitive information shows up in a data breach), plus Surfshark Search and Alternative ID from the tier below. This extra-low deal gives you 88 percent off all those features.
NordVPN Plus (24 months + 3 free months) for $105.03 (74 percent off): NordVPN has taken 74 percent off its Plus subscription for Black Friday. For only a little more, you get a powerful ad and tracker blocker that can also catch malware downloads, plus access to the NordPass password manager. A Plus plan also adds a data breach scanner that checks the dark web for your sensitive information.
CyberGhost (24 months + 4 free months) for $56.94 (84 percent off): CyberGhost has some of the best automation you’ll see on any VPN. With its Smart Rules system, you can determine how its apps respond to different types of Wi-Fi networks, with exceptions for specific networks you know by name. Typically, you can set it to auto-connect, disconnect or send you a message asking what to do. CyberGhost’s other best feature is its streaming servers — I’ve found both better video quality and more consistent unblocking when I use them on streaming sites.
Private Internet Access (36 months + 4 free months) for $79.20 (83 percent off): Private Internet Access (PIA) is giving out the best available price right now on a VPN I’d recommend using. With this deal, you can get 40 months of PIA for just under $2 per month — an 83 percent discount on its monthly price. Despite being so cheap, PIA has plenty of features, coming with its own DNS servers, a built-in ad blocker and automation powers to rival CyberGhost. However, internet speeds can fluctuate while you’re connected.
Now is arguably the best time of year to sign up for a VPN, or gift a subscription to someone. Black Friday VPN deals are already available, with one of the best being on our favorite VPN overall. Proton VPN is offering two years of access to its VPN Plus tier for $59.76, which works out to $2.49 per month.
That’s a discount of 75 percent compared with the regular price of $10 per month. Overall, you’d save $180.
Proton
Two years of protection with the Proton VPN Plus plan can be yours for under $60.
Proton VPN is our pick for the best VPN overall because it checks all of the boxes it needs to. There is a free plan with unlimited data, but with that you can only connect to servers in a few countries and the connection might not be fast enough for you to watch anything from your preferred streaming service’s library in that locale. The VPN Plus tier unlocks a lot more options, such as the ability to connect to 15,000 servers across more than 120 countries and simultaneous protection for up to 15 devices.
The apps are well-designed — Proton has clients for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android — and it’s easy to find a feature or setting you’re looking for. In our testing, Proton VPN Plus had a relatively small impact on browsing speeds. Our download speeds dropped by 12 percent and uploads by 4 percent, while the global average ping remained below 300 ms (which is especially impressive if you’re connecting to a server on the other side of the planet).
Perhaps, most importantly, though, it’s Proton’s commitment to privacy that helps make its VPN an easy recommendation. There’s a no-logs policy, meaning it does not log user activity or any identifiable characteristics of devices that connect to the VPN. Proton’s servers use full-disk encryption to bolster privacy as well.
Proton VPN is not the only service to offer a Black Friday VPN deal this year, of course. There are plenty of others available on services we like. Here are the best of the bunch if you’re looking for an alternative to Proton VPN.
Surfshark One (24 months + 3 free months) for $59.13 (88 percent off): A VPN is great, but it’s not enough to protect your data all on its own. Surfshark One adds several apps that boost your security beyond just VPN service, including Surfshark Antivirus (scans devices and downloads for malware) and Surfshark Alert (alerts you whenever your sensitive information shows up in a data breach), plus Surfshark Search and Alternative ID from the tier below. This extra-low deal gives you 88 percent off all those features.
NordVPN Plus (24 months + 3 free months) for $105.03 (74 percent off): NordVPN has taken 74 percent off its Plus subscription for Black Friday. For only a little more, you get a powerful ad and tracker blocker that can also catch malware downloads, plus access to the NordPass password manager. A Plus plan also adds a data breach scanner that checks the dark web for your sensitive information.
CyberGhost (24 months + 4 free months) for $56.94 (84 percent off): CyberGhost has some of the best automation you’ll see on any VPN. With its Smart Rules system, you can determine how its apps respond to different types of Wi-Fi networks, with exceptions for specific networks you know by name. Typically, you can set it to auto-connect, disconnect or send you a message asking what to do. CyberGhost’s other best feature is its streaming servers — I’ve found both better video quality and more consistent unblocking when I use them on streaming sites.
Private Internet Access (36 months + 4 free months) for $79.20 (83 percent off): Private Internet Access (PIA) is giving out the best available price right now on a VPN I’d recommend using. With this deal, you can get 40 months of PIA for just under $2 per month — an 83 percent discount on its monthly price. Despite being so cheap, PIA has plenty of features, coming with its own DNS servers, a built-in ad blocker and automation powers to rival CyberGhost. However, internet speeds can fluctuate while you’re connected.
One of my favorite new additions isn’t on the desktop app, though. NordVPN recently introduced scam call protection on Android, with an iOS version planned for the future. I’ve been using it for months, and it has easily flagged more than a hundred spam calls to my phone. It works a treat, even if it’s not one of NordVPN’s big advertised features.
Almost the Fastest VPN
NordVPN is fast. It’s not the fastest VPN I’ve tested—that’s Proton VPN—but that’s more of a rounding error than a notable difference in speed. Across five US locations, NordVPN dropped 15.32 percent of my unprotected speed on average. For context, Proton dropped 15.23 percent. Surfshark, which is also owned by Nord Security, dropped 18.84 percent, while Mullvad closed in on 24 percent.
So, NordVPN is fast, but more importantly, it’s consistent. Across the locations I tested, it never posted a slowdown of more than 20 percent, and in one location (Chicago), it only dropped a meager 6.6 percent of my unprotected speed. Overall, though, that 15 percent drop is a good representation of the speeds you can expect, at least in the US.
Speed testing with any VPN is tricky. There are a ton of factors that influence speeds beyond the server you’re connecting to. My speed testing—and any VPN speed testing, for that matter—is a snapshot in time. It provides insight into the kind of speeds you can expect on average, not a concrete number you should expect from every server at every time of day. To get the most accurate snapshot possible, I tested across five US locations at three different times of day over the course of a week. Before each test, I ran three passes of my unprotected speed to get an accurate comparison, and I threw out any results with a greater than 10 percent deviation between passes.
The best way to get around speed hurdles is to change servers, and NordVPN is solid on that front. It has around 7,400 servers, but the exact number is constantly changing. It maintains a database of its servers and locations, complete with details on the features those servers support and whether they’re virtual or physical servers.
NordVPN lives up to its monumental name. It still has a massive network, fast speeds, and a ton of features, and despite its infamous data breach, it has continued to double down on security measures. The main issue with Nord is the price. You can score a good deal on a two-year discount, but that price jumps up significantly when it comes time to renew. This is why I rank it slightly below Proton VPN, despite the two services going toe-to-toe on features and speeds. Proton Unlimited clocks in at the same monthly price as NordVPN Basic, and it comes with Proton Pass, Proton Mail, and a handful of other apps.
A VPN subscription can make for a good holiday gift. Everyone could do with having a VPN to help protect their online activity from prying eyes (and, perhaps, access more things to watch from their favorite streaming services). It’s something useful that a gift recipient may have never realized they needed. Of course, you may be looking for a great deal on a VPN yourself, and the Black Friday discount for Proton VPN is nothing to sniff at. You can get two years of access to the VPN Plus tier of the service for $59.76, which works out to $2.49 per month.
That’s a discount of 75 percent compared with the regular price of $10 per month. Overall, you’d save $180.
Proton
Two years of protection with the Proton VPN Plus plan can be yours for under $60.
Proton VPN is our pick for the best VPN overall because it checks all of the boxes it needs to. There is a free plan with unlimited data, but with that you can only connect to servers in a few countries and the connection might not be fast enough for you to watch anything from your preferred streaming service’s library in that locale. The VPN Plus tier unlocks a lot more options, such as the ability to connect to 15,000 servers across more than 120 countries and simultaneous protection for up to 15 devices.
The apps are well-designed — Proton has clients for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android — and it’s easy to find a feature or setting you’re looking for. In our testing, Proton VPN Plus had a relatively small impact on browsing speeds. Our download speeds dropped by 12 percent and uploads by 4 percent, while the global average ping remained below 300 ms (which is especially impressive if you’re connecting to a server on the other side of the planet).
Perhaps, most importantly, though, it’s Proton’s commitment to privacy that helps make its VPN an easy recommendation. There’s a no-logs policy, meaning it does not log user activity or any identifiable characteristics of devices that connect to the VPN. Proton’s servers use full-disk encryption to bolster privacy as well.
Proton VPN is not the only service to offer a Black Friday VPN deal this year, of course. There are plenty of others available on services we like. Here are the best of the bunch if you’re looking for an alternative to Proton VPN.
Surfshark One (24 months + 3 free months) for $59.13 (88 percent off): A VPN is great, but it’s not enough to protect your data all on its own. Surfshark One adds several apps that boost your security beyond just VPN service, including Surfshark Antivirus (scans devices and downloads for malware) and Surfshark Alert (alerts you whenever your sensitive information shows up in a data breach), plus Surfshark Search and Alternative ID from the tier below. This extra-low deal gives you 88 percent off all those features.
NordVPN Plus (24 months + 3 free months) for $105.03 (74 percent off): NordVPN has taken 74 percent off its Plus subscription for Black Friday. For only a little more, you get a powerful ad and tracker blocker that can also catch malware downloads, plus access to the NordPass password manager. A Plus plan also adds a data breach scanner that checks the dark web for your sensitive information.
CyberGhost (24 months + 4 free months) for $56.94 (84 percent off): CyberGhost has some of the best automation you’ll see on any VPN. With its Smart Rules system, you can determine how its apps respond to different types of Wi-Fi networks, with exceptions for specific networks you know by name. Typically, you can set it to auto-connect, disconnect or send you a message asking what to do. CyberGhost’s other best feature is its streaming servers — I’ve found both better video quality and more consistent unblocking when I use them on streaming sites.
Private Internet Access (36 months + 4 free months) for $79.20 (83 percent off): Private Internet Access (PIA) is giving out the best available price right now on a VPN I’d recommend using. With this deal, you can get 40 months of PIA for just under $2 per month — an 83 percent discount on its monthly price. Despite being so cheap, PIA has plenty of features, coming with its own DNS servers, a built-in ad blocker and automation powers to rival CyberGhost. However, internet speeds can fluctuate while you’re connected.
Now is arguably the best time of year to sign up for a VPN, or gift a subscription to someone. Black Friday VPN deals are already available, with one of the best being on our favorite VPN overall. Proton VPN is offering two years of access to its VPN Plus tier for $59.76, which works out to $2.49 per month.
That’s a discount of 75 percent compared with the regular price of $10 per month. Overall, you’d save $180.
Proton
Two years of protection with the Proton VPN Plus plan can be yours for under $60.
Proton VPN is our pick for the best VPN overall because it checks all of the boxes it needs to. There is a free plan with unlimited data, but with that you can only connect to servers in a few countries and the connection might not be fast enough for you to watch anything from your preferred streaming service’s library in that locale. The VPN Plus tier unlocks a lot more options, such as the ability to connect to 15,000 servers across more than 120 countries and simultaneous protection for up to 15 devices.
The apps are well-designed — Proton has clients for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android — and it’s easy to find a feature or setting you’re looking for. In our testing, Proton VPN Plus had a relatively small impact on browsing speeds. Our download speeds dropped by 12 percent and uploads by 4 percent, while the global average ping remained below 300 ms (which is especially impressive if you’re connecting to a server on the other side of the planet).
Perhaps, most importantly, though, it’s Proton’s commitment to privacy that helps make its VPN an easy recommendation. There’s a no-logs policy, meaning it does not log user activity or any identifiable characteristics of devices that connect to the VPN. Proton’s servers use full-disk encryption to bolster privacy as well.
Proton VPN is not the only service to offer a Black Friday VPN deal this year, of course. There are plenty of others available on services we like. Here are the best of the bunch if you’re looking for an alternative to Proton VPN.
Surfshark One (24 months + 3 free months) for $59.13 (88 percent off): A VPN is great, but it’s not enough to protect your data all on its own. Surfshark One adds several apps that boost your security beyond just VPN service, including Surfshark Antivirus (scans devices and downloads for malware) and Surfshark Alert (alerts you whenever your sensitive information shows up in a data breach), plus Surfshark Search and Alternative ID from the tier below. This extra-low deal gives you 88 percent off all those features.
NordVPN Plus (24 months + 3 free months) for $105.03 (74 percent off): NordVPN has taken 74 percent off its Plus subscription for Black Friday. For only a little more, you get a powerful ad and tracker blocker that can also catch malware downloads, plus access to the NordPass password manager. A Plus plan also adds a data breach scanner that checks the dark web for your sensitive information.
CyberGhost (24 months + 4 free months) for $56.94 (84 percent off): CyberGhost has some of the best automation you’ll see on any VPN. With its Smart Rules system, you can determine how its apps respond to different types of Wi-Fi networks, with exceptions for specific networks you know by name. Typically, you can set it to auto-connect, disconnect or send you a message asking what to do. CyberGhost’s other best feature is its streaming servers — I’ve found both better video quality and more consistent unblocking when I use them on streaming sites.
Private Internet Access (36 months + 4 free months) for $79.20 (83 percent off): Private Internet Access (PIA) is giving out the best available price right now on a VPN I’d recommend using. With this deal, you can get 40 months of PIA for just under $2 per month — an 83 percent discount on its monthly price. Despite being so cheap, PIA has plenty of features, coming with its own DNS servers, a built-in ad blocker and automation powers to rival CyberGhost. However, internet speeds can fluctuate while you’re connected.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Heads up, Bachelor Nation! If you want to watch the Down Under version of The Golden Bachelor, we’ve got the ultimate guide for you.
The iteration of the Bachelor franchise stemmed from the original American version of The Golden Bachelor which starred Gerry Turner. The Australian series runs concurrently with the second season of the US version starring Mel Owens. The inaugural Golden Bachelor for Australia is 61-year-old Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden. “This is for people who are looking for love again,” he told Australia’s Today. I kind of love that – these are people with life experience, and it’s totally fascinating.”
Now that it’s almost midway through the season, the show has already brought tearjerking moments and the classic Bachelor drama that we’re all fond of.
How to Watch The Golden Bachelor Australia in the US at a Glance
Airs: Sundays and Mondays at 7 p.m. AEDT (4 a.m. EST)
The Golden Bachelor Australia is available to stream for free on 9Now’s website, 10Play.com. However, to watch the show in the US, Americans will need a VPN, a service that allows users to set their computer’s location to another country and access websites that would otherwise be restricted by location. The most popular VPNs are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and PureVPN—all of which offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read on for how to sign up for them to watch The Golden Bachelor Australia in the US.
Editor’s Pick
Watch The Golden Bachelor Australia in the US with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPN services and the one we recommend the most of any VPN service we’ve tried. The service—which allows users to set their location to over 160 locations in 105 countries with unlimited bandwidth—offers a 30-day free trial and a money-back guarantee. After the free trial ends, Express VPN costs $12.95 per month if you pick the monthly plan. The smartest option, though, is to sign up for a two-year plan because you get four months free and a discount. This plan typically costs $12.95 per month but is down to $4.99 per month (61% off) with discount code SPECIALDEAL. Alternatively, you can save 48% on the 12-month plan, which gives you three months free. Its price has been slashed from $12.95 to $6.67. ExpressVPN only takes around five minutes to set up and also promises lightning-quick connectivity and 24-hour live-chat support, and allows users to connect to any device, from computers to phones to tablets.
Most Flexibility
Watch The Golden Bachelor Australia in the US with NordVPN
NordVPN is another popular VPN service recommended by YouTubers like PewDiePie, Casey Neistat, and Philip DeFranco. The service—which offers a 30-day free trial and a money-back guarantee—has three levels of plans: one month, one year, and two years. All three levels offer four different plans: Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime. We recommend opting for one of NordVPN’s two-year plans, since prices go significantly down for those plans. For example, the Basic plan costs $3.09 for two years (73% off), $4.99 for one year (56% off), and $12.99 for one month (no discount). Along with access to over 59 countries, NordVPN also allows users to connect to multiple devices (from computers to phones to tablets) and offers 24-hour live chat support.
Budget Pick
Watch The Golden Bachelor Australia in the US with PureVPN
Another popular VPN service is PureVPN, which offers a 31-day free trial and a money-back guarantee. After the free trial ends, users can sign up for one of PureVPN’s three plans—Max, Plus, or Standard—for either one month, one year, or two years. Similar to NordVPN, prices decrease the longer the plan lasts. For example, the Standard plan will ring you up for $2.14 for two years (83% off plus three months free), $3.99 for one year (69% off), and $12.95 for one month (no discount). PureVPN offers more than 6,500 servers in over 78 countries across the world, as well as 24-hour live-chat support. It also features the lowest prices after the free trial ends across all three VPN options mentioned in this story. So if you’re watching on a budget, sign up for PureVPN.
Who is The Golden Bachelor in Australia?
The Golden Bachelor in Australia is Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden. The 61-year-old became a widower after the death of his wife Audrey from a tumor. They raised their three sons, Charlie, Jack and Declan, now aged between 17 and 21, and now Bear is looking for love.
As for who he picks, he teased to Skynews.com that his final rose pick “will be totally unexpected to everyone.” He added, “All I can tell you is, I made the right decision.”
He also confessed that he meshed with all the contestants. “They’re all such great and incredible women. It was really tough to say goodbye to any of them. I wanted to take all 20 of them.”
Who are The Golden Bachelor Australia contestants?
Here are the 20 contestants featured in The Golden Bachelor:
Gera, 52, Real Estate Business Owner
Jan Herdman, 66, Age Transformation Coach
Janette, 61, Pilates Studio Owner
Kim, 60, Doctor
Sunny Long, 58, CEO
Catherine, 56, Interior Designer
Lauren, 60, Dressage Team Manager
Terri, 61, Property Investor
Bianca Dye, 51, Radio Presenter
Elizete, 54, Property Manager
Pip, 60, Hoist Operator
Shamse Willmott, 60, Interior Designer
Katrina, 55, NICU Nurse
Laura Neal, 64, Primary School Teacher
Hamidah, 60, Disability Support Worker
Linda, 61, Stylist QLD
Nicolette, 55, Singer
Angela, 52, Psychotherapist
Jane, 60, Interior Designer
Shana, 60, Retired (Education Sales Executive)
Who is The Golden Bachelor Australia host?
Samantha Armytage is the host for The Golden Bachelor Australia. It marks her first time returning to TV after
“I was talking to Channel 9 and they said ‘what do you think?’ and I thought, ‘great, this is interesting and this is a really great, fresh start for me too,’” the host said to 9Now.
As for what excited her about the show coming down, she recalled, “Some of them have children and grandchildren so they know what life’s about and they know what they want now and there’s a real power in that. There’s quite a few differences with this show, so it’s very exciting.”
A good VPN is worth paying for. Almost every service I’ll recommend as one of the best VPNs is either subscription-only or supported by paid plans. Free VPNs do have their place, though, as not everybody can afford yet another subscription in the software-as-a-service hellscape we live in. Since everyone deserves privacy and flexibility online, I wanted to put together a definitive list of the best free VPNs.
Now, some will say that free VPNs are, by definition, security risks that are to be avoided by default. That reputation exists because free VPNs often really are a risk. As proliferating age verification laws have created a need for VPNs, some free services have stepped up to answer the call, while others have taken advantage of it to spread malware. Free VPNs are easy for scammers to set up and hard for app stores to catch. I never recommend using one without doing thorough research.
To that end, the three providers on this list are exceptions to the risk of free VPNs. While they all have tradeoffs, they’re also upfront about what they do and don’t do. Each one comes with reliable security, a clean record of handling user data and apps that never force you to upgrade just so they’ll work properly. They aren’t the only good free VPNs, but they’re the top three by far.
Editor’s note: This list represents our ranking as of October 2025. We intend to revisit the list every three months at a minimum, at which time our picks may be adjusted based on changes in features, testing results and other factors.
Best free VPNs for 2025
hide.me
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, routers | Server locations: 81 in 58 countries | Notable features: Customizable split tunneling, Stealth Guard strong kill switch, dynamic port forwarding, IPv6 support | Best price: $69.95 for 27 months
We’re in the process of re-testing hide.me for a full review.
Hide.me had a pretty simple path to the top of my free VPN roster. It’s the only provider whose free plan checks the most crucial three boxes: no ads, no monthly data caps and the option to pick your own server location. That makes it the only free VPN you can consistently use for streaming, as long as you want to stream from one of the seven free locations (USA, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland).
But hide.me is more than just a default winner. For no cost, you get easily navigable interfaces on both desktop and mobile, plus very little drag on download speeds. While hide.me claims there’s a speed cap for free users, I’ve never seen it in practice. As a security solution, you can rely on it pretty much indefinitely. This is a provider that’s clearly paying equal attention to its free side, not treating it as a marketing afterthought.
Hide.me is supported by a paid plan, so there’s no need to be suspicious about how it makes money. Its privacy policy blocks it from keeping any sort of device fingerprints or user activity records. A confirmed this in 2024.
Its servers are also set up to handle IPv6 traffic, a forward-looking feature that’s rare on any VPN, let alone a free one. Free users can also use the kill switch. If you do decide to upgrade, you’ll get access to 91 server locations, a dynamic multihop feature that lets you choose entry and exit points, 10 simultaneous connections and the SmartGuard ad blocker.
Pros
Fully free with no data limits
Fast apps with great interfaces
Free IPv6 support
Cons
Free plan has limited locations
Claims to cap speeds after you use 10GB in a month
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Fire TV | Server locations: 134 in 69 countries | Notable features: R.O.B.E.R.T., pay-as-you-go plan, port forwarding, split tunneling, packet size controls, static IPs | Best price: $69 for 12 months.
We’re in the process of re-testing Windscribe for a full review.
Windscribe is the closest thing we’ve got to a counterculture VPN. From its unorthodox app design to the of founder Yegor Sak, Windscribe is mad as hell about all the threats to both privacy and the truth. And if you’re also just as mad, this VPN means you don’t have to take it anymore.
How does that translate to the actual experience? Mostly quite well. Its free plan gives you 10GB of data per month as long as you submit a confirmed email address (2GB if you don’t). You can get an extra 5GB per month by posting about Windscribe on X/Twitter. You can freely choose between 10 server locations that are spaced pretty well around the world. Speeds are exactly the same on free and paid servers — almost always fast, with only occasional dips.
Even better, there are no paywalled features. While subscribing expands what you can do with some perks, like the (don’t ask, it doesn’t stand for anything), nothing is completely behind a fee gate. Windscribe is also the only VPN on the list with an option between free and paid — you can build a custom plan to use only the servers you need, with a minimum price of $3.
The biggest problem with Windscribe’s against-the-grain approach is its headache-inducing user interfaces. Determined not to copy the look of other VPNs, it employs an excessively compact design that does nothing to guide first-time users and puts far too many steps into every process. That’s really it for complaints, though, unless you count its fascination with 69 jokes.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chromebook, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Apple TV, Firestick, routers | Average download speed drop: 12.5 percent | Server locations: 154 in 62 countries | Notable features: NetShield ad blocker, Secure Core servers, Tor over VPN | Best price: $107.76 for 24 months
Proton VPN is the best VPN right now, for reasons I’m always happy to explain. It matches fast, reliable performance with reasonable pricing and a lack of any serious weaknesses. Its apps are uniformly excellent, it’s got a security record without a major blemish and it even unblocks Netflix everywhere. It’s also, to my knowledge, the only VPN to physically secure any of its servers in an impenetrable underground lair.
As a free VPN, Proton lags slightly behind the competition, though it’s still close in third place. Free users get unlimited data, which is fantastic, but you can’t choose your own server location without paying — the app will pick the fastest location for you instead. If you need a free VPN primarily for streaming, you’re better off looking to hide.me.
That said, Proton VPN’s free plan includes eight locations with multiple servers in each one. Not only are the free servers relatively light on lag, they’re also spaced out well enough that you probably have one nearby. If you connect your free Proton VPN app and forget about it, you can stay indefinitely anonymous online.
The free version of Proton VPN doesn’t show ads, which means no ad trackers. Free users are also covered by its no-logs privacy policy, which is guaranteed by an annual audit — most recently by Securitum in September 2025. You can also use the kill switch without paying, along with the Stealth protocol, which obfuscates your connection to defeat blanket VPN bans.
The first three no-cost VPNs mentioned here are worthy of recommendation in their own ways, but didn’t quite make the cut for our top picks. I’ve left notes on them here in case one of them turns out to be perfect for you, and because they’re on my list for induction into the free VPN pantheon if they improve.
None of the above applies to Hotspot Shield, which you should not use. It’s on here as a warning. You can find more details in that section below.
PrivadoVPN is a strong enough contender that I seriously considered adding it to the list as my fourth official recommendation. It’s technically unlimited, though once you use 10GB of data, it sharply handicaps your speed for the rest of the month. Free users can choose between 13 server locations on four continents. It even performs well on worldwide latency tests, though download speeds swing pretty heavily.
That uncertain speed stat kept Privado out of the winner’s circle, as did one other concern: although it has a clear and extensive privacy policy, it’s never gone through a third-party audit. Additionally, it’s a newer service, having only launched in 2019 — so it’s harder to make claims about its business practices.
Finally, while hide.me, Windscribe and Proton VPN all retain their excellence on the paid plan, PrivadoVPN isn’t as worth paying for. Outside the free plan, it’s a decent VPN with no reason to pick it over Proton or ExpressVPN. That said, if it passes an audit — or faces a real-world test of its no-logs policy, like a server seizure — look for Privado to join the big leagues soon.
TunnelBear does free VPN service well — it just doesn’t do enough. Trust me, I don’t take pleasure in criticizing its adorable, hole-digging bear mascot, which goes a long way toward making the app welcoming to beginners. I like that its free plan offers access to the entire server network, the only VPN that does so.
But the hard fact is that 2GB of data per month is not enough to do much of anything. With such a low data limit, TunnelBear’s free plan is an enticement to upgrade to its paid service, not a viable VPN solution in its own right. That really is a good bear, though.
EventVPN, developed by the ExpressVPN team, was launched a month ago and could one day become an outstanding free VPN. However, given its bizarre decision to run ads in the app, I can’t endorse it right now.
Were EventVPN not associated with ExpressVPN or Kape Technologies, I might defend its decision to show ads by pointing out that all ad tracking data is anonymized — there isn’t even a backend in which to store it. That might be a decent way to fund a full-featured free VPN. But EventVPN is openly part of a lucrative VPN portfolio, and has its own paid tier, so there’s no excuse for the 30-second video ads.
Hotspot Shield: Tested and not recommended
Hotspot Shield was once the poster child for free VPNs; today, it’s become one of the clearest illustrations of why they’re dangerous. You get 500MB of browsing data per day, which is reasonable, on par with Windscribe’s best offer. However, not only does the free version cap speeds at 2 Mbps, but it also restricts you to one location, the United States.
Worse, it shows you ads. Unlike EventVPN, which at least limits itself to ads from a single service, Hotspot Shield lists no fewer than eight ad coordinators in its privacy policy. One of them is Meta, which you should never, ever trust with any sensitive data. I can’t name a better textbook example of “if the product is free, you’re the product.”
What to look for in a free VPN
Selecting a VPN is hard enough with all the competition out there, but with a free VPN, the stakes are even higher. Free VPNs are all over the place, and app stores don’t vet them effectively. You’re left on your own to determine whether a free VPN is mediocre, exploitative or even a straight-up malware vector.
My top three recommendations — hide.me, Windscribe and Proton VPN — are clean. If you choose to use another one, here are the red flags to consider.
Security: First, make absolutely certain the free VPN isn’t a threat to your security. Research it to see if any experts have warned against it, and check to make sure it uses known and approved encryption protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 or an equivalent). If you have an antivirus program, download the VPN in sandbox mode so you can scan it while it’s quarantined.
Privacy: Read the free VPN’s privacy policy in detail to see if it claims any liberties with your personal data. As a rule, never use an “ad-supported” free VPN, since almost all ad services track users for targeted campaigns. Other free services, like Hola VPN, make money by selling user IP addresses as residential proxies. Be alert for any indication that the VPN will profit off your personal data.
Usage requirements: If you’ve determined a free VPN is safe and secure, your next step is to make sure you’ll be able to use it for the tasks you have in mind. Most reputable free VPNs are limited in some way. Match the restrictions to what you need; for example, if you want a free VPN for streaming, pick one without data caps that lets you choose your own server location.
Speed: Even if it meets the minimum requirements of safety and privacy, a free VPN still needs to meet the same criteria as any paid service. Mainly, it’s got to be fast. With the free VPN active, run speed tests using Ookla in several locations. On average, it shouldn’t reduce your unprotected download speed by more than 25 percent.
Customer service: Some otherwise full-featured free VPNs skimp on customer service, restricting live help to paid users. Even Proton VPN is guilty of this. If you’re a beginner or think you’re going to need extra help, make sure to pick a free VPN with a well-written knowledgebase and available tech support.
Free VPN FAQs
Let’s finish up with some of the free VPN questions we get most often. Leave a comment if you’d like me to answer one I haven’t gotten to yet.
What is a free VPN?
A free VPN is a virtual private network that’s available to individual users at no cost. They generally take the form of desktop and mobile apps downloaded through websites or app stores. You can use them to filter your internet connection through another server, changing your virtual location and hiding what you do online.
Most people use free VPNs to make it appear that they’re getting online from somewhere else. This gets around restrictions on internet usage in certain jurisdictions, like China’s “Great Firewall” or the UK’s age verification laws. It can also be used to stream TV shows and events that aren’t available in the user’s home region.
Are free VPNs safe?
While free VPNs aren’t inherently dangerous, the use case and underlying business model makes them an easy vector for unscrupulous companies to take advantage of vulnerable users. It’s easy for a malicious actor to set one up quickly and get it hosted on an app store. Likewise, the people who download free VPNs tend to need them urgently and may not look too closely at what they’re putting on their phones or computers.
As a rule of thumb, you should approach a free VPN with extreme caution. If it’s not on our recommended list above, we’d suggest avoiding it. In general, it’s almost always safer to seek out VPNs that support their free versions with paid subscriptions, since they don’t need to make money under the table. But any VPN – or other digital service – that’s put forward as totally free puts us in mind of the old adage about gambling: If you can’t spot the sucker at the table, it’s probably you.
What is the best free VPN?
I’ve rated hide.me as the best free VPN. Its free service gives you a lot to work with — seven free locations and a data cap that doesn’t really apply in practice. It’s also just as secure and trustworthy as its paid version, without skimping on anything important.
Can you get a free VPN on your phone?
Yes — in fact, there are more free VPNs on mobile app stores than almost anywhere else. All three of my top picks (hide.me, Windscribe and Proton VPN) have apps for both iOS and Android, and nearly every other free VPN works on at least one mobile platform.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
As Canada’s most-watched network, CTV delivers everything from compelling dramas to reality competitions that have gained international followings. If that includes you, you may now be wondering how to watch CTV in the US for free. You’ll be happy to hear we’ve found a simple method to stream CTV’s full catalog from the US, including fan favorites like The Traitors Canada.
Live Channels: CTV, CTV2, CTV Comedy, CTV Drama, CTV Sci-Fi, CTV Life, plus specialty channels
CTV is Canada’s largest privately owned television network and has consistently ranked as Canada’s top-rated network in total viewers and key demographics since 2002.This Canadian broadcaster delivers everything from scripted series and reality competitions to news programming and sports coverage, all available through its unified digital platform that reaches millions of viewers across Canada.
Interest in CTV’s programming has grown among international audiences, particularly with the success of shows like the Canadian version of The Traitors and The Amazing Race. Justin Stockman, vice president of content development and programming at Bell Media, has emphasized the network’s focus on delivering diverse entertainment. “With a schedule designed to entertain, engage, and connect with audiences across the country, viewers can expect a dynamic mix of exciting new series, returning hits, and the best in live events,” he shared in a 2025 announcement.
So, where can American viewers access this Canadian content? Continue reading to learn how to stream CTV in the US online for free and discover what makes Canada’s leading network worth watching.
How can you watch CTV in the US?
CTV is available to stream for free on CTV.ca and the CTV app, which offers access to live channels and on-demand content.However, to watch CTV’s streaming service in the US, Americans will first need a VPN, a service that allows users to set their computer’s location to another country and access websites that would otherwise be restricted by location. The most reliable VPNs for accessing Canadian content are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and PureVPN, all of which offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read on for how to sign up for them to watch CTV in the US.
EDITOR’S PICK
Watch CTV in the US with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPN services and the one we recommend the most of any VPN service we’ve tried. The service—which allows users to set their location to over 160 locations in 105 countries with unlimited bandwidth—offers a 30-day free trial and a money-back guarantee with several subscription options to fit different viewing needs. The monthly plan starts at $12.99, which works well if you don’t want a long-term commitment. The best value, however, comes with the two-year plan at just $3.49 per month—a 73% savings compared to the monthly rate. You’ll pay $97.72 upfront for 28 months (24 months plus four free bonus months), then it renews annually. There’s also a middle option with the annual plan at $4.49 monthly, offering 67% savings. ExpressVPN only takes around five minutes to set up, and also promises lightning-quick connectivity and 24-hour live-chat support, and allows users to connect to any device, from computers to phones to tablets.
Most Flexibility
Watch CTV in the US with NordVPN
NordVPN is another popular VPN service recommended by YouTubers like PewDiePie, Casey Neistat, and Philip DeFranco. The service—which offers a 30-day free trial and a money-back guarantee—has three levels of plans: one month, one year, and two years. All three levels offer four different plans: Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime. We recommend opting for one of NordVPN’s two-year plans, since prices go significantly down for those plans. For a Basic plan, for example, you’re looking at $2.99 per month for a two-year plan (74% off), $4.59 for one year (56% off), and $12.99 if you pay monthly (no discount). As of October 2025, NordVPN is running a deal where new subscribers for one-year or two-year plans also get three extra months for free with any subscription tier of choice. Along with access to over 59 countries, NordVPN also allows users to connect to multiple devices (from computers to phones to tablets) and offers 24-hour live chat support.
Budget Pick
Watch CTV in the US with PureVPN
Another popular VPN service is PureVPN, which offers a 31-day free trial and a money-back guarantee. After the free trial ends, users can sign up for one of PureVPN’s three plans—Max, Plus, or Standard—for either one month, one year, two years, or five years. Similar to NordVPN, prices decrease the longer the plan lasts. For example, the Standard plan costs $1.69 a month for five years (87% off), $2.14 for two years (83% off plus three months free), $3.99 for one year (69% off), and $12.95 for one month (no discount). PureVPN offers over 6,500 servers in over 78 countries across the world, as well as 24-hour live-chat support. It also features the lowest prices after the free trial ends across all three VPN options mentioned in this story. So if you’re watching on a budget, sign up for PureVPN.
Is CTV free?
CTV offers free access to thousands of hours of content. Full episodes of CTV shows are available on demand, unlocked for the first seven days after they air on TV, and CTV Throwback and Movies are totally unlocked for everyone with no subscription or sign-in required. The platform operates on an advertising-supported model, meaning viewers will see commercials during programs, but there are no subscription fees for most content. However, accessing live TV and full seasons of current shows requires a Canadian TV provider login. This makes CTV one of the most accessible streaming services for international viewers looking to enjoy Canadian content with minimal financial commitment.
Does CTV have sports coverage?
CTV has expanded its sports coverage significantly, featuring extensive NFL coverage including Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, and Sunday Night Football, as well as the NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl.The network also has a lasting partnership with the CFL, airing seven regular-season games exclusively on Saturdays, along with Grey Cup playoff matchups and the Grey Cup championship. For viewers in the US interested in Canadian sports, CTV provides a window into some of the country’s most passionate sporting traditions alongside major American league coverage.
The problem with browser fingerprinting is that it’s probabilistic in nature. It looks at a treasure trove of data to track you online, not any individual piece of information. A VPN, for instance, can hide your IP address and make you appear in a different location. If enough of the other data in your fingerprint is consistent, however, it can still be used to track you. Your IP address may be different, but just about everything else about your browsing is not.
There may be practical use cases for fingerprinting, but you really don’t have much say in the matter. Even with protections like the GDPR, the moment you load a website, there are likely a few dozen (if not more) trackers copying the information your browser shares for their own purposes. Services like Fingerprint leverage that information to create an identifier, but make no mistake, the data is always there.
How to Get Around Browser Fingerprinting
You can’t get around browser fingerprinting, at least not without significant compromises to your browsing experience (more on that later). Even if you were to spoof or obfuscate every piece of data your browser sends along, that’d probably work against you. The goal with avoiding fingerprinting is to become a Jane Doe online; you want to disappear in the crowd, so every piece of data that makes you stand out sends up a red flag.
The best way to fight back against fingerprinting is to hide or rotate enough information so that it’s more difficult to track you, not impossible. And that starts with a VPN, though it doesn’t make you fully anonymous. The clearest online fingerprint you leave is your IP address and physical location, and VPNs hide both. More importantly, many of the best VPNs today include additional tools to combat fingerprinting.
ProtonVPN, which is what I use myself, includes NetShield to block trackers, ads, and malware. It doesn’t prevent fingerprinting, but NetShield can at least capture and block requests from well-known trackers to make you a bit more private online. NordVPN has a similar feature, as does Surfshark.
The most robust version of this type of blocker comes from Windscribe. Through its browser extension, you can do things like rotate your browser’s user agent to make it appear as if you’re using a different browser, as well as spoof your language, time zone, and GPS information to match the VPN server you’re connected to. Again, this will not make you fully anonymous online. But an extension like the one Windscribe offers makes tracking your fingerprint more difficult.
Proton VPN stands out for two main reasons: it’s one of the only virtual private networks (VPNs) to include a free plan with no data limits, and it’s one of the few services majority-owned by a nonprofit. It’s the best VPN in both of those categories, and it makes a strong case for being the best overall.
Even if you don’t care about the work of the Proton Foundation, Proton VPN is a service worth using. It’s easy to install and manage, runs like the wind and meets high standards for security and privacy. It has more IP locations in Africa than any of its competitors. It’s even looking toward the future by working toward full IPv6 support.
In short, Proton VPN gets our enthusiastic recommendation, especially for torrenting (which it supports on almost every server). It’s not perfect — the apps for Apple systems lag behind their Windows and Android counterparts, and the free servers can be noticeably sluggish — but the cons pale in comparison to the pros. We’ll get into it all below.
Editor’s note (9/24/25): We’ve overhauled our VPN coverage to provide more detailed, actionable buying advice. Going forward, we’ll continue to update both our best VPN list and individual reviews (like this one) as circumstances change. Most recently, we added official scores to all of our VPN reviews.Check out how we test VPNs to learn more about the new standards we’re using.
Proton
Proton VPN is a superlative service that’s proven itself willing to fight for your privacy — plus, it unblocks Netflix and keeps your internet fast.
The table summarizes what we found while reviewing Proton VPN, both good and bad. Keep it open in a tab while you comparison shop for a VPN.
Category
Notes
Installation and UI
Windows has the best interface, but all apps are smooth
Android users get unique preset protocols
Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox can be used for split tunneling on Mac and iOS
Speed
Retains 88 percent of download speeds and 98 percent of upload speeds
Global latency average stays under 300 ms, with 52 ms on the fastest server
Security
No DNS leaks or WebRTC leaks on any servers
Full IPv6 support is available on Android, Linux and browser extensions; Mac, Windows and iOS still block IPv6 to prevent leaks
WireShark test showed active packet encryption
Pricing
Best plan costs $81.36 for two years ($3.39 per month)
Free plan includes unlimited data and critical security features, but you can’t choose your server
Bundles
Proton Unlimited saves money if you want two or more Proton products
Privacy policy
General Proton policy prevents collection of IP addresses unless a user has violated the terms of service (such as by using a Proton VPN server to abuse another site)
No third parties are allowed to handle personally identifiable information
Confirmed by Securitum audit in 2024
Virtual location change
Unblocked Netflix repeatedly in all five testing locations, with new content proving a successful location change
A free server in Romania got into Netflix but had trouble loading the library
Server network
154 locations in 117 countries
More servers in Africa than any other VPN, plus many others across the globe
About two-thirds of server locations are virtual
Features
NetShield can block just malware, or all malware, ads and trackers
Kill switch on all platformsSplit tunneling on Windows, Android and browser extensions only
Secure Core servers route VPN through two locations, one of which is physically secured in Iceland, Sweden or Switzerland
Almost all paid servers are P2P-enabled
Tor over VPN servers in six countries let you access dark web sites from any browser
Profiles saves time when you repeatedly need specific connection settings
Customer support
Most articles in the online help center, while well-written, are invisible unless you use the search function
Live chat is only for paying customers, and is unavailable from midnight to 9 AM CET
Background check
Launched in 2017 by the same company that developed ProtonMail
Majority owned by the Proton Foundation, whose board includes the company founders and can resist takeover attempts
While ProtonMail has worked with Swiss authorities in the past, Proton VPN is not governed by the same laws that compelled this
Claims of a vulnerability in WireGuard’s memory don’t hold water
Installing, configuring and using Proton VPN
This section explains how it feels to run Proton VPN on the various platforms it supports. As a rule, it’s not difficult. Proton VPN has more features than ExpressVPN, and a couple of them might trip up new users, but you’d have to really scrounge to find an actual inconvenience to complain about.
Windows
Proton VPN installs easily on Windows — you’ll need to grant it permission to make changes, but that’s it. Once you’ve signed in on the app, you’ll reach one of the best interfaces we’ve tried on a VPN. The server network is immediately visible as both a list and map, and the location search bar, connect button and major features are all laid out around the same window.
Proton VPN’s app for Windows.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
It’s honestly amazing how much you can reach from the launch window without anything feeling cluttered. They even squeezed in keyboard shortcuts for the search field. We also love that settings open in the same window, since dealing with both the main VPN app and a separate preferences panel can get annoying. Our only real gripe is that there should be an easier way to adjust the size of the map.
Mac
The desktop app for Mac isn’t quite as deftly laid out as the Windows app. You can reach most of the important features from the main window, including Profiles, NetShield, Secure Core servers and the kill switch. However, there’s no longer a way to filter out a list of the P2P or Tor servers, except by digging through the Profile controls. On the plus side, you can adjust the size of the map, so it’s now a viable alternative to the server list.
Proton VPN’s dark mode interface on macOS.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
The other preferences are hidden in the menu bar — go to Proton VPN > Settings to reach them. They’re laid out in four tabs, and shouldn’t take more than a minute to go through at setup.
Android
The Android app takes the same design cues as the Windows app, and works as well. Four tabs along the bottom switch between the home screen, the country list, Profiles and all other settings. You can search the list of countries by tapping the magnifying glass at the top-right. In another nice touch, tapping the dots by any virtual location will tell you where the server is physically located.
Proton VPN’s Android client.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
Android users get some nifty exclusive Profiles, including “anti-censorship,” which automatically connects to the fastest country except for the one you’re in. The Settings tab is a single menu with subheadings and no unnecessary complication.
iOS
Proton VPN for iPhone and iPad looks almost the same as it does on Windows and Android, but with some of the same drawbacks found on Mac. The server list is more cluttered, and once again there’s no easy way to sift out the P2P and Tor locations.
Proton VPN’s app for iPhone and iPad.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
The Settings tab puts all the feature descriptions in the open, which makes it look denser than it is. But these are minor quibbles — this is still a VPN that’s very easy to activate and forget about.
Browser extensions
Proton VPN has browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. These serve as de facto split tunneling, as connecting through the extension protects only browser traffic; everything else goes unprotected. You can split the tunnel further by setting the VPN to not work on certain URLs (unlike the other apps, you don’t need to know the IPs of those sites).
Proton VPN speed test: Impacts of VPN Accelerator
We used Ookla’s Speedtest app to determine how much Proton VPN drags on a user’s latency, measured in milliseconds (ms), and download and upload speeds, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Together, these three stats show whether a VPN will noticeably slow down your internet, especially during demanding tasks.
We had high hopes for Proton here because of its VPN Accelerator technology, which runs VPN communications across several parallel tracks to process everything faster. It didn’t disappoint — for the most part. Although download speeds didn’t reach the heights we saw from ExpressVPN, Proton VPN’s browsing performance still looks excellent nearly across the board.
Proton VPN barely makes a dent in your download speeds.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
To choose our locations for the test, we checked Proton VPN’s list of smart routing servers, which use servers in one country to simulate IP addresses in another. Almost all the smart routing servers are based in five cities: Miami, London, Marseille, Bucharest and Singapore. We ran these tests on a Mac using the automatic protocol setting.
Server Location
Latency (ms)
Increase factor
Download speed (Mbps)
Percentage drop
Upload speed (Mbps)
Percentage drop
Portland, OR, USA (unprotected)
16
—
58.93
—
5.82
—
San Jose, CA, USA (best server)
52
3.3x
55.82
5
5.58
4
Miami, FL, USA
160
10x
54.33
8
5.49
6
London, UK
332
20.8x
52.55
11
5.72
2
Marseille, France
309
19.3x
45.42
23
5.59
4
Bucharest, Romania
408
25.5x
52.51
11
5.57
4
Singapore, Singapore
394
24.6x
52.26
11
5.50
5
Average
276
17.3x
52.15
12
5.58
4
Proton VPN looks very good in that table. Its average download speed was 88 percent of our unprotected speeds. To put that in perspective, if you started with 30 Mbps down (about half what we get) and connected to any Proton VPN server, you’d almost certainly still have a fast enough connection to stream in 4K.
Note the “almost” — Proton VPN did drop noticeably on its French server in Marseille. It’s not uncommon for one of a VPN’s data centers to have trouble while the others work fine, and you can usually fix the problem by just disconnecting and reconnecting. Just note that while drops to about 75 percent of your download speed are rare, they’re not inconceivable.
Proton VPN security test: Watertight protocols
When we talk about VPN security, we’re really talking about reliability. Can this VPN establish an encrypted tunnel and transmit all your information through it, every time, without leaks or failures? With Proton VPN, we’re happy to say the answer is yes; we probed its security and found no cracks to speak of. Read the section below for specifics.
Proton VPN protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 and Stealth
Proton VPN uses four VPN protocols to communicate between your devices, its servers and the internet. Three of them (WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2) are common choices with no serious flaws as long as they’re implemented thoughtfully. The fourth, Stealth, is an obfuscation protocol you should only use if the other three are blocked.
The protocol selection screen on Proton VPN’s Android app.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
OpenVPN is the most secure option. Without getting too technical, OpenVPN encrypts its backend functions as well as the data itself, which leaves it with no obvious vulnerabilities. It can also communicate using the same ports as common HTTPS traffic, so it’s hard to block.
WireGuard is more efficient than OpenVPN, both in its source code and the cryptography it uses. It normally requires an exchange of fixed IP addresses, but the Proton VPN implementation overwrites those IPs with randomized addresses, cutting the security risk.
IKEv2 is a safe choice that’s occasionally faster than either OpenVPN or WireGuard. You probably won’t use it unless it happens to come up while you’ve set the protocol to Smart. As such, it’s on the way to being phased out of Proton VPN.
Stealth is unique to Proton VPN, though its function is not. It’s got the same architecture as WireGuard, but adds another TLS tunnel to evade network blocks that catch VPN traffic. That extra encryption slows it down, so we don’t recommend using it unless the other three protocols don’t work.
The first option on the app, called “Smart,” is not a protocol — it means your VPN client selects the protocol that will give you the best speeds on your current server. Since all four protocols are safe, there’s no downside to using the Smart setting most of the time.
Leak test
We used AirVPN’s IP leak tool to check all four of Proton VPN’s protocols for DNS and WebRTC leaks. Proton VPN uses its own DNS servers to reduce the risk of sending unencrypted requests, but since leaks are still possible, we tested using a simple method: checking our visible IP address before and after connecting to the VPN.
Despite testing several locations over three days, we never saw our real IP address show up on the tool. This held true even outside the Secure Core server list, where data centers might have been managed by third parties. It’s not perfect proof, but it’s a very good sign that Proton VPN enforces a consistent security regime on all its servers.
Proton VPN successfully masked our real IP address, even on a virtual location in Angola.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
We also used BrowserLeaks to check for WebRTC leaks. These are mainly an issue on the browser side, but a VPN is doubly important if your browser happens to be leaking. We enabled WebRTC on our browser and tested the same set of Proton VPN servers without springing any WebRTC leaks.
Proton VPN and IPv6
Proton is working on making its entire VPN compatible with IPv6 addresses. If a VPN that’s only configured for IPv4 has to resolve an IPv6 address, it can cause a leak — that’s why most VPNs, even the best ones, block IPv6 altogether. That said, the whole internet will run on IPv6 one day, so it’s nice to see Proton VPN leading the pack.
So far, IPv6 is automatically enabled on Proton VPN’s Linux apps and browser extensions, and can be optionally activated on its Android app. The Proton VPN apps for all other platforms still block IPv6 traffic, but this should hopefully change soon.
Encryption test
Even if a VPN’s protocol choices are solid, it’s possible for individual implementations of those protocols to fail. We used WireShark, a packet inspector app, to test whether Proton VPN’s encryption worked no matter what settings were in place. We’re happy to say we never saw plaintext once.
How much does Proton VPN cost?
To get full access to Proton VPN, you’ll need a Plus subscription, which costs $9.99 per month. You can knock off half that price by subscribing for a full year and paying a lump sum of $59.88, working out to $4.99 per month. A Plus account with Proton VPN also gives you free access to every other Proton app.
You can also pay $107.76 in advance to subscribe for two years, an average of $4.49 per month — perhaps more convenient, but it doesn’t save you much. The one-year plan is the best value, though it’s also nice that you don’t have to pay through the nose for only one month. There’s a 30-day, money-back guarantee on all plans.
Proton VPN is one of the best free VPNs on the market right now. No other VPN backed by as much experience and good judgment has a free plan with no data limits. Instead of capping how much data you can use per month, Proton VPN restricts which servers free users can access, limiting them to eight countries: the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, Norway, Canada, Poland and Romania.
The frustrating part is that you can’t choose which of these servers you use; Proton VPN just auto-connects to whichever one is the least burdened. A Proton representative told us that this change goes along with improvements to the selection algorithm, better load balancing and the addition of the Poland and Romania locations. It is also possible to try for a better connection by clicking “change server.”
The fact remains, though, that a free Proton VPN plan is useless for unblocking content in specific locations — but this may be by design. The free plan seems more aimed toward privacy and anonymity than streaming, and the placement of the free locations near Russia and China reflects that. Free Proton VPN plans don’t sacrifice any essential security features.
Proton VPN side apps and bundles
Proton VPN’s main bundle is Proton Unlimited, which gets you all six Proton products in one package: VPN, Mail, Drive, Calendar, Wallet and Pass. This costs $12.99 for a month, $119.88 for a year ($9.99 per month) and $191.76 for two years ($7.99 per month). We won’t be going in-depth on any of them in this review, but here’s a quick rundown of each.
Proton Mail: An end-to-end encrypted email service. Proton can still see a Mail user’s real IP address, but can’t read any of their messages.
Proton Drive: Encrypted cloud storage. As with Mail, Proton can identify users, but can’t read any of the content they store.
Proton Calendar: An encrypted scheduling app with events and reminders.
Proton Wallet: A self-custody wallet for storing Bitcoin unconnected to any exchange.
Proton Pass: A password manager that generates, stores and autofills passwords for online accounts.
Even if you only need two of the six, Proton Unlimited saves you money. Separate monthly subscriptions to Proton VPN and Proton Mail would cost a total of $14.98, so you’ve already knocked off $2 per month. That increases if you’re able to commit to a year in advance.
Proton tracks user activity on its product websites using its own marketing tools; the data set collected does not include IP addresses. It retains an email address connected to each user’s account, but it’s not allowed to connect IP addresses (and thus identities and locations) to those emails unless the user breaches the terms of service.
You may rightly ask how Proton would know a user is abusing one of their services if they don’t keep activity logs. The answer is that logs aren’t needed; most forms of abuse can be detected in other ways and observed in real time. For example, if someone used a Proton VPN server to launch a DDoS attack, the team could inspect that server and find the hacker while the attack was still ongoing.
The policy goes on to list the five third-party data processors Proton uses (Zendesk, PayPal, Chargebee, Atlassian and Stripe), none of whom are allowed to store customer activity data. Proton cautions that it will share what data it does have in response to unblockable requests from the Swiss government, but not “until all legal or other remedies have been exhausted.” This is standard for a VPN that wants to remain in business, and the transparency report shows the company does indeed fight court orders when it can.
Proton VPN privacy policy
Proton’s VPN-specific privacy policy is quite short. It states that Proton cannot log user activities or identifiable characteristics of devices connected to the VPN, cannot throttle internet connections and must extend full privacy and security to free users.
In one sense, a privacy policy requires you to take the VPN provider at their word, but it’s dangerous for a company to make promises they don’t intend to keep. The policy is legally binding, and breaking it is grounds for a lawsuit. Proton VPN’s succinct no-logs policy is therefore a great sign. It’s also been confirmed several times by a third-party audit, most recently in July 2024.
Can Proton VPN change your virtual location?
Testing a VPN’s ability to mask a user’s location isn’t complex — all you need is a streaming subscription. We connected to five test locations and tried to unblock Netflix with each one. If we managed to access the site, and saw different shows than those on the American library, we concluded that the location had masked us successfully.
Server location
Unblocked Netflix?
Library changed?
Canada
Y
Y
Romania
Y
Y
Ghana
Y
Y
Japan
Y
Y
New Zealand
Y
Y
Proton VPN passed the test every time in all five locations. The only hiccup came in Romania, which we chose because it’s one of the free locations. The app connected us to a free server, which was too slow to load Netflix; when we chose a paid server, the problem disappeared.
Proton VPN changed our virtual location so we saw the Japanese Netflix library.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
Investigating Proton VPN’s server network
Proton VPN’s free plan includes servers in five locations: the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, the United States and Japan. When you connect as a free user, you’ll be automatically connected to whichever location is fastest.
A paid plan opens up the full network of 154 servers in 117 countries and territories. The menu includes a huge selection of African locations, more than any VPN we’ve tested in some time. The Middle East, along with central and southern Asia, are also well represented, and U.S. users will find 20 different locations to choose from.
Proton VPN lets you know which of its locations are virtual.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
Keep in mind that about two-thirds of these server locations are virtual, meaning they’re not physically located where they claim to be. This includes all the African servers except South Africa and Nigeria; all the South American servers except Brazil, Colombia and Argentina; and all the Middle Eastern servers except Turkey, Israel and the UAE. A majority of the locations in Asia are also virtual, including South Korea, India, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.
To be clear, virtual locations can hide your IP address just as well as physical ones. It’s only a problem if you’re expecting the kind of performance, particularly in terms of latency, that you get from a nearby server. Luckily, Proton VPN gives you fast enough download and upload speeds that distance shouldn’t be a problem.
None
Countries
Virtual Locations
Cities
North America
6
3
25
South America
7
4
7
Europe
42
6
51
Africa
25
23
26
Middle East
13
10
14
Asia
22
16
25
Oceania
2
0
6
TOTAL
117
62
154
Features of Proton VPN
Proton VPN has a number of extra features that go beyond standard VPN functionality. We’ve already mentioned the Stealth protocol and IPv6 support. In this section, we’ll cover an additional five features that might be of interest.
NetShield ad blocker
Proton VPN’s built-in ad blocker is known as NetShield. It’s available on the main UI page, and has two settings: one that blocks only malware sites, and one that blocks sites connected with malware, ads and trackers. The stronger feature is on by default.
The Netshield page on Proton VPN’s iOS app.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
NetShield works by checking any DNS requests against a database of web servers known to host malware, inject ads or attach cross-site trackers to your browsing session. The DNS-blocking approach means it’s not capable of blocking ads served from the same domain that hosts them — so no blocking YouTube video ads. On the positive side, it means NetShield works across your entire device, not just on your browser.
NetShield also displays a running total of how many of each form of interference it’s blocked. It catches most banner ads, but since you can’t customize the blocklist in any way, it’s best when combined with another browser-level ad blocker.
Secure Core servers
Here’s an interesting one. Secure Core is a form of a common feature known as double VPN or multi-hop VPN, in which a connection runs through two VPN servers before being decrypted. If one server fails or gets compromised, the other server keeps your connection private.
Secure Core servers add a second node to your VPN connection.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
Proton VPN takes this a step further. When you activate Secure Core, your connection will still end at your chosen server location — but before that, it will travel through a designated server in Iceland, Sweden or Switzerland. A few touches make Secure Core servers more reliable than the average VPN node:
All three countries are safe jurisdictions, with consumer-friendly privacy laws and courts sympathetic to privacy claims.
Secure Core data centers are locked down physically; for example, the Iceland location is a refitted military base, and the Sweden location is literally underground.
Proton owns and operates all Secure Core locations itself, with no rentals or third-party managers.
Almost no other VPNs pay as much attention to physical security as Proton VPN does with this feature. The second hop makes Secure Core connections slower on average, but it’s worth it if you have something especially sensitive to do online.
Kill switch
Proton VPN includes a kill switch, a standard feature. When active, a kill switch cuts off your internet whenever your connection to the VPN drops. This means you’re never in danger of leaking your real identity or location, even for a second. It also protects you against the TunnelVision exploit, which requires the hacker to make a fake VPN server.
Split tunneling
Split tunneling is included on the Windows and Android apps, but users on other devices can access it through the browser extension. With split tunneling, some apps or websites get online through the VPN, while others stay unprotected.
Split tunneling with Proton VPN on Android.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
Proton VPN allows split tunneling by both app and IP address. This grants you a precise level of control over your split, as long as you know the IP of each website you’re placing on the list (you can find that out using DNS checker).
Torrenting servers and port forwarding
Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs for torrenting. It restricts torrenting to P2P servers, but nearly every server on the list is a P2P server — only Secure Core servers and some free servers don’t permit torrenting. Combine that with the fact that it maintains 96 percent of your upload speeds on average, and you should have few problems using a torrenting client.
Proton VPN’s list of P2P servers.
(Sam Chapman for Engadget)
It also has some support for port forwarding, which can improve torrenting speed. Windows and Linux users can enable it with a simple toggle, which provides an active port number for configuring private servers. Mac users can set up port forwarding through manual OpenVPN or WireGuard configurations.
Tor over VPN
A handful of Proton VPN servers route you directly to the Tor network after encrypting your connection. While connected to one of these Tor over VPN servers, which are marked with TOR in their names and an onion symbol, you’ll be able to open .onion links on a normal browser.
This is more than just convenient — Tor over VPN is the safest way to access the dark web. With the VPN as an intermediary, you’re never connecting to Tor with your own IP address, so malicious node operators can’t see your real identity. For maximum privacy, use Tor Browser to create your Proton VPN account, so you’re never exposed at any point in the process.
Proton VPN has Tor servers in six countries (the U.S., France, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany and Hong Kong). Each just has one Tor server, except the United States, which gets two. Tor over VPN is supported on all platforms, but it won’t work on Mac or iOS unless you have the kill switch enabled.
Profiles
A “profile” on Proton VPN is a group of pre-established settings you can use to quickly configure the VPN for a particular task. Two profiles are available from the start: Fastest, which connects to the fastest server, and Random, which always connects to a different server. You can create more profiles by toggling four settings:
Feature: The type of server used. Choose from Standard, Secure Core, P2P or Tor over VPN.
Country: The country to which the profile connects.
Server: A server within that country. You can also select “fastest” or “random.”
Protocol: Which VPN protocol the profile will use. “Smart” can be selected.
As an example, say you want to watch a TV series that’s only available on Netflix in Canada. You could create a profile called “Netflix Canada” that connects to the fastest Canadian server with just one click. We’d call profiles situationally useful, but they can save a lot of time if you regularly perform the same action on your VPN.
Proton VPN customer support options
We went to Proton VPN’s FAQ pages with two questions that came up while researching other sections: which of Proton VPN’s servers are managed by third parties, and why do certain server locations (like Marseilles) run slow despite the app showing a light load?
You can access the help center through any of Proton VPN’s apps, or by going directly to the website. Articles appear to be organized into six categories. Oddly, clicking any category button only shows you a handful of the articles in that section — for example, the Troubleshooting category looks like it only has five articles. If you type “troubleshooting” into the search bar, though, you’ll see dozens pop up. There are even some sections, like Billing, that don’t appear on the main page at all.
It has the feel of a website update that wasn’t adequately brought in line with the bulk of the support content. Until Proton fixes it, just use the search bar for everything. The articles themselves are well-written, give or take some stilted English.
Getting quick help
We couldn’t find written answers to our questions about ownership and server load, so we turned to live chat. Free users should keep in mind that live chat support is only available on paid accounts, but there’s a fairly active subreddit at r/protonvpn where Proton staff frequently post.
Live chat is not intuitively located on protonvpn.com. We finally found it by scrolling all the way to the bottom of the main page, only to be told nobody was online to help at the moment — live chat is only accessible from 9 AM to midnight Central European Time (CET). We submitted our question about the Marseille servers as an email ticket instead.
This part was easy, at least, as the form helpfully populated our system information. We also got a prompt response within 24 hours. We ended the interaction there, as we weren’t able to reproduce the sluggish behavior on the French server locations, but it’s nice to know the team will answer quickly.
Proton VPN background check: The CERN origins of Proton AG
Proton VPN launched in 2017, but its team’s experience goes back much farther. The founders of its parent company, Proton AG, met while working at CERN in Switzerland, and the company remains under Swiss jurisdiction.
Their first product, Proton Mail, went live in 2014 after a successful crowdfunding campaign, and claims to have 100 million users today. Proton VPN was Proton AG’s second project. Like Proton Mail, it consists of a free plan supplemented by paid upgrades.
Since then, Proton has introduced several more products: Proton Calendar in 2020, Proton Drive cloud storage in 2022 and the Proton Pass password manager in 2023, each designed around using end-to-end encryption to make user data inaccessible.
The Proton Foundation
Proton announced in 2024 that the majority of its shares had been acquired by the Proton Foundation, a nonprofit whose only purpose is to control Proton stock. Among other benefits, this prevents it from being purchased by anyone who disagrees with its mission. To sell to an objectionable parent company, the entire board of trustees would have to agree, which feels unlikely based on Proton’s track record.
Throughout Proton’s history, we only found two incidents serious enough to comment on, and only one of them concerned Proton VPN. We’ll cover them both below.
ProtonMail law enforcement collaboration allegations
On the page that hosts its annual transparency report, Proton states openly that it “may be legally compelled to disclose certain user information to Swiss authorities” (see the Privacy Policy section of this article for more on precisely what information that describes). In 2021, the company admitted it had given Swiss police (acting on a French warrant) a ProtonMail user’s IP address and device logs. The police arrested the user, a French environmental activist.
While that’s unnerving for privacy-minded users, there are some important contextual issues to consider. Most importantly, ProtonMail is not governed by the same policy as Proton VPN. At the time the case unfolded, Swiss law obliged all email companies to comply with court orders from Swiss authorities to hand over data. VPNs aren’t subject to those retention requirements.
Today, Swiss email companies have been reclassified so they’re also exempt from data retention requirements, thanks in part to a policy change Proton fought for. A representative from Proton confirmed that “under Swiss law, we are not obligated to save any user connection logs.” It’s also reassuring that, despite complying with the subpoena, Proton wasn’t able to turn over the contents of any emails.
Alleged WireGuard memory vulnerability
In January 2025, researchers at Venak Security alleged that Proton VPN lacks memory protection for keys generated under the WireGuard protocol, which might let hackers scrape the keys and decrypt intercepted communications. Proton responded to Venak in a blog post, which a Proton representative confirmed remains their official response to the allegations.
In short: the Venak article only demonstrates that it’s possible to view public keys, not private ones. This isn’t much of a bombshell, given that “public” is right there in the name. But asymmetric encryption — the kind used by VPN protocols like WireGuard — requires both keys to decrypt any messages. Even if a hacker were able to get ahold of a private key, they likely wouldn’t be able to use it for anything. WireGuard incorporates perfect forward secrecy by default, changing session keys often enough that any given key is obsolete by the time it’s stolen.
Final verdict
In short, we’re prepared to recommend Proton VPN to almost anybody. Whether you’re mainly concerned with security, streaming or something else, chances are good that you’ll be satisfied. The only serious downsides are that the long-term plans are overpriced and that it’s hard to get live tech support if you live outside of Europe.
It’s also our unqualified pick for the best free VPN, but with the caveat that it’s a bad choice for anyone who needs to choose specific server locations. If all you care about is staying hidden from your ISP and advertisers, Proton should be your first choice.
Cybersecurity firm Cleafy just issued a report warning against a rising malware called Klopatra, which infects personal devices by posing as a free VPN app called Mobdro Pro IP + VPN. This is the latest corroboration of a series of warnings delivered by Kaspersky security researchers in 2024 about the increasing number of malware apps pretending to be free VPNs — a warning that’s more relevant than ever as VPN usage spikes in response to age-restriction laws.
Mobdro is the name of a popular IPTV app that’s been taken down by the Spanish government at least once, but the Mobdro Pro IP + VPN app appears to be unrelated, piggybacking on the name to use it as a malware vector. If you download the app, it guides you through what appears to be an installation wizard, but is actually the steps for handing over total control of your device. Once inside, Klopatra abuses accessibility services to pose as you, enter your banking apps, drain your accounts and assimilate your device into the botnet for further attacks.
Cleafy believes that Klopatra has already roped around 3,000 devices into its botnet, mainly in Italy and Spain. Its report concludes that the group behind Klopatra is probably based in Turkey, and is actively refining its approach, incorporating innovations and changing with the times. Hence the use of a combined cord-cutting and free VPN app as a mask — it’s perfect for exploiting rising frustrations with both streaming balkanization and government clampdowns on web freedom.
According to Kaspersky, other free VPNs used as malware vectors in the past year include MaskVPN, PaladinVPN, ShineVPN, ShieldVPN, DewVPN and ProxyGate. With Klopatra’s runaway success, Cleafy believes that imitators will spring up. App stores aren’t always quick to take down implicated apps, so be very careful to vet any free VPN app before you download it. If you’re not sure, you can always go with one of the free recommendations from our best VPN list (Proton VPN or hide.me).
On average, Proton dropped about 15 percent of my unprotected speed, but that number needs some context. In a location like Atlanta, Georgia, midday on a Thursday, I experienced a drop of only around 3 percent. In Columbus, Ohio, in the evening on a Friday, that grew to a 25 percent drop. This type of variation is normal. Providers like Surfshark and NordVPN see similar variations and have similar speed drops on average.
The difference for Proton is that I’ve yet to stumble upon a real stinker of a server. I’m sure they exist—with some 15,000+ servers, you’re bound to find one at some point—but I haven’t seen them after weeks of use. Windscribe and ExpressVPN are competitive with Proton on average, but they also have some locations where I saw anywhere from a 40 to 60 percent drop in speed. Those results aren’t indicative of the speed overall (you just swap to a different server), but Proton gets you there faster.
That edge is likely due to Proton’s VPN Accelerator. I’ll admit, it sounded like nonsense. In the Proton VPN app, you’ll find a toggle for VPN Accelerator, which boldly claims to increase speed by up to 400 percent; not likely. Despite the speedup, I don’t think VPN Accelerator will reach anywhere near that quoted number, at least in the vast majority of cases.
Still, there are some advantages, most notably, BBR. Bottleneck Bandwidth and Round-trip propagation time, or BBR, is a congestion control algorithm developed by Google that’s been deployed on YouTube and Google itself. Rather than limiting packet transfer when packets are lost, as most congestion control algorithms work, BBR models the network and estimates available bandwidth. It doesn’t need to see lost packets to kick in.
Proton’s speeds aren’t entirely attributable to BBR, but I suspect it helps when connecting to servers over long distances. Connecting in the UK, for example, I saw an average speed loss of around 20 percent, which is much closer to my US results than it has any right to be.
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If you’re a lover of medieval history and the epic battles that have shaped nations, you may be wondering how to watch King & Conqueror in the US online for free. While this new BBC series streams on BBC iPlayer in the UK, we’ve found a workaround for American fans ready to experience the dramatic events leading up to the Norman Conquest of 1066.
How to Watch King & Conqueror in the US at a Glance
Watch ‘King & Conqueror’ in the US
King & Conqueror is an epic historical drama created by Michael Robert Johnson that premiered on August 24, 2025, starring James Norton as Harold Godwinson and Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William, Duke of Normandy. The eight-part series depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, chronicling how two former allies would eventually become enemies in their fight for control of the English throne.
The anticipation for this medieval drama has been building among history enthusiasts and fans of both lead actors. Norton, who also serves as an executive producer through his company Rabbit Track Pictures, brings intensity to the role of the doomed English king, while Coster-Waldau delivers a commanding performance as the Norman duke who would reshape English history. The series premiere was directed by Baltasar Kormákur, with subsequent episodes helmed by Erik Leijonborg and Bálint Szentgyörgyi.
So, where can fans of historical drama access this England-based series if they’re watching from the United States? Continue reading to learn how to stream King & Conqueror in the US online for free and catch every moment in this tale of ambition and betrayal.
How can you watch King & Conqueror in the US?
King & Conqueror airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, which is completely free to stream for viewers in the UK. However, to watch King & Conqueror in the US, Americans will first need a VPN, a service that allows users to set their computer’s location to another country and access websites that would otherwise be restricted by location. The most popular VPNs are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and PureVPN—all of which offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read on for how to sign up for them to watch King & Conqueror in the US on BBC iPlayer.
EDITOR’S PICK
Watch King & Conqueror in the US with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPN services and the one we recommend the most of any VPN service we’ve tried. The service—which allows users to set their location to over 160 locations in 105 countries with unlimited bandwidth—offers a 30-day free trial and a money-back guarantee with several subscription options to fit different viewing needs. The monthly plan starts at $12.99, which works well if you don’t want a long-term commitment. The best value, however, comes with the two-year plan at just $3.49 per month—a 73% savings compared to the monthly rate. You’ll pay $97.72 upfront for 28 months (24 months plus four free bonus months), then it renews annually. There’s also a middle option with the annual plan at $4.99 monthly, offering 61% savings. ExpressVPN only takes around five minutes to set up, and also promises lightning-quick connectivity and 24-hour live-chat support, and allows users to connect to any device, from computers to phones to tablets.
Most Flexibility
Watch King & Conqueror in the US with NordVPN
NordVPN is another popular VPN service recommended by YouTubers like PewDiePie, Casey Neistat, and Philip DeFranco. The service—which offers a 30-day free trial and a money-back guarantee—has three levels of plans: one month, one year, and two years. All three levels offer four different plans: Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime. We recommend opting for one of NordVPN’s two-year plans, since prices go significantly down for those plans. For a Basic plan, for example, you’re looking at $3.09 per month for a two-year plan (73% off), $4.99 for one year (56% off), and $12.99 if you pay monthly (no discount). Along with access to over 59 countries, NordVPN also allows users to connect to multiple devices (from computers to phones to tablets) and offers 24-hour live chat support.
Budget Pick
Watch King & Conqueror in the US with PureVPN
Another popular VPN service is PureVPN, which offers a 31-day free trial and a money-back guarantee. After the free trial ends, users can sign up for one of PureVPN’s three plans—Max, Plus, or Standard—for either one month, one year, two years, or five years. Similar to NordVPN, prices decrease the longer the plan lasts. For example, the Standard plan costs $2.16 a month for five years (83% off), $2.14 for two years (83% off plus three months free), $3.99 for one year (69% off), and $12.95 for one month (no discount). PureVPN offers more than 6,500 servers in over 78 countries across the world, as well as 24-hour live-chat support. It also features the lowest prices after the free trial ends across all three VPN options mentioned in this story. So if you’re watching on a budget, sign up for PureVPN.
What is King & Conqueror About?
The series centers on the escalating conflict between two powerful medieval rulers whose personal and political ambitions collide in a struggle that would determine England’s future. Set in 11th-century England and Normandy, the drama follows these once-allied noblemen as they navigate court politics, family loyalty, and the brutal realities of medieval warfare.
At the start of the series, King Edward the Confessor sits on the throne without an heir, creating a succession crisis that will tear the kingdom apart. Starting as allies, Harold Godwinson and William, Duke of Normandy, find themselves on opposing sides as each believes he has the rightful claim to the English crown.
The series maintains historical authenticity while adding dramatic elements to enhance the storytelling. Viewers follow the characters through complex political machinations as they build alliances, face betrayals, and prepare for the inevitable confrontation that history remembers as the Battle of Hastings. With characters spanning historical figures and fictional additions created for dramatic purposes, King & Conqueror promises an exciting blend of documented history and the memorable character moments that make it essential viewing for fans of period drama worldwide.
Who is in the cast of King & Conqueror 2025?
The series features an ensemble cast led by James Norton as Harold Godwinson and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William the Conqueror. Eddie Marsan portrays King Edward, while Juliet Stevenson appears as Lady Emma of Normandy. The full cast includes:
