By Using a VPN, or virtual private network, is one of the best ways to protect your online privacy. We review dozens every year, and these are the best VPNs we’ve tested in 2024.
You’ve probably heard that a virtual private network (VPN) is a key instrument in your privacy toolkit, but it’s nearly impossible for the average person to determine what the best VPN is on their own. That’s where PC-Mag comes in. We’ve been reviewing VPNs for more than 10 years and writing about them for more than 25. So when our overall favorite, Proton VPN, gets not only an Editors’ Choice award but also a five-star rating, you can trust that it’s a score we stand behind and one that you can rely on. That said, this story has nine other highly recommended VPNs, all of which are excellent in their own ways. See our top picks below, with links to full reviews of each service and all the info you need to decide which VPN is the perfect fit for you.
Is a VPN Worth Getting?
The simple answer to whether you need a VPN is yes. A VPN is a simple way to protect your privacy online and can help circumvent unwanted internet restrictions. None of the services listed here are perfect, and there will surely be times when a VPN won’t make sense. Take the marketing language VPN providers use when sponsoring your favorite YouTube video or podcast with a healthy grain of salt. That said, a VPN is undoubtedly a valuable data privacy tool, one that’s becoming even more necessary and is well worth having in your personal security toolbox.
Why Do I Need a VPN?
A VPN routes your internet traffic through an encrypted connection to a server controlled by the VPN provider. From there, your traffic exits onto the web as usual. If you only connect to websites secured with HTTPS, your data remains encrypted, even after leaving the VPN. It sounds simple, but VPN usage can improve your online privacy.
pulls out of your driveway
Think of this analogy: When your car pulls out of your driveway, someone can follow you and see where you’re going, how long you spend there, and when you return. They might even peek into your car to learn more about you. With a VPN app, it’s like driving from your house into a private tunnel, exiting into a closed parking garage, switching to a different car, and driving out. No one who is trying to follow you can know where you went.
one snooping around your network
Likewise, no one snooping around your network can see what you’re doing when you use a VPN connection. Convenient public Wi-Fi networks are also convenient for attackers. How do you know, for example, “starbucks_wifi-real” is the coffee shop’s actual Wi-Fi network? A prank popular among security researchers is to create a network with the same name as a free, popular service and see how many devices automatically connect.
internet service provider (ISP)
Even if you’re trusting, you might not want to trust your internet service provider (ISP). In the US, your ISP has enormous insight into your online activities. To make matters worse, congress has decided your ISP is allowed to sell your anonymized browsing history. Selling your data seems egregious since you are already paying for the service. A VPN prevents even your ISP from keeping tabs on you.
