NordVPN
9.5
The gold standard — fast, private, and feature-rich
- Servers6,400+ in 111 countries
- No-Logs✓ Audited by Deloitte
- Devices10 simultaneous
- From£2.29/mo
- Streaming✓ Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+
8 VPNs Reviewed • Updated May 2026
Best VPN 2026 — Independently Tested & Rated
Honest VPN reviews. No sponsored rankings. No fluff.
In-Depth Reviews
VPNs We've Tested in 2026
Scored on privacy policy, speed, ease of use, streaming support, and value for money.
Proton VPN
9.3
Privacy-first, open source, and genuinely trustworthy
- Servers20,000+ in 145 countries
- No-Logs✓ Open-source & audited
- Devices10 simultaneous
- From£2.39/mo
- Free Plan✓ Genuinely free tier
70% off on a 2-year plan
Surfshark
8.8
Unlimited devices and excellent value — great for families
- Servers3,200+ in 100 countries
- No-Logs✓ Audited by Deloitte
- DevicesUnlimited
- From£1.49/mo
- CleanWeb✓ Ad & tracker blocking
CyberGhost
8.5
Huge server network with dedicated streaming servers
- Servers11,690+ in 100 countries
- No-Logs✓ Quarterly transparency report
- Devices7 simultaneous
- From£1.55/mo
- Dedicated Servers✓ Streaming & torrenting
PIA
8.3
Open-source, court-tested no-logs policy, power-user favourite
- Servers35,000+ in 91 countries
- No-Logs✓ Proven in court
- DevicesUnlimited
- From£1.35/mo
- Open Source✓ Fully auditable
hide.me
8.1
Privacy-focused with a genuine free plan and Stealth protocol
- Servers2,000+ in 75+ locations
- No-Logs✓ Cure53 audited
- Devices10 simultaneous
- From£2.69/mo
- Free Plan✓ Genuinely free tier
PureVPN
7.9
Budget-friendly with solid features and good global reach
- Servers6,500+ in 78 countries
- No-Logs✓ KPMG audited
- Devices10 simultaneous
- From£2.15/mo
- Dedicated IP✓ Available add-on
IPVanish
7.7
US-owned, Kodi-friendly, good for Fire TV and streaming sticks
- Servers2,400+ in 90 countries
- No-Logs✓ Audited by Leviathan
- DevicesUnlimited
- From£2.19/mo
- Fire TV / Kodi✓ Official app
Additional Protection
Secure Your Passwords. Protect Your Inbox.
Strong passwords for every account. Encrypted email only you can read.
1Password
The most trusted password manager for individuals and families. Stores, generates, and autofills strong unique passwords across all your devices.
Works on all devices, one master password
NordPass
From the makers of NordVPN — a clean, fast password manager built for simplicity without compromising on security.
Encrypts and stores your passwords securely
Proton Pass
Open-source password manager from the Proton team. Encrypts metadata as well as passwords, with a built-in email alias generator.
Swiss-based, zero-knowledge, free plan available
50% off
Proton Mail
End-to-end encrypted email from the Proton team. Based in Switzerland, open-source, and zero access to your messages.
End-to-end encrypted, based in Switzerland
40% off
Browse by Use Case
What Do You Need a VPN For?
Not all VPNs are equal — we've picked the best for each specific job.
Best for Streaming
Unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and more from anywhere.
NordVPN
CyberGhost
Surfshark
hide.me
Best for Privacy
Strict no-logs policies, audited code, and privacy-friendly jurisdictions.
Proton VPN
PIA
NordVPN
Best for Beginners
Simple apps, one-click connect, and clear pricing — no tech knowledge needed.
NordVPN
Surfshark
Proton VPN
Best for Price
Quality VPN protection that won't break the bank — from under £1.50/month.
Surfshark
PIA
CyberGhost
Side-by-Side
Quick Comparison Table
Key specs at a glance — updated with current 2026 data.
| VPN | Score | Servers | Devices | No-Logs Audit | Free Plan | From (£/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 6,400+ | 10 | ✓ | ✗ | £2.29 | |
| Proton VPN | 20,000+ | 10 | ✓ | ✓ | £2.39 | |
| Surfshark | 3,200+ | Unlimited | ✓ | ✗ | £1.49 | |
| CyberGhost | 11,690+ | 7 | ✓ | ✗ | £1.55 | |
| PIA | 35,000+ | Unlimited | ✓ | ✗ | £1.35 | |
| hide.me | 2,000+ | 10 | ✓ | ✓ | £2.69 | |
| PureVPN | 6,500+ | 10 | ✓ | ✗ | £2.15 | |
| IPVanish | 2,400+ | Unlimited | ✓ | ✗ | £2.19 |
Learn the Basics
VPN Guides for Every Level
From total beginner to privacy enthusiast — explained in plain English.
Foundation
What Is a VPN and How Does It Work?
Tunnels, encryption, IP addresses — explained simply. Start here if you're new to VPNs.
Read guide →
Buying Guide
How to Choose Your First VPN
The six things that actually matter — and the marketing claims you can safely ignore.
Read guide →
Deep Dive
Free vs Paid VPN — Is Free Ever Enough?
The honest answer: sometimes. We explain exactly when free works and when it puts you at risk.
Read guide →
Privacy
What Is a No-Logs Policy and Why Does It Matter?
Every VPN claims to keep no logs. We explain what that actually means — and how to verify it.
Read guide →
Common Questions
VPN Questions — Answered Honestly
The questions people ask most before choosing a VPN.
What does a VPN do?
A VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP address by routing your traffic through a secure server in another location. Your ISP cannot see what you are doing online, and websites see the VPN server's IP instead of yours. It is used for privacy, security on public Wi-Fi, and accessing content from other countries. Full explanation →
Does a VPN make you anonymous?
No — a VPN does not make you fully anonymous. It hides your IP address and encrypts your traffic, which gives you real privacy from your ISP and network observers. But it does not hide your identity from websites you are logged into, and your VPN provider can still see your traffic. For most people, a good VPN with a verified no-logs policy is enough for everyday privacy. Full explanation →
Are VPNs legal?
Yes — VPNs are legal in the UK, USA, most of Europe, Canada and Australia. Some countries restrict or ban them, including China, Russia and North Korea. A VPN does not make illegal activity legal — it only protects your privacy on a legal connection.
Does a VPN slow down your internet speed?
A VPN adds some overhead from encryption, so a small speed reduction is normal. On a fast connection with a quality VPN the drop is usually under 10%. In our testing, Proton VPN dropped from 75 Mbps to 72 Mbps — barely noticeable. Budget or free VPNs tend to slow things down more. NordVPN and Surfshark are the fastest in our set. See our speed results →
Are free VPNs safe?
Most free VPNs are not safe — they often log your data and sell it to advertisers, which defeats the purpose. Two exceptions worth trusting: Proton VPN's free plan offers unlimited data with no logs, and hide.me's free plan covers 5 locations with a verified no-logs policy. Every other free VPN we tested had significant privacy concerns. Free vs paid VPN — full breakdown →
Does a VPN hide your activity from your ISP?
Yes — a VPN encrypts your traffic so your ISP can only see that you are connected to a VPN server, not what you are doing or which sites you are visiting. However your ISP can still see that you are using a VPN. Some VPNs offer obfuscation or stealth protocols which disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic.