VPN Rating 2026

NordVPN

#2

(3,521)

7.6

$3.39/mo

NordVPN has been running since 2012, has completed six no-logs audits with Deloitte (most recent: late 2024), and offers NordLynx on WireGuard. The service also has documented billing issues: subscriptions auto-renew two weeks before expiry at prices three to four times higher than the introductory rate, and the refund button is intentionally buried behind several steps — this is the subject of class-action lawsuits in five US states (2024–2025). In March 2018, one leased server in Finland was compromised; the company disclosed the incident publicly more than a year later. Since 2022, NordVPN and Surfshark share the same parent company, Nord Security.

• Double VPN
• Threat Protection
• Onion over VPN
• NordLynx

ExpressVPN

#3

(2,847)

7.4

$6.67/mo

ExpressVPN is technically one of the stronger providers in the category for speed and infrastructure: the proprietary Lightway protocol and TrustedServer technology — RAM-only servers audited by KPMG and PwC — put it ahead of most competitors on reliability. Obfuscation is on by default across all servers, and the service has a consistent track record of working in China. The main flag for reputation-sensitive users is ownership: since September 2021 ExpressVPN has been part of Kape Technologies, which grew out of Crossrider — a browser-extension platform that between 2011 and 2016 became heavily associated with adware distribution before shutting down and rebranding. Kape also owns CyberGhost and Private Internet Access, making three nominally separate brands one holding. The other notable downside is price: at $12.99–$13.99/month on a monthly plan, it is one of the most expensive options in the category.

• No-logs policy
• Lightway protocol
• Kill switch
• TrustedServer (RAM-only servers)

Proton VPN

#4

(1,512)

7.2

$4.99/mo

Proton VPN is the most privacy-focused provider in the category by most measurable criteria: Swiss jurisdiction outside 5/9/14 Eyes alliances, fully open-source clients across all platforms, and four consecutive independent no-logs audits — the most recent by Securitum in August 2025. Secure Core routes traffic through servers in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden before it exits to the internet, providing meaningful protection against compromised exit nodes that most competitors simply don't offer. The weaknesses are real: speeds are below the category average (Secure Core adds latency by design), and at $9.99/month on a monthly plan it sits near the top of the pricing range. A free plan with no ads and no speed cap — limited to three server countries — is a genuine differentiator. The right pick for users who prioritize privacy over speed and want the full technical picture before trusting a provider.

• No-logs policy
• Secure Core (multi-hop via CH/IS/SE)
• Stealth protocol (DPI bypass)
• Open-source clients

Surfshark

#5

(1,893)

6.8

$2.49/mo

Surfshark's primary argument is value: it's among the cheapest providers in the category with unlimited simultaneous devices — a meaningful offer for households and small teams. The technical package is competent: WireGuard, NoBorders obfuscation mode, CleanWeb ad blocker, and MultiHop double-VPN are all present. Two notable caveats: since 2022, Surfshark and NordVPN have shared the same parent holding company, Nord Security — so two nominally competing brands are owned by the same entity; and the jurisdiction is the Netherlands, a Nine Eyes country, though there is no Dutch law requiring VPNs to retain logs. A practical choice for multi-device users on a budget, with those caveats understood.

• Unlimited devices
• Camouflage mode
• CleanWeb
• MultiHop

Private Internet Access

#6

(1,734)

6.3

$2.19/mo

Private Internet Access is one of the oldest providers in the category with fully open-source clients and a no-logs policy validated in US federal court on two separate occasions — authorities requested data, and there was nothing to hand over. Two caveats are meaningful: jurisdiction is the United States, a Five Eyes country; and since 2019 PIA has been owned by Kape Technologies — the same holding that owns ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. Deloitte audits in 2022 and 2024 confirmed RAM-only servers and no-logs compliance. Best-in-class configuration depth and competitive pricing — paired with the highest jurisdictional risk profile among the providers reviewed here for users with serious privacy requirements.

• No-logs policy
• Open-source clients
• MACE — ad and tracker blocker
• WireGuard protocol

CyberGhost

#7

(2,156)

6

$2.19/mo

CyberGhost positions itself as the approachable, streaming-focused VPN: dedicated server profiles for specific services (Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and others) and a simple app that doesn't require technical knowledge. Romanian jurisdiction sits outside 5/9/14 Eyes alliances. The central caveat is ownership: CyberGhost has been part of Kape Technologies (formerly Crossrider) since 2017 — the same holding that owns ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, and also several major VPN comparison websites (vpnmentor, wizcase) that do not disclose the conflict of interest. There are no published independent no-logs audit reports. For users who want basic protection and reliable streaming at a low price, CyberGhost works; for users who weigh provider ownership and review ecosystem integrity seriously, the picture is considerably more complicated.

• No-logs policy
• Kill switch
• Dedicated streaming servers
• MultiHop

Durev VPN

#8

(187)

5.8

$1.91/mo

Durev VPN is a small provider built around the Telegram ecosystem: available as a Mini App inside the messenger and through Android and Windows clients. The stated network covers 50+ countries with up to 10 devices per account; crypto payments are accepted; the 2-year plan comes to $1.91/month with a $0.11 trial. The company's registration jurisdiction is not publicly disclosed, encryption protocols are not listed on the website, and no independent no-logs audits have been published. The service has almost no presence in international VPN communities — no independent editorial reviews, no Reddit discussions to speak of. Users who treat provider transparency and verifiability as a baseline criterion will find more documented alternatives worth comparing first.

• No-logs policy
• Cross-platform support
• Crypto payment
• Telegram Mini App

VPNly

#9

(94)

5.5

Free

VPNly is a free VPN operated by Free VPN Unlimited AG, registered in Zug, Switzerland. No account or registration is required; apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and multiple browser extensions. The server network is limited: 20+ servers across four countries — Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United States. A no-logs policy is stated, but no independent audits have been published to verify the claim; encryption protocols are not disclosed publicly. Speed drops during peak hours are a recurring user complaint — a predictable consequence of a small server pool. Adequate for basic traffic protection and simple geo-restriction bypasses; for streaming outside Europe, use in restricted regions, or users with higher privacy requirements, the infrastructure is a limiting factor.

• Free plan
• No-logs policy
• DNS leak protection
• Cross-platform support

xnxubd VPN

#10

(312)

4

Free

xnxubd VPN Browser is an informal term for unofficial Android APK files distributed outside Google Play and the App Store, primarily in Indonesia and Southeast Asia under the 'Anti Blokir' (anti-block) label. There is no verified developer, registered company, or verifiable privacy policy behind the brand. Google Play Protect flags files from these distribution sources as potential malware at install time. Encryption protocols, server infrastructure, and data handling practices are not disclosed. The term circulates widely as a search query in the region, but users with any baseline security or privacy requirement should evaluate verified alternatives before considering an unverified APK from an unidentified source.

• Free plan
• Unlimited traffic
• DNS leak protection
• AES-256 encryption