1️⃣Surfshark
Voters called it the most underrated value VPN: blazing speeds, unlimited devices, and wide streaming unlocks without the premium price. Clean apps and 24/7 chat make it a set-and-forget shield. Long plans undercut the big names while matching their features.
- Unlimited devices on one account
- Low long-term pricing
- Consistently fast on major regions
- Unblocks Netflix
- iPlayer
- Disney+
- Clean apps with ad/tracker blocker
- 24/7 live chat support
- Based in the Netherlands (14-Eyes concern for purists)
- Fewer niche city locations than some rivals
- Occasional captchas while browsing
2️⃣Proton VPN
Community pick for privacy-first without killing speed. Swiss-based, audited, and backed by Proton, it feels built for people who actually care about security. The free tier is generous, and Plus plans fly for streaming.
- Swiss jurisdiction with strict privacy laws
- Open-source apps and regular audits
- Excellent free plan for casual use
- Secure Core multi-hop option
- Great streaming performance on Plus
- Accepts cash and crypto
- Best speeds and streaming require Plus plan
- Apps can feel heavy on older devices
- Smaller server fleet than the giants
3️⃣ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is still superb and dead simple, but many voters say it's a bit overrated for the price. Reliability and streaming are ace, yet you pay a steep premium and only get 8 simultaneous connections. Lightway is smooth, but there's no built-in ad blocker.
- Extremely reliable worldwide
- Excellent streaming unlocks
- Polished apps on every platform
- Lightway protocol is fast and stable
- Premium pricing versus peers
- Only 8 simultaneous connections
- No built-in ad or tracker blocker
- Fewer advanced tweaks for power users
4️⃣NordVPN
NordVPN packs power features and rapid speeds, but renewal pricing and bundles rubbed voters the wrong way. Threat Protection and Meshnet are great, yet the map UI can feel clunky. It's excellent value on promo, less so after renewal.
- Huge server network
- Very fast with NordLynx
- Threat Protection blocks malware and trackers
- Meshnet and extras for power users
- Strong streaming performance
- Renewal price jumps sharply
- Aggressive bundling upsells
- Map-style interface can be awkward
- Some specialty servers require manual selection
5️⃣TunnelBear
TunnelBear wins hearts with playful design and simplicity, but it's more cute than powerhouse. Fine for basic privacy and travel, yet streaming and advanced controls are limited. Support is email-heavy and the free plan data is tiny.
- Delightfully simple apps
- Great for beginners and casual travel
- Independent security audits
- Clear
- friendly pricing
- Tiny free plan data
- Inconsistent streaming unlocks
- No live chat support
- Limited advanced settings and server options