The 6 Best VPNs of 2025 Are More Reliable Than Ever

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If you want to ensure privacy when browsing the web, streaming content, or doing anything online, a virtual private network (VPN) is one of the best ways to do it. A VPN blocks internet service providers and others from tracking your activity online, and this can be especially important when you're on a public network.

Not all VPNs offer the same quality, however. There are a lot of options out there, but here are our recommendations for the top six best VPNs to check out in 2025.

What Does VPN Mean?

You may have heard of a VPN but not know what it is or what it does. If you're unfamiliar with how they work, you may have asked yourself, what is a VPN? And what is a VPN used for? VPN stands for virtual private network, a tool that you can use to protect your privacy while you're online, regardless of what device you use to connect to the internet. Some VPN companies even allow you to access their service directly through the browser, allowing more easy access to a VPN with Google Chrome or other browsers.

You may not realize the various privacy risks in play when you browse the internet. This starts with your internet service provider (ISP), which shares your location through your internet protocol (IP) address. This "address" represents your location on the internet — the hub through which all your activity can be traced.

A VPN is designed to mask your location. These virtual private networks, which are legal to use in the United States, make it so that your activity is encrypted. This keeps your IP address invisible to your ISP or the websites you're using. Instead of seeing your IP address, they see the VPN's IP, which could be based anywhere in the world.

One other reason people like VPNs is because they allow you to access streaming titles that are tethered to a certain location. This means that you might be able to watch shows that are only available in the U.K. if you have a VPN that blocks your U.S. location. However, using a VPN might break your terms of service, so be sure to check whether the streaming service you use allows you to use a VPN to watch titles from other countries.

Best VPNs of 2025: Our Top Picks

Now that you have an idea of how VPNs protect your privacy, let's look at six of the top VPN providers available, the services they offer, and how much they cost. We do not recommend free VPNs, usually; a good rule of thumb is if you aren't paying for the service, you are the service, and you can't guarantee your privacy or security when using a free VPN.

ExpressVPN

Founded in 2009, ExpressVPN is a trusted name in VPN services, now boasting servers in 105 countries and protecting over four million users worldwide. Operating from the privacy-focused British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN offers strong cross-platform support, 24/7 live chat assistance, and a strict no-logs policy. Plus, with a 30-day money-back guarantee, users can test the waters risk-free.

For U.S. customers looking for the best value, ExpressVPN has recently updated its pricing with up to 73% off on two-year plans. The Basic plan is $3.49/month, the Advanced plan is $4.49/month, and the Pro plan is $7.49/month (all billed upfront for 28 months, then renew yearly). These options also include Identity Defender, an all-in-one identity protection suite worth over $800, featuring ID alerts, ID theft insurance, and data removal services — along with premium VPN access, ad and tracker blocking, and Keys password management. It's ExpressVPN's most comprehensive offering, empowering users to secure their online presence and identity with ease.

Payment options also include a monthly plan at $12.95 and an annual plan at $99.95 (billed for 15 months at $6.67/month with three bonus months included).

Learn more about these plans below.

NordVPN

Based in Panama, NordVPN has been protecting its subscribers since 2012. One of the most trusted VPNs, NordVPN serves more than 14 million subscribers worldwide through more than 7,400 servers in 118 countries.

Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN does not maintain activity or connection logs and offers 24/7 live chat subscriber support. You can access it on Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux operating systems, and routers.

NordVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all its plans. Although you have to pay up front to use the service, you can get your payment back in the first 30 days if you're not satisfied.

NordVPN offers one-month, one-year, and two-year plans. The one-month plan starts at $12.99/month, while the one-year plan starts at $59.88/year for the first year. The two-year plan starts at $83.43 for the first two years. NordVPN accepts payment through major credit cards, cryptocurrencies, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and various other payment methods.

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is by far one of the most popular VPN services on the market. Founded in 2010, in 2019 the service merged with Kape Technologies — the owners of ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN. As of right now, PIA offers servers in 91 countries.

Using Private Internet Access, you can protect an unlimited number of devices at the same time, without any tracking or logging. Private Internet Access is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices, alongside support for smart TVs, routers, and gaming consoles.

Private Internet Access offers three plans, including monthly, yearly, and three-year options. The monthly rate is $12/month, while the cost for a year is $40 up front, and the three-year cost is $79 alongside an additional three months. All three plans offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Private Internet Access accepts all major credit cards, PayPal, Amazon Pay, and cryptocurrencies.

CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN stands out a bit from the other VPN service providers with its 45-day money-back guarantee. Essentially, that makes this VPN entirely fear-free. CyberGhost VPN was founded in 2011 in Romania and is currently owned by Kape Technologies, the same company that owns ExpressVPN. CyberGhost VPN has a network of over 9,100 servers in 100 countries.

With CyberGhost VPN, you can protect up to seven devices at the same time, and your activity will not be tracked. Access your CyberGhost VPN from Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux devices, along with gaming consoles, smart TVs, and routers. You'll also have access to subscriber support.

CyberGhost offers three plans, which are one month, six months, and two years. While the one-month plan comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee, the other plans include a 45-day guarantee, more than the other VPNs we've discussed.

The one-month plan is $12.99/month. The six-month plan, meanwhile, is $41.94 every six months, and the two-year plan is $56.94 for the first two years and then the same price annually thereafter. You'll also get an extra two free months thrown in with the two-year plan. The VPN accepts major credit cards, PayPal, cryptocurrency, and more.

Surfshark

One of the newer VPNs, Surfshark was founded in 2018 and is based in the Netherlands. The company has over 3,200 servers in 100 countries.

Like the others, Surfshark does not maintain logs of your activity and offers 24/7 subscriber support. However, while Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee like the previous VPN service providers, it also offers a seven-day free trial if you're using an Android, iOS, or macOS device.

Like NordVPN, Surfshark offers one-month, one-year, and two-year plans. The one-month plan starts at $9.99/month. For the one-year plan, the price begins at $3.19/month, while the two-year plan starts at $9.99/month for the first 24 months. Payment can be made with major credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and even cryptocurrency for added anonymity.

IPVanish

Based in the United States, IPVanish got its start in 2012 in Orlando and is Ziff Davis-owned as of 2025. IPVanish makes use of more than 40,000 IP addresses from over 2,400 servers in more than 140 locations.

You can use IPVanish on an unlimited number of devices. Your activity will not be logged, and you'll have access to subscriber support. Like the other providers, IPVanish offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, but this is only available for the yearly or two-year plan. It can be used with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux operating systems.

IPVanish offers subscribers the choice of three plans — monthly, annually, and a two-year plan. The basic rate for subscribers who choose to pay every month is $12.99/month. To pay annually, the rate starts at $3.33/month. The two-year rate begins at $2.19/month, which stands as the best deal. Note that these prices can change at renewal time.

IPVanish accepts major credit cards, Google Pay and PayPal.

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