What is a VPN? VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Not very simplified, the service consists in establishing a secure gateway between the user and everything that awaits him on the Internet.

With a VPN service, the user’s device connects in an encrypted and secure way to the VPN server, and only then this server connects to the proper Internet and the websites and applications that the user wants to use. What are VPN services and what devices can benefit from them?

What is a VPN?

VPN is a service that creates an encrypted tunnel between the user and the Internet. The application installed on the user’s device directs all network traffic to the indicated VPN server. This server duplicates the queries of the associated device, establishing connectivity to the online services that the user needs.

In other words, it is an intermediary point between the user and the Internet. Thanks to this, the user can not be easily eavesdropped or located. All traffic is anonymized and encrypted, guaranteeing the highest possible level of privacy and with the lowest possible performance degradation. A decent VPN is even suitable for online gaming or media streaming, though not everyone.

How does a VPN work? What does it give in practice?

What does this privacy protection actually provide? Someone might think that he is an ordinary simple man, that hardly anyone cares about his data anyway, and the very fact of tracking his actions by advertisers is bearable. Therefore, it’s not worth bothering with all this VPN. Well, not exactly. Even people who do not particularly care about their privacy should consider using such a service.

VPN masks the location and identity of the user, as well as what services he is currently using. This means that the service allows you to bypass various artificial restrictions imposed on users. For example, if your ISP intentionally slows down your connectivity to a service, the VPN will prevent them from doing so. Similarly, if the service provider does not provide service in your region, you can use a VPN located in another country and use the offer prepared for another region.

A VPN can also be very useful in networks of limited trust. These are Wi-Fi access points at airports, railway stations or restaurants. Full encryption of the connection means that even if a third party eavesdrops on the network transmission between the computer and the server, it will still be unreadable to him. And yet through such an unsecured connection sensitive data can often be transmitted, such as logins, passwords or credit card numbers.

The best VPNs on the market. Ranking of programmes for 2023

Surfshark, editor’s choice. Cheap, fast and effective

My clear favourite is Surfshark. It offers a wealth of functions (about which in a moment), but it is not the only one – it has strong competition here. Surfshark is above all extremely fast and efficient, and this is no longer an obvious feature, even among market leaders. The service offers 3200 servers in 65 countries, so the choice is large. The efficiency of the connection has never dropped by more than 15% when using this service, which is a record among all the products recommended here.

Surfshark is also very easy to use and almost universal. The service offers client applications for Macs, Windows PCs, iPhones, and Android devices, and has dedicated configuration options for routers and game consoles. In addition, it offers extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers – both with the prestigious Cure 53 certificates, proving their high efficiency. It also has several modes of operation, including one that dynamically changes servers to those from other countries to make it even more difficult to track the user.

The service is not only one of the fastest presented here but also one of the cheapest. The most profitable subscription seems to be the two-year one ($2.49 a month). Surfshark is also free for the first 30 days.

Buy Sufshark VPN here with 82% discount and two months free

NordVPN, or VPN with traditions

It is also not appropriate not to mention NordVPN, which is one of the oldest companies in the industry. The distinguishing feature of the service offered by NordVPN is the number of parallel connections supported. It allows you to connect up to six devices to the internet within a single VPN tunnel, which no other competitor offers. It is also distinguished by the possibility of obtaining an additional IP number and full compatibility with the Tor network.

NordVPN unfortunately noticeably affects your connection’s performance, reducing its bandwidth by about half. It offers a choice of 5200 servers in 62 countries. The company is deliberately headquartered in Panama to avoid requests and court orders to turn over user data to law enforcement.

The service costs PLN 13 per month with a two-year commitment. You can increase the subscription to PLN 18 per month (you gain a password manager and a data breach scanner) or up to PLN 24 per month (in addition to the previously mentioned benefits, a cloud for data with a capacity of up to 1 TB).

Buy NordVPN here

ExpressVPN. Safety above all

An alternative worth recommending is ExpressVPN. According to many, this is the best-secured service of this type on the market. Its owners pride themselves on the fact that they keep absolutely no logs (event logs in the computer system). This is not empty words. ExpressVPN’s patented TrustedServer technology for absolute data security has won numerous industry awards. Unfortunately, this comes at a price.

Using ExpressVPN, tests have shown, reduces bandwidth by almost half. So it is a very good service for people who do not send too much data. Gamers and people who want to use VOD services over a VPN should first test ExpressVPN for the first 30 days before deciding to buy. It may turn out that the balance of security versus speed and convenience for this particular person will be in a place unfavourable for him.

ExpressVPN is available for Mac, Windows, Android, iPhone, and Linux. It offers a choice of over 3000 servers in 160 locations in 94 countries. Its cost is about $ 8 per month with an annual commitment.

Buy ExpressVPN here

ProtonVPN for open-source enthusiasts

ProtonVPN, on the other hand, is a service for someone who is looking for a simple open-source solution without any extras beyond the framework of a VPN. The service is very fast, affecting the bandwidth of the link by no more than 10%. It offers 1259 servers in 55 countries to choose from. It also provides protection when connecting to the Tor network.

The service itself does not offer any extras, but it offers an ecosystem of other services, also open source and also focused on security and privacy protection. These are Proton Mail (mail service), Proton Calendar (calendar service) and Proton Drive (cloud service for files). ProtonVPN alone costs $4.99 per month with a two-year commitment, $5.99 for an annual commitment, and $9.99 if the customer only wants to buy the service for a month.

Buy ProtonVPN here

IPVanish, or VPN for IT breakers

The last VPN service worth mentioning is IPVanish. This service is tailored to users who do not really understand how computers and computer networks work and simply want to watch, for example, VOD content from another country. IPVanish applications have a very friendly graphical interface, guiding the user by hand at every action.

His focus on the Sunday Internet user is probably most emphasized by one of his unique features, which is the ability to integrate with popular multimedia home systems, with Kodi at the forefront. It is also quite fast and offers 1600 servers in 75 locations. At the same time, it is relatively inexpensive: it costs about $3.33 per month with a 2-year commitment (over $4 yearly, $12 per month without commitment).

Buy IPVanish here