If you’ve listened to any podcast in the last few years, you’ve probably heard some kind of ad for a VPN. It seems a bit complicated and technical, but it’s becoming really important as more and more of our lives move into the internet.
At its core, a good VPN does three things:
1.) Mask your passwords, browsing data, and sensitive information from scammers and hackers if you’re using public wifi.
2.) Keep your browsing history secret, even from your internet provider/.
3.) Break censorship barriers.
A VPN will redirect your traffic through an encrypted server and keep your data completely safe from prying eyes, no matter who they are. If you’ve ever used the Signal chat app to ensure your messages are encrypted, this is a somewhat similar idea.
Now not all VPNs are created equal, and in fact, some are much better than others. So to help everyone stay say while browsing, we broke down the top options.
ProtonVPN:
The ProtonVPN is easily the best option if you’re looking to get a reliable, affordable VPN. It covers everything you need without the price gouging you might find from some other options. It’s just $5 a month if you buy two years upfront, so you can protect yourself without harming your wallet.
It’s based out of Switzerland, which has excellent privacy protections, and therefore they are not retired to log your browsing data at all. Some other companies will do this in spite of vague promises of privacy. They’re is the real deal.
You’ll get to choose to route your data through up to 64 countries and 1,746 servers, so they have strong infrastructure.
If you’re looking to take your online privacy more seriously, ProtonVPN is the perfect place to start.
NordVPN:
NordVPN is another excellent option and has similar pricing to ProtonVPN if you commit to two years when you sign up. They also have an added feature that will scan your computer for malware, which is an excellent service if you download a lot of files from unknown websites.
They’re one of the biggest VPN companies around, so you can rely on their strong customer service and long term reputation to protect your data. They run in the background so once you enable it in the settings, Threat Protection will always make your browsing safer, faster, and smoother without tracking your actions online.
If you’re looking for a safe, reliable option, NordVPN provides great service and a great product.
CyberGhost:
CyberGhost VPN is a newer company, but also one of the cheapest. Just $2.29 a month when you commit to a 3 year plan, they promise to “keep your internet activity hidden from anyone watching. This includes your ISP, hackers, advertisers, and the government.”
CyberGhost allows you to connect up to 7 devices on a single subscription, and they also commit to a “no logs” policy meaning they don’t even store any data that passes through their servers.
They have a 45-day money-back guarantee. They also have strong speeds so they can compete with the bigger companies without raising prices.
CyberGhost is an excellent upstart option if you’re looking for something a bit cheaper.