Jason Fell
Jason Fell

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You will need a reliable VPN service if you want to make a secure and private transaction or use a foreign website. Read on to learn more about some of the best VPN services of 2023.

1

Express VPN

Learn MoreOn Express VPN’s Website
Overview
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Express VPN is among the most popular VPNs on the market today. They are the fastest VPN and outperform almost every VPN service in other areas, including security, easy usage, integral app, and bandwidth.

Express VPN is perfect for personal use, offering a high number of devices (five) on one subscription. They have more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries and boast AES-256 encryption—the highest level of encryption available. Targeting individual use, Express VPN is built for speed with its high technology data, IP address masking capabilities, multiple device compatibility, and 24/7 customer service.

One of the downsides of Express VPN is its annual price of $99.99. Compared to other VPN services, this price is considered high even when most VPN services increase their costs annually upon renewal. Even though their price is higher, they deliver extraordinary speed and security, so it may be easy to look past the annual rates.

Express VPN checks off all of the boxes when it comes to VPN services.

2

NordVPN

Learn MoreOn NordVPN’s Website
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NordVPN is among the most trusted VPN services out there. They offer top-level security features. NordVPN provides AES-256 encryption, ad and malware blocking systems, and multi-hop connections — an extra layer of encryption and security to your connection by linking two or more VPN servers together — for your protection.

NordVPN outnumbers ExpressVPN with over 5,400 VPN servers. It also provides WireGuard for top internet speeds at 6730+ Mbps, a verified no-logs policy, and live chat for customer support.

Some of NordVPNs unique features include protection from malware, trackers like cookies and browsing, and pop-ups, even when you are not connected to a VPN.

They also have unique security tools like a password manager, which generates complex passwords that will sync across all devices, and safely store notes and credit cards. They also have file encryption with the cloud that provides 10 GB of cloud storage, secures files via drag and drop, and automatically backs up your data.

Their prices range according to leveled monthly subscription plans, which start at around $3.49 per month.

3

Surfshark

Learn MoreOn Surfshark’s Website
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Surfshark is another highly rated VPN service provider with low prices. With this software, you get a bang for your buck, which includes split tunneling and multi-hop connections that bounce across different servers to ensure maximum security.

Regarding security, Surfshark uses AES-256 encryption and has a network of over 3,200 servers worldwide but does not have a dedicated IP address, meaning you will have to connect to a network of shared static IP addresses for free. This may pose a problem for people who are avid internet users but works for those who work remotely and only need to access work documents.

This means that Surfshark is best for personal use and minimal remote work. You cannot go wrong with the price, which starts at $2.49 per month.

4

Proton VPN

Learn MoreOn Proton VPN’s Website
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Proton VPN is a multi-platform VPN that supports up to 10 devices and has 1,700 servers in 63 countries.

They advertise as privacy-focused, meaning that they believe that online privacy is a right and should be free, for the most part. They offer a free version of Proton VPN with the option to upgrade to a paid plan that includes faster speeds using WireGuard.

With its easy-to-use applications and website, Proton VPN has a simplified interface that is intuitive and aesthetically pleasing. They also offer VPN Accelerator, a set of technologies that increase your VPN speeds by over 400%.

Another unique feature exclusive to Proton VPN is their ProtonMail, the largest encrypted mail service based in Switzerland. This service ultimately secures your email privacy and protects against access to your inbox.

Proton VPN is the best free VPN price if you want to secure your internet connection and your emails.

5

Private Internet Access

Learn MoreOn Private Internet’s Website
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Private Internet Access was founded in 2009, but rather than collapsing as newer VPN services emerged, they reached higher and evolved with the times, making them one of the gurus of VPN software.

With over 30,000 servers accessing 78 countries, Private Internet Access is one of the leading VPN services and the biggest perk; it is one of the least expensive, with plans as little as $39.99 per year.

Private Internet Access has a strict no-log policy, 100% open source software, fast and easy setup time, built-in ad-blocking features, and 24/7 customer service support.

If you are looking for absolute reliability that can withstand time, the Private Internet Access VPN service is the right option. 

What is a VPN?

VPN is short for Virtual Private Network and is used to protect your online privacy and information. This is done through encryption of your device connection and the internet.

In other words, when you are using a VPN, your online browsing, history, location, and transactions are completely secured from your internet provider and public entities that can access your personal information.

Many use VPNs to unblock restricted online content they wouldn’t be able to view if they were surfing the internet at home. VPN users can set their server locations and enable blocked services; for example, a good VPN can allow streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney + in countries like China or Russia.

VPNs are easy to install and use, just like any other app on your computer. 

Why do I need a VPN?

As mentioned previously, a VPN is used as an extra security layer when you share sensitive information online. VPN software protects you from online hackers by anonymizing your browsing, transactions, and location.

No one can see what you are doing by encrypting your internet traffic. This can be especially useful if you use public Wi-Fi, like at a coffee shop. A public Wi-Fi space is the most accessible place for cybercriminals to access your private information or watch your browsing history. While a useful feature, Google Chrome is not enough to protect your Android or iOS mobile devices or your Windows, Mac, or Linux computers from potential bad actors.

When using a secure VPN service, your IP address, which shows your location, is not visible to any website or internet provider. Your location becomes completely anonymous. With your location being unidentifiable, you will also be able to access geo-specific content online that is usually blocked because of your location visibility.

With the rise of remote work, using a VPN is a must.

Suppose you are looking for complete security from digital invaders and malicious websites and being able to gain entry to blocked websites. In that case, you will want to look into using a VPN service.

How do I choose the best VPN?

When choosing the best VPN service, it is essential to keep a few things in mind. You will want to make sure the service you choose has:

  • 256-bit encryption: This is the highest level of encryption available to fully ensure your security and privacy needs.
  • Easy access app for your devices: Look at the VPN services website and app. You want an app that is easy to download and user-friendly.
  • Extensive server coverage: Choose a VPN service with several servers all over the globe so that you can connect to multiple locations.
  • No-logs policy: There are two types of logs, connection logs and usage logs. Connection logs are kept for a short time and used by a VPN provider to assess maintenance needs. On the other hand, usage logs hold the user’s personal information and should not be kept. Make sure that your VPN provider has a no-logs policy. 
  • Automatic kill switch: Browsing the internet around the globe can become unstable; having an automatic kill switch that triggers instability is a valuable added security measure. The kill switch drops your internet connection once started; this prevents your data from becoming visible at any time. 
  • Leak protection: If a VPN service fails, you risk a leak that can expose your personally identifying information, so choosing a VPN service with leak protection is essential. 
  • Customer support: Some VPN services have customer service via phone or chat. This can be important if you need assistance quickly.
  • Multiple simultaneous connections: Having multiple simultaneous connections means that you can protect all of your devices without needing multiple VPN subscriptions. 
  • Business compatibilities: Not all VPN services are geared for business use. If you are looking for a VPN service for your business, you may have to do a bit more research for the right company. These are good options for VPN services for business use. 

The bottom line

Hundreds of VPN services are out on the market today, but only a few can be considered “top notch.” Choosing the right VPN services means selecting a company that prioritizes your protection and security above all else.

If you are looking for more cyber security insight, stop by our VPN store today. 

Information provided on Entrepreneur Guide is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, we do not recommend or advise individuals to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results

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