Mullvad offers apps for all major platforms as well as routers. All apps are open source and you can check out the code on GitHub. The service has been independently audited also. Advanced users can download configuration files and use them directly with OpenVPN or Wireguard.
In my tests, the speeds were very good. I never ran into a situation where I couldn’t get a fast connection. Over the years, Mullvad remains the VPN I rely on on a day-to-day basis.
Mullvad VPN costs 5 euros (about $5) per month, in cash or with a fee.
The best free VPN
Proton VPN is part of a suite of privacy tools from Proton, famous for its encrypted email service, ProtonMail. The company is based in Switzerland, which does not have data retention laws, so Proton VPN may have a no-logs policy. Has been independently audited and maintains a canary page order. All the usual features of a good VPN are here, including support for multi-hop connections, an in-app kill switch, support for split tunneling, pretty good geo-evasion to get Netflix working, and support for torrents. There’s also support for ad blocking, custom DNS, and high-speed streaming.
One thing Proton VPN offers that others don’t is a free plan that gives you full access to all the features of the regular plan. However, it is limited to a single device and there are only three server locations (Japan, Netherlands and USA). If your needs are limited and you want to keep costs down, this is a good option.
Proton’s pricing structure can be confusing as you can bundle it with other services to lower your rates. For testing purposes, I used a one-year Proton VPN Plus plan that costs $6 per month. If you use other Proton services, the Proton Unlimited price is a better deal ($10 per month gives you access to all five Proton services).
Proton VPN app is open source and available for macOS, Linux, Windows, Android and iOS. With the Plus plan, 10 devices can be connected simultaneously. Proton VPN uses a combination of IKEv2, OpenVPN, and WireGuard for connections. By default, the app chooses for you, but you can make a selection in the settings. I also like the permanent kill switch, which prevents your device from reconnecting to the internet without a VPN even after rebooting.
In my testing over the past few months, Proton VPN speeds vary considerably depending on the server and time of day. Overall, Proton VPN is very fast and reduces my speed by only 7 to 8 percent compared to unprotected speed. I also didn’t detect any DNS leaks on any of the servers I tested.
Best for bypassing geo-restrictions
Surfshark wouldn’t be my first choice if my life depended on my VPN, but for most of us, that’s not the case. If you want a way to get around some geo-restrictions on content (aka Netflix access) and protect your traffic while using an open Wi-Fi hotspot, Surfshark is a good option. It’s secure and offers excellent value for money if you pay two years up front.
In my testing over the years, Surfshark has consistently had some of the best speeds of any VPN I’ve used. Yes, it’s slower than not using a VPN, but I’ve never had a problem streaming HD content through Surfshark. It’s fast enough that you won’t notice any speed degradation.