Best VPN Services 2023 For Beginners

Hey guys! Today we are going to be discussing the best VPN services for beginners in 2023. A virtual private network (VPN) adds an extra layer of security. It allows you to access foreign websites, and can even provide secure connections for transferring sensitive business data.

While VPNs are typically used by individuals, they also enable businesses to manage multiple user accounts, block specific types of content, and keep their data safe from prying eyes.

VPN is a privacy tool that encrypts all of your online activities, makes you more anonymous online, and reduces the possibility of being tracked online. More so, it even allows you to watch blocked overseas Netflix and other streaming content.

Thankfully, VPNs are extremely simple to use. With just a tap on the Connect button, your device will be using a secure encrypted connection. This thereby keeps you safe and anonymous even on the riskiest public Wi-Fi networks.

With hundreds of VPNs available, finding the best one can be difficult – so we’re here to help. This article will explain how VPNs work, what you can do with them, how to choose a quality service, and which services are currently the best VPNs.

What Is VPN?

VPNs are virtual private networks that encrypt data and hide your online activity from prying eyes. When you check your email, chat with colleagues, or browse websites, a VPN can help you remain anonymous.

What Does VPN Do?

When you do anything online, your computer connects to the server that hosts the website or service you’re using. The website can typically see certain data about you and your device, which isn’t suitable if you don’t want your activity to be tracked.

A VPN service connects you to a remote server before connecting you to your favorite websites, so that when a website checks for your user information, it only “sees” the VPN and does not trace it back to you.

How to choose the best VPN

Finding the best VPN services begins with focusing on your requirements. A provider with a large number of locations and apps for each platform is a good sign, but what really matters is that it covers the locations and platforms you’ll use.

If streaming is important to you, look for a VPN that unblocks your preferred services. Torrent users will want P2P support on as many servers as possible, as well as an effective kill switch to conceal their identity and an audited no-log policy to ensure their activities remain private.

If you have multiple mobile devices, laptops, smart TVs, and other hardware to protect, choose a provider that allows for more simultaneous connections, or perhaps none at all.

Checking the support site of a VPN is one of the best ways to determine whether it is good (or bad). Look for a lot of detailed and well-written content that you believe will assist you in difficult situations. Live chat support is also appreciated, but not required: email support can be surprisingly fast, with some providers responding in minutes.

10 Best VPN Services 2023

Below is a summary of the 10 best VPN services.

1. Private Internet Access
2. CyberGhost
3. NordVPN
4. Torguard VPN
5. IPVanish
6. VPN Unlimited (aka KeepSolid)
7. ExpressVPN
8. Surfshark
9. Hotspot Shield
10. Windscribe

The 10 Best VPN Services

Let’s now discuss the best VPN services in 2023. This will guide you in choosing the best one for yourself. Just read along!

1. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most well-known VPN providers, and for good reason. It gives you access to over 30,000 servers in 78 countries. Even better, at $39.95 per year, it is one of the most affordable VPNs on the market.

While other providers may provide more advanced features, we believe that PIA is the best choice for the majority of small business users and private individuals. This is because it strikes the perfect balance of pricing, features, and usability.

PIA employs the gold standard AES-256 encryption and offers the new open-source WireGuard protocol. This means faster speeds while maintaining the same level of security.

A dedicated IP address can be added for an additional $5 per month, which is useful if you intend to use a VPN for business purposes.

Who Can Use PIA: Anyone looking for a low-cost, multi-purpose VPN that gets the basics right.

Pros

• Massive server network
• Affordable
• 10 simultaneous connections
• Offers dedicated IP add-on

Cons

• Some customers reported problems with customer service.

2. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is one of the best and most user-friendly VPNs on the market. It strikes an ideal balance between a robust feature set and an interface that is simple enough for users of all skill levels to use. Among the features OF CyberGhost are dedicated server locations for streaming and torrenting, as well as the privacy-focused NoSpy servers, are.

CyberGhost, like other top VPNs, protects your data with AES-256 encryption and is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and other platforms. CyberGhost is slightly more expensive than PIA without any add-ons, costing $47.88 for one year. However, if you intend to use your VPN for an extended period of time, a multi-year plan can save you a significant amount of money.

More so, CyberGhost provides a generous 45-day refund period, allowing you to test the system without committing yourself.

Who Shou Use CyberGhost: Those looking for a VPN that allows them to work hard and play hard, as well as those who want plenty of time to get a refund if their VPN isn’t meeting their needs.

Pros

1. It is easy to use
2. Comes with a 45-day refund period
3. Has a dedicated IP add-on
4. Affordable, especially with a multi-year plan

Cons

1. No split tunneling
2. NoSpy servers cost extra

3. NordVPN

NordVPN is a VPN service that is both fast and secure, with a number of unique features. It’s one of the most secure VPNs available, with AES-256 encryption, an ad and malware blocker, and double VPN services, also known as multi-hop connections. NordVPN has the tools you need to hide your online presence.

NordVPN’s standard plan costs $59 for a year, which is reasonable given the variety of features, allowance for six concurrently connected devices, and access to over 5,000 servers in over 55 countries.

NordVPN offers a wide range of VPN add-ons, including NordLocker, a file encryption service; NordPass, a password manager; and, most importantly, a dedicated IP address.

Who Should Use NordVPN: Those with a flexible VPN budget who are looking for value in return.

Pros:

• It is easy to use
• Built-in malware and ad blocker
• Has a dedicated IP address add-on

Cons:

• It lacks the transparency of pricing for business tiers

4. Torguard VPN

TorGuard is a highly customizable VPN service with a slew of happy customers singing its praises. While the name may sound familiar, TorGuard has nothing to do with Tor, the open-source privacy software.

TorGuard offers a variety of privacy features and services, which are divided into subscription tiers based on how you intend to use them. Below are the separate subscription tiers:

1. An anonymous VPN plan
2. A streaming VPN plan
3. A business VPN plan
4. And other encrypted email services with their own different subscription tiers

The anonymous VPN plan offers more than enough features to keep you protected for everyday use. It is also the cheapest plan, costing $59.99 for the first year. You can also get a direct IP address add-on for $3.99 per month, making it the cheapest direct IP address on our list of best VPNs.

Who Should Use Torguard VPN: Anyone who is familiar with advanced, customizable VPN features.

Pros

• Loads of features and customization
• Dedicated IP add-on for $3.99
• Very positive user reviews
• Several plans for various uses, including a separate business tier

Cons

• It has limited server locations
• Short money-back guarantee
• Confusing free trial policy

Best VPN Services 2023: #5. IPVanish

Despite its flaws, IPVanish manages to stand out in a crowded market. Its roughly 1,600 server locations appear modest compared to our top two picks, but IPVanish compensates with unlimited simultaneous connections and a low annual price of $44.99. IPVanish also manages its own servers, which is ideal for privacy-conscious users.

According to our standards, what distinguishes IPVanish from the competition is its lack of additional features, particularly the lack of a dedicated IP address add-on. IPVanish may not be the best choice for heavy work or business use without a dedicated IP.

IPVanish excels in its no-nonsense user experience, top-notch security, and affordable pricing. Furthermore, it is available with SugarSync if you need some online storage.

Who Should Use IPVanish: If you’re looking for a simple VPN for personal use, IPVanish is a great choice.

Pros

• It is not expensive
• Comes with unlimited simultaneous connections

Cons

• IPVanish lacks unique features
• It has no dedicated IP add-on

Best VPN Services 2023: #6. VPN Unlimited (KeepSolid)

VPN Unlimited, also known as KeepSolid, is a New York-based VPN provider. It made the list due to its compatibility with multiple platforms (offering separate apps for different devices), positive user experience, access to a dedicated IP as an upgrade, and a subscription plan tailored for businesses.

IPVanish is a great option if you’re looking for a simple VPN for primarily personal use.

While it checks all of the boxes, a closer look reveals what keeps it from being great. The standard annual plan costs $59.99, which is on the higher end when compared to competitors, and it includes five devices “slots.”

This system is more rigid than its competitors in that each device must be assigned to a specific slot. Regardless of whether or not the device is actively connected to the VPN, it will occupy a slot.

VPN Unlimited provides a seven-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, so it’s worth a shot even if some of the fine print makes you nervous.

Who Should Use VPN Unlimited

If you want a strong VPN that works with all of your favorite devices, you can’t go wrong with VPN Unlimited.

Pros

• It has strong privacy features
• Dedicated IP address available
• Tailored business tier

Cons

• Unusual device configuration
• Expensive device upgrades and add-ons
• a small number of servers

Best VPN Services 2023: #7. ExpressVPN

This VPN service is the best VPN service in 2022. ExpressVPN provides fast speeds, advanced security, supreme ease of use, 24/7 customer support, and even free cloud backup. It’s a little more expensive than some of the competition, but you can try it risk free for 30 days to see why we like it so much.

ExpressVPN has become something of a standard-bearer for the personal VPN market. It provides an intuitive VPN application with a lot of advanced technology going on behind the scenes, making it unrivaled in security and ease of use. In addition to AES-256 encryption via standard VPN protocols, ExpressVPN offers its proprietary Lightway protocol, which speeds up connections without sacrificing security.

ExpressVPN meets a wide range of personal needs and has access to over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. However, it has limited business functionality: There is no business VPN tier, and the business-friendly factors we’re looking for a dedicated IP address and the number of concurrently connectable devices are both nonexistent and standard. These factors prevented us from giving it a higher rating.

Who should use ExpressVPN

Those seeking the best-in-class personal VPN and willing to pay for it are advised to go for it.

Pros

• It is easy to use
• Proprietary Lightway VPN protocol
• Has router app to protect more devices
• It comes with a broad network of servers

Cons

• It is expensive
• Has Limited business/work functionality

Best VPN Services 2023: #8. Surfshark

Surfshark stands out in a market of fake online VPNs by offering a number of unique features. This includes split tunneling, which allows you to send only specific apps through the VPN tunnel, and multi-hop connections, which bounce your tunnel across multiple servers for added security.

Surfshark has a reasonably sized network of over 3,200 servers and is reasonably priced at $59.76 per year. Additional features include CleanWeb for ad-free browsing, Camouflage Mode to limit ISP snooping, NoBorders mode to access the VPN in restricted areas, and more. The standard plan also allows an unlimited number of concurrently connected devices to boot. Overall, it’s ideal for personal use.

Unfortunately, Surfshark does not provide dedicated IP addresses. However, it allows you to connect to a limited number of shared static IP addresses for free, which may be useful for remotely accessing work documents. This feature alone could make it ideal for users with specialized workflows.

Who should use Surfshark

Those VPN users looking primarily for personal use, but also for their work-from-home needs.

Pros

• It is easy to use
• Has multiple unique features
• Unlimited simultaneous connections

Cons

• There is no dedicated IP address,
• And server locations are limited.

Best VPN Services 2023: #9. Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield has by far the most user reviews of any VPN we examined and maintains high user ratings across multiple app stores and TrustPilot.

It has a large user base due to its solid free plan and excellent streaming capabilities. The free version has strict limitations, including a single device slot, throttled connection speeds, and a data cap of 500MB per day.

Be prepared to pay to remove those restrictions. The paid plan costs $95.88 per year for a good reason. Premium users have access to Hotspot Shield’s spam call blocker, password manager, and antivirus protection, as well as the ability to connect five devices at once, including routers.

Who should use Hotspot Shield: Those looking for a VPN that is primarily for personal use but also includes a suite of other security services.

Pros

• It is a VPN with very high ratings
• It comes with an antivirus, a spam call blocker, and a password manager.

Cons

• It is Costly
• Unimpressive free version

Best VPN Services 2023: #10. Windscribe

Windscribe is one of the best free VPNs available, and its paid tier isn’t bad either.

Free VPNs are typically avoided due to their limited features and issues with user tracking to gain advertising dollars, but Windscribe provides a robust and usable free option without sacrificing security or privacy. The free version restricts your bandwidth and connectable locations, but for a few dollars per month, you can add more locations and data.

The basic paid tier is $49 per year, payable in advance. It provides access to servers in 63 different countries. This basic tier distinguishes itself by allowing an unlimited number of devices to be connected at the same time.

Who Should Use Windscribe: Those looking for security on a limited budget.

Pros

• Excellent free version
• The basic tier is reasonably priced.
• There is no limit to the number of devices that can be connected at the same time.

Cons

• There is no knowledge of the number of servers.
• Business functionality is limited.

How Does VPN Work?

VPNs function by routing your devices’ entire internet connection through a private server rather than through your internet service provider. Because your data is passing through this “tunnel,” third parties do not see your personal information (such as your personalized internet protocol, or IP, address). Most of the time, they will only see information about the VPN’s address.

How To Use VPN

The majority of today’s VPNs are extremely simple to use. You only need to download the VPN app on your computer or smartphone after you’ve created an account with the provider. After signing in with your account, you typically select from a list of remote servers located all over the world.

Click on the one you want, and the system should connect you automatically. Once you’ve received confirmation that you’re connected, you can use your device normally without your VPN. From the app’s home screen, you can disconnect or change your server.

Is VPN illegal?

Virtual private networks (VPNs) are legal in most countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Certain countries, such as China and Russia, have laws prohibiting the use of a VPN to access restricted websites.

However, doing anything illegal while connected to a VPN is still illegal, regardless of where you are.

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