Top 15 VPN Providers in 2022 – A comparison blog

As the dependence on the internet is increasing, it has become a necessity for the organizations to keep their data safe. Loss or theft of data could mean reputation and monetary loss for the organization. Using a Virtual Private Network or VPN will help keep the organization’s data private and secure when the user is connected to a public Wi-Fi or any other personal or shared network.

How does VPN ensure privacy?

The main purpose of using a VPN is to protect real-time online activities from third parties. A VPN masks the user’s IP and encrypts his/her data making it impossible for hackers to track or steal information. We can imagine VPN as a non-penetrable tunnel within the public or home networks. When we are connected through a VPN, we are exchanging data or surfing the web through the tunnel and our activities are invisible to the service providers and other third parties. By hiding our identity, routing through secure networks and encrypting our data in real-time, a VPN will ensure the privacy and security of sensitive data.

Top 15 VPN providers in 2022

Now we know how helpful VPNs can be. Next, let us read about a few prominent VPN service providers and their features. The VPN providers listed below are in alphabetical order and does not signify any ranking.

1. Atlas VPN: AtlasVPN has over 750 servers located globally. Its features include, split tunneling, strict no logs policy, AES256 data encryption, network kill switch, secured file transfer, ad blockers, multiple rotating IPs while being connected to a single server. It also offers unlimited simultaneous connections.
2. CyberGhost: It has jurisdiction in Romania and has over 7700 servers located in 90 countries. It offers the highest possible VPN speed. CyberGhost also has features like DNS and IP leak protection, automatic kill switch, AES256 encryption. It supports Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, Amazon Firestick, Linux and Chrome. CyberGhost does not come under the 5 Eyes Countries.
3. ExpressVPN: With its jurisdiction in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN is not under the 5 Eyes Countries. It offers split tunneling and bypasses ISP throttling. It supports a wide variety of devices and operating systems. ExpressVPN features include split tunneling, network lock kill switch, private encrypted DNS, no logs and AES256 encryption. It supports routers, gaming and different modes of payment including bitcoin.
4. HotspotShield: It allows the user to stay anonymous with military-grade encryption. HotspotShield’s Hydra protocol ensures fast and secure gaming streaming, file transfers, downloading and more. It also offers a basic free version along with Premium and Premium Family plans. It has over 3200 servers located across the world.
5. IP Vanish: It has over 2000 servers spread across more than 75 countries. Its features include zero traffic logs, unmetered connections, VPN kill switch, automatic start-up upon detection of internet traffic. IPVanish is based in the US, a member of the Five Eyes Alliance.
6. NordVPN: The most popular features of NordVPN include a strict no-logs policy, data protection using next-gen encryption, fast and secure network. It has multifactor authentication for the Nord account. NordVPN offers dedicated IP to the users. It offers double protection by routing traffic through 2 servers and encrypting the data twice. NordVPN comes under the jurisdiction of Panama which does not form a part of any surveillance alliance.
7. Private Internet Access (PIA): PIA provides advanced split tunneling, unlimited bandwidth, dedicated IP and customizable settings to its customers. It has servers across 84 countries. It is an open-source VPN with headquarters in the United States.
8. ProtonVPN: Based in Switzerland, ProtonVPN adheres to Swiss privacy laws. It supports up to 10 simultaneous VPN connections and has a speed of up to 10Gbps. The VPN accelerator feature increases speed by 400%. ProtonVPN is open-sourced and independently audited. It follows a strict no-logs policy and the servers are also protected by full disk encryption.
9. Strong VPN: It has 950+ servers across 30+ countries. It offers the ‘best available location’ option and no speed limits. It allows to browse without being censored and follows zero logs policy.
10. Surfshark: Surfshark offers high-speed content delivery, controllable split tunneling and advanced security features. It can be used anywhere in the world using the ‘No Borders Mode’. Powerful encryptions protect private data from any breaches.
11. TorguardVPN: Torguard provides access to over 3000 servers located across 50+ countries. It offers unlimited speed and bandwidth. It has separate plans for Anonymous VPN, Business VPN and Anonymous Email. It has a no-logs policy and supports Windows, Android, macOS, iOS and Linux operating systems
12. TunnelBear: It has servers in over 49 countries. TunnelBear’s award-winning privacy policy ensures safe private browsing to the user. It connects to the closest tunnel for the fastest speed. The Vigilant Bear feature ensures privacy while connecting and disconnecting. TunnelBear publishes regular independent security audits of its applications. However, it does not have Wireguard support.
13. VPN Unlimited: VPN Unlimited is an American VPN application and a part of the MonoDefense security bundle and assures total security and privacy while browsing. It also offers additional features like lifetime VPN subscription, personal server and personal IP and VPN on Wi-Fi router.
14. VyprVPN: VyprVPN consists of over 70 servers located globally. It does not log any personally identifiable information and denies access of third parties to customer data. It offers a personalised internet kill switch and DNS protection. VyprVPN has separate plans and features for businesses. VyprVPN for Business offers multiple user management, global business servers and a dedicated account manager. VyprVPN for Business Cloud offers dedicated IPs and dedicated business servers to customers.
15. Windscribe: Windscribe has servers located across 63 countries and 110 cities. It spoofs the location of the proxy, blocks IPs and Ads, supports split tunneling, adjusts time zone according to connected location. It keeps track of set cookies and deletes them upon closing the tab.

Comparing the VPN providers

How to select the suitable VPN provider

1. Purpose: Choose the provider based on your requirement. VPN can be for personal use, business applications, or for family. Select the provider having the best plans that suit your need.
2. Privacy: The basic purpose of using a VPN is to maintain anonymity while using the web. Select providers that have a zero-logging policy and probably do not come under the surveillance groups.
3. Security: The VPN provider must ensure protection from snoopers, third parties and data leaks while exchanging information. They must use strong encryptions like AES256 and preferably offer an extra layer of protection to ensure the security of data.
4. Speed and bandwidth: Using VPN tends to slow down the browsing speed. Look out for providers that offer the highest possible speed. Some of the VPN providers automatically change the servers based on location to improve the browsing speed. Paid services often offer unlimited bandwidths.
5. Free trial and moneyback guarantee: It is always a good option to choose a free plan or do a free trial of a VPN. This will help understand the features before paying for the services. An ideal moneyback guarantee period also helps understand whether the VPN provider matches the requirement of the user, without losing money.

Read next: A guide to various types of VPNs and their uses

Disclaimer: The comparison of top 15 VPN services providers enlists the features offered by the mentioned providers as per the information available in the public domain as of 22nd February 2022. This write-up should be used for informational purposes only. Vendors may change their product or service pricing and features from time to time. It’s therefore advised in the interest of the website visitor that before taking a decision or making a purchase, updated information should be verified from the respective vendor’s site. Though we make best endeavours to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date, we do not guarantee its 100% accuracy or timeliness. Furthermore, this article contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using any of the affiliate links – we might gain a small percentage of sale as commission.