Advertiser reference

What is a VPN?

We tested and compared the best VPN providers for you. A VPN will help you to:

  • Protect your privacy and secure your data by hiding your IP address
  • Enjoy secured, encrypted and private web browsing
  • Worldwide access to content (Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO, torrenting, Kodi…) by bypassing geo blocking
  • Get an ultra-high speed perfect for HD/4K broadcasting

Available on:
Last updated: March 2024

Provider
Specials
Rating
Information
Best rated 2024

Ultra-fast and secure all-round VPN. Excellent Full-HD/4K streaming and 24/7 live chat support.

  • Try it with a 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Outstanding reliability with 35000 + servers in 75 countries
  • Up to 10 devices simultaneously
  • Unlimited P2P/Torrenting
  • Fast HD/4K streaming (Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO, Kodi, …)
  • Simple installation and easy to use
Available on:
9.8
  • From $2.25/month
  • Unblocks over 35 streaming services, among them Amazon and others
  • Over 7000 servers worldwide
  • Up to 7 devices simultaneously
  • High secure VPN with OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP and 256-bit encryption protocols
  • Up to 45-day money-back guarantee
Available on:
9.4
  • 5400+ Servers in 59 countries
  • Military great security level
  • High-speed, unlimited bandwidth
  • Up to 6 devices simultaneously
  • 30 days money-back guarantee
Available on:
9.1
  • Fast and simple commissioning
  • Runs on an unlimited number of devices and multiple platforms
  • High speed
  • Over 500 servers in 50 countries
  • Regular updates
  • Support only available via email and chat
  • Problematic P2P connection and speed
Available on:
8.6
  • Installation is easy and straightforward.
  • Military-grade encryption
  • Uninterrupted streaming solutions. Enjoy smooth online streaming services
  • Strict no-logs policy, keeping no log of private user information
  • Complete privacy and anonymity
  • Free version
  • Its network of servers is limited
  • Premium plan offers the best speed and overall experience
  • Customer support is only via email
Available on:
8.2
  • 1700 servers all over the world
  • Up to 3 devices at the same time
  • Highest anonymity
  • 30 days free trial
  • P2P/Filesharing/Torrenting is possible
  • Very expensive
  • Partial blocking of websites & email providers
Available on:
8.0
  • High-end security, with 2048-bit military-grade encryption, Killswitch feature, and IPv6 Leak Protection
  • Access to the most regions on the market
  • No-log policy ensuring 100% privacy and user data protection
  • Stealth VPN for users in VPN-prohibited countries like China
  • Best VPN in our test
  • Seven-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Inconsistent live customer support
  • A limited number of network servers
  • Inconsistent server speed in some locations
Available on:
7.9
  • Servers in 190 countries all over the world
  • Up to 5 devices at the same time
  • Easy-to-use software and App
  • 30 days free trial
  • 24/7 Support via Live-Chat or E-Mail
  • Technical problems in WLAN
  • Strongly reduced speed of foreign servers
Available on:
7.5
  • For all platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android etc.
  • Over 3600 servers in 74+ different countries.
  • 1 subscription gives access on an unlimited number of devices; 30 days money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • ZenMate never keeps records of users’ online activity (operating under a strict Zero Logs policy)
  • 30 days free trial
  • Very slow surfing speed
  • Browser extension crashes
Available on:
6.8
  • Around 400 servers in 50 countries worldwide
  • Reliable encryption protects your data
  • Kill-switch, auto-connect and zero-log policy enable private browsing
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Search function to find the ideal server for your intentions
  • 30 days money-back guarantee
  • Sign-up issues
  • Sub-par Windows client
  • No live chat support
Available on:
6.5

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network“. More specifically, these are self-contained logical networks. Virtual private network participants are geographically separated but at the same time connected with each other via a secure IP tunnel. The network to which a virtual private network connects its users is called the dedicated network. All VPN users become part of this dedicated network. They are directly addressable as if they were geographically located at the network location. This spatial illusion is why it is called a virtual network.

Participants from all over the world can securely access the resources of the private network thanks to the VPN technology. To use a VPN network, it is of no importance what type of Internet connection is used, which device is used, and where this device is located. A VPN does not represent a physical connection, but rather uses an existing communication network as a transport medium. Simply put, in terms of connection, a VPN is like a network cable, plugged into the router of an external network.

Employees can e.g. access a corporate network from home using a VPN. All intermediate networks, such as the home network and the Internet, are functionally reduced to an extension cable. Depending on the VPN protocol used, the connection can be complemented with an encryption. The VPN encrypts the entire Internet connection. This encryption reaches from the network card to the VPN server. Recording and spying on data is reliably prevented thanks to real-time encryption. One of the most important reasons to use a VPN network is to establish an encrypted virtual network connection in an actually unencrypted network.

How does a VPN work?

The user selects a VPN provider and uses its special software. You install the VPN software on your computer, mobile device, gaming console, or router and activate the software. Instead of establishing a direct Internet connection, the connection now takes place using the software which now connects the user to a VPN server. All VPN network users connect with a login server using a VPN protocol. Subsequently, an encrypted tunnel is established and each user receives a new internal IP address.

Computers from outside the VPN network cannot access internal communication thanks to the secure encryption. A virtual network card in the users’ computers enable secure communication. The operating system recognizes this network card as if it were a regular Ethernet adapter, normally used by the system and computer programs. All data transferred via this adapter are automatically secured using a high-quality encryption. The login server settings prevent the users from influencing one another. For this, each user receives his or her own tunnel and encryption.

All sent and received data are transmitted to the Internet using one single IP address (the address of the login server). The IP address of the login server is the IP address of the users, guaranteeing reliable anonymity. Thanks to the encryption, created using the internal virtual network card, it is guaranteed that the data connections are invisible to the provider, data loggers, and other computers in the local network. The sent and received data cannot be assigned to any individual user, as all VPN users appear to have the same IP address from the outside.

Finding the right VPN provider

There are various VPN providers on the market. However, not every provider fits the demands of each user equally well. There are often great differences between the price and possibilities of a VPN provider. It is important to diligently compare all VPN providers before making a choice. We have extensively tested all well-known providers and have also made recommendations. Our clear list of the top 10 VPN providers offers you an overview of the best providers. In this list, all discounts the providers offer are listed as well. You will automatically receive this discount if you choose a VPN provider through our website. Unfortunately, we cannot always offer these discounts as the discount campaigns are limited in time and amount. Like usual: first come, first served. You can of course always contact us with any questions you might have.