The best VPN services for 2025

In the simplest terms, using a VPN (which stands for "virtual private network") lets you hide who you really are and where you really are while using the internet from everyone except the VPN. In less simple terms, a VPN is a service that sends your traffic through an encrypted connection to a remote server maintained by the VPN provider before it's dispatched to the public internet. The encryption part makes it so your traffic is unreadable to third parties like your ISP and Google; routing that traffic through a remote server then gives you a different IP address, which makes it look like you're browsing from somewhere you aren't actually located IRL.

Using a VPN is often likened to driving around in a rental car with tinted windows and a license plate that doesn't match your home state, or arriving at a location via secret trapdoor and wearing a mask while you go about your day.

There are a few notable downsides to using a VPN, besides the obvious "it costs money" thing, one being the VPN's affect on your browsing speed. It will virtually always be slower than your normal, unprotected connection.

Another issue is that sites may restrict your access to their content if they detect VPN usage. Some maintain blacklists of IP addresses that are known to belong to VPNs, including major streaming sites like Netflix. If your IP address is frequently associated with multiple users, that's usually what gives it away.

Finally, there's always the risk that a VPN provider is shadily collecting and selling your personal information (see below) — hence the importance of picking one that's transparent and trustworthy.

The answer is a little nuanced. VPNs that are completely free outright are generally not safe to use, as free VPN providers have been known to secretly log and sell user data, bundle their apps with malware, and/or maintain poor security practices. (You know the saying about free lunch.) However, we do stand by certain premium providers' free tiers or trials that are protected by the same vetted policies as their paid counterparts; these are safe to use. This includes Proton VPN Free and TunnelBear Free.

It bears mentioning that free versions of premium VPNs are quite limited in terms of their server selections, browsing data allotments, available features, and abilities to unblock streaming sites, so they're best for situational or occasional use. Those who want a dependable, everyday VPN should opt for a paid subscription.

VPNs maintain separate apps for separate platforms, so no — you'll need to install your VPN on every individual device you want secured. Most VPN providers offer support for at least five simultaneous connections, for what it's worth. (If you have a bunch of devices that need protecting or live in a larger household, look for a provider that offers unlimited simultaneous connections — TunnelBear, for instance.)

Your browser's Incognito/private mode only gets you so far — it'll clear your history, searches, cookies, and login deets, preventing other users of the same device from seeing what you've been up to, but it won't hide and secure your connection from your ISP and other prying eyes. Incognito mode is not a substitute for a VPN.

Aside from the few countries that have restricted or outright banned them (including Belarus, China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and the United Arab Emirates), VPNs are perfectly legal in most of the world. But keep in mind that illegal activities like torrenting copyrighted material, buying prohibited goods, and hacking are still illegal even with a VPN. Let's not get too brazen, here.

Along those same lines, using a VPN to unblock a streaming service in a country where it's not available isn't technically against the law, but it is a violation of the company's terms of use — i.e., you may get slapped with a warning, IP ban, or error message if caught.