How we rank, and how we are paid
This page explains where our scores come from and how our commercial arrangements work. We would rather you read it before you trust anything else on the site.
How we make money
VPNVerdict is funded entirely by affiliate commissions. When you click a link on this site and subscribe to a service, that provider pays us a fee. You pay the same price either way — the commission comes out of the provider's margin, not your pocket.
We want to be precise about what this does and does not influence:
- It affects which services appear here. We can only list services that run an affiliate programme we have access to. Good VPNs exist that are not on this page for that reason alone.
- It can affect placement. Where two services score closely, commercial factors may influence which appears first.
- It does not affect what we write. We do not remove criticism at a provider's request, and no provider sees our copy before it publishes.
If that arrangement makes you want a second opinion, we think that is a reasonable response. Cross-check anything here against the provider's own site and an independent audit report before you subscribe.
What our score means
Our score is an editorial judgement out of ten. It is not a measured benchmark, it is not an average of user reviews, and it is not a certification. It reflects our reading of what each provider publishes about its product, weighted across four criteria:
- Features (30%) — protocols supported, applications offered, and the tools bundled with a subscription, as documented by the provider.
- Privacy (30%) — the stated logging policy, the jurisdiction the company operates under, and whether an independent audit has been published in full.
- Device coverage (20%) — how many simultaneous connections a subscription allows, and which platforms have native apps.
- Value (20%) — plan structure, what is included at each tier, and the length of the money-back window.
Where our information comes from
Specifications on this site are taken from each provider's own website, documentation and published audit reports. We record the date we checked each figure and display it alongside the comparison table.
Providers change their plans, pricing and server networks frequently, sometimes weekly. We re-check quarterly, and we are honest that figures can be out of date between reviews. The provider's own site is always the authoritative source, which is why we tell you to confirm there before subscribing.
What we do not claim
We do not publish speed test results, because we do not run a controlled testing environment capable of producing them reliably. Connection speed depends on your own line, your distance from a server and the time of day, and a number produced in our conditions would not predict yours. Where you see performance claims elsewhere, ask what hardware and methodology produced them.
We also do not claim that any VPN makes you anonymous, guarantees access to any particular third-party service, or protects you from the consequences of unlawful activity. It does none of those things.
Corrections
If something on this site is wrong, tell us and we will fix it and note the change. Our contact page has the address. We treat factual corrections as a priority regardless of who raises them, including the providers we cover.