The comparison
Seven VPN services, side by side
Ordered by our editorial score. Feature lists come from each provider's own published documentation, and we note the date we checked it.
Proton VPN
Swiss jurisdiction, open source, audited no-logs policy
- Published audit
- 10 devices
- Free plan to test
- 30-day refund
Surfshark
Unlimited devices on one subscription — the whole household
- Unlimited devices
- Published audit
- Built-in ad blocker
- 30-day refund
Private Internet Access
Open-source apps, unlimited devices, long-standing no-logs record
- Unlimited devices
- Open source
- Ad blocker included
- 30-day refund
NordVPN
Panama jurisdiction, large server network, repeatedly audited
- Published audits
- 10 devices
- Threat protection
- 30-day refund
ExpressVPN
British Virgin Islands, RAM-only servers, widest country coverage
- Published audits
- 8 devices
- 105 countries
- 30-day refund
CyberGhost VPN
The longest money-back window on this page
- 45-day refund
- 7 devices
- Romania-based
- Simple apps
Total VPN
Bundled with antivirus and an ad blocker at the lowest entry price
- 8 devices
- Antivirus included
- No published audit
- UK jurisdiction
Nothing on this page matches that filter. Choose another to see all seven services.
Narrowing it down
Most readers end up choosing between these two
Our top two answer different questions. One is about jurisdiction and verifiable privacy; the other is about covering everyone in the house for the least money.
Proton VPN
Rank 01 · Our score 9.3
- Swiss jurisdiction, outside EU and US disclosure regimes
- Audit report published in full, not just referenced
- Open-source apps you or anyone else can inspect
- Free tier means you can try it before paying anything
Choose this if jurisdiction and verifiable privacy claims are what you actually care about, or you want to test a VPN properly before spending.
Choose Proton VPN →Surfshark
Rank 02 · Our score 9.1
- Unlimited simultaneous devices on a single subscription
- Lowest monthly cost of any audited provider here
- Ad and tracker blocking included at no extra charge
- Independently audited, Netherlands-based
Choose this if you are covering a household — phones, laptops, a TV, a router — and the per-device cost matters more than jurisdiction.
Choose Surfshark →Specifications
What each provider publishes
Taken from each provider's own website and documentation. Providers change plans and pricing frequently — always confirm on their site before subscribing.
| Service | Score | From | Devices | Countries | Published audit | Refund | Based in | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | 9.3 | $4.49/mo | 10 | 110+ | Yes | 30 days | Switzerland | Visit site → |
| Surfshark | 9.1 | $2.19/mo | Unlimited | 100 | Yes | 30 days | Netherlands | Visit site → |
| Private Internet Access | 8.9 | $2.03/mo | Unlimited | 91 | Yes | 30 days | United States | Visit site → |
| NordVPN | 8.7 | $3.39/mo | 10 | 125 | Yes | 30 days | Panama | Visit site → |
| ExpressVPN | 8.5 | $4.99/mo | 8 | 105 | Yes | 30 days | British Virgin Islands | Visit site → |
| CyberGhost VPN | 8.3 | $2.19/mo | 7 | 100 | Yes | 45 days | Romania | Visit site → |
| Total VPN | 7.4 | $1.59/mo | 8 | 85+ | No | 30 days | United Kingdom | Visit site → |
Figures are as published by each provider and were checked on 12 August 2026. They may have changed since. "Our score" is VPNVerdict's editorial assessment, not a measured benchmark or an aggregate of user reviews. Introductory prices apply to the first term only; refund windows can differ between monthly and annual plans, so check which applies to the plan you choose.
Shortlist
If you only look at three
Each of these wins on a different question. Pick the question that matches your situation.
Proton VPN
Swiss jurisdiction, an audit you can actually read, open-source apps, and a free tier so you can test it before paying.
Surfshark
Unlimited devices on one plan. If you are covering a household rather than a laptop, nothing here comes close on cost per device.
CyberGhost VPN
Forty-five days to change your mind, against thirty everywhere else. The most forgiving way to find out if a VPN suits you.
Buyer's guide
How to choose a VPN
A VPN encrypts the connection between your device and a server run by the provider, and replaces your IP address with that server's. That is genuinely useful on shared or public networks, and it stops your internet provider seeing which sites you connect to.
It is not a cloak of invisibility. Once you sign into an account, that service knows who you are. Anyone promising complete anonymity is overselling.
Start with these three questions
- How many devices need covering? Limits range from seven to unlimited across the services here. Count everything, including anything you would put on a router.
- How much does it cost in year two? Long-term plans advertise a low monthly equivalent that applies to the first term only. Check the renewal rate before you commit.
- Where is the company based? Jurisdiction determines which authorities can compel disclosure. It matters more to some people than to others — decide which camp you are in.
Reading a no-logs claim
Almost every provider says it keeps no logs. The claim carries weight when an independent auditor has examined the systems and the report is published in full. When you see the claim, look for the audit, the auditor's name and the date. An unaudited policy is a promise, not evidence. Six of the seven services on this page have a published audit; the seventh does not, and we have marked it accordingly.
Use the refund window
Every service on this page offers a money-back period. That is the honest way to test one — on your own connection, with your own devices. Note the length, set a reminder, and cancel through the same account you signed up with. Windows can differ between monthly and annual plans, so check which one applies to the plan you pick.
A note on legality
VPNs are legal to use in most countries and are standard practice in business. A small number of countries restrict or prohibit them. Check the rules where you live and where you are travelling. A VPN does not make an otherwise unlawful activity lawful, and it does not exempt you from the terms of services you subscribe to.
Common questions
Frequently asked
What does a VPN actually hide?
It hides the content and destination of your traffic from your internet provider and from anyone else on the network you are using, and it hides your real IP address from the sites you visit. It does not hide your identity from services you log into, and it does not remove cookies or account-based tracking.
Will it slow my connection?
Some, always — traffic takes a longer route and is encrypted along the way. How much depends on your own connection, the protocol and how far away the server is. The only reliable way to know is to test it yourself during the refund window.
What does no-logs mean?
That the provider says it does not keep records of what you do while connected. Treat the claim as meaningful when an independent auditor has verified it and published the report. We note which providers have one in the comparison table.
Can one subscription cover my whole family?
Usually, but check the number. Limits on this page range from seven simultaneous connections to no limit at all. If you are covering several people's phones plus a TV and a router, that single figure will probably decide which service suits you.
Are free VPNs worth using?
Running a server network costs money, so a service with no paid tier has to recover it some other way, usually through advertising or data. The exception is a free plan offered by a provider whose paid subscriptions fund it. One of the services listed here offers that kind of plan.
How does this site make money?
Through commissions. When you subscribe after clicking one of our links, the provider pays us a fee. Those commercial relationships affect which services we feature and where they appear on the page. They do not change what we write about them.
Ready to decide
Two picks cover almost everyone
If you want the strongest privacy position and a free tier to test with, take Proton VPN. If you are covering a household and want the lowest cost per device, take Surfshark. Both have a thirty-day money-back window, so neither decision is permanent.