Most Secure VPN

As the online world becomes more dangerous, it’s crucial to protect your online activity with a secure VPN service.

Without a VPN, your online actions are exposed to ISPs and cybercriminals, leaving you vulnerable to cyber threats like malware, DDoS attacks, and spoofing. The VPN market is vast and can be challenging to navigate, but it’s essential to choose a provider that ensures strong encryption, a no-logs policy, a kill switch, and other superior security features.

After extensive testing, we have selected the most secure VPN services in 2023, including NordVPN and other top contenders. Keep reading to choose the safest VPN provider for your needs.

What makes a secure VPN ‘secure’?

Over the years I’ve realized it’s hard to define what truly makes a secure VPN, as there are so many things to look out for. Bu there are some of the factors at absolute minimum:

• Strong encryption to make your data unreadable and impossible to intercept
• DNS leak protection to prevent ISPs and bad actors from logging your activity
• A kill switch feature that cuts off your device’s internet access if the VPN connection is lost
• Open-source VPN protocols, such as WireGuard and OpenVPN, that are constantly reviewed and maintained by worldwide communities
• RAM-only servers that wipe data with each server reboot, ensuring your privacy even if a VPN provider were asked to present user info
• A strict no-logs policy that doesn’t store any of your online activity
• Obfuscation modes and servers to bypass powerful anti-VPN technologies like Deep Packet Inspection

Keep these features in mind and you’ll be well on your way to finding a secure VPN that will protect your online privacy and security.

1. NordVPN – Best Overall Secure VPN

Nord was founded ages ago, back in 2012 in Panama and has become one of the largest VPN providers in the market. The company is known for its strong security features, including AES-256 encryption, double VPN servers, and a no-logs policy. NordVPN also offers specialty servers optimized for specific use cases, such as P2P and Onion over VPN. With apps for all major platforms, NordVPN is a great all-around VPN that excels in both security and functionality.

NordVPN gives you all of the best features without any frustrating limitations. Join Nord now via the FREE TRIAL risk-free with their money-back guarantee!

VPN Hound user rating: 4.9 / 5

• Fastest speeds around
• Full streaming + torrenting support
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Try NordVPN now ›

• Strong encryption with AES-256
• DNS leak protection
• Kill switch feature
• Open-source VPN protocols
• RAM-only servers
• No-logs policy
• Obfuscation mode
• Double VPN feature

Pros:

• High security and privacy standards
• Large server network
• Fast connection speeds
• Excellent customer support
• Specialty servers for various use cases
• Compatible with various devices and platforms

Cons:

• Can be expensive
• Some servers can be slow

2. SurfShark – A decent runner-up

Surfshark is a relatively new VPN provider, founded in 2018 in the British Virgin Islands. Despite its youth, the company has quickly gained a reputation for its affordability and strong privacy features, including AES-256 encryption, a no-logs policy, and multi-hop connections.

With a vast network of servers in over 100 countries, Surfshark offers fast connection speeds and the ability to access content from anywhere in the world. Free trial available.

VPN Hound user rating: 4.7 / 5

• Robust security
• Full access to Netflix, Hulu and more
• Affordable plans
• No-logs policy

Try Surfshark now ›

Surfshark also offers a unique CleanWeb feature, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware domains to protect your browsing experience.

• AES-256 encryption
• DNS leak protection
• Kill switch feature
• OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols
• RAM-only servers
• No-logs policy
• Obfuscation mode
• MultiHop feature
• Whitelister feature

Pros:

• Affordable pricing
• Good security and privacy features
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Wide server network
• Clean and easy-to-use interface
• Good speeds

Cons:

• No specialized servers
• Lack of transparency regarding ownership

3. ExpressVPN – Pricier, but secure

ExpressVPN has been in the VPN game since 2009, and is based in the British Virgin Islands. The company is known for its lightning-fast speeds, thanks to its extensive network of over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. ExpressVPN also offers top-notch security features, including AES-256 encryption, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch. One unique feature of ExpressVPN is its TrustedServer technology, which ensures that all servers run on volatile memory, meaning that no data is ever written to the hard drive.

• AES-256 encryption
• DNS leak protection
• Kill switch feature
• OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec protocols
• RAM-only servers
• No-logs policy
• Obfuscation mode
• Split tunneling feature
• TrustedServer technology

Pros:

• High level of security and privacy
• Fast connection speeds
• Excellent customer support
• Compatible with various devices and platforms
• Large server network
• User-friendly apps

Cons:

• Expensive pricing
• Only 5 simultaneous connections
• No free trial

4. IPVanish

IPVanish was founded in 2012 and is based in the United States. The company offers strong security features, including AES-256 encryption, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch. IPVanish also boasts a large network of over 1,600 servers in 75+ locations worldwide. One unique feature of IPVanish is its SugarSync integration, which provides secure file storage and sharing in addition to VPN protection.

• AES-256 encryption
• DNS leak protection
• Kill switch feature
• OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec protocols
• No-logs policy
• Obfuscation mode

Pros:

• Good security and privacy features
• Large server network
• Good connection speeds
• 10 simultaneous connections

Cons:

• No RAM-only servers
• Expensive pricing
• No free trial
• Questionable past ownership