If you want to be safe on the web, you don’t just rely on a virus scanner for a long time . VPNs, virtual networks, encrypt traffic, protecting it from hackers and surveillance. In addition, they hide the IP address, the unique identifier of each Internet connection. This allows the user to browse the web anonymously and leaves no clues as to his location.
VPNs: have another advantage: Because they fool websites that the user is in a completely different country, they are perfect for bypassing geo-blocking. This refers to the annoying blocks that video streaming portals like Netflix use to limit the user group to certain countries.
Those who have decided that a VPN is a wise investment in their online security are spoiled for choice. Hundreds of vendors compete for the customer’s art. End users can hardly tell which are worthwhile and which are not. We have examined the market and present you with the most interesting operators. Incidentally, a higher price for VPNs does not always mean better performance: Some of the best providers also convince with cheap savings offers.
Best 6 VPN Software
1. NordVPN
NordVPN leaves almost nothing to be desired. The company has a huge network with more than 5,500 servers in around 60 different countries and uses secure technologies such as OpenVPN and 256-bit AES encryption as standard. NordVPN is fast and there were no DNS leaks in the test.
NordVPN has packed its software with extensive additional features. The most notable of these is one that works unassumingly in the background: NordVPN uses special technology to make streaming services like Netflix and Spotify available. NordVPN users do not have problems with servers that are blocked by streaming providers . Another highlight is that NordVPN supports onion-over VPN for maximum security and anonymity. This technology combines the VPN with the anonymization network Tor (The Onion Router ).
You should use NordVPN if…
You enjoy streaming videos and series. This works better with NordVPN than with any other VPN. It also works better than without, after all, with NordVPN you can easily access geo-blocked content from other countries. Even apart from that, NordVPN is an excellent choice. The only thing that could be improved is that the VPN can only be used on a maximum of six devices. Other operators offer more here.
If you want to try NordVPN for yourself , you can do so risk-free because the provider has a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you want, you can remain completely anonymous, since payment with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin is possible. Despite the impressive performance that NordVPN offers, it is one of the cheapest providers. The current 2-year offer for EUR 3.30 per month is particularly worthwhile.
2. CyberGhost
What an apt name! After all, with a VPN, the user actually moves through cyberspace like an invisible ghost. But CyberGhost has much more to offer than a catchy name and a cute logo.
When it comes to the company headquarters, CyberGhost takes an interesting middle ground. This is located in Romania, i.e. within the EU. The seat is therefore not in an offshore location (e.g. Panama or the British Virgin Islands) as with other providers, but also not in one of the Fourteen Eyes countries (e.g. Germany, the USA and Great Britain), which spy on their citizens on each other.
With a fast and secure connection without DNS leaks, a well-developed server network, unlimited data volume and anonymous registration, CyberGhost ticks off all the mandatory criteria that a VPN should meet. A number of additional functions provide for the freestyle . It is worth mentioning, for example, that CyberGhost blocks ads, trackers, malware and phishing websites on request.
You should use CyberGhost if…
…good support in German is important to you. Most VPN providers operate internationally, and their support staff only speak English. CyberGhost, on the other hand, has focused on the German market and therefore also has German-speaking support staff. Another special feature is that customers are not bound by opening hours when they have support requests, as customer service is available around the clock.
Users can test CyberGhost for 24 hours free of charge and without obligation. Only a few other VPN operators offer this option. For the free trial, the user simply downloads the client from the CyberGhost website and creates an account. If he then decides to purchase a subscription, he can easily withdraw from the purchase within the first 45 days (30 days are usual).
3. ExpressVP
Like Surfshark , ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which the website says is a “tropical oasis with no data retention laws.” The provider operates more than 2,000 servers in 160 cities. ExpressVPN offers unusually wide global coverage . The server network covers 94 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia, the Pacific region, North Africa and the Middle East. The area of sub-Saharan Africa, which is large in terms of area and population, is relatively poorly supplied; ExpressVPN servers are only available in Kenya and South Africa .
Technically, the VPN is well equipped and up-to-date with AES-256 encryption and four supported protocols (OpenVPN, SSTP, L2TP/IPsec and PPTP). The fact that every server from this provider also acts as a DNS server effectively prevents DNS leaks.
A special feature of ExpressVPN is split tunneling : the user can choose which applications should have network access via the VPN and which should not. This is useful, for example, if someone uses the VPN to bypass geo-restrictions to stream a movie, but also wants to surf the web with their local IP address.
ExpressVPN does not offer additional functions such as an ad blocker, multi-hop, Tor-over-VPN or Shadowsocks . The strengths of this provider lie elsewhere, namely in platform support. No matter what Internet-enabled device the user has at home, chances are they can use it with ExpressVPN .
ExpressVPN has even developed its own client software for many operating systems, and many more can be connected to the virtual network via the device’s own network settings. Of course, the supported platforms include the common desktop and mobile operating systems such as Windows , macOS , Linux , Android and iOS , but also game consoles such as the PlayStation and the Xbox , streaming media adapters such as the Chromecast and various routers. In addition, browser extensions for Firefox and Chrome are available.
You should use ExpressVPN if…
…you value broad device and operating system support. ExpressVPN provides an impressive range of client applications and guides for various platforms. It might be difficult to find an internet-enabled device that doesn’t allow you to use this virtual network.
In terms of price, ExpressVPN is in the upper midfield. There are no heavily discounted offers with a long commitment period of up to three years with this VPN operator. The subscription with the best value for money is the annual subscription, which costs around 8 euros per month. There is no free trial before you buy option, but ExpressVPN does have the industry-standard 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. HMA: Better known as Hide My Ass!
The VPN provider Hide My Ass! attracts attention through its marketing. The company mascot is Jack the donkey wearing a hat and sunglasses, who appears as a mixture of a casual dude and a cool pig, and visitors to the provider’s website in a flippant tone about the advantages of HMA – short for Hide My Ass! – enlightened. Whether you like it or find it annoying is a matter of taste. In any case, it is clear that HMA stands out from the crowd of VPNs, whose online presence is often confusingly similar.
Support is a definite strength of HMA . The customer service staff can be reached around the clock via chat and speak or write German. Another plus point is the well-developed server network. There is an HMA VPN server in almost every country in the world . Want to check if your flight to Azerbaijan is cheaper if you book it from there? Go ahead , HMA makes it possible! And which films can Netflix users watch in Gabon? It’s easy for users to find out when they have Jack the Donkey by their side.
Technically, HMA offers super-fast servers that reach speeds of up to 20 Gbps. According to HMA, this makes it one of the fastest VPNs on the market. HMA is a no-log VPN. This is written in the zero-logging policy. Accordingly, HMA assures that the actual IP of the user is never recorded or recorded. Furthermore, this policy means that neither HMA nor anyone else can know the websites that the user visits. Finally, other services, streams and apps should not be recorded.
You should Hide My Ass! use if…
…you don’t want to spend a lot of money, like donkeys, appreciate always-available support staff and want to use VPN servers in almost every country in the world.
Price is Hide My Ass! attractive. A subscription for 2 years often costs less than 100 euros for campaigns! That’s only around 4 euros per month. If you are not sure whether HMA is the right provider, you can get your money back under the 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied. There is also the option of testing HMA for 7 days free of charge. However, the payment data must be stored for this. Payment can be made in Germany via credit card , PayPal, Sofortüberweisung, GiroPay, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Skrill. Students can secure discounts of up to 75 percent with time-limited promotions.
5. Surfshark
Skepticism is raised about the rock-bottom prices of the provider based in the British Virgin Islands: Doesn’t a VPN that doesn’t even cost 1.80 euros per month in a two-year package necessarily have to be a junk product? Surfshark proves otherwise. Despite the account-friendly market positioning, this VPN operator can easily compete with, and even outperform, more expensive providers.
Unlike CyberGhost and NordVPN , Surfshark has no device limit . In addition, since there is no limit on the data volume, users can use the VPN as they please without making any compromises.
When it comes to security, Surfshark is not easily fooled. The VPN uses state-of-the-art protocols and encryption algorithms. It reliably prevents DNS leaks, as we found out in the test. Surfshark even goes one step further than most other VPNs and offers multi-hop connections: the data stream is not routed through one, but through two VPN servers. These are in two different countries. This makes it even more difficult for attackers to find out the real whereabouts of the user or to intercept his communications.
You should use Surfshark if…
…you want a VPN with no device limits that offers unbeatable value for money. Surfshark is in no way inferior to the two top products, but in contrast to these, it does not limit the number of devices and is even cheaper.
As usual with commercial VPNs, Surfshark does not offer a free trial. Interested parties can still test the service risk-free, since they – as is also common in this industry – can make use of the thirty-day money-back guarantee if they don’t like it.
Surfshark offers a pleasing number of payment options. In addition to the online shopping classics of credit cards, PayPal and Sofortüberweisung, this also includes Amazon Pay and its Chinese counterpart Alipay as well as the cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Ethereum.
6. ZenMate
Zen Buddhism stands for serenity and inner peace. The VPN provider ZenMate also advertises with security, privacy and inner peace. ZenMate is based in Berlin and the technology was developed in Germany. However, the provider has belonged to the Israeli company Kape Technologies since 2018. A total of 3,800 servers in 74 different countries are available to you.
You should use ZenMate if…
…you want to surf anonymously on many devices. The VPN ZenMate offers you protection for an unlimited number of devices. Unlike most other providers, ZenMate does not limit the number of devices, so you can protect all your devices with one account.
ZenMate is available for Windows, iOS, Android and Linux. As a browser extension, use the VPN for Chrome, Firefox or Opera. The software is compatible with OpenVPN and Amazon’s Fire TV . According to the manufacturer, it follows a strict no-logs policy and does not create any logs. A 256-bit AES encryption protects your data from unauthorized access.
The manufacturer advertises an uncomplicated one-click connection and gives you the option to bookmark your favorite servers. ZenMate offers you a 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied. Payment is by PayPal or credit card.
