The Best VPNs to Protect Yourself Online

A virtual private network (VPN) is like a protective tunnel you can use to pass through a public network, protecting your data from outside eyes. Whether you're worried about hiding your browsing activity from your internet service provider so it doesn't sell your data to advertisers, or you want to stay safe on a public Wi-Fi hotspot to keep nearby digital snoops from capturing your passwords, a VPN can help protect you.

However, while a VPN will keep you safe at your local coffee shop, it comes with a cost. Using a VPN means your VPN provider will know everything about your browsing habits. This makes VPN providers a target for hackers. Be sure you even need one before you read on.

Picking the right VPN service is serious business. Most VPN providers say they keep no logs of their users' activity, but this is rarely verified. You're stuck taking companies at their word. For this reason, we've limited our testing to VPN providers independently audited by security firms and have published the results. We've tested dozens of VPNs; these are the best five we've tried.

Updated April 2024: We've removed the Google One VPN and added notes about its shutdown.

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Best for Most People

Scott Gilbertson via Mullvad

After years of testing VPNs for WIRED, Mullvad is the last provider I haven't lost faith in. I know that's not a ringing endorsement, but the world of VPNs is full of shady companies, so trusting any of them is a leap. Mullvad is the only one left.

Part of what I like about Mullvad is its down-to-earth approach that doesn't overhype with its marketing and helps users take additional steps to protect their privacy. For example, the company has an entire page showing how to disable WebRTC in your web browser. As long as WebRTC is enabled (and it is by default in most browsers), websites can view your actual IP address even when you use a VPN.

Another thing I like is Mullvad's system for accepting cash payments. If you prefer to remain anonymous,