One of the most important tools to securing yourself when you're using online networks is to subscribe to a VPN service. There are hundreds of VPNs to choose from – all offering a combination of privacy, security and speed for your Macbook, Android phones and Windows PC.
But like most other things in the digital sphere, it can be confusing to choose the right VPN service. Here, we took to search up the best VPN services as well as best cheap VPN service plans (best value), and best rated VPN services s on the internet.
If you'd like to learn more about what VPN can do for you, read up our short guide after our list!
Table of Contents
- Price: Free | From ₱ 177.96 per month
NordVPN is one of the most well-known VPNs on the market right now. Not only is their interface well-organised but it also boasts over 5,000 (and growing) servers in over 60 countries with above-average performance as rated by many users who are well-known tech YouTubers & reviewers.
Plus, it’s compatible with up to 7 devices per account and works on many platform OS including Android, macOS and Linux. Not forgetting, NordVPN can be used in restrictive countries as well.
For the utmost security, Nord VPN not only uses military-grade encryption but also ensure that it's double encrypted. Not forgetting to mention, NordVPN has dedicated Peer to Peer (P2P) servers for your ease of mind.
- Price: From ₱ 426.64 per month
ExpressVPN is widely acclaimed to be one of the best VPN in the market thanks to its platform of 3,000 servers that spans across more than 90 countries. Coupled with an outstanding support website and live chat to troubleshoot any problems, ExpressVPN comes with speedy service and can support up to five simultaneous connections per user account.
To add, ExpressVPN has support for not just Windows PC and Android phones but also several smart TV systems and consoles like Nintendo and Sony Playstation!
- Price: From ₱ 47.46 per month
Coming in at under ₱ 47.46 a month if opting for a two-year subscription, this Singapore-based company provides strong encryption levels at a budget price. Equipped with smooth and consistent speeds, it covers a range of devices ranging from computers to mobile devices, as well as several platform OS such as macOS, Android, Linux, Windows & more.
Ivacy also offers you the option to protect up to 10 devices at once!
- Price: From ₱ 102.03 per month
Here's another affordable VPN service for you to consider. SurfShark supports all major platforms and mainly utilises their very own P2P-configured servers which mean it has a bigger bite on security than some of the industry’s more established players. Compatible with torrent software like BitTorrent and uTorrent, SurfShark also claims it hides P2P activity from ISPs (Internet Service Providers).
- Price: From ₱ 166.69 per month
Numerous tests have shown that IPVanish consistently delivers the best speeds. Plus, its intuitive and easy-to-use interface is boosted by the fact that it operates on the same encryption protocol, the AES-256. That same protocol is also used by the world’s leading governments and security agencies.
- Price: Free | From ₱ 47.46
Not does it have a free plan, but Windscribe also lets you use it on unlimited devices and has specific clients for Windows and Mac, iOS and Android. However, it is this same feature which makes its performance less than desirable for those who prioritize speed.
Windscribe supports the likes of several platforms including browsers like Chrome, PCs like Linux and smart TVs as well as routers. They also have a unique "Build-a-Plan" that lets you customise the location of the servers which are then priced accordingly.
- Price: Free | from ₱ 84.00 per month
While it may store connection logs and only allows one device per license, Finch VPN's free plan gives a sizable 3GB monthly bandwidth - although with a limited number of available servers. With only average speeds and encryption, it is no surprise that Finch VPN does not feature very highly on security tests either. Still, if a basic VPN is what you're after, Finch is great too, provided you are okay with its limited quota usage.
- Price: Free | From ₱ 158.03 per month
Its users praised hide.me for its straightforward user-interface and its efficient performance, and its speed is also generally faster than many other services out there. As one of the fastest VPN with millions of downloads growing monthly, hide.me comes with the basic security features that VPN users demand from a service.
- Price: Free | From ₱ 512.30 per month
TorGuard is one of the many platforms offering a dedicated IP VPN service. A user is always given the same outgoing IP address, whenever connected to their servers, hence enhancing privacy. Besides, this VPN service has a strict no-logging policy that decent speeds with low latency.
- Price: Free | From ₱ 106.78 per month
When it comes to the VPN business, you know you can’t go wrong with a name like CyberGhost. It only tracks the success of connection attempts, and it also offers double encryption. So, both the authentication connection and the VPN connection can be secured.
- Price: From ₱ 118.64 per month
VyprVPN allows users to access both American and UK Netflix, opening up a world of content for those looking to stream Netflix with a VPN. Boasting consistent performance and an easy user face, tests have also shown that VyprVPN has no issues with applications bugs or timed out connections.
- Price: Free | From ₱ 461.52 per month
Run by network security professionals, VPN.ac offers secure proxy browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. Ranking high in performance in the three key areas of security, speed and privacy, VPN.ac’s Mac OS platform comes with unique feature such as double-hop VPN configurations
- Price: From ₱ 146.17 per month
While it may not win any awards for originality, the Private Internet Access VPN promises state of the art, multi-layered security for Android users. It boasts 10 simultaneous connections in a new, easy-to-use app interface. Also, like many other market leaders, it comes with an all-important VPN kill switch that automatically disconnects your device from the Internet until the VPN connection is restored.
- Price: Free | From ₱ 153.29 per month
With servers in 51 different countries, VPNArea provides fast and efficient service with an unbreakable 256 bits AES encryption. It also allows unlimited bandwidth, and while some may feel the speed is not up to par, VPNArea is still one of the most popular VPNs for downloading or playing games on your PC.
- Price: Free | From ₱ 128.25
A safe bet for those just starting out with VPNs, SaferVPN comes with a Chrome extension and a setting which allows the ability to auto-connect whenever on a Wi-Fi connection. The Chrome extension comes in especially handy for novice users who haven’t quite figured out VPNs yet but still want to experiment.
What is a VPN and how does it work?
A Virtual Private Network, commonly known as VPN, is a service that allows users to ‘change’ their IP address and access the Internet with another by routing the connection through a private server, which then encrypts traffic and private data.
In simple terms, it hides your real IP address, which is a series of numbers unique to each device and wi-fi network that you use to visit sites. By using a VPN, it'll display your location (IP address) as somewhere else. Google then detects that 'VPN' location and automatically redirects you to content meant for that specific location.
Using a VPN doesn't only let you access geo-tagged websites, but also gives you anonymity against hackers who may try to steal your data by creeping into your browsing history and internet cookies, which can be tracked and saved from your internet sessions.
VPNs can be used to access region-restricted websites, maintain safety on public Wi-Fi and keep users’ online activities safe from the prying eyes of hackers and surveillance agencies.
In short, a VPN is useful for:
- Hiding your real IP address (location)
- Protects information from being seen by hackers
- Bypass geo-restricted content online (you can watch Netflix content unique for other countries such as USA)
- Protect your information from being possibly tracked by your internet service provider and untrustworthy sites
Is VPN legal?
VPNs services are legal unless you use them for activities such as downloading X-rated movies and other criminal uses.
How to use a VPN?
Typical free VPN service tools are downloadable as a browser tool. Whereas, those that are free usually have an independent software app to be downloaded onto your computer.
To use after downloading, simply (1) Install and setup accordingly, (2) Select your free or paid plan, (3) Choose your preferred country as the server to connect to.
Differences between free versus paid VPN plans?
Most VPN services let you choose between their free or paid plans.
While most people are happy with their free plans, there are several reasons to choose a paid plan:
- More guarantees in securing your information from the services' potential bidders (paying for your security)
- Choose from any of the available country/servers
- No limitations to the usage period of the VPN services (many free ones only lets you use it for a few hours)
- Definitely no ads or obstruction in using the service