NOTE: Using a VPN can break certain functions of certain web pages and is not for everyone. If you can tolerate the additional friction that comes with using a VPN, we think using a VPN is a good idea for almost all people.
NOTE: VPNs DO NOT provide anonymity. They help protect your data in certain ways, including by adding a layer of encryption and hiding your internet activity from your internet service provider (ISP). However, they are still worth using as long as you use a reputable VPN. Do not use VPNs that are not on this list as they will likely weaken your privacy. Lots of VPNs are scams run by companies that actually collect and sell user data rather than protecting it, and some of them are actually owned by or closely linked to the US, Israeli, and Chinese governments.
- Most people should only select between the following two options:
- Proton VPN, which has free or paid options. If you already have a Proton subscription, this is included. This is by far the best free option available, and can be used without creating an account, which can be very useful.
- Mullvad VPN costs €5 per month, but this is the best VPN currently available for most uses and is worth the cost. Trust us, you probably spend €5 on stuff that's less important.
NOTE: Mullvad VPN's co-founder and 50% co-owner Daniel Berntsson recently made a large donation of 5 million SEK to the Örebro Party, a fringe (mostly far-right) political party in Sweden that holds ethno-nationalist, eugenicist, and racist views. His donation provided roughly 90% of the party's funding in 2025, allowing them to increase their political power. We do not in any way condone this donation, and considered removing Mullvad VPN from our recommendations. However, Mullvad VPN continues to offer an excellent VPN which from both a technical and usability standpoint remains the best paid VPN for most people and for most use cases. If the offerings from Proton or IVPN ever become as strong as the offering from Mullvad, we will remove our Mullvad recommendation at that time. - IVPN is a reputable provider that offers an excellent VPN service. This is the VPN we would recommend to anyone who wants to avoid supporting Mullvad financially.
- Use the VPN with the "kill switch" enabled. This will ensure almost all of your data goes through the VPN. On most devices, some limited data will travel outside the VPN. It’s hard to prevent this entirely, and most people shouldn’t worry too much about it.
- Do not use the VPN provided by Google or Apple.
- VPNs are especially important when using public WiFi. Without a VPN, information about what you're doing online will be easier for others to access.
NOTE: There are times when using a VPN (or even sometimes just a privacy-respecting browser) will appear to "break" certain websites or services. Generally speaking, if a website doesn't work while you're using a VPN, that indicates that website or service is trying to collect a whole bunch of data on you without your consent. You may choose to disable the VPN to continue using that service if you want, but we generally recommend not using services that won't work with a VPN unless absolutely necessary. It may take some getting used to before you find alternative options.