Virtual private networks (VPNs) have become increasingly popular ways to remain anonymous and safe while browsing the internet. With over 100 choices, though, knowing how to choose a VPN may be difficult. This guide will help you determine what features to look out for when choosing a VPN for personal or business use.
Tip: check out our recommendation of the best VPN providers of 2024.
1. Encryption Protocols
A VPN is all about encryption and privacy, that’s why VPN service providers should offer reliable encryption protocols for their services. A weak encryption can be easily cracked and should be avoided at all costs.
AES-256 is considered the strongest VPN encryption that protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPSec use. Ensure your VPN supports multiple protocols so you may choose the right one for your needs. For example, using OpenVPN for reliability and switching to WireGuard for faster speed.
2. Kill Switch
Server disconnections are inevitable no matter which VPN you use. However, reputable VPNs offer a Kill Switch feature that will automatically disconnect you from the internet when the VPN disconnects. This ensures that your IP isn’t leaked in case the VPN disconnects. Without the Kill Switch, you may unknowingly browse the web without the VPN’s protection.
Tip: If you don’t want the hassle of setting up a VPN client, you can make use of these browsers with built-in VPN.
3. Ad and Malware Blocking
On top of encryption, online protection has become a standard feature in reliable VPNs. All top VPNs like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Proton VPN have online protection features to block ads, trackers, and malicious websites.
You shouldn’t have to install and pay for another software for online protection when most of the reliable VPNs already provide this protection. When searching for a VPN, see if it has online threat protection features and what types of threats it blocks.
4. Download Speed
A good VPN should offer a download speed between 70-80% of your original speed. Anything lower may impact your online activities. For example, if you want a VPN to dodge Netflix blocking, a slow download speed means you’ll see more buffering than actual content!
You can test the VPN trial version to check the speed it offers. Make sure you connect to different servers as server performance varies, and use a reliable internet speed test site. You can also check online reviews to see what people are saying about the VPN’s speed.
5. Server Locations
The number of servers per geographical location directly affects VPN speed and content access. The closer a server is to your location, the faster the speed of connection tends to be. VPN servers can also get banned by services, so many servers in the same country give you the option to easily switch between them.
A limited number of servers in popular connection locations can also lead to overloaded servers, causing disconnections and slow speed. A good VPN should have thousands of servers spread worldwide.
6. Bandwidth Limits
Make sure the VPN doesn’t impose any bandwidth limits. Most of the top VPNs have no bandwidth limits even on their most basic subscriptions. Any bandwidth limits are a clear red flag that the service is unreliable. They may not reveal this directly on the subscription page, but there should be a small text while checking out or on the terms & conditions page.
7. Split Tunneling
Split tunneling is another expected feature of reliable VPNs. With this, the user can configure which traffic goes through the VPN and which accesses the internet directly.
It’s a very handy feature to balance security and speed. For example, you may want the connection to your bank secured with the VPN but don’t want the VPN to affect your online gameplay.
8. Jurisdiction
The country in which the VPN operates can heavily influence its privacy protection features since it operates under the country’s privacy laws. Try to get a VPN that operates in a country with strict privacy laws, such as Switzerland Iceland, or Panama. ProtonVPN is a good example of a Swiss-based VPN with strict privacy policies.
9. Zero-Knowledge DNS
DNS queries can show which websites a user visits. While VPNs usually encrypt DNS queries to hide them from ISPs, the VPN provider can still see them. With the Zero-Knowledge DNS feature, the VPN ensures that even they can’t track DNS queries.
This is usually done by encrypting queries directly to external resolvers like Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1, without routing them through the VPN company’s own DNS servers.
10. Other Considerations
Multi-Hop Feature
Normally, the VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through its server. With multi-hop or double-VPN, it routes traffic through multiple servers, effectively doubling the security.
This will slow down overall VPN speed as the traffic is routed through another server. Therefore, it’s not a day-to-day feature to use, but you should prioritize VPNs with this feature for activities that require utmost security.
Torrenting Capabilities
If you want to use torrents while on a VPN, be sure to double-check that they allow such traffic. Some services will state in their terms of use that they won’t tolerate torrenting, while others will have dedicated servers for P2P traffic, offering better speed and security.
RAM-Based Servers
RAM-based servers can’t store data permanently as all data is deleted when the server is rebooted or powered off. This means that it will be impossible for the VPN company to retain any data.
RAM-based servers are quite expensive so many VPN services don’t use them. If you want this privacy assurance, then go for a VPN that confirms their servers are RAM-based. ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and NordVPN are some known VPNs with RAM-based servers.
User Interface
The UI should be easy to navigate and switch servers, preferably, with a search function to easily find the correct server. This is especially important when using advanced functions like split tunneling as they require a complex initial setup. You can try the trial version to get a feel of the user experience.
Number of Devices
How many devices do you want your VPN on? If you’re looking at more than three, it’s worth double-checking the device limit before putting down any money. Usually, a minimum of 5 devices is considered the standard, but many good VPNs offer up to 8 devices per subscription. In the end, it depends on your personal needs.
User Reviews & Company Reputation
When you entrust companies with your privacy, it’s crucial to do a background check to ensure they’re handling your data properly. Checking the privacy policy and terms of service page is a good start.
Furthermore, a simple online search of “Is (VPN name) good?” can easily yield enough material to see where the company stands. However, don’t trust posts on the VPN’s own website as they are usually biased. You can also ask other users about their experience with a VPN on Reddit. Subreddits like r/VPN or r/VPNs are good places to get started.
Most VPNs offer lower prices with annual subscriptions, so it’s important to research carefully before committing long-term. Although the factors above will help you find a reliable VPN, it’s also good to know how to identify a bad VPN.
Image credit: Vecteezy
