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Best VPNs US (2026 Edition)

These are the best VPNs on the market in 2026, based on expert opinion and a side-by-side analysis of the features that actually matter.

Compare speed, privacy, ease of use, and price below to pick the right VPN in minutes.

Looking for the best VPN to use for low gaming ping? Check out our ping estimator tool.

Compare the best VPNs for streaming, gaming and privacy

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NordVPN

Best All-Rounder70% Off
$3.39/mo3 Months Free

Based on a 24 month subscription

NordVPN continues to occupy the primary market position in 2026, leveraging its high-speed NordLynx protocol and a server fleet exceeding 9,000 nodes across 165 countries. Its unique selling point remains the Threat Protection Pro suite, which provides an advanced layer of security by blocking ads, trackers, and malicious files at the DNS and system level, functioning independently of an active VPN connection.

30-day money-back guarantee
10 Devices
No-logs policy + Threat Protection Pro
Consistently retains 90-95% of baseline internet speeds
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Surfshark

Best Value80% Off
$1.99/mo3 Months Free

Based on a 24 month subscription

Surfshark has maintained its reputation as the Best Value VPN in 2026 by focusing on high-volume device support and competitive pricing. Its unique selling point is the provision of unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing a single account to secure an indefinite number of devices - a policy that stands in stark contrast to the device caps maintained by NordVPN and ExpressVPN

30-day money-back guarantee
Unlimited Devices
No-logs policy + CleanWeb
WireGuard + 10-Gbps network (built for volume)
See deal

ExpressVPN

Open-Source82% Off
$3.49/mo4 Months Free

Based on a 24 month subscription

ExpressVPN underwent a fundamental transformation in late 2025 by introducing tiered pricing, a departure from its 16-year history of offering a single subscription model. This realignment allows the provider to compete more directly on price while maintaining its reputation for elite speeds and unblocking reliability across 105 server countries. Its unique selling point is the Lightway protocol, a custom-built, open-source transport layer engineered with the WolfSSL cryptographic library for near-instant connection times and superior battery efficiency on mobile devices.

30-day money-back guarantee
10 Devices
No-logs policy + Lightway (open-source)
Fast connections (Lightway protocol)
See deal

Proton VPN

Swiss Jurisdiction70% Off
$2.99/mo

Based on a 24 month subscription

Proton VPN is the choice for users whose primary concern is jurisdictional safety. Its unique selling point is its Swiss headquarters, which provides a high degree of legal protection under the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection. This is complemented by the Secure Core architecture, which routes traffic through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden) before leaving the Proton network, protecting users from advanced network-level attacks.

30-day money-back guarantee
10 Devices
Swiss jurisdiction + Secure Core + audited no-logs
Fast WireGuard-based performance
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Private Internet Access

Open-Source84% Off
$2.03/mo4 Months Free

Based on a 36 month subscription

Private Internet Access has built its brand on the principle of transparency, making it the preferred choice for technical users and privacy purists. Its unique selling point is its 100% open-source client applications, allowing external security researchers to audit the code for vulnerabilities or backdoors at any time - a level of transparency that few proprietary competitors can match.

30-day money-back guarantee
Unlimited Devices
Open-source apps + RAM-only servers + MACE blocking
10-Gbps network
See deal

CyberGhost

Specialized Servers84% Off
$2.03/mo4 Months Free

Based on a 24 month subscription

CyberGhost's market strategy in 2026 revolves around its Specialized Servers, which are hardware-optimized for specific tasks such as streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Its unique selling point is this granular server selection, which allows users to choose nodes specifically fine-tuned for unblocking platforms like Netflix or reducing latency in competitive online gaming. Headquartered in Bucharest, CyberGhost operates within a jurisdiction known for its rejection of intrusive data retention laws and its independence from major international surveillance alliances. This geographic advantage is bolstered by NoSpy servers—custom-engineered nodes owned and operated exclusively by CyberGhost staff to ensure maximum security.

45-day money-back guarantee
7 Devices
NoSpy servers + 45-day money-back guarantee
Task-optimized servers (streaming/gaming)
See deal

IPVanish

Self-Owned Infrastructure70% Off
$2.19/mo

Based on a 12 month subscription

IPVanish distinguishes itself through its ownership of its own data centers and network hardware, which it claims provides superior speed and security compared to reseller VPNs that lease third-party space. Its unique selling point is this self-owned infrastructure, which contributes to its reputation as one of the fastest VPNs for domestic US and UK traffic, particularly for high-bandwidth streaming. Useful for US sports unblocking scenarios where domestic server density matters.

30-day money-back guarantee
Unlimited Devices
Own network hardware + 30-day guarantee (1-2 year plans)
Self-owned infrastructure (fast domestic routing)
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Mullvad

Best for Privacy
€5/mo

Based on a 24 month subscription

Mullvad doesn't care about streaming, marketing, or flashy apps. It is a radical, privacy-first tool designed for people who want to be as close to a ghost as possible on the internet. In 2026, it remains the gold standard for anonymity, even if it lags behind in features. Its unique selling point is is Total Identity Decoupling. Most private VPNs still know your email address, your name from your credit card, and your billing cycle. Mullvad has engineered its service so it knows zero about you.

30-day money-back guarantee
Not specified
No email required + privacy-first model
N/A
See deal

Windscribe

Build A Plan
From $1/location10 GB Free Plan

Based on a 24 month subscription

Windscribe occupies a unique segment of the 2026 market by offering a "Build A Plan" model that allows users to create a bespoke subscription for as little as $1.00 per server location per month. Its unique selling point is this granular control, which avoids the "bloat" of paying for a global network when a user only requires access to a handful of countries.

30-day money-back guarantee
Unlimited Devices
R.O.B.E.R.T. (server-side ad/tracker blocking)
N/A
See deal

NoLagVPN

Best for Warzone77% Off
$2.99/moBot Lobbies

Based on a 24 month subscription

Game-focused routing tool for Call of Duty: Warzone. Designed to help players find easier lobbies by routing only a fraction of traffic to specific regions. While traditional VPNs encrypt all your data (which adds 'lag' or latency), NoLag VPN uses a technique called Split Tunneling/Smart DNS to only route the 'handshake' data that tells the game servers where you are located.

15-day money-back guarantee
Not specified
Not a traditional VPN (game-focused routing)
<1% speed loss (partial routing)
See deal

VPN FAQ (quick answers)

The best VPN depends on your priorities: streaming speed, price, and privacy. This page compares the top options side-by-side so you can pick the best deal quickly.
A VPN can help if your ISP throttles streaming traffic. If the streaming service is slow, a VPN can't fully fix that.
A no-logs policy means the provider says it doesn't store activity data that could link what you do online back to you. Always check the provider's privacy policy and audit reports.
Often, yes. Some devices support VPN apps directly, otherwise you can set up a VPN on your router so every device is protected.
That depends on the provider and plan. Some allow a fixed number of devices, while others offer unlimited connections.
Most premium VPN providers offer a refund window (often around 30 days). Always confirm the terms on the checkout page before buying.