6 VPNs To Try In 2021
After going through the previous article and knowing what it stands for and why it is used, we will cover 6 types of VPN to try. Most of these VPNs come in paid and free versions and have better offers than others.
Before we do that, do you know some key features to look for in a VPN? Let’s take a look at them.
Key Features to Look for In a VPN Service
1. Fast Connectivity
A big factor that affects your browsing experience is speed. It can make or break your browsing experience. No one likes a sluggish connection, so when on the lookout for a great VPN service, make speed your top priority.
2. Security
You should also be on the lookout for a VPN service that offers a secure connection with minimal risk. What will you do when you get blacklisted from a site or an app and you get to find out your IP address wasn’t masked as promised by the supposed VPN network? Be on the lookout.
3. Ease of use
Ahh, yes. Having a VPN service should be easy to set up and shouldn’t be complex. You don’t have to be a tech expert to be able to have your VPN network set up. What are you, Elon Musk?
4. Privacy
This is a top priority when I am looking for any product, VPNs included. I love and cherish my privacy so having a good VPN that covers my tracks is my go-to VPN.
5. Price
This is another important factor when choosing a VPN service. Do I go for a free service or not? What are the upsides and downsides of me using a free service? How much can I afford if I am going for a paid service? These are some of the questions your future self will thank you for.
Types of VPN Services to Try
It’s not too late to check these VPNs and try them out. They include:
1. WindScribe
Founded in 2015 by Yegor Sak, Windscribe is a Canadian-based VPN provider that helps you browse the web privately. It is one of the best free VPN services available but comes with a monthly limit of 10GB. It also offers a paid option that removes the monthly limit and gives you a wider array of server locations to choose from.
It’s available for devices running macOS (MacBooks), iOS (iPhones), Android, Windows and Linux.
Notable Features
- It offers split tunnelling and its unique feature R.O.B.E.R.T that helps block ads stops tracking and can allow or restrict any online activity you choose.
- Static IP address
Cost
It has two subscription options: $9 monthly and $49 yearly (which will be billed $4.08 per month)
2. NordVPN
Established in 2012, NordVPN is based in Panama with offices located in the United Kingdom, Lithuania and Netherlands.
Notable Features
- You can connect up to 6 devices at the same time.
- It uses the OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec technologies in its applications.
Cost
It has the following subscription plans: a 2-year plan at $3.67 monthly with the first 3 months free; a 1-year plan at $4.92 monthly and a 1-month plan at $11.95.
3. TunnelBear
It was created by Ryan Dochuk and Daniel Kalder in 2011 and was acquired by McAfee in March 2018. It’s based in Toronto, Canada. It comes with a free bonus of 500MB for a start.
Notable Features
- It has the ability to bypass content blocking (paywalls) in most countries.
- It's available on Windows, iOS, macOS, Android.
- It also has extensions for search engines like Opera and Google.
Cost
It has three subscriptions: Free with 500MB worth of data; Unlimited at $3.33 (connects up to 5 devices) and Teams at $5.75 (has a dedicated account manager, optimised for a team)
4. Surfshark
This VPN network is based in the British Virgin Island, has data leak detection and a private search tool. It is available in 108 locations and 65 countries. Surfshark was launched in 2018 and was named the best VPN in 2020 by CNN.
Notable Features
- Supports iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, game consoles, routers, smart TVs and Linux.
- Has a malware prevention feature called Clean Web that blocks ads on the DNS level.
Cost
It has two subscriptions: $6.49 per month (covers up to 6 months) and $12.95 a month.
5. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is operated by the Swiss Company Proton Technologies AG, a company also behind the popular anonymous email service Protonmail. As of June 1st 2021, it had a total of 1,246 servers located in about 55 countries.
Notable Features
- It utilizes OpenVPN, the IKEv2 protocol with AES-256 encryption.
- It runs on macOS, Android, iOS, Windows and Linux.
6. ExpressVPN
Named as CNET’s Editors’ Choice in 2020, ExpressVPN is a VPN service the British Virgin Island offers. It runs on volatile memory (RAM), making them the first in the VPN industry to have a server security setup and referred to as TrustedServer. It’s available in 160 locations in 94 countries.
Notable Features
- Available for Windows, iOS, Android, gaming consoles, smart TVs and routers.
- Possesses VPN split tunnelling, private DNS, best-in-class encryption.
- Available protocols include Lightway (which was released in 2020 and also developed by them), OpenVPN (with TCP/UDP), SSTP, PPTP and L2TP/IPsec.
- Relatively fast
Cost
ExpressVPN has three subscription options: $12.95 monthly, $59.95 every six months, $99.95 annually all with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
