The 8 Best VPNs in 2026 for Privacy, Streaming and Restricted Networks

A good VPN encrypts your traffic, hides your IP address and keeps you connected on public Wi-Fi and restrictive networks. These eight services stand out in 2026 for speed, privacy track record and value.

Quick verdict

• NordVPN — best for the best all-rounder.
• ExpressVPN — best for reliability and ease of use.
• Surfshark — best for unlimited devices on a budget.
• Proton VPN — best for privacy and open-source apps.
• Mullvad VPN — best for maximum anonymity.
• Astrill VPN — best for restrictive networks.
• CyberGhost VPN — best for beginners and streaming.
• Private Internet Access — best for power users and torrenting.

Side-by-side comparison

Service	Official price from	Best for
NordVPN	$3.09/mo	the best all-rounder
ExpressVPN	$3.49/mo	reliability and ease of use
Surfshark	$2.49/mo	unlimited devices on a budget
Proton VPN	$2.99/mo	privacy and open-source apps
Mullvad VPN	$5.50/mo	maximum anonymity
Astrill VPN	$10/mo	restrictive networks
CyberGhost VPN	$2.37/mo	beginners and streaming
Private Internet Access	$3.33/mo	power users and torrenting

NordVPN

Fast, secure and private internet — 7,000+ servers, Threat Protection and Meshnet. NordVPN is one of the world's most trusted VPNs. It encrypts your connection, hides your IP address and gives you access to thousands of fast servers in more than 100 countries — perfect for privacy, public Wi-Fi and streaming.

• 7,000+ servers in 100+ countries
• NordLynx protocol for top speeds
• Threat Protection against malware and ads
• Strict, audited no-logs policy

Best for: the best all-rounder. Official price: from $74.16 for 24 months. See NordVPN deals →

ExpressVPN

Premium speed and reliability — servers in 100+ countries and the Lightway protocol. ExpressVPN is known for its speed, reliability and ease of use. Its Lightway protocol connects in a fraction of a second, servers in more than 100 countries unlock content worldwide, and TrustedServer technology runs on RAM only for maximum privacy.

• Servers in 100+ countries
• Lightway protocol for fast connections
• RAM-only TrustedServer technology
• Built-in password manager and ad blocker

Best for: reliability and ease of use. Official price: from $83.76 for 24 months. See ExpressVPN deals →

Surfshark

Unlimited devices on one account — fast VPN with CleanWeb ad blocker. Surfshark lets you protect unlimited devices with a single subscription — ideal for families and power users. It offers fast WireGuard connections, servers in 100+ countries, the CleanWeb ad and malware blocker, MultiHop and a no-logs policy.

• Unlimited simultaneous devices
• Servers in 100+ countries
• CleanWeb ad and malware blocker
• MultiHop double VPN

Best for: unlimited devices on a budget. Official price: from $59.76 for 24 months. See Surfshark deals →

Proton VPN

Swiss privacy, open source and Secure Core — the VPN from the makers of Proton Mail. Proton VPN is built by the scientists behind Proton Mail and protected by strict Swiss privacy laws. All apps are open source and independently audited. VPN Plus unlocks high-speed servers in 100+ countries, Secure Core multi-hop routing, NetShield ad blocker and streaming support.

• Swiss jurisdiction and audited no-logs policy
• Open-source apps
• Secure Core multi-hop servers
• NetShield ad and malware blocker

Best for: privacy and open-source apps. Official price: from $71.76 for 24 months. See Proton VPN deals →

Mullvad VPN

Privacy-first VPN — no email, no logs, one flat price. Mullvad is a privacy-focused VPN that doesn't even ask for an email. It offers WireGuard, multihop and audited no-logs servers at one simple price.

• No personal info required
• Audited no-logs policy
• WireGuard and multihop
• Up to 5 devices

Best for: maximum anonymity. Official price: from $5.50 per month. See Mullvad VPN deals →

Astrill VPN

Premium VPN known for reliability in restricted regions. Astrill VPN is a premium service with StealthVPN and OpenWeb protocols designed for reliable connections in restrictive networks.

• StealthVPN protocol
• Smart mode
• Dedicated IP options
• Router support

Best for: restrictive networks. Official price: from $120 for 12 months. See Astrill VPN deals →

CyberGhost VPN

Easy, fast VPN with optimised servers for streaming and gaming. CyberGhost VPN makes online privacy simple. With a huge network of servers, dedicated streaming and gaming servers, automatic Wi-Fi protection and a strict no-logs policy, it's a great choice for beginners and families.

• Large global server network
• Optimised servers for streaming and gaming
• Up to 7 devices at once
• Automatic Wi-Fi protection

Best for: beginners and streaming. Official price: from $56.94 for 24 months. See CyberGhost VPN deals →

Private Internet Access

Highly customisable, open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in every US state. Private Internet Access (PIA) is a veteran VPN with open-source apps, a court-proven no-logs policy and unlimited simultaneous connections. Power users love its advanced settings, port forwarding and the MACE ad and tracker blocker.

• Unlimited simultaneous devices
• Open-source apps
• Court-proven no-logs policy
• MACE ad and tracker blocker

Best for: power users and torrenting. Official price: from $39.95 for 12 months. See Private Internet Access deals →

How to choose

Long-term plans are 50–75% cheaper per month — buy monthly only to test. Decide what matters most — speed for streaming, anonymity, or the number of devices — then compare long-term prices, which are far lower than monthly ones.

Our verdict

NordVPN is the best choice for most people thanks to its speed and features. Surfshark wins on value if you have many devices, Proton VPN and Mullvad lead on privacy, and Astrill is worth its higher price on heavily restricted networks.

All of these services can be bought on AIOFFER below the official price and paid with Bitcoin, USDT or other crypto from your wallet.