VPNs, or virtual private networks, exist everywhere. If you’ve spent any time on YouTube, you’ve probably seen ads selling VPNs. There are literally hundreds or thousands of VPNs out there.
We test and review VPNs so you don’t have to. But what is a VPN? The pitch is pretty simple. A VPN can mask your IP address and device identity by routing your traffic through a remote server. Sites and services display an IP address that is different from your IP address, and your internet service provider can only see that you are connecting to the VPN server, not which site you are visiting. . In short, a VPN can be an important tool for keeping your data private and safe, especially when you need to connect to unsecured networks. For example, if you’re using public WiFi, you don’t know what’s being tracked while you’re surfing the internet. Using a VPN provides an added layer of privacy as long as you can verify that the VPN provider is trustworthy. But a VPN shouldn’t be the end of your security journey. Complex passwords, multi-factor authentication, and other security basics should be high on your checklist.
Another common function of VPNs is to bypass geo-blocking techniques used by companies to prevent access to certain content. Because you’re connected to a remote server, a VPN can effectively change your location, allowing you to watch Netflix content from another country or watch Doctor Who on the UK-only BBC iPlayer. If you live in the EU, you will be able to access sites that are blocked due to your region’s strict data protection regulations. In the past, VPNs have also been used to circumvent political firewalls installed to censor online access.
Many VPN manufacturers make extensive claims about military-grade encryption, digital invisibility, and lightning-fast speeds, making it difficult to tell what’s truth and what’s hype. That’s why Engadget started evaluating VPNs in 2023, looking at various factors such as security, speed, latency, usage limits, and price. Although we don’t plan to further enhance our VPN testing until 2025, our best VPN guide will continue to be the home of our coverage. In the meantime, this is how we currently test VPNs.
background check
Before installing or signing up for a service, our work begins by researching each product’s pedigree. We refer to publicly available privacy policies, transparency reports, security audits, and take note of each service’s security specifications. We also examine each company’s history of security incidents, such as data breaches. When researching security specifications, we rely on existing academic research from organizations such as Consumer Reports and VPNalyzer.
setting
The next step in the review process is to take a closer look at what your VPN setup looks like. This includes looking at the different platforms each VPN supports, from specific web browsers to smart TVs, to better understand how to use a VPN. Also see if it’s easy to get started with your new VPN. Some automatically connect to a secure server every time you use your device, while others require you to take steps to stay signed in. We strive to understand how user-friendly and intuitive these VPNs are.
Usage restrictions
Many VPN providers promise that their service will always work on all devices, but there are often small details to consider. We look at the terms and conditions of each company’s plan to understand what it offers. Is there a limit to the number of devices a user can connect at once? Are there “fair use” limits that apply once a certain amount of traffic occurs? Advanced feature multi-hop connectivity locked to only the most expensive plans We will investigate all of this for you, so you don’t have to. Additionally, many of the more specific tests can be run at the same time to validate a company’s claims regarding concurrent device usage.
speed and delay
The first step to testing speed and latency is to baseline your connection before connecting to a VPN. Then, when testing your internet speed, use the VPN app’s “Quick Connect” feature to connect to the “fastest” provider available. Once connected, run an internet speed test with Ookla and a ping test with meter.net. As you relay these results, record the average speed and ping across these results, and the difference between that average and the baseline when not connected to a VPN.
geo blocking
We test all VPNs from within the US. To ensure that the service can effectively bypass geo-blocks, it connects to servers based in Canada and attempts to access content on Netflix that is only available to users in that country. It then attempts to connect to a server based in Hong Kong and watch a live stream of news on a YouTube channel that is only available to users in that region. Finally, we’ll perform a game test by playing on a UK server. We’re looking to see if we can access the same content from all of these servers, as well as testing any lag or other issues you might encounter when using something. .
Check for leaks
DNS leaks occur when your device sends unencrypted DNS queries to your ISP’s DNS servers outside of the VPN service’s encrypted tunnel. This allows third parties to see and track your browsing activity and IP address, effectively disabling the use of a VPN in the first place.
WebRTC leaks are an issue that can occur with modern web browsers, and can similarly expose a person’s IP address to the websites they visit. You can avoid this by configuring your browser to not send such data, but you can prevent this by using a VPN.
To check for both of these issues, use publicly available tools before and after connecting to the VPN, such as NordVPN’s IP address lookup tool and ExpressVPN’s leak test, to ensure that neither failure occurs. Check.
