The best VPN service 2020

Every major VPN tested to bring you a definitive list of the best

Get yourself the best VPN possible and you'll have a tool that helps keep you secure online, get around blocked websites, access the freshest TV shows and much more. It's no surprise to see them growing in popularity in 2020 even more with half the world in lockdown.

An abbreviation of Virtual Private Network, a VPN service allows you to change or 'spoof' your IP address to a secure server. That helps to make you more anonymous online and let's you effectively trick your laptop or mobile device into thinking it's in another location. The best VPN options are increasingly being used as a replacement for or in addition to traditional online security.

As well as being the ideal service to help you use the internet safely and get around blocked websites, the best VPN providers will also let you access the newest films and shows in foreign Netflix catalogues, stream in safety, access geo-blocked websites and much, much more (even if they're not much use for watching sport in distant climes, right now!).

It's unsurprising that there are so many VPN services you can choose from - the amount of options now available to download are overwhelming. Luckily for you, TechRadar has tested and reviewed over a hundred of the best VPN providers (and the worst!) to come up with a definitive top 14, together with key information and specs on each.

So whatever you're intending to use your new VPN service for, we'll give you confidence that you're installing the right one and avoiding any that could potentially be downright dangerous.

1. ExpressVPN

The best all-round VPN service for speed, privacy and unblocking

Number of servers: 3,000+ | Server locations: 160 | IP addresses: 30,000 | Maximum devices supported: 5

Get 3 months free with an annual plan on TechRadar's #1 rated VPN
ExpressVPN delivered outstanding performance in our speed tests and excellent customer support plus a 30 day money back guarantee.

ExpressVPN offers access to more than 3,000 servers in 160 locations across 94 countries, alongside maybe the widest platform support you'll find anywhere.

We're not just talking about native clients for Windows, Mac, Linux, plus iOS, Android and even BlackBerry. There's custom firmware for some routers, DNS content-unblocking for a host of streaming media devices and smart TVs, and surprisingly capable VPN browser extensions for anything which can run them.

All that functionality could sound intimidating to VPN newbies, but ExpressVPN does more than most to help. An excellent support website is stuffed with detailed guides and tutorials to get you up and running. And if you do have any trouble, 24/7 live chat support is on hand to answer your questions. It really works, too - we got a helpful response from a knowledgeable support agent within a couple of minutes of posting our question.

The good news continues elsewhere, with ExpressVPN delivering in almost every area. Bitcoin payments? Of course. P2P support? Yep. Netflix unblocking? Naturally. Industrial-strength encryption, kill switch, DNS leak protection, solid and reliable performance and a clear no-logging policy? You've got it.

Downsides? Not many to speak of. The ExpressVPN service supports five simultaneous connections per user (increased from three), and it comes with a premium price tag. But if you want a speedy service, crammed with top-notch features, and with all the support you need to help you use them, ExpressVPN will be a great fit. While they don’t have a free trial, ExpressVPN has a no-questions-asked 30-day money back guarantee if you aren’t happy with the service.

2. Surfshark

One of the fastest swimmers in the VPN sea

Number of servers: 1700+ | Server locations: 100+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: Unlimited

Based in the British Virgin Islands, Surfshark has laid-back and playful branding. But when it comes to keeping you and your online identity secure, it's all business.

The basics are all in place for starters. So that includes OpenVPN UDP and TCP, IKEv2 security protocols, AES-256 encryption, and a kill switch ready to stop your details leaking if ever your connection fails. In addition, Surfshark boasts a private DNS and an extra security blanket via a double VPN hop. Not to mention a logging policy whereby only your email address and billing information are kept on record. It's fast, too, whether you're connecting to a US or UK server or somewhere further away - say in Australia and New Zealand. Handy if you're trying to access your Netflix account from abroad.

If you're somebody who is easily bamboozled and, ultimately, put off by complicated menus and myriad options, Surfshark could be the best VPN for you. It keeps its interface completely stripped back and free from complication. All you'll really see are options for 'Quick connect' and 'All locations', accompanied by a Settings icon, and nothing else at all really. Whether that level of detail (or lack thereof) is a boon or a drawback entirely depends on your perspective.

One of our favorite things about this VPN service (other than the price) is the fact that your subscription covers an unlimited devices and services. So if you plan to use your VPN on your laptop, desktop (compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux), tablet, a couple of mobile phones (iOS and Android both covered) and Amazon Fire TV Stick for watching overseas TV, the one account will cover you on all of them simultaneously.

Surfshark offers a 30-day money back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to give it a try before committing for a longer period. And even then, annual plans are very reasonably priced indeed.

3. NordVPN

The biggest name in VPNs is also one of the best

Number of servers: 5,700+ | Server locations: 80+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 6

NordVPN's current products match or beat the competition in just about every area. 

You get a choice of over 5,500 servers in around 60 countries, 2048-bit encryption, 6-device support as standard, strong DNS leak protection, kill switches (application-specific and system wide), proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers, and with payment options that include Bitcoin, PayPal and credit cards.

There’s also a fast, smart DNS-like SmartPlay feature which can be used to get around geo-restrictions and unblock a large number of streaming and other services.

Our performance tests found that Nord has upped its game from previous testing, connecting to all servers each time. And download speeds were well above average on all but the most distant connections. 

If we have one quibble, it would be with the user experience that NordVPN supplies. Just little things like the destination cities not being listed in alphabetical order or searching through menus for specialist task functions left us scratching our heads about whether Nord has done enough user testing. But, as we say, these are pretty minor minus points.

Following the recent news that the popular virtual private network was hacked in 2018, Nord appears to have taken all the right steps to up its security measures. We will of course be keeping a keen eye on any future developments in this regard.

NordVPN has a few options available included monthly subscriptions and an excellent value three-year special offer. If you want to give the service a whirl before you commit, NordVPN provides a 30-day money back guarantee. So if you want something much better than one of the best free VPN choices, Nord would be an obvious choice.

NordVPN | 70% saving on 3-years plan
NordVPN goes big on discounts with its long term plan. If you commit to Nord's excellent service for the next three years, it will slash 70% off the price, bringing things down to an effective $3.49 per month.

4. IPVanish

A really solid VPN solution

Number of servers: 1,400 | Server locations: 75 | IP addresses: 40,000+ | Maximum devices supported: 10

IPVanish is another strong performer in our VPN tests. The service also has some impressive stats: 40,000+ shared IPs, 1,400+ VPN servers in 70+ countries, unlimited P2P traffic, ten simultaneous connections and 24/7 customer support. On the subject of support, we really like that you can access it directly from your Android or iOS app on mobile.

The apps are a powerful highlight. Not only are there loads of them (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, even Fire TV), but they're absolutely stuffed with unusual features, options and settings, trampling all over the horribly basic "list of flags and a Connect button"-type apps you'll usually get elsewhere.

The good news continued when we tried some real-world tests. Servers were always up, and connected quickly; download speeds were above average; torrents are supported on every server, and we were able to unblock BBC iPlayer and US Netflix.

There are some issues, too. The apps are powerful, but that means there's a lot to learn, and we noticed a few small usability issues. A small number of servers didn't appear to be in the advertised locations, and there is no kill switch in the iOS app.

Overall, if you need its ten simultaneous connections, or the power and configurability of its apps, take the plunge with this VPN service, and if somehow you end up unhappy you're protected by a 30 day money-back guarantee.