Best VPNs for 2025 — Top picks, what to watch for, and how to choose

The VPN landscape is crowded but full of strong options. A comprehensive, newly overhauled list for 2025 highlights seven top VPNs after extensive testing for speed, privacy protections, platform support and streaming performance. The roundup also warns about many low-quality VPN apps that prioritize marketing over infrastructure.

Key takeaways from the update:

• Top 7 picks chosen based on real-world tests of speed and privacy features.
• Common pitfalls include free or cheap VPNs that leak data or force heavy advertising.
• Practical guidance provided: platform compatibility, server locations, automated features and pricing.

Notable VPNs mentioned

Several well-known services were summarized outside the top seven to help readers weigh options:

• Windscribe — Strong free tier for devices (10 locations, unlimited devices) but limited to 10GB/month free and a crowded, clumsy UI.
• CyberGhost — Good streaming servers and automation, but app stability and privacy-policy concerns lower its ranking for some users.
• TunnelBear — Excellent beginner-friendly interface and transparency, but very limited free data and fewer server locations.
• VyprVPN — Solid security and verified privacy practices; held back by below-average speeds and inconsistent pricing changes.
• Norton VPN — Useful as a bundle with Norton 360 but inconsistent encryption behavior and weaker Mac/iOS apps make it a less reliable standalone choice.

What to look for when choosing a VPN

• Compatibility: Confirm the VPN has well-designed apps for all your devices (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, routers).
• Speed: Test before and after connecting (e.g., speedtest.net) and prefer modern protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN or IKEv2.
• Background & privacy: Check headquarters, parent company, privacy policy and third-party audits.
• Server network: Make sure servers exist where you need them for lower latency and unblocking region‑locked content.
• Customer support & pricing: Look for responsive support, clear refund trials and transparent renewal pricing.

The article also includes an FAQ that covers what VPNs do, common use cases (security, privacy, entertainment), limitations (they don’t make you fully anonymous), and safety notes (beware malware-bearing free VPNs).

For the original, full rundown and to see the tested top seven with detailed speed and feature results, see the original article: Full Best VPNs for 2025 coverage.

Discussion: Which features matter most to you when picking a VPN — raw speed, privacy audits, streaming/unblocking, or price?