The Best VPN Services for 2022

- Privacy can be a scarce thing on the internet.

Sometimes you just want to browse the web

without worrying about who's watching you.

That's where a VPN can help.

A VPN or virtual private network can help you regain

some measure of privacy online.

When your VPN is on,

all your traffic is routed through a secure connection

to a remote server controlled by the VPN.

So using a VPN in a public space

like a library or a coffee shop makes sense, right?

You don't know who's running the network

or even if the network is legitimate.

But what about at home where you are presumably safe?

Well, here a VPN can help as well because your ISP

or internet service provider has enormous insight

into what you do online

and could potentially sell that data.

A VPN can help protect your online privacy,

but what are the best ones?

We here at PCMag have rounded up the best VPNs,

from those specifically good for beginners,

to those that best address the needs of world travelers.

Here's our top picks.

If you're looking for an overall winner,

ProtonVPN is the best choice.

It has an excellent free subscription,

and its paid tiers are affordable and flexible.

It has just about everything you could want

from a VPN and has only gotten better.

Let's say you've never used a VPN before.

TunnelBear is perfect for you.

Forget complicated apps or edgy graphics

and let TunnelBear's cute

but powerful bears take care of your privacy.

Easy to use and easily affordable,

TunnelBear isn't a slouch on privacy either.

NordVPN packs all the features you could want

into a slick client.

It's a privacy juggernaut but at a premium price.

It's not the most polished app we've ever seen,

but Mullvad VPN protects your privacy

and secures your connection at an unbeatable price.

It's also one of the most transparent

and privacy-focused companies in the business.

If you've got a lot of people

in one house all vying for the same internet connection

or even just a lot of devices all trying

to use the same internet connection,

then Surfshark is for you.

Surfshark is expensive, but it proves its worth

with a large collection of privacy features,

an excellent app, and an unlimited number

of simultaneous connections.

Every device in even the biggest household

can be covered with Surfshark VPN.

IVPN boasts a unique approach to multi-hop connection

at affordable, flexible prices.

Along with Mullvad VPN,

these are the only two companies

that offer a privacy first account system

and accept cash payments.

For more on VPNs and thousands of other security products,

be sure to look at PCMag.com.