When exploring the web, there’s nothing better than knowing that your connection is always private and secure. That isn’t always the case though, as you’d need to be running on a virtual private network (VPN) to accomplish having a private network. From its name, you can pretty much tell what it does- a VPN secures your connection and allows you to roam the internet completely anonymously without the fear of ever being monitored and/or tracked.

Quite a nifty thing to use while using your computer/phone, but there’s always the question of how reliable it actually is, and in this article, you’ll find out exactly what you’re going to be faced with when you’re exploring the variety of VPN services available and how to choose the best one for yourself.

The Difference Between Free & Paid:

• Free VPN

The first question that gets asked when you find out about VPN is what the difference between the paid version and the free version is, and like any product/service there is out there, almost all of the features are hidden behind a pay barrier. However, that doesn’t mean that free VPN services aren’t good, they just don’t accomplish as much as a paid VPN service would. That being said, the free version allows you to also change the location of your connection and explore the internet anonymously, but it’s not so much a guarantee as it is a promise that can be broken. Free VPN services usually don’t help out much when it comes to covering up the actual location of the connection, and that can be a nuisance to anyone trying to bypass certain national blockages placed on several websites.

• Paid VPN

A paid VPN service is the full package of what they offered in the free version. You get to have a secure and untraceable connection that you can place anywhere around the globe, as well as have a guarantee that no one is ever going to be able to trace whatever you’re doing on the internet, no matter how hard they try. The pay barrier makes the connection extremely stronger than if you’re just generally using the free version, and the difference is tremendously surprising. Unlocking all the possible features by paying for a VPN can be extremely worth it if you’re someone who needs that privacy while surfing the internet.

The Benefits of VPN:

• Protects Your Privacy

As previously mentioned, a VPN connection helps you stay anonymous as you go through the internet, and while no one wants to particularly share their search history, some major companies and businesses cannot afford to let any of their information leaks. That’s why running on a VPN connection will provide them with so much comfort as they’ll know that the devices containing any sensitive information to the company are all safe and secure.

• Helps Keep Your Laptop/Phone Free From Cookies

Whenever you visit any website, you’ll get a few popups that you immediately close and proceed on with exploring that site. What you might not know is that the website is storing it’s cookies inside your PC and/or phone so that the next time you visit their website, all the media loads a lot faster than the first time you had visited the website. All of that takes up unnecessary space on your PC/phone and might cause random ads to show up whenever you click while on any browser. It’s usually extremely annoying when that happens and using a VPN just takes all that trouble away.

• Changes Your Location Online

If you live in a country that censors a big part of the internet from your access, using a VPN connection allows you to change your virtual location into another place that doesn’t have the same set of rules as the place you’re currently in. This can help you gain access to a lot of different websites that are blocked in the country you’re currently residing in. It can be a lifesaver when some countries block out extremely popular social media websites and a lot of features available on them. Using a VPN skips all that hassle and helps you access whatever you like without a trace.

The Best VPN Services on the Market:

• ExpressVPN

Whenever you’re searching for a VPN service, you always search for one that comes with the complete package, the speed, security, and the price. That’s where ExpressVPN comes in extremely handy as it is by far one of the fastest VPNs there is out there. With over 90 countries you could place your location in, it makes this one an appealing choice for those who enjoy streaming their favorite series online. The best part about getting a VPN is the offers though, as there’s an offer on almost every single one of them out there. This one has a pretty solid offer of an entire month trial period and a special ExpressVPN coupon, if you don’t like it then you’re free to cancel out on your subscription with ease. Professionals over at vpngorilla.com/en talk about how “A high-quality VPN service does not slow down your internet connection at all, which in addition to security makes the user experience more enjoyable” and that’s the type of performance that you see with a VPN like ExpressVPN

• CyberGhost

The second recommendation on the list comes from CyberGhost, who has one of the best offers there are in terms of a VPN service provider out there. With incomparable offers and generally high performance, this VPN makes for a very popular choice amongst those who wish to have very good service at a very good price. What’s even better is that if you’re facing any issues with your connection, you can always contact the customer support who are extremely active and responsive at all hours of the day. From a very easy-to-use interface to the availability of over 60 countries to choose from, you’re going to be as safe and secure as you can be.

• Surfshark

Sometimes, you need something plain and simple to get what you want. If the only thing you’re interested in is a secure connection that can be accessed by as many devices as you please, then this might be the best VPN service for you. With the ability to connect as many devices as you please to a connection that can be on 800 different servers in over 50 countries, you’ll begin to realize that this is a very simple, cost-efficient choice to make whenever you’re deciding which VPN to go with. Looking at what features are offered greatly helps you identify which specific service provider you’re going to need.

• UltraVPN

This one is another big promise of the fastest speed there is when it comes to a VPN connection. If you’re into gaming or just generally want to stream your favorite shows and movies, this VPN is recommended for you. With a very easy setup that takes no time to finish, you’ll be up and running in no time. It also has an unlimited bandwidth, which helps you stay safe and secure on the internet for as long as you want. The extra little bit that they added to this VPN service, however, is the ability to spot malware from a mile away to protect you from any possible hackers or viruses that might come along the way as you explore the internet.

• PureVPN

From its name you can already tell it’s just a VPN connection that does its job consistently without any issues. Gives you military-like security to your connection along with a 31-day refund policy that helps save you your money if you aren’t interested in spending your money on their VPN after that trial period. With over 2000 servers located in over 140 countries all over the world, PureVPN gives you the experience of an extremely secure VPN connection, all the time.

• NordVPN

An extremely popular choice of VPN for streaming is NordVPN, as it works with most devices while still giving a reliable speed to stream at all times. This one comes with a special offer of 75% off when it comes to a 3-year plan, but the price for it is already extremely affordable compared to the other service providers. It comes with the regular safety and security measures along with extremely good customer service too.

Factors That Help You Decide Which One To Go With:

• Your Specific Needs

Knowing and understanding why you need a VPN service in the first place is the key factor behind being able to make a decision about which one you’d want to go within the first place. Once you do understand why you need one, you’ll understand which characteristics you’d need along with it to accomplish getting what you want. So if you want a secure connection for your business, then you should invest in something like Surfshark where you can connect as many devices as you want, but if you just want the most basic and cost-efficient VPN, then you should try out something like PureVPN.

• Checking Out The Reviews

Looking at what other people have to say about their experiences with using a specific product/service always helps you understand it way more than if you just look at the material promoting all the good sides of it but never the bad. If you check out reviews online about the different VPN services you’re interested in, you’ll be able to find a lot of interesting information and opinions about them without having to go through the first-hand experience to gain that knowledge.

• Setting a Budget

When you allocate a specific budget towards any task, it becomes an easier task in actually picking out which service you want to go with, as you’ll have a way more specific set to compare rather than having all the options available. Almost every VPN service provider also has an offer that goes with your purchase such as a 30-day free trial or a 45-day free trial or deals on a lot of different packages that are offered. Searching for the best and most economical one for you is always going to get you a result you’re satisfied with.

• Privacy Settings

The first thing that anyone must look at when it comes to a VPN service is how good their security is. Blindly trusting a service to provide you with the security that you desire might backfire if you don’t check what type of security is being offered here. Ensuring that you’ve got a 100% security coming from your service provider is something you need to always double-check before actually investing in it.

• How Much You’re Going To Be Using It

This is a key factor here as this is what’s going to decide which one you should specifically go with to have made the best decision for you. Thinking to yourself about how much you’re going to be needing this VPN helps you understand how much you should be paying for it too. If you’re only going to use the VPN on very rare occasions, then even a free version is going to be good enough. If you’re going to be using it a lot, then you probably need something that will always provide you with the comfort and convenience that you need. Keeping those factors in mind provides you with a clear-cut decision about which VPN service you’re thinking of going with and how long you’ll want to be subscribed to it.

Getting yourself a VPN service helps you relax a lot when it comes to your privacy and your security. Just make sure that when the time comes to decide which of the VPN services you’re going to settle for, you’re very informed with the decision and won’t have any regrets moving forward. If you’re unsure of which one to choose and would prefer to try one out, then you can find tons of different offers that help you try out something without actually costing you anything at all. Examining your options will always lead you to make an investment you’re more comfortable making.