Top 5 VPN Services in 2025: Features and Pricing Compared

Why you need a VPN in 2025

In 2025, digital privacy and online security are more crucial than ever before. As the government intensifies surveillance, cyberattacks and data breaches rise, and geo-restrictions on streaming services become increasingly prevalent, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) become an essential tool for web browsers everywhere. It’s overwhelming to choose the best VPN, given the avalanche of options available today. To help you out, we’ve curated the top 5 VPNs in 2025 that meet high standards in privacy, speed, features, and affordability.
For a detailed comparison, check out our in-depth review: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN – which one wins in 2025?.

Why you need a VPN in 2025

It is crucial to understand why VPNs remain vital in 2025 before we move on to the list:

Protection of Privacy: VPNs encrypt your data online, which makes it impossible for hackers, ISPs, and governments to intercept your internet actions.
Public Wi-Fi Security: Public networks are notorious for their lack of security. VPNs protect your data in cafes, airports, hotels, and other public places.
Access to Geo-Restricted Content: Streaming services, news websites, and banking websites block more users by location. VPNs circumvent these blocks by hiding your IP.
Prevent Bandwidth Throttling: Your internet speed is throttled by some ISPs based on your usage. VPNs prevent this throttling by encrypting your traffic.
Safe Torrenting and P2P Sharing: Most VPNs provide safe, anonymous torrenting without putting your IP at risk.

Criteria for ranking VPNs in 2025

Our top VPN options were pitted against:

Security and Privacy: Enhanced encryption (AES-256), no-logs, high-end protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN).
Speed and Performance: Fast and stable servers worldwide.
Global Server Network: Wider geographical distribution for better connection availability.
Streaming and Torrenting Support: Unblocking of popular services like Netflix, Disney+, and support for P2P securely.
User-Friendly Apps: Easy installation on all mainstream platforms (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux).
Customer Support: 24/7 live chat and abundant help resources.
Features: Kill switch, multi-hop, split tunneling, ad-blockers, etc.

1. ExpressVPN

Safety: Offers AES-256 encryption, TrustedServer technology (RAM servers that destroy data with every reboot), and a no-logs policy that is strongly independent and audited by PwC.
Speed: Powered by its Lightway protocol, ExpressVPN has extremely fast and stable connections throughout the globe.
Servers: 3,000+ servers in 94 countries for excellent coverage.
Streaming: Unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and more.
User Experience: Easy apps with split tunneling, kill switch, and DNS leak protection.
Customer Support: Live chat 24/7 and exhaustive knowledge base.
Price: Around $8.32/month on the yearly plan.

2. NordVPN

Security: Support for AES-256 encryption, WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol, and Double VPN, Onion over VPN for added anonymity.
Privacy: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)-audited no-logs policy.
Network: 5,600+ servers in 60+ countries.
Streaming: Smooth playback with Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and other geo-restricted streaming services.
Extra Features: CyberSec malware blocker, kill switch, obfuscated servers to help bypass censorship.
Speed: Lightning-fast connections, thanks to NordLynx.
Price: Around $3.49/month on a 2-year plan, one of the most affordable premium VPNs.

3. Surfshark

Security: AES-256 encryption, WireGuard protocol, MultiHop for double VPN.
No Logs: Explicit no-logs policy.
Server Network: 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries.
Streaming: Reliably unblocks Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer.
Special Features: CleanWeb ad blocker, camouflage mode (obfuscation), and unlimited concurrent device connections.
Speed: Excellent performance, especially on newer protocols.
Price: Starting at $2.49/month for a 2-year plan, which is affordable.

4. CyberGhost

Security: AES-256 encryption, compatible with OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2.
Privacy: Strict no-logs policy, based in privacy-focused Romania.
Servers: 9,000+ servers in 90 countries — one of the biggest networks available.
Streaming: Dedicated servers for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more.
Other Features: Kill switch, advertisement and malware blocking, streaming-optimized servers.
Ease of Use: Simple to install and utilize on any device.
Cost: $2.29/month on a 3-year plan, excellent for long-term users.

5. Private internet access (PIA)

Security: AES-256 encryption, user-selectable protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN.
Privacy: USA-based but tested no-logs policy established in court proceedings.
Network: 35,000+ servers across 80+ countries, one of the largest server quantities.
Streaming: Good on Netflix and other top streaming services but sometimes less good than the top four.
Features: Kill switch, split tunneling, ad-blocker (MACE), and port forwarding.
Performance: Great speeds, especially on WireGuard.
Cost: $2.19/month on a 2-year subscription, very low-cost for advanced users.

Conclusion: choosing the best VPN for you in 2025

Your ideal VPN depends on what you’re looking for:

For speed and reliability: ExpressVPN and NordVPN are top-notch.
For cost and device support: Surfshark and PIA are great deals.
For streaming and ease of use: CyberGhost is a solid choice.

All of the five VPNs offer excellent privacy and security features with solid no-logs policies and user-friendly apps. Regardless of which one you opt for, be sure to follow their latest news and always download from reputable sources.
Learn more about how VPNs help protect you from hackers and phishing attacks to maximize your online security.

Additional 2025 VPN tips

Always enable the kill switch to prevent IP leaks.
Use WireGuard or other modern protocols for optimal speed and security.
Check whether the VPN firm is independently audited.
Avoid free VPNs as many monetize your data or provide weak security.