The best VPN will offer you assured levels of online security at a decent subscription, but there’s a lot of options on the market and the choice can be overwhelming.
We’ve tested a number of leading brands – to see how they compare and which is right for you, read on for our pick of the best VPN services in the UK.
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VPNs don’t just protect your internet activity against unsafe public wi-fi or online fraudsters – they offer all sorts off additional benefits, such as accessing streaming content that’s ‘geo-restricted’ (unavailable in your region).
This is perfectly legal, though admitted is generally against streaming platforms’ terms and conditions, so companies like Netflix reserve the right to cut you off. At the time of writing, however, there have been no reports of streaming companies ever enforcing these terms.
Additionally, VPNs can also be used to help protect your personal data from snoopers: something we know is a key concern amongst all smart internet users.
Like all products on the market, VPNs vary hugely in reliability, and in price too. (Indeed, you’ll find some free VPNs are available.)
Our tech experts personally tested a number of leading VPN services, and you’ll find the best of them listed below, along with links to their standalone reviews.
And if you’ve got streaming in your sights, it’s definitely worth heading to our pick of the best VPNs for Netflix.
READ MORE:
Best VPN UK: Our top picks
Buying in a dash? Here are our top 3 favourite VPN services at a glance:
- Best overall VPN service: ExpressVPN – from £5.09 per month
- Best VPN service for security features: NordVPN – £9 per month
- Best value VPN service: Surfshark – from £8.99 per month
The best VPN services 2023
1. ExpressVPN
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We tested ExpressVPN in early 2022 and found it to a be hugely reliable service that offers a particularly high number of servers across the world.
Yes, it’s that bit more expensive than other leading services, but it offers a range of professional features including split tunnelling, which enables VPN use just for specific programs, and a kill switch, should the VPN get accidentally disconnected.
Pros:
- Reliable connection speeds
- Will unblock most streaming sites
Cons:
- More expensive than similar big-name services
- No multi-hop features
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
2. Surfshark
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Our tech expert Alessandro Mascellino put the Netherlands-based Surfshark to the test for a couple of days and found it to be a service that’s excellent value for money, comes with an ‘extremely user-friendly interface’ and delivers reliable speeds all round.
On top of that, it offers great customer support and can be installed on an unlimited number of devices using a single subscription.
Pros:
- Strong encryption on offer
- Excellent customer support
Cons:
- We encountered some kill switch issues
- Speed are decent, but not the best
Read our full Surfshark review.
3. NordVPN
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Our writers tested NordVPN in January 2022, and as you can read in our full, hands-on review (see below), it turned out to be ‘among the best they’ve tried’ – which is no small praise.
It has a slightly unusual interface – you can pick locations from a list as well as a map – and it offers above-par security features.
NordVPN’s privacy policies are among the most transparent in the market, and our reviewer found it did a sterling job of unblocking streaming sites like Netflix, Prime and Disney+.
Pros:
- Audited no-log policy
- Unblocks the majority of streaming platforms
Cons:
- Client is a bit heavier than competitors
- Renewal prices cost more than most
Read our full NordVPN review.
4. CyberGhost
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Merging a robust network with a wonderfully pleasant interface, CyberGhost is a solid choice for anyone looking for a VPN working properly on a variety of different devices.
The company also has a very extensive privacy policy, which is always a plus when looking for a VPN.
Pros:
- Huge selection of servers
- Offers seven simultaneous connections
Cons:
- Slower speeds on NoSpy servers
- The 1-month subscription is expensive
- CyberGhost VPN (£10.28/month, £68.58/year) – Get it here
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review.
5. Private Internet Access VPN
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The perfect balance between performance and price, the Private Internet Access app features a great list of options, including port forwarding support, proxy support and custom encryption and handshaking methods.
With a solid privacy policy and a very cheap 2-year plan, Private Internet Access is one of the best VPN apps you can get on Android.
Our tech expert tried out PIA in March 2022, and found it to be a solid VPN that offers substantial value for money.
Pros:
- Extensive network of servers
- Sophisticated security settings
Cons:
- Below-par customer support
- Lack of third-party security audit
Read our full PIA VPN review.
- Private Internet Access VPN (£8.99/month, £34/year) – Get it here
6. PrivadoVPN
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Our VPN expert Alessandro Mascellino tried out PrivadoVPN in March 2022.
It takes a unique place in this list, in that it’s the only VPN that offers a free service – though you only get a choice of 12 servers, versus 60 if you select a paid subscription.
Privado has a light client that makes it perfect for less powerful computers, phones and other devices, and while there were a few latency issues with connections in Japan and Australia, by and large it offered an impressive performance speed.
If you’re not sure if you’ll need a VPN beyond a session or two, it’s hard to argue with Privado’s free service.
Pros:
- There’s a free 10GB-per-month plan available
- Accesses most geo-blocked streaming sites
Cons:
- Slightly clunky app
- No dedicated IPs
7. AtlasVPN
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We asked The Sun’s Technology and Science Reporter Jamie Harris to test Atlas VPN, and by and large he was impressed by this relatively new service.
Atlas is one of the most affordable VPN services out there: as ever, the longer the subscription, the cheaper it gets.
It offers 750 servers across 44 locations, and there’s a MultiHop+ function that lets you connect via multiple different VPN servers in North America or Europe.
Jamie’s chief criticism was the absence of third-party audits, though that may well change as this newcomer establishes itself on the scene.
Pros:
- Low price longer-term subscriptions
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Simplistic user interface
- Disappointingly low number of servers
Read our full AtlasVPN review.
Best VPN FAQs
How we test VPN services
Each time we review a VPN, we use the same processes and judge them by the same criteria.
Our reviewers use a programme called Ookla to gauge the speeds of each VPN service the test. All reviewers are based in London, and make use of a wi-fi connection.
Review criteria include price, server quality and location, security and privacy, speed and performance, and number/type of supported devices.
All of our reviews are editorially independent and are absolutely free from bias.
What is a VPN?
A virtual private network (VPN) is essentially an encrypted connection over the Internet from a device to a network.
Because of this encryption, your device’s IP address, the websites you visit, and your location become undetectable to your internet service provider (ISP) as well as to other people connected to the same network as you, thus helping you achieve a higher level of privacy.
Why do I need a VPN?
VPNs can be used, for example, to secure your traffic when connecting to public networks (think about the TfL internet network or your local Starbucks) to guard against hackers and snoopers.
However, these tools have many others uses. For instance, they can effectively unblock geo-restricted content on Netflix, Disney+ and other streaming services.
Additionally, VPNs can help help you reclaim your privacy not only from your ISP, but also from apps and services you use, and even the government.
When is the best time to buy a VPN?
Generally speaking, Black Friday remains the best time of the year to get a VPN subscription at a record-low price.
However, virtually all VPN service providers offer substantial savings on one and two-year plans.
Additionally, most of them also offer a 30-day period in which you can rescind your contract and get your money back.
Do I need to pay for a VPN?
There are free VPN services out there, but they either employ questionable data practices (e.g. Betternet) or they come with substantial limitations, like the 500MB monthly data cap on TunnelBear.
Still, we strongly believe that investing in a good VPN is worth it if you value your privacy.
And if you’re not sure about which service is right for you, the 30-day money-back guarantee of many VPNs is a handy tool to help you choose without breaking the bank.
How to choose the best VPN
In order to the VPN service that’s best for you, it’s worth working out what features and factors are your top priority.
Are connection speeds important? The variety of servers to pick from? Do you like to use an app with a slick interface perhaps? Or ultimately to you want to keep your monthly spend to a minimum?
After that, we high recommend you go through our best VPN list above, and then compare options there. We have full, in-depth reviews for each inclusion, where we rate each VPN app based on hands-on experience. Our advice is neutral and unbiased.
Enjoyed our pick of the best VPN services in 2023? Then why not have a look at our list of the best VPNs for Netflix.
We have also rounded up the best broadband deals you can get right now.
For additional tech recommendations, head over to our dedicated Sun Selects Tech page.
