What to look for
- An independently audited no-logs policy.
- A privacy-friendly jurisdiction.
- A kill switch and leak protection.
What a VPN won’t do
A VPN won’t make you anonymous on its own, stop account-based tracking, or block malware. Treat it as a foundation and pair it with good habits.
Avoid free VPNs
Many free VPNs monetise your data — the exact opposite of what you want. If privacy matters, pay for a tested one.
★ MOST PRIVATE
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Proton VPN
9.5 · Excellent
The privacy benchmark — fully open-source, independently audited, and protected by Swiss privacy law. Fast servers unblock the major platforms, and there's a genuinely free plan with no data limit.
Open-source & independently audited
Swiss privacy jurisdiction
Genuine free plan
$4.49 + months free · 2-yr plan
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A
admin
Lead VPN Tester & Editor
Tests real speeds and unblocking in the VPN Runner lab, and stands behind every recommendation in this guide.