The Best VPN Services of 2022

Most VPN companies structure their pricing based on terms that range from one month to three years, with significantly lower monthly costs for longer commitments. For annual plans, you should expect to pay the full term's expense at one time, despite the advertised monthly pricing. 

Without an annual commitment, you can expect to spend around $10 to $13 per month for basic VPN services with unlimited data for at least five devices. For multiyear subscriptions, the prices range from $2 to $7 per month. 

A few VPN services – including NordVPN, IPVanish and PureVPN – also provide business or team plans with monthly pricing based on the number of users. Those offerings are limited and more expensive, however. 

Most VPN subscriptions will cover at least five devices simultaneously, with a strong trend toward unlimited devices with one account – likely reducing even further the seemingly weak demand for per-seat or enterprise-level pricing models in the VPN industry.

Aside from cross-promotions for related-brand services, such as data storage, the available add-ons are fairly consistent across the industry. Most VPN services offer a dedicated IP, port forwarding, specialty servers and DDoS protection for an additional monthly fee. A dedicated IP is the only significant add-on in terms of cost, with prices ranging from $36 to $70 per year. 

Tip: Keep an eye out for any potential data limits or fees with the understanding that most providers offer unlimited VPN data on every plan.

The majority of VPN service providers offer very similar features with slightly different priorities placed on speed and the level of privacy. Some companies offer almost every feature for one grouped price, while others break it down into low-cost add-ons.

No-Log Policy

A no-log policy is something you want to see when shopping for a VPN service provider. When followed correctly, this policy means the VPN company does not retain any records of your activity. However, while many VPNs claim to adhere to strict no-log guidelines, it's worth exploring a company's history to see how it has handled such issues in the past – i.e., if it has handed private user data over to authorities in investigations. A true no-log VPN has no user data on record to hand over even if it wanted to. It's also important to consider the location of the company's headquarters, which could subject it to government agency orders to assist with any investigations. For instance, member countries of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes and 14 Eyes alliances must share data with each other's governments upon request. The United States is one of these member countries, so U.S.-based VPNs are not ideal. It's always a good idea to look at your potential VPN provider's privacy policy before making a purchase decision.

Dedicated IP

A dedicated IP is a great way to avoid the annoying CAPTCHAs you're sure to experience when using a VPN as a way to prove you're not a bot. Unlike the shared IP address that most VPN subscribers use, a dedicated IP is exclusively yours to use for connecting to IP-restricted networks or making online payments. Most VPN users switch between a dedicated and a shared IP, depending on the type of online activity. This service is typically only available as an add-on for around $60 per year.

Kill Switch

Another feature that we like to see in every VPN's basic offering is a kill switch. If your connection to your VPN drops unexpectedly, this feature automatically disables your internet to ensure that your data never leaves your private encrypted tunnel. It's a standard feature with most VPN providers – and something you should turn on if it's not the default setting.

Split Tunneling

Most of us don't need to use a VPN for all of our devices or internet activity. Some devices and specific domains are not points of concern in terms of privacy, especially when speed is essential. This is where split tunneling comes into play. It allows you to designate which devices or domains route traffic through your secure VPN. Not every provider offers this feature, but those that do often include it in their basic plans without any additional fees.

Did you know? VPNs are a solid way to protect your business's data online. However, there are a litany of other protocols you should put in place to protect your business from a cyberattack.

Businesses and individuals use VPN services for various reasons, so there's no one-size-fits-all approach to selecting the best VPN. Before you make a purchase decision, you should determine and rank the reasons you want to trade your high-speed internet access for the privacy and anonymity (with a slower connection) offered by a private network.

1. Privacy History

Take some time to research the VPN company you're considering (and its parent company if it has one). Advertised claims, such as adherence to a no-log policy, may not be as strict as they initially seem. Some companies have a clear record of not participating with government agencies as part of ongoing investigations, while others have a more complicated history. 

FYI It's also worth considering a company's history of third-party audits, which test a VPN's ability to keep your online activity private.

2. Server Locations

While having more servers does not necessarily equate to better performance, it is a strong indicator that you'll be able to access a less crowded option. Most VPN providers advertise their number of servers without distinguishing between virtual and physical servers. This may or may not be a factor in your decision, depending on your privacy concerns, but it's always good to have a server location near you. This will significantly increase your chance of a high-speed connection. If you're shopping for a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions, make sure you can find multiple servers in the parts of the world with content you want to access.

3. Required Add-Ons

Do you think you'll make use of a dedicated IP? Are split tunneling or double VPNs essential to your performance or privacy? While many VPN users are more than happy with the standard set of features that most providers offer, some demand special servers and additional layers of protection. We recommend determining your desired level of privacy for most of your online activity before exploring VPN options too deeply.

3. Total Monthly Cost

VPN pricing structures are the same across all companies, with significant discounts available for longer commitments. Once you've narrowed down your selections by available servers and additional features, consider trying a couple of services at the same time, with the knowledge that you can either opt out of a monthly plan or get a refund on most longer subscriptions. That way, you can commit to an annual or multiyear contract with confidence that you're getting the best deal available.

• It provides anonymity. Above all else, VPNs protect your right to privacy. Each time you connect to a different server, you get a new IP address that makes it appear as if you're accessing the internet from another location. While your ISP may recognize when you've connected to a VPN, the information ends there. Once you're connected, everything you do is transmitted through an encrypted tunnel that keeps your information safe from third parties.
  
  
• You can use public Wi-Fi safely. Public Wi-Fi exposes you to many cybersecurity threats. All of your activity can be tracked when you access a public network, which is why it's an excellent idea to use a VPN when you access the internet in public.
  
  
• It keeps your ISP and advertisers at bay. Your ISP can access all of your online activity even if you're using a private browser or incognito mode. It can collect your data over time and sell it to advertisers – or accidentally leak it if the company gets hacked. A VPN keeps your identity and what you do online private from even your ISP.
  
  
• You can access more content. Content licensing is typically based on audience location, meaning you can only access it from a specific city or country. A VPN allows you to set your location to the area of your choosing to bypass any geo-restrictions.
  
  
• You can save money. The prices listed online for many products are often based on several variables, including your location. Savvy shoppers can use VPNs to take advantage of geography-based pricing to save money on countless items and services.

How much do VPNs cost?

VPN services are not overly expensive. Most providers give the option of paying on a month-to-month basis or committing to an annual year of service. By paying annually, you pay less than you would for the monthly option. The best services cost anywhere from $60 to $150 per year. If you choose a month-to-month plan, a VPN generally costs $10 to $13 per month.

Is spending money on a VPN service worth it?

The answer depends on how much online privacy you and your business value. If your business places a high priority on online privacy, then the monthly cost of a VPN service is certainly worth it. Making sure your online activity is secure has grown in importance in recent years, especially as many businesses have switched to using various cloud-based services. For many businesses, that peace of mind is worth the minimal investment.

Is using a VPN legal?

Yes, the use of a VPN is legal in the United States. However, that doesn't give you the right to conduct illegal activities while using a VPN. For example, if you try to hack into someone else's network while using a VPN, your hacking activity is still illegal even though you are legally using a VPN. 

The market for VPN solutions is expected to keep growing throughout 2022, as more companies shift their business operations digitally. With so many companies adopting work-from-home policies of various kinds, businesses are more vulnerable than ever to cyberattacks – and they are only expected to increase in 2022. 

Ransomware attacks have become progressively more common as businesses rely on less-than-secure measures, such as using cloud services, to store company information. These attacks are expected to steadily increase in 2022 and will heavily target supply chains and vulnerable AI systems, prompting the need for more secure VPN software.

As the need grows stronger for safer ways to store confidential information and conduct business, new VPN software will continue to be developed to meet those needs. Greater market demand plus new government initiatives will likely increase the push for safer, more secure internet access across all industries.