Best VPN services 2026: independent ranking

We rank VPN services by verifiable facts only: independent audits, server infrastructure, jurisdiction, features, price and app-store reputation. Every fact links to its source and carries the date we checked it. Paid placement never changes the Score.

11 services rankedUpdated How we rank

  1. 1

    Proton VPN

    85/100
    Privacy & security83
    Network & features100
    Price & terms71
    User reputation77
    Transparency87
    No-logs policy independently audited
    Yes
    Jurisdiction
    Switzerland
    Server countries
    140
    Simultaneous devices
    10
    Best price per month (long plan)
    $3.49

    Pros

    • No-logs policy verified by an independent audit
    • Servers in 100+ countries
    • Many devices on one account
    • Recently audited by a third party

    Cons

    • Servers are not RAM-only

    Details Visit site ↗ 100% backed by facts

  2. 2

    CyberGhost

    81/100
    Privacy & security88
    Network & features89
    Price & terms65
    User reputation56
    Transparency100
    No-logs policy independently audited
    Yes
    Jurisdiction
    Romania
    Server countries
    100
    Simultaneous devices
    7
    Best price per month (long plan)
    $2.19

    Pros

    • Low price on long plans
    • No-logs policy verified by an independent audit
    • Servers in 100+ countries
    • Recently audited by a third party

    Details Visit site ↗ 97% backed by facts

  3. 3

    Private Internet Access

    78/100
    Privacy & security85
    Network & features83
    Price & terms62
    User reputation82
    Transparency67
    No-logs policy independently audited
    Yes
    Jurisdiction
    United States
    Server countries
    113
    Simultaneous devices
    Unlimited
    Best price per month (long plan)
    $2.03

    Pros

    • Highly rated in the App Store
    • Low price on long plans
    • No-logs policy verified by an independent audit
    • Servers in 100+ countries

    Details Visit site ↗ 93% backed by facts

  4. 4

    ExpressVPN

    73/100
    Privacy & security92
    Network & features83
    Price & terms11
    User reputation85
    Transparency100
    No-logs policy independently audited
    Yes
    Jurisdiction
    British Virgin Islands
    Server countries
    113
    Simultaneous devices
    10
    Best price per month (long plan)
    Not verified

    Pros

    • Highly rated in the App Store
    • No-logs policy verified by an independent audit
    • Servers in 100+ countries
    • Many devices on one account

    Details Visit site ↗ 80% backed by facts

  5. 5

    Surfshark

    73/100
    Privacy & security85
    Network & features99
    Price & terms11
    User reputation82
    Transparency84
    No-logs policy independently audited
    Yes
    Jurisdiction
    Netherlands
    Server countries
    100
    Simultaneous devices
    Unlimited
    Best price per month (long plan)
    Not verified

    Pros

    • Highly rated in the App Store
    • No-logs policy verified by an independent audit
    • Servers in 100+ countries
    • Many devices on one account

    Details Visit site ↗ 84% backed by facts

  6. 6

    PureVPN

    73/100
    Privacy & security65
    Network & features87
    Price & terms63
    User reputation62
    Transparency100
    No-logs policy independently audited
    Yes
    Jurisdiction
    British Virgin Islands
    Server countries
    65
    Simultaneous devices
    10
    Best price per month (long plan)
    $1.69

    Pros

    • Low price on long plans
    • No-logs policy verified by an independent audit
    • Many devices on one account
    • Based outside the Five/Fourteen Eyes alliances

    Cons

    • Servers are not RAM-only

    Details Visit site ↗ 97% backed by facts

  7. 7

    IVPN

    65/100
    Privacy & security77
    Network & features53
    Price & terms58
    User reputation44
    Transparency100
    No-logs policy independently audited
    Yes
    Jurisdiction
    Gibraltar
    Server countries
    41
    Simultaneous devices
    5
    Best price per month (long plan)
    $3.89

    Pros

    • No-logs policy verified by an independent audit
    • Based outside the Five/Fourteen Eyes alliances
    • Publishes a transparency report
    • Open-source apps anyone can inspect

    Cons

    • Servers are not RAM-only

    Details Visit site ↗ 100% backed by facts

  8. 8

    NordVPN

    64/100
    Privacy & security88
    Network & features50
    Price & terms11
    User reputation85
    Transparency98
    No-logs policy independently audited
    Yes
    Jurisdiction
    Panama
    Server countries
    Not verified
    Simultaneous devices
    10
    Best price per month (long plan)
    Not verified

    Pros

    • Highly rated in the App Store
    • No-logs policy verified by an independent audit
    • Many devices on one account
    • Recently audited by a third party

    Details Visit site ↗ 71% backed by facts

  9. 9

    Windscribe

    63/100
    Privacy & security57
    Network & features73
    Price & terms47
    User reputation74
    Transparency89
    No-logs policy independently audited
    Not verified
    Jurisdiction
    Canada
    Server countries
    69
    Simultaneous devices
    Unlimited
    Best price per month (long plan)
    $5.75

    Pros

    • Many devices on one account
    • RAM-only servers: data is wiped on every reboot
    • Publishes a transparency report
    • Has a free plan

    Cons

    • No money-back guarantee

    Details Visit site ↗ 87% backed by facts

  10. 10

    TunnelBear

    59/100
    Privacy & security32
    Network & features65
    Price & terms70
    User reputation81
    Transparency100
    No-logs policy independently audited
    No
    Jurisdiction
    United States
    Server countries
    46
    Simultaneous devices
    Unlimited
    Best price per month (long plan)
    $3.33

    Pros

    • Highly rated in the App Store
    • Many devices on one account
    • Publishes a transparency report
    • Has a free plan

    Cons

    • No independent audit of the no-logs policy
    • Servers are not RAM-only

    Details Visit site ↗ 93% backed by facts

  11. 11

    Mullvad

    55/100
    Privacy & security68
    Network & features60
    Price & terms40
    User reputation46
    Transparency33
    No-logs policy independently audited
    Not verified
    Jurisdiction
    Sweden
    Server countries
    50
    Simultaneous devices
    5
    Best price per month (long plan)
    $5.57

    Pros

    • Recently audited by a third party
    • RAM-only servers: data is wiped on every reboot
    • Open-source apps anyone can inspect

    Details Visit site ↗ 86% backed by facts

Not ranked yet: not enough verified data

These services are known to us, but we haven't verified enough facts to rank them fairly.

Frequently asked questions

How is the VPN Score calculated?

The Score (0–100) is a weighted sum of five factors: privacy & security 35%, network & features 25%, price & terms 20%, user reputation 12% and transparency 8%. Each factor is calculated from published facts using fixed rules described on the methodology page.

Can a VPN pay for a higher position?

No. Paid placements appear only in blocks clearly labelled “Sponsored” and never change the Score or the ranking.

Why is a VPN missing from the ranking?

We rank a service only when at least 70% of the Score can be backed by verified facts. Services with less data are listed separately until we verify more.

How often is the data updated?

Each fact shows the date it was last checked. Prices, features and app-store ratings are re-checked regularly, and the ranking is recalculated after every change.