2024: From security and stability to unblocking streaming, which VPN is worth buying?

It’s 2024, from security to stability to unlocking geographic restrictions on streaming, what?VPNworth to buy?

Whether it is the United States or China, whether your network environment is loose or strict, VPN will be your good helper. Our most intuitive feeling: when browsing the web or apps, our online activities, including location, browsing content and even account passwords, are collected all the time. We need a VPN to provide privacy and security.

More importantly, in today's globalized trade, each country and region has its own unique products and services, but usually only local IPs can be used or enjoy discounts. At this time, a VPN is also needed to simulate local users.

One thing to note: If there is a circumvention software or VPN that claims to be stable at all times, there are only two possible situations: either it is cheating you of payment; or it is phishing software. These circumvention software will record the user's information. Activity logs, sent to third-party agencies for profit. Only the above two VPNs will have the confidence to be "always stable".

I have compiled some VPN products that I have used and commonly used, I hope they can help everyone.

one,Instructions for first-time VPN users

Here, I will briefly talk about VPN with friends who don’t know much about VPN, so that they can have an understanding of the basic concepts.

1, What is VPN

The full name of VPN is Virtual Private Network, which is virtual private network. It is a service that uses encryption technology to create a temporary, secure network connection on a public network. VPN can help users hide their IP addresses and protect personal privacy and data security.

2,VPN usage scenarios

• Hide IP address and protect personal privacy
• Bypass network restrictions and access blocked content
• Improve network security and prevent data leaks
• Reduce network latency and improve gaming experience
• Unblocks streaming media like Netflix

3, VPN selection basis

When choosing a VPN, you need to consider the following factors:

• Company Background: Does the VPN company have a good reputation and credibility?
• Market performance: How many users does the VPN company have?
• Server network coverage: How many server nodes does the VPN company have? In which countries and regions are these nodes located?
• Security Privacy: Does the VPN company use strong encryption to protect user data? For example, whether to implement a no-log policy, whether to provide the Kill Switch function, etc.
• User Service: Does the VPN company provide excellent user service?
• User Reviews: What do other users say about this VPN?

Next, I will talk about the above factors.ExpressVPN,NordVPN,SurfSharkandAtlasWait for VPN products.

2. VPN brand recommendation

When choosing a VPN, I don’t recommend that you choose an unknown brand just for the sake of cheapness. Because small manufacturers often run away, choosing them is easy to take advantage of and suffer big losses. Of course, when used in areas with network restrictions like China, big brands are more likely to be targeted, but big brands can also solve problems faster, which also tests the response speed of customer service. This is like a struggle between spear and shield, it is inevitable.

Even in this case, as long as the front proxy is configured, it can be solved. Deploy a cheap VPS (virtual server) if necessary. Okay, let’s get down to business.

(one)ExpressVPN: VPN service provider covering the most countries

In most bloggers’ tests, ExpressVPN is ranked as one of the most secure and fastest VPN service providers on the market. The only drawback is the high price. Fortunately, ExpressVPN often launches price reduction policies.

1, ExpressVPN Overview

ExpressVPN Founded in 2009, it has more than 4 million active users worldwide.

Headquartered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). This is a popular offshore jurisdiction for registering foreign companies. Although the British Virgin Islands are technically a British Overseas Territory, as a self-governing nation they are not subject to British law. What's more, they are not signed to the International Signal Sharing Alliance (9 Eyes/14 Eyes Alliance), which means you don't need to worry about intrusive legislation and agreements, which are the main content of the 14 Eyes member states.

On September 13, 2021, Kape Technologies announced the acquisition of ExpressVPN for nearly $1 billion. The British-Israeli technology company already owns a number of VPNs, with CyberGhost, Private Internet Access and ZenMate among its subsidiaries.

2, Express advantages and disadvantages

(1)advantage

• Can unlock 40+ streaming media platforms; fast streaming speed, no buffering required;
• Network coverage in 105 countries, making it easier to find faster server nodes;
• Military-grade encryption and security
• No-logs policy verified by independent auditors
• Support torrent downloading
• Native applications support mainstream operating systems such as Windows/Mac/Android/iOS/Linux/routers
• Available in countries such as China/Turkey/Saudi Arabia/UAE, but the number of servers is limited

(2)shortcoming

• The price is relatively high, and long-term packages are more suitable.

3,For people

• Pay more attention to network stability and service
• More complex usage scenarios and devices
• Pay more attention to network security
• Have become or are about to become middle-to-high-income people who are not short of money

(two)NordVPN: The number of servers is far ahead

NordVPNLike ExpressVPN, it claims to have a massive global server network. Judging from official data, ExpressVPN covers more countries, and NordVPN has the upper hand in the number of servers. Judging from the feedback from many users, NordVPN performs very well in terms of both short-range and long-distance server connection speeds, and can also unblock geographically restricted streaming media platforms. Its advantage is that the two-year subscription price is only $3.39/month.

1, NordVPN Overview

NordVPN was founded in 2012 and currently has more than 12 million users worldwide.

NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, far away from the surveillance of the 14 Eyes alliance. This is important to protect privacy because the Fourteen Eyes alliance is a huge surveillance network and can collect and share all kinds of sensitive user data.

Secondly, Panama does not have any intrusive data retention laws. Typically, such legislation would require internet and VPN service providers to keep logs of their users’ online activities for a specific period of time. NordVPN doesn’t have to comply with any such laws, making it one of the few VPNs with a genuine zero-logs policy.

2, NordVPN advantages and disadvantages

(1)advantage

• Fast local and international servers
• Powerful security and privacy protection features
• Optimized P2P dedicated server for torrenting
• Software is safe and easy to use
• Can unlock 35+ streaming media platforms, including Netflix and Hulu
• Provides split tunneling, manually selecting which applications use VPN traffic
• Price is competitive

(2)shortcoming

• Streaming media platforms cannot be unblocked in some regions, such as Amazon Prime Video and Sky Go
• Some servers have high latency
• Hard to use in China

3, NordVPN is suitable for people

• Value company and brand reputation
• Pay attention to multi-country/region usage scenarios
• Pursuing network quality while hoping to balance service and price

(three)Surfshark: Emerging forces are affordable

Surfshark is a new VPN service provider that is growing rapidly. In the US market, Surfshark’s affordable price is impressive, and its product features and user experience are not inferior to other well-known VPNs.

1,Surfshark overview

Founded in 2018, Surfshark provides more server nodes to users in South America, Asia and Africa in addition to the US market.

Surfshark was once headquartered in the British Virgin Islands and moved to the Netherlands during the 2021 reorganization. Although the Netherlands is a member of the Nine Eyes data-sharing group, Surfshark said local Dutch law does not force them to retain data. It also claimed it would move again if the law changed. In terms of data security,Surfshark Have an audited privacy policy and regularly issue Warrant Canary Statements,trustworthy.

2,Surfshark advantages and disadvantages

(1)advantage

• Can unlock 22+ streaming media platforms
• Upgraded to 10Gbps, remote and near servers are very fast
• High national coverage
• Military-grade encryption technology, safe and reliable
• Covers mainstream operating systems and is easy to operate
• 30 days unconditional refund
• Customer service responds quickly

(2)shortcoming

• Poor torrent downloading performance, only specific servers can (automatically selected)
• About 40% is a virtual server
• Difficult to use in restricted network countries like China

3, Surfshark is suitable for people

• Pursue cost-effective products
• There are a large number of devices, especially if more than 8 devices are online at the same time

(Four)Atlas VPN: Unique in offering free plan

Atlas VPN is also an emerging brand. Become part of Nord Security in 2021. In terms of price, Atlas is comparable to Surfshark. Although it cannot be compared in terms of the number of servers and countries covered, it is also unique: it provides a free plan with 10G of monthly traffic.

1, Atlas VPN overview

Atlas VPN was established in 2019 and officially claims to have more than 6 million users worldwide.

Atlas VPN is headquartered in Lithuania, which has no data retention laws but is governed by U.S. law and can share jurisdiction with other Five Eyes alliance members. In terms of VPN server size, Atlas cannot yet compare with established brands, but it is not inferior in terms of functions. It has special functions such as SafeSwap, tunnel separation, no log policy, kill switch, data leakage monitoring, and tracker interception.

2, Atlas VPN pros and cons

(1)advantage

• There are free use nodes
• Can unblock Netflix/Disney+/Amazon Prime Video and other streaming media platforms
• Bank-grade encryption technology
• No logs policy
• Support torrent downloading
• 10Gbps server
• 30 days unconditional refund
• Available in China

(2)shortcoming

• The free version cannot unlock streaming platforms
• Low server coverage
• Governed by United States Laws

3, Atlas VPNFor people

• Free early adopters
• price sensitive users
• Users from China

summary

The above is a partial introduction to recommended VPNs in 2024. Everyone can choose a seat according to their own needs. Choose the product that suits you.