VPN Comparison

After making a post about comparing VPN providers, I received a lot of requested feedback. I’ve implemented most of the ideas I received.

Providers

Notes

  • I’m human. I make mistakes. I made multiple mistakes in my last post, and there may be some here. I’ve tried my best.
  • Pricing is sometimes weird. For example, a 1 year plan for Private Internet Access is 37.19€ first year and then auto-renews annually at 46.73€. By the way, they misspelled “annually”. AirVPN has a 3 day pricing plan. For the instances when pricing is weird, I did what I felt was best on a case-by-case basis.
  • Tor is not a VPN, but there are multiple apps that allow you to use it like a VPN. They’ve released an official Tor VPN app for Android, and there is a verified Flatpak called Carburetor which you can use to use Tor like a VPN on secureblue (Linux). It’s not unreasonable to add this to the list.
  • Some projects use different licenses for different platforms. For example, NordVPN has an open source Linux client. However, to call NordVPN open source would be like calling a meat sandwich vegan because the bread is vegan.
  • The age of a VPN isn’t a good indicator of how secure it is. There could be a trustworthy VPN that’s been around for 10 years but uses insecure, outdated code, and a new VPN that’s been around for 10 days but uses up-to-date, modern code.
  • Some VPNs, like Surfshark VPN, operate in multiple countries. Legality may vary.
  • All of the VPNs claim a “no log” policy, but there’s some I trust more than others to actually uphold that.
  • Tor is special in the port forwarding category, because it depends on what you’re using port forwarding for. In some cases, Tor doesn’t need port forwarding.
  • Tor technically doesn’t have a WireGuard profile, but you could (probably?) create one.

Takeaways

  • If you don’t mind the speed cost, Tor is a really good option to protect your IP address.
  • If you’re on a budget, NymVPN, Private Internet Access, and Surfshark VPN are generally the cheapest. If you’re paying month-by-month, Mullvad VPN still can’t be beat.
  • If you want VPNs that go out of their way to collect as little information as possible, IVPN, Mullvad VPN, and NymVPN don’t require any personal information to use. And Tor, of course.

ODS file: https://files.catbox.moe/cly0o6.ods

  • rirus@feddit.orgEnglish
    5·
    2 months ago

    PIA isnt independent, its by a Israeli spyware company, that owns multiple VPN Review sites and VPN services . Remove it from the list.

    • loxdogs@lemmy.wtf
      0·
      2 months ago

      I read from somewhere that mullvad is owned by two israeli guys. Dont remember the names, but I was told, that it’s written on a frontpage or smth.

      • FoundFootFootage78@lemmy.mlEnglish
        1·
        2 months ago

        That’s disappointing if true, though not as bad as being owned by Kape Technologies. It’s entirely possible there are two Israeli guys that care about privacy, and on the other hand it’s possible that Mullvad was created specifically for intelligence purposes.

  • TankieTanuki [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
    1·
    2 months ago

    All VPNs are blocked on my university’s network meow-cactus

    I live off campus, thankfully, but it sucks that I can’t have any privacy on my laptop while on campus.

    • pineapple@lemmy.mlEnglish
      01·
      2 months ago

      Could be wrong but I think it’s due to the security vulnerabilities present, its generally better to just use Google play store with an anonymous account.

  • dirtySourdough@lemmy.world
    1·
    2 months ago

    OP this is a big improvement from your previous post. It’s an excellent starting point for folks who are looking to start using a VPN. There’s a lot of constructive criticism in here, which is good, but might be discouraging. Just know that this is already very useful for many people.

  • Telorand@reddthat.com
    1·
    2 months ago

    PIA does not have WireGuard configs available. To get those, you have to use third-party tools to capture and generate the necessary info. Otherwise, you have to use their client, or else no WireGuard.

    Users have been asking for years (since 2018, I think), and they’ve never provided them.

  • Valmond@lemmy.world
    1·
    2 months ago

    ProtonVPN: only 8 years old: RED FLAG!

    Well reddish flag at least, is there a rationale behind this? I mean 8 years is quite a long time.

    • Valmond@lemmy.world
      0·
      2 months ago

      I’m on ProtonVPN because it’s ran by CERN people, so definitely an important information IMO.

        • Valmond@lemmy.world
          0·
          2 months ago

          Show me where he endorses Trump.

          Oh, you can’t? But you read it on Facebook or something so it must be true?

          Common, show me your information.

          This is bullshit based on some old tweet Andy Yen did about trump doing good going against big tech. You can read about it here or search for it elsewhere.

          It always comes out when someone says something nice about ProtonVPN, who have an amazing track record IMO.

          • eldavi@lemmy.mlEnglish
            1·
            2 months ago

            A company’s CEO gets to determine the path their company takes and the tweet is indicative of where he plans to steer proton.

          • porcoesphino@mander.xyz
            0·
            2 months ago

            That write up does seem to ignore the doubling down here:

            https://lemmy.ca/comment/13913116

            Calling out that JD Vance was the only one to answer is pretty troubling to me after reading about some of his new-right ties. It’s way, way too close for my liking to a mouse telling everyone that will listen that the cat was amazing for inviting him and all his friends to his house in a week. ie. Playing into what just seems like an obvious strategy.

            That said, I’m pretty ignorant about the CEO. I just remembered this lemmy comment and I didn’t notice it included in the write up that was being linked.

          • AdrianTheFrog@lemmy.worldEnglish
            0·
            2 months ago

            Ok, just read the artlce cited on wikipedia and it sounds like calling him a Trump supporter is a bit of an exaggeration. He seems basically centrist. Which is not great but not nearly as bad.