Latest news with #Mullvad
Tom's Guide
21-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
Securely download Mullvad VPN with its new loader application
You can now securely download the Mullvad VPN app thanks to the newly launched Mullvad VPN loader application. The best VPNs are known for their transparency and security, and Mullvad is championing this in its latest feature. The loader downloads the Mullvad VPN app. It automatically checks it's the real deal, verifying the app's authenticity. This cuts out any chance of you downloading a malicious copycat app. The loader is fast and secure, and is available for Mullvad's Windows and Mac VPN apps. It can also be re-used to update and install the latest versions of Mullvad VPN. Mullvad has always used PGP signatures to authenticate the software it releases, but previously it has been up to the user to verify it themselves. The new loader's automation removes this hurdle. The loader has the same PGP signature as all other Mullvad releases, meaning you can also verify the loader itself. Mullvad has a guide on verifying signatures. Before now, the Mullvad VPN desktop app was only hosted by Mullvad on servers in Sweden, with GitHub as a backup. This has now been expanded and the Mullvad VPN app can be securely downloaded from one of a global network of third-party content delivery networks (CDNs). A CDN is a server that delivers website content to a user. In its blog post, Mullvad says downloading the Mullvad VPN app from a CDN that is closer to a user "enables faster downloads than was previously possible." Mullvad is known for being one of the most private VPNs and we contacted the provider to ask about the privacy ramifications arising from CDN use. Mullvad's tech lead said the loader "cryptographically verifies the integrity of the installer before launching it," meaning no malicious software can be downloaded. According to Mullvad, "the CDN can see what IPs request the installer" and "can infer what OS that IP is running." So, unless users use a different VPN to download the installer, the CDN – a third-party – will know some personal information about users. It can't see your VPN traffic or if you've even used the VPN. But it can see you've downloaded the installer, which is a small privacy drawback. This was acknowledged by Mullvad, who said it was "approved by the company before the project." However, Mullvad CEO Jan Jonsson confirmed that users can still download Mullvad VPN the old way by navigating to the "Alternative installation" section of its website. This means you're still downloading the app direct from Mullvad's Swedish server, bypassing the CDN. Doing this means you lose the automatic verification of the new loader, but won't share your IP address with a third-party. Users can still verify everything they're downloading thanks to Mullvad's PGP signatures. Mullvad described the correctness of this app as "paramount." Due to its sensitive nature and "potential attack vectors," Mullvad had the app's protocol and source code independently audited by Assured. Assured said it was contracted to "perform an audit of a new app functionality that allows downloading of new versions of the Mullvad VPN app installer from CDN sources in a secure manner." The group reviewed "the installer downloader application, the script generating installer releases, and the installer metadata." Following completion of the audit, Assured said "the new downloader installer solution seems to be well thought out and implemented." Mullvad says the loader "will be the primary way for our users to get the Mullvad VPN app going forward," and offers installation instructions for all devices. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Observer
16-05-2025
- Observer
Apps you'll want to take on vacation: A digital packing list
So you can whip together a weekend bag or fit a fortnight's worth of outfits into a rolling suitcase, but does your status as 'packing guru' extend to your phone or tablet? Think of your device as a second carry-on, with its own packing list of apps that are essential for entertainment, getting around, safety and more. 'Everyone talks about making the super app, the one place for everything you need,' said Gilbert Ott, partnerships director at a website that helps travellers manage loyalty points, 'but no one has done it yet.' Until that super travel app exists, here are some suggested apps to download before you go. Public Wi-Fi networks like those in cafes and hotels may not be secure, so to keep criminals from intercepting passwords, credit card numbers and emails, 'it's better to encrypt your internet activity,' Ott said. One method to keep data secure is to download and use virtual private networks like NordVPN or ExpressVPN, which encrypt your web doings. Both charge about $13 per month for a monthly plan and about half that rate for a yearly plan. Another VPN provider, Mullvad, charges about $5.50 per month. It may be tempting to store copies of important documents like passports, health insurance cards and prescriptions on your phone as photos, but it's more secure to use apps that encrypt that information, like 1Password (starting at $35.88 per year) and Microsoft OneDrive Personal Vault (included with a $99.99-per-year Microsoft 365 subscription or, for nonsubscribers, three files free storage). The US government's free Mobile Passport Control app can help US citizens and some other groups — even travellers not in the Global Entry programme — make their way through immigration and customs more quickly by scanning their passport into the app and adding a selfie within four hours of arrival. Preloading the information speeds your interaction with the officer. For detailed information on public transportation that can go beyond Google Maps, Moovit (free with ads or Moovit+ with additional features and no ads for $17.99 per year) and Citymapper (free with ads or $9.99 per year) can help with routes, fares and trip length around the world. In cities like New York and London, make sure you've loaded a credit or debit card in your digital wallet and set it up for transit to avoid lines by using touchless payment at turnstiles. In some countries, hailing a cab on the street may be difficult or unsafe. So where Uber and Lyft aren't available, download local trusted ride-hailing apps that offer set fares and location tracking. In Vietnam, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries, for example, Grab offers rides in cars, taxis and on the backs of motorcycles. In India, Ola is a popular choice. ENTERTAINMENT For hours spent in planes, trains and hotel rooms, load your device with a mix of diversions and destination information. Taylor Beal, a travel blogger from Philadelphia, who leads high school groups on trips to Europe, recommends borrowing electronic library books using Libby and Hoopla. The apps are free but require a local library card from one of the more than 90,000 participating public libraries and schools. For road trips in the United States, the phone app Autio ($35.99 annually, with a free trial) offers 23,000 short stories and information about the surrounding landscape and history, based on your location. Offerings include Kevin Costner on the northern Great Plains and John Lithgow on 'Footloose' filming locations. Keeping track of who paid for what among a group of friends can be a fun-killing chore. Jamie Larounis, a travel industry analyst for Upgraded Points, recommends Splitwise Pro ($39.99 per year, or a limited free version), which tracks and divides up expenses for taxis, meals and more. Other apps like Tricount (free) and Settle Up (free, or $19.99 per year for the premium version) offer similar services. For tracking flights and making plans either solo or with companions, TripIt (free version or TripItPro $49 per year) and Wanderlog (free version or Wanderlog Pro for $39.99 per year) can tame even complicated itineraries. You may already have Google Translate on your device, but that app also has some lesser-known handy features. Point your camera at a foreign menu, train station sign or receipt, for example and Google can translate it — even with non-Roman characters. The Conversation button in the app lets you pass your phone back and forth when you're trying to get directions, order food, ask for help and more. You can even create a custom phrase book in the app. Bloomberg Connects has teamed up with more than 800 museums and other cultural spaces, like the New York Botanical Garden, around the world to offer free information on their exhibits, complementing local organisations like the Musée Carnavalet, a history museum in Paris, which often have institution-specific apps. Of course, there's always the good, old-fashioned way to travel — wandering around and letting serendipity take the lead. Is there an app for that, too? — The New York Times
Tom's Guide
12-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
You can now verify Mullvad VPN's credentials – here's how
Mullvad VPN has announced that its Android app builds are reproducible. You can now verify that the app you've downloaded and installed is built from the open source code Mullvad publishes. Users can begin by reproducing the 2025.2 version of the Android app and you can ensure your app hasn't been tampered or interfered with by malicious third-parties. At the time of writing reproducible builds are only available for the Mullvad Android VPN app. Mullvad can't always match the best VPNs in terms of features, but its privacy and security is some of the best out there – with this introduction bolstering that reputation. In its blog post, Mullvad states that "a build is reproducible if: given the same source code, build environment, and build instructions, any party can recreate bit-for-bit identical copies of all specified artifacts." Put simply, the code of the Android VPN app you've downloaded should be the same as the code published by the Mullvad VPN developers. It's a way to verify that the app was built from the exact source code it claims to be built from. Starting with version 2025.2, our Android app builds are reproducible. This means you can verify that the app you download and install is built from the open source code we more here: 9, 2025 Reproducible builds provide a strong guarantee that the app you're downloading is what it says it is. If your build produces identical results, it confirms that: "We believe transparency is crucial for security software," said Mullvad. "Investing in reproducible builds is a testament to our commitment to providing you with a trustworthy and secure application." Mullvad is encouraging "technically inclined users" to verify its builds. Source codes and instructions on how to perform the verification process can be found on Mullvad's GitHub page. The first few months of 2025 have seen a host of updates from Mullvad. In February it announced a partnership with the newly created Obscura VPN, where it acts as the second hop for Obscura VPN's two hop, two provider VPN model. Also in February, Mullvad joined the best Windows VPNs in releasing its app for Windows Arm devices. March saw two security updates. Mullvad's Android app passed a standardized security assessment with flying colors and it launched version two of its Defence Against AI-guided Traffic Analysis software. Multihop for Android was also launched in March. Android users can now route their internet traffic through two Mullvad servers, meaning additional protection and security. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Surfshark Review 2025: An Excellent VPN, but No Longer Budget-Friendly
Surfshark is no longer the budget-friendly option it once was. At CNET, we consistently praised Surfshark for providing a top-tier VPN service at a price that wouldn't break the bank. But Surfshark has bumped up its renewal prices by 33% this year. Even though it's still cheaper VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, Surfshark's price hike has made the service much less of a bargain. I ran Surfshark through a gauntlet of tests across various platforms over several weeks in February 2025. These included more than 200 individual speed tests, DNS leak tests, a rigorous evaluation of its streaming capabilities and an assessment of its overall value. I also took a close look at its corporate structure and pored through its privacy policies, with special consideration to data collection and no-logging claims. Throughout the process, I communicated with Surfshark representatives via email and videoconference. I found that Surfshark is still an excellent VPN that gets the job done for casual VPN users. It's fast, has lots of servers, it's great for streaming, is easy to use across platforms and it has some cool and unique features. Although it no longer fits for the most budget-conscious people, as PIA or Mullvad still does, Surfshark is a great choice for someone who wants unlimited simultaneous connections and a slick user interface that's packed with useful features. I'm also encouraged by Surfshark's improving commitment to transparency. Here's what you need to know about Surfshark and whether it's the right choice for you. See at Surfshark 21% speed loss in 2025 tests Number of servers: 3,200-plus Number of countries: 100 Aside from a significant but short-lived speed dip in 2023 that company engineers quickly corrected, Surfshark's speed performance has been consistent over the years. While other VPNs' overall speed test results have fluctuated (at times dramatically) from year to year in our testing, Surfshark has maintained an even keel. Over the past four years of speed testing Surfshark, we've calculated a 19% speed loss once and a 17% speed loss three times. When I tested Surfshark's speeds in 2025, I registered a marginally higher speed loss of 21%. Although the speed loss I calculated was higher this year, the difference is negligible. In practical terms, it's extraordinarily unlikely that you'd notice any difference in performance whether you're losing 17% or 21% of your download speeds when using Surfshark. VPN speed testing is a notoriously inexact science, and while we do our best to try and replicate the conditions you're likely to encounter in the real world, we can only give you an approximate idea of what kind of speed performance you can generally expect from the VPN. If I tested Surfshark's speeds a week or two after I originally tested them in early February, I could have conceivably registered a speed loss of 15% as easily as I could have 25%. Either way, the point is that Surfshark is a fast VPN and you should expect to enjoy solid speed performance from the VPN with minimal speed loss. As a comparison, Surfshark's speed performance sits behind the 3% speed loss we calculated with NordVPN and ahead of the 35% with ExpressVPN. I tested Surfshark's speeds from my location in Ohio to Surfshark's VPN servers in New York, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Singapore and Australia. I found Surfshark's speed performance to be generally consistent with my expectations across all protocols, platforms and server locations that I tested. The only anomaly I noticed over the course of my speed tests was with OpenVPN on MacOS where speeds to New York were slower than any other server location I tested. Generally, the closer the VPN server is to your physical location, the faster your connection speeds through the VPN should be. Which is why I was surprised that the closest server location I tested yielded the slowest speeds on MacOS when using the OpenVPN protocol. On MacOS through OpenVPN, I registered an average speed of 269 Mbps on Surfshark's New York servers. That's slower than the 310 Mbps I registered on Surfshark's France and Germany servers and the 291 Mbps I averaged through the UK. More surprisingly, speeds to New York were slower than the 276 Mbps and 282 Mbps that I averaged through servers in Australia and Singapore, respectively -- locations that are halfway across the globe from where I sit. New York is a popular VPN server location with a potentially higher load than other locations, which could lead to slower speeds. However, Surfshark says it has 78 servers in New York, which should be able to handle the traffic. I didn't experience this anomaly while testing Surfshark's speeds through OpenVPN on Windows. Instead, as expected, my speeds to the New York servers were faster than any other server location during my Windows tests through OpenVPN and WireGuard on both Windows and MacOS. The fastest speeds I registered were through New York City servers on Windows when using the WireGuard protocol -- which was also somewhat of a surprise because VPN speeds are usually faster on Mac than they are on Windows. My average speeds to New York came to 328 Mbps through WireGuard on MacOS and 349 Mbps on Windows. That said, speed performance was fastest on MacOS through WireGuard with an average speed across all locations coming in at 307 Mbps -- a 17% speed loss from my approximately 370 Mbps internet connection. Otherwise, I registered a 20% speed loss on MacOS through OpenVPN, 23% on Windows through WireGuard and 25% on Windows through OpenVPN. Key takeaway: While the 21% speed loss I registered in 2025 technically constitutes a slight drop in performance over previous years, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Surfshark has established itself over the years as a consistently speedy VPN that can easily handle just about any online activity, including data-heavy activities like streaming, gaming and torrenting. $15.45 a month, $48 for the first 15 months (then $79 a year) or $60 for the first 27 months (then $79 a year) Money-back guarantee: 30 days Payment options: Credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Crypto Apps: Available for MacOS, Windows, Linux (GUI), iOS, Android, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, routers Works with: Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Max, Amazon Prime Video and others Surfshark used to be the budget-friendly darling of the VPN world (certainly at least of our VPN world here at CNET). With its stack of useful premium features that rivaled those of its pricey rivals at an impressive discount to their prices, Surfshark stood out as a worthy alternative that stayed true to its economical roots. That said, it's still the same VPN provider and its updated renewal price is significantly cheaper at $79 a year than both ExpressVPN ($117 or $150 a year) and NordVPN ($140 a year). In absolute terms, we could say that Surfshark is comparatively even cheaper to ExpressVPN and NordVPN now than they were before all three providers increased their pricing. Not long ago, the price difference upon renewal between Surfshark and ExpressVPN/NordVPN was $40. Now, Surfshark's annual renewal price is $61 cheaper than NordVPN and is either $38 or $71 cheaper than ExpressVPN, depending on which subscription plan we're comparing it to. Even so, Surfshark's 33% bump over the previous $60 annual renewal rate makes the VPN a less attractive option than it once was. The signs of an impending shakeup were there when the company's monthly subscription price ballooned last year to a comically expensive $15.45 a month. For reference, most VPNs charge around $10 to at most $13 a month -- but even that's more than you should pay for a VPN service for a month. If you only need a VPN for a single month, I recommend going with Mullvad, which costs only $5 a month and doesn't renew automatically as other VPN services do. In short, don't choose Surfshark's monthly plan unless you go into the transaction with the intention of asking for a refund within the first 30 days. Surfshark's been doing a bit of experimentation with its introductory prices. The adjustments are slight but they've come at a regular clip, seemingly changing every other week. It was impossible to keep track of each little update, but prices generally stayed within a tight window during that time and renewal pricing remained unchanged. And, to be fair, Surfshark representatives had hinted to us in recent conversations that some pricing changes were in the works. Still, I wasn't expecting such a significant change to renewal pricing from Surfshark -- a change that has me re-evaluating Surfshark's overall value. "We understand that any increase is never ideal, especially for budget-conscious users. However, this adjustment was due, because our initial bundle pricing remained unchanged since September 2020, while we have significantly enhanced our product and tackled steeply rising business operating costs (salaries, bandwidth costs, servers, and others)," Surfshark's Senior Partnerships Manager Vilius Jastremskas told me via email. "Over the past five years, we've continuously improved our offering by introducing new key features such as Alternative ID, Dynamic MultiHop, IP Rotator, iOS and browser extension bypasser, web protection features for AV, just to name a few. We have also expanded our server country locations from 65 to 100, and upgraded all our VPN servers worldwide to 10Gbps." As of this review's publication, Surfshark's base VPN plan costs $15.45 a month, $48 for the first 15 months (then $79 annually) or $60 for the first 27 months (then $79 annually). Surfshark's Starter tier is its most basic subscription plan and includes the VPN and Alternative ID features. Other, more expensive subscription tiers are also available that include Starter features along with additional tools like antivirus, data leak alerts, private search and data removal services. However, my evaluation of Surfshark focuses solely on Surfshark's Starter tier. The considerable price hike notwithstanding, there's still a lot to like about Surfshark, and it still stacks up nicely against more expensive VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN. Surfshark's app interface is slick, nicely laid out and easy to use across all platforms. I like the recent subtle tweaks that make the app even more user-friendly. Specifically, it displays the settings you've enabled, including the protocol you're using, the kill switch, Bypasser, CleanWeb and Rotating IP. Also displayed are your connection time, current VPN IP address and server you're connected to. It's a lot of information, but it's all helpful information to have at your fingertips and Surfshark pulls it off without being obtrusive or making the app interface seem cluttered. I also like how you can just tap or click right on the app interface to go directly to each of the displayed feature's settings without having to navigate through the settings menu. It's a small detail, but it makes the app a lot more intuitive and shows that Surfshark cares about the finer details of the user experience. Other key features you'll get with Surfshark's VPN include a kill switch, Dynamic MultiHop, Bypasser (split-tunneling), rotating IP and an ad and tracker blocker. All features worked smoothly across platforms including Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Apple TV and Fire TV. Surfshark is one of the only other VPNs besides PIA to offer split tunneling on iOS and MacOS, which is impressive considering that changes Apple made in 2020 caused issues with VPNs' split tunneling functionality on Apple devices. Most other VPNs that include split tunneling haven't offered the feature on Apple devices since, usually reserving it for Android and Windows users. Surfshark's Bypasser feature allows you to route specific websites outside the tunnel on iOS, while on MacOS it allows you to bypass websites as well as apps. I was happy to see marked improvements in overall app performance across platforms as well. In the past, Surfshark often took an inordinate amount of time and multiple attempts to establish a successful connection. It was a minor issue, but nonetheless unwelcome when it occurred because these days you'd expect technology to respond instantaneously rather than 30 seconds after issuing a command. However, in my latest round of testing, I encountered no such issues. Surfshark's app connected in a flash every single time I went to connect to a server regardless of what platform I was using or what location I was connecting to. Streaming with Surfshark was also mostly a smooth experience during my latest tests. That's no surprise because the VPN is well-equipped for streaming geographically restricted content with its fast speeds and large server network. I was able to stream content from various popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Max and Amazon Prime Video through a number of different Surfshark server locations from across the globe -- though not without a few bumps in the road. Netflix took quite a bit of time to load up when connected on my Mac, even through nearby US server locations. But after it got loaded up, everything seemed to work as expected. Also, Hulu detected the VPN when I tried to stream content on my Amazon Fire TV Stick. Otherwise, streaming with Surfshark on Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and other platforms was excellent and in line with what I would expect from a top-tier VPN. Buying a Surfshark subscription is a simple affair, which you can do with a credit or debit card, PayPal, Google Pay or various cryptocurrencies. I like how Surfshark has made information regarding its subscription renewals much clearer than it had in years past on its checkout page. Far too many VPN companies still struggle with subscription renewal transparency, as if they're afraid to concede that prices will increase upon renewal or as if it's on the customer to make that assumption. But Surfshark serves as an example of transparent renewal terms don't have to be scary. Key takeaway: Surfshark is still an excellent VPN, but the jump in its renewal prices means it's no longer the wildly budget-friendly option it once was. If you're on a strict budget, you can get Mullvad or PIA for cheaper. Jurisdiction: Netherlands Encryption: AES-256-GCM, ChaCha20 RAM-only server infrastructure No leaks detected Protocols available: OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 Surfshark's privacy and security posture is mostly solid, and is enough for casual users looking for general online privacy. But there are a few reasons why you may want to look elsewhere if your privacy needs are critical (for example if you're in a country with strict internet censorship and surveillance or if you're a journalist, attorney, physician, activist or whistleblower). One reason I hesitate to recommend Surfshark to privacy-critical users is due to its Netherlands jurisdiction. Although the Netherlands doesn't impose any mandatory data retention laws, the country is part of the 14-Eyes data-sharing alliance, which may be a deal-breaker for privacy-critical users. Another reason is that Surfshark still has some catching up to do versus other VPN providers when it comes to transparency. Surfshark representatives told me in an interview that the audit will commence during the second quarter of this year and should be published later on in the second half of 2025. Although I'm encouraged that Surfshark is commissioning an independent no-logs audit this year, it will be the company's first audit of any sort since 2022. Not getting audited on a regular basis doesn't necessarily mean that a VPN isn't doing what it says it's doing, but regular audits act as a crucial trust signal that privacy-critical users shouldn't ignore. As a comparison, ExpressVPN commissions multiple audits every year and has undergone 22 in total since 2018. Surfshark has undergone a total of three audits in the past seven years. However, Jastremskas told me that Surfshark is committed to commissioning annual third-party audits going forward, which is reassuring. I will update this review with the results of the 2025 no-logs audit once it is published. Surfshark says in its Privacy Policy that the company doesn't 'collect any information about what you do online (your visited IP addresses, browsing history, session information, used bandwidth, connection time stamps, network traffic or any other similar information).' But a VPN's no logs claims are impossible to verify with 100% certainty, so your only option is to take the VPN provider's word for it. No-logs audits can help, but can only go so far. And given that Surfshark's no-logs policy hasn't been audited in years, it's been a long stretch of time where all we've had to rely on is Surfshark's word. That said, I like that Surfshark will be commissioning audits on a yearly basis and that the company has begun publishing a quarterly transparency report -- which details the number of legal requests it receives each quarter and if the company was obligated to disclose any user data in relation to the received requests. The latest report states that none of the more than 360,000 requests received between October and December 2024 resulted in Surfshark disclosing user data. Otherwise, Surfshark is pretty solid from a privacy standpoint, with standard privacy protections that work well and some unique privacy features that most VPNs don't offer. I'm continuously impressed with the Dynamic MultiHop feature, which goes a step further than the traditional double VPN: While most VPNs that offer double hop connections usually only offer a handful of preset connections, Surfshark allows you to choose any pair of servers you want from its fleet of server locations in 100 different countries. Keep in mind, though, that while a double VPN connection boosts your privacy, your speed will take even more of a hit due to your traffic being encrypted twice. I also like the option on Windows to set the kill switch to soft or strict mode. The soft kill switch works like a traditional kill switch and cuts your internet connection if the VPN inadvertently disconnects, protecting your privacy and preventing IP leaks. The strict kill switch cuts your internet any time you disconnect from the VPN, even intentionally -- which offers greater protection against any potential sensitive traffic going unencrypted. You also have the option to enable a strict kill switch on your Android device using the native Android kill switch, which won't let you use the internet at all unless you're connected to the VPN. One of the most unique and helpful privacy features that Surfshark offers with its basic VPN plan is its Alternative ID tool. With Alternative ID, you can create a full alter-ego complete with full name, birthdate, physical address and email address that you can use online to fill out forms or sign up for email lists without having to provide your actual personal information. I had a lot of fun playing around with the tool and coming up with different alter-egos. You can either come up with everything on your own manually or have Alternative ID automatically generate the information for you. Your alternative email address will automatically forward emails to your designated actual email address. You can create up to three alternative email addresses and give them different labels based on what you use them for. An alternative phone number is also available for an additional $3 a month. All in all, it's a really cool suite of features that can help you protect your personal data when you need to provide information to access a website or online service. The Rotating IP feature is another useful tool that Surfshark offers. When enabled and connected to a server, the IP Rotator automatically changes your VPN IP address periodically every few minutes without disconnecting you from the server. This gives you an extra layer of privacy because it makes it that much more difficult for others to track you online. I'm excited for Surfshark to roll out its post-quantum protection this year as well. As of now only offered by a handful of VPN providers including ExpressVPN, Mullvad and NordVPN, post-quantum encryption is quickly becoming essential for VPN privacy. With post-quantum encryption, VPNs can help guard users against potential future threats from quantum computers. Surfshark's post-quantum layer is 'an additional layer of security for our VPN protocols. For now, we are mainly working on WireGuard, but also exploring the possibilities to implement post-quantum layer for other protocols like OpenVPN,' Justas Pukys, Surfshark's Senior Product Manager for VPN told me during an interview. 'But since … WireGuard is the main protocol for us … we are focusing towards this one now, and we should actually have it in production quite soon.' Surfshark CTO Donatas Budvytis confirmed during my call with the team that the post-quantum protections should start rolling out to iOS and MacOS beginning in the first half of Q2, followed by Windows and Android. In addition to including unique privacy features, Surfshark does well to protect against DNS leaks. I ran thorough DNS leak tests on multiple servers using each available protocol across various devices, and I didn't detect any leaks whatsoever. Surfshark uses industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption for OpenVPN and IKEv2 connections and ChaCha 20 for WireGuard connections. Surfshark's Camouflage Mode (obfuscation) is available when using the OpenVPN protocol and disguises your VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic, which can be crucial if you're using Surfshark in a region where VPNs are restricted or outlawed entirely. I also like the fact that Surfshark employs a 100% RAM-only server infrastructure, meaning that its server fleet runs on volatile memory and theoretically no data is saved to a hard disk, which can help give users extra peace of mind that their data is safe and cannot be disclosed to a third party. Key takeaway: Surfshark provides enough privacy for casual VPN users, but I'd be wary of going with this VPN if your privacy needs are critical. That said, Surfshark has some unique privacy features that a large contingent of users will no doubt find immensely useful. Still, if you need a VPN for critical privacy, I recommend going with ExpressVPN or Proton VPN. Although Surfshark didn't make any monumental improvements or many other changes since my last review, aside from jacking up its renewal pricing, the company has been working in the background on significant developments in the works for this year. The upcoming post-quantum layer and a fresh no-logs audit definitely count for something and help somewhat alleviate the renewal price sticker shock. Additionally, the team hinted at a few more 'non-traditional' parental control- and anti-phishing-related VPN features coming down the pike, which could add value in the future. Nevertheless, Surfshark is still cheaper than ExpressVPN and NordVPN even with the price hike, and I still recommend it to casual users even if its overall value has dropped. Surfshark is still a top-notch VPN that goes above and beyond what many similarly priced or more expensive alternatives can do. I'm excited to see what Surfshark has in store for 2025 and beyond, and I'm also hopeful that Surfshark will prove this year that its VPN service is worth every penny of its higher price now and in the future.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best Cheap VPNs for 2025 That We've Tested and Reviewed
Surfshark is CNET's top pick for the best cheap VPN, thanks to its innovative feature set, outstanding speed performance, top-notch privacy protections and budget-friendly annual subscription plan. Surfshark is easy to use across all platforms and is excellent for streaming -- especially if you want to maximize your Netflix viewing options. Granted, Surfshark's monthly subscription is quite a bit more expensive than the competition, but if you sign up for an annual or two-year plan, you'll pay far less than what you would for most other top VPNs' long-term subscriptions. Surfshark isn't just one of the top affordable VPNs -- it's one of the best VPNs on the market, period. Private Internet Access, or PIA, is another solid budget-friendly VPN that has a strong reputation for privacy and transparency. PIA's apps have lots of options for customization and are simple to use. It's also a great option for streaming, but users with slow connections may struggle with PIA's rather slow speed performance. Nevertheless, PIA is an excellent cheap VPN at just $40 per year. Mullvad rounds out our list of the best cheap VPNs. Its fast speeds, easy-to-use app and innovative privacy features all for a flat fee of $5 per month make this Swedish-based provider a great choice for privacy-conscious users on a budget. It's decent for streaming, but Mullvad struggles with some streaming services and doesn't offer full native app support for smart TVs or streaming devices. It's an otherwise well-rounded privacy-focused VPN that's a fantastic bargain. While there's a lot to consider when selecting a VPN, from speed to streaming performance, price is one of the main factors. Whereas monthly prices range from around $5 to $15, annual plans vary from $40 to $100 for the first year -- most VPNs hit you with price hikes. However, price isn't the only factor -- you'll want to think about value, and thankfully, many wallet-friendly VPNs punch well above their weight class. What we've learned from testing VPNs over the last decade is that you can't just buy the most expensive VPN and expect to get the most bang for your buck. We've found expensive VPNs that failed to deliver in just about every way you can think of, from poor device support and buggy client apps to completely inadequate speeds and shocking privacy practices. The upside to this is that you don't necessarily need to pay a premium price to get access to a top-notch VPN. There are a select few VPNs that tick all the boxes and even deliver unique features you won't find elsewhere, all while maintaining very competitive pricing. If you want to maximize your savings, we recommend springing for a yearly subscription rather than month-to-month, because you'll typically enjoy greater long-term savings. While a monthly plan gives you the flexibility to cancel at any time, most VPN companies offer a yearly plan that boasts a lower per-month rate than a monthly plan. Although a multi-year subscription typically delivers the greatest savings, we generally recommend sticking to annual packages –- they offer significant savings without locking you into a single provider for too long. It's a fast-moving industry, so your VPN provider may suffer slower speeds, get acquired or have a data breach during the course of a year. The cheap VPNs we've highlighted on this page are all excellent, top-tier options that cater to a wide variety of use cases, from basic privacy to streaming. Best of all, each one is supremely gentle on your pocketbook. Based on our experience testing, using and researching VPNs, these are the most important factors to consider when choosing the best cheap VPN for your needs. Cost If your objective is to find the cheapest VPN for your needs, then price will likely be your primary consideration. Some VPNs cost up to $100 or more per year, but the cheapest VPNs can give you many of the same privacy features and protections for just $40 to $60 per year. Keep in mind that some VPN providers offer an introductory rate that will increase after your subscription renews. Generally, you can find the renewal price when you click through to the payment window, but sometimes you may have to go digging through the terms of service pages to find the true yearly cost of a VPN. Privacy Privacy is a major consideration for any VPN, regardless of what kind of VPN you want. The best VPNs all have privacy protections like a kill switch and DNS leak protection, along with a no-logs policy and AES 256-bit encryption (over OpenVPN and IKEv2) or ChaCha20 with WireGuard. Depending on the level of privacy you need, you can get a cheap VPN that offers additional features like Tor over VPN, obfuscation and multihop connections. Speed A VPN will often slow down your connection speeds by 50% or more. So you'll want to look for a VPN that will cut your speeds by as little as possible; ideally less than 20% so that you'll barely even notice a difference. Fast VPN speeds are essential for data-heavy activities like streaming, gaming, downloading or video conferencing. A fast VPN will easily handle all of those activities, whereas slow VPN speeds may only be suitable for basic internet browsing. The fastest VPNs we tested include NordVPN, Mullvad, Surfshark and Proton VPN, all of which offered reliable connection speeds. Usability Getting a VPN on the cheap doesn't necessarily have to mean that you have to sacrifice usability. Many of the more budget-friendly VPN options are miles ahead of their pricier peers in terms of user-friendliness. Look for a VPN that works well across all the devices you want to use. Your VPN should be as easy to use as any other app you may download and should require little to no learning curve. We test cheap VPNs much like we do any VPN, but we pay special attention to the cost of the service to determine its overall value. We test each VPN's features, speeds and usability across platforms. To determine speed loss, we run over 250 internet speed tests with a VPN enabled and disabled, across multiple VPN servers. We also evaluate how well the VPN performs when streaming and unblocking content from different regions worldwide. Additionally, we run DNS leak tests, inspect the VPN's privacy policy and look for trust signals like transparency reports and third-party audits. Proton VPN was developed by the Swiss-based company behind the popular secure email service Proton Mail. The VPN has built a reputation for top-notch security and maximum transparency. Proton VPN's apps are fully open-source, and the software is also regularly audited to help affirm the security of the VPN for users without the time or know-how to inspect the code. On top of security features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection, Proton VPN offers extras like malware protection, Tor over VPN and a stealth protocol to help hide the fact that you're using a VPN. If you connect to Proton VPN's Secure Core servers, you'll be able to route your traffic through secure data centers located in Switzerland, Sweden or Iceland before exiting through another location. This provides a critical extra layer of security if you're a user with heightened privacy needs. Aside from its robust privacy protections, Proton does well at unblocking content from various streaming providers, including Netflix. Proton VPN is an excellent choice for budget-conscious VPN users looking for a free VPN. Proton VPN offers the only free VPN wholeheartedly recommended by CNET because it's private and doesn't put limits on speed, data or usage time -- which is something the vast majority of free VPNs can't claim. The free tier doesn't include torrenting support or access to its Secure Core servers, but it delivers the same encryption standards and includes the same basic privacy protections like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and a no-logging promise. Free users are allotted one connection at a time and access to servers in five countries (Japan, The Netherlands, United States, Poland and Romania). It's a great way to test out the service before you upgrade to the premium version, as there are no bandwidth limits or connection timeouts. The only real downside is that you can't specify the server you connect to, but it's still totally possible to access Netflix and other streaming sites if you want to see how it performs as an unblocking VPN. If you want to purchase a subscription to Proton VPN, it's more affordable than premium VPN providers like ExpressVPN, although initially not quite as wallet-friendly as rivals including Surfshark and PIA. The monthly plan is on the cheap side at $10 per month, while the annual plan costs $60 for the first year before jumping to $80 annually, and the two-year plan costs $108 for the first 24 months (then $80 annually). Proton's premium plans offer access to 11,800-plus servers peppering 117 countries, and you'll get 10 simultaneous connections. Ultimately, Proton VPN is one of the best cheap VPNs for privacy enthusiasts and entertainment buffs alike. Read our Proton VPN review PrivadoVPN is a wallet-friendly VPN provider that sets you back $11 monthly, $20 for the first year (then $60 annually) or $30 total for the first two years (then $96 total for two years). This is an exceptionally cheap introductory offer that even other budget providers like Surfshark and PIA struggle to match. Aside from its paid premium plans, PrivadoVPN offers a free VPN tier giving you access to 13 different international servers, including spots in the US, UK, Canada, France, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. The zero-cost service lets you pick any server you like, but you're limited to 10GB of monthly usage. With a paid plan, PrivadoVPN offers hundreds of servers in 49 different countries. That's fine for casual users, but well below the thousands of servers in 100-plus countries that competitors like ProtonVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN boast. In our testing, Privado was decent for casual users, providing largely user-friendly apps, solid streaming service unblocking and privacy-friendly jurisdiction. However, its small server network, unreliable internet download speeds and lack of third-party audits make it tough to recommend for all but basic privacy. Power users seeking blazing-fast speeds for streaming, international travelers or folks with critical privacy needs (like political activists, asylum-seekers or paranoid torrenters) should look elsewhere. But if you need fundamental privacy for web browsing or streaming on a budget, Privado's free or low-cost plans may fit the bill. Read our PrivadoVPN review. Surfshark delivers innovative privacy features, a polished interface, unlimited simultaneous connections, fast speeds and an impressive global network of VPN servers in 100 countries -- all while offering long-term subscription plans that are considerably cheaper than many of its competitors. Although Surfshark's monthly plan is expensive at $15.45 per month, you can enjoy significant savings if you sign up for a year or longer. Following an introductory price of $48 for the first year, the annual plan renews at $79 per year. You can also opt for a two-year plan that costs $60 for the first two years combined and then recurs annually at $79. Surfshark offers ad and malware protection, camouflage mode and split tunneling. You'll also get standard features like DNS leak protection, AES 256-bit encryption (with the OpenVPN and IKEv2 VPN protocols) or ChaCha20 with WireGuard and a kill switch. The company's Nexus Network allows you to seamlessly swap servers without your internet connection going down. It also enables some nifty privacy features like Dynamic MultiHop, which allows you to chain your connection through multiple Surfshark servers in different locations, as well as IP Rotator, which changes your IP address automatically every five minutes. Surfshark is an excellent option for streaming and can help you unblock multiple Netflix libraries along with other streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus and Hulu. Surfshark also offers an entire suite of privacy-preserving tools that augment the protection you get from the VPN service. Some of these are standard fare, such as an ad-blocker and a data-removal service, but there are more unique features like Alternative ID, which generates a fresh anonymous identity and masked email so you can protect your identity when signing up for sites you don't trust. You can get a seven-day free trial on Android, iOS and MacOS if you sign up through Google's Play Store or Apple's App Store. If you've purchased Surfshark and you're not satisfied with the service for any reason, the VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Also featured in: Best VPN for Amazon Fire TV, Best VPN for Streaming See at Surfshark Private Internet Access is an OG VPN provider based in the United States. Its software is fully open-source and its apps are highly customizable, making PIA a solid choice for the techie crowd and privacy-conscious folks who appreciate transparency. It's also one of the cheapest premium VPN providers around, at $12 per month, $40 per year or $80 every three years. PIA had its no-logs policy independently audited in 2024, regularly releases transparency reports and has had its no-logs claims tested in the wild on multiple occasions. Along with standard privacy features like AES 256-bit encryption with OpenVPN and IKEv2 or ChaCha20 on WireGuard, DNS leak protection and a kill switch, PIA also offers multihop connections, obfuscation and an ad and malware blocker. Its large server network spanning 91 countries makes PIA a great VPN for travel, while its unlimited simultaneous connections mean it's a good virtual private network solution for multiple devices. It's one of the only VPN providers out there with servers in all 50 states, making it a great choice if you want a low-latency connection in the US. However, in our latest testing, we experienced uneven connectivity, with a high 49% average internet speed loss. By comparison, Surfshark is much faster than PIA. In any case, PIA is an excellent cheap VPN that provides top-notch privacy and is more than capable of handling almost anything you'd want to do online. Like Surfshark, PIA has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Also featured in: Best VPN for Apple TV, Best VPN for Multiple Devices See at IPVanish Mullvad is an open-source VPN provider that offers its services at a competitive rate. Mullvad's simple pricing structure is vastly different than most others. The service costs a flat fee of $5 per month, whether you use it for a month, a year, 10 years or longer. That comes out to $60 for a year, which matches Surfshark's regular yearly subscription price. What sets Mullvad apart from the rest of the VPN industry is its commitment to bulletproof privacy above all else. There are positives and negatives to this approach, so you should be sure it's your main priority. For example, Mullvad has done away with recurring subscriptions, even if you sign up through a third party like PayPal. That way, there's absolutely no customer data kept in Mullvad's systems. You can even mail Mullvad an envelope with cash to pay for the service. Mullvad automatically generates a random 16-digit account number when you sign up, and you can prepay for one, two, three, six or 12 months at a time. The company is so focused on security and privacy that you don't have to enter any personal data at signup -- no email, username or password is required. Mullvad is fast and offers excellent privacy, but isn't ideal for streaming enthusiasts because it doesn't offer full native support for smart TVs or streaming devices and sometimes struggles to stream certain content. I streamed content on Netflix, Hulu and Disney Plus without any issues during my tests, but Amazon Prime Video detected the VPN and blocked my access. It's otherwise an excellent option for budget-conscious VPN users who value extra attention to privacy and appreciate straightforward simplicity. Similar to PIA and Surfshark, Mullvad offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Also featured in: Best VPN Service, Fastest VPN See at Mullvad Surfshark is the best cheap VPN on the market. There are lower-cost VPN providers, like Private Internet Access, but it's tough to find the price-to-performance ratio of the wallet-friendly Surfshark. Additionally, PIA is slower than Surfshark, so while you may be able to get a cheaper VPN, Surfshark doesn't compromise on privacy, speed or streaming service unblocking. Proton VPN's no-cost tier is the only free VPN service we recommend. Otherwise, we don't recommend using a free VPN for various reasons. First, free VPNs are typically slow, lack premium features, offer a small selection of servers and impose usage limits. Worse, there are free VPNs that sell your data to make money and some are even riddled with malware. You're much better off getting a full, premium VPN experience with a cheap VPN than risking your privacy with a free VPN just to save money. As with many VPN services, the longer you commit, the bigger the savings over time. A VPN may have an expensive monthly rate of around $10 to $14 per month, but it can still be considered a cheap VPN if its annual subscription prices are more budget-friendly. You can get a cheap VPN for anywhere from around $40 to $60 per year. By comparison, many pricier VPNs like ExpressVPN set you back as much as $100 per year. Using a VPN is perfectly legal across most of the globe, so you shouldn't have to worry about getting in trouble simply for using a VPN. Check your local laws and regulations before purchasing a VPN. If you do anything illegal while using a VPN, it's still illegal. If you're in a region where VPN use is restricted, you can connect to an obfuscated server to hide your VPN usage. VPNs can be expensive because of the cost to the VPN provider of maintaining and adding servers as well as the development of new features. Essentially, it costs money to develop and continue honing a quality service, so you as the consumer pay for that. Thankfully, there are plenty of budget-friendly VPNs that don't cut corners on quality. While VPNs have many benefits, like improving your privacy, helping you access geo-protected content such as foreign Netflix libraries and bypassing throttling or censorship, there are some downsides. Notably, all VPNs slow down your internet connection somewhat, although the fastest VPNs only drop your internet download speed by an average of 20% or less. Some apps or websites might not load properly while you're using a VPN, so you could experience issues until you turn off your VPN or enable split tunneling, which routes only select traffic through an encrypted virtual server. Most VPNs charge more than $1 a month, with monthly plans ranging from $5 to $15. When looking at annual and multi-year plans, you'll find cost-effective plans that cost nearly $1 per month when breaking down the monthly rate -- but you pay upfront. For instance, Privado charges $1.11 per month billed upfront, or $30 total for the first two years, and a similarly wallet-friendly $1.33 per month billed upfront ($20 for the first year).
