Given the flood of these sponsored and (let’s face it) not always honest best VPN reviews from shills out there, I felt the urge to share my genuine insights. Actually, the user-made VPN comparison table on r/vpn is partially what influenced me to put my own thoughts and experiences into a comparison of the so-called best VPNs.
As someone who’s been using VPNs for a while and has tried quite a few, I wanted to take a closer look at five big names: NordVPN, Surfshark, ProtonVPN, Atlas VPN, and Mullvad.
Table of Contents
- Key Findings Summarized
- Pricing and Plans
- Servers, Protocols, and Speed
- Trustworthiness
- No-logs Policies
- Streaming
- Conclusion
Key Findings Summarized: Best VPN 2023
| VPN providers | Price | Servers | Speed | Protocols |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $12.99 / $4.99 / $3.19 (2 years) | 5,800 in 60 countries | 646.12 avg | IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN, NordLynx |
| Surfshark | $12.95 / $3.99 / $2.49 (2 years) | 3,200 in 100 countries | 602.38 avg | WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN |
| ProtonVPN | $8.99 / $5.99 / $4.99 (2 years) | 2,970 in 69 countries | 497.82 avg | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, Stealth |
| Atlas VPN | $11.99 / $4.08 / $1.82 (2 years) | 1,000 in 42 countries | 396.07 avg | IPSec/IKEv2, WireGuard |
| Mullvad | $6 (only monthly available) | 784 in 38 countries | 355.35 avg | OpenVPN, WireGuard |
Pricing and Plans
| Provider | Monthly | 1 year | 2 year |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $12.99 | $4.99/mo | $3.19/mo |
| Surfshark | $12.95 | $3.99/mo | $2.49/mo |
| ProtonVPN | $8.99 | $5.99/mo | $4.99/mo |
| Atlas VPN | $11.99 | $4.08/mo | $1.82/mo |
| Mullvad | $6 | - | - |
From the first glance, you can already see that pricing varies depending on whether the provider is accurately focusing on short-term gains or on long-term loyalty. Like, while Atlas VPN offers compelling long-term prices ($1.82/mo for their 2-year plan), NordVPN provides a balance of affordability and reliability, especially with its 2-year plan for $3.19/month. I like that Mullvad keeps it simple with a one-size-fits-all pricing approach with the $6 monthly plan but if you’re looking for a long-term subscription, neither ProtonVPN nor Mullvad won’t be a steal.
Servers, Protocols, and Speed
| Provider | WireGuard | IPSec/IKEv2 | OpenVPN |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN |  |
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| Surfshark | |
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| ProtonVPN | |
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| Atlas VPN | |
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| Mullvad | |
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When I was searching for the best VPN, the server distribution and speed were pivotal. Honestly, NordVPN, giving us 5,800 servers in 60 countries is unmatched. Surfshark also impresses me with its coverage across 100 countries and that’s really good if you need to access some smaller countries. Speed-wise, NordVPN’s average of 646 Mbit/s again establishes its dominance. ProtonVPN’s network stretches to 2,970 servers in 69 countries with speeds around 497 Mbit/s. All 3 players - NordVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN - offer OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 as protocols, yet NordVPN has introduced their NordLynx (branded tech built around WireGuard) which boosts speeds fairly. While Atlas VPN offers both IPSec/IKEv2 and WireGuard protocols, its speeds fall short compared to the abovementioned providers for sure. Lastly, Mullvad has 784 servers in 38 countries (a big con for me as the servers can sometimes be overloaded so it buffers when streaming) with an average speed of 355 Mbit/s, and their protocol offerings are OpenVPN and WireGuard.
Trustworthiness
When entrusting your data to a VPN, reliability is non-negotiable. All the featured providers offer AES-256 encryption, with NordVPN leading in reputation (thanks to its three security audits). Atlas VPN uses robust AES-256 and ChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption and also incorporates a kill switch, preventing accidental data exposure. NordVPN, renowned for its market-leading AES 256-bit encryption, also includes a trusted kill switch feature. Surfshark comes equipped with AES-256 GCM & ChaCha20 encryption and stands out with its kill switch. ProtonVPN offers AES-256 encryption and includes a kill switch too. Finally, Mullvad integrates AES-256 encryption, though, it’s essential to note that while they provide a kill switch for most platforms.
No-logs Policies
Privacy enthusiasts like myself will be particularly interested in what the provider has to say about no-logs when choosing the best VPN. Although Atlas VPN’s location in the US (a 5-Eyes member) might raise some concerns (a bummer to be honest), its strict no-logs policy offers at least some comfort. NordVPN’s no-log policy has been validated in three separate audits. Surfshark too has had its no-log policy audited twice. ProtonVPN and Mullvad also uphold a no-logs policy but the latter has had some new reputational transparency dents which make them a bit harder to trust now.
Streaming
| Provider | Streaming platforms |
|---|---|
| NordVPN | BBCiPlayer, Netflix, YT, HBO Max, Disney+ |
| Surfshark | HBO Max, Netflix, BBCiPlayer, Disney+ |
| ProtonVPN | Netflix, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, YT |
| Atlas VPN | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, YT, Max |
| Mullvad | YT |
Shoutout to the binge-watchers here - I’ll quickly dig into streaming compatibility. I call NordVPN a versatile tool for streamers, supporting platforms from BBCiPlayer to Netflix and many more. Surfshark follows suit, while Atlas VPN, despite its limitations in speed, supports platforms such as Netflix and Hulu. ProtonVPN is largely efficient too, but occasional server overloads might cause buffering during intensive streaming sessions as mentioned before. However, what I’m sure is that sadly, Mullvad is an absolute no-go in this best VPNs list if you’re getting the VPN solely for streaming.
VPN discounts
In case you’re planning to buy a VPN, I looked for available discount codes for your convenience. Unfortunately, only the top 2 providers had them in there:
- NordVPN discount: savenow (75% off)
- Surfshark discount: redditspecial (86% off)
- ProtonVPN discount: - BF2023 (40% off)
- AtlasVPN discount: -
- MullvadVPN discount: -
Final thoughts
After going back and forth, I think NordVPN emerges as the best VPN in the market today. Keep in mind that I’m not devaluating the worth and strengths of the other VPNs, it’s just that NordVPN’s characteristics position them as a top pick for those seeking an all-round VPN experience. Go for NordVPN but I guess the bottom line is - don’t be afraid to try a couple and find the best VPN yourself too.
Update (April 2024)
Atlas VPN has been shut down as of April 24, 2024, therefore the features and comparison isn’t relevant for the people who are currently looking for a new best VPN.