thevpn.guru Open in urlscan Pro
2606:4700:3032::ac43:de64  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Skip to content
 * Best VPN Review Menu Toggle
   * Best VPN for USA
   * Best VPN for UK
   * Best VPN for UAE
   * Best VPN for Canada
 * VPN Providers Menu Toggle
   * ExpressVPN Review
   * SurfShark Review
   * BulletVPN Review
   * Unlocator VPN Review
   * NordVPN Review
 * Tools Menu Toggle
   * IP Checker
   * Password Generator
   * Password Meter
   * WebRTC Leak Test
 * VPN Info Menu Toggle
   * What Is VPN?
   * What Is A VPN Kill Switch?
   * What is Double VPN?
   * What Is A VPN No Logs Policy?
   * What is VPN Obfuscation?
 * VPN Privacy
 * VPN Geo Change


Main Menu
 * Best VPN Review Menu Toggle
   * Best VPN for USA
   * Best VPN for UK
   * Best VPN for UAE
   * Best VPN for Canada
 * VPN Providers Menu Toggle
   * ExpressVPN Review
   * SurfShark Review
   * BulletVPN Review
   * Unlocator VPN Review
   * NordVPN Review
 * Tools Menu Toggle
   * IP Checker
   * Password Generator
   * Password Meter
   * WebRTC Leak Test
 * VPN Info Menu Toggle
   * What Is VPN?
   * What Is A VPN Kill Switch?
   * What is Double VPN?
   * What Is A VPN No Logs Policy?
   * What is VPN Obfuscation?
 * VPN Privacy
 * VPN Geo Change


THEVPN.GURU’S TOP 7 VPN PICKS FOR JANUARY 2024 (UPDATED)

Which VPN should you sign up with as of January 2024? VPN stands for a Virtual
Private Network. It’s a critical tool that allows its users to encrypt their
traffic, hide their IP addresses, and browse the web anonymously.

Some users also turn to VPN to bypass regional restrictions imposed on certain
websites and apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and HBO Go. Due to
increasing awareness of online privacy and security, the popularity of VPNs is
ever-rising.

With all that in mind, which VPN service should you turn to for all your
Internet browsing, torrenting, and streaming needs? Check out our compiled list
of the best VPNs in January 2024.


TOP 7 VPN PROVIDERS IN JANUARY 2024 – CONTENT INDEX

Picking a good VPN requires some research. During the past 5 years, we have
tested various premium and free VPNs using our strict evaluation benchmarks.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about the key features
that make a VPN credible to use while browsing the web.

 * How to Find the Perfect VPN Service
   * Supported Platforms
   * Server Network
   * Speed
   * Unblocking Restricted Content
   * Torrenting
   * Security and Privacy
   * Customer Support
   * Pricing and Payment Options
   * Free Trial
 * Best VPNs in January 2024
   1. ExpressVPN – Editor’s Choice
   2. BulletVPN
   3. SurfShark
   4. Unlocator
   5. NordVPN
   6. IPVanish
   7. CyberGhost
 * Top January 2024 VPN Providers – Final Thoughts

Rank
VPN Provider
Features
Links
 * Best for streaming and privacy
 * High speed servers in 160 VPN locations
 * Works for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu
 * 24/7/ live chat support
 * 3 extra months free on annual plan

Visit ExpressVPN Try risk-free for 30 days Read our review
 * UltraHD streaming
 * Free Smart DNS proxy
 * Unblocks all major streaming services
 * Limited Time 72% Discount

Visit BulletVPN Read our review
 * Unlimited VPN connections
 * Over 1000 servers
 * Ad-blocking feature available

Visit Surfshark Read our review
4

 * User-friendly application
 * Exclusive Smart VPN feature
 * Standalone Smart DNS subscription available

Visit Unlocator Read our review
5

 * Extra security features
 * Extensions for Firefox and Chrome
 * Split-tunneling available

Visit NordVPN Read our review


HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT VPN SERVICE?

Signing up with the right VPN can be a daunting task. We’ve compiled a 9-item
checklist below which will help you identify the key elements you should
consider when choosing your VPN service provider:


SUPPORTED PLATFORMS

Ask yourself this: “Which device do I want to install the VPN app on?” While you
can manually set up a VPN connection on Windows PC, Mac, Android, and iOS
devices, this process can be difficult as well as time-consuming.

VPN apps make it much easier to establish a secure VPN connection. All you have
to do is download and install the VPN application. Once done, you will need to
sign in to the app and choose a VPN server to connect to.

Reputable VPN services grant you easy-to-use apps for all major operating
systems. This has to include Mac, Windows, Android, and iPhone smartphones. Some
VPNs even have dedicated apps for Amazon Fire TV.


VPN SERVER DISTRIBUTION

If you want to access American Netflix abroad, there is no point in signing up
with a VPN service that has no servers in the USA, for instance.

A lot of VPN providers have a complete list of VPN servers published on their
websites. So it’s always a good idea to check them out before signing up.

In case you cannot get a hold of the VPN server list, try getting in touch with
the VPN service’s support team and ask them whether they actually have VPN
servers in your preferred location.


SPEED

A VPN is no good if it drags your Internet speed to the ground. If it does, it
can make your browsing experience unbearable, especially if you are using the
VPN app to unblock your favorite streaming channels.

Make sure that your VPN service has minimal effect on your Internet speed. Free
VPNs usually are no good when it comes to speed due to the fact their servers
are almost always overloaded. Signing up with a premium VPN that offers
high-speed servers is the way to go.


ABILITY TO UNBLOCK RESTRICTED CONTENT

VPNs often post claims about their ability to unblock certain streaming
services. Now, it has become a lot tougher to do so as the streaming channels
have the means to block your VPN connection.

The likes of Netflix can ban your VPN if it’s not credible enough. Therefore,
check their official website and user reviews in order to make sure that this
VPN can and will unlock your preferred channel.

Moreover, it’s better to pick a VPN provider that offers Smart DNS proxies. In
that case, you’ll be able to stream restricted content at minimal speed loss.

Also, you get to configure the feature on a wide range of devices, including
iOS, PC, Mac, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, PS4, Xbox, and Smart TVs.

Make sure that whichever VPN service provider you end up choosing allows you to
get your money back in case it fails to deliver on its promises.


TORRENTING

In case you want to use a VPN to download torrents anonymously, make sure that
your VPN service actually supports P2P downloads. Torrenting without connecting
to a VPN server first can result in receiving DMCA notices from your ISP.

A large number of VPNs actually do not allow their users to download torrents
while connected to their VPN servers. In other cases, you might be able to
download torrents while connected to one VPN server but not another.

For torrent downloaders, a VPN service with unlimited bandwidth and no P2P
protocol restrictions is a must.


SECURITY AND PRIVACY

If you care about your Internet security and anonymity, the encryption methods
used by your VPN service should be high on your list of priorities.

 * Most VPN service providers offer VPN protocols such as OpenVPN and L2TP. Find
   one that does so as well.
 * A perfectly secure VPN should use the standard 256-bit AES encryption.
 * Your VPN should have a kill switch feature to terminate your internet access
   if a sudden drop in your VPN connection occurs. This prevents your browsing
   activities from leaking to your ISP’s servers.
 * Register with a VPN that does not keep logs of its users’ online activities.
 * Make sure that the VPN is based in a country with no strict data retention
   requirements. In other words, if they’re based in a country associated with
   the Five Eyes, you should avoid them.
 * A good VPN has to include WebRTC, IP, and DNS Leak protection measures. If
   you already have a VPN, run a test using our own WebRTC Leak tool.
 * Check third parties auditing that assesses a VPN’s security, privacy, and
   effectiveness.
 * Stay away from free VPNs as they accidentally or intentionally leak your
   online data. They might also sell it to third parties in exchange for
   revenue.

A VPN should offer most, if not all, of the features mentioned above. If not, it
might be better for your security if you look elsewhere.


CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Users dealing with VPNs for the very first time rely on the provider’s customer
support to help them with any problem they may come across.

There are several providers who offer customer support through tickets and
emails. However, the ones you should be looking for are services with live chat
or telephone support.

That way, you get to solve your problem on the spot, as tickets and emails take
a bit more time to respond to.


PRICING, PAYMENT OPTIONS, AND REFUNDS

You should consider your budget by opting for a VPN with reasonable prices.
Check out the features and services. With a top VPN provider, you will
definitely get what you’re paying for.

On the other hand, a good VPN should provide several payment options to suit any
customer. This includes Credit cards, PayPal, and even anonymous payment methods
such as BitCoin.

In some cases, the VPN might not work for whatever you have in mind. If that’s
the case, you should rightfully claim your money back. Unfortunately, some VPN
service providers only have a short refund policy.

You might not have ample time to test the VPN thoroughly within a few days as a
result. Generally speaking, you should only sign up with a VPN that has a 30-day
money-back guarantee.


FREE TRIAL

While a 30-day money-back guarantee is an efficient way to test the VPN
provider, some users prefer not to submit their credit card information in the
process.

A free trial allows you to get free access to a VPN’s service, typically limited
by a time frame. This is a rare feature in the VPN industry, but you can find
some VPNs that do offer a free trial. These trials periods usually


BEST VPN FOR JANUARY 2024 – ANALYSIS

Which VPN you end up choosing is totally up to you. Keep in mind that some VPNs
are better suited for specific tasks.

For example, a VPN might be excellent for browsing the Internet anonymously but,
at the same time, doesn’t unblock American Netflix.

As a general rule, we suggest staying away from free VPNs as they are highly
unreliable and, in some cases, even risky to use. Now, based on the numerous
tests we carried out and our evaluation criteria, here are the best VPNs for
January 2024.


1. EXPRESSVPN – BEST VPN FOR JANUARY 2024

Get ExpressVPN

Top Recommended VPN

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs in the industry. As a whole package, there
are only a few VPN providers that can match the quality of ExpressVPN. The
provider’s app is easy-to-use, and even new users can navigate through its
features.

The VPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which is not included in
countries where data retention laws are present such as the US, Canada, and the
UK.

ExpressVPN has more than 160 server locations in 94 countries. This is an
important factor since it dictates which websites, services, and streaming
channels you get to unblock.

When we tested their server speed, ExpressVPN came out with positive results. As
you may know, a VPN’s encryption causes a speed drop in your connection.
However, an ExpressVPN nearby server showed a 6% drop only.

We were also able to unblock all major streaming channels, including the likes
of Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video using their VPN service or
their free Smart DNS feature (MediaStreamer) during our testing.

ExpressVPN has an automatic kill switch – a feature that cuts off your internet
access if a sudden drop in your VPN connection occurs. With that, none of your
browsing activities will be compromised.

ExpressVPN subscribers can use the VPN app on five devices
simultaneously. Moreover, thanks to their 30-day refund policy, you can always
get your money back in case you aren’t totally satisfied with this VPN product.

 * 160 server locations in 94 countries
 * 256-bit AES encryption
 * Kill Switch
 * Five concurrent connections
 * Smart DNS
 * P2P support

 * User-friendly apps
 * Access to US Netflix
 * 30-day money-back guarantee
 * Split tunneling
 * Extensions for Chrome and Firefox
 * Excellent Speeds

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get 3 extra months free on THEVPN.GURU’s #1 recommended VPN:    Get ExpressVPN
Now


2. BULLETVPN

Get BulletVPN

Top VPN Provider

30-Day Money Back Guarantee

BulletVPN does an excellent job when it comes to working around geo-blocks You
can even download and install the BulletVPN app on Amazon Fire Stick and Nvidia
Shield TV, among other devices.

The provider is based in Estonia, where no data retention laws apply, and it’s
far away from the Five Eyes Association.

BulletVPN’s network includes 154+ servers in 54 countries. It covers popular
countries such as the USA, the UK, France, and Russia. BulletVPN also includes
free Smart DNS proxies.

BulletVPN claims that it’s as fast as a bullet. When we performed a couple of
tests, it turned out to be true. The provider maintained excellent speeds with
only a 6% drop.

Note that BulletVPN has dedicated servers for streaming, online gaming, and
torrenting as well. If you want good speeds, try their special servers labeled
as (High-Speed).

In addition to a VPN Kill Switch, this service has an exclusive feature called
Bullet Shield. While others resort to an automatic kill switch on their own,
BulletVPN enhanced that.

The Bullet Shield technology doesn’t allow you to connect to the internet if a
VPN connection is not established.

In other words, you cannot browse the internet unless you’re protected. The
aforementioned features can be shared across 6 devices per account.

Finally, you can test out their service (risk-free) courtesy of their 30-day
refund policy.

PROS

 * 154 server locations in 54 countries.
 * Military-grade encryption.
 * Automatic Kill Switch.
 * Six concurrent connections.
 * Free Smart DNS feature.
 * Allows P2P torrenting.
 * Easy-to-use apps.
 * Supports US Netflix.
 * 30-day cash-back guarantee.
 * Bullet Shield.
 * 1-day free trial.

CONS

 * No split tunneling.
 * It doesn’t have browser extensions.


3. SURFSHARK

Get SurfShark VPN

Top VPN Provider

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

This VPN provider is relatively new. Still, it highly impressed us when we
reviewed it recently. Just like ExpressVPN, SurfShark is based in the British
Virgin Islands. In other words, there are no data retention laws to abide by.

In case you’re looking for a VPN service you can use to access your favorite
streaming channels abroad, Surfshark is just the thing for you. First, the
service has hundreds of servers in 50+ countries.

Also, if you want to access geo-restricted services on SmartTV, PS4, Xbox, Apple
TV, and other VPN non-compatible devices, you can use SurfShark’s Smart DNS
feature.

There have been reviews about SurfShark being very fast. Our Surfshark speed
tests did confirm the validity of those reviews. When I connected to a nearby
server, the speed drop was only 2%.

As a result, we were able to stream online content in HD and UHD without
experiencing any buffering issues.

With an automatic kill switch, your data won’t be compromised if your VPN
connection disconnects unexpectedly.

Also, SurfShark has Multi-hop, which allows you to connect to multiple servers
in different countries – it essential is a Double VPN feature.

Unlike any other VPN provider on the list, SurfShark doesn’t put a limit on the
simultaneous connections you get to use. You can connect as many devices as you
want using a single account at the same time.

Finally, SurfShark has affordable subscription rates and a 30-day refund policy
in case you change your mind later on.

PROS

 * Servers in 60 countries.
 * 256-bit AES encryption.
 * Kill Switch.
 * Unlimited concurrent connections.
 * Free Smart DNS proxies.
 * P2P friendly.
 * Easy-to-use apps.
 * Unlocks US Netflix.
 * 30-day money-back guarantee.
 * Split tunneling (Whitelister).
 * Extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
 * Multi-hop (Double VPN).

CONS

 * Expensive plans
 * No free trial.


4. UNLOCATOR



Get Unlocator

Top VPN Provider

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee



Unlocator used to be a Smart DNS provider, but now, it joined the VPN industry.
The service’s headquarters are based in Denmark, which is part of the 9-eyes
alliance, an enlargement of the Five Eyes association.

However, they do claim that they don’t store any of your logs, which means the
government won’t be able to get a hold of your information.

Unlocator has over 41 servers across 36 countries. The provider offers
military-grade encryption and several security protocols to choose from
depending on the device you’re operating.

While performing some speed tests, Unlocator showed some good results. However,
some distant servers were very slow. As a result, our Internet speed dropped
drastically while connected to those servers.

Furthermore, Unlocator offers Smart DNS proxies that allow users to bypass
regional restrictions on any device, including iOS, Mac, Android, PC, PS4, Xbox,
Chromecast, Smart TVs, and Android TVs.

When it comes to privacy, Unlocator also has a kill switch along with Unlocator
Shield, which cannot be activated if the kill switch feature is off. This
technology doesn’t allow you to connect to the internet if you’re not using any
of the provider’s servers.

With a single account, you can benefit from the Unlocator’s VPN features on a
total of 5 devices simultaneously. Also, the provider allows users to test their
services for 7 days free of charge.

You don’t need to submit your credit card information; you just have to provide
it with your email address. In case you choose to subscribe to Unlocator, you’ll
benefit from their 30-day refund policy as well.

PROS

 * Servers locations in 36 countries.
 * VPN standard encryption.
 * Automatic Kill Switch.
 * Five concurrent connections.
 * Smart DNS available.
 * Supports P2P
 * User-friendly interface.
 * Unblocks US Netflix.
 * 30-day cash-back guarantee.
 * Seven-day free trial.
 * Unlocator Shield

CONS

 * No split tunneling.
 * No browser extensions.
 * Some slow servers.


5. NORDVPN

Get NordVPN

Top VPN Provider

30-day Money Back Guarantee

NordVPN is a Panama-based VPN service provider. This is crucial as it means they
are based in a country where there are no data retention laws. The provider
boasts a huge server network consisting of 81 locations in 59 countries.

With NordVPN’s Smart DNS (SmartPlay), you can access geo-restricted channels
easily. You’ll find setup guides on their official website in case you need any
help.

NordVPN’s servers were a bit inconsistent when it came to speed performance. I
tried several servers (distant and close by), and the results were mixed. The
nearby server marked an 18% drop in connection speed. However, when we connected
to Tor over VPN servers, the speed reduction rose to 40%.

NordVPN has a kill switch to stop your internet if anything goes wrong with your
VPN connection. Also, it has a double VPN feature.

The fact your Internet traffic passes through two VPN servers instead of one
basically means you get to encrypt it not once but twice.

The downside here is that your Internet speed will drop even further in case you
do choose to enable to double encryption feature.

NordVPN allows subscribers to use their VPN app on 6 platforms at the same time.
You get a 30-day refund policy once you sign up for their service. As for a free
trial, it’s a bit vague here as you’re required to submit your credit card info
to benefit from the feature.

PROS

 * Server locations in 59 countries.
 * Military-grade 256-bit AES encryption.
 * Kill Switch.
 * Six concurrent connections.
 * SmartPlay (Smart DNS).
 * Supports P2P
 * User-friendly interface.
 * Unblocks US Netflix.
 * 30-day cash-back guarantee.
 * Split-tunneling.
 * Browser extensions.
 * Double VPN.
 * CyberSec (Anti-malware/virus technology).

CONS

 * No free trial
 * Several servers are slow.


6. IPVANISH

Get IPVanish

Top VPN Provider

7-Day Money-Back Guarantee

If you are looking for a cheap and reliable VPN provider, you can opt to sign up
with IPVanish. The provider’s headquarters are based in the US, which raises
some concerns about your privacy due to the fact that the USA is part of the
5-Eyes alliance.

In 2016, the US Department of Homeland Security agents investigated an IPVanish
user. This goes against the “no-log” policy the provider states. However, after
that incident, nothing was reported about the provider and its Zero-log policy
is as strict as ever.

Keep in mind that despite having servers in 75 locations, the provider isn’t as
reliable as others when it comes to bypassing geolocation errors.

After testing several American VPN servers, we were unable to access US Netflix
from abroad for instance.

IPVanish claims to be the fastest VPN in the world. While evaluating the speed
of its servers, IPVanish just showed a 10% drop, which is very good, especially
for online gaming.

However, we’d rather label this VPN provider as one of the fastest rather than
the fastest one.

Furthermore, the provider doesn’t offer a Smart DNS feature. So, you have to
stick to its VPN servers to unblock restricted content.

IPVanish also has an Automatic Kill Switch, which shuts down all Internet
traffic if/when your current VPN connection stops working.

Moreover, the service allows users to use their VPN app on unlimited different
devices at the same time.

All in all, IPVanish ranks high in terms of privacy, speed, and server network.
You can try their service risk-free during the first 7 days of purchase.

PROS

 * 75+ server locations.
 * 256-bit AES encryption.
 * Kill Switch.
 * Unlimited simultaneous connections.
 * P2P support.
 * User-friendly applications.
 * Unblocks Netflix.
 * SOCKS5 web proxy.
 * Chrome extension.

CONS

 * 7-day money-back guarantee.
 * No Smart DNS.
 * Can’t unblock Netflix.
 * No free trial.


7. CYBERGHOST

Get CyberGhost

Top VPN Provider

30-Day Money Back Guarantee

Co-founded in 2009 by Robert Knapp, CyberGhost is one VPN provider that has
gained a lot of customers considering the number of years it has been active. At
the moment, over 15 million users have signed up with CyberGhost.

The provider is based in both Romania and Germany. Romania does not have strict
censorship or surveillance laws. Germany, however, is part of 14-Eyes, which
raises some privacy concerns.

The VPN service has servers in over 90 countries around the world and allows
users to unblock the likes of Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.

We tried several servers while testing the quality of the provider’s speed. The
results were mixed. In the US, our connection speed saw a somewhat high drop.
However, servers in the UK were pretty great, suffering only 12% speed loss.

Regarding the accessibility of media channels, CyberGhost doesn’t offer a Smart
DNS feature. But their servers are well-equipped to get you around copyright
issues, government-imposed bans, and restrictive local networks.

As for whether or not this provider has a kill switch, it does. Therefore, your
data will always be private even if your VPN connection suddenly drops.

CyberGhost had some privacy issues a while ago when Kape Technologies bought it.
The company has a shady history and is known to have created malware in the
past.

If you sign up with CyberGhost, a single account will allow you to use its
services on seven different devices at once. Finally, the provider is one of the
most expensive VPN providers on the list. However, its 45-day money-back
guarantee gives you a better idea of what you’re investing in.

PROS

 * 112 server locations in more than 90 countries.
 * Military-grade encryption.
 * Automatic Kill Switch.
 * Seven simultaneous connections.
 * P2P support.
 * User-friendly applications.
 * Unblocks Netflix.
 * Browser extensions (Firefox and Chrome).
 * 45-day money-back guarantee.

CONS

 * The parent company has a poor reputation.
 * Not reliable enough in highly censored countries like China and the UAE.
 * No free trial.
 * No Smart DNS feature.


BEST VPN FOR JANUARY 2024 – FINAL THOUGHTS

That’s all folks. Hopefully, our transparent and unbiased January 2024 VPN
review gave you greater insight into which VPNs you can actually trust.

In short, whatever VPN you end up choosing has to meet certain criteria. Are you
actually using any of the VPNs we have reviewed above? If so, would you
recommend them to other people?

BEST VPN REVIEW

Name: ExpressVPN

Description: Although ExpressVPN is a bit pricier than other VPNs, their overall
package scored the highest during the test we performed. If you're looking for a
top-class VPN, this is the one.

 * VPN Apps
   
 * Access Region-Restricted Content
   
 * Speed
   
 * Customer Support
   
 * Refund Policy
   

Visit VPN Provider

Get ExpressVPN

Top Recommended VPN

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

4.7

 * Disclaimer
 * Privacy Policy
 * Contact Us
 * VPN Assessment
 * About

Copyright © 2024 The VPN Guru

Scroll to Top