FOUR OF THE BEST

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN stands out because of strong server speeds and great versatility; that is, it functions on lots of devices. It has over 2,000 servers in 94 countries. It works (currently) with Netflix and iPlayer, though not in every country, and is compatible with PC, Mac, Android, iPhone and BlackBerry. There’s no free trial, but a 30-day money-back guarantee applies. It’s US$12.95 (£9.90) per month or US$8.32 (£6.35) a month if you commit for a year. expressvpn.com

Tunnel Bear

The cutely designed Tunnel Bear is simple to use and if you’re a low-data user, the free plan may suit, though you’ll hit the free ceiling quickly if you’re streaming video. Speeds are not noticeably slower than non-VPN traffic. It has been blocked by iPlayer but works, sometimes, with Netflix and is compatible with numerous devices. It offers 500MB a month free; unlimited data, US$9.99 (£7.60) a month or US$59.99 (£45.75) for a year. tunnelbear.com

NordVPN

This is a very well-regarded VPN service with wide device compatibility, strong reliability and fast speeds. It currently works with Netflix and iPlayer. Pluses include easy set-up with advanced settings if you want them. It costs US$11.95 (£9.10) a month, but drops as low as US$2.99 (£2.30) a month if you commit for three years. nordvpn.com

Invincibull

Invincibull is one of the newer services. It’s easy to use and has no limit on how many devices you can connect to at a time: handy if you have a phone, tablet and computer when you’re travelling. It offers 1GB a month free; unlimited data is US$7.99 (£6) a month or US$4.99 (£3.10) a month if you commit for a year. invincibull.io