THE WINNER NordVPN

The best all-rounder excels in each key area – it’s a safe choice

Each of the VPN providers on test here has its strengths and weaknesses, but NordVPN manages to produce the best overall blend – it’s fast, secure and offers some deep discounts on multi-year subscriptions. ExpressVPN runs it close and edges it on the security front, but it can’t compete on price.

The other four contenders can’t match NordVPN’s performance levels, but each has its own strengths: Windscribe is a practical option as a freebie thanks to its generous 10GB monthly allowance, while TunnelBear’s simplicity will appeal to those who don’t like fiddling with settings. We like Private Internet Access’s commitment to transparency and its preference for open-source code and protocols, while CyberGhost VPN offers a wide range of countries and servers, and is incredibly cheap when you sign up for two years.

Ultimately, there’s not a dud among any of these, but if you’re looking for a VPN that won’t compromise on performance while remaining both secure and affordable, it’s hard to beat NordVPN.