Top 10 Best VPN Apps for Overall Quality in 2023

The top 10 best VPN apps for quality services you shouldn't miss for any reason, great security, customer support, super fast speed, and quality apps for all operating systems.

This post lists the best apps for our readers to make the most choices. They have been tested, trusted, and reviewed by users from different parts of the world. So, what are the best VPN apps? Let's find out immediately.

Comparing the Best VPN Apps in the Market

Some VPNs in the market claim to be operating within standard, but most of them lack basic features. In my case, many of these apps lack features that users are searching for in a VPN app, some don't support the most popular streaming services, have poor customer support, and are of low quality. After downloading, you will get to know they are just using a nice background to cover up their poor services.

It has dawned on me that so many people wanted to know the best VPN on the market, so I took the challenge to test the best brands that are already in the market and competing against each other. The test was based on a few important things including customer support, streaming services, security and privacy, speed, server network, and the ability to access the internet in restricted locations.

I also checked their affordability, gaming support, and user-friendliness on major devices. So, the top 10 that cut were then selected and reexamined to make sure that they were doing what they were claiming.

In this case, allow me to present my list of the top 10 best VPN apps, some of which you might already know, those who made the list and operate following quality standards, providing almost all the features that the user wants.

Disclaimer: This blog post is not in any way affiliated or in collaboration with these apps/software, as this post is for educational and information purposes only. We do not assure you that these apps will work for you and you are required to carry out further research before making any decision.

Top 10 Best VPN Apps in 2023

1: Express VPN: Overall Best VPN for Security, Speed and Performance

Express VPN is currently the leading VPN app in the market, that is providing users with quality services. The app has been recognized on numerous occasions as the best in terms of security, speed, and performance. It comes with security features, encryption services, a no-logs policy, and a flabbergasted kill switch (one of the few apps that has the kill switch feature in the market). Express also comes with a built-in VPN protocol, advanced server architecture, slit tunneling on both Windows, Mac, and Android, tracking service, malware protection, and password manager.

Another great addition is the private DNS encryption feature, which provides an additional form of security for DNS management running on its servers. With the Express VPN's trusted server technology, your information and data are stored in metadata in the form of (RAM), instead of a hard drive. This means whenever the server robots, the information will remain intact.

Express VPN is the app to use if you want to access a connection in a restricted area, It's my number one recommendation whether you live or traveling to a location or country where there is severe internet censorship, and since it is a great option for streaming, torrenting, and gaming, it easily bypasses firewalls and make internet access available for you.

Express VPN is compatible with almost any streaming service you could think of and provides the fastest gaming speed which also includes cloud gaming.

It comes with an easy-to-use guide and only takes a few buttons to install on any operating system. All features are easily located in the app. Customer support is also there to assist in case you fall into any problem. Express VPN comes with five simultaneous connection, and accept different payment options including cryptocurrencies.

Express VPN's features

• Express VPN Streaming: Overall, Express VPN has the best server for streaming services, as it supports almost all streaming networks like YouTube, Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max, and other lesser-known streaming networks.
• Express VPN Torrenting: Express VPN is compatible with P2P file sharing and torrenting on its servers. With over 3000+ servers, it is a huge advantage in contrast to other VPNs which support only dedicated P2P servers.
• Express Gaming: If you need the best VPN for your gaming servers, Express VPN is the best in the market as we speak. You can connect to a distant server and still experience a quality connection without breaking. For instance, if you are in Nigeria, you can connect to a gaming server in Ghana and still maintain a ping without lag or random disconnect.

• Express Bypassing Censorship: Express VPN has some of the best servers that help you reclaim your internet freedom, by easily bypassing firewalls. Thanks to its high level of security, you don't need to worry about internet restrictions and VPN blocks.

2: Private Internet Access (PIA): Best for Streaming and Torrenting

PIA is a secure VPN that maintains high speed across servers and also provides great streaming and torrenting services. People who have used PIA give positive reviews about its capabilities of working on almost every streaming network or service like Disney+ and Netflix with high-speed servers.

Its torrenting service supports P2P traffic servers and works with almost all torrent clients. PIA has a port forwarding client, a feature that allows you to connect with other people to get a faster connection. It is also good at bypassing firewalls and restrictions in heavily censored countries.

It is the most flexible and customizable VPN on this list, as all of its features are easy to use and configured and you can connect unlimited devices. PIA's servers cover over 80+ countries including the United States, where its VPN is the only VPN in the market that is spread across 50 States in the US, allowing users to connect with the best speed, bypass blackouts, and access local TV programs.

Another great feature of PIA is security, as the platform tends to value user security and data even more than the well-known VPNs. These include RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, a kill switch for iOS and Android devices, and comes with its DNS. PIA's split tunneling is available for Android, Windows, Mac, and Linus, and you have the option to exclude apps and websites' IP addresses.

When it comes to pricing, PIA has one of the cheapest plans for your budget, and of course, one of the cheapest VPNs in the market. Starting from just £1.63 per month, you can begin enjoying all of its services and features, although it offers monthly add-ons like a dedicated IP address and antivirus.

3: CyberGhost - High Performance for Larger Server & Gaming Services

CyberGhost has many servers - with over 9000+ servers in over 90 countries, be rest assured of high-speed performance if you are planning to use the VPN. Users who have tested CyberGhost on their computers explained why it has the fasted connection ahead of others.

CyberGhost is your go-to VPN if you are into gaming, as it comes with over 70+ gaming servers in four countries (US, UK, France, and Germany). In addition, CyberGhost has really good streaming support, as it is compatible with over 100+ streaming networks in more than 20 countries that support streaming services. These include popular ones like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+.

Some of the features of CyberGhost include

• VPN - CyberGhost has 9000+ servers in over 90 countries, making it the highest provider on this list. And the connection speed is also excellent as per the review of users who used this VPN service.
• Streaming service - Its streaming services cover over 20+ countries and are optimized for more than 50+ streaming services, and the app notifies you at any time which server is good for streaming before getting around those networks.
• Torrenting - CyberGhost torrenting is strong and capable of torrenting over 10+ servers in more than 70+ countries so that you can be able to find a P2P server closer to your location with fast internet speed regardless of where you are located.
• CyberGhost Gaming - CyberGhost is no doubt one of the best VPNs for gaming. Users who have used it recommend it for gaming enthusiast, as it provides a smooth gaming experience and excellent connection without any lag or stuttering.

For its pricing and numeration, CyberGhost is best for gaming and offers mouthwatering plans according to everyone's budget. You can get the multi-year plan for as low as $2.11 per month. The plan is not just free but also offers several months of free services.

4: NordVPN - Excellent Security VPN for High-Performance Servers

When you are searching for a fast security VPN to help you store and keep your data online, NordVPN is a great option for beginners and seasoners alike - it comes with advanced security protection with a full leak connection, RAM-only servers, and perfect forward security. NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy that has been audited just like the likes of ExpressVPN and PIA.

Nord comes with Threat Protection, which happens to be one of the best VPN ad blockers in the market, it also blocks malicious ads, restricts connections to phishing websites, and protects your device from accessing software that is not directly downloaded or linked to the Google Play store or App store. The best part is that the Threat Protection is always active even if you're not connected to any VPN server.

Apart from that Nord VPN has a double VPN server, which comes with an additional layer of security by sending traffic through the two VPN servers instead of one, and it also has an obfuscation, allowing users to hide their internet connection from internet service providers. NordVPN has a protocol called NordLynx, which is designed for stronger security and fast internet connectivity.

Some features provided by NordVPN

• Fast Internet Connection - Users give positive reviews about NordVPN's fast internet connection. Its speed ran in over 55+ countries and it beat most of its competitors. Overall, NordVPN performs excellently well on gaming and streaming services.
• Streaming - NordVPN works with many streaming networks including the likes of Netflix, Max, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, and many more. Its smart DNS also allows users to experience streaming services on devices that don't support VPNs, for instance, some certain gaming consoles and smart TVs.
• NordVPN Torrenting - The strong VPN allows torrenting in over 40+ countries and 4000+ servers, which as a result removes the burden on overcrowded servers that sometimes can slow your speed. It can work with popular P2P platforms like Vuze and uTorrent without experiencing any issues.
• NordGaming - NordVPN gaming support allows great gaming services with smooth connection. Even if you game on a distant server, the ping support on Nord still works on average and is always stable. It comes with DDos attack (but lacks anti-DDos protection) and you have to manually set up the router model, although it comes with helpful tutorials. Unlike ExpressVPN that has great router support, and comes with a dedicated router app that is easy to download and use.

• NordVPN Bypassing Censorship - Although it is weak, NordVPN doesn't have the best feature in circumventing firewalls in restricted locations. Unlike ExpressVPN and PIA, you cannot use Nord in most places it has zero tolerance for issues that require VPNs.

For anyone planning on using NordVPN, it has excellent pricing options that start from one-month, 1 year, and two years paid plans, and different tier-based subscriptions: Standard, Plus, and Complete.

5: SurfShark - Best Affordable VPN

Those who are on a budget have a good pick in Surfshark, as it happens to be one of the cheapest and most affordable VPNs in the market that only starts from £1.81 per month. It comes with really good features like CleanWeb, an ad-blocking security that monitors web activities and notifies against dangerous websites and phishing links. It can get rid of any type of ad, but what differentiates it from Express and PIA is the inability to block popup ads. It also has a weak Threat Protection but it can be a plus when connecting to shady websites.

SurfShark also has features like obfuscation, double VPN connection, and IP Rotator, which sometimes changes your IP address to make it difficult for websites to track your IP addresses. 

The app has an audited no-logs policy and advanced securities like RAM-only and perfect forward secrecy. Although, unlike VPNs like Express and PIA, SurfShark is missing full leak protection. It supports P2P download across all its servers and you also get streaming features as it supports almost all the streaming networks in the market.

Another thing I like is its Override GPS Location feature on Android. This feature matches a user's GPS data to their VPN-assigned IP address to prevent mobile streaming apps from detecting their VPN connection. This way, users can access streaming services inside the streaming platform's apps, instead of using the website (like it is used by most VPNs.

As one of the best affordable VPNs, SurfShark has a 3-tier based subscription, which includes 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year plans - this is practically enough for most VPN users while its longest plan provides the best value as it starts from only $2.30 per month.

6: PrivateVPN - Fast & Secure Streaming VPN

If you are looking for a fast, secure, and great streaming support VPN, then look no further than PrivateVPN. It can access any streaming platform with instant connectivity, and consistently fast speed, allowing users to watch videos in HD and without any interruption. PrivateVPN supports torrenting on all of its servers and plans, and it works with some of the most popular torrenting clients.

In addition to standard security features of a VPN such as 256-bit AES encryption, multiple devices connection support, and a kill switch, PrivateVPN also has additional features like obfuscation for getting around VPN blocks and online restrictions in some locations or countries that censor the internet. However, unlike popular VPNs like Express and PIA, PrivateVPN doesn't come with split tunneling.

A user with one PrivateVPN account can connect 10 devices, all the plans are protected with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and it has numerous payment options including Cryptocurrency. When it comes to speed, there are over 200+ servers on PrivateVPN which allows you to connect to your baseline almost instantly and without slowing down the speed.

PrivateVPN's Plans and Pricing

Although the monthly plans are somewhat expensive, their multi-year plans are one of the most affordable on this list - as they cost only $2.00 per month or even less.

7: ProtonVPN - Fast Speed Private VPN

ProtonVPN has one of the most intuitive features on this list, and it was developed by the same firm behind ProtonMail. ProtonVPN comes with a strict no-logs policy (audited and verified) and regularly issues transparency reports to prove that the firm doesn't disclose user's information and data to third parties. The firm is based in Switzerland (which is outside the jurisdiction of 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance countries).

To keep the trust going - ProtonVPN is also an open-source app, which allows anyone regardless of affiliation to examine the app source code and look for holes in its security architecture. Almost all of its apps have been securely audited and verified).

ProtonVPN's Plans and Pricing

It offers a decent free plan as well as numerous paid plans that are backed by a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee (prorated means you are charged for each day of using the service until the 30-day is complete.

Some of ProtonVPN's features include:

• Streaming service - ProtonVPN has a strong streaming service with a detailed guide on how to access over 30+ streaming networks.
• Proton VPN Speed - Proton VPN covers over 68 countries, and you can still access distant servers without breaking your connections, but it is a little slower than Express. Proton has a VPN Accelerator, a feature that monitors your connection to reduce latency and increase speeds, most especially if you are connected to a distant server.
• Proton Torrenting - Proton torrenting is only available on dedicated  P2P servers - with over 300+ servers in more than 20+ countries including Europe and Africa (Nigeria in particular) but it can be accessible in some parts of Africa. There are over 140+ servers alone in the United States.
• Proton Gaming - Proton is also very good in gaming, with a low ping when connected to a local server. However, the ping can be a little higher when connected to a distant server but there may be some lag, which won't disrupt your gaming.
• Proton Bypassing Censorship - Proton doesn't work in countries like China but may still be able to work in other restricted areas or locations - even though the VPN provides access to obfuscation. So, this makes it a no-option when connecting to a restricted area.

8: TunnelBear - Free VPN for Beginners

TunnelBear is one of those VPNs I've been using since last year, it comes with a very intuitive user interface and it is beginner-friendly - even if you have never used a VPN before. TunnelBear is also very secure, supports unlimited connections, and comes with all standard security features, including a no-logs policy that has been audited by a top cybersecurity firm.

It also has a kill switch, obfuscation, and split tunneling that lets you examine websites on iOS. In addition, Chrome users can use its free ad-blocking service. However, it doesn't work with popular streaming networks, but it sure offers unlimited connections and comes with a free plan of up to 2GB per month.

TunnelBear's torrenting allows P2P sharing on all its servers, although the speed is not as fast as that of Express, so you will need to connect to a server using the Fastest Connection feature or manually select a server that is in the closest country.

9: VyprVPN - Good for Bypassing Internet Restrictions

VyprVPN is a top VPN for small businesses that want to get around internet restrictions, it can also access over 40+ streaming networks including all the popular ones like Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. The speed is very fast and there is no buffering (even when connected to a distant server.

VyprVPN comes with a proprietary Chameleon protocol to get around firewalls and VPN blocks - this feature uses obfuscation to disguise your VPN traffic and allow you to get around the internet service without restrictions.

VyprVPN's servers are all based in Switzerland (a country that has strict laws on privacy) this is a good option for small businesses because it doesn't keep logs of internet activity that the business or its employees share. VyprVPN has over 30+ connections, and monthly and yearly plans, and offers its users a 30-day money-back guarantee.

10: IPVanish - Best VPN for Torrenting

IPVanish is easy to set up and use on the Android and iOS devices. I mostly recommend it because it has strong torrenting, support networks that work with the best torrenting platforms such as Vuze and uTorrent and comes with easy to use interface, and I like how the VPN supports unlimited connection with the integration of users friendly apps for major platforms.

IPVanish also has strong security features like forward secrecy. However, it is not so good at streaming, but it offers mouthwatering monthly and yearly plans for users and is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Conclusion

Now you know the best VPNs on the internet that you can rely on. Be sure to pick the one that suits your interest and operating system. If you intend on visiting a country or planning a vacation, it is best to buy a strong VPN because you may find it difficult to access the VPN website when in the country. ExpressVPN is particularly good at bypassing firewalls and getting around internet connections and also good for streaming services.