How to Choose a Fast, Secure and Reliable
VPN That Works Anywhere
When selecting a virtual private network (VPN) service, there are several key factors
to consider to ensure you get a fast, secure and reliable VPN that will work well no
matter where you are in the world. Since some people outside their home country
for work or when traveling and to make their internet surfing experience just like
their home country, VPN is important. The most important things to look for in a
VPN for expats are:
Strong Security and Privacy Features
The primary purpose of using a VPN is to protect your online
privacy and security. Look for a VPN that offers:
• Military-grade encryption, ideally AES-256, to secure
your data and hide your online activities from prying eyes
• Secure VPN protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and
WireGuard that are known to be safe and hard to crack
• A strict no-logs policy, preferably one that has been
independently audited, to ensure the VPN is not storing
any data about your online activities
• IP and DNS leak protection to prevent your real IP
address and DNS requests from being exposed outside
the encrypted VPN tunnel
• A kill switch that will block all internet traffic if the VPN connection
unexpectedly drops, to avoid accidental exposure
Fast Speeds and Unlimited Bandwidth
Using a VPN will usually slow down your internet speed somewhat, since your traffic
has to be routed through the VPN's encrypted servers. However, the best VPNs
minimize this speed loss to around 20% or less. Look for a VPN that has:
• A large network of fast, optimized servers in many locations around the world
to ensure you can always find a high-speed server nearby
• Unlimited bandwidth and no data caps so you can use the VPN as much as
you want without worrying about hitting a limit
• Support for the WireGuard VPN protocol which is significantly faster than
OpenVPN while still being very secure
Global Server Coverage
To be able to access websites and content from anywhere and bypass geographic
restrictions, you need a VPN with servers in many different countries. The more
countries a VPN has servers in, the more likely you'll be able to find one in the
location you need.
• Look for a VPN with servers in at least 50-60 countries, including the places
you are most likely to travel to
• More servers is generally better, but quality and location of those servers is
more important than quantity
• Be aware that some countries like China actively block VPN traffic, so not all
VPNs will work there
Easy to Use Apps for All Your Devices
A good VPN should have user-friendly apps for all the devices and operating systems
you use, and allow you to connect multiple devices simultaneously with one account.
• Look for a VPN with apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux at a
minimum
• Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox are also very useful to have
• Router support is great if you want to protect all the devices on your home
network with the VPN
• Choose a VPN that allows at least 5 simultaneous connections, with more
being better if you have a lot of devices
Reliable Customer Support
Even the best VPNs can sometimes have issues, so good customer support is
important in case you need help with anything.
• 24/7 live chat support is the gold standard, letting you get assistance anytime
• Detailed setup guides, troubleshooting tips, and FAQs on the VPN's website
are also very helpful
• Avoid free VPNs that offer limited or non-existent customer support
Transparent Privacy Policy
Finally, make sure to read the VPN's privacy policy before signing up. It should be
clear, easy to understand, and specify exactly what data (if any) the VPN collects
and how that information is used. The privacy policy is the best way to verify the
VPN's no-logs claims.
By prioritizing these factors, you can select a fast, secure and reliable VPN service
that will protect your privacy and let you access content worldwide. Top VPNs that
check all these boxes include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN.