With a massive community known for robust conversations and a culture suspicious of self-promotion, Reddit is a gold mine of information when researching products and services.

So, when it comes to uncovering the truth about VPNs and which providers you can trust, who better to ask than Redditors?

After all, they’re some of the most ruthless and brutally honest critics on the Internet.

We’ve scoured the best VPN subreddits to see which services they recommend -- and which ones you should avoid.

Keep scrolling for five Reddit -- and Informr -- approved VPNs to help keep you safe on the Internet.

1. NordVPN Editor's Pick


Best VPN for Netflix (And the Average User)

Pros: Fast, tons of servers, zero logs, cryptocurrency support, canary warning on-site, support for a range of devices and protocols, P2P servers, multiple devices, kill switch

Cons: Price


Reddit users praise NordVPN for its excellent flexibility, the ability to bypass regional content locks, and its overall security.

It’s not the most advanced VPN service, but it’s approachable and easy to configure. This means that whether you’re new to VPNs or a seasoned pro, you should have little trouble setting it up how you’d like.

Having more than 4,000 servers from which to choose also means you can connect from just about anywhere in the world with minimal latency and enjoy excellent speeds.


What Reddit is Saying...

Reddit user RogerCrabbit writes, “Yeh NordVPN is probably the best VPN you can get at the moment, price wise and performance wise. Either that or ExpressVPN [in my opinion]...”

Reddit user GoodVPNs ranked NordVPN first in their list of VPN services for Netflix.

Reddit user wombtemperature says, “NordVPN seems to have a bad rap on speeds... but that simply is not what I found… Props to NordVPN, I hope it continues to work out and these speeds are not a fluke.”


Bottom Line...

Whether you’re looking to torrent or watch your favorite TV shows from another country or you’re simply looking for added peace of mind, Reddit believes NordVPN is a solid choice.


NordVPN

Servers: 4487 across 62 locations
Simultaneous Connections: 6
Bittorrent/P2P: Yes -- on select servers
Device Support: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, and Firefox

NordVPN Review | See Deals

2. ExpressVPN

Best VPN for Speed and Flexibility

Pros: Great speeds, large server selection, zero logs, support for a range of devices/protocols, P2P servers, kill switch

Cons: Price


ExpressVPN might not offer the lowest prices around but Reddit seems to agree on one fact -- they offer some of the best speeds available through a VPN provider.

And the security features aren’t bad either. They’re known for their zero log policy and tight protection against IP and DNS leaks.

With clients for Android, iOS, Windows, and routers, there are plenty of options to keep your tech and information protected.


What Reddit is Saying...

Reddit user icurate says, “I am about to renew after my first year with them and have had zero issues. Speed is consistent and when I switch to a different continent there is minimal lag. I do leak tests sporadically and have not found one. They aren't the cheapest, but in my book they are among the best.”

Reddit user refreshjellyfish says, “Super happy with ExpressVPN. I have tested out two VPNs before and both (myprivateVPN and IPvanish) were way slower then [sic] Express!! But Express is also one of the most expensive VPN. For me the $3 more per month don't mean much since I get great speed.”

Reddit user Zapt0rman says, “I've been using ExpressVPN for what will be 5 years here in about 2 months. I haven't had a single issue, with payments, speed, performance, reliability or security… The only differences in speed I've seen have been maybe 1-3mbs down, and most the time it's hardly even that.”


Bottom Line...

If speeds are the most important aspect for you, ExpressVPN receives loads of recommendations on Reddit. If you’re just after security and don’t mind slower transfers, there are plenty of more affordable options available though.


Express VPN

Servers: 3000 across 92 locations
Simultaneous Connections: 3
Bittorrent/P2P: Yes -- on select servers
Device Support: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari

ExpressVPN Review | See Deals

3. Mullvad


Best VPN for Anonymity & Torrenting

Pros: Can pay in cash or bitcoin, no personal information required, very little logging, great speeds, support for Wireguard, 30-day refund period, free trial available

Cons: Support based in Sweden, no chat support, limited server and country support


If you search for anything VPN related on Reddit, you’re sure to see mention of Mullvad. It’s a favorite among Reddit users -- and for good reason.

While most other VPNs allow you to encrypt and somewhat anonymize your Internet traffic, they still require you to submit personal information -- such as names, addresses, and payment details -- to create an account and pay your bills.

Mullvad only ties one identifier to your account -- an account number. Combined with cash and bitcoin payment methods, you can enjoy the protection of a VPN without giving up any personal information. This makes it a top choice on Reddit for torrenting.

They’re also a good VPN. Reddit reviews note respectable speeds, excellent security, and an easy setup process. While the privacy on offer might be overkill for some, it’s an impressive service.


What Reddit is Saying...

Reddit user hastag6zer0s says, “Mullvad is an absolutely outstanding service. I couldn't be happier with my decision to pay for their services. I'm secure and I feel secure. I'm doing my part for privacy and I know they'll contribute to the cause of privacy with part of the money I'm sending them as part of my subscription.”

Reddit user ProgressiveArchitect says, “Despite Mullvad being in a 14 eyes country, they are actually considered one of the most, if not the most privacy focused VPN’s… All their VPN clients are open source. Which is pretty rare to find among VPN providers and arguably of the most crucial things in order to verify the claims of the provider.”

Reddit user Sachitoge says, “Mullvad described on their Privacy Policy that if Sweden government issues to MullvadVPN to reveal a users information, they will have nothing to give other than checking logs of payments received through Bank transfers, payment gateways. But they said if you pay through Bitcoin or Cash (mailing) then they will have 0 to give away, meaning you're as secure as doing whatever you want.”


Bottom Line...

If you’re looking for the ultimate in anonymity, Reddit agrees Mullvad is a great choice.


Mullvad

Servers: 82 across 20 locations
Simultaneous Connections: 5
Bittorrent/P2P: Yes -- on select servers
Device Support: Windows, MacOS, Linux -- Android, iOS, and ChromeOS available through OpenVPN app

Mullvad Review | See Deals

4. Private Internet Access

Best VPN for Basic or Budget Use

Pros: Good speed, great server selection, zero logs, support for a range of devices/protocols, allows payment with gift cards, kill switch, allows P2P, multiple devices

Cons: Based in the US, so-so support


Private Internet Access is an odd one on Reddit. You’ll find a lot of reviews -- both good and bad.

However, most of the bad reviews center on the VPN’s US basis -- and even this is debated heavily.

But for actual service quality, the service receives high marks. Netflix appears to block some servers, but this isn’t a rare problem. Video streaming services are getting more clever about detecting VPN usage.

You’ll see this pop up on occasion with just about any service you might choose. Most times, just picking a new VPN server from the list will fix things for you.


What Reddit is Saying...

Reddit user TheFatZyzz says, “PIA has been a real effortless process, very easy to navigate website, super duper impressive rates… Overall a great and terrific value, and as long as PIA is stable, doesn't give me too many disconnections, I whole-heartedly recommend this product to anyone looking for security and privacy.”

Reddit user Newslooter says, “... For the user that needs the essentials like 256-AES, high speeds, and excellent application performance on PC and mobile you can’t find a lower one month price… I would pick PIA if you don’t care about streaming Netflix with your VPN or having cool extra features. Basic, but superb.”

Reddit user cspjohn says, “... PIA has been an incredibly solid, fast and reliable VPN provider for me through 2 years. Never had an issue with them whatsoever.”


Bottom Line...

If you’re looking for a basic VPN service at rock-bottom prices -- and don’t mind potential ties to the US -- PIA receives heaps of praise on Reddit for their consistent performance and easy-to-use software.

Private Internet Access

Servers: 3597 across 30 locations
Simultaneous Connections: 5
Bittorrent/P2P: Yes -- on select servers
Device Support: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera

Private Internet Access Review | See Deals

5. ProtonVPN

Best Free VPN According to Reddit

Pros: Unlimited VPN use for free, kill switch, Swiss-based, zero logs, DNS leak protection

Cons: Limited server and region locations, speed throttled to 8Mbits/sec on free tier, no access to Tor on VPN on free tier, need unique free account per device for simultaneous use


In most cases, Reddit agrees that you should avoid free VPNs at all cost. However, ProtonVPN is one of the rare exceptions.

Apart from a username and a time stamp of your last login, ProtonVPN stores nothing. You’ll find your speeds limited, so the service isn’t ideal for torrenting but you also don’t have to worry about running out of bandwidth.

With a reputation in the email industry and their own secured hosting, ProtonVPN earns the trust of a wide range of Reddit users.


What Reddit is Saying...

Reddit user gotamd says, “I frequently stay connected all day at work. Occasionally I'll run into an issue and have to reconnect, but it's rare and I'm not sure whether that's due to me or ProtonVPN. The VPN phone app will auto reconnect when moving between cell and mobile networks.”

Reddit user BlackMoonSky says, “I would definitely recommend this product to anyone in need of a VPN. But expect to exert patience.”


Bottom Line...

With a well-known reputation in the private email sector, ProtonVPN offers a reliable, free VPN service with a few limitations. It’s also one of the few free VPN services Reddit recommends.


ProtonVPN

Servers: 330 across 30 locations
Simultaneous Connections: 1
Bittorrent/P2P: Yes -- on select servers
Device Support: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS

ProtonVPN Review | See Deals


How We Chose Our Picks

Reddit can be a confusing place. There seem to be endless subreddits on any topic and -- particularly in the VPN section -- plenty of accounts that seem to be there just to promote their brand or make a sale.

To compile this list, we looked at popular Reddit roundups around the web, scoured the vast selection of VPN subreddits on Reddit, and compared the results to trusted review sources and reliable Redditor opinions to be sure we were looking at the opinions of Redditors and not a bunch of bots.

From there, we looked at what the average person might consider about a VPN and broke down choices by common considerations -- including speeds, privacy, price, and ease-of-use -- to provide options for a wide range of readers.


Recap: Best VPNs According to Reddit

 

Best for Netflix: NordVPN

 

Best for Speed & Flexibility: ExpressVPN

 

Best for Torrenting & Anonymity: Mullvad

 

Best Budget VPN: PIA

 

Best Free VPN: Proton VPN


Still Not Sure?

While we feel these picks from Reddit offer a great experience to a wide range of people, there's not a single pick that will be perfect for everyone.

Many VPN services offer free trials. It’s easy to sign-up for a free account and see how it performs for you.

To get a real idea of what to expect, we recommend using each trial for a few hours.

Try a few different servers and run through the things you’d do often -- such as streaming video, checking email, or using your filesharing platform of choice -- to be sure there are no surprises once you commit to a provider.

While these Reddit picks should be of high quality, every service has servers that perform better than others and no service is perfect.

They all have weak and strong points.

Explore a little to know how the different options compare.

We offer additional considerations and explanations of common VPN-related terms in our VPN Buyer's Guide.

And, if you’d like to explore options not included in this roundup, our VPN comparison tool lets you filter top VPN services by features, price, and more and compare them side-by-side in a few clicks.


Disclosure: You should know that in some cases, we may receive a referral fee (at no additional cost to you) for products purchased through the links on our site. These links help support our work but they do not influence our content. Our editorial recommendations are always genuine and we try to feature only the best products and services. Why trust us?