Best VPN 2023: VPNs Tested and Rated by Our Experts
The best VPNs for private streaming, gaming and torrenting rated by our expert staff.
CNET takes the best VPN title seriously. We rigorously test each virtual private network, using a combination of our own hands-on testing and the latest real-world research from industry experts, including independent audits. Our top accolades go only to VPNs that demonstrate exceptional privacy, reliability, speed and value. Currently, ExpressVPN is our Editors' Choice for best overall VPN. ExpressVPN passed its latest set of third-party audits in late October, contributing to a growing record of industry-leading transparency efforts. This list represents our top VPN picks for the beginning of 2023, and we're in the process of giving these services a fresh look with the latest data on cost, privacy and more. We've started with adding fresh speed data for 2023, and we'll be taking a more recent look at ExpressVPN in the next month. We're also planning to review additional VPNs this year, some of which may end up on this list if they perform well.
A solid and well-tested VPN is a cornerstone tool for maintaining your online privacy. It can also help you get the most out of your streaming and gaming sessions. A VPN is an online service that provides a mobile app, desktop app or other software that encrypts your internet traffic, preventing your internet service provider from tracking which websites or apps you're using. At the same time, it stops most of those websites and apps from seeing your actual geographic location, allowing you to access content that may otherwise be blocked in your country. And, if configured correctly, a VPN can even help speed up your internet if your ISP is throttling your connection.
The best VPN delivers a strong level of privacy protection without compromising on performance. Though some people eschew using a VPN in favor of other types of network connections, we strongly recommend using a good VPN for work, particularly if your work involves handling sensitive information.
A VPN can also give you an added layer of security on public Wi-Fi networks, even though they're far less of a security threat than they were in previous years. In addition, a VPN service lets you bypass content blocks in some countries to access critical news and educational information, while also opening up your streaming entertainment options. And if you're into streaming live sports, VPNs can also be used to correct wrongly applied league blackouts and geographic restriction glitches.
While we believe ExpressVPN is the best VPN overall, we're also eager to find the best VPNs for different uses. That's why we also recommend Surfshark VPN as the best cheap VPN for the budget-savvy. Each VPN in the list below has excellent value for a specific use case, and we point out the ideal user for each one. Also, consider jumping on one of these VPN deals, which many of our top picks are offering.
Read more: Casual vs. Critical: When Your VPN Is a Matter of Life or Death, Here's How to Pick One
What's the best VPN in 2023?
- ExpressVPN received a CNET Editors' Choice Award for best overall VPN. We evaluate VPNs based on their overall performance in three main categories: speed, security and price. Express isn't the cheapest, but it's among the fastest and, so far, is the most secure.
- Surfshark is a close second among our picks. In 2022, it also earned a CNET Editors' Choice Award as our VPN value pick, thanks to its low first-year price support for unlimited devices.
- NordVPN, our third choice, is a die-hard heavy hitter. It costs more than Surfshark but less than Express, has an enormous network that's constantly getting faster and more secure, and is easily the most reliable service we've tested.
Over the past several years, a flood of VPN providers have entered the marketplace, and that comes with both benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, the array of affordable VPN options now available means that -- no matter how critical or casual your privacy needs -- there's a VPN service suited to your purpose. But it also means consumers have to wade through even more VPN advertising hype.
How we test VPNs
Our hands-on testing and review process is designed to cut through that hype. When we look at each VPN service, we're not just examining them for their technical weaknesses, but we're also scrutinizing their individual performance strengths. We want to know what each service does best. We test each VPN across over 20 factors, and we're continually improving our methodology as we learn more.
We test VPNs for browsing and streaming speed in multiple countries as well as their connection stability and even the smallest potential privacy leaks. By testing across multiple devices and platforms, we're able to assess which VPNs are best for gaming versus those best for streaming, torrenting or sharing sensitive information. Most importantly, we focus on doing the deep-dive research necessary to vet each VPN's historical credibility and its ownership in a notoriously murky market.
The VPNs on this list earn our recommendation for more than just boosting their digital privacy strengths -- they enable easy streaming to overcome geoblocked media, have torrenting-friendly servers, and are fast enough to support gaming globally. Based on those continued evaluations, you'll see a few bullet points on each entry in our list, highlighting each VPN's strengths and the uses we recommend it for most. And because we strive to keep on top of a fast-changing market, you'll notice that the rank of each VPN service changes as we learn more and retest.