The Best USA VPN (September 2021 Updated)

Considering the current online privacy landscape in America, you need a VPN to secure your data. Best USA VPN offers the easiest solution when it comes to boosting your online privacy and bypassing geo-blocks to access international content in the US.

While you are browsing the internet in the US, chances are your online activities, including the sites you visit are being tracked. The National Security Agency (NSA) has a long history of conducting mass surveillance without legal justification against US citizens.

A VPN reroutes your traffic, passing it through its encrypted servers to keep your data safe from the prying eyes of your ISP, and more. VPN servers are located all over the world, so you can virtually change your location and access region-exclusive content in the USA.

With that in mind, we bring you the 6 best USA VPN in 2021 offering rock-solid data privacy, great speeds, and unblocking ability.

6 Best USA VPNs (September 2021 In-Depth Analysis)

We have tested over 150+ VPN services to find the best VPNs for USA. After thorough testing, we have shortlisted 6 top VPNs that are best to use in the United States. These VPNs have been tested on various performance criteria like, security, speed, geo-blocking, money-back guarantee, and more.

1. The Best VPN for USA – ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for USA. This is because it is based in the British Virgin Islands’ offshore jurisdiction. BVI is a country far from the reach of the 5 Eyes, which guarantees American users adequate protection from all the threats to privacy brewing on US soil.

ExpressVPN operates a network of 3,000+ servers in 94 countries, including 23+ servers in 14 American cities. If you are not living in the US and wish to access US-based geographically restricted content such as Netflix US, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video (US), then you can never miss out on them with this provider.

Residents in the US can also access foreign content such as Hotstar, Zoom, Astro TV, and BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN, thanks to its huge network of international servers. They can also unblock Crave TV in the US using ExpressVPN’s Canadian servers without any problem. ExpressVPN is also one of the few VPNs that are not blocked by Netflix, so you can access all Netflix libraries in the USA.

The service is highly recommended because of its robust online security and blazing fast speeds. On a base connection of 100 Mbps, ExpressVPN managed to output 88.5 Mbps on its US – New York server. As a result, you can perform your daily online activities without any lags or connectivity issues, while ensuring online privacy.

With protocols like OpenVPN, Lightway, and L2TP/IPsec, you can not only secure your data with rock-solid privacy but also stream and play online games without any lags.

Any malicious actor will certainly have a hard time trying to crack ExpressVPN’s AES-256 encryption, so you can count on it to provide shelter from relentless surveillance regimes like the US.

ExpressVPN also offers leak protection to ensure anonymity. To test its DNS and IP leak protection, I connected to ExpressVPN’s US server, and ran the tests. As shown in the screenshot below, it displayed the false IP that I got after connecting to the server, thus leaking no information regarding our real IP address.

Compatibility-wise, ExpressVPN supports all popular operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and can be used on 5 devices simultaneously. You can check our ExpressVPN review for more details.

All these features come at a price of $6.67/mo backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, you can try ExpressVPN free for 30 days to test its features before buying.

2. Budget VPN for USA – Surfshark

Surfshark is another highly affordable VPN for USA, starting at $2.49/mo only. It offers 500+ servers in 20+ US states. In total, the provider has a network of 3,200+ servers in 65 countries, all of which offer excellent speeds for streaming and general browsing purposes.

With its servers in 20+ states in the US, you can access multiple US-based content such as NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, The CW, and many more. Similarly, accessing international sites like BBC iPlayer, iTV, Channel4, Hayu in USA, or BFI Player in the USA would never be an issue again with its worldwide servers.

Just like ExpressVPN, Surfshark is also headquartered in the safe jurisdiction of British Virgin Island (BVI) and follows a strict no-logs policy, as the country has no mandatory data retention laws. This is actually quite impressive, especially for the privacy-conscious American users who have had enough of governmental surveillance.

Security-wise, Surfshark supports OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocol, but it performs exceptionally well over the IKEv2 protocol. One highlight feature of Surfshark is its unlimited simultaneous connections. You can secure multiple devices with just one subscription plan.

These features have earned Surfshark a great reputation among reviewers. The service is compatible with all the major platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all its subscription plans. Read our latest Surfshark review for more details.

3. Secure VPN for USA – NordVPN

NordVPN offers 1,970+ servers in the US alone, making it one of the most secure VPN to use in the USA. Overall, the provider has 5,200+ servers, most of which are efficient for streaming purposes. NordVPN is a Panama-based VPN provider, which makes it extremely valuable if you want to bypass US surveillance and data retention laws.

Not only NordVPN headquarter is based in Panama but it is also one of the most popular VPNs for Panama due to its ability to offer complete online anonymity, privacy and security from Panama’s ISPs.

With many US servers, internet users seeking to access the US’s geo-restricted content will never be disappointed as this provider works with all major platforms. Popular channels that this provider can unblock include PBS, Antenna TV, True Crime Network, Court TV mystery, and CBC in the USA. It is also a great choice for watching sports channels abroad like Kayo Sports in US and more.

One of the reasons why NordVPN is a secure VPN for the USA is its innovative advanced features such as CyberSec, DoubleVPN, and Onion over VPN. These features protect you from hackers and agencies with surveillance apparatus to monitor your online traffic and activities. These features are important if you want to remain anonymous and keep your online activities private.

Like any other best VPN in US, NordVPN also supports all major platforms such as Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Firestick, and Linux. The provider is currently available for $3.30/mo (VPN Awareness Month - 2 year plan at 72% off + 3 months FREE) and comes with 6 simultaneous connections. Read our NordVPN review for more details.

4. Fastest VPN for USA – IPVanish

IPVanish is one of the fastest VPNs for the USA offering a speed of 90 Mbps on a 100 Mbps base connection. IPVanish offers over 970 servers in the US. These are available in major US locations, including Miami, New York, Atlanta, Seattle, Washington, and more. The provider itself is based in the United States. Coupled with the no-logging policy, this VPN has the excellent benefit of helping US citizens avoid being subjected to surveillance.

Apart from the US, IPVanish offers around 1600+ servers across 75 locations. Using these servers, US citizens can easily gain access to streaming content from different regions. With IPVanish, you can unblock BBC iPlayer, Sony Liv, Hotstar, UK TV, NHK, CCTV, and Channel 4 in the US. It is also one of the few VPNs that work with Sky Go in the US.

The provider offers diverse value-added benefits to its customers like Split-Tunneling, Internet Kill Switch, and 24/7 customer support service and other basic features. If we talk about security, IPVanish supports industry benchmark protocols like OpenVPN, SSTP, L2TP/IPsec, and IKEv2.

The service is vastly compatible with different devices and can be installed on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and few other devices. What’s best is that just like Surfshark, IPVanish also supports unlimited devices on one account, making it a great option for families.

Please visit the IPVanish review for more information on this provider.

5. User-Friendly VPN for USA – CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a super easy-to-use VPN with apps available for all major platforms. Its apps are easy to navigate, making it best for beginners in the US. It consists of 7000+ servers in 90 countries, 1,155 of which are in the US. It is a great option worth considering for securing your privacy in the US. The provider is headquartered in Romania and takes advantage of its lax enforcement of anti-piracy laws to permit P2P activities safely on most servers.

With over a thousand servers in the US alone, you can easily access geo-restricted services that only work within the US’s borders. These services include CBS, Fox-Sports, NBC Live, ABC Go, ESPN+, and Court TV. While the readers abroad enjoy different US-based shows, the US residents can also enjoy different shows worldwide, such as the BBC iPlayer, Sky-News, Eleven Sports Network, France 24, and Sky Sports in the US.

This VPN service is awe-inspiring and offers one of the fastest speeds in the industry at a budget price of $2.25/mo . On a base connection of 100 Mbps, CyberGhost managed to deliver a download speed of 73.41 Mbps on its US server.

You can expect to see protocols like L2TP, IKEv2, OpenVPN, and a powerful internet kill switch in terms of features. It also uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data against cybercriminals and other external threats.

This super lowkey VPN service is compatible with all the major operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and can protect up to 7 devices simultaneously. Check out our CyberGhost review to know more about this VPN service.

6. Best VPN for Torrenting in USA – PIA

Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the best VPN for torrenting in USA with over 35,500+ servers in over 78 locations. These servers are well-optimized for torrenting and P2P file sharing as it uses strong 256-bit encryption to keep your information and identity private on the web.

It also offers 15,000 servers in 15 US cities. Furthermore, it supports torrenting on all its servers, which is especially useful if you routinely download torrents.

PIA also works with streaming sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, and more outside the USA. Not only that, but you can access different streaming content such as Hotstar, Voot, Sony Liv, UK TV, Channel4, France TV, BT Sports in the USA, etc.

PIA also offers IP and DNS leak protection. Additionally, it also offers an ad-blocking feature called MACE. It also protects against malware and trackers when browsing online. You can check our PIA review for more details.

Currently, PIA costs $2.08/mo and comes with a 30-day refund policy with 10 simultaneous connections.

Test Methodology: How we tested the best USA VPN

There’s no doubt that a VPN can help you unlock the full potential of the internet, from letting you accessing different geo-restricted regional content to securing your online privacy with military-grade encryption. We have shortlisted the top 6 providers on the basis of the following performance criteria:

• Server: The best VPN for USA should offer a large server network so you can access all international content. There should also be plenty of servers in the US, so you can access locally blocked content abroad.
• No-logs policy: The most secure VPN for USA should follow a no-logs policy for ultimate privacy. This way, no user data will be stored on the servers.
• High-speed: VPN for USA should offer a fast connection speed so you can enjoy data-intensive tasks without facing any lags, buffering, and stuttering.
• Strong encryption: As USA is an active member of the 5 Eyes Alliance, therefore, it is imperative to choose a VPN that offers 256-bit encryption for data encryption. It should also offer other security features like kill switch, DNS leak protection, and more.
• Jurisdiction: For USA with mandatory data retention laws, it is important to choose a VPN that is based in the safe jurisdiction outside the 5 Eyes alliance. For example, ExpressVPN and Surfshark are both based in the British Virgin Islands – a safe jurisdiction.
• Unblocking ability: Apart from security, the best VPN for USA should be able to unblock geo-restricted content in USA and abroad.
• Money-back guarantee: Make sure to choose a VPN that offers a minimum of 30 days money-back guarantee so you can test the service free of cost. For example, ExpressVPN offers a no-questions-asked refund policy, so it’s worth giving a try.

7 Reasons Why you need a VPN in the United States

The state of online privacy requires serious reforms in the US, making VPN services important for Americans. Here are seven reasons why VPNs are necessary for the USA:

1. Concern about online privacy in the USA

After the Snowden revelations in 2013, US citizens’ concern about private data privacy and security has only accelerated. According to Pew Research Study, 81% of the public admits that potential risks because of data collection by companies outweigh the benefits. 66% of the public have similar feelings towards government data collection. Their concerns are understandable as everyone at this point is harvesting their data.

Your internet activity can reveal almost everything about you. The data that advertisers collect can be misused to target ads and sell you more stuff. It can also be used to fingerprint your identity and discern health status, private beliefs, social circles, and other intimate details.

2. Surveillance from agencies

NSA has historically abused its powers against US citizens, putting innocent people under surveillance without due cause. Wide-ranging surveillance programs like PRISM further reveal how extensively NSA can monitor the online traffic of users. Although it is quite possible that NSA can break VPN encryption, it would be a formidable task, especially if the VPN you are using is based offshore.

While it is not clear how much surveillance is being done by the private and government sectors, using a VPN service with strong encryption techniques and other privacy-related features will secure online privacy.

3. Tech giants surveillance and data sharing in the US

Corporate surveillance is another reason why more US citizens are using VPN now than ever. Being classified as a major issue in the US, tech companies and telecom organizations have a large history of monitoring, tracking, and recording their customers’ digital activities.

In 2002 a technician at AT&T, named Mark Klein, accidentally uncovered a massive data collection point where the NSA was copying all internet traffic going through the company’s network. This became known as the Room 641A scandal. He went public with the information in 2005.

The cooperation of public and private entities to collect data on Americans has a name. It’s called the PRISM program. More than ever, US citizens are getting aware of their rights and using VPNs to hide their internet traffic from different data collection institutes.

4. ISP throttling in the USA

Unlike China, Middle East, and Europe, internet censorship is not a huge problem in the US. Their biggest concern is internet throttling, which is when an ISP restricts your internet speed. The reasons for this restriction include streaming, torrenting, or simply your bandwidth usage.

One way to avoid this restriction is to use a VPN. A VPN will encrypt your internet traffic so that your ISP will not be able to read it at all. If they are not able to determine your activity, they can not subject you to any restrictions.

5. P2P File Sharing in the USA

Torrenting and streaming are few other reasons that many people in the US are using VPN. The US law is stringent when it comes to P2P file sharing. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) legislation created federal laws that allow:

• Fines up to $500,000 and up to five years in jail, or both for a first offense.
• Fines up to $1,000,000 and as long as ten years in prison for repeat offenders.

Another consequence of torrenting is that you could have your internet connection suspended for repeated DMCA offenses. ISP’s will send you DMCA notices if your IP address is caught in copyright infringement. If you are caught a third time in the act, your internet connection will be permanently suspended by the ISP.

6. Accessing geo-restricted websites

In every country, there are websites such as local banks, institutes, and especially streaming channels that can only be accessed with a local IP address. In the US, apps such as Hulu and HBO Go only work with a US IP address. Therefore, if you’re traveling overseas or are an expatriate, you can use the best USA VPN to watch these channels from abroad.

7. Staying safe over public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi hotspots in places such as hotels, cafes, airports, malls, etc., are freely available for everyone and lack password protection. The overall security of these hotspots is, in fact, pretty basic. This is what typically attracts hackers and criminals to these hotspots. VPNs strengthen users’ security over public Wi-Fi, making it much more difficult for any hacker to breach your data and violate privacy.

VPN services that are based in the USA

When it comes to US-based VPN, there is always the concern that government agencies might demand the company to reveal your logs.

Even if these services follow a no-logging policy, government surveillance may affect your online privacy. Here are some US-based VPN services:

1. IPVanish – As discussed above, IPVanish is a US-based VPN provider that offers 1,600+ servers in more than 75 countries. It offers good encryption and keeps no data logs whatsoever.
2. LiquidVPN – Has an attractive user interface and decent security features. Although it has a limited network of servers, all of them provide high connection speeds.

VPNs you should avoid in the USA

Not all VPNs are a good choice for USA. On that note, here are some popular VPNs that you should definitely avoid in the USA:

1. Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield has a bad history with users’ privacy. This is because the provider has previously been involved in intruding on users’ privacy and manipulating private gain information.

A research paper revealed that Hotspot Shield redirects user traffic to its partner entities, including some popular e-commerce websites. Therefore, it is not a secure choice out there and should, therefore, be avoided.

2. ZenMate

The Germany-based ZenMate also suffers from some security issues. For instance, the provider has inherent technical problems in its encryption which sometimes can lead to leakage of IP addresses. Users who cherish their security should avoid this service, especially if they are in a high surveillance zone like the US.

3. VPNSecure

VPNSecure is also known for serious security vulnerabilities. According to the same research paper cited above, the service fails to prevent DNS and IP leaks. If you are located in the USA, where the government can spy on your data, this provider is not ideal.

FAQs – Best USA VPN

Wrapping Up

The United States of America has a lot of mandatory data retention and online surveillance in the country. Your ISP and government authorities can see all of your online activities. Therefore, VPNs are becoming a necessary online privacy tool in the country.

ExpressVPN is the best USA VPN and our top recommendation. With 3,000+ servers in 94 countries and all equipped with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, you will no longer have to worry about your online privacy. Best of all, ExpressVPN is offering an amazing deal on its 12-month plan which comes with a 3-months free subscription, backed with a 30-day money-back guarantee.