How to Test a VPN: Our Methodology

how-to-test-a-vpn-in-USA

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the most reliable way to enhance your digital security, bypass geo-restrictions, and avoid data hacking attempts. But, since hundreds of providers are in the industry, can you trust just any? While some VPNs offer an overall excellent service, others do not. That’s why we advise you to learn how to test a VPN, so you can make an informed decision when choosing a VPN provider .

At VPNRanks, we thoroughly test countless VPNs on a daily basis in order to provide our users with possibly the best & unbiased reviews. We have specific criteria and parameters on which these VPNs are tested, such as IP/DNS leaks, speeds, and security. We’ve curated this system to recommend you the absolute best VPN services.

If you’re thinking about why you should trust our VPN reviews, then let us tell you that we’ve tested 200+ VPNs and jotted down 160+ VPN reviews on our website using the set parameters by our cyber security experts. After careful experimentation involving thousands of hours and hundreds of days, we provide our readers with the definitive pros and cons of each VPN to better analyze their services. Here is a quick overview of why you can trust our VPN tests:


How to Test a VPN  – Evaluation Criteria

We tested all VPNs  and reviewed them based on the following criteria:

  1. Privacy and logging policyIt’s important to review each VPN’s logging policy to ensure it doesn’t collect any user data . Moreover, it would be best to ensure that your VPN doesn’t leak your IP and DNS addresses to anyone, including your ISP.
  2. Malware testing: We test VPN apps to check whether they contain malware. These tests are conducted using a virustotal.com tool. You’ll likely find your device infected with malware if you use a free VPN service.
  3. Speeds and reliabilityWe measure the download and upload speeds of a VPN on our 100 Mbps connection by visiting speedtest.net. A VPN that drops your speed by less than 30% is the ideal option for all online activities.
  4. SecurityWe carefully analyze all security features to check how secure these VPNs really are. We evaluate its protocols, kill Switch, and all other advanced features offered.
  5. Streaming: We conduct these tests to tell you about the streaming platforms that can be accessed with a particular VPN. Our tests include all popular paid and free streaming services.
  6. TorrentingWe inspect how a VPN performs while downloading P2P files. We check if it offers fast speeds while torrenting, encrypts your connection, and equips advanced features like port forwarding and SOCKS5.
  7. Ease of useIn this part of testing, we inspect how a particular VPN’s apps perform. If they lag or not, are easy to navigate, or require you to find their features in different tabs.
  8. Customer supportIn case you need assistance, a VPN’s customer support is pretty helpful. And so we evaluate every aspect of its customer chat until we figure out whether they are prompt with responses.
  9. Value for money: We want our users to make the most of the money they spend, so after conducting several tests, we conclude that a VPN’s features are worth its cost.

1. Privacy and Logging Policy

First and foremost, thorough scrutiny of your VPN’s logging policy  is significant. This could be done by reading the entire policy to comprehend all the details that a VPN logs and how long it takes to remove that information. If there’s too much data at stake, then it can be at risk of being compromised by the government or malicious actors.

Therefore, you should only opt for a VPN that logs minimal data, especially nothing that could personally identify an individual. For example, aggregated metadata is pretty generic, but if a VPN leaks your IP address, then your identity can easily be revealed.

So, to ensure that your actual IP address and activity are secure , you can conduct multiple leak tests online, such as IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. Here is a detail of all 3 online VPN tests:

Free VPN Tests Link Detail
IP leak test VPNRanks IP checking tool / ipleak.net Helps you detect IP address leakage and exposure of your device’s actual location. You can conduct this test to ensure no IP address leaks.
DNS leak test dnsleaktest.com These leaks can reveal your Internet Service Provider, location, and IP address . The test ensures that your translation requests do not leak out of the encryption tunnel.
WebRTC leak test browserleaks.com WebRTC plugins can reveal your IP address even while using a VPN . This test ensures that the WebRTC plugin isn’t leaking your IP.

1. IP address leak test:

Your IP address can be used to track you across the internet , which can also reveal your location, and expose your online identity. In fact, this four-digit numerical address can be the most revealing information about you. Therefore, masking your IP  is the first basic step to keeping yourself anonymous online.

And checking your VPN for IP leaks is pretty easy. You can either use the VPNRanks IP checker tool or ipleak.net, and the results will be displayed to you instantly. However, you need to ensure that the IP address and location you see in the results are different from your original IP/location.

ip-leak-test-in-USA

This means that we’re absolutely safe and anonymous online with this working VPN.

If you see your original IP address in your VPN anonymity test, then you can fix IP leaks through the following methods:

  • Ensure your VPN is connected
  • Change your VPN server
  • Enable your VPN kill switch

After that, conduct the test again. If your IP address is still leaking, then we advise you to switch to any other secure VPN service.

What happens if you face IP leaks?

If your actual IP address is leaking, then your device’s location will also be exposed to your ISP and third parties. These leaks usually take place when you connect to the internet after a sudden disconnection. However, Best VPNs offer kill switches to curb this issue. A VPN with a kill switch disconnects you instantly from the internet if your VPN connection drops, thereby securing your original IP.

2. DNS leak test:

Premium Virtual Private Networks ensure that users’ DNS information remains secure. Sadly, DNS leaks can reveal your data to the websites you visit, even if you’re connected to a VPN . To test this leakage, you can visit dnsleaktest.com and follow the steps below:

  1. Head over to the DNS leak website and choose the test you’d like to run. You get two options: standard or extended. Both are reliable, but you’ll get more in-depth results with the extended one.
  2. Let the test finish to see the results.
  3. If the IP address displayed to you is your original one, it means that your data is being leaked. If the displayed IP corresponds to your VPN-provided IP address, then you’re safe from DNS leaks In USA.

Most premium VPNs In USA offer built-in DNS leak protection features that encrypt your entire traffic and ensure there are no leaks on your connection. Among them, VPNs like ExpressVPN also come with their own DNS leak tests available on their websites. Here is a screenshot of ExpressVPN’s DNS leak test In USA:

dns-leak-test-in-USA

According to this VPN checker tool, ExpressVPN is a solid choice In USA when it comes to privacy.

What happens if your DNS information leaks In USA?

If your DNS info leaks In USA, then your ISP would be able to view and track every website you visit. They will also be able to throttle your speeds if you perform data-heavy tasks like gaming, streaming, and torrenting. In various countries, ISPs are allowed to collect and sell your data to advertisers, marketing agencies, and government authorities without consent.

3. WebRTC leak tests

If you’re someone who uses real-time multimedia services In USA, then your IP address can be revealed even if you’re connected to a VPN. Your webRTC leaks can be identified manually or through an online test. We prefer doing the latter using browserleaks.com.

Once the test is conducted, ensure that your original IP isn’t being displayed in front of the Local IP Address and Public IP Address. Apart from this, the test also tells you the device-related information that can be leaked In USA if your WebRTC data is exposed.

webrtc-leak-test-in-USA

If your VPN does the same, then it’s absolutely safe to use.

However, if you still want to go through the hassle of conducting a WebRTC test In USA manually, do it using the following steps:

  1. Disconnect from your VPN and Google ‘what is my IP address’ to check your original IP.
  2. Exit the browser.
  3. Connect to a VPN server and open your browser.
  4. Search ‘what is my IP address’ again. If you get a different IP address this time, then your WebRTC plugin isn’t leaking. If it’s the same, then you’re facing a WebRTC leak In USA.

What happens if you face WebRTC leaks In USA?

WebRTC plugins In USA can reveal your IP address and location, exposing all your online activities on your web browser. One way to avoid WebRTC leaks is by disabling this functionality. You can do this by visiting the settings of your browser or using a premium working VPN In USA like ExpressVPN.


2. Malware Testing

Various VPNs in the industry In USA have malware-infested apps that can seriously damage your PC or mobile. These can include viruses, worms, ransomware, and spyware. Therefore, it’s significant to ensure that the VPN you choose doesn’t come with malware In USA. You can do this by testing it on virustotal.com.

All you need to do is visit the website and upload your VPN app. The malware detection tool will quickly evaluate the app and let you know if the VPN app is safe to use In USA. Here is a step-by-step guide for this:

  1. Visit VirusTotal’s website and tap on ‘Choose file.’
  2. Select the VPN app > tap Open > click Upload.
  3. VirusTotal will run the test and then display the results. A green checkmark means you’re safe to use the VPN. However, if you see a red exclamation mark, then the VPN may be unsafe to use In USA.

As an example, we tested ExpressVPN’s app for our users In USA, and here are the results:

expressvpn-malware-testing-in-USA

You can test other VPN apps In USA in a similar manner using this VPN checker tool.

3. Speed & Reliability

Once you’ve tested the VPN for privacy, it’s time to test its speeds In USA. A VPN’s speed directly impacts your online browsing experience, including activities like torrenting, streaming, or gaming experience. So, it’s clearly important to test your internet connection while using a VPN In USA.

You can do so using a speedtest.net tool. Just connect to a VPN server and click GO, and you’ll see your results appear something like this:

vpn-speed-testing-in-USA

These are the speeds that we got before conducting a VPN test In USA.

The speed test will present you with the following data In USA:

  • Download speeds: These speeds calculate the rate at which data from a VPN server travels to your device in Mbps. If you have a high download speed, then it means you have a fast internet connection In USA.
  • Upload speeds: These are the opposite of download speeds. They measure the rate at which data travels from your device to the VPN server in Mbps. These don’t necessarily have to be as fast as the download speeds.
  • Pings: This is the number that informs you how many milliseconds it takes for your connection to respond to a certain request. It’s also known as latency. The higher the pings, the slower your connection is.

Using these speeds, you can perform all your favorite activities without any restrictions In USA, be it unrestricted streaming, lag-free gaming, or fast torrenting.

However, please note that if you conduct a speed test In USA and it turns out that your download/upload speeds are extremely low and pings are really high, your VPN may be affecting your speeds badly. You can solve this issue through the following steps:

  1. Disconnect from your VPN server and conduct a speed test. If the speeds are better, then it’s possible that the VPN was causing your connection to slow down. If not, then the problem is your internet itself.
  2. Select a VPN server that’s closer to your location and run a VPN speed test. The results should be way better, and you’ll be able to enjoy your connection without buffering.
  3. Switch to another VPN protocol. Do this by visiting the settings of your VPN app. We recommend using OpenVPN or WireGuard for the best speed and security In USA.

If none of the above-mentioned steps work, then it’s time to switch to some other fast VPN service In USA. As per our experience, the two VPNs performed faster in our test, i.e, ExpressVPN and Surfshark. These VPNs tend to deliver the fastest download rates even during data-intensive activities. Let’s look at the speeds they offered to us on our 100 Mbps connection:

ExpressVPN speed test

For testing ExpressVPN’s speeds In USA, we connected to its Canada – Toronto server. On this server location, we got a download speed of 86.50 Mbps and an upload speed of 72.86 Mbps. Super-impressive, right?

expressvpn-speed-testing-on-canadian-server-in-USA

Our speeds dropped by just 14% In USA after connecting to the VPN server.

Surfshark speed test

When we tested Surfshark’s speeds In USA on its Canada – Montreal server, we got a download speed of 82.86 Mbps and an upload speed of 64.51 Mbps. Not bad at all!

surfshark-speed-testing-on-canadian-server-in-USA

We got a speed drop of only 18% with Surfshark In USA.


4. Security

After speed, you learn how to test a VPN In USA for technical aspects. Since a VPN offers multiple security features, there is more than a single aspect that makes up this factor. We usually test the following features of every VPN In USA:

1. Kill Switch:

A kill switch is the most important feature offered by a VPN In USA. It disconnects you from the internet if you lose your VPN connection, so that your original IP address, location, and activities stay protected from prying eyes. We test this feature using our in-house testing tool.

However, for you, we tested ExpressVPN’s Kill Switch In USA by switching off our internet while connected to a VPN server, and got the following error:

testing-expressvpn-kill-switch-in-USA

All our data was safe In USA, thanks to this feature.

You can test a VPN In USA exactly by the method mentioned above.

2. Testing encryption and protocols:

After the Kill Switch testing In USA, we tested VPN protocols and their encryption method using a Wireshark tool. As mentioned above, we prefer using WireGuard In USA or OpenVPN when it comes to protocols. However, IKEv2 also offers a stable connection. As for encryption, AES 256-bit encryption is the industry-standard encryption method. But, AES 128-bit encryption is fine as well.

While testing with Wireshark, a VPN shouldn’t display anything except encrypted traffic. If you see anything else, then the VPN isn’t the right choice In USA.

3. Censorship testing in China:

To test a VPN’s ability to function in China, we contact our team present in the country. We ask them to install a VPN and then check if they can access multiple restricted websites like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook in China.

Moreover, our team tested all the VPN protocols of the VPN working in China and conducted a VPN anonymity test by trying out a VPN’s obfuscation features, such as Camouflage Mode. After all the tests, we made a consolidated list of the best VPNs for China so if you ever plan to visit the country, you know which VPN you have to take along.


5. Streaming

Testing a VPN for streaming is pretty simple. All you need to do is connect to a VPN server in a specific location, access your desired streaming service, try signing in, and watch its content. For our users In USA, we try numerous servers, paid and free streaming platforms, and protocols before coming to a conclusion.

Here is a list of all the streaming services In USA that we usually test our VPNs with:

Netflix (US and other regions)
HBO Max
Hulu
BBC iPlayer
Disney+
Amazon Prime
Channel 4
ITV Hub
Kayo Sports
Hotstar

You should always choose a VPN In USA that unblocks the most popular streaming platforms worldwide. It should at least unblock US Netflix and other libraries from anywhere.

For testing purposes, we chose our top recommended VPN – ExpressVPN with Netflix outside USA. That’s because it offers a vast variety of servers in 23+ US locations and excellent unblocking capabilities. We connected to its Los Angeles – 1 server and unblocked US Netflix within seconds. Here is the proof:

expressvpn-unblocked-netflix-usa-outside-USA

We could stream ‘The Recruit’ in High Definition with this VPN outside USA.


6. Torrenting

There are many things you need to look into when choosing a VPN for torrenting. We judged the torrenting VPNs based on the following five factors:

1. Speeds:

We measure the P2P speeds In USA while downloading a 1 GB file using our 100 Mbps connection. We inspect the amount of speed drop we noticed while downloading the file, with and without a VPN, and then compare the results with one another. The method is the same as the speed testing above, except for the fact that we use our local server for this.

To ensure that our results are consistent, we use uTorrent as a client and download a custom-built 1 GB file on our base connection of 100 Mbps In USA.

2. P2P-friendly servers

We then check how torrent-friendly the VPN’s server network is In USA. Torrent policies are usually classified as unlimited, permitted, not allowed, or restricted. Here’s a breakdown of the classification:

  • For unlimited, the VPN you select In USA should offer unlimited bandwidth on all its servers in the network.
  • Permitted is the same as above, except that a few servers on the network do not allow torrenting. We also search for different regions where torrenting is allowed.
  • Not allowed means that you’re not supposed to use the VPN for downloading P2P files In USA.
  • Restricted means that P2P activities are unrestricted only on a small network of servers.

3. Security & encryption

If you’re about to use a VPN for torrenting In USA, then you need to ensure that it keeps your torrenting activities and traffic absolutely anonymous. For this, you need to test a VPN In USA for IP/DNS leaks. You can do this using the guide above.

4. Logging policy

You should always go consider looking into the VPN’s logging policy and where it’s headquartered. A trustable VPN In USA should only collect minimal logs and be based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction in order to trust it with your torrenting data. You can learn more about this in our privacy and logging section.

5. Additional relevant features

We further look into the extra features being offered by a VPN In USA that is relevant to torrenting. Most specifically, features like port forwarding, kill Switch, and obfuscation technology are fundamental and useful for torrenters In USA.


7. Ease of Use

There are many questions we answer in this part of testing. This includes whether the particular VPN In USA has compatible apps, is easy to navigate, and has a clutter-free interface or not.

We consider all platforms for testing, such as mobile phones, desktops, streaming sticks, gaming consoles, and routers. Even though mobile and desktop apps are given more importance In USA than the rest (blame it on their popularity), equal consideration is given to all.

We thoroughly test every part of the VPN app before listing down its unique features, similarities, and differences. Only after that, do we advise our users In USA to opt for the best VPN with ease of use In USA.

If you want to know how to test a VPN In USA based on its usability, then we recommend you read unbiased reviews of the VPN apps (we have 160+ VPN reviews on our website), visit Reddit and check what users have to say about the VPN, or visit the App Stores of the relevant devices and check user comments before downloading the VPN app In USA.


8. Customer Support

Premium VPNs offer various customer support options: live chat, email support, ticketing, FAQs, and knowledgebase. However, we believe that 24/7 live chat is the best support option one can get. Imagine getting an instant response from a human representative at any time of the day. Sound cool, right? And let us tell you that only the best VPNs In USA offer this feature.

So, the first thing you need to do is check if your VPN offers a live chat. If yes, DM any random query to see how long they take to respond. Also, check if the answer you’re getting is informative or not. If the VPN offers a live chat, then it would only take 5 minutes to cancel your subscription as well.

As an example, we visited ExpressVPN’s website and asked their customer support representative a question about its available protocols:

expressvpn-live-chat-tests-in-USA

The answer we received In USA was pretty informative.

Alternatively, email support isn’t too bad as well. It seems like you might have to wait for 24 hours, but you do end up getting a response in a matter of 8 hours (it all depends on the VPN). So, we recommend you email them a query and calculate the response time.

FAQs and knowledgebase are also available to users In USA. These are present so users can find out the answers to their questions quickly. Moreover, the knowledge centre may include step-by-step installation and troubleshooting guides, which can be quite useful for a VPN In USA.


9. Value for Money

The final aspect to consider while learning how to test a VPN In USA is the provider’s price. There is no testing in this factor, but you need to analyze whether the VPN you’re choosing offers the best price to you – meaning if it’s a bit heavy on the pocket, then is its service worth spending on?

Moreover, you need to check if the VPN offers a refund policy and a free trial. That’s because it’s always sensible to try out the VPN with free trials In USA before committing to its full-fledged long-term plan.


FAQs – How to Test a VPN In USA

Here’s how to check if a VPN is working in USA:

  1. Turn your VPN off.
  2. In Google’s search bar, type ‘what is my IP address‘ and jot it down.
  3. Now, turn your VPN on.
  4. Google ‘what is my IP address’ once again, or check the IP within your VPN app.
  5. Compare the original IP address that you noted down in step 2 with the new IP address.

Here’s how you can test your VPN for DNS leaks to ensure that it’s safe in USA:

  1. Visit ipleak.net before connecting to a VPN, which will display your original IP address and location.
  2. Then, turn on the VPN and refresh the page.
  3. If your new IP address matches the one on the page, then the VPN is protecting your original IP address. In short, it means that you’re safe.

That’s how to check if a VPN is working and is safe in USA!

If your VPN doesn’t have a built-in speed test, then you can head over to speedtest.net to check your download and upload speeds. If you want to ensure choosing a VPN with fast speeds, check out our fastest VPN guide in USA. That’s exactly how to test a VPN in USA!


Wrap Up!

Our cybersecurity specialists spend precious time trying and testing every VPN In USA to provide readers with first-hand experience, so they can make an informed decision. All the results of each VPN are jotted down in their respective VPN reviews.

VPNRanks’ author Minnie has spent months reading and inspecting VPNs based on her expertise in Malware testing, privacy, and logging policies. The above-mentioned criteria have been carefully curated by her for our users In USA.

Another specialist Rachelle shares her experience while testing VPNs In USA for various online activities, such as gaming, torrenting, and streaming, to provide users with unbiased results with no fabrication.

Finally, Gerald combines all these aspects and put forward his expert opinion on speed, device compatibility, and customer support In USA.

In short, all our authors helped assimilated this guide on how to test a VPN In USA and do the same in each VPN review, so users can be self-sufficient on their own.