VPN Comparison Tool and Chart 2021
Use the VPN service comparison chart below to examine the top 60 providers of the industry.
- Feb-23-2021
- Osama Tahir
In the VPN industry, the list of VPN providers claiming to be the best is increasing constantly. But, how do you know which one to choose?
To be honest, when every VPN sounds exactly the same, it can be extremely confusing to pick the right VPN. And you know what the worst part is, most of the reviews online are fabricated and totally bias making it impossible to know which VPN you can trust with your privacy.
That being said, at VPNRanks, we take a different approach while comparing different VPNs. We compare every VPN in great detail based on multiple factors to ensure that you exactly know which VPN is right for you.
We assess VPNs on twenty (20) different factors. This includes jurisdictions, Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes Alliance, logging policy, servers, speeds and so much more which you can find in our comparison chart.
Compare VPN Providers
VPN Comparison Chart 2021 (Examined on 20 Key Factors)
The colors in the chart represent the following:
Green – Generally good
Yellow – Something negative
Pink – Something bad that is of major concern
Blue – Undefined
So here is the comparison chart you’ve been waiting for. Check it out:
This VPN comparison spreadsheet consists of what we believe to be the most critical parameters that determine the level of privacy and security a VPN is capable of offering to you.
If you don’t see a factor that you think we should be considering or want us to include a specific VPN brand which we may have overlooked, please feel free to mention it in the comments section below.
This blog is the culmination of all the hard work and research we performed over two weeks, generating the chart shown above.
But this article won’t analyze each specific VPN in detail. For an in-depth evaluation of VPNs, have a look at our page on VPN reviews of 2021.
VPNRank’s Comparison Criteria
Comparing products is a painstaking process. You have to make sure your unconscious biases don’t influence your judgment. After all, meeting consumer expectations is what separates a good product from a poor one.
We use a variety of factors to compare VPNs. However, we mainly consider factors related to privacy, focusing on the jurisdiction, and logging. Below is a list of some of the most important factors we consider in our comparisons.
Don’t worry. You can find a glossary of all the terms you might find difficult to understand in this blog.
- Speed – Which VPN offers the fastest connection speeds?
- Logging Policy – Which VPN follows a zero-log policy and logs no user data?
- Jurisdiction – Which VPNs are headquartered in 5 Alliance regions?
- Pricing – Which VPN offers the most value for money and cheaper subscription plans?
- Server Network – How many servers and server locations do VPN providers offer?
- Customer Support – Which VPN offers better customer support and help?
- Torrenting – Which VPN offers P2P support and is safe for torrenting?
- Netflix – Which VPN can unblock various Netflix libraries from anywhere in the world?
- Privacy and Security – Which VPN offers the best security features and encryption for maximum privacy and anonymity.
VPV vs. VPN: Comparison of 10 Different VPN Services by VPNRanks
So now you know the factors we have taken into consideration to compare 10 different VPN services. Let’s check these VPNs out in detail.
- ExpressVPN
- Surfshark
- NordVPN
- PureVPN
- CyberGhost
- Private Internet Access
- PrivateVPN
- VyprVPN
- IPVanish
- Ivacy
1. ExpressVPN Compared to Other VPNs
ExpressVPN is one of the top-rated VPN in the industry with high-end security features. It even has a high Trustpilot rating of 4.7/5. ExpressVPN is the most admired service on Reddit. Seriously, there’s no contest when it comes to this VPN and what Redditors think about it. The provider is widely considered to be the best VPN outside 14 eyes states as compared to other VPNs on the list.
ExpressVPN offers more than 3000+ servers across 94 countries. It provides fast speed and obfuscation to help you get access to restricted content including geo-restricted sites from across the world. Some of its other features include, AES-256 bit encryption, kill switch, split tunneling, zero-knowledge DNS, and more.
ExpressVPN also offers fast connection speeds as compared to other VPN. The only negative is that as compared to Surfshark, PureVPN, or other VPNs, ExpressVPN only supports 5 simultaneous connections with one subscription. However, it makes up for it with its feature-rich apps and high-end security protocols.
Still not convinced? Check out our in-depth ExpressVPN review for 2021.
2. Surfshark Compared to Other VPNs
Unlike most VPN services, Surfshark has achieved the right balance between price and features. At a low price of just $2.49/mo you get access to premium features. Surfshark has a 4.3/5 star Trustpilot rating. Surfshark provides 3200+ servers in 65+ countries and it even works in highly censored countries like China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
Some of the premium features offered by Surfshark include DNS leak protection, kill switch, Multi-hop, CleanWeb, WhiteLister (split tunneling), and 256-bit encryption. It is one of the few VPNs that come with an in-built ad blocker, so your dont have to worry about annoying and intrusive ads when surfing the web. Owing to these features it is mostly getting positive reviews from those who have tried the service out.
It also comes with excellent unblocking capabilities and works great with Plex, Netflix, and other streaming platforms. One of its most promising features that sets Surfshark apart from other VPNs is its support for unlimited simultaneous connections with one subscription. Meaning, with Surfshark you can protect all your devices at the same time.
Its also a very good option for gaming on PC, Xbox & PS4. To know more about this VPN in detail, check out our Surfshark review for 2021.
3. NordVPN Compared to Other VPNs
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs in the market and is highly recommended for users that are concerned about their online privacy. NordVPN offers around 5500+ servers across 55+ locations. NordVPN also follows a strict no-logs policy.
NordVPN offers tons of features including strong encryption, kill switch, CyberSec, Onion Over VPN, Obfuscation, dedicated IP address, and more. It also supports tons of major platforms and devices. With one NordVPN subscription, you can secure up to 6 devices at the same time.
NordVPN is a powerhouse. However, it gets mixed reviews on Reddit. Although the performance of the VPN is commended by a lot of people, some users have developed trust issues with the VPN. Why? Because it is highly rated everywhere except Trustpilot.
Find out more about this VPN in our detailed NordVPN review.
4. PureVPN Compared to Other VPNs
PureVPN is another top-ranking VPN in the industry with a huge server network in the world. It boasts around 6500+ servers across 140+ locations. It also follows a strict no-logs policy. It is also quite cheap considering the many features it offers. Some of the features you get with PureVPN include 256-bit encryption, kill switch, port forwarding, split tunneling, DDoS protection, DNS leak protection, and the list goes on.
It also comes with excellent unblocking capabilities and works with major streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more. With one PureVPN subscription, you can connect up to 10 devices at the same time.
It is a great VPN loved by reddit users. The one issue that repeatedly makes rounds on reddit about this service is the tedious refund process that users have to go through to get their money back.
To know more about this VPN, you can also check out our PureVPN review.
5. CyberGhost Compared to Other VPNs
CyberGhost is a recognized brand in the VPN industry. It offers 6600+ servers across 89+ countries. Aside from the massive server network, Cyberghost has excellent online reviews owing to its industry-best features.
Some of its features include 256-bit encryption, automatic kill switch, adblocker, malware blocker, optimized servers for streaming, torrenting, gaming, and more. It also follows a strict no-logs policy so you are safe with this VPN. It is also quite affordable and lets you connect 7 devices at the same time.
Despite all these amazing features, there have been some complaints from reddit users about poor customer service. However, our experience hasn’t been that bad with CyberGhost. Reddit users have also complained that CyberGhost is facing issues unblocking some streaming sites like Netflix US.
To know more about its features and plans, you can also check out our CyberGhost review.
6. Private Internet Access (PIA) Compared to Other VPNs
PIA has one of the largest server networks among all the other VPN providers with more than 25000+ servers across 77+ locations. With so many servers across the world, you will certainly have no issues unblocking geo-restricted content from anywhere in the world. This US-based VPN service is one of the most popular VPNs in the Five Eyes jurisdiction.
Some of the features offered by PIA include ad and malware blocker, automatic kill switch, split tunneling, SOCKS5 Proxy, Multiple VPN Gateway, and more. It is one of the best VPN for torrenting. You get all these features at a low price and it also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and allows 10 simultaneous connections.
PIA is a VPN service with as many fans on Reddit as there are haters. Literally, any thread on reddit you can find on this service is sharply divided between the naysayers and those with a positive experience.
To know more about this VPN, check out our latest PIA VPN review.
7. PrivateVPN Compared to Other VPNs
Compared to other VPN providers on this list, this Swedish-based VPN service offers only 150+ servers across 60 countries. As compared to other VPNs on this list, this number is quite low. However, it sure does make up for it with its high speeds and security features. Owing to these features, it has a high Trustpilot rating of 4.7/5 stars.
PrivateVPN comes with 2048-bit encryption, kill switch, port forwarding, IPv6 leak protection, application guard, obfuscation, and more. With one PrivateVPN subscription, you can connect up to 6 devices at the same time. It also offers apps for various devices and can be manually configured on routers, Smart TVs, and more.
PrivateVPN is quite popular among reddit users and there are hardly any complaints against this provider if you search through VPN-related subreddits. In fact, it is one of the top VPN recommendations in the community.
To know more about this VPN in detail, you can also check out our PrivateVPN review.
8. VyprVPN Compared to Other VPNs
Next up we have VyprVPN, which offers some pretty cool features despite its low Trustpilot ratings. As compared to other VPNs like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and PIA, this VPN offers few servers, approximately 700+ servers across North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. It is also quite affordable as compared to other VPNs on this list.
Some of its dedicated features include high-end encryption, kill switch, NAT firewall, and VyprVPN Cloud. It also has an audited no-logs policy and it doesn’t keep any user logs whatsoever. With one subscription, you can protect up to 5 devices at the same time.
Redditors seem to have a lot of issues with VyprVPN, but its security and simplicity of user interface are well-appreciated by some users. Some users have companied about VyprVPN not being able to unblock Netflix US from abroad.
Learn about this VPN in our VyprVPN review.
9. IPVanish Compared to Other VPNs
IPVanish is another renowned and most trusted VPN service. It offers its users around 1400+ servers worldwide which is quite low as compared to other VPNs on this list. Some of its other premium features include 256-bit AES encryption, kill switch, zero log policy, and SOCKS5 web proxy. It also uses a Scramble feature for obfuscation.
What’s impressive is the fact that IPVanish also provides its users with a powerful feature of password generator for maximum privacy and security. It also comes with IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection.
It allows 10 simultaneous connections and also offers a 7-day money-back guarantee. The trend of mixed user reviews continues with IPVanish, as reddit users report varying all the way from poor to excellent.
To know about this VPN in detail, read our in-depth IPVanish review.
10. Ivacy Compared to Other VPNs
This Singapore-based VPN offers the best value for money. Ivacy VPN has over 3500+ servers across 100+ locations and offers excellent security features. Some of its features include a kill switch, split tunneling, OpenVPN, port forwarding, and more. Aside from these excellent features, Ivacy also offers Dedicated IP Addresses in 7 countries.
With one Ivacy subscription, you can connect up to 10 devices at the same time, and it also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It does not keep any activity logs or meta logs, so you are safe with this VPN. You can also check our detailed VPN price comparison to choose a budget-friendly VPN service with adequate features.
Ivacy has receives a lot of criticism on reddit. A number of users have reported issues with bad servers, resulting in frequent disconnections. But, we have never experienced any connectivity issues with Ivacy.
Find out more about this VPN in our Ivacy review.
Countries with Online Censorship & Heavy Surveillance
One of the main drivers behind the increasing demand for VPN services is online censorship, the laws for which vary by country. Generally, censorship laws are quite lenient in most European countries.
But elsewhere in the world, in certain regions of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, online censorship can assume downright Orwellian proportions. The top ten countries with the worst online censorship situation are (in no particular order):
- North Korea
- China
- Saudi Arabia
- Iran
- Myanmar
- Vietnam
- Cuba
- Ethiopia
- Eritrea
- Azerbaijan
If you’re living in one of these countries, using a VPN becomes an important tool for exercising your right to access information and freely express your opinions without persecution or negative repercussions.
We don’t know of any VPN that has jurisdiction in these locations, but if you see one, please stay away. You might end up exposing yourself to privacy invasions and constant online surveillance of your data.
Similarly, there are countries that conduct extensive domestic surveillance of citizens, eavesdropping on their communications, and data shared through the web.
In fact, there’s an alliance of intelligence-sharing countries that have on-going surveillance programs and have a history of encroaching on the privacy of their citizens. These are discussed below.
Five Eyes Alliance
The Five Eyes Alliance includes the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The Snowden documents disclosed these Five Eyes countries, highlighting their involvement in conducting mass surveillance programs on the citizens of each other’s countries.
The implications of such alliances are dangerous and antagonistic to the privacy of citizens. As such, if you use a VPN service located in these Five Eyes countries, then your activities on the web can be easily traced and your data acquired by agencies.
Nine Eyes Alliance
The Nine Eyes is an extension of Five Eyes and includes four more countries in addition to the five countries. The 9 Eyes countries include France, Norway, Netherlands, and Denmark, which collaborate with the Five Eyes in intelligence-sharing and gathering.
Fourteen Eyes
The Fourteen Eyes is a further expansion of this growing list of nosy countries interested in collecting data of citizens. The 14 Eyes countries include all the nations of the nine eyes in addition to Sweden, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Belgium.
To learn more about the role of these countries in performing invasive surveillance on people, you can read our detailed article on Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes.
Glossary of Terms
Following is a glossary of terms you may need to understand in order to compare the services compared in the VPN spreadsheet above.
Speed
It basically explains how fast a VPN is. All VPN services in this chart are qualified as either “Fast”, “Average”, or “Slow”. You can also check the VPN speed test comparison table above to see which VPN service outperforms. Below is a criterion for grading the speeds of any particular VPN:
- Fast – VPNs with less than or equal to 30% drop in the base connection speed
- Average – VPNs with higher than 30% but less than 50% drop in the base connection speed
- Slow – VPNs with a higher than 50% drop in base connection speed
ExpressVPN UK server Speed Test
Privacy and Security
VPNs are used for protecting online privacy and security. Here are some of the factors we took into consideration when comparing VPNs for privacy and security.
Jurisdiction
jurisdiction refers to the laws of a country that a VPN is obligated to follow. Generally, this is the country where a VPN’s headquarter is registered. So, for instance, if a VPN is headquartered in the US, it will have to keep some logs and comply with the local laws. However, a VPN that is headquartered in Panama or the British Virgin Islands is not obligated to keep any logs.
Privacy Policy
We have read the privacy policy of each VPN in detail to see what kind of user data they log. It is essential to choose a VPN that doesn’t log any user information. In fact, most of the premium VPN services on this list only keep necessary user information like an email address to manage the account and billing. Therefore, VPNs that keep timestamps, traffic logs, IP addresses, and more are ranked lower in the comparison chart.
Traffic logging
Traffic logging means keeping a log of your browsing and other activities on the web. These are the most intrusive kind of VPN logs. If someone wishes to track what you’re doing online, they can easily do that with the help of traffic logs or activity logs. That’s why VPNs that do keep traffic logs, often sell them to third parties. Check the above VPN privacy comparison table to see which VPN is the most secure in terms of users data logging.
Bandwidth logging
Keeping a record of download and upload bandwidth you have consumed over a given period. These types of logs are less intrusive. Bandwidth logs are mainly kept to ensure the quality of service and fair usage. However, some VPN keep bandwidth logs for throttling purposes. Speaking of throttling, you may find our bypass ISP throttling guide useful.
Timestamp logging
Keeping a log of the time and date of your connection, disconnection, and any other event that you performed while using the VPN service. This along with IP address logging seriously pose a threat to your privacy, as it facilitates a hacker or agency to trace your identity and even your physical location.
IP address logging
Keeping a log of your original IP address and/or the VPN IP address longer than your session duration. These logs can be used to trace a user. Think of an IP address as your home address. It is unique and can easily identify where you’re actually located in the world.
DNS, IP, and WebRTC Leak Tests
DNS logging refers to the storing of logs of DNS requests made from a user’s computers/device. This information can reveal your location. DNS logs can also allow someone to launch attacks against you through methods like data theft, denial-of-service, and command-and-control.
IP leaks refer to an incident when your IP address starts leaking despite being connected to a VPN. This is why renowned VPNs come with built-in leak protection to prevent IP, DNS, and WebRTC from leaking. The ability of a VPN to prevent IP addresses and DNS of the user (client) from leaking to the web. This is tested via ipleak.net.
IPv6 and WebRTC leak test results of ExpressVPN
Features
We have checked VPNs to make sure they have all the essential features to offer you maximum privacy and security.
Kill Switch
Kill switch is an essential security feature built into VPNs that can cut off your internet in case your VPN connection experiences a temporary loss. This ensures your security is kept intact and your IP doesn’t leak on the web. Top tier VPNs offer different levels of this technology ranging from system-wide kill switch to application kill switch.
ExpressVPNs Kill Switch called “Network Lock“
Torrenting
Most people use VPNs for torrenting safely. However, not all VPNs allow users to access various file-sharing sites like The Pirate Bay. Therefore, we test these VPNs to see which ones allow torrenting.
Netflix
Just with Torrenting, not all VPNs work with Netflix, because most VPN services are blocked by Netflix. Meaning, you will not be able to unblock any Netflix library with those VPNs. Therefore, we have tested which VPNs unblock Netflix as discussed in the VPN comparison spreadsheet above.
Split Tunneling
We prefer VPNs that reroute some of the online traffic through public Wi-Fi and some through the VPN server for faster speeds. However, not all VPNs have a split tunneling feature.
Encryption
The current industry standard is 256-bit AES encryption that encrypts online traffic for maximum security and anonymity. VPNs using 128-bit encryption are not the best choice for privacy and security. You cal also check the VPN protocol comparison table above to see which VPN is more secure.
Multi-Hop
The multi-hop feature encrypts online traffic through multiple server locations for the ultimate level of privacy and anonymity. It definitely gives VPNs an edge over the others. Sadly not all VPN providers offer this cool feature.
Surfshark’s Multihop feature
IP Addresses
VPNs that refresh their IP addresses are preferred over the ones that use old IP addresses that are usually blocked by most websites. Some VPNs also offer dedicated IP addresses like NordVPN.
Simultaneous Connections
The number of devices a VPN can simultaneously support. If you can secure multiple devices with just one subscription then your VPN supports simultaneous connections. Renowned VPNs offer anywhere between ten (10) to unlimited simultaneous connections.
Wrapping up
As you can tell from our hefty VPN comparison guide, choosing VPNs is not an easy task. Just check out our comparison spreadsheet. It took us so much time to compile it. But you have to admit it, it’s really helpful when deciding which VPN to got for.
So there you have it guys. We hope you now have a little more respect for how to meticulously review different VPNs for you guys. If you have any suggestions or questions, let us know in the comments.