In the Internet market, we can find absolutely everything, legal or illegal, safe or dangerous. If our lives and money revolve around the Internet, the least we can do is look for the best-paid VPNs to access the network of networks safely and above all anonymously.
Although it is true that there are free VPNs, they do not even come close to having the same advantages and functions as paid ones. Many times it is the same companies that offer both services, with the aim of showing an advance of their benefits and thus leading us to buy a more complete plan. We have searched for the safest, best valued, and cheapest services that we can find today.
How a VPN Network Works
A VPN or Virtual Private Network consists of a local area network (LAN) that extends beyond the limits of an enclosure or building. It is a means by which it is possible to extend an internal network to the domains of a WAN, in order to interconnect geographically separated nodes in a local network.
This is achieved by allowing hosts to interconnect through a network extension without being physically connected. For this, the Internet is used, through a kind of tunnel (hence the term tunneling ) that transports the encrypted information out of the access of malicious programs.
The rationale is the same in all cases, but when it comes to VPN services provided by companies, each of us accesses their VPN network through an application. With it, we connect to one of the many servers that it has spread around the world to access its huge LAN network.
If we look at the connection, we will notice that the IP of our equipment has changed, and now it is not the typical 192.168…, but one that this server has given us to enter its network, and not that of our router, although it is still existing.
What can we do with a VPN and what do we need to make it work?
Well, to make a VPN work we are not going to require anything more than a computer and an Internet connection. This is necessary to access the extra VPN services, which while we browse your network, our equipment will have an IP provided by the server we connect to.
Our router, modem, or 4G is not an impediment to using this service, we can even be connected to more than one VPN, not simultaneously, of course. Some mid-range and high-end routers even allow you to create your own VPN network, although it will be more aimed at browsing safely or accessing services in our country when we are away.
The good thing about hiring an external service, either paid or free, is the possibility of connecting to servers that are outside our country. What does this mean? Well, it’s as if we were physically in that country and, thanks to that, being able to access television services, downloads, and content that a priori are not accessible from our real connection place.
These are the advantages that VPN provides in general:
- Access content geo-blocked by our country: This is perhaps the main reason why many users decide to hire a paid VPN. In this way, the geographical barrier that our country has when accessing content from foreign channels such as ESPN, Netflix, Disney Plus, etc., is eliminated. In fact, some companies give priority access to payment channels by including them in the contracted rate.
- Streaming and secure torrent downloads: together with the previous one, the main claim of paid VPNs, is that they offer maximum bandwidth for this type of quite demanding practice. Some countries have blocked access to P2P content, with this we can avoid it.
- Add security on public WiFi connections – If you continually work from abroad and handle sensitive data over the Internet, it is best to have a paid VPN, as free VPNs generally offer less security. The good thing here is that many companies have their own VPN for their workers, so check it beforehand.
- Data encryption and user confidentiality: this is achieved by adding an extra encryption layer in the connection, with protocols L2TP, IKEv2, WireGuard, OpenVPN, or those of companies such as NordLynx
- Have extra services: many more extras than a free VPN in fact. As a series of extras, the supplying companies have ad blockers, malware, or spam filters. As well as MAC or IP masking and anonymous browsing.
Advantages of paid VPNs over free ones
Along with the general advantages that we have seen above, paid VPN services offer quite a few extras compared to free VPNs or those that we can set up on our own.
- No data or bandwidth limit: a factor that is always present in free VPNs and that we will never have here. We can download as much content as possible per day and at a speed close to or equal to that of our connection, clearly depending on the server to which we are connected. One thing that will get worse is latency, although this happens with all VPNs.
- Access to more extras and more servers: As we have mentioned before, premium services usually have extra services, such as ad and malware blockers, applications, and browser extensions. The server list is also the maximum available from the provider, something that is always limited in the free plans.
- Without continuous advertising: paying is a way to avoid the company continuously sending us ads and publicity so we contract a premium plan.
- With guaranteed streaming and torrent services: a service that is conspicuous by its absence in free VPNs. They put the servers, so they will have no problem limiting access according to the type of client.
- Extra security, always – In addition to the basic security provided by standard VPN protocols, proprietary solutions are often implemented that add an extra layer of encryption. Although it is true that distributors such as Windscribe do not limit this service, it is not usually unusual.
- Privacy policy for our personal data: here what we will be avoiding is that the provider takes our data when they circulate through their servers, for example, payment cards, online transactions, etc. Let’s always avoid VPNs of dubious origin.
When are they recommended?
Before looking at the list of the best-paid VPNs, it is important to be clear about what type of users this service is aimed at, since if we pay, the least we can do is get the most out of all its functions.
If we simply think of browsing from our computer and not too much, the best thing is a free service, with sufficient security. The data limit in many cases is not a problem, and it would not make sense to pay for something that we are only going to use occasionally.
On the contrary, for users who plan to watch streaming or download content, it does make sense. we remove geographic restrictions, and this is always an advantage. It is also recommended to work away from home, in addition, in many cases they offer up to 45 days of free trial and if we are not happy (or we are already at home) we can unsubscribe and our money will be refunded.
Best Paid VPNs
Without further ado, we are going to see the best-paid VPNs that we have found this year. We will give the most complete information possible.
This other CyberGhost service is available in a paid package that significantly increases the features over the free version, which is also available. In fact, it is the best VPN according to Spanish consumers, whose service costs 2.64 euros per month with a 30-day refund.
Torrent download and streaming services will be available without any limitation even in the trial time. It is ideal for accessing geo-blocked content, streaming events of all kinds, and also accessing region-blocked games with good bandwidth.
It is compatible with all platforms, including Smartphones, and one of its advantages is the security included in browsing, with AES encryption, ad blocking, and virus detection. The company ensures that it will not keep our information for profit or research purposes, without any registrations and secure P2P downloads without limit.
We know this service well because we have already carried out a fairly complete analysis of its functions and utilities. We can say that it is one of the fastest VPNs on the market, having very little influence on our bandwidth, although it does affect ping, as is always the case with this service.
It is very focused on consuming streaming content, such as Disney Plus for those sites where it is not available, or also ESPN and other programs from foreign countries. It also allows torrenting without data or bandwidth limits, and the performance is impeccable.
To connect we need to install an application or an extension in the browser, although we do not recommend this because it has some problems. It is compatible with almost all systems including Smart TV, Kodi, Kindle, etc. They have servers pretty much all over the world.
We leave you here our PureVPN analysis
This company offers a complete paid VPN service with various rates available, in which the one for 1.79 euros per month with a 2-year contract stands out, with a 30-day trial with money reimbursement.
It is another service that we tested a while ago and that provides us with a large number of services. Here we did see a greater impact on the bandwidth, they decrease by 10 to 20% at the nominal speed. It is mainly oriented to accessing geo-blocked content from other countries, although it offers many other services such as blocking ads, websites, or an email analyzer in the testing phase.
It is compatible with most platforms, and we will access its servers spread all over the world through an application or a browser extension.
We leave you here our Surfshark analysis
This other VPN is the one that offers the most advanced features in the paid VPN market. They have a slightly higher cost than the previous ones, with 3.10 euros per month in the 3-year plan, which would be about 111 euros in the three years. They also have a 30-day refundable trial.
We have no limitations on data consumption or bandwidth, eliminating border blockades without any problem and even being able to watch Netflix. It is in more than 50 countries and with more than 5000 servers. Its privacy policy makes it clear that our personal data will be safe and that we will be able to browse anonymously.
It is compatible with all platforms, and with a single account, we can make 6 connections simultaneously. It has 24/7 assistance and military-level encryption for the connection we make. In the network, we do not leave a single trace of what we do. Perhaps the best option on the list.
It is among the best free and paid VPNs since it has accounts of both types. Its greatest advantages are given its payment service, which consists of three plans. The basic of €4/month, plus of €8/month, and Visionary at €24/month. The cheapest offers coverage in all countries, connections to 2 devices at the same time, and P2P download without limitation. With the rest of the plans, we will have access to better servers with Tor, higher-level encryption, and up to 10 simultaneous teams.
Well, as in other cases, it offers compatibility with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. As usual, we will need a browser extension or App to connect to the available servers, which will be the entire list available for premium users, and a small list for free ones.
One of its advantages is security in browsing and anonymity, with AES encryption and a hidden IP, so it is good to use it at work from public places. By not having limitations, we can watch streaming from any country and in any country except for limitations by law. Its biggest advantage is the security it provides.
As in other cases, it is a paid VPN that offers its most advantageous service with a fee of 2.99 euros per month contracting a 36-month plan, being about 107 euros after three years. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee, what a novelty!
It already has a long history since 2005, created mainly to unblock content in other countries, it started out basically as a proxy. It then grew into the massive VPN service it is today. It supports all Windows, Linux, and Mac platforms, and can also be integrated into the router itself, with software with which we will connect to the desired server.
It ensures our encrypted and anonymous browsing since it masks all the information of the user and equipment from which it connects. All our traffic will be encrypted, and it is available in 190 countries, being compatible with Netflix.
This other paid VPN service is not available in Spanish, although it is not that it is much needed. The cheapest rate is for 15 months, paying $2.88 per month with a 30-day trial.
At all rates, they offer us the maximum speed and data connection features, with up to 6 devices connected simultaneously. It has servers in 60 countries supporting all current operating systems and also Smartphones.
It has advanced data encryption as in the other cases, using 256-bit AES, and a 2048-bit DH key. It supports a large number of protocols including the OpenVPN that is usually found in our routers, and other much more advanced ones such as IKEv2.
It is a good way to unblock websites from all over the world, social networks in countries that do not allow it like China, streaming content in America, etc.
ExpressVPN currently offers a 12-month rate paying 6.34 euros per month and another 3 months free. Having seen the previous ones, nothing is free, being slightly more expensive than others on this list but still one of the best and one that deserves to be present.
Another great recommendation is to watch streaming Disney Plus content and other TV channels that are not accessible from our country. In fact, it is also compatible with Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime streaming services, among many others, accessing certain content without paying anything extra.
It is even compatible with Amazon Fire TV and of course all PC platforms, Smartphones, and even Nvidia Shield. With it we have up to 5 simultaneous connections, and an application for our router, providing complete anonymity and high encryption security. It is not the cheapest, but it offers good services.
This VPN has become quite famous for its recurring use to access content that the country blocks from China, which is not little. These include of course streaming, P2P, and websites like Facebook. In fact, it is one of the few VPNs that circumvents the firewall that this country has.
Its rate is not exactly cheap, nothing less than 10 dollars a month choosing a 1-year plan, the longest available. It has extra services such as a private IP, better connection latency, or even an Astrill VPN router. Its privacy policy ensures that it does not keep records of our activity.
It works with the main VPN protocols such as OpenVPN, StealthVPN, OpenWeb, L2TP, IPSec, and SSTP, and supports all types of PC and Smartphone platforms. It is available in more than 50 countries, with more than 300 servers, and of course, it is compatible with Netflix.
WindScribe offers a permanently free service that is highly suitable for those users looking to consume content from platforms that are blocked in their own country, such as ESPN or Disney Plus. It also offers the possibility of downloading torrents from anywhere.
But the biggest advantages are not obtained with the paid version, with a cost of $4.08 per month in the most advantageous plan for the user, which includes a 12-month contract and 30-day trial. With it we will eliminate the limit of data consumption and bandwidth, which have the free version, giving free rein for consumption of all types of multimedia content and P2P downloads.
Finally, it is a free VPN service that provides excellent security, the same in fact as the paid version, which is very good. It has an advertising and malware blocker to control our browsing, high-level encryption, and a detailed privacy policy that reports the data it saves.
Conclusion on Paid VPNs
All the VPNs present here guarantee us access to streaming services and advanced encryption for our connections, with worldwide coverage and at an affordable price for most users.
If we don’t plan to use it for a long time, it would be best to consume the trial period and then change companies, or also opt for a more limited free solution. Without further ado, we leave you with more articles related to the topic of networks: