Things to consider when choosing VPN

There are a lot of VPN services available online that claim to be the best. Having so many options is a good thing but the drawback is you may get confused to choose. So, to help you choose the best VPN service I have made a checklist. This checklist contains the most important things that a VPN must-have.

1. Strong Privacy and Security Features

Security and privacy are the features that VPNs exist for. If these features are not reliable in a VPN you should definitely give it a pass no matter how cheap and tempting it looks.

Now you might be thinking that what are the most important security features a VPN should have. Well, that’s why I am writing this article for you. The most important privacy and security features are:

1. The Strongest Encryption: The VPN should have the AES 256-bit military-grade encryption This is the most secure encryption available right now. Banks and the military use this encryption for an unbreachable security system.
2. Best Security Protocol: Security protocols keep your data hidden and keep your communication secure. So, it is a must to have the best security protocols. At present, the most popular security protocols are OpenVPN, ExpressVPN, and WireGuard. Also, you should not just rely on a single protocol, the VPN service provider should allow you to choose from multiple protocols.
3. No-Log Policy: The VPN service provider should clearly declare their no-log policy. It means they won’t store any data about your online activity.

2. Kill Switch

It has been noticed several times that because of some unexpected reasons the VPN connection drops. So, if your VPN server connection cuts off and your internet connection is still ON then it may expose your identity.

Here comes the Kill Switch feature to save you. Kill Switch will immediately turn off your internet connection if your VPN server is disconnected. Once disconnected you can try to turn on the internet and connect to the VPN server again.

3. Multi-Hop

The multi-hop feature adds an extra layer of security to your connection. A VPN service allows you to connect to the online world through its own servers to hide your original IP and identity. 

There are many VPN software available that provides double security with the multi-hop feature. This feature allows you to access the internet through two 2 different servers, one after another. It adds an extra layer of encryption to your connection and makes it impossible to track.

4. The Number Of Servers

More servers mean more speed. VPN with a lesser number of servers tends to get slow because multiple users are connecting through one server. Having a huge number of servers reduces customers’ struggle for resources.

A VPN with a huge number of servers will split the resources among users which will make the speed of the VPN connection incredible.

Here is the data about servers I found on the internet: NordVPN (5500+), ExpressVPN (3000+), SurfShark (3200+), IPVanish (2000+), Private VPN (200+), Avira Phantom VPN Pro (1400+).

5. Ease of Use

Having a lot of features is always good but the integration of a lot of functions could make the software complex. It happens with many software developers who make outstanding functions but lacks to assemble them in the software design which makes it difficult to use.

The user interface of the software needs to be a cakewalk so anyone with the least technical knowledge can access the software easily. Also, the software must be easy to set up so a novice user can start using it.

6. Cross-Platform

You should be able to access the internet safely with any of your devices. Most VPN service providers allow you to avail of their services on multiple devices i.e. Mobile and Desktop. If a VPN lacks this feature you need to find an alternative.  

You can install the software for your PC and the app for your mobile devices i.e. Android or iPhone. The VPN plan should provide access to its services on as many devices as possible with a single account. Also, it is not hard to find a family plan so you can have security for all your family members.

7. Good Customer Support

Good customer support is a must for any business. The VPN service provider should allow you to contact experts whenever you need them. Also, there should be multiple ways to access customer support.

You should be able to reach the experts 24*7 through Chat, Email, and Phone. Just go to the contact page or support page of the VPN service provider and check if there are enough customer support options available.

8. Money-Back Guarantee

This used to sound difficult in old days, but at present, this option is not so hard to avail. This attracts customers and also indicates that the service provider has confidence in its services. 

So, wishing money-back guarantee for a service is not unreasonable these days. And this is a fact that many VPN service providers give a money-back guarantee.

9. Reviews on Third-party Websites

It is always good to do a background check before opting for any service. The condition remains the same with VPN services. You should check expert reviews on authority websites like CNet, SoftAppWorld, PCmag, TechRadar, etc. Especially, CNet has a good number of VPN resources. Also, you can find customer reviews on trustworthy platforms like Google, Trustpilot, G2, etc.

Conclusion

This was the complete checklist that one should consider before choosing a VPN service. You can add some points to the list according to your preferences.

If want to add more insights to the list then please feel free to mention them in the comment section. And if you think that the article was worth a read then please share it on social media.

Author's Bio:

Priyanka Sharma is a technical content writer at SoftAppWorld. Her keen interest is in testing different kinds of software and writing reviews about them. Her goal is to help people with software reviews and how-to guides. In her free time, she likes to create different kinds of sketches and designs. You can find her on Twitter