The Best VPN Service Comparison 2022

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT VPNs

Can VPN Providers See Passwords?

Generally, no. VPN providers do not have access to your private passwords. A good sign of a reliable provider is that they will have minimal or no supervision over personal data of that kind.

However, VPN providers can see the credentials you use to log in to their service. So, you should always diversify your passwords and preferably use non-identifiable usernames to be on the safe side.

What is VPN Jurisdiction?

Generally speaking, your VPN jurisdiction may refer to the VPN Company's location and the regulations imposed by the corresponding government. Your VPN jurisdiction can determine what kind of data they retain and how the government can access this data. Check out our VPN comparison table to see the jurisdiction of your preferred VPN provider.

What Are The 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, and 14 Eyes Countries That I Keep Hearing About?

These 'eyes' refer to the alliance between several governments, allowing them to share surveillance or communication data on their citizens. It was initially a surveillance agreement between the US and the UK that began in the 1940s. Later on, more countries became parties to this UKUSA agreement for extended data collection and intelligence-sharing. The figures refer to the number of countries that are part of each tier or category.

The 5 Eyes include Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, in addition to the US and UK.

The 9 Eyes include Denmark, France, Netherlands, and Norway, plus the 5 Eyes.

The 14 Eyes have Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden, along with the 9 Eyes.

Debates continue on how effective VPNs are in negating the data collection of these authorities. Our VPN service comparison chart shows you the location of all the major providers so that you can choose accordingly.

What is VPN Encryption?

Encryption is when your data or info gets encoded in a way that only a device with a decoder can read or access the information.

In a VPN, your computer can encrypt the data that enters one end of the communication tunnel, and the other computer decrypts it at the receiving end. VPN providers follow a variety of security protocols to encrypt data. And the encryption methods could differ from one provider to another. The most common encryption methods used by VPNs are Triple DES, Blowfish, AES, RSA, etc. Each of these methods have their own unique way of encrypting or decrypting your data and it is done in a VPN service on the fly with utmost care and that makes your data and your identity more secured.

Making a VPN encryption comparison between different providers can get complicated for average users. So, we recommend checking out our VPN providers’ list to weigh in other factors before you take the plunge.

Are The Speed and Server Count of a VPN Related?

The short answer is yes. Server count does affect the speed of your VPN provider. The fastest VPN server will usually have a higher server count compared to slower ones. However, there are other attributes that factor in besides the sheer number of servers.

For instance, the distribution and location of the servers also determine the speed. But it’s always advisable to see the number of servers and speed rating of each provider whenever you come across a VPN feature comparison chart.

What Is The IP Count In a VPN?

VPN providers may offer a varying number of IP addresses. This number is, essentially, the IP count of the VPN provider.

Normally, VPNs will offer you a number of dynamic IP addresses. But it’s not unusual for people to get a VPN provider with static IP addresses. Shared IP addresses can be easier to mask, but it can also cause problems when users in your shared IP get blacklisted (Check if an IP address is blacklisted here). As an alternative, some users also go for VPN providers with dedicated IP addresses for exclusive use.

What's an IP Leak?

VPNs conceal your real IP address by routing you through one of its servers and giving you an alternate IP address. So, computers interacting with your device will only see the IP address of your VPN server and not your real IP.

An IP leak happens when your device inadvertently interacts with a default server instead of the one provided by your VPN. In such a case, your real IP address will be visible on the other side too. If you want to see what your IP address looks like, use our IP address checking tool.

What Is IP Address Logging?

VPN providers may log certain information when you use the service. This ‘logging’ can come under different categories.

The first is called Connection logs. Here, your VPN provider logs general and non-identifying data that they require for server and network maintenance. This type of logging is temporary and, in most cases, necessary for an efficient VPN service.

The second is Usage logs. These logs include identifiable data connected to you. IP address logging is an example of this type of logging when a provider stores your IP address and browsing behavior. Not all VPN comparison sites hold providers accountable for these actions. When we rank the providers in our VPN Comparison Chart, providers who engage in IP address logging usually score lower.

What About VPN Traffic Logging?

Traffic logging can also come under Usage logs, where VPN providers log information on your traffic. Many times, VPN services that offer ‘Free’ services may indulge in this type of data collection. This way, they can sell the info for revenue which compensates for the ‘Free VPN’ services.

It's similar to IP address logging, where providers store personal information about you but comparatively worse. VPN services that engage in traffic logging rank lower in our VPN Service Comparison charts because traffic logs often include downloads, browsing history, messages, etc.

What Is Bandwidth Logging?

Bandwidth logging is when your VPN provider tracks and stores information on the amount of bandwidth you’re using. Bandwidth logs can often be a grey area for differentiating necessary logs and collection of personal data.

Typically, if your plan has a bandwidth limit, then you shouldn’t be surprised if your provider tracks your usage. However, this tracking should be temporary once your reach the cap or change a plan.

What Is Timestamp Logging?

Timestamp logs are part of simple connection logs that VPN servers keep a record of. Whenever you access your VPN server, it may log your entry-time and your exit-time. This record is the timestamp logging, and most VPN servers today perform it.

VPN providers that don't keep logs may also store basic records like this to protect against brute force attacks. So, in many cases, it can be a security measure.

What Is DNS Logging?

DNS (Domain Name System) is the mechanism that translates IP address information into the domain names that we know and use. So, whenever you make a DNS query, it usually goes to a standard DNS server. But with VPNs, the query is routed to the VPN’s server instead.

So, your VPN will have logs of your DNS prompts. This is generally not a problem unless your provider experiences DNS leaks. The best way to prevent that from happening is to use a trusted and reliable VPN provider.

If you want to know more information about a specific domain name, check out this useful tool. Alternatively, if you know an IP address, you can reverse search for the domain name here.

What Is a VPN Kill Switch?

The Kill Switch is a feature in many VPN providers which prevents the exposure of your IP address. The VPN reroutes your connection through a server that masks your IP. That's why you get to access content that would otherwise be unavailable from your location or region.

If the VPN's connection drops occasionally, your real IP address will get detected by the destination server. The Kill Switch immediately stops your device from any further communication. In effect, it prevents your device from exposing your real IP address.

What Is Torrenting? Should I Use a VPN For Torrenting?

Torrenting is a system of uploading/downloading files from other user's computers/devices through a network without using a central server.

Depending on your country and location, torrent sites and services may be blocked. Also, there is the risk of downloading pirated content, which is subject to piracy laws in your region. So, using a VPN can mask your IP and help you securely connect to these websites, even if you're downloading completely safe content. Different VPNs fare differently in torrenting.

Check out our VPN comparison list to get a quick glance at how the major VPN providers perform.

What Is a VPN Protocol?

VPNs work by creating a routed tunnel between a public network and a private one. So, you get a routed connection to a public network, but the exchange of data takes place as if you're connected to a private network directly.

The VPN protocol is the system that decides how your data gets routed to and from this connection. Some VPNs are great at delivering data speeds, while others are better at masking your IP address and encrypting data. A reliable VPN feature comparison chart will show you how each provider handles these protocols.

What Is Split-Tunneling in VPNs?

Split-tunneling is when a VPN allows you to route some of your traffic through the VPN’s encrypted connection, and other traffic gets connected directly to the internet (without VPN). It's a convenient VPN feature that allows you to encrypt your traffic selectively without foregoing access to your local network devices.

What Are Simultaneous Connections in VPNs?

In VPN services, simultaneous connections refer to the number of devices that you can connect to the network at the same time.

Some providers allow you to make unlimited connections but may compromise the speed of each device. Others can deliver good speeds but limit connections to a limited number. The VPN provider you choose should depend on your situation and the context in which you intend to use the VPN.