What Features Should Be Included With The Best VPN Software ?
Choosing a VPN that suits your needs is a daunting task. Why? Because today there is just so much choice available.
There are tons of adverts on the radio, online and on the television for VPN providers. And guess what? They all have slick marketing campaigns and promote themselves as the best in class.
However common sense tells us that they all cannot be the best VPN. How then do you choose the best VPN for you?
A good way of narrowing down the field is to look at what features the best VPN software should have before you choose.
This is where we can help you. We have highlighted the main features that you should look to have with a VPN. These are exactly what we look for and rate when reviewing a VPN.
So without further ado here goes….
Ease of Use
There is absolutely no point in having a VPN that is difficult to use. We want a VPN to be simple and easy to use. There should be no hoops to jump through to get a VPN working and it really should be a matter of turning it on and voila you are up and running!
Reliability
Once activated the VPN should work flawlessly – no dropped connections and no issues connecting to different servers. Simple.
Your VPN should be working all of the time. Yes we understand that issues may crop up from time to time however, the service should be up and running 99.9% of the time.
Does the VPN publish their uptime results? Is it accurate or is it marketing fluff? Let us investigate this on your behalf.
Jurisdiction
Where is the VPN company located and under what jurisdiction do they fall under? If your VPN is based in a country that is a member of the Global Surveillance Alliance (otherwise known as Five, Nine and Fourteen Eyes) then they may well be required to hand over all of your data if requested. You should also avoid using VPNs based in countries that ‘control’ the use of the internet.
Does it hide your IP address?
This is a basic requirement for your VPN. Using a VPN should anonymize your internet connection.
Server numbers and locations
How many servers does the VPN have and where are they located?
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Can you change servers and therefore your online location easily and without any fuss? Perhaps you are based in Canada and are watching a series on the US Netflix platform and then decide to watch a documentary on the UK BBC iPlayer. The process of switching servers and therefore your location should be straightforward and easy to do.
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Do they set data or bandwidth limits?
Depending upon what you do online and how much you use the internet this could be a crucial factor. We always check and report if there are any limits set by the VPN. In an ideal world you get unlimited internet access via the VPN. If there are limits we will let you know and our scores will reflect this.
Multiple Devices
Can you use the VPN on a number of devices simultaneously? Are there any restrictions to the number of devices that you can use the software on? In an ideal world you will be able to use the VPN on your mobile phone, laptop and desktop all at the same time.
Protocol
What protocol are they using? Is it the latest version? And what exactly are VPN protocols?
Without going into too much detail a VPN protocol are simply some rules that enable a connection to happen between the VPN server and the client.
We recommend OpenVPN protocol as it can be used with all of the main operating systems. It also operates with some of the best security protocols. However, it’s not something that most people should worry about too much as the vast majority of people don’t play around with internet protocols. Your VPN provider should automatically choose the best protocols for your needs.
Pricing
A VPN should be affordable and provide good value for money. The various pricing structures on offer can seem confusing and may at times be misleading. Let us assess the offers for you and recommend the best value VPNs.
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Payments
What payment methods do they accept? We always look for those providers that accept the major and most popular payment methods. You may also want to have completely anonymous payment methods that not all VPNs provide. Completely anonymous payment should not need any personal information to be disclosed.
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What if you have an issue that needs to be resolved. Who do you contact and how do you contact them? Are they available 24/7 across several different mediums? If so, are they responsive and do they provide a good service?
Excellent customer service should be an absolute no brainer for a VPN provider particularly given the number of competitors in the market. However in our experience, just as in most industries some VPNs are better than others at responding to queries and any issues that may arise.
Speed
There is no point in connecting to a server with woeful speeds. We want a fast internet connection. This is non negotiable for most users. Period.
Privacy
Ok so your VPN provider promises that your data and search history is secure. How do you know that you can trust them? They may tell you that they would never share or reveal your data with anyone else. However, what about law enforcement agencies? As noted previously where the company is actually located will affect who has jurisdiction over your data.
We always look for the no-log policy with a VPN. This means that they do not keep a log of all your internet activity and browser searches.
Should I Use A Free VPN?
Good question.
There are a number of free VPNs available on the market and therefore why on earth would anybody want to pay for a VPN service. By not paying for the service however there is no real reason for the VPN to protect your data and they will probably keep a log of all of your internet data.
Using a Free VPN will probably mean adverts being pushed in your direction. These ads are normally of a low quality and may be infected with malware and other bad things that you don’t want on your computer.
To be sure and to be safe it’s probably best not to use a free VPN if at all possible.
Marketing Claims
As in most industries you are bombarded by various marketing claims from the different providers. The idea is to differentiate their service from the other providers fighting for your custom. How do you cut through the various marketing claims made by the VPN providers?
This is where VPN Chooser can help you. We test and review a number of VPNs and provide you with a simple no BS recommendation.
Our Promise
We also promise to only recommend those VPNs that pass our rigorous tests.
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