If you want a VPN that performs well across privacy, speed, streaming, and everyday use, NordVPN is our top overall pick for most people in the USA. Surfshark is our value pick, Proton VPN is the strongest choice for privacy-focused users, ExpressVPN is the easiest option for beginners, and CyberGhost is a compelling budget alternative.
- Best Overall
- Blazing Fast
- Reliable Streaming
- Advanced Security
- Global Network
- Unlimited Devices
- Maximum Value
- Strong Streaming
- 100+ Countries
- Advanced Privacy
- Privacy First
- Swiss Privacy
- Open Source
- Audited No-Logs
- Secure Core
- Beginner Friendly
- Fast Connections
- Lightway Protocol
- Wide Device Support
- Strong Privacy
- Budget Friendly
- 30 Day Refund
- 7 Devices
- 100+ Countries
- Streaming Servers
Our Top Pick: NordVPN
Best overall VPN for most US users
NordVPN is our best overall VPN because it delivers the strongest combination of privacy, speed, streaming performance, features, usability, and value among the five VPNs we compared.
Independent 2026 testing supports that conclusion. Tom's Guide and TechRadar both currently rank NordVPN as their overall VPN leader, while Security.org also placed it first in its 2026 testing. An independent Artifact Security performance test published in 2026 awarded NordVPN the only Platinum rating among the five providers it tested.
Why we recommend it
- Excellent overall performance
- Strong privacy and security features
- Reliable streaming performance
- Up to 10 simultaneous connections
- Large global network
- Dedicated IP available
- Useful security tools
- 30-day money-back guarantee
The downside
NordVPN isn't the cheapest option, and its long-term promotional price can be followed by a higher renewal price. Its interface is also less minimalist than ExpressVPN's.
Best for:
People who want one VPN that does almost everything well.
Not ideal for:
Shoppers whose only priority is the lowest possible price.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you purchase a VPN through links on this page. This does not add to your cost. Our recommendations are based on our stated evaluation criteria, available independent testing, provider documentation, and current product information.
The 5 Best VPNs in the USA
1. NordVPN: Best Overall
NordVPN is the easiest choice if you don't want to spend hours comparing technical VPN features.
It combines strong privacy and security features with fast performance, broad device support, streaming capability, and a large network. Current plans support up to 10 simultaneous devices, and NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Independent 2026 testing has also been favorable. Security.org reported an average download speed loss of about 6% in its testing, while its streaming tests found NordVPN consistently effective across major platforms.
Pros
- Excellent overall performance
- Strong streaming track record
- Up to 10 simultaneous connections
- Large network
- Strong security features
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Renewal pricing can be higher
- More expensive than Surfshark
- More features can mean a slightly busier interface
Who should choose NordVPN?
Choose NordVPN if you want a well-rounded VPN for streaming, browsing, travel, privacy, and everyday security without having to compromise heavily in any one category.
Who shouldn't?
If you mainly want the cheapest VPN for a large number of devices, Surfshark may offer better value.
2. Surfshark: Best Value
Surfshark stands out for one major reason:
You can connect unlimited simultaneous devices.
That makes it particularly attractive for households with multiple phones, laptops, tablets, TVs, and other compatible devices.
Its current Starter plan is advertised at $2.49/month on the two-year offer, with three additional months included. Surfshark also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous devices
- Low long-term price
- Strong streaming performance
- Good usability
- 100-country network
- 4,500+ servers
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Some advanced features are less extensive
- Streaming performance can vary between services
- Renewal pricing can differ from promotional pricing
Who should choose Surfshark?
Surfshark is a particularly strong choice if multiple people or many devices will share one VPN subscription.
Who shouldn't?
If privacy architecture is your primary concern and you want a provider with a particularly strong privacy-focused identity, Proton VPN may be a better fit.
3. Proton VPN: Best for Privacy
Proton VPN is the privacy specialist in this comparison.
Its privacy credentials include Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, Secure Core technology, and an independently audited no-logs policy.
Proton's 2026 external audit reported that the reviewed server infrastructure did not show evidence of logging browsing activity, DNS queries, network traffic contents, or user-identifiable connection metadata.
Pros
- Strong privacy focus
- Swiss jurisdiction
- Open-source applications
- Independently audited no-logs policy
- Secure Core architecture
- Free plan available
- Strong streaming performance on paid plans
Cons
- Some advanced privacy features aren't necessary for casual users
- Support availability isn't as extensive as some competitors
- Privacy-focused features can add complexity
Who should choose Proton VPN?
Choose Proton VPN if privacy and transparency are more important to you than getting the absolute lowest price.
Who shouldn't?
If you simply want the easiest possible VPN experience, ExpressVPN may be a better fit.
4. ExpressVPN: Best for Beginners
ExpressVPN is the VPN we'd recommend to someone who says: “I don't really understand VPNs. I just want something simple.”
Ease of use is its biggest advantage.
Its current Basic long-term plan is advertised at $2.99/month, with 10 simultaneous devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. ExpressVPN also supports a broad range of devices and uses its Lightway protocol for performance and reliability.
Pros
- Very easy to use
- Strong privacy features
- Good speeds
- Excellent device support
- Lightway protocol
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Strong customer support
Cons
- More expensive than Surfshark
- Multiple subscription tiers can be confusing
- Some competitors offer more features for the money
Who should choose ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN is ideal if simplicity is your priority and you don't want to spend time configuring a VPN.
Who shouldn't?
If you have a large household and want unlimited simultaneous connections, Surfshark is the more obvious choice.
5. CyberGhost: Best Budget Alternative
CyberGhost is worth considering if price is your biggest concern.
Its current long-term offer is advertised at $2.19/month for 26 months, billed at $56.94 initially, and the plan comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee. It also supports up to seven simultaneous devices and operates servers in 100 countries.
Pros
- Very low long-term price
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Seven simultaneous devices
- Large network
- WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Not as strong overall as NordVPN
- US streaming results can be less consistent
- Fewer standout differentiators than the other four
Who should choose CyberGhost?
CyberGhost makes sense if you want a low-cost VPN and value having a longer refund window.
Who shouldn't?
If streaming reliability or overall performance is your main concern, NordVPN is the stronger choice.
Best VPNs by Use Case
Best Overall: NordVPN
NordVPN delivers the top overall score in our testing, combining industry-leading speed performance, robust NordLynx protocol security, reliable 4K streaming unblocking, and a feature-rich threat protection suite across all major devices.
Best for Streaming: NordVPN
NordVPN has one of the strongest and most consistent streaming records among the five VPNs in this comparison. Streaming compatibility can change as services update their VPN detection systems, so no VPN should be treated as having a permanent guarantee.
Best for Privacy: Proton VPN
Proton's Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, Secure Core architecture and independently audited no-logs infrastructure make it the strongest privacy-focused choice in this group.
Best Value: Surfshark
Surfshark's combination of low promotional pricing and unlimited simultaneous connections makes it especially attractive to families and multi-device households.
Best for Beginners: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN's clean interface and straightforward setup make it one of the easiest choices for someone who has never used a VPN before.
NordVPN vs. Surfshark vs. Proton VPN vs. ExpressVPN vs. CyberGhost
| Feature | NordVPN | Surfshark | Proton VPN | ExpressVPN | CyberGhost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Overall | Value | Privacy | Beginners | Budget |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 | Unlimited | 10 | 10 on Basic | 7 |
| Money-back | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | Up to 45 days |
| Streaming | Excellent | Very good | Very good | Very good | Good |
| Privacy focus | Excellent | Very good | Excellent | Excellent | Very good |
| Long-term value | Very good | Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Ease of use | Very good | Excellent | Very good | Excellent | Very good |
How We Evaluated These VPNs
We evaluated the five VPNs across nine categories:
Privacy and security
Speed and performance
Streaming
Features
Network coverage
Usability
Device support
Price and value
Customer support
Privacy and security received the highest weight because a VPN's fundamental purpose is to protect internet traffic and improve privacy.
Performance and streaming received the next-highest weights because they have a direct impact on everyday usability.
Prices were considered important, but we did not allow promotional pricing alone to determine the winner.
Important: VPN Pricing Changes
VPN companies frequently change promotional prices.
The price shown in an advertisement may depend on:
- subscription length
- promotional campaign
- country
- taxes
- coupon
- new-customer status
- renewal period
- plan tier
For that reason, always check the provider's current checkout price before purchasing.
A low introductory price should not automatically be treated as the long-term cost.
Are VPNs Worth It?
What a VPN Is Useful For
For many users, a VPN can be useful for improving privacy on public Wi-Fi, changing the IP address visible to websites, securing internet traffic, and accessing services while traveling.
What a VPN Cannot Do Alone
But a VPN isn't a complete online-security solution.
It does not make you anonymous, prevent every type of tracking, or protect you from phishing and scams by itself.
Good account security, strong passwords, two-factor authentication, software updates, and careful browsing still matter.
Which VPN Should You Choose?
You want the best overall balance.
You want strong value and unlimited simultaneous devices.
Privacy is your highest priority.
You want the simplest experience.
You want a low-cost long-term option with a longer money-back period.
Final Recommendation
For most US consumers, NordVPN is the strongest overall choice in this five-VPN comparison.
It isn't the cheapest VPN, and it isn't necessarily the best choice for every individual. But its combination of privacy, performance, streaming, features, device support, network coverage and usability makes it the most balanced option.
The best VPN isn't necessarily the one with the lowest price or the longest feature list. It's the one that best matches how you actually use the internet.
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