Best no-log VPNs in 2026

Many VPNs claim that they’re a “no-log” service, when in reality, they still store some data about their users. It means there should be no information kept except for the data they have to collect for account creation or billing purposes.

What really matters for a VPN that claims to be no-logs is to collect the least amount of data that’s only needed to provide you with services. It means there should be no information kept that could trace back to your online activities, like logging your browsing activities or permanently storing your IP address or connection timestamps.

Reading and interpreting every VPN privacy policy can be challenging, so I reviewed the no-logs claims, audit reports, and past real-world cases of over a dozen VPNs myself. Below, you’ll learn the best truly no-logs VPNs and my insights on how they hold up in practice.

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Top 5 best no-logs VPNs

1. 1. NordVPN – best no-logs VPN in 2026
2. 2. Surfshark – no-logs VPN for unlimited simultaneous connections
3. 3. ExpressVPN – secure and audited VPN that keeps no traffic logs
4. 4. Private Internet Access (PIA) – privacy-oriented VPN with regular transparency reports
5. 5. Proton VPN – VPN with a free plan that’s audited annually

 

What does a no-logs VPN mean?

No-logs VPNs are VPN services that don’t collect IP addresses, traffic logs, or other identifiable data. The saying “no-logs” doesn’t apply to data that is needed for VPN providers to maintain their services.

For example, a VPN provider may need your email address and payment information to manage payments or issue refunds. They may also need your email address or user ID to provide customer support.

Essentially, VPN logs fall into three main categories:

1. Activity logs, like websites visited
2. Connection logs, like IP addresses or timestamps
3. Operational data, like crash reports

Testing disclosure

I put reputable VPNs to a test to find out which ones truly don't log your data. I only classified a VPN as a no-logs service if it doesn't log any information that could lead back to your browsing activities. A VPN is also not a no-logs service if it keeps persistent connection logs that could be used to identify a user.

The best no-logs VPNs in 2026

I researched and tested over a dozen VPNs, reviewing their privacy policies, independent audits, past scandals or related public cases, and transparency reports. My detailed insights into the top 5 no-logs VPNs can be found below.

1. NordVPN – best no-logs VPN overall

NordVPN

1

9.7

/10

Visit NordVPN

Pros & cons

• Has been independently audited 5 times
• Based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction
• RAM-only servers

• Temporarily processes session timestamps, not linked to IPs or activity

NordVPN is the best no-logs VPN in 2026 because its privacy policy regularly undergoes independent audits, and it publicly releases transparency reports. Plus, NordVPN employs RAM-only servers and is based in Panama, which is outside the 5/9/14 Eyes surveillance alliances.

After reviewing the privacy policy, I found that NordVPN doesn’t log your internet traffic, IP addresses, browsing activities, or bandwidth. It only processes information, like connection timestamps, email addresses, and basic billing information, needed to maintain their services or manage accounts.

In the December 2024 audit by Deloitte, the independent company concluded that NordVPN operates in accordance with its privacy policy.

NordVPN’s transparency report reveals that they’ve had to legally give up information about a user once, but no activity logs were available. As a result, all they could share was “payment-related data and confirmation about the existence of the account.”

NordVPN offers excellent security features as well. It has 8,300+ servers in 129 countries, and all of them are RAM-only, meaning the data is erased with each server reboot. A reliable kill switch that secures you in case the VPN connection drops, and Threat Protection that blocks malicious ads and trackers is also included.

You can get NordVPN starting from $2.99/month. There’s a free 3-day trial on Android and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. Surfshark – no-logs VPN for unlimited devices

Surfshark

1

9.6

/10

Visit Surfshark

Pros & cons

• Has been independently audited 2 times already
• Hasn’t disclosed any data to government institutions
• Accepts cryptocurrency payments
• RAM-only servers

• Based in the Netherlands, a member of the 14-eyes alliance
• Temporarily processes session timestamps (15 minutes post-session)

If you’re looking for a low-priced VPN that can be used on unlimited devices, then Surfshark is the way to go. While based in a 14-eye alliance member country, it’s been audited multiple times, has no past reputational issues, and publicly releases transparency reports.

When reading Surfshark’s privacy policy, I found that it logs none of your browsing activities, traffic, or bandwidth usage. While they process IP addresses and connection timestamps, they’re automatically deleted within 15 minutes after the session ends. I considered this acceptable only because it’s not tied to activity logs.

Plus, the latest (June 2025) independent audit by Deloitte confirmed that Surfshark follows its no-logs practices, meaning logged data is automatically purged.

The only thing I didn’t like was that Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, which belongs to the 14-Eyes surveillance alliance. Yet, I found no reputational issues with privacy from the past. Plus, according to Surfshark’s transparency report, some institutions requested server IP addresses and specific connection timestamps. As of December 2025, Surfshark disclosed none of it.

Like NordVPN, Surfshark servers run on RAM-only infrastructure, so all data is deleted as soon as you disconnect from the server. You also get a reliable kill switch and CleanWeb for blocking ads and trackers.

Surfshark prices start from from $1.99/month and come with a free 7-day trial. A 30-day money-back guarantee is also available.

3. ExpressVPN – secure VPN for no traffic logging

ExpressVPN

1

9.4

/10

Visit ExpressVPN

Pros & cons

• Has proven no-logs in a real-life scenario
• Has been audited 3 times already
• Jurisdiction is privacy-friendly

• Simultaneous connections depend on the plan
• Doesn’t have advanced security features

ExpressVPN is a strict no-logs VPN that doesn’t give out user data to government institutions because it simply doesn’t log any information. It’s been audited 3 times already and provides regular transparency reports to back its privacy guarantees.

The privacy policy of ExpressVPN states that they log as little information as possible. I found that they don’t collect your browsing history or connection logs (like IP address, connection timestamp, or session duration). Some of the data they collect includes aggregate connection data, such as server location, and account details, like email, name, and payment information.

In terms of independent audits, the latest was performed by KPMG in June 2025. According to ExpressVPN, KPMG found “no identified issues regarding our technical safeguards against activity logging.”

What makes ExpressVPN stand out is that its no-logs policy was tested in real life. In 2017, Turkish authorities seized one of its servers as part of an investigation related to the assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov. The authorities found that it contained no logs, proving that the VPN keeps its word.

As for security, ExpressVPN runs on TrustedServer technology (RAM-only servers), so no information is stored after a session is over. A kill switch, Threat Manager for blocking malware, and DNS leak protection are also in place, so your privacy is taken care of.

ExpressVPN has a free 7-day trial version on Android and iOS, and it also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s available from $3.49/month.

4. Private Internet Access (PIA) – privacy-oriented VPN that keeps no logs

Private Internet Access

1

9.2

/10

Visit Private Internet Access

Pros & cons

• Transparency reports are released quarterly
• Deloitte found no issues with the no-logs policy

• Located in the US, a 5-Eyes member

Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN offers a no-logs policy that collects as little personal information as possible and provides transparency reports to back the claims up. It also equips users with great security features to ensure privacy, like multi-hop routing and a kill switch.

PIA VPN is based in Colorado, USA, which is a 5-eyes alliance member country. Still, once I researched its past and policies, I found that the jurisdiction didn’t cause issues.

The privacy policy of PIA VPN states that they only collect information necessary to activate your account and provide you with services, such as email address, payment data, and similar details. PIA VPN doesn’t log traffic, browsing history, IP addresses, bandwidth, connection timestamps, DNS queries, or user activity.

I found that the privacy audit was conducted in 2024 by Deloitte. While they could use a new audit to back up their no-logs claims, PIA VPN stated that Deloitte found that server configurations were “not designed to identify users or pinpoint their activities.”

Plus, their transparency reports throughout 2025 show that they haven’t produced any logs when requested by institutions. PIA VPN didn’t mention what kind of data was mostly requested.

Like most VPNs that prioritize security, PIA VPN comes with a kill switch and RAM-only servers. It also provides you with PIA MACE, which is a malicious ad and tracker blocker.

PIA VPN offers a 7-day free trial on Android and iOS as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can get it from $2.19/month.

5. Proton VPN – annually audited no-logs VPN with a free plan

Proton VPN

1

9.5

/10

Visit Proton VPN

Pros & cons

• Audits are performed annually
• The free version follows the same no-logs policy
• Based in Switzerland, one of the strictest countries for privacy

• Privacy policy is a bit confusing
• No RAM-only server

Proton VPN is a VPN that performs annual no-logs policy audits and is based in Switzerland – a country with strict privacy laws – making it a highly privacy-oriented VPN. On top of that, it offers a free plan to which the no-logs rules also apply.

I liked that Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, which is outside the 5/9/14-eye surveillance alliance. Plus, the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) has strict rules for personal data handling, so companies are legally required to secure user privacy.

In its privacy policy, Proton VPN states that they don’t log your IP address, session length, browsing activities, connection logs, or location. It only collects information necessary for account creation, service maintenance, and troubleshooting. I found the privacy policy quite confusing, since there’s one for the VPN and a general privacy policy for all Proton VPN services.

What also stood out to me was the fact that Proton VPN goes through independent audits every year. Its transparency report is also regularly updated and, even when legally compelled, it wasn’t able to provide browsing or traffic data due to its no-logs infrastructure.

With Proton VPN, you get a reliable kill switch and protection from IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. A NetShield malicious ad blocker is also available. Yet, Proton VPN uses hard disks with full-disk encryption rather than RAM-only servers. This means data isn’t instantly wiped out - it’s still kept on disk, even if it’s encrypted.

You can get Proton VPN starting from $2.49/month. While there’s no free trial, you can try it out with a free plan or a 30-day money-back guarantee.

No-logs VPNs compared

To help you understand how I reviewed no-logs VPNs, I prepared a table summarizing the results for better comparison. You can see my insights and final ratings below.

How I tested and selected these no-logs VPNs

I started by selecting reputable VPNs, filtering out the ones that aren’t independently audited, and reviewing their privacy policies. I created a spreadsheet summarizing what data each VPN collects and their audits to summarize results.

Here are the main things I took into account when creating the lineup for no-logs VPNs:

• No-logs policy (35%). I read each VPN’s privacy policy and summarized what data each provider does and does not collect. Most, if not all, VPNs track data that’s related to maintaining their services or account creation. So, I only prioritized VPNs that don’t collect your traffic logs, bandwidth, IP addresses, and other information that could be tied to your activities.
• Independent audits (20%). My list only includes VPNs that have been independently audited in the past. I read through the audits that were publicly available to double-check that no logging is ensured and prioritized services that regularly go through audits.
• Transparency reports (20%). Some VPNs publish transparency reports, so I went through them and recorded how many of the government requests they complied with.
• Jurisdiction (15%). I also checked where each VPN is based. While I included VPNs in my list that are based in a membering country of a 5/9/14-eye alliance, I only selected the ones that have been audited and don’t have past reputational issues.
• RAM-only servers (10%). VPNs that keep no logs must employ appropriate technology to back up their claims. Therefore, I looked for VPNs that offer RAM-only servers, which wipe out data with each reboot, instead of physical servers.

VPNs I excluded from this list

I excluded some well-known VPNs from this list because they either had no independent audits, weren’t clear about their logging practices, or lacked transparency reports. Here are a few VPNs I excluded and why:

• PrivateVPN – I liked that this VPN doesn’t collect any traffic or connection logs, but I couldn’t locate public no-logs audits or cases where its no-logs policy would be proved. Plus, it doesn’t publish transparency reports and is based in Sweden – a location that belongs to the 14-eyes alliance.
• Privado VPN – like PrivateVPN, this VPN truly keeps data collection to a minimum. Still, its privacy policy isn’t audited, and they have no transparency reports published.
• TunnelBear – the VPN claims to perform independent audits since 2016 but I couldn’t find out what firm is auditing them. Plus, they’re based in Canada, which is part of the 14-eye alliance.

Why should I use a no-logs VPN?

The purpose of a VPN is to keep your data safe, so using a no-logs VPN is non-negotiable. Here are the main reasons why you should use a VPN that doesn’t collect your browsing activities or other data:

• Prevents your ISP from tracking you. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can track you at any time, giving up your browsing activities to government institutions or using it to throttle your speeds. A VPN ensures your ISP can’t see what you’re up to, but it only matters if the VPN itself doesn’t log your data.
• Less chances of data leaks. If a VPN collects your information, it can get in the wrong hands in case of a data breach. Even if a VPN is requested to hand over user data to authorities in countries where it’s legal, a VPN that keeps no logs won’t have anything to give.
• Increased online privacy. A VPN that doesn’t keep logs can help you have peace of mind while browsing online. Everything you do stays private to your eyes only.

Are there free no-logs VPNs?

Yes, free versions of no-logs VPNs do exist, but we don’t recommend using them. Unreliable free VPNs are only able to provide their services for free by selling their customers’ data to advertisers and other third parties. Plus, most free VPNs tend to have a limited number of servers and may even limit connection speeds.

If you want to stay private for free, I recommend looking through freemium VPNs. These are free versions of premium VPN services, so they usually follow the same no-logs policies as the paid version. For example, Proton VPN comes with servers in 5 locations and doesn’t keep any logs.

However, if you find that a free VPN is limiting, I highly recommend investing in a cheaper service that still guarantees privacy, like NordVPN. This way, you can get a premium no-logs VPN combined with advanced security features, like Threat Protection or a double VPN. Most VPNs come with a free trial or at least a 30-day money-back guarantee to give you time to test the service.