We know how difficult it can be to find a reliable VPN when there are so many on the market that claim to be the best. We also know that Reddit is a trustworthy and accurate source of information and it has tons of great recommendations on which VPN to use.
After combing through Reddit to see which VPNs its users suggest, we’ve gathered all that information in one place, so you can easily figure out which VPN you should use to encrypt your online data and hide your IP address.
Top 5 VPNs that Reddit users recommend
After reading reviews of Reddit users, we discovered that these are the 5 best VPNs they recommend:
- ExpressVPN – Best VPN for accessing geo-restricted content
- Private Internet Access – Best VPN with fast speeds and a dedicated IP address
- NordVPN – Best VPN according to Reddit in 2023
- Surfshark – Reddit’s favorite VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections
- CyberGhost VPN – Best VPN for smartphones
It’s difficult to pick the right VPN, so we narrowed down the list for you. Before we get to the main part, let’s talk about the factors that we considered while picking the VPNs for this list:
- Trustworthiness – The level of trust that Reddit users put into these VPNs is important as you’re giving a lot of control of your data to them.
- Number of servers – The higher the number of servers a VPN service offers, the more regions you can connect to and gain access to a wider range of content.
- Features – A good VPN should have sufficient advanced security features to keep your data safe.
- Logging – Privacy matters the most to Reddit users and to us as well. Whether a VPN records data or not was an important factor in finalizing this list.
- Price – We all want to save money and make sure that we get good value for the price we pay.
The best VPNs according to Reddit users
After testing the VPNs recommended by users on Reddit, we came up with this list. Here are the top 5 VPNs that you should use according to Reddit users:
1. ExpressVPN
- Servers in 94 countries
- Strict no-logs policy
- Stealth servers
- Cryptocurrency as a payment method
- Consistent design across platforms
- Expensive
- No MultiHop routing
ExpressVPN always finds its way into any list of top VPNs, and for good reason! Reddit users love the simplicity and the consistency of the ExpressVPN app on both desktop and smartphones. Some users on Reddit have complained that it’s not as fast as NordVPN, but the difference is negligible so it’s not a dealbreaker. ExpressVPN offers military-grade encryption and RAM servers in 94 countries, giving you access to a wider range of geo-restricted content.
The only thing Reddit doesn’t like about ExpressVPN is its high price. You do get good value for money, though, so we’d say it’s a good tradeoff. ExpressVPN comes with a kill switch, DNS leak protection, “stealth servers”, and a password manager.
It has a strict no-logs policy and because it’s based in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), it’s under no obligation to share data with any third party. Even if it had to, it wouldn’t have anything to give thanks to its RAM servers which erase all data after you disconnect from the VPN.
ExpressVPN also allows you to pay through cryptocurrency, giving you complete anonymity. You can use it on 5 devices at the same time. You can get ExpressVPN’s yearly package for $6.67 per month. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Private Internet Access
- Has had external audits
- Good customer support
- Free 7-day trial version
- Advanced security features
- Based in a Five Eyes member country
- No cryptocurrency payment
Many Reddit users have been using Private Internet Access (PIA) for over 3 years and have encountered no problems so far. You can use it to stream content on sites like Netflix, ESPN, and Hulu. It also has great customer support, but according to Reddit, it’s so simple to use that it’s unlikely you’ll ever feel the need to contact them.
Private Internet Access has a zero-log policy and it uses WireGuard tunneling protocol to give you the best speeds. It’s great for using the Tor browser and downloading torrents. It comes with split tunneling, tracker and ad blockers, and a kill switch.
You can also choose to pay an additional fee to get a dedicated IP address which only you’ll have access to. The only negative thing you’ll read about Private Internet Access on Reddit is that it’s based in the USA, which is a member of the Four Eyes alliance.
Private Internet Access’ 3-year plan is available for $2.03 per month, but you can get a free 7-day trial version and it also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. NordVPN
- Great customer service
- Over 5,000 RAM servers
- Advanced security features
- Some servers may not work all the time
- Speed can be inconsistent
NordVPN always finds its way into any list of top VPNs, and for good reason! NordVPN is the most popular VPN on Reddit because it’s simple to use, offers most advanced security features such as a kill switch, split tunneling, Multi-Hop routing, and RAM servers, and it unblocks content from platforms like Disney Plus, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu.
It has over 5,000 servers in 59 countries and all of them run on RAM so none of your data is retained when you disconnect. The VPN service is based in Panama, which is outside the jurisdiction of 5/9/14 Eyes alliances so the company isn’t legally bound to hand over any data to legal authorities. Its exceptional customer support is one of the major reasons why it’s a fan favorite among Reddit users.
It has a no-log policy and while signing up, you can pay using cryptocurrency to remain completely anonymous. Using MultiHop routing, you can encrypt your data in multiple layers, and you can use its built-in Onion over VPN connectivity to get extra protection when surfing the dark web and downloading torrents.
You can get NordVPN’s 2-year plan for $3.69 per month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. Surfshark
- No-logs policy with RAM servers
- Camouflage Mode for extra protection
- Fast and stable speeds
- Clean interface
- Based in the Netherlands
- Expensive
On Reddit, Surfshark is often touted as the best alternative to NordVPN and ExpressVPN. It gets a lot of praise in the Reddit circles for its “clean and stable interface” and stable connection speeds. You can use Surfshark on an unlimited number of devices and it’s had external audits in the past so you can rest assured that your data will be safe.
The VPN service has servers in over 60 countries and it comes with various advanced security features like a kill switch, WireGuard tunneling protocol, 256-bit encryption, “Camouflage Mode”, and RAM-only servers. The WireGuard tunneling protocol ensures you always get the best speeds.
If you don’t feel safe with just one layer of encryption, you can add another using MultiHop routing. It supports popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Its ability to let you connect to unlimited simultaneous connections is one of the major reasons why people on Reddit recommend it.
It’s worth mentioning that Reddit users have raised concerns over Surfshark being located in the Netherlands, which is a part of the 14 Eyes alliance. Surfshark has iterated in the past, though, that being based in a country that’s part of the 14 Eyes doesn’t have any effect on its no-logs policy and because it has RAM servers, no data will ever be retained.
You can get Surfshark’s 2-year plan for $2.05 per month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. CyberGhost VPN
- Over 9000 RAM-based servers
- No-logs policy
- Located in a non-4/9/14 Eyes member
- Comes with an ad blocker
- More expensive than other VPNs
- Needs more external audits
- Customer support needs improvement
CyberGhost VPN offers over 9,000 servers in 91 countries and all of them are RAM-based. Couple that with their no-logs policy and you get a VPN that gives you privacy and access to a huge library of geo-blocked content. Many Reddit users recommend CyberGhost VPN for those things, but it has plenty of other great features to offer as well. One thing Reddit doesn’t like about it, though, is the high price tag it comes with, but again, you get good value for money so it’s not a bad tradeoff.
The VPN service is located in Romania, which isn’t a member of the 4/9/14 Eyes alliances. It automatically enables VPN when you switch between different Wi-Fi networks, making sure you’re always protected. You can use it on 7 devices simultaneously, and it comes with a kill switch and DNS leak protection to ensure that your data is never breached or leaked.
You can use CyberGhost VPN to encrypt your online traffic and access streaming sites like Netflix, Disney Plus, and Hulu. It also has an ad blocker to keep those pesky pop-ups and ads from popping up.
It had its most recent external audit in 2022 by one of the Big Four consulting firms Deloitte. Unlike other VPNs on this list, CyberGhost VPN offers a 45-day money-back guarantee. You can get the 2-year plan for $2.03 per month.
Methodology: how we picked Reddit VPNs
While coming up with this list, we didn’t just read reviews on Reddit, we also tested the VPNs ourselves. Here are some of the key areas we focused on while testing them:
- Trustworthiness – We consider trustworthiness the most important factor in determining how good a VPN is. You can find out if a VPN is reliable by seeing the way people talk about it online and how transparent it is.
- Number of servers – If a VPN has more servers, you can gain access to geo-restricted content from more regions and you also have a better chance of beating price discrimination. Having more servers also means that if one server fails to work, you’ll have plenty of other options that won’t.
- Features – All the VPNs we selected for this list have an adequate number of features such as split tunneling, kill switch, and DNS leak protection.
- Logging – A good VPN should have a strict no-log policy. Having zero logs means the VPN doesn’t record any information about your online behavior and it can’t share data even if it’s located in a 4/9/14 Eyes country.
- Price – Price is always an important factor in helping us decide whether we want to use something or not. Some VPNs on this list may be more expensive than others, but they’re all affordable and provide good value for money.
Why should you rely on Reddit user opinion?
Reddit is a community-driven social media site that has dedicated “subreddits” (or groups) for a wide variety of subjects. Users share their opinions, ask questions, and provide useful information in subreddits and other users “upvote” or “downvote” the posts and leave comments on them.
In many cases, people who frequent these subreddits have very deep knowledge about the subject the subreddit is based on, which is why their opinion is accurate and well-informed.
Subreddits have moderators who run them. Every subreddit has its own rules and if a post or a user doesn’t comply with the rules, moderators remove them. These moderators are regular users who are just passionate about the subject and don’t get paid for what they do, which makes them more trustworthy.
Another thing that makes Reddit stand out is the “karma” system. Upvoting/downvoting posts and comments gives people karma which shows how much you contribute to the Reddit community. The more karma a user has, the easier it’ll be for other users to know that they can be trusted. Karma often gives users exclusive benefits in subreddits.
Most VPN services have their own subreddits where users leave reviews and share their opinions on the VPN. You can easily check these subreddits for yourself and see how people are talking about your favorite VPN.
All in all, you should rely on Reddit because it’s a community-driven site where people with deep knowledge of different subjects share useful and accurate information.
Best Reddit VPNs by category
A VPN service can’t be good at every single thing, so here are some of the best VPNs that Reddit users recommend in different categories:
Cheapest VPN by Reddit
Reddit users recommend NordVPN as the cheapest VPN service. The 2-year plan will cost you $3.69 per month. You get tons of advanced security features like built-in Onion over VPN connectivity, split tunneling, kill switch, and ad and tracker blocker.
Another VPN that often gets recommended on Reddit is AirVPN. It’s not as popular as NordVPN but you can get the yearly package for about $2.5 per month. It uses WireGuard tunneling protocol, lets you connect up to 5 devices simultaneously, and blocks ads and trackers.
VPN for streaming by Reddit
Reddit users recommend ExpressVPN for streaming as it has servers in a large number of countries. It supports every major streaming platform like Disney Plus, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, and you have tons of countries whose content you can unblock. It’s a bit out of budget for many people, but the features it provides makes it worthwhile.
NordVPN is also great for streaming as it supports all the popular streaming platforms and its WireGuard tunneling protocol gives fast speeds, allowing you to watch your favorite geo-restricted content without any buffering.
VPN for gaming by Reddit
If your ISP has throttled your connection and you’re getting high ping while gaming, then using a VPN will help reduce the lag. Reddit users recommend NordVPN for gaming as its NordLynx protocol gives fast speeds and you can easily find a server close to you to bring the ping down.
Many users have said that with the NordLynx protocol, they don’t even notice they’re using a VPN. You can also use the split tunneling feature to connect only the game to the VPN server. Everything else will remain connected to the open network. This way, you’ll get the best speeds and there will be no lag while you’re gaming.
Most secure VPN according to Reddit
You can’t beat NordVPN and ExpressVPN when it comes to security and privacy. And Reddit agrees with that. Many prefer NordVPN over ExpressVPN, but the general consensus is that they’re both great at keeping your data safe and secure.
Both VPNs have great security features like a kill switch to immediately block your device from Internet access when the VPN goes down, split tunneling to have only a specific app connect to the VPN, and DNS protection leak to prevent your ISP from knowing what websites you visit. Both VPNs are based in locations that aren’t a part of the 4/9/14 Eyes alliances and don’t have to share their data with legal authorities. They also have strict no-log policies and they’ve had multiple external audits in the past so you know you can trust them with your data.
VPNs that Reddit users do not recommend
After browsing through Reddit, we also found some VPNs you should absolutely avoid. Here are some VPNs that Reddit users do not recommend:
- OVPN – OVPN is a Sweden-based VPN that claims to have a no-log policy and has servers available in many countries. The VPN also claims to be using RAM-only servers. One Reddit user wrote that it was proven in court that OVPN does, in fact, keep a record of user data, which makes it unreliable.
- Hide My Ass – Hide My Ass is another VPN that Reddit users don’t recommend. Just like OVPN, Hide My Ass has also lied to its users in the past. It claimed to be a no-log VPN but it handed over data of some of its users in a court case. One user also complained about the customer service and how you can get locked out of your account if the VPN determines you’re from a “high-risk country.”
- IPVanish – While there are some good things to be said about IPVanish, some Reddit users don’t seem to like its customer service. Many users tried to cancel their subscription and asked for a refund only to receive unprofessional and rude replies from the customer service. One user in particular wrote that they tried to cancel their subscription in 2019 but were charged again in 2022.
What free VPNs Reddit users recommend?
Most Reddit users don’t recommend free VPNs because of the way many of them make money. Since they’re not charging you a monthly fee, they make money by selling your data to advertisers and other third parties who then use your information to show you targeted ads.
Free VPNs are extremely limited in terms of features and other functionalities, so there’s no point in using them and you’ll never get true privacy with them. You also don’t get a lot of servers with free VPNs so even if you just want to see what the Internet is like in another country, you’ll be extremely restricted.
According to Reddit, premium VPNs like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access are much better since they don’t cost that much and they also come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN also has a 7-day trial version on smartphones so you can easily try it without making any commitment.
Frequently asked questions
ExpressVPN is the best VPN according to Reddit. It’s based outside the 5/9/14 Eyes members’ jurisdiction, comes with advanced security features like split tunneling, kill switch, and DNS protection leak, keeps your data secure by encrypting your traffic and masking your IP address so no one can see where you’re actually from.
Reddit users often recommend Surfshark as the fastest VPN. Out of all the VPNs on this list, Surfshark is the one that’ll give you the most consistent connection speeds. It has servers in over 60 countries and you’ll get access to all the advanced security features other top-notch VPNs offer.
Yes, Reddit can be relied upon for VPN recommendations, but you have to be a little careful when reading reviews on the platform. Reddit is a community-driven platform that rewards its users with social points called “karma”. If you see the same comment in different places, then chances are that it’s a paid review that’s being spammed. But in most cases, Reddit is extremely reliable.