Best VPN Services of 2027
Seven VPNs, one 1 Gbps line, the same five servers and the same ten streaming checks on three consecutive days. Privacy is scored on jurisdiction and independent audits, not marketing. Prices are the 2-year rate and what the monthly plan costs.
NordVPN (Basic, 2-year plan) - Fastest in our tests, unblocked every streaming service three days running, and audited for no-logs five times Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Retained 91% of download speed to US-East on NordLynx
- 10 of 10 streaming services unblocked on all three days
- Panama jurisdiction and five independent no-logs audits
Surfshark (Starter, 2-year plan) - Unlimited devices on one subscription, WireGuard speeds close to NordVPN, and the lowest 2-year price here Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- $2.19 a month on the 2-year plan — cheapest here
- 9 of 10 streaming services unblocked
Proton VPN (Plus, 2-year plan) - Swiss jurisdiction, open-source audited apps, a real free tier and the only VPN here that also runs an encrypted mail service Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Swiss jurisdiction and open-source apps audited by a third party
- Free plan with no data cap and the same no-logs policy
- Secure Core routes traffic through Swiss, Icelandic or Swedish servers first
ExpressVPN (2-year plan) - The most polished apps and the most reliable streaming on TVs and routers; you pay a premium for it Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- 10 of 10 streaming services unblocked, including on Apple TV and Fire TV apps
- Router firmware and the Aircove router make whole-home VPN simple
- BVI jurisdiction, RAM-only TrustedServer, multiple audits
CyberGhost (2-year plan) - Dedicated streaming and gaming servers, the largest network in the ranking and a 45-day refund Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Labelled streaming and gaming servers that worked first time
- 45-day money-back guarantee — longest here
- Lowest ping to US game servers in our test
Private Internet Access (3-year plan) - Unlimited devices, open-source apps and the lowest long-term price, from a US company whose no-logs policy has held up in court Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- $2.03 a month on the 3-year plan and unlimited devices
- Open-source apps on every platform
- No-logs claim tested in US court cases and by two Deloitte audits
Mullvad VPN (Flat monthly) - No email, no name, cash accepted, one flat price: the most private VPN you can buy, and the worst for streaming Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Account is a 16-digit number — no email, no name
- Cash and Monero accepted
- RAM-only servers, DAITA traffic-analysis defence, recurring audits
What separates the best VPN picks on this page?
Scores run from 9.2 down to 8.0, and the gaps come from how each service handles privacy, speed, streaming, apps and value. NordVPN leads at 9.2: it kept 91% of download speed to US-East on NordLynx, unblocked 10 of 10 streaming services on all three days, and sits under Panama jurisdiction with five independent no-logs audits. Surfshark follows at 9.0 with unlimited simultaneous connections, a $2.19 monthly rate on the 2-year plan, and 9 of 10 streaming services unblocked.
Proton VPN and ExpressVPN both score 8.6 but for different reasons. Proton VPN runs Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps audited by a third party, and a free plan with no data cap. ExpressVPN unblocked 10 of 10 streaming services, including on Apple TV and Fire TV apps, and offers router firmware plus the Aircove router. CyberGhost (8.4) has labelled streaming and gaming servers, the longest refund window here at 45 days, and the lowest ping to US game servers in the test. PIA (8.3) costs $2.03 a month on the 3-year plan with unlimited devices. Mullvad (8.0) uses a 16-digit account number, accepts cash and Monero, and unblocked only 2 of 10 streaming services.
What should you check before buying a VPN?
Privacy carries the most weight in the scoring at 30 points, so look at jurisdiction and audits first. Speed is 25 points; streaming 15; apps and devices 15; value 15. Then match the device limit to your household.
- Device limits: Surfshark and PIA allow unlimited connections. NordVPN allows ten, ExpressVPN eight, CyberGhost seven, Mullvad five.
- Renewal pricing: NordVPN's renewal after the 2-year term is much higher than the intro rate. Surfshark's monthly plan is the most expensive in the ranking at $15.45.
- Streaming gaps: Proton VPN managed 8 of 10, with Hulu and Max inconsistent. PIA also managed 8 of 10, failing Netflix UK and BBC iPlayer. Mullvad worked on only 2 of 10.
- Jurisdiction: Surfshark sits in the Netherlands, inside 14-Eyes intelligence sharing. PIA is a US company.
Speed and streaming
NordVPN suits anyone who wants the fastest speeds and the widest streaming coverage. ExpressVPN suits TV and router setups, with apps for Apple TV and Fire TV and whole-home coverage via router firmware or the Aircove router.
Budget and device count
Surfshark fits households with many devices at $2.19 a month on the 2-year plan. PIA suits long-term buyers at $2.03 a month on the 3-year plan with unlimited devices. CyberGhost fits gamers and streamers who want labelled servers and a 45-day refund.
Privacy first
Proton VPN suits people who want Swiss jurisdiction, audited open-source apps and a free tier. Mullvad suits those who want no email, no name, cash or Monero payment, and RAM-only servers, and who do not need streaming.
For speed and streaming coverage, NordVPN is the pick. Surfshark and PIA suit households that need unlimited devices, while Proton VPN and Mullvad suit privacy-first buyers. ExpressVPN fits TV and router setups, and CyberGhost fits gamers who want a 45-day refund window.
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Questions about best vpn services of 2027
*Scores: Privacy 30 · Speed 25 · Streaming 15 · Apps & devices 15 · Value 15; score = Σ ÷ 10. Prices shown were checked on the date beside each and may change. Affiliate links are added only after a score is locked and can never change it. How we rank.