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 fastest VPNs on this page?
Speed is only part of the picture. NordVPN leads with a 9.2 score and kept 91% of download speed to US-East on NordLynx, plus 10 of 10 streaming services unblocked on all three days. Surfshark sits at 9.0 with WireGuard speeds close to NordVPN and unlimited simultaneous connections for $2.19 a month on the 2-year plan.
Proton VPN and ExpressVPN both score 8.6 but for different reasons. Proton VPN runs open-source apps audited by a third party and a free plan with no data cap, though speeds trailed NordVPN by nine points and it unblocked 8 of 10 streaming services. ExpressVPN unblocked 10 of 10 including on Apple TV and Fire TV apps, with router firmware and the Aircove router, at $4.99 a month on the 2-year plan.
CyberGhost (8.4) has labelled streaming and gaming servers, the lowest ping to US game servers in the test, and a 45-day money-back guarantee. Private Internet Access (8.3) costs $2.03 a month on the 3-year plan with unlimited devices and open-source apps. Mullvad (8.0) is the privacy pick: a 16-digit account number, cash and Monero accepted, but only 2 of 10 streaming services worked.
What should you check before buying a fast VPN?
The scoring criteria weight privacy 30, speed 25, streaming 15, apps and devices 15, and value 15. Match those to your own use.
- Device count: Surfshark and Private Internet Access allow unlimited connections; NordVPN allows ten, ExpressVPN eight, CyberGhost seven, Mullvad five.
- Jurisdiction: NordVPN is in Panama, Proton VPN in Switzerland, ExpressVPN in the BVI, Surfshark in the Netherlands (14-Eyes), Private Internet Access in the US.
- Streaming: NordVPN and ExpressVPN unblocked 10 of 10; Surfshark 9 of 10; Proton VPN and Private Internet Access 8 of 10; Mullvad 2 of 10.
- Renewal pricing: NordVPN's renewal after the 2-year term is much higher than the intro rate, and Surfshark's monthly plan is $15.45.
Which fast VPN suits which need?
For raw speed and streaming reliability, NordVPN is the pick. If you have many devices and want the lowest 2-year price, Surfshark fits. Proton VPN suits anyone who wants a free tier and Swiss jurisdiction. ExpressVPN is for TV and router setups. CyberGhost suits gamers and streamers who want labelled servers. Private Internet Access suits long-term budget buyers with many devices. Mullvad is for privacy above all else.
NordVPN suits anyone who wants the fastest speeds and the most reliable streaming. Surfshark suits households with many devices on a low 2-year price, while Proton VPN suits free-tier and Swiss-jurisdiction users. ExpressVPN is for TV and router setups, CyberGhost for gamers, Private Internet Access for long-term budget buyers, and Mullvad for privacy above streaming.
Related guides
Questions about fastest vpns
*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.