They can be seen everywhere right now: in TV commercials, on popular YouTube channels, and on many websites. VPN providers are plentiful and their offerings tend to be very similar. Here is a comparison of the best VPNs of 2020. Here, the main VPN providers are presented in an easy-to-read summary table and are accompanied by a review on the interface and the services of each of them.
The best VPNs at a glance
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the suppliers that we often see in user reviews when looking for quality service. In use, this is indeed the case. With the counterpart of a fairly high price.
ExpressVPN completely revised the interface of its desktop and mobile application at the end of 2019. Now revamped with a more modern design, it goes straight to the point with a welcome window that allows you to connect to the last server used with one click. Note that this is one of the rare VPN applications to benefit from a good French translation, whether on mobile or desktop. Many of its competitors are content with a machine translation straight from Google Translate.
- Numerous, fast and functional servers
- All servers are optimized for download
- Netflix US and Canada work very well
- Support for many devices
- Fairly high rates
NordVPN
NordVPN is quite simply a safe bet in the VPN industry. Its service is both very comprehensive and very efficient. With 5654 servers at the time of writing, spread across 58 countries, it’s hard not to find happiness. It is also one of the best-endowed VPN providers at the moment.
You must have heard of NordVPN, whether on television or on the web. The VPN giant does not only communicate, it also has a quality service with numerous servers, efficient and able to easily bypass the geoblocking of SVOD platforms. Its application is undoubtedly one of the most accessible of its kind since it displays a map of the world. It only takes one click on a country to automatically connect to a server. It’s hard to make it simpler. Finally, in the good points of this VPN provider, its after-sales service is one of the only (if not the only) to benefit from advisers who really speak. A significant plus when you encounter a technical problem.
NordVPN isn’t the cheapest of the VPN providers, but it has arguably one of the best value for money around.
- Easy to use interface
- A very large number of servers
- Efficient service in French
- Interface in English only (desktop version)
- A few explanations of the functionalities would not have been too much
Cyberghost VPN
Cyberghost is one of the best-known VPN provider brands today. It has very good arguments with a clear interface and efficient servers. It is also one of the cheapest on the market.
Cyberghost stands out from the competition with two good points. The first undoubtedly concerns its interface which is at the same time clear, pretty, instinctive and – something quite rare in the world of VPN – well translated. By default, Cyberghost gets to the point and offers to connect to one of its 5,810 servers spread across 89 countries and 111 locations as of this writing. Better, it is possible to see how many users are connected to a server, but also the ping or the load of the server.
- An ergonomic, clear and well-translated interface
- Fast servers dedicated to streaming
- A very large number of servers
- Random connection to foreign Netflix catalogs (outside the US)
Surfshark
Surfshark is a new player in the world of VPNs. He does, however, have compelling arguments for standing out. Starting with a very low price and very efficient servers.
With its two-year subscription for less than 50 euros, one could ask the question: Does Surfshark make concessions in terms of its service to be cheaper than the competition. There are, but they are few. The computer application – and more particularly the Mac – is thus impractical and offers fewer options than that on mobile. There are also a little fewer servers than the competition.
But for the rest, Surfshark is a frankly impressive VPN provider. Its servers are extremely fast. Those located in France and Europe are the fastest of all this selection of VPNs according to our own tests. Better still, bypassing geoblocks works perfectly: Surfshark allows access to foreign catalogs from practically all SVOD platforms (Netflix US).
Surfshark’s last strong point is undoubtedly its price. For 44.40 euros for two years, it’s hard to find better value for money.
- Impressive value for money
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- High flow rates
- Disappointing desktop applications
- No real audit of its server infrastructure
IPVanish
IPVanish may not be the best known VPN, but it is one of the oldest brands in the sector, since it was launched in 2012. An experience that is felt a lot with use.
INTERFACE
Launching the IPVanish client can be a bit confusing to the newbie. No big button to turn on the VPN, but a multitude of small windows and selection tabs spread here and there on a black and green background (a good point for your eyes after dark). Behind this somewhat austere interface, however, we appreciate having the possibility of filtering everything very easily, by country, by server speed, or even by server once the territory has been chosen. However, there is no option to choose VPNs specialized in a type of use (for streaming or peer to peer for example).
- Many filters to find the ideal server
- An interface that goes straight to the point
- 10 devices covered by a license
- No specialized servers for
- Very few options
- In English only
PureVPN
PureVPN is an outsider in the VPN world. The Hong Kong company indeed offers very attractive prices and does not hesitate to quickly integrate new products into its different customers. An appreciable reactivity.
The PureVPN client interface has the advantage of being rather clear. As soon as it is launched, the user is offered to choose the type of use they want: streaming, “Internet freedom” (to bypass geo-blocking), security, file sharing and dedicated IP. The interface is not aesthetically up to date, but the general understanding remains good.
- Very complete interface
- Servers specializing in certain uses
- Very competitive prices
- A flawed French translation
- Netflix US and Canada work randomly
StrongVPN
StrongVPN doesn’t bother with a very extensive interface or multiple features. It’s a VPN that gets to the point and tries to cover as many devices as possible.
The client is therefore an example of sobriety, perhaps even top. Whether on mobile or desktop, there is a world map, a button to choose the server, and a button to connect. Point. No special-purpose servers or an endless list of servers. Sobriety that is found even in the options, which simply offer a kill switch (the mobile version is the only one to offer Split Tunneling) and options for choosing a protocol.
- Simple and well-thought-out interface
- 250 GB of cloud storage in addition to VPN service
- 12 devices covered by a license, the record of its kind
- Quite a few features in the client
- Access to foreign Netflix catalogs random
VyprVPN
VyprVPN is one of the world’s most renowned VPN providers. And it must be admitted that this Swiss company has very good arguments.
If we stick to the client, VyprVPN is probably not the most beautiful or, apparently, the most complete. At launch, on desktop, it’s just if the interface displays a big connection button, the possibility of choosing your server and that’s it. It is almost identical on mobile and moreover lends itself better to use on a smartphone screen.
- Cheap
- A particularly clear interface
- Servers that are physically owned by VyprVPN
- No servers by type of use
- Few devices covered
- Slow servers
ProtonVPN
The Swiss company Proton Technologies AG is considered a benchmark in cybersecurity. In addition to its excellent email service, it has been offering a VPN app since 2017. What is it really worth it?
ProtonVPN is a compendium of all the great ideas that can be found in other VPN apps. On the desktop, the ProtonVPN application thus takes up the NordVPN world map or the IPVanish speed curve. Whether on mobile or desktop, we appreciate that it is natively dark and therefore preserves our eyes.
- Complete interface, practical and in French
- Has its own servers
- All applications are open source
- Few waiters
- After-sales service only by email
- High rates