VPN Company Recommendations
Anchordudes VPN Service Reviews
(click here to jump to the VPN reviews table)
VPN's (Virtual Private Networks, also called Secure Tunnels) have been around for quite some time, but out of the reach and requirements of most people until now. With Internet Service Providers looking for ways to manage your web use and hackers looking for ways to trick you in to using fake hotspots, VPN's have become something that regular home internet users and traveling business people need to seriously consider. Here at Anchordudes we try to explain technology in simple, everyday terms that Windows and Mac users can understand. Techno-geeks send us nasty notes about how we've oversimplified some of the technologies behind things, but we just want to make it understandable enough that a regular person can make a decision about what they need.
A VPN is a way of connecting to the Internet through a remote server using a secure, encrypted connection. It does NOT replace your cable or DSL internet connection - it is an extra service that protects your data as it flows through any kind of internet connection. A brief summary of what a VPN does for you is listed below (a more detailed set of examples of VPN uses is here).
1. A VPN can keep your ISP from throttling (slowing down) your connection based on the type of data you are downloading (like movies), which they do by "packet sniffing" your traffic.
2. A VPN can protect your information when you connect to the internet through a wireless hotspot or even a wired hotel connection (different issue than WEP or WPA wireless encryption.) Most VPN services work on desktops, laptops, and even Smartphones like the iPhone, Blackberry, and Android phones.
3. A VPN can obscure your identity and IP address for all internet activity (not only browsing, like most Proxy Server products do)
4. A VPN can make it appear that you are connecting from a different location (useful in countries where some services like Skype or Hulu are blocked, or for logging on to Facebook from work).
You can read more about VPN's and their history, features, and uses on our VPN FAQ page. You can get some tips on how to decide which features and criteria are most important on our Choosing a VPN Service page.
The table below includes a short review of the major VPN providers and our recommendations for the best solution depending on the type of user you are.
Professional VPN Service Providers
| Recommendation | Company / Plan / Price | Features | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Best VPN service for bandwidth heavy users Best Secure Tunneling Product for users predominantly based in Europe or Asia |
All ports open
Worldwide servers - US, Europe, Asia 1 Simul Connection No usage restrictions
Visa/MC/Amex/Discover
|
VyprVPN may seem like a relative newcomer to the VPN business, but the company behind it all has been in the internet business for a long time as an infrastructure provider. We've known them for nearly 10 years for the work one of their sister companies does in the Usenet field where their reliability defines the industry. We feel very comfortable recommending VyprVPN from a reliability standpoint. We really like Golden Frog's policies regarding no limitations on usage - we think this is what really sets them apart (you may not share or use the connection for commercial purposes though). After getting pinged incessently by hackers on our trial connection, we also see great value in the NAT/Firewall feature. Their list of access points is the largest we've seen so far: US: Washington DC and Los Angeles / Europe: Amsterdam, Paris, London, Frankfurt / Asia: Hong Kong. The depth of their network and number of access points makes them a first choice, particularly for users who need to access sites across national borders. They also include software that can automatically set up your connection with easy to navigate drop down menus to choose different locations and protocols. It's tons easier than trying to set up a VPN connection through the default Windows software! While the VyprVPN service IS more expensive overall, it is solid, reliable, and maintains a true "hands off my data" approach. |
|
|
Cheapest VPN, particularly for use in US Strong support for international access in blocked countries |
All ports open Worldwide servers - US, Europe, Asia, Singapore, etc 1 Simul Connection No usage restrictions Visa/MC/Amex/Discover/Diners Western Union, Wire Xfer, Google Checkout, Paypal, Moneybookers
|
StrongVPN is owned by Reliable Hosting and uses their infrastructure to support their VPN operations. They have numerous access points as well as outgoing IP servers to support everything from simple inside-US privacy and access VPN needs, up to international cross-border access control for people living in countries where access to US and UK services like Facebook, Youtube, Hulu, and BBC are blocked. International access is where StrongVPN really shines. Their support staff has multiple tutorials and online help to assist people living in restrictive countries that need to get to blocked services. And their $7 "Lite" service is pretty cost effective for US residents who simply need a low-cost way to protect their traffic from school, work, or ISP restrictions. Since some countries block access to StrongVPN's default home page, you can also try accessing their services through their Netherlands signup site. |
|
|
Best Virtual Private Network product for lighter users and hotspot users based in the US |
Port 25 Restricted IP Address Rotating, US servers only 2 Simul Connections No Peer2Peer / Bandwidth abuse monitored Yes Streaming Video Visa/MC/Amex/Discover/PayPal |
Anonymizer defined the industry many years ago - intially with a proxy server product, and now with a full VPN. They have built a strong infrastructure around this business model and rarely see any service interuptions or significant slowdowns. Like other true VPN services, they provide throughput on all ports, although they block port 25 since that is the port most spammers use to send spam-mail. Their IP address rotating feature keeps destination servers from blocking your path in many cases, however the 24 hour aspect may cause problems with some connections that must be maintained more than one day. Overall, Anonymizer is a great product for travelers in the US looking for protection on public networks and casual home users who do not have high bandwidth needs. |
|
| Best VPN service for very low volume users who need simple security or access to US websites |
Blocks: |
US, Servers only 1 Simul Connections Use as much bandwidth as you purchase. Port 25 (blocked) Spammers user for email |
AlwaysVPN was once advertiser supported but is now fee-based only. AlwaysVPN in blocks of data: from $8.50 for 5GB to $47 for 80GB. A good option if your primary concern is WiFi protection in public locations where you will not be doing large file transfers. Also a good option for basic access to US services from blocked countries. Once purchased, blocks never expire; the bandwidth is available until used up. |
| Blacklogic Standalone VPN |
US, Canada, UK Servers 1 Simul Connections Bandwidth abuse monitored Yes Streaming Video Visa/MC/Amex/PayPal |
BlackLogic serves primarily to provide access to US services that are blocked in foreign countries. All service is unmetered and unthrottled, but users who have over 2GB of data per month may be considered in volation of the Terms of Service. $15/mo or $100/yr will get you standard service for either IPSec or SSTP encryption, but bandwidth may be limited at certain times of day. For a higher speed guarantee, one must upgrade to the Premium accounts for $50 a month. Access to Hulu appears to only be available for Premium Account users. 5 person firm in Canada - In business since 2006. IP gateways in US, Canada, and UK uses PPTP, IPSEC and recently added SSTP. |
|
|
OpenVPN
US (3), Germany (10+) 1 Simul Connections Use as much bandwidth as you purchase. Firewall Option Visa/MC/Amex/Paypal/ Wire Transfer/ Check Prepay |
The standard package is 40GB per month through either a German or US server; upgrades to more data volume are available. Speed is capped at 2 Gb/s. Bandwidth counter resets at end of each month. Also offers a speed and bandwidth limited service for free. |
||
|
$21 / 3 months |
Appears all servers are in Sweden 1 Simul Connections Bandwidth and port restrictions unknown Visa/MC/Amex/Paypal/ Wire Transfer/ Check |
iPredator is a very basic VPN service based in Sweden. Access from other countries may be slow, and their base encryption approach is PPTP only. It appears their OpenVPN trial is still in beta. May be useful for users in Scandinavian countries needing basic security protections, but not all that useful for access to US destinations or for those needing strong encryption. | |
| Logmein Hamachi |
For user-to-user VPN's only |
LogMeIn Hamachi is not an Internet portal type VPN. It is used to connect two or more specific computers in a true Virtual Private Network. It is not applicable for this review. |
