A VPN, or virtual private network, is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and your data when you are on the Internet. It's also a great way to free yourself from Internet Service Provider (ISP) throttling. But which VPN is the best? Are any of the free VPNs safe, or should you pick a paid service? We set out to answer this question with one of the biggest names in the industry: ExpressVPN.
What is a VPN?
A VPN is a service to secure your Internet connection and give you more control over the ways that your online activity can be tracked. Think of a VPN as providing a combination of security (protecting your computer and data) and privacy (protecting you and your identity). A VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection between your computer and a server operated by the VPN service. When you’re connected to the VPN proxy server, all your network traffic passes through this protected tunnel and no one in between can see what you’re doing.
VPNs maintain your privacy when browsing the internet by hiding your computer’s actual IP address and replacing it with one randomly assigned by your VPN service. Your ISP sees that you are connected to a VPN and nothing beyond that. While encryption typically slows down your connection slightly, it is often a wise tradeoff for the security provided.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the best paid services in the market, boasting servers in a massive number of supported countries. Setting up is quick and simple. With wide support across Windows, Mac, mobile platforms, consoles, and routers, you can easily pick your platform and follow the onscreen instructions to get connected.
Once installed, you can launch the app, enter your activation code, and hit the big round button to secure your session. While you can install ExpressVPN on all your devices, the service is restricted to running three concurrent connections at the same time.
The service features over 2,000 servers in 148 locations. It will automatically pick an optimal 'Smart Location' based on your proximity, though you can manually browse the list of 94 countries to find the one that works best for your specific needs.
Streaming Hulu
Hulu is a service often throttled by ISPs. Previously, using free options like the Opera browser VPN only worked for the website, leaving mobile and TV devices unprotected. With ExpressVPN, this is no longer an issue. I can quickly install the app on all my devices and watch Hulu across my setup without any throttling issues or noticeable performance drops.
Price & Value
ExpressVPN offers three payment plans. Signing up for a month costs $12.95, while a six-month plan drops to $9.99/mo. The one-year plan provides the best value at $8.32/mo. While this feels pricey, the 30-day money-back guarantee is significantly more generous than the standard 7-day trials offered elsewhere.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, you get stellar performance, ease of use, and great customer service from ExpressVPN, which more than makes up for the cost. Its impressive selection of countries and simple interface make it an easily recommended product for anyone looking to secure their digital life.
- Unlimited installs with 3 simultaneous connections
- Servers in 94 countries with 'Smart Location' optimization
- Zero-logging policy for total privacy
- Generous 30-day money-back guarantee