The Best VPNs For 2024 (Compatible With PC, Mac, and Mobile Phone)

Protect your online privacy and security with these top-rated VPNs.

Big Tech is spying on us. It's a creepy realization that somehow escaped our notice until we started noticing ads following us around the internet. The fact of the matter is that this has been going on for years. For who knows how long, Google has been using Gmail to track a history of things we buy on the internet, Facebook has been sharing user data with tech firms like Amazon, and even our Internet Service Provider has been selling our data off to the highest bidder.

Unfortunately, it's only going to get worse with the proliferation of smart tech along with artificial intelligence. For example, Amazon Echo and the Alexa voice assistant know exactly what you're searching for, listening to, where you're going on your next holiday, and what flight you'll be on. Creepy, right? Wait until you hear accounts of these voice assistants "waking up" on their own and sharing messages and information with other users!

That's not the only threat, though. Unsafe browsing opens up a cybercrime can of worms: identity theft, phishing scams, and hackers lying in wait to steal your data, hijack your devices, and drain your bank accounts. This is why it is terribly important to develop safe and smart web browsing habits, starting with the following practices:

• Never reuse passwords.
• Never click on URLs without a padlock icon or “https:”
• Avoid using unsecured public WiFi.
• Disable autocomplete for forms or remember your passwords features.
• Keep your browser and any plug-ins up-to-date.
• Enable “do not track” in your browser
• Turn on your browser’s popup blocker.
• Review your bank statements from time to time.
• Clear your web browser cache and cookies.
• Make sure to read privacy policies.
• Refrain from posting personal information online.
• Protect your device with an antivirus and firewall.
• Avoid clicking on email links, ads, and offers.

Sounds like a lot to remember? No worries! This is why you need a VPN. Designed to promote online privacy and anonymity, a VPN allows you to connect to the internet via an encrypted tunnel that scrambles your data and renders it unreadable. If cyber thieves get a hold of your data for some reason, all they'll see is random gibberish. A good VPN protects you against online snooping and other interference.

What does a VPN do? Why should I get one?

• Hide your online identity by changing/hiding your IP address. A VPN encrypts and reroutes your internet traffic from your actual IP address to the IP address of the VPN server that you chose to connect to. This helps protect your personally identifiable information such as your bank account details, credit card information, driver's license numbers, and Social Security. Take note, however, that some VPNs store, log, or track IP information. No worries, all the VPNs on our list have a strict no-log policy.
• Save money while shopping online. Have you ever heard of price discrimination? It's the common practice of charging consumers different prices for the same item. For example, your favorite online shopping site may display the same product or service at a higher price on their website for wealthier countries and sell it at a lower price on third-world country websites. Use a VPN to beat them at their own game by pretending to shop from the cheaper country.
• Avoid bandwidth throttling. Are you trying to play Call of Duty, but you kept getting a "server disconnected" error? Does it take forever to download a file? Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may be throttling your internet connection. ISPs supposedly do this to discourage overuse and prevent overloaded servers, although methinks it's a ploy to get subscribers to purchase data packages. By encrypting your data using a VPN, you can prevent your ISP from limiting your bandwidth or cutting you off entirely.
• Connect to a home or business network while you're away. If you're working from home and need to connect to your work network to access files remotely, you're going to need a VPN. You can set up a VPN so that it functions as a mobile gateway to your home or business LAN, enabling you to work anywhere as long as there’s an internet connection.