A Virtual Private Network (VPN) helps me get access to streaming platforms when I’m abroad by giving me an IP address associated with my home country. It also protects my personal data when I’m watching on public WiFi. Try ExpressVPN risk-free A VPN helps you get access to your usual streaming platform libraries by providing you with an IP address from the country of your choice. This way, streaming platforms don’t recognize that you’re not in your usual location and won’t block you. Watch Prime Video with ExpressVPN
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The only minor con with ExpressVPN is that it’s costly compared to other premium VPNs on the market. But you can get a great deal with its 1-year subscription plan. It has regular special offers, such as the current 49% discount, which will save you some cash.
Key Features: The only minor problem with CyberGhost is that its one-month plan is expensive and comes with a minimal 14-day money-back period. IPVanish’s one-month plan costs less, and it also has a 3-month plan that is very affordable. But you get a better value with CyberGhost’s 2-year + 3 months plan where you can save 84%. Try CyberGhost risk-free on your devices with its 45-day money-back guarantee. If it doesn’t work for you, you can always get a refund in that period. I requested a refund via live chat on day 43. The representative asked why I wanted to cancel but, after I gave a quick explanation, went ahead with my request. My money was returned in full within 3 working days.
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I was impressed with PIA’s speeds, and had around 40 Mbps when I tested its US servers. There are 15+ US locations to choose from, and each of the servers I tried were lag-free. These speeds mean you can enjoy your usual shows and movies in Ultra HD quality, without any buffering spoiling your fun. The only slight problem with PIA is that it can’t unblock BBC iPlayer. But it will give you access to many other streaming sites including Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, Showtime, and more. Test Private Internet Access to experience it for yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, you can get a refund. I wanted to see how easy this would be, so I asked to cancel via Live Chat on day 28. The representative was helpful and asked if there was any assistance they could provide that might make me keep the VPN. Once I let them know I really didn’t need the subscription any more, they approved the refund. I had my money back less than a week later.
4. NordVPN — Premium VPN With Cheap Prices on Long-Term Plans
Key Features: NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market — and you can get super cheap prices when you sign up for a long-term subscription. One thing to note, however, is that when it’s time to renew your subscription, prices do increase quite significantly. I did, however, have issues with using NordVPN’s native Fire TV app. Although it worked and unblocked some streaming services, it sometimes had issues unblocking Netflix US and kept crashing. I also found that NordVPN’s user interface for desktop devices was less user-friendly than ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. NordVPN has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryptionkill switch that cuts your internet access if your connection to a VPN server drops suddenlybuilt-in ad and malware blocker, so you don’t need a third-party ad blockerfully audited no-logs policy (audited by PwC) – NordVPN doesn’t store any personal or identifying data while you’re connected to the VPN
In addition, NordVPN includes Threat Protection that protects you from viruses, infected websites, and trackers – and it works whenever you have the NordVPN app open, even if you’re not connected to a VPN server. With plans that cost as little as $3.49 per month, it’s easy to find a NordVPN subscription plan that suits your needs. You can also stream, torrent, and browse for free for up to 30 days with its money-back guarantee. I tested this to ensure that you’ll really get your money back. At first, the support team tried to give me an extended trial period — but they initiated my refund right away after I told them I wasn’t interested in the extension. I got my money back in 6 business days. Get NordVPN today NordVPN works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Chromebook, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Fire Stick, and Android TV
5. Surfshark — Best Value for Money with Unlimited Device Connections and Fast Speeds
Key Features: Surfshark offers the best value for money out of every premium VPN on the market. You can connect an unlimited number of devices with a single subscription, which means you can use Surfshark on all your devices without getting logged out. I tested Surfshark’s simultaneous connections on 2 PCs, 2 phones, a Fire Stick 4K, and an iPad. My connection remained reliable on all 6 devices. Even while I was actively streaming on all my devices, my average speed was 112 Mbps — fast enough for UHD quality. When I saw the price of this service, I thought it couldn’t possibly have top-grade security features for such a low price, but I was pleasantly surprised. Surfshark has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryption on all devices, with ChaCha encryption available for Android usersWireguard VPN protocol enabled by defaultdiskless, RAM-only servers to protect your privacy (no data can be physically extracted from any servers)kill switch (although this isn’t enabled by default)IP and DNS leak protection
Surfshark offers two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account. This feature requires you to enter an extra code before you can log in to ensure that only you can access your account. While Surfshark does have slightly fewer global servers than rivals such as CyberGhost and PIA, I didn’t experience any issues during my tests. I easily connected fast working servers every time, and I had excellent speeds for streaming Netflix in UHD, downloading torrents, and browsing the internet. You can try Surfshark for yourself with the 30-day money-back guarantee. It has plans that cost as little as $2.39. Requesting a refund is easy with Surfshark’s live chat feature. Although the support team asked why I wanted to cancel my subscription, I had no problem getting my money back (and it only took 4 days!). Get Surfshark today Surfshark works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire Stick, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, Android TV, Kodi, and selected routers
6. PrivateVPN — Has HQN Servers for Faster Speeds and Lower Latency for All Your Online Activities
PrivateVPN features High Quality Network (HQN) servers that provide faster speeds and lower latency. Latency is the amount of time it takes for an amount of data to travel from your PC to the VPN server, so you want the lowest possible. Generally, the closer the server, the lower the latency. This lets you enjoy uninterrupted HD gaming as well. PrivateVPN is one of the cheapest monthly VPNs in the market. But, its 3-year plan provides the best value at $2.00 per month with a 85% discount.
You can test IPVanish out for yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee. If it doesn’t work out for you, IPVanish has the most simple refund process of all — you don’t even have to chat to a live representative. I clicked into my account and ticked the box that said I wanted to cancel my subscription. A couple of hours later I had an email confirming the cancellation, and my money was refunded in 3 days.