At TechRepublic, we aim to provide our readers with a fair and honest evaluation of virtual private networks they can invest in. To achieve this, we think it's important to share how we evaluate VPNs, what criteria are used to rate each aspect of a VPN. and how it all adds up to our final star rating.
We use an internal algorithm that is based on five main categories: pricing, core VPN features (e.g. encryption, server network), ease of use, customer support, and expert analysis. Each category is then weighted to take into account its importance to our audience of technology buyers.
SEE: Brute force attacks and dictionary: A guide for IT leaders (TechRepublic Premium)
While our algorithm is subject to change, these categories are the main pillars by which we evaluate each VPN. If you have different opinions on the chosen criteria, we recommend that you use our methodology and reviews to inform your own evaluation of a particular VPN.
Below is the breakdown of how we review VPNs.
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Prices (20%)
Price accounts for 20% of our total VPN score. This category comprises sub-criteria that include, among others:
- Multiple subscription options.
- Accessible free trial.
- Option to use a free version.
- Prices relative to the competition.
- Overall value for money.
Top VPN Features (30%)
Core VPN features such as servers and security protocols account for 30% of our total score. This category consists of sub-criteria including, but not limited to:
- Reputation for security and lack of data breaches.
- Encryption and VPN protocols.
- Policy of no records and independent audits.
- Server network (server count and distribution by country).
- VPN speed and performance.
- Ability to unblock geographically restricted content.
- Easy server change.
- Split tunnel capabilities.
- DNS leak protection.
- Built-in kill switch.
- Blocking ads, trackers and malware.
- Support and availability on multiple platforms.
Ease of use (15%)
Ease of use accounts for 15% of our total VPN score. This category comprises sub-criteria that include, among others:
- Intuitiveness of the user interface.
- Design in the application.
- Difficulty of installation and configuration.
- Ability to establish connections.
Customer service (30%)
Customer support accounts for 30% of our total VPN score. This category consists of sub-criteria including, but not limited to:
- Customer support options (email, live chat, phone, etc.).
- How quickly customers get a response after raising a question or problem.
- Availability of help resources such as guides, forums and tutorials.
Expert analysis (5%)
Expert analysis accounts for 5% of our total VPN score. This category consists of sub-criteria including, but not limited to:
- Personal experience with the product itself.
- Inclusion of features that differentiate the VPN from other providers.
- Ease of research, including availability of demos, product documentation, and other materials to verify information.
Our VPN evaluation research methods
To get a comprehensive view of every VPN we review, we prioritize analysis gained through internal and hands-on user testing. We also supplement our findings with product demos, documentation, and verified customer reviews on sites including, but not limited to:
- Gartner Peer Insights.
- Community forums.
How do I choose the best VPN for my organization?
Choosing the best VPN for your business will largely depend on your organization's particular circumstances and needs. While there's no perfect solution, there are a few key things you can do to get the most out of a VPN subscription.
Maximize free trials and plans
Look to see if the VPN you're interested in has an affordable free trial and/or a free version. These allow you to try out a particular provider's version of VPN without having to commit to a monthly subscription or initial purchase.
Some VPNs also have money-back guarantees that allow you to refund an initial payment if you find that their software is not suitable. VPN refund periods typically range between 14 and 45 days, giving users enough time to test a solution in depth.
Know how you are going to use the VPN
Another important step is determining how your company will use a VPN. While all VPNs encrypt online traffic, some solutions prioritize certain features more than others. For example, certain VPNs have security as their number one priority, while others are designed for streaming or travel.
Knowing how your organization plans to use a VPN can help reduce the amount of research you need to do.
If you're not sure how a VPN can be integrated into your business, we recommend checking out this list of articles (and the See Also section at the bottom):
Search a VPN provider's server fleet
VPNs are a great way to unblock geo-restricted content. The way they do this is through their server networks, with servers spread all over the world. While all VPNs have servers, not all have large networks of servers at their disposal.
Look for a provider that provides at least 2,000 to 4,000 servers on their network. If your main use case with a VPN is unblocking region-locked content, the more servers, the better your chances of unblocking it.
Another important consideration is server locations. If you have a specific region that you need to unblock content from, it's a good idea to check if the VPN of your choice has a server in that area. Fortunately, most VPNs provide a publicly available list of their servers and their corresponding locations.
Consider the cost and devices to be used.
This may be a no-brainer, but consider the cost and whether a VPN fits into your organization's budget. Fortunately, most VPN providers offer a variety of subscription options and contract lengths to suit a variety of budgets.
Another crucial factor is the number of devices you want to connect to a VPN. Not all VPNs have unlimited simultaneous device connections, so make sure you choose a provider that can protect all the devices at your disposal.
Lastly, don't skimp on security
VPNs encrypt your browsing data and keep your online activity secure (at least they should). Look for VPNs that have no-logging policies and are independently audited. “No logging” policies are claims by VPN providers that they do not log or record user data.
While any VPN provider can say they don't log data, a quality solution would have a no-logging policy backed by third-party testing or an independent audit. This provides an additional layer of confidence that your data will not be sold or given into the wrong hands. If you want to learn more, we have a roundup of the best no-logs VPNs in 2024 that you can check out.
It's also a good rule of thumb to check if a particular VPN has been involved in any data breaches or zero-day vulnerabilities. For example, Ivanti Secure VPN recently had five new zero-day vulnerabilities in 2024, putting thousands of online devices at risk of being exploited.
Check out our reviews or do a quick Google search for the VPN you're interested in and see if there's any news or history of security breaches.
