Latest news with #ExpressVPN
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
Opera VPN Pro update adds new locations and ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol
In an upgrade to Opera VPN Pro, the browser company has added ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol to its premium VPN service. The open-source protocol is seen as an industry leader and matches top competitors for speed and security. Previously, Lightway was only available if you used ExpressVPN. Despite being open source, the resistance of many of the best VPNs to be linked with one another has slowed its uptake. The addition, conducted in collaboration with ExpressVPN, comes alongside several other improvements to the VPN Pro package, including infrastructure upgrades for connectivity and to enhance the server network. This overhaul includes a significant upgrade to Opera VPN Pro's infrastructure. Its 3,000 servers now deliver connections of up to 10Gbps, and the network has expanded from 33 locations to 48 (including servers in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, and Japan). This, alongside the adoption of the Lightway protocol, should deliver faster, more reliable connection speeds, while the wider range of server locations will give global users more choice and the ability to find servers that are closer to their real location. The upgrade will be rolled out automatically for desktop users, while mobile users will be sent a notification to update the Opera app to get the new features. The Lightway VPN protocol was created by ExpressVPN and launched in 2020. To date, the protocol has been exclusive to the premium VPN provider, and it has been a selling point for the provider's relatively expensive plans. VPN protocols manage the connection between the VPN app on your device and the VPN server, and enable you to use the internet securely and anonymously. Reliable VPN protocols ensure your information is safely encrypted while minimising the impact on your connection speed. Alongside popular protocols such as OpenVPN and WireGuard, which are generally offered by the best VPNs, providers like NordVPN and Hotspot Shield have their own proprietary solutions in the form of NordLynx and Catapult Hydra, respectively. Lightway is regarded as one of the best VPN protocols on the market today. It is open source, meaning that the user community can inspect its code and report on issues and vulnerabilities. It also has a much smaller codebase than other options, running to just 2,000 lines of code, making it simple to audit, maintain, and develop for. The protocol itself has been independently audited twice, confirming the effectiveness of its security, and the fact that Lightway is built in the Rust programming language further adds to its efficiency, enabling it to deliver high performance without impacting the battery life of your device. Commenting on the addition of the Lightway protocol to VPN Pro, an Oracle representative said, "Lightway aligns with our focus on continuing to improve VPN Pro... [It] boasts improved speed and reliability and works especially well on mobile devices where it offers reduced latency and better battery life." The protocol also incorporates post-quantum protection, anticipating future threats that will have the bandwidth to beat current encryption technology. This was another draw for Opera, and they noted the importance of the fact that Lightway "can help [Opera] future-proof VPN Pro for our users today." The VPN Pro implementation of Lightway does not integrate the 2025 Lightway Turbo update, however, which routes VPN traffic via multiple tunnels for increased connection speeds. VPN Pro provides up to six simultaneous connections for Windows, Mac, and Android devices via Opera One, Opera GX, and Opera for Android. Opera users can also access the provider's more limited free VPN service, which is included with the browser. The provider has an audited no-logs policy and commits not to collect or store personal information or data on users' browsing activity. Looking ahead, Opera has a roadmap of VPN product improvements based on community feedback and states that it plans to release more updates in the near future. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The best VPN service 2025
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Welcome to the TechRadar best VPN buying guide. Our aim is to give you the information to buy the best VPN for your needs as quickly as possible. With that in mind, NordVPN (which is giving away $50 Amazon gift cards in the US, UK, Canada and Australia at the moment) is the best VPN for most people and we'll explain why just below. Surfshark (don't miss 7-day free trial) and ExpressVPN are also excellent. You're unlikely to go wrong with any of them. We know this because we regularly perform in-depth and rigorous VPN testing which you can also read about further down. We've been writing about and reviewing VPNs at TechRadar for over 11 years and we know more about them than any other website. When it comes to guiding our readers to the right choice, we think that's worth something. 1. NordVPN – The best VPN overallNordVPN came out on top in our latest round of deep testing. It is our top pick as the best VPN for most people. We're confident that virtually anyone can sign up for NordVPN and get what they need. It's easy to use, has robust security, seriously fast speeds for downloads and gaming, flawless unblocking (it's our top choice for streaming), plus a host of compelling extra features. It's also good value for money: $3.39 per month plus tax if you sign up for two years (though it needs to be paid upfront). Those 2-year plans come with free eSIM data and a free Amazon gift card up to $50 for customers in the US and Canada at the moment. If you pick up a 2-year plan, you'll bag an extra 4 months of coverage for free and a whopping 76% saving. You can try it before committing by using the 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our full NordVPN debrief below ▼View Deal 2. Surfshark – get the 7-day free trialSurfshark beats NordVPN on price and speed – although both services are so blisteringly fast you won't notice the difference. It's excellent for unblocking global streaming services and has servers in more countries than NordVPN, which may be beneficial if you travel a lot. The trade-off is a busier app interface, and a slightly lower score than NordVPN in our malware, phishing, and ad-blocking tests. ExpressVPN (below) edges Surfshark on security, too. Its two-year Starter plan (paid upfront) is $1.99 per month plus tax. Best of all, there's currently a 7-day free trial of Surfshark available for the very first time. That's something that none of the other top VPN services offer. Read our full Surfshark debrief below ▼View Deal 3. ExpressVPN – The best VPN for beginnersExpressVPN is the easiest VPN to use on our list. You're connected in one click and the interface is very user-friendly, making it a great option for anyone less tech-savvy. It's also the most secure VPN we've tested, with many extra features to keep you safe online, and it's seriously fast too – though not quite to the level of Surfshark and NordVPN. The main drawback is the price. At $4.99 per month on the two-year plan (again, all needs to be paid upfront), it's more than double Surfshark's monthly cost, and well above average. So for most people, we'd recommend one of the two options above. As with the others, there's a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can give it a go without committing. Read our full ExpressVPN debrief below ▼View Deal 4. Proton VPN – The best VPN for privacyIf you want extreme privacy above all else, choose Proton. Based in Switzerland, this extremely capable VPN offers good speeds and has servers in 117 countries around the world – including across Africa and Asia where other providers tend to struggle – which makes it excellent for streaming and torrenting too. It's privacy that's the big differentiator for Proton VPN, though. Proton VPN offers tools for protecting your browsing and connecting data. That's not to say that the options above have weak privacy credentials: they don't. But Proton gives that extra layer of protection. Proton VPN's recent improvements in app user-interfaces also make it a good choice for beginners, with explainer pop-ups for most functions. Read our full Proton VPN debrief below ▼View Deal 5. PrivadoVPN Free – The best free VPNWe don't advise using a free VPN for most purposes but, if you do need one – as a one-off, say, or to do something that doesn't require privacy credentials – Privado's free version is the best of the free services we've tested. Its speed rivals the services above. But of course, you don't get the same features or guarantees of privacy and security. There are also just 13 server locations and a 10 GB data cap, so it isn't suitable for heavy streaming or downloading lots of files. Our tests revealed it's also nowhere near as good at unblocking, so if you're trying to unblock something from another territory it's worth paying for NordVPN or Surfshark. Of the free options, though, it's the best. (You'll find the 'Try free plan' button in light grey below Privado's paid options.) Read our full PrivadoVPN debrief below ▼View Deal For streaming, security and everyday use, this is the best VPN you can buy. Flawless for streaming Cutting edge privacy & security Good price Not the best for torrenting Few Middle East & Africa servers NordVPN is more than enough for most people: it's fast, cheap, and relatively easy to use – but with plenty of tools for even the biggest technophiles. There are some niche cases where you may be better off with another service (ExpressVPN is a better choice for countries with extreme censorship, for example). But if you just want a VPN for streaming your favorite shows, gaming, and keeping safe on public WiFi, NordVPN is the best VPN for the job. Plus, as NordVPN's Amazon Prime Day deal is well underway, there's no better time to invest in a multi-year plan. Nab a 2-year subscription and, in addition to 4 months free and a whopping 76% saving, you'll also receive an Amazon gift card worth up to $50. Expect that deal to last through spring and early summer. Read more about NordVPN ▼ Getting started with NordVPN is easy thanks to the onboarding wizard that springs to life when you fire up the Mac or Windows version for the very first time. It'll walk you through Nord's features and make sure you understand what's going on. So, why just four stars for ease of use? NordVPN has users well covered for apps but the browser extension isn't great. Also, Surfshark and ExpressVPN are just a little bit more obvious when it comes to basic use. We are delighted, however, to see the recent addition of a NordVPN Linux app complete with a GUI. Read more details on NordVPN apps. We rate NordVPN as the best streaming VPN that money can buy. It boasts over 7600 ultra-fast servers covering 118 countries, all of which are optimised for streaming. It unblocks all major streaming services – including international Netflix libraries, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus – as well as a host of other other regional streamers such as BBC iPlayer, 9Now, SBS On Demand, ITVX, Sling, FuboTV, Max and many, many more. In fact, it's not often we find a streaming service that NordVPN can't get round the back of. Speeds are easily enough to handle 4K HDR video. The only streaming-related caveat is that NordVPN isn't the best torrenting VPN. That accolade goes to ExpressVPN. That's because there are only a handful of NordVPN servers optimised for P2P use. Read more details on NordVPN unblocking. NordVPN comes with cutting-edge security and privacy features, including its recently launched NordWhisper protocol for VPN obfuscation and censorship avoidance. It also runs both OpenVPN and its own proprietary WireGuard-based Nordlynx protocol with super-secure, recently audited, zero-trust AES-256 encryption, meaning you can be confident that nobody has access to your data but you. If someone ever did manage to pilfer it, it would take them millions of years to crack the encryption, particularly as NordVPN's quantum-safe encryption is theoretically future-proofed. In fact, NordVPN has just extended its post-quantum encryption (PQE) across all of its apps, making the service theoretically invulnerable to so-called "store now, decrypt later (SNDL)" attacks which await the availability of quantum computers and their increased code-cracking powers. The company has a strict no-logs policy – which was successfully audited for the fifth time earlier this year – meaning that not even NordVPN itself has a record of your browsing data. It's also legally head-quartered in Panama – a country with strong data protection laws – meaning that it would be very difficult for any third parties to have any successful claims to NordVPN's customer base, even if it did log anything significant. Finally, there's also a kill switch for further assurances and DNS leak protection to prevent your ISP from getting even a whiff of what you're up to. Read more details on NordVPN privacy and security. The NordLynx proprietary protocol performed brilliantly in our speed tests. It clocked consistent speeds upwards of 950 Mbps in servers to the UK as well as when heading across the Atlantic to the US. The latter of these is where many other VPNs struggle to perform. That's worth considering given that plenty of people will be looking to access streaming services and other content across The Pond. OpenVPN speeds are much slower, as with all VPNs. It's only Surfshark that stands out in this area but, again, it shouldn't put you off unless you insist on using OpenVPN over NordLynx. NordVPN has a great deal of pride in its server network and has recently looked to change the conversation from server count to server quality. From our results of putting its network performance to the test, NordVPN has a good point. In fact, NordVPN has just undergone a third-party audit of its performance speed and connection time, as well as its functionality and security. West Coast Labs determined that every was satisfactory. Read more details on NordVPN speed and performance. There are four NordVPN price plans to choose from if you're based in the US – three if you live anywhere else in the world. NordVPN Basic is just the VPN software. It's available everywhere. If you want to add some anti-virus functionality (Nord Threat Protection Pro), then go for NordVPN Plus. For a password manager (NordPass), cloud storage (NordLocker), and up to $5000 of cyber insurance on top, go for NordVPN Ultimate. NordVPN Ultimate also recently extended its ID theft recovery insurance to UK Ultimate users up to a value of £5000 – useful in light of the recent UK big retail cyber attacks. NordVPN has a slightly different pricing structure in the US with its NordProtect program which includes up to $1M in identity theft insurance and $100K in cyber extortion insurance. There's confidence for you! So, instead of the Plus and Ultimate tiers, the USA gets Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime. For our money, the Basic plan is the best value but if you really need the extras on offer in Plus, Complete, Ultimate, or Prime, then go for it. Each plan type comes with a different possible contract length: 1-month, 1-year, or 2-year. The best value, by a long shot, is the 2-year plan and, right now, NordVPN is giving away Amazon gift cards to new subscribers on these plans, in the States and Canada, up to the value of $50, along with free eSIM data – and also now in the UK and Australia too. The Plus plan comes with $20, the Complete plan with $40, and Prime or Ultimate gets you the full $50. Do remember that you need to pay the full amount upfront, though, and that, along with Surfshark, NordVPN adds local tax at checkout. That means that its quoted monthly prices might well be a little higher depending on where you live. In some parts of the United States, that could mean another 8% or so added on. For those in the UK, it's a full 20% extra. The other major warning – and this is true for most VPNs – do not let your subscription auto-renew or you'll end up with a pretty sharp price hike. Currently, NordVPN auto-renews for $139, for just one year, for those on the Basic plan. That's around 50% more than you might have paid for the original 2-year plan you subscribed to. In fact, a US law firm is taking NordVPN to Court over what it has deemed to be "deceptive" auto-renewal pricing. Our advice is to make sure you switch off auto-renew in your subscription settings as soon as you sign up and install. Whichever subscription you choose, though, you get 30 days to change your mind and ask for a full refund. Here's a comparison table of the NordVPN plans and what each one offers. Just be careful not to fall for a fake NordVPN ad scam when you come to buy: NordVPN Basic NordVPN Plus NordVPN Complete (US-only) NordVPN Ultimate (non-US) NordVPN Prime (US-only) 1-month plan price $12.99/month $13.99/month $14.99/month £12.89/month $17.99/month 1-year plan price $4.99/month $5.99/month $6.99/month £6.69/month $8.99/month 2-year plan price $3.39/month $4.39/month $5.39/month £5.39/month $7.39/month VPN ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ Threat protection ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ Password manager ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ 1TB cloud storage ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ Cyber Insurance ❌ ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅ (NordProtect) The cheapest and fastest VPN – an excellent choice on a budget. The fastest VPN around Unlimited device coverage Perfect streaming scores No post-quantum protection Apps a little cluttered No port forwarding For a straight-up VPN with all the basics of privacy, security, and streaming included, Surfshark really is excellent value. It costs less than NordVPN, it's half the price of ExpressVPN and there are no limits to the number of devices you can install it on with just a single, simple account. Surfshark has some brilliant web browsing anonymity features that every casual user will love. You should be rightly tempted to choose it over NordVPN even though it loses out to the top dog on usability, connection consistency, and security but only by a shade. READ MORE ABOUT SURFSHARK ▼ Surfshark has an app for pretty much every platform and is one of the few to have a proper GUI for Linux. It's got you covered for routers, browsers, Fire Stick, and Apple TV, as well as all the regulars. It's also recently added macOS to the list of platforms which support its Surfshark Bypasser feature. That means that you can now choose to route some traffic through your normal connection, while still using the VPN for other functions, on a Mac computer. It's pretty straightforward to use – we love the QR code log-in for your secondary devices – but, with the location guide and quick access feature buttons all competing for screen real estate, there's a fair bit going on at a glance. That makes the interface a little tougher on the eye than NordVPN or ExpressVPN but not so much that it should put off any beginners. If you do need help, the built-in AI chatbot will spit out some solid how-to type articles and there aren't many layers between you and a real, live customer support operative if that doesn't do the trick. Read more details on Surshark's ease of use. Surfshark is great for streaming. It had no problems unblocking all the major streaming services in all kinds of geos, and, with 140 server locations across 100 countries, you won't be short of options of places to pretend to be. All of Surfshark's servers are optimized for streaming and torrenting but we did have a couple of issues of jitter which meant that video streams dropped out once or twice in our tests. Obviously, just reconnect the VPN and press play again should that occur. A problem, you say? Well, maybe but balance that against Surfshark's unlimited connections policy. That's right, you can use Surfshark on as many devices as you like simultaneously, all from just one account! Read more details on Surfshark's unblocking and content. Surfshark's AES-256 encryption tech puts it at the top table for security. Its CleanWeb browser add-on blocks ads from appearing on websites and denies cookie requests without you having to bother which we really, really like. It also has a rather wonderful Alternative ID tool that effectively creates a fake persona – complete with name, email address, and phone number – to autofill into online forms when you'd rather not give your real details. Emails, calls, and messages get forwarded to your real versions until you pull the plug. Surfshark's Camouflage Mode obfuscation technology helps you bypass VPN blocks by hiding the fact you're using a VPN. Its No Borders feature, meanwhile, detects if your current network is facing any restrictions and automatically recommends servers that perform best under those restrictions. There's no post-quantum protection future-proofing, like NordVPN or ExpressVPN, to prevent possible "store now, decrypt later" attacks but you can't expect everything for a bargain price. Lastly, it's worth noting that Surfshark's headquarters, for legal purposes, is the Netherlands which is a member of the 14 eyes intelligence sharing community along with the United States, UK, Canada and Australia among others. If privacy is your top reason for using a VPN, for this reason alone, Surfshark is probably not the best choice. Read more details on Surshark privacy and security. You want speed? You got speed. Surfshark is the No.1 fastest VPN, maxing out beyond 950 Mbps for local and trans-Atlantic servers. As we said above, though, it can be prone to jitter which might make you suffer during gaming and streaming. If you're looking at pure up/download speeds, though, then Surfshark is hard to beat. Read more details on Surfshark's speed and performance. The Surfshark Starter plan is where to go to keep costs at rock bottom. That's your VPN use, including ad and cookie pop-up blockers, plus the Alternate ID personal detail mask and masked email generator. The price has just gone down to its bargain basement $1.99 per month on the two-year plan which makes it a really good moment to buy. It doesn't ever get cheaper. But it's very hard to turn down the upgrade to the Surfshark One plan given that it's only about $13 more over 2 years and only about a $3 difference on the 12-month plan. That adds a built-in anti-virus, webcam protection, and real-time credit card, ID, and email breach alerts. Surfshark's premium plan, One+ is a tougher sell. It's around double the price of Starter at $3.99. The most noticeable benefit of One+ is that you get the Incogni data removal tool into the mix. It's a decent service but it's probably only worth opting for Surfshark One+ if you were considering Icogni anyway. As with NordVPN, do beware that Surfshark's prices may not be quite as good as they look, depending on where you're based. The company adds local tax at checkout unlike the other VPN providers below whose prices already include tax. Also, like most VPNs, auto-renewal prices are steep. There's a handy article here on how to make sure your Surfshark subscription doesn't auto-renew without having to set yourself a calendar reminder. If you'd like to get a taste of one of Surfshark's features for nothing, then you can try out its recently announced free private DNS service. It's a way of routing your internet traffic without allowing your ISP to block certain domains, log traffic or create targeted adverts based on your browsing. Better still, Surfshark has introduced a 7-day free trial for the first time. It's the only one of the best VPNs to offer that which makes taking it for a spin something of a no-brainer. Our bet: you'll probably stick with it. Here's a comparison table of the Surfshark plans and what each one offers and a direct comparison of NordVPN vs Surfshark: Surfshark Starter Surfshark One Surfshark One+ 1-month plan price $15.45/month $17.95/month $20.65/month 1-year plan price $3.19/month $3.39/month $6.09/month 2-year plan price $1.99/month $2.49/month $3.99/month VPN ✅ ✅ ✅ Ad blocker ✅ ✅ ✅ Cookie pop-up blocker ✅ ✅ ✅ Alternative ID ✅ ✅ ✅ ID breach alerts ❌ ✅ ✅ Antivirus ❌ ✅ ✅ Incogni data removal ❌ ❌ ✅ Just choose your location and switch it on; it's pricey but ExpressVPN makes VPNs easy. Super simple apps Good for streaming Automatically configures everything Double the cost of NordVPN Light on additional features Not as fast as NordVPN and Surfshark Price is the main reason ExpressVPN sits behind NordVPN and Surfshark in our best VPN list. It costs a lot of money and there are no cheaper price plans to fit lower budgets. Regarding what you get, it's more in line with the upper tiers of the two above, NordVPN Ultimate and Surfshark One+, but the lack of flexibility is frustrating. What's more, ExpressVPN had a few gaps in streaming during our most recent testing, and, while it's the best VPN for beginners, neither of the others above are so complicated that they should put you off spending half as much on your VPN. It's also worth noting that ExpressVPN recently reduced its workforce in big enough numbers that it felt it needed to release a statement. Hopefully, this is not a bad sign for the future of the product but we'll keep you posted. READ MORE ABOUT EXPRESSVPN ▼ The ExpressVPN user interface is just great. There's nothing glitzy about the look of its apps but there's a simplicity that belies a lot of very clever design. It's red when it's off, it's green when it's on and the first two sections that draw your eyes are the massive Connect button and the server location option which opens up a list of countries either recommended or by continent. The casual user needs to go no further and get everything they need right there. There are apps for every platform. ExpressVPN even has its own Aircove router if you want the VPN working at the heart of your home network, and, in fact a recent software update for Aircove and Aircove Go has improved their core infrastructure to make the user experience more stable and easier. Likewise, ExpressVPN has also just updated its iOS and Android apps. They now include built-in speed testing tools, access to more VPN protocols and a Smart Location connection for an automated link to the best server at any given moment. Only those on Linux should feel irked with just command line access to work with. The other place your money goes is the 24/7 live chat in the help section of the app. Waiting times to get connected to human support can be as little as 30 seconds. We were never left hanging for more than 5 minutes in our tests. There is just no better VPN for usability. Read more details on ExpressVPN's ease of use. With over 148 locations in 105 countries, ExpressVPN will have you covered for most of your streaming needs – certainly when accessing streaming services across the States, UK, and Europe. It has the most Oceania server locations in our top three although we did run into some trouble with Netflix and 10Play in Australia. Use the 24/7 live chat for advice on the best server choice if you find similar issues and that should sort it. ExpressVPN is a bit short across the Middle East with just two countries to choose from. Not great for BeIn sports content in that part of the world, or watching Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League or any other local content from Saudi, UAE, and the like. In terms of stream stability, ExpressVPN does pretty well, although it does feel like NordVPN has the edge here with fewer instances of dropping out when viewing trans-Atlantic content – another reason why you might want to make a different choice if streaming is your no.1 VPN use case. Read more details on ExpressVPN unblocking and content. You might pay more – pretty much double the cost of all the other VPNs here – but you do get a lot of security features with ExpressVPN. You just need to decide whether you need them or not. These include the ExpressVPN Keys password manager, parental controls to stop access to adult sites, a tracker and malware threat manager, and one of the best built-in ad blockers on this list. The only disappointment was the fake website warning system which let far too many slip the net to really trust in our tests. Fortunately, ExpressVPN gets the basics of security bang on. It uses top-end, rotating key, AES-256 encryption as well as a 1000-dimension secure ML-KEM key designed to future-proof your data for the quantum computing age too. We're also big fans of the randomly allocating Shuffle IP system which ensures there's no correlation between your identity and your online activity. Combine that with the provider's TrustedServer technology, its commitment to post-quantum encryption, and the fact that data requests are made very difficult thanks to its British Virgin Islands choice of jurisdiction, and it's full marks here. The company is so confident that it offers a $1 million bug bounty should you ever get inside an ExpressVPN server. Good luck! Read more details on ExpressVPN privacy and security. Lightway is the name of ExpressVPN's bespoke VPN protocol. It's not quite as fast as NordLynx or WireGuard, as used by Surfshark, but it's easily enough for the needs of the casual user. It's optimized for mobile use – certainly no bad thing in the modern age – and outperforms OpenVPN by a long shot. It's slightly disappointing that Lightway's 898 Mbps speeds dropped to more like 396 Mbps once we connected to the US from the UK but it's worth remembering that you only need a fraction of that to stream 4K video. Lightway's performance may be about to change, though, with the roll out of Lightway Turbo and DCO on Windows apps and with the recently launched Lightway 2.0. and its more streamlined coding in Rust. Lightway in Rust is already on Aircove devices and is expected to land elsewhere over 2025. Read more details on ExpressVPN speed and performance. There's only one price plan for ExpressVPN which makes things a lot more straightforward. Granted, it's an expensive price plan but that's because you get the kind of optional extras found in NordVPN and Surfshark's top-tier packages included as standard. On the plus side, ExpressVPN's auto-renewal prices (subject to change) are a lot better than Surfshark and NordVPN. All the same, here's an article on how to cancel your ExpressVPN subscription before your subscription ends, which we recommend doing. That will stop the auto-renewal and still allow you to use ExpressVPN right up until the last day of your agreement. Right now, all ExpressVPN plans come with the bonus of a free eSIM through its platform. You'll get 1, 3 or 5 GB of free data to use anywhere in the world, depending on how long you sign up for. Here's a table showing ExpressVPN's main features and a direct comparison of ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: ExpressVPN 1 month ExpressVPN 1 year ExpressVPN 2 year Price $12.95/month $6.67/month $4.99/month VPN ✅ ✅ ✅ Ad blocker ✅ ✅ ✅ Tracker blocker ✅ ✅ ✅ Password manager ✅ ✅ ✅ ID Alerts US-only US-only US-only $1M ID theft insurance US-only US-only US-only Data Removal US-only US-only US-only Proton VPN is the best choice if privacy features and widespread server access are top of your wishlist. Extensive global coverage Strong third-party audits Protocol for bypassing VPN blocks Poor OpenVPN performance Inferior Chrome extension Limited live customer support Proton VPN is one of many privacy-centric products built by Proton. It's a CERN-scientist-founded, Swiss company committed to the "societal problem of surveillance capitalism" rather than a Silicon Valley venture capitalism get-rich-quick machine. So long as Proton sticks to that mission, that makes it quite an ethical VPN choice and one that works pretty much as well as all the others on this best VPN list. It was certainly a good sign to see a strong reaction from Proton's CEO on the possible change in Swiss data protection laws. The big reason to choose Proton VPN is if privacy is of paramount importance to you – or if you need a good range of server locations across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia – but don't let that fool you. With over 12,000 servers across 117 countries, Proton VPN is every bit the right tool for those looking for some serious streaming and torrenting fun too. READ MORE ABOUT PROTON VPN ▼ Proton VPN is easy to use, thanks to a recent UI refresh of its Windows, iOS and Android apps. It may not have a Chrome browser extension that's as reliable as others but it does boast a Linux application with a decent graphic interface and those new-look mobile and desktop apps. We really like the added home screen widgets for mobile and upgrades to the Profile feature which allowed us to switch protocol and server by use cases like streaming, anti-censorship and gaming, really quickly. Proton also recently partnered with privacy-focused browser Vivaldi. So, if you really do want a VPN browser extension for Proton, you might consider Vivaldi instead of Chrome. Sadly, there's still no news for Mac OS Proton VP users who currently don't have access to the split tunneling feature. Proton VPN also loses marks in this category for customer service. Like the others in this list, the live chat isn't 24/7. It's only available during Swiss work hours – not great if you're based on Pacific Time in the States or live in Australia or New Zealand. That said, we're assured that this is an area where Proton VPN is soon to improve. Read more details on Proton VPN's apps and ease of use. Proton VPN is a good choice for both streaming and torrenting. It's one of the few VPNs where port forwarding is still available and there are dedicated, P2P-optimized servers, which, again, is great for torrenting. Proton VPN also has more country locations than any other VPN. If you're looking to connect to a regional service in Africa (22 countries) or the Middle East (14 countries) then it should be high on your list. It also has more Asia locations covered than any other provider on this page. The trade-off is that there aren't so many server locations in the US or across Europe, but most countries are covered in those places, even if there's not much at the city/region level. More to the point, Proton VPN had no trouble with any local or international streaming services we tried. We managed to access the desired Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus libraries with every server we tried. Read more details on Proton VPN's unblocking and content. Proton VPN has been built from the ground up as a privacy-first product and plenty of features show that off. Proton's Secure Core sends your VPN traffic through an extra secure server in a privacy-friendly location (Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden) and then onto the endpoint VPN server. Similar to NordVPN's Double VPN system, that means your traffic is secured twice, reducing the risk of your IP getting exposed if the endpoint server is hacked. As well as OpenVPN and WireGuard, Proton uses its own Stealth protocol which hides the fact you're even using a VPN which could be very important if you're in a region where VPN use is banned. Equally, you can opt to use the Alternate Routing feature instead which sends your IP-relocated internet traffic through a third-party server, like Amazon's, for example. That helps to get around sites that don't play nice with VPNs. You can also connect directly to the Tor network through some Proton VPN servers which might be handy if you're in a line of work that requires extra anonymity. Proton VPN Plus also brings the use of the NetShield Ad-blocker feature. It did a decent job with ads and trackers, although the malware-blocking end wasn't particularly comprehensive. Get a decent AV for that instead. Read more details on Proton VPN privacy and security. Proton VPN plays second fiddle when compared to the speeds on offer with other VPNs on this list. The VPN Accelerator feature does a good job of automatically finding the routes with better speeds when connecting to long-distance servers but if a fast VPN is your no.1 feature, then Proton won't be the best choice. Do bear in mind, though, that for streaming purposes, Proton VPN still has plenty under the hood. Indeed, its latency and jitter scores were nice and low, which arguably, is more important for some use cases. Read more details on Proton VPN speed and performance. The free version of Proton VPN is one of the best free VPNs available, and worth your consideration, depending on your needs. The paid version of Proton VPN is the one to go for if you want to use the streaming functionality, though. Upgrade to Proton Unlimited if you want all of that plus access to the full suite of Proton web products including Proton Mail, Proton Drive, Proton Pass and more. Soon you'll be able to do that direct from Apple's App Store and still get the best online price after a US ruling found against "the Apple Tax". Proton VPN's two-year plan is the best value. You only need to subscribe to the full Proton Unlimited package for a year if you want the best monthly price for all the Proton products, though. Here's a comparison table of the Proton VPN plans so you can see for yourself: Proton Free Proton VPN Plus Proton Unlimited 1-month price Free $9.99/month $12.99/month 12-month price Free $3.99/month $9.99/month 24-month price Free $3.59/month $9.99/month VPN ✅ ✅ ✅ Streaming ❌ ✅ ✅ Server choice ❌ ✅ ✅ Malware protection ❌ ✅ ✅ Tracker blocking ❌ ✅ ✅ Ad-blocker ❌ ✅ ✅ Tor over VPN ❌ ✅ ✅ Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive, and Pass Free features only Free features only ✅ For occasional use, including some worldwide TV show streaming, it's hard to beat the best free VPN. Free! Some streaming available No security audits Limited data usage Fewer server locations It's not all about money. The best things in life are free. Well, the fifth-best thing, at least. A paid VPN is a better choice for anyone serious about using a VPN regularly but, if you're looking to dip your toes in the VPN waters and see whether you like the feel, PrivadoVPN Free is a good choice. Why? Because you get to play with most of the important features that a paid VPN offers and that's not the case for many of the other best free VPN services. You can do things like unblocking access to trans-Atlantic Netflix libraries (in a limited way) and you also get the peace of mind that PrivadoVPN won't sell your data to make up for the fact you're using its service for free. READ MORE ABOUT PRIVADOVPN FREE ▼ PrivadoVPN Free doesn't come with as much customization and functionality as a paid VPN, the upside of which is that it's certainly easy to use. There are apps for Windows, MacOS, Android, Android TV, iOS, Apple TV, and FireTV and there's a Chrome extension too. If you're struggling to install them, then the online knowledge base is good but live chat access is limited. By default, the layout is a lot simpler than many, and the user interface is uncluttered. There's the location manager, where you choose which server you wish to connect to; the recently revamped and stabilized kill switch; the connect button; and a handy reminder of how much data you have left; and that's pretty much it. Hit 'Click to Connect' and away you go! Read more details on PrivadoVPN Free apps and ease of use. Streaming is where PrivadoVPN Free stands head and shoulders above other free VPNs. There's not really much streaming on offer elsewhere, without paying, because of very low data allowances and limited, or often no, server choice. PrivdoVPN Free allows you to access its 13 servers across 10 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Netherlands, UK, and the USA. You also get 10 GB of data to use each month. That's about 10, hour-long, TV shows at standard definition. If you need more than that, then maybe it's time to pay for your VPN. The split tunneling feature is handy for minimizing your data use but, if you do bust the limit of your allowance, then PrivadoVPN Free will let you connect still but only on the 1 Mbps server. With no servers in Australia, New Zealand or Italy, there are a lot of great free streaming services that you miss out on here but it did still manage to unblock Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, and ITV in our recent tests. Read more details on PrivadoVPN's Free streaming performance. PrivadoVPN Free brings access to its VPN but not much else in the way of privacy and security features, aside from the kill switch. It uses AES-256 encryption and offers OpenVPN, WireGuard protocols as well as the usually slower IKEv2, if you need. We love that PrivadoVPN doesn't sell its free users' data to fund the gratis access. We love its strict no-logs policy. We love that it's based in Switzerland too, where data protection laws are super tight. But the fact that PrivadoVPN has never had a third-party audit to check all this? Not so much. But then audits cost money and the users aren't paying, so, you know. Read more details on PrivadoVPN's Free privacy and security. You might expect a free VPN to be significantly slower than the paid options on this page but that's not the case with PrivadoVPN Free. It maxed out our 950 Mbps VPN speed testing rig using WireGuard, like many of the others on this page. As we say, you get a lot more than the other best free VPNs with PrivadoVPN Free. What you don't get is the unlimited ability to use it. Read more details on PrivadoVPN's speed and performance. PrivadoVPN would much rather you sign up for its paid VPN service. The free version is not easy to find on its website. It's usually a greyed-out button buried pretty deep on the sign-up page. In many ways, it has a point, though. PrivadoVPN Free is a good service but if you need a VPN on the regular, you're better off reaching into your pocket. We even have a special $10 discount through our link which is how you get the prices below. Here's a feature comparison table of the PrivadoVPN Free and paid plans and you can see if you agree: PrivadoVPN Free PrivadoVPN 1-month plan price Free $10.99/month 12-month plan price Free $1.33/month 24-month plan price Free $1.11/month VPN ✅ ✅ Server countries 10 48 Data Limit 10GB/30 days Unlimited Simultaneous connections 1 10 Ad blocker ❌ ✅ Parental controls ❌ ✅ We rate the five VPNs above as the best available right now but there are plenty of other VPNs that we've reviewed. If you see a killer VPN deal out there for one of them, it might be worth your consideration, certainly if it's high up this list. We've put the highest-scoring VPNs at the top. The ones near the bottom are VPNs you should avoid. Mullvad ★★★★½A major player in the industry, and a great advocate for privacy. Mullvad is one of the only VPNs that still lets you pay with cash for true anonymity. ▶ Read more: Mullvad review IPVanish ★★★★A fast VPN with a decent track record for unblocking streaming services. It sits in the middle of the pack because we find its apps to be a little clunky. ▶ Read more: IPVanish review Windscribe ★★★★This privacy-friendly service doesn't believe in bells and whistles. It has an excellent free plan for you to get a taste of the service. ▶ Read more: Windscribe review CyberGhost ★★★★Part of the Kape conglomerate, CyberGhost is a popular VPN that's good for beginners. Decent speeds and a high unblocking score make it a great pick for newcomers, but it's still not as good as our top picks. ▶ Read more: CyberGhost review CLICK TO SEE MORE VPNS WE'VE REVIEWED ▼ PureVPN ★★★★A near-perfect streaming score and exceptional WireGuard speeds make this budget VPN a worthy consideration. However, there are still a few kinks that need working out in the apps. ▶ Read more: PureVPN review ★★★★Decent speeds and streaming unblocking put center of the pack for functionality, but its complicated apps and lack of audits undermine an otherwise great service. ▶ Read more: review Private Internet Access ★★★½One of the best VPNs for Linux, and a popular VPN for torrenting, PIA is an industry veteran that has proven its no-logs policy in court (twice). Some connection issues and underwhelming speeds saw it fall out of our top ranks, but it's still a good app that's particularly well-suited for power users. ▶ Read more: Private Internet Access review Hotspot Shield ★★★½A popular free VPN that claims to be the fastest on the market. Our tests show otherwise, and it struggled in our stream unblocking tests, too. ▶ Read more: Hotspot Shield review TunnelBear ★★★½A popular brand that's had some excellent marketing campaigns, but the VPN itself is lackluster and can't hold a candle to the market leaders. ▶ Read more: TunnelBear review FastestVPN ★★★½With a $30 lifetime use deal on the table, FastestVPN makes a serious statement. But its server network comes up short and, despite its name, it's a bit slow. ▶ Read more: FastestVPN review VyprVPN ★★★½Previously hailed for its proprietary Chameleon protocol, Vypr has lost a lot of that venom that kept it nipping at the heels of the top three. ▶ Read more: VyprVPN review AngelVPN ★★★½A relative newcomer, AngelVPN is speedy and has the bonus of servers in Russia and China but a lack of extra features and some logging issues mean it can't go head-to-head with today's top dogs. ▶ Read more: AngelVPN review Amnezia VPN ★★★½Created by Russian activists looking to avoid state censorship, Amnezia VPN is an open-source VPN, with both free and paid tiers, that allows you to set up your own personal VPN server. It isn't the best for unblocking, streaming, or pure performance but that niche use case might be just what you need. ▶ Read more: Amnezia VPN review AdBlockVPN ★★★An open-source VPN with an ad blocker included is a great idea but AdBlockVPN is just too short on features to offer value for money – no kill switch, no WireGuard, and just 38 server locations. At this price, there's far better out there. ▶ Read more: AdBlockVPN review NymVPN ★★★Of course, a VPN based on blockchain technology has to exist. Zero-knowledge trust and decentralized privacy certainly make sense but, still in beta, NymVPN isn't quite there yet. ▶ Read more: NymVPN review OysterVPN ★★★Another new kid on the block, OysterVPN has plenty of great security tools and strong unblocking credentials. Missing WireGuard support and sluggish speeds are a major drawback for now, though. ▶ Read more: OysterVPN review PrivateVPN ★★½Once upon a time, this was a go-to VPN service. However, it's fallen behind the pack and now struggles to offer the same features and functionality. ▶ Read more: PrivateVPN review SweatVPN ★It may be aimed at Warzone players but SweatVPN is not the best VPN for gaming. If bot lobby after bot lobby is all you want, then it's just about a maybe but don't expect long before you get yourself banned. ▶ Read more: SweatVPN review Hola VPN ★★Hola VPN collects some concerning log data, including your "IP address, operating system, browser type, web pages you visit, time spent on those pages, access times and dates." In our opinion, this logging undermines the entire purpose of using a VPN for privacy, even if it's doing it to prevent people from abusing your IP address, which it uses as one of its so-called "nodes." ▶ Read more: Hola VPN review Back to top ▲ A virtual private network (VPN) is a tool that creates a secure and encrypted connection between your device and another location on the internet. VPNs ensure privacy and security online by masking your IP address – and therefore your location – and encrypting data that's transmitted to and from your device, making it impossible for third parties to intercept or track your activities. Without a VPN, your ISP can monitor and track which websites you access and the data you're transferring. Governments and legal bodies can then request to access that information or hackers may expose it. Install a VPN and no one can see your data or what you're doing online. Back to top ▲ A VPN provides security, privacy, and anonymity to you and your devices when using the internet. VPNs can also unblock your favorite streaming services from abroad, help you get cheaper prices when shopping online, assist with torrenting and online gaming connections, and they're a terrific tool for protecting yourself on public Wi-Fi. Most good VPNs have ad-blockers and will deal with those annoying cookie-consent pop-ups too. You can read more about the benefits of using a VPN. Back to top ▲ There are two important things to note when buying a VPN: you have to pay the full amount up-front BUT most come with 30-day money-back guarantees, so you can change your mind for a full refund. So, for example, if NordVPN's Basic plan is advertised at $3.39 per month for 24 months, that means you'll need to pay the whole $81.36 when you sign up. (You may also have tax to pay on that, region depending.) You'll then receive 24 months of service before you get the choice to pay again for another term. As for the money-back guarantee, we've tried it, and it works. Most of our top picks also have 24-hour live customer support which makes it all the easier. Finally, once you've bought and installed your chosen VPN, we'd advise deactivating any auto-renew settings. Some auto-renew prices can be eye-watering compared to the initial fee. Take a look at more things to consider when buying a VPN. Back to top ▲ NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN are probably going to fit most people's needs but if you've some specific use cases or have some key criteria, then you should probably consider the following. You can read more about each in our article on choosing a VPN. Price Anything under $2.50/£2.50 per month is a cheap VPN; up to $4.50/£4.50 per month is about average; and anything over $5/£5 per month is on the expensive side. There are also free VPNs but they usually come with limited usage and features. They're not great for streaming, torrenting or gaming. The longer the term of your agreement, the cheaper the price. Anything less than a year tends not to be great value. Apps Most VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android but do check. Linux users and anyone looking to install a VPN on an Amazon Fire Stick, a router, or a smart TV should definitely read the small print on this one. Security & Privacy Is it meeting industry standards for encryption? Is there a kill switch? Does it have a no-logs policy, and has it been audited? Look out for nifty security features that ensure no patterns to link you and your given IPs, and for anything that will help prevent encrypted data from getting cracked either now or in the future. And check the company's track record to make sure they have kept customers safe in the past. Server locations Does the VPN you're interested in have physical servers in the countries you need or just virtual VPN servers? That might be one where you live or one in a country with a geo-blocked streaming service that you're trying to access. Performance Can you trust VPN speed tests? Well, you can certainly trust performance. Consistency and quality are critical. You'll suffer poor performance if the VPN you've chosen has issues with latency or jitter. The end result will be packet loss during data transfer which you'll experience as buffering or a stream dropping when using video-based applications eg: video calls, online gaming, and watching Netflix. Extras Many providers include more than just the VPN. There are ad-blockers, password managers, antivirus software, and even cyber insurance bundled in sometimes. Are these things you'd like too, or are you better off keeping costs down? Picking the right price plan is usually the key here. Customer support Most of our top VPN providers have excellent, 24/7 live customer support. They're there to help you with any issues from solving your streaming problems to arranging the refund from your money-back guarantee. If the service you're looking at doesn't offer something similar, then you might want to think again. Back to top ▲ Yes. VPNs are legal to use in most places around the world. The exceptions are North Korea, Belarus, Oman, Iraq, and Turkmenistan, where VPNs are illegal, and China, Russia, Turkey, UAE, India, Iran, Egypt, and Uganda where you can only use a state-approved VPN, the actual privacy of which would be questionable at best. But, as far as everyone in the US, UK, Europe, and most other places go, yes, VPNs are perfectly legal to use. Go get one! Back to top ▲ Good question. No. Not everyone needs a VPN. But they can be useful depending on who you are, what you do, and how you like to use the internet and online services. If you want to access streaming services from all around the world – BBC iPlayer, ITV, SBS On Demand, 9Now, RAIPlay, Max, ESPN+, Sling, Hulu, etc – then a VPN is the best way to do that. Equally, a VPN is perfect for making sure you can access the right libraries for Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus. Primarily, though, VPNs are about online security. For the everyday user, that might mean staying safe while using public Wi-Fi, or minimizing the cookies and trackers that harvest your details as you browse the web and other connected services. That should lead to less email spam and less chances of cybercrime attack too because you're far less likely to have your details stolen in any online database hacks. Some VPNs can offer a more ad-free online experience too while others have built-in tools to help steer you away from fraudulent websites and malware. The only group for whom we'd say VPNs are a must are journalists, political activists, and people around the world who need to protect themselves from oppressive governments, access foreign media, and learn and report on global truths. If you want to make sure you're able to evade censorship and propaganda while maintaining anonymity and privacy online, a VPN is non-negotiable. For any of those reasons above, or if you just want peace of mind that you're more in control of your personal data in a rapidly progressing digital age, then a VPN is probably a good idea. Give one a go and try it for yourself. Most have a 30-day money-back guarantee if you decide a VPN is not for you. Back to top ▲ A free VPN might be enough if you don't intend to use it much or don't need to use it for streaming, gaming or torrenting. There are some bad free ones out there but if you choose one of the best free VPNs then you won't come unstuck. A free VPN is usually limited in the amount of data it offers each month or by the number of server locations it offers. That's why streaming on a free VPN isn't usually going to work. You can certainly expect far fewer features on a free VPN too. Take a look at our free vs paid VPNs page for a better idea, and do check out these free VPN trials of paid services. All those listed will offer a refund within 30 days if you're not happy with the service. Back to top ▲ We've been testing VPNs for longer than almost any other online publication and feel very confident about our methodology. Each VPN is tested twice per year on TechRadar. That way, we can be sure that this guide is as up-to-date as possible whenever you happen to be reading it. Every recommended VPN on this page has been fully reviewed. We test all the VPNs on the following categories: Feature analysis: Technical details, network size, server locations, and supported protocols. Privacy and security: Privacy policies, encryption methods, independent security audits, data leak protections. Performance testing: Connection speeds, connection times, video streaming performance, web browsing performance, gaming performance, torrenting performance. Unblocking abilities: VPNs are tested against over 20 of the most common streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and many more. Support and reliability: Customer support facilities, such as live chat and email support and help sections on provider websites. You can read more about our full VPN testing methodology here. Back to top ▲ We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Arabian Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Gaming Behind the Firewall: Online Casino Trends in Censored Arab Markets
In countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where internet censorship is intense and gambling is illegal, a quiet but thriving iGaming scene persists—powered by clever tech, savvy users, and platforms optimized for these challenging conditions. 1. Internet Censorship in Arab Markets CountryBlocked ContentEnforcementSaudi ArabiaGambling, pornography, political dissentDNS-level blocking by national regulatorsUAEGambling, VoIP apps, adult content, datingFiltered via local ISPs under government supervision 2. VPNs & Proxies: The Gateways to iGaming To bypass these digital walls, players rely on tools like VPNs and proxy servers that encrypt traffic and mask IP addresses. ADVERTISEMENT VPN popularity: In some Gulf countries, VPN usage exceeds 30% of the population. In some Gulf countries, VPN usage exceeds 30% of the population. Top providers: Services like NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN offer speed and stealth modes to bypass censorship. Services like NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN offer speed and stealth modes to bypass censorship. Legal risk: While VPNs aren't outright banned, using them for illegal activities (like gambling) can bring penalties, especially in the UAE. 3. How Players Access iGaming Here's how Arab users continue to access online casinos despite legal and technical barriers: VPNs with obfuscation: Allow encrypted connections that evade deep packet inspection. Offshore casinos: Platforms based in regions like Curaçao or Malta, often tailored for Arabic users. Anonymous payments: Use of cryptocurrencies, e-wallets, and prepaid vouchers to avoid traceable bank transactions. Mobile-first platforms: Over 70% of users access these casinos via smartphones, so lightweight UX is key. 4. Platform Adaptations: YYY Casino as a Case Study YYY Casino is a leading example of a platform designed for players behind the firewall: Lightweight design : Optimized for fast loading even on restricted networks or mobile data. : Optimized for fast loading even on restricted networks or mobile data. Arabic interface : Offers full Arabic language support and culturally aware UI. : Offers full Arabic language support and culturally aware UI. Crypto-ready: Accepts Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for anonymous, fast transactions. 5. Why This Trend Matters The continued growth of iGaming in censored Arab markets reveals three important trends: High demand : Despite legal restrictions, player numbers are rising year-on-year. : Despite legal restrictions, player numbers are rising year-on-year. Tech adaptation : Gamers use advanced tools to bypass restrictions and maintain access. : Gamers use advanced tools to bypass restrictions and maintain access. Platform evolution: Casinos like YYY adapt to low-bandwidth environments and offer mobile-first solutions. Key Trends at a Glance VPN adoption: Up to 39% in some Gulf states Up to 39% in some Gulf states Mobile dominance: 70%+ of users access via smartphones 70%+ of users access via smartphones Crypto & e-wallets: Key to private, fast payments Key to private, fast payments Platform features: Arabic UI, fast load, and VPN compatibility Final Thoughts 'Gaming Behind the Firewall' isn't just a metaphor—it reflects the daily reality of thousands of Arab players who bypass censorship using VPNs, cryptocurrencies, and mobile tech. Platforms like YYY Casino are positioning themselves as trusted gateways by adapting to this underground demand. And with the region's iGaming appetite only growing, these behind-the-scenes strategies are redefining what online gambling looks like in the Middle East. Also published on Medium. Notice an issue? Arabian Post strives to deliver the most accurate and reliable information to its readers. If you believe you have identified an error or inconsistency in this article, please don't hesitate to contact our editorial team at editor[at]thearabianpost[dot]com. We are committed to promptly addressing any concerns and ensuring the highest level of journalistic integrity.
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
I Never Pay Full Price for My VPN. Here's How You Can Save, Too
A virtual private network is a nifty privacy tool that encrypts your internet connection, thereby hiding your online activity. You can use a VPN to prevent your ISP from seeing your web browsing or app activity, unblock region-restricted streaming content and access services from your home country while traveling internationally. While VPNs are handy, a subscription can get pricey. Most VPN companies offer attractive intro prices -- from under $30 to over $100 a year -- but then hit you with steep renewals that can more than double the original rate. I've been using VPNs for over a decade, primarily for unblocking geo-restricted streaming video content and when traveling around the world. However, I never pay full price for a VPN, and I always avoid expensive auto-renewals. I use a combination of tactics, including canceling my plan before it renews, shopping for a deal during Cyber Month and stacking that new subscription onto my pre-existing plan. Here's exactly how I save money on VPN subscriptions, and you can too. Stick with annual plans for the most value and least risk Annual plans strike a fantastic balance between cost-effectiveness and commitment Screenshot/CNET You can typically sign up for monthly, annual or multi-year VPN subscriptions. Usually, you'll pay more for monthly plans in comparison to long-term commitment packages. For instance, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN charge you $13 per month, while NordVPN's yearly plan costs $60, which translates to $5 a month paid annually. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN's one-year plan is $100 for 15 months, or around $6.66 per month. Mullvad is the exception to this rule, charging you €5 per month across the board. While most VPN companies offer the lowest possible pricing on two-plus-year bundles, I recommend sticking to annual plans for the most savings but the least risk. You'll pay considerably less in most cases when compared with a monthly option. Since even a fast, private, streaming-friendly VPN can slow down, suffer a data breach or run into streaming issues over time, I recommend sticking to an annual plan. If you pay $140 for 28 months of ExpressVPN but switch to NordVPN after a year, you're essentially doubling your VPN costs. I usually cancel my plan to avoid an expensive auto-renewal price hike Most VPN providers' renewal prices leap after your initial subscription term Screenshot/CNET You'll probably be swayed by attractive subscription costs when perusing VPN provider plan pages. But your sweet introductory rate normally runs out after a year, with borderline highway robbery auto-renewals. ExpressVPN charges you $100 for the first year or $140 total for the first two years, with the one- and two-year plans spiking to $117 annually upon renewal. You'll pay just $17 more for a subsequent year with the annual plan, which is a marginal price increase. Whereas its two-year plan tacks on an additional $37 more per year when it converts from an average of $70 per year to $117. NordVPN is even more exorbitant, skyrocketing from a competitive $60 annually to $140 per year upon renewal -- more than double the introductory cost. Even cheap VPNs typically slap you with price hikes. Surfshark leaps from an excellent value at $48 for the first year to $79 on renewal. Mullvad is one of the few VPN providers that charges the same amount whether you sign up for one month, one year or 10-plus years. To avoid bank-breaking auto-renewals, I recommend canceling before your plan re-ups. You can likely cancel your subscription immediately after signing up without losing service -- that's what I prefer to do, so I don't risk forgetting to cancel before renewal. But if you'd rather wait, I suggest setting a cancellation reminder in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or your preferred calendar app for a few days before your plan is set to renew so you don't forget. Seasonal deals help you save Many retailers -- including Amazon, Best Buy and Target -- offer seasonal sales such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday events. Similarly, most VPN companies drop prices on subscriptions for Cyber Week -- or Cyber Month, as it's become. You'll often find slashed prices at other times, too, such as back-to-school savings or sales in conjunction with Amazon's Big Deal Days. In March 2025, NordVPN ran a promotion celebrating the company's birthday, offering an extra year of service at no additional charge, so there are typically plenty of occasions to save. My advice: check VPN pricing regularly to shop for discounts. You can stack subscriptions to avoid auto-renewals and stock up on discounted service Many VPN providers let you stack subscriptions. For instance, if you have an annual plan with three months left and purchase another year-long subscription, you'll have 15 months of service on your account. You can take advantage of deals and sales to tack more months onto your plan at lower-than-normal prices, and therefore avoid auto-renewal price hikes. I'll typically snag another annual subscription sometime during Cyber Week to extend my plan rather than dealing with a wallet-shattering auto-renewal. Because you typically don't get regular promo pricing with auto-renewals, stacking subscriptions is your best bet when sticking with a VPN you like at a lower-than-renewal price. But my advice to stick with annual plans remains. When stacking subscriptions, try timing your purchase to add another year onto your plan when there are only a few months left on your account, rather than with a full year. While it might be a little tricky, with frequent sales, there should be several opportunities to find discounts. Look for emails enticing you to resubscribe Screenshot/CNET If you cancel your plan, as your renewal date inches closer, your VPN provider may email you with cheaper subscription plan offers. I advise checking your VPN company's regular pricing to confirm that the deals you're sent are actually discounts rather than clever marketing tactics designed to mask everyday pricing as an aggressive discount. Ultimately, your VPN provider doesn't want to lose you as a customer, so canceling your plan gets its attention. In an ideal world, we as consumers could sign up and keep our initial subscription price, rather than playing a game of chicken by canceling plans and waiting for offers to flood our inboxes in hopes of winning us back. But at least we have the power to motivate VPN companies to lure us in with deals. I never pay full price for a VPN subscription, and you shouldn't either A VPN is a worthwhile investment and addition to your app arsenal. With prices ranging from less than $30 to $100 or more per year, you can find virtual private networks available for various budgets. Although the bottom line may vary, you should rarely pay full price for a VPN -- with a few exceptions, such as Mullvad, which charges a flat fee regardless of your subscription term. Outside of that, you have plenty of strategies to get juicy discounts. For more, check out the best VPNs on the market, learn how to set up a VPN and discover how to save money on streaming service subscriptions with a VPN.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
We asked cybersecurity experts to build a privacy toolbox for $10 per month – here's what they came up with, and more
Our online data is being collected all day, every day. Whether it's browsing the web, watching our favorite shows, or online shopping, everything we do online can be tracked, used to push ads, sold on, or even used to scam us. This all sounds very doom and gloom, but there are actions you can take to protect your personal information. For the Tom's Guide VPN team, the best VPNs are always our first port of call for digital security, but they are just one piece of the privacy puzzle. VPNs, the best antivirus software, the best password managers, secure browsers, authenticators, the best encrypted messaging apps, and data removal services can all be used to take back control of your data. You could spend hundreds of dollars on tools like these, but you don't have to. So we asked the Tom's Guide VPN and Security teams to build a collection of privacy bundles for all eventualities – here's what they came up with. NordVPN Plus: get a $20 Amazon gift card + 4 months freeNordVPN is our #1 VPN. It's fast, secure, private, and great for streaming. What you'll get... • Protection for up to 10 devices• Speeds of 950 Mbps+• Streaming service unblocking• Post-quantum encryption• Threat Protection Pro• NordPass password manager• 30-day money-back guarantee• $20 Amazon gift card (for a limited time only)• 28 months protection for $3.76 per month ($105.36 up front pre-tax) Every tool we recommend here is reputable and will protect your data – that's for sure. But not every product will be right for you. We've therefore tried to include a range of different products, at different prices, allowing you to decide what's best for you. No matter what privacy bundle you want to create, a VPN is a must have in all of them. VPNs protect your privacy online by routing your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel. Your data is kept safe from hackers, third-parties, and your ISP and the most private VPNs will never log, store, or share your browsing data. Many leading VPNs include password managers and antivirus in their plans, so it's worth comparing all the features offered and see which plan is right for you. VPNs aren't a silver bullet – but they're a perfect first step into improving your online privacy. They also don't have to cost the world, and I think most people will find at least occasional use for one. Our top picks: NordVPN: from $2.91 per month. Our top-rated VPN. A great all-purpose option with lots of added extras. Surfshark: from $1.99 per month. An excellent bargain alternative that also offers antivirus as an add-on. ExpressVPN: from $4.99 per month. More expensive, but includes a huge amount of privacy extras for no extra cost. Scams and threats from hackers are unfortunately commonplace on the internet – but antivirus software acts as a powerful shield against these dangers. The software can scan your device and its files for malware, warn you about suspicious links, block sites, and detect data leaks. It can't protect you if you give away your information but it'll do its utmost to warn you before that happens. If you weren't already aware, the computing world is full of potential threats: malware, infostealers, ransomware, phishing attacks and more. Whether you don't know what any of that means, don't want to deal with it or want to make sure you have the best protection against all of it, you're going to need an effective antivirus software. Our top picks: Bitdefender Total Security: from $4.17 per month. Effective, real-time, malware and phishing protection. It can scan your system and is easy-to-use. Norton 360 Deluxe: from $4.17 per month. Security giant with a feature-rich offering, including a decent VPN. Malwarebytes Plus: from $2.81 per month A cheap, light, alternative for those looking for basic malware protection without the fuss. Weak and re-used passwords are a significant reason people get hacked – 123456 is currently the world's most popular password. You might struggle remembering multiple passwords but a password manager takes all the hassle out of account security. Password managers generate and store secure, complex passwords so you never have to worry about passwords again. From email to Netflix, bank accounts to fitness devices, smart home cameras to social media accounts, everything needs a password – a strong, unique password. And to keep them all safe, secure and easy to access your best bet is to use a password manager. Our top picks: 1Password: $4.99 per month. Total password protection which includes Travel Mode, security monitoring, and 2FA and passkey support. Bitwarden: Free. Sync an unlimited number of passwords with this completely free service. Premium plans with more features are also available. NordPass: from $1.29 per month ($3.76 per month w/ NordVPN Plus). Easy-to-use, mobile friendly app from the NordVPN team. Great features, including biometric support. Google Chrome dominates the browser market, but it's a privacy nightmare, riddled with trackers and it simply loves your data. There are alternatives that don't collect your data, block ads and trackers, and are way more privacy-focused. Browsers vary in their speed, features, and usability but there will be a Chrome-alternative for everyone. A chunk of secure browsers utilise Chromium (what Google Chrome is built on) so you'll find these more familiar and easy-to-use if you enjoy Chrome's design. Many also come with in-built ad-blockers, VPNs, and password managers – plus a lot of them are free. Break free from Google Chrome with a secure browser. You'll say goodbye to cookies, trackers, and ads whilst maintaining the sleek design you're familiar with – they're really customizable too. Our top picks: Brave: Free. Based on Chrome, but is privacy-focused and dedicated to ad and tracker blocking. Vivaldi: Free. Hugely customizable to suit any need, and has partnered with Proton VPN. Tor: Free. A secure browser veteran, whose decentralized networks takes you into the world of anonymity. Your data isn't just at risk when browsing the web – it's when you message too. WhatsApp, iMessage, and Messenger are three of the most popular apps, but none of them protect your privacy. WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted, so your message content can't be seen, but it collects and shares your metadata and has recently introduced ads into its app. Secure messaging apps encrypt your messages, collect little to no metadata, and some don't even require a phone number to use. Like secure browsers, encrypted messaging apps are the perfect way to break free from the status quo and reclaim control of your data. They're easy to use, boast strong privacy and security, and many are free. Our top picks: Signal: Free. A popular, open-source, app that keeps little to no metadata. A phone number is required though. Session: Free. Highly private, Signal-based app which operates a decentralized network and requires no phone number. But it can be a little buggy. Threema: $6 one-off payment. An open-source and audited messaging service which doesn't require a phone number. A one-off payment of $6 is its biggest downside. Fed up with spam calls and emails? Then you might want to explore data removal services. These tools search the records of data brokers for your information and send removal requests on your behalf. Brokers then have to delete records of your data and you should see a reduction in spam over time. Combining a data removal service with other privacy tools mentioned here should mean there is less of your data available to profit off. Data removal services can be purchased on their own, but they are included in some premium VPN plans. Clicking "Accept" on cookies is often the easy way out. However, this lets data brokers build up a huge amount of data on you. You can certainly send deletion requests yourself, but using a data removal tool to automate that job is well worth the time and hassle it saves. Our top picks: Incogni: from $8.29 per month ($3.99 per month w/ Surfshark One+). Developed by the team behind Surfshark, Incogni is a affordable and effective – and one of the few to cover the UK, Canada, and Australia. Optery: from $3.99 per month (but free basic plan available). Provides tons of detail and what information it has helped delete, but only covers the US. PrivacyBee: from $8 per month. With over 850 data brokers on its books, Privacy Bee has the widest reach – but again, it's US-only. Protecting yourself online doesn't have to break the bank. This is the best privacy toolbox for (well) under $10 per month. Total Cost = $3.99 per month The best cheap VPN is Surfshark. Surfshark One+ is just under $4 per month and you'll get the fastest VPN on the market, which doubles as the best streaming VPN, protection for an unlimited number of devices, and high-level security and privacy. Surfshark One+ includes its own award-winning antivirus which can scan your device, protect your webcam, monitor for data leaks, and offers real-time protection. You'll also get a full Incogni subscription – saving you a chunk of cash. The data removal service will scan data brokers for your data and send out deletion requests on your behalf. There's no password manager with Surfshark, but Bitwarden offers a truly free unlimited version of its services that allow you to sync as many passwords as you want. The free, open source tier is very secure and provides useful included features like autofilling, secure-note storage and sharing. It has browser extensions for popular, and lesser used, browsers and apps for desktop and mobile. You'll also get secure cloud storage, two-factor authentication and health reports to alert you to weak, or exposed, passwords. Brave, Vivaldi, Opera, DuckDuckGo, and Firefox are all free, so the secure browser is up to you. They're designed with privacy in mind and come with some great additional features. You'll be able to block ads, trackers, and cookies, allowing you and your data to break free from the clutches of Google Chrome. Almost all the best encrypted messaging apps are free. Signal is our favorite and it's very popular, open-source, messenger service. Session and Wire are some other free encrypted messaging apps. Your best bet is to try them all out and see which one you like best. If you want a best-in-class privacy toolbox, then you won't go far wrong with these products. For your VPN, we'd recommend NordVPN. It's the best overall VPN, fast, secure, and unblocked all the streaming sites we tested it with. You can protect up to 10 devices on one plan and its extra features include Threat Protection Pro, the NordPass password manager, and encrypted cloud storage. Total Cost = $21.21 per month Two-year NordVPN plans, covering NordVPN Plus and above, are currently on offer, in one of NordVPN's best ever deals. Plans come with free Amazon gift cards – between $20-$50 – as well as four extra months of free protection. Threat Protection Pro is a threat protection feature, not an antivirus. It's the best VPN malware protection and is great to have, but we'd still recommend a dedicated antivirus. NordPass is one of the best password managers and if you just want password generation, storage, and 2FA, this will do the job – but it's not "the best." Bitdefender has made the top of our antivirus software picks because of its great value, quality real-time protection against malware and threats. Its quick and custom scans learn your computer's file structure and the Advanced Threat Detection can monitor your system for suspicious activity in real-time to stop infections before they occur. The interface is clear and efficient to use, there's a firewall, and webcam protection. You'll also get a free VPN and a secure browser, but you'll likely want alternatives to these. If you want more than NordPass, 1Password is our top choice. It's accessible on a variety of platforms and has a Travel Mode feature that can hide your passwords at international borders. The "masked" email addresses feature is a privacy bonus and there's autofill and passkey support. Security monitoring tools will list weak or reused passwords, and alert you about unsecured or breached websites and logins. 2FA, mobile app PIN unlock, and biometric login are also present. Secure browsers are more of a personal preference. Your browser of choice depends on speed preference, how much customisation you want, and whether you like the Chromium design. Brave and Vivaldi are two great privacy-focused choices. Brave has in-built ad, tracker, and fingerprint blocking and its Chromium design is compatible with most sites. Vivaldi is a little slower, but is far more customisable and comes with email and calendar features – as well as Proton VPN Free built-in. Both are free and will protect your privacy far better than Google Chrome. For a data removal service, it's Incogni. Incogni is very easy to use and comes included with the NordVPN Ultra and Surfshark One+ plans. It's cheaper than a lot of alternatives, but the range of data brokers isn't huge. Incogni is also unavailable outside of the UK, US, Canada, EU and EEA areas, and the Isle of Man. Signal is the best encrypted messaging app out there. It's free to use, end-to-end encrypted, open source, and records a very limited number of metadata. Signal is the most popular WhatsApp alternative, but you do have to sign up with a phone number. All of these products will protect your online privacy, but in this bundle we'll detail some tools that have the highest levels of privacy – and even some that delve into the world of anonymity. Total Cost = $21.27 per month Mullvad VPN is one of the most private VPNs available. Mullvad is a no-logging VPN and its privacy policy goes into specific detail of the types of data it collects and for what purpose. Mullvad VPN is open source so you can examine it for yourself and it protects your data with post-quantum encryption. You can even pay for Mullvad in cash and its €5 per month price (approx $5.82) never changes. Mullvad also launched its own secure browser. Proton Pass is an encrypted password manager and Proton makes privacy its mission. It uses AES-256 encryption and is open source. It's zero-knowledge, so only you can see your passwords and it supports biometric logins. There's 2FA, passkey support, and account recovery capabilities. Tor is a decentralized network, run by volunteers, that focuses on anonymity and privacy. The Tor Browser routes your traffic through three relays before connecting to the internet. The website, and anyone watching, will see a connection from Tor and not your IP address. There's no browsing history and cookies are only valid for one session. Fingerprinting is prevented as all users look the same and your traffic is encrypted at each relay. Because of the relays, Tor is a much slower browser than others, so you may find it harder to use on a day-to-day basis. For messaging apps, we're going with Session. It's based on Signal but has more privacy-focused features. You don't need an email or phone number to sign up – instead you get a random Session ID. Like Tor, it's decentralized and your messages are end-to-end encrypted. Almost no metadata is collected and it's been audited. Session isn't as popular as Signal, and there have been reports of bugs. But as an app, it's the most private. It's a little trickier to recommend truly private antivirus software and data removal services. Incogni was developed by the team behind Surfshark so there is an element of data privacy to its offerings. It has fewer partners than its competitors and its privacy policy is clear about how it uses your data. It also doesn't sell your personal data. However, it shares data with the likes of Google Analytics and does need your details to operate its service. Norton 360 Deluxe is not only an excellent antivirus, it boasts some handy privacy features too. You can monitor the dark web for names, your social security number, or email. It can't compete with the market leaders, but Norton's VPN is solid and has had its no-logs policy audited. If you want any privacy issues fixing automatically, you'll need to pay $109.99 per year for Norton's Privacy Monitor Assistant add-on – and that's quite a considerable downside. It's not just your desktop that requires privacy protection, it's your mobile too. NordVPN has great iPhone and Android apps. They might be a little complex for absolute beginners, but if you're familiar with VPNs then you shouldn't have any trouble. NordPass is the best password manager for mobile. It's intuitive, simple, and is included with all NordVPN plans except NordVPN Basic. Total Cost = $5.01 per month Bitdefender Mobile Security offers its top-tier antivirus in mobile form, for both Android and iPhone. It's fairly cheap and has a tonne of security features. One of which is app lock which can turn off apps that may pose a security risk. Again, secure browsers are a personal preference. Although I use Brave on my laptop, I prefer Vivaldi on my phone. I enjoy Vivaldi's UI a little more and its customization options mean I can set it up exactly how I want it. There are no mobile apps for data removal services, so we haven't recommended one for this bundle. You may not want to subscribe to or purchase a wide range of apps. So if you're after convenience, consider Proton Unlimited. Total Cost = $9.99 per month For $9.99 per month, you'll get Proton VPN, Proton Pass, Proton Drive, Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, and Proton Wallet. Everything is end-to-end encrypted and the interconnected ecosystem works seamlessly and is perfect for breaking away from Google. Antivirus isn't offered, so you would need to purchase that separately. Proton VPN does include NetShield but this is a threat protection and isn't quite as good as others offered by VPN providers. Vivaldi has partnered with Proton to include Proton VPN Free as an extension. It's one of the best free VPNs available and will slot nicely into your Proton arsenal.
