When a VPN supplier claims to have a “no-logs coverage,” it signifies that they gained’t retailer or “log” customers’ on-line exercise and information. This contains delicate info similar to shopping historical past, IP addresses, recordsdata downloaded and different information that might doubtlessly be tied again to you.
VPNs are primarily used to safe on-line site visitors and assist customers stay nameless to keep away from focused adverts, conceal their location or make sure the safety and privateness of their private information.
Although many VPN suppliers might promote having a no-logs coverage, not all follow-through with their guarantees. Some suppliers don’t have impartial safety audits that affirm their coverage, leaving all of it to belief. A lot worse, some VPN suppliers have been caught logging information regardless of claiming not to take action.
On this article, we’ll discover VPNs that really aid you browse anonymously and conduct third-party audits to show they don’t log consumer information.
Featured Companions: Cybersecurity Software program
Nameless (No-Log) VPNs in contrast
Under are a number of the key options to search for in an nameless, no-log VPN. The variations between these will spotlight how every VPN can fit your wants finest on prime of offering top quality safety.
| Servers and International locations | Most Current Safety Audit | Safety Protocols | Gadget Connections | Annual Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 6,033 servers in 61 international locations | February 2023 by Cure53 | OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, NordLyx (based mostly on WireGuard) | 6 | $5.49 monthly |
| Mullvad VPN | 641 servers from 40 international locations | August 2023 by Radically Open Safety | OpenVPN and WireGuard | 5 | $5.48 monthly |
| ExpressVPN | 3,000 servers (reported) in 105 international locations | November 2022 by Cure53 | OpenVPN and Lightway | 8 | $6.67 monthly |
| ProtonVPN | 3,097 servers in 71 international locations | April 2023 by Securitum | OpenVPN, WireGuard, Stealth (Mac) | 10 | $5.99 monthly |
| Surfshark | 3,200+ servers in 100 international locations | December 2023 Cellular App Safety Evaluation (MASA) | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 | Limitless | $4.09 monthly |
| CyberGhost VPN | 11,529 servers in 100 international locations | September 2022 by Deloitte | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 | 7 | $6.99 monthly (6-month plan) |
NordVPN: Finest for all-around safety
NordVPN gives an intensive suite of privateness and security-focused options that make it one of many prime VPNs in the present day. It boasts double VPN capabilities, obfuscated servers, sturdy AES-256 encryption and built-in safety towards malware and adverts. That is on prime of getting an intuitive utility and quick web efficiency.
For safety audits, NordVPN’s no-logs coverage was final confirmed by Deloitte in January 2023. Its structure and cell app safety have been additionally audited and backed by Cure53 in February 2023.
Pricing
NordVPN has three tiers: Customary, Plus and Full. Of the three, NordVPN Plus presents the most effective stability of options and value. It contains the VPN, malware safety, information breach scanning and advert blocking.
- NordVPN Plus 1-month: $13.99 monthly.
- NordVPN Plus 1-year: $5.49 monthly.
- NordVPN Plus 2-years: $4.79 monthly.
Options
- 6,033 servers in 61 international locations.
- Risk safety towards malware, adverts and trackers.
- Helps as much as six simultaneous connections.
- Darkish Internet Monitor.
- Encrypted file-sharing characteristic.
Execs
- Specialised servers for safety and privateness.
- Quick and dependable VPN velocity.
- Independently audited no-logs coverage.
- Intuitive desktop utility.
Cons
- No free model.
- Priced comparatively excessive.
For extra info, learn the full NordVPN overview.
Mullvad VPN: Finest for general privateness
Privateness fans have long-recognized Mullvad VPN for its large give attention to anonymity and privateness—and it lives as much as the hype. Mullvad makes use of a novel and nameless account quantity system that eliminates the necessity for customers to share their private e mail to create an account.
Moreover, the VPN additionally lets customers pay for the service by means of money or bodily vouchers. This permits customers to forego the standard bank card or PayPal funds, eradicating any want handy over delicate cost info.
Its no-logs coverage has additionally been confirmed by Assured AB in June 2022, with their most up-to-date infrastructure audit by Radically Open Safety being revealed simply final August 2023.
Pricing
- Flat fee of €5 or $5.49 monthly, no matter subscription size.
Options
- Nameless consumer account numbers.
- 651 servers throughout 40 international locations.
- Cut up tunneling.
- Constructed-in kill swap.
Execs
- Independently audited no-logs coverage.
- Reasonably priced month-to-month subscription.
- First rate velocity and efficiency.
- Straightforward to make use of desktop app.
- Lets customers pay in money or vouchers.
Cons
- Small server community.
- Longer subscriptions may be costly.
- No free trial.
For extra info, learn the full Mullvad VPN overview.
ExpressVPN: Finest for safety audits
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a VPN supplier that’s proven a robust dedication to third-party testing, take a look at ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN has a complete of 16 third-party audits for his or her entire suite of merchandise, which embrace their VPN desktop apps, browser extensions and cell counterparts. This exhibits us that ExpressVPN will not be afraid to check their safety claims throughout their providers. Fortuitously, these audits complement a really stable VPN service that gives a big server community, a well-designed consumer interface and quick general speeds.
ExpressVPN’s most up-to-date audit was in November 2022 by Cure53 of their Lightway protocol.
Pricing
- 1 month: $12.95 monthly.
- 6 months: $9.99 monthly.
- 1 12 months: $6.67 monthly.
Options
- RAM-only server expertise.
- Browser extension that acts as distant.
- As much as eight simultaneous system connections.
- Servers unfold throughout 105 international locations.
Execs
- Intuitive and well-designed app interface.
- Quick and dependable speeds.
Cons
- Not as reasonably priced as different VPNs.
- No two- or three-year subscription possibility.
For extra info, learn the full ExpressVPN overview.
ProtonVPN: Finest towards authorities surveillance
Customers anxious about authorities intervention or information requests ought to strive ProtonVPN. It has the distinctive benefit of being based mostly in Switzerland, a rustic with a number of the strongest privateness legal guidelines on this planet. This helps alleviate any considerations that authorities might seize consumer information from the VPN for surveillance functions.
ProtonVPN can also be open-source, which signifies that its code is publicly out there to be inspected for vulnerabilities or dangers.
By way of its no logs claims, Proton VPN’s no logs coverage additionally handed a safety audit in April 2023 by Securitum.
Pricing
Exterior of getting a free model, ProtonVPN has two tiers: Plus and Limitless. Plus contains the VPN itself whereas Limitless contains Proton’s different providers similar to Proton Mail, Go and Drive.
- Free.
- Proton VPN Plus 1-month: $9.99 monthly.
- Proton VPN Plus 1 12 months: $5.99 monthly.
- Proton VPN Plus 2 years: $4.99 monthly.
Options
- 3,097 servers in 71 international locations.
- Has a free model.
- 10 GBps succesful servers.
- Helps as much as 10 simultaneous connections.
Execs
- Free model has no information restrict.
- Independently audited no logs coverage.
- Open supply.
- Primarily based in privacy-friendly Switzerland.
Cons
- Stay chat is barely out there for paid customers.
For extra info, learn the full ProtonVPN overview.
Surfshark: Finest for these on a finances
Surfshark gives a safe VPN answer at a really low value. Surfshark’s one-year and two-year plans are a number of the most affordably priced available in the market. You additionally get limitless system connections with all Surfshark plans, letting you defend a number of gadgets at no further value.
On the no-logs entrance, Surfshark’s no-logs coverage was confirmed by Deloitte in January 2023. Its most up-to-date audit was in December 2023, when Surfshark’s Android cell app handed an impartial Cellular App Safety Evaluation (MASA).
Pricing
Surfshark has three tiers: Starter, One and One+. I like to recommend going for Surfshark One because it nonetheless presents decrease charges with out shedding out on options similar to antivirus safety, breach alerts and information safety reviews that aren’t present in Starter.
- Surfshark One 1 month: $14.99 monthly.
- Surfshark One 1 12 months: $4.09 monthly.
- Surfshark One 2 years: $2.69 monthly.
Options
- 3,200+ servers in 100 international locations.
- 24/7 reside help and guides.
- Limitless system connections.
- RAM-only servers.
- Antivirus and information breach monitoring.
- Multihop.
Execs
- Reasonably priced pricing.
- Intuitive consumer interface.
- Quick speeds and efficiency.
- Can defend a number of gadgets with one account.
Cons
- No free model.
- No Home windows free trial.
- Month-to-month subscription is expensive.
- Some options could also be buggy at first.
For extra info, learn the full Surfshark overview.
CyberGhost VPN: Finest for giant server and placement community
These on the lookout for a big server community unfold throughout tons of places ought to think about CyberGhost VPN. Proper now it has 11,529 servers in 100 international locations and 126 places—permitting customers the flexibleness to masks their location from quite a few areas. CyberGhost additionally enables you to safely and anonymously entry torrenting websites by means of their optimized torrenting servers.
CyberGhost VPN has a robust no-logs coverage that was confirmed by Deloitte in September 2022. CyberGhost VPN additionally commonly publishes yearly Transparency Experiences that include info on the variety of information requests they obtain from authorized authorities and firm holders. This can be a follow they’ve been doing since 2011 and is a laudable present of transparency from the VPN supplier.
Pricing
- 1 month: $12.99 monthly.
- 6 months: $6.99 monthly.
- 2 years: $2.03 monthly.
Options
- 11,529 servers in 100 international locations and 126 places.
- Specialised servers for nameless torrenting.
- Frequently revealed annual Transparency Experiences.
- RAM-only servers.
- Customizable Good Guidelines panel.
- Helps as much as 7 simultaneous connections.
Execs
- 24-hour free trial with no bank card required.
- Reasonably priced two-year plan.
- 45-day money-back assure.
- Independently audited no-logs coverage.
- Specialised servers for gaming and streaming.
- Intensive server and placement community.
Cons
- No annual plan.
- Month-to-month plan solely has a 14-day money-back assure.
For extra info, learn the full CyberGhost VPN overview.
VPNs which have logged consumer information
There are a number of VPN suppliers that publicize a no-logs coverage however have been discovered to have been logging information or had privateness insurance policies that contradicted their claims. Whereas a few of these VPNs have since modified possession or carried out related modifications, try to be conscious of those logging incidents.
- IPVanish VPN: In 2016, IPVanish reportedly gave consumer logs to the USA Division of Homeland Safety to trace a toddler pornography suspect. Whereas it initially claimed to don’t have any logs, it was finally reported that the VPN did actually hand off information to authorities.
- Hotspot Defend VPN: Again in 2017, the Heart for Democracy and Expertise accused Hotspot Defend of promoting delicate consumer information collected through its free model.
- Norton Safe VPN: Whereas it has a no-logs coverage, Norton’s World Privateness Assertion exhibits that it collects extra information than customers would favor. Some examples of such are customers’ system names, IP addresses, classes inside cookies and URLs, simply to call a number of.
- Speedify VPN: Speedify’s privateness coverage explicitly states that they retailer customers’ IP addresses, browser sorts and pages accessed when visiting the Speedify web site, regardless of having a no-logs coverage.
Whereas we don’t know what intentions sure VPNs have in presumably logging consumer information, potentialities might embrace: promoting consumer information to advertising firms and third-party advertisers or aiding authorities businesses which are members of surveillance agreements, such because the 5 Eyes or 14 Eyes alliances.
It’s important to decide on a VPN service that has an iron-clad no-logs coverage backed by sturdy security measures and impartial safety audits.
Methodology
Selecting the most effective nameless (no-log) VPNs for this checklist concerned a holistic evaluation of how every VPN protected consumer information. We took a take a look at every VPN’s no-logs coverage and confirmed whether or not or not they collected any delicate consumer information. We additionally took into consideration an organization’s willingness to be independently audited and the way just lately they have been audited. Lastly, we checked out different related VPN options, similar to included VPN protocols and security-focused options like RAM-only servers and pricing.
