The Best VPN services in 2021 for crypto users

Contrary to the common misconception that cryptocurrencies are anonymous, the reality is that the address required to send and receive Bitcoin can be easily linked back to your IP address.

But if you connect to the internet through a server run by a VPN service provider, your internet protocol (IP) address is not revealed to destination sites and all data and information traveling between your computer or device and the VPN server is securely encrypted.

VPNs deliver a private, secure connection to the internet by creating a private network on a public internet connection. They mask IP addresses so that a user’s online activity becomes almost untraceable. VPNs encrypt a user’s data and hide IP addresses by bouncing network activity through a secure channel to another server. Anonymity is also enhanced if a VPN service accepts cryptocurrency as payment because if the authorities force a VPN to hand over payment records, a credit card number can be easily linked to its owner.

In addition to the privacy advantages, connecting via a VPN can potentially allow you to access content that is otherwise censored or prohibited in your own country — or enable you to set up an account on an exchange that you might be geographically blocked from joining — unless the VPN itself has been identified and blacklisted.

The following article looks at the best VPNs available in 2021, and below that details the main features that a high-quality VPN should include.

Best VPN Reviews

NordVPN Review

One of the features that makes NordVPN stand out is the option to have a total of six simultaneous connections through the network. Most other providers offer no more than five connections.

With a dedicated IP option, no known privacy leaks and performance that is equal to or better than most of its competitors, NordVPN offers fast, reliable speeds with no sudden dips or interruptions in service.

NordVPN is affordable and has a special offer available that equates to $3.67/month on a 2-year plan. The deal comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

One red flag is a security breach from 2018 that resulted in a rented server being accessed without permission. While the company didn’t disclose this information right away, they did work hard to improve their overall security so this type of breach is unlikely to happen again. The breach didn’t result in the leak of any information that led to users being identified. And because NordVPN doesn’t keep logs of user activity, no users were directly affected by the incident.

NordVPN utilizes the AES-256 encryption standard and has a Double VPN feature. This means user internet traffic is encrypted twice, making for better overall security. NordVPN has 5,200 servers in 60 different countries so most user needs will be well catered for. The VPN provides system-wide and application-specific kill switches, strong DNS leak protection, and proxy extensions for browsers such as Firefox and Chrome.

NordVPN provides a range of payment options including credit cards, PayPal, and a selection of the biggest crypto assets — including the No.1 privacy coin Monero (XMR). NordVPN unblocks services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, and others (see more on unblocking below). The company provides troubleshooting guides and articles to help work through any challenges. NordVPN also has a 24/7 chat box and help desk.

NordVPN has hired PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct an annual audit of its no-logging policy. In 2020 the company introduced the NordLynx protocol, which has increased the speed and reliability of its connections.

NordVPN works on all types of operating systems, including Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and Windows.

IP Vanish review

IP Vanish is not always recommended for streamers, however, it is a solid VPN solution with more than 1,900 servers in 75 regions. The service offers an unlimited number of devices. Importantly, IP Vanish owns and manages its servers, so the company has a vested interest in making sure the network always works. When it comes to security, IP Vanish has all of the expected features including AES-256 encryption, IPv6 leak protection, kill switch, and DNS.

On the negative side, there are problems with unblocking some platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, some shows on Netflix, and BBC iPlayer. That’s why IP Vanish is not recommended as a primary VPN for streaming movies and television shows.

On the positive side, IP Vanish features user friendly graphs and charts that make set-up and monitoring a seamless experience. The IP Vanish interface is configurable and fun to use. If you’re interested in finding a VPN that offers multi-platform flexibility, this is it. IP Vanish also supports Kodi, formerly called XBMC, so if you’ve built Kodi or XBMC into a media player, you won’t have any trouble accessing it. The trial period is only seven days, but they do provide a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Finally, you get an unlimited amount of supported devices, which saves both money and time, and the apps for both Android and iOS work extremely well, as evidenced by the fact that they don’t need to be refreshed or updated that often. In fact, IP Vanish offers a lot more settings and options than most of its competitors, and the capability to configure it to a setup that will feel like it’s custom-made just for you. IP Vanish works on Windows, Android, Linux, iOS, and Mac operating systems and offers 24/7 customer support and a 30-day trial period.

VyprVPN review

VyprVPN is based in Switzerland and offers most of the features you’ve come to expect with a modern-day VPN. VyprVPN unblocks streaming platforms including YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and iPlayer. Currently, the network has 700+ servers in 70 locations and in 66 different countries. It supports a maximum of five different devices and comes with a 30-day trial period and 24/7 customer support. At $1.67 per month on a 3 year plan, it’s one of the most affordable VPN services available for those on a budget.

VyprVPN servers are owned by the company which means they don’t have to rely on third-party web hosts. Their website unblocking services are second to none and give you access to numerous streaming services, and when you open up the network on your Android app, it looks just like a full Windows app found on desktops and laptops.

Other important features include kill switch, DNS leak protection, auto-reconnect and start-up options, and URL filtering. VyprVPN has a no-logging policy and this is audited by a third-party security company. The kill switch and a few other features aren’t available with the iOS app, however.

VyperVPN has price plans for businesses starting at $300 per year. These include a cloud plan that offers dedicated business servers and IP addresses. In addition, VyprVPN offers the Chameleon protocol, which scrambles data so that no third party can see or access it. The protocol offers a high level of security while still offering super-fast internet speeds — and it claims to work in China, which has very strict censorship laws.

If you’re an occasional remote worker or an individual, VyprVPN will likely work for you, especially since they offer a maximum of 30 simultaneous connections – more than you’ll need. Also worth noting that the 30-day money-back guarantee is only available on the three-year plan. VyprVPN works on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

PureVPN review

Pure VPN boasts 6,500 servers in 180 different locations, across 140 different countries. It is based out of Hong Kong and offers a 31-day refund policy. As any reputable VPN should, they have a no log policy. This has been verified by independent auditors, KPMG, which has an agreement with Pure VPN that says they can inspect the company without notice at any time.

PureVPN has both Chromebook and Kodi solutions available, and it was the first VPN service to fully implement the GDPR. The company occasionally offers a five-year membership that lets you utilize their services at extremely low prices, so look for those deals if you’re interested in using this network.

PureVPN can unblock Disney+, YouTube and numerous Netflix libraries. That being said, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime are not yet able to be unblocked reliably, which will undoubtedly leave fans of these two networks wanting more.

Pure VPN has 6,500+ servers in 140 countries. It will work on numerous operating systems, including Mac, Android, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Linux, Chrome, Routers, Firefox, and others including both PlayStation and Xbox. Along with the service, you get a live chat option, on-site guides, and a ticket system that allows you to get questions answered quickly.

With Pure VPN, you can enjoy up to ten simultaneous connections, kill switch and split tunneling, and its supported protocols include OpenVPN TCP, SSTP, PPTP, and several others.

Pure VPN really excels in several areas, including a large server network, wide device support, and very functional apps. Its commitment to user privacy is impressive, and they provide good value long-term plans. The service works on Mac, Android, Windows, iPhone, iPad, and Linux.

ExpressVPN review

With 3,000+ servers across 94 countries, ExpressVPN is one of the best known and reliable VPN services in the market. At around $8 a month ExpressVPN charges a premium for its service, but you do get a premium VPN service for your money. For example, when you download the ExpressVPN app on your Android or iPhone, all you have to do to connect quickly is press a button on the landing screen.

The only other task you have to complete is to choose a location from the drop-down menu that will show you the fastest server located nearby. ExpressVPN offers a wide variety of security and privacy tools and support options, all of which are easy to find on the screen’s top left-hand corner. This makes ExpressVPN a respected and very user-friendly service.

The network is powered by TrustedServer technology, built by ExpressVPN to ensure that no user online activities are ever recorded. ExpressVPN works with all operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Android, and Apple.

ExpressVPN can unblock numerous content platforms, including YouTube, Amazon, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Netflix. When testing ExpressVPN we joined the service with a New Zealand Netflix account, then travelled to China and were able to access US based Netflix programming easily from Shanghai.

ExpressVPN gets high marks across the board. It is an easy-to-run network, a trusted brand, and it offers enterprise-level encryption across the highest number of server locations.

Other positives include P2P support, DNS, and kill switch leak protection. ExpressVPN has a clear no-logging policy, which has been verified by independent auditors.

If you’re unsure for any reason about ExpressVPN, they offer a 30-day trial that means you can try it for a full month at no cost.

CyberGhost review

CyberGhost VPN claims to have an impressive 7,000+ servers in 105 locations across 91 countries. The service can support a total of seven devices, enough for most people. In addition, the network will unblock streaming services including YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, iPlayer, and many others. It offers a trial period of 45 days – not 30 days like most other networks – and 24/7 live customer support whenever you need it.

The network supports numerous operating systems, however, CyberGhost is at its best on a Windows desktop or laptop. Other positives include its Smart Rules panel that lets you automatically connect to your preferred server and even launch a specific app. This means that if you want to launch your default browser but want it to be in incognito mode, you can do this as soon as you boot up your computer, an excellent time-saver.

In some areas, CyberGhost lags behind other VPNs. Firstly, the unblocking of networks can be patchy, in part because it can’t seem to handle networks such as BBC iPlayer, and if you’re in the UK or Canada, you won’t always be able to access some Netflix content. Nevertheless, the 45-day money-back guarantee gives you more than enough time to explore all its features to see if the network is right for you. Even better, if you commit to a three-year membership, you’ll only pay a little more than $2 per month, one of the lowest prices for a VPN. Like other VPNs, the per-month cost goes down the longer you sign up for, but all of CyberGhost’s prices are reasonable.

However, there are some red flags around the company’s background. The company was originally founded by German entrepreneur Robert Knapp. In 2017 he sold it to a company called Crossrider. This UK-based company was co-founded by an ex-Israeli surveillance agent and a billionaire with previous convictions for insider trading. He was later named in the Panama Papers. Crossrider was caught deploying software that allowed third-party developers to use malware to redirect user traffic to advertisers and give up private data.

On the positive side, CyberGhost is faster than Norton Secure VPN and offers split tunneling when used in Windows. CyberGhost works on Linux, Windows, iOS, Mac, and Android operating systems.

Its servers are well-organized into several different categories including servers made specifically for torrenting, NoSpy servers, and servers that are designed for streaming.

TunnelBear VPN review

TunnelBear is a public VPN service based in Toronto. It was founded by Daniel Kaldor and Ryan Dochuk in 2011. In 2018, TunnelBear was acquired by McAfee. TunnelBear is like other VPNs in that it has both pros and cons. When it comes to transparency, TunnelBear is on par with other networks. No data leaks that identified users have been detected, including IP addresses and DNS. In the past, however, it did leak webRTC information. When tested, TunnelBear showed a 63% loss of Internet speed, which is about average for VPNs. But that number is definitely improving, with US scores being only 54%.

While it does offer the standard AES-256 and supports Perfect Forward Secrecy, it only has 27 server locations, and these locations don’t allow you to manually choose your VPN server or even a city. TunnelBear is not a reliable VPN service for accessing Netflix. In addition, it only offers split tunneling on Android.

TunnelBear works on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android operating systems.

Private Internet Access VPN review

Private Internet Access unblocks most streaming sites including Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. It has 29,000+ servers or proxy servers in 100 different locations in 78 different countries. It supports up to 10 devices on simultaneous connections.

PIA has a range of privacy features and security protocols, including WireGuard, which gives you the option to block location access.

While the number of servers offered seems impressively high, PIA arrived at that number by counting both encrypted VPN servers and proxy servers, and since proxy servers are not true VPNs, that high number is misleading. PIA does, however, offer 110 simultaneous connections as of now, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee and a kill-switch feature.

PIA, is available for all types of operating systems, including Mac, Android, Windows, iOS, and Linux.

# VPN technical terms explained

If you’re at all concerned about online security and privacy, you should use a VPN. If you regularly use public wifi networks, you should use a VPN. If you want to access content from providers such as Netflix that isn’t available in your country, you should use a VPN. VPN technology continues to advance and there is a reasonable amount of jargon used when the VPN service providers describe their features.

The following list explains what the main features of a VPN are — and why they might be important to you.

**Simultaneous Connections** — If you’re using a VPN and plan to share it with other people, or have multiple devices that you wish to use a VPN on, then a VPN service that allows Simultaneous Connections is crucial. **Dedicated IP** — A dedicated IP is an IP address that is only used by one user. Usually, when you connect to a VPN server, you share the IP address of that server with many other users. However, with a dedicated IP, the VPN will provide you with a static IP address that only you can use. Don’t worry, this IP will be different from your actual IP address, so you’ll still remain anonymous. Having a Dedicated IP will cost more because it provides the following advantages.

Firstly, by using a dedicated IP, you are unlikely to be blacklisted, as your IP address won’t be associated with the user activity of a shared VPN IP address. For example, if a large number of VPN users use the same shared IP address to access Netflix, Netflix is likely to notice this activity and blacklist that IP address. The second advantage is that websites such as Gmail, and eBay often ask for additional verification if they see multiple users on the same IP address. Using a different IP address to log into your account than the one used to create the account is another flag to services such as Google. By using a dedicated IP you won’t have this issue.

**Speed Tests** — Using a VPN will impact your internet speed. Most VPNs will claim fast, issue-free internet browsing, but there will be a speed decline. The good news is that on a fibre connection, for standard website surfing, you’re unlikely to notice the difference. Most VPNs now offer a speed test that allows users to test their internet speed. You’ll need to have a VPN enabled. For an impartial, unbiased speed test result, use https://www.speedtest.net/ to test your internet speed without a VPN enabled, and then with your VPN enabled. Some VPNs allow you to select a server to use. Even servers located in the same country can have different speeds. Simply run a Speed Test to pinpoint the fastest server location for your needs.**AES-256 Encryption** — VPNs hide user IP addresses and mix user traffic with other internet users. Crucially, VPNs encrypt user traffic between secure VPN servers and the user’s computer. This means it can’t be read by third parties in between.

Most VPN services now use AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit keys. Commonly known as AES-256, this is the same encryption standard used by the U.S. government and security experts worldwide.

To demonstrate how secure this is, we’ll need to get technical. 256-bit keys means 2^256 or 1.1 x 10^77 possible combinations. That’s 115,792,089,237,316,195,423,570,985,666,687,907,853,269,984,665,640,560,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 combinations. Even today’s most powerful supercomputers are unable to break this encryption on a timeline of billions of years. Used correctly on a secure device, AES-256 encryption is sufficiently secure for all users.

**Double VPN** — Double VPN is a security feature that routes user traffic through two VPN servers instead of one. This means that the data is encrypted twice. Also known as multi-hop, this VPN server chaining method provides an additional layer of security and privacy. This is important for users with a need for strong privacy such as human rights activists and whistleblowers**High number of servers** — One of the most important features of a VPN service is the number of servers provided. By providing multiple server options, a VPN is able to provide high performance for user internet connections while also providing strong security and privacy. The number of servers a VPN provides needs to be sufficient for users to seamlessly switch between them with no server or performance issues. For the best performance, those servers should be spread out around the world. The VPN service should also clearly state that it owns its servers and doesn’t rent them.**Number of countries** — As well as providing a large number of servers, it’s just as important that VPN services spread these servers as evenly as possible around the world. This means users are less likely to experience server overload and unstable performance.

By having multiple server locations in multiple countries, a user can easily switch between their preferred locations.

For example, to access content that is only available in a certain country, users need to be able to easily switch the VPN server to that country. If the VPN provider only provides a limited number of server locations, this will not be possible.

**Kill Switch** — A VPN kill switch is a feature designed to automatically disconnect a user’s device from the internet if the VPN connection drops out. This is important to ensure that if for some reason the VPN connection is dropped, there is no chance that the user’s IP address is exposed compromising privacy. Most VPNs have a kill switch feature switched on by default. A kill switch prevents your IP address, location, or identity from accidentally being exposed.**Unblocking** — Streaming service providers like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and Disney offer different content depending on the region you access their service from. Unblocking doesn’t mean ‘hacking’, so you will still have to have a paid account with one of these providers. What unblocking means is if you’re in Australia and you access Netflix with a local IP address, you will see Australia-specific content. If you access via a VPN, though, and choose a server in Los Angeles, you will be able to view US specific content from Australia.

There is a constant fight going on between VPNs and providers such as Netflix that are aware that many people use VPNs to access content that isn’t available in their location. To combat this, Netflix actively attempts to block VPNs. Some VPNs providers are more suited to Netflix unblocking than others, so it is important to do your research to ensure you select the right VPN provider for your needs.

**No logging policy** — When using a VPN, user activity is hidden from the internet service provider (ISP) – but not from the VPN itself. That means if the VPN keeps logs, users are at risk of a security breach.

Most VPN services claim they don’t keep logs, but it can be hard to know for sure. VPNs are in the business of privacy and that means most VPNs do not keep user activity logs. It would be a business risk for them to keep and collect user data. Even so, reputable VPNs have been independently audited to confirm that they don’t keep logs. Otherwise you’d have to trust them, and if there is one rule of thumb, when it comes to online security, trust is in short supply. Don’t trust, verify.

A no-log VPN means that the VPN service does not collect, or “log,” any user data transmitted through its network. User’s privacy and anonymity are protected from everybody — even the VPN provider. Just as importantly, this means the VPN doesn’t have any records to give to authorities, even if requested.

**OS support** — The majority of VPN services support a wide range of operating systems and devices. Even so, some are optimized for specific devices. Always check that a VPN supports the OS and devices you intend to use it for. **Unmetered Bandwidth** — For the majority of VPN users, Unlimited Bandwidth is a necessary feature to be able to browse and stream without any limitations. Most VPNs offer Unlimited Bandwidth, however some of the cheaper plan options do not. Select the plan that is right for you but if you intend to stream content, always select a plan that offers Unlimited Bandwidth.**IPv6 leak protection** — The Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) is a protocol for use on packet-switched Link Layer networks such as Ethernets. The Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is a newer protocol with the ability to provide an infinite number of addresses.

Most of the internet’s IPv4 addresses have been used, and IPv6 is the protocol of the future. It’s needed to allow more users and devices to connect to the internet.

The risk of an IPv6 leak occurring happens when an ISP uses both protocols, but a user connects to a website or service which only supports IPv4. User requests sent to that website or service will contain both IPv4 and IPv6 IP addresses.

**Split tunneling** — Split tunneling is a VPN feature that divides a user’s internet traffic. Typically some traffic is sent through an encrypted VPN tunnel, and the rest is sent through a separate tunnel. Split tunneling allows users to choose which devices or applications need to be connected securely via VPN and which can connect to the internet directly.

The benefit of using split tunneling is that bottlenecks are avoided and bandwidth can be preserved when not all traffic has to pass through the VPN server. Another advantage is that split-tunneling lets users protect the device and the traffic they select without losing access to local network devices.

**Tor-over-VPN** — Tor (The Onion Router) is free open-source software designed to enable anonymous communication. It directs Internet traffic through a worldwide, volunteer overlay network, consisting of more than six thousand relays. Tor is effective at concealing a user’s location and usage from anyone conducting network surveillance.

By using Tor, a user’s data is anonymized but the process is slow and inefficient. The network does not collect any user information and the user does not need to trust the network not to do so.

A VPN works differently and sends data through its network. To prevent this data from being seen by ISPs, the data is encrypted. However, because the data passes through the VPN’s servers, a user must trust that the VPN does not maintain logs.

The ability to connect to a VPN first and then Tor is known as “Tor over VPN”. This option is provided by many VPNs and gives users the privacy protections of the Tor network, plus the added protection that prevents Tor from seeing a user’s IP address. It also mitigates the risk of being flagged by your home network for using Tor, as all the network will see is encrypted traffic to the VPN server. For most internet users, Tor over VPN is the most secure internet use available.

   

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