Reddit users often provide rare-to-find honest and firsthand reviews of VPN providers. However, combing through the thousands of VPN comments on Reddit to decide on one is both time-consuming and tiring.
We’ve made studying VPNs easier by curating the top 5 VPNs redditors recommend for various use cases. Here they are:
- NordVPN: Fast VPN which is great for streaming and gaming
- Surfshark: Cheapest Reddit VPN that you can use on as many devices as you want
- Mullvad: Privacy-focused VPN for downloading and torrenting
- Proton VPN: Best free VPN which is useful for chatbots
- PrivateVPN: Handy VPN for fast torrenting
If you’re in a hurry, go for NordVPN, the overall best choice according to Reddit users and the best VPN in our books. It is the ideal choice for streaming, torrenting, geoblocking, and encrypting your traffic.
Keep reading to learn about each of the VPN choices and how they can benefit you.
What is the best VPN Reddit recommends? Our VPN experts combed through and analyzed over 100 VPN threads and communities and around 2,000 comments to curate a list of the best VPNs according to Reddit users.
When looking for a VPN recommendation, you might be tempted to turn to Google for answers. However, if you’re looking for honest opinions and first-hand VPN experiences, Reddit is your best bet.
Ready to dive in? Keep reading for our list of the best VPN providers recommended by Reddit.
VPN Comparison: Reddit User Picks
Which of the VPNs Reddit users recommend topped our list? Are there any free VPNs recommended by Reddit?
The table below summarizes the top five Reddit-recommended VPN services so you can compare them at a glance. For our full list of the seven best VPNs according to Reddit, keep reading below.
| Feature | NordVPN | Surfshark | Mullvad | Proton VPN | PrivateVPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of servers | 5,000+ | 3,200+ | 600+ | 2,900+ | 200+ |
| Server network | 60 countries | 100 countries | 41 countries | 67 countries | 63 countries |
| Why Reddit users like it | Fast speeds, obfuscated servers, reliable unblocking performance | Excellent customer support on Reddit, affordable, unlimited simultaneous connections | Good for downloading files and torrenting, flat pricing structure, | Has a free version, responsive customer service, useful for chatbots | Has stealth mode to hide VPN use and port forwarding to make torrenting faster |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, NordLynx (WireGuard) | OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, WireGuard | OpenVPN, Wireguard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, Wireguard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec |
| Price | $3.99/month (Two-year plan) | $2.49/month (Two-year plan, plus one month free) | €5/month (All plans) | $4.99/month (Two-year plan) | $2/month (Three-year plan) |
| Purchase | Get NordVPN | Get Surfshark | Get Mullvad | Get Proton VPN | Get PrivateVPN |
Next, we’ll dig deep into each VPN choice and highlight why some Reddit users recommend them.
Best Reddit VPN Recommendations: Top 5 VPNs According to Reddit
We’ll start with NordVPN, which is the favorite VPN provider of the majority of Reddit users. We’ve added Reddit screenshots under each VPN to give you a firsthand look at what redditors are saying about VPNs. Let’s delve in.
1. NordVPN: The best Reddit VPN for streaming and gaming
Pros
- Over 5,000 servers in 60 countries
- Lightning-fast VPN
- Obfuscated servers
Cons
- Limited multi-language support
NordVPN is hailed as one of the best VPNs by Reddit, noted for its fast speeds and ability to unblock Netflix and other streaming services. This provider does everything, and it does it well. It’s an easy-to-use, certified no-logs VPN with a vast server network in 60 countries.
Redditors laud NordVPN specifically for gaming and streaming. Its SmartPlay feature uses DNS rerouting so users can securely watch international Netflix libraries. What’s more, this feature is built into the service — there’s no need for additional setup or configuration.
Reddit users also like NordVPN’s obfuscated servers, which hide your VPN usage from everyone — including your internet service provider (ISP) and government. So if you’re traveling to internet-restrictive countries like China and Russia, NordVPN is a good choice.
One concern mentioned by Reddit users is NordVPN being located in Panama, a place they consider to be a risky jurisdiction. We addressed this concern in our NordVPN review: Panama is outside the 5-9-14-Eyes Alliance and has no mandatory data retention laws. Plus, NordVPN has switched most of its servers to RAM-only servers, meaning your data won’t be stored server-side.
Try out NordVPN commitment-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee, or learn more about the provider in our detailed NordVPN review.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
2. Surfshark: The cheapest Reddit VPN for unlimited devices
Pros
- Server network in 100 countries
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Handy extra features, like an ad blocker, stealth VPN, and split tunneling
Cons
- Dedicated IP available only on Android
If you’re looking for a cheap VPN with decent speeds and unblocking performance, Surfshark is a top choice — at least, that’s what many Reddit users think. It can unblock virtually any website or platform, which is why it’s one of the best VPNs for Reddit.
For instance, one Redditor wrote: “I’ve been using Surfshark for about a year now, and I have to say, I’m thoroughly impressed. It’s affordable, fast, and I’ve never had any privacy issues.”
One noteworthy feature of Surfshark is its unlimited simultaneous connections. This means that you can get VPN protection on as many devices as you want. This makes Surfshark a great choice if you have a large family or an organization with several workers.
Surfshark’s server spread has come up for commendation on a few Reddit forums, and rightly so. Surfshark has over 3,200 servers in 100 countries, and this is one of the most extensive server spreads of any VPN. This makes Surfshark an excellent choice if you travel a lot and need a VPN while on the road.
Surfshark’s customer support on Reddit is top-notch. First, it has an official subreddit where the team provides updates on their service. Plus, Surfshark’s support agents typically address issues and comments regarding their VPN on Reddit. This means you can get help right on Reddit. You’ll see the “Answered by Surfshark” flair next to any question Surfshark has answered.
Take Surfshark for a test run for 30 days risk-free, or read our full-length Surfshark review.
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
3. Mullvad VPN: Privacy-focused Reddit VPN for downloading and torrenting
Pros
- Excellent download speeds for torrenting
- Cash payment available
- Same price regardless of how long you subscribe
Cons
- Struggles to unblock streaming services
If you scan through Mullvad reviews on Reddit, you’ll notice that many Reddit users appreciate the VPN for its focus on privacy. It doesn’t ask for your email, phone number, or any other personal detail when creating an account. Rather, Mullvad generates a random account number for you when you subscribe.
Mullvad is also the only VPN on this list that accepts cash, making it the ideal pick if you don’t want to leave any trail of your VPN purchase. This makes Mullvad the best choice if you live in an internet-restrictive country.
For instance, if you’re a journalist sharing sensitive information, Mullvad is a good choice since even if it’s hacked or governments ask for your data, there’ll be nothing to show.
Furthermore, Mullvad’s price is appealing to Reddit users. Unlike most other VPN services, Mullvad offers a flat pricing structure. You pay €5 regardless of how long you want to purchase the VPN. As a result, Mullvad’s monthly plan is about half of the going market rate (between $10 to $13), and you can subscribe for up to a decade.
A lot of Reddit users prefer Mullvad for downloading files, especially torrenting on sites like uTorrent and qBittorrent. As we revealed in our Mullvad VPN review, it has fast download speeds, indicating that you’ll be able to download all kinds of files quickly.
That said, we noticed that, apart from Crunchyroll, many Reddit users couldn’t unblock Netflix and other streaming services. Plus, there were reports of websites blocking Mullvad IPs, meaning you might struggle with geoblocking.
Test out Mullvad VPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee to see if it’s right for your browsing and downloading needs.
- Very good for privacy and safety
- Fast speeds
- Relatively expensive
4. Proton VPN: Best free Reddit VPN useful for chatbots
Pros
- Great focus on privacy
- Comes with a free option
- Works great to unblock ChatGPT
Cons
- Important features missing on Linux app
Proton VPN is another oft-mentioned and trustworthy secure VPN service in Reddit circles. We noticed that Proton VPN is usually recommended on Reddit as an alternative to Mullvad — and rightly so. Like Mullvad, Proton puts a premium on privacy with features like its strict no-logs policy, DNS protection, and split tunneling.
Proton VPN is also the only free VPN provider on this list. Without paying a dime, you can access over 100 free IP addresses with unlimited bandwidth and ad blocking. You also get to use the free versions of Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, and Proton Drive.
The paid version increases the server list to over 2,900 servers in 67 countries. One user wrote about Proton VPN: “I like Proton because of the numerous servers to choose from, as well as the blocking of ads — work on the phone wonderfully (iPhone).”
We also noticed that Reddit users use Proton VPN to unblock chatbots, specifically ChatGPT. With ChatGPT blocked in several countries, Proton VPN could soon be the best chatbot VPN. It’s also a good tool if you intend to unblock and stream Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.
However, several Reddit users took issue with ProtonVPN’s Linux app because it doesn’t have vital features, including WireGuard, split tunneling, and port forwarding.
Explore our Proton VPN review to find out if it suits your needs. You can also check out the VPN yourself using its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Strong encryption
- Specialized servers
- Free subscription available
5. PrivateVPN: Handy Reddit VPN for fast torrenting
Pros
- Unblocks Netflix and many other streaming services
- Decent speeds
- Dedicated IPs
Cons
- Small server network
- No browser extension
PrivateVPN is a little-known yet reliable VPN recommended on Reddit. When scouring through Reddit comments about PrivateVPN, we noticed it was mostly mentioned in connection with torrenting. Some users were excited about PrivateVPN’s port forwarding feature, which can speed up torrenting and give you remote access to devices.
We tested PrivateVPN’s torrenting ability during our PrivateVPN review and concluded that it’s a decent choice for torrenting since it works with big torrent services like BitTorrent and uTorrent. It also has fast download speeds.
Furthermore, PrivateVPN has a stealth mode, which makes it difficult for anyone to uncover your VPN use. This feature is one of the main reasons it earns a spot on our best VPN service for China list. We recommend this VPN if you don’t want anyone to know that you’re using a VPN.
However, we did read several complaints about PrivateVPN’s ability to unblock various services, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Most users had to try out different servers to get access. It also doesn’t have a browser extension, so you won’t be able to use it on your favorite browsers.
That said, you can check out PrivateVPN’s services yourself using its 30-day money-back guarantee offer.
- No logs
- Dedicated Netflix servers
- Small server network
6. Atlas VPN: A VPN with great discounts
Pros
- Free VPN
- Paid version unblocks Netflix and other major streaming services
- Decent speeds
Cons
- Not available on routers
- Based in the United States, part of the Five Eyes Alliance
Atlas VPN is an up-and-coming VPN that’s favored by some Reddit users. We noticed they use Atlas VPN to save money on flight tickets and streaming service subscriptions. For instance, one Reddit user saved money on YouTube Premium by connecting with a Turkey VPN to a server in Turkey, where the prices are lower. You can also use this same strategy to try and save money on your Netflix subscription.
We also noted that Atlas VPN was mentioned on Reddit as a good VPN for iPhone users. In our experience, the iOS app is simple, intuitive, and easy to navigate. When we were compiling the best free VPNs for iPhone users, Atlas VPN posted the fastest download speeds. This makes it a great choice for streaming and browsing on iPhones. Even on the free version, you’ll get 2 GB of data daily.
Some Reddit users commended Atlas VPN for its “wide range of servers.” In truth, Atlas VPN’s server network trails that of the top VPNs (Surfshark has servers in 94 countries). However, considering the fact that Atlas VPN is a relatively new service, its server network of 1,000 servers in 49 locations is impressive. This means that you can find a nearby Atlas VPN server to connect to regardless of your location.
You can look up Atlas VPN by reading our Atlas VPN review or trying it out using its 30-day money-back guarantee offer.
- Free servers
- Access to Netflix with Premium version
- Has some technical issues
7. Private Internet Access (PIA): Cheap, long-term VPN that’s ideal for Linux users
Pros
- Servers in 84 countries
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Fast speeds
Cons
- Inconsistent speeds
When you read through VPN reviews on Reddit, you’ll see that PIA comes up often. Right now, most of the comments hover around PIA’s unlimited simultaneous connections. PIA once had a cap of ten devices, but that limit has since been removed, making the VPN service ideal for people who use many gadgets or for sharing with the whole family.
PIA is often praised for working well with Ubuntu, something that a fair few VPNs struggle with. PIA is also available for other Linux distributions, including Debian, Fedora, Arch, and Slackware. We consider it one of the best VPNs for Linux at the moment, so it’s a good choice if you’re a Linux buff.
We observed that quite a number of Reddit users complained about experiencing CAPTCHAs while using PIA. If you decide on PIA, you can sidestep such verification requests by adding PIA’s dedicated IP address to your subscription.
You can dig deeper into all that PIA offers in our PIA review. Alternatively, give the VPN a look using its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Strong focus on privacy and security
- Good price
- Fast and stable servers
How We Chose the Best VPN According to Reddit Users
To curate this list, we started out by checking the most popular VPN subreddits to see what Reddit users were saying about various VPNs. Want to join these VPN communities? Here are the top subreddits we looked at:
- r/VPN: A subreddit with over 130,000 users focusing on everything about VPNs
- r/vpnreviews: Contains user-generated VPN reviews and has over 23,000 members
- r/vpnnetwork: Has over 14,000 members and user-submitted experiences about VPNs
- r/VPNTorrents: The best place to find information about torrenting with VPNs and has over 77,000 members
After examining the comments and reviews, we compiled a list of ten preliminary VPNs that appeared frequently, and that received positive reviews.
Next, we looked up other posts for each VPN on the list and checked their specific subreddits. For instance, we studied r/nordvpn, as well as read reviews posted outside of the subreddits listed above.
All in all, we went through over 100 threads and communities and over 2,000 comments to whittle down the list to the five VPN services on this list.
What Redditors look for in a VPN
During our research, we found that the following factors are high on the list of Reddit VPN reviewers:
- Streaming ability: Redditors want a VPN to unblock streaming platforms, especially Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.
- Torrenting performance: It seems many Redditors use VPNs for torrenting and need a VPN that can do the job fast and well.
- Speed: Reddit users prefer fast VPNs that don’t lead to lags and buffering.
- Price: Redditors are often concerned about whether they’re getting value for money when purchasing a VPN.
- Compatibility with routers: Router compatibility is important if you plan on using the VPN with devices that don’t natively support VPNs, such as the PS5.
We also made sure that these VPNs comply with our strict standards. Each VPN on this list provides a secure VPN connection and the most modern privacy and security features. No one will be able to spy on your online activities, not even your government or internet service providers.
The caveat: What you need to know about Reddit reviews
Redditors often pull no punches when sharing their VPN experiences and opinions, largely thanks to the fact that you can remain completely anonymous. However, not every review on the “front page of the internet” is true or accurate.
In fact, some companies pay Redditors or use bots to write positive reviews and comments about their virtual private network. Normally, these sponsored posts and comments excessively praise the VPN and are riddled with affiliate links.
Additionally, if you go through VPN reviews and comments on Reddit, you’ll notice that most of them are complaints and questions about VPN services. This is not surprising — people tend to comment on a product or service when they’re having an issue with it. In other words, seeing negative comments about a VPN doesn’t mean that it’s not worth using.
Some complaints from Redditors may also be subjective. For instance, users might grumble about a VPN’s speeds and performance when the problem is actually with their internet connection or location.
In conclusion, don’t take every Reddit comment as gospel truth. At best, they provide insights to help you do your own research.
VPNs to Avoid According to Reddit Users
In the table below, you’ll find VPNs that many Reddit users have issues with.
| VPN Provider | Why You Should Avoid It |
|---|---|
| Betternet VPN | This VPN has terrible customer service and poor pricing practices. You might not get a refund even though it has a 45-day money-back guarantee. |
| Psiphon VPN | There are suspicions on Reddit that the VPN company sells user data. |
| Touch VPN | The VPN was found not working by most Reddit users, and the provider has poor customer service. |
Conclusion: The Best VPN Reddit Users Recommend
On Reddit, you’ll find that many VPN users recommend NordVPN primarily for its large server network, fast speeds, and obfuscation servers. Other alternatives worth considering include Surfshark VPN, Mullvad, Proton VPN, and PrivateVPN.
Not yet decided? You can test these VPN services yourself. We recommend that you take advantage of the money-back guarantee offered by these VPNs. This way, if you’re not satisfied, you can cancel your subscription and get your payment refunded.
Our VPN experts have taken VPNs through the wringer over the last decade. Our finding? NordVPN is perfect for many use cases, including streaming, torrenting, gaming, and hiding your internet traffic — and many Reddit users agree.
Key Takeaways
“I have been using VPNs for over ten years now, and for my money, NordVPN is the best. It’s never had an issue changing my IP and has been my go-to VPN whenever I use public Wi-Fi. I’ve used NordVPN to unblock all kinds of streaming providers and websites (including Reddit), and not once has it dropped a connection.”
— Wisdom Sablah, VPNOverview
For more resources on Reddit, check out these articles:
- What Does Reddit Know About Me? How to Change Your Privacy Settings
- Is Reddit Safe? Tips for Parents to Keep Teens Safer Online
- How to Delete Your Reddit Account Completely
If you still have some questions about the best VPN according to Reddit, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled the most commonly asked questions about Reddit VPN recommendations.
NordVPN is the most trustworthy VPN on Reddit because it has best-in-class security and privacy features, including AES-256 encryption, a wide range of protocols, IP and DNS leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy.
According to Reddit users, NordVPN is the best VPN with dedicated IP addresses. You can choose from various dedicated server locations, including the US, Canada, Germany, the UK, Netherlands, and Japan.
Many redditors name Mullvad as a good choice for peer-to-peer downloading thanks to its fast download speeds. In addition, the VPN has a reputation for being focused on privacy. You can stay anonymous when purchasing a subscription by paying cash or cryptocurrency.
If you want to browse the internet without revealing your location or internet traffic, NordVPN is an excellent choice. It can spoof your location and encrypt all your internet traffic. Plus, it has obfuscated servers which prevent third parties from knowing that you’re using a VPN.
Many VPN users recommend Mullvad VPN for torrenting. Although it doesn’t have specialized P2P servers, Mullvad’s fast download speeds make it an excellent choice for downloading torrenting on platforms like BitTorrent.
For torrenting, OpenVPN, the standard VPN protocol, is a good choice. You can get slightly faster speeds with OpenVPN UDP. If you want exceptionally fast speeds, opt for the WireGuard protocol. You can learn more in our VPN protocol breakdown.
