At VPNOverview, our team of experts conducts a series of rigorous tests when reviewing and researching a VPN. As a trusted authority on cybersecurity and VPNs for millions of users, we strive to provide our readers with accurate, up-to-date information. That’s why we update the VPN reviews on our site whenever new information comes to light or when test results change significantly.
Every VPN review is segmented into four primary sections, and each of them is evaluated on a scale of 1 to 10:
- Speed
- Security
- Usability
- Server Network
As an example, lets take a look at Surfshark VPN’s scores:
When combined, these scores give us the following average final score:
Here’s some more information about what each section includes and the factors we consider during testing and scoring.
Speed
Speed is a critical factor to consider when evaluating any VPN, as it can have a massive impact on your overall browsing experience. A VPN that throttles your browsing speeds might make simple tasks difficult, such as streaming HD content, browsing in multiple tabs, or playing online games.
When reviewing each VPN, we first test our connection speeds without a VPN. We use this as a benchmark to determine the speed drop-off after connecting to the VPN. Due to nature of VPNs (they redirect your traffic) it isn’t unusual to find small speed drop-offs. However, the VPN shouldn’t deter you from going about your usual business.
When testing any VPN for speed, we always test on both near and distant servers, including locations in Asia, Europe, and North America.
Tests are often conducted several times throughout the day, as performance usually varies depending upon demand. This allows us to provide a more accurate result.
The speed results are presented in a table, which shows:
- Download speeds: The rate (in megabits per second) at which information is downloaded from a server
- Upload speeds: The speeds (in megabits per second) at which information is sent, or uploaded, to a server
- Ping (Packet Internet): A network tool to check the connectivity performance between our host computer and different servers
It’s important to note that other factors, such as the type of encryption, the VPN protocol, or additional security features, may reduce speeds further.
The top VPNs have the lowest speed drop-off, often no more than 10% on closer servers and under 35% on distant servers, and as such, receive a higher score. Take a look at the speed tests of our top 5 VPN providers below, both for servers close to the testing facility, as well as servers far away.
Our experts test the VPN’s performance and speed themselves, using it for everyday activities like downloading, streaming, gaming, and browsing, to ensure that the performance numbers hold up in performance too.
Security
VPNs play an important role in keeping users safe. In every review we do, we analyze the security features offered by the VPN, including:
- The type of encryption
- The different VPN protocols supported
- Logging and privacy policy
- Security infrastructure improvements made by the VPN provider
- DNS/IP leak protection
- Kill switch
- Obfuscation
- Split tunneling
AES-256 is the most robust encryption available today, and many leading VPNs offer that. This is military grade encryption that is used by security agencies around the globe to encrypt privileged information.
If a VPN we’re reviewing uses AES-256 encryption, it’s already off to a good start in terms of security performance. However, that’s not the only factor we take into account.
We also evaluate the different VPN protocols available. The safest VPN protocols today are WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), and IKEv2. Some VPNs also have their own proprietary protocols, often built on open-source technologies like WireGuard. VPNs that use older protocols, like SSTP or L2TP/IPSec, generally receive a lower security score compared to those that support more modern choices. We also check whether the listed protocols are working or not, and outline our experience in the review.
We rigorously check every VPN provider’s logging policy to ensure they don’t keep any logs. The best VPNs are certified no-logs, ensuring that no data regarding your online activity is stored on their servers.
Other safety and security features that we test include the kill switch and split tunneling, as they are incredibly important for almost any VPN use case. Of course, if a VPN’s package includes other security-related tools like a password manager, those will be tested as well.
We use highly reliable third-party tools such as ipleak.net to determine whether a VPN is reliably concealing your IP address. If the VPN doesn’t leak your IP address and all security features work, our experts will give it a higher rating.
We also pay attention to any security infrastructure improvements made by the VPN provider, as that indicates that the company is concerned about providing a superior, more secure service.
Usability
Usability, or user-friendliness, is another important factor we pay close attention to. Some VPNs are easier to use and can be installed right out of the box. They also have mobile apps available, offering protection on multiple devices with the same account. However, not all VPNs are the same. Some, like custom VPNs for Linux, require technical expertise.
We start by evaluating just how easy it is to download, install, and use the VPN on different platforms. This includes Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and, if available, smart TVs and other devices, such as Roku, the Amazon Fire TV Stick, and even routers. We also provide screenshots to give users a better understanding. These are updated regularly when we update our reviews.
We carefully analyze the interface of the app. Poorly designed or outdated apps are often difficult to use, and as such, receive a lower rating. We also review the settings to determine how easily a person can set up the VPN according to their needs.
Customer support is another key factor we consider in this section. If a user runs into a problem with their VPN, they should have the option of contacting customer service.
Our team of experts at VPNOverview reaches out to customer support as regular customers, often asking technical questions. We then evaluate the quality of responses to determine if they can help readers in case they run into an issue.
We consider different support channels offered by the VPN, such as email, an FAQ, and live chat. The top VPNs usually offer support through all of these channels, and thus, may receive a higher rating.
We also review additional tools, if available, such as dedicated IPs or (business) security solutions, and include information about those in this rating.
Server Network
A VPN that offers an expansive network of servers around the globe allows users to unblock more content. In our reviews, we provide details about the major locations where servers are available, including the total number of servers on the network. Of course, during our research, we don’t just look at the number of servers on offer, but also use randomized testing to determine how they perform.
For instance, we test if the VPN is capable of unblocking different streaming platforms, including US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. The experts at VPNOverview have subscriptions to all of these streaming platforms, so we can provide our readers with accurate, up-to-date results. If a VPN is able to unblock major streaming platforms and offer a lag-free streaming experience, it gets a higher score.
If a VPN offers specialized servers, including dedicated obfuscation servers or P2P servers for torrenting, we also test those to ensure they actually add value, as well as ensure they don’t compromise user security.
We test key features like split tunneling and setting up port forwarding for seamless torrenting as well. Some VPNs also offer dedicated IP addresses in specific locations. If available, we test those too.
We understand that many of our readers want reliable information about VPNs that can unblock certain websites, especially in countries that enforce strict censorship. In such cases, we test the VPNs locally, from within the region, to provide a more accurate account of our experience and test results.
Other Writing and Reviewing Processes
On VPNOverview, we also review other cybersecurity software. You can read more about our writing guidelines and how we test these other tools down below:
