6 of the best VPNs to help keep you anonymous and secure on the web

Have you ever gotten the sneaking feeling that someone's creeping over your virtual shoulder while you browse the web? Don't freak out, but your gut is right: Your internet service provider (ISP) is tracking your every click â€" including the one(s) that brought you to this article â€" to compile anonymous browsing logs they can potentially sell to advertising companies, or even cough up to government agencies in the interest of censorship. 

Connected to a free public WiFi network? You're basically inviting hackers to join in on the fun.

Your browser's Incognito/private mode only gets you so far, unfortunately â€" it'll clear your history, searches, cookies, and login deets, preventing other users of the same device from seeing what you've been up to, but it won't hide and secure your connection from your ISP and other prying eyes. Read more...

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BEST OVERALL CHOICE

ExpressVPN

With a large server network, a sleek app that works on virtually any platform, and an industry-leading commitment to privacy, this well-established provider ticks all the right boxes.

• Monthly plan: $12.95/month
• Six-month plan: $9.99/month (billed $59.95 every six months)
• Annual plan: $8.32/month (billed $99.95 every 12 months)

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BEST VALUE

Private Internet Access

A little cash goes a long way with PIA, a solid general-purpose VPN with an enormous network and support for up to 10 devices.

• Monthly plan: $11.95/month
• Annual plan: $4.16/month (billed $49.95 every year)
• Two-year plan: $2.59/month (billed $69.95 every two years)

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BEST FOR ROBUST SECURITY

NordVPN

This beast of a VPN quells privacy concerns with double encryption, Tor (The Onion Router) access, a no-logs policy that's been verified by third-party audits, and optional add-ons like cloud storage.

• Monthly plan: $11.95/month
• Annual plan: $4.92/month (billed $59 upfront) for your first year
• Two-year plan: $3.71/month (billed $89 upfront) for your first two years

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BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost takes the VPN experience into its own hands with a reputable in-house support team and private servers for security maximalists.

• Monthly plan: $12.99/month
• Annual plan: $3.99/month (billed $47.88 every year)
• Two-year plan: $3.49/month (billed $83.76 every two years)

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BEST FOR VPN NEWBIES

TunnelBear

It doesn't offer much in the realm of features (besides a free ad blocker for Chrome), but this bear-bones VPN is unrivaled in its simplicity and user-friendliness.

• Monthly plan: $9.99/month
• Annual plan: $4.99/month (billed $59.88 every 12 months)
• Three-year plan: $3.33/month ($120 billed once)

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BEST FOR SHARING

Surfshark

This up-and-comer shows *huge* promise with a plethora of security features and unlimited simultaneous connections.

• Monthly plan: $12.95/month
• Six-month plan: $6.49/month (billed $38.94 every six months)
• Two-year plan: $2.49/month (billed $59.76 upfront, then annually after the first 24 months)

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