The Best VPNs For The USA In 2024 | Unblock Content With a US VPN

US VPNs have gained incredible popularity over the last few years as a simple, affordable way to hide internet traffic from prying eyes. Short for Virtual Private Network, the best VPN for the USA encrypts signals and routes them through servers in other countries, helping you bypass censorship, overcome geo-restrictions, and ultimately increase your privacy and security online.

Finding the best VPN for the USA can be overwhelming; especially with the thousands of fake providers. In this guide, we’ve reviewed and compared the VPN services like Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, NordVPN; assessing their content unblocking capabilities, American servers, speeds, value-for-money, and privacy policy – so you can make an informed decision and choose the service that suits your needs best.

The Best VPN for the USA in 2024 | Quick Answer

Our team reviewed the top 10 and concluded that Private Internet Access (PIA) is the best VPN for the USA. It has a great mix of features at a reasonable price, and it’s one of the only VPNs to prove its no-logs policy in a US court… twice! With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can see how it compares to the rest of the competition below – without it costing a penny.

1. Private Internet Access — Overall, the best VPN for the USA in terms of price, features, and privacy. Try it out on up to 10 devices with its generous money-back guarantee.
   
2. ExpressVPN — One of the most popular VPNs worldwide, thanks to its fast speeds and reliability. Check out its super-fast WireGuard implementation (Lightway).
   
3. NordVPN — A great all-arounder that is especially good for streaming and unblocking geo-restricted content, such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime.
   
4. Surfshark/SSOne — One of the cheapest picks on our list, but don’t let that fool you: it still packs a punch in terms of features and privacy, and comes with a great money-back guarantee.
5. PrivateVPN — The best USA VPN for beginners. Plenty of customization options, unlimited bandwidth, and strong security tools are all bundled in.
6. CyberGhost VPN — Great value for money, providing a reliable service for streaming, gaming, and torrenting at a low monthly cost.
   
7. IPVanish — Another strong all-arounder that offers robust security features such as military-grade encryption and a strict no-logs policy.
8. VyprVPN — A reliable and trustworthy VPN that is perfect for beginners thanks to its user-friendly app, 24/7 live chat support, and great security features.
   
9. PrivadoVPN — The best free USA VPN on our list that offers top-notch anonymity, as well as lots of tools for security and privacy.
   
10. Proton VPN — Great for high-speed streaming, this service offers great security and unlimited bandwidth and has an attractive free plan.

Top 10 VPNs For the USA | In-Depth Reviews

We scoured the web for VPN providers that will fit the bill. From how many servers they have, to how those servers are distributed, to the logging policies they have in place, to whether their service actually works with Netflix.

Read on for our in-depth reviews of the best VPNs for the USA. At the end, you will see a comparison table with our top picks and their key features.

1. Private Internet Access — Overall, the best VPN for privacy in the USA

Private Internet Access (PIA) is our top pick for the best VPN for privacy in the USA. Starting at $2.03 per month, it’s a great all-rounder that’s compatible with everything, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and web browser extensions.

PIA also has an incredible number of servers distributed all over the world (over 29,000), which gives you a ton of options for connecting to specific locales. Plus, it’s one of the few VPNs that offer different encryption options, so you can choose the level of security that’s right for you.

The number and location of a VPN’s servers are very important. For a fast internet connection, you want to be as near a server as possible. You’ll be happy to hear that PIA concentrates on its American servers, which they have enhanced for quicker surfing and streaming if you reside in the United States.

If you want to change your streaming region or access geo-restricted streaming content, it’s important that your VPN has multiple servers running simultaneously. That’s why this is one of the best VPNs for streaming Netflix, given its server capability and speed.

With all of that said, PIA is not ideal for torrenting, as it doesn’t have any whitelisting features (apps that are allowed to bypass its VPN). And while its 30-day money-back guarantee is good, we’d (ideally) like to see a longer refund period, especially on multi-annual plans.

Pricing

PIA offers a rate of $2.03 per month, plus an extra 3 months for free if you commit to 3 years upfront.

2. ExpressVPN — One of the Most Popular VPNs Worldwide

ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tried, thanks to its unique Lightway protocol. ExpressVPN made the independent decision to develop a brand-new VPN protocol. Lightway is open-source and offers high security, quick switching between mobile and wi-fi networks, and quicker speeds.

It’s also one of the most expensive VPNs, so if you’re looking to save money, this may not be the best option. However, it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can always try it out and get your money back if it’s not for you.

Given its high-speed servers and streaming-friendly features, you are a few clicks away from watching your favorite anime shows or movies that are blocked in the USA. This VPN is also ideal for gamers, as it offers high speeds and low ping times.

If money is no object, you’re unlikely to find a better all-around VPN. ExpressVPN excels in every area, including speed, security, streaming websites that are restricted by location, avoiding censorship, and customer service.

Pricing

You will have three pricing options while you are a customer of ExpressVPN. The monthly plan will cost you $12.95, the 6-month plan costs $59.95 (billed every six months at $9.99 per month), and the annual plan is the most popular as it offers a 49% discount and costs only $8.32 per month (billed annually at $99.95).

3. NordVPN — A Great All-Arounder, with a Huge Server Network

NordVPN is one of the most well-known and respected names in the VPN world. It’s also one of the oldest providers in the industry, having been founded in 2012.

This is a double VPN provider, so your traffic is routed through two VPN servers for extra security. NordVPN uses the most up-to-date security protocols, AES-256-bit encryption with a 2,048-bit key, and provides a strict zero-logs policy.

The company has one of the most robust server networks in the industry, with over 5,500 servers in 59 countries worldwide. You can use NordVPN on up to 6 devices simultaneously with a single account.

The apps are user-friendly and work well on all popular platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. You can also use NordVPN with certain routers and other devices. Unfortunately, there’s no dedicated app for routers available yet.

Also worth mentioning is that NordVPN’s Linux app needs work as it’s currently in beta and has no graphical interface.

If you’re looking for a VPN provider that can unblock Netflix, NordVPN is a good choice. It can also unblock other popular streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and Hulu – making it perhaps the best streaming VPN. However, the number of servers that can unblock Netflix is limited.

Pricing

NordVPN has one of the cheapest long-term plans on the market. The 2-year plan is available for $3.09/month (see screenshot above), which is an incredible price considering all the features you get. 

There’s also a 1-year plan available for $4.99/month and a monthly plan for $11.99, which is expensive. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

4. Surfshark/SSOne — Cheap Service with Powerful Features

Surfshark is the best option if you want to use a VPN on all of your devices and don’t want to worry about how many connections you have. It has unlimited simultaneous connections and is one of our list’s most affordable long-term plans.

Global server locations give you plenty of options for unblocking content worldwide. Surfshark can unblock Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video.

Several of what Surfshark refers to as “multi-hop” connections are presently available. Users connected to the Surfshark network can choose to route traffic via two VPN servers in a row. This increases your anonymity (and peace of mind).

However, what makes Surfshark stand out is its “CleanWeb” feature. This blocks ads, trackers, and malware while you’re connected to the VPN. It’s a great addition as it’s not just a VPN; it also ranks among the best antivirus software.

Pricing

Surfshark has one of the most affordable long-term plans on our list. The 2-year plan costs just $2.30/month, and the 1-year plan is only slightly more expensive at $3.99/month.

You can also take advantage of a 7-day free trial on mobile devices or a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.

5. PrivateVPN — Best USA VPN for Beginners

PrivateVPN is a Sweden-based provider that has been in the VPN business since 2009. The company has a small but robust server network with over 200 servers in 63 locations worldwide. PrivateVPN is great for streaming and torrenting, thanks to its strong security features and affordable price.

There’s also a killswitch and DNS leak protection, as well as IPv6 and WebRTC leak prevention measures. Overall, the security is above average.

PrivateVPN supports the following protocols:

• OpenVPN (UDP/TCP)
• IKEv2
• L2TP/IPSec
• PPTP

It also provides AES-256-CBC encryption with a 2048-bit key.

The VPN supports 10 simultaneous connections and has a user-friendly UI. However, PrivateVPN’s server network is small, and it does not offer split tunneling.

So, despite the variety, there is a bit of a server location constraint. Your user experience may suffer if PrivateVPN’s servers are very congested. The fact that each user receives 10 simultaneous connections might easily exacerbate the congestion.

Pricing

PrivateVPN offers very reasonable pricing, especially if you commit to a longer plan. The cheapest is the 3-year plan at $2/month ($72 billed every 3 years). If you want something shorter, the annual plan will cost you $6/month ($72 billed once a year).

There’s also a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can test the service risk-free.

6. CyberGhost VPN — Great Value for Money for Streaming, Gaming, and Torrenting

CyberGhost VPN is one of the best-performing services in our USA VPN reviews. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a low-cost solution with plenty of features, reliable speeds, and global server locations.

CyberGhost’s Quick Connect feature makes it easy to get online with a single click. Just select your desired server location, and you’re ready to go. The service has a large global server network with over 9,200 servers in 91 countries.

One downside of CyberGhost is that there’s no independent audit to verify the service’s no-logs claims. But overall, it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a low-cost VPN with plenty of features. Read our full CyberGhost review to learn more about its features.

Pricing

For $2.19/month, you can get CyberGhost’s 3-year plan. It’s one of the cheapest plans for a quality VPN service.

You can also choose to pay monthly, at $12.99/month. Or you can go with the 6-month plan, which costs $6.99/month. Take note that there is no annual plan available.

7. IPVanish — Outstanding Security Features

IPVanish is a great option if you’re looking for a VPN with outstanding security features. It has a killswitch that disables your internet connection if the VPN connection drops, ensuring that your data isn’t exposed. Additionally, it has low latency and a strict no-logs policy.

It has its own infrastructure and doesn’t rely on third-party servers, which makes it more secure. However, this also means that there are fewer dedicated servers, so speeds may not be as fast as with other VPNs.

IPVanish is a great choice if security is your main concern. It has a Forced 256-Bit Encryption, making it virtually impossible for anyone to hack into your data.

Pricing

The cheapest plan costs $3.99/month, billed at $47.89 (1st year), and it goes up to $7.49/month after your first year. The monthly plan is $10.99, and quarterly plans cost $5.32.

8. VyprVPN —  Easy-to-Use Option for Privacy and Security

VyprVPN has been available on the market for a while now. It’s owned by Golden Frog, a Swiss-based firm that is heavily involved in the privacy & security sector. In fact, it even offers its own encryption protocol, Chameleon, which is designed to bypass even the most robust censorship firewalls – making it a perfect choice if you’re trying to stream American content in countries like China or the UAE.

VyprVPN is one of the few providers that own and operate its entire network of servers. This gives them much more control over security, privacy, and speed. Being based in Switzerland also means they are not subject to mandatory data retention laws.

Pricing

It offers two kinds of plans, the regular VyprVPN and VyprVPN for business. The business plans are more expensive and offer additional features like a dedicated IP address, NAT firewall, and priority customer support.

The non-business variant has two plans: annual and monthly. Billed every 12 months, the annual plan gives you a 38% discount, working out to $5 per month. 

9. PrivadoVPN — Best free-to-use VPN for the USA

PrivadoVPN has managed to make a name for itself in the VPN world, despite being a relatively new service. The provider offers both paid and free versions, which is perfect for those who want to test the service before committing to a subscription.

The free version is available forever, supports 10 devices, and is compatible with major platforms such as Windows, Android, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android TV, or Amazon Fire TV Stick. Although it doesn’t offer as many servers as other VPNs on this list, it’s still enough to unblock major streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.

If you’re looking for a lightweight and fast VPN that won’t cost you a dime, PrivadoVPN is definitely worth checking out. The only downside is that since it’s a fairly new service, you may experience some slow speeds and servers that are not always available. But overall, it’s a great free VPN option.

Pricing

If you decide to upgrade to a paid subscription, there are two different pricing options to choose from.

The cheapest is the 12-month plan at $4.99 a month. It has unlimited data, unlike the free version, plus you get access to all of the servers and can connect up to 10 devices.

10. Proton VPN — Great for Secure, High-Speed Streaming

ProtonVPN uses exclusively the most tried and tested protocols. Its Windows app only supports OpenVPN (both TCP and UDP) but IKEv2 is the sole option for mobile devices.

Additionally, this VPN uses AES-256 encryption, the highest level available. Meaning your data will be thoroughly protected.

Pricing

ProtonVPN is a great choice for anyone looking for unlimited bandwidth on their VPN. However, it’s worth noting that this service is rather pricey compared to the competition. Additionally, the only support channel available is email, which may be an issue for some users.

ProtonVPN offers a free forever plan – a great free VPN for the US – and the Proton VPN Plus plan. The monthly rate for the Plus plan starts at $4.99 with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Best VPN For The USA: Comparison Table

If you want a straightforward, head-to-head comparison of the best VPNs, we’ve put together this table. Here’s how the VPNs stack up against each other on important features like price, compatibility, server locations, and more:

Why Do I Need a US VPN? | Why do I need a VPN in the United States?

If you want to keep your online activity private, a VPN is the best way to go. A VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through a server in another country, making it impossible for anyone to snoop on your activity.

In the US, your ISP is allowed to sell your browsing data to third parties, and the government can request access to your data without a warrant. A VPN prevents these things from happening by ensuring that your traffic is always encrypted and routed through a server in another country.

There are many VPN providers, but not all are created equal. Some VPNs keep logs of user activity, while others have been caught selling user data to third parties. When choosing the best VPN apps, it’s crucial to find one that is reliable and trustworthy.

What Makes a Great US VPN? | How We Tested and Selected the Best US VPNs

To find the best VPN for privacy in the US, we looked at several factors. 

1. Pricing: We compared each VPN’s pricing in order to compare affordability. We noted which plans are the cheapest and how much money you can save if you opt for longer contracts.
2. Servers and Server Locations: The number of servers and their locations are important. The more servers a VPN has, the more likely it is to have a server in the US. We also looked at the number of server locations each VPN offers.
3. Compatibility: Not all VPNs work with all devices. We made sure that the VPNs we selected were compatible with popular devices like Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
4. Ease of Use: We tested each VPN to see how easy it was to set up and use. We also looked at the quality of the user interface and whether or not the VPN includes a killswitch.
5. Streaming Services Unblocking: We tested each VPN to see if it could unblock popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.

Can US VPNs Access Netflix?

This can be a dealbreaker for some users, but it’s actually quite easy to get around. All you need to do is connect to a VPN server in another country and you’ll be able to access your home Netflix content as if you were at home.

If you’re trying to access American Netflix content from outside the US, you’ll need to connect to a US-based server. This can be tricky, as not all VPN providers offer servers in the US. However, most of the VPN services we listed above can unblock Netflix.

Stream and enjoy your favorite shows while you’re on vacation.

Can I Get a Free US VPN?

Yes, some VPNs provide a limited service for free, but these usually have data limits or slow speeds. The best free VPN we found was PrivadoVPN, and it’s speed is very fast despite being free.

You’ll need to sign up for a paid VPN service if you want unlimited data and the fastest speeds. The good news is most of the VPNs we’ve listed offer free trials or money-back guarantees, so you can try them out before committing to a long-term subscription.

Best VPN for the USA FAQs