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Work and stream in 2020

Published

5 years ago

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Remote workers are turning to VPNs to securely access internal company networks and stream restricted content.

Best for security

NordVPN

NordVPN offers top-tier encryption with a strict no-logging policy verified by independent auditors.

Best for speed

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a comprehensive service that offers great connection speeds and strong encryption.

By Joseph Green

We’ve been banging on about VPNs for years, and now the world has opened its eyes to how great these services are for boosting online security and bypassing geo-restrictions.

There are two reasons for this sudden realisation. The first is that more and more businesses are making the transition from a traditional office setting to a remote workforce. A VPN is absolutely essential for working remotely because it provides an organisaton with an encrypted connection for securely accessing internal company networks.

The second reason is all about entertainment, and the fact that VPNs can be used to watch shows on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more of the most popular streaming sites. The need for online entertainment has grown recently, and more people are now turning towards VPNs to unlock blocked or restricted content.

The message is: VPNs are vital for both work and play at home.

What is the best VPN for your home?

The first thing you’re likely to notice when you begin the hunt for a VPN is just how many services there are to consider. Yes, it’s good to have options, but it’s easy to get bogged down by all the choice. That’s why it’s important to focus on some key factors when making your decision:

  • Reliable encryption — the most important thing to consider is how well a service protects your connection, so your data and identity remain hidden from prying eyes.

  • Fast connection speeds — the best VPNs offer servers in countries all around the world, ensuring that you get a fast and reliable connection for when you need it most.

  • Kill switch — this technology makes sure your sensitive data is not exposed, even if your connection drops unexpectedly. 

  • Customer support — if you encounter any problems, it’s good to know that you can rely on support agents with the technical knowledge to help.

  • Multi-logins — some accounts let you connect multiple devices simultaneously, which is great for protecting an entire household under the same subscription.

If you take all of these features into consideration, and find something that ticks most of the boxes, you should be in a good position. Don’t panic if things still aren’t clear though, because we have already considered these points in detail. We’re nice like that.

We have lined up some of your best options for working and playing at home, with top providers like ExpressVPN and NordVPN making the cut. There is something for everyone and every budget in this list. All you have to do is pick your favourite.

These are the best VPNs for staying home in 2020.


Fast connection speeds • Money-back guarantee • Good spread of server locations • Support available via livechat and email

Expensive • No free trial

One of the best services on the market, but also one of the most expensive.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a comprehensive service that offers great connection speeds and strong encryption.

  • Monthly:
    £10.18/month
  • Six-month plan:
    £7.85/month
  • 15-month plan:
    £5.24/month
ExpressVPN is more expensive than most of the other options on this list, but that’s because it offers an impressive blend of security, speed, and customer support. It’s one of the best options for working and streaming from home, if you’re willing to pay a little extra.
ExpressVPN provides AES 256-bit encryption with a split tunneling tool and kill switch. It also promises to uphold its strict no-logging policy when it comes to both your activity and your connection, and provides access to a massive network of servers to ensure you don’t suffer from buffering.
As a nice bonus, users get access to a blog filled with how-to guides, troubleshooting tips, general security advice, and useful infographics. This is all in addition to live chat and email assistance that’s available around the clock. 

Unlimited bandwidth • Seven connections • Kill switch • Money-back guarantee • Cheap

Not the fastest connection speed

Great value service if you’re willing to commit to one of the longer contracts.

CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhostVPN lets you connect seven devices at the same time, so everyone at home is protected.

  • Monthly:
    £10.29/month
  • One-year plan:
    £4.59/month
  • Two-year plan:
    £3.09/month
  • Three-year plan:
    £2.10/month
CyberGhost VPN is one of the best services for work and play at home, and that’s down to its 256-bit encryption, unlimited bandwidth, automatic kill switch, and no-logging policy. It’s also great value, if you’re willing to commit to a long contract.
Another big advantage of this service is that you can connect seven devices to the same account, meaning that everyone in your family can be protected under the same plan. Alternatively, you can safeguard all the devices that you use, like your laptop, desktop, and tablet.
Some reports do suggest that CyberGhost VPN’s apps are a little slow to connect to servers, but you can always rely on the money-back guarantee if you’re not impressed. What do you have to lose?

Kill switch • Ad blocker • Simple to install • High-grade encryption

Relatively recent data breach

NordVPN prioritises security and simplicity, but has suffered data breaches in the past.

NordVPN

NordVPN offers top-tier encryption with a strict no-logging policy verified by independent auditors.

  • Monthly:
    £9.68/month
  • One-year plan:
    £5.66/month
  • Two-year plan:
    £4.04/month
  • Three-year plan:
    £2.82/month
NordVPN keeps things simple, and focuses on security. It offers apps for a variety of platforms including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, and comes with a kill switch and built-in ad blocker that protect your devices from malware and phishing scams.
NordVPN did suffer a data breach in 2018 when an attacker exploited an insecure remote management system, but there haven’t been any similar incidents since. It is also very transparent about its policies, and has recently conducted an independent audit after some unsubstantiated rumours were spread about its service.
Something that sets NordVPN apart from the competition is the Double VPN feature that lets you encrypt your data twice, effectively hiding your data behind two VPN servers. This probably isn’t necessary for most users, but it’s nice to have. 

Kill switch • Server total and spread • Apps

Dated interface • Sluggish connection speeds

Private Internet Access offers everything you need to get the job done, but does have an ugly interface.

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access has apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and an extension for Chrome.

  • Monthly:
    £2.45/month
  • One-year plan:
    £4.72/month
Private Internet Access is packed full of impressive features that everyone should appreiciate. These go some way towards making up for the dated interface and sluggish speeds.
Users get access to thousands of servers based in countries all around the world, which helps with streaming. Private Internet Access also comes with a kill switch, IPv6 leak protection, and strong levels of encryption. It also has apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and an extension for Chrome. 
It may not be the fastest or the sexiest VPN, but it’s definitely one of the best. If you aren’t satisfied, then you can always fall back on the money-back guarantee.

Fast connection speeds • Split-tunnelling • Apps for streaming • Customer support

Logging problems • Doesn’t support torrenting

One of the best services for streaming due to fast download speeds and app support.

PureVPN

Impressive download and upload speeds mean you can stream without interruptions.

  • Monthly:
    £8.39/month
  • One-year plan:
    £3.19/month
PureVPN is one of the best services for streaming, because it offers fast download and upload speeds. It’s also a good option for working from home, but it shines when it comes to entertainment. 
PureVPN lets you stream content, unblock geo-restricted websites, and share files with safety-focused features like split-tunnelling making sure that your data and identity is not compromised. It works with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, and Firefox, and it even has apps for media streaming boxes like Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Kodi.
PureVPN has come under fire for disclosing user information in the past, and potential users should consider this carefully.

Cheap • Attractive interface • Free service • Easy for beginners

Lacking some advanced features

Straightforward and attractive interface is great for beginners, but may be lacking some of the more advanced features.

TunnelBear

TunnelBear’s slick and simple interface is ideal for beginners.

  • Monthly:
    £7.94/month
  • One-year plan:
    £3.96/month
We don’t know why, but a lot of VPNs have a really dated interface, but not TunnelBear. The app consists of a world map that shows you where your server is connected, and to connect to a server in another country, you click on a tunnel. It’s simple, attractive, and contains bears.
It’s not all good though, because TunnelBear has a fairly low server count, and lacks some of the more advanced features that you’ll find with the likes of NordVPN and ExpressVPN. It’s still a great option for beginners
TunnelBear even has a free option that gives you access to all of its features, but with a limit on your browsing of 500MB of data per month. That enough to give you an idea of whether or not TunnelBear is for you.

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