Best VPNs for USA (2021)

Best VPN services to use in the United States

Disclosure: When you purchase through links on our site, we may get a commission. Read More..

Using a VPN in the US is one of the best decisions you can make for your privacy. The recent extension of the USA PATRIOT Act means that the government and ISP can continue to track what you do online.

A quality VPN service can protect your data and keep you anonymous on the internet. But VPNs do more than just protect your privacy.

With the unfolding COVID-19 events, more and more people are now turning to VPNs in a bid to access better entertainment content. 

We’ve spent weeks analyzing over 50 VPNs, and the five in this guide are the best you’ll find.

How we chose VPNs for the USA

Here are the main aspects we considered when evaluating the best VPNs for the US.

  • US Server Coverage

Connecting to a server near you allows you to reduce latency and enjoy fast connections. The VPNs in this list not only offer a high number of servers in the US but a nice spread, ensuring every corner of the country is covered – from New York to Anchorage, Alaska.

  • Jurisdiction & Logging Policy

Any VPN that stores logs isn’t safe. Also, we evaluated their jurisdiction and eliminated providers based in the USA or any of the 14-Eyes member countries.

  • Encryption & Security Features

OpenVPN and IKEv2 remain the top-recommended encryption protocols. Some newer additions like WireGuard are also worth considering.

  • Performance and Speed

When it comes to VPNs, speed is everything. If you want to use the VPN for gaming or streaming, you should make sure the performance is on par with your bandwidth needs.

Besides these aspects, we also considered the following:

  • Compatibility – Does it support your device?
  • How reliable is the customer support?

Best VPNs for USA

NordVPN – Best Overall

NordVPN Pros

  • Over 1800 servers in the USA
  • Excellent connection speeds
  • Robust encryption and security features
  • Does not keep logs
  • 6 simultaneous connection
  • Easy-to-use clients
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

NordVPN Cons

  • Speeds may vary from server to server

We might as well start with the winner. NordVPN is the best VPN for the USA, and it’s our top-rated VPN overall.

The VPN is super fast and provides 1800+ in 15 locations across the US. In total, they offer over 5500 servers in 59 countries across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific.

The VPN works reliably against geo-restrictions, and thanks to their SmartPlay feature, you can unblock Netflix and BBC iPlayer with a single click. Its speeds are incredible, and the VPN allows unlimited torrenting.

Security & Privacy

NordVPN should keep your data safe and maintain your online anonymity. It’s equipped with the robust AES 256-bit encryption and comes with best-in-class tunneling protocols.

The VPN doesn’t suffer from connection leaks, and they offer Multi-hop servers, which encrypt your data twice. Extra security features include Tor over VPN, CyberSec, and an ad blocker.

If you are privacy-focused, you’ll also be thrilled to know that Nord does not keep any logs. Besides, they are located in Panama, which has strong privacy laws.

Compatibility & Ease of Use

NordVPN offers a native client for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. You can likewise install the VPN on your router and smart TV, as well as Firefox and Chrome browsers.

NordVPN Pricing

NordVPN is competitively priced. Their 3-year plan is one of the most affordable you can find. 

ExpressVPN – Great for Speed

ExpressVPN Pros

  • Super fast connection speeds
  • Great security and no-log policy
  • Works with Netflix
  • More than 24 locations in the US
  • Allows you to connect 5 devices at a go
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

ExpressVPN Cons

  • Costly on a month-to-month subscription
  • Server speeds may vary

ExpressVPN is another excellent VPN for the USA. This provider’s US servers are particularly fast, and the VPN is great for streaming Netflix.

In total, ExpressVPN provides access to 3000+ servers in 160 locations across 94 countries. They have good coverage in the US, and they have servers in over 20 locations across the country.

Security & Privacy

In regards to security, the service uses AES 256-bit encryption with OpenVPN as the default protocol. Other supported protocols include IKEv2, L2TP, SSTP, and PPTP.

Also, it’s worth noting that the VPN logs neither your activity nor connection data. It also comes with an internet kill switch and zero-knowledge DNS server, which help prevent accidental leaks.

Compatibility & Ease of Use

ExpressVPN’s apps are easy to use, which makes the VPN a great choice for newbies. They offer apps for virtually all popular devices, and you can connect up to five simultaneous connections per license.

ExpressVPN Pricing Plans

ExpressVPN is slightly on the high end when it comes to pricing. It’s certainly more expensive than many of the other providers in this guide. But when you consider the features and benefits on offer, it still represents good value for money.

Surfshark – Most Affordable

Surfshark Pros

  • Delivers fast and stable connections
  • Robust encryption and security features
  • Does not keep activity logs
  • Works reliably Netflix
  • Supports torrenting and P2P file sharing
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • User-friendly apps
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 live chat support

Surfshark Cons

  • Speeds can vary from server to server
  • Expensive on a month-to-month subscription

Next up is Surfshark. It’s highly secure and the most affordable VPN to make it into our list. The VPN is located in the British Virgin Islands and does not keep logs. Surfshark is also fast and is excellent against censorship and geo-restrictions.

They offer access to over 1700 bare-metal servers in 63+ countries, including the US. It’s great for streaming and works very well with US Netflix and Hulu. The VPN also supports torrenting, and there are no restrictions whatsoever on bandwidth.

Security & Privacy

If you need high levels of security, Surfshark has you covered. The VPN uses a bank-grade AES 256-bit cipher, which is the gold standard in the VPN industry. With Surfshark, you also get a kill switch and protection against IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.

Supported Devices & Ease of Use

Surfshark is compatible with most computers and smartphones. You can install it on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. Surfshark can also be set up on routers, and they even provide routers with the VPN pre-installed. 

Surfshark Pricing Plans

In terms of affordability, few providers can rival Surfshark. Their best-priced plan costs only $1.99 per month. Surfshark also offers a no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantee, which you can use to get a refund in case things don’t turn out as expected.

CyberGhost – Great for Security

CyberGhost Pros

  • 1-day free trial
  • 6400 servers in 90 countries
  • Excellent server speeds
  • Zero logging policy
  • Robust AES-256 encryption
  • 7 simultaneous connections
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 45-day money-back guarantee

CyberGhost Cons

  • Expensive on a month-to-month subscription

CyberGhost is an incredible VPN that offers robust encryption wrapped around a sleek client. Their server network is also among the best. With the VPN, you can access 6400+ servers in a whopping 90 countries.

We also love CyberGhost’s speeds – most of its servers are fast, and the VPN easily circumvents Netflix’s geo-restrictions. It was also successful with Hulu, HBO, and BBC iPlayer.

Security & Privacy

While it’s not good as NordVPN, CyberGhost still offers every security feature you’d generally expect from a VPN. It protects you against public Wi-Fi threats, and notable features include DNS leak prevention and an internet kill switch. We never detected any IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks in our tests.

The provider is located in Romania, which, as you probably know, is a privacy haven. And thanks to their strict no logs policy, CyberGhost does not monitor or store what you do online.

Device Compatibility & Ease of Use

Cyberghost works well with most popular devices, and it can support up to 7 devices simultaneously. Supported devices include Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and game consoles. The VPN also works with routers, and you can as well set it up on Chrome and Firefox browsers.

CyberGhost Pricing Plans

While it’s not as affordable as Surfshark, Cyberghost is well-priced. The 3-year plan is available at $2.75 per month. If you opt for the month-to-month subscription, you’ll need to shell out $12.99 per month, which isn’t considered cheap.

In the long term, however, Cyberghost offers great value for money. But that’s not the most interesting thing about Cyberghost. They are the only one of the top providers in this list to include a free version. Available for 24 hours, the free trial allows you to test the service risk-free.

Additionally, Cyberghost offers an industry-best 45-day money-back guarantee.

Mullvad – Best for Anonymity

Mullvad Pros

  • Great connection speeds
  • 197 servers in 11 US cities
  • Robust security and privacy
  • Does not store any logs
  • Reliably unblocks Netflix
  • 5 simultaneous connections
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Mullvad Cons

  • Swedish jurisdiction
  • No live chat support

Mullvad does not mess around when it comes to privacy. Their logging practices and encryption are secure, and the provider supports Bitcoin and other anonymous payment methods.

Mullvad accounts are auto-generated, and you do need to provide any personal information to use the service. The server network consists of 635 servers in 57 cities and 37 countries spread across the seven continents.

Privacy & Security

As mentioned, Mullvad excels when it comes to privacy. Its connections are leakproof, so your privacy is in good hands. Brute force and man-in-the-middle attacks will be ineffective.

Another great thing with this VPN is that you can use it without providing your email, name, or payment details. But their privacy practices aren’t their only strength; there’s more to offer.

Mullvad features both WireGuard and OpenVPN, the fastest and most secure protocols, respectively. The VPN also blocks ads and phishing domains.

Compatibility & Ease of Use

Mullvad is compatible with all widely-used devices, and you can use the VPN on up to five devices at a go. 

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can also manually set up the VPN on routers.

Mullvad Pricing Plans

Mullvad offers a single pricing plan. You won’t get discounts for long term subscription, but their monthly plan is affordable.

FAQ

Are VPNs Legal in the USA?

VPNs are completely legal in the US, and you won’t get into legal trouble for using one.

Do I Need a VPN in the US

Yes, you need a VPN to keep your browsing private. A VPN will also allow you to bypass geo-restrictions and access content that’s not available in your current location.