How to choose a VPN

VPNs are legal in the United States, but users and organizations should check if they are legal in specific countries.

Many VPNs offer extremely similar technologies, so it can be hard to choose which VPN will work best. Paid VPN services tend to be more trusted and include more security features. Reputable VPN services will be upfront about their security, their strengths and weaknesses, and their transparency by releasing third-party audits, for example. Extra VPN features include split tunneling, access to the Tor network or multihop connections.

Once individuals look at the added features and find a service they think will work for them, it's a good idea to start out with a short-term subscription. Many vendors offer free trials of their paid versions. Some free trial versions may include a limit on how much data can be used.