Is it Worth Paying for a VPN?

Before we talk about if VPNs are worth paying for, it is important to understand what a VPN is.

A VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network” that moves about the internet and keeps your data secure by creating an encrypted tunnel that connects to your computer, smartphone, or tablet to a remote server that is also encrypted heavily.

A Virtual Private Network ensures to keep your information private by shielding your IP address, replacing that piece of information with the VPN’s remote server data while that remote server can be in any other county that is far from your location.

A VPN also keeps securing your passwords, credit card numbers, all your keystrokes, and any other confidential attachments that you wish to send. And if you are using a VPN then even your internet service provider which watches over every keystroke on your tab will not get access to any of your online activities.

Overall, a VPN provides a layer of encryption to all your internet traffic assuring full privacy as well as security.

What is a Free VPN?

When you use a free VPN your user data is logged which undermines the privacy you were searching for. Other than that, some companies advertise free VPNs that are far from reputable and can make you end up dealing with spyware and malware installed on your PC.

And even if there is no privacy issue the free VPNs still do not serve the purpose you are aiming for as most of the free VPNs limit how many devices to cover as well as the amount of data that you can use, and also their speed is not very fast.

What is a paid VPN?

Paying for a VPN is worth it if you value privacy and wish to conduct online activity anonymously. A paid VPN not only keeps you private and secure over the internet it also ensures your connection and prevents your online traffic from being vulnerable to even snoopers and eavesdroppers, making it difficult for the interested parties to know what you are up to on the internet.

It also lets you change your geo-location and mask your IP address to unblock various contents. You will never find anyone claiming that a VPN is not worth the money, as they have always worked best to make your actions on the internet almost untraceable.

Which is better, paid VPN or a Free VPN?

It is better to always go for the paid options as it is the expensive bills that make a VPN service popular and great like NordVPN, Surfshark, and more.

They give more benefits as compared to the free VPN services. Some of the major reasons why paying for a VPN is worth are- It changes your IP address to hide the actual location, it prevents malware, saves data and boosts the speed, provides safety against public or untrusted Wi-Fi networks, encrypts the internet activity to let you browse safely and more.

Therefore, the paid VPNs are no doubt a better choice as compared to the free ones as they charge money to maintain a strong infrastructure and provide you with the best service.

What to look for in a VPN before paying for it?

There are certain things that you need to pay attention to before finally deciding to work with a VPN service, these qualities include-

• Server Network- The closer you are to a server the faster your connection will be. There are VPNs like PIA and Cyberghost that have thousands of servers spread all across the globe that assures there will always be a server nearby. That simply means there will be less congestion on each of the servers and a faster connection.
• Simultaneous device connections- Choose a VPN service that will allow you to do multiple device connections thus permitting you to protect all your devices in the household with just one VPN subscription.
• Security- There are some features like military-grade encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, data breach monitor, integrated kill switch, forward secrecy, and a browsing feature that ensures your data security while using a VPN.
• Speed and Reliability- It is very important to choose a VPN that offers you unlimited bandwidth and uninterrupted high-speed browsing.
• Privacy- Before choosing a VPN consider its geographical location and logging policy and always try to choose a VPN that has a transparent and untarnished reputation zero-log policy.
• Device compatibility- If you have a multi-platform household then look for a VPN that can extend the coverage to almost all the devices. Some of the VPNs even offer browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, or Safari.

Best VPNs that are worth paying for in 2024

• Surfshark
• NordVPN
• ExpressVPN

NordVPN

NordVPN service provides you with the best secure and private access to the internet. It provides you with an encrypted tunnel through which no one can see and get their hands on any of your data online. And especially if you are using public Wi-Fi then NordVPN is the best choice for you to keep your peace of mind.

Other than that, while using NordVPN you can encrypt your internet connection, keep your online identity and history private, access safely personal information or work files, and enjoy a lot more security and privacy.

The pricing plans of NordVPN start from a 1-month subscription cost of $11.99 and go up to a 2-year plan at $95.76. And in case you wish to first try out using this software without putting your money at risk you can freely go for it as NordVPN provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a VPN that works with a blazing-fast speed, provides powerful online security, and works on all platforms. It ensures that your data is not exposed when you are going online, whether you are connecting your device at a café or just shopping it keeps your data or information secure and safe.

No matter where you are or what device you are using it has got you covered at all the places at all the time. ExpressVPN subscription plans start from $12.95 per month and go up to a 12-month plan at $8.32.

It also assures you to give your money back in 30-days if you are not satisfied with its working. However, there is no reason for you to not like ExpressVPN as they are one of the finest VPN services available in the market. It is an excellent choice and its price is not even expensive as it is an all-around VPN.

FAQs

Why do you need a VPN?

You need a VPN because without it all your internet traffic will be potentially exposed on your network. Having a VPN will boost your security and privacy online.

Are VPNs expensive in general?

No. The surprisingly best thing is about a VPN is that the amount at which you can access its amazing abilities is not very much. You can easily establish a VPN for about $100 to $200 per year, depending upon the type of service you wish to have.

Is there a Free VPN available in the market?

Yes. There are also a lot of free VPN services available in the market.

Are paid VPNs a better choice as compared to Free VPNs?

Yes. The paid VPN is better when compared to a free VPN service as it doesn’t act like the paid ones do and goes by the saying “You get what you pay for”. The free VPNs have to earn their money in some other ways and to do that they usually sell the data. And if you are aiming to achieve privacy then free VPN is of no use for you rather, they are the exact opposite of what you are wishing for. So, it is better for you to go with the paid options of VPNs available.

The Synopsis

It is a “yes” when it comes to buying a VPN. It is a great idea to pay for a VPN if you are someone who wishes to maintain online privacy and value encryption while using the internet.

However, it is not technically possible for a VPN to encrypt the traffic magically, the only encrypted part of the connection is from you to the VPN provider and the VPN provider can keep a watch on your traffic.

Sometimes the VPNs enable secure connections between your computer and the VPN server. This technology can also be used to remotely access otherwise inaccessible networks.

In all, VPNs work effortlessly and are a good way to secure your traffic against sites you can’t trust so it is best to have a VPN by your side to secure your connection to the internet.