Choosing the best VPN can pose a significant challenge, more so if you are a beginner. Hence, you need to be cautious because every provider highlights their positive features only. A good VPN should be compatible with major operating systems like macOS, Windows, Android Os, and a host of other (OS) since most gadgets use them for interfacing. An excellent VPN service should provide robust encryption, preferably AES 256 bit, and come with leading protocols like OpenVPN. A free trial or money-back guarantee is another important consideration as it allows you to test the VPN service risk-free. If you are stuck choosing the best VPN, this article will walk you through some critical VPN features to help you make an informed decision.

Here are the essential features to look out for in a VPN

1. The pricing of a VPN

The pricing of a VPN is among the features that most people consider before purchasing a VPN. However, you’d better be careful because cheap pricing does not equal to poor service; the opposite is also exact. Hence, you’ll find some pricey VPNs like ExpressVPN offering excellent features while other expensive VPNs will provide inferior service. On the other hand, a affordable VPN like NordVPN offers even better features and quality service than most costly VPNs. Hence, while the price is a factor to consider, you have to also look at the rest of the features the VPN provides before committing.

2. Does the provider have a logging policy?

Virtual private network service providers handle logging policies differently. Some VPNs can hold on to your browsing data for long periods, which can dangerous, especially where sensitive data is concerned. It is advisable to sign up with a provider who has a strictly no-logs policy so that even if the VPN is under a subpoena to release your traffic logs, they won’t have any. Before choosing a VPN, you’d better go through its privacy policy to clearly understand what data they retain and for how long.

3. Number of simultaneous connections and router support

The number of simultaneous device connections a VPN allows will significantly impact your VPN usage. Some VPNs offer 5, while others offer up to ten or even unlimited device connections. Suppose you are a family with many devices or a small company; the higher the device connections, the better. Another important VPN feature to check is whether the service has router support. The router can interconnect so many gadgets simultaneously on the internet, so, if the VPN has router support, it is a plus. Installing the VPN on every single gadget will not suffice. You can install the VPN directly to your router so that any device connected to the internet via the router is protected. This feature, other than saving you money, it gives you peace of mind because you can control every aspect of your online connectivity from one central point.

4. Internet Kill Switch

VPNs sometimes fail. If that happens, it can expose the user’s identity and data to cybercriminals and the ever spying government. An integrated kill switch is a feature that monitors the VPN connection. If the connection drops, it automatically shuts down the data transfer before your IP and data are exposed online. You should make sure to turn on the kill switch in the VPN apps setting because the provider disables typically by default.

5. Server locations

The number of servers and server locations of a VPN will determine your VPN experience. VPN servers are essential because if you want to change your geographical location, you have to connect to a VPN server in your desired region. Hence, wide server locations mean the ability to unblock geographically restricted content. By this, it means that the user can decide to change the status to show he is in a specific geographical location when he is actually in another. This feature is essential because it helps with geographical blackouts and enjoying online shopping deals. A VPN with a vast number of servers and server locations gives you the highest chances of connecting to a nearby server for fast connection speeds.

Conclusion

Choosing the best VPN service is not a child’s play. There are many services, and each claims to be the best. Knowing the important VPN features will help you to make an informed decision. The above points provide you with a starting point in your journey to choosing the best VPN. However, It’s advisable to settle for a VPN that satisfies your unique privacy needs.