10 Best US VPNs in 2024 (Tested; Fast and Secure)

The US has one of the biggest surveillance infrastructures in the world and is also a member of the 5/9/14 Eye Alliance. That is why you must use a VPN if you value your privacy. 

Besides protecting your online connections from prying eyes through encryption, a VPN can help you bypass geo-restrictions as it spoofs your IP address and let’s you access streaming services, social media platforms, news websites, or anything you need worldwide. 

However, almost all VPNs claim to offer the best services, making it difficult to choose the best for your needs. We have reviewed and compared many VPNs to prepare this guide for the best USA VPNs. 

Best US VPN – Quick list

VPN NAME	WHAT MAKES IT SO AMAZING?
	NordVPN Robust security and vast server network in the US. It also successfully unblocks almost all streaming services. Try it
	ExtremeVPN A relatively new entrant in the VPN industry that offers premium features and many servers in the US. Try it
	ExpressVPN High-speed US servers, making it ideal for data-intensive activities like streaming, torrenting and gaming. Try it
	Surfshark Great value for money as it offers premium features and allows you to connect unlimited simultaneous connections. Try it
	Private Internet Access Has servers in all US states and extensive global coverage. Also, it allows you to customize the security settings. Try it
	IPVanish Balances security and speed, giving you excellent performance regardless of your online activity. Try it
	CyberGhost Offers user-friendly apps and extends the money-back guarantee to 45 days to give you more time to test it. Try it
	Proton VPN Provides advanced security and privacy. Also, it offers a free version with tons of servers and doesn’t cap data or speed. Try it
	Hotspot Shield Has both free and premium plans. Its proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol optimizes speed and security. Try it
	PrivateVPN Dependable security and privacy features with several US server locations. However, its overall server network is small. Try it

What is a VPN service? 

A virtual private network (VPN) is an online tool that establishes an intermediary server between your device and the internet. It creates a point-to-point tunnel that masks your IP address, encrypts your data and evades website blocks and internet firewalls. This protects and anonymizes your online experience. 

The best VPN should provide robust security and privacy without compromising on performance. At PrivacyRadar, we rigorously test each VPN on various platforms to recommend the ones that offer exceptional reliability and value.

Comparison of the best American VPNs 

	US server locations	Total servers	Streaming platforms	Logging Policy	Price
NordVPN	Chicago, Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, etc	6,317 servers in 111 countries	Netflix US, YouTube TV, Hulu, Max, Amazon Prime, etc	No-logs	$3.09/month
ExtremeVPN	Houston, Washington, Chicago, Atlanta, New Jersey, Seattle, Salt Lake City, etc	6,500 servers in 70+ countries	Disney+, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and more	No-logs	$3.29/month
ExpressVPN	New York, San Fransisco, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Dallas, etc	3,000 servers in 105 countries	BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Sky Go, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video	No-logs	$6.67/month
Surfshark	New York, Seattle, Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, etc	3,200 servers in 100 countries	Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Max and more	No-logs	$2.29/month
Private Internet Access (PIA)	All US states	34,000 servers in 91 countries	Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Max, Peacock TV, and more	No-logs	$1.85/month
IPVanish	Los Angeles, Phoenix, New York, Las Vegas, etc	3,200 servers in 100 countries	including Netflix US, Disney+, Paramount+, and more	No-logs	$2.75/month
CyberGhost	Miami, Dallas, Seattle, Las Vegas, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, etc	11,700+ servers in 100+ countries	Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and more	No-logs	$2.03/month
Proton VPN	Denver, Secaucus, Phoenix, Atlanta, Ashburn, Seattle, New York City, etc	4,434 servers in 91 countries	Netflix, ESPN+, Apple TV+, Max, Disney+, etc	No-logs	$4.49 plus a free plan
Hotspot Shield	New York, California, Illinois, Texas, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco, etc	3,200 servers in 80 countries	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video and more	No-logs	$7.99/month plus a free plan
PrivateVPN	Las Vegas, New Jersey, Miami, Los Angeles, Denver, etc	200+ servers in 63 countries	YouTube TV and Disney+	No-logs	$2.00/month

The best VPNs for USA in 2024 – Our detailed list

After thoroughly testing dozens of VPN providers, we’ve narrowed the list to 10 best US VPNs. Explore each VPN in the detailed description below.

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is our top recommendation best US VPN, with over 1,970+ US servers in more than 16 locations, including Chicago, Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, etc. As a result, you can always switch to another server if your connection malfunctions. 

In addition to the US, NordVPN has an extensive network of over 6,300+ servers spread across 111 countries worldwide. This means that you can bypass geo-restrictions in other regions if you are in the US. Also, a big server network is ideal as it is unlikely to get congested. 

This VPN employs sufficient security features to protect your connections when accessing the internet in the US. These include military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, an automatic kill switch that kills your internet connection whenever the VPN connection has an issue, split tunneling, DNS/IP/WebRTC leak protection to ensure your data is secure, double VPN, and obfuscation. 

During our tests, NordVPN could unblock all the major US streaming platforms, including Netflix US, YouTube TV, Hulu, Max, Amazon Prime, etc. Also, because of the fast-speed servers, we could stream high-quality videos without any issues. NordVPN’s most affordable subscription plan is $3.09/month. It includes 10 simultaneous connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You will also get a 7-day free trial for Android devices.

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2. ExtremeVPN

ExtremeVPN is another reliable VPN for the US. It is very secure, blazing fast speed to ensure a smooth streaming experience, and performs well across all major operating systems. 

It has many servers in several US locations, including Houston, Washington, Chicago, Atlanta, New Jersey, Seattle, Salt Lake City, etc. This will enable you to get a US IP address and unblock anything you want in the US. 

Internet privacy is a priority for many US citizens because of the government’s mass surveillance. As such, ExtremeVPN is equipped with robust AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data from snooping eyes. It also has additional security features like a kill switch, DNS/IP leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy to ensure users that it doesn’t keep records of their data. 

We tested its unblocking capabilities and ExtremeVPN performed exemplary by accessing all the major streaming services like Netflix and Disney+. The servers produced great speeds, and we could stream seamlessly without buffering. ExtremeVPN’s starting price is $3.29/month. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to test the VPN before committing to a subscription.

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3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a great VPN for the US. It boasts many American server locations, including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Dallas, etc. This will enable you to bypass content blackouts anywhere in the USA by connecting to any American server of ExpressVPN. It also has 3,000 servers in other regions worldwide. 

As for security, ExpressVPN has AES 156-bit encryption, which ensures no one can intercept your traffic to access your data. It also offers an automatic kill switch (Network Lock), DNS leak protection, a Threat manager, and a strict no-logs policy. 

We confirmed that ExpressVPN bypasses geo-restrictions of all major streaming services. It has some of the fastest servers in the industry, enabling you to stream your favourite content without buffering or lags. 

On the downside, ExpressVPN is pricey compared to its competitors, with the cheapest package at $6.67/month. Fortunately, you can test it with the 30-day money-back guarantee to see if it meets your needs.

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4. Surfshark

Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPNs in the US. It has coast-to-coast server coverage with over 600+ servers in 25 US locations, including New York, Seattle, Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, etc. 

Apart from being affordable, Surfshark offers premium features and allows you to connect as many devices as you want in a single subscription plan, which gives you great value for money. 

The VPN employs the improved and more secure AES 256-GCM version of the AES 256-bit encryption. It also includes other essential security features like a kill switch, CleanWeb ad blocker to block malicious ads when accessing websites, DNS/WebRTC/IP leak protection, camouflage mode, etc. 

Surfshark easily unblocks all the major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Max, and more. We tested it and didn’t experience any issues. Its subscription plans start at $2.29/month and have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so users can subscribe to it without fear of losing. You can also try out the 7-day free trial on mobile devices.

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5. Private Internet Access (PIA)

Private Internet Access (PIA) operates servers in every US state, including Hawaii and Alaska. This makes it an ideal option to unblock websites and services in the US. 

Don’t worry that PIA’s provider is based in the US, which isn’t privacy-friendly because it is a member of 5/9/14 alliances. It has a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited by Deloitte, one of the big four auditing firms in the world. Also, the VPN has been subpoenaed to provide user data but didn’t always have any information to hand over. 

The VPN gives you the flexibility to choose the encryption level you want: either 128-bit or 256-bit encryption. Regardless of the option you choose, you’ll have more than enough security with additional features like a kill switch, WireGuard protocol, which is the most advanced security protocol and provides fast speed for buffer-free streaming, DNS/IP leak protection, MACE ad blocker, etc. 

PIA works well with all popular streaming services. We could easily unblock Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Max, Peacock TV, and more during our tests. 

This VPN is affordable, with the plans starting at $1.85/month. You can test it risk-free with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

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6. IPVanish

IPVanish is an excellent VPN for getting a US IP address. It has over 1,100 servers in 21 locations, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, New York, Las Vegas, etc. This is a huge network, and you’re likely to get consistent connections. 

Overall, IPVanish has 2,400 servers in 75 countries. It has a quick connection feature that automatically connects you to the fastest server available. The fastest server it selects is the nearest server according to your location.

This VPN protects your data with AES 256-bit encryption, an industry-standard many VPNs use. It also includes a customizable kill switch, split tunnelling, and DNS/IP leak protection. Unfortunately, the provider is based in the US, which isn’t privacy-friendly. 

IPVanish easily unblocked all the streaming platforms we tested, including Netflix US, Disney+, and Paramount+. Moreover, with the fast-speed servers and unlimited data, we could stream 4K videos without hitches. The VPN offers three plans, the cheapest at $2.75/month. All the plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test the VPN before subscribing.

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7. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a premium VPN with many servers across 11 US locations, including Miami, Dallas, Seattle, Las Vegas, and others. It offers specialized servers for data-intensive activities like streaming, torrenting, and gaming. 

The robust AES 256-bit encryption will prevent third parties from accessing your data. Also, Deloitte has independently audited CyberGhost’s strict privacy policy, confirming the provider’s claims that it doesn’t collect or store user data. 

CyberGhost has an excellent unblocking capability and can easily bypass blackouts and restrictions of various streaming sites. With the WireGuard tunnelling protocol, the VPN retained 80% of our original connection speed. At a reasonable price of $2.03/month, CyberGhost is an ideal US VPN. Unlike other VPNs, it extends the money-back guarantee to 45 days.

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8. Proton VPN

Proton VPN has outstanding performance in the US, with over 400 servers in locations like Denver, Secaucus, Phoenix, Atlanta, Ashburn, Seattle, New York City, etc. The free version is also available in the US. 

All ProtonVPN apps are open-source, which means third-party developers can improve the software. Moreover, the provider protects your connections with AES 256-bit encryption, a formidable algorithm unbreakable even by brute force. Additional security features include NetShield, a no-logs policy, and DNS/IP leak protection. 

ProtonVPN is good at evading geo-restrictions, allowing you to unblock content in the US and worldwide. During our test, we successfully accessed Netflix, ESPN+, Apple TV+, Max, Disney+, etc. 

The VPN offers monthly, yearly and bi-yearly subscription plans, with the latter available at $4.49, the second most expensive on this list after ExpressVPN.

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9. Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield is another premium VPN that offers a free plan. It has many servers in over 25 cities in the US, enabling you to get a US IP address. 

Unlike most VPNs on this list, Hotspot Shield uses AES 128-bit encryption. While AES 256-bit encryption has a longer key length and is theoretically more secure, it is impossible to crack AES 128-bit encryption even with the most powerful supercomputer. 

Hotspot Shield is reliable for streaming. During our tests, it successfully unblocked Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. 

Unfortunately, the free plan has many limitations, including only one server, a 500 MB daily data limit, a 2 Mbps speed cap, watch ads to gain more data and one device. Proton VPN’s free version is better as it doesn’t cap data or speed and offers many server options. Hotspot Shield’s premium plan is available at $7.99/month and has an extended 45-day money-back guarantee, like CyberGhost VPN.

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10. PrivateVPN

Lastly, we have PrivateVPN, which has several US server locations, such as Las Vegas, New Jersey, Miami, Los Angeles, Denver, etc. Unfortunately, it has the smallest network on this list, with only 200 servers worldwide. 

Like Private Internet Access (PIA), PrivateVPN offers both 128-bit and 256-bit encryption, allowing you to choose the encryption level you want. It also has a kill switch, no-logs policy, and DNS leak protection. 

Private VPN unblocks several streaming sites, such as YouTube TV and Disney+. However, during our tests, it struggled to unblock platforms like Netflix and Apple TV+. 

Thankfully, PrivateVPN is affordable with the best deal at $2.00/month. It also has a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money return policy, allowing you to test it risk-free.

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Methodology for choosing the best VPN for the US

People have different preferences and needs. While some prefer advanced security measures, others prefer a VPN that excels at unblocking streaming services. 

Regardless, here are some things you need to consider when choosing a reliable VPN for the US. 

Security	AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, leak protection
Privacy	No logs, privacy-friendly jurisdiction, independently audited
Performance	WireGuard and OpenVPN (UDP, TCP) tunnelling protocols
Servers	Several US servers, diverse distribution worldwide

• Security – Ensure the VPN has the industry standard AES 256-bit encryption. Also, it should offer additional security measures like a kill switch and leak protection. 
• Servers – The best US VPN must operate servers in several cities and states in the US to enable you to get a US-specific IP address in multiple locations. Also, it should have an extensive server network in other regions worldwide. 
• Privacy – Peruse the privacy policy to ensure the VPN provider does not keep logs. Better yet, a reputable firm should independently audit the privacy policy. 
• Unblocking capability – If you want to unblock content or any other resource, ensure the VPN can bypass US geographic restrictions. Thankfully, most VPNs have free trials and money-back guarantees to enable you to test the VPN before subscribing. 
• Performance – Usually, a VPN will reduce your internet speed because of the processes it adds to your traffic like encryption. So, choose a VPN with blazing-fast speeds and can handle data-intensive activities like streaming, torrenting, and gaming. 
• Customer support –Even the best VPN service can have errors. Therefore, choose a VPN with comprehensive customer support to help you if you face any issues. 
• Value for money – Whatever the reason for using a VPN, you shouldn’t break the bank to get one. So, find a VPN that premium features at reasonable price. . 

Now that you’ve understood what attributes to seek in a US VPN let’s get into the detailed review of the best US VPNs we chose.

Can I use a free VPN in the US?

Although a free VPN can be tempting because you don’t have to pay anything, there are some potential risks. For example, most free VPNs employ weak security measures, exposing your data to all and sundry. 

Additionally, some free VPNs collect and sell user data. Also, popular streaming services, like Netflix, block free VPN servers, making it difficult to access your favourite content. 

Remember, there are two types of free VPNs; completely free and free plans of premium VPNs (freemium). 

• Completely free VPNs – While you don’t have to pay for the service, the provider uses dubious means to generate income like displaying many ads and selling your data. 
• Freemium VPNs. These are free versions of paid VPNs that come with certain limitations. For instance, you can only use a few servers and cannot access some features like split tunnelling. However, freemium services are better than completely free services since reputable VPN companies usually offer them. 

Alternatively, you can take advantage of the free trials and money-back guarantee that premium VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark offer.

Why you need to use a VPN in the US

Here are some reasons why a VPN is essential in the US. 

1. Maintain anonymity. The US is one of the most surveilled countries in the world and participates in the 5/9/14 Eye Alliance, where shares intelligence information with other countries. A VPN will encrypt your traffic and alter your IP address, making it almost impossible to intercept your data. 
2. Stop internet throttling. This is the intentional slowing down of the internet speed by internet service providers (ISP), which can cause reduced performance. If you use a VPN, your ISP cannot identify specific types of traffic to throttle. 
3. Prevent tracking. ISPs in the US are known to collect user data and selling to third parties. Thankfully, you can use a VPN to prevent your ISP from intercepting yourconnections to collect your data. 
4. Access streaming platforms. If you are in the US, a VPN can help you unblock streaming services in other regions. On the other hand, if you are outside the US, you can use a VPN to access blocked content in the US, like Netflix US, by connecting to a US server on the VPN service. It will trick the platform into thinking that you are in the country.
5. Evade sports blackouts. Some sporting events are only available in specific regions. However, you can bypass these blackouts by connecting to a VPN server in the region where your favourite sporting event is available. It can also help you unblock sports betting sites and daily fantasy games. 
6. Avoid state-restricted websites. Some countries, like China, impose restrictions on websites. A VPN can help you evade state-imposed restrictions and access whatever you want. Fortunately, some VPN has an obfuscation feature, making it difficult to track your VPN traffic.

Are US-based VPNs worth it? 

There are some good US-based VPNs, like Private Internet Access (PIA). It has a strict no-logs policy, which Deloitte audited in June 2022. The audit confirmed the provider’s claims that it doesn’t store any personally identifiable information. 

Moreover, PIA has been taken to court to provide user logs and didn’t have any data to share on every occasion. 

Should I get a mobile US VPN?

If you travel often, you likely use public Wi-Fi networks to access the internet. Although convenient and saves you money on cellular data, these networks are risky. First, they have weak security measures, making your data vulnerable to hackers. 

A VPN is the best solution to protect your identity and internet connection from spying eyes. If you choose a reliable VPN, it will work quietly in the background, and you won’t even notice if it is there. 

Fortunately, most VPNs support multiple simultaneous connections, allowing you to protect all your devices, including tablets, phones, desktops, smart TVs, and routers.

US data retention law 

While different states have varied data retention regulations, no specific law mandates how long an ISP can store data in the US. Also, many commercial companies are known to collect user data. 

Remember, agencies like the NSA and FBI can access any records of a business as long as it is based in the US. This means government authorities can track your online activities. 

Generally, privacy protection laws are weak in the US, except in a few states like California, Virginia, Utter, Colorado, and Connecticut. This is a problem if you want to stay private and anonymous online. 

The best way to protect your data and privacy is a reliable VPN like NordVPN. It has a strict no-logs policy and employs robust security measures to prevent your government, ISPs, and other third parties from accessing your data. 

FAQs