Best Paid VPNs to hide your IP and secure file sharing

Virtual private networks are tools used by both professionals and individuals for work and personal reasons. VPNs route a user’s browsing data through their servers thereby encrypting data and helping keep users safe online. While there are several free VPNs available today, they aren’t as useful as you may think. If you want genuine data protection and secure connections, you should use a paid VPN service.

Why Use a VPN

VPNs have several features that lend to different use cases. People use VPNs daily because they offer a secure internet connection through encrypted channels, a way to change or hide your IP address, and even protection against different types of malware.

With the features mentioned above, customers use VPNs to shore up their data security and online privacy with VPN encryption technology, hide their IP address to bypass censorship based on geographic location, and secure public WIFI networks.

When you have a VPN on your phone, laptop, or desktop computer, you can be sure that when you’re browsing the web, your data is encrypted and hidden from any third-party actors like snoopers and other cyber criminals. What’s more, you can stop your internet service provider (ISP) and websites from tracking your browsing data.

If you travel often and want to access location-specific content, or if you want to access content based in another country, a VPN is your best solution. You can change your IP address to trick websites into thinking you’re in a different geographic location.

Why Pay for a VPN

As mentioned above, VPNs have various features and uses that can help protect users’ data and ensure online privacy is maintained. However, not all VPNs can maintain privacy and offer genuine protection.

Many free VPNs exist and claim to offer the same data protection and privacy as the top, paid VPNs. Unfortunately, free VPNs do not offer the same security. If you look closely at terms of services and privacy policies, you’ll find glaring holes. What’s more, rather than loosely protecting user data, many free VPNs do the opposite and end sell user data.

Maintaining hardware and offering services requires money, so if a VPN isn’t charging you for such services, they’re making money elsewhere—namely, your data. If you want to be sure you’re getting privacy and protection online, use a paid VPN. Check out the best-paid VPNs below.

Top 4 Paid VPNs

NordVPN

With one of the most recognizable names in privacy technology, NordVPN is widespread across the globe. NordVPN is a secure VPN with a plethora of advanced features that attract users who want to take full advantage of VPN technology. The tool comes with malware and adware blockers, multi-hop connections, a file encryption service, a password manager, and a dedicated IP address.

Apart from the various features, NordVPN is also the best no-log VPN as it has a strong policy that’s been verified by watchdogs and well-respected industry giants like PricewaterhouseCoopers. NordVPN costs $6.79 per month for a 12-month.

Private Access Internet

Private Access Internet is the most affordable VPN on the list. Despite the cost-effectiveness, Private Access Internet offers great security, standard features, and fast connection speeds. What’s more, with over 30,000 servers spread across 78 countries, Private Access Internet has one of the biggest server networks of all VPNs.

Customers can download and use the Private Access Internet VPN on up to 10 devices including all major operating systems. The VPN costs only $3.33 per month for a one-year plan. However, if you want a dedicated IP address, you have to pay an additional $4.25 per month.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the biggest names in the VPN industry. The tool has great security, is easy to use, and has impressive performance. ExpressVPN has lightning-fast connection speeds and a network of over 3,000 servers spread out in 94 countries.

The downfall of ExpressVPN is the cost. For a 12-month plan, users will pay $8.32 per month making ExpressVPN one of the more expensive VPNs on the market. If you’re not worried about price, and you want a VPN with fast speeds, a large server network, and top-class security, ExpressVPN is a great option.

Surfshark

Surfshark is another popular VPN that offers a multitude of features like split-tunneling, multi-hop connections, and an ad-blocker. The VPN also has a large server network of over 3,200 servers and offers unlimited connections with an account. That means that users can connect their mobile device, laptop, smart TV, and any other device they want without worrying about connection issues.

While Surfshark doesn’t have dedicated IP addresses, it does have various static IP addresses available. Surfshark starts at $3.99 per month for a 12-month subscription making it one of the more affordable VPNs.