There are over 300 VPN providers on the market, and most of their marketing says the same things: 'military-grade encryption,' 'blazing-fast speeds,' 'no-logs policy.' These claims are largely meaningless without evidence. Here are the 7 things that actually separate a trustworthy VPN from a marketing shell.
1. Logging Policy (Audited > Claimed)
Every VPN claims to be 'no-logs.' The question is: can they prove it? Look for VPNs that have had their no-logs claims verified by independent third-party auditors like Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), KPMG, or Cure53. These are expensive audits that cost $100,000+ per engagement -- a VPN that pays for them is putting real money behind its privacy claims.
Even better than audits is real-world proof. Private Internet Access has had its no-logs policy tested in court multiple times -- the FBI subpoenaed PIA's records and received nothing because PIA had nothing to hand over. Mullvad was raided by Swedish police in 2023 and the police left empty-handed because no user data existed on the servers. These are the gold standard for no-logs verification.
- Best: Proven in court (PIA) or real-world raid (Mullvad)
- Great: Multiple independent audits (NordVPN has 3 Deloitte audits, ExpressVPN has 20+ audits from KPMG, PwC, Cure53)
- Acceptable: Single third-party audit
- Avoid: Unaudited 'no-logs' claims with no evidence
2. Jurisdiction (Outside Five Eyes Preferred)
The country where a VPN is incorporated determines which laws govern its operations, including mandatory data retention and government surveillance powers. VPNs based in Five Eyes countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) are subject to government data requests and intelligence-sharing agreements.
Preferred jurisdictions include Panama (NordVPN -- no data retention laws, outside all surveillance alliances), British Virgin Islands (ExpressVPN -- minimal data retention, limited UK oversight), Switzerland (Proton VPN -- strong constitutional privacy protections, not in the EU), and Malaysia (Hide.me -- outside all Eyes alliances, no data retention laws).
However, jurisdiction is not everything. A VPN that truly keeps no logs has nothing to hand over regardless of jurisdiction. PIA is based in the US (a Five Eyes country) and has proven this in court multiple times. Focus on verifiable no-logs first, jurisdiction second.
3. Protocol Support (WireGuard Is the Standard)
VPN protocols determine the encryption method and speed of your connection. In 2026, WireGuard is the clear standard: it is faster, has a smaller attack surface (4,000 lines of code vs OpenVPN's 600,000+), and uses modern cryptographic primitives.
Most top VPNs have built proprietary protocols on top of WireGuard: NordVPN has NordLynx, ExpressVPN has Lightway (technically based on its own design but comparable). Look for VPNs that support WireGuard or a WireGuard-based protocol as the default, with OpenVPN as a fallback for restrictive networks.
- Best: WireGuard-based proprietary protocol (NordLynx, Lightway) + WireGuard + OpenVPN fallback
- Good: WireGuard + OpenVPN
- Acceptable: OpenVPN only (still secure but significantly slower)
- Avoid: VPNs that only offer PPTP or L2TP (outdated, potentially breakable encryption)
4. Kill Switch (Non-Negotiable)
A kill switch cuts your internet connection instantly if the VPN tunnel drops unexpectedly. Without one, your real IP address could be exposed for seconds or minutes until the VPN reconnects -- long enough for your ISP or a website to see who you really are.
A kill switch is the single most important security feature after encryption itself. Any VPN without a reliable kill switch on all platforms (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android) should be avoided. On iOS, kill switch implementation is limited by Apple's restrictions, but the best VPNs (NordVPN, ExpressVPN) have implemented workarounds.
5. Server Network (More = Less Congestion)
A larger server network means less congestion per server, which translates to faster speeds. It also means more geographic options for geo-unblocking. Look for at least 1,000 servers across 50+ countries. The top providers offer 3,000-35,000 servers across 60-100+ countries.
Server technology matters too. RAM-only servers (used by NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark) wipe all data on every reboot -- nothing can persist even if the server is physically seized. This is a significant privacy advantage over traditional disk-based servers.
6. Streaming Capability (If You Need It)
If you want to access Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, or other streaming services from other countries, streaming capability is critical. Not all VPNs can reliably unblock streaming services -- the streaming platforms actively block VPN IP addresses, and the VPN must constantly rotate its IPs to stay ahead.
ExpressVPN (9.8 streaming score) and NordVPN (9.6 streaming score) are the most reliable for streaming. Budget VPNs like Surfshark and CyberGhost also work but may require occasional server switching. Mullvad (6.0 streaming score) does not even try to unblock streaming services -- it is a pure privacy tool.
7. Price vs Features (Don't Overpay, Don't Underpay)
VPN prices range from free to $15/month. The sweet spot for most people is $2-5/month on a long-term plan. At this price range, you get audited no-logs policies, fast WireGuard-based protocols, 3,000+ servers, reliable streaming, and all essential security features.
Do not overpay for a monthly plan when the same VPN costs 70-80% less on a 2-year plan. And do not underpay by choosing a VPN that is suspiciously cheap with no audits and no reputation -- you are likely paying with your data instead of your money.
- Budget pick: Surfshark at $1.99/month (unlimited devices, audited, WireGuard)
- Best value: NordVPN at $3.09/month (fastest, most audited, Threat Protection Pro)
- Premium: ExpressVPN at $2.44/month (best streaming, fastest speeds, most audits)
- Free: Proton VPN (only free VPN we recommend, unlimited data)
Quick Checklist
- 01No-logs policy verified by independent audit (or proven in court)?
- 02Jurisdiction outside Five Eyes (or proven no-logs regardless)?
- 03WireGuard or WireGuard-based protocol support?
- 04Kill switch on all platforms?
- 051,000+ servers across 50+ countries?
- 06Unblocks the streaming services you need?
- 07Reasonable price on a long-term plan ($2-5/month)?
If a VPN checks all 7 boxes, it is a solid choice. Our top 10 rankings are built on these exact criteria. Every VPN in our top 10 passes all 7 checks.
Do not trust VPN comparison sites that rank VPNs differently every month or have affiliate-only business models. Look for sites that show their methodology and scoring criteria openly.