Best VPNs according to Reddit in 2023

There’s this saying from the folklore archives of the Internet – if you want an honest opinion about something, go to Reddit.

Okay, maybe I lied, there is no such saying. But the sentiment is real. Reddit users are known for their brutally honest opinions on stuff, and discussions about the best VPNs are not an exception.

Even though some companies will try to look good on Reddit by posting comments themselves, they’re pretty easy to recognize. Real users’ voices always drown out the fake ones: and people posting about nothing except a single favorite VPN are easily found out.

With this in mind, and to help you navigate in the vast and boundless realm of Reddit, I scoured the endless threads for hours. What came of it is this list of the best VPNs according to Reddit in 2023. Give it a look.

Best VPNs Reddit users recommend in February 2023:

Here’s a summary of the top VPNs Reddit users recommend in 2023. If you wish for more details on what Redditors think about a specific provider, keep reading!

1. NordVPN – the best VPN by Reddit in 2023 overall
2. Surfshark – the best price and quality ratio according to Reddit
3. PrivateVPN – fast and reliable VPN for browsing and more by Reddit
4. ExpressVPN – thrustworthy VPN for streaming
5. CyberGhost – versatile VPN for everyday use
6. Mullvad – the most anonymous and generally favorable VPN by Reddit

Key factors Reddit users rely on when offering the best VPN

There are a couple things that Reddit users seem to be concerned about when looking for the perfect VPN. This also applies to simply evaluating personal experience with one or the other provider. Take a look at what is the most important for Reddit users when picking a VPN:

• Price. everyone wants a good provider for the lowest price possible, and the best money to quality ratio.
• Logging. Reddit users care about their privacy the most and take the no-logging policies very seriously. A single scandal related to leaked logs might put the service on the hate list for good.
• Unblocking abilities. kudos to a VPN that is able to bypass the most recent counter measures that streaming platforms seem to employ against VPN usage.
• Speed. VPN connection has an effect on the internet speed, and the lesser it is, the better.
• Torrenting, P2P servers. does this VPN have dedicated P2P servers? Does it throttle upload/download speed? Reddit users notice it all. After all, a VPN must be useful in many ways.
• Jurisdiction. this factor is closely tied to logging policies, and a VPN under the 14 Eyes country’s jurisdiction is a pretty big no-no.

Top VPNs Reddit users recommended in 2023

Here's the detailed list of the best VPNs according to Reddit user recommendations:

1. NordVPN – the best VPN service according to Reddit users

Country:	Panama
Logs:	No logs
Streaming platforms:	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more
Current deal:	🔥Get NordVPN with 63% OFF🔥

Visit NordVPN

The general consensus around NordVPN seems to be that it has its issues from time to time, but is overall widely accepted as being the best. Reddit users praise good speeds, friendly user interface, and always heavily discounted long-term subscription plans. No-logs policy also is a big plus among users that value their privacy the most.

On top of that, people seem to be glad about NordVPn’s unblocking abilities and the option to use numerous devices at once.

As for activities other than streaming (which doesn’t always go according to plan, but this is mostly due to streaming platforms employing counter measures against VPN usage), users seem to like specialised servers, such as the P2P or Obfuscated ones.

For more info, read our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark – VPN with the best price

Country:	The Netherlands
Logs:	No logs
Streaming platforms:	Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more
Current deal:	🔥Get 82% OFF Surfshark + 2 months FREE🔥

Visit Surfshark VPN

The cheap and fast combo has earned Surfshark numerous recommendations for users either looking to buy their first VPN or migrate to a better option. Not only that, Surfshark’s infinite simultaneous connections option really has Reddit users reeling.

Another great thing about Surfshark that’s been pointed out numerous times is their unblocking abilities. Very few people complain about Netflix not working, for example. The big number of servers in various countries spanning all over the world also add to the good reputation of Surfshark in streaming contexts.

As mentioned, speed is also one of the things Surfshark is cast in a positive light on Reddit. It is constantly recommended in threads about the fastest VPN providers.

However, some of the users are concerned about Surfshark’s jurisdiction moving to the Netherlands, which is a part of the 14 Eyes agreement. Nevertheless, Surfshark’s subreddit has an official statement about relocating to the Netherlands and how it doesn’t affect their no-logs policy in any way harmful to the users’ data.

For more details, read our Surfshark review.

3. PrivateVPN – fast and reliable VPN

Country:	Sweden
Logs:	No logs
Streaming platforms:	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Video, and more
Current deal:	🔥Get PrivateVPN, now 85% OFF!🔥

Visit PrivateVPN

Quite liked by Reddit users, PrivateVPN is a Sweden-based VPN provider. Redditors talk about it mostly in the context of being good for torrenting. Even though there have been a few comments here and there about IP leaks, these issues were quickly fixed.

PrivateVPN also gets mentioned among the VPNs that support port forwarding pretty often. Even though its port forwarding method is a bit unconventional, Reddit users seem pretty satisfied with it, and tend to recommend it to others.

When it comes to streaming, though, there have been a few posts focused negatively on the topic. Users complain about US or Japanese Netflix not working, and some even go as far as saying “don’t use PrivateVPN for streaming under any circumstances.” However, as one user noted, every VPN has issues with Netflix from time to time, and it’s not really on them - Netflix, like many other streaming platforms, employ anti-VPN technologies, which sometimes do work.

Otherwise, Reddit VPN experts like PrivateVPN for its agreeable prices as well. All in all, it looks like a reliable VPN that Redditors suggest you consider getting:

Take a look at our PrivateVPN review for more details.

4. ExpressVPN – all-round excellent VPN

Country:	British Virgin Islands
Logs:	No logs
Streaming platforms:	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more
Current deal:	🔥Get ExpressVPN, now 49% OFF the 1-year plan!🔥

Visit ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the most widely known Reddit VPNs. The service is owned by Kape Technologies, which might be a deal breaker for some users. Additionally, it’s quite pricey compared to other industry-leading VPNs. Nevertheless, it’s a reliable and fast VPN that’s worth a try.

In addition, ExpressVPN offers over 3000 servers in 94 countries, so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Plus, Redditors were happy about swift connectivity, thanks to the proprietary Lightway tunneling protocol. However, during our tests, we found that the upload speeds might sometimes be slow and unstable.

Furthermore, if you want to do a bit of P2P file sharing, ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for that. The service allows torrenting on all servers, and with fantastic speeds and top-tier security features, you’ll get your files quickly and safely. Moreover, you can turn on the Threat Manager feature to fend off viruses, rootkits, and other malicious software.

Lastly, it’s excellent for unblocking popular streaming services like Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, or Hulu. While you can only use ExpressVPN on 5 devices simultaneously, you can get more connections by setting up the VPN on your router. Or you can use the MediaStreamer feature to watch things on devices that don’t support VPNs natively.

For more information, read our ExpressVPN review.

5. CyberGhost – great VPN for torrenting

Country:	Romania
Logs:	No logs
Streaming platforms:	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more
Current deal:	🔥Get CyberGhost VPN, now 83% OFF + 2 months FREE🔥

Visit CyberGhost VPN

If you’re new to the VPN world, CyberGhost is recommended as a beginner-friendly VPN for Redditors. It’s fairly cheap and offers loads of nifty features.

Most internauts use CyberGhost for torrenting. The provider will give you all the protection you need and allow you to use P2P file sharing on all servers. Moreover, CyberGhost offers specialized servers which will make your torrenting experience better. Furthermore, thanks to the WireGuard tunneling protocol, you should get your files reasonably quickly.

Apart from that, you’ll find 9700+ servers in 91 countries, which is an impressive number. That will allow you to access geo-blocked content wherever you might be. Also, due to specialized streaming servers, you’ll be able to enjoy various streaming platforms, such as Disney+, Netflix Japan, or YouTube TV.

Not to mention, CyberGhost offers all essential security features, such as AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and IP & DNS leak protection. On top of that, there’s an ad/malware blocker that will protect you against viruses, trackers, and malicious ads. Additionally, your privacy is guaranteed with an independently-audited zero-logs policy.

For more information, read our CyberGhost review.

6. Mullvad – 100% anonymity guaranteed

Country:	Sweden
Logs:	No logs
Streaming platforms:	YouTube
Current deal:	🔥Cybernews VPN Coupons🔥

Visit Mullvad VPN

Mullvad is recommended pretty often by Reddit users. Those who value their privacy together with the company’s transparency and use VPNs for torrenting sing high praises for this Sweden-based provider.

Mullvad allows its users to stay completely anonymous. They don’t require any email address when creating an account, and payments can be made anonymously with cryptocurrencies and even cash.

This provider also owns many of its servers (though it’s not much) and therefore can be completely transparent about them. This is a highly valued feature of any VPN provider, according to Reddit users. To add more to transparency, Mullvad is an open-source provider.

Mullvad is one of the best VPNs for torrenting according Reddit because of port forwarding and its very strict no-logs policies.

As for speed, Mullvad was in fact the first VPN to implement the WireGuard protocol and has even donated to the project. Many of the providers that use this tunneling protocol today have really good speeds, and they have Mullvad to partly thank for that.

However, if you’d want to use Mullvad for streaming, maybe look for other options. This provider, unfortunately, doesn’t work with streaming platforms except for YouTube.

For more information, read our Mullvad review.

Why Reddit users' opinions are important

You may ask, why should I take some Reddit user’s opinion into account when choosing a VPN for myself? Here are some reasons to trust Reddit users more than so-called professional reviewers (yes, I realize I am one of them):

• They’re users, just like you. Regular people are not marketers, ready to gloss over something that isn’t quite right. They know what they need and what meets their expectations or underdelivers.
• Reddit users tend to be brutally honest. There is no waxing poetic about any product, and VPNs are not an exception. Most popular providers don’t make it to the top because they’re popular. A VPN has to be really deserving of the positive feedback to really get some of it.
• Sponsored comments and fake accounts are easy to spot. All it takes is one look at a profile’s activity. If their engagement history is diverse and spans over numerous topics, it’s a real person. If it’s only praising certain providers – you can be sure it’s someone from the provider’s marketing team.
• Any slip ups will not go unnoticed. If something doesn’t sit right with a provider, it will get mentioned multiple times. This applies to data logging scandals, leaks, slow speeds, and pretty much anything else.
• Reddit users don’t hand out compliments easily – you’ll see plenty of problems reflected in various threads, and not that many good things. If you see someone say something good about a provider, it either is a sponsored comment (easy to check by looking at the user's profile) or a real and rare but genuine good review.

How to not get confused by Reddit comments

Once a question is shared on Reddit, the comments start flooding and it can get pretty tough to know what to trust and what not to trust. Nevertheless, some key points help to detect a confusing comment.

First and foremost, Reddit is used widely by service providers who promote their products over anonymous accounts. Comments giving nothing but blind praise are pretty suspicious, and the ones with affiliate links or special offer codes are immediate red flags. They’re out there to sell, not to help.

The comment in this picture might’ve also been made by someone who signed up for an ExpressVPN affiliate program – and is only interested in getting as many people to use the code.

It’s important to note that a trustworthy comment will rarely talk only about the good or the bad side of the service only. Whenever you come across such a comment, we suggest keeping your mind sharp and looking for more nuanced opinions.

What's the best VPN for Netflix according to Reddit?

NordVPN is dubbed as the best VPN for watching Netflix by Reddit users.

Of course, it is ranked as the best VPN for Netflix for more than one reason. First and foremost (as it wasn’t obvious already), NordVPN is truly capable of unblocking Netflix. 21 global libraries, to be exact. The good news doesn't end there: all the videos stream in full HD quality and there's pretty much no lag to be found, anywhere.

If your selected NordVPN server has been blocked by Netflix, there is a solution. You can easily switch to another server and continue enjoying your preferred Netflix library.

Aside from Netflix, NordVPN unblocks a lot of popular streaming services, such as Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Disney+.

Watch Netflix with NordVPN

VPNs which Reddit users don’t recommend

You’ve seen the list of Reddit recommendations for VPNs, but what about providers that are not that good or simply too controversial? Give Reddit’s opinions a read and learn about which providers you should double-think before purchasing.

AirVPN

This one gets both praised for being fast, open-source, and somewhat reliable with logging policies. However, I have seen dissatisfied users talking about their more than unpleasant and inefficient customer support:

Betternet

To put it plainly, Betternet is not recommended by Reddit. It lacks privacy and security features, which puts you at risk. Moreover, if you want to torrent or stream geo-blocked content, consider getting a reliable premium VPN.

HolaVPN

Redditors say that HolaVPN is plain bad. It constantly suffers from IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks, so its security and privacy features are basically worthless. Moreover, if you use this service, you’ll join a global P2P network, which is unencrypted. That might lead to various online calamities.

Does Reddit recommend free VPNs?

Yes and no. Reddit is no exception for people who are always looking for a way to save every penny. While many people know the risks of a free VPN, they still tend not only to use them but also to recommend them.

Some of the best free VPNs that Redditors upvoted were Windscribe, Proton VPN, TunnelBear, and more.

However, these are the risks of a free VPN: identity theft, financial loss, broken devices – and let’s not forget your wasted nerves while dealing with these consequences. Fortunately, numerous Reddit users do understand how wrong it is to trust a free VPN – and how they make money.

In a crowd of Reddit users that recommend free VPNs, you can also easily find those who don’t recommend them. And we would side with the latter bunch of commenters.

After all, a premium VPN will always be the safest and the most efficient way to protect yourself online.

Cheapest VPNs by Reddit

Reliable and secure VPNs don’t necessarily need to be overly expensive. As a matter of fact, the cheapest Reddit VPN turned out to be Surfshark.

There’s no doubt that Surfshark is a great value for money. Alongside being one of the cheapest VPNs, it offers a reliable and secure connection, a bunch of additional features, excellent speeds, and more.

Best iOS VPNs by Reddit

We checked through which VPNs Redditors choose to use on their iOS or macOS devices, such as an iPhone or a laptop. NordVPN was continuously recommended by Reddit users because of its dedicated apps and excellent functionality.

NordVPN has a great iOS app, which includes a functional kill switch, Dark Web monitoring, and multiple tunneling protocols for fast speeds. It’s definitely one of the best VPNs for iOS in the market.

Gaming VPNs by Reddit

There are different uses for a VPN. One of them is gaming – it can reduce your ping, improve performance, or help you get easier bots in some games. Redditors also shared their point of view about gaming VPNs.

We picked out the best VPN for gaming according to Reddit here:

The few reliable reviews we came across recommended NordVPN or Surfshark VPN providers for gaming. At the same time, some users’ reviews said that lowering your ping while gaming is not guaranteed with a VPN:

Best VPNs for Canada by Reddit

VPNs can not only be used as privacy tools but also to access region-blocked content. If you reside in Canada and want to watch American content, in order to access it, you will need a VPN to help you bypass those geo-restrictions and enjoy your shows.

Let’s take a look at what Redditors say about it and which are the best VPNs for Canada according to Reddit:

Redditors mostly recommend NordVPN for Canada because of its streaming capabilities, fast servers, and excellent performance.

VPNs comparison by Reddit

Brand	NordVPN	Surfshark	PrivateVPN	ExpressVPN	CyberGhost	Mullvad
Price (lowest price per month)	$3.49/month	$2.30/month	$2.00/month	$6.67/month	$2.19/month	$6.00/month
Servers	5500+ servers in 60 countries	3200+ servers in 100 countries	200+ servers in 63 countries	3000+ servers in 94 countries	9700+ servers in 91 countries	784+ servers in 38 coutnries
Streaming	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more	Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Video, and more	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more	YouTube
Simultaneous connections	6	Unlimited	10	5	7	5
Free trial	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Review	NordVPN review	Surfshark VPN review	PrivateVPN review	ExpressVPN review	CyberGhost review	Mullvad VPN review

Best VPN subreddits to subscribe to

If you want to get honest opinions about VPN services and get some help in choosing a VPN for yourself, there are a couple subreddits I recommend subscribing to:

• r/vpnreviews – general users’ reviews about any VPNs
• r/VPNTorrents – discussions about torrenting over VPN
• r/NetflixViaVPN – find out about which VPNs work and which don’t
• r/VPN – a great place to find all kinds of information about VPNs

Video review: VPNs by Reddit

Final thoughts

Reddit is a great place to look for honest opinions on all kinds of products, including VPNs. Countless subreddits dedicated to discussing VPNs for specific purposes, problem solving, and more can help you choose the right provider.

As regular users, people on Reddit take such factors as price, logging policies, speeds, and unblocking abilities into account. They don’t gloss over what isn’t right and rarely put undeserving providers on a pedestal.

In short, trusting Reddit users’ opinions when choosing a VPN provider for yourself is a pretty smart choice to make.

With that in mind, it is safe to say that the best Reddit VPNs are NordVPN with Surfshark following close behind, and PrivateVPN in third place.

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