We’ve tested all major VPNs to see which are safe and which will work well in the US specifically.
To find the best US VPN, we look for
- Range of available US servers
- Access to US streaming platforms
- Fast speeds on US connections
- A private logging policy and jurisdiction
- AES-256 and OpenVPN encryption, with no IP or DNS leaks
- As few restrictions as possible compared to the premium VPN
Here’s a more specific breakdown of the key testing categories that go into our US VPN testing process, and how much of the overall rating each category represents.
1. US Streaming Services: 30%
Minimum Requirement: Can unblock one or more US streaming sites.
We Recommend: Accesses multiple US streaming services and US Netflix.
Many people want a free VPN to access US Netflix. Or they want to watch content from US-exclusive services like HBO Max and Hulu.
We test each free VPN with the most popular streaming services to check whether it can unblock your favorite US services abroad and access content from international libraries.
We regularly test access to US Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.
The more effective a VPN is at getting around streaming geo-restrictions, the higher the rating.
2. Number of US Servers: 30%
Minimum Requirement: At least one VPN server located in the US.
We Recommend: Many servers on the US East Coast, West Coast, and Southern States.
We analyze each VPN’s server infrastructure to determine how many are US-based. The more there are, the stronger the rating.
Free VPNs are unlikely to have more than 10 US servers, but the more servers a VPN offers the better its overall performance will be.
The US is a huge country, so we rate highly the VPNs that have multiple servers spread evenly across the country from coast to coast.
3. International Speeds: 30%
Minimum Requirement: US download speeds of at least 30Mbps.
We Recommend: US download speeds of 60Mbps or higher.
All VPNs slow down your internet speed, but the best ones do so only a small amount.. We rate highly the VPNs that reduce your normal internet speed the least.
We are constantly running speed tests from London to New York to determine what sort of connections users can expect when connecting into the US.
The less difference between our normal internet connection and our internet connection running a VPN the higher our rating is.
4. Logging Policy: 10%
Minimum Requirement: Anonymized connection logs and no activity logs.
We Recommend: A strict, zero-logging policy and no data leaks whatsoever.
The US has some of the most invasive security laws in the world. So you need a VPN that will protect your privacy.
Security is particularly important when it comes to free VPNs. So many free services don’t protect your data. Instead, they sell your data.
We only recommend free VPNs that are reputable, certifiably safe, and private.
We do the work to analyze each VPNs security suite and privacy credentials. We read every word of the VPN privacy policy to ensure it meets the expectations users have of a VPN.
Simply put, the less information it collects, the better we rate a VPN. The ideal scenario is a zero-logs service, but those that do collect data should be transparent and detail exactly what data they store.
