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What Is a VPN?

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Simon Migliano Head of Research at Top10VPN
Simon Migliano
15 Comments

Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more. Read full bio

  2. What Is a VPN?

A virtual private network (VPN) is software that protects your internet privacy, security, and freedom. The software establishes a secure tunnel between your device and a remote VPN server, creating a private network inside a public internet connection.

The ExpressVPN macOS application

The ExpressVPN macOS application.

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It’s computer and mobile software that achieves three key benefits when you connect to the internet: stronger security, improved privacy, and greater freedom.

When you connect to the internet using a virtual private network, the software creates a secure connection between your device and a remote VPN server.

A VPN encrypts your web browsing data and hides your public IP address.

Good personal VPN services (not to be confused with business/corporate VPNs) let you access free public WiFi securely, unblock geo-restricted websites and applications, and mask your internet traffic by hiding your IP address.

The three key advantages of using a VPN are:

  1. Masking your IP address to hide/change your location from the websites you visit.
  2. Encrypting your web traffic to protect your data transfers on insecure WiFi networks.
  3. Preventing your ISP and other third-parties from monitoring your internet activity.

VPN services aren’t just for computers or laptops. You can also install a VPN application on your smartphone and tablet. The best VPNs even work on smart TVs, games consoles, and routers, too.

In this beginner’s guide to virtual private networks, we explain in detail what a VPN is, how it works, and why you need one.

We’ll also cover the advantages and disadvantages of VPNs, how much they cost, and what you need to look out for when choosing a safe VPN service.

What Is A VPN: Video Explainer

To help you understand the basics of VPN software, we created a short video explaining what a VPN is and how it works:

If you’re still unsure about how a VPN works after watching the video above, keep reading this guide or ask us a question in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Have a specific question about VPNs? Here are all the articles in this introductory course:

Why Do You Need a VPN?

Man hiding his IP address.

A good-quality VPN has many purposes related to internet privacy, security, safety, anonymity, and freedom.

In 2020, we collaborated with GlobalWebIndex to interview VPN users around the world and find out why they used a VPN. The common reasons to use a VPN are to:

  1. Protect privacy on public WiFi networks (51%)
  2. Browse the web anonymously (44%)
  3. Communicate more securely (37%)
  4. Access restricted streaming/file-sharing/torrent sites (23%)
  5. Access international entertainment content (22%)

These are the most popular uses, but there are also other reasons for using a virtual private network.

How Do VPNs Work?

A VPN works by creating an encrypted connection between your device and a private VPN server.

This connection is known as the VPN tunnel, and a VPN will use a range of VPN protocols to transfer the data.

How a VPN works

VPNs create an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server.

By encrypting your data and sending it through a tunnel, the VPN prevents internet service providers (ISPs), governments, and hackers from spying on your web activity.

Once your traffic reaches the VPN server, it is decrypted and sent on to the website or app you’re using. This has the effect of hiding your IP address because the connection is being relayed from the VPN server’s location, and not your location.

In short, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic data and replaces your IP address with the IP address of the server you’re connected to.

Mobile VPNs

VPN applications are available on desktops, smartphones, and many more devices. In fact, there are several different types of VPNs to choose from.

Mobile VPNs work on both WiFi and cellular data (e.g. 4G and 5G), but you will need an existing internet connection for the service to connect.

In other words, you can’t use a VPN without the internet.

Once connected to a VPN server, all your phone’s internet activity is encrypted and routed through the VPN server. Your IP address also changes.

Two things to be aware of with mobile VPNs are:

  1. VPNs only protect data sent over the internet. Standard voice calls and SMS text messages are not encrypted. Use WiFi-based calling and messaging services, such as WhatsApp or iMessage, to secure your communications.
  2. Mobile VPNs use data. Reports stating that using a mobile VPN bypasses your phone contract’s data limit are wrong. Our research on VPN data use shows that a VPN uses 4-20% more data than not using a VPN, so you’ll reach your data limit sooner.

Are VPNs Safe?

Fixing a leaking VPN server

With data theft, mass surveillance, and internet censorship on the rise globally, a virtual private network has become a very important cybersecurity tool.

But, is a VPN always safe to use? The short answer is no.

While there are many legitimate and safe VPN services, there are also a large number of dangerous VPN products you must avoid.

Downloading an insecure VPN puts you at risk of malware, hacking, identity theft, legal action and more.

Free VPNs are the most common offenders. Our free VPN safety research has exposed dangerous free VPN apps that steal users’ personal data and sell their internet activity.

Even paid-for VPNs can be unsafe to use, if you’re not aware of a few important concepts:

VPN Logging Policies: If your VPN service keeps a record of your originating IP address, when you connect to its servers, and which websites you visit, it is a threat to your privacy. This information could be exposed, or governments could force the VPN to hand it over. For maximum security, you must check a VPN’s logging policy, and use a verified no-logs VPN service.

VPN Leaks: The purpose of a VPN is to hide your IP address and keep your internet activity private and secure. A VPN that leaks your IP and DNS credentials is not doing its job, and you shouldn’t use it. Use our VPN leak test tool to see whether your service is leaking, or test your DNS servers directly.

VPN Laws: VPNs are legal in most countries. However, in some countries – including China, Turkey and Russia – using a VPN is either illegal or severely restricted.

VPN Jurisdictions: Different countries have varying legislation surrounding the privacy of their citizens’ data. For instance, governments in the Five Eyes alliance, impose strict data retention laws and regularly force companies to hand over records of user web activity. Your safest option is to use a VPN based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction.

Virtual Server Locations: The location of the VPN server you connect to can be important for privacy and security. Many VPN services use virtual server locations, where the advertised IP address doesn’t match the server’s physical location. This approach is often used to assign VPN IP addresses for countries where placing physical VPN servers is problematic.

How Much Do VPNs Cost?

A secure premium VPN costs on average $3.94 per month on a yearly or multi-year subscription. However, the average VPN price increases to $11.34 on a pay monthly basis.

The price of a VPN depends on a number of factors, including:

  • Which VPN service you choose
  • Length of subscription plan
  • Number of devices covered
  • Number of servers
  • Streaming (Netflix) support
  • Additional features

Typically, you’ll have to pay for the entire VPN subscription up front.

Surfshark pricing plans

Surfshark is one of the best cheap VPNs we’ve reviewed.

A higher price doesn’t always indicate better quality, though. Do your research to find the best VPN for your needs (e.g. streaming, torrenting, private browsing, etc.) at a price that fits your budget.

Are There Disadvantages to Using a VPN?

The main disadvantages of using a VPN come from not understanding its limitations.

A VPN isn’t a catch-all solution for all your online privacy and security issues.

Below is a summary list of the main disadvantages and limitations of VPNs:

  • A VPN won’t keep you completely anonymous.
  • A secure, top-rated VPN costs you money.
  • VPNs almost always slow your internet speed.
  • Using a VPN on mobile increases your data usage.
  • Some online services try to ban customers using VPNs.
  • Most VPNs won’t protect you from malware or phishing attacks.
  • Many VPNs can’t bypass strict web blocks in highly-censored nations.

We always recommend using a VPN in conjunction with antivirus software and a password manager for improved security.

What Is the Best VPN?

Since 2016, we’ve tested and reviewed many VPN applications, and currently the best VPN service is ExpressVPN.

Every time we test and review ExpressVPN we verify that it’s still very fast, secure and works well for streaming, torrenting and gaming.

The simple truth, however, is that there is no definitive ‘best’ VPN.

While ExpressVPN is our highest-rated VPN, it may not be the right VPN for you. That depends entirely on what you want a VPN for. For example:

  • Are you trying to stream foreign Netflix libraries?
  • Do you want to stay safe on public WiFi networks?
  • What device will you be using the VPN on?

About the Author

  • Simon Migliano Head of Research at Top10VPN

    Simon Migliano

    Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more. Read full bio