(Some) people suck! Therefore, we need to beef up our personal security in a number of simple ways. One of the easiest to protect yourself from hacking while browsing on a public network is to install a VPN on your devices. A virtual private network (VPN) will protect you from nefarious hackers out to pinch your most private details like banking info, passwords, confidential reports, etc.
VPNs can also be used for more pleasurable pursuits like streaming. Why would I need a VPN to stream when I already have Roku set up on my devices? Maybe it’s because that must-see Scandinavian noir mystery isn’t available to view in your country of residence. But it is available to view on Netflix in the UK. When you’ve selected a VPN to use, choose England as your server site, and then go to Netflix. Because the VPN is hiding your true location, and you’ve selected England as your country of choice, you will be watching Netflix from the UK. The content for Netflix is different in each country, and that goes for many of the other major streamers, so you’ll finally be able to watch your favorite Scandi noir with a solid VPN connection!
Acronyms can make something seem more complicated or foreign than necessary, but you can literally set up a VPN on your phone or computer in a matter of a minute or two. If you sign up for the best VPNs, you will have the simplest user experience.
Typically, you will only need to follow these five (5) steps:
- Review apps (we did the work for you below)
- Sign up for a trial.
- Click install
- Login
- Select a Country in which your IP address(es) will be hosted.
Here’s a few options with info on their affiliate programs to help you select the VPN that’s right for you:
Nord VPN
Nord has three different encryption protocols (IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN, and NordLynx), it’s easy to see that this provider values your privacy. The company has worked hard to build up its server network to include more than 5,200 servers in 60 countries..
One feature that makes NordVPN a strong contender for the best VPN service out there is split tunneling. If you’re not familiar, split tunneling is the ability to whitelist some activities (such as gaming or streaming) to bypass the VPN and use the regular “clearnet” for better performance.
Nord has protected DNS queries with a kill switch feature that automatically disables your connection when you lose sync with the VPN server, NordVPN wants you to know that your information won’t fall into the wrong hands. It’s also one of the most open VPNs about exactly what servers it offers in what countries, and provides 24/7 live chat support for questions.
The company has recently improved its platform support, adding dedicated apps for iOS and Android and thus overcoming its one weakness. You can also use it on six devices simultaneously. The NordVPN client provided one of the most attractive interfaces, and connecting to a server is straightforward and very quick.
It’s also available for a host of devices. NordVPN can be installed in a VPN router as well, which expands the list of supported devices to include Chromecast, Raspberry Pi, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Fire TV (in other words, anything connected to your VPN router) .It’s also one of the fastest VPNs in many industry comparisons, so if it’s speed you’re after, look no further.
NordVPN is registered in Panama. It costs $12 per month, or $67 for the first year with three free months, or $100 for the first two years with three months.
NordVPN has an interesting affiliate program structure, in which affiliates earn different commission percentages based on which program customers sign up for. The commission rate is generous, at 40% to 100%, depending on the package, and 30% for renewals.
Express VPN
ExpressVPN constantly tries to make regular improvements in speed and simultaneous streaming capabilities, and with support for all major platforms (Windows, MacOS, Android, etc.), you won’t need to worry about compatibility. ExpressVPN shows up on a number of best VPN lists, so its relatively high prices seem justified.
Over 3,000 servers are all well placed throughout common travel destinations and urban centers. Any package will land you high-speed unlimited bandwidth and 24-hour customer service. With features including bypassing ISP throttling, built-in threat protection, and split tunneling, it’s no wonder this vendor is considered the best VPN by many users.
ExpressVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands. Their pricing starts at $13 per month or $60 for six months. For $100 you can get a year plus three free months.
Express VPN hosts influencer, partner, and affiliate programs, demonstrating that it is heavily invested in partnership-based marketing. These efforts are in line with their website claims, which state that they have one of the best converting VPN websites for affiliates.
Surfshark
It may not quite rank as the best VPN, but when it comes to price, Surfshark is hard to beat.. Surfshark is available for just $53 for the two-year plan, and that also includes an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.
When it comes to add-ons, and bells and whistles, Surfshark is pretty basic.. This isn’t necessarily a problem and you just want a solid VPN on the cheap.The no-nonsense interface, intuitive setup, and simple operation are selling points if you don’t want to fuss with unnecessary complications. It supports a host of different devices, and works well with Apple TV.
It’s not completely bare-bones, though, as you get multiple encryption protocols to choose from. (OpenVPN UDP or TCP, IKEv2/IPsec, and WireGuard) and a double VPN hop that lets you route your connection through two remote servers instead of one, adding an extra layer of security when desired.
Surfshark also works quite well with streaming services, although its speeds aren’t quite as good as other top VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN. All in all, though, it’s the best VPN of 2022 for those on a budget, and especially for larger local networks such as family homes and offices.
Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands. Prices begin at $13 per month or $48 for the first year. For $53 you can get two years and two free months! It’s available in 17 languages, and serves a global market. Features include an ad and malware blocker, support for unlimited devices, and a VPN bypasser.
Their affiliate program includes up to 40% commission on recurring sales, and a 30 day cookie window. Their minimum payout threshold is $100. In addition to this, Surfshark has a small social media platform around 50k followers across their different platforms.
AtlasVPN
What’s amazing about this VPN is that it has a free data plan that is one of the best on the market, and if you decide to upgrade to the faster, premium servers, then it only costs $40 per year or $72 for three years. While the server network may be considerably smaller than its competitors, it is a newer service with much more room to expand.
In terms of security, although the service is young, it didn’t cut any corners when constructing the server network. You can feel comfortable knowing you’re protected behind 256-bit encryption, WireGuard protocols, IPv6 leak protection, and a whole host of other features.
With SafeSwap, you can rotate IP addresses without ever having to swap between VPN servers. SafeSwap draws from a pool of IP addresses with outgoing traffic routed to the various addresses, yet you’ll experience no decrease in speeds.
You can use AtlasVPN on all of your devices (if the client supports the VPN), and keep yourself protected wherever you are. With unlimited simultaneous connections, you don’t need to worry about getting booted off the VPN in case you reach the limit. The application is easy to install on all devices and will keep you protected online. The free data plan can help accommodate you or your family members to VPN services to better understand the inner workings of staying safe online.
Atlas VPN is registered in the United States. After the free version, prices start at $11 per month going to $40 for the first year, or $72 for three years and three free months. They have over 750 servers in over 30 countries and are constantly growing. Be sure to check out their affiliate program.
IPVanish
IPVanish offers all the key features you could want from a VPN at a great price. Regular sales are part of the IPVanish experience, so you can commit for a year at a very low cost, with the protection that comes from a choice of more than 2,000 VPN servers across more than 75 different locations.
Besides offering extensive protection whether you’re browsing from home or using a public Wi-Fi hotspot, IPVanish also makes it easier to avoid Deep Packet Inspection, which is a method used by ISPs to limit your internet speed at times. The VPN offers unmetered data transfer caps and there’s no limit on how many devices you can use it with.
24/7 customer support means someone is always on hand to help you out, too. Not that you should need it too often thanks to simple-to-use apps for all major platforms. It’s a great service and it’ll even help you avoid geo-restrictions on many of your favorite streaming apps..
IPVanish is registered in the United States. Prices start at $12 per month, $30 per quarter, or $48 for the first year. They have 2,000 servers in over 50 countries.
The IPVanish affiliate program offers a yearly plan, priced at $3.75USD a month for the first year. Affiliates can benefit from a fairly high commission rate, ranging from 50% to $80 a sale. The big upside of this VPN affiliate program is that there is no cap on payouts, and affiliates earn recurring commissions as long as referred customers continue their subscriptions.
If you’d like to research more about VPNs, try these other networks that are as good as the ones that are featured above.
HotspotShield
CyberGhost
PureVPN