Having a VPN by your side will increase your level of security and prevent unwanted snooping, copyright trolls, and ISP surveillance. Those who live in the US know that having a VPN is a must due to the government’s privacy-infringing practices.
Being a prime member of the Five Eyes alliance, the United States is known for monitoring its residents, collecting personal information, and not caring about user privacy, making it impossible to enjoy the anonymity you deserve.
A VPN for the USA can help you by encrypting your connection, which makes your online activities invisible to the government and hackers. Furthermore, it can help you bypass geo-restrictions and access local TV channels and the American Netflix catalog when traveling abroad.
The same benefits can be enjoyed by users outside of this country who just want to get an American IP address and do the same. If you live somewhere else, you can use our favorite VPNs for the USA in 2024 to watch Netflix US, ABC, ESPN, or any other geo-restricted platform.
But what is the best VPN in the US, you might ask? Well, we’ve got 5 choices on today’s menu, so let’s keep rolling and find out more about them.
5 Best VPNs for the US: Here Are Our Top Picks!
As I divulge the list of my favorite providers for this country, I’ll just point out that I’ll be talking about premium services. After all, you need a REALLY good provider in America, and free VPNs simply don’t have enough “firepower” in terms of security and performance.
However, to make sure you get the best possible choices, I’ve selected affordable VPNs that will give you everything you need, and more. Now, let me tell you more about them – keep reading, will you?
1. ExpressVPN
My #1 VPN for the USA is ExpressVPN. I mean, it has excellent server coverage in the US, for those who live outside of the country. With 1,000+ servers in this country and 3,000+ servers in 94 countries globally, ExpressVPN’s server network is monolithic.
What also makes it great is the performance. Regardless of the server location you pick, the provider will give you the fastest speeds compared to other choices, making it great for streaming or even torrenting anonymously.
Needless to say, it works with Netflix USA and successfully unblocks US-based TV channels abroad. This is accompanied by rock-solid security, which is very much needed in this “democratic” and “freedom-laden” country.
ExpressVPN uses a proprietary Lightway protocol with a 256-bit encryption standard, coupled with an automatic kill switch, IPv6 leak protection, and RAM-based servers. In addition, users can enjoy split tunneling for total control over their traffic.
Besides, this provider is based in the British Virgin Islands, and unlike the USA, it’s far from the 5 Eyes countries. As such, this privacy-friendly jurisdiction allows ExpressVPN to maintain a no-logs policy audited by KPMG recently.
This VPN for the USA also has apps for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and Linux, and boasts 5 simultaneous connections. On top of that, it’s very easy to use and set up, making it a newbie-friendly choice for inexperienced users.
Thus, if you want a US VPN with no particular flaws that’s secure, great for torrenting, and streaming-friendly, this is the right choice. After all, it has a sweet 49% discount and 3 free months for the annual plan, which drops the price quite a bit.
And if you factor in its 30-day money-back guarantee… well, I think it’s safe to say this is an offer you can’t refuse. After all, you can use THE absolute best provider on the market for 30 days and not lose a dollar, such wonderful times we’re living in!
Get the Best US VPN – ExpressVPN
Pros
- More than 1,000 servers in the US
- Works with Netflix US, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, …
- Top-grade security with a no-log policy
- Audited by PriceWaterhouseCoopers
- Applications for all platforms
- Great for torrenting
- Fastest speeds
Con
- Could be more affordable
2. CyberGhost
CyberGhost has the word “ghost” for a reason. It simply makes you a “ghostie” online by hiding your IP and taking care of your privacy. Truth be told, this is one of our favorite VPNs for the USA in 2024 that has a lot to offer for a reasonable price.
It’s like Xiaomi but in the VPN world (and it’s even better). Nevertheless, it has 1,400+ servers in the US, with 10+ locations in the country (it’s one of the best VPNs with servers in Los Angeles), making it suitable for people outside of American borders. Those inside will like its focus on security and media consumption.
With 9,100+ servers in 91 countries, including dedicated P2P/streaming servers, possibilities are endless. Not only can you torrent safely but also enjoy Netflix USA, MSNBC, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and other US channels and platforms outside of the country.
And if you’re not that type and you care about security, don’t fret. CyberGhost comes with WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols, both using 256-bit AES encryption. Moreover, it has a dependable kill switch and even an ad-blocker for kicking out pop-ups and ads.
CyberGhost’s relentless focus on security and privacy results in a clear no-logs policy. I mean, it’s based in Romania, which is a pretty good country for privacy, and it goes a step further, introducing transparency reports for additional trust.
Thousands of users enjoy CyberGhost’s apps on all platforms, with 7 simultaneous connections in addition. While not the most user-friendly and not the best option for China, CyberGhost is surprisingly good for its price.
For example, its 2-year plan costs no more than a Starbucks coffee a month and comes with a whopping 45-day money-back guarantee for long-term plans. If you aren’t living the American Dream and your budget is constricted, consider checking out CyberGhost.
We assure you it’s great for both American residents and those wanting to pretend to be American online!
Enjoy US Servers With CyberGhost
Pros
- 10+ server locations in America
- Dedicated streaming and torrenting servers
- WireGuard support on all platforms
- Based in Romania (no-logging policy)
- Very affordable prices
- 45-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Not the most user-friendly
- Doesn’t work with many Netflix libraries aside from Netflix US
3. NordVPN
A great VPN for the USA must be able to satisfy both ends of the market and NordVPN knows that pretty well. For one, it has nearly 2,000 servers in the United States alone, with 5,500+ of them in 60 other countries worldwide.
This makes it one of the best US VPN providers your money can currently buy. The great thing about NordVPN is its modern-looking apps for all devices (making it one of the best VPNs for Windows PC), as well as the fact that it’s a performance machine, having among the fastest speeds next to ExpressVPN.
I’ve used NordVPN for more than a few years and I never had issues accessing Netflix US, HBO, Disney+, and other platforms abroad. Moreover, it has dedicated P2P servers, which made my torrenting experience safe and anonymous.
On the security front, NordVPN excels by offering its NordLynx protocol with features like Double VPN, Onion Over VPN servers, and Threat Protection. The latter is a rich suite of non-VPN security features like antivirus and malware protection.
To make things better, NordVPN uses bank-grade encryption and comes with RAM-based servers to maximize your security. Much like ExpressVPN, it has a security audit from PwC, proving its no-logging claims as well as the validity of its security features.
Overall, this is a jack of all trades and is useful for all purposes. Besides, its obfuscated servers are great for use in censored countries like China, which is useful for accessing US content there. However, NordVPN has a few flaws we’d like to mention.
It has occasional connectivity issues on Windows which can usually be solved by temporarily disabling a kill switch. And second, its price is really affordable but if you’re buying it in the US, expect value-added taxes that will increase the price by a few percent.
On the other hand, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, so NordVPN balances things out nicely.
Pros
- Almost 2,000 high-speed servers in the USA
- Threat Protection bundle
- Double VPN servers for doubling encryption
- Above-average speeds
- Affordable 2-year plan
Cons
- Value-added taxes increase the price in some states
- Rare connectivity issues on Windows
4. Surfshark
Moving on, Surfshark is yet another best VPN for the USA. Its main appeal lies in cheap pricing but also unlimited simultaneous connections, which no other VPN on the list will give you. Granted, Surfshark also has a big server network, so it’s no slouch.
You get 3,200+ servers in 95 countries, with 600+ countries on US soil. What’s more, these servers are located in about 30 locations across the country, which is rather impressive. This makes Surfshark a solid choice for Americans abroad or those who don’t live there.
Of course, American residents love Surfshark as well. Its servers are P2P-friendly and they work well with Hulu, HBO Max, Netflix US, Disney+, and other popular platforms. In terms of security, Surfshark packs all you need in a cheap package.
Aside from 256-bit encryption, it comes with a kill switch, split tunneling, ad-blocker, and WireGuard support. An additional package called Surfshark One brings in antivirus, true incognito mode, and “Alerts” for informing you of potential personal info leaks.
As a secure VPN for the USA, Surfshark is also a no-log provider. Based in the Netherlands, a privacy-friendly country, it stores no logs and has a verified no-logging policy by Cure53. For an affordable provider like this one, this is commendable.
Compared to ExpressVPN or NordVPN, we found Surfshark to be a bit slower, especially when using long-distance servers. Also, while its 2-year plan is extremely cheap, you’ll be surprised that its short-term plans are somewhat expensive.
However, having in mind its NoBorders mode for bypassing censorship, non-intrusive logging practices, and native apps for all platforms, Surfshark is a bargain. Oh, and its 30-day money-back guarantee is here as well, so you can test it out risk-free for 30 days!
Get an Affordable VPN for the US – SurfShark
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Beautiful-looking apps
- Works with American streaming platforms
- All servers are P2P-friendly
Cons
- Speeds could be faster
- Short-term plans are more expensive
5. ProtonVPN
When I say Swiss security, the first thing I think about is ProtonVPN. This VPN is based in Switzerland, focusing on the impenetrable security, privacy, and anonymity of its users. But is it a good USA VPN provider?
Well, you could say so, despite its average server park of just about 2,900+ servers in 65+ countries. Needless to say, a big portion of its server fleet is stationed in America, with 6 server locations in the country, which should be enough for reasonably-demanding users.
ProtonVPN’s average size is balanced with the right choice of security features. For example, it has Secure Core servers for doubling your encryption, a reliable ad-blocker called NetShield, bank-grade encryption, and OpenVPN/WireGuard support.
Based in Switzerland, privacy is at the forefront of ProtonVPN’s business. Thus, its no-logging policy is one of the best we’ve seen, which is great for those in love with torrenting or browsing the dark web anonymously.
ProtonVPN even has dedicated servers for P2P and streaming, and might I add, they work flawlessly! Heck, ProtonVPN even works with Netflix US and other foreign catalogs, which is surprising for a VPN of this size.
Other than that, I found ProtonVPN extremely easy to use, especially on desktop platforms where it has the most features. Speaking of that, you can protect 10 devices simultaneously with this provider, which is a lot better than the industry standard of 5.
As it’s in the last spot of our ranking, it does have some flaws. For instance, its router support is subpar, while 24/7 live chat support doesn’t exist. Its 2-year plan, while the cheapest deal, is also a tad more expensive than Surfshark and CyberGhost’s 2-year plans.
At least a 30-day refund period is here, so if you make up your mind, getting a refund will be easy.
Pros
- Extremely safe and secure
- 10 simultaneous connections
- NetShield is a great ad-blocker
Cons
- Lacks 24/7 live chat support
- Expensive pricing
- Only 6 locations in the US
How Did We Test and Rank These VPN Providers?
Knowing that people have a high interest in the best VPNs for the United States, we approached this topic with extreme caution. Our team tested hundreds of providers already and we wanted to make sure we give you the absolute top choices by using the most important criteria like:
- Servers in the US. We wanted to make sure that EVERY provider on this list has plenty of servers in the US. This is important if you’re outside of this country and you want to get an IP address from America for whatever reason.
- Servers outside of the US. Aside from having servers in this country, each VPN must have a lot of servers abroad! If you live in the US and you need a VPN, you’ll most likely want a foreign IP address to unblock more content, preserve your privacy, or anything else.
- Privacy/security. No doubt, a proper US VPN must be safe and secure! We selected the providers with features like 256-bit encryption, a no-logging policy, IP leak protection, a kill switch, an ad blocker, and many others, ensuring you can browse the web in complete privacy and anonymity.
- Streaming capabilities. This one is pretty important, as many users will want to access Netflix US or many other platforms. The good news is that ALL services on the list work with Netflix US and they’re capable of unblocking a wide array of streaming portals that are prevalent in 2024.
- Fast speeds. While some services are slower than others, they’re all pretty fast and offer 10 Gbps speeds on average. This means you can enjoy smooth browsing, buffer-free streaming, and fast torrenting.
- P2P allowance. Yes, all VPNs on our list allow for P2P and torrenting, which is a crucial factor if you’re living in the US. These providers will help you avoid copyright trolls and download torrents safely thanks to the added encryption that’ll keep your ISP, hackers, and snoopers away for good.
- Simultaneous connections. We want you to protect all your devices with a VPN and not just your PC or smartphone. That’s why each service offers at least 5 simultaneous connections, with Surfshark offering unlimited connections for maximum efficiency.
- Price. Finally, our team cherry-picked the best US VPNs that are affordable. ExpressVPN has a 49% discount and 3 free months for the 1-year plan but every service on this list has a special deal that you can claim through our site, allowing for big savings in the long run.
What Is the Best Free USA VPN Service?
At the start of the article, I briefly mentioned free VPNs for the US and how they’re inferior to paid providers. And since I’ve presented my comparison, I wanted to give you a quick overview of why you should NOT use any free VPNs in the USA.
First of all, a good free VPN for the United States doesn’t exist and I want to clarify that immediately.
There are many reasons for that, including:
Small Server Fleet
When choosing a provider for this country, you need to make sure it has lots of servers in the US and abroad. Unfortunately, free providers don’t have enough money to maintain and upgrade their server networks, leaving them with a smaller server park.
In most cases, free providers have one or two US server locations, with merely a few servers in the country. Once the users connect to all of these servers, the network becomes cluttered, resulting in worse performance and instability.
This generally applies to servers abroad as well. For example, Hotspot Shield’s free version only has servers in America, so if you live there already, it’ll be completely useless, as you already have a US IP address.
Lack of Security
Another thing lacking is security. While some free providers use 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and even some form of DNS/IP leak protection, a vast majority of them go in another direction.
As such, they lack these features, which leaves your IP exposed to the public eye, making you vulnerable to hackers, ISP surveillance, and bandwidth throttling. ProtonVPN is a good example of a secure free VPN, which doesn’t apply to all providers.
Namely, Hola VPN, Betternet, Hotspot Shield, and many others are bad examples, especially due to their intrusive logging practices and reputation for selling user information to third parties.
Poor Performance, Limited Bandwidth
With an outdated server infrastructure comes poor performance and speeds. And if we add limited monthly bandwidth on top of that, you get a textbook recipe for disaster. Poor performance is what you’ll get on EVERY free VPN for the USA, bar none.
As for limited bandwidth, you can expect it to go from 500 MB (TunnelBear) to 10 GB (Hide.me) monthly. Providers like ProtonVPN will give you unlimited bandwidth but on the other hand, they’ll slow down your speed even more and eliminate streaming or P2P support.
No Streaming/P2P Support
Speaking of which, you can completely forget about these activities with free providers. No free VPNs work with Netflix or Hulu and none of them allow for safe and secure torrenting. In fact, some of them forbid P2P altogether, like ProtonVPN’s free version.
This means that they’re only good for browsing or reading stuff online, as long as you keep your bandwidth consumption in check.
So, Should I Use a Free VPN in the USA?
No, you shouldn’t because of the obvious limits. However, if you’re hell-bent on doing so, providers like ProtonVPN and Hide.me are somewhat decent as long as you’re aware of their impending limits in their free versions.
Are There Any Good VPNs Based in the US?
If you take a look online, you’ll see many VPNs based in the US. People avoid these VPNs due to their jurisdiction and the fact that this country is a prime member of the 5 Eyes. Logically, this brings into question issues with logging and the whole jeopardy of user privacy.
However, not all US-based providers are bad. Presumably, Private Internet Access or PIA is a great provider, with lots of servers, solid security, and a proven-and-tested no-logging policy. Another decent provider is IPVanish with its audit from Leviathan Security.
Furthermore, I should mention Atlas VPN, which is a young company under the ownership of NordVPN. Despite its US jurisdiction, Atlas VPN is surprisingly safe and secure and even has one security audit under its belt.
Sadly, there are also providers from the United States that you should avoid. Hotspot Shield is one of them, mainly due to extremely intrusive logging. Betternet is also based in this country, and much like Hotspot Shield, its logging is all over the place.
Just because we’re talking about a VPN for the USA based in this country doesn’t necessarily mean it should be avoided. However, I still think that going for the one in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction is a better move.
Besides, The British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Romania, Panama, and Switzerland are countries where your privacy is at the top of the priority list. The same can’t be said about America, the UK, Germany, and other similar 5/9/14 Eyes countries.
In Conclusion
With the best USA VPN for 2024, you can enhance your internet experience and bring it to the next level. If you live in America, you can take advantage of excellent security, strong encryption, and no logging practices that will keep surveillance and monitoring away.
People outside of the US borders can get a US IP address to access American Netflix, enjoy sports on ESPN, or bet on numerous US-based betting sites. For all of these purposes, I recommend ExpressVPN as the most reliable solution.
However, if your budget isn’t very flexible, solutions like CyberGhost, NordVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN still hold water for those less demanding users.
Best VPN for the USA – FAQ
After finishing up my guide, let me answer a few topic-related questions.
Is using a VPN legal in the US?
Yes, it is. VPNs are legal in every country, with only a few jurisdictions being so-called “grey areas.” However, even in this country, it’s completely legal to use a Virtual Private Network to change or hide your IP address and browse the web anonymously.
That is if we aren’t talking about doing anything illegal online. If you intend on selling drugs, distributing copyrighted materials, or anything similar, you can get into legal problems. But if you just watch Netflix, browse the web, or enjoy lag-free gaming, you have nothing to fear.
Which US VPN Provider offers servers in India?
India became a VPN-hostile area overnight, requesting all providers in the country to store and hand out user information to the authorities. This request made all major VPNs leave the country, thus, removing all physical servers there.
As a result, some providers have no servers in the country, while some of them use virtual servers. ExpressVPN and Surfshark, for example, are great choices for getting an Indian IP in America due to multiple virtual locations in this country.
How to watch ITV in the USA without a VPN?
By no means. To watch ITV in the USA, you must have a British IP address, which you can only get by using a VPN. For this purpose, you can use any provider from the list – you’ll achieve the same result in terms of unblocking ITV outside the UK.
What is the best VPN to unblock Netflix USA?
The best VPN for Netflix is ExpressVPN because it works with most libraries, including the American one. However, if you find it a bit more expensive, alternatives like Surfshark and NordVPN are great, unblocking Netflix USA 10/10 times.
ExpressVPN
