Since VPNs are an important privacy tool, there’s no point in using one you don’t trust. This is a company you’re trusting with a huge amount of your data, information that many unscrupulous companies would happily sell.
However, when it comes to the best VPNs, protecting that data (not collecting it in the first place) is at the heart of their business models. So what really gives us confidence? At Tom's Guide, we have the evidence from our extensive VPN testing process, but it can still be difficult for you to determine whether you're getting into real-world situations.
Here, I'll go over the five most important things to look out for when choosing a quality VPN that you can truly trust.
A no-logging policy
Perhaps the most important sign of a trustworthy VPN is its “no-logging” policy, a promise that it doesn’t record any user data or traffic. There’s little point in using a VPN to enhance your privacy if all you’re doing is handing over your information to a different third party than usual. If you can, read a provider’s privacy policy to make sure it doesn’t log any user data.
Not only does no logs increase the privacy of using a VPN, it also means that hackers have nothing to access if the VPN server is breached, and nothing to hand over to the VPN if it is sued. It’s a win-win situation.
Many VPN providers claim to have a “no logs” policy, but not all of them have had this confirmed by an independent third party. Which brings us to…
Independent audits
There’s nothing like getting an independent third-party opinion on things, and the same goes for VPNs. Many providers who are confident in their offerings invite auditors to come and assess their promises.
Audits typically focus on a VPN provider’s privacy, especially if they have a no-logs policy. For example, in early 2024, NordVPN successfully completed a fourth audit of its no-logs policy.
Some providers even end up having their policies proven in other, more public ways. Private Internet Access (PIA), for example, had its no-logging policy proven in court. The VPN was forced to provide data on a user, but it couldn’t do so because it hadn’t collected anything in the first place.
A consistent brand image
This rule applies to all companies, not just VPN providers, but make sure their name and branding is consistent across multiple platforms. We’ve seen faker VPNs use one name on their website and then link to App Store product listings with different names. Is it sometimes described as a VPN and sometimes as a proxy? That’s a massive red flag.
When it comes to branding, don’t be afraid to be superficial when judging a vendor’s website. If it’s full of typos, HTML issues, or just looks unprofessional, you’ll probably want to go with another vendor.
A money back guarantee
Most major VPN providers offer at least a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the service. Besides being an incentive to try the service (after all, what’s the harm in that?), it suggests that a provider is confident in their product.
Also, pay attention to the different payment methods offered by providers. The best VPN companies offer many payment options and even cryptocurrency plans. If a VPN provider only accepts money via bank transfer or only cryptocurrency, it’s probably worth avoiding.
Of course, all of this doesn’t mean that the best free VPN services can’t be trusted either. One of our biggest draws for a free service is that it offers a paid version to upgrade to. This suggests that it doesn’t fund itself by selling user data.
Human customer support
Customer service is an often overlooked factor when signing up for a service, but given the technical nature of VPNs, it’s important. We value the ease with which we can speak to a real human being (usually via live text chat) and not an automated bot. We’ve had positive experiences with customer support from big names like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and IPVanish.
Before signing up for a contract, check out the provider’s website and see what the support is like. Are there clearly stated ways to contact customer support? Are there enough articles written about common questions and issues? Good customer support is great for customer retention, so if a company isn’t focusing on this, they may just be looking to make a quick buck.
Also check when an app was last updated. Is it kept up to date or left to decay?
Well reviewed by reliable sources
Of course, you should always check out our VPN reviews before signing up for a VPN. To be honest, if we or another major site haven't reviewed it, it's probably not worth considering. We often see new VPNs pop up without much notice with millions of users that we really don't recommend.
In addition to expert reviews, take a look at what people are saying on the internet. The r/VPN subreddit offers very useful real-world experiences from both ordinary users and experts who have been using specific apps for years.
App Store reviews should always be taken with a grain of salt, but they are at least a reasonable initial indicator of an app.
We test and evaluate VPN services for legal recreational uses. For example:
1. Access a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).
2. Protect your online security and enhance your online privacy when you're abroad.
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. The consumption of paid pirated content is neither approved nor endorsed by Future Publishing.