Review methodology

How we review VPNs

Every provider on our comparison is scored using the same transparent methodology. Here's exactly what we test, how we measure it, and how we turn that into a score.

Last updated: July 2026 · 7 min read

There are dozens of VPN comparison sites, and most of them rank providers based on how much commission they pay. We don't. Our ranking is driven by a fixed methodology that weighs privacy, real-world performance and value — the same way for every provider, updated every quarter.

Below we walk through exactly what we test, the tools we use, and how the seven pillars combine into a single score out of 10.

How we weight the score

Each provider gets a 0–10 grade for seven pillars. The final score is a weighted average — privacy carries the most weight because it's the reason people buy a VPN in the first place.

  • Privacy & security30%
  • Speed & performance20%
  • Server network15%
  • Streaming & unblocking10%
  • Apps & platform support10%
  • Pricing & value10%
  • Support & policies5%
Pillar 1 · 30%

Privacy & security

A VPN that leaks or logs is worse than no VPN at all. We read every provider's privacy policy line by line, verify audits with the auditor's own site, and run leak tests on both desktop and mobile clients.

  • Jurisdiction and parent company ownership
  • Public no-logs policy and its exact wording
  • Independent third-party audits (and how recent)
  • Encryption standards (AES-256, ChaCha20)
  • Supported protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2)
  • Kill switch behaviour on desktop and mobile
  • DNS, IPv6 and WebRTC leak protection
  • RAM-only server infrastructure
  • Warrant canary and transparency reports
Privacy & security
Speed & performance
Pillar 2 · 20%

Speed & performance

Speed tests happen from a fixed 1 Gbps fibre line in the Netherlands, using a baseline capture without a VPN as reference. Every provider is tested on the same day with the same client hardware to keep the numbers comparable.

  • Download and upload throughput on a 1 Gbps line
  • Latency to nearby, mid-range and far servers
  • Consistency across multiple test runs and times of day
  • Impact of switching between WireGuard and OpenVPN
  • Performance during peak hours
Pillar 3 · 15%

Server network

We don't just count servers — anyone can spin up virtual machines. We look at country coverage, city-level presence, ownership model (physical vs. virtual) and specialty servers for streaming, P2P and obfuscation.

Providers get bonus points for RAM-only hardware and diskless architecture, and lose points for aggressive use of virtual locations without disclosure.

Server network

The other four pillars

Streaming & unblocking

10%
  • Netflix (US, UK, JP, DE libraries)
  • Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Max
  • BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4
  • Hulu and regional sports streams
  • P2P/torrent performance on dedicated servers

Apps & platform support

10%
  • Native apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux
  • Browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
  • Router firmware and smart-TV support
  • Simultaneous device connections
  • Split tunneling and multi-hop options

Pricing & value

10%
  • Effective monthly price on 1, 12 and 24-month plans
  • Money-back guarantee length and enforcement
  • Free trial or free tier availability
  • Payment options including crypto and cash
  • Renewal price versus introductory price

Support & policies

5%
  • 24/7 live chat response time (tested three times)
  • Depth of self-service knowledge base
  • Refund experience in practice, not just on paper
  • Terms of service red flags

Our testing process

  1. 1
    Purchase anonymously
    We buy every subscription ourselves — no free press accounts. Reviews you can't buy your way into.
  2. 2
    Install on 5 platforms
    Windows 11, macOS, iOS, Android and Ubuntu. Each app is tested on a clean device.
  3. 3
    Run leak & audit tests
    DNS, IPv6, WebRTC and kill-switch drop tests. We compare policy claims against packet captures.
  4. 4
    Benchmark speeds
    Three runs per server, morning and evening, on WireGuard and OpenVPN.
  5. 5
    Attempt to unblock streams
    Real playback tests on 15+ streaming platforms across 4 regions.
  6. 6
    Score, review, publish
    Numbers go into our weighted formula. Written reviews are edited by a second reviewer before publishing.

See the methodology in action

Compare every VPN we've tested, side by side, ranked by our score.

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