Best VPN UK – Top 14 Free and Paid Apps Compared for 2023

Looking for the best VPN in the UK can be difficult when there are so many ones to choose from. Whether you want to watch content from abroad, hide your IP from hackers, or just keep your browsing data private, there are hundreds of different VPNs to choose from.

To help you make your choice, we’ve reviewed and compared the best VPN services in the UK for 2023, taking into account their price, features, ease of use, and safety. Stick with us, and we’ll walk you through the list of top 14 VPNs in the UK, showing you how providers like ExpressVPN, PureVPN, and IvacyVPN can improve your browsing experience.

The 14 Best UK VPNs in 2023

There are hundreds of VPN providers to choose from out there. However, not all are reputable, so we’ve done the research for you. We’ll tell you why we believe ExpressVPN is our top pick for the best UK VPN in 2023, but for now, here’s our shortlist of the best VPN services:

1. ExpressVPN — We rate this the Number One VPN for the UK, thanks to its fast connection speeds and strong online privacy features.
2. PureVPN — Fast service with easy-to-use apps and a global network of 6,500 servers across 78 countries, and which is great for torrenting.
3. IvacyVPN — Affordable solution with split tunneling and great options for smooth streaming and torrenting.
4. Total AV — Reliable service provided alongside a full set of antivirus and adblocking tools for security protection.
5. NordVPN — An industry-leading app that comes with great streaming and unblocking capabilities.
6. AtlasVPN — Affordable and consistent service that provides excellent performance and advanced privacy features.
7. CyberGhost VPN — Powerful service with military-grade encryption, which is packaged with a huge suite of privacy-preserving tools.
8. PrivadoVPN — Free plan is a great introduction to the service, which also includes an ad blocker and parental control features.
9. Proton VPN — Popular uncapped service offering safe, anonymous browsing and an attractive free plan.
10. Surfshark VPN — Great pick for families and businesses wanting a fast connection for multiple devices – and at a reasonable price.
11. IPVanish — High-speed VPN service that comes with no logs, no bandwidth cap, and no device limit.
12. VyprVPN — Reliable provider with impressive security protocols, no-logs and strong international content unblocking capabilities.
13. PrivateVPN — Great tool for online privacy and security, which offers a 10GB-a-month free plan.
14. Private Internet Access — Fast and affordable option that’s great for gaming, streaming, and torrenting and comes with strong encryption.

The Best VPNs for UK Users – Top 14 Compared

Here’s a quick head-to-head comparison of all our top 14 UK VPNs:

The Best UK VPN Services Reviewed

Before we compare each UK Virtual Private Network head-to-head, we’ve reviewed each one in depth below to help you get a clear idea of what each one offers. Let’s dive right in.

1. ExpressVPN — The Number One VPN for the UK

ExpressVPN is our top choice for the best UK VPN service for multiple reasons, but in a few words – it’s fast, cheap, and offers plenty of extra features. Based in Panama, ExpressVPN has had its no-logging claims verified by independent experts. It’s also our top pick for unblocking content abroad.

As well as being easy to use, the service is the ideal VPN provider for streaming content. No other provider works harder or faster to unblock content providers like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and Amazon Prime Video – and many say it’s the best Netflix VPN.

Third-party audits and speed tests have certified ExpressVPN as a leader for delivering fast connections, and it also gives you more server locations to choose from than any other provider on our list, so you’ll be able to easily sidestep geolocation blocks.

If a fast connection is more important to you, the Smart Location tool will automatically find the fastest server available. It’s also extremely easy to take advantage of ExpressVPN’s advanced security tools, including the platform’s custom Lightway protocol, and split tunneling, allowing you to route and manage your data flow.

The app itself is easy to install, but if you need router protection, there’s Aircove, their custom-built router, which comes with ExpressVPN pre-installed. Aircove used to be exclusive to the US, but thanks to a partnership with Flashrouters, you can buy an Aircove router and have it shipped straight to the UK.

Once you’re covered by ExpressVPN, you’ll have access to blazing-fast download and upload speeds for streaming and gaming, as well as P2P filesharing.

VPN obfuscation means your ISP won’t be able to recognise and throttle your traffic, so you’ll be able to enjoy 4K content without interruption. In short, it’s the best VPN service UK-wide, and the best VPN for iPhone among other devices. And if you do have any trouble, you can call on ExpressVPN’s expert technical support via chat and email.

For UK: ExpressVPN has UK servers for Docklands, East London, Wembley, and the Midlands, and supports services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, and Now TV and devices including Xbox, PlayStation, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Pricing

ExpressVPN is pricey compared to other providers on our list, but the list of features makes it worth it.

ExpressVPN is a truly premium VPN that comes with just about every feature you could ask for. With 94 locations, it’s got one of the highest number of server locations on our list.

Speeds are absolutely phenomenal over ExpressVPN, especially when using their proprietary Lightway VPN protocol. Its unblocking capabilities are also unmatched. To take the sting out of the price, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try the service out for yourself first – and it’s definitely among the best VPN deals UK users can find.

2. PureVPN — Comprehensive Solution That’s Great for Families

PureVPN has a huge network of over 6,500 servers in more than 78 countries, including servers with up to 20Gbps connection speed, making it one of the best VPN apps in the UK for a long-term subscription.

This UK VPN service supports up to 10 simultaneous connections on various devices, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Amazon Fire Stick, Android TV, Kodi, and routers. That means you need just one PureVPN account that your entire family can use to watch its favorite TV shows and movies.

In addition, it prevents bandwidth throttling by your ISP since it masks your online activities. That means you can enjoy buffer-free Netflix US streaming via one of its 20Gbps servers, such as Atlanta, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Given all that, it’s a definite competitor for the best VPN for Netflix, and with AES-256 encryption, it’s a highly secure connection. If you’re focused on torrenting, on the other hand, the service also has you covered with P2P-optimized connections on offer.

PureVPN has a zero-logging policy, meaning the company doesn’t store any information about users on its servers. What’s more, it has an “always on” audit practice that allows independent cybersecurity experts to conduct tests whenever they want, meaning you can have complete confidence in the results.

It also prevents your ISP, WiFi owners, or snoopers from logging your browsing history, with DNS and IPv6 leak protection and an internet kill switch.

For UK: PureVPN has servers in London, Maidenhead, and Manchester, support for a wide range of devices, and access to services such as Netflix and Disney – and it prides itself on offering a secure service.

Pricing

PureVPN has multiple pricing plans, with the cheapest, two-year-long plan priced at just £2.08/month. If you subscribe to this UK VPN provider for two years, you get three months on top of what you paid for at no extra charge.

What we like the most about PureVPN are its cheap add-ons that you can purchase for added security. You can get a Dedicated IP and Port Forwarding in the UK for just £1.48/month, while a password manager service costs £0.99/month.

PureVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption to keep your internet traffic private, and you can purchase its PureEncrypt service, which encrypts your photos, videos, and files, for just £1.29/month. Take advantage of its 31-day money-back guarantee and try PureVPN risk-free today.

3. IvacyVPN — Popular UK Service with Diverse Server Locations

IvacyVPN has 510+ secure UK VPN servers that you can use to watch Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or UK sports like football, cricket, and rugby without connectivity issues. Regardless of where you are, in the country or abroad, you can connect to high-speed servers in the UK and safely browse the internet.

IvacyVPN has a reliable split tunneling feature that allows you to select which mobile apps or websites you want it to encrypt, leaving others to run at your regular internet speed. You can use its Smart Purpose Selection feature to specify that you want to stream content or download files, and IvacyVPN will connect you to the fastest server available.

When you connect to a secure server with this UK VPN provider, you can rest easy knowing malicious URLs, like phishing websites, are blocked. In addition, it also blocks third-party trackers that collect your information so that websites can tailor their ads to your profile.

IvacyVPN has excellent apps for Android and iOS phones, and it can help you reduce the latency in your favorite mobile games by connecting you to a server close to the host. It features powerful DDoS protection that won’t let anyone impair your gaming experience, which is great for PC and mobile gamers.

For UK: IvacyVPN has 510+ secure UK VPN servers and can offer access to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Sky Sports, and more, covering football, cricket, and rugby, among other broadcasts.

Pricing

IvacyVPN displays its prices in USD. It has an outstanding five-year-long plan that costs as little as $1/month and gives you a free Port Forwarding add-on if you purchase a Dedicated UK IP for $1.99.

This VPN provider accepts cryptocurrency payments, allowing you to stay anonymous from the very beginning. Try its services out risk-free today, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. TotalAV — Comprehensive Internet Protection With a Reliable VPN

TotalAV is an all-in-one solution for staying safe while browsing the internet and downloading potentially dangerous files. It features an antivirus, ad-blocker, browser shield, and a powerful VPN and supports both desktop and mobile devices, ensuring you have comprehensive protection when accessing the internet.

TotalAV Safe Browsing VPN uses industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption to safeguard your data from malicious actors and your ISP provider. Combined with the other features from Total AV’s bundle, this VPN service protects your device from malware and spyware attacks and effectively blocks ads.

It has impressive speeds when connected to nearby servers, and connecting to remote servers doesn’t drastically slow it down, making TotalAV ideal for bypassing geo-restricted content. Besides providing above-average speeds, Total AV is a lightweight UK VPN that won’t slow your device down while it operates.

Besides encrypting your connection and making you untrackable, TotalAV can help you optimize your devices by deleting clutter and duplicate files. Another helpful feature is its Data Breach Monitoring, which notifies you if your data leaks on the internet, allowing you to react instantly.

For UK: TotalAV has servers in UK locations, including London, Manchester, and the Isle of Man, and a great record for security.

Pricing

TotalAV’s only option for new customers costs as little as £39/year, which is an excellent price point considering all the internet security tools you get.

You can protect up to five devices using a single Total AV account, meaning you can safely browse the internet on your PC, tablet, and phone without paying for a separate subscription. Try Total AV risk-free today, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. NordVPN — Incredible Streaming and Unblocking Capabilities

NordVPN has a place on our list of the best UK VPN service for multiple reasons, but in a few words: it’s fast, it’s cheap, and there are a ton of extra features. It ticks every box you could need for a VPN. For example, there are thousands of servers in over 60+ worldwide locations to choose from.

These include UK servers in Edinburgh, London, Glasgow, and Manchester. This way, you can watch iPlayer content even when you’re traveling abroad. We’ve tried streaming over NordVPN and found that it’s incredibly fast, with speed losses of only around 8%.

NordVPN is also incredibly secure, using OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols for VPN encryption and their custom NordLynx VPN protocol. You can be sure your browsing data isn’t being spied on when you use NordVPN.

This is all in addition to advanced VPN features like Multi-Hop, which routes your connection through more than one VPN server, and split-tunneling, which lets you choose which connections are running through your VPN and your home connections.

NordVPN also comes with advanced ad-blocking capabilities, blocking known malware providers and ad servers at the DNS level to keep them from ever getting to your computer.

For UK: NordVPN bills itself as offering the fastest UK VPN service and has 440+ servers in the UK – and 5,700+ servers worldwide, as well as a great set of features.

Pricing

NordVPN offers premium service at a low cost, giving you access to worldwide VPN service for only £3.49 per month. All plans come with the same high-speed VPN connection, but NordVPN also offers Complete and Plus packages with extra features.

With NordVPN Plus, you also get access to a cross-platform password manager, which you can use to securely store all your login credentials – plus, you’ll get access to a data breach scanner which monitors the dark web for new data leaks that could contain your email address.

Some other providers, such as Surfshark VPN, also provide this, but NordVPN offers them for a pretty low price. The Complete package provides 1TB of encrypted cloud storage, but if you’ve already got a cloud provider, we’d recommend you stick to the Plus package. Whichever subscription you choose, take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee to try NordVPN stress-free.

6. AtlasVPN — Free UK VPN for Unlimited Devices

AtlasVPN has a generous free plan that covers as many devices as you need, making it a great free solution for families. However, you should consider subscribing to its paid plan if you need more than 5GB of data monthly.

AtlasVPN has a unique feature that helps it stand out from its competition, such as SafeSwap, which continuously changes your IP without disconnecting you from its secure servers.

The UK government is notorious for invading the privacy of its citizens, and various tech and international companies have adopted the practice as well. Atlas VPN helps you keep your details, like your income, address, or age, private by encrypting your internet traffic. Besides companies, that prevents WiFi hotspot owners or your ISP from logging your browsing history.

AtlasVPN has high-speed servers in the UK that allow you to watch your favorite shows, movies, and sports while you travel. You can use its WireGuard protocol to achieve the highest speeds for buffer-free viewing of local or foreign streams.

For UK: Atlas VPN has servers for Manchester and London and supports services like BBC iPlayer.

Pricing

While its free plan is great for staying safe while browsing lightly, paying as little as £1.35/month for its three-year-long plan gets you all the bells and whistles of Atlas VPN – what we rate as the best cheap VPN UK-wide.

Try AtlasVPN risk-free today, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee, and let its AES 256-bit and ChaCha20 encryptions make you untrackable.

7. CyberGhost VPN — Huge Suite of Privacy Preserving Tools

CyberGhost VPN is hosted in Romania and stands out from the rest of our providers in terms of sheer size, boasting nearly 9,000 VPN servers in over 110 locations in 91 countries, meaning it can deliver the best connection possible for every user.

CyberGhost makes streaming from anywhere in the world incredibly easy, thanks to a handy online readout that tells you which dedicated streaming servers specialize in unblocking certain types of content.

We found CyberGhost unblocks the BBC iPlayer in not only a range of locations across North America and Europe but also Channel 4 and ITV as well. There are also regional services like RTL, which are way harder to unblock, but CyberGhost still pulls through.

CyberGhost also supports P2P file sharing across many of its servers. At our last check, there are 70 P2P-friendly servers for you to choose from. We found that torrenting on these servers was seamless, with speeds comparable to what we’d get on our domestic connection.

CyberGhost uses modern VPN encryption protocols like OpenVPN to keep your data secret while you’re using the service, as well as hide your IP. What sets CyberGhost apart is the automation features you have access to.

When you open an app on your computer, you can set CyberGhost to automatically switch to an appropriate server for the task at hand. So, you could write a rule that makes it connect to one of the UK streaming servers when you open the iPlayer app. This is a level of convenience we rarely see elsewhere.

For UK: CyberGhost has an impressive 724+ UK servers in London, Manchester, and Berkshire. It can unblock services like Netflix UK, Amazon Prime Video UK, TikTok, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Channel 4, and Sky – and without any bandwidth limits in place.

Pricing

CyberGhost VPN is expensive if you buy it month by month, but the two-year plan is one of the cheapest VPN UK options on our list at only £1.92 a month — and you even get two months free.

When you buy CyberGhost VPN, you don’t just get access to a no-logs VPN with incredible speeds. You’re also getting access to privacy-preserving browser add-ons that effectively block ads that track your browsing online.

Keeping your traffic hidden from your ISP is one thing, but CyberGhost VPN goes above and beyond to keep your browsing data private. There’s a whopping 45-day money-back guarantee, too, so you’ve got plenty of time to check out all of CyberGhost’s features.

8. PrivadoVPN — Free Service With Great Speeds

PrivadoVPN is a little different from the other VPN providers we’ve highlighted so far. Based in Switzerland, PrivadoVPN is the first provider on our list to come with a free VPN app, so you can try it before you buy.

When you register with PrivadoVPN, you get 10GB a month for free at completely uncapped speeds. What’s more, even if you use up that 10GB of bandwidth, you’ll only be stuck with a speed limit.

Most free VPN providers cut you off completely after you use up your free data limit, so it’s great to see PrivadoVPN offer more for their free customers.

Once you upgrade to the premium version, Privado VPN offers standard VPN safety features such as a kill switch that’ll drop your internet out when your connection to the VPN is interrupted, so you don’t accidentally start sending unencrypted data over your internet connection.

PrivadoVPN also has SmartRoute, a feature that allows you to choose which apps are covered under the VPN. In essence, this is quite close to the split-tunneling feature most providers on this list offer, but it’s good to see it’s here.

For UK: Privado offers connection via London and Manchester servers, as well as 44+ other worldwide locations – and the adblocker and threat protection features are also great for security.

Pricing

PrivadoVPN’s free plan is one of the best we’ve seen, offering a healthy 10GB a month and twelve locations to test before you buy.

While other providers offer cheaper one-year plans, PrivadoVPN comes bundled with ad-blocking tools, a parental control suite, and SOCKS5 proxies.

It’s rare to see support for SOCKS5 in addition to standard VPN protocols, so if you’re looking for high-speed, transparent proxies, then PrivadoVPN is an excellent choice. Be warned SOCKS5 won’t encrypt your traffic, but it’ll change your IP location. Check it out with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

9. Proton VPN — Uncapped Free VPN Access

Finally, we come to Proton VPN. While it takes the last place on our list, we recommend Proton VPN for its strong security credentials.

Proton VPN was built by the same CERN scientists who developed ProtonMail, a privacy-focused email client built for total anonymity. It follows the same ethos, offering total anonymity based on a no-logs policy and RAM-only servers.

Proton VPN lets you try a free version before you buy a subscription. Unlike practically every free VPN out there, Proton VPN has no bandwidth cap. You can use it as your day-to-day VPN, as the developers believe that access to encrypted internet is a basic necessity for normal life.

There are only three locations you can access, but this is more than enough to ensure you’ve got a good connection, whether you’re connecting from the Netherlands, Japan, or the USA.

Proton VPN comes as part of a much larger suite of privacy tools designed to keep your entire internet existence free of advertiser analytics. When you purchase a VPN subscription, you also get access to encrypted cloud storage, an encrypted email client, and a full calendar feature that doesn’t spy on your upcoming appointments.

For UK: Proton VPN has 36 servers in Manchester and London and can unlock services like BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Netflix, and Prime Video. It also promises high-speed connections with up to 4x improvement on speed.

Pricing

Proton VPN certainly isn’t the cheapest provider on our list, but for sheer value, the Unlimited package is unmatched by any other provider on our list. Not only do you get Proton VPN, but also Mail, Calendar, and Drive, all integrated for a single price. As with some, Proton VPN displays its pricing in dollars:

Proton VPN’s free package is one of the best we’ve ever seen, thanks to a truly unlimited bandwidth cap and relatively strong speeds. However, other providers like PrivadoVPN offer fully uncapped speeds for their bandwidth cap, so it’s a choice of what you prefer.

The strongest thing going for Proton VPN is a cast-iron privacy guarantee, which has been tested multiple times across both their email and VPN service. You can try it for yourself with the 30-day guarantee to see whether you’re convinced by Proton VPN’s privacy credentials.

10. Surfshark VPN — Unlimited Devices for One Price

Surfshark is a smaller VPN provider based in the Netherlands that focuses on providing core VPN features for an unlimited range of devices, and it provides some interesting optional extras.

Surfshark VPN works on unlimited devices for a single subscription price. Most of the providers we’ve listed here have a simultaneous device cap, meaning you can only cover a few of your devices under a VPN at the same time.

With Surfshark, you don’t have to put your devices behind a VPN router or make difficult choices about which devices not to cover. That means that whether you’re looking for the best VPN for Firestick, the best VPN for Android, or the best VPN for Mac, Surfshark is always going to be a strong contender.

Beyond this, Surfshark VPN unblocks content no matter where you are. You’ll be able to watch BBC iPlayer from abroad, in addition to Peacock, DAZN, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and more. You’ll even be able to access sports streams while on holiday, so there’s no problem tuning into the UEFA Champions League while abroad.

Surfshark VPN also comes with several additional features that enhance your online privacy beyond just using a VPN. Surfshark Search is a completely anonymous search engine that doesn’t rank your results based on serving ads or browsing history.

Along with an Antivirus built into the VPN, Surfshark also comes with Surfshark Alert, which notifies you when your details are leaked on the dark web.

For UK: Surfshark has servers in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Manchester and allows access for unlimited devices across all major platforms.

Pricing

Surfshark VPN is on the higher end of VPN providers when you buy monthly, but it’s incredibly cheap when you go for the 24-month plan.

Surfshark also offers up the Surfshark One anti-virus suite for only an extra pound a month, which is great if you’re looking for an all-in-one privacy bundle. When you factor in unlimited devices for a single low price, Surfshark starts looking quite attractive.

There are some other providers on our list that also offer unlimited devices, but out of all of them, Surfshark VPN is the most technically mature, as well as the quickest. Don’t just take our word for it, though – you can test it out for yourself with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

11. IPVanish — No Logs, Bandwidth Cap, or Device Limit

IPVanish is another provider on our list that offers unlimited device connections. Based in Dallas, Texas, it offers an affordable, no-frills VPN service.

IPVanish isn’t the largest or most fully-featured provider on our list, but it’s a solid VPN provider that’ll cover as many devices as you want for a low price.

Most VPNs will support at most around ten devices, but IPVanish is a great choice if you’ve got a large family who has all got their own laptops, phones, desktops, and so on.

There are the usual safety features that come with IPVanish, such as a system-wide kill-switch and split-tunneling, but it also comes with SugarSync — a cloud storage solution that lets you back up your files using the same advanced encryption to keep your internet traffic private.

You can schedule when backups happen, which is great for keeping your files safe from hard-drive corruption or ransomware attacks. IPVanish also comes with all the unblocking capabilities of a top-tier VPN.

For UK: IPVanish has servers in place for London, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Manchester. And whether it’s BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, or Netflix UK or US, IPVanish will allow you to unblock geo-restricted content at the push of a button.

Pricing

IPVanish only gives their prices in USD, but they’re roughly comparable to other providers on our list:

IPVanish doesn’t break the bank when it comes to the monthly plan, but there are also cheaper options when you buy in for a yearly plan. You’ll also find the price goes up after one year, but this is standard for many VPN providers.

To receive your bundled SugarSync 250GB account, you’ll need to contact customer support once you’ve purchased your IPVanish subscription.

12. VyprVPN — Highly Private and Strong International Content Unblocking

VyprVPN is great when you need advanced stealth VPN protocols to get around tough firewalls. Unfortunately, there are one or two issues with it that hold it back from being a truly great VPN.

VyprVPN has a ton of security features and support for a whole range of devices. They run their own DNS service to ensure your browsing is as private as possible, on top of a custom in-house VPN protocol called Chameleon which completely disguises your VPN traffic from snooping by ISPs.

What’s more, not only are there apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, but also for Smart TVs, QNAP file hosts, and even some routers. There’s also support for 30 devices on a single subscription, which is way higher than most provider limits.

Although IPVanish and Surfshark offer unlimited devices, VyperVPN is still an excellent choice for large families with lots of devices. There are also install guides for practically every device you can think of, including Chromebook, AsusWRT, Blackberry, Android TV, and more.

You’ll also find all the standard VPN safety features, like a kill switch for keeping your connection safe from unexpected drop-outs, as well as OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols.

When you connect to unprotected public Wi-Fi networks, VyprVPN can be set up to connect automatically, saving you from being spied on by other users on the network.

For UK: VyprVPN’s UK servers support services like BBC iPlayer, the ITV Hub, and Netflix – and can help users to evade invasive government web monitoring.

Pricing

VyprVPN doesn’t come with a lot of choices in terms of subscription plans – you’re either paying monthly or yearly. However, their service is quite affordable when you pick the yearly option.

VyprVPN is a great choice when you’ve got a bunch of devices you need to cover. It’s not the most fully featured VPN, and if you need advanced features, you’ll probably pick another provider on our list.

That said, Chameleon stealth VPN protocols are a good enough reason alone to check it out with the 30-day guarantee.

13. PrivateVPN — 10GB a Month Free Plan

PrivateVPN sits on the tail end of our list, but don’t be fooled. When you’re looking for a trusted and fundamentally private VPN provider, you could do a lot worse than PrivateVPN.

PrivateVPN is another provider that believes you should be allowed to try before you buy. The free version of PrivateVPN gives you 10GB a month to test out the service. There are also 12 free locations to choose from, which we believe is the highest of any free VPN we’ve ever tested.

The only catch is that you can’t guarantee streaming support, but there’s still the option to use P2P, and most importantly, your speeds aren’t capped while using the free service.

When you upgrade PrivateVPN, you get access to unblocking support for streaming sites like BBC iPlayer, as well as Fox, NBC, CBS, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and more.

There’s a Stealth VPN option to obfuscate your VPN traffic and disguise it as a regular encrypted connection for anyone using PrivateVPN to stream from a particularly surveillance-heavy country.

Speaking of unblocking, PrivateVPN is particularly good at unblocking regional variations of Netflix. Not only does it work with UK Netflix but also Japan, Canada, and Australia as well.

For UK: Along with 63 server locations around the world, PrivateVPN has UK servers in London and Manchester – and commits to delivering lightning-fast connection speeds.

Pricing

PrivateVPN offers one of the cheapest monthly prices if you’re just looking for a short plan. Their 3-year plan is roughly comparable to other cheap providers in our list, like Surfshark.

When you’re looking for a cheap monthly plan that’s just a VPN, PrivateVPN is your best bet. There’s also an incredibly cheap 36-month plan for just £1.86/month.

14. Private Internet Access — Fast, Affordable Option with a Great App

Private Internet Access is our third entry in the top 14 UK VPNs. PIA ranks highly for its vast server bank, high number of server locations, and superior feature set.

Private Internet Access is a secure provider that puts its money where its mouth is. Not only are all their apps completely open-source, so you can check they’re legit, but PIA has also successfully shown their no-logging policy in court several times.

In addition to using OpenVPN, IKEv2, and the advanced WireGuard VPN protocols to encrypt your internet traffic, PIA has a range of features designed to keep you secure while you’re browsing online.

Thanks to PIA’s MACE feature, you can browse the internet without adverts, thanks to a DNS-level blocker. PIA maintains a list of known online trackers, malicious websites, and known malware distributors and blocks any connections made to them.

PIA also allows you to purchase your own dedicated static IP address via an online token system. This maintains your privacy, as the purchase of the static IP isn’t associated with your account.

Once you’ve added the IP voucher to your account, you can enjoy all the benefits of a static IP, such as reduced online filtering and easier host resolution — you could even host your own website.

For UK: PIA points to the UK government’s Investigatory Powers Act and ability to call up internet connection records as a key reason to use a VPN. It offers servers in London, Manchester, and Southampton for UK access, reports compatibility with BBC iPlayer and Netflix UK, and promises low ping rates for games like Minecraft, Fortnite, and Counter Strike.

Pricing

PIA has a relatively high single-month price – however, buying in bulk can be incredibly cheap as purchasing a three-year plan works out at £1.67 per month.

PIA is definitely worth the money if you’re looking for a VPN provider that does everything well. The only thing holding PIA back is lackluster speed results compared to our other top-tier VPN providers, but otherwise, there’s a lot to recommend.

Completely unrestricted P2P access for torrenting, over 80 locations to choose from, and customisable scripting for automated VPN use make PIA a pretty unique provider in our top 14 – and it’s perhaps the best VPN for gaming.

If you’re still not convinced, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee you can try to get the true experience for yourself without financial risk.

Why Should I Use a UK VPN?

There are a bunch of different reasons to use a UK VPN. The number one reason is for your own privacy. Every ISP in the UK is obliged by law to record every website you’ve visited in the last two years.

The only way around this is to stop your ISP from snooping on your internet traffic. When you buy a VPN, you’re completely protected against third parties logging your internet access.

You’re also protected against hackers because your VPN IP isn’t your real ISP. You’re far safer online when you use a VPN. There’s also a whole world of content out there that you’re only able to access if you can change your location. Streaming over a VPN is easier than ever.

Best Free VPN UK – Free vs. Paid VPNs

Looking for the best free VPN for iOS? There are a lot of free VPNs out there, but be warned. Many aren’t interested in protecting your data but in selling it. There are some legitimate free VPNs, though, a few of which we’ve highlighted on our list.

However, in general, free VPNs are significantly limited in their capabilities compared to paid options. The most obvious limits are bandwidth caps, but often you’ll find there are only a few connection locations to choose from.

Legitimate free VPNs are as safe as their premium counterparts, but this is usually the only respect in which there’s parity. Otherwise, you’ll find that free VPNs are less useful for unblocking streaming services and will sometimes throttle your speeds altogether when you’re streaming. Given all this, we would discourage using them, and neither the best free VPN for Windows nor the best free VPN for Android will do the job as well as a paid alternative.

Ultimately, free VPN services are great when you want to test drive a VPN before you buy a subscription plan. For providers that don’t have a free VPN plan, you can use a money-back guarantee to test them out with all features unlocked – and try out the best free VPN for Android or iPhone.

If you’re not happy with the service you’ve received, you can always claim your money back and try another one, until you find the best VPN free trial for you.

How We Ranked the Best UK VPN Apps

There were several metrics we used when deciding what the best overall VPN was – these included:

1. Connection Stability — There’s absolutely no point in using a VPN that’s worse than your own internet connection. Obviously, if you’re looking for the best VPN for streaming, this is hugely important.
2. Speeds — No VPN will ever give you precisely the same speed you would get from a default connection, but the less it impacts your normal browsing speeds, the higher we rank it – and it’s a key detail if you’re looking for the best VPN extension for Chrome, for example.
3. Security — This one is vital. We can’t recommend any VPNs that don’t pass our rigorous testing scheme, including DNS leak protection tests, kill-switch disconnect scenario testing, and WebRTC leak testing. Of course, if you need the best VPN for China, security – and clamping down on data leaks – is absolutely crucial.
4. Value — The price isn’t as important as what you get for it. We’re happy to recommend more expensive VPNs on our list as long as their feature set justifies the price. Similarly, we won’t recommend cheap VPNs that aren’t worth the price – and even the best free VPN for PC has some pretty severe limits.
5. Support — Sometimes, good support staff is the difference between a good experience and a terrible one. All our VPN providers offer live chat support in one form or another.

How to Use a VPN – Step-by-Step Guide

Getting started with a VPN is pretty easy, especially when you’re using a top-tier VPN like ExpressVPN – and don’t worry, you don’t need to go and buy the best VPN router, but you can simply use most services with an app.

We’ve written up a quick step-by-step guide to getting you up and running without any hassle when using ExpressVPN.

1. Step 1 — Head on over to ExpressVPN’s website
2. Step 2 — Buy a subscription
3. Step 3 — Download and install the app
4. Step 4 — Open ExpressVPN and enter your username and password from Step 2
5. Step 5 — Press the quick-connect button

And that’s it. You’re now connected with ExpressVPN.

What Are the Downsides of Using a VPN?

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have ample benefits that undoubtedly far outweigh any flaws. Nevertheless, it’s important to know the downsides before signing up. To start with, the VPN encryption process is known to cause slightly slower internet speeds.

In fact, a 10-20% drop in speeds is considered the average. However, your upload and download speeds depend on several factors, such as the distance between your physical location and the server, your router speed, and the VPNs server stability. Hence, when ranking services, Reddit’s best free VPN, based on community feedback, has to have minimal impact on connection speed.

Some VPNs don’t offer many servers, though, and that’s particularly true with free VPN accounts, which can also suffer from server congestion, impacting everyone’s speeds. If you are looking for the best free VPN, Reddit users will also warn you of services that may be harvesting your data – which will cost you a lot in the long run.

Another noteworthy drawback is that, depending on the location, using a VPN can potentially land you in trouble. For example, in Iraq and North Korea, VPNs are banned. That said, if you’re after the best VPN service for the UK, this won’t be a concern as there are no limitations with VPN use in the UK.

Finally, the cost can be a drawback. This is generally worth it for most people, though, considering the sheer value for money on offer. What’s more, there are options on the market that are sure to fit every need and budget, with some costing a little over a pound.

Additional Best VPN Guides and Resources

Our team of VPN experts have also put together a range of other in-depth guides and resources, which you can find at the following links:

• The Best VPN for Business
• The Best VPN According to Reddit
• ExpressVPN Review – Everything You Need To Know
• PureVPN – An In-Depth Review
• Surefshark Review – How Good Is Surfshark VPN?
• CyberGhost VPN Complete Review
• The Best VPN for India
• The Best VPN for the UAE
• The Best VPN for Malaysia

What is the Best UK VPN in 2023? ExpressVPN

So, what is the best VPN overall? Whether you want the best VPN for Firestick in the UK, the best VPN for Chrome, or the best free VPN for Mac, there are tons of options on the market.

Having tested each VPN in our list, though, we have to give it to ExpressVPN as the best UK VPN in 2023. It’s easy to use, unblocks basically every streaming site you could ever want, and it’s affordable. If anything, it’s the best VPN in the UK free of any drawbacks.

Whether you’re browsing from the UK or you just want to watch content from back home while you’re abroad, like BBC iPlayer and Channel 4, ExpressVPN will allow you to watch high-definition 4K content without breaking a sweat. Try out the best VPN for UK users with the 30-day money-back guarantee now.

Best VPN UK FAQs