Reviews · one brand at a time
Each review covers the same ground: what the product actually does well, what it costs once the introductory term ends, how it scores on public review sites, and the list of people who should buy something else instead.
NordVPN
nordvpn.com
The all-rounder: fastest protocol in the field and the widest feature set
NordLynx (WireGuard-based) benchmarks at or near the top in independent speed tests
from $3.39/mo on the 2-year plan
7,000+ servers across 110+ countries
Proton VPN
protonvpn.com
The privacy pick: Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, a usable free tier
The only genuinely usable free tier here — no data cap, no ads
free tier available; paid from $4.49/mo
5,000+ servers across 100+ countries
PureVPN
purevpn.com
The budget option, rebuilt on audits after handing logs to the FBI in 2017
Among the cheapest long-term prices of any established VPN
from $2.15/mo on the 2-year plan
6,000+ servers across 80+ countries
Bitdefender
bitdefender.com
The most consistent detection record in the category, from an independent EU company
AV-TEST scored Total Security 27.0 a full 6/6/6 on Windows 11 in April 2026
Total Security $59.99 first year, list price $109.99
company states 500m+ systems protected across 150+ countries
Norton
norton.com
Top lab scores and an uncapped VPN, sold on a price that triples at renewal
AV-TEST scored Norton 360 a full 6/6/6 on Windows 11 in April 2026
Deluxe $39.99 first year, renews at $124.99
Gen Digital states 500m+ users across Norton, Avast, AVG and Avira
Avast
avast.com
Top lab scores and a genuinely free tier, sold on renewals 44% to 124% above year one
ADVANCED+ at AV-Comparatives — 99.3% real-world protection, Feb–May 2026
$49.08 first year, renews at $77.99/yr (1+1 device)
Windows, macOS, Android and iOS; 1+1 or 10-device licences
AVG
avg.com
Ten devices on the entry plan, the same engine as Avast, a 67% jump at renewal
ADVANCED+ at AV-Comparatives — 99.3% real-world protection, Feb–May 2026
$59.88 first year, renews at $99.99/yr (10 devices)
Windows, macOS, Android and iOS; 10 devices on every paid tier
Incogni
incogni.com
Automated data-broker removals with statutory force behind them — for as long as you keep paying
Requests cite GDPR, UK GDPR, CCPA/CPRA and PIPEDA, so covered brokers have a legal window to comply
$95.88/yr ($7.99/mo) annually, or $15.98/mo billed monthly
420+ data brokers covered by automated removals, 3,000+ more sites on the Unlimited plans
EaseUS
easeus.com
The approachable data-recovery tool: free to scan and preview, expensive to actually recover
Free edition scans and previews without limit, then recovers 500 MB — 2 GB after a social share
free up to 2 GB; Pro from $69.95 for one month, $149.95 lifetime (Windows)
vendor-stated 530m+ users across 190 countries; Windows and Mac builds sold separately
Airalo
airalo.com
The default eSIM store: widest country coverage and the largest catalogue
Coverage in more than 200 countries and regions — the broadest catalogue here
local plans from around $4.50 for 1 GB
plans in 200+ countries and regions
Etihad Airways
etihad.com
The Abu Dhabi connection: a quieter hub than Dubai and a young long-haul fleet
Zayed International is materially less congested than connecting through Dubai
route-dependent; Economy Basic is the entry fare
around 110 destinations from a fleet of roughly 127 aircraft
Hostinger
hostinger.com
The value pick: fast enough for most sites at a genuinely low price
Cheapest credible entry point in the comparison, including on renewal
from $2.99/mo on a long term; entry tier renews near $8/mo
data centres on four continents
Covered inside our rankings; a standalone review is on the way.
Surfshark
surfshark.com
Unlimited devices at the lowest long-term price in the ranking
One subscription covers every device in a household — no seat counting
from $2.19/mo on the 2-year plan
3,200+ servers across 100 countries
Mullvad
mullvad.net
Flat €5 a month, no account, no upsell — and no affiliate programme
Signup issues a random account number — no email, no password, no profile
flat €5/month, no discounts, ever
servers in 45+ countries
ExpressVPN
expressvpn.com
Premium price, the most forgiving apps, strongest router support
Lightway connects quickly and recovers well when a network drops
from $4.99/mo on the longest plan
servers in 105 countries
Covered inside our rankings; a standalone review is on the way.
SafetyWing
safetywing.com
Subscription travel medical cover built for people already abroad
Subscribes by the month instead of forcing a fixed trip length up front
from around $56 per 4 weeks (age-dependent)
members in 180+ countries
Genki
genki.world
European-style long-stay health cover with clearer policy wording
Policy documents written to be read, not to be survived
from around €50 per month
worldwide cover with European underwriting
Holafly
holafly.com
Unlimited-data plans for people who tether and stream on the road
Unlimited data plans rather than a gigabyte allowance
unlimited plans from around $6/day
plans in 190+ destinations
Saily
saily.com
Travel eSIM from the Nord Security team, with privacy tooling built in
Built by the team behind NordVPN — ad blocking and virtual location included
plans from around $3 for 1 GB
plans in 150+ destinations
Nomad
getnomad.app
Cheap per-gigabyte pricing and long validity windows
Among the lowest per-gigabyte prices in the category
plans from around $3 for 1 GB
plans in 170+ destinations
World Nomads
worldnomads.com
The adventure-activity specialist, with real baggage and cancellation cover
Covers a long published list of adventure activities as standard
quote-based; typically higher than subscription cover
available to residents of 100+ countries
Insured Nomads
insurednomads.com
Higher medical limits and evacuation cover for higher-risk destinations
Medical maximums well above the budget subscription plans
quote-based, from roughly $100/month
global cover with regional plan variants
Covered inside our rankings; a standalone review is on the way.
SiteGround
siteground.com
Best support in shared hosting, at a renewal price you should check first
Support that resolves problems instead of pasting documentation links
from $3.99/mo introductory; renews near $18/mo
Google Cloud infrastructure across six regions
Cloudways
cloudways.com
Managed cloud VPS: pay monthly, scale in a click, no long-term lock-in
Real dedicated resources instead of a shared box with noisy neighbours
from $11/mo, billed monthly with no term contract
servers on DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS and Google Cloud
DreamHost
dreamhost.com
Honest month-to-month pricing and a 97-day refund window on shared plans
A 97-day money-back guarantee on shared plans paid by card — among the longest anywhere
from $2.59/mo on a long term; monthly billing available
US data centres, independent employee-owned company
Bluehost
bluehost.com
The name everyone knows, priced on a first term you should read carefully
Cheapest headline price in the comparison
from $1.99/mo introductory; renews near $13/mo
part of a large hosting group