Independent VPN comparison

The right VPN for you, decided on the facts

Tell us what you need it for and we'll match you to one of six VPNs we track on jurisdiction, independently audited no-logs policies, servers and real price — not on fear, and not on speed tests we never ran.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links here are affiliate links: if you buy through them TunnelScore may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes your price or our rankings. Full disclosure.

PRIVACY DOSSIER 6 files · published facts, no speed tests
NO. 01

NordVPN

Panama
Outside 14-Eyes Independently audited
Servers
Over 9,300 servers. Country count varies by source/counting method, commonly cited around 110–140+ countries (security.org reports 137 countries; some sources cite 110+). NordVPN also markets coverage of 118 countries / 211+ locations after a 2025–2026 network expansion.
Devices
10 simultaneous connections per account (a router counts as one slot but protects all devices behind it).
From
$3.09/mo
Visit NordVPN →
NO. 02

Surfshark

Netherlands
14-Eyes reach No-logs · audit unclear
Servers
4,500+ servers across 100 countries (per the official surfshark.com/servers page, June 2026).
Devices
Unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account (free 7-day trial is limited to 3 devices).
From
$1.78/mo
Visit Surfshark →
NO. 03

ExpressVPN

British Virgin Islands (BVI)
Outside 14-Eyes Independently audited
Servers
3,000+ servers across 105 countries
Devices
Tier-dependent: 10 devices (Basic), 12 devices (Advanced), 14 devices (Pro)
From
$3.49/mo
Visit ExpressVPN →
NO. 04

CyberGhost VPN

Romania (outside the 5/9/14
Outside 14-Eyes Independently audited
Servers
~9,900 servers across 100 countries / 125 locations per CyberGhost's official server page (some third-party reviews cite 11,000+ — the provider's own current figure is ~9,900). Includes self-owned NoSpy servers in Bucharest, Romania.
Devices
7 devices simultaneously per subscription
From
$2.03/mo
Visit CyberGhost VPN →
NO. 05

Proton VPN

Switzerland
Outside 14-Eyes Independently audited
Servers
20,000+ servers across 140+ countries (provider claim on official pricing page).
Devices
10 devices simultaneously on VPN Plus and Proton Unlimited (Free plan: 1 device).
From
$2.99/mo
Visit Proton VPN →
NO. 06

Private Internet Access (PIA)

United States
14-Eyes reach Independently audited
Servers
No fixed public server count advertised currently; PIA operates a large network ("NextGen" 10Gbps servers) with coverage across 90-91 countries including all 50 U.S. states.
Devices
Unlimited simultaneous device connections on one subscription
From
$2.03/mo
Visit Private Internet Access (PIA) →

Find your VPN

Best match · 92/100SurfsharkNetherlands · Unlimited devices
  • A strong fit for streaming
  • Entry price ($1.78/mo on the long term) is within your $6/mo budget
  • Unlimited simultaneous devices

⚠ That entry price is a long-term intro rate — it renews higher. Check the renewal before you commit.

Also worth a look

90/100NordVPNPanama

A strong fit for streaming — That entry price is a long-term intro rate — it renews higher. Check the renewal before you commit.

View NordVPN
88/100ExpressVPNBritish Virgin Islands (BVI)

A strong fit for streaming — That entry price is a long-term intro rate — it renews higher. Check the renewal before you commit.

View ExpressVPN

Affiliate disclosure: Some links here are affiliate links: if you buy through them TunnelScore may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes your price or our rankings. Full disclosure.

Compare all six at a glance

Jurisdiction, servers, devices and entry price — verified 2026-06-18.
VPN Privacy Based in Devices From Refund Visit site
NordVPN A Panama 10 devices $3.09/mo 30-day Get deal
Surfshark B+ Netherlands Unlimited devices $1.78/mo 30-day Get deal
ExpressVPN A- British Virgin Islands (BVI) 10 devices $3.49/mo 30-day Get deal
Proton VPN A+ Switzerland 10 devices $2.99/mo 30-day Get deal
CyberGhost VPN B+ Romania (outside the 5/9/14 7 devices $2.03/mo 14-day Get deal
Private Internet Access (PIA) B+ United States Unlimited devices $2.03/mo 30-day Get deal

What actually matters in a VPN

Most "best VPN" lists rank on affiliate payout and vague speed claims. We rank on what you can verify: the jurisdiction a provider answers to, whether its no-logs policy was independently audited, the network size, how many devices you can cover, and the price you actually renew at — because VPN intro deals jump hard after the first term.

Our picks come from each provider's published specs and audit reports, cited and dated — not from benchmarks we didn't run. Read how we compare, or compare every VPN's price and renewal.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best VPN in 2026?
It depends on your priority. NordVPN is the audited all-rounder; Surfshark gives unlimited devices at the lowest entry price; ExpressVPN is the simplest pick for streaming and China; Proton VPN is the privacy hardliner's choice. The recommender above matches a VPN to your use case, devices and budget.
Are cheap VPNs safe to use?
A low price is fine if the provider has a clear, independently audited no-logs policy and a sensible jurisdiction. The risk is with free VPNs that monetise your data. Among paid options, Surfshark and Private Internet Access are inexpensive yet run audited no-logs policies, so cheap does not have to mean unsafe.
How does TunnelScore make money?
We earn affiliate commissions when you sign up with some VPNs through our links, at no extra cost to you. Commissions never change our rankings, which are set on published specs, jurisdiction, audit status and price. See our full affiliate disclosure.
Do you run your own speed tests?
No, and we say so plainly. We do not publish synthetic speed or leak tests. Our comparison is built from each provider's published specifications, jurisdiction and independent audit reports, with sources cited and a last-verified date. That transparency is our methodology.