How We Rate VPNs

We test each VPN over a minimum of 14 days before scoring. Our goal is to produce a ranking that matches the experience an ordinary US reader would have paying out of pocket — not a spec-sheet comparison.

Testing environment

• Internet connection: 1 Gbps symmetric fiber, US Midwest
• Operating systems tested: Windows 11, macOS 14, iOS 17, Android 14, Ubuntu 22.04
• Protocols tested: provider's recommended default plus WireGuard, Lightway, NordLynx, or OpenVPN where applicable
• Browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox with fresh profiles for each streaming test

Scoring categories and weightings

Privacy (30% of final score)

• Independent no-logs audit from reputable firm within last 24 months
• Jurisdiction outside Fourteen Eyes preferred
• RAM-only / diskless server infrastructure
• Transparent ownership and company history
• Transparency reports

Speed (25%)

Measured using Ookla Speedtest CLI, averaged across three runs per server, tested against a 1 Gbps symmetric baseline. Minimum acceptable: 70% throughput retention on nearby servers. Tested on WireGuard / Lightway / NordLynx; not OpenVPN.

Streaming and unblocking (20%)

Tested against eight services: Netflix US, Netflix UK, Netflix Japan, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video. Each service tested from three different servers in the appropriate country over a two-week window. Score is the percentage of tests that unblocked without "VPN detected" errors.

Features (15%)

• Kill switch on every platform
• Split tunneling
• Modern protocol support
• Specialized servers (streaming, P2P, obfuscation)
• Router, smart-TV, and console support
• Number of simultaneous connections

Value (10%)

Effective price per month on the most popular plan, quality of refund guarantee, presence of bundled services that provide genuine value (not just fluff).

Testing cadence

We re-test the top five VPNs every quarter. Emergency re-tests happen within 30 days of:

• A new independent audit publication
• A new protocol rollout
• A security incident or disclosed breach
• Ownership change or parent-company acquisition
• A notable pricing change

Editorial independence from affiliate relationships

We earn affiliate commissions when readers purchase through our links. These commissions fund the site. They do not influence rankings.

Specifically: the VPN ranked #1 in our review is ranked there because it performed best in our tests, not because it pays us the most. We confirm this by comparing affiliate payouts against rankings quarterly; if our top pick changes, rankings are updated before the commission difference would factor into the decision.

Corrections

If you find a factual inaccuracy, email us at editor@ustopvpns.us.org with the URL and the specific claim. We confirm and correct within 48 hours, and we flag corrected pages with a revision note.