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5 Best VPNs for the UK

Threats are not only from hackers and from fraudsters, but the biggest threats come from within the borders of the UK with all the surveillance that goes on.

With the Snoopers Charter, the government has been granted a legal status to monitor various communication methods from telephone calls to internet use.

Securing privacy and security, there are many other areas the best UK VPN can help.

With a market that is awash with VPN providers, finding the best can be hard. By the end of these top VPN reviews, any user will see which VPN is best, no matter what their online activities include.

The five VPN’s here are among the better ones on the market, these cover areas such as affordability, server switching, and selection, ease of use and zero-logging policies. Read on to find the one that meets all your needs while you are online.


The Best UK VPN

 

1. ExpressVPN

Users choose VPN’s for various reasons, yet, in the end, privacy and anonymity are key factors.

This VPN uses the best security like 256-bit AES encryption, 4,096-bit RSA keys, SHA256 authentication, and perfect forward secrecy.

Now with 5 simultaneous connections, you can use the VPN on more devices than any other. With Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, Linux, BlackBerry, Kindle Fire, game consoles, routers, and many more coming with support, there is no device you can find wanting.

Users can carry out torrenting from optimized servers, and ExpressVPN continually tops the rankings as the best VPN in UK for streaming.

This can be from the US, for Netflix, Hulu, or any other. It can also be when traveling abroad and users want to watch the iPlayer or All 4 etc.

ExpressVPN boasts a 3,000+ network with 160 locations in 94 different countries.

With a kill switch and leak detection as standard, there is no better VPN to keep user identity secure. This VPN also comes with the industries best 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros

  • Based in the BVI outside UK jurisdiction
  • Industry-leading 24/7 live chat
  • Most reliable and Fastest VPN
  • Zero logging policy

Cons

  • No ad-blocker
  • Monthly plan can be expensive

Unique Benefit – Best VPN for UK users to access Netflix and other streaming services


2. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a crowd favorite due to ease of use for new users. Features are a one-click event such as torrenting and accessing streaming content.

Streaming and torrenting have their own dedicated buttons. This works well, yet it can leave advanced users wanting more.

However, bypassing Netflix geo-restrictions is straightforward, just like accessing other streaming sites.

With a network of 5700 servers in 89 countries, it is right up there with the best.

Privacy and security is right at the top with OpenVPN, 256-bit AES encryption, and SHA256 authentication.

DNS leak protection; a kill switch and the Ghostbear feature do more than enough to keep user identity out of any prying eyes.

Pros

  • Built-in ad-blocker
  • Easy to use
  • 45-day money-back guarantee
  • 7 simultaneous connections

Cons

  • Not the best download speeds
  • Some old privacy concerns

Unique Benefit – Best value VPN for security-conscious users


3. Surfshark

With an affordable price and slick client, this new cheap VPN over 2-years is making a name for itself.

It comes with the best OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and IKEv2 along with AES256-bit encryption. It has an ad-blocker, kill switch and a multi-hop feature for extra privacy.

It is one of a few that is located outside the five eyes in the BVI, and sticks to a zero-logging policy.

With just 800 servers in 50 countries, it isn’t the largest of VPN providers, yet it does match some of the second-tier in performance.

It is fast enough for streaming, and torrenting, which is allowed with open arms, P2P servers are in limited locations, so you may be diverted automatically.

It accesses UK streaming services as easy as it can to the ones in the USA such as Hulu, Netflix, and others.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Comes with built-in ad-blocker
  • Zero data logging
  • Based outside any jurisdiction

Cons

  • Users can experience some slow speeds
  • Still a small network

Unique benefit – Top VPN for UK users who want unlimited device connections to stream Channel 4 or other UK services.


4. NordVPN

NordVPN UK users can be sure they have the best security possible. With TOR over VPN, a double-hop feature, and a Killswitch, this provider does all it can to keep users anonymous.

Using OpenVPN over TCP and 256-bit AES encryption, it delivers military-grade security and encryption.

It has a network of 5,500 servers over 60 countries, so it is well placed to deliver the second-best streaming service from any VPN.

It works with US streaming sites like Netflix, and UK users who are out of the country; it can just as easily unblock BBC iPlayer.

With 6 connections available, users can partake in torrenting one device while they go about other activities on another. Device support comprises Windows, Android and iOS, macOS and many more.

Based outside any five eyes jurisdiction, there is no government likely to hound them. With one of the strictest zero-logging policies, it is unlikely; they would have anything to hand over.

Pros

  • Large network
  • Higher than average security features
  • Can block malware and ads
  • Based outside any jurisdiction

Cons

  • Monthly plans are expensive
  • Suffers some network slowdowns

Unique benefit – Best VPN UK users can use for ultimate privacy


5. IPVanish

With 10 connections available on devices such as Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Fire TV, this VPN can cater for nearly everyone.

IPVanish’s network isn’t the largest at 1,000 servers in 60 countries, there is enough coverage. Due to this, it can be ideally situated for any torrenting and P2P file sharing as well as media streaming.

Geo-restrictions for BBC iPlayer, US Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are all bypassed easily with high levels of encryption.

Security is taken care of by OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, and IKEv2 protocols. Users can also use SOCKS5 for faster connections, yet this is at the risk of privacy.

There is a zero-logging policy, yet this is the only VPN in this list that is based inside a five eyes country.

Pros

  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Zero logging policy
  • Automatic cycling of IP addresses
  • Good server placement

Cons

  • Interface not as user-friendly
  • Based inside 5 eyes country

Unique benefit – IPVanish UK movie fans may find this to be the best Kodi VPN there is.


Are VPN’s Legal in The UK?

As much surveillance there is inside the UK, and the extent of data retention by ISP’s, there are many who wonder, “are VPN’s legal?”

No matter how much of a struggle there is to stamp out piracy, there has not yet been any law against VPN’s and their use.

The primary thing users do need to consider if their VPN of choice. A VPN that is based inside the UK can be obliged to hand over user data if asked.

The same can be said for any ISP that is located in any five eyes country. The UK is one of the founders.


Why You Need a VPN for the UK

There are two key reasons there is a need for a VPN in the UK. First is user privacy. Every time a user connects through a UK ISP, no matter if, it is a visitor in a hotel, you are on your phone, or you are at home.

These ISP’s are obliged to record every detail of your online activity, this information they retain for 12-months.

In this period, there are up to 48 different UK authorities that can ask for this information without a warrant.

Police and other governing agencies have the power to hack into devices as they see fit, and an ISP is responsible for helping them do this.

The second reason for a VPN is to access content from other countries, which sits behind geo-restrictions.

This is the likes of all the streaming services that are privy to US residents. The came can be said if you are outside the UK on holiday, and wish to watch ITV or the best UK TV shows that are on.

Without a VPN, this isn’t possible, yet using one makes this very easy to do.


How About a Free VPN for the UK?

There is much more to these services than VPN cost users need to consider. Many free VPN services use this kind of software to harvest user data and preferences for marketing.

Either they sell it on to third parties, or they use it themselves for targeting ads.

Other free services actually carry out malicious activities on users without them knowing. Even in the case of what appears to be the best free VPN UK users can use from a large provider, there are catches.

These are stripped back versions, so users don’t get a full feel for the service. Aside from this, some sell user bandwidth as a means of making money.

There is no free VPN service that offers as many features or as much safety as one of the premium services in the reviews.


The Snoopers Charter in the UK

The Snoopers Charter was introduced in 2016 by the Houses of Parliament and made law by the Royal Assent.

This new Investigatory Powers Act has been debated. It was even taken to the high court to be overruled, yet it was concluded the law falls in line with Human Rights, and its dismissal was rejected.

This law gives the government free rein to do as they wish concerning spying on UK residents, or anyone who visits the UK. This leads to a violation of free expression and a right to privacy.


Finally

There is little doubt that all the data retention and matters of surveillance will not get any better. Things are bad enough, and even if they don’t become any worse.

There is still a massive amount of encroachment into user’s privacy, even if they are unaware of the problem.

The only way users can be sure they do, all they can to stay safe and secure is by using a quality VPN service that comes with high-levels of security without hampering their internet experience.

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Streamr Go

StreamrGo is always about privacy, specifically protecting your privacy online by increasing security and better standard privacy practices.