The best VPN services of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Virtual private networks (VPNs) encrypt your data and hide your IP address. But there is far more to VPNs than that: they are essential tools to stop others from spying on your online activities, and they can help protect your sensitive information from theft. A VPN is vital when you are traveling or when you have to use public Wi-Fi networks. They forge an encrypted tunnel between your device and the service you are trying to access, which can prevent eavesdropping and stop you from being so easily tracked online. Suppose you want to appear from somewhere else. In that case, VPNs are also great because they assign you an IP in a different area -- allowing you to unlock access to streaming content libraries, including movies and TV shows, that are locked to specific locations. Also: The best VPNs for iPhone While VPNs are not a silver bullet for security, they are invaluable in keeping your browsing activities hidden by routing traffic through the VPN provider's server network. Fur ... Read full article.