Help Me Select a VPN.

Discussion in 'privacy technology' started by Wendi, Aug 17, 2021.

  1. Wendi

    Wendi Registered Member

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    I'm thinking about adding a VPN (for Android and Windows) and as a single mom on a school teacher's salary I really need to keep the cost down. I came across two that seem to fit the bill, CyberGhost and Surfshark, $2.25 and $2.50 per mo. respectively (paying for 24 mo. up front). So I would appreciate receiving feedback on those two, or any other VPN that you consider 'better' (i.e., faster & safer) at a comparable price-point.
     
  2. LoneWolf

    LoneWolf Registered Member

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    I can only suggest / recommend 3.
    IVPN, the most expensive of the 3 at 100 dollars a year USD.
    Mullvad at 6 dollars month.
    Proton, basic is 4 dollars a month and goes up from there. They do have a free version.
    As far as security and privacy any of these would fit the bill.
     
  3. Joxx

    Joxx Registered Member

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    If you can pay a little more go with Proton. Its Swiss based servers are a plus privacy wise.
     
  4. Dragon1952

    Dragon1952 Registered Member

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  5. n8chavez

    n8chavez Registered Member

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    Agreed! I recommend, and use Mullvad. I prefer them because they allow for Wireguard, have a killswitch, and are the only VPN I know of that can run as a local proxy (meaning, I can set an app to run through 10.64.0.1:1080, and that app will only communicate through Mullvad locally.) Mullvad runs in Sweden, with VPN-friendly jurisdiction laws and keeps no logs. I've tried 25 or so VPNs and Mullvad is the one I keep coming back to. If you have to go elsewhere, look at NordVPN. They offer Wireguard, a killswitch (two types) and they use RAM servers (meaning, no user logs are ever stored and the ones that have to exist for the service to work runs in RAM and will gets erased as soon as the server loses power. NordVPN runs in Panama, with very VPN-friendly jurisdiction laws.

    NEVER trust a VPN based in the US, which includes P.I.A.
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2021
  6. longshots

    longshots Registered Member

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    This is probably your best choice. Try the free plan - if it works, that's great.
    If you feel you can benefit from upgrading the price is $3.25 per month - on a 2 year plan.

    As your looking for a reliable VPN at an affordable price I won't try and confuse you with a bunch of technical jargon which you may, or may not, understand.
     
  7. jaypeecee

    jaypeecee Registered Member

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    Hi @LoneWolf

    Last year, I used IVPN. Even though the product is OK, Customer Service is not good (I'm being very polite). Suffice it to say that I would never use IVPN again.
     
  8. kC_

    kC_ Registered Member

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    using proton standard, no issues!
     
  9. jaypeecee

    jaypeecee Registered Member

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    Hi @kC_

    I have been using ProtonVPN Plus for the last year and, like yourself, I have not had any problems.

    JPC
     
  10. Less

    Less Registered Member

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    I am using Metahuman VPN.
    The 1 year openvpn subscription costs $10 for 4 devices connection with all the listed servers. $1 if paid monthly.
    For wireguard, for a single server, $5 for 1 year.
    Very cheap subscriptions and the no logs policy seems convincing.
     
  11. imdb

    imdb Registered Member

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    @Wendi

    hi, wendi. i'd recommend expressvpn and ivpn but since they're both out of your price range and you're considering cg and surfshark, i recommend you go for adguard vpn. works on both windows and android and there's currently a discount on stacksocial that costs $39.99 for the 5 year subscription plan. can't beat the price. ;)
     
    Last edited: Aug 18, 2021
  12. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    I've been using OctaneVPN just over two weeks now. It is very cheap, at $1.67 a month, or $19.99 a year, and they claim to keep no logs.

    So far it has been fast and reliable. I always connect to the same location, as I consistently get good speeds, so I haven't had the need so far, to connect to any other servers. As well as that, I've had no issues so far accessing any websites, which is good and this is something that has often been an issue for me with other VPNs. As an example, with Windscribe, with some servers, I was not able to access Wilders. One issue, is that since their Windows VPN client has not been updated for a few years, they only support OpenVPN and not newer protocols such as WireGuard.

    If you can afford it, it would probably be preferable to use a better known VPN which is well regarded for privacy.
     
  13. khanyash

    khanyash Registered Member

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    @Wendi

    Would you mind enabling your Private Message/Conversation?
     
  14. Wendi

    Wendi Registered Member

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    Hey guys, sorry I've be MIA, but I've been working (at lunch now). Thanks for all of the feedback - lots to digest and sort-out here! :confused:
     
  15. Cutting_Edgetech

    Cutting_Edgetech Registered Member

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    I would recommend AirVPN if you have an acceptable form of payment. I have really liked them in the past, but when I tried to renew my subscription a few months ago I was unable because VISA prepaid cards here in the US will not make payments to them, and my bank refused to process their payment also because their payments are processed outside the US in the UK. I started a support ticket on it with AirVPN and they informed me to pay by bitcoin. I didn't have a bitcoin account at the time so I had to switch to Private Internet Access, but I would not recommend PIA since they operate from the US. PIA was also acquired by some shady characters that had something to do with malware in the past, if I remember correctly. I don't use my VPN for anything very sensitive in nature so PIA has been sufficient for now. PIA was incredibly cheap though! I purchased a 3 year subscription for a little over $3 a month, if I remember correctly. If I had the choice though, I would prefer AirVPN over most VPN providers. Also, AirVPN is not very expensive, especially for what they offer.
     
  16. Victek

    Victek Registered Member

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    I'm currently using Surfshark. The performance is very good. The price is affordable and they're not based in the USA. Their software also seems good - runs fine on Windows 10 and Android 10. You can get a free trial:

    https://surfshark.com/vpn-free-trial
     
  17. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    It so happens I've been using their free trial (which does not allow for choice of servers!) over the past week and every time I connect it is to their same server in Atlanta GA. Leaves me wondering how many servers they have in the USA and where? :doubt:
     
  18. pvsurfer

    pvsurfer Registered Member

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    Look here... (I'm not a subscriber so I can't attest to any of their claims).
     
  19. Palancar

    Palancar Registered Member

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    100% believe in AirVpn. I am personally involved in their forums and have been a linux user-helper there for many years now, which is why I hesitate to answer on these threads trying to stay neutral, LOL. These are ALL actual physical servers, no bullshit fake stuff anywhere or any country. BTW - my credit cards are accepted from within the USA so it must be something at your bank. On my end the speed and reliability is virtually flawless. Just my .02
     
  20. pvsurfer

    pvsurfer Registered Member

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    @Cutting_Edgetech, @Palancar,

    Air VPM may be excellent (I wouldn't know), but at its current prices it's about double Wendi's VPN budget!
     
  21. Trooper

    Trooper Registered Member

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    Another note here for Mullvad. I have zero issues with them.
     
  22. longshots

    longshots Registered Member

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    Nice call.
    That's what I love about this forum.
    Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
     
  23. n8chavez

    n8chavez Registered Member

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    AirVPN is great, but I can't for the life of me understand why they are so resistant to the Wireguard protocol. It's not like it's brand new and untested. It's been around for a few years now and is much faster than openvpn udp. AirVPN, along with Eddie, looks very outdated.
     
  24. Palancar

    Palancar Registered Member

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    You have to do your homework. During Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc..... they run specials every single year. Last year I got two years for less than 75 bucks. I never pay full retail when I know about their marketing discounts. Disclaimer: I am a 100% linux user and forum helper there. I can't speak to Windows as I wouldn't use it on any machine for daily stuff.
     
  25. dogbite

    dogbite Registered Member

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    @Wendi if you can hold on till Black Friday you save a lot.

    I can recommend:
    1. AirVPN
    2. Mullvad
    3. Windscribe (I have not tested myself this one but looks ok and it's a bit cheaper).
     
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