# How to choose a VPN: what it does and does not do Source: https://listme.name/blog/how-to-choose-a-vpn Published: 2026-10-10 A VPN sends your connection through a server run by the provider. That hides your traffic from the network you are on and changes the IP address that websites see. It does not make you anonymous, and it does not protect a device from malware or phishing. Choose one by what it can and cannot change for you, then compare the company behind it, its apps and how you pay. ## What a VPN does and does not do A VPN encrypts the traffic between your device and the VPN server. On public Wi-Fi, that stops the network operator from reading the traffic. Your internet provider can still see that you connect to a VPN server. That moves the trust to the VPN provider, which now sits in the path of your traffic. Websites see the VPN server's address instead of yours. Most major sites already use HTTPS, which encrypts the connection between your browser and the site, so for ordinary browsing a VPN adds less protection than many people expect. A VPN does not make you anonymous. Logging in to an account, cookies and your browser's fingerprint can still identify you. A VPN also does not stop malware, phishing or weak passwords. [IVPN](/software/ivpn)'s own site makes the same point: it says it does not promise anonymity, and that a VPN cannot solve online tracking on its own. ## When you may not need one You may not need a VPN if: - You mostly browse HTTPS websites on a network you trust, such as your home network. - Your main concern is ads and trackers. A browser or a blocker addresses those more directly. The [web browser guide](/blog/how-to-choose-a-web-browser) covers the browser side. - You need access to a workplace network. That usually means a company-provided VPN, and the company decides how it is set up. - You expect a VPN to hide your activity from a website you are logged in to. It will not. A VPN is more useful on public Wi-Fi, where it keeps your traffic from being read by other people on the same network. > **Comparison table:** [Best VPN services, side by side](https://listme.name/best/vpn-services#compare-table). Score, price, platforms, free plan, company base for 11 products in one table. ## Jurisdiction, open-source apps and audits Vendors describe their base in different ways. The ranking lists Mullvad as based in Sweden, with a registered address in Gothenburg. [Proton VPN](/software/proton-vpn) describes itself on its site as Swiss-based. IVPN is registered in Gibraltar. [Windscribe](/software/windscribe), [ExpressVPN](/software/expressvpn) and [TunnelBear](/software/tunnelbear) do not state their company base on their sites, according to the ranking. The country where a company is registered affects which legal orders it can receive. It says less about what the company keeps. Read the privacy policy first, since it states what the company says it stores. Audit reports, where a vendor publishes them, cover a narrower set of questions. Proton VPN, Mullvad, [IVPN](/software/ivpn) and Windscribe publish source code for their apps, so independent reviewers can read it. Mullvad and IVPN publish their apps under GPL-3.0, Proton VPN's Android app is under GPL-3.0, and Windscribe's desktop client is under GPL-2.0. Reading the apps does not show how the servers are run. > **Compare:** [Mullvad VPN vs Proton VPN](https://listme.name/compare/mullvad-vpn-vs-proton-vpn). 92.5 and 91.0, ranked #1 and #2 in best VPN services. Audits are a separate check, and this article only repeats audit claims that a vendor makes on its own site. IVPN's site says it commits to annual security audits. The ranking does not credit audits to the other providers, because their listings do not state one. If audits matter to you, ask the vendor for its reports and check their dates and scope. ## Payment, accounts and platforms Some VPNs ask for less personal information at sign-up. Mullvad creates accounts from a generated account number and accepts cash and cryptocurrency. IVPN lets you sign up with no email address. Windscribe's free plan needs no payment or email to start. Payment privacy covers the account, not the connection. Paying with cash or cryptocurrency limits what the payment reveals, but the VPN can still see your traffic, so the trust question stays the same. Prices differ in shape. Mullvad charges one flat 5 euros per month and has no free plan. IVPN sells paid plans only, starting from 2 dollars for one week. [ExpressVPN](/software/expressvpn) is a subscription with a 30-day money-back guarantee. [TunnelBear](/software/tunnelbear)'s free plan is capped at 2GB of browsing, and its Unlimited tier starts at 3.33 dollars a month. > **Ranking:** [Best free VPN services](https://listme.name/best/vpn-services/free). 4 products ranked. Top pick: Proton VPN (91.0). Check which platforms your devices run and how many devices a plan covers. Mullvad allows five devices per account. ExpressVPN covers routers, smart TVs and game consoles under one subscription. The table summarizes six of the ranked services. | Service | Platforms listed | Free plan | Open-source apps | Company base | |---|---|---|---|---| | [Mullvad VPN](/software/mullvad-vpn) | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | No | Yes | Sweden | | [Proton VPN](/software/proton-vpn) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chromebook | Yes | Yes | Switzerland, per its site | | [IVPN](/software/ivpn) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | No | Yes | Gibraltar | | [Windscribe](/software/windscribe) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, browsers | Yes | Desktop client | Not stated on site | | ExpressVPN | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, routers | No | No | Not stated on site | | TunnelBear | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, browser extension | Yes, 2GB | No | Not stated on site | ## Our picks and what to do next The ranking orders the VPN services as follows, with the editorial score in brackets: - [Mullvad VPN](/software/mullvad-vpn) (92.5): open-source apps, anonymous account numbers and one flat price, with no free plan. - [Proton VPN](/software/proton-vpn) (91.0): a free plan, open-source clients and paid tiers for advanced features and the fastest speeds. - [IVPN](/software/ivpn) (89.5): open-source apps and sign-up without an email address, with no free plan. - [Windscribe](/software/windscribe) (84.0): a free plan that needs no payment or email to start, with apps for most platforms. - [ExpressVPN](/software/expressvpn) (83.0): broad device coverage, including routers and smart TVs, with no free plan. - [TunnelBear](/software/tunnelbear) (79.5): simple apps and a free plan with 2GB of browsing. The ranking also includes [NordVPN](/software/nordvpn) (85.5), a subscription VPN with apps for most devices and a large server network, but no free plan, and its apps are not fully open source. The [best VPN services ranking](/best/vpn-services) shows the live order with the full criteria. Start with the problem you want to solve. If you only need protection on public Wi-Fi, a free plan may be enough to test an app. If you need open-source code or coverage for routers and TVs, check those points against the table above. Read the vendor's privacy policy and refund terms before you pay. For the wider privacy picture, see [privacy-focused apps](/blog/best-privacy-focused-apps).