Best VPN for the USA
Looking for the best USA VPN service? Want to unblock Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and other streaming services? Are you concerned by the US government’s highly invasive privacy laws? Then check out our best US VPN recommendations below!
The best VPNs for America explained
VPN usage in America has soared in recent years with both US citizens and its visitors now under some of the strictest privacy laws found anywhere in the world. All online activity is highly monitored by both the CIA and NSA, and the US play an integral part of the the renowned Five Eyes network allowing user activity to be freely shared with other countries should it be requested.
Online data collection and monitoring is big business in the US and user data will often be unknowingly shared or sold to third parties without consent (and it’s totally legal would you believe!). With a US VPN turned on, activity such as this will be blocked and your data kept safe.
When it comes to streaming, the US government have recently become far stricter on tracing individuals who may have accessed or streamed copyrighted material and can impose some significant fines, or in extreme cases prison, to those found doing so. A US VPN will eliminate this risk and allow access to whatever content the user wishes to watch (be it live sports, movies or TV plus much more!).
A US VPN also has the added benefits of unblocking geo-restricted content from around the world such as BBC iPlayer or hidden Netflix libraries, and can bypass restrictions placed in schools or on office networks so prying eyes can no longer see you’re doing online.
What do you need from a VPN in the USA?
A US VPN needs to be fast, reliable and highly secure, preventing your online data being compromised or exposed to hackers. Our best VPNs for the USA all include:
- Large VPN server choice in the USA and internationally
- Military grade privacy protection and strict logging policies
- Works well with Netflix, HBO and other popular US streaming services
- Fast and reliable speeds
- Well designed VPN applications and easy to use
Melvyn's top 5 VPNs for the USA
CyberGhost
CyberGhost are an exceptional VPN provider with industry leading levels of privacy, worldwide server locations ideal for torrenting with user friendly applications that flawlessly unblock US Netflix, BBC iPlayer and other popular streaming services. If you want a super-fast, zero logs, easy to use VPN… then look no further!
Compatible with
Summary
Super-fast, zero logs, easy to use apps and friendly 24/7 customer support… you can see why it’s our number one recommended provider!
Our score:
5.0
★★★★★ 5/5
Price from:
$2.75
per month
NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the best and most popular VPN providers out there. It strikes the perfect balance for privacy concerned users and those looking for lightning fast speeds. It’s great for unblocking content such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer and also supports P2P and torrenting. Add to this its no logs policy and impeccable security, Nord sure does tick all the boxes!
Compatible with
Summary
Outstanding speeds, zero logs, and award winning 24/7 customer support… NordVPN is up there with the very best in the VPN market!
Our score:
4.9
★★★★★ 4.9/5
Price from:
$3.71
per month
Surfshark
Surfshark’s rise from zero to hero has been nothing short of outstanding and has quickly become a favourite amongst VPN users worldwide since joining the market in 2018. A secure, no logs VPN with great speeds, it’s ideal for streaming & torrenting. It’s extremely competitively priced, simple to use and allows users to protect an unlimited number of devices.
Compatible with
Summary
Super user-friendly apps (ideal for beginners), great speeds and unlimited device allowance… Surfshark is making some serious waves!
Our score:
4.8
★★★★★ 4.8/5
Price from:
$2.49
per month
Ivacy
Ivacy are a rock solid, highly secure, no logs VPN provider that has recently reinvented itself to be one of the top, yet cheapest, providers. With super-fast speeds from 1,000+ worldwide servers, you can stream HD content from all the popular providers such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ with ease. Their apps are slick and full of awesome features, so putting all these great points together make Ivacy a great all-round option!
Compatible with
Summary
Well polished user-friendly apps, market leading speeds and an outstanding price… Ivacy are major players in the VPN market!
Our score:
4.7
★★★★★ 4.7/5
Price from:
$1.16
per month
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN are one of the most recognisable names on the market, offering best-in-class zero logs privacy, fantastic speeds, awesome features and easy to use applications. ExpressVPN is a true market leader, and whilst it comes with a premium price tag (compared to others), users are rewarded with an outstanding product!
Compatible with
Summary
Blazing-fast speeds, exceptional app usability and 24/7 customer support… ExpressVPN is a real force to be reckoned with!
Our score:
4.8
★★★★★ 4.8/5
Price from:
$8.32
per month
USA VPN related news
USA VPN FAQs...
Do I need a VPN in the USA?
In our view, a VPN is essential in the USA and it’s no wonder they are hugely popular with individuals and businesses located in the USA. The US has strict online monitoring which has been made worse by the recent changes in law allowing ISP’s to harvest vast quantities of your personal data which can then be sold on to third parties. Data mining is huge business in the US and this activity is a genuine threat to your safety and privacy online. A VPN is a very cost effective way of to give you online privacy and prevent your data from being stored and sold on.
Are VPNs legal in the USA?
Yes. It’s totally legal to use a VPN in the USA to protect your data by hiding hiding your real IP address. There are no laws against US citizens or visitors connecting to VPN servers and VPN usage in America is widely adopted for personal and business use.
Why is my data more vulnerable without a VPN in the USA?
Users often don’t understand that by not using a recommended VPN in the US, all their online communication such as email, text, phone calls and browsing history is stored by US ISP’s. This data is harvested and can be sold on to third parties both within and outside of the country. A VPN is an essential online safeguard for USA users.
Can a US VPN unblock US Netflix content?
Yes. If you are outside the USA and want to access geo restricted content. A VPN allows you to connect to a USA server for this reason. All our Top 5 American VPNs have good US server coverage meaning you can access geo-restricted content with fast speeds. Similarly if you are in the United States a VPN allows you access content such as BBC iPlayer and many other platforms that are licensed and geo-restricted elsewhere.
Are US VPN servers fast?
From our extensive testing of the top 5 US VPN providers, server availability in the USA is often a top feature. Many US VPNs have multi city/state servers that you can connect to and work robustly whether you are in the USA or overseas. Generally speaking you may get higher speeds by connecting to a server that is located physically closer to you and the more US VPN servers your provider offers can mean less congestion for its users.
What are the best US VPN features?
US VPNs are packed with features to help protect you online and unblock content. We are confident that all of our top 5 US VPNs will perform well and have extensive server locations and some extra features like VPN kill switches and military grade encryption technology. Our favourite US VPNs are simple to download, very easy to use and have strict log polices.
Should I use a free VPN in the USA?
We recommend you view our free VPN guide here for free US VPNs. Whilst there are some good free VPN providers for the USA, in our experience, paying for a VPN gives you far better reliability, a more secure VPN, much better speeds and more online freedom.