The best VPNs for USA

Accessing services inside the United States is one of the many reasons people use VPNs. In this article, we'll explore the best VPNs for the USA.

The US is home to many of the world’s most popular TV broadcasts, shows and movies. Whether it's Fox News, Comedy Central or Netflix's massive library of content only available within the US, there are dozens of services that are geo-restricted, and require an IP address within the US as a prerequisite for access.

This is where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) comes in. The best VPNs can create encrypted tunnels to US servers, which you can use to safely and securely connect to your online services in the US while traveling out of the country. We’ll get into more detail about individual providers later in this article. In the meantime, here’s a quick summary of the top US VPNs.

Best VPNs for the USA:

1. NordVPN: Best VPN for the USA. An industry stalwart, with fast connections and excellent security. Has 1,970+ US servers spread across 15+ locations, and affordable plans that come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for the USA. Offers unlimited device connections, fast speeds, and access to 600+ US servers in 25+ cities.
3. ExpressVPN: Great for accessing US-based streaming services. Highly secure, with RAM-only servers in 16+ US cities.
4. Proton VPN: Advanced security features and strong on privacy. Offers speed boosts for long-distance connections and provides access to 300+ US servers.
5. IPVanish: US-based provider offering fast connection speeds. Has 1,100+ US servers spread across 20+ locations.
6. Atlas VPN: Can reliably access a range of geo-restricted streaming services in the US. Unlimited device connections and servers in seven US locations.

Choosing the best VPN from the many on offer isn’t easy, which is why we used the following criteria to narrow the field.

• Number of US-based servers
• Ability to access US streaming services
• Connection speeds
• Value for money
• Privacy and security
• Ease of use

To be included as one of our top three providers, VPNs must have independently audited software as well as audited security infrastructure. They must also be using RAM-only (diskless) servers. You can read more about our testing methodology later in this article.

Summary table

Best VPNs for the USA

So, without further ado, here are the best VPNs to use in the USA.

NordVPN has a huge number of US servers to choose from and some of the fastest connection speeds on the market. This is primarily down to its proprietary connection protocol, NordLynx, which is a faster version of WireGuard.

NordVPN is able to access all of the major US streaming platforms, including Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN, and Hulu. This is made possible by its SmartPlay feature, which works by switching your DNS servers and hiding your IP address when you try to access unavailable content. Other features of NordVPN include DNS leak protection; a kill switch; auto-connect; and threat protection, which helps prevent viruses, malware, and trackers from reaching your device.

Your internet traffic is protected using 256-bit AES channel encryption in conjunction with SHA384 authentication and a 3072-bit DHE-RSA key exchange. The company also operates a no-logs policy that has been independently audited. For additional privacy, subscribers can connect to the Tor network in a single click; route connections through two NordVPN servers; or hide their use of a VPN entirely by using an obfuscated server.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and Android TV. If NordVPN’s limit of six simultaneous connections isn’t enough, it’s possible to manually install it on compatible routers.

BEST VPN FOR THE USA: NordVPN is our top choice VPN for the USA. It has a large number of US-based servers and a variety of extra-secure connection options. Works great with US streaming servers and provides very fast connection speeds. Plans come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark is a reliable provider with 600+ RAM-only servers in the US, which are spread across 25+ cities.

These offer fast, stable connections that use AES-256-GCM encryption. You can double up on privacy using MultiHop servers, and the company adheres to a strict no-logs policy. Features include kill switches in all apps; split tunneling to allow select apps to connect via the VPN tunnel, and an ad blocker.

A stealth mode connects you to an obfuscated server that hides the fact that you’re using a VPN. This is useful if you’re connecting from a country that restricts internet use. Surfshark is a great option for accessing streaming services and works well with US versions of Netflix, as well as Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock, Disney+, and international TV platforms such as BBC iPlayer. It also has a smart DNS feature that helps you access US geo-locked content on devices – like smart TVs – which aren’t compatible with VPNs. The feature works by changing the device’s DNS address to one based in the US.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. Subscribers can connect as many devices as they want simultaneously.

BEST BUDGET OPTION: Surfshark has servers in a large number of US cities and enables easy access to US streaming services - including MLB, NFL, and NBA blackout games! Great value subscriptions allow for unlimited device connections and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN is an industry veteran with a solid reputation for both privacy and security. It has a huge network of speedy RAM-only servers in 29+ US locations. Features include public WiFi protection; a kill switch; split tunneling for routing select apps through the VPN; and private DNS on every server.

Internet traffic is protected using AES-256 encryption and the company keeps no activity or connection logs – this claim has been independently audited. For additional privacy, users can subscribe to the service via the Tor network and pay with cryptocurrency.

Streaming is straightforward, even with devices that don’t support VPN connections. This is thanks to ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer feature, which allows you to change a device’s DNS settings. ExpressVPN is able to access content from all of the major platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and HBO. Its proprietary Lightway protocol ensures connections are fast enough to stream 4K content without buffering. Plus, its servers across the US can access blackout games and state-level TV services.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chromebook, Kindle Fire, and compatible routers. An ExpressVPN browser extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. A helpful customer support team is on hand 24/7 via live chat.

ExpressVPN has been independently audited multiple times since being bought by Kape Technologies and is one of the few VPNs to have both its infrastructure and its applications fully audited. It has also introduced a one-time $100,000 bug bounty to anyone able to compromise its systems.

SECURE SERVERS: ExpressVPN has high-speed servers in more than 29 locations in the USA. Combines market-leading security credentials and an independently audited no-logs policy. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Proton VPN has garnered much respect thanks to its well-regarded sister service, ProtonMail. 

The company has 300+ servers in the US and is able to access the US versions of Netflix, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video. Proton VPN also works well with an array of US streaming services. Connection speeds are among some of the best and the company has a speed acceleration tool that optimizes traffic traveling long distances.

Other features include a kill switch in all apps; MultiHop servers for additional encryption, one-click connection to the Tor network; as well as an ad blocker and protection against malware. Internet traffic is protected on the OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols using 256-bit AES encryption, together with a SHA384 hash and 4096-bit RSA keys. WireGuard uses the ChaCha20 symmetric key cipher, Poly1305 MAC authentication, and a Curve25519 Diffie-Hellman key exchange.

Apps are protected from DNS and IPv6 leaks and available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, and Linux. Subscribers are allowed to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously. Although Proton VPN is based in a country with a healthy respect for individual privacy, its sister company – ProtonMail – was nevertheless forced by Swiss courts to begin logging the IP addresses and browser fingerprint information of one of its users. ProtonMail has since changed its privacy policy and now encourages users to always connect via a VPN or the Tor network. For its part, Proton VPN says that it can still guarantee user anonymity as the current Swiss legal framework cannot force VPNs to log customer activity.

ADVANCED ENCRYPTION: Proton VPN has 300+ servers in the US and plenty of features to ensure safe and secure connections. Speeds are decent and it works well with major streaming services. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

IPVanish is based in the US and has some 1,100+ US servers spread across 20+ locations. It offers fast connections and an independently audited no-logs policy. This latter feature is important as IPVanish’s previous owners had a less than stellar reputation regarding privacy. The company now owns all of its substantial server network, which gives it control over access and enables software parity.

IPVanish offers very fast connection speeds though it’s not the best at accessing streaming services. The US version of Netflix isn’t a problem, but it’s less successful than others. Features include built-in IPv6 and DNS protection; split tunneling in Android-based apps; access to a SOCKS5 proxy server; and a kill switch when using the OpenVPN protocol. If you want to hide your use of a VPN, IPVanish offers an obfuscation feature that encodes and shuffles OpenVPN data packets to bypass blocks. Internet traffic is protected using 256-bit encryption, together with SHA512 for authentication, and a DHE-RSA 2048 key exchange.

IPVanish has apps available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, and Amazon Fire TV. There are no dedicated apps for either Linux or routers.

In 2016, IPVanish – under then-owners Highwinds Network Group – was criticized for handing over data logs to the US Department of Homeland Security. At that time, the VPN decided to help DHS to identify an IPVanish customer suspected of child molestation as part of a targeted investigation. This did not affect other users.

IPVanish’s subsequent owner – US tech firm, StackPath – said that there was never any record of logs and that the management team who would have been responsible was “long gone”. IPVanish has since had its privacy policy independently audited by cybersecurity firm, Leviathan Security Group. It has also changed hands again, with new owners J2 Global including it in its NetProtect offering.

SPEEDY CONNECTIONS: IPVanish has 1,100+ notably fast servers in the US, all of which it owns. Provides strong encryption and an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Atlas VPN is a US-based provider with servers in six US cities. While it has a relatively small network overall, that doesn’t prevent it offering some of the fastest speeds available. Its safe swap system allows you to use multiple US IP addresses while connected to a single server. You can also boost your privacy by using Atlas VPN’s MultiHop servers.

Other features include automatic leak protection; split tunneling, which enables you to choose which apps use the VPN tunnel; a kill switch, that stops the flow of internet traffic if the VPN connection drops out; and a data breach monitor and malware blocker. Atlas VPN is a solid choice for streaming and is able to reliably access the US versions of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, as well as Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max. Internet traffic is protected using AES-256-bit or ChaCha20 channel encryption, together with SHA-384 or Poly1305 authentication, and BLAKE2s for hashing.

Like its sister service NordVPN, Atlas VPN adheres to a no-logs policy. Apps are available for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux – though the latter is command-line only. In 2021, Atlas VPN was acquired by Nord Security. While this will undoubtedly help the relatively small provider grow, it’s another case of a growing oligopoly in the VPN market.

STRONG SECURITY: AtlasVPN offers fast connection speeds and good access to US streaming services. It has servers in six US cities and a no-logs policy. You can try it with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Methodology: Choosing the best USA VPNs

There’s a lot to think about when trying to choose a VPN. Should your decision be based on price? Or speed? What about security? It doesn’t help when every VPN seems to make the same grand claims. We try to get to an objective view by testing each VPN against the same criteria:

• Number of US-based servers: If you’re using a VPN within the US, the fastest available connections will be to US servers. This is why we prioritize providers which have a solid presence within the country. Similarly, if you’re trying to access US-only services from abroad, it’ll be easier if there are lots of servers to choose from.
• Ability to access US streaming services: There are relatively few VPN providers that can reliably access geo-restricted content. This is because streaming platforms are getting better and better at blocking them. We regularly test the top VPNs to ensure that they continue to work with major streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, and HBO Max.
• Connection speeds: VPNs should be fast enough for you to at least stream HD content without buffering. The best offer protection without causing a noticeable drop in even the fastest broadband speeds. We test the most popular VPNs to ensure that they are as fast as they say they are before recommending them.
• Value for money: The cost of a VPN subscription should reflect the level of service that it provides. We only recommend VPNs that can justify their prices.
• Privacy and security: We check privacy policies to ensure that they don’t store any personally identifiable information. We also require that they protect internet traffic with effectively uncrackable encryption, as well as offering security features such as kill switches and leak protection.
• Ease of use: The best VPNs are deceptively easy to use. They’re intuitive enough to get connected in seconds but full of easily customizable features that advanced users can appreciate.

Bonus points

As well as the criteria above, we also award bonus points to VPN companies that provide any of the following:

• Access to China: The Chinese government is growing ever more skilled at blocking VPNs. Numerous providers advertise themselves as capable of bypassing China’s Great Firewall, but in practice fewer and fewer are able to do so. In fact, our tests found that only NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN were the only VPNs able to access the country.
• Diskless servers: Servers being hacked or seized by government agencies is nothing new. In response, VPN providers such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark have made their entire server networks RAM-only, meaning no sensitive information can be stored in them long-term. Diskless servers are also more efficient – and thus faster – as they only run the most up-to-date software.
• Incorporation outside the scope of intelligence alliances: It’s no secret that countries share intelligence. The existence of alliances such as the so-called 5, 9, and 14 Eyes is well documented. Rather than run the risk of being co-opted by one of the states involved in such alliances, the best VPNs choose to place themselves beyond their reach.

For example, NordVPN operates under the jurisdiction of Panama, while ExpressVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands. Neither of these countries is a member of any publicly-known intelligence alliance, while both adhere to their own GDPR-style legislation.

• Audited software and infrastructure: It’s all very well promising users military-grade encryption and strict no-logs policies. It’s quite another drafting in a third-party to meticulously check the tech behind these claims. Independent audits allow VPN providers to publicly verify both the privacy and security of their software and infrastructure.

Software audits check apps for any exploits that could compromise the hardware running them, or reveal a user’s online activity. Infrastructure audits establish whether any data is inadvertently collected, and whether servers have any major security vulnerabilities. The best providers carry out both types of audit.

Why use a VPN in the USA?

VPNs are also useful to US citizens keen to avoid state and corporate data-grabbing. Here are a few reasons you should consider using a VPN:

1. To prevent bandwidth throttling. ISPs in the US are allowed to throttle their customers’ bandwidth. Furthermore, media companies are legally permitted to pay ISPs to prioritize their own content above competitors. A VPN prevents the ISP from knowing if you’re connecting to a site it doesn’t approve of or make money from.
2. To prevent personal data being sold. Every time you use the internet in the US, your ISP collects a wealth of information about what you do while online. It can legally sell this on to data brokers who make it available to any company that’s willing to pay for it. Using a VPN prevents usable data from being gathered in the first place.
3. To prevent government snooping. It’s no secret that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been intercepting US citizens’ internet communications for at least the past two decades. Given its active role in international intelligence-gathering alliances, it seems unlikely that things will improve in the near future. A VPN encrypts your traffic so that captured data is effectively rendered useless.

How to use a VPN in the USA

It’s easy to protect yourself online by using a VPN. Just follow these steps.

How to use a VPN in the USA:

1. Choose a VPN that fulfills your requirements – we recommend NordVPN as the best option for most people.
2. Decide on a subscription length and sign up.
3. Download and install the relevant app for your device.
4. Restart the device when the installation is complete.
5. Open the app and click “connect” if you’re happy to let the VPN choose the server for you. If you specifically want a US server, choose a location within the country from the server list.
6. The app will let you know when a connection has been established.
7. You can now use the internet as you normally would, but with a secure, encrypted connection.

Can I use a free VPN in the USA?

No VPN is really free. Those that don’t charge a monthly subscription – and don’t have that as a future option – will be receiving funding via advertising. While this normally takes the form of displayed adverts, some free VPNs also sell your data directly to advertisers.

More worryingly, the majority of the most popular free VPNs have some form of logging policy. This means that they could share details of your online activity with the authorities of the country in which they are based if compelled to do so. The very worst free VPNs act as vectors for malware or have security flaws that make them vulnerable to attackers.

In many cases, you’re more secure not using a free VPN than using one. If you’re adamant about using a free VPN in the USA, it’s better to use one from an established provider that also offers paid-for products. These free VPNs are designed as samplers in order to tempt you into switching to the fully featured subscription version. They use the same security tools and levels of privacy as their parent products, though with limited functionality. Proton VPN and Atlas VPN both have free versions. Alternatively, you can make use of the 30-day money-back guarantees offered by market-leading VPNs.

USA VPN: FAQs

Why does my ISP throttle my bandwidth?

Bandwidth throttling is when an ISP intentionally slows down your internet speed based on your online activities – for example, when you’re trying to stream movies at peak times. It may do this because it’s favoring one streaming service over another or force you to use less data. Before 2017, ISPs were bound by the Open Internet rules, which stated that broadband providers should not block access to legal content, impair internet traffic, or allow paid prioritization.

Unfortunately, these rules – which helped maintain net neutrality – have since been rolled back. ISPs are also now also free to sell your browsing history, provided that personally identifiable information is anonymized. Reassuringly, there has been some pushback against this. The state of Maine made it illegal for ISPs to sell personal data without customer permission, while California gave residents the right to opt out of their data being sold.

Is there a US-based VPN?

There are several VPNs based in the USA. Some of the best include IPVanish, Atlas VPN, and Private Internet Access. Before choosing to use a US-based VPN, it’s essential to check its privacy policy – in particular, whether it keeps any logs of personally identifiable information. Those that have no record of customer activity have nothing incriminating to hand over if compelled to do so by the state.

Which VPN has the most US cities?

Surfshark has servers in 25+ US cities. These include Seattle, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Ashburn, New York, Dallas, Boston, St. Louis, Buffalo, Latham, Detroit, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Jose, San Francisco, and Bend.

Is it legal to use a VPN in the US?

Yes, it is legal to use a VPN in the US. In fact, we’d recommend it. According to the advocacy group, Freedom House, internet freedom has declined in the US for five consecutive years. The increase in state surveillance and the concentration of ISP control are just two of the perceived threats. Using a VPN in the USA is the best way to hide your online activity from both ISP and state.

Is a US based VPN problematic?

Most VPNs have large global server networks, including servers in the USA, that provide an IP address there for their subscribers. The majority of those VPNs aren't based in America, which means that they don't have to worry about being served a warrant by the US government that forces them to hand over data about their users. 

VPNs based in America are legally required to comply with warrant requests and also gag orders that force them to keep silent about these requests. That is why many privacy advocates feel strongly that they do not want to use a VPN based in the USA. 

Ultimately, it is possible that a VPN in the US could be served a warrant and gag order that forces it to begin logging information about one of its users. The important thing to remember is that a no logs VPN like IPVanish, AtlasVPN, or PIA (three popular US-based VPNs) would have no historical data to provide to the authorities. 

Thus, while it could be compelled to start logging and record future user activity from that point onwards, it would not have any previous data to provide. It is also worth noting that Private Internet Access, for example, has proven in court (several times) that it is in full compliance with its no-logs policy.

Even if a US-based VPN were to be served a warrant, this would only target a specific user who was suspected of a very serious crime. Under these circumstances, the VPN would be obligated to help investigate that specific user. This is a highly targeted attack that does not affect the privacy of other users.

That said, the extent and nature of cooperation with authorities will vary depending on the VPN provider, and the specific requests made by US authorities. The important thing to remember is that US authorities tend only to make such requests to investigate serious crimes – not to target home users who torrent for example.

With this in mind, most people agree it is still perfectly safe for normal home internet users (who don't commit serious crimes) to use US-based VPN services. On the other hand, it is still crucial to choose a VPN provider that prioritizes user privacy, implements strong security measures, and has a transparent privacy policy. The VPNs we have recommended in this guide all fall into this category.

Of course, whether you choose to use a VPN based in the US is completely your decision. If you prefer to use a VPN based elsewhere, you will still be able to connect to servers in the US to get a US IP address and access region-locked services from abroad.