An independent VPN guide

Pick a VPN on facts you can check

GetVPN doesn't sell a VPN. We compare six well-known providers on where they're based, who audited them, what went wrong and what their refund terms say, and we link the source for every fact.

Compare six VPNsDo I need a VPN?

Six VPNs side by side

Listed alphabetically, not ranked. Facts checked November 2026; each provider page cites its sources. We haven't run our own speed tests, so there are no speed scores here.

  • ExpressVPN

    Its own Lightway protocol on every app, KPMG no-logs assurance, and a 2017 Turkish server seizure that turned up no logs.

    Based in
    British Virgin Islands
    Free plan
    No
    Money-back
    30 days
    Latest audit
    KPMG no-logs assurance, 2025
    Full factsVisit ExpressVPN(opens in a new tab)

  • IVPN

    Open-source apps, sign-up without email, yearly Cure53 security audits and multi-hop, but its only no-logs audit dates from 2019.

    Based in
    Gibraltar
    Free plan
    No
    Money-back
    30 days
    Latest audit
    Cure53 no-logs audit, 2019
    Full factsVisit IVPN(opens in a new tab)

  • Mullvad

    Account numbers instead of email, a flat €5 a month, and a 2023 police search that found no customer data.

    Based in
    Sweden
    Free plan
    No
    Money-back
    14 days
    Latest audit
    Cure53 infrastructure audit, 2024 (newer app and backend audits through 2026)
    Full factsVisit Mullvad(opens in a new tab)

  • NordVPN

    Six Deloitte or PwC no-logs assurance checks since 2018, an obfuscation protocol for restrictive networks, and a 2018 server breach it disclosed in 2019.

    Based in
    Panama
    Free plan
    No (7-day trial in some countries)
    Money-back
    30 days
    Latest audit
    Deloitte no-logs assurance, 2025 (published 2026)
    Full factsVisit NordVPN(opens in a new tab)

  • Proton VPN

    A free plan with no data cap, five annual Securitum no-logs audits, and a Stealth protocol for getting past VPN blocks.

    Based in
    Switzerland
    Free plan
    Yes
    Money-back
    30 days
    Latest audit
    Securitum no-logs audit, 2026
    Full factsVisit Proton VPN(opens in a new tab)

  • Surfshark

    A Dutch provider with two Deloitte no-logs checks, recent Cure53 and SecuRing testing, and a test-server breach in 2026.

    Based in
    Netherlands
    Free plan
    No (7-day trial)
    Money-back
    30 days
    Latest audit
    Deloitte no-logs assurance, 2025
    Full factsVisit Surfshark(opens in a new tab)

How we compare

A VPN can see your traffic, so the real question is whether you can trust the company running it. We stick to four things you can verify, and we skip star ratings.

Jurisdiction

Where the company is incorporated decides which laws can force it to hand over data.

Audits

Who checked the no-logs claim, when, and what they actually looked at. Named firm, year, link.

Track record

Breaches, server seizures, court cases and ownership changes, and how the provider handled them.

Terms

Protocols, whether there's a free plan, and how long you have to get your money back.

Read our full method and how we make money

Guides

Do I need a VPN?

What a VPN actually protects, what it doesn't, and the few situations where paying for one makes sense.

Free vs paid VPN: what you give up

How free VPNs pay their bills, what research found inside free VPN apps, and which reputable providers offer a real free tier.

How to check a VPN's no-logs claim

A five-step check for any VPN's no-logs promise: the policy, the audit, the auditor's scope, real-world tests and ownership.