The Best No-Log VPNs

1. NordVPN - Best No Log VPN Overall

Editors Rating:

9.7 /10

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How We Review

We loved NordVPN’s service, especially its speed. In addition, we knew we could enjoy those speeds without worry over whether the company was logging any of our vital information.

Privacy Policy

Let’s start with what’s most important: What exactly does NordVPN log? The company’s privacy policy is quite clear about what it collects and why.

Basically, it logs information necessary for billing purposes. That includes our email addresses and our credit card numbers. However, NordVPN accepts cryptocurrency, so we didn’t actually have to give our credit card information if we didn’t want to. Many of these currencies — such as Litecoin, Opencoin, and MintChip — allow you to pay anonymously.3

Meanwhile, NordVPN never logs IP addresses, connection timestamps, or browsing activity (i.e., our connection logs). Finally, just to be on the safe side, NordVPN never shares any information with third-party vendors like advertisers or internet service providers (ISPs).

Multi-Hop Routing

We were impressed that NordVPN uses multi-hop technology. Multi-hop means the VPN routes our connection through not just one server but two or more. Each server adds another layer of encryption.

As a result, our activities were virtually impossible to follow. We knew the server protected us from any hackers who might be trying to steal our passwords or credit card numbers.

High Speeds on Mac

A no-log VPN isn’t much use if the service itself is poor. That wasn’t a problem with NordVPN. We weren’t just protected; we also had a lightning-fast connection. That meant we had uninterrupted Netflix signals at all times, which is important (we hate it when “Stranger Things” has to pause for buffering).

While NordVPN was fast across the board, we were blown away by how fast it worked on Macs in particular. Of course, all VPNs slow computers down to some degree, but with NordVPN, our connection was only 20 percent slower than it was with no VPN at all. We barely noticed a difference. That’s just one reason why NordVPN is among our best VPNs for Macs.

NordVPN Mac Speed Tests

2. Surfshark - Best No Log VPN for Smartphones

Editors Rating:

9.5 /10

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How We Review

Hailing from the Netherlands, Surfshark is a great option for privacy-minded users, especially those who are on their smartphones most of the time. Surfshark’s apps provided all the functionality we were looking for in a VPN, while giving us peace of mind that our personal and browsing data remained hidden from the eyes of our ISP, the government, and Surfshark itself.

Logging Only The Necessary

Surfshark’s privacy policy fits our definition of unintrusive. When you connect to Surfshark, it doesn’t log anything about what you do online. It doesn’t log your IP address, which websites you visit, how much bandwidth you’ve used, network traffic, and any other similar data. It does log a few things, though, like connection timestamps and your user ID. However, Surfshark automatically deletes any VPN data it collects within 15 minutes after you disconnect.

Allows You to Control Your Data

One thing we liked about Surfshark is that you don’t have to let them store your data. If you look over Surfshark’s privacy policy, you’ll find exactly what data it collects and for what purpose. Then, you can contact Surfshark and request them to delete your personal information. Not a lot of VPNs let you do this, so kudos to Surfshark for being mindful of its customers’ privacy.

A Good Mobile App

Now, of course, knowing Surfshark’s privacy and data collecting policies is just half of the knowledge you need to decide if it’s the right VPN for you. You also need to know if it has the features you need. Surfshark is a well-rounded VPN with lots of useful features, like multi-hop, split tunneling, a kill switch, static and dynamic IP addresses, and more. We’re particularly fond of the mobile apps, as Surfshark’s Android and iOS apps were near-flawless when we tested them. They also boast a lot of the same features as their desktop counterparts, which means if you’re an on-the-go person who needs mobile protection, Surfshark is a solid choice.

3. Private Internet Access VPN - Best No Log VPN for Windows

Editors Rating:

9.4 /10

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How We Review

Private Internet Access (PIA) is located squarely in Five Eyes jurisdiction, but its privacy policy is so tight we don’t worry about that. Simply put, PIA has nothing to turn over, even if the government shows up with a subpoena.

Nothing to Share

Private Internet Access shows up on our list of the best VPN services regularly. However, when it comes to privacy, the company may seem like an odd choice. After all, it’s headquartered right here in the U.S., in Greenwood, Colorado. That means that PIA falls under the Five Eyes surveillance group, so the government can force it to turn over any information it collects.

The good news is that PIA has hardly any information to turn over. Like the other VPNs on this list, the company collects billing information such as email addresses and credit card numbers. However, its privacy policy clearly states, “Any kind of activity done by the user inside the Private Internet Access VPN […] is NOT recorded, logged or stored at all.” That means it doesn’t collect browsing activity, timestamp data, or IP addresses.

High Speeds on Windows

We use our Lenovo laptop for Zoom meetings pretty regularly, but there’s nothing more frustrating than a slow connection when we’re trying to talk with co-workers. Last week, one of our colleagues laughed at one of our jokes a full minute after we’d made it. Awkward.

Luckily, Private Internet Access barely slowed down our Windows device at all. When it came to upload speed (an essential component of video chats), PIA slowed things down by a mere 15 percent. If you’re looking for a Windows VPN, you really can’t beat PIA’s speeds.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, our tests showed that it was almost as fast on Mac. We clocked download speeds on Macs at 65 percent slower with the VPN than without it, and upload speeds at just 30 percent slower with the VPN than without it.

PIA Speed Test for Windows

Dynamic IP Addresses

PIA offers dynamic IP addresses. We prefer these to static. “Dynamic” means that the addresses change regularly so that we never have the same one for long.

Of course, there are advantages to static addresses, like faster downloads and uploads at times. However, dynamic addresses keep us more secure, since they are harder to track. The way we see things, if we’re going to choose a no-log VPN, we might as well get dynamic addresses for added privacy. PIA fits the bill.

4. ExpressVPN - Best No Log VPN for Macs

Editors Rating:

9.1 /10

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How We Review

ExpressVPN logs the absolute minimum information about our activities, like what app version we use and how much total data we transfer each day. It never logs timestamps, IP addresses, or browsing histories. The company is based in the British Virgin Islands, so governments can’t force it to turn over any information, and it employs the latest tools to encrypt our data.

At $12.95 for a single-month subscription, ExpressVPN’s prices are a bit higher than those of the other VPNs on our list. We don’t mind, though. Nothing does a better job of keeping us safe and secure online, and isn’t that the whole point of a VPN?

Minimal Logging

Lots of VPNs say they are “no log.” What does “no log” mean in ExpressVPN’s case, though? The company itself notes in its privacy policy that its “guiding principle toward data collection is to collect only the minimal data required.”1 So, what does it collect?

• The app version we used to connect
• Dates when we connected
• Our choice of server connection
• Total amount of data we transferred each day

ExpressVPN needs this information in order to keep the service running. However, it never records this information:

• IP addresses
• Browsing activities
• Traffic destinations or metadata about those destinations
• DNS queries

In short, ExpressVPN knows only the bare minimum about us, and that’s exactly the way we like it.

British Virgin Islands Headquarters

Here’s the thing about ExpressVPN: No governments can ever force it to turn over what little information it does collect.

Why not? Because the British Virgin Islands, where the company is headquartered, isn’t a member of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, or 14 Eyes surveillance organizations. That means law enforcement can’t make it turn over any data to the government.

The way we see it, we’re doubly protected. ExpressVPN collects almost no information about us, and it won’t hand over what little information it has.

Other Privacy Perks

Everything about ExpressVPN demonstrates just how seriously it takes our privacy and security. For example, it encrypts our data using 256-bit AES, the same encryption method the United States military employs. It has a built-in kill switch, so if we lost our VPN connection, all our browsing activity would stop instantly. That means we can access Netflix around the world and even torrent with a VPN without worrying that anyone might be tracking us.

5. PureVPN - Best No Log VPN for Streaming

Editors Rating:

8.9 /10

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How We Review

PureVPN has gone to the trouble of hiring KPMG, a Fortune 500 company that specializes in risk management and auditing, to test its no-logging claims. As a result, we knew for certain that when we were streaming Netflix from countries like the U.K., we had complete online anonymity — and a U.K. IP address to boot.

Logging Audits

It’s one thing to say you don’t log sensitive user data, or to promise that in your privacy policy. If you’re willing to have an independent third party evaluate that claim, though, you’re putting your money where your mouth is.

That’s exactly what PureVPN has done. The company hired KPMG to investigate whether the VPN logs IP addresses, timestamps, or online activity. Given that PureVPN was willing to put its reputation on the line, it’s no surprise that KPMG certified that the company had a clean record not just once but twice, in 2018 and 2020.

In fact, in 2021, PureVPN gave KPMG free rein to audit its service at any time without warning. That’s confidence.

Split Tunneling

Running Spotify or Pandora through the same VPN connection can slow down our connection. That’s why we’re glad PureVPN offers split tunneling.

With split tunneling, we can stream music over public networks but still keep all our sensitive information secure by running it through a VPN. In addition, the more data we route through our VPN, the lower the speed. Split tunneling saves our VPN bandwidth, which keeps everything running as fast as possible.

Streaming

If we’re going to use a VPN to hide our activities, we want to have some activities worth hiding. One of the advantages of PureVPN was that it let us stream content from all the big streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, HBO Max, and ESPN.

That meant we could access content libraries in other countries. As it turns out, Netflix U.K. has almost 200 more shows than Netflix U.S.4 Check out our complete list of the best VPNs for streaming for more information. If you prefer specific streaming services, you can browse our many lists, including the best VPNs for Netflix, the best VPNs for Hulu, the best VPNs for Prime Video, the best VPNs for ESPN+, the best VPNs for Disney+, and the best VPNs for YouTube TV.

6. FastestVPN - Best No Log VPN for Families

Editors Rating:

8.3 /10

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How We Review

FastestVPN lived up to its name with some of the highest speeds of any VPN on this list. Of course, if it’s on this list, it doesn’t log IP addresses, timestamps, or online activity. In addition, when we ended our VPN subscription, it erased all the data it had about us, including our email addresses.

No-Log Promise

According to FastestVPN’s privacy policy, the service doesn’t collect any timestamps, browsing activity, or IP addresses. It does, however, keep information such as email addresses and credit card numbers, essentially whatever it needs to bill you and keep the service operational. One advantage to FastestVPN, though, is that if you should discontinue your VPN subscription, it deletes everything about you from its databases immediately. Everything.

10 Devices

We’ve got a lot of devices, but not quite 10. A lot of our friends have families, though, and even a small family can use at least 10 devices. One recent survey, in fact, says families average 11 devices.5

For them, we recommend FastestVPN. FastestVPN allowed us to use up to 10 devices, and with 10 simultaneous connections, we could use them all at once. That should keep everyone happy, even if you’re stuck in a crummy hotel room in Bangkok waiting for the monsoon rains to let up.

Torrenting

We love our streaming services, but we have eclectic tastes, and many of our favorite films just don’t show up on Netflix. When that happens, we turn to torrenting.

FastestVPN makes torrenting simple and user-friendly with UNIX-based peer-to-peer optimized servers. In addition, FastestVPN lives up to its name with high speeds on both Windows devices and Macs. The VPN’s latency on Macs was so low that we had to round it down to zero.

Interested in finding out more great VPNs for torrenting? Check out our list of the best VPNs for torrenting and the best free VPNs for torrenting.