The best UK VPN in 2024 (2024)

Ideally, everyone would have a Virtual Private Network (VPN) at the ready—and that includes residents of the UK. VPNs are handy security tools that route your traffic through a secure tunnel, encrypting it, and boosting your digital privacy. They also spoof your IP address, letting you pretend to be somewhere else in the world and unblock international streaming content without worrying about pesky geo-restrictions.

I've tested dozens of providers over the last three years, and I'm constantly reviewing (and highlighting) the best VPNs as the market evolves. Some services don't have the security tools or unblocking power you need, however, so my goal is to showcase the VPNs that do meet the TechRadar standards. Not always an easy task, but one that I take great pride in.

So, whether you're at home in the UK or a Briton abroad, I've compared the features, speed, streaming compatibility, and price of the best services to curate this list of the best UK VPNs.

Top three best UK VPNs at glance

The best UK VPNs in 2024:

Keep reading, and I'll walk you through my top UK VPN picks and discuss their key features, my latest test results, how they compare to the competition, and everything I liked and didn't like about each provider.

The best overall UK VPN

ExpressVPN claims the top UK VPN not just for robust security and decent speeds across the board, but also for its great commitment to transparency. While many VPN providers might make bold claims, they don't always show the evidence to back up the claim. ExpressVPN ensures its users know exactly what they're getting into, though, including its no logging policy and precisely what that does and doesn't include. It carried out 11 independent audits in 2022 alone.

In terms of security features, Express boasts industry standard 256-bit encryption, its very own WireGuard-inspiredLightwayprotocol (now including post-quantum protections) and a ton of strong options like its ultra-reliable kill switch and Threat Manager DNS blocker.You also get split tunneling, which allows you to choose which programs utilize the VPN and which don't at any one time.

►Try ExpressVPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

With over 3,000 servers across 105 countries, ExpressVPN also offers a wide range of easy-to-use apps for all the main operating systems—including on your Xbox and PlayStation consoles. If you're looking to protect all the devices at home at ease, you can even opt for its router with built-in VPN Aircove.

Trying to watch British TV shows from overseas? ExpressVPN easily unblocks most geo-restricted streaming services, including UK favourites such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4. That's in addition to biggies like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube, and plenty more. If you're on the other side of the world and fancy catching up on Corrie or just want to check in on UK news sites, ExpressVPN won't disappoint.

It's also worth mentioning that, despite still not being the fastest VPN around, its peak speeds improved from 560 to 750Mbps with Lightway last time we checked.Our expert reviewer ensures these results should be more than enough for most users.

If you're not sure, there's a generous 30-day money-back guarantee so you can trial the service risk-free for a month. And, if you're looking for a hefty saving, follow the link on this page to enjoy a taste deal available for TechRadar's readers only...

The best UK VPN with antivirus

Almost a household name at this point, NordVPN certainly ticks all the boxes when it comes to staking its claim as one of the best UK VPNs, and comes in a very close second behind Express right now.

One of the fastest VPN services around with peak of 950+Mbps, it's an eligible candidate for keen streamers looking to catch what’s on the box back home on BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, Channel 4, and ITVX when traveling, or to access any other type of geo-restricted content.

▶ Try NordVPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

What's more, Nord's Meshnet feature (now free of charge) could even provide a solution to the Netflix password sharing ban as it allows different devices to use the same IP address without being physically present in the same location.This unique extra tool, it's also great to get more value out of your six multi-device allowance per subscription as it allows you to connect up to 60 different devices at once.

With around 5,500 servers in 80-odd locations across the world, NordVPN also comes with extensive compatibility. It's able to run on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android TVs, as well as having both iOS and Android apps for your smartphone.

Its feature list is extensive, yet another tick, this time for security. Offering two kill switches to stop all activity when a connection is lost and double data encryption, there is also Onion support and P2P, which is great for torrenters. To finish the list, NordVPN has a strict no-logging policy and, better still, it has a ton of tutorials to help you understand and utilize everything, with friendly customer service to boot.

Still not convinced? You can try NordVPN now and benefit from its money-back 30-day guarantee. There are plenty of NordVPN promo codes when signing up too.

Again, there's no need to take our word for granted as you can try NordVPN risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee before you commit. If you decide to commit, we suggest going for the multi-year offer as it's clearly the best choice in terms of overall value.

The best cheap UK VPN service

Usually when you think of budget-friendly, you presume that somewhere the ball has been dropped to bring the cost down. Surfshark, however, is a feature-packed VPN for the UK that offers outstanding value for money. Better yet, you can trial Surfshark for free for seven days on Android, iOS, and Mac, with a 30-day money-back guarantee across all packages.

Surfshark isn't resting on its laurels, either. Recently-launched additions include Dedicated IP, which provides users with an exclusive fixed IP address for an extra fee. It should result in fewer CAPTCHA requests and a smoother overall browsing experience.

▶ Try Surfshark with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

In terms of security features, it includes a kill switch, OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 support, AES-256-GCM encryption, DNS protection,split tunnelingand even an extra protection layer with a Double VPN hop.

It's worth noting, though, we experienced some kill switch issues last time we checked. However, these occur only in extreme situations and on Windows.

Unlike more vague wording from other VPNs, Surfshark proudly states its ability to unblock foreign Netflix libraries, including countries like the UK, US, France, Japan, and Australia. Brits can also unblock BBC iPlayer from abroad, not to mention Disney Plus and Prime Video.

Also this time, Surfshark confirms itself as one of the fastest VPN around reaching peaks of 950+Mbps when connected to WireGuard. Its speeds were below average when used with the OpenVPN protocol, though.

Looking for a more complete security package?Surfshark Onewith its newly addedAlternative IDtool is ideal to secure your digital life on all fronts. Plus, if you look to secure all your household, you'll be happy to know you'll have unlimited connection with just one VPN subscription.

The best free UK VPN

Proton VPN continues to move forward in terms of performance, apps, and streaming, truly earning itself a spot as one of the best UK VPNs. Not only are its apps open-source, but it offers a great free VPN plan for those looking to dip their toes—you'll still need to upgrade to a paid plan to enjoy streaming service unblocking and P2P customized servers, though.

With a ten-device limit across Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, and even Android TV, you'll surely have a place for each one of your gadgets to stay protected. And if really staying private is key for you, Proton lets you pay anonymously via Bitcoin or cash, so your identity can stay hidden.

▶ Try Proton VPN's unlimited free plan.

In March 2023, the company rolled out a new browser extension that should make it easier for Brits abroad to bypass censorship. The Swiss-based VPN has also teamed up with one of Germany biggest independent media firms to provide trustworthy news for all.

One of themost secure VPNsaround, Proton VPN's best security features include DNS and IPv6 leak protection, AES-256-GCM encryption, HMAC-384 for authentication, and itsSecure Coretechnology which routes you through multiple servers for better defense against network attacks. On top of that, expect a kill switch, MultiHop VPN function, Netshield (aka, its ad-blocker), and split tunneling. We couldn't even find any trackers on its website nor Android apps last time we checked.

ProtonVPN is also a strong streaming VPN—we managed to unblock the likes of Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, and any other streaming platforms we tried during our last round of testing. Yet, we have experienced a further decrease in speed this time around, with its WireGuard peaks dropping from 510 to 460Mpbs. Our expert ensures these results should still translate into decent connections overall, though.

Proton VPN apps are easy to navigate, keeping most things tidy and within just a few mouse clicks. Its newfamily subscriptionsmight be just the right solution for bigger households.

Other VPNs I've tested and recommend

Rounding out our list, CyberGhost rises above its competitors when it comes to server choice. The provider boast, in fact, more than 9,200 dotted 125 locations around the globe. It has 814 servers in the UK alone, spread across three cities (Berkshire, London and Manchester). This means you can keep your browsing locally without the fear of experiencing any network congestion.

CyberGhost isn't big just on servers, though. Among its many features and functionalities, we especially love its Smart Rules panel which allows users to automatically connect to their preferred server every time they launch its apps. You can even take advantage of one of its Romanian-based NoSpy servers and boost your security even further. You will have to pay a tiny additional charge for this, though.

▶ Try CyberGhost VPN with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Unfortunately, we were less impressed by its performances this time around. Its unlocking power wasn't the best—it failed to unlock Disney Plus, but it managed to do so with both UK and US Netflix—so were its top speeds. However, a solid 630Mbps when connected to the WireGuard protocol still beats the likes of ProtonVPN.

The support site isn't as robust as some other providers, but the answers are still there should you need them. There are certainly a few omissions here, but most can easily be overlooked in favor of what you do get for the price. Its apps are pretty easy-to-use, though, and available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more.

After Surfshark, CyberGhost is also one of the cheapest providers you'll find with prices for the 2-year term consistently hovering around $2 a month.

On a slightly negative note, CyberGhost's security and apps haven't been audited yet—at the time of writing, only a no-logging audit has been released. This is becoming a bigger issue as more and more providers back up the trustworthiness of their data protection policies by having their services regularly checked.

How to choose the best UK VPN

Well, despite this very much depends on your own needs, there are a few key characteristics and features you should look out for in your UK VPN in any case.

Securityshould certainly be the main priority of any VPN. In terms of encryption protocol lookout for a software includingWireGuardas it's the most secure and fastest right now, but bear in mind that OpenVPN is still a good option. A reliable kill switch is another security feature you should look out for as it helps to prevent any leaks when the connection drops.

Choosing a service with a strictno-logging privacy policyis also very important—even better if that's independently audited on a regular basis. This means that the provider never retains any identifying information about you, so even if governments request your data, it won't have any sensitive details about your sessions to share.

Connection speedis obviously important, especially if you want to use a VPN for streaming, online gaming, or torrenting. The fastest VPNs in our list reached staggering peaks of 950+Mbps during our last round of testing. Though services with a top speed of only 460Mbps like Proton VPN are still good enough to support TV streaming.

The number ofservers and server locationsis another relevant factor to consider. More options mean a better chance of getting a fast and reliable connection. VPN apps should be straightforward anduser-friendly, too, and the number of simultaneous connections supported might be another crucial factor for users looking to secure all family devices.

Best UK VPN FAQs