There certainly are a lot of VPN review sites out there. Of course I’m biased, but I think I’ve got the best VPN review site out there.  There are a couple of reasons why my VPN reviews are the best.

• + I’ve used the VPNs I review
• + I give full disclosure about making commissions on the VPNs I review
• + I review VPN services in a concise, easy to understand way
• + I don’t outsource my reviews

To tell you the truth, a lot of other websites just outsource their content, stick it up on the web, and then pay other people to link to it.  Though you’re more likely to find their web pages in Google, you’re more likely to stick with a service you find on my site.  Anyway, enough about how great I am.

I’ve included some reviews of my favorite VPN services, and highlighted some of their features to help you find the right service.  VPNs have a wide variety of uses – some may be more appropriate for anonymous browsing, others for privacy features, and still others for streaming foreign TV and movies online.

Top VPN For Anonymity

IP Vanish is a relatively new company, but one thing that is unique about them, and stands out among VPN services is that they own their own VPN server network. I know that sounds strange, but surprisingly, a lot of VPN services use ‘Hosted” networks which means that they don’t have full control.  Sure, privacy policies and all that stuff say they protect your data, and they don’t keep activity logs, but at the end of the day, without full control of the network, you can’t do much about it.

IP Vanish also has a very simple system of $10 per month for full access.  Unlimited bandwidth, unlimited server switching, and access to PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN servers in one package.  There are 39 servers in 15 countries which is impressive considering that they own and maintain all servers in their network.

>>> Go To IP Vanish

Top VPN For Server Location

This one has to be IAPS Security or Hide My Ass.  IAPS has something like 120+ country locations including Antarctica, Iraq, Kazakhstan (Borat anyone?).  Plus, there’s a huge variety of VPN protocols, and they’re not badly priced.  You can choose 1, 3, 6, or 12 month options.  IAPS VPN also has an impressive privacy policy and offers other privacy-related features on their site.

Hide My Ass also has an impressive server network, spanning almost 50 countries and growing.  HMA’s website is easier to navigate, and includes PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN in one package.  They also come with a 1 month money back guarantee which is impressive.  There’s a support forum, and lots of freebies on the site, plus they frequently offer discounts for renewing members, so there’s plenty to be happy about if you sign up for HMA.

The main difference to note is that with IAPS you must choose 1 country, while with HMA you get access to ALL countries with one subscription.

>>> Go To IAPS

>>> Go To HMA

Top VPN For Device Support

12VPN has a lot of nerdy features which will appeal to those who have specific requirements about how they want to run their VPN.  One of these features is an extremely broad device support, including various smartphones, VPN routers, and even connection in VPN censored areas of the world.    You can complete and order in 2 clicks, and use the promo code “promo7286″ for a 10% discount.  iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux, Nokia, DD-WRT, Tomato, and more devices supported.

>>> Go To 12VPN

Top VPN For Price

StrongVPN offers an impressive VPN package for just $55 per year.  You get access to US and UK servers, or a choice of European servers.  The package is for PPTP VPN or OpenVPN for $85.  PPTP uses a dynamic IP and OpenVPN uses a static IP.  StrongVPN is a trusted VPN service that has been operating in the industry for many years.  They also offer live support.

>>> Go To StrongVPN

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I know that most top 10 VPN lists come in the form of a chart that lays out all the reviews in a start system, but I’m going to do things a bit differently.  To tell you the truth, many of these ‘star rated’ VPN charts are arbitrarily assigned by the owner of the site.  They often reflect the percent of commission that is paid for each sale, rather than the actual quality of the VPN service, which defeats the purpose of the review.  In fact, not all VPN services are suited to all people, and each user experience is going to be different.

So my Top 10 VPN list highlights some of the features, and I may make a few comments about which ones I like better than others.  This is not an ‘official review’, there is not rush to ‘order now’ because the deals are going fast, and there are not ‘exclusive offers’.  Just plain old facts. And if you want to know, yes, I make a commission off of these.  I believe in full transparency, unlike some blogs about personal VPNs or online privacy.  VPNs are listed in random order.

1.
StrongVPN

A reliable, and well established service.  If you want it, they have it.  PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN, and SSTP.  Smartphone, PC, Mac, and Linux VPN, live support, and a wide range of options.  Choose plans based on your region, level of security desired, and budget.  314 servers in 19 countries.

• Best Deal: $55 / Year
• Best Feature: Fast, Reliable Servers
• Visit StrongVPN

2.
Hide My Ass

Come for the FREE stuff: Web based proxy, link cloaker, anonymous uploader, and anonymous email.  ProVPN is cheap and gives you free access to (2012) 43 server locations.  Simple download and installation, and choose servers based on speed. PPTP, L2TP, and SSTP for iOS, Android, Mac, Linux, and Windows.

• Best Deal: $ $6.55 / Month
• Best Feature: VPN Servers in 43 Countries, 30 day guarantee
• Visit HMA

3.
PureVPN

Live support, PPTP, L2TP, SSTP, dedicated IP servers, dynamic IP servers, and custom VPNs for China or other blocked regions. 3 plan options, 14 countries, and torrent access to dynamic IP servers.

• Best Deal: $74.95 / Year
• Best Feature: SSTP for Win 7, Dedicated IP Servers
• Visit PureVPN

4.
12VPN

Widest support for internet devices including DD-WRT, Nokia, Windows Phone (some models), and more. Custom VPNs for China and Middle East.  Friendly and fast support team, and simple installation are some of the highlights of 12VPN.

• Best Deal: $79 / Year
• Best Feature: Broadest Device Support, Military Encryption Upgrade
• Visit 12VPN

5.
SwitchVPN

Mega-cheap plan and 11 server locations.  Live support, and VPNs for most devices.  Good VPN service for the price you pay.

• Best Deal: $3.95 / Month
• Best Feature: Live Support
• Visit SwitchVPN

6.
IP Vanish

Simple plans means no headache for you.  $10 a month across the board – for anything and everything. It’s as simple as that.  Choose servers based on speed. 39 servers is 15 countries, and 29,000 IP addresses.

• Best Deal: $10 / Month
• Best Feature: Choose Servers Based On Speed
• Visit IP Vanish

7.
ibVPN

They’ve definitely got a unique setup, and divide plans based on user needs.  VPNs for families and small businesses available, and torrent ready VPN servers are also on the menu.  This is a very budget minded VPN service, and the even offer a free trial.

• Best Deal: $36.95 / Year
• Best Feature: Package Deals: Torrent VPN, Multi-VPN (family,business), +more
• Visit ibVPN

8.
My Private Network

This is a UK oriented VPN service that also simplifies things.  Privacy, security, and a fake IP address for one price – 5 GBP per month for 1 location, 9 GBP for full access.  Sometimes simplicity says a lot. A cute dog says more.

• Best Deal: 5 GBP / month
• Best Feature: UK based, Easy To Use
• Visit MPN

9.
Black Logic

There seems to be a difference between ‘anonymity’ and ‘privacy’.  With a man in a black trench coat and shaded glasses, this is clearly a service for anonymous-minded individuals.  Just remember – no illegal stuff compadres.  Kind of a low-key service, they’ve been around for a couple of years and mentioned in several PC magazines over the years.

• Best Deal: $8 / Month
• Best Feature: Anonymity
• Visit Black Logic

10.
IAPS Security Services

With recent improvements to the site, and plans for expansion, IAPS is upping their game.  They already offer a pretty comprehensive service – over 100 countries, various types of encryption, SSH proxies, SSL encryption upgrades, and more. They are clearly dedicated to your PRIVACY, as clearly stated in their ‘about-us’ page.  It’s a pit I’ve got this as number ten, because it truly is an amazing service.  Transparency is a key highlight of IAPS, and they really lay everything out on the table so there are no misunderstandings about what their service provides.

• Best Deal:  $30 / Year
• Best Feature: IP Address in Antarctica? Yeah, it’s true. + 120 other countries you’ve never heard of
• Visit IAPS

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VPNs have many uses, and even more types of people that use them.  This guide is for users looking to access blocked sites, download torrents, stream content from other countries, and otherwise make use a VPN SERVICE.  If you’re looking for a tutorial for how to set up a Windows 7 PPTP VPN for connection to your home office or to access YOUR OWN computer network remotely – you’re in the wrong place.

Don’t worry though – I won’t completely ditch you. You can find more information on that stuff at Groovy Post and SOFTLAYER for instructions on how to set up a Windows 7 PPTP VPN for your home office or work network.

If you just want to connect to a VPN because your workplace blocked Facebook, you’re living abroad is China, Egypt, or other places that censor the internet, you wan to access movies, music, and TV from around the world, or are just looking for a private connection on public networks, then you’re in the right place.

Now, lets first discuss why you would want to use PPTP on Windows 7.  I mean, by all means, you CAN, but do you really want to?  The answer is maybe.

Why?

Well, the thing is PPTP is still using the age-old PPP encryption.  This is pretty old school, and if you’re looking for privacy or security, then this isn’t the best choice.  Not everyone is looking for anonymity on the internet though so who might benefit from a Windows 7 PPTP VPN connection?

Someone looking to…

* stream movies, music, and TV from other countries
* download anonymously
* unblock banned sites

So you can see that anonymity and security doesn’t play into these.  It’s basically that you need to change your IP address. After all, Netflix and iPlayer aren’t going to track down you IP, hack you, and steal your credit card information, right?  And your employer isn’t going to spend hours trying find out why he can’t seem to find your computer on the network.  PPTP is cheaper and faster, and widely available.

Best VPN Services with PPTP for Windows 7

Hide My Ass

• + 40 country locations
• + 30 day money back guarantee
• + Torrents allowed

>>> Test Drive Hide My Ass <<<

12VPN

• + Great customer service
• + Military grade encryption upgrades (OpenVPN, also can be used on Win 7)
• + VPN Router options

>>> Test Drive 12VPN <<<

StrongVPN

• + Cheapest ($55 for 1 year of US/UK IP address)
• + Live support
• + SSTP also available (*see below)
• + Torrents allowed

>>> Test Drive StrongVPN <<<

Ok, but lets say that you are looking for anonymity and privacy online. In that case, you should be looking for a SSTP VPN.  Though not many services carry this VPN protocol right now, more will in the future.  Microsoft recently developed this VPN protocol to make use of SSL encryption, which is the “+ s” in the “http” when you sign into your accounts.  Have you ever bought anything online and seen the URL prefix change and a little lock show up? Yeah, same stuff. So if it can protect your credit card, it can protect your identity online.

Though OpenVPN is open source software, and many VPN services offer it, for Windows 7, SSTP might be your best option.  Not to say OpenVPN is bad, but SSTP was developed specifically for Microsoft products (BTW, this works with Vista, but not XP).

So better encryption (SSL) than PPTP (PPP) means more security and more anonymity.  Your Win 7 operating system will of course come ready to use SSTP, so installation is a piece of cake.

Best VPN Services with SSTP VPN for Win 7

StrongVPN

• + Cheap ($55 per year, as mentioned above)
• + Fast
• + Live support
• + 7 day money back guarantee
• + Torrents allowed

>>> Test Drive StrongVPN <<<

PureVPN

• + Free & unlimited server switching
• + 14 country locations in all packages
• + Live support
• + 3 day account available (for those looking for super-short-term subscriptions)
• + Torrents allowed

>>> Test Drive PureVPN <<<

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The problem with most personal VPN service reviews and VPN review sites is that they pretty much repeat what you can find on the site itself.  The truth of the matter is that a lot of these sites are ‘cookie cutter’ websites – just a formula repeated to make commissions off of potential customers and tossed into the wilds of the internet to be found on Google. That’s not always the case, but more than just a few of them are.

Now you might be wondering – how could he know that? Well, I too make commissions off of this website.  Of course!  Who on earth would blog about privacy software on the internet? The topic is not all that interesting – at least not interesting enough to devote free time to it as a hobby.

But I, unlike many other bloggers, actually use the services that I write about.  I try not to indulge in promotional material too much, and tell it how it is.  I mean, sure, I may profit more in the short run, making sales off of users that don’t know any better, but most VPN services have a money back guarantee policy, so the performance (or lack thereof) of the personal VPN service will show in the end.

If you have used VPN services before, then you can use this as just another bit of info to help you make a better decision now that you’ve decided to switch VPN services. Perhaps you too were duped by one of these “cookie cutter” automated sites.  If you’ve never used  VPN service before, you don’t have to venture further than these few VPN services.  They’re some of the most popular, reliable, and well price private networks out there, and I’ve had particularly good experiences with them all.  It’s not an exhaustive list, but hey, do you really want to compare 50 services side by side?

So lets get started.

1. Best Personal VPN Service Based on Price

Price, is unfortunately, not so easily compared.  You’ve got to compare features, subscription length, and quality of service in conjunction with price to get a true feeling of whether or not the VPN service offers value to the customer.  Here’s my take on some of the most well priced VPN services.

The cheapest by far is SwitchVPN.  They recently added a scaling pricing feature which means you get a discount for signing up for a longer period of time.  This is standard with other services, but new to SwitchVPN.  For a single month for a single VPN server, you pay $5.95 which is already pretty cheap.  Sign up for a year, and you pay just $3.95 per month. This is a real steal, especially considering that SwitchVPN is one of the better VPN services out there.  There are of course other price plans available at SwitchVPN, but these are your cheapest options.

12VPN also offers a very competitive price plan, ant $79 dollars for a US IP package.  You get unlimited bandwidth and server switching, but a wider range of support than other services. The only restriction is that you only get access to their US servers, but there are about 10 different cities to choose from.

Hide My Ass is right up there, offering a year of service for $78 USD.  They cover all of the standard operating systems (iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux, Android), and give you over 40 different country IP locations (yes, 40+), 25,000+ IP addresses, and hundreds of servers. By the time you read this, their network will surely have expanded as they’re constantly growing.

StrongVPN also offers very cheap packages for $55 USD per year, which will limit you to PPTP VPN and a choice between US and UK VPN servers, but hey, do you really need an Estonian IP address? Probably not.  Hulu, Netflix, iPlayer, Pandora, and Spotify are yours anywhere in the world for a few dollars a month.

I guess there are no shortages of high quality, cheap VPN services because PureVPN also has a limited bandwidth account (30 GB per month) for just $75 USD. Not bad for 11 servers which are all torrent compatible.

2. Best Personal VPN Service Based on Service

This is kind of a broad category, because I don’t want this review to get too long and bore you out of your skull.  I’ve grouped the idea of features, customer service, and server speed into one category in an effort to save you and me some time.

I’d say the fastest VPN servers I’ve used are with StrongVPN.  Setup was kind of a pain (but I was a newbie back then), but I really have had a hard time finding a service that compares to the quality and speed of connection I had with StrongVPN.  Of course, there are a lot of factors to consider when determining connection speed – some review site have tried this but most speed tests are deemed false or outdated by commenters.  For what its worth, I think StrongVPN is fast.

For the best customer service, it’s no doubt that I’d choose 12VPN.  Though they don’t have live support, they are very fast with email ticket support. Their support team is not just friendly and fast, but also very helpful,and thorough.  If I ever run into any problems, it’s usually solved within 2 or 3 emails max, all within the same day.  With some ticket response services I have to wait 1 or 2 days between responses, which is very annoying.

The VPN service with the best features would have to be HMA (Hide My Ass).  They’ve got a cool thing where you can organize and choose your VPN server based on speed, which means you don’t have to waste a bunch of time trying out VPN servers.  They allow torrents.  They (as mentioned above) are a constantly growing network of (as of April 2012) 40 country locations and hundreds of VPN servers.  They offer a FREE web based proxy (available to non-members also), a free open proxy list, free anonymous email, free uploading tool, and free anonymous referral tool. Yeah, that’s a whole lotta free.  Plus they offer the longest money back guarantee of any service, – 30 days.

Personal VPN Services Featured in This Article

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Accessing regional US-only websites like Hulu and Netflix on Macs is only possible if you have a software to change IP address on Mac. The reason why such a such a software in needed to access these sites is that the servers of these sites only allow those users with  an American IP address to enter the site.

Users that do not have an American IP are not allowed to stream from these websites. In order to access a geocentric website from The US a person has to somehow change his original IP address to an American IP address or he will be blocked.

The same rules apply to websites with firewalls that block foreign users – Each country is bound to have TV, movie, chat, and other local sites that are exclusively for users with a local IP.

Changing the IP address of a Mac is a task that can be accomplished easily by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN is software that has the ability to hide the IP address of a user and provide him a different IP address from a location of his choice.

By using a VPN, a user can easily acquire an American, British, Canadian, or otherwise IP and gain access to any Local-IP-Only website he wants. The servers of the these regional websites will never be able to detect that the user is using a virtual IP from a VPN. A VPN IP is just as good as a real one.

This is only one of the many advantages that a VPN can provide to a user. A VPN has the ability to unblock banned websites as well. In countries where internet censorship has been invoked on various websites, a VPN can become a handy solution for accessing censored content on the web.

Since the VPN provides its users a different IP address the Government censors are not able to restrict them from accessing banned websites.  It seems that they are not accessing the net from the country in which the websites are banned.

Moreover, the VPNs are excellent safety providers too. Employment of several internet safety protocols and the use of data encryption make them a safe method of surfing the web. Such is the solidity of the safety features of a VPN that it literally makes a person invisible on the internet .

VPNs create safe tunnels through the network for its user so that all his conversations, browsing, and downloading are are passed safely through these tunnels hidden from the eyes of malicious individuals.

A VPN is really quite a useful software that can provide a user fast and reliable access to all yours favorite websites through Safari from anywhere in the world.  Such is the effectiveness of the VPNs that now people even use them for accessing restricted websites in their offices.

The changed IP address provided by the VPN assists in accessing all the restricted websites without letting the boss to know anything about it, even if you’re on company-owned computers. This is why many people consider a VPN as the best software to change IP address and bypass firewalls on Mac.

Best Service Providers For Software to Change IP Address on Mac

So if you want to change your IP address, there are a few things you need to consider.

1. Which country do you want your new IP address to be from? (Server Location)
2. Are you going to be download/uploading a lot with your new IP? (Bandwidth Limitations)
3. Are you using torrent software? (Torrent Compatible)
4. Which country are you currently located in? (Software Availability)
5. How much do I want to spend (Price)
6. How long do I need the software (Subscription length)

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Hide My Ass

1. 38 countries available, free server switching
2. Unlimited bandwidth
3. Torrents are allowed
4. Currently blocked in  China, Iran, and Kuwait
5. $6.55 to $11.52 per month
6. 1 month, 6 months, 12 months available

>>> Go To HideMyAss.com

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12VPN

1. 6 countries available, free server switching
2. Unlimited bandwidth
3. No Torrents
4. Alternate site available for blocked areas (click HERE)
5. $79 – $119 per year
6. Quarterly, Semi-Annual, Annual available

>>> Go To 12VPN.com

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StrongVPN

1. 29 countries available, limited server switching (5-12 times depending on package)
2. Unlimited bandwidth
3. Torrents are allowed
4. Blocked in China
5. $55 – $210 per year, $7 – $30 per month
6. 1-month, 6-month, 12-month subscriptions available

>>> Go To StrongVPN.com

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Web Based Proxy – SecuriTales

1. No installation necessary
2. Can unblock sites
3. $6-$8 per month
4. 2-month, 6-month, and 12-month subscriptions

>>> Go To SecuriTales.com/Secure

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