7 Best VPNs for USA Sep 2023

Are you looking for the best VPN for the USA?

Internet surveillance runs exceptionally high in the United States, and cyber-attacks are targeted toward the vulnerable. So, how would you choose the best VPN to use in the USA? Are you looking for one that allows you to access geo-restricted websites like BBC iPlayer and Hotstar from within the country, or do you need one while traveling abroad?

Choosing the most reliable US VPN depends on several factors. You first need to have a very clear vision of what you’re looking for. Before moving ahead with that, here’s the list of the best VPN service for the USA:

Quick Overview of the Best USA VPNs

Here’s a brief overview of the best VPN providers for the United States:

1. Surfshark – The best USA VPN that offers unlimited device connections.
2. ExpressVPN – Fastest USA VPN for streaming and torrenting.
3. NordVPN – Most secure VPN for the US that offers the largest server network.
4. IPVanish – Reliable USA VPN that offers a strict no-log policy.
5. CyberGhost – Easy-to-use US VPN that offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.
6. StrongVPN – Solid VPN for the USA that offers limited but reliable servers.
7. PrivateVPN – Great US VPN that offers protection against bandwidth throttling.

7 Best VPNs for USA – Detailed Analysis

Our selected 7 providers made a list not because they’re all strong contenders but because they all possess features and performance levels that are unique but effective. To get a more comprehensive understanding of why you should consider these top VPN services, we’ve highlighted all their attributes in our in-depth analysis:

1. Surfshark – The Best USA VPN that offers unlimited device connections

Surfshark happens to be the best VPN for the USA mainly because of its features, affordable price, and security over unlimited devices. This means you’ll be able to secure more than one supported device. Speaking of platform support, Surfshark is compatible with iOS,  Windows, Android, Firestick, macOS, Linux, PS4, and much more.

What makes Surfshark a great VPN for the US is that you’ll be able to access unlimited streaming services. This is regardless of whether you’re in the US or abroad. It has around 3200+ servers in 65 countries. This list, includes numerous servers in the States and spread across multiple other countries around the globe.

During testing, we were able to access Zee5, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, ESPN, Disney Plus, more than three Netflix libraries, and others. The speeds were pretty great too, and we didn’t experience any throttling.

This is perfect just in case you’re looking to access international services in the US and US content while traveling abroad. Speaking of traveling abroad, it’ll also be best for getting into your bank accounts when overseas or keeping you secure while using Public WiFi. You’ll also be able to access content in geo-restricted countries, and yes, Surfshark does work in China.

Just like ExpressVPN, Surfshark is located in the British Virgin Islands, far away from the 14-eyes alliance. So you wouldn’t have to be too worried about online privacy. Speaking of privacy, this provider doesn’t log any data.

Coming to the technical bits, Surfshark is also famous for its unique and robust security suite. It uses AES 256-bit encryption, and OpenVPN protocol and has a Kill Switch feature even for iOS apps. You’ll also find unique features like DNS protection, NoBorders, and Camouflage Mode. Other than this, there’s a lot more to look into.

You don’t need to worry about investments because Surfshark is one of the more affordable apps, with its best-discounted price at $2.30/mo (Save 82% and get 2 extra months FREE with 24-month plan). You’ll also find a 7-day free trial on the Android and iOS apps for smartphones and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

If, however, you still have a lot more questions on your mind, you could always contact Surfshark customer service. They’re helpful and active through email support. There’s no live chat yet. We have covered a full review of Surfshark so you will know more about this VPN in detail.

Get Started with Surfshark Now!

2. ExpressVPN – Fastest USA VPN for streaming and torrenting

ExpressVPN is by far one of the fastest VPN services for the USA and in the industry as a whole. So, if you’re ever looking for major streaming or gaming speeds while in the US, then ExpressVPN is the number one choice for it. Other than that, there’s much more about the provider that you need to know about.

ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands. It follows a strict no-log policy. This means that you won’t have to experience any online privacy or surveillance issues within the US.

Speaking of location, ExpressVPN also makes a great US VPN because of its server coverage. It has around 3000+ servers in 94 countries. Within that list, it covers a variety of servers in the US, although you wouldn’t be provided with an exact amount on the website.

Using one of its US servers, you’ll not only be able to access local content while traveling outside the USA but also log in to your bank and social accounts from other geo-censored regions.

When we tested this provider, it managed to unblock Voot, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar, the US and UK Netflix libraries, Hulu, ESPN, and many more. ExpressVPN makes a decent app for torrenting too.

If you’re looking to protect more than one device, then you’re in luck. ExpressVPN allows up to 5 simultaneous device connections. Yes, this is a little less as compared to Surfshark’s unlimited device, but ExpressVPN makes up for it in other fields.

Where device support is concerned, it’s compatible with all the major operating systems. A few of them include apps for Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Firestick, routers, and Nvidia Shield.

Speaking of, have you seen the ExpressVPN security platform? Besides its privacy-friendly region, it encompasses features strong enough to protect your data, device, and anonymity online. The apps run on AES 256-bit encryption, has a Kill Switch, and even offer a Split-Tunneling feature.

This makes ExpressVPN one of the safest options to use when connected to an insecure or public WiFi network. It’ll make sure that your connection stays private and encrypted away from watchful eyes.

Other advanced features include DNS and IP leak protection, and compatibility with TOR. If unblocking geo-restricted content is your prime focus, then ExpressVPN offers a feature by the name of MediaStreamer for it.

This fast VPN is a little on the pricier side but has the features and performance to suit it. The best-discounted price is a 1-year plan of $6.67/mo. You can even put the VPN to the test, considering that ExpressVPN offers a free trial for Android and iOS smartphones.

Other than that, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Contact its 24/7 live chat if you need to cancel your account or avail of a full refund. If you want to buy this VPN then read our detailed review of ExpressVPN.

Get Started with ExpressVPN Now!

3. NordVPN – The most secure VPN for the US that offers the largest server network

Need a VPN for online security? Then NordVPN is what you should look into. This VPN service is not only one of the strongest for the USA, but worldwide. It’s located in a secure jurisdiction called Panama, away from the 14-eyes regions.

NordVPN was previously exposed for its data breach scandal, but if you go through its multiple independent audit reports, you’ll see that nothing was compromised. Audit reports always show the authenticity of a VPN service, mostly if conducted voluntarily.

NordVPN covers around 5200+ servers in 59+ countries, with the inclusion of about 1845 US servers within its list. We put a couple of the US and international servers to the test, checking for speed and unblocking abilities.

The speed results were good and we managed to unblock numerous services in the US. A few of these included Netflix, Amazon Prime, SonyLiv, Disney Plus, Hulu, and more. We were also able to unblock geo-restricted services within the US using its obfuscated technologies. Some of these included BBC iPlayer and Hotstar.

The NordVPN security infrastructure offers military-grade AES 256-bit encryption over OpenVPN protocol and uses the NordLynx protocol for iOS. It includes a Kill Switch and DNS protection. There are also other advanced features like CyberSec to sweep away ads, Double VPN servers for added anonymity, and more.

With strong security like this, you’ll be able to safely access your bank, social or email accounts in the US or while traveling abroad, regardless of whether you’re connected to a personal or public WiFi.

Coming to device support, NordVPN is compatible with multiple apps and operating systems. A few of its support is toward apps for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Firestick, Linux, Routers, and others. You’ll be able to connect up to 6 devices simultaneously.

You’ll be able to test the app before investing, since NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial for iOS and Android smtartphones. There’s even a 30-day money-back guarantee included over every subscription plan.

Besides having a user-friendly app, the NordVPN support staff is accommodating too. If ever you need to request a refund, simply contact its support team. However, if you’re interested in investing, we’d recommend going for the 2-year plan at $5.29/mo.

Get Started with NordVPN Now! 

4. IPVanish – Reliable USA VPN that offers a strict no-log policy

Next on the list, we have IPVanish, a VPN which not only happens to be one of the best for the USA, but is also a US-based provider. This means if you’re traveling or wish to get access to US content for instance, your Netflix or US bank accounts, you’ll have unlimited servers and safe access to it.

However, being a US-based VPN also comes with many flaws. For instance, it’s located within the 14-eyes alliance. This is kind of alarming given the fact that VPN users are looking for online security and privacy in the States.

But, you also need to keep an open mind and really dig deep into its logging policy. Turns out that they follow a strict no-log policy. You’ll even find recent updates on its website.

IPVanish secures around 2000+ servers in 75+ locations and since it’s a US-based VPN, most of its servers are in America; roughly around 846 of them. This is best for anyone who wants access to US content or other platforms like secure banking while traveling or abroad. Although, the unblocking abilities worked pretty smoothly using its international servers too.

During testing, we managed to unblock US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and a couple more. The speeds weren’t as impressive as ExpressVPN, but were good enough for HD streaming.

The IPVanish app is user-friendly enough for even beginners to glide through, and speaking of apps, it supports all the major platforms. You’ll find apps for Windows, Android, iOS, Firestick, Roku, Routers and others. The best part is that IPVanish has now updated its simultaneous connection support to unlimited devices.

We’d say that IPVanish harbors good security features but not the best compared to most providers. It offers AES 256-bit encryption, supports OpenVPN and other protocols, has a Kill Switch and offers Split-Tunneling.

Even though the security is limited, it’s still enough to secure your connections and shield your device and data, especially if you’re connected to an unsafe or public WiFi network.

There’s no free trial just yet, but IPVanish does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee over each subscription. We’d also recommend going for the 1-year subscription plan, which is the most reasonable at $3.99/mo. Read our review of IPVanish and you’ll get to know more about this VPN.

Get Started with IPVanish Now!

5. CyberGhost – Easy-to-use US VPN that offers 45-day money-back guarantee

Just because CyberGhost is placed 5^th on the list, doesn’t mean it falls short of being a reliable VPN to use in the US. CyberGhost is known mainly for adding privacy for users over the internet. Other than that it offers many other features that make it one of the best.

This provider is located in Romania, far away from surveillanced regions, which means bigger privacy and security for its users. It offers a huge coverage of 7700+ servers in 90+ countries, and includes around 1069 US servers in the list.

When put to the test, we were able to unblock Netflix, ESPN, BBC iPlayer and a couple more. The speeds were pretty fast too depending on what server you choose. The app also comes labelled with various services that each server is best for, which makes it great for first time users. It also worked safely for Popcorn Time.

Security is limited but effective. It offers AES 256-bit encryption, supports OpenVPN even on the iOS app, which is rare, has a Kill Switch, and a Split-Tunneling feature. The app also comes with DNS and IP leak protection.

The added perks of the CyberGhost privacy and security features allows you to protect your device, data and activities in public areas when connected to an unsecure WiFi. You’ll also be able to access your media and banking apps safely while traveling outside the USA.

If you want to connect CyberGhost to unlimited devices then you’re in luck since it allows multi-device connections up to 7 devices. A few of its supported platforms include Windows, iOS, Android, and macOS.

One thing that’s really appreciated, is that CyberGhost offers a variety of free trials. It includes a 24-hour trial for Windows, a 7-day trial for Android and iOS smartphones, and a 45-day refund for any subscription over a month. The prices are pretty reasonable too, with their best-discounted rate at $2.29/mo for 36 months. If you are interested to purchase this VPN then read our complete CyberGhost VPN review.

Get Started with CyberGhost Now!

6. StrongVPN – Solid VPN for the USA that offers limited but reliable servers

StrongVPN is another US-based provider, but is pretty strict when it comes to its no-logging policy, making it one of the best VPN providers for the USA. It mentions that it doesn’t track nor log user-data when you’re connected to its service. However, if you’re still unsure about it, there are many other US VPN providers mentioned on this list.

This VPN covers around 950+ servers in 30+ countries, with most of its servers in the US spread across 16 locations. During testing, we unblocked Netflix, but you’ll have to tweak around server to server for the best results. Other platforms unblocked included BBC iPlayer, Hulu and Disney Plus.

You’ll be able to connect up to 12 devices per subscription, which is more than what other VPN services offer. StrongVPN extends its device support towards multiple platforms. A few of its supported devices include Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Kindle, Chrome OS, Routers and much more.

Coming to the StrongVPN security, the app offers AES 256-bit encryption and supports a variety of protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard and more even on the iOS app. It also includes a Kill Switch, Split-Tunneling and DNS leak protection.

The security features are especially impressive since they allow you to safely access your bank accounts, media apps, email accounts, business accounts and more while traveling outside the US for business or more. You’ll also be able to safely use the internet if ever you access a public WiFi or hotspot.

There’s no free trial included, but this US VPN offers a 30-day refund period. StrongVPN offers only two subscription plans, with its 1-year offer being the most reasonable at $3.66/mo. If you want to know more about this VPN in detail, check our StrongVPN review.

Get Started with StrongVPN Now!

7. PrivateVPN – Great US VPN that offers protection against bandwidth throttling

Last on the list, we have PrivateVPN, another great VPN service for the USA. This VPN is located in Sweden and happens to fall under the 14-eyes jurisdiction. However, after going through its logging policy, it mentions only storing your email ID, which doesn’t seem to be too alarming.

It covers a very tiny list of 200+ servers in 60+ countries, with coverage in the US around 9 locations. These are enough to grant you safe access to your US bank and business accounts while traveling abroad.

However, it could really do with a little more server coverage for a flexible experience. The VPN comes with a Stealth Mode. Using that we were able to get access to Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.

The security features are very minimalistic. It operates using AES 256-bit encryption, supports OpenVPN protocol even on the iOS app, and is DNS protected. It does have a Kill Switch feature but not for iOS.

PrivateVPN allows you to make up to 6 simultaneous device connections and supports multiple platforms. Some of them include Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS, Routers, Linux, and Kodi.

PrivateVPN doesn’t offer a free trial but does support a 30-day money-back guarantee. The most popular deal for it right now is the 36-month plan for $2.00/mo.

Get Started with PrivateVPN Now!

How did we narrow down these top providers to use in the USA and abroad?

There are many VPN services to scout for, but not all are worthy of your time and investments. To choose the best, you have to picture several situations where you needed security or privacy over the internet in the US and then understand why a VPN would be your best shot at it. If you take a look below, you’ll see just how we narrowed them down:

1. Public WiFi and hackers
2. Geo-blocked regions
3. Restricted content
4. Tampered speeds and bandwidth

1. Public WiFi and hackers

What happens when you try to access a website or log into your bank account while connected to public WiFi? Here’s the picture. If you don’t appreciate your device being infiltrated and data being stolen/deleted, it is best you never consider using a public network.

2. Geo-blocked regions

There are also situations where you might have access to your accounts and a few US streaming services while within the country. However, the moment you step out and enter a country like China or Russia, you’re probably going to have a callous time getting access to them.

3. Restricted content

There are circumstances where a country you wish to access international content in, either restricts access to it, or the service itself is only limited within the US. Take Netflix, for starters; the US library is only aired within the United States, and to access it in Japan or India, you’re going to need a US VPN. It doesn’t matter if you’re a US citizen paying a monthly Netflix bill; once you’re out of the region, you’re locked out of the service.

4. Tampered speeds and bandwidth

There are also other reasons, like your Internet Service Provider deliberately slowing down your speeds and bandwidth. You’ll be stuck for hours just trying to stream one movie or have your connection lag midway through an online gaming session.

So…here’s how we chose them

Taking a look at only a tiny handful of the reasons mentioned above, as to how we narrowed down the best providers to use in the USA, we chose them based on a whole plethora of factors. After putting many to the test, you’ll see just why these 7 providers made the cut.

We chose them based on military encryption, high speeds, unlimited bandwidth, ability to bypass geo-blocks, protect your device from external and internal threats, and much more.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are VPN services illegal in the USA?
2. Can I be tracked if I use a VPN?
3. Is it safe to use a free VPN in the USA?

Are VPN services illegal in the USA?

No, they’re legal to use. However, regardless of whether you use a VPN or not within the USA, you need to make sure that the content you access isn’t illegal. For instance, torrenting or downloading copyrighted content isn’t what you’d deem as legal within the States. So, using a VPN won’t automatically change the status. Always be sure to make use of a VPN safely.

It is a fact that the USA is a part of the 14-eyes alliance, and any provider that does comply with their regulations are required to hand in any user information to the governing authorities. This increases your risk factor.

Can I be tracked if I use a VPN?

Technically, a VPN provides you with end-to-end encryption. An Internet Service Provider or other surveillance bodies wouldn’t be able to track your traffic back to you. However, an ISP can tell that you’re using a VPN since the IP address isn’t registered with them.

Always make sure that the VPN provider you choose is equipped with solid security features and military-grade encryption.

Is it safe to use a free VPN in the USA?

No, it isn’t. Even though using a VPN in the US isn’t illegal, a free VPN in general, isn’t something you should be considering, especially if you’re trying to run further away from online surveillance. There are a couple of free VPN services like Windscribe that are reliable, but a free service could increase many risks.

Using a free VPN means giving up on your privacy and security. Most of these free VPN providers often steal and store user information, share them, or come with viruses. Other than that, a free VPN also slows down speeds, limits bandwidth, and comes with weak or no encryption.

Conclusion – Why do you need a VPN in the USA?

Ask yourself this, “Do I need my personal space?” In the same way, needing personal space through online privacy and security is a requirement when in the US. Your search history, activities, and data are constantly under surveillance in the US, and using a VPN for it is the only way around it. Of course, there are other options, but a VPN has proven to be the most effective.

There are countless times when you might even want to travel the world or go overseas for business. Once you step out of the USA, you’re going to be locked out of most US-based accounts. It can be your Netflix account or bank apps. You need a US VPN to get across these restrictions.

For this reason, we’ve tried, tested, and shortlisted only the best VPN for the USA that offers every ounce of safety and security within and outside the United States. However, even though all the providers on the list are capable enough, we’d recommend the top three providers (ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN) simply because they pulled out the best performance results.

All 3 VPN recommended VPN services come with a free trial, a money-back guarantee, multiple device support (inclusive of simultaneous connections), and solid security encryption for the USA.