What is the Primary Purpose of a VPN? [Updated 2022]

A VPN is essentially a security tool designed to offer anonymity and allows online users to securely bypass and access geo-restricted websites and services.

So, in case your country has strict censorship laws, you can connect to a secure VPN server and gain access to virtually any blocked content. A VPN also offers online privacy. It deters hackers from stealing your data over public Wi-Fi and prevents marketers from tracking your online activities.

As for use cases, most online users nowadays use VPNs for torrenting or for bypassing geographic restrictions to access streaming services like U.S Netflix. If you’re new to VPNs, here’s what you can use a VPN for:

Hide Your Browsing Activity:

When you use public Wi-Fi connections, your browsing activity is visible for everyone to see around you. So, if you’re at a coffee, a would-be hacker can potentially see what you’re browsing online. A VPN prevents this by encrypting your data. A VPN creates a virtual tunnel between you and the VPN server. Anyone outside the tunnel would have no idea what you’re doing online. This even includes your internet service provider (ISP).

Access Geo-restricted Websites: 

Some websites and streaming services are only available in certain regions. For instance, streaming services like Netflix, Pandora, and Hulu are only available in the U.S. If you’re a non-U.S resident, or traveling outside the country, you will not be able to access any of the services due to geo-restrictions.

But with the help of a VPN, you can spoof your geo-location to obtain an IP address from anywhere in the world and access blocked websites or services freely without restrictions.

Bypass Internet Censorship: 

Many countries around the world have strict online censorship. Countries like China use strict firewalls to detect and block foreign or inappropriate content. Even Middle Eastern countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia have strict censorship laws that block most foreign content. However, a VPN is designed to bypass censorship and give a user access to any blocked content from anywhere in the world.

Our Choice of VPNs for Anonymous browsing & Geo-Block Bypassing

Now there are tons of VPNs in the industry. However, not all of them are ideal for torrenting, gaming, geo-block bypassing and streaming.

Considering that, here’s our top VPN recommendation in 2022 that we shortlisted after testing 200+ VPNs:

• ExpressVPN – Overall best VPN. Come with 3000+ servers in 94 countries that offer powerful security and support both torrenting, and streaming. Offers features such as AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, no-logs, and DNS leak protection. Tested for gaming, torrenting, and for unblocking, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Hotstar, and more. Supports 5 devices simultaneously. Fast enough to offer speeds of up to 40.43 Mbps (50 Mbps standard connection). Comes with a free smart DNS – MediaStreamer feature, making it  the best VPN for Nvidia Shield for streaming movies. Costs just $6.67/mo and comes with a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee. Limited time offer: Get 3 months free subscription with its annual plan.

• Surfshark – Most Affordable VPN. Starts from just $2.30/mo. Offers 3200+ servers in 65 countries. Can easily be used for gaming, torrenting, and for unblocking, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu, and more. Tested to offer speeds of up to 47.83 Mbps (50 Mbps standard connection). Supports unlimited simultaneous connections and also offers a full 30-day money-back guarantee.

• NordVPN – Most Secure VPN. Comes with powerful security features such as Nordlynx, AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, CyberSec, and obfuscated servers. Offers an audited strict no-logging policy. Offers 5200+ servers in 59+ countries. Perfect for unblocking streaming services and for both gaming and torrenting. Fast enough to offer speeds of up to 36.43 Mbps (50 Mbps standard connection). Costs just $3.29/mo, supports 6 multi-logins, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• CyberGhost – Easy to Use VPN. Incredibly intuitive to use on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and more. Comes with a massive 7700+ server network in 90+ countries. Offers dedicated servers for super-fast streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Easily cable of delivering fast speeds of up to 46.13 Mbps (50 Mbps standard connection). Costs just $2.29/mo, offers 7 multi-logins per subscription, and offers an extensive 45-day money-back guarantee.