How We Test VPNs

The basics

• We purchase our own subscription to every VPN we evaluate.
• All VPNs are tested against the same checklist, on the same hardware, in the same period.
• Scores are updated when providers ship significant changes — new protocols, pricing changes, audit results, infrastructure moves.
• We disclose affiliate relationships on every page; commissions never feed into the rubric.

Speed benchmarks

Our reference benchmark runs on a wired 1 Gbps fiber connection (US East). For each VPN we measure download, upload, and latency across that provider's recommended protocol (WireGuard-family protocols like NordLynx and Lightway where available, OpenVPN as fallback), connecting to nearby and long-haul servers. Each figure we publish is the average of multiple runs at different times of day, not a single best case.

Speed numbers quoted on comparison pages refer to this reference benchmark unless a page explicitly says otherwise. Long-distance routes (for example, connecting back to a home-country server from Asia) are slower than the reference figures — we flag expected retention ranges on the relevant travel guides.

Privacy & security checks

• Leak testing: DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak checks on every platform app, including reconnection and network-switch scenarios.
• Kill switch: we cut the VPN connection mid-transfer and verify no packets escape unencrypted.
• Encryption & protocols: we verify advertised cipher suites and protocol implementations.
• Audits & jurisdiction: we track independent no-logs audits (KPMG, PwC, Deloitte) and weigh provider jurisdiction.

Streaming & access verification

We verify whether each VPN can reliably access major streaming platforms from the relevant server regions, re-checking periodically because platforms update their VPN detection continuously. A pass means video plays reliably — not just that the page loads.

For country-specific guides, access checks are run from in-country vantage points — a mix of remote probes and local contributors — rather than from a single lab. Conditions in restrictive markets change quickly; where our information has a meaningful chance of being stale, the page says so.

The scoring rubric

Each VPN's overall score weighs:

• Speed (25%): reference benchmark results and consistency.
• Privacy & security (30%): audits, jurisdiction, leak tests, kill switch, encryption.
• Reliability & access (20%): connection stability and streaming/access verification.
• Apps & usability (15%): platform coverage, app quality, support.
• Value (10%): pricing against the feature set, guarantee terms.

Limitations — read this

No VPN review site tests everything continuously, and we would rather be upfront about it. Our speed figures are point-in-time measurements from defined locations, not guarantees of what you will see on your connection. Streaming access can change between our re-checks. Network conditions inside restrictive countries vary by city, ISP, and week.

If you find a claim on this site that does not match your experience, tell us at [email protected] — verified corrections ship fast.

Who runs these tests

Testing is led by Martín Rossi (Editor-in-Chief & Lead VPN Tester), with Diego Pereyra on security and protocols, Sofía Giménez on privacy and no-logs audits, and Lucía Fernández on streaming and unblocking. Meet the full team and see how we are funded on the About page.