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 adv@vicedealz.com — verified corrections ship fast.

Who runs these tests

Testing is run by the VPNRank editorial team. Learn more about who we are and how we are funded on the About page.