The US is the founder of the 5 Eyes Alliance (later expanded to 14 Eyes). If you live or reside in the United States, you should know that everyone is interested in your data – government agencies, advertisers, and hackers. 

Using a VPN in the US will help you protect your data from prying eyes. A VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through a server in another location, making it difficult for anyone to track or spy on your activity. 

Should you use a VPN in the US?

You already have a lot of recurring bills, so you might not be in the “mood” to pay for an additional service – the VPN. However, let us show you a couple of reasons why you should seriously consider subscribing to a virtual private network app. 

security-icon

Bypass government surveillance 

Government surveillance has been a big problem for many US citizens, as the NSA can spy on them without having any probable cause. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows the NSA to track communications far beyond national security needs, and a VPN can help counter that. 

With the help of VPNs, you can protect your privacy and be the sole owner of your personal data.  

information-icon

Protect yourself from public Wi-Fi attacks 

​​If you frequently use public Wi-Fi in the US, you know these networks are often unsecured and vulnerable to attacks. Hackers can easily access your personal information if you’re not careful. 

But with a VPN, you can browse the internet securely and anonymously. A VPN encrypts your data and hides your IP address, making it impossible for hackers to steal your information. So even if those malicious attacks get access to your web traffic, all hackers would see is useless gibberish.

bandwidth-icon

Stop receiving unwanted ads 

You should definitely start if you aren’t using a VPN in the United States. One of the main reasons is that your ISPs might be selling your private data to advertisers who can torture you with “customized ads.” Seeing an ad for something you just bought or a product you were looking at online is absolutely infuriating.

But that’s exactly what happens when your data is shared without your knowledge or consent. A VPN will help to keep your data private and stop those unwanted ads from popping up.

bandwidth-icon

Stop bandwidth throttling 

Think about the last time you were trying to load a website or stream a video, and it took forever to complete the task. Or maybe you’ve noticed your connection slowing down at certain times of the day. If you’ve ever had any of these experiences, you know what it’s like when your ISP throttles your bandwidth. 

ISP’s throttle bandwidth for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s because they’re trying to manage their network traffic. Other times, they may deliberately slow down certain types of traffic, like video streaming or P2P file sharing. 

Whatever the reason, it’s frustrating. But there’s a solution: using a VPN. A VPN encrypts your Internet traffic and routes it through a server in another location. This means your ISP can’t see what you’re doing online, so they can’t throttle your bandwidth. 

bandwidth-icon

Open geo-restricted content 

A US VPN can open up a whole world of geo-restricted content that you wouldn’t be able to access otherwise. With a US VPN, you can access popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and ESPN+.  

A US VPN allows you to change your virtual location and bypass geographic restrictions. This means you can access only available content in the United States. A US VPN is an excellent tool for anyone who wants to experience the best American streaming offers. 

A VPN will also allow you to watch your favorite TV shows when abroad on holiday or away for a business trip. 

What were our criteria when choosing our best VPNs for the US?


The best US VPNs 

PrivateVPN is Time4VPN’s editor choice for the best VPN in the US. It offers everything you would ever need and will do it for a fantastic price. 

If you’re looking for a high-speed, reliable VPN with AES-256-bit encryption, PrivateVPN is a great choice. Based in Sweden, PrivateVPN has a strong commitment to privacy and security. Their network comprises over 200 servers in 60+ countries, so you can always find a fast connection.  

And their software is easy to use, making it an excellent option for first-time VPN users. It’s also the best VPN for Mac users, but it works on all operating systems flawlessly. 

But what really sets PrivateVPN apart is its dedication to streaming. If you’re trying to access Netflix or Hulu from outside the US, they can help you bypass geo-restrictions and connect you quickly and easily. So if you’re looking for a VPN that’s great for streaming American content, PrivateVPN is a perfect choice. 

If you’re looking for a great VPN to use in the United States, Surfshark is an excellent option. It offers strong security features, high speeds, great streaming quality, and a very reasonable price. 

Surfshark offers AES-256-bit encryption and a no-logging policy. This ensures that your data is always protected, even if the VPN connection drops for any reason. 

In terms of speed, Surfshark consistently ranks near the top of our list. Whether you’re using it for general browsing or streaming video content, you won’t be disappointed with the performance. And speaking of streaming, Surfshark can unblock a wide range of popular streaming services and is a great VPN for Amazon Prime Video, US Netflix, and more. 

Finally, Surfshark is very affordable compared to other premium VPNs on the market. 

NordVPN is frequently lauded as one of the best VPNs on the market, and it’s easy to see why. They offer industry-leading speeds, great security features, 1TB of cloud storage, and excellent streaming capabilities. All of these factors make NordVPN a great choice for anyone looking for a top-notch VPN service. 

If you’re looking to stream Netflix, ESPN+, and other content platforms, NordVPN is definitely one of the best options available. Their servers are fast and reliable, so you’ll never have to worry about buffering or lag. And because NordVPN encrypts your traffic, you can be sure that your streaming activity is completely private. 

Overall, NordVPN is an excellent all-around VPN service that offers everything you could want in a VPN. If you’re looking for a great US VPN app for Windows or other operating systems, it fits the bill perfectly. 

If you’re looking for a VPN provider with a strong server presence in the US, Private Internet Access (PIA) is a good option. With over 30,000 servers, PIA has one of the largest networks of any VPN service. And while its speeds aren’t the fastest, they’re still decent for streaming and general web browsing. 

One of the biggest selling points of PIA is its security. The company uses military-grade encryption to protect your data and also offers a number of features to keep you safe online. These include a kill switch, which prevents your data from leaking if the VPN connection drops, and DNS leak protection. 

Overall, PIA is a solid choice for a VPN service, especially if you place high importance on security. 

There are many reasons to consider Express VPN as one of the best US VPN services. First and foremost, it has industry-leading security with its own protocol, Lightway.  

This makes it very difficult for anyone to hack into your device or steal your data. In addition, ExpressVPN has good speeds and top-tier streaming capabilities. It means that you can stream content from Hulu or Netflix US without any issues. In fact, it’s among the best VPNs for Hulu. 

The user interface is also beginner-friendly, and what we like about the app is that it’s very reliable.

However, the biggest downside of ExpressVPN is its price. It is one of the most expensive VPNs on the market. Additionally, you can only use it on 5 devices per account. 

When it comes to free VPNs, there is one that stands out above the rest: ProtonVPN. ProtonVPN offers the best free version of a VPN that we’ve seen. It’s fast, it’s secure, and it has no monthly data cap. 

The paid plan takes things even further with Secure Core servers, which grant the ultimate security plus solid speeds. While you can stream multiple US content platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video, ProtonVPN puts the focus on reliability and a best-in-class no-logging policy. 

Аs a matter of fact, it’s the only VPN for Linux that offers great GUI. The app is very user-friendly, and you can connect up to 10 devices at the same time. 

As one of the most affordable VPN providers, AtlasVPN offers a free plan with limited access to servers and features. Although you won’t be able to enjoy the full range of benefits that a premium account provides, the free version is still a great way to protect your online privacy. 

The company has a strong focus on security, offering a good selection of features such as military-grade encryption and a kill switch.  

Speeds are also decent, making it a good option for streaming US Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and others. Overall, AtlasVPN is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable VPN provider that won’t sacrifice security features. 

Still, you need to consider that it has unreliable speeds and might expect a bit more when streaming. 

If you’re looking for a US VPN service, CyberGhost should be high on your list. It’s one of the most popular VPNs available, with good reason.

It has built itself a name in the industry, as you can get an all-in-one package consisting of antivirus software, an adblocker, and a VPN. 

CyberGhost offers fast speeds and top-notch security at a fraction of the price of some of the other VPNs on the market. It’s also one of the best choices for streaming US content from abroad, especially if you plan to use a VPN for Disney Plus. 

Overall, CyberGhost is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a US VPN service. It’s fast, it’s secure, and it’s incredibly affordable. 

If you’re looking for a reliable North American VPN, TunnelBear is one of the best options out there. They offer a variety of features that make them stand out from other providers, including: 

One of the things that set TunnelBear apart is its dedication to security. Their AES-256-bit encryption is military grade and will ensure your data is safe from prying eyes. They also have a strict no-logs policy, which means they don’t keep any records of what you do online. This is important for privacy-conscious users who don’t want their browsing habits tracked. 

TunnelBear also offers fast speeds and reliable connections to browse the web without interruptions. While we would expect better streaming capabilities, we were delighted with this US VPN service, especially if you plan to work remotely. 

US VPN FAQs

Yes, VPNs are legal in the United States. There are no laws prohibiting the use of VPNs, and they are perfectly legal to use. This means that you can use a VPN to protect your privacy online, encrypt your data, and unblock sites and services that may be censored in your country. 
Of course, if you commit crimes, it’s not impossible to be prosecuted, so we advise against doing so. 

If you’re looking for the best VPN in the US, look no further than PrivateVPN. This jack-of-all-trades offers top-notch security and privacy, fast speeds, and a host of other features that make it one of the best VPNs on the market. 
PrivateVPN’s software is easy to use and comes with a host of handy features. Including a strict no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch.

No, it’s not a good idea to use a free VPN in the US. First, free VPNs are supported by advertisements. That means that your data is being sold to third parties in order to keep the VPN running. Free VPNs are often less secure than paid VPNs. They may not use strong encryption protocols, which means that your data could be more vulnerable to theft. 
Also, these VPNs may collect and store your data. This violates your privacy and could lead to identity theft. Last but not least – free VPNs may throttle your speed or limit your data usage. 

As 4K content becomes more popular, the minimum speed needed to stream it without issues has risen to 20Mbps. However, that threshold is 5Mbps for streaming in Full HD. If you’re trying to watch a movie or show in 4K resolution with a VPN, you’ll need a higher connection speed than streaming in Full HD. 

To access US Netflix with a VPN, you should first create a VPN account. Then, you should download the relevant version for your device. The next step is to connect to a US server. Once you’ve accomplished it, you can then open Netflix, and if everything has gone well – you can now have access to the US library.