EXPERT ADVICE: Free VPNs rarely work with American streaming services. Private Internet Access, the best VPN for connecting into USA, runs servers in 50 US states that unblock popular American TV platforms. Try PIA VPN risk-free for 30 days.
Free US VPN servers are commonly available, however the quality of the IP addresses offered is very low, as well as the services operating them.
We tested 65 VPNs to find the best ones that offer US IP addresses to connect into America and unblock American streaming platforms from any country.
Summary: The Best Free US VPNs
Based on our US-specific tests, here’s a summary list of the best free VPNs to get a US IP address:
- Windscribe Free: Overall Best Free VPN for the US
- Proton VPN Free: Best Free VPN for US Speed & Server Locations
- PrivadoVPN Free: Best Free VPN for US Netflix
The best free VPN for connecting into America is Windscribe Free. It offers fast speeds on seven US servers and unblocks most US streaming sites, but free data is capped at 10GB per month.
All the free VPNs above come with secure servers located in the United States, giving you free access to a range of US IP addresses.
However, caps on data use, limits on US server locations, and weaker unblocking capabilities make them less effective than paid VPNs.
Summary: The Overall Best USA VPNs
Here’s a list of our most highly-rated VPNs to connect into America:
- Private Internet Access: Overall Best VPN for USA
- ExpressVPN: Best for Unblocking US Streaming Platforms
- NordVPN: 1,970 Fast & Secure US Servers
The absolute best VPN for the US is Private Internet Access (PIA). It earned a phenomenal 9.7/10 US-specific test rating thanks to its extremely fast VPN servers located in 50 US states, which also unblock many US streaming platforms. No other VPN covers as many server locations in America as PIA.
Our top-rated USA VPNs operate thousands of US IP addresses that stream American video content from overseas and with excellent picture quality.
The Best US VPNs Compared
Use the table below to compare the best VPNs for the US based on speed connecting into the US, ability to access US streaming platforms, and price.
Why Trust Us?
We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.
1. Windscribe Free: Best Free VPN for USA
Free VPN with eight US city locations and access to most US streaming services.
Ranked #1 Free VPN for the US
- Excellent 100% free VPN
- Eight US city servers
- Unlimited device policy
- Generous 10GB data cap
- Unblocks HBO Max, Disney+, & Hulu
- Good Fire TV Stick application
- No longer works with US Netflix
- 10GB monthly data restriction
- Slower than PrivadoVPN Free
- Less servers than Proton VPN Free
- No live chat support
Overall USA Rating: 8.2/10
This overall rating is calculated based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology.
8 8.0/108.5 8.5/108.8 8.8/109.3 9.3/10
Windscribe Free is the best free VPN for the US. It comes with a 10GB data cap that is restrictive, but it offers lots of US IP addresses and can access popular US streaming sites via eight US city servers.
Most importantly, it’s safe, secure, and trustworthy. Despite limitations (it no longer unblocks US Netflix), Windscribe Free will protect you from snooping and hackers.
Data Cap | 10GB |
---|---|
Cheapest Price | Free |
US Netflix | No |
Free US Servers | 8 |
Free US States | 7 |
Logging Policy | No Identifying Data |
Simultaneous Devices | Unlimited |
Compatible with |
|
Free Servers In California, New York & Five More States
Windscribe free lets you connect to eight US cities in seven different states. These include:
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Chicago, Illinois
- Dallas, Texas
- Los Angeles, California
- Miami, Florida
- New York City, New York
- Seattle, Washington
- Washington D.C.
For a free VPN, this is a very good amount of US servers. It has East Coast, West Coast, and Southern options.
Windscribe Free comes with eight servers spread from coast to coast.
You can also connect to global IP addresses in 10 more countries, making it the best free VPN for Germany, best free VPN for Hong Kong, and great if you want to get a French IP address.
This is a small amount compared to the full, paid version of Windscribe. But it still offers a diverse range of servers for Americans to connect to.
Premium-Standard Security
When it comes to security settings, there is barely any difference between paid and free versions of Windscribe.
Both use the AES-256 encryption cipher as well as the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. Both are subject to the same reassuring logging policy, too.
Just like the premium version, the free VPN operates Perfect Forward Secrecy and has a functioning kill switch called ‘FireWall.’
There’s also a double hop feature, port forwarding options, and the free browser extension comes with an effective VPN ad blocker. For a free service, this is very advanced.
Windscribe Free comes with multiple VPN protocols and other connection settings.
Over hundreds of hours of testing, we haven’t recorded a single IP, WebRTC, or DNS leak using Windscribe free.
These credentials make Windscribe a dependable provider. When it comes to free VPNs, this is close to the best security available.
Works With Most Popular US Streaming Platforms
Windscribe Free unblocks most major US streaming services. It is the best free VPN for Amazon Prime Video and it works with HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu.
Sadly, the VPN no longer works with US Netflix. While this wasn’t the case in the past, now all its free US servers are blocked.
Windscribe Free unblocks all major US streaming sites except for US Netflix.
Slower Than Competitors
As with any free service, Windscribe Free has its drawbacks. Primarily, its speed performance is less impressive than the paid version. The free servers just don’t compare.
And while there’s little difference between Windscribe Pro and Free in terms of security offering and unblocking capabilities, there’s no getting around the free version’s 10GB data cap.
2. PrivadoVPN Free: Best for US Netflix
Free US servers with fast speeds and access to American Netflix.
Visit PrivadoVPN
- Best free VPN for US Netflix
- Unblocks HBO Max, Hulu & Disney+
- Four free US city servers
- Fast local and international speeds
- Privacy-focused logging policy
- Fewer US servers than Windscribe
- 10GB monthly data usage limit
- Have to manually renew data each month
- No evidence for logging policy
- No VPN browser extensions
Overall USA Rating: 7.7/10
This overall rating is calculated based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology.
9 9.0/107 7.0/109.3 9.3/106.4 6.4/10
PrivadoVPN Free is one of the best free VPNs for the US because it offers four free US servers and unblocks US Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and Prime Video.
The VPN delivers fast local and international speeds, is safe to use, and comes with a trustworthy logging policy.
A 10GB monthly data cap limits the amount of streaming you’ll be able to do, but the VPN is an easy option for those in need of a free US IP address.
Data Cap | 10GB |
---|---|
Cheapest Price | Free |
US Netflix | Yes |
Free US Servers | 4 |
Free US States | 4 |
Logging Policy | No Identifying Data |
Compatible with |
|
The Best Free VPN for US Netflix
PrivadoVPN is the only free VPN that unblocks US Netflix on desktop devices.
Almost all other free VPNs we’ve tested cannot access US Netflix from overseas. Even Windscribe Free cannot unblock US Netflix.
PrivadoVPN also unblocks a variety of other major US streaming services, including HBO Max, Hulu, and the US version of Amazon Prime Video.
PrivadoVPN Free unblocks HBO Max and more geo-restricted streaming sites.
PrivadoVPN has also fixed its Fire TV Stick app, though, so you can now use it to stream geo-restricted content on TV devices.
EXPERT ADVICE: Set up your PrivadoVPN account in a way that enables streaming. To do this, when asked to Choose Configuration, select Stream Content. Failing to do this prevents PrivadoVPN from working with streaming platforms.
VPN Servers in Four American States
PrivadoVPN Free runs four free US city server locations, including: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington.
This offers a nice coast-to-coast spread, although it’s missing IP addresses in the flyover states and the South.
PrivadoVPN Free comes with 4 US servers.
Windscribe Free and Proton VPN both offer more US servers, but we’ve never encountered long-distance speed issues when using PrivadoVPN Free.
Our speed test data shows an impressive average local download speed of 96Mbps. Connecting to the West Coast from our New York base, we picked up equally fast speeds of 91Mbps. We experienced no severe loading times when streaming and web browsing.
Private Logging Policy, But Unproven
PrivadoVPN only scores 6.4 in our privacy assessment, so improvements can be made.
It loses points because it logs the amount of bandwidth used as well as some account and device information. Nothing can be used to identify you, but we’re also concerned about the lack of evidence given to prove its logging policy claims.
The company is based in Switzerland, which is a privacy haven beyond the reach of privacy offenders like the Five Eyes alliance or European Union.
The security suite is the same as the premium version, meaning that PrivadoVPN Free is just as safe. It uses AES-256 encryption and comes with a working kill switch.
Restrictive 10GB of Data Per Month
As with Windscribe, PrivadoVPN limits free use of its service to 10GB per month. This is restrictive, but still more generous than many other free VPNs, like TunnelBear’s 500MB data allowance.
PrivadoVPN is peculiar in that it requests you manually refresh your free data each month within your online account area. This is frustrating and unnecessary.
Visit PrivadoVPN
or read our full PrivadoVPN Review.
3. Proton VPN Free: Fastest US VPN
Very fast free VPN with unlimited data usage and the most free servers in the US.
Visit Proton VPN
- Unlimited free data & no speed throttling
- Audited privacy policy & open-source apps
- Fastest local US speeds
- 26 free US VPN servers available
- No payment info required & no ads
- Security offering identical to premium version
- Only three countries available
- Torrenting not allowed
- US streaming services blocked
- One device limit policy
- No live chat support
- No browser extensions
Overall USA Rating: 7.6/10
This overall rating is calculated based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology.
1 1.0/109 9.0/109.4 9.4/109.5 9.5/10
Proton VPN is a safe free VPN with an unlimited data allowance. You can use this data to connect to three countries, including the US.
There are limitations when it comes to streaming, torrenting, and server network size, but this VPN is highly safe and transparent.
Data Cap | Unlimited |
---|---|
Cheapest Price | Free |
US Netflix | No |
Logging Policy | No Identifying Data |
Simultaneous Devices | 10 |
Compatible with |
|
No Data Cap & Lots of US Servers
If you need a free VPN to browse the web and visit sites safely, then Proton VPN is the best choice.
You can leave this free VPN on all the time without worrying about data limits, or annoying adverts. This is uniquely generous among safe free VPNs.
Proton VPN is constantly changing the amount of free US servers you can connect to, but there’s always plenty available. Crucially, Proton VPN Free does not throttle your speeds on these free servers.
As of writing, there are 71 free servers in three available countries, including USA (26), Japan (7), and the Netherlands (38). This is a large amount for a free service.
Proton VPN Free comes with three free locations and 26 free US servers.
We tested all of Proton VPN’s free US servers and found that it connects you to seven different states, including California, New York, Georgia, and Texas.
Audited Logging Policy
Proton VPN is an industry leader when it comes to service transparency. Its apps have all been audited by third-party security firms.
On top of that, the VPN is open-source so the public can scrutinize the application code and point out insecurities.
Like PrivadoVPN, Proton VPN is based in Switzerland. It also records very little information about its users. It logs some connection timestamps, but they’re not identifiable.
On this point, when a Swiss court asked Proton VPN for information, it was unable to offer anything relevant, thus proving its safe logging practices.
Focus On Security, Not Entertainment
Proton VPN is one of the most secure VPNs available, and its free version has the same security package as the premium version.
The app uses OpenVPN as the default protocol, which offers a nice balance of speed and security. AES-256 encryption and Perfect Forward Secrecy are also employed.
Proton VPN Free comes with a number of protocols and uses AES-256 encryption.
The VPN encrypts your internet connections and protects you from IP exposures with its kill switch and built-in leak protection.
While it’s great for security, Proton VPN Free is, frankly, useless for streaming. You won’t be able to unblock any American video content from overseas.
Proton VPN Free failed to unblock Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+ & US Netflix.
Moreover, torrenting is forbidden. The VPN actively blocks P2P file sharing traffic.
For a free VPN offering unlimited data, this isn’t surprising, but it does mean you’ll have to consider another free VPN for torrenting.
No Payment Details Needed But No Live Chat
Proton VPN is very easy to install and registration requires no payment details or sensitive information of any kind.
However, unlike PrivadoVPN, there’s no live chat feature for immediate support. You’ll have to email for support, if the online resources aren’t already helpful.
Visit Proton VPN
or read our full Proton VPN Review.
1. PIA VPN: Overall Best VPN for USA
A cheap, no-logs VPN with servers in every US state, and access to US streaming sites.
Ranked #1 out of 65 VPNs for USA
Visit PIA VPN
- Secure servers in 50 US states
- Proven no-logs VPN policy
- Unblocks US Netflix, HBO Max & Hulu
- The cheapest VPN for USA
- Many advanced app settings
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Smart DNS doesn't unblock US streaming apps
- Mac application has usability issues
- Firestick app needs improvements
Overall USA Rating: 9.7/10
This overall rating is calculated based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology.
9.3 9.3/109.9 9.9/109.7 9.7/109.7 9.7/10
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a cheap, no-logs VPN that has the largest pool of available US IP addresses.
The VPN service runs servers in 50 US states, and it’s the only VPN to offer IP addresses in every part of America. Its speeds are some of the fastest we’ve tested, too.
You can unblock US Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and more with PIA. The only problem is its Smart DNS tool, which doesn’t work to unblock the same apps. The Fire TV Stick could be improved, too.
Cheapest Price | $2.03/mo over 28 months See all plans |
---|---|
US Netflix | Yes |
US Cities | 50 |
US States | 50 |
Logging Policy | No Logs |
Simultaneous Devices | Unlimited |
Compatible with |
|
Fast Servers In 50 US States
Private Internet Access is by far the best when it comes to US server locations.
The VPN service operates servers available in every single US state, meaning you can easily change your US IP location to access local web content and watch local news. This is particularly useful if you want to change your YouTube TV location.
PIA’s US servers on iOS.
Unlike NordVPN, PIA rents all its servers. This isn’t a problem since the company rents them from trustworthy providers and PIA undertakes a rigorous vetting process.
The VPN’s long-distance speeds are the fastest we’ve encountered. We’ve also never experienced traffic congestion, thanks to the sheer amount of servers on offer.
Unblocks US Streaming Sites
PIA is an effective streaming VPN, able to get around blocks from US Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and Disney Plus.
Private Internet Access unblocked Hulu in our tests.
However, unlike NordVPN and ExpressVPN, PIA’s streaming compatibility isn’t as reliable across different devices.
For instance, the Fire TV Stick app only works with Disney+ and Hulu, but no other major American streaming apps.
Moreover, PIA’s smart DNS service doesn’t work with streaming apps at all.
Installing the VPN on your router is the only way to unblock US video apps on Apple TV and games consoles. While this method works, it’s not as straightforward as using Smart DNS.
Verified No-Logs VPN
Private Internet Access is a safe and trustworthy VPN service with verified no-logs VPN policy.
The policy has been verified by subpoenas in the US and server seizures in Russia — PIA simply has no information to provide.
This is excellent news because Private Internet Access is based in the US, which is hostile to individual privacy. A true no-logs policy protects against this.
PIA also comes with an effective ad blocker called MACE, and extra features like split tunneling, port forwarding, customizable encryption, and a SOCKS5 proxy as part of the VPN service.
At the same time, PIA’s apps are user-friendly, which makes the service a good choice for newcomers and experienced VPN users alike.
Finally, PIA only costs $2.03 per month, making it one of the best cheap VPNs for getting a US IP address.
Visit PIA VPN
or read our full Private Internet Access Review.
2. ExpressVPN: Best VPN for US Streaming
IP addresses in 16 US cities and access to all major US streaming services, including US Netflix.
Visit ExpressVPN
- Very reliable unblocking US Netflix
- Unblocks HBO Max, Hulu & Disney Plus
- US IP addresses in 16 US cities
- Excellent speeds connecting into America
- Strong security & private logging policy
- Effective Fire TV Stick app & Smart DNS
- More expensive than most rivals
- US IP addresses trigger CAPTCHAs on search engines
- Unknown number of US servers
- No split tunneling on Mac devices
Overall USA Rating: 9.6/10
This overall rating is calculated based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology.
9.9 9.9/109.6 9.6/109.7 9.7/109.2 9.2/10
ExpressVPN is the best paid VPN for streaming US content, thanks to its fast and reliable access to American streaming platforms across a large US server network.
The VPN works to unblock streaming services outside the United States, including American Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.
You can connect to 16 US cities spread across 11 states, including Arizona, Washington, California, Georgia, and New Jersey.
Cheapest Price | $6.67/mo over 15 Months See all plans |
---|---|
US Netflix | Yes |
US Cities | 16 |
US States | 11 |
Logging Policy | No Identifying Data |
Simultaneous Devices | 8 |
Compatible with |
|
Bypasses US Streaming Geo-Restrictions
ExpressVPN beats US streaming service geo-restrictions with ease, even US Netflix which is increasingly difficult to access.
In our tests, the VPN easily streamed HBO Max and bypassed Hulu’s VPN blocks.
In the video below, you can see how easy it is to access Hulu from outside the US with ExpressVPN:
ExpressVPN unblocks Hulu from anywhere in the world.
We also streamed US content via ExpressVPN’s Amazon Fire TV Stick app and its Smart DNS service, MediaStreamer, for even easier access to US streaming content.
IP Addresses Across 16 US Cities
You can get a US IP address for any one of ExpressVPN’s 16 city-server locations. This includes popular cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.
None of ExpressVPN’s US servers are virtual. Instead, they are physically located in the server location, offering improved performance.
ExpressVPN has multiple US server locations.
ExpressVPN doesn’t disclose exactly how many US servers it has, but it’s enough for us to have never experienced any serious server congestion.
ExpressVPN has servers in the following US states:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- New Jersey
- New York
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
An Excellent But Expensive VPN Service
ExpressVPN performs very well in all our testing categories, and stands out particularly for unblocking US streaming platforms across most devices.
In fact, ExpressVPN is the best VPN we’ve reviewed overall, and it comes with a price tag to match.
At its cheapest, it costs $6.67 per month on a 15-month plan. It’s clearly more expensive than Private Internet Access, but it is a more complete VPN service that serves for more purposes.
Visit ExpressVPN
or read our full ExpressVPN Review.
3. NordVPN: 1,970 Fast US Servers
Fast US speeds, 1,970 servers in 16 US cities, and access to US video platforms.
Visit NordVPN
- US IP addresses in 16 locations
- Large, physical US server network
- Unblocks all major US streaming services
- NordLynx protocol delivers fast long-distance speeds
- Panama-based VPN
- Affordable subscription cost
- Fewer US servers than PIA
- Doesn't accept PayPal payments
- Desktop apps can't be resized
- Some issues streaming US Netflix on Firestick
- Renews at a higher subscription price
Overall USA Rating: 9.5/10
This overall rating is calculated based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology.
9.9 9.9/109.4 9.4/109.7 9.7/108.8 8.8/10
Similarly to ExpressVPN, NordVPN is excellent for getting a US IP address and a great all-round VPN, too.
The service offers nearly 2,000 coast-to-coast US servers and reliable access to US Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.
Additionally, the NordLynx (WireGuard) protocol provides quick long-distance speeds for connecting into 16 US locations.
Cheapest Price | $3.29/mo over 2 years See all plans |
---|---|
US Netflix | Yes |
US Cities | 16 |
US States | 13 |
Logging Policy | No Identifying Data |
Compatible with |
|
US Streaming On Multiple Devices
NordVPN is a great solution if you want to watch US streaming services from anywhere in the world.
You can unblock US Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and more on most of the VPN’s US servers.
NordVPN is a reliable way to bypass US blocks and access HBO Max.
With NordVPN, you can stream US content via its excellent Fire TV Stick app and Smart DNS service that works with Apple TV and games consoles, providing a bigger screen experience.
Almost 2,000 US Servers Across the Country
NordVPN owns nearly 2,000 US servers to give its customers access to a wide range of US IP addresses.
NordVPN comes with a large number of US city servers.
Also, NordVPN are rolling out 10Gbps servers, which helps to explain its fast long-distance speeds. With an average download speed loss of 9% connecting to the West Coast from our New York server, NordVPN delivers smooth, buffer-free streaming and web browsing.
NordVPN has servers in the following US states:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- New York
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
Private VPN With Extra Security Settings
NordVPN is a minimal logs VPN that doesn’t record personally identifiable information about its users.
This policy, and the company’s claims, have been confirmed by multiple recent independent audits.
NordVPN is also incorporated in Panama, a country not subjected to intrusive US jurisdiction or the surveillance threat of Five Eyes nations.
The VPN service also provides a enhanced layer of internet security thanks to its optimal security suite. This can be particularly useful to those traveling to the US.
The VPN’s apps use secure protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and its own bespoke NordLynx. NordVPN’s in-house protocol is based on WireGuard and currently delivers the best speeds.
Additional security features include Double VPN, Onion over VPN, and an ad tracking blocker called Threat Protection.
Overall, NordVPN isn’t as good as PIA to connect into the US, but at just $3.29 per month, it does serve as a budget all-round alternative to ExpressVPN.
Visit NordVPN
or read our full NordVPN Review.
How to Get a US IP Address Using a VPN
By using a trusted VPN service with servers in the United States, changing your IP address to a US one is simple.
Follow the steps below to get an anonymous US IP address using a VPN:
- Pick a recommended US VPN from our list, download and install it on your device(s).
- From the VPN’s server list, search for your preferred US server location.
- Select and connect to your chosen USA server location.
- When the application indicates your’re connected to the server, check your new US IP address using our What Is My IP tool.
In the video below you can see how easy it is to get a US IP address. We used Windscribe’s free VPN to demonstrate:
You can use Windscribe Free to connect to eight US VPN servers.
USA VPNs to Avoid
We’re regularly testing and reviewing VPN services for the US, and to date we’ve fully and carefully tested 65.
We continue to be surprised to see how many VPNs are not optimized for internet users in, or connecting into, America.
Based on our tests, here are four popular USA VPNs we don’t recommend you use:
PureVPN
Overall Ranking: #28 out of 65 VPNs Reviewed
Overall Rating: 6.9/10
What we don’t like: PureVPN doesn’t unblock US Netflix, and its logging policy isn’t reassuring enough for privacy-focused users.
TunnelBear
Overall Ranking: #24 out of 65 VPNs Reviewed
Overall Rating: 3.5/10
What we don’t like: TunnelBear is not good for streaming in general. While it does currently work with US Netflix and HBO Max, it can’t unblock many other services. It’s also considerably slower than top-tier VPNs.
Turbo VPN
Overall Ranking: #46 out of 65 VPNs Reviewed
Overall Rating: 2.2/10
What we don’t like: Turbo VPN is not only useless at unblocking geo-restricted American content platforms, it’s also unsafe to use. It’s filled with invasive ads, suffers from DNS leaks, and has suspicious links to China.
Hola VPN
Overall Ranking: #40 out of 65 VPNs Reviewed
Overall Rating: 4.1/10
What we don’t like: Hola VPN is an awful free VPN you must not use. It logs all your internet activity, and shares your idle bandwidth with other Hola users. It also doesn’t unblock any US streaming platform.
Why Do I Need a VPN for the US?
The main reason for using a VPN for the US is to access geo-restricted web content that’s only available in the United Sates.
Your IP address is directly connected to your geographic location, therefore connecting to a server in America will assign you a US IP address.
If you choose one of the VPNs we recommend in this guide, you’ll be able to use the Internet as if you’re actually in the US.
Many internet users around the world, especially American expats, use a VPN for streaming US-only video content, in particular.
For instance, many want a VPN to unlock the US Netflix library, which has some of the best TV shows and movies, but only viewers in America can access them.
We easily unblocked US Netflix using Private Internet Access.
The best VPNs for the US, like PIA and ExpressVPN, unblock American Netflix as well as other American platforms such as HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, and more.
Since it offers server locations in 50 US states, PIA VPN is ideal to American expats that wish to access regional content, such as local news channels.
Sadly, most free VPNs can’t unblock US Netflix and other American streaming services. However, there is one that still works and is the current best free VPN for Netflix: PrivadoVPN.
How We Test VPNs for the USA
We’ve tested 150 VPN applications to see which work best to get an American IP address and allow you to use the Internet from abroad as if you’re in the United States.
To find the best VPN to connect into the United States, we test for:
- A large number of US servers and server locations
- Access to American streaming websites and apps
- Fast speeds connecting from any country into the US
- A private logging policy and jurisdiction
- AES-256 and OpenVPN encryption, with no IP or DNS leaks
- As few restrictions as possible in terms of usage
To make our recommendations, we connect into the USA and analyze each VPN in four different categories, rating each out of 10. We then combine these category ratings to calculate an overall rating for the USA.
In the table below, we summarize how our top-rated USA VPNs are rated in each category, as well as their overall rating for the USA:
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the categories that make up our US VPN testing process, and how much of the overall rating each category represents:
1. US Streaming Services: 30%
Minimum Requirement: Can unblock one or more US streaming sites.
We Recommend: Accesses multiple US streaming services and US Netflix.
Many people want a free VPN to access US Netflix. Or they want to watch content from US-exclusive services like HBO Max and Hulu.
We test each free VPN with the most popular streaming services to check whether it can unblock your favorite US services abroad. We regularly test access to US Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.
It’s also an advantage if the VPN can access content from outside the country, for example if you’re in the US and want a VPN for Mexican TV or a VPN with a Korean IP address.
The more effective a VPN is at getting around streaming geo-restrictions, the higher the rating.
2. US Server Locations: 30%
Minimum Requirement: At least one VPN server located in the US.
We Recommend: Many servers on the US East Coast, West Coast, and Southern States.
We analyze each VPN’s server infrastructure to determine how many are US-based. The more there are, the stronger the rating.
Free VPNs are unlikely to have more than 10 US servers, but the more servers a VPN offers the better its overall performance will be.
The US is a huge country, so we rate highly the VPNs that have multiple servers spread evenly across the country from coast to coast.
3. Speed: 20%
Minimum Requirement: Download speeds of at least 60Mbps.
We Recommend: US download speeds of 90Mbps or higher.
All VPNs slow down your internet speed, but the best ones do so only a small amount. The lower the speed loss we record when running a VPN, the higher its rating is for speed.
We are constantly running speed tests both locally and internationally to determine what sort of speeds users can expect when connecting in and out of the US.
4. Privacy & Logging Policy: 20%
Minimum Requirement: Anonymized connection logs and no activity logs.
We Recommend: A strict, zero-logging policy and no data leaks whatsoever.
The US has some of the most invasive security laws in the world. So you need a VPN that will protect your privacy.
Security is particularly important when it comes to free VPNs. So many free services don’t protect your data. Instead, they sell your data.
We only recommend free VPNs that are reputable, certifiably safe, and private.
We do the work to analyze each VPNs security suite and privacy credentials. We read every word of the VPN privacy policy to ensure it meets the expectations users have of a VPN.
Simply put, the less information it collects, the better we rate a VPN. The ideal scenario is a zero-logs service, but those that do collect data should be transparent and detail exactly what data they store.
Data Cap Reduction: Up to 50%
Almost every free VPN has a data cap. Although free services can still perform well in our assessment, being limited to a data cap massively reduces your VPN’s capabilities.
To reflect this, we apply a penalty to the free VPN’s overall rating for the US based on how restrictive its data cap is:
- 10GB per month: -20% to the overall rating
- 500MB per day: -25% to the overall rating
- 5GB per month: -30% to the overall rating
- 1GB per month: -35% to the overall rating
- 200MB per day: -40% to the overall rating
- 500MB per month: -50% to the overall rating