The VPN Scorecard
We rate VPNs the way we rate everything, on specific, checkable facts. We scored 8 major VPNs on speed, privacy, streaming, device support, and price. The most private one finished last.
The most private VPN finished last
Mullvad (no email, no username, just a random account number, and you can pay by mailing cash in an envelope) scored a perfect 10.0 on privacy, the best in the group. It still finished last overall at 6.2. Purism cost it the rest: 3.0 on streaming and 4.0 on device support.
The mainstream names actually earned it
Not every story is "popular, so overhyped." NordVPN and Surfshark tied for first at 8.8. Nord posted a perfect 10.0 on speed; Surfshark a perfect 10.0 on devices, with unlimited simultaneous connections.
The most-advertised VPN isn't the best
ExpressVPN (the one from a thousand YouTube sponsor reads) landed mid-pack at 7.6. It unblocks streaming better than anyone (10.0), but it's the priciest of the 8 (5.0 on price), and that's what holds it back.
The takeaway
Pick for the job you actually have: maximum anonymity → Mullvad, best all-around → NordVPN or Surfshark, streaming → ExpressVPN. Neither the loudest ad budget nor the purest privacy wins outright. The best VPN depends on what you’re optimizing for.
Each score is the average of independent dimension ratings (speed, privacy, streaming, device support, and price) tied to specific facts and not influenced by affiliate relationships. See how scores work →