VPN buying guide · Unranked comparison
Best VPN Services in 2026: Which One Fits You
Five consumer VPNs and one business network tool, compared on documented free-plan limits, audits, privacy policies, features, devices and what you pay after the first term.
Facts checked on official vendor pages · Updated
Which VPN service is best?
There's no single best VPN, and this comparison is unranked: BestStacked has reviewed only one of the five so far. Pick by fit: Proton VPN if you want a free plan or already use Proton; Mullvad for a flat €5 a month with no email on the account; Surfshark for unlimited devices; NordVPN for the most extras; ExpressVPN for routers, TVs and consoles. Teams that need admin control should look at business products such as NordLayer or Proton VPN for Business.
This guide compares Proton VPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN and Mullvad on the things their marketing pages make hardest to compare: what the free plan really includes, who audited them and when, what their privacy policies say, which devices they cover and what the plan costs after the intro term. NordLayer, a business network-access product from the company behind NordVPN, is explained separately. Providers are listed alphabetically. Every fact was checked on the vendor's own website on October 15, 2026. BestStacked hasn't tested these VPNs hands-on and doesn't score them here. Only Proton VPN has a full BestStacked review so far; the others will follow.
Protecting more than your connection? The VPN & Privacy hub covers encrypted email, password managers, storage and messaging, and The Privacy-First Business Stack shows how they fit together. VPN & Privacy hub · The Privacy-First Business Stack
Fit by buyer
Which provider fits which buyer
For individuals and solo operators
Consumer VPNs, listed alphabetically. Each card says who it suits, who should skip it and what it costs after the intro term.
Full ranking: Proton VPN vs NordVPN
ExpressVPN
- Best for:
- People protecting routers, smart TVs and consoles as well as laptops and phones
- Skip if:
- You want a free plan or a flat price: Basic renews at $99.95 a year
- Price:
- Basic $14.99/mo monthly; $74.85 for the first 15 months, then $99.95/yr; 10 devices
Mullvad
- Best for:
- Buyers who want no email on the account, cash payment and one price on any term
- Skip if:
- You need more than 5 devices, TV apps or a business account
- Price:
- €5/mo on any term, no renewal increase; 14-day money-back (not for cash or crypto)
NordVPN
- Best for:
- Individuals who want malware protection, Meshnet and dark-web monitoring in one subscription
- Skip if:
- You'll keep it past year one on a tight budget: Basic renews at $139.08/yr
- Price:
- Basic $14.99/mo monthly; $65.88 for the first 12 months, then $139.08/yr; 10 devices
Proton VPN
- Best for:
- Starting free, or anyone moving email, passwords and files to Proton
- Skip if:
- You need more than 10 devices, or streaming on the free plan
- Price:
- Free (1 device); VPN Plus $9.99/mo monthly, $53.88 for the first year, then $83.88/yr; 10 devices
Surfshark
- Best for:
- Households and freelancers with many devices: every plan is unlimited
- Skip if:
- You want the intro price to last: Starter renews at $79/yr
- Price:
- Starter $16.45/mo monthly; $50.85 for the first 15 months, then $79/yr; unlimited devices
For teams that need admin control
Business products add a central console, per-user billing and, on higher tiers, SSO or dedicated IPs. Listed alphabetically.
Full ranking: NordLayer explained
ExpressVPN for Teams
- Best for:
- Small teams that want ExpressVPN's apps with an admin dashboard
- Skip if:
- You have fewer than 5 people: 5 licenses minimum
- Price:
- $4.68/user/mo on a 12-month plan, or $9.74 monthly (5 to 9 licenses)
NordLayer
- Best for:
- Teams that need SSO, dedicated gateways and network access control
- Skip if:
- You're a solo operator: 5-user minimum
- Price:
- Lite $8, Core $11, Premium $14 per user/mo billed yearly
- Business controls:
- SSO on every plan; ISO 27001; dedicated IP server +$40/mo (yearly)
Proton VPN for Business
- Best for:
- Teams of two or more, or teams already using Proton Mail, Pass and Drive
- Skip if:
- You need SSO on the entry plan: SSO and SCIM start at VPN Professional
- Price:
- VPN Essentials $6.99/user/mo billed yearly ($8.99 monthly); VPN Professional $9.99 ($11.99)
- Business controls:
- Dedicated servers and IPs in 20+ countries from Professional
Surfshark for Teams
- Best for:
- Small teams that want unlimited devices per user
- Skip if:
- You want self-serve checkout: Teams is sold by quote request
- Price:
- From $5.90/user/mo (Starter) on a 1-year plan; 5-user minimum
Start here
Fit finder: which provider to look at first
Match your situation to a starting point, then check the detailed tables below. This is fit, not a ranking.
| If you are… | Look at first | Why | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
 On a zero budget | Proton VPN | The only one of the five with a free plan: 1 device, servers in 10 countries, no data cap | Proton picks the country; no streaming or P2P on Free |
| Moving to Proton Mail, Pass or Drive | Proton VPN | Same account; Proton Unlimited and Proton Workspace include it | 10 devices per user |
 Keeping personal data off the account | Mullvad | Account number instead of an email address; cash accepted; one flat price | 5 devices; no business accounts; cash and crypto payments can't be refunded |
 Covering lots of devices | Surfshark | Unlimited devices on every plan | The intro term renews at $79 to $119 a year, depending on plan |
 Wanting extras in one subscription | NordVPN | Malware protection, Meshnet and dark-web monitoring; identity tools on Prime | The biggest entry-plan renewal increase here: $65.88 first year, then $139.08 |
 Protecting routers, TVs and consoles | ExpressVPN | Apps or setup for routers, smart TVs, Fire Stick, Apple TV and consoles | No free plan; Basic renews at $99.95 a year |
 Running a team of 5 or more | NordLayer or Proton VPN for Business | Central admin and per-user billing; NordLayer includes SSO on every plan | Per-user pricing; these aren't consumer VPNs |
- Look at first
- Proton VPN
- Why
- The only one of the five with a free plan: 1 device, servers in 10 countries, no data cap
- Watch out for
- Proton picks the country; no streaming or P2P on Free
- Look at first
- Proton VPN
- Why
- Same account; Proton Unlimited and Proton Workspace include it
- Watch out for
- 10 devices per user
- Look at first
- Mullvad
- Why
- Account number instead of an email address; cash accepted; one flat price
- Watch out for
- 5 devices; no business accounts; cash and crypto payments can't be refunded
- Look at first
- Surfshark
- Why
- Unlimited devices on every plan
- Watch out for
- The intro term renews at $79 to $119 a year, depending on plan
- Look at first
- NordVPN
- Why
- Malware protection, Meshnet and dark-web monitoring; identity tools on Prime
- Watch out for
- The biggest entry-plan renewal increase here: $65.88 first year, then $139.08
- Look at first
- ExpressVPN
- Why
- Apps or setup for routers, smart TVs, Fire Stick, Apple TV and consoles
- Watch out for
- No free plan; Basic renews at $99.95 a year
- Look at first
- NordLayer or Proton VPN for Business
- Why
- Central admin and per-user billing; NordLayer includes SSO on every plan
- Watch out for
- Per-user pricing; these aren't consumer VPNs
Free plans
Free plans, trials and refunds
| Provider | Free plan | Free trial | Money-back guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | None | 3 days, when you sign up in the iOS or Android app | 30 days for first-time users; App Store and Google Play purchases excluded |
| Mullvad | None | None | 14 days; cash and crypto payments aren't refundable |
| NordVPN | None (only Meshnet is free) | 7 days on 1- and 2-year Prime plans for new users in 13 countries; card or PayPal required, renews automatically | 30 days on all plans |
| Proton VPN | Yes: 1 device, servers in 10 countries chosen by Proton, no data cap, no ads; no streaming, P2P or NetShield | Not needed (free plan) | 30 days on paid plans |
| Surfshark | None | 7 days on 12- and 24-month plans, first-time users, up to 3 devices | 30 days |
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- 3 days, when you sign up in the iOS or Android app
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 days for first-time users; App Store and Google Play purchases excluded
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None
- Money-back guarantee
- 14 days; cash and crypto payments aren't refundable
- Free plan
- None (only Meshnet is free)
- Free trial
- 7 days on 1- and 2-year Prime plans for new users in 13 countries; card or PayPal required, renews automatically
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 days on all plans
- Free plan
- Yes: 1 device, servers in 10 countries chosen by Proton, no data cap, no ads; no streaming, P2P or NetShield
- Free trial
- Not needed (free plan)
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 days on paid plans
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- 7 days on 12- and 24-month plans, first-time users, up to 3 devices
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 days
Proton's pages disagree on the free plan's countries: 10 on its pricing page and support article, 5 on its free-vs-paid page. They also disagree on speed: its pricing page lists "Medium VPN speed" for Free, its free-VPN page says Free "has no data or speed limits", and its VPN privacy policy says Free has in general no speed restrictions but may be limited in cases of excessive use.
Pricing
Intro prices vs renewal prices
Every provider except Mullvad discounts the first term heavily. The entry plan is shown in full; other tiers' renewal prices are in the last column.
| Provider (entry plan) | Monthly | 1-year plan (intro) | 2-year plan (intro) | Renews at | Other tiers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN (Basic) | $14.99 | $74.85 for the first 15 months | $83.72 for the first 28 months | $99.95/yr | Advanced renews at $119.95/yr; Express Pro at $199.95/yr |
| Mullvad | €5 | €5/mo | €5/mo | €5/mo (no change) | One plan only, on any term up to 10 years |
| NordVPN (Basic) | $14.99 | $65.88 for the first 12 months | $94.23 for the first 27 months | $139.08/yr | Complete renews at $219.48/yr; Prime at $296.28/yr |
| Proton VPN (VPN Plus) | $9.99 | $53.88 for the first 12 months | $83.76 for the first 24 months | $83.88/yr | Proton Unlimited (all Proton apps): $119.88/yr, same on renewal |
| Surfshark (Starter) | $16.45 | $50.85 for the first 15 months | $67.23 for the first 27 months | $79/yr | One renews at $99/yr; One+ at $119/yr |
- Monthly
- $14.99
- 1-year plan (intro)
- $74.85 for the first 15 months
- 2-year plan (intro)
- $83.72 for the first 28 months
- Renews at
- $99.95/yr
- Other tiers
- Advanced renews at $119.95/yr; Express Pro at $199.95/yr
- Monthly
- €5
- 1-year plan (intro)
- €5/mo
- 2-year plan (intro)
- €5/mo
- Renews at
- €5/mo (no change)
- Other tiers
- One plan only, on any term up to 10 years
- Monthly
- $14.99
- 1-year plan (intro)
- $65.88 for the first 12 months
- 2-year plan (intro)
- $94.23 for the first 27 months
- Renews at
- $139.08/yr
- Other tiers
- Complete renews at $219.48/yr; Prime at $296.28/yr
- Monthly
- $9.99
- 1-year plan (intro)
- $53.88 for the first 12 months
- 2-year plan (intro)
- $83.76 for the first 24 months
- Renews at
- $83.88/yr
- Other tiers
- Proton Unlimited (all Proton apps): $119.88/yr, same on renewal
- Monthly
- $16.45
- 1-year plan (intro)
- $50.85 for the first 15 months
- 2-year plan (intro)
- $67.23 for the first 27 months
- Renews at
- $79/yr
- Other tiers
- One renews at $99/yr; One+ at $119/yr
Intro terms include the bonus months each vendor adds. Every multi-year plan here renews yearly, not for another multi-year term. Surfshark says displayed renewal prices may be A/B tested, and ExpressVPN's pricing page also shows signs of price testing; its monthly prices were read from the page's plan data. Prices exclude tax and can vary by country.
Independent audits
Who audited what, and when
The audit column links to each vendor's own announcement or audit page. Scope matters: a no-logs audit checks servers and configuration, an app audit checks code.
| Provider | Latest no-logs assurance | Scope | Other recent audits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | KPMG, published June 25, 2025 | Privacy policy (no-logs) and TrustedServer; ISAE (UK) 3000 Type 1, assessed as of February 28, 2025 | Cure53 audits through May 2026; Lightway protocol by Cure53 and Praetorian (2024). Its trust page lists 28 audits; its Teams page says 23+ |
| Mullvad | No separate no-logs attestation in its audit list; latest infrastructure audit Cure53, June 2024 | Server infrastructure (Cure53 2024; Radically Open Security 2023) | X41 D-Sec, account and payment services (Jan 2026); Assured, GotaTun (Mar 2026); Leviathan Security Group, Android app (Jun 2026) |
| NordVPN | Deloitte Lithuania, report issued Dec 12, 2025 | Standard, Double VPN, obfuscated and Onion Over VPN servers; ISAE 3000; point in time; full report needs a Nord Account login | Cure53: apps, extensions, account system, APIs and servers, tested May to October 2025 |
| Proton VPN | Securitum, 2026 report (fifth annual audit) | On-site review of VPN server configuration for logging; Proton links each report from 2022 to 2026 (the page doesn't give the 2026 fieldwork dates) | App audit by independent researcher Ruben Santamarta (undated on Proton's page); Proton-wide SOC 2 Type II by Schellman, July 2025 (products in scope not listed) |
| Surfshark | Deloitte, 2025 | No-logs policy; the 2025 report is viewable only inside a Surfshark account (the public blog post covers the 2023 audit) | Cure53, infrastructure and Dausos protocol (Feb to Mar 2026); SecuRing, infrastructure (Dec 2025) and apps (2025) |
- Latest no-logs assurance
- KPMG, published June 25, 2025
- Scope
- Privacy policy (no-logs) and TrustedServer; ISAE (UK) 3000 Type 1, assessed as of February 28, 2025
- Latest no-logs assurance
- No separate no-logs attestation in its audit list; latest infrastructure audit Cure53, June 2024
- Scope
- Server infrastructure (Cure53 2024; Radically Open Security 2023)
- Other recent audits
- X41 D-Sec, account and payment services (Jan 2026); Assured, GotaTun (Mar 2026); Leviathan Security Group, Android app (Jun 2026)
- Latest no-logs assurance
- Deloitte Lithuania, report issued Dec 12, 2025
- Scope
- Standard, Double VPN, obfuscated and Onion Over VPN servers; ISAE 3000; point in time; full report needs a Nord Account login
- Latest no-logs assurance
- Securitum, 2026 report (fifth annual audit)
- Scope
- On-site review of VPN server configuration for logging; Proton links each report from 2022 to 2026 (the page doesn't give the 2026 fieldwork dates)
- Other recent audits
- App audit by independent researcher Ruben Santamarta (undated on Proton's page); Proton-wide SOC 2 Type II by Schellman, July 2025 (products in scope not listed)
- Latest no-logs assurance
- Deloitte, 2025
- Scope
- No-logs policy; the 2025 report is viewable only inside a Surfshark account (the public blog post covers the 2023 audit)
- Other recent audits
- Cure53, infrastructure and Dausos protocol (Feb to Mar 2026); SecuRing, infrastructure (Dec 2025) and apps (2025)
Where vendors disagree with themselves: NordVPN's no-logs page says both "all six" and "all five" audits; ExpressVPN's 2025 KPMG post is titled as its third KPMG audit but calls it the second assessment in the text.
Privacy policies
Jurisdiction and logging policies
| Provider | Company and jurisdiction | What the policy says | Policy date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | Express Technologies Ltd., British Virgin Islands; ultimate holding company Kape Technologies PLC | Doesn't collect logs of online activity, IP addresses, connection timestamps, session duration or DNS queries | October 2, 2026 |
| Mullvad | Mullvad VPN AB, Gothenburg, Sweden | Asks for no personal information; accounts are a generated number; no activity logging | No-logging policy page (help center) |
| NordVPN | nordvpn S.A., Panama | Follows a no-logs policy and doesn't track online activity | August 9, 2026 |
| Proton VPN | Proton AG, Switzerland | Doesn't log VPN session data; all servers use full-disk encryption; no permanent IP logs by default | July 30, 2025 (VPN policy) |
| Surfshark | Surfshark B.V., Netherlands | No activity logs, but temporarily keeps a user ID and/or IP address and connection timestamps, deleted within 15 minutes after a session ends | October 12, 2026 |
- Company and jurisdiction
- Express Technologies Ltd., British Virgin Islands; ultimate holding company Kape Technologies PLC
- What the policy says
- Doesn't collect logs of online activity, IP addresses, connection timestamps, session duration or DNS queries
- Policy date
- October 2, 2026
- Company and jurisdiction
- Mullvad VPN AB, Gothenburg, Sweden
- What the policy says
- Asks for no personal information; accounts are a generated number; no activity logging
- Policy date
- No-logging policy page (help center)
- Company and jurisdiction
- nordvpn S.A., Panama
- What the policy says
- Follows a no-logs policy and doesn't track online activity
- Policy date
- August 9, 2026
- Company and jurisdiction
- Proton AG, Switzerland
- What the policy says
- Doesn't log VPN session data; all servers use full-disk encryption; no permanent IP logs by default
- Policy date
- July 30, 2025 (VPN policy)
- Company and jurisdiction
- Surfshark B.V., Netherlands
- What the policy says
- No activity logs, but temporarily keeps a user ID and/or IP address and connection timestamps, deleted within 15 minutes after a session ends
- Policy date
- October 12, 2026
Summaries of each vendor's own policy. A jurisdiction without data-retention laws reduces one legal risk; it doesn't make a provider immune to court orders.
Security features
Security features
| Provider | Multi-hop | Obfuscation | Blocker | Split tunneling | Kill switch | Also notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | Not listed on its features page | Automatic, on supported platforms | Ads, malicious and adult sites; trackers on Advanced and up | Yes | Network Lock | Lightway protocol with post-quantum support; RAM-only TrustedServer; dedicated IP add-on (included on Express Pro) |
| Mullvad | Multihop | Yes | Not listed on its VPN page | Windows, macOS, Linux and Android (not iOS) | Always on, plus optional lockdown mode | WireGuard only (OpenVPN removed January 15, 2026); DAITA traffic-analysis defence; quantum-resistant tunnels |
| NordVPN | Double VPN; Onion Over VPN | Obfuscated servers | Next-gen antivirus (formerly Threat Protection Pro) | Yes | Yes | NordLynx and NordWhisper protocols; post-quantum encryption; Meshnet; RAM-only servers; dedicated IP add-on |
| Proton VPN | Secure Core, via Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden | Stealth protocol | NetShield: ads, trackers and malicious scripts (paid plans) | Yes, by app or IP | Yes, in all apps | Open-source apps; port forwarding; Tor over VPN; VPN Accelerator |
| Surfshark | Dynamic MultiHop | Obfuscated servers; NoBorders | CleanWeb | Bypasser | Yes | RAM-only servers; post-quantum WireGuard (its pages list different platforms); dedicated IP add-on in 20 locations |
- Multi-hop
- Not listed on its features page
- Obfuscation
- Automatic, on supported platforms
- Blocker
- Ads, malicious and adult sites; trackers on Advanced and up
- Split tunneling
- Yes
- Kill switch
- Network Lock
- Also notable
- Lightway protocol with post-quantum support; RAM-only TrustedServer; dedicated IP add-on (included on Express Pro)
- Multi-hop
- Multihop
- Obfuscation
- Yes
- Blocker
- Not listed on its VPN page
- Split tunneling
- Windows, macOS, Linux and Android (not iOS)
- Kill switch
- Always on, plus optional lockdown mode
- Also notable
- WireGuard only (OpenVPN removed January 15, 2026); DAITA traffic-analysis defence; quantum-resistant tunnels
- Multi-hop
- Double VPN; Onion Over VPN
- Obfuscation
- Obfuscated servers
- Blocker
- Next-gen antivirus (formerly Threat Protection Pro)
- Split tunneling
- Yes
- Kill switch
- Yes
- Also notable
- NordLynx and NordWhisper protocols; post-quantum encryption; Meshnet; RAM-only servers; dedicated IP add-on
- Multi-hop
- Secure Core, via Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden
- Obfuscation
- Stealth protocol
- Blocker
- NetShield: ads, trackers and malicious scripts (paid plans)
- Split tunneling
- Yes, by app or IP
- Kill switch
- Yes, in all apps
- Also notable
- Open-source apps; port forwarding; Tor over VPN; VPN Accelerator
- Multi-hop
- Dynamic MultiHop
- Obfuscation
- Obfuscated servers; NoBorders
- Blocker
- CleanWeb
- Split tunneling
- Bypasser
- Kill switch
- Yes
- Also notable
- RAM-only servers; post-quantum WireGuard (its pages list different platforms); dedicated IP add-on in 20 locations
Server footprints as stated: Proton 20,839 servers in 149 countries on its server page (its features page says 20,000+ in 140+); NordVPN 7,100+ servers in 225+ locations (its trial page says 150 countries); Surfshark 4,500+ servers in 100 countries; ExpressVPN servers in 113 countries, with no total published; Mullvad publishes no count on its VPN page.
Devices
Devices and platforms
| Provider | Simultaneous devices | Apps | TVs and routers |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | 10 (Basic), 12 (Advanced), 14 (Express Pro) | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android; browser extensions | Smart TVs, Fire Stick, Android TV, Apple TV, game consoles and routers |
| Mullvad | 5 | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android; browser extension | No TV or router apps on its download page |
| NordVPN | 10 | Windows, macOS 14 or later, Linux, iOS, Android; Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions | Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV Stick and routers |
| Proton VPN | 10 on paid plans; 1 on Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and iPadOS, Android, Chromebook; Chrome and Firefox extensions | Android TV, Apple TV and Fire TV (its features page omits Fire TV); router setup guides |
| Surfshark | Unlimited | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android; Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions | Android TV, Apple TV and Fire TV; router and manual setup |
- Simultaneous devices
- 10 (Basic), 12 (Advanced), 14 (Express Pro)
- Apps
- Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android; browser extensions
- TVs and routers
- Smart TVs, Fire Stick, Android TV, Apple TV, game consoles and routers
- Simultaneous devices
- 5
- Apps
- Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android; browser extension
- TVs and routers
- No TV or router apps on its download page
- Simultaneous devices
- 10
- Apps
- Windows, macOS 14 or later, Linux, iOS, Android; Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions
- TVs and routers
- Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV Stick and routers
- Simultaneous devices
- 10 on paid plans; 1 on Free
- Apps
- Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and iPadOS, Android, Chromebook; Chrome and Firefox extensions
- TVs and routers
- Android TV, Apple TV and Fire TV (its features page omits Fire TV); router setup guides
- Simultaneous devices
- Unlimited
- Apps
- Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android; Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions
- TVs and routers
- Android TV, Apple TV and Fire TV; router and manual setup
Business suitability
Business suitability
Consumer accounts can't be centrally managed: if a contractor leaves, you can't remove their access in one place. These are each vendor's business options.
| Provider | Business product | Price per user | Admin and identity | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | ExpressVPN for Teams | $4.68/mo on a 12-month plan, or $9.74 monthly (5 to 9 licenses) | Admin dashboard | 5 licenses |
| Mullvad | No business plan on its pricing page | Not applicable | No admin console | Not applicable |
| NordLayer (Nord Security) | NordLayer, a separate business product | Lite $8, Core $11, Premium $14 per month billed yearly ($10, $14, $18 monthly) | SSO on every plan; dedicated IP gateways from Core; device posture and site-to-site on Premium | 5 users |
| NordVPN | None in NordVPN; its pricing page sends businesses to NordLayer | See NordLayer | See NordLayer | 5 licenses (NordLayer) |
| Proton VPN | Proton VPN for Business; also included in Proton Workspace | VPN Essentials $6.99, VPN Professional $9.99 per month billed yearly ($8.99 and $11.99 monthly) | Admin console on all plans; SSO and SCIM, dedicated servers and IPs from Professional | 2 users |
| Surfshark | Surfshark for Teams | From $5.90/mo (Starter) on a 1-year plan | Sold by quote request | 5 users |
- Business product
- ExpressVPN for Teams
- Price per user
- $4.68/mo on a 12-month plan, or $9.74 monthly (5 to 9 licenses)
- Admin and identity
- Admin dashboard
- Minimum
- 5 licenses
- Business product
- No business plan on its pricing page
- Price per user
- Not applicable
- Admin and identity
- No admin console
- Minimum
- Not applicable
- Business product
- NordLayer, a separate business product
- Price per user
- Lite $8, Core $11, Premium $14 per month billed yearly ($10, $14, $18 monthly)
- Admin and identity
- SSO on every plan; dedicated IP gateways from Core; device posture and site-to-site on Premium
- Minimum
- 5 users
- Business product
- None in NordVPN; its pricing page sends businesses to NordLayer
- Price per user
- See NordLayer
- Admin and identity
- See NordLayer
- Minimum
- 5 licenses (NordLayer)
- Business product
- Proton VPN for Business; also included in Proton Workspace
- Price per user
- VPN Essentials $6.99, VPN Professional $9.99 per month billed yearly ($8.99 and $11.99 monthly)
- Admin and identity
- Admin console on all plans; SSO and SCIM, dedicated servers and IPs from Professional
- Minimum
- 2 users
- Business product
- Surfshark for Teams
- Price per user
- From $5.90/mo (Starter) on a 1-year plan
- Admin and identity
- Sold by quote request
- Minimum
- 5 users
Separate product
NordLayer is not NordVPN for teams
NordLayer is Nord Security's business network-access product: a centrally managed VPN built on zero-trust principles, with a control panel, per-user billing and shared or dedicated gateways. NordVPN's own pricing page points business buyers to it, with a minimum of 5 licenses.
Plans are Lite at $8 per user per month billed yearly ($10 monthly), Core at $11 ($14) and Premium at $14 ($18), with a 14-day money-back guarantee. Lite includes SSO (Okta, Entra ID, OneLogin, Google and JumpCloud), MFA and Always On VPN for 6 devices per license. Core adds dedicated IP gateways (+$40 a month billed yearly), DNS filtering and app blocking. Premium adds a cloud firewall, device posture checks and site-to-site connections.
Choose NordLayer over a consumer VPN when you need to control who can reach company resources, remove a leaver's access in one place or give your apps a fixed IP address to allowlist. A solo consultant doesn't need it.
NordLayer's pages disagree about its audit: the pricing page says its policies meet SOC 2 Type I requirements, while its help center and SOC 2 page say it holds SOC 2 Type 2. The pricing page also states ISO 27001 certification and HIPAA compliance. Ask for the reports before you rely on them.
Method
How this comparison works, and why it's unranked
BestStacked scores a tool only in a published review, using the rubric on our methodology page. So far only Proton VPN has one (published October 15, 2026, with a score you can read on the review). Showing one score beside four unscored rivals would read like a ranking, so this page shows no scores and ranks nobody. A ranking built from marketing pages would look precise without being fair.
Instead, every row comes from the vendor's own pages, or the audit announcement it links to, checked on October 15, 2026. Providers are listed alphabetically. We ran no speed tests, and speed or server claims are the vendors' own.
Proton is the launch partner of BestStacked's VPN & Privacy section and is featured on the hub. That doesn't change this page: Proton VPN gets the same columns and the same scrutiny, including its own contradictions, and no rank.
Buying guide
How to Choose the Right Tool
Compare the renewal price, not the headline. Multiply the renewal price by how long you'll keep the VPN; the cheapest first year isn't always the cheapest over three.
Look for a recent, independent no-logs audit with a stated scope, and note whether you can read the report or only an announcement.
Check the device limit against everything you own: laptop, phone, tablet, TV and router add up quickly.
If you need a free plan, read its limits. Proton VPN's free plan is one device and 10 countries Proton chooses, which suits occasional public Wi-Fi rather than daily use.
For a team, buy a business plan with an admin console so you can add and remove people centrally.
Remember what a VPN doesn't do: it won't make you anonymous, stop phishing or make you compliant. Pair it with a password manager and encrypted storage.
Methodology
How We Evaluate Tools
Official documentation only
Every fact comes from the vendor's own pages or the audit announcement it links to, checked October 15, 2026. We ran no speed tests; speed claims are the vendors'.
Renewal, not just intro price
VPN prices jump after the first term. We list the intro price, the term it covers and the price it renews at, as each vendor states it.
Audits with dates and scope
We name the auditor, the date and what was in scope, and link the announcement. An audit is evidence about practices, not a guarantee.
No scores without a review
Only Proton VPN has a published BestStacked review so far, so this page shows no scores and ranks nobody, to keep the comparison even. Featured or sponsored placement never changes that.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep reading
Explore More on BestStacked
Sources
Official sources and verification dates
Every product, price and audit fact on this page comes from the vendor's own website or the audit announcement it links to. Competitor facts never come from another vendor's comparison page. Prices are in US dollars unless marked, exclude tax, and can vary by country and promotion.
Proton VPN
- Proton VPN pricing (checked )
- Proton VPN free plan (checked )
- Proton VPN features (checked )
- Proton VPN downloads (checked )
- Proton VPN privacy policy (July 30, 2025) (checked )
- Proton VPN no-logs audits (Securitum, 2022–2026) (checked )
- Proton VPN for Business pricing (checked )
- Proton SOC 2 Type II (July 2025) (checked )
NordVPN and NordLayer
- NordVPN pricing (checked )
- NordVPN features (checked )
- NordVPN downloads (checked )
- NordVPN no-logs policy and audits (checked )
- NordVPN 2025 Deloitte no-logs assurance (checked )
- NordVPN 2025 Cure53 security assessment (checked )
- NordVPN free trial terms (checked )
- NordLayer business VPN (checked )
- NordLayer pricing (checked )
- NordLayer security and compliance (help center) (checked )
Surfshark
- Surfshark pricing (checked )
- Surfshark renewal prices (checked )
- Surfshark features (checked )
- Surfshark trust center (audits) (checked )
- Surfshark privacy policy (Oct 12, 2026) (checked )
- Surfshark free trial (checked )
- Surfshark for Teams (checked )
ExpressVPN
- ExpressVPN pricing (checked )
- ExpressVPN features (checked )
- ExpressVPN trust center (audits) (checked )
- ExpressVPN 2025 KPMG no-logs audit (checked )
- ExpressVPN privacy policy (Oct 2, 2026) (checked )
- ExpressVPN money-back guarantee (checked )
- ExpressVPN for Teams pricing (checked )
Mullvad
- Mullvad pricing (checked )
- Mullvad VPN features (checked )
- Mullvad no-logging policy (checked )
- Mullvad audits (checked )
- Mullvad terms of service (refunds) (checked )
- Mullvad downloads (checked )