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Which is the best VPN to use in the UK?

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There are still plenty of people in the United Kingdom (UK) who, for one reason or another, don’t know what a VPN is or understand its purpose. While their popularity is certainly on the rise, it’ll still be a while before everyone is made aware of their usefulness and importance when using the Internet.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are a software tool plenty of people use daily, to get around geo-restrictions, government bans or ID sign ups in certain countries, and they serve as a means to surf the web safely and privately.

Being informed about the best VPN provider for speed, efficiency, and customer care in the United Kingdom is one thing, but knowing why you should use one is just as important.

VPNs offer safety and security for their users, as well as a list of other benefits you may not have even considered. For example, a VPN also comes into play when you're travelling abroad. You’ll still want to be able to access all the entertainment and subscriptions you're already paying for back home. Still, you may not realise some foreign territories can geo-restrict you (in other words, block your subscriptions while in their country). Did we mention it also keeps your personal information safe, too?

Below, GOAL explains everything you need to know about VPNs, their uses, major benefits for you, and why people in the UK should use one every time they log on – no mater what they are doing.

  • In a nutshell: What is a VPN?

    Simply put, and as mentioned above, the term VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It allows users to create encrypted communication over the Internet when they are online. In other words, a VPN provides access to your own private network by rerouting your internet traffic through a remote server (the VPN provider) to keep your time online as safe and secure as possible.

    Likewise, a VPN can used anywhere in the world, as it effortlessly and safely connects you to a local server in the country you're in. It can also connect you to a VPN in another country to mask your current location.

    You may think that your online browser is already safe, but viruses, third parties, pop-ups, and hackers are still a problem in today's world, and the VPN is here to offer a layer of added protection.

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    Why should I use a VPN?

    There are several significant reasons why a VPN will benefit your day-to-day online life. Below are the main ones:

    Privacy: Firstly, if you value your privacy, then it is a logical investment to make. It’s practical for all scenarios as well, whether you're at home and want added reassurance you are protected, or if you are are out and about travelling throughout the UK or beyond.

    Travelling: Using a VPN can prove hugely practical for those who travel extensively abroad. For example, you can continue to watch your subscriptions to Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, or AppleTV, which would otherwise render some of their content inaccessible.

    Peace of mind: While sceptics may be weary about using VPNs, they are extremely easy to navigate and are entirely legal in most countries. Peace of mind is what you’d get from using a service like NordVPN, a provider known in the UK for its strong encryption and overall efficiency.

    Speed: Did you know that your current Internet Service Provider (ISP) doesn't protect you from speed throttling? This is a process whereby the provider you’re using (and paying for) will negatively impact your connection speed (more so during peak hours) based on what you’re using it for. A VPN gets around that issue, as it safeguards you against any third party seeing what you’re doing, thus maintaining faster internet speeds for streaming movies, sports, or whatever you are indulging in.

  • Things to consider

    When picking a VPN to use in the UK, it's vital to research into a provider’s service and functionality aspects before signing up. Consider these factors before picking the right VPN for you.

    • Choosing a VPN provider that has a dedicated app will serve you better

    • One that’s easy to install, configure, and use

    • Make sure it’s fast, as speed loss can be a factor with some VPNs

    • Pay for one! Free VPNs won’t offer the same quality that a subscription will

    • Check the company’s customer service availability (aka, make sure it’s reliable)

  • NordVPN costs in the UK

    The deals available with NordVPN are very reasonably priced, offering three tiers of coverage, from a basic all the way to a fully comprehensive package. There's also a selection of contract lengths too, meaning you can sign up for short or longer term usage.

    While prices increase with each tier of service, the longer you sign up, the less you pay each month.

    Currently, you get a £20 gift card for Amazon when signing up to a Plus 2-year plan, and a £50 gift card when signing up to the Ultimate plan.

    Plan

    1-month plan

    1-year plan

    2-year plan

    Ultimate

    12.89

    6.69

    5.39

    Plus

    10.99

    4.69

    3.49

    Basic

    10.19

    3.89

    2.69
  • Special deals and offers

    Loyalty is rewarded: As mentioned above, NordVPN offers customers cheaper and better deals the longer they sign up. If you're only interested in using NordVPN for a month, the most costly package will be the two-year option. However, if you can understand and appreciate the reasons to use a VPN daily, the two-year option seems like a no-brainer, as it works out the cheapest deal.

    Amazon gift card: For a limited time, if you sign up for any NordVPN's Plus or Ultimate package for two years, you'll get rewarded with a gift card worth £20 and £50, respectively.

    72% off: Yes, you read that right. If you sign up to the Ultimate 2-year plan, it's currently offering an incredible 72% off.

  • Other VPN providers on the market

    If you're new to the world of VPNs, having a load of information and terminology thrown at you can be daunting. So here's a simple breakdown to what the main providers offer, with NordVPN seeming like a clear leader when it comes to speed, functionality, and reliability.

    ProviderConnection speed*ServersMalware scan for downloadsAlerts for leaked credentialsTracker and ad blocker
    NordVPN6730+ Mbps8,100
    ExpressVPN2220+ MbpsNot disclosed
    PrivateVPN3320+ Mbps200+
    ProtonVPN3000+ Mbps3,000+
    PureVPN2320+ Mbps6,000+

    *based on overall network performance conducted by AV-Test.

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    What NordVPN offers

    There is an impressive list of benefits when you sign up with NordVPN, as you can see.

    ✓ NordVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections, with dedicated apps available on various devices, including iOS.

    ✓ NordVPN offers more than 8,100 servers in 126 locations, including the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific regions and Europe, giving customers several flexible options.

    ✓ Because availability is so widespread, you’ll always have a fast server at your fingertips.

    ✓ It’s a four-times audited no-logs service, giving customers further peace of mind in regard to their privacy.

    ✓ NordVPN offers 24/7 customer service, with a support team on hand to help.

    ✓ It uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), making your data as secure as it can possibly be.

    ✓ It provides speciality servers that increase user security and bypass various other restrictions.

    ✓ NordVPN uses Threat Protection Pro, which offers stronger security than standard VPN protection. A benefit is it’ll block ads and trackers.

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    Should I sign up with NordVPN?

    The short answer, if you value online privacy and security when it comes to having the best and safest user experience available, is yes. For a relatively small cost each month (even the most expensive deal, Ultimate, equates to under 18 pence a day), you get a lot of unseen and previously unconsidered benefits during your daily internet browsing.

    In the UK, NordVPN is head and shoulders above the competition in each of the important categories, not least for speed and value for money. So if you are an avid web browser or streamer, it makes perfect sense to strengthen your personal security and protect yourself more robustly from hackers and ways third parties can 'throttle' the internet speed you're already paying for.