The most thoroughly audited mainstream VPN, and among the fastest thanks to NordLynx. Marketing is heavy and monthly pricing is steep, but the underlying product is genuinely strong.
Category
Best VPN for streaming 2026
Streaming comes down to two things: a wide spread of server locations and the ability to reliably unblock the big platforms without constant IP bans. This ranking is ordered by tested unblocking and speed under load — a VPN that gets into Netflix today but not next week doesn't score well.
PremierVPN IndependentProvisional 78
PremierVPN reports smart-DNS unblocking of Netflix, Prime and others via StormDNS. It's a credible approach, but our own streaming tests are still to come — so it's featured on capability, not yet on a tested result.
Editor's pick by WhatVPN. It now carries a provisional 78/100 from our first-look testing — speed and streaming measured on our own line, privacy capped pending an independent audit. Its ranked position will move as the review completes.
The scored ranking
Fully-tested providers, ordered on merit for this category. PremierVPN is featured above with its provisional score and joins these category tables once its review is complete.
ExpressVPN
Kape-ownedPolished, fast and excellent for streaming, with the friendliest apps here. The caveats are ownership (Kape, now taken private and less transparent) and past controversy around a former CTO — worth weighing if provenance matters to you..
Surfshark
NordThe value pick: unlimited devices at the lowest audited entry price here, with fast local speeds. Cross-Atlantic performance drops off, and it shares a parent with NordVPN — worth knowing when a review tells you to 'switch' between the two..
CyberGhost
Kape-ownedBeginner-friendly with dedicated streaming servers and the longest refund window here. The trust caveat is real: Kape owns CyberGhost and also owns VPN 'review' sites, which is a conflict worth naming..
Proton VPN
IndependentThe strongest all-rounder on the list. Swiss jurisdiction, fully open-source apps, a genuine free tier and a rare combination of port forwarding with reliable streaming.
Windscribe
IndependentAn independent, flexible option with a build-your-own-plan model, port forwarding and a capable free tier. Handled a 2021 server seizure transparently and hardened its fleet afterwards.
Private Internet Access
Kape-ownedOne of the best torrenting toolkits here — port forwarding, a vast network and open-source apps — and its no-logs claim has actually survived court scrutiny. The counterweights are US jurisdiction and Kape ownership..
PureVPN
IndependentHas invested heavily in audits and now offers a broad feature set including port forwarding. But history matters in this category: PureVPN handed user logs to the FBI in 2017, and that episode still weighs on its trust score despite genuine reform since..
PrivadoVPN
IndependentA Swiss-based independent with a generous free tier and port forwarding. The privacy story is promising, but its audit history is thinner than the leaders', so some of the no-logs claim rests on trust rather than verification..
IPVanish
ZiffOwns its own network and allows unlimited devices, which helps consistency. Trust is the sticking point: a 2016 logging episode (under prior ownership) and US jurisdiction mean the no-logs claim carries more historical baggage than the leaders'..
Hide.me
IndependentAn underrated independent with port forwarding, a broad protocol line-up and a decent free tier. Not the fastest or best for streaming, but a solid, privacy-respecting all-rounder that avoids the big conglomerates..
Mozilla VPN
IndependentA simple, trustworthy VPN riding on Mullvad's network with Mozilla's name behind it. Great if you want a no-fuss, reputable option; limited if you need features — it's WireGuard-only with no port forwarding and modest streaming..
Mullvad
IndependentThe privacy purist's choice. No email to sign up, flat €5 pricing with no dark-pattern discounts, annual audits and a track record of literally having nothing to hand police.
IVPN
IndependentA trust-first provider that leans into transparency over reach: anonymous account IDs, independent audits and no marketing spin. The trade-offs are a small network, higher prices and weak streaming — this is a privacy tool, not an entertainment one..