At allthingsvpn.com, every review is the result of real, hands-on testing by our team using our own paid subscriptions, standardized hardware, and a consistent methodology applied across every VPN we evaluate. We purchase every subscription ourselves. We have never accepted a free account from a VPN provider, and no company can pay to improve their rating or ranking on this site.
BY THE NUMBERS
60+ VPNs tested
Testing ongoing since 2024
9 scoring categories
100% independently funded
HOW A VPN GETS REVIEWED
Every VPN goes through the same five-step process before a score is published.
Step 1: We buy the subscription
We purchase every VPN service using our own funds, just like any regular user. No special media accounts, no complimentary access, no preferential treatment from providers.
Step 2: Install and test across devices
We install each VPN on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and streaming devices. Every platform receives its own hands-on evaluation rather than a blanket pass based on testing a single device.
Step 3: Run our full test suite
We conduct speed tests, DNS and WebRTC leak tests, streaming checks, kill switch stress tests, and security analysis using Wireshark and our proprietary testing tools. Tests are run multiple times across the testing period to account for variability and server-side changes.
Step 4: Score each category objectively
Results are fed into our rating process. Scores are determined by data and documented outcomes, not gut feeling or editorial preference. Each of the nine categories is weighted by its importance to the typical user.
Step 5: Retest and keep up to date
VPNs change. We revisit every review on a regular basis, re-running speed tests, checking streaming performance, and updating scores to reflect the current state of each service. A score published 18 months ago without a revision date is not a score we stand behind.
WHAT WE SCORE
Every VPN receives an overall score built from nine categories, each weighted according to its importance to real-world use.
Privacy (20%)
We examine logging policy, corporate jurisdiction, independent audit history, diskless server infrastructure, and past behavior. A VPN that claims a no-logs policy but has never been audited is treated differently from one that has published and passed an independent audit.
Streaming (15%)
We test 120+ streaming services including Netflix across multiple regions, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max. We test specific servers and report specific results, not general claims about streaming capability.
Speed (15%)
Speed is tested three times per week across servers on five continents using our own benchmarking setup. We use a residential connection as our baseline and publish the actual numbers rather than describing a VPN as simply fast or slow.
Security (15%)
We evaluate encryption standards, protocol options, DNS and IPv6 and WebRTC leak behavior, kill switch reliability across multiple disconnection scenarios, and support for advanced features such as post-quantum cryptography where applicable.
Server Locations (10%)
We assess country count, city-level granularity, total server count, and geographic distribution. A large server count concentrated in a handful of countries is weighted differently from a smaller network with meaningful global coverage.
User Experience (10%)
We evaluate ease of setup and daily use, app design quality, and platform coverage across all major devices. A VPN that performs well in testing but is frustrating to use in practice is not a VPN most people should buy.
Torrenting (5%)
We test P2P download speeds on designated torrenting servers, kill switch reliability during active transfers, and the availability of P2P-optimized servers across different regions.
Device Compatibility (5%)
We check for native apps on desktop, mobile, streaming devices, and routers, as well as browser extension availability. We also assess the quality of setup documentation for platforms without native apps.
Extra Features (5%)
We evaluate split tunneling, built-in ad and tracker blocking, multi-hop routing, obfuscation support, and any other features that meaningfully differentiate a service from its competitors.
OUR EDITORIAL PROMISE
We take our independence seriously. Here is what that means in practice:
We will never accept payment to review or re-rate a VPN service. No VPN company has ever paid us to write about them, and none ever will.
We will never accept a complimentary subscription from a VPN provider. Every subscription we use for testing is purchased with our own funds.
We have no ownership stake in any VPN company we review.
Our scores are determined by data and testing outcomes, not commercial relationships or affiliate commission rates.
When we earn affiliate commissions from links on this site, those commissions have no bearing on scores or rankings. For more detail on how we handle affiliate relationships, see our Editorial Policy.
QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR METHODOLOGY
If you have questions about how we arrived at a specific score, why a VPN is ranked where it is, or whether our methodology accounts for a particular use case, we are happy to explain our reasoning.
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Email: info@allthingsvpn.com
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