How we rate VPNs

By Emrecan Aktaş · Last updated October 31, 2026

Short version: every VPN gets an overall score out of 5, built from six weighted criteria. Commissions never affect the score or the order.

The six criteria

1. Privacy evidence (25%) — independently audited no-logs policy, audit recency, open-source apps, jurisdiction, RAM-only servers, and leak protection (DNS, IPv6, WebRTC, kill switch).
2. Speed & protocols (25%) — availability of WireGuard-based protocols, server load, and how much speed is lost on nearby and long-distance servers.
3. Unblocking & server network (15%) — server count, country coverage and how reliably the provider works with major streaming platforms.
4. Price & renewal honesty (15%) — long-term price, the renewal price after the first term, and how clearly that is shown at checkout.
5. Refund & support (10%) — money-back window, how easy the refund actually is, and live-chat availability.
6. Apps & usability (10%) — platform coverage, device limits, and whether a non-technical user can set it up quickly.

Speed and privacy are also shown separately on each review as a score out of 100 (the 0–5 sub-score × 20), so you can weigh what matters to you.

Sources we use

• Providers' published audit reports and transparency reports
• Providers' official pricing, server and refund pages (checked when we update a page)
• Public leak-test tools such as dnsleaktest.com, browserleaks.com and ipleak.net

What our ratings don't mean

VPN performance depends on your location, ISP and the server you pick. Treat our scores as a shortlist, then use the provider's money-back window to confirm the result on your own devices and network — our leak-test guide shows how.

Current scores

Updates & corrections

Prices and deals change often. We re-check pages regularly and show a "last updated" date on each one. Spotted something outdated? Email info@citizify.com.