VPN finder
Find the right VPN for you in under a minute. Plain English, no assumptions.
Common situations, explained
A game or website now asks me to prove my age or upload ID
The UK's Online Safety Act now requires many games, apps and websites to check visitors' ages, and plenty of them ask for photo ID or a face scan to do it. The rules exist to protect children. If you're an adult who would rather not hand identity documents to every site that asks, a VPN based outside the UK means services treat you as visiting from that country instead.
Some services block VPN connections, and each platform's rules are its own to set.
I want to watch UK TV and my usual shows while abroad
Streaming services decide what to show you based on the country your connection appears to come from, so your usual UK line-up vanishes the moment you land somewhere sunny. A VPN routes your connection through a UK server, so iPlayer, ITVX and the rest see a UK visitor again.
Streaming platforms actively block some VPN servers, so it pays to pick a provider known for keeping UK streaming working.
I use cafe, hotel or airport wifi and worry who can see what I'm doing
Public wifi is convenient and mostly fine, but you have no idea who set the network up or who else is sitting on it. A VPN wraps everything you do in encryption before it leaves your device, so what you type and browse stays between you and the sites you visit.
It will not stop dodgy websites or phishing emails. It protects the connection, not your judgement.
I don't like my internet provider or advertisers watching everything I do
Your internet provider can see every site you visit, and advertisers stitch your browsing into a profile of you. A VPN hides your browsing from your provider and makes you far harder to follow around the web.
Sites you sign into, like Google or Facebook, still know it is you while you are signed in.
I travel to countries where my usual apps and sites are blocked
Some countries block the apps and sites you use every day, from messaging to news to search. A VPN routes your connection through a country where they still work, which is why seasoned travellers set one up before they fly.
A few destinations restrict VPNs themselves, so set it up before you travel, not after you arrive.
I've heard things can be cheaper when bought from another country
Some things online are priced by country: subscriptions, flights and software can cost less when the seller thinks you are somewhere else. A VPN lets you see what a price looks like from another country before you buy.
It does not always work. Some sellers price by your payment card's country instead.
I keep hearing about VPNs and want to know if I actually need one
Not everyone needs one. If you mostly browse at home and nothing on this page rings a bell, you may be fine as you are. But if you use public wifi, travel, care about who sees your browsing or keep hitting region walls, a VPN quietly fixes all of it, and you can try one free to see whether it earns its keep.
A VPN is one privacy tool, not an invisibility cloak.