In the last few years, VPNs saw a surge in popularity due to ever-growing online threats. Pretty much everybody knows that a VPN is the best tool you can use to regain your online privacy and stay safe on the internet.
However, this is just one of the benefits and if you’re wondering what you can do with a VPN and what VPNs are used for, I suggest you stay with me until the end. In this article, I will talk about each and every benefit of a Virtual Private Network.
Also, I will present some of the best providers on the market that can give you all of these benefits. That way, you’ll be able to immediately start using one and experience them by yourself.
Why Use a VPN? What Can a VPN Do for Me?
If you’re wondering what a VPN does, I’m here to answer this question for you. VPNs come with a myriad of features and benefits that will aid your online privacy and freedom.
Thus, if your decision to get a VPN is set in stone, here’s what you can expect from your subscription:
Safety & Security Online
When asking “why use a VPN?”, the first answer that comes to mind is online security. Really, a VPN is all about keeping your online identity intact, hence the name Virtual Private Network. In our article about the VPN definition, we explained what it does.
There, we talked about how a VPN lets you change your IP address, hide your original IP, and conceal your online traffic. VPNs do this by means of a virtual tunnel that spans from your device to the internet, where every bit of your traffic flows.
This tunnel is encrypted with 256-bit encryption, which is impenetrable. As a result, no one can trace your online activity, leaving you to browse the web anonymously. What can you do with a VPN in this case?
Well, you can simply keep everything you do online to yourself. Know that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) monitors your online activities all the time. However, if you change the IP address that you got from the ISP, it won’t be able to see what you do online.
In this case, it can’t impose any restrictions or control what you can do in any way.
Another way in which a VPN protects your online identity is through its no-logs policy. Not every provider has this policy in place, so it’s important to make your choice carefully. We made that process easy, as we presented the 3 providers that tick this box.
Nevertheless, the best VPNs on the market will store no logs of user-related information. This information includes IP addresses, browsing history, geolocation, DNS requests, and other bits of information that can be traced back to you.
Therefore, even if your ISP or the authorities request it to hand out this information, it will come out empty-handed. Simply put, by doing this, it grants complete privacy and anonymity to the user, with almost no possibility of failing.
Access to Restricted Websites
What are VPNs used for except online security? As said, you can use this tool to unblock restricted sites. Now, what can you do with a VPN in terms of bypassing online restrictions? Quite frankly, you can do a LOT.
The most common use of a VPN is to unblock streaming websites that aren’t available in your country. One of them is surely Netflix which offers different catalogs of shows and movies depending on your location.
So if you’re located in the UK, you will most likely want to unblock Netflix US or Japan to access some of the best shows and movies. Right now, a VPN is the only tool that lets you do this. By changing your IP to another country, you make any website you visit see this country as your true location.
This applies to Netflix as well, in which case, it will give you access to the catalog for that particular country. By using a VPN, you can unblock anime on Netflix Japan or enjoy Bollywood movies and shows on Netflix India.
Of course, this doesn’t apply solely to Netflix, as you can use a VPN to unblock any other geo-restricted streaming platforms. Some of them include Hotstar, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, and dozens more.
What can you do with a VPN if other types of sites are more interesting to you? If Netflix isn’t your priority, you can unblock online bookies like Betfair, and access blocked torrent sites, and foreign TV channels no matter your location.
This way, you’ll be able to drastically improve your online freedom and access sites that most people can’t.
Safe & Anonymous Torrenting
Now that I mentioned torrenting, why use a VPN for this exact purpose? I mean, you can enjoy torrenting without a Virtual Private Network, right? Well, that is true to a certain extent but remember that torrenting is frowned upon in pretty much every European and Asian country but also in the US.
What this means is that, by downloading copyrighted files from torrent sites, you put yourself in big trouble, as you’re violating your country’s laws. And given that your ISP knows every little detail about your online activities, it can easily pick up when you download torrents.
From there, it can report you to the copyright holder, and then the authorities, for further processing. If you’re proven guilty, and you will be, you’ll be forced to pay a really hefty fine or spend some time in jail, depending on your jurisdiction.
For example, in the UAE, fines for torrenting go up to Dh 50,000, which translates to more than $13,000! What can you do with a VPN in this case? Simply put, you can change your IP, encrypt your connection, and make it untraceable by your ISP.
Once you do that, it won’t be able to tell what you’re doing online, even when downloading torrents. Henceforth, you can download torrents safely and anonymously, without any repercussions.
And before you ask, you can do that even with copyrighted games, music, and other media. However, we don’t condone violating any copyrights, as this is considered illegal and disrespectful to copyright holders.
Secure Access to the Dark Web
Accessing the dark web seems easy enough. You download and open Tor, visit the dark web website, and that’s it. Sadly, things aren’t that simple and Tor isn’t very secure, so by default, you aren’t accessing the dark web safely – sorry.
In this case, you’re wondering – why use a VPN for the dark web? Let me explain.
The dark web is associated with illegal activities that include, but are not limited to selling drugs and distributing underage adult footage. This is why the authorities are very suspicious of anyone who visits the dark web.
Moreover, we need to point out that, even if you use Tor to access it, your ISP can still see your activity – to a certain extent. The problem with Tor is its entry node where you don’t have encryption and the ISP can see that you’re accessing the dark web but it can’t see what you’re doing there.
This, you’ll agree, is enough to raise suspicions and get you into trouble. However, if you use a Virtual Private Network, you can fix this issue entirely. First, you need to connect to the VPN server and then open Tor.
By doing so, you can conceal the fact that you’re using Tor to access the dark web, so the ISP knows nothing about your online activity. As a result, you not only protect yourself against ISP monitoring but also potential hackers and snoopers that defile the dark web.
Bypassing ISP Throttling
Bypassing ISP throttling is yet another answer to the question of why use a VPN. As previously stated, ISPs have total control over the internet in every country, and as such, they can control the connection speed as well.
When performing bandwidth-hungry activities such as streaming, gaming, or downloading, users often talk about bandwidth throttling. This is also called ISP throttling and is, in essence, when your ISP intentionally slows down your internet.
It’s typical for activities that consume a lot of bandwidth and is done in a bid to reduce the load on the network and provide stable connections for all users. At least that’s what ISPs often say. Thankfully, you can fix this issue by preventing your ISP from monitoring your traffic.
That, of course, can be done with a VPN that will prevent the ISP from imposing limits on your connection. Therefore, you won’t be able only to browse the web freely but also with the best possible performance!
Saving Money on Flight Tickets (And Other Purchases Online!)
If you’re at least in a somewhat decent financial situation, you’ve probably had a flight or two… or three. Well, in that case, you know that flight tickets have different prices according to many factors, one of which is your location.
Living in a more developed country yields higher costs and vice versa. With that in mind, you should know that the cost of flight tickets is significantly higher in the USA or Germany than in, let’s say, Bulgaria or some African countries.
What can you do with a VPN to save money on flight tickets, then? You can simply change your IP address to a less developed country and purchase a flight ticket you want at a significantly cheaper price.
Those who fly often can save a pretty good sum of money this way. Usually, we’re talking about $100 to well over $1,000 a year when using a VPN.
The same principle applies to many digital goods that people buy nowadays. Prices of games and software, in general, are different depending on your location. Steam, for example, prices its games differently from region to region.
In the UK, the games are going to be the most expensive, while in Russia and Argentina, you can sometimes save more than 50% of the original price. This is all possible by changing your online location to either of these countries, making an account, and enjoying great discounts.
Bypassing Censorship
Censorship in some countries is a pretty serious thing. In China, Russia, the UAE, and Iran, you’ll encounter a lot of blocked websites. Some popular ones, at that! However, the worst case of censorship can be found in China.
This country has the so-called Great Firewall that effectively blocks all websites you enjoy on a daily basis. In this blacklist, we can find Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google services, Telegram, and many other applications.
China also banned many VPN providers and thanks to its Great Firewall, VPN usage is easily detected. This means that the majority of providers will not work in this country, leaving you to the clenching jaws of censorship that ruins every last bit of your online freedom.
With services like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, however, you can bypass censorship in China and other countries. These VPNs are hard to detect even in China thanks to their rock-solid security and the highest level of encryption.
So, by connecting to a server from any of them, you can regain your online freedom and visit your favorite websites even in countries where they’re not available.
Public Wi-Fi Protection
If you’re still wondering why use a VPN and what VPNs are used for, here’s the last use case – public Wi-Fi protection. Public Wi-Fi networks are a rest haven for hackers and snoopers looking to steal the personal information of unaware people.
They are notorious for not being protected, which makes them an even bigger threat to your privacy. With no encryption or sometimes a password in place, even an amateur hacker can sweep the entire network and steal people’s credit card details and other important info.
Remember – people connected to the same network have the same IP address. Changing your IP and encrypting your connection will render you invisible to the hacker, making it impossible for him to intercept your connection and gain access to your information.
That’s definitely one of the best reasons to use a Virtual Private Network.
Some VPN Providers You Should Consider
6300 servers
111 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections
9.8 /10
3000 servers
105 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
8 simultaneous connections
9.4 /10
12000 servers
100 covered countries
45 days money-back guarantee
7 simultaneous connections
9.2 /10
You now know what a VPN does and what you can do with it. Beware that we talked about the best-case scenario, which means not every provider will give you these benefits.
Most notably, you want to avoid free services due to their limits in terms of performance and security. However, paid VPNs will do the job perfectly and the best choices we recommend include the following:
1. ExpressVPN
Those asking the question of why use a VPN will want to take a look at ExpressVPN. You’ve probably heard of ExpressVPN and it’s, for many, the best choice out there. Starting with servers, you get more than 3,000 of them in 94 countries, which is already impressive.
ExpressVPN comes with the fastest speeds as well. This allows you to enjoy buffer-free streaming or fast and reliable downloading. Speaking of which, this VPN works with Netflix flawlessly, allowing you to unblock a wide variety of libraries.
Torrenting is also possible on every server and you can enjoy ExpressVPN’s security that is, so far, unmatched. Namely, it gives you 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and IP/DNS leak protection for the maximum level of security.
Furthermore, I like its proprietary Lightway protocol. It’s made for enhancing security and performance so that you always enjoy safe and quick connections. Being based in the BVI, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, ExpressVPN also won’t store any compromising logs.
Its no-logs policy clearly states that no logs about your IP address or browsing history are stored on the VPN’s servers. Needless to say, a premium service like this offers many more functionalities. One of them is the ability to install it on every device you can think of.
Apart from PC, ExpressVPN is available on macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Smart TV, Firestick TV, and routers. There are 5 simultaneous connections on one account, too, with reliable 24/7 live chat support being the backbone of the service.
While not the cheapest VPN, its 49% discount and 3 months free for the annual plan sound very attractive. Plus, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, letting you test it out without any risk of losing money.
Should you decide to do so, you can use the button below.
Pros
- Servers in 94 countries
- Fastest speeds
- Lightway protocol
- Works with Netflix
- P2P-friendly
- Usable in China
- 49% discount and 3 months free for the 1-year plan
- Certified no-logs policy
Con
- Not the cheapest option
2. CyberGhost
What can you do with a VPN like CyberGhost, for example? Well, apart from paying an extremely affordable price, CyberGhost gives you the luxury of enjoying 9,100+ servers in 90+ countries.
That alone surely makes it impressive but that’s not all. This VPN offers dedicated P2P, streaming, and gaming servers for getting the most out of these activities. It’s not as fast as ExpressVPN but we found torrenting and streaming on Netflix and BBC iPlayer buttery-smooth.
And if you’re worried about security, know that CyberGhost is as secure as ExpressVPN. Despite its affordable price, it offers 256-bit AES encryption, a dependable kill switch, and split tunneling. IP leak protection is here, as well as WireGuard support and an ad-blocker,
CyberGhost is based in Romania, which is yet another privacy-focused jurisdiction. With no data-retention laws in the country, CyberGhost can easily maintain its no-logs policy, further reinforced by transparency reports published every 3 months and an audit from Deloitte.
The VPN is very easy to use on all platforms it supports. Speaking of which, you can install CyberGhost on every major and less popular platform. Besides, there are 7 simultaneous connections on one subscription, which is better than ExpressVPN.
Its 24/7 live chat support works great, too. It’s available in 3 different languages, making it easy to get in touch wherever you are. Sure, CyberGhost isn’t great for use in China but at least its prices are among the cheapest on the market.
Pair that with a 45-day money-back guarantee for long-term plans and you’ll most likely hardly find a better deal. If you’re interested, we recommend using the button below to get the cheapest possible price on this already affordable VPN and enjoy it to the fullest!
Pros
- 9,100+ servers across 90+ countries
- Dedicated streaming/gaming/P2P servers
- 7 simultaneous connections
- Works with Netflix US
- WireGuard support
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Customer support in 3 languages
Cons
- Doesn’t work in China
- Not the easiest application to use
3. NordVPN
Or perhaps, you could also enjoy NordVPN which perfectly answers the question of what VPNs are used for. You can use this service for every purpose we mentioned and a part of that comes from its 5,500+ servers in 60 countries, with many types of dedicated servers.
For example, you have Onion Over VPN servers for browsing the dark web, P2P servers for torrenting, and obfuscated servers for bypassing censorship. I really like Double VPN servers for doubling your level of encryption, making for a more secure experience.
No streaming servers are present here but NordVPN doesn’t need them. It still works with Netflix and unblocking BBC iPlayer and Hulu will be a piece of cake. Furthermore, NordVPN comes with exceptional speeds and performance, so slowdowns are minimal.
Security-wise, disappointment is the last feeling you’ll have here. Apart from military-grade encryption, NordVPN packs split tunneling, CyberSec (ad-blocker), and a kill switch. Especially great is the proprietary NordLynx protocol for boosting your security even more.
Much like ExpressVPN, NordVPN offers a no-logs policy audited by PwC. Therefore, it won’t store any logs of your browsing habits and IP address, making for an anonymous experience. I would venture to say that its apps are very easy to use regardless of the platform you’re on.
NordVPN supports all major platforms as well and it can be used in China successfully. For less-demanding users, there are 6 simultaneous connections on a single account, backed up by 24/7 customer support available through live chat.
Overall, this is one affordable VPN that costs a bit less than ExpressVPN and more than CyberGhost. The good thing is its 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, which makes testing it out all but risky.
And of course, if NordVPN seems like your bag of beans, you can get it for the cheapest possible price through the button below.
Pros
- Double VPN servers
- CyberSec (ad-blocker)
- 5,500 servers globally
- No-logs policy audited by PwC
- Great speeds
- Usable for torrenting
Cons
- Expensive short-term plans
- Prices are shown without VAT
4. Surfshark
Surfshark is another VPN we wholeheartedly recommend. This provider is known for very cheap pricing, unlimited simultaneous connections, and a boatload of security features that many people admire. First of all, it packs 3,200 servers neatly scattered around 95 countries.
As much as these numbers are impressive, there’s something more impressive – MultiHop. It works by routing your traffic through two servers, doubling your encryption in the process. People like Surfshark because it’s reasonably fast, and while not the fastest, it still offers 10 Gbps speeds and great stability.
Moreover, Surfshark is great for streaming on a variety of platforms. This is backed up by torrenting capabilities, as the provider can help you stay anonymous while torrenting or engaging in any type of P2P activity. If you’re not sure why you should use a VPN like Surfshark yet, let us be clearer.
This provider offers unlimited bandwidth and it’s extremely secure. You’ll enjoy features like a kill switch, split tunneling, AES-256 encryption, and even WireGuard. Furthermore, Surfshark supports NoBorders, a feature for getting over censorship in China.
You won’t find this in CyberGhost! Plus, there’s an IP Rotator functionality that will rotate your IP periodically, ensuring you can’t be tracked. Other than that, Surfshark offers Static IP addresses and even an ad blocker that’ll kick annoying ads out of your life.
Sure, it won’t block YouTube ads reliably but hey, it also keeps malicious sites out of your reach, so it’s something to look forward to. In terms of pricing, it’s similar to CyberGhost in a way that it offers a 2-year plan for under $2.5 a month, which is, once again, a mouth-watering price.
Users can also enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, plus Surfshark’s 24/7 live chat support, incredible device compatibility, and so much more. If you’re excited, click the button below to get its cheapest deal and save some of your money!
Pros
- NoBorders mode for bypassing censorship
- 3,200 servers in 95 countries
- Excellent for torrenting and streaming
- Ad blocker is included
Cons
- Rare kill switch problems
- Not the fastest in its class
- The monthly plan is expensive
Conclusion
With everything explained in this article, you know what VPNs are used for and what a VPN does. As you learned, apart from providing online security, this tool is more versatile than it meets the eye.
“Why use a VPN?” is now a question that has many answers and unblocking sites, safe torrenting, and uninterrupted streaming are only some of them. To make sure that you get all the greatest benefits of a VPN, though, it’s vital that you choose some of the providers we presented.
With them, we wanted to make sure that you can immediately take advantage of your subscription and enjoy it to the fullest. And now that you fully understand what you can do with a Virtual Private Network, I think you’re more than ready to experience one for yourself!
Q&A
To finish off this discussion, let’s answer a few important topic-related questions.
Should I use a VPN at all?
If you’re aware of the lack of privacy we all have online and that bothers you, I think you should use a VPN. Apart from a few dollars a month, you really have nothing to lose by subscribing to a service like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, NordVPN, or Surfshark.
After all, Virtual Private Networks offer many benefits that every average and above-average user can enjoy. Apart from safe torrenting, you can successfully unblock Netflix, shield your privacy, and save money on online purchases easily and legally.
That being said, I think there’s absolutely no reason to avoid VPN providers.
Do VPNs have any downsides?
Well, everything has some good and bad sides and the same could be said about VPNs. Their downsides are minor compared to their upsides, though, and they usually have to do with performance. That is because every VPN slows down your internet speed – oh no!
Before you dismiss using a VPN, let me tell you that this performance decrease is so small that you won’t notice it. It happens because of your physical distance to the VPN server and is typical for low-quality or free VPNs that have poor server infrastructure.
However, if you opt for ExpressVPN, which is the fastest choice possible, speed reduction will be the last thing you’ll notice. As such, your few-dollar-a-month investment will be spot-on and you’ll hardly notice that you’re connected to a VPN.
How good are free VPNs?
When I answered the question of why use a VPN or what a VPN does, I talked about the best services on the market. Free VPNs are completely out of this league because of their limits in all departments.
They’re not secure, they don’t have a no-logs policy, and they offer painfully slow speeds. Not to mention that they don’t work with Netflix or offer P2P servers. With just a few server locations, unstable connections, and the inability to bypass censorship, do you think free VPNs are good?
I think that I have already given you the answer to this question.
Should I avoid some VPNs?
Of course, not every Virtual Private Network service is great. Most notably, I recommend avoiding free VPNs, some of which include Betternet and Hola. Because of the security risk they pose, avoiding them and not using a VPN at all is, after all, a much better solution.
If free VPNs are what you’re after, you can try out ProtonVPN or Hide.me as long as you’re okay with their limits. And if you’re seeking the creme de la creme of VPN services, once again, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, NordVPN, and Surfshark are going to be what you’re looking for.
Can a VPN protect me from viruses and malware?
By default, no. That’s not a VPN’s function. However, providers like NordVPN and Surfshark will offer this option. In NordVPN, that’s part of the subscription and you’ll get both antivirus and malware protection. In Surfshark, you can get antivirus as a part of Surfshark One.
Surfshark One is paid additionally on top of your subscription, so it’s a bonus feature. Even CyberGhost offers antivirus as a bonus feature paid additionally. So in 2024, a VPN can definitely protect you from viruses and malware as long as you choose the one that has antivirus/malware protection.
If you have a VPN without these features, logically, you won’t get this commodity. However, you can still combine a VPN with antivirus and get the best of both worlds.
