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Ranked honestly · Real shortlist · No number-one-everywhere spam

The best VPNs for privacy

If privacy is the whole point, the bar is higher: audited or court-tested no-logs, a clean jurisdiction, open-source apps and anonymous sign-up all count. Here is the honest ranking for privacy above everything else, including where ROOT stands.

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The ranking

A real shortlist. ROOT is placed where it genuinely earns its spot, not bumped to the top.

  1. Mullvad

    From £4.29 · 5 devices · No-logs

    The privacy benchmark: anonymous account numbers with no email, cash accepted, audited open-source apps and a flat honest price. Nobody does anonymity better.

    Mullvad alternative

  2. Proton VPN

    From £3.59 · Free tier · 10 devices · No-logs

    Audited, fully open-source, Secure Core multi-hop routing and strong Swiss privacy law, with a free tier. The most complete trustworthy package.

    Proton VPN alternative

  3. Private Internet Access

    From £1.69 · Unlimited devices · No-logs

    The rare no-logs claim actually proven in court, with open-source apps and deep control. US jurisdiction is the one caveat.

    Private Internet Access alternative

  4. ROOT VPNOur pick to start free

    Free, then £3.99 · 10 devices · No-logs

    ROOT keeps no activity logs and adds REALITY, Shadowsocks and Hysteria2 stealth protocols that resist inspection and blocking, which is a real privacy strength on hostile networks. It is newer and not yet third-party audited, so for a proven paper trail the veterans above still lead.

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  5. Windscribe

    Free tier · Free tier · Unlimited devices · No-logs

    Strong technical privacy with R.O.B.E.R.T. blocking and flexible sign-up, held back only by its Canada jurisdiction within the Five Eyes alliance.

    Windscribe alternative

How we ranked them

The criteria that decided the order.

Best privacy VPN, answered

What is the best privacy VPN?
Our top pick is Mullvad, for the reasons in the ranking above. ROOT VPN comes in at number 4 on this list and is the pick if you want a genuinely free way in and modern stealth protocols. The right choice depends on what matters most to you.
Is ROOT VPN a good privacy VPN?
Yes, and we have placed it honestly at number 4 here rather than pretending it wins every category. ROOT gives you a free tier with unlimited data, four modern protocols and no activity logs, which makes it a strong, low-risk one to try first.
Do I have to pay for a good privacy VPN?
Not to start. ROOT VPN has a free forever plan with no card required, and a couple of others on this list offer real free tiers too. Paid plans add more locations and faster servers when you need them.

More ranked shortlists

Browse more, or see the full list of best-VPN guides.

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