Best VPN Service-Why Do I Need A VPN?

By | April 22, 2015

Why do I need a VPN- The Best VPN servicesVPN or Virtual Private Networks sometimes get a bad name from people because they feel it is a way to avoid the law.  I actually have used a VPN service for many years now.  I am an American and have been living abroad for the past 5 plus years now. At first I asked myself, “Why do I need a VPN?” that was then followed by, “What is the best VPN Service?”  Keep reading and I will happily walk you through the steps.

I know this is a little different from my normal type of post, about building an online business.  I just felt it was important to touch on something that has been an integral part of my life for so many years.

my recommendations

Why do I need a VPN?


Watching movies on VPNThere are many reasons to utilize a VPN.  Different parts of the world access the internet differently.  Not everything you are used to getting in your home country is available in other countries.  Here is a great example.  If you travel to Europe and you watch NetFlix or Hulu, you will not be able to access your account.  If you are able to access your NetFlix account then the available shows will be different.  Hulu on the other hand is only available in the US.  To most people this would not make a difference, but if you travel for business it can be a very useful tool.

Another reason you might want a VPN is to help secure data.  A VPN is like a giant pipe that nothing can penetrate.  It connects the input (your computer) directly to an output (what you are looking at).  Many VPN services also utilize special encryption to help secure data.  This encryption is vital to keeping your information private.

Many companies use VPN services to log into their computers for their employees.  This helps prevent sensitive information from leaking out to the competition.  Keeping data safe is a must in today’s corporate world.  This is especially true when its employees travel in other countries.

Social Media TreeThen of course there is the “Big China” issue.  As I stated earlier I am an American but have lived abroad for over 5 years now.  I have been in China for over 2 years.  For those of you that don’t know, you cannot access Google, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter and more from China.  This alone brought me to search for the best VPN in China.  Just imagine a world without those sites available to you.  It would be fine if I had never used them, but I had and I am connected to my friends.  I really didn’t want to lose that connection.

Okay, I know many of you reading this might think that you don’t need a VPN service because you don’t travel out of your home country.  I can understand that, but really a VPN adds an extra layer of security for personal or sensitive information.  Once I started using a VPN, about 10 years ago, I have never stopped.  The costs of them is nominal, some you can even get for free.  That being said the free services have their limitations and tend to really slow your connection down.

 

What to look for in a VPN Service


Glad to see you are still reading.  There are so many services out there that claim to be the best and the cheapest.  The first thing you want to look for is multiple connection points.  By this I mean servers located in different cities across the country you want to log into.  For example if you want to log into the US, you would like to see servers in most of the major cities in different parts of the country. (LA, NY, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago…)  This along with the ability to change your access point is important.  If there is an issue in one part of the country due to weather you won’t lose access to the VPN.VPN with Multiple cities

Another good thing to look for is multiple countries, especially if you are a globetrotter.  Since I have lived in 4 countries I have grown fond of local shows from those countries.  With a VPN I can log into the country and still watch those shows I have grown to enjoy.

You need reliability and a good responsive customer service.  I think this makes perfect sense and I will not insult your intelligence by writing too much more on that.

There are several different kinds of protocol that VPNs utilize.  That being said the most common one is “open VPN” this does not mean it is open to anyone.  It is just a name.  You will also see PPTP, L2TP, SSTP and even IKEv2.  These all have different strengths and weaknesses.  Each one has a purpose it is best suited to, however, they are all reliable and none is really better than the other.  I think the best VPN services have multiple types of protocols that you can change to free of charge.secure your data with a vpn

Just about every one of them has free VPN software.  I know you are thinking of course the software is free you are paying for the service.  Actually you don’t need the software to use the service.  You can just set up a network on your computer then you never need to use the software.  The free VPN software downloads just make it easier than setting the network up by yourself if you’re not tech savvy.  It also makes it much easier to change the settings than if you set up a network.

 

The Best VPN Services


Okay, Marc, you have rambled on enough, just tell the people what they want to know.  What are the best VPN services?  I think even the best free VPN Services lack the ability to give you a quality service.  Therefore, here are what I believe are the best VPN services out there.

Express VPN

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This has quickly turned into my favorite VPN out there.  You can easily change server locations.  Quickly seeing the fastest connection out there and being able to use multiple devices at that same time is GREAT!  They have a monthly plan for $12.95 per month, a 6 month plan for $9.99 per month, and a 12 month plan for $8.32 per month.  You can give them a try here.  If you want to read my full review on them you can do so here.

Overplay VPN service

Overplay VPNThis is a great service, they have two separate services.  One is for unblocking content which is a smart DNS.  They have packages from 1 month to a year.  The one month simple VPN starts at $4.95 per month, $13.95 for the three month service, $26.95 for 6 months of service, or $49.95 for 12 months of service.

Their premium package includes security for those that want a fully capable encrypted connection.  The different tiers are $9.95 for one month, $27.95 for 3 months, $52.95 for 6 months, or $99.95 for 12 months.  You can give them a try here.

Pure VPN Service

Pure VPNThis service is a great reliable service.  It allows you to log onto up to 5 different devices at the same time.  Most services make you pay extra money for each additional device at the same time.  The VPN is encrypted for that extra protection.  Prices start at $9.95 for a monthly plan, $44.95 for a 6 month plan and $49.95 for an annual plan.  You can give them a try here.

IPVanish VPN Service

IPVanish VPNThis is another of my favorite.  It has over 165 servers locate in over 60 countries and has over 25,000 IPs.  Remember when I said multiple servers in each county.  Well this one has just that.  The prices start at $10.00 for a monthly subscription, $26.99 for a three month subscription, and $77.99 for a one year subscription.  You can give them a try here.

Strong VPN Service

Strong VPNThis was my mainstay VPN for the majority of the years.  update: Recently they changed their system and the customer service is email service only.  I had a small issue and the instantly went to sales tactic saying I should upgrade the package.  This turned me off and I actually canceled my service.  Furthermore their previous exceptional customer service you may still get but it is at an additional cost now.  It had exceptional service, unlimited speed, PPTP and OpenVPN protocols.  Even the basic package has over 262 servers.  The middle package has up to 313 servers and the biggest package has over 390 servers.  Packages start at $6.25/mo for the lite service, $4.58 for their middle tier service (Current Special), and $12.95 for their deluxe service.  All services include full encryption and 24/7 help.  You can give them a try here.

 

Summary


There are so many VPN services out there.  They are very useful in protecting your private information and accessing things you may not have access to while traveling.  Keeping you and your computer safe from outside intrusions is just one of the functions of a VPN.  That does not mean you are 100% safe from hackers or viruses, you still need your antivirus and firewalls, but it is just another measure to ensure your security.  Thank you for listening to my rant about VPNs.  I will get back to the basics on building an online business and scams to avoid in the next topics.

Please let me know your experiences with VPNs, or feel free to ask questions and add comments below.

14 thoughts on “Best VPN Service-Why Do I Need A VPN?

  1. Damien

    Thanks for the insight. It was never really clear to me how a VPN work or what I would need it for. You explained it well enough to clear it up. Not quite what I’m looking for right now but now I really know. If I start travelling “Which I will” this will be a game changer for many things… Just saying..

    All the best!

    Reply
    1. Marc Pintar Post author

      Damien,
      Glad I could help. Yes they are not for everyone, but many find benefits even if they don’t travel. A VPN is just another level of security for your own privacy. When you do start to travel they are a must, in my opinion.
      Thank you for the comment and let me know if you have any further questions when the time comes for you to start traveling.
      Marc

      Reply
  2. Camille

    Marc,
    Wow! I learned of VPNs when I was working on my degree but if course, it got no more attention then 5 sentences. You just schooled me in less than 5 minutes! I can’t imagine being in another country and not having access to sites I’m use to. The flip side is keeping information secure that is a problem everywhere, so if you reduce your risks why not?
    I enjoyed reading about VPNs Im a true nerd! lol

    Reply
    1. Marc Pintar Post author

      Camille,
      I am glad I was able to help you out with some more information on VPNs. Like I said I have used them for years. But the first time I used them was when I began traveling. There was a period of about 4 years that I was not traveling yet I kept the VPN. I found the added layer of protection worth it.
      Marc

      Reply
  3. Lis

    Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to travel abroad as yet. But I will be soon and this is definitely helpful information. I use certain networks to keep in touch with family and friends and I have also taken it for granted that accessing things such as phones and tablets remains the same worldwide.

    Thank you for clearing things up and I will be sure to visit again when I start to travel in the very near future.

    Lis.

    Reply
    1. Marc Pintar Post author

      Lis,
      I wish you best of luck in your travels. Let me know how the VPNs work for you once you get a chance to use them.
      Regards,
      Marc

      Reply
  4. Duncan

    Hey Marc,
    I love this post about VPNs. I have moved to Thailand from Australia and an American friend who is also here raves about having a VPN. This post is so comprehensive. Thank you for the info. I will bookmark it and come back to investigating which service to sign up for.

    Regards,

    Duncan

    Reply
    1. Marc Pintar Post author

      Duncan,
      Thank you for the comment. VPNs let you do what you normally cant when living abroad. They are a great tool to use and are very inexpensive. But there are some bad ones out there. You get what you pay for when it comes to a VPN. Always nice to get the comfort of reliability and good customer service when needed.
      Marc

      Reply
  5. Lou

    Great post-Marc,

    I have used a few over the years , Strong, Hide my ass, ip vanish, I agree about strong they were really good but now no live chat, just email, I won’t be renewing either.

    I also live in Thailand and been here over 3 years and in WA , I like to keep up with the BBC etc,

    Cheers,

    Lou

    Reply
    1. Marc Post author

      Lou,
      Thanks for the comment. I am actually trying out another one right now and like it even better than Vypr. Give me a few days and I will update this post. Or if your right on the verge of changing send me an email and I will get you some info on it Marc@earnextramoneyhome.com
      Thanks,
      Marc

      Reply
  6. Virgilus

    Please, I live in a country where I can’t receive payment through PayPal,…. Is there any way I can use VPN to get over that barrier?
    Help please!….

    Reply
    1. Marc Post author

      You could sign up with paypal through a VPN but you would have a hard time linking your bank accounts to Paypal. You might want to try Skrill.
      I hope that helps.
      Marc

      Reply
  7. Harold Burton

    I use HMA regularly but recently changed and now using PureVPN. Their speed is quite amazing as a VPN. they also provide a lot of functions. they have good support that replies in a timely fashion.

    Reply

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