5 Best VPNs for Beginners in 2024 (Guide for Dummies!)

Getting started with a VPN can be overwhelming for beginners. With so many options and features to consider, it‘s hard to know which VPN is the right one for your needs. This guide will walk you through the basics of VPNs and recommend the top 5 VPNs for beginners in 2024.

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a remote server run by the VPN provider. This hides your IP address so your online activities can‘t be tracked back to you. It also allows you to access restricted websites and apps from anywhere in the world.

Some key benefits of using a VPN:

• Privacy – Hide your IP address and prevent tracking of your online activities
• Security – Encrypt your internet traffic to protect against hacking on public WiFi
• Access Restricted Content – Bypass geographic restrictions to access content not available in your country
• Bypass Censorship – Get around internet censorship in repressive countries

Do You Need a VPN?

For many beginners, the first question is whether they even need a VPN or not. Here are some common reasons to use one:

• You connect to public WiFi at cafes, hotels, airports etc. This is an easy target for hackers to steal your data.
• You want to access websites or services blocked in your country like social media sites or streaming content.
• You want to torrent files or access peer-to-peer sites safely without being monitored by your ISP.
• You want better privacy and don‘t want corporations or governments tracking your online activities.

If any of these apply to you, a VPN can be very useful. The privacy and security benefits alone make it worthwhile for most people.

How to Choose the Best VPN for Beginners

With hundreds of VPN providers out there, how do you pick the right one? Here are the key factors to consider:

Server Locations – More server locations means you can access more geo-restricted content. Look for servers across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Speed – VPNs can slow your internet traffic, so look for providers with consistently fast speeds.

Apps – Easy to use apps for all devices including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Linux.

Privacy Policy – Strict no-logging policies that don‘t store your online activity.

Extra Features – Look for useful extras like ad-blocking, malware protection and split-tunneling.

Money-back Guarantee – Trial periods from 7 to 30 days to test if the VPN works for you.

Customer Support – Knowledgeable 24/7 live chat support in case you need help.

Price – Affordable plans to fit any budget, often less than $3 a month.

Based on these criteria, here are the best VPNs for beginners in 2024:

1. NordVPN – Best VPN for Beginners

NordVPN is the top recommendation for beginners due to their user-friendly apps, excellent speeds, watertight privacy policy and best in class security features. They check every box for what you want in a VPN.

Some standout features for new users include:

• Over 5,500 servers in 60 countries for reliable connections anywhere.
• Fast speeds for streaming, gaming and torrenting.
• Strict no-logs policy audited by independent firms. They don‘t store any of your online activity.
• Next generation encryption like AES 256-bit and 2048 bit TLS/SSL protocols.
• Useful cybersecurity tools like Threat Protection to block malware infected sites.
• Easy to use apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android and Linux.
• 30-day money-back guarantee to test it risk-free.

NordVPN has one of the most affordable plans at just $3.29 per month when you sign up for 2 years. For all the features you get, it‘s a great value. And they have 24/7 customer support if you ever need help getting started.

Try NordVPN risk-free for 30 days.

2. Surfshark – Best for Unlimited Devices

Surfshark is the perfect choice for using many devices on one account. Most other VPNs limit you to 5-10 devices. But Surfshark places no limit, so you can protect all your gadgets.

Some great benefits Surfshark offers:

• Unlimited device connections on a single subscription.
• 3,200+ servers in over 65 countries to bypass restrictions.
• Strong AES-256-GCM encryption and protocols like IKEv2 and OpenVPN.
• Private DNS and leak protection to keep your data secure.
• splits tunneling feature is great for controlling which apps use the VPN.
• Apps for every platform like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Fire TV and routers.
• 30-day money-back guarantee to test it out.

Surfshark only costs $2.49 a month when you signup for 2 years. And they frequently run deals dropping the price to $1.99 per month. For unlimited devices, the value is hard to beat.

Get Surfshark for just $1.99/month

3. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Speed

ExpressVPN is a premium VPN known for their blazing fast speeds. Beginners will appreciate how effortlessly it handles streaming, browsing and torrenting.

Some of the benefits ExpressVPN offers:

• 3,000+ servers spread across 94 countries for reliable global access.
• Their Lightway protocol delivers some of the fastest VPN speeds around.
• Strong 256-bit AES encryption keeps your data secure.
• No activity or connection logs are kept at all.
• Apps for all major platforms like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and browsers.
• 30-day money-back guarantee to test their service.

ExpressVPN costs $8.32 a month for a 6-month plan, putting them at the higher end. But you get what you pay for with their proven performance and outstanding apps.

Get 3 months free when you signup for ExpressVPN.

4. CyberGhost – Best for New Users

CyberGhost excels at guiding beginners through the VPN setup process. Their well-designed apps and useful tutorials make it easy for even total newbies.

Some useful features for new users:

• Over 7,400 servers in 91 countries to connect worldwide.
• Strong AES-256 & IKEv2/IPsec encryption protocols for privacy.
• Automatic server selection based on what you‘re doing like streaming or torrenting.
• Apps have built-in speed tests to find the fastest servers.
• 7 device connections and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

CyberGhost costs just $2.17 a month for a 3-year plan, an incredible value. Their beginner-friendly service is hard to beat.

Get CyberGhost starting at just $2.17 per month.

5. Private Internet Access – Best VPN for Privacy

Private Internet Access (PIA) offers robust privacy protections making it great for the privacy-minded. Even their low cost plans come packed with premium features.

Some of the privacy highlights PIA offers:

• 35,000+ servers in 78 countries to better hide your IP address.
• Industry-leading encryption like WireGuard and AES-256.
• Zero traffic or activity logs ever thanks to their strict no logging policy.
• Ad blocker built into their VPN apps.
• Supports port forwarding for better P2P filesharing.
• 10 simultaneous connections from multiple devices.

An annual PIA plan is an affordable $2.69 per month total. Given the privacy protections, it‘s a steal for the price.

Sign up for PIA today starting at just $2.69/month.

How to Set Up and Use a VPN

Once you‘ve chosen the best VPN for your needs, it‘s time to set it up. Getting connected is simple and straightforward for any beginner on any device. Just follow these steps:

1. Create your VPN account – Sign up on their website and download their app.

2. Install the app – Open the app and log in with your account details.

3. Select server location – Choose a server location like United States for access to geo-restricted sites.

4. Connect – Hit connect and you‘ll be protected by the VPN encryption within seconds.

5. Verify IP address – Go to a site like IPLocation to confirm your new hidden IP address.

And that‘s it! Connecting to websites or services will now all be encrypted through the VPN tunnel. The VPN apps make it easy to pick new server locations on the fly.

Many VPNs have useful features in their apps like kill switches to stop internet access if the VPN disconnects. And split-tunneling so you can choose which apps to encrypt.

It‘s also helpful as a beginner to set up the VPN on all your devices like desktop, mobile, and smart TVs. That way you have complete protection on the go.

FAQ: Common Beginner VPN Questions

Are free VPNs safe to use?

Free VPN services often seem appealing, but they have major downsides for privacy and security. Free VPNs make money by collecting and selling your usage data and online activities. They also have slower speeds due to overloaded servers. Paid VPNs are inexpensive at around $2-3 per month, so it‘s worth investing in one for complete privacy.

Will a VPN slow my internet speed?

All VPNs will slow your internet traffic a little because of the encryption overhead. But the best VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN have extremely fast servers that minimize the speed loss. You can simply connect to different servers to find the fastest option. The privacy and security benefits make the small speed hit worthwhile!

Can I torrent safely with a VPN?

Yes, VPNs allow safe torrenting and cover your IP address from being visible in the torrent swarm. Strict no logging policies from top VPNs like Surfshark ensure your torrenting activity isn‘t recorded either. For privacy, make sure to bind the VPN connection to your torrent client.

Can I watch Netflix or other streaming sites?

Absolutely! A VPN allows you to access streaming sites like US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ etc by simply connecting to a server in that country. The media companies try to block VPNs, but the best ones stay ahead of the curve and consistently work to unblock geo-restrictions.

What protocols should my VPN use?

OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec are the preferred protocols to look for as they offer a great balance of speed and security. WireGuard is a newer promising protocol. Stay away from weaker protocols like PPTP. The best VPNs like NordVPN give you protocol choices in their apps.

In Summary…

• A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address for privacy.
• Look for top speed, apps, privacy policies, servers and money-back guarantees in a VPN.
• For beginners, NordVPN is our top recommendation for ease of use, security and speed.
• Other excellent choices are Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost and Private Internet Access.
• Apps make connecting a VPN simple – just install, login, pick a server location and connect.

A VPN gives beginners strong protections for daily internet use. One of the above providers will perfectly suit your needs for affordable, private and secure web access.

More Resources:

• How to Use a VPN
• Understanding VPN Encryption
• How VPN Protocols Compare
• VPN Troubleshooting Guide