Best VPNs for Multidevice – CNET

IPVanish

IPVanish it offers unlimited unlimited connections so you can use VPN on your phone, tablet, computer, streaming box and any other devices at the same time without any problem. In comparison, many of its competitors remain selective; NordVPN and Proton VPN offer 10 simultaneous connections while ExpressVPN only allows eight. Additionally, IPVanish includes VPN apps for almost every platform imaginable. Even one of the few companies that have an Apple TV app. Several providers, including Surfshark, Proton VPN, NordVPN, PIA, ExpressVPN, PrivadoVPN, IPVanish, PureVPN, FlowVPN, Tailscale, VPNIFY, -SafeShell and SwizzVPN, offers downloadable TVOS apps. There’s even a user interface for IPVanish’s Linux app, which is still rare.

We love that IPVanish apps are easy to use and uncomplicated. Whether you’re a veteran or a VPN newcomer, you won’t get confused by enabling it. Its exceptional streaming support — we successfully unblocked Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video and other apps — makes this an excellent VPN for entertainment. We didn’t find any leaks in our 2024 tests, but we clocked an average of 44% loss in internet download speed, which is far less than the fastest VPNs.

With servers in 56 countries, IPVanish falls far short of competitors such as NordVPN (111), Surfshark (100 countries) and ExpressVPN (105). We’ve found servers near us, you’ll want to see the IPVanish server location list to make sure it’s a VPN provider that serves your needs. You’ll pay $13 a month, $40 a year (before the price spikes to $90 after your first 12 months of service) or $53 for two years (after 24 months, that price spikes to $90 a year each). IPVanish is cheaper than NordVPN and ExpressVPN but more expensive than Private Internet Access and Surfshark. Ultimately, IPVanish is a decent VPN that you can use on almost any device — including your Apple TV — with no limits on simultaneous users. Some VPNs offer faster speeds, more geographies, stronger privacy and better value.

Read our IPVanish review.

Hotspot Shield

With its user-friendly app design, split tunnel and best geo-unblocking streaming service, Hotspot Shield is a decent VPN for casual users. It features a large network with more than 3,200 servers in more than 80 countries. Hotspot Shield uses AES 256-bit encryption for strong industry-standard privacy. Its closed-source OpenSSL-Catapult Hydra VPN-based protocol and US jurisdiction mean it’s not ideal for the more privacy-conscious. Although Hotspot Shield supports 10 devices at once, its strict privacy and transparency make it difficult to recommend when its VPN competitors offer additional benefits such as faster speeds, larger simultaneous device allowances and lower subscription costs.

Read our Hotspot Shield review.

TunnelBear

TunnelBear offers unlimited simultaneous connections without breaking the bank. It sports 256-bit encryption, split tunneling and several VPN protocols including WireGuard and OpenVPN and IKEv2. However, TunnelBear falls short in many categories. Despite a massive 5,000-plus server network, TunnelBear covers only 47 countries. In our tests, its unreliable connection often leads to loss of high internet speed. Also, TunnelBear only supports a few platforms, such as Windows, MacOS, Android/Android TV, iOS/iPadOS and web browsers. At the very least, we can expect a Linux installer and right now, maybe an Apple TV app. If you need an affordable VPN for regular use TunnelBear is acceptable, but we suggest one of the best cheap VPNs, like Surfshark, IPVanish or PIA instead.

Read our TunnelBear review.