Best VPN UK 2022 — Top VPNs Deals UK for Streaming and Privacy

The United Kingdom introduced one of the most intrusive online surveillance measures in the Western world with the infamous Snoopers’ Charter. The controversial Investigatory Powers Act has been heavily criticized, and it’s one of the main reasons people are looking for the best VPN service UK.

By selecting the best VPN service, you’ll be able to enhance your online privacy and access restricted websites in the UK, better deals in e-commerce stores, and stream international TV shows.

Are you looking to surf the web and stream from the UK ? If so, read on as we present the top UK VPNs 2022.

10 Best VPN UK : Best VPN Deals UK for 2022

Before we describe each VPN service in detail, let’s make a quick overview of the best VPNs in the UK of 2022. Each of the following UK VPNs passed our strict assessment test and was reviewed in detail by our experts.

1. NordVPN — Overall Best VPN in the UK
2. CyberGhost VPN — Fastest UK VPN
3. Private Internet Access — All-around VPN performance
4. Surfshark One — Best value option
5. UltraVPN — Small but reliable UK VPN
6. Proton VPN — Top-notch security, ideal for streaming
7. StrongVPN — VPN with long and successful history (since 1995)
8. ExpressVPN — Great VPN for newcomers
9. IPVanish — Fast, affordable, and reliable VPN
10. ZenMate — Great free VPN UK
11. Atlas VPN — Alternative value option

Top VPNs in 2022 Reviewed

In the following section, we’ll review each VPN service featured in the list above. We’ll write a summary highlighting their main features, including essential information, such as the number of servers, available countries, supported devices, speed range, customer support, money-back guarantee, and more. Moreover, we’ll list the main advantages and disadvantages of every best VPN UK of 2022. Without further ado, let’s check out VPN reviews UK.

1. NordVPN — Overall Best VPN in the UK

Nord VPN UK is the most popular overall choice among UK residents. The platform has been praised for its superb quality across professional and user reviews, offering high speeds, a range of security tools, and capabilities for streaming, torrenting, and web browsing. In a way, it’s a comprehensive online tool for browsing the web securely with a VPN at its core. There are many reasons to consider NordVPN the best VPN UK of 2022.

The platform currently offers more than 5,600 servers in 59 different countries. UK residents can access most of them securely and achieve all the benefits of using a top-quality VPN service. NordVPN isn’t the cheapest option, as it costs £2.49 monthly paid 24 months in advance or £8.79 for one month only.

Pros:

• Great privacy and anonymity for your online data
• Plenty of server locations
• Strong customer privacy stance
• Beginner-friendly and convenient platform
• Split tunneling, Tor connection, and multi-hop

Cons:

• Not the cheapest VPN UK
• Somewhat cluttered interface

2. CyberGhost VPN — Fastest UK VPN

CyberGhost boasts a well-distributed and large fleet of servers. Moreover, you can have up to seven connections simultaneously, and the speed is simply outstanding. On top of that, CyberGhost features add-ons that can further improve it, and one of them is a great antivirus tool.

In our testing, CyberGhost reached maximum speeds of up to 850 Mbps, making it one of the fastest VPNs in the UK. In addition, users can get connected in seconds by simply opening the app and connecting to the best available server automatically. On top of that, CyberGhost VPN has more than 8,000 servers across 90 countries, so it’s simple to find a server nearby or to spoof a user’s location.

As for the cost, CyberGhost is more expensive than most VPNs featured here. If you pay 24 months at once, the price is £2.75. There’s more value for those who decide to buy CyberGhost for 36 months, as they’ll get it for £1.7 a month + four months for free. Unfortunately, this is too big a commitment for some. If you decide to purchase a single month of CyberGhost, you’ll have to pay £9.99.

Pros:

• Plenty of servers
• Top-level encryption
• Up to seven connections at a time
• Add-ons available, including an antivirus tool
• Great speed

Cons:

• High price 
• Inconsistent privacy policies
• No info about third-party audits

3. Private Internet Access — All-around VPN Performance

Private Internet Access isn’t a name UK internet users commonly hear in the world of VPNs, but this platform is worth a closer look. Private Internet Access offers more than 35,000 servers across 78 countries and delivers speeds up to 320 Mbps consistently.

In addition, Private Internet Access works on almost any device. Users can protect browsing on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, and even on routers. That makes it suitable for both home and office use. The app supports up to 10 simultaneous connections.

Pros:

• Strict no-logging policy
• Open-source VPN code
• WireGuard encryption protocol
• Consistent browsing speeds

Cons:

• Doesn’t connect automatically
• Must sign up for 3 years to get best price

4. Surfshark One — Best Value VPN UK

Surfshark is a popular VPN available at affordable prices. The service enhanced its offer by adding an antivirus, a search engine, and an alert system for data leaks, creating an all-in-one package called Surfshark One. The VPN features more than 3,200 servers and covers 94 countries worldwide, making it one of the best-distributed VPN services. All in all, it offers superb global coverage and availability at £1.79 for a 24-month payment. If you compare the overall quality and the price, you’ll notice that Surfshark has one of the best price/quality ratios out of all featured VPNs, which is the main reason it made our best VPN UK of 2022 list.

Pros:

• Multi-hop connection
• Availability on many platforms
• Smooth streaming of geo-blocked content
• Best price/quality ratio
• Plenty of extra features

Cons:

• Insufficient social media presence
• Sub-par customer service

5. UltraVPN — Small but Reliable VPN Service

UltraVPN is a secure VPN for Android, iPhone and other devices featuring all the necessary options, including OpenVPN, AES-256, and kill-switch. It has servers in 55 countries and can take up to six connections simultaneously. The popular service is much smaller compared to industry leaders, such as NordVPN. This is mainly seen in its number of servers, which is around 100. The platform is marketed as fast, and it’s definitely not slow, but its range is about 200 Mbps, which is still slower than NordVPN. Despite that, it’s pretty great and deserves to be on our list of the best VPN UK of 2022.

All prices for UltraVPN are displayed in euros, and the 24-month offer is €2.65, which means the service is slightly more affordable than NordVPN, but it’s not a free UK VPN. 

Pros:

• Military-grade encryption
• Up to six concurrent connections
• Affordability
• Intuitive user interface
• Kill switch

Cons:

• Mobile app needs improvement
• Speed could be improved
• Free trial is available, but credit card info is required

6. Proton VPN — Top-Notch Security UK VPN Ideal for Streaming

Proton VPN is the sister project to ProtonMail, a popular email tool used around the globe and created by CERN scientists using excellent security and encryption technologies. Therefore, it’s safe to say that Proton VPN offers users superb security and is a decent virtual private network service.

There’s a VPN UK free version of Proton, meaning you can use the popular service without having to pay a single penny for it. It made it to our best VPN UK of 2022 list because it offers the best free service, in addition to having great paid plans.

We were pleasantly surprised with Proton VPN’s ability to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.

Pros:

• Great free plan
• Low-cost paid plans
• Plenty of privacy tools
• Great speed score
• Superb security

Cons:

• No public audit for Proton’s infrastructure

7. StrongVPN — VPN With a Long and Successful History

StrongVPN has been available since 1995, and it’s safe to say that it’s a “hipster” among VPNs, as it offers connections to places often ignored by other virtual private network services. But that’s just one of the many features that make StrongVPN worthy of our list. 

In addition to excellent server distribution, the service also provides cutting-edge VPN technology, frequently making updates to improve the offer. The main thing that makes it stand out from the pack is its capacity to accept up to 12 devices simultaneously, which is twice as much as most VPNs.

StrongVPN’s price starts at £2.78 for the first annual subscription and then increases to £5.17 a month.

Pros:

• Fantastic server distribution
• Frequent VPN technology updates
• Great speed
• Up to 12 devices at a time

Cons:

• Somewhat outdated interface
• Not enough privacy tools
• Not the best price/quality ratio

8. ExpressVPN — Great VPN for Newcomers

Express VPN UK is considered the best service in the industry by many VPN users. However, such excellent service comes at a price, as Express is also one of the most expensive options. Unlike other providers, which offer a 24-month price, the most you can buy at once at ExpressVPN is 12 months, at the cost of £5.59, which is almost twice as much compared to most services featured in this article. 

The platform offers 2,000+ server locations in 94 countries and excellent user security. In addition, you’ll find other high-end features, including ad-blocking, split tunneling, and more.

Pros:

• Compatibility with a wide array of platforms and services
• Strong security and encryption
• Unrestricted, fast, and reliable P2P traffic
• Compatibility with Apple TV and many game consoles

Cons:

• It is very expensive
• You can use only three devices simultaneously
• It does not offer specialized servers

9. IPVanish — Fast, Affordable, and Reliable VPN

IPVanish was founded in 2012 in Orlando, Florida. Even though it’s marketed as the most secure and affordable, we aren’t convinced, as we’ve come across cheaper options. Still, IPVanish is an excellent VPN service, as it features over 2,000 individual servers distributed in 75 countries, offering users access to 40,000+ unique IPs at all times. When you analyze those numbers, you’ll notice that they’re pretty impressive compared to other VPNs on this page. Most importantly, IPVanish doesn’t have an upper limit on how many devices can be connected to the VPN simultaneously.

Pros:

• Superb encryption
• No upper limit to simultaneous connections
• Great speed
• Kill switch, split tunneling, and other essential features

Cons:

• Some servers don’t work with streaming services, such as Netflix
• Slower on Windows than Mac

10. ZenMate — Great Free VPN UK

ZenMate likes to keep things straightforward, which is why it’s considered a beginner-friendly VPN available at affordable prices. In addition to decent security, ZenMate is excellent for anyone who wants to override geo-location blocking for streaming services or engage in P2P file sharing.

ZenMate offers an impressive 4,200 servers distributed in 80 different countries. It has a free version and excellent levels of security and privacy. If you upgrade to a paid version, you’ll get additional features, such as optimized streaming services, personal support, smart locations, and more. In addition, the free version only covers four countries, compared to the 81 included in paid plans.

Pros:

• Great security and privacy
• Smooth streaming on most popular platforms
• Affordable monthly subscription
• Great server distribution

Cons:

• Firestick app is not available
• IKEv2 is the only available protocol on Mac and iOS
• Privacy policy language is somewhat vague

11. Atlas VPN — Decent Free VPN

Atlas VPN is described as a freemium option, and it’s an easy-to-use service with plenty of positive reviews from users and professionals. You can use the free version without entering any payment details and with no time limits. If you haven’t used a VPN before, perhaps Atlas VPN is the best service to start with due to its simplicity. Even if you decide to pay for Atlas, you’ll still receive good value, as Atlas is one of the best UK VPN services.   

The service offers around 750 servers distributed in 34 countries, which is a decent selection. Moreover, there is no limit to how many devices you can connect simultaneously to Atlas VPN.

Pros:

• No need to enter payment details for the free version
• Compatibility with plenty of streaming sites
• Availability in China
• P2P traffic on all servers
• Excellent value

Cons:

• Apps lack advanced customization
• Could use more servers
• Streaming not working well for the free version

Best UK VPN Services: Comparison

What Is a VPN?

VPN is an abbreviation for a Virtual Private Network. Technically speaking, a VPN service hides your IP address — the address you’re using to browse the web — and redirects it through a remote server operated by a VPN host.

Every IP may seem like a random combination of numbers, but it actually reveals a lot about you. If you type “my IP” in Google, you’ll see that websites can read your region, country, and internet service provider. That way, websites can access your geographical location and read your information. VPN solves that problem by masking your actual location.  

How Does a VPN Work?

VPN services feature private servers all around the globe. When you connect to a VPN, your IP address is routed via one of those servers, masking the IP. Therefore, when data transmission happens on the web, it takes place via a VPN rather than your device. You can think of a VPN as an intermediary between you and the internet.

Each VPN has private servers in many countries and will let you connect to whichever country the service offers. For example, if you want to use a website available in the US but not the UK, you will have to connect to a US VPN via your VPN provider. 

Do You Need a VPN in the UK?

The short answer is yes if you value your privacy on the web. You need a VPN. As mentioned in the introductory part of this guide, the UK government does not like people running loose on the web, which is why the Investigatory Powers Act was passed in 2016. Nicknamed Snoopers’ Charter, this legislation allows the authorities to collect info about our every step on the internet. Because of that, private companies are ordered to store our information online and disclose it to the authorities upon request. Essentially, the Act gives the authorities the power to access your emails, texts, internet browsing history, location data, and more. 

Companies storing private data isn’t always a good idea, as we’ve all seen what happens if big companies share that data to assist political campaigns, as Cambridge Analytica did in the last decade. We became aware of this after the company’s former employee, Christopher Wylie, decided to go public about this issue. This is no laughing matter, and it’s only natural to want to protect your privacy after such scandals. You can prevent all of that by using a VPN.

Once again, using a VPN in the UK is always a good idea if you want to ensure nobody is sniffing around your digital whereabouts. In the following section, we’ll explain other reasons why having a VPN in the UK is helpful.

Why Use a VPN in the UK?

Even though privacy is the main reason to consider using a UK VPN, it’s not the only one.

Geo-location blocking is one of the main issues for many UK residents who live abroad and want to access content only available in their homeland. For instance, if you’re a fan of BBC iPlayer, you won’t be able to access it abroad, but if you turn on a UK VPN, you’ll have no trouble enjoying iPlayer, no matter where you are. It also works the other way around, as many websites aren’t available in the UK, and you can access them by using a VPN with a server in the country where the desired content is available.

Also, did you know that many websites change prices based on where you are? For example, airlines will offer different deals for the same flight if you’re accessing it from the UK vs. another country. In that case, you can perhaps save up on plane tickets by using the right VPN.

How to Use a VPN in the UK?

Every VPN has a unique interface, but it all comes down to several simple steps. We decided to use CyberGhost VPN to guide you through the entire process. However, using any VPN will be similar.

1. Pick a UK VPN provider and choose a subscription plan 

In this case, we’ll assume you picked CyberGhost VPN, as many consider it one of the best VPNs UK. The first step includes choosing a suitable pricing plan for you and becoming a registered member.

2. Download the VPN app 

Download the CyberGhost VPN software. This step might be somewhat different depending on your device, as some VPNs are available as Google Chrome extensions, mobile apps, and more. However, if you have experience downloading apps and installing extensions, you won’t have any trouble with CyberGhost VPN.

3. Sign up and start using the VPN

If you have already registered, you just need to log in to your CyberGhost VPN account and select a country you want to connect to. The screenshot below shows you how to do it if you install the desktop app, but the process is similar for all devices.

Free VPN UK and Cheapest VPN UK

Our team decided to find the best free VPN UK, with the winner being Atlas VPN. Atlas isn’t the best VPN out there, but it’s one of the few to offer its services for free without any time limits. Therefore, you can download it, install it, and start using it in minutes. Of course, the service offers a paid plan which costs £2.42 if paid one year in advance. Therefore, it’s safe to say it’s also one of the cheapest VPNs in the UK.   

Are there any VPNs with Free Trial in the UK?

Technically speaking, every listed service offers a VPN free trial UK for approximately 30 days, thanks to their respective money-back guarantee policies. Therefore, the three best free trial VPNs are:

1. CyberGhost VPN — 45-day money-back guarantee policy
2. NordVPN — 30-day money-back guarantee policy
3. UltraVPN — 30-day money-back guarantee policy

What Is the Fastest VPN UK?

It’s safe to say that CyberGhost VPN is one of the best VPNs UK for speed, as its recorded speed is 853 Mbps, which is much faster compared to other services described in this article. 

Best VPN for Firestick UK

Using a VPN with Firestick can help you access content unavailable in the UK. The best VPN for Firestick UK is NordVPN. Although many VPNs are compatible, Nord is widely regarded as one of the best in business.

If you’re looking for a good free VPN for Firestick UK, you should give Atlas VPN a chance.

Do I Need a VPN Router to Use a VPN in the UK?

Anyone who owns a VPN router UK can access a virtual private network without installing a browser extension or an app. A VPN router is just like a regular internet router, except a VPN is installed on it, and all devices connected to it will use the services of a virtual private network. If you want to have one, make sure to research the best VPN router UK before buying one.

That said, you don’t need to buy it if you want to use a VPN on just a single device. For example, if you need a VPN for your phone, you can just install the app from one of the offered VPN services and start using it immediately.

Can I Watch American Television with a UK VPN?

Yes! You can watch American television with a UK VPN  and get access to many American TV streaming services.

One of the most popular questions from UK customers is “can I watch HBO Max with a UK VPN?” The answer is yes – almost every service listed in this guide can work as a HBO Max UK VPN, meaning you can watch HBO content if you’re outside the country and turn on the virtual private network with a UK IP address. Moreover, you can watch HBO Max content unavailable in the UK if you set your VPN to other countries, such as the US.

The ultimate VPN for streaming US TV from the UK is Nord VPN which has plenty of US servers and gives you access to popular US TV streaming services such as HBO max and every American TV show you can think of from the comfort of your own home in the UK. Nord VPN’s Smartplay feature also enables you to view US TV shows even on devices that do not support VPNs.

SurfShark VPN is also a fantastic UK VPN for watching US television, which will give you unlimited access to Netflix US, Disney+, Sling TV, Hulu, and much more.

Both VPNs offer a 30-day moneyback guarantee and prices start at an affordable $2.30 per month.

With these VPNs, you will be unlock unlimited access to US streaming services offering popular TV shows such as Euphoria, Succession, The Sopranos, Stranger Things, Inventing Anna, Ozark, The Walking Dead and watch popular sporting events such as UFC, Boxing, NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB and much more!

A VPN doesn’t just let you watch overseas shows, though. If you’re looking at how to watch Love Island UK from abroad, or any other UK show, a VPN is your best bet.

Conclusion: What Is the Best VPN UK?

Hopefully, our guide will help you find the best VPN UK of 2022 for you, improve your security and privacy, and get to see the content you could not watch due to geo-restrictions. Each featured VPN service on this page was tested by a team of professionals in the industry, and each offers top-notch service. 

Therefore, no matter which VPN from the list you pick, you won’t go wrong. However, the best VPN right now is definitely Nord VPN.

FAQs