> At a Glance
> – ExpressVPN keeps its 9.0/10 crown after August retests, but pricing overhaul draws mixed reviews
> – Surfshark jumps to 8.6/10 after adding FastTrack and Everlink features
> – NordVPN stays fastest at 3% speed loss, yet renewal hikes hit $140/year
> – Why it matters: Price and performance gaps are narrowing, giving users more leverage when picking privacy tools
The battle for best VPN tightened this month as CNET’s fresh benchmarks left the top three contenders within half a point of each other. ExpressVPN remains first, yet its new subscription tiers and rival upgrades show the field is rapidly shifting.
Top Three Standings After August Retest
ExpressVPN again earns the Editors’ Choice badge. Its apps stay beginner-friendly, server speeds hit 18% loss, and it now covers all 50 U.S. states for sports blackouts. The catch: a stripped-down Basic plan costs $13 monthly, $75 for year one, then renews at $99 annually.
NordVPN keeps its speed crown, dropping only 3% in tests. It added Android scam-call protection and touts 8,000-plus servers in 126 countries. Intro prices of $60 for one year or $83 for two look tempting until auto-renewal leaps to $140 per year.
Surfshark closes the gap, raising its score to 8.6/10. New FastTrack routing and Everlink self-healing tunnels justify recent price bumps, while unlimited connections remain. Cost sits at $48 for the first year, renewing at $79-still well under the big two.
Best Value Alternatives
Proton VPN delivers the only free tier worth using. Paid plans run $60 yearly (renewing at $80) and include Stealth protocol, Secure Core multi-hop, and access to 15,300 servers in 126 countries. Average speed loss: 16%.
Mullvad keeps its privacy-first approach: no email required, €5 (about $6) flat per month with no hikes, open-source apps, and post-quantum protections. Speed loss hit 24% this cycle, and streaming support remains limited to Netflix and Max.
| Provider | Intro 1-Year Price | Renewal | Speed Loss | Simultaneous Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | $75 | $99 | 18% | 10 |
| NordVPN | $60 | $140 | 3% | 10 |
| Surfshark | $48 | $79 | 21% | Unlimited |
| Proton VPN | $60 | $80 | 16% | 10 |
| Mullvad | $72 (12 mo) | $72 | 24% | 5 |
Key Takeaways
- ExpressVPN still leads overall but charges a premium for its Basic tier
- NordVPN is fastest yet imposes the steepest renewal hikes
- Surfshark offers near-flagship features for far less, with unlimited connections
- Proton VPN remains the best free and cheap upgrade path
- Mullvad wins on privacy transparency but lags in streaming breadth
Shoppers now face tighter scores and closer pricing, making trial periods and money-back guarantees more valuable than ever.
