The internet gives you instant access to information, but it can also expose your personal information to cybercriminals if your internet connection is not protected. One way to protect yourself while browsing is through a virtual private network. A VPN gives you online anonymity by masking your IP address and encrypting your internet traffic.

There are many reasons to use a VPN, but keeping your personal information private while online is one of the most important. You can also use a VPN to unblock geo-restrictions, secure your network and data, circumvent censorship, and more.

There are many VPN services available to help improve your internet usage. We’ve compiled a list of VPN benefits as well as the best VPNs for each use case.

What are VPNs used for?

A VPN allows you to connect to a server somewhere else in the world, masking your IP address and location while you’re connected to the internet. VPNs create an encrypted tunnel for your internet activity so that no one can track you online.

When connecting to a VPN, you can select a server in a specific location so long as it’s available within that VPN’s server network. For example, if you want to check out the Netflix library in Canada, you can connect to a server in that country. Your IP address will appear as though you’re in Canada, which should allow you to bypass any geo-restrictions.

VPNs also hide your internet activity from websites and your internet service provider (ISP). This lets you browse anonymously so you can limit unwanted ads and tracking as well as combat bandwidth limits.

7 advantages of using a VPN

There are several benefits of using a VPN. A significant one is to protect your online activity and personal information through a VPN’s encryption. Using a VPN can also allow you to bypass geo-restrictions, avoid censorship, improve your gaming experience, and even get you better deals when shopping. Let’s look at seven benefits of using a VPN.

Protect your privacy

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On NordVPN's website

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NordVPN

• High-quality VPN offering safety and speed
• Loads of servers for multiple connection options
• Works with popular streaming services, including Netflix
• Too many confusing plans

One of the biggest benefits of a VPN is online privacy. Logging in to a VPN encrypts your traffic so that all of your internet activity is hidden while you’re connected.

This can be especially important if you’re using a public Wi-Fi network or handling sensitive information that you wouldn’t want vulnerable to cyberattacks. A VPN is also useful if you want to remain anonymous online to avoid retargeting ads and trackers.

Just because you’re logged in to a VPN doesn’t mean all your online activities are hidden though. Your ISP may be able to be seen when you are connected to the VPN and for how long you’re there. Most VPNs describe how they’ll track your VPN usage in their privacy policy, so it’s best to research exactly what the company plans to track.

Websites may also be able to track you if you’re already signed in to your account with them. For instance, if you have an active VPN connection while signing in to your Google account, Google will be able to see your internet activity inside of their search engine. You can avoid this by using a more private internet browser or making sure you’re signed out of all of your accounts.

If your online privacy is important to you, you should consider a VPN with a strict no-logs policy. That way, you can have peace of mind that no user data is being collected by your provider.

Secure your network and data

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On ExpressVPN's website

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ExpressVPN

• Premium VPN offering strong security and ultra-fast speeds
• Strict no-logs policy with independent audit
• In-house Lightway protocol for more speed and security
• More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost

When you want to protect your network or information, a VPN is a great resource. When connecting to a VPN, you hide your actual IP address, which limits exposure to your network. For instance, many companies require employees to use a VPN when accessing sensitive information on a business network.

VPNs can also protect your home network by hiding your IP address. Even if you’re using a private Wi-Fi network, you may still want to use a VPN to mask your IP address and protect the network.

Avoid ISP throttling

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On ExpressVPN's website

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ExpressVPN

• Premium VPN offering strong security and ultra-fast speeds
• Strict no-logs policy with independent audit
• In-house Lightway protocol for more speed and security
• More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost

If your ISP limits the amount of data you can use, a VPN can help you avoid any throttling. Throttling happens when your internet service provider slows your speeds because of high network usage or data caps. When connecting to a VPN, your IP address is kept private from your ISP, so it won’t know the content you’re accessing. This can be beneficial if you’re streaming or gaming.

If your ISP is throttling your connection, a VPN can help you avoid slower speeds by hiding your traffic. However, your ISP might slow down everyone’s connection because of high traffic, and in that case, a VPN will not have an effect on your speeds.

Bypass censorship

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On NordVPN's website

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NordVPN

• High-quality VPN offering safety and speed
• Loads of servers for multiple connection options
• Works with popular streaming services, including Netflix
• Too many confusing plans

A VPN can help you circumvent government or other forms of censorship. Censorship could be something small, like a company limiting access to social media sites, or it could be something more critical, like a country restricting access to information from journalists. In either case, a VPN may allow you to avoid censorship by masking your IP address.

However, if the VPN is disconnected, your internet activity may be exposed. Finding a VPN with a kill switch function can help if you’re unexpectedly disconnected. A kill switch will disable your internet connection if the VPN becomes disconnected.

Access geo-blocked content

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On CyberGhost's website

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CyberGhost

• Cheaper than ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark
• Optimized servers for regional streaming
• No split tunneling feature

One great use for a VPN is accessing geo-blocked content from streaming services. If you’re traveling outside the country and missing your favorite shows, you can use a VPN to change your location so you can access your home country’s streaming library.

You can also use a VPN to access content from other countries. Streaming services like Netflix have different libraries in different countries, and some streaming services might not be available in the U.S. at all, like BBC iPlayer. Maybe you want to watch a show that is only available in the United Kingdom’s Netflix library, or you heard about a movie that was released in Japan. You can use a VPN to connect to a server in one of those locations and access those geo-restricted titles.

Enhance online gaming

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On NordVPN's website

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NordVPN

• High-quality VPN offering safety and speed
• Loads of servers for multiple connection options
• Works with popular streaming services, including Netflix
• Too many confusing plans

Gamers can also benefit from using a VPN. It can help you avoid any bandwidth throttling from your ISP, so you can keep playing at optimal speeds. A VPN can also protect your home network from hackers. Many of the best VPNs for gaming come with compatibility for gaming consoles or routers, so you can protect your entire network.

A VPN can protect you from unwanted attacks such as swatting or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks too. Swatting is an online harassment approach where hackers use your IP address to find your personal information and, oftentimes, call emergency services for fake reasons. A DDoS attack is when someone makes repeated requests to your ISP, ultimately blocking the website from performing.

You may also be able to access geo-restricted games or new releases early with a VPN.

Improve your online shopping experience

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On Surfshark's website

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Surfshark

• VPN technology offering stability and speed
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Works with Netflix and other streaming services
• Headquarters in Nine Eyes Alliance

While online shopping brings many conveniences, it feels like companies track your every move to sell more and bombard you with retargeting ads. A VPN is a great way to get around dealing with those kinds of online marketing tactics.

Companies also give different pricing to consumers depending on how often you look at their site. If using a VPN, you’ll appear as a new shopper every time, which could get you better pricing or new promotions.

Using a VPN while shopping on public Wi-Fi will also give you added security when going through the checkout process. Typing your credit card information on an unsecured network could expose you to cyberthreats. With a VPN, you can shop safely wherever you are.

Cons of using a VPN

While VPNs have many different and valuable use cases, there can be some downsides to using one as well. You’ll gain added security while using a VPN, but that doesn’t mean you can stop being vigilant in protecting yourself online. It’s still possible to be affected by malware when connected to a VPN.

Connecting to a VPN uses data to connect you to a server, which can also slow down speeds. If you’re looking to use a VPN and are worried about your data usage or you can’t sacrifice a little bit of speed, you may not want to use a VPN unless absolutely necessary. Alternatively, you could use your VPN’s split tunneling feature so you don’t send all your data through the VPN server, which could help improve speeds.

You should also be aware that using a VPN is illegal in some countries, and other countries may limit VPN usage. Many countries that limit VPN usage require that the VPN keep logs of user activity, undermining the security a VPN can provide.

In most cases, VPNs are legal, except for a few countries. VPNs are banned or limited in the following countries:

• Belarus
• Russia
• China
• Iraq
• Turkmenistan
• North Korea
• Oman
• Egypt
• Uganda

FAQs on reasons to use a VPN

Bottom line

There are many reasons why you may want to use a VPN, so it is important that you find a VPN provider that works well for your needs. You may be looking to encrypt your internet activity for sensitive information, access geo-restricted content, avoid government censorship, or keep your network and data safe.

For many of the use cases, we recommended NordVPN because of its comprehensive security features for an affordable price. To learn more about this VPN service, you can read our NordVPN review.

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Limited-time offer: 69% off + 3 extra months

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On NordVPN's website

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NordVPN

• High-quality VPN offering safety and speed
• Loads of servers for multiple connection options
• Works with popular streaming services, including Netflix
• Too many confusing plans

Author Details

Andrew Adams

About the Author

Andrew Strom Adams is a freelance writer focused on online privacy and digital security. He writes on various topics to help individuals protect themselves on the internet. Andrew has worked in legal marketing, technology, and startups. He has more than 12 years of experience in marketing and communications. He holds an M.B.A. from Westminster College and a B.A. in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist University. When he’s not writing, he’s playing with his two kids or watching reality TV.