Choosing a VPN in 2026 is not an easy task. Free ones are unsafe, and understanding technical specifications is difficult. Let’s break down three key criteria: security, speed, and price.
Why You Need a VPN
VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet:
- Privacy: hiding IP address from sites and ISP
- Security: data protection on public Wi-Fi
- Confidentiality: traffic encryption
- Anonymity: protection from tracking
Important: VPN doesn’t protect from viruses, phishing, and doesn’t make you completely anonymous.
Criterion 1: Security
Encryption Protocols
| Protocol | Security | Speed | Masking |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLESS+Reality | High | High | Excellent |
| WireGuard | High | Very high | Low |
| Shadowsocks | Medium | High | Good |
| OpenVPN | High | Medium | Low |
| PPTP/L2TP | Low | Medium | No |
Recommendation: VLESS+Reality - disguises traffic as regular HTTPS.
No-logs Policy
A reliable VPN doesn’t store logs of your activity. Even if servers are hacked or authorities request data - there will be no information about you.
How to verify:
- Read Privacy Policy
- Look for independent audits
- Check company jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
| Jurisdiction | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| EU (GDPR) | Strict privacy laws | ”14 Eyes” alliance |
| Panama, BVI | No obligation to disclose data | Less oversight |
Criterion 2: Speed
What It Depends On
- Your internet: VPN won’t make it faster
- Protocol: WireGuard and Hysteria2 are fastest
- Distance to server: closer = faster
- Server load: overloaded servers are slower
Speed Loss
| VPN Type | Speed Loss |
|---|---|
| Premium (WireGuard) | 5-10% |
| Premium (VLESS) | 10-15% |
| Free | 50-80% |
Why Free VPNs Are Slow
- Save on servers
- Many users per server
- Artificial limits to sell Premium
Criterion 3: Price
Why Good VPN Can’t Be Cheap
Quality service requires investment:
- Physical servers (not virtual)
- 10-gigabit channels
- Development and support team
- DDoS protection
Average Prices
| Type | Price/month | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Ads, logs, limits |
| Budget | $2-3 | Slow, few servers |
| Medium | $5-7 | Normal speed |
| Premium | $8-12 | High speed, support |
How Free VPNs Make Money
- Show ads
- Sell your data
- Limit features to push paid tier
VPN Selection Checklist
- Modern protocols (VLESS, WireGuard, Shadowsocks)
- No-logs policy
- Servers in needed countries
- Support in your language
- Convenient payment methods
- Trial period or money-back guarantee
- Positive reviews
Red Flags
Avoid VPN that:
- Promises “complete anonymity”
- Doesn’t specify jurisdiction
- Offers lifetime subscription for $30
- Requires too many permissions in app
- Doesn’t publish Privacy Policy
FAQ
Is free VPN bad?
Generally, yes. Free services either sell your data, show ads, or are heavily limited.
Can you trust reviews?
Partially. Many “VPN reviews” are ads. Better to rely on independent ratings and expert recommendations.
Which VPN is best for public WiFi?
With VLESS+Reality or Shadowsocks protocols, European servers, and local language support.
Summary
Choosing a VPN is a balance between security, speed, and price. Free solutions are usually unsafe and slow. A good VPN costs $5-10/month and provides reliable encryption, high speed, and stable operation.
Tainet uses VLESS+Reality and Hysteria2, doesn’t store logs, and offers servers in 10+ countries.
