Internet censorship happens to all of us. And unfortunately, not all such bans are legitimate or intentional. However, a normal user often gets caught in such safety nets, originally created to fight against online fraud or impose censorship. For instance, China is notorious for blocking access to websites like Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Google, YouTube, etc., even to international travelers. Similarly, you might be in an organization that censors the internet for its members. VPNs exist to assist in these annoying situations. And while most users turn to a VPN for streaming geo-locked content, getting through firewalls is the general agenda for every such subscriber. Notably, no single VPN works perfectly with all blocks every time as the censorship protocols also evolve. The savior in such situations is the money-back guarantee. As all such VPNs claim to unblock certain services and websites, one should ask for specific servers if facing any issues. Consequently, you can claim a refund if the advertised unblocking isn’t working. To make this process easier, we’ll try to directly link the related page where you can check the unblocking claims to see if it suits your use case.
VPN Features
This section mentions some common sets of attributes every top-notch VPN service is expected for the sake of avoiding their repetition. A few of them are:
AES-256 bit encryption Strict No-logs policy Kill Switch DNS leak protection Unlimited bandwidth Money-back guarantee
And we will flag right away if anyone on this list skips on these essentials. Let’s start with the first one.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the most expensive VPN on this list but worth every penny for bypassing firewalls. The strong point of ExpressVPN is the blazing fast speeds while being an efficient unblocker. Besides, servers in 90+ countries give ample coverage to most users. Another great thing is the presence of native applications for major platforms. Some of the devices/operating systems ExpressVPN works with are Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, WiFi routers, Chromebooks, Kindles, Smart TVs, PlayStation, Xbox, etc. With a never-ending list of unblocked websites/services, ExpressVPN truly helps in going international about the internet. No. of devices per subscription: Five
NordVPN
NordVPN is another handy option with 5000+ worldwide servers in 50+ countries. Straightaway, the advertised list of unblocked websites is short, yet this is a comparatively very economical VPN to start with. Device support is excellent and works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, gaming consoles, Kindles, Chromecast, Chromebooks, etc. A few mention-worthy features include obfuscated servers and double VPN. Server obfuscation hides the very fact that a user is using a VPN service and double VPN (aka multi-hop) routes the traffic through two VPN servers. What makes NordVPN stand out is a cross-platform password manager and 1TB encrypted cloud storage that you can get along with the vanilla VPN subscription. However, one can still opt for just the VPN for a yet cheaper price tag. No. of devices per subscription: Six
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is my personal favorite and is widely known for its security-oriented features. First, all its applications are open-source and independently audited, with the results open to the public. Next, this is the only one of the rare top-shelf VPNs with an entirely free forever subscription that is as secure as its paid plans. Besides, it also offers a double VPN and has recently launched server obfuscation. Founded by MIT and CERN scientists, Proton is not just about VPN, but they have a privacy-friendly Drive, Mail, and Calendar, offering 360-degree anonymity. Besides, the endless features and beautiful interface makes anyone fall in love with this robust VPN service. And though its strongest feat is privacy, it is equally good in unblocking websites. ProtonVPN works with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Chromebook, Android TV, WiFi routers, etc. No. of devices per subscription: Ten
Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield joins ProtonVPN in providing a limited-powered, free forever plan offering privacy to all. What’s additional is a 7-day free premium trial allowing you to check if it works for the intended website or service. Another unique feature is the 45-day money-back guarantee which is significantly more than the industry average of thirty days. Hotspot Shield is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Smart TV, routers, etc. While the server count (800+ in 35+ cities) isn’t the strong suit of this VPN service, the free trial should settle all doubts before moving to the paid plans. No. of devices per subscription: Ten, 25 for a premium family plan
CyberGhost VPN
With 7900+ servers in 100+ locations, CyberGhost is another VPN service that can be your gateway to the internet without boundaries. Loaded with handy features, CyberGhost also offers a free premium trial with all its goodness. In addition, it comes with a huge 45-day money-back guarantee. Similarly, device support is extensive with native apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, routers, etc. No. of devices per subscription: Seven
Surfshark
Surfshark started with its ultra-affordable VPN service and now also offers an antivirus, ad-free search engine, and data breach alerts to its users. The headline feature of this front-runner VPN service is server obfuscation. Besides, you can enjoy multi-hop connections using two VPN servers for better privacy. Overall, this is something I will rate second only to Proton VPN as there isn’t any free tier. And based on my personal experience, I highly recommend them for unblocking websites. Surfshark VPN is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Chromebooks, Smart TVs, routers, gaming consoles, etc. This also comes with a seven-day free trial for Android, iOS, and Mac. No. of devices per subscription: Unlimited!
FastestVPN
FastestVPN has a 7-day trial for a minuscule $0.99. Besides, every subscription is coupled with a 2TB Internxt cloud storage and password manager. FastestVPN has servers in 35+ countries covering 50+ locations. Despite being a relatively new entrant, device support is great with applications for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, routers, firestick, etc. Notably, the money-back guarantee is valid for just 15 days. As indicated by the name, the highlight feature of this service is speed. However, that’s relative to the user and fluctuates with many factors, irrespective of the VPN service. In such a case, the only option is to try out the trial and see your location and intended website. No. of devices per subscription: Ten
Unblock websites with a VPN
Most VPNs promise to bypass firewalls. Still, it’s best to contact customer support before paying for the subscription as only the yearly plans are discounted. Regardless, there are cash backs if anything goes wrong. But opting for any VPN is confusing since there are many options. Fret not! We have curated this list of VPN features to look for before paying. Stay safe. Stay private!
