Best VPNs for Business (2026): Speed, Security & Value

Our Top Picks at a Glance

1. NordVPN — Best overall (speed, security, and features)
2. Surfshark — Best value (unlimited devices at $1.99/mo)
3. ExpressVPN — Best for speed (Lightway protocol, 10 Gbps servers)
4. ProtonVPN — Best for privacy (Swiss-based, open-source, free tier)
5. CyberGhost — Best for streaming (11,000+ servers, dedicated streaming profiles)

Head-to-Head Comparison

Speed retained = percentage of baseline speed preserved while connected to a nearby server. Higher is better. All pricing reflects the 2-year plan billed upfront.

How We Tested

Each VPN was installed on a dedicated Windows 11 machine connected to a 1 Gbps fiber line. We tested download speed, upload speed, and latency on servers in New York, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Sydney using Ookla Speedtest. We ran DNS leak tests (dnsleaktest.com), WebRTC leak tests (browserleaks.com), and kill switch tests (disconnecting the VPN server mid-download to see if real IP was exposed). Streaming tests covered Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. We also evaluated each provider's business/team features, admin dashboards, and centralized billing options.

Why Your Business Needs a VPN in 2026

Remote work is not going away. A 2025 Gartner survey found that 73% of knowledge workers operate in a hybrid model, connecting from home networks, coffee shops, airports, and coworking spaces. Without a VPN, every unsecured Wi-Fi connection is a potential breach point. A business VPN encrypts all traffic between your employees and the internet, prevents packet sniffing on public networks, masks IP addresses to reduce targeted attacks, and enables secure access to internal resources. Beyond security, VPNs help businesses access geo-restricted services, maintain competitive research privacy, and comply with data protection regulations.

Overview

NordVPN is operated by Nord Security, a Panama-registered company (outside Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes surveillance alliances). They run 6,400+ servers across 111 countries, all running on RAM-only infrastructure (no data written to disk). Their proprietary NordLynx protocol, built on WireGuard, delivers speeds within 8% of an unencrypted connection in our tests. For business teams, NordLayer (their B2B product) adds centralized user management, dedicated IP addresses, network segmentation, and SSO integration.

Key Features

• NordLynx protocol: WireGuard-based, 92% speed retention. Fastest in our testing.
• Double VPN: Routes traffic through two servers for extra encryption (ideal for sensitive communications).
• Threat Protection Pro: Blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level.
• Meshnet: Create encrypted private tunnels between devices — useful for remote file sharing.
• Dedicated IP: Available as an add-on ($5.29/mo) for allowlisting on corporate firewalls.
• Dark Web Monitor: Scans dark web data breaches for your credentials.
• Kill switch: App-level and system-level kill switches. Both passed our tests.

Pricing

Consumer plans: Basic: $3.39/month (2-year), Plus: $3.89/month (adds Threat Protection Pro + password manager), Complete: $5.39/month (adds 1 TB encrypted cloud storage), Prime: $7.39/month (adds identity theft insurance and credit monitoring). Monthly plan: $12.99.

NordLayer (business): Lite: $7/user/month, Core: $9/user/month, Premium: $11/user/month. Includes centralized billing, SSO, activity monitoring, and dedicated account manager on Premium. Custom enterprise pricing for 100+ seats. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Verdict

NordVPN is the total package for business use. The speed is class-leading, the security infrastructure is audited and proven, and the NordLayer business tier adds enterprise-grade features like SSO, network segmentation, and centralized billing. For solo operators, the consumer Plus plan ($3.89/mo for 2 years) gives you VPN + password manager + threat protection in one subscription. For teams, NordLayer at $7/user/month is competitive with corporate VPN solutions that charge 3-5x more.

2. Surfshark — Best Value (Unlimited Devices)

Overview

Surfshark is the VPN that broke the pricing model. At $1.99/month on a 2-year plan with unlimited simultaneous connections, it is the most cost-effective way to protect an entire household or small team. Founded in 2018 (now merged with Nord Security but operating independently), Surfshark has rapidly built a network of 3,200+ servers across 100 countries. They use RAM-only servers, WireGuard protocol, and have passed an independent no-log audit by Deloitte. Their CleanWeb feature blocks ads, trackers, and malware, and their MultiHop routes traffic through two countries for extra security.

Key Features

• Unlimited device connections: Cover your laptop, phone, tablet, router, smart TV — no cap.
• CleanWeb: Ad and tracker blocker built into the VPN. Works at the DNS level.
• MultiHop: Route through two VPN servers in different countries for double encryption.
• Rotating IP: Changes your IP address periodically without disconnecting.
• NoBorders mode: Automatically detects restrictive networks and activates stealth protocols.
• Surfshark One bundle: Adds antivirus, data breach alerts, and private search for $2.49/mo.
• Kill switch and split tunneling on all platforms.

Pricing

Starter: $1.99/month (2-year, VPN + CleanWeb). One: $2.49/month (2-year, adds antivirus + breach alerts + private search). One+: $4.19/month (2-year, adds data removal from broker databases). Monthly plan: $15.45 for Starter. All 2-year plans include 3 extra months free and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Verdict

If your primary concern is cost-per-device, Surfshark is unbeatable. A single $1.99/month subscription covers your entire team with no device limit. Speed and security are both solid — 88% retention and a Deloitte audit put it in the same tier as providers charging 2-3x more. The lack of a dedicated business management tier is the only thing keeping it from the top spot. For solo operators and small teams who want VPN coverage on every device without thinking about license counts, Surfshark is the clear winner.

3. ExpressVPN — Best for Speed

Overview

ExpressVPN has been a premium VPN since 2009 and was acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021. Their proprietary Lightway protocol was designed from scratch for speed and stability, and their entire server fleet runs on 10 Gbps connections with RAM-only (TrustedServer) infrastructure. They recently introduced tiered pricing (Basic, Advanced, Pro) that brings their 2-year cost down to $3.49/month — significantly more affordable than their previous $8.32/month floor. ExpressVPN consistently ranks at the top of speed benchmarks, and their 91% retention in our testing confirms it.

Key Features

• Lightway protocol: Custom-built for speed. Establishes connections in under 1 second.
• Lightway Turbo: Even faster mode for bandwidth-heavy tasks (streaming, large downloads).
• TrustedServer (RAM-only): No data written to disk. Entire server wipes on reboot.
• 10 simultaneous connections (up from 8 in 2025).
• Threat Manager: Blocks trackers and malicious domains at the VPN level.
• Network Lock (kill switch): Prevents any traffic if the VPN drops. Tested and verified.
• Split tunneling: Route specific apps through the VPN while others go direct.

Pricing

Basic: $3.49/month (2-year, VPN only, 4 extra months free). Advanced: $4.99/month (2-year, adds password manager + identity monitoring + 3-day eSIM data). Pro: $6.67/month (2-year, adds dedicated IP + ExpressMailGuard + Identity Defender). 1-year plan: $6.67/month with 3 bonus months. Monthly: $12.99. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Verdict

ExpressVPN is the speed king. If your business depends on large file transfers, video conferencing, or streaming, the Lightway protocol delivers noticeably faster performance than competitors. The new tiered pricing ($3.49/month on 2-year Basic) removes the biggest historical objection — cost. However, it lacks a dedicated business management dashboard, which gives NordVPN the edge for teams of 5+.

4. ProtonVPN — Best for Privacy

Overview

ProtonVPN is built by the same team behind ProtonMail, the encrypted email service used by journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious businesses worldwide. Based in Switzerland (among the strongest privacy laws globally), Proton operates under Swiss jurisdiction and is not subject to EU or US data retention mandates. All their apps are open-source and have been independently audited. They also offer a genuinely functional free tier — no speed caps, no data limits, and no ads — which is unique among premium VPN providers.

Key Features

• Swiss jurisdiction: Outside Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes. Strong constitutional privacy protections.
• Open-source apps: All clients are published on GitHub and independently audited.
• Secure Core: Routes traffic through hardened servers in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden before exiting.
• NetShield ad blocker: DNS-level blocking of ads, malware, and trackers.
• Free tier with no data limits: Access to servers in 5 countries, no speed throttling, no ads.
• Tor over VPN: Built-in access to the Tor network for maximum anonymity.
• Proton ecosystem: Integrates with ProtonMail, ProtonDrive, and ProtonCalendar.

Pricing

Free: $0 (5 countries, 1 device, no speed limits or data caps). Plus: $2.99/month (2-year), $3.99/month (1-year), $9.99/month (monthly). Plus includes 10 devices, 4,800+ servers in 110+ countries, Secure Core, NetShield, and streaming/P2P support. Proton Unlimited: $7.99/month (2-year) — bundles VPN, Mail, Drive, Calendar, and Pass. Business: Starting at $6.99/user/month for VPN Essentials, with Business Suite options that include SSO, access control, and activity monitoring. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Verdict

If privacy is your non-negotiable, ProtonVPN is the only choice. Swiss jurisdiction, open-source code, independent audits, and Secure Core routing make it the most transparent and verifiable VPN on the market. The speed is adequate but not class-leading (85% retention), which is the trade-off for routing through privacy-hardened infrastructure. Businesses handling sensitive data (legal, healthcare, journalism, finance) should seriously consider ProtonVPN plus the broader Proton ecosystem.

5. CyberGhost — Best for Streaming

Overview

CyberGhost operates the largest server network on this list — over 11,000 servers across 100 countries. Founded in Romania (another privacy-friendly jurisdiction), they specialize in dedicated streaming and torrenting servers that are optimized for specific services. If your use case is primarily unblocking geo-restricted content, CyberGhost makes it dead simple with labeled servers like "Netflix US," "BBC iPlayer," and "Disney+ UK." Their 45-day money-back guarantee on long-term plans is the most generous in the industry.

Key Features

• 11,000+ servers: The largest network on this list. Servers in 100 countries.
• Dedicated streaming servers: Labeled and optimized for specific streaming platforms.
• Dedicated torrenting servers: P2P-optimized servers in privacy-friendly jurisdictions.
• NoSpy servers: Premium servers in CyberGhost's Romanian data center, managed exclusively by their team.
• 45-day money-back guarantee on 6-month and 2-year plans (14 days on monthly).
• 7 simultaneous connections.
• WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols.

Pricing

2-year plan: $2.03/month (billed at $56.94 for 2 years + 4 bonus months). 6-month plan: $6.99/month (billed at $41.94). Monthly plan: $12.99/month. All plans include access to all servers, protocols, and features. 45-day money-back guarantee on 6-month and 2-year plans. NoSpy servers, Privacy Guard, and ID Guard included on 6-month+ plans at no extra cost.

Verdict

CyberGhost is the streaming specialist. If your business needs reliable access to geo-restricted content — market research, competitive analysis, or just ensuring your team can access cloud services while traveling — CyberGhost's labeled streaming servers take the guesswork out of it. The 82% speed retention is the lowest on our list, but still adequate for HD streaming and general browsing. At $2.03/month with a 45-day guarantee, it is a low-risk option to try.

How to Choose the Right VPN for Your Business

Different businesses have different VPN priorities. Use this framework:

• Team of 5+ employees needing centralized management: NordVPN (NordLayer) — the only option with a dedicated business tier, SSO, and admin dashboard.
• Unlimited devices on a tight budget: Surfshark — one subscription covers every device your team owns.
• Maximum speed for video calls and file transfers: ExpressVPN — Lightway protocol delivers the fastest connections.
• Handling sensitive/regulated data: ProtonVPN — Swiss jurisdiction, open-source, and Secure Core routing.
• Accessing geo-restricted content for research: CyberGhost — dedicated streaming servers labeled by platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a VPN slow down my internet?

Yes, but barely. In our tests, the top-performing VPN (NordVPN) retained 92% of the baseline connection speed. On a 500 Mbps connection, that means you lose about 40 Mbps — imperceptible for virtually all business tasks. The encryption overhead is negligible with modern protocols like WireGuard and Lightway.

What does "no-log policy" actually mean?

A no-log VPN does not record your browsing history, IP address, timestamps, bandwidth usage, or DNS queries. All five providers on this list have been independently audited by third-party firms (Deloitte, KPMG, Securitum) to verify their no-log claims. An audit does not guarantee compliance forever, but it is the best verification mechanism available.

Should I use a business VPN or a consumer VPN?

Consumer VPNs (NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN) are fine for teams under 5 who just need encrypted browsing. For larger teams, a business VPN like NordLayer adds centralized user management, dedicated IPs, network segmentation, and SSO integration — features that consumer products do not offer.