5 Best VPNs for Beginners: Easiest VPNs to Use in 2024

VPNs are crucial for maintaining your online security and improving your privacy. However, they can easily overwhelm casual users with advanced features. Some technical aspects may confuse beginners, like choosing the right protocol or server location to connect to. Certain VPNs also have complex interfaces, which can make setting them up hard and frustrating.

To solve these challenges, you should use the best VPN for beginners. It will provide you with a user-friendly interface and let you connect in a matter of seconds. With this type of VPN, you will be able to easily install it and understand its features thanks to thorough explanations of its functions.

In this article, we'll do an overview of 5 easiest VPN providers, show you how to use a VPN for beginners, and explain how to choose an easy-to-use VPN. Finally, we will answer a bunch of FAQs.

Best VPNs for Beginners - Our Shortlist

1. NordVPN – Our #1-Rated Best VPN for Beginners
2. Surfshark – VPN for Beginners with Unlimited Connections
3. ExpressVPN – Easiest VPN to Use with Consistent Performance
4. CyberGhost VPN – User-Friendly Streaming-Optimized VPN
5. Private Internet Access – Secure and Private VPN for Casual Users

How to Use a VPN for Beginners

To use a VPN for beginners, you'll have to get a subscription and set up a user-friendly premium service on your device of choice. You can do this by following these steps: 

1. Subscribe to a beginner-friendly VPN (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Download and install the VPN app on your device. 
3. Open and log in to your VPN for beginners with your credentials.
4. Connect to one of the thousands of VPN servers at your disposal. 
5. That’s it! Now you can surf the Web securely and privately with ease.

The Best VPNs for Beginners 

To effectively identify the best VPN for beginners, we followed the list of criteria established in our guide on the best VPNs. Most importantly, you should subscribe to a user-friendly service that is compatible with most modern devices. It must offer a vast server network that has locations in many countries around the world. 

An ideal VPN will have no issues unblocking geo-restricted or censored content. It should also provide a fast connection along with consistent performance on every server you connect to. Moreover, it’s crucial for the provider to have a no-logs policy with military-grade encryption and various advanced VPN protocols. 

The VPN you choose has to allow many simultaneous connections and support numerous different devices so you can protect computers, smartphones, and more. A solid refund policy will guarantee that you can test out the VPN without taking any risk, while 24/7 customer support through live chat will provide help at any time of day.

Without further ado, we present the top 5 easiest VPNs: 

1. NordVPN – Our #1-Rated Best VPN for Beginners

NordVPN is by far the best VPN for beginners. It is very easy to use due to its simple user interface and Quick Connect button, which immediately finds you a perfectly optimized server. Speaking of which, its network spans 60 countries with 5,800+ servers. With this VPN, you can expect impressive speed and reliable performance.

This is a no-logs VPN that uses RAM-only servers, so none of your information is saved. All outgoing data is also secure thanks to AES 256-bit encryption. NordVPN offers OpenVPN, NordLynx, and IKEv2/IPsec protocols, which either prioritize speed or further improve your safety. If something goes wrong, its kill switch will prevent your identity from leaking.

NordVPN has the ability to easily unblock censored or geo-restricted content. It also has a SmartPlay feature, which allows you to unblock geo-restricted content on devices that don't support VPNs. This VPN is available on nearly every modern device, including smartphones, PCs, tablets, and routers. There's a browser extension as well.

Supporting up to 6 simultaneous connections, NordVPN should be able to protect all your devices. For any questions, you can contact its 24/7 live chat support. Lastly, you can test it without fully committing, thanks to its 30-day refund policy.

2. Surfshark – VPN for Beginners with Unlimited Connections

Surfshark is an affordable VPN for beginners. Its simple layout and the ability to connect to a server with just one click make it undeniably user-friendly. It has a network of 3,200+ servers located in 100 countries that provide stable performance and super-fast speeds. This makes it ideal for streaming or even just browsing the Web.

This easy-to-use VPN follows a strict no-logs policy, so your privacy is preserved. It uses AES 256-bit encryption to obscure your outgoing data and a kill switch to further beef up your security. Surfshark also employs multiple VPN protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. 

Surfshark is available on routers, tablets, browsers, computers, smartphones, and similar modern platforms. It has excellent unblocking capabilities, so you will be able to access geo-restricted and censored content. With it, you can make unlimited simultaneous connections, so it's easy to protect all the devices you own.

If any issues arise, you can get in contact with Surfshark's 24/7 live chat service. There are also many useful guides on its website to help you set things up. Finally, since there’s a 30-day refund policy in place, you can use your first month to thoroughly test it and see if it suits your needs.

3. ExpressVPN – Easiest VPN to Use with Consistent Performance

ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for the easiest VPN to use on the market. It has a user-friendly interface that allows you to connect with a single click. With this provider, you'll get access to 3,000+ servers located in 105 countries. All of them deliver dependable performance with ultra-fast connections.

ExpressVPN adheres to a no-logs policy and uses AES 256-bit encryption to take care of both your security and privacy. For additional safety, you should also use a kill switch, along with WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leak protection. The provider utilizes many advanced protocols, such as Lightway, L2TP/IPsec, IKEv2, and OpenVPN.

This VPN for beginners is also great at unblocking geo-restricted and censored content, and its servers are optimized for streaming. Thanks to MediaStreamer, you can also use ExpressVPN on devices that don’t support VPNs. However, such unsupported devices are rare, as its app is compatible with everything from smartphones and tablets to computers and routers.

ExpressVPN lets you make 8 simultaneous connections and has a 24/7 live chat service, which can be very helpful for beginners. Ultimately, if you’ve subscribed to the service but changed your mind, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day refund period.

4. CyberGhost VPN – User-Friendly Streaming-Optimized VPN

CyberGhost is another affordable and easy-to-use VPN. It has an intuitive user interface that contains clear descriptions of every feature and even advises you when to use them. It offers an expansive server network, with over 10,000 servers located in 100 countries. You can expect consistent performance with average speeds.

This VPN strictly adheres to a no-logs policy, so none of your private info is stored on any of its servers. Your outgoing data will be scrambled with AES 256-bit encryption, which means that no one will be able to decipher it. Plus, CyberGhost offers multiple VPN protocols (WireGuard, IKEv2/IPsec, and OpenVPN) and allows up to 7 simultaneous connections.

CyberGhost is available on almost every device, including tablets, computers, routers, and smartphones. It has solid unblocking capabilities, so you can use it to open censored or geo-restricted content, including streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+.

Even better, this VPN offers a 45-day refund policy, which is 2 weeks longer than every other provider we've mentioned. CyberGhost also has 24/7 live chat support, so you can always expect to get help.

5. Private Internet Access – Secure and Private VPN for Casual Users

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a perfect VPN for casual users for many reasons. It is user-friendly, as all the features are logically laid out and clearly explained. With the largest network on the market of thousands of servers in 84 countries, it’s easy to find an ideal server in seconds. While it has reliable performance, this is the slowest VPN in our guide.

Security-wise, PIA is impressive. It's a no-logs VPN with AES 256-bit encryption, so your outgoing data will be obscured from third parties. You’ll also get a kill switch and advanced protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec). There's split tunneling as well, so you can manage what apps use VPN traffic, which can optimize PIA’s performance.

This VPN easily unblocks geo-restricted or censored content, including websites and streaming platforms. PIA is available on many devices, including computers, smartphones, tablets, and routers. You can use it to make unlimited simultaneous connections, conveniently protecting every platform in your network.

If you're experiencing any difficulties, you can contact PIA's 24/7 customer service through live chat. Lastly, you'll also get a 30-day refund guarantee, so you can get your money back if PIA doesn't live up to your expectations. 

How to Choose the Best VPN for Beginners?

To choose the best VPN for beginners, look for a service that caters to casual users without sacrificing important security features. It should cover all these criteria: 

• Ease of Use – Choose a VPN with a user-friendly interface that lets you connect with just a few clicks. Ideally, it will have a wizard that thoroughly explains all its features, too.
• Server Network Size – A VPN with tons of servers in different locations will maximize your chances of getting a reliable and fast connection, no matter where you are. 
• Ability to Access Geo-Blocked Content – A premium VPN can quickly bypass censorship and lift geo-restrictions, allowing users to access content from anywhere. This should be equally effective on websites and streaming services.
• Privacy – Prioritize a VPN that has a strict no-logs policy, which means it won't store data on user activity. 
• Security – Look for security features like a kill switch, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, and AES encryption. When combined, they will shield you from hackers, preventing your identity from ending up online.
• Performance and Speed – A top VPN must offer consistent performance and fast connections on both remote and nearby servers. This will guarantee that you can use it for streaming, torrenting, or even gaming.
• Simultaneous Connections and Supported Devices – The best easy-to-use VPN will allow you to hold many connections at the same time, enabling you to protect all your devices with a single subscription. It should be compatible with every popular platform, including computers, smartphones, routers, and tablets.
• Money-Back Guarantees – Pick a VPN that offers a generous refund policy. This will give you the chance to fully test a service and get your money back if it doesn't meet your expectations.
• Customer Support – Look for a provider with 24/7 live chat support, as this is the fastest means of communication that will allow them to quickly solve your problems.

Final Thoughts 

Premium VPNs can easily overwhelm new users with complex setup processes. Not to mention the sheer number of features and protocols you’ll get to choose from. That's why it is best to look for the easiest VPN to use that explains all the options you'll have at your disposal.

We recommend NordVPN as the best VPN for beginners. Aside from being very easy to use, it will also provide you with security and privacy, as it follows a no-logs policy and has elite AES 256-bit encryption. Plus, it has thousands of fast-paced and reliable servers and is available on most modern devices.

And that wraps up everything you need to know about choosing the best VPN for beginners. If you have any remaining questions, leave a comment below. Thanks for reading!