Updated on: September 6, 2023
Short on time? Here’s the best no-logs VPN in 2023:
- 🥇 ExpressVPN: Has a strict no-logs policy that only collects basic data not harmful to your privacy and that’s been audited several times. It’s also based in a privacy-friendly country and has industry-leading security features, excellent streaming and P2P support, the fastest speeds out there, and affordable plans that are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
I tested the top VPNs on the market to see which ones provide the best no-logs policies. After all, using a VPN that logs what you do online or where you’re from defeats the purpose of using a VPN service in the first place.
Unfortunately, I found that many VPNs have vague or difficult-to-understand privacy policies that don’t make it clear what data they log. Meanwhile, some providers don’t log your internet traffic or the files you download, but they keep logs of your IP address, which is still terrible for your privacy.
The good news is that all the VPNs in this article have straightforward privacy policies that make it 100% clear they don’t log any user data — but they also back up these claims in other ways. Many of these providers (including my top choice, ExpressVPN) have no-logs policies that have also been verified either through independent audits, server seizures, or court documents. Some of the VPNs also publish transparency reports or have open-source apps.
Quick summary of the best no-logs VPNs:
- 1. 🥇ExpressVPN — Best no-logs VPN in 2023. It has a strict no-logs policy that only collects minimal data, which doesn’t put your privacy at risk. Its no-logs policy has also been audited and verified, and the provider is based in a privacy-friendly location (the British Virgin Islands).
- 2. 🥈Private Internet Access — Excellent no-logs VPN for torrenting. Provides very good P2P support and comes with a no-logs policy that has been independently audited and proven true in court. It also releases regular transparency reports, and all of its apps are open-source.
- 3. 🥉CyberGhost VPN — Great no-logs VPN for streaming and gaming. The VPN has dedicated streaming and gaming servers and also has a no-logs policy that has passed an independent audit. In addition, it releases transparency reports every 3 months, and it’s based in a country outside the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances (Romania).
- 4. NordVPN — Confirmed no-logs policy with great security. This VPN comes with tons of high-end security feature and also has a no-logs policy that has been independently audited several times.
- 5. Surfshark — Very affordable no-logs VPN. Comes with an independently audited no-logs policy, strong security features, and some of the cheapest plans on the market.
- Plus 3 more!
- Comparison of the Best No-Logs VPNs in 2023.
🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best No-Logs VPN in 2023
ExpressVPN is my favorite no-logs VPN on the market — it has a strict, transparent no-logs policy that doesn’t log user IP addresses or traffic. The policy has also been independently audited and confirmed, and when Turkish authorities seized one of ExpressVPN’s servers in 2017, the investigators came up empty because no data was stored on the server.
The no-logs policy has passed independent audits in 2019 and 2022 — on both occasions, the cybersecurity firms that performed the audits found that the provider didn’t keep any user data. In addition to no-logs audits, I like how the provider had its iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux apps, Chrome extension, server infrastructure, and Lightway (its proprietary protocol) audited to prove they’re all 100% safe for user privacy.
ExpressVPN only collects the following:
- Your email address. ExpressVPN uses your email for communication purposes only.
- Your payment information. The provider uses this to issue refunds.
- Which VPN apps you download. This allows the customer support team to troubleshoot app issues for different operating systems.
- Customer support interactions. ExpressVPN uses this data to improve its customer support services and provide a better user experience.
- Your data usage. The provider makes sure users don’t abuse its services.
You can also choose whether or not to share diagnostics data (such as crash reports) — I like this because it provides slightly better privacy, and many VPNs actually don’t offer this option. But even if you choose to share diagnostics data, it won’t provide any personally identifiable information.
Another thing I like is how ExpressVPN is headquartered in a privacy-friendly country — the British Virgin Islands. The location is outside the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances (a group of countries that share surveillance data), and the country also doesn’t have mandatory data retention laws.
I’m also impressed with ExpressVPN’s high-end security features that protect your data. These include RAM-only servers (every server reset wipes all data from the server), full protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks, and perfect forward secrecy, which changes the encryption key for each VPN session — this prevents a hacker from accessing data on a past or future encryption keys. Plus, it has Threat Manager, which protects your privacy by preventing trackers from spying on your browsing and also prevents you from accidentally accessing malicious sites.
ExpressVPN also has other perks since it works in restrictive countries, is the best VPN for streaming and torrenting, and provides the fastest VPN speeds in 2023. It has affordable prices that start at $6.67 / month, accepts crypto payments (for added privacy), and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best no-logs VPN in 2023 — it has a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited multiple times, it’s located in a privacy-friendly country with no data retention laws, and it provides industry-leading security features. Its plans are all backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈 2. Private Internet Access — Great No-Logs VPN for Torrenting
Private Internet Access (PIA) provides great privacy features and has really good P2P support. It allows torrenting on servers in 80+ countries (so it’s easy to find a nearby server for fast downloads), and it has built-in port forwarding on its apps, which lets you connect to more peers to get faster speeds. What’s more, you get SOCKS5 support, which changes your IP address like a VPN but doesn’t encrypt your traffic, so you get faster speeds.
PIA collects very little data. It logs your email address, payment data, and your state or territory and ZIP code, which it needs for tax analysis. Like ExpressVPN, it also allows you to optionally share diagnostics data.
The provider’s no-logs policy underwent an independent audit by a cybersecurity firm in 2022. In addition, it has also been proven true in court on multiple occasions — for example, PIA was asked to share user data with the authorities in a court case in 2015 and 2016, but it couldn’t provide any information.
I also like how PIA releases regular transparency reports — they detail every request for user data (like subpoenas, warrants, and court orders) the provider has received from government and law enforcement agencies. The reports also confirm that the provider didn’t comply with the requests.
All of PIA’s apps are open-source. This is great because it provides even better transparency, as anyone can inspect the code for security vulnerabilities or privacy concerns. PIA is also very secure — it comes with RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, full leak protection, and PIA MACE, which is the best VPN ad blocker on the market. It works in restrictive countries, has fast speeds, and allows unlimited connections, so you can use it on as many devices as you want.
But unlike ExpressVPN, PIA is not based in a privacy-friendly country. Instead, it’s located in the US, which is part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. But even if US authorities asked for user data, PIA wouldn’t have anything to hand over — it proved many times that it doesn’t store any personally identifiable information.
Private Internet Access offers affordable plans that start at $2.19 / month, accepts cryptocurrency payments, and has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access has really good P2P support and strong privacy since it also has a no-logs policy that has been audited and proven true in court. It releases regular transparency reports, and all of its apps are open-source. All plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Get Private Internet Access Now
Read the full Private Internet Access review
🥉 3. CyberGhost VPN — Good No-Logs VPN for Streaming and Gaming
CyberGhost VPN has a transparent privacy policy and also comes with dedicated streaming and gaming servers. It keeps data collection to a minimum and only collects your email address and payment details, as well as performance-related data, such as connection attempts and successful connections (and it uses that data to improve its service).
The provider’s no-logs policy passed an independent security audit in 2022. CyberGhost VPN doesn’t have open-source apps like Private Internet Access but I like that it releases transparency reports every 3 months and that it’s based in Romania, which doesn’t have data retention laws and is not part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances.
CyberGhost VPN has dedicated servers in 20+ countries for 100+ streaming services — they change their IP addresses very frequently, so it’s harder for streaming platforms to detect and block them. My colleagues in the US and UK tested the US and UK streaming servers and confirmed they worked with top sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime without issues.
You also get access to gaming servers in the US, the UK, France, and Germany — these servers are optimized to provide faster downloads and gaming speeds than regular VPN servers. In my tests, I always had stable ping while using these servers, I never experienced lag, and my connections to the gaming server didn’t drop.
CyberGhost VPN offers good security features. It has NoSpy servers, which are ultra-secure as they’re located at the VPN’s headquarters and only the provider’s staff has access to them. Plus, there’s perfect forward secrecy, full leak protection, and RAM-only servers. However, unlike ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, it doesn’t consistently circumvent firewalls in restrictive countries like China.
CyberGhost VPN starts at just $2.19 / month and accepts cryptocurrency payments. There’s a 45-day money-back guarantee for long-term plans, while the monthly plan is only backed by a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN provides good streaming and gaming via dedicated servers, and it also has great privacy features. Its no-logs policy has been independently audited, it releases regular transparency reports, and it’s located in a privacy-friendly country. All long-term plans are covered by a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
4. NordVPN — Confirmed No-Logs Policy With Strong Security
NordVPN provides some really good security features along with strong privacy. It comes with advanced security features, such as RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and full leak protection.
And it also has Threat Protection, which gets rid of ads and protects you from shady sites and malware-infected files. In addition, it provides access to double VPN connections, which add an extra layer of security, and a dark web monitoring tool that alerts you if your NordVPN account data has been compromised.
The provider’s no-logs policy is very straightforward. It only stores your email address (for creating your account) and your payment information, which it needs for issuing refunds. It also collects server load information to help users connect to the best servers, and it logs whether or not users have used the VPN service in the past 30 days — NordVPN does this to dispute unfair chargebacks.
NordVPN’s no-logs policy has also been audited 3 times in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Plus, it has also been proven true when one of the data centers that housed one of its servers suffered a data breach in 2018, but no NordVPN user data was compromised.
The VPN also has many other perks, including fast speeds, great streaming and P2P support, and easy-to-use apps for all major platforms. However, unlike ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, it unfortunately doesn’t work in restrictive countries.
NordVPN has tier-based subscriptions and plans that start from $3.19 / month. All purchases are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN is a high-security VPN with an independently audited no-logs policy. In addition, its no-logs policy has also been proven true when one of the data centers the provider worked with suffered a data breach. The VPN also has very strong security features, including a malware blocker and a data breach monitoring tool. It backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Surfshark – Affordable No-Logs VPN
Surfshark provides great privacy and has some of the cheapest plans out there, so I think it’s a great pick if you’re on a tight budget.
The VPN also has very user-friendly apps for all major platforms. The interface is really intuitive and it only takes a few seconds to find and connect to a server. Plus, I like how all settings and features come with helpful explanations. Also, I think it’s really great how Surfshark allows unlimited connections.
Surfshark’s no-log policy was audited in 2023. Also, its privacy policy says the provider only collects basic information, including your email address (for communication purposes) and connection timestamps, but those are deleted 15 minutes after you disconnect from a VPN server.
The provider also has strong security, as it comes with RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy. Unfortunately, it only has DNS leak protection — ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and CyberGhost VPN all have full leak protection. That said, I never experienced any leaks in my tests.
There are also other highlights, including servers in 100+ countries, pretty fast speeds, and great streaming and P2P support.
Surfshark’s plans start at only $2.30 / month, and every plan is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom line:
Surfshark has super cheap plans and provides strong privacy, especially since its no-logs policy has been independently audited. It also comes with user-friendly apps and great security features, including RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy. Plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review
6. Proton VPN — Best Free No-Logs VPN
Proton VPN has a good free plan, which provides unlimited data and strong privacy features. The provider only collects minimal data — your email address and crash-related data, which it shares with developers to help them fix system bugs.
Proton VPN’s no-logs passed an independent audit in 2022. In addition, all of the provider’s apps are open-source (just like Private Internet Access) — and since not everyone is tech-savvy enough to inspect the code, I really like that the apps have passed independent audits. What’s more, Proton VPN issues regular transparency reports and is based in Switzerland, which is a data privacy-friendly country.
The free plan provides very strong security via advanced features — it includes perfect forward secrecy, full leak protection, and full-disk encryption, which ensures all data is secure even if a server is compromised.
However, the free plan has some limitations. It only provides access to servers in the US, the Netherlands, and Japan, allows only 1 device, offers “medium” speeds, doesn’t allow streaming or torrenting, and locks some features behind a paywall.
Proton VPN’s plans start at $4.99 / month, and they add access to all servers across 60+ countries, 10 connections, and full streaming and P2P support. The provider accepts crypto and even cash payments and comes with a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Proton VPN’s free plan is pretty good — it doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, and its no-logs policy has passed an independent audit. Plus, it also has open-source apps that have been audited. The provider’s paid plans unlock access to all features and are backed by a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Proton VPN review
7. TunnelBear — Good No-Logs VPN for Beginners
TunnelBear has intuitive apps that are fun to use — when you connect to a server, an animated bear digs a tunnel to the server’s location on a digital map, which is really cute. TunnelBear also allows unlimited connections.
Plus, TunnelBear’s privacy policy is very straightforward. I’m a fan of how it clearly explains what data the VPN collects using simple terms instead of using complex language as most VPNs do. The provider only collects your email address, payment data, and operational data (VPN app version or operating system version), which it uses to troubleshoot issues.
I like how TunnelBear undergoes annual security audits for its code, server infrastructure, website, and apps — that said, I think it’s a shame that its no-logs policy hasn’t been audited like ExpressVPN and the other VPNs on this list. On the plus side, the provider issues an annual transparency report.
I don’t like that TunnelBear is based in Canada, which is part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. Even so, if the Canadian authorities ask for user data, TunnelBear can’t hand anything over.
TunnelBear has a free plan, but I don’t recommend it because it limits you to 2 GB per month — that’s only enough for 3–4 hours of basic web browsing. Its paid plans are very competitive and start at $3.33 / month, but there’s no option to pay via crypto. Also, the provider lacks a money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
TunnelBear provides great privacy and is easy to use. Its privacy policy is very easy to understand, and the provider releases annual transparency reports. Also, its code, server infrastructure, and apps undergo regular security audits. TunnelBear doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee.
Read our full TunnelBear review
8. VyprVPN — Easy-to-Use VPN With Great Privacy
VyprVPN has a trustworthy privacy policy and intuitive apps for all operating systems, making it an ideal option for people who have never used a VPN. The mobile and desktop apps are simple to install and navigate.
VyprVPN is one of the only VPNs that fully owns, and manages its server infrastructure — this means third parties are never in charge of your privacy, and it also allows the provider to deliver fast and stable connections.
While VyprVPN only collects your email address and payment information, it oddly asks for your full name when you sign up (unlike ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and CyberGhost VPN). If you don’t want to share your name, you can use a fake name.
The provider is based in a privacy-friendly location (Switzerland), and its no-logs policy was independently audited in 2018. While this is great, I wish its no-logs policy would undergo a more recent audit, like ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and CyberGhost VPN.
VyprVPN’s plans start at $5.00 / month, but there’s no option to pay with crypto. On the plus side, all plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
VyprVPN is a decent, user-friendly no-logs VPN. It’s one of the only VPNs out there that 100% owns and operates all of its servers, it collects minimal data, it’s based in a privacy-friendly location, and its no-logs policy passed an independent audit (but it was back in 2018). It has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Comparison of the Best No-Logs VPNs in 2023
How to Choose the Best No-Logs VPN in 2023
- Choose a VPN with a strict no-logs policy. The VPN should have a clear policy stating it doesn’t record sensitive data like your IP address or internet traffic. This is a crucial aspect of protecting your privacy. All the VPNs on my list adhere to strict no-logs policies, and some have even had these policies independently audited, confirmed by server seizures, or court documents.
- Prioritize additional privacy features. Many of my top selections either publish regular transparency reports, offer open-source apps for public scrutiny, operate from privacy-friendly jurisdictions, or accept payments in cryptocurrency.
- Get a VPN with strong security. I recommend only picking a VPN if it comes with essential VPN security features, such as 256-bit AES encryption, protection against IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks, and a kill switch, which disables web access if the VPN disconnects to protect you from data leaks.
- Pick a VPN that’s easy to use. Favor the VPNs that come with intuitive apps for all popular platforms, and avoid any buggy or complicated software. A good VPN should be able to operate without necessitating third-party clients.
- Look for a VPN that provides good value. The VPN should also provide great streaming and torrenting support, provide fast and stable connections, and allow multiple simultaneous connections (Private Internet Access and Surfshark allow unlimited connections). I also recommend picking VPNs that have affordable paid plans and a free plan or a money-back guarantee.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- BolehVPN. BolehVPN claims it doesn’t log your browsing data and IP address, but it also says it can temporarily enable logs if it notices “suspicious activity”. This means it could log your traffic and IP address at random, which is terrible for your privacy.
- Norton Secure VPN. The VPN doesn’t collect your browsing traffic, but it keeps logs of your IP address. It claims to do that to determine appropriate language settings and to deliver content to your device — but I think that’s not a good enough reason to put your privacy at risk.
- DroidVPN. This provider doesn’t log the sites you visit, but it collects your IP address. Plus, even though DroidVPN is outside the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances, it says it will comply with user data requests from governments and third parties. What’s more, the VPN always leaked my DNS data in my leak tests, and it’s also missing a kill switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best no-logs VPN?
ExpressVPN is my favorite no-logs VPN in 2023 — it has a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited several times. In addition, the provider had some of its apps and its server infrastructure audited several times. Plus, it’s based in a privacy-friendly location, and it has high-end security features that help protect your data.
Can I use a free no-logs VPN?
Usually, no, as most free VPNs don’t have no-logs policies — instead, they may log your traffic and IP address, and some sell it to third parties. What’s more, most free VPNs also lack other essential security features, like a kill switch, which protects you from traffic leaks.
That said, if you insist on using a free VPN, I recommend Proton VPN’s free plan — it’s one of the best free VPN plans on the market, as it provides unlimited data and comes with an independently audited no-logs policy. What’s more, all of the provider’s apps are open-source (anyone can inspect the code) and have been audited as well. However, the free plan only allows access to servers in 3 countries, allows only 1 connection, and doesn’t support streaming and torrenting.
Can I use a no-logs VPN based in a 5/9/14 Eyes country?
It’s generally ideal to use a no-logs VPN based in a privacy-friendly country (like Switzerland or the British Virgin Islands) — most of the VPNs on my list have headquarters in such locations.
But you can also use a VPN in a 5/9/14 Eyes country if its no-logs policy has been verified. That way, even if government authorities ask the provider for user data, the VPN can’t hand anything over because it doesn’t keep any logs. For example, Private Internet Access is based in the US, but its no-logs policy passed an independent audit and has also been proven true in court documents on several occasions. Also, it issues regular transparency reports that detail what user data requests it received, and all of its apps are open-source, meaning anyone can inspect the code for security vulnerabilities.
What are VPN logs?
They are data a VPN collects from the VPN app you install on your device. There are 2 types of VPN logs:
- Usage logs. They contain information about your activities while connected to the VPN. You should avoid any VPN that keeps usage logs, as they are terrible for your privacy since they track the sites you visit and the files you download. None of the VPNs on this list store usage logs.
- Connection logs. They contain information about your VPN connection, such as how much data you used, when you connected to a VPN server, or what device you’re using the VPN app on. That kind of data is typically harmless, and it’s mostly used by the provider to improve its service and troubleshoot issues. However, connection logs can sometimes contain your IP address, which is terrible for your privacy — so always check the privacy policy to make sure the provider’s connection logs don’t include your IP address.
How can I tell if a VPN actually doesn’t keep logs?
The best way is to check if the provider’s no-logs policy has passed an independent audit (almost all of the VPNs here check this box). In addition, you can also:
- Check if the VPN issues regular transparency reports. These reports detail how many user data requests the VPN received and how the provider didn’t comply with them.
- Consider VPNs that have open-source apps. This means anyone can inspect the code for security and confirm the VPN doesn’t log user data.
- Check the provider’s headquarters. See if they are located in a privacy-friendly country that doesn’t have mandatory data retention laws.
