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. 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. 🥉Proton VPN — Best free no-logs VPN. Its free plan includes a no-logs policy that has been independently audited and confirmed. The provider also issues transparency reports, its open-sourced apps have been audited, and it’s based in a privacy-friendly location (Switzerland).
- 4. NordVPN — Reliable with great security & fast speeds on all servers.
- 5. 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).
- 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 Chrome extension, Windows, macOS, and Linux apps, 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.
I really like that ExpressVPN allows you to choose whether or not to share diagnostics data (such as crash reports) — 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 malicious sites.
ExpressVPN also works in restrictive countries, is the best VPN for streaming and torrenting, and provides the fastest VPN speeds in 2023. It allows 5 simultaneous connections, 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 a SOCKS5 proxy server, 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 optimally 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 10 connections.
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 $2.11 / month, accepts cryptocurrency payments, and has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access has really good P2P support and 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.
Download Private Internet Access Now
Read the full Private Internet Access review
🥉 3. Proton VPN — Best Free No-Logs VPN
Proton VPN has the best free plan on the market, 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 — 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.
Upgrading to the paid version (plans start at $3.99 / month) adds access to all servers across 60+ countries, 10 connections, and full streaming and P2P support. You also get extras such as NetShield, which is one of the best VPN ad blockers on the market, and Secure Core servers, which send your data through 2 VPN servers instead of 1 VPN server. The provider accepts crypto and even cash payments and comes with a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Proton VPN has the best free no-logs VPN plan on the market — it doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, and its no-logs policy has passed an independent audit. Plus, it has open-source apps that have been audited, it releases transparency reports, and it’s based in a privacy-friendly country. The free plan also includes access to strong security features but has some limitations. 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
4. NordVPN — Reliable With Great Security Features & Fast Speeds
NordVPN provides access to multiple security features that keep your data safe online — like Threat Protection, which is one of the best VPN ad blockers on the market and which also gets rid of malicious ads, blocks connections to shady sites, and protects your device from malware-infected downloads. Even better, Threat Protection remains active even if you’re not connected to a VPN server, which is really convenient.
In addition, there’s Dark Web Monitor, which scans the dark web and alerts you if the login associated with your NordVPN account has been leaked. I’m happy to see this, as this is one of the only VPNs on the market that comes with a dark web monitoring feature.
On top of that, NordVPN also comes with other great security features — it has double VPN servers, which add an extra layer of encryption, and it also comes with obfuscation. Plus, the VPN has its own protocol called NordLynx, which is designed to provide strong security and really fast speeds.
NordVPN also has advanced security features, including full leak protection, RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy. Its strict no-logs policy has been independently audited, and it’s also been proven true when one of the data centers that housed one of its servers suffered a data breach and no user data was compromised.
The provider is also great for streaming and torrenting — it works with multiple popular streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer, and has a whopping 4,500+ P2P servers. It also provides really good speeds for streaming, torrenting, and other online activities on all of its servers.
I also think NordVPN is a good gaming VPN thanks to its Meshnet feature, which lets you link up to 60 devices over encrypted VPN connections — this helps you host virtual LAN parties securely.
What’s more, this VPN has tons of other perks — it has 5,000+ servers in 55+ countries, comes with split-tunneling, and has really intuitive apps for all major platforms.
NordVPN has budget-friendly plans that start at $4.99 / month. All purchases are backed by a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN is highly secure, comes with a ton of features, and maintains good speeds for all online activities. In addition to advanced security features like RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy, it also has an ad blocker and dark web monitor. It also works with all streaming services, supports torrenting on more than 4,500 servers, and is also an excellent choice for gaming. NordVPN backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. 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 and Proton VPN, 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 $2.11 / month, allows 7 connections, 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
6. TunnelBear — Good No-Logs VPN for Large Households
TunnelBear allows unlimited connections, which makes it a great choice if everyone in your family needs a no-logs VPN — you can connect the VPN to as many devices as you want.
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.
In addition to an easy-to-read privacy policy, TunnelBear also 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.
I don’t like that TunnelBear is based in Canada, which is part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances — unlike ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, and CyberGhost VPN, which are located in privacy-friendly locations. Even so, if the Canadian authorities ask for user data, TunnelBear can’t hand anything over because it doesn’t store any personally identifiable information.
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 $4.16 / 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 allows unlimited connections. 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
7. 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, engineers, and manages its own 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 Proton 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 Proton 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 no-logs VPN for beginners. 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
- A strict no-logs policy. The VPN needs to have a clear no-logs policy that doesn’t record sensitive data, such as your IP address or internet traffic — otherwise, it can’t protect your privacy. All the VPNs on this list have strict no-logs policies, and some of them also had their no-logs policies proven true in independent security audits, server seizures, or court documents.
- Extra privacy features. The VPN should also come with other privacy features that can secure your privacy — for example, most of my top picks either issue regular transparency reports that detail what user data requests they received, have open-source apps so that anyone can inspect the code, are based in privacy-friendly locations, or accept cryptocurrency payments.
- 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.
- Ease of use. The provider should have intuitive apps for all major platforms that are easy to navigate — you shouldn’t need to deal with buggy apps that are difficult to install or use or require third-party VPN clients just to protect your privacy.
- Good value. The VPN should also provide great streaming and torrenting support, provide fast and stable connections, and allow multiple simultaneous connections (ExpressVPN allows 5 connections, while TunnelBear allows unlimited connections). I also recommend picking VPNs that have affordable paid plans and 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.
But the other VPNs on my list also provide good privacy — Private Internet Access provides great privacy while torrenting, and Proton VPN has the best no-logs free VPN plan on the market. Also, CyberGhost VPN is a good no-logs VPN for streaming and gaming, TunnelBear has a beginner-friendly privacy policy and allows unlimited connnections, and VyprVPN has easy-to-use apps and an audited no-logs policy.
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 the best free VPN plan 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.
Upgrading to Proton VPN’s premium plans (they start at $3.99 / month) unlocks access to all of the provider’s servers and features.
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) — 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. Since PIA backs up its claim of never storing user data on several fronts, it doesn’t matter that its headquarters are in the US.
What are VPN logs?
VPN logs are a set of data a VPN provider 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.
