Whether you’re perpetually online or just an occasional internet user, you’ve likely come across the term “virtual private network,” or VPN. Over the last few years, it seems VPNs have skyrocketed in popularity — partly thanks to countless major tech YouTubers touting the services. If you’ve wondered whether you should be using a VPN during your online activities, the answer is probably yes. While VPNs aren’t required for everyone, there are some key reasons most people could reap benefits from using a VPN service.
There are many VPN options available, which can make doing the deep dive to find the best VPN service for you feel overwhelming. You might be left with questions like: Do I need all the features being offered? Is my internet provider really monitoring my internet activity? Does it matter if the VPN company is US-based? Can I use a VPN on my iPhone? Keep reading to learn more about VPNs and the top reasons you should use one while online.
Read more: Everything You Need to Know About VPNs and How They Work
What is a VPN?
A VPN is a piece of software that serves to enhance your online experience by improving privacy. In the most basic terms, a VPN encrypts the data transmitted over your computer’s network connection. Your internet traffic gets routed through a protected server in a remote location before it’s sent to the website or app you’re attempting to access. This encryption prevents your ISP from knowing the websites and apps you’re using, and in turn, websites and apps can’t tell who your ISP is, therefore improving your online privacy.
Of course, there’s no foolproof way to completely shield all your activities and personal information from prying eyes online, but installing a reliable VPN is a simple and effective step towards minimizing potential risks. Additionally, a VPN can expand the horizon of your internet usage, thanks to its ability to mask your location.
Reasons why you should use a VPN
Improved privacy
As mentioned above, using a VPN will enhance your privacy while online. The VPN you choose will encrypt your internet traffic, which makes it unreadable to anyone trying to access it. This is especially beneficial for frequent travelers who want to access apps and websites from their home country while abroad seamlessly, or folks with critical privacy needs (like investigative journalists, political activists or asylum-seekers) who want to keep their internet activity private from ISPs.
Using a VPN will prevent the websites you’re visiting from seeing your public IP address and will instead show an IP address assigned to you by your VPN service. These websites also won’t be able to tell where in the world you’re actually located since they will only be able to see the location of the server used by the VPN (which you can set from your end). All this means that while using a VPN, you’ll be able to mask your actual location, IP address and online activities to some extent from those looking to pry, like your ISP, government or network administrators.
Prevent ISP tracking
In the same privacy vein, your internet service provider can track and log your browsing history using your device’s public IP address. If not properly secured, this information could be accessed by unscrupulous individuals. This information may also end up being sold to third-party advertisers so they can provide more targeted ads or even be given to the government. When you use a VPN, you are using the VPN’s remote server instead of your ISP’s server and your masked IP address prevents your provider from tracking you.
Note that while the sites you’re visiting will be hidden, the ISP will know that you’re using a VPN. If you want to hide the fact that you’re using a VPN, then you can use obfuscation (if offered by the VPN) to disguise your VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic.
Streaming without geo-restrictions
For the most part, streaming is amazing. Being able to access all the music, TV and movies you want without having to download or search for less-than-legal torrents has significantly improved the way we entertain ourselves. However, some streaming services are either not available or offer limited content in some parts of the world. Netflix, for example, offers a much different set of TV shows in the UK, Canada and Japan than it does in the US. Likewise, changing your virtual location opens a wider range of sports viewing options, too.
Since a VPN masks your public IP address and general geographic location — essentially making apps and websites think you’re elsewhere in a different city, state or country — you have the option to access streaming services that aren’t usually available in your region. Or if you’re a frequent traveler, you’ll benefit from using a VPN to keep your streaming experience the same no matter where you go.
It’s worth noting here that not all VPNs are created equally. Some VPNs may not be able to bypass all geo-restrictions, so you may need to do a bit of research. CNET’s VPN reviews test how well VPNs work in this regard with the major video streaming services.
Avoid censorship
It’s 2025, but believe it or not, there are still many countries where government officials can dictate the websites being visited by their citizens. The list includes countries like Russia, Iran and China, and these rules can restrict anything from popular social media sites to news websites. That means if you’re living in these countries or visiting there, you won’t be able to freely browse restricted sites from your devices without a good VPN.
The location spoofing offered by VPN services will come in handy here, offering access to restricted sites as well as communications options that might also be banned, such as WhatsApp, Instagram and more. Just be cognizant of the fact that using a VPN may be illegal in those locations.
Prevent data/bandwidth throttling
Sometimes while browsing the internet, you may experience an unexplainable drop in speeds. A sudden drop in your internet speed can lead to buffering of your favorite show or cause an interruption while in an important Zoom meeting. This usually happens when your ISP starts throttling your bandwidth to manage network congestion. Throttling is sometimes implemented for certain websites and services, so if your internet provider can’t see your online activities, then it may pass over throttling your connection — though, again, obfuscation may be helpful here.
Save money on travel and more
Some online services may adjust prices based on your location and browsing history. This is especially true for airlines and travel booking sites. Using a VPN is a great way to check prices across the board to make sure you’re not being overcharged. Save some money on your next flight or hotel stay by flipping on a VPN before you book.
Are VPNs safe?
Here’s the thing: VPNs are generally safe to use, but not all VPNs are created equal. Our experts have tested many of the popular names to help narrow down the best VPNs, including VPNs for Android and other mobile devices. VPNs are excellent tools for enhancing your online privacy, but it’s also important to practice safe browsing practices.
It’s worth noting that VPNs won’t protect you from things like phishing attacks or malware downloads. Nor will VPNs protect you from having your information revealed if a company with your data has a breach. A VPN isn’t magic and won’t completely wipe your online activities, so you should still be mindful of the sites you’re visiting, and consider using a VPN and antivirus for a more complete cybersecurity approach.
That said, it’s truly never been easier to get started with a VPN. And while most free VPNs should be avoided, most of the top brands offer a free trial period, so you can try before you commit to buying. It’s a small price to pay if you need that additional peace of mind — or just a broader set of streaming media options.