Honest answers to common VPN questions — from someone who actually uses these services daily.
Do I actually need a VPN?
It depends on your situation. You likely benefit from a VPN if you:
You might not need one if you only browse at home on trusted networks and don't care about ISP tracking.
What does a VPN actually do?
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server. This means:
A VPN does NOT make you anonymous. The VPN provider can still see your traffic (which is why choosing a trustworthy, no-logs VPN matters).
Are free VPNs safe?
Most free VPNs are not safe. If you're not paying, you're usually the product. Many free VPNs:
Exception: Proton VPN's free tier is legitimately safe. They're funded by paid users and don't monetize free users' data. It's the only free VPN I'd recommend.
Can my ISP see what I do with a VPN?
No. Your ISP can see that you're connected to a VPN, but they cannot see:
All they see is encrypted data going to/from the VPN server.
Will a VPN slow down my internet?
Slightly, yes. Your data has to travel through an extra server. But with modern VPNs using WireGuard protocol, the slowdown is usually minimal (5-15%). You probably won't notice it for browsing or streaming.
Factors that affect speed: distance to VPN server, server load, your base internet speed, and the VPN protocol used.
What should I look for in a VPN?
The most important factors for privacy-focused users:
Less important (but nice to have): server count, streaming unblocking, fancy features.
What does "open source" mean for a VPN?
Open source means the VPN's code is publicly available for anyone to inspect. This matters because:
Mullvad and Proton VPN are fully open source. NordVPN is closed source — you have to trust them.
What's a "no-logs" VPN? How do I know if it's real?
A no-logs VPN claims not to record your browsing activity, connection times, or IP addresses. But anyone can claim this — verification matters:
Real example: In 2023, Swedish police raided Mullvad's office. They found nothing because Mullvad had no data to give. That's proof, not just a promise.
What's the difference between Mullvad and Proton VPN?
Mullvad is laser-focused on privacy:
Proton VPN is part of a privacy ecosystem:
My take: Mullvad for maximum privacy. Proton if you want the full ecosystem or a free option.
Why don't you recommend NordVPN?
I don't actively recommend against NordVPN — it's a functional VPN. But I switched away because:
If streaming and server count matter more to you than verifiable privacy, NordVPN is fine. It's just not what I prioritize.
Why is Mullvad not on most "Top 10 VPN" lists?
Because they don't pay affiliates.
Mullvad deliberately has no affiliate program. They believe it corrupts recommendations — and they're right. Most "Best VPN" lists are ranked by commission rates, not actual quality.
NordVPN pays 40-100% commission. ExpressVPN pays similarly. Mullvad pays $0. Guess who tops those lists?
This is exactly why I recommend Mullvad despite earning nothing from them. Trust matters more than commissions.
Which VPN do you actually use daily?
I use Proton VPN as my daily driver because I'm already in the Proton ecosystem (Mail, Calendar, Drive, Pass). Having everything integrated is convenient.
However, I've tested and respect Mullvad more for pure privacy. I'm actually testing a hybrid setup: Mullvad for VPN + Proton for everything else.
Full transparency: I earn a commission if you sign up for Proton VPN. I earn nothing from Mullvad.
Can a VPN make me completely anonymous?
No. A VPN is one layer of privacy, not complete anonymity. You can still be identified through:
For stronger anonymity, you'd need Tor, which is much slower and more complex.
What's the "5 Eyes" and why does VPN jurisdiction matter?
The 5 Eyes (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) is an intelligence-sharing alliance. There's also 9 Eyes and 14 Eyes with more countries.
VPNs based in these countries may be compelled to share data with governments. That's why privacy-focused VPNs are often based in:
That said, jurisdiction matters less if the VPN truly keeps no logs. You can't hand over data you don't have.
Is it legal to use a VPN?
In most countries (US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, etc.), VPNs are completely legal.
Some countries restrict or ban VPNs: China, Russia, Iran, UAE, and others. If you're in one of these countries, research local laws carefully.
Using a VPN for illegal activities is still illegal — the VPN doesn't change that.
Why do you recommend Mullvad when you don't earn anything from them?
Because they're genuinely the best for pure privacy, and I'd rather be honest than rich.
I still earn from Proton VPN (which I also genuinely use and recommend). But recommending a product I don't believe in just for commission would destroy the trust this site is built on.
Long-term, honesty is better business anyway.
How do you make money from this site?
Affiliate commissions from Proton VPN. When you click my Proton links and sign up, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
I earn nothing from:
This is fully disclosed throughout the site.
Do you accept sponsored posts or paid reviews?
No. That would defeat the entire purpose of an honest comparison site.
Can you add [other VPN] to your comparison?
Maybe. I only review VPNs I've personally tested over an extended period. If there's strong demand for a specific VPN, I'll consider testing it.
Contact me with suggestions.
See my full comparison with real-world testing results.
View the Comparison →Have a question that's not answered here? Contact me and I'll consider adding it.