How to Choose a VPN: 5 Factors to Consider

VPNs are trending, more loudly than ever, with Internet users finally realizing their true potential as protection to browse the web safely and anonymously. While growing discussions about online privacy and security have helped put the focus on virtual private networks and proxy servers, there is still a cloud of confusion among users regarding their utilization. Most users who purchase a VPN do it without any special consideration. A friend recommends them a VPN service or they check online and pick one that is popular. But that is not enough.
Choosing a VPN, especially in this always-online, digital age, should involve thorough consideration and research. You should look for a provider that is able to meet your specific requirements and which aligns with your interests.
This is why we created this short checklist of the top five factors that you need to consider when buying a VPN. Go through this list and run your chosen provider and its VPN client against each of these factors. That will give you a clear idea if the VPN that you selected is right for you or not.

Look for High Speed

No one likes to browse on slow Internet. And most users who use a VPN often complain about slow connectivity. The culprit? A VPN application that throttles the Internet speed as it tries to encrypt your connection.
Slow Internet is perhaps the biggest gripe that VPN users claim to have and yet they are not willing to fix it. But they can by choosing a better VPN provider that provides high-speed (with a reasonable latency) connectivity and equally good security.
A good way to check the speed is to look for the provider’s claim and test it out. Some VPN providers also offer tools that you can use to test the speed of your Internet when it is connected to the VPN. You can use the trial period offer to do this before purchasing. With tuxler VPN, you can use our Google Chrome extension to see if it influences the speed of your Internet connection. (It shouldn’t.)

Choose the Right Encryption Protocol

There are several encryption protocols to choose from like PPTP, IPSec, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. This is basically the way your data is encrypted and transmitted over the virtual network. Each of these protocols has different pros and cons, which should ultimately influence your choice.
For example, OpenVPN is an open-source protocol and uses AES 256-bit key encryption which is considered one of the safest and most secure. Check the protocol used by your chosen providers and pick the one that is the safest and yet falls in your budget and aligns with your other expectations like speed and coverage. For example, a provider using the best encryption protocol may offer slower speeds.

Check the Number of Server or IP Options

Look for the number and range of server locations provided by the VPN. You should ideally choose a provider that offers IPs or proxy servers from across locations. You never know when you will need to access a particular website using an IP based in a particular city or state.
tuxler VPN provides millions of residential IPs via its client and extension. This allows users to browse the Internet by using an IP from virtually any location in the world. This is a critical feature because most users want to use specific locations as masks when they access specific websites. For example, if a video is available only in Mexico, a user will want to access the video platform using a Mexican IP. tuxler VPN facilitates that.

Check the Application Usability

There are hundreds of VPN providers around. While the major factors in them are within a particular range, the user interface and client features often vary. Settings that allow you to fully control the VPN as it acts as a shield between you and the web is what you should be looking for.
Look for features like a simple interface, a kill switch, quick server/location change, automatic turn-on, and application-based service when selecting your VPN. These will allow you to use it the way you want.

Check the Logging Policy

This may or may not be of importance to everyone, but it is still a critical factor to consider. Does your chosen VPN log your data and connections? If yes, then it could be considered a red flag.
Why? Because then there’s a possibility of the VPN company providing information to government agencies and surveillance organizations about your online activities. This can invite legal troubles for you if you do access questionable sites or engage in activities (such as P2P data sharing) that are considered illegal.
A VPN that does not log your connections is the best bet but finding one can be challenging.

Choosing an ideal VPN does not have to be a task when you know what to look for. We hope this short guide will help you in that quest. If you are still researching, you may also consider tuxler VPN. We provide free and 100% residential IPs for both personal and business users. Check out our website for more information.