We may earn commissions on purchases. (Info)

Our VPN Review Process

A Transparent, Data-Driven Approach

At vpnHunt, we strive for accuracy, independence, and transparency in every review we publish. Our goal is to guide you through the complex world of VPNs by providing comprehensive, fact-based insights tailored to your privacy, security, and performance needs.

Expert-Led, Unbiased Reviews

Our reviews are written and vetted by a team of cybersecurity professionals, VPN specialists, and tech writers who bring years of hands-on experience to the table. We maintain strict editorial integrity and never allow affiliate relationships or external pressures to compromise our reviews. We test VPNs without involvement from their developers, guaranteeing independent results.

vpnhunt our vpn review process

If a VPN fails in any area, we don’t hold back in our review. Likewise, if we find a VPN that excels in specific areas, we’ll highlight those strengths so you can make an informed decision. While we may earn affiliate commissions, these never impact the findings or recommendations in our reviews.

How We Review VPNs — Overview

Our review process is built on thorough, real-world testing, where we simulate an authentic user experiences and evaluate VPNs based on an array of detailed criteria. First, we purchase each VPN like anyone else would (and later test the money-back guarantee) so you know what to expect. Then we test popular use cases like streaming, torrenting, and gaming before assessing more technical details like security features, privacy protection, and device compatibility.

Once testing is complete, our team aggregates the data and assigns scores based on key performance criteria. Each VPN receives a score based on its performance in the below categories, weighted based on their relative importance in the applicable contexts:

The final score is a reflection of how well the VPN performs across all areas, helping you easily compare services to find the best option for your needs.

Our Detailed Review Criteria & Scoring Rubric

Our review process is transparent, and we use a structured rubric to rate each VPN in several key categories. This allows you to understand exactly how we arrive at our conclusions and compare different services. Here’s a breakdown of how we evaluate each VPN.

vpn privacy and securityPrivacy & Security (36%)

We assign the most weight to privacy and security because these are among the primary reasons users seek out VPNs. Plus, failure in this area can be more detrimental to users than failure in other areas. The sub-criteria include:

vpn speed and performanceSpeed & Performance (28%)

Speed and performance are critical for a smooth VPN experience, especially during bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming. Our tests span multiple servers worldwide and consider the following:

vpn streaming and torrentingStreaming & Torrenting (20%)

With many users relying on VPNs for content access and file sharing, we evaluate:

vpn compatibility and ease of useCompatibility & Ease of Use (10%)

A VPN’s usability and compatibility across devices are crucial for flexibility. However, if a VPN doesn’t perform in the first place, its compatibility takes a back seat. Besides, most modern VPNs are widely compatible, so this category holds relatively less weight. We evaluate:

vpn value for moneyValue for Money (6%)

Finally, we consider whether the VPN offers good value for its price. Since most VPN subscriptions are affordable, and since functionality is the priority for most VPN users, we don’t weigh this category heavily. But, of course, these factors must be taken into account:

Ongoing Re-Testing and Updates

The VPN market is fast-moving. To keep up, we regularly re-test VPNs and update our reviews. Whether it’s after a major software update, the building of new server infrastructure, changes in pricing, or simply the passing of time, we ensure our reviews reflect the latest developments in VPN technology. If a VPN provider implements significant improvements or addresses a major flaw, we’ll update our review to reflect these changes.