Do I need a VPN at home? Enhance Privacy & Unlock Global Content

The short answer is – yes, using a VPN can drastically improve your privacy and security at home. A good VPN will also open up a world of possibilities online.

For a detailed answer, please refer to the comprehensive article that follows. It contains all the key benefits of using a VPN at home, useful tips, and more.

In the era of numerous digital advantages, but also great dangers and constant online surveillance, the question of whether a VPN is necessary at home is more relevant than ever. From your internet provider to cybercriminals, nearly anyone can track your online activities and profit from your digital footprint, especially if you leave your connections exposed. For that reason, we decided to share the main advantages of VPN technology in this guide, both security-related and more fun-related ones. 

Whether you're a casual internet user or someone deeply concerned about their online privacy, this guide will help you understand why a VPN might be a valuable add-on to the existing internet setup at your home.

Understanding VPNs better

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a secure tool that encrypts your online traffic and reroutes it through different servers in the world, enabling you to change (and hide) your IP address as you like. Imagine it as a protected tunnel between your device and the perils of the internet. This virtual tunnel protects your online activities from all kinds of spooks, including your Internet Service Provider (ISP), spying agencies, government, and various threat actors.

On top of that, a VPN comes with other benefits and fun-related usages, such as expanded streaming possibilities, enhanced gaming experience, and censorship circumvention. But, more about these, below.

Why consider using a VPN at home?

A VPN at home could be more useful to you than anywhere else, especially if you're a remote worker or an ardent torrenter. However, even if you're just an occasional internet visitor, or you like to start your day with a cup of coffee and the latest online news, a VPN could go a long way in protecting you from inconveniences – including account breaches, malware threats, or even theft.

Privacy and security protection

The most common reason for using a VPN at home is to enhance privacy. A VPN hides your true location by scrambling your IP address and encrypting your traffic, making it unreadable to anyone. 

While your original IP address is given to you by your ISP, and is easy to intercept and track by that same ISP, government, and hackers, your new IP address is unknown to anyone but you. Along with some additional privacy features, like obfuscation (stealth servers), and multi-hop (redirects your internet traffic through a few different servers, making you even more difficult to trace), IP scrambling makes you nearly invisible online.

All this, naturally, increases your online security too. For the above reasons, a VPN is an effective way to avert cybercriminals, mitigate DDoS attacks, and protect you from dangers such as identity theft and bank account breaches. Most renowned VPNs provide tracking and malware protection, too. So, you can enjoy online shopping with peace of mind, as the chances of somebody getting hold of your credentials and stealing your money get significantly less.

Access geo-restricted content and bypassing censorship

Different countries and regions have different laws regarding what type of content is suitable for a wide audience to absorb. Unfortunately, most countries in the world still impose censorship on their local news and TV channels, depriving their citizens of basic online rights and the ability to get the wider political/ethical picture. 

On top of that, most streaming platforms and TV broadcasters design their programs following different licensing agreements and copyrights, again depriving part of their viewership of some precious content – based on their geographical position.

A VPN enables you to access whatever is online freely and securely, regardless of where you are in the world. By making it seem that you're accessing a website or app from a different region, it notably broadens your entertainment options. For example, if you are a US citizen visiting Egypt and you wish to continue watching your favorite Netflix show on your vacation – you still can, thanks to a VPN that bypasses censorship in Egypt. 

Enhanced browsing, streaming, and gaming experience

You can enhance your streaming and gaming experience with a VPN. Besides getting access to a wide range of different sources and libraries, a good VPN makes your browsing and streaming more secure, and it can even help you reduce the annoying speed fluctuations in some cases. 

Believe it or not, your ISP has the power to deliberately slow some of your online sessions, depending on which country you stay in and which sites you visit. By circumventing ISP throttling, a VPN ensures faster and more stable online connections that can greatly benefit your browsing and streaming experience.

Similarly, gamers can benefit from reduced lag on top of accessing games and servers not available in their region. Plus, a VPN adds an extra layer of security, protecting you against DDoS attacks and other malicious attempts.

Secure torrenting

Using torrenting networks to download and share files carries inherent risks, including scrutiny from ISPs for downloading censored content and exposing your location to unknown and potentially hostile peers. Luckily, many VPNs offer torrent-friendly services, featuring dedicated servers and robust privacy measures like no-logs policies and operating from privacy-centric countries. 

The best VPNs for torrenting provide fast download speeds, with some supporting port forwarding for improved performance. Additionally, top-quality torrenting VPNs come with a kill-switch, DNS leak protection, and other advanced privacy features which effectively protect your data from exposure.

A kill-switch will protect your data from getting exposed even if your VPN connection inadvertently drops, seeing as it automatically cuts out your internet connection in such an event.

Security on public Wi-Fi

While this is more related to your outdoor use, once you install a VPN in your house, you are free to use it on your mobile devices, under the same account. This means all the benefits of using a VPN at home get extended to your less secure public sessions. 

A VPN is an ideal solution for staying safe on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks in every possible way. Think of it as an invisibility cloak that you wear when you go outside – a shield you get from your phone – preventing anyone from seeing your online activities, even on dangerous shared networks.

This benefit also extends to any guests using your home network. If your internet is secured by a VPN router, your visitors can enjoy the utmost privacy in the comfort of your home, even if your internet connection is shared.

Considerations before getting a VPN for your home

Like any software created by imperfect humans, a VPN also comes with some considerations and challenges to account for when deciding whether you need it at home. The most important ones are as follows:

• Speed – Some VPNs can slow down your internet connection noticeably due to the complicated encryption process going on in the background. The distance of the server you've chosen can also affect your internet speeds. For optimum speed and performance, choose a VPN with fast protocols and advanced speed features. For further speed improvements, pick a server that's closest to your current physical location.
• Complexity – Setting up, configuring, and using a VPN can be straightforward or complex, depending on your level of experience and the user-friendliness of the VPN itself. The VPNs listed in this article are all extremely easy to use. They come with great GUI apps, are super intuitive, and require only a few moments of your time to get them going.
• Cost – Some VPNs can be (unreasonably) expensive, especially if you opt for a single-month subscription. The important thing is to compare several VPNs and their plans before deciding what pays off the most for you.
• Hidden dangers of a free VPN – Some VPNs will offer you unlimited service for free – those are the ones you should fear the most. Remember, there's no free lunch. These VPNs still have to find a way to earn their income, and more often than not, their methods are shady. They could be selling your data to third parties or distributing malware for money, which beats the whole purpose of using a VPN.

It's worth noting, however, that some reputable VPNs offer their service for free, but with set limits. Their main source of income comes from their premium plans, and they offer the free ones as nothing more than a testing sample. These VPNs are safe, however, they won't be of much use to those requiring a VPN for consistent use and data-intensive tasks.

Choosing the right VPN

On the other hand, when selecting the right VPN for home use, make sure you consider these positive factors:

• Encryption – A robust AES-256 encryption should be your priority when choosing a VPN for your home. This will give you the security that you need online for you and your loved ones.
• Strict no-logs or zero-logs policy – Equally important is the privacy that only a zero-logs or no-logs VPN provider can ensure. This means a VPN doesn't store user data, so there's no risk of your exposure to third parties.
• Reputation – A VPN can do both of the above and still make an occasional slip in its privacy or performance standards. If this has happened in the past with a VPN you're considering, it's important that it didn't happen more than a few times, and that the necessary damage control was taken promptly each time.
• Performance – Great performance is not just blazing fast speeds, stable connections, or a seamless online experience, it's all three and more.
• User friendliness – No matter how robust its encryption and how advanced its privacy and security features are, your VPN should be easy to use, with sleek apps and knowledgeable customer support available at all times.
• Value for money – Consider your budget and needs. Opt for a reasonably priced VPN that ticks most of the right boxes. Pro tip: If you opt for a long-term plan, you can end up saving a substantial amount of money. Most VPNs offer great discounts to their loyal customers.

How to set up a VPN at home?

Setting up a VPN at home involves a few straightforward steps. Here's how you get started:

1. Choose a VPN provider – Select a VPN provider based on your individual needs, but consider also the important privacy, security, and performance criteria.
2. Download and install the VPN software/app from the provider's official website and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
3. Log in and configure the VPN – Open the app, log in with your credentials, and customize the VPN to your preference. E.g. select a protocol and enable a kill-switch.
4. Pick a server for optimum performance and connect. Select a nearby location for better speeds or any other one in a country of your interest.
5. Verify the VPN connection – Check your new IP address and perform a DNS leak test to ensure your VPN connection is on and secure.

For securing all of your home devices at once, consider configuring the VPN on your router. Keep in mind that steps vary by router model and a VPN service. Take additional security measures, like using unique passwords and updating the VPN and your OS software regularly.

Our recommended VPNs for home usage

All criteria from this article considered, the following are the best VPNs for securing your entire home.

1. ExpressVPN - The best VPN to use at home. Robust security and privacy features, blazing speeds, exceptional router compatibility, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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In our testing we checked that all ExpressVPN plans work for Netflix. The one year plan is the best value: three months free and a 30 day risk-free trial.

2. NordVPN - The best value-for-money VPN for securing your internet at home. Advanced customizations and affordable plans to choose from. Compatible with numerous routers as well.
3. Surfshark - The best VPN for those seeking unlimited simultaneous VPN connections. It's jam-packed with advanced features and comes with cheap long-term subscriptions.
4. Private Internet Access - The cheapest secure VPN for your home. Comes with tens of thousands of servers worldwide and a court-proven zero-logs policy.
5. PrivateVPN - The most beginner-friendly VPN on this list. Somewhat smaller server network than the VPNs above, but offers intuitive apps for all popular OS and an easy set-up.

Conclusion

To summarize, whether you need a VPN at home depends on your specific concerns and online habits. Still, it's inarguable that a VPN can offer plenty of benefits in terms of privacy, security, and regaining freedom online. By better understanding the advantages and features of a VPN, you can make an informed decision about incorporating this tool into your everyday life. Remember, the aim is to safeguard your digital privacy and security without compromising on your online experience. Here are our top VPN recommendations that perfectly fit these requirements:

Do I need a VPN at home – FAQs

You might find the following frequently asked questions helpful when deciding if you need a VPN at home.