Top AlwaysVPN Alternatives: Find Your Perfect Encrypted Connection
AlwaysVPN is a hosted virtual private network service designed to create an encrypted link between your computer and its servers, forwarding all internet traffic through this secure channel. While AlwaysVPN offers a straightforward bandwidth-based purchase model, many users seek AlwaysVPN alternatives that provide different features, pricing structures, or levels of control. This article explores some of the best VPN services and privacy tools that can serve as excellent replacements for AlwaysVPN.
Top AlwaysVPN Alternatives
Whether you're prioritizing robust security, open-source transparency, or a specific set of features, there's an AlwaysVPN alternative out there for you. Let's dive into some of the most highly-rated options.
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is a highly secure and encrypted virtual private network developed by CERN scientists from the ProtonMail team. It's an excellent AlwaysVPN alternative for users prioritizing privacy and security, offering a freemium model alongside paid plans. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, and F-Droid, ProtonVPN boasts features like anonymity, no logs, privacy protection, and encrypted VPN connections, making it a robust choice for secure browsing.
Tor
Tor is free, open-source software and an open network designed to defend against traffic analysis and enhance personal freedom and privacy. As an AlwaysVPN alternative, Tor offers unparalleled anonymity by routing your communications through a distributed network of relays. It's available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and BSD, featuring a built-in VPN, censorship bypass capabilities, and a strong focus on security and anonymous browsing.
Tor Browser
Tor Browser provides an easy-to-use interface for accessing the Tor network, bouncing your communications around a global network of volunteer relays to protect your privacy. This free and open-source AlwaysVPN alternative is available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and OpenBSD. Key features include built-in VPN, anonymity, privacy protection, anti-censorship, and the ability to hide your IP address, making it ideal for highly private web browsing.
OpenVPN
OpenVPN is a full-featured, open-source SSL VPN solution that offers extensive configuration options, suitable for remote access, site-to-site VPNs, and Wi-Fi security. As a highly customizable AlwaysVPN alternative, it's free and available on Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, Self-Hosted, and Cloudron. Its features include encrypted VPN, strong security focus, and anonymity, giving users significant control over their VPN setup.
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN, developed by the ProtonMail team, is a security-focused VPN designed for internet access without surveillance. This freemium, open-source AlwaysVPN alternative is available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, and F-Droid. It prioritizes anonymity, encrypted VPN, no logs, and privacy protection, making it a top choice for users who demand high levels of security and privacy.
Psiphon
Psiphon is an open-source tool dedicated to providing an open and accessible internet, particularly useful for bypassing censorship. Available as a freemium service on Windows, Android, and iPhone, Psiphon is a solid AlwaysVPN alternative for users in restricted regions. Its key features include anti-censorship capabilities and the ability to hide your IP.
WireGuard
WireGuard is a modern, fast, and simple VPN protocol that leverages state-of-the-art cryptography, aiming to be leaner and more efficient than older protocols like IPSec. This free and open-source AlwaysVPN alternative is available on Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone, and BSD. Its primary features are its encrypted VPN and overall VPN functionality, making it an excellent choice for those seeking high performance and security with minimal overhead.
Windscribe
Windscribe combines a desktop application and browser extension to block ads and trackers, restore access to blocked content, and safeguard your privacy. This freemium AlwaysVPN alternative is available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. Features include hiding your IP, ad blocking, DNS leak blockage, and peer-to-peer support, offering a comprehensive privacy solution.
Freenet
Freenet is free, open-source software that allows for anonymous file sharing, browsing, and publishing of 'freesites' on a decentralized network. While not a traditional VPN, Freenet serves as an AlwaysVPN alternative for users seeking extreme anonymity and censorship resistance. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and BSD, its core features include anonymity, decentralization, and fully anonymous secure file-sharing.
ZenMate
ZenMate is an easy-to-use commercial VPN solution primarily available as a browser plugin, encrypting all browser traffic and routing it through its secure cloud. This AlwaysVPN alternative is available on Mac, Windows, Web, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, Vivaldi Browser, Chrome, Maxthon, Yandex.Browser, Opera, Chromium, and Firefox. It offers features like browser extension convenience, censorship bypass, encrypted connections, and the ability to hide your IP, focusing on simplicity and accessibility.
Mullvad
Mullvad is a highly privacy-focused commercial VPN service committed to keeping your online activity, identity, and location private. As an open-source AlwaysVPN alternative, it's available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, Chrome OS, Android Tablet, iPad, WireGuard, Qubes OS, OpenWrt, Tomato, IPFire, pfSense, OpenVPN, and DD-WRT. Mullvad stands out with features like WireGuard support, AES256 encryption, no logs policy, Bitcoin payment options, and SOCKS proxy support, making it ideal for privacy maximalists.
Choosing the right AlwaysVPN alternative depends on your specific needs, whether that's enhanced anonymity, open-source transparency, a particular pricing model, or a unique set of features. We encourage you to explore these options and select the one that best aligns with your privacy and connectivity requirements.