To Pay or Not to Pay - Free VPNs versus Paid VPNs

Online security concerns are on the rise. Internet users understand the importance of taking precautions to protect their personal data while online. Tools such as firewalls and anti-virus software are very useful and highly recommended. However, they cannot protect a user’s information while they are accessing the Internet through an unsecure connection. For this reason, many users are turning to the services of a virtual private network, or VPN. A VPN protects users while online by encrypting their data before transmitting it through a secure tunnel. Some VPN providers offer free services or low-cost limited packages with their services. Therefore when users are on the market for VPNs, they will have to decide whether to pay for a service or utilize a free VPN provider. Before making a decision, users should be aware that in the case of VPNs, the old adage holds true: “You get what you pay for.” Security and Service Guarantees A premium VPN service can offer its customers guaranteed uptimes and security. Free and low-cost services cannot. This is because the low-cost and free services do not own or maintain their own hardware and software. This is all handled by third-party vendors. If a server goes down, the VPN service will be unavailable until the vendor fixes the issue. If the servers are not up, the VPN is useless. A premium provider, on the other hand, can provide 100% guaranteed uptimes. Multiple Servers in Global locations The speed of a VPN connection is dependent on many factors including server location and availability. The further a server is from the user’s physical location, the greater the latency as data-packets are transmitted back and forth through the server. Furthermore, if there is a lot of network traffic and congestion, the connection will be slow. Free and low-cost VPN providers cannot afford to provide multiple servers. Users are therefore likely to experience slow connections. Premium providers, on the other hand, will have multiple servers in multiple locations to cut down on network traffic and reduce latency. Users who travel abroad will benefit from a VPN service that offers servers globally. This is something that can only be found with premium VPN services. Technical Support Users who rely on their VPN service may find the need to contact their technical support when issues arise. Only premium services will provide round-the-clock support for these issues. Free services will provide limited technical support with slow response times. Choice of protocols There are many different protocols that a VPN provider can offer its customers. These protocols determine how the user’s data is encrypted and transmitted. Some protocols offer faster speeds while others offer higher levels of security. Not all protocols are compatible with all types of devices. Free services may offer only one protocol option. Premium services on the other hand, will offer a choice that that users can select the appropriate protocol for each device they use. Users should take every possible measure to protect their data while online. While using a free VPN is certainly better than using no VPN at all, the slow speeds, downtimes and lack of support may not be worth the hassle. Only a premium VPN and provide a user with the guaranteed security and technical support they expect in a service.