News

The VPN market moves fast: new features, audits, price drops, outages and the occasional privacy controversy. Our news section tracks what matters — the deals worth grabbing, the security developments worth knowing, and the industry shifts that affect which VPN is the smart pick right now.

We focus on substance over hype: what changed, whether a "lifetime" or seasonal deal is genuinely good value, and what a new audit or feature means for your privacy in practice. Time-sensitive offers are flagged with their real terms so you can decide quickly.

Whether you're hunting a deal or keeping an eye on the providers you trust, this is the place. Below you'll find the latest VPN news, deals and analysis.

ExpressVPN+ Gets a Redesigned Dashboard — With Passkey Sign-In as the Real Upgrade
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ExpressVPN+ Gets a Redesigned Dashboard — With Passkey Sign-In as the Real Upgrade

ExpressVPN redesigned its ExpressVPN+ dashboard, unifying account, privacy and security management - and added phishing-resistant passkey sign-in, a one-stop hub, and built-in travel eSIMs. What actually matters for your security, plus new research on how UK kids really use VPNs.

VPNRatings Team · Jul 23, 2026
The UK Won't Ban VPNs - and the Reason Is Technical, Not Political
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The UK Won't Ban VPNs - and the Reason Is Technical, Not Political

After months of speculation around its under-16 social media ban, the UK has ruled out banning VPNs. The real obstacle isn't politics - it's that VPNs are core internet infrastructure you can't simply switch off. Here's why bans don't work.

VPNRatings Team · Jul 22, 2026
CyberGhost's Summer 2026 Deal: 83% Off Plus 2 Extra Months
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CyberGhost's Summer 2026 Deal: 83% Off Plus 2 Extra Months

CyberGhost's Summer Campaign 2026 runs July 20-August 11: 24+2 months at $2.19/mo (83% off) or EUR2.19/mo, with a 45-day money-back guarantee and up to 7 devices. The deal, the fine print on the upfront term and renewal, and whether CyberGhost fits you.

VPNRatings Team · Jul 21, 2026
PIA's Summer 2026 Deal: 82% Off Plus 2 Bonus Months for Travel Privacy
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PIA's Summer 2026 Deal: 82% Off Plus 2 Bonus Months for Travel Privacy

Private Internet Access's Summer Campaign 2026 runs July 20-August 11: 24+2 months at $2.19/mo (82% off) or EUR1.99/mo, with unlimited devices and a 30-day guarantee. The deal, the fine print on the upfront term and renewal, and whether PIA is worth it for summer travel.

VPNRatings Team · Jul 21, 2026
Surfshark News: Free Trial Test Launches July 20, Plus Faster macOS Speeds
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Surfshark News: Free Trial Test Launches July 20, Plus Faster macOS Speeds

Surfshark is testing a free trial from July 20 and adding new FastTrack speed locations for macOS. What both updates mean for you — plus the caveats: the trial is a gradual A/B test, and the speed boost is Mac-only for now.

VPNRatings Team · Jul 20, 2026
Russia's VPN Crackdown Is Starting to Hurt Online Shopping
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Russia's VPN Crackdown Is Starting to Hurt Online Shopping

Russia's 2026 campaign against VPNs and foreign platforms is breaking more than access to news. It is snagging the checkout flows, fraud checks, and cross-border access online retail depends on.

VPNRatings Editorial · Jul 15, 2026
IPVanish Turns On OpenVPN High-Speed Mode (DCO) on Windows — Up to 196% Faster
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IPVanish Turns On OpenVPN High-Speed Mode (DCO) on Windows — Up to 196% Faster

IPVanish has enabled OpenVPN High-Speed Mode (DCO) in its Windows client, promising up to 196% faster OpenVPN speeds with the same audited security. Here's what DCO does, the measured gains, how to turn it on, and the caveats — it's Windows-only and won't run with Scramble.

VPNRatings Team · Jul 14, 2026
Webshare Adds a Brazil Residential Proxy Location (Plans From $0.45/IP)
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Webshare Adds a Brazil Residential Proxy Location (Plans From $0.45/IP)

Webshare has added Brazil to its static residential proxy network — add it from your dashboard at the provider's usual budget pricing (from $0.45/IP), with 30% off on a yearly plan. What's new, who it's for, and what to check before committing.

VPNRatings Editorial · Jul 14, 2026
Win an iPhone 17 Pro: ExpressVPN's Summer Tech Competition (30 Up for Grabs)
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Win an iPhone 17 Pro: ExpressVPN's Summer Tech Competition (30 Up for Grabs)

ExpressVPN's Summer Tech Competition is giving away 30 iPhone 17 Pro from 11 July to 9 August 2026. Enter by subscribing to an eligible plan, or take the free no-purchase route. Here's how it works, the dates, and what to check before you buy.

VPNRatings Team · Jul 14, 2026
FastestPass 5-Year Deal: A Password Manager for $7 (Code Inside)
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FastestPass 5-Year Deal: A Password Manager for $7 (Code Inside)

FastestVPN's password manager FastestPass is running a 5-year deal — Premium for $7 or Family for $9 with code FAMILYPLUS, until 31 July 2026. Encrypted vault, unlimited passwords, sync, autofill and secure family sharing. Here's what you get and whether it's worth locking in.

VPNRatings Team · Jul 14, 2026
Will the UK Ban VPNs? What the Under-16 Social Media Debate Really Means
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Will the UK Ban VPNs? What the Under-16 Social Media Debate Really Means

The UK has banned social media for under-16s and is studying children's VPN use, but it has not banned VPNs. We separate realistic enforcement pressure from clickbait.

VPNRatings Editorial · Jul 13, 2026
hide.me VPN Summer Deal 2026: 27 Months for $/€/£ 2.59 a Month
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hide.me VPN Summer Deal 2026: 27 Months for $/€/£ 2.59 a Month

hide.me's summer offer (21 July – 30 August 2026): 27 months — 24 plus 3 bonus — for $/€/£ 2.59/month, total 69.99. Plus a Price Guarantee so your renewal stays the same. Here's the deal and what you get.

VPNRatings Team · Jul 10, 2026
ExpressVPN's Biggest Network Expansion: 214 Locations Across 113 Countries
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ExpressVPN's Biggest Network Expansion: 214 Locations Across 113 Countries

ExpressVPN just rolled out its largest network expansion yet — 214 server locations across 113 countries, from Nuuk to Lagos, with all 50 US states and every server still on RAM-only TrustedServer hardware. Here's what actually changes for you.

VPNRatings Team · Jul 9, 2026
ExpressKeys Update: Passkeys, Secure Sharing, and a New Cure53 Audit
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ExpressKeys Update: Passkeys, Secure Sharing, and a New Cure53 Audit

ExpressVPN password manager ExpressKeys adds passkeys, controlled secure sharing, easy imports, iOS card scanning and a 30-day recovery bin — plus a new Cure53 audit with no high or critical issues.

VPNRatings Editorial · Jul 4, 2026
VPN Streaming in 2026: Why Unblocking Still Changes Every Month
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VPN Streaming in 2026: Why Unblocking Still Changes Every Month

If your VPN unblocks a library one week and fails the next, it is by design. We explain the cat-and-mouse of IP blocklists, DNS and WebRTC leaks, speed, and smart DNS, and how to choose a streaming VPN that recovers fast.

VPNRatings Editorial · Jun 27, 2026
Proton Drive Just Got a CLI and Uploads Up to 4× Faster
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Proton Drive Just Got a CLI and Uploads Up to 4× Faster

Proton Drive added a command-line interface for Windows, macOS, and Linux and made uploads up to 4× faster — closing the two gaps people used to cite for sticking with less private cloud storage.

VPNRatings Editorial · Jun 24, 2026
Post-Quantum VPN Encryption: What It Means and Which Providers Are Moving First
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Post-Quantum VPN Encryption: What It Means and Which Providers Are Moving First

Quantum-safe is the newest VPN buzzword. We explain the NIST 2024 standards, the harvest-now-decrypt-later threat, and how to tell a genuine hybrid post-quantum upgrade from marketing hype.

VPNRatings Editorial · Jun 23, 2026
FastestVPN Summer Lifetime Deal: One Payment, VPN for Good
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FastestVPN Summer Lifetime Deal: One Payment, VPN for Good

FastestVPN is running its summer lifetime offer, a one-time payment that replaces the usual recurring subscription with permanent access. The headline tier lands around $35 paid once and bundles a generous device count plus a password manager. It is aimed at cost-conscious users who would rather buy a VPN outright than renew every year. Below is what the deal actually includes and where the trade-offs sit.

VPNRatings Team · Jun 12, 2026
CyberGhost World Cup Deal: Up to 88% Off, 45-Day Refund
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CyberGhost World Cup Deal: Up to 88% Off, 45-Day Refund

CyberGhost is leaning into the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a steep discount on its longest plan, dropping the effective monthly price to a couple of dollars. The offer pairs a large server network with a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is unusually long for the category. It is pitched at fans who want to stream matches across regions without committing blind. Here is how the terms break down and whether the headline number holds up.

VPNRatings Team · Jun 12, 2026
PIA World Cup Deal: 89% Off, $1.33/mo, Unlimited Devices
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PIA World Cup Deal: 89% Off, $1.33/mo, Unlimited Devices

Private Internet Access has timed a deep discount to the 2026 World Cup, cutting its two-year plan by around 89% to about $1.33 per month with two extra months free. The draw is rock-bottom pricing, unlimited simultaneous connections, and a long-standing open-source, no-logs reputation. It targets value hunters who want to cover every device in the house during the tournament. Here is what the offer includes and where to be careful.

VPNRatings Team · Jun 12, 2026
Proton's Gmail Easy Switch Meets Its World Cup VPN Push
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Proton's Gmail Easy Switch Meets Its World Cup VPN Push

Proton is having a busy 2026: it rolled out an Easy Switch tool that lets you link a Gmail account inside Proton Mail, while Proton VPN is pitching its network for streaming the FIFA World Cup from anywhere. The two stories share a theme of pulling more of your digital life under Proton's privacy umbrella. This piece covers what the Gmail integration does, what Proton VPN brings to World Cup viewing, and who each is for. Neither is a paid event exclusive, but both matter for Proton users this summer.

VPNRatings Team · Jun 12, 2026
ExpressVPN, Official FIFA World Cup 2026 VPN: 80% Off + Tickets
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ExpressVPN, Official FIFA World Cup 2026 VPN: 80% Off + Tickets

ExpressVPN has signed on as an official supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026, its biggest sports tie-up yet, and is marking it with an 80%-off promotion and a ticket giveaway. The long plan drops to around $2.49 per month, and purchases during the promo window enter a draw for tournament tickets. It is aimed at fans who want a premium, official-partner VPN for streaming the event. Here is the full picture of terms and what to watch.

VPNRatings Team · Jun 12, 2026
PureVPN's World Cup Pitch: Cheap Plans, 31-Day Refund
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PureVPN's World Cup Pitch: Cheap Plans, 31-Day Refund

PureVPN is courting football fans for the 2026 World Cup with steeply discounted long-term plans and guides for reaching region-locked broadcasters and Arabic commentary feeds. The draw is a low effective monthly price, a 31-day money-back guarantee, and a large server network across dozens of countries. It is aimed at budget viewers who want geo-flexibility during the tournament. Here is what the offer really includes and where expectations should sit.

VPNRatings Team · Jun 12, 2026