Best VPNs for Privacy in 2025
Best VPNs for Privacy in 2025
A VPN should not only keep you anonymous online but also prove that it can be trusted. In this guide, we’ve ranked the most privacy-respecting VPNs of 2025 using our independent scorecard. If speed is one part of the VPN equation, privacy is the other half.
🔒 VPNs Ranked by Privacy + Jurisdiction
| VPN | Jurisdiction | 5/9/14 Eyes? | Jurisdiction Risk | Privacy Features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProtonVPN | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | ❌ No | ✅ Safe | Open-source, audited. Court-proven no logs. Multi-hop, strong leak protection. | Get VPN |
| IVPN | 🇬🇮 Gibraltar (UK) | ✅ 9 Eyes | ❗️ High | Open-source. Multi-hop, audited. Supports Monero/Bitcoin. | Get VPN |
| Mullvad | 🇸🇪 Sweden | ✅ 14 Eyes | ❗️ High | RAM-only servers, anonymous sign-up, Bitcoin/Monero/cash. Audited. | Get VPN |
| CyberGhost | 🇷🇴 Romania | ❌ No | ✅ Safe | RAM-only servers, audited 2024. Good privacy features but shady parent ownership. | Get VPN |
| NordVPN | 🇵🇦 Panama | ❌ No | ✅ Safe | RAM-only servers. Double VPN, Onion-over-VPN. Audited 2024. | Get VPN |
Our scoring system considers factors like jurisdiction, no-log audits, RAM-only servers, open-source apps, proven no-logs in court, and past scandals. The result is a toplist of VPNs that balance transparency, accountability, and user protection.
Top Privacy VPNs (2025)
🥇 ProtonVPN — Score: 100
- Jurisdiction: Switzerland (outside 14 Eyes)
- No-logs verified: Multiple audits (latest 2024)
- Court-proven no logs: ✅ Yes
- Open-source apps: All apps open-source
- Extra privacy: Multi-hop, strong leak protection
- Notes: Consistently tops the charts for transparency and rigorous audits. No major scandals.
🥈 IVPN — Score: 82
- Jurisdiction: Gibraltar
- No-logs verified: Last audit in 2019
- Open-source apps: All apps open-source
- Multi-hop support: ✅ Yes
- Notes: Smaller provider with strong open-source commitments. Less frequent audits compared to Proton, but remains highly trusted.
🥉 Mullvad — Score: 80
- Jurisdiction: Sweden
- No-logs verified: Last audit in 2023
- RAM-only servers: ✅ Yes
- Anonymous payments: Known for account-free signups
- Notes: Famous for privacy-first policies and anonymous payment methods. One of the strictest no-logs policies in the industry.
4. CyberGhost VPN — Score: 73
- Jurisdiction: Romania
- No-logs verified: Latest audit 2024
- RAM-only servers: ✅ Yes
- Concerns: Part of a parent company with a mixed reputation
- Notes: Offers privacy features but trust issues exist due to ownership history.
5. NordVPN — Score: 69
- Jurisdiction: Panama
- No-logs verified: Latest audit 2024
- RAM-only servers: ✅ Yes
- Court-proven no logs: ❌ Not proven in court
- Concerns: Past scandal in 2019 raised questions, but recent transparency efforts have helped recovery.
How We Scored VPNs
Our VPN Privacy Scorecard takes into account:
- Jurisdiction & 14 Eyes Membership – Countries with strong privacy laws score higher.
- Independent No-Log Audits – Recent, repeated audits are essential.
- RAM-Only Servers – Ensures no data can be retained long-term.
- Court Proof & Police Seizure History – Providers proven to keep no logs in real-world cases rank higher.
- Open-Source & Transparency – Open-source apps and transparency reports boost trust.
- Scandals & Parent Company Reputation – Past privacy scandals lower a VPN’s score.
Wrapping Up
Choosing a VPN for privacy goes beyond flashy marketing claims. The providers at the top of this list have demonstrated, through audits and real-world tests, that they put your privacy first.
For 2025, ProtonVPN, IVPN, and Mullvad stand out as the gold standard of trust and transparency. CyberGhost and NordVPN round out the top five, offering strong protections but with some caveats to be aware of.
When choosing a VPN, remember: privacy isn’t just about encryption — it’s about accountability, transparency, and proven history.