VPNs are fantastic. They’re your ultimate privacy tools that can also circumvent geo-blocks and even block malware and viruses. In 2026, these companies aim to provide 360-degree protection on all devices. But do you really need a VPN? That’s a tough one, huh?
It’s like having this impressive car, which can go to 0-60 in 3 seconds but then, there’s the law that won’t let you use all this power. When discussing whether or not you need a VPN, it’s all about your needs and expectations. Do you want most of the VPN-associated benefits?
In that case, you DO need a VPN! If not, you don’t need it. It’s simple math.
The goal of this guide is to acquaint you with what a VPN can do, who it’s for, and how it works so that you can easily determine whether or not to get one. In case you decide on that step, we’ll also include a few great VPNs to consider to get the most out of the experience.
Do You Need a VPN in 2026? 8 Reasons to Use One
Okay, so for total newbies who have no clue about this service, we’ll do our best to explain it shortly.
A VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It’s a tool (app), which connects you to a remote server in another country or city and masks your original IP address. In this process, your traffic is encrypted by a VPN tunnel, which makes the traffic unreadable to anyone.
With this proposition, the service offers both security and privacy, which, you’ll agree, is essential in today’s dark times. Considering the VPN cost, which is roughly a few monthly quids, it seems like a nice, nearly costless addition to your phone, PC, tablet, and other devices.
But do YOU need a VPN or is it unnecessary? Let’s see what it can do and we’ll conclude the discussion together.
Reason 1: Online Privacy
Online privacy is a big reason for many to start using this service. If you’re worried about ISP monitoring, government surveillance, and cyber attacks, you do need a VPN. We’ve heard a few terrifying stories about hacking incidents on phone, tablet, and laptop cameras.
You’ve heard of these too, right? These aren’t some made-up horror stories.
Hackers can indeed access your device via the IP address. ISPs monitor your traffic the same way. They provide you with an IP address, which you use but is in their ownership. As a result, they can and will monitor all activities stemming from this IP address, including but not limited to:
- Streaming
- Torrenting
- VoIP chatting/calling
- Browsing
- Watching pornography, etc.
Your ISP knows everything you do online, whatever that might be. So, do you need a VPN to protect your privacy? Absolutely. If you care about this aspect, you should consider one, and NordVPN is a great choice. Such a VPN will encrypt your traffic and make it unreadable.
Once you connect, your ISP might be able to tell you’re using a VPN — but there’s a catch!
It won’t be able to tell WHAT you’re doing. All it’ll see will be a garbled mess of letters and characters, which symbolize unbreakable encryption. The same goes for hackers who will try to access the device via your IP address. Since it’s hidden, they’ll hit the wall and be stopped.
Add to that a no-log policy, which is integral to every reputable VPN, and you’ll realize why privacy is guaranteed.
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Who Should Use a VPN for Privacy?
In our opinion — everyone! However, special attention goes to:
- Business owners who need safe and secure access to their sensitive files
- Whistleblowers and journalists handling controversial topics
- Every internet user who doesn’t want to be tracked and spied on by his ISP
Reason 2: Public WiFi Protection
One thing is at-home privacy but another is public online privacy. We all use public WiFi hotspots but rarely think about their safety. Do you really need a VPN when using them? Well, let us explain. On your nights out, pull out your phone and enable WiFi on it.
You’ll see ten and likely way more WiFi networks. Which one is safe? You don’t know!
Hackers and cybercriminals (they’re often not the same) know how to create WiFi hotspots and name them aptly to mimic the “real” network. Once you connect, you’ve taken the bait and now, the attacker can execute an MITM (man-in-the-middle) attack to steal your data.
This can be used to, for example, steal your credit card information and withdraw all your money to another account. Even if you connect to a “legit” network, be aware that public WiFi hotspots often lack encryption — plus, password protection alone often isn’t enough.
A VPN can help by, again, encrypting your connection and replacing your IP address with another one. In this case, an attacker would see only the VPN-given IP, which isn’t susceptible to DDoS attacks and is in no way associated with your original identity.
With your untraceable connection in place, a hacker would have to seek another victim in disappointment.
Oh — one more thing! The owner of the public WiFi network (cafe, restaurant, hotel, etc…) won’t be able to trace you either. This means you can use a VPN on travels to access restricted sites or simply enjoy the internet privately in any hotel across the world. Awesome.
Reason 3: Unblocking Restricted Content
Do you need a VPN to unblock restricted content or you can go another way?
Unless you’re planning to spend bags of money on traveling the world like Indiana Jones, you will need a VPN. Restricted content isn’t just about streaming, although it mostly is for seasoned VPN users. There’s more to restricted content. For example different causes:
- Geo-blocks
- Firewall restrictions
- Censorship (especially in China)
We explained how to overcome these in detail in our site-unblocking guide.
When it comes to the types of restricted websites/platforms, the most typical ones include:
- Pornography sites (like Pornhub which is blocked in Texas)
- Streaming sites (or streaming site libraries, such as Netflix US, Prime Video US, …)
- Gambling sites
- Social media platforms (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, …)
- VoIP services/apps (Viber, WhatsApp, Skype, Telegram, and more…)
- Dating sites (good examples are Grindr, OnlyFans, and a few more)
In any case, overcoming geo-blocks is most efficient with a VPN. Everything boils down to “escaping” the “environment” you’re in. If it’s a geo-block, you need to change your IP to another country where a specific website or platform works. Firewall restrictions are the same.
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You’re constrained by your network’s “rules”, which can be sidestepped by connecting to a Virtual Private Network. Finally, in the case of censorship, you’ll need to change your VPN location, appear as if you’re somewhere else, and unblock the website or app you want.
All of this can be achieved with renowned VPNs, such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access.
Reason 4: Safe and Secure Torrenting
If you’re unsure if you need a VPN yet, ask yourself this — do you often share files via P2P?
People who do this are familiar with torrenting as well, and they know that it’s a form of P2P file-sharing. P2P file-sharing is generally legal, as long as you’re not distributing copyrighted material. In that case, torrenting becomes illicit whether or not you’re using a VPN service.
When downloading torrents, you need to know that you’re essentially downloading files or file parts from peers within the network. You can see their IP addresses but they can also see yours. Torrenting isn’t private but we have a guide on how to torrent safely in 2026.
To do this, you need to conceal your IP address and encrypt your traffic.
So, if you’re frequently torrenting and don’t want to risk privacy infringements, it’s good to have a VPN, which will protect your privacy, secure your traffic, and provide ample performance to download your files swiftly.
Reason 5: Online Banking & Shopping
Do you need a VPN if you’re often abroad for whichever reason — fun or business? We say YES because oftentimes, you’ll find it difficult to use online banking. Banks have this security system, which prevents unauthorized access to your banking account. We appreciate it.
However, unauthorized access often means access from an unknown IP address.
Let’s say you’re in Italy and have a bank account you access with your Italian IP address. Go abroad, connect to public WiFi and boom — your Italian bank account suddenly doesn’t work. Worse yet, the bank suspects you’re a cyberattacker and blocks your account to prevent damage.
Now, you need to contact the bank, explain everything, and hope they’ll turn it back on.
A VPN is very convenient because it lets you connect to an Italian (or any other) server, launch your banking app, and make payments hassle-free. On that note, there’s online shopping, where you can save plenty of money by playing around with VPN locations.
Some countries have lower prices for flight tickets or even “ordinary” goods. If you’re interested, we have an article explaining how to get cheaper plane tickets with the help of a VPN.
The same goes for buying digital goods, which usually come with different price tags based on the user’s location. So, with online banking and IP-changing prowess in your hands, online shopping will attain a new dimension!
Reason 6: Bypassing Censorship
If you’re residing in a censored country, be it momentarily or for a prolonged period, you will inevitably need a VPN. China is the most (in)famous censored country that blocks access to thousands of different websites.
Not only that — you’ll find VoIP apps, social media platforms, and other services inaccessible. Even the “basic” stuff like Google services, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and other everyday apps and websites won’t work, which makes the internet space constrained.
Do you need a VPN in China? Well, you can certainly breathe and live without it. However, most people in this country use a VPN to lift the block and enjoy the internet freely. With added privacy and security, a VPN is great for deterring the government’s prying eyes.
Not all providers work in China, but we found that ExpressVPN and NordVPN are fairly reliable. You can also try Astrill VPN if you don’t mind the premium price tag.
Reason 7: Gaming
Are you a gamer? I mean, do you love playing online games and engaging with other players online?
If you answered with a resounding YES — you will benefit from a VPN.
If you’re rather a single-player gamer, this service likely won’t induce any gaming-related benefits. However, you’ll still be able to enjoy other advantages mentioned in this article. Gaming is entirely possible without a VPN. To be fair, we don’t often use it for this purpose.
But the gaming world is a haven for hackers and cyber-perpetrators who know how to execute DDoS and swatting attacks to cause great harm. Gamers also face issues with ISP throttling, where the ISP intentionally slows the connection during bandwidth-intensive scenarios.
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Both issues can be bypassed by connecting to a VPN before gaming. Its encryption will “dampen” DDoS attacks that wouldn’t even phase the VPN server. Plus, your ISP won’t be able to impose bandwidth restrictions because it can’t target what it doesn’t see i.e. your connection!
Oh, we should also mention gaming-related deals and discounts that a VPN can help you access. Change your region on Steam or PSN and you’ll be able to discover hefty discounts to save money on your life-changing hobby.
Reason 8: Malware & Virus Protection
Some would argue that you don’t need a VPN if you have proper malware and virus protection but our experts disagree. VPNs do come with antiviruses and that’s phenomenal because you can not only protect your privacy but also make sure your device is unharmed.
Since no malware and viruses can enter the device, it means the device won’t be used to mine crypto, for example.
Get Surfshark Antivirus on All Devices
In the same fashion, there’s no possibility of being infected by a specky keylogger that would record your keystrokes and steal your valuable passwords.
So, if you’re looking for all-around protection and don’t want to spend a fortune, you will need a VPN like NordVPN or Surfshark. These two contain full-on malware and virus protection respectively, so you’ll get everything you need in an app that you can install on all devices.
No need to buy ten different subscriptions to achieve the same effect.
What a VPN Can’t Do? Setting Up Expectations
The answer to the question “Do I need a VPN?” should already be clear to you. If you appreciate and above all, NEED the advantages we discussed, you need it. End of story.
However, it’s good to set up the expectations properly and clarify that VPNs aren’t almighty tools that’ll protect you from every online threat under the Sun. For example:
- This service can’t speed up your otherwise slow internet connection.
- It can’t protect you from irresponsible internet use.
- The VPN also doesn’t provide phishing protection.
The first point makes sense to everyone. No VPN can magically alter your internet speed. However, the second point should be clarified because irresponsible internet use will be your downfall, with or without a VPN. What is irresponsible internet use, you might be wondering?
To put it simply, it has to do with using weak passwords, clicking suspicious links, and willingly divulging your private information. This segways into the third point about phishing, which is one of the most typical cyberattacks, where the attacker can steal user information at the drop of a hat.
If you’re aware of VPN limitations and downsides, you’ll likely be happy with the service.
I Decided I Want a VPN — Which One to Choose?
Really? You do need one, right? Okay. This means you shouldn’t rush and grab the first one that appears in the search results. Oh, wait. Maybe you should?
Not all VPNs are good, which is exacerbated by the fact that there are hundreds of them. However, if you follow our guidelines and look at our top 10 VPN list, you’ll see some phenomenal options you can try to be able to achieve all eight benefits from before.
In short, after testing likely 100+ providers, our experts always come back to:
- NordVPN 🥇
- ExpressVPN 🥈
- Private Internet Access 🥉
Of course, we think many other options are great — Proton VPN, for example. However, NordVPN is the most reliable pick because it has servers in 117 countries, advanced security tools, and even malware protection on all devices, all while costing way under $4/mo.
ExpressVPN is another quality option with easy-to-use apps, excellent performance, streaming capabilities, and a no-logging policy for added privacy. Like NordVPN, it includes obfuscation, so it’s also ideal to use in China to sidestep persistent internet censorship.
Users who don’t want to spend a lot should consider PIA. Thanks to unlimited concurrent connections and stringent security, this VPN is popular amongst many cybersecurity enthusiasts. It also has a cheap antivirus for advanced protection against all threats.
Remember that premium services like these are better than free VPNs. Besides, there’s nothing to lose if you want to give them a go, thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee. If the question of do you need a VPN still occupies your head, you lose nothing by checking out for yourself.
8922 servers
127 covered countries
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10 simultaneous connections
9.4 /10
3000 servers
105 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections
9.1 /10
27000 servers
91 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
Unlimited connections
9 /10
Do You Need a VPN? The Definitive Answer
The definitive answer is the one you’ve seen from afar — it depends!
We know you hate this one but really, the discussion boils down to it. It’s like asking if you need treatment for arthritis. Sure. If you have one, you’ll need it. If you’re healthy, why would you treat it? We’d say that most people will achieve great results from using a VPN in 2026.
Is it necessary? Absolutely not.
If you’re not into streaming, you’re not traveling, or don’t care about privacy and torrenting, then use the internet without “enhancements” and go about your day. People are doing it every day and they face no consequences.
We’re not here to push you to spend your money. However, it’s worth noting that the investment will be minor and worth it. Whether or not you’re willing to make that step is solely up to you, now that you know all the ins and outs of this nifty little tool.
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FAQs
If you’re still unsure whether to make the leap of faith, we’ll answer a few more questions for you.
✅ Do you need a VPN on all devices?
You don’t necessarily need it on any device but it’s advisable to use one. Mobile devices, we think, are most susceptible to threats because of today’s lifestyles. We’re constantly on our phones when browsing, streaming, or even gaming. Let’s not forget that we also often use public WiFi hotspots.
All of this makes using VPNs on a mobile device sort of a priority. Luckily, all providers have native, beautifully optimized apps for iPhones and Android devices. Download one, connect to the server, and go online safely.
Be aware that this tool can slightly speed up the battery drain and consume slightly more data.
⚖️ VPN vs no VPN — what’s the difference?
The largest difference is in security and privacy. Without this tool enabled, you won’t have encryption to protect you. With your IP exposed to everyone, you also have no privacy. This means your ISP will continue to monitor your activities and hackers will be able to attack you.
Restricted sites will stay that way as well and unencrypted torrenting will make the activity far less safe. Essentially, take all the reasons from above and twist them upside down. You’ll simply get the opposite of what would happen if you used a Virtual Private Network.
⚙️ Are there alternatives to using a VPN?
Some people rely on proxies but they’re in no way a perfect alternative to a proper VPN.
Proxies allow you to route your traffic through an intermediary server and have another IP address. They, however, don’t use encryption and lack the security and privacy you need. Paid proxies are slightly better but more expensive and complicated to set up for newbies.
You could get a free VPN but you can say goodbye to streaming, torrenting, fast speeds, and other premium features. In short, there’s no feasible alternative that would 100% replace this invaluable service.