Best VPNs to stop your ISP from tracking your internet activity

In today’s digital age, the privacy of your online activities is under unprecedented threat. Shockingly, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the US now wield the power to monitor and monetize your digital footprint. Including what websites you visit, messages, emails, searches, and more. Recent legislative shifts, specifically Senate Joint Resolution 34 (S.J. Res 34) 2017-18, have stripped away essential protections. This allows industry giants like Comcast and Time Warner Cable to cash in on your browsing data without your consent. Luckily, there are two surefire ways to prevent your ISP from monitoring web activity: a VPN or Tor.

While options like Tor exist, our recommendation leans heavily toward Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). This is because VPNs ensure faster connectivity and operate discreetly, keeping you off the radar of both ISPs and authorities. A VPN acts as your digital guardian, encrypting every piece of information flowing from your device and directing it via a secure server of your choice. This protection ensures your ISP remains blind to your online actions—whether it’s the websites you frequent or the personal messages you exchange.

Join us as we demystify the new internet landscape and arm you with the tools to regain control of your online privacy. Below, we get into detail on each of the VPN providers that make up this list and explain how to use them. But if you only have time for a quick review, here are our top choices:

1. NordVPN The best VPN to prevent ISP tracking! Boasts ultrafast speeds and some of the strongest privacy protections available. Keeps no logs and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Privacy.
2. Surfshark: Our top budget VPN for beating ISP tracking. Fast and versatile, with a wealth of security and privacy features. Secure every device you own at once.
3. IPVanish: Owns and operates all the servers on its network. Holds no logs or metadata on any of its users. DNS leak protection and unlimited simultaneous connections. 24/7 customer support.
4. ExpressVPN: Strong encryption, security, and internet privacy features. Keeps no logs and offers multiple options for protecting all your devices and traffic. 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. CyberGhost: Connect up to 7 devices simultaneously. Protects your privacy with a strict no-logs policy.
6. PureVPN: A reliable VPN that takes the stress out of staying safe online. Large network, apps for all major platforms, and 24/7 support. Works with most streaming services.
7. Private Internet Access: Solid security credentials. Strict with keeping no logs on user activity. Well priced, but displayed inconsistent download speeds in testing.
8. ProtonVPN: No-logs provider with plenty of advanced privacy features. Fast servers in 100+ countries, as well as the ability to access even the most stubborn region-locked sites.
9. StrongVPN: Strong security and privacy features along with a no-logs policy, but not the easiest apps to use.

How we found the top VPN that prevent ISP tracking

Every VPN is different, and while this means that there’s a service for every situation, it also makes it tricky for newcomers to decide which one to use. That’s where we come in: here’s a quick overview of the criteria we used for when looking for the best VPNs for preventing ISP tracking:

• Strong security, including 256-bit AES encryption
• A selection of modern VPN protocols
• A strict no-logs policy with no exceptions
• Reliable speeds for downloading and streaming
• Responsive customer support via live chat
• Fair pricing with a money-back guarantee
• The ability to protect several devices at once
• Apps for all major platforms — router compatibility is a bonus

You can read more about how we test the VPNs we recommend and view the results of those tests in our methodology section below. First, let’s take a look at the ones that made the cut. 

Best VPNs to prevent ISP tracking: Our hands-on review

We’ve tested and compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for preventing ISP tracking.

The best VPNs to prevent ISPs seeing and tracking your activity

Here’s our list of the best VPNs to prevent ISP tracking:

1. NordVPN

Apr 2025 Prevents ISP TrackingTested Apr 2025

NordVPN is our top VPN for preventing ISP tracking. It’s based in Panama and allows up to 10 simultaneous connections per account. There are also more than 7,000 servers spread across 100 countries. That said, the real value is in the company’s strict zero logs policy and its strong encryption suite: 256-bit encryption on OpenVPN and 2,048-bit Diffie-Hellman keys.

The NordVPN app includes a process-specific kill switch, so you can specify which programs are blocked from sending unencrypted web traffic over your ISP network should the VPN connection drop. A wide range of servers is available, including some optimized for extra privacy, including Tor over VPN and double VPN.

It’s no slouch where performance is concerned, either. In fact, NordVPN regularly places among the fastest providers on the market. We performed another set of tests for this post (checking the speed of its US servers at multiple times of day), just to be sure that we recorded the most up-to-date results. You’ll find these below:

NordVPN fell below 200 Mbps in just one of its three tests and managed to deliver an impressive average speed of 202.03 Mbps. In short, it’s the fastest VPN in this list and can handle whatever you throw at it. We’ve had great results streaming, gaming, torrenting, and video calling while connected.

Apps are available for Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. If you travel abroad, NordVPN can also unblock geographically restricted content like Netflix and Hulu.

BEST VPN FOR PREVENTING ISP TRACKING:NordVPN is our top choice. Boasts a large server network, fast connection speeds, and great unblocking capabilities. This provider offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of NordVPN.

---

2. Surfshark

Prevents ISP TrackingTested Apr 2025

Surfshark is the best budget option for beating ISP snooping. It supports the industry-approved OpenVPN or WireGuard protocols, plus there’s a censorship-busting NoBorders mode in case you’re in a country like China or the UAE. All traffic is secured with 256-bit AES encryption, 2048-bit DHE-RSA keys, a kill switch, and protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.

This VPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which means that it isn’t legally required to store any details of user activity. Accordingly, Surfshark doesn’t log any information that could identify you. You don’t have to take the company’s word for it, either; it has an extensive audit history. 24/7 support is available over live chat, should you need it.

Of course, there’s always a tradeoff between speed and security. To see what kind of performance Surfshark can offer, we tested its American servers three times throughout a typical day. Note that these tests were run on a 250 Mbps connection, so if your base speeds are slower, your results will be too.

Surfshark managed to deliver an average speed of 196.24 Mbps, speeds varying by just 5 Mbps across three tests. That’s a level of performance and consistency that most of its competitors can only dream of. Whether you’re planning on torrenting, watching TV, or just browsing the web, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Surfshark has apps for Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. It can even be manually configured for use with supported home routers.

BEST BUDGET CHOICE:Surfshark secures unlimited devices without costing a fortune. It also boasts high speeds, a wide range of security features, a no-logs policy, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

---

3. IPVanish

Prevents ISP TrackingTested Apr 2025

IPVanish is one of the few VPN providers to actually own, rather than rent, its servers. That means it has greater control over who can access its 2,000+ servers. By default, users connect using OpenVPN with 256-bit AES full encryption, SHA512 authentication, and ephemeral 2,048-bit RSA keys with perfect forward secrecy. However, it also supports the WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols. Best of all, users can protect every device they own simultaneously.

The company keeps no records of traffic or metadata on its users, so despite being based in the US, it couldn’t produce any information on users even if it wanted to. This has been backed up by several independent audits. DNS leak protection is built-in, and a kill switch can be enabled in the settings.

This provider recently upgraded its network to use 25 Gbps servers, so it should theoretically outpace most of the competition. To see if that’s the case, our experts tested the speed of its US servers in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon. You’ll find the full results in the chart below:

IPVanish’s average speed was an impressive 185.18 Mbps, making it the third-quickest provider on our list. It had about 10 Mbps of fluctuation over the course of a day, which isn’t anything unusual. Simply put, this would be a fantastic choice for anyone who needs high speeds, consistent connections, and powerful privacy tools.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It’s new Advanced subscription plan bundles the VPN with 1TB of storage and a cloud-based secure browser, making it even better value.

FAST AND RELIABLE:IPVanish has a large network of servers. Uncongested network achieves fantastic speeds. Strong security and online privacy features. Annual plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

---

4. ExpressVPN

Prevents ISP TrackingTested Apr 2025

ExpressVPN is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. It boasts a best-in-class encryption suite, combining the OpenVPN protocol with 256-bit channel encryption, SHA512 authentication, and 4,096 RSA keys that use perfect forward secrecy. It also has its own protocol named Lightway that minimizes speed loss when using distant servers. Better still, this was recently updated to support post-quantum encryption.

The company uses its own DNS servers and routes all DNS requests through the VPN, so nothing leaks to your ISP. Hundreds of users can share a single IP address, so it’s nearly impossible to track any internet activity back to you. Both its apps and privacy policy have been audited several times for your peace of mind.

ExpressVPN has generally done very well in our industry-wide performance tests. That said, it’s vital to check in again regularly, since even small changes to the network can have a dramatic impact on speed. Here are the results of our testing on its US servers, broken down by time of day:

First things first: this VPN delivered an impressive average speed of 156.56 Mbps, putting it firmly among the quickest providers on the market. ExpressVPN also had one of the lowest levels of variance: just 5 Mbps. As such, it’s a great option for browsing anonymously, torrenting, or accessing geo-locked services like Netflix and Hulu when traveling abroad.

The ExpressVPN app includes a “network lock” that halts internet traffic should your connection drop at any point until it is re-established. Apps are available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux (command-line), and certain wifi routers.

BROWSE SAFELY ANYWHERE:ExpressVPN puts your privacy first. It offers military-grade encryption protocols coupled with a neat design and fast connection speeds. Great at unblocking geo-restricted sites and services. Plans include a 30-day no-quibbles money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

---

5. CyberGhost

Prevents ISP TrackingTested Apr 2025

CyberGhost makes it easy to browse the internet safely. This beginner-friendly VPN doesn’t log any personally identifiable information and keeps your activities private at all times with a combination of 256-bit AES encryption, protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks, and 2048-bit DHE-RSA keys. What’s more, there’s a kill switch in every version of the app.

That’s not all this service has to offer; there’s also an automatic ad-blocker, malware scanner, and the ability to connect via a random port. The latter feature allows you to use HTTPS even on networks that usually block this traffic. Each one of CyberGhost’s security features comes pre-configured and enabled by default.

CyberGhost has one of the largest networks around, which should help minimize your chances of getting an overloaded server. We ran performance tests on its American servers at three times of day to see just what it was capable of. Let’s take a look at those results:

There was just 5 Mbps of fluctuation throughout the day, which is an impressive result. This means that you’re effectively guaranteed a speedy connection, no matter when you connect. Its average speed was 149.73 Mbps, meaning it’s capable of handling anything you throw at it, from streaming to video calling, all without any performance hiccups.

CyberGhost apps are available for Windows, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Android. The VPN can be manually configured to work with select internet routers.

GOOD CHOICE FOR NOVICES:CyberGhost is an inexpensive yet powerful VPN that provides strong security and privacy protections, and very high speeds. It even comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost

---

6. PureVPN

prevents ISP trackingTested Apr 2025

PureVPN is a great choice for anyone looking to protect their privacy with minimal fuss. It prevents ISP tracking using cutting-edge encryption on both the OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols, stops IPv6 and DNS leaks, and includes a kill switch, which makes sure you’ll never accidentally browse unprotected after a drop in your connection. It also recently extended tracker-blocking to all users, instead of just Plus and Max subscribers. This is one of the only VPNs that still works in China.

PureVPN offers access to thousands of servers spread across 60+ countries. It can reliably access a wide range of geo-restricted sites, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. There is no rule against P2P activity, no bandwidth limitations, and a strict no-logging policy in place. Users can secure up to 10 devices at a time and contact staff over live chat in the event of any issues.

So, how fast is this provider? To find out, we had our expert reviews perform three tests (one in the morning, one at noon, and one in the afternoon) on its US servers. These were run on a 250 Mbps connection since that’s the average US household broadband speed and should more accurately reflect the speeds you’ll get:

PureVPN proved it’s capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the best of them. Its average speed was 117.59 Mbps, well above what you’ll need for any day-to-day task, and there was only around 8 Mbps of fluctuation across our tests. Simply, you should be able to use the internet, free from performance issues or interruption, even when several other people in your home are online.

PureVPN apps are available for iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, and Android. Additionally, this provider has detailed setup instructions for a huge range of router firmware.

AUTOMATIC OBFUSCATION:PureVPN puts your privacy first and can even scramble your traffic if it detects that you’re in a country with extreme censorship. Offers impressive performance, reliable servers, and a 31-day money-back guarantee with every plan.

Read our full review of PureVPN to learn more.

---

7. ProtonVPN

prevents isp trackingTested Apr 2025

ProtonVPN doesn’t mess around when it comes to your security. In addition to uncrackable encryption, it offers a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and automatic tracker-blocking. There are roughly 9,000 general-purpose servers spread across 110+ countries, plus multi-hop Secure Core servers designed to provide the highest level of privacy possible. This VPN doesn’t keep any logs and has been independently audited to prove it. There is even port forwarding and split tunneling functionality, though this isn’t available on all platforms.

This provider generally does quite well where speed is concerned. Nonetheless, our team performed another round of testing on its American servers to be sure we had the most accurate data. The chart below shows ProtonVPN’s performance at various times of day:

Following a day of testing, ProtonVPN managed to deliver an average speed of 118.66 Mbps. That puts it squarely in the middle of the pack in terms of performance (which, given the level of competition, is saying a lot). There was around 8 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest results too, which is well within the expected limits.

In our opinion, ProtonVPN is one of the most versatile services on the market. It delivers top-tier performance, allows torrenting, and works with all manner of region-locked sites. Support staff are on-hand 24 hours per day, but the website also boasts an expansive help section that provides answers to common questions. With up to 10 simultaneous connections permitted, you’ll be able to secure all of your most commonly used devices at the same time. Anyone looking for another layer of anonymity can pay in Bitcoin or cash.

ProtonVPN has its own Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux apps. It also supports most routers but you’ll have to follow manual configuration instructions.

CUSTOMIZABLE TOOLS:ProtonVPN allows experienced users to tailor their security setup to fit their needs. This no-logs service offers first-class speed and streaming ability, plus friendly and knowledgeable support staff. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out our complete ProtonVPN review.

---

8. Private Internet Access

Prevents ISP TrackingTested Apr 2025

Private Internet Access allows users to set which VPN protocol they use (OpenVPN or WireGuard) and change everything from the encryption level to the remote port used. It even supports more advanced functionality like port forwarding and split tunneling, in case you’d like a little more control.

The most secure configuration is OpenVPN combined with 256-bit AES encryption, SHA256 authentication, and 4,096-bit RSA keys with perfect forward secrecy. PIA operates its own servers, and its app includes DNS leak protection and a kill switch to prevent any traffic from leaking onto the unencrypted ISP network. It doesn’t keep any logs of your activities and has been independently audited to prove it.

When it comes to speed, Private Internet Access has generally provided above-average results. Still, we decided to retest its American servers throughout the day to see if that trend has continued. Let’s take a look at how they held up:

Private Internet Access turned out to be the slowest provider in this list, but with an average speed of 55.12 Mbps, it’s still well above what’s required for everyday tasks like browsing the internet, watching TV, or torrenting. However, if your base speeds are slower than ours (250 Mbps), you may want to look elsewhere.

PIA is US-based but doesn’t keep any logs, and it has even published court documents to prove it. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.

STRICT NO LOGS POLICY:Private Internet Access has top security, low price, rich security features, and great customer service. Speeds can be inconsistent. 31-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PIA review.

---

9. StrongVPN

Prevents ISP TrackingTested Apr 2025

StrongVPN is a US-based provider with around 1,000 servers spread across 30+ countries. It supports several protocols, but we’d suggest using OpenVPN or WireGuard for the most secure connection. This provider refuses to keep any logs of your activities and allows users to connect automatically whenever the app opens.

There’s no need to worry about security. StrongVPN uses 256-bit encryption and SHA512 authentication, with both a kill switch and leak protection just in case. It’s a decent option for streaming too, working with platforms like Hulu, Prime Video, and Disney+.

With such a small network, you might expect speeds to be fairly slow. You might be surprised to hear that StrongVPN has generally performed quite well in our prior tests. Below, you’ll find a chart breaking down our most recent testing by time of day:

StrongVPN delivered an average speed of 66.12 Mbps, which isn’t bad at all. In fact, it’s significantly more than you’ll need to stream 4K video, use P2P networks, or play online games. There was around 10 Mbps of variance, though. This wouldn’t be a huge deal if the speeds were higher, but as is, it means that you could lose up to 15 percent of your speed depending on the time of day you use this VPN.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android.

MOST RELIABLE:StrongVPN confidently overcomes geo-blocking. Reliable network of servers. Good on privacy and they retain no internet browsing logs. Ample security. Manual configuration may challenge some users. 45-day money back guarantee.

Read our full review of StrongVPN.

---

Our VPN testing methodology

We understand that picking a VPN can be hard. There are dozens of services on the market, and they are not all able to provide the level of privacy and security you require from your ISP. That’s why we created a five-step process, carefully examining what each provider has to offer in each of the areas below:

Speed

The first question our team has to answer is whether a given VPN is fast enough for day-to-day usage. After all, if you choose a sluggish service, loading even basic websites can be frustrating. You could even find yourself disconnected from the VPN randomly, leaving your traffic completely vulnerable to ISP spying.

Unfortunately, getting accurate results is trickier than you might expect due to the inherent randomness of the internet. Our approach, then, has to account for this. We run three tests per provider and average the results. We also only tested their US servers, on a 250 Mbps connection, since that’s the average US home broadband speed. Finally, we normalized the average scores to get a score out of 10 for each VPN. You’ll find these below:

NordVPN was the fastest provider we tested, so it got a perfect 10 out of 10. Surfshark was remarkably close behind, with IPVanish taking third place. However, it’s worth noting that every service in this list was fast enough for most tasks.

Versatility

Next, we wanted to get a feel for how capable each service was. Every user is different so it makes sense to recommend VPNs that can handle any eventuality. When assigning points in this category, we looked at how many simultaneous connections each permitted, how many countries its network covered, and whether it worked in China (since if it works there, it’ll likely work anywhere). Take a look at the following chart to see how each VPN did:

Surfshark was the most versatile overall, followed by NordVPN. These providers both offer exceptionally large networks, with thousands of servers spread across 100+ countries. They also each work in locations with extreme online censorship, making them excellent choices for anyone planning a trip abroad.

Security and privacy

VPNs are supposed to keep you safe. Any that can’t simply aren’t worth using. To make sure that we only recommend services that have a strong commitment to privacy, we require providers to offer unbreakable encryption (256-bit AES or better), a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a no-logs policy at a bare minimum. In total, we consider the following 16 criteria when assigning scores in this category:

That’s a lot of technical information, but don’t worry. We’ve taken the scores and charted them, providing a much more beginner-friendly way to compare providers’ security credentials. Take a look at the following chart; the higher the score, the fewer opportunities an attacker has to gain access to your data:

We have a tie here, both for first (NordVPN and Surfshark) and second place (ProtonVPN and Private Internet Access). However, every service in this list offers a high degree of privacy, it’s just that these also provide plenty of advanced functionality and first-class obfuscation.

Ease of use

The easier your VPN is to use, the better. Perhaps they offer servers designed for specific tasks or the ability to connect automatically. Maybe they just have intuitive apps, clearly labeled settings, or 24/7 support in case anything goes wrong. We consider all of the following criteria when trying to ascertain which VPNs are the most newcomer-friendly:

Once again, NordVPN had the highest score in this category. Despite having a ton of advanced functionality, it’s presented in a way that means even complete beginners will be able to take advantage. We also really liked how capable NordVPN was, handily unblocking every streaming service we tried. Of course, the fact that it’s easy to sign up, cancel, or get a refund definitely helped too.

Value for money

One of our main goals is ensuring you get a high-quality VPN without breaking the bank. This doesn’t mean simply recommending the cheapest services, though. First, we make sure that providers are fairly priced for what they offer. Then, we look into how often they go on sale, how steep their long-term savings are, and whether they offer student or emergency worker discounts. The only requirement here is that they must offer a money-back guarantee. Let’s see all of the judging criteria:

Surfshark and IPVanish were our top two providers in this regard. Both have extremely steep discounts on their multi-year plans, and we’ve personally tested their refund policy with no issues. They’re also two of the only providers without a connection limit, making them even better value.

This actually isn’t all the testing we perform to determine whether a VPN is suitable. To learn more, check out our full VPN testing methodology.

How to prevent an ISP from seeing your online activity

Imagine this: every email you send, every search you make, and even the most personal details of your life, from medical histories to your preferences, are potentially up for grabs. With limited regulations, there’s no telling just how invasive these corporations might become. But don’t panic, all you need to prevent your ISP from seeing your online activity is a VPN. The VPN’s encryption will hide all of the data passing through your internet connection, and where that data is going, and it’s simpler to do than you might think. Just follow the simple steps below.

Here’s how to hide your online activity from your ISP with a VPN:

1. Sign up for one of the VPNs recommended in this article. NordVPN is our top choice.
2. Download and install the VPN app, making sure to choose the correct version for your device.
3. Open the app and select a server location – one closest to you will ensure the fastest speeds, but if you want to access restricted content, make sure to choose a server in a location where it’s available. (i.e a UK server to access BBC iPlayer from abroad).
4. Hit the Connect button. Wait a few moments for the connection to complete, and that’s it! Your ISP can no longer see what you do online, this includes your download and search history.
5. If you encounter any issues with your VPN, try clearing your cookies and cache then reloading the page.

Importance of VPN no-logging policies

If a VPN logs your activity, it’s no better than an ISP that does the same. It could just as easily mine your web traffic for data and sell it to third parties without restriction.

This is why we strongly prefer VPNs that don’t log. We’re primarily concerned with traffic logs, which include the contents of web pages you visit and any unencrypted emails or messages.

Metadata logging is also a concern and includes things like when you connected to the VPN, for how long, and how much data you used. What’s most worrying is if those metadata logs include the user’s real IP address or the IP address of the server to which they connect, which means users’ activity can be traced back to them.

ISP tracking habits and policies

What can your ISP see?

Your ISP is almost certainly tracking you to some degree, but to what extent comes down to individual ISPs and the jurisdictions in which they operate. An ISP can track any data passing through your internet connection that isn’t encrypted. That includes your browsing history, search queries, purchases, emails, downloads, location, and streams, among other data. Much of the web is now encrypted by default through HTTPS (SSL). But even with that encryption in place, your ISP can still track what websites you visit and when.

In the USA, ISPs are not barred from collecting information about your internet use, nor are they prohibited from sharing that information with third parties, so it’s best to assume that they are and take the necessary precautions.

What does your ISP do with your data?

ISPs can use your data for their own purposes—diagnostics, marketing, analytics—or sell or to create a revenue stream by sharing it with third parties.

The things people do online have the power to reveal all kinds of things about their lifestyle, employment, earnings, ambitions, health, hobbies, religious beliefs, political affiliations, etc. So the third parties your ISP shares this information with are usually advertising networks, but they could also be intelligence agencies, private investigators, or law enforcement.

This kind of data can allow for high levels of surveillance capitalism, in which companies use your data for marketing purposes or to combine information in order to extract frighteningly precise secondary inferences about you. ISPs know that the personal information that can be extracted via automatic analysis of web browsing habits is extremely valuable. This is why they store that data and sell it to third parties if they are legally permitted to do so (in the US they may do so without user consent).

In addition, ISPs in many countries, including the UK, Australia, and Brazil, are required to keep user browsing records to comply with government regulations. Mandatory data retention directives oblige ISPs to store your browsing history for anything between 12 weeks and 2 years in order to provide that information (including communications metadata) to the authorities if asked. In countries that impose data retention, the government can easily spy on anybody who does not use a VPN. This is a huge invasion of your privacy.

How can you see what your ISP is tracking?

A good place to start is by looking at your ISP’s privacy policy and terms of service. You might be able to request a copy of the data that your ISP has about you, but there is no way to be certain whether your ISP is tracking you or to what extent.

Your ISP might or might not keep a record of what websites you visit and other online activities. Most websites you visit require sending a DNS request to your ISP, which it can then log and store indefinitely. Depending on what state you live in and the ISP’s internal policies, you might have a right to know what information your ISP has about you. In California, for example, you can request your ISP hand over any personal data it holds about you.

What can you do to prevent ISP tracking?

Using a VPN is really the only way to prevent your ISP from tracking you.

Incognito mode and other private browsing modes built into web browsers do not prevent your ISP from spying on you. They only prevent websites from being able to identify you with cookies, and prevent your browser from remembering your activity. While incognito, websites can still identify your device by your IP address, and your ISP can still see your online activity.

Similarly, a proxy does not prevent your ISP from tracking you. Your ISP provides you with your IP address, a proxy can only hide this IP address from the websites you visit, by making you appear to be in a different location. However, it does not provide the privacy levels that you get with an encrypted VPN tunnel. As a result, your ISP is always privy to your IP address and can reveal it to government authorities (or any other interested party) if asked. 

VPNs for ISP Tracking FAQ