Best VPNs for Boston

One of the great things about Boston is that it’s easy to find free wifi. In fact, the city operates more than 100 hotspots as part of its “Wicked Free Wi-Fi” program. However, the city’s wifi privacy policy notes that certain information about an individual’s activities might be available to the public upon request. That’s not ideal from a privacy standpoint but don’t worry: there’s an easy way to make sure your browsing habits remain private. All you have to do is connect to a VPN.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your traffic, hides your activities from snoopers, and prevents a hotspot owner from restricting which websites you can visit. VPN services can also stop your ISP from throttling your connection, which is why they’re popular with people who stream or torrent often.

Below, you’ll find brief descriptions of our top VPNs. If you’d like to learn more about any of them, just keep scrolling; we’ll discuss each in more detail a little later.

Best VPNs for Boston

1. NordVPN: The #1 VPN for Boston. More US servers than any other provider in our list, as well as top-tier speed and security. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Boston.
2. Surfshark: The best low-cost VPN for Boston. With impressive speeds, no connection limit, and fantastic unblocking ability, this budget provider is suitable for almost any task imaginable.
3. ExpressVPN: P2P-friendly VPN with great streaming capabilities. Offers plenty of fast and reliable US servers, including some in Boston.
4. CyberGhost: A rare service that manages to provide strong security and incredible speeds while being very easy to use.
5. IPVanish: Keeps no logs, works with a good range of geo-blocked services, and allows you to secure any number of devices simultaneously.
6. PrivateVPN: A zero-logs provider with stellar privacy credentials. Offers steady speeds and the ability to bypass just about any kind of online restriction.

Since people use the internet in all kinds of ways, it can be difficult to find VPNs that are suitable for everyone. After all, they’ll have to balance speed, security, and unblocking ability (and it’s rare enough to find a VPN that excels in one of these categories). That’s not all we look for. The best VPNs for Boston must meet all of the criteria below:

• Has VPN servers in or around Boston
• Offers consistently high speeds and stable connections
• Can reliably access popular geo-blocked services
• Keeps your traffic safe with powerful security and privacy tools
• Refuses to log any personally identifiable info
• Provides apps for all of the most common devices

Best VPN for Boston

Here’s a list of the best VPNs for Boston:

1. NordVPN

Apr 2024

NordVPN is our top VPN for Boston. It has one of the largest networks around, with more than 5,000 servers around the world, including some fairly close to Boston. This VPN service excels at providing secure access to popular services like Netflix and boasts some of the highest speeds we’ve seen. Additionally, it allows up to six simultaneous connections, so it’s great for sharing with family.

Security is another of this VPN’s strong points. Your traffic is kept private with a combination of 256-bit encryption, leak protection, and a customizable kill switch. There are also special obfuscated servers designed to be near-undetectable in case you’d like to evade particularly strict online blocking. Additionally, NordVPN keeps no logs, so your activities can’t be revealed under any circumstances. Staff are on-hand 24/7 to help with any issues you might have.

NordVPN apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. Browser extensions are offered for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Some routers are supported too but you’ll have to configure these manually.

BEST VPN FOR BOSTON:NordVPN is the best service for Boston. It’s fast, reliable, and capable of handling whatever you throw at it, plus it follows a true no-logs policy. Better still, it includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it for yourself.

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is the best budget option for Boston. It has over 3,000 servers in 100 countries, with a cluster in Boston itself. These are fast enough for whatever you have in mind, and we’ve had no issues using platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max while connected. Surfshark is one of the few providers that doesn’t have a connection limit, making it ideal for anyone with lots of devices to protect.

This service has an ever-growing set of security and privacy features. There’s a stealth mode, tracker-blocker, and even a tool that rotates your IP address periodically. Naturally, Surfshark also offers 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, a zero-logs policy, and protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks. Users can pay in Bitcoin, Ripple, or Ethereum for an almost completely anonymous signup. If you need help, just reach out, day or night, using the live chat service.

Surfshark has its own Windows, Android, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV apps. You can also find browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox or even manually configure it for use with supported routers if you’d prefer.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is the best budget VPN for Boston. With impressive speed, security, and streaming capabilities, there’s hardly anything it can’t do. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN hasover 3,000 servers spread across more than 90 countries worldwide. There are clusters in well over a dozen US locations including New York and Washington DC, so you can count on a low-latency connection no matter where you are. With a five-connection limit, fantastic unblocking ability, and consistently high speeds, this VPN is perfect for anyone who likes to stream on-the-go.

The main purpose of a VPN is to keep your activities private. This is something ExpressVPN does very well. It includes 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, plus it can’t be easily detected or blocked (just ask the Chinese government). Equally important, ExpressVPN refuses to log any data that could identify you. Support is available via email or a 24/7 live chat help desk.

ExpressVPN offers apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV. Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browser extensions are also available. There’s even custom firmware for routers so you can quickly and easily secure an entire network.

STRONG ALL-ROUNDER:ExpressVPN is a great option for anyone in Boston. Thanks to its speedy servers nearby, you’ll be able to stream, torrent, or play games without worrying about who might be watching. This VPN even has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost offers access to more than 9,000 servers in 90+ countries. Of these, roughly 1,400 are spread across the US – that’s more than some VPNs have overall! This service clearly states which are best suited to each task, so there’s no guesswork involved when trying to find one that works with Netflix. CyberGhost is also extremely fast, so you shouldn’t notice any lag even when multiple people are sharing the same internet connection.

This VPN doesn’t need any setup since its AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks are all enabled by default. If you’d like, you can switch between IKEv2, OpenVPN, and WireGuard protocols, or connect over a random port (if you’re having trouble connecting to certain networks with the VPN active). CyberGhost doesn’t keep any logs, which means your privacy is in good hands. Live chat-based support is available 24/7.

CyberGhost provides Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV apps. Chrome and Firefox browser extensions can also be downloaded. Users can manually configure most popular router firmware to work with this service.

BEGINNER-FRIENDLY:CyberGhost has industry-leading speeds and task-specific servers, which make for a frictionless, easy to use service. It’s also highly secure, with around the clock support. Best of all, this VPN offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

5. IPVanish

IPVanish is one of the few major VPN providers that owns its servers outright, which reduces the chance of outside interference. There are around 2,000 servers to choose from across 60+ countries, and roughly 80 in Boston itself. This service works with a good range of streaming platforms and supports P2P traffic, plus it allows you to secure as many devices as you like. Best of all, it recently improved its speeds and now sits close to the top of our leaderboard.

Users can take advantage of 256-bit encryption, protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, and a kill switch (which stops sending data the moment your connection drops). While IPVanish supports the speedy, easily-audited WireGuard protocol, it also allows you to scramble OpenVPN connections, which might help you beat more stubborn VPN-detection systems. This VPN doesn’t keep any logs and offers 24/7 assistance over live chat.

IPVanish has its own Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV apps. Alternatively, you can follow manual setup instructions to get it running on supported Linux systems and routers.

SOLID EVERYDAY VPN:IPVanish can help you stream Bruins matches, torrent anonymously, or bank safely during your trip to Boston. What’s more, this no-logs VPN can protect all of your devices simultaneously. Annual plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

6. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN has a smaller network, with roughly 200 servers in 60+ countries, but what it lacks in scale it makes up for in performance. We’ve seen this provider deliver impressive speeds and outperform many of its rivals when it comes to streaming ability. For example, PrivateVPN works with ESPN+, HBO Max, and Hulu, plus it can securely access multiple Netflix catalogs. It also has twice the connection limit of most services, with up to 10 permitted at a time.

This VPN doesn’t disappoint on privacy. As its own ISP and hosting provider, it has full control over your traffic, so third-party interference is near-impossible. The apps themselves include 256-bit encryption, a customizable kill switch, and leak protection, plus a stealth mode that can hide the fact that you’re using a VPN at all. PrivateVPN follows a strict no-logs policy and accepts Bitcoin payments. The support team is available 22 hours per day over live chat.

PrivateVPN has apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV. Manual setup is required for use with routers or Linux systems.

PRIVACY FIRST:PrivateVPN is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their digital privacy while traveling. It’s fast too, plus it goes undetected by all but the most stubborn websites. This highly-versatile service comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

How to secure your browsing in Boston with a VPN

Here’s how to keep your online activities hidden in Boston using a VPN:

1. Begin by choosing one of the VPNs mentioned above (we recommend NordVPN)
2. Next, install the app on your most-used devices. It’s fine if there are a few since most providers allow at least five simultaneous connections
3. Log in and choose a suitable server. If you’re trying to access a region-locked service, you’ll need a server in a specific country, but otherwise, we’d recommend choosing whichever is closest, since these tend to offer the best performance
4. That’s all there is to it – your data is now encrypted and hidden from anyone who might be watching. As such, hotspot owners can’t place limits on which sites you can visit, and your ISP can’t tell if you’re streaming or torrenting, which means they’re less likely to throttle your connection

Methodology: How we chose the best VPNs for Boston

There are a couple of major things to consider when shopping for a VPN. First, every provider configures their software differently. Second, a VPN that works for one person might not be the best suited to another. To find the best VPNs for Boston, we searched for services that met all of the criteria laid out below:

• Server locations: The closer your chosen server, the faster your connection usually is. For that reason, we prioritized VPNs with servers in Boston and nearby states like New York. We also considered the number of supported countries, which has a bearing on streaming ability.
• Performance: If your VPN is too slow, you’ll notice lag, random disconnection, and stuttering video. To prevent this, we’ve only recommended services that delivered impressive results in our latest VPN speed tests.
• Unblocking ability: Most geo-blocked services have some form of VPN-detection system. We don’t think you should have to compromise your privacy just to use a service you’re already paying for, which is why we look for VPNs that can go undetected by sites like Disney Plus, Prime Video, and fuboTV.
• Security and privacy: We’ll never recommend a VPN with subpar security. At a minimum, our top services must include a kill switch, military-grade encryption (256-bit AES), some form of leak protection, and a no-logs policy. Other tools, such as stealth modes, tracker-blocking,  or automatic wifi protection are extremely welcome.
• Ease of use: The more user-friendly a service, the better. Some of the features we value are streamlined apps, 24/7 customer support, and task-specific servers.

If you’d like to learn more about how we test VPNs, take a look at our methodology post.

VPNs in Boston: Frequently Asked Questions