Award-winning, low-impact antivirus with elite detection scores and a cheap first year.
Intro pricing from $24.99/yr; 30-day money-back guarantee
$24.99/yr (first year) Visit Site
Best Cybersecurity, VPN & Privacy Tools (2026)
Cybersecurity, VPN and privacy tools protect your accounts, data and identity — encrypting your connection, generating and storing strong passwords, and watching for breaches.
Each tool below links to a full review with pricing, pros and cons and competitor comparisons, verified against the vendor's site as of July 2026.
Affiliate disclosure: some links below are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you. This never affects our rankings, and inclusion cannot be bought.
Security & VPN: at a glance
| # | Tool | Our rating | Best for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bitdefender | 4.6/5 | Users wanting top-tier, independently proven malware protection | $24.99/yr (first year) |
| 2 | Bitwarden | 4.6/5 | Budget-conscious individuals who want strong security for free | $0 |
| 3 | Proton VPN | 4.6/5 | Privacy maximalists who want open-source, audited software | Free; paid from $3.49/mo |
| 4 | 1Password | 4.5/5 | individuals & families | from $3.99/mo |
| 5 | Aura | 4.5/5 | Families wanting all-in-one protection for up to 5 adults plus kids | $12/mo (Individual, billed annually) |
| 6 | Cloudflare Zero Trust | 4.5/5 | SMBs needing free ZTNA for up to 50 users | $0 (free up to 50 users); $7/user/mo paid |
| 7 | Keeper | 4.5/5 | Security-conscious individuals who want independently audited, zero-knowledge encryption | $42.99/yr Personal (free tier available) |
| 8 | NordVPN | 4.5/5 | privacy on public Wi-Fi | from $3.49/mo (2-yr) |
| 9 | Proton Mail | 4.5/5 | Privacy-minded personal email | Free · Mail Plus from $3.99/mo (12-month) |
| 10 | Tailscale | 4.5/5 | Developers and engineering teams wiring up servers, cloud, and laptops | $0 (Free) / $8 per user/mo (Standard) |
| 11 | Twingate | 4.5/5 | SMB and mid-market teams retiring a legacy VPN | $0 free (up to 5 users); paid from $5/user/mo |
| 12 | ExpressVPN | 4.4/5 | Streaming Netflix, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer while abroad | $2.99/mo |
| 13 | Mullvad VPN | 4.4/5 | Privacy-first users | €5/mo flat (about $5.81) |
| 14 | NordPass | 4.4/5 | Budget-conscious users wanting strong security without power-user complexity | $0 free; Premium ~$1.39/mo |
| 15 | Optery | 4.4/5 | Checking your exposure before paying anything | Free · Core from $3.25/mo (yearly) |
| 16 | Proton Pass | 4.4/5 | Privacy-focused users | $0 (Free); Pass Plus from $2.99/mo |
| 17 | Surfshark | 4.4/5 | Households connecting many devices at once | $2.49/mo |
| 18 | Enpass | 4.3/5 | Keeping vaults out of vendor clouds | Free · Individual from $1.31/mo (first year) |
| 19 | hide.me VPN | 4.3/5 | Long-term subscribers | Free · Premium from $2.69/mo (26-mo) |
| 20 | Incogni | 4.3/5 | Low-cost automated removals | from $7.99/mo (annual, billed $95.88) |
| 21 | KeePassXC | 4.3/5 | Zero-cost password storage | $0 |
| 22 | NordLayer | 4.3/5 | Mid-sized teams wanting quick cloud ZTNA without heavy deployment | $8/user/mo (annual) |
| 23 | Norton 360 | 4.3/5 | Windows/mixed-device users wanting antivirus plus VPN, backup and identity tools in one bundle | $29.99/yr (intro) |
| 24 | Private Internet Access | 4.3/5 | Budget-conscious users who want maximum devices | $2.03/mo |
| 25 | Windscribe | 4.3/5 | Free VPN use | Free · Pro from $5.75/mo (yearly) |
| 26 | Identity Guard | 4.2/5 | Budget shoppers wanting brand-name AI fraud alerts | $7.50/mo (Value, annual, first year) |
| 27 | IdentityForce | 4.2/5 | Hands-off 3-bureau credit monitoring | $17.95/mo |
| 28 | LifeLock | 4.2/5 | Norton antivirus users who want identity protection bundled into one subscription | $124.99/yr |
| 29 | McAfee | 4.2/5 | Families needing unlimited-device protection | $29.99/yr (first year) |
| 30 | Yubico YubiKey | 4.2/5 | Phishing-resistant logins | from $29 USD (one-time) |
| 31 | CyberGhost | 4.1/5 | Streaming geo-blocked Netflix, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer libraries | $2.19/mo |
| 32 | Dashlane | 4.1/5 | Individuals who want a password manager with a built-in VPN | $5.42/mo |
| 33 | Perimeter 81 | 4.1/5 | SMBs and mid-market teams wanting one console for VPN, ZTNA and web security | Not published by vendor |
| 34 | AdGuard | 4.0/5 | Blocking ads outside the browser | from $2.49/mo (1-yr Personal) or $79.99 lifetime |
| 35 | Avast | 4.0/5 | Free antivirus users who want lab-proven protection | Free |
| 36 | AVG | 4.0/5 | Free real-time protection on any platform | Free · Internet Security from $39.99/yr (first year) |
| 37 | DeleteMe | 4.0/5 | People who want humans handling removals | from $8.71/mo (2-yr, billed $209) |
| 38 | Malwarebytes | 4.0/5 | Cleaning up active malware infections | $44.99/year (free tier available) |
| 39 | RoboForm | 4.0/5 | Cheap annual plans | Free · Premium from $2.49/mo (annual) |
| 40 | ESET HOME Security | 3.9/5 | Windows users wanting a lab-tested engine | from $59.99/yr (3 devices, first term) |
| 41 | TotalAV | 3.9/5 | Budget buyers who want strong protection for one cheap first year | $19 first year |
| 42 | Tresorit | 3.9/5 | Businesses needing HIPAA BAAs and data residency | Free (3 GB) · Personal Lite from $4.75/mo (yearly) |
| 43 | TunnelBear | 3.9/5 | VPN beginners | Free · Unlimited from $3.33/mo (3-yr) |
| 44 | Tuta Mail | 3.9/5 | Budget encrypted email with custom domains | Free · Revolutionary from €3/mo (yearly) |
| 45 | Avira | 3.8/5 | Trying before paying with a real free tier | Free · Antivirus Pro from US$18.99/yr (first year) |
| 46 | Experian IdentityWorks | 3.8/5 | People who want credit-focused protection from a major bureau | Free (paid from $24.99/mo) |
| 47 | PrivadoVPN | 3.8/5 | People who want a usable free VPN without entering a card | $1.11 per month on the 24-month plan; free plan with 10 GB per 30 days |
| 48 | LastPass | 3.7/5 | Budget users wanting cross-device password sync from $3/mo | $0 free plan; paid from $3/mo (billed annually) |
| 49 | PureVPN | 3.7/5 | Buyers willing to pay 27 months up front for the lowest monthly rate | $2.15/mo (Standard, 2-year plan, billed $58.20 for 27 months) |
| 50 | Sophos Home | 3.7/5 | Households with several Windows and Mac computers | from $44.99/yr (1-yr) · 30-day trial |
| 51 | Hotspot Shield | 3.6/5 | People who want a no-cost VPN for a single device | Free (Premium from $29 for the first year) |
| 52 | Trend Micro Security | 3.6/5 | Online banking with Pay Guard | from $29.95/yr (1 device, first 12 months) |
| 53 | Webroot | 3.5/5 | Households that want antivirus and identity protection in one subscription | $37.49 first year (Essentials, 1 device) |
Explore Security & VPN by sub-niche
All Security & VPN sub-niches6 sub-niches, 53 products. The ones we've reviewed (✓) link straight to our verdict; the rest are here as a directory while reviews roll out.
Protect your privacy and unblock content anywhere
best VPN · VPN review · NordVPN vs Surfshark · VPN for streamingStore logins and passkeys securely across every device
best password manager · Bitwarden vs 1Password · free password manager · password manager for familiesBlock malware, scams and threats on all your devices
antivirus with VPN · Norton vs Bitdefender · best antivirus · security suite for multiple devicesMonitor and protect your identity, credit and family
identity theft protection · is Aura worth it · family identity monitoring · best identity protectionSecure remote access for distributed teams
business VPN · zero trust access · VPN vs ZTNA · NordLayer review · Twingate alternativesEncrypted email, filtered DNS, ad blocking and zero-knowledge storage.
encrypted email, DNS filtering, ad blocker, encrypted cloud storageThe Security & VPN tools, reviewed
The open-source password manager that's free forever and audited every year.
Free forever plan: unlimited passwords, unlimited devices
$0 Visit Site
The open-source, Swiss privacy VPN with a genuinely unlimited free tier.
VPN Plus just $2.99/mo on the 2-year plan
Free; paid from $3.49/mo Visit Site
All-in-one identity, credit, and device protection in a single app
14-day free trial, 60-day money-back on annual plans
$12/mo (Individual, billed annually) Visit Site
Free-for-50 ZTNA and a full SASE stack on Cloudflare's global edge network.
Free forever for up to 50 users
$0 (free up to 50 users); $7/user/mo paid Visit Site
Enterprise-grade, zero-knowledge password management with the strongest compliance credentials in the category
50% off Personal & Family plans for new users
$42.99/yr Personal (free tier available) Visit Site
VPN with built-in threat protection and security add-ons
2-year plans from $3.49/mo
from $3.49/mo (2-yr) Visit Site
Swiss encrypted email with a free tier and a bundled suite on Unlimited
12-month toggle shows “23% OFF” on Proton Unlimited (“$12.99” struck through, “$9.99/month”, “Save $36”) and “20% OFF” on Mail Plus (“$4.99” struck through, “$3.99/month”, “Save $12”) versus the 1-month price; business page yearly toggle shows “13% OFF” on Mail Essentials and Workspace Standard and “20% OFF” on Workspace Premium. No time-limited promotional banner was shown.
Free · Mail Plus from $3.99/mo (12-month) Visit Site
WireGuard mesh VPN and ZTNA that connects devices like one flat, private LAN.
Free forever: 6 users, unlimited devices, most features
$0 (Free) / $8 per user/mo (Standard) Visit Site
Agent-based Zero Trust Network Access that replaces your VPN in minutes
Save 15% on Teams & Business with annual billing
$0 free (up to 5 users); paid from $5/user/mo Visit Site
Fast, independently audited premium VPN — now split into Basic, Advanced, and Pro tiers
2-year plan from $2.99/mo with 4 extra months free
$2.99/mo Visit Site
Modern, low-cost password manager from Nord Security with XChaCha20 encryption and a genuine free tier
2-year Premium about $1.39/mo (~53% off list)
$0 free; Premium ~$1.39/mo Visit Site
Broker removal with a free self-service tier and screenshot reports
Use promo code: SUMMER2026 at checkout for 20% Off with Optery’s 2026 Summer Sale!
Free · Core from $3.25/mo (yearly) Visit Site
Swiss, open-source, end-to-end encrypted password manager with built-in email aliases.
Pass Plus 40% off: $2.99/mo on annual & 2-year plans
$0 (Free); Pass Plus from $2.99/mo Visit Site
Fast, audited budget VPN with truly unlimited device connections.
Get 3 extra months free on any 24-month plan
$2.49/mo Visit Site
Offline-first password manager that syncs through your own cloud
End of Summer Sale is Live! GRAB UP TO 40% OFF
Free · Individual from $1.31/mo (first year) Visit Site
VPN with a free tier and a guarantee that renewals never cost more
“Exclusive Price” — “26 Months” — “Includes 2 EXTRA months” — “$2.69 /mo” — “Billed $69.99 every 26 months”
Free · Premium from $2.69/mo (26-mo) Visit Site
Automated data broker removal from the Surfshark and NordVPN group
Labor Week Deal: 55% off annual Incogni data removal plans (code LABORDAY)
from $7.99/mo (annual, billed $95.88) Visit Site
Business VPN + ZTNA from the makers of NordVPN
14-day money-back guarantee on all plans
$8/user/mo (annual) Visit Site
All-in-one protection with elite lab scores — and a steep renewal cliff
Norton 360 Deluxe $49.99 first year, renews $124.99
$29.99/yr (intro) Visit Site
Court-proven no-logs VPN with unlimited devices at bargain long-term pricing.
$2.03/mo on 3-yr plan +3 free months; renews $79/3yr
$2.03/mo Visit Site
Free 10GB VPN with a $69-a-year Pro plan and built-in ad blocking
Free · Pro from $5.75/mo (yearly) Visit Site
Affordable, AI-powered identity-theft protection from Aura, with up to $1M insurance
60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans
$7.50/mo (Value, annual, first year) Visit Site
TransUnion-backed identity protection with 3-bureau credit monitoring and white-glove restoration
30-day free trial; annual billing saves about 2 months
$17.95/mo Visit Site
Norton-owned identity protection with category-leading insurance, sold solo or bundled with Norton 360.
60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans
$124.99/yr Visit Site
Flawless lab scores and unlimited-device identity protection — if you dodge the renewal spike.
First year from $29.99, but it auto-renews much higher
$29.99/yr (first year) Visit Site
Budget-friendly streaming VPN with the longest money-back guarantee in its class
2-year plan: ~$2.19/mo + 2 months free, 45-day refund
$2.19/mo Visit Site
Polished, beginner-friendly password manager that bundles a VPN and dark-web monitoring — but it's pricier than rivals.
14-day free trial + 30-day money-back guarantee
$5.42/mo Visit Site
System-wide ad blocking apps with a 30-day refund and a lifetime licence option
Family plans show a struck-through higher price: 1-year “$5.49 /mo” against “$7.47 /mo”; Lifetime “$169.99” against “$239.97”. No coupon banner was active; the page shows a “Have a promo code?” field and a hidden notice template “The promo code has expired or does not exist.”
from $2.49/mo (1-yr Personal) or $79.99 lifetime Visit Site
Top-tier free antivirus with a checkered privacy past
Premium Security 37% off first year: $49.08
Free Visit Site
Free antivirus with paid Internet Security and Ultimate bundle tiers
“Save 40% on Internet Security”; “Save 60% on Ultimate”
Free · Internet Security from $39.99/yr (first year) Visit Site
Human-assisted data broker removal with quarterly privacy reports
from $8.71/mo (2-yr, billed $209) Visit Site
The malware-removal specialist that grew into a full antivirus suite
Save 15% by choosing a 2-year plan over annual billing
$44.99/year (free tier available) Visit Site
Long-running password manager with a free single-device plan
Free · Premium from $2.49/mo (annual) Visit Site
Tiered security suites from a privately held Slovak vendor
“Save 15% with 2 years” (Essential and Premium); “Price valid for the first term only.”
from $59.99/yr (3 devices, first term) Visit Site
Cheap first-year antivirus with a strong Avira engine — and punishing renewals.
Plus $19 first year, then renews at $99/yr
$19 first year Visit Site
Zero-knowledge cloud storage for individuals and regulated businesses
Billing toggle labelled “Yearly 20% OFF” on both the personal and business pricing pages; no other promotion shown.
Free (3 GB) · Personal Lite from $4.75/mo (yearly) Visit Site
VPN with a 2GB free tier, unlimited devices and annual audits
Free · Unlimited from $3.33/mo (3-yr) Visit Site
German encrypted email from €3/mo, with no IMAP and no cited audits
Free · Revolutionary from €3/mo (yearly) Visit Site
Free antivirus with paid tiers up to Prime’s unlimited VPN bundle
Prime: “-45%” “US$41,99 / First Year” “SAVE US$35,00”; Antivirus Pro: “US$18,99 / First Year” “SAVE US$26,00”
Free · Antivirus Pro from US$18.99/yr (first year) Visit Site
Credit-bureau-grade identity protection with a genuinely free tier
Annual plan saves ~$50/yr vs monthly billing
Free (paid from $24.99/mo) Visit Site
VPN with built-in threat prevention and an antivirus add-on
Save 90%
$1.11 per month on the 24-month plan; free plan with 10 GB per 30 days Visit Site
Affordable, feature-rich password manager still living down a landmark 2022 breach.
30-day free trial of Premium, no credit card required
$0 free plan; paid from $3/mo (billed annually) Visit Site
Three-tier VPN with cheap 2-year pricing and stacked add-ons
Order page: “82% off + 3 Extra Months” (Max), “85% off + 3 Extra Months” (Plus), “83% off + 3 Extra Months” (Standard) on the 2-year plan; banner “Get 82% off on 2-year plan”; “You’re saving up to 56% on add-ons with the 2-Year Plan!” (https://www.purevpn.com/order). Homepage: “82% OFF PureVPN + 3 extra months” (https://www.purevpn.com/).
$2.15/mo (Standard, 2-year plan, billed $58.20 for 27 months) Visit Site
Home antivirus for up to 10 Windows and Mac PCs, managed online
Save 25%
from $44.99/yr (1-yr) · 30-day trial Visit Site
Freemium VPN with a cheap first year and a steep renewal
“Introductory Offer” — “Premium Subscription” “$29/year” “Auto-renews at $95.99/year” (Yearly toggle); “$1.99/mo” “Auto-renews monthly at $12.99/mo.” (Monthly toggle) (https://www.hotspotshield.com/select-plan/, 11 Sep 2026). Free-VPN page: “Best deal” “Premium” “$1.99/mo” “Auto-renews monthly at $12.99/mo” (https://www.hotspotshield.com/free-vpn/).
Free (Premium from $29 for the first year) Visit Site
Tiered security suites with Pay Guard and anti-scam protection
“Get protected with up to 50% OFF”; “Save $40” (Premium Security Suite), “Save $25” (Maximum Security), “Save $20” (Internet Security), “Save $10” (Antivirus+ Security)
from $29.95/yr (1 device, first 12 months) Visit Site
Antivirus suite with identity protection on the higher tiers
Up to 40% off
$37.49 first year (Essentials, 1 device) Visit Site
Top comparison in Security & VPN
Frequently asked questions
What are the best security & privacy tools in 2026?
For everyday protection, NordVPN is a leading VPN with built-in threat protection, and 1Password is a top password manager for individuals, families and teams. Many people run both together.
Do I need both a VPN and a password manager?
They solve different problems: a VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP, while a password manager generates and stores strong, unique passwords. Using both covers connection privacy and account security.
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