If you’re comparing options for the best VPN for streaming, downloading, or just browsing on public Wi-Fi without your ISP logging every site you visit, three names come up over and over: NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN. All three are legitimate, well-audited services — the differences come down to price, device limits, and a handful of speed benchmarks. This guide breaks down what each one actually does well, and whether you need one at all.
Do You Actually Need a VPN?
Before comparing products, it’s worth being honest about what a VPN does and doesn’t do.
What a VPN actually gives you:
- Privacy from your ISP. Your internet provider can otherwise see every domain you connect to. A VPN encrypts that traffic so your ISP sees only that you’re connected to a VPN server, not what you’re doing.
- Protection on public Wi-Fi. Coffee shop and airport networks are a common target for traffic snooping. A VPN closes that gap.
- Avoiding ISP throttling. Some ISPs slow down connections during high-bandwidth activity like large downloads or video streaming once they detect the traffic pattern. Encrypted VPN traffic is harder to selectively throttle.
- Accessing your own subscriptions while traveling. If you already pay for a streaming service at home, a VPN can let you connect to a server back home so you can keep watching your own subscription while abroad — the same content you’re already entitled to, just from a different location.
What a VPN does not do: it does not make otherwise-illegal downloading legal — a VPN changes who can see your traffic, not copyright law or a platform’s terms of service. It also doesn’t make you anonymous online; it shifts trust from your ISP to the VPN provider, which is why the provider’s logging policy matters.
If you mostly use the internet at home on a trusted network and don’t travel, a VPN is a nice-to-have rather than a necessity. If you regularly use public Wi-Fi, download large files, or travel with subscriptions you want to keep using, it earns its monthly cost quickly.
What Actually Matters When Choosing a VPN
Cut through the marketing and there are really five things worth comparing:
- Speed — how much of your baseline connection speed you keep after encryption overhead
- Server network size — more servers generally means less crowding and more location options
- Device limit — how many devices can connect on one subscription
- Price at renewal, not just the flashy first-term discount
- No-logs policy, ideally backed by an independent audit
VPN Comparison at a Glance
| NordVPN | Surfshark | ExpressVPN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Very fast, consistently near the top of independent tests | Fast, close behind Nord in most tests | Fast, competitive with both |
| Server network | 6,000+ servers, 100+ countries | 3,200+ servers, 100 countries | ~3,000 servers, 105 countries |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 | Unlimited | 8 |
| Approx. price (24-month plan) | Budget-to-mid | Usually the lowest of the three | Premium pricing |
| Best for | All-round default choice | Many devices, budget-conscious | Top-tier speed, price no object |
| Independent no-logs audit | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Prices and promotional terms change frequently — always check the provider’s own pricing page for the current offer before signing up.
NordVPN: The Safe Default Pick
NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming and downloading for most people simply because it doesn’t ask you to trade anything away. The server network is the largest of the three by a wide margin, which matters in practice — more servers per location means less congestion during peak hours, which is exactly when streaming and large downloads are most likely to stutter.
Independent speed tests consistently place NordVPN at or near the top, and it has passed multiple independent no-logs audits. The device limit of 10 simultaneous connections covers most households comfortably, even if it’s not unlimited.
Where it wins: speed consistency, server count, and a long track record of reliability. Where it falls short of Surfshark: the device limit is capped at 10, which will matter for larger households running a VPN on every phone, laptop, tablet, and streaming box at once.
Surfshark: Best for Multiple Devices on a Budget
Surfshark’s standout feature is simple: unlimited simultaneous device connections on a single subscription. One account covers every device in a household — phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, streaming sticks — with no counting required.
It’s also typically the cheapest of the three on longer plans, which combined with the unlimited-device policy makes it the strongest pick for families or anyone managing several devices without wanting to pay for multiple subscriptions or juggle device slots.
Speeds are close behind NordVPN in most independent tests — noticeably fast, just not always the single fastest result in every benchmark. For everyday streaming and downloading, the difference is rarely noticeable in daily use.
Where it wins: device limits and price. Where it falls short of Nord: slightly smaller server network, and Nord edges it out in raw speed in most head-to-head tests.
ExpressVPN: Premium and Fast, But Pricier
ExpressVPN is a well-regarded, long-standing name in the space with a strong reputation for speed and reliability, and it’s worth mentioning for completeness even though we don’t have an affiliate arrangement with them to link to here. It typically sits at a noticeably higher price point than NordVPN or Surfshark, with a lower device limit (8) than Surfshark’s unlimited allowance.
If price isn’t a major factor and you specifically want a long-established provider with a strong track record, it’s a reasonable option to research directly on its own site. For most readers comparing value for money, NordVPN or Surfshark cover the same core use cases (streaming, downloading, public Wi-Fi privacy) at a lower cost.
Which Should You Choose?
- Want the fastest, most reliable all-rounder and don’t mind a 10-device cap? NordVPN.
- Have a lot of devices to cover, or want the lowest price for similar performance? Surfshark.
- Specifically want a premium, long-established brand and price isn’t a concern? ExpressVPN, researched directly.
Whichever you pick, pair it with sensible download habits. If you’re downloading video for personal offline use, see our full breakdown of what’s legal — a VPN adds privacy, it doesn’t change what’s permitted. For the actual download step, guides like downloading YouTube videos in HD and downloading X (Twitter) videos cover the free tools, including the AllMediaTools YouTube Downloader.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a VPN to download YouTube videos?
No. Free tools like the AllMediaTools YouTube Downloader work without a VPN. A VPN is a separate, optional layer for privacy on your network connection — it doesn’t unlock any downloading capability by itself.
Will a VPN slow down my downloads?
Some speed loss is unavoidable because of encryption overhead, but with a fast provider like NordVPN or Surfshark on a decent connection, the difference is usually small enough that you won’t notice it during normal streaming or downloading. Slower or overloaded free VPNs are where people usually notice a real slowdown.
Is it legal to use a VPN?
Yes, in the vast majority of countries, using a VPN is completely legal. A small number of countries restrict or ban VPN use — check local law if you’re traveling somewhere with strict internet controls. Using a VPN doesn’t change the legality of what you do while connected to it; it’s a privacy tool, not a legal shield.
Which VPN is cheapest for occasional use?
For occasional, light use, Surfshark’s short-term plans are usually the least expensive entry point, and its unlimited-device policy means you’re not paying more to cover a second or third device. If you only need a VPN a few times a year, look for month-to-month options rather than committing to a multi-year plan.