The best earbuds can make a huge difference to how you listen to music, whether you’re streaming a podcast on a long flight, zoning out to a calming playlist, or powering through your commute with a motivating soundtrack. Perfect for slipping into your pocket or gym bag, the best earbuds also offer immersive sound, helping you escape from the noise around you.
With most people leaning toward the best wireless earbuds, we’ve focused this list on top-rated wireless models but included a few good value wired options too. Each recommendation has been rigorously tested by our expert audio tech team for sound quality, noise cancellation, microphone clarity, and battery life to ensure they meet or exceed our expectations.
We recommend the Technics EAH-AZ80 as our top pick for most people with stellar call quality, rich audio, and unique triple-device multipoint connection. For under $100/£100, the Nothing Ear (a) buds offers an excellent mix of quality and value, while the Sony WF-C510 buds stand out for impressive sound quality among affordable options. Looking for cheaper choices? Check out our best budget wireless earbuds guide or explore our list of the best wired earbuds.
The quick list
Want to cut straight to the best earbuds around? You'll find a roundup of our top choices here. You can jump to a more in-depth write-up for each product, and see the latest deals on them.
The best earbuds overall
Delivering supremely balanced, detailed sound with triple-point connectivity and outstanding comfort, Technics has created a fantastic pair of buds that stand out even in a saturated market.
The best mid-priced wireless earbuds
For a very affordable price, you get energetic and rich sound quality, the best active noise cancellation we've heard for under $100/£100, great features, and a cool design.
The best budget earbuds
Some of the best low-cost earbuds we’ve tested, with punchy audio, a comfortable fit and great battery life in the buds, proving Sony can do budget as well as it does high-end.
The best earbuds for noise cancellation
Bose has always done active noise cancellation very well, and these buds are as good as you can get right now. They also boast device-agnostic head-tracked immersive audio and lossless audio codec support.
Super-smart earbuds for iPhone owners
With fantastic noise cancellation, high-quality audio, an unlosable case and tons more Apple-specific features, these buds offer an unmatched experience if you're all-in on Apple.
The best earbuds for Samsung owners
A top choice for those with a new-ish Samsung Galay phone. These buds sound phenomenal, have great ANC, and deliver spatial audio. Don't expect the AI features to wow, though.
Load the next products…
The best for battery life
Up to 12 hours from just the buds or up to 48 hours (yes, two whole days!) in total is some serious stamina. And also there's a smart screen on the case – hey, we don't make the rules!
The best earbuds for premium sound
Expect a high-end experience, with delightful, detailed and dynamic sound, strong noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit for long listening sessions.
The best wired earbuds
Years after they were first released, these 1More buds still represent excellent value and boast a rich, enjoyable listen in a premium-looking build, for a fantastic price.
The best cheap USB-C wired buds
A pair of wired buds that deliver very comfortable listening and decent sound in a sleek design – if you want to spend the minimum on wired buds, these are our pick.
27 November 2024
Added the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in as our 'best for ANC' pick, removing the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 that are currently out of stock in most places, so not worth recommending.
The best earbuds of 2025
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Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best earbuds in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best earbuds overall
✅ You prefer a neutral, lifelike sound: There’s nothing artificial about the way the Technics EAH-AZ80 sound; they offer convincingly realistic and coherent listening in all circumstances.
✅ You want to switch between devices: Triple-point connectivity is a world-first in a product like this, and it’s brilliantly convenient for those of us who surround themselves with wireless tech.
❌ You intend to wear your earbuds all day: Even at its best, the battery life available here is nothing special, though it's not bad.
❌ You have a lot of external noise to block out: There are many less-capable noise-cancelling earbuds, if silence is important look to the Bose buds at #4 on this list.
The Technics EAH-AZ80 buds sound fantastic and they’re packed with features. A standout is triple-point connectivity, which we found to be stable and useful, as well as Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC compatibility. And, thanks to ‘Just My Voice’ technology, these buds are far less prone to wind-noise interference than rivals. Their only minor shortcomings are battery life at only 7 hours from the buds and 25 from the case, and the ANC (which could be a tad more impressive).
The sound they make is also accomplished – it's both swift and accurate, as well as balanced and detailed. In our review, we wrote: “The whole frequency range is really nicely balanced and coherent from top to bottom and very even-handed from the (deep, nicely textured) bass to the (clean, politely attacking) treble.” We also found the midrange to be both informative and eloquent, with high detail levels and a smooth, seamless, agile journey from ceiling to floor and back.
In terms of design, there’s a resoundingly premium feel here and each bud feels more comfortable, stable and light (7g per earbud) than some rivals. What’s more, the accompanying charging case is an equally svelte 50g. Build quality hasn’t been compromised in order to keep the weight down either – the EAH-AZ80 feels like a product that will outlast its rivals. There are seven different earbud sizes to choose from too, which means you’re likely to get that perfect fit.
The price of the Technics EAH-AZ80 is that of a premium product, for sure – but thankfully, so is the specification. Overall this is a pair of buds that delivers excellent sound quality, a fantastic fit, and that industry-first triple device multipoint connectivity. Add it all together, and we think they're a better-value package than the top buds from Sony or Bose.
Read our full Technics EAH-AZ80 review
The best earbuds at a mid range price
✅ You want strong noise cancellation: At this price, this is the best noise-blocking power we've heard.
✅ You're serious about sound: These are a fun and responsive set of buds, with wireless hi-res support via LDAC as a bonus.
❌ You really want spatial audio: It's not here, but the similarly priced Sony WF-C700N will give it to you.
❌ You need a big battery life: The 5.5-hours life with ANC is not very impressive – the Sony earbuds mentioned above offer 7.5 hours.
The Nothing Ear (a) are a serious improvement from Nothing, rocketing its buds from being 'fine, but nothing special' to 'these are the best value you can get for the price'. And they're a fun yellow color while doing it!
For their sub-$100/£100 price, they're so good, and feel premium. In our review, we said compared to the similarly priced (and fantastic) Sony WF-C700N, "the Nothing earbuds look more premium and feel more foxy. Their noise cancellation is a touch more robust and the sound is every bit as energetic, detailed and zealous, and (dare we say it?) a tad more expansive to boot."
In general, we said that "for the money, Nothing has tweaked its recipe to near perfection here" – yes, you can get better sound from the Technics at #1 on the list or other more premium options, but you need to pay twice as much for a meaningful difference.
That goes for features, too – the noise cancellation is as good as we've tested for the price, you get smart features such as wear detection to auto-pause them when you take them out, there's multi-point pairing for instant switching between devices, there's a Find My mode, there's LDAC hi-res support… the only think missing is spatial audio, and that's not usually an essential on affordable buds. The 5.5-hour battery life is the only element that's below average, but we can totally live with that.
Read our full Nothing Ear (a) review
The best budget earbuds
✅ You want clear, quality audio: These buds deliver punchy, forward sound with great clarity and texture.
✅ You're looking for excellent value: Cheaper buds exist, but these are extremely good value and seem much pricier than they should.
❌ You'll miss ANC: Sacrifices have to be made for the low price point, although passive noise cancellation is decent.
❌ You want the best battery life offering: Confusingly, the battery in the buds is great but the case only offers one full charge.
If you’re looking for the best cheap earbuds, the Sony WF-C510s are our top budget pick right now. They prove that Sony still does affordable buds just as well as it can do higher-end options, and that you don’t need to spend a fortune for a solid pair of buds.
The Sony WF-C510 earbuds aren’t perfect, but they deliver everything most people would want from a pair of reliable buds, including good sound, comfort for long periods, and some essential features. You won’t find active noise cancellation here, but there is an option called ‘sound control’, which amplifies ambient noises around you to ensure you’re aware of what's around, and there is passive noise isolation thanks to the snug fit. Sony’s accompanying app brings you basic functions, as well as an EQ. Beyond that, you don't get wear detection or low-latency mode, but not everyone will notice they’re missing.
Battery life in the buds themselves is good at 11 hours. However, you’ll only get one more full charge of 11 hours from the accompanying case, while rivals usually do two or three charges. This means for a long listening session, they’re great. But for charging on the go, they fall behind some rivals.
We were impressed with the audio quality during our testing. Yes, you do have to manage your expectations considering these are budget buds, but our reviewer wrote: “I found the audio high-quality and also certainly distinct in that Sony, 'have this sound, and have it good and clear' way.” The bass isn’t particularly powerful, but everything else here is pleasing and well balanced with a slightly forward sound profile and clear treble, even at higher volumes.
The design of the Sony WF-C510 earbuds is simple, with a rounded and unobtrusive look. The buds are lightweight at only 4.6g each with a surprisingly secure fit. Our reviewer wrote: “they always felt rigid in my testing, never once falling out or even feeling loose.” It’s worth mentioning there’s an IPX4 water resistance rating, which means they should handle sweaty workout sessions and light showers. The Sony WF-C510 earbuds are missing a few features, but otherwise they’re extremely accomplished for the price and beat all the competition at the budget end.
Read our full Sony WF-C510 review
The best earbuds for noise cancellation
✅ Noise cancellation really matters to you: If there’s one thing the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds do really well, it’s noise cancellation.
✅ You want a more immersive experience: Bose's new Immersive Audio technology creates an expansive, moving soundstage around you.
❌ You’re on a tight budget: It’s easy to argue that the ANC and sound performance of these buds is worth it and they've come down in price, but they're still not cheap.
❌ You want a small design: They're not exactly big and they did fit well in testing, but there are much smaller buds on the market if you sometimes struggle with them.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are our pick for the best noise-cancelling earbuds in this guide, and for good reason. They take everything great about the QuietComfort Earbuds 2 that came before them and add some major improvements, like excellent device-agnostic head-tracked immersive audio and even better ANC.
As you’d expect, the active noise cancellation (ANC) here is top-tier, creating a "near bubble of silence" that’s perfect for shutting out distractions during commutes or long flights. Combine their noise-nixing powers with 6 hours of battery life in the buds and 24 hours in total with the case, and they’re a solid choice for extended listening sessions.
Sound-wise, the all-new Immersive Audio technology provides spatial sound that adapts to your movement, offering a more cinematic experience across devices, thanks to Snapdragon Sound Suite and aptX Adaptive support. When it comes to audio, competitors like Sony may edge them slightly in detail, but we called them a “vigorous and engaging listen” in our review. Unless you want audiophile-grade sound, you don’t need to look for better.
There aren’t many design improvements here over the QuietComfort Earbuds 2, but you do get easier-to-fit silicone stability bands and a lightweight build of just 6.24g per earbud – though they’re not the smallest buds on the market. Now priced at around $220/£199 during regular sales events, they’re a premium choice for noise-cancelling fans at a more affordable rate. Especially because Bose addressed a few of our original issues with the buds in a July 2024 update, like adding multi-point connectivity.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review
The best earbuds for Apple fans
✅ You want great sound: These sound superb and shut out the real world so well – and the spatial audio is best-in-class too.
✅ You've got all manner of Apple things: If you've got an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and so on, then you'll really get the benefit from the seamless switching.
❌ You want big battery life: There's nothing wrong with the battery life here, but it's very much average in the buds – though the amount from the case is good.
❌ You don't have an iPhone: Android users won't get anywhere near the full experience, because a lot of setup and control options are done in iOS' Settings app.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are excellent earbuds that have a strong claim to be the best option for Apple lovers. One of the top features here is the active noise cancellation, which competes with the Bose option above for effectiveness at blocking out almost all external noises (though we rate the Bose slightly higher). The Adaptive Transparency Mode is also a nice trick, adjusting its blocking of outside sounds on the fly. In terms of battery, you get six hours with ANC on and 30 hours with the case too – and that case is IPX4 water resistant and has a speaker and wireless tracking chip, so if you lose it your phone can literally point you towards it, or it can be found by the 'Find My' network.
Audio performance is great, and is vastly improved over the original AirPods Pro. There’s rich sound across genres, and a wide and expansive soundstage, bookended by deep-yet-controlled bass and clear, elevated treble. There's lots of detail, and it's energetic too – if we were to criticize it, we might say it's a little too forward compared to the more natural and neutral sound of the Technics at the top of this list. Spatial audio is a very impressive trick of these buds too, especially with movies – it really feels like you're sitting in a home theater rather than having sound pumped directly into your years.
The crucial part for why you'd choose these over other options, though, is the extra features they include for those with lots of Apple gear. On top of the Find My support, they switch between your Apple devices seamlessly, they can share audio with other AirPods or Beats headphones, they offer personalized audio tweaks, and even optimized battery charging to help make sure they last longer. But to access all of this, you must use them with iPhone. With anything else, you're looking at basic 'they play music and you can switch between noise cancellation and Transparency' functionality.
They're excellent all-rounder, and during sales events are regularly available for a little less than the premium competition – who would think Apple would be the more budget option, eh?
Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review
The best earbuds for Samsung phone users
✅ You have a newer Samsung phone: To access all of the best features, you'll need a new-ish Galaxy device.
✅ You want great, immersive sound: Audio is excellent here, as is ANC and spatial audio. You can really cocoon yourself in sound.
❌ You want the best value: These buds aren't cheap, and many of their features are only good if you have a Samsung phone as well. The Nothing Ear (a) are most of the way there for cheaper and across platform.
❌ You tend to need to replace ear tips: If you like to tinker with the fit of your buds, they may not be the safest option – they're fiddly and delicate.
The Samsung Buds 3 Pro are our top pick if you have a Samsung phone, especially a more recent Galaxy device. The best thing about these Samsung buds is they sound stunning. Our reviewer wrote: “Frankly, these earbuds sound fantastic, with some of the best sound in any earbuds I’ve tested.” We explained in our review that you can expect both “meaty bass” and “defined treble”. Which means whatever genre of music you prefer, you should get a great audio experience here. You’ll notice the sound is incredibly immersive and that’s because the active noise cancellation is top notch, too, we called it “heavy duty and impressive” in our review. Most ambient noises, even the louder ones, are nixed thanks to the ANC tech onboard.
With ANC on, expect six hours of battery in the buds themselves and 30 hours from the case. This is decent compared to rivals – although not at all spectacular – and it’s a welcome improvement over the Samsung Buds 2 Pro. Samsung has also added a bunch of new features into these buds, including some of the brand’s AI features. But there’s a catch: you’ll need one of Samsung’s newer Galaxy devices to “unlock” many of these features. This includes the brand’s AI features, like the language interpreter, improved codec support, the voice restorer and smart dynamic ANC. We’d expect some of these features to only be available on the Galaxy, but it’s a shame ANC is limited. This means these buds only really make sense for Galaxy owners.
Design-wise, the Samsung Buds 3 Pro look very AirPods-like. That’s pretty common across all true wireless earbuds these days, but with the tip, small body and stems that point downwards, we wouldn’t blame you for mistaking them for Apple’s buds at first glance. Happily, they’re comfortable to wear for long periods and light too, so they’re unlikely to feel heavy, even after listening for hours. One design drawback is that the tips are really difficult to remove. You’re likely to get there eventually, but we’ve heard reports of people tearing the tips in an effort to switch them out.
The downside of the Samsung Buds 3 Pro is that they're premium priced in combination with having many features limited to Samsung phones. Now, considering how good the audio is, they can still be good value – but those on other platforms would be better off with Bose's buds, or saving and going for the Nothing Ear (a).
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review
The best for battery
✅ You take long road trips
The class-leading maximum battery life of 48 hours is akin to two whole days of playback. During testing, these claims proved genuine too (and the case doesn't drain it!)
✅ You like to wear your heart on your sleeve
You can upload a photo of your beloved right there on the case – and when you open the box, it flips the other way up so everyone will still see it properly too.
❌ You want top-tier spatial audio
There are three immersive profiles here (movies, music and gaming), but, sadly, each one is a shade off a fully immersive, Dolby Atmos-type presentation
❌ You desire comprehensive on-ear functionality
Here, you have to select two out of three options for on-ear controls – volume, playback and ANC. You can't have all three.
Here's a feature that no other option within this list offers: a color touchscreen screen on the case. It's a lot of fun – you can select a lock-screen wallpaper from any of the photos on your smartphone, and the image even flips so it stays the right way up when you snap open the case – but that isn't why the JBL Live Beam 3 are in this roundup.
No, the real star here, aside from the vastly improved audio quality over the older and slightly disappointing JBL Tour Pro 2, is the stamina. The battery life is nothing short of excellent at up to 12 hours from the earbuds alone, minus noise cancellation, or 10 hours with it engaged (and nearer nine with adaptive ANC on). On that note, we've recently reviewed the newer JBL Tour Pro 3, but we think the upgrades don't warrant the price hike, which is why the Live Beam 3 is still our pick for battery.
The case also delivers three further charges – we've tested it and the screen doesn't drain it – taking your total audio playback time up to a class-leading 48 hours. To put that into perspective, Apple's priciest Pro-suffixed AirPods offer 5.5 hours with its top-tier Spatial Audio deployed, or a maximum of 30 hours including the case. Big difference in those figures, no?
The JBL Live Beam 3 also boast great value when it comes to the feature set, including a few novel bits and pieces you don't find elsewhere – including "Personi-Fi", which is basically hearing test of each ear to better tailor the sound to your liking.
OK, the spatial audio profiles aren't going to knock your socks off. JBL has offered a total of three immersive soundscapes for music, movies and games, but if you're imagining sonic articles darting past you in a three-dimensional space you'll be disappointed. Also the ANC is good rather than excellent and the on-ear controls work well but involve a compromise. Look past these minor snafus and you'll find the fit is great, the battery is seemingly never-ending and, honestly, the sound is refreshingly good for bass and detail. View the screen as a lovely extra for the money and you won't go far wrong.
Read our full JBL Live Beam 3 review
The best earbuds for supreme sound
✅ Audio quality is important to you: Wonderful sound with great noise cancellation; if you want one of the best listening experiences from a pair of buds, you'll find it here.
✅ You want good travel buds: You can connect the case to any wired source, including in-flight movie systems, and it beams the sound to the buds. Convenient!
❌ You'd like to try spatial audio: The sound here is fantastic, but there's no spatial audio. If you've been keen to try it, look elsewhere.
❌ You want lots of on-ear controls: You'll have to decide if you want on-ear volume control or access to ANC options, not both.
Looking for the closest you'll get to sonic excellence in a pair of true wireless earbuds with the key mod cons? Meet the exceptionally accomplished Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 buds. Let's begin with the sound, which is outstanding. In every conceivable way, including musicality, balance and dynamic nuance, you're getting best-in-class audio. As you'd expect, higher quality streams from the likes of Qobuz and Apple Music sounded exceptional, but we rate these B&W buds for making the most of every music source they can get. In our review, we wrote: "everything was served up with a flourish" whether that was high-res audio files or Spotify tracks.
Noise cancellation is at the same impeccably high standard. In our review, we wrote: "That cocooned feeling of leaving the outside world behind kicked straight in but without any sense of wind-tunnel nausea or my eardrums being unceremoniously sucked into a vacuum." This is thanks to B&W's accomplished audio tech, as well as an incredibly snug and comfortable fit, creating the perfect seal for the ANC to work its magic.
Another nice added feature is that the charging case can double as a wireless audio re-transmitter in aptX Adaptive transmission (up to 24-bit/96kHz quality). What this means is you can plug it into a non-Bluetooth source (most usefully an in-flight entertainment system) and the audio will be transmitted to the buds. This makes them an excellent choice for long flights.
The buds are available in several color options, all with a premium matte plastic finish that we said in our review "seems to murmur 'I'm expensive' when you pluck them from their small, pebble-shaped case." As well as looking nice, they're among the most comfortable buds we've ever tested. This is likely down to B&W putting in considerable efforts to redesign the Pi7 buds that came before them and the result is buds that have very well distributed weight and require zero twisting or adjusting – this is extremely rare, even with the best buds we've trialled.
These buds are incredibly close to perfect. Battery life is a little average at 6.5 hours from the buds and a further 13.5 hours from the case, but it's a worthy sacrifice for everything else you get here. Which is excellent, high-quality audio in a comfortable and premium build. If audio quality is your top priority, these are the buds for you.
Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review
The best wired earbuds
✅ You want a solid pair of buds: With great sound and a quality built for a low price, these are reliable and worth every penny.
✅ Looks matter: We love the rose gold accents on these earbuds and their cool, angular design.
❌ You want to connect to a USB-C phone: These are 3.5mm jack headphones – consider the SoundMagic E80D instead.
❌ You like a premium experience: They look, feel and sound more premium than they should, but the remote and cable need improving.
We first tested the 1More Triple Driver earphones way back in 2017. However, the world of wired earbuds tends to move slowly than true wireless these days, which means they're still our top recommendation for most people looking for a reliable, great-looking wired option with an enjoyable sound at a great value, low price. That's why they're also still our #1 pick in our best wired earbuds guide.
The audio quality here can be beaten – you'll find better from many rivals, especially the Technics EAH-AZ80 at #1 in this list – but you have to pay a lot more for it. These 1More buds bring you bold and enjoyable sound, especially considering their low price and small size. In our 1MORE Triple Driver earphones review, we wrote: "Music is exquisitely detailed with a good sense of space." Even more than seven years on, after testing many more earbuds, that rings true. It's also worth noting that, although there's no active noise cancellation, the earbuds do manage to create a decent seal, which leads to a pleasing amount of noise isolation.
The earbuds are made from aluminum and have some rose gold accents with an interesting, slightly angled design, which we think combine to give the buds a much more premium aesthetic than you'd guess from their price tag. They come with a selection of foam and silicone ear tips, which should help most people get a snug fit that's comfortable enough for long periods of listening. The only thing we noted during testing is they did stick out a little from our ears. Their cable is wrapped in fabric for extra durability but the small three-button remote that's attached to it felt a little more cheap and plastic than we'd have liked.
With a bold, balanced and detailed sound, superb build quality for the price and reliable, wired design, we think the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones represent great value – despite the fact they're much older than rivals in this list. It's worth mentioning here that we think if you have the money and want to stick with wired, the excellent FiiO FH19 are our latest recommendation – but you'll need deep pockets
Read our full 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones review
The best cheap USB-C earbuds
✅ You crave comfort: These earbuds were easy to wear all day during our testing and stayed in our ears securely.
✅ You want understated style: Expect a sleek and minimal design with a range of different color options to choose from.
❌ You like to have control: The controller on the buds is limited and doesn't have volume up/down buttons, not ideal for walking.
❌ You want excellent sound: There's decent sound for the price here, but no bassy depths or sonic details – you'd need to pay more (we like the SoundMagic E11D).
If you're looking for a pair of wired USB-C earbuds, this set from Skullcandy may not offer the best high-end sonic experience compared to other options in this list, but they're a stylish and reliable choice – especially considering they're incredibly affordable at $31.99/£29.99 (about AU $50). We tested even cheaper USB-C buds, and this are basically as cheap as we'd recommend going – especially if you can find them on sale.
In our review we made it clear that these buds "don't whip up top-drawer sound", especially where detail and dynamism are concerned. That being said, sound quality is decent, especially considering their price. Similarly-priced budget buds that we're reviewed sound and feel much more cheap and tinny in comparison.
As you'd expect, there's no active noise cancellation for this price. But thanks to good included ear tips, they have a "noise-isolating fit". This won't reduce all ambient noise, but it does do a decent job at keeping you focused on your music regardless of your surroundings. These ear tips come in three different sizes, which meant in our review we wrote that the buds are "very pleasant to wear", even for long periods of time.
As well as feeling good, we liked how the buds look too. In our review we said: "They sport a sleek, curved look, and come in four snazzy colorways." They also have an IPX4 water-resistant rating, which means they're rain- and sweatproof. The only notable frustrating design feature is there are no volume up/down buttons on their controller, which feels limiting.
These aren't the best buds in our guide, far from it – but they're comfortable, they sound solid and they look good. If that's all you ask, enjoy.
Read our full Skullcandy Set USB-C review
Other earbuds to consider
Edifier Stax Spirit S10: These buds sound fantastic and fit well. So why didn't they make the guide for our guide? Well, as you'll see in our Edifier Stax Spirit S10 review, we experienced some odd pairing problems during our testing and the battery life is disappointing, too.
JLab Go Pop ANC: For a very cheap pair of buds that also (surprisingly!) deliver ANC, these from JLab are a great option. Take a look at our JLab Go Pop ANC review to find out why we rate them so highly
Sony WF-1000XM5: You might be surprised that the Sony WF-1000XM5 aren't on this list. They're very nice earbuds, but they don't sound as good and aren't as well-featured as the Technics we rate as number one, but cost the same. They also don't block noise as well as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, so they don't stand out on that front. For Apple owners in particular, the AirPods Pro 2 are cheaper, have better features, have better noise cancellation, and sound excellent. As we said in our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review, they're not bad earbuds by any stretch of the imagination, but they're not quite good enough to push out anything on this hotly contested list.
AirPods 4: We've reviewed Apple's cheaper AirPods 4 option, and found them to be… fine. Pretty good. They have fun and full audio quality, improved comfort, and great spatial audio – but they're lacking in detail and are just a bit too expensive for their quality level. We explore it in-depth in our full AirPods 4 review – and we're working on our final AirPods 4 with ANC review now, but it's a similar story there.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: As you'll find in our Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review, these tiny buds deliver a solid choice of noise-cancelling and transparency modes, decent sound and an impressive battery life. But unfortunately the fit wasn't up to standard and for a similar price you can find rival buds that perform better in almost every way.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3: Read our OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review to learn all of the ways OnePlus' latest buds improve on the Pro 2s that came before them. They're packed with features, sound superb (especially for the price) and have a great battery life. However, they can't compete with some of the similarly-priced buds in this guide. Some core features, like ANC and voice commands, fell short and we're not convinced the new design will have mass appeal.
Meet the team
Our audio tech team put hundreds of pairs to the test in a range of environments in order to determine if they're worth recommending or not. How do we know what to look for? Because we've collectively got years (make that decades) of experience reviewing all sorts of headphones, from expensive, noise-cancelling buds that block out the world to budget earbuds that are cheap and cheerful.
How to choose the best earbuds
Two important things to consider when you’re choosing new earbuds is what you want to listen to and where you want to listen to it.
For example, if you like fairly quiet music and want to listen on the bus or train, you'll need effective noise cancellation.
If you're looking for a pair of the best running headphones, you should look for IPX4 water-resistance so they can withstand sweat and rain. Some of the top waterproof earbuds can even be used for swimming. The best bone-conducting headphones are popular for fitness fans too, because they don't block outside sounds.
If you're going to be wearing your earbuds for long periods, then comfort and weight are a top priority.
We’ve included both wired and wireless earbuds on this list, but you don't have to compromise on audio quality by going wire-free – the B&W Pi8 above are proof of that. If you do opt for wireless or true wireless earbuds, make sure the battery life is up to scratch, otherwise you may find yourself caught short without any music in the middle of your commute.
The best earbuds for you should sound good to your ears. Which means if you're a dedicated audiophile, look for buds that support Hi-Res Audio codecs, like LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth for stellar connectivity.
We also recommend you consider your budget. If you want cheap earbuds you may have to sacrifice features, like ANC or a long battery life. It’s all about weighing up what’s more important to you.
Finally, the brand you choose will depend on what you're looking for – but we're careful with our lists. That means all of the earbuds and in-ear headphones above come from brands we trust. Still, if you're not sure where to start looking, respected brands like Sony, Apple, Cambridge Audio, Jabra, and Nura are good places to start.
How we test the best earbuds
☑️ More than 2,400 audio reviews
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech
We've tested each of the top earbuds in this guide to make sure they tick some key boxes, which are reflected in our full review.
Features: One of these is the features – whether they compare well to other earbuds in the same price for elements such as connection options, smart app controls, active noise cancellation and battery life. We test all these features in different ways. We try the active noise cancellation in different real-world environments, and we check battery life by running them down and tracking the timing.
Audio: Most importantly, we also want to be sure the sound is excellent, with clarity and a decent level of bass. We listen to music from a range of sources, from social apps and YouTube, to lower-quality streams from the likes of Spotify, to high-quality files from streamers such as Apple Music and Tidal. We'll listen to a range of genres, and we'll use a mix of new music and tracks we've known for years and in which we can hear all the subtle differences.
Comfort: Next is comfort and wearability. You need to know you'll be able to pop the best in-ear buds in your ears for hours at a time, so they have to feel secure and comfortable. Some seem naturally designed for a snug fit, others come with different silicone tip options to help you get the fit just right. In terms of design, we also look for compact buds, those that don't stick out of your ear too much and (in the case of true wireless designs) earbuds that come with a small charging case for slipping into a backpack, handbag or even a pocket.
Value: And when we've tested all this, we judge them on their value, which essentially means how all of the above balances against their price, and the price of other earbuds.
Comparison: At the time of writing, we're beginning a new testing procedure for earbuds to enable us to add more direct comparison between buds, to make it easier for you to choose which one will suit you best. We'll re-test our current favorite earbuds using the new system, and we'll use it for reviews in the future. You can read the full information about how we test earbuds at TechRadar at that link, but the crucial part is that we're adding certain specific and repeatable tests that all of our reviews can use, so we know we're getting a fair and even comparison between earbuds.
Sound quality testing: The major part of this is a particular playlist that will be used for sound-quality testing, from a specific source device and music service. Our reviewers will also test other songs and sound sources, but this playlist provide a baseline comparison, and you can copy the playlist to make your own comparisons, if you like.
Microphone quality testing: We'll also test the microphone quality for picking up speech by recording us talking, and we'll make those recordings available to hear on the site, so you can compare them yourselves, if you want. And we'll detail exactly how long the battery lasts in real-world use, and provide that information for easy comparison too, in tables. At the moment, we're still working on gathering this information, so please bear with us – an even better buying guide is coming!
Latest updates to the best earbuds
21 November 2024
Added the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in as our 'best for ANC' pick, removing the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 that are currently out of stock in most places so not worth recommending.
7 November 2024
Refreshed the introduction. Added new images to each entry to give readers a better look at the devices. Itemized our 'how we test' section to add more clarity about our reviewing process. Added a 'meet the team' section to give you an insight into our combined tech knowledge and expertise. Added news and suggestions to several of our entries, like the JBL Tour Pro 3 in our JBL Live Beam 3 entry. Added some extra recommendations into our 'also consider' section, like the Edifier Stax Spirit S10.
11 October 2024
Swapped the JLab JBuds Mini for the Sony WF-C510 as our 'best budget' pick. Switched the Samsung Buds 2 Pro for the Samsung Buds 3 Pro based on our review as our 'best for Samsung' choice. Swapped the Final Audio ZE8000 Mk2 out for the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 in our 'best for sound' category. Added several recent reviews to our 'Also consider' section, including AirPods 4 and OnePlus Buds Pro 3.
3 September 2024
Added the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones as our 'Best wired' pick based on our review, and recent testing of the competition.
See more updates…
30 July 2024
Added the JLab JBuds Mini as the best super-cheap option, and updated the 'Also Consider' section with information on the latest products that didn't make it into this list.
1 July 2024
Added the JBL Lve Beam 3 as our top choice for battery life, thanks to their 48-hour total. Removed the older 1More Triple Driver wired set, since the Skullcandy Set USB-C occupy that wired space extremely well, if you're looking for something inexpensive and wired.
7 June 2024
We added the Skullcandy Set USB-C wired earbuds as the best super-cheap wired buds that we'd actually recommend buying, based on testing of several big-name budget options.
9 May 2024
Swapped the Sony WF-C700N for the Nothing Ear (a) as the best mid-range option. They're extremely close in quality, but the Nothing's slightly better noise cancellation and hi-res support just win out.
8 April 2024
Considered adding the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 to this guide, but after discussing with the team, we've decided that while these 2024-issue earbuds are very good indeed, other products narrowly edge them in each key aspect (ie. sound, ANC, battery life, feature set) – so there's no clear reason for their inclusion. Updated the intro here to reflect the WF-1000XM4 being no longer readily available, hence their departure from this list, and explained why the Technics EAH-AZ80 are now our top pick. Added new links to the buying guides to better direct readers.
19 March 2024
Removed the Sony WH-1000XM4 due to stock running out at last. Technics EAH-AZ80 moved to number 1, Sony WH-C700N moved to number 2, JLab Go Air Pop moved to number 3.
8 February 2024
Added the Beats Fit Pro as our best workout buds, reflecting what's in our dedicated guide.
22 January 2024
Added Final ZE8000 MK2, and removed the now-discontinued Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus. Updated all copy throughout.
10 November 2023
Added more information about how we test, and added a link to our Black Friday earbuds deals coverage.
8 October 2023
Checked all entries against current reviews to ensure list is relevant.
6 September 2023
Refreshed entries to reflect current prices/value ahead of sales events later in the year.
30 August 2023
Changed the main image.
24 August 2023
Rewrote each product entry to summarize the features, sound quality, design and value of each review, including adding in 'buy it if' and 'don't buy it if' boxouts.
Welcome to the TechRadar best VPN buying guide. Our aim is to give you the information to buy the best VPN for your needs as quickly as possible.
With that in mind, NordVPN is the best VPN for most people and we'll explain why just below. Surfshark and ExpressVPN are also excellent. You're unlikely to go wrong with any of them. We know this because we regularly perform in-depth and rigorous VPN testing which you can also read about further down.
We've been writing about and reviewing VPNs at TechRadar for over 11 years and we know more about them than any other website. When it comes to guiding our readers to the right choice, we think that's worth something.
5 best VPNs: a quick overview
The best VPN services 2025
NordVPN is more than enough for most people: it's fast, cheap, and relatively easy to use – but with plenty of tools for even the biggest technophiles. There are some niche cases where you may be better off with another service (ExpressVPN is a better choice for countries with extreme censorship, for example).
But if you just want a VPN for streaming your favorite shows, gaming, and keeping safe on public WiFi, NordVPN is the best VPN for the job – and it's a great time to buy right now with NordVPN's Spring sale taking the price down to the lowest it's been in 2025.
READ MORE ABOUT NORDVPN ▼
Ease of Use ★★★★
Getting started with NordVPN is easy thanks to the onboarding wizard that springs to life when you fire up the Mac or Windows version for the very first time. It'll walk you through Nord's features and make sure you understand what's going on.
So, why just four stars for ease of use? NordVPN has users well covered for apps but the browser extension isn't great. There's also no GUI for the Linux version which is a bit disappointing. Lastly, Surfshark and ExpressVPN are just a little bit more obvious when it comes to basic use. Unless you're a Linux user, or you're all about browser extensions, though, you shouldn't let that put you off.
Read more details on NordVPN apps.
Streaming ★★★★★
We rate NordVPN as the best streaming VPN that money can buy. It boasts over 7400 ultra-fast servers covering 118 countries, all of which are optimised for streaming.
It unblocks all major streaming services – including international Netflix libraries, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus – as well as a host of other other regional streamers such as BBC iPlayer, 9Now, SBS On Demand, ITVX, Sling, FuboTV, Max and many, many more. In fact, it's not often we find a streaming service that NordVPN can't get round the back of.
Speeds are easily enough to handle 4K HDR video. The only streaming-related caveat is that NordVPN isn't the best torrenting VPN. That accolade goes to ExpressVPN. That's because there are only a handful of NordVPN servers optimised for P2P use.
Read more details on NordVPN unblocking.
Privacy & Security ★★★★★
NordVPN comes with cutting-edge security and privacy features, including its recently launched NordWhisper protocol for specific for VPN obfuscation and censorship avoidance. It also runs both OpenVPN and its own proprietary WireGuard-based Nordlynx protocol with super-secure, recently audited, zero-trust AES-256 encryption, meaning you can be confident that nobody has access to your data but you.
If someone ever did manage to pilfer it, it would take them millions of years to crack the encryption, particularly as NordVPN's quantum-safe encryption is theoretically future-proofed.
The company has a strict no-logs policy – which has just been successfully audited for the fifth time – meaning that not even NordVPN itself has a record of your browsing data. There's a kill switch for further assurances and DNS leak protection to prevent your ISP from getting even a whiff of what you're up to.
Read more details on NordVPN privacy and security.
Speed & Performance ★★★★½
The NordLynx proprietary protocol performed brilliantly in our speed tests. It clocked consistent speeds upwards of 950 Mbps in servers to the UK as well as when heading across the Atlantic to the US. The latter of these is where many other VPNs struggle to perform. That's worth considering given that plenty of people will be looking to access streaming services and other content across The Pond.
OpenVPN speeds are much slower, as with all VPNs. It's only Surfshark that stands out in this area but, again, it shouldn't put you off unless you insist on using OpenVPN over NordLynx.
Read more details on NordVPN speed and performance.
NordVPN price plan comparison
There are four NordVPN price plans to choose from if you're based in the US – three if you live anywhere else in the world. NordVPN Basic is just the VPN software. It's available everywhere. If you want to add some anti-virus functionality (Nord Threat Protection Pro), then go for NordVPN Plus. For a password manager (NordPass), cloud storage (NordLocker), and up to $5000 of cyber insurance on top, go for NordVPN Ultimate.
NordVPN has a slightly different pricing structure in the US with its NordProtect program which includes up to $1M in identity theft insurance and $100K in cyber extortion insurance. There's confidence for you!
So, instead of the Plus and Ultimate tiers, the USA gets Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime.
For our money, the Basic plan is the best value but if you really need the extras on offer in Plus, Complete, Ultimate, or Prime, then go for it. Each plan type comes with a different possible contract length: 1-month, 1-year, or 2-year.
The best value, by a long shot, is the 2-year plan and, right now, the biggest discounts are on the Prime plan, so do take a look.
Do remember that you need to pay the full amount upfront and that, whichever you choose, you get 30 days to change your mind and ask for a full refund.
Here's a comparison table of the NordVPN plans and what each one offers. Just be careful not to fall for a fake NordVPN ad scam when you come to buy:
| Header Cell - Column 0 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1-month plan price | $12.99/month | $13.99/month | $14.99/month | £12.09/month | $17.99/month |
1-year plan price | $4.99/month | $5.99/month | $6.99/month | £6.69/month | $8.99/month |
2-year plan price | $3.09/month | $3.99/month | $4.99/month | £5.09/month | $6.99/month |
VPN | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Threat protection | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Password manager | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
1TB cloud storage | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Cyber Insurance | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ (NordProtect) |
Surfshark – the best low cost VPN
For a straight-up VPN with all the basics of privacy, security, and streaming included, Surfshark really is excellent value. It costs less than NordVPN, it's half the price of ExpressVPN and there are no limits to the number of devices you can install it on with just a single, simple account.
Surfshark has some brilliant web browsing anonymity features that every casual user will love. You should be rightly tempted to choose it over NordVPN even though it loses out to the top dog on usability, connection consistency, and security but only by a shade.
READ MORE ABOUT SURFSHARK ▼
Ease of Use ★★★★
Surfshark has an app for pretty much every platform and is one of the few to have a proper GUI for Linux. It's got you covered for routers, browsers, Fire Stick, and Apple TV, as well as all the regulars.
It's pretty straightforward to use – we love the QR code log-in for your secondary devices – but, with the location guide and quick access feature buttons all competing for screen real estate, there's a fair bit going on at a glance. That makes the interface a little tougher on the eye than NordVPN or ExpressVPN but not so much that it should put off any beginners.
If you do need help, the built-in AI chatbot will spit out some solid how-to type articles and there aren't many layers between you and a real, live customer support operative if that doesn't do the trick.
Read more details on Surshark's ease of use.
Streaming ★★★★½
Surfshark is great for streaming. It had no problems unblocking all the major streaming services in all kinds of geos, and, with 140 server locations across 100 countries, you won't be short of options of places to pretend to be.
All of Surfshark's servers are optimized for streaming and torrenting but we did have a couple of issues of jitter which meant that video streams dropped out once or twice in our tests. Obviously, just reconnect the VPN and press play again should that occur.
A problem, you say? Well, maybe but balance that against Surfshark's unlimited connections policy. That's right, you can use Surfshark on as many devices as you like simultaneously, all from just one account!
Read more details on Surfshark's unblocking and content.
Privacy & Security ★★★★½
Surfshark's AES-256 encryption tech puts it at the top table for security. Its CleanWeb browser add-on blocks ads from appearing on websites and denies cookie requests without you having to bother which we really, really like.
It also has a rather wonderful Alternative ID tool that effectively creates a fake persona – complete with name, email address, and phone number – to autofill into online forms when you'd rather not give your real details. Emails, calls, and messages get forwarded to your real versions until you pull the plug.
Surfshark's Camouflage Mode obfuscation technology helps you bypass VPN blocks by hiding the fact you're using a VPN. Its No Borders feature, meanwhile, detects if your current network is facing any restrictions and automatically recommends servers that perform best under those restrictions. There's no post-quantum protection future-proofing, like NordVPN or ExpressVPN, to prevent possible "store now, decrypt later" attacks but you can't expect everything for a bargain price.
Read more details on Surshark privacy and security.
Speed & Performance ★★★★★
You want speed? You got speed. Surfshark is the No.1 fastest VPN, maxing out beyond 950 Mbps for local and trans-Atlantic servers. As we said above, though, it can be prone to jitter which might make you suffer during gaming and streaming. If you're looking at pure up/download speeds, though, then Surfshark is hard to beat.
Read more details on Surfshark's speed and performance.
Surfshark price plan comparison
The Surfshark Starter plan is where to go to keep costs at rock bottom. That's your VPN use, including ad and cookie pop-up blockers, plus the Alternate ID personal detail mask and masked email generator.
But it's very hard to turn down the upgrade to the Surfshark One plan given that it's only about $13 more over 2 years and only about a $3 difference on the 12-month plan. That adds a built-in anti-virus, webcam protection, and real-time credit card, ID, and email breach alerts.
Surfshark's premium plan, One+ is a tougher sell. It's about double the price of Starter. That adds the Incogni data removal tool into the mix. It's a decent service but it's probably only worth opting for Surfshark One+ if you were considering Icogni anyway.
There has been an A/B test running on Surfshark's pricing in recent weeks where the company was offering an all-time-low price of $1.99 on the Starter plan, but it seems to have disappeared for now. You might want to try one of our links using incognito mode on your browser a few times just in case it pops up for you. If not, the standard $2.19 price is still great value.
Here's a comparison table of the Surfshark plans and what each one offers and a direct comparison of NordVPN vs Surfshark:
| Header Cell - Column 0 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
1-month plan price | $15.45/month | $17.95/month | $20.65/month |
1-year plan price | $3.19/month | $3.39/month | $6.09/month |
2-year plan price | $2.19/month | $2.69/month | $4.29/month |
VPN | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Ad blocker | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Cookie pop-up blocker | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Alternative ID | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
ID breach alerts | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Antivirus | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Incogni data removal | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
ExpressVPN – the best VPN for usability
Price is the main reason ExpressVPN sits behind NordVPN and Surfshark in our best VPN list. It costs a lot of money and there are no cheaper price plans to fit lower budgets. Regarding what you get, it's more in line with the upper tiers of the two above, NordVPN Ultimate and Surfshark One+, but the lack of flexibility is frustrating.
What's more, ExpressVPN had a few gaps in streaming during our most recent testing, and, while it's the best VPN for beginners, neither of the others above are so complicated that they should put you off spending half as much on your VPN.
It's also worth noting that ExpressVPN recently reduced its workforce in big enough numbers that it felt it needed to release a statement. Hopefully, this is not a bad sign for the future of the product but we'll keep you posted.
READ MORE ABOUT EXPRESSVPN ▼
Ease of Use ★★★★★
The ExpressVPN user interface is just great. There's nothing glitzy about the look of its apps but there's a simplicity that belies a lot of very clever design. It's red when it's off, it's green when it's on and the first two sections that draw your eyes are the massive Connect button and the server location option which opens up a list of countries either recommended or by continent. The casual user needs to go no further and get everything they need right there.
There are apps for every platform. ExpressVPN even has its own Aircove router if you want the VPN working at the heart of your home network. Only those on Linux should feel irked with just command line access to work with.
The other place your money goes is the 24/7 live chat in the help section of the app. Waiting times to get connected to human support can be as little as 30 seconds. We were never left hanging for more than 5 minutes in our tests. There is just no better VPN for usability.
Read more details on ExpressVPN's ease of use.
Streaming ★★★★
With over 148 locations in 105 countries, ExpressVPN will have you covered for most of your streaming needs – certainly when accessing streaming services across the States, UK, and Europe. It has the most Oceania server locations in our top three although we did run into some trouble with Netflix and 10Play in Australia. Use the 24/7 live chat for advice on the best server choice if you find similar issues and that should sort it.
ExpressVPN is a bit short across the Middle East with just two countries to choose from. Not great for BeIn sports content in that part of the world, or watching Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League or any other local content from Saudi, UAE, and the like.
In terms of stream stability, ExpressVPN does pretty well, although it does feel like NordVPN has the edge here with fewer instances of dropping out when viewing trans-Atlantic content – another reason why you might want to make a different choice if streaming is your no.1 VPN use case.
Read more details on ExpressVPN unblocking and content.
Privacy & Security ★★★★★
You might pay more – pretty much double the cost of all the other VPNs here – but you do get a lot of security features with ExpressVPN. You just need to decide whether you need them or not. These include the ExpressVPN Keys password manager, parental controls to stop access to adult sites, a tracker and malware threat manager, and one of the best built-in ad blockers on this list. The only disappointment is the fake website warning system which let far too many slip the net to really trust.
Fortunately, ExpressVPN gets the basics of security bang on. It uses top-end, rotating key, AES-256 encryption as well as a 1000-dimension secure ML-KEM key designed to future-proof your data for the quantum computing age too. We're also big fans of the randomly allocating Shuffle IP system which ensures there's no correlation between your identity and your online activity.
Combine that with the provider's TrustedServer technology, and commitment to post-quantum encryption, and it's full marks here. The company is so confident that it offers a $1 million bug bounty should you ever get inside an ExpressVPN server. Good luck!
Read more details on ExpressVPN privacy and security.
Speed & Performance ★★★★
Lightway is the name of ExpressVPN's bespoke VPN protocol. It's not quite as fast as NordLynx or WireGuard, as used by Surfshark, but it's easily enough for the needs of the casual user. It's optimized for mobile use – certainly no bad thing in the modern age – and outperforms OpenVPN by a long shot.
It's slightly disappointing that Lightway's 898 Mbps speeds dropped to more like 396 Mbps once we connected to the US from the UK but it's worth remembering that you only need a fraction of that to stream 4K video.
Lightway's performance may be about to change, though, with the roll out of Lightway Turbo and DCO on Windows apps and with the recently launched Lightway 2.0. and its more streamlined coding in Rust. Lightway in Rust is already on Aircove devices and is expected to land elsewhere over 2025.
Read more details on ExpressVPN speed and performance.
ExpressVPN price plan
There's only one price plan for ExpressVPN which makes things a lot more straightforward. Granted, it's a very expensive price plan but that's because you get the kind of optional extras found in NordVPN and Surfshark's top-tier packages included as standard.
Here's a table showing ExpressVPN's main features and a direct comparison of ExpressVPN vs NordVPN:
| Header Cell - Column 0 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Price | $12.95/month | $6.67/month | $4.99/month |
VPN | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Ad blocker | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Tracker blocker | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Password manager | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
ID Alerts | US-only | US-only | US-only |
$1M ID theft insurance | US-only | US-only | US-only |
Data Removal | US-only | US-only | US-only |
Proton VPN – the best VPN for privacy
Proton VPN is one of many privacy-centric products built by Proton. It's a CERN-scientist-founded, Swiss company committed to the "societal problem of surveillance capitalism" rather than a Silicon Valley venture capitalism get-rich-quick machine. So long as Proton sticks to that mission, that makes it quite an ethical VPN choice and one that works pretty much as well as all the others on this best VPN list.
The big reason to choose Proton VPN is if privacy is of paramount importance to you – or if you need a good range of server locations across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia – but don't let that fool you.
With over 11,775 servers across 117 countries, Proton VPN is every bit the right tool for those looking for some serious streaming and torrenting fun too.
READ MORE ABOUT PROTON VPN ▼
Ease of Use ★★★★
Proton VPN is easy to use, thanks to a recent UI refresh on a number of its apps. There are apps available for pretty much all your devices – including Linux with a graphic interface – but the Chrome browser extension version isn't quite as reliable as the VPNs higher up, and, given the popularity of both Chrome and browsing when it comes to VPN use, it's quite the frustration.
That said, Proton has recently partnered with privacy-focused browser Vivaldi. So, if you really do want a VPN browser extension for Proton, you might consider Vivaldi instead. Sadly, there's still no news for Mac OS Proton VP users who currently don't have access to the split tunneling feature.
Proton VPN also loses marks in this category for customer service. Like the others in this list, the live chat isn't 24/7. It's only available during Swiss work hours – not great if you're based on Pacific Time in the States or live in Australia or New Zealand. That said, we're assured that this is an area where Proton VPN is soon to improve.
Read more details on Proton VPN's apps and ease of use.
Streaming ★★★★★
Proton VPN is a good choice for both streaming and torrenting. It's one of the few VPNs where port forwarding is still available and there are dedicated, P2P-optimized servers, which, again, is great for torrenting.
Proton VPN also has more country locations than any other VPN. If you're looking to connect to a regional service in Africa (22 countries) or the Middle East (14 countries) then it should be high on your list. It also has more Asia locations covered than any other provider on this page.
The trade-off is that there aren't so many server locations in the US or across Europe, but most countries are covered in those places, even if there's not much at the city/region level. More to the point, Proton VPN had no trouble with any local or international streaming services we tried. We managed to access the desired Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus libraries with every server we tried.
Read more details on Proton VPN's unblocking and content.
Privacy & Security ★★★★½
Proton VPN has been built from the ground up as a privacy-first product and plenty of features show that off. Proton's Secure Core sends your VPN traffic through an extra secure server in a privacy-friendly location (Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden) and then onto the endpoint VPN server. Similar to NordVPN's Double VPN system, that means your traffic is secured twice, reducing the risk of your IP getting exposed if the endpoint server is hacked.
As well as OpenVPN and WireGuard, Proton uses its own Stealth protocol which hides the fact you're even using a VPN which could be very important if you're in a region where VPN use is banned.
Equally, you can opt to use the Alternate Routing feature instead which sends your IP-relocated internet traffic through a third-party server, like Amazon's, for example. That helps to get around sites that don't play nice with VPNs.
You can also connect directly to the Tor network through some Proton VPN servers which might be handy if you're in a line of work that requires extra anonymity.
Proton VPN Plus also brings the use of the NetShield Ad-blocker feature. It did a decent job with ads and trackers, although the malware-blocking end wasn't particularly comprehensive. Get a decent AV for that instead.
Read more details on Proton VPN privacy and security.
Speed & Performance ★★★½
Proton VPN plays second fiddle when compared to the speeds on offer with other VPNs on this list. The VPN Accelerator feature does a good job of automatically finding the routes with better speeds when connecting to long-distance servers but if a fast VPN is your no.1 feature, then Proton won't be the best choice.
Do bear in mind, though, that for streaming purposes, Proton VPN still has plenty under the hood. Indeed, its latency and jitter scores were nice and low, which arguably, is more important for some use cases.
Read more details on Proton VPN speed and performance.
Proton VPN price plan comparison
The free version of Proton VPN is one of the best free VPNs available, and worth your consideration, depending on your needs. The paid version of Proton VPN is the one to go for if you want to use the streaming functionality, though. Upgrade to Proton Unlimited if you want all of that plus access to the full suite of Proton web products including Proton Mail, Proton Drive, Proton Pass and more.
Proton VPN's two-year plan is the best value. You only need to subscribe to the full Proton Unlimited package for a year if you want the best monthly price for all the Proton products, though. Here's a comparison table of the Proton VPN plans so you can see for yourself:
| Header Cell - Column 0 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
1-month price | Free | $9.99/month | $12.99/month |
12-month price | Free | $3.99/month | $9.99/month |
24-month price | Free | $3.59/month | $9.99/month |
VPN | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Streaming | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Server choice | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Malware protection | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Tracker blocking | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Ad-blocker | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Tor over VPN | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive, and Pass | Free features only | Free features only | ✅ |
PrivadoVPN Free – Best Free VPN
It's not all about money. The best things in life are free. Well, the fifth-best thing, at least. A paid VPN is a better choice for anyone serious about using a VPN regularly but, if you’re looking to dip your toes in the VPN waters and see whether you like the feel, PrivadoVPN Free is a good choice.
Why? Because you get to play with most of the important features that a paid VPN offers and that’s not the case for many of the other best free VPN services. You can do things like unblocking access to trans-Atlantic Netflix libraries (in a limited way) and you also get the peace of mind that PrivadoVPN won’t sell your data to make up for the fact you’re using its service for free.
READ MORE ABOUT PRIVADOVPN FREE ▼
Ease of Use ★★★★
PrivadoVPN Free doesn't come with as much customization and functionality as a paid VPN, the upside of which is that it’s certainly easy to use. There are apps for Windows, MacOS, Android, Android TV, iOS, Apple TV, and FireTV and there’s a Chrome extension too. If you're struggling to install them, then the online knowledge base is good but live chat access is limited.
By default, the layout is a lot simpler than many, and the user interface is uncluttered. There’s the location manager, where you choose which server you wish to connect to; the recently revamped and stabilized kill switch; the connect button; and a handy reminder of how much data you have left; and that’s pretty much it. Hit ‘Click to Connect’ and away you go!
Read more details on PrivadoVPN Free apps and ease of use.
Streaming ★★★
Streaming is where PrivadoVPN Free stands head and shoulders above other free VPNs. There’s not really much streaming on offer elsewhere, without paying, because of very low data allowances and limited, or often no, server choice.
PrivdoVPN Free allows you to access its 13 servers across 10 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Netherlands, UK, and the USA. You also get 10 GB of data to use each month. That’s about 10, hour-long, TV shows at standard definition. If you need more than that, then maybe it’s time to pay for your VPN.
The split tunneling feature is handy for minimizing your data use but, if you do bust the limit of your allowance, then PrivadoVPN Free will let you to connect still but only on the 1 Mbps server. With no servers in Australia, New Zealand or Italy, there are a lot of great free streaming services that you miss out on here but it did still manage to unblock Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, and ITV in our recent tests.
Read more details on PrivadoVPN's Free streaming performance.
Privacy & Security ★★★
PrivadoVPN Free brings access to its VPN but not much else in the way of privacy and security features, aside from the kill switch. It uses AES-256 encryption and offers OpenVPN, WireGuard protocols as well as the usually slower IKEv2, if you need.
We love that PrivadoVPN doesn’t sell its free users’ data to fund the gratis access. We love its strict no-logs policy. We love that it’s based in Switzerland too, where data protection laws are super tight. But the fact that PrivadoVPN has never had a third-party audit to check all this? Not so much. But then audits cost money and the users aren’t paying, so, you know.
Read more details on PrivadoVPN's Free privacy and security.
Speed & Performance ★★★
You might expect a free VPN to be significantly slower than the paid options on this page but that’s not the case with PrivadoVPN Free. It maxed out our 950 Mbps VPN speed testing rig using WireGuard, like many of the others on this page. As we say, you get a lot more than the other best free VPNs with PrivadoVPN Free. What you don’t get is the unlimited ability to use it.
Read more details on PrivadoVPN's speed and performance.
PrivadoVPN price plan comparison
PrivadoVPN would much rather you sign up for its paid VPN service. The free version is not easy to find on its website. It's usually a greyed-out button buried pretty deep on the sign-up page.
In many ways, it has a point, though. PrivadoVPN Free is a good service but if you need a VPN on the regular, you're better off reaching into your pocket. We even have a special $10 discount through our link which is how you get the prices below.
Here's a feature comparison table of the PrivadoVPN Free and paid plans and you can see if you agree:
| Header Cell - Column 0 | ||
|---|---|---|
1-month plan price | Free | $10.99/month |
12-month plan price | Free | $1.33/month |
24-month plan price | Free | $1.11/month |
VPN | ✅ | ✅ |
Server countries | 10 | 48 |
Data Limit | 10GB/30 days | Unlimited |
Simultaneous connections | 1 | 10 |
Ad blocker | ❌ | ✅ |
Parental controls | ❌ | ✅ |
Other VPNs we've tested
We rate the five VPNs above as the best available right now but there are plenty of other VPNs that we've reviewed. If you see a killer VPN deal out there for one of them, it might be worth your consideration, certainly if it's high up this list. We've put the highest-scoring VPNs at the top. The ones near the bottom are VPNs you should avoid.
What is a VPN?
A virtual private network (VPN) is a tool that creates a secure and encrypted connection between your device and another location on the internet. VPNs ensure privacy and security online by masking your IP address – and therefore your location – and encrypting data that's transmitted to and from your device, making it impossible for third parties to intercept or track your activities.
Without a VPN, your ISP can monitor and track which websites you access and the data you're transferring. Governments and legal bodies can then request to access that information or hackers may expose it. Install a VPN and no one can see your data or what you're doing online.
What does a VPN do?
A VPN provides security, privacy, and anonymity to you and your devices when using the internet. VPNs can also unblock your favorite streaming services from abroad, help you get cheaper prices when shopping online, assist with torrenting and online gaming connections, and they're a terrific tool for protecting yourself on public Wi-Fi.
Most good VPNs have ad-blockers and will deal with those annoying cookie-consent pop-ups too. You can read more about the benefits of using a VPN.
How to buy a VPN
There are two important things to note when buying a VPN: you have to pay the full amount up-front BUT most come with 30-day money-back guarantees, so you can change your mind for a full refund.
So, for example, if NordVPN's Basic plan is advertised at $3.39 per month for 24 months, that means you'll need to pay the whole $81.36 when you sign up. (You may also have tax to pay on that, region depending.) You'll then receive 24 months of service before you get the choice to pay again for another term.
As for the money-back guarantee, we've tried it, and it works. Most of our top picks also have 24-hour live customer support which makes it all the easier.
Finally, once you've bought and installed your chosen VPN, we'd advise deactivating any auto-renew settings. Some auto-renew prices can be eye-watering compared to the initial fee. Take a look at more things to consider when buying a VPN.
What to look for in a VPN
NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN are probably going to fit most people's needs but if you've some specific use cases or have some key criteria, then you should probably consider the following. You can read more about each in our article on choosing a VPN.
Price
Anything under $2.50/£2.50 per month is a cheap VPN; up to $4.50/£4.50 per month is about average; and anything over $5/£5 per month is on the expensive side. There are also free VPNs but they usually come with limited usage and features. They're not great for streaming, torrenting or gaming. The longer the term of your agreement, the cheaper the price. Anything less than a year tends not to be great value.
Apps
Most VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android but do check. Linux users and anyone looking to install a VPN on an Amazon Fire Stick, a router, or a smart TV should definitely read the small print on this one.
Security & Privacy
Is it meeting industry standards for encryption? Is there a kill switch? Does it have a no-logs policy, and has it been audited? Look out for nifty security features that ensure no patterns to link you and your given IPs, and for anything that will help prevent encrypted data from getting cracked either now or in the future. And check the company's track record to make sure they have kept customers safe in the past.
Server locations
Does the VPN you're interested in have physical servers in the countries you need or just virtual VPN servers? That might be one where you live or one in a country with a geo-blocked streaming service that you're trying to access.
Performance
Can you trust VPN speed tests? Well, you can certainly trust performance. Consistency and quality are critical. You'll suffer poor performance if the VPN you've chosen has issues with latency or jitter. The end result will be packet loss during data transfer which you'll experience as buffering or a stream dropping when using video-based applications eg: video calls, online gaming, and watching Netflix.
Extras
Many providers include more than just the VPN. There are ad-blockers, password managers, anti-virus systems, and even cyber insurance bundled in sometimes. Are these things you'd like too, or are you better off keeping costs down? Picking the right price plan is usually the key here.
Customer support
Most of our top VPN providers have excellent, 24/7 live customer support. They're there to help you with any issues from solving your streaming problems to arranging the refund from your money-back guarantee. If the service you're looking at doesn't offer something similar, then you might want to think again.
Are VPN's legal?
Yes. VPNs are legal to use in most places around the world. The exceptions are North Korea, Belarus, Oman, Iraq, and Turkmenistan, where VPNs are illegal, and China, Russia, Turkey, UAE, India, Iran, Egypt, and Uganda where you can only use a state-approved VPN, the actual privacy of which would be questionable at best.
But, as far as everyone in the US, UK, Europe, and most other places go, yes, VPNs are perfectly legal to use. Go get one!
Do you need a VPN?
Good question. No. Not everyone needs a VPN. But they can be useful depending on who you are, what you do, and how you like to use the internet and online services.
If you want to access streaming services from all around the world – BBC iPlayer, ITV, SBS On Demand, 9Now, RAIPlay, Max, ESPN+, Sling, Hulu, etc – then a VPN is the best way to do that. Equally, a VPN is perfect for making sure you can access the right libraries for Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus.
Primarily, though, VPNs are about online security. For the everyday user, that might mean staying safe while using public Wi-Fi, or minimizing the cookies and trackers that harvest your details as you browse the web and other connected services. That should lead to less email spam and less chances of cybercrime attack too because you're far less likely to have your details stolen in any online database hacks.
Some VPNs can offer a more ad-free online experience too while others have built-in tools to help steer you away from fraudulent websites and malware.
The only group for whom we'd say VPNs are a must are journalists, political activists, and people around the world who need to protect themselves from oppressive governments, access foreign media, and learn and report on global truths. If you want to make sure you're able to evade censorship and propaganda while maintaining anonymity and privacy online, a VPN is non-negotiable.
For any of those reasons above, or if you just want peace of mind that you're more in control of your personal data in a rapidly progressing digital age, then a VPN is probably a good idea. Give one a go and try it for yourself. Most have a 30-day money-back guarantee if you decide a VPN is not for you.
Are free VPNs as good as paid VPNs?
A free VPN might be enough if you don't intend to use it much or don't need to use it for streaming, gaming or torrenting. There are some bad free ones out there but if you choose one of the best free VPNs then you won't come unstuck.
A free VPN is usually limited in the amount of data it offers each month or by the number of server locations it offers. That's why streaming on a free VPN isn't usually going to work. You can certainly expect far fewer features on a free VPN too.
Take a look at our free vs paid VPNs page for a better idea, and do check out these free VPN trials of paid services. All those listed will offer a refund within 30 days if you're not happy with the service.
How we test VPN services
We've been testing VPNs for longer than almost any other online publication and feel very confident about our methodology.
Each VPN is tested twice per year on TechRadar. That way, we can be sure that this guide is as up-to-date as possible whenever you happen to be reading it. Every recommended VPN on this page has been fully reviewed.
We test all the VPNs on the following categories:
Feature analysis: Technical details, network size, server locations, and supported protocols.
Privacy and security: Privacy policies, encryption methods, independent security audits, data leak protections.
Performance testing: Connection speeds, connection times, video streaming performance, web browsing performance, gaming performance, torrenting performance.
Unblocking abilities: VPNs are tested against over 20 of the most common streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and many more.
Support and reliability: Customer support facilities, such as live chat and email support and help sections on provider websites.
You can read more about our full VPN testing methodology here.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.