Best VPNs for the US in 2026
Whether you live in the US or are only passing through, a VPN encrypts your connection on public Wi-Fi and gives you a US IP address for the American services that check for one. Below are the seven VPNs we recommend for the US, what each is best at, who should skip it, and the official figures behind the comparison.
Best VPNs for the US compared
| # | VPN | Best for | Servers in the US | Simultaneous devices | Money-back guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NordVPN | Best VPN overall for the US | 2483 | 10 | 30 days |
| 2 | Surfshark | Best for families | 600+ | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 3 | Private Internet Access | Best for torrenting | — | Unlimited | 30 days (new subscribers) |
| 4 | CyberGhost | Best for a long trial period | 1374 | 7 | 45 days (14 on monthly plans) |
| 5 | Proton VPN | Best free VPN | 6215 | 10 (VPN Plus) | 30 days |
| 6 | PureVPN | Best for Fire TV Stick | — | 10 | 31 days |
| 7 | ExpressVPN | Best for travelers | — | 10–14 (by plan) | 30 days (new users) |
Every figure in the table comes from the provider’s own website. Where a provider does not publish a US server count, the cell is empty rather than estimated. Some providers fill gaps in smaller states with virtual locations: the IP address is in that state, the server is in another one.
Who has the most servers in the US?
How we picked these VPNs
The ranking is our editorial judgment of which provider fits which need in the US. To keep it honest, we only publish facts we can source:
- US servers – how many servers each provider runs in the US and in which cities, taken from its own server pages.
- Devices per plan – how many devices one subscription covers, which decides whether one plan is enough for a family.
- Refund period – how long you have to try the service and get your money back.
- Fit for the use case – streaming, travel, a usable free plan, or support for TV devices such as the Fire TV Stick.
We have not yet published our own speed or streaming tests for the US, so this guide makes no claims about speeds or about which American services each VPN unblocks.
The best VPNs for the US, reviewed
1. NordVPN
- Servers in the US
- 2483api.nordvpn.com/v1/servers/countries · checked 2026-11-08
- Simultaneous devices
- 10nordvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-08
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 daysnordvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-08
NordVPN runs servers in dozens of US cities, from New York, Chicago and Dallas to Los Angeles and Seattle, according to its own server list. A small share of them are virtual locations, which the list marks. That reach means a nearby server wherever you are in the country, and the plan covers enough devices for a phone, a laptop and a TV at the same time.
It is the provider we recommend if you only want to buy one VPN for the US. Our NordVPN review covers the apps and the privacy policy in more detail.
+ Pros
- Servers in dozens of US cities, coast to coast
- The second-largest US network we list, after Proton VPN
- One plan covers a household’s main devices
− Cons
- Has a device limit, unlike Surfshark and PIA
- A smaller US network than Proton VPN’s paid plan
Choose it if you want one VPN that handles browsing, streaming and public Wi-Fi across the US. Skip it if you need to protect more devices than one plan allows.
2. Surfshark
- Servers in the US
- 600+surfshark.com/servers/usa · checked 2026-11-12
- Simultaneous devices
- Unlimitedsurfshark.com/features/multiple-devices · checked 2026-11-07
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 dayssurfshark.com/features/multiple-devices · checked 2026-11-07
Surfshark runs servers in dozens of US locations, and one subscription covers an unlimited number of devices. That is why we recommend it for families and roommates: everyone can use the same plan on every phone, laptop and TV in the home.
+ Pros
- No device limit on one subscription
- Servers in dozens of US locations
− Cons
- The smallest US network of the providers that publish a figure
- The refund guarantee only covers your first purchase
Choose it if you are buying one VPN for a whole family or shared home. Skip it if the number of US servers matters more to you than the number of devices.
3. Private Internet Access
- Servers in the US
- —not published
- Simultaneous devices
- Unlimitedprivateinternetaccess.com · checked 2026-11-07
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 days (new subscribers)privateinternetaccess.com · checked 2026-11-07
Private Internet Access (PIA) allows unlimited simultaneous devices on one subscription, and it says it has VPN servers in every US state, some of them as virtual locations. It also lists streaming-optimized locations on the US East and West Coasts. It is our pick for torrenting. PIA does not publish a total US server count, so the table leaves that cell empty.
Using a VPN does not make downloading copyrighted material legal. See torrenting in the US below.
+ Pros
- No device limit on one subscription
- A location in every US state
- Streaming-optimized East and West Coast locations
− Cons
- No published US server count
- The refund guarantee is for new subscribers only
Choose it if you torrent legal content, want every device covered, or need an IP address in a particular state. Skip it if you want to know exactly how many US servers you are paying for.
4. CyberGhost
- Servers in the US
- 1374cyberghostvpn.com/vpn-server · checked 2026-11-08
- Simultaneous devices
- 7cyberghostvpn.com/features/money-back-guar… · checked 2026-11-07
- Money-back guarantee
- 45 days (14 on monthly plans)cyberghostvpn.com/features/money-back-guar… · checked 2026-11-07
CyberGhost runs a large US network in cities including New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago, and it gives you the longest refund period in this list on plans of six months or more. That makes it the easiest VPN here to test properly on your own connection before you commit.
+ Pros
- The longest refund period here on longer plans
- A large US network in the biggest cities
− Cons
- Fewer US cities than NordVPN, Proton VPN or PIA
- The lowest device limit in this list
- Monthly plans get a much shorter refund window
Choose it if you want plenty of time to test a VPN on the US services you use. Skip it if you need many devices covered or only want to pay month by month.
5. Proton VPN
- Servers in the US
- 6215protonvpn.com/vpn-servers · checked 2026-11-08
- Simultaneous devices
- 10 (VPN Plus)protonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-07
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 daysprotonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-07
Proton VPN is the only provider in this list with a permanent free plan, which makes it our pick for a free VPN in the US. The free plan covers a single device and connects you to a randomly selected server. You cannot choose the US, so use it to protect yourself on public Wi-Fi, not to get a US IP address.
The paid VPN Plus plan unlocks the largest US network in this list, spread across many US cities.
+ Pros
- The only permanent free plan in this list
- The paid plan has the largest US network we list
− Cons
- The free plan cannot connect to the US on request
- The free plan covers a single device
Choose it if you want free protection on coffee shop, airport or hotel Wi-Fi, or the largest US network on a paid plan. Skip it if you need a US IP address without paying.
6. PureVPN
- Servers in the US
- —not published
- Simultaneous devices
- 10purevpn.com/order · checked 2026-11-08
- Money-back guarantee
- 31 dayspurevpn.com/order · checked 2026-11-08
PureVPN offers a dedicated Fire TV Stick app, which is why we recommend it if you mainly watch on an Amazon Fire TV device. It has servers in several US cities, but it does not publish a US server count.
+ Pros
- A dedicated app for the Amazon Fire TV Stick
- A slightly longer refund period than most providers here
− Cons
- No published US server count
Choose it if you watch mostly on a Fire TV Stick. Skip it if you want the largest choice of US servers. Read our PureVPN review.
7. ExpressVPN
- Servers in the US
- —not published
- Simultaneous devices
- 10–14 (by plan)expressvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-12
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 days (new users)expressvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-12
ExpressVPN has US locations in dozens of cities, from New York and Washington DC to Los Angeles and Seattle, and marks the ones that are virtual. Add its worldwide server network, and that is why we recommend it to people who travel in and out of the US: one app gives you a US IP address when you are away and a local one wherever you land.
+ Pros
- US locations in dozens of cities
- A worldwide server network for travel
− Cons
- No published US server count
- The device limit depends on the plan you buy
- The refund guarantee is for new users only
Choose it if you regularly travel between the US and other countries. Skip it if you want unlimited devices on one plan.
Watching US TV with a VPN
American streaming apps check where you are, and they often refuse to play when they see a VPN address. If you live in the US and keep your VPN on, connect to a US server so the apps see a US IP address, and try another US server if one still refuses to play.
US networks and their streaming apps
| Broadcaster | Network | Streaming app |
|---|---|---|
| Disney | ABC | Hulu, the ABC app |
| Paramount | CBS | Paramount+ |
| NBCUniversal | NBC | Peacock |
| Fox Corporation | Fox | Fox One |
| PBS | PBS | the PBS app |
The Super Bowl airs on one of the big broadcast networks, which take it in turns, so that network’s app is where viewers in the US stream it.
Before you rely on it
- Streaming services often block VPN traffic, and what works changes over time. We have not tested which VPN currently works with which American service, so use the refund period to check the services you care about.
- Some services restrict VPN use in their terms. Check the terms of the service you subscribe to.
- Subscription services such as Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock and Fox One still need a subscription; a VPN only changes your location.
What to avoid when choosing a VPN for the US
- Free VPNs that pay for themselves with ads or your data. The Federal Trade Commission warns that some VPN apps do not encrypt traffic or share data with third parties. The one free plan we list, Proton VPN, cannot give you a US IP address.
- Providers without servers where you need them. If you want an IP address in a particular state, check the server list before you buy.
- Plans you cannot get refunded. Every VPN in our list has a refund window; use it to test the American services you care about.
- Providers that say little about who runs them or what they log. Read the privacy policy before you pay.
- “Lifetime” deals from unknown brands. A service that has to keep running servers for ever on a one-off payment rarely lasts.
Is using a VPN legal in the US?
Yes. The Federal Trade Commission itself suggests using a VPN if you regularly access your online accounts over public Wi-Fi hotspots, and advises checking what a VPN app does with your data before you install it.
A VPN does not change what is legal, though. This is general information, not legal advice.
Torrenting in the US
Downloading or sharing copyrighted material without permission is illegal in the US, with or without a VPN. Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, rights holders send infringement notices that internet providers pass on to their customers, providers must have a policy for cutting off repeat infringers, and rights holders can sue. Torrenting itself is legal for content you have the right to share, such as open-source software or public-domain films.
How to get a US IP address
- Pick a VPN from the table above that lists servers in the US.
- Install its app on the device you want to use and sign in.
- Choose the United States (or a US city or state) in the server list and connect.
- Check that your IP address now shows the US, then open the American service you want to use.
FAQ
What is the best VPN for the US?
NordVPN is our pick for most people. It has servers in dozens of US cities, and one plan covers several devices. Surfshark is the better choice for large households because it has no device limit.
Is there a good free VPN for the US?
Proton VPN has the only free plan in our list. It is useful on public Wi-Fi, but the free plan picks a server for you, so it cannot give you a US IP address. For that you need a paid plan.
Which VPN has the most servers in the US?
Of the providers in our list that publish a figure, Proton VPN has the most US servers on its paid plan, followed by NordVPN and CyberGhost.
Can I watch Hulu, Peacock or Paramount+ in the US with a VPN on?
These services check for a US IP address, which a VPN connected to a US server provides. Streaming services do block VPNs, though, and we have not tested which VPN currently works with each one. Use a refund period to try it, and remember that each of them still needs a subscription.
Is it legal to use a VPN in the US?
Yes. The Federal Trade Commission suggests a VPN for people who regularly use public Wi-Fi. A VPN does not make illegal activity, such as downloading copyrighted material, legal.
Which VPN gives me an IP address in a specific state?
Private Internet Access is our pick: it says it has servers in every US state. NordVPN and ExpressVPN also cover many states, and both mark the locations that are virtual in their server lists.