Ranked for privacy Facts checked 17 Oct 2026 Scores recalculated live
Best VPN for the United Kingdom
Since 25 July 2025 the Online Safety Act has made UK sites check ages for 'harmful' content, Proton VPN reported a 1,400% jump in UK sign-ups that day, and Apple switched off its strongest iCloud encryption for UK users.
Top pick right now
Proton VPN 94/100
No-logs claims checked by Securitum (Aug 2025).
Why you'd use a VPN in the United Kingdom
Online Safety Act age checks
Ofcom required platforms to assess children's access by April 2025, and age verification for adult and other 'harmful' content began on 25 July 2025, using face scans, photo ID or card checks. Proton VPN reported UK sign-ups up 1,400%. [1] [2]
Encryption under pressure
After a reported Home Office order for access to encrypted data, Apple stopped offering Advanced Data Protection for iCloud in the UK in February 2025. [2]
Posts lead to arrests
A 2025 freedom-of-information report found more than 12,000 arrests in 2023 under communications laws, including for social media posts. [2]
Is a VPN legal in the United Kingdom? Legal. VPNs are legal. Parliament has debated age checks on VPNs, but no rule has passed. Using a VPN does not make it legal for under-18s to access age-restricted content.
The top 3 for the United Kingdom
Full ranking of the 6 VPNs we track
| # | VPN | Score | Connects here | Visitor reports | Website (OONI) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proton VPN | 94/100 | Connects | Not enough yet | Blocked on some networks 496 tests | Try Proton VPN |
| 2 | ExpressVPN | 86/100 | Connects | Not enough yet | Too few tests | Try ExpressVPN |
| 3 | NordVPN | 86/100 | Connects | Not enough yet | Blocked on some networks 593 tests | Try NordVPN |
| 4 | Private Internet Access | 79/100 | Connects | Not enough yet | Too few tests | Try Private Internet Access |
| 5 | Surfshark | 77/100 | Connects | Not enough yet | Blocked on some networks 490 tests | Try Surfshark |
| 6 | CyberGhost | 66/100 | Connects | Not enough yet | Too few tests | Try CyberGhost |
"Connects here" comes from our the United Kingdom status page. Visitor reports count the last 14 days. Website checks come from OONI measurements over 30 days, refreshed 19 Oct 2026; a blocked website doesn't mean the app is blocked, but you'll need to install the app another way.
How we scored
Nobody pays for a position here. Each VPN gets a score out of 100 from these weights, chosen because the main reason to use a VPN in the United Kingdom is privacy:
- Privacy & audits
- 55%
- Stealth / obfuscation
- 10%
- Streaming
- 10%
- Connects in this country
- 10%
- Visitor reports
- 15%
Feature ratings are our editorial scores. If a VPN has too few visitor reports, that weight is shared among the other factors. A VPN that doesn't connect here is capped at 35. How we track
Questions people ask
What is the best VPN for the United Kingdom?
On our current scores, Proton VPN (94/100), followed by ExpressVPN (86) and NordVPN (86). Scores weigh privacy most heavily for the United Kingdom and update as visitors there report what works.
Is using a VPN legal in the United Kingdom?
Legal. VPNs are legal. Parliament has debated age checks on VPNs, but no rule has passed. Using a VPN does not make it legal for under-18s to access age-restricted content.
Do all VPNs work in the United Kingdom?
All six VPNs we track connect normally in the United Kingdom. The differences are in streaming, privacy and speed.
Why does this ranking change?
Part of each score comes from visitor reports in the last 14 days and from whether each VPN currently connects in the country. When those change, the order changes. The formula is shown on the page.
Sources
We earn a commission if you buy a VPN through our links. It never changes what we report as blocked. How we pick