Schools and colleges will often block websites and online services in the name of safety, but sometimes, these blocks become a frustrating catch-all or accidentally restrict educational resources. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you circumvent these blocks and firewalls by disguising your IP address and rerouting your traffic through a server network, hiding your online activities and preventing you from being monitored by school or college administrators.
Also: The best VPNs for streaming
Students have enough to manage without being prevented from accessing online resources. Indeed, as a former teacher, I would use a VPN in some of the schools I worked at to stop myself from being blocked from social media and other services. To easily bypass existing restrictions, you need a VPN service that combines privacy, speed, a robust server network, and one that has a reputation for successfully managing firewalls and restrictive policies.
What is the best school VPN right now?
Our pick for the best school VPN is NordVPN due to its impressive speed, rapid server connections, and extensive server network. We’ve also found it is one of the most successful services for bypassing online blocks and restrictions. Subscriptions start from $3.59/month.
ZDNET has years of experience in the VPN market, and we have extensively tested, researched, and analyzed dozens of VPNs. Based on our research and backed by solid customer reviews, these are our other tested top picks for the best VPNs for school.
All Countries and servers Usability Speed and performance Security Price
The best school VPNs of 2024
NordVPN is one of the top VPNs available today and will fit the needs of any school or college user. This VPN combines strong speeds with a server network spanning 111 countries — one of the most extensive available — supports all major platforms and has Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browser plugins.
Review: NordVPN offers consistent speed and performance
You can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously under one account, although we would like this to become unlimited in the future. There is also a kill switch that protects your privacy if your connection unexpectedly drops.
During our frequent tests and daily use, NordVPN has been user-friendly, extremely quick to connect, and very reliable. It is also very successful in accessing streaming platforms, including Netflix, which is something most students will appreciate.
Customers like the VPN app’s ease of use, applaud NordVPN’s customer support, and appreciate its rapid speeds, although some have flagged inconsistent pricing. If you can, try to sign up during a sale to take advantage of a cheap plan, at least until renewal.
Prices start at $3.59 per month on a standard two-year plan with three months of free access added to the length of the contract. One-year plans start at $4.59 per month (three months free). If you only want one month of access, expect to pay $12.99.
NordVPN features: Simultaneous connections: 10 | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, Fire TV, tvOS, and routers | Countries: 111 | Kill switch: Yes | Logging: Email address and billing information only | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: 7 days on Android
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Not only is ExpressVPN compatible with all major platforms and operating systems, but it is very fast — this VPN consistently tops our speed tests. Selecting a server is quick and painless, and it comes with a kill switch to protect you if your connection drops.
If speed, streaming, and ease of use are your priorities, this could be the right VPN for you. It also successfully bypasses geolocation restrictions, making this VPN one of the best choices for avoiding online blocks.
Review: ExpressVPN review: A fine VPN service, but is it worth the price?
However, there are two disadvantages to this VPN you should be aware of: the number of simultaneous devices you’re permitted is eight. Given the expensive price point — the second issue that may deter some subscribers — this should be unlimited.
Still, customers say that while expensive, this VPN provides value for money and solid customer support, leading to many staying with this VPN rather than switching out for cheaper options.
It’s rare for ExpressVPN to be on sale, as the usual ‘sale’ price of $6.67/month on a two-year contract has been in place for years. However, ExpressVPN actually has a holiday deal for this term, which is worth considering: $4.99/month with four months of free access. It’s still expensive, but you do get what you pay for.
If you’re ever unhappy with the service, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
ExpressVPN features: Simultaneous connections: 8 | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Linux, Fire TV, Android TV, tvOS, and routers | Countries: 105 | Kill switch: Yes | Logging: No browsing logs, some connection logs | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: 7 days on Android and iOS
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Surfshark is an excellent option if you need a budget-friendly VPN that does not limit the number of devices you can connect. While our testing indicates that joining the VPN network can be slow initially, once you connect to one of Surfshark’s servers (available in 100 countries), your connection will be stable and reasonably fast.
Review: Surfshark VPN: Unlimited connections make it a solid value pick
Other features to note include a handy pause function, a kill switch, compatibility with multiple operating systems, dedicated IP addresses, antivirus, MultiHop, and Bypasser, a way to whitelist services to bypass the VPN’s connection.
Surfshark subscriptions start at $1.99 per month for a two-year plan or $2.99 per month for an annual plan. Two-year plans also grant users four months of free access, added to the length of the contract. Alternatively, you can sign up for one month for $15.45.
Customers applaud Surfshark’s customer service, but some have noted billing issues. However, the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Surfshark VPN features: Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Ad blocker | Two-factor authentication | Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, tvOS, and routers | Countries: 100 | Kill switch: Yes | Logging: No-logs policy | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: 7 days on Android, iOS, and macOS
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We particularly like Private Internet Access (PIA) as a beginner-friendly VPN option. Once you’ve installed the software and signed in, PIA displays an unobtrusive tab showing your VPN server, IP address, and a button to connect. As it has been built with usability in mind, you can’t go wrong with this solution if you’re new to the VPN world.
Also: Private Internet Access review
During our testing, PIA demonstrated reasonable speeds, stable connections, and accessed streaming services well. Customers find the service reliable and say it works well in many locations worldwide. As a bonus, PIA provides unlimited simultaneous connections.
If you opt for a two-year plan at $2.19 per month, you will receive two months of free access. You can also opt for a six-month contract at $7.50/month. We would like to see the return of an annual plan, but there is a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Private Internet Access features: Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, tvOS, routers, Fire TV, and NAS | Countries: 91 | Kill switch: Yes | Logging: No-logs policy | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: 7 days on Android and iOS
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In our testing, we found that CyberGhost was reliable and provided good speeds and streaming capabilities for accessing services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, making it a great contender as a VPN suitable for use in school.
Review: CyberGhost VPN: A solid VPN for beginners
Customers like how easy the VPN is to use, and some note that it is a great option if you live in a country with restrictions or censorship. However, some users have reported technical issues with mobile applications.
CyberGhost’s two-year plan will cost you $2.19 per month, including two months of free access. A six-month plan is priced at $6.99 per month, whereas a month of access will cost you $12.99.
Another benefit is CyberGhost’s 45-day money-back guarantee, the longest offered by our recommended VPNs. So, if you want to try a VPN for over a month without being locked into a long contract, CyberGhost is a great pick.
CyberGhost VPN features: Simultaneous connections: 7 | Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, NAS routers | Countries: 100+ | Kill switch: Yes | Logging: Payment information only | Money-back guarantee: 45 days | Trial: 24 days on macOS and Windows; three days on Android, 7 days on iOS
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Best school VPN |
Price |
Speed rating based on ZDNET tests |
Simultaneous connections |
Logging |
|
NordVPN |
Starts at $3.59 per month |
Excellent |
10 |
No activity logs |
|
ExpressVPN |
Starts at $6.67 per month |
Excellent |
8 |
No browsing logs, some connection logs |
|
Surfshark |
Starts at $1.99 per month |
Reasonable |
Unlimited |
No activity logs |
|
Private Internet Access |
Starts at $2.19 per month |
Reasonable |
Unlimited |
No activity logs |
|
CyberGhost |
Starts at $2.19 per month |
Reasonable |
Unlimited |
No activity logs |
A VPN suitable for use at school or college provides you with a network across many countries and locations and will allow you to hide your IP address for enhanced privacy.
School-ready VPNs make it more difficult for administrators to monitor your online activities, protecting your privacy. It encrypts your online traffic while hiding your IP address and will help you bypass restrictions and blocks imposed on websites, online resources, and social media. VPNs may also allow you to torrent or stream and stop throttling, but you should keep in mind that schools may have policies that ban such activities.
How to use a VPN at school
To set up a VPN for school, subscribe to your chosen VPN service and download the VPN software for your device from the VPN provider’s website or an official app repository, such as Google Play or the App Store. Open the software and sign in using the credentials you created when you signed up. Choose a server location and press connect.
Once connected, your internet traffic should be encrypted, and your IP address should be hidden. If you want to check that your VPN is working properly, compare your IP address when you are not connected versus when you have connected to your VPN. Websites including WhatismyIPaddress.com can help you.
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Choose this school VPN… |
If you need or want… |
|
NordVPN |
ZDNET’s overall choice for the best school VPN. NordVPN provides reliable and consistent performance, excellent speeds, and is often successful at bypassing firewalls and geolocation blocks. |
|
ExpressVPN |
A speedy server network and plenty of options for masking your IP address. ExpressVPN has an extensive list of servers, so you’ll likely have access to blocked online resources. |
|
Surfshark |
A budget-friendly VPN. Surfshark is consistently affordable, and so you won’t need to expect hefty price hikes in the future, even if you sign up for the VPN during sales with promotional pricing. |
|
Private Internet Access |
An open-source VPN suitable for beginners. PIA is a fast, reliable VPN that is extremely easy to use. As a bonus, there is no limit on simultaneous connections under one account. |
|
CyberGhost |
A VPN suitable for streaming. CyberGhost is one of our top streaming picks and a great option for torrenting, too, thanks to its specialized P2P servers. |
These are the most important factors to consider when trying to decide on the best school VPN for you.
- Trial length: You need to consider how long you think you will need a VPN. If you’re going to be in school for at least a few years, consider a two-year subscription — as you also tend to get the best monthly prices on the longest terms. Some VPNs even offer five-year deals, but the upfront costs can quickly mount up.
- Server locations: If you want your IP address to look like you’re in a specific city or country, check that the VPN you are interested in has server locations in these areas.
- Security and data collection: Consider the VPN provider’s security track record. Preferably, the VPN will be open to external audits, and the company hasn’t suffered any significant recent data breaches. You also want a VPN provider that constantly improves its security posture and operates a no-logs policy.
- Streaming: If you plan to use your VPN to access streaming services or live-stream platforms, ensure your VPN can access it. You might, however, come across issues if your school has strong blocks.
- Acceptable use policies: Some schools will not look kindly upon using VPNs. In addition, if you plan to use a VPN to stream or torrent on your school’s network, this might break your school’s acceptable use policy.
- Price: VPN prices vary, but you can find solid, reliable VPNs for as little as a few dollars per month. That said, you may be interested in paying top rates if you want additional features, such as a password manager or cloud backup.
- Support: As with any subscription software, you may encounter problems with installing apps, using the service, renewing, or canceling. We list VPNs with an available support team.
Many providers recommended in this list have been subject to in-depth testing and reviews by ZDNET’s team. We’ve been talking about VPNs for years, spoken with their management and users, and developed a generally favorable impression.
Our team tested and analyzed the best VPNs for school in 2024 using the following criteria to help you make an informed decision:
- Performance: Our top VPNs must have a minimum level of performance. After all, there’s no point in using a VPN while streaming if your connection continually drops or lags.
- Testing: ZDNET tests VPN services from multiple locations, but we can’t test from all locations. After all, every home, community, local ISP, and nation has a different infrastructure. Still, we extensively monitor VPNs to detect any changes in speed or information leaks.
- Simultaneous connections: Many VPNs limit the number of devices you can connect to a service simultaneously. If you want to connect a phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, and possibly even a smart TV to a VPN, you need a service that allows at least five simultaneous connections.
- Security: A VPN is useless unless its security protocols and encryption levels are up to par. We also ensure that the development team behind each recommended VPN cares about improving security over time and patching reported bugs.
- Kill switch: A kill switch prevents you from having an unprotected connection. It is an essential feature for a VPN, as it protects you by preventing a return to a default Wi-Fi connection should your internet connection unexpectedly drop.
- Geo-blocks and streaming: VPNs can be vital to accessing restricted content, including services blocked on school networks. Given these factors, we ensured that our top recommendations perform well and are unlikely to slow down your connection.
- Countries and servers: How many different countries does the VPN have servers? This can include physical and virtual servers and whether there are enough — at least 50 or so — to provide variety.
- Trial length and price: Each VPN we recommend has a solid money-back guarantee.
-
Support: As with any subscription software, you may encounter problems installing apps, using the service, renewing, or canceling. We list VPNs with an available support team.
Check out our VPN testing methodology page for a more comprehensive breakdown.
A VPN might slow your internet speed if the data is encrypted and decrypted before transmission. However, a good VPN suitable for use at school or college should have a minimal impact. Our tests have found that some VPNs will only slow down your internet connection by a few percentage points, although depending on your chosen server, speed loss may end up being 30% or more.
Using a VPN is legal in most countries, but some exceptions exist. Some countries, such as China, Russia, and Iran, restrict VPN usage or have banned the use of VPNs entirely.
While legal in most cases, you should still check that you can use a VPN without breaking your school or college’s internet-acceptable use policies.
No, your school or college can’t see what websites you visit or your search history. VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and stop this kind of monitoring from happening. However, they may be able to tell you are using a VPN, and if you are traveling through their network and using high volumes of bandwidth, for example, they may assume you are torrenting or streaming.
Proton VPN and Windscribe offer free plans as standard, and they are some of only a handful of free options we can recommend without hesitation. It’s also worth keeping an eye on sales and promotions to see if you can snag a student discount, such as one currently available for some NordVPN subscribers.
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