A VPN encrypts your connection and hides your IP address from the sites you visit, but it moves your trust to the VPN company instead. That is why the provider matters more than the feature list, and why VPN services ranked in a list are only as good as the testing behind them.
What a VPN does and doesn't do
- It does encrypt traffic between your device and the VPN server, which is useful on public Wi-Fi, hide your IP address from the sites you visit, and change your apparent location
- It doesn't make you anonymous, stop tracking through cookies or logged-in accounts, protect you from malware and phishing, or secure data you hand to a service you are signed in to
Using a VPN is legal in the UK. Using one to commit a crime is not.
VPN services UK: what to check
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Logging policy | What data is kept and for how long, written in plain language |
| Independent audits | Whether an outside firm has audited the apps or the no-logs claim |
| Ownership and jurisdiction | Who owns the service, where it is based and which laws apply |
| Business model | How it makes money. If it is free, ask who is paying |
| Features | A kill switch, modern protocols, and apps for every device you use |
| Support and refunds | A money-back guarantee you can use to test it |
Free VPNs and Urban VPN
A free VPN has to be paid for somehow. Some free tiers from established paid providers exist as a taster, but many free services earn money from advertising or from data.
Urban VPN is a recent example. In December 2025, security researchers at Koi Security reported that the Urban VPN Proxy browser extension, which had millions of users, was collecting people's conversations with AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini and sending them to the company's servers. The company is affiliated with a data broker, and its privacy policy discloses collecting AI chat data. The report concerned the browser extensions rather than the desktop app. Whether or not you use Urban VPN, the lesson holds: read the privacy policy, check who owns the service, and be cautious of any extension that asks to read every site you visit.
VPN services ranked: how to read a ranking
VPN services ranked by affiliate websites can be influenced by commission. Look for rankings that explain how they tested, measure speed and leak protection on real connections, disclose affiliate links and are kept up to date. Better still, shortlist two providers using the checks above and use the money-back guarantee to test them on your own connection.
When you do and don't need one
- Useful for: public Wi-Fi, reducing what your internet provider can see, and reaching your own UK services while abroad, though check the service's terms
- Not a substitute for: software updates, a business password manager, antivirus or wider security basics
Streaming services' terms may restrict VPN use, so read them before you rely on one for that.