Top 6 Urban VPN alternatives:
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re likely aware that the importance of data security cannot be understated. For businesses, especially, safeguarding digital assets against cyberattacks and data loss is essential to maintaining operations. So, while yesterday’s organizations may have questioned whether a VPN is worth it, today’s enterprises are dedicated to choosing only the best VPN tool for their business use.
Urban VPN has established itself in the VPN software market, offering high-speed connections and anonymous online browsing through its free software plan. However, high-stakes business operations require high-quality VPN solutions. Consider this review of Urban VPN alternatives and competitors in 2024 to determine your best option for online data security.
While Urban VPN provides an impressive range of features for free, these other vendors are giving it a run for its money. Take a look at how each of these suppliers optimizes safety and security within its VPN solutions.
| Vendor | Number of servers (for paid plans) | Server locations (for paid plans) | Simultaneous device connections (for paid plans) | Free VPN plans | Starting price for paid plans, billed monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | 4,500+ | 90+ countries | 10 | Yes | $9.99 per month |
| TunnelBear | 5,000+ | 47 countries | Unlimited | Yes | $3.33 per month |
| Windscribe | Around 500 (reported) | 69+ countries | Unlimited | Yes | $9.00 per month |
| PrivadoVPN | 300+ | 49 countries | 10 | Yes | $2.99 per month |
| Hola | Not disclosed | 218 countries | Unlimited | Yes | $14.99 per month |
| IPVanish | 2,400+ | 50+ countries | Unlimited | No | $12.99 per month |
Proton is a Switzerland-based company that promises advanced privacy and security through its Proton VPN product. Being based in Switzerland, Proton VPN provides protection that is compliant with the country’s strong privacy laws. With IP masking, a no-logs policy and DNS leak protection, your web activity can stay secure.
Like Urban VPN, Proton VPN does offer a free version of its VPN service. However, its paid plans are truly what attracted me to this vendor.
Shoppers have a wide variety of options to choose from, enabling them to select the exact option for their needs. Each one can also be purchased through a monthly subscription or a one-year or two-year plan that lets them save money in the long run.
SEE: How to Start a Career in Cybersecurity (TechRepublic Premium)
Proton VPN is a fan favorite for various uses, whether it be for travel use or a secure streaming solution. But if you’re looking to purchase a solution for your organization, the Proton VPN For Business product could be the answer you’re searching for. It is offered in three tier levels, each providing a range of features for network security, access control, endpoint security and more. With plans determined per user, this option is an excellent, scalable resource for growing businesses.
Proton VPN offers a free version of its software, which includes unlimited free coverage for one device and promises no ads or logs.
Alternatively, customers can opt to purchase one of the three paid Proton VPN Plus plans, which include more perks like protection for 10 devices at a time and high-speed capabilities.
Shoppers can also purchase the VPN through a Proton Unlimited plan. It comes with other services, including Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive and Proton Pass.
Finally, Proton also offers a VPN solution designed to meet the needs of businesses and other organizations, called Proton VPN for Business.
Don’t let TunnelBear’s ferocious (but adorable) logo fool you — its user-friendly app supports a safe and easy-going VPN experience. Shoppers can even try the VPN for a spin with 2GB of free monthly data, so that they can experience the stress-free deployment and utilization of this product for themselves.
You know how some software solutions feel like they make you jump through endless hoops just to deploy the product? Not TunnelBear. Within a few clicks, I was already downloading TunnelBear on Windows, and the user-friendliness doesn’t stop there.
TunnelBear has an easy-to-understand privacy policy and lets users get started with a simple on/off switch. And fortunately, this ease-of-use doesn’t mean limited features. It just means that you’ll waste less time trying to download and figure out the software and more time enjoying its security and privacy benefits.
TunnelBear’s free software plan provides 2GB of secure browsing.
Alternatively, shoppers can purchase TunnelBear’s paid software for more VPN capabilities. The Unlimited plan offers unlimited secure browsing, unlimited devices, premium servers, city-level server selection and priority customer support.
The Teams plan is developed for businesses securing more than two users and comes with all the capabilities of the Unlimited plan, as well as centralized team billing and admin and account management tools.
Windscribe VPN seems to always be on lists of top VPN options, and for good reason. The reliable solution provides secure, no-fuss VPN capabilities that protect your online data, unblock location-based streaming restrictions and block annoying advertisements. This is one of the reasons it made TechRepublic’s list of top gaming VPNs. But with its fast speed and economic pricing, Windscribe is a sensible and safe Urban VPN alternative for business use.
I believe that a VPN should take security seriously, and in this case, Windscribe has gone above and beyond — for a price that won’t break your budget. Windscribe VPN provides a range of features that protect users’ online activity and data. From its IP and domain blocking tool to its strong encryption, your web traffic is for your eyes only.
While Windscribe’s free VPN only includes limited data and server options, it contains all the features of the paid plans. I appreciate that none of these other features are hidden behind paywalls, so shoppers can get a better idea of the paid plan capabilities before choosing to buy.
I also liked Windscribe’s speed. After all, blocking trackers and ads not only means you’ll have a better and safer web-viewing experience, but it also means that you won’t have extra nonsense slowing down your internet.
Windscribe offers its VPN and ad block solution through a free plan, which includes 10GB of data, unlimited connections and servers in 10 countries. However, shoppers can also choose Windscribe Pro, the paid solution that comes with access to unlimited data and infinite protection in over 69 countries and 112 cities.
Customers can also select the Build A Plan software option, which costs $1.00 per location per month.
Like UrbanVPN, PrivadoVPN lets users enjoy a forever-free version of its Zero-Log server network software. Unlike UrbanVPN, each of its plans is protected by Swiss privacy laws for extra security. That’s right, PrivadoVPN is another Switzerland-based VPN vendor that delivers fast speeds and impressive features even through its free plan.
When comparing free VPNs versus paid VPNs, the free solutions rarely stack up for obvious reasons. Still, I wanted to include a robust free VPN with basic features and reliable speeds. PrivadoVPN seemed like the perfect choice.
If you’re looking for a simple VPN solution to block ads, stream content and access basic security, I recommend trying out PrivadoVPN. For a free solution, I enjoyed many of the included features, like split tunneling and user-friendly apps.
Its security is kept safe through AES-256 encryption and features like PrivadoVPN’s kill switch, which can protect your data if there is a problem with your connection. But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention its speed, as it delivers 10 GB of fast performance monthly for the low price of $0.00.
PrivadoVPN offers a free version of its software with limited features, including a 10GB data limit every 30 days, one connection and servers in 13 cities.
The paid plans provide more capabilities, including unlimited data servers in 66 cities, 10 connections and the Ad Blocker feature.
Customers may also add antivirus protection to their plan for an additional $1.99/month.
Hola is known for its HTTP routing overlay network and VPN services. It offers a free version of its VPN software for people who want to “access worldwide content” and have a borderless internet experience. Like many other vendors on this list, Hola also provides a premium version of its VPN with additional perks and capabilities.
Hola’s free VPN service is a bit unique compared to the other options I’ve covered. It is a peer-to-peer IP exchange network, meaning that it routes users to other users’ computers, allowing them to use their IP addresses while other users borrow yours.
I was hesitant to include Hola’s Free VPN version in this list, as some argue that its peer-to-peer connections can put users at risk. After all, Urban VPN is a peer-to-peer-powered solution, so it made sense to include my best peer-to-peer VPN pick in this article.
Hola attempts to secure its free system by only allowing peers to route specific requests from whitelisted sites. Its website states that there is no risk that someone can take over anyone else’s computer or personal information. Still, many people prefer to steer clear of these types of network arrangements, opting instead for a more traditional VPN service.
I would recommend Hola’s free VPN service to anyone who wants a VPN solely to bypass location-based restrictions and who doesn’t care as much about security in their VPN solution.
Alternatively, Hola does offer a premium paid plan where users are not used as peers. Hola Premium’s users can access unlimited HD streaming and more global content starting at just $2.99 per month for a three-year plan. This plan aligns more with the other options on this list, with additional features like unlimited watch time, use across multiple devices and HD content.
Hola’s free VPN service is provided in exchange for letting Hola use some of your device’s Wi-Fi and cellular data. This occurs only with the free plan when you aren’t using your device and other users use it as a “peer.”
The Hola Premium plan provides unlimited HD streaming and access to more global content. It can be purchased through three payment options.
IPVanish boasts its world-class security, offering a range of encryption and cybersecurity features included with its VPN software. With VPN coverage that spans over 40,000 IPs on 2,400+ VPN servers in 90+ locations, it helps individuals and organizations secure internet activity and protect against data loss.
Upon researching IPVanish, I quickly noticed that the vendor advertised its VPN as optimized for streaming. Indeed, the product allows secure access to streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu.
While this aspect of IPVanish supports the product’s capability of securing people’s everyday internet activity, its tools and features can be applied to business settings. For instance, researchers like myself would appreciate a stable VPN connection that allows for uninterrupted streaming of work-related content.
I’m also pleased to note that IPVanish is fast, thanks to its many VPN servers worldwide. While I admittedly enjoyed testing the VPN to binge my latest TV series obsession, its unmetered connections, fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth make it a great choice for your online activity, whatever it may be.
IPVanish offers three different subscription tiers for customers to choose from.
This vendor also regularly advertises special deals and sales on the website, so be sure to check that out to find the best bang for your buck!
If you’re seeking out an optimal VPN for business use, aspects like security, cost, speed and performance are going to be your top considerations.
While some free alternatives offer great perks, they often lack in security features compared to paid plans. Hola’s free version may unlock location-based restrictions, but its peer-to-peer networking can potentially put important organizational data at risk. In my opinion, an option with robust security features like no-logs policies and IP-based tracking prevention would be optimal for business use, even if this means choosing a paid, low-cost solution.
Regarding cost-savings, a great piece of advice for choosing a paid plan is to find one with a free trial or money-back guarantee. Several of the products on this list, like IPVanish and Proton VPN, have 30-day money-back guarantee policies for unsatisfied users, and some others let users test out their paid software with free trials, such as the case of TunnelBear. This way, you can give the solution a whirl, and it won’t be a significant financial loss if you don’t like it. Of course, read the fine print on the policies for peace of mind if you choose this method!
When considering functionality, remember that every VPN vendor out there will insist that it offers peak performance and speed. To find one that actually delivers on these promises, look for other features that may impact these aspects. For example, products with ad-blocking capabilities can speed up the time it takes to load webpages.
Finally, each organization will have its own unique set of requirements for its ideal VPN. Depending on how many users will be utilizing the VPN service and for what purpose, some items on this list might be more suited for certain businesses than others. Always consider these factors as you decide, and you’ll have more luck picking one that is right for your needs.
I wrote this technical review of Urban VPN alternative products using information compiled from relevant databases, such as vendor websites, user testimonials and third-party reviews.
I also included my own experiences with the products in this article to offer a first-hand opinion on how each of the options would apply to personal use. I also utilized this knowledge as I considered how each of them would work in a business setting to improve organizational operations.
Overall, the findings of this article were gained from vendor websites, my user experience findings and an aggregate of user feedback to ensure a high-quality review.
