ToolsRanks

VPN & Security: VPNs, antivirus & password managers, compared

Privacy and security tools, VPNs, antivirus suites, password managers and identity protection, tested on what matters. Every pick below is compared on price, strengths and the use case it actually fits — no marketing copy.

29 tools reviewed · 15 buyer's guides · 24 head-to-head comparisons · 18 alternatives roundups.

Browse by category

VPN

NordVPN · ExpressVPN · Surfshark · Proton VPN · CyberGhost · Private Internet Access · IPVanish · PureVPN · Mullvad VPN · TunnelBear · Hotspot Shield · Windscribe

Password Manager

1Password · Dashlane · NordPass · Bitwarden · Keeper · RoboForm · Proton Pass

Antivirus

Bitdefender · Norton 360 · McAfee · Malwarebytes · Avast One · AVG · ESET · Kaspersky

Identity Protection

Aura · LifeLock

Buyer's guides (best tools for a job)

★ Best free privacy & security tools (2026) — the tools with a real free plan (not just a trial), with the actual limits and the catch.

Short on time? Start with the guide that matches your goal.

Head-to-head comparisons

Deciding between two specific tools? These break down pricing, strengths and the right pick.

Alternatives roundups

Already use a tool but want options? See the strongest alternatives for each.

Market data

Sizing up the category? See our VPN & Security statistics & trends (2026) — pricing ranges, free-tier prevalence and the busiest sub-categories, derived from the tools below.

Compare every tool

Want the whole field on one screen? The VPN & Security software comparison (2026) puts all 29 tools in a single table — entry price, free plan, best-for and standout — so you can build a shortlist before reading a single review.

Studies & data

Original ToolsRanks research relevant to VPN & Security buyers.

Free tools

Free calculators and quizzes to size up VPN & Security decisions before you buy.

All VPN & Security tools A–Z

Each tool has a full overview, an in-depth review and a pricing breakdown.