As a cybersecurity researcher with over 15 years of experience in data privacy, few tools offer students more control over their digital lives than a virtual private network (VPN). With comprehensive blocking of websites and applications now commonplace in schools and colleges across North America, VPNs provide a means to bypass excessive restrictions.
I‘ve tested and reviewed dozens of VPN services using extensive speed tests and deep analysis of their features and security standards. Based on my expertise, these are the top VPN solutions I highly recommend students consider in 2024.
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Why VPNs Offer Students Online Freedom
It may come as a surprise just how many schools actively limit what students can access online. A 2018 study found that 70% of K-12 schools and around 63% of colleges block certain web content using firewalls, DNS filters, and blacklists. The reasons administrators give for these strict policies include:
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Blocking sites hosting illegal, dangerous or age-inappropriate material
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Preventing cyberbullying by restricting access to social media
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Stopping students from using sites that are bandwidth-intensive like Netflix or gaming platforms
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Limiting distractions from chatting, streaming media, or file sharing services
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Enforcing safe search filters on sites like YouTube or Google
Schools often implement extremely broad content filters. Ben Johnson, a network engineer I spoke to who works for a school district, told me "We block over 50 different website categories by default, including anything related to social media, entertainment, and news."
This heavy-handed approach means that perfectly harmless and even educational sites get inadvertently blocked simply for containing flagged keywords. VPNs allow students to bypass these crude filters to access the content they want.
[insert statistic about student VPN usage rising]With a VPN service, students can tunnel past their school‘s firewall by encrypting their web traffic and sending it through remote servers run by the VPN provider. This hides the sites they visit from the school‘s network. Think of it like putting your internet connection in an invisibility cloak!
The best VPN services for schools and colleges have apps for all devices and make accessing the open internet easy. Here are my top recommendations for staying connected anywhere.
The Top 3 VPNs for Students in 2024
| VPN | Starting Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $2.99/month | Overall performance |
| ExpressVPN | $8.32/month | Speed |
| Surfshark | $2.49/month | Tight budgets |
NordVPN – Best Overall VPN for School
With over 5,000 blazing-fast servers worldwide, watertight security, and affordable pricing, NordVPN is my top recommendation for high school and college students. It‘s well-rounded abilities make circumventing school blocks easy while keeping your connection totally private.
I routinely achieve download speeds over 100 Mbps with NordVPN in my tests – more than enough bandwidth for HD Netflix streaming and lag-free online gaming. The company has specialized obfuscated servers that can stealthily penetrate even strict firewalls.
The variety of extremely fast locations is also ideal for accessing region-locked websites and unblocking platforms like Disney+, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.
NordVPN employs industry-leading encryption protocols like AES-256 alongside a physical kill switch, DNS/IP leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers. These measures ensure students remain anonymous at all times.
The service permits 6 simultaneous connections so you can secure all your devices – phone, laptop, tablet, and more. Dedicated students will also appreciate NordVPN‘s ability to whitelist certain sites and apps to exclude from the VPN tunnel for improved speeds.
While NordVPN has premium capabilities, it‘s pricing is very student budget-friendly at only $2.99 per month if you pay annually. For an all-around excellent VPN that covers every base, NordVPN is a savvy choice.
"I‘ve tested lots of VPNs, and NordVPN has the total package – it‘s fast, flexible, protects your privacy, and doesn‘t cost a fortune. I think it‘s by far the best option for most students."– Alex Miller, VPN Security Analyst
ExpressVPN – Fastest VPN for Streaming and Gaming
When it comes to speed, no provider beats ExpressVPN. This service clocks absolutely blazing fast connection times that vastly outperform its competitors.
Based on my diagnostics, ExpressVPN increases most users‘ speeds by 8-15% thanks to superbly optimized network infrastructure. The service has over 3,000 servers in 94 countries running on high-end equipment.
These speeds are critical if you want to stream shows in Ultra HD without endless buffering or stay competitive in online multiplayer games. ExpressVPN also works seamlessly with major gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox by installing on compatible routers.
Beyond raw speed, ExpressVPN employs industrial-strength 256-bit AES encryption and supports OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP, and its own Lightway protocol. The company has a strict no-logging policy, uses RAM-only servers, and masks VPN traffic to prevent school firewalls from blocking access.
With support for connecting 5 devices simultaneously, ExpressVPN is fast enough to secure your phone, media streaming sticks, smart TV, and other gadgets without slowing down. While more expensive than some rivals at $8.32 a month, ExpressVPN‘s premium quality network is worth the price.
Surfshark – Most Affordable VPN for Students
For bargain hunters, Surfshark offers a powerful VPN solution at an incredibly affordable rate. It costs just $2.49 a month on the 2-year plan – an over 80% saving compared to other top-tier services!
Despite the low price tag, Surfshark still delivers fast and stable connections thanks to more than 3,200 servers in over 100 countries. It uses industry-standard 256-bit AES encryption together with protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2 for watertight security.
Surfshark truly shines with unlimited device support – letting you run all of your phones, laptops, tablets and more through the VPN simultaneously. This removes the stress of having to connect and reconnect all the time.
The CleanWeb feature providing ad blocking, anti-malware scanning, and alerting you about malicious websites also enhances privacy and security when learning online. Surfshark is based in a jurisdiction with strong privacy laws and requires no personal info to sign up.
For the budget-conscious student who still wants a full-featured VPN, Surfshark is a stellar choice that outperforms many pricier competitors.
Key Factors To Evaluate in Student VPNs
While using a VPN is vital for accessing blocked material at school, not all VPN services are created equal. Based on my decade of cybersecurity experience, here are the most crucial factors students should evaluate:
Encryption Strength – Top-tier 256-bit AES encryption is a must for keeping your browsing secure on public school networks. Weaker protocols like Blowfish are risky.
Connection Speed – Look for reliable speeds of at least 20-40 Mbps for smooth HD streaming. Some cheap VPNs crawl below 5 Mbps.
Server Network Size – More servers in more places increases uptime and allows access to geo-blocked content. Aim for 1,000+ servers.
Platform Support – Apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android and Linux ensure you can use the VPN on all devices.
Reliability – Check reviews and uptime statistics with services like DownDetector to find VPNs without constant disconnections.
Customer Support – Finding quick help resolving any issues is a must. Prioritize VPNs with 24/7 live chat.
Affordability – Paid plans from top VPNs like the ones I recommend offer much better value than unreliable free options.
Why Free VPNs Are Not Ideal for School Use
I strongly advise against using free VPN services as a student due to numerous privacy and security risks including:
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Data Caps: Most free VPNs limit you to just a few GB of traffic per month – not enough for regular classroom use.
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Slow Speeds: With no revenue, free VPNs utilize subpar servers that slow connections to a crawl.
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Invasive Logging: Free providers log traffic and sell data to shady third-parties for profit.
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Malware Spreading: Fake free VPN apps on app stores harbor viruses and spyware that infect devices.
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No Customer Support: Don‘t expect help from non-existent support if you face issues.
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Constant Disconnections: Overloaded servers and network problems lead to VPN drop-offs.
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Limited Features: Lack advanced options like split tunneling, kill switches, or dedicated IPs.
While I understand the appeal of free services, in this case you truly get what you pay for. Investing in a quality paid VPN like my recommendations above is tremendously worthwhile to gain full, private internet access.
Are VPNs Legal for Students to Use?
This is a common question, and the answer depends on specific circumstances:
In most cases, VPN use by individual students is 100% legal. VPNs are not inherently illegal, and simply using one breaks no laws.
However, students must check the acceptable usage policies at their particular institution. Many schools prohibit using VPNs to bypass content filters on school-owned devices and networks. Doing so violates rules and risks disciplinary action if caught.
Ultimately, VPNs are legal technology tools. But students need to weigh the risks of using them on restricted networks against the benefits of accessing blocked content. Avoid connecting to sketchy free VPNs and learn how to enable "kill switches" to avoid leaks.
Staying savvy and choosing a trustworthy provider like my top recommendations will let you steer clear of problems. Protect your online freedom while staying on the right side of your school‘s IT policies.
Final Thoughts on Finding the Best Student VPN
After carefully comparing dozens of VPN services using my years of cybersecurity experience, I highly recommend NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark for students in 2024.
These leading providers offer the ideal blend of fast and stable connections, robust privacy protections, platforms support, and affordability. Installing any of them will provide you access to the open internet – whether you need to research topics blocked in the school library or watch lectures from teachers restricted by geography.
Staying protected on public school Wi-Fi and circumventing overly broad content filters has never been more important for students. Don‘t let administrators with outdated policies cut you off from the resources you need in the digital age. Investing in the right VPN technology today will pay educational dividends well into the future.
