One of the many things offered with a Virtual Private Network is anonymity. People can hide behind the tunnel provided and not even the ISP knows what they do online. That is if you chose providers who do not keep logs. Therefore, we have chosen some of the best providers with a no log policy. This means you do not have to go hunting around for one.
Along with this, we are also noting some Virtual Private Network providers who do log. You may be surprised as many of them are among the most popular ones out there. Of course, even the best free VPNs can keep logs too, so be aware of this.
If you value your anonymity or you want to download annonymously while keeping your online activities to yourself taking out a subscription with a VPN who does not keep track of what you are doing is essential.
It is important because if the provider does keep logs of how you use the service they may be asked by governments or law enforcement to hand over those logs.
In the first instance, this means you are in fact not anonymous online. Worse still, if you have been doing something illegal, such as downloading copyrighted material, the records show it. In this case, you’ll really want to keep your IP address secret.
Providers in certain countries do keep logs. This includes any based in Five Eyes or 14 Eyes countries. Within the Five Eyes, the countries involved in the agreement include the UK, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
These countries share intelligence with each other. As they share information, participating countries are able to get past their own surveillance laws.
What this means to the VPN user is government may be allowed to watch over people in other countries but not their own. With sharing in place, the government may spy on the citizens of each other’s countries and share what they find.
The 14 eyes is a reference to extended nations. This includes Belgium, France, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands and Spain. All of the countries share intelligence in various ways.
So, if you want to be sure that the provider does have a strict no logging policy in place you might want to avoid Virtual Private Network providers who are based in any of the countries under the Five and 14 Eyes agreements.
So now that you understand the importance of choosing a provider who is conscientious about anonymity, let us take a look at our choice of providers.
ExpressVPN is top of our list. This is a premium provider who do not keep logs, along with offering numerous benefits and features with security in mind.
The provider has headquarters in the British Virgin Islands. This means they are outside of the 5 Eyes and 14 Eyes countries.
ExpressVPN takes pride in not keeping traffic logs. Along with this they are a provider who do not monitor the activity of users.
One of the core missions of ExpressVPN is allowing users to use the internet in total privacy. This means the provider does not keep a history of the users browsing, metadata or destination of the traffic.
For the user, it means logs do not exist so even if the government or authorities asked them to share, they would not be able to do so.
In July 2024, ExpressVPN revealed audit results undertaken by PwC. The provider received praise for no logging.
ExpressVPN offer tools that hide your IP address. The tools masks your true location ensuring anonymity. To do this users connect to any one of the thousands of servers around the world in numerous countries.
One tool the provider offers for anonymity online is a Network Lock Kill Switch. This ensures that in the event the server connection is lost, there is a block on internet traffic.
Another advantage to ExpressVPN is the fact the provider has ultra-fast servers with unlimited bandwidth. Along with this, shared IP address are used and are not linked to your activity online.
The provider has supported internet privacy for all since 2009. ExpressVPN helps to protect anonymity, freedom of speech and online privacy.
Even signing up for a plan can be anonymous. The provider allows payment by Bitcoin and all users need is an email address.
Be anonymous with ExpressVPN >
NordVPN makes it second onto our list of the best VPNs that do not keep logs, with headquarters in Panama. The provider also underwent an audit by PwC, which was favourable. The audit showed the provider’s description of no logging is accurate and fair.
Along with this, NordVPN does not log any incoming or outgoing IP addresses, or connection dates or the time users spend online.
The provider does not log the data used and transferred, which servers are used, websites visited by users or files downloaded.
As NordVPN does not spy on users, they have nothing to share with anyone, even if asked to do so.
The provider accepts cryptocurrency and sign up by email ensures users can sign up without leaving a trace. NordVPN also offers different layers of security to ensure users remain anonymous, including Double VPN and Onion over VPN.
NordVPN provides access to thousands of servers located in many different countries around the world. Connect to any server and mask your IP address while you take on one from the server of your choice. If privacy and anonymity is your concern, the provider is a good choice, as they do not keep logs.
Leave no trace behind you with NordVPN >
Romania is where CyberGhost is located. This ensures the provider is out of the watchful eyes making them a good choice for anyone wanting to avoid spying.
The provider does not log IP addresses, assigned servers, log in or log out information, account data or traffic data. CyberGhost also has a strict no logging policy regarding messenger and video chats, telephone calls or any other communication.
CyberGhost offer access to thousands of servers around the globe. The independently operated servers offer supreme data protection. This is thanks to the “NoSpy” datacenter of the provider, with the aim to keep data safe and isolated from third parties.
As such, CyberGhost controls and operates the servers, therefore, reducing the risk of interference from external sources.
The servers are outside of the 14 Eyes and five Eyes jurisdiction with data encrypted using 256-bit AES encryption.
Browse anonymously without logs conservation thanks to CyberGhost >
Surfshark is located in the British Virgin Islands and do not keep logs. The no-logging policy of the provider includes browsing history, IP address, and the amount of bandwidth used, session information, connection or traffic.
This means that not even the VPN provider knows whether you have used the service you purchased from them or not. With no logs, they cannot pass any information on even if asked to do so as there is nothing to pass on.
The only personal information collected by Surfshark is the user’s e-mail address, order history and some basic billing information. However, as they are outside of the Five Eyes and 14 Eyes jurisdiction users do not have to worry about information being passed on.
Along with offering servers located around the world to mask the users IP address, the provider offers a Kill Switch and Private DNS with leak protection. In addition, Surfshark offers a Camouflage mode, Multi-hop to connect to servers in multiple countries and AES-256-GCM encryption.
If looking for affordable VPN providers that do not keep logs you might want to check out Surfshark.
Surfshark is an affordable no log provider, sign up now >
VyprVPN is outside of prying eyes located in Switzerland. The provider has a zero logging policy.
The provider does not log IP addresses, connection, the traffic, content or communication when using the service or any DNS requests.
VyprVPN helps to protect the privacy of users offering numerous features. The provider also offers a Kill Switch in case the connection drops, secure DNS, multiple encryption protocols and more.
It does not share any data with any third parties and take the independently audited no logging policy seriously.
VyprVPN combat censorship to offer an open internet experience to users thanks to the “Chameleon Protocol”, with its users gaining access to blocked streaming portals and websites without any government restrictions.
The provider owns servers that are fast and reliable, based around the globe in many countries.
Enjoy fast reliable no logging service with VyprVPN >
It may surprise you that some of the most well-known VPN providers keep logs about the use of the service offered.
Below are some of the many providers who actually log and who are based within the five eyes and 14 Eyes countries, which swap data. However, if anonymity is a concern, you may wish to give them a miss.
IPVanish is in the USA, which is one of the countries within the Five Eyes agreement. With this in mind, anyone who takes their privacy and anonymity seriously might want to give them some consideration.
The provider claims to have a no log policy and do not log traffic or use of the service offered.
However, for the simple fact that the provider has its base within the USA, it may be possible that they would have to hand over details of users if asked to do so. With this in mind, we have included the provider in the list of those who may hand over logs.
Private Internet Access hails from the USA which is actually one of the founding members of the Five Eyes.
This should be of some concern despite the provider insisting a no logs policy is in place.
Again, for the fact the provider is based in the USA and was a founding member of the Five Eyes agreement we have included them in the list of providers who may log.
HideMyAss is in the UK. However, this is one of the countries belonging to the Five Eyes agreement who share data.
The provider states a no logging policy is in place, however, admits to keeping connection logs. The logs consist of when the user connects, disconnect, the duration of time online and the amount of bandwidth used while connected.
HideMyAss states no user activity is logged, this means websites visited or data transferred. However, they are under the watchful Five Eyes agreement.
In the privacy policy of HideMyAss, it does state that if the company is served with a warrant or subpoenas the provider may share personal data that has been collected with the relevant authorities.
Hotspot Shield is in the USA so if you are looking for a VPN provider offering total anonymity online this might not be the perfect provider.
Unlike many of the providers who do not keep logs users cannot sign up anonymously using Bitcoin. The only options are credit cards or purchasing via PayPal.
Hotspot Shield claims not to store IP addresses over the long term. However, the provider does collect aggregate data about the website’s users have visited along with apps used. This is supposed to be for troubleshooting or analytics.
Along with this, the provider collects data such as the OS version you use, hardware model, language, wireless network, browser type and mobile network. This is a lot of information collected about the user.
The provider did state the company could not provide information to governments about websites users visited. However, being in the USA this is one of the countries under the Five Eyes agreement.
Anyone who wants total anonymity online might want to give the provider some serious thought before signing up.
VPNHub is one of the few Virtual Network Providers who does not claim to have a no logging policy.
However, the provider is on somewhat shaky ground in regards to privacy and lack of transparency, which is going to put people off who value anonymity.
Another thing that may put people off is the fact that users have reported the servers not working in many countries. This includes China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Egypt and many others.
However, as there are so many other choices of providers out there that have no logging policies, you might want to look elsewhere.
We have shown you our top choices of the best VPNs that do not keep logs so there should be one suitable for you. We have also revealed some of the top providers who claim not to log. However, the provider does to some extent.
The providers we have chosen offer numerous benefits and features. Anyone who wants access to some of the fastest servers out there, with thousands of servers around the world, with all optimised for speed and reliability might want to consider ExpressVPN.
Sign up for the safest option : ExpressVPN >
Surfshark, CyberGhost or NordVPN however, are providers you might want to consider if on a tight budget. These providers offer numerous security features and has a strict no log policy.
All providers on our list provide access to apps for various devices for anonymity and security. All offer encryption and masking of IP addresses, along with providing access to thousands of worldwide servers. However, they also offer a great deal more.
So, have you decided which of the best VPNs that do not keep logs you are going to sign up with?
A professional writer with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Since his youngest age, he loves everything related to internet, technology, fitness, games, and dogs! He joined our team in order to bring his deep knowledge in security services, among which VPN is of course a key component.