The Beginner’s Guide to VPNs

Choosing a new VPN service provider can be confusing at times. The concept is definitely sound—you are protecting your internet connection with an extra security feature not provided by your internet service provider.

There are clear instructions about how to use the VPN service including a training video with these top-rated VPN providers, and they all offer a trial period. Of course, these top-rated VPN (virtual private network) providers are also well-suited for beginners because they’ll deliver added security and protection for all online activity.

You might absolutely love VPNSecure, and that’s a great hope for anyone new to the service. This VPN service has a great trial policy. Within a 30-day window, you'll only pay $1.00 and you can decide whether VPNSecure is a good fit for you or not. VPNSecure does require that you state your displeasure by chat or email and work with tech support to resolve any issues, but if you decide to part ways they do allow that. VPNSecure also has clear and helpful instructions so you can learn how to optimize and use your VPN service, even if it’s your first time.

• 30-day trial period
• Highly rated VPN
• Online privacy
• Great instructions
• Mobile device compatible (Android and iOS app)

Want to know more? Read our full-length VPNSecure review.

Second only to VPNSecure is the highly rated Norton Secure VPN. You’ll find clear and helpful instructions for using the VPN app on a laptop or smartphone, stated in a way that will get you up and running quickly. Norton is well-known for being a professional security company and knows how to present features in a clear interface. The 60-day refund policy is offered with the annual membership and allows you to try out all of the features in the full version.

• 60-day return policy with annual membership
• Clear install instructions
• Online privacy
• Reliable and secure VPN overall
• Mobile device compatible (Android and iOS app)

Want to know more? Read our full-length Norton Secure VPN review.

Surfshark is an impressive, powerful, and easy-to-use VPN, which makes it a bit surprising that there’s a 30-day return policy for new VPN users. You can kick the tires all you want, but we’ve found the interface to be one of the best around. Another bonus is that this VPN includes helpful instructions they call “beginner’s guides” for new VPN users.

• 30-day refund policy
• Beginner’s guides for new users
• Online privacy
• Clear and efficient interface
• Mobile VPN (Android and iOS app)

Want to know more? Read our full-length Surfshark review.

These VPN clients will protect your internet connection and are ideal for someone just getting started with VPNs because they offer longer trial periods and refund policies than most. You can experiment with VPN features, see if you like the interface, and then decide to ask for a refund if necessary.

Be forewarned that the refund policy is clearly stated but might require a bit of wrangling with sales and support to cancel your subscription. The best outcome of course is that these VPNs will be perfectly suited for your needs and you won’t need to bother with a refund.

Choosing a virtual private network is not easy even for advanced users who know the security market because the field keeps changing and improving. New VPN providers seem to pop up constantly, and the pricing schemes vary from one VPN provider to the next.

Figure out what it will cost you on the terms you’re comfortable with. Some virtual private networks offer pricing plans for one month, one year, and three-year terms. You’ll usually get a discounted rate for making a longer commitment. You’ll need to decide if the savings is worth the time you’re committing to.

Several VPN services offer extra advanced features for an added cost and it can feel a bit like trying to choose an IKEA table for your living room without knowing the specs or seeing the instruction manual. Not to diss on the VPN market too much, but new users might get a headache parsing out all of the options available.

VPNSecure will give you the longest time period to test out and get familiar with using a VPN in your day-to-day online activities.

Longer-than-usual trial versions and refund policies help VPN beginners test out a VPN service’s features, interface, and capabilities to see if it will meet your needs. With VPNSecure or Norton Secure VPN, you should have plenty of time to feel things out and decide what you need before committing to a long term contract.

• VPNSecure: Inexpensive free trial option.
• Norton Secure VPN: Has a 60-day return policy and a polished interface.
• Surfshark: Great instructions for new users and a great interface.

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