VPNs in the US: what users like, what they complain about, and who each is for (2026)

VPN reviews read differently from streaming reviews: long-time customers write in to say a service has worked for five or ten years, and the complaints are technical — a connection that drops, a banking app that won’t open, a renewal bill that’s much higher than the first one.

This page sums up what users wrote about six VPNs in App Store reviews from April to October 2026, next to what each provider’s US pages say. Prices, servers and audits are on each VPN’s page on this site and in the VPN category.

The short version

• Simplicity and travel are what people praise. One tap to connect, and access to US banks and streaming services from abroad, come up for every provider.
• Dropped connections are the most common complaint, especially on iPhone, and especially after an app update.
• Some apps and websites don’t work with a VPN on. Banks, food delivery and streaming apps are the usual examples; reviewers switch the VPN off or try another server.
• The price after the first term surprises people. The cheapest prices are for a long first term; renewals cost more.
• Where you bought matters for refunds. A plan bought through the App Store is refunded under Apple’s rules.

Service by service

[NordVPN](/prenumeratos/nordvpn)

For you if you want a VPN you set up once and forget: simplicity is the most common praise, followed by travel — banking and US streaming from abroad. Plans: Basic, Complete and Prime, all with 10 devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Not for you if your phone connection must never drop: connection failures are the most common complaint, including the app showing “connected” when it isn’t. Several reviewers were also surprised by the renewal price after the first term, which NordVPN sets at 27 months.

What reviewers complain about: dropped or failed connections, often after updates (many reviews), apps and websites that need the VPN off (several), renewal price and billing (several), hard-to-reach support (several).

[ExpressVPN](/prenumeratos/expressvpn)

For you if you want reliability and help when something breaks. Many reviewers have used it for five to twelve years, and many praise its support team for walking non-technical users through problems. Plans: Basic, Advanced and Express Pro, with 10 to 14 devices; the 30-day money-back guarantee is for first-time users.

Not for you if price matters most — it’s the second most common complaint — or you rely on apps that block VPNs.

What reviewers complain about: banking, delivery and streaming apps that don’t work with the VPN on (several), price (several), problems after updates on Apple TV, iPad and Windows (several).

[Surfshark](/prenumeratos/surfshark)

For you if you want one plan for the whole household: unlimited devices and the price are its most common praise. Plans: Starter, One and One+, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Reviewers also like its ad blocker and multi-hop.

Not for you if you need iPhone split tunneling by app — a few reviewers note it works only by website on iPhone — or you can’t tolerate reconnecting: dropped connections are the top complaint.

What reviewers complain about: disconnects and connections that don’t really connect (many), iPhone feature limits (a few), interface changes such as removed favorites (a few).

[Private Internet Access](/prenumeratos/private-internet-access)

For you if you want low cost and long-term consistency: many reviewers have used PIA for five to ten years and praise its price and simplicity. It allows unlimited devices and has servers in all 50 states; the 30-day money-back guarantee is for new users.

Not for you if you use the iPhone or Mac apps heavily: recent negative reviews are about connections dropping or blocking all internet until a restart, and a few advanced users miss the IKEv2 protocol removed in an iPhone update.

What reviewers complain about: iPhone and Mac connection problems (several), websites blocking its servers (several), support and renewal questions (a few), the IKEv2 removal (a few).

[CyberGhost](/prenumeratos/cyberghost)

For you if you want streaming and services from another country at a good long-term price: reviewers who have used it for years praise its reliability and value on longer plans. It covers 7 devices and has the longest money-back window here — 45 days on 6-month and 2-year plans, 14 days on the monthly plan.

Not for you if you’re on iPhone or iPad and need it to connect every time — the most common complaint — or you plan to rely on a free trial: several one-star reviews describe being charged when they expected a trial.

CyberGhost’s overall rating (4.2) is the lowest of the six; most five-star reviews are short.

What reviewers complain about: iPhone and iPad connection loops (several), charges around the trial (several), websites that need the VPN off (a few), choosing a server location on the phone (a few).

[Proton VPN](/prenumeratos/protonvpn)

For you if you want a free VPN with no data limit — reviewers also stress it has no ads, the most common praise by far — or already use Proton Mail, Drive or Pass. Paid plans are VPN Plus (10 devices) and Proton Unlimited, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Not for you if you need a connection that never drops silently on iPhone — the top complaint — or use sites that challenge VPN traffic: free-plan users mention extra Google checks and blocked sites.

Many Proton VPN reviews come from free-plan users, so they say more about the free version than about the paid plans.

What reviewers complain about: silent disconnects on iPhone (many), slow or distant “fastest” servers (several), missing features such as IPv6 and auto-connect on Wi-Fi (several), sites blocking the free plan (a few).

What the complaints have in common

Connections that drop on iPhone. It’s the top complaint for NordVPN, Surfshark and Proton VPN and a major one for PIA and CyberGhost. Reviewers often tie it to an app or iOS update.

Apps that refuse a VPN. Banks, delivery and streaming apps detect VPN traffic. Reviewers of most of the six describe switching the VPN off or hunting for a server that works.

Renewals. The headline price is for a long first term — 27 months for NordVPN and Surfshark, 28 for ExpressVPN — and renewal costs more. NordVPN reviewers are the most vocal about it.

Before you buy

• Check the renewal price, not just the first-term price. It’s on each VPN’s page on this site.
• Buy directly if refunds matter. PIA states that App Store and Google Play purchases are refunded under those stores’ own terms, so a provider’s money-back guarantee is easiest to use when you bought from the provider.
• Test your own apps in the guarantee window. If your bank or streaming app blocks the VPN, you’ll know within days.
• Write down the trial and guarantee dates. CyberGhost’s monthly plan has a 14-day window; most others have 30 days.

All six side by side, with current prices and renewal terms, are in the VPN category.