Chauncey grew up on a farm in rural northern California. At 18 he ran away and saw the world with a backpack and a credit card, discovering that the true value of any point or mile is the experience it facilitates. He remains most at home on a tracto.
Chauncey Crail ContributorChauncey grew up on a farm in rural northern California. At 18 he ran away and saw the world with a backpack and a credit card, discovering that the true value of any point or mile is the experience it facilitates. He remains most at home on a tracto.
Written By Chauncey Crail ContributorChauncey grew up on a farm in rural northern California. At 18 he ran away and saw the world with a backpack and a credit card, discovering that the true value of any point or mile is the experience it facilitates. He remains most at home on a tracto.
Chauncey Crail ContributorChauncey grew up on a farm in rural northern California. At 18 he ran away and saw the world with a backpack and a credit card, discovering that the true value of any point or mile is the experience it facilitates. He remains most at home on a tracto.
Contributor Lauren Holznienkemper Deputy Editor, SMBLauren (Hansen) Holznienkemper is a staff writer and deputy editor for the small business vertical at Forbes Advisor, specializing in reviewing and testing HR, payroll and recruiting solutions for small businesses. Using research and writing skills f.
Lauren Holznienkemper Deputy Editor, SMBLauren (Hansen) Holznienkemper is a staff writer and deputy editor for the small business vertical at Forbes Advisor, specializing in reviewing and testing HR, payroll and recruiting solutions for small businesses. Using research and writing skills f.
Lauren Holznienkemper Deputy Editor, SMBLauren (Hansen) Holznienkemper is a staff writer and deputy editor for the small business vertical at Forbes Advisor, specializing in reviewing and testing HR, payroll and recruiting solutions for small businesses. Using research and writing skills f.
Lauren Holznienkemper Deputy Editor, SMBLauren (Hansen) Holznienkemper is a staff writer and deputy editor for the small business vertical at Forbes Advisor, specializing in reviewing and testing HR, payroll and recruiting solutions for small businesses. Using research and writing skills f.
| Deputy Editor, SMB
Updated: Feb 29, 2024, 9:52am
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
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VPNs, or virtual private networks, have become indispensable tools in today’s internet-driven world and internet-fed culture. Used to secure and encrypt your IP address on public networks, VPNs protect your online activity from tracking and exploitation by internet predators.
Initially largely used by a subset of niche businesses, VPN use has increased in popularity in recent years. Adoption by businesses and everyday internet users alike increases every day. Protecting our online privacy and habits has become more important than ever, and we’re seeing some interesting statistics and trends in VPN usage as we move into 2024.
Virtual private network (VPN) adoption is surging across the globe as more people and businesses choose the technology to protect their internet activity. Research has unveiled enlightening new data about the demographics and behavioral patterns of the growing VPN community as we move into 2024:
A number of surveys have revealed that personal VPN use for increased security purposes is the primary reason users voluntarily integrate a VPN into their internet use, and people seem to be more motivated to keep their personal information secure than to protect that of their employers.
Protecting personal data and activity when using the internet seems to be the primary reason people are reporting using a VPN. It is also common to see people using a VPN on public, unsecured Wi-Fi networks in order to mask their IP address from prying eyes.
While over 50% of people reported they use a VPN at work, a small minority report using a company-provided VPN exclusively for work purposes.
VPNs are available to use on desktops, smartphones and tablets. We found that more people report using a VPN on a desktop or mobile device than on a tablet.
Reported VPN usage is highest on PCs and laptops. A variety of VPN choices vary on the market today, so any computer user—regardless of operating system—can choose the best VPN for their system. We’ve created handy guides to help you choose the best VPN for your Windows computer, the best VPN for your Mac and even the best VPN for Google Chrome users. [2]
Heavy use of VPNs on mobile devices makes sense, as these devices are frequently used on unsecure public Wi-Fi networks. [2]
52% of iOS Users Use a VPN
Over half of surveyed iOS users reported using a VPN on an iPhone. Quite a few VPN options work well with the iOS operating system. [3]
37% of Android Users Use a VPN
Fewer Android users than iOS users reported VPN use, though a laundry list of VPNs on the market for Android phones compete for a larger share of users. [3]
Only a third of respondents reported using a VPN on a tablet. [2]
VPN adoption continues to grow worldwide, particularly in areas where governments enact online censorship and restrictions.
It’s important to keep in mind that this estimate—made by VPN provider Surfshark—does not include users in countries with a market penetration of less than 10%. The 1.6 billion figure is likely more than the true number of VPN users worldwide. [4]
Studies suggest this number will grow rapidly. By 2030, the combined consumer and business VPN industry is projected to reach values of $101.31 billion. [4]
Users in Middle Eastern countries are adopting VPNs en masse in order to bypass strict internet censorship and restrictions while Singapore’s highly developed digital infrastructure and tech-savvy population have become the perfect environment for mass VPN usage. [6]
South Africa, Japan and Kenya make up the countries with the least VPN adoption in the world with a less than 2% adoption rate. [6]
Though not technically illegal, the following countries have systems in place that discourage VPN use:
These countries have outlawed VPNs entirely, likely in an effort to enforce censorship.
Consumer-level VPNs range in price from free to over $156 a year.
Despite the limitations set on free VPNs such as data usage, server switching and number of connected devices, one-third of all VPN users chose to use the free versions. [3]
Paid VPNs, in general, tend to offer more features and better security than free ones. [3] They can vary widely in price, and plenty of cheap VPNs are available to consumers everywhere.
VPNs are growing into a standard part of the corporate office and work-from-home environment. Some employers are willing to foot the VPN bill for their employees.
In some scenarios, employees find themselves partially paying for the cost of a VPN—with the employer paying the rest.
On NordVPN's Website
Monthly Pricing (2 Year Plan) # of Devices Dedicated IPOn Surfshark's Website
Monthly Pricing (2 year Plan) Multi-device plans available Dedicated IPOn Norton's Website
Private Internet Access
Monthly Pricing (2 Year Plan) # of Devices Dedicated IPPrivate Internet Access
On Private Internet Access' Website
The average speeds for the VPNs tested by Forbes Advisor are acceptable for general internet browsing and streaming. For more demanding tasks, such as gaming, users may want to invest in a higher-end service with a focus on delivering the fastest speeds.
Using a VPN while surfing the net can offer enhanced security and privacy online, but it is not foolproof. While VPNs can protect you from certain types of cyberattacks, you can still be vulnerable when it comes to user error-exploiting attacks. VPNs are not equivalent to antivirus software, and will not protect you from falling prey to phishing schemes or malware from clicking on sketchy stuff online. Depending on the VPN you choose, your privacy might be at risk from the VPN company itself, so be sure to choose wisely.
This is unsurprising, since a major advantage of VPN is a sense of security. [1] Unfortunately, a sense of security is often a false sense of security—VPNs are not a comprehensive security solution.
Not only have nearly 60% of respondents said they have experienced a cyberattack while using a VPN, [1] the total reported losses due to internet crime have increased 49% from 2020 to 2021 and now account for $6.9 billion in losses. [7]
The data of 21 million users was exposed in early 2021, [8] as well, when account logins for GeckoVPN, SuperVPN and ChatVPN—all free VPNs—were listed for sale on the dark web [9] . Seven free VPN providers were responsible for 1.2TB of leaks, demonstrating just how safe users aren’t when they may be led to believe they are [9] .
For more information about VPN security, visit our guide to VPN safety.
Both the availability and usage of VPNs for personal use continue to rise. A useful tool for increasing your security and privacy while browsing the internet, plenty of VPNs offer a variety of features. Make sure to do your research and choose one that is actually secure and suits your needs, even if that means shelling out a few dollars a month for a higher-quality product. Remember: VPNs are not the same as antivirus software, so make sure to fully protect yourself by understanding the limitations of your VPN and also adding antivirus protection to your device’s defensive arsenal.
Visit our hub to view more statistic pages.
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ContributorChauncey grew up on a farm in rural northern California. At 18 he ran away and saw the world with a backpack and a credit card, discovering that the true value of any point or mile is the experience it facilitates. He remains most at home on a tractor, but has learned that opportunity is where he finds it and discomfort is more interesting than complacency.
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