Best Top 10 VPN for Schools, College, Students (Pros and Cons)
List of the Best VPN for Schools, Colleges and Students. In schools and colleges, students go back and forth from lecture halls, libraries, food courts to dormitories and so on. Now, these places often have public WiFi and students end up using it on and off at various times. But, is it safe for their privacy? Definitely, no!
Schools and colleges also limit the usage of social media apps, chat apps, media streaming websites, making it impossible for students to access them.
That’s when VPN comes in!
Students who want to protect their identity and hide their activities from network admins, hackers or intruders, must use a VPN.
Free VPNs often exclude important features such as strong security, unlimited data and bandwidth. Only premium VPNs offer exceptional security features such as no logs policies, advanced encryption, etc.
Here are some of the best Top 10 VPNs for Schools, College, Students that are safe to use and ideal for students in schools and colleges:
1. NordVPN
Based in Panama, NordVPN is hands down one of the best VPNs for school and college public WiFi, credits to its large server networks. It is capable of unblocking topmost geo restricted streaming websites and has a strict nologs policy.
With next gen encryption, it offers utmost data security along with faster speed and uninterrupted streaming. It offers over 5100+ servers in 60 countries for unlimited, uncensored usage. Obfuscated servers smartly hide your internet traffic and VPN connection, so nobody knows your business.
To one account, you can connect up to 6 devices and secure all of them through multi factor authentication. Best thing is that it features ‘Kill Switch’ to ensure your data isn’t exposed at any cost. You can turn on ‘CyberSec’ function to dodge malware hosting websites, botnet control and intrusive ads.
Pros of NordVPN
- Strictly no logs
- 30 day money back guarantee
- Allows use of 6 devices from one account
- Unblocks most restricted sites and content
- Fast speed
- Strong double encryption (double VPN)
- Live chat 24/7
Cons of NordVPN
- High priced
2. Surfshark VPN
Surfshark VPN is the best VPN for budget users. It has over 3200+ servers in more than 65 countries and is able to bypass most blocked content. Hence, it is ideal for students who want to access restricted streaming sites at schools and colleges. What’s best is that Surfshark allows you to connect unlimited devices with a single subscription, as opposed to other VPNs who limit the number of devices. It offers apps for Android, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Camouflage Mode in here does not even let your internet provider know that you’re using a VPN. Besides, there’s a ‘NoBorders mode’ which allows you to use Surfshark, no matter where you are.
Pros of Surfshark
- Unlimited number of devices
- Blocks ads and phishing attempts
- Support via email, live chat 24/7
- No logs policy
- Best budget option
- Good speed and strong security
- Accepts payment via cryptocurrencies
- 30 days money back guarantee
Cons of Surfshark
- Can be a bit slower
3. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has an intuitive, clean design with optimal speed. It allows seamless torrenting on all servers and is one of the best VPNs to stream blocked or restricted content. With over 160 VPN servers located across 94 countries, you can connect to any location without any limitations. It masks your true IP address and location via secure VPN servers. It offers various easy to use apps for iOS, Mac, Windows, Android, routers, Linux, smart TVs and game consoles.
Some of the advanced features you get in ExpressVPN are split tunneling, no logs policy, a kill switch and a private encrypted DNS on every server. It uses industry leading AES 256 encryption for best in class security. ‘Network lock’ is its unique kill switch that will block all your internet traffic in case the VPN connection drops, in order to protect your data. You can connect up to 5 devices at one time, or get the router app to connect more devices. ExpressVPN accepts payment via Bitcoin and various other digital modes.
Pros of ExpressVPN
- Does not store log traffic data or DNS queries
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 24/7 live chat support
- 30 days money back guarantee
Cons of ExpressVPN
- Expensive than other VPNs
4. CyberGhost
Based in Romania, CyberGhost is a great low cost VPN for newbies and budget constrained users. With this fast and reliable VPN, you can stay untraceable and anonymous on the internet across all apps. At one time, it allows you to connect up to 7 devices, whilst offering a strict no logs policy.
For true anonymity, it offers top notch privacy features such as AES 256 bit encryption, automatic kill switch and strong protection against DNS and IP leaks. It has over 7400 VPN servers in 91 countries, allowing unlimited bandwidth and traffic.
CyberGhost offers easy to use apps for Android, Windows, macOS, iOS and Linux. You can even install CyberGhost on your router to restrict others from using your WiFi.
Pros of CyberGhost
- 24/7 live customer support
- High VPN speeds
- WireGuard®, IKEv2 and OpenVPN protocols
- 45 day money back guarantee
- Strict no logs policy
- Great student discounts
Cons of CyberGhost
- No split tunneling
- A bit slow on Windows
5. IPVanish
IPVanish features everything you would expect from a good VPN. Right from faster speeds to strong security, IPVanish is a reliable VPN solution for students and anyone looking for a stable option. With WireGuard®, IPVanish aids faster connections and has support for all major platforms including Android, iOS, macOS and Windows.
It has zero retention of web logs or data, ensuring optimal privacy. Besides, it uses a standard 256 bit encryption on the OpenVPN protocol, a DHE RSA 2048 bit key exchange and SHA512 authentication for strong security. If the connection drops for some reason, it has a kill switch so there won’t be any sort of data leakage.
At one time, you can connect up to 5 devices and torrent on all servers, which is perfect for HD video streaming at higher speeds. There are more than 1900 servers cited across 75 countries.
Now, it won’t unblock geo restricted content on Hulu or Netflix, but it is the best option for BBC iPlayer.
Pros of IPVanish
- Zero traffic logs or data
- Strong 256 bit encryption
- 24/7 customer support via email, live chat or phone
- Best works on Windows
- Fast download speeds
- Unmetered connections
Cons of IPVanish
- Subject to Five Eyes, Nine Eyes and Fourteen Eyes
- Slow on macOS
6. Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access (PIA) is again a good low cost choice for anyone looking for blazing fast speeds and unrestricted access to servers worldwide. It might not have the cleanest UI out there, but it has a set of impressive features you would want in a VPN solution.
It has a strict no logs privacy to keep you untraceable. Plus, it uses standard 256 bit AES encryption with OpenVPN and WireGuard® protocols, SHA256 authentication and 4096 bit RSA keys. Biggest downside is that PIA doesn’t work with Netflix, but it allows torrenting on its server.
PIA has over 3300+ servers cited across 78+ countries, offering exceptional unrestricted streaming experience. It allows you to connect up to 10 devices at a time with a single subscription. They offer apps for iOS and Android and supports desktops such as macOS and Windows.
PIA has a firewall based kill switch that provides air tight data leak protection in case your connection drops.
Pros of Private Internet Access
- Advanced split tunneling
- Customizable settings
- Blocks ads, malicious sites and trackers at the DNS level
- Optimized for 10 Gbps and blazing fast speeds
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Allows connecting up to 10 devices simultaneously
- No logs
- 24/7 live support
Cons of Private Internet Access
- Slightly slow on macOS
7. VyprVPN
VyprVPN leverages Chameleon™ protocol where it bypasses restrictive networks in any country to keep the internet open and free.
Apart from this, it offers strong security features such as 256 bit AES encryption secured by OpenVPN protocol, DNS protection, 2048 bit RSA keys, SHA256 authentication and no storage of logs or data. It has a unique VPN Cloud solution that provides advanced security for when you use your cloud servers. You can use this cloud solution for AWS, VirtualBox and DigitalOcean.
VyprVPN provides apps for various platforms including Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, TVs, router and Anonabox.
Kill switch functionality here automatically blocks all P2P traffic if your VyprVPN disconnects or gets disabled. It has over 700+ VPN servers in 70+ locations across the globe, offering more than 300,000 IP addresses. It seamlessly works on Hulu, Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
Pros of VyprVPN
- Allows 30 connections at a time
- High speed streaming
- Strong encryption
- 30 days money back guarantee
- No logs
Cons of VyprVPN
- High priced
- Less customizable settings
8. Ivacy VPN
Ivacy is a clean, budget friendly option for students seeking an alluring set of features and functionalities. You can connect up to 10 devices at the same time with a single Ivacy subscription. It is able to unblock restricted content on Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and 16 major Netflix geo locations such as Aus, US, JP, UK, FR and more with no ISP throttling.
Ivacy uses industry leading 256 bit encryption, IPv6 leak protection, DNS protection, DDoS protection and has a strict no logs policy. To create an impenetrable encryption layer, you can choose from multiple protocols such as IKEV, UDP, TCP and L2TP.
It features an internet kill switch that will immediately halt your internet traffic if the connection drops. Further, it offers dedicated IP so you can whitelist IP addresses for extra security and supports split tunneling to help you access local and foreign content simultaneously.
Ivacy has over 3500+ servers spread across 100+ locations to keep you anonymous and private on all platforms. It offers apps for iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, Kodi, Blackberry, Roku, PS4, xBox, Raspberry Pi, smart TVs as well as routers.
Pros of Ivacy
- High speeds for HD video streaming
- Not subject to Five Eyes, Nine Eyes or Fourteen Eyes
- No torrenting blockers
- Connects up to 10 devices at a time
- Multiple security protocols
- Supports wide range of platforms
- Accepts cryptocurrency
Cons of Ivacy
- No free trial
- No multi hop
9. Hide Me
Hide Me is a great and capable VPN solution that offers advanced security features with bypass censorship. It is an independent VPN provider owned and run by people and NOT a mega corporation.
Bolt technology used in Hide Me offers lightning speeds for Windows. It supports WireGuard protocol to boost your VPN connection speeds. With support for IPv6, you don’t have to worry about IPv6 traffic leaks. It allows you to connect up to 10 devices at the same time and using the VPN is a breeze.
Strictly, it does store any logs of your internet activities. For further security and privacy, it offers split tunneling, advanced IP leak protection, multi hop (double VPN), stealth guard and support for WireGuard protocol. Their 2000+ servers are cited across 75 locations, offering unlimited bandwidth.
Best thing is that it accepts various bitcoin and other digital payments.
Pros of Hide Me
- Higher speeds with unlimited bandwidth
- Zero logs
- Supports multiple platforms
- Supports WireGuard
- Multi hop Double VPN for advanced security
- Split tunneling
- IPv6 support
Cons of Hide Me
- Premium plans are expensive
- Configuration of multiple connections can be a bit complex
10. Pure VPN
Lastly, Pure VPN is another powerful VPN service based in Hong Kong. It allows over 10 multi logins at a time and keeps them protected. For advanced security, it leverages 256 bit AES encryption, internet kill switch, dedicated IP (paid add on) and absolutely no storage of logs.
Pure VPN has over 6500+ optimized servers spanning across 78+ countries and 96+ locations, creating a strong global network of 300,000 IPs. It offers split tunneling, so you can seamlessly route your traffic between ISP and PureVPN connection. Besides, it also has a port forwarding feature (paid option) so you can easily access your service or device from anywhere without any loopholes left for hackers or intruders.
Pros of Pure VPN
- No logs
- DDoS protection (paid add on)
- DNS, Web RTC and IPv6 leak protection
- Works on PC, smart phones, router, TVs, Kodi and more
- Apps for iOS, Android, Windows and Mac
- Kill switch and split tunneling
Cons of Pure VPN
- Limited 7 days refund policy
Best VPN for Schools, Colleges and Students Conclusion
Best VPNs for schools, colleges and students must have a crucial set of features such as strict no logs policy, higher speeds, strong encryption standard, affordable pricing and ability to unblock most restricted online content. All of these factors decide your best VPN for students.
All the VPNs mentioned above are best in the market in terms of their security, privacy and reliability features. Now, most free VPNs won’t offer advanced security features, hence it is better to go for premium ones that will allow secure file sharing and streaming experiences.
