Virtual private networks have come a long way since they were initially introduced as a tool for secure interconnectivity of office branches and encrypted remote access. Today, VPN proxies are used by consumers to secure their devices when connecting to public wifi networks, bypass geolocks on overseas content, and avoid government firewalls and censorship. For the average user, the selection of VPN service providers can be dizzying and the competition between providers is fierce.
When it comes to business applications of VPN proxies, the needs and requirements of developers, ad operations professional,s and testing automation experts differ from those of home users. Finding a suitable VPN proxy provider for your business needs becomes especially hard when you consider the limitations of consumer-facing VPN services. To make your search easier, we’ve collected and compared the top seven premium VPN proxy services that offer a broader feature-set aimed at digital professionals.
Before we dive into the list, it’s worth reviewing the criteria to consider when selecting your premium VPN proxy service provider of choice. And let’s start by answering an important question: why do you need a VPN that offers dedicated IPs?
Why businesses need a VPN with dedicated IP addresses
When you connect to a VPN proxy, your IP address is masked and replaced by one provided by the service according to the location you selected to connect to. But not all VPN IP addresses are born the same. The IP address you get by default from most VPN proxy service providers is a shared and dynamic one. What this means is that not only will your IP change whenever you disconnect and reconnect to the service, but you will also share the IP address with other users of the VPN service.
While it might be a suitable solution for a consumer and even offer some advantages, when it comes to professional uses of VPN proxies, a shared IP can cause a plethora of problems. In addition to slowing down the connection, adding a shared IP to any kind of whitelist for backend testing purposes will create a gaping security flaw no one wants in their systems.
In addition, when performing geo tests on ads or anything else you want to have a dedicated IP you can continuously refer to. Otherwise, you risk contaminating your test results and reaching incorrect conclusions that can lead the entire company to make wrong decisions based on corrupt data.
Why residential IPs
It’s important to note that even the static and dedicated IPs provided by consumer-grade VPN proxy services are not always suitable for business applications. Why? Because these are usually “datacenter” IPs, registered to the VPN service providers. These can be blocked on various services (such as online banks), especially if some mischievous user of the VPN service you choose is up to no good using a static IP on the same range as you.
To ensure the IP address you are using is not one registered to a datacenter, be sure to seek out a provider with a broad range of residential IP addresses in the geographies you need.
What to look for when choosing a VPN provider
Since a static remote IP address is not the only requirement of professionals using premium VPN proxy services, let’s give a quick look to the other criteria you might want to consider.
- Speed
- Security, privacy and encryption
- API and integration with geo testing and debugging tools (like Fiddler)
- Uptime and availability
- Customer support
Top 7 VPNs with Dedicated IPs
1.TorGuard
TorGuard has made it on to many top VPN lists several years running. It’s standout features, performance, and pricing cater to everyday consumers, freelancers, small businesses right through to large corporations.
Pricing: Starting at $9.99 per month
Pros:
- Fast
- No logs
- 3000+ Servers in 50+ Countries
- Multiple protocol options (IPSec, OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, SSTP, IKEv2)
- Adblocker
- Killswitch
- Leak testing tools
- Inexpensive
- Large server network
- FREE 24/7 365 Support
Cons:
- Blocked by Netflix
- Difficult to switch servers
2.Pangeo
Pangeo offers a premium and extremely flexible VPN solution tailored to professionals. It allows you to accurately view and monitor any application-based content and ads, as displayed in the selected location along with many other great features serving the everyday digital professional.
Pricing: Starting at $35 per month
Pros:
- Anonymous Browsing
- DNS Leak Protection
- Multi-Language
- Multi-Protocol
- Policy Management
- Remote Access
- Web Inspection
- Over 128 residential IPs worldwide
Cons:
- No Kill Switch
- Only for professional use
3.NordVPN
With stand out features like the ability to specify your server at the startup stage, too many more features centered around functionality and security. NordVPN is built with consumers in mind, and as a result at times lacks the capabilities that digital professionals crave, such as geo-testing.
Pricing: Starting at $2.99 per month
Pros:
- Large server network
- Inexpensive multi-year plans
- Included malware blocker
- Specialty servers
- Kill switch
- No-logging policy
- Works with Netflix
- Fast on certain servers
Cons:
- Inconsistent speed across the network
- Broken server recommendation
- No split tunneling
4. Ivacy
Ivacy offers a VPN service that is compatible with most devices in the marketplace. Ivacy is a solution which is easy to install, offers excellent customer service and is secure and safe.
Pricing: Starting at $9.95 per month.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Secure and safe
- No-logging policy
- Easy to install and use
- Good customer service
Cons:
- No TOR compatibility
- Unclear “money-back guarantee”
- Produced in Singapore, it falls under the “Five Eyes” jurisdiction
- No Netflix streaming capability
5.VPNarea
VPNArea prides itself on its accessibility and speed. VPNArea aims to offer a solution to both consumers and business owners that is widely accessible and easy to use. It prides itself on its customer-to-server ratio.
Pricing: Starting at $4.92 per month with a dedicated IP option
Pros:
- Good, strong encryption
- No log files
- Use OpenVPN
- Great APP usability
- Currently works with Netflix
Cons:
- Reported to be 39% slower than other VPNs
6.BolehVPN
BolehVPN created and popular in southeast Asia was originally created as part of the free internet movement. As a result, the solution focuses heavily on anonymity through features like not logging.
Pricing: Starting at $6.67 per month
Pros:
- Torrenting is allowed
- Fast download speed
- No known DNS/IP leaks
- Works with Netflix (1 server)
- Cons:
- No iOS client
- Limited servers
- Jurisdiction can be questionable
- Customer support – No live chat
- The app can be complicated at times
7.Trust.Zone
Based out of the Seychelles, where there is currently no data retention laws, Trust.Zone offers a VPN solution for Android and Windows users. The solution aims to stop ISP from tracking and protect user’s privacy.
Pricing: Starting at $8.88 per month
Pros:
- Affordable pricing
- No logging
- Strong download speed
- Torrenting permitted
- Works with Netflix
Cons:
- Limited device support
- Limited customer support – offers contact form and limited open hours
VPNs can be different things to different people. However, if you’re looking to use a VPN for something other than streaming Netflix you should consider a VPN with a dedicated IP.
