A good VPN is an essential part of any SEO strategy.
It lets you know how search results vary in different countries.
And, of course, it will protect your business from cyber-attacks, and you can rest assured that file sharing among your team is secure.
I’ll review the top VPNs to boost your SEO work and safeguard your business online.
Later, we’ll discuss how a VPN works and why businesses use it for SEO.
Sound good?
Then, let’s get started.
The Best VPNs for SEO Work
NordVPN
This is the big one.
Your favorite online personalities probably even advertise this VPN.
Among all the VPN services, NordVPN stands out as the gold standard because of its reliability, privacy policies, and robust tools.
The company keeps its headquarters in Panama, where no laws require collecting personal data.
So, there’s no need to worry about your internet traffic, usage, and metadata being monitored, collected, or shared in any way.
And to back up their no-logging claim, NordVPN had one of the four major auditing firms, PriceWaterhouseCoopers AG, conduct an industry-setting review.
Double VPN is a unique function offered by Nord that encrypts data twice and diverts it to two separate servers.
They also have a kill switch that will prevent any data from leaving your device if your connection should ever drop, even for a split second.
You can establish gateways, assign user rights, and manage your team’s accounts from its Contol Panel.
TunnelBear
Don’t have the funds to pay for a VPN service right now? No problem.
If you’re searching for a free VPN that’s simple to use and geared toward beginners, TunnelBear is worth considering.
It’s a Canada-based service with a user-friendly interface that won’t intimidate newbies.
TunnelBear is available on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. Plus, there’s an extension available for Chrome. Please test it out and see that you can access geo-restricted websites!
There are 33 different countries to select servers from.
TunnelBear provides all the basics you’d expect, including AES 256-bit encryption, hashing, tunneling, and lightning-fast performance.
Do you work on more than one device? It’s okay; you can protect up to five devices once you upgrade to one of its paid plans.
And since TunnelBear is a Canadian company, they adhere to the rules of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
This means that your information will be safely and lawfully stored.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN doesn’t offer a service specifically tailored to a specific business.
It doesn’t matter if you’re an SEO professional, casual internet user, freelancer, or business owner; you’ll appreciate their emphasis on the customer.
And because of this emphasis, ExpressVPN is refreshingly simple in design, implementation, and upkeep.
It’s almost like having an in-house IT department!
As you would expect from a leading VPN service, they give you access to a full suite of encryption and security tools.
Plus, they offer advanced capabilities like split tunneling and propriety DNS servers.
ExpressVPN operates out of the British Virgin Islands, adhering to a strict no-logging policy.
They’re not legally required to monitor their users’ activities.
VyprVPN
VyprVPN is a Swiss VPN service that was launched in 2009.
Naturally, it prioritizes speed and anonymity like the other services on this list.
With Vypr’s 300,000+ IP addresses and 700+ servers in 70+ counties, you can access websites and download files from anywhere globally.
It can bypass censorship and access all content by evading restrictions imposed by governments or a particular internet service provider.
You can also link up to five devices simultaneously.
In addition to standard features like a kill switch, DNS leak protection, WiFi security, and 256-bit encryption, Vypr also provides an advanced tool called Chameleon Protocol.
This scrambles your data in a way that makes it unrecognizable to Deep Packet Inspection.
Perimeter81
Perimeter81 is a leading Israeli VPN service that uses a Cloud VPN architecture.
It’s ideal if you work on multiple devices as an SEO professional.
Since it’s cloud-based, you won’t need additional third-party legacy hardware or software to run it.
Because of its error-prevention features, Perimete81 is an excellent choice for remotely operated businesses.
By activating the VPN protection whenever one of your teammates connects to an unsafe network, automated WiFi Security and DNS filtering capabilities will safeguard your shared data.
Your businesses’ IP addresses will be masked, and all your communication will be encrypted and routed through dedicated private servers.
So, if you’re worried about data breaches, negligence suits, and other legal concerns, Perimiter81 will have you covered.
It currently has 700 available public servers in 36 locations, which may seem more than enough, but you’d be surprised that this is the industry standard.
And if your goal is to have a dedicated gateway for your business, it’s only $40 on top of whatever plan you choose.
It’s not cheap but will decrease latency as you work with your team.
Surfshark
Surfshark is a reputable VPN service almost unmatched in quality and affordability.
This service doesn’t keep logs, has 256-bit encryption, and a kill switch.
That’s all the basics covered.
It’s also based in the British Virgin Islands, making them immune to the surveillance of the data alliances.
They will have your login details and basic billing info but can’t access your usage and connection data.
And if you feel iffy about giving away your bank details, you can use cryptocurrency to pay for their service.
What sets Surfshark apart is its unlimited device connections. Business owners can rest easy that this service can keep up with today’s remote work landscape.
Don’t like ads?
With Surfshark’s Adblock VPN, users can avoid malicious content, protect themselves from phishing attempts, and enjoy speedier browsing.
Premium tools include a private DNS on each server, “camouflage mode” to hide your activities from your ISP, and “multihop.”
This connects you to multiple servers in various locations, minimizing your digital footprint.
Mullvad
I’m sure you and I agree that privacy is a universal right.
Well, so does Mullvad.
But let’s set things straight here.
Privacy isn’t synonymous with data security.
This Swedish VPN service is the best choice if you value privacy over everything else.
Let’s face it; there are a few more significant threats to a business than the leak of private data.
Customers aren’t even required to provide an email address or password to use Mullvad.
It will generate a random account number for you!
You can then use this code to access its desktop app or to make payments to the service.
What does this mean?
It seems they want to learn as little as possible about you, which is a good sign.
Using your Mullvad account will save your paid time remaining and concurrent connections in real-time.
This information is stored in your RAM and deleted when you log out.
Pretty neat.
Plus, data like CPU utilization and bandwidth use can’t be used to identify who you are.
There are only 215 215 Mullvad servers available for use in 38 countries.
Your VPN connection will be established and maintained by hardware at the given location.
There are no virtual servers here.
Of course, the rate changes depending on the server you connect to.
Speeds are usually okay in North America and Europe.
However, expect some minor latencies in Australia or Asia.
Hotspot Shield
Do you want to try a reliable VPN service but not shell out anything for a while?
No problem!
Hotspot Shield’s free version is as good as it can get.
The service’s free tier offers an enticing 500 MB of data daily for 15 GB monthly.
Not bad at all.
Hotspot Shield VPN uses military-grade encryption to conceal your online movements and keep you safe.
It’s compatible with various platforms and devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Chrome.
It’ll give you a smooth browsing experience, for sure.
With over 2,500 servers spread across 25 countries, Hotspot Shield guarantees lightning-fast connections thanks to its proprietary “Catapult Hydra” protocol.
Plus, it supports simultaneous use on up to five devices, making it a convenient choice for SEO professionals.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a run-of-the-mill VPN service, but that’s not necessarily bad.
This service is still helpful for SEO workers since it bypasses geographical restrictions on content.
You can work remotely and gain access to content that is restricted to certain countries.
Its extensive server network has 9,200 servers across 91 countries, which will turn you into an online ninja.
Perhaps the distinguishing factor of CyberGhost is its 45-day money-back guarantee.
If it doesn’t meet your requirements, you can use it risk-free for under two months and still get your money back!
VPN.ac
VPN.ac is another top-notch service.
It does have a somewhat smaller server network, but the locations are carefully chosen to cover all major online markets.
It lets you conduct your SEO work discretely, giving you complete anonymity as you monitor your rivals’ websites without raising suspicion.
You also don’t have to worry about speed restrictions; several speed optimization tools are available.
Although this VPN service supports fewer countries than its competitors, its coverage should extend to the markets you want to conquer.
If these restrictions aren’t a big deal, you can expect a modest fee for a speedy and dependable VPN service.
Do I Need a VPN, and How Does it Work?
Yes, especially if you’re an SEO professional.
There’s just no way around it.
Without a VPN, a hacker wouldn’t need to be tech-savvy to figure out where you are and your online activities.
So, what is a VPN exactly?
Well, it’s in the name.
A Virtual Private Network is a digital service.
You don’t need hardware to connect to it.
This is a private network because it encrypts your connection and lets you bypass online restrictions and hide from cyber-criminals.
And NETWORK means you can “build” a secure connection with your devices, the server, and the internet.
How Can a VPN Aid SEO?
The average internet user benefits heavily from having a VPN.
It’s even more advantageous for business owners who are doing SEO work.
Here’s why:
Bypass GEO-Restrictions
As someone who practices SEO, you may encounter issues accessing specific online resources because of location restraints.
If you try to use Google from China or Iran, you won’t be able to.
You can bypass this restriction by connecting to a VPN server in any country.
You can then utilize that connection to access the sites and SEO tools you need.
Checking Site Rankings
Let’s say you manage a US-based online store that ships internationally.
A VPN is a must in this case.
Temporarily changing your IP address lets you see how well your store is doing in different parts of the world.
It will help you focus your SEO efforts on areas where business isn’t doing well.
Competitor Research
We all know that SEO involves checking out the competition.
You constantly have to go on your rivals’ websites and see what methods they are employing.
And if something they’re doing seems to be working, you can work on applying this technique to your own business.
However, the owner might notice and block your IP address if you frequently visit competitor websites.
So, using a VPN to mask your online footprint will be helpful.
Local SEO Work
Only US-based results will appear if you’re in the US and conduct a Google search.
But what if you want to see search results from outside the country?
A VPN is the solution.
You can access location-based search results by connecting to specific international servers.
This way, you’ll be able to see how much work you have to do to get your website to rank internationally.
This will also give you access to foreign-local keywords to make location-based content.
Safe Remote Work
Using out-of-date personal gadgets and browsing through unsecured websites can compromise your cybersecurity.
But even if a website is shady, you may have to visit it to be thorough in your SEO work.
Your data can be seriously in danger.
To be safe, you can direct your online activities to a VPN.
Your sensitive information will be given an additional degree of encryption.
And if you’re the type who’s always on-to-go, accessing public WiFi, it’s all the more important to use a VPN.
You can rest easy knowing you can go about your SEO practices without compromise.
Bypass reCAPTCHAs
Any SEO expert always has a search window open at any given time.
Why?
SEO projects always begin with opening a tab with SEO stats and keywords.
Using that tab too frequently to get new keywords could have pitfalls.
If you conduct too many searches in too short of a time, Google will flag you.
You’re probably familiar with that Google reCAPTCHA page that Google redirects you to.
It usually prompts you to type what you see in a dialogue box to prove your authenticity.
Spending a lot of time answering reCAPTCHAs is a waste.
You also wouldn’t want to run into the “we’re getting unusual traffic from this network” error, right?
Speedbumps like these prevent you from focusing on your work.
But with a VPN, you can avoid these interruptions. It will make your online tasks feel more seamless.
Circumvent Bandwidth Throttling
I’m sure you can acknowledge the value of a speedy internet connection.
You can’t carry out your SEO strategies without it.
So, have you ever wondered what causes your connection to slow down when viewing a website?
Bandwidth throttling might be the culprit.
This is the practice of limiting data transfer speeds.
Why would website owners do this?
Well, ISPs sometimes slow connections temporarily to ease traffic on their network.s
This eliminates the need for expensive equipment upgrades whenever there is an influx of visitors.
But in these sorts of citations, a VPN can be pretty helpful.
One lets you bypass your ISP’s bandwidth limitations by routing your traffic over an encrypted private network, which is typically more forgiving.
Secure File Sharing
File sharing is a daily necessity for an SEO professional who works with clients and teammates.
So, it is crucial to have a secure method of sharing data.
Sure, these days, online file-sharing options are abundant.
However, not everybody is risk-free.
When you share files, you can’t afford to have them compromised.
It’s only natural to feel some anxiety over this.
Thankfully, the right VPN will help facilitate secure file sharing, which should help ease your worries.
It can even let you access saved data on a remote computer on a network from your mobile devices.
FAQ’s
Which is the rank 1 VPN?
ExpressVPN ranks as the top VPN in our ratings, prioritizing privacy and transparency.
It offers an independently audited no-logs policy demonstrating its commitment to not gathering users’ online activity information.
Which country VPN is the fastest?
The fastest VPN country may vary depending on factors such as your location and network conditions.
Conducting speed tests to determine the fastest VPN server for your specific needs is recommended.
Do VPNs affect search results?
Indeed, VPNs provide some protection by concealing your browsing history from Google.
When connected to a VPN, Google cannot detect your actual IP address, which means personalized search results associated with your IP address will not be displayed.
However, it’s important to note that Google employs additional methods to identify users besides IP addresses.
Which VPN is highly suggested?
ExpressVPN has upheld its status as the CNET Editors’ Choice Award recipient for the best overall VPN in the latest 2023 review.
Its commitment to privacy and impressive speeds have enabled it to retain its position among other virtual private network services.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know why you’d need a VPN for your SEO work options, I hope you single out the best one for your needs.
SEO is vital for any online business, so it’s only natural that we’d want to put up our guards and protect sensitive data.
It’s also impossible to be thorough with SEO if you can’t access certain parts of the internet and keep tabs on your competition.
Stay safe out there with the right VPN service provider!
