I’ve spent years testing VPNs. I’ve stress-tested speeds, compared WireGuard implementations, checked server quality, streamed my way through half of Netflix, and run enough leak tests to last a lifetime. But none of that matters anymore. After reviewing dozens of services, I’ve realised that only one VPN feature truly matters — and most providers still don’t offer it.
It’s not speed. It’s not server count. It’s not “military-grade encryption.”
It’s a verifiable no-logs policy. And shockingly few VPNs can genuinely prove they have one.
We’ve been trained to care about the wrong VPN features
It’s hard to look past speed
The VPN industry is built on marketing metrics that sound impressive but don’t actually mean anything for privacy. Server counts. “Optimized” streaming locations. Fancy maps in the interface. AES-256 military-grade encryption (which every VPN uses by default).
These features make VPN companies stand out on comparison charts, but none of them matter if the service is quietly storing your browsing activity in the background. A fast VPN that logs you is still logging you. A pretty UI that logs you still logs you.
The disconnect is simple: users often want anonymity, but VPN brands usually sell convenience. And the single most important metric is the one most glossed over.
That’s why my VPN selection process has changed completely. Before I check speed, price, or protocols, I check one thing first: proof they don’t log.
What a “no-logs VPN” actually means
There is a difference between what the marketing says and the reality
When you use a no-log VPN, you’re transferring your privacy and security from your ISP to your VPN. That’s why ensuring it’s a no-log policy actually does what it says, and isn’t misleading.
I’ll caveat the following with the fact that misleading marketing has had to take a big old step back in the past few years as VPN use third-party auditors, but there is some language you should be aware of.
- No activity logs, but it still keeps the timestamps of your access
- Minimal logs but still captures device IDs and metadata
- Anonymous analytics doesn’t mean an absence of logging
- Zero logs can be ambiguous and refer to browsing activity, but leave out IP assignments, server connections, and so on
In reality, you need a VPN no-log policy to cover three specific areas:
- Traffic logs, including sites, files, DNS queries, and more, shouldn’t be recorded
- Connection logs, such as the times you connect and disconnect, IP addresses, server connections, and so on, should be discarded
- Unique metadata, such as your device fingerprints, hardware, and other identifying data, shouldn’t be recorded
It’s easy for a VPN to allude to being ultra-secure and private with the mention of some of these features. But the reality is that you need to double-check the claims before trusting a “no-log VPN” with your data.
A real VPN no-logs policy is detailed and shows the working
It’s all about that audit proof
Before signing up for a no-log VPN, you need to check for a few vital bits of data.
Remember when VPNs could just say they didn’t log your data, and we just had to accept it. Well, after a series of VPNs were publicly named, handing data over to the FBI and other agencies, it became imperative for VPNs to prove that they really don’t log your data.
As such, the VPN third-party audit was born, proving once and for all that no data was being collected. No-log VPNs use third-party auditing companies such as PwC, Deloitte, or Cure53 to get stuck into the service infrastructure and confirm what’s going on behind the scenes.
A no-log audit should include:
- Full server inspections
- Logging system analysis
- Access to internal documentation
- Independent code review
- Publication of the report
There are a couple of considerations. For example, you may want to choose a VPN provider that uses RAM-only servers. These servers don’t use physical disks and instead run on volatile system memory (RAM). When the power goes out or the server is reset, all the data goes with it.
I tried 4 popular free VPNs so you don’t have to—here’s the only good one
I tested the most popular free VPNs and found only one worth using.
So, which no-log VPN should you use?
I’ve used most of the best no-log VPN providers over the years. Thankfully, these days, there are a few different options to choose from.
- Mullvad features a strict no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, and more.
- NordVPN has completed multiple audits and is well-known as one of the top no-log VPNs.
- Proton VPN is another top no-log VPN that has completed multiple third-party audits and transparency reports.
When it comes down to it, a no-log policy is absolutely vital, so don’t skip out. Make sure the VPN can show verifiable proof that your data is safe—otherwise, skip it.
