We are excited to see a growing number of VPN services offering advanced privacy features. One of the most important features they can offer to many users is a VPN kill switch. You will also see it referred to as an Internet kill switch. The idea is to kill your online connection anytime the VPN drops. Some will let you set specific applications while others block your Internet communications altogether until the VPN reconnects. Here a quick look at our list of the best VPNs with a kill switch feature.
| Rank | VPN Service | Our Score | Server Locations | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 9.8 | 160 |  |
| 2 |  | 9.4 | 87 | |
| 3 |  | 9.2 | 95 | |
| 4 |  | 9.0 | 110 | |
| 5 |  | 8.8 | 73 | |
You will also find that a number of companies with VPN kill switch features also have no-log policies. Both the kill switch and commitment not to log users activities on their network are strong signs that the provider takes your privacy seriously. Let’s take a quick look at some VPN services that have VPN kill switch features. Then we will elaborate on the functionality for each provider along with details on their logging policy since I think a lot of VPN users desire the highest possible level of privacy.
How we chose the right VPN with a Kill Switch
ill switches are extremely common in the VPN community. These days, most providers offer this feature and several others. Because of that, we look for other factors. These include:
- Stability – Even though kill switches are common these days, the extra layer of protection it provides is like insurance. You can do things to help prevent the connection from dropping but if the connection drops, you’ll be glad it’s there.
- Speed – Finding the best speeds may not matter with everything you do, but if you’re streaming or downloading on various networks, you’ll want to find the fastest VPN service with a kill switch available
- Multiple apps – Along with kill switches, you want to make sure that its available across all available apps. That way, you can make sure you’re protected no matter which app you’re using.
- Overall protection – Since all reputable providers offer a kill switch, you want to choose one that has additional features. These include features like dedicated IP addresses, split tunneling, ad/malware blockers, and more.
At a minimum, we only considered VPNs that offer a kill switch feature for both Windows and Mac devices.
Without further delay, here’s a closer look at the best VPNs with a kill switch:
1. Best VPN with Kill Switch: ExpressVPN
Sign up for 12 months and get 3 MONTHS FREE on our #1 rated VPN
ExpressVPN is one of the best known VPN providers in the world. They are serious about user privacy and have taken several steps to make sure user privacy is a top priority. For starters, ExpressVPN does not keep activity logs. Members usage on their network is not tracked. They take that a step further by including strong encryption and advanced features like Network Lock to protect your privacy anytime the connection drops.
Here’s a closer look at the ExpressVPN Network Lock (kill switch) setting on the General tab of their Windows VPN client. This is where you can set the feature to stop your system from communicating if the VPN connection is lost.
The network lock is enabled by default so you don’t have to do anything to take advantage of the feature. As shown in the image above the Network Lock “ensures your internet traffic goes through ExpressVPN’s secure tunnel and stops all traffic if ExpressVPN disconnects unexpectedly”. We’re tested the kill switch feature and it works well. You can also set the network lock feature in the ExpressVPN Mac, Linux, and router apps.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of using ExpressVPN is their support for a wide range of devices. ExpressVPN offers custom VPN software for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Connect from your desktop and mobile at the same time with up to 3 simultaneous connections. You can also install the ExpressVPN web extension for Chrome or Firefox. Want to protect your entire home network with a single VPN account? If so you can use the ExpressVPN router app to get all set up. The MediaStreamer feature adds Smart DNS support to game consoles (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, etc.), media boxes (Apple TV, Roku, Nvidia Shield TV, etc.), and Smart TVs.
Want to learn more? Read our full ExpressVPN review.
2. Best VPN with Kill Switch: PIA
We’ll end our list with Private Internet Access. Better known as PIA, the company is very well known for their commitment to user’s privacy. They were one of the first to offer a VPN kill switch feature and support it on both Windows and Mac operating systems. Here are some more details directly from PIA:
The internet kill switch activates VPN disconnect protection. If you disconnect from the VPN, your internet access will stop working. It will reactivate normal internet access when you deactivate the kill switch mode or exit the application.
Users who may be connected to two connections simultaneously (ex.: wired and wireless) should not use this feature, as it will only stop 1 active connection type.
PIA doesn’t stop there as they have a strict no-log policy and several more advanced features to help protect your privacy. Let’s take a look at their client settings page. As you can see Private Internet Access also offers DNS leak protection to help prevent leaking your DNS queries while using their VPN. They also have an “Encryption” settings screen that will let you set the data encryption, data authentication, and the handshake method used to connect.
When it comes to their Windows client the PIA team has included an Internet kill switch. The kill switch will kill your Internet connection anytime the VPN fails. That can really come in handy for those wanting to ensure anonymity.
Want to learn more? Read our full Private Internet Access review.
3. Best VPN with Kill Switch: NordVPN
NordVPN is based in Panama which some users prefer to using a VPN company that’s actually headquartered in the United States. You will find that NordVPN has a strong presence in the US with servers located throughout the country. Members have full access to their network in the USA and beyond for a very good price.
You will find that NordVPN has perhaps the best mix of services for the price if you subscribe to a longer term account. All users have full access to their network and custom software. You can connect using the VPN client for Windows or Mac. They also have an easy to use mobile app for both Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad) devices.
NordVPN has developed an Internet kill switch feature and currently supports in their custom apps for Windows and Mac. They also have an app kill switch that will let you choose which apps to kill the connection on if the VPN drops.
Want to access streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world? If so NordVPN is a great choice. They are one of the only VPN services that can still unblock Netflix.
Want to learn more? Read our full NordVPN review.
4. Best VPN with Kill Switch: CyberGhost
CyberGhost was founded in 2001 by 7 enthusiastic young team members in Bucharest, Romania. Since that time the company has grown into one of the largest VPN services in the world. The team of 50+ members is focused on protecting users privacy. Robert Knapp, co-founder and CEO, continues to lead the team even after they joined the Crossrider group in 2017. Since that time the CyberGhost network has expanded quite a bit.
CyberGhost offers a nice mix of server locations, strong encryption, and the ability to unblock popular streaming services like Netflix, YouTube Red, and Amazon Prime. Some of the channels even let you unblock geo-restrictions for multiple regions. For example, you can access Amazon Prime video content in the US, Germany, or UK. The Windows client also gives you the option to surf anonymously, protect WiFi, torrent anonymously, unblock basic websites (Google, Facebook Instagram, etc.), and choose a server.
CyberGhost includes an automatic kill switch in both their Windows and Mac clients. You will find find the feature listed under setting. Enable it to automatically block Internet traffic is a VPN connectivity issue is detected.
The CyberGhost VPN client is one of our favorites. It is very easy to use and includes a number of advanced features to help protect your online privacy. They have a development team in Germany that is continually adding features to the client and mobile apps.
Want to learn more? Read our full CyberGhost review.
5. Best VPN with Kill Switch: IPVanish
IPVanish is a top rated VPN service on our site for a number of reasons. Along with having the fastest network, IPVanish also has a commitment to user privacy. They start by not logging user’s activities on their network. They take it a step further by offering a VPN kill switch for Windows and Mac OS X. They are one of the only VPN services to offer the feature for Mac users.
Let’s take a look at the IPVanish connection settings page of their VPN client. This is where you can set the feature to kill your network if the VPN connection is lost.
As you can see above IPVanish also has a feature to change your IP address periodically. You can set the client to change your IP address at a set interval. You can also set at alternate port number and use TCP instead of UDP. Though I recommend sticking with OpenVPN (UDP) connections for the best performance.
When it comes to value IPVanish is hard to beat. They offer unlimited access to their VPN network and custom software for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Amazon Firestick and more. You can try the service risk-free for 30 days.
Want to learn more? Read our full IPVanish review.
What is a VPN kill switch?
A VPN kill switch (also called a network kill switch) is a feature that stops the flow of all internet traffic if the VPN server disconnects unexpectedly. This feature has been around the community for quite a while. Creators designed them when connections were not always stable. If the VPN server disconnects, your data still transfers. However, without a kill switch, your data travels unencrypted while waiting for the VPN to reconnect.
Some services offer a split kill switch or app kill switch. Instead of stopping all traffic, it kills traffic to a specific app. That can be extremely helpful if you multitask and don’t need all of your data stopped if the connection drops. Automatic kill switches will usually activate on public WiFi, if your connection drops, or a network blocks your VPN connection.
Why do VPN connections drop
While there are several reasons, VPN server is overcrowding is one of them. Overcrowding is one of the most likely reasons for dropped connections. If you do not have much bandwidth to work with, aka lower internet speeds or a weak WiFi signal, that can also cause the VPN to disconnect. Although these types of disconnects have lessened over the years, they do still happen from time to time.
You can read over our list of the top 10 VPN services for more options but I highly recommend the services listed above for those who want extra security features. We selected them over other leading VPN services based on privacy (no-log policy and encryption), VPN kill switch feature, support for P2P / file sharing, availability of server locations in key locations, performance, reliability and price. We also looked for services with a good number of servers and those with plenty of bandwidth. You’ll want a reliable VPN provider to help secure your online privacy.