One significant change the global pandemic created was increased video calling and communications. From conducting a business meeting and teaching classes to meeting with doctors and staying in touch with friends, you’ll see stiff competition everywhere in the video calling application community. Unfortunately, that means you can’t trust all of them. Depending on your needs, there are different ones for different functions. Even if you choose a good one, you could potentially leave yourself vulnerable unless you connect to a VPN. Please take a quick look at our list of the best VPNs for video calling.
| 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 | |
As we mentioned, there is stiff competition in the video calling category. These include Zoom, Google Hangouts, Duo, Signal, GoToMeeting, BlueJeans, Houseparty, Discord, Microsoft Teams, and more. Which one you use really comes down to what you’re looking for. The good news is many will provide you with solid security and privacy. All of the apps use some type of encryption, but not all encryption is created equally. If you’re using one of them for non-business purposes, apps like FaceTime, Signal, Google Duo, and Houseparty will be ok. Those will work, but you’ll want to check the privacy policies of the ones you want to use. These are usually more fun and don’t have as many features as the business-oriented ones. They are also usually free.
Of course, some services gear their products to the business community. These include Zoom, GoToMeeting, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, BlueJeans, and others. This group has a more robust group of features and offers better privacy. Remember, though, that this group can have a cost, but the extra security is usually worth the difference in free and paid services.
No matter which service you go with, we suggest you connect to a VPN. Some of the services can collect more information on you than you may wish. That includes geo-locations and more. The way to stop that from happening is to mask your IP with a VPN. That way, you’ll be able to protect yourself.
As good as video conferencing is, some countries don’t allow apps like this. Often, they consider apps like this to be part of social media. If you are in a country that bans apps like this, you’ll want to connect to a VPN. In this case, you would select a server in a different country. By doing so, you’ll create an encrypted tunnel that will allow you to access your choice app from anywhere.
How to choose a VPN for Video Calling?
With the amount of information in the meetings, choosing the right VPN is essential. Here are the factors important for meetings.
- Strong military-grade encryption – No matter which app you use, you’ll want to use extra encryption. That’s because some of the apps have worse security than others. By choosing a service that offers the next-generation protocols of OpenVPN, Lightway (exclusive to ExpressVPN), WireGuard, and IKEv2, you’ll be able to get great protections and speeds as well.
- Stable networks – Of course, video calling relies on a stable network. Otherise, you could easily encounter buffering issues. Since the whole point of video calling is to see video, the provider needs to have a stable network. That way, you won’t have to worry about dropped or buffering connections.
- Ability to get around geo-restrictions – As we mentioned, not all countries allow video calling because they directly compete with phone services. If the phone company won’t let you make calls, you need to connect to a VPN.
- A strict no-logs policy – Again, some of the video apps collect a lot of information on you. Because of that, you’ll want to make sure that the VPN provider has a strict no-logs policy. That will help your information stay yours.
Let’s go a bit more in-depth on the best VPNs for video calling.
1. ExpressVPN – Fast VPN servers are perfect for video calling
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When it comes to keeping yourself safe, ExpressVPN is one of the best choices you can make. Whether you are looking for secure encryption protocols, privacy protection features, a strict no-logs policy, or other things, you will find them all with this provider. Additionally, if you have ever had an issue creating a secure password, you are in luck. ExpressVPN has a random password generator on their website that will help you do so. It can generate multiple passwords, and you can securely download the generator page if you wish to use it offline.
If you are a fan of certain sports teams like those you may find in the English Premier League, you can watch some of the games on the BBC iPlayer website. Of course, you would need to be in the UK. However, if you are not, you will want to connect to a UK VPN server. To watch BBC coverage of your favorite football team or any other sports from outside the region, you would simply connect a server located there. That way, you can enjoy seeing your team lay waste to the competition.
ExpressVPN is the #1 rated VPN on our site. We have had the opportunity to compare hundreds of VPN services over the years and ExpressvPN is our favorite. Whether you want to protect your privacy on WiFi networks or unblock streaming services in other countries, ExpressVPN is a good choice. Best of all, you can sign up for 12 months of unlimited VPN access and get 3 months free during our current promotion. The ExpressVPN 30-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of time to test the service.
2. NordVPN – switch between VPN servers in 60+ countries
With over 5100 servers located in 59 countries, NordVPN has a massive network. That is an excellent thing if you are trying to make sure you get high speeds. Of course, encryption overhead can quickly slow down your connection. They have you covered no matter what you plan on doing while using it. NordVPN does well to offer you the best possible speeds so you can enjoy the positive benefits of connecting to a VPN.
Since many stream sports on mobile phones these days, some wireless companies have given their users the ability to watch on their devices free of charge. Of course, that is offered in several different countries. If you are traveling abroad, though, you may have to miss out on seeing your favorite team in action. The solution is to connect to a VPN server from NordVPN. When you do, you make the blocking software think you are still in the correct region. That way, you won’t have to miss out on the great moments of your sport.
3. Private Internet Access – no-logs VPN with proven track record
If you like to stream content, there are times when you may get fed up with watching the same thing. Of course, connecting to a Private Internet Access VPN server will help you fight that. An example of that is the biggest streaming company in the world, Netflix. Whether you are traveling abroad or just want to access content from different libraries, all you have to do is connect to a VPN server in the area you want to see. You can say the same for other services like Amazon Prime Video as well.
If you are looking for a VPN provider that does not keep logs, Private Internet Access has you covered. Over the years, they have developed a well-known reputation throughout the community. While some companies claim they do not keep logs, but then turn them over to authorities, The team at Private Internet Access continuously takes steps to make sure that they protect their users’ interests. If privacy is important to you, you will find that this one is the right choice to make.
4. CyberGhost – specialized servers for more anonymity
CyberGhost VPN offers a reliable product for a reasonable price. However, some may wonder about free VPN services. The thought can often be, why should I pay for something I can get for free? There are several reasons why not. If you are getting your service for free, the company is almost always selling your data. VPNs are expensive to run and maintain. Since the free services are not there to be altruistic, you can bet that they are selling your data. You will also find that free services are usually full of DNS leaks.
For gamers, one of the best ways to help you avoid lag is to connect to a VPN like CyberGhost. Unfortunately, lag can quickly become a big deal. When you connect to a VPN, you will create an alternative path to the game server. By doing so, you lessen the distance between your connection and the game server. That way, you will be able to reduce lag. No matter whether you play casually or more competitively, it is hard to deny the benefits of CyberGhost.
5. IPVanish – well suited for streaming with Firestick app
One of the big things that streaming viewers still want to watch live is sports. If you are a sports fan, you know that some sports have an international following. Unfortunately, you may not be able to watch unless you connect to a VPN from IPvanish. Often, that is because of the licensing rights of some media companies. If you are a country that does not offer coverage, you would generally miss out. Instead, just connect to a server in the home country, log in with your credentials to the streaming service, and enjoy.
For gamers, distributive denial of service (DDoS) attacks can pose a significant threat to your gaming experience. When you connect to a VPN server from IPVanish, however, it can help you combat that issue. No one wants to get locked out or booted from a game. If you play for fun, it is an annoyance. If you play competitively, there are more significant consequences involved. Instead, just connect to a VPN so you do not have to worry about getting attacked while competing.
