Based on our testing and research, these are the most important factors for students to consider when choosing a VPN for school Wi-Fi:
Privacy
Privacy is perhaps the most important consideration when choosing a VPN. Especially when you’re on your school’s Wi-Fi network, you’ll want to make sure that your online activity is protected and hidden from network administrators or anyone who may be snooping on what you’re up to. It’s important to choose a VPN that offers industry-standard privacy protections such as AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch and DNS leak protection. Students should also look for a VPN that offers obfuscation to disguise their VPN traffic as regular internet traffic.
Speed
Internet speed is crucial for students. A VPN can cut your internet download speeds by 50% or more, so if your school’s Wi-Fi is already slow, then you’ll need to make sure you have a fast VPN that will limit your speeds by as little as possible. Fast VPN speeds are essential for activities like streaming, gaming and video conferencing.
Cost
Being a student is expensive, so you’ll want a VPN that offers the most value within your budget. Good VPNs can range from about $40 to $100 a year, so you should be able to find a reliable option within your budget. If you don’t find an affordable VPN subscription, you can use Proton VPN’s free plan — which is the only free VPN I recommend.
Usability
Most VPN apps are pretty user-friendly — but some may be a little more complicated to use than others, and some may work better than others for things like streaming or gaming. What’s most important is that the VPN you choose works well for you and has all the functionality you need to succeed at school.
Server network
A large server network will give you better opportunities to connect to a nearby server with a light load and optimize the speed and stability of your connection. Having access to a large network of VPN servers can also help you expand your streaming…
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