Almost all VPN services claim to be "no logs", but which ones truly are?
Which services are truly VPN no logs? Here they are with the facts to back them up (either proven in court cases or by audit)
Once again, VPN no logs claims are in the news and under scrutiny. Too often, VPN providers have been exposed as lying about their ‘no logging’ claims (cough, IPVanish, cough).
Most recently, IPVanish VPN’s non-logging claims were called into question when it was found to have cooperated with Homeland Security in the USA and very likely handed over logs about one of its customers. This occurred in 2016 but only came to light years later in court documents.
This was reminiscent of a similar episode with PureVPN handing over IP address connection logs about one of its customers to the FBI despite PureVPN’s claims to be a "zero-logs" VPN.
Though PureVPN has since had their logs policy audited multiple times, which we'll highlight below, along with several other proven no-logs VPNs.
Keep reading for a list of no logs VPNs that have proven their claims with audits (or in court).
We recommend you use Private Internet Access VPN (PIA VPN) for all of your VPN needs.
Best VPNs with No Logs (Proven)
VPNs with Proven No Logging
If you are looking for a no-log VPN service whose claims have been proven, these are your go-to choices.
Private Internet Access - PIA VPN (Court Cases and Audit)
Private Internet Access VPN's no logs claims have been tested in court not once, but twice.
In the most recent case, a hacking trial in San Jose federal court showed that PIA was unable to link online activities with a customer’s identity. This is the second time PIA’s no logging claims have been tested and proven in legal court documents.
And in 2022, PIA opened themselves up to a third-party audit by Deloitte, who confirmed their lack of logs and also found that their internal systems did not try to track nor identify users or their activities.
In other words, Private Internet Access is a confirmed no-logs VPN.
If you are worried that PIA is unsafe because it is based in the USA, don't be. We can't put it any better than PIA itself from this answer to one of the most common questions it gets asked:
PIA does not log, period.NordVPN (Audit)
NordVPN's no-logging claims have been proven by audit not once, but three separate times. Their most recent audit was conducted by Deloitte, a "Big Four" auditing firm, between November 21st and December 10th, 2022.
With such a proven track record, you can be sure your activities are safe when using NordVPN.
VyprVPN (Audit)
VyprVPN now boasts certification from an independent audit proving that it does not log.
The folks behind VyprVPN, GoldenFrog, have a distinguished track record for aggressively protecting their customers and putting their money with their mouth is. Furthermore, VyprVPN and a handful of other VPN services recently partnered with the Center for Democracy & Technology to create the “Signals of Trustworthy VPNs” report.
In other words, you are in very safe hands with no-logs VyprVPN.
PureVPN (Audit)
PureVPN has been audited as a no log VPN service.
As we highlighted in the intro, PureVPN previously went through its own logging scandal, back in 2017. However, the company eventually came under new ownership, and they were determined to earn back trust.
So, in 2018, they underwent their first audit, courtesy of Altius IT, who concluded:
“[We] did not find any evidence of system configurations and/or system/service log files that independently, or collectively, could lead to identifying a specific person and/or the person’s activity when using the PureVPN service.”
This was a promising start for PureVPN in their quest to become a truly no-logs VPN.
But they didn't stop there.
They submitted to another audit, this time by KPMG, one of the "Big Four" accounting firms. KPMG's audit focused on PureVPN's privacy policy, data protection practices, and server infrastructure.
That audit concluded that PureVPN had implemented the necessary controls and measures to maintain their no-logs policy and safeguard users' privacy.
And now PureVPN have partnered with KPMG to establish something they’re calling an “Always-On Audit” policy, which means they can be audited at any time, without notice.
So, all that to say, PureVPN is now a confirmed no-logs provider.
Mullvad (Audit and Raid)
Not only has Mullvad been audited multiple times, both for their infrastructure in 2022 and their "Leta" tool in 2023, they were also "tested by fire", so to speak, when Swedish authorities tried to raid their offices with a search warrant.
Fortunately, due to their no-logging policies, the police weren't able to retrieve any customer data. This proves Mullvad's claims... and the importance of using a no logs VPN in the first place.
ExpressVPN (Seizure Case)
Not so long ago, ExpressVPN’s no logs claims were also confirmed when one of its servers was seized in Turkey but the server was found to contain no logs.
ExpressVPN's no-logs policy has been further solidified with a recent KPMG audit. In addition to their server seizure in Turkey revealing no logs, they have now undergone an extensive review by KPMG, a leading global audit firm. This audit meticulously examined ExpressVPN's systems and practices, confirming that they do not keep any logs of user activities. This added layer of transparency reinforces ExpressVPN’s commitment to user privacy, making it one of the most reliable no-log VPN services available.
Back in 2019, ExpressVPN was audited by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), to confirm their non-logging and other security claims. They also had their Windows app audited by F-Secure in 2021.
The result? ExpressVPN is one of the safest no-log VPN services.
ProtonVPN (Audit)
ProtonVPN submitted to an external audit by Securitum in 2022, which they passed with flying colors.
They also maintain a Transparency Report, which is updated any time there is a legal request for a user's data (which isn't often, according to the report).
Surfshark (Audit)
Surfshark stepped up to the plate in late 2022 with a third-party audit by Deloitte, the same firm that has worked with several VPN providers, like NordVPN.
Cyberghost (Audit)
Cyberghost is the most recent VPN to step up to the plate and allow their service to be audited.
In 2023, they announced that they had been audited by Deloitte. Their no-logs policy stood up to scrutiny, but you can still request a full report through the link above if you’d like to learn more.
OVPN (Court Case)
In 2020, OVPN fought a court case against the "The Rights Alliance", who were representing certain movie companies, to protect user data and prove their no-logs policy claims were true.
Perfect Privacy (Server Seizure)
Back in 2016, two servers used by Perfect Privacy were seized in the Netherlands. And since they apparently weren't keeping logs, no user data was compromised. However, to our knowledge, Perfect Privacy has not submitted to an independent audit as of now.
Tunnel Bear (Audits)
Tunnel Bear has completed a series of audits over the years, most recently in 2022. You can also check out their transparency report for more info about their no logs policy.
More Tips to Stay Anonymous Online
Using a VPN with no logs is an important step to being anonymous online. But it's not the only step you need to take.
To stay truly anonymous online there are still things to keep in mind, even when using one of these trusted VPN services.
For example, when engaged in any activities you want to keep totally private when using your VPN service (for example, download torrents anonymously), do not use the same IP address for other activities that could be cross-referenced back to you.
In particular, this means do not log into any password protected accounts with the same IP address assigned to you by the VPN service. In fact, it's best not to do any other activities at all with that same IP address.
Instead, split your VPN connection or do your “normal” Internet activities on a different device, whether connected to a VPN or not. Doing this ensures that those other activities are done with a different IP address, one that cannot be cross-referenced and linked to your other more controversial activities.
Make Sure Your IP Address Cannot be Cross-Referenced
Here's a simple example: you connect to your VPN server and start doing activity X, which you want to keep private. You then open another web browser tab and log into your Gmail account.
Doh!
Gmail's records will now have the same IP address you were using at the exact same time you were engaged in activity X. You have basically confirmed that you were the person engaged in activity X!
Any party that requested information from Google would be able to make the connection to your identity, as they have it on file (and you logged in after all).
The number of such information or user requests to Google is exploding and the requirements are not that strict. In Google's own words [emphasis added], "Government agencies, courts and parties in civil litigation regularly ask technology and communications companies for information about how a person has used the company's services. When we receive such a request, our team reviews the request to make sure it satisfies legal requirements and Google's policies. Generally speaking, for us to produce any data, the request must be made in writing, signed by an authorized official of the requesting agency and issued under an appropriate law ..."
The same example applies equally to Facebook, your online banking, your local news site, any apps you use; heck, any website or app (whether password protected or not) that could be traced back by the IP address you used to access it.
Had you split your VPN connection for the different activities or used a different device (or app) using a different IP address, you would be safe(r) from this risk.
Best No Log VPN: Wrap-Up
Look around and you'll see almost all VPN services saying that they keep "no logs".
But the truth is something quite different. Be wary of statements about no-logs and zero-logs, and do some research before blindly believing such claims. You need be sure that your VPN service is not keeping any logs of your activities when you are connected to it.
Public, independent proof of VPNs that do not log is very important because it can be only months or even years later, in the aftermath of legal cases or other situations, when we learn whether a VPN's no logging claims are true.
You do not want to sign up for a VPN that claims to be no logs only to find out the hard way that they really do!
As you've seen above, some VPN services have had their claims tested in court or by audit, and have been proven to be true. Stick to these tried and tested no-logs VPN services, to be as safe and private as possible.
If you want reliable VPN provider choose that one which is based somewhere outside of USA and Europe. Try to find VPN which operates in location where no mandatory data retention laws exist.