Betternet

The three main reasons why you would want to use a VPN application are security, privacy, and the need to access webpages that aren’t available in your country. Betternet nicely covers this trio of requirements. It keeps you safe by encrypting your connection, it protects your privacy by hiding your real IP address, and it hides your real location so that you can access websites that are not available in your country.

Betternet is available for multiple platforms. It is available as a desktop application for Windows, it is available as a mobile app for iOS and Android, and it is available as an extension for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Focusing on Windows alone (because that’s the version I tested), it must be mentioned that installing Betternet is an effortless process.

Using Betternet is an effortless process as well. There is a big button on the application’s interface that says Connect. All you have to do is click on it and wait for Betternet to connect to a VPN server. You’ll know when the connection has been established because your default browser will launch and take you to Status webpage.

Back in March 2015 when I first tried Betternet, this Status webpage showed my new IP address and location. This is no longer the case. The new Status webpage simply says "You are now connected", before redirecting to an Indiegogo page that presents Betterspot, a VPN router created by the same people that came up with Betternet.

If you’re a novice, you’ll love the fact that Betternet is incredibly easy to use. If you’re a tech-savvy user who likes to tinker with things, you’re not going to like a couple of things. First up, the fact that the only setting you can play with is the option to reconnect automatically. And next up, the fact that you can't pick a custom VPN server to connect to. Once you click the Connect button, Betternet will connect to a VPN server of its choosing; you have no say in the matter.

Betternet is free software that prides itself on the fact that it does not show you irritating ads. How does the company make money then? As this page explains, Betternet makes money by offering videos and sponsored app inside its mobile app.

Get the free Betternet application and it will protect against hackers and would-be snoopers by connecting to a VPN server and letting you browse on an encrypted connection. On top of that, it will hide your real IP and address so you can access websites that are not available in your country.