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VERDICT

Should I use Thebestvpn?

(none) - thebestvpn.com

Skip. This is an affiliate VPN review blog, not software you can buy — and PCMag has reported on its manipulative search tactics. Read it at most as a starting point, then verify any VPN pick elsewhere.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 30+ public sources; key trust claims from PCMag, Reddit, Gridinsoft, and Hudson Rock.

Ratings

  • Value for moneyFree content site; nothing to purchase
  • Ease of useNo user experience evidence found
  • Feature depthEditorial content only, no product features
  • Support qualityNo support evidence found
  • Security posture

Pricing

Not disclosed

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes

Best for

  • Quick VPN shortlists
  • Casual shoppers wanting pros/cons lists

Not for

  • Privacy-conscious buyers — affiliate commissions fund the rankings
  • Anyone trusting one review site's verdict without cross-checking
  • Teams needing current, verified security data
  • Enterprises — it is consumer listicle content

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

VPN links are monetized; rankings may follow commission, not merit

high

Reviews go stale — users caught an outdated Windscribe review still ranking

medium

Its rankings surface prominently in Google and AI search, amplifying errors

medium

The 13-step review process is self-published, not independently audited

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Publishes a detailed 13-step review methodology
  • Produces original vulnerability research cited by NVD/CVE
  • Research cited by TechRadar and Security Today
  • Site itself scanned clean at 97/100 trust

Cons

  • PCMag investigated its Google dominance as a scam
  • Reddit users document outdated, inaccurate reviews
  • Reader-supported affiliate model creates ranking conflicts
  • No security page on its own site
  • Critics flag the wider VPN referral economy it profits from

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/24/2026 - 8 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x2review x2security x2news x2

Key stats

  • Security posture: 3/5

    Rating

  • Not disclosed

    Starting price

  • 8

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money. Free content site; nothing to purchase
  • Ease of use. No user experience evidence found
  • Feature depth. Editorial content only, no product features
  • Support quality. No support evidence found
  • Security posture: 3/5. 97/100 Gridinsoft trust; no breach indicators
  • 97/100 Site trust score Gridinsoft URL scan
  • 78 VPNs reviewed cited by Trust.Zone
  • 13 steps Review process self-published methodology
  • 21 upvotes Critical Reddit thread r/Windscribe on outdated review

Pricing

Free tier: Yes

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

Alternatives

Compare Thebestvpn with each alternative.

  • Security.org VPN rankings

    50+ VPNs tested and ranked

  • Top10VPN

    59 VPNs tested hands-on

    Thebestvpn vs Top10VPN

  • r/privacytoolsIO community

    Crowd-vetted picks, skeptical of affiliate sites

Full analysis

Based on 30+ public sources; key trust claims from PCMag, Reddit, Gridinsoft, and Hudson Rock.

Affiliate VPN review site, not a product. PCMag probed its SEO tactics; Reddit flags outdated reviews. Cross-check elsewhere.

Methodology

Based on 30+ public sources; key trust claims from PCMag, Reddit, Gridinsoft, and Hudson Rock.

Sources

  1. How a VPN Review Site Dominates Google Search With a Scampcmag.com
    news
  2. TheBestVPN.com – Outdated and inaccurate Windscribe reviewreddit.com
    review
  3. Our 13-Step Review Processthebestvpn.com
    official
  4. Advertiser Disclosurethebestvpn.com
    official
  5. Gridinsoft URL trust scan (97/100)gridinsoft.com
    security
  6. Hudson Rock infostealer check — no breach indicatorshudsonrock.com
    security
  7. The Trouble with VPN and Privacy Review Sitesreddit.com
    review
  8. Is your router a cybersecurity risk? (cites TheBestVPN research)techradar.com
    news

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