Which VPNs Have Audited No-Logs Policies? Every Audit Listed

If you want a VPN with an audited no-logs policy, start with the audit date, auditor and systems covered, then match the provider to your device and budget. NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access and CyberGhost publish independent no-logs or no-logging assurance material. Mullvad publishes a strong no-activity-logging policy and public security assessments, but its recent reports are not presented as dedicated no-logs-policy audits.

A VPN encrypts the connection between your device and the VPN server and changes the IP address websites see. It does not erase account activity, cookies, browser fingerprints or payment records. Before paying, save the amount due, renewal price, billing term and refund rules shown at checkout.

What does an audited no-logs policy actually tell you?

An audited no-logs policy means an outside firm assessed specified systems and controls against defined criteria at a particular time. Depending on the provider, the work may cover server configuration, deployment controls, operational procedures, DNS handling, connection data and safeguards against logging activity.

The useful question is not whether a VPN is permanently verified. Ask which servers, systems, dates and logging categories the report covers. A report about production VPN servers carries a different meaning from an app-security audit, an infrastructure penetration test or a transparency report.

A no-logs policy is the provider’s written statement about data it says it does not retain. The exact promise differs. It may exclude browsing destinations, traffic contents, DNS queries, connection timestamps, IP addresses and session duration while still allowing account, billing, support, website, diagnostic or aggregated infrastructure data.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation describes a VPN as a shift of trust from an internet service provider or public Wi-Fi operator to the VPN provider. The Federal Trade Commission says a VPN does not make you anonymous. You still sign in to accounts, send information to websites and leave signals through cookies and device fingerprints.

The policy defines the promise. The audit describes the controls and systems examined against that promise.

Which VPN has the latest published audit?

The providers below publish the main audit or assessment details needed for a practical comparison. The date is not a permanent expiration date, but a newer report can give you more current evidence about the provider’s systems.

NordVPN’s sixth Deloitte assessment is the newest dated assessment in this group by assessment period. It covered several specialized server types, which matters if you plan to use Double VPN, obfuscated servers or Onion Over VPN rather than only a standard connection.

Surfshark’s Deloitte engagement covered several server categories and privacy procedures, and its published limitations describe the work as point-in-time. ExpressVPN’s KPMG assessment focused on TrustedServer architecture and controls designed to prevent collection of browsing history, destination, content, DNS-query and specific connection data.

Proton VPN says its 2026 Securitum report is part of an annual audit program covering production VPN infrastructure.

Private Internet Access and CyberGhost both publish Deloitte material covering configuration, change controls, incident response and dedicated-IP systems. Mullvad’s evidence is different. Its 2023 infrastructure report said the tested systems showed no logging of user activity, while also stating that testers could not validate whether live production machines had the same configuration.

For a privacy-first decision, read the report’s exclusions beside its conclusion. A report can be independent and useful while still covering only selected systems and one assessment period.

Which VPN fits a free, paid or privacy-first decision?

Proton VPN is the clearest documented fit if you want a free plan with a published no-logs audit program. Proton VPN Free is free, supports one device, has no advertisements and carries Proton’s stated no-activity-logging policy. Its free plan has fewer server and feature choices than paid service, so check whether one device and the available locations fit your use.

A paid plan makes more sense when you need several devices, more locations, dedicated features or a particular platform setup. Surfshark advertises unlimited simultaneous connections. Proton Plus allows ten devices, Private Internet Access advertises ten, CyberGhost allows seven and Mullvad allows five. The device count matters when you want a phone, laptop, television, streaming stick, console or router covered at the same time.

Mullvad fits readers who prefer a flat monthly rate, no account email requirement and a privacy-focused account model. Its tradeoff is that its recent public evidence is an infrastructure and security assessment rather than a dedicated no-logs-policy assurance report.

A free plan costs nothing, a free trial gives temporary access, and a money-back guarantee requires you to pay first and request a refund within the window. For the practical difference, compare free and paid VPN plans before choosing.

What does each provider’s privacy policy keep separate from VPN activity?

The strongest no-logs language does not mean a provider has no data about you. It usually means the provider separates account, payment, support or website records from the activity data it says it does not retain.

NordVPN says it does not keep online activity logs or browsing activity tied to an account. It may retain an email address, username and transaction or order information for account and refund purposes, and says that information can be deleted with the account.

Surfshark says it does not retain IP addresses, browsing history, session information, bandwidth, connection timestamps or network traffic. Its account records can include an email address, encrypted password, billing information and order history. Personal data may remain while needed or when legal obligations apply.

ExpressVPN says it does not retain browsing history, traffic destination, content, DNS queries, originating IP or assigned VPN IP. It also says it keeps limited service information that cannot connect a person to specific activity.

Proton VPN says it does not retain visited websites, traffic content, IP address, session length, location-based information or VPN session data. Account information and maintenance data are handled separately. Proton also says its servers are encrypted.

Private Internet Access says it does not retain browsing history, connected content, user IP, connection timestamps, bandwidth or DNS queries. Payment and service-level identifiers may be handled by payment and support partners. CyberGhost similarly separates account, billing and support information from VPN activity under its stated policy.

Mullvad says it does not retain traffic, DNS requests, connection timestamps, IP addresses, bandwidth or account activity logs. It does retain some aggregated server metrics, web-server access logs without IP addresses for up to five minutes and certain payment records for statutory periods.

Read the current privacy policy before creating an account. If a category matters to you, ask support how long it is kept and who receives it.

What do court requests and server seizures prove?

Legal events provide real-world context, but they are not substitutes for an audit. A subpoena or server seizure shows what was available in a particular event, not what every server or system held during every period.

Proton VPN says a 2019 Swiss legal case sought logs identifying a user and that it could not provide those logs because they did not exist. Proton’s 2026 transparency report says it received 458 legally binding Swiss orders since launch and denied all 458 because it lacked the requested identifying connection data.

Private Internet Access says its no-logs position was tested in U.S. court proceedings in 2016 and 2017, where it could not produce browsing records. Its current transparency report lists legal requests and zero logs produced, including Q3 2026 data.

Both accounts are the providers’ own. The audit remains the better place to understand the systems and controls assessed at a defined date.

What does a no-logs audit not protect you from?

A no-logs audit does not make a VPN anonymous or stop tracking. Websites can still identify you through accounts, cookies, tracking pixels, browser fingerprints and information you enter yourself. A VPN changes the IP address a destination sees and encrypts the connection to the VPN server, but it does not remove your account history.

Streaming platforms may detect and block VPN addresses. If Netflix shows a proxy message, work through the Netflix proxy error fixes. The result can change by server, platform and date, so treat streaming access as a dated observation rather than a permanent feature.

A VPN also works alongside operating system updates, account security, phishing protection and careful browsing. It does not fix a stolen password, malicious download or unsafe account recovery setup. For account security that works independently of a VPN, consider a hardware security key such as a YubiKey.

After installation, enable the kill switch and check how it affects local-network access and split tunneling. A kill switch can interrupt internet access when the VPN disconnects. Proton documents macOS and iOS cases where some Apple DNS requests can bypass the tunnel and where local-network access is unavailable with the kill switch.

Install the provider’s app on supported phones and computers, then check the device’s VPN permission prompt. For an Android setup issue, use the Android VPN permission fixes. Fire Stick, smart TV, PS5 and Xbox setups may require an app, router connection or shared connection, so confirm the operating system and available app before paying.

What will you pay, and when does the price renew?

U.S. dollar prices, checked November 12, 2026. Bonus months are separate from paid time. Before paying, compare the exact plan selected at checkout, including taxes, bonus months, upfront amount, effective monthly figure and renewal terms.

Proton VPN Free is a free plan, not a free trial. CyberGhost has no free trial but provides paid refund windows. A money-back guarantee is different from both, because you pay first and request the money back within the stated period.

Confirm whether the purchase is direct or through Apple, Google Play, Amazon or another reseller, because refund handling can follow the store’s rules.

For a closer comparison of monthly and yearly billing, use VPN monthly versus yearly prices. If you decide to cancel later, check the relevant provider’s refund policy and purchase channel before submitting the request.

What legal and terms checks should you make before connecting?

VPN use does not override local law or the terms of a service you use. The law that applies is the law where you are, along with the provider’s terms and the terms of the website, streaming service or network you access.

A VPN does not authorize fraud, copyright infringement, unauthorized access, harassment or other unlawful conduct.

Rules around VPN use and censorship differ by country. Before using a VPN for a restricted service, check the relevant government or regulator source for the country where you will use it, then read the service’s current terms.

A router can cover devices that lack a VPN app, but it changes the network for everyone connected to it and may have fewer controls. Use VPN on a router versus individual devices to choose the arrangement that fits your home.

Frequently asked questions

The short answers below separate the audit question from the wider privacy, price and setup questions that usually follow it.

Which VPN has an independently audited no-logs policy?

NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access and CyberGhost publish independent no-logs or no-logging assurance material. Mullvad publishes a no-activity-logging policy and public security assessments, but its recent reports are not presented as dedicated no-logs-policy assurance reports.

What does no logs policy VPN mean?

It means the provider says it does not retain specified VPN activity records, such as browsing destinations, DNS queries, traffic content, connection timestamps, IP addresses or session duration. The exact promise varies, and account, billing, support, website and diagnostic data may still exist.

Is NordVPN a no-log VPN?

NordVPN says it operates a zero-logs policy. Deloitte Audit Lithuania’s sixth assessment covered standard VPN, Double VPN, obfuscated and Onion Over VPN servers from November 10 to December 12, 2025, but the assessment applies to its stated systems and period.

Is there a free VPN with an audited no-logs policy?

Proton VPN offers a free plan with one device, no advertisements, no data limit and Proton’s stated no-activity-logging policy. Proton says its Securitum audit program covers VPN infrastructure for free and paid subscription tiers.

Does a no-logs audit make a VPN anonymous?

No. A VPN can encrypt the device-to-server connection and change the IP address a website sees, but accounts, cookies, tracking pixels, browser fingerprints and information entered into websites can still identify you.

Is a free plan the same as a free trial?

No. A free plan needs no paid subscription. A free trial gives temporary access under trial rules, while a money-back guarantee requires payment first and a refund request within the stated window.

Can a VPN protect every device in the house?

It can cover more devices through individual apps or a VPN-enabled router. Device limits vary, and some TVs, streaming sticks and consoles may need a router or shared connection instead of a native app.

What should I save before buying a VPN?

Save the plan name, billing interval, amount due upfront, effective monthly figure, renewal price, bonus months, taxes and refund window. Also record whether you bought directly or through an app store or reseller.

Can streaming services block a VPN?

Yes. Streaming platforms may detect and block VPN addresses, and access can change by platform, server and date. A VPN cannot guarantee access to a particular catalog or service.

What should I check after installing a VPN?

Enable the kill switch, confirm the VPN permission, check for DNS leaks and test whether local-network devices still work. Also check whether split tunneling changes which apps use the VPN connection.

Does a legal request prove a VPN never logs?

No. A legal request or server seizure shows what was available during a particular event. It does not prove that every server, system or later configuration has the same logging behavior.

The next step is to compare the latest audit scope for the providers that support your device, then read the current privacy policy and checkout terms. If Proton’s free plan fits one device, it is the clearest no-cost starting point. If you need broader device support, compare the paid plan’s renewal terms before connecting.

Glossary

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