I don’t know about the rest, but I often see people praising ProtonVPN.
Despite the recent removal of port forwarding, Mullvad still stands as one of the best for privacy.
Skip free VPNs and go with trustworthy services like ProtonVPN or NordVPN. Ensure your provider consistently updates their IP pool, as streaming services commonly block these IPs.
I’m looking for the best VPN for 2024, and this forum discussion is very valuable. It’s essential to stay updated on new VPNs and their features. I’m considering a few options from what’s been shared here, but I’m still trying to find the perfect fit for me in 2024.
In reality, owning your VPN doesn’t offer many benefits. You’re still connected to the IP the traffic originates from. It’s great for getting past restricted networks or remote usage, but it’s poor for operational security unless you pump your traffic through another VPN. If you just want to catch out-of-market games, that’s another matter.
I’ve had NordVPN and Surfshark for several years. Although NordVPN is slightly faster than Surfshark, I’ve chosen Surfshark and have let my NordVPN subscription expire.
Mullvad is my go-to out of all the big names; I’ve stuck with it.
I’ve been a PIA customer for over a year; it works fine for me. I don’t heavily rely on a VPN, but it’s functional on my phone and Smart TV. I haven’t tried others, but as a casual user, I’m certain they would also work just fine.
I’ve used Nord without issues for years.
Just recently started with AirVPN since I need port forwarding; so far, it’s working very well. It’s also been excellent for streaming 4k media in Stremio, which surprised me!
Windscribe is excellent. Their emails provide a very personal touch. 
If you’re searching for the top VPN, I’d advise going with NordVPN. They may often receive criticism for their marketing, but their service provides the most value. I won’t go into extensive detail on features; just try the free trial to see what you think.
I’ve been with PIA for a year now; it suits me just fine. I don’t lean on it heavily, but it performs well for my phone and Smart TV. I haven’t sampled other VPNs, but being a casual user means I’d trust they’ll be decent.