5 Characteristics of an Easy-to-Use VPN Service

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August 5, 2012

When searching for a VPN service, it is easy to focus only on the features and details related to the technology behind it.  While everyone using a VPN places an emphasis on gaining a secure, encrypted connection to the VPN server, this won’t do any good if the service is difficult to use.  This is especially true for users who are choosing a service for the first time.  Fortunately, there are a handful of characteristics which are easy to discover and provide immense insight into the ease-of-use of the service.1.  The Sign-Up and Payment Process

The easier signing up and paying for a USA or Netherlands VPN is, the more satisfying the overall service will be.  Nothing is worse than having problems with a service which is completely unrelated to the hardware and software.  Encountering problems during the sign-up or payment phase is not only a headache, but an unnecessary frustration.  One of the biggest issues during this phase is the payment processor.  The more payment options a user has, the easier it will be to find one that works for them.

2.  Customer Support Availability

The easiest factor to overlook is the quality and availability of customer support.  Ideally, customer support is never needed by anyone, however this is not realistic.  For many people, poor customer service is a deal-breaker.  VPN services which place a high priority on customer support inherently place a high value on their customers.  When comparing the availability, both the available contact times and contact methods should be considered.

3.  The Software

For someone using a VPN on a daily basis, the software is the source of the primary interaction.  When looking at the software provided by a VPN service, the user must consider both the initial setup and day-to-day use.  Along with basic software functionality, there are a number of additional features which simplify the user’s experience such as an IP checking tool or server selection tool.

4.  Available VPN Protocols

For a VPN service to be easy-to-use, they must offer multiple protocols to their users.  There are a variety of protocols available emphasizing factors such as privacy, security, and connection speed.  It is important that the service provides a protocol compatible with the user’s priorities, preferences and devices.  The protocol dictates how the user’s device and server interact, which means it will play a large role in the day-to-day satisfaction level of anyone using the service.

5.  Compatibility with All Devices

If a VPN is truly easy use, it will be compatible with all of the operating systems and devices the customer uses.  There are a number of services which focus exclusively on a certain type of VPN – such as desktop computer VPNs.  While these services do one thing particularly well, their customers must go elsewhere for their other devices.  By choosing an easy-to-use VPN service, a customer will be able to easily integrate and use all of their devices from any location.

At a glance, it can be difficult to determine how easy any particular service will be to implement and use on a daily basis.  Fortunately, by focusing on specific characteristics it becomes clear which VPN services are truly easy to use and which ones are more likely to leave their customers unsatisfied.

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