5 Common VPN Myths Debunked: What UK Users Should Know

VPNs have gone from niche tools used primarily by IT professionals to mainstream software installed on millions of devices across the United Kingdom. With that surge in popularity has come a corresponding surge in misinformation. Marketing claims, forum posts, and social media hot takes have created a landscape where many people hold beliefs about VPNs that are simply not true.

In this article, we tackle the five most common VPN myths head-on and replace them with the facts. Whether you are considering your first VPN subscription or have been using one for years, understanding what a VPN can and cannot do is essential for making good decisions about your online security. For honest, data-driven comparisons of VPN providers, visit our free VPN comparison tool.

Myth 1: A VPN Makes You Completely Anonymous Online

This is perhaps the most pervasive and dangerous VPN myth. Many VPN providers contribute to it with marketing that implies their service makes you invisible on the internet. The reality is far more nuanced.

A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address. This is genuinely useful — it prevents your ISP from seeing which websites you visit, and it stops websites from easily identifying your real IP address and location. However, a VPN does not make you anonymous. There are many other ways you can be identified and tracked online.

If you are logged into Google, Facebook, Amazon, or any other online account, those companies know exactly who you are regardless of whether you are using a VPN. Cookies stored in your browser can track you across websites. Browser fingerprinting — a technique that identifies your device based on its unique combination of software, hardware, and settings — can follow you even if you change your IP address. Payment methods, typing patterns, and even the times at which you are typically active online can all contribute to identifying you.

A VPN is a powerful privacy tool, but it is one layer in what should be a multi-layered approach to online privacy. Use it alongside a privacy-focused browser like Firefox or Brave, install an ad blocker, regularly clear your cookies, and be mindful of which accounts you are signed into. Providers like NordVPN and Surfshark include built-in ad and tracker blockers that add an additional layer of protection, but these are supplements to good privacy habits, not replacements for them.

Myth 2: Free VPNs Are Just as Good as Paid Ones

We understand the appeal of getting something for nothing, but this myth could genuinely put your privacy at risk. The vast majority of free VPNs are not only worse than paid alternatives — they are actively harmful.

Running a VPN service requires expensive server infrastructure, bandwidth, and engineering talent. Free VPN providers need to fund these costs somehow, and their methods often include logging and selling your browsing data, injecting advertisements into your web traffic, or using your device's bandwidth as part of a commercial proxy network. Multiple studies have found malware embedded in popular free VPN apps.

There are a handful of genuinely trustworthy free VPNs — Proton VPN's free tier is the standout example, backed by a reputable company with a verified no-logs policy. Windscribe also offers a reasonable free plan with 10 GB of monthly data. But these are exceptions funded by the companies' paid subscribers, not the norm.

Even the best free VPNs come with significant limitations: slower speeds, fewer servers, data caps, and restricted features. If you need a VPN for regular use, a budget-friendly paid option like Surfshark — which costs less than a cup of coffee per month on a long-term plan — will provide a dramatically better experience.

Myth 3: VPNs Slow Your Internet Down to a Crawl

This myth was arguably true a decade ago, but it is wildly outdated in 2026. Early VPN protocols were computationally expensive and could reduce your internet speed by 50 per cent or more. Modern protocols like WireGuard have changed the game entirely.

In our February 2026 speed tests from a UK connection, the fastest VPN providers retained over 75 per cent of base connection speed on local servers. On a typical 100 Mbps UK broadband connection, that means you would still get 75 Mbps or more — far beyond what is needed for 4K streaming, video calls, online gaming, or anything else the average user does. Even on international connections, top providers like NordVPN and ExpressVPN deliver speeds that most users would struggle to distinguish from an unprotected connection.

If you are experiencing significant slowdowns with a VPN, the culprit is usually one of three things: you are using an outdated protocol like PPTP or L2TP, you are connected to a server far from your physical location, or your VPN provider has overcrowded servers. Switching to WireGuard, connecting to a closer server, or choosing a higher-quality provider will typically resolve the issue.

Myth 4: You Only Need a VPN on Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi security is frequently cited as the primary reason to use a VPN, and it is certainly a valid one. Unsecured public networks in cafes, airports, and hotels can expose your data to interception by malicious actors on the same network. A VPN encrypts your traffic and eliminates this risk entirely.

However, the idea that you only need a VPN on public Wi-Fi overlooks the many other reasons to use one at home. In the United Kingdom, the Investigatory Powers Act requires your ISP to log every website you visit and store those records for twelve months. This data can be accessed by over 40 government agencies. Using a VPN on your home network prevents your ISP from building this log of your online activity.

Beyond government surveillance, your ISP may throttle your connection based on your activity. If it detects you are streaming video or downloading large files, it might reduce your speed to manage network congestion. A VPN hides the nature of your traffic, preventing this kind of targeted throttling. Some UK users have reported noticeable speed improvements when streaming through a VPN for this reason.

There are also practical benefits to using a VPN at home. You can access geo-restricted content from other countries, get better prices on flights and services by changing your virtual location, and protect all of your smart home devices by running the VPN on your router. A VPN is a tool for everyday use, not just an emergency measure for dodgy airport Wi-Fi.

Myth 5: All VPNs Are Basically the Same

This could not be further from the truth. The VPN market ranges from world-class providers with thousands of servers, independently audited security practices, and years of proven reliability, to fly-by-night operations with questionable ownership, no transparency, and a track record of data breaches.

There are real and meaningful differences between providers. Speed varies dramatically — our tests show a spread of over 200 Mbps between the fastest and slowest mainstream providers on UK servers. Security practices differ as well: some providers have undergone multiple independent audits, while others have never been audited at all. Server networks range from a few hundred servers in a handful of countries to thousands of servers spanning the globe. Feature sets vary too — some providers offer advanced tools like multi-hop connections, dedicated IP addresses, and built-in ad blockers, while others provide only basic functionality.

Jurisdiction is another critical differentiator. A provider based in Panama, like NordVPN, operates under very different legal obligations than one based in the United States or the United Kingdom. Streaming compatibility also varies significantly — some VPNs reliably unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+, while others are blocked by these services entirely.

The bottom line is that choosing a VPN requires research, and the differences between providers are substantial. This is precisely why we built our free VPN comparison tool — to help UK users cut through the noise and compare providers based on the metrics that actually matter.

The Bottom Line

VPNs are powerful and valuable privacy tools, but they are not magic. Understanding what a VPN can and cannot do helps you use it effectively and set realistic expectations. A VPN will encrypt your traffic, mask your IP address, protect you on public networks, and prevent your ISP from logging your browsing activity. It will not make you completely anonymous, it will not protect you if you hand over your personal information voluntarily, and it is only as trustworthy as the company behind it.

Choose your provider carefully, use your VPN consistently, and combine it with other good privacy practices for the best results. Visit BestVPN UK for our honest, in-depth reviews and recommendations.