Should You Use A VPN Or Private/ Incognito Mode

July 23, 2025 By Johan Curtis No Comments 5 minutes

Should you use private/incognito mode or a VPN? Private mode and virtual private networks (VPNs) are tools that help make your time online more private, to put it simply. A lot of people spend time online. Doesn’t matter if you’re a gamer, social media addict, or someone who bets with one of the betting sites; you would have heard about private mode and VPNs. Even if you’ve used one of these tools before, not everyone knows the difference between the two or when to use a VPN instead of private mode, or the other way around.  

NOTE: A private/incognito mode can still let Wi-Fi owners know what sites you visited and how much time you spent on those sites. The best way to browse online and let no one know about your digital trace is by connecting to a premium VPN like FastestVPN!

Private mode, or incognito mode, depending on your browser, is often easy to find and doesn’t require a download. You can access private mode with two clicks, just head to the menu at the top right of your browser and look for the private or incognito window. VPNs need to be downloaded, but Windows does provide a built-in VPN.

What is the difference between a VPN and private mode? 

As stated earlier, using private mode or a VPN online will provide more privacy. Anyone looking to store private information or research a topic privately will benefit from using private mode or a VPN, especially if you don’t expect another person to access your PC in the future.  

Private Mode

A private window doesn’t have as many functions as a VPN. You don’t have to worry about someone looking through your search history with a private window because private windows don’t save your browsing information. They also give you the ability to download files without them showing up in the downloads library the next time that you open a new window. You’re protected from third-party cookies and content trackers with Firefox’s private window.

VPNs

VPNs do a bit more. A VPN will let users search the internet with a new IP address, opening a world of possibilities. Internet service providers use IP addresses to log and track browsing history. According to Microsoft, routing to a remote VPN server masks IP addresses, prevents tracking from internet service providers, and keeps personal data private.  

VPNs have even more to offer. If you’re someone who is into streaming movies and TV shows, a VPN will give you access to regional movies and shows that are available outside of your region on a streaming service. A VPN will also let users access social media accounts that are restricted to a specific location and more. The VPN will let you see pages on the internet that you never had access to before.  

VPNs are valuable for people who want to work on a public network. Work emails, payment details, and other sensitive data can be tracked online, and even more so on a public network. According to Microsoft, a VPN connection scrambles your data into code and makes it unreadable without an encryption key.  

How to Choose the Right VPN for Online Betting?

Finding a VPN isn’t as quick and simple as opening a private window. For anyone looking to bet online safely—especially while traveling, using public Wi-Fi, or trying to access sportsbooks restricted in their region—choosing a reliable VPN is essential. Bettors often use VPNs to maintain access to their favorite platforms while abroad, compare odds across international sportsbooks, or avoid being blocked by local regulations. A good VPN can also help bypass ISP throttling and maintain fast, stable connections during live betting sessions. Premium services like FastestVPN are available for download in the Chrome Web Store, Google Play Store, and Apple App Store—right alongside some of the best apps for sports betting that cater to both casual and serious users. There are a ton of VPNs to choose from, each offering different levels of privacy, speed, and server access. Some come with both free and paid versions, but it’s worth noting that free VPNs typically offer limited features. For example, a free plan may allow access to only 3–4 server locations, while paid plans can unlock more than 40 countries, including Australia, Germany, Croatia, Switzerland, and others—an important factor for users trying to access betting platforms available only in specific regions. Paid VPNs also tend to provide faster connection speeds, stronger encryption, and greater reliability—critical features when placing live bets or streaming matches through the best betting apps. Investing in a trusted VPN ensures your connection remains secure, your data stays private, and you enjoy unrestricted access to the full range of betting features and promotions.

Conclusion

If you’re trying to decide on a VPN to download, there are plenty of VPNs. For those who haven’t used one before, a solid place to start looking for a VPN is the Google Play Store. The store has a huge selection. You will find information about each VPN that will help make your decision a little easier. 

You can look at the ratings and comments to get a sense of how the tool has worked for other people who downloaded it. Maybe even look at the number of downloads and then pick one of the most popular VPN. Don’t care about the comments and how other people have rated them? Test some of them for yourself. A VPN usually doesn’t take much time to download. 

However, the best way to choose a VPN is to pick the one that is tried and tested by millions of people worldwide. Check out FastestVPN and avail the best offers while you can!