How to Choose a VPN Based on What You Actually Do Online

June 27, 2025 By Johan Curtis No Comments 7 minutes

Approximately one-third of internet users worldwide use a VPN (virtual private network). At almost 1.75 billion people, this remarkable statistic highlights not only the popularity of VPNs in modern internet usage but also tells the story of millions of unique use cases.

Despite each person using a VPN for a specific reason, VPN providers offer little information about the use cases for which their product is best suited. Instead, they offer long technical spec sheets with plenty of information that, in many cases, is not particularly useful to most customers. 

This is either because the tech sheets use technical terms that go over most people’s heads or because they are simply too long for customers to read in their entirety.

An Endless Number of VPN Use Cases

Considering the endless number of VPN use cases, from working securely to streaming videos and accessing other forms of online entertainment like gambling, the failure of developers to highlight these uses in their marketing might seem almost unforgivable. 

This failure is more apparent when it leaves those looking for a VPN clueless about which is best for their unique use case. However, there are legal reasons why VPN providers don’t explicitly cover all these use cases. Pleading ignorance, therefore, washes their hands somewhat clean.

To help fill in the blanks, this article will examine some of the most common use cases for a VPN and identify its key requirements.

For Streaming and Geo-Unblocking

One of the main reasons people use a VPN is to find ways around geo-blocking enforced on primary streaming services. 

These include streaming from providers like:

• Netflix 
• Hulu
• Disney+
• BBC iPlayer
• Apple TV

Each streaming provider uses geo-fencing technology to ensure that only those within a region have access to content tailored for their region. Although many think this is simply to provide more content to areas where the provider is more popular, that isn’t the case.

For the most part, streaming providers limit access to specific content based on location due to restrictions on the license the provider has to stream it. If a license only allows for disseminating a particular show or movie in one region, all other territories will be blocked from accessing it.

This short explainer breaks down how geo-fencing works and how VPNs can bypass it in simple terms:

Despite advanced geo-fencing technology, VPNs are still a tried and proven method of circumventing these blocks and unblocking content reserved for specific regions. As such, using VPNs for this purpose is popular, with estimates claiming that between 22% and 26% of VPN users use them for geo-unblocking.

Although it depends on where you are, providers like NordVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN have consistently been considered the best options for bypassing geographical restrictions when streaming content online.

For Remote Work and Public Wi-Fi

Another popular use case, particularly since 2020, has been using VPNs to facilitate working from home, while travelling, or from public spaces like coffee shops, where a connection to public Wi-Fi is often used. In all these instances, especially when connecting to company servers, security is of paramount concern.

VPNs encrypt all user data as it travels across the internet, making remote work more secure, even when conducted across public networks. By utilizing encryption methods and filtering all data through the VPN server, workers who do not have access to their company’s physical network can still work as though they do.

Many VPNs provide encryption and safety features to keep your connection and data secure. These include kill switches that immediately terminate your connection if any strange activity is detected. 

Although the VPN you can use for remote work is often dictated by your company’s IT department, FastestVPN is known in the industry for its incredible security and reliability in providing quick, secure access to remote work environments.

For Torrenting and File Sharing

Despite the common belief that torrents and file-sharing services are only used to distribute illegal or pirated content, these methods are also actively used for legitimate purposes. This is because they provide a quick and easy way to transfer large quantities of information. 

Even if the information shared via these services is legitimate data, many users still prefer to have their identities masked and like having a more direct connection to the servers seeding the data.

As such, VPNs are often used when torrenting files or sharing data over the internet. This is due to features like:

• No-log policies, which ensure that no record of the transfer is kept
• Split tunneling, which allows regular work to continue on an unsecured network while torrents download
• P2P support, which allows secure peer-to-peer connections and sharing

Moreover, many use VPNs because of their ability to mask their identity. Because all traffic is directed through the VPN server, this server (and its IP address) is visible to anyone trying to trace the connection. Therefore, it is significantly more challenging to determine who is accessing a torrent or file-sharing website if a VPN is being used.

For Online Gaming and Exploring New Entertainment Platforms

Although many believe that VPNs slow internet traffic, some actually do the opposite. These VPNs often place greater priority on features like speed and latency. They also commonly have a significant number of servers worldwide, meaning that users anywhere can find a nearby one to connect to.

Even though speed is a priority for these VPNs, security is not left behind. With enhancements to ensure the fastest data throughput, these VPNs feature the same renowned encryption standards and other security features that other VPNs offer.

As such, any in-game transactions you may make are covered with an extra layer of security. Personal communications, such as in-game chat, are also encrypted and secured. 

These features are also a priority for those who are exploring new ways to find entertainment online, like those trying out the best new online casinos in New Zealand. Accessing the latest iGaming platforms and games requires not only a secure connection but also fast speeds that ensure you don’t lose connectivity, which may void and reject your wager. 

Aside from the speed and privacy benefits when exploring new entertainment means, like with streaming, VPNs also offer backdoor access to casino and other gambling sites that may be geo-fenced. This means you’ll be able to enjoy more gaming options and even more anonymity if you prefer.

For Privacy-First Browsing

The final everyday use case for VPNs is for those who want to evade the ever-increasing scrutiny of governments, software developers, and social platforms. With 63% of VPN users in the US claiming they were using it for privacy, VPNs provide a way to browse the internet while ensuring the content you view remains private.

VPNs that are best for privacy-first browsing use features like ad blocking, blocking tracking, and surveillance monitoring alongside significantly more advanced options.

Some of the most common advanced features include:

• Multi-hop: which sends your data through multiple servers.
• RAM-only servers: which lose all data as soon as they are reset.
• Anonymous payments: which work to protect your identity even when purchasing services or products online.

Conclusion

Although VPN marketing highlights the features of each product, selecting the right VPN for you often has less to do with a technical spec sheet and more to do with what you do online and what you need the VPN for. Therefore, it is always best to select a VPN based on your digital lifestyle rather than on which VPN has the most eye-catching marketing.

Focusing on what you need it for will ensure you purchase a premium VPN that will work precisely how you want and need it to. FastestVPN not just offers the most budget-friendly packages, but it also provides value-for-money with industry-standard protocols and features. Take your online presence seriously today!