Post actualizado el día octubre 24, 2026 by DeiviSanzPlay
Before hitting the install button: 12 checks
Installing a VPN seems trivial: you download it, log in, and connect. However, most of the problems that reach technical support (DNS leaks, accounts blocked on streaming, conflicts with the university or company corporate client) would have been avoided with a five-minute review beforehand. This is the list worth going over before choosing between a free service and a paid one.
1. Define what you need it for (and what it does NOT solve)
A VPN encrypts the traffic between your device and the provider’s server. It does not replace an antivirus, it does not eliminate cookie tracking, and it does not make you anonymous to a logged-in Google or Instagram account. If the goal is to watch a geo-blocked series, the list is short; if it is to work with sensitive data, it changes completely.
- Just privacy on public wifi: any decent service will do.
- Access to the university network (UCM, UPM) or the company network: you need the specific client, such as GlobalProtect, not a commercial VPN.
- Getting around geographic restrictions on video platforms: this is where many VPNs fail, and it is worth checking the specific case before paying.
2. Check whether your network already blocks VPNs
On corporate networks, in hotels, and on some campuses, the usual ports are closed. A detail you only learn by using the service: if you connect with the OpenVPN protocol over UDP and the connection stays on «connecting,» try switching to TCP or to an obfuscated protocol. Tools like NordVPN, Surfshark, or Proton VPN include camouflage modes, but performance drops noticeably.
3. Review the actual logging policy, not the slogan
«No logs» is a marketing promise until it is audited. Check whether the provider has subjected its infrastructure to independent audits and whether its headquarters are in a jurisdiction with data retention obligations. Mullvad, for example, does not even ask for an email address; other free services cover their costs with advertising or by selling aggregated data.
4. Distinguish between «free» and «free with limits»
Proton VPN Free does not limit data but reduces servers and speed; other free apps in the iPhone and Android stores limit you to a few hundred megabytes a day or show ads. If you are going to use the VPN intensively, the free version stops being a realistic option.
5. Check for leaks after connecting
With the VPN active, check with a leak test whether your real IP address and your DNS are still visible. It is the most common failure in browser extensions: the Chrome or Firefox extension protects only the browser’s traffic, not that of other applications. If you use Opera with its built-in VPN, be clear that it is a limited proxy, not a full VPN.
6. Compatibility with your device and system
- iPhone: check that the app is in your country’s App Store; some only appear by changing region.
- Windows PC: check that the client does not conflict with the firewall or with Kaspersky and its network module.
- Router: only some models allow you to configure the client; in that case the whole house is covered.
7. The case of institutional access
If you study or work and need to access internal resources, the university VPN (UCM, UPM) or the company’s GlobalProtect client cannot be replaced by CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, or similar. They are different tunnels with different purposes; mixing them usually causes authentication errors.
8. Speed test before paying for the year
Sign up for the monthly plan first, measure the speed with and without the VPN on your actual connection, and then decide. The «fast servers» in marketing refer to laboratory optimums; on a home fiber connection, the difference between providers can be tens of Mbps.
9. Payment methods and privacy
If privacy is the main reason, consider paying with cash or cryptocurrencies. Not all providers allow it, and some require a card, which links the account to your identity.
10. Extension versus full app
The browser extension is convenient for everyday use, but it does not cover desktop applications or system traffic. For serious use, the desktop or mobile app is the right option.
11. Support and cancellation
Check whether there is a money-back guarantee, how the subscription is canceled, and whether support responds in your language. A service that does not allow online cancellation is a red flag.
12. Test it in the real world for a week
No list replaces experience: use the VPN with your bank, with your streaming platform, and with the office network. If something fails, document the error and contact support before the refund period expires. That real-world test is what reveals whether the service fits the way you browse.
