Latest News

The most recent iPad Pro is a beast of a tablet thanks to its M2 processor, gorgeous display and optional 5G. If you want to take full advantage of its powerful hardware and use it for more than just scrolling through social media, you should invest in a proper case with a built-in keyboard. Adding a keyboard to your iPad Pro helps it feel more like a real laptop, and makes it a great tool for typing up emails, essays and more while you’re on the go. So read on if you’re on the hunt for the best iPad Pro keyboard cases on the market right now.

Keyboard cases for the iPad Pro add a lot to the picture, especially with a trackpad. Cases that have both a keyboard and a trackpad really feel like they help the iPad transform into a laptop. Granted, the OS is different. But Apple’s support for keyboard shortcuts and multitouch trackpad gestures work really well on iPadOS. In 2020, I compared options. Now, I’m doing the same.

Apple has its own fancy and expensive Magic Keyboard case. Two other manufacturers are also worth noting: Logitech makes a keyboard-detachable case with a kickstand that’s perfect for Zoom/FaceTime calls using that new zoom-in Center Stage camera, while Brydge has a new case with an extremely large trackpad and a design that feels closest to laptop-like.

They all have their advantages, and all work well, but I still prefer Apple’s Magic Keyboard for its size/performance over the others. I tested all of these on the 12.9-inch 2021 iPad Pro, which isn’t compatible with many older accessories because of its slightly thicker size. The smaller 11-inch Pro works with any 11-inch iPad Pro accessories going back to the 2018 model, and also cases for the 2020 iPad Air. Prices below are for the 12.9-inch keyboard version.

Scott Stein/CNET

Apple Magic Keyboard

Best compact option

Pros: Compact design. Easy to attach and detach. Bonus passthrough USB-C charge port. Somewhat lap-friendly.

Cons: Expensive. Limited viewing angles. Lacks dedicated function keys.

Apple’s keyboard, originally released last year, offers a comfortable typing experience. The keys, especially on the 12.9-inch, are well-spaced and feel just like typing on a MacBook. It hasn’t changed much since last year, but new 12.9-inch cases are sized up a tiny bit to fit the new Pro’s slightly thicker dimensions.

I’ve gotten really used to the design of this Magic Keyboard, and it’s well-sized to fit on smaller desks or on a lap in a pinch. But there are drawbacks. The adjustable-angle magnetic top cover doesn’t bend back as much as a normal laptop. The case’s rigid design also makes it nearly useless as a tablet case for sketching with a Pencil. The case doesn’t offer much protection, exposing the tablet sides and detaching easily on falls. There aren’t any dedicated function keys like the MacBook Air (and other iPad cases) have. The lack of volume/play/pause/screen brightness adjustments keys is a letdown.

The side USB-C passthrough is helpful because it adds an extra charge port while using the side Thunderbolt port for other dongles. The case runs off the iPad Pro’s power. It’s made of a soft material that can get scuffed up, and occasionally can get torn or dented depending on how you use it.

$349 at Apple

Scott Stein/CNET

Brydge 12.9 Max Plus

Most like a laptop

Pros: Tremendous-size trackpad. Dedicated function keys. Improved design has a magnetic back to easily attach to the iPad Pro. Very lap-friendly. Bends back for wide viewing angles.

Cons: Needs to connect via Bluetooth.

Brydge’s latest premium keyboard case for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, coming in mid-June, makes a big leap over previous Brydge keyboards. The redesigned bluetooth keyboard has more travel in its keys than Logitech’s or Apple’s keyboards (more like the 2015 MacBook Pro used to have way back). There’s also a tremendous multitouch trackpad that’s bigger than the one on the MacBook Air, which works very smoothly with multitouch gestures on iPadOS. But this iPad keyboard is also more expensive than existing Brydge accessories. Still, it costs $100 less than the Magic Keyboard.

A snap-on magnetic back cover gives a little more protection than older Brydge keyboards, and it’s also a lot easier to attach/remove the iPad, but that also means that the iPad can’t bend back at quite as wide an angle as before. Still, this is easily the most laptop-friendly iPad Pro keyboard case around, and really makes the whole thing feel shockingly like a MacBook Air.

The Bluetooth connectivity is easier and more instantaneous than before, but it’s not perfect. Sometimes I found the connection dropped out (as happens with Bluetooth), and sometimes, rarely, the trackpad gestures seemed a little skittish.

$220 at Amazon

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for Brydge 12.9 Max Plus

Scott Stein/CNET

Logitech Combo Touch for iPad Pro

Best keyboard that also doubles as a normal iPad case

Pros: iPad case can be removed from the keyboard and used on its own with a kickstand. Comes with an extra row of function-based keys that the Magic Keyboard lacks. This iPad keyboard is more affordable than Apple or Brydge’s top-end new cases. Case offers solid protection.

Cons: Needs a lot of table space for the rear stand and keyboard base. Needs a stable flat surface to use (isn’t good for laps). Keyboard needs to be connected to a case to use (runs off Smart Connector power).

Logitech’s latest iPad Pro keyboard case is a Pro-sized version of the company’s Combo Touch case available on smaller iPads. It works just as well: The detachable keyboard and trackpad are generous enough, although the trackpad is a lot smaller than the giant Brydge one. The extra row of function keys for volume, screen brightness, play/pause and other helpful shortcuts is really useful, much like it is on the Brydge keyboard. Apple’s Magic Keyboard lacks them.

I found the responsiveness of Logitech’s keyboard to be really good, but the design also means you’ll need to sit at a desk. Much like Microsoft’s Surface tablet keyboards, the bottom-connecting design won’t really work in a lap. The standalone case offers the best protection of any of these three: The rubberized sheath should help protect against bumps. The adjustable rear kickstand is helpful as a viewing stand for family Zooms, too. The more versatile design of the case means you can flip back (or remove) the keyboard for non-typing needs, like drawing with a Pencil or reading, without needing to pop it out of the case.

$180 at Amazon

$180 at Best Buy

$180 at Target

You’re receiving price alerts for Logitech Combo Touch for iPad Pro

Epic Games, the maker of the popular video game Fortnite, has reached an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission to change some default settings and to pay $520 million over allegations that it violated children’s privacy and used “design tricks” that caused players to make unwanted purchase, the FTC said Monday.

“Epic used privacy-invasive default settings and deceptive interfaces that tricked Fortnite users, including teenagers and children,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan in the statement about the agreement.

Epic Games will pay a $275 million penalty for child privacy violations, the largest ever fine paid by a company for breaking FTC rules. The FTC said that Epic Games collected personal information from children under the age of 13 without the consent of their parents in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and that, by setting voice and text communications on by default, the game opened children and teens to bullying and harassment from strangers. Epic Games has also agreed to set voice and text communications off by default.

Sen. Edward Markey, a Democrat of Massachusetts and author of COPPA, applauded the FTC’s agreement in an emailed press release and called on Congress to take further action to protect kids and teens online.

“Without immediate action to thwart the pernicious threats facing young people, we will fail to safeguard them in the face of a generation-defining mental health and privacy crisis,” he said. In May 2022, the FTC adopted a new policy prioritizing enforcement of the COPPA.

The other portion, $245 million, will be used by the FTC to refund consumers who were unfairly charged for in-game purchases. It’s the largest refund amount in an FTC gaming case. The FTC called out how Epic enticed players to make unwanted purchases and its failure to require confirmation of purchases, which allowed children and teens to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of in-game merchandise before parents knew their cards had been charged.

In a statement posted to Epic Games’ website, the company accepted the decision and called on the gaming industry to adopt practices that better reflect today’s gaming environment, saying, “No developer creates a game with the intention of ending up here.”

“Statutes written decades ago don’t specify how gaming ecosystems should operate. The laws have not changed, but their application has evolved and long-standing industry practices are no longer enough. We accepted this agreement because we want Epic to be at the forefront of consumer protection and provide the best experience for our players,” the post read.

The agreement is subject to a 30-day comment period. The FTC will disburse the $245 million for eligible customers.

Just about everyone has heard of or used Microsoft Office at some point in their life, but not everyone may own a copy of it on their own computer. There are some alternatives that work online and while that can help in a pinch, it’s not a great long-term solution. If you find yourself spending more time creating documents, sending emails and fixing up PowerPoints, you’re going to want to check this out.

You can ditch the subscription (with recurring charges) and snag a lifetime license of access to Microsoft’s Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher and Access for just $30 instead. That’s back at the lowest price we’ve ever seen, and a whopping 91% off the usual price of $349. However, this deal expires in just a few days, so be sure to get your order in soon.

The offer, from StackSocial, applies to both the Windows and Mac version of the software.

Microsoft

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 lifetime license: $30

Save 91%

This wildly popular offer for a Microsoft Office lifetime license is still available for $30. It’s available for both Mac and Windows, so be sure to grab the right one for the computer that you use regularly.

• Microsoft Office for Windows: $30
• Microsoft Office for Mac: $30

$30 at StackSocial (Windows)

$30 at StackSocial (Mac)

Now, you can always opt to use the free online version of Microsoft Office (which has far fewer features). But compared to the online Microsoft 365 subscription suite that costs $10 per month or $100 per year, this downloadable version is a phenomenal bargain.

While the price almost seems too good to be true, we tried it ourselves, and it worked like a charm. (The two big caveats: You get a single key — which only works on a single computer — and there’s no Microsoft OneDrive Cloud Storage included.) In fact, Stack has been offering a version of this deal since the beginning of 2022. But this lowest-ever price won’t last, so take the plunge while you can.

Between your laptop, phone, tablet, smartwatch, earbuds and other devices you use regularly, your desk or nightstand can quickly turn into a chaotic nest of charging cables. And if you’re tired of untangling cords every time you need to recharge, it may be time to upgrade your setup. Lamicall makes tons of stylish device stands to help you stay organized, and right now you can pick some up at a discount. Amazon is offering up to 63% off select Lamicall stands for phones, tablets and laptops, with prices starting at just $5 right now. There’s no set expiration for this sale, so get your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

Whether you just need a phone holder for your nightstand, or you’re looking to reorganize your entire desk, you’ll find everything you need for less at this sale. For just $5, $8 off the usual price, you can pick up this adjustable phone holder that has two height settings and folds up so you can take it on the go. There’s a version for tablets as well, which is on sale for $8. Or you can snag this handy gooseneck phone holder, which clamps on to your desk or countertop and has a 33.4-inch bendable arm that can hold your phone at any angle. It’s on sale for $20, saving you $10 compared to the usual price. And if you’re tired of straining your neck to look down at your laptop, you can pick up this laptop riser stand for $23, saving you $17. It’s designed for laptops between 10 and 17.3 inches, can swivel a full 360 degrees and holds your laptop at eye level, which reduces the strain on your neck and back.

The Mac Mini, along with the more mobile MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro, was one of the first Apple computers to ditch Intel silicon in favor of Apple’s impressive M1 processor. In the nearly two years since, it has received neither the M1 Pro update that the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro did last year nor the M2 update that the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro received earlier this year. While it’s overdue for a refresh, the Mac Mini remains Apple’s least expensive MacOS computer and is discounted at Amazon and B&H right now.

The baseline model of the M1-based Mac Mini costs $699 from Apple and features 8GB of RAM and a 256GB solid-state drive. The step-up model costs $899 from Apple and doubles the storage capacity to 512GB. You can save $100 on either model at Amazon and B&H right now. The $599 price for the baseline model is the lowest we’ve seen yet, while the step-up model at $799 is $50 higher than its all-time-low price.

One benefit of paying full price and buying the Mac Mini from Apple is you can customize the machine and add more RAM or a higher-capacity SSD, whereas the models sold on Amazon and other retailers are fixed configurations. And unlike in most other desktops, the Mac Mini’s RAM is not user-upgradable. Apple’s M1 system-on-a-chip integrates the CPU, GPU, RAM and other components for greater power and efficiency, but the downside of this integration is the lack of DIMM slots that would allow you to add additional RAM after purchase.

Apple’s student discounts and refurbs

It’s worth noting that the Apple Store offers students an educational discount, where you can save $50 on the price of a new Mac Mini. Some upgrades are discounted, too. For example, doubling the RAM to 16GB costs $180 with the student discount instead of the usual charge of $200.

Also at Apple, you might find a refurbished M1 Mac Mini. Apple has started selling refurbs of the M1 Mac Mini at its Certified Refurbished Mac page. You can usually find a refurbished M1 Mac Mini with a 256GB SSD for $589 with a $110 discount, or the step-up model with 512GB SSD for $759 with a $140 discount. Refurb inventory changes rapidly so you may not always find an M1 Mac Mini listed. It’s worth keeping an eye out, however, because you can lock in substantial savings. Apple refurbs are a great way to save some cash, and are often just as good as new.

Keep reading to see the best US prices currently available for Apple’s Mac Mini. We update this page regularly and give prices that are accurate at time of publication, but note that they fluctuate.

Note that “all-time” means the best price that we’ve seen at an Apple-authorized retailer in the product’s lifetime.

M1 Mac Mini with 256GB SSD: $599

Save $100 vs. Apple Store

The baseline Mac Mini features Apple’s new M1 chip, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It’s currently selling at the lowest price we’ve seen with its $100 discount.

$599 at Amazon

$599 at B&H

You’re receiving price alerts for Apple Mac Mini (Late 2020, 256GB)

Dan Ackerman/CNET

M1 Mac Mini with 512GB SSD: $799

Save $100 vs. Apple Store

The step-up Mac Mini bumps the storage up to 512GB, an increased capacity that most people will benefit from, as 512GB is about the smallest SSD we’d recommend for any desktop. You can save $100 on it right now at Amazon or B&H.

$799 at Amazon

$799 at B&H

You’re receiving price alerts for Apple Mac Mini (Late 2020, 256GB)

Now playing:Watch this:Hands-on with the entire new Apple Mac M1 lineup

9:02

Epic Games, the maker of the popular video game Fortnite, has reached an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission to change some default settings and to pay $520 million over allegations that it violated children’s privacy and used “design tricks” that caused players to make unwanted purchase, the FTC said Monday.

“Epic used privacy-invasive default settings and deceptive interfaces that tricked Fortnite users, including teenagers and children,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan in the statement about the agreement.

Epic Games will pay a $275 million penalty for privacy violations. The FTC said that Epic Games collected personal information from children under the age of 13 without the consent of their parents in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and that, by setting voice and text communications on by default, the game opened children and teens to bullying and harassment from strangers. Epic Games has also agreed to set voice and text communications off by default.

The other portion, $245 million, will be used by the FTC to refund consumers who were unfairly charged for in-game purchases. The FTC called out how Epic enticed players to make unwanted purchases and its failure to require confirmation of purchases, which allowed children and teens to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of in-game merchandise before parents knew their cards had been charged.

In a statement posted to Epic Games’ website, the company accepted the decision and called on the gaming industry to adopt practices that better reflect today’s gaming environment, saying, “No developer creates a game with the intention of ending up here.”

“Statutes written decades ago don’t specify how gaming ecosystems should operate. The laws have not changed, but their application has evolved and long-standing industry practices are no longer enough. We accepted this agreement because we want Epic to be at the forefront of consumer protection and provide the best experience for our players,” the post read.

The agreement is subject to a 30-day comment period. The FTC will disburse the $245 million for eligible customers.

A free VPN that doesn’t compromise on performance isn’t easy to find. Even the best free VPN typically limits the amount of data you can use, and it probably won’t be as fast as a premium service. But if you’re on a budget and you want to avoid shady free services that could be loaded with malware, there are a few solid VPN providers that stand up to our rigorous testing.

The idea of using a 100% free VPN might sound alluring, particularly if you have a limited budget and don’t want to cough up the cash for a monthly or yearly subscription fee. But as frequent security issues prove, using even the best free VPN comes with risks. That’s why it’s a safer bet to take advantage of the introductory versions or free trials available from our list of trusted VPN providers.

Yes, you read that right: If you absolutely must use a free VPN service, your safest bet is to test-drive a free trial or take advantage of a money-back guarantee on a trusted paid VPN service. When choosing a VPN service, quality and your online safety should always come before cost. It’s not worth it to settle for an unsafe free VPN just to save a few bucks every month. With that in mind, all of our top recommended VPN services offer either a free version of the paid service or a 30-day assessment period. Here are the best contenders we’ve found:

• NordVPN offers a risk-free 30-day trial period. It’s one of the best free VPN services to use for 30 days.
• ExpressVPN is our current Editors’ Choice VPN. While it doesn’t have a standard trial period, it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also currently has an offer for three months free with a one-year plan, or 15 months for the price of 12. However, there’s an exception: If you sign up for ExpressVPN by downloading the app on an Android or iOS device, you’ll be offered a seven-day free trial. But this only works in certain countries, including the US.
• If ExpressVPN isn’t in your budget, check out Surfshark’s $2.05 a month offer on its two-year plan.
• ProtonVPN offers a limited free version of its service (one device only, limited download speeds) as a way of giving people a free test drive of the product. It’s the one narrow exception to the “avoid free VPNs” rule (see below).

NordVPN

NordVPN

Security and speed with a 30-day guarantee

• Latest tests: No leaks detected, 13% speed loss in summer 2022 tests
• Network: 5,600-plus servers in 84 locations across 59 countries
• Jurisdiction: Panama
• Price: 6 simultaneous connections for $12 per month or $60 for a year (current discount: 3 months free). 2-year subscriptions available.

NordVPN is a die-hard heavy-hitter and one of the most recognized brands in the virtual private network field. Its two-year plan costs more than Surfshark but less than Express, and it has an enormous network that’s constantly getting faster and more secure. It’s also easily the most reliable and best freemium VPN we’ve tested. It offers private internet access so no one can steal your online date and or find your real IP address and server location.

While NordVPN doesn’t have an “official” free trial, it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. That means you can try it out for a full month and simply request a full refund before your 30 days is up. You just need to remember to cancel your account before your free trial period is over. The VPN provider also used to offer a seven-day free trial of its VPN app for all iOS and Android subscribers, but that offer is now currently limited to Android devices only.

Read our NordVPN review.

See at NordVPN

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

Editors’ Choice: Best overall VPN for privacy protection and speed

• Latest tests: No leaks detected, 2% speed loss in spring 2022 tests
• Network: 3,000-plus servers in 160 locations across 94 countries
• Jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands
• Price: 5 simultaneous connections for $13 per month, $60 for six months or $100 for a year (current discount: 3 months free). 2-year subscriptions available.

Thanks to its overall performance and impressive security, ExpressVPN is our current Editors’ Choice VPN. Like NordVPN, Express doesn’t have a standard trial period, but it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also currently has an offer for three months free, or 15 months for the price of 12.This is the best VPN for providing strong data protection through best-in-class encryption. However, there is one caveat: If you sign up for ExpressVPN by downloading the app on an iOS or Android device, you’ll be offered a seven-day free trial there. This only works in certain countries, including the US. It works on all kinds of operating systems.

Read our ExpressVPN review.

See at ExpressVPN

Surfshark

Surfshark

Editors’ Choice: Cheap VPN packed with features

• Latest tests: Zero data leaks and 19% internet speed loss in fall 2022 tests
• Network: 3,200-plus in 99 countries
• Jurisdiction: Netherlands
• Price: Unlimited connections for $48 for the first year (then $60 annually) or $13 per month. 2-year subscriptions available.

Surfshark boasts an impressive suite of privacy and security features, unlimited simultaneous connections, easy-to-use interface and expansive global network. And it’s still significantly cheaper than most of its competitors. That’s what helped Surfshark earn CNET’s Editors’ Choice for Best Value VPN in 2022.

Along with standard VPN features such as a kill switch and DNS leak protection, some of the more notable Surfshark features include camouflage mode (which hides the fact you’re using a VPN), split-tunneling, NoBorders mode (which lets you use Surfshark in regions where VPNs are restricted) and multihop VPN connections. You’ll also get access to Surfshark’s CleanWeb technology, which blocks ads and malware and helps you avoid phishing attacks.

One innovation we’re excited to see Surfshark roll out over the next year is its Nexus network, which connects the VPN’s entire network of servers together and allows you to choose multiple servers to route your connection through. The functionality is somewhat similar to Tor, but Surfshark says it’s faster. With its Dynamic MultiHop, IP Randomizer and IP Rotator functions, the Nexus network can give you a few extra layers of protection while you use the VPN — which can be particularly beneficial to users with critical privacy needs.

Surfshark says it doesn’t log any user activity. And although no-logging claims are virtually impossible to prove with 100% certainty, German cybersecurity firm Cure53 declared Surfshark’s security to be “solid” in its 2021 security audit of the VPN. Surfshark says a new audit is forthcoming by the end of this year.

As of February 2022, both Surfshark and NordVPN have the same corporate parent (Tesonet), but Surfshark said it is legally bound not to share any information between the entities that would go against its privacy policy or terms of service. We didn’t find any language in either document that would indicate Surfshark has any obligation to share user data with its parent company or any sibling companies, which include NordVPN.

Surfshark rates consistently as one of the fastest VPNs available. Which is why we were surprised that one of the only issues we had with Surfshark came in our speed test. While it still ranks as one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested — with an internet speed loss of just 19% — we were disappointed with the inconsistent speed results we got to certain locations. Speeds to Europe and Singapore were erratic (dipping as low as 9Mbps to Singapore), while speeds to New York were slower than speeds to the UK and even Australia. Surfhark is in the process of significantly expanding its server network, now offering more than 3,200 servers in 99 countries. The continued expansion of its server network could potentially help bring some more consistency to the VPN’s speeds.

In our tests, Surfshark had no problems unblocking Netflix and Amazon Prime Video content, but we did run into a fair bit of trouble accessing Disney Plus. After testing various servers in the US and other countries where Disney Plus is available, we were finally able to access the content when we connected to a server in Boston. You may need to test a few servers yourself before gaining access to Disney Plus content with Surfshark.

Surfshark offers cheaper introductory prices that jump after the first billing cycle. Even so, Surfshark manages to keep its prices lower than most other VPNs — helping it earn CNET’s Editors’ Choice for Best Value. The yearly plan starts out at $48 for the first year, then jumps to $60 for any additional years of service. If you opt for the two-year plan, you’ll pay $60 up front for the initial two years combined, then $60 per year for any additional years. Surfshark’s monthly plan stays constant at $13 a month. If you’re not satisfied with the service for any reason, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our Surfshark VPN review.

See at Surfshark

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN

Get a limited free version of its premium service

• Latest tests: Zero data leaks and 17% internet speed loss in winter 2022 tests
• Network: 1,900-plus servers in 67 countries
• Jurisdiction: Switzerland
• Price: $72 per year or $10 per month

Proton VPN has been around since 2017, which isn’t nearly as long as some of its peers like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, but in a few short years, it has earned a sturdy reputation for security and transparency. Much of that reputation was built on the back of Proton Mail’s already established strength as a secure email solution, but Proton VPN has become a solid product on its own merit.

All of its apps across platforms are fully open-source and are routinely audited by third-party cybersecurity professionals. Proton VPN has all the standard security features you’d expect from any VPN provider worth its salt, including a kill switch, DNS leak protection and AES 256-bit encryption included on its free tier. Paid subscribers get additional security protections like an ad/malware blocker, access to Secure Core servers, Tor over VPN and a stealth protocol to help cloak the VPN connection and bypass firewalls.

Ultimately, Proton VPN’s free tier is the only truly free VPN we’ve encountered that’s worth using. True, it lacks support for torrenting and doesn’t include all the bells and whistles as the paid tiers, but Proton VPN’s free tier is secure and doesn’t put limits on speed, data or usage time like most other free VPNs do. And Proton VPN doesn’t track you or serve you ads like other free VPNs do. We were even able to access Netflix using Proton VPN’s free servers. Free users get access to servers in three countries (US, NL and JP) and can connect one device at a time.

Proton VPN’s paid plans cost $72 per year or $10 per month and include access to servers in 67 countries and support for 10 simultaneous connections. Paid plans also include a 30-day, money-back guarantee.

Read our ProtonVPN review.

See at ProtonVPN

Free VPN FAQs

5 reasons why you should never use a free VPN

1. Free VPNs simply aren’t as safe

Free VPNs can be very dangerous. Why? Because to maintain the hardware and expertise needed for large networks and secure users, VPN services have expensive bills to pay. As a VPN customer, you either pay for a premium VPN service with your dollars or you pay for free services with your data. If you aren’t ordering at the table, you’re on the menu.

Some 86% of free iOS and Android VPN apps — accounting for millions of installs — have unacceptable privacy policies, ranging from a simple lack of transparency to explicitly sharing user data with Chinese authorities, according to two independent 2018 investigations into free VPN apps from Top10VPN. Another 64% of free VPN app offerings had no web presence outside of their app store pages, and only 17% responded to customer support emails.

In June 2019, Apple reportedly brought the hammer down on apps that share user data with third parties. But 80% of the top 20 free VPN apps in Apple’s App Store appear to be breaking those rules, according to a June update on the Top10VPN investigation.

Also in June last year, 77% of apps were flagged as potentially unsafe in the Top10VPN VPN Ownership Investigation — and 90% of those flagged as potentially unsafe in the Free VPN Risk Index — still posed a risk.

“Google Play downloads of apps we flagged as potentially unsafe have soared to 214 million in total, rocketing by 85% in six months,” the report reads. “Monthly installs from the App Store held steady at around 3.8 million, which represents a relative increase as this total was generated by 20% fewer apps than at the start of the year as a number of apps are no longer available.”

On Android, 214 million downloads represent a lot of user login data, culled from unwitting volunteers. And what’s one of the most profitable things one can do with large swaths of user login data?

2. You can catch malware

Let’s get this out of the way right now: 38% of free Android VPNs contain malware — despite the security features on offer, a CSIRO study found. And yes, many of those free VPNs were highly rated apps with millions of downloads. If you’re a free user, your odds of catching a nasty bug are greater than 1 in 3.

So ask yourself which costs less: a secure VPN service for about $100 a year, or hiring an identity theft recovery firm after some chump steals your bank account login and Social Security number?

But it couldn’t happen to you, right? Wrong. Mobile ransomware attacks are skyrocketing. Symantec detected more than 18 million mobile malware instances in 2018 alone, constituting a 54% year-over-year increase in variants. And in 2019, Kaspersky noted a 60% spike in password-stealing Trojans.

But malware isn’t the only way to make money if you’re running a free VPN service. There’s an even easier way.

3. The ad-valanche

Aggressive advertising practices from a free plan can go beyond getting hit with a few annoying pop-ups and quickly veer into dangerous territory. Some VPNs sneak ad-serving trackers through the loopholes in your browser’s media-reading features, which then stay on your digital trail like a prison warden in a B-grade remake of Escape from Alcatraz.

HotSpot Shield VPN earned some painful notoriety for such allegations in 2017, when it was hit with a Federal Trade Commission complaint (PDF) for over-the-top privacy violations in serving ads. Carnegie Mellon University researchers found the company not only had a baked-in backdoor used to secretly sell data to third-party advertising networks, but it also employed five different tracking libraries and actually redirected user traffic to secret servers.

When the story broke, HotSpot parent company AnchorFree denied the researchers’ findings in an email to Ars Technica: “We never redirect our users’ traffic to any third-party resources instead of the websites they intended to visit. The free version of our Hotspot Shield solution openly and clearly states that it is funded by ads, however, we intercept no traffic with neither the free nor the premium version of our solutions.”

AnchorFree has since offered annual transparency reports, although their value is still up to the reader. More recently, however, HotSpot Shield was among just a handful of VPN apps found to respect users’ refusal to permit ad-tracking. In a November 2021 study from Top10VPN, just 15% of free VPN apps respected iOS users’ choices when they declined voluntary ad-tracking. The rest of the free VPN apps tested by Top10VPN simply ignored users’ Do Not Track requests.

Even if possible credit card fraud isn’t a concern, you don’t need pop-ups and ad-lag weighing you down when you’ve already got to deal with another major problem with free VPNs.

4. Buffering… buffering… buffering

One of the top reasons people get a VPN is to access their favorite subscription services or streaming site — Hulu, HBO, Netflix — when they travel to countries where those companies block access based on your location. But what’s the point in accessing the geo-blocked video content you’ve paid for if the free VPN service you’re using is so slow you can’t watch it, despite a good internet connection?

Some free VPNs have been known to sell your bandwidth, potentially putting you on the legal hook for whatever they do with it. The most famous case of this was Hola VPN, which was caught in 2015 quietly stealing users’ bandwidth and selling it, mercenary-style, to whatever group wanted to deploy the user base as a botnet.

Back then, Hola CEO Ofer Vilenski admitted they’d been had by a “spammer” but contended in a lengthy defense that this harvesting of bandwidth was typical for this type of technology.

“We assumed that by stating that Hola is a [peer-to-peer] network, it was clear that people were sharing their bandwidth with the community network in return for their free service,” he wrote.

If being pressed into service as part of a botnet isn’t enough to slow you down, free VPN services also usually pay for fewer VPN server options. That means your traffic is generally bouncing around longer between distant, overcrowded servers, or even waiting behind the traffic of paid users.

To top it off, subscription streaming sites are savvy to those who try to sneak into their video services for free. These services routinely block large numbers of IP addresses they’ve identified as belonging to turnstile-jumping freeloaders. Free VPNs can’t afford to invest in a long list of fresh IP addresses for users the way a paid VPN service can.

That means you may not even be able to log into a streaming service you’ve paid for if your free VPN is using a stale batch of IPs. Good luck getting HBO Max to load over that VPN connection.

5. Paid options get better all the time

The good news is that there are a lot of solid VPNs on the market that offer a range of features, depending on your needs and budget. You can browse our ratings and reviews to find the right VPN software for you. If you’re looking for something mobile-specific, we’ve rounded up our favorite mobile VPNs for 2022.

If you’d like a primer before deciding which service to drop the cash on, we have a VPN buyer’s guide to help you get a handle on the basics of VPNs and what to look for when choosing a VPN service.

More VPN advice

• 3 Great VPNs for Xbox for 2022
• Best VPN for Windows
• Best VPN Service for Amazon Fire TV Stick 2022
• Browser-Based VPNs: 3 to Try if You Want to Improve Online Privacy

• Best VPN for Mac Users in 2022
• NordVPN vs. ExpressVPN: How the Two Privacy Titans Stack Up
• Best iPhone VPN of 2022

Apple’s AirPods pro have long been one of CNET’s favorite pairs of true wireless earbuds. And now they’re even better thanks to the upgraded second generation, which hit shelves back in September. The new and improved generation has earned a top spot on our list of the best earbuds overall for 2022, and right now you’ve even got a chance to pick some up for less.

Amazon, Best Buy and Target currently have them on sale for $200, which saves you $49 compared to the Apple price. There’s no set expiration, but deals on Apple devices rarely last for long. We’d recommend you get your order in soon if you don’t want to miss out on these savings and plan to have a pair under the tree this year.

These headphones feature up to twice the active noise cancellation of the first-gen AirPods Pro, adaptive transparency and personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking for immersive sound. They have four different-sized eartips and provide up to 6 hours of listening time.

Touch controls let you swipe to adjust volume, press to direct media playback, answer or end calls and switch between listening modes. The earbuds and charging case are both sweat- and water-resistant, and the charging case is MagSafe with a lanyard loop.

Read more: Best AirPods Pro Accessories for 2022: Cases, Eartips, Wireless In-Flight Transmitters and Chargers

The holidays are here, and if you’re struggling to think of the perfect gift for your loved ones, why not make it easier on yourself? These online service holiday gift ideas are an easy way to please everyone on your list, and they’ll never need to know that you shopped at the last minute.

Ahead, we’ve rounded up a list of great subscription service gifts for all the people you still need to check off your list. And as a bonus? These gift ideas definitely won’t go out of stock. We’ve linked either to the service’s page where you can buy directly, or the appropriate website to buy a gift card.

Disney

Disney Plus

Something for everyone in the family

Disney Plus offers new releases like Andor, plus classic Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel movies, as well as Disney Vault movies and fun documentaries. Disney Plus is currently offering a one-year gift subscription offer for new subscribers.

See at Disney Plus

James Martin/CNET

Spotify

Great recommendations based on your listening history

Music streaming app Spotify is packed with songs and podcasts, and it’s just launched an expansive new audiobooks offering. In addition to recommendations based on your listening history, it creates personalized playlists for you, keeps you updated on new releases from your favorite artists, lists where they’re currently touring and more. You can gift your loved one an ad-free Spotify subscription by buying a gift card. Gift cards only work with Premium Individual plans and not Premium Student, Premium Family, Premium Duo or trial offers. We found multiple options through Best Buy.

See at Best Buy

Ty Pendlebury/CNET

Apple Music

Big music library, exclusive content and live radio shows

Apple Music is the in-house music and video streaming service from Apple. Like on Spotify, you can listen to music and playlists on-demand, access internet radio and more. The fun part about Apple’s gift cards is that you’re not locked into any particular service by buying one.

See at Apple

Shelby Brown/CNET

Apple Arcade

A huge catalog of family-friendly games

Apple Arcade is Apple’s $5 a month ($60 annually) gaming subscription service. The service has hundreds of games with new titles added every week, as well as in-app events and game updates. The service includes Arcade Originals, App Store Greats and Timeless Classics playable across Apple devices without in-app purchases or ads.

Apple Arcade was also a CNET Editors’ Choice pick for 2022.

See at Apple Arcade

Xbox

Xbox Game Pass

Best value for console gamers

Xbox Game Pass is an all-you-can-play video game subscription for $10 a month. The service offers a few different plans to best suit your gaming style. You can choose between Game Pass for console, Game Pass for PC (which includes a subscription to EA Play). Or there’s the Game Pass Ultimate, which offers games for PC, console and the EA Play subscription, as well as the Xbox Live Gold and Microsoft’s cloud gaming beta service.

$46 at Walmart

$45 at Best Buy

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for Xbox Game Pass

Calm

Calm

An easy way to focus on your health, happiness and better sleep

The Calm app offers a wide range of guided meditations to assist in relaxation. The sessions — which range from three to 25 minutes in length — can also help with developing a daily meditation practice. Calm also includes soundscapes, sleep stories read by celebrities, wellbeing check-ins, breathing exercises and more.

In addition to subscriptions, Calm’s online shop also features weighted blankets, meditation cushions, journals and other mindful gifts.

See at Calm

Aaptiv

Aaptiv

Flexible, accessible workouts tailored to you

Fitness app Aaptiv is audio-only, so it’s like having a coach in your ear or a workout buddy. The app supports outdoor workouts including running and cycling, or workouts with treadmills, exercise bikes and ellipticals. You can also explore over 4,000 workouts like yoga, strength training classes and more based on difficulty, time and music.

Aaptiv usually costs $15 monthly, or you can subscribe annually for $99 and get a seven-day free trial. Currently, the app is running a special offer to gift a year on the app for $50.

For more ideas, check out our list of best workout apps.

See at Aaptiv

Sunbasket

Sunbasket

Delicious, healthy recipes made easy

Sunbasket is a healthy meal kit delivery service that uses fresh, organic ingredients while catering to different diets and nutrition plans. You can check out plans for vegetarians, vegans, keto, paleo and more. Sunbasket is a bit pricier than other meal kit services because it uses a higher quality ingredient, but new signups can get a discount. Also, if you want to share the Sunbasket goodness with a loved one, you can gift the service as well.

For more ideas, check out our list of the best meal kit delivery services, as well as coffee, tea and wine delivery subscriptions.

See at Sunbasket

Bean & Bean

Bean & Bean

Women-owned, fair trade, organic coffee

NYC-based triple-threat coffee company Bean & Bean — included on CNET’s list of favorite coffee subscriptions — lets you pick your favorite roast, grinds the coffee beans to your desired consistency, or keeps the beans whole. Bean & Bean also has tea, matcha, instant coffee, honey coffee and other products to shop.

You can also check out CNET’s lists for tea and wine delivery subscriptions.

See at Bean & Bean

MasterClass

Masterclass

Dozens of fascinating courses taught by renowned industry professionals

Get an early start on your New Year’s resolution to learn something new with a gifted subscription to Masterclass. The online learning service has over 100 classes to choose from taught by A-list celebrities with new content released every month. You can dive into cooking with Gordon Ramsay, filmmaking with Martin Scorsese, writing with R.L. Stine, science with Neil deGrasse Tyson, self expression with RuPaul and more.

You can give three different annual subscription tiers through the Masterclass website — Individual ($180), Duo ($240) or Family ($276).

See at Masterclass

Stitch Fix

Stitch Fix

Best for shaking up your wardrobe

Stitch Fix is a clothing delivery service that you can customize to arrive at a frequency that best fits your schedule. Clothes shopping was stressful enough before the pandemic and Stitch Fix lets you do it from the comfort of your home. You can either sign up to get boxes delivered regularly, request a box for a special occasion or shop in the Stitch Fix online store.

Stitch Fix also has a gift card program that you can use in the online store or apply to items selected by their stylist. For more ideas, check out our favorite clothing subscription boxes.

See at Stitch Fix

Hunt A Killer

Hunt a Killer

High-quality, addicting, immersive mystery solving at home

If there’s a true crime fan in your life, Hunt a Killer is the closest they’ll get to cracking a decades-old cold case. You can either choose a mystery or horror plan. Each mystery breaks down into about six boxes delivered to your house once a month. Boxes include letters, photos, maps, evidence, police and forensics reports and more. My husband and I first tried out Hunt a Killer last year, and it’s one of our favorite activities now.

You can give Hunt a Killer — the horror or mystery plan — as a full season, double season or monthly membership. Older cases — box sets or premium games — are also available for a flat fee.

See at Hunt a Killer

Book of the Month

Book of the Month

Fresh book recommendations delivered to your door

Book of the Month Club sends five books to your door every month (you can customize the frequency). Then you can pick a book (or books) you want to keep and send the rest back. Book of the Month gives great, new recommendations for an affordable price and offers the choice to skip a month.

For your avid reader, you can choose between three- ($50), six- ($100) and 12-month ($180) subscription plans.

See at Book of the Month

Apple devices often score highly in our reviews and its flagship products top our best phone and best smartwatch lists as we approach the end of the year. Sleek design and impressive performance comes at a premium, though, meaning Apple gear is often more expensive than devices from competing brands. However, if you don’t mind a preowned device, you can save a ton of cash this side of Christmas this one-day sale at Woot. You can choose from a massive selection of refurbished Apple Watches and iPhones and save big compared to buying from Apple directly.

All the devices you’ll find at this sale are “scratch and dent” refurbs. According to Woot, that means that you can expect these items to show moderate signs of wear and tear, but they have all been thoroughly inspected to ensure they’re in full working condition. Though none of the latest iPhone 14 or Apple Watch Series 8 models are on sale, many of these previous-generation devices are still great buys.

Last year’s iPhone 13 is included in the sale with prices starting at $570. Considering Apple still sells this device from $700, it’s a rare chance to save on a really recent model. Similarly, this sale offers some solid savings on 2021’s Apple Watch Series 7 with models available there from $260. Where you can find a Series 7 brand new these days you’re still regularly looking at prices north of $300 at best.

For those wanting to spend a little less, the iPhone 12 is still an excellent phone that’s more than sufficient for most users thanks to its 5G capabilities, OLED display and powerful A14 Bionic chip. It’s a great value starting at just $360, which is $239 less than buying new from Apple directly, or $340 for the iPhone 12 mini. In our iPhone 14 review, CNET’s Patrick Holland stated that there isn’t really a compelling reason to upgrade to the iPhone 14 from the iPhone 12 meaning it’s still a great phone for a lot of folks today.

On the smartwatch side, the Apple Watch Series 6 is a good choice from as little $190, offers many of the same features as the Series 7 at a lower price. Or, you can spend a little less with Series 4 and Series 5 models starting at just $150 — ideal for someone just testing the waters with their first Apple Watch.

Older phones like the iPhone SE and iPhone XR start at $160 for those looking for the cheapest devices, and Apple Watch Series 3 is also available from as little as $80.

Overall, these are some of the best value Apple deals you’ll find right now — but the sale expires tonight at 9:59 p.m. PT (12:59 a.m. ET), or when these refurbished models sell out, so we recommend acting sooner rather than later.