Our Rating Methodology
Every rating on VPN Daddy is built from verifiable information - each provider's published specifications, independent third-party audit reports, documented protocol behavior, and current pricing. This page explains exactly how we turn that evidence into a score, so you can judge the reasoning for yourself.
What Our Scores Are Based On
- Published specifications: server counts, supported countries, device limits, protocols, and features, taken from each provider's official documentation.
- Independent audit reports: we reference published no-log and security audits (Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, Cure53, Securitum) rather than taking marketing claims at face value.
- Protocol characteristics: documented performance and security properties of WireGuard, NordLynx, Lightway, OpenVPN, and IKEv2.
- Streaming support: each provider's stated platform support cross-referenced with widely reported real-world results.
- Pricing: current published rates across monthly, annual, and multi-year plans, plus money-back terms.
Scoring System
Each provider's overall score is a weighted average of five categories:
| Category | Weight | What It Reflects |
|---|---|---|
| Speed & Performance | 25% | Protocol efficiency, published throughput, latency, 4K/gaming suitability |
| Privacy & Security | 25% | Encryption, audit history, jurisdiction, security features |
| Streaming | 20% | Platforms supported, reliability, library breadth |
| Ease of Use | 15% | App quality, setup, multi-platform support |
| Value & Pricing | 15% | Price per month, features per dollar, refund policy |
Speed figures shown across the site (retention percentages and Mbps) are reference values modeled against a high-speed baseline connection and applied consistently, so providers can be compared on the same scale. They illustrate relative performance, not a guarantee of the speed you'll see on your own connection - which depends on your ISP, distance to the server, and your hardware.
Privacy Assessment
- Audit verification - we reference published third-party audit reports
- Jurisdiction analysis - data retention laws and surveillance-alliance membership
- Feature evaluation - kill switch, DNS leak protection, encryption standards
- Logging policy review - exact wording from each privacy policy and ToS
- Track record - publicly documented incidents, court cases, and data requests
Keeping Ratings Current
VPN pricing, features, and audit status change over time. We review provider information and refresh scores when a provider makes a material change - a price update, a new audit, a protocol change, or a security incident.
What We Don't Do
- Accept payment for reviews or placement
- Allow providers to preview or edit reviews before publication
- Present marketing claims as independently confirmed fact
- Guarantee rankings - any provider can move up or down as the evidence changes
Contact
Questions about our methodology? Email hello@vpndaddy.com. We're happy to explain the reasoning behind any rating.