The fastest VPN out there just became one of the cheapest thanks to this new deal

(Image credit: Hotspot Shield)

When it comes to judging VPNs, connection speed isn't the only feature to consider... but it's certainly up there among the main ones.

That's because you don't want the VPN - that runs in the background to keep your data encrypted online as you go about your regular surfing, streaming, shopping and torrenting - to slow your computer or phone down to a crawl.

Of the hundreds of VPNs TechRadar has tested, Hotspot Shield is the one standing tall as the very fastest. And, right now, the provider has a fantastic limited-time offer available.

Commit to its 3-year plan and the price comes down from the normal rolling monthly price of $12.99/£10.99, all the way to a rather excellent effective $2.49/£2.29 per month. That's an eye-watering 81% discount.

And pure speed isn't the only thing Hotspot Shield has going for it - it ranks up in our top five overall best VPN providers on account of its sheer ease-of-use, strong security protocols and the ability to unblock a litany of streaming services and other often-blocked websites.

The only thing to remember with this offer (and pretty much all long term VPN deals out there) is that you do have to pay the full amount for the three years upfront. And although it may seem like a hefty amount to splash, remember this means all your VPN cybersecurity and bypassing of geo-restricted content is sorted for the next 36 months!

Read more:

• Need a VPN for streaming? Make sure to check out our best Netflix VPN guide
• See which others you can test drive with a VPN free trial
• VPN uses: it doesn't stop at security and streaming