How We Rank VPNs (and What We Have Not Tested Yet)
Reviewed September 2026
The short version
StatesVPN is an independent comparison site for US readers, operated by CCLL Digital Ltd. Rankings and buying notes are compiled from public sources today. First-party tests appear on individual review pages when dated results are published. Until a review shows those dated notes, treat the page as a public-source verification guide — not a finished lab report.
We do not invent speeds, streaming pass/fail tables, or malware-detection rates. If a number is not on a dated review section, it is not a StatesVPN measurement.
What we do today
Most of the site is public-source research. That means we read and summarize information that is already available, then tell you what to re-check before you pay:
- Provider websites, feature lists, app store listings, and checkout pages
- Published privacy policies, transparency reports, and provider-linked audits
- Refund windows, device limits, and plan names as advertised
- Reputable third-party reporting when a source and date are clear
Pricing figures on the site were last checked September 2, 2026. Promotions and renewal prices change. Always confirm the total due today and the renewal price on the provider checkout page.
First-party tests (pending until published)
We are adding first-party checks on review pages. Those results are only valid when a review publishes a dated “How we tested” note with the city, ISP, protocol, and date. Until that note exists, the review is still a public-source verification page.
When a first-party note is published, it will typically cover:
- Install path and app defaults on a named OS
- Whether the visible IP changes after connect
- DNS and WebRTC leak checks using our on-site tools
- Kill-switch behavior after a forced disconnect (pass/fail, not a marketing score)
First-party notes will not claim a sitewide speed lab, a streaming-compatibility lab, or a malware lab. Speed and streaming still vary by ISP, city, time of day, and the provider’s current IP pool. When we have dated medians from a named city and ISP, they will appear on that review only.
Where to read How we tested
Each review has a “How we tested / verified” section. Use it to see what was checked from public materials and whether any first-party results have been published yet:
How content is created
- Research aggregation — Topics come from common US reader questions, Search Console queries, and comparison pages.
- AI-assisted drafting — Drafts are produced with AI tools from those public inputs, then checked against editorial rules (no fabricated metrics, affiliate disclosures intact).
- Claim sanitization — Filters remove language that implies unpublished lab results (first-person speed tables, invented Mbps figures).
- Human editorial ranking — Homepage order is an editorial judgment for US users, not a proprietary lab score.
Editorial scoring rubric (VPN)
Top-pick order uses a simple editorial rubric based on public information. It is not a numeric lab score. Weights:
- Privacy & trust (30%) — Published privacy policy, jurisdiction, and whether provider-linked disclosures are current and specific.
- Apps & usability (25%) — Platform support and documented features such as kill switch and split tunneling.
- Value (20%) — Introductory plan pricing from provider checkout, reviewed September 2, 2026.
- US relevance (15%) — US server coverage and usefulness for American residents and travelers.
- Transparency (10%) — Clarity of policies, refund terms, and how openly the provider documents features.
Rankings can change when providers update pricing, policies, or published disclosures. We do not promise completeness or real-time accuracy.
Antivirus content
Antivirus guides explain what traditional AV can and cannot do on each platform (especially iOS). Where we mention detection rates, we point to public testing organizations such as AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives— not a StatesVPN malware lab.
Affiliate relationships
We earn commissions when you purchase through some links. That funds the site. Affiliate revenue does not change our obligation to avoid fabricated data. Editorial order (which VPN we highlight first) is a published editorial choice, disclosed on each page.
What you should verify
- Current price and renewal terms on the provider checkout page
- Whether features (Threat Protection, port forwarding, and similar) are included in your plan
- Latest public reports or trust-center materials and their scope/date
- Leaks and connectivity using our free DNS and WebRTC tools after you install a VPN
Related reading
Report an error
Found outdated pricing or a misleading claim? Email contact@ccll-digital.com with the page URL and we will review it.