VPN No-Logs Policy Explained: What It Means & Why It Matters
Understand what a VPN no-logs policy really means. Learn how to verify claims and which VPNs have been independently audited.
What Is a VPN No-Logs Policy?
A no-logs policy (or zero-logs policy) is a VPN provider's commitment to not record information about your online activities while using their service.
What "No Logs" Should Mean - No record of websites you visit - No record of files you download - No record of your connection times - No record of your real IP address - No record of your assigned VPN IP address - No record of your bandwidth usage
Why No-Logs Matters If a VPN keeps logs, those records could be: - Subpoenaed by law enforcement - Requested by government agencies - Stolen in a data breach - Sold to third parties
With true no-logs, there's nothing to hand over, steal, or sell.
Types of VPN Logs
Understanding what VPNs can log helps you evaluate their policies:
Usage Logs (Activity Logs) These are the most privacy-invasive: - Browsing history - DNS queries - Downloaded files - Traffic content *Any reputable VPN should never keep these.*
Connection Logs Less invasive but still concerning: - Timestamps of connections - Duration of sessions - Your real IP address - VPN IP address assigned - Amount of data transferred *Some VPNs keep these temporarily. Look for providers that don't.*
Aggregated Logs Anonymous statistics like: - Total server bandwidth - Number of users per server - General geographic data *These are generally acceptable as they can't identify individuals.*
Account Information Necessary for service operation: - Email address - Payment information - Password (hashed) *This is unavoidable for subscription services, but privacy-focused VPNs minimize it.*
How to Verify No-Logs Claims
VPNs can claim anything in marketing. Here's how to verify:
Independent Audits The gold standard. Third-party security firms examine VPN infrastructure and policies: - NordVPN: Audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) - twice - ExpressVPN: Audited by PwC and Cure53 - Surfshark: Audited by Cure53 - ProtonVPN: Audited by SEC Consult - Mullvad: Audited by Cure53
Real-World Tests When VPNs face legal requests and have no data: - ExpressVPN: Turkish servers seized, no user data found (2017) - PIA: Subpoenaed by FBI, no logs to provide (2016) - Mullvad: Police raid, no user data found (2023)
Privacy Policy Analysis Read the actual privacy policy. Look for: - Specific statements about what is/isn't logged - Data retention periods - Third-party sharing practices - Jurisdiction and legal obligations
Transparency Reports Some VPNs publish regular reports on government requests and their responses.
Red Flags - Vague language about "minimal" or "limited" logging - No independent audits - Headquartered in surveillance-friendly jurisdictions - History of handing over user data
Jurisdiction and Legal Implications
Where a VPN is based affects what data they can be compelled to provide:
Five Eyes Countries (Avoid) US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand share intelligence. VPNs here may face pressure to log.
Nine Eyes Countries (Caution) Five Eyes plus Denmark, France, Netherlands, Norway.
Fourteen Eyes Countries (Caution) Nine Eyes plus Germany, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Spain.
Privacy-Friendly Jurisdictions - Panama: NordVPN's home. No mandatory data retention laws. - British Virgin Islands: ExpressVPN's jurisdiction. No data retention requirements. - Netherlands: Surfshark's home. Despite EU membership, strong privacy protections. - Switzerland: ProtonVPN's base. Strong privacy laws. - Romania: CyberGhost's location. No mandatory data retention. - Sweden: Mullvad's home. Strong privacy protections despite Fourteen Eyes.
Important Note Jurisdiction matters less if a VPN truly keeps no logs. You can't hand over what doesn't exist. Still, favorable jurisdiction provides additional assurance.
VPNs with Proven No-Logs Policies
These providers have demonstrated their no-logs commitments:
NordVPN - Jurisdiction: Panama - Audited: Yes (PwC, twice) - Proven: Server breach in 2018 revealed no user data - Features: RAM-only servers, double auditing
ExpressVPN - Jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands - Audited: Yes (PwC, Cure53) - Proven: Turkish server seizure revealed nothing - Features: TrustedServer (RAM-only)
Surfshark - Jurisdiction: Netherlands - Audited: Yes (Cure53) - Features: RAM-only servers, warrant canary
ProtonVPN - Jurisdiction: Switzerland - Audited: Yes (SEC Consult) - Features: Open-source apps, Secure Core servers
Mullvad - Jurisdiction: Sweden - Audited: Yes (Cure53) - Proven: 2023 police raid found no data - Features: No email required, accepts cash
Private Internet Access (PIA) - Jurisdiction: United States (concerning, but...) - Proven: Multiple court cases with no logs to provide - Features: Open-source apps
Free VPNs and Logging
Free VPNs almost universally have logging problems:
Why Free VPNs Log Free services need revenue. Options include: - Selling user data to advertisers - Displaying targeted ads (requires tracking) - Selling bandwidth (your connection becomes an exit node) - Upselling to paid plans (requires analytics)
Documented Free VPN Issues - Hola VPN: Sold user bandwidth for botnet - Hotspot Shield: Logged and shared data with advertisers - SuperVPN: 21 million user records leaked - Various free VPNs: Contained malware or excessive permissions
"Freemium" Exceptions Some paid VPNs offer limited free tiers that don't log: - ProtonVPN Free: No logs, but limited servers and speed - Windscribe Free: 10GB/month, no activity logs - Hide.me Free: Limited but genuine no-logs
The True Cost of Free If you're not paying, you're the product. Free VPNs have no business model without monetizing users somehow.
Beyond No-Logs: Complete Privacy
A no-logs policy is essential but not sufficient for complete privacy:
Anonymous Payment Use cryptocurrency or cash (Mullvad) to avoid payment trails.
No Personal Information Some VPNs let you sign up without email (Mullvad uses account numbers).
RAM-Only Servers Servers that can't physically retain data after restart.
Warrant Canary Statement confirming no secret government requests. If removed, indicates compliance with gag order.
Open Source Open-source apps can be audited by anyone, verifying no hidden logging.
Multi-Hop/Double VPN Traffic through multiple servers means no single server sees complete picture.
DNS Privacy VPN should run its own private DNS servers.
Kill Switch Prevents data leaks if VPN connection drops.
Creating Your Privacy Strategy 1. Choose an audited no-logs VPN 2. Pay anonymously if possible 3. Use minimal personal info 4. Enable all security features 5. Consider multi-hop for sensitive activities
Look for independent audits by reputable firms (PwC, Cure53), real-world incidents where providers had no data to share, transparent privacy policies, and favorable jurisdiction. Avoid VPNs with no third-party verification.
Depends on jurisdiction. In Panama (NordVPN) and British Virgin Islands (ExpressVPN), there are no data retention laws. RAM-only servers also make forced logging technically difficult since data doesn't persist.
Most keep minimal account data (email, payment info) needed for subscriptions. Some keep aggregated anonymous statistics. True zero-logs providers like Mullvad don't require email and accept cash, minimizing even this data.
If the VPN truly keeps no logs, they have nothing to provide. This has been demonstrated in multiple cases: ExpressVPN in Turkey, PIA with FBI subpoenas, and Mullvad during a 2023 police raid.
Yes, connection logs (timestamps, IP addresses, session duration) can be correlated with other data to identify users. A true no-logs policy should exclude connection logs, not just activity logs.
Like PIA in the US, they may truly not keep logs and have demonstrated this in court. However, these jurisdictions have greater legal pressure, making privacy-friendly locations preferable as additional assurance.
RAM-only servers run entirely in volatile memory. When powered off or rebooted, all data is wiped completely. Even if physically seized, they contain no persistent user data. Hard drives can retain data even after deletion.
With proper no-logs implementation, there's no data to access. Well-designed systems prevent even employees from accessing user traffic. Independent audits verify these controls are in place.
Yes. Privacy is a fundamental right. Your data could be breached, misused, or accessed without your knowledge. Even legal activities reveal sensitive information about health, finances, relationships, and political views.
A statement published by a VPN declaring they haven't received secret government orders. If they receive a gag order, they can't announce it, but they can remove the canary—signaling something has changed without explicitly saying so.