Best VPN for Utah residents in 2026


Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- PCWorld analyzes the top VPN options for Utah residents following Senate Bill 73, the first state law targeting VPN use for age verification purposes.
- NordVPN leads with the fastest speeds and advanced features, while Mullvad offers exceptional privacy at $5 per month and ExpressVPN offers extensive US coverage.
- Utah’s new law creates uncertainty for VPN users, potentially leading to traffic blocking or invasive identity checks by websites.
Utah residents are facing a major change when it comes to online privacy. A new state law, Senate Bill 73, made Utah the first state to specifically target VPN use as part of its online age verification rules, holding websites accountable even when users attempt to mask their location with a VPN. Privacy advocates warn that the law could pressure websites to block VPN traffic entirely or expand invasive identity checks for everyone.
While the law doesn’t completely ban VPNs, it creates new uncertainty for Utah internet users who rely on VPNs for legitimate privacy and security reasons, whether that’s protecting personal data on public Wi-Fi, avoiding advertiser tracking, securing remote work connections, or simply keeping browsing activity private. But despite the new restrictions, VPNs remain one of the most effective tools for encrypting your internet traffic and improving your overall online security.
It is therefore more important than ever to choose the right VPN. Below, we’ve rounded up the best VPN services for Utah residents, focusing on privacy, speed, reliability, and features that can help secure your online activity in an increasingly regulated internet landscape.
Below are my top VPN picks if you’re in Utah, where access may be restricted.
NordVPN – Best Overall
NordVPN is my top choice when it comes to VPNs. It comes with a ton of great features, including double VPN, ad and tracker blocking, dark web monitoring, and numerous domestic US and international servers, with coverage in all states.
It also has the fastest connection speeds and advanced protocol and obfuscation features to help evade VPN targeting by websites. Additionally, NordVPN has one of the most extensive platform support networks, which means you will be able to view content without restrictions on all your devices.
ExpressVPN – Finalist
ExpressVPN comes in just behind NordVPN, losing only due to slightly slower speeds and fewer additional features. These are minor issues, however, and ExpressVPN is a fantastic option for all VPN users. In fact, following all these recent age verification laws, ExpressVPN has completed a massive US network expansion to include servers in every US state. So you can rest assured that you will be able to access your favorite sites no matter where you live.
It also offers high speeds, meaning content loads quickly and you can stream in HD without interruption, depending of course on the speed of your home internet connection. Plus, it works with all devices and comes with one of the best user privacy records.
Mullvad – Best for Privacy
Depending on how seriously you take your privacy, Mullvad might actually be the best VPN option. Not only is this service one of the top five fastest VPNs, but it’s also hands down the best when it comes to privacy.
Mullvad does everything possible to know as little about you as possible. It doesn’t ask for an email address or name, and you can even send a cash payment if you prefer to keep your credit card private. Plus, it only costs $5 per month, no matter which plan you choose.
That being said, Mullvad doesn’t have servers in every state, but the server network is large enough that you don’t have to worry about accessing content from anywhere.
Proton VPN – Best Free VPN
While I don’t generally recommend anyone use a free VPN due to its proven security and privacy risks, Proton VPN is one of the rare exceptions. This service from the famous Swiss brand Proton has an impeccable track record when it comes to user privacy. And the best part is that it’s ad-free.
Like all free VPNs, there are limits, but fortunately Proton VPN keeps them relatively manageable. At no cost, you will be limited to a single device and have access to five servers located in different countries around the world (including the United States). There are also no speed or data limits on these free servers, which is very rare among free VPNs.
Just note that Proton VPN’s free plan only connects you to the closest available US server, which may be located in a state with age verification laws. Still, the free service is worth a try, and you can always upgrade later to access more than 11,000 server locations and the full feature set.



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