The VPN industry is going to face intense scrutiny in 2026. As governments introduce new laws and censors develop increasingly sophisticated surveillance and censorship capabilities, it’s vital that providers continue to push their products to the next level.
I’ve spent this year hands-on with all kinds of VPNs, and several areas for development that stand out. Levelling up against continuous censorship and anti-VPN measures, optimizing for new users, and improving transparency are all key points for improvement.
