I tested five VPN providers that have RAM-only servers and concluded that the best VPN with RAM servers is Surfshark.
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However, ExpressVPN and OVPN aren’t far behind, with their extra security features.
Top 3 VPNs With RAM-Only Servers (November, 2024)
A Swedish service that proved their privacy commitments in court with 90 RAM-only servers that’ll keep your data extra private, thanks to its custom modifications of WireGuard.
A BVI-based VPN service with 3200 RAM-only servers. You’d get unlimited connections, obfuscated servers, split tunnelling, and data breach alerts – for the cheapest price on the list.
A BVI-based VPN provider with over 3000 RAM-only servers that’ll protect your data thanks to its custom technology and protocols. The prices are a bit higher than the other two’s.
These providers have AES-256 encryption and use RAM-only servers and not hard drive-based ones. This means that your data is wiped from the server as soon as it’s switched off, and you don’t have to worry about any drives being hacked or stolen and data ending up in the wrong hands.
Curious about how I made my conclusions? Find out from this guide!
Top-Rated VPNs With RAM-only Servers At a Glance
After testing and thorough analysis, I recommend these 3 VPN services with RAM-only servers:
- Surfshark – the best VPN choice with 3200+ RAM-only servers.
- OVPN – a solid Swedish VPN service that proved their privacy commitments in court with 90 RAM-only servers.
- ExpressVPN – another reliable VPN provider with over 3000 RAM-only servers that’ll protect your data thanks to its custom technology and protocols.
ExpressVPN – Best For Security
ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology ensures that its 3000 all over the world servers only ever run on RAM.
Any server you connect to will be completely cleared of any trace of you next time it’s switched off.
It also allows for simultaneous security updates across the entire server network to make sure each server is equally secure.
Watch a video below to learn more:
Safety & Speed
ExpressVPN might be for you if you’re looking for a VPN that has RAM-only servers and additional safety features. These features include the Network Lock (a kill switch feature) and the Lightway protocol.
The kill switch stops all traffic in case your VPN connection drops.
Your data is thus prevented from being exposed.
The large number of servers means very decent connection speed, not least due to the custom Lightway protocol.
It’s a brand new, next-generation VPN protocol that will make your connection faster, more reliable, and more secure.
It keeps your VPN connection “always-on”.
Even if you lose signal or switch from Wi-Fi to data, you stay connected to the same ExpressVPN server.
Not only does it save time, as you don’t have to re-activate the ExpressVPN app when you reconnect, but it also enhances your connection speed.
So, ExpressVPN could be a perfect choice for you if you value both speed and security.
Other Features
As you might’ve guessed, ExpressVPN’s RAM servers don’t retain any data, which means they don’t keep any logs.
This no-logging policy has been audited independently and confirmed as true by PwC.
That, combined with the privacy-friendly the British Virgin Islands jurisdiction, means that there are no records of your online activities that could be given over to any government.
In addition to strong security features, ExpressVPN also offers split tunnelling. This technology is convenient because it allows you to encrypt some of your traffic whilst leaving the rest unencrypted.
This could be useful if, for instance, you need to access your bank’s website which blocks VPNs, and torrent something at the same time.
The only other provider on this list who offers this is Surfshark.
You can use ExpressVPN on up to 5 devices at the same time. That’s plenty for me, but some of you might need more, which might make Surfshark the better provider for you.
Price
All ExpressVPN deals have a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s slightly more expensive than other providers on this list like Surfshark or OVPN.
I am, however, willing to pay more for the additional security features ExpressVPN provides.
For that reason, I recommend ExpressVPN as a RAM-only service.
Pros
- TrustedServer technology of RAM-only servers
- VPN Split tunnelling
- No logs (confirmed by audit)
- Over 3000 servers
- Lightway Protocol
Cons
- Only 5 simultaneous connections
- More expensive
Surfshark – Best Value For Money
Like ExpressVPN, Surfshark is based in privacy-friendly BVI and as of last year, its entire network of 3200 servers is RAM-only.
In terms of extra security features, in addition to RAM-only servers, Surfshark offers independently audited secure browser extensions, data breach alerts, a kill switch, obfuscated servers, split tunneling, and the WireGuard protocol.
Privacy and Security
A company called Cure53 has audited Surfshark’s browser extensions in 2018 and found them to be secure.
An independent audit like that can give you additional assurance that a VPN service does deliver the security and privacy it promises.
But, as that audit was over 3 years ago and cybersecurity threats are getting more advanced all the time, I’d feel more secure if Surfshark commissioned a new audit – one that shows that their new RAM-only servers work as promised.
Like ExpressVPN, Surfshark offers split tunnelling, which you can activate via the Whitelister feature. It could be useful if, for instance, you need to use your bank that blocks VPNs whilst using a local printer that requires a VPN. Just whitelist the bank’s website, and you’re good to go.
Keep in mind, however that the data about you using “whitelisted” URLs won’t have the benefit of being erased from the RAM servers once they’re rebooted!
The WireGuard protocol used by Surfshark is designed to offer better speed and performance. Surfshark offers dynamic IP address when using WireGuard. I tested the speed of the VPN with WireGuard by comparing it with my regular Internet speed.
Speed without VPN:
Speed using Surfshark:
I was pleased to see that the download speed was higher with WireGuard, even though the response time (Ping) measured in milliseconds was higher.
Another feature called Surfshark Alert notifies you in case of a data breach, if your data or credit card details were leaked. If, for instance, your bank card’s details were stolen in a hack, you’d get an alert and be able to cancel your card immediately.
This feature’s privacy policy makes it clear that the VPN collects all info pertaining to your e-mail from other platforms.
It doesn’t, however, keep your card details after it completes the scan, unless you opt for continuous monitoring. You need to enable two-factor (2FA) authentication to use this feature – a password plus a temporary code.
So, even if someone gets hold of your password, they won’t be able to get to the data without the code!
In addition, Surfshark’s camouflage feature (a.k.a obfuscated servers) can help mask from your ISP that you’re using a VPN.
This is useful if you’re in a country that blocks VPN services.
The only other RAM-only provider on this list that offers this is Perfect Privacy.
Price
All packages offer VPN connection on an unlimited number of devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark is the cheapest provider on this list and offers great deals.
Considering the security features on offer and the unlimited connections, Surfshark is better value for money than ExpressVPN.
And that’s what leads me to conclude that Surfshark is the best RAM-only VPN provider overall!
Pros
- WireGuard
- Unlimited number of simultaneous connections
- Extra security features (Wireguard, Surfshark Alert, obfuscated servers)
- Independently audited
- Better value for money
- Split tunnelling
Cons
- Audited over 3 years ago
- No audit of RAM servers
AzireVPN – Best For Ease of Use
The Swedish provider AzireVPN offers 63 dedicated RAM-only servers to its users.
Security
In addition to not having hard drive-based servers, AzireVPN uses Blind Operator mode on all its servers. This means that a sysadmin won’t be able to run any queries on the content of the endpoint or perform any network monitoring. And this mode is loaded each time an AzireVPN server is booted!
So, even the operators have a very limited insight into your data.
And since it’s wiped from the server every time it’s rebooted, the mode provides your data with an additional layer of security whilst it’s on the server.
However, this hasn’t been independently audited, unlike ExpressVPN’s and Surfshark’s security features.
Neither has AzireVPN admittedly straightforward and legalese-free no-logging policy.
Since it’s based in Sweden which is a 14-eye country, AzireVPN could be obliged to turn over your personal information (email) if pressured by the government. So, whilst they may not keep logs of your activity, there’s always the potential of the alliance’s countries knowing that you use the service.
AzireVPN, like Surfshark, uses WireGuard protocol. However, it’s the only provider on this list that doesn’t have a kill switch. This means that if your connection suddenly drops and, for instance, you’re torrenting, your IP would be exposed. RAM-only servers wouldn’t help you here as the data won’t be routed through them if you’re not connected to VPN.
On the plus side, I really liked that AzireVPN’s website, policies and apps are very easy to use and install. It doesn’t have Live Chat, but the support team answered my query within a few hours.
Read Also: Expert Reviews of the VPN Services
Value For Money
AzireVPN has 63 servers in Europe, North America and Asia. For a provider active since 2012, that’s not a lot. To compare, Surfshark and ExpressVPN have established their 3000+ servers since 2018 and 2009, respectively. Low number of servers usually means high reduction in speed for a user.
Also, AzireVPN doesn’t offer an iOS app. This is a glaring omission for me, as I use my iPhone for many of my day-to-day operations, and you probably do too! So, if you want to protect data on your iPhone, consider a different RAM-only VPN provider.
The AzireVPN packages come with a 7-day money-back guarantee and a free trial of 24 hours (excluding the 1-month package). You get up to 5 simultaneous connections. The prices are higher than Surfshark’s.
Considering that Surfshark offers you unlimited connections and extra security features, AzireVPN doesn’t seem like good value for money. That, combined with the fact that other providers offer better security features, leads me to conclude that I don’t recommend RAM-only provider AzireVPN.
Pros
- WireGuard
- Blind Operator Mode
- Informative website
- 24-hour free trial
Cons
- Only 7 day money-back guarantee
- Only 63 servers (all RAM)
- Based in Sweden – a 14-eyes country
- Not available on iOSNot available on iOS
OVPN – Best For Privacy
The Swedish OVPN claims to have a proven and verified focus on privacy, thanks to its RAM-only servers that don’t support USB access, no-logs policy and automatic kill switch.
Privacy
OVPN has recently won a court case, in which the claimant tried to force them to disclose which user was allocated an IPv4 address on a specific date, and that user’s info. OVPN reiterated that they don’t keep logs and have no way of knowing which user has been assigned a specific IP.
After that, the court held that the claimant couldn’t prove that OVPN had access to this data.
As I don’t speak Swedish, I ran the transcript through a translator. The translation confirmed OVPN’s statement that their evidence regarding their no log VPN policy hasn’t been disproven.
I was impressed by OVPN’s coverage of the case and both sides’ legal and technical arguments on their website. The fact that OVPN was willing to disclose this means they genuinely value transparency!
It may not be an audit but proving themselves in court means they truly take your privacy seriously. You can therefore be sure that the IP addresses you’re assigned don’t end up in the wrong hands.
To support this commitment, OVPN publish monthly transparency reports about each of their RAM servers’ activity, capacity and amount of data encrypted.
You can learn from them about your preferred server’s interruptions and capacity to make more informed decisions about which servers to use.
OVPN is also the only provider on this list where you’re not required to provide your e-mail when signing up, even though you can. If you have a good memory for passwords and don’t want to give third parties too much info, it might be a good option for you.
On the other hand, this means OVPN won’t ever be able to offer extra security features like Surfshark’s data breach alert.
The provider uses WireGuard protocol. I was pleased to see that OVPN made changes to it to ensure that the customers’ data is deleted after three minutes.
As with Surfshark, I tested my Internet speed before and after connecting to OVPN.
Before:
After I connected to an OVPN server in Sweden:
The latency has increased two-fold, but the download speed was better with OVPN than without. OVPN has only 90 RAM servers, however, so a speed reduction is expected.
Pricing
OVPN is cheaper than ExpressVPN, but more expensive than Surfshark. All packages come with a 10-day money-back guarantee. You can connect to up to 4 devices at the same time. Grab the exclusive 24-month OVPN deal today and get a free T-shirt!
Considering their proven commitment to privacy and transparency, OVPN is high on my list of RAM-only VPN providers. However, since it’s pricier than Surfshark and only offers 4 simultaneous connections, it’s not an overall winner. It also has much fewer servers, which means slower speed.
I would nonetheless recommend OVPN if you value your privacy over speed and only want to use a couple of devices.
Pros
- Privacy-by-design proven in court
- WireGuard
- No e-mail required to sign up
- 10-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Only 90 servers (all RAM)
- 14-eye jurisdiction (Sweden)
Perfect Privacy – Best For Techie Users
The RAM-only servers and other security features of Swiss provider Perfect Privacy promise a secure online experience.
These extra features include obfuscation (with Stealth VPN), a kill switch, a 4-tier Multi Hop, and NeuroRouting.
Privacy & Security
Since Switzerland isn’t part of the 5/9/14 eyes, Perfect Privacy isn’t obliged to transmit your data to anyone.
And since there’s no data that can be contained on RAM servers for too long, it seems that this provider’s claim about no logs rings true. However, it hasn’t been audited.
Perfect Privacy’s kill switch has 3 security levels for you to choose from, depending on whether you want to browse without a VPN. The highest level (3) wouldn’t allow Internet connection until a VPN connection is active.
If you use your device for things that do and don’t require a VPN (e.g. a bank), consider lower levels.
A feature called Stealth VPN obfuscates your traffic, by making it look like normal traffic rather than VPN-protected.
If you like traveling, it could be useful for you if you’re visiting a country that bans VPNs. Surfshark has a similar camouflaging feature.
Perfect Privacy also has Multi-Hop and AI-based NeuroRouting. With Multi-Hop, you can route your traffic through up to four servers. NeuroRouting determines what the best servers are for you. By activating this feature, your steps become impossible to trace and predict – your traffic is routed through different “hops” every time.
This is a very high-tech feature that would be useful for you if you believe someone’s monitoring your traffic.
Price
Perfect Privacy is more expensive than ExpressVPN, which has many more servers and a proven record of no-logs. Also, Perfect Privacy doesn’t have an iOS app – as I mentioned earlier, that’s important to me! I’d suggest another provider if you, like me, want to keep your iPhone data protected.
Perfect Privacy has many advanced security features that would be ideal if you’re a tech-savvy user and always need a VPN to be on. Like if you’re always handling sensitive data on your device, for instance, and speed is of lower priority.
Taking this into account, as I’m not one such user, I wouldn’t recommend the RAM-only provider Perfect Privacy to users like myself.
Pros
- Unlimited connections
- 4-tier Multi Hop
- Stealth VPN – obfuscation
- Traffic analysis with NeuroRouting
- Over 60 payment methods
Cons
- Only 58 servers (all RAM)
- More expensive than others
- No iOS app
- No info on audit
FAQs
Do RAM-only VPNs Work With Netflix?
It depends on the VPN provider. Surfshark and ExpressVPN work with Netflix if you connect to a server in the country where your Netflix library of choice is located. OVPN has optimized streaming servers that worked fine for me.
Perfect Privacy, however, has fewer servers and prioritizes tech advancements in privacy over unblocking streaming services. AzireVPN has a similarly small network, and the connection was too slow to watch Netflix.
Read Also: VPN Tutorials and Setup Guides
What’s the Main Benefit of RAM Servers?
A physical medium like a hard drive can be stolen or broken, thus compromising security of a VPN service’s customer data and defeating the point of a VPN altogether. By wiping this data after being rebooted, RAM-only servers ensure it doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.
Even if someone does manage to hack into a RAM server, any trace of their malware would be gone next time it’s rebooted. So, the main benefit of RAM-only servers for VPN providers is the promise of extra security for your data.
Conclusion
After testing the five providers for their security and privacy features and comparing prices, it’s clear that Surfshark is my top RAM-only server VPN provider, with ExpressVPN and OVPN coming second and third respectively.
Surfshark and ExpressVPN both have an extensive network of RAM servers, offer great security features, and are located in privacy-friendly jurisdictions.
OVPN has proven their commitment to privacy in court.
Surfshark, however, allows an unlimited number of connections, provides data breach alerts, obfuscated servers and independently audited secure browser extensions.
And it’s the provider with the lowest prices!
Therefore, I recommend Surfshark as a top VPN provider with RAM-only servers.
