Some people think that they don’t need to use any virtual private network if the point is to get privacy in their browsing session. There is a feature offered on each browser which allows them to hide their browsing activity in their desktop or mobile devices. This feature is called the Incognito or Private Browsing feature. When you use this feature, you will be able to browse privately without leaving any history in your browser. But, is it enough to keep your privacy during your browsing activity?
The answer might surprise you. If you think that using the incognito mode is the same as using a VPN, and if you think that it provides enough privacy for your browsing activity, then you are mistaken. The VPN offers way more security and privacy features when you compare it with the incognito mode or private browsing. In fact, the incognito mode in your browser only offers a fraction of the features that the private network can offer to you. Here are 5 differences between using VPN and using incognito or private browsing mode:
1. The Scope Of The Privacy Features
While both VPN and incognito mode offers privacy features for their users, the scope of the privacy features is different on each one of them. The private network offers the privacy features for the users in each browsing session that they have. When they connect to the virtual private network, the connection itself is encrypted so that no third party can monitor their browsing activity. This includes the government, corporations, hackers, and the internet service provider. The incognito mode, on the other hand, only offers the privacy for the users when they use the private browsing mode, and it can only hide the browsing activity of the users. It doesn’t encrypt the user’s connection and the government or ISP can still track their browsing activity.
2. System-wide Privacy Vs. Privacy Only For The Local Browser
With a VPN, the users can enjoy the security and privacy in their online activity system-wide, meaning that the whole device is encrypted, not just the browser. Whatever data transmission that the users will perform using their device will completely be hidden from the third parties. This is different from the private browsing mode, which only offers the online privacy on that particular browser, and at that particular browsing session. It mostly only hides your browsing history, and you don’t encrypt any data transmission that you perform during the incognito mode. The privacy here only means that the browsing history during the private browsing mode cannot be retrieved by anyone who uses the same browser on the same device as you.
3. Who Can See Your Data
The private network connection allows you to hide your data transmission as long as you activate your private connection during your browsing activity. Thus, nobody can see your data, since it will be encrypted during the transmission. The government, ISP, or hackers cannot see what kind of data that you transmit, what password that you type, and what websites that you visit. On the other hand, the incognito mode only hides your browsing data from anyone that uses the same computer as you. It doesn’t hide your data from the government or ISP. Even if hackers try to breach your data transmission, they can do it, since your connection is not encrypted.
4. The Main Function Of VPN Vs. Private Browsing
The main function of a VPN is to provide the total internet freedom for their users, while maintaining their security and privacy during their browsing activity. In other words, with VPN, you are free to visit any websites while staying anonymous during your browsing, even though the websites are blocked by the government of your country. The private browsing mode, on the other hand, has the main function to hide your browsing data in that particular browsing session from other people who use the same device as yours, but it cannot be used to bypass the government restrictions on your browsing. Thus, you cannot visit any blocked websites using the incognito mode.
5. Private Connection Vs. Regular Connection
The VPN service will protect your online privacy and security on the connection level, meaning that it encrypts your regular internet connection with their private servers. With this feature, you are browsing the internet as if you are accessing the websites from another location based on the server that you use. Whenever you activate this private connection, and whatever online activity that you do on your device will be completely protected. On the other hand, the incognito mode will use your regular connection without encrypting the connection, since the privacy feature is only applied on the browser level. Thus, whatever online activity that you do outside of the incognito mode is not protected.
Some effective and useful VPN Services
Although, there are many solutions available to protect privacy and VPN does it right way by hiding your browsing patters. We have reviewed many products on this site but below are few which stands out clearly among crowd.
| Product | For | Pricing From | Website | Read More |
| Most Responsive Support | $2.99 / month | Visit Website | Read Review |
| Overall Best | $6.67 / month | Visit Website | Read Review |
| For Best Security | $4.65 / month | Visit Website | Read Review |
| For Highest Privacy | € 8.95/Month | Visit Website | Read Review |
| Best Server Network | $2.88 / month | Visit Website | Read Review |
Alright, to conclude, these are the 5 differences between using VPN and using incognito or private browsing mode. So, the private network connection offers a whole lot of features as compared to the private browsing mode, and that’s why you should consider using a VPN in order to enhance the security and privacy of your online activity. If you want a total internet freedom, then using a private network connection is the way to go.
Excellent. But why didn’t any “free” VPNs make the list
Free VPNs have limitations, we reviewed a few such as Browsec or Psiphon. The problem is they have limited resources available so speed is less. Sometime if speed is better, you’ll end up giving your personal information including logging info and more which can be later used to target user to sell other services. Either way, when it comes to free VPN options are limited and not so good one. Browsec for example, delivered us a better speed but with Russian Jurisdiction and with limited platform support.
What about Surfshark? Heard good things about it too and the price is very appealing.
just get tunnelbear smh 500 mb of free data isnt bad, you can also get more by sharing or whatever