The Rise of VPNs in the UK: More Than Just the Law

Why are VPNs Becoming So Popular?

Picture this: you’re sitting on your couch, scrolling through your phone, and suddenly you hear about some new law that wants to peek at your ID just because you want to watch a cheeky adult flick. Yeah, the Online Safety Act has made folks a bit twitchy! But here’s the kicker — VPNs in the UK weren’t just born out of that shiny new legislation. Nope, they were already gathering dust bunnies on the shelves long before that!

Independent snoopers have noticed a steady rise in VPN use over the last five years, and let me tell you, their popularity is going through the roof! We saw a 24.08% increase in 2024 alone. Not too shabby, right? The UK has claimed a comfy 8th place in the global VPN adoption race, which is largely based on how many times folks are downloading those nifty apps from the Play Store and App Store.

How Are People Using VPNs?

So, onto the juicy part — the numbers! In the first half of 2025, the UK clocked a whopping 10.7 million VPN app downloads. However, let’s be real; we can’t tell if these awesome individuals are opting for top-notch VPNs or just matching their ways with the rogue free versions floating around in cyberspace. You know the ones — they’re like those unwanted party crashers that don’t know when to leave!

Most of this data is based around mobile usage, but hold on! Think about all the other devices people use. The landscape of VPNs in the UK is way broader! Plus, those pesky free VPNs that seem too good to be true have been caught red-handed, capturing browsing data and spreading malware like it’s going out of style. That’s why I always say, steer clear of free VPNs! Trust the good old faithfuls like NordVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, or ExpressVPN instead.

Oh, and let’s not forget to mention that VPN popularity has been bubbling globally since 2021. Places with strict internet rules have jumped on the VPN bandwagon big time — hello, UAE with a jaw-dropping 65.78% adoption rate! Maybe it’s because they had to hide from those pesky work-from-home Zoom calls and the relentless scrolling on TikTok during lockdown.

If you’re scratching your head about which VPN to lean on, my go-to partner is NordVPN. They’re fast, reliable, and work harder than a caffeinated squirrel to protect your data. Give them a whirl, and trust me, you’ll be glad you did!