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The most visible VPNs in Italy, October 2026

October 2026 · 15 questions asked from Italy in Italian and English · ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode · 60 answers read

AI: how the engines answer the board's questions; Search: Google's top 10 for the questions' demand keywords; All: both combined. How the Heralded Score works.

Leader

NordVPN

23%of answers name it

Most cited source

techradar.com

7citations

From Gemini and ChatGPT

Where engines disagree most

Surfshark

1/4engines put it in their top three

Top three on Google AI Overviews, not on Google AI Mode, Gemini and ChatGPT

Brands

Rank Brand Rank change Heralded Score Score trend Mentioned Recommended By engine Mentioned by Change
1 NordVPN LT New entry 32 , range 22–62
32
  • : score 32 · #1
 23% 16% First reading
2 ZeroTier US New entry 30 , range 0–75
30
  • : score 30 · #2
 3% 0% None First reading
3 Proton VPN CH New entry 29 , range 22–62
29
  • : score 29 · #3
 21% 18% First reading
4 Surfshark NL New entry 27 , range 20–57
27
  • : score 27 · #4
 16% 14% First reading
5 ExpressVPN VG New entry 26 , range 20–58
26
  • : score 26 · #5
 18% 14% First reading
6 NordLayer LT New entry 21 , range 10–54
21
  • : score 21 · #6
 12% 10% None First reading
7 Proton for Business CH New entry 20 , range 6–52
20
  • : score 20 · #7
 11% 8% None First reading
8 IPVanish US New entry 9 , range 0–74
9
  • : score 9 · #8
 1% 0% First reading
9 Tailscale CA New entry 6 , range 2–47
6
  • : score 6 · #9
 4% 4% First reading
10 PureDome HK New entry 4 , range 0–72
4
  • : score 4 · #10
 0% 0% None First reading

“=” marks brands whose score ranges overlap, so the test cannot separate them. Every brand named in at least three answers is ranked. By engine has one dot per engine (ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode), darker the more often it names the brand.

This month's moves

First reading. No comparable previous month yet.

Biggest risers

No clear rise.

Biggest fallers

No clear fall.

Drop-outs

No drop-outs.

Most cited sources

Rank Source Type Cited in Engines Pages cited Brands its pages mention
11Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
12 pcworld.com Media 3.3% 2 of 4 2 Not read
13Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
14Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
15Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
16 earthsims.com Media 1.7% 1 of 4 1 Not read
17 fahimai.com Media 1.7% 1 of 4 1 Not read
18Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
19 gizmodo.com Media 1.7% 1 of 4 1 Not read
20 italytravel.wiki Media 1.7% 1 of 4 1 Not read

The questions, and who wins each

QuestionLanguageWins it
Qual è la migliore VPN per chi lavora da remoto? Italian NordVPN and Proton VPN, tied
Quale VPN possono usare i viaggiatori per proteggere i propri dati online? Italian ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Proton VPN and Surfshark, tied
Qual è la VPN migliore per le piccole imprese con dipendenti in sedi diverse? Italian NordLayer, Proton for Business and Proton VPN, tied
Come può un dipendente da remoto accedere in sicurezza alla rete aziendale? Italian No brand recommended
Come posso proteggere i miei dati quando uso il Wi-Fi pubblico? Italian ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Proton VPN, tied
Connessione VPN o accesso remoto per piccoli team? Italian Tailscale
Quali alternative al Wi-Fi pubblico ci sono per chi lavora dai bar? Italian ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Proton VPN, tied
Quali alternative al Wi-Fi degli hotel ci sono per chi viaggia? Italian No brand recommended
Gestisco un'azienda con 10 dipendenti da remoto. Come posso proteggere le loro connessioni? Italian NordLayer
Lavoro in contabilità e accedo da casa ai dati dei clienti. Come posso proteggerli? Italian No brand recommended

Each engine's top three

Method

For the AI side, each month Heralded asks every engine the same buyer questions, twice each, and reads every answer. An answer counts 0 for a brand it leaves out, 50 for a brand it names and 100 for a brand it recommends, and the Heralded Score is built from those. A brand named in at least three answers gets a score and a place.

How the leaderboards are measured