Loading...
Skip to content
Security Advisor Hub Community Logo
Say Hello
Guide

Understanding Our Tags & Rankings

Tags help you filter content by topic, content type, and (within a category like VPNs) by scenario and decision goal. This page explains what each tag means, how we apply them, and how to interpret “best for” labels.

Topic Content type Scenario tags Decision tags

Why we use tags

Most people don’t want more reading — they want the right shortlist for their situation. Tags let you jump straight to what matters, without guessing which page type to open.

What tags do (and don’t do)

Tags help you filter
Find VPN reviews, comparisons, best lists, and guides that match your scenario or decision goal.
Tags aren’t “everything it can do”
A tool may work for many situations. We tag based on primary fit and decision intent, not every possible capability.
How this connects to scoring
For VPNs, our evaluations are organized around five pillars: Privacy & Logging, Security Architecture, Performance, Usability, and Value. Scenario and decision tags help you see which pillars matter most for a given intent. For details, see: How We Evaluate.

Our tag types

We use two universal tag types across the site, plus category-specific tags (like VPN Scenarios and VPN Decisions).

1) Topic

Topic tells you what product category the content is about.

  • VPN (today)
  • Secure Browsers, Password Managers, Identity Protection, Antivirus (as we expand)
  • Topics are mutually exclusive for most pages (one primary category).

2) Content type

Content type tells you what kind of page you’re opening — and how to use it.

  • Review: deep evaluation of one product + who it fits
  • Comparisons: head-to-head decisions (A vs B)
  • Best Lists: scenario-led or goal-led shortlists
  • Guides: setup, switching, and “how to” decision support
  • Research: evidence deep-dives, explainers, and signals
  • Tools: calculators, checklists, and interactive helpers
3) Category-specific tags
Some tags are only meaningful inside a topic. Example: VPN Scenarios and VPN Decisions. When we expand to new topics, we may add scenario/decision sets specific to those categories.

VPN Scenario tags

Scenario tags answer: “What am I trying to do?” They’re about context and constraints — not a single “winner.”

How we apply VPN Scenario tags

Rule of thumb
We use a scenario tag when a page has meaningful scenario-specific evaluation — not just a passing mention. In other words: the scenario materially changes what a reader should choose.
Streaming
Access reliability and stability for major platforms; changes over time.
Travel
Consistency across countries, networks, and “hotel Wi-Fi” realities.
Remote work
Stability, multi-device use, low-friction UX, and predictable performance.
Public Wi-Fi
Fast, reliable protection on untrusted networks; kill-switch behavior matters.
Torrenting / P2P
P2P posture, stability, speed consistency, and policy clarity.
Gaming
Latency sensitivity and stability; “fast” is not always “low-ping.”
Everyday use
General-purpose balance: usability, stability, and good-enough performance.
Privacy-first
Policy clarity + verification signals + architecture posture for lower-risk choices.
High-security
Higher-risk use cases where trade-offs matter more: strong architecture, clean posture, and fewer unknowns.
Important nuance
Many VPNs can “work” for many scenarios. Scenario tags are meant to guide a reader to pages that discuss the scenario seriously — where the scenario changes the recommendation or the trade-offs.

VPN Decision tags

Decision tags answer: “What do I value most?” They’re about the primary goal that drives the final choice.

How we apply VPN Decision tags

Two-tier logic (simple and honest)
Decision tags are primarily “best-for” labels. We use them when a page is explicitly about that decision goal (e.g., “Best Value VPNs”), or when a review/comparison clearly supports that conclusion for a meaningful portion of readers. We avoid tagging every VPN as every decision.
Most Secure
Architecture-first: hardening, protections, and fewer weak points.
Most Private
Privacy posture: logging clarity, verification signals, and trust posture.
Fastest
Speed + stability: consistent performance across regions and load.
Easy to Use
Low-friction setup, good UX, solid defaults, and smooth daily use.
Best Value
Price/benefit reality: renewals, refunds, and cost-per-device clarity.
Best for Power Users
Advanced features, configurability, and “control” without fragility.
Best for Beginners
The safest “first VPN” choice: easy setup, clear UX, and minimal gotchas.
What “best” means on Security Advisor Hub
“Best” is always scenario- and goal-dependent. We use consistent scoring pillars (Privacy & Logging, Security Architecture, Performance, Usability, Value) and then interpret results through decision intent. If a label is used, we explain the trade-offs and who it’s for (and isn’t for).

How filters should be used

Filters are designed for fast narrowing — then you open a page to see the reasoning and trade-offs.

A practical workflow

  1. Pick a scenario (e.g., Travel, Streaming, Remote work).
  2. Pick a decision goal if you have one (e.g., Most Private, Best Value).
  3. Open 1–3 contenders and read the “who it’s for” and trade-offs.
  4. Use comparisons if you’re down to two.
Reminder
Filters help you find the right pages. The recommendation lives in the content — including the reasoning, the caveats, and what would make you choose something else.
Want the deeper “why”?
See How it Works, How We Evaluate, and Editorial Policy.

Updates & accuracy

Tags evolve as markets evolve.

If a provider changes policies, performance, pricing, or features meaningfully, tags and recommendations may change. We aim to keep pages updated and include “last reviewed” dates to help you judge freshness.

See also

Ready to use the filters?

Start with VPN Reviews, then narrow by scenario or decision.

VPN Reviews Best VPNs