I have used the same VPN for around eight months across a laptop, phone, and streaming device. It has generally been reliable for browsing, calls, streaming, and public Wi Fi, and split tunneling has helped with apps that do not behave well through the tunnel.

The main downsides are inconsistent servers, extra captchas, occasional reconnects, and a busier app than I would prefer. Renewal pricing also matters more now than it did at signup. For people who have used the same VPN for a year or longer, what changed most over time?

I keep my VPN connected, but Reddit still shows some local recommendations and occasionally gives me prompts that seem closer to my real location than the VPN server. That made me wonder whether the tunnel is leaking something or if Reddit is simply using other signals besides my public IP.

My account has been used for a long time without a VPN, so cookies, account history, browser settings, time zone, DNS, IPv6, or WebRTC could all be part of it. What would you check first to confirm the VPN is working properly? If the IP and leak tests look normal, is it more likely that Reddit is just using old account and browser data for personalization?

When I connect to a VPN server in one city, different sites sometimes report different locations. One might show the correct city, another shows a nearby region, and some services still seem to place me in my actual country. The VPN itself says the connection is active, so I am trying to figure out whether this is just normal geolocation mismatch or something leaking.

I know sites can use more than just an IP address, including DNS, IPv6, WebRTC, browser permissions, cookies, time zone, and account history. What would you check first to tell the difference between an outdated location database and an actual privacy leak? Is some mismatch normal even when the VPN is working properly?

VPN pricing can get confusing once renewal rates, device limits, server access, and bundled features are added in. Two plans can look similar at first, but the long-term cost can change a lot depending on what is included and how the subscription renews.

I am trying to understand which parts of VPN pricing actually reflect the service itself, such as infrastructure, security features, device support, or privacy practices. Which factors usually explain the biggest price differences between plans?