The past few years have been tough for online rights activists in India. The country has seen a significant increase in online censorship with even international services like Netflix giving in to government demands.

At the same time, the Government has also handed itself sweeping new powers to carry out mass online surveillance on the Indian people. No fewer than ten different government agencies now have the ability to snoop on users internet data.

It is therefore little wonder that VPN use in India is on the rise.

But which VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the best for people in the sub-continent?

In this article, we reveal the results of our independent tests and also give you the lowdown on which VPN to use for specific tasks too.

How to choose a VPN for India

Selecting the best VPN for India is a tricky task. There is no shortage of providers that claim to be the best, but the reality is that a lot of them are not up to the job.

Our experience and user feedback have identified many critical features that most Indian VPN users should look out for when choosing their provider. These are:

• Strong encryption – to ensure that the Government and other prying eyes can’t see what you are doing online.
• No user logs guarantee – if you want to be sure your data is private; a reliable no user logs guarantee is essential.
• Fast connection speeds – regular internet speeds in India can vary, so you don’t want to lose speed with your VPN. Always look for a provider with the fast and reliable connection speeds.
• Local Servers – If you want to get around state censorship, you will want a VPN with plenty of India VPN servers and some in regional countries which don’t censor the internet.
• Cost–effective – Many Indian people are put off a VPN by the price. But by looking for great deals and money-back guarantees, even the best VPN can become affordable.
• Multiple concurrent connections – One way to save money is to look for a Virtual Private Network that allows multiple simultaneous connections and then share your service with family and friends.

Top 7 Indian VPNs

Using these features as a starting point, we have tested all the best VPNs for India. The results are in and these are our top seven recommended VPN providers for India.

1. ExpressVPN – Top pick for India
2. NordVPN
3. IPVanish
4. CyberGhost VPN
5. VyprVPN
6. Surfshark
7. ProtonVPN

Below you can read more in detail about each provider.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a clear winner and without a doubt our top recommendation for Indian internet users this year. Their combination of security, privacy, and speed makes them the perfect VPN for most Indians.

ExpressVPN boasts 256-bit AES encryption as standard. This encryption level is on a par with what most governments use to keep their data safe and few offer stronger.

They offer great security features too such as DNS leak protection, a kill switch, split tunneling, and more.

They are also based offshore, in the British Virgin Islands, which means they are not subjected to intrusive privacy laws and their no logs guarantee is assured.

ExpressVPN has a massive number of servers, with many available in India, but also lots in neighbouring countries too.

Their speeds are up there with the very best too and ExpressVPN lives up to its name, offering some of the fastest VPN server choices on the VPN market.

They are not the cheapest VPN you will find, but you can make significant savings if you sign up for longer and they do have a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can also connect up to five devices simultaneously.

ExpressVPN is the best India VPN provider around.

Our #1 Recommended Choice for India

30-day money back guarantee

2. NordVPN

If there was one VPN that ran ExpressVPN close in these tests, it was NordVPN.

Their service was almost on a par with ExpressVPN and they also had the bonus of being cheaper to use, especially if you sign up for two years or more.

NordVPN is also based offshore, in Panama, so privacy with them is every bit as good as with ExpressVPN.

Their encryption is on par too, with 256-bit AES encryption on offer alongside a whole host of other security features also such as a double VPN (double IP address change), internet kill switch, split tunneling, dedicated IP addresses, and DNS leak protection.

Speeds with NordVPN are high thanks to their recent investment in upgrading their server network. This network is a pretty big one too, with no shortage of servers in India and the South Asia region.

NordVPN also offers six connections at once. If you want a value-for-money VPN in India, you could do a lot worse than NordVPN.

All of the above makes NordVPN one of the best VPN services available.

3. IPVanish

If sharing the cost with friends for a quality VPN is tempting, then IPVanish will be the perfect provider for you. They offer unlimited simultaneous connections with every account meaning they are perfect for sharing with family and friends.

The price does not come at the expense of other areas of their service either. Their encryption is on a par with the others on this list, with 256-bit AES available.

Their privacy policies have come under a bit of scrutiny over the past twelve months, but from the evidence we have seen so far, we are still willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

The IPVanish server network isn’t quite as big as NordVPN or ExpressVPN, but it is still a good size and includes plenty of servers in South Asia. Their speeds are pretty decent too and while they are not the cheapest VPN around, they are not the most expensive either.

If you’re looking for one of the best India VPN companies, then IPVanish has your back.

4. CyberGhost VPN

If you are new to VPNs and a bit wary of them, then CyberGhost VPN is going to be the best choice for you. Their dedicated apps are tailored to help first-time users get their VPN software up and running quickly and easily.

CyberGhost have over 7300 server locations, including 32 servers in India. There large number of servers is made up of physically located servers and virtual server options. Each location with a large IP address offering.

This user-friendly strategy compliments what is another very good all-around VPN. Their privacy policies are sound while like the others on this list, they also have 256-bit AES encryption available.

The VPN internet connection speeds are pretty good too, without setting any records. Their VPN server network is not bad either with plenty of VPN servers in India and various other south Asian countries available.

They even offer smart DNS services for extra help streaming overseas content. You can use the smart DNS service to access streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, and more.

CyberGhost also allows up to seven simultaneous connections with every account. For the price, there is little doubt that CyberGhost offers excellent value to Indian users, especially for beginners.

They also offer a huge 45 day money back guarantee, so you can try their service without any risk.

CyberGhost is one of the best India VPN providers out there.

5. VyprVPN

Privacy is a significant attraction for VPN users in India and VyprVPN is one of the best VPNs for India if that’s what you are after.

They are one of few providers on this list that has had their no user logs guarantee independently audited and verified. No logs mean that you can be sure VyprVPN is keeping no records of what you are doing online.

Elsewhere, they are an established VPN that hit the market average in most of what they do. Their server network is reasonable and includes a good selection in India and the surrounding region. Speeds are consistent, but they are not the fastest in the world.

Their encryption is also 256-bit AES which means it is robust and reliable enough to keep your data secure too. Prices are mid-range, but if it is guaranteed privacy you are after, VyprVPN can certainly offer that.

The above makes VyprVPN one of the best VPNs for India.

6. Surfshark

Surfshark VPN is one of the most reliable VPNs of the younger generation. It may not be as old as other leading VPN providers, but it is certainly capable enough to be listed among them.

This VPN offers around 3,200+ server locations in more than 65 countries, with local server locations around India.

However, apart from India, it also has server locations in numerous countries in this area. This includes the likes of Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, and more.

In terms of devices, it offers dedicated apps for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and a VPN Chrome extension and also one for FireFox.

It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and some of the cheapest prices around, making Surfshark a brilliant India VPN.

7. ProtonVPN

Lastly, we have ProtonVPN, a Switzerland-based service that is easily one of the most reliable VPNs when it comes to private internet access.

It is protected by strict Swiss privacy laws, which also protect you, the user. You can use it on Windows, iOS, Android, Mac, and Linux, and just in case you don’t like it, it also features a 30-day money-back guarantee.

In terms of servers, ProtonVPN does not have as many of them as others on this list, but it still offers good coverage.

There are 1315 servers in total, with server locations in 55 countries. There are multiple servers in India, as well as other countries not too far away. Some examples include Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan.

ProtonVPN offers great security features such as a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and all of the other features you’d hope to see from a premium VPN.

ProtonVPN is a great India VPN for you to use.

Which VPN is best for you?

From our testing, ExpressVPN is the best overall India VPN for you. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best VPN provider for everyone.

If you have specific priorities or spend most of your time doing certain things online, then it may be that another provider is better suited to your needs.

Here are a few examples of which VPN is best for what:

Keeping data private

If you want to protect your online data from Indian government surveillance, ExpressVPN is our top recommendation, although VyprVPN has an independently audited no user logs guarantee which makes them a good bet too.

Bypass state censorship

If you want to bypass online restrictions and make your own decisions over whether something is pornographic, blasphemous, or otherwise offensive, ExpressVPN is again a good bet although, in our tests, NordVPN was able to unblock slightly more.

Streaming US Netflix/BBC iPlayer

If you want to stream US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or any other overseas streaming service, then you can be confident that NordVPN will be able to unblock streaming services with ease.

P2P

If you like to torrent media files, then all of our VPNs should be able to help, but for their combination of speed and security, ExpressVPN or NordVPN are your best bets.

Connecting multiple devices

If you want to share the cost of a VPN with friends of family IPVanish’s unlimited concurrent connections makes them the best choice. Alternatively, CyberGhost VPN offers seven simultaneous connections making them the next best bet.

Beginner-friendly

If you want a simple and easy-to-use VPN, CyberGhost VPN is the top choice thanks to its terrific user-friendly mobile apps.

Top reasons to use a VPN in India

If you are still not convinced that you should use a VPN in India, here are some reasons why we believe it to be a good idea:

1) Privacy

First things first – privacy.

If you live in India, or you wish to move, or even just travel there, you should be aware that there is no express legislation in the country dealing with data protection. With no laws to protect you, it is up to you to do it yourself.

With a VPN, you can do it, as it will encrypt and hide your online traffic from view. That way, you can avoid online surveillance, safely use public hotspots, and more.

While the country doesn’t have a data protection law, it still offers you the right to maintain privacy, so you are allowed to protect yourself.

2) Public Wi-Fi

We briefly mentioned public Wi-Fi already, but for those who often tend to use them, VPN is nothing short of a necessity.

As you may know, public Wi-Fi is not safe anywhere in the world, including India.

Whether you use it in a hotel, a coffee shop, park, or even places like airports you never know who else might be using it and whether they are a danger to you.

The country’s government agency, Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in) warned that browsing public Wi-Fi at airports or railway stations can leave you vulnerable to cyber attacks, so definitely keep in mind to use a VPN if you connect to it.

3) Unblock home or abroad TV

Next, you can, and should, also use VPN to unblock various local and foreign TV services.

Some examples in India include Sonyliv, Hotstar, Voot, and others, which you get to unblock with a VPN from outside of the country.

Meanwhile, if you are in India, and you wish to watch some overseas TV from America, the UK, Canada, and other countries a VPN can help you with that.

You can now easily watch the US Netflix, or BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, and many others simply by connecting to the right location.

4) Unblock websites

Just like unblocking TV, you can also unblock various websites that might be censored in India. There are a lot of sites that the government decided to deny you access to.

Some examples of the websites that are blocked include:

• Torrent websites
• Media and video streaming sites
• File storage services
• Cloud sharing
• Music sites
• Adult content sites
• Any website that breaks copyright laws

You can unblock these sites, and others, with VPN services, such as the ones mentioned on our list. You’ll also be able to access hidden dark web sites by using your VPN with the Tor Network.

With India banning thousands of websites, you really need a reliable VPN service to enjoy the open internet.

Is there a free VPN for India?

Using free VPN services does sound rather tempting, but you must resist the temptation because free VPNs are a privacy nightmare.

Creating a competent VPN means paying for servers, technology, and the staff that run it all and manage it. This is something that free VPNs cannot do since they don’t get the money from their users.

So, free services have bad quality security.

When it comes to a free VPN, slow speeds are expected because they can only afford a small number of servers which are usually heavily overcrowded.

Lastly, the “free” service still needs to be paid, which is why the majority of them use their own service as data farms. Free VPNs also collect data from their users and then sell it to advertisers.

Even though a free VPN works, your privacy will be basically non-existent, which defeats the very purpose of using a VPN.

Most free services such as Hotspot shield have a data cap, meaning it won’t be suitable for streaming video from the likes of your favourite Indian Streaming Services e.g. Voot.

Some of them may even try to do things the right way, but they don’t have the funds to do it, such as SuperVPN, which was recently found to have a major vulnerability that could allow hackers to perform MITM attacks.

If this wasn’t enough to put you off, most free VPNs won’t offer much needed online security features such as a kill switch, double VPN, free DNS service, DNS and IP address leak protection, split tunneling, and 256 bit encryption.

This can leave your internet traffic vulnerable.

So what’s the best free VPN? There isn’t one, stay away from the likes of Hotspot Shield and stick to a premium VPN such as ExpressVPN.

Is using a VPN illegal in India?

Fortunately, it is not.

Using a India VPN is perfectly legal, as you have the right to protect your privacy, and VPNs are offered as privacy apps.

In a way, using a VPN is not much different than using antivirus software, although you should not make a mistake and think that a VPN is a good alternative for antivirus.

India has no laws regarding the usage of a VPN.

There are activities that you can do online, which would be considered illegal, whether or not you use one of the VPN services mentioned above.

Just because you may have a VPN, it doesn’t mean that that will change, so as long as you don’t commit copyright infringement, the creation of pirated content, fraud, or some other illegal action with a VPN then you are free to use it in any way you see fit.

Which is the best VPN server for India?

If you’re wondering where you should connect, we’ve broken it down for you:

1. Accessing local services

Accessing Indian services from outside of India can often pose a problem due to certain sites being regionally restricted.

Whether you’re trying to access local Indian TV services or government websites, you’ll need to use a VPN to connect to an Indian location.

By doing so you’ll gain access to the likes of Voot (the extremely popular Indian subscription on-demand service). You can also use your connection to access Indian Netflix from anywhere in the world, giving you the comforts of home while you’re abroad.

Verdict: Connect to India.

2. Privacy protection

Online privacy is a big deal in today’s society. If you want to use the internet safely, without putting your information at risk, then you’ll want to connect to a VPN server.

An Indian VPN connection (Indian IP address) will work perfectly for this purpose.

For example, if you’re in a local cafe using free Wi-Fi, then you should always use a VPN.

Wi-Fi cafe’s and free Wi-Fi hotspots are a hackers paradise, by using a VPN connection you’ll stop them in their tracks, protecting your data along the way.

You’ll also be able to unlock certain websites that require a local Indian IP address such as your school or work websites.

Verdict: Connect to an Indian connection.

3. Accessing overseas games

If you’re a gamer, then you’ll probably know by now that a lot of games have been banned in India such as PUBG, Clash Of Kings, Rules Of Survival, and even Fallout 3.

To access games such as the above and many more that are currently banned or blocked in India, you’ll need to use a VPN to connect to a nearby country like Singapore, Hong Kong, or somewhere where these games are still available (giving you a new IP address).

Connecting to a server in a nearby country is recommended as this will ensure you received the fastest speeds which are preferable for online gaming.

You’ll also be able to unblock mobile apps too such as the PUBG gaming app and more from the google play store or Apple store.

Verdict: Connect to a nearby country such as Singapore, Hong Kong, etc.

4. Unblocking TV content

If you’re looking to access new TV content from popular streaming sites then the best server to connect to will depend on the content you want to access.

However, generally, the US, Canada, UK, and Australia have the best premium and free TV services available.

For example, if you want to access a supercharged version of Netflix, then connecting to the US is recommended. They have a much larger selection of movies and TV shows compared to Netflix India.

The US also has other popular services such as Peacock TV, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max.

You can also get a huge host of free TV services such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, etc by joining a UK connection. Or you may wish to join an Australian server to unblock the ever so popular 7Plus and TenPlay.

These are just a few of the options out there for you, but using a VPN service opens up your options.

Verdict: Connect to the US, UK, Canada, or Australia.

5. Avoiding censorship

If you’re like me and like to surf the internet without any censorship, then you’ll want to connect to a VPN server located outside of India (always pick a country that protects freedom of speech).

Pretty much all governments collect “user data” on their citizens (data retention laws) and actively monitor you web traffic. This is not OK, and leaves your private information at the mercy of the local government, and who knows what they do with it.

By using a VPN for connecting to another region, you’ll be able to mask your internet activity and browse the internet partly anonymously. Not even your internet provider will know what you’re doing online.

This will also help you bypass internet restrictions on blocked or censored sites and give you the ability to speak more freely without being closely monitored by the government.

Verdict: Connect to the US, UK, Canada, or Australia.

In Summary

It has never been more critical to have a VPN in India and our exclusive tests have made it even easier for you to choose the best one for you.

Our number one recommendation is ExpressVPN, which we believe offers the best combination of privacy protection, security, and fast speeds for Indian users.

But, as we have explained, if you have specific needs it could be that another provider is better suited for you. We have outlined a few scenarios and made some suggestions for you.

The bottom line is that if you want to be private and secure while going online in India, you need a VPN these days. Any of the ones on this list will do the job, but ExpressVPN is your best all-round choice.

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• How to watch BBC iPlayer in India
• Best VPN to watch American Netflix
• How to unblock adult sites in India

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