
When you think of Finland, you probably think of the vast wilderness full of national parks, ski resorts, and not to forget the magical Lapland.
Whether you are travelling through Finland or merely a resident, it is good practice to use a VPN when connecting your devices to the internet.
The big question is… “Which VPN?”.
You’re not alone in asking this and below I’ll be rounding up the leading choices for use there.
I’ll also cover many of the top reasons for using a VPN specifically in Finland later in the article.
But, before we get down to that, I am going to show you the VPN services you should be considering.
Table of Contents
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the world’s leading VPN services, with over 3000 servers located all around the globe, including Finland.
There are also servers in nearby countries, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the UK. So you will never struggle to find a connection.
They also have one of the best track records in the business and have a strict no-logs policy that has been audited by a third-party company proving that they don’t keep any logs of your data at all. This is an excellent sign.
With a range of dedicated apps for most devices such as Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, and others, you will be able to use it with ease without the need to set up the VPN manually.
Along with the split tunnelling feature allowing you to choose which apps make use of the VPN connection and a built-in kill switch to cut your connection should your VPN drop, your data is in excellent hands.
Plus if you aren’t happy with their service they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so your choice is risk-free.
Our #1 VPN for Finland
30-day money back guarantee
2. NordVPN
Over recent years NordVPN has become one of the worlds largest VPN services. They offer a staggering 5376+ servers worldwide and have over 40 servers available for you to connect to in Finland.
NordVPN has some brilliant features such as their dedicated IP servers which allocates you a personalised IP address so that you are the only person using it at the time. They also allow you to use a double IP switch that passes your connection through two locations.
Like ExpressVPN above they have a no-log policy which has been audited so what you do while connected remains your business.
There’s also a 30-day money back guarantee so you’ve got plenty of time to test the service.
3. CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN offers a large 6200+ servers worldwide including 35 that are based in Finland, so you will be able to find a fast and secure connection within your region and in nearby countries across Europe.
With CyberGhost VPN you can connect up to 7 devices simultaneously which will be more than enough to cover your devices.
They also offer a huge 45-day money-back guarantee you will be able to try CyberGhost VPN before you are fully committed, it’s risk-free.
Apps are available for all devices and they work well with most of the popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and more.
4. Surfshark
If you want a VPN that gives you the most bang for your buck, then Surfshark VPN is the one for you.
With their meagre prices and the ability to connect an unlimited amount of your devices to the VPN simultaneously, you will be delighted with what they have to offer.
Surfshark also offers a feature they call “Camouflage Mode” that will hide the fact you are using a VPN from your ISP (Internet Service Provider), so even they won’t know you are using a VPN.
Along with a 30-day money-back guarantee, some neat apps and the ability to unlock more than 15 regions of Netflix, they’re certainly one that impress.
5. PrivateInternetAccess
PrivateInternetAccess (PIA) has been in the VPN business for over ten years, so you can rest assured that they know what they are doing when it comes to keeping your data safe and secure.
They have a strict no-log policy, so your data couldn’t be shared even if the government requested it.
With approximately 2000 servers worldwide, including servers located in Finland, you will find a secure connection with ease.
PrivateInternetAccess gives you the ability to pay for your subscription using gift cards, meaning you don’t have to share personal payment details with the VPN service, helping protect your anonymity.
6. VPN.ac
VPN.ac pride themselves on being able to offer a complete in-house service.
This means that no third party companies have developed or built the VPN, and the same people who helped make the VPN infrastructure are the same people who run customer support.
This isn’t often the case with various pieces of the service outsourced. If you’re a bit of a techie, then this is certainly the service for you.
The money back guarantee is a little on the short side at 7 days but they’ve offered a robust and reliable service for many years so it should be plenty of time to test it for your needs.
7. VyprVPN
VyprVPN is a fully audited no-log policy VPN that offers high-speed connections that are ideal for streaming HD video content.
They offer a 24/7 customer service and a 30-day money-back guarantee for the unlikely event that you aren’t happy with their service.
VyprVPN’s Chameleon feature will help you bypass any censorship that might be in place and help bypass restrictions on any networks you connect to in Finland.
Keeping your internet experience the way it should be… completely free and unrestricted.
Why do I need a VPN for Finland?
There are many hundreds of different reasons for wanting to use a VPN in Finland but below I’ll discuss some of the most common ones.
1. Online Surveillance
Online surveillance is widespread across the world and one of the biggest reasons why internet users are turning to VPN services.
In 2018 the Finnish government passed two laws that would allow intelligence agencies to track messaging services for the purpose of collecting data and to intercept messages that have been sent between people.
The problem with the new laws is that they are open to abuse, meaning authorities can intercept your data even if you are not suspected of a crime to collect what they are calling “Human Intelligence”.
The new laws also give the authorities powers to track activities abroad now too, so if you are a resident of Finland, your activity abroad can also be logged.
I don’t know about you, but this makes me feel somewhat uneasy. Your private messages should remain precisely that… private.
Luckily for you, a VPN will go some way to keep you off the government’s radar and will unlock any restricted content, giving you that extra layer of security when it comes to your data.
2. Online privacy
In modern society, your data is worth more than you may think and companies such as your ISP and marketing businesses will retain as much of it as they can.
With the laws now in place in Finland (mentioned above), your privacy is exposed more than ever.
Businesses will also profit from using online trackers to collect your browsing data to help them with their marketing.
While this might not do much harm, it does mean your information will be stored on servers located in various locations and will be open to attack by hackers.
A VPN will help you protect some of your data from falling into the wrong hands, and keep you out of the government’s eyes.
3. Enhance streaming
When it comes to accessing overseas streaming services, you will require a VPN.
A VPN will open up streaming platforms from all around the world, such as HBO Max, Peacock, and many others.
You will also be able to access other Netflix regions that will give you a HUGE amount of additional content that you usually wouldn’t have access to.
If you are a Finnish resident who is travelling abroad, you will find that you can’t access Yle Areena (which is available only in Finland). Still, with a VPN you will be able to set your location to Finland and trick the streaming platform into giving you access.
It’s worth noting though that not all VPN services would allow you to unlock Finnish Netflix specifically and you would need to check with the service provider before signing up.
4. Improve poor routes
In some circumstances, using a VPN will actually help with your internet’s connection speeds.
Certain routes cause our connections to some sites to be slower than expected, but by using a VPN to change the route, it can speed up the connection speeds you are receiving.
Also, by sending your data down a different route, you can often bypass any problems a site might be having.
For example, if Facebook goes down across Europe, then you can connect to a server in the US and still have access to the site.
This comes in very handy, indeed.
Is there a free VPN for Finland?
There are plenty of free VPN services that you could use. However, I strongly recommend that you avoid them.
In June last year, a “free” VPN service earned over $100,000 in a month.
Think about that for a moment… for a so-called “free” service that’s not a bad amount of money.
The truth is, most services like this earn money in two ways, through intrusive advertisement or selling user data such as usage statistics and more.
Not only that, but it has been documented that up to 18% of free VPN services failed to encrypt users data, meaning it was pointless using it, and a rather sizeable 38% of the free VPNs injected user’s devices with dangerous malware.
This is far from an ideal situation and is not worth the risk at all. You would be best off using a premium VPN service that can provide you with the security you need.
Is using a VPN in Finland illegal?
In Finland the use of a VPN is legal, so you can rest assured that you aren’t going to get into trouble by using one… Unless you are performing illegal activities, but that one is on you.
Protecting your data is your legal right in Finland. In 2018 cyberespionage shot up by 2800% during the Trump-Putin summit as Chinese hackers tried to hack Finnish devices to gain footage of the meeting.
While the use of a VPN is legal, the government has enforced rules on ISP’s to block websites that promote file-sharing (such as torrent sites) or online gambling websites.
How to get a Finnish IP Address?
Follow the three simple steps below to get yourself a Finnish IP address.
- Firstly, you will need to visit the ExpressVPN website, select the package you want, and enter your details in the boxes provided.
- Once your payment has gone through, download and install the ExpressVPN app to your device and log in using your username & password.
- Select a server/connection point located in Finland and click the Connect button. This will give you a new Finnish IP address that will help you surf the web semi-anonymously.
Summary
A combination of new surveillance laws and a large number of cyber-attacks in Finland leaves you and your data open to abuse by the government and criminals.
To protect yourself and your information, you will need to use a VPN.
The best VPN for you to use in Finland is ExpressVPN.
Their high speeds are perfect for streaming video content and their strict no-log policy that has been fully audited by a third party proves that they are a trustworthy VPN service which does what they say.
Plus they’ve got a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try their service before committing fully.