If China is the most dangerous place in the world to go online freely using a VPN, Russia unquestionably runs it a close second.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s kleptocratic regime has overseen an illegal annexation of Crimea, attempts to poison critics with chemical weapons on British soil, and treatment of opposition figures such as Alexei Navalny. Then, of course, there is the invasion of Ukraine early in 2022.

For the people of Russia, this means they have a choice between compliance or keeping their heads down. And when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine stalled amid huge losses, this became even more important.

There was a time when the internet offered an escape route to be open about their views and critical of the regime that controls them.

But in recent years, Putin has moved to put a stop to this. Russian Internet Service Providers are controlled by the state, VPN services are heavily controlled, and Russian internet censorship blocks much of the free internet and restricts people’s ability to access websites.

They have even tested a system that would allow Russia, like China, to remove its national intranet from the global internet entirely.

For Russian citizens who want to enjoy internet freedom, escape Russian censorship, and use the internet openly, a VPN for Russia is essential.

But Putin has made it much harder to find a safe and secure VPN by banning VPNs that don’t store data in Russia and blocking VPN websites.

In this guide, we will tell Russian readers which VPNs are the best VPN for Russia right now and also tell you everything you need to know about using a Russian VPN to access the internet safely inside Putin’s Russia.

Best VPN for Russia

Let’s begin with a rundown of the top 7 VPNs for Russia:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is still unquestionably the number 1 VPN for Russia.

The ExpressVPN service has VPN server locations in 94 countries.

While there isn’t a Russian server option, there are plenty in neighbouring countries which is ideal as most people inside Russia are trying to avoid having a Russian IP address to get around Russian government internet censorship anyway

ExpressVPN’s connection speeds are excellent, which is important since many users will be connecting over longer distances. In our tests, they outpaced the speeds of almost all other providers.

If you want to access Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and other streaming sites, ExpressVPN works well too.

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands.

Being based in the British Virgin Islands means that ExpressVPN is not subject to any data retention laws, which along with their strict no logs policy, which has been independently audited, is excellent news for your privacy.

A built-in kill switch is available on ExpressVPN and also DNS leak protection (against DNS requests), cutting your internet instantly if you lose connection to your VPN server. There is also unlimited bandwidth, which ideal for streaming content and other data intensive activity.

ExpressVPN also has one of the largest ranges of user-friendly apps available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV devices and more. Even better, you can connect up to five devices simultaneously too.

If you are looking for a reliable VPN that will let you use the internet safely and freely inside Russia, ExpressVPN is the best choice for you.

Our #1 Recommended VPN

30-day money back guarantee

2. NordVPN

If you are looking for a cost-effective premium VPN that is packed full of features, NordVPN could be the one for you.

It is one of the easiest VPN services around to use, with some of the best-designed apps on the market available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick.

The NordVPN service offers 5,538 servers in total, which is more than most other VPN providers. There are not currently any Russian server options but there are plenty in neighbouring countries.

Streaming services work well on NordVPN too. You can access the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, and other major streaming services with ease.

NordVPN is secure too. This VPN encrypts all your data with 256-bit AES ‘military-grade’ encryption.

It is packed with security features, including a NAT firewall on all its servers to protect against malicious attacks, a double VPN feature that lets you connect via two VPN servers for extra protection, split tunneling, an effective kill switch, and much more.

This will protect all your online traffic from prying eyes of both the Russian government and your internet provider too.

NordVPN is an independently verified zero logs VPN and is based offshore too.

Compared to most major VPN providers, NordVPN is seriously cheap too and with a 30-day money-back guarantee and excellent customer support, Russian internet traffic is safe on this VPN.

3. CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN has significantly improved its service in recent years, but it still goes somewhat under the radar, meaning that of all the VPNs available, it is one of the best VPNs for Russia.

Their user-friendly apps are available on all the most popular devices and are among the most user-friendly around. If you are a VPN beginner, CyberGhost is an excellent bet as you can choose what you want to do and they will set everything else up for you automatically.

CyberGhost has more than 7,000 VPN connections across the world. Unlike the top two on this list, CyberGhost still offers some servers in Russia.

These will allow Russian users to log on securely with a Russian IP address, access Russian content and streaming services, unblock social media sites located in Russia, and watch Russian TV.

However, it pays to be wary of servers located in Russia due to the Russian authorities and make sure no Russian ISPs get wind of your VPN either.

CyberGhost also works with other popular streaming services and we had no trouble unlocking many Netflix libraries, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.

As well as speed and ease of use, CyberGhost has robust 256-bit AES encryption, a sound no user logs guarantee (although not independently verified), a vitally important kill switch, leak protection and other features, plus you can use CyberGhost on just about any device you like.

CyberGhost comes with a huge 45-day money-back guarantee which is more than most. You can also use the service on up to 7 devices simultaneously.

CyberGhost is an impressive Russia VPN option that does the basics very well indeed and ticks all the right boxes for Russian citizens.

4. Surfshark

Surfshark VPN held out for a long time against Putin’s VPN ban but it has now withdrawn its servers in Russia meaning that it is not possible to spoof Russian IP Addresses with this VPN software.

That’s not to say that Surfshark isn’t an excellent VPN for Russia. Surfshark has excellent connection speeds, plenty of server locations around the world with more than 3,200 servers in over 95 countries.

Surfshark offers easy to use dedicated apps for many of the most popular devices such as iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, macOS, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and even browser extensions.

It claims it has a no-logging policy and stores no user data or user activity, but while some parts of the service have been audited, this doesn’t extend to the no-log policy yet.

A standout feature of Surfshark VPN is the fact that you can have unlimited simultaneous connections with your subscription.

Surfshark is another VPN that is packed with security features too including a built-in Whitelister feature that allows you to give certain apps or sites permission to bypass your VPN via split tunneling, a built-in kill switch to prevent any of your web traffic personal data from leaking, and various other features that enhance your VPN protection.

Surfshark VPN is compatible with most major streaming sites, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. If you want to be unblocking social media platforms or streaming sites in Russia or beyond, Surfshark is an excellent choice.

Surfshark is also located in the British Virgin Islands, which means your online privacy is protected too.

If that wasn’t enough, there is also a money-back guarantee that runs for 30 days, a superb customer support service, and some low, low prices too. Surfshark is undeniably one of the best VPNs for Russia.

5. VyprVPN

VyprVPN has been one of the top rated VPN services for many years and its commitment to offering a no-log service proven by an audit as well as a huge network of servers has made them very popular.

VyprVPN has VPN servers in more than 700 locations around the world including Russia. This expansive server network means VyprVPN is great for accessing streaming sites and social media platforms, as well as bypassing the Russian VPN ban.

The VyprVPN service comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a great dedicated customer support service that includes live chat customer support.

Security features include their own Chameleon stealth VPN protocol and 256-bit AES ‘military grade’ encryption that offers protection against Russian authorities snooping on your activity and online censorship.

It has been specifically designed to bypass deep packet inspection and other techniques used by regimes like the one in Russia.

VyprVPN comes with an outstanding privacy policy, competitive prices and really is one of the best VPNs for Russia out there.

6. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland and is fully compliant with the country’s stringent privacy laws making it a great VPN for Russia.

The ProtonVPN service offers server coverage in 63 countries, including in St. Petersberg, Russia. It has one of the most extensive ranges of double-hop VPN servers around, unlimited bandwidth, and works with most streaming services too.

ProtonVPN comes with a strict no-logs privacy policy, a kill switch, split tunneling and several other useful features.

If the name is more familiar to you than some other premium VPN companies, that is because it is run by the same team who operate the popular ProtonMail encrypted email service.

It is available on all the popular systems, like Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS and you can connect up to ten devices simultaneously.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee, a free test option, and some terrific low prices if you choose the right package.

7. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is an established VPN that offers some of the lowest prices around while protecting user data and offering a colossal VPN server network.

This consists of more than 31,000+ servers in 84 countries, but not Russia unfortuantely, and you can use it to protect up to ten devices simultaneously.

Private Internet Access lets you access blocked sites and also view many different streaming services with ease.

It offers robust encryption and a strict no logs policy which has been confirmed through an audit by Libsodium.

PIA comes with a great range of mobile apps for iOS and Android devices as well as desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

PIA is another good Russia VPN provider for Russian internet users.

How we choose our recommended VPNs

Our team has been working long and hard with colleagues on the ground in Russia to reach a definitive conclusion about what are the best Virtual Private Network options inside Russia.

When drawing our conclusions, we considered a number of key features that most Russian VPN users would be on the lookout for. These included:

Strong Encryption

We looked for a VPN service that offered a minimum of 256-bit AES encryption and the most robust encryption keys.

This is considered ‘military grade’ and should be too strong for Russian government agencies like the Federal Security Service (FSS) and your internet service provider to crack and so guarantee strong VPN protection.

VPN use is banned in Russia so strong encryption is essential.

Effective Privacy Protections

Russian VPN users will all want to keep their online activity private and hide their real IP Address, so we looked for VPNs with a trustworthy no user logs guarantee, ideally which had been independently audited and approved.

This will guarantee your VPN traffic and any IP Addresses you use are not logged and will stay private.

Security Features

For many Russian internet users, security is paramount, so we looked for things that will keep you safe online in Russia, especially if you VPN connection drops out. Things like:

• Kill switch
• DNS leak protection
• Split tunneling

Server Network

Some users will want servers in Russia that are safe to use. But others will prioritise no servers in Russia but nearby to get around state censorship and be able to exercise free speech online.

In our list, there are VPNs that offer Russian servers and a VPN IP Address in Russia, but other that don’t as your needs demand.

Apps

Everyone uses different devices to get online, so we have only included a recommended VPN in Russia that offers a decent selection of apps for the most popular devices in Russia as well as browser extensions and other options too.

We have also looked online at providers who offer multiple or even unlimited simultaneous connections to let you connect all your devices up.

Streaming

Russian internet users like to stream TV shows and movies so we looked out for VPNs in Russia that can access Netflix and other popular streaming sites and have no data caps or speed restrictions that might affect your viewing pleasure.

Affordability

The nature of Putin’s Russia means that many people are not cash rich, especially if they oppose the regime.

We have therefore looked for VPNs for Russia that are cost-effective and also those with a decent money-back guarantee.

Choosing the best VPN for Russia

We have outlined our pick of the best VPNs for Russia in the previous section and gone into some detail about why they are recommended.

But while we have opted for ExpressVPN as our top overall recommendation, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best VPN for you. This will depend on what you get up to online and your VPN usage.

To give you a more precise indication of which VPNs might be most suitable for you, we have outlined a few popular options:

Access blocked content

If you want to access content that restricted by internet censorship or otherwise blocked inside Russia, then of the best VPN’s in this guide, ExpressVPN is the best VPN in Russia for you.

Get online in Russia safely

The Russian government routinely surveils everyone’s online activity and the punishment for breaking their rules and exercising free speech can be serious.

If you want to evade this surveillance but still have a Russian IP address to access geo-restricted content, CyberGhost VPN or VyprVPN are your best options.

Stream overseas content

If you want to unblock overseas content such as the BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and Amazon Prime video, the best choice of VPN in Russia for you is ExpressVPN.

Large server network

If you are looking for a VPN in Russia that lets you switch to as many overseas IP addresses as possible while still enjoying VPN protection, then we would recommend VyprVPN.

Security Features

If security matters to you and you want to do everything you can to use a VPN risk free, NordVPN offers a huge range of features as well as a strict no logs policy to ensure your security and privacy are protected.

How do I get a Russian VPN?

Once you have chosen the right VPN provider for you, the next step is to get it set up and working on your system. This may not be as easy as you might think.

Since the recent VPN ban in Russia, some of the VPNs on our list will have their websites blocked inside Russia and getting a VPN subscription may be tricky.

However, this isn’t a big problem as they all operate proxy websites that will not be blocked and a quick search on a (preferably non-Russian) search engine or a forum like Reddit should turn up one of these proxy address pretty quickly – just look for ‘ExpressVPN proxy website address‘.

If you are hyper-cautious because you are an active opponent to the Putin regime, we would probably advise that you try and download and install your VPN app while outside the country.

Consider using the free plan on ProtonVPN or a free trial elsewhere to protect your internet connection while signing up instead.

Once you have access to the website, its quick and simple to get things up and running.

Here is a simple step-by-step guide to help you, using ExpressVPN as an example (all VPNs will follow a similar process):

1. Visit the ExpressVPN website and choose your preferred subscription package.
2. Follow the online instructions to sign up.
3. Download the ExpressVPN app – be sure to do this either from your chosen app store or from the ExpressVPN website.
4. Open the app and log-in to your account using the details you gave at the end of step 2.
5. Connect to ExpressVPN by either clicking Quick Connect to connect to the fastest available server or choosing a server in your preferred location and then clicking Connect.
6. Wait a few seconds for the connection to be established and then you can use the internet as usual, safe in the knowledge that your data is secure and private.

If you have any problems connecting, try selecting a different server and try to connect again. You won’t usually have to try with more than one or two servers before things are working.

Alternatively, you can try different protocols in the settings area.

If the problem persists, the simplest thing is to contact customer support for assistance.

For users in Russia, we would also recommend ensuring that the kill switch feature is enabled. This can be done through the settings menu of most VPNs, including ExpressVPN.

This ensures that if your VPN connection does drop out for any reason, your data won’t be exposed.

Should I use free VPNs in Russia?

The short answer to this question is no. The long answer is definitely no!

A quick online search will turn up hundreds of free VPNs, which claim to be the best options for users inside Russia and they may seem attractive, especially if you are on a budget.

But the stark reality is that using a free service presents a number of serious security issues and in a place like Russia, it is simply not worth the risk.

The list of issues with free VPNs is a long one.

Firstly, they almost always come with service restrictions of one kind or another. This can be data limits or bandwidth caps which means you can only do so much on them a month and almost always exclude things like streaming and online games.

Very few VPNs offer Russian servers and most will only provide a handful of servers at most. These get deluged by users, which has an impact on service speeds too.

The difference between connection speeds on a free VPN and a paid-for VPN service can be quite astonishing. You would be better off using the Tor browser than many free VPNs.

VPNs cost money to operate and if you are running a free one, you need to cover your costs and generate profits one way or another.

The most common way is to collect and sell user data, often to customers such as the Russian government. This means that privacy is often a myth with free VPNs.

Other methods can include spamming users with adverts and even implanting malware into free VPN apps that can damage your devices and compromise your online security.

Many free VPN providers have also been linked with Communist China, an authoritarian regime with close links to Putin’s Russia and a proven record of harvesting users internet data.

Free VPNs are just not worth the risk when the best VPNs out there that can guarantee security and privacy, boast features like a kill switch to give your control over your security, offer free trials and a 30 day money-back guarantee (or more), and only cost a couple of dollars of month to sign up for.

Should I use a Russian VPN provider?

We would caution against it.

All Russian VPNs will comply with Russian law, which means that they will be censoring the same content that is already blocked in Russia. They are also likely to be sharing data with Russian government agencies when requested to do so.

Most Russian VPNs are relatively unknown but there is one, Kaspersky VPN, which has some international profile, largely due to its well known anti-virus stablemate.

Back in March 2019, the Russian government wrote to the ten most popular VPNs in Russia, demanding that they censor content in Russia in line with local law. While the likes of ExpressVPN and NordVPN ignored this ultimatum, Kaspersky VPN complied.

With censorship on their network and question-marks about the level of security and privacy they can offer their users, our strong advice to Russian internet users would be to avoid using Russian-based VPN services like Kaspersky VPN.

Do I need VPN in Russia?

If you are happy for the Putin Government to monitor your online activity and real IP Address and censor access to a huge range of online content, then no a VPN is not necessary.

But if you want uninterrupted access to the internet and any sort of online privacy and security, then you need the usual suite of online security tools of which a VPN is a key component.

The reality of the online world in Russia is bleak.

Opposition political figures, human rights campaigners, and digital rights activists are routinely targeted with cyber-attacks, arrest, detention, and violence.

There have been a number of legislative developments in Russia in recent years that have undermined online freedoms.

These have included the demands on VPNs providers to censor the Government’s blocked list of websites or otherwise be banned, which we referred to earlier in this guide.

There has also been ‘Yarovaya’s Law‘, a pair of laws that are notionally counter-terrorist in nature but serve primarily to undermine the use of encrypted communications in Russia and increase the extent to which the authorities can access the internet data of any Russian citizen they choose.

The demands placed on internet service providers by the Russian state only serve to illustrate this.

They are required to store the content of voice calls, data, images and text messages for a minimum of six months and to store metadata (details about the sender and recipients of messages, the time and date and more) for at least three years.

Social media has been targeted in recent years too. LinkedIn has been blocked in Russia, as has Telegram, despite having a Russian owner. Other social media sites including Facebook and Twitter have also been threatened with the same.

Freedom House’s Freedom on the Net Report ranked Russia as ‘Not Free’ and gave it a risible score of just 30/100 for internet freedom. A summary of their conclusions is that online freedom is already in a very bad place in Russia and it is getting worse.

In short, if you want to enjoy any degree of online freedom in Russia, you absolutely need a VPN.

Are VPNs legal in Russia?

Unauthorised VPNs are not legal in Russia and since authorised VPNs are not worth bothering with, the answer to this is effectively yes.

However, Russia is a huge country and resources are extremely stretched, which means the unless you are an opposition political figure or a human rights campaigner, the chances are that you will be fine using a VPN as long as you keep your head down.

However, if you are caught using one, the penalties can be severe, so caution is advised.

Conclusion

There is little doubt that if you want to use the internet in Russia freely and without censorship or surveillance, you need to be using a VPN.

In this guide, we have explained in detail why that is and outlined some of the main risks and threats to your privacy and security that exist in Russia.

A VPN alone is not a panacea. But as part of a suite of online security and privacy tools, it is a massive asset. With a VPN, you can ensure that your internet traffic and data is encrypted and effectively as anonymous as possible.

Choosing the best VPNs for Russia is not easy but our team of experts have done the hard work for you and we have narrowed the field down to the seven best VPNs on the market right now.

ExpressVPN is our number one overall recommendation, but as we have explained, the best VPN for you will depend on what you tend to use the internet for. We have outlined different recommendations for different purposes in this guide too.

They key takeaway from this guide is the importance of using a VPN in Putin’s Russia. If you want to be secure and private online, it is essential.

Avoid a free VPN for the reasons we have outlined, but if you opt for one of the premium VPNs we have recommended in this guide, you won’t go far wrong.