Best VPNs for France in 2024: Stream French content anywhere

Have you ever tried streaming your favorite shows from France when abroad? Getting the “not available in your region” error message is frustrating. We know how that feels. Whether you’re a native wanting to safeguard your online activities or an expat yearning for a slice of home through French TV and streaming, we’ve got you covered with our list of the best France VPNs.

After exhaustive research and rigorous testing, we understand the unique cyber challenges those in and connected to France face. This article is your passport to making the most of the French digital realm without compromising security.

Despite France’s strong commitment to privacy, there are still many reasons to consider using a VPN to safely and securely browse the web. Using a VPN will also unlock geo-restricted content on sites like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. For French residents traveling abroad, using a VPN is also an excellent option if you wish to continue streaming local premium services such as Eurosport, Canal+, and Play TV.

Come with us as we break down the best VPNs for France. If you’re pressed for time, here’s a summary of our recommendations:

Best VPNs for France:

1. NordVPN: Our #1 choice for a VPN for France. Easy-to-use option with fast servers. Strong privacy policy and security to keep your online activities private. Unblocks Netflix and other popular streaming sites. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for France.
2. Surfshark: Best budget France VPN. A privacy-first VPN that boasts excellent unblocking ability, a no-logs policy, and plenty of security options.
3. IPVanish: Perfect for torrenters and Kodi users who need a lightweight, remote-control-friendly solution. Excellent security and decent speed.
4. ExpressVPN: Plenty of French servers optimized for speed making it an excellent streaming VPN. Unblocks most major streaming content sites like Netflix France.
5. CyberGhost: A huge international server network, perfect for a French IP address. Fast and secure, perfect for streaming French TV channels.
6. Private Internet Access: Servers in 80+ countries. Good speeds with unlimited bandwidth. Protect up to 10 devices. Includes a strict no-logs policy and 256-bit AES encryption.
7. PureVPN: Fast servers, strong security tools, and the ability to access a huge range of streaming platforms. Perfect for anyone traveling in France.
8. ProtonVPN: Impressive speeds and gives advanced users plenty of customization options. Works with france.tv and many similar services.

Best VPNs for France: Our hands-on review

We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for France.

Our criteria for the best France VPNs

Based on our extensive testing, we used the following criteria to select our favorite French VPNs:

• Strong encryption to protect online activities
• Advanced security features, including a no-logs policy
• French servers to access local content and French streaming services
• A reliable connection and lightning-fast speeds
• Ability to unblock geo-restricted content such as Netflix
• Suitable for torrenting and P2P filesharing
• Reliable customer support with live chat
• Competitive pricing with a money-back guarantee

The Best VPNs for France

Here are some in-depth reviews of the highest-rated VPNs for France:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024

NordVPN retains no data on its users’ visits when connected to its servers, nor the time, date, and duration of each session. In at least one case, its servers have been confiscated, but there was no stored data that authorities could use to pinpoint users.

You’re in the right place if you’re looking for blazing-fast speeds. NordVPN didn’t fall below 200 Mbps in a single one of our tests, leading to an average speed of 220.25 Mbps. In practical terms, that means you’ll be able to stream live or 4K video without interruption, download a 1GB file in about 36 seconds, or share your connection without worrying about a drop in performance. The chart below shows how well NordVPN performed at three different times of day:

NordVPN is great for viewing region-locked streaming services from abroad, such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. It also has servers optimized for double VPN, Tor over VPN, anti-DDoS, and video streaming. DNS leak protection and an internet kill switch are both included, making it one of the most robust VPNs when it comes to encryption parameters.

The VPN provider has been in the business for over a decade and can stream HD video without lag. Unlimited torrenting with no speed caps is permitted.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Fire TV.

BEST VPN FOR FRANCE:NordVPN is our top choice. Extremely high speeds make it an ideal choice for streaming and torrenting. Connects up to 6 devices simultaneously. Provides a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out risk-free.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark has thousands of servers across 60+ countries, including France, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to stream French TV abroad or Netflix France. Better yet, its speeds are fast enough to watch live video without any noticeable lag or buffering, and with no connection limit, you’ll be able to protect every device you own simultaneously.

Surfshark was a solid performer this time, delivering high enough speeds to handle any day-to-day task, from live streaming TF1 to torrenting. Across three tests, it provided an average speed of 217.99 Mbps, with less than 10 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest results. Whether you’re hoping to watch French TV abroad or play online games, this VPN is up to the task. Let’s take a closer look at those test results:

With 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks enabled by default, this VPN ensures your traffic is always secure. There’s also a NoBorders mode that bypasses country-wide restrictions, as well as a built-in ad-blocker and malware scanner. Surfshark doesn’t log any data that could be traced back to you, but if you’re concerned about privacy, you can pay in Bitcoin, Ripple, or Ethereum. If you need any help, you can contact support 24/7 via live chat.

Surfshark has apps for iOS, MacOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. It also works with select network routers, although these have to be configured manually.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark lets you connect an unlimited number of devices, plus it unblocks major streaming platforms from abroad. With high speeds, powerful security features, a low price, and a 30-day money-back guarantee, this service is a great choice.

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish is one of the few VPN providers that physically owns the entirety of its server network (unlike others that also rent), making it a valuable ally in the quest to maintain anonymity on the web.

IPVanish delivered higher speeds than any other provider we tested, so when we say it’s fast enough to handle anything, we mean it. After a full day of testing, it averaged 224.47 Mbps – well above the 15 Mbps required for 4K streaming. There was a minimal degree of variability, too, meaning whether you use the service at noon or night, you can expect the same level of performance. You’ll find the full results of IPVanish’s tests below:

It keeps no records or logs about user browsing history except when people register for the first time. IPVanish uses 256-bit encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default, SHA512 authentication, and a DHE-RSE 2048 key exchange with perfect forward secrecy. It recently announced it will adopt the Wireguard protocol like many others, which should boost its speeds considerably.

DNS leak protection and a VPN kill switch are embedded within the system architecture to keep spying eyes out.

IPVanish offers impressive speeds, so streaming video from YouTube or other major platforms won’t be a hassle. Torrenting is part of the package and makes our list of the best VPNs for torrenting.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.

VALUE AND PERFORMANCE:IPVanish offers strong privacy and excellent security with a huge number of IPs and servers plus additional protection against DNS leaks. Also popular with Kodi and torrent users. 30-day money back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish here.

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4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has a stated policy of not storing any user logs except for “dates (not times) when connected to our service, choice of server locations, and the total amount of data transferred per day.”

Its encryption standards raise the bar for industry standards. ExpressVPN recently launched its Lightway VPN protocol, an open-source protocol that gave the service huge speed boosts without sacrificing security. This makes it one of the best VPNs on the market for online privacy.

ExpressVPN has a long history of performing well during our speed tests, and this time around, nothing has changed. Over a day, it delivered an average speed of 186.01 Mbps. That’s not quite as fast as others on this list, but it’s still well above what most providers can offer. During our tests, it never dropped below 180 Mbps, making it one of the most reliable VPNs on the market. Here’s a chart showing its performance in more detail:

Split tunneling is available in most of the apps, allowing you to choose which apps use the VPN and which use a direct, unencrypted connection.

During our extensive speed tests, we noticed that it streamed 1080p video seamlessly and exhibited zero lag when it came to online gaming. Its servers are optimized for speed and stability, with no speed caps, making it the top VPNs on our list.

ExpressVPN is an excellent choice if you wish to use it for torrents. It can also access several region-locked streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. ExpressVPN is also a great option for users outside of France who want to access French streaming channels such as ZDF, Canal+ and France.tv.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, and select home wi-fi routers.

FAST, SECURE CONNECTIONS:ExpressVPN is a speedy, privacy-focused service. Excels at unblocking French streaming channels with its entire French network of servers. Hard to beat on privacy and security. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee with all plans.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

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5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost, which is based in Romania, has improved its service considerably following a management shuffle last year. It offers robust encryption, coupled with fast speeds and excellent customer support.

When it comes to speed, CyberGhost is one of the fastest VPNs available. There was barely 10 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest results, leading to an overall average speed of 204.94 Mbps. That’s enough to stream more than a dozen 4K videos at the same time, so even if everyone in your home uses the internet simultaneously, you’re unlikely to notice any performance issues. The chart below shows CyberGhost’s speed test results at various times of day:

At the time of writing, it provides access to over 10,000 servers in 90 countries. France hosts more than 400 of them so you shouldn’t face any problems when trying to acquire a local IP address. CyberGhost works very well with geo-restricted streaming services and the client app will guide you through the process with a step-by-step tutorial. Some of the streaming services it unblocks include Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video.

This provider secures all web traffic with 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, an internet kill switch, and DNS leak protection. It will not store user data of any nature, including IP addresses. Additional security features include an ad blocker, anti-malware defense, and anti-tracking.

You can access the service on Android, iOS, Windows, Linux or MacOS. A single subscription allows for seven devices to connect concurrently.

beginner friendly apps:CyberGhost has a simple set up. Works well in France and for unblocking French content with no speed caps. Good option if you are looking for a fast, reliable connection and an easy-to-use interface. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

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6. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN provides access to around 4,400 servers in 85+ countries, with roughly 200 of these located in France. It delivers first-class performance, too, averaging 330 Mbps and placing it squarely among the fastest providers on the market. Whether you’re looking to torrent anonymously in France, securely access online banking services, or stream France.tv while on vacation, this VPN would be a fantastic choice. Up to 10 simultaneous connections are permitted, and support staff are available 24/7 just in case you need them.

ProtonVPN is another provider with exceptionally high performance, which is great news considering that only paying customers can use its full speeds. Our experts recorded an average speed of 213.35 Mbps when using its French servers. For context, this makes it the fourth-fastest VPN we tested. It’s suitable for torrenting, watching TV, gaming, video calling, or really anything else you have in mind. You’ll find the full results below:

This service stands out from the crowd by offering a high level of customization. For instance, you can configure split tunneling or port forwarding functionality, block ads and trackers automatically, or activate an accelerator feature that boosts your speeds even further. ProtonVPN doesn’t keep logs, has been independently audited, and uses effectively uncrackable encryption to keep you safe. There are also multiple anonymous payment options for users who’d like to register without revealing any identifiable information.

ProtonVPN has its own apps for Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS, and Linux. It can also be manually installed on a wide range of different router firmware.

GREAT SECURITY TOOLKIT:ProtonVPN comes packed with security features so you can browse the web without worrying about who might be watching. Better still, it offers very fast speeds, strong streaming abilities, and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

Check out our complete ProtonVPN review.

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7. PureVPN

PureVPN operates roughly 6,000 servers in 65+ countries, including France. These are far faster than you might expect, averaging almost 400 Mbps in our latest round of testing. As such, you’re unlikely to experience performance issues while streaming, torrenting, playing online games, or making video calls. Better still, a generous 10-device limit and 24/7 customer support via live chat. Our only complaint is that staff sometimes take a few minutes to respond, but that’s a relatively minor issue.

PureVPN has a lightweight app and a clean, beginner-friendly design. This stripped-back approach applies to its infrastructure, too – there is just one location in France, but the speeds are certainly competitive. In fact, our team recorded an average speed of 181.49 Mbps, with less than 10 Mbps of variance throughout the three tests they performed. In simple terms, this service is fast enough to support an entire family’s browsing habits with no noticeable lag. Check out the chart below for more detailed results:

This provider supports the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols using uncrackable encryption. It also offers DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, and automatic obfuscation. If you sign up for the Plus or Max plans, you’ll also be able to block trackers (though, unlike some other VPNs, PureVPN can’t block ads). There’s a strict no-logs policy in place, and this has been verified multiple times by external auditors. We’d like to see some anonymous payment options, though, since, at the moment, there’s no way to sign up without providing personal info.

PureVPN apps are available for Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, and Linux. Alternatively, you can follow manual setup instructions to get the service running on just about any router.

SAFE AND AFFORDABLE:PureVPN is a novice-friendly service that doesn’t compromise on security. With fast French servers and exceptional streaming ability, there’s almost nothing it can’t do. Every paid subscription includes a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of PureVPN to learn more.

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8. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access has a particularly impressive server network in that servers cover more than 80 countries. This allows it to unblock a wide range of content including streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, regardless of your location. Having averaged 94 Mbps in our most recent speed tests, PIA is more than fast enough for streaming. Further, it doesn’t throttle your bandwidth.

Straight off the bat, we can see that Private Internet Access had the lowest average speed of any provider we tested. However, at 135.67 Mbps, this VPN is still faster than the majority of other providers on the market – it’s just that the level of competition was so high. To its credit, it was the most consistent service we saw, with less than 5 Mbps of variance across all of our tests. Let’s take a closer look at how well Private Internet Access did:

With just one Private Internet Access account, you can connect up to 10 devices. The apps are user-friendly while you even have 24/7 live chat and email support should you need it. Security-wise, PIA couldn’t be safer because it routes your internet traffic through a 256-bit AES encrypted tunnel. You’ll also benefit from features including a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and PIA’s very strict no-logs policy.

To connect to a PIA server, simply download and install an app for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, or Amazon Fire TV. Note that Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also available although use with routers requires manual setup.

SERVERS WORLDWIDE:Private Internet Access offers fast, unthrottled connections and servers in 80+ countries including France. Lightweight apps with 24/7 support included. Use it on 10 devices at a time. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

Methodology: Finding the best VPNs for France

It’s not too uncommon for a VPN to have servers in France. However, we’re not looking for providers that simply “work” there. Our exhaustive testing process is designed to find the absolute best VPNs for French users. We check everything, from how easy it is to sign up to what level of authentication they use. You’ll find our five main areas of investigation below, as well as a short description of why each is so important:

French speeds

VPNs have really focused on reducing their impact on your speeds in recent years, but there’s always going to be some degree of slowdown. That’s just an unavoidable effect of the encryption process. Still, if our years of experience have taught us anything, it’s that most major providers are still more than quick enough to deal with day to day browsing. So how do we go about making sure we get the most accurate speed test results?

For starters, we used the VPN’s French servers and limited our base connection speed to 246 Mbps (just a tad higher than the average broadband speed in France). Then we performed three speed tests (in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon) and averaged the results. This approach ensures our results best reflect the speeds that users in France can actually expect. One caveat: our tests were run from the UK; French users will have lower latency which may lead to slightly improved performance. Here’s how each of our top VPNs scored:

Finally, we weighted and normalized these results to give us a score out of 10 for each service. Note that providers are ranked relative to each other to better illustrate small differences visually. IPVanish took first place but it was closely followed by NordVPN in second and Surfshark in third.

Features

Next, we examined each provider’s network in greater detail. This meant checking how many locations they supported and how many servers they operated overall (where this data was available). Naturally, we also zoomed in on France specifically, awarding higher scores to those with multiple French server locations. After all, someone in Marseille shouldn’t have to rely on a server almost a thousand miles away in Paris.

There’s actually a fairly sizable gulf in the competition in this category. ExpressVPN was our top performer, with a score of 9.1 points, largely because it offers an unmatched five French locations and one of the largest networks on the market. CyberGhost took second place with 8.9 points, but our third place providers (Surfshark and ProtonVPN) scored just 7.8 points each.

Private Internet Access was our lowest scoring service this time, earning 4.7 points. The reasons for this are fairly straightforward: it has just one server cluster in France and fewer supported countries than many of its rivals. These problems are easily rectified though, so we’re hopeful PIA will do better the next time we run these tests.

Security and privacy

You could have the fastest VPN on the planet but it’s not going to matter if the service can’t shield your online activities from prying eyes. Here at Comparitech, we believe that your security comes first, which is why we focus so heavily on vetting providers to see if they’re really as privacy-conscious as they claim. The table below shows all 15 of the criteria we check in this regard, as well as our findings:

Next, we assigned scores based on how each VPN performed. These were weighted and normalized as before, giving us a score out of 10 for each service. You’ll notice there’s a fairly tight spread here – just more evidence that all of our top picks take your digital privacy seriously.

NordVPN and Surfshark tied for first place, both scoring 9.5 points. What got in the way of a perfect score here? Well, NordVPN could do with slightly enhancing its authentication, while Surfshark operates out of the Netherlands, a Nine Eyes country. Conversely, PureVPN delivered the lowest overall score, a still astounding 8.7.

Ease of use

The more beginner-friendly your VPN is, the more likely you are to rely on it regularly. After all, nobody wants to use a service that requires constant configuration or navigating through lots of menus just to find the server you need. That’s why our team takes user-friendliness so seriously; we search for any features that make day to day operation nice and easy, like task-specific servers, 24/7 support, or even just a lack of connection limits.

Just like before, we weighted and normalized the results. Here’s a chart showing each VPN’s ease of use score:

This was another extremely tight race. Private Internet Access and NordVPN both scored 9.6 points, tying for first place. IPVanish and ExpressVPN took second and third, respectively. In fairness, the absolute lowest score was ProtonVPN’s 8.8, which just goes to show how tough the competition was.

Streaming ability

Finally, we wanted to make sure that our most recommended providers were able to access a wide range of geo-blocked streaming platforms. This way, you’ll be able to watch your favorite shows while visiting France, or stream French TV during a trip abroad. We began by testing each VPN against a series of popular streaming apps, noting how many each worked with, and recording whether we had to try multiple servers to find one that worked. Here are our findings:

NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN all earned themselves an impressive 9.2 points out of 10 this time around. They worked with most of the platforms we tested and our testers very rarely encountered a server that couldn’t access a particular service. ProtonVPN delivered the lowest overall score (just 6.7 points) due to its lower reliability and lack of a Smart DNS service.

Is using a VPN legal in France?

It’s perfectly legal to use a VPN in France. In fact, VPNs are legal in most countries. There may be cases where using a VPN goes against the terms of service of a particular website, such as Netflix France. However, it’s doubtful any action will be taken against you. Of course, using a VPN for any illegal activities (such as distributing copyrighted material) is a different question. It may result in legal repercussions as a result.

Will my ISP know I’m using a VPN from France?

Yes, your ISP does know when you’re using a VPN. That’s because it can see that encrypted data is traveling from your device to a VPN server. It receives some basic information, such as the IP address of the VPN server. However, it will no longer be able to see what you’re doing online due to the encryption in place. Furthermore, it’s likely that your ISP will be okay if you’re using a VPN as long as all activity remains legal.

Can I use a free VPN for France?

There’s always the option of finding a free VPN service – they’re hiding in plain sight and a casual search on Google or Reddit will definitely do the job. Technically such services don’t charge you any money for usage but that doesn’t mean they’re free by any yardstick.

Our recommendation is to avoid such options like the plague. They’re businesses too – meaning they need to make money in order to stay afloat – so they’ll bombard you with all sorts of nasty advertisements and sell your data to third-party companies for monetary compensation.

Contracting a malware infection is a definite possibility and forget about getting the same speed or customer service that paid VPN options offer. In the long run, you’re better off spending a few dollars and getting exemplary service – trust us, it’s worth it.

How to get a French IP address

If you’re a French resident that’s planning on living abroad for a bit, it’s likely that a bunch of local content will remain inaccessible if you log in from a foreign country. One way to circumvent this issue is by connecting to a VPN recommended above – all you have to do is select a French server before opening your internet browser and you should be good to go.

The advantages of getting a French IP address also go beyond accessing geo-restricted content. Your search engine will assume you’re in France – so it’ll show you the results most relevant to you and in your local language if you prefer. Some French banking and financial institutions also require a local IP before allowing internet access to online services.

How can I test if my IP address has been changed to France?

You can use a website like http://www.ip-tracker.org to determine if your IP address has changed to France. Simply type in your IP address on the website and it will tell you what country your IP address is currently located in.

What is the future of French internet?

France is often regarded as pro-privacy. For example, French regulators imposed a fine of US$166,777 on Facebook purportedly because of concerns over the way it tracks user data “without legal cover.” Authorities added that the social media leviathan didn’t offer users sufficient warning about the methods it uses to extract personal information about their browsing habits.

However, recent years have seen an erosion of privacy rights.

Emergency powers put in place by President Hollande in 2015 gave authorities sweeping powers to conduct house arrests, raids, and searches of electronic devices such as laptops, PCs, smartphones, and tablets without any warrants.

The same year, the French Constitutional Council approved most provisions of a new law that forces internet service providers to monitor the online behavior of suspicious users and relay that information back to intelligence agencies.

There are concerns that this law can be abused to establish a far-reaching online surveillance apparatus that will directly impact the lives of all French residents, whether they like it or not.

These troubling developments make a compelling argument for using a VPN when browsing the web in France. Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a remote server, thereby shielding its content and destination from internet service providers, hackers, and government agencies like the NSA.

Even the United Nations committee for human rights has warned against the tenets of the law – saying it “grants overly broad powers for very intrusive surveillance on the basis of vast and broadly defined objectives.” It added that French authorities must balance the subsequent interference in private life according to defined principles of legality, proportionality, and necessity.

Not only does the law allow electronic monitoring of mobile devices, it also gives intelligence agencies the right to install secret cameras and recording devices in people’s homes. It’s also possible to install keylogger devices and metadata can be stored for up to five years.

Other advocacy bodies, such as Privacy International and La Quadrature du Net, also sharply criticized the developments, saying the poorly-drafted bill makes no provision for judicial authorization and that the French parliament had “endorsed a fundamental decline in human rights.”

Watching French television when abroad

The use of a VPN can also unlock French television. This means French residents traveling abroad can obfuscate their location by signing up for a VPN (we recommend one of the paid ones on this list), selecting a server in France, clearing the cookies in their web browser, and then accessing the individual streaming links.

The following channels allow free access to anyone with a French IP address. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and more may be added:

• Euronews
• France24
• TV5 Monde
• Arte
• RTBF
• BFM TV
• LCP
• Eurosport
• Pluzz
• TF1
• M6
• France2
• France3
• France4
• Gulli
• PlayTV

How do I watch Ligue 1 from outside France?

The French football league, also known as Ligue 1, is massively popular with French residents. Naturally, this translates into an eagerness to watch the matches live as they’re broadcasted. We recommend using a VPN to change your IP address to French and logging into channels like Eurosport who show the games live. You might need to register and sign up for the service with a French credit card beforehand, please consult with individual broadcasters before proceeding.

VPNs for France FAQ