Best VPNs for Myanmar and some to avoid

Important: In 2021, the military overthrew the democratically elected government of Myanmar and proceeded to ban VPN usage. We urge readers to seriously consider the potential consequences before using a VPN in Myanmar.

Myanmar continues to grapple with a chilling reality: a military watchful of every online whisper, strategic internet blackouts amidst burgeoning protests, and punitive measures against the brave voices of dissent. With VPNs being widely employed by citizens despite the punitive prohibitions, there’s a tangible thirst for secure access to the digital world.

Our expert team at Comparitech has tested and researched the best VPNs for Myanmar. We understand the importance of safeguarding your online presence and ensuring that your digital expressions are free from scrutiny.

If you don’t want to read the rest of this article, here’s our list of the best VPNs for Myanmar:

1. NordVPN: Best all-round VPN for Myanmar. Huge range of servers to choose from, blazing fast speeds, effective obfuscation and strong security credentials. 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Myanmar.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for Myanmar. This service has no connection limit and puts your privacy first. Good speeds, a large network, and fantastic unblocking ability.
3. ExpressVPN: Solid speeds, always-on obfuscation, great security, and works with nearly all streaming services.
4. PureVPN: Disguises VPN traffic and has servers in 65+ countries. Fast speeds and competitively priced subscriptions.
5. Hotspot Shield: Automatic wi-fi protection and its own connection protocol that obfuscates traffic. Servers in 80+ countries.

Our criteria for choosing the best VPNs for Myanmar

Our recommendations for Myanmar VPNs are based on testing each provider in the following areas.

• Speed: Myanmar’s internet is slow, so the last thing you want is a VPN to slow it down even further. We found the fastest providers by testing their speeds multiple times over the course of a day.
• Network features: We scored providers on whether they had obfuscation suitable for bypassing the strictest government-imposed VPN blocks. We then scored them on the number of countries they supported and the number of servers in their network.
• Security and privacy: It’s imperative in Myanmar that you only use VPNs that can properly keep your online activities safe from potentially hostile third parties. With this in mind, we only recommended providers that scored highly against 16 security and privacy criteria.
• Ease of use: If using a VPN, you’ll want to do so quickly and efficiently. We found the most user-friendly providers by evaluating them against 10 different ease-of-use criteria.
• Value for money: To make sure you get a good deal when purchasing a VPN subscription, we vetted each provider using eight different value-for-money metrics.

We go into more detail about our full testing process later in this article. We’ll also explore the data we generated during testing.

Myanmar VPNs compared

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 Myanmar.

Best VPNs for Myanmar

Based on our research, we found these to be the best VPNs for use in Myanmar.

1. NordVPN

Mar 2025

NordVPN is our top choice for a Myanmar VPN. It’s been around for over a decade and is constantly improving its service. Speeds are exceptionally fast, and privacy is second to none.

For this article, we tested the provider’s speeds while connected to its US servers. As you can see from the chart below, it exceeded 200 Mbps in each round of testing.

NordVPN’s overall average speed was more than 74 Mbps faster than the combined average speed of the other tested providers.

The company refrains from any sort of data retention, which means it has zero information about user sessions, traffic, or timestamps. It’s also headquartered in Panama, which means there aren’t any mandatory data retention laws it has to comply with.

The company encrypts internet traffic via the 256-bit AES protocol by default and uses 2,048-bit SSL keys. DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak protection are available. The company even offers its own speedy, privacy-focused protocol, NordLynx, and a protocol for hiding VPN use, NordWhisper.

NordVPN operates more than 7,400 servers in 118 countries, making it a worthy choice for whatever you want to do on the web. There are no servers in Myanmar, but there are plenty of locations in the rest of Southeast Asia, as well as in Europe and North America.

There are also special servers for enhanced privacy, torrenting, or Tor over VPN. Most importantly, NordVPN has obfuscated servers that disguise VPN traffic as regular web traffic.

There’s support for Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

BEST VPN FOR MYANMAR:NordVPN is our first choice. It boasts incredible speeds, tight security, and great unblocking potential. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee making this a risk-free option.

Here’s our in-depth review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a low-cost VPN that blends speed and security to create a service that’s easy for beginners to pick up, yet complex enough to satisfy advanced users.

The speeds are excellent. The provider averaged 198.5 Mbps in our tests, which is fast enough for high-resolution streaming or multi-player gaming.

Bear in mind, however, that you’ll be limited by your connection speed in Myanmar, which has a median fixed broadband speed of 26.66 Mbps at the time of writing.

This VPN is based in the British Virgin Islands and isn’t legally required to keep any logs. As a result, it only records aggregate connection data that can’t be used to identify you.

Its security features include 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, and a NoBorders mode for private browsing in countries with widespread online censorship (like Myanmar).

Users can connect to over 3,200 servers in 100 countries, including some that route your traffic multiple times for even greater security.

Surfshark has apps for MacOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. It can also be manually installed on supported internet routers.

TOP BUDGET PICK:Surfshark is a great budget alternative. It offers excellent speeds, lots of security extras, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

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3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN delivers a solid service coupled with military-grade encryption protocols. The interface is simple, the app is easy to set up, and there’s hardly any downtime.

Speeds were decent in our tests, with only a slight difference between the slowest and fastest results.

Overall, the provider achieved an average download speed of 111.1 Mbps. This makes it suitable for everything from streaming to VoIP calls.

When it comes to server locations, ExpressVPN doesn’t disappoint, with a large network of over 3,000 servers spread across 105 countries. There’s also an option for Myanmar, although the company doesn’t specify exactly how many servers it operates there. This means it’s easy for both foreign expatriates living in the country and citizens traveling abroad to access a variety of local services from home.

ExpressVPN’s policy of not storing traffic logs should ease privacy concerns. There’s a tiny amount of metadata retention — specifically the date (not time) of connection, choice of server location, and total bandwidth used. It’s important to note that your individual IP address won’t be logged.

ExpressVPN delivers again when judged on encryption protocols. It deploys 256-bit AES-CBC, utilizing both HMAC authentication and perfect forward secrecy. An internet kill switch temporarily halts all web traffic if the connection drops unexpectedly, thus keeping you secure.

There are Android and iOS apps and desktop support for Windows, Linux, and MacOS.

VERSATILE VPN:ExpressVPN operates servers in 105 countries and is great at unblocking. It uses strong encryption and doesn’t log user-identifying data. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of ExpressVPN.

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4. PureVPN

PureVPN has a large network of servers in 65+ countries. It obfuscates every connection, making it possible to get online in restrictive countries. The provider has been audited four times to prove that it doesn’t keep any logs.

PureVPN routes all internet traffic through a 256-bit AES-encrypted tunnel. It also provides DNS and IPv6 leak protection, an automatic kill switch, and an ad blocker.

To find out how fast PureVPN was, we tested its speeds several times while connecting to its servers in the US. The results are shown in the chart below.

Speeds were consistently fast, with an overall average of 125.1 Mbps. This makes PureVPN suitable for streaming video from news sites or social media platforms.

The provider’s apps all have a full GUI, making them very easy to use.

These are available for iOS, MacOS, Linux, Windows, and Android. PureVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous device connections. Its subscription plans are great value — particularly the five-year option.

ALWAYS-ON OBFUSCATION:PureVPN can bypass government blocks. Servers in 65+ countries with decent speeds and strong obfuscation. Can be used on 10 devices at the same time. Strict no-logs VPN with an ad-blocker included. 31-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PureVPN review.

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5. Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield has approximately 1,800 servers in 80+ countries, including Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

The provider has its own homegrown connection protocol — Hydra — that obfuscates user-generated traffic so that it can circumvent some of the most rigorous blockades that governments impose, including China’s Great Firewall. The WireGuard protocol is also available, as is IKEv2.

Users have the option to make the app connect to the last server used as soon as it is launched or to have it connect automatically when public wi-fi is detected. There’s also a kill switch, leak protection, and split tunneling.

We tested the provider’s speeds while connected to its servers in the US. While the results were slower than those of the other providers on this list, they were nevertheless fast enough for a range of online activities.

If you want to stream, the service can unblock a range of streaming platforms, including Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Dedicated streaming servers are available for this purpose.

Hotspot Shield makes apps for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. Subscriptions come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. The provider follows a zero-logs policy, meaning it can’t reveal what you do online under any circumstances.

VETERAN VPN:Hotspot Shield has been around long enough to prove it’s a worthy contender for many use cases, including a Myanmar VPN. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Hotspot Shield.

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How do I use a VPN in Myanmar?

In this section, we’ll walk you through a few use cases. Follow these steps for a smooth experience.

Here’s how to use a VPN in Myanmar:

1. Browse our recommended list of VPN services. We particularly like NordVPN, but Surfshark and ExpressVPN are great alternatives.
2. Register, pay, and download the companion apps for your phone or computer.
3. Open the VPN app and log in.
4. Select a server in the country where you’re trying to obtain an IP address, such as the US or UK, or a local IP address in Myanmar if you’re traveling abroad.
5. Allow a few seconds for the connection to be established. Once that’s done, a green notification icon should appear in the taskbar.
6. Browse the web like you normally would.

You’ll notice that host websites assume your location is in the country you’re currently connected to. This opens up things like streaming media content and local online banking services.

Some VPNs to avoid completely

One of the caveats of using a VPN is the commitment by the service provider to safeguard privacy. The VPNs have valued this commitment and zealously guarded privacy but there are many out there that don’t behave so ethically. We recommend you avoid them.

Here are two examples of VPN providers that we think you should run away from:

1. HideMyAss

UK-based HideMyAss (HMA) has, on at least two separate occasions, been accused of handing over user data to law enforcement agencies.

In 2011 it was reported the company cooperated with the FBI in an investigation on the hack of Sony Pictures. The US law enforcement agency was able to identify and arrest culprit Cody Kretsinger, allegedly with the help of HMA. The budding hacker tried to use HMA in order to cover his tracks during the attack. What made matters worse was that HMA had an official ‘no-logs’ policy at the time.

If HMA changes their logging policies we’ll update this article but for now, if you’re looking at another provider, here’s our list of alternatives to HideMyAss.

Related: HideMyAss VPN Review

2. HolaVPN

Israel-based Hola illegally leveraged its massive user base of almost 50 million users into a massive botnet. User bandwidth was scuppered to engage in things like Distributed Denial of Service attacks, promoting pirated content, and pornography.

It’s best if you avoid this shoddy VPN company.

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Our Methodology: Choosing the best VPNs for Myanmar

Myanmar’s internet is tightly controlled and everything you do online is monitored by the state. For this reason, we decided to prioritize VPNs that go above and beyond to keep your identity a secret, as well as those capable of beating country-wide internet blocking. Here’s exactly what we looked for in our top VPNs for Myanmar:

Security and privacy

We only wanted VPNs that used effectively uncrackable encryption (256-bit AES or better), as well as protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, and a kill switch. You can see the other criteria we used — and how each provider performed against them — in the table below.

Each of the criteria was assigned a score, which we then summed to generate an overall score out of 10. This makes a quick comparison easier, as the chart below demonstrates:

NordVPN and Surfshark scored highest, primarily thanks to their robust encryption, effective obfuscation and strong stance on privacy.

Speed

It’s not enough to have a VPN that works some of the time. To find which providers were consistently fast, we carried out speed tests in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon.

Measurements were taken using the desktop version of the Ookla speed-testing app. Our base connection speed was 250 Mbps. As this is far faster than the speeds you’ll get in Myanmar, we converted each provider’s overall test result to a score out of 10 relative to the other providers.

NordVPN scored highest, but was closely followed by Surfshark. Both providers are consistently quick, which is just what you need if you have a spotty connection.

Network features

We first scored providers on whether their obfuscation was capable of bypassing strict government-imposed blocks — such as those found in China. We then scored each provider on the number of countries it had servers in, and the number of servers it had overall. This gives users an indication of availability — whether that’s for accessing geo-restricted services or contacting friends and family abroad.

The above scores were averaged and converted to a score out of 10 for each provider. You can see these results below.

NordVPN achieved the highest score overall, thanks to its large spread of servers and powerful obfuscation. Surfshark is a great alternative, though it has fewer servers available.

Ease of use

Internet access should be for everyone — not just those with technical know-how. We looked for user-friendly providers that make it easy to sign-up, download the relevant app and get connected. You can see how each provider performed against our test metrics in the table below.

We scored each metric and then converted the sum for each provider to a score out of 10. Those VPNs with the highest scores were the easiest to use.

NordVPN again scored highest — its apps are well-designed, its onboarding process smooth, and its customer service efficient. ExpressVPN is another industry stalwart and a great alternative.

Value for money

Getting a good deal goes beyond just looking at the monthly subscription fees. We considered things like discounts and promotions, and the viability of sharing an account with others. You can see how each VPN performed against our value-for-money metrics in the table below.

As before, each metric was given a score, which we used to compute an overall score out of 10 for each provider.

This time, Surfshark’s score of 9.7 was highest. The provider allows unlimited device connections and offers discounts alongside it’s already competitively priced subscriptions. For an alternative, NordVPN is a good option.

Myanmar 2025 internet freedoms update

Internet freedom in Myanmar continues to be severely repressed. In January 2025, a new law was introduced that stipulates a penalty of six months in prison for “unauthorized VPN installation.”

The military has continued to enforce short-term, localized internet shutdowns to prevent opposition from organizing or sharing information. Unfortunately, this restricts internet access for millions of users. Social media sites and some media outlets continue to be blocked.

The country’s last two foreign-owned telecommunications service providers, Telenor and Ooredoo, sold their Myanmar operations. This had the effect of leaving all providers under direct or indirect military control.

The Myanmar military has been closely monitoring online communications since the coup. They have implemented a nationwide biometric data system, which is seen as another effective way to surveil human rights defenders.

Browsing safely in Myanmar: FAQs