8 Best VPNs for Australia for fast streaming and privacy

Are you tired of not being able to access streaming services in Australia while abroad? A Virtual Private Network (VPN) could be the answer. VPNs provide one-click access to Aussie TV from anywhere while also safeguarding your online privacy on unsecured public wi-fi networks.

We’ve test-driven a bunch of VPN providers to find out which are particularly good for Australia. Find out which are the fastest, which are the cheapest, and — most importantly — which is the best overall. We’ve got in-depth reviews of each provider later in the article, but we’ll start with a summary of our top recommendations for Australia.

Best VPNs for Australia:

1. NordVPN: The best VPN for Australia. Five Australian server locations and very fast speeds. Superb for streaming, and has plenty of advanced features to play with. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Australia.
2. Surfshark: Best budget option for Australia. This fast and easy-to-use VPN allows any number of connections and unblocks a huge range of streaming services.
3. IPVanish: Five server Australian server locations and 46 servers to choose from. No device limit. Cheapest monthly subscription of any provider on our list.
4. ExpressVPN: Offers best in class security and a user-friendly app. Servers available everywhere from Sydney to Woolloomooloo. Great for streaming.
5. CyberGhost: Easy-to-use app and servers in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Streaming -optimized servers available for Australian Netflix, Stan, 9Now, and 10Play.
6. ProtonVPN: Respected provider with a great track record on security. Highly customisable, with 148+ Australian servers and consistent access to Australian streaming services.
7. PureVPN: Cheap and capable service that works with plenty of Australian streaming platforms. Keeps no logs and has obfuscation enabled by default to evade VPN blocks.
8. PrivateVPN: Highly secure, no logs VPN. Subscriptions are easy on the wallet and the service works particularly well with Netflix Australia. Port forwarding and split tunneling available.

A VPN, or virtual private network, encrypts a device’s internet traffic and routes it through an intermediary server in a location of the user’s choosing. This can allow Australians to access blocked content that’s geo-locked in their own country. It can also provide a private tunnel through which P2P filesharing applications can be used.

The VPNs in this list also have servers with Australian IP addresses so you can connect to your favorite Aussie TV when abroad in addition to accessing geo-locked content (like US Netflix or BBC) from inside Australia.

Australia VPNs — testing criteria

Not all VPNs are suitable for Australia. Some are crawlingly slow, while other are rubbish at streaming. These providers are best avoided — unless you enjoy the feeling of acute frustration. The good news is that there are plenty of excellent VPNs available for Australia. We know, because we’ve tested them. We evaluated each provider based on the following criteria.

• Speed: We conduct regular lab tests to find the fastest VPN providers. However, for this article we wanted to specifically know what speeds each provider could get while connected to servers in Australia. We carried out these speed tests on a home broadband connection to simulate the experience for the average user.
• Streaming ability: We gauged each provider’s streaming ability by finding out whether it worked with Australian streaming services such as 7Plus, 10Play, and ABC iview. We also checked whether providers could access popular international platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
• Security & privacy: Providers are scored against 15 different security and privacy criteria. These include which VPN protocols they support, the levels of encryption and authentication they use, and whether they have built-in leak protection.
• Ease of use: To make a judgement about how easy a VPN’s service was to use, we scored each against 10 different metrics. These included the user-friendliness of their apps and how easy it was to sign up for and cancel subscriptions.
• Value for money: We used eight different criteria for assessing whether a provider offered good value for money. For example, we considered the number of connections permitted and the availability of discounts — as well as the cheapest monthly plan.

Best VPNs for Australia – a snapshot of features

Best Australian VPNs in 2024

Based on the outcomes of our testing, we’ve compiled a list of the top VPN service providers for Australia:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024

NordVPN is one of the fastest Australian VPNs. It operates servers in five Australian cities as well as across multiple locations in the Asia-Pacific region. A handy map makes it easy to choose a server location and move between alternatives.

If all you want to do is to get an Australian IP address for streaming, then this is all you need to know. However, the app can do so much more.

The settings menu opens up a range of options, including a split tunneling feature. This lets you choose specific apps you want to include or exclude from the VPN tunnel. This means you could stream Australian Netflix while using other apps with a regular internet connection.

NordVPN has a more advanced kill switch than most providers. There’s a standard option that will disconnect your device from the internet if the VPN connection drops out. Alternatively, you can specify which apps should disconnect if the VPN connection is lost. This means you won’t get caught out using Australian geo-restricted services with a non-Australian IP address.

If you’re traveling, there’s an auto-connect feature that ensures you don’t unintentionally use wi-fi hotspots without the protection of a VPN. More advanced users can choose which connection protocol they use rather than letting NordVPN choose for them. Options include the tried-and-tested OpenVPN as well as NordVPN’s own lightweight connection protocol — NordLynx.

Other advanced features include one-click access to the Tor network; access to obfuscated servers for bypassing VPN blocks in countries such as China; and the option to route traffic through an additional server (Double VPN). Due to the additional routing — and the associated reduction in speed — involved in these options, we’d recommend against using these unless you have a valid reason to do so.

So what kind of speed can you expect with a regular NordVPN connection? We connected to the provider’s servers in Australia to find out. We used a home broadband connection to simulate a typical user’s experience.

Our average connection speed when not connected to a VPN was 39.1 Mbps. As you can see from the chart above, routing our traffic through a NordVPN server in Australia only slowed our speeds by a few Mbps, which is an excellent result. This means you’ll have no problem with buffering while streaming geo-restricted content from Australia.

We found out what content was accessible using NordVPN’s Australian servers by trying to watch Australia-only channels such as 7Plus, 10Play and ABC iview. The provider worked seamlessly with all three. We also successfully used NordVPN to watch Australian content from the likes of Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.

While connected, your online activities are not monitored in any way. NordVPN keeps zero logs and is intentionally based in a country without data retention laws (Panama).

It uses AES 256-bit encryption, and doesn’t reveal your true IP address to third parties. We confirmed this by carrying out IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV. They are appealingly designed and very easy to use — even the CLI of the Linux app is easy to learn. The software is compatible with some routers — should you wish to stream Aussie TV via a VPN-incompatible device. Instructions for configuring a connection are available from NordVPN site.

BEST VPN FOR AUSTRALIA:NordVPN is our #1 choice. Comes packed with security features and a zero-logs policy. Unblocks most major streaming platforms abroad. Excellent connection speeds. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a low-cost VPN provider that’s both easy to use and fast. It has 40+ Australian servers available across five cities — all of which are suitable for streaming.

We successfully used Surfshark to stream content from Australia-only channels such as 7Plus, 10Play and ABC iview. The provider also works with a range of international platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. The video below shows you how easy it is to access 10Play using Surfshark.

If you’re trying to access new streaming services abroad, you might need to register first. This is certainly true of the services we used for this article. If you don’t already have an account, Surfshark has a neat feature that will generate an alternative ID you can use — complete with Australian address.

You can also get a fake email address that forwards any messages to your actual email address. The Alternative ID is a great feature if you don’t like entering your real data into online forms — or need an address in a different country. As well as Australia, addresses are available in the US, Denmark, Germany and Portugal.

Other features of note include access to static IP addresses. These let you use the same IP address rather than being assigned a new one every time you disconnect and reconnect. Static IP addresses are available in Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, the UK, and the US.

Alternatively, if you want to make your location exceptionally difficult to trace, you can enable Surfshark’s Rotating IP feature. If you’re connected to a server in Australia (for example) this will change your IP address behind the scenes and without your connection being interrupted.

Surfshark has a No Borders mode for those trying to establish connections from countries that try to block VPNs. It works in China, which has the world’s most effective VPN-blocking tools.

The provider’s split tunneling feature is able to exclude or include both apps and domain names from the VPN tunnel, and there’s a kill switch that disables your internet connection if the VPN drops out. The CleanWeb feature is an ad, tracker and malware blocker.

You may be wondering how fast Surfshark is, and the answer is “very”. We tested its download speeds while connected to a server in Australia. You can see the results below.

Our average download speed only dropped by a negligible 2.5 Mbps while connected to Surfshark servers. In fact, the provider was the fastest VPN we tested for this article. Needless to say, you won’t have speed-related streaming issues if you choose Surfshark.

The provider has a no-logs policy that’s been independently audited, and it uses 256-bit AES encryption by default. It claims to be leak-free, so we conducted IP, DNS and WebRTC leak tests to check that our true location was hidden. In all three tests our UK location was hidden.

Apps all have a full GUI and are available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. Surfshark is an ideal choice for families as it allows you to have unlimited simultaneous connections under a single account.

BEST BUDGET OPTION:An inexpensive way to unblock sites and torrent safely across all of your devices. This fast, no-logs VPN allows unlimited device connections and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish is a veteran provider that is in the enviable (at least, if you’re a competing provider) position of owning all of its physical servers. It has 46+ servers in Australia, which are spread across five cities. The ping time is listed next to each location, making it easy to choose the fastest option. In the image below, this would be Sydney.

Once connected, users are presented with a graph showing — in real-time — how much data has been uploaded and downloaded, together with the public IP address and protocol in use. A map shows the location of the VPN server.

To find out what sort of speeds users might expect from IPVanish, we carried out tests three times over the course of a day. You can see the results in the chart below.

The results were a little mixed. The fastest speed was excellent and barely any different from our speed without a VPN running. The slowest speed was still fast enough for HD streaming — providing you’re not competing with lots of other networked devices. Overall, the average speed was a solid 31 Mbps.

When connected to a server in Sydney, we were able to access 10Play, as well as 7Plus and ABC iview. The provider also works with big-name streaming platforms such as Paramount+, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.

Split tunneling is available for apps and domains, meaning you can watch your platform of choice as if you were in Australia, while using other apps with your regular IP address.

If you’re traveling abroad, there’s an auto-connect feature that will protect your connection if it detects an untrusted network — such as a wi-fi hotspot in a cafe. A kill switch prevents your IP address being revealed if the VPN connection drops out, and leak protection is enabled by default. We confirmed that there were no IP, DNS or WebRTC leaks ourselves using tests available via browserleaks.com.

Several interesting features are available under the Protocol tab of the Settings menu. There’s a choice of three protocols available, the fastest of which is WireGuard. However, opting for OpenVPN allows you to enable the Scramble feature. This disguises your traffic so that it has a better chance of getting past VPN blocks.

IPVanish subscriptions include unlimited device connections, which makes sharing an account stress-free. Of the three plans available, the two-year subscription represents the best value for money.

One of the key highlights of this service is its robust Advanced plan, which features an unlimited VPN, a terabyte of secure cloud storage, and a cloud-based browser that sandboxes your browsing activities. This offers protection against malware and trackers.

Our tests showed that the sandboxed browser is effective for private browsing, though it has issues with HD and 4K streaming, reducing picture quality, and it led to quite a few captchas. Despite these drawbacks, the ability to browse securely via a remote server is very valuable for users in heavily censored regions.

It is also worth noting that the cost of the Advanced plan is extremely cheap considering you get both the unlimited VPN and a terabyte of cloud storage. This cost is almost unheard of anywhere else online.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV. Its possible to configure a connection with Linux and compatible routers, with instructions available on the IPVanish website. If you need any help, customer support is available 24/7 via live chat.

NO CONNECTION LIMIT:IPVanish has a large network of servers that are great for streaming. A solid choice for torrenters, Kodi users, and folks who need the highest standard of privacy. Plus, a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN operates RAM-only servers across 105+ countries, including Australia — where it has servers in seven locations.

Using the server in Woolloomooloo, we were able to access a range of geo-restricted Australian streaming platforms, including 10Play, 7Plus and ABC iview. ExpressVPN also works with a host of international platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Max.

We experienced no buffering while streaming, but we wanted to test our speeds nevertheless. We carried out tests three times during the course of a day.

ExpressVPN performed admirably throughout with a consistent download speed of around 30 Mbps. Considering our base connection speed without a VPN was 39.1 Mbps, this was a solid result.

The ExpressVPN app is well-designed, making it easy for users who are unfamiliar with VPNs to get connected. Choosing the Smart Location connects you to the fastest available server, which will typically be the nearest to your current location.

Clicking the three dots below the big connection button takes you to the VPN Locations menu, where you can enter a city or country. Alternatively, you can select a region and scroll through the options.

If you want to customize your connection, go to the Options menu. Here you can specify any apps you want to include in — or exclude from — the VPN tunnel. You can also control the kill switch (which ExpressVPN calls Network Lock).

Under the Advanced Protection tab, users can choose whether to block trackers, malicious sites, ads and adult sites. The Protocol tab lets users select a specific protocol rather than allowing ExpressVPN to choose for them. Available options include ExpressVPN’s own protocol — Lightway — and the trustworthy OpenVPN. UDP and TCP are available with each.

It’s worth remembering that if you need a speed boost, changing protocols can help — as can switching servers.

ExpressVPN has garnered a well-earned reputation for security and privacy. It has had multiple audits of its no-logs policy, and keeps tight control over who has access to its servers and the software each of them is running.

The company is based in the British Virgin Islands, which means it isn’t subject to user data retention laws. It uses 256-bit AES encryption and its software is leak-free. We know this because we carried out IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV. There’s even an app for routers, which isn’t something you get from any other provider. This makes it simple to run ExpressVPN on a router — thus protecting every connected device on your network.

HIGHLY VERSATILE:ExpressVPN is a great choice. It’s speedy, hard to beat on privacy and digital security features, and able to unblock platforms like Netflix abroad. There’s even a 30-day no-quibbles money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN Review.

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5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost operates a vast network of more than 10,000 servers, including 200+ in the Australian cities of Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Some of these are optimized for streaming, and make the process of choosing the best server far easier.

In practice, we’ve found that using any of these streaming servers will get you access to your streaming platform of choice. For example, we used the server optimized for Stan AU to watch 7Plus, 10Play, and ABC iview without issue.

We also succeeded at accessing big-name international platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Max, and AppleTV+ using CyberGhost’s streaming servers. It’s worth mentioning that CyberGhost also has servers optimized for gaming and torrenting.

Speed-wise, CyberGhost is known for providing fast connection speeds. But how did it do in our tests?

CyberGhost’s average speed on the day of testing was 24.7 Mbps, which is a little lacklustre compare with the other providers in this list. Although the morning result was particularly bad, though the other two tests yielded excellent speeds.

Whichever VPN you opt for, it’s likely that you will hit upon a slow server at some point. If this happens, simply disconnect and try another. Popular locations such as Australia typically have multiple options available. Switching protocols can help improve speeds too. In the case of CyberGhost, the available options are WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. CyberGhost users can also change the MTU size, with the Small and Auto options providing improved performance.

Overall, CyberGhost doesn’t generally have as many technical features as some other providers. You can decide whether you need things like access to Multi-Hop servers and port forwarding.

However, what it does have is a Smart Rules section where users can specify which apps to launch once the VPN connection is established — or choose apps that cause a VPN connection to be established. This means you can just open your favorite streaming service’s app without having to go through the rigmarole of finding and connecting to an Australian server first.

Split tunneling is available via Smart Rules, and allows users to choose which apps they don’t want to pass through the VPN tunnel. There are also several wi-fi protection options available — including one that automatically turns the VPN on when an unsecured network is detected.

CyberGhost has an independently audited no-logs policy, and goes the extra mile by issuing quarterly transparency reports detailing any third-party requests for customer information. Users have the option to enable (or disable) a kill switch as well as an ad, tracker and malware blocker.

We tested whether CyberGhost kept our UK IP address hidden while connected to a server in Australia. It passed all of the IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV. Configuring a router connection is possible on routers that support OpenVPN.

GOOD VALUE OPTION:CyberGhost is easy to use and makes streaming as easy as it could be. Great privacy with zero logs, DNS leak protection and an automatic kill switch. has a vast server network and a comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review.

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6. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN has a solid reputation for security and privacy. It’s based in Switzerland, has open-source apps. and houses some of its servers in underground bunkers and ex-military bases.

More usefully for Aussies abroad, it has plenty of servers (148 at the last count) in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth. These are all suitable for both streaming and torrenting.

Unlike most providers, ProtonVPN allows users to select individual servers rather than just choosing a particular location. Of course, if you want an easy life you can just press Connect and let ProtonVPN choose for you.

We tried connecting to a server in Sydney and successfully used it to access 10Play, 7Plus, and ABC iview. We were pleased to find that the provider also worked with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and AppleTV+.

Although we streamed 10Play without buffering, we wanted to find out what download speeds we were getting while connected. We carried out three tests during the course of a day.

ProtonVPN’s speeds were a little up and down but generally good. Overall, it had an average speed of 29.7 Mbps. This is a drop of approximately 10 Mbps on our base connection speed, but it’s still fast enough for streaming.

The ProtonVPN app is well-designed and rich in detail. The dashboard displays your current IP address, the relative load and location of the server you’re using, the connection protocol, and a map showing the amount of data uploaded and downloaded in real-time. If this seems overwhelming, you can safely ignore all of it without issue.

Some features are available directly from the dashboard. These include the aformetioned Secure Core servers, which route your traffic through an additional ProtonVPN-owned high-security server in a privacy-friendly country. There’s also a NetShield tool to block ads, trackers and malware; a kill switch, and the option to enable Port Forwarding.

For access to more features, you’ll need to navigate to Settings. Here you can enable split tunneling and include or exclude both apps and domains from the VPN tunnel. You can also change the connection protocol, though options are limited either to WireGuard or OpenVPN (UDP or TCP). More advanced features allow users to specify custom DNS servers and Moderate NAT for gaming.

Privacy-wise, ProtonVPN has an audited no-logs policy. It’s also free from IP, DNS and WebRTC leaks. This means your true location is hidden while connected to one of its servers.

Apps are available for iOS, MacOS, Windows, Linux, and Android. ProtonVPN subscriptions allow up to 10 simultaneous device connections. The service is compatible with OpenVPN-supporting routers, so manual configuration is an option if you need a VPN for additional devices.

READY FOR ANYTHING:ProtonVPN is a privacy-first service that’s just as comfortable streaming Australian TV as it is torrenting. Paid plans come with a generous connection limit, access to fast servers, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Still have questions? Find answers in our comprehensive ProtonVPN review.

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7. PureVPN

PureVPN has one of the larger networks we’ve seen, with more than 6,000 servers spread across 65+ countries — including Australia. You can see which servers are available by opening up the Location menu on the left-hand side of the dashboard.

Clicking on the country’s flag will automatically connect you, or you can click the “>” to view the available locations first.

PureVPN has servers in four Australian locations, and lists the ping time next to each. Choose the server with the lowest value to get the fastest connection. In the above image, that would be the Sydney server. The Brisbane and Perth servers are temporarily unavailable.

We tested our download speeds over the course of a day while connected to the Sydney server. The results were inconsistent.

On one hand, the provider pegged the fastest overall single result — an impressively quick 39.17 Mbps. However, it also produced one of the slowest: 16.8 Mbps. Taking an average — which is the fairest approach — gives us a decent enough speed of 27.8 Mbps. So while PureVPN isn’t the fastest provider for Australia, is fast enough to get you an Australian streaming fix.

We confirmed this by trying the provider out with Australian streaming platforms. It work successfully with 7Plus, 10Play and ABC iview. PureVPN also works with several international platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

PureVPN is strong on privacy, and it’s no-logs policy has been independently audited. In fact, the company claims it can be audited at any time without any prior notice. The software uses industry standard AES-256 encryption, and comes with a tracker blocker, and a customizable kill switch.

Users can choose which protocol they want to use or let PureVPN choose for them. Options include WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN (UDP and TCP). App-based split tunneling is available, which is great for preventing streaming apps from detecting your true location if the VPN connection drops out.

We made sure that PureVPN was adequately protecting our true IP address while connected by carrying out IP, DNS and WebRTC leaks. The provider passed all three, which is what we’d expect.

PureVPN is a great option for users connecting from countries that impose VPN blocks. This is because it obfuscates traffic by default, rather than users needing to specifically enable it. Moreover, the obfuscation is effective — successful even in notoriously strict countries such as China.

Apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux — all of which have a similar GUI. This makes for a shallow learning curve if you need to switch between platforms. Subscription plans are available for up to five years, which is great if you want to lock in a low price long-term.

Buy this VPN if:

FAST AUSSIE SERVERS:PureVPN makes it easy to stream Australian content. Easy-to-use software that includes all of the tools you’ll need to browse safely. Better still, all plans come with a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Why not read our complete PureVPN review?

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8. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is a Sweden-based service launched by activists who support consumers’ right to torrent privately. The service continues to have a privacy-first ethos and a small-is-beautiful mindset.

PrivateVPN’s network has a relatively low server-count compared with some providers, but it nevertheless has a presence in a respectable 63+ countries. Within Australia, servers are available in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. We tested their speeds at three points during the course of a day. The results were mixed.

What’s clear is that PrivateVPN isn’t the fastest provider. It improved through the day, but it’s still nothing to tell the grandchildren about. If we disregard the morning result — or just take an average across the day — speeds were good enough for streaming in HD. However, if you’re on a sluggish connection to start with, you may want to look at one of our other providers for accessing Australian streaming services.

In terms of its ability to access streaming services, PrivateVPN is excellent. We used it to watch 7Plus, 10Play and ABC iview without issue. It even works with notoriously difficult to unblock platforms such as BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.

The service is very easy to use overall. The dashboard is clear and easily navigable by those with no prior VPN experience. Those who want more detail can open the Advanced View, which displays information such as your current public IP address, protocol, and encryption level.

You can switch protocols by first disconnecting from the VPN server and selecting one of the options from the drop-down menu. Choices include OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), PPTP and L2TP. Unusually, users can also change the level of encryption used. Reducing it from AES-256 to AES-128 can help improve download speeds, while still providing adequate protection.

Unlike most providers, PrivateVPN allows port forwarding. The port you need to use with your torrent client is shown in green beneath the encryption drop-down menu.

Other features include Stealth VPN, which is useful for anyone connecting from countries such as China, where VPN use is restricted. PrivateVPN has a kill switch and also allows users to specify apps that should be terminated if the VPN connection drops out.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV. These come with built-in leak protection, which we tested while connected to a server in Australia. Our tests revealed no IP, DNS or WebRTC leaks.

PrivateVPN has one of the cheapest monthly subscriptions fees, which you can lock in for a longer period than with most providers (three years). Plans allow up to ten simultaneous device connections, which is adequate for most users. If not, router connections can be configured that protect every networked device in one go. Instructions for doing this are available from the PrivateVPN site. If you need any help — with this or anything else — PrivateVPN is the only provider we know that offers remote control assistance.

STRONG ON PRIVACY:Based in Sweden. Secure bare metal servers. No logs policy. Servers located in 63+ countries. Allows torrenting. Has a Kill-switch, DNS leak protection, and obfuscation. Perfect for streaming Netflix or accessing restricted websites. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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How we found the best Australia VPN: Our testing methodology

If you’re curious about exactly how we selected our recommended VPNs, we have all the detail you could ever want below.

Speed

We specifically wanted to know what sort of download speeds users could expect while connected to each VPN’s Australian servers. To simulate the average user’s experience, we carried out speed tests on a home broadband connection with a modest average download speed of 39.1 Mbps. It’s worth noting that we were connecting from the UK, which is a particularly long distance for traffic to travel. As a general rule, the further away the VPN server is, the slower the connection speed. If you’re much nearer Australia than we are, you could expect faster speeds.

NordVPN and Surfshark were the only consistently fast providers across tests. The fastest speed in any one test was PureVPN, and the slowest was CyberGhost.

To better compare providers we took an average of the results and converted them to a score out of ten. The results can be visualized as follows:

From the chart it’s easy to see that Surfshark and NordVPN are the fastest providers overall. Choose either of these if you want the best chance of preserving your base connection speed while connected to a server in Australia.

Streaming ability

To evaluate VPN providers’ relative streaming ability we looked at how successful they were at accessing a range of Australian streaming platforms. We also considered how well they performed when accessing the big-name international platforms. Finally, we asked one of our resident experts to provide a score based on their own experience of using each provider to stream. You can see all of the data below.

To better compare providers, we combined the results to give us an overall score out of 10.

If you want the best streaming experience, then NordVPN is the best option. Surfshark, IPVanish, and ExpressVPN are solid alternatives.

Security & privacy

A good quality VPN should do its utmost to keep your connection and data secure and private. We’ve identified 15 different criteria that we consider necessary to achieve this. You can see the criteria we use to score VPNs in the table below.

We assign a score to each of these criteria to create an overall score out of 10. This makes comparing providers directly more convenient.

The first thing to notice in the above chart is that all of our recommended providers score highly when it comes to protecting their customers’ data and online activities. However, NordVPN and Surfshark go further than most.

Ease of use

Rather than simply evaluating how easy each providers’ apps are to use, we prefer to look at the big picture. We score providers on ten metrics overall, including ease of signup, and feature parity. You can see the data below.

We assign a score to each metric, which we use to generate an overall ease of use score.

If you want a hassle-free VPN experience, NordVPN is the way to go. IPVanish is also notably user-friendly.

Value for money

It’s a great feeling when you know you’ve snagged a great deal. To work out which providers represent good value for money, we score them according to eight different metrics. You can see how they performed in each below.

We combine these scores to give us an overview of how the providers compare in terms of their relative value for money.

Surfshark represents the best value for money overall, closely followed by IPVanish, NordVPN and then CyberGhost.

Why you need a VPN in Australia

When it comes to digital privacy and online freedom in Australia, several concerns make using a VPN almost essential. Here’s why:

1. Five-Eyes Alliance Membership: Australia is a key member of the 5-Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. This alliance involves countries sharing surveillance data amongst themselves. You can encrypt your online activities using a VPN, making it difficult for any entity to monitor or log your data.
2. Government Surveillance: The Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) bill, introduced in September 2021, grants Australian law enforcement the authority to access and alter data on your devices. A VPN can provide an added layer of security, ensuring your data remains private and out of reach.
3. ISP Monitoring and Restrictions: Australian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are known to monitor user data. They can also throttle bandwidth or block access to P2P networks and websites. With a VPN, you can bypass these restrictions, ensuring unrestricted access to the internet and safeguarding your online activities from prying eyes.
4. Cybersecurity Concerns: Cyberattacks are a global concern, and Australia is no exception. Whether it’s hackers trying to steal personal information or malware attempting to infiltrate devices, the risks are real. A VPN offers robust encryption, making it challenging for cyber criminals to intercept or decipher your data.
5. Data Retention by Telecommunication Firms: Australian laws mandate telecommunication companies to retain user data for up to two years. This data can include call logs, text messages, and more. VPNs encrypt your online activities, and many also come with anti-tracking features. This ensures that third parties, including telecommunication firms, cannot easily access or use your personal information, safeguarding you from unsolicited communications.

In conclusion, while Australia offers numerous attractions and opportunities, it’s crucial to prioritize your digital privacy and security. A VPN is a protective shield, ensuring you can enjoy the digital world without compromising your data and freedom.

Why you should avoid free VPNs

It might be tempting to use a free VPN instead of a paid one, but we strongly advise against it. With very few exceptions, free VPNs are either incredibly limited or invade your privacy to mine personal data, which is then sold off to third-party advertisers.

Free VPNs often have data caps, bandwidth limits, and even queues. Server selection is limited. Some will inject advertisements into your browser and use tracking cookies to monitor your behavior. This actually reduces your privacy and defeats the purpose of a VPN.

If you insist on using a free VPN, make sure to read through the company’s privacy policy. Ensure they use strong encryption standards and have no-logs policies. However, we recommend you opt for the stronger security, unlimited bandwidth and access to geo-locked content that can only be offered by a paid VPN provider.