Many African countries are “not free” in terms of internet freedom, according to Freedom House, the non-profit organization. Some African governments censor what residents can view online in a bid to restrict political criticism and ban access to online material that goes against religious values.
A VPN for Africa provides internet users living on the continent a way to get around censorship blocks and avoid government surveillance. However, not all VPNs offer server coverage in Africa, and it remains one of the most ignored continents in terms of VPN server locations.
When we refer to an African VPN, we’re talking about a VPN that encompasses the following features:
So, if a VPN has the above qualities, it constitutes a suitable Virtual Private Network for Africa.
Below are the best VPN services for Africa. All of the services below provide access to African-based servers and help users enjoy free internet access. As well as this, the VPN providers listed below all help to keep users browsing data and online identity secure and hidden so that they don’t find themselves in trouble for accessing geo-blocked websites.
| Max Speed: | 115000 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dedicated |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 6 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 12 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
Ultra-fast connection
No-logs policy
5400 servers in 54 countries
Limited payment options
No Split Tunneling on desktop
Only 6 simultaneous connection
NordVPN is a titan of the VPN industry due to the incomparable online security it offers to internet users around the world. Although NordVPN’s African server coverage is limited to South Africa, it operates locations in 59 other countries, meaning African users can easily bypass access geo-blocked content by connecting to VPN servers from across the world.
For users living in African countries and elsewhere, NordVPN provides excellent online privacy. The anonymous VPN offers AES-256 bit encryption to hide internet traffic, DNS leak protection to hide DNS queries that reveal your browsing activity, and a kill switch to ensure your traffic is never exposed.
Since surveillance is rife in several African countries, anonymous browsing is essential for users accessing blocked sites. NordVPN provides anonymity by offering a Double VPN feature, which sends your data via two servers instead of one, changing your IP address twice.
Your browsing history will remain private, thanks to NordVPN’s no-logging policy, which states it doesn’t monitor VPN usage or sell personal information. NordVPN is incorporated in Panama, meaning it doesn’t have to follow strict data retention laws and collect data on its users.
NordVPN operates various specialty servers, which is excellent news for residents in Africa and other continents. There are dedicated streaming servers meaning users can unblock Netflix and Amazon Prime Video catalogs worldwide. There are also torrenting-optimized servers, meaning you can connect to a specific server to share files without anyone seeing what you upload and download.
Thanks to six simultaneous connections, users can install NordVPN on most of their devices. There is support for operating systems including Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, and Linux. Users can also install the VPN software on Smart TVs, Amazon Firestick, Android TVs, and Apple TVs. NordVPN also makes it possible to install the software on routers to protect all home network traffic, even though there is not a dedicated NordVPN app for routers.
A 30-day money-back guarantee is in place for all new users and allows subscribers to test out the VPN with no strings attached. If you experience any issues with the VPN, you can contact the help team via live chat support and access online help guides.
| Max Speed: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Shared |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | Unlimited |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 15 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
Full 15 Netflix Libraries
Tons of server locations
Great deal on 24 months
No Apple Pay Payment Option
Very expensive monthly
Allows P2P from all servers
Surfshark VPN is another secure VPN service that provides users living on the African continent to overcome internet censorship. The VPN offers access to over 3,200 servers across the world, including some in South Africa.
Users can access many streaming sites such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer and visit blocked news websites and social networking platforms. This enables users to enjoy greater freedom of speech and share their political opinions online. Thanks to military-grade encryption, users don’t need to worry about their activity on restricted websites being seen by the government.
Strong encryption is accompanied by secure tunneling protocols and DNS and IPv4 leak protection to ensure that no data or IP leaks occur. As well as this, there is an internet kill switch, MultiHop, which is a Double VPN feature, and obfuscation to disguise your VPN use as regular HTTPS traffic.
Surfshark implements a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that none of its users’ sensitive data is monetized or shared with third-party companies. What’s more, Surfshark’s headquarters are in the British Virgin Islands, meaning the company doesn’t have to follow data logging laws.
Not only is Surfshark a reliable VPN service in terms of protecting your personal data online, but it also serves as a great defense against other online threats thanks to its CyberSec feature. CyberSec blocks adware and other annoying malware that can seriously affect your operating system.
With a Surfshark subscription, you don’t need to choose which devices to protect since the VPN service has unlimited simultaneous connections. The Surfshark VPN app is compatible with the most popular operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Linux, and Chrome OS. You can even use browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox to only protect the traffic in your browser and not on your entire device.
Whether you’re using the VPN in Africa to connect to servers in the US or based in Europe and connecting to a South African server, you can expect a stable internet connection and fast VPN speeds. Surfshark offers unlimited bandwidth and fast tunneling protocols for continuously high-speed connections.
Surfshark is a highly affordable VPN, offering some of the most competitive prices in the market. There is also a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee for all first-time subscribers.
| Max Speed: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dedicated |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 7 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 4 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
Servers in unusual countries
Great support options
Great blog and guide universe
Limited payment options
Poor press area for affiliates
Few Netflix libraries
If you want access to an extensive VPN server network that offers various server locations in Africa, then CyberGhost VPN is an excellent choice. The provider offers access to more than 7,400 VPN servers with several servers in Algeria, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. So, if you’re looking for an African IP address to access online content only available in the African continent, CyberGhost is a great option.
As well as providing users with African IP addresses, CyberGhost can also help African residents browse the web under foreign IPs to get past online censorship and geo-restrictions. Its server network spans 91 countries, making it one of the best VPN providers for unrestricted online activities.
Users can unblock popular streaming services like BBC iPlayer in the UK, access banned VoIP services and social networks, and read blocked news articles. There is also support for secure torrenting on CyberGhost’s servers and the ability to game with total DDoS protection.
There are fast VPN connection speeds and unlimited bandwidth with every plan, which is great for users living in Africa who establish long-distance VPN connections. This ensures they can connect to servers on the other side of the world and not endure super-slow speeds.
Thanks to its exceptional security features, your internet traffic, and personal data will remain private with CyberGhost. First of all, CyberGhost uses military-grade encryption and the strongest VPN protocols for constant online privacy. As well as this, no users’ private data is logged due to CyberGhost’s strict no-logging policy, meaning it is doubtful that third parties will view your browsing activity or see your actual IP address.
Other security features include IP and DNS leak protection, an automatic kill switch to block internet access if the VPN connection goes down, and automatic protection that will launch the VPN when you establish a new Wi-Fi connection.
With CyberGhost, you can customize your VPN use with nifty tools such as split tunneling. Split tunneling enables users to decide which websites are accessed via the VPN tunnel and which is sent via your regular internet network.
You can protect multiple devices at once with CyberGhost VPN since it offers protection for up to seven devices simultaneously. CyberGhost can be used on the most popular operating systems and can also be configured to routers.
There is excellent customer support, including 24/7 live chat support and an extensive help section. A 45-day money-back guarantee is also available, giving new users extra time to try out the VPN service.
| Max Speed: | 700 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dynamic |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 5 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 12 |
| Information sharing: | 5 Eyes Member |
| OS support: | Android, Android TV, Apple TV, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One |
Large server network
7 day free trial
165 streaming servers
Based in Five Eyes country
No phone support
Prices change frequently
In terms of server coverage in Africa, HideMyAss! (HMA) is the best VPN. Its server network spans over 210 countries, and there are servers in 53 African countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda, Libya, and Kenya. Users in Africa can surf the web with an IP address from their own country or a neighboring country if they don’t want to bypass geo-blocks and only want online privacy.
Fortunately, if users living in Africa want to overcome geo-blocks, HMA can help. It can unblock streaming services such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer and can also provide access to social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Likewise, thanks to the many VPN servers in Africa, users in the US and other parts of the world can visit African websites.
HMA isn’t just great at helping overcome internet geo-restrictions, but it also provides users with privacy and security, hiding their browsing data from third parties in Africa and other parts of the world. There is advanced VPN encryption, a choice of secure protocols, two kill switches, and a tight no-logs policy.
Since HMA is based in the UK, it is good to know that the provider operates a no-logging policy. The UK is part of the 5/9/14 Eyes, meaning it shares residents’ data with other Five Eyes member states in a bid to counter terrorism and other international threats.
Every HMA plan comes with five simultaneous connections, and there is support for all platforms. There is also a free proxy VPN that users can access via the HMA website, which is a great solution for users in Africa who can’t afford a premium subscription.
To get an African IP address, you must first think about which country you want an IP address for. It is easier to find a South African VPN IP address than IP addresses from other African countries. Ensure that you choose a VPN service that offers servers in your country of choice.
Once you have downloaded and set up the VPN app on your phone or computer, you can connect to a server in that particular country to change your IP address. You’ll then be able to surf the web under this different IP and access previously inaccessible sites.
Unfortunately, Africa is one of the most neglected continents when it comes to VPN servers. Although more VPN companies have started to add African servers to their networks, there are still many VPNs that only offer servers in South Africa or none in Africa whatsoever.
Fortunately, all of the VPNs on our list offer African-based servers. CyberGhost and HideMyAss! are the best VPNs in terms of providing a broad range of servers on the African continent.
Some free VPNs, such as Hola, offer access to African IP addresses; however, this is done by sending your traffic through another user’s device, not via a VPN server.
Unfortunately, many free VPNs don’t provide access to African servers. Therefore, if the VPN you use must operate servers in Africa, you should opt for a premium VPN service such as one from the list above.
VPNs are not illegal in South Africa; however, like with any country, using a VPN to hide illicit activity is still a criminal offense that can result in jail time or other scary consequences. Therefore, we recommend that you only use a VPN in South Africa to protect your browsing data, unblock geo-restricted content, and not carry out illicit activities.
Using a VPN in South Africa is extremely easy. Firstly, you can download VPN software onto your devices and then open the VPN app and connect to a server. Since South Africa doesn’t block the use of VPNs, you should find it easy to establish a VPN connection.
VPN service costs vary depending on where in the world you are based. However, you can purchase long-term plans with VPNs on the list above from around $3 per month, which is great value for money.
A South African VPN connection works like any other VPN connection. For example, if you’re connecting to a South African server from the US, your data will be sent via an encrypted tunnel to the server, where your data is decrypted and then encrypted and sent back to your device. Connecting to a server also changes your IP address and masks your real one. If you’re in South Africa and connect to a server in the US or anywhere else in the world, the process is the same.
There are many reasons to use a VPN for Africa.
Unfortunately, not all VPNs for Africa are the same, and there are some downsides:
I’m Madeleine, and I'm a writer that specializes in cybersecurity, tech products, and all things related to the internet.
I have a keen interest in VPNs and believe that everyone deserves internet freedom and security. I wr...
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