If you live in Australia, frequently visit the country, or love watching Australian TV shows, you should be using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Geographically, Australia is a pretty isolated country, and it comes into contact with more geo-restrictions than other territories. By using a VPN, residents can have more internet freedom than usual.
A Virtual Private Network isn’t just great for streaming. It also gives internet users an extra layer of privacy protection to surf the web without the risk of exposing their activity to any third-party spies. Owing to Australia’s increasing prevalence of surveillance of citizens’ internet usage, user privacy, and freedom online have never been more important.
If you don’t live in Australia but want to access content there more easily, you should also be using a VPN. By connecting to an Australian VPN server and changing your IP address, you’ll open up a world of extra online possibilities. Show more
Whether you live in Australia and want to start using a VPN service or visit the country often and want to use a VPN during your trip, many providers can cater to your needs. We’ve researched the best VPNs for Australia and ranked them on a variety of factors that include:
We’ve also included a few free VPN options for those on a budget or who want to test out VPN services before signing up for a full plan.
| 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 arguably the most well-known VPN provider and is a great choice for a VPN for Australia. With first-rate privacy and security features, your internet traffic will always be secure.
With 5 server locations in Australia and a whopping 190 servers alone, NordVPN is one of the best options when it comes to VPNs for Australia. Users will have no trouble connecting to an Australian server, and with a host of server options in nearby countries like Indonesia and New Zealand, there are many options for Australian residents.
NordVPN is one of the best VPN providers when it comes to security and privacy. It employs military-grade encryption, uses Perfect Forward Secrecy, and each VPN server has DNS leak protection. Nord has an in-built kill switch that can be easily switched on in the app settings and offers the Double VPN feature. Double VPN changes your IP address twice, effectively giving you an extra layer of VPN protection.
Nord’s headquarters are based in Panama, another jurisdiction with fantastic data retention laws. For this reason, the provider offers a strict no-logs policy that promises never to store information about users’ internet usage. NordVPN also has CyberSec included in its software, which stops you from accessing suspicious websites and blocks adware. It isn’t a replacement for antivirus software, but it’s definitely a great supplementary feature.
Not only are the security features great, but NordVPN also offers incredibly fast speeds. This is partly due to the no bandwidth limitations and the increased computing load of Nord’s servers, but it also thanks to the new NordLynx protocol. This protocol is fast and allows you to stream and download without slowing down your internet connection.
Speaking of torrenting, NordVPN has dedicated P2P servers, which is great for Australians who want to download files. There is also the Tor over VPN option, which permits users to tunnel their data traffic through The Onion Network if they prefer.
Although NordVPN offers incredibly advanced technological features, the VPN is easy to use. Its dedicated PC client and mobile phone apps are well-laid out and make it simple for users to activate certain features like split tunneling. The simple user interface is what makes NordVPN a great choice for VPN novices.
NordVPN is great when it comes to customer support. With an extensive user support section on the Nord website with tutorials on using VPN features and even setting up your VPN on your home router, users won’t ever be confused on how to use the service. There is also 24/7 live chat support.
You can use NordVPN on up to 6 devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. There are also light browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, and Nord’s Smart DNS feature enables you to unblock streaming services, such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer, on your Smart TV. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee that allows you to try out the product before committing to a lengthier subscription.
| Max Speed: | 58000 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dedicated |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 5 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 12 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Android, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows |
Tons of payment options
24-hour live chat suppot
30-day money back guarantee
More expensive than competitors
Only 5 simultaneous connections
No servers in Russia
A firm favorite of ours at VPNSurfers, ExpressVPN tops our list of the best VPNs for Australia due to the lightning-fast server speeds it offers.
You’ve probably heard of ExpressVPN, and for a good reason. It’s well-known for the fast server speeds it offers to users. Since VPNs can slow down internet connections, providers are constantly improving their technology to ensure that customers have a great experience.
A way in which Express has done this is through the creation of its Lightway protocol. This open-source protocol is super speedy, and during our speed tests, we enjoyed a seamless connection that was super fast. We connected to a server in Australia and only noticed a slight dip in our download speeds.
Not only is ExpressVPN a great choice on the speed front, but it also offers fantastic security features. The Australian government won’t be able to see what you’re doing online with Express, thanks to the AES-256 bit encryption it uses on all of its servers.
It also has IP and DNS leak protection on every server so that there is an extremely low risk of your real location and, subsequently, identity being revealed. ExpressVPN also uses Perfect Forward Secrecy, which means that encryption keys are changed every time you start a new VPN session.
An in-built kill switch, called the Network Lock, is activated upon download for every user. We like the fact that ExpressVPN enables this feature automatically, as it’s an essential privacy and security feature that you shouldn’t be browsing without.
ExpressVPN has servers in 94 countries and operates on RAM. This is an important aspect of Express’s appeal since volatile RAM is a lot better than hard drive memory when it comes to user privacy. Since RAM is wiped every time it is switched off, your data is less likely to be stolen should a hacker get past ExpressVPN’s strong encryption. ExpressVPN also has a strict no-logs policy, so even if its servers were to be hacked, there would be no user browsing data stored.
In Australia itself, Express operates in four of the biggest cities, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. This means that thousands of IP addresses are available for users who want to connect to one of Express’s Australian servers.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, depending on your reasons for using a VPN, ExpressVPN can bypass Netflix’s VPN firewall. VPNs and Netflix are locked in a constant battle, trying to outsmart one another when it comes to technology. ExpressVPN uses obfuscated servers, which hide the fact people are browsing with a VPN. This means that when you use ExpressVPN, you can access several foreign Netflix libraries, including Australia.
With great features, 24/7 customer service, and 5 device connections, ExpressVPN provides one of the best VPN services. You can try it for free for 30 days thanks to its money-back guarantee and choose from monthly, yearly, or two-year subscription plans.
| 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
On our list, at number two is a VPN provider that should go over well with surfers in Australia, thanks to its name alone! Surfshark offers one of the fastest VPN services and has an extremely affordable two-year plan.
Surfshark is a great option for an Australia VPN since it gives its users unlimited device connections and works on the most popular operating systems. If you have a Windows PC and an Android mobile phone, you can protect both with a single Surfshark subscription. Your family can also use the VPN on their devices, at no extra charge.
Although Surfshark is cheaper than ExpressVPN, it has great security and privacy features. It employs military-grade AES-256 bit encryption and Private DNS on all of its servers, providing you with solid privacy. It uses some of the safest VPN protocols, including OpenVPN and its default protocol on all system apps, IKEv2/IPsec. There is also a kill switch feature to make sure you never browse the web without encryption.
Surfshark’s headquarters are based in the British Virgin Islands, which means the provider enjoys some of the world’s best data retention laws. For this reason, Surfshark can offer users a no-logs policy that gives them complete anonymity online. Surfshark will never store nor share user browsing activity. You’ll always have a completely secure VPN connection.
If you want to access Australian Netflix or live in Australia and want to watch content from the rest of the world, you can do so with Surfshark. Surfshark works well on all popular streaming sites like BBC iPlayer and can unblock an impressive 15 Netflix libraries, including Australian Netflix.
If you’re worried about a VPN slowing down your internet connection, Surfshark won’t. Even if you connect to a Surfshark Australian server from far away or vice versa, you’ll enjoy a fantastic speed when connected to one of Surfshark’s VPN servers. When using the provider to connect to streaming sites, our video was buffer-free and in HD quality, a feat that is hard to come by in VPNs.
Surfshark offers extra features that aren’t a given in all VPNs. It has built-in malware protection to protect you from phishing scams and adware. It also offers split tunneling through its Whitelister feature, which allows you to customize your VPN usage and decide what internet traffic goes through the encrypted VPN tunnel and which doesn’t.
It has an incredibly easy to use app for mobile and PCs, and we believe that Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for people who aren’t familiar with VPN software. It has good customer support options, including a live chat service on its website. The two-year version of its subscription plan is under $3 per month, and users can enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee, which Surfshark markets as a free trial.
| 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
CyberGhost provides a great VPN service for Australia. With incredible security features, no one will be at risk when connected to one of CyberGhost’s servers.
CyberGhost offers a secure solution to the data privacy needs of Australian residents, thanks to the many servers it houses in Australia itself. With a vast number of servers worldwide, users can choose from an immense number of IP addresses to bypass geo-blocks and surf the web safely.
Like the other popular VPN providers, CyberGhost uses AES-256 bit encryption on all of its servers. It uses OpenVPN and WireGuard as its main protocols, both of which help to ensure your data is fully encrypted and safe. There is an in-built kill switch across all of its apps and malware protection to give your devices extra protection from viruses.
When it comes to unblocking Australian streaming services or accessing websites outside of Australia, CyberGhost is one of the best providers. As mentioned, it has an extremely large VPN server network with global coverage, providing people worldwide with the opportunity to access censored content. It can unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and HBO Now, along with several Australian based streaming sites.
You’ll need fast speeds to have a good streaming experience, and CyberGhost doesn’t disappoint in this area either. Although its servers aren’t as fast as ExpressVPN’s, they still offer users a generous speed. You can enjoy streaming and gaming without any lag or latency.
CyberGhost has some extra features that a few other VPN services lack. Firstly, they offer dedicated IP addresses to customers. Dedicated IPs are an essential feature for some people who don’t like the idea of shared IPs. This is because of the ‘bad neighbor’ effect, in which other VPN users can get up to no good online and cause certain IP addresses to be blocked.
There are also the NoSpy servers. These are located in Romania, where CyberGhost’s headquarters are based. By choosing to route your traffic through the NoSpy network, you are guaranteed extra security. These servers are controlled end-to-end by the CyberGhost team itself, which means that any security breaches or problems will be quickly spotted and dealt with. If you want an Australian VPN for privacy reasons, CyberGhost is a great choice since your data will be routed through a location that enjoys great privacy laws.
Finally, CyberGhost offers extremely competitive features when it comes to its 24/7 customer support and 45-day money-back guarantee. This is a lot longer than the industry standard 30-day money-back guarantee and is a way of giving users a true taste of what this VPN service can offer them without committing them to a full subscription.
We also really like that CyberGhost is an open company because it isn’t secretive about its owners or employees. For a trustworthy VPN service, consider trying out CyberGhost for 45 days.
| Max Speed: | 373000 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dedicated |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 10 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | Not available |
| Information sharing: | 5 Eyes Member |
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, iOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows |
Tons of servers
Dedicated IP option
One of the largest providers in US!
Old interface
Autogenerated locale languages
No free trial
Private Internet Access (PIA) is another one of the best VPNs for Australia. This is due to its huge server network with plenty of server locations in Australia itself.
PIA provides a great VPN service for Australia since it has almost 800 VPNs in the country. It can get past the VPN firewall of Netflix, and thanks to its fantastic security and privacy features, it gives users a secure VPN connection.
First of all, PIA employs industry-standard encryption to guarantee your internet connection is always secured. It offers its users a range of protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, PPTP, and L2TP/IPSec. While we’d recommend avoiding PPTP since it is easier for hackers to break through its encryption, this protocol does offer fast speeds.
Talking of speed, PIA offers unlimited bandwidth and consistent speeds. Although it isn’t the fastest VPN on our list, it can help to curb bandwidth throttling from your ISP and is fast enough to make it a great choice for streaming. When it comes to unblocking streaming sites, PIA can access foreign Netflix and BBC iPlayer libraries, regardless of your current location. This is thanks to its vast server choices.
Fast speed comes in handy with torrenting too. There is P2P networking support with PIA so that you can connect to a server in Australia that allows you to use platforms such as BitTorrent. Your privacy when torrenting will never come into question due to the strong encryption, and you’ll always have complete anonymity. This is thanks to PIA’s no-logging policy. On the provider’s website, it states that it doesn’t keep logs of any kind. We like that PIA also provides transparency reports for users about its privacy and data retention policies.
In terms of how user-friendly PIA is, it is extremely easy to use. The set-up doesn’t take long, and you can simply activate the VPN with the click of a button. It’s easy to switch features on and off in the settings section of both the PC client and mobile phone app. You easily enable features such as the kill switch and IPv6 and DNS leak protection.
If you have any difficulties using the VPN, you can browse the extensive support section on the PIA website or use the live chat option to speak to one of the support agents. PIA works incredibly hard to give all of its customers a pleasant user experience, and this is shown through the numerous payment options it offers. Whether you want to pay in a traditional manner by credit card or anonymize your payment through cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, you can choose from various options with PIA.
With a 30-day money-back guarantee and good prices that rival other leading providers, PIA is a great choice for Australia. You can access Australian content with ease, comfortable because your browsing activity is 100% private.
Although many people shy away from VPN software as it sounds too complicated and confusing to set up and manage, it isn’t. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to reap the benefits of a good VPN. If you’re living in Australia or traveling the Oceania continent, there are several reasons why you need to add a VPN to your digital routine immediately.
Australia permits the usage of VPNs, so you don’t have to worry about breaking any laws when you’re using a VPN. However, like with most countries, you shouldn’t do anything illegal while using a VPN. Activities that would be considered illegal or breaking terms of use include:
Getting a VPN in Australia is pretty straightforward. Since Australians are keen to access blocked content, and many people visit the country, the majority of VPN providers make sure to provide their services in Australia. Moreover, Australians can connect to fast servers outside of their country and aren’t limited to those in the land down under.
To get a VPN, you just need to choose one of our recommended providers on this list. Then, download and install the software onto your device following the steps given by your chosen provider. Many providers on our list come with certain features activated, but once you have set-up the VPN, you can go into the settings and enable extra features.
Most VPN companies offer multiple simultaneous connections, so you’re not limited to using your VPN on a single device. However, if you opt for a free VPN, this may come with a limit to the number of device connections you are allowed to have.
The VPN market can vary anywhere from $2 to around $13 a month. The most well-known providers like ExpressVPN and NordVPN are at the higher end of the spectrum, whereas other providers such as Surfshark are popular with consumers due to their better deals.
If you don’t want to spend anything on a VPN, there are, of course, free VPNs that you can use. With thousands of free VPN options, you must choose a provider that has a good reputation. Free VPNs often come at the expense of your data privacy or are full of adware.
On our list of the best VPNs for Australia, we’ve included both paid-for and free VPNs so that you can see how each VPN compares to another. The free VPNs we recommend offer good services and are safe so that you don’t have to worry about your personal data being stored or sold anywhere on the web.
Free VPNs that offer both incredible services for free whilst retaining users’ privacy are hard to come by. If you choose a free VPN service that claims to unblock Netflix in every country and that has incredibly fast speeds, it is likely the provider is making money from selling your data or putting adware in its software. On the other hand, a free VPN with great privacy policies may not provide as good a VPN service in terms of data limits and access to global content.
At VPNSurfers, we feel that internet freedom is something we all deserve. However, we feel more strongly that user privacy is essential and should be the top priority when you’re looking to buy a VPN. For that reason, we have put together a list of our favorite free VPNs for Australia offered by reliable providers. While the following providers don’t all offer an Australian server in their free options, they do in their paid-for versions.
ProtonVPN is one of our absolute favorite VPNs at VPNSurfers. Its free version is rather limited compared to its paid subscription plans, but it does offer users some great features, which include:
Proton’s free version doesn’t offer an Australian server location but its paid-for plans do. The provider has a server network across 50 countries, with several in Australia. We’ve tested the VPN and found that our speeds didn’t change much at all when connected to one of its many Australian servers. We were able to continue working, emailing, and visiting websites without any noticeable drops in speed.
We recommend that users who want an Australian VPN try out the free Proton plan. If they like it, they can then move up to the basic or plus plan, which is $4 and $8 per month, respectively. If users choose to do so, they will be able to get an Australian IP address and unblock Australian Netflix whilst enjoying a decent internet speed.
Another VPN provider that gives customers the opportunity to try its free VPN is Hotspot Shield. This version is limited when it comes to features but is one of the better free VPNs on the current market.
Hotspot is one of the better free VPNs since it has military-grade encryption for its users, one of the most important aspects of a VPN. However, its free version only permits access to a single server in the USA. This isn’t great if you’re after an Australian VPN. Similarly, there is a bandwidth limit per day, which is a measly 500MB. This isn’t a lot and will only enable you to check a few emails or visit a few websites with encryption.
However, Hotspot offers lots of great features on its paid-for version. Users will have access to a server network that globally operates in over 115 locations, including 6 cities in Australia. With Hotspot, users can unblock all of the best Aussie TV, such as Netflix, SBS on-demand, Stan, and Foxtel. On its website, Hotspot has an entire page dedicated to its VPN service in Australia, and it is definitely a great choice.
Another VPN with a free version is hide.me. Although IP address and location options are limited with hide.me, it offers a pretty good service that improves if you upgrade to the paid subscription plan.
With hide.me, you can access 5 server locations in the USA (East and West), the Netherlands, Canada, and Germany. Although Australia isn’t on the list, we feel that this list gives users a good idea of how the VPN works before signing up for a paid VPN. There are great privacy and security features that users can enjoy without the risk of ads or logging.
We like the free hide.me VPN, although there is a data limit and only 1 device connection. If you upgrade to a paid plan, you’ll have access to Australian servers in Sydney and Melbourne. You’ll also be able to enjoy fast speeds since the provider imposes no limits when it comes to connection speed. There is the possibility to unblock streaming content available exclusively in Australia, such as Netflix and other Australian-based TV services.
The best way to get an Australian IP address is by using a VPN! Once you have purchased a VPN subscription and set up a VPN on your device, you can open the app, and connect to an Australian server to change your IP.
Most VPNs offer Australian servers since it is an extremely popular location for VPN users. However, free VPNs may only offer access to servers in the US.
You can easily watch Australian streaming services from anywhere in the world by using a VPN. Connecting to an Australian server will enable access to local Australian TV that you can't watch outside of the country.
Hi there! I'm Monique, and I am a writer at VPNSurfers. I live in New York, but I'm originally from Delware. I love traveling, but the US will always be home to me.
I have more than 5 years of experience using VPNs, and I ha...
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