Best VPN for Australia: 6 Top Options Reviewed and Compared

You might be looking for a VPN service that allows you to access blocked sites. Maybe you need a VPN to watch movies or TV shows that are Geo-restricted on your local Netflix. Or you could be just using a virtual private network so your internet service provider doesn’t monitor your activity.

Whatever the reason may be, it’s essential to know what the best VPN services are in Australia to ensure you not only maintain your online privacy, but that you can access the streaming sites that host your favorite content without any performance issues such as lower bandwidth speeds or connection dropouts.

In a hurry? If you want the best VPN for privacy, security, or speed, here are our editor’s picks for the best VPNs overall — each with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Click through now to get our best discount on your subscription:

ExpressVPN: A global leader among VPNs, ExpressVPN offers one-click ease with high speed servers in 94 countries — and it also unblocks Netflix. Get 3 months free when you purchase a 12-month subscription.
NordVPN: Compatible with many streaming services, featuring malware prevention and ad blocking. Get up to 68% off + 3 free months with NordVPN’s Back to School special when you choose a 2-year plan with our special offer.
Surfshark: Award-winning VPN for unlimited devices, featuring worldwide connections with 10 GBit servers in 100 countries. Get 82% off your Surshark subscription price plus 2 extra months free.

Contents

1 An Overview of Australia
2 The Best VPN Services in Australia
3 1. ExpressVPN
4 2. NordVPN
5 3. Surfshark
6 4. CyberGhost
7 5. Private Internet Access
8 6. VyprVPN
9 The Pros and Cons of a VPN
10 Conclusion
11 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
12 How to Choose an Australian VPN Service?

An Overview of Australia

Instead of risking data exposure by signing up for random free trials or never-ending 30-day money-back guarantees, take a look at our list of the best Australian VPN services you should consider signing up for.

The Australian government passed a metadata bill in 2015, which mandates that internet and mobile phone providers keep customer data for a period of two years. Perhaps you want to keep your internet traffic private despite this bill.

If you’re unfamiliar with the data rules in Australia, here is the information you need to know to ensure you’re acting within the laws of the land.

And of course, it’s useful information if you choose a VPN provider based in Australia, as this applies to local companies.

Jurisdiction characteristics
Political culture	Democracy
Main IT hub location	Melbourne
Data protection registration	NOT required
Data protection officers appointment	NOT required
Data transfer to 3rd party disclosure	Consent required
Unlawful disclosure of sensitive information	$10 Million. Three times the value of any benefit gained through the misuse of information. 10% of the company’s annual domestic turnover
Breach notice obligations	Within 30 days of becoming aware of any data breach
VPN allowance	Allowed
Downloading copyrighted content	Not Allowed. Fines of up to $60,500, or Up to 5 years in prison

The Best VPN Services in Australia

Now it’s just a matter of choosing the right VPN to use in Australia for your specific situation and your budget. Here are some of the most popular VPN services that work well within the country.

1. ExpressVPN

Ease of Use: 1 (super easy)

Kill switch: ✅

No Logs: ✅

3rd-party audit: ✅

Torrenting: ✅

Best & Worst:

Best feature for use within Australia: Excellent encryption protocols.
Worst feature for use within Australia: No free VPN tier.

There’s a lot to like about ExpressVPN, which is why it’s often one of our top picks. It has a large server network with over 3,000 servers in more than 90 countries, including Australia. It doesn’t keep any traffic logs, offers unlimited bandwidth, and is based in the British Virgin Islands, where there are no data retention laws. It is also very straightforward to use.

ExpressVPN has developed its own VPN protocol called Lightway, which is now available on its VPN apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and routers. Lightway is faster, more secure, and more reliable than some other VPN protocols. With Lightway, users can connect to ExpressVPN more quickly and securely, and they will maintain the same connection to the same server when switching between networks or if their signal drops out.

The Express VPN app can be downloaded to macOS, Windows, iOS and Android devices, Linux, and even some routers. You’re able to access restricted content and stream services like international Netflix.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

2. NordVPN

Ease of Use: 2. (average)

Kill switch: ✅

No Logs: ✅

Third-party audit: ✅

Torrenting: ✅

Best & Worst:

Best feature for use within Australia: They are a very trusted VPN service with several servers in Australia.

Worst feature for use within Australia: Occasional slow connection speeds.

Nord VPN service is a premium VPN that features servers in many locations and multiple VPN server options for Australia. Zero logs of any kind are kept, so you can be assured that no one is able to view your web history or your personal data. It can unblock most streaming websites and give you access to other streaming catalogs on services like Netflix.

Apps are available for PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux, with each of them optimized to ensure you’re getting the fastest VPN option in Australia while also protecting all of your personal information.

Read our full NordVPN review.

3. Surfshark

Ease of Use: 1 (super easy)

Kill switch: ✅

No Logs: ✅

Third-party audit: ✅

Torrenting: ✅

Best & Worst:

Best feature for use within Australia: Very easy to use, and has several VPN apps and tutorials for those new to using a VPN, or just new to using Surfshark.

Worst feature for use within Australia: Split tunneling is not available on Apple products.

Surfshark offers the ability to connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously, as well as fast connection to restricted websites and content on BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

Multi-hop is a useful privacy feature that lets you connect to the internet through two separate VPN servers, typically located in different countries and pre-chosen for you. However, with Surfshark, you have the flexibility to fully customize this feature by manually selecting both servers, which can help you customize your privacy.

There’s a money-back guarantee, a no-log policy, an automatic kill switch if connections cut out, and 24/7 live chat support. Surfshark also has VPN apps available for iOS, Android, Linux, MacOS, and Windows devices.

Read our full Surfshark review.

4. CyberGhost

Ease of Use: 1 (super easy)

Kill switch: ✅

No Logs: ✅

Security incidents: ✅/ ❌

3rd-party audit: ✅/ ❌

Torrenting: ✅/ ❌

Best & Worst:

Best feature for use within Australia:

Worst feature for use within Australia:

With over 1,300 US servers and over 200 Aussie server options, CyberGhost is another service well worth considering. CyberGhost VPN provides anonymous torrenting regardless of your location, tracker, or ISP, and ensures your torrent activity is completely anonymous. It’s available on major operating systems and devices, including Xbox, PlayStation, and Smart TVs. This VPN has servers optimized for torrenting, with no logging of data and airtight DNS leak prevention.

It comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee and has plenty of app options for iOS and Android devices as well as Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

5. Private Internet Access

Ease of Use: 2 (average)

Kill switch: ✅

No Logs: ✅

Third-party audit: ✅

Torrenting: ✅

Best & Worst:

Best feature for use within Australia: Works particularly well for Linux users.

Worst feature for use within Australia: No optimized servers for torrenting.

Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN offers users advanced features that help boost digital privacy and online freedom. With PIA VPN, you can hide or change your IP address, conceal your internet traffic, and have extra security online. PIA VPN is also transparent and open-source, offering support and advanced features. The VPN has fast and reliable enormous server network in 84 countries and you can now use it on unlimited devices. Users can also add their dedicated IP address and access static, anonymous IP addresses.

Private Internet Access VPN is also able to unblock access to multiple video catalogs on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney +, and more.

Read our full Private Internet Access VPN review.

6. VyprVPN

Ease of Use: 2 (average)

Kill switch: ✅

No Logs: ✅

Third-party audit: ✅

Torrenting: ✅

Best & Worst:

Best feature for use within Australia: Unlimited bandwidth.

Worst feature for use within Australia:

VyprVPN’s ownership recently changed from Switzerland based Golden Frog, to USA based Certida, although their website says they are incorporated in Switzerland. Although Switzerland has significantly better privacy laws than the USA does, Vypr has a strict no-logs policy that has been audited by Leviathan, and independent firm.

Every server that VyprVPN offers is maintained in-house as it allows them to ensure that none of your personal information will ever be exposed. Its servers are located in over 70 locations, and there are no bandwidth restrictions, no matter how long you stay on the service.

It works well with Netflix, and is very easy to use on Windows and Android. You can even get apps for some smart TVs and your router if you prefer to have every connected device protected by VyprVPN.

Read our full VyprVPN review.

The Pros and Cons of a VPN

Pros

There are many advantages of using a VPN in Australia. Some of the most common reasons why you should consider signing up for one include:

+ Protection over your personal information
+ Your web history doesn’t get logged with internet service providers
+ Access to streaming services around the world
+ Able to view content that is geo-blocked
+ Admittance to websites blocked or banned in the country
+ Complete anonymity online
+ Protection from data breaches and malware attacks, mainly when using public Wi-Fi

Cons

While fast speeds and security features are all well and good, there are still some risks that come with using a VPN. The main concern relates to choosing the wrong VPN service and your information getting compromised.

Not all VPN companies are the same. Some of the free VPNs don’t offer the same security features as other services and can leave some of your information exposed to hackers or internet service providers. Free VPNs don’t always provide leak protection or have a log policy, meaning they don’t provide you with complete anonymity and take note of what websites you visit.

There are also free VPNs that throttle your bandwidth. Some paid VPN companies may not give you fast speeds either. In these instances, you may not be able to watch videos or utilize streaming services due to server restrictions or data caps.

To avoid these issues, you need to understand what to look out for when choosing a VPN. It can help prevent your personal details from getting exposed and your internet becoming unusable.

Conclusion

There are several notable VPN services available for use in Australia. Using a VPN offers benefits like safeguarding your personal information, accessing global content, and maintaining anonymity online. However, be careful to choose a reputable VPN provider to avoid potential risks. Some free VPNs may compromise security or limit your internet speed, while others might lack leak protection or a strict no-logs policy.

ExpressVPN: With a large server network, no traffic logs, and excellent encryption protocols, ExpressVPN is user-friendly and offers fast speeds for streaming and accessing restricted content.
NordVPN: Trusted and reliable, NordVPN provides multiple servers in Australia, strong security features, and the ability to unblock popular streaming platforms.
Surfshark: Known for its ease of use, Surfshark offers unlimited device connections, fast speeds, and a range of VPN apps and tutorials.
CyberGhost: With an extensive server network, anonymous torrenting capabilities, and a user-friendly interface, CyberGhost is a great option for Australian users.
Private Internet Access (PIA): PIA VPN offers advanced features for enhanced privacy, a large server network, and support for Linux users.
VyprVPN: VyprVPN maintains a strict no-logs policy, offers unlimited bandwidth, and has servers in over 70 locations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What is the best VPN to access Australian internet and streaming services?

ExpressVPN wins the vote because of reliability and ease of use. This VPN provides outstanding performance for streaming and unblocking websites. It is known for being one of the most user-friendly options for streaming, and it offers consistently fast and reliable servers in Australia.

Which VPN has Australian servers?

ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and CyberGhost all have servers in Australia. Surfshark has Australian servers in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, and others.

Which VPN is best for Australian Reddit?

NordVPN is a secure VPN that will work well when accessing Reddit in Australia, and won’t take up too much computer space or slow your connection.

What is the best free VPN for Australia?

CyberGhost VPN isn’t entirely free, but they are another secure VPN you can trust, and they offer the longest money-back guarantee at 45 days, so you can try it risk free.

Is it Legal to Use a VPN in Australia?

Everyone is entitled to manage their security and privacy, which is one of the reasons why it’s not illegal to utilize a VPN in Australia.

You have the right to remain anonymous when you’re online and not have your web traffic logged with your ISP. A VPN also provides you with the added security that hackers won’t log into your server to gain access your personal information.

While there is an assumption that using a VPN is for engaging in illegal activities, this is not always the case. For example, you will need a VPN to access some pornography websites and pages that offer torrents for sharing larger files. While neither of these is technically illegal, the Australian government has banned multiple websites that host these types of materials.

If you are caught uploading or downloading copyrighted material, then you may get prosecuted for this activity. As of today, the penalties in Australia start at fines up to $60,500. There is also the potential of five years of jail time for severe breaches of this law.

Even though a VPN may protect you from being discovered sharing copyrighted material, there are better reasons to obtain one to use in Australia.

Why Do You Need to Use a VPN in Australia?

If you’re someone who cherishes their privacy and doesn’t want your internet history shared with marketing companies and corporations, then a VPN can provide you with that added layer of security.

When you log into a VPN, you might think you have to connect to servers from other countries around the world. But this isn’t true. You can still log on to servers in Australia to guarantee you fast speeds while also gaining all of the security features that come with using a VPN.

Your IP address will get hidden, and your web history won’t get logged with your ISP. You should even see a reduction of advertisements retargeting your Google search history.

But while choosing an Australia VPN has some perks, selecting a server from another country has several other advantages. One is accessing geo-blocked materials. This is when you land on a website or open a video and are presented with a message stating that the content is not available in your country.

With a VPN, you’re able to select a server in the country of origin where the material is available and then enjoy it as if you are a citizen living there. You can also access other materials that are not available in Australia.

While Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are on offer for residents of Australia, the library is significantly different from other countries. When you activate your VPN and choose another country, you will instantly have access to the library available in that location. Not only that, but you’ll also be able to sign up for streaming services that are exclusive to other countries like HBO Max, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.

Finally, a VPN will give you peace of mind knowing that your data and information is secure. Australia ranks 37^th on the National Cyber Security Index. This is a global measurement highlighting how prepared countries are to prevent cybersecurity issues. But by taking advantage of the security features of a VPN, you can rest assured that your personal information is invisible and protected against hackers.

What to Look for in a VPN Service?

The best VPNs will highlight a raft of features to provide you with a level of certainty that when you’re online, you’re protected. While remaining anonymous should be one of your key concerns when using free VPNs or one that you pay per month, there are several other features to investigate before settling on the right one for you.

Privacy Policy and Logs Policy for Your IP Address

Some free VPN services may advertise that they offer complete anonymity when you’re online. However, their privacy policy and log policy will detail how they handle user data. For example, they may hold on to it for a certain period of time and willingly turn it over to law enforcement if user data is ever requested. While it might seem like a lot of pages to read, it’s worth delving into these policies so that your private information and online activities don’t get stored on a VPN server.

Number of Servers

The best VPNs will brag about how many servers they have. For example, a company like NordVPN highlights that it has over 5,500 server locations, while free VPNs may only offer anywhere from three to five. The more VPN servers on offer, the faster your connection will be when you’re online.

Server Locations

If accessing geo-restricted content is vital to you, then you’re going to want to ensure that you can access servers across the globe. The more server locations on offer, the more blocked content you can retrieve and streaming services you’ll have available to you. It’s also important to be able to access a server in Australia. Particularly if you only want a VPN to protect your personal information and not have your website history logged with ISPs.

Data Limits

A free VPN will tend to have a limit on how much you can download in a day or month. Once you’ve hit that cap, your bandwidth will get throttled. Some offer 250 MB a month, and others can be more generous and provide 10 GB. You’ll need to pay a fee per month or sign up for a year plan if you want unlimited data for your VPN.

Simultaneous Connections

Many free VPNs limit how many devices can utilize the service at once. Even some paid services will make you take out one of the higher plans to have simultaneous connections. If you need to connect several devices to your VPN, then ensure that you don’t need to spend more money for the privilege or won’t get disconnected because you’re using too many items.

Types of Devices

The most common devices most people want to protect with a VPN is their Windows or Mac laptop or computer. However, some VPNs can also be used to protect Android and iOS devices. If you do want to use a free VPN or paid service to protect mobiles or other items, then you’ll want to make sure it’s easy to use and simple to install so that you don’t have to worry about making a mess of the settings. It should also be seamless to return to an Australian IP address if you need to log in to a local website.

How to Choose an Australian VPN Service?

There’s a lot to consider when choosing a VPN to use in Australia. You need to determine what you plan on using it for and what devices you need the VPN app on. It’s also essential to have a budget in mind so that you don’t waste your time or jeopardize your personal information with a free VPN.

A VPN for Australia should also include plenty of features. Take note of how many servers are on offer, where they’re located, and what security options are available, like leak protection and ad-blockers. If you need to protect multiple devices, then you’ll want to know how many connections you can have operating at one time. You might also want to see if there are Australian VPN servers available if you need to access local content from time to time.

Don’t put your private information at risk or hand over your credit card to a company you’ve never heard of. Thankfully we have translated all of the jargon so you understand what you’re getting with your VPN connection and if you can access the content that you need to have. Head over and get started with your favorite option in Australia right now.

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