Whether you live in Europe or are just touring the continent, you need a VPN that keeps you anonymous online. Besides that, it must let you use all the services you’re subscribed to. To find those that meet all the criteria for Europe, I tested over 50 VPNs. I recommend ExpressVPN because it has excellent speeds, keeps your data private, and unblocks most platforms. If you get ExpressVPN for Europe, you won’t risk anything. If you’re not happy with it, just cancel your subscription and ask for a refund within 30 days. Use ExpressVPN for Europe
Quick Guide: Best VPNs for Europe in 2023
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The Best VPNs for Europe — Updated 2023
1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN for Europe Outdoing All Others in Speed, Privacy, and Unblocking Abilities
Key Features: ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Europe, scoring the highest in all critical areas like speed, security, and the ability to bypass geo-blocks. I even tested it for the live chat agents’ responsiveness and knowledge. Several ExpressVPN’s proprietary technologies help it stand out for Europe compared to the rest of the VPNs. During tests, ExpressVPN was the fastest no matter which server I used. Your data has to travel longer on distant servers so it’s slower. But I didn’t notice a difference between watching YouTube on ExpressVPN’s local or London server, 6,500 miles away from me. It was fun to see Pablo Strong interview random people on his Streets of London episodes without interruptions. One of the reasons for ExpressVPN’s speed is its very own Lightway protocol. Compared to OpenVPN, Lightway has 99% fewer lines of code. This gives Lightway faster loading times and speeds. If you’re touring Europe and use your phone a lot for navigation or to search for the best eateries, Lightway also won’t drain your battery too fast. With servers in 45+ countries in Europe, ExpressVPN had no problems accessing some popular TV shows in Europe like The Graham Norton Show on BBC iPlayer. Its global network of 3,000+ servers in 94 countries also means you can access your Netflix US library in Europe while traveling and other streaming platforms like: It earned another point because ExpressVPN’s no-log policy is backed by TrustedServer technology. This means none of your online activities in Europe will ever be written to a hard disk. The RAM-based servers have volatile memories that can’t store your data so everything you do is only known to you. Besides that, it keeps your connections secure with:
Military-grade 256-bit encryption — protects your data using the most secure cipher available to hide your data from hackers in Europe. Network Lock — disables your internet connection in Europe the moment it becomes unstable to prevent accidental data leaks. IP leak protection — makes sure you’re traffic stays within the encrypted tunnel whenever you’re connected to an ExpressVPN server. Threat Manager — blocks suspicious sites and trackers that watch your behavior and collect data for targeted advertising. British Virgin Islands jurisdiction — means no government requirements for storage or monitoring of data. Anonymous payment option — pay with Bitcoin and you won’t have to provide any personal details to ExpressVPN.
It was also easy to get started with ExpressVPN since I just had to download the correct apps to my laptops, smartphones, and smart TV. Each app only took me about 2 minutes to install and set up. If you have several devices with you in Europe, ExpressVPN allows 5 maximum connections simultaneously. I experienced smooth performance when I used all of them at once. If there’s one thing I didn’t like, it’s that ExpressVPN is a little pricey. But after testing dozens of VPNs, I’m convinced ExpressVPN is worth the price considering how fast and secure it is. Plus, it can help you access all your accounts anywhere in Europe. If you’d like to get ExpressVPN for Europe, I recommend its 1-year plan — it’s the most affordable at just $6.67 per month. It’s risk-free when you subscribe to any ExpressVPN plan because they all come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. I asked for a refund via the 24/7 live chat and was approved immediately. 4 days later, I got my money back. Get ExpressVPN for Europe
2. CyberGhost — Streaming-Optimized Servers in 20+ Countries for Easy Access From Europe
Key Features: CyberGhost has dedicated streaming servers all over the world including Europe so you can access your movie accounts easily. These servers are tested regularly, so they always worked during tests. To connect, just type the streaming platform’s name or your country to see a list of services available. Some channels CyberGhost’s optimized servers accessed include: You can install CyberGhost to almost every device you have in Europe by downloading an app. If you need to use multiple devices at the same time, it allows up to 7. Even when I used it at full capacity, CyberGhost supported high bandwidth activities like streaming and video calling without any struggles. Besides military-grade encryption, CyberGhost’s WiFi protection ensured my personal data stayed hidden while using vulnerable public networks. When you set up the protection, CyberGhost will automatically launch a VPN connection whenever your device detects a public network. CyberGhost also has other advanced features that make it a secure option for Europe:
Perfect Forward Secrecy — changes the encryption keys frequently to minimize the amount of data that will be at risk even if one is unlikely hacked. HTTP protection — anonymizes your activities on unsecured European sites so that cybercriminals can’t use your data to track you for an attack. GDPR compliant — has a privacy policy that’s in line with European laws and CyberGhost is transparent about how it deals with your data. Based in Romania — where privacy-friendly laws don’t require your data to be stored or shared. Content Block — prevents European sites from displaying ads, tracking your activities, and injecting malware.
Its local servers were only slightly slower than ExpressVPN but CyberGhost was still incredibly fast for my video calls on Zoom. Both the audio and video qualities were sharp and my screen didn’t freeze throughout hour-long calls. I recommend you use the ‘Best Server Location’ button to connect to the fastest server near you in Europe. Unfortunately, CyberGhost’s servers more than 3,000 miles away from me caused the audio to delay during my calls. Within Europe however, you’re more likely to connect to a nearby server. If you have to stream movies, download torrents, or play games on a distant server, CyberGhost has optimized servers that are way faster for those activities. For the best deal, subscribe to CyberGhost’s 2-year + 3 months plan. It’s just $2.11 per month and you’ll have 45 days to try it in Europe. If you don’t like it, it’s easy to get a refund. When I wanted my money back, I just approached an agent on live chat. They sent my request for processing immediately and the money was back in my account in 7 days. Get CyberGhost for Europe
3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Large Network Offers Congestion-Free Connections Across Europe
Key Features: PIA’s network is so big that any server you choose in Europe will be congestion-free. When a server is overcrowded, users will be competing for bandwidth and this usually slows down the speed for everyone. I chose a server with the lowest latency (or delay) on my Windows app to play Apex Legends and kept up with the other players as if I wasn’t even using a VPN.
If you often download torrents and prefer using a proxy service instead of a VPN, PIA has SOCKS5 to improve speed without exposing your IP address in Europe. A SOCKS5 proxy server doesn’t encrypt your traffic and it transfers smaller data packets so it’s faster. It boosted my speed by 12% when I downloaded the original Scrooge from 1935. Another reason to use PIA in Europe is that it has MACE to block ads and trackers that are found on almost every website. MACE also refused to load a suspicious page I tried to open without knowing it was a phishing site. With all the unnecessary elements removed, sites like Manchester Evening News also loaded faster. Besides that, PIA has:
Military-grade encryption — scrambles your personal information so that no one without the correct key can read them. Audited no-log policy — keeps no record of your online activities in Europe so that they remain private. Advanced kill switch — prevents the internet from reconnecting until the VPN connection has been established to avoid leaking your data. Private subscription — lets you subscribe with a gift card so that you can stay anonymous to PIA.
Since PIA allows Unlimited connections, you can always leave your devices in Europe protected. I didn’t have to worry about accidentally using the internet without a VPN after getting logged out. To see how the apps would perform under top load, I connected 11 devices and didn’t notice any difference browsing the internet. If you’re a streaming fan, PIA, unfortunately, couldn’t access some European streaming services like DAZN, Canal+, and Netflix France. Plus, the server in Berlin returned an error message that prevented any search or website from loading on Google. However, PIA has streaming servers in the UK, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and other countries that are able to access: Considering all that it can do, PIA is a very good VPN for Europe with its 2-year + 3 months plan costing just $2.11 a month. You’ll also get a 30-day money-back guarantee to try PIA risk-free in Europe. When I asked on the 24/7 live chat, an agent confirmed it would be processed the next day and I wouldn’t have to send an email. 9 days later I got my money back. Get PIA for Europe
4. NordVPN — Secures Your Online Communication in Europe With Double Encryption
Key Features: NordVPN’s Double VPNs encrypt your traffic in Europe twice as it’s routed through 2 different servers. When I chose a server in the Netherlands, my traffic was also routed through Sweden to make it harder for others to track my activities. This is a great feature if you need to keep your communications confidential. Besides the Double VPNs, NordVPN keeps your activities hidden with features like:
Obfuscated servers — make your traffic look like a regular connection to firewalls that block VPNs. NordLynx protocol — initiates secure connections with NordVPN servers without using them to store any data that can be used to identify you. Threat Protection — blocks ads and trackers besides scanning your downloads for viruses. ChaCha20 encryption — protects your data as it’s being sent over the internet while being more resistant to attacks.
When I tested 2 of its local servers, NordVPN was fast enough to watch Paddington in UHD on Netflix. My connection remained strong throughout the 1.5-hour movie as the lovable bear overcomes obstacles to find a forever home in London. If you hit NordVPN’s ‘Quick Connect’ button, it will help you find the fastest server near you in Europe. It also consistently accessed a wide range of European TV shows and streaming platforms during tests. NordVPN successfully bypassed geo-blocks in: For your convenience and security in Europe, NordVPN allows you to connect up to 6 devices to its servers simultaneously. Apps are available for all major operating systems and it took me just 10 minutes to install them on my 2 smartphones, a laptop, a desktop, and a tablet. Besides that, NordVPN’s Meshnet lets you connect your devices in Europe with others you own in other locations. After enabling Meshnet on my devices, they discovered and connected to each other automatically. Since it also creates an encrypted tunnel between the devices, I could safely access a file on my home computer while working remotely from a laptop. I only didn’t like that NordVPN’s dedicated IP servers are limited to just 6 countries in Europe despite being an add-on. However, you can get a dedicated IP address in some of the most popular locations in Europe like the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands. The 2-year plan is only $3.49 a month and you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee to try all its features in Europe. I canceled my subscription by sending a message on live chat and got instant approval. My money was back in my account 10 days later. Get NordVPN for Europe
5. Surfshark — IP Rotator Changes Your IP Address Constantly in Europe to Escape Online Spies
Key Features: Surfshark’s IP Rotator switches your location in Europe constantly to confuse any spies who might be monitoring you. It does this every 5-10 minutes without dropping your connection so you don’t notice that you’re using a different IP address. But to the spies, it’d look like you’ve got off the internet even though you end up using it for hours more. No matter which local Surfshark server I chose, I could watch interesting French cooking techniques on Facebook Watch without the videos buffering. I’m farther from Surfshark’s servers in France but they didn’t affect my activities. My learning wasn’t interrupted as I switched to French Cooking Academy’s full-length videos on YouTube. You can rely on Surfshark to access your streaming accounts in Europe and elsewhere. Its servers in 100 countries include more than 45 in Europe. Though there aren’t streaming-optimized ones, Surfshark’s servers worked with: Besides having apps for all major operating systems, Surfshark also has an app for Fire TV. Instead of configuring it manually like with most VPNs, you just have to search for the Surfshark app on your Fire TV, download it, and log in or sign up. The whole thing takes less than 5 minutes. Unlike ExpressVPN, Surfshark isn’t located in a country with privacy-friendly laws. Since it’s headquartered in the Netherlands, your online activities could be monitored. Still, I recommend it for Europe because Surfshark doesn’t collect your data as was verified by Deloitte, a reputable independent audit firm. Additionally, Surfshark has:
Bypasser — lets you send some of your traffic through Surfshark’s encrypted tunnel while the others bypass it and flow faster. Dynamic Multi-Hop servers — provides you the option to select 2 servers for maximum security through double encryption. CleanWeb — blocks ads, cookie pop-up requests, and malware before they load on the sites you’re visiting from Europe. Camouflage Mode — disguises your traffic as a regular connection to prevent anti-VPN firewalls from blocking you.
Additionally, Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial. To claim it, you’ll have to download the app from the Google Play store or Apple App Store. Then select ‘Start Free Trial’ and follow the steps. The 2-year plan is also good for Europe with its $2.39/month price tag. Plus, you’ll have 30 days to ask for a refund if you don’t like it. I asked for a refund through Surfshark’s live chat and was told it’ll be processed the same day. I got my money back in 12 days. Get Surfshark for Europe
6. PrivateVPN — Dedicated IP Addresses in Europe Provide Unrestricted Access to Websites
Key Features: PrivateVPN has dedicated IP servers in the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Ukraine, and Switzerland to provide IP addresses that haven’t been blacklisted. Since other users haven’t used or abused them, they’re more likely not to be flagged or blocked by certain websites in Europe. Besides this, PrivateVPN also protects you with:
Military-grade encryption — encodes your data so that only the sites and platforms you’re visiting can decode them. Stealth Mode — gets your traffic past firewalls in European schools and workplaces without disclosing you’re using a VPN. Kill switch — disables the internet when it’s too unstable to avoid leaking your data.
If you can’t live without accessing your favorite TV channels from back home while touring Europe, PrivateVPN is not a bad choice. Besides ORF and TF1, PrivateVPN accessed several streaming platforms consistently during tests including: You can use a throwaway email to sign up for PrivateVPN anonymously or pay using a Bitcoin and it won’t get any of your identifiable details. After signing up, you can ask one of the agents from PrivateVPN’s live chat team to install the apps to your devices remotely via TeamViewer. They’re also available 24/7 if you have any questions or need other help. I was initially skeptical of PrivateVPN’s speeds because it has a small network of just 200+ servers. If they get crowded, they can lag in performance and slow down your speed. But PrivateVPN’s servers in Germany were fast and only took me 27 minutes to transfer 9.6GB of photos to my DropBox. With other VPNs, servers in the same location took 42 minutes. It’s also a top choice if you’re looking for a budget-friendly VPN in Europe. Firstly, it’s one of the best monthly VPNs. Secondly, PrivateVPN’s 3-year plan is the most affordable on this list if you want to keep your monthly expenses low. With the plan, you’ll only be paying $2.00 a month. If you don’t like how PrivateVPN works in Europe after subscribing, you’ll have 30 days to ask for a refund. To test this guarantee, I sent an email to PrivateVPN’s customer support and got confirmation the same day. My money was returned less than 2 weeks later. Get PrivateVPN for Europe
7. IPVanish — Owns and Operates Its Servers Independently to Minimize Exposure to Your Data in Europe
Key Features: IPVanish prevents third-party data center staff from spying on you in Europe because it manages its own network. Since it doesn’t outsource its servers, no one besides IPVanish staff can handle them. But even so, your data is safe because IPVanish has:
Military-grade encryption — makes it impossible for hackers to get your information or watch you as you’re visiting European sites. No-log policy — verified by independent cybersecurity consulting firm, Leviathan Security Group that it doesn’t store your data. Scramble obfuscation feature — shuffles OpenVPN data packets so that anti-VPN technologies can’t tell you’re using IPVanish and block your traffic.
Though last on this list, IPVanish is reliable for accessing streaming platforms in Europe and elsewhere. Several of its 2,000+ servers in 75 countries were put to the test and they worked with: To complement streaming in Europe, IPVanish has fast servers whether you make a local or international connection. The servers in Germany kept my speeds well above the 25Mbps required by most platforms for UHD streaming. This also helped me keep up with Herr Antrim on Youtube as he taught the German language. Getting started with IPVanish takes less than 3 minutes after you’ve signed up. You just have to download the app and connect to a server near you in Europe. If you have multiple devices, IPVanish allows unlimited connections. I tried connecting 5 at the same time and had no problems going online simultaneously. I wish IPVanish would extend its money-back guarantee to the monthly plan. As of now, only the long-term plans are eligible for refunds. Still, you can try IPVanish risk-free in Europe with the 2-year plan. If you don’t like it, you ask for your money back within 30 days. The 2-year plan is $3.33 a month and I can vouch for IPVanish’s money-back guarantee. I canceled my subscription by logging into my account as it said on the website and got a confirmation email 2 days later. 5 days after that, I was refunded. Get IPVanish for Europe
Comparison Table: Best VPNs for Europe in 2023
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How to Choose the Best VPN for Europe
I tested some of the top VPNs in 2023 to find out which ones work the best in Europe using these criteria:
Strong security and privacy features — VPNs for Europe must have military-grade encryption, a no-log policy, IP leak protection, and a kill switch. Global server network — The more countries a VPN has servers in, the more likely you’ll be able to access content from your home country in Europe. Fast speeds — If a VPN has fewer servers, it can cause congestion and drag your speeds down. Though all VPNs affect speed, you should be able to do all online activities as usual or it’s not practical for Europe. Apps for popular devices — All the VPNs on this list have apps for major operating systems and they can be set up to work in several European languages. Customer support — Since the VPNs I’ve shortlisted have 24/7 live chat, you can get help at any time in Europe. You can also try them out risk-free as your purchase will be covered by a tried and tested money-back guarantee.
Access European content with ExpressVPN
3 Easy Steps to Get a VPN in Europe
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Internet Restrictions and Legislation in Europe
Though Europe has the GDPR, laws regarding internet and VPN use can differ from country to country. In a majority of countries like Spain, Switzerland, Hungary, and more, there are restrictions for using a VPN. In the UK, some sites that are deemed harmful or with adult content are restricted. Furthermore, the country might require an ID to access some content. In some countries like Russia and Belarus, VPNs are illegal. Russia has always demanded that VPN companies provide access to their servers if they want to operate in the country. The reason is to monitor its citizens and block banned content. Since it’s against many VPNs’ privacy policies, most have pulled out of the Russian market. Most streaming companies in Europe are also bound by licensing agreements that outline the countries in which certain shows can be aired. To enforce this, movie studios require streaming services to use geo-blocks. So you might not be able to watch a show from Spain in Norway though both countries are in the EU.
What are the 14 Eyes and how do they affect VPNs in Europe?
The 14 Eyes Alliance is an internet surveillance-sharing pact between 14 countries. It includes 10 European countries — the UK, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, and Spain. Through the alliance, all member countries agree to share their citizens’ online activities with foreign intelligence services. If an international crime occurs, governments within the coalition can request VPN providers to submit their user logs to help investigations. If you use a VPN based in one of these countries, it can be compelled to provide all your information on its servers such as IP address, sites visited, time, and more. For this reason, most VPNs use RAM-based servers that have volatile memories and can’t store data. Try CyberGhost in Europe On the other hand, most international streaming services don’t allow subscribers to use a VPN to access their content. Since VPNs violate streaming services’ licensing agreements, it’s usually against the platform’s terms of service. If you break this rule, your account can be banned. If a VPN can’t access content from a European country, it might not have a server in the location. A firewall can also block your traffic in some places. Schools and offices, for example, block VPN traffic to keep productivity high among students and staff.
becoming a victim of man-in-the-middle attacks and other cyber crimes. being locked out of your bank accounts from back home when traveling in Europe. missing the latest episodes of your favorite TV shows from your own country. online spies that monitor your online activities for various reasons.
ExpressVPN has several advanced technologies like Lightway protocol, TrustedServer technology, Network Lock, Threat Manager, and more. These make sure your connections are fast and cannot be intercepted or monitored as long as you’re using the internet in Europe. In Iceland, the whistleblower protection law prohibits companies from attacking or taking revenge against employees who file an investigation. The Estonian Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) fills the gaps in GDPR. Both countries also place very few restrictions on online content. Only use a VPN to watch American Netflix if you signed up for the service in the US. Otherwise, you’ll be violating its terms of use. I don’t condone using a VPN to break copyright laws or any platform’s rules so only do it if you’re within your legal rights. A Virtual Private Network or a VPN will route your traffic through a server in Europe and make it seem like you’re connecting from there even though you’re somewhere else. However, remember that using a VPN may violate some platforms’ terms of use, so read the fine print before using one. Try changing servers or contact your VPN provider for help. Make sure also that you’re using one of the top VPNs for Europe since I’ve tested each one of them for IP address leaks. Free VPNs also limit speeds which can make the VPN totally unusable, especially if there are only a few servers and they’re overcrowded. They become practically unusable to even load a single webpage. Some free VPNs don’t have servers in Europe or only have them in 1 or 2 locations. This makes it impossible to watch TV shows or movies from a specific country. However, the worst free VPNs install malware on your device or sell your data to make easy money. That’s why it’s better to use a premium VPN like CyberGhost for free in Europe. You can use top-shelf features like military-grade encryption and a kill switch to keep your data safe. It also has a 45-day money-back guarantee so you have enough time to try it in Europe. When you’re done, just ask for a refund.
Get a VPN (That Works) for Europe Today!
Though Europe has great privacy laws, you need a VPN to keep your personal information private from spies, hackers, and other third parties. Besides that, a VPN will help you stay safe while using unsecured public WiFi and enable you to watch shows from back home. That’s why I tested dozens of VPNs — to help you find the best one that can do all these in Europe. After running rigorous tests for weeks, I found out that ExpressVPN is the best for Europe. It has top speeds, keeps your data private, and unblocks most platforms. There’s also absolutely no risk if you get ExpressVPN for Europe. If you’re not happy with it, just ask for a refund within 30 days. The VPN will oblige, no questions asked.
