Best VPNs for Australia in 2021

VPN use is popular both with people living in Australia and with Australians who are traveling around the world and want to be able to protect their online privacy when using public Wi-Fi or connect to Aussie TV shows. Whether you want the additional privacy that a VPN provides to hide your online activity from your ISP and hackers or want to find the best VPN for accessing geo-locked content when you’re in another location, we’ve come up with a list that’s got you covered.

Our best VPN services for Australia are:

NordVPN: This service is the top choice for most Australians. It’s got excellent security with thousands of fast, secure VPN servers to choose from no matter where you are in the world. It works easily with streaming sites like Netflix allowing you to easily access Aussie TV content if you are traveling.

VuzeVPN: Brand new product, providing excellent service at affordable pricing. For now, only available for Windows, but the team is currently developing its Mac version, too. VuzeVPN could easily become one of the best choices for the VPN Australian market, the best way to access blocked content over a normal connection, any time you want to bypass ISP-configured blocks. Also, it allows access to all sites and services when you’re abroad.

Surfshark: This is the best option to consider if you are on a budget. It’s easy to use, quick to set up, and can be used for any number of connections to access a huge selection of services.

ExpressVPN: This provider offers fast and secure servers in 94 countries around the world. It unblocks almost any streaming service that you might want to use and is well-known for offering great security.

CyberGhost: Another great option for those looking for something on a budget, CyberGhost has fast servers, is easy to set up and start using, and will easily unblock geo-locked content on Netflix and other popular streaming sites.

IPVanish: Another popular option among those who like privacy thanks to the no logs policy. It is torrent-friendly and offers a range of fast server locations to choose from.

Hotspot Shield: Great low-cost option with excellent abilities for unblocking geo-locked content and fast servers available.

If you live in Australia, you’ll know that it can often feel like you’re isolated from the rest of the world. Not only is the country further away from all the other English-speaking countries worldwide, but it’s often the last priority when it comes to popular products and services. This often means fewer options or longer waiting times for new TV shows, listening to new music, or playing new video games.

Since Internet Service Providers in Australia are required by law to collect data on their customers, it is no surprise that Australia has a strong demand for VPN services. A VPN works by encrypting the internet traffic of a device and then routes it through an intermediary server in a location chosen by the user. As a result, this allows Australians to access content that is geo-locked in their own country without breaking copyright laws. So, what are some of the best VPN options for Australia?

#1 Best Australian VPN - NordVPN:

NordVPN is one of the fastest and most popular VPN options on the market. It has servers in sixty different countries around the world, many of which are located in the Asia-Pacific region. It is the best option for unblocking geo-restricted content and will get past the Netflix proxy firewall in both Australia and the US. It does not keep any logs and since it is based in Panama, it is not subject to any laws on data retention. With secure VPN servers and AES 256-bit encryption, you can trust NordVPN to put your personal privacy first.

If you want to use NordVPN for high-speed downloads, super-fast streaming, using Tor over VPN or super privacy including anti-DDoS, you can choose special servers that are optimized for this use.

Available For:

PC
Mac
Android
iOS
Linux

Pros

Top choice for most Australian users
Unblocks worldwide Netflix content and streams at excellent speed
Great security and privacy features
Servers are available for specific purposes
Can be used to access Aussie content when abroad
30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

Some users report that the desktop app can take a while to get used to

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#2 Best Offer Australian VPN - VuzeVPN:

VuzeVPN offers a VPN service that gives you secure, fast, unlimited, and unrestricted access to any web content, anytime you want. It keeps your data safe and gives you full access to the entire web. All your personal data is encrypted and cannot be accessed by third parties or hackers. You can now enjoy total security, absolute privacy, and uncompromising speed across your devices.

The developers of the product added two new features, making VuzeVPN the best affordable VPN on the market. When connected to VuzeVPN, you are protected from DNS leaks. Also, in case you lose connection to our VPN server, the Kill Switch feature of VuzeVPN blocks all network connections without exposing your IP.

Its 30-day money-back guarantee ensures there's no risk in trying VuzeVPN. No matter the reason, you can choose to ask for a refund and customer support will quickly solve your request.

Available For:

PC
Mac (coming soon)

Pros

Affordable pricing
24/7 unrestricted and unlimited web access
Fast and stable connection
Military-grade encryption
Online tracking prevention
No connections or online activity logs
30-day money-back guarantee
Kill Switch and DNS Leaks Prevention Included

Cons

Only supports Windows, for now
Only provides customer service support by email

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#3 Top Australian VPN - Surfshark:

Surfshark is a smaller VPN provider that has a good reputation for accessing geo-locked content on streaming services like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer. It is the only VPN that we have reviewed that can be used to connect an unlimited number of devices on a single account, making it a great budget option if you’re looking for something for your family and friends to share.

Surfshark does not keep any logs of your online activity and offers strong encryption. It allows P2P file-sharing on all server locations, and there is an automatic kill-switch that will prevent any unprotected traffic from leaving your device if the VPN secure connection is dropped for any reason. If you require any support, you can contact the customer service team via live chat at any time of the day or night.

Available For:

PC
Mac
Android
iOS
Linux

Pros

Generally good server speeds
Great security options and features
One of the best options for unlocking popular streaming platforms to access geo-locked content
Allows P2P file-sharing and torrenting
Unlimited connections permitted for the same account
30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

Servers can occasionally be slow
The global server network is smaller compared to some competitors

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#4 Best VPN in Australia - ExpressVPN:

Express VPN has more than two thousand servers around the world in over ninety countries, with more than twenty of these servers in the Asia-Pacific region alone. It has constantly performed well in speed and unblocking tests and is a popular, reputable option in Australia. It can easily be used to unblock US Netflix either in a browser or when using the Netflix app and can be used to access Aussie Netflix if you are travelling abroad.

Since it is based in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN is not subject to any laws on user data retention and does not keep any logs of your traffic.

Available For:

PC
Mac
Android
iOS
Linux

Pros

One of the best options for accessing Australian content when travelling abroad
Fast servers
High-quality download and streaming speeds
Can get around torrent tracker site blocks while keeping your activity private
Excellent digital security and privacy features on all apps
30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

Is more expensive compared to some competitors
Some power users may find it to be not as configurable as they might like

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#5 Best VPN in Australia - CyberGhost:

CyberGhost is a huge global VPN provider with almost six thousand servers located around the world. Over one thousand of these are located in the US, while more than one hundred are in Australia. It is strongly focused on unblocking streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video or Netflix and can be used to do this easily in both Australia or while you are travelling abroad. It has a dedicated ‘Torrent Anonymously’ option in the apps that makes it a popular choice for torrenters. It has excellent download and streaming speeds and strong privacy with no logging of IP addresses or user activity.

Available For:

PC
Mac
Android
iOS
Linux

Pros

Thanks to a high number of Australian servers, it’s ideal for accessing local content when travelling abroad
The app is easy to set up and use for users of all levels
Speeds consistently test as high
Excellent default privacy and security features offered
45-day money-back guarantee

Cons

Does not offer a dedicated app for routers
Some users may be frustrated by the lack of configuration options

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#6 Best VPN Australia - IPVanish:

With hundreds of servers around the world in sixty countries, IPVanish is a solid option for Australian users. Twelve of their servers are located in the Asia-Pacific region. IPVanish also owns all of its physical servers, which allows it to provide some of the fastest download speeds available from any VPN service. However, IPVanish is more suited to those who want to use a VPN for privacy and security reasons with P2P filesharing or torrenting as it cannot be used to unblock streaming services like Netflix. Although the company is based in the US, it has a strict no-logging policy for customer data.

Available For:

PC
Mac
Android
iOS
Linux

Pros

Top choice for most Australian users
Unblocks worldwide Netflix content and streams at excellent speed
Great security and privacy features
Servers are available for specific purposes
Can be used to access Aussie content when abroad
30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

Some users report that the desktop app can take a while to get used to

Visit IPVanish

#7 Top VPN in Australia - Hotspot Shield:

With an expanded server network that reaches over seventy countries with over three thousand servers, it’s clear to see why Hotspot Shield is becoming increasingly popular. There are various servers located in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region making it an excellent choice for those who want to use a VPN to unblock content both at home and when travelling the world. It offers extremely fast speeds and can be used to easily unblock geo-locked content in Australia such as US Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. The apps come with a range of security features including leak protection, forward secrecy and strong encryption, along with no logging of any information that could be used to identify a user.

Available For:

PC
Mac
Android
iOS

Pros

Vast worldwide server networks
Apps are easy to set up and use
Very fast download and streaming speeds
Excellent privacy and security features
45-day money-back guarantee

Cons

Lack of advanced features
No apps for Linux or routers

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VPNs to Avoid in Australia:

Improving your online privacy and security is often the main motivation for using a VPN. However, it’s important to note that not all VPNs will do this – and some could even reduce your privacy. If you’re looking for a VPN to use in Australia or as an Australian travelling abroad, here are some to avoid.

Hola:

This VPN, based in Israel, is not a traditional VPN that users can use to connect to a network of centralized servers. Instead, Hola users use the app to connect to each other and use the idle bandwidth of other internet users as part of a huge peer-to-peer network. While it has some advantages for some users, it also comes with a massive set of security and privacy concerns, for example, if users use each other’s internet access for committing illegal acts.

HideMyAss:

In 2011, hacker Cody Kretsinger was arrested for being involved in a cyberattack on the Sony Pictures website. Although he used HideMyAss VPN to conceal his identity online, the company complied with a court order to supply evidence that eventually led to his arrest, despite the fact that the company promised not to keep any logs of user activity. Although HideMyAss does not log user’s internet traffic, it does keep information including the user’s real IP addresses, which might put some privacy-conscious people off.

VPN Australia FAQs:

Why Are Free VPNs Best Avoided?

It can be tempting to use a free VPN instead of paying for the service, however, this is strongly advised against. With very few exceptions, free VPN options are almost always very limited or will invade your privacy to mine personal data which is then sold. Free VPNs often come with bandwidth limits, data caps, and queues, along with a limited selection of servers. Some will use tracking cookies to monitor your behaviour and show you ads, reducing your privacy and defeating the purpose of using a VPN.

Can VPNs Stop ISPs from Gathering My Data Under Australian Law?

Using a VPN provides any user with greater privacy and security protections. This is especially true for Australians, with cybercrime on the rise in Australia. In 2017, reports found that cybercrime rates had increased by 15% over a twelve-month period.

Although some claim that a VPN will prevent your ISP from gathering metadata, this is not true. Although a VPN hides the content of your internet traffic and location, you will still rely on your ISP to get there, therefore, a VPN cannot do anything to stop your ISP from logging your device details, traffic volume, and geolocation.

Is Torrenting Against the Law in Australia?

Although it is illegal to torrent copyrighted material in Australia, there is little enforcement. It is rare for copyright holders to successfully get a torrenter’s identity from ISPs. However, there have been increased attempts to crack down on torrenting in Australia, including the ‘three-strikes’ rule where ISPs notify torrenters on behalf of copyright holders, but this ended in 2016. ISPs were also ordered by the federal Australian court to block BitTorrent tracker sites like Torrentz, ThePirateBay, and TorrentHound. This has proven to be an effective measure with visits to these sites in Australia dropping by over 50%. However, these sites can still be accessed using any of the VPNs mentioned above. There are currently over 160 pirate sites on the block list.

Is it Legal to Access US Netflix in Australia Using a VPN?

The good news is that it is legal to use a VPN to access US Netflix in Australia. However, it is against Netflix’s terms of use, which state that you must only view Netflix primarily in the country that you established your account and only in geographical locations where the content is licensed. Netflix enforces this rule by blocking most VPN connections, however, there are no penalties for users who attempt to access Netflix content using a VPN.

What are the Best TV Streaming Channels in Australia?

Here are some of the best streaming services that are available and can be accessed in Australia:

Netflix Australia
Amazon Prime Video
Disney+
Apple TV+
10Play
Foxtel Now
Stan
Kayo
BINGE
Hayu
CBS 10 All Access

Is Visiting the Deep Web Legal in Australia?

It is not illegal to visit the deep web or darknet in Australia. However, if you plan to visit the darknet, it’s important to make sure that you do so safely and privately.

Can I use a VPN to Improve My Privacy When Using Social Media?

You can use a VPN to offer more privacy when using social media to some extent. A VPN will hide your IP address from the social media network that you are using and prevents third parties from monitoring your social media activity. However, social networks do require you to log into your account, so using a VPN will not hide your identity.

Can I Use a VPN to Prevent Identity Theft?

A VPN can help to prevent identity theft, but it should not be solely relied on when it comes to these types of crimes. Since a VPN protects the data that is in transit, it can prevent identity thieves from stealing your information from your Wi-Fi network. However, it cannot help you in other cybercrime scenarios such as phishing or data breaches.

Where are NordVPN Servers Located in Australia?

NordVPN operates Australian servers in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne.

Which VPN is the Best for Watching Australian Rules Football?

Kayo is the best streaming service for watching Aussie Rules Footy. NordVPN has several Australian servers that can easily unlock Kayo if you want to watch football from abroad. You can also use WatchAFL.com if you want to watch AFL Premiership games from abroad while you are in Australia.

Feel free to read our privacy policy page here.

love the guide, very helpful. However, i have a suggestion. Some of the VPNs are not credible enough to unblock the likes of kayo sports and binge outside Australia.
Personally i use both expressvpn and bulletvpn. They’re the best to unblock such content overseas.