NordVPN: Best overall VPN for Australia

NordVPN is a popular, premium VPN service with a well-established track record of privacy, speed and reliability. With more than 190 Australian servers in five different cities, NordVPN unblocks most Aussie-restricted content. Plus, it has large server pools in at least 110 countries, unlocking access to every region’s Netflix streaming content.

SEE: 10 Myths about Cybersecurity You Shouldn’t Believe (TechRepublic Premium)

NordVPN’s proprietary, WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol offers some of the fastest connection speeds on the market without sacrificing security. The Meshnet feature lets you create a private, encrypted LAN (local area network) with up to 60 devices for confidential work collaboration, secure file sharing or easy LAN parties.

Another exciting feature, Onion over VPN, reroutes your traffic over the anonymous Tor network so you can access .onion sites without a special browser. Other capabilities include threat protection, DNS leak protection, a VPN kill switch, split tunneling and double VPN (a.k.a., multi-hop).

While NordVPN offers best-in-class speeds and an impressive set of security features, the map-style user interface can be difficult to navigate, especially on mobile. Additionally, some users report that certain iOS apps may bypass NordVPN’s kill switch.

Pricing

• Basic plan: Provides VPN access for up to 10 simultaneous devices for AU$3.69 per month.
• Plus plan: Adds malware protection, tracker and ad blocking, a cross-platform password manager and a data breach scanner for AU$4.69 per month.
• Complete plan: Adds 1 TB encrypted cloud storage, $1 million in identity theft coverage and $100,000 in cyber extortion/ransomware protection for AU$5.69 per month.

Features

• VPN kill switch: Disables internet access if the VPN connection drops.
• Split tunneling: Allows you to enable the VPN only for specific applications.
• Double VPN: Adds a second layer of encryption for added privacy and security.
• Dedicated IP: Enables access to IP-restricted applications and networks.
• Private DNS: Protects traffic from DNS hijacking, blocking or filtering.
• Meshnet: Connects up to 60 devices on a private, encrypted network.

Figure A

• Onion over VPN: Reroutes traffic over the Tor network for anonymity.
• Threat protection: Blocks malicious URLs, web trackers and ads.
• Dark web monitor: Continuously scans dark websites for your credentials.

Pros

• Unblocks all Netflix regions.
• Large server pool for Australia and Oceania.
• Proprietary NordLynx protocol delivers industry-best speeds.
• Provides robust security features for the price.

Cons

• Cluttered interface can be difficult to navigate on mobile.
• Kill switch doesn’t activate for all iOS apps.

Why I chose NordVPN

NordVPN provides the industry-best Australia VPN speeds and reliability for an affordable price. Features like Meshnet and Onion over VPN provide enhanced protection for journalists, activists and anyone else worried about censorship or surveillance. NordVPN also provides security capabilities like private DNS, tracker blocking and dark web monitoring, making it the best overall option for anyone looking to browse privately and securely.

For more information, read our full NordVPN Review.

Proton VPN: Best free VPN for Australia

Proton VPN is another well-known option with an impressive set of security and privacy features at an affordable price. Proton has a respectable pool of 80 Australian VPN servers in five different cities. In addition to features like a VPN kill switch, DNS leak protection, Tor over VPN and double VPN, Proton VPN includes Smart Protocol, which intelligently scans a network and chooses the best VPN protocol configuration for performance or to bypass censorship.

Proton is based in Switzerland, which has some of the world’s strongest privacy laws, and it has successfully defended its no-logs policy in court. Proton VPN also protects your privacy with its custom, WireGuard-based Stealth protocol. And, since Proton’s apps are all open source, anyone can check its code for security holes, and it regularly commissions independent audits for additional validation.

Proton also offers free VPN apps with unlimited bandwidth, giving you access to most premium features without paying a dime. The downside is that you can’t select your server location, preventing you from accessing Aussie-specific content.

Learn more by reading Free VPN vs Paid VPN: Which One Is Right For You?

Pricing

• Free: Provides VPN access for one device with unlimited bandwidth.
• Plus: Allows 10 simultaneous device connections and your choice of servers for AU$6.72 per month for a two-year subscription, AU$7.47 per month for one year, and AU$14.95 per month paid monthly.
• Unlimited: Adds encrypted email and calendar, encrypted storage with file sharing and an encrypted password manager for AU$11.96 per month for two years, AU$14.95 per month for one year, and AU$19.45 per month paid monthly.

Features

• Kill switch & always-on VPN: Disables internet access if the VPN connection drops and automatically reconnects the VPN when available.
• Secure Core: Protects traffic with a double VPN implementation where the first server is always located in a privacy-friendly country (e.g., Switzerland).
• DNS leak protection: Protects your browsing history from ISPs and other parties.
• Smart Protocol: Intelligently selects the best VPN protocol configuration for performance or to bypass censorship.

Figure B

• Tor over VPN: Provides secure access to .onion sites from your regular browser.
• Forward secrecy: Generates new encryption keys for each session to prevent compromise.
• NetShield Ad-blocker: Blocks ads, trackers and malicious scripts.
• Alternative routing: Uses third-party networks like AWS to route your connection when access to Proton’s servers is blocked by censorship.
• Full disk encryption: Protects data on bare-metal servers to prevent third-party access even if systems are breached.

Pros

• Open-source and independently audited.
• Free plan offers unlimited bandwidth.
• Robust security & privacy feature set.
• Offers a graphical user interface for Linux devices.

Cons

• Not as fast as other options.
• Free plan doesn’t let you choose server locations.

Why I chose Proton VPN

Proton VPN offers a free plan with unlimited bandwidth, making it a great choice for users who need temporary or ad hoc VPN capabilities but can’t afford a paid subscription. Even free users are protected by Proton’s proven no-logs policy, though upgrading to a paid plan unlocks some of the most robust security features on this list. In addition to DNS leak protection, Tor over VPN and a secure-core double VPN, Proton helps users avoid censorship with features like Smart Protocol, auto-refreshing encryption keys and alternative third-party routing.

For more information, read our full Proton VPN review.

ExpressVPN: Most user-friendly Australia VPN

ExpressVPN is a streamlined Australia VPN service with an intuitive interface that even non-techy users can master. Like Nord and Proton, ExpressVPN has its own WireGuard-based VPN protocol called Lightway that offers improved security and performance. The ExpressVPN app includes all the usual capabilities, like a kill switch, private DNS and split tunneling. It also has a Threat Manager feature that blocks trackers, ads and malicious sites.

ExpressVPN has an impressive worldwide server pool across 105 countries, including six cities in Australia. However, there are only seven total Aussie servers listed, so you may run into capacity issues. ExpressVPN is also the priciest service on our list, even for a one-year subscription.

Pricing

• AU$12.45 per month for a one-year subscription.
• AU$14.95 per month for a six-month subscription.
• AU$19.39 per month for a monthly subscription.

Features

• Network Lock: A VPN kill switch that disables internet access when the VPN connection drops.
• Private DNS: Available on every ExpressVPN server, improving speed and security.
• VPN split tunneling: Allows you to specify which applications to protect.
• ExpressVPN Keys: A password manager included with all VPN plans.
• Threat Manager: Blocks trackers, ads and malicious sites.

Figure C

Pros

• User-friendly interface and menu navigation.
• Offers servers in six Australian cities.
• Provides helpful and responsive customer support.
• Works on just about any platform.

Cons

• Only seven Australian servers.
• Steep pricing compared to competitors.

Why I chose ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN offers all the most important VPN features, such as a kill switch and split tunneling, in a user-friendly package. An exceptionally helpful and responsive customer support team ensures that even first-time VPN users can get up and running with minimal hassle. Overall, ExpressVPN makes privacy and security accessible to a less technical audience.

For more information, read our full ExpressVPN review.

Surfshark: Best budget VPN for Australia

Surfshark is an affordable Australia VPN service that provides a lot of value for the money. It’s powered by Surfshark Nexus, which uses software-defined networking to create a single, global network of VPN servers. Nexus enables features like Dynamic MultiHop, which allows you to create customized double VPN configurations, as well as an IP rotator that cycles your IP address to keep you anonymous over the course of a long connection session.

All Surfshark VPN plans include the CleanWeb feature, which blocks ads and cookie pop-ups in Chrome, Firefox, Edge and other applications. Surfshark also provides Alternative ID, which is a personal detail and masked email generator that creates fake personas you can use to sign up for online services without sharing your real information.

Surfshark offers a well-rounded VPN feature set and impressive speeds, especially compared to more expensive services like ExpressVPN. It also supported unlimited simultaneous device connections, so you can share one account with an entire household or office. However, the price increases dramatically if you choose a month-to-month plan, and some features like Dynamic MultiHop may not be available for Australian servers.

Pricing

• Starter: Includes VPN, ad blocker, cookie pop-up blocker, personal detail generator and masked email generator. AU$3.19 per month for two years, AU$3.89 per month for one year, or AU$23.29 per month for month-to-month.
• One: Adds real-time email, credit card and ID breach alerts, personal data security reports, a private search tool, 24/7 antivirus protection, webcam protection and antimalware protection. AU$4.09 per month for two years, AU$4.69 per month for one year, or AU$24.29 per month for month-to-month.
• One+: Adds data removal from company databases and people search sites, but it’s only available for U.S., Canada, U.K. and EU users. AU$6.29 per month for two years, AU$7.39 per month for one year, or AU$27.59 per month for month-to-month.

Features

• VPN kill switch: Prevents unprotected browsing.
• Dedicated IP: Allows access to IP-sensitive services and bypasses CAPTCHA requests.
• Bypasser: Offers split-tunneling capabilities.
• IP rotator: Cycles IP addresses over a long connection section to maintain anonymity.
• Alternative ID: Masks personal information in sign-up forms.

Figure D

• Dynamic MultiHop: Provides double VPN connectivity.
• Surfshark Nexus: Uses software-defined networking to connect VPN servers to a single, global network.
• CleanWeb: Blocks ads and cookie pop-ups in Chrome, Firefox, Edge and other apps.
• RAM-only servers: Don’t store your traffic logs, preventing compromise.

Pros

• Provides a well-rounded feature set for the price.
• Allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
• Offers speeds comparable to those of more expensive services.
• Quick-connect option is easy for beginners.

Cons

• Very high month-to-month pricing.
• Some features, like static IP addresses and Dynamic MultiHop, may not be available for Australian servers.

Why I chose Surfshark

Surfshark’s VPN packs a lot of added security features into very affordable one- or two-year pricing plans. It allows unlimited simultaneous connections to protect every device in an office or household for a single subscription price. Surfshark is also one of only two VPN providers — the other being Proton — offering a graphical user interface for Linux-based devices.

For more information, read our full Surfshark VPN review.

CyberGhost VPN: Best Australia VPN for torrenting

CyberGhost VPN is another affordable option with all the standard features you’d expect, including split tunneling, a kill switch, DNS leak protection and static IP addresses. It also provides ad and tracker blocking, as well as the ability to automatically activate the VPN when you connect to an unprotected Wi-Fi network. For an extra $1 per month, you can also get the CyberGhost Security Suite for Windows, which provides antivirus protection and lets you modify or disable intrusive OS features.

CyberGhost’s biggest selling point is its large, distributed network of servers that are optimized for streaming, P2P torrenting or gaming, including 212 in Australia alone. However, these are limited to three Aussie cities — plus, it only allows seven simultaneous connections, the fewest on our list.

Pricing

• AU$3.27 per month for a two-year subscription.
• AU$10.45 per month for a six-month subscription.
• AU$18.79 per month for a monthly subscription.
• AU$1.75 additional to get the CyberGhost Security Suite antivirus add-on for Windows.

Features

• VPN kill switch: Prevents unprotected browsing.
• Dedicated IP: Allows you to access IP-sensitive information and avoid blocklists.
• VPN split tunneling: Lets trusted programs bypass the VPN.
• DNS leak protection: Keeps your DNS requests private.
• Wi-Fi protection: Automatically activates the VPN when you connect to a public network.
• Content blocker: Keeps ads and trackers from compromising your security.
• RAM-only servers: Wipe your logs with every reboot to ensure anonymity.

Pros

• Offers more than 200 P2P-optimized servers in Australia.
• Has specialized servers optimized for streaming and gaming.
• Pricing is very competitive.
• Large and distributed server pool.

Cons

• Only allows seven simultaneous device connections.
• Aussie servers are limited to three cities.

Why I chose CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost offers an impressively large and distributed pool of VPN servers optimized for P2P torrenting, media streaming, gaming or a combination of these, allowing users to get the best experience for their particular use case. It has 212 Aussie VPN servers, all of them P2P-optimized, making CyberGhost the best VPN for torrenting in Australia.

For more information, read our full CyberGhost VPN review.

Private Internet Access: Most customizable Australia VPN

Private Internet Access, or PIA, is a highly customizable Australia VPN with a massive network of over 10,000 servers. It offers a wide range of features above and beyond what the other VPNs on this list provide, including an advanced kill switch that blocks all internet access when you disable the VPN and DNS leak protection using its DNS servers or your own.

PIA allows you to set port forwarding rules to enable incoming connections, preventing P2P file sharing issues. It also obfuscates your VPN traffic with SSL encryption to make it appear to your ISP as if it’s regular web traffic, protecting your activities from further scrutiny. PIA offers another layer of protection with the Automation feature, which allows you to create rules for different types of networks, for example, telling PIA to automatically enable the VPN when you connect to public Wi-Fi and disable it when you’re on the home network.

Despite its extremely large global server pool, PIA does not confirm how many Aussie-based servers it has, only that they’re located in four different cities. Additionally, the granular configuration settings and extensive navigation menu may be too confusing for novice VPN users.

Pricing

• AU$2.79 per month for a three-year subscription.
• AU$5.42 per month for a one-year subscription.
• AU$19.79 per month for a monthly subscription.

Features

• VPN kill switch: Prevents unprotected browsing when the VPN disconnects unexpectedly.
• Advanced kill switch: Blocks internet access for all apps when you manually disable the VPN.
• VPN split tunneling: Gives trusted applications direct internet access.
• DNS leak protection: With PIA’s DNS servers or your own.
• Port forwarding: Enables error-free P2P file sharing.
• Obfuscation: Encrypts your VPN traffic to make it look like regular web traffic, avoiding ISP scrutiny.
• Automation rules: Automatically connect or disconnect the VPN depending on what type of network you’re connecting to.
• PIA MAC: Provides DNS-level ad, tracker and malware blocking.

Figure E

Pros

• Highly customizable for advanced VPN users.
• Supports unlimited simultaneous connections.
• Extremely large server pool.
• Competitive one-year and three-year pricing.

Cons

• Interface might be confusing for inexperienced users.
• Unknown number of Australian VPN servers.

For more information, read our full Private Internet Access VPN review.

Why I chose Private Internet Access

PIA is a highly customizable VPN service for advanced users with specific privacy needs. It has one of the largest server pools in the industry to ensure performance and capacity in every corner of the globe. PIA also supports unlimited simultaneous connections and the use of in-house private DNS servers, making it a great choice for businesses.