The Best VPNs for Streaming in Australia
Our team analyze only the best VPN services suitable for Australia. These highly-rated VPN providers thoroughly tested and verified to deliver secure connections, unrestricted access, streaming capabilities and total anonymity. Rigorous testing confirms full functionality and trustworthiness. The top VPN choices for Australians.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a secure, encrypted connection between your device and a remote server, which ensures confidentiality, integrity, and availability of transmitted data over public networks. It allows users to create a private network connection that encrypts and protects all traffic, preventing unauthorized access or interception. The encrypted data is encapsulated in a secure tunnel, providing a high level of privacy and security to users while browsing the internet or accessing other online resources.
Australia is increasingly becoming more restrictive in terms of content accessibility for its residents. The government collects metadata at the very least, and monitors the browsing activity of various entities. By law, ISPs are required to store this information and provide it upon request. As a result, many internet users in Australia are turning to VPNs as a means to protect their privacy and secure their online activities.
Our team conducted a series of tests on different VPNs and identified the best ones that provide Australians with privacy and unrestricted access to popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and more.
Why You Need a VPN in Australia
There are several important reasons why Australian internet users should consider using a VPN:
- Enhanced Online Privacy: A VPN encrypts all of your internet traffic and hides your IP address. This prevents your internet service provider (ISP) from monitoring and logging your online activities and stops advertisers from tracking you across the web.
- Access Blocked Content: Many streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ block access to overseas viewers due to licensing restrictions. A VPN allows Australians to bypass geo-blocks and access more content.
- Secure Public Wi-Fi: Using public Wi-Fi hotspots can expose you to hackers. A VPN secures your connection on public networks to keep your data safe from snoopers.
- Torrent Safely: Australians can get in trouble for using BitTorrent to pirate copyrighted material. A VPN hides your IP address to let your torrent safely and anonymously.
- Bypass Censorship: The Australian government engages in internet censorship and blocks certain websites. A VPN can help you bypass these restrictions.
- Geo-Spoofing: A VPN lets you mask your real location and spoof your geo-location to access regionally restricted content worldwide.
How to set up a VPN for Australia?
- Choose a reputable VPN provider like NordVPN that meets your needs.
- Download and install the VPN software on your device.
- Launch the VPN software and log in using your account credentials.
- Choose a server location from the available options.
- Click the connect button to establish a connection.
- Test the VPN by accessing geo-restricted content or visiting websites that were previously unavailable.
- Once connected, your internet traffic will be encrypted and your online activities will be private and secure.
Best VPNs for Australia Servers
Based on extensive testing and research, we recommend these VPNs as the best choices for Australian users:
- NordVPN – Best VPN for Australia Overall
- ExpressVPN – Top for Streaming & Torrenting
- Surfshark – Best for Unlimited Devices
- CyberGhost – Most User-Friendly VPN
- Private Internet Access – Best for Privacy
NordVPN – Best VPN for Australia Overall
6300 servers
111 covered countries
30-Day Refund Policy
10 simultaneous connections
NordVPN is our first choice as an excellent VPN for Aussies, with its huge server network, fast speeds, and content-unblocking abilities.
This Panama-based VPN provider has over 6000+ servers in 100+ countries worldwide. It offers 650+ VPN servers in Australia spread across major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide.
I got fast download speeds of up to 500 Mbps on NordVPN’s Australian servers. The speeds are sufficient for streaming HD shows and quickly downloading large files.
NordVPN excels at unblocking geo-restricted content. During testing, I could access Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Prime Video, and other streaming platforms. It’s also great for P2P activity with dedicated servers for fast torrenting speeds.
Security features include AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, a dedicated IP, and a strict no-logs policy. You can use NordVPN on up to 10 devices simultaneously.
While a tad slower than ExpressVPN, NordVPN is an excellent choice for streaming, torrenting, and bypassing censorship in Australia. Thanks to its local Aussie servers and content-unblocking abilities, it also offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Surfshark – Best for Unlimited Devices
3000 servers
65 covered countries
30-Day Refund Policy
Unlimited connections
Surfshark is a fast-growing VPN known for providing unlimited device connections at a very affordable price point. It’s a great option for Australian households that need to connect many devices.
This British Virgin Islands-based VPN offers over 3000+ servers in 65+ countries. It has around 85 VPN servers in 5 major Australian cities.
We found that Surfshark’s Australian servers provide fast and stable speeds up to 350 Mbps, which is suitable for HD streaming and browsing. Speeds are fast enough for everyday VPN use, though a bit slower than ExpressVPN and NordVPN during peak hours.
In testing, Surfshark consistently bypassed geo-restrictions and unblocked Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Disney+ in Australia and other regions.
Other notable features include AES-256 encryption, a private DNS, a kill switch, and support for P2P activity. Easy-to-use apps are available for all major platforms.
Surfshark’s biggest advantage is the unlimited device connections. You can use it on as many devices as you want. Coupled with its low pricing and solid performance in Australia, Surfshark is a great budget-friendly option.
ExpressVPN – Top for Streaming & Torrenting
3000+ servers
105 covered countries
30-Day Refund Policy
8 simultaneous connections
ExpressVPN, The British Virgin Islands-based VPN has a massive server network with over 3,000 VPN servers spread across 100+ countries. ExpressVPN operates hundreds of VPN servers in Australia and nearby countries like New Zealand, Singapore, and Japan.
We recorded blazing-fast speeds when connected to ExpressVPN’s Australian servers, with download speeds of up to 450 Mbps on a 1 Gbps connection. The speeds are fast enough for 4K/HD streaming and large downloads.
ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption and supports a wide range of VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, Lightway, IKEv2, and WireGuard. Its user-friendly apps are available for all devices, and it supports connecting up to 8 devices simultaneously.
In our testing, ExpressVPN successfully unblocked Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and other popular streaming services. It also works well for torrenting and bypassing censorship.
Other great features include a strict no-logs policy, Private DNS leak protection, a kill switch, split tunneling, and 24/7 live chat support.
While ExpressVPN is one of the pricier VPNs, it offers the best overall experience and performance for Australian users. There’s also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
CyberGhost – Most User-Friendly VPN
125+ Locations
100+ covered countries
45-Day Refund Policy
7 simultaneous connections
CyberGhost is one of the most beginner-friendly and customizable VPNs on the market. Thanks to its simple apps, it’s a great choice for non-tech-savvy Australians.
This Romania-based VPN has over 11,000+ servers in 100+ countries. It operates 500+ optimized streaming servers, including 50+ in Australia and nearby regions.
We recorded fast speeds of up to 335 Mbps on CyberGhost’s Australian servers. The speeds are reliable for HD streaming and torrent downloads.
CyberGhost is particularly great at unblocking streaming sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime, ESPN+, and more. The streaming profile makes it easy to match you with the fastest server to unblock a site.
The apps are very user-friendly, with preset profiles based on your activity, such as streaming or torrenting. There is also a dedicated search bar to find the right server location.
Other key features include AES-256 encryption, an ad blocker, and a strict no-logs policy. You can use CyberGhost on seven devices at once.
While a bit pricier than some VPNs, CyberGhost offers reliable performance in Australia, along with the most user-friendly and configurable apps. It’s a great choice for novices.
Private Internet Access – Best for Privacy
50 US states
90+ covered countries
30-Day Refund Policy
Unlimited connections
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a highly reputable VPN that offers strict privacy protections and anonymous torrenting.
This US-based VPN has servers in 78 countries. It offers 70+ VPN servers across 5 cities in Australia.
We recorded good speeds of around 270-300 Mbps on PIA’s Australian VPN servers. The speeds are fast enough for HD streaming and quick downloads.
PIA allows P2P filesharing and BitTorrent on all its servers. There are no bandwidth restrictions. It also obscures your IP address for anonymous torrenting.
PIA uses AES-256 encryption and supports a range of protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, and SOCKS5. There are also advanced features like port forwarding, split tunneling, and multi-hop connections.
The apps are easy to navigate and have clear server selection and connection options. PIA has a strict no-logs policy and accepts payment via anonymous cryptocurrencies.
Overall, PIA is a top VPN pick in Australia for advanced users who prioritize privacy protections, anonymous P2P support, and securing connections on public Wi-Fi.
5 Reasons to Use a VPN in Australia
Here are 5 of the most significant benefits of using a VPN in Australia:
- Bypass Geo-Blocks: VPNs allow Australians to access more content on streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ by bypassing geo-restrictions.
- Enhanced Privacy: Using Australian VPN servers hides your IP address and encrypts your traffic to protect your online activities from prying ISPs, advertisers, and hackers.
- Secure Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi hotspots can be hacked. A VPN secures your connection to public networks so you can access personal information and accounts safely.
- Torrent Safely: VPNs provide anonymous torrenting by masking your IP address. This lets Australians torrent while avoiding copyright notices.
- Unblock Censored Sites: The Australian government blocks certain sites. A VPN can bypass censorship to access prohibited content.
Free vs. Paid VPN for Australia
While there are some decent free VPN services, like ProtonVPN and Hide.me, I recommend opting for a premium paid VPN when using one in Australia.
Here are some downsides to free VPNs:
- Slower speeds that can hamper streaming
- Data caps that limit your usage
- Fewer servers available in Australia
- Weaker security and privacy protections
- More vulnerable to getting banned when torrenting
- Limited ability to unblock content
- Annoying ads
Paid VPNs offer significant advantages, such as unlimited data usage, faster speeds on local servers, reliable access to more streaming content, stronger encryption, and dedicated IP addresses for a small monthly fee. They are worth the price for a better overall experience.
However, if you need basic privacy protections for light browsing, a free VPN can do the job. Just don’t expect top speeds or content unblocking from a free service.
Final Thoughts
The best VPN for Australia provides fast local Aussie servers, unblocks geo-restricted content, supports secure P2P activities, and keeps your online activities private. We recommend NordVPN as the best option for most Australian users, thanks to its unrivaled speeds, content-unblocking abilities, and reliable performance.
Alternatives like Surfshark, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost also deliver great overall experiences. Any of my top recommendations here will serve you well. Just be sure to select a premium VPN over a free service to get the best speeds, security, and unblocking abilities.
With rising government surveillance and geo-blocking, using a quality VPN is more important than ever for Australians who value their online privacy and access to content.
FAQs about Using VPNs in Australia
Is it legal to use a VPN in Australia?
Yes, it is perfectly legal for Australians to use VPN services. There is no law restricting the use of VPNs. However, it is illegal to utilize VPNs for unlawful activities like hacking, fraud, and accessing child exploitation material.
Will a VPN slow down my internet speed in Australia?
Due to the encryption and routing of your traffic, a minimal speed loss is expected when connected to a VPN. However, using a premium VPN with local Aussie servers will keep this speed reduction to a minimum. The fastest VPNs have speeds suitable for 4K streaming and large downloads.
Can a VPN unblock Netflix in Australia?
Yes, top-rated VPNs like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost can reliably unblock Netflix in Australia and provide access to Netflix libraries from other countries like the US. These VPNs bypass Netflix’s geo-blocks using Australian IP addresses.
Does a VPN protect me on public Wi-Fi?
Yes, by encrypting your internet connection, a VPN shields you from hackers when you access public Wi-Fi hotspots. The VPN tunnel keeps snoopers from viewing your online activities and accessing your private data on public networks.
Will my ISP know I’m using a VPN in Australia?
No, a VPN hides your IP address and online activities from your ISP. By connecting to a VPN server in Australia or overseas, your ISP will only see encrypted traffic flowing to the VPN server, not your actual online activities. This allows Aussies to torrent and stream privately without ISP interference.
Can I be fined for torrenting without a VPN in Australia?
Possibly yes. Australian copyright holders actively monitor BitTorrent networks for pirated content and send infringement notices. A VPN is the best way for Aussies to cover their tracks and torrent anonymously without getting fined.
Verified A Professional Content Writer
Riha Mervana is a professional content writer at SearchVPN.org, with extensive experience crafting engaging and informative content. She has established herself as an expert in the VPN industry, creating content that educates readers on the importance of online privacy and security.
