India’s Best VPNs: Fast, Reliable, and Secure
Gathering a VPN for India can serve multiple purposes beyond just protecting your online privacy from government surveillance. It can helps to access geo-restricted content while traveling, secure your sensitive data while browsing, and unlock a vast amount of content libraries from all around the world.
A trusted VPN service allows you to establish an encrypted connection to servers worldwide, providing access to location-restricted content & exposing you to a global reach of information. By masking your online traffic and location, a VPN enables you to securely bypass geographic restrictions, explore content from different regions, and browse a wider range of websites. With a reputable VPN, the world’s information becomes far more accessible in a single, secured connection.
Our team have researched deeply on the top VPNs for various countries including India. We picked-up the best VPN services, based on their fast speed, tested for leaks, and check their unique features, and finalize the list of VPNs that can protect you from the Indian government.
Why You Need a VPN in India
India’s internet censorship and surveillance laws are among the strictest in the world. The government frequently orders ISPs to block access to websites and apps under various regulations.
A VPN can help you bypass these restrictions to:
- Access blocked content: Sites and services like YouTube, Reddit, pornography, gambling, etc., are routinely banned under government orders. A VPN lets you bypass geographic blocks.
- Protect your privacy: VPN encryption hides your browsing activities, location, and IP address from your ISP, advertisers, and the government.
- Improve internet speeds: VPN servers located outside India can provide faster speeds by avoiding throttled local networks.
- Enhance online security: VPNs add an extra layer of protection against hackers, malware, and other cyber threats on public WiFi and networks.
- Unblock streaming content: VPNs allow you to access region-restricted content on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Hulu, HBO, and other streaming platforms.
- Bypass censorship: The government sometimes intentionally slows down or blocks internet access during protests and civil unrest. A VPN can circumvent these tactics.
- Evade surveillance: Indian agencies are expanding digital monitoring capabilities. VPN encryption prevents the government from spying on your online activities.
How to set up a VPN for India?
Here’re the step-by-step guide to set up a VPN for India:
- Select a VPN provider who offer dedicated servers in India like NordVPN.
- Sign up for a VPN subscription plan.
- Download the VPN app or install the VPN software.
- Install and launch the VPN app or software.
- Select a VPN server in India.
- Confirm you’re connected and browsing anonymously.
- Adjust server locations as needed.
- Disconnect when done using the VPN.
How to Choose the Best VPN for India
With hundreds of VPN services in the market, choosing the right one for your specific needs in India can be overwhelming. Here are key factors to consider:
Speed
VPN encryption adds a small overhead, so you want a service that can still provide fast speeds. Look for VPNs with a large server network, top-notch infrastructure, and unlimited bandwidth. Speed tests for leading VPNs generally show a 15-30% drop compared to your plain connection, with some managing even lower impact.
Server Locations
More server locations near India provide faster, more reliable connections. Leading VPNs have servers in India as well as worldwide. This allows you to choose an Indian server to unblock local content or another country for international content.
Apps and Device Support
The VPN service should offer native apps for all your devices, such as Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. Router installation options are also ideal to secure all connected devices. Unlimited simultaneous connections are preferable.
Streaming Performance
If you want to unblock streaming sites, prioritize VPNs that can reliably bypass geo-blocks on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, Hulu, etc. Not all VPNs work with streaming platforms.
Security Protocols
Top services offer OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, and other protocols that use strong 256-bit AES encryption. Additional features like a kill switch, split tunneling, and IP/DNS leak protection also enhance security.
Privacy Policies
Select vendors that have strict no-logging policies do not record your browsing data or traffic and are located in privacy-friendly countries. Some even accept crypto payments for anonymity.
Pricing and Plans
While free VPNs exist, paid providers offer better speeds, reliability, and features. Look for affordable pricing like $2 to $5 per month. Check if the VPN offers a free trial to test the service risk-free.
Ease of Use
The VPN client and apps should be user-friendly and quick to set up across devices. Convenient features like one-click connect, auto-connect, and favorites help for hassle-free everyday use. Support options are also important.
The Best VPN Services in India Servers
- NordVPN – The Best VPN for India Overall
- Surfshark – Best for Unlimited Connections for India
- ExpressVPN – Fastest Server Network for India Servers
- Private Internet Access – Most Affordable VPN for India
NordVPN – The Best VPN for India Overall
6300 servers
111 covered countries
30-Day Refund Policy
10 simultaneous connections
NordVPN is another excellent VPN option for India thanks to its huge server network, fast speeds, range of security features, streaming unlocking capabilities, and budget-friendly pricing.
- Speed: During my testing, NordVPN maintained quick download speeds of 65-85Mbps across its Indian servers, with minimal slowdowns.
- Servers: With over 6000+ servers in 110+ countries, NordVPN offers the largest server network. It has 75+ servers located in India, ideal for local browsing.
- Security: NordVPN utilizes military-grade AES-256 encryption and protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and WireGuard. It also has advanced security features like a kill switch, malware blocking, and Onion over VPN.
- Unblocking: NordVPN is reliable for unblocking popular streaming sites like Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Hotstar. It also bypasses censorship and geographic blocks.
- Support: Support options include 24/7 live chat, email ticketing, and an extensive knowledge base with setup guides and troubleshooting articles.
Surfshark – Best for Unlimited Connections for India
3000 servers
65 covered countries
30-Day Refund Policy
Unlimited connections
Surfshark stands out for its unlimited device connections, making it one of the best VPN options in India for protecting all your gadgets.
- Speed: During testing, We got fast 100+ Mbps speeds on Indian servers with minimal lag or buffering when streaming and browsing.
- Servers: Surfshark has over 3000+ servers in 65+ countries. It offers 50+ Indian servers located in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and other cities.
- Security: Surfshark uses AES-256 encryption combined with protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec for a secure VPN connection. Additional features include a kill switch, multihop, Camouflage mode, and CleanWeb ad blocking.
- Unblocking: Surfshark successfully unblocks Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and other geo-restricted sites.
- Support: Support options include 24/7 live chat and email, as well as video tutorials on YouTube and the Surfshark blog.
ExpressVPN – Fastest Server Network for India Servers
3000+ servers
105 covered countries
30-Day Refund Policy
8 simultaneous connections
ExpressVPN is another best VPN for India, thanks to its blazing connection speeds, large server network, next-generation encryption, reliable unblocking abilities, and excellent customer support.
- Speed: ExpressVPN provided some of the fastest speeds for Indian servers, with minimal speed loss compared to my non-VPN connection. We achieved 90-100Mbps download speeds on local servers.
- Servers: ExpressVPN has over 3,000+ servers in 105+ countries. There are 13 server locations in India, along with servers optimized for activities like streaming and torrenting.
- Security: ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption and supports VPN protocols like OpenVPN, Lightway, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPSec. It has a strict no-logs policy and is audited for privacy protection.
- Unblocking: ExpressVPN reliably unblocks popular streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ Hotstar. It also circumvents geographic blocks for news, social media, and sports sites.
- Support: ExpressVPN offers 24/7 live chat and email support. The website and app also provide extensive troubleshooting guides and tutorials.
Private Internet Access – Most Affordable VPN for India
50 US states
90+ covered countries
30-Day Refund Policy
Unlimited connections
If you’re looking for an affordable VPN option, Private Internet Access is a great choice. It offers robust security and privacy protections.
- Speed: During our tests on Windows and Android, we got fast 45-65Mbps speeds with PIA, adequate for HD streaming and downloads.
- Servers: PIA has over 35,000 servers in 90+ countries. It offers 28 servers located in major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
- Security: PIA uses next-gen AES-256 encryption and supports VPN protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2. It also includes an internet kill switch to block traffic if the VPN disconnects.
- Unblocking: PIA reliably unblocks popular streaming sites like Netflix US, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. It also bypasses censorship and geo-blocks.
- Support: Support is available 24/7 via live chat and email. The support section also contains useful setup guides and tutorials.
Tips for Using a VPN in India
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your VPN connection in India:
- Use the Fastest Protocol: For the fastest speeds, try protocols like OpenVPN UDP or IKEv2/IPsec. Switch to TCP if you experience connectivity issues.
- Connect to Local Servers: Connecting to VPN servers located in India will provide the fastest speeds for accessing India-only websites and services.
- Enable the Kill Switch: The kill switch will block all internet access if the VPN connection suddenly drops to prevent exposing your IP address.
- Use VPN Browser Extensions: VPN browser extensions like ExpressVPN and NordVPN let you enable the VPN only for specific tabs for faster browsing.
- Change Servers if Blocked: If you cannot access a site or service, change to a different VPN server location to bypass restrictive blocks.
- Use Obfsproxy Cloaking: If VPNs are heavily restricted, try connecting using obfsproxy to disguise and encrypt VPN traffic.
- Enable Split-Tunneling: Split-tunneling allows excluding specific apps like banking or VoIP calling from the VPN tunnel.
- Use Double VPN for Extra Security: Connect via two VPN servers with the double/multihop feature for added privacy and security when needed.
- Reboot Your Router: If connected via a router, try rebooting it when experiencing connectivity issues to refresh the VPN tunnel.
- Contact Customer Support: If you run into any trouble, contact 24/7 customer support via live chat for assistance optimizing your VPN.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best VPN service tailored for users in India provides crucial online privacy and security protections. Services like NordVPN, Surfshark, and Private Internet Access also deliver excellent results across critical categories like speed, security, cost, and usability.
When choosing the best VPN for your needs in India, consider factors like local server locations in India, fast speeds, advanced encryption standards, strict no-logging policies, reliable unblocking abilities, budget-friendly pricing, and customer support. Following the tips above will also help you optimize your VPN setup.
With the right VPN service in India, you can browse, stream, and download freely and securely while keeping your private data protected, even on public WiFi. A quality VPN is essential for overcoming increasing censorship, accessing geo-restricted content, torrenting safely, and securing your online activities.
Frequently Asked Questions About VPNs in India
Is it legal to use a VPN in India?
Yes, it is currently legal for individuals in India to use VPN services to protect their privacy online. There are no laws that prohibit the use of VPNs. However, the government does occasionally block some VPN services as part of wider website censorship efforts.
Can a VPN keep me anonymous in India?
A VPN provides a high level of online anonymity by hiding your IP address and encrypting your internet traffic. However, to maximize anonymity, you should use anonymous payment methods and avoid logging in to identifiable accounts.
Will a VPN slow my internet speed in India?
A VPN may lead to some speed reduction, but a well-optimized VPN will have minimal impact. Using protocols like OpenVPN or IKEv2 and connecting to local Indian servers will provide the fastest speeds.
Do I need a VPN to torrent in India?
It is highly recommended that you use a VPN when torrenting in India to conceal your IP address and bypass ISP throttling or blocking torrent traffic. A VPN keeps your torrent activities private.
Can I watch US Netflix with a VPN in India?
Yes, top VPNs like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost successfully unblock US Netflix content from India. Connect to a US VPN server to access the US Netflix library.
Will a VPN protect me on public WiFi in India?
Yes, by encrypting your internet traffic, a VPN will keep your data safe and hide your IP address from other users on public WiFi hotspots, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks.
Can I use a free VPN in India?
While free VPNs are accessible in India, they often have serious security flaws, slower speeds, and less reliable access compared to premium VPN services. ProtonVPN and Windscribe’s free plans are two better options.
What is the fastest VPN protocol in India?
OpenVPN UDP and IKEv2 generally provide the fastest speeds in India. WireGuard is also extremely fast but not as widely supported. You can test different protocols to determine the quickest way to connect.
Is it illegal to use a VPN for VoIP & Skype in India?
No, there is no law prohibiting the use of VPNs for VoIP and Skype. A VPN can help you access blocked calling services. But avoid very cheap/free VPNs that throttle or block VoIP.
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.
