With the well-known participation in the 5 Eyes alliance, the Australian government’s main weapon is surveillance and monitoring through Australian ISPs. The ISPs in this country are forced to monitor and store user information, which they hand over to the government, ruining your privacy as a result.
Most notably, though, the country is known for a fair bit of geo-restrictions. Here, you can’t watch Netflix US or access BBC iPlayer – some of the best streaming platforms. And if we factor in unsafe public WiFi networks with no encryption, online security and freedom in this country have taken a nose dive.
However, people who use the best VPN for Australia don’t have these issues anymore. That is because a VPN for Australia will change your IP, encrypt your connection, and make it unreadable to the prying eyes of your ISP or hackers.
As such, you’ll get 360-degree protection with no one snooping around your back or monitoring your activities. Besides, a VPN will change your online location, allowing you to access geo-restricted websites and streaming platforms no matter your location.
But what is THE best VPN for Australia in 2024, though? Well, let’s find out…
Best VPN for Australia: Try These 5 Providers Now!
To be able to get the benefits I mentioned, you’ll need to aim for premium VPN providers that have lots of servers in and out of Australia. Needless to say, we’ll give you providers that will be great if you live in Australia but also if you’re located abroad and you want to get an Australian IP for whatever reason.
Without further ado, our favorite providers are below – take a peek!
1. ExpressVPN
Pros
- Servers in 7 locations in Australia
- Lightway VPN protocol provides exceptional performance
- No-logging policy verified by KPMG
- Works on all mobile and desktop platforms
- It can unblock Netflix Australia
- 24/7 support through live chat
Cons
- Not the most affordable choice
Undoubtedly, the best Australia VPN is ExpressVPN. It has hundreds of servers in this country in 7 locations in total, which is downright impressive. You get 2 locations in Sydney and one location in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Woolloomooloo.
This makes ExpressVPN extremely suitable for users abroad who want to watch 10Play, Netflix Australia, or local TV channels. Outside of the country, the provider offers around 3,000 servers in 105 countries and 160 locations, which, in this case, makes it great for people living in the land of kangaroos.
ExpressVPN comes with the fastest speeds, which mostly has to do with its Lightway VPN protocol. This protocol boosts the performance significantly, allowing you to download torrents safely and quickly but also to enjoy streaming in 4K on a myriad of platforms.
What’s more, the VPN provider works with Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, and other streaming services that won’t be available in Australia. And if you’re worried about your privacy in the country, the provider will do everything in its power to remedy this issue.
Besides, it offers 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and IPv6 leak protection, which is essential for keeping snoopers and ISPs away. A no-logging policy is here too, and with a recent audit, it’s proven that it won’t store logs of your browsing, IP address, or DNS requests.
ExpressVPN’s forte is also its ease of use. It supports every desktop and mobile system with apps that look exactly the same, which eliminates the learning curve and makes it simple to go through. Plus, you get 5 simultaneous connections, which allows you to protect 5 devices at the same time.
Overall, ExpressVPN has no particular flaws. It’s fast, secure, reliable, and offers 24/7 live chat support that’s best in the business. The only minor flaw would be its higher price, which you can mitigate by claiming its 49% discount + 3 free months for the 12-month plan.
This, in conjunction with an unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee, makes ExpressVPN worth a short. After all, you can get a refund if you don’t like it but I’m highly doubtful it’ll happen.
Get ExpressVPN: The Best VPN for Australia
2. CyberGhost
Pros
- Affordable 2-year plan
- 200+ servers in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne
- AES-256 encryption
- NoSpy servers for added privacy
- Intuitive Android and iOS apps
Cons
- Desktop apps can be confusing for first-time users
CyberGhost VPN is known for its huge server fleet of around 9,100 servers in nearly 100 worldwide countries. No doubt, its servers found their way to Australia in cities like Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, where it offers 200+ high-speed servers for streaming, torrenting, and enjoying online security.
The VPN provider even includes dedicated streaming servers, which I found useful on lazy nights of binge-watching movies and shows. For instance, it has servers optimized for Netflix Australia, but these servers will work with 10Play or even SBS.
Furthermore, CyberGhost is great for foreign streaming platforms, too, so you can watch Netflix US, Canada, and other services. For those who didn’t know, this Australia VPN is very cheap, but compromising on security and privacy was never an option for it.
Much like ExpressVPN, it packs AES-256 encryption coupled with a dependable kill switch, WireGuard support, and IP/DNS leak protection for the highest level of security. Even the no-logging policy is here and the provider offers transparency reports published every 3 months, plus, it has an independent audit from Deloitte.
Here, it outlines every important bit of information about DMCA and data requests, showing that it gives out zero information to the authorities. I also like the addition of an ad-blocker which functions as solid protection from trackers and malware.
CyberGhost VPN comes with NoSpy servers operated by the company itself, which is a safe haven from the surveillance practices of the Australian government. Its desktop app could use an overhaul if I’m honest, but at least, it supports all platforms, having the most intuitive apps on iOS and Android.
Lastly, you get 7 simultaneous connections and 24/7 multi-language live chat support. All of this comes at a price that goes well below $2.5 a month for its 2-year plan, in which case, you also get a 45-day money-back guarantee. Something that no other provider on the list will give you.
Click on the button below and try this great VPN in Australia – you won’t regret it!
3. NordVPN
Pros
- Nearly 200 servers in 5 locations in Australia
- Very fast speeds
- NordLynx VPN protocol
- It works with Amazon Prime Video and Netflix
- P2P servers for anonymous torrenting
Cons
- Windows users reported rare connection issues
- Prices are shown without value-added taxes (VAT)
If you’re looking for a VPN for Australia to safeguard your privacy and provide amazing performance, here’s another choice – NordVPN. NordVPN has 5,500+ servers in more than 60 countries, with 190+ servers in 5 cities in Australia.
You’ll be able to enjoy servers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, which allows you to get a wide array of IPs from the country. The main strength of NordVPN lies in its security. It has several types of specialty servers, most notably Double VPN, which will effectively double your encryption.
Another thing I like is the presence of P2P servers, plus obfuscated servers for getting rid of censorship. NordVPN offers the standard features we talked about but includes NordLynx, a proprietary WireGuard-based protocol for enhancing security and bringing top-grade speeds and performance.
Additionally, we should mention its Threat Protection package. It has tiny security improvements – and some large improvements like antivirus and malware protection. The provider even has an ad-blocker and split tunneling for choosing which part of your traffic to route through the VPN tunnel.
Despite not having any specialty streaming servers, NordVPN is surprisingly powerful in this regard. It works with Netflix Australia for the start, but it also lets you unblock other streaming platforms and Australian TV channels from abroad.
Users in and out of Australia will like its modern-looking VPN apps, too. And while it’s easy to connect to a server, NordVPN is a bit unintuitive when searching for settings and features. On the good side, it works on iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and macOS, so you won’t have compatibility issues. By the way, for us, it is the best VPN available on macOS.
Where you also won’t have issues is the pricing. I mean, a 2-year plan is very affordable and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee that makes things better. If you’re interested, you can get this cheapest plan through the button below.
4. Surfshark
Pros
- Servers in 95 countries (5 cities in Australia)
- Affordable 2-year plan + 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Stores no logs of your browsing activities
Cons
- Average speeds
- Expensive one-month plan
When talking about affordable VPN providers that you can use in Australia and beyond, we can’t go on without mentioning Surfshark. With 3,200+ servers in 95 countries, we can say its server network is pretty impressive. In Australia alone, it has servers in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
As such, its coverage in this country is more than decent for getting an Australian IP or enjoying its local content abroad. As an affordable provider, Surfshark’s main downside is the average performance that can’t come close to ExpressVPN or CyberGhost.
However, it’s still pretty fast for streaming on Netflix or torrenting, which Aussies will appreciate. Security-wise, this provider is a true giant. Of course, you get bank-grade encryption here, but I think you’ll be impressed with its NoBorders mode for bypassing censorship or even a reliable ad-blocker.
Surfshark supports WireGuard and OpenVPN too, so you can enjoy a fine balance of speeds and security. In addition, it offers Surfshark One, a bonus security bundle with antivirus, true incognito mode, and Alerts, which costs only $1.5 a month on top of your subscription.
Based in the Netherlands, Surfshark is a well-known choice for those looking for privacy. It stores no logs of your IP address, browsing activities, or DNS requests, which is further verified by Cure53 in its audit on Surfshark.
The most impressive thing is that the VPN provider offers no limits on simultaneous connections. As such, you can protect as many devices as you want on a single subscription, with NO additional costs! This is surely great for families or those having tons of privacy-aware friends.
Surfshark has a cheap 2-year plan that, like other plans, has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Coupled with the extremely affordable price of its cheapest plan, I think it’s safe to say that this is a bargain, especially for Aussies on a strict and limited budget.
Enjoy Surfshark VPN in Australia
5. ProtonVPN
Pros
- RAM-based servers
- Great for streaming and torrenting
- Verified zero-logging policy
Cons
- Customer support is subpar
- Expensive pricing
- Only 36 servers in Australia
ProtonVPN isn’t a VPN for Australia that will save you tons of money. In fact, it’s a bit more expensive compared to Surfshark or CyberGhost. However, what you’ll get here is privacy and security that a Swiss company like this can guarantee – we all know about Swiss impeccable security.
Having a smaller server network, you won’t get tons of servers in Australia. In total, it has 2,900+ servers in 65+ countries, with only 72 of them in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney. Still, these servers are highly-capable of bypassing geo-restrictions and providing decent performance.
ProtonVPN works with a plethora of Netflix libraries and it’s P2P-friendly for those who love torrenting. Its main appeal lies in security features, though. Aside from bank-grade encryption, it supports WireGuard and offers RAM-based servers for added security.
Secure Core servers are its trademark, and they route your traffic through 3 different servers for tripling your encryption. Another feature, NetShield, will block ads and malware, ensuring a clean, smooth, and safe internet experience.
ProtonVPN even offers VPN Accelerator, a feature for boosting your performance. Based in Switzerland, the provider stores minimal logs needed for the service to “breathe.” Its no-logging policy is verified by SEC Consult, a company renowned for its cybersecurity work.
In terms of apps, ProtonVPN’s device compatibility isn’t on the level of ExpressVPN or NordVPN. However, it offers 10 simultaneous connections, albeit, with no 24/7 live chat support for quick and easy help. Quite a shame.
Its pricing isn’t exactly for budget users, as said, but you can try out its 2-year plan with a 30-day refund period. Currently, it’s ProtonVPN’s cheapest deal and will let you save quite a bit of money compared to its expensive monthly plan.
Which VPNs for Australia Should I Avoid?
Now that you know what are the best VPNs for Australia in 2024, let’s talk about the opposite spectrum. Should you avoid some providers? Actually, yes, and here, I mostly want to talk about free providers but also premium ones that act as safe and secure but they’re far from it.
Free providers, while costing nothing, also offer nothing to look forward to. After all, I’m sure you won’t like a 10 GB bandwidth cap or slow speeds that will ruin your browsing or streaming experience. Even worse is that free providers aren’t capable of streaming and torrenting!
None of them work with Netflix or have P2P support, which is evident if you check ProtonVPN, TunnelBear, Windscribe, or any other free provider. Most notably, free providers don’t have servers in Australia, so they can’t provide you with an Australian IP address.
As such, they’re not suitable for people abroad who want to access local TV channels, streaming platforms, or bookies in Australia. Another glaring issue is privacy – or another one – security. Free providers lack even basic security features, which is a gigantic red flag.
They offer weaker encryption and no advanced features like WireGuard support, antivirus, ad-blocker, malware protection, etc. Some free providers will even store logs of your activities and personal info and earn their commission by selling these logs to third parties.
In this process, they throw your privacy away as if it means nothing to you. There are countless providers that are guilty of these practices, so you should avoid VPNs like:
- Hola VPN
- Betternet VPN
- Hotspot Shield
- Opera VPN
- EasyVPN
- PureVPN (a premium provider with a history of data collection)
Free VPNs for Australia Worth Trying
If you’re keen on using a free VPN for Australia, you can try out these three providers as long as you keep in mind their limits in terms of performance and bandwidth.
Atlas VPN
Our favorite free VPN for Australia is Atlas VPN. As a NordVPN subsidiary, it has a lot of good features. For example, we value its focus on privacy and security, because, even in the free version, Atlas VPN offers an independently-audited no-logging policy!
This means it won’t store any logs of your activities even though you’re paying nothing. Another great feature is WireGuard support, which makes this provider reasonably fast. No, it has no servers in Australia either but hey, you’ll get 256-bit encryption and even a kill switch.
Atlas VPN, as you can guess, has plenty of downsides. First, it has a 5 GB monthly bandwidth limit, which, coupled with 1+ Gbps speeds, won’t be on par with ExpressVPN or CyberGhost. In addition, Atlas VPN isn’t great for streaming and it won’t work with Netflix.
We should also mention that it allows for P2P traffic but the aforementioned limit will cripple its ability to download torrents. Other than that, it comes with poor customer support, 1 connection per account, and it lacks several advanced security features that paid services have.
As a short-term solution, Atlas VPN isn’t bad. However, in the long run, you’re much better off with the paid VPNs for Australia above.
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN’s paid plans are nothing short of impressive (more details in our in-depth review), but did you know that it has a 100% free plan as well? If you opt for this variant, ProtonVPN will give you unlimited bandwidth and rock-solid security with the same no-logging policy that applies to the free users as well.
The downsides of this free VPN for Australia? Well, there are many of them, such as the 3 server locations in the US, the Netherlands, and Japan, with no servers in Australia. Moreover, it has really slow speeds and doesn’t support P2P or streaming, so it’s great only for browsing.
Its free version, while amazing in its own right, is a far cry from the paid version that offers no limits, and is a completely different experience.
Hide.me
Hide.me is a paid provider by default, but much like ProtonVPN, it has a somewhat decent free version. Its free version comes with OpenVPN support, rock-solid security, and a no-logging policy that very few free providers will offer.
However, its 10 GB monthly bandwidth cap is pretty annoying if you’re into streaming or torrenting. Hide.me indeed supports torrenting (but no streaming) but with 10 GB a month, you’re not going to get too far.
Not to mention that it has 5 server locations with no servers in Australia, no WireGuard support, and only one connection per account. Plus, after you spend the 10 GB you get, it goes into the unlimited bandwidth mode but limits you to one server location in the Netherlands.
In this case, it also significantly slows down your speed, making the entire experience sluggish, underwhelming, and somewhat annoying.
Conclusion
Putting things into perspective, it’s easy to see that the best VPN for Australia in 2024 can benefit both Australians and those living abroad. It’s a surefire way to safeguard your privacy and prevent ISPs, hackers, and snoopers from getting their hands on your personal information.
Furthermore, a VPN is a great addition to streaming and unblocking geo-restricted sites. Abroad, you can use it to watch 10Play or SBS, while in Australia, you can change your IP to another country and watch BBC or countless other platforms.
Our #1 recommendation is ExpressVPN in this case, but make no mistake – other choices on the list are great as well. Thus, if you’re on a budget, you can try CyberGhost or Surfshark and if your budget can be stretched a bit, you can check out NordVPN or ProtonVPN.
After all, these providers can be used risk-free thanks to a money-back guarantee, so in the case of dissatisfaction, a refund is always an option. But don’t worry – I’m sure you’ll never be dissatisfied!
FAQ
Here are the answers to some of the frequently asked questions.
Can I use a VPN for torrenting in Australia?
Yes, you can, but we condone using a VPN for royalty-free or LEGAL torrents only.
Australian authorities had several hard crackdowns on torrent sites, blocking nearly 200 sites in the process. On this list, some of the popular sites like ThePirateBay (and its mirrors), 1337x, and Torrentz were found.
Therefore, if you live in the country, chances are that you won’t be able to access the sites at all, let alone download anything. With a VPN for Australia, you can unblock the torrent site you want and download torrents without any legal issues due to VPN’s ability to conceal your IP and encrypt your traffic.
Once again, while you can download even copyrighted torrents without legal repercussions, we DO NOT recommend, encourage, or condone violating copyrights. Download non-copyrighted material only and you’ll be on the right side of the law. You can find more information about this in our comparison of VPNs for P2P downloads.
How to watch Netflix US in Australia?
Well, it’s quite simple, as you just need a VPN that works with Netflix US i.e. the best VPNs for Australia above. Once you get one, connect to the server in the US and upon visiting Netflix, you’ll be immediately transferred to the US version of the site.
If a particular server isn’t working, try another server from the US. For the best results, I recommend ExpressVPN but NordVPN is also a great provider that you can use to gain access to US Netflix. Also, don’t forget about CyberGhost which can also unblock this catalog.
Albeit, it’s slightly less reliable compared to NordVPN Netflix-wise, so it can unblock fewer catalogs on average.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Australia?
Yes, it is 100% legal and you can use it freely to bypass geo-restrictions or stay safe and secure online. And if you cross to the other side of the law and you’re trying to conceal it with a VPN… well, that’s sure not legal and you shouldn’t do it.
Which VPN for Australia is the fastest?
Our experience with hundreds of services showed that ExpressVPN still reigns supreme in terms of speed and performance. We tested ExpressVPN in Australia and it showed amazing performance with a lot higher than 10 Gbps speeds, along with impressive connection stability.
If you’re looking for a VPN for torrenting, streaming, or even gaming, look no further than ExpressVPN. And if you find it a bit too expensive, our strong recommendation is to try CyberGhost. It’s slightly slower but regardless, it’s surely blazing-fast thanks to support for WireGuard.
