Written By
Daren LowUpdated On
June 28, 2024
best vpn india
Using a VPN in India protects yourself from government surveillance while roaming the internet freely. What’s more – the best VPN lets you stream geo-blocked content with fast speed at a low price!
Our #1 VPN for India definitely goes to ExpressVPN, with top-notch security & fast speeds that start from ₹462.83/mo!
We’ve researched thoroughly on the top VPNs for different countries – India is no exception. We bought VPNs, measured their speed, tested for leaks, and checked their features – then narrowed down to VPNs that can best protect you from the Indian government.
Top 7 VPN For India
- ExpressVPN – Best premium VPN
- Surfshark – Starts at only ₹277/mo
- NordVPN – Best overall VPN for speed & privacy
- Atlas VPN – Best VPN for streaming services
- CyberGhost – VPN with most servers
- TorGuard – Best VPN for torrenting
- IPVanish – Best VPN for multi-device support
As with all my VPN tests, before judging their speed I always judge my own. The following is my actual broadband speed based on a service line of 500Mbps, without a VPN connection active:
As I am based in Malaysia, my speeds will tend to be high connecting to Asia-region VPN servers and slower as I connect to servers in the US or Europe. For this test I connected to an India-based speed test server to give you an idea of relative speed over distance.
As you can see, a VPN-free connection to a local server nets me a decent speed of 333Mbps. Speeds of course will vary at times, so take this with a pinch of salt.
1. ExpressVPN
https://www.expressvpn.com
Because of the many restrictions there It should come as no surprise that ExpressVPN seems to have laid extensive infrastructure allowances for India. The company has key servers in both Chennai and Mumbai as well as an alternate that can be routed via the UK.
On average, this VPN service offers excellent all-round service from top-notch speeds all the way to comprehensive applications and protocols – ideal for safety, privacy and anonymity. Its security protocols are also the best-in-class for consumer use existing today.
I have tested the service comprehensively and have no hesitation in recommending them as the top VPN service provider for users in India. ExpressVPN is stable and allows access on a good range of devices as well.
(See full speed test result)
As an idea of how good it gets, I compared my default line speed without a VPN to an ExpressVPN covered test to the same location. With ExpressVPN on and connected to a server in India, I managed to show a solid 115 Mbps downstream speed.
Read our complete review on ExpressVPN to learn why it’s our #1 VPN for India!
2. Surfshark
https://surfshark.com/
Surfshark has a very nippy and minimalist interface for a good reason – it keeps focus on providing a safe and secure VPN service. That’s right, there’s very little in the way of frills and thanks to that, it has impressively managed to expand its network to over 1,000 servers in a very short time.
Despite its relative youth (Surfshark was only introduced in late 2018), this service provider has managed to keep up with the top dogs and overall provides a very stress-free experience for a price that many would just love.
Despite this seemingly minimalist attitude, Surfshark still manages to offer all the key components of a good VPN service provider. This includes supporting P2P traffic on almost all their servers, strong encryptions, access to multi-region content of video streaming platforms, and more.
(See full speed test result)
As the top best VPNs for India, Surfshark was one of the few that managed to keep up impressive speeds in what is normally a usually very congestion-prone region. Speed tests from a Latur server showed downstream speeds of around 80 Mbps.
See our Surfshark review to learn more!
3. NordVPN
https://nordvpn.com
NordVPN sits highly on our Best VPN for India list for many reasons. One of the first is that they are based in Panama, which is also a good place to be for VPNs. Aside from that, NordVPN has a sterling reputation and is another VPN provider that has a huge number of servers in many countries.
Their strict no-logging policy combines with 256-bit military grade encryption and great price plans to offer almost anyone a deal that is hard to resist.
(See full speed test result)
With a 134 Mbps downstream speed, in this round of tests NordVPN showed very stable performance on their India server. What makes them even more attractive is that they not only allow P2P traffic but have specially optimized servers for torrenting with.
Read our in-depth review on NordVPN to learn why it’s one of our top picks!
4. Atlas VPN
https://www.atlasvpn.com
Atlas VPN can be considered a new kid on the block. Yet that’s not always a bad thing – after all, we’ve seen Surfshark grow from newbie into quite the behemoth. In Atlas VPN, we see many of the same traits – exceptional speed, decent pricing, and impressive momentum.
Something it’s especially great for is streaming. India’s massive market hosts multiple popular overseas streaming platforms. From Amazon Prime to Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar Premium, Atlas VPN’s streaming capabilities come at an excellent price with speed for smooth performance.
(See full speed test result)
These key features go well with excellent customer support and related capabilities. Two good examples are its built-in ad blockers and unlimited device connections. While there are some downsides, it perfectly fits the role of a media streaming partner that offers good privacy.
See our full review on Atlas VPN to learn more!
5. CyberGhost
https://www.cyberghostvpn.com
CyberGhosties are happy with them and to be honest, this VPN service has grown explosively in a very short period of time. I’m not saying that just in terms of user-base, but in terms of performance and sheer network spread across the globe. Today they have over 6,000 servers in a huge number of locations.
I am also a big fan of their very upbeat and uniquely identifying marketing gimmicks, which at the same time are both iconic and a little bit cute. This approach is exactly what regular consumers need when dealing with a dry, yet necessary tool like a VPN.
It also helps that CyberGhost walks the talk and has bumped up their performance by so much lately. Sadly, within India its a bit of a letdown, but you can easily connect to a nearby country with strong results.
(See full speed test result)
Users in India need to take note that most CyberGhost servers are in the EU zone, but thankfully, they have some in the Asia region as well. India seems to be an exception though and they have gone the extra mile to establish a higher server count there.
See our full review on CyberGhost to learn more!
6. TorGuard
https://torguard.net
The TorGuard interface may seem a little dated when first encountered but there is no doubt that there are one of the most secure VPN service providers around. Even though there isn’t a lot of bling on the user-facing side, performance is quite remarkable.
There is one key difference between TorGuard and many competitors in that it allows you to choose what level of encryption you prefer. This means that for P2P users, you can turn down encryption a notch and enjoy faster torrenting speeds anytime!
Aside from that, TorGuard has many other redeeming qualities, such as stable speeds, multi-platform capability and the ability to bypass VPN blockers.
(See full speed test result)
As one of the top VPNs for India, TorGuard of course met certain speed requirements. This showed in my test result for it from a Bengaluru-based VPN server and again, users in the country should generally get this speed with few issues.
The only downside is that for younger users who are used to the sleekness of modern applications, the TorGuard interface will look like something from the past.
Read our thorough analysis on TorGuard for more information!
7. IPVanish
https://www.ipvanish.com
IPVanish has suffered greatly in recent times due to its embroilment in certain… Earlier this year (2018), an article in TorrentFreak accused IPVanish of handing over user logs to authorities (US Department of Homeland Security). Yet aside from that, take note that they are under new management and hopefully such things will become just speed bumps in their past.
Moving those incidents aside, they remain a VPN giant in the field and boast speeds that are impressive. Luckily for that, since if you have any complaints about their speed, there isn’t much you can do as they force 256-bit encryption on everyone without exception.
(See full speed test result)
Speed-wise, IPVanish managed to stay up to par even with its more limited India presence. I managed to establish a downstream speed of around 38 Mbps which is decent for the infrastructure there.
For those willing to experiment you can always try other servers in the region which may give better results. Still, the connection was stable and more than enough to stream media on.
Read our in-depth review on IPVanish to find out more!
What Is A VPN?
Virtual Private Network, or VPN, are private networks of servers. They help users increase digital privacy while adding additional layers of security at the same time. They can be used by both businesses and individual consumers.
In a business context, VPNs are often established by companies or specialized service providers to enable secure access to confidential information for remote employees. From an individual consumer or small business perspective, VPNs are more easily accessible and affordable.
The primary goals remain privacy and security, achieved by routing data through secure VPN servers and masking the user’s origin and device details. Additionally, VPNs encrypt data to prevent unauthorized access or theft during transmission.
Why Use A VPN In India?
India Tightly Regulates Internet Access
For a long time, India has attempted to block access to a large (and increasing number of) websites. While you may be right in thinking that these sites were perhaps illegal or immoral in some way, such as pornographic sites, that hasn’t always been the case.
For example, in 2011 and as recently as 2016 there have been temporary bans on Facebook in the country which were implemented without any warning.
The government has also formalized the ban on many other websites with a blanket law which prohibits citizens from trying to visit any banned sites. Penalties for violating this law are severe and go past the usual fines, allowing for prison sentences of up to three years if caught.
The Government’s Surveillance Activities Are Legal!
Because of its attempts to block access to many websites, it has always been assumed that India was carrying out some forms of covert surveillance on its own citizens. This has now been legalized to an extent thanks to official authorization given.
According to The Telegragph, India accused of being “surveillance state” since it allowed 10 federal agencies the right to intercept and monitor information from any computer. This is a move towards the mass surveillance activities undertaken in China to supervise the activities of its citizens.
Not only can these agencies now monitor and intercept, but officially they can even decrypt any information thus obtained. The agencies authorized are not just those concerned with national security, but also overseeing tax investigation, narcotics, financial crime and others.
This information on its own is already alarming, but even more so given that the Indian Supreme Court has recognised the right to privacy as a fundamental right. This means that the government is giving authorization for such activities in violation of the law.
Dubious Legislation Regarding Media Streaming
Media streaming and P2P file sharing in the country is a little bit more of a hazy area. Although technically streaming isn’t illegal, it might be if the site offering such services is on the list of banned sites.
A high court judge in India in 2016 ruled that there was no offence in viewing media being streamed, but rather in other areas associated with the activity. These include the distribution, exhibition or sale of copyright material. Unfortunately, ISPs in the country at the time were giving notice to their users that all media streaming activities were punishable offences – including viewing!
As you can see, there are legal fine lines involved in the matter and you certainly don’t want to get caught on a technicality here.
ISPs In India Are Blocking Proxies
Reddit users have been discussing reports that Reliance Jio, one of the largest telcos in the country, has been blocking proxy websites with the topic “Jio is blocking proxy websites”. Proxies help users work around geolocation restrictions, meaning that the company is dictating the behaviour of its 250 million user-strong subscriber base.
Again, this is in violation of net neutrality which in general works on the principle that ISPs must not exert their own influence on data. The site Quartz did an investigation in the country and found that “At least seven proxy sites were not accessible … from a Jio connection”.
These were not just banned sites but also sites which allowed the download of VPN software. The telco has apparently blocked access to Hide.me, Hidester and Megaproxy, amongst others. While other ISPs have not yet followed suit what would prevent them from doing the same?
Again, the issue here is unclear boundaries between what is legal or not, along with whether companies decide to toe the government line, offer their own independent support of government efforts (like Jio) or simply do as they wish. Either way, Internet users in India are at their mercy.
What Are The Benefits Of Using A VPN In India?
As we can observe, the Indian government is exerting increasingly strict control over the Internet. While unfortunate, this environment means that VPNs have become an ideal solution.
There are three key benefits to residents in India for using a VPN;
- Enhanced Security
The primary purpose of VPNs is to create secure connections between users and their destination. Whether used by businesses or regular consumers, the benefits are similar. The first benefit we observe is naturally in terms of security.
Since connections are made using secure protocols and then highly encrypted, the data passing between users and VPN servers is safely hidden from prying eyes. Whether government or hackers, both teams will have supreme difficulties spying on VPN-protected connections.
- Freedom of the Internet
With more sites being blocked, Internet users within the country need not feel at a loss if using a VPN. Although governments block sites supposedly for the god of the population, this stance is still a bit too arbitrary for many.
This is especially so given the political battles that are increasingly ongoing and affecting the state of both digital information flow as well as the use of web applications. If you need to use a particular site or app – just make use of a VPN.
- Staying Safe from the Law
With so much controversy around legislation, it can be difficult for normal residents to challenge legal moves. In fact, sometimes users may not even know when some laws come into force (unless they are widely publicized, which doesn’t always happen).
By using a VPN, you can protect yourself from any effects of legislation. At least for the time being, until there is better awareness.
What Exactly Can I Use A VPN For?
By their very nature, VPNs are intended to help mask your identity and secure your data. However, they also come along with many other redeeming capabilities. Let’s consider how they can be used:
- Stream geo-blocked content
- Bypass ISP censorship
- Avoid tracking
- Torrent safely
- Establish safer connections to internal networks
Are VPNs Legal In India?
While at this point of time there has been no official news of laws banning the use of VPN services in India, it is a bit of a tricky issue. Take for example the case of Jio Reliance I discussed above – what if ISPs decide to add all VPN service providers to the list of banned sites?
While using a VPN there may not be legally restricted, there are still laws which prevent all users in the country from using VPNs for illegal activities. I would take this to mean that if you were to use an VPN service – it better be one that does not keep logs!
How To Choose A VPN For India?
- Privacy and anonymity
As you may realise by now, India really isn’t the kind of place where you want to be surfing the net without the use of a VPN, whether you are a national or visitor to the country. Because of the factors I’ve shared above and the seriousness of consequences of violating those regulations, it is a good idea to focus on the aspects of privacy and anonymity a VPN offers for users in India.
With both the government as well as private industry working together as well as independently to monitor and control traffic, a VPN needs to be able to ensure that your data and activities can be kept exactly the way it should be – private.
One of the best ways to ensure this is to keep an eye out for VPNs that not only have strict no-logging policies but that are also based out of countries that are laxer in their data retention laws. This certainly excludes countries in the Five Eyes and Fourteen Eyes jurisdiction.
- Security
The security spiel on VPNs is the same for India-based users as everywhere else. The ideal balance is known only to you, as a user. Do you opt for 256-bit encryption at the risk of lower VPN speeds or are you willing to lower that bar for increased speed?
Personally, I feel that for the India market that it would be best to try and keep encryption levels high for two main reasons. The first is that one of the protagonists in the case we are discussing is the Indian government, which will likely have more resources dedicated towards attempting to break any encryption encountered.
The second is that because of lower average internet speeds in the country, you are safe to keep encryption levels as high as possible without compromising your overall maximum speeds achievable.
- Geolocation spoofing
Normally when we talk about geolocation spoofing it would be with an aim of accessing alternative content from mainstream providers such as Netflix US or the BBC iPlayer in the UK. However, India users have much more to look forward to in geolocation spoofing since there are literally a ton of sites they cannot access.
This is where a VPN would shine, especially since there are reports of some telcos banning even proxy sites from being used.
- P2P support
One of the categories of sites being blocked from access in India seems to be torrent sites. Again, this is another area where a VPN would really help. Look out for VPNs that have P2P traffic guidelines clearly spelt out in their terms of service, such as TorGuard or NordVPN.
- Speed and stability
With an average fixed line broadband speed of just 27.68Mbps in India, most VPNs should have zero issues matching the needs of users there. Mobile speeds are even lower at an average of 10.13Mbps, so the main concern with VPNs in India certainly won’t be speed.
Find out more about how VPNs can be used in different scenarios.
What Are The Limitations Of VPN Services?
While VPNs are awesome, there do remain some limitations that you need to pay attention to. They aren’t blank cheques that will allow you to do anything you want online without heed. For instance, they:
- Don’t give access to hidden Dark Web sites
VPNs only protect your access to the net. To get to Dark Web sites, you’ll still need special tools such as the Tor Browser, a search engine like DuckDuckGo and other stuff as well.
- Don’t prevent phishing attacks
Since phishing attacks mostly prey on people, the technology behind it can be difficult to guard against. Using a VPN isn’t a substitute for common sense, so don’t leave yours at the door when using one.
- May get blocked by some sites
Some websites are especially sensitive to VPN usage. This is especially true for web apps or sites that belong to financial institutions. You may find yourself denied access to these sites if they detect you’re on a VPN connection.
Why Use A VPN Over Tor Or Proxy?
While aiming to achieve many similar things, VPN, Tor, and Proxies are not really the same thing. You might be able to get away with using either for some purposes, but the technology is fundamentally different.
The Onion Router, or TOR, is more of an anonymizer that works by routing packets of data though a massively conflagurated network of hubs and nodes. It does this in the hope of making things as difficult as possible to trace the origins of the data. It’s free to use, but the way it’s built makes it very slow to use. At the same time it does not offer the same level of protection to either the source or the data itself that a VPN service does.
Proxies only serve to route your connection through a third party server. It doesn’t mean your data is safe, especially since the provider of the proxy server itself can be shady at the best of times. It is possible to combine these services with a VPNs service to improve your overall security profile. Honestly though, in most cases, simply using a VPN is sufficient.
Why Is VPN Essential For Preventing Phishing And Spoofing Attacks?
VPN is essential for preventing phishing and spoofing attacks because a VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your real IP address. Phishing are deceptive attempts by cybercriminals to steal sensitive information by pretending to be legitimate entities through emails and websites. Spoofing is a cyberattack where a malicious actor disguises their identity by impersonating a trusted source to make their fraudulent actions. By traffic encryption and IP address masking, attackers cannot track your activities and hence reduce the risk of phishing and spoofing.
What Role Does A VPN Play In Website Management?
A VPN plays a crucial role in website management by encrypting your connection to hosting panels, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data such as login credentials and website settings. It protects administrators from cyber threats like man-in-the-middle attacks when working remotely or on public networks. VPNs also hide your IP address, adding anonymity, which helps prevent targeted attacks on your website. In short, a VPN secures both the management process and the website itself from vulnerabilities.
Can VPNs Prevent Data Breaches And Ransomware Attacks On Websites?
No, VPNs cannot prevent data breaches or ransomware attacks on websites directly. A data breach occurs when unauthorized individuals access a server to steal sensitive data, while ransomware locks systems and demands payment for access. VPNs secure the connection by encrypting data in transit but do not protect servers from vulnerabilities or malware. Safeguarding a website requires firewalls, malware protection, regular updates, and a VPN for secure access.
Can VPN Services Help Prevent Unauthorized Access When Managing A Website?
Yes, VPN services prevent unauthorized access when managing a website by encrypting your connection and masking your IP address. This protects sensitive data like login credentials and website configurations from interception, especially on unsecured networks such as public Wi-Fi. With this added layer of security, a VPN makes it much harder for attackers to access your website management systems.
Why Is It Essential To Use A VPN When Accessing Web Hosting Accounts?
Using a VPN when accessing web hosting accounts is essential to safeguard login credentials. VPNs encrypt your connection, ensuring sensitive information like usernames and passwords remain protected from interception, especially on unsecured networks. This prevents unauthorized access to your web hosting accounts.
A VPN also hides your online activities and physical location. By masking your IP address, it prevents tracking by attackers and keeps your true location concealed. This enhances overall security when securing your website.
Additionally, using a VPN can provide faster internet speed by bypassing local ISP throttling. It ensures smoother access to hosting accounts. VPN also keeps sensitive data secured during transfers between servers.
How Does VPN Encryption Protect Sensitive Data On Web Hosting Accounts?
VPN encryption converts data into a coded format readable only by authorized parties. It secures your data before transmission using methods like AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit encryption, which scrambles data into an unreadable format. The “256-bit” refers to the key size, making it extremely difficult for hackers to crack.
When accessing a web hosting account, VPN encryption secures sensitive data like credit card details, health records, and login credentials as it moves between your device and the hosting server. Even if intercepted, the encrypted data remains indecipherable without the decryption key.
VPN vs SSL: What Is The Best Solution for Securing Your Website?
SSL is a digital certificate that secures connections between a web server and a user’s browser by encrypting data. Also known as TLS, it enables HTTPS, protecting sensitive information and boosting user trust.
VPN and SSL serve different purposes in website security. A VPN secures overall internet connections, ideal for website administrators to protect their management sessions. SSL encrypts data between a website and its users’ browser, ensuring that users’ interactions with the site are secure.
For securing a website, SSL is essential for protecting the end user, while a VPN enhances admin access security. Both are important for complete website security.
Who Is The Best Web Host Company To Be Used Alongside A VPN?
The best web host company to be used alongside a VPN prioritizes security features like strong encryption, SSL certificates, and secure server configurations. The best web host company offers robust security measures such as DDoS protection, automated backups, and a secure control panel. Hostinger is our top recommendation.
Verdict: Do I Really Need A VPN In India?
To recap, here is a side-by-side comparison of VPN service for India:
| ExpressVPN | Surfshark | NordVPN | Atlas VPN | CyberGhost | TorGuard | IPVanish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Download (Mbps) | 114.73 | 80.75 | 134.00 | 332.63 | 4.91 | 98.13 | 37.69 |
| Latency (ms) | 70 | 82 | 188 | 103 | 62 | 49 | 88 |
| Simultaneous connections | 5 | Unlimited | 6 | Unlimited | 7 | 5 | 10 |
| VPN servers | 3 | 3,2 | 5,6 | 700 | 7,1 | 3 | 1,5 |
| Price /mo | ₹462.83 | ₹277 | ₹346.26 | ₹228.30 | ₹297.68 | ₹346.26 | ₹231.10 |
| See all features |
Given the terrible combination of both government and private pressure on Internet freedom in the country, I feel that the use of a VPN should rank quite highly on most user’s agenda there. This goes doubly so for foreigners who are in India for work or leisure – you certainly don’t want to run afoul of legislation and end up in an Indian jail.
There are too many unknowns in many areas and my take is that it is always better to be safe than sorry. Please, look for the right VPN for you today if you’re on the Internet in India.