The 7 Best VPN For Indonesia 2023 (Speed Tested!)
With strict internet regulation in Indonesia, the best VPNs enable Indonesian to bypass geo-blocked content at fast connection speed, while having their privacy protected, all at a low price!
Our #1 VPN for Indonesia goes to ExpressVPN – they’re fast, secure, and offer a large server network across 94 countries!
We’ve bought and tested popular VPNs to see if they live up their claim. For Indonesia especially, we looked at the top 7 VPNs featured here in terms of their connection speed, security measure, server coverage, and pricing.
Top 7 Virtual Private Network For Indonesia
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Note
- Price is based on the currency exchange rate of 1 USD = 15,595 IDR.
- Price shown is lowest based on plans available from each VPN service provider.
Before any testing for line speed, it is always best to do a baseline check to see how fast your Internet speed is without interference. For me, this means testing my 500 Mbps theoretical line to see how fast it is when connecting to a local server
My location is in Malaysia, within the Southeast Asia region. This means that for the most part I will logically get lower latency and faster speeds in countries closer to where I physically reside.
As I test with servers further away, the latency is expected to grow and speeds drop, depending on actual distance. Other factors do come into play as well with a VPN server. For example, server loads, quality of servers in the country – all of this matters.
Do note that just because a VPN server is close by, doesn’t mean that it is always the best and fastest for you. Some countries may have inherently weaker infrastructure than others, or perhaps some providers have simply gone with the cheapest server hosting in your particular country.
1. ExpressVPN — Best premium VPN
https://www.expressvpn.com
Overall score
Speed
Security & Privacy
Price
Key Features
- Offshore privacy
- 148 VPN locations
- Full 256-bit encryption
- 24/7 live chat support
- Multiple protocol support
"Using ExpressVPN can get you an IP address in Indonesia that is fast, secure and allows for streaming media and more.”
ExpressVPN is one of those outstanding VPN services that is simply reliable. It should come as no surprise that ExpressVPN seems to have laid extensive infrastructure allowances for Indonesia.
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 Indonesia. 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 Indonesia, I managed to show a strong 140 Mbps downstream speed.
Read our full ExpressVPN review to learn why it’s our #1 VPN for Indonesia!
2. Surfshark
https://surfshark.com/
Speed
Fair
Security & Privacy
Price (IDR)
Rp 34,465 /mo
Key Features
- 1,700+ servers
- Multi-Hop connection
- Supports many platforms
- No logs
- Ad & Track blocker
"Frills-free and consistent in performance, Surfshark is making its name as a strong upcoming contender."
For a relatively new service, Surfshark has shown impressive performance and perseverance so far. It is one of the strongest newcomer contestants and its place on this list reflects just how well it has done so far despite its ‘youth’.
They offer a complete VPN package with privacy and security at its core, bracketed by the strong selling features of P2P support and easy bypass of regional blocks. This works especially well for those who want to access various region content on providers like Netflix or Hulu.
Other than that, they have a very minimalist interface that isn’t cluttered by a ton of feature that you neither asked for nor want. This makes them highly focused and works out well for those who simply don’t want extra junk.
(See full speed test result)
With many service VPN providers neglecting the Asia Pacific area in favor of Europe and North America, Surfshark not only does offer servers in Indonesia but serves users on them at usable speeds.
Unfortunately these aren’t the best so I do recommend that you connect to nearby Singapore unless you absolutely must use a local server.
See our thorough Surfshark review to learn more!
3. NordVPN
https://nordvpn.com
Speed
Excellent
Security & Privacy
Price (IDR)
Rp 57,546 /mo
Feature Highlights
- 5,600+ servers
- No Logs
- Kill Switch
- Supports 6 Devices
- Double VPN
"As always, NordVPN shows stable and consistent performance on its Indonesia servers - great for users in the country."
NordVPN is one of the best choices in service provider, but this rings especially true for locations where many services won’t bother to establish a presence. Its huge number of servers covers many countries, making it a solid choice.
For example – Indonesia. NordVPN takes a strong third place on our Best VPN for Indonesia list for many reasons. One of the first is that they are based in Panama, which is also a good place to be based for VPNs (and their users).
It is also one of the fastest evolving VPN services, providing not just a solid core product but also in supporting areas of privacy and security. Meanwhile, their strict no-logging policy combines well with 256-bit military grade encryption to offer a really safe product to use.
To round things up, there is the price. For its scope of service and excellence at what it does, NordVPN’s pricing is hugely competitive. There are many other service providers who can’t meet these service standards and charge a whole lot more.
(See full speed test result)
With a strong 125 Mbps downstream speed, NordVPN showed very stable performance on their Indonesia server. What makes them even more attractive is that they not only allow P2P traffic but have specially optimized servers for P2P traffic!
Read our in-depth NordVPN review for more information!
4. CyberGhost
https://www.cyberghostvpn.com
Speed
Fair
Security & Privacy
Price (IDR)
Rp 35,713 /mo
Feature Highlights
- 6,800+ servers
- Offers data compression
- Ad blocking
- Supports 7 devices
- No logging
"CyberGhost is based out of Romania but it has paid attention to the needs of Indonesia users by steadily increasing its server count in the country."
CyberGhosties are happy with them and they have certainly tried to be hip and upbeat in their marketing. This is another of the more well-known names in the VPN industry but personally I feel that they just might be a tiny bit overhyped.
For Indonesian users, it is a bit of a conundrum since there are both major benefits and drawbacks. The main problem is that in-country, the speeds it offers are rather low. However, thanks to the country’s proximity to Singapore, users can easily work around this issue via a server there.
While that may not be ideal, it does fit the profile of using a VPN basically – your location becomes anywhere you want it to be.
(See full speed test result)
Although most CyberGhost servers used to be in the EU zone, they have been on a massive expansion spree and today boast one of the highest server counts among providers in the market.
This move has included the Asia Pacific region so there are many other options in terms of location here. Still, if you insist on using an indonesian server, speeds are still workable – albeit a bit less than what many would expect.
See our full CyberGhost review to learn why it’s one of our top picks!
5. IPVanish
https://www.ipvanish.com
Speed
Excellent
Security & Privacy
Price (IDR)
Rp 51,931 /mo
Feature Highlights
- 1,500+ servers
- Forced 256-bit encryption
- Unlimited P2P
- Supports 10 devices
- No logging
"IPVanish may not have servers in Indonesia but thanks to neighbouring Singapore, that isn’t a big deal mostly."
IPVanish has suffered greatly in recent times due to its embroilment in certain …shall we say, unfortunate incidents. 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.
Since they don’t have a local server presence in Indonesia, we defaulted to Singapore which has great speeds in the region and is quite close by.
(See full speed test result)
Again, IPVanish isn’t one with a local presence of servers in Indonesia so the closest were in either Singapore or Malaysia. On the Singapore link I managed to get a fantastic speed reading of 175 Mbps, which is excellent.
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!
6. TorGuard
https://torguard.net
Speed
Excellent
Security & Privacy
Price (IDR)
Rp 155,794 /mo
Feature Highlights
- Ad & Malware block
- Built for P2P
- TorGuard Stealth Proxy
- Supports 5 Connections
- Unlimited bandwidth
"Using TorGuard is a delightful experience and gives one the assurance their Internet connection is truly safe."
One of the most important deciding factors in TorGuard’s placement is that it is a very P2P-friendly VPN service provider. There isn’t a lot of bling on the user-facing side, but it is remarkable in performance.
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)
Unfortunately, TorGuard has no servers located directly in Indonesia so users will have to choose one out of the country. The closest would be in either Singapore or Malaysia – through which it showed strong speed performance.
I decided to try out the Singapore server for this particular case since it has such a good track record. At around 184 Mbps, Indonesian users will have a great experience using this server.
Read our thorough analysis on TorGuard for more information!
7. FastestVPN
https://fastestvpn.com
Speed
Excellent
Security & Privacy
Price (IDR)
Rp 38,832 /mo
Feature Highlights
- 40+ countries
- Optimized servers for P2P
- Allows server hopping
- Supports 10 devices
- Ad blocker
"FastestVPN isn’t the fastest but it certainly offers a value proposition that is hard to challenge."
FastestVPN has been working hard since the last time I tried it and this time round it hasn’t failed to impress. Performance has been much increased, but they sadly still lack the network strength to make it really stand out.
It offers more limited countries than most top-tier VPNs and that is seen glaringly here with their lack of a presence locally in indonesia. However, they make up for that in spades thanks to rock bottom pricing that is hard to resist.
Their prices start at the rock bottom level of IDR 17,205 – much less than what you’d be paying at Starbucks for a cup of fancy coffee! In fact, they’ve kept prices that low even as they beefed up the product.
Now, FastestVPN can help you bypass geo-blocked Netflix content, so you can watch US region Netflix anytime.
(See full speed test result)
Speeds on FastestVPN when connected to a Singapore-based server for me exceeded 100 Mbps. That is pretty good for a VPN that has so few servers compared to the big boys.
Head over to our FastestVPN review to learn more!
What is a VPN?
Virtual Private Network 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 Indonesia?
Indonesia, often seen as an exotic holiday destination, presents a different reality for its residents. The government has a track record of covert surveillance and restrictive digital activities, resulting in a low Internet Freedom score. To combat this, utilizing a VPN in Indonesia becomes essential.
With broad surveillance powers, blocked social media platforms, and limited access to political content, Indonesian residents face restrictions. VPNs offer a solution to bypass these limitations, especially considering their legality in the country.
With a population of over 260 million and a relatively low Internet penetration rate, VPN usage can help Indonesian users navigate online restrictions and protect their privacy effectively.
Indonesia uses an AI-based crawler to detect content violations
Indonesia’s Cyber Drone 9, an AI-based web crawler launched by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) in 2018, detects and blocks what the government considers ‘negative content.’ The crawler’s parameters are continuously refined, covering a broad range of content, including pornography, gambling, violence, radicalism, and discrimination based on race and religion, as reported by Jakarta Globe in January 2018.
ISPs in Indonesia also engage in arbitrary blocking activities. In 2016, users experienced the blocking of Netflix by Telkomsel, despite it not being on the ban list. The situation remained unresolved, and the ISP received praise from government ministries for taking action against a company operating without proper licensing. It was only in 2017 that Telkom, the largest telco in Indonesia unblocked Netflix after signing an agreement, as reported by thedrum.com.
Government gives itself broad surveillance powers
Within the government, several agencies have the powers to restrict online content under what is labelled as the Information and Electronic Transactions Law – “LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
No. 11 OF 2008” also known as ITE Law. The law has been amended several times to increase the scope of powers listed therein.
The ITE Law now not only allows the blocking of content but part of the amendments have allowed authorities to order ISPs to do so. Since then the number of agencies with the authority to filter content has grown.
Uncertainty in Right to Privacy
Indonesia lacks a specific law to enforce the right to privacy, despite its constitutional protection under Article 28(G) of the 1945 Constitution. User data storage mandates for companies raise concerns about privacy, as some companies have been known to disclose user data to law enforcement agencies upon request.
VPNs play a significant role in protecting user privacy by guaranteeing no activity logs are kept. Over the years, the Indonesian government has been systematically expanding its access to user data, as evident in the following timeline:
- 2000 – Government mandates telco customer retention period of not less than three months
- 2012 – Providers of electronic systems offering public services required to build data centres
- 2016 – MCIT forces OTT providers to incorporate locally to facilitate legal interception
These milestones contribute to the government’s increasing capability to compromise anonymity in Indonesia, although anonymity itself is not regulated by Indonesian law.
Arrest and Prosecution of Internet Activists
To maintain national security, Indonesia has implemented strict regulations on internet usage, targeting defamation, religious matters, and content manipulation, commonly referred to as “fake news.” The enforcement of these regulations has led to arrests of individuals for sharing critical content, such as in the case of a user arrested for criticizing a House of Representatives speaker. In 2017, three media outlets (Tempo, Inilah.com and Kompas TV) were also accused of defamation by a government official.
Is VPN legal in Indonesia?
While there are ongoing incidences of countries around the world (like Russia and China) starting to pay attention to VPNs and attempting some sort of regulation, at the point of time Indonesia does not seem to have joined that bandwagon yet.
So yes, VPNs are still legal in Indonesia.
What makes a good VPN in Indonesia?
- Privacy and anonymity
Given the surveillance and regulations in Indonesia, it’s essential to prioritize privacy and anonymity when using the internet. Look for VPNs with strict no-logging policies and based in countries with more relaxed data retention laws, excluding those in the Five Eyes and Fourteen Eyes Jurisdiction. - Security
When it comes to VPN security in Indonesia, finding the right balance is crucial. Consider if you prefer higher levels of encryption (such as 256-bit) even if it may impact VPN speeds. Given the involvement of the Indonesian government in monitoring activities, maintaining strong encryption is advisable.Additionally, considering the country’s average internet speeds, you can prioritize high encryption levels without compromising maximum achievable speeds.
- 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, Indonesia users have much more to look forward to in geolocation spoofing since there are literally a ton of sites they cannot access. - P2P support
One of the categories of sites being blocked from access in Indonesia 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 16.31Mbps in Indonesia, most VPNs should have zero issues matching the needs of users there. Mobile speeds are even lower at an average of 10.45Mbps, so the main concern with VPNs in Indonesia certainly won’t be speed.
What 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
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:
- Doesn’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. - Doesn’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 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 conflagrated 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.
Verdict: Do I really Need a VPN in Indonesia?
To recap, here are the top 7 VPN for Indonesia:
Speaking seriously, Indonesia seems to be one of the countries I have been increasingly concerned about due to various factors. If it were as simple as plain regulation intended to prevent crimes from occurring, things would not be so bad.
However, the privacy and security scene in Indonesia seem to be chaotic and the government apparently does not care much about Internet freedom. This combined with the will to detain and prosecute puts an immense pressure on Internet users 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 Indonesia for work or leisure – you certainly don’t want to run afoul of legislation and end up in an Indonesian jail – for unspecified reasons.
