Best VPNs for India in 2024

Using a VPN in India is as important if you’re serious about protecting your online data. Not only will the best VPN for India boost your privacy, but it’ll also give you access to geo-restricted sites and apps that have been banned by the Indian government.

Since 2020, India has banned over 100 Chinese apps and sites, including TikTok, PUBG, and WeChat. Without a VPN, Indian citizens can’t access any of these platforms.

Many VPN companies had to replace their India-based physical servers with virtual ones after the country passed a law that required them to collect their users’ data. This can make it difficult to find the best service.

Nevertheless, after several days of careful testing, we’ve come up with a list of the best 5 VPNs you can use in India.

Top 5 best India VPNs

1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for India in 2024
2. Private Internet Access – Cheapest VPN to use in India
3. Surfshark – Inexpensive Indian VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections
4. NordVPN – VPN in India with the highest number of advanced features
5. CyberGhost – Best Indian VPN for streaming geo-restricted content

Here are some of the things we considered when testing the best VPNs for India:

• Security - How secure the VPN is.
• Speed – Whether the VPN can give you fast speeds.
• No-log policy – How strict the VPN’s no-log policy is.
• Virtual Indian servers – Whether the VPN has virtual Indian (or nearby) servers.
• Price – How much the VPN costs.

The best VPNs for India in 2024

The best VPN for India should have adequate security features and an audited no-log policy so you know for certain that your data won’t be recorded. Here are the best 5 VPNs in India:

1. ExpressVPN – Best overall VPN for India in 2024

ExpressVPN

1

9.7

/10

Visit ExpressVPN

Pros & cons

• Has virtual Indian servers based in the UK and Singapore
• Lightway protocol gives top security in India
• Audited no-log policy makes it a secure VPN for India
• Minimalistic app design across all platforms

• More expensive than other VPNs

ExpressVPN is our top VPN for India in 2024. It was one of the first providers to pull out from India after the new VPN law was announced. There are 2 virtual Indian servers based in Singapore and the UK and connecting to these servers gives you an Indian IP address without compromising your security. Using its Lightway protocol, ExpressVPN provides fast speeds and top-notch security.

Your online traffic undergoes military-grade encryption when you connect to one of ExpressVPN’s Indian servers.

Virtual Indian servers on ExpressVPN.

Features like kill switch, split tunneling, and Threat Manager keep your online data safe from your ISP and government. Read more about these features in our review of ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager will protect you from trackers.

It supports a total of 5 devices and has a native app for all major platforms, including routers. There’s no other VPN whose app is as minimalistic as ExpressVPN’s. The design is consistent across all platforms, which makes usability on any device a breeze.

You can easily access geo-restricted sites and apps like TikTok, PUBG, Disney+ Hotstar and other content libraries from all around the world.

ExpressVPN’s most affordable package costs $6.67 per month and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. Private Internet Access – Most affordable VPN you can get in India

Private Internet Access

1

9.4

/10

Visit Private Internet Access

Pros & cons

• Has virtual Indian servers in London
• Apps can be customized
• 10,000+ RAM-based servers
• Includes an ad blocker

• USA-based company

Private Internet Access is an inexpensive and open-source VPN for Indian users. Whether you’re based in or out of India, you can use its virtual Indian servers to protect your online traffic while enjoying your favorite geo-restricted content. PIA’s settings can be tweaked to a great extent and it has all the essential security features you need.

The main screen of all its apps can be configured and customized, which is one of our favorite features. You can control the type of information that you see on the app.

You can customize the main dashboard of PIA to only see information that’s important to you.

It has military-grade encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, an ad blocker, and more. These security features are sufficient enough to make you anonymous on the Internet.

Just like other top VPNs, PIA also removed its physical servers from India when the new laws were passed. The virtual servers that replaced them later are based in Singapore, the Netherlands, and London. You can use multiple protocols when connected to these servers.

If you’re traveling, you can use PIA’s virtual servers to watch geo-restricted content from back home. Using its 10000+ RAM-based servers, you can also unblock all the Chinese apps and sites that are banned in India.

PIA’s strict no-log policy has been proven in court and independently audited by one of the Big Four firms, Deloitte.

You can get the VPN for as little as $2.03 per month. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee and a free 7-day trial version for Android and iOS.

3. Surfshark – Indian VPN for families and large companies

Surfshark

1

9.5

/10

Visit Surfshark

Pros & cons

• Has 50 virtual servers in India
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Various security features for maximum protection in India

• Based in a 14 Eyes country
• No trial version for Windows

Surfshark is the third best Indian VPN. It’s affordable, powerful, and rich in features. Despite not having the same level of customization PIA does, Surfshark’s app is quite user friendly. Since it removed its physical servers from India in June 2022, it’s expanded its list of virtual ones to 50.

Just like PIA, Surfshark’s virtual Indian servers are also based in Singapore, the Netherlands, and London. Its 3200+ RAM-based servers give you access to geo-restricted sites such as Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime.

Surfshark’s India-based virtual servers.

The best thing about Surfshark is that you can use it on an unlimited number of devices. With just one subscription, your entire family can enjoy the perks the VPN service offers.

We’ve tried Surfshark’s iOS and macOS apps and they both provide stable performance. All servers, including the virtual Indian ones, let you use WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols.

Using features like Multi-Hop servers, Rotating IP, and NoBorders mode, you can rest assured that your online traffic will always be secure.

Surfshark’s Multi-Hop servers.

Priced at just $2.49 per month, Surfshark is one of the most affordable top VPNs for India you can get. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a free 7-day trial version for Android, iOS, and macOS.

4. NordVPN – Fast VPN for India with powerful security features

NordVPN

1

9.6

/10

Visit NordVPN

Pros & cons

• Get fast speeds in India with NordLynx
• 5000+ RAM-only servers
• Advanced security features hide your data from the Indian government

• No virtual Indian servers

NordVPN is usually higher up in our lists of top VPNs. The reason why it’s not here is because it doesn’t have any virtual Indian servers at all. It completely shut down all of its servers in India after the new laws were passed. Nevertheless, if you’re based in India, NordVPN will be a great solution to your security problems because of the numerous features it comes with.

NordLynx is the primary protocol of NordVPN. It’s an improved version of WireGuard, so it’s meant to be faster and more secure.

It offers some of the most advanced security features in the VPN industry. Some of these include Onion over VPN servers, Dark Web Monitor, Double VPN, a built-in ad blocker called Threat Protection, and more.

Some of the advanced security features offered by NordVPN.

With Onion over VPN servers, you can easily access the Tor network and browse the dark web without any problem. Similarly, Double VPN gives you extra security by routing your traffic through two servers.

All these features enable you to securely surf the web and use geo-restricted apps and sites in India.

With over 5000 RAM-based servers, you can unblock foreign streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Netflix. During our tests, NordVPN unblocked all of these sites without any difficulty.

You can get NordVPN for $4.19 per month and enjoy it on up to 6 devices simultaneously. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. CyberGhost – VPN service in India that has streaming-dedicated servers

CyberGhost

1

9.3

/10

Visit CyberGhost

Pros & cons

• Includes virtual Indian servers
• Streaming-optimized servers for unblocking Indian content
• All servers use WireGuard for best speeds
• Simple and easy to use Indian VPN

• App can be sluggish sometimes
• Doesn’t include too many advanced features

CyberGhost is one of the best Indian VPNs not just because of the security it provides, but also because of how easily it unblocks geo-restricted content. With its virtual Indian servers, you can easily watch movies and TV shows from back home when you’re traveling. One of its best features are the streaming-optimized servers which unblock Indian streaming platforms like SonyLIV and FanCode.

All of its apps have a simple UI. There aren’t as many advanced security features as there are in other top VPNs, but you do get a kill switch, split tunneling, an ad blocker, and P2P-optimized servers. For most people, these features should be more than enough.

CyberGhost’s streaming-optimized servers.

All servers support WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. CyberGhost’s no-log policy has been audited by Deloitte and all 9700+ servers run on RAM.

It has servers that are optimized for specific streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and Disney+. These servers are regularly updated by CyberGhost’s team so it’s unlikely you’ll ever connect to one that doesn’t work.

Other than India, CyberGhost also has servers in nearby countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan.

CyberGhost also has servers in Bangladesh.

You can purchase CyberGhost for just $2.19 per month and get a 45-day money-back guarantee no matter which package you get.

Comparison of the best India VPNs

If you’re short on time, we’ve added a table below that gives you a quick overview of how the best Indian VPNs differ. We’ve divided it into categories like price in India, virtual Indian servers availability, and features.

Methodology: how we tested these VPNs

As mentioned above, finding the best VPN for India can be hard because most companies pulled out from the country after it passed the new VPN law. Here are some of the things that helped us during the testing process:

• Security – We only included those VPNs that take your security seriously. All the VPNs have multiple features that are designed to keep you anonymous and protected when you go online.
• Speed – The VPNs on our list give you the option to choose between multiple protocols, two of which are WireGuard and Lightway. These protocols have a reputation for incredibly fast speed and good security.
• No-log policy – Having an audited no-log policy can help establish trust between users and the VPN company. The VPNs we’ve picked have all been audited multiple times.
• Virtual Indian servers – While not a necessity if you’re in India, VPNs with virtual Indian servers can be great if you’re traveling and want access to geo-restricted content from back home. Except NordVPN, all VPNs on our list have servers that have a virtual presence in India.
• Price – Only those VPNs made the list that are affordable and have money-back guarantees so you can test them without spending too much money.

How to use a VPN in India?

Using a VPN in India requires a few simple steps. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Choose a VPN that resonates with you.
2. We recommend ExpressVPN because it has virtual Indian servers and its Lightway protocol provides fast speeds.
3. Install your preferred VPN on your device.
4. Connect to a server of your choice.
5. Start browsing the Internet anonymously.

What is India’s VPN data law?

India’s VPN data law, implemented in 2022, requires VPN companies to record their users’ data for at least 5 years and share it with the government. If they fail to comply, they risk going to jail for a year.

India’s VPN data law makes it mandatory for providers to log their users’ information. (Source: nordvpn.com)

The law was introduced by India’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in) and apart from VPNs, it also includes other cloud service providers.

Most VPN companies with strict no-log policies and RAM-based servers left India soon after the law was introduced.

Their physical Indian servers were replaced with virtual ones, with most of them being based in Singapore and the UK.

RAM-based servers automatically delete all data that’s stored during a VPN session, so for most VPN companies, it was impossible to comply with India’s new data law.

Is it safe to use a VPN in India?

Yes, it’s safe to use a VPN in India. We recommend only using those services that have RAM-based servers and don’t have any physical presence in India.

Luckily, there are no laws against using VPNs in India so it’s not illegal and you won’t get into trouble with the law.

To make sure the VPN you want to use won’t share your data with the government, check if they have any physical servers in India. If they do, it’s almost guaranteed that they’re recording their users’ information.

If you’re traveling and want to watch geo-restricted Indian content, we recommend using premium VPNs like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.

These VPNs use virtual India-based servers, which means they’re not physically present in the country, but make it look like you are.

Why do you need a VPN in India?

The most important reason why you need a VPN in India is so you can hide your online traffic from the Indian government and unblock geo-restricted sites and apps like TikTok and PUBG. Let’s take a more detailed look at why you need a VPN in India:

• Protect your online traffic – The Indian government is known for monitoring people’s online activities in the country. Using a VPN is one of the best ways to hide your online traffic from them and your ISP, especially if you’re an activist.
• Avoid Internet censorship – Internet censorship in India has grown tremendously over the past few years, resulting in the banning of TikTok, WeChat, PUBG, YouTube channels, Twitter accounts, torrenting websites, and more. A VPN will change your IP address and encrypt your data so you can circumvent the Indian government’s online restrictions.
• Access geo-restricted content – One of the most popular uses of a VPN is to watch geo-restricted content. By changing your IP address, you can get access to foreign content libraries on streaming sites like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime.
• Stay online during Internet shutdowns – In 2022, the highest number of Internet shutdowns happened in India. This usually happens during times of political unrest. In many cases, you’ll be able to bypass an Internet shutdown with the help of a VPN.

What websites and apps are banned in India?

Some of the most popular apps and sites banned in India include TikTok, PUBG, Baidu, WeChat, and Alipay. As you can tell by now, it’s mostly Chinese apps and sites that are blocked in India.

The Indian government has accused these apps and sites of collecting sensitive information and spying on their users.

Types of apps banned in India. (Source: statista.com)

Here are some other sites and apps that are banned in India:

• AliExpress
• DingTalk
• Taobao Live
• Dating apps such as WeDate, FlirtWish, and DateMyAge
• Chinese games like Road of Kings, Clash of Kings, and Jellipop Match
• WeTV
• UC Browser
• Cam Scanner

Can I use a free VPN for India?

Yes, you can use a free VPN in India, but we don’t recommend it. Most free VPNs collect their users’ data by showing them ads. Your data is then sold to marketers and advertisers.

Internet surveillance is rapidly increasing in India, so any VPN that shows any sign of recording your information should be avoided at all costs.

That being said, there are some free VPNs that don’t show ads. ProtonVPN is an excellent choice as it gives you unlimited data without keeping any logs. Check out our list of the best free VPNs to see what other options you have.

Instead of using a free VPN, we recommend getting a premium VPN like ExpressVPN. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out and request a refund if you don’t enjoy using it.

Bottom line

Internet censorship in India isn’t showing signs of slowing down, which is why it’s so important to use a VPN. A VPN will alter your IP address, thereby hiding your online traffic from your ISP and the Indian government.

After testing several VPNs for India, we’ve come to the conclusion that ExpressVPN is the most secure and fastest one. It has over 3000 RAM-based servers, some of which are India-based virtual ones.

Most of the apps and sites that are banned in India are owned by Chinese companies. Some of the most popular ones include TikTok, PUBG, and AliExpress.

If you want to protect your online activities in India, we recommend using a premium VPN like ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access. These VPNs have no physical presence in the country and have audited no-log policies, so they’re reliable, trustworthy, and completely secure.