For many internet users, a VPN (a virtual private network) is an essential tool.
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, routing it through a server in another location.
This can help protect your online privacy, prevent data snooping, and unblock content or services that might be unavailable in your region.
This has several benefits, including making it harder for others to track your online activities and helping you to bypass government censorship.
But a VPN is not a silver bullet – there are still some risks associated with using one.
There are tons of VPNs on the market, and it can be tough to decide which one is best for you.
Do they all work in Canada?
Which are the best VPNs for Canada when it comes to streaming? for privacy? for gaming?
In this article, we will take a look at the best Canada VPN services. We’ll compare their features, pros, cons, and pricing.
There are also a couple of solutions for free VPN for Canada.
We will provide a detailed overview of what the best VPN services are and how they work.
So whether you are looking for the best VPN to protect your privacy or to access streaming content that is blocked in Canada, we have you covered!
Our Top Picks for the Best VPN for Canada
Best VPN for Streaming
Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, NBC, Amazon Prime Video and many other streaming services that are otherwise restricted in Canda are unlocked with NordVPN. It also claims to be the most secure VPN service on the market when it comes to browsing privacy. It’s incredibly fast, supports split tunneling and has a No Logs policy for your absolute privacy.
Best VPN for Gaming
The biggest benefit when using a VPN for gaming comes when you can spoof your location and access servers in other countries. It’s also supoer important to have consistently fast connection speeds when gaming to minimize latency and lag to have the lowest ping possible. You can also dodge DDoS attacks from hackers or other gamers.
Cheapest Canda VPN
When you’re on a really budget, this is an excellent budget VPN you want to try out. TunnelBear has a totally free VPN plan with 500 MB per month. Once you want to upgrade, it only goes up to $3.33 per month per a montlhy personal plan. You can go even lower for an annual plan. It also ticks all the boxes for secure and private browsing in Canada.
Why do I need a VPN for Canada?
The Canadian government has a Privacy Act that allows the collection of user data. Additionally, Canada is part of the Five Eyes Alliance, which means that the data collection can go across borders and be shared with other countries.
In addition to that, Canadian internet providers can legally log your internet usage, see all your online activity and track the IP addresses you use to download movies, music, and games.
Additionally, Canada blocks access to popular streaming sites like American Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and others. Although Canadian Netflix is available, you probably want to access all the shows in the Netflix libraries.
So, if you are considering your online security and privacy, you are right in thinking that you need a VPN service to proxy your online activity. You need to get your hands on the best VPN for Canada with a “No logs” policy.
Below are listed all the VPN services that are accessible in Canada and have a “No logs” policy. So, any of them will work for you. Just take your pick.
What are the Best VPNs for Canada?
Read the full ExpressVPN review
ExpressVPN is the top VPN and comes highly recommended in the VPN world. It is one of the most popular VPNs on the market, and its VPN speeds are unparalleled by any other.
Although ExpressVPN is a bit more expensive than some of the other VPNs on this list, it is well worth the price if you care about VPN speeds. In addition to being the best VPN for Canada, it has servers in hundreds of locations across 94 counties. It even has 160 local Canadian servers but works well globally. It even works in restricted areas like China and UAE.
ExpressVPN pros
- The super fast average speed of 475 Mbps (which makes it the fastest VPN)
- Advanced security for servers and apps
- Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services
- Desktop browser extensions for Chrome, Safari, and Edge
- Strong encryption (256-bit AES) and security features
- Double VPN solution that routes your traffic through two VPN servers, instead of one
- 24/7 live chat customer support
- No logs policy to ensure your online privacy
ExpressVPN cons
- Slightly more expensive than others
ExpressVPN pricing
- $12.95 per month for the monthly plan
- $6.66 per month for the 6-month plan
- $8.32 per month for the annual plan
- Pay with a credit card, PayPal, Bitcoin, or other methods
Read the full NordVPN review
NordVPN is also one of the best VPNs for streaming services in Canada and can unblock Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, NBC, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and other geo-restricted streaming services with ease. It’s also one of the fastest VPN providers in the market.
Additionally, NordVPN is one of the most secure VPN services on the market. For example, it has a “Kill Switch”. That means when the VPN connection drops, NordVPN blocks your devices from accessing the web. It also uses the industry-leading security protocol, AES-256-bit encryption with a 2048-bit key.
NordVPN pros
- Unblocks most popular streaming platforms, like Netflix and others
- The very fast average speed of 369 Mbps
- Kill switch (drops internet connection if VPN drops)
- Includes AdBlocker (by installing a free extension)
- Split tunneling (route specific applications through your VPN)
- Onion over VPN, which enhances security for Tor network users
- Strong security features and encryption protocols (256-bit AES)
- 24/7 customer support via live chat
- No logs policy for your absolute online privacy
NordVPN cons
- Torrenting supported only by a limited server network
NordVPN pricing
- From $11.99 per month for the monthly plan
- From $4.99 per month for the annual plan
- From $3.99 per month for the 2-year plan
Read the full Surfshark review
Surfshark is the best VPN for gaming. Surfshark is a relative newcomer in the VPN industry, but it has quickly made a name for itself as one of the best VPNs on the market. They boast an extensive server network with over 3200 VPN servers in 100 countries and 3 Canadian servers.
One of Surfshark’s best features is its price. It is one of the most affordable VPNs on the market.
Surfshark VPN also has a strong security protocol. One interesting feature that Surfshark has is the “Multi-hop connection”, which allows it to route through 2 VPN servers, increasing the anonymity factor.
Surfshark pros
- The quite fast average speed of 82 Mbps
- Low latency for gaming - ping 49 ms in Canada
- Can unblock streaming services, like Hulu, Netflix, and others
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Multi-hop connections (a.k.a double VPN)
- The CleanWeb feature allows blocking ads and trackers
- Good and helpful customer service
- Very affordable price
Surfshark cons
- Limited server locations in Canada
- Static IP address (IP doesn't change on new connections)
- Some user data is stored according to the data retention laws
Surfshark pricing
- $17.40 per month for the monthly plan
- $5.36 per month for the annual plan
- $2.75 per month for 2 years + 2 months plan
- Includes a free plan with up to 500 MB per month
- Pay with a Credit card or PayPal
Read the full CyberGhost review
CyberGhost VPN is another great choice for VPN service. It has a very wide network of servers with over 9200+ server locations in 91+ countries, including 300+ servers located in Canada.
Their military-level 256-bit encryption and kill switch features make it a very safe and reliable solution.
CyberGhost VPN is also perfect for torrenting, as its servers are optimized for P2P connections. And at great speeds at that!
CyberGhost VPN pros
- The great average speed of 109 Mbps in Canada
- Simple and intuitive user interface
- Up to 7 simultaneous devices
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Split tunneling (route specific applications through your VPN)
- Kill switch (blocks internet connection if VPN drops) - only on desktop versions
- AdBlocker and anti-malware included
- 24/7 live chat support
- No logs policy for your absolute online security and privacy
CyberGhost VPN cons
- Requires a bit more setup at first
CyberGhost VPN pricing
- $12.99 per month for the monthly plan
- $6.99 per month for the 6-monthly plan
- $2.03 per month for 2 years + 4 months plan
- Pay with credit cards, PayPal, or anonymously with Bitcoin
Read the full TunnelBear review
If you are looking for the best cheap VPN, then TunnelBear is your best option. It is one of the most affordable VPN service providers on the market and has 900+ VPN servers in 20+ countries, including local Canadian servers. However, it can’t unblock all streaming services in Canada.
The TunnelBear VPN user interface is also very visually appealing. It has a colorful and fun design that makes it less technical and less intimidating to use.
One downside for TunnelBear is that their VPN legal jurisdiction is Canada, which is not ideal. That means in case of extreme and justified situations, the Canadian government could ask to access some of the records.
TunnelBear pros
- The rather good average speed of 67 Mbps in Canada
- Works on multiple devices, like Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android
- Has plugins for Chrome and Opera
- Has a free plan for up to 500 MB per month
- No logging policy, they just store your name, email address, operating systems version, and amount of data used
- Cheap price tag
TunnelBear cons
- Does not unblock all streaming services, no Netflix
- Doesn't support installing VPN directly on the router
TunnelBear pricing
- $5.75 per month for 2+ users Teams plan
- $3.33 per month for the personal monthly plan
- Includes a free plan with up to 500 MB per month
- Pay with a credit card or Bitcoin
Read the full Windscribe review
Windscribe is the best free VPN and comes highly recommended by VPN users. The free package offers up to 10 GB of data per month and access to all its VPN features. This is more than enough for casual everyday users.
It has servers across 63 countries and supports 6 VPN protocols, however, the free users get access to a limited number of servers.
Windscribe has its built-in domain and IP blocker R.O.B.E.R.T, which can block certain IP addresses, and ads and even customize the website categories you can have access to. For example, you can block access to social media sites, gambling or adult sites.
Windscribe pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Up to 10 GB of data per month with the Free package
- Pretty decent average speeds of 58 Mbps in Canada
- Split tunneling to decide which traffic goes through the VPN
- Dedicated static IP address (not shared)
- Includes the "Kill switch" that stops apps from accessing the Internet when VPN drops
- Built-in website, IP, and ad blocker
- Uses strong AES-256 encryption
- Supports unlimited devices, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android
- Unblocks streaming services
Windscribe cons
- No live customer support
- The VPN legal jurisdiction is in Canada, which obeys the strict data retention laws
Windscribe pricing
- $9.00 per month for the monthly plan
- $5.75 per month for the annual plan
- Includes a free plan with up to 10 GB per month
- You can build your own plan
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Private Internet Access is a cheap VPN service provider and one of the best for Canada. The price can go as low as $2.03 per month. It has a server network of 35,000 servers located in 84 countries. It’s believed that Private Internet Access has the largest number of servers globally.
The best features of Private Internet Access include its built-in malware and ad blockers, strong encryption, split tunneling, customizable kill switch, and more.
Private Internet Access pros
- The very good average speed of 108 Mbps in Canada
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- One of the cheapest VPN services
- Reliable Kill Switch (blocks internet connection if VPN drops) on all platforms
- AdBlocker and anti-malware included
- Supports unlimited devices, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android
- Unblocks streaming sites
- Split tunneling to decide which traffic goes through the VPN
- Strong AES-256 encryption
- No logs policy for your absolute online privacy
Private Internet Access cons
- Customer support sometimes isn't available instantly
Private Internet Access pricing
- $11.95 per month for the monthly plan
- $3.33 per month for the annual plan
- $2.03 per month for the 3-year + 3-months plan
- Includes a 7-day free trial
Read the full Proton VPN review
Proton VPN is an extremely private and secure VPN for Canada. It has 1900+ server locations across 67 countries, including a server located in Canada.
Proton VPN has also adopted top-notch security practices by providing AES-256 encryption and OpenVPN protocol as standard protocols. The Swiss jurisdiction offers additional privacy benefits to this VPN provider.
Proton VPN pros
- The good average speed of 75 Mbps in Canada
- Includes VPN for Android and iOS mobile apps
- AdBlocker and anti-malware included
- Like the rest of the VPN solutions, it works on Windows and Mac operating systems
- Secure core technology with extra protection against hackers and surveillance agencies
- No logs policy for your absolute online privacy
- Swiss jurisdiction ensures additional privacy benefits
Proton VPN cons
- The Kill Switch feature is only available for desktop application
- Torrenting and P2P connection is only supported by a limited number of servers
- Does not have a 24/7 live chat, only email support
Proton VPN pricing
- $4.99 per month for the 2-year plan
- Includes a free VPN plan that's limited to 1 connection
Read the full Privado VPN review
Privado VPN is the only free VPN service that can unblock streaming services like Netflix in Canada. It has a large network of servers located in more than 94 countries, including a server located in Canada.
Privado VPN offers advanced online security features like OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols. This VPN provider also had a built-in website blocker, ad blocker, and anti-malware protection. Privado also makes sure that all your traffic is routed through its secure core network to provide an extra layer of security against hackers and surveillance agencies.
Privado VPN pros
- The good average speed of 75 Mbps in Canada
- One of the best free VPN solutions on the market
- The WireGuard protocol enhances the performance
- Up to 10 simultaneous instances
- Secure core technology with extra protection against hackers and surveillance agencies
- Split tunneling to decide which traffic goes through the VPN
- Maximum security features, like 256-bit encryption and IP leak protection
Privado VPN cons
- The content of some streaming sites like Netflix hangs
- The knowledge base or live chat can be unhelpful with very specific problems
Privado VPN pricing
- Includes a free VPN plan with 10 GB per month
- $4.99 per month for the annual plan
- $7.99 per month for the monthly plan
Read the full Mozilla VPN review
Mozilla VPN is a good VPN service from a trustworthy brand Mozilla. Its server network spans 38 countries with 820+ servers. It has excellent security features since it uses the WireGuard protocol and ChaCha20 encryption.
The connections are fast and secure, but it does have one giant downside. Namely, it doesn’t support the majority of streaming services. Luckily, US Netflix is still supported, but other big ones are not.
Mozilla VPN pros
- The good average speed of 95 Mbps in Canada
- 5 simultaenous connections
- Intuitive user interface and easy navigation
- Torrenting and P2P file sharing works on every server
- Unblocks Netflix in Canada
- Secure core network for extra protection against hackers and surveillance agencies
- Supports split tunneling, so you can configure some devices not to use VPN for internet access
- Supports installing directly on routers
Mozilla VPN cons
- Doesn't unblock streaming sites like BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, or HBO Max
- Doesn't work in China
- Partially keeps some logs
Mozilla VPN pricing
- $9.99 per month for the monthly plan
- $4.99 per month for the annual plan
- 7-day free trial when you sign up for an annual plan
Canada VPN FAQ
Below are some of the most common questions about the best VPNs for Canada.
What is the overall best VPN for Canada?
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Canada. It has a high speed, strong security protocols, and unblocks most popular streaming platforms like Netflix.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Canada?
Yes, it is perfectly legal to use a VPN in Canada. There are no laws that would prohibit using VPNs in Canada. The Canadian government permits the use of VPN services and Canadian internet providers allow it.
Are there any free VPNs that unblock Netflix?
No, none of the free Canada VPNs can unblock American Netflix libraries. If you want to watch Netflix in Canada, you will need a premium service such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN to access streaming services. This also applies to Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming sites.
Does a VPN server change my IP address?
Yes, when you connect to a VPN server, your Canadian IP address will be replaced by the one provided by your VPN provider. This will make it appear that you are browsing the web from another location.
What is the difference between a VPN provider and a proxy?
A proxy server can only allow you to access geo-restricted content. It does not encrypt your traffic and is much less secure than a VPN. On the other hand, a VPN will protect your data from being monitored or hacked as well as allow access to geo-restricted content.
What should I know about VPN servers?
When choosing the best VPN for Canada, make sure to choose a VPN provider with VPN server coverage around the world. Also, look for services that offer additional features like split tunneling or multi-hop connections to further enhance your privacy and security.
Key Takeaways for Best VPN for Canada
When you’re going through all these VPN providers, it’s important to consider key factors such as speed, security protocols, streaming, capabilities to unblock content, and additional features like split tunneling or multi-hop connections. Also, make sure that your chosen VPN has a large server network located around the world.
Naturally, most of these VPN services tick all the boxes, but if your VPN usage is very specific and you want the absolute best Canadian VPN for your use case, then follow the quick summary below.
ExpressVPN is our top choice of best VPNs for Canada due to its highest VPN speeds, strong encryption, and ability to unblock popular streaming services.
Choose NordVPN If you’re looking for access to most streaming sites, like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and others.
Choose SurfShark VPN if you’re looking for the absolute best VPN for Canada if your main focus is gaming.
Choose CyberGhost VPN if you’re mostly looking for torrenting.
Choose TunnelBear if you’re looking for the best free VPN for Canada.
