The Best VPNs for Australia

The Best Australia VPNs (Detailed Analysis)

1. 1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN for Australia

   Offers five Australian server locations and excellent unblocking capabilities.

   Ranked #1 out of 65 VPNs for Australia

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   Pros

   • Dependable servers in five Australian cities
   • Fast international speeds into Australia
   • Unblocks all popular Australian platforms
   • Most user-friendly VPN we've tested
   • Excellent Firestick app & router support
   • 8 simultaneous connections

   Cons

   • Undisclosed number of Australia servers
   • Occasional CAPTCHA on search engines
   • Split tunneling missing on macOS
   • More expensive than rivals
   • Lacks additional features

   Overall Australia Rating: 9.5/10

   This overall rating is calculated based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our Australia VPN testing methodology.

   • Australia Server Locations:
     9.1/10
   • Australia Streaming:
     9.9/10
   • Speed:
     9.7/10
   • Security & Technical Features:
     9.6/10
   • Privacy & Logging Policy:
     9.2/10

   ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Australia overall. It comes with everything you need from a VPN for Australia: several servers located in the country, smooth access to Australian streaming services, and exceptional long-distance speeds.

   The VPN service was the easiest to use to get an Australian IP address, thanks to its very intuitive apps and five Australian server locations that connect almost instantly.

   While ExpressVPN is more expensive than its closest rival, NordVPN, its superior ease-of-use across all devices sets it apart.

   

   Cheapest Price	$6.67/mo over 15 Months See all plans
   Australia Servers	Undisclosed
   Australia Server Locations	Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
   Australia Netflix	Yes
   See all features
   SBS On Demand	Yes
   Support	24/7 Live Chat
   Compatible with	Windows macOS Linux ChromeOS iOS Android +more

   Servers In Five Australian Cities

   ExpressVPN is able to assign IP addresses in the following five Australian cities: Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.

   ExpressVPN used to only operate servers in four Australian cities, however it recently added another Sydney location via the Wooloomooloo server.

   

   ExpressVPN comes with a large number of Australian city servers.

   Thanks to this wide coverage in the country, we continue experiencing quick and stable connections speeds into these servers. So far, no server locations have suffered noticeable slowdowns.

   Connecting to Sydney and Melbourne from overseas, we recorded an average download speed of 83Mbps. That equates to only 17% speed loss, which is impressive.

   We registered the exact same measurements connecting to the Perth servers.

   ExpressVPN does not disclose exactly how many Australia servers it maintains, so it’s more challenging to compare it like-for-like with competitors like NordVPN.

   The speeds and stability of the service’s Australia servers certainly demonstrate there are many ExpressVPN servers in operation in Australia.

   However, the CAPTCHAs that triggered on Google while using the VPN indicate many users have been using the same Australian IP addresses.

   The Most Versatile VPN for Streaming Australian TV

   ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming overall, and this goes for Australia too.

   We keep enjoying smooth access to all popular Australian content platforms including 7Plus, SBS on Demand, 9Now, Netflix Australia, Kayo Sports, and Stan.

   

   ExpressVPN unblocks Australian on demand streaming services like ABC iView.

   It’s unlikely you’ll encounter problems using ExpressVPN with Netflix, but you can always refer to its helpful 24/7 live chat service.

   To unblock Netflix Australia specifically, we’ve lately found greater success using the Melbourne and Brisbane servers.

   Thanks to ExpressVPN’s user-friendly Fire TV Stick app, you can also stream content on your TV in high definition.

   And on Apple TV, Roku, and games consoles, you can use ExpressVPN’s one-of-its-kind bespoke router app to have them stream via the Australia VPN servers.

   

   We used ExpressVPN’s dedicated router app to unblock Netflix.

   Exceptional Privacy & Security

   ExpressVPN is equipped with best-in-class security and a minimal-logs privacy policy. It has been audited by trusted third-party firms that have repeatedly verified its privacy-friendly practices.

   The VPN software uses AES-256-CBC encryption, has its own open-source protocol called Lightway, and runs zero-knowledge DNS servers. In simple terms, ExpressVPN secures your internet data transfers and keeps them private.

   These privacy and security characteristics make the VPN an excellent choice for anonymous torrenting in Australia, too.

   This level of VPN security is not free, and ExpressVPN is not cheap as a result. At best, it costs $6.67 per month, on a 15-month subscription plan.

   Having said that, you can sign up for ExpressVPN’s free trial, or take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee, before fully committing.

   Who is ExpressVPN best for?

   You should use ExpressVPN if:

   • You want a VPN for streaming. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming Australian content from anywhere in the world.
   • You want fast international speeds. ExpressVPN delivers extremely fast long-distance internet speeds.

   You should not use ExpressVPN if:

   • You are on a budget. At $6.67 per month, ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPNs.

   Visit ExpressVPN

   or read our full ExpressVPN Review.

   
   

2. 2. NordVPN: Best Cheap VPN for Australia

   NordVPN is a cheaper alternative with lots of Australian servers and a budget price tag.

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   Pros

   • 190 Australia servers in 5 cities
   • Almost as good as ExpressVPN for streaming
   • Cheaper than ExpressVPN on a two-year plan
   • Many advanced security & privacy settings
   • 24/7 live chat support

   Cons

   • Doesn’t accept PayPal payments
   • Renews at a more expensive yearly price
   • Not as user-friendly as ExpressVPN
   • No router app available

   Overall Australia Rating: 9.5/10

   This overall rating is calculated based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our Australia VPN testing methodology.

   • Australia Server Locations:
     9.5/10
   • Australia Streaming :
     9.5/10
   • Speed:
     9.7/10
   • Security & Technical Features:
     9.9/10
   • Privacy & Logging Policy:
     8.8/10

   When it comes to ExpressVPN versus NordVPN, it’s a very close match. In our performance tests, the two VPNs were almost indistinguishable.

   Ultimately, NordVPN narrowly comes second because it’s slightly less dependable for unblocking streaming services, and its apps aren’t as user-friendly.

   But, on an initial two-year subscription, NordVPN is noticeably cheaper than ExpressVPN: $3.29 per month versus $6.67.

   

   Cheapest Price	$3.29/mo over 2 years See all plans
   Australia Servers	190
   Australia Server Locations	Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
   Australia Netflix	Yes
   See all features
   SBS On Demand	Yes
   Support	24/7 Live Chat
   Compatible with	Windows macOS Linux ChromeOS iOS Android +more

   The Highest Number of VPN Servers in Australia

   For sheer number of Australia servers, NordVPN is unmatched.

   The VPN service runs 190 individual servers spread across five Australian cities: Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.

   Thanks to the volume and quality of the Australian servers, we measured great speeds connecting into Australia from overseas, particularly when streaming the AFL from overseas.

   

   NordVPN has more individual Australia servers than all other VPNs.

   In fact, we recorded an average download speed of 84Mbps when connecting into Australia from the US. This is the best result we recorded, ever so slightly faster than ExpressVPN.

   NordVPN’s server count has another subtle advantage over ExpressVPN: since each server is less congested (i.e. less users using the same IP addresses) we didn’t get hit with as many CAPTCHAs while browsing.

   More Affordable than ExpressVPN

   Another benefit of using NordVPN, especially when you first subscribe, is that it’s cheaper than ExpressVPN on a monthly basis.

   The service only costs $3.29 per month, which is almost half as cheap as ExpressVPN. This makes it one of the most affordable VPNs on the market.

   Despite the budget price, NordVPN can still unblock most Australian streaming services from overseas, including SBS On Demand, ABC iView, and 7Now.

   

   NordVPN unblocks Australian streaming services SBS On Demand and ABC iView.

   Like ExpressVPN, you can trial NordVPN for free for seven days, although ExpressVPN’s trial covers more devices.

   The Most Secure VPN We've Reviewed

   NordVPN is one of the most advanced VPNs on the market. Its security offering is comprehensive and includes innovative features like RAM-only servers, Double VPN, and Meshnet.

   Its ad and tracker blocker, Threat Protection, is a good solution and, most importantly, NordVPN’s independently-audited logging policy protects user privacy.

   Who is NordVPN best for?

   You should use NordVPN if:

   • You want lots of Australia servers. NordVPN has more Australian servers than any other VPN.
   • You want a cheap VPN for Australia. NordVPN is one of the best value for money VPNs and the cheapest premium VPN for Australia.

   You should not use NordVPN if:

   • You want a highly compatible and user-friendly VPN. NordVPN isn’t as well-designed and compatible as ExpressVPN.

   Visit NordVPN

   or read our full NordVPN Review.

   
   

The Best Free Australia VPN Analyzed

1. 1. TunnelBear Free: Best Free VPN for Australia

   A completely free VPN with servers in Australia and a 500MB monthly data cap.

   Ranked #1 Free VPN for Australia

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   Pros

   • Only safe free VPN to operate an Australia server
   • Completely free with no registration needed
   • User-friendly apps suitable for absolute beginners
   • Same server network as paid version
   • Good privacy policy & security standards

   Cons

   • Very restrictive 500MB data cap
   • Doesn’t unblock most Australian TV platforms
   • No live chat support
   • Very basic browser extensions
   • No router support & no Fire TV Stick app

   Overall Australia Rating: 2.8/10

   This overall rating is calculated based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our Australia VPN testing methodology.

   • Australia Server Locations:
     5.0/10
   • Australia Streaming:
     3.0/10
   • Speed:
     8.8/10
   • Security & Technical Features:
     5.1/10
   • Privacy & Logging Policy:
     5.8/10

   TunnelBear is the only secure free VPN that offers servers in Australia. By default, it’s the best free VPN for getting an Australian IP address.

   The VPN’s apps are intuitive and easy for any beginner to quickly get comfortable with.

   Sadly, the VPN’s connections are blocked by most Australian streaming services. Moreover, the 500MB monthly data is fairly restrictive, which means you can’t do very much before your data allowance runs out.

   

   Data Cap	500MB
   Free Australia Servers	1
   Australia Server Locations	Sydney
   Australia Netflix	No
   See all features
   Support	Email & Online Resources Only
   Compatible with	Windows macOS Linux iOS Android +more

   The Only Free VPN with an Australia Server

   TunnelBear is the only free VPN service that runs an Australia server, enabling users to get a free Sydney IP address from any country.

   This is useful if you want to access Australian websites from abroad. Through its Sydney server, we enjoyed fast and stable internet speeds.

   But, TunnelBear is a poor VPN for streaming and the Australia server doesn’t bypass most Australian geo-restrictions.

   In our latest tests, the free VPN failed to unblock services like SBS On Demand, ABC iView, 7Plus, and 9Now.

   

   TunnelBear Free doesn’t work with Australian streaming services.

   Restrictive 500MB Data Cap

   TunnelBear Free is useful to quickly browse the web privately as if you’re in Australia, but it’s severely limited by a minuscule data allowance of 500MB per month.

   

   TunnelBear’s free data accumulates rather than refreshes each month.

   The upside is that any unused data rolls over to the following month’s allowance. This means if you don’t use the free VPN for a month, you’ll have 1GB of data available the next month.

   Who is TunnelBear Free best for?

   You should use TunnelBear Free if:

   • You want a free Australian IP address. TunnelBear is the only trustworthy free VPN that has an Australian server.
   • You’re a beginner looking for a user-friendly VPN. TunnelBear is well-designed and easy to use.

   You should not use TunnelBear Free if:

   • You want to unblock Australian content. TunnelBear is unable to access geo-restricted Australian content platforms.

   Visit TunnelBear

   or read our full TunnelBear VPN Review.

   
   

Other VPNs We Tested for Australia

We’ve tested and reviewed 65 VPNs since 2016, including some of the most popular VPNs on the market.

Many of the VPNs we tested simply aren’t worth recommending. They often don’t offer enough Australian server locations, are slow connecting from overseas, or fail to unblock popular streaming services.

Here’s a list of VPNs that are not a good choice for Australia, and why:

CyberGhost VPN

What we don’t like: CyberGhost was very close to making our recommendations list. It has 150 Australia servers, most of which bypass geo-blocks. Sadly, the VPN’s connections into Australia weren’t fast enough.

IPVanish

What we don’t like: Similarly to CyberGhost, IPVanish almost made the cut, but it’s slow. Even worse, it doesn’t unblock Australian streaming services, including Netflix Australia, SBS On Demand, or Kayo Sports.

Private Internet Access (PIA)

What we don’t like: PIA used to be on the list for Australian VPNs and it’s still a good choice, but it’s not as reliable for accessing content platforms like Netflix Australia and SBS On Demand.

PrivateVPN

What we don’t like: PrivateVPN performed similarly to CyberGhost. It works with Australian streaming services, but its long-distance speeds are slower than other top-tier VPNs.

Windscribe Free

What we don’t like: We think highly of Windscribe Free, but it has no Australian servers. That means you cannot get an Australian IP address or access Australian websites.

The table below summarizes the data we gathered in our tests. It’ll help to visualize exactly why these VPNs aren’t good choices for Australia:

How to Get an Australia IP Address Using a VPN

You can easily get an Australian IP address from abroad by connecting to a VPN that operates servers in Australia.

The video below showcases how you can easily get an anonymous Australian IP address. We used ExpressVPN as an example.

Play

It takes 30 seconds to get an Australian IP address using a VPN.

These are the four key steps to get an Australian IP address using a VPN:

1. Download and install a VPN that has servers in Australia. Choose from one of our recommended Australia VPNs.
2. Search for an Australian server in the VPN’s server list.
3. Connect to your preferred Australian server location.
4. Once you’re connected to the server, use our What Is My IP tool to verify you’ve been assigned an Australian IP address.

How We Test VPNs for Australia

When testing Australia VPNs, we assess the following factors:

• How many Australian VPN servers are available, and how dependable they are.
• Long-distance speed performance, connecting from the US to Sydney and Perth.
• How well the VPN unblocks Australian streaming services from overseas.
• Whether the VPN’s logging policy and security measures meet industry standards.

The table below shows each VPN’s performance ratings based on the key categories we tested them for:

Below is a more detailed breakdown of our testing process, alongside the percentage each attribute contributes to the overall Australia VPN rating:

1. Australia Server Locations: 30%

Minimum Requirement: A choice of VPN server locations in Australia.
We Recommend: Coast-to-coast, city-level Australian server coverage.

The fewer VPN servers a VPN has, the more congested the network will be – resulting in slower speeds.

VPN services typically have far fewer servers in Australia than Europe and North America.

For each VPN we count the number of servers in Australia and in how many locations. VPNs with a large number of Australian servers are rewarded.

All of Australia’s major cities are on the coast, so we also reward coast-to-coast server coverage that ensures no user has to put up with slow VPN speeds.

2. Australia Streaming: 30%

Minimum Requirement: The VPN works with at least one popular Australian streaming platform.
We Recommend: The VPN works multiple Australian streaming services, including SBS On Demand and 7Plus.

We test each VPN on Australian streaming services, including SBS On Demand, 9Now, 7Plus, Netflix Australia, Stan, and Kayo Sports. The more services it unblocks, the higher the rating we award.

4. Speed: 20%

Minimum Requirement: Speeds above 30Mbps.
We Recommend: Speeds above 90Mbps.

VPN speeds are especially important in Australia, where VPN providers usually pay less attention to their infrastructure.

We regularly test for international download speeds when connecting from the US to Australia.

We then compare these speeds against our normal speeds without a VPN, and use these figures to calculate a percentage speed loss figure.

In both cases, we recommend the VPNs with the lowest percentage speed loss, ensuring you can browse, stream, and torrent with as little slowdown as possible.

4. Security & Technical Features: 10%

Minimum Requirement: Secure connection protocols (namely OpenVPN and WireGuard) and AES-256 (or ChaCha20) encryption.

We Recommend: All of the above, IP and DNS leak protection, and a working VPN kill switch.

No matter what your purpose of using a VPN is, you must always use secure software since most, if not all, the data transferred will go through the VPN connection (known as the tunnel).

If you use an unsafe VPN, sensitive data will be exposed to external parties, particularly if you’re on free public WiFi.

As such, the VPNs for Australia we’ve chosen transmit data packets via secure protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard, encrypting the data using the AES-256 or ChaCha20 ciphers.

5. Privacy & Logging Policy: 10%

Minimum Requirement: A clear policy with only anonymised connection logs.
We Recommend: A strict no-logs privacy policy.

Just like our ‘Security & Technical Features’ rationale, every VPN we recommend regardless of the use case has to protect a consumer’s online privacy.

Therefore, we read every VPN privacy policy in detail to check whether the service stores your usage data.

The top-rated VPNs have a strictly no-logs policy. This means they collect and keep none of your activity or connection data, including your IP address.

We also run packet-inspection tests to check for IP data leaks, and verify AES-256 encryption is working correctly.

Data Cap Reduction: Up to 50%

Most free VPNs have data caps that restrict your VPN’s performance. To account for this limitation, we apply a penalty to a free VPN’s overall rating. This is based on how severe its data cap is:

• 10GB per month: -20% to the overall rating
• 500MB per day: -25% to the overall rating
• 5GB per month: -30% to the overall rating
• 1GB per month: -35% to the overall rating
• 200MB per day: -40% to the overall rating
• 500MB per month: -50% to the overall rating

From our list of Australia VPNs, Proton VPN Free required no reduction to its rating since it doesn’t have a data cap.

On the flip side, TunnelBear Free’s rating was reduced by 50% to account for its very small offering of 500MB of data per month.