Best VPNs for Vancouver, Canada in 2024

Feeling it’s the right time to boost your online privacy while also opening yourself up to countless options regarding streaming and other goodies? Then it’s time you invest in a Vancouver VPN!

Considering the number of options out there, it’s easy to get hit with a case of the old paralysis analysis after just one Google search. That’s why we decided to present all the information in a concise manner, which will ultimately make choosing the best VPNs for Vancouver super easy!

Let’s go!

Key Takeaways

• A VPN is an essential tool for Vancouver citizens who want to enhance their online privacy, securely access public Wi-Fi connections, prevent ISP throttling, and bypass any geo-restrictions.
• When choosing the right VPN, you should focus on speed, server locations, security features, and a strict no-logs policy to ensure optimal performance and user privacy.
• Based on our test results, the best VPN for Vancouver is NordVPN, and it comes with a 74% off coupon here.

For a broad, Canada-focused overview, check out our article on the best VPN for Canada.

Why use a VPN in Vancouver?

We’re willing to bet you’re constantly connected to the internet at your abode, at work, or any time you’re out and about. Regardless of the type of connection, browsing the web without any sort of protection exposes you to surveillance and tracking.

The solution is accessing the internet with a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Everything you do online can be traced to your real physical location and your device unless you take a safer approach by using a VPN. This software creates an encrypted connection between your device and a VPN server, akin to a safe tunnel that allows you to access the internet from another location. You get a brand new IP address, which protects you from hackers and safeguards you from unauthorized tracking.

Since a VPN provides you with a shiny new IP address, the options are limitless. Want to see restricted content not available in your region, such as shows on BBC iPlayer? Fire up that VPN and go to town! 

Similarly, you can enjoy local content and online shopping deals, which is super useful for expatriates and travelers. 

ISP throttling can be a major problem sometimes. If you notice that your internet speeds are getting slower lately, your ISP may be engaged in throttling because they are trying to eliminate your high data usage ways. A VPN is also effective in hiding your activities from ISPs since they won’t have a clue what you’re doing online and will stop limiting your connection speed moving forward.

Ultimately, a VPN is a necessity in modern times to ensure a secure and unrestricted online experience.

Choosing the right VPN for Vancouver

What makes a VPN good?

That’s the question we wrestle with on a daily basis. If you’re to make the right choice, you need to consider factors like speed, security features, server locations, and price. 

Call it the quirk of the design, but all VPNs will affect your connection speed, so better choose wisely. This is especially true if you need protection for bandwidth-intensive tasks like streaming or gaming. Generally speaking, VPNs with larger server networks come with better performance and lower latency – another factor you should consider. 

In terms of features, go for solutions that include a kill switch, split tunneling, and some form of DNS leak protection. These will not only mask your identity but also make the experience much safer and smoother. 

To avoid privacy concerns, check if the VPN app upholds a no-logs policy that makes certain your activities aren’t recorded or shared. 

Also, check if the provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. That way, you can evaluate if the app fits your needs and works with the sites and services you rely on.

Best VPNs for Vancouver

We’re fully aware you may still be overwhelmed with the number of options even after familiarizing yourself with all the criteria. To cut down on your time looking for a perfect Vancouver VPN, we compiled a list of services that check all the boxes and will serve you well on your online journey.

Here are the top four, in our humble opinion: 

NordVPN – Most comprehensive Vancouver VPN 

NordVPN is a high-end solution characterized by top performance and robust security measures. Based in Panama (a privacy-friendly country) and sporting a strict no-logs policy, you can rest easy knowing that no third parties can access information about your online activities. 

When it comes to server choice, things are looking fine. You have 6300+ servers located in 111 countries (480 of them based in Canada) at your disposal. Another thing worth mentioning is that these servers run in RAM-disk mode, meaning all your data is automatically wiped after you disconnect from the server. 

NordVPN features

NordVPN boasts high-end security features that will do wonders for your overall online safety, such as:

• Obfuscated servers: Make your VPN traffic appear as HTTPS encryption, hiding it from blocking systems and advanced censorship systems. This makes NordVPN an excellent VPN for China or UAE.
• Double VPN servers: Internet traffic is encrypted through two VPN servers
• VPN Kill Switch: Protects your real IP if the VPN connection fails.
• Threat Protection: VPN ad blocker that eliminates not only ads but malware and trackers too. 
• Onion-Over-VPN: Added layer of protection achieved by routing internet traffic through VPN servers and the Tor network – a must-have feature if you want to access the dark web.

See all NordVPN features here >

What else has NordVPN got to offer? 

If excellent streaming experience is your main criterion, you can use this app to unblock almost every streaming platform, including Hulu, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer. In fact, our tests show it’s the best VPN for streaming by far. 

All of this is available on almost every type of device and operating system, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, plus support for all major gaming systems. 

But what about speed? 

You’re in for a treat!

NordVPN speed test results

NordVPN is the fastest Vancouver VPN. Its NordLynx VPN protocol delivers consistent and fast connections necessary for even the most bandwidth-intensive tasks. 

Here’s the download speed we logged when connected to a Vancouver server from our Pacific Northwest testing lab:

Considering we used a 1,000 Mbps connection, these 639 Mbps are extraordinary. If you’re located near Vancouver, you’ll be able to enjoy even speedier connections as geographical proximity matters for the download speeds you can achieve. You can see other Canada-based server test results in our NordVPN for Canada review – be sure to check it out.

NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can use it as a free trial VPN before making a financial commitment.

Our NordVPN review is a must if you want to learn the ins and outs of this software.

Surfshark – Cost-effective VPN for Vancouver

If you want to save a few bucks without making any sacrifices to your online security, Surfshark is for you. With a wide array of security features at the lowest price point on the market and 3,200+ servers for use, you’ll never get the feeling you’ve settled for a subpar app to simply save money. 

Rather, Surfshark offers plenty of unique goodies you’ll appreciate, including its ability to support unlimited simultaneous connections on a single subscription – unheard of as other providers limit the number of connections you can establish. 

Surfshark features

For the price, Surfshark’s suite of features is extensive. Here’s a partial list:

• Camouflage mode (obfuscation): Conceals VPN traffic, allowing you to smash through any VPN blocks. 
• MultiHop: Double VPN that enhances your security by forwarding your traffic through two VPN servers. 
• CleanWeb: Capable ad blocker that easily eliminates trackers and malware.
• Bypasser (split tunneling): Choose which apps or websites are excluded from your VPN connection.

See all Surfshark VPN features here >

However, when compared directly with NordVPN, Surfshark does slightly lag behind it speed-wise. Don’t be discouraged, though, as this speed test will show you exactly what this little app is capable of:

Only 6 Mbps less than NordVPN! Not bad at all! Other speed tests in Canada show that Surfshark is on average about 30 Mbps slower than the fastest VPN on the market, which means you can safely rely on it for tasks that require speedy connections, such as gaming.

Similar to NordVPN, Surfshark also adheres to a no-logs policy and supports all major operating systems and a variety of devices. You can check if it’s the right fit by making use of its 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Still not sure if this provider is right for you? Sift through a comprehensive Surfshark review to make an informed decision.

ExpressVPN – A safe VPN for Vancouver

If reliability and a positive track record are what you cherish the most when choosing software, ExpressVPN may be what you’re looking for. Having been a mainstay in the VPN market for close to two decades, ExpressVPN is known for its top-grade security functions, intuitive apps, and reliable connections.

With a strict no-logs policy and a squeaky-clean record maintained for such a long time, it’s no wonder why this provider is often recommended as a solid choice despite its higher price point. 

ExpressVPN boasts an impressive network of 3,000 RAM-disk servers in 93 countries running on Lightway protocol – a great alternative to the industry-standard Wireguard VPN protocol.

ExpressVPN features

As you’d expect out of a reputable provider, the feature list is extensive:

• Obfuscated servers: Mask VPN usage and overcome VPN blocks.
• Threat Manager: VPN blocker that protects you from intrusive ads, malware, and trackers.
• Advanced encryption: Support for advanced encryption ciphers such as AES-256, AES-256-GCM, and ChaCha20. 
• Network Lock (kill switch): Eliminates the possibility of IP address leaks if you’re disconnected from a VPN server. 
• Split tunneling: Assign which apps and websites are affected by the VPN and which ones go through your regular internet connection. We explored this feature in detail in our best VPNs with split tunneling article.

See all ExpressVPN security features here >

On average, ExpressVPN is slower than its main competitors. Yet, it’s capable of reliable speeds, as you can see in our focused ExpressVPN for Canada test. Still, the question is whether you’re willing to pay more money for a slightly worse experience. 

Fortunately, you don’t need to overthink it as you can check if the connection speeds will be enough to support your online activities by leveraging the 30-day money-back guarantee. 

For a more comprehensive look, read our ExpressVPN review.

Common Issues and troubleshooting

VPNs are easy to set up and use, but even with the best of them, you may still experience a few hiccups. For instance, connection failures are very common, typically the result of firewall configurations impeding VPN traffic. 

To check if this is the case, disable your firewall temporarily and check if the VPN connection is established. If yes, you must add your VPN to the exception list on the firewall. 

In Windows, navigate to ‘Windows Defender’ (you can find it easily via the search box). Hit ‘Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall’, ‘Change Settings’, click on ‘Allow another app’, and add your VPN to the list.

There are times when a server may be overloaded, leading to poor performance. If that’s the issue at hand, switch to a different server to establish a faster connection. 

In instances where you experience a problem that can’t be solved by a simple server switcheroo or a restart, you may need external help. All the VPNs we listed above have efficient 24/7 live chat support that will aid you in resolving any software issues swiftly. 

Should you use free VPNs?

There’s a freebie version of almost anything on the Internet and VPNs are no exception. Still, we don’t recommend wasting your time on these. Sure, saving a few bucks per month may seem like a perfectly reasonable thing (especially in this economy), but you’ll have to deal with subpar performance, few servers, and bandwidth restrictions. 

Most of all, you have to consider your security. 

Operating VPN servers requires a lot of money, which means free VPNs largely recoup their costs by selling your private data to other parties. Even worse, some providers are notorious for bombarding their users with ads and even loading their devices with trackers in some cases. 

All in all, not worth the risk. 

Summary – Keep your online identity safe with a Vancouver VPN

A VPN is slowly becoming a necessity in the modern world to keep your online activities to yourself. That’s why you should make a small investment in protecting your privacy. Apart from security, a VPN will also allow you to access restricted content and prevent ISP throttling, significantly boosting your overall online experience.

While all the VPNs mentioned today will work great for Vancouver, NordVPN comes out once again as a top choice on multiple fronts.

Ultimately, it’s all about your needs. NordVPN may be the fastest and most well-rounded solution, but Surfshark will help you save money with minimal sacrifices in terms of speed. With ExpressVPN, on the other hand, you get military-grade security and peace of mind of paying for a proven provider through and through.

See the latest NordVPN deals here: https://nordvpn.com/special-offers

Either way – you’re good!

Other Canada VPN guides:

• Best VPN for Canada
• NordVPN for Canada
• Surfshark for Canada
• ExpressVPN for Canada
• Proton VPN for Canada
• Cheapest VPNs for Canada
• How to get a Canadian IP Address
• Best VPNs for Toronto
• Best VPNs for Montreal

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I obtain a Vancouver IP address using a VPN?

Simply choose a VPN service that offers servers in Vancouver. Upon establishing a connection to one of those servers, you’ll appear as if you’re browsing the web from that location.

How does a VPN enhance my online privacy?

A VPN masks your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic, preventing unauthorized access and tracking. This drastically minimizes the chances of your data being exposed online.

Can I use a free VPN in Vancouver?

You can use a free VPN in Vancouver, but be aware of the limitations and risks. Free VPNs often come with restrictions on speed, server options, and security. Some providers also sell user data to advertisers, while others expose them to malware or trackers. As such, premium VPNs are simply a better choice.

What should I do if my VPN connection fails?

Restart the VPN software, check your internet connection, and try connecting to a different server. If the issue persists, reach out to your VPN provider’s customer support for assistance.

This guide on the best VPNs for Vancouver was last updated on August 28, 2024.