Best VPN for India in 2025 – Only 3 Passed All Tests

This guide will show you the top VPNs services that still offer Indian servers and don't track their users. We will also show you how to easily set up the best VPNs for India to browse the internet with more privacy and access blocked content.

Having an Indian VPN has a ton of advantages. For one, you will be able to access geo-restricted content from streaming platforms like Hotstar or India TV. You can also unlock cheaper subscriptions for services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Unfortunately, the Indian government decided to start regulating VPNs. They are demanding that providers store user data for a period of five years, which would completely undermine the privacy aspect. Because of this, a lot of VPNs decided to stop focusing on India and removed all of their servers.

However, there are still ways to get VPN access in India, without bowing to the privacy-destroying regulations. After extensive testing, we have identified the best VPNs for India. We've given you an overview of each service below. But before we go there, let's take a look at how you can quickly set up an Indian VPN.

How to begin using a VPN in India

Top end VPNs offer complete privacy by encrypting user data and then passing it through a remote VPN server. As we'll explain shortly, in this case we will be talking about virtual Indian servers. Once you connect, you will get a unique IP which will make it seem like you are from India. This will unlock all geo-restricted content and let you freely browse the Internet. You can do this in four steps:

1. Subscribe to a premium VPN service.
2. Install and start a VPN.
3. Connect to an Indian VPN server.
4. Start browsing!

Why use a VPN in India?

If you're still not convinced why you should get an Indian VPN, here's a list of all the benefits you'll get by subscribing.

1. Regain privacy — The Indian government is known for monitoring its citizen's online history. A premium VPN with a no-logs policy and obfuscation will let you slide under the radar, as no one will be aware that you are using a service.
2. Access restricted websites and platforms — You can use a VPN to access sites that are only available in India. The inverse is also true, as you can unlock content that's censored or blocked in India by connecting to servers in different regions. This includes platforms like Reddit and Streamable, and news sites like Times of India. Torrenting is also heavily monitored, but you can use a VPN for torrenting with P2P servers to safely continue file sharing.
3. Improved security — A premium VPN comes with extremely strong encryption like AES-256 and ChaCha20 that will stop hostile forces from reading the information flowing between your devices and the VPN server. You will also get leak prevention features (WebRTC, IPv6, and DNS) along with a VPN kill switch that stops internet traffic if your connection to the VPN server fails for any reason.
4. Unblock games — Sometimes even games (like PUBG), can be banned in India. By using a VPN you can make sure that you'll have access to popular titles even if they get banned.

Top Indian VPN criteria

With hundreds of services on the market, it can be challenging to find the ones that are worth your time. These are the guidelines we've followed to locate the best Indian VPNs:

• Top speeds — We focused on services that use advanced VPN protocols like NordLynx, Lightway, and WireGuard. They’ll let you get the best performance.
• Servers in India — Make sure that your premium VPN has Indian servers or servers located in nearby countries. These include Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan. This will guarantee that you can use the service to access geo-blocked websites and platforms.
• Obfuscated servers — Obfuscation allows you to conceal that you're using a VPN. This is incredibly useful when opening restricted websites, as you will be completely anonymous.
• Top-notch security — Each service uses AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption in their VPN apps.
• Complete privacy — NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN implement a no-logs policy that makes sure your data isn’t being collected. This is evident from the servers which operate only in RAM mode.
• Robust privacy with audited no-logs policies — Independent audits show that NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN collect zero user activity data. Their RAM-only servers ensure your info wipes clean on every reboot, adding an extra layer of protection.
• No data limits — These services don’t put a cap on your monthly usage or slow your speed at any point.
• Easy India access — Each VPN offers virtual servers in India for access to local content, along with servers in neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Singapore to ensure low-latency connections.
• Easily unblock websites — These premium VPNs quickly unlock Hulu and other popular streaming sites, by bypassing geo-restrictions.

Top Three VPNs for India

Now that you know how we picked the best India VPNs, here are winners:

1. Surfshark — A premium and affordable VPN for India that provides high speed, unlimited connections, and rigorous security.  87% off coupon >
2. ExpressVPN — Safe Indian VPN with plenty of servers and reliable connections. Visit site >
3. NordVPN — VPN service with a healthy and fast server network and consistent performance. Visit site >

Now lets take a good look at each one.

Surfshark — Best overall VPN for India

Surfshark is a premium yet affordable VPN service. It has over 4,500 VPN servers in over 100 locations worldwide. This includes 50 virtual Indian servers that are physically located outside the country, but use IP addresses associated with Mumbai or Delhi. Thanks to those IP addresses, when you connect to one of these virtual server locations, it will appear that you're connecting from one of those cities. This gives you access to content that is only available within India, such as streaming shows on India TV, Hotstar, and much more.

All Surfshark servers run in RAM-only mode, and the service has passed third-party audits of its logging policy, showing that Surfshark is a reliable no-logs VPN.

Surfshark uses the advanced WireGuard VPN protocol, which provides impressive speed and security. While our NordVPN vs Surfshark showdown proved that NordVPN is faster, Surfshark is still one of the fastest VPN services in the world. During our most recent round of speed testing, we clocked Surfshark with a download speed of over 750 Mbps, a mark few VPNs can match.

The company has always been transparent with its users, which is why it publishes a warrant canary. This is a statement that tracks secret warrant requests and similar methods for extracting users' data. So far, Surfshark has received none of them.

Surfshark advanced features

• NoBorders — Allows you to safely use Surfshark in countries that restrict VPN usage.
• Clean Web — A scanner that blocks malware, trackers, and ads, and prevents phishing attacks.
• Surfshark One — A bundle that includes VPN, antivirus, alert tool, and a search engine.
• VPN proxy extension — A lightweight version of Surfshark that you can run directly from the browser. Allows you to use a VPN for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
• Dynamic multi-hop — An improved version of double VPN servers that gives you complete customizability while adding another level of encryption.
• Obfuscated servers — Transform your VPN traffic to HTTPS so that your ISP doesn't know you are using Sufshark. This is important if you want to use a VPN for UAE or a VPN for China.
• Split tunneling VPN — Allow some apps to bypass Surfshark and connect directly online. This can improve your security in some cases.
• Smart DNS — Unlock streaming sites on gaming consoles and similar devices that don't support VPNs. This doesn't provide encryption.
• VPN Kill Switch — This serves as your last line of defense. In case of a dropped connection, it will exit the app or block your internet to protect your privacy.

See all Surfshark VPN features here >>

Surfshark is easy to use, thanks to its minimalistic interface. It's available on a variety of platforms, including smartphones, PCs, and smart TVs. With it, you can easily unlock streaming sites like Peacock TV, Netflix, Hotstar, or HBO Max. And with a large network of global servers, Surfshark is also a top VPN for Netflix.

Surfshark is also one of the best cheap VPNs, with very low subscription fees if you are willing to go for a long-term subscription (see below). Its excellent value if further amplified by the fact that Surfshark supports unlimited simultaneous connections. This makes it ideal if you need a VPN for multiple devices.

You will also get 24/7 live chat customer support. If you try it out and find that you aren’t impressed, you can get a refund based on their 30-day money-back policy.

Surfshark plans	Starter	One	One+
1-month	$15.45/month	$17.95/month	$20.65/month
1-year	$3.19/month	$2.99/month	$6.09/month
2-year	$1.99/month	$2.49/month	$2.09/month

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Our complete Surfshark overview will answer all of your remaining questions.

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ExpressVPN — A reliable VPN for India

ExpressVPN has a strong reputation as one of the safest VPN apps. Its network consists of 3,000+ servers operating in 105 countries. While it pulled its servers from India, there are virtual locations set in the UK and Singapore from which you can reliably access Indian content. On top of that, ExpressVPN still has a strong network in surrounding countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Every server uses TrustedServer technology that ensures user data is never stored.

ExpressVPN offers an advanced VPN protocol called Lightway. In our tests for the ExpressVPN vs Surfshark comparison, we found it to be fast, but not quite as fast as Surfshark.

Below is the ExpressVPN app we tested out.

Then there is security. In fact, ExpressVPN is one of the most inspected VPNs and has successfully completed more than a dozen external audits. This testing has confirmed that ExpressVPN complies with its no-logs policy and that all aspects of the service are functioning correctly.

ExpressVPN premium features

• Device groups — Gives you the ability to connect every platform to a separate server in real time.
• Threat manager — Provides protection against malicious ads, malware, and trackers.
• Smart DNS
• Kill switch (Network Lock)
• Split tunneling
• Browser extension
• Obfuscation

See all ExpressVPN features here >

ExpressVPN can easily unblock various gambling and streaming sites. It is one of the best VPNs for Firestick with a dedicated app. You also have the option to install VPN directly on your router by using their own firmware, or you can purchase one of ExpressVPN's Aircover routers that comes with ExpressVPN preinstalled. This way, you can quickly create a VPN network without manually setting it up on each device separately. Depending on which ExpressVPN subscription you choose, you can up to 14 simultaneous connections.

If you need help with anything, you can consult the many guides on the ExpressVPN website or contact ExpressVPN’s 24/7 live chat customer support line. And if you decide that ExpressVPN isn't for you, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee which gives you the time to thoroughly test the service.

ExpressVPN plans	Basic	Advanced	Pro
1-month	$12.99/month	$12.09/month	$19.99/month
1-year	$4.99/month	$5.99/month	$8.99/month
2-year	$3.49/month	$4.49/month	$7.49/month

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NordVPN — A reliable and fast VPN alternative

NordVPN stands among the best VPNs on the market. Although it isn't available in India, NordVPN has servers in neighboring countries like Taiwan, Singapore, and Indonesia. This makes it still suitable for users who want privacy but don't require an Indian IP address. You can also use it to stream Hotstar by connecting to Thailand and Malaysian servers, although the content will be somewhat limited.

NordVPN uses various protocols including NordLynx, a unique implementation of WireGuard. During our NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison, we found that it is one of the fastest protocols to date. In ideal conditions, we recorded NordVPN at 892 Mbps. In short, if you've got a decent base connection, you won't experience any problems regarding speed.

This VPN also provides impressive security, thanks to its NordLynx VPN protocol. NordLynx uses WireGuard with its ChaCha20 encryption for high speed and extreme security. NordLynx also includes a double NAT system that greatly boosts its privacy protection beyond that of plain WireGuard. Secondly, all NordVPN servers follow a no-logs policy and operate in RAM-only mode (with no hard drives). Since your data isn't stored at any point, it's highly unlikely that it will become compromised.

NordVPN has gone through numerous external audits, which raised its credibility. These audits included an infrastructure audit, pen testing, and also multiple external no-logs audits.

NordVPN premium features and tools

• Threat Protection Pro — This advanced VPN ad blocker also blocks trackers, malware, and phishing domains and more.
• Dedicated IP servers — You can get the dedicated IP VPN option if you want your very own IP address, but this is a paid add-on.
• Onion over VPN servers — Servers that combine NordVPN and Tor network for ultimate protection. While safe, they are super slow, so you should use them in extreme cases, like for browsing the dark web. This also makes it a great VPN for the Dark Web.
• Obfuscated servers
• Double VPN servers — A system that provide two layers of encryption for extra security.
• Split Tunneling
• Kill Switch

See all NordVPN features here >

NordVPN has one of the most intuitive apps, making it a perfect choice if you don't have experience with VPNs. It is also available on every platform you can think of. Subscription is reasonably priced and will allow you to connect ten devices simultaneously.

There's also professional live chat customer support, that has your back 24/7. In case that's not enough, you can test it and get a refund in the first month if it doesn't match up to your expectations. This is explained more in our NordVPN free trial guide.

NordVPN plans	Basic	Plus	Complete	Prime
1-month	$12.99/month	$12.09/month	$14.99/month	$17.99/month
1-year	$4.99/month	$5.99/month	$6.99/month	$8.99/month
2-year	$2.99/month	$4.39/month	$5.39/month	$7.39/month

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Navigating the legal landscape: VPN Compliance in India

While selecting a VPN service in India, it’s important to take the legal landscape and local regulations into account. Although VPNs are legally allowed in India, recent regulatory amendments have sparked concerns over user privacy and security.

In 2022, Indian government passed a Digital personal data protection bill that infringes on individual privacy. It states that every VPN that operates in India has to store the following information for a period of five years:

• Real IP address
• Email address
• Username
• Home address
• Other user data

This has raised concerns about the potential misuse of user data and the impact on privacy and security for VPN users in India. Since VPN providers have no option but to comply with these demands, many services, like NordVPN, started shutting down all of their servers in India. Some, however, started using a legal loophole to provide virtual Indian servers located in other countries.

Virtual vs Physical Servers in India: A Comparative Analysis

One vital factor to consider while choosing a VPN for India is the type of servers they use. First, you need to know that a VPN server works by receiving encrypted information from your device, decrypting the information, then substituting one of the servers own IP addresses for your IP address. The result is that it appears that messages from your device are actually originating at the VPN server. By choosing a server that provides IP addresses assigned to devices in India, it appears that you are located in India, instead of New Jersey or wherever you actually are.

Going in the other direction, someone in India can connect to a VPN server that is not located in India, say Bangladesh. Doing so gives access to sites and information that are normally only available to Bangladeshis, and also gives access to sites and information that is blocked from devices with an India IP address.

So far, so good. But things get even more complicated because VPNs use two kinds of servers, virtual and physical. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. In this section, we’ll compare their pros and cons and look at how they impact VPN performance and user experience.

1. Virtual VPN servers are located in one place, but provide IP addresses for a different location. For example, Surfshark has 50 virtual India servers. Based on their IP addresses, these servers appear to be in India. But they are physically located outside the country so as to avoid having to obey Indian data retention laws. They offer increased privacy, enhanced security, the ability to bypass geo-restrictions, and access to blocked or restricted websites. However, virtual VPN servers can have potential drawbacks, such as decreased internet speed, lower reliability, and compatibility problems.
2. Physical VPN servers offer improved and consistent performance, along with heightened security. However, to function they need to be physically located in the country they serve. A physical VPN server for Mumbai would need to be physically located in Mumbai. But a virtual server for Mumbai could be located anywhere, as long as it was capable of assigning IP addresses that are assigned to Mumbai.and

How to fix a VPN for India

Have you finally set up your VPN only to find that it doesn’t work? This quick troubleshooting section will focus on the most common problems and how to solve them.

1. Is your real IP leaking?

To confirm this, you can run this speed test, as it will always show your location. If this is indeed the case, simply go to VPN Settings > Leak protection and turn it on.

If that doesn’t help, the next step is to clear out your browser’s cookies. While they can be useful, they store information about your whereabouts which won’t let VPN do its job.

These Safari, Google Chrome, and Firefox guides will help you clear them immediately.

Note: Clearing cookies and cache will also remove your preferences and passwords. We recommend that you write everything down before proceeding.

2. Is your new IP address and GPS location synced?

Note: This will be relevant if you are using a VPN for India on your smartphone.

If you are using Surfshark, you will need to go to Advanced Settings > Override GPS location. ExpressVPN and NordVPN do not have this capability.

If you are temporarily traveling to a new location, please do not attempt to reset your app store to that location. Doing this can result in your store being locked to your temporary location, even after you return to your original location. You may find yourself locked out of sites and services in your normal location for an extended period of time, even locked out of the app store altogether.

I can’t install a VPN on my device

There are still some platforms that don’t support VPNs. In this case, you have to create a VPN network and connect to it. This can be done in two ways: by installing new firmware on your router or by getting a VPN router.

We recommend buying a new one since firmware installation can get messy and actually damage your router if done incorrectly. You can find recommendations in our VPN router guide article.

If none of these solutions worked, we advise that you do a comprehensive VPN test and contact your VPN customer service. In the worst-case scenario, you will have to switch to a different VPN provider.

Shows you can watch with an Indian VPN

With hundreds of shows to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to narrow your choice. Here are some of our recommendations that will get you going.

JioCinema	Masaan Lukka Chuppi Stree Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi
Disney+ Hotstar	Bala Bhaag Milkha Bhaag Mission Mangal Good Luck Jerry M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story
Amazon Prime	Breathe Laakhon Mein Ek Inside Edge Mirzapur
Netflix	Sacred Games Delhi Crime Taj Mahal Bad Boy Billionaires: India

Using a free VPN for India

There are hundreds of VPN apps that seem to offer similar security and privacy for free. While they are very tempting, we can't recommend them wholeheartedly as they carry a lot of inherent risks. Specifically, we are talking about…

1. Terrible download speeds

A majority of free VPNs use OpenVPN or even older VPN protocols. These are usually much slower and less secure than the advanced protocols used by the VPNs we recommend. With a free VPN you are likely to experience constant buffering during streaming, as well as slow page loads.

2. Inferior server networks

Free VPNs have smaller networks of slower, less secure VPN servers. This combination is annoying, and even dangerous if you are using the free VPN to get around India's VPN laws.

3. Data Caps

Free services usually have a monthly bandwidth limit that is set between two and 10 GB. If you want to stream shows, you can easily blow through this before the month is over. This would get you cut off, maybe even mid-episode, which is quite annoying.

4. Weak capabilities

Many websites are actively developing algorithms that detect unusual traffic and block suspicious IP addresses. Premium VPNs can afford to stand up new servers and otherwise fight back against these blocks, but free VPNs don't have the resources to do the same.

5. Problematic security

Most free VPNs have weak or nonexistent security. This lack of security (and even worse problems) was shown in a study of free mobile VPNs that found:

• A third of the apps contained some form of malware
• 85% had weak encryption or none at all
• ¾ of mobile VPNs contain trackers designed to monitor your activity

These statistics don't paint a pretty picture for mobile users, and it's best to conclude that the situation is similar across all devices. Even worse, many free VPNs make their money by selling user data to advertising agencies. Security and privacy is actually counterproductive to their real goal.

Conclusion: The best VPNs for India

While VPNs are legal in India, the government's strict data retention laws have caused many VPN service providers to remove their physical servers from the country. Luckily, you can still find premium VPNs for India that function by providing virtual India VPN servers. Selecting the best service is a crucial decision that can greatly impact your online privacy, security, and access to geo-restricted content.

For this purpose, we highly recommend Surfshark. This is a top Indian VPN with excellent speed, strong cross-platform support, and plenty of virtual India servers. Surfshark can also easily unblock the majority of websites you might wish to visit, no matter your location. Use this discount coupon for maximum savings.