The best VPN for Iran

Ease of use

One of the first things you'll notice about NordVPN is how easy it is to get started. Signing up is straightforward: just head to NordVPN's website, pick a plan, and you're ready to go.

You can choose from various payment options, including cryptocurrency via CoinGate, which is particularly useful for users in Iran who wish to remain anonymous. You can pay with Bitcoin or Ethereum without linking traditional payment methods.

Installation is just as simple. While there are several ways to get NordVPN on your device, the easiest is through your account dashboard, where you can download apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, or even set it up as a browser extension in just one click.

If you opt for the browser extension instead of the full app, it's worth noting that NordVPN's Chrome extension includes a location spoofing feature. It hides both your IP address and browser-based location data, making it more difficult for websites to detect that you're using a VPN, which can be an essential tool for bypassing restrictions in Iran.

While the extension takes around 4 seconds to connect (not the fastest out there), it's consistent and dependable.

Streaming

NordVPN offers excellent regional coverage for users in Iran, with nearby servers in Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, and Iraq, providing low-latency connections ideal for accessing platforms such as YouTube, Telegram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram.

While it lacks servers in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, regions where ProtonVPN has a stronger presence (4 and 12 servers, respectively), NordVPN compensates by offering obfuscated servers in Turkey and the UAE. These specialized servers disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS, making them a crucial tool for bypassing deep packet inspection and avoiding detection or throttling in heavily restricted environments, such as Iran.

Additionally, all NordVPN servers are P2P-optimized, unlike other providers like Surfshark, which also offers servers in the UAE but lacks P2P support. This makes NordVPN better suited for torrenting, large file transfers, and gaming.

NordVPN is also one of the best VPNs for streaming. It consistently unblocks major services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and ITV, delivering dependable access to global content. With servers in 111 countries across 144 locations, it provides excellent worldwide coverage, enabling users from Iran to bypass geo-restrictions with ease.

Privacy & security

For users who want more than just a VPN, NordVPN offers Threat Protection Pro. Unlike most providers that only block threats at the DNS level, this feature provides a full suite of online protection, including real-time malware scanning, phishing and scam site blocking, ad and tracker blocking, and fraud alerts. It even works when you're not connected to a VPN server.

In our testing, Threat Protection Pro blocked 78% of phishing sites and 56% of malware domains, beating out rivals like ExpressVPN and Surfshark. It stopped 134 threats in total, nearly three times more than some competitors.

NordVPN was also included in AV-Comparatives' 2024 Anti-Phishing test, where it achieved an impressive 85% phishing protection rate, placing it in the same league as security giants such as Bitdefender and McAfee.

However, it's vital to point out that Threat Protection Pro is not intended to replace a full antivirus, and to be fair, it's not trying to do so. But for those on the NordVPN Plus plan (which includes this feature for just $1 extra), it's an affordable way to add an extra layer of protection while browsing.

Lastly, NordVPN's commitment to privacy holds strong. In late 2024, the company passed its fifth independent audit by Deloitte, confirming that its no-logs policy is accurate and trustworthy, which is an important assurance for users in high-surveillance regions, such as Iran.

Ease of use

Getting started with Proton VPN is quick and easy. Just download and install the app on your preferred device, then log in using your credentials.

The free plan provides access to servers located in Japan, the US, the Netherlands, Romania, and Poland. There's a Quick Connect feature, but you won't be able to choose your server, as Proton VPN automatically assigns one. You can manually disconnect and reconnect, but again, you won't get to pick your exact location.

If you want access to faster servers, streaming support, and full server selection, upgrading to a paid plan is straightforward.

Just click the Upgrade button in the top-right corner of the app, choose your subscription period, and proceed to checkout. Bitcoin is accepted, providing users in Iran with an easy and anonymous way to pay, eliminating the need for traditional financial systems.

Streaming

If you decide to upgrade to a paid plan, Proton VPN becomes much more versatile. You gain access to servers in 112 countries, surpassing NordVPN (111) and Surfshark (100), providing you with more options for bypassing geo-restrictions.

For users in Iran, Proton VPN provides robust regional coverage, featuring 36 servers in Istanbul, 28 in Qatar, 12 in Pakistan, and 16 in the UAE. While servers in the UAE don't support streaming, there's a silver lining: Baghdad has four servers that come with P2P support and NetShield, Proton's built-in tool that blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level.

In terms of performance, Proton VPN handles streaming well on its paid plans. It reliably unblocks Netflix libraries in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan, as well as Amazon Prime and Disney+.

Privacy & security

Proton VPN was built with privacy at its core, and that shows in the tools it provides. Its Stealth protocol, launched in 2022 and now available across all major platforms (including Windows), is designed to hide the fact that you're using a VPN. It utilizes obfuscated tunnels over TCP, enabling users in countries like Iran to bypass firewalls and VPN blocks.

In our performance tests, Stealth delivered solid results, averaging 403 Mbps, which is slower than WireGuard (950 Mbps) but almost double the speed of OpenVPN (220 Mbps). That's more than fast enough for browsing, streaming, or large downloads.

Privacy-wise, Proton VPN is one of the few free VPNs we actually trust. Despite Iran discouraging the use of free VPNs, Proton is a rare exception that maintains high privacy standards. It has passed three independent no-logs audits by Securitum, confirming that it doesn't track or store your activity.

Ease of use

Getting started with Surfshark is simple. After choosing a plan and downloading the app, installation is guided by a quick setup wizard. The app interface is clean and intuitive: recommended servers are displayed at the top, with recently used servers listed just below for easy access. You can even favorite specific servers to connect faster in the future.

There's something here for everyone: from beginners to technically minded users. If you like to tinker, you can easily change protocols, refresh your IP address, and toggle advanced features with just a few clicks.

Streaming

Surfshark has a decent spread of nearby servers in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the UAE, all of which support dynamic multi-hop connections for extra privacy. Unlike NordVPN, however, P2P is not supported on these regional servers, which limits flexibility for torrenting and file sharing.

That said, Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs we've tested, reaching speeds of over 950 Mbps in our tests, which matches NordVPN and ProtonVPN, and outperforms even ExpressVPN (898 Mbps). In practice, this makes Surfshark a great pick for streaming in 4K, smooth gaming, and large downloads. During our testing, streaming was seamless, with no buffering across platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Also worth noting: Surfshark's Turkey server offers a dedicated IP option, which is useful for Iranian users searching for a stable, personal connection that's less likely to trigger geo-blocks or CAPTCHAs.

Privacy & security

Privacy is where Surfshark sets itself apart for budget users. Its Alternative ID feature allows users to generate virtual identities with fake names, addresses, and email accounts, thereby masking their real information online.

It doesn't include phone numbers, but Surfshark's newly launched Alternative Number feature fills that gap. For $2.89/month, you can generate a temporary US number, receive calls, and reply to texts, which might come in pretty handy when registering for services that require a phone number. You can even switch your number once a month for extra privacy.

While it doesn't support verification codes or numbers outside the US, it's a handy tool for boosting anonymity in high-surveillance regions like Iran.

On the downside, Surfshark's CleanWeb tool underperformed in our tests, blocking fewer phishing and malware threats than NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro. If advanced threat blocking is a top priority, NordVPN may be worth the higher price.

Ease of use

ExpressVPN offers one of the most beginner-friendly interfaces out there. Whether you're using it on Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS, the layout is clean and intuitive.

After installation, simply click the large Connect button to link to the best server based on your location. More advanced users can explore the server list or tweak protocol settings through the separate options menu.

That said, there's a small setup quirk worth noting: during desktop installation, you'll need to enter a special activation code from your ExpressVPN dashboard instead of your email. Once that's done, everything runs smoothly.

Split tunneling and protocol choices are easily accessible for those who want more control, although we recommend manually enabling the kill switch right away, as it's not enabled by default.

Streaming

ExpressVPN isn't the strongest performer in the Middle East. While it lists servers in Turkey, UAE, and Pakistan, most of these are virtual locations, meaning, for instance, Turkey servers are physically in Germany, and Pakistan servers run from Singapore. This can lead to unpredictable performance for users in Iran, so you may need to test a few to find one that works best.

Still, what ExpressVPN lacks in regional depth, it makes up for with a wide-reaching global network. With servers in 106 countries and 148 locations, it provides Iran-based users with numerous options for accessing restricted content abroad. In our tests, it successfully unblocked all the major Netflix libraries we tried, though it occasionally took switching between a few server locations to find one that worked.

Even so, once connected, performance was consistently strong. With speeds averaging 898 Mbps, it's not quite as fast as NordVPN or Surfshark, but more than capable of handling 4K streaming, online gaming, or downloading large files without interruptions.

Privacy & security

Beyond reliable speed and streaming access, ExpressVPN's strongest feature might be its approach to user privacy. Thanks to its RAM-only TrustedServer technology, none of your activity is stored permanently. Every server reboot wipes everything clean, which is a major plus for anyone using a VPN in a high-risk region.

The kill switch, once enabled, adds another layer of safety by instantly cutting internet access if the VPN connection drops, preventing data leaks that could expose your location or identity.

While ExpressVPN is currently facing a class action lawsuit in the US over its auto-renewal billing practices, this legal challenge does not impact its core commitment to user privacy and security.

In fact, in May 2024, ExpressVPN completed its 18th independent audit, with KPMG verifying that its no-logs policy and server technology work exactly as claimed. These results reaffirm ExpressVPN as a trustworthy and privacy-respecting option for users in restrictive environments, such as Iran.

Ease of use

Getting started with PrivadoVPN is easy enough, but once you're inside the app, a few usability issues pop up. The interface is clean and uncluttered, but descriptions of key features can be misleading. For example, the kill switch option includes confusing and inaccurate text that might throw off new users.

Additionally, the app doesn't show alerts when the VPN connection drops. That can be frustrating. For instance, if the kill switch activates and blocks your internet, there's no clear notification. Instead of seeing a message like "VPN disconnected, internet blocked," you're left to guess why your browser suddenly stopped working. While experienced users might recognize what's happening, others could spend time troubleshooting the wrong problem.

That said, once set up, the app runs smoothly across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and switching between servers is fast and straightforward.

Streaming

PrivadoVPN has a smaller server network compared to others on this list, offering servers in 49 countries across 68 locations. While this may not match the reach of NordVPN, Proton, or Surfshark, it still covers essential regions.

For users in Iran, there's decent proximity coverage with servers in Turkey, although it lacks options in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Overall, the network is more concentrated in Western regions, with fewer nodes available further east.

When it came to streaming, PrivadoVPN delivered mixed but promising results. We successfully accessed Netflix US and UK libraries, as well as Disney+, which is great news for users looking to enjoy international content.

However, our attempts to reach Netflix libraries in Australia, Canada, and Japan were less consistent, and Amazon Prime Video remained inaccessible during testing. That said, when it worked, the experience was generally smooth, though we occasionally had to switch servers or restart the browser to get things running.

While it might require a bit more trial and error than the top-tier providers, PrivadoVPN shows potential for casual streaming use, particularly if your primary goal is accessing US or UK content.

Privacy & security

Where PrivadoVPN excels is in its commitment to privacy. It recently passed its third independent no-logs audit, conducted by Securitum, confirming that user activity isn't tracked or stored.

Its kill switch may lack polish on the UI side, but technically, it works well, even under extreme connection failures.

There's also a helpful App Kill Switch feature, which lets you block specific apps from accessing the internet unless the VPN is active. This adds another layer of control, especially useful for torrenting or sensitive browsing.