The best VPN for India in 2025

When it comes to connection speeds, NordVPN is among the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, delivering top speeds of over 950 Mbps when using the NordLynx protocol – meaning you’ll comfortably have the speeds you need to stream, download, or game, whether you’re in India or abroad and connecting home. What’s more, should you wish to use OpenVPN, you’ll still achieve up to 173 Mbps, more than enough for any streaming service or game you might enjoy.

In addition to the standard OpenVPN protocol, NordVPN also offers two proprietary options: NordLynx and NordWhisper. NordLynx is built from the ground up, using WireGuard, to deliver lightning-fast speeds while also enhancing security. This work was so successful, in fact, that our testing showed almost no drop off from the 950 Mbps speeds achieved, even when connecting to servers on the other side of the world.

On the other hand, NordWhisper is the company’s proprietary obfuscation protocol, designed to bypass even the strongest network restrictions to hide your VPN usage. This makes it especially useful in a country like India, where VPN laws are still unclear and where you’re better off adopting a privacy-first approach.

NordVPN’s centerpiece is its Threat Protection Pro feature.This is NordVPN’s own suite of tools to block ads, trackers, and malware, ensuring a safer and cleaner browsing experience. It’s pretty effective, too, though it’s not quite as good as the best antivirus software. In our testing, it blocked 79% of malware sites, 87% of phishing sites, and 84% of ads, making it the best-performing VPN antivirus software.

NordVPN is also our top recommendation if you’re looking for more than just a VPN. The provider offers an impressive suite of cybersecurity tools, including a password manager, dark web monitoring, encrypted cloud storage, and even cyber insurance. This blend helps make it a well-rounded option for anyone after complete online protection – though be ready to pay more.

We also like NordVPN’s specialty servers offering, which categorizes servers based on specific use cases. For instance, if you want to torrent, there’s a dedicated P2P section that lists all servers supporting P2P traffic, making it much easier to pick the right one. We tested a couple of these P2P servers while downloading large torrent files, and the speeds were rock solid compared to using random servers. NordVPN also offers Double VPN, which routes your traffic through two servers instead of one. This effectively encrypts your data twice, making it significantly harder for snooping eyes to tap into what you’re doing online.

Plus, if you’re worried about the Indian government pressurizing NordVPN to log and submit user data, don't be. Not only does the VPN company not have a physical server in the country, it also has a clear-cut no-logs policy that has been audited five different times now, with the latest being in February this year, when Deloitte confirmed that NordVPN doesn't log any user data.

Finally, NordVPN offers intuitive apps across all major platforms, all of which are easy to use. A special shoutout goes to its setup wizard on Windows and Mac, which makes getting started with the VPN notably easy. That said, while NordVPN’s map-like interface is a joy to use on larger screens, on mobile, we found ourselves skipping the map view altogether in favor of the quick-connect button.

Although Surfshark doesn’t have the same number of servers as, say, NordVPN, its network is neatly spread across 140+ locations, including India. Surfshark offers two virtual servers in India, more than every other VPN (barring ExpressVPN) on this list. That extra option can come in handy, as you can pick the server nearest to your location or with the least congestion to keep your connection as speedy as possible.

Speaking of performance, Surfshark achieved an impressive 950 Mbps using WireGuard in our latest speed tests, making it the absolute quickest VPN we’ve reviewed and the top choice if you’re after a true speed demon. Combined with its strong unblocking abilities, Surfshark’s top speeds make it a powerhouse for streaming. In our testing, it breezed past every local and international library we tried, from Disney+ Hotstar (we were able to watch a full HD US Open match without a single stutter) and Netflix India to BBC iPlayer and even niche platforms like ITVX.

What’s more, Surfshark is one of the easiest VPNs to use, arguably second only to ExpressVPN. A big quick-connect button makes it simple to get started, ensuring beginners have a seamless experience. And on the rare occasion you need help, Surfshark offers 24/7 live chat support to quickly resolve any issues. It's also great to see the level of feature explanation given throughout its apps. This means that no matter if you’re new to VPNs or not, you can try out more advanced features without fear of error.

Speaking of advanced features, Surfshark is packed with security features. Alongside rock-solid essentials like AES-256 encryption, an independently audited no-logs policy, and DNS leak protection, Surfshark has several more advanced tools. These include a rotating IP feature, which changes your IP address every few minutes to boost anonymity, a Camouflage Mode that hides VPN activity on your network, and Dynamic MultiHop, which works much like NordVPN’s Double VPN by encrypting your data twice – all of which are perfect in regions such as India, where a privacy-first approach is advisable, as you’ll be even more protected than you’d be by simply connecting to a VPN.

Possibly the only gripe we have with Surfshark is that it doesn’t submit its no-logs policy and privacy claims to independent auditors as frequently as some of its rivals. Furthermore, not all of Surfshark’s apps have been independently audited, and they aren’t open source either, which means there’s no way for us to independently dig into the code to verify the company’s claims.

Despite its focus on simplicity, ExpressVPN is also one of the most secure VPNs in the industry. For starters, it has undergone 18 independent audits – the most by any VPN provider – underscoring the company’s strong commitment to transparency.

Plus, all ExpressVPN servers run on RAM only, thanks to its TrustedServer technology. This means that all data is wiped with every reboot, so even if Indian authorities tried to pressure the company into handing over private user information, there would be nothing to provide.

And while one of the long-standing complaints against ExpressVPN was its lack of extras compared to NordVPN, the provider has addressed this in recent years. It now offers an in-house password manager, tracker blocking, ID theft insurance, personal data leak monitoring, and even an adult-site blocker, making it far more feature-rich than before.

ExpressVPN generally has no trouble unblocking all of today’s most popular streaming platforms, though in our latest tests, we found NordVPN and Surfshark to be more consistently reliable overall. While it worked with US Netflix and BBC iPlayer on the first try, Disney+ took a server switch. Still, ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for users in India who want to access content from around the world in just a few clicks.

Easily the biggest argument against ExpressVPN is its pricing. It’s admittedly one of the more expensive options, with even its most affordable plan costing nearly $5 a month. So, if you’re looking for a basic VPN with a few bells and whistles, you’ll be better off with Surfshark or PIA.

That said, if you’re after a complete security package, the difference between ExpressVPN and NordVPN isn’t as big as you might think. For instance, ExpressVPN includes all of its advanced features as standard, whereas NordVPN charges extra for some of its add-ons. So, pound for pound, ExpressVPN can actually deliver better value for money when compared directly against NordVPN.

Another downside is its limit on simultaneous connections. ExpressVPN allows just 8 devices per account, the lowest on this list. So for large households or groups who all want to stream IPL cricket or play BGMI together, unlimited-connection VPNs like Surfshark or PIA will offer far better value.

It’s true that PIA doesn’t bundle in the wide array of extras (such as password managers or antivirus tools) that services like NordVPN or Surfshark do. But it isn’t bare-bones either. PIA’s MACE feature, for instance, is a built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocker that performed very well in our hands-on testing, blocking around 81% of ads. On top of that, you get several nifty security extras like an email breach scanner and even a Boxcryptor license to encrypt your cloud storage files.

One of PIA’s more under-the-radar strengths is its pricing policy. Unlike most competitors, it doesn’t impose price hikes upon renewal. That means once your initial subscription term ends, you can continue at the same affordable rate you first signed up for. While it might not sound like a massive perk, it saves you the hassle of canceling and re-subscribing under a new account, which is exactly what you’ll have to do with NordVPN or Surfshark if you want to avoid higher renewal prices

Although PIA is definitely geared more towards power users, thanks to its long list of configuration settings and advanced options, its interface is still clean and intuitive, with a simple quick-connect button that makes it easy to get online if you’re not interested in tweaking every setting. On our Windows laptop, we just clicked quick-connect and were online in seconds. There was no need to touch the advanced menus unless we wanted to.

PIA ticks almost every box on the streaming front, too. In our latest tests, it successfully unblocked Netflix across multiple regions, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, 9Now, 10Play, and even Indian TV channels and streaming platforms. Its overall streaming performance is right up there with the best streaming VPNs in the industry.

That said, there’s one area where PIA could still improve: connection speeds. In our most recent testing, PIA peaked at 436 Mbps on WireGuard, which is more than enough for 4K streaming, gaming, and everyday browsing. However, when compared to top performers like NordVPN and Surfshark, which reached over 950 Mbps, there’s a noticeable gap.

Like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, Proton VPN also offers its own proprietary protocol: the Stealth Protocol. This custom-built obfuscation technology disguises your VPN traffic to look like regular internet traffic, meaning ISPs and even government agencies in and outside India cannot detect that you’re using a VPN.

Also in its wide range of anti-censorship tools is the Discreet App Icon option, which makes the Proton VPN app appear like any other generic tool on your device. It’s a small but meaningful feature that can help you bypass security checks in highly restricted regions where even having a VPN installed on your device could land you in trouble.

A real highlight of Proton VPN, though, is its Secure Core technology. Think of it like NordVPN’s Double VPN, but with an added twist. Under this, your connection is first routed through an ultra-secure data center in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden, before being redirected to your server location of choice, adding an extra layer of security against surveillance.

Despite its heavy focus on privacy, Proton VPN doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to unblocking. In our testing, it successfully accessed a wide range of geo-restricted services, from Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar to Indian shopping apps like Flipkart, and even blocked games such as PUBG. This makes it a reliable ally for anyone in India looking for content, apps, and services that would otherwise be off-limits.

Plus, with speeds up to 950 Mbps on the WireGuard protocol, Proton VPN has more than enough firepower to handle high-bandwidth tasks like 4K streaming, torrenting, and online gaming without a hitch.

Coming to the downsides, Proton VPN doesn’t offer 24/7 customer support, which means you may have to wait several hours before a human expert gets back to you. While the provider’s in-depth web knowledge base covers most common issues, the lack of round-the-clock support could be a hurdle if you’re new to VPNs or run into a more complex problem.

While features like Secure Core and Stealth Protocol make Proton VPN splurge-worthy for those who prioritize privacy above all else, it is undeniably an expensive option. So if you’re on a tighter budget, Surfshark or PIA will serve you better, plus they come with unlimited connections, compared to Proton VPN’s limit of just 10 logins.