The 11 Best VPNs in Canada of April 2024

Are you worried about unscrupulous people tracking your online activities and stealing your data? If so, you should consider using a virtual private network (VPN).

Using a VPN adds security and anonymity when you connect to the internet. It prevents web browsers and cyber snoops from accessing your connection and tracking your activity.

With so many choices, picking the best one can be daunting. To help you decide, this article will discuss the top VPN choices in the country.

What is a VPN?

A virtual private network (VPN) is an encryption tool that creates a secure tunnel between your computer or device and the internet to safeguard your identity.

A VPN encrypts your data and shields any information about you and your online activities.

It protects your internet connection, data and privacy online by establishing secure connection when you use a public network.

With a VPN, you send and receive data via an encrypted connection, keeping external parties from accessing sensitive information.

Best Premium VPNs in Canada

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has been in the business of providing customer privacy and security on the internet since 2009.

It’s located in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention laws. So, no activity or connection logs are kept. ExpressVPN Canada is also one of the most widely used VPNs in the country.

With high-speed server locations in 94 countries, ExpressVPN features include 256-bit encryption, unlimited bandwidth, split tunnelling, no logging policy, and fast connectivity.

Pricing

ExpressVPN offers three premium plans:

• One month – $12.95/mo
• 12 months – currently offered at $8.32/mo
• 6 Months – $9.99/mo

Pros

• Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
• No-logs privacy protection
• Strong encryption
• Fast and stable connection
• No bandwidth restrictions
• Zero logs policy
• Works with most streaming sites
• Connects 5 devices at once

Cons

• Slightly more expensive than its competitors

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is a hugely popular VPN service provider, having more than 14 million customers worldwide.

The Panama-based VPN service provider operates 5,500+ servers in 60 countries and is well-known for its high speeds, online security tools, and streaming and torrenting abilities.

NordVPN Canada features include secure encryption, threat protection, a private encrypted network through Meshnet, Dark Web Monitor, and a dedicated IP for accessing IP-restricted networks.

Pricing

NordVPN offers three options with various plans:

• Complete
  • 2-year plan – $5.99/mo
  • 1-year plan – $7.29/mo
  • Monthly – $15.69/mo

• Plus
  • 2-year plan – $4.49/mo
  • 1-year plan – $5.79/mo
  • Monthly – $14.19/mo

• Standard
  • 2-year plan – $3.29/mo
  • 1-year plan – $4.59/mo
  • Monthly – $12.99/mo

Pros

• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Strong encryption standards
• Strong privacy and security features
• Fast and stable speeds
• Connects up to six devices at the same time
• No log policy
• Located in Panama, which is not part of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, or Fourteen Eyes alliances that can coerce VPN providers to hand over information to governments and businesses

Cons

• Torrenting is limited to some servers only.
• Incompatible with some devices
• Configuring OpenVPN on your router is not user-friendly
• No unlimited free plan

3. Surfshark

Surfshark is a Netherlands-based VPN provider offering versatility that lets users access the web securely and confidently. It runs 3200+ servers in 100 countries.

It works by encrypting your internet activity, changing your IP address to hide your location, and protecting your data and online privacy while using public Wi-Fi.

Surfshark has various features, including virus and malware protection, a lightweight search tool that displays organic results, and a breach detection tool that checks for data breaches.

Pricing

Surfshark offers three subscription options:

• One month – $12.95/mo
• 24 months – $2.39/mo + 1 month free
• 12 months – $3.99/mo

All plans include:

• CleanWeb. It allows you to browse the internet without ads and malware.
• Multihop. It doubles your security and privacy by connecting to two servers simultaneously.
• Bypasser. It lets you manually choose what apps and websites your VPN is active on.
• KillSwitch. It disconnects you from the internet if your VPN connection drops.

Pros

• 7-day free trial (on iOS, macOS, and Android)
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Unlimited bandwidth and simultaneously connected devices
• Offers split tunnelling and multihop features
• Military-grade encryption
• Strong security features
• Keeps no traffic logs
• Unlimited simultaneous VPN connections

Cons

• Slow speeds on some server locations
• Static IP address
• VPN provider is under the Nine Eyes jurisdiction, which can compel Surfshark to share customer data when required

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a Romania-based VPN provider with 9,135+ VPN servers in over 90 countries, offering the largest VPN server network.

It works by encrypting your online traffic, hiding your IP address and rerouting your traffic via a private and encrypted tunnel.

It uses high-end security features such as the WireGuard protocol for speed and security, antivirus and security add-ons, comprehensive anonymity, and fast and secure downloads.

Pricing

CyberGhost offers the following VPN plans:

• One Month – $12.99/mo
• 6 Months – $6.99/mo
• 2 Years + 3 Months – $2.11/mo

All plans include a 100% no logs policy, security for up to 7 devices, free ID guard monitoring, dedicated apps, and 24/7 customer support.

Pros

• 14-day money-back guarantee for the monthly plan; 45-day money-back guarantee for the other plans
• Simultaneously protects up to 7 devices with just one subscription
• Military-level encryption and extra security features
• No-logs policy
• Multi-platform support
• Good for streaming
• Supports torrenting

Cons

• Speeds are slower on long-distance servers
• The premium plans can be costly for some

5. Mozilla VPN

Mozilla VPN is an open-source VPN provider from the makers of the Firefox browser. Mozilla VPN partnered with Mullvad to use its network of VPN servers for its own VPN use.

Mozilla VPN operates on a worldwide network of over 500 servers in 30+ countries using the WireGuard protocol that encrypts network traffic and protects private information.

The VPN provider hides your IP address and shields your information from data collectors without logging, tracking, or sharing network data.

Currently available in 17 countries, its features include device-level encryption, no bandwidth limits, and no network activity logging.

Pricing

• 12-month plan – US$4.99/month + tax
• 12-month plan with Firefox Relay (email masking and phone masking) – US$6.99/month + tax
• Monthly plan – US$9.99/month + tax

Pros

• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Offers unlimited, comprehensive protection for up to 5 devices
• Device-level encryption
• No bandwidth restrictions
• No logging of your network activity

Cons

• Limited coverage
• Requires a Firefox account
• No free plan
• The VPN provider is in the US, a member of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes alliances.

6. HMA VPN

HMA VPN is a UK-based VPN service that boasts 1,080+ servers in over 200 countries. It offers anonymous and secure web surfing and provides access to geo-blocked websites.

It hides your IP address and identifying data by routing traffic through a remote server. It periodically reconnects you to a different VPN server, so your IP keeps changing.

HMA VPN features include 256-bit AES encryption, 20 Gbps servers, OpenVPN protocol for speed and transparency, and IP Shuffle that randomizes your IP address to avoid trackers.

Pricing

HMA VPN offers several subscription plan options:

• For 5 Connections
  • 36-month plan – Limited time offer of CAN$4.29/mo
  • 12-month plan – Currently CAN$6.39/mo
  • One-month plan – CAN$15.99/mo

• For 10 Connections
  • 36-month plan – CAN$5.99/mo
  • 24-month plan – CAN$6.99/mo
  • 12-month plan – CAN$8.99/mo

Pros

• 30-day money-back guarantee
• A 7-day free trial
• No-logs policy
• Supports torrenting
• Uses strong encryption

Cons

• Does not have the WireGuard tunnelling protocol
• Has inconsistent speeds
• Past privacy issues

Best Free VPNs in Canada

7. Windscribe

Windscribe is a Canada-based commercial VPN service provider that works by encrypting browsing activity and masking your IP address.

Designed for both Windows and Mac, it provides a free VPN for Canada, operates servers in over 63 countries, and eliminates leaks by blocking all connectivity outside the tunnel.

Pricing

• Free – 10GB/month of data free with a confirmed email address
• Monthly plan – $9.00 per month
• Yearly Plan – $5.75 per month
• Build A Plan – $0.00 per month (billed $1.00 per location, per month)

Pros

• Blocks ads, trackers and malware
• No identifying logs
• Blocks IPs and domains of your choice on all devices
• Offers browser extensions with added privacy features
• Unblocks geo-restricted content in over 69 countries
• Offers free version with 10GB of data

Cons

• Not too many servers
• Limited torrenting
• Customer support is slow to respond
• The VPN provider location is in Canada, a founding member of the Five Eyes Alliance.

8. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is a free VPN service with servers on all continents. It encrypts your internet connection by sending your traffic through encrypted VPN tunnels.

With 1900+ servers across 65+ countries, ProtonVPN features include advanced security and privacy features and the ability to bypass sophisticated censorship. It also has 10 Gbps-capable servers.

Pricing

• Proton Free – Free forever

• VPN Plus
  • 24 months – 4.99 € /month
  • 12 months – 5.99 € /month
  • 9.99 € /month

• Proton Unlimited
  • 24 months – 7.99 € /month
  • 12 months – 9.99 € /month
  • 11.99 € /month

Pros

• Strict no-logs policy
• High-speed servers (up to 10 Gbps)
• Does not log user activity or share data with third parties
• Anonymous VPN service provides internet without surveillance
• Offers a free version
• Its VPN Accelerator improves speeds by over 400%
• Unblocks popular online media services that provide streaming content
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• The free version is limited to one connection with the same account.
• Limited servers in the Asian region

9. Hide.me

Hide.me is a P2P-friendly free and paid VPN service that lets you surf the internet while hiding your real IP address.

With more than 2,100 servers in over 70 locations, the VPN service provider offers 10 Gbps on every server.

Hide.me features include Bolt technology for fast VPN speeds, full IPv6 support to prevent IPv6 leaks, split tunnelling, and advanced IP leak protection.

Pricing

• Free plan – $0.00 (no credit card required)
• 1-month plan – $9.95/mo
• 12 Months – $5.82/mo
• 26 Months – $3.45/mo; includes two free months

Pros

• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Almost-zero logs
• Does not store sensitive data at any point
• Connects up to 10 devices simultaneously
• No online activity logs

Cons

• Can be slow to establish connections
• Random app crashes

Cheapest VPNs in Canada

10. TunnelBear VPN

TunnelBear VPN protects users on the internet by encrypting their internet traffic and providing them anonymity. It is also one of the cheapest VPNs in Canada.

The VPN provider, which has servers in 24 countries, works by encrypting your device’s incoming and outgoing data. It lets you connect to the internet via an encrypted tunnel to various locations worldwide.

TunnelBear VPN has several features, including strong encryption, access to global content, local censorship bypass, VPN blocking, online privacy protection, and the capacity to change IP addresses.

Pricing

TunnelBear VPN offers three basic options:

• Free plan with 2 GB data (limited usage)
• Unlimited – from $4.16/mo
• Teams – $5.75/user per month

Pros

• Unlimited secure browsing
• Unlimited devices
• Performs annual security audits
• Apps are easy-to-use (one on/off switch)
• Full-functionality free plan
• Does not keep logs

Cons

• Unstable speeds
• Significant traffic limit
• No streaming support

11. Private Internet Access

As with other VPN providers, Private Internet Access (PIA) provides security, protection and anonymity when using the internet.

With more than 20,000 servers in 70+ countries, PIA works by establishing an encrypted tunnel to hide your IP address and internet traffic while providing extra security against attacks.

PIA VPN features include WireGuard protocol, advanced split tunnelling, ad and malware blocking, and advanced encryption settings.

Pricing

• One month – $11.95/mo
• One year – $3.33/mo
• Three years + 3 months free – $2.03/mo

Pros

• 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans
• Network optimized for 10 Gbps
• Fast servers in 84 countries
• Unlimited bandwidth with no speed throttling
• No logging privacy policy
• A dedicated IP
• Torrenting is allowed on all servers

Cons

• VPN does not work with some streaming services
• Slightly slower speed compared with other VPN providers
• VPN provider is US-based and under Five Eyes jurisdiction

Why Should You Use a VPN?

A VPN is a must-have tool to prevent other parties from monitoring your every action online and taking advantage of it.

Cyberthieves are always on the lookout for any information they can get from internet users. These include usernames and passwords to your email accounts and your credit card or bank accounts.

Whenever you use public Wi-Fi, online crooks can intercept your activity and gain access to your private data and even see your downloads and browsing history.

But when you install and enable a VPN, you are protected from such unwanted intrusions by hiding your online identity and securing your online connections. 

How To Choose the Best VPN For You

With all the best choices laid out, you might be wondering: What is the best VPN to use in Canada?

Below are some critical factors when choosing what VPN to use. 

• VPN protocols. A good VPN provider will provide WireGuard, Lightway, or OpenVPN protocols to ensure solid encryption and excellent security.

• Speed. Using a VPN can slow down your connection, but a good VPN provider will allow for only a very subtle shift in speed to enable you to continue fast connectivity.

• Number and location of servers. Check how many servers a VPN provider has and where they are located. More servers mean better chances of getting fast and dependable connections.

• Allowed simultaneous connections. Choose a VPN that allows you to use at least two concurrent connections and set up VPN access on more than one device.

Top 5 Best VPNs in Canada

Feature	NordVPN	ExpressVPN	Surfshark	Mozilla VPN	CyberGhost
Encryption	IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN	Lightway	AES-256 GCM	WireGuard	256-bit AES
Free Trial	None	None	7 days	None	24 hours
Price/month	$12.99	$12.95	$12.95	$9.99 (+tax)	$12.99
Money-back Guarantee	30 days	30 days	30 days	30 days	14 days
No. of Servers	5,500+	3,000+	3,200+	500	9,100+
No. of Server Countries	60	94	100	30+	90+
Has No Log Policy	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kill Switch	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Simultaneous VPN Connections	6	5	Unlimited	5	7
Based in	Panama	British Virgin Islands	Netherlands	United States	Romania

Pros and Cons of Using a VPN

A VPN protects your privacy, keeps your information safe while you shop or bank online, enhances your security, and provides a better internet experience.

Given that, using a VPN has its pros and cons. Understanding each one of them can help reach a privacy-oriented online experience.

Pros

• Ensures privacy and anonymity by encrypting your data and internet traffic
• Masks your IP address for better online security
• Unblocks restricted and geo-blocked content
• Better online gaming experience
• Ability to change your IP address or location to any region
• No bandwidth throttling
• Protection on all devices
• Simultaneous connections

Cons

• The encryption technology can reduce the connection speed
• Rerouting traffic can result in connection drops
• Some VPNs are unable to work against anti-VPN technology
• Some countries ban VPNs or treat the technology as illegal
• Free VPNs can leak actual online location
• Incompatibility with some devices
• Subscriptions can be costly

Is Using a VPN Worth It?

A VPN is worth it because it provides extra privacy, safety and freedom online. Also, online threats continue to pose significant risks to internet users.

When you use a VPN, you ensure the protection of your sensitive data, such as:

• IP address
• Personal information
• Search history
• Geolocation

If you value online privacy and want to shield your identity, using a VPN will be a sensible decision. With a VPN, trackers and cyber thieves cannot track or steal your data.

FAQs

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