India VPN services are gaining greater popularity every year. In fact, according to statistics, 38% of Internet users in India resort to VPNs to regain their online freedom. And there’s a good reason for this.
Any website can be blocked in India at any time if politicians find it necessary. Back in 2017, for example, 22 social media websites including Facebook, Twitter, and Snap Chat were blocked for a month in the Kashmir region for the sake of public order maintenance.
With the number of active Internet users in India growing by 10 million every month, it is expected to reach 500 million by 2021. It means that if the government policy doesn’t change in the next three years, half a billion users will have restricted access to numerous Internet resources.
However, many Indians don’t want to accept the restrictions imposed by the government. Instead, they look for solutions and workarounds. And the simplest solution is a VPN.
TOP-3 High-Ranked VPNs for India
- 5000 servers in 62 countries
- Torrenting-optimized and obfuscated servers
- 6 simultaneous connection
- Onion over VPN and Double Encryption
- 2,000 servers in 148 locations
- Strict no-logging policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Great for torrenting and streaming
- 1,100 servers in 60 locations
- 10 simultaneous connections
- Works on Smart TVs and routers
- SOCKS5 web proxy for torrenting
VPN in India: a Single Answer to Many Troubles
As of today, India residents can’t access numerous web-resources due to the governmental censorship and restrictions. Examples of these resources are the following types of platforms:
- e-casinos, gambling sites;
- torrents, streaming platforms;
- sites with erotic, “adult” content;
- most dating sites;
- most religious sites (except for the platforms promoting the established faith);
- web-resources containing politically undesired content (especially foreign sites).
However, most of these restrictions can be easily bypassed by using a good VPN service.
Best VPNs for India:
- NordVPN – read a full review
- ExpressVPN – a more detailed description in our full review
- CyberGhost VPN – special offers and professional review
- SaferVPN – read more
Which VPN is best for India?
When it comes to choosing the best VPN for India one can easily get confused, as there are oodles of options available. As of today, over 500 large-scale and small providers offer their services in the market. We’ve selected the providers that are both reliable and speedy to help you make a choice. ExpressVPN
Safety & Encryption
ExpressVPN takes care of users’ safety with 256-bit AES encryption and variety of protocols, including OpenVPN, SSTP, L2Tp/IPsec, and PPTP. The company has a strict no logs policy so no need to worry the government will know you are using the service.
Kill switch, DNS leak protection, a standalone DNS, and browser extensions are those great features which make ExpressVPN special.
Ease of Use
If you have never used a VPN, ExpressVPN is a good start because it is very simple. If you are uncertain about something, check the provider’s knowledge base on the website or contact their customer support team which works for you 24/7.
Pricing Plans
ExpressVPN is known to be one of the priciest providers. Here are the deals:
1 Month – $12.95/mth
6 Months – $9.99/mth
15 Months – $8.32/mth (Save 35%)
The company provides many payment options and also accepts bitcoins (another way to stay anonymous). Finally, you get a 30-day money back guarantee. No single reason not to try them! NordVPN
NordVPN is perfect for people willing to enjoy safe streaming and torrenting. The company gives access to 150+ streaming services. Moreover, you may use six simultaneous connections on devices with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Safety & Encryption
If you reside in India, safety while using a VPN should be your priority. NordVPN is the right choice. It uses AES 256-bit encryption and OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, IKEv2 protocols. Plus, such features as a kill switch, a dedicated IP address, and a double VPN are meant to give you an additional layer of security.
The company has a strict no logs policy so there is no way the government’s snoopers will get information on what you are doing online.
Ease of Use
NordVPN is very easy to use. You won’t have any problems downloading, installing or using it. Also, the website is full of helpful information. You may also approach the support team via chat or using the ticket system.
Pricing Plans
NordVPN’s prices are average. All packages go with a 30-day money back guarantee. Plus, they have good deals for long-term plans:
1-month plan – $11.95/mth
1-year plan – $6.99/mth (Save 41%)
2-year plan – $3.99/mth (Save 66%)
3-year plan – $2.99/mth (Save 75%)
To be sure no one knows you transferred the money for VPN services, you may pay in bitcoins. IPVanish
Safety & Encryption
Alike to other VPNs, IPVanish uses AES-256 cipher and also OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and IKEv2 protocols. The provider has a strict no-log policy and even boasts to serve users to bypass government censorship. Residing in India, you won’t find anything better!
Ease of Use
IPVanish is extremely simple. It will take a couple of minutes to set up the client and start enjoying safe browsing. However, customer support is not as fast as you may wish and is limited to an email form on the website.
Pricing Plans
IPVanish offers moderate prices and good discounts:
1 Month – $10.00/mth (Save 17%)
3 Months – $8.99/mth (Save 17%)
1 Year – $6.49/mth (Save 46%)
Note that you won’t be able to pay in crypto currencies and can use your credit/debit card and PayPal only. All offers go with 1-week money back guarantee. Good enough to try the service. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a great pick in terms of safety. It is headquartered in Romania and thus, not subject to strict regulations. The company operates 3000+ servers in 60 locations which help to unblock geo-restricted content.
Safety & Encryption
A 256-AES encryption and reliable protocols (OpenVPN, L2TP-IPsec, PPTP) make the VPN a great tool for protecting your privacy. The company doesn’t keep logs and offers awesome features (kill switch, Ghost streaming, split tunneling) which guarantee no one tracks you online.
Ease of Use
Most likely, you need an effective yet simple VPN. CyberGhost does well on that one. When you install the client, you are one tap or click away from enjoying a safe online experience.
If you need help, check the website for detailed guidelines. And if you still have questions, feel free to approach the support team via live chat or email. These are real people, not chatbots ready to address your issue quickly.
Pricing Plans
CyberGhost charges more than some other providers. But long-term plans allow saving some money.
1 Month – $12.99/mth
1 Year – $5.25/mth
3 Years – $2.50/mth (Save 81%)
You can pay using traditional ways and also in bitcoins. Plus, you may use the VPN for one day for free. Finally, you get a 14-day money back guarantee with one-month offer and 45-day with longer-term packages. SaferVPN
SaferVPN is an Israel based VPN provider which operates 700+ high-speed servers in 34+ worldwide locations. The client is compatible with the majority of platforms on computers and mobile devices.
Safety & Encryption
SaferVPN will protect your privacy with 256-bit bank-level cipher, automatic Wi-Fi security feature and kill switch. The company uses OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSec, SSTP, and PPTP which guarantee safety. SaferVPN doesn’t keep logs and promises not to share user information with the government or third-parties.
Ease of Use
The VPN is very simple and user-friendly. It takes a few minutes to install and launch the client. Plus, you will be able to optimize your settings quickly to have the best connection for your goals.
Customer support exceeds expectations. The team answers quickly and is very helpful. In addition, the website offers tutorials and guides to make your whole experience with the VPN pleasant.
Pricing Plans
SaferVPN’s offers are budget-friendly:
1 Year – $4.99/mth (Save 55%)
2 Year – $2.99/mth (Save 73%)
3 Year – $2.29/mth (Save 80%)
Every single plan goes with a 30-day money back guarantee. The company allows payments with credit/debit cards, PayPal and bitcoins. If you have doubts, feel free to start with a 24-hour free trial.
Is VPN Legal in India?
As we have mentioned at the beginning of our review, there are a lot of restrictions in India. They can be bypassed with the help of a VPN. But is it legal to use one? That is a frequent question, the answer to which depends on how you are going to use a virtual private network.
The fact is that using virtual private service itself is not forbidden. But many types of activities that can be performed with the help of a VPN are considered illegal. If you are going to get involved in illegal activities, be ready to pay the penalty or even go to jail. Such activities include malware spreading, child pornography distribution, hacking, using torrents, and accessing blocked websites.
Otherwise, you have nothing to worry about, as in most cases you are of no interest to the government and special services. And still, try to choose a reliable software, as India is a country with numerous restrictions, and everyone is trying to bypass its censorship wants to feel secure.
Bottom Line
Living in a country which imposes severe laws and limits your privacy can be tough. You don’t necessarily need to do anything illegal to get in a situation when you will have to prove you are innocent. Therefore, good software capable of protecting your privacy is a vital necessity.
The good news is that there are many reliable VPN providers. They will take care of your safety. Many VPNs are ready to protect you whenever you are online. With a small investment in your security, you can stay calm and enjoy free surfing like the rest of the democratic world.