A VPN has become close to essential for anyone who spends time online in Australia. Whether you want to protect your privacy on public Wi-Fi, keep your browsing hidden from your ISP and would-be hackers, or reach geo-locked streaming content while you travel, the right VPN covers all of it. We have tested and ranked the strongest options for Australian users in 2026 below.
Our top VPN picks for Australia are:
- NordVPN — the top choice for most Australians. Excellent security, thousands of fast servers worldwide, and reliable access to streaming services including Netflix, so you can reach Aussie content while abroad.
- VuzeVPN — a newer product offering solid service at an affordable price. A strong way to bypass ISP-configured blocks over a normal connection and reach sites and services when you are overseas.
- Surfshark — the best pick if you are on a budget. Easy to use, quick to set up, and it supports unlimited simultaneous connections.
- ExpressVPN — fast, secure servers in dozens of countries. It unblocks almost any streaming service and is well known for strong security.
- CyberGhost — another great budget-friendly option, with fast servers, easy setup, and reliable unblocking of Netflix and other streaming sites.
- IPVanish — a favourite among privacy-focused users thanks to its no-logs policy. Torrent-friendly with a good spread of fast server locations.
- Hotspot Shield — a strong low-cost option with excellent unblocking and fast servers.
If you live in Australia, you will know it can sometimes feel cut off from the rest of the world. The country is a long way from other English-speaking markets and often near the back of the queue for popular products and services, which can mean fewer options or longer waits for new shows, music, and games.
Because Australian ISPs are required by law to collect data on their customers, demand for VPNs here is unusually strong. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through an intermediary server in a location you choose. That lets you reach content geo-locked outside Australia and keep your activity private. So which VPNs are worth your money? Here are the best options in detail.
1. Best Australian VPN: NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the fastest and most popular VPNs available. It runs servers in dozens of countries worldwide, with a strong presence in the Asia-Pacific region. It is the best all-round choice for unblocking geo-restricted content and gets past the streaming proxy detection used by Netflix in both Australia and the US. It keeps no activity logs, and because it is based in Panama it falls outside mandatory data-retention laws. With hardened servers and AES 256-bit encryption, NordVPN puts privacy first.
If you want NordVPN for high-speed downloads, fast streaming, Tor over VPN, or extra privacy including anti-DDoS, you can connect to specialty servers optimised for each of those uses.
Available for
- PC
- Mac
- Android
- iOS
- Linux
Pros
- Top choice for most Australian users
- Unblocks Netflix libraries worldwide and streams at excellent speed
- Strong security and privacy features
- Purpose-built specialty servers
- Reaches Australian content while abroad
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- The desktop app can take a little getting used to
2. Best Value Australian VPN: VuzeVPN
VuzeVPN gives you secure, fast, unlimited access to the web whenever you want it. Your data is encrypted end to end, so it cannot be read by third parties or hackers, and you get privacy and speed across your devices.
Two features round out the package nicely: DNS-leak protection keeps your queries private, and a kill switch blocks all network traffic if the VPN connection ever drops, so your real IP is never exposed.
A 30-day money-back guarantee means there is no risk in trying it. Whatever your reason, you can request a refund and support will handle it quickly.
Available for
- PC
- Mac
Pros
- Affordable pricing
- 24/7 unrestricted, unlimited access
- Fast, stable connection
- Strong encryption
- Blocks online tracking
- No connection or activity logs
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Kill switch and DNS-leak protection included
Cons
- Smaller server network than the biggest providers
- Customer service is email-only
3. Best Budget Australian VPN: Surfshark
Surfshark has built a strong reputation for reaching geo-locked content on streaming services such as Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer. It is the only VPN here that allows an unlimited number of devices on a single account, which makes it an excellent value pick to share with family and friends.
Surfshark keeps no activity logs and uses strong encryption. It allows P2P file-sharing across all server locations, and an automatic kill switch stops any unprotected traffic from leaving your device if the connection drops. Support is available around the clock via live chat.
Available for
- PC
- Mac
- Android
- iOS
- Linux
Pros
- Generally good server speeds
- Strong security options
- One of the best for unblocking streaming platforms
- Allows P2P file-sharing and torrenting
- Unlimited simultaneous connections per account
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Servers can occasionally slow down
- A smaller global network than some competitors
4. Best Premium VPN in Australia: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN runs thousands of servers across more than ninety countries, with over twenty locations in the Asia-Pacific region alone. It consistently performs well in speed and unblocking tests and is a trusted choice in Australia. It reliably unblocks US Netflix in a browser or the app, and it can reach Aussie Netflix while you are travelling abroad.
Based in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN sits outside mandatory data-retention laws and keeps no traffic logs.
Available for
- PC
- Mac
- Android
- iOS
- Linux
Pros
- One of the best for reaching Australian content while abroad
- Fast servers
- High-quality download and streaming speeds
- Works around torrent-tracker blocks while keeping activity private
- Excellent security and privacy across every app
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- More expensive than some competitors
- Power users may find it less configurable than they would like
5. Best VPN for Streaming: CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a large global provider with thousands of servers worldwide, including a strong US presence and more than a hundred servers in Australia. It is heavily focused on unblocking streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, in Australia and abroad, and its dedicated "Torrent Anonymously" mode makes it popular with torrenters. Speeds are consistently high, and it logs no IP addresses or user activity.
Available for
- PC
- Mac
- Android
- iOS
- Linux
Pros
- Plenty of Australian servers, ideal for reaching local content abroad
- Easy to set up and use at any level
- Consistently high speeds
- Strong default privacy and security
- 45-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- No dedicated router app
- Fewer advanced configuration options
6. Best VPN for Privacy: IPVanish
With servers across dozens of countries, including several in the Asia-Pacific region, IPVanish is a solid choice for Australian users. It owns all of its physical servers, which helps it deliver some of the fastest download speeds of any VPN. It is best suited to privacy and security uses such as P2P file-sharing and torrenting rather than streaming, as it is less reliable at unblocking services like Netflix. Although the company is US-based, it enforces a strict no-logs policy.
Available for
- PC
- Mac
- Android
- iOS
- Linux
Pros
- Owns its server hardware for consistently fast speeds
- Strong no-logs privacy policy
- Torrent- and P2P-friendly
- Good spread of server locations
- Money-back guarantee
Cons
- Less reliable for unblocking streaming services
- Based in the US, which puts some privacy purists off
7. Top Low-Cost VPN in Australia: Hotspot Shield
With a server network spanning more than seventy countries, Hotspot Shield keeps growing in popularity. It has plenty of servers in Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region, making it a strong choice for unblocking content both at home and while travelling. Speeds are very fast, and it reliably reaches geo-locked content such as US Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. Its apps include leak protection, forward secrecy, and strong encryption, and it logs nothing that could identify a user.
Available for
- PC
- Mac
- Android
- iOS
Pros
- Large worldwide server network
- Apps are easy to set up and use
- Very fast download and streaming speeds
- Excellent privacy and security features
- 45-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Lacks some advanced features
- No apps for Linux or routers
VPNs to Avoid in Australia
Better privacy and security is usually the whole point of using a VPN. Not every service delivers it, though, and a few can actually reduce your privacy. If you are choosing a VPN to use in Australia or as an Australian travelling abroad, here are two to steer clear of.
Hola
Hola is not a traditional VPN with a network of centralised servers. Instead, users connect through each other and share idle bandwidth as part of a huge peer-to-peer network. That model carries serious security and privacy concerns, not least the risk of your connection being used by someone else for illegal activity.
HideMyAss
HideMyAss has a well-known history of handing over user information under legal pressure, despite marketing built around privacy. While it does not log the contents of your traffic, it does retain data such as your real IP address, which is enough to put privacy-conscious users off.
The Bottom Line
For most Australians, NordVPN is the best all-round choice, balancing speed, security, and reliable streaming access. If price is your main concern, Surfshark, CyberGhost, and VuzeVPN all deliver a lot for the money, while ExpressVPN is the premium pick when performance matters most. Match the service to how you actually plan to use it, and lean on the money-back guarantees to test before you commit.
Feel free to read our privacy policy page here.