Best VPN for Canada (2023) – Safe and Secure

How to Choose the Best VPN in Canada?

There are many VPNs in Canada, but not all of them are as trustworthy as they seem. Below are a few criteria we have looked into when shortlisting our list of VPNs:

1. Company reputation
2. Performance of the product
3. Type of encryption used
4. How accessible and easy is it to use
5. Transparency
6. Speed
7. Price

The Best 8 Canada VPNs in 2023

1. NordVPN

Number of servers: 5,600+ | Server locations: 60+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum simultaneous connections: 6

The NordVPN has established itself to be one of the major VPN service providers and has been regarded as one of the best VPN services in Canada. This VPN service has over 5,600 different servers spread out across 60 different countries to offer unmatched coverage.

Is NordVPN good? One great feature about NordVPN is that it offers users an unlimited bandwidth usage, so you’ll never have to suffer through throttled internet speed. On top of that, this VPN service can support up to six multiple devices simultaneously so you can multitask like a pro.

NordVPN is easily one of the best secure VPN service providers available on the market with powerful DNS leak protection and proxy extensions for both Chrome and Firefox browsers. This service provider also comes with an ultra-secure connection that supports IKEv2/IPSex, OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TOP protocols.

Besides, NordVPN has a unique ‘Double VPN’ feature that routes your traffic through two server hops to give users an added layer of protection. For users who are a little more paranoid about their privacy, NordVPN even has a.onion website for you to utilize. 

Another feature that is worth mentioning is the VPN’s Kill Switch which will automatically cut off your internet connection once your VPN connection drops. NordVPN utilizes military-grade 2,048-bit encryption so you can be confident that your browsing is completely private. There are plenty of advantages of NordVPN vs Private Internet Access that you don’t want to miss. 

NordVPN also has a SmartPlay feature installed that pretty much helps to lift all geo-restrictions so you get to stream HD media content from anywhere in the world. However, some servers were down on several occasions. While it might not necessarily impact your operation, it could still be a slight issue for VPN users in other locations.

NordVPN is headquartered in the data-retention free jurisdiction of Panama. A strict no-logs policy is employed and operated by this VPN service to ensure your anonymity is guaranteed at all times.  If you don’t believe their claims, the company has actually passed a third-party audit in 2018 carried out by PWC and AG to give users a little extra bit of reassurance.

However, a minor improvement that the VPN service can make is to design their app layout to be more user-friendly.  We have noticed that several options and settings weren’t as readily available or logically placed, which makes the app a little less intuitive than we hoped for. Nonetheless, it is still a pretty powerful VPN service that many can benefit from.

If you’re interested, NordVPN offers four different subscription plans that are reasonably priced. All these subscription plans even come with a complete full 30-day money-back guarantee in case you decide it’s not up to your liking. Comparing NordVPN against IPVanish, you would want to give more thoughts into NordVPN. 

Pros:

• Good value for money
• Large number of servers
• Good geo-unblocking with strong streaming service
• Double-VPN servers
• Fast connection speeds
• No-log policy
• Accepts Bitcoin as payment
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons:

• Poor user interface
• Some server issues
• No strong ad-blocker
• Speeds are sometimes volatile

2. ExpressVPN

Number of servers: 3,000+ | Server locations: 160 | IP addresses: 30,000 | Maximum simultaneous connections: 5

ExpressVPN is very well-known for having a very impressive network across the globe. This reputation is very well deserved with over 3,000 servers placed in 160 locations. You most likely won’t be able to find an even more extensive network of servers anywhere else in this field.

This large network coverage enables ExpressVPN to deliver a level of performance that is rarely matched by other providers. This VPN service provider works well to unblock many geo-restricted contents and works well with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and other streaming services from anywhere.

If you torrent frequently and need a strong VPN to protect you, ExpressVPN is one of the top choices. ExpressVPN allows P2P on every single one of its servers which is a rare find among the VPN industry. This instantly qualifies ExpressVPN as the most outstanding provider in the niche.

ExpressVPN utilizes a military-grade AES 256-bit encryption to ensure your connection is well protected. On top of that, the VPN service provider also promises that they do not collect or log any of your activities which is clearly stated in their policy.

On top of OpenVPN, this top VPN service also supports L2TP/IPSec and PPTP protocols. The system will automatically detect and connect the best protocol for your particular online usage. This makes it a very user-friendly system as you won’t need to crack your head figuring out which is the right one to use.

There are many things to love about ExpressVPN for Android. Their dedicated app is super user-friendly and straightforward while also offering tonnes of advanced options for you to tinker with. It has some neat options like the excellent picker, insecure network detection, and even a kill switch for improved privacy and security. The speed witnessed on this VPN service is consistently fast for smooth connections across all their servers.

ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and is outside of the rather invasive Fourteen Eyes Allegiance. This VPN service does an excellent job to prevent DNS and IP leaks to ensure none of your information is locked at any time.

Security is, definitely an important criterion for Canadians looking to subscribe to a VPN service. And it is awesome to note that ExpressVPN does a very good job by offering useful features such as DNS and IPv6 leak protection on top of their split tunneling function.

ExpressVPN even comes with a “Network Lock” that works as a kill switch to ensure users’ data remain secure when their VPN connection is dropped. However, this feature is currently only compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, and routers, which covers a variety of general users. 

The VPN service also managers all your DNS requests through their company’s private servers with their Zero-Knowledge DNS feature. These servers will never log any of your queries to ensure that users will not be linked to any of their online activities.

A comparison between NordVPN vs ExpressVPN would tell you that similar to the former, ExpressVPN offers a .onion version of its website to give users the extra option to use a throwaway email address when signing up for their services. This way users can remain completely anonymous and be reassured that none of the internet activity conducted through the VPN can ever be traced back to you. 

While the ExpressVPN’s pricing is not exactly the cheapest on the block, it does offer excellent value for money. In fact, sometimes there are cheaper solutions and even free VPN for Canada services on offer. But if you want to gain full access, you’ll definitely have to pay a little bit more for all the added benefits.

However, if you’re still on the fence about it, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day full-service free trial with a money-back guarantee for you to test it out yourself before making the final decision.

Pros:

• Outstanding server provision and coverage

u can see, ExpressVPN 

• Impressive download speeds on international connections
• Super-fast speeds
• Strict no-logs policy
• Well-encrypted, kill switch-protected connections
• Accepts Bitcoin as payment

Cons:

• Slightly more expensive
• No ad-blocker

3. SurfShark

Number of servers: 1,000+ | Server locations: + | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: Unlimited

SurfShark only recently emerged into the VPN market and has quickly risen to the top with more than 1,000 servers across the globe in under one year. Based in BVI, this VPN service is far out of reach from the 5, 9, and 14 Eyes.

SurfShark has plenty of servers in North America with three in Canada, so you can expect decent connection speeds. While there are many security concerns over VPN providers using virtual servers, SurfShark circumvents this problem by clearly marking any virtual servers in its application.

SurfShark proved to provide a reliable and decent connection for both local and international servers. The speeds observed were good enough to stream HD video content and quick torrenting.

While many media content providers are working hard to block out popular VPNs from accessing geo-blocked content, this VPN service has successfully gone under the radar to seamlessly unblock major streaming sites, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Fire TV Stick.

However, the best part about this VPN service is that it allows an unlimited number of devices that you can use simultaneously with just one account. With their impressive connection speed, you get to stream your movies buffer-free across multiple devices at the same time.

By adopting the unbreakable 256-bit encryption, SurfShark remains as one of the most secure VPN providers available to keep you safe and secure. It even comes with a CleanWeb function to let you surf the web free of any ads, trackers, and malware.

Additionally, SurfShark has a Multihop feature on its app that lets you establish a chain of VPNs to confuse the hell out of potential hackers. It lets you virtually appear in both locations at the same time without impacting your connection speed.

Other than that, the app also comes with a Whitelister feature to let you include or exclude specific apps or websites from connecting to the VPN service. This way you get to select certain sensitive apps to stay secure while other more general uses can be excluded from going through a VPN connection.

A big downside to this otherwise amazing VPN service is that they have a rather inconvenient free trial. You’ll need to input your credit card details to get access to their 7-day free trial. While you can still cancel at any time during the period, or even get your money back within 30 days, it is still not as good as the no strings attached trial plans other services offer.

In any case, SurfShark spots one of the most affordable VPN plans out there. You can even opt to pay for your VPN service any way you want. Whether it is by credit card, PayPal, or cryptocurrency if you want the added anonymity.

Pros:

• Unlimited device connection
• Multihop Feature
• Whitelister Feature
• Unbreakable military-grade encryption service
• Allows streaming and torrenting

Cons:

• Smaller server network
• Complicated free trial

4. CyberGhost

Number of servers: 5,700+ | Server locations: 110+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum simultaneous connections: 7

This is yet another well-known player in the VPN field. CyberGhost is a Romania-based VPN with more than 5,000 servers globally spread among 90 different countries. Romania is a good jurisdiction for user privacy as it is out of reach from the Fourteen Eyes Alliances, which means the service provider is not obligated to share its users’ information to anyone.

While CyberGhost’s extensive network of servers still does not quite match other bigger VPN service providers such as ExpressVPN, but it does still mean that the connection speed is still relatively fast. Overall, in terms of connection speed, the CyberGhost performed similar to NordVPN, with an impact of approximately 12 – 15% on internet connection speeds.

CyberGhost works on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices with a pretty pleasing user interface. The system will automatically connect to the best server for you to stream geo-blocked services such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc. Not only that, it provides the user with full control and customization for those who love to tinker with the settings.

One major issue that CyberGhost seems to have is their service speed really grinds to a halt when operating over long distances, which makes it virtually unusable to stream content when you’re on the other side of the globe.

While this was a bit of a disappointment, the other aspects of this VPN service provider are still very promising. The connection speed for Europe and North America are actually very competitive. So, this still puts CyberGhost on top of the list for Best Canada VPN services.

CyberGhost’s offers one of the most secure VPN services available in the industry by supporting L2TP, IKEv2, and OpenVPN protocols. This service provider also utilizes an unbreakable military-grade encryption to put users at ease.

Other than that, the VPN even features a Kill Switch to keep you anonymous even when your service connection encounters an issue. It works to kill your entire internet connection to make sure that there are no DNS leaks that will leave u exposed.

As for CyberGhost’s pricing, its long-term plan is offered at a much cheaper price than NordVPN. The company also offers free plans but without all the additional features and add-ons that make your internet experience much safer.

Another disappointing thing with this VPN is that they don’t offer a free trial for you to test out their full-serviced plan. However, to compensate that, they do run a 45-day money-back guarantee in case you’ve decided against this VPN service.

Pros:

• Fair pricing
• Decent server selection
• Permits up to 7 simultaneous connections
• Great for first-time VPN users
• Zero-logs policy

Cons:

• Does not work reliably in China or UAE
• Slow connection through some servers

5. IPVanish

Number of servers: 1,300+ | Server locations: 75 | IP addresses: 40,000+ | Maximum devices supported: 10

If you’re in the search for a VPN that has a large number of server databases, IPVanish has up more than 1,300 servers across 75 different locations to serve all your internet needs. On top of its impressive network, this VPN offers fast and reliable connections that work flawlessly.

It is worth noting that the VPN service provider owns and manages its own server network, which is quite an impressive feat considering IPVanish is a less established VPN provider. On top of that, IPVanish’s desktop app also comes with some great options like obfuscation and split tunneling. The app offers an excellent level of customization that makes the entire service feel much more personalized.

The geo-unblocking feature on this VPN service also works well to enable access to a wide variety of premium content from all over the world. IPVanish effectively unblocks media content from BBC iPlayer, US Netflix, Hulu, and even Amazon Prime Video without any issue.

This VPN service provider is packed with really good security features like OpenVPN, IKEv2, Kill Switch, Private Check, and a Password Generator. IPVanish takes extra steps to offer you a degree of control over their OpenVPN setup. You now have the option to connect to OpenVPN port (1194 or 443) or go for the “Scramble OpenVPN Traffic” option to reduce the detectability of your VPN tunnel.

Being one of the more popular VPNs on the market, IPVanish takes its user privacy very seriously with a strong zero-log policy. Nothing bad turned up in the investigations of their reputation with good customer feedback and high TrustPilot rating.

Unfortunately, this popular VPN service is based in the USA, which is part of the Five Eyes Alliances. This means the company is required to hand over all user information and data to US authorities should it ever be requested. However, since the provider does not keep any usage logs, you can still count on IPVanish to reliably keep your privacy secure.

IPVanish’s subscription plans are a little on the more expensive side despite giving great discount offers. You can even try IPVanish for seven days to make up your own mind. If you’ need to use VPN across multiple devices, then IPVanish will be a service provider that may appeal to you.

Pros:

• Good security
• Great performance
• Reliable connection
• Fast connection speeds
• Split tunneling function

Cons:

• Limited free trial period
• Apps can be tricky to use
• Slightly slower performance

6. Private Internet Access

Number of servers: 3,300+ | Server locations: 50 | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 10

Some of you may wonder, is Private Internet Access legit? The short answer is yes.

Private Internet Access features a user-friendly app that is packed with an abundance of settings and options for you to tinker with. Although it does not possess other fancy features that some major VPN providers offer, they do offer a whole bunch of other equally useful features.

The PIA app features support for port forwarding, proxy, UDP and TCP protocol settings. You even can define local and remote ports to choose custom encryption and handshaking methods. Other than that, the desktop app and kill switch function gets automatically connected once you start up your device.

On the mobile app, Private Internet Access features a simple-to-use interface with large icons for a more intuitive experience. The big on/off button at the center of the screen also provides for quick, seamless connection with minimum fuss.

Other than that, this VPN service provider also offers strong protocols such as OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec with a choice of either 128 or 256-Bit encryption. Another great thing worth noting about PIA is that the VPN allows users to freely pick your encryption type depending on your internet usage. If you’re looking for faster speed downloads, you can go with the 128-Bit AES that functions without data authentication for a much faster connection speed.

Unfortunately, Private Internet Access is based and operated in the unfavorable jurisdiction of the United States. Due to the country’s mass surveillance practices, data collection, and cooperation with other surveillance states, the USA is generally considered as a bad location for user privacy.

Despite that, there has actually been no direct link to prove that a VPN provider’s jurisdiction has any effect on the privacy of VPN users. There is currently no news of PIA ever getting caught gathering or sharing their customers’ private data. Everything came up clean in our investigations regarding the VPN service provider’s reputation.

Additionally, this Private Internet Access offers users with 24/7 support. Responses by customer support are fairly prompt and if you’re not looking to talk to someone, the website does contain a set of articles and answers to commonly asked questions for you to browse through.

The one thing PIA does not fall back in is their sheer number of subscription plans for users to choose from. On top of that, this VPN service provider is frequently running discount programs on their website, so you may want to drop by their site to check out the latest pricing and offers.

Pros:

• Great list of settings
• Wide range of P2P servers
• Affordable pricing

Cons:

• No free trial

7. Hotspot Shield

Number of servers: 2,500+ | Server locations: 70+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 5

Hotspot Shield VPN is a brainchild of a company called AnchorFree in the United States. Similar to PIA, Hotspot Shield is required to abide by local US mandatory data retention rules and are required to hand over any information upon the request from authorities. However, if you’re merely using this VPN for general browsing, this VPN’s jurisdiction should not be a major concern for you.

The Hotspot Shield mobile app features a user-friendly interface that only takes a couple of clicks to get you up and running. The VPN app will automatically select and assign you to the most optimum server for fast connection speeds. While the free extension does not allow much room for configuration, their premium subscription plan offers full access to over 2,500 servers in 70 different countries.

In terms of security, Hotspot Shield features a Catapult Hydra protocol to offer users with one of the fastest VPN connections available on the market. This easily pushes the VPN provider to the top of the list for lag-free internet surfing and media streaming. This VPN has slightly better upload and download speed when compared to the rest, so you can expect a seamless connection without any need for buffering time.

Hotspot Shield is equipped with strong safety features to protect you from IP address, DNS, or WebRTC information leaks while you’re connected to their service. On the other hand, the company’s logging policy does get a little confusing. The company holds a no-log policy claim, yet there are a few sections where the company mentions they keep customer data for several purposes.

Another thing is, if you’re working on the free version of this VPN, you may expect to see some advertisements as the company pairs up with third parties to remain operational. In any case, you should not need to worry about Hotspot Shield handing out your information as they only pass anonymized IP addresses to their collaborators to maintain user privacy.

Hotspot Shield does not offer the most affordable subscription plans either. However, they do offer a 45-day refund policy for you to get your money back when you’ve decided against this VPN service provider. You also have the option to set up a free account to test their services for 7 days. But you’ll need to remember to cancel the trial or expect to be charged immediately once your trial ends.

Pros:

• No logging
• Up to five simultaneous connections
• 45-day refund policy
• 7-day free trial

Cons:

• Part of the Five Eyes country
• Questionable logging policy
• Free version comes with advertisement

8. TunnelBear

Number of servers: 1,800 | Server locations: 20+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 5

TunnelBear is a fairly established VPN service provider that stands out with its cute, childlike interface that is extremely welcoming for novice users. This Canadian VPN provider offers a free plan that has a limitation of 500MB usage per month. While it is not a lot, it is still better than nothing.

This VPN is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, which is within the reach of the Five Eyes Alliances. Despite the company’s no-log claim, TunnelBear is noted to collect and store several user information such as:

1. Operating system version
2. TunnelBear app version
3. Activity this month
4. Total data used per month

TunnelBear has 23 P2P supporting servers around the world, but the download speed seems to be rather sluggish and there may be some occasional connection drops. This VPN service does not work well to unblock US Netflix, but it does open access to other streaming services like Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney plus.

In terms of security, TunnelBear works with strong 256-military grade encryption that is unbreakable. The service provider also offers a comprehensive list of tunneling protocols like OpenVPN, IPSec, and IKEv2.

On top of those, the company also includes a Kill Switch feature which they call VigilantBear. This feature is designed specially to detect any leaks from both IPv5 and DNS and works to immediately shut down your internet connection to protect all of your sensitive information.

If you’re traveling to countries with strict online censorship such as China or the Middle East, TunnelBear has a wonderful GhostBear feature that comes in handy to obfuscate your encrypted VPN connection. With this, you are virtually undetectable by the local government and ISP.

TunnelBear also offers a VPN extension that helps to keep your online activities more secure. It does not just help you block unwanted advertisements; it actually halts most forms of tracking including email, ultrasonic, and even fingerprinting. It goes without a doubt that this VPN service is very well prepared to keep you safe when you’re online.

In terms of pricing, TunnelBear offers three different plans: free, unlimited, and team plans. The free version of TunnelBear does not require you to key in any credit card details to start using their services. Also, this VPN’s paid subscription does not come with any refunds.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Free extension
• Does not require credit card details to use
• GhostBear feature ensures your VPN connection is not detectable
• TunnelBear Blocker holts most forms of tracking

Cons:

• Free version comes with limited bandwidth
• Slow and laggy connection
• Part of the Five Eyes alliance
• Logs user data

The Final Verdict : Which is the best VPN in Canada?

NordVPN is the best all-rounder VPN for Canada that will not bust your budget. Their strict zero-logs policy, strong security features, and the ability to unblock many geo-restricted contents makes it the top choice for Canadians.

Best VPN in Canada Review – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I get a free VPN in Canada?

Yes, but I strongly recommend against them because they’re more prone to leakage of personal information and user data. They may not function equally as good as paid VPN services.

However, there’re free trials of Canadian VPNs available as discussed above such as ExpressVPN, SurfShark VPN, IPVanish VPN and Hotspot Shield but each VPN service is bound by their own terms and condition in relation to their free trials.

Are VPNs legal in Canada?

Yes, VPNs are legal in Canada. Canadians can enjoy the advantages of having their privacy protected online, so you can surf worry-free.

Are VPNs in Canada Safe?

Yes, most VPNs in Canada are perfectly legal and safe. The only time there might be some risk is if you use VPNs to get around the law, such as downloading copyrighted materials without permission or committing illegal acts online.