When using a VPN, it’s important to consider the VPN’s location.
Regular Internet users often want to access streaming services or websites that are geographically restricted. For this, VPN users need to select a VPN server location in the country where the sites or services they want to unblock are based. For example, if you want to stream a show on Hulu that is only available in the US, you will need to connect to a US VPN server, while if you want to watch your favorite show on BBC iPlayer, a British server is the way to go.
Unblocking streaming services isn’t the only consideration for VPN users. When choosing the best countries for VPN use, you also want to look at the location’s privacy, security, and infrastructure.
Every country has its own data privacy laws, and some are better at protecting your online privacy than others, so choose your VPN location carefully to make sure your sensitive data isn’t compromised.
To help you choose the best VPN locations and best VPN server locations, we took a look at the Freedom House Assessment score of each country. The Freedom House Assessment score rates access to civil liberties, Internet freedom, and political rights in over 210 countries.
Keep reading to find the best country for VPN use that offers personal data protection so you can securely enjoy everything that the World Wide Web has to offer.
In a Hurry? Here Are the Best Countries For a VPN to Connect Through
10 Best Countries to Connect VPN Through
1. Sweden
Freedom House Assessment Score: Scored a perfect 100/100
Data Protection Laws: Personal Data Act (PUL)
VPN Providers: PrivateVPN
Sweden may be famous for its natural beauty, history, and culture, but it’s also the best place for the privacy-conscious to connect to with your VPN.
In Sweden, your privacy is protected by law! You must consent to cookies tracking your data, or to your data being used in any way, and you can pull that consent at any time!
When your VPN is connected to a server in Sweden, you are in control of your online privacy!
2. Switzerland
Freedom House Assessment Score: Scored 96/100 in Global Freedom Scores
Data Privacy Laws: Federal Data Protection Act (DPA)
VPN Providers: VyprVPN, Proton VPN, and Perfect Privacy
Whether you are in Switzerland skiing the Alps, buying Swiss chocolate, or learning how to yodel, you should also be aware that this is one of the safest jurisdictions for VPN providers and for all-around privacy.
Switzerland is historically and currently neutral and it’s not a member of the EU (European Union), so it doesn’t have to share data with the other European countries.
When you use a VPN to connect to a VPN server located in Switzerland, you can be sure your data will not be shared. Period.
3. Iceland
Freedom House Assessment Score: Scored 95/100 on the Internet Freedom assessment
Data Protection Law: Equal Access Act (EAA).
VPN Providers: N/A
Home of natural hot springs, volcanoes, geysers, and high-speed Internet connections on fiber optic cables throughout the country, Iceland is the place to go for the best speed and connectivity online.
Iceland is known for its Internet freedom and as a safe haven for journalists, who are protected by the Whistleblower Protection Law.
While Iceland does require data to be retained for up to six months, it can only be used in cases of criminal activity or public safety, so as long as you stay within the law, your privacy is secure when you use your VPN to connect to an IP address in Iceland.
4. Romania
Freedom House Assessment Score: 84/100
Data Protection Law: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
VPN Providers: CyberGhost
Romania stands out as a champion of privacy rights in the European Union. It won’t abide by the EU data retention laws, which conflict with its own strict privacy protection regulations.
Copyright infringement has historically been a low priority in Romania, so it’s also considered a relatively safe location for torrenting.
You can use your VPN to connect to a Romanian server, knowing your online activities are private and secure.
5. Malaysia
Freedom House Assessment Score: 52/100
Data Privacy Laws: Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)
VPN Provider: Hide.Me
The Personal Data Protection Act makes Malaysia a top pick among the best countries to which to connect. This law protects the personal data not only of Malaysian citizens and businesses but also of anyone connecting to a Malaysian server from anywhere in the world.
When it comes to data protection, Malaysia’s Personal Data Protection Act is one of the strongest laws you can find, making it a secure location for your VPN.
6. British Virgin Islands
Freedom House Assessment Score: Not Applicable to British Overseas Territories
Data Privacy Laws: Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)
VPN Providers: ExpressVPN
Located outside the jurisdiction of the European Union data retention laws, individuals can rest assured their personal data is safe when they connect to a server in the British Virgin Islands.
Keep in mind, the British Virgin Islands does require that businesses keep data on transactions, but as long as your VPN has a no-logs policy, you can circumvent that requirement.
7. Panama
Freedom House Assessment Score: 84/100
Data Privacy Law: Bill 665
VPN Providers: NordVPN
Just as Panama secured safe passage for travelers via the Panama Canal, it now offers a secure way for countries to connect via the Internet.
The strong data protection laws in Panama require a warrant to intercept anyone’s data, and if you want any of your personal data deleted, Panama law requires that it be done within 10 days.
If you want to protect personal data, choose a VPN location in Panama on your VPN app.
8. Gibraltar
Freedom House Assessment Score: Not Applicable to British Overseas Territories
Data Privacy Law: Data Protection Act (DPA)
VPN Providers: IVPN
Located outside of the European Union, Gibraltar has its own data privacy laws, and they are strong.
In Gibraltar, your personal data can only be retained with your consent, and you can ask to have it deleted at any time, making it one of the safer European VPN server locations for VPN users.
9. Spain
Freedom House Assessment Score: 94/100
Data Privacy Laws: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
VPN Providers: N/A
With an excellent infrastructure for high-speed connections and tons of great Spanish language content available online, Spain is one of the more popular countries to which to connect with a VPN.
When it comes to privacy, Spain has strict data retention laws, so you can feel safe connecting to a VPN server in Spain.
10. Seychelles
Freedom House Assessment Score: 72/100
Data Privacy Laws: Data Protection Act (DPA)
VPN Providers: N/A
Seychelles makes the list of best countries to connect to for one main reason: it has no mandatory data retention laws!
So what’s the downside? You can incorporate a business the the Seychelles without actually being there, so there’s no guarantee a VPN company that says it’s based in the Seychelles actually is.
Having said that, you can feel secure that your data won’t be retained when connecting to a VPN server in the Seychelles.
How to Choose The Best VPN Server Location
Here are some guidelines to follow when choosing the best VPN server location:
If you are planning on using VPN services for torrenting, be sure you choose a location where it’s permitted to torrent for your personal enjoyment.
When possible, choose a VPN server location that is close to your own country so you can maximize the speed of your VPN connection.
Look for multiple servers in your desired location so you can avoid slow VPN connections due to VPN server crowding.
Search for a VPN server in the country that has the content you want to watch on your favorite streaming platforms (i.e., Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer).
Select a VPN country with good Internet infrastructure. Connecting to VPN server locations without proper Internet infrastructure will compromise your Internet speeds.
The Best Country for Internet Privacy
The perfect score on the Freedom House Assesment just about says it all. Sweden is the country that Julian Assange trusted with Edward Snowden’s documents and you can trust it, too, when it comes to VPN locations that care about your online freedom and privacy.
Sweden refused to abide by the obligatory data retention laws that other countries in Europe were required to uphold until the rules were changed in 2014.
Swedish data retention laws require consent for any tracking or use of personal data, and you have the right to ask for your personal data to be deleted, securing its place as the best country for Internet privacy.
The Best Country for Torrenting
The best VPN location for torrenting is Switzerland. In 2011, Switzerland determined that unauthorized file sharing is not a problem as long as it is only for personal use, and no profit is being incurred.
While international pressure has made Switzerland toughen its stance on copyright infringement, the focus is on torrenting sites, not personal use.
The Best Country for Streaming (Stream on Kodi, Netflix, and Other Platforms)
It’s no contest, the United States has the most content available for streaming online with a huge host of streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Paramount Plus, Peacock TV, and more.
The US also offers the most live TV streaming platforms, such as YouTube, PlutoTV, FuboTV, and SlingTV.
Not only is the US great for streaming, but it’s also the best country for gaming online!
Countries You Should Avoid
It might not surprise you that China tops the list of places that won’t make the list of “Best VPN Country.”
When it comes to VPN use in China, the country has actually outlawed non-government run VPNs in China altogether.
While I feel like a bit of a traitor for saying this, the USA is definitely on the list of countries to avoid if you are concerned about your online privacy. The USA is permitted to sell browsing history and share user data with third parties, and your US Internet Service Providers can see everything you are doing on the web.
The United Kingdom is another location to avoid when it comes to VPN jurisdiction. The Investigatory Powers Act (IPA), introduced in 2016, allows law enforcement to obtain and store your Internet traffic history, and the government is allowed to hack into your devices and surveil you in real-time.
3 Best VPNs for Speed, Privacy, and Security
When you connect to a VPN, you want to know your connection is secure, private, and fast. You won’t go wrong with any of these three VPNs, just choose the one that’s the right fit for your budget and needs.
1. ExpressVPN
You won’t beat ExpressVPN when it comes to Internet speed. Its impressive upload and download speeds are perfect for smooth streaming and gaming online.
When it comes to online security, ExpressVPN offers top-of-the-line features, including military-grade encryption, an automatic Kill Switch, and DNS and IP leak protection, making it a true virtual private network.
ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy and is based in the British Virgin Islands, a privacy-friendly location, so you can count on completely private Internet access.
If you are interested in streaming, ExpressVPN has fantastic geo-spoofing technology, so you can easily unblock geo-restricted streaming platforms.
With 3,000+ servers in 94+ countries, you can find an IP address in the country of your choice, and get access to geo-restricted content worldwide.
Finally, ExpressVPN provides all of its customers with a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 live-chat support.
- Strict no-logs policy
- Military-grade encryption
- Blazing fast internet speed
- Dependable geo-spoofing
- 3,000+ servers in 94+ countries
- Costs more than the competing VPNs
2. NordVPN
This premium VPN service is fast, supporting all your online activities from streaming to gaming without lags or interruptions.
The security features that you get when you use NordVPN are first-rate and include an automatic Kill Switch, DNS and IP leak protection, and military-grade encryption.
Since NordVPN keeps zero logs, it is unable to provide personal data on users, and it is based in Panama, where data privacy laws are strong.
You can count on NordVPN to unblock all of your favorite online streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
Whether you are looking for the nearest server location for the best speed, an IP address in a country with strong data protection laws, or a server to watch geo-restricted movies from other countries, NordVPN has got you covered with its 5,700+ servers in 60+ countries.
Signing up for NordVPN is risk-free, with its 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 live-chat support.
- Strict no-logs policy
- Military-grade encryption
- Fast Internet speed
- Dependable geo-spoofing
- 5,700+ servers in 60+ countries
- Narrower scope of servers than the competing VPNs
3. Surfshark
Using a VPN doesn’t have to cost a lot, especially when you use Surfshark, a high-performance budget VPN provider that offers unlimited simultaneous connections on each subscription.
When you use a VPN like Surfshark, you know you have secure Internet access with its military-grade encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, and automatic Kill Switch.
Surfshark is based in The Netherlands where there are strong data privacy laws, and Surfshark has a strict no-logs policy so it don’t have any information to hand over to government authorities even if they do ask.
If you are using a VPN for accessing geo-restricted streaming and gaming content, Surfshark has a solid track record for getting past strong geo-blocks.
With over 3,200 servers in more than 100 countries worldwide, you can connect to IP addresses around the globe, allowing you to select a VPN server located in the best country for speed, privacy, security torrenting, or streaming.
There’s no reason not to give Surfshark a try with its 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 live chat support!
- Strict no-logs policy
- Military-grade encryption
- Low cost
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Dependable geo-spoofing
- Large server network
- Slower than the competing VPNs
Which VPN Providers Have The Biggest Number of Servers?
The VPN providers that offer access to the largest number of VPN servers are:
CyberGhost: Over 9,000 servers in 91 countries.
NordVPN: Over 5,700 servers in 60 countries.
Surfshark: Over 3,200 servers in 100 countries.
ExpressVPN: Over 3,000 servers in more than 94 countries.
PrivateVPN: 200 servers in 63 countries
FAQs
The speeds of your VPN servers will vary based on your proximity to these servers. The rule of thumb is that the closer you are in proximity to a VPN server in your own country, the faster your speeds will be.
The countries that tend to have the best infrastructure and speeds for VPN use are Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Iceland, and Switzerland, to name a few.
Conclusion
The best VPN server locations for security, speed, privacy, torrenting, gaming, or streaming are all out there, and this article has all the information you need to choose the ideal one for your goals.
Once you’ve decided on the server location, all you need to do is use a VPN to connect to an IP address in the location of your choice.
The server location, however, isn’t the only thing that affects your online security, privacy, speed, quality, and access to geo-restricted content. Make sure your VPN provider has all the features you need by selecting one of the high-quality VPN’s from this article.
