Best VPN for Iran in 2024

Iran has been a hot-button topic in the news for the last several years, with growing tensions between the Iranian government and protesters. Among the many issues swirling around Iran, the country has become subjected to strict online censorship, with many websites being blocked by the government.

As of 2024, with protests and internal conflict continuing, social media platforms have been blocked by the Iranian government, as well as streaming sites and more. So, if you’re in Iran and want access to websites and content or an Iranian abroad looking to block your online activities from prying eyes, you might be wondering what you can do. The answer is a VPN.

VPN usage has grown in Iran to bypass all the restrictions in place, and we have compiled a list of the best VPNs for Iran. Keep reading to learn which VPN will work best for you.

How to choose the best VPN for Iran

When making your choice for a VPN, there are several factors you should keep in mind:

• Server network. Look for a VPN with a large server network that has servers in countries around the world. This will give you the best chance of success for streaming content in blocked countries on all your favorite streaming platforms.
• Security and privacy. Having strong security is paramount when choosing a VPN for Iran. You want to make sure your privacy is safe from Iranian officials and that your online activities are protected from any cyber threats.
• Speeds. Look for a VPN that has proven fast speeds so that you won’t have to worry about slow connections or lag.
• Geo-restrictions. When it comes to VPNs in Iran, it is crucial that they are able to bypass geo-restrictions. An Iran VPN needs to be able to get around these restrictions so that you can have access to all of the websites that the government has blocked.
• User-friendliness. You don’t want a VPN that will be overly complicated to use, especially if you’re a beginner, so make sure you choose a VPN that has user-friendly apps.
• Customer service. Choose a VPN that offers good customer service and has 24/7 support in the form of live chat, email, or phone.

7 best VPNs for Iran

1. ExpressVPN 

ExpressVPN is our top pick for Iran, with 3000+ servers in 105 countries. While it doesn’t have any servers in Iran, it does have servers in other Middle Eastern locations, like Pakistan or Armenia, that work perfectly.

Features: ExpressVPN lets its users have up to 8 simultaneous connections on a single account and has unlimited bandwidth. It comes with obfuscated servers to help you bypass government restrictions and has a Threat Manager to keep you safe from malware and phishing scams.

Speed: This VPN has lightning-fast connection speeds thanks to its Lightway protocol. So you’ll have no trouble with streaming, torrenting, gaming, and more without any worry about annoying buffering.

Security: ExpressVPN has robust security features that include a strict no-logs policy, leak protection, military-grade encryption, and a kill switch. It will have no trouble masking your IP address so that your online activities remain private.

Streaming: Thanks to its large server network, ExpressVPN has no trouble getting around geo-restrictions and can help you unblock popular streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and more. Additionally, you should have no problem accessing social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.

Compatibility: ExpressVPN’s app is compatible with most devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux, and can be added to most routers.

Pricing: The downside of ExpressVPN is that it is one of the more pricey options on the VPN market, with prices starting at $6.67 per month. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. NordVPN 

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for Iran, with a larger server network of 5,600+ in over 60 countries. It has server locations in Turkey, UAE, Israel, and Georgia, which all work well for keeping you safe and secure while allowing you to access blocked content.

Features: NordVPN offers specialty servers that include double VPN and obfuscated servers. It also allows you to have up to 6 simultaneous connections and has unlimited bandwidth.

Speed: NordVPN has super-fast speeds with its NordLynx protocol, so you don’t need to worry about anything slowing down your streaming experience or causing annoying internet traffic.

Security: This VPN has top-of-the-line security features that include a reliable kill switch, DNS leak protection, AES-256 encryption, split tunneling, and a strict no-logs policy. They also offer a Threat Protection feature to help prevent malware threats and block potentially dangerous websites.

Streaming: With NordVPN, you can easily change your Iranian IP address to one in a different country, which allows you access to popular streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. You can also unblock social media sites such as Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram.

Compatibility: NordVPN is compatible with most devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, SmartTVs, and more.

Pricing: Prices for this VPN service start at $2.99 per month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Surfshark 

Surfshark is one of the best VPNs that come at an affordable price so that you can get the most bang for your buck. It has around 3200 servers in 100 countries, and while it doesn’t have server locations in Iran itself, it has servers in other Middle Eastern countries nearby, including Cyprus, Turkey, and Egypt.

Features: One of the biggest perks of Surfshark is that they offer unlimited simultaneous connections so that you can use your subscription with the whole family on as many devices as you wish. They also have a powerful ad blocker, a rotating IP feature to change your IP address randomly, and a NoBorders mode to help you bypass firewalls in countries with heavy censorship.

Speed: While it might not be as fast as ExpressVPN, Surfshark still boasts some of the fastest speeds on the market and uses a WireGuard tunneling protocol.

Security: Surfshark has all the standard security features that you want, including a strict no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, AES-256-bit encryption, a kill switch, obfuscated servers, and OpenVPN. It also features a Camouflage Mode, which allows you to hide that you’re using a VPN.

Streaming: Surfshark has no issues bypassing geo-blocks so that you can access streaming sites like Netflix, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube. It also helps you access blocked sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Compatibility: Surfshark’s app is compatible with most devices, including Mac, Android, Windows, iOS, and Linux, and can also be installed on most browser extensions and routers.

Pricing: Surfshark is great for those on a budget, with prices starting at just $1.99 per month, and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost boasts a huge server network of 10,200 servers located in more than 90 countries, so you can find plenty of servers all over the world. What’s even better is that CyberGhost has 14 servers in Iran, so for VPN users in Iran who are looking for local servers to hide their activities, this is an ideal VPN to choose.

Features: CyberGhost offers unlimited bandwidth, so you can endlessly stream and torrent whatever you wish. It also allows for up to 7 simultaneous connections on multiple devices and features special servers for gaming, streaming, and torrenting.

Speed: With WireGaurd protocol and compression technology, CyberGhost tends to have fast speeds that allow you to download and stream without buffering issues, but some servers can be a bit slower than others.

Security: CyberGhost has strong security features to keep your online privacy safe, including AES 256-bit encryption, a strict no-logs policy, an automatic kill switch, and leak protection.

Streaming: This VPN can bypass geo-blocks and unblock streaming sites like Netflix, HBO Max, iFilm, BBC iPlayer, and more. It can also unblock social media sites like Facebook and Telegram.

Compatibility: CyberGhost is compatible with devices such as Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, and Linux and can be installed on most browser extensions.

Pricing: Prices for CyberGhost start at around $2.19 per month and offer an impressive 45-day money-back guarantee.

5. IPVanish

IPVanish has 2000 servers in more than 60 countries. While they don’t have servers located in Iran, they do have server locations in nearby countries. It also has a strong US presence, so if you’re looking for strong US servers, then this could be a good option for you.

Features: IPVanish has user-friendly apps that have a “quick connect” feature to make things easy for beginners. They are also one of the few that offer unlimited simultaneous connections and have encrypted file storage that can protect up to 500 GB of data.

Speed: This VPN has super-fast speeds that rival most of their competitors on the market, so you’ll have fast and consistent connections.

Security: IPVanish has advanced security features that include a kill switch, DNS leak protection, a no-logs policy, and AES 256-bit encryption. It also has an OpenVPN Scramble to obfuscate your VPN traffic.

Streaming: IPVanish can bypass most geo-restrictions for streaming sites like Netflix, iFilm, BBC iPlayer, and ESPN. However, users have complained that this VPN struggles to access Amazon Prime Video.

Compatibility: This VPN has apps compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and most routers.

Pricing: Prices for IPVanish start at $2.49 per month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, be aware that they do not accept cryptocurrency payments.

6. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN has a smaller server network than others, with just 200 servers in 63 countries. However, they still have servers in countries close to Iran, like UAE and Turkey.

Features: PrivateVPN lets you connect to up to 10 devices at a time and has user-friendly apps. It also hosts its own server and ISP, so your traffic never has to pass through a third-party server, keeping your data extra secure.

Speed: Despite the small number of servers, PrivateVPN still has very fast speeds, particularly for downloading or torrenting.

Security: PrivateVPN lets you choose between 128-bit and 256-bit AES encryption, both of which offer strong encryption to protect your online security. It also has a no-logs policy, leak protection, and a kill switch.

Streaming: PrivateVPN is great when you need a service to bypass censorship restrictions and can unblock streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, iFilm, and Disney+.

Compatibility: PrivateVPN has a VPN app that is compatible with Android, Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, and most routers.

Pricing: Prices for PrivateVPN start at $2.00 per month, and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

7. Atlas VPN

Atlas VPN has 1000+ servers in 42 countries, so you will likely be able to find one that works for you. This VPN also offers a free version, but it is limited to only 5GB per month and only offers free servers in the US and the Netherlands.

Features: Atlas VPN allows for unlimited device connections, so you can have the whole family connected to as many devices as you want. It also includes a traffic blocker feature.

Speed: This VPN is one of the fastest services on the market and has many fast servers available.

Security: Atlas VPN has great security features that feature strong encryption, a no-logs policy, a reliable kill switch, and DNS leak protection. It also has an IP rotator feature for extra security.

Streaming: Atlas VPN can bypass geographical restrictions to access social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. It can also unblock streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, and more.

Compatibility: This VPN has apps compatible with Windows, Android, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV. However, it does not offer browser extensions or support for routers.

Pricing: Prices for Atlas VPN start at $1.64 per month, making it a very affordable option. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

How we picked and analyzed VPNs on the list

There were several criteria we considered when analyzing and choosing the best VPNs for Iran to put on this list.

• Speed and performance. We chose the VPNs that demonstrated some of the fastest speeds available on the market to make sure there is no lag. A VPN needs to have fast and reliable speeds to be able to reach peak performance ability.
• Obfuscated servers. We recommend VPNs that have servers that can be securely accessed within Iran.
• Privacy and security. When using a VPN in Iran, having a service that can protect your privacy and security is incredibly important. We chose the best VPNs that offer some of the most advanced security features in the industry so that you won’t have to worry about cyber threats.
• Internet censorship. Censorship is a very serious issue in Iran, and we know that Iranian Internet users need a VPN that can bypass any blocked websites. So we chose VPNs for this list that have a proven track record of bypassing geo-restrictions and can help you access streaming sites, foreign news, and social media platforms.
• Money-back guarantee. You don’t always know if you’re going to like the VPN service that you subscribe to, so we looked for VPN services that offer policies where you can try the service for a risk-free month or more.

How to use a VPN in Iran 

If you’re looking to set up a VPN in Iran, follow these steps to get yourself started:

1. Choose a VPN service that works in Iran. We recommend ExpressVPN.
2. Follow the service’s instructions and set up an account and log in details.
3. Download the VPN app to your chosen device.
4. Open the app and choose a server to connect to.
5. For Iranian users, it is recommended to make sure your kill switch is on at all times before you start opening websites to ensure you’re being as safe as can be.
6. Open up your desired website, whether it be Facebook or Netflix, and enjoy!

Why you need a VPN for Iran

You might be wondering why a VPN for Iran is necessary and why it’s a worthwhile service to invest in. There are several reasons why you should consider a VPN for Iran.

• Internet censorship. In Iran, there is extremely strict online censorship that many residents find oppressive. Citizens have restricted access to news and streaming platforms. With a VPN service, you can bypass censorship restrictions and expand your Internet freedom.
• Freedom of speech and social media. The censorship in Iran doesn’t just limit your ability to access outside sources; it also limits your ability to make your voice heard on social media platforms. With a VPN, your social media can be your megaphone and allow you to access these restricted sites without your IP address being traced.
• Protecting your privacy. Internet service providers in Iran can monitor the websites that you frequently visit, but with a VPN, you can block ISP tracking and protect your data so that no one has to know which sites you’ve been visiting.
• Avoid Internet slowdowns. In 2021, the Iranian government took control of the country’s internet infrastructure and will sometimes deliberately slow down everyone’s internet connection. But with a quality VPN, you can stop this from happening to you and enjoy fast speeds.

Can I use a free VPN for Iran?

You might be tempted to use a free VPN service for your Iran VPN as a way to save money, but this is something we strongly advise against.

There are several issues that often arise with free VPNs. To begin with, they are usually lacking in security and privacy features, and can leave you vulnerable to cyber threats, which can be particularly dangerous in Iran. Free VPN companies also have a reputation for sometimes selling their users’ data to third parties as a way to make a profit, meaning your private information and data is not safe with them.

Furthermore, many free VPNs have very slow speeds because of their smaller server networks, causing a lot of internet traffic on their VPN servers. They also tend to struggle with unblocking websites, so if you need a VPN for streaming or accessing blocked content, you will likely find yourself frustrated.

Instead of a free VPN, we recommend using one of the subscription VPN services we list here for the best VPNs for Iran users.

State of Internet censorship in Iran

As previously stated, Iran has very strict Internet censorship. In 2023, the Freedom in the World report from Freedom House showed Iran’s score dropping down to 12 out of 100, which is very low by most standards and encompasses Internet freedom.

Iranians cannot access everything that’s available online and the government specifically blocks content that they deem Western, anti-Islamic, or in conflict with the interests of the government. This includes social media and networking platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Speaking out, both in person and online, can result in dangerous consequences for local citizens. After the death of activist Masha Amini, while she was in the custody of Iranian authorities, the US government announced its plans to support online freedoms for Iran. A VPN is just one tool that can be used to open up access to these freedoms.

FAQs

Conclusion

If you are in Iran or an Iranian citizen, then you will find yourself facing extremely strict online censorship. The country’s government has blocked many websites, including social media and foreign news websites. If you need a solution to get around those restrictions and enjoy freedom online, then a VPN service is exactly what you need.

With a VPN, you can enjoy unrestricted access to the Internet, strong online security, and many other benefits.