Best Ethiopia VPN in 2024

Ethiopia is Africa’s oldest independent country and the most populated country in the Horn of Africa. It’s known for its gorgeous World Heritage sites, ancient history, and unique calendar. Not to mention, it is known as the origin of the coffee bean and the birthplace of the Rastafarian movement!

There is so much beauty to discover in Ethiopia, but when it comes to using the internet, you might find yourself running into some difficulties. What many may not be aware of is that Ethiopia has some of the strictest online censorship in the world, and in 2023, it was rated “not free” by Freedom of the Net. So, if you’re in Ethiopia and want to access streaming services, certain blogs, or new sites, you will likely find yourself blocked from them.

But there is a solution! By using a virtual private network, also known as a VPN, you can bypass the online censorship in place and gain internet access to the rest of the world. A VPN will help you change your virtual IP address while also ensuring you have strong online privacy and security to keep you off the radar of Ethiopian authorities.

There are many VPNs on the market to choose from, and I’ve analyzed and tested tons of them. I’ll walk you through what I consider the best VPNs for Ethiopia that will help you do what you need to do online.

In a hurry? Here are the 5 best VPNs for Ethiopia

These are my top five picks for the best VPNs for Ethiopia:

Why you need an Ethiopian VPN

The Ethiopian government has imposed very strict online censorship within Ethiopia and banned numerous sites. While things have improved since the government changed in 2018, there are still several repressive laws being enforced. So, if you’re in Ethiopia, you will find yourself blocked from sites like Facebook, Skype, Telegram, TikTok, and YouTube, among others.

A VPN service can help you bypass internet restrictions and change your IP address to one outside of Ethiopia so you can access websites that were otherwise blocked. It will also allow you to access streaming services and content libraries that may not be available in Ethiopia.

What makes a great VPN for Ethiopia

When it comes to choosing the best Ethiopia VPN, there are several factors I recommend you keep in mind:

• Server network. Look for a VPN that has a large server network, giving you plenty of servers to choose from in various countries, in addition to ensuring that your internet traffic won’t be slowed down.
• Unblocking abilities. Not every VPN is capable of accessing geo-restricted content and unblocking websites. So, make sure you choose a VPN that is proven to be effective at bypassing internet censorship and can unblock the sites you want.
• Speed. A VPN’s speed can make or break the user experience, so look for a VPN provider with fast speeds that will ensure your connection speed is as smooth as it can be.
• Privacy and security. Online privacy and security are crucial, especially if you’re in a restrictive country. This is why I recommend choosing a VPN with robust security features, including a kill switch to protect you if your VPN connection drops, strong encryption, and a no-logs policy.
• User-friendly. Look for a VPN that has user-friendly apps and good customer support that will be available to you 24/7.

5 best VPNs for Ethiopia

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is my top pick and what I consider to be the best all-around VPN for Ethiopia. It’s user-friendly, has great performance, and is very capable of unblocking social media platforms. It has over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, giving you plenty of servers to choose from.

Features: ExpressVPN offers unlimited bandwidth, as well as 8 simultaneous device connections. It includes a split tunneling feature and a password manager. It also comes with a MediaStreamer feature, which is a DNS service made to help those looking to stream content on devices that may not natively support a VPN.

Speed: This VPN has lightning-fast speeds thanks to its Lightway tunneling protocol, and it will make sure you have a smooth connection speed without buffering or lag.

Security: ExpressVPN has all of the best security features on the market, including AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, an ad-blocker, RAM-only servers, DNS leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy.

Streaming: ExpressVPN is great at bypassing geo-blocks on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Skype, and Twitter, as well as popular streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, HBO Max, Hulu, Vudu, and BBC iPlayer.

Compatibility: This VPN is compatible with most major devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, other Smart TVs, browser extensions, gaming consoles, and routers.

Pricing: This is a pricier VPN compared to others, with prices starting at $6.67 per month, but it does come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN does offer a 7-day free trial, but it is only available for mobile devices.

2. NordVPN

If you’re looking for a well-rounded VPN that is reliable for unblocking social media and other sites, then NordVPN is a great choice. It has an impressive 6,400 servers located in 111 countries, so you’re sure to find one that works for you.

Features: NordVPN offers up to 10 simultaneous device connections and unlimited bandwidth. It also comes with split tunneling, a SmartPlay feature, and NordLocker, which is a file encryption tool to keep you extra secure.

Speed: This VPN has super-fast connection speeds utilizing its proprietary NordLynx protocol, so you won’t have to worry about it slowing down your internet speed.

Security: NordVPN comes with top-notch security features, which include AES-256 encryption, a Dark Web monitor, DNS leak protection, malware protection, a kill switch, and a strict no-log policy.

Streaming: NordVPN is great when it comes to bypassing geo-blocks on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. It also can unblock many streaming services, including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Hulu, and Disney+.

Compatibility: This VPN is compatible with most devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and routers.

Pricing: Prices for NordVPN start at $3.39 per month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also offers a 7-day free trial on all devices, so you can try it out risk-free before making a commitment.

3. Surfshark

If you’re on a budget but don’t want to sacrifice premium features, then Surfshark is a great choice for an Ethiopia VPN. It has over 3,200 servers in 100 countries and has both virtual servers and physical servers available.

Features: In addition to unlimited bandwidth, Surfshark stands out by offering unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can use it on as many devices as you want under one account. It also offers split tunneling, a double VPN feature, and P2P-optimized servers. Additionally, it has a NoBorders mode, which is ideal for a restrictive country like Ethiopia, so you can better access restricted content.

Speed: While it might not be as fast as Express or NordVPN, Surfshark is still a very fast VPN that uses the popular WireGaurd protocol and will keep your internet connection from slowing down.

Security: Surfshark comes with many of the top standard security and privacy features, including AES-256 encryption, an ad-blocker, a cookie pop-up blocker, obfuscated servers, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy.

Streaming: Surfshark works great at unblocking social media platforms, like Facebook and TikTok, in addition to streaming sites, including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+.

Compatibility: Surfshark is compatible with many devices, including Mac, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and routers.

Pricing: Prices for Surfshark start at the low price of $1.99 per month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also has a 7-day free trial available.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a good VPN if you’re looking to save money and have something that’s very beginner-friendly. It has a massive server network, with over 11,500 servers in 100 countries.

Features: CyberGhost lets you use up to seven devices simultaneously. It also has split tunneling and specialized servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming.

Speed: CyberGhost generally has fast server speeds and uses WireGaurd protocol.

Security: CyberGhost has good security and privacy features that include AES-256 encryption, an ad-blocker, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy.

Streaming: CyberGhost is able to unblock geo-restricted websites like Facebook and WhatsApp, plus unblock streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube, Disney+, and HBO Max.

Compatibility: This VPN is compatible with many popular devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, some Smart TVs, and routers.

Pricing: Prices for CyberGhost start at $2.03 and come with an impressive 45-day money-back guarantee. Free trials are available depending on your device: a 1-day trial for desktops, a 3-day trial for Android, and a 7-day trial for iOS users.

5. ProtonVPN

If you’re looking for a VPN that offers a free version, then I would recommend Proton VPN. However, be aware that with the free service, you’ll only have access to servers in 5 countries. But with their premium plan, you have access to 8,600 servers in 112 countries.

Features: Proton does offer an unlimited free version. However, with this free version, you can only use it on 1 device, and the features you can access are limited. With a paid premium account, you will be able to use it on up to 10 devices and have access to features such as secure streaming servers, P2P support, and high-speed servers.

Speed: Proton’s free version does offer decent speeds, but be aware that the VPN traffic could get overcrowded depending on the server location. Its premium version offers fast speeds and connections with special high-speed servers.

Security: Both the free and premium versions offer strong encryption with AES-256 bit encryption, as well as a built-in kill switch and a strict no-logs policy to protect your online privacy. With the premium version, you will also get secure core servers and a NetShield ad-blocker.

Streaming: Proton VPN’s premium version works well at unblocking many websites, and you’ll be able to stream Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu, and Disney+.

Compatibility: Proton VPN is compatible with many devices, including Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, Chromebook, Fire TV stick, and Android TV.

Pricing: Proton offers an unlimited free version, but for its premium service, prices start at $4.99 per month. And it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Best VPN server location for a VPN in Ethiopia

Which VPN servers you choose to use will largely depend on what you are looking to use your VPN for. If you simply want to avoid online censorship and maintain online anonymity so you can browse the internet safely, then I would recommend using server locations in Ethiopia or nearby countries like Kenya or South Africa to ensure you have the best speeds.

However, if you want to be able to access geo-restricted content in other countries, then you will need to choose server locations in those countries. All the VPNs on this list have US-based servers, and US IP addresses will ensure you can access social media platforms, other VOIP services, most streaming sites, and more.

VPN not working in Ethiopia: Possible fixes

If your VPN is not working, there are some possible solutions to fixing it:

• Change servers. Many websites try to block VPN services from being used, and if they discover a VPN server, they will block it. So, try changing to a different server and see if that one is more successful.
• Check your internet connection. Even premium VPNs require a reliable internet connection to work, so make sure you have a solid connection and don’t have internet shutdowns going on.
• Clear cookie cache. Browser cookies contain trackers that could reveal your real location. So, try clearing your cache and then reconnecting to your VPN in Ethiopia to see if that solves the problem.
• Software update. Make sure the software on your VPN provider is up to date and that you don’t need to download firmware or update the operating systems. An out-of-date VPN might affect VPN usage and performance.
• Change VPN plan or provider. Not every VPN or plan will work as an Ethiopia VPN. So, I recommend checking on your VPN provider or looking into which plan you are currently using to see if that could help.

What apps are banned in Ethiopia? 

The Ethiopian government has restricted or banned the use of many popular sites and platforms, including:

• WhatsApp
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Messenger
• TikTok
• Telegram
• YouTube
• Instagram

Can I use a free VPN in Ethiopia? 

While it might be tempting to save money with a free VPN, this is generally something I advise against. Free VPNs tend to lack the necessary features to help you gain internet access in restricted areas, and you usually cannot bypass geographical restrictions on platforms like YouTube or Netflix. Free VPNs also tend to have limited, overcrowded servers that cause slow speeds. It’s also likely they will not have VPN servers in the area that you need.

Additionally, many free VPN services have a reputation for selling their users’ data to third parties for a profit, which can greatly affect your online privacy and leave you vulnerable, unlike a good no-logs VPN. Not to mention, there is an overall lack of security and privacy features with free VPNs.

This is why I recommend sticking to premium VPN services that will keep you safe and secure online while also helping you have unrestricted internet access around the world.

FAQ

Is it legal to use a VPN in Ethiopia?

While there are very strict internet restrictions in Ethiopia right now, VPNs are technically legal in the country. The issue is more with what you try to access with the VPN, and that is what the local government is trying to crack down on.

Does Surfshark work in Ethiopia?

Yes, Surfshark works well in Ethiopia and even has a NoBorders mode for restrictive countries. It’s a great option if you’re on a budget and need an Ethiopia VPN that you can use on multiple devices.

Conclusion

Ethiopia is a country with a lot to offer, and there are many reasons why someone may want to travel there. However, if you’re in Ethiopia, you will likely face strict online censorship and find that you are blocked from many platforms and sites.

A virtual private network can be used to bypass this censorship. By using a premium Ethiopia VPN, you can keep your online activities safe and secure from prying eyes while also gaining unrestricted internet access to all of your favorite sites. To choose the best VPN for Ethiopia, look for one with premium features and a broad server network. Take a look at my list for an Ethiopia VPN that will make the best VPN for your needs.