Canada has some tough Cybersecurity laws that are meant to prevent problems such as terrorism, but these end up doing more than that – they infringe on personal rights to privacy. To top on that, the country is part of the ‘Five Eyes’ and ‘Fourteen eyes,’ a group of countries that share privacy-infringing intelligence with each other.
This, together with the ever-increasing geo-restrictions placed on streaming services, has seen an upsurge in the country’s use of VPNs. These VPNs are crucial in restoring online privacy and security, and they also help people in Canada unblock content that is not available in the country.
However, choosing from the lots of VPNs available is not easy. But since that’s our specialty, we have done the heavy lifting for you, and we have shortlisted the 5 best VPNs for Canada. Here’s what we considered when evaluating hundreds of options.
- Great speeds
- Good privacy policy (Zero logs)
- Strong security & reliable encryption (AES 256-bit)
- Servers in Canada & the US
- Can stream on Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc.
- Additional features such as Smart DNS and Ad-blocker
- Apart from that, the VPN also needs to meet all hallmarks of a great VPN, such as ease of use and compatibility.
5 Best VPN for Canada
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN Pros
- Super-fast
- Excellent client apps
- Servers in Canada & the US
- Zero logs & solid security
- Works with Netflix, CBC, Hulu, and other streaming services
- 5 simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live chat support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
ExpressVPN Cons
- Relatively costly
ExpressVPN is arguably the best VPN out there, and it comes out on top as the best VPN for Canada. The VPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which is a great location for privacy. It also keeps zero activity as well as connection logs, making it one of the best options for privacy.
ExpressVPN has a huge server network that is made up of 3,000+ servers spread across 160 VPN server locations in 94 countries. Some of these servers are in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The US is also very well covered, with servers in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and various other cities.
One of the best features of the VPN is its streaming capabilities, and it helps users unblock content from any region of the world. Netflix users can access content that is only available in the US and 10+ other countries. The VPN also unblocks Hulu, HBO Now, and many other services. If you stream using your Smart TV or console, there’s also a Smart DNS service that lets you unblock US services without losing any speeds.
In terms of security, ExpressVPN uses the industry-standard AES-256 bit encryption and has various security features such as a kill switch and DNS leak protection. A single subscription can connect up to 5 simultaneous devices, and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost Pros
- 1-day free premium trial
- Zero logs kept
- Smart DNS for various regions
- 7 simultaneous connections
- Sleek and easy to use apps
- Feature-packed
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Allows payments by bitcoin
CyberGhost Cons
- Live chat not available 24/7
CyberGhost is a standout VPN that has greatly improved over the last 2 years after it was acquired by Crossrider. The VPN is registered in Romania, which abolished its data retention laws, and it keeps zero usage logs.
The VPN also uses the standard 256-bit AES encryption to ensure maximum security. This is complemented with features that include a kill switch, DNS & IPv6 protection, ad blocker, and malware blocker.
CyberGhost boasts the largest server network, with a total of 6400+ VPN servers spread across 111 locations in 90 countries. Canada has 295 of these servers located in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
To facilitate streaming, CyberGhost has special streaming servers that are labeled according to the various services that they are optimized for. They cover streaming services such as Netflix, CBC, BBC iPlayer, HBO Now, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube Red, and many others. This is also complemented by Smart DNS that covers various regions.
You can try CyberGhost free for 1 day, and you will still be eligible for a 45-day money-back guarantee after subscription.
NordVPN
NordVPN Pros
- Zero usage and connection logs
- Super-fast
- Inbuilt Smart DNS
- Many servers in Canada and the US
- Up to 6 simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Customer Care
- 30-day money-back guarantee
NordVPN Cons
- High cost for month-to-month users
NordVPN is arguably the most secure VPN (part thanks to its double hop feature), and it’s one of the top choices for Canadian users. The VPN is based in Panama, a country that doesn’t have any strict privacy laws. This allows the VPN to keep true to its promise of zero usage as well as connection logs, making it a top option for privacy.
To ensure security, NordVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption alongside various security features that include Kill Switch, double encryption, CyberSec (blocks malicious sites), Anti-DDoS, Onion over VPN, and DNS & IP Leak protection.
The VPN also has a huge server network that consists of 5700+ servers spread across 59 countries. Canada is served by 450+ servers in 3 locations, and there 1800+ servers in 15 locations south of the border. Most of these servers allow P2P and can be used for torrenting.
In terms of streaming, NordVPN allows you to access 11+ Netflix catalogs, Netflix Canada and US included. To stream on Netflix US, all you need to do is connect to any of the nearest US servers as the VPN uses server-level DNS to redirect streaming requests.
All subscriptions are eligible for a 30-day money-back guarantee, and users can connect up to 6 devices simultaneously.
SurfShark VPN
SurfShark VPN Pros
- Super-fast
- Based in the BVI & keeps Zero logs
- Solid encryption
- Smart DNS option
- Server-level Smart DNS
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
SurfShark VPN Cons
- Live chat doesn’t operate 24/7
SurfShark is a standout VPN in that it has excellent performance, it’s feature-packed, and it still offers one of the cheapest services around if you go for the annual subscription. The VPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, and it offers zero logs service.
The VPN’s security is also solid as it uses AES 256-bit encryption and offers features such as a CleanWeb (ad, tracker, phishing, and malware blocker), kill switch, private DNS and leak protection.
One other feature that makes SurfShark a favorite among streaming fans is its server-level Smart DNS and a stand-alone DNS. The server-level DNS redirects streaming requests to enable users to unblock major streaming services such as Netflix US while connected to a different country. The Smart DNS is also very helpful as it can unblock streaming services on devices that do not support VPN installation, such as gaming consoles and some Smart TVs.
Once you get a subscription, you can take advantage of the VPNs allowance of unlimited simultaneous connections. You will be eligible for a 30-day money-back guarantee.
PureVPN
PureVPN Pros
- Keeps zero logs
- Works with Netflix, CBC
- 2,000+ servers in over 140 countries
- Owns and controls its server network
- Superb speeds
- Fully featured apps
- 24/7 Live chat support
PureVPN Cons
- Doesn’t support torrenting
PureVPN is an all-round VPN that is based in Hong Kong. This location is outside the 14-eyes surveillance and ISPs in the country and not required by law to keep any data. PureVPN goes ahead and promises a logless service to all users.
The VPN also provides robust security by using 256-bit encryption with an option of 5 different protocols to protect your data. All these can be chosen within the client apps. There are also other privacy and security features that include a kill switch, Anti-DDoS, NAT Firewall, and IPv6 and DNS leak protection. Other extra features include split-tunneling and up to 10 simultaneous connections.
In terms of servers, PureVPN owns and controls its server network that comprises of 2,000+ servers spread across 180 locations in 140 countries. Some of these servers are based in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. US servers are spread across 14 different locations. The VPN works well with streaming services, and it provides 10+ Netflix libraries, Netflix US and Canada included.
If you’d like to try it out before choosing a subscription plan, the VPN provides a 7-day trial for only $0.99. There’s also a 31-day money-back guarantee once you have subscribed.
Are VPNs Legal in Canada?
VPNs are completely legal in Canada, both on a national and a provincial level. The government doesn’t block the use of VPNs either, and so you won’t face any issues as a result of using a VPN in the country.
However, if something is illegal, it is still illegal even when you are connected to a VPN.
How to Choose the Best VPN for Canada
We have narrowed down the best VPNs for Canada, and so you now don’t have to compare the hundreds of VPNs available. However, you also need to choose carefully from the above VPNs as each offers a unique service and experience.
Basically, analyze the VPNs by taking into consideration your specific needs. These may be privacy, streaming, torrenting, security, gaming, etc. You however won’t really go wrong with any of the options above.