Best VPN for Australia (October 2026)
The best VPNs for Australians, compared on our latest prices in Australian dollars, refund periods, servers and devices. Prices are read from each provider’s own website every day, and our own speed tests from Melbourne are further down the page.
Who tests these VPNs
Laurence DeerFounder and reviewer, Melbourne. Testing VPNs since 2019.
When we test a VPN, we install the provider's own app on a home NBN connection in Melbourne, measure our download speed with the VPN off and then on Australian and overseas servers, and check for DNS leaks and which streaming services open. Every result shows the date we ran it.
We have our own results for 10 of the 15 VPNs here; the latest test was on 16 Oct 2026. Prices are read from each provider's website every morning.
Tested on an account NordVPN gave us free of charge (14 Oct 2026). How we earn money Tested on an account Surfshark gave us free of charge (16 Oct 2026). How we earn money
At a glance
From our data checked 13–17 Oct 2026
- Most Australian server citiesSurfshark, NordVPN, IPVanish, ExpressVPNAdelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Best VPN Australia: the top 10
Each entry has its current price, with the date we checked it, the key facts, who it suits best, and what independent testers and our own dated tests found. Follow the link for the full review.
- 1
Surfshark
From A$3.49 a month
on the Starter plan (27 months), A$94.23 upfront.- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 4,500+ servers
- 100 countries
- Unlimited devices
Surfshark is one of the lowest-priced big names in Australian dollars, covers unlimited devices at once and lists servers in 5 Australian cities. It says Deloitte has twice verified its no-logs claim. Testers rate it fast, a little behind NordVPN, and its pricing page does not show the renewal price upfront.
Best for: Households with lots of devices, on a budget
One Surfshark account covers unlimited devices at once, so a family's phones, laptops, tablets and smart TV can share it. It lists servers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, and in 100 countries. It is based in the Netherlands and says Deloitte has twice verified its no-logs claim, with Cure53 auditing its infrastructure.
Independent testers rate it fast, a little behind NordVPN: Security.org saw a torrent finish about 5% slower than without the VPN, and Top10VPN recorded a 13% loss. When we tested it from Melbourne in October 2026, it kept 96% of our download speed on a local server. Two things to check before you buy: its pricing page does not show the renewal price upfront, and Security.org notes that Surfshark may record IP addresses, which it calls poor practice for a no-logs service.
Visit Surfshark Read our full Surfshark review
Checked 17 Oct 2026 Price and plan details read from surfshark.com.
- 2
NordVPN
From A$4.79 a month
on the Basic plan (27 months), A$129.33 upfront, renews at A$187.08 every year.- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 7,115 servers
- 150 countries
- 10 devices at once
NordVPN prices its plans in Australian dollars, lists servers in 5 Australian cities and runs one of the largest networks we track. Independent testers consistently put it among the fastest, and PCWorld names it the best VPN overall for 2026. The main trade-off is a renewal price well above the introductory rate, and one account covers 10 devices at once.
Best for: Most people who want one VPN that does everything well
NordVPN runs one of the largest networks we track, with servers in 150 countries and in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, so most Australians can use a server in or near their own city. The apps cover phones, computers, Apple TV, Android TV and routers, and include a kill switch, split tunnelling, an ad and tracker blocker and double-hop servers, though on 14 October 2026 the Mac app offered only an app kill switch, off by default. Top10VPN reports six independent verifications of its no-logs policy, the most recent by Deloitte in February 2026.
We retested it from Melbourne on 14 Oct 2026. Tested on an account NordVPN gave us free of charge (14 Oct 2026). On a Melbourne server it kept 97% of our home connection's download speed. Overseas it kept 75% in the US, 62% in the UK and 81% in Japan, with no DNS leaks on the servers we checked (14 October 2026). On 14 October 2026 it did not get us into BBC iPlayer on any UK server we tried, or into Japan's ABEMA, so do not buy it for those alone. The main catch is cost after the first term: the renewal price is well above the introductory rate.
Visit NordVPN Read our full NordVPN review
Checked 15 Oct 2026 Price and plan details read from nordvpn.com.
- 3
Proton VPN
From US$3.49 (about A$5.02) a month
on the VPN Plus plan (2 years), US$83.76 upfront, renews at US$83.88 every year.- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 17,985 servers
- 149 countries
- 10 devices at once
- Free plan available
Proton VPN is the pick if you want to start free: it has a free plan, open-source apps, a Swiss base and a no-logs audit by Securitum. It charges in US dollars. Speed results vary between testers, and one reviewer notes the refund covers only the unused part of a subscription.
Best for: Trying a VPN for free first, and privacy-minded users
Proton VPN has a free plan, so you can try it in Australia before paying anything. It comes from the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, its apps are open source, and Securitum has audited its no-logs policy. Paid plans cover 10 devices at once and add servers in 149 countries, Secure Core routing through privacy-friendly countries, and an ad and tracker blocker.
Independent speed results vary: Top10VPN recorded a 24% loss on connections to Australia, while CNET measured 48% in its March 2025 tests. When we tested it from Melbourne in March 2022, it kept 91% of our download speed on a local server. Security.org reached more than a dozen Netflix libraries with it. Two catches: it charges in US dollars, so your bank may add a foreign transaction fee, and a refund within 30 days covers only the unused part of a subscription.
Visit Proton VPN Read our full Proton VPN review
Checked 17 Oct 2026 Price and plan details read from protonvpn.com.
- 4
IPVanish
From US$2.19 (about A$3.15) a month
on the Essential plan (2 years), US$52.56 upfront.- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unlimited devices
IPVanish covers unlimited devices at once and lists servers in 5 Australian cities, and testers rate it among the fastest on the WireGuard protocol. It charges in US dollars and is reported to be US-based. Its pricing page does not show what the plan renews at.
Best for: Unlimited devices with servers right across Australia
IPVanish covers unlimited devices at once and lists servers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Its apps include a kill switch, split tunnelling, multi-hop and RAM-only servers. It says a third party has audited its no-logs policy, though its server page does not name the auditor.
Testers rate it fast on the WireGuard protocol: Top10VPN recorded a 10% average loss, and Security.org streamed 4K video through an Australian server from the US. OpenVPN connections to Australia were much slower in Top10VPN's tests, and it says IPVanish struggles with foreign-language streaming services. When we tested it from Melbourne in August 2021, it kept 77% of our download speed on a local server. It is US-based, owned by Ziff Davis, charges in US dollars and does not show the renewal price on its pricing page.
Visit IPVanish Read our full IPVanish review
Checked 17 Oct 2026 Price and plan details read from www.ipvanish.com.
- 5
CyberGhost
From A$3.27 a month
on the 2-year plan, A$85.02 upfront, renews at A$85.02 every year.- 45-day money-back guarantee
- 100 countries
- 7 devices at once
CyberGhost has one of the lowest Australian-dollar prices we track and gives you 45 days to ask for a refund. It lists servers in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Testers rate it well for streaming but found it slower over long distances, and one account covers 7 devices at once.
Best for: Streaming on a tight budget, with a long refund window
CyberGhost has one of the lowest Australian-dollar prices in our comparison on its longest plan, and it gives you 45 days to ask for your money back, time to try it on your own streaming services. It lists servers in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and one account covers 7 devices at once. Its apps label servers by streaming service, and Security.org found the ones for Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and Prime Video worked first time.
The weak spot is long-distance speed: Security.org measured losses of more than 55% on connections from the US to Australia, and Top10VPN calls its long-distance speeds inconsistent. When we tested it from Melbourne in August 2021, it kept 93% of our download speed on a local server. CyberGhost is based in Romania and owned by Kape Technologies, which also owns ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. It says Deloitte has checked its servers against its no-logs policy.
Read our full CyberGhost review
Checked 17 Oct 2026 Price and plan details read from www.cyberghostvpn.com.
- 6
ExpressVPN
From US$4.99 (about A$7.17) a month
on the Basic plan (15 months), US$74.85 upfront, renews at US$99.95 every year.- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 113 countries
- 10–14 devices at once, by plan
Top10VPN found ExpressVPN lost 2% of speed on nearby servers and worked with 115 of the 120 streaming services it tried. It lists servers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. It charges in US dollars, and it covers 10–14 devices at once, set by the plan you buy.
Best for: Streaming, if a long first term suits you
Top10VPN found ExpressVPN worked with 115 out of 120 streaming services it tried and lost just 2% of speed on nearby servers. It lists servers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. It says KPMG, PwC and Cure53 have audited it, and that its servers run from RAM only.
When we tested it from Melbourne in August 2021, it kept 86% of our download speed on a local server. On a US server, tested in August 2021, it kept 25%. CNET reported in September 2025 that its speeds improved during 2025 after several years of decline. It charges in US dollars, is based in the British Virgin Islands and is owned by Kape Technologies, according to CNET (December 2024), and it covers 10–14 devices at once, set by the plan you buy.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
Checked 17 Oct 2026 Price and plan details read from www.expressvpn.com.
- 7
PrivateVPN
From US$2.00 (about A$2.87) a month
on the 12 months + extra plan, US$72.00 upfront, renews at US$72.00 every year.- 30-day money-back guarantee
PrivateVPN has one of the lowest prices in our table on its longest plan, charged in US dollars, and lists servers in 4 Australian cities. US Netflix and BBC iPlayer played for us in August 2021, and an Australian server kept 66% of our download speed (August 2021). Top10VPN says its no-logs claim has not been independently audited.
Best for: Overseas streaming on a small budget, if speed matters less
PrivateVPN has one of the lowest monthly prices in our comparison on its longest plan, charged in US dollars, so your bank may add a foreign transaction fee. It lists servers in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, apps for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and Linux, and setup on routers. The extras are simple but useful: a kill switch, and port forwarding to help torrent clients reach more peers.
Our own results are old. In August 2021 we watched US Netflix and BBC iPlayer through it from Melbourne, and when we tested it in August 2021, an Australian server kept 66% of our download speed. Top10VPN's newer tests found it close to dearer VPNs on short connections and say it reached 10 Netflix regions. The catch is trust: Top10VPN says it has not commissioned an independent audit of its no-logs claim.
Read our full PrivateVPN review
Checked 17 Oct 2026 Price and plan details read from privatevpn.com.
- 8
PureVPN
From US$2.15 (about A$3.09) a month
on the Standard plan (27 months).- 31-day money-back guarantee
PureVPN has one of the lowest prices in our table, charged in US dollars, and says it covers ten devices. It gives you 31 days to ask for a refund. Independent speed and streaming results are mixed, and it has rebuilt its privacy record with outside audits since a 2017 logging case.
Best for: A low price, if you accept a mixed record
PureVPN competes on price: it regularly has one of the lowest monthly rates in our comparison, charged in US dollars. PureVPN says one account covers ten devices, it gives you 31 days to ask for a refund, and PureVPN names Sydney and Perth among its Australian locations. It lists apps for most devices, including Apple TV, Fire TV and browser extensions, with port forwarding and a dedicated IP address as paid extras.
Its history belongs in any recommendation. In 2017, while advertising no logs, PureVPN supplied records that helped the FBI identify a man later convicted of cyberstalking. It says it has since rewritten its privacy policy and brought in auditors, first Altius IT and then KPMG with unannounced checks, but the audit reports are not published in full. Independent speed and streaming results are mixed. We have not tested PureVPN ourselves; the full review sets out what other testers found.
Visit PureVPN Read our full PureVPN review
Checked 17 Oct 2026 Price and plan details read from www.purevpn.com.
- 9
hide.me
From US$2.69 (about A$3.87) a month
on the Premium 26 months plan, US$69.99 upfront, renews at US$69.99 every 26 months.- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Free plan available
hide.me offers a free plan with no data cap and a paid plan that renews at the same price you first paid, which is unusual. Its no-logs policy was audited in 2024 and Top10VPN measured very little speed loss. It charges in US dollars.
Best for: A no-strings free plan, or a paid plan that does not jump at renewal
hide.me does two unusual things. Its free plan has no data cap and needs no account, and its paid plan renews at the price you first paid instead of jumping after the first term. hide.me says the paid plan covers ten devices, it gives you 30 days to ask for a refund, and there are apps for Windows, Mac, phones, Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV.
It is run from Malaysia, which has no mandatory data retention for VPNs, and Securitum audited its no-logs policy in 2024. Top10VPN measured very little speed loss, though results differ widely between reviewers. The free plan is slow and does not open streaming services, and hide.me says its kill switch has to be turned on in settings. It charges in US dollars. We have not tested hide.me ourselves.
Checked 17 Oct 2026 Price and plan details read from hide.me.
- 10
Mozilla VPN
From A$7.50 a month
on the Annual plan, A$89.99 upfront, renews at A$89.99 every year.- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 500 servers
- 30+ countries
- 5 devices at once
Mozilla VPN is priced in Australian dollars, runs on Mullvad's network and keeps things to one button. It covers 5 devices at once. Independent tests found it fast on nearby servers and poor for streaming.
Best for: One-button simplicity, priced in Australian dollars
Mozilla VPN comes from the makers of Firefox, and Mozilla says its network, run by Mullvad, has servers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. It is priced in Australian dollars on monthly or annual plans, so there is no exchange-rate surprise, and it covers 5 devices at once, with 30 days to ask for a refund.
The apps use WireGuard only and have little to configure: the kill switch is always on and multi-hop is included. Cure53 audited them in 2021 and 2023. Top10VPN's April 2026 review recorded a 3% speed loss on nearby servers, but independent testers found it poor for streaming, and there are no apps for TVs or routers. Subscribing needs a Mozilla account with an email address, whereas Mullvad sells the same network with no email at all. We have not tested Mozilla VPN ourselves.
Read our full Mozilla VPN review
Checked 17 Oct 2026 Price and plan details read from www.mozilla.org.
VPN comparison for Australia
The same list side by side, including the Australian cities each provider lists servers in.
| VPN | Lowest monthly price | Renewal price | Money-back | Countries | Devices | Australian cities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Surfshark | A$3.49 27 months, A$94.23 upfront | – | 30 days | 100 | Unlimited | 5 Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Visit Surfshark |
| 2NordVPN | A$4.79 27 months, A$129.33 upfront | A$187.08 per year | 30 days | 150 | 10 | 5 Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Visit NordVPN |
| 3Proton VPN | US$3.49 (about A$5.02) 2 years, US$83.76 upfront | US$83.88 per year | 30 days | 149 | 10 | 5 (cities not named on its site) | Visit Proton VPN |
| 4IPVanish | US$2.19 (about A$3.15) 2 years, US$52.56 upfront | – | 30 days | – | Unlimited | 5 Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Visit IPVanish |
| 5CyberGhost | A$3.27 26 months, A$85.02 upfront | A$85.02 per year | 45 days | 100 | 7 | 3 Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney | Read review |
| 6ExpressVPN | US$4.99 (about A$7.17) 15 months, US$74.85 upfront | US$99.95 per year | 30 days | 113 | 10–14 | 5 Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Read review |
| 7PrivateVPN | US$2.00 (about A$2.87) 3 years, US$72.00 upfront | US$72.00 per year | 30 days | – | – | 4 Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Read review |
| 8PureVPN | US$2.15 (about A$3.09) 27 months | – | 31 days | – | – | – | Visit PureVPN |
| 9hide.me | US$2.69 (about A$3.87) 26 months, US$69.99 upfront | US$69.99 per 26 months | 30 days | – | – | – | Read review |
| 10Mozilla VPN | A$7.50 1 year, A$89.99 upfront | A$89.99 per year | 30 days | 30+ | 5 | – | Read review |
– means we do not have that detail yet. Prices shown in US$ are published in that currency; the Australian-dollar figure is approximate, converted at the European Central Bank euro reference rates for 16 Oct 2026 (US$1 = A$1.437).
How this list is ordered
The order is calculated from the figures in the table, weighted as follows. How we compare VPNs
- Lowest monthly price (AUD, longest plan): 40%
- Money-back period (scored in proportion to the longest): 15%
- Countries with servers: 25%
- Devices per account: 20%
Not ranked, as their pricing is not tracked daily: Private Internet Access.
Ranking calculated 17 Oct 2026.
VPN speed in Australia: our own tests
The table covers the VPNs in our list that we have tested ourselves, each with its latest local-server result and the month we ran it. We measure from a Melbourne home connection against the same line with the VPN off. We have not yet tested PureVPN, hide.me, Mozilla VPN, Mullvad VPN and IVPN, so they are not in it.
Our first round ran from August 2021 to March 2022. The current round started in October 2026 and so far has retested Surfshark and NordVPN; the other providers are due next. Each figure is a single test session, so treat the table as a rough, dated guide rather than today’s speed.
| VPN | Download, Australian server | Speed kept | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 47.3 Mbps | 97% | October 2026 |
| Surfshark | 51.1 Mbps | 96% | October 2026 |
| CyberGhost | 99.6 Mbps | 93% | August 2021 |
| Proton VPN | 98.9 Mbps | 91% | March 2022 |
| ExpressVPN | 88.2 Mbps | 86% | August 2021 |
| IPVanish | 83.2 Mbps | 77% | August 2021 |
| PrivateVPN | 71.9 Mbps | 66% | August 2021 |
Our own measurements on a Melbourne home connection. "Speed kept" is the download speed with the VPN on, as a share of the same line's speed with it off, measured the same day; download figures depend on the line at the time, so compare that column. NordVPN and Surfshark are from our October 2026 retest; the others are from our original 2021–22 reviews and have not been retested yet. Not part of the ranking above. Tested on an account NordVPN gave us free of charge (14 Oct 2026). How we earn money Tested on an account Surfshark gave us free of charge (16 Oct 2026). How we earn money
Why Australians use a VPN
Australian law requires internet providers to keep customers’ metadata for two years. A VPN encrypts the connection between your device and a VPN server, so your internet provider can see that you are using a VPN but not which sites you visit. People also use one to stay secure on public Wi-Fi and to reach their usual Australian services while travelling. Using a VPN is legal in Australia.
How to choose
- On a budget: compare the cheapest VPNs in Australia and check the renewal price, not just the first term.
- Lots of devices: look for “Unlimited” in the devices column.
- Want to try first: see which have free trials and free plans.
- Looking for a discount: current offers are on the VPN deals page.
- Do not want to pay: see the best free VPNs in Australia.
- Not sure you need one: read do I need a VPN?
- Torn between the big two: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN, NordVPN vs Surfshark and Surfshark vs ExpressVPN.
Questions Australians ask
Which VPN is best for Australia?
On our latest prices, refund periods, server countries and device limits, Surfshark comes top of our comparison. The cheapest is PrivateVPN, from about A$2.87 a month on its longest plan. The order is recalculated every day from each provider's own website.
Are VPNs legal in Australia?
Yes. Using a VPN is legal in Australia. What you do while connected is still covered by Australian law and by the terms of the services you use.
Do I need a VPN in Australia?
Australian internet providers must keep customers' metadata for two years. A VPN stops your provider seeing which sites you visit, protects you on public Wi-Fi and lets you reach Australian services while travelling. Whether you need one depends on how much those matter to you.
Is a free VPN good enough?
Free VPNs usually limit data, speed or server choice, and some are paid for by collecting your data. A free plan from a provider that also sells paid plans is the safer choice. Our guide to the best free VPNs in Australia compares them.
What is the fastest VPN in Australia?
There is no single answer: speed depends on your own connection, the server you pick and the protocol. The speed table on this page shows how much of our download speed each VPN kept on a local server in our own tests from Melbourne, with the date of each test. They span 2021–26 and different home lines, so a gap of a few points between two VPNs means little.
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