US VPN: Get an American IP Address from Australia
On this page
A US VPN gives you an American IP address from Australia, for bigger streaming libraries, American sport and US-only shops. Every provider below lists US servers, so what separates them is the speed you keep and the price.
VPNs with servers in the United States
| VPN | Servers in the United States | Lowest price | Our speed test from Melbourne |
|---|---|---|---|
 PrivateVPN | Listed | US$2.00 (about A$2.85) a month | 39% of our line speed (August 2021) |
 IPVanish | Listed: 21 cities | US$2.19 (about A$3.12) a month Visit IPVanish → | 41% of our line speed (August 2021) |
 CyberGhost | Listed | A$3.27 a month | 89% of our line speed (August 2021) |
 Surfshark | Listed | A$3.49 a month Visit Surfshark → | 43% of our line speed (October 2026) |
 NordVPN | Listed | A$4.79 a month Visit NordVPN → | 78% of our line speed (October 2026) |
 Proton VPN | Listed: 22 cities, 6215 servers | US$3.49 (about A$4.97) a month Visit Proton VPN → | 60% of our line speed (October 2026) |
 ExpressVPN | Listed | US$4.99 (about A$7.10) a month Visit ExpressVPN → | 25% of our line speed (August 2021) |
 Astrill VPN | Listed | US$12.50 (about A$17.79) a month | 100%+ of our line speed (March 2022) |
Server locations read from each provider's own server page between 19 Oct 2026 and 2 Nov 2026; "listed" means the provider names the United States as a location, which can be a physical or a virtual server. Speed is the share of our Melbourne line's download speed kept on a server in the United States, against the same line with the VPN off, on the date shown; line speeds differ between test years, so the share is the fair comparison. Ordered by lowest monthly price in Australian dollars.
How fast is a US VPN from Australia?
You lose some speed crossing the Pacific, and the provider matters more than the distance. On a US server, PureVPN, PrivadoVPN and Astrill VPN kept the most of our Melbourne line (tested March 2022 to October 2026). At the other end, ExpressVPN kept the least (tested August 2021).
The table covers every VPN we have tested on a US server, whether or not it appears above, with the date we measured it.
| VPN | Speed kept | Download | Ping | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 PureVPN | 100%+ | 43.8 Mbps | 180 ms | October 2026 |
 PrivadoVPN | 100%+ | 35.7 Mbps | 221 ms | October 2026 |
| Astrill VPN | 100%+ | 108.5 Mbps | – | March 2022 |
 Intego VPN | 99% | 39.8 Mbps | 174 ms | October 2026 |
| CyberGhost | 89% | 95.3 Mbps | – | August 2021 |
| NordVPN | 78% | 41.2 Mbps | 159 ms | October 2026 |
 Windscribe | 77% | 83.6 Mbps | – | late 2021 |
 Mysterium VPN | 75% | 32.8 Mbps | 199 ms | October 2026 |
| Proton VPN | 60% | 30.2 Mbps | 163 ms | October 2026 |
 AdGuard VPN | 51% | 23.9 Mbps | 491 ms | October 2026 |
| Surfshark | 43% | 23 Mbps | 248 ms | October 2026 |
| IPVanish | 41% | 44.1 Mbps | – | August 2021 |
| PrivateVPN | 39% | 42 Mbps | – | August 2021 |
 Private Internet Access | 33% | 35.7 Mbps | – | late 2021 |
| ExpressVPN | 25% | 25.1 Mbps | – | August 2021 |
Our download speed to a server in the United States, from Melbourne, as a share of the same line's speed with the VPN off that day. Line speeds differ between test years, so compare the share kept. 100%+ means the download was faster with the VPN on than off in that run.
Tested on an account Surfshark gave us free of charge (16–25 Oct 2026). Tested on an account NordVPN gave us free of charge (14–25 Oct 2026). Tested on an account Proton VPN gave us free of charge (17–21 Oct 2026). Tested on an account PrivadoVPN gave us free of charge (29 Oct 2026). Tested on an account PureVPN gave us free of charge (21 Oct 2026). Tested on an account Intego VPN gave us free of charge (22 Oct 2026). Tested on an account AdGuard VPN gave us free of charge (24 Oct 2026). Tested on an account Mysterium VPN gave us free of charge (24 Oct 2026).
Read the shares as a rough comparison, not a league table: a gap of a few points is a draw. Our first round (August 2021 to March 2022) ran on a faster home line than we have now. The results for Surfshark, NordVPN, Proton VPN, PrivadoVPN, PureVPN, Intego VPN, AdGuard VPN and Mysterium VPN come from our October 2026 retest, on a different line and different servers.
A US server is not always where the app says. On 14 October 2026 NordVPN’s app said San Francisco, but the traffic left from San Jose or Santa Clara.
NordVPN’s ping to the US ran 159 to 177 ms (tested October 2026). That is fine for streaming and browsing, but you would feel it in a fast online game.
Tip: choose a west-coast server, such as Los Angeles, Seattle or San Jose. They are the shortest hop from Australia.
What Australians use a US VPN for
- American streaming libraries. Of the 15 VPNs we have tested, 8 played American Netflix the last time we tried; the dated list is in our Netflix guide. NordVPN’s latest pass was Breaking Bad on a Los Angeles server (25 October 2026); a Pluto TV live channel had played on 14 October. Services change their blocks constantly and a VPN can breach their terms, so test inside the refund period.
- US-only services. Some need more than an American address. See how to watch Hulu in Australia.
- Sport. American leagues sell their own streaming passes, and blackouts and prices differ by country.
- Travel. In the US and want Australian services? You need the reverse: a VPN with Australian servers. See watching AFL and NRL overseas.
What to look for
- West-coast server locations. Shorter distance, lower lag.
- A refund period. Among the VPNs we track it runs 7 to 45 days, enough to find out whether one works for you.
- The renewal price. The headline price covers the first term only.
FAQ
Is using a US VPN legal in Australia?
Yes. See are VPNs legal in Australia?
Which US server is fastest from Australia?
A west-coast one. Los Angeles, Seattle and San Jose are the shortest hop across the Pacific.
Is there a free US VPN?
Some free plans include a US location, with limits on data or speed. See best free VPN in Australia.
Does a US VPN work with American Netflix?
Some do. Our Netflix guide lists which VPNs played it, with the date of each result.
Which US VPN is cheapest?
The first table on this page is ordered by lowest monthly price, as an approximate figure in Australian dollars. For every provider we cover, see cheapest VPNs in Australia.