Best VPNs for Australia for privacy, streaming and gaming in 2024

Ever scroll through social media and feel like someone’s peering over your shoulder? Maybe you’re tired of websites bombarding you with ads based on your browsing history. Or perhaps, living in a geographically isolated country like Australia, you’re constantly frustrated by geo-restricted content.

If any of this sounds familiar, a VPN is your answer! Think of it as a digital invisibility cloak. It encrypts your internet traffic, shielding your online activity from prying eyes and keeping your browsing private and secure. No more creepy targeted ads, no more feeling like you’re being watched.

But the benefits don’t stop there. A VPN also acts like a magic passport, letting you bypass geo-restrictions. Imagine unlocking a world of content previously unavailable in your region - the latest streaming shows, exclusive websites, and unrestricted browsing freedom.

So, ditch the online claustrophobia and embrace a world of privacy and limitless possibilities with a VPN!

Best VPNs for Australia in 2024

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Not all VPNs are created equal! Some excel at keeping your online gaming smooth and lag-free, while others prioritise iron-clad security and privacy. Here’s a quick breakdown of the top contenders in each category:

NordVPN. Credit: Supplied.

Best VPN overall: NordVPN

Feeling vulnerable online? This VPN is your digital bodyguard, providing unbeatable security to protect your data. Think of it as an impenetrable shield safeguarding your online activity from prying eyes.

But security isn’t all this VPN offers. It also delivers decent speeds, ensuring you won’t experience sluggish browsing or frustrating buffering. And to top it all off, it boasts a massive server network, offering a global buffet of connection options. No matter where you roam online, this VPN has a server to keep you secure and connected, satisfying all your browsing needs. Ditch the online dangers and step into a world of secure browsing with this powerful VPN!

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“For a few years now, I’ve been relying on NordVPN to keep my online activity secure. Initially, I was concerned about cybersecurity threats and protecting my personal information. However, I quickly discovered the many other advantages of using a VPN, and now I find it essential for my everyday browsing.

The ability to access geo-restricted content, like Netflix shows unavailable in my region, is a major benefit. Not to mention, it’s incredibly useful when travelling solo and wanting to access my usual streaming services from back home.

After considering both NordVPN and ExpressVPN, I opted for NordVPN as it’s marginally cheaper and haven’t been disappointed. It offers excellent value for the price, and the customer support team has been exceptionally helpful on the few occasions I’ve needed assistance. Overall, I highly recommend NordVPN.”

Connor Taylor-Parton, SEO Editor at Skimlinks (VPN purchased, not gifted)

Plans & pricing: Starts from $4.13 per month (2-year plan) with various plan options and durations.

ExpressVPN. Credit: Supplied.

Best VPN for privacy protection: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN goes into overdrive to keep your online shenanigans shrouded in secrecy. They wield the mightiest encryption key in the business (AES 256-bit, for those keeping score) to scramble your data into an unreadable mess, leaving any prying eyes clueless. Their zero-logs policy, verified by independent auditors, guarantees they won’t keep a shopping list of your browsing history or anything else you get up to online.

Think of it this way: ExpressVPN sets up shop in the privacy haven of the British Virgin Islands, a place with zero tolerance for government snooping. That’s a far cry from locations where data retention laws force companies to spill the beans. It’s worth noting there were some past leaks, but their tech crew acted like online ninjas and patched things up to ensure your privacy remains Fort Knox-worthy.

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Plans & pricing: Starts from $6.67 per month (1-year plan) with various plan options and durations.

Surfshark. Credit: Supplied.

Best budget-friendly VPN: Surfshark

This budget-friendly service lets you connect all your devices - phones, laptops, tablets - under one subscription, with no connection limits or hidden fees. Surfshark acts like your online incognito cloak, encrypting your browsing, streaming, and banking activities on any device. They won’t break the bank either, with clear pricing and sweet deals compared to competitors. Surfshark offers free trials so you can test the service before committing.

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Plans & pricing: Starts from $2.49 per month (2-year plan) with various plan options and durations.

CyberGhost. Credit: Supplied.

Best for streaming shows: CyberGhost

Ditch the geo-restrictions and unlock a world of streaming possibilities with CyberGhost! Their user-friendly interface makes navigating a breeze, so you can spend less time fumbling with settings and more time marathoning your favourite shows on Netflix (or any other platform!). And CyberGhost doesn’t stop there - their servers are optimised for streaming, ensuring smooth playback and zero buffering, letting you binge-watch in peace.

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Plans & pricing: Starts from $2.75 per month (3-year plan) with various plan options and durations.

PureVPN. Credit: Supplied.

Fastest VPN: PureVPN

Ditch the buffering blues with a VPN that’s all about speed! Imagine Usain Bolt for browsing, streaming, and downloads - that’s the kind of performance you get. No more slowdowns or waiting for videos to load. Stream crystal-clear shows, download files in a flash, and browse the web at lightning speed. This VPN is perfect for impatient streamers and downloaders who can’t stand buffering interruptions. And the best part? You get this blazing speed without sacrificing top-notch security.

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Plans & pricing: $4.07, (was $19.95 per month (2-year plan) with various plan options and durations.

At the moment, you can get this VPN 80% off, plus an extra 3 months included in your subscription.

Private Internet Access. Credit: Supplied.

Best VPN for gaming: Private Internet Access

Are lag spikes ruining your online matches? Geo-restrictions blocking the best servers? Take down the competition with Private Internet Access (PIA). PIA’s massive server network (over 10,000 in 80+ countries) and blazing-fast 10 Gbps connections minimise lag for smooth, responsive gameplay. Bypass geo-restrictions to access any server and unlock the best deals on in-game purchases. Plus, military-grade encryption keeps your data secure while their no-logs policy ensures complete anonymity.

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Plans & pricing: Pricing typically starts around $2.00 per month for multi-year subscriptions

Everything you need to know about VPNs

How to Use a VPN in Australia

Don’t worry, using a VPN in Australia is easier than you think! Forget complicated tech talk. Imagine a VPN app like a travel app for your internet. Download the app, pick a server location (like choosing a destination country), and that’s it - you’re virtually there, ready to explore the web freely.

Different VPNs have different protocols but don’t worry, most handle the technical stuff behind the scenes.

How do VPNs work?

Let’s get a bit technical with how VPNs work, we can break it down into 10 steps:

1. Handshake: Imagine your device and a VPN server are negotiating a secure connection. They agree on a special language, like a fancy code, to encrypt your data using protocols like OpenVPN or IKEv2. This code scrambles the information to make it unreadable.
2. Tunnel creation: Once they agree on the code, a virtual tunnel is built between your device and the VPN server. This tunnel acts like a private pathway for your internet traffic.
3. Data encryption: As you use the internet, your device encrypts everything you send (like browsing requests) using the agreed-upon code. This encryption is like locking your messages with a special padlock.
4. Packaging the data: The encrypted data is then wrapped in another digital package with the VPN server’s address as the destination. Think of it like putting your locked message in a box addressed to the VPN server.
5. Travel through ISP: This package is sent to your internet service provider (ISP) just like any other data. However, your ISP can only see the destination (VPN server) and not the actual content or website you’re trying to reach.
6. Reaching the VPN server: The ISP forwards the package to the VPN server based on the address included.
7. Tunnel decryption: The VPN server receives the package, unwraps it, and retrieves the original encrypted data you sent. It then uses the shared code (like the key to your padlock) to decrypt the data.
8. Reaching the destination: Now that the data is readable, the VPN server acts like a regular user and sends it to its final destination on the internet (website, online service, etc.).
9. Return path: The response from the website travels back to the VPN server, gets encrypted again for safekeeping, and then sent back through the tunnel to your device.
10. Device decryption: Your device receives the encrypted package from the VPN server, uses the same code to decrypt it, and retrieves the website’s response. It’s like unlocking the message from the website.

This entire process happens very quickly in the background, so you likely won’t notice any slowdowns while using a VPN. However, it’s important to remember that this extra step can add a little delay (latency) to your internet connection.

What about a free VPN?

Free VPNs? Look, they might seem tempting, but they often come with strings attached. Slow speeds, data caps, and even security risks - not exactly a recipe for a good time online.

As for the legal side of things, using a VPN in Australia is generally A-okay. But remember, some streaming services might have their own policies about VPN use. Check the fine print before you get blocked.

What to consider when choosing a VPN

Here’s the deal: not all VPNs are created equal. You want one that’s tough as a boar bristle brush. Security’s key - strong encryption like AES-256 is your best bet. Imagine it like wrapping your data in a bank vault, only better because you don’t have to deal with grumpy tellers. A no-logs policy is also crucial. You wouldn’t want some suit snooping on your online adventures, would you? And a kill switch? That’s your backup plan, your safety net in case the VPN connection drops. Think of it like having a parachute when you’re skydiving - better safe than splattered.

Why do people use a VPN?

According to Exploding Topics and Gitnux, the most popular reasons people use a VPN are security (43 per cent), streaming (26 per cent), and privacy (12 per cent).