If you live in the Great White North and want to protect your internet connection, or perhaps live outside the region and want to access local Canadian streaming content, a VPN (virtual private network) may be just the ticket. Canada is a global leader when it comes to the data privacy of its citizens, but a little extra protection certainly can’t hurt. We’ve been testing VPNs for more than 10 years, so we know just the right service no matter where you live. TunnelBear VPN is one of our top picks, and it just so happens to be a Canadian company. The other services on this list operate under different legal jurisdictions, which might be important to you. Read on for our top picks, followed by everything you need to know about choosing a VPN in Canada.
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Pros & Cons
The best free VPN subscription
Numerous advanced privacy tools
Strong customer privacy stance
Slick, accessible client
Excellent speed test scores
Awkward ChromeOS implementation
Specs & Configurations
Simultaneous VPN Connections
10
Server Locations
67 countries
Why We Picked It
Proton VPN is our highest-rated VPN for good reason. It offers split tunneling, multi-hop connections, and access to the Tor network and fits all that into a straightforward app that also lets you select specific servers. Best of all, Proton VPN offers the best free VPN subscription we’ve seen and places no data limit on its free users. It also offers multi-hop connections to Canada via Iceland and Switzerland.
Who It’s For
Proton VPN has a slightly above-average price but makes up for it with an excellent overall experience across platforms. It also racked up excellent results in our speed testing. Users will also get access to the large Proton suite of tools: secure email, calendar, and cloud file storage that prioritizes privacy. If you’re intrigued by Proton VPN’s free offering, know that only paying customers can access its Canadian servers.
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Proton VPN Review
Pros & Cons
Multi-hop, split tunneling, and Tor connections
Excellent design
Traffic routing and file-sharing with Meshnet
Built-in antivirus tools
Expensive
Lackluster malware-blocking results
Limited utility of free Meshnet traffic routing
Specs & Configurations
Simultaneous VPN Connections
6
Server Locations
111 Countries
Why We Picked It
NordVPN has everything we want to see in an excellent VPN. It supports split tunneling, multi-hop connections, and access to Tor via VPN. Its apps let you easily access specific servers across the globe to find the perfect one to meet your needs. NordVPN has also rolled out unique new features, now letting you route traffic through your other devices. NordVPN has a very large presence in Canada, with nearly 500 available servers across Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Who It’s For
NordVPN does it all, but it’s not cheap. That said, it provides a consistent and full-featured experience across every platform. It also had excellent scores across the board in our speed testing. It could easily be picked up by someone new to VPNs but has tools and features to satisfy experienced users.
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NordVPN Review
Best for Protecting Many Devices
Surfshark VPN
Pros & Cons
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Large global server presence
Multi-hop and split tunneling tools
Intriguing potential in Surfshark Nexus
High monthly price
Some issues with IP rotator feature in testing
Privacy policy needs clarification
Specs & Configurations
Simultaneous VPN Connections
Unlimited
Server Locations
100 Countries
Why We Picked It
Surfshark VPN is a slick product with stylish flourishes across its apps. It also has features that go beyond VPN protection, such as split tunneling and multi-hop connections. New tools like automatic IP rotation show that this company is continuing to iterate and grow. In Canada, Surfshark VPN boasts over 100 servers across Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Who It’s For
Surfshark VPN is among the most expensive VPNs on the market, but it offsets that cost with an excellent user experience and set of features. It also allows unlimited simultaneous connections, making it a good choice for device-heavy households.
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Surfshark VPN Review
Best for First-Time VPN Users
TunnelBear VPN
Pros & Cons
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Excellent privacy policies
Annual independent audits
Friendly, approachable design (with bears!)
No multi-hop connections
Split tunneling not available on all platforms
Data limit on free subscription
Specs & Configurations
Simultaneous VPN Connections
Unlimited
Server Locations
23 Countries
Why We Picked It
TunnelBear VPN is a simple but powerful service, and one that doesn’t cut corners on privacy—it has released annual audits for years and has one of the best privacy policies in the industry. TunnelBear VPN also offers the rare truly free subscription option, although you will be limited to 2GB of data per month.
Who It’s For
TunnelBear VPN is a very straightforward product. Its whimsical design makes it easily approachable for first-time VPN users. Its free version also means you can try it without risk and ensure it will work for exactly what you need. The company recently removed restrictions on the number of simultaneous connections, making it a good choice for families or anyone with numerous devices.
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TunnelBear VPN Review
Best for World Travelers
CyberGhost VPN
Pros & Cons
Large, well-distributed server fleet
Allows up to seven simultaneous connections
Several add-ons, including antivirus
Outstanding speed test scores
Newly completed third-party audit
Expensive
Confusing privacy policies
Specs & Configurations
Simultaneous VPN Connections
7
Server Locations
90 Countries
Why We Picked It
More servers don’t always mean better performance, but they do increase the chances of finding a server that works for what you need. CyberGhost VPN might have the largest global server network, numbering over 9,500 machines.
Who It’s For
CyberGhost VPN has the highest monthly cost, tied with NordVPN and Hotspot Shield VPN, so you’ll probably need to make space in your budget for this one. However, it might be worthwhile if you plan on traveling frequently or need to spoof your location since CyberGhost VPN certainly has the tools for doing so.
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CyberGhost VPN Review
Best for the Privacy Conscious
Mullvad VPN
Pros & Cons
Affordable
Requires no email or account information
Radically transparent
Multi-hop, split tunneling, and port forwarding
Awkward desktop interface
Servers in a small range of countries
Pay-as-you-go system may confuse some customers
Specs & Configurations
Simultaneous VPN Connections
5
Server Locations
38 Countries
Why We Picked It
In the name of privacy, Mullvad VPN shirks automatic recurring subscription payments and logins. Instead, you pay money periodically to activate an anonymous account number that serves as both password and username. Mullvad VPN is also one of only two VPNs we’ve reviewed that lets you make anonymous payments via cash mailed to its HQ. Mullvad VPN has over 25 servers in Canada.
Who It’s For
Mullvad VPN is for the privacy-conscious shopper, but its low price makes it attractive. For just 5 euros per month, you get a full-fledged VPN with split tunneling and multi-hop connections. Its apps leave a little to be desired, but they’re perfectly usable.
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Mullvad VPN Review
Best for Open-Source Enthusiasts
Windscribe VPN
Pros & Cons
Industry-leading company transparency and communication
Large number of payment options
Best free plan of any VPN we’ve tested
Helpful AI support bot
Open Netflix access in all regions benchmarked
Unlimited number of simultaneous connections and devices
Anonymous signup allowed
Specs & Configurations
Simultaneous VPN Connections
Unlimited
Server Locations
69 Countries
Why We Picked It
Windscribe is a relative newcomer to the scene. Still, it has already impressed the industry with its staunch support of user privacy and a transparent approach to security. Add to this several high-speed servers located on both Canadian coasts, and you’ve got a winning combination.
Who It’s For
Windscribe is purpose-built for the privacy wonk in all of us, providing superior service in a seamless package. If you’re looking for a simple interface that hides a surprising amount of technical depth, Windscribe is the VPN for you.
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Windscribe VPN Review
Buying Guide: The Best VPNs for Canada in 2024
How We Pick the Best VPNs for Canada We picked services that have a larger count of physical or virtual servers located within the country. With VPNs, you’re more likely to get better performance if you connect to a server that’s nearby, so more Canadian servers means more options for Canadians.
How a VPN Works
Canada is an especially large country, stretching (like the US) from sea to shining sea. That can present a problem for VPN users because the farther you are from the VPN server, the more likely you are to experience internet slowdowns. At the very least, you’ll probably see greatly increased latency.More servers don’t necessarily solve this problem, but more server locations might. Much of that, of course, will depend on where you are in relation to those servers. Companies with VPN servers on both the east and west coasts of Canada are more likely to provide lower latency service than companies with just one location.At PCMag, we test VPN speeds from our offices in New York City, using only US-based VPN servers. In this location, we enjoy above-average quality of service for VPNs. This means our test results won’t match those of someone in the US in a less populous region, and especially not another country—even a close neighbor like Canada.Do You Need a VPN in Canada?Canada doesn’t have many issues in other popular VPN locales. Unlike the US, Canadian ISPs cannot sell your data without express consent. Unlike China, Canada doesn’t have a massive internet surveillance and censorship machine. This isn’t to say surveillance doesn’t exist in Canada—it’s a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, after all. The CBC reported that while Canadian ISPs can’t sell your data, there are all sorts of ways for information to be harvested and used. That suggests VPNs may still be useful privacy tools in Canada. There is currently a bill working its way through the Canadian legislature that may change these practices, but we won’t report anything firmly here until the new laws are signed. Furthermore, online advertisers are everywhere, and you can use a VPN to blunt their attempts at tracking your online movements as well.How to Unblock Regional Content in CanadaWe view VPNs as privacy tools, but most people also use them to access region-locked content online. If a movie or show is available in country X but not where you live, you can tunnel into a VPN server in country X and enjoy it. In practice, it’s more complicated. Netflix, for instance, aggressively blocks VPNs, and other streaming platforms likely have a similar stance. VPNs are frequently tweaking their products to sneak by gatekeepers in an endless streaming cat-and-mouse game.
We periodically evaluate VPN services’ ability to let us access Canadian Netflix. As of our last pass in early 2024, 16 of the VPNs we tested worked.Tips for Choosing a VPN in CanadaBefore laying down your hard-earned loonies, here are two things to keep in mind when you’re choosing a VPN:First, you will always save money by opting for a longer subscription. However, we caution against this—at least initially. Instead, use a free VPN subscription or short-term subscription to test out a VPN in your home environment. That way, you can find out whether it will work with all the sites and services you need and get a feel for its performance hands-on. If you like what you see, you can always upgrade to a long-term subscription.
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What Is Two-Factor Authentication?
Second, while a VPN is a useful tool for improving your privacy online, it can’t protect against every ill. To really anonymize your traffic, you’ll need Tor, but using it will impact your internet speeds far more than a VPN. Also, advertisers and spooks have numerous tools for monitoring online activity and not all of them are stopped by VPNs. Just because you’re using a VPN doesn’t mean you can slack on security in other areas, either. Be sure to use a password manager to create unique and complex passwords for every site and service you use, enable multi-factor authentication wherever it’s available, and install local antivirus software.Ultimately, anyone looking for a VPN with a strong presence in Canada is lucky. After the US and UK, it’s one of the most popular regions for VPN providers to focus their efforts. Canadians are also fortunate the need for a VPN is arguably less crucial than it is in many other countries, but there are still privacy gains to be had by using one. If you can’t decide whether you need a VPN, our piece explaining what a VPN is and why you need one can help you decide.Max Eddy contributed to this article.
