Want to cut straight to the chase? The best Iran VPNs is ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
If you’re planning to vacate in Iran, you most likely should plan for the best VPN to surf the internet. This is so as you may lose access to most internet services you enjoy back home. When talking about countries most strongly identified with internet censorship, Iran is one of the countries that come to mind.
The rate at which sites are being blocked in Iran continues to grow over the years. For example, in 2012, it was reported that an average of 27% of internet sites was restricted, while in 2013 almost half of the top 500 most-visited websites around the globe were blocked. Some of the social media services that this censorship affected included Facebook, YouTube, Medium, Twitter, Telegram, Hulu, Snapchat, and Blogger.
All the stories above are just to prepare for the restrictions you’re likely to have when it comes to surfing the internet in Iran.
Best VPN For Iran
| Brand | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. ExpressVPN | $12.95/month | Blazing Speeds |
| 2. NordVPN | $13.99/month | Ad Blocking |
| 3. CyberGhost | $4.29/month | Affordability |
| 4. PureVPN | $10.95/month | Price Value |
| 5. Surfshark | $2.49/month | Cost-effectiveness |
#1 ExpressVPN
Used in over 180 countries across the globe and trusted by millions of users, no wonder ExpressVPN has been our number pick for the best VPN in Iran. Apart from being the fastest VPN for streaming, this VPN will guarantee your security online. Although ExpressVPN is pricier and so might not be the best option for you if you’re on a tight budget. However, it’s worth the investment and offers much value for money. Getting started with ExpressVPN will cost you $8.32 per month.
Pros
- Speedy connection on all servers
- Fast for streaming
- Guaranteed security with lots of world-class features
- Strict no-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Excellent 24/7 technical and customer support
Cons
- Pricier than some of the competitors
Get started with ExpressVPN today.
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#2 Nord VPN
It’s not enough to have a VPN that only allows you to access blocked websites; it must also be able to perfectly hide your IP and give you absolute internet security. Nord VPN is reputably known for being reliable and secure. With over 5,500 servers in 59 countries, you beat any censorship you have ever thought of or encountered in the past. Nord VPN offers a 30-day money-back guaranty for you to try it out and decide if it’s the right VPN for you. You can start to enjoy the benefits and awesome features of this app at as low as $3.71 per month.
Pros
- Strict no-logs policy
- Uninterrupted streaming
- Large VPN Server network so you’re covered wherever you go.
- Simultaneous connection to multiple devices
- Dedicated IP
- Peer-to-peer tunneling support
Cons
- Difficulty in configuring open VPN
- No support for torrenting on all servers
Get started with NordVPN today.
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#3 CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a VPN software company founded by Robert Knapp and it has its headquarters in Bucharest, Romania. With 256-bit encryption, CyberGhost you can rest assured your data is safe. And the good thing about this encryption protocol is that it’s the safest and highest level of encryption available. Also, in terms of VPN server network, the company claims it provides the largest VPN server network with up to 7 simultaneous devices connection. You can get started with CyberGhost for a token amount of $2.25 per month.
Pros
- Pocket-friendly
- Fast connection
- Secure and private VPN
- No logs required
- Large VPN server network covering 91 countries
- An excellent server that supports torrenting
- Simultaneous connection of up to 7 devices with one subscription
Cons
- Weak for using in countries with high internet censorship like UAE, China, etc
Get started with CyberGhost today.
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#4 PureVPN
This VPN is especially one of our best picks when it comes to choosing a VPN with a self-managed VPN network.
As of the time of writing this article, PureVPN has over 6000 networks of VPN servers in over 140 countries.
You know what this means, right? You should be able to access their server anywhere you go and stay private and secure with your internet browsing.
Also, the benefits of this include access to unlimited streaming, downloading and browsing without any third-party involved and you’ll also be able to eliminate hackers, geo-tagging, and ISP’s monitoring by third parties.
One thing about how these VPNs work is that once you sign up with the service provider, it provides you encrypted connection and anonymous identity so you’re protected from hacker attacks, monitoring authorities, and other snoops. The pricing for getting started with this VPN is $10.95 per month but if you’re going with the annual subscription, this will costs you $69, which means you’ll be paying $5.75 per month.
Pros
- Excellent speed on major devices or platforms
- Total online security and privacy including the connection on WiFi, data sniffers, email, and instant messages
- Dedicated design for major platforms like Windows, iOS, Linux, Mac, and Android
- Compatible with over 20 devices such as Chromecast, laptops, Desktops, Routers, Consoles, SmartTV, and other smart devices
- Unlimited bandwidth or data
- Unlimited server switching
- Uninterrupted live chat support
- Split tunneling to choose between sending your data through ISP or VPN
- DDoS-protection enabled
Cons
- A bit expensive for those on a shoestring budget
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#5 Surfshark
Surfshark offers a world-class VPN on CNET and TECHRADAR, meaning the app isn’t only jam-packed with advanced functionality it’s also the best VPN when it comes to shopping for fast connection speed. With secure and fast protocols, you can rest assured this VPN will protect your privacy, secure your identity, and prevent you or your company from hackers, or bots spying on your online activities. As of the time of writing this guide, Surfshark offers 3200+ servers in 65 countries that you can explore. You get started with Surfshark for as low as $2.49 per month.
Pros
- Ease of use
- Unlimited connection to multiple devices simultaneously
- Advanced encryption using private DNS and leak protection
- No ads or malware or phishing attempts
Strict no-logs
- policy
Cons
- Sluggish connection
>>More: Choosing Between PureVPN And Surfshark.
What Is VPN?
The acronym “VPN” stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN is an app designed to shield your identity and use of the internet from the evil hackers and other malicious software used by hackers to spy on your browsing activities. A VPN protects you by hiding your IP address and data using a designated virtual tunnel.
So, a VPN works by helping you first log in to its service before connecting you to the web. And, once you register with a VPN vendor, they encrypt your data by scrambling the data so hackers and other unsolicited spies wouldn’t be able to see what you do online or what websites you visit. This way, your identity, and online activity are secured and kept private to you alone.
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Types of VPN
There are two versions of VPN you can set up and these include the paid and the free VPN. While the paid plans come with an amount of money to get started with using it, the free is cost-free to use. But the question is why do you have to pay for a VPN if you can always set up one manually and use it free of charge?
The answer is simple: not all free VPNs can guarantee privacy or protection against hackers and other snoops spying on your online activities. But paid VPNs are always confirmed and more reliable when it comes to protecting your identity and browsing activity online.
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Disadvantages of Free VPNs
- They tend to suffer from throttling or speed loss
- There are subject to malware, ads, or pop-ups that blocks your view during browsing
- Your data are not totally safe as they’re being tracked and possibly sold to third-parties
- They provide you only basic or sub-par service or protection against hackers and other snoops
- They tend to work mostly on mobile than they do on desktop
- You’re limited to only a particular country or server
Advantages of Paid VPNs Over Free VPNs
- They are free from speed loss
- There are no malware, ads, or pop-ups that obstruct when browsing the internet as known with the free VPNs
- Your data are secure and free from tracking
- They provide you full and unlimited service or protection against hackers and other snoops
- They work on both mobile and desktop computers
- You can choose any country or server of your choice
>>More: Which Is Better for You: ExpressVPN or Hotspot Shield?
Are VPNs Allowed In Iran?
So you’re ready to get a VPN to use during your vacation in Iran but have you asked whether or not it is legal to use a VPN in the country. Well, to be frank with you, the answer is capital “NO”. Using a VPN in Iran is a serious issue that most Iranians are even turning to every means to beat internet censorship in the country.
No, no, and we mean not as serious or as illegal as you think provided you are not using it to counter the Iranian government. In fact, both foreigners and Iranians use a VPN, and no report yet of anyone (foreigner or Iranian) sentenced to jail for using it, provided they’re not using it for illegal activity or anti-government purposes. So the point is don’t panic but make sure you use it for a good purpose while in Iran.
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Why You Need a VPN In Iran
You probably are wondering why people need a VPN in Iran. The reason is quite understandable and straightforward: to access your favorite social media account and bypass internet censorship. Of course, you know how you’ll feel if you’re vacating in Iran and can’t access popular websites like Facebook, Twitter, and the rest: you’ll feel lonely, we guess. So the main reason why people use a VPN in Iran is to allow them to access those blocked internet services or content.
However, when generalizing the reason why people use a VPN in any country, it is to help users scramble their online activities so hackers and other snoops wouldn’t be able to spy on their activities online.
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Iran’s Measures For Censoring The Internet
There have been lots of talks on the measures being used by the Iranian government to censor the internet but the view of these two researchers Kyle Bowen and James Merchant seems to carry a lot of weight. In short, they identified three measures of censoring including preventative, interceptive, and reactive approaches.
The preventive approach is aimed at preventing Iranian and foreigners living in Iran from access to banned or blocked websites or content. This approach isn’t meant to harm or threaten users of blocked websites but to discourage them from accessing the sites by using a URL blacklist, among others.
As for the interceptive approach, this is a measure designed to foil the effort of those web users who managed to bypass the Iranian government preventive measures explained above.
The reactive measure is meant to tackle the aftermath of the web users’ access to the banned websites.
Some of the efforts used here include restricting SSL, analyzing traffic, and more.
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What To Consider For Best VPN For Iran
To make an informed buying decision on the right VPN to buy, consider the following factors:
- The speed of the VPN’s connection
- Availability of money-back guarantee
- Ease of use
- The security guarantee – it must not be such a VPN that requires logs-in
- Price competitiveness
- The reliability of the encryption protocols
- Compatibility with multiple devices – Desktop, mobile phone, etc
- Ability to have a dedicated or static IP address
- Customer service support
>>More: How Safe & Effective Is CyberGhost VPN? Are They Reliable?
Steps to Connect to a VPN
Setting up or connecting to a VPN is simple. By following these simple steps, you’ll be up and running in no time with the VPN network:
- Sign up with a VPN service provider
- Download the VPN app on your device of choice
- Sign in to connect to the server network of the VPN you signed up with
- Choose a VPN server outside Iran’s territory
- And you’re good to go!
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Wrapping Up On Best VPN For Iran
So you have all the information you need to get the best VPN for Iran. You understand better why getting a VPN on your vacation to Iran is indispensable and what to consider when selecting from various VPN options in the market. With all this information at your disposal, you wouldn’t go wrong if you make a buying decision now. Go ahead and let’s hear your feedback.