Australia is not a State that values online anonymity. So is New Zealand. In fact, recent laws oblige ISPs to log user traffic and data in an effort to control and monitor the ways Australians use the internet. ISPs must now hold onto user logs for up to two years before they are allowed to recycle the space required to store the information. During that window, user data for all unprotected internet users is freely available to government agencies, third party companies, and the ISPs themselves.
Does that sound like something you want to be a part of? Our guess is that it isn’t, but you have very few choices to avoid it. Your best bet is to use a quality VPN service when connecting to the internet in Australia and New Zealand.
Why Use a VPN in Australia and NZ?
The reasons to use a VPN in Australia are many. Let’s start with the obvious few. Most people who opt for a VPN in Australia do so for either privacy and anonymity or security and peace of mind. Of course, a healthy mix of the two is also common.
Encryption
VPNs can help you protect your sensitive data from getting into the wrong hands by encrypting your data from start to finish.
Mask your IP address
VPNs also mask your IP address from servers you connect to by providing a VPN-owned IP instead of yours. Hiding your IP makes it incredibly difficult for hackers, advertisers, Big Data farmers, and government agencies to pinpoint your physical location. This means you get to conduct your business online without a lot of unwanted attention.
Circumvent geographical restrictions and censorship
Another benefit of using a VPN is that they help you get past geographical content restrictions and censorship policies. When you want to watch your favorite sporting event, indulge in country-specific streamed content, or play a game from a region of your choice, a quality VPN service is usually the fastest, cheapest, and simplest way to get what you want.
Best VPN Services to Use in Australia and New Zealand
As you can see, there are numerous reasons for using a VPN in Australia and New Zealand and whether you need one or not is not even debatable. To protect yourself from a host of online threats, while increasing your possibilities for an enjoyable online experience, a VPN is absolutely necessary. The question is, however, which VPN services are the best VPN services to use in Australia and New Zealand?
To answer that, we must look at several criteria:
- Logging practices
- Server locations
- Speed
- Upload/Download limits
- Cost
- Security protocols
- Special features (i.e. VPN over TOR, Double VPN, Kill Switch, DNS and IP leak prevention, etc.)
- Ease of use
Each VPN service provides a different experience, and to choose the best VPN for your needs largely depends on how you intend to use your Australian VPN service and what your plan for the service happens to be.
- Nord VPN
NordVPN is one of the most trusted names in the industry. Over the years, it has grown a massive following of more than 12 million active users around the world. Furthermore, Noord VPN also has one of the largest VPN networks with more than 5K servers and over 60 server locations.
Its interface is simple and offers users a map-based screen that marks the location of the nearest VPN servers in your area. Tap on one of the servers for an option to connect or zoom out and choose a specific country to access different server regions.
Certainly, this approach has its downsides as a map UI (User Interface) can be somewhat confusing for users who are not familiar with VPNs. However, NordVPN has a “Quick Connect” button for beginners who opt for an instant and secure VPN connection based on your location.
- Private Internet Access
PIA is the leading VPN service that has been around since 2010. Currently, PIA has 3,000+ servers in more than 30 countries. It offers several features that focus on data protection and content unblocking, including DNS leak protection and IPv6 leak protection. PIA also has a connection kill switch to prevent traffic going elsewhere when VPN gets disconnected. It is possible to access services via UDP and TCP. The app has unlimited bandwidth, which can be shared by 10 devices simultaneously.
One of the main advantages PIA has over a number of other VPNs is the connection speed, which the app maintains on a stable and high level, avoiding standard issues many VPN users face.
- ExpressVPN
One of the highest-rated VPN services on our list is ExpressVPN. Great for torrenting, accessing geographically blocked content from the likes of Netflix and iPlayer, and providing a healthy mix of security tools and features, ExpressVPN premium choice for those who do not like to cut corners when it comes to their online privacy and security.
ExpressVPN allows users to connect every device connected to their network by allowing the VPN to run on a router. The company sells its own pre-configured router for those who want the least amount of hassle when setting up, but they also offer static IPs that can be used on users’ existing routers. The DNS leak prevention, Kill Switch, and Stealth Mode extend the security even further.
- Assguard
Assguard is a newcomer to the VPN market, however, this powerful app stands out as it expands regular VPN functionality to a multi-tool UX with a personalized experience. It is a painkiller for two key issues among Australian users: privacy and access to broader content. App's US Netflix feature allows you to get access to the latest titles on American Netflix. Anonymous mode is perfect for users who have privacy concerns.
What we absolutely love about Assguard is its user-friendly design. Unfortunately, the app currently available only for Android and iOS users, while other platforms are in the works.
- CyberGhost
Cyberghost is another VPN service that is both affordable and feature-packed. Coming in at less than $3 per month, CyberGhost offers an impressive list of features and services. CyberGhost is one of the more popular VPNs in Australia for torrenting and streaming, thanks to the blazing fast speeds and no-logging policy. CyberGhost is based on OpenVPN and is fully encrypted, allowing users the peace of mind they deserve.
As with the other best VPNs for Australia on this list, CyberGhost has many security features baked right in, included a Kill Switch and excellent IP leak protection.
Final Thoughts
When looking for the best VPN for Australia you don’t have to look very far. There are many fantastic options that will give you exactly what you are looking for. Every one of our picks for the best VPN for Australia comes with a complete range of security features, fast connection speeds, ample server locations, the ability to unblock popular streaming sites, and P2P connectivity.
