5 Best Canada Vpns For Streaming Speed Privacy 2023

We’ll also cover some Virtual Private Networks to avoid and explain why.

See also: How to get a Canadian IP address

We’ll tell you how and why we chose the best Canada VPNs below, but if you don’t want to read on, here are our top picks:

These are the 5 best VPN service providers for Canada:

• NordVPN Our top recommendation for Canada. Offers top-notch security, exceptionally high speeds, and fantastic unblocking ability, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Surfshark This highly affordable provider works great in Canada, allows any number of connections, and unblocks a ton of popular services. Keeps no logs.
• ExpressVPN  Robust security, works with most major streaming sites like Netflix, and provides consistently fast speeds.
• CyberGhost Unblocks major streaming services while offering great security and fast servers.
• PrivateVPN Fast speeds and can access pretty much anything, including US Netflix and Canadian Netflix from abroad.
• Atlas VPN: Provides servers in dozens of countries such as the US and Canada. Consistent unblocker with fast speeds and MultiHop servers.

There are hundreds of VPNs, however not all are trustworthy and dependable. In this article, we’ll review the best VPNs for Canada based on the following criteria:

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

See also: How to watch Canadian TV abroad

Best VPNs for Canada – at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Canada.

Best VPNs Canada

Here’s a list of the best VPNs for Canada:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023                    

Apps Available:

• PC
• Mac
• IOS
• Android
• Linux
• Background
• FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

NordVPN boasts a true zero-logs policy, meaning it doesn’t even record metadata about how you use the VPN service. It also features military-grade encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch that halts all internet traffic in the event of a dropped connection. The company is incorporated in Panama, which has no mandatory data retention laws. Law enforcement has even confiscated NordVPN servers in the past to no avail–there was nothing there to find.

Apps are available for Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, and Android.

NordVPN speed test data

BEST VPN FOR CANADA:NordVPN is our #1 pick.. This no-logs service boasts rock-solid security and blazing fast connection speeds, plus it works reliably in Canada. Still not sure? Try it risk-free thanks to NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

• Fastest VPN around
• Unblocks a wide variety of popular streaming platforms
• Strong encryption and no user logs make for top security and privacy
• Allows 6 simultaneous connections on one account

Cons:

• Desktop apps can be sluggish at times

Our score:

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

• PC
• Mac
• IOS
• Android
• Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark uses strong encryption and keeps no connection logs. A kill switch in the app prevents unencrypted traffic from leaking onto your network if the VPN connection falters. 24/7 live chat support is available.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.

Surfshark speed test data

BEST BUDGET VPN:Access Netflix and other region-locked sites on all the desktop and mobile devices in your household for a very low price. Surfshark even comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• Works with Netflix US, UK, and others

• Offers 24/7 live chat

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• Server network coverage is smaller than most other VPNs

• Some slow download speeds

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands which, in case you were wondering, is an independent country not within the UK’s jurisdiction. It boasts best-in-class data security standards including 256-bit AES encryption, 4,096-bit RSA keys, SHA256 authentication, and perfect forward secrecy. It logs some non-identifying metadata like what date (not time) you used the VPN service and how long you used it for, but does not record what you do online or your IP address.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and certain wifi routers.

ExpressVPN speed test data

FAST AND VERSATILE:ExpressVPN is great for Canada. It has vast server network coverage that is optimized for high-speed secure connections, plus it’s hard to beat on privacy and online security. Also offers a 30-day no-quibbles money-back guarantee.

• Best for use inside Canada or for accessing Canadian sites from abroad

• Headquartered outside of the Five Eyes and offers strong user data protections and excellent security

• Over 3,000 super-fast servers operating in over 90 countries

• No internet usage logs are retained

• Not the cheapest in this list

• Doesn’t offer much control over advanced features

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost was originally developed in Germany and later relocated to Romania. Recently, however, CyberGhost was acquired by an Israeli firm registered in the UK, a member of the five eyes. This might be cause for concern for some users, but the company says it plans to remain a standalone company in Romania. On top of that, it maintains a strict no-logs policy. Even registration details aren’t registered, and new subscribers are instead given an anonymous user ID.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux and Android. Subscribers can connect up to seven devices at the same time.

CyberGhost speed test data

Beginner Friendly Apps:CyberGhost is fast and affordable and easy to use. Great privacy policy with zero logs and DNS leak protection. Unblocks popular video streaming platforms. 45-day money-back guarantee.

• Reliable, low-cost choice for Canada

• We found their apps easy to install and use

• No issues accessing US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more

• Testing revealed impressive server speeds

• Torrenting and P2P won’t work on all servers

• Few customizable options

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review.

5. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.

PrivateVPN speed test data

GREAT SPEED:PrivateVPN is a good family choice Allows up to 6 devices. Easy to use with excellent privacy and high download speeds. It also unblocks most streaming sites and is suitable for torrenting. Lacks 24/7 support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

• Another low-cost option for Canadians

• Operated from Sweden which is outside of the Five Eyes

• Strong security and privacy features and stable speeds

• Small but growing network of server locations

• Live chat is not around the clock

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

6. Atlas VPN

• PC
• Mac
• IOS
• Android
• Background
• FireTV

Website: www.atlasvpn.com

Atlas VPN is an increasingly popular provide that, having launched in 2020, has quickly grown its server network. You’ll find servers worldwide in countries including the US and Canada. The fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth make for seamless streaming and you can connect all of your devices simultaneously. Atlas VPN works well with many geo-restricted streaming services, Netflix and Prime Video included.

It’s worth knowing that Atlas VPN offers many extra security features such as MultiHop servers which provide two layers of encryption. There’s even a malware and tracker blocker. Of course, you can expect essentials including 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. Concerned about your online privacy? Atlas VPN doesn’t keep any logs by which you can be identified.

AtlasVPN speed test data

STRONG UNBLOCKER:AtlasVPN is a great choice if you regularly travel abroad thanks to its strong unblocking. Stream Netflix from anywhere lag-free with Atlas VPN’s fast servers. Unlimited devices and MultiHop. 30-day money-back guarantee

• Very good server speeds so you can stream lag-free

• Works well with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more

• MultiHop servers provide an extra layer of security

• Smaller server network than most of the other VPNs listed

• Doesn’t provide support for routers

Read our full Atlas VPN review.

Canada VPN Methodology

Finding a VPN with Canadian servers, apps for mobile devices and desktop computers, and strong privacy and security features is not easy. There are hundreds of VPNs on the market and they all claim to be the best, fastest, or most secure. The reality is that most VPNs offer an inferior service that is lacking and does not provide value for money.

At Comparitech, we test dozens of reputable VPNs to check how they compare. We use a carefully produced VPN testing methodology to review and compare each service. This allows us to find the best Canada VPNs, and many other distinct use cases. Below, we have included some of the most important features we looked for when curating a list of the best Canada VPNs.

Why use a VPN in Canada?

When we think of online surveillance, the first image that comes to mind is probably an American one. The US is prominent in this debate because it got caught and because it’s a big country with a lot of economic and military power. But it’s far from the only country to employ the sorts of surveillance that toe–and sometimes cross–the line between national security and overreach into the lives of ordinary citizens a la 1984‘s Big Brother. One of those countries is Canada, thanks in large part to the 2015 Anti-Terrorism Act that allowed intelligence agencies to gather and share information in much the same way as the NSA.

The underlying problem with these laws and surveillance programs is that they gather information on people regardless of whether that person is a criminal or not, and they disproportionately affect certain groups of people such as reporters, activists, and immigrants.

All of the options in our list of the best VPNs for Canada will also protect your data when connected to public wi-fi. Unsecured wifi hotspots can allow hackers to intercept your internet traffic and carry out attacks. A VPN’s encryption will prevent this from happening.

Read more: Canada’s data retention, mass surveillance, and net neutrality laws explained

Can I watch Netflix, Hulu, and HBO with a VPN?

Besides online privacy and security, VPN service providers offer another useful benefit: unblocking geo-locked sites and services. Whenever you connect to a VPN, your real IP address is masked by that of the VPN server. An IP address is a unique string of numbers and decimals that can be used to identify specific devices and their approximate location. So by changing your IP address to the US, for example, you can access content that’s normally restricted to US residents.

Are Canada VPNs legal?

Yes, VPNs are 100 percent legal in Canada. There are no laws barring VPN use in any Canadian province.

It should go without saying that what you do while connected to the VPN is still your responsibility. We do not encourage or condone illegal or harmful behavior.

What VPN has Canada for free?

We generally advise readers to avoid free VPN services. If security and online privacy are a concern to you, consider that free VPNs still need to make money somehow. To do this, they often record usage activity, insert advertisements into web pages, and inject tracking cookies into web browsers. This defeats the purpose of a VPN when it comes to privacy.

Free VPNs also tend to have a much more limited selection of server locations, waiting queues, user data caps, and bandwidth limits.

In some cases, shady free VPN apps have been known to spread malware. Some are expected of being honeypots for intelligence agencies and law enforcement.

VPNs that Canadians should avoid

There are many Canadian VPNs out there and we can’t cover all of them, but you may have come across a few in your search that should definitely be avoided.

PureVPN

PureVPN recently came under heavy scrutiny after the Hong Kong-based VPN handed over logs to American authorities that led to the arrest of one of its users. While we don’t condone the man’s behavior–he was charged with stalking–we also don’t condone logging from a supposedly log-less VPN. PureVPN says it only handed over IP addresses and timestamps to authorities, not actual records of online activity, but it was enough to land a user in jail. None of the Canada VPNs we recommend above log users’ real IP addresses.

Hola

Hola VPN isn’t a normal VPN. Instead, it uses a peer-to-peer browser extension with few centralized servers. That means your internet passes through other people’s households. A few years ago, Hola hijacked its users computers without their consent to create a massive botnet army. It went on to use that army to carry out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and distribute pirated media.

TunnelBear

When it comes to free VPN service providers, TunnelBear is among the best. But because it’s incorporated in Canada, Canadians ought to avoid it. While the law is unclear as to whether Canadian VPN providers qualify as internet service providers, it’s best not to take a chance. The company could be forced to hand over customer data by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Torrenting is also prohibited on TunnelBear servers.

SurfEasy and Opera VPN

For the same reason we can’t recommend TunnelBear, we also suggest Canadians avoid SurfEasy and Opera VPN. SurfEasy is based in Canada and thus possibly subject to government demands for user information. The Opera browser now comes with a built-in VPN that was created by SurfEasy. Furthermore, SurfEasy has not been entirely transparent with us about its encryption standards.

Torrenting in Canada

Torrenting copyrighted material is illegal in Canada.

Under the Copyright Modernization Act, Canada utilizes a notice-and-notice system that primarily targets people who torrent copyrighted movies, TV shows, books, and music. The law requires Canadian ISPs send notices to copyright violators on their networks. The recipients’ identities are stored on ISP servers for six months.

Damages are capped at $5,000, however the policy is generally regarded as more educational than punitive.

Comparitech does not encourage or endorse copyright violation, but using a VPN for torrenting will prevent ISPs and copyright trolls from monitoring P2P filesharing activity and tracing it back to you.

• Sign up for one of the VPNs recommended above.
• Download and install the VPN app onto the device that you want to stream CBC on.
• Open the VPN app and select a server in Canada
• Connect to the VPN server.
• Open the CBC website or app and start watching!

Note that not all VPNs are proxies. The sort of business VPN a remote employee might use to securely access office apps and documents probably doesn’t route traffic to the internet as well. But most consumer VPNs used for privacy and unblocking, such as those we recommend in this article, function as encrypted proxies to the web.

NordVPN, for example, operates 480+ servers in Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto.

Surfshark and ExpressVPN also have servers in those three Canadian cities. However, they do not disclose the exact number. What we know for sure, is that Express has around 3000 servers in total. Surfshark has 3200+ servers all together and a representative told us they usually have at least 30 to 40 servers in each city.

The VPN that comes closest to NordVPN in terms of numbers is CyberGhost, which has 336 servers in three Canadian cities (also Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver).

Currently, IPVanish, NordVPN, and Surfshark provide the fastest speeds on the market. This makes those three VPNS the best for playing games. All three of those options provide WireGuard connections (NordVPN provides NordLynx, which is a proprietary fork of WireGuard) a VPN protocol designed to be extra fast.

That said, if you want the very best option, we would recommend sticking with our top recommendation NordVPN. It provides the best possible security features, and the widest range of features, at an extremely fair and affordable cost.

The good news is that there’s an easy way around this kind of restriction. If you connect to a Canadian VPN server, all of your traffic will appear to be coming from within Canada. This makes VPNs a quick and effective way to regain access to your usual content while traveling abroad.