Best Value-for-Money VPNs for India [7 Tested Services]
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The VPN market is huge, and new offers come up every day, so it can be quite difficult to find the service that fits your needs the most.
Especially if you need to have servers close to your physical locations to maintain good connection speeds or want to access certain geo-blocked content.
Access content across the globe at the highest speed rate.
70% of our readers choose Private Internet Access
70% of our readers choose ExpressVPN
Browse the web from multiple devices with industry-standard security protocols.
Connect to thousands of servers for persistent seamless browsing.
That’s why we have prepared a list of the providers that offer the best coverage in India and come with a bunch of handy features.
7 best value-for-money VPN services for India
- ExpressVPN – fast and secure server network
- Private Internet Access – specialized servers
- CyberGhost VPN – optimal privacy and security
- Surfshark – double VPN servers
- ProtonVPN – torrenting-optimized servers
- PureVPN – numerous virtual locations in India
- NordVPN – extremely fast connection
Related:
1. ExpressVPN – RAM-only and obfuscated servers
ExpressVPN was released in 2009 and is now regarded as a household name in the industry. This is for good reason, as its performance and reliability are hard to match.
The VPN was acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021 and is registered in the British Virgin Islands – a perfect location for the privacy-focused given that it doesn’t have any data retention laws.
Boasting 3,000+ VPN servers in 150 locations in 94 countries, ExpressVPN will get you covered, no matter if you’re traveling or simply want to get rid of geo-restrictions.
While most of the VPN servers used by ExpressVPN are physical, it has virtual ones where physical operations are harder. That’s because some areas don’t offer the same level of privacy and security or fast enough speeds.
India is one example, as the service provides virtual servers there via the UK and Singapore.
Regardless of the VPN server type, ExpressVPN’s large and diverse server infrastructure will allow you to surf, stream content, play games, or engage in P2P activities at blazing-fast speeds.
Not only that, but it also ensures the best in terms of online anonymity, privacy, and security. For instance, it developed a TrustedServer Technology to use diskless servers. More specifically, its servers run on RAM memory only instead of hard drives.
This secure technology will significantly mitigate privacy and security risks, as the user’s data is erased every time the servers are rebooted.
Does ExpressVPN have obfuscated servers?
Unlike other services that let you enable obfuscation mode from the VPN client and connect to the obfuscated servers, ExpressVPN comes with automatic obfuscation for all of its servers.
Namely, when you connect to an ExpressVPN server, your data packets are automatically scrambled and unrecognizable via deep packet inspection (DPI).
As such, you can use the VPN in the most restrictive countries (e.g., China) without being detected.
ExpressVPN
If you’re looking for a VPN with many fast and secure servers along with other useful features, ExpressVPN is all you need.2. Private Internet Access – Streaming, multi-hop, and obfuscated servers
Private Internet Access (PIA) is by far the VPN with the most servers available on the market.
It is based in Denver, Colorado, USA, and operates under a strict no-logging policy, which means it doesn’t collect traffic data, nor does it share it with other parties.
PIA has more than 30,000 VPN servers in 155 locations across 83 countries, including virtual locations in India. That will give you the opportunity to browse with different IP addresses from all over the world.
PIA provides both physical and virtual VPN servers to cover as many areas as possible. It relies on a top-notch, safe, and fast infrastructure.
Thus, no matter the location, you’ll enjoy ultra-security and high connection speeds.
Does PIA have physical servers in India?
Unfortunately, since the introduction of the No. 20(3)/2022-CERT-In directive, which went into effect in June 2022, PIA no longer has physical servers in India.
To comply with the government’s rules but also ensure its clients’ privacy and security, the company was forced to remove them. Now, it only operates virtual locations via Singapore.
Private Internet Access
Say goodbye to geo-blocking, data leaks, or cyberattacks by connecting to the fast and secure VPN servers offered by PIA.3. CyberGhost VPN – Streaming, gaming, and torrenting servers
CyberGhost VPN is, without a doubt, a top VPN whose trustworthiness is confirmed by its 36+ million satisfied customers worldwide.
Thanks to its strong performance, this VPN service enjoys many positive reviews and is constantly considered a top VPN recommendation for various purposes.
CyberGhost is owned by Kape Technologies, which also owns other popular VPN products, such as ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and NordVPN.
The VPN has its corporate headquarters in Bucharest, Romania, which means that you shouldn’t be concerned about privacy risks. The country doesn’t have compulsory data retention laws, nor does it take part in any intelligence-sharing alliances like the Five Eyes or the Fourteen Eyes.
CyberGhost VPN offers 9,000+ VPN servers in 114 locations in 91 countries. What’s more, despite India’s strict restrictions on cyberspace, this provider has 29 virtual servers in Mumbai.
In general, its servers are incredibly fast and highly secure (all of them run on RAM), and they’re also excellent at spoofing your location so you can surf anonymously and privately.
Also, CyberGhost VPN offers specialized servers for streaming, gaming, and torrenting.
For an extra fee, CyberGhost VPN lets you connect to its NoSpy Servers, which are part of its data center in Bucharest and are independently operated by CyberGhost.
They ensure total privacy by keeping any third parties or intruders at bay. Also, they use super high premium hardware, have dedicated uplink, and offer higher bandwidth and speeds.
Does CyberGhost VPN have a free trial?
CyberGhost VPN is one of the very few VPN services that offer a full free premium trial both for mobile and desktop apps.
However, the desktop free trial for Windows and macOS is only available for 24 hours, whereas the trial for iOS and Android lasts seven days.
CyberGhost VPN
Surf privately, stream restricted content, evade detection, or lower your ping by connecting to the CyberGhost VPN servers.4. Surfshark – MultiHop, Static IP, and obfuscated servers
Launched in 2018, Surfshark has become an established brand in the industry and fulfills all the necessary requirements for a versatile VPN solution.
The cybersecurity company behind it is Surfshark, which also offers other privacy and security solutions. For example, Antivirus, a data leak detection system, a private search tool, and an automated personal data removal system.
Surfshark has a strict no-logging policy and is located in the Netherlands. Given that the country doesn’t have mandatory data retention legislation, users will enjoy total privacy.
The VPN provider offers a very generous server network of 3,000+ servers in 135 locations across 93 countries. It also has 50 virtual servers in two locations in India. That definitely ranks it among the best value-for-money VPNs for India.
Moreover, no matter what server you choose to connect to, Surfshark will shield you from trackers, surveillance, and cybercrime.
If you wish to further strengthen your security and privacy, Surfshark includes MultiHop (double VPN) servers that encrypt your data twice. As a result, these servers are very effective at evading government tracking.
When it comes to speed and geo-blocking, you can confidently rely on Surfshark to enjoy smooth and fast browsing sessions and unblock restricted content in your area hassle-free.
Does Surfshark offer static IPs?
Yes, Surfshark actually includes static servers that will give you a Static IP that will remain the same even when you connect multiple times to the same VPN server location.
Surfshark
Surfshark’s many fast servers, advanced security, and strong privacy will help you surf like a shark.5. ProtonVPN – Streaming, P2P, and multi-hop servers
ProtonVPN appeared in an effort to help Internet users fight against online censorship and make online privacy and security accessible to anyone around the world.
The VPN service was created in 2017, and its history traces back to 2014 when ProtonMail (a highly reputed encrypted email service) was launched.
Proton AG is an employee-owned company that operates both services. Its headquarters are in Switzerland, which has a privacy-friendly jurisdiction that does not force the VPN provider to retain your data.
Not only does it come with 1,751 servers in 90 locations in 66 countries but also with top-of-the-line performance that will let you surf privately and safely. With it, you can get rid of bandwidth throttling and access geo-blocked content at home or while traveling.
As for India, the provider was forced to remove its physical servers in September 2022 to ensure its clients’ privacy and now operates virtual locations via Singapore.
What’s more, ProtonVPN also has a multi-hop feature available with its Secure Core servers. So, with this feature, your data will pass through multiple nodes, increasing your privacy and protection.
Besides, ProtonVPN is part of a short list of VPN services that offer specialized servers for certain online activities. For example, it has dedicated servers for streaming, P2P, and Tor.
Therefore, you may connect to them to unblock streaming platforms such as Netflix, share torrent files securely, or reroute your traffic via the Tor network to enjoy increased privacy.
Does ProtonVPN have any free servers?
Yes, the good news is that ProtonVPN does have free servers you can connect to and enjoy the same protection as you would with the premium ones.
However, if you choose to stick with the free plan, you will only have access to around 100 VPN servers in three countries (the USA, the Netherlands, and Japan). So it won’t work for India.
In addition, the speed will be medium, and only one connection at a time will be allowed.
ProtonVPN
Try ProtonVPN for free or get a premium plan to access any of its servers, unblock all features, and secure multiple devices.6. PureVPN – Streaming, P2P, and Quantum-Resistant servers
PureVPN was started in 2006 by two young Pakistani graduates as a bootstrapped project with limited resources but with the intent of taking user privacy to the next level.
However, it has evolved over the years into a full-fledged VPN service that now serves more than three million users worldwide. That’s because it managed to continuously develop itself and adapt to the current trends in the cybersecurity field.
The name of the company owning PureVPN is GZ Systems Limited. Initially based in Hong Kong, the VPN provider changed its headquarters to the British Virgin Islands in 2021.
This new location will ensure the same high level of privacy given that local laws do not enforce data retention, nor does the country participate in any international signal alliances.
PureVPN guarantees it does not store identifiable connection logs, IP addresses, or browsing activity.
PureVPN offers 6,500+ servers in 95 locations in 77 countries, along with a high network bandwidth of up to 20 Gbit. It also has over 45 virtual servers in Chennai City, placing it among the best value-for-money VPNs for India.
Besides, it includes streaming and P2P servers that will let you watch content without buffering and engage in torrenting activities securely without worrying about throttling. Also, the VPN clients show the ping values for each location to help you select the optimal servers.
Another special PureVPN feature is the quantum encryption keys that can protect you from quantum computing threats.
Currently, PureVPN offers Quantum-Resistant servers in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Singapore.
Does PureVPN have a free trial?
If you want to test the waters before making an investment, PureVPN comes with a very generous seven-day free trial.
That will let you enjoy all the benefits that come with a premium plan, including access to all VPN servers and locations, enterprise-level security, and ten simultaneous connections.
PureVPN
Are you tired of constant geo-blocks? Pick the right PureVPN server, connect to it, and start using the Internet without barriers.7. NordVPN – Streaming, P2P, and MultiHop
With an impressive set of features and a huge server fleet, NordVPN continues to be one of the top providers. This Panama-based VPN has been on the market since 2012 and has attracted over 14 million users since then.
We tested its performance in various areas for this list, and the results were very satisfactory. The service is fast and uses top-notch encryption to ensure the best privacy and security.
Furthermore, NordVPN has its own VPN protocol called NordLynx. It can maintain high speeds without compromising data security.
The provider also has a big network of 5,730 VPN servers in 50 countries around the world. Nord currently has no servers in India, but there are some nearby locations that’ll perform fantastically for you.
We tested its performance with all popular streaming services and had no trouble unlocking all of them. NordVPN is also a good option for torrenting and P2P sharing.
Lastly, NordVPN lets you connect from up to 6 devices simultaneously.
Does NordVPN have a free trial?
While there isn’t a free trial version of NordVPN, you can use its 30-day money-back guarantee to test the service. If you decide it’s not what you’re looking for, you can get a full refund without any questions.
NordVPN
Nord’s diverse features make it equally suited for streaming and high-level data protection.What else should I consider when choosing a VPN?
Apart from servers, there are other VPN features you should take into account when purchasing a VPN service. Below, we briefly described each of these important features.
➡️Logging policy: Some VPNs log users’ online activity, such as browsing history, connection times, or IP addresses. So, you should get a service with a strict no-logs policy to enjoy full privacy.
➡️VPN apps: Native apps for desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) and mobile (Android, iOS) devices ensure that you can use them with no hiccups.
➡️Connection: You probably want to install and use the VPN on multiple devices or share your subscription with others. Then, you’ll need a service that allows multiple simultaneous connections.
➡️Encryption: Strong encryption is vital for a secure connection with the VPN server. As such, you should choose a VPN that uses either the industry-standard AES or the ChaCha20.
➡️Protocols: They determine how the VPN tunnel is formed and are necessary for authentication and encryption. OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec, L2TP/IPSec, or SSTP are the fastest and safest.
➡️Other features: Port forwarding, static IPs, dedicated IPs, ad and malware blockers, browser extensions, smart DNS, kill switch, split tunneling, multi-hop, obfuscation, and built-in speed tests are other useful VPN features you might need.
Wrap Up
It’s important when probing the market to find the right VPN that you take notice of all the information related to the VPN servers available in the countries you need to access.
Consequently, while the size of the VPN server network matters, it’s also worth considering other details regarding the server infrastructure and coverage.
Hopefully, our list of the seven best value-for-money VPNs for India will help you find what you need.
We did the research and tests, so you can be sure all of the recommended services fulfill the performance requirements for a flawless experience.
