5 Best VPN Services to Stay Safe Online in Australia in 2025
Keep your personal data private with our top picks on VPN services you can install right now.
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As the number of digital scams and corporate data breaches continues to rise, keeping your personal data private and secure is becoming more important.
In 2024, Australians reported losing over $318 million in scams, and that’s only counting the numbers that were actually reported.
When it comes to online scams, a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, can help protect your personal data and browsing data while online. It won’t make you completely scam-proof, but it can go a long way towards making sure that your personal data stays personal, particularly when you connect to free Public Wi-Fi.
Some VPNs will also alert you when your personal information has been part of a major data breach, so you can make sure you update your passwords or delete your accounts.
But what VPN is best for your needs? That will depend on exactly what you’re after. We’ve rounded up six of the most popular VPN services in Australia and compared them to help make your decision easier.
WHAT IS A VPN?
A VPN is like a private tunnel for your internet traffic. It hides your real location and identity (or IP address) from the websites you visit, hackers who want to steal your data, your internet provider, and your government.
When you use a VPN, your data is encrypted and travels to a remote server before you get to your digital destination. It effectively makes it look like you are visiting from the VPN’s server instead of the one you are on, and because it’s encrypted, it means your data stays private.
This is particularly useful when you’re using public Wi-Fi networks that don’t offer security, or if you need to access company files securely from outside the office. But it’s also a good idea for everyone in today’s world of major data breaches and online scams.
BEST VPNS TO TRY
NordVPN
What you need to know
NordVPN offers an exceptionally sleek, effortless user interface that makes connection easy. But its simplicity doesn’t mean it lacks features.
Instead, NordVPN offers a comprehensive suite of features, from a Kill Switch function that stops apps running when you disconnect from the VPN, to recognising safe networks and only connecting when you join an unfamiliar network. With most subscriptions, you also get anti-malware features and a password manager app included.
NordVPN offers some enticing offers for new customers, but be aware the price jumps significantly once that initial subscription period is over.
ExpressVPN, from $3.49 per month
ExpressVPN
What you need to know
ExpressVPN stands out as a premium VPN option thanks to its exceptional speed performance and military-grade security, backed by a verified no-logs policy. Unlike cheaper competitors, it focuses on quality over quantity with its optimised server network, offering seamless cross-platform performance and 24/7 support.
Ideal for remote workers and privacy-conscious professionals who need guaranteed performance, ExpressVPN is for users willing to pay premium prices for premium results. While its middle and premium tiers are pricier than alternatives like SurfShark or PIA, you get superior speed, security, and reliability that justifies the higher cost.
SurfShark, from $3.19 per month
SurfShark
What you need to know
SurfShark offers premium performance, with the convenience of unlimited device connections. You get fast speeds, military-grade encryption, and comprehensive security features like a strict no-logs policy, double VPN and a rotating IP address that changes your IP address every few minutes without dropping your connection.
Perfect for families and multi-device households who need to protect multiple smartphones, laptops, and tablets simultaneously, Surfshark offers thousands of servers across 100 different countries. Its prices do jump significantly after the launch subscription period, so be careful around renewal time.
Proton VPN
What you need to know
Proton VPN delivers top-tier speeds with Swiss-grade privacy protection, operating under Switzerland’s strict data protection laws. It also maintains complete transparency with open-source code and regular security audits for customers’ peace of mind.
You get robust no-logs verification, advanced Perfect Forward Secrecy, and Secure Core servers that route traffic through privacy-friendly countries, plus a genuinely useful free tier that doesn’t compromise on security fundamentals.
Perfect for privacy-conscious users, Proton VPN offers strong performance across a focused server network. Monthly pricing beyond the free plan runs higher than budget alternatives, and the server network is a bit smaller than mass-market competitors.
Private internet Access (PIA), from $2.79 per month
Private Internet Access
What you need to know
Private internet Access (PIA) is great for mobile users, with intuitive mobile apps, backed by one of the largest server networks in the industry. You get lots of customisation options, competitive pricing, and solid performance without breaking the bank.
Perfect for casual users and mobile-first customers, PIA offers good value for money. If you’re focused on the privacy/security credentials of the VPN, PIA’s US jurisdiction may not be ideal, and speeds may not achieve the same heights as top-tier services. But PIA provides dependable, straightforward protection with extensive server options and budget-friendly pricing.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A VPN
No-logs policy: This means the VPN provider doesn’t track or store your browsing history, protecting your privacy in all situations.
Strong encryption: Look for AES-256 encryption and protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard, which scramble your data so thoroughly that it would take centuries to crack.
Speed and reliability: Good VPNs maintain 80-90% of your original internet speed, while poor ones cut speeds in half.
Ease of use: Complicated setup leads to misconfigured security or people not using the VPN. Look for one-click connections to ensure you’ll actually stay protected.
Server network: More servers (3,000+) across diverse locations (50+ countries) means faster speeds, better streaming options, and reliable backup connections.
Customer support: If you need help with setup or connection issues, 24/7 live chat beats waiting days for email responses.
Value for money: Compare features, device connections, and performance against cost — don’t pay $12/month if a $3 option offers the same protection.
Kill switch feature: Automatically shuts down apps if the VPN drops, preventing your real IP address from leaking during brief disconnections.
Multi-device support: Protect all your smartphones, laptops, tablets, and smart TVs without paying per device or choosing what to leave vulnerable.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ARE VPNS LEGAL TO USE?
Yes, it is perfectly legal to use a VPN in Australia. However, using a VPN to hide illegal behaviour doesn’t make that illegal behaviour less illegal. But using a VPN to protect your privacy and improve your digital security is not only legal, it’s a good idea.
WILL A VPN SLOW DOWN MY INTERNET?
The short answer is yes, a VPN will slow down your internet because it encrypts all your traffic and pushes all your traffic through a virtual server. However, a good quality VPN can still deliver speeds up to 90% of your normal internet speed, so you will barely notice its impact on performance.
DO I NEED A VPN IF I ONLY BROWSE ON SECURE WEBSITES?
Most websites these days use HTTPS, which protects private data from being broadcast to everyone, and is a useful start for safer browsing. But a VPN will encrypt and protect all your data from hackers, your ISP and others. It’s particularly useful if you connect to unsecured wireless networks while you travel, for example.
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Nick Broughall has been reviewing the latest technology and gadgets for over two decades. He’s edited leading Australian technology publications like Gizmodo, TechRadar and Finder; was a co-founder of gadget site EFTM and currently runs BTTR.reviews. He is a regular finalist in the Australian IT Journalism awards, and won the Best Reviewer award in 2016. These days, he tries to balance his gadget addictions with board games and bushwalking.
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