1. Top 3 at a glance
2. Best Germany VPN overall
3. Best VPN with antivirus
4. Best cheap VPN
5. Best of the rest
6. How to pick a Germany VPN
7. FAQs
Guten tag! Traveling to Germany or a native abroad? One of the best VPN is a worthy travel companion to have in your arsenal in order to keep your device secure on public networks and guarantee access to your preferred streaming platforms.
That's because a VPN for Germany is security software that both spoofs your IP address and encrypts all your internet connections. It then boosts your security and online anonymity when browsing, while it tricking your device into thinking you're elsewhere. The latter skills will grant you access to all your favorite streaming content when traveling while bypassing any other geo-blocks.
Germany VPNs aren't made equal, though. Luckily, experts at TechRadar have 15 years of experience testing hundreds of software to recommend only the best on the market. Keep reading as I compare features and performances of my top five picks VPNs for Germany right now.
The three best Germany VPNs at a glance
Recent updates
This update saw no significant differences between our top picks, but we adjusted the page structure and layout. We also double-checked the pricing, deals, server locations, and unblocking capabilities to make sure the information on this page was as accurate and up-to-date as possible.
Top 5 best Germany VPNs 2024
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Below I compare my top pick VPNs for Germany, giving details on how they performed in my most recent tests, and what I liked (and disliked) about each provider.
The best Germany VPN overall
✔️ You want easy-to-use apps: thanks to a fresh and modern design, ExpressVPN's apps are easy to navigate even if you're totally new to the world of VPNs.
✔️ You value big international coverage: with servers dotted across 105 countries, you'll have no trouble unblocking content at home and on holiday.
✔️ You need a VPN you can trust: ExpressVPN sets the bar for security, with regular audits and a no-logs policy that ensures your information is always in safe hands.
❌ You're on a tight budget: despite being stuffed with features, ExpressVPN is a pricey option—we recommend checking out Surfshark for a more affordable alternative.
❌ You need a full security suite: ExpressVPN is a solid service that focuses on being the best VPN, but it does lack a built-in antivirus solution.
🔒 ExpressVPN is my top pick for Germany, and pretty much everywhere else. See why it claimed the #1 spot with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
For the best Germany VPN, ExpressVPN takes the title thanks to its ability to tick all our boxes across the board. Excellent for geo-unblocking, it hosts a number of great clients across all the devices you could possibly want to equip with a VPN.
With sleek apps that are a pleasure to use—now even on Apple TV—its smartphone apps certainly lead the charge. They are attractively designed and easy to use, optimized with the best features and overall performance. Its very own Lightway protocol delivers some improved server speeds last time we checked, too, with peaks of 750Mbps. Despite being far from being the fastest service still, these results are more than enough to stream HD or 4K content and carry out any other online activities without buffering.
► Try ExpressVPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
When it comes to streaming, it offers consistent unblocking performances across all major streaming platforms. It even ticks DAZN, ORF, ProSieben, and other German channels off its list. Unfortunately, we experienced some issues with a few Netflix libraries last time we checked. However, Express' exceptional 24/7 customer support was really helpful to quickly assist us to locate the best server to use.
In terms of security, you'll find the industry standard 256-bit encryption, a powerful kill switch, DNS and WebRTC leak test and more. The in-house developed Lightway protocol is now open-sourced and fully available on all apps, and connecting through it increases speed and reliability even further.
With its last feature-packed update, the provider even enlarged its server network, among other things. It now counts over 3,000 servers across 105 countries worldwide. Its device allowance got a boost, too, passing from 5 to 8 allowed simultaneous connections with one subscription.
With the ability to sign up and make use of its risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee, TechRadar readers can also enjoy three months free with their 1-year subscription...
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Apps are fresh and fun, no matter which device you're using | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Features are easy to find and use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | A speedy provider, but slower than NordVPN | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more with ease | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Packed with security features and robust encryption | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | 24/7 live chat support never disappoints | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | A pricey pick, but feature-rich | ⭐⭐⭐ |
The best Germany VPN with antivirus
✔️ You're a big Netflix fan: NordVPN does an awesome job at unblocking Netflix libraries from around the world, including Canada, the US, the UK and even Japan.
✔️ You want a solid all-rounder: With a long list of features and tough encryption, NordVPN is the total package—and won't break the bank.
✔️ You value top speed: NordVPN currently tops my list of the fastest VPNs, making it ideal for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and hopping into video calls.
❌ You are a mobile-first user: The NordVPN apps have a sleek design and work perfectly fine, but I found the map-based interface to be tricky to use on smaller screens.
❌ You want to secure many devices: NordVPN has a six devices allowance which should be enough for most, but other providers are certainly more generous.
🔒 NordVPN is the perfect mix of functionality, performance, and price, and a huge name in the world of VPNs. Put its 30-day money-back guarantee to good use and see why it's such a close runner-up.
As Germany VPNs go, NordVPN's big network of over 6,000 servers includes 240+ based in Germany across Berlin and Frankfurt. That's a pretty hefty proportion and certainly the biggest of our top five providers picked here. A 'zero logs' policy regularly audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers makes NordVPN a great shout for those after a secure and private Germany VPN.
Offering features like its Double VPN tool and built-in antivirus as well as Threat Protection for ad and malware blocking, there's also its use of obfuscated servers, split tunneling, and DNS leak tests to keep your sensitive information under wraps. It does all this and more at great speed, too. It placed itself among the fastest VPN services last time we checked, reaching peaks of 950+Mbps when connected to its proprietary NordLynx protocol.
▶ Try NordVPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
It's a great streaming VPN option. Able to crack all the streaming giants, including Netflix (in US, UK, Australia, and more), Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus, that's good news for national broadcasters in Germany, too, including ZDF, Sky Go, and ProSieben.
Admittedly, the service has a few downsides—one of them being the relatively stingy amount of simultaneous connections. Six might not be enough to cover a whole household of devices. Having said that, you can easily bypass this limit thanks to its new Meshnet feature (which is now free for all users) as it allows you to create a secure private network that secures up to 60 devices at once.
I'm also not a huge fan of its server map-interface as I find it a bit tricky to navigate on smaller screens—but that's a rather personal judgement. More affordable than ExpressVPN, also NordVPN offers the same 30-day money back guarantee so you can try it for yourself completely risk-free.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Apps look great, but can feel busy on some devices | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Most features are easy to find and use, though the map interface can be off-putting | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | The quickest VPN I've tested | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Unblocks a wealth of content via Netflix and more | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Tough encryption, double kill switch, and transparent audits | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | Live chat support is quick to respond and professional | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | Low-cost plans pack a lot of value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
The best cheap Germany VPN
✔️ You're a bargain hunter: Surfshark is a low-cost provider that holds its own against its premium counterparts—for a fraction of the price.
✔️ You have a lot of devices: secure all of your favorite gadgets, and your friends and family's devices, with unlimited simultaneous connections.
✔️ You need an inexpensive security suite: just like NordVPN, Surfshark comes with a stacked roster of privacy-enhancing tools.
❌ You need an infallible kill switch: I was able to break the Surfshark kill switch during my testing, which probably won't happen in real life, but is still a concern.
❌ You need advanced customization options: for specific features that are not available in Surfshark, we advise looking into NordVPN.
🔒 Surfshark proves that a premium VPN doesn't need to come with a premium price tag. See why it's my favorite budget option with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
One of the cheapest VPNs around, Surfshark goes big on what it can offer with 3,200+ servers based across 100 countries. In Germany, its Berlin and Frankfurt-based servers allow for Private DNS, its Camouflage Mode (essentially hiding the fact you're using a VPN), OpenVPN TCP/UDP, WireGuard, and browser extension support.
Its commitment to privacy is also clear considering that its network based in Frankfurt is a MultiHop server, which allows you to connect to the UK before looping back to Germany. In short, it's effectively a Double VPN, which means double the security, connecting to two servers at once. It even recently aced an independent audit of its no-log claims, too.
▶ Try Surfshark with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Once again, Surfshark topped among the fastest VPN during our last round of testing when connected with the WireGuard protocol. However, its top speeds were below average with OpenVPN.
Surshark's ability to unblock content from foreign TV streaming catalogs is strong, too, easily unlocking the likes of BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus as well as Netflix in the UK, Canada, Australia and even Japan last time we checked.
It's worth noting that I did uncover some issues with the Surfshark kill switch. These occurred only on Windows and under extreme conditions, so nothing to worry about if you are a Mac VPN or mobile-first user.
Overall, Surfshark gives you plenty of bang for your buck as it comes as little as around $2 a month. What's more, it offers excellent 24/7 support including live chat. With unlimited connections, you can equip all your devices with Surfshark (and share with your family members, too).
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | A fresh, modern design that's easy on the eyes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Straightforward and intuitive | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | A super-fast service ideal for streaming in HD | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Unblocks in-demand services from around the world | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Come with ad and malware blocking, but kill switch has issues | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | Customer support is friendly and fast, though support articles could be improved | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | Budget-friendly and excellent value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
The best of the rest
✔️ You want a free VPN without limits: Some free services impose harsh data caps and monthly limits—Proton VPN's free plan bucks the trend.
✔️ You want a privacy-focused VPN: Proton VPN has an array of security tools, and is an audited no-logs service.
✔️ You're a Linux user: Proton VPN is one of a handful of services that supports Linux with a full GUI.
❌ You value fast speeds: Proton VPN can handle HD streaming, but its connection speeds can't keep up with NordVPN.
❌ You rely on customer support: you'll only be able to reach the Proton VPN support team during business hours (9am to 5pm), which is a bit disappointing.
🔒 Proton VPN has made a name for itself amongst privacy purists for its watertight apps, unblocking power, and awesome free plan—so you can try it for yourself without parting with a penny.
Proton VPN is a bit of a triple threat when it comes to a valiant option for your Germany VPN—especially if you're really into protecting your privacy. For starters, the provider packs independently audited and open-source apps, and I couldn't find a single tracker on its website the last time I checked. What's more, Proton VPN even recently built the "world-first" censorship-resistant CAPTCHA system.
Offering unlimited data, its free VPN isn't one to be sniffed at. Despite its dedicated streaming and P2P servers being available for premium users only, the provider is now offering a boosted free coverage counting over 100 servers across the US, the Netherlands, and Japan.
▶ Try Proton VPN's unlimited free plan.
With servers based in both Berlin and Frankfurt when you pay to access its full network (400+ on Basic, of which 19 are in Germany, or 1,600+ with 55 on its Plus plan), paid subscribers can even opt for its Secure Core network for extra security.
We also found that it unblocks Netflix in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. It'll also unblock Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer without issue, likely meaning easy work for the likes of Sky Go and ZDF in Germany.
Unfortunately, its top speeds were quite disappointing this time around, dropping from 510 to 460Mpbs with WireGuard. However, these results should still be able to deliver decent and reliable connections overall.
Like its competitors, it also comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, though note it's on a pro-rata basis. That means if you use it for 15-days and decide it's not for you, you will only get a 50% refund—an unfortunate anomaly among VPN free trials.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | A sleek and stylish dark mode is the star | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Great mobile apps, but the desktop version can be complex | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | A decent performer that doesn't top our rankings | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Paid plans can unblock a ton of services and sites | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Lots of security add-ons, an audited policy, and open source apps | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | Support can be patchy and hard to get hold of | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | Premium plans aren't exactly cheap, but the free plan is fantastic | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
✔️ You have a lot of devices to protect: much like Surfshark, IPVanish offers unlimited simultaneous connections.
✔️ You want fast blazing speed: with staggering peaks of 950+ Mbps, IPVanish matched the likes of NordVPN and Surfshark in our latest round of speed testing
❌ You want to stream Disney+: despite IPVanish proving some pretty reliable unblocking capabilities, it struggled to unblock Disney+ in our latest round of testing.
❌ You want a reliable Netflix VPN: again, IPVanish delivers some mixed results with Netflix—it unblocked UK, US and Japan catalogs, but it failed to do so with the Australia and Canada libraries.
🔒 IPVanish is yet another budget-friendly provider with plenty of great features and unlimited simultaneous connections. It's come a long way since our last deep-dive.
While IPVanish's web of servers isn't as extensive as some of its competitors, for those based in Germany its great news. Offering 56 servers based in Frankfurt, the provider now offers a customer service number in Germany, too, allowing you to more easily get support by simply picking up the phone.
Hosting a number of nifty features across its mostly well-polished clients, there is a choice of WireGuard, OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, and IKEv2 protocols, with the former lending itself to those astonishing speeds. Hugely configurable, you'll also be able to benefit from other features like its kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and auto connect, which is available on its iPhone VPN app.
▶ Try IPVanish with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
In terms of unblocking, it's not the slickest track record, which is why it finds itself at #5. For those looking for a Germany VPN with streaming as the priority, then, it may not be your first choice. While it can unblock Netflix in the US and UK as well as BBC iPlayer in our latest round of testing, it was unable to access Disney Plus and struggled with some Netflix libraries, too.
In terms of speed, IPVanish placed itself alongside Surfshark and NordVPN as the fastest VPN. This means it can be a pretty good choice for those after a reliable gaming VPN.
Another feature I really like about IPVanish is its generous unlimited device allowance. This means that you can secure all your other devices as well as those of all your family members with just one subscription. Not bad value if you're looking to subscribe to a VPN for just one month, for its annual plan you can also rest assured with its 30-day money back guarantee.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Dark and edgy, but generally complicated | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Some usability issues and a complex interface | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | Incredibly fast WireGuard speeds | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Decent unblocking with a couple of hiccups | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Thoroughly audited and reliable encryption | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | Support articles aren't as helpful as they should be and generally say the same thing | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | Generally cheap, but renewal prices are quite a sting to users that get caught out | ⭐⭐⭐ |
What you should look for in a Germany VPN?
In terms of better privacy, strong security features and encryption protocols are the needed elements here. So, look out for things like a kill switch, leak protection and malware blockers. Among all the VPN protocols, WireGuard is now the best on the market for security and speeds, with OpenVPN still being a valuable alternative.
A watertight no-logging privacy policy, preferably independently audited, is another vital feature to be sure your sensitive data is well-protected. A no-log VPN should never retain any identifying information about you, meaning that the provider won't be able to share any sensitive details about your sessions as these records simply do not exist.
Server coverage is always welcome as more options mean a better chance of getting a fast and reliable connection. For a Germany VPN, you'll need a strong network located in and around the country together with servers in all the main nations worldwide.
Then, it comes down to how you want to use your software. Looking for better gaming performance? Fast speeds are a must here. Keen streamer? Pick a provider with reliable unlocking skills. It is also worth noting that many services like Netflix are trying hard to prevent this, so that features like obfuscation technology or streaming DNS option are a good addition here.
Finally, VPN apps should be straightforward and user-friendly while offering speedy customer service support. Also, be sure to check the number of simultaneous connections supported, as it’s always a bonus to be able to use multiple desktop PCs and mobile devices with your VPN.
Germany VPN FAQs
Are VPNs legal in Germany?
The short answer is: yes, the use of a VPN in Germany is completely legal. There are no current legislation criminalizing the use of a VPN, meaning you can benefit from all its security abilities without issue.
Of course, that doesn't mean that any illegal activity you carry out behind a VPN isn't breaking the law. For instance, accessing content otherwise unavailable in Germany with a VPN is considered to be breaking copyright laws. It goes without saying that it is your responsibility to use a VPN responsibly.
Which VPNs have servers based in Germany?
Our top five best Germany VPN all have servers based in cities across Germany, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Nuremberg, as well as hundreds of of other locations around the world.
That includes ExpressVPN, our #1 choice for a Germany VPN, which has servers in Frankfurt and Nuremberg, as well as 93 other countries. Similarly, IPVanish has a total of 56 servers in Germany alone all based in Frankfurt.
Can I use a free VPN in Germany?
There are free VPN available that will work within German borders. However, we're always wary about recommending using these services. While ProtonVPN is certainly a great place to start with all the infrastructure of its premium plans in place to maintain it as a viable and trustworthy option, you can't always expect the same from services that aren't user funded.
In some cases, VPN that don't cost you anything will sell your data onto third parties in order to sustain the piece of software. There are also limitations with free providers, from bandwidth to data allowances, as well as features. ProtonVPN's free service, however, is a great stepping stone, though it's not necessarily a great pick as a Germany VPN with access to just 23 servers based across Japan, the Netherlands, and the US.
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Disclaimer
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
