Best VPN for Germany
Looking for the best VPN to use in Germany? Concerned by Germany’s strict online privacy monitoring? Want to stream blocked content such as US Netflix safely? See our top 5 Germany VPN recommendations below!
German VPNs explained
German authorities strictly monitor online activity of its citizens and visitors. The Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) can access individual’s online activity at its leisure, and it’s mandatory that ISPs retain all data for 10 weeks. A VPN is an effective tool in Germany to protect your online privacy from the watchful eyes of the authorities whilst keeping you safe online from hackers and other threats. Germans are also more at risk when streaming copyrighted material as the government take a hard line approach to such activity. A German VPN will keep you protected and can unblock geo-restricted content such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO and other popular services. What’s more, if you use public wi-fi in Germany you are left vulnerable without the protection of a VPN. Hackers target public wi-fi users meaning your personal data can be easily compromised. Our top German VPN providers are recommended to both tourists and citizens to give you full internet freedom and privacy protection in Germany.
What do you need from a VPN in Germany?
A recommended VPN for Germany needs to be fast, secure and highly privacy focussed. Our best Germany VPN reviews cover:
- Large server choice in Germany and internationally
- Privacy focussed features and strict log policies
- Works well with Netflix, BBC iPlayer and other popular streaming services
- Well-designed VPN applications and easy to use
- Ultimate security to keep you safe online
Melvyn's top 5 VPNs for Germany
CyberGhost
CyberGhost are an exceptional VPN provider with industry leading levels of privacy, worldwide server locations ideal for torrenting with user friendly applications that flawlessly unblock US Netflix, BBC iPlayer and other popular streaming services. If you want a super-fast, zero logs, easy to use VPN… then look no further!
Compatible with
Summary
Super-fast, zero logs, easy to use apps and friendly 24/7 customer support… you can see why it’s our number one recommended provider!
Our score:
5.0
★★★★★ 5/5
Price from:
$2.75
per month
NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the best and most popular VPN providers out there. It strikes the perfect balance for privacy concerned users and those looking for lightning fast speeds. It’s great for unblocking content such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer and also supports P2P and torrenting. Add to this its no logs policy and impeccable security, Nord sure does tick all the boxes!
Compatible with
Summary
Outstanding speeds, zero logs, and award winning 24/7 customer support… NordVPN is up there with the very best in the VPN market!
Our score:
4.9
★★★★★ 4.9/5
Price from:
$3.71
per month
hide.me
If you’re looking for outstanding privacy protection and a highly secure VPN which deploys market leading technology to help keep you safe online, you couldn’t go far wrong with hide.me. With a strict no logs policy, fantastic speeds, and some great features, hide.me is certainly up there with the best if you can get over their higher than average prices!
Compatible with
Summary
Outstanding privacy protection, fantastic speeds and some great premium features… If you’ve got a good budget, you won’t go far wrong with hide.me!
Our score:
4.7
★★★★★ 4.6/5
Price from:
$4.99
per month
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN are one of the most recognisable names on the market, offering best-in-class zero logs privacy, fantastic speeds, awesome features and easy to use applications. ExpressVPN is a true market leader, and whilst it comes with a premium price tag (compared to others), users are rewarded with an outstanding product!
Compatible with
Summary
Blazing-fast speeds, exceptional app usability and 24/7 customer support… ExpressVPN is a real force to be reckoned with!
Our score:
4.8
★★★★★ 4.8/5
Price from:
$8.32
per month
ZenMate
Newly relaunched and better than ever, ZenMate are aiming to break into the top 5 best VPNs that’s for sure! With upgraded hardware, incredible privacy, zero logs and market leading speeds, plus the ability to torrent and flawlessly unblock US Netflix, BBC iPlayer and other popular streaming services. If you want a super-fast, user-friendly, highly secure VPN… ZenMate may be your answer!
Compatible with
Summary
Super-fast, highly secure and potentially the cheapest premium VPN on the market right now… ZenMate really are trying to compete with the very best!
Our score:
4.7
★★★★★ 4.7/5
Price from:
$2.22
per month
Germany related news
German VPN FAQs...
Do I need a VPN in Germany?
Yes. If you are concerned that all of your online activity is logged and potentially accessed by the authorities, without a VPN encryption, you will have no safe guard in place. In Germany, surveillance is high, meaning all texts, calls, emails and online browsing is stored for 10 weeks and can be accessed without your knowledge. Using a VPN in Germany also allows you to unblock great content by locating your encrypted IP address in another country to access any geo-restricted content. A VPN is also an essential tool if you frequently use public wi-fi spots which can leave your personal data exposed to hackers.
What are the best German VPN features?
Our top 5 German VPNs are packed with great features. The key points we look for are strict privacy and logging policies, fast VPN server speeds and have the ability to unblock popular streaming content such as US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu etc. We also favour German VPNs with advanced features such as DNS leak protection and a VPN kill switch meaning your activity won’t be compromised should your VPN connection drop out and leak unencrypted data to German ISP’s.
Can I unblock US Netflix with a VPN in Germany?
Yes. Most if not all of our recommended top 5 German VPNs will allow you to access US Netflix libraries as well as other popular streaming services such as BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO etc. Simply download one of our recommended German VPNs, set your server location to the USA or whichever locations content you want to access and then sign into Netflix. Enjoy full internet freedom with a German VPN.
Is it safe and legal to use a VPN in Germany?
Yes it’s perfectly legal to have and use a VPN on any of your devices in Germany. A VPN will hide your true IP address meaning you are safe from the watchful eye of the authorities and protect your online privacy. We of course don’t recommend you do anything illegal when using a VPN in Germany.
Do I need a VPN with German and International servers?
In our opinion yes. All of our top 5 providers will offer server locations in Germany and in surrounding countries. You may as well benefit from the additional freedom that international VPN servers give you so you can unblock more content and have greater online freedom.
Are German VPN servers fast?
Yes. We have tried and tested many VPNs and our top 5 German VPNs delivered some great results. Generally speaking, a VPN will slow your connection down slightly, but by using one of our recommended German VPNs providers, you will be guaranteed great server availability and top speeds. We recommend connecting to a server located as close to you as possible and most providers will automatically direct you to their quickest servers.
Should I use a free VPN in Germany?
Yes. There are several free VPNs we recommend (and a whole load you should avoid) but it really depends on what you need your German VPN to deliver. We recommend you visit our free VPN guide here for a full review. In our experience, a premium VPN service will give you a much more robust protection and enhanced privacy features. Also streaming content on free VPNs can be more challenging as many don’t have the server availability and speeds required.