Government censorship of the internet and the too-close-to-call general election have led to a surge in demand for the best Iran VPN as people look to find the truth for themselves.
Before the nation turns to the polls on July 5th in a special run-off election, make sure you're not being held back by censorship or surveillance. Government restrictions on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp have made it tricky for outside information to permeate the country. With one of the best VPNs, Iranians can brush up on the election, specific issues and the wider world before casting their ballot. It will also be invaluable in contacting any friends or family overseas.
As well as a tool to get new information, a VPN is also vital in defending your own private details from the government's prying eyes. Using an Iran VPN encrypts your data, meaning that it cannot be traced back to you. For this reason, you might want to prioritise a VPN with an effective kill switch function, so if your VPN drops for whatever reason, you won't be left browsing on an unsafe connection.
NB: Iran is active in attempting to block VPNs, and almost all services have suffered disruptions. If your choice isn't working, contact support and keep trying. If you continue to have issues, make sure to claim a refund within the designated period. It's a bit of a cat-and-mouse game trying to stay one step ahead.
Today's top 3 Iran VPNs:
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Are VPNs legal in Iran?
The legality around VPNs in Iran isn't that straightforward. However, it's worth keeping in mind that authorities have been trying to ban the use of such circumvention tools for a while now.
Under Article 20 of the Regulatory System for Cyberspace Services Bill, those responsible for the development or distribution of VPN and proxy services could face up to two years of prison.
In March 2022, 50 digital rights organizations signed a letter calling for the Iranian government to rescind the bill. They fear that the User Protection Bill will also make Internet shutdowns and online censorship more prevalent.
Now, it looks as if authorities have decided to actually "take legal action against unauthorized sellers of the VPNs and circumvention tools," the London-based Persian news outlet Iran International reported.
At the moment of writing, there's no reason to believe that VPN users themselves will be affected any time soon. Despite this, though, a harsh crackdown on such services is ongoing.
As we believe in a free and open internet for all, below we explain everything you need to know about our top five VPNs to use in Iran right now. Whenever possible, we strongly recommend installing the software prior to entering the country to avoid any possible issues.
Our list of the best Iran VPNs today:
There are many reasons why ExpressVPN keeps topping our VPN charts, test after test. With a great range of easy-to-use apps—it now even has its very own VPN router Aircove—and amazing 24/7 speedy live chat, it's certainly the best Iran VPN on the market right now.
ExpressVPN is able to bypass Iran's strict censorchip with ease, thanks to its obfuscated servers, of which there are over 3,000 across more than 100 countries. It's important to note, however that ExpressVPN does not have physical servers in Iran due to security concerns, however it does have servers in neighboruing countries. These servers are the best option for the best speeds.
In terms of features, anonymity and security are a big priority for ExpressVPN. AES-256 encryption, plenty of protocols to pick from, a super-reliable kill switch, IPv6 leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy: it has it all. Plus, its very own Lightway protocol, which recently aced its second security audit, is also now open-source and fully available on all apps.
ExpressVPN also allows travellers to stream all the best content from the comfort of their own home. This is down to its great unblocking skills giving you access to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime and Peacock. In our last round of testing, it unblocked all these sites easily.
Besides the limit of 8 simultaneous connections only (up from 5 previously), the only real drawbacks is around connection speeds. Its peak speeds dropped from 630 to 560Mbps with Lightway during our last round of testing. However, unless your base connection is that fast, you won't notice a thing when you're connected – and you can always try it out yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
As outlined in our detailed NordVPN review, we've liked NordVPN for a long time. As the most famous and one of the most secure VPN services on the market, it delivers an excellent privacy-focused experience across all the major platforms – in Iran as well as pretty much everywhere else.
Despite the provider (as with all the ones listed here) not offering an Iran-based network, its 5,600+ servers dotted around 60 countries should be more than enough to get you stable and speedy connections. It even offers an Obfuscated Servers, making sure you are even more hidden. It also boasts P2P-equipped servers, ideal if you're looking for a secure torrenting VPN.
NordVPN is dedicated to keeping your data safe while your browse the net thanks to its leak protection, two kill switches and no-logs policy, in combination with even more security features like using Onion over VPN and even having a double VPN that encrypts your software twice. Plus, its new Meshnet feature is perfect for those looking to protect their online activities across up to 60 devices—even better, users can now use it completely free of charge.
In terms of performance, the service delivered pretty well last time we checked. Excellent streaming performance across all the major platforms was matched up by improved speeds reaching peaks of 820Mbps with NordLynx and 470Mbps with OpenVPN.
We still aren't huge fans of its mobile VPN apps, though, as switching location can be a bit awkward on smaller screens. They use a map-based interface which is great on a PC but is tricky on mobile. But, again, you can always make use of its 30-day money-back guarantee and see how you get along with it.
Sign up now on the NordVPN website
If you are looking for a budget solution able to provide you with as much privacy and unblocking power as possible, look no further. Surfshark is definitely the best cheap VPN right now, boasting super easy-to-use apps for all the major operating systems together with a super helpful 24/7 live chat support.
While Surfshark may not have servers within Iran's borders, it does however have the biggest server network of our top 5 around Iran, with seven nations of the 100 countries it houses its 3,200+ strong server network in surrounding Iran. To keep you even more hidden, Surfshark also offers its Camouflage mode feature, which is its VPN obfuscation option. On top of this, its No Borders feature is a nice extra for Iran as it automatically picks the server performing the best under network restrictions.
On the security front, Surfshark comes packed with many hefty features. These include DNS protection, split tunnelling, and an extra protection layer with a Double VPN hop. Its new Nexus technology even introduced an IP rotator option to make it even more difficult to track your online activities. While, in terms of encryption, the provider uses AES-256 across several protocols.
Surfshark is a great streaming VPN, too. From Netflix and Hulu to iPlayer and Disney+, you'll be able to access all your favorite content during your stay in Iran. It even topped our fastest VPN chart this time around when connected to WireGuard. Although, its speeds were below average with OpenVPN.
Its most concerning downside is around its kill switch issues on Windows. Even though these occur only in extreme situations, any possible leak is always worrying—especially for an Iran VPN. All good if you are using it on mobile or as a reliable Mac VPN, though. For the price, Surfshark is definitely a huge value worth considering.
Sign up now on the Surfshark website
We don't generally tend to recommend Astrill VPN in our guides. It's very expensive, the mobile apps are pretty basic and its streaming unlocking capabilities are limited - we could access only US Netflix last time we checked. However, the provider is a specialist in bypassing powerful regional firewalls like the one enforced in Iran.
In terms of network, Astrill's 300+ servers across 58 countries worldwide aren't anywhere near to match up the coverage of its previous competitors. But don't worry too much, though, as the major nations are covered. Same goes with some of Iran's biggest neighboring countries such as India, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
What makes Astill stand out is its Stealth VPN technology, which it refers to as Smat Mode. Part of Astrill's dedication to privacy and avoiding online censorship, the provider claims to offer an added encryption layer on top of OpenVPN, meaning your connections are made even more secure as well as harder to identify and block by firewalls.
Other positives on the security front include its multi-hop VPN technology and the ability to configure its Windows VPN client fully to your needs (things like assigning different ports and changing MTU values, adjusting the level of encryption and more). Astrill even shows great commitment to transparency with a detailed description of its no-logging and data security procedures.
We already mentioned Astrill's poor streaming unblocking. However, its biggest downside is around pricing considering that its lowest price is $12.50 per month on a two year contract, and if you're looking for flexibility, it's $30 a month to be on a rolling 1-month plan.
The provider offers a limited free VPN for Android only, though. This might just be the right solution for users looking to grant access to censored sites in security from their smartphone.
Sign up now on the Astrill VPN website
Let's be honest, Mullvad is not the VPN for you if you want to unblock foreign streaming catalogs. Same goes if you're after a service with advanced apps—they work just fine, despite lacking some basic features. However, when it comes to privacy and security this Swedish-based provider brilliantly matches up with the biggest names in the market.
Server-wise, Mullvad's network is a little limited - only 600+ across 40 countries worldwide. However, all the major nations are covered with those located in Israel and UAE being the closest to Iran. What's more, its speeds were excellent last time we checked, peaking to 770Mbps with WireGuard and 600Mbps with OpenVPN.
Mullvad best preserves your online anonymity by being powered by high-quality encryption code, as well as its audited and open-source apps. The importance placed on anonymity is only made clearer by the fact that you do not have to provide any personal details to create an account with Mullvad. Not to mention the fact that the provider has done away with recurring subscriptions so it retains even less information about its users, and has proven its truly no-log policy following a police raid.
After our last round of testing, the provider earned further points on the security front thanks to a new DNS server audit and excellent blocking of malicious URLs. We have also found zero trackers across its website and Android apps, another sign that the provider takes its users' privacy very seriously.
We already mentioned its many downsides such as basic apps and unreliable streaming unblocking. The most notable one, though, is probably around pricing as it doesn't offer any discounts on longer subscriptions. It always costs €5, or the equivalent in other currencies, per month. However, if you're after a privacy and security-focused service, Mullvad should definitely be among your top choices.
Sign up now on the Mullvad website
Iran VPN FAQ
What's the best Iran VPN?
Overall, we rate ExpressVPN as the best Iran VPN available. You'll get plenty of servers (with some around Iran), it's great for streaming, and it's super secure so you can browse the web in safety.
If you're looking for something cheaper, Surfshark is a great VPN that's very affordable. For $1.99 a month you'll get premium cover, and it's almost as good as ExpressVPN.
Are VPNs legal in Iran?
An interesting question. It is hard to enforce such a ban given the multinational nature of using a VPN but as of February 2024, the purchase, sale and use of a VPN without a license in Iran is illegal.
Our friends at Techradar have some excellent analysis of the situation, but it's safe to say that not everyone agrees with this policy.
What makes a good Iran VPN?
As Iranian authorities keep enforcing a harsh crackdown on circumventing tools, a reliable VPN with obfuscation technology in place is especially important to have the most probabilities of escaping these blocks. That's because it helps to mask the fact you're using a security tool, making your encrypted connection look like normal traffic.
We also recommend opting for a provider with a proven reputation and a strict no-logging policy—regular independent audits are crucial here. Other features to look out for include a large range of available servers (particularly those around Iran), reliably fast connection speeds, and tight security features.
Finally, high-quality customer support is also really handy as this could be really helpful to direct you to the best servers to use in case of disruptions. So, a 24/7 live chat service is definitely a good addition.
Can I browse locally with a Iran VPN?
The hostile climate against VPN developers and distributors, together with invasive data retention rules for providers, has kept VPN services inevitably out of the country.
Being that all the Iran VPNs listed above don't offer servers physically based inside the country, you won't be able to safely browse locally unfortunately.
However, this isn't probably too much of an issue for many users as changing IP location is anyway necessary to bypass censorship and access blocked sites.
Does a Iran VPN slow down Internet connections?
The short answer is 'yes, very slightly', as the encryption process will inevitably eat up some Mbps. However, there's more to it than that.
If you're gaming, streaming or torrenting without a VPN, you may find that your Internet speeds fluctuate from fast to slow. That may be because of what's known as bandwidth throttling. That refers to your Internet provider slowing down your connection because of your activity.
A VPN hides what you do online. This means your ISP can't choose to throttle you. For this reason, a gaming VPN can actually improve your overall performance.
For more information, head over our dedicated explainer to learn how to test and improve your VPN speeds.
January 5, 2024 update notes
We periodically review the content of our buying guide to ensure all information is up-to-date and reflects the changing VPN industry and global need for digital privacy.
During the latest round of updates, there were no major changes to the VPN providers in our rankings. As such, we 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.
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