Turkey doesn't have a stellar record when it comes to internet freedoms – sites like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube have all been blocked in the past, after all, meaning the platforms you depend on may not always be available. With that in mind, a Turkey VPN has become a necessity.
The Tom's Guide team has tested dozens of the best VPN providers around, focusing on their privacy tools, performance, and unblocking power. I'll also outline what it's like to use these services every day, whether you live in Turkey, are visiting for vacation, or are an expat abroad.
NordVPN takes the #1, currently, thanks to its awesome apps (and modest prices), but ExpressVPN and Surfshark are great alternatives. Keep reading, and I'll get into the details of each provider.
The 3 best VPNs at a glance
The best Turkey VPNs in 2024
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NordVPN: the best Turkey VPN
If you're looking for a well-established service that has undergone an independent audit, NordVPN is worth investigating.
Popular with security obsessives, you'll be covered by powerful encryption and have a number of unusual extra tools at your disposal – namely Double VPN (which routes you through two servers) and Onion over VPN (which uses the encrypted Tor network for ultimate privacy).
Nord is also a great pick for Turkey VPN users who want to access restricted streaming services. You'll get access to Netflix, iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime and tons more, meaning whether you're a resident or just in the country on a trip, you'll never miss an episode of your favorite shows.
If we had any complaints, it'd be the fact that Nord's mobile apps can be a little awkward to use thanks to the map interface, but realistically, you'll only be using the apps for a minute or so at the most. Once switched on, connections are reliable and rarely, if ever, drop.
So, if you want a slightly cheaper option than ExpressVPN, NordVPN is a great option to keep open.
Sign up now on NordVPN's website
ExpressVPN: the best for beginners
If you're looking for a Turkey VPN to both keep you anonymous and unblock overseas media, ExpressVPN is well worth considering. You'll get complete control over a host of powerful privacy features, all bundled with intuitive apps and excellent support.
In terms of privacy, ExpressVPN is a verified no-logging VPN. That means that no identifying data will be stored about you or your usage of the VPN, and even if authorities do turn up at ExpressVPN's door asking about you, the company will have nothing to share.
This has even been proved in practice in Turkey – although under tragic circumstances – when an ExpressVPN user was identified as being involved with the assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov. You can read more about what happened in ExpressVPN's blog.
If you want to access overseas Netflix libraries, or even use services like Hulu outside their permitted regions, ExpressVPN is incredibly useable and very simple to get up and running. All you need to do is pick a server in the right location and load up the streaming service.
So, whether you want a VPN for Turkey to stay private and anonymous or just want to get more out of your Netflix subscription, ExpressVPN is a reliable pick.
Surfshark: the best cheap VPN
For those looking to save money but still get excellent VPN cover, Surfshark is a very tempting option. Starting at less than $2.50 a month, it's the cheapest Turkey VPN in this guide, but it doesn't compromise on features.
We'll start out by pointing out that no, Surfshark has not undergone an independent audit to prove its claims of no logging. While it's not as if we don't believe these claims (Surfshark's privacy policy isn't quite as heavyweight as ExpressVPN's for example, but it's serviceable), an independent audit would prove them.
However, if you're not a journalist planning on speaking out against the government, and just want quick, reliable privacy alongside great streaming performance, Surfshark could be an excellent option.
With servers in Turkey and over 1,700 across the rest of the world, you'll have a wide range to pick from, and in our testing, speeds are great all over. You'll also be able to unblock pretty much any streaming service, so you'll get tons more out of your Netflix subscription, as well as access to iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+ and loads more.
For the price, Surfshark is unbeatable – just bear in mind the lack of an audit, and study the privacy policy to assure yourself of its strength.
Sign up now on Surfshark's website
Other quality VPNs I've tested
CyberGhost is another service that works great in Turkey, but it doesn't place higher because, just like Surfshark, it hasn't undergone on independent audit to prove its privacy policy.
However, CyberGhost does publish a quarterly transparency report, outlining how many requests it gets from authorities, and how many it provides information to (spoiler alert: it's none). This is useful to see, but also, if we're honest, an independent audit would go a lot further.
Otherwise, though, CyberGhost is a seriously powerful VPN. You'll get a massive 7,000+ servers all over the world, with dedicated servers in Turkey. You'll also have access to some really useful server filtering tools, which help you pick the right location for a particular use. That could be streaming US Netflix, or the best server for torrenting in Turkey.
CyberGhost's price is very tempting as well, and you definitely get a lot for your money with this cheap VPN – plus, if you're not sure, you'll get an industry-leading 45-day money-back guarantee so you can test it out before commiting.
Sign up now on CyberGhost's website
Perhaps something of a wild card, VyprVPN is a great-value Turkey VPN that delivers a powerful, secure VPN experience. Essentially, you're paying the same amount as you would for Surfshark, but getting a privacy policy that rivals ExpressVPN's.
However, there are a couple of drawbacks. While VyprVPN does have servers within Turkey, overall there aren't that many to pick from – around 700. In most cases that will definitely be enough, but we think that the more choice, the merrier.
You'll also get apps for tons of devices, but the apps themselves aren't quite up to scratch. However, they are reliable, and have good streaming unblocking performance.
For the price, VyprVPN is an excellent way to get a no-logs VPN that's very usable. However, we'd advise paying a little more for a more fully-fledged service like ExpressVPN or Nord.
Sign up now on the VyprVPN website
How to choose a Turkey VPN
A Turkey VPN should have excellent privacy features and good speeds on a wide range of servers, and it should also be as easy as possible to use. Ticking those boxes is our top recommendation ExpressVPN – it’s fast, secure, and has intuitive apps for almost all devices.
Keep an eye out for features such as a kill switch and split tunneling. A kill switch cuts your connection if your VPN happens to drop, and split tunneling means you can route certain traffic through the VPN while leaving the rest of your Internet use unaffected. Obfuscated servers are also useful, as they avoid the VPN-blocking measures Turkey is known to use.
Wide device support is also great, as you’ll be able to install the VPN on your phone, laptop, desktop, and often even your smart TV or games console. Make sure you can access any streaming services you need to with the VPN on, and, of course, servers located in Turkey are useful – these may be physical or virtual (check our FAQ for more info). So, here are the best Turkey VPN services available today.
FAQs
Do you need a Turkey VPN?
Whether you're living in Turkey, or just visiting for a holiday or business, a Turkey VPN should definitely be on your list of must-haves.
Internet restriction is common and ever-changing, and the country is well-known for punishing those who discuss or promote controversial ideas online. If that's you, you should definitely get a Turkey VPN. It doesn't matter if you're a journalist or Instagram influencer – precautions are definitely recommended.
Also, if you're a TV and movie fan, most VPNs for Turkey work great as Netflix VPN services, so you can get more streaming content for your money as well.
What's the difference between virtual and physical servers?
You may find that some VPNs have physical servers in certain countries, while others have virtual servers.
Physical servers are physically located in the country. So, for example, NordVPN's Turkey server is a bank of servers located within Turkey.
A virtual server has an IP address registered in the country, but is actually physically located somewhere else. ExpressVPN's Turkey server, for example, is actually in the Netherlands.
This is most common in countries that are anti-VPN, or areas where setting up a reliable server would be difficult or impossible. Often, virtual servers are more reliable than physical servers in the same country, as they rely on the infrastructure of a country with better internet service or more stringent privacy laws.
Is a Turkey VPN legal?
This is a bit of a gray area, but much like China and Russia, Turkey has tried to ban VPN services, and has threatened to punish those that use them.
That's why, if you choose to use one, you should pick a service that uses obfuscated servers to hide the fact you're using a VPN, and a powerful no-logging policy to make sure none of your activity is stored.
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.
