The Best VPNs for Canada 2024
We tested several VPNs to find the best streaming options for Canada. Find out why Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN made our list (and what didn't).
Last updated Aug 24, 2023
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Best Affordable Canada VPN
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Best Premium Canada VPN
4.6
Learn More
On ExpressVPN's website
ExpressVPN
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More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost
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Virtual private networks (VPNs) are a legal way to encrypt your traffic and unblock regional content streaming services. So if you’re missing your favorite Canadian TV shows, a VPN can help. During our testing, three VPNs stood out for smoothly connecting to streaming services, not causing lag, and successfully masking your location.
Surfshark came out on top as the best affordable VPN for those on a budget but who don't want to sacrifice quality. NordVPN is a great option for people needing additional security features outside a traditional VPN. ExpressVPN was the best premium VPN for reliability and speedy connections.
Keep reading to dive into why these three VPNs made our top three, and which VPNs may not be the best investment if you want to unblock regional streaming content in Canada.
In this article
The best Canada VPNsSurfshark: Best affordable VPN
NordVPN: Best for security
ExpressVPN: Best premium VPN
VPNs that didn’t make the cut
Best VPNs for Canada FAQs
Bottom line: The best Canada VPNs
How we tested the best VPNs for Canada
The best Canada VPNs
- Surfshark: Best affordable VPN
- NordVPN: Best for security
- ExpressVPN: Best premium VPN
Top 3 VPN services for Canada compared
| VPN |  Surfshark |
 NordVPN |
 ExpressVPN |
| Starting price | Starts at $1.99/mo | $2.99/mo | Starts at $6.67/mo |
| Unblocks Netflix Canada | |||
| Unblocks BBC iPlayer | |||
| Unblocks CBC Gem | |||
| Learn more | Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review |
Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review |
Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review |
Prices as of 05/18/2023.
Surfshark: Best affordable VPN
4.9
Best Canada VPN That Won't Break Your Budget
Surfshark
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VPN technology offering stability and speed
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Unlimited simultaneous connections
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Works with Netflix and other streaming services
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Headquarters in Nine Eyes Alliance
Who it’s best for
People who need an affordable long-term VPN subscription. It's also ideal for people who need to connect multiple devices and for frequent travelers.
What we liked
Surfshark had no problem connecting to multiple streaming services without affecting speed or quality. We tested Netflix Canada, BBC iPlayer, and CBC Gem and connected easily with no noticeable lag or slow load times.
This doesn’t surprise us since Surfshark is one of the fastest VPN providers we’ve tested. Its fast speeds make it ideal for online activities, such as streaming as well as torrenting and gaming.
Surfshark is also a great option for people with several devices or who are in a large household, since it has an unlimited device policy. With servers in 100 countries, Surfshark may also be ideal for people who frequently travel and need security internationally.
Sometimes connecting to servers further away from your physical location results in a slow internet connection. But Surfshark’s large server network in 100 different countries makes it easier to connect to local or nearby servers without significantly compromising your internet speeds.
What we didn’t like
Even though Surfshark has servers in 100 countries, it doesn't have as many servers in total compared to other VPNs.
Specifically looking at Canadian servers, Surfshark has over 120, while NordVPN has over 480. Having a smaller number of servers may mean you will have more difficulty finding and connecting to a local server, and this may have a huge impact on your internet speed.
Surfshark specs
| Price range | $1.99–$19.99/mo |
| Free version | No |
| Number of servers | 3,200+ servers in 100 countries |
| Number of connected devices | Unlimited |
| VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix Canada | Yes |
| Unblocks BBC iPlayer | Yes |
| Unblocks CBC Gem | Yes |
| Learn more | Get Surfshark Read Our Surfshark Review |
Prices as of 05/18/2023.
How much does Surfshark cost in Canada?
Surfshark’s Canadian prices range from 3.26 CAD to 17.64 CAD a month at the time of writing.
NordVPN: Best for security
4.9
NordVPN Unblocks Canadian Content & Keeps Your Wi-Fi Secure
NordVPN
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High-quality VPN offering safety and speed
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Loads of servers for multiple connection options
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Works with popular streaming services, including Netflix
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Too many confusing plans
Who it’s best for
NordVPN is a great option for people wanting to unblock Canadian streaming content while also having additional online security features.
What we liked
NordVPN did well when we tested streaming services. It didn't have any problem letting us watch Netflix Canada with a VPN. We also had no issue connecting to CBC Gem.
At one point, we had to switch to incognito mode on our Chrome browser to connect to BBC iPlayer. But we were able to connect in the regular browser at other times. This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, but you may have to move around to get your location masked.
Beyond streaming, NordVPN also has an impressive number of security features. If you are looking to fully protect yourself, NordVPN has plenty of online tools to protect your data. Some security features that can be part of your NordVPN plan include:
- Nord Threat Protection: Malware protection and tracker and ad blocker
- NordPass: Password manager and data breach scanner
- NordLocker: 1 TB cloud storage and file encryption
Additionally, you’ll find that NordVPN doesn’t skimp on online privacy features, such as a kill switch and split tunneling. It also comes with one of the most user-friendly interfaces and the largest advertised server network in Canada.
What we didn’t like
We occasionally experienced minor issues connecting to streaming services, but we were never blocked from access entirely. Occasionally, streaming services prevented access, but a simple switch to a private browser (such as Incognito mode on Chrome) fixed the issue.
NordVPN is also a bit pricey if all you are looking for is a basic VPN and don't necessarily need or want other security features. NordVPN plans start at about $3 a month while Surfshark starts at about $2 a month.
NordVPN specs
| Price range | $2.99–$14.99/mo |
| Free version | No |
| Number of servers | 5,600+ servers in 60+ countries |
| Number of connected devices | 6 |
| VPN protocol | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix Canada | Yes |
| Unblocks BBC iPlayer | Yes |
| Unblocks CBC Gem | Yes |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN Read Our NordVPN Review |
Prices as of 05/18/2023.
How much does NordVPN cost in Canada?
NordVPN doesn’t list prices in Canadian dollars, but you can expect to pay anywhere from 4.49 CAD to 21.40 CAD a month based on conversion rates at the time of writing.
ExpressVPN: Best premium VPN
4.6
Unblock Streaming & Unlock Premium Features With ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN
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Premium VPN offering strong security and ultra-fast speeds
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Strict no-logs policy with independent audit
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In-house Lightway protocol for more speed and security
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More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost
Who it’s best for
People looking for speedy connections along with top security and privacy. ExpressVPN is also a great option for people who want varied device compatibility.
What we liked
ExpressVPN impressed us by easily masking our location and giving us access to Netflix Canada, BBC iPlayer, and CBC Gem. Like Surfshark, there was no hassle connecting, and we didn't notice any significant loading times or slow connections.
As a VPN, it provides strong security options:
- AES 256-bit encryption
- No bandwidth caps or data limits
- No logs policy
- Threat manager to block ad trackers on websites and apps
- It bypasses ISP throttling
It's a great option for people with different operating systems and browser extensions, since ExpressVPN has extensive device compatibility:
- Windows
- Mac
- Android
- iOS
- Linux
- Routers
- Gaming consoles (Xbox and PlayStation)
- Smart TVs (Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, etc.)
Overall, it's a high-quality, secure VPN with reliable service.
What we didn’t like
ExpressVPN’s most notable downside is its cost. It's twice as expensive as NordVPN and over 3 times more expensive than Surfshark.
However, if you prefer the flexibility of a month-to-month subscription, then ExpressVPN’s monthly plan comes at a comparable cost to its competitors.
It's also worth noting that ExpressVPN lets you connect to only five devices simultaneously, which is the fewest out of all the VPNs on this list.
ExpressVPN specs
| Price range | $6.67–$12.95/mo |
| Free version | No |
| Number of servers | Servers in 94 countries |
| Number of connected devices | 5 |
| VPN protocol | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix Canada | Yes |
| Unblocks BBC iPlayer | Yes |
| Unblocks CBC Gem | Yes |
| Learn more | Get ExpressVPN Read Our ExpressVPN Review |
Prices as of 05/18/2023.
How much does ExpressVPN cost in Canada?
ExpressVPN shows prices only in U.S. dollars, so its starting price of $8.32 a month is about $11.35 Canadian dollars, at the time of writing.
VPNs that didn’t make the cut
There were a couple of VPNs that didn't pass our streaming tests. They either didn't load the streaming service or weren't able to mask our real location.
While this may not always be the case, since most streaming services and VPNs both continuously update their software, you may want to choose a different VPN for reliable streaming. Here are a couple of VPNs that didn't make our top three:
IPVanish
IPVanish often flies under people's radars even though it offers unlimited simultaneous connections. However, it costs more than Surfshark, which also has unlimited connected devices. And IPVanish didn't pass our streaming tests.
When we tried to connect to Netflix Canada, it wouldn't load, even when we switched to incognito mode. IPVanish also didn't connect to BBC iPlayer; we received a notification that this streaming service wasn't geographically available. However, we did connect to CBC Gem.
Overall, IPVanish didn't work as seamlessly as the other VPNs when trying to unblock Canadian streaming content.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost is more affordable than Surfshark, and it even has a 45-day money-back guarantee compared to Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee. With over 9,000 server locations in 91 countries, CyberGhost has more servers available and nearly the same number of countries.
But like IPVanish, CyberGhost VPN didn't pass our streaming tests.
We connected to Netflix Canada and CBC Gem with little issue. Our problems came when we tried to connect to BBC iPlayer. CyberGhost crashed when we tried to connect and switching to incognito mode on our Chrome browser had the same result.
While this was a slightly better experience than IPVanish, CyberGhost didn't meet our streaming expectations.
Best VPNs for Canada FAQs
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What’s the best VPN to use for Canada?
A VPN is a legal way to unblock geo-restricted content, and the best VPN to use for Canada is the one that unblocks regional streaming content while not causing lagging speeds or compromising security.
Your budget may also play a factor. Surfshark is the most affordable VPN that passed our Canadian streaming tests. NordVPN has the best security features, and ExpressVPN has the best premium experience.
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What’s the best free VPN for Canada?
The best free VPN for Canada is the VPN that encrypts your traffic and doesn't compromise your security by tracking your online behavior.
The top three best VPNs for Canada are Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN. But none of these options has a free VPN available. You may want to explore our best free VPNs guide to find a VPN suitable for your needs.
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Which VPN has the most Canadian servers?
NordVPN has the most Canadian servers, with over 480 servers located in the country. In comparison, Surfshark has over 120 Canadian servers.
ExpressVPN didn’t share the number of servers it has available in Canada, but it did state that servers are available in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. Knowing the number of servers available is important because the more servers you have, the more likely you are to get a fast connection by swapping to a less crowded VPN server.
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Is Hulu available in Canada?
No, unfortunately, Hulu is available only in the U.S. However, you can still access Hulu TV shows and movies if you live in Canada by using a VPN — we recommend Surfshark, NordVPN, or ExpressVPN as a way to unblock Hulu content.
Bottom line: The best Canada VPNs
Surfshark is a great Canada VPN app for people on a budget, as its pricing is affordable and it still offers a slew of features. But if you’re looking for additional security, NordVPN has your back. ExpressVPN is also a great option for security and reliability, though its cost may be too high for some.
If none of these options suits you, then you can also consider Private Internet Access (PIA). It passed our streaming tests and just barely missed making our top three. (Though we should mention PIA is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, making it a potential no-go for privacy enthusiasts, since the U.S. is part of the Five Eyes alliance.)
3 best VPNs for Canada
| Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
Surfshark |
Starts at $1.99/mo | Best affordable VPN | Get Surfshark
Read Surfshark Review |
NordVPN |
$2.99/mo | Best for security | Get NordVPN
Read NordVPN Review |
ExpressVPN |
Starts at $6.67/mo | Best premium VPN | Get ExpressVPN
Read ExpressVPN Review |
Prices as of 05/18/2023.
How we tested the best VPNs for Canada
Our testing to find the best Canadian VPNs began with determining which VPNs had a seamless connection with Canadian streaming services. VPNs were tested on the following streaming platforms: Netflix Canada, BBC iPlayer, and CBC Gem. If it couldn't connect or mask our IP address, the VPN didn't move into the next phase of our review. We've also created a guide on how to get a Canadian IP address based on these top three.
We also took note of any laggy VPN connection speeds, DNS leak protection, and WebRTC leak protection.
In the last phase of testing, we looked at pricing, the number of servers, the number of connected devices, whether the VPN has a no-logs policy, and what security features are offered. Our top three VPNs stood out in at least one of these areas and claimed their spot as one of the best VPN services.
4.9
Limited-time offer: 69% off + 3 extra months
NordVPN
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High-quality VPN offering safety and speed
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Loads of servers for multiple connection options
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Works with popular streaming services, including Netflix
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Too many confusing plans
Author Details
Sara J. Nguyen is a freelance writer specializing in cybersecurity. She aims to help people protect their data while enjoying technology. She has written about online privacy and tech for over 5 years for several organizations. When she's not writing about the latest cybersecurity trends, you can find her on LinkedIn.
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