Best Free VPNs for Australia in 2025

At a Glance

Freedom House is a website that ranks the internet freedom of different countries, and they awarded Australia a 2023 Internet Freedom Score of 76/100 (“free”). While there is internet freedom in Australia, there are some caveats. For instance, there’s a mandatory data retention law in place in Australia, so telecommunication companies and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are required to store logs of their customers’ online activities for a minimum of two years.

In addition, the Australian government blocks certain websites that infringe on Australian copyright laws, and there’s a law that undermines end-to-end encryption. That’s not all. The content available from streaming services such as Netflix varies from country to country, and you can’t access other countries’ content when you’re located in Australia. Country-specific streaming services are also off limits entirely, like BBC iPlayer and Hulu.

How Can a VPN Help Me in Australia?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) solves these problems. Not only does a VPN encrypt your internet connection, keeping any ISP from monitoring and recording your online activities, but it also gives your device a new IP address from another country, allowing you to access location-specific content in other countries.

However, VPNs can be expensive. You may be thinking that an absolutely free VPN would be a better option for your budget. However, totally free VPNs slow your connection speeds, impose data caps, and violate your privacy, which is why taking advantage of a paid VPN’s risk-free trial period for Australia is a much better option.

In this article, I’ll review the top six best “free” VPNs for Australia. I’ll also explain why truly free VPNs are a hazard to your online health and should be avoided.

How to Use a VPN for Australia

Using a VPN to protect and enhance your internet travels while in Australia is easy. Just follow these simple steps.

1. Subscribe to your VPN provider of choice (I recommend NordVPN).
2. Install the provider’s app(s) onto your device(s). You can also install a browser extension (if available) onto your favorite browser if you’d prefer. (CyberGhost offers free browser extensions.)
3. Log into the VPN.
4. Select a VPN server in Australia to simply protect your online activities, or a server in another country to access geo-blocked content.
5. Enjoy your newly protected and enhanced internet access!

WANT TO TRY A TOP VPN RISK-FREE?: My top VPN service providers for Australia all come with 30- to 45-day money-back guarantees. Simply subscribe to one of them to experience a free trial of the chosen service, with all of the features of a paid subscription. Then, if you’re not satisfied, simply ask for a refund before the money-back guarantee period has elapsed.

Best “Free” VPNs for Australia

I’ve spent a lot of time comprehensively testing and assessing the top VPNs out there and discovered that the following six “free” VPN service providers are the best for Australia.

In case you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview. (Fully-fleshed-out VPN reviews can be found a little farther down.)

The best “free” VPNs for Australia:

1. NordVPN: #1 VPN provider for Australia. NordVPN, my top “free” VPN provider for Australia, offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try its large network of servers, extremely fast speeds, wide app support, and complete security and privacy protections risk-free.
2. Surfshark: Closest thing to free. Surfshark is my budget provider, only requiring a small fee before you can try out its optimal features for 30 days, risk-free. The provider offers unlimited concurrent connections, fast speeds, and strong encryption.
3. ExpressVPN: Premium VPN for Australia. ExpressVPN, although expensive, offers the best experience when streaming. The provider’s high-speed servers offer HD- and 4K-capable video streaming connections. A 30-day money-back guarantee is available.
4. CyberGhost: Excellent choice for rookie VPN users. CyberGhost offers an unusually long 45 days to try out their service. The provider is the obvious choice for VPN newbies thanks to its easy-to-use apps, which offer one-click protection. Truly free browser extensions are also available.
5. Private Internet Access (PIA): Reliable Australian VPN protection. PIA’s comprehensive online security and privacy keeps your online travels “downunder,” while also providing reliable access to geo-controlled content in several other countries. 30-day money-back guarantee.
6. PrivateVPN: Mighty-mite VPN provider. PrivateVPN has the lowest number of servers of any provider on this list. That said, the provider offers comprehensive online security and privacy, as well as access to content in several countries. Plus, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

When choosing which VPN providers to recommend for Australia, I considered the following factors:

• Risk-free money-back guarantee
• Wide global server coverage (bonus points for servers in Australia)
• Strong encryption and security features
• Top-notch privacy protections
• Fast download speeds, with unlimited bandwidth and no data caps
• Reliable customer support

These are my top “free” VPN service providers for Australia.

1. NordVPN

Apr 2025

NordVPN is my top “free” provider for Australia thanks to its superior service offerings.

NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee no matter which subscription length you opt for, making it a top risk-free option.

The provider offers 5,900+ servers in 59+ countries, including Australia (with servers located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney), giving you plenty of access to geo-blocked content all over the world.

Security protections from NordVPN include government-grade AES 256-bit encryption, automatic kill switch protection, IP/DNS leak prevention, and malware and ad blocking.

You can also choose an obfuscated server to hide the fact that you’re using a VPN, or opt for Double VPN protection to send your connection through two VPN servers for added security.

NordVPN is a no-logs VPN provider that allows you to pay with the Bitcoin cryptocurrency, if that’s your style. The provider’s owned-and-operated server farms keep outside contractors away from customer data. Plus, all NordVPN servers are run 100% from RAM, writing no data to a physical hard drive. This ensures that all data is completely wiped from any server that is restarted or powered down.

NordVPN’s connection speeds are ultra fast, allowing you to stream in HD or 4K, play fast-moving games, or share large files. Unlimited bandwidth is available, and data caps are nowhere to be found.

The provider offers app support for the following device platforms: iOS, Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire, ChromeOS, and Android TV. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browser extensions are available to protect your browsing sessions, and there’s plenty of support for multiple makes and models of routers. You can connect up to six devices simultaneously.

NordVPN also offers a smart DNS option simply called “SmartDNS,” which allows you to stream international video content on devices that are not compatible with VPN apps, such as game consoles, some smart TVs, and other set-top boxes. Just know that the service doesn’t encrypt your internet connection like the VPN service does.

NordVPN knows the value of excellent customer support. You can contact customer support agents 24/7 via live chat, email them, or search the comprehensive support library.

THE BEST “FREE” VPN FOR AUSTRALIA:NordVPN doesn’t charge a high price in return for a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. The provider’s connection speeds are nearly the fastest of all VPN providers, and the service includes high-end encryption and wide-ranging app support.

Read my full review of NordVPN.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark doesn’t charge much for its substantial services, meaning you can take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee without having to pay too much upfront.

Surfshark offers 3,200+ servers in Australia and 100+ other countries, giving you access to content all around the globe if that’s what you’re looking for.

Your security is thoroughly protected when you use Surfshark thanks to its banking-level AES 256-bit encryption, automatic kill switch, and IP/DNS leak protection. Ad and tracker blocking, as well as malware and phishing protections, are also available.

An optional “MultiHop” option routes your internet connection through two VPN servers instead of just one, doubling up on your security and anonymity.

There are many options for paying with different types of cryptocurrency, and the provider also never records logs of your online activities. Surfshark also runs all of its servers solely from volatile RAM, so all data is wiped when a server is rebooted or shut down.

Connection speed-wise, Surfshark doesn’t let you down, offering enough power to ensure you experience a positive streaming, gaming, or file sharing experience. The provider offers unlimited bandwidth and data usage.

Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire, and Android TV device platforms are all available. There are Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browser extensions as well, in addition to support for many makes and models of routers.

There’s also an unlimited concurrent connections allowance, meaning you and your family or business can all connect as many devices as you need to the provider’s servers at any one time on one account.

Should you have any questions, Surfshark offers around-the-clock live chat, a searchable support documents and FAQ section, and a “Contact Us” form.

BEST FOR THE BUDGET-MINDED:You can try out Surfshark’s budget-priced services risk-free for 30 days. The provider offers excellent connection speeds, unlimited simultaneous connections, optimal online security and privacy protections, as well as responsive customer support.

Read my full review of Surfshark.

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is expensive, no doubt about that, but the provider does give you an excellent return on investment. You can try out its service without risk for 30 days.

The provider offers an impressive global server network of 3,000+ servers in 100+ countries, including Australia. The provider’s ability to unblock geo-blocked content around the world is nearly unparalleled.

ExpressVPN takes your security seriously, providing government-grade AES 256-bit encryption, as well as IP/DNS leak and automatic kill switch protections. The provider happily accepts the Bitcoin cryptocurrency in return for a subscription and follows a strict no-server-logs policy.

Also, the provider’s proprietary “TrustedServer” technology runs all operations from RAM, writing no data to a physical hard drive. This means all information is wiped upon every server reboot.

ExpressVPN’s download speeds are the fastest of all VPN providers on this list, so you can be sure to enjoy streaming content in HD or 4K, playing fast-moving games, or sharing large files. There are no data caps or bandwidth restrictions to worry about here.

ExpressVPN’s app support is impressive, including apps for macOS, Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire, and ChromeOS device platforms. Browser extensions for Brave, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge are available, and there’s support for many makes and models of routers.

Up to eight concurrent connections are allowed on one set of login credentials.

ExpressVPN offers a “MediaStreamer” DNS service, which enables devices that are incompatible with VPN apps, such as game consoles and some smart TVs, to access international video streaming content. However, the service doesn’t encrypt your internet connection like the full-blown VPN service does.

ExpressVPN offers well-rounded customer support in the form of 24/7 live chat, email support, a trouble ticket submission system, and an easy-to-search knowledge base.

BEST FOR STREAMING:ExpressVPN does come at a high price, While a 30-day money-back guarantee makes it a no-risk proposition. The provider offers extremely fast connection speeds, the ability to unblock content all around the world, and support for a myriad of devices, making it excellent for streaming lovers.

Read my full review of ExpressVPN.

4. CyberGhost

While there’s only a 14-day money-back guarantee period for a one-month subscription from CyberGhost, users can get an extensive 45 days if they opt for a one-year, two-year or three-year subscription.

CyberGhost’s server network is beyond impressive, comprising 10,600+ servers in 95+ countries, Australia included. Streaming- and downloading-optimized servers are included in that count.

CyberGhost’s connections are secured with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption and IP/DNS leak prevention, as well as ad and malware blocking. You can optionally set the VPN to force websites to show HTTPS versions of their web pages when available.

The provider never saves logs of your internet travels, and you can pay with Bitcoin if you so choose.

When it comes to connection speeds, CyberGhost excels, so you can watch video streaming content in HD, play many types of games and share files. There are no data caps to deal with, and unlimited bandwidth comes with the subscription.

CyberGhost’s apps are easy to use and are available for Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire, and Android TV device platforms. Router support is available for a multitude of makes and models, and up to seven devices can connect to the provider’s servers simultaneously.

CyberGhost’s browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox are free. But it’s also true that it only offers eight servers in four countries, not including Australia, so your ability to access streaming services like Netflix will be compromised. Still, the fact that they’re free is quite attractive.

This VPN service provider offers responsive customer support via 24/7 live chat, a trouble ticket tracking system, and an easy-to-search support library.

BEST VPN FOR NEWBIES:CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee for its one-year and longer subscription lengths. Easy-to-use apps make it perfect for the beginning VPN user, and free browser extensions make it enticing for users who don’t mind having a few server locations to choose from.

Read my full review of CyberGhost.

5. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) has an impressive global server network, made up of 3,300+ servers located in 90+ countries, including Australia. You can try out its service for free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

PIA protects its customers’ connections with banking-grade encryption, a kill switch, and IP/DNS leak prevention. The VPN also offers blocking of ads, trackers, malware, and malicious websites.

All PIA servers save no user logs, meaning there are no records to be had of your online antics. The provider’s Bitcoin subscription payment option keeps your payment information undercover.

PIA has joined the club of VPN providers running their servers solely from RAM, meaning no data is ever written to a hard drive or SSD. This ensures that all data is totally wiped whenever the provider’s servers are restarted, powered down, or unplugged.

This provider’s connection speeds are the second-slowest speeds on this list. While that is something to consider, also keep in mind that those connections are fast enough to easily handle popular online activities (depending on your usual connection speeds). Data caps or bandwidth throttling are not an issue with this VPN.

PIA app support includes options for Android, Android TV, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux device platforms. Chrome, Opera, and Firefox browser extensions are also available, as is compatibility with select router makes and models.

The provider puts no limit on the number of devices that users can be simultaneously connected to its servers.

PIA’s several support options include live chat, a trouble ticket system, and a searchable support library.

RELIABLE VPN PROTECTION:PIA provides comprehensive online security and privacy, while also providing reliable access to geo-fenced content in 90+ countries, including Australia. Customers can protect an unlimited number of devices at once. A 30-day money-back guarantee is available.

Read my full review of Private Internet Access.

6. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN has the lowest server count (200+). However, those servers are well-spread among 63+ countries, providing reliable access to geo-controlled content in the countries where it has servers.

The provider also brings up the rear in the connection speed race. That said, the provider’s connections are easily fast enough to handle your favorite online activities. Plus, PrivateVPN never spoils the fun by imposing data caps or throttling your bandwidth and it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to trial the service.

PrivateVPN uses banking-grade encryption, IP/DNS leak prevention, and other protections to keep your online activities incognito. A “Stealth VPN” feature keeps its customers’ VPN usage undercover by making it appear as normal browser activity.

A strict no-server logs policy ensures that the provider saves no records of your online activities. The provider’s cryptocurrency payment option helps keep your payment information undercover.

PrivateVPN offers native app support for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows devices. Although browser extensions are not available, Linux devices and select routers can be manually configured to work with the provider.

Up to 10 devices can be connected at once to the PrivateVPN server network.

PrivateVPN support offers agent chat, a support request form, and an FAQ page.

UNDERCOVER VPN PROTECTION:PrivateVPN has a small number of servers, although it does a good job of spreading them around the world, providing reliable access to geo-controlled content in 63+ countries. A “Stealth VPN” feature keeps your VPN usage hidden. A 30-day money-back guarantee is available.

Read my full review of PrivateVPN.

Methodology for Assessing VPNs for Australia

Australian internet users enjoy a relatively free internet experience, the government is nosy and requires ISPs to save logs recording their online activities. This makes a VPN a vital protective tool. Users need to consider several factors before making a VPN buying decision.

Below, you’ll find the factors I kept in mind when creating this list of VPNs for use while visiting or living in Australia.

• Connection speeds: Everything slows down online when you’re dealing with slow connection speeds. Australia’s average broadband speeds are around 55 Mbps, so you don’t want a VPN that slows things down much more. Most of the VPNs I include on my list do not noticeably slow down connections.
• Server network: A VPN provider should have a server network covering as much of the globe as possible. If the provider offers multiple servers in each country and has servers in your country, the provider scores bonus points.
• Value: A VPN provider’s true value can be best determined by comparing its asking price to the features it offers. The VPNs on this list all offer excellent value.
• Ease of use: A VPN should offer intuitive apps for a wide variety of connected devices. The VPN services on this list offer easy-to-use apps for most popular devices.
• Security and privacy: A VPN should (at a minimum) protect your connections with banking-level encryption, offer kill switch protection, and DNS/IP leak prevention. A strict no-logs policy is also a must. The VPNs on this list offer all of this.
• Streaming: Streaming video and music are both popular online pastimes. The VPNs on this list offer reliable access to popular streaming services, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Spotify, and other streamers.

The list above offers highlights of the features I research as part of my comprehensive VPN testing methodology. This data-driven approach provides an in-depth understanding of each VPN provider, allowing me to only recommend VPNs that are a good fit for my readers’ needs.

Is a Truly Free VPN a Good Option for Australia?

A truly, absolutely free VPN is never good for any reason.

First of all, a free VPN is inconvenient. They make you wait in a holding queue behind other free users, waiting for your chance to connect. Once you are allowed to connect, you’ll find few server locations to choose from, if you’re given any choice at all.

If you’re looking for a VPN server in Australia, you’re likely to be disappointed.

Furthermore, free VPN service providers often impose daily or monthly data caps, and you can forget about unlimited bandwidth. Your connection speeds will also be severely throttled.

Perhaps most importantly, free VPNs are a hazard to your online health. Free VPNs need to make a buck to keep their servers humming, and they often do so by recording your online activities and selling that information to the highest bidder.

You also may find unwanted ads and tracking cookies inserted into your browsing sessions.

As you can see, free VPNs pose too many problems to be a viable option. You’re much better off choosing a paid VPN provider and taking advantage of its 30- to 45-day money-back guarantee.

Free Australia VPN FAQs

Are VPNs legal in Australia?

VPNs are legal in Australia, as they are in most of the rest of the world (other than a handful of countries like North Korea or Iraq). This means Australian internet users can legally keep their online activities downunder undercover. Just don’t use a VPN to do anything illegal, as that is rightfully frowned upon.

Why Should I Avoid Truly Free VPNs?

There are several reasons to stay away from “truly free” VPN providers. First of all, many free VPNs forget about the “Private” part of “Virtual Private Network.”

Free VPNs pay the bills by logging their users’ online travels, and then selling that information to advertisers and other nosy parties. Some free VPNs will even insert ads and tracking cookies into their users’ browser sessions. (Those tracking cookies keep right on tracking you, even when you’re not connected to the VPN.)

You’ll also find that most freebie VPNs will place daily or monthly data caps on your usage. If you enjoy streaming content or downloading files while using these VPNs, you’re going to bump up against that data cap fairly quickly. Also, free VPNs are known for throttling their users’ connection speeds, in order to preserve bandwidth for their paying customers.

Most free VPN providers also prevent users from file sharing via P2P networks.

Last but not least, most free VPNs have severely limited global server coverage, with servers stationed in only a few countries. Plus, you might not even be able to select the country you want from their limited selection. You are instead automatically connected to a server of the provider’s choice.

Are Paid VPNs Worth the Money?

Paid VPNs are worth the money, as most paid VPN providers do not track or log your online travels, do not sell your information to outsiders, and do not limit your usage with data caps or bandwidth throttling.

Paid VPNs offer better native app support, a larger global server network, and much better customer support than free VPNs. Most paid VPNs also allow you to use their VPN service to protect your file sharing.

Conclusion

Truly free VPNs impose too many restrictions and are a threat to your online health. Taking advantage of a paid VPN’s risk-free trial period (via its money-back guarantee) is the best option.

NordVPN is my top pick for a “free” VPN for Australia. The provider offers extraordinarily fast download speeds, strong encryption, complete privacy protection, wide app support, and responsive customer support, all available for “free” thanks to the provider’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more information or to purchase a subscription, visit the NordVPN website.