Best Free VPNs for Canada in 2024

At a Glance

Freedom House has given Canada a ranking of 87/100 (“free”) on its 2022 Internet Freedom Score report.

Although the internet is unfettered in Canada, there are some dangers that internet users face. For instance, Canada is part of the Five Eyes Alliance, which means it shares information about its users’ internet activities with the other members of the alliance: the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

In addition, while Canada’s government itself doesn’t block access to internet content located outside of its borders, streaming and other content providers do block your access if you’re outside of the country it’s intended for.

This means that content not available in Canada, such as location-specific versions of the Netflix content library and country-specific services such as BBC iPlayer and Hulu, are unavailable to users inside of Canada.

How Can a VPN Help Me in Canada?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) helps you with both of these problems. A VPN’s encryption for your internet connection keeps your online activities safe from the prying eyes of the government, Internet Service Providers, and hackers, and its ability to spoof your IP address gives you access to internet content all around the world.

There are many absolutely free VPNs out there that may seem enticing. However, they come with a host of problems. They throttle your internet speeds, impose data caps on your usage, and steal your personal information to sell to the highest bidder.

You’re much better off taking advantage of free trials of paid VPN service providers, which you can get by paying some money upfront and enjoying the full service with all of its benefits, then getting a refund thanks to its 30- to 45-day money-back guarantee if you’re not happy with it.

In this article, I review the top six best “free” VPNs for Canada. In addition, I’ll give you the lowdown on all of the problems that truly free VPN providers pose.

How to Use a VPN for Canada

It’s simple to set up and use a VPN while in Canada.

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 Canada 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!

Best “Free” VPNs for Canada

I’ve spent years evaluating the top VPN service providers on the market, and my research has shown that the following six VPN providers are the best for use in Canada.

The best “free” VPNs for Canada:

1. NordVPN: Top VPN for Canada. NordVPN is my top “free” VPN for Canada. You can get a free trial of its high-speed servers, strong encryption, ultimate privacy protections, and wide-ranging app support for 30 days, risk-free.
2. Surfshark: Best budget-priced VPN. Surfshark is a budget-priced provider that gives you 30 days to try out its service risk-free. For that low price, you can get unlimited simultaneous connections, fast speeds, high-end security, and top-notch customer support.
3. ExpressVPN: Premium VPN for Canada. ExpressVPN is admittedly a high-priced provider, but the service it offers is perhaps the best for streaming. For 30 days, you can try out its unrivaled connection speeds, comprehensive app support, and super-wide global server coverage, risk-free.
4. CyberGhost: CyberGhost makes sure that it’s easy to use its service, making it an excellent option for newbie VPN users. The provider offers an unusually long 45-day money-back guarantee and offers free browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
5. Private Internet Access (PIA): Reliable Canadian VPN protection. PIA provides reliable protection for Canadian users thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee, while providing reliable and well-protected access to content around much of the world.
6. PrivateVPN: Might-Mite VPN network. PrivateVPN admittedly has the smallest global server network on this list. However, it provides reliable access to content in the countries that it serves. 30-day money-back guarantee.

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

• Risk-free money-back guarantee
• Extensive global server coverage (bonus points for servers in Canada)
• Strong encryption and security features
• Industry-standard privacy protections
• Fast download speeds, with unlimited bandwidth and no data caps
• Responsive customer support

Best VPNs for Canada – Summary table

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Canada.

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

1. NordVPN

May 2024

NordVPN is the best “free” VPN service provider for Canada. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to try out the service and get a full refund if you’re not satisfied.

NordVPN provides 5,700+ servers in 60+ countries, including Canada, which gives you plenty of access to content all around the world. The provider is adept at accessing all kinds of geo-blocked content.

Your security is completely protected by government-grade AES 256-bit encryption, automatic kill switch protection, IP/DNS leak prevention, and malware and ad blocking.

There are also obfuscated servers to make it seem like you’re not using a VPN, as well as Double VPN protection, which routes your connection through two VPN servers, giving you added anonymity and protection.

NordVPN never saves any logs of your online activities, and certainly doesn’t sell what it doesn’t have. A Bitcoin payment option is available for the ultra-privacy-minded.

The provider runs all of its servers solely from volatile RAM, meaning all data on the servers is deleted whenever the servers are restarted or switched off. Plus, the provider’s owned-and-operated servers ensure that third-party contractors are kept away from your personal info.

NordVPN provides incredibly fast connection speeds, making it possible to thoroughly enjoy your streaming, gaming, and file sharing activities. The provider never limits your bandwidth or imposes any data caps.

The provider offers plenty of app support, with offerings for Windows, Android, iOS, macOS (with M1/M2 Mac support), Linux, Amazon Fire, and Android TV device platforms. There are Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browser extensions, if that’s what you prefer, and the provider supports many makes and models of routers. Up to six devices can connect simultaneously on one account.

There’s also a SmartDNS service available if you want to watch international streaming content on devices that are incompatible with VPN apps, such as game consoles, some smart TVs, and other set-top boxes. However, don’t expect the service to encrypt your internet connection, because it won’t.

NordVPN’s customer support is top-notch. The provider offers 24/7 live chat, email support, and a comprehensive support library.

THE BEST “FREE” VPN FOR CANADA:NordVPN is already low-priced, so you don’t have to pay much upfront to enjoy its 30-day money-back guarantee. The provider offers incredibly fast connections, wide app support, strong encryption, and ultimate privacy protections.

Read my full review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a low-priced provider that doesn’t charge much before you can take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark used to offer a small server network, but recently, it has upped the ante, offering 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries, Canada included.

No worries about your online security thanks to Surfshark’s 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.

That’s in addition to a “MultiHop” option, which routes your internet connection through a duo of VPN servers for added anonymity and security.

Surfshark allows you to pay with many different types of cryptocurrency, and the provider follows a strict no-logs policy. The provider also runs its servers 100% from RAM, ensuring that all data is wiped with a reboot or by powering the servers down.

When it comes to connection speeds, Surfshark doesn’t disappoint, with enough speed to handle high-definition streams, fast-moving games, and the sharing of large files. Unlimited bandwidth is available, in addition to unlimited data.

Native apps are available for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS (with native support for Apple silicon), Linux, Amazon Fire, and Android TV device platforms. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browser extensions make the scene, and there’s plenty of support for routers.

Unlimited simultaneous connections are allowed, so you can connect as many devices as you need to the provider’s servers at one time on one account.

Questions are likely to come up eventually, and when that day comes, you’ll appreciate Surfshark’s 24/7 live support chat. A “Contact Us” form is also available, in addition to searchable support documents and a FAQ section.

BEST FOR THE BUDGET-MINDED:Surfshark is a low-priced option, excellent for users who want to save their pennies while enjoying the provider’s risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Unlimited simultaneous connections, in addition to fast speeds and superior security and privacy protections, make the provider great value.

Read my full review of Surfshark.

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3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is not a budget-priced provider by any means. Still, some users will appreciate its reliable service and excellent streaming capabilities during their 30-day money-back guarantee period.

The provider boasts a massive global server network, including 3,000+ servers in nearly 95 countries, Canada being one of them. The provider is well known for its ability to access all kinds of geo-restricted content.

Government-grade AES 256-bit encryption, as well as IP/DNS leak and automatic kill switch protections.

Your privacy is also thoroughly protected thanks to a privacy-friendly Bitcoin payment option and 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.

You’ll enjoy super-fast connections with ExpressVPN. Those connections are capable of streaming content in HD or 4K. Unlimited bandwidth is available, and there are no data caps to worry about.

ExpressVPN supports a plethora of device platforms with apps, including macOS (M1/M2 Mac support), Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire, Android TV, and ChromeOS. Brave, Vivaldi, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browser extensions are available, and you won’t have a problem finding support for your router.

Sadly, you can only connect five devices simultaneously to the provider’s servers on one set of login credentials.

There’s also a “MediaStreamer” DNS service, enabling devices like game consoles, smart TVs, and other set-top streaming boxes to access streaming content in other countries. However, be warned that the service doesn’t offer encryption for your connection like the regular VPN service does.

There are four types of customer support available from ExpressVPN: around-the-clock live chat, email support, a trouble ticket tracking system, and an easy-to-search knowledge base.

BEST FOR STREAMING:ExpressVPN is admittedly expensive, but you can certainly get your money back before 30 days have elapsed. In return for that high price, you’ll get access to high-speed servers in nearly 95 countries, in addition to high-end encryption and apps for many different device platforms.

Read my full review of ExpressVPN.

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4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost offers 30 days to get your money back when you opt for a one-year or longer subscription. Sadly, that offer drops to 14 days if you opt for a one-month subscription.

CyberGhost’s server network is quite impressive, comprising 9,000+ servers in 90+ countries, including Canada. There are streaming- and downloading-optimized servers available.

Your security is protected thanks to 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.

CyberGhost doesn’t record your online activities and offers a private Bitcoin payment option.

Connection speed-wise, CyberGhost has you covered, enabling you to watch streaming content in HD (depending on your normal connection speeds), play fast-moving games, and share large files. You’ll never have to worry about bandwidth limitations or data caps.

CyberGhost offers easy-to-use apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, and Amazon Fire device platforms. There’s plenty of router support, and seven simultaneous connections are not too shabby at all.

CyberGhost offers free browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. However, you’ll only gain access to eight servers in four countries, Canada not included. Your ability to access streaming and other kinds of content will be extremely hampered, but hey, it’s free.

The provider knows the value of excellent customer support, so it offers 24/7 live chat, a trouble ticket tracking system, and an easy-to-search support library.

BEST VPN FOR NEWBIES:CyberGhost offers a lengthy 45-day money-back guarantee for its year or longer subscription options. The provider’s free browser extensions offer access to eight servers in four countries, while its streaming- and downloading-optimized servers enhance your experience.

Read my full review of CyberGhost.

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5. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) provides reliable and wide-ranging access to geo-fenced content around the globe. This is thanks to its large global server network, which includes 3,300+ servers stationed in 84+ countries.

PIA protects its users’ connections with banking-grade encryption, kill switch protection, and IP/DNS leak prevention. The provider is also happy to provide blocking of ads, trackers, malware, and dangerous websites.

The provider runs its servers 100% free of user logs. It also accepts cryptocurrency as subscription payment. All PIA servers are also run solely from RAM.

PIA’s native app support includes offerings for most popular device platforms, including Android, Android TV, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux. Chrome, Opera, and Firefox browser extensions are also available. The provider is compatible with several router makes and models.

PIA recently began allowing unlimited connections to its servers, meaning users can now use the VPN on all of their connected devices at once.

The provider’s connection speeds are the second-slowest speeds on this list, yet they deliver plenty of bandwidth, easily handling your favorite online pastimes. Data caps or bandwidth throttling is never imposed here.

Live chat, a trouble ticket system, and a searchable support database are all available in your time of need.

RELIABLE CANADIAN ONLINE PROTECTION:Private Internet Access’ unlimited connections policy allows you to keep all of your connected devices protected at once. PIA’s large global server network provides access to IP addresses in many countries around the globe. A 30-day money-back guarantee is available.

Read my full review of Private Internet Access.

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6. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN’s global server network, which has 200+ servers based in 63+ countries, is the smallest global server network on this list. However, it should be noted that the network still provides reliable access to content in countries where it has servers.

The provider also wins the booby prize in the download speeds department, with the slowest connections in this roundup. That said, PrivateVPN’s connections can still handle your favorite online activities.

All of PrivateVPN’s connections are well-protected by banking-grade encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, and several other protections. The provider’s “Stealth VPN” feature hides your VPN usage by disguising it as normal browser traffic.

The provider’s no-server logs policy ensures that no records of your online travels can ever be found. A cryptocurrency subscription payment option protects your payment privacy, especially when you use a disposable email address to sign up.

PrivateVPN’s app support is also a bit lacking, as it offers apps only for the Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows device platforms. Browser extensions are also a no-go here. Linux devices and select routers can be manually set up to use the provider.

Users can simultaneously connect up to 10 devices to PrivateVPN’s servers.

The provider’s support options include live chat, a support request form, and an FAQ support area.

SMALL BUT MIGHTY VPN:PrivateVPN’s small but powerful global server network provides reliable, well-protected access to content wherever it has servers. A “Stealth VPN” feature keeps your VPN usage hidden by disguising it as normal browser traffic. A 30-day money-back guarantee is available.

Read my full review of PrivateVPN.

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Methodology for Assessing VPNs for Canada

While Canadian citizens are not subject to the filtering or blocking of online content, that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t use a VPN. There are several factors that users should consider before deciding on a VPN service provider:

• Connection speeds: The faster your internet connection, the better that you’ll enjoy your favorite online pastimes. The VPNs on my list provide plenty of bandwidth.
• Server network: The larger a provider’s global server network, the better access it delivers to geo-blocked content around the world. Providers should also have multiple servers in each country, as it ensures that no single server’s performance will take a hit from handling too many users.
• Value: A VPN provider’s value can be determined by comparing its asking price to the features it offers. The VPNs that I include on my list all offer an excellent return on investment.
• Ease of use: A VPN should offer a variety of intuitive apps for popular device platforms. The VPN services on this list all offer easy-to-use apps for most popular device platforms.
• Security and privacy: A VPN should at a minimum protect its users’ internet connections by using banking-level encryption, an automatic kill switch, and DNS/IP leak protection. A strict no-logs policy is also a must. The providers on this list all have these requirements covered.
• Streaming: Reliable access to streaming sites is a must for any VPN. Each VPN I include on my list offers reliable access to multiple streaming sites such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and others.

The features listed above are just some of what I consider in my overall VPN testing methodology. I also research other factors and also make use of these VPNs during my day-to-day online activities.

My data-driven approach allows me to better rank the VPNs, allowing my readers to make a well-informed VPN buying decision.

Is a Truly Free VPN a Good Option for Canada?

You want to steer clear of truly free VPNs, no matter your reason for using a VPN.

Keep in mind that free VPNs are highly inconvenient. You’re often made to wait in a queue behind other free users, waiting for your turn to connect. When you are given the green light, you’ll find a few server options, if there are any options at all. If you were hoping for a VPN server in Canada, prepare to be disappointed.

Daily or monthly data caps are the norm, and your connection speeds will likely be severely throttled.

The most important thing to be aware of, though, is the fact that free VPNs will often make their money by recording all of your online activity information and selling it to the highest bidder. (They don’t exactly take the “Private” part of Virtual Private Network seriously.)

Unwanted ads and tracking cookies may also pop up during your browsing sessions (and those cookies don’t stop tracking you simply because you stopped using the free VPN).

Truly free VPNs do more harm than good. While you do have to pay upfront for a paid VPN service, you’ll get 30 to 45 days to experience a service that doesn’t pose any of these problems.

Canada VPN FAQs

Conclusion

Absolutely free VPNs are too much of a hazard to your online health to be a real option. 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 Canada. 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.