Best VPNs for Australia in 2026
Whether you live in Australia or are only passing through, a VPN encrypts your connection on public Wi-Fi and gives you an Australian IP address for the Australian services that check for one. Below are the seven VPNs we recommend for Australia, what each is best at, who should skip it, and the official figures behind the comparison.
Best VPNs for Australia compared
| # | VPN | Best for | Servers in Australia | Simultaneous devices | Money-back guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NordVPN | Best VPN overall for Australia | 237 | 10 | 30 days |
| 2 | Surfshark | Best for families | 40 | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 3 | Private Internet Access | Best for torrenting | — | Unlimited | 30 days (new subscribers) |
| 4 | CyberGhost | Best for a long trial period | 217 | 7 | 45 days (14 on monthly plans) |
| 5 | Proton VPN | Best free VPN | 321 | 10 (VPN Plus) | 30 days |
| 6 | PureVPN | Best for Fire TV Stick | — | 10 | 31 days |
| 7 | ExpressVPN | Best for travelers | — | 10–14 (by plan) | 30 days (new users) |
Every figure in the table comes from the provider’s own website. Where a provider does not publish an Australian server count, the cell is empty rather than estimated.
Who has the most servers in Australia?
How we picked these VPNs
The ranking is our editorial judgment of which provider fits which need in Australia. To keep it honest, we only publish facts we can source:
- Australian servers – how many servers each provider runs in Australia and in which cities, taken from its own server pages.
- Devices per plan – how many devices one subscription covers, which decides whether one plan is enough for a family.
- Refund period – how long you have to try the service and get your money back.
- Fit for the use case – streaming, travel, a usable free plan, or support for TV devices such as the Fire TV Stick.
We have not yet published our own speed or streaming tests for Australia, so this guide makes no claims about speeds or about which Australian channels each VPN unblocks.
The best VPNs for Australia, reviewed
1. NordVPN
- Servers in Australia
- 237api.nordvpn.com/v1/servers/countries · checked 2026-11-08
- Simultaneous devices
- 10nordvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-08
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 daysnordvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-08
NordVPN has servers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, according to its own server list. Australia is a big country, and Perth is a long way from the east coast, so a provider that covers both sides gives you a nearby server wherever you are.
It is the provider we recommend if you only want to buy one VPN for Australia. Our NordVPN review covers the apps and the privacy policy in more detail.
+ Pros
- Servers in all five of the largest Australian cities, including Perth
- The second-largest Australian network we list, after Proton VPN
- One plan covers a household’s main devices
− Cons
- Has a device limit, unlike Surfshark and PIA
- A smaller Australian network than Proton VPN’s paid plan
Choose it if you want one VPN that handles browsing, streaming and public Wi-Fi in Australia. Skip it if you need to protect more devices than one plan allows.
2. Surfshark
- Servers in Australia
- 40surfshark.com/servers/australia · checked 2026-11-08
- Simultaneous devices
- Unlimitedsurfshark.com/features/multiple-devices · checked 2026-11-07
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 dayssurfshark.com/features/multiple-devices · checked 2026-11-07
Surfshark also has servers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, and one subscription covers an unlimited number of devices. That is why we recommend it for families and share houses: everyone can use the same plan on every phone, laptop and TV in the home.
+ Pros
- No device limit on one subscription
- Servers in five Australian cities
− Cons
- The smallest Australian network of the providers that publish a figure
Choose it if you are buying one VPN for a whole family or share house. Skip it if the number of Australian servers matters more to you than the number of devices.
3. Private Internet Access
- Servers in Australia
- —not published
- Simultaneous devices
- Unlimitedprivateinternetaccess.com · checked 2026-11-07
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 days (new subscribers)privateinternetaccess.com · checked 2026-11-07
Private Internet Access (PIA) allows unlimited simultaneous devices on one subscription and lists Australian locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, plus a separate streaming-optimized Australian location. It is our pick for torrenting. PIA does not publish an Australian server count, so the table leaves that cell empty.
Using a VPN does not make downloading copyrighted material legal. See torrenting in Australia below.
+ Pros
- No device limit on one subscription
- Five Australian cities and a streaming-optimized location
− Cons
- No published Australian server count
- The refund guarantee is for new subscribers only
Choose it if you torrent legal content and want every device covered. Skip it if you want to know exactly how many Australian servers you are paying for.
4. CyberGhost
- Servers in Australia
- 217cyberghostvpn.com/vpn-server · checked 2026-11-08
- Simultaneous devices
- 7cyberghostvpn.com/features/money-back-guar… · checked 2026-11-07
- Money-back guarantee
- 45 days (14 on monthly plans)cyberghostvpn.com/features/money-back-guar… · checked 2026-11-07
CyberGhost runs a large Australian network in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and it gives you the longest refund period in this list on plans of six months or more. That makes it the easiest VPN here to test properly on your own connection before you commit.
+ Pros
- The longest refund period here on longer plans
- A large Australian network, close behind NordVPN
− Cons
- No Australian servers in Adelaide or Perth
- The lowest device limit in this list
- Monthly plans get a much shorter refund window
Choose it if you want plenty of time to test a VPN on the Australian services you use. Skip it if you live in Perth or Adelaide, or need many devices covered.
5. Proton VPN
- Servers in Australia
- 321protonvpn.com/vpn-servers · checked 2026-11-08
- Simultaneous devices
- 10 (VPN Plus)protonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-07
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 daysprotonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-07
Proton VPN is the only provider in this list with a permanent free plan, which makes it our pick for a free VPN in Australia. The free plan covers a single device and connects you to a randomly selected server. You cannot choose Australia, so use it to protect yourself on public Wi-Fi, not to get an Australian IP address.
The paid VPN Plus plan unlocks the largest Australian network in this list, with servers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
+ Pros
- The only permanent free plan in this list
- The paid plan has the largest Australian network we list
− Cons
- The free plan cannot connect to Australia on request
- The free plan covers a single device
Choose it if you want free protection on café, airport or library Wi-Fi, or the largest Australian network on a paid plan. Skip it if you need an Australian IP address without paying.
6. PureVPN
- Servers in Australia
- —not published
- Simultaneous devices
- 10purevpn.com/order · checked 2026-11-08
- Money-back guarantee
- 31 dayspurevpn.com/order · checked 2026-11-08
PureVPN offers a dedicated Fire TV Stick app, which is why we recommend it if you mainly watch on an Amazon Fire TV device. It lists Australian servers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, but it does not publish an Australian server count.
+ Pros
- A dedicated app for the Amazon Fire TV Stick
- Servers in four Australian cities, including Perth
- A slightly longer refund period than most providers here
− Cons
- No published Australian server count
Choose it if you watch mostly on a Fire TV Stick. Skip it if you want the largest choice of Australian servers. Read our PureVPN review.
7. ExpressVPN
- Servers in Australia
- —not published
- Simultaneous devices
- 10–14 (by plan)expressvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-12
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 days (new users)expressvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-12
ExpressVPN has Australian locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, backed by a worldwide server network. That combination is why we recommend it to people who travel in and out of Australia: one app gives you an Australian IP address when you are away and a local one wherever you land.
+ Pros
- Australian locations in five cities
- A worldwide server network for travel
− Cons
- No published Australian server count
- The device limit depends on the plan you buy
- The refund guarantee is for new users only
Choose it if you regularly travel between Australia and other countries. Skip it if you want unlimited devices on one plan.
Watching Australian TV with a VPN
Australian streaming apps check where you are, and they often refuse to play when they see a VPN address. If you live in Australia and keep your VPN on, connect to an Australian server so the apps see an Australian IP address, and try another Australian server if one still refuses to play.
Australian channels and their streaming apps
| Broadcaster | Channels | Streaming app |
|---|---|---|
| ABC | ABC TV, ABC Kids, ABC News | ABC iview |
| SBS | SBS, SBS Viceland | SBS On Demand |
| Seven Network | Seven, 7mate | 7plus |
| Nine Network | Nine, 9Gem | 9Now |
| Network 10 | 10, 10 Drama, 10 Comedy | 10 (formerly 10Play) |
Nine shows the Australian Open live and free on 9Now, so 9Now is where viewers in Australia stream the tournament.
Before you rely on it
- Streaming services often block VPN traffic, and what works changes over time. We have not tested which VPN currently works with which Australian channel, so use the refund period to check the services you care about.
- Some services restrict VPN use in their terms. Check the terms of the service you subscribe to.
- Subscription services such as Stan, Foxtel and Kayo still need a subscription; a VPN only changes your location.
What to avoid when choosing a VPN for Australia
- Free VPNs that pay for themselves with ads or your data. The Australian Cyber Security Centre warns that a VPN provider can see a lot of your data, so check who runs it. The one free plan we list, Proton VPN, cannot give you an Australian IP address.
- Providers without servers in Australia. If you want Australian TV or an Australian IP address, check the server list before you buy.
- Plans you cannot get refunded. Every VPN in our list has a refund window; use it to test the Australian services you care about.
- Providers that say little about who runs them or what they log. Read the privacy policy before you pay.
- “Lifetime” deals from unknown brands. A service that has to keep running servers for ever on a one-off payment rarely lasts.
Is using a VPN legal in Australia?
Yes. The Australian Cyber Security Centre itself advises people who often use public Wi-Fi to install and use a reputable VPN, and to research the provider and its privacy policy first.
A VPN does not change what is legal, though. This is general information, not legal advice.
Torrenting in Australia
Downloading or sharing copyrighted material without permission is illegal in Australia under the Copyright Act 1968, with or without a VPN. Since 2015 the Federal Court has been able to order internet providers to block overseas piracy sites, and rights holders can take infringers to court. Torrenting itself is legal for content you have the right to share, such as open-source software or public-domain films.
How to get an Australian IP address
- Pick a VPN from the table above that lists servers in Australia.
- Install its app on the device you want to use and sign in.
- Choose Australia (or an Australian city) in the server list and connect.
- Check that your IP address now shows Australia, then open the Australian service you want to use.
FAQ
What is the best VPN for Australia?
NordVPN is our pick for most people. It has servers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, and one plan covers several devices. Surfshark is the better choice for large households because it has no device limit.
Is there a good free VPN for Australia?
Proton VPN has the only free plan in our list. It is useful on public Wi-Fi, but the free plan picks a server for you, so it cannot give you an Australian IP address. For that you need a paid plan.
Which VPN has the most servers in Australia?
Of the providers in our list that publish a figure, Proton VPN has the most Australian servers on its paid plan, followed by NordVPN and CyberGhost.
Can I watch ABC iview, 9Now or 7plus in Australia with a VPN on?
These apps check for an Australian IP address, which a VPN connected to an Australian server provides. Streaming services do block VPNs, though, and we have not tested which VPN currently works with each app. Use a refund period to try it.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Australia?
Yes. The Australian Cyber Security Centre recommends a reputable VPN for people who often use public Wi-Fi. A VPN does not make illegal activity, such as downloading copyrighted material, legal.
Which VPN is best for traveling to and from Australia?
ExpressVPN is our pick for travelers: it has Australian locations in five cities and a worldwide server network, so one app covers you at home and abroad.