Best VPNs for Germany in 2026
Whether you live in Germany or are only passing through, a VPN encrypts your connection on public Wi-Fi and gives you a German IP address for the German services that check for one. Below are the five VPNs we recommend for Germany, what each is best at, who should skip it, and the official figures behind the comparison.
Best VPNs for Germany compared
| # | VPN | Best for | Servers in Germany | Simultaneous devices | Money-back guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NordVPN | Best VPN overall for Germany | 309 | 10 | 30 days |
| 2 | Surfshark | Best for unlimited devices | 168 | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 3 | ExpressVPN | Best for travelers | — | 10–14 (by plan) | 30 days (new users) |
| 4 | CyberGhost | Best for beginners | 1334 | 7 | 45 days (14 on monthly plans) |
| 5 | IPVanish | Best for Kodi and Fire TV | — | Unlimited | 30 days (yearly and 2-year plans) |
Every figure in the table comes from the provider’s own website. Where a provider does not publish a German server count, the cell is empty rather than estimated.
Who has the most servers in Germany?
How we picked these VPNs
The ranking is our editorial judgment of which provider fits which need in Germany. To keep it honest, we only publish facts we can source:
- German servers – how many servers each provider runs in Germany 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, families, or support for TV devices such as the Fire TV Stick.
We have not yet published our own speed or streaming tests for Germany, so this guide makes no claims about speeds or about which German channels each VPN unblocks.
The best VPNs for Germany, reviewed
1. NordVPN
- Servers in Germany
- 309api.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 runs servers in Berlin, Frankfurt and Hamburg, according to its own server list. That gives you a German IP address in the north, the center and the capital, and the plan covers enough devices for a phone, a laptop and a TV at the same time.
It is the provider we recommend if you only want to buy one VPN for Germany. Our NordVPN review covers the apps and the privacy policy in more detail.
+ Pros
- Servers in three German cities, including Hamburg, which no other VPN in this list names
- The second-largest German network we list, after CyberGhost
- One plan covers a household’s main devices
− Cons
- Has a device limit, unlike Surfshark and IPVanish
- Far fewer German servers than CyberGhost
Choose it if you want one VPN that handles browsing, streaming and public Wi-Fi in Germany. Skip it if you need to protect more devices than one plan allows.
2. Surfshark
- Servers in Germany
- 168surfshark.com/servers/germany · 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 has servers in Berlin and Frankfurt, and one subscription covers an unlimited number of devices. That makes it the easy choice for families and shared flats: everyone can use the same plan on every phone, laptop and TV in the household.
+ Pros
- No device limit on one subscription
- A published German server count, so you know what you are paying for
− Cons
- Servers in two German cities, fewer than NordVPN or ExpressVPN
- A smaller German network than NordVPN or CyberGhost
Choose it if you are buying one VPN for a whole family or flat. Skip it if you want servers in more German cities.
3. ExpressVPN
- Servers in Germany
- —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 German locations in Berlin, Frankfurt and Nuremberg, backed by a worldwide server network. That combination is why we recommend it to people who travel in and out of Germany: one app gives you a German IP address when you are away and a local one wherever you land.
+ Pros
- German locations in Berlin, Frankfurt and Nuremberg
- A worldwide server network for travel
− Cons
- No published German 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 Germany and other countries. Skip it if you want unlimited devices on one plan.
4. CyberGhost
- Servers in Germany
- 1334cyberghostvpn.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 has by far the largest German network in this list, spread across Berlin, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt according to its server page. With that many German servers you rarely have to think about which one to pick, which is one reason we recommend it to people using a VPN for the first time.
The refund window on its longer plans is also the longest here, which gives a beginner time to try it on every device before committing.
+ Pros
- The largest German network in this list
- The longest refund period here on plans of six months or more
− Cons
- The lowest device limit in this list
- Monthly plans get a much shorter refund window
Choose it if this is your first VPN and you want plenty of German servers. Skip it if you need many devices covered or only want to pay month by month.
5. IPVanish
- Servers in Germany
- —not published
- Simultaneous devices
- Unlimitedipvanish.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-08
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 days (yearly and 2-year plans)ipvanish.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-08
IPVanish has an app for the Amazon Fire TV and a dedicated page for Kodi users, which is why we recommend it if you mostly watch on a TV device. It lists servers in Berlin and Frankfurt but does not publish a German server count, and one subscription covers an unlimited number of devices.
+ Pros
- No device limit on one subscription
- Support for Kodi and the Fire TV Stick
− Cons
- No published German server count
- The refund guarantee does not cover monthly plans
Choose it if you watch mostly through Kodi or on a Fire TV Stick. Skip it if you want to pay month by month and still get a refund window.
Watching German TV with a VPN
German streaming apps check where you are, and they often refuse to play when they see a VPN address. If you live in Germany and keep your VPN on, connect to a German server so the apps see a German IP address, and try another German server if one still refuses to play.
German channels and their streaming apps
| Broadcaster | Channels | Streaming app |
|---|---|---|
| ARD | Das Erste and the regional ARD channels | ARD Mediathek |
| ZDF | ZDF, ZDFneo | the ZDF app (zdf.de) |
| RTL Deutschland | RTL, VOX, RTLZWEI | RTL+ |
| ProSiebenSat.1 | ProSieben, Sat.1, Kabel Eins | Joyn |
For football fans, the ARD’s Sportschau shows Bundesliga highlights, and full episodes are in the ARD Mediathek.
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 German 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.
- Paid services such as RTL+ still need a subscription; a VPN only changes your location.
What to avoid when choosing a VPN for Germany
- Free VPNs that pay for themselves with ads or your data. All of your traffic passes through the VPN provider’s servers, so you have to trust whoever runs them.
- Providers without servers in Germany. If you want German TV or a German IP address, check the server list before you buy.
- Plans you cannot get refunded. Every VPN in our list has a refund window on at least its longer plans; use it to test the German 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 Germany?
Yes. Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security, the BSI, advises that if you cannot avoid opening confidential data over a public or unknown Wi-Fi network, you should do it through a VPN. It also points out that your traffic then runs through the VPN provider, so you need a provider you trust.
A VPN does not change what is legal, though. This is general information, not legal advice.
Torrenting in Germany
Sharing films, series or music without permission is illegal in Germany, with or without a VPN. Enforcement usually comes from the rights holders rather than a regulator: under the Copyright Act (Urheberrechtsgesetz), their lawyers send an Abmahnung, a formal warning letter that asks you to sign a cease-and-desist declaration backed by a contractual penalty. Because file-sharing programs upload while they download, torrenting a protected film counts as sharing it. Torrenting itself is legal for content you have the right to share, such as open-source software or public-domain films.
How to get a German IP address
- Pick a VPN from the table above that lists servers in Germany.
- Install its app on the device you want to use and sign in.
- Choose Germany (or a German city) in the server list and connect.
- Check that your IP address now shows Germany, then open the German service you want to use.
FAQ
What is the best VPN for Germany?
NordVPN is our pick for most people. It has servers in Berlin, Frankfurt and Hamburg, 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 Germany?
None of the VPNs in this list has a free plan. Free services have to pay for their servers somehow, often with ads or your data, so we recommend using the refund period of a paid VPN instead.
Which VPN has the most servers in Germany?
Of the providers in our list that publish a figure, CyberGhost has the most German servers, followed by NordVPN.
Can I watch ARD, ZDF or RTL+ in Germany with a VPN on?
These services check for a German IP address, which a VPN connected to a German server provides. Streaming services do block VPNs, though, and we have not tested which VPN currently works with each channel. Use a refund period to try it, and remember that RTL+ still needs a subscription.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Germany?
Yes. The BSI recommends a VPN when you have to use public Wi-Fi for confidential data. A VPN does not make illegal activity, such as sharing copyrighted films, legal.
What is an Abmahnung?
It is a formal warning letter that a rights holder’s lawyers send when they believe your connection was used to share protected material. It asks you to stop and to sign a declaration backed by a contractual penalty. Take it seriously and get legal advice before you sign or pay anything.