Costa Rica is a member of the Freedom Online Coalition, a group of governments working together to advance internet freedom. There’s little to fear in terms of censorship or surveillance, but there are other reasons why you need a VPN for Costa Rica in 2024.
If you live in Costa Rica or are visiting, you’re faced with restrictions preventing you from enjoying content from elsewhere. The case is reversed when you travel abroad — you can no longer watch local content on Repretel, Canal 7, and other platforms. In addition, there’s also the constantly growing threat of cybercriminals to worry about.
Luckily, a VPN handles these issues effectively. In this in-depth guide, we’ll highlight and discuss the best VPN providers for Costa Rica, and you’ll discover what makes them tick.
Best VPN for Costa Rica — Our Top 5 Picks for 2024
We compiled this list of the best VPNs in Costa Rica following an extensive testing process. As a result, you can be sure the entries offer the best combinations of privacy, security, and performance that suit your needs.
In addition, we only focused on premium VPN services. If you follow this site, you know good free VPNs exist but are few and far between. Opting for them would be sacrificing quality service (and maybe even your online privacy and security).
Well then, let’s get down to business.
1. ExpressVPN
- Jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands.
- Server count: 3,000+ in 105 countries, including Costa Rica.
- Standout feature: TrustedServer technology.
- Compatible with: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chromebook, routers, browsers, gaming consoles, and more.
- Simultaneous connections: Up to 8 devices on 6 and 12-month plans.
- Money-back guarantee: 30 days.
ExpressVPN is a secure, reliable, super-fast service with 3,000+ servers in 105 countries, including Costa Rica. It’s so highly rated that many consider it the top provider overall, never mind just the best VPN for Costa Rica.
Few VPNs rival ExpressVPN when it comes to bypassing geo-restrictions. Consequently, it’s an excellent choice if you’re big on streaming. You can tune in to local content on Trece Costa Rica Televisión and other local platforms, even when you’re away from Costa Rica.
Netflix Costa Rica has significantly fewer titles than the streamer has in countries like the US and UK. With ExpressVPN, you’re not limited and can easily access exclusive libraries in many more countries when you’re home in Costa Rica.
Not just on Netflix, too. ExpressVPN unblocks BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and many more popular platforms. Thanks to blazing-fast speeds, you can stream content in HD and higher with no buffering. By the way, it’s an excellent choice for watching American TV channels from Costa Rica.
ExpressVPN has your online privacy and security on lock. It’s loaded with features, including military-grade encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and leak protection. Its innovative TrustedServer technology ensures servers are wiped clean after every reboot. It also provides advanced features like obfuscation and perfect forward secrecy.
This Costa Rica VPN offers apps for the major platforms and supports devices like routers and game consoles. One subscription covers up to eight devices simultaneously.
2. CyberGhost
- Jurisdiction: Romania.
- Server count: 10,000+ servers in 100 countries, including 24 in Costa Rica.
- Standout feature: In-house managed NoSpy servers.
- Compatible with: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, browsers, and more.
- Simultaneous connections: Up to 7 devices.
- Money-back guarantee: Up to 45 days.
Intuitive apps, simple user interface, and easily accessible advanced features. CyberGhost is a top VPN for Costa Rica.
Throw in its affordability, and it’s clear why the VPN provider is popular in Costa Rica and around the world.
CyberGhost comes with a massive collection of VPN servers, with over 10,000 in 100 countries. 24 of those servers are in Costa Rica, which is pretty impressive, considering its size. If you live within the country, you’ll always have nearby server options, all but guaranteeing fast, stable connections.
Speaking of which, CyberGhost is a pretty fast VPN, regardless of your location, thanks to 10 Gbps servers. In addition, it has excellent unblocking abilities, bypassing geo-blocks on local and international platforms alike.
A subscription guarantees you can catch up with all the news, sports, and entertainment on Repretel Channel 6 (or other local platforms), even if you’re halfway around the world.
It mirrors that performance on international streaming services when you travel abroad, offering access to Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and more. You get the best results when you use one of its dedicated streaming servers.
Security-wise, CyberGhost is stacked. It offers AES 245-bit encryption and secure tunneling protocols to keep your data from prying eyes. A kill switch and automatic Wi-Fi protection offer layered protection against data leaks.
Plus, CyberGhost has undergone independent audits to verify that its strict no-logs policy is airtight. The VPN releases quarterly transparency reports highlighting requests for user data.
CyberGhost has apps for all Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and streaming devices. It also works on several other devices, including routers. To try CyberGhost VPN in Costa Rica, click here:
3. NordVPN
- Jurisdiction: Panama.
- Server count: 5,800+ servers in 60 countries, including Costa Rica.
- Standout feature: Custom NordLynx protocol built around WireGuard.
- Compatible with: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chromebook, routers, gaming consoles, and more.
- Simultaneous connections: Up to 6 devices.
- Money-back guarantee: 30 days.
Thanks to a wide range of features and quality service, NordVPN has built a reputation as a VPN you can trust with your data.
A massive collection of servers comprising 5,800+ options leaves you spoiled for choice. You can get a Costa Rican IP address by connecting to any of the provider’s servers in San Jose, the country’s capital.
NordVPN is remarkably fast and barely makes a dent in your original connection speed. Well, at least not enough to be noticeable, especially on nearby servers. Much of that is down to its 10 Gbps server infrastructure and proprietary NordLynx protocol, built around WireGuard.
High speeds mean the VPN provider is great for streaming in Costa Rica and beyond. It builds on that with excellent unblocking abilities. NordVPN bypasses geo-blocks without hassles on websites and streaming services.
Despite regional restrictions, you can follow along with Costa Rican current affairs, movies, and shows on local TV channels abroad. It just as easily unblocks Netflix libraries, as well as platforms like BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and more.
NordVPN takes you within reach of ultimate privacy, so you’re not worrying about cyber threats. It implements bank-level encryption to protect your data. There’s also an advanced kill switch and IP/DNS leak protection to prevent data leaks.
Advanced features like Onion over VPN and Double VPN come in handy if you’re looking over your shoulders. In addition, NordVPN has a strict logless policy, so you know it won’t store connection logs on its servers.
A single NordVPN subscription covers six devices, which should be enough for most people. As for compatibility, it supports a wide range of platforms and devices, from computers to smartphones and game consoles. In this respect, NordVPN is often cited as one of the best VPN apps for iPad.
4. Surfshark
- Jurisdiction: The Netherlands.
- Server count: 3,200+ in 100 countries, including Costa Rica.
- Standout feature: Nexus with SDN technology for multiple server connections.
- Compatible with: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, browsers, and more.
- Simultaneous connections: Unlimited devices.
- Money-back guarantee: 30 days.
If you’re looking for an affordable, versatile VPN for Costa Rica, you can’t do much better than Surfshark. You get good value, considering you’d have to pay significantly more for many of its top rivals’ long-term plans.
Surfshark’s extensive network encompasses over 3,200 servers spread across 100 countries worldwide, including locations in Costa Rica. There are specialty servers for torrenters, optimized for speed and security while downloading and sharing.
Its servers feature up to 10 Gbps ports, guaranteeing decent — if not blazing-fast — speeds and stable connections. As a result, Surfshark is an ideal choice for data-intensive tasks like heavy browsing, online gaming, and streaming. Especially when connected to a nearby server and using WireGuard.
Like the other providers discussed so far, Surfshark gets you through geo-blocks to exclusive content on Costa Rican platforms. You’ll have no problems watching your favorite shows on Netflix US, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and other platforms from San Jose or other Costa Rican cities.
It may be cheap, but Surfshark does not skimp on keeping your online traffic safe and private. There’s industry-standard encryption to scramble your data and an audited no-logs policy. It drastically reduces the chances of data leaks with a kill switch and DNS/WebRTC leak protection.
There’s no censorship to worry about in Costa Rica. But if you travel to restrictive countries, obfuscated servers, NoBorders, and MultiHop are some of the features built-in to keep you under the radar.
We recommend Surfshark if you live in a big household or own lots of devices. That’s because it has no limits on the number of devices you can use a single subscription on simultaneously.
5. Private Internet Access
- Jurisdiction: The United States.
- Server count: Servers in 91 countries, including Costa Rica.
- Standout feature: Choice between AES 128-bit and AES 256-bit encryption.
- Compatible with: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, gaming consoles, and more.
- Simultaneous connections: Unlimited devices.
- Money-back guarantee: 30 days.
Private Internet Access is another cheap VPN service for Costa Rica that outperforms many costlier alternatives.
If CyberGhost’s network size seems impressive, you’ll be blown away by PIA’s. While it no longer discloses the exact figure, it was rapidly approaching 30,000 servers at last count. They are located in 91 countries, including Costa Rica.
PIA won’t win any speed competitions against competitors like ExpressVPN and NordVPN. That said, it’s fast enough to watch high-quality video, especially if you’re connected to nearby servers.
Similarly, it’s hardly the best streaming VPN in the market, thanks to indifferent results from geo-unblocking. PIA bypasses geographical restrictions on select Netflix libraries and streaming platforms. However, several others are too tough.
The provider is obviously more focused on privacy and security. It offers a choice between the top AES ciphers for scrambling your traffic, with AES 128-bit allowing better connection speeds. There’s also an advanced kill switch to prevent accidental data leaks.
You can browse confidently, knowing Private Internet Access will never store your data. It uses RAM-based servers which wipe clean after each reboot. Plus, it has a strict no-logs policy that has undergone independent auditing. If you have the technical skills, you can even analyze its source code — PIA is open-source.
Like Surfshark, Private Internet Access offers unlimited simultaneous device connections, so one subscription is sufficient for all your gadgets.
Why You Need a VPN for Costa Rica
In its Freedom on the Net report, Freedom House rates Costa Rica as one of the world’s most open online environments. In other words, the government hasn’t implemented widespread censorship on websites or online content. What’s more, it’s not known for monitoring the internet activities of citizens.
But there are other things to worry about. Like many other countries, Costa Ricans must be wary of cyber attacks in the form of hacking, phishing, ransomware, and more. If you regularly use public Wi-Fi in Costa Rica, you’re probably aware of the lurking cybercrooks looking to intercept your data.
A quality VPN effectively handles this issue. A VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through a secure tunnel to a remote server and then to its destination. The encryption serves as a protective layer that secures your online activities and sensitive information from shady operators.
There’s more. Traveling away from Costa Rica restricts your access to local TV and streaming content. This is due to geo-blocking, which also affects your viewing of foreign content when you’re in Costa Rica.
Plus, Bancredito, Banco Nacional, and other banks constantly look out for fraud. They may flag your bank transaction attempts from overseas as fraudulent because of the foreign IP address.
VPNs assign you IP addresses linked to the remote servers they route your traffic through. So, if you’re connected to a server in San Jose, you get a Costa Rican IP address, even if you’re actually in the United States, Europe, or elsewhere. That way, you can enjoy your favorite content from home or complete banking transactions hassle-free.
How We Ranked The Best VPN for Costa Rica — Our Methodology
New VPN services seem to be popping up every day. With so many out there, it’s not the easiest decision to pick the right provider that effectively handles your privacy while providing other essential benefits.
We’ve tested dozens of VPNs to make your choice of a Costa Rica VPN easier. To arrive at this list, we considered several key factors. These are the major metrics we considered:
Privacy and Security
VPNs have several benefits, whether you’re in Costa Rica or elsewhere, but keeping your data safe and private ranks highest of them all. We considered encryption standards, the selection of tunneling protocols, and whether tested VPNs maintain a strict, audited no-logs policy. Going even further, we prioritized providers with advanced privacy and security features.
Server Network
A VPN network’s size and distribution make a point for stable, reliable connections. So, we factored in a large fleet of servers in various locations. We prioritized VPN services with servers in Costa Rica so you can keep up with local content on your trips overseas.
Bypassing Geo-Restrictions
You want a provider with strong unblocking abilities for websites and online services, especially if you stream videos regularly.
We selected providers that grant you access to local Costa Rican content, even when you’re outside the country. And if you’re in Costa Rica and looking to watch exclusive content on international platforms, they will come through.
Speed and Performance
Speedy internet connections are essential for seamless browsing, streaming, online gaming, and downloading. VPNs negatively impact connection speeds due to the extra step they add to the chain. The providers on this list ensure the drop in performance is not steep.
Ease of Use
We considered easy installations, server selection, snappy apps, and intuitive navigation. Newbies can use the providers on this selection, as there’s no steep learning curve. We also prioritized VPNs with quality customer care available around the clock.
Device Compatibility
The best VPNs for Costa Rica are compatible with various devices and operating systems, including major platforms like Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. They all extend support to smart TVs, streaming devices, and more. In addition, VPNs with multiple simultaneous connections on one subscription earned extra points.
Conclusion
Costa Rica is not a restrictive country. That said, shady characters lurk online, looking to snoop on and intercept your data. In addition, you’re isolated from local TV and streaming platforms and other geo-blocked services when you travel abroad.
VPNs help you bypass these issues by encrypting your data and masking your IP address, assigning a new one. The best VPN for Costa Rica is ExpressVPN. It offers the best combination of security, reliability, and performance. Plus, it bypasses geo-restrictions with ease.
You can take advantage of a whopping 49% discount on its annual plan and 3 additional months free. A 30-day money-back guarantee comes along, so you’ll be trying it out risk-free.
FAQs about VPNs in Costa Rica
Are VPNs legal in Costa Rica?
VPNs are completely legal in Costa Rica. The country has no laws regulating their use and has not indicated any plans to introduce any. However, committing crimes while using a VPN in Costa Rica may get you into legal trouble.
How do I get a VPN for Costa Rica?
Visit the website of any of the VPNs discussed in this article. Subscribe for a plan, and download the app on your device. Connect to a server in your target location, and you’re set to go.
Can I use a free VPN for Costa Rica?
You may, but we generally don’t recommend it. Free VPNs are generally limited in terms of features and performance. Even worse, they may be security and privacy risks.
