Guatemala is home to breathtaking natural sights, including volcanoes, jungles, and ancient cultural sites. But while it is a popular destination for travelers, the country is not free from Internet restrictions and censorship. For residents and travelers alike, the best VPN providers for Guatemala ensure that attempts to snoop on your online activities are unsuccessful.
Moreover, you can access blocked websites and services, are safe from hackers, and avoid bandwidth throttling.
This article outlines and discusses the best VPN providers you should consider when you’re in Guatemala. Let’s get down to it.
Best VPN for Guatemala: The Top 5 Providers
You want a high-quality VPN service for Guatemala — or anywhere else, for that matter. That means a providers that guarantees the safety and privacy of your data while providing speedy, reliable service.
That’s why all the options in this selection are premium. They are vastly superior to free VPNs, which come with restrictions that limit their efficacy.
With that in mind, here are the five best VPN services for Guatemala.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Guatemala. It has a large network of over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, including Guatemala. This means you can always find a server close to you, which will help ensure fast speeds and reliable connections.
And you won’t find a faster VPN. ExpressVPN uses several techniques to improve its speed, including its own proprietary protocol, Lightway, which is designed to be faster and more efficient than OpenVPN.
ExpressVPN has your back if you’re interested in content exclusive to foreign libraries on streaming platforms. It can unblock any website or streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. And those fast speeds we highlighted mean you can stream videos and download files without buffering.
The VPN uses military-grade encryption and a no-logs policy to protect your data. The latter means ExpressVPN does not store any activity logs, including browsing history, traffic destination, or data content. That policy has undergone multiple independent audits that found it watertight.
On top of that, there’s a kill switch, leak protection, split tunneling, and other standard and advanced features.
The provider is compatible with a wide range of platforms and devices and lets you use one subscription on five devices simultaneously.
We’ll admit that ExpressVPN is on the pricey side, but it’s certainly worth the few extra bucks. Plus, if you hop on an annual plan, you can enjoy a whopping 49% discount, with three extra months for free. A 30-day money-back guarantee gives you a month to make up your mind risk-free.
Pros:
- Blazing-fast speeds
- Strong security and privacy
- Wide server network
- Unblocks geo-restricted content
- Easy to use
- Servers in Guatemala
Con:
- Not budget-friendly
2. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is an excellent cheap VPN in Guatemala. It offers a robust set of features, including strong encryption and fast speeds, at an affordable price.
The vendor has a massive network with 9,700+ servers available in over 91 countries. Some are optimized for activities such as torrenting, gaming, and streaming.
It’s not as fast as ExpressVPN, but you can expect impressive connection speeds nonetheless. You’ll enjoy the best performance when you combine WireGuard and the “Best server location” feature.
CyberGhost can unblock a wide range of streaming services, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and Hulu. Use the “For streaming” to find dedicated streaming servers to achieve optimal results.
It works just as well for other websites and services restricting access to geographical locations. A dedicated IP add-on lets you rent a personal server you don’t have to share, amplifying your chances of bypassing geo-restrictions.
CyberGhost uses 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data. It does not store sensitive logs, as an audit by an unrelated third party confirmed. The VPN automatically chooses an optimal protocol based on your connection for the best security. It also has DNS/IP leak protection, a kill switch, RAM-only servers, and split tunneling.
You can use CyberGhost on major platforms, streaming devices (it’s one of the best VPNs for Smart TV), routers, and game consoles. It lets you protect up to 7 devices on one account simultaneously.
CyberGhost’s generous 45-day refund policy gives you ample time to decide on committing.
Pros:
- Expansive server network
- Strong security and privacy features
- Unblocks streaming services
- Easy to use
- Affordable long-term plans
- 45-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- No servers in Guatemala
- No split tunneling for Mac and iOS
3. NordVPN
With its strong focus on privacy and security, NordVPN is a great VPN service for users in Guatemala who want to browse anonymously.
The Panama-based service comes with 5,700+ servers in 60 countries. While we would have liked to see a wider spread, that’s a pretty impressive figure. We like that all those servers are in the provider’s control, as it owns, manages, and maintains them.
Few VPNs can match NordVPN’s performance. In fact, we can only point at ExpressVPN as having faster speeds. More information can be found in the ExpressVPN vs NordVPN duel.
You won’t be bothered by frustrating lags and buffering, whether you’re streaming videos or downloading files.
Another area it excels in is bypassing regional restrictions on websites and services. We’ve thrown a bunch of platforms with persistent geo-blocks and VPN-blocking technology at the provider, and it evaded them easily. That means streaming foreign libraries on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and others from Guatemala is a piece of cake.
As for its ability to keep your data safe in Guatemala or elsewhere, the VPN comes armed with a ton of features. AES 256-bit encryption scrambles your data, keeping it from any third parties. NordVPN’s no-logs policy is audited for transparency. And you can choose between a system-wide or app kill switch to prevent leaks when there’s a mistaken disconnection.
Its impressive toolkit includes RAM-only servers, an array of quality protocols, and Threat Protection. The latter keeps ads, trackers, and malware away.
NordVPN is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. It also works with routers and a bunch of other devices. There’s a 6-device limit on a single subscription if you use it at once.
Finally, a 30-day money-back guarantee lets you try this VPN in Guatemala or elsewhere, risk-free.
Pros
- Fast connection speeds
- High-level security and privacy
- Unblocks streaming platforms
- Dedicated P2P servers
- Wide server network
Cons
- No Guatemala server
- Breached in the past
4. Surfshark
Surfshark has only been around for a few years, but it fully deserves a spot as one of the best VPNs for Guatemala. That’s because its affordability and quality mean you’re getting good value for your money.
The provider has 3,200+ servers in 100 countries worldwide, and that figure is always rising. They do pretty well in terms of speed. A VPN will impact the performance of your connection somewhat, but Surfshark ensures that performance doesn’t tank dramatically.
So, you can expect smooth streaming experiences, but you’re probably wondering how good Surfshark is at unblocking the platforms. Our answer: it shines. The provider will easily unblock content catalogs on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and more from Guatemala or anywhere.
Surfshark comes with several features to keep your online activities from prying eyes. They include bank-level encryption, an automatic kill switch, and an independently audited no-logs policy.
Those are pretty standard nowadays, but the provider also has the advanced stuff. For instance, there’s obfuscation for hiding your VPN use. You also get MultiHop for an extra layer of security. Surfshark is one of the only providers with that functionality that lets you choose entry and exit servers.
There are Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux apps. Surfshark also works on routers and Fire TV and has browser extensions. If you have lots of devices, you can protect them all simultaneously on one account. A 30-day money-back guarantee has your back if you decide to cancel your subscription.
Pros
- Pocket-friendly pricing
- Solid security and advanced features
- Wide location spread
- Unblocks streaming services
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
Cons
- Expensive short-term subscription
- Not the fastest speeds
- No servers in Guatemala
5. Private Internet Access
For exceptional security in Guatemala at a budget-friendly price, you’ve got to consider PIA VPN.
The first thing that stands out about this VPN is its jaw-dropping network size. Private Internet Access currently has upwards of 30,000 servers spanning 84 countries. That’s a far cry from what it had a few years ago, but the network seems to keep growing.
A massive server size translates to rapid speeds on paper, but PIA is not the fastest around. That said, the drop from your original speed is not too steep, especially if you’re on a nearby server.
Similarly, there are certainly better providers for evading geo-restrictions. The streaming platform rebuffed any attempts to unblock Netflix US for our Private Internet Access review. We also hit a brick wall when we tried the same with BBC iPlayer. That said, it’s not all gloom here. PIA will successfully unblock most other Netflix libraries, as well as streamers like Prime Video and HBO Max.
But the provider brings out the big guns when it comes to privacy and security. Private Internet Access offers a choice of AES 128-bit and 256-bit encryption algorithms. While the latter is virtually unbreakable, AES-128 does a good job encrypting your data while allowing for better speeds. It also has a logless policy proven in court, no less.
On top of that, you get high-level protocols, a kill switch, MultiHop, obfuscation, and an ad-blocker.
PIA is compatible with a wide range of platforms, stretching to game consoles and streaming devices. Like Surfshark, there are no limits to the devices you can use a single subscription with. There’s no free trial, but a 30-day money-back guarantee means you can check it out risk-free.
Pros
- Huge collection of servers
- Strong security and privacy functionality
- Unlimited device connections
- Affordable pricing
Cons
- Mediocre speeds
- Average unblocking abilities
- No servers in Guatemala
How We Picked the Best VPNs for Guatemala — Our Methodology
There are loads of VPNs out there, from free to premium. But you don’t just want to hop on the first option you see in a Google search, as some stand out over others. We would know, as we have tested dozens of the providers and found many not worth your time.
We considered how each provider fared on several metrics to select the best VPN for Guatemala. You may find the criteria useful, so here it is.
Network server size
The VPNs we recommend for Guatemala have a large network of servers spread across the world. This ensures that you will always be able to find a server close to you for better speeds and reliable connections.
ExpressVPN, our first choice, even has servers in Guatemala — which is great, as you can access local content when you travel away.
Speed and performance
Everyone knows snail-slow connection speeds are frustrating. We tested each VPN to confirm how well they hold up in this area. You won’t get lightning-fast speeds on them all, but each provider listed is fast enough to stream HD video or download large files.
Ability to unblock geo-restrictions
Due to licensing restrictions, many websites and streaming services are only available in certain regions. The VPNs on this list can help you to unblock these streaming services by connecting you to a server in a different region. For example, if you want to watch Netflix US while in Guatemala, you only need to connect to a VPN server in the US.
Privacy and Security
Closely linked, they are the major reasons for using a VPN in Guatemala.
Each provider in this selection offers features now standard for the best VPN services, including bank-level encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection. But they go beyond that, bringing various advanced and extra tools.
Compatible devices
It’s common practice for VPNs to be available for various devices, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and routers. So we targeted providers that support several platforms, with clients for the major ones at least.
Furthermore, because you have a lot of devices that you want to use the VPN with, we selected services with a multi-device plan.
Customer support
If you have any problems with your VPN while in Guatemala or elsewhere, you will need to be able to get help from customer support. We checked what each provider had to offer in terms of customer care to make sure that they were responsive and helpful.
Money-back guarantee
This lets you try the VPN risk-free. You can get your money back if you are unsatisfied. This is a good way to try a service before committing to a long-term subscription.
Conclusion
Like in every other country, you need a VPN in Guatemala, whether you live there or are visiting. The tool will provide a mask that keeps your online activities private and away from hackers or other bad actors. It also helps you evade government censorship and geo-restrictions by websites and other services.
With its optimal blend of features, reliability, and performance, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Guatemala. You can also try out CyberGhost, NordVPN, Surfshark, or PIA as alternatives.
The Best VPN for Guatemala — FAQs
Are VPNs legal in Guatemala?
Yes, they are. As in most other countries, Guatemala has no regulations inhibiting VPN use. That said, what you do online matters. As long as you don’t use a VPN for criminal purposes, you’re free to subscribe to one.
Can I use a free VPN for Guatemala?
You can, but we don’t recommend them. Free VPNs may not require financial commitments, but they are usually not worth the effort. That’s because there’s usually a trade-off in terms of quality service and performance.