Best VPN for Russia: These 3 Will Work in 2024!

When talking about censorship and internet restricitons, Russia is always a country that comes to mind. Russia spans thousands of kilometers and is one of the largest countries in the world. Although people dislike it for its cold climate, the country is undoubtedly among the most developed. Unfortunately, people are searching for the best VPN for Russia for one simple reason – online censorship. You see, laws and legislations in this country started to go the “anti-internet” route a few years back – and maybe even earlier.

Russia imposed an all-out ban on VPNs, making it increasingly difficult to use one in the country. Moreover, the authorities often block websites, apps, and streaming services, so you can’t enjoy the free and open internet as is the case in many European countries.

Today, we’re going to talk about the best VPNs for Russia in 2024. Above all, we’re going to see WHY you need a VPN in this country and how to use each of the presented services if you’re in Russia. If you’re in dire need of additional privacy and security in Mother Russia, stick around!

Why You Should Use a VPN for Russia in 2024?

In our recent guide, we talked about some of the top UAE VPN providers. We explained that this country is censored but in 2024, it’s not as censored as Russia. Amidst all the chaos in Ukraine, war propaganda, and similar happenings, it’s hard to describe this country as the best place to live.

This, unfortunately, spread to the internet in Russia which saw a massive decrease in freedom of speech. Let’s see why you should absolutely use the best VPN in Russia and address some of the most notable worries that people have.

Bypassing Censorship

The first issue, as said, is heavy censorship in Russia. This means you won’t be able to access the same platforms, sites, and portals as people in a non-censored country like France or Germany, for example. This censorship also includes the ban on VPN services.

In 2017, Russia started to ban VPN services one by one slowly, only for the situation in Ukraine to accelerate this process. In 2019, the situation was much worse, while in 2024, an all-out ban reigns supreme in the country, so it’s hard to find a VPN that will work.

A good idea is to use a VPN that works in China, for example, since it’ll most likely work in Russia. This way, you’ll be able to encrypt your connection, change your IP, and prevent the authorities from controlling which websites you can visit.

You’ll need a high-quality VPN like NordVPN, for instance, that we’ll talk about later. For now, it’s vital to know that a reliable VPN service can help you get over censorship in Russia and enjoy the free and open internet with access to pretty much any site you want.

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Regaining Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech is in a rapid decline if we take a look at the period from 2019 to 2024. Once again, the Ukraine situation made this even worse, and Russian authorities are doing their best to silence bloggers and whistleblowers who spread, allegedly false information.

Either way, if you’re a journalist, famous blogger, or whistleblower, it’s incredibly dangerous to post in Russia without a VPN. The authorities can see your IP address, location, and everything else. Even worse, the Kremlin is known for threatening bloggers with various violent measures.

Basically, you’re risking your life if you’re sharing Ukraine-related information, data about the government, or any information that the authorities don’t like. With a VPN, you’ll successfully hide your whereabouts and take on another IP, which will render you a completely different person.

This way, you can go online, post blogs, and freely share the information you have without the fear of incarceration or jail time. Of course, we don’t recommend delving into the current situation or posting propaganda online simply because it’s not righteous.

And even a VPN has its limits, so you can’t be 100% safe and anonymous all the time. However, you can significantly boost your privacy by taking advantage of a VPN in Russia, which will help your cause.

Accessing Restricted Content

Apart from heavily censoring the internet and destroying freedom of speech, Russia is actually actively blocking many popular websites! Amidst the chaos that spawned as a result of the “special operation” in Ukraine, Russia made sure to limit the information flow in the country.

Why? Well, to prevent fake news and war-related propaganda – allegedly. As we speak, websites like Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook are inaccessible! Western sites like BBC News, Euronews, Deutsche Well, and even some Crypto platforms are also blocked.

In our approximation, more than 500 sites are inaccessible, plus those with geo-restrictions, like streaming platforms, betting sites, and others. The good thing is that a VPN can also be of great help in Russia.

With its ability to change your online location, it’ll allow you to access any restricted site with a simple IP change. This way, you can watch US streaming services in Russia, for example, or enjoy foreign TV channels no matter your current location.

By obtaining a Russian IP address, you’ll also have no trouble enjoying Russian TV channels abroad.

Getting Public WiFi Protection

If you’re often spending time in restaurants, cafes, and hotels, you’re most likely using public WiFi hotspots. These very hotspots, while extremely handy for doing work, aren’t the safest. In fact, they often don’t have password protection, let alone additional encryption or other security measures.

Many times, hackers took advantage of such networks, stealing people’s data, and running away like nothing happened. They can do that because of the exposed IP address that can be fixed by connecting to a VPN and encrypting your traffic.

Instead of the insecure IP of the public WiFi network, you’ll get a new secure IP address from a VPN that a hacker can’t intercept due to encryption. This way, you can enjoy the internet without interruptions even if we’re talking about a CIA-level hacker.

With 256-bit encryption in place, your connection is a garbled mess that a hacker can’t read – take that!

Downloading Torrents Anonymously

Last but not least, we also recommend using the best Russian VPN for torrenting. Torrenting is frowned upon in many countries. However, if you know that Russia is heavily censored, you can imagine how harsh the authorities can be for copyright violations as a byproduct of torrenting.

We don’t recommend violating copyrights but we do recommend adequate protection. Torrenting sites are unsafe and all of them will see your IP and track your download history. To prevent this from happening, use a proper P2P VPN that won’t log your data.

In doing so, torrenting will be safe and anonymous even in Russia, as Russian ISPs won’t be able to see what you’re doing online.

Best Russia VPNs: These 3 VPNs Will Work!

With everything said, you know that the internet in Russia has seen better days – as have we. All jokes aside, the main concern, when talking about a VPN for Russia in 2024, is finding a VPN that actually WORKS. As stated, the VPN ban is very serious in Russia.

Thankfully, we have a few people on our team who reside in Russia, so they did an amazing job testing dozens of services that we provided them with. Believe it or not – very few services will work with 100% efficiency, and free VPNs won’t work at all!

That’s why we limited this list to the top 3 VPNs that worked without issues. We would give you more options but we want to make sure that every provider you pick is going to serve you well, both in Russia and abroad. Let’s check out these top 3 VPN services for Russia and see what they’re about.

1. NordVPN

Starting the list of the best VPNs for Russia in 2024, NordVPN is a mighty choice. NordVPN has plenty of security features to work with, one of which is obfuscation. The provider packs obfuscated servers, which take advantage of OpenVPN TCP to get over censorship.

Once connected to one of these servers, NordVPN will work in Russia just fine, with no noticeable speed reduction. Despite this small workaround, NordVPN works in Russia a tad better than, let’s say ExpressVPN, whose lack of obfuscated servers can be problematic at times.

Regardless, NordVPN is pretty powerful. It has 6,400+ servers in 111 countries, with all servers having support for NordLynx, a proprietary protocol based on WireGuard. Also, the provider has dedicated P2P servers that you can use for torrenting safely and anonymously.

We value the presence of Double VPN servers as well. They’ll double your encryption to make you untraceable online, at the small expense of performance. NordVPN has an advanced kill switch and 256-bit encryption is used to safeguard your online privacy.

More importantly, you’ll get Threat Protection as standard in all subscriptions. It has antivirus, malware protection, and an ad blocker CyberSec for added protection. NordVPN is impressive speed-wise, offering 10 Gbps speeds across the entire server fleet.

This is bettered by a no-logging policy with 3 audits (Deloitte and PwC), as well as RAM-only servers, Private DNS, and Smart DNS for all platforms. We think NordVPN is pretty much the best VPN around given its broad device support and 10 simultaneous connections.

The only bigger downside is that prices are subject to VAT, which will increase the price in some countries and make it more expensive. But hey, NordVPN is still affordable and even comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.

Make sure you check its latest and greatest deal below. Also, check our NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison for more information.

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2. ExpressVPN

The second most dependable provider in this country is ExpressVPN. This provider has 3,000 servers in 105 countries, with above-average speeds and impeccable security. The key to success in this country is using obfuscation, which the provider always does.

This means you don’t need to tweak anything or enable any special features or protocols. If you’re in Russia, simply open ExpressVPN, connect to ANY server, and enjoy the internet freely. This provider is so simple to use that even the most hardcore dummies will know how to take advantage of it.

Another great thing about ExpressVPN is its performance. Thanks to the Lightway protocol, ExpressVPN offers 10+ Gbps speeds and incredible stability. It’s also great for streaming and unblocking sites, so you can even access Netflix US in Russia and watch some great blockbusters and series.

We love ExpressVPN because it includes a phenomenal kill switch, IPv6 leak protection, and split tunneling. On mobile devices, you’ll be able to block malicious sites and the provider uses RAM-only servers to ensure privacy and enforce its no-logs policy.

ExpressVPN stores no logs of your data and this is verified by PriceWaterhouseCoopers in a recent audit. Besides, it uses a proprietary DNS server to route your traffic. This DNS server also adheres to a no-logging policy, making sure your personal data never see the light of day.

People use ExpressVPN on many devices, too. It works on iPhones, Android phones, macOS, Linux, and Windows computers. In fact, it even works on Fire TV Stick and Smart TVs, allowing for 8 simultaneous connections on a single account.

ExpressVPN’s 24/7 live chat support is state of the art and you even get an “onion” version of the site that you can access via Tor. The provider is very affordable and comes with a 49% discount for the annual plan, offering 3 free months on top of that.

You’ll also get a 30-day refund policy for all plans, so you can test it risk-free without losing money.

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3. Surfshark

The third and final VPN you can use in Russia is Surfshark. As a reliable pick on the list of reputable VPNs for Russia in 2024, this provider has a lot to offer. Much like its two more expensive rivals, it uses some form of obfuscation called NoBorders Mode in the app.

This setting, when turned on, will obfuscate your VPN traffic and allow you to use the provider in censored countries. Of course, it’ll work in Russia without issues and the great thing is that the feature works even on mobile devices, so Android and iOS users will have zero problems as well!

Surfshark sports unlimited connections which is another awesome addition. Among its 3,200 servers in 100 countries, you’ll also find many servers in the US (which is great for streaming). And before you ask, the provider doesn’t have any servers in Russia, much like its rivals.

Surfshark is not superior in performance, however, and its kill switch has some issues from time to time. Still, Surfshark is very capable of streaming and torrenting. Plus, it offers Onion over VPN support for going on the dark web, which activists, journalists, and bloggers will find useful.

Surfshark also has a no-logs policy audited by Cure53 and Deloitte, storing no info related to your IP or browsing history. In addition, this provider has AES-256 encryption, split tunneling, and WireGuard support, coupled with an IP Rotator and proprietary DNS server.

IP Rotator is very interesting, as it rotates your IP address periodically, making you untraceable. MultiHop servers will route your traffic through two servers, achieving an even better effect. Surfshark’s apps are very simple to use and have a high degree of customization as well.

All in all, we’re talking about a very affordable service. It’s the cheapest pick on this list, having a 2-year plan at under $3 a month as well as a 30-day refund policy for all plans. Check out Surfshark’s cheapest deal below and enjoy this great VPN in Russia while saving some money!

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How Did We Select the Best VPNs for Russia?

With all of the testing our team did in Russia, it was pretty hard to find tons of reliable providers that’ll work with a high degree of success. To make this possible and bring you this list, we used several criteria displayed below:

• Obfuscation: every provider on this list needed to have obfuscation. Otherwise, it wouldn’t work reliably or at all. Thankfully, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark all have this feature in one way or another, making them viable choices.
• Impeccable privacy/security: a VPN for Russia must be safe and secure. It must have tons of great security features, bank-grade encryption, and a VPN kill switch. Moreover, each provider must possess a no-logs policy to make sure your private data doesn’t leak to the public.
• Fast speeds: having a fast VPN in Russia is a must for smooth browsing, streaming, or sharing blog posts. All services on our list have 10 Gbps speeds and stable connections even with obfuscation, ensuring the best possible experience.
• Unblocking capabilities: a VPN must be capable of unblocking geo-blocked streaming services, banking services, or any website you want. NordVPN is the best choice in this regard but ExpressVPN and Surfshark are surprisingly reliable and almost on par with NordVPN.
• Lots of worldwide servers: we wanted each VPN to have a selection of thousands of servers around the planet. NordVPN has servers in 111 locations, making it the best pick but we found ExpressVPN’s servers in 105 countries incredibly fast and versatile.
• Affordable prices: lastly, each provider on this list can be considered affordable. All of them have special discounts, free months, and a 30-day refund policy. Surfshark is the cheapest option but it’s not better than NordVPN or ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN is the most expensive but still inferior to more feature-rich NordVPN.

Are Free VPNs for Russia Any Good?

One topic I want to address in this article is free VPN services for Russia. In 2024, you aren’t going to find a single provider that works in this country that doesn’t charge you for a subscription. Free services don’t have obfuscation, to begin with, so they immediately fall out of the best VPN category.

Some users say that Windscribe will work but in our experience, this provider proved to be very unreliable in Russia and China. Besides, a free VPN like this one has bandwidth limits, slow speeds, and lacks some security features that paid VPNs have.

We tested dozens of them, including Proton VPN, Hide.me, Windscribe, and others, and we can report they’re far from the best choices. They’ll be easily blocked by the Russian firewall and you’ll be left without additional protection when going online.

Plus, their 5/10 GB monthly bandwidth limits and 1 Gbps speeds won’t make you happy. Coupled with poor streaming capabilities, no P2P allowance, and just a few server locations, these providers are designed as the last resort for less demanding people.

Many free services are known for storing logs as well. Hola VPN, Urban VPN, and others will need to do this to earn money since they earn very little from subscriptions. This way, they sell your data to third-party companies that often take advantage of this information.

That’s why you see targeted ads and other annoyances when going online. Our recommendation is to avoid a free VPN for Russia if you can. All presented providers are fairly cheap and with the prices that go as low as $2.5 or so a month, it’s pointless to use a free service that won’t work.

If you want, you can use NordVPN risk-free for 30 days by following our guide. And if you’d rather use a 100% free provider… well, be ready to be disappointed.

Is Using a VPN in Russia Legal?

Russia is one of those “grey areas” when it comes to VPN usage. In theory, VPNs aren’t illegal in this country but that applies only to those approved by the government. This means they must comply with their requests and most likely hand out your information on a silver platter.

VPNs that refuse to do this are blocked, as you can guess, which is why people can’t seem to find a provider that works properly. The VPNs we presented are NOT going to hand your information to the Russian authorities and all of them have a no-logging policy.

Our team at 01net doesn’t encourage using a VPN in Russia if, at any moment, laws in this country change. We’re not any sort of legal experts or even remotely close to knowing all the laws in all of the countries on this planet.

Before using a Russia VPN, make sure you’re well-acquainted with the laws in this country to avoid legal issues. Don’t take everything you’ve read in this article as legal advice and be respectful of your country’s laws, regardless of whether or not you like them!

Summary

The bottom line is that the best VPNs for Russia in 2024 include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark. According to our tests, these 3 services work phenomenally and you can use them to get over censorship, unblock restricted sites, and increase your freedom of speech.

Visit NordVPN

Now that you have this valuable information, it’s up to you to select a provider from our list and get it. Make sure you use the buttons on our site, as they’ll give you special discounts and allow you to get the cheapest deals on all of the presented VPNs.

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FAQs

Let’s finalize this guide by addressing a few important questions.

How do I use a VPN in Russia?

It depends on which VPN you’re using. If you’re using NordVPN, make sure the protocol is set to Automatic and the kill switch is enabled. Once that is in place, connect to any obfuscated server and you’ll be good to go.

To use ExpressVPN, do the first two steps but connect to any server because the provider has no specialty servers. Finally, to use Surfshark, once again, perform the first two steps but enable NoBorders in Settings. Now connect to the server and enjoy the free and open internet in Russia!

Which VPNs have Russian servers?

On our list, you won’t find a VPN with Russian servers. The country forces each VPN that operates in the country to hand out user-related data, which is why many providers deleted their servers located in Russia. Surfshark had them up until recently but in 2024, you won’t find any.

However, you can check out CyberGhost which has virtual servers in Russia. Thanks to them, you will have no trouble watching Russian TV channels outside Russia.

Can I watch Netflix US in Russia?

Yes! All VPNs on our list have US servers that support streaming. Just connect to one of the servers in the US, visit Netflix, and enjoy streaming endlessly. We recommend NordVPN in this case, as it’s the fastest and has the largest number of US servers compared to all other providers.