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Best VPN for Turkey: These VPNs Will Work in 2024!

When talking about censorship and the lack of freedom of speech online, China is always in our minds. However, little do you know that Turkey is yet another country with similar internet laws in place. For years, Turkey has been known for imposing censorship and blocking hundreds of websites.

What’s more, the level of censorship seems to be increasing each day and it recently culminated with the terrorist bombing that happened in Istanbul. Due to this sad event for the country, the president imposed even harsher methods of censorship and blocked some social media sites.

Not to mention that a good portion of VPNs are blocked in Turkey too. And because of that, people are looking for the best VPN that will work in Turkey in 2024. Luckily for you, we have lots of acquaintances in this country and they tested a boatload of VPNs in Turkey.

As a result, we can give you first-hand test results and tell you which VPNs for Turkey will work with no issues in the country. Needless to say, I recommend staying with me because it’s going to be an interesting read that’ll help you determine which provider to choose if you live in Turkey.

Best Turkey VPN in 2024: Here Are the 4 Providers That Still Work

Before unwrapping my list, I just want to clarify a few things. The first thing is that this list is made according to real-life tests we did directly in this country, so it’s not a blind guess. Second, the list will consist of premium providers only. Why?

Well, simply because premium providers have enough “firepower” to bypass the VPN ban in Turkey and let you browse the internet freely and anonymously. Rest assured, these providers are relatively inexpensive and each of them has a money-back guarantee.

With all that out of the way, the best VPNs for Turkey in 2024 include:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN Turkey
© ExpressVPN

Pros

  • The most reliable VPN in Turkey
  • It offers Turkish servers
  • Great for unblocking Netflix and torrenting
  • The fastest speeds and performance
  • RAM-based servers for increased privacy
  • Lightway protocol

Cons

  • It could be a bit more affordable

ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN on this list and for a good reason. Not only does it work in Turkey with no problems but it’s also a great VPN service for bypassing censorship in China! Simply put, it’ll work in each country regardless of the level of censorship.

That’s because it automatically applies obfuscation to your VPN traffic, masking it, and making it look like ordinary traffic. We had no issues using this provider in Turkey and getting above-average speeds and performance thanks to its Lightway protocol which delivers some amazing results.

In addition, ExpressVPN comes with 256-bit encryption coupled with IP/DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and even Private DNS, which makes sure your online activities aren’t traced. TrustedTechnology is another security measure and it’s a name for RAM-based servers necessary for keeping you private.

The Turkish government is known for surveillance and data collection but ExpressVPN counters that with a no-logging policy. Storing no logs of your activities and online history, the authorities have no way of extracting this information from the provider, which is a huge plus.

Now, ExpressVPN is also very capable of streaming. You can use it to watch foreign TV channels in Turkey or unblock Netflix US, Canada, Japan, and other libraries. Moreover, the provider is P2P-friendly, so you can also use it for torrenting and anonymous P2P activities even in this country.

ExpressVPN has 3,000 servers in 105 countries around the globe and the good thing is that there are even servers in Turkey! This means that it’s great if you want to get a Turkish IP abroad or if you already live here and need an IP from some other country.

To be honest, ExpressVPN has no notable downsides. It has apps for all platforms that are easy to use, 8 simultaneous connections, 24/7 live chat support, and everything else that a premium VPN should offer. Its price is a bit higher than NordVPN or Surfshark, though.

However, using the red button below will let you claim a 49% discount + 3 FREE months for its annual plan. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee too, so feel free to check it out and use it risk-free.

Visit ExpressVPN


2. NordVPN

NordVPN Turkey
© NordVPN

Pros

  • 5,500 servers in 60 countries
  • Obfuscated servers work well in Turkey
  • AES-256 encryption
  • Native apps for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux
  • 24/7 live chat support

Cons

  • Very high VAT in Turkey (18%)
  • Expensive monthly plan

NordVPN is another excellent VPN that will work in Turkey. This provider is known for top-grade encryption, impenetrable security, and no-logging practices, all of which have two external audits from PricewaterhouseCoopers. Actually, three audits if we include Deloitte.

This provider comes with 5,500 servers in 60 countries but its biggest trick, in this case, is the presence of obfuscated servers. Obfuscated servers support OpenVPN TCP as the main protocol where the obfuscation is applied, which allows this provider to be used in censored countries.

For instance, aside from working in Turkey, the provider can also be used in China and even Russia. NordVPN is pretty fast and obfuscated servers don’t seem to slow it down that much. Security-wise, you get tons of features that would take at least half an hour to explain.

For now, I’ll mention its AES-256 encryption, an automatic kill switch, and a proprietary VPN protocol (NordLynx) based on WireGuard. Another vital thing is that you get something called Threat Protection. This feature consists of antivirus, malware protection, and CyberSec – an ad blocker.

All three features work to increase your privacy and make you safe in a dangerous online space. What’s more, a portion of obfuscated servers is also located in Turkey and you get 14 high-speed servers in Istanbul for unblocking Netflix TR or watching Turkish TV channels abroad.

NordVPN is a great VPN for streaming, by the way, and there are Double VPN servers for doubling your encryption. P2P servers are on the list as well, and with them, you’ll have zero issues downloading torrents and engaging in private P2P activities.

NordVPN offers 6 simultaneous connections and its apps will work on iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, macOS, and many other platforms. A nice addition is 24/7 live chat support but we don’t like the presence of value-added taxes that make the price go up in some countries.

In Turkey, for example, VAT is 18%, which is pretty high. However, in spite of that, NordVPN still remains affordable and comes with a cheap 2-year plan with a 30-day refund period that you can check below.

Visit NordVPN


3. Surfshark

Surfshark Turkey
© Surfshark

Pros

  • It offers unlimited connections per subscription
  • NoBorders mode allows for use in censored countries (Turkey & China)
  • A security audit by Cure53 and Deloitte
  • It can unblock Netflix Turkey

Cons

  • Slower than ExpressVPN and NordVPN
  • Rare issues with a kill switch
  • Surfshark One is a bit more expensive plan

Surfshark is a widely-used VPN in Turkey in 2024 mainly because of its cheap prices and overall capability. I mean, just think about its 3,200 servers in 100 countries and dozens of servers in Turkey that offer decent performance and tons of security features.

Also, for under $3 a month, the provider offers unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing you to protect as many devices as you want using only one subscription. The trick to using it in Turkey is to enable its NoBorders mode. Of course, NoBorders is here to bypass censorship.

Once enabled, it’ll make your VPN traffic look like ordinary traffic, which will “fool” the firewall of this country and let you unblock the websites you want and browse the web safely. Surfshark even offers MultiHop servers that work the same as DoubleVPN in NordVPN if you want to double your security.

And with a no-logging policy audited by Cure53 and Deloitte, you can be sure Surfshark stores absolutely no data related to your IP address and browsing history. I love Surfshark because it’s easy to use. Even if you’re a dummy, you will know how to use a VPN like this, as it allows for one-click connections.

Moreover, it supports WireGuard, which, in conjunction with 256-bit encryption, makes browsing fast and secure, although it isn’t the best provider in terms of overall speeds. Nevertheless, Surfshark offers full-fledged, native apps for Fire TV Stick and Android Smart TV in addition to desktop/mobile apps.

However, desktop and mobile users can take advantage of Surfshark One, a more expensive subscription plan that includes antivirus, true incognito mode, and Alerts (Dark Web Monitor). Surfshark includes an ad-blocker and there’s split tunneling for added versatility and customization.

People complain that, occasionally, its kill switch won’t work, which shouldn’t be a big issue because it’s rare. Keep in mind that Surfshark is a lot slower than NordVPN and ExpressVPN but it still works with Netflix and offers great torrenting and gaming capabilities.

Now, I recommend using the button below to check its 2-year deal out and claim a 30-day money-back guarantee. After all, this is among the cheapest VPNs on this list, so you don’t want to miss it!

Visit Surfshark


4. Private Internet Access

PIA VPN Turkey
© Private Internet Access

Pros

  • 30,000 servers worldwide
  • SOCKS5 proxy
  • It offers a no-logging policy

Cons

  • It isn’t going to always work in Turkey
  • Streaming capabilities could be better
  • Clunky desktop app

The last provider I want to talk about on this list is Private Internet Access. This VPN for Turkey isn’t exactly known for its superb abilities to bypass censorship and in 2018, the provider was banned in this country, so it didn’t work at all during the majority of that year.

However, as we speak, Private Internet Access or PIA works well in the country when enabling its obfuscation and using OpenVPN as your main protocol. To be clear, though, it will NOT be as reliable as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Surfshark, so it might not work for you.

On the other hand, it’s cheaper than all 3 providers, offering 30,000 servers in over 80 countries around the globe. PIA VPN also packs a set of advanced security features, such as port forwarding, PIA MACE (ad blocker), and even the SOCKS5 proxy which you can use for torrent clients, for example.

The VPN provider has servers in Turkey as well, so if you’re abroad, getting a Turkish IP should be a piece of cake. I’ll admit that its desktop clients are a bit clunky and they aren’t as smooth as Surfshark, NordVPN, or ExpressVPN.

PIA offers unlimited simultaneous connections and it’s a solid choice for watching very few Netflix libraries and foreign TV channels. For streaming, it’s not the best overall choice but the silver lining is its focus on security and privacy, as well as a no-logging policy.

Despite being based in the US, PIA is surprisingly secure and in my review of Private Internet Access, you can see just how good this provider is. Along with Surfshark, it’s very affordable and costs even less than this provider.

If you want to take a risk and see if it works in Turkey, you can use the button below to get its cheapest plan. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if it doesn’t work properly or as you’d like it to, you can get a refund at any point in the first 30 days and get other VPNs from the list.

Visit Private Internet Access


How Did We Choose the Best Turkish VPN?

When working in a delicate censored country like this, finding a reliable service is much harder. Censorship measures tend to block VPN connections, making many providers useless. That’s why used these criteria to select the most dependable VPNs for Turkey.

  • Obfuscation. We ensured that every VPN on the list comes with some sort of obfuscation. This is the ability to hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. It masks your VPN connection and makes it look like a “normal” connection instead, letting you bypass the strong firewall.
  • Servers in Turkey. This was also an important criterion for us. We wanted you to be able to watch Turkish channels abroad and enjoy geo-restricted sites you can’t access outside of Turkey. Our bit of advice is to use ExpressVPN with the fastest servers in this country.
  • Excellent security. In this country, you’ll need all the security bits you can get. AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, obfuscation, modern protocols, and superb IPv6 leak prevention. You’ll find all these features in our top 4 Turkish VPNs.
  • No logging. Neither of the VPNs we presented keep logs on their servers. They use servers based on RAM and have several audits on their no-log policies. As such, storing logs is the last thing you can expect from them.
  • Support for all platforms. You’ll also want to protect every device you have with a VPN. This is possible, as all VPNs have native apps for platforms like Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. Surfshark and PIA even have unlimited connections, which is extremely useful!
  • Streaming/torrenting. Finally, users in Turkey love to use VPNs for torrenting and streaming. Well, all four are decent in this regard, especially ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark. They’re fast, offer P2P servers, and work with at least 15 catalogs of Netflix – even the Turkish one!

Will a Free VPN for Turkey Work?

After testing hundreds of VPNs on the market, I can tell you that free providers are a poor choice for bypassing censorship. Many people talk about Windscribe and its ability to work in China as a free VPN, but in 2024, that isn’t the case as it’s fairly unreliable in this country.

In Turkey, the situation is the same, as this provider failed to work after our testing. Windscribe alternatives like the ones we presented above are, therefore, a much better choice. Generally speaking, free VPNs for Turkey lack obfuscation and they have very few security features.

With weaker encryption and outdated encryption protocols, you won’t find them as safe and secure as paid providers. To that, we should add a limited monthly bandwidth of up to 10 GB a month plus slower 1 Gbps servers that produce slow speed and unreliable performance.

By far the worst thing about free providers is their lack of a no-logs policy. Many of them will store logs of your personal data and sell this information to the highest bidder. If the Turkish authorities, for example, request this data from a free VPN, it’ll most likely hand it out because it has this data.

Paid providers who store no logs will come out empty-handed. If you need a high-quality free VPN, you can try out Atlas VPN, but just know that it’s not a VPN for Turkey because it has no servers in this country and it doesn’t work here.

Why Should I Use a VPN in Turkey?

If you’ve just arrived in this country and you’re starting to feel the “magic” of censorship and website blocking, it’s a good reason to use a VPN in Turkey. However, let’s explain why you should use it in this country thoroughly.

Bypassing Censorship

The most obvious reason for using a Turkey VPN is to bypass censorship. This country actively blocks hundreds of websites, which even include social media and VoIP services. As we speak, in this country, you can’t access WhatsApp, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and tons of other platforms.

Not to mention that the ISPs in this country are actively monitoring users’ online activities to make sure they completely control the internet space and what people can visit. Thankfully, with providers like ExpressVPN or even NordVPN, you can get rid of this issue.

Once connected to one of their servers, you’ll change your IP to another country and mask your real IP. As such, Turkish ISPs (Internet Service Providers) won’t be able to trace your activities or impose any restrictions, which lets you browse the web freely and without surveillance.

This means that you can unblock any site you want and use Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms limitlessly.

Staying Safe on Public WiFi Hotspots

If you’re a tourist, you’ll definitely need the best VPN for Turkey in 2024. Public WiFi networks, especially those in tourist zones, are riddled with hackers and snoopers looking to steal people’s personal information.

This is simple to do as public WiFi networks have no additional security and they’re often unencrypted. As a result, when you connect to this network, your IP is fully exposed and a hacker can intercept your connection and easily steal your credit card info, passwords, and whatnot.

But once you change your VPN location and encrypt your connection with a VPN, that’s virtually impossible. Your connection will be secured with 256-bit encryption and even if a hacker intercepts your connection (which will be impossible) all he’ll see is a garbled mess, with no ability to read it.

Actually, I recommend using a VPN on EVERY public WiFi you connect to – even in your country! That way, you ensure that no one can trace your activities, not even the WiFi administrator who can often see which websites people visit while on that network.

Unblocking Streaming Platforms

When in Turkey, you’ll have the luxury of accessing Netflix TR and watching some amazing movies and shows. Unfortunately, this isn’t the largest catalog of Netflix and you’ll miss out on movies and series from Netflix US, Japan, Canada, and other libraries.

In doing so, you can access geo-restricted content and enjoy streaming as if you’re located in another country without physically moving. With the unlimited bandwidth that the providers above give you, binge-watching your favorite shows will be possible at any time!

Going on the Dark Web Anonymously

Turkish ISPs tend to block all Tor connections, making it impossible to go on the dark web in the country. That’s why using a VPN is a good idea if you often visit forums and (hopefully legal) shops on the dark web.

Not only will you be able to unblock and download Tor but by enabling a VPN before using Tor, you’ll also be able to visit the dark web anonymously. By doing that, the ISP won’t be able to see that you’re using Tor thanks to the fact that the VPN masked your IP address and encrypted your connection.

I know that not many people go on the dark web but if this is what you’re interested in, the only way to do that in Turkey is by using a Virtual Private Network service.

Summary

Using the best VPN for Turkey in 2024 is necessary if you want to avoid censorship and stay safe and secure online in this country. ExpressVPN and NordVPN are the most reliable providers and they’ll work with no problems regardless of the Turkish city you’re in.

We also recommend checking out budget-oriented choices like Surfshark or PIA, however. While they’re inferior compared to ExpressVPN, they offer good value for the money coupled with solid performance and of course – rock-solid security.

Beware that all providers will offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, making testing them out completely risk-free. That way, even if you aren’t satisfied, you can always get a refund and not lose any money. Sounds fair? I’d say so!

Visit ExpressVPN


FAQ

Here are a few more bits of information in the form of frequently asked questions and answers.

Which VPNs can unblock Netflix Turkey?

If you want to watch Netflix TR abroad, you should know that Surfshark and NordVPN will work. At the moment, ExpressVPN can’t unblock Netflix TR, but with NordVPN and Surfshark, you can unblock a variety of shows and movies such as The Royal Game, Briko, Nitram, Salako, and others.

Is it legal to use a VPN in Turkey?

Using a VPN in Turkey is considered legal despite the efforts to block Virtual Private Network services. The laws regarding censorship and VPN bans are at their peak, yet, no one has been arrested for using this service. Of course, by that, we mean using it in a “legal” way for preserving privacy and bypassing geo-blocks.

If you use a VPN to distribute and download copyrighted material or perform any form of illegal activity, that can possibly land you in trouble. However, our team will never recommend something like that because we respect each country’s laws, rules, and regulations.

My VPN isn’t working in Turkey, what can I do?

Do you have a problem with your VPN not working in Turkey? Well, you can try using port forwarding, as this solution is reported to work with many providers. The authorities in this country use several methods of detecting VPN usage.

One of them is by blocking internet traffic from VPN-specific ports. With port forwarding, you can choose to which port to route your traffic when using OpenVPN. OpenVPN supports TCP and UDP protocols, where both options have their ranges.

The most important thing is that the TCP range includes port 443, which is the exact same port used for HTTPS traffic. You can then route your VPN traffic through port 443, which should trick the firewall into “thinking” that it’s ordinary HTTPS instead of VPN traffic.

On ExpressVPN’s website, you can find more information about port forwarding and how to perform it on your router. Other VPNs like Private Internet Access support port forwarding in the application, so you can easily choose the port and set it to 443, which should help alleviate the problem.

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