Despite Russia continuing to threaten to ban virtual private networks (VPNs), VPNs still serve as the best security software for locals and visitors alike to access foreign content and browse the web anonymously. Using a reliable and secure VPN service can enable you to beat censorship and access international news outlets as well as social media platforms like Facebook, X, or Instagram with ease.
The best VPNs for Russia are able to spoof your IP address and encrypt internet connections, granting you access to geo-restricted website content, while shielding your data from hackers and noisy authorities. VPNs act as a safe way to bypass website blocks and use Western media without worrying about tracking.
With over 15 years of VPN testing experience, TechRadar regularly scrutinizes all the biggest names in the VPN market, comparing security features, performance, usability, and unblocking power, so we can recommend only the best services available that you can trust with your money and, more importantly, your data.
The war in Ukraine has resulted in using a VPN in Russia becoming increasingly necessary. However, it is important to note that using a VPN in Russia comes with some risks. So, it is strongly advised to use caution when selecting a VPN provider. I've taken these risks into account when testing, and more importantly recommending, VPNs, so here are my top three VPN picks, as well as some honorable mentions.
The top three VPNs for Russia
Check out our top three Russia VPN picks:
Recent updates
Given some changes to server offerings, I've removed PrivateVPN from this list in favor of other providers who also don't offer servers in Russia, but offer more features and better pricing, such as Surfshark and NordVPN.
The best Russia VPNs in 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Take a deeper look at the top Russia VPNs with our expert analysis:
The best VPN for Russia overall
1. VyprVPN
Best VPN for Russia
Server in Russia: yes |external/get.vyprvpn.com/refer/?offer_id=119&aff_id=3380" target="_blank" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" rel="sponsored noopener" data-hl-processed="hawklinks" data-placeholder-url="https://powerhouse.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=119&aff_id=3380&source=trd&aff_click_id=hawk-custom-tracking&url=https%3A%2F%2Fget.vyprvpn.com%2Frefer%2F%3Foffer_id%3D119%26aff_id%3D3380%26transaction_id%3D%7Btransaction_id%7D%26offer_id%3D%7Boffer_id%7D%26aff_id%3D%7Baffiliate_id%7D&aff_sub2=hawk-article-url" data-google-interstitial="false" data-merchant-name="VyprVPN" data-merchant-id="13303" data-merchant-url="vyprvpn.com" data-merchant-network="HasOffers">VyprVPN
Best VPN for Russia
Server in Russia: yes | Number of server countries: over 70 |external/go.expressvpn.com/c/4550836/1330033/16063?subId1=trd-us-1777947116805005432&sharedId=trd-us&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expressvpn.com%2Foffer%2Frecommended-deal" rel="sponsored noopener" target="_blank" data-url="https://www.expressvpn.com/offer/recommended-deal" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="hawklinks" data-placeholder-url="https://go.expressvpn.com/c/4550836/1330033/16063?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk-prefix&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expressvpn.com%2Foffer%2Frecommended-deal" data-google-interstitial="false" data-merchant-name="ExpressVPN" data-merchant-id="298450" data-merchant-url="expressvpn.com" data-merchant-network="ImpactRad">
3. ExpressVPN
Our top VPN for most use cases, but it lacks a Russian server
Server in Russia: no | Number of server countries: 94 |external/www.astrill.com/a/v5skfvd5xe5x?subtag=trd-us-6812214622568710247" rel="sponsored noopener" target="_blank" data-url="https://www.astrill.com/pricing" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="hawklinks" data-placeholder-url="https://www.astrill.com/a/v5skfvd5xe5x?subtag=hawk-custom-tracking" data-google-interstitial="false" data-merchant-name="AstrillVPN" data-merchant-id="279406" data-merchant-url="astrill.com" data-merchant-network="Generic">
✔️ You want to keep up with all the latest Western TV shows: unlock a wide range of streaming services.
✔️ You like your privacy: various privacy feature keep your browsing activity safe and secure.
❌ You're concerned about price: the cost of Astrill VPN can start to stack up if you also use it for gaming or want a private IP.
❌ You want to stream: Astrill VPN does not work very well when using streaming platforms.
🔒 Astrill VPN is an expensive choice that's proven popular for reliably bypassing even the most severe censorship around the world.
Check out our
✔️ You want to keep up with all the latest Western TV shows: unlock a wide range of streaming services.
✔️ You like your privacy: various privacy feature keep your browsing activity safe and secure.
❌ You're concerned about price: the cost of Astrill VPN can start to stack up if you also use it for gaming or want a private IP.
❌ You want to stream: Astrill VPN does not work very well when using streaming platforms.
🔒 Astrill VPN is an expensive choice that's proven popular for reliably bypassing even the most severe censorship around the world.
✔️ You want access to content from all over the world: ExpressVPN offer a wide range of servers across the globe.
✔️ You might need help setting up a VPN: ExpressVPN's customer support has good reviews and will be able to help if you encounter difficulties.
❌ You frequently access Russian websites: ExpressVPN no longer provide a Russian sever.
❌ You use multiple devices: with only 5 simultaneous connections supported with one plan, you could come up short.
🔒 ExpressVPN is a reliable service that you can trust with your life, but with no servers available in Russia, you'll have to rely on split tunneling to access local services.
Check out our latest
3. ExpressVPN
Our top VPN for most use cases, but it lacks a Russian server
Server in Russia: no | Number of server countries: 94 |external/www.astrill.com/a/v5skfvd5xe5x?subtag=trd-us-6812214622568710247" rel="sponsored noopener" target="_blank" data-url="https://www.astrill.com/pricing" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="hawklinks" data-placeholder-url="https://www.astrill.com/a/v5skfvd5xe5x?subtag=hawk-custom-tracking" data-google-interstitial="false" data-merchant-name="AstrillVPN" data-merchant-id="279406" data-merchant-url="astrill.com" data-merchant-network="Generic">
✔️ You want to keep up with all the latest Western TV shows: unlock a wide range of streaming services.
✔️ You like your privacy: various privacy feature keep your browsing activity safe and secure.
❌ You're concerned about price: the cost of Astrill VPN can start to stack up if you also use it for gaming or want a private IP.
❌ You want to stream: Astrill VPN does not work very well when using streaming platforms.
🔒 Astrill VPN is an expensive choice that's proven popular for reliably bypassing even the most severe censorship around the world.
Check out our
✔️ You want to keep up with all the latest Western TV shows: unlock a wide range of streaming services.
✔️ You like your privacy: various privacy feature keep your browsing activity safe and secure.
❌ You're concerned about price: the cost of Astrill VPN can start to stack up if you also use it for gaming or want a private IP.
❌ You want to stream: Astrill VPN does not work very well when using streaming platforms.
🔒 Astrill VPN is an expensive choice that's proven popular for reliably bypassing even the most severe censorship around the world.
✔️ You want access to content from all over the world: ExpressVPN offer a wide range of servers across the globe.
✔️ You might need help setting up a VPN: ExpressVPN's customer support has good reviews and will be able to help if you encounter difficulties.
❌ You frequently access Russian websites: ExpressVPN no longer provide a Russian sever.
❌ You use multiple devices: with only 5 simultaneous connections supported with one plan, you could come up short.
🔒 ExpressVPN is a reliable service that you can trust with your life, but with no servers available in Russia, you'll have to rely on split tunneling to access local services.