While India is home to many cities where the tech industry is thriving, it is still a nation where internet freedom is limited. Anyone who has lived in India for more than a few months will know that blocked websites, restricted access to content and geo-blocked videos are commonplace.
Whether the blocks are coming from local, state or federal governments, or the internet service providers, it can be a huge nuisance for people who just want to have a good experience of the world wide web. When sites that are providing information, entertainment and social connectivity are blocked, it can be hard for users to get the most out of their laptop or smartphone.
What is a VPN?
One of the most effective ways to get past such restrictions is to use a virtual private network, or a VPN. The idea behind a VPN is that you are routing your connection through the server of the VPN company.
The best VPN services for India are very easy to use. Most VPN providers will have a dedicated client that you can install on your device. It is possible to choose the relevant server and then connect to the VPN through that client, whether you are on your smartphone, tablet or laptop.
Is a VPN Secure?
There are two reasons why someone would use a VPN service. The first is to get past content restrictions. If a website or video is blocked in India, connecting to a VPN server in another country will solve the issue.
But VPNs are not only for content unlocking. They are also very handy for internet privacy. A VPN will route your connection through its server, meaning that your IP address and DNS are never visible.
With so many websites, government entities and third parties attempting to gain access to your IP address, location history and private data, it is sensible to always use a VPN service when connecting to the internet. Below are your top options for India. For international, use this Top 5 list.
ExpressVPN
There is no doubt that ExpressVPN is one of the most popular providers for Indians. Not only does it have servers in most neighboring countries around Asia, but there are also two high speed servers in India.
While it is great to have access to servers in the United States, UK and other parts of the world, these servers can sometimes present speed issues in any VPN service. But the ExpressVPN servers that are in nations such as India, Bangladesh and Nepal are very handy for Indian users.
The apps for iOS, Android, MacOS and Windows are very intuitive and sleek. There is no issue in switching between servers, while P2P content is also allowed.
NordVPN
NordVPN is another great option for anyone who is hoping to add to their privacy in India. There are four servers in the nation, while many in neighboring countries as well. Speed is never an issue with NordVPN.
Users will find they are able to stream HD content, download through P2P networks, play games and browse without any issues. The service even has options for local languages, making it more friendly towards Indians who may not speak fluent English.
IPVanish
One of the top rated VPN services in the world, IPVanish is a solid choice for any Indian who cares about privacy and unblocking content. The security protocol is excellent, with the company using high levels of encryption on its servers.
Torrenting is allowed, no restrictions exist for P2P traffic and there are two servers right in New Delhi. In total, the service has more than 1000 servers that are in 60+ locations around the world.
Those attempting to access geo-restricted content will easily find the appropriate server from the country where the content is viewable.
I have already tested NordVPN and can recommend it as a reliable option. It’s not as cheap as some other VPNs on the market, but I found a discount, you can get it on their page. It’s 66% cheaper this way, hope this helps someone to save some bucks.