Are VPNs illegal in India?

Currently, it is perfectly legal to use a VPN in India. Although no law bans its usage in the country, it is essential to choose a VPN wisely. Never go for a service with inferior encryption or that does not have a no-logs policy. We recommend you stick to any quality providers we reviewed above.

Will a VPN unblock Hotstar from anywhere?

If you pick a quality VPN with Indian servers, you can access Hotstar and any other geo-blocked site. Some of the free services we reviewed above can also unblock Hotstar. However, they may not be suitable for streaming due to bandwidth and data limitations.

Can a VPN help me unblock TikTok?

TikTok is a popular online platform for creating and sharing short videos. However, the app is unavailable in India because the government has recently blocked it. A VPN will allow you to use TikTok in India by connecting to servers in another country to bypass these restrictions.

Will a VPN help me bypass Jio's internet restrictions?

Jio is among India's top telecom operators offering high-speed internet connections. However, it has recently started to block certain websites and services. A VPN is the easiest way to circumvent restrictions and access whatever you want.

How do I bypass the Indian porn ban?

The Indian government has ordered local ISPs to block over 800 adult-themed sites. This has not pleased many citizens of the country, as some are already pornography fans. In fact, the third-largest pornhub traffic comes from India. The authorities argue that these sites threaten the morality and decency of ordinary people. A VPN will help you to change your India IP address and access any pornographic site you want.

Can I experience a slow internet connection while using VPN?

Yes, when using a Virtual Private Network to stream, surf, or torrent, your internet service provider slows down your internet due to the encryption process.

Can I install a virtual private network (VPN) in India from an APK file?

Yes. The APK file is a format for all Android applications. So, similar to installing other Android APK files, it is easy to download the VPNs in our list on your tablet or mobile phone.

Why should I use VPN over Tor or Proxy?

The Onion Router directs data packets via a huge network of hubs and nodes. By doing this, it makes it impossible to track the origin of the data. However, unlike VPNs, it does not offer security and privacy features to the user and the data traffic. Proxies, conversely, route your internet connection through a third-party server that does not assure your data safety.

Can I use my VPN provider's static IP address in India?

Yes. A static IP address makes it difficult for authorities to keep surveilling your activities because you use an IP address that doesn’t change. However, due to the laws in India, it is essential to ensure that your provider complies with a no-logs policy.

How can I tell if my VPN service is working slowly?

Several reasons may cause VPN connection issues. It is important, however, to check whether it is your internet connection with an issue or the VPN itself. Firstly, run a speed test with the VPN disconnected. Then, reconnect the VPN and run another speed test if the issue is undetected. A normal speed reduction ranges to at least 30%. Above that, your VPN is the one at fault. Connecting to a congested or distant server can cause slow speed. You can connect to a nearby server with less traffic to fix the problem. However, if the issue continues, we recommend contacting your VPN provider.

The Best VPNs for India (Free and Paid Options) in 2023

Sneak peek at using an Indian VPN

Using a VPN is essential for Indian users both inside and outside India. That’s because the region has an objectionable frequency of privacy breaches. In addition, the government also applies robust surveillance policies for its citizens, alongside restricting local content abroad. So, users must use a solid VPN to protect their online privacy within the Indian boundaries and access local movies and TV shows abroad. Nonetheless, you must not trust any random VPN to use in India, given how the region has asked the service providers to log users’ data. So, to help you remain safe, this article lists the best India VPNs with strict no-logs policies.

India’s internet freedom is not rosy as it may seem. The government has tightened restrictions with frequent blocking of certain websites and apps. It ranks poorly in the latest Freedom House internet freedom score.

The best way to stay anonymous online, avoid government censorship, and unblock content is to use a VPN. You only need to connect to a server in a different country to spoof your IP address. As simple as that.

Let’s take a look at the best Indian VPNs, how to use a VPN in India, what makes a good VPN for India, what VPNs to avoid in India, and much more.

A quick guide on how to use an India VPN

Using VPNs for India is effortless as follows:

Get a well-established VPN provider. We recommend NordVPN as it has a reputation for high-quality services and has servers in India.
Choose a suitable plan and subscribe.
Download and install the VPN app.
Sign in and connect to an Indian server.
Enjoy stealthy privacy online alongside access to geo-blocked content and services.

Quick List of our top VPNs

NordVPN – The VPN lives up to its reputation, enabling you to engage in almost all activities online. It offers lightning-like speeds, tight security, and unblocks popular streaming services and websites.
Private Internet Access (PIA) – It boasts the largest server network and many servers in India. It boasts double encryption mode and has effective adware and malware blocker.
Surfshark – This is an affordable option for unblocking Indian content. It also has a zero-logs policy which keeps your data traffic safe and allows you to connect to unlimited devices simultaneously.

Is it safe to use a VPN in India?

Until recently, using VPNs in India was not a big deal. Many VPN providers offered physical servers from the region, whereas people frequently used VPNs without hassle.

However, things started to change earlier this year when India announced mandatory data retention policies for VPNs and data centers. This intrusive policy annoyed many providers, compelling top providers like ExpressVPN and Surfshark to pull off their servers from the country. While they continue offering Indian locations on their network, they now use virtual servers.

This policy asks nothing from the end users. But of course, it directly impacts users’ privacy by urging the service providers to log their activities. That means the extent of internet freedom that Indian users once enjoyed now no longer exists.

Indian authorities haven’t announced anything about banning VPNs or labeling them illegal. So, it’s safe for users to secure their online activities with VPNs. In fact, given the government’s intention to track internet users, it’s inevitable for privacy freaks to use such services that protect their internet freedom. However, Indian citizens must ensure not to participate in any grey activities, even with VPNs, as they are now more prone to facing legal consequences.

Best VPNs for India today

Whether you need a VPN to watch Indian TV from abroad, torrent, or play online games, choose any below VPNs. We tested both paid and free VPNs and ranked the top 10 for you to choose the one that suits your needs.

1. NordVPN

Our top pick Indian VPN because of its multiple Indian server locations, commitment to privacy, connection reliability, and lightning-fast speeds.

Visit NordVPN

Serves 5,000 super-VPN servers in over 58 countries

Supports P2P traffic on servers

AES 256 data encryption

Can give connection to maximum six devices at once

CyberSec adblocker

Boasts SmartPlay feature

No DNS leak found

Strict and proven zero-log policy

Double VPN feature

30-day pay-back guarantee

Pros

Unblocks Indian streaming services
Breakneck speeds
Massive global server network

Cons

The Android app lacks a kill switch feature

NordVPN emerges fastest during our periodic VPN tests. This is mostly due to its proprietary protocol, NordLynx, which has significantly improved the speeds. The VPN is fast enough to stream 4K videos, high-quality video conferencing, and live stream HD video.

NordVPN has apps for Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. In addition, it allows you to connect up to six simultaneous devices on one account, an excellent way to share with family.

There is an inconsistency between the apps, with some features available on the mobile apps not available on the desktop client and vice versa. For instance, its Android VPN app has the split tunneling feature, while the Windows app doesn’t.