Are VPNs banned in Russia?

VPNs are perfectly legal in Russia. However, the government has threatened to shut down any VPN provider that operates inside the country and doesn't comply with the Russian domestic "privacy" laws. Consequently, some of the best VPNs don't keep any servers within the country anymore. But you can still use many excellent VPNs if you're inside the Russian borders. However, it would be best to keep in mind that some VPN websites are blocked from Russia. So if you're coming into Russia from the outside, make sure that your VPN account is ready to go before you arrive.

Can I use a VPN to watch Moskva TV?

Yes. To do this, you need to get a Russian IP address from Surfshark or another VPN that has Russian servers. Once you've done that, all the content typically available for users in the Russian territory will be available to you.

Can VoIP services work over a VPN?

Yes, they can. This is a frequent question posed by Russian readers because the Russian government has been toying with the idea of banning VoIP services, much as the UAE has. Fortunately, every option in our top five VPNs to use in Russia is good enough to support VoIP calls without any problems.

The top 5 VPNs for Russia in 2023

Sneak peek at using VPNs in Russia

Many jurisdictions badly interfere with their residents’ internet freedom, and Russia is no exception. The government has banned many popular websites, including social media platforms and international news sites. Moreover, the high government surveillance is also a major obstacle in practicing free speech in the state. This whole scenario makes quality VPN a must-have tool for safe and anonymous internet surfing. Since Russian authorities are also highly vigilant in this regard, choosing a VPN that can work in Russia is a difficult task. In this guide, you can find the best Russia VPNs that are, after testing and research, highly recommended to use within or outside Russia. These VPNs can help you securely browse the internet and access the sites otherwise blocked for Russian users.

Suppose you reside in Russia, or you’ll be there soon for a holiday or business. Or you are outside Russia but want or need access to web content only available for Russian users. In any of those scenarios, a good VPN for Russia can help you immensely.

This article will show you the best five VPN vendors that will enhance your digital life from within Russia. We will look at their speeds, privacy protection, friendliness, compatibility with streaming services, and cost-effectiveness.

Russia’s rapid progress towards authoritarianism is no secret at all. Every step the country takes in that direction is thoroughly documented in the international newspapers. Free speech is becoming something of a privilege in Russia, where the political opposition is harshly dealt with.

Digital rights activists are jailed all the time or tortured and abused. That’s quite ironic when you see how Edward Snowden lives there without problems.

The poisonous political environment in Russia influences everything in society, from football to religion, and the internet is no exception. Thus Russian VPN use has increased within the region as users need to deploy defensive measures against government surveillance.

If your plans include traveling to Russia, then remember that old saying, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” In other words: if you’re visiting Russia, get a VPN.

The best five Russia VPNs – The quick list

So you don’t have time to read the full article? We understand, that traveling to Russia needs a lot of planning and preparation. (One of which should definitely be choosing a good VPN.) So, we’re ready to help you anyway. Here is the shorter version of our list of the best five VPN services to use from Russia.

NordVPN: The perfect VPN service for Russia. It has exceedingly fast servers, can unblock geo-blocked content, offers world-class service, and has many advanced features adding value to your subscription.
Surfshark: A new kid on the block offering top-notch service at a fraction of the average price.
ExpressVPN: One of the most solid VPN vendors on the internet with a commitment to user privacy proven even in Russia.
IPVanish: Nevertheless, a particularly well-suited option for Fire TV Stick, Kody, and BitTorrent users will deliver on other features.
VyprVPN: Excellent speeds, and privacy features, but not the most cost-effective VPN in the market (nor in this list).

Try the best VPN without losing or risking any money!

NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee. This means that you can have the full use of a brand new NordVPN account for 30 days. If by the end of your trial, you find this VPN inappropriate for your digital lifestyle, you can ask for a refund. You’ll have no questions asked, no small print in the contract, and no friction in the refund process.

As a NordVPN user, you’ll find this service enhancing and protecting your online privacy, security, and anonymity better than any other market player.

But besides the security aspect, you’ll find it very easy to unblock any video streaming platform. Using this service, you could see the catalog available for any desired country without any buffering or latency. Likewise, it protects you from the annoying snooping from your ISP or from the Russian intelligence agencies (which is not merely irritating but very dangerous indeed). Besides, you’ll have a torrenting experience utterly free of worries.

Tor over VPN is also on offer. Moreover, this provider monitors the Dark Web and lets you know if any of your information surfaces there.

Does this offer seem too good to be true? Maybe. But NordVPN takes the dare because it knows you’ll love how its service improves every aspect of your digital life.

Best VPNs for Russia today – The detailed list

Here, you’ll find the best five VPN vendors to use in Russia, along with a detailed description of each. But before we proceed, we will tell you how and why we chose those five options.

Specifically, we picked only options that deliver the following features:

Servers with high speeds and reliable connections
Work with the most sought-after video streaming platforms such as Netflix
Solid encryption parameters that guarantee privacy and anonymity
User-friendliness
Unblocks geo-restricted content in the most straightforward way possible
Supports 2P2 networks, especially BitTorrent
The vendor offers and supports good apps, at least for the Android and iOS platforms

So now that you know where we’re coming from, let’s roll up our sleeves and dig deep into the subject. Here are the five best VPNs for you to use within the Russian territory in full detail.