7 Best Turkey VPNs for 2024

Turkey has a reputation for shutting down social media platforms, censoring the internet, and jailing journalists. In fact, there is a law that forces internet service providers (ISPs) to retain users’ data for two years.

The ticket to your internet freedom in Turkey is a virtual private network (VPN). It will mask your IP address and encrypt your connections, enabling you to bypass censorship and browse anonymously.

This article explores the most trustworthy VPN services that you can use in Turkey to stay protected and anonymous.

Quick summary of the top 3 VPN to use in Turkey

Why you need a VPN in Turkey

The Turkish government has gone to great lengths to censor the internet in the country. It blocks a lot of websites that it deems immoral, anti-religious, or anti-regime.

Some of the blocked websites include Twitter, Facebook, Wikipedia, Reddit, and many others. A VPN is the perfect solution to bypass the restrictions without fear of being spied on. Besides changing your IP address, a VPN with strong encryption will protect the data leaving and coming to your device.

A quick overview of the Turkish laws on digital privacy

Invasive laws, such as the internet Act and Electronic Communication law, strictly control the internet in Turkey. The Presidency of Telecommunication and Communication (PTC) and Information Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) are responsible for enforcing the legislation. Recent laws also give the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) more powers to monitor online content.

Surveillance and censorship in the country have become even worse after the failed 2016 military coup. Erdoğan’s government jails police, journalists, and anybody who speaks against the regime. Human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and International Federation for Human Rights (IHF) have criticized the strict laws.

If you are a Turkish citizen, the internet is a good place to get propaganda-free information. The best VPN for Turkey will give you the means to access the internet without getting censored.

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What makes a VPN great for Turkey?

Due to the government’s prying eyes, a VPN needs to be top-notch in security. Here are other things you should consider when choosing a VPN:

Server network

One of the easiest ways to avoid censorship in Turkey is to connect to a server in a different country. This will enable you to access permanently blocked sites such as TBP (and The Pirate Bay alternatives), Deezer, Slide, ShoutCast, etc. Choose a server with servers spread across the globe so you can access whatever you want.

Remember that a VPN works by encrypting your traffic, a process that will impede your speeds. A small network with few servers is likely to become congested, slowing your connections even further. Therefore, the best VPN should have as many servers to distribute the load, minimizing the impact on your speeds.

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Fast speeds

Fast speed is essential to perform tasks such as browsing, torrenting, streaming, and playing online games. Many factors can affect your speeds, including your ISP, location day of the week, the server location you use, etc. Nonetheless, choose a VPN that does not slow your speeds to crawl. Check our guide on the fastest VPNs on the market.

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Security

Security is an imperative aspect of selecting the best VPN for Turkey. Hackers are devising new ways to steal data while encryption standards continue to evolve to protect data. A reliable VPN service should evolve as well to keep users safe.

The VPN you choose should have AES 128/256-bit encryption, two of the most secure encryption standards available. Some providers offer extra protection with features such as RSA-4096 handshake encryption, double VPN, perfect forward secrecy, etc.

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Customer support

Interruptions and downtimes can occur even with the best service. So, ensure the provider has a reliable customer support and the representatives respond to queries promptly. Many premium VPNs have 24/7 support to help you around the clock.

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Privacy and logging options

Nothing stops a VPN from storing your data, although it is meant to maintain your anonymity. The provider can hand over the information to government authorities if requested. Check the privacy policy to see the types of logs the VPN keeps. Choose a log-free VPN in Turkey to shield you from widespread government surveillance.

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Pricing

All the VPNs on the market have varied pricing and packages. While some are pretty expensive, others are affordable and even offer free plans. In fact, many providers are nowadays offering significant discounts on longer-term plans. Additionally, some VPNs have a money-back guarantee so you can test the services without risking your money.

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Best VPNs for Turkey

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is our top-pick that has easy-to-use apps and excels at bypassing censorship, making it an excellent choice for Turkey.

The VPN has water-tight security to keep you safe when online. It uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect your connections alongside perfect forward secrecy to generate encryption keys for each session. In terms of protocols, ExpressVPN offers multiple options, such as OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, IKEv2, and PPTP. Recently, it has introduced NordLynx, which is secure and twice as fast as other protocols.

You can connect up to ten devices simultaneously on a single account. The VPN software is compatible with macOS, Android, Linux, Windows, and Amazon Fire TV. There are also proxy extensions for Firefox and Chrome browsers. The only issue is that some features are available on the mobile apps but missing on the desktop client and vice versa. For instance, the Android app has split tunneling while the Windows client doesn’t.

With over 6,800 servers in 113 countries, you won’t need to look far to find a nearby server to use. This is advantageous because connecting to a closer server translates to better speeds. Its entire server network is now RAM-based to make the service more secure.

After testing it on streaming sites such as Netflix, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer, NordVPN efficiently unblocks all of them. This has to do with the SmartPlay feature that bypasses geo-restrictions of all major streaming sites. Its speeds are phenomenal, and you will stream without stuttering or buffering.

If you torrent frequently, you will find NordVPN to be a great torrenting VPN. First of all, it has P2P optimized servers for improved speeds when torrenting. The best part is that it will automatically redirect you to these servers if it detects P2P traffic.

Second, the kill switch will stop your traffic when the VPN stops working to protect you from accidental leaks. NordVPN also has a strict no-logs policy to keep your torrenting activities completely anonymous.

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2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best alternative to NordVPN and Surfshark. It is an industry-leading VPN known for outstanding performance and reliability. What’s more, the interface is extremely easy to navigate, making it an apt choice for newcomers.

Due to the increasing online censorship and surveillance in Turkey, you’ll need a VPN with formidable protection. ExpressVPN uses the latest and state-of-the-art security features to keep you safe. For instance, it will protect your traffic with AES 256-bit encryption.

This is military-grade encryption, and even Turkish authorities cannot break it. The VPN also has perfect forward secrecy that will change your encryption keys often to prevent security compromises.

ExpressVPN is a robust VPN service, but anything can happen to the VPN connection, revealing your identity. It has a useful kill switch feature that will prevent your traffic from leaking outside the encrypted channel. Remarkably, you won’t also experience any DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks when using the internet.

Another ExpressVPN feature you’ll like is split tunneling. It allows you to use the VPN and be on the local network simultaneously. This feature encrypts part of your traffic while the rest directly connects to the internet. For example, you can route your torrenting traffic through the ExpressVPN tunnel and banking traffic on the normal network.

It offers a large server selection with a secure setup. It operates over 3000 servers in 107 countries across 160 locations. The provider uses TrustedServer technology that makes the entire server network run on RAM. This cannot store any data, so the servers will delete your information every time you end a session.

The comprehensive privacy policy explicitly indicates the company’s stance against storing identifiable information. However, like many other VPNs, ExpressVPN collects maintenance-related data such as server location, transferred data, and app version.

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3. Surfshark

Surfshark is another well-established VPN for Turkey. It offers fast speeds and plenty of unique features at unbelievable prices.

The VPN uses unbreakable AES 256-bit encryption to prevent third parties from intercepting your traffic. This is together with a 2048-bit DHE-RSA key exchange, SHA512 authentication, and perfect forward secrecy. On top of that, it offers multiple connection protocols, including OpenVPN TCP/UDP, IKEv2, Shadowsocks, and WireGuard.

Surfshark also offers an automatic kill switch. It will protect your data if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. You can easily access the feature on the dashboard without going through the settings menu. Fortunately, it is available on both desktop and mobile apps.

The MultiHop feature enhances your security by routing your traffic through two servers instead of a single server. This feature can slow down your connections, but it helps a country with heavy online surveillance like Turkey.

Another Surfshark’s unique feature is the camouflage mode. It will mask your VPN activities (obfuscation) by making your connection look like regular traffic. As a result, government authorities and your ISP will not see that you are using a VPN.

Unlike other popular VPN brands, Surfshark has two-factor authentication (2FA) feature. Instead of just using your password to log in, it offers a temporary code as an extra security measure. This gives you a secure way to access your account.

Surfshark has a built-in ad blocker known as CleanWeb. It will not only prevent intrusive ads but also protect you from malware, trackers, and other cyber threats. This ad blocker is also effective in blocking banner ads and in-stream YouTube ads.

Surfshark gives you incredible value for money as it allows you to connect as many devices as you want. Luckily, it provides dedicated apps for Android, Windows, ios, Linux, macOS, and Fire devices. Installing and navigating the VPN client is straightforward on all the operating systems.

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4. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN has a small network but gets the job done. It will allow you to access the internet anonymously, hiding your identity from prying eyes.

According to its privacy policy, PrivateVPN does not collect or store activity logs. The only information the provider keeps is the email and password you provided when creating an account. Regrettably, it is based in Sweden, which is part of the 14-Eyes Alliance.

Can PrivateVPN bypass Netflix’s restrictions? Yes, it unblocks Netflix alongside other streaming services like Oxygen TV, Hulu, ABC, etc. PrivateVPN has labeled the streaming servers for each service, making it easy to connect to the correct server. It also works well with Kodi. Since the provider provides a server in Turkey, you can watch local TV channels like Star, TRT Spor, etc.

Regarding data security, PrivateVPN allows you to customize some of the features. It uses AES 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, and 2048-bit DH key. Second, the multiple security protocols will depend on the device you are using. They include PPTP, OpenVPN UDP/TCP, and L2TP.

This is a torrent-friendly VPN as it supports unrestricted P2P sharing. With its robust security features and zero-logs policy, your torrenting activities will remain private and anonymous. PrivateVPN allows unlimited bandwidth, so your speeds will not drop even when downloading large files.

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5. Hotspot Shield VPN

Hotspot Shield (HSS) is a secure VPN and a great option for Turkey. It employs proprietary technology to deliver impressive performance and turbocharged speeds.

One thing that makes HSS stand out is the beautifully designed interface that is incredibly easy to use. After installing the VPN software on your device (a 2-minute process), it will take you to the dashboard. This is where you tweak your settings and choose the server locations with a few clicks.

Is Hotspot Shield fast? Yes, and you are likely to get consistent speeds no matter the server you connect to. This means you can stream HD videos without any noticeable drops or slowdowns. Switching to another is fast if one of your connections stops working. The thumb rule is that geographically close servers offer better speeds. 

HSS keeps you safe in all directions. First, it uses AES 256-bit encryption with perfect forward secrecy and 2048-bit RSA keys to protect your connections. Second, the kill switch will protect your data in the event the VPN stops working. However, this feature is not active, so you will have to enable it in the settings. Finally, the auto-connect feature will automatically start the VPN whenever you connect to public Wi-Fi.

The VPN has native apps for Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu, and Amazon Fire TV. It allows you to connect up to five simultaneous devices under a single plan. You can even configure it with your router to add more devices, especially those that aren’t compatible with VPNs.

All the apps give you access to its entire network of 1,800 servers in over 80 countries. The servers are arranged alphabetically by country to make it easy for you to choose the right server. It even has a server in Turkey, so you access local content and services.

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6. VyprVPN

VyprVPN is a dependable VPN service, especially after improving its logging policy. It has come a long way to establish itself as a trustworthy provider and promoter of online privacy.

This is an excellent choice if you are looking to bypass geo-restrictions of popular streaming services. It uses the Chameleon technology that smashes all geo-blocks and evades VPN bans. For example, you can watch Zee5 outside India, Channel 4, Disney plus, CW, and more. The speed is consistent to stream in high definition.

Initially, we wouldn’t encourage you to use VyprVPN for torrenting in Turkey. However, the company has recently transitioned to a strict zero-logs policy, making it more torrent-friendly. This means you can download or upload P2P2 files securely and anonymously.

When it comes to security, VyprVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect your internet connections. There is also a NAT Firewall to block malware and an automatic kill switch to stop leakage if the VPN discontinues unexpectedly. Besides the proprietary Chameleon protocol, it also offers OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, and WireGuard protocols.

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7. Astrill VPN

Astrill has made a name for itself in the VPN industry for bypassing China’s Great Firewall. It is equipped with plenty of security features, making it ideal for Turkey.

Many VPNs have poorly written and uninformative privacy policies. However, Astrill has laid out its procedures and logging practices. It says that it keeps track of active sessions and permanently deletes the system’s information after every session. The only data it holds is the username, email, and payment information you provide when signing up.

Astrill is a reliable anti-censorship tool due to its smart mode and stealth protocol. These features are specially designed to evade censorship, enabling you to use the internet privately.

The MultiHop feature will pass your traffic through several servers, making it impossible to track your traffic. Although it may slightly slow down your connection, it is a great way to stay anonymous in Turkey.

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Can I use a free VPN in Turkey?

A quick search on any store app and you will find many VPN apps that claim to offer free services. But are they safe? A study by the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) found out that many free VPNs are not secure. Here are some of the reasons why you should avoid free VPNs in Turkey.

Limited security features

Free VPNs don’t have enough resources to deploy sufficient security features to keep you safe. For example, it is rare to get an automatic kill switch or DNS leak protection with free VPNs. This can easily expose your identity and activities if the VPN accidentally stops working.

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Contain malware

No-fee VPNs embed malware in their software. In fact, a recent study found out that six out of ten Android VPNs carry malware. According to the survey, the majority of the malware bugs were related to adverts. Many premium VPN services have built-in malware protection for safety.

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Fail to unblock content

One of the primary uses of a VPN is to bypass geo-blocks and access content from anywhere. The problem is that free VPNs cannot get around these restrictions. That is why you should consider investing in a premium service like the VPNs above.

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Collect your data

Many free VPNs have vague privacy policies, which is an indication that they might store your logs. Some of them are registered in countries with strict data retention laws. The options on this list are truly no-logs VPNs, so you wouldn’t worry about your anonymity.

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Slow connections

Your online connections will slow down if you connect to the internet with a free VPN. This may be because of several reasons. First, free VPNs have fewer servers that become congested easily, leading to sluggish speeds. Second, some providers throttle speeds on free versions to encourage users to upgrade to paid plans. Premium services have extensive networks with high-quality servers to counteract speed loss.

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How to use a VPN in Turkey

Getting going with a VPN in Turkey is straightforward. Here are the simple steps you should follow.

1. Choose a tested and reliable VPN. From the above list, we particularly recommend NordVPN here – a top-of-the-line provider. It boasts superb encryption and privacy as well as blazing-fast servers across the globe.
2. Subscribe to one of the plans of the VPN you picked. Go for the long-term plans to lower the cost of the subscription and take advantage of great discounts.
3. Download and install the VPN software on your device. The VPNs above offer software for multiple platforms, including Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS. NordVPN supports six simultaneous connections, so you use your smartphone, tablet, laptop, PC, and other devices.
4. Once you have installed the VPN app, activate the features you need. For VPN, initiate features such as auto-connect, OpenVPN, kill switch, NAT firewall, stealth mode, and leak protection. (If you went with NordVPN, all those vital features would automatically be switched on.)
5. Select a server from any country of your liking and connect. The VPN will encrypt your traffic and mask your IP address as soon as you are connected to the server.
6. Enjoy unlimited internet access with complete anonymity in Turkey.

How to get a Turkey IP address outside Turkey

A Turkish IP address will enable you to effortlessly access local content if you are traveling abroad. Getting a Turkish IP address is straightforward with a VPN. It will secure your traffic by routing your connection through a private network.

When you connect to a server, the VPN will assign you an IP address of the country where the server is located. Here is how you can get a Turkey IP address from anywhere:

1. Sign up for a VPN of your choice. Our number one recommended Turkish VPN is NordVPN.
2. Download the app on your device. 
3. Launch the application and sign in. 
4. Choose a Turkish server and connect.
5. Surf the internet anonymously and access any local content you want.

How to access Netflix libraries in Turkey

Netflix is available globally, but the libraries vary by geographic location. For example, the content accessible in Turkey is a fraction of the titles available in the US.

It does not matter which country you were when creating your Netflix account. Whenever you travel, Netflix will present you with the native library of your current geographic location. For instance, if you created your account in the US and travel to Turkey, you will be redirected to the local library.

Therefore, you need to use a VPN to bypass Netflix’s restrictions and access whichever library you want. The majority of the VPNs on this list can unblock Netflix. All you need is to connect to a US VPN server while in Turkey and then head over to Netflix, you’ll then see content from the USA Netflix library. The same goes for any other country-specific Netflix content in Turkey.

How to watch Turkish TV and access banking services from abroad safely

If you are a Turkish citizen living abroad, a VPN will help you access local entertainment content and other services. It will also enable you to stay in touch with your family and friends through social media platforms and VoIP calls.

There are hundreds of Television channels in Turkey that offer a wide range of programming, including sports, movies, etc. Some of the popular channels include TRT 1, TRT World, Diyanet TV, Star, Kanal D, ATV, FOX, etc. They are only available in Turkey, and you’ll need a Turkish IP address to access them if you are abroad.

Turkish banks and other financial institutions have internal mechanisms to screen incoming requests. So, each time you try to conduct your online transactions, you should use a local Turkish IP address. This is because you won’t get flagged or locked out of your account.

Is there an easy way to use a VPN in Turkey if it is blocked?

One of the most effective techniques of bypassing VPN blocks is known as port forwarding. We weren’t able to test it in Turkey, but some Reddit users claim it works successfully.

Using a VPN in Turkey is not illegal, although authorities are rigorously blocking VPN services. The first method they use is to blacklist VPN servers through ISPs’ firewalls. Since this is time-consuming and requires a lot of resources, it can only target a few VPNs.

The second technique is to block ports that VPNs use to send and receive traffic. Every port has its specific use. For example, port 22 is for SSH traffic to servers, while many web browsers’ traffic travels through port 80.

The OpenVPN protocol’s biggest advantage is its ability to pass through any port on either UDP or TCP range. As a result, your traffic will travel over specified ports even if they are blocked.

Usually, HTTPS traffic goes through port 443. HTTPS traffic uses Security Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption similar to the VPN traffic. The majority of the internet’s websites and page loads use HTTPS today, with 1M of Alexa’s websites having it by default. Authorities would not block the port because many internet users rely on it. Some Wi-Fi routers, VPN apps, and operating systems support port forwarding.

For what else can I use a VPN in Turkey?

Besides accessing banned news in Turkey, there are many other ways you can use a VPN. Here are other ways a Turkey VPN is helpful.

Avoid ISP tracking

The invasive laws in Turkey require internet service providers (ISPs) to keep logs of their users. They can sell the data to advertisers or hand it over to authorities when asked. This is why you should seek anonymity with a VPN.

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Prevent bandwidth throttling

There is nothing more annoying than frequent buffers when watching online videos. Unfortunately, most ISPs will throttle your bandwidth when doing activities that consume a large amount of data. A VPN will mask your IP address and scramble your traffic to prevent your ISP from seeing your activities. Avoiding bandwidth throttling will also help to improve your speeds.

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Access your home network securely

Most people save data and files on their desktop computers or NAS for personal, work, and entertainment. Whichever you use, you may want to create remote access. The best way to secure the connection is to use a VPN.

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Block ads

The most common method many websites use to make revenue is to use ads. However, unlike traditional advertisements, online ads target people directly through IP addresses. These ads can be very annoying when streaming videos. Sadly, some of these ads contain malware and trackers. The best countermeasure to ads, malware, and trackers is a VPN.

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Safely use any WiFi

WiFi connections, especially public hotspots, have security vulnerabilities. Worse of all, there is a possibility of eavesdropping and hacking. By encrypting your traffic, a VPN will keep away malicious actors trying to hijack or intercept your traffic.

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Upload and download P2P files securely

Torrenting is mainly associated with illegal activities like downloading copyrighted content though it has numerous legitimate uses. For example, you can use it to distribute public domain videos, open-source software, or large data sets.

P2P sharing is data-intensive, and many ISPs will either limit bandwidth or restrict access to file-sharing sites. Besides your ISP, other users on the network can see your IP address, resulting in serious security threats. A Turkey VPN will hide your IP address and encrypt your traffic so you can torrent safely and anonymously.

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FAQs