Best VPN for France: How to Get a French IP Address in 2024
Accessing streaming platforms like SlingTV or Peacock TV from France is impossible without a VPN. The French government is also stepping up surveillance efforts; the best way around this is by using a VPN. Read our article to discover the best VPN for France.
Written by Arthur Sabayi (Writer)
Reviewed by Valentina Bravo (Editor)
Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska (Lead Fact-Checking Editor)
Last Updated: 2024-10-07T14:23:20+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: What Is the Best VPN for France?
Key Takeaways: Best VPNs for France
- NordVPN — Best overall VPN for France. NordVPN offers (for Black Friday) 74% (plus 3 months free) off on the first two years for new users.
- Surfshark — Best for multiple streaming devices. Surfshark is available at a (for Black Friday) 64% (plus 4 months free) discount and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- ExpressVPN — The best beginner-friendly VPN. You can sign up for ExpressVPN with a (for Black Friday) 70% (plus 4 months free) discount and use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind.
- PrivadoVPN — Best free VPN with free servers in France.
- CyberGhost — Largest server network.
- Private Internet Access — Fastest VPN for streaming.
France is a mixed bag. It has a rich culture and history, and also a government that’s increasingly encroaching on citizen privacy through surveillance laws. If you live there or plan to visit, having the best VPN for France will be a great help.
The biggest reason you’ll want a VPN for France is to unblock geo-restricted content like Hulu, Peacock TV or Sling TV, which are all unavailable in France. Additionally, you get a French IP address that can access channels like TV5MONDE or BFMTV from anywhere on Earth.
As France’s freedom index score of 76/100 shows, President Emmanuel Macron isn’t exactly a champion of online free speech. In March 2023, a woman was arrested and fined for insulting the president on Facebook. This incident is part of a legislative crackdown on free speech that a VPN connection can help you circumvent.
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11/02/2023
Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s recent increase of 5 simultaneous connections to 8, as well as its expansion of server presence to 105 countries, previously 94.
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01/11/2024 Facts checked
We have rewritten this guide and added more VPNs that work for France.
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07/04/2024
Updated the article highlighting PrivadoVPN as the best free VPN for France.
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07/24/2024
Updated the article to reflect latest information on NordVPN’s allowed number of simultaneous connections.
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10/01/2024
We updated the VPN list to incorporate the latest user feedback and expert evaluations.
Cloudwards Editor’s Choice: NordVPN
NordVPN is the best France VPN. It has French IP addresses in Paris and Marseille for accessing French content like Qobuz. These servers are part of a larger network of more than 6,200 servers in 111 countries.
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The VPN offers an extensive security suite, including features like Threat Protection Pro. Furthermore, NordVPN has fast connection speeds and sits at the top of our fastest VPN list.
You can try NordVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee. If NordVPN isn’t your preferred choice, don’t worry; we have five more alternatives that are just as capable.
How to Choose the Best France VPN
We prioritized four VPN features when selecting the six best VPNs for France from a pool of more than 30 that we tested.
- Unblocking capabilities: The VPN should have a large global server network, including in France, to unblock geo-restricted content anywhere. All six VPNs on our list have large server networks that include French IP addresses.
- User security & privacy: The ideal French VPN must protect users from government surveillance. It should have military-grade encryption, IP leak protection and a strict no-logs policy that wipes your browsing data so it never falls into the wrong hands.
- Fast speeds: Most people needing a French VPN want it for unrestricted streaming, gaming or downloading. These activities require the fastest speeds possible without lags.
- Platform support: A VPN should be compatible with smartphones, tablets, PCs, smart TVs and routers. Connecting multiple devices simultaneously is another important feature we considered in our testing.
The justice reform bill French lawmakers passed in July 2023 grants the Gendarmerie and other security forces the power to obtain people’s geolocations through their smart devices. We can’t stress enough how important it is to use a VPN in France.
The 6 Best VPNs for France: Comparison Table
| VPN: | Price | French Servers | Unblocks Netflix | No-logs policy | Speed | Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $3.79/month | 260+ | 94 Mbps | AES-256 ChaCha20 | ||
 | $1.99/month | 70+ | 93 Mbps | AES-256-GCM | ||
 | $6.67/month | 4 | 92 Mbps | AES-256 | ||
 | $1.99/month | Unknown | 29.41 Mbps | ChaCha20 AES-256-GCM | ||
 | $2.03/month | 938 | 81 Mbps | AES-256 | ||
 | $1.98/month | 1 | 94 Mbps | ChaCha20 AES-128-GCM |
Every VPN on our list was subjected to several tests to ensure it was the right fit for users in France. This included speed tests, hands-on testing for usability and a detailed investigation of key features. Let’s see how they turned out.
1. NordVPN — Best Overall VPN for France
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
NordVPN offers more than 6,200 servers in 111 countries, including 260 servers in Marseille and Paris. All NordVPN servers are RAM-based, so they don’t log any of your online activities, wiping the slate clean when the server resets.
We successfully accessed Canal VOD with our first attempt using a Marseille server to stream a gripping TV show called ‘Marseille.’ We also unblocked SlingTV with a New York server. NordVPN offers dedicated IP addresses. However, getting one costs an extra $3.69/month on top of your regular subscription. We break that down in more detail in our list of the best VPNs with dedicated IP.
NordVPN Hands-On Testing
NordVPN has an amazing user interface with a very detailed server list across all apps. It even provides the exact number of servers for France and other locations. The VPN is compatible with Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, macOS, and other devices. You can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.
Notes From the Lab: NordVPN Speed Test Results
NordVPN was the fastest VPN in our tests, along with Private Internet Access, averaging 94 Mbps on our 100 Mbps unprotected speed — a 6% speed drop. Buffering won’t be a problem, as we explain in our NordVPN review.
Notes From the Lab: NordVPN Unblocking Capability Test Results
| Streaming service: | Unblocked? |
|---|---|
| Netflix | |
| Amazon Prime Video | |
| Max | |
| Disney Plus | |
| BBC iPlayer | |
| Hulu/ESPN Plus |
Notes From the Lab: NordVPNSecurity Analysis
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| NordLynx | ChaCha20 | Windows macOS iOS Android |
| OpenVPN | AES-256 | Windows macOS iOS Android |
| IKEv2 | AES-256 | Windows Android |
The publicly displayed IP addresses we saw after our DNS leak test were all from France, indicating that there are no IP leaks with NordVPN.
There’s a kill switch that disconnects the internet when the VPN is disrupted. The security feature that makes NordVPN our most secure choice is the double VPN, which is perfect for French journalists and activists. There’s also “threat protection,” a cybersecurity tool that blocks trackers and detects websites and apps that pose a malware risk.
NordVPN Pricing & Value
The NordVPN Standard plan is the most affordable. The two-year version offers the best deal at $2.99 per month plus an extra three months. The 12-month version costs $4.59 per month, and the monthly plan goes for $12.99 per month. All the plans offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
2. Surfshark — Most Affordable VPN for France
Very Fast
Very Fast
Good
Surfshark has more than 70 French VPN servers in Paris, Bordeaux and Marseille, as well as more than 3,200 servers in 100+ countries. All Surfshark servers are RAM-based, so your browsing information can never be forcibly retrieved from the servers.
With Surfshark,you can get dedicated IPs in multiple locations, including France. Check our guide on how to use Surfshark dedicated IPs. For extra protection, the MultiHop servers route you through two servers so one faulty node won’t expose you.
Surfshark Hands-On Testing
Surfshark has apps for Android, iOS, macOS and Windows. It is one of the few VPNs that allow unlimited device connections, as discussed in our best VPN for multiple devices article. The servers are grouped under “static,” “MultiHop” and “dedicated IP” for easy access. The kill switch works immediately once activated, and CleanWeb blocks most ads on some sites. Learn more about how these features work in our detailed Surfshark review.
Notes From the Lab: Surfshark Speed Test Results
At 93 Mbps, Surfshark is the second fastest France VPN. That’s a 7% speed drop on our unprotected 100 Mbps connection, enough to handle 4K/HD streaming and downloading heavy files. We managed to stream Aya Nakamura’s new masterpiece, ‘DNK,’ without missing a beat.
Notes From the Lab: Surfshark Unblocking Capability Test Results
| Streaming service: | Unblocked? |
|---|---|
| Netflix | |
| Amazon Prime Video | |
| Max | |
| Disney Plus | |
| BBC iPlayer | |
| Hulu/ESPN Plus |
Notes From the Lab: Surfshark Security Analysis
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | ChaCha20 | Windows macOS iOS Android |
| OpenVPN | AES-256 | Windows macOS iOS Android |
| IKEv2 | AES-256 | Windows macOS iOS Android |
Besides encryption and IPv6 leak protection, which helped Surfshark pass all our leak tests, the VPN uses CleanWeb to block ads and trackers. It’s perfect for people who hate seeing targeted ads when they shop online.
However, what really caught our eye was the “alternative ID” feature, which gives you a fake name, email address and physical address for all your online form-filling activities. It’s ideal for human rights activists who want to break sensitive stories without exposing themselves.
Surfshark Pricing & Value
Surfshark Starter is the most affordable tier, offering full VPN service. The best deal is the 2-year plan for $1.99 per month. There’s a 12-month plan for $2.99 per month, and a monthly plan that costs $15.45 per month. You get a 30-day money-back guarantee with all paid plans.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Plans renew: $59.76 for one year, $59.76 per year for the two-year plan.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
- Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Plans renew: $79 for one year & $79 per year for the two-year plan.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Everything in One, plus Data removal Plans renew: $269.25 for one year, $404.65 for two years
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
3. ExpressVPN — Best Beginner-Friendly France VPN
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
ExpressVPN has France IP addresses in Paris, Strasbourg and Marseille that give you unrestricted access to French channels like Canal+ or Molotov TV. More than 3,000 servers in 105 countries can unblock multiple platforms like SlingTV or BBC iPlayer from France.
ExpressVPN’s independently audited TrustedServer technology resets its servers every hour, wiping everything clean. This ensures that the French government gets nothing on you, even if it comes with a court order — you can read more about that in our ExpressVPN review.
ExpressVPN Hands-On Testing
ExpressVPN is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux and other devices. You can connect up to eight simultaneous devices if you’re on the 12-month plan and even more if you use an ExpressVPN router. The servers are easy to find; you can use the search function to locate French servers.
Notes From the Lab: ExpressVPN Speed Test Results
ExpressVPN clocked 92 Mbps, an 8% speed drop from our unprotected speed of 100 Mbps. That handled Canal+ programs very smoothly at 1080p through a Paris IP address. We recommend switching to the Lightway protocol for the best speeds.
Notes From the Lab: ExpressVPN Unblocking Capability Test Results
| Streaming service: | Unblocked? |
|---|---|
| Netflix | |
| Amazon Prime Video | |
| Max | |
| Disney Plus | |
| BBC iPlayer | |
| Hulu/ESPN Plus |
Notes From the Lab: ExpressVPN Security Analysis
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| Lightway | AES-256 | Windows macOS iOS Android Linux Routers |
| OpenVPN | AES-256 | Windows macOS Android Linux |
| IKEv2 | AES-256 | macOS iOS |
ExpressVPN passed our encryption and DNS leak testing. We didn’t see our actual IP address or the name of our ISP anywhere. Here’s a guide on how to test for DNS leaks on your own.
ExpressVPN Pricing & Value
ExpressVPN’s best deal is the 15-month plan, which costs $6.25 per month. There’s a six-month plan that costs $9.99 per month, followed by the monthly plan for $12.95 per month. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
4. PrivadoVPN — Best Free VPN With French Servers
PrivadoVPN is the best free VPN whether you’re browsing in France or want a French IP for free. It offers servers in 10 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Its server location in France means that you can switch to a French IP to access local French content such as TV5MONDE to catch up with the news or Eurosport to stream live sports. Plus, it’s free U.K. servers mean you can watch the Olympics for free on BBC iPlayer.
PrivadoVPN Hands-On Testing
PrivadoVPN has apps for Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS. Thankfully, all its apps are well-organized, intuitive, and easy to navigate. Under “Preferences” or “Settings” you can set up PrivadoVPN the way you want it. You can easily scroll through or search for the French server. Connecting to it also takes only a few minutes.
Notes From the Lab: PrivadoVPN Speed Test Results
| Location | Ping ms | Download Mbps | Upload Mbps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unprotected | 14 | 57.91 | 5.94 |
| USA | 64 | 45.35 | 5.48 |
| UK | 357 | 25.27 | 5.70 |
| Australia | 408 | 24.75 | 5.41 |
| Brazil | 206 | 37.29 | 5.74 |
| Singapore | 407 | 22.41 | 5.62 |
| Average | 288 | 31.01 | 5.59 |
PrivadoVPN registered an average of 29.41 Mbps on our unprotected 57.91 Mbps connection, a 50% speed drop. Though this meant we struggled a little with 4K streaming, it was okay for HD and SD content.
Notes From the Lab: PrivadoVPN Unblocking Capability Test Results
| Streaming service: | Unblocked? |
|---|---|
| Netflix | |
| Amazon Prime Video | |
| Max | |
| Disney Plus | |
| BBC iPlayer | |
| Hulu/ESPN Plus |
Notes From the Lab: PrivadoVPN Security Analysis
We connected to PrivadoVPN’s free U.S. server and checked to see if it leaked our original IP address. Fortunately, PrivadoVPN didn’t leave any traces of our actual location.
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | ChaCha20 | Windows macOS iOS iPadOS Android |
| OpenVPN | AES-256 | Windows macOS iOS Android |
| IKEv2 | AES-256 | Windows macOS iOS Android |
PrivadoVPN Pricing & Value
PrivadoVPN’s 24-month price plan offers the best deal at $1.11 per month (two-year plan + three months), followed by the 12-month plan at $1.33 per month (15-months plan) per month. Last is the monthly plan, which goes for $10.99 per month (one-month plan) per month. Each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. We explain the key differences between the free and premium versions in our PrivadoVPN review.
- 10GB
- 1
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
5. CyberGhost — Largest French Server Network
Fast
Very Fast
Fast
You can access French content with CyberGhost using over 930 servers in Paris, Strasbourg and Marseille. CyberGhost also has a large global server network, with more than 10,000 servers in 100+ countries, all of which are RAM-based.
What makes this VPN stand out is the specialty servers dedicated to streaming and downloading. French servers are dedicated to streaming services like 6play, France TV, Canal+, Molotov TV and more. Plus, CyberGhost offers dedicated IPs in 18 locations, including France, for an extra $2.50/month, the cheapest of the six VPNs covered here.
CyberGhost Hands-On Testing
switch protocols from the options provided.
CyberGhost is one of the easiest apps to use, as we mention in our list of best beginner-friendly VPNs. It’s compatible with Android, iOS, macOS and Windows, and you can connect up to seven simultaneous devices. The kill switch remains stable once activated, and the “smart rules” feature lets you automate access to French streaming servers.
Notes From the Lab: CyberGhost Speed Test Results
CyberGhost recorded a 19% speed drop with 81 Mbps on our unprotected speed of 100 Mbps. We had no trouble streaming the RTL podcasts and did not once experience buffering. We recommend you switch to WireGuard or IKEv2 for the best speeds, as explained in our VPN protocols breakdown.
Notes From the Lab: CyberGhost Unblocking Capability Test Results
| Streaming service: | Unblocked? |
|---|---|
| Netflix | |
| Amazon Prime Video | |
| Max | |
| Disney Plus | |
| BBC iPlayer | |
| Hulu/ESPN Plus |
Notes From the Lab: CyberGhost Security Analysis
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | AES-256 | Windows macOS iOS Android |
| IKEv2 | AES-256 | Windows macOS iOS |
| OpenVPN | AES-256 | Windows Android |
CyberGhost passed our DNS leak test, with the displayed IP address matching the one that the VPN claimed. It has a kill switch to keep you from broadcasting your personal business to French surveillance agencies.
CyberGhost Pricing & Value
CyberGhost is one of the best cheap VPNs. The 2-year plan offers the best value at $2.03 per month. The six-month plan goes for $6.99 per month, and the monthly plan costs $12.99 per month. The monthly plan comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee, whereas the longer plans allow 45 days for refunds.
- *The 2-year plan includes 4-months free which breaks down the 56.94 t0 $2.03 per month. *The price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years.
- Unlimited GB
- 7
- Yes
6. Private Internet Access — Fastest VPN for Streaming
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
Private Internet Access (PIA) has high-speed VPN servers in more than 91 countries, including France. We connected to a random French server and unblocked Radio France to stream music and current news as they aired.
You can get a PIA dedicated IP for $5 per month, which is more expensive than most. PIA also has multi-hop connections that bounce your traffic through two servers in case one fails; we found that these ran at comparable speeds to single-step servers, which helps elude surveillance.
Private Internet Access Hands-On Testing
PIA doesn’t list its servers in alphabetical order or by continent, but the search function works smoothly. The VPN app works on Android, iOS, Windows and macOS, with unlimited simultaneous device connections. Read more on our Private Internet Access review.
Notes From the Lab: Private Internet Access Speed Test Results
PIA registered average speeds of 94 Mbps — the fastest in our tests, alongside NordVPN. This was a 6% speed drop on our unprotected 100 Mbps connection, enough for streaming 4K content, downloading big files or playing online games without latency.
Notes From the Lab: Private Internet Access Unblocking Capability Test Results
| Streaming service: | Unblocked? |
|---|---|
| Netflix | |
| Amazon Prime Video | |
| Max | |
| Disney Plus | |
| BBC iPlayer | |
| Hulu/ESPN Plus |
Notes From the Lab: Private Internet Access Security Analysis
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | AES-256 | Windows macOS iOS Android |
| OpenVPN | AES-256 | Windows macOS iOS |
Private Internet Access has an advanced kill switch in addition to the usual kill switch. The advanced version prevents leaks by blocking all internet traffic unless you connect to the VPN, even with the PIA app closed. PIA MACE, an ad tracker and malware blocker available on all devices, blocked video ads on YouTube and warned us about malware-related sites.
Private Internet Access Pricing & Value
PIA’s best deal is the three-year plan, which will cost you $7.50 per month and comes with an extra four free months. This is followed by the one-year plan, which costs $2.03 per month, and the monthly plan, which goes for $11.95 per month. All three plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- **$56.94 for the first two years, and yearly thereafter
- 10
- Yes
1-month plan, 6-months plan, 1-year plan, 2-year plan + 4 months
Can You Use a Free VPN for France?
You can use free VPNs to access French content if they have servers in France. However, we don’t recommend most free VPN providers. Other than the few on our lists (including PrivadoVPN, hide.me, Windscribe, TunnelBear and ProtonVPN), most are unsafe, sell your data to third parties, or have poor infrastructure and speeds.
The Best Free France VPN: PrivadoVPN
PrivadoVPN is the best free France VPN for many reasons. It’s fast and provides you with military-grade encryption and a kill switch for IP leak protection. It has a free server location in France that can give you a French IP address to access local French content.
How to Get a French IP Address With a VPN
Getting a French IP address isn’t hard. Here are some quick steps you can follow.
- Subscribe to a VPN
Open the VPN website and choose a plan you can afford.
- Download and Install the VPN
Go to the VPN’s app download page and download the version compatible with the device you intend to use.
- Launch the VPN and Connect to a Server
Open the server list, find France and tap once to connect.
Why You Need a VPN in France
You need a VPN in France to access geo-restricted content like Netflix U.S., BBC iPlayer in the U.K. or ZDF in Germany. The French government has also been stepping up surveillance thanks to a controversial bill that was passed in 2015. The bill gave the government immense power to spy on its citizens in a bid to deal with rising terrorism.
However, human rights groups have voiced their concerns about how these kinds of laws infringe on user privacy. A VPN is one of the most effective ways of bypassing this surveillance since it prevents investigators from associating your activity with your identity.
Final Thoughts
NordVPN is the best VPN for France. It has encryption to stop surveillance and a kill switch to prevent IP leaks. It offers 6200+ servers in 111 countries, including servers in two locations in France. The speeds are reliable enough to handle latency-free gaming, 4K streaming and heavy downloads.
With NordVPN’s risk-free 30-day refund period, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by giving the service a try. Surfshark is a capable alternative. For other related guides, check out our article on how to watch Netflix France and how to watch Vuelta a Espana.
Have you been to France and used a VPN? Have you used a VPN to access French TV from outside the country? Did it work smoothly, or did you run into issues? Drop us your comments below, and thank you for your continued readership.
FAQ: VPNs for France
NordVPN is the best VPN for France. It has 6,200+ servers in 111 countries, including French servers in Paris and Marseille. It’s also secure for circumventing state surveillance and offers fast speeds for streaming and gaming.
You can get a France VPN by subscribing to a VPN with French IP addresses, installing it on your preferred device and connecting to a French server.
Yes, it is legal to use a VPN in France. You can download and install VPNs on multiple devices and connect to any server in France without getting into trouble.