Best Germany VPN: Best VPN for Germany in 2023

You might want the best Germany VPN for many reasons. Maybe you want to download content via torrents, ensure security when using public WiFi or access geoblocked content.

Germany has minimal censorship. Most of the content is freely available, with a few exceptions. For example, denial of the holocaust is also a felony in Germany. More importantly, Germany is part of the 14 Eyes alliance, which means the government might share your data with other alliance members on request.

Key Takeaways:

• The best VPN for Germany is ExpressVPN because it offers fast connection speeds, excellent security and unblocks almost any streaming service you can think of.
• If ExpressVPN seems a little expensive, consider NordVPN.
• Windscribe is the best free Germany VPN if you’re looking for a free solution.

If you need to ensure you’re surfing the internet safely and anonymously and want to be able to access any geoblocked content, you’ll need a virtual private network (VPN). The problem is that there are tons of VPN services out there. How do you find the best one? 

In this guide, we help you find the best VPN for Germany and explain why our top five picks are your best options. If you want to save time, ExpressVPN is our top choice, but one of the other four choices might suit your needs better.

• Which VPN Has Germany for Free?

  TunnelBear is a free VPN that has a server in Germany. Check out our free Germany VPN guide for other services that work well in Germany.

• Does ExpressVPN Have Germany?

  Yes, ExpressVPN has multiple servers located in Germany.

• How to Get a German IP Address?

  You can get a German IP address by connecting to a VPN that has servers in Germany. Once you’ve connected to one of those servers, your real IP address will be hidden and you’ll be assigned a new, German IP address.

The Top VPNs for Germnay

ReviewVisit ExpressVPN 30-days money-back guarantee

What Makes the Best Germany VPN?

We’ve picked five of the best VPNs for Germany that have all the essential features and deliver optimum performance:

1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for streaming
2. NordVPN — Fastest VPN
3. Surfshark — Unlimited simultaneous connections
4. CyberGhost — Massive server network
5. Windscribe — Free VPN service for Germany

The most important feature you should look for in a German VPN service is security. A VPN that offers strong security protocols and encryption, a kill switch and DNS leak protection ensures that hackers or the German government never intercept your internet traffic.

You’ll also need a VPN that has a wide server network that includes German servers to ensure you always have access to your favorite content. For example, if you want to access Netflix U.S., you’ll need a VPN with U.S. servers. On the other hand, if you want to access a service like MagentaTV while ensuring your safety with a VPN, you’ll need a VPN with German servers.

If you plan to frequently use the VPN service for accessing streaming services, make sure the VPN connection is fast enough for buffer-free streaming. Those who prefer downloading content via torrent files should ensure that the VPN allows P2P sharing. Most importantly, the VPN should have a strict no-logs policy.

The 5 Best VPNs for Germany

We give you an overview of the five best VPNs for Germany based on the factors discussed in the previous section.

1. ExpressVPN

More details about ExpressVPN:

• Pricing: $6.66 per month
• Provider website: expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN is easily the best VPN service around. It uses AES 256-bit encryption combined with OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP and Lightway — ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol that ExpressVPN claims offers a faster and more secure VPN connection.

The VPN app has all the essential security features such as a kill switch and DNS leak protection. It also offers split tunneling, which means if you want to use online banking services in between watching your favorite German TV show, you’ll have the option to use the VPN connection just for banking.

Cord-cutters in particular will appreciate ExpressVPN’s streaming performance. ExpressVPN is easily the best VPN for Netflix in Germany. You get blazing-fast speeds and access to all major streaming services you can think of — like BBC iPlayer, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. When you need to access German services like maxdome, you can connect to one of ExpressVPN’s servers in Frankfurt or Nuremberg.

The streaming performance is very similar to a local session, so you’ll hardly notice the performance lag that’s associated with using a VPN tunnel. ExpressVPN is also the best VPN for torrenting in Germany. With ExpressVPN, you’ll never need to worry about performance or security when downloading via a torrent.

MediaStreamer

MediaStreamer is a streaming feature that lets you spoof your location. Since your connection isn’t encrypted when using MediaStreamer, you won’t experience any performance drawdown that comes with encryption. Collectively, MediaStreamer and ExpressVPN’s ability to unblock all major streaming services make it the best VPN for streaming.

ExpressVPN is a premium VPN and its pricing reflects that. If you want the best VPN service available in the market that’s fast and gets into almost any streaming service you can think of, ExpressVPN’s one-year plan is an excellent choice. 

It costs $6.67 per month, but if you want to try it out before committing for the long term, it also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can learn more about ExpressVPN in our comprehensive ExpressVPN review.

ExpressVPN Plans

• Unlimited GB
• 5
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan

$12.95/month

6-months plan

$9.99/month

$59.94 billed every 6 month

Save 22%

15-months plan

$6.66/month

$99.95 billed first 15 months and 12 months thereafter

Save 48%

ReviewVisit ExpressVPN 30-days money-back guarantee

2. NordVPN

More details about NordVPN:

• Pricing: $3.49 per month
• Provider website: nordvpn.com

NordVPN is one of the very few VPNs that can match — and even beat — ExpressVPN’s performance on multiple fronts. For example, it’s the fastest VPN as per our speed tests, and like ExpressVPN, gets into all major streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu and HBO Max. 

It also has a massive server network, so you’ll have access to all your favorite content that’s geoblocked in Germany. Of NordVPN’s 5,000 servers across 59 countries, more than 240 are in Germany. If you’re traveling outside Germany, you can continue accessing geoblocked German content.

NordVPN also offers excellent security with multiple security protocol options. You can use AES 256-bit encryption with protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and NordLynx — NordVPN’s proprietary protocol inspired by WireGuard. Learn more about what NordVPN offers in our NordVPN review.

Servers for Extra Security

NordVPN enables users to add another layer of security to their VPN connection by connecting with one of its four types of specialty servers. The service’s server network features double VPN, P2P, Onion over VPN and obfuscated servers. 

While you have multiple options here, double VPN is the most commonly used. It helps you route your internet traffic through two VPN servers, adding to your connection’s security.

NordVPN is priced attractively considering its feature set. For context, NordVPN’s features and performance nearly match those of ExpressVPN, but NordVPN costs about 50% less. The two-year plan — its best value — costs $3.99 per month. Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

30-days money-back guarantee

Standard

• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan

$11.99/month

1-year plan

$4.99/month

$59.88 billed every year

Save 58%

2-year plan

$3.49/month

$83.76 billed every 2 years

Save 70%

Plus

• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan

$12.99/month

1-year plan

$5.99/month

$71.88 billed every year

Save 53%

2-year plan

$5.19/month

$124.56 billed every 2 years

Save 60%

Complete

• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan

$14.49/month

1-year plan

$7.49/month

$89.88 billed every year

Save 48%

2-year plan

$6.69/month

$160.56 billed every 2 years

Save 53%

ReviewVisit NordVPN 30-days money-back guarantee

3. Surfshark

More details about Surfshark:

• Pricing: $2.49 per month
• Provider website: surfshark.com

Surfshark is a pocket-friendly VPN. While the service hasn’t been around as long as other services on the list, it still packs in a ton of value. For example, it has an impressive server spread with over 3,200 servers across 95 countries, including Germany.

The service doesn’t leave any loose ends on the security front, either. It uses the current best standard combination — AES-256 encryption along with protocols like OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), IKEv2 and WireGuard. 

That’s not all, though. Surfshark is loaded with a ton of extra features. For example, Surfshark comes with CleanWeb, an ad blocker that blocks ads on browsers as well as apps. You also get access to NoBorders mode, a feature that enables users to bypass firewalls in censorship-heavy countries like China.

Using Surfshark, you also have the option to change your IP address automatically every few minutes. Rotating IP can help ensure you’re always anonymous. Plus, Surfshark also offers double VPN, with which you can select from 12 preset pairs of server locations. 

If you need even more features, Surfshark offers paid add-ons like Surfshark One, a security package. We discuss more Surfshark features in our thorough Surfshark review.

Unlimited Simultaneous Connections

Surfshark is one of the few VPNs that allows unlimited simultaneous connections. With most VPNs, you can bypass the device limit by installing the VPN on a router. However, you can’t access the router when you’re out of its range. 

Unlimited simultaneous connections allow you to connect without a cap regardless of where you are. Given Surfshark’s already low pricing, it’s a great VPN to consider if you need to share the account with friends or family.

Considering the unlimited simultaneous connections and the range of extra features, Surfshark is an excellent VPN for Germany. In its best value, the two-year plan costs $2.49 per month. Like many other VPNs, Surfshark also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark Plans

• Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan

$12.95/month

1-year plan

$3.99/month

$47.88 billed every year

Save 69%

2-year plan

$2.49/month

$59.76 billed every 2 years

Save 80%

ReviewVisit Surfshark 30-days money-back guarantee

4. CyberGhost

More details about CyberGhost:

• Pricing: $2.37 per month
• Provider website: cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost has one of the largest server networks of any VPN. It has 7,000 servers, with over 1,600 servers in Germany, and can get past geoblocks on most platforms, including Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

It also offers the standard AES 256-bit encryption along with three protocols including OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard. CyberGhost is excellent in terms of security, so you’re unlikely to experience any WebRTC, DNS or IP leaks.

CyberGhost’s standout feature (called “smart rules”) allows you to set trigger-based rules to initiate an action on your computer. For example, if you want to connect to a certain German server as soon as you launch the VPN app, you can set a smart rule to automate that. Read more on CyberGhost’s feature set in our CyberGhost review.

User Interface

CyberGhost’s desktop app has one of the best user interfaces of any VPN out there. Sure, the interface has a one-click connect button and an easily accessible list of servers, but it offers a lot more. For example, you can see the distance between the server location and your physical location. 

Since CyberGhost is somewhat slower than other major services, selecting a server strategically can help optimize performance. The interface also lets you sort servers based on server load, so it’s easier to pick a server.

CyberGhost is one of the lowest-priced services. Getting the three-year plan at $2.29 per month provides the best value. Plus, you also get a longer-than-average 45-day money-back guarantee on annual plans. If you’re not fully satisfied with the service, you can claim a full refund.

Cyberghost Plans

• Unlimited GB
• 7
• Yes

45-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan

$12.99/month

6-months plan

$6.99/month

$41.94 billed every 6 month

Save 46%

2-year plan

$2.37/month

$56.94 billed every 2 years

Save 81%

ReviewVisit Cyberghost 45-days money-back guarantee

5. Windscribe

More details about Windscribe:

• Pricing: Free; $3 per month with the build-a-plan option
• Provider website: windscribe.com

Windscribe is the best free VPN for Germany. We typically don’t recommend using free VPNs because they can be unreliable, insecure and slow. 

Windscribe is an exception, however, and competes with some of the best VPN services around. More importantly, Windscribe has a strict no-logs policy, which is a rarity among free VPNs.

The free version offers German servers, so you can access German content while ensuring complete online security. Alternatively, you can connect to servers in other countries for top-notch security or bypassing geoblocks.

The app is loaded with various features that include essentials like a kill switch (or “firewall,” as the Windscribe app calls it) and split tunneling (only available on Windows, macOS and Android).

Windscribe also has an interesting “share” feature that allows you to turn your computer into a hotspot. With this feature, you can share your encrypted VPN connection with others around you without them having to install the VPN app on their device.

Installing Windscribe on your computer also gives you access to R.O.B.E.R.T., a powerful ad and malware blocker. Although R.O.B.E.R.T. is essentially a browser extension, it offers functions you generally don’t find in a browser extension.

Learn more about R.O.B.E.R.T. and Windscribe in our in-depth Windscribe review.

Unblocks All Streaming Platforms

Even with the free version, you’ll be able to unblock most popular streaming services. For example, connecting to Windscribe’s U.S. servers will help you access U.S. Netflix — or the U.S. library on several other streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video or Hulu.

In some cases, you might need a server not available on the free plan. Say you want to watch Danish content while keeping your connection protected with a VPN. You’ll need to connect to a Danish server, which is available only on Windscribe’s paid plans. You can always just get one Danish server location and pay for unlimited data and R.O.B.E.R.T. using the build-a-plan option.

Upgrading to one of Windscribe’s paid plans allows you to remove the restrictions that come with the free version — such as the limited number of servers, access to R.O.B.E.R.T., and the data cap.

The build-a-plan option has a minimum $3 per month checkout value. Each server location costs $1 per month and you can add unlimited data and access to R.O.B.E.R.T. for another $1 per month. There’s not a lot of risk here given the flexibility in pricing, so Windscribe only offers a three-day money-back guarantee.

3-days money-back guarantee

Free

• Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
• 15GB
• Unlimited

FREE

Pro Plan

• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

1-month plan

$9/month

1-year plan

$5.75/month

$69 billed every year

Save 36%

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Can You Use a Free VPN for Germany?

Yes, you can use a free VPN for Germany. The best free VPN for Germany is Windscribe. However, you might also consider using other free VPNs like TunnelBear and ProtonVPN.

Is a VPN Legal in Germany?

Yes, VPNs are completely legal in Germany. Currently, there are no laws in Germany that make the use of VPNs illegal and there are no consequences for using VPNs.

Final Thoughts

VPNs are an excellent way to protect your privacy and ensure your data’s safety. Your VPN should ideally unblock major streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer and Netflix for when you want to stream content from other countries like the U.S. One of the best VPNs for Germany, like ExpressVPN or NordVPN, can help you accomplish all of these with ease.

Have you used a VPN in Germany to keep your online activity anonymous? Which service do you feel is the best VPN for Germany? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.