Best Turkey VPN for 2023: 5 VPN Providers to Bypass Censorship
A VPN is essential to protect your online privacy and access restricted websites in Turkey. Read on to learn about five best Turkey VPN options that can help you browse the internet and bypass geoblocks.
Turkey is a popular holiday destination, thanks to its trove of ancient monuments, breathtaking landscapes and fascinating culture. However, the Turkish government has a longstanding history of censoring content and restricting access to social media. Whether you’re a Turkish resident or a visitor, you’ll need the best Turkey VPN to keep you safe while browsing the internet.
Key Takeaways:
- A VPN is a must-have in Turkey if you want to avoid internet censorship, surveillance and access geoblocked platforms.
- ExpressVPN is the best Turkey VPN, with a massive network of obfuscated servers, fast speeds and outstanding security features.
- NordVPN is a cheaper alternative with lightning-fast speeds. Surfshark is an affordable option that has several servers in Turkey.
Over the years, the Turkish government has blocked or throttled major websites and social media apps, including Wikipedia, WhatsApp, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. Plus, the government usually restricts the internet in the wake of explosions and political incidents, such as the internet shutdown following the Istanbul bomb blast on 13th November 2022.
The best VPNs excel at anonymizing and encrypting your internet traffic, ensuring that the Turkish government, internet service providers (ISPs) and malicious characters can’t see your online activity. This guide will walk you through the top five Turkey VPN services based on our extensive research and testing. Let’s dive in.
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01/02/2023 Facts checked
Rewrote the article and updated it with the latest information, including current server counts and server locations in Turkey.
ExpressVPN has servers in Turkey and comes with fast speeds, robust security features and obfuscation. NordVPN also has several servers in Turkey and is a cheaper alternative.
VPNs are legal in Turkey, but the government has a habit of restricting their use. Your best bet is to use a VPN with obfuscation to ensure the government can’t detect or block it.
ExpressVPN easily unblocks Netflix Turkey, thanks to its servers in the country. It also has fast speeds to ensure a smooth streaming experience.
Top VPNs for Turkey
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Average speedDownload Speed90 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency4 ms - 5
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What Makes the Best Turkey VPN?
When choosing a VPN for Turkey, security and privacy must be the foremost concern. The best Turkey VPNs have a collection of security features and are backed by a strict no-logs policy. We’ll dig into those features in a moment, but first, let’s take a quick look at the VPN services that made the cut.
- ExpressVPN — Overall best Turkey VPN with top-notch security and privacy features
- NordVPN — Fast VPN that’s ideal for streaming and gaming
- Surfshark — Cheap VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections
- Private Internet Access — Secure VPN with beginner-friendly features
- Proton VPN — Free VPN with excellent streaming ability
For Turkey, you need a VPN that encrypts your traffic in a way that no third party can decipher. As encryption goes, AES-256 encryption and ChaCha20 are the ideal choices. Also, the VPN should have obfuscated servers that hide the fact that you’re using a VPN, since Turkey has a habit of banning and restricting VPN services.
Furthermore, the VPN you choose must have air-tight IP address and data leak protection features. First off is a kill switch, which cuts off your internet when your VPN disconnects unexpectedly. In addition, the VPN should have WebRTC and DNS leak protection, which ensure that your data is kept away from snoopers.
Finally, a good Turkey VPN must adhere to a strict no-logs policy. This means that the VPN doesn’t track, collect or store data about what you do online. Many VPNs claim to offer a strict no-logs policy, only to renege on their promise when government agencies come calling. It’s best if the VPN’s no-logs claim is audited by a reputable third-party firm.
The 5 Best VPNs for Turkey
As we’ve mentioned, security and privacy are crucial when it comes to choosing a VPN for Turkey. All the VPN services on this list excel on both fronts, with vital features including AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, leak protection and a strict no-logs policy. Follow along as we shed light on each of our picks, and explain why they made it onto this list.
1. ExpressVPN
More details about ExpressVPN:
- Pricing: $6.66 per month (15-months plan)
- Provider website: expressvpn.com
Pros:
- Server network in Turkey
- Excellent security features
- Privacy-focused features
Cons:
- Comparatively expensive
We selected ExpressVPN as our top suggestion because it’s an all-around VPN that delivers unparalleled performance. The VPN has servers in 94 countries, and all of them come with obfuscation. Some of its servers are in Turkey, meaning you can easily get a Turkish IP address to access Turkish bank accounts, news sites and streaming services, like Netflix Turkey.
ExpressVPN is a secure VPN with features including malware and tracker blocking, perfect forward secrecy, and support for various protocols (OpenVPN, Lightway and IKEv2). Its security features make it the best VPN for Public WiFi. Additionally, ExpressVPN is fast and can unblock all the major streaming services, including Netflix.
Privacy-Focused Features
ExpressVPN is committed to ensuring that your information stays away from all third parties. Thanks to its TrustedServer technology, it stores data on RAM-only servers, meaning your data is wiped upon every reboot. It’s also worth noting that ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has been audited and verified by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Of all the VPNs on this list, ExpressVPN is the most expensive. The monthly plan costs $12.95 per month. The price drops to $9.99 per month on the six-month plan, though. The annual plan saves you the most per month, costing $6.66 per month, including three free months. You can try ExpressVPN with the 30-day money-back guarantee, or read more in our ExpressVPN review.
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
2. NordVPN
More details about NordVPN:
- Pricing: $3.49 per month (two-year plan)
- Provider website: nordvpn.com
Pros:
- Several servers in Turkey
- Blazing fast
- Excellent security features
Cons:
- Less intuitive UI
NordVPN always gives ExpressVPN a run for its money (see our ExpressVPN vs NordVPN matchup). However, NordVPN has a slightly less intuitive map UI than ExpressVPN. That said, if you’re looking for a secure VPN, you’ll struggle to find one that has the array of features NordVPN boasts.
This VPN has a number of advantages, such as a double VPN feature that routes your traffic through two servers instead of one. Out of its over 5,000 servers, 14 of them are in Turkey. Plus, it has obfuscated servers to conceal your VPN traffic. It also offers dedicated IP addresses, which are ideal for sensitive activities like banking.
Lightning Fast VPN for Gaming and Streaming
NordVPN is an exceptionally fast VPN with quick download and upload speeds coupled with low latency. This makes it an excellent choice if you intend to stream movies or play games while in Turkey. It also unblocks all of the major streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer.
Compared to ExpressVPN, NordVPN is more affordable. The monthly plan costs $11.99, but NordVPN cuts that price down to $4.99 when you sign up for a year. For the best VPN pricing deal, subscribe to the two-year plan, which costs $3.49 per month. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read more in our NordVPN Review.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
3. Surfshark
More details about Surfshark:
- Pricing: $2.49 per month (two-year plan)
- Provider website: surfshark.com
Pros:
- Large server network
- Excellent security features
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
Cons:
- Higher latency
Surfshark is another excellent choice for using the internet safely in Turkey. It has over 3,200 servers in 100 countries — more than any other VPN on this list. Eight of those servers are located in Turkey, meaning you shouldn’t have any problems getting a Turkish IP address to access local content.
It has a camouflage mode, which conceals the fact that you’re using a VPN. There’s also a NoBorders mode, which automatically connects you to servers that are optimized for bypassing firewalls. Surfshark’s multi-hop servers allow you to route your traffic through two servers, and you can get rid of ads, malware and trackers using the CleanWeb feature.
Enjoy Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
If you want to share your VPN with multiple family members while in Turkey, Surfshark is a good bet. Surfshark doesn’t limit the number of devices you can connect to at once.
Surfshark is one of the best cheap VPNs. Although the monthly plan is just as expensive as ExpressVPN, the long-term plans are very affordable. The annual plan costs $3.99 per month, while the two-year plan costs $2.49 per month. All of Surfshark’s plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read more in our full Surfshark review.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
4. Private Internet Access
More details about PIA:
- Pricing: $2.19 per month (three-year plan)
- Provider website: privateinternetaccess.com
Pros:
- Huge server network
- Good security features
- 10 simultaneous connections
Cons:
- Slower VPN
PIA is a long shot away from matching the feature sets and streaming performance that ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer, but it’s still a worthwhile VPN for Turkey. It has an extensive VPN server network in 83 countries, including a server location in Turkey. Its servers are slower than the top three VPNs in this list, but you’ll get decent enough speeds to stream and browse the internet without hiccups.
Security-wise, PIA has some valuable features. For example, it has an advanced kill switch, which cuts off your internet altogether unless your VPN connection is active. There’s also MACE, which blocks ads and gets rid of trackers and malware. PIA allows 10 simultaneous connections, making it a good choice if you’re using multiple devices.
Beginner-Friendly VPN
Everything about PIA, from setting it up to connecting to a server, is simple and straightforward. It’s one of the best beginner-friendly VPNs, following ExpressVPN. All of its features are well-organized and have clear explanations. PIA includes an automation feature to further assist usability. For instance, you can configure it to either connect or disconnect when it detects a WiFi network.
PIA comes with bargain-bin pricing. The monthly plan costs $11.95. However, PIA cuts down that price to $3.33 if you subscribe for a year. The biggest discount is on the three-year plan, which costs $2.19 per month and adds three months free. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Learn more in our full PIA review.
- 10
- Yes
5. Proton VPN
More details about Proton VPN:
- Pricing: Free, $4.99 per month (two-year plan)
- Provider website: protonvpn.com
Pros:
- Generous free plan
- Unlocks big streaming apps
- Good security features
Cons:
- No obfuscated servers
- Smaller server network
If you’re on a tight budget and you want a free VPN to access the internet in Turkey, you’d be hard-pressed to find one better than Proton VPN. It’s one of the few VPNs that doesn’t cap your data. This means you can stream, browse and make video calls on the free plan without worry. The downside is that speeds can be limited due to high traffic on the free servers.
Proton VPN is feature-rich. It has over 1,800 servers in 67 different countries; eight of those servers are in Istanbul — though the Turkish servers aren’t included in the free plan. There are also secure core servers, which run your connection through multiple servers, and P2P servers for torrenting. Our only knock is that it doesn’t have obfuscated servers and it has a smaller server network than other VPNs.
Access Your Favorite Streaming Services
If you’re looking for a VPN for streaming while in Turkey, ProtonVPN is a great choice. It unblocks all the major streaming services, including Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and HBO Max. Not even Netflix’s robust firewalls can prevent ProtonVPN giving users access.
Aside from Proton VPN’s free plan, the VPN service offers three paid plans. The monthly plan costs $9.99. For the one-year plan, you’ll have to pay $5.99 per month. The two-year plan costs $4.99 per month. You can try out this VPN with its free plan or 30-day money-back guarantee. Learn more about this VPN provider in our ProtonVPN review.
- Unlimited GB
- 1
- Yes
Can You Use a Free VPN for Turkey?
Free VPNs can work in Turkey, but be ready to experience several limitations, including data caps, missing security features and a small server network. Besides, free VPN providers often make money by logging your data and sharing with third parties.
If you must use a free VPN, we recommend ProtonVPN, though Windscribe is a good alternative. Windscribe’s free plan offers free servers in 11 countries, including a server location in Turkey. You also get unlimited simultaneous connections, although you’re restricted to a maximum of 15GB of data per month. Read more about the VPN in our Windscribe review.
Final Thoughts: Best VPNs for Turkey
Whether you’re a resident or tourist in Turkey, a VPN can help you stay safe online and unblock your favorite streaming platforms. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Turkey, with a large server network and solid security features. NordVPN is a cheaper alternative and has fast speeds perfect for streaming and gaming.
Surfshark’s obfuscation features make it a good choice if you’re looking to keep your traffic away from snoopers. PIA is a good choice for beginners, thanks to its well-organized and customizable apps. ProtonVPN offers a generous free plan and is great for accessing streaming services.
Have you ever visited Turkey? Which VPN did you use to stay safe while there? Of the VPNs on this list, which one sounds like the best choice for you? Share your thoughts and comments with us in the comment section below and, as always, thanks for reading.
