Internet freedoms have declined rapidly in Russia in recent years, with censorship and privacy intrusion widespread. That’s why a record number of people have turned to VPNs as a means of browsing the sites they want online.
The question is, which are the best VPNs in Russia? And what do you need to know before accessing them? Our experts have been taking a look, compiling a list of recommended Russian VPN platforms that continue to run like clockwork.
Given the current political climate in Russia, many internet users are turning to VPN providers as a means of accessing the web without fear of privacy infringement and censorship. It’s encouraging, therefore, to see that there is no shortage of services offering VPN coverage in Russia – with some of the world’s biggest and best-known platforms providing dedicated VPNs via virtual servers that cover much of the Russian state.
So, how do Russia’s best VPNs stack up against one another? We’ve included a price and server comparison table below to give you an idea of what’s on offer and how much you’re likely to pay.
| VPN provider | Number of Thai servers | Monthly cost (annual plan) |
|---|---|---|
| CyberGhost | 25 | $4.99 |
| Surfshark | 20 | $3.99 |
| NordVPN | 10 | $4.99 |
| Proton VPN | 1 | $5 |
| ExpressVPN | 1 | $8 |
CyberGhost claims the #1 spot in our list of the best VPN providers in Russia for being one of the only operators to have a server within the Russian border. The presence of a CyberGhost server in Moscow means unrivalled connection speeds for web users inside Russia, as well as reliable load times for those wishing to access Russian websites and streaming platforms from overseas.
This is no one-trick pony, either. CyberGhost has earned a reputation for its robust security features, which include impenetrable 256-bit AES encryption and a built-in web kill switch that is triggered the moment the system detects a breach.
Unlike CyberGhost, Surfshark has no dedicated servers in Russia. This might sound like a red flag at first, but take one look at the platform’s virtual server infrastructure and you’ll quickly discover that this is no handicap.
On the contrary, Surfshark offers lightning-quick connectivity for Russian VPN users, with virtual servers present in neighbouring states like Finland, Latvia, and Estonia. This, coupled with Surfshark’s outstanding security features and in-built ad-blocker tool, make it an outstanding choice for reliable VPN connectivity in Russia. Plus, the platform even gives you the option to pay using crypto, which may pique the interest of users keen to maintain anonymity as much as possible.
Like Surfshark, NordVPN lacks a server facility in Russia. Don’t for one second let that be a deterrent, however, as this remains one of the best VPNs for Russians concerned about their online privacy.
Thanks to a neat feature called split tunnelling, NordVPN offers a “double” VPN for Russian users; this effectively makes it much more difficult for your IP address to be traced and your data compromised. Plus, NordVPN has virtual servers in most states neighbouring Russia, including Ukraine, so outstanding coverage and network speeds are all but guaranteed – particularly in major cities like Moscow, St Petersburg, and others.
Proton VPN uses a combination of virtual servers to offer its security-first VPN services in Russia. This, alongside CyberGhost, is one of only a small handful of VPN operators to have server sites within the Russian state, so reliable connectivity is guaranteed for overseas users hoping to access Russian websites.
Although Proton VPN doesn’t have the largest VPN network, the security features it provides as standard make it one of the best VPNs in Russia. Regardless of the plan you choose, all users will benefit from full disk encryption, split tunnelling, and two-factor authentication, while the platform’s in-built NetShield ad blocking facility is perfect for removing annoying distractions from your browsing experience.
Quite rightly, ExpressVPN has earned a solid reputation as one of the best VPN services money can buy, and this is certainly true with regard to Russia. Sure, ExpressVPN doesn’t have any server sites inside Russia’s borders, but its global virtual server infrastructure is such that quick speeds and reliable connections are guaranteed from Moscow to St Petersburg and beyond.
One feature that truly sets ExpressVPN apart from other Russian VPNs is automatic obfuscation. This effectively disguises the fact that a VPN is being used, labelling your connection as regular internet traffic. Why is this a selling point? Well, though VPN use isn’t illegal in Russia, it can be treated with suspicion; ExpressVPN’s solution mitigates the risk of falling foul of authorities that may be interested in why you’re using a VPN.
The use of VPNs in Russia has skyrocketed in recent months, with internet users keen to keep one step ahead of the country’s declining privacy laws and stringent censorship. Indeed, such facilities have become something of a lifeline, helping people to access international news and social media sites that would otherwise be off limits.
The good news is that it’s not illegal to use VPNs in Russia or to access Russian media sites from within the country. So, using platforms like ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and others remains a smart way to maintain peak personal privacy online.
If you’re in search of the best VPN for your country, our experts at The Game Haus have been busy researching providers in dozens of jurisdictions around the globe. Check out our latest guides for our full list of recommendations.
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