Best VPNs for Iran in 2022

If you’re an Iranian or currently staying in the country, you should definitely get a VPN for online privacy. Considering the current events, the government is actively tracking user activities and blocking access to various apps, websites, and services. A VPN, in this case, can help you get a free flow of information and prevent data tracking.

Taking into account how sensitive the situation is, we’ve compiled a list of the best VPNs for Iran to help people get Internet freedom. Our chosen providers offer strong security and privacy features and are capable of unblocking restricted access to online content and services. Below, you will find reliable VPN products that you can get in both – paid and free versions.

5 best VPNs for Iran – our shortlist:

1. NordVPN – overall best and the most secure VPN for Iran
2. Surfshark – best Iran VPN for unlimited devices
3. PureVPN – top VPN to improve privacy in Iran
4. Atlas VPN – great free Iran VPN for security
5. Proton VPN – good VPN to use for free in Iran

📢 LIMITED OFFER: Get NordVPN with 68% OFF + 3 months FREE

How to download NordVPN without the app store?

1. Go to NordVPN.com.
2. Click on a burger menu icon and find Download VPN down the list, click on it.
3. Don’t click on the Download App button, it will redirect you to the Google Play store.
4. In the text, you’ll find a blue link to the APK NordVPN version.
5. Click on the APK link, and download the file.
6. Go to your phone files and install the app.

For step-by-step instructions, check our in-depth guide on how to download, install and pay for NordVPN without the app store using BTC.

Why do I need a VPN in Iran?

Unfortunately, whether you’re an Iranian or just visiting the country, your activities on the Internet will be limited. If you want to get Internet freedom and online security, a VPN for Iran is essential. Here’s a full list of reasons why you need a VPN in Iran:

• Remove Internet censorship. Since early 2022, the Parliament has been discussing The Protection Bill which attempts to isolate the country from the Internet. According to UN Human Rights experts, it’s similar to the Great Firewall of China – a clear step towards creating a digital wall in Iran. A VPN, in this case, can help you bypass any restrictions and enjoy Internet freedom.
• Access global social media platforms. The Iranian government is known to be blocking access to social media and some western sites which they consider to be anti-Islamic and counter-revolutionary. Most recently, users were unable to use Instagram or WhatsApp. With the help of a VPN, you can circumvent the digital blocks and continue using global social media apps and websites in Iran.
• Protect your privacy. Beware that the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Iran can track what you’re doing online. That includes monitoring your frequently visited websites and even search queries that can give up private information. VPNs can block ISP tracking by encrypting your data and making it unreadable to anyone.
• Avoid deliberate Internet speed slowdowns. As of 2021, the Iranian government has full control over the Internet infrastructure in the country. Meaning that they administer most of the hardware and distribution equipment necessary to provide the citizens and visitors with Internet service. Unfortunately, they can also deliberately slow down your Internet connection. A VPN is also capable of stopping ISP Internet throttling so that you could enjoy speedy services in Iran.
• Unblock geo-restricted content. Just like restricting access to social networking sites, the government in Iran is blocking the usage of Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and other global streaming platforms. By connecting to a secure VPN server, you can change your virtual location and unblock popular streaming content to watch in Iran.

The best paid VPNs for Iran – our detailed list:

Below you’ll find a list of best paid VPNs for Iran. We examine them in detail by taking into consideration the security and privacy features, unblocking capabilities, pricing, and more.

1. NordVPN – the best and most secure premium VPN for Iran in 2022

Based in:	Panama
Servers/countries:	5500 servers in 59 countries
Obfuscation:	Yes
Free plan:	7-day free trial
Current deal:	Get NordVPN with 68% OFF + 3 months FREE

Visit NordVPN

All things considered, NordVPN is the best VPN for Iran. It offers strong security, values user privacy, and can help you bypass restrictions. In addition, its price is reasonable given the high quality of provided services.

Security and privacy: with NordVPN, you can get complete privacy when using the Internet in Iran. It encrypts your traffic using the unbreakable XChaCha20 encryption and doesn’t collect any user-related data that could personally identify you.

Servers and apps: this VPN has a massive server fleet and servers close by to Iran. You can connect to one in the UAE, Turkey, Israel, or Georgia for the best speed and performance. In addition, there are user-friendly apps for all major devices, like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Features: NordVPN provides all the necessary features to stay secure and private in Iran. There are obfuscated servers to help you hide the fact you’re using a VPN and a reliable kill switch. You even get some extras, like the Threat Protection feature to block potentially dangerous websites that could lead to malware infections or steal your private information.

Unblocking capabilities: since there’s obfuscation, this VPN can easily bypass restrictions and help you unblock social media apps, like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and others. During our tests, it also allowed us to access popular streaming platforms, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, and more.

Price: the subscription prices of NordVPN start from $2.99/month for 6 simultaneous connections and you can pay with Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee and can even try it beforehand with a free 7-day trial on Android.

Read more about this product in our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark – best paid Iran VPN for unlimited devices

Based in:	The Netherlands
Servers/countries:	3200 servers in 100 countries
Obfuscation:	Yes
Free plan:	7-day free trial
Current deal:	Get 84% OFF Surfshark + 2 months FREE

Visit Surfshark VPN

Surfshark is another best paid VPN for Iran, especially if you want to use it on multiple devices. It has strong security features, great unblocking capabilities, and gives unlimited simultaneous connections.

Security and privacy: this VPN is not only based in a privacy-friendly location but also operates under a strict no-logs policy. Meaning that it neither monitors nor collects information about your private online activities. On top of that, all data is encrypted with an advanced XChaCha20 cipher so that it wouldn’t be accessible to outsiders.

Servers and apps: among a huge number of servers in different locations, you can easily find some in the neighboring countries of Iran, like Azerbaijan, Armenia, UAE, Israel, Turkey, Cyprus, and Egypt. Also, we’ve tested Surfshark dedicated apps and they’re very easy to use and set up on any mobile or desktop device.

Features: you get the fundamental basics for strong security, including a kill switch to prevent accidental data leaks and obfuscation to remain undetected. Plus, there are some extras for additional protection, like an IP Rotator which regularly assigns you a new IP address without disrupting the secure connection.

Unblocking capabilities: Surfshark offers the Camouflage Mode which helps to make your VPN traffic look like regular Internet traffic. During our tests, it helped us to unblock social media apps, news websites, and streaming platforms without any issues. So you can count on it to provide you with a free flow of information in Iran.

Price: you can get a Surfshark subscription from as low as $2.05/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee included. The provider accepts crypto payments via CoinGate or CoinPayments. What’s even better is that you can also enjoy a free 7-day trial on Mac, iOS, and Android devices before committing to a long-term plan.

Read more about this product in our Surfshark review.

3. PureVPN – privacy-focused and secure VPN for Iran

Based in:	British Virgin Islands
Servers/countries:	6500 servers in 78 countries
Obfuscation:	Yes
Free plan:	No
Current deal:	Get PureVPN, now 87% OFF

Visit PureVPN

PureVPN is also among the best VPNs for Iran, especially since it’s the first VPN provider that’s always on audit. Its main focus is helping users remain anonymous and protect their sensitive information.

Security and privacy: for ensuring that your data couldn’t be tracked, this VPN encrypts it using the unbreakable XChaCha20 algorithm. In addition, its no-logs policy can also be independently audited at any time and without prior notice to verify compliance.

Servers and apps: you can use this VPN on any device since it’s compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android gadgets. The apps are intuitive and there are 6500 servers in 78 locations to choose from. However, the best PureVPN servers for Iran are the ones that are close by – Afghanistan, UAE, Turkey, and Georgia.

Features: in terms of usability, this provider offers a reliable kill switch and obfuscation. The former feature is useful for Iran since you can avoid data leaks if you accidentally disconnect from a VPN and the latter one – makes it look like you’re not using a VPN at all.

Unblocking capabilities: during our tests, PureVPN unblocked geo-restricted streaming content on Netflix, Hulu, and even DAZN. Especially since it has obfuscation, you can also use it to bypass specific blocks on social networking apps and websites.

Price: the prices of PureVPN plans start from $1.49/month for 10 devices and you can pay in cryptocurrencies. It even offers an extended money-back guarantee of 31 days that you can always use to get a full refund.

Read more about this product in our PureVPN review.

The best free VPNs for Iran – our detailed list:

Since many people might not have disposable income for additional services for online security, we’ve listed the best free VPNs for Iran.

1. Atlas VPN – the best free VPN for Iranians in 2022

Based in:	United States
Servers/countries:	750 servers in 750 countries
Free locations:	The US and the Netherlands
Free plan:	Yes
Current deal:	Get Atlas VPN, now 85% OFF + 6 months FREE!

Visit Atlas VPN

Atlas VPN is a functional freemium VPN with numerous advanced security features, good connection speeds, and an independently audited no-logs policy – all to keep you safe and anonymous online.

Security and privacy: Atlas VPN uses ChaCha20 encryption for securing your traffic and hiding your data from third parties and unauthorized access or tampering. Additional security features include a tracker blocker and a kill switch. Atlas VPN also has a strict no-logs policy which has been independently audited – whatever you do online will remain totally anonymous.

Servers and apps: all of the major operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS are supported by Atlas VPN – you can download dedicated apps. Atlas VPN also has 750 servers in 38 countries.

Features: the features of AtlasVPN include the previously mentioned kill switch and tracker blocker. Besides them, there is also an IP rotator feature for extra security, as well as a safe browsing feature that blocks malicious websites and ads. The data breach monitor will scour the internet for your compromised personal information and will alert you if any is found.

Unblocking capabilities: Atlas VPN is able to provide access to such news and social media sites as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and many others. You will be able to safely use these sites for communication and to keep up with the latest news.

Free vs paid: The free Atlas VPN version has limitations – you get a 5GB data limit per month, as well as only three server locations in the US and the Netherlands. The paid version prices start at $1.64/month, and there is also a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can upgrade by paying with cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Monero, and others.

Learn more about this product in our Atlas VPN review.

2. Proton VPN – feature-rich free VPN for Iran

Based in:	Switzerland
Servers/countries:	1800 servers in 66 countries
Free locations:	The US, Japan, and the Netherlands
Free plan:	Yes
Current deal:	Get up to 50% OFF Proton VPN + 6 months FREE!

Visit ProtonVPN

Focused on security and bringing the best experience to its users, Proton VPN is one of the best freemium VPNs. Advanced security features, excellent unblocking capabilities, and good compatibility with a variety of devices make it a near-perfect VPN for those with a tight budget.

Security and privacy: Proton VPN employs both ChaCha20 and AES-256 encryption for securing your traffic. Both ciphers are considered industry standards and differ very little from each other. Security features of Proton VPN include a kill switch and DNS leak protection – your real IP address and all online activities will remain anonymous at all times.

Servers and apps: you can use Proton VPN with all common devices – there are apps for Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS. With the paid Proton VPN version, you also get to choose between 1800 servers in 66 locations all across the world.

Features: Proton VPN has a lot of features dedicated to safer and more accessible browsing. For example, you can use the Tor over VPN feature for more secure access to the Tor browser. The alternate routing feature will automatically kick in once the app detects that your connection is subject to VPN blocks and will try to find alternative routes.

Unblocking capabilities: you’ll be able to access all blocked social media platforms and news channels with Proton VPN without any trouble.

Free vs paid: the free Proton VPN version offers only three server locations in the US, Japan, and the Netherlands. With the paid plans, you’ll get access to 1800 servers worldwide. Prices for the paid Proton VPN version start at $3.99/month and you can pay in cryptocurrencies. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Learn more about this product in our ProtonVPN review.

3. Windscribe – good free VPN for privacy in Iran

Based in:	Canada
Servers/countries:	480 servers in 63 countries
Free locations:	11 locations with Turkey being closest to Iran
Free plan:	Yes
Current deal:	Get 55% OFF with a 1-year plan!

Visit Windscribe VPN

Windscribe is a freemium VPN with a security and privacy first approach. With excellent security features, transparency reports, and a functional and convenient free version, it is one of the best VPN options for Iran.

Security and privacy: like many other VPNs, Windscribe uses ChaCha20 encryption, known by now as one of the most secure ciphers. Security features include a firewall (which is superior to kill switches), split tunneling, obfuscation, and ad and malicious site blocker. The no-logs policy hasn’t been audited, but Windscribe regularly publishes transparency reports – they do not log any user data.

Servers and apps: Windscribe has 480 servers in 63 countries, and is compatible with the most common operating systems, including macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, and Android.

Features: the features of Windscribe VPN include a double VPN which makes tracing your IP address more difficult. There is also a secure hotspot option on Windows – you can share the secured VPN connection from your computer with other people. A safe browsing feature called R.O.B.E.R.T. blocks ads, trackers, and malicious websites.

Unblocking capabilities: Windscribe is known to be fairly good at unblocking streaming services. In our testing, it managed to unblock social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and others as well.

Free vs paid: the free Windscribe version offers servers in 11 countries, including Turkey. There is also a 10GB per month data limit. The paid version prices start at $4.08/month and the provider accepts crypto payments; unfortunately, the money-back guarantee is only three days.

Learn more about this product in our Windscribe review.

How to download NordVPN without an app store and pay for it with crypto?

First, here are the detailed instructions on how to download the NordVPN app without the app store:

1. Head over to NordVPN.com

2. Click on the burger menu icon and find Download VPN. Click on it.

3. You’ll see a page with bullet point text. At the bottom there will be a “Download App” button – this will redirect you to the Google Play store.

4. In the text, you’ll find a blue link to the APK version of the NordVPN app. Click on that to download the APK file.

5. Head over to your download folder to find the APK file.

6. Open the NordVPN APK file and install the app.

7. Log in or sign up for your account.

Here are the instructions on how to buy your NordVPN subscription with Bitcoin:

1. On the same page where you downloaded your NordVPN APK file, there’s a Get NordVPN button, Click on it.

2. You will be redirected to the payment page. Select the last option to pay with crypto (CoinGate).

3. Select Bitcoin as your cryptocurrency.

4. Select how you’ll transfer the funds and provide the needed information.

How we selected and tested these VPNs

The whole purpose of using a VPN in Iran is to remove Internet restrictions and protect your privacy. Here’s a list of criteria that we’ve used for selecting the best VPNs for Iran to help you achieve exactly that:

• Privacy-focused features. In order to help you protect your online privacy, we’ve picked VPNs that have a strict no-logs policy as well as DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection. This way, you can be sure that you’ll remain anonymous when using a VPN in Iran.
• Robust security. All of our selected VPNs employ advanced encryption ciphers, such as AES-256 and/or XChaCha20. They are known to be unbreakable and provide top-class security.
• Unblocking capabilities. Since the Iranian government is actively trying to restrict access to global streaming platforms, social media apps, and popular western sites, our chosen VPNs can easily bypass all restrictions. They can help you watch all movies on Netflix, socialize via networking apps, and read worldwide news.
• Obfuscation. Internet censorship in Iran is becoming quite similar to the one in China. As a result, we’ve tested whether VPNs have obfuscation to allow you to hide the fact you’re using one in Iran.
• Fast speed. Internet speed in Iran is already exceptionally slow so a VPN should not deteriorate it even more. All of our selected providers employ the fastest tunneling protocol, WireGuard, so that you could enjoy speedy services.
• Compatibility. It’s important that you can get security and privacy wherever you are. For this reason, we’ve picked VPNs that have dedicated apps for both mobile and desktop devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android gadgets.
• Price. Our aim is to help everyone get a chance to protect their sensitive information and use the Internet freely in Iran. The list of recommended VPNs comes from top-class providers and some even offer their services free of charge.

Internet censorship in Iran

According to a report by the Freedom House, there’s not much freedom in Iran – it scored only 14 points out of 100 when calculating the global freedom status. That also includes Internet freedom, meaning that Iranians cannot access everything that’s available in the digital space.

For example, the government blocks some western websites which they consider to be anti-Islamic and counter-revolutionary. Also, people can’t access Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and other social media and networking sites/apps in Iran.

Following the recent events of the brutal death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s Morality Police, the US Department of the Treasury announced its plans to support the Internet freedom in Iran by bringing more sanctions on the government and encouraging the provision of communication software for Iranians. A VPN, in this case, is one of such tools that can help get a free flow of information as well.

Is it illegal to use a VPN in Iran?

Yes, currently, it’s totally legal to use a VPN in Iran. However, the government is actively trying to ban certain VPN service providers so that citizens couldn’t circumvent Internet restrictions.

Additionally, introduced in 2022, The Protection Bill suggests criminalizing the distribution and sale of VPNs. At this time it’s still not approved but if so happens – VPN users could face up to 2 years in prison.

How to safely use a VPN in Iran

Even though VPN usage in Iran is not technically illegal, it’s important that you’d do that safely. Here’s a simple guide explaining how to use a VPN in Iran:

1. Download a VPN for Iran from a trusted provider. Our top pick is NordVPN (7-day free trial available).
2. Install the VPN app and register an account.
3. Enable security features – obfuscation, the kill switch, and DNS leak protection.
4. Connect to a server in a location close to Iran.
5. Now your connection is secure and you can start browsing.

Download NordVPN

Can I use a free VPN for Iran?

Yes, you can definitely use a free VPN for Iran if it comes from a trustworthy provider. Otherwise, you risk installing a product that could track your sensitive information and even share it with third parties.

But it’s essential to mention that even the best free VPNs come with certain limitations. For example, they have data caps and a limited number of server locations. However, using a free VPN in Iran is better than not using one at all.

We recommend using premium VPNs that have free trials or money-back guarantees. This way, you get the high-level security and quality at the same time.

Conclusion

Since the Iranian government is forcefully trying to control the flow of information, a VPN becomes an essential tool to regain Internet freedom. All things considered, we recommend NordVPN as the best VPN for Iran. It can help you bypass restrictions on apps and websites to access all information.

Additionally, with strong security features – like advanced encryption, an independently audited no-logs policy, and a reliable kill switch – this VPN is especially useful for protecting your private data from tracking.

All in all, we support and encourage free access to information as well as believe in the right to privacy. An Iran VPN can help you achieve exactly that but it’s essential to follow the latest updates regarding the VPN laws to avoid legal repercussions.

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