VPN is essential for you if you value privacy and security. Having a good VPN is even more vital for people who surf internet on public wifi often.

There are other uses of VPN also like accessing websites that are blocked in your region, streaming your favorite show, etc.

However, not every VPN provider offers high security, trust, and fast internet at a budget price. After analysing several VPN providers, we found 4 VPN providers that offer top notch VPN services.

In this guide, you’ll learn about the best VPN options, VPN limitations, and things to check before getting a VPN service in Germany.

Best VPN providers in Germany

Parameters	NordVPN*	ExpressVPN*	SurfShark*	ProtonVPN*
Ease of use	Very easy to use	Very easy to use	Very easy to use	Very easy to use
Internet speed	High internet speed	High internet speed	High internet speed	High internet speed
Available server locations	NordVPN offers servers in 50 countries. NOTE: NordVPN doesn’t offer a server in India.	ExpressVPN offers servers in 102 countries, including India#.	SurfShark offers servers in 100 countries, including India#.	ProtonVPN offers servers in 71 countries, including India#.
Cost	Offers high discounts on 2-year plans. NordVPN also provides discounts to retain its customers. Currently, the “Standard” NordVPN* plan costs 3.99 € per month as of Feb 2024.	ExpressVPN doesn’t offer many long-term discounts. The cheapest offer from ExpressVPN* as of Feb 2024 costs 6.67 € per month.	Offers high discounts on 2-year plans. The cheapest VPN plan from Surfshark* costs 2.39 € per month as of Feb 2024.	The cheapest VPN plan from ProtonVPN costs 4.99 € per month as of Feb 2024.
External audits	NordVPN employed Deloitte to audit their IT systems. In the audit, Deloitte verified that NordVPN is not saving any user data, IP addresses, or browsing history. You can read the report here.	Cure53 audited ExpressVPN’s IT systems. The report was positive. ExpressVPN does not save user data, IP addresses, or browsing history. You can find all the audit reports here.	Deloitte audited the Surfshark’s IT systems. The audit report was positive. You can find the report here.	Securitum audited the ProtonVPN IT systems. The audit report was positive. You can find the report here.
Number of devices	You can install NordVPN directly on your router. Thus, all the devices connected to the internet via router have an active VPN.	You can install ExpressVPN directly on your router.	You can install Surfshark directly on your router.	You can install ProtonVPN directly on your router.

#Indian law requires VPN providers to log and store user activity. Hence, you can get an Indian IP address. However, your data will be stored by the VPN provider.  

What is a VPN (Virtual Private Network)?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a technology that allows you to create a secure and encrypted connection while surfing the internet.

Here’s how a VPN works:

• Encryption: VPN encrypts the data you send and receives on the internet. Hence, it makes it difficult for hackers to access your data.
• Anonymity: A VPN masks your IP address. An IP address is your digital location. Websites use your IP address to determine your location. VPN hides your IP address and replaces it with a VPN server location. So, the websites cannot see your actual location anymore.
• Security: VPN is recommended to people who often surf the internet on a public wifi network. By encrypting your connection, a VPN adds a layer of security. 
• Remote Access: Companies also use VPNs to provide employees with secure access to the company’s internal network.
• Bypassing Restrictions: Many people use VPNs to bypass geographical restrictions on online content. For example, streaming Netflix US content in Germany. You can connect to a VPN server in the USA and access the USA websites that were restricted in your current location.

NOTE: By accessing content restricted to your location, you might be violating the terms and conditions of the website. Hence, check the website’s terms carefully. It may lead to your account being blocked.

VPN limitations

Some VPN service providers exaggerate the security and privacy offered by a VPN connection. But you must know the limitations a VPN has.

• As soon as you log in to a website like Facebook, Twitter, etc., the companies have ways to collect data even if you use a VPN connection.
• Your internet provider and the websites cannot see your actual location. But the VPN providers get all your information. It’s because your internet traffic is going through them. Thus, you must pick a trustworthy VPN provider that doesn’t log any data.
• Routing traffic via a VPN server slows down the internet speed. However, you can find several VPN providers that offer fast and secure VPN services. 

Germany’s data retention laws: Internet providers must save user data

As per the current Telecommunication Act, internet providers must

• store user’s location data for four weeks
• traffic data generated by the user for ten weeks

NOTE: Internet providers must only store the metadata and not the content of the communication.

The retained data includes

• details and records of the user’s call history,
• text messages,
• emails,
• uploads and downloads,
• web visit,
• and other communication data.

The retained data does not include the call or web visit content.

You should use a VPN if you don’t want internet providers to know and store your digital location.

Do you need a VPN in Germany?

VPN improves your data security and privacy. We highly recommend people use a VPN if they often surf the internet on public wifi.

Moreover, getting a VPN is the way to go if you don’t want government authorities snooping on your internet activities.

The VPN awareness and usage in Germany are also increasing year over year. Here are some statistics.

• No one has the exact number of active VPN users in Germany. But as per the survey from NordVPN and Forbe, approximately 25% of Germans used a VPN in 2023. In 2022, only 14% of the German population used a VPN connection. 
• Of the 25% who use VPN, only 46% use paid VPN services. 
• Approximately 37% of people use free VPN. Using a free VPN service poses risks. Taking a VPN from a trustworthy VPN provider is of utmost importance. It’s because all your internet traffic goes through the VPN provider’s servers. And many VPN providers save your data and sell it to third parties.

We picked the best VPN for Germany that offers high-speed internet without compromising privacy. 

Should you consider using free VPNs in Germany?

No, you should avoid using a free VPN. Most VPN service providers offering free VPN services sell user data to earn money.

ProtonVPN offers limited usage for free without compromising user privacy. Other VPN providers like NordVPN* offer a 30-day free trial that you can enjoy.

What should you pay attention to when picking a VPN in Germany?

• External audits: You should always choose VPN providers that conduct regular external audits. Otherwise, you cannot tell if your data privacy is protected. 
• Server selection: Whether the VPN provider offers a server in your desired country.
• Streaming services: If streaming your favorite show is the main reason for getting a VPN, ensure the VPN provider supports your favorite streaming service.  

VPN providers recommended in this post (NordVPN*, SurfShark*, etc.) meet the above criteria.

FAQs

Is VPN Legal in Germany?

Yes, using a VPN is legal in Germany. However, streaming copyrighted content through a VPN is illegal. 

Netflix and other streaming platforms continuously block VPNs to avoid copyright infringement. In the worst-case scenario, the streaming platform may block your account or IP address.

Is torrenting using a VPN illegal in Germany?

Torrenting is illegal in Germany. Using a VPN for torrenting doesn’t make it legal,

Yes, a VPN hides your IP address and encrypts your internet connection. Thus making it difficult for the authorities to track your online activities.

But you should not download or share copyrighted content like movies, pictures, games, etc., without permission from the copyright holder.

Does Germany engage in internet surveillance?

Yes, Germany has laws in place to monitor your online activities. The internet providers must save your location data for four weeks and internet traffic data for ten.

If a user is a suspect, law enforcement can demand the following from the internet providers.

• Save the data longer than the time mentioned in the Telecommunication Act (i.e., 4 and 10 weeks).
• Demand information more than the metadata. For example, browsing activities, downloads, uploads, etc.

But the law authorities need a court order to request such measures.

How do you access other country’s Netflix in Germany?

You can access restricted content on streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, etc, by using a VPN. 

NOTE: Accessing restricted content in your country may be in violation to the terms and conditions of the website. So, you should always check the streaming service’s terms before accessing restricted content.

Streaming services are constantly blocking the IP addresses of the VPN providers from accessing restricted content. However, the VPN providers quickly find a way around it.

So, it’s a cat-and-mouse race between streaming services and VPN service providers.

You can sign up for the free trial of our VPN recommendations to check if it fits your needs.

Do VPN providers sell your personal data?

Some free VPN providers sell your personal data for money. Thus, it’s crucial that your VPN provider conducts yearly external audits to ensure trustworthiness.