Best VPNs for Russia 2022: Take Back Your Online Privacy!

Russia has banned multiple VPN services from working in its territories, which has led to issues for most users. However, there are only a few VPNs working there. This guide will help you safely access all blocked sites in Russia with just a single click. We’ve recommended only the best VPNs for Russia but if we were to choose one, it’d be ExpressVPN. 

The Russian government has been hunting down VPNs in Russia, so it is definitely not easy to find the one that works. Even if you manage to get your hands on a VPN that is operable in Russia, it might not be able to bypass Russian internet firewalls with ease.

Keeping this in mind, this quick guide will help you with the best VPNs for Russia that have actually been tried and tested to prove their worth. Using these VPNs, you will be able to access international social media sites quite easily by being fully secure on the internet.

We tested and shortlisted 5 VPNs on our list, but ExpressVPN tops the list for the best VPN for Russia. It has ultra-fast speeds and top-notch privacy to keep your online activity hidden from the Russian government.

Short on time? Here are the best VPNs for Russia in 2022

The Best VPNs for Russia in 2022 – Detailed analysis

Russia has ordered many VPN providers to hand over full access to the Russian servers. It’s to control how their residents use the internet, keeping it under surveillance.

However, among many top VPNs, the VPNs for Russia mentioned on this list refused to comply and also offer great features to keep you safe while using the internet. They are:

1. ExpressVPN – The best VPN for Russia

ExpressVPN is a fast and diverse VPN and is overall the best VPN for Russia for a lot of reasons. It’s able to bypass the strongest geo-blocks and unblocks numerous websites. It’s one of the few VPNs that didn’t comply with the demands made by the Russian Federation, and also doesn’t have a Russian server.

In turn, it has servers from bordering Russian countries, such as Finland, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Poland which you can use to access local content and unlock many more blocked websites.

It also gives you 3000+ servers in 94 countries, so you can use them to break into geo-restricted websites. We tested it with US Netflix, DAZN, BBC iPlayer, HBO, Amazon Prime, and much more.

It operates on AES 256-bit encryption, major protocols (PPTP, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPSEC), Kill Switch, and is DNS and IP leak protected. There’s also a split tunneling feature, allowing you to separate the traffic you require from ones that you don’t.

You can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously, and also create a VPN connection on those devices that don’t support VPN apps, like Apple TV or Xbox by using the ExpressVPN MediaStreamer proxy via a router.

You can test the VPN for yourself to see if it’s the best Russian VPN for you, or even use its 30-day money-back guarantee to get a feel of the app. Just in case you’re not happy with the services, you can cancel your account and ask for a refund.

Get ExpressVPN for Russia Now

2. Surfshark – Affordable VPN for Russia

Surfshark has very often been deemed as the public’s favorite when it comes to Russian VPNs. Hailing from the British Virgin Islands, this VPN doesn’t lack anything in perfection. It may be the new guy in the neighborhood, but that’s what gives it the upper hand.

It has a rich list of  3200+ servers in 65 countries including servers in Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg). So, accessing local content would be a piece of cake.

It also includes many in the US that will get you straight access to US services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and much more.

Now coming to security, this seems to be of dire importance, if you’re ever using a VPN in Russia. You need to be able to choose a VPN with the highest security measures, which Surfshark offers.

Surfshark provides impenetrable AES 256-bit encryption and supports major protocols (IKEv2, OpenVPN, and Shadowsocks). It comes with a functional Kill Switch, DNS and IP leak protection, a Camouflage and NoBorders Mode, and the new GPS Spoofing feature allowing you to change your physical GPS location.

Surfshark allows unlimited device connections and offers apps for numerous operating systems. However, some devices don’t support native VPN apps, so for that, you can use its Smart DNS feature via a router.

In case you’re interested in putting this VPN to the test, Surfshark offers a free trial for smartphones and a 30-day refund policy for extensive testing.

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3. NordVPN – Strong VPN for Russia with great security & speeds

NordVPN is another one of the best VPNs for Russia. It’s secure and offers industry-leading privacy features to secure your connection or the internet in Russia.

Remember we spoke about the censorship laws that Russia enforces and only allows VPNs that comply with their terms of having full access to the Russian servers?

Well, NordVPN was among the many VPNs that received a letter from the Russian Federation, asking them to follow through with the demands or be blocked.

However, NordVPN cares about its user’s privacy and certainly sticks to its no data-retention policies, and declined the terms. All-in-all, NordVPN is a pretty safe choice for protecting its user’s privacy and anonymity online.

To access local content, connect to its servers in neighboring countries like Finland, Poland, and Ukraine. You can 5500+ in 59 countries to choose from. We tested it, and got access to Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO, and more.

Coming to its security measures, it protects your privacy and anonymity with bank-grade AES 256-bit encryption. Other advanced features include a Kill Switch, DNS/IPv6 and WebRTC leak protection, Onion Over VPN, and other features like Smart Play that allows you to access multiple restricted streaming services with double encryption. The NordVPN CyberSec feature is also pretty impressive for adblocking.

You can try accessing a few of the geo-restricted streaming services using the NordVPN Russia server or just simply test out its advanced features, using its free trial, or access it for a longer time using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Either way, you could ask for a refund, if you’re not happy. All in all, NordVPN is affordable, offers great security and unblocking features, which is why it’s a popular choice among users.

This provider also offers a business VPN called NordLayer to protect your large or small businesses!

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4. CyberGhost – The most affordable VPN for Russia

This Romanian-based VPN is not only known for having one of the biggest server lists (8000+ servers in 91 countries) in the VPN industry but also the fact that it is one of the few that actually work in countries like Russia that have strict censorship laws.

Among its server-rich platform, it has around 36 dedicated Russian servers, allowing you to access any local content in the blink of an eye.

And if Netflix and other restricted streaming services or channels are what you’re looking for, it also has around 1171 US servers in its catalog, which will give you all the access you need.

You just have to tweak around with its settings a little bit, switching servers to get the best results. Just to receive confirmation, I went the extra mile and contacted their 24/7 support chat, which said:

There should be no problems using this VPN. It has some pretty neat security features, enough to preserve your privacy/anonymity. You will be allowed to surf the web safely.

A few of the CyberGhost features include military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, major protocols (L2TP, IKEv2, and OpenVPN), DNS and IP leak protected, a Kill Switch, and reasonably good speeds.

You can put these advanced security features to the test using its free trial period or directly use the 45-day refund policy.

All-in-all, if you’re looking for a VPN to use in Russia that’s big on security and is great for streaming, then CyberGhost makes a great choice.

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5. IPVanish – Reliable VPN for Russia

IPVanish is a great VPN app and performed really well when I tested and reviewed the VPN app. It’s one of the best VPNs for Russia for a number of reasons which are:

Firstly, because IPVanish is a US-based VPN, it means you will have access to a great deal of US channels, websites, streaming services, and a lot more. When I tested the VPN, I got access to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, BBC News, BBC iPlayer, and much more.

Apart from this, the VPN comes with fairly decent coverage of 2000+ servers in 75+ locations, all of which deliver speeds fast enough for 4K or HD streams.

When we talk about security, IPVanish does great in that area too. It operates using OpenVPN and AES 256-bit encryption with AES 128-bit encryption on PPTP protocol.

Other advanced features include DNS Leak protection, Split-Tunneling, a Kill Switch, and more. There’s also a Scramble OpenVPN Traffic feature that allows you to use the VPN without getting detected. That’s great for the internet in Russia.

IPVanish doesn’t typically offer a free trial, but you can still test the VPN for free using its money-back guarantee.

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Roskomnadzor – Censorship laws to abide by

In case you assume that the name refers to some intimidating, made-up Russian name, you should know that intimidating is the correct word to use.

The Roskomnadzor is the Russian Federal executive body that takes care of or is responsible for all the censorship decisions made in media or telecommunication platforms.

The laws put out in ordinance with their policies, are religiously practiced and were signed by Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin on July 29th, 2017.

Among these censorship laws, includes the ban on all VPNs that failed to comply with the laws regulated by the Russian government. It stated that those VPN providers that object to give complete inside access to the Russian servers provided by the VPN would be completely blacklisted by the government in retaliation.

Along with this, the VPN providers will have to abide by the Russian laws of banning whatever sites they deem as prohibited/inappropriate. For more information on the matter, you could read all about it on BBC News.

However, there are still a few VPNs in the coming list, that have amazing services that still work with full functionality. It also makes them the perfect choice when traveling out of Russia. Let’s discuss a little about what makes them the perfect choice for Russia.

How to choose the best VPN for Russia

Keeping in mind the countless blocked websites and their users’ every activity and data being brought under surveillance in Russia, it’s no news that the people are bound to turn to the services of a VPN.

However, since we’ve established that most VPNs have previously and currently been blocked, there are still a few great VPNs (mentioned on this list) that still work quite efficiently in Russia.

No, these providers weren’t picked out of thin air because they’re part of the few that wasn’t blocked, but, rather because they possess security features so immaculate that it makes them the perfect choice for Best VPN for Russia.

These providers were picked on the following facts:

Bypass Censorship

These VPNs were all capable of breaking through any censorship laws or blocks that may have been put up. They each possess server lists that are rich in locations from all over the world, making it easy for you to connect to one of them; accessing both local and international content. All 5 VPNs allow you to access restricted content like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, etc.

Robust Security

Part of preserving your privacy and anonymity which the Russian government puts a halt to, we chose VPNs that observe strict privacy policies and a no-data retention law all while having staunch security features like AES 256-bit encryption, major protocols, a Kill Switch, DNS, and IP leak protection.

Servers near or in Russia

Having servers in or near Russia comes in handy as it enables you to access Russian content when you are on the go on holidays in another country. We have saved you the trouble of looking for such VPNs, as the ones we mentioned will work just fine.

Great Speeds

There’s absolutely no point in investing in a VPN that fails to provide efficient speeds. Luckily for you, all 5 of these top VPNs have been tried and tested ensuring you the best speed results; perfect for streaming and torrenting. A Russian VPN server with speeds lower than 30 Mbps is not worth looking into as it will make things quite slow, which is quite the opposite where the 5 Russian VPNs on the list are concerned.

Customer Support

A VPN that has a reliable customer chat support performs well with users. There can be any issues and queries with any user with the VPN and for that a customer chat support representative comes in handy. While we were testing for these VPNs, we contacted their chat support and all of them got back to us quite fast.

Compatibility

Many people have multiple devices, so it is essential that the Russian VPN that you go for is compatible to run on all of them. Luckily, the VPNs we mentioned here in the list are compatible to run on all major devices and platforms to help you stay safe.

Additional aspects

Besides the above, we chose them based on user-friendliness, compatibility with multiple platforms (iOS, Windows, Android, macOS, browser extensions like Chrome and Firefox, etc., its ability to allow multiple connections simultaneously, and reliable chat/email support.

The law in Russia

Russia, among a couple of other countries in the world, has decided to take control of the way its population uses the internet. This means having full control over censorship of what their public watches or accesses, blocking any and every western or local website that they don’t approve of.

It was said that in 2021, Russia will have full control of blocking off any unwanted websites. It will also keep strict surveillance over what its users are accessing on the internet, especially concerning foreign websites like Netflix or even LinkedIn.

For this reason, the people of Russia are going to need a reliable VPN that will give them full access to numerous websites and platforms without being watched or having their data under 24/7 scrutiny.

To wrap things up

Gaining access to unlimited blocked websites or platforms should never be a big hassle with the best VPN services in Russia. Using one of these providers in the best VPN for Russia list above (ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, CyberGhost, and IPVanish ) would be the best bet. It’ll give you all the access you need in Russia while keeping your privacy preserved.

Using the best VPN in Russia, you can now gain access to the best platforms in Russia. The best part is they also come with free trials or refund policies. So, even if you’re dissatisfied, you could contact the support team, asking for a full refund. If, however, you’re looking to access local content or apps while traveling abroad, a few of these top providers also offer Russian IP addresses to use outside Russia.

The VPNs on this list also offer great discounts. Keep track of them on our VPN deals and discount page. If, however, you’re traveling to Russia just for business, you could consider using the best business VPN! But, if you’re looking for just one, we recommend ExpressVPN.

FAQs – Best VPNs for Russia

What is the best free VPN for Russia?

Although we do not recommend using free VPNs for Russia, there is one that you can go for if it is that important for you. Windscribe is free and have been used by many users around the world.

Why do you need a VPN in Russia?

You will find multiple censorships imposed by the Russian government. Even more so when you try to access social media websites and other essential online tools in Russia. The best way to bypass these restrictions is by using a VPN. Also, It’s equally great for unblocking Netflix and other platforms that are geo-restricted within the country.

Which VPN still work in Russia?

Only a few VPNs work in russia. However, within our list, ExpressVPN was the best. It is loaded with ultra-fast speeds, top-level encryption protocols, and transparent privacy. Moreover, its unblocking abilities come in handy to unblock restricted websites in Russia.

Are VPNs legal in Russia?

No, VPNs are not legal in Russia. After the July of 2017 Vladimir Putin passed a law that blocks the use of VPNs and proxy servers in Russia. However, there are still officials and travellers who require VPNs to access banking apps or media accounts. Although we don’t support going against the laws in Russia, we do recommend securing yourself with a VPN while using the internet.

Is NordVPN Russian?

No! NordVPN is not Russian as it is developed by Nord Security. It is the company that creates software related to cybersecurity and was supported by Lithuanian startup initially.

To Summarize, the Best VPN for Russia is…

Rank	Provider	Our Score	User Rating
1	ExpressVPN	9.6/10	Read Review	Find Out More Get Started >>
2	Surfshark	9.4/10	Read Review	Find Out More Get Started >>
3	NordVPN	9.3/10	Read Review	Find Out More Get Started >>
4	Cyberghost	9.0/10	Read Review	Find Out More Get Started >>
5	iPvanish	8.8/10	Read Review	Find Out More Get Started >>