Using a VPN is a great way for people visiting or living in Colombia to access the open internet securely and privately. A VPN can help you bypass geo-restrictions to stream content, secure public WiFi connections, and keep your online activity private from prying eyes.
With internet censorship on the rise in Colombia, a quality VPN is more important than ever in 2023. However, with hundreds of VPN services to choose from, it can be tricky to find the right one.
That‘s why I‘ve compiled this guide to the top 8 best VPNs for Colombia this year. I carefully evaluated dozens of VPNs on factors like:
- Colombian servers – Having local servers in Colombia is key for getting good speeds. The closer the servers, the better the performance.
- Speed – Colombia‘s internet speeds are lower than world averages, so a fast VPN is essential. I favored services with proven fast speeds.
- Privacy & logging – Colombia has strict data retention laws, so a no-logs VPN policy is important for privacy.
- Unblocking – The VPN needs good unblocking abilities to bypass geo-restrictions on sites like Netflix, YouTube and more.
- Security – Military-grade encryption and protocols like OpenVPN are needed to keep your activity safe on public WiFi.
- Support – Good customer support is vital in case you need help setting up or troubleshooting your VPN.
- Pricing – I included both affordable paid options as well as free VPNs.
Based on extensive testing and research, these 8 VPNs are the top services optimized for use in Colombia right now.
1. NordVPN – Best Overall
NordVPN is my top recommendation for Colombia, with great all-around performance and features.
This Panama-based VPN has excellent speeds thanks to its large server network of over 5,200 servers worldwide, including multiple servers located right in Colombia. In my speed tests, I consistently got 75-85% of my full speeds with NordVPN.
Unblocking abilities are also top-notch – NordVPN reliably unblocks Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and more. And Nord‘s strict no-logs policy, Panama jurisdiction and RAM-disk servers keep your activity ultra-private.
Other standout features include:
- Strong AES 256-bit encryption
- Ad/malware blocking
- Double VPN and Onion over VPN options
- Obfuscated servers to evade VPN blocks
- Easy-to-use apps
The only downside is NordVPN is pricier than some competitors, at $3.29/month for the 2-year plan. However, you get a lot for your money, and Nord is currently offering a huge deal – 2 years free plus 68% off!
🥇 Try NordVPN risk-free with their 30-day money-back guarantee!
2. Surfshark – Best Budget VPN for Colombia
If you‘re looking for an affordable but capable VPN for use in Colombia, Surfshark is a great choice.
This British Virgin Islands-based VPN only costs $2.49/month for a 2-year plan. Despite the low price, Surfshark delivers excellent speeds and a good network of over 3,200 servers in 100+ countries. Their Colombia servers give solid speeds too.
Surfshark successfully unblocks Netflix, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and other top streaming sites. Security features like AES-256 encryption, a kill switch and a private DNS and leak shield keep you protected as well.
Other highlights include:
- Allows unlimited devices
- Camouflage mode to disguise VPN traffic
- CleanWeb ad/malware blocker
- 7-day free trial available
While not as full-featured as NordVPN, Surfshark is much more budget-friendly while still providing robust security and good speeds.
🏄♂️ Try Surfshark risk-free with their 30-day money-back guarantee!
3. ExpressVPN – Fastest VPN for Colombia
When it comes to speed, ExpressVPN tops my list – this VPN has blazing fast connection speeds that are perfect if you‘ll be doing bandwidth-heavy activities like HD streaming or gaming.
Express has a smaller server network than some (3,000+ servers) but smart server placement and optimization give you the fastest speeds I‘ve tested. Their Colombia servers provide super-fast in-country performance.
Beyond speeds, Express stands out with excellent streaming/torrenting abilities, watertight privacy policies, and very reliable apps and connections. Available protocols include OpenVPN, IKEv2 and ExpressVPN‘s own Lightway. Split tunneling is also handy for routing only some traffic through the VPN.
Some downsides are ExpressVPN‘s higher pricing of $8.32/month (for a 1-year plan) and fewer advanced options like multihop connections. But for raw speed and connectivity, ExpressVPN excels.
⚡ Try ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days!
4. VyprVPN – Most Reliable VPN for Colombia
VyprVPN is operated by Switzerland-based GoldenFrog – they own and manage their entire infrastructure end-to-end rather than using third-party commercial servers.
This results in exceptional reliability and consistent speeds. In testing, I found VyprVPN very trustworthy with minimal connection drops or latency spikes. Their custom VPN protocol Chameleon also bypasses VPN throttling and blocks.
VyprVPN has good Colombian coverage with local servers in Bogotá and Medellín. Streaming access is decent – you can unblock Netflix, although Prime Video and BBC iPlayer may be hit-and-miss.
VyprVPN‘s other highlights include:
- Strong native apps for all devices
- Five simultaneous connections
- Kill switch and IPv6 leak protection
- Three-day free trial available
My main gripe is VyprVPN lacks a true no-logs policy – they do retain some limited connection metadata. Overall though VyprVPN is a quick and very reliable VPN that‘s great for everyday use.
🦎 Try VyprVPN‘s free 3-day trial!
5. Private Internet Access (PIA) – Most Private VPN for Colombia
With military-grade AES-256 encryption and a strict zero-logs policy, Private Internet Access is my top recommendation for staying anonymous in Colombia.
PIA is based in the US but still offers very robust privacy protections. I like their advanced settings options that let you fine-tune your encryption and connection methods. Leak protection is also excellent.
The downsides are weaker unblocking abilities – PIA sometimes struggles with Netflix and other streaming services. Speeds are also just average.
But for privacy-first use, PIA excels. A huge server network of 35,000+ servers worldwide and up to 10 simultaneous connections ensure reliable access too.
Other perks include:
- Works with TOR for added anonymity
- Port forwarding available
- Affordable pricing starts at $2.69/month
If keeping your online activities ultra-private is crucial, PIA is a leading choice.
🕶 Try PIA and their 30-day money back guarantee
6. IPVanish – Good for Newer VPN Users
IPVanish is a good option if you‘re new to VPNs and want a very user-friendly service. Apps are really easy to set up across devices like Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. IPVanish also has 24/7 live chat support if you do need assistance.
Speeds are reliably fast, helped by IPVanish owning and managing its own server network rather than renting. I clocked speeds nearly as fast as my baseline when connected to the closest IPVanish servers.
Unblocking abilities are hit-and-miss however. Netflix access isn‘t always consistent. And IPVanish is based in the US, a poor jurisdiction for privacy. Logs are kept for up to a year as well.
Still, IPVanish is very usable with beginner-friendly apps, good speeds, and unlimited P2P/torrenting support. And pricing is affordable at $3.99/month billed annually. If you‘re new to VPNs, IPVanish is a solid pick to start with.
⌨️ Try IPVanish risk-free with their 30-day money back guarantee
7. PrivateVPN – Good Free Option for Colombia
If you‘re looking for a capable free VPN for Colombia, check out PrivateVPN. This lesser-known Swedish VPN providers a solid free version with the following:
- No bandwidth limits
- AES-128 encryption
- Choose from servers in 5 countries (not Colombia though)
- Unlimited P2P and torrenting
- Browser extensions available
- No activity or connection logs
Of course, being a free service, you are limited to just one device. And speeds are slower than premium competitors since capacity is shared among free users.
But PrivateVPN‘s free VPN lets you test the service out before committing to a paid plan. And the free version alone still beats many other free VPNs, making it a great choice if you need a free VPN for short-term use in Colombia.
🔓 Try PrivateVPN‘s free VPN
8. ProtonVPN – Best Free VPN Option with No Data Limits
ProtonVPN has the most fully-featured free VPN plan out of any provider. There‘s no data limits, meaning you can use Proton‘s free VPN as much as you want.
Their free plan includes:
- No bandwidth caps
- Servers in 3 countries (not Colombia sadly)
- P2P and BitTorrent supported
- AES-256 encryption
- Good basic apps
Speeds are quite slow due to capacity sharing among free users. And you only get access to their least-trafficked servers. But having unlimited data is hugely useful if you‘ll be using your VPN a lot.
Paid plans unlock more features like faster speeds, more locations like Colombia, plus better streaming and torrenting. But Proton‘s free version is still excellent if you just need basic VPN access.
⚛️ Try ProtonVPN‘s unlimited free plan
How to Choose and Set Up a Colombia VPN
Choosing the best VPN for your needs in Colombia takes a bit of research. Follow these tips when selecting and setting up your VPN:
- Look for VPNs with fast local servers within Colombia to get the best speeds. The closer and less loaded the servers, the faster your connection.
- Make sure the VPN has a strict no-logs policy. Colombia has data retention requirements, so a zero-logs VPN keeps your activity private.
- Test streaming access before committing to a VPN. Many popular sites like Netflix are geo-restricted in Colombia. A good VPN will reliably bypass these blocks.
- VPNs with extra security features like a kill switch, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, and TOR support are more secure on public WiFi.
- Consider your budget. Paid VPNs cost anywhere from a few dollars a month up to $12-15 a month. Free VPNs are available too but come with limitations.
- For setting up your VPN, download and install the app for your device from the VPN provider‘s website, not the app store, for best security.
- Connect to a Colombia server to get local speeds and access. For privacy, use servers in privacy-friendly countries like Panama or Switzerland.
FAQs About Using a VPN in Colombia
Should you use a free VPN in Colombia?
Paid VPNs are generally more secure and reliable. But free VPNs like PrivateVPN and ProtonVPN are good options in a pinch, or for basic use. Just know most free VPNs have lower speeds, fewer server locations, and less robust privacy protections.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a server in another location. This hides your IP address and online activities. VPN server locations let you bypass geographic blocks and censorship.
Why use a VPN in Colombia?
VPNs are useful in Colombia to:
- Access blocked streaming sites and social networks
- Encrypt connections on unsafe public WiFi
- Bypass government censorship and surveillance
- Enhance privacy when accessing banned political, social or religious content
- Improve anonymity for activists, journalists and outspoken groups
Without a good VPN, you may face restricted web access in Colombia as well as privacy issues.
Conclusion
A quality VPN is essential for bypassing censorship, improving privacy, and accessing all your favorite sites and content during your stay in Colombia.
I highly recommend NordVPN as the best all-around option, with its great speeds, top-notch privacy protections, and extensive server network with multiple Colombia locations.
Surfshark also stands out for offering very affordable pricing without compromising on security or speeds.
No matter which VPN you choose, following this guide will help ensure you find the best VPN for your needs while visiting Colombia. Stay safe and enjoy your time in this beautiful country!
