Disclosure
Affiliate Commissions

CyberWaters is supported by its readers, therefore we may receive affiliate commissions if you purchase goods or services via our links. We appreciate your support.

The Best Countries for VPN Server Locations in 2024

best countries for vpn

Choosing the best VPN server location might influence your browsing experience. There are a few things you should consider when you’re connecting to a VPN. Do you want to watch a popular show but Netflix doesn’t stream it in your country? Do you want fast download speeds when you’re torrenting? 

In our article, we talked about how to choose the best VPN location to connect to based on your needs. Here’s what you should know:

Best VPN Server Locations to Connect:

  • Best VPN location for privacy – Switzerland, Iceland, Romania, Panama.
  • Best VPN location for torrenting – Switzerland, Spain, Romania, Mexico. 
  • Best VPN location for streaming the US, the UK, Germany, Canada, Japan. 
  • Best VPN location for fast speeds – the nearest server location.
  • Best VPN location for gaming with low ping – the nearest server location

Test Your VPN Knowledge – Take A Quiz!

Does the Location Matter When You Connect to a VPN Server?

Yes, the location of the VPN server you connect to can influence your browsing experience. Every country has a different streaming library available, data privacy laws, and data protection legislation.

Here’s why the server location you connect to matters: 

It Unblocks Streaming Libraries

Do you want to watch a popular movie that’s not streaming on Netflix in your country? Then you shouldn’t connect to a VPN server in Sudan or Georgia. These 2 countries have the smallest Netflix libraries in the world, so you’re not very likely to find your favorite movies there. 

However, there are a few regions that are considered to be the best countries to connect to unblock Netflix content. For example, if you connect to a VPN server from the US, the UK, or Germany, you’ll likely find what you’re looking for.

It Offers Better Internet Speeds

If you connect to a nearby VPN server, you’ll have faster internet speeds. This means you can watch videos without buffering and play online games without experiencing freezes or crashes.

In contrast, if you connect to a very distant VPN server, you might notice that web pages take longer to load. That’s because the data takes longer to reach the web servers from your device. 

It Bypasses Online Censorship

Last but not least, some restrictive countries block access to certain social media platforms or websites. For example, you can’t watch Netflix if you connect to a Chinese VPN server. 

How to Choose the Best VPN Server Location

Here’s how to choose the best VPN server location based on what you need most: 

  • For streaming — the server in a country where your favorite movie is available 
  • For fast speeds — the nearest server. If you don’t know which one to pick, just use the VPN’s quick-connect feature. This will automatically connect you to the closest server. 
  • For gaming — a nearby server to get fast speeds. Or a server in the same country as the gaming server, as it might lower your ping.
  • For torrenting — any server that supports P2P traffic. 
  • For bypassing censorship — any server in a country that doesn’t censor the internet.
  • For privacy — any server since, with top VPNs, all servers use military-grade encryption so the traffic is encrypted. 

Which Country Is the Best for VPN Headquarters 

The best countries to run a VPN service are the ones that do not regulate how personal data is collected. Most of the time these are offshore jurisdictions outside the US. They usually have laws that protect consumers and are in favor of regular internet users. This makes it easy for VPN companies to follow their no-logs policies.

Here are the best countries for VPNs to be based in:

  1. Panama: NordVPN’s headquarters  
  2. The British Virgin Islands: ExpressVPN and Surfshark’s headquarters
  3. Switzerland: VyperVPN’s headquarters 
  4. Sweden: PrivateVPN’s headquarters
  5. Romania: CyberGhost VPN’s headquarters 

1. Panama

VPNs based in this countryNordVPN
Member of the 14 Eyes AllianceNo
Internet freedom score83 / 100

Panama has no data retention laws, so VPN companies can offer a zero-logs policy. NordVPN is a reputable Panama-based VPN provider. Its no-logs policy has been audited twice independently and proven true.

2. The British Virgin Islands

VPNs based in this countryExpressVPN, Surfshark
Member of the 14 Eyes AllianceNo
Internet freedom scoreN/A

The current data protection laws of the British Virgin Islands facilitate VPNs to have a policy that doesn’t log personal data. ExpressVPN and Surfshark are 2 VPN providers based in this country, and they both have a strict no-logs policy.

ExpressVPNs’s no-logs policy has been independently audited. The audit results are available online and everyone can read them. 

Surfshark’s no-logs policy hasn’t been audited yet, only the browser extensions and server infrastructure. 

3. Switzerland

VPNs based in this countryPerfect Privacy, VyprVPN
Member of the 14 Eyes AllianceNo
Internet freedom score96 / 100

Switzerland has one of the strongest internet users’ data regulations. The law doesn’t allow any personal data collection without informing the person. Due to its strict personal privacy and data protection laws, it’s a good location to run a VPN. VyprVPN and Perfect Privacy VPN are 2 well-known VPNs that operate in this country.

4. Sweden

VPNs based in this countryPrivateVPN
Member of the 14 Eyes AllianceYes
Internet freedom score100 / 100

Sweden is a country from the European Union that has mandatory data retention laws. 

However, these laws apply just to ISPs. So the VPNs based in Sweden, like PrivateVPN, aren’t legally required to keep logs or share user data with the government. 

5. Romania

VPNs based in this countryCyberGhost VPN
Member of the 14 Eyes AllianceNo
Internet freedom score83 / 100

Romania is a country in the European Union that isn’t part of the 14 Eyes Alliance. What’s more, it doesn’t have data retention laws. 

CyberGhost VPN is a popular VPN provider based in this country. It offers constant transparency reports to prove it doesn’t comply with data requests. Because Romania has good data privacy laws, the provider has ultra-secure NoSpy servers located here, to which only CyberGhost VPN’s staff has access to these servers. 

What Is the Optimal Location for a VPN? 

A VPN’s optimal location is the closest VPN server to you. Usually, the server is algorithmically selected based on a few criteria such as: 

  • Your location and distance
  • The server with the fastest speeds
  • The least crowded server and server load

Most of the time, you’ll notice that the optimal location will be either a VPN server from the same country but a different city. Also, the algorithm can automatically connect you to a VPN server in a nearby country. 

How Can You Choose the Best VPN Server Location?

You can choose the VPN server location based on your needs. So always ask yourself what you want to do: unblock geo-restricted content, browse the web without getting tracked, or play games with low ping. In all cases, the VPN server location you select might differ based on what you need most.

How to Pick the Best VPN Server for Unblocking Content

To unblock a specific show or movie, you need to connect to a VPN server in the same country where that title is available. For example, if you want to unblock a US-only title on Netflix, you need to connect to a US VPN server. 

What Is the Best VPN Location for Fast Speeds?

The VPN’s speed depends on 2 factors — the physical distance to the VPN server and the server’s load. If the VPN server is far away from you, the distance will negatively affect page load times and download speeds. This can be noticeable even more in countries with underdeveloped internet infrastructure, such as India.

A VPN server’s load means how much internet traffic is traveling via that server. This also depends if you’re using the internet in the rush hours.

Usually, the best VPN server for fast speeds is the one closest to you. This means that you’ll either have to connect to a VPN server from the same country, or from a country nearby you.

There are also VPN providers who show the server’s ping or load. For example, Private Internet Access shows server ping. ProtonVPN and NordVPN show server load. If you have access to those metrics, always connect to a server with low ping or load to get fast speeds.

What Is the Best VPN Location for Privacy and Security?

VPN providers ensure your privacy no matter which location you pick. All top VPNs have strong encryption, a kill switch, a no-logs policy, and leak protection so no one can spy on your data. What’s more, some VPNs offer extra security features like RAM-only servers or perfect forward secrecy. 

However, the country where the VPN company is based can also play a great role. Some countries allow or even require user data collection, and VPN providers will have to comply with these regulations. This way, personal data might get shared with intelligence agencies and governments. Because of this, VPN providers might face the challenge of truly keeping a no-logs policy due to such laws. 

When you choose a VPN, it would be best if it has headquarters in countries that have data protection laws, like Panama or the British Virgin Islands. But this is not set in stone. 

For example, Private Internet Access is based in the US, a country that stores user data and is also part of the 14 eyes Alliance. Despite this, all of PIA’s apps are open-source, meaning anyone can inspect the code for security vulnerabilities and their no-logs policy has been proven true in court many times.  

What Is the Best VPN Server Location for Torrenting? 

The best VPN server for torrenting is the one that allows P2P traffic. Usually, VPN providers mark their P2P servers, so that they’re visible. If you can’t find these servers, just contact the support reps and they’ll give you a list of servers that support P2P traffic. 

In addition, you should also pick a P2P server that’s close to you to get fast speeds. If you want better privacy, you could also use a P2P server in a torrenting-friendly country like Switzerland or Romania.

Which VPN Providers Have the Most VPN Servers?

Here’s a list of VPN providers that have the largest server networks: 

  • CyberGhost VPN — 7,000+ servers in 90+ countries
  • PureVPN — 6,500+ servers in 90+ countries
  • NordVPN — 5,500+ servers in 55+ countries
  • Surfshark — 3,200+ servers in 90+ countries
  • AtlasVPN — 700+ servers in 40+ countries

What Countries Should Use a VPN the Most?

Restrictive countries have a low net neutrality score and block tons of sites. If you’re traveling to China, Russia, Iran, or Vietnam, you won’t be able to stream certain content or use your favorite social media platforms. To bypass government censorship, you’ll have to use a VPN.

A VPN will change your IP address with a new one from another country, and that IP won’t have firewall restrictions to it. This way, you can browse the internet and talk with your friends on social media even when you’re traveling to restrictive countries. In addition, you’ll also enjoy better security and privacy.

Should You Use a VPN Server Located in Your Own Country?

Yes, connecting to a VPN server located in your country is a great idea if you want fast speeds. Plus, using a server in your country is just as secure as in any other country. That’s because the VPN will encrypt your traffic and hide your IP address so no one can see what you’re doing online. 

However, the situation is different if your goal is to unblock a certain streaming show that’s not available in your country. To be able to watch that show anyway, you’ll have to connect to a VPN server in a country where that show is streaming.

Also, you should avoid using a server in your country if you live in a restrictive country. If you do that, your access to the web will still be censored. To circumvent government censorship, you need to use a server in a country that doesn’t restrict internet access.

Conclusion

Choosing the best VPN server is a matter of preferences and needs. If you want to watch geo-restricted content or bypass government censorship, you’ll have to connect to a server from a different country. If you want to have fast download speeds when you’re torrenting or gaming online, the nearest VPN server is the best choice. 

There are a few countries with a high internet freedom score. Usually, the best VPN providers are located in countries with strong data privacy laws:  Panama, The British Virgin Islands, Romania, Iceland, and Switzerland.  

These countries have strong online privacy laws that protect user data. Because of this, VPNs won’t be forced to log your personal data and share it with the government or your ISP. 

However, keep in mind that top VPN providers offer strong security to protect your online privacy. This way, your traffic is encrypted no matter the VPN server you choose to connect to. 

We’d also like to hear which VPN server locations you use the most, so please let us know in the comments.

These articles could be helpful too
Leave Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *