VPNs do not work the same way in every country.
Internet laws, censorship systems, and local network controls can all affect how a VPN connects, how fast it runs, and which websites it can access. In some countries, VPN use is unrestricted and works normally. In others, VPN traffic may be monitored, throttled, or actively blocked.
This page brings together all of our country-specific VPN guides in one place. Each guide explains local restrictions, real-world VPN performance, and what you should expect before using a VPN in that location.
How Our Country VPN Guides Work
VPN performance depends heavily on location.
A VPN that works well in one country may perform very differently in another due to local internet laws, censorship systems, ISP behaviour, and network infrastructure. Because of this, we do not rely on global averages or generic VPN claims.
Each country guide on Trusted VPN Reviews is written using the same testing framework. We examine how VPN services behave under local conditions and document real-world results rather than theoretical performance.
Our country VPN guides focus on practical questions, including:
- whether VPN use is legal or restricted
- if VPN traffic is filtered, blocked, or throttled
- which VPN protocols work reliably
- expected speed loss and connection stability
- risks related to privacy, logging, and monitoring
This approach ensures each guide reflects how VPNs actually work in that country, not how they are advertised to work.
Europe
VPN use is legal in most European countries, but privacy rules and internet monitoring are not the same everywhere.
Some countries have strong data protection laws, while others allow internet providers to collect more user information. Our country guides explain what this means for VPN speed, privacy, and reliability.
| Country | What the Guide Covers | Read Guide |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Privacy laws, ISP monitoring, and streaming access | View |
| Germany | Strong privacy rules and data protection expectations | View |
| France | Data retention laws and VPN performance | View |
| Spain | Streaming access and general VPN reliability | View |
| Italy | Privacy risks, speeds, and ISP behaviour | View |
| Netherlands | Privacy-friendly policies and fast local routing | View |
| Sweden | Data retention history and privacy concerns | View |
| Poland | ISP practices and regional performance | View |
| Romania | Low restrictions and strong VPN performance | View |
| Hungary | Government monitoring concerns and privacy risks | View |
| Czech Republic | Privacy rules, speeds, and general VPN use | View |
East Asia
East Asia includes some of the most complex internet environments in the world.
In this region, VPN performance is often affected by government controls, advanced filtering systems, and network monitoring. Some countries actively block VPN traffic, while others allow VPN use with few restrictions.
Our East Asia guides focus on whether VPNs connect reliably, which technologies work best, and what risks users should be aware of before connecting.
| Country | What the Guide Covers | Read Guide |
|---|---|---|
| China | VPN blocking, censorship systems, and stealth connection methods | View |
| Hong Kong | Privacy changes, speed testing, and VPN reliability | View |
| Japan | Fast local speeds, privacy protections, and streaming access | View |
| South Korea | Data retention laws and VPN performance | View |
| Taiwan | Open internet access and general VPN reliability | View |
| Mongolia | Network infrastructure limits and speed expectations | View |
| North Korea | Severe restrictions and limited VPN access | View |
South Asia & Southeast Asia
VPN use across South Asia and Southeast Asia varies widely.
Some countries allow VPNs with few limits, while others monitor traffic, block websites, or restrict certain VPN features. Internet quality also differs across the region, which can affect speed and stability.
The guides below explain local VPN rules, real-world performance, and common issues users face in each country.
South Asia
| Country | VPN Status | Main Issue | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Restricted | Logging rules and privacy risks | Read |
| Pakistan | Monitored | Filtering and speed loss | Read |
| Bangladesh | Monitored | ISP blocking and instability | Read |
| Nepal | Allowed | Limited infrastructure | Read |
| Sri Lanka | Allowed | Speed consistency | Read |
| Bhutan | Allowed | Small networks and routing | Read |
| Maldives | Allowed | Limited server routing | Read |
Southeast Asia
| Country | VPN Status | Main Issue | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Allowed | Privacy and streaming access | Read |
| Vietnam | Filtered | VPN blocking attempts | Read |
| Malaysia | Allowed | Speed and routing | Read |
| Singapore | Allowed | Data retention rules | Read |
| Indonesia | Filtered | Website blocking | Read |
| Philippines | Allowed | Network reliability | Read |
| Cambodia | Monitored | Traffic inspection | Read |
| Laos | Allowed | Limited infrastructure | Read |
| Myanmar | Restricted | VPN blocking and surveillance | Read |
| Brunei | Allowed | Small network environment | Read |
| Timor-Leste | Allowed | Slow international routing | Read |
Middle East & Central Asia
Internet access across the Middle East and Central Asia varies widely.
In some countries, VPN use is legal but closely monitored. In others, VPN traffic is actively blocked or restricted. This means that VPN reliability, safety, and speed can change depending on where you are.
Our guides for this region focus on whether VPNs actually connect, how stable those connections are, and what risks users should be aware of before using a VPN.
| Country | What to Expect When Using a VPN |
|---|---|
| Iran | Strong VPN blocking, frequent disruptions, and heavy monitoring |
| Afghanistan | Severe restrictions, limited access, and high risk for VPN users |
| Syria | Very strict censorship and unreliable VPN access |
| Iraq | Unstable internet access with filtering in some areas |
| Egypt | Widespread website blocking and inconsistent VPN connections |
| Saudi Arabia | VPNs allowed, but content filtering and monitoring are common |
| United Arab Emirates | Legal limits on VPN use and enforcement risks in some cases |
| Qatar | Restricted content and monitored connections |
| Israel | Mostly open internet with some surveillance concerns |
| Jordan | VPN use generally allowed with few restrictions |
| Lebanon | Weak infrastructure leading to slow and unstable connections |
| Kazakhstan | State monitoring and pressure on VPN providers |
| Uzbekistan | VPN traffic frequently blocked or restricted |
| Kyrgyzstan | Monitoring present, but VPNs often still function |
| Tajikistan | Heavy filtering and unreliable VPN access |
| Turkmenistan | Very strict censorship and near-total VPN blocking |
North America & Central America
VPN use in North and Central America is generally legal, but privacy protections, ISP practices, and access issues vary by country.
Some countries have strong privacy laws and reliable internet infrastructure. Others experience slower speeds, weaker protections, or higher levels of monitoring.
The guides below explain how VPNs perform in daily use, what privacy risks exist, and what users should expect when connecting from each country.
| Country | VPN Use | Privacy Environment | Common Issues | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Allowed | Weak federal privacy laws | ISP data collection and tracking | Read |
| Canada | Allowed | Moderate privacy protections | Data retention by providers | Read |
| Mexico | Allowed | Limited enforcement of privacy laws | Unstable routing and speed loss | Read |
| Cuba | Restricted | State-controlled internet access | Severe blocking and slow speeds | Read |
| Panama | Allowed | Generally privacy-friendly | Limited local server options | Read |
| Costa Rica | Allowed | Strong user rights | Occasional speed drops | Read |
| Guatemala | Allowed | Weak oversight | Inconsistent performance | Read |
| Honduras | Allowed | Limited protections | Slow international routing | Read |
| El Salvador | Allowed | Unclear data protections | Network instability | Read |
| Nicaragua | Monitored | Government oversight | Filtering and throttling | Read |
| Belize | Allowed | Low regulation | Limited infrastructure | Read |
South America
VPN use across South America is generally legal, but internet quality, privacy protections, and censorship risks vary by country.
Some countries have open internet access with few restrictions, while others experience website blocking, monitoring, or unstable connections.
Our South America guides explain how VPNs perform in real conditions, including speed, reliability, and common access problems.
| Country | VPN Use | Internet Environment | Main Issues | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Allowed | Large, mixed-quality networks | Speed consistency and routing | Read |
| Argentina | Allowed | Generally open internet | Economic instability affecting ISPs | Read |
| Colombia | Allowed | Moderate privacy protections | Occasional throttling | Read |
| Chile | Allowed | Strong digital rights | Few restrictions | Read |
| Peru | Allowed | Developing infrastructure | Variable speeds | Read |
| Uruguay | Allowed | Privacy-friendly policies | Limited local servers | Read |
| Paraguay | Allowed | Low regulation | Slow international routing | Read |
| Bolivia | Allowed | Limited infrastructure | Unstable connections | Read |
| Ecuador | Allowed | Mixed ISP reliability | Speed drops during peak hours | Read |
| Guyana | Allowed | Small network environment | Limited routing options | Read |
| Suriname | Allowed | Low connectivity density | Slow international links | Read |
| Venezuela | Restricted | Heavy censorship and controls | VPN blocking and outages | Read |
Asia-Pacific
Countries in the Asia-Pacific region generally have open internet access, but VPN use is still important for privacy, streaming access, and protection on public networks.
| Country | What the Guide Covers |
|---|---|
| Australia | Privacy laws, ISP data retention, and streaming access |
Choosing the Right Country Guide
If you live in a specific country or are planning to travel, start with that country’s guide. Each guide explains local rules, common problems, and how VPNs perform in real use.
If you are unsure where to begin, regional sections can help you understand what to expect across nearby countries with similar internet rules and network conditions.
All of our country guides are kept up to date and reviewed regularly, as VPN performance and internet restrictions can change over time.
For a broader overview of our work, including testing methods and in-depth research, visit our VPN Research & Guides page.