Best VPN Services for Users in India

Freshness note: VPN pricing, server locations and promotional offers change frequently. Details below were checked on 29 September 2026.

Quick Answer

For most users in India:

• NordVPN — best all-rounder
• Surfshark — best value for families and many devices
• Proton VPN — best free VPN and strong privacy option
• ExpressVPN — best for simplicity and frequent travel
• Mullvad — best for privacy-first users who do not need an Indian IP address

A key India-specific detail: several major VPN providers no longer operate physical servers in India. Instead, they provide virtual Indian server locations, where the server hardware is outside India but the connection gives you an Indian IP address.

Quick Picks

Why VPN Servers in India Are Different

India's 2022 CERT-In cyber-security directions require in-scope VPN service providers to retain specified subscriber information for five years, alongside wider log-retention requirements for covered entities.

Several privacy-focused VPN companies responded by removing their physical Indian servers rather than changing their no-logs model. NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN and ExpressVPN now provide Indian IP addresses using servers physically located outside India.

That means an “India” location in a VPN app may be virtual, which is not necessarily a problem. It simply means the IP appears Indian while the hardware is elsewhere.

Best Overall: NordVPN

NordVPN is the strongest all-round recommendation if you want a mainstream VPN with good device support, privacy features and a virtual India location.

NordVPN removed its physical India servers after the CERT-In rules and later introduced a virtual Indian location.

Its current Basic 2-year offer is US$3.49/month, billed as US$94.23 for the first 27 months, then currently renewing at US$139.08/year. Prices can change with promotions.

Best for: everyday privacy, travel, streaming, general browsing and users who want a mature app across many platforms.

Strengths:

• virtual India location
• up to 10 simultaneous devices
• NordLynx protocol
• obfuscated and specialty servers
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Skip it if: you dislike large renewal-price jumps or only need a VPN occasionally.

View NordVPN
Current NordVPN pricing

Best Value: Surfshark

Surfshark is the best fit for households because one subscription supports unlimited simultaneous connections.

It currently offers two virtual Indian server locations and advertises 50 Indian virtual servers. Surfshark's physical India servers were removed after the 2022 rules.

The current long-term Starter promotion is US$2.49/month, billed as US$67.23 for the first 27 months. Renewal pricing is higher and may change.

Best for: families, people with many phones/laptops/TVs and users who want low per-device cost.

Strengths:

• unlimited devices
• virtual Indian locations
• RAM-only infrastructure
• MultiHop
• ad/tracker blocking
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Skip it if: you prefer a fixed monthly price without promotional renewal complexity.

View Surfshark
Surfshark India servers

Best Free VPN: Proton VPN

Proton VPN is the strongest free option in this Guide because its Free plan has no data cap.

The Free plan supports one device at a time and connects to free servers in a limited set of countries. You cannot select an Indian virtual server on the Free plan.

Paid Proton VPN plans provide virtual Indian servers using Smart Routing, with the Indian IP location routed through servers physically in Singapore.

Best for: users who want a legitimate free VPN for privacy without monthly data limits.

Strengths:

• unlimited data on Free
• no credit card required for Free
• open-source apps
• paid virtual Indian location
• Secure Core and other advanced features on paid plans

Skip it if: you need a free Indian IP address or want to manually select any country on the Free plan.

View Proton VPN
Proton VPN India servers

Best for Simplicity and Travel: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is easy to recommend to users who want a simple app with minimal setup.

Its India locations are virtual and currently route through Singapore and the UK. ExpressVPN supports locations in 113 countries.

The current Basic 2-year promotion is US$2.99/month, billed as US$83.72 for the first 28 months, then currently renewing at US$99.95/year.

Best for: frequent travellers, beginners and people who want an uncomplicated VPN app.

Strengths:

• two virtual India routes
• 10 simultaneous devices on Basic
• broad device support
• Lightway and WireGuard support
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Skip it if: lowest long-term cost is the main priority.

View ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN pricing

Best Privacy-First Option: Mullvad

Mullvad takes a different approach from most mainstream VPN brands.

It charges a flat €5 per month whether you pay for one month or many years, and one account works on up to five devices.

Mullvad states that it has no servers, infrastructure or staff in India. That makes it attractive if your priority is avoiding India-based infrastructure, but it also means it is not suitable if you specifically need an Indian IP address.

Best for: privacy-focused users who prefer simple pricing and do not care about an India server location.

Strengths:

• €5 flat monthly price
• no long-term discount tricks
• five devices
• account-number system rather than normal email-based signup
• strong transparency around its server fleet

Skip it if: you need an Indian IP, unlimited devices or a VPN primarily for streaming convenience.

View Mullvad
Mullvad pricing

Which VPN Should You Choose?

I want one reliable paid VPN

Choose NordVPN.

I have many devices or a family

Choose Surfshark.

I do not want to pay

Start with Proton VPN Free.

I travel frequently and want the simplest app

Choose ExpressVPN.

Privacy matters more than streaming or an Indian IP

Choose Mullvad.

Do You Need an Indian VPN Server?

Not always.

If you are physically in India and only want to encrypt your connection on public Wi-Fi, a nearby server such as Singapore may be sufficient and can sometimes be faster than routing through a virtual Indian location.

An Indian IP is more useful when you specifically need a service that expects your connection to appear to come from India.

Important Limitations

A VPN improves privacy by encrypting traffic between your device and the VPN server, but it does not make you anonymous everywhere.

Websites can still identify you through:

• account logins
• cookies
• browser fingerprinting
• payment information
• tracking scripts

A VPN also does not make unlawful activity lawful. Streaming services, banks and other websites may restrict or block VPN connections under their own rules.

How These Picks Were Chosen

Selections are based on official pricing, India-server availability, device limits, privacy architecture, free-plan usefulness and current provider documentation.

This Guide does not claim that akhileshsaini.com independently audited each provider's infrastructure or no-logs policy.