Key Takeaways: The Best VPNs for Portugal
- ExpressVPN — Best Portugal VPN overall
- NordVPN — Fastest VPN for Portugal
- Surfshark — Portugal VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections
- CyberGhost — Portugal VPN with an automation feature
- TunnelBear — Best free VPN with a Portugal server
Facts & Expert Analysis About Portugal VPN:
- Portugal enjoys complete internet freedom: The Global Expression Report (GxR) metric scores Portugal 88/100 in internet freedom, ranking 11th in the world.1 This indicates the Portuguese government’s dedicated approach to freedom of expression.
- Cybercrime is a major problem: Cybercrime is rampant in Portugal. In fact, it ranks second for countries that are most affected by spam and phishing scams.2 This makes it important for citizens to protect themselves using a VPN.
- VPNs secure your connection: A virtual private network encrypts your connection using encryption protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard, and ciphers like AES-256 and ChaCha20. Encryption makes reading your data impossible for anyone who intercepts it — whether that’s a hacker, your internet service provider (ISP) or the government.
The Portuguese government doesn’t impose any major restrictions or censor internet access. In reality, it proactively strives to protect human rights in the digital age.3 However, you’re still at risk when using public WiFi. You also can’t access geoblocked content on sites like Netflix. Finding the best VPN for Portugal is key to addressing both of these problems.
A VPN helps you acquire another country’s IP address, which lets you access geoblocked content. It also encrypts your connection to protect it against hackers. While there are plenty of VPN services out there, selecting one requires research — not all VPNs offer the same level of security or the ability to unblock geoblocked content.
We tested the top VPNs on the market to find the best VPN for Portugal. In this guide, we discuss the five best VPN service providers you should consider when looking for a Portugal VPN.
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11/30/2023
Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s recent increase of 5 simultaneous connections to 8, as well as its expansion of server presence to 105 countries, previously 94.
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07/15/2024 Facts checked
We rewrote this article, including updated recommendations based on the latest tests and feature sets. We also provide an easier-to-read format.
Cloudwards Editor’s Choice: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN tops my list as the best VPN for Portugal because it offers fast connection speeds, excellent security and the ability to unblock all the popular streaming platforms. It also has a Portugal VPN server that helps you stream Portuguese TV channels while traveling abroad. Try ExpressVPN yourself risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to Choose the Best Portugal VPN
Here are the key factors to consider when choosing the best Portugal VPN.
- Server network: A wide server network lets you access more content libraries. Having a Portuguese server isn’t a necessity, but it can help you stay safe while accessing local content and services.
- Security: We look for encryption protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard, as well as ciphers like AES-256 and ChaCha20. We also test VPN services for DNS, IPv6 and WebRTC leaks to see if they’re secure.
- Connection speeds: Fast connection speeds are vital to an enjoyable streaming experience. However, remember that VPN speeds are directly proportional to server distance.
- Unblocking ability: The VPN must be able to unblock popular streaming platforms so you can stream geoblocked content.
The 5 Best Portugal VPNs
| VPNs |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Best for Portugal | Speed | Unlimited devices | Automation | Free Portugal server |
| Price | $6.66 per month | $3.55 per month | $2.49 per month | $2.37 per month | $2.78 per month |
| Portugal Server | |||||
| Security | -3 encryptions -Kill switch -Split tunneling |
-Ad blocker -Malware blocker -Specialty servers -Dark web monitor |
-3 encryptions -MultiHop servers |
-Ad blocker -Malware blocker -Dedicated IPs -RAM-only servers |
-Obfuscation -Split tunneling -Kill switch |
| No-Logs Policy | |||||
| Speed | Very fast | Fastest | Very fast | Not very fast | Slow (free) |
| Unlocks Netflix |
1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Portugal.
84 Mbps
Very Fast
9 Mbps
Very Fast
3 ms
Very Fast
ExpressVPN is the perfect VPN provider if you’re looking to stream geoblocked content on websites like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. It offers lightning-fast speeds and unblocks all the popular streaming platforms with ease. The VPN also includes MediaStreamer, a “smart DNS” feature that helps stream geoblocked content without encrypting your connection.
ExpressVPN doesn’t just excel at streaming. It’s a top VPN across categories like security, feature sets and ease of use. The interface is compact and beginner-friendly, so even if you’ve never used a VPN, ExpressVPN shouldn’t give you a hard time. The VPN also offers Portuguese VPN servers, which means it can help you acquire a Portuguese IP address.
Notes From the Lab: ExpressVPN Security Analysis
ExpressVPN’s Portuguese VPN server.
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| OpenVPN | -AES-256 | |
| IKEv2 | -AES-256 | |
| Lightway | -AES-256 -ChaCha20 |
|
ExpressVPN Pricing & Value
ExpressVPN is a premium VPN and is priced as such. If you don’t mind paying a little extra for a top-tier VPN service, consider the annual plan that costs $6.66 per month. Alternatively, you could opt for one of the short-term plans — the six-month and monthly plans are available for $9.99 per month and $12.95 per month, respectively.
There’s no risk to trying ExpressVPN yourself. If you don’t like the service, you can use ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee to claim a full refund, no questions asked. Learn more about ExpressVPN before you sign up in our comprehensive ExpressVPN review.
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
2. NordVPN — Fastest VPN for Portugal
84 Mbps
Very Fast
9 Mbps
Very Fast
3 ms
Very Fast
NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs around, according to our internet speed tests. NordVPN’s fast speeds and its ability to unblock all the popular streaming sites make it a great VPN for users who like streaming content in 4K or 8K. The VPN also offers a Portuguese server, which means you can use it to acquire a Portuguese IP address.
Moreover, the VPN is loaded with security features. Along with the most secure VPN protocols and ciphers, NordVPN offers specialty servers (dedicated IP, double VPN, obfuscated, Onion Over VPN and P2P). It also has security features like a dark web monitor and real-time protection against malware, trackers, ads and malicious downloads.
Notes From the Lab: NordVPN Security Analysis
protocol, and it came out clean.
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| OpenVPN | -AES-256 | |
| NordLynx | -ChaCha20 | |
NordVPN Pricing & Value
NordVPN’s best deal (the two-year plan) costs $3.55 per month. The annual plan costs $4.99 per month, while the monthly plan is $12.99. If you want to try NordVPN first, you can do so risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee. You can also learn more about the service in our NordVPN review.
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
3. Surfshark — Portugal VPN With Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
95 Mbps
Very Fast
9 Mbps
Very Fast
126 ms
Good
Surfshark is your best bet if you want to share your connection with family members; most premium VPNs don’t allow unlimited simultaneous connections. You also get unlimited bandwidth, so sharing your account has no impact on your own streaming experience.
We tested Surfshark to unblock streaming sites, and it unblocked all the popular ones without any problems. We could also stream content in high definition without lags thanks to Surfshark’s fast connection speeds. The VPN offers a Portuguese server that helps you acquire a Portuguese IP to access local content when traveling abroad.
Notes From the Lab: Surfshark Security Analysis
and didn’t see any DNS leaks.
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| OpenVPN | -AES-256 | |
| IKEv2 | -AES-256 | |
| WireGuard | -ChaCha20 | |
Surfshark Pricing & Value
Surfshark is a low-cost VPN, as long as you opt for longer periods. The two-year plan is the best deal at $2.49 per month, while the annual plan costs $3.49 per month. Note, though, that the monthly plan is $15.45 per month. You can try Surfshark risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee, or learn more about the service in our Surfshark review.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth,
Unlimited devices,
Secure VPN,
Ad blocker,
Cookie pop-up blocker.
Plans renew: $231.75 for one year, $417.15 for two years - Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
- Everything in Starter, plus
Antivirus protection,
Identity protection,
Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts,
Online Alias
Plans renew: $239.25 for one year, $430.65 for two years. - Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Everything in One, plus
Data removal
Plans renew: $269.25 for one year, $404.65 for two years - Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
4. CyberGhost — Portugal VPN With Automation Features
78 Mbps
Fast
9 Mbps
Very Fast
41 ms
Fast
CyberGhost is an inexpensive service, but it’s still one of the best. It offers a well-designed, intuitive interface and a great feature set. The VPN has an automation feature called “smart rules,” so you can configure CyberGhost to automatically connect to a server when you start up your device or launch the browser.
It’s not as fast as the other VPNs on this list. However, it does help secure your internet connection with built-in features like dedicated IPs, RAM-only servers, and malware and ad blockers. The app offers a kill switch feature, which provides enhanced security by automatically terminating your internet connection if the VPN connection drops abruptly.
Notes From the Lab: CyberGhost Security Analysis
IKEv2 protocol and found no issues.
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| OpenVPN | -AES-256 | |
| IKEv2 | -AES-256 | |
| WireGuard | -ChaCha20 | |
CyberGhost Pricing & Value
The two-year plan is the cheapest option at $2.37 per month. For short-term plans, there’s a six-month plan for $6.99 per month, and a monthly plan that costs $12.99. You can try CyberGhost plans with a 45-day money-back guarantee, except for the monthly plan, which has a 14-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not confident about CyberGhost, give our CyberGhost review a read.
- *The 2-year plan includes 4-months free which breaks down the 56.94 t0 $2.03 per month.
*The price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years. - Unlimited GB
- 7
- Yes
5. TunnelBear — Best Free VPN With a Portugal Server
We’re generally wary of free VPNs, as most are insecure and slow. TunnelBear is one of the few exceptions — it has great security and a user-friendly interface. The free plan offers 2GB of free monthly data. That may not be enough for your streaming needs, but TunnelBear isn’t good at accessing streaming services anyway. However, it still does a great job of encrypting your internet traffic.
The free plan includes access to servers in Portugal. If you want to acquire a Portuguese IP for free, TunnelBear is your best bet. Otherwise, read our guide on the best free VPNs for alternatives, but they might not have Portuguese servers included for free.
Notes From the Lab: TunnelBear Security Analysis
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| OpenVPN | -AES-256 | |
| IKEv2 | -AES-256 | |
| WireGuard | -ChaCha20 | |
TunnelBear Pricing & Value
You can try TunnelBear for free. If you want unlimited data and connections along with city-level server selection, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan. The individual plan costs $3.33 per month — you can choose between the annual or three-year subscription. The monthly plan costs $9.99 per month. To learn more, head over to our TunnelBear review.
- 2GB
- 2GB
- Unlimited
- Unlimited GB, unlimited devices, priority customer service
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
- Unlimited GB, centralized billing, account manager, price per user per month (minimum 2 users)
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
Our Methodology: How We Tested the Best VPN Providers for Portugal
We test each VPN’s capabilities before putting it on our list. Here’s what we test for and how.
- Speed: We run speed tests on all VPNs to see how the VPN connection speeds compare to our unprotected speeds. As a general rule, though, speeds will decrease with server distance.
- Security: To determine a VPN’s level of security, we look for secure VPN protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard, as well as encryption ciphers like AES-256 and ChaCha20. We test the VPNs for DNS, IPv6 and WebRTC leaks, and we also look for features like a kill switch and obfuscation.
- Content Unblocking: Not all VPNs are able to access geo-blocked content, like on streaming websites. We test if each VPN can effectively unblock all the major streaming platforms — including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu.
- Usability: The VPNs we recommend typically have a user-friendly interface. We look for a “quick connect” button, an accessible server list, and well-organized menus and submenus of advanced features. Plus, it should be easy to create a VPN account and download the apps.
- Servers: If you’re looking for the best Portuguese VPN server, all five VPNs in this list can offer local connections with their servers in Portugal.
Can You Use a Free VPN for Portugal?
Yes, you can use a free VPN for Portugal, but be careful because some free VPN services are scams. However, TunnelBear is a great VPN that offers a Portuguese server on its free plan.
If you don’t need a Portuguese server, you could also consider Proton VPN and PrivadoVPN as they each have generous free plans. Read our Proton VPN review and our PrivadoVPN review.
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1
- : Credit card
- : Unlimited
- :
- :
- :
- :
-
2
- : PayPal, Credit card, Coinbase, SEPA, Discover
- : 10
- :
- :
- :
- :
-
3
- : PayPal, Credit card, Bitcoin, cash
- : 10
- :
- :
- :
- :
How to Use a VPN in Portugal
Using a VPN for Portugal is fairly straightforward. Here’s a quick, step-by-step guide to setting up a VPN. These steps will use ExpressVPN, given its excellent performance and feature set.
- Sign Up for a VPN Service
First, sign up for a VPN Once you create an account, download the app and install it on your device.
- Connect to a Server
Launch the VPN app and connect to a server. For example, you could connect to a U.S. server if you want to access Netflix U.S. You can also just click the connect button to connect to the fastest VPN server.
- Browse the Internet or Stream Content
You can now browse securely or stream content on your favorite streaming website.
How to Get a Portugal IP Address
You need a VPN with a server in Portugal to acquire a Portuguese IP address. Here’s a quick guide on how to get a Portuguese IP:
- Sign up for a VPN service that has Portuguese servers.
- Download the VPN app and launch it.
- Look through the server list and connect to a server in Portugal. You should now have a Portuguese IP address.
Why You Need a VPN for Portugal
You need a VPN for Portugal to protect your privacy and prevent data theft. A VPN encrypts your connection, which means a hacker can’t read your data even if they manage to intercept it. The government or your ISP can’t read this data, either. VPNs can also help you access geoblocked content. If you want to watch Netflix U.S. from your home in Portugal, use a VPN.
Are VPNs Legal in Portugal?
Yes, VPNs are legal in Portugal. Contrary to countries like China, the Portuguese government doesn’t heavily censor the internet. A few websites like The Pirate Bay are banned, but you can use a VPN to access them. While visiting torrent websites isn’t a crime, distributing copyrighted material is.
Final Thoughts
Using a VPN helps you secure your connection and access geoblocked content. While the Portuguese government doesn’t restrict internet access or monitor its citizens, using public WiFi can put you at greater risk of data theft. A VPN encrypts your connection to ensure it remains private.
Have you used a VPN in Portugal before? Which VPN did you use? Were you able to bypass geoblocked content with it? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.
FAQ: VPN for Portugal
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ExpressVPN is the best VPN to use in Portugal. It offers fast connection speeds and top-notch security, and it provides an unmatched unblocking ability for streaming sites.
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Yes, TunnelBear is a free VPN that connects to Portugal. While other free VPN apps may let you connect to a Portugal server on the free plan, we don’t trust most free VPNs.
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You can connect to a Portugal server to acquire a Portuguese IP address and access content that’s geoblocked outside Portugal.
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Yes, NordVPN works in Portugal. In fact, it’s one of the best VPNs to use in Portugal given its ability to unblock popular streaming sites, its fast connection speeds and the availability of Portuguese servers.
Sources:
- Global Expression Report 2024 — Article 19
- Portugal is the 2nd country in the world most affected by spam and phishing — Safe Communities Portugal
- News Flash – Portuguese Charter of Human Rights in the Digital Age — GPA Advogados
The post The 5 Best VPN for Portugal in 2024: Paid and Free VPNs for Streaming, Security and Privacy appeared first on Cloudwards.
