There are many advantages to using a VPN. For instance, if you’re traveling abroad (outside of Sydney, Australia) you can connect to a server in Sydney and access your favorite websites and services as usual. It may be that you’re already located in Sydney but want to enjoy the improved online security a VPN offers. By connecting to a server close to your physical location, you won’t have to compromise on your connection speed.

A VPN works by routing your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel, shielding it from hackers and snoopers. This data travels to a server in the location of your choosing. You’ll then be able to anonymously browse region-locked content without having to worry about your connection being throttled. Unfortunately, not all VPNs offer servers in Australia, never mind specific cities such as Sydney. That’s why, if you’re looking to get an IP address for Sydney, you should consider the VPNs recommended in this post.

Don’t have time to read the full reviews? Here’s a quick rundown of the best VPNs for Sydney in case you need to make a speedy decision.

Best Sydney VPNs:

With so many VPNs competing for your attention, finding the right one for your needs can be difficult. We decided to narrow down the options. For a service to be classed as one of the best VPNs for Sydney, it must meet the following criteria:

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

  • Servers in locations worldwide including Sydney, Australia
  • Unlimited bandwidth for fast, reliable speeds
  • Strong unblocking ability (Netflix Australia, Stan, etc)
  • High level of security with encryption and a no-logs policy
  • Beginner-friendly apps for desktop and mobile
  • Money-back guarantee for you to try it risk-free

Best VPNs for Sydney

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for Sydney:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

NordVPN combines a large network of servers with very fast speeds. This makes it ideal for browsing as well as streaming and torrenting. Overall, it has approximately 5,500 servers, nearly 200 of which are in Australia. Indeed, you’ll find servers across five Australian cities including Sydney. You’ll be able to use NordVPN to stream the likes of Netflix, 10 Play, Foxtel Now, and Stan. Thanks to high-speed connections and unlimited bandwidth, lag and buffering are extremely rare.

With a NordVPN account, you can secure up to six of your devices simultaneously. You’ll also have access to 24/7 live chat and email support as well as specialty servers. These servers include those optimized for P2P traffic. This VPN offers anonymous browsing with its use of 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and kill switch. Just as important, NordVPN operates a strict no-logs policy, making it an excellent choice for privacy.

You’ll be able to download NordVPN apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. There’s also the option to use a browser extension for Chrome or Firefox. If you prefer, you can set up a router. NordVPN provides tutorials to make this easier.

BEST VPN FOR SYDNEY:NordVPN is our first choice. Fast server speeds and unlimited bandwidth. Nearly 200 servers in Australia. Unblock Netflix, Foxtel Now, Stan, and more. Provides 24/7 support. Security includes Double VPN servers. Try it for yourself risk-free with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

  • 5,500 servers in total (nearly 200 in Australia)
  • Fast server speeds and unlimited bandwidth
  • Unblocks popular streaming services such as Netflix and Stan
  • Provides live chat and email support 24/7
  • High level of privacy protection thanks to a strict no-logs policy
  • Specialty servers including P2P, Double VPN, and Onion Over VPN

Cons:

  • Suffered a data breach in 2018

Our score:

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

It’s worth knowing that with Surfshark, you can connect all of your devices at the same time. Another advantage of this VPN is its very user-friendly apps and 24/7 support via live chat and email. There are plenty of security features to keep you safe online including 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and protection from DNS and IPv6 leaks. This is a no-logs VPN service that even offers Double VPN servers for an extra layer of encryption.

BEST VALUE VPN:Surfshark is excellent at unblocking region-locked streaming services including Netflix. 3,000+ servers in 65 countries including in Sydney, Australia. Unlimited devices per account. Excellent apps and Double VPN servers. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Connecting to servers sometimes takes longer than it should

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN is extremely fast and offers unlimited bandwidth. This means you can stream and torrent as much as you want without restriction. Its network is made up of over 3,000 servers in 94 countries — more locations than any other VPN on this list. Of course, this includes servers in Sydney, Australia so you can access your favorite websites and services while traveling abroad. ExpressVPN is able to unblock Netflix and Stan, among other services.

Once signed up, you can connect up to five of your devices simultaneously. The apps allow you to connect to a server in seconds while there’s even 24/7 live chat and email support. ExpressVPN doesn’t keep any identifying logs of its users. Indeed, it’s headquartered in the British Virgin Islands where it isn’t subject to any mandatory data retention laws. Also included is 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection.

Connect to a server in Sydney by using ExpressVPN apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also available to download, as is custom firmware for routers.

SOLID ALL-ROUNDER:ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers in 94 countries including servers in Sydney. High-speed connections and unlimited bandwidth. Strong unblocking, user-friendly apps, and 24/7 support. Secures data with encryption. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fastest VPN we’ve tested (average speed of 135 Mbps)

  • Servers in 94 countries including in Sydney, Australia

  • Works with many region-locked platforms including Netflix

  • User-friendly apps as well as 24/7 live chat and email support

  • Secures your data with high-end encryption

  • Quite expensive compared to most VPNs

Read our full ExpressVPN review

4. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost stands out for offering approximately 300 servers in Australia, almost 200 of which are located in Sydney. This makes it easy to unblock region-locked platforms including Stan and Kayo if you travel abroad. What’s clear is that this VPN has one of the largest networks of almost any VPN service. It stands at over 6,400 servers across 90 countries. If you’re suffering from throttling from your ISP, you’ll appreciate CyberGhost’s fast servers and unlimited bandwidth.

With CyberGhost, you’ll have the opportunity to browse almost completely anonymously. This is down to its strict no-logs policy and use of 256-bit AES encryption. Also included in the security package is DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, and automatic Wi-Fi protection. If you need any help, live chat and email support is available around the clock. Note also that the easy-to-use apps let you connect as many as seven of your devices at the same time.

200 SERVERS IN SYDNEY:CyberGhost has over 6,000 servers in 90 countries, almost 200 of which are in Sydney. Good speeds for streaming and torrenting. Provides 24/7 support and can be used on up to seven devices at once. 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • 6,000 servers in 90 countries including nearly 200 in Sydney

  • Unblock and stream Stan and Kayo while traveling abroad

  • Secure up to seven devices at the same time

  • Contact customer support 24/7 via live chat and email

  • Stay safe online thanks to encryption and a no-logs policy

  • Doesn’t work in China or the UAE

Read our full CyberGhost review.

5. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish is ideal if you have lots of devices or plan on sharing your VPN with family. The reason for this is that it allows unlimited simultaneous connections. Another benefit of this VPN service is that it has servers in five Australian cities. This is made up of approximately 30 servers in Australia. You can expect consistent speeds and unlimited bandwidth as well as the ability to unblock various geo-restricted websites and services.

Using IPVanish ensures you’re protected from hackers and snoopers because it secures your internet traffic with 256-bit AES encryption. There’s also protection from DNS leaks and a zero-logs policy. You’ll also find a kill switch that cuts your internet traffic in the event that the VPN connection drops, preventing your data from being exposed. It’s worth mentioning that IPVanish also provides live chat and email support which you can contact 24/7.

UNLIMITED DEVICES:IPVanish allows unlimited simultaneous connections. It’s also fast, allowing you to stream without interruption. Secures data with encryption and doesn’t keep any identifying logs. 24/7 live chat support included. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously

  • Provides servers in five cities in Australia

  • Doesn’t throttle your bandwidth

  • Uses encryption to protect you from hackers and snoopers

  • 24/7 live chat and email support

  • Headquartered in the US which is a member of Five Eyes

  • No browser extensions available

Read our full IPVanish review.

6. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN is highly suitable for streaming thanks to its fast server speeds (our tests found an average global download speed of 71 Mbps), unlimited bandwidth, and reliable unblocking. It has around 100 servers spread across 60 countries. Connecting to a server in Sydney, Australia will allow you to unblock Netflix Australia, Disney+, and more. Note that you can use PrivateVPN to connect up to six devices at once.

We’ve found this to be one of the easiest VPNs to use. The desktop and mobile apps offer both simple and advanced menus, making it easy to connect to a server or adjust your settings. PrivateVPN also offers the advantage of being highly secure. There’s 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection and a kill switch feature. Unlike some VPNs, it has a strict no-logs policy. Live chat support is available as is free remote help and installation, should you need it.

You can access PrivateVPN via its apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux. However, you’ll need to follow manual setup instructions in order to use this VPN with wireless routers.

RELIABLE UNBLOCKING:PrivateVPN provides fast server speeds in Sydney and reliably unblocks the likes of Netflix and Optus Sport. Beginner-friendly service with easy-to-use apps. Browse anonymously thanks to its strict no-logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast server speeds for lag and buffer-free streaming

  • Reliable unblocking — use it with Netflix, Stan, and BBC iPlayer

  • Beginner-friendly desktop and mobile apps

  • No-logs policy keeps all of your personal data safe

  • Smaller network of just 150 servers in total

  • Live chat support isn’t available 24/7

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

7. Hotspot Shield

Website: www.Hotspotshield.com

                    Editor’s Note: Hotspot Shield is owned by Pango, Comparitech’s parent company.

A Hotspot Shield subscription includes various extras including a password manager (1Password) and spam call blocking with Robo Shield. This provides a more complete security package than you might otherwise get with a VPN. Speaking of security, Hotspot Shield also provides 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. 24/7 support is available via live chat and email should you need it.

To get a Sydney IP address, download a Hotspot Shield app for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, or Linux. A browser extension is available for Chrome while you can manually install this VPN with some routers.

PACKED WITH FEATURES:Hotspot Shield has servers in six cities in Australia, Sydney included. Decent speeds for streaming without lag or buffering. Service includes 24/7 support as well as extras such as a password manager. 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Some past privacy issues
  • Doesn’t accept payment in Bitcoin

Read our full Hotspot Shield review.

How to use a VPN in Sydney

Using a VPN in Sydney is much the same as in any other location. In fact, it’s quick and easy to do. From signup to server connection, it should only take a couple of minutes.

Here’s how you can connect to a VPN server in Sydney:

  • Select and sign up with a VPN service that offers servers in Sydney, Australia. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
  • Download and then install the VPN app that’s compatible with your device. All of the VPNs listed let you connect at least five devices simultaneously.
  • Open the VPN app and look for the Australian servers. You should find these further subdivided by city. Connect to a server in Sydney.
  • You will now have a Sydney IP address which means you can unblock content restricted to that location.
  • Still facing geo-blocking? Try clearing your cookies before refreshing your browser. You could also try connecting to another server or contacting your VPN’s support.

According to Freedom House, the Australian government has expanded both its surveillance and data-gathering efforts in recent years. Add to this that Australia is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, and it’s little wonder people turn to VPNs to protect their privacy. Connecting to a VPN server, be it in Sydney or another location, ensures your data is encrypted and cannot be compromised. Furthermore, the best VPNs for Australia don’t keep any identifying logs so that even if data is requested, there shouldn’t be anything to provide.

There are also various security issues to consider with free VPNs. Some fail to encrypt your data, leaving it visible to anyone monitoring the network. Others may lack other key security features, be it DNS leak protection or a kill switch. There’s also risk in downloading free VPNs as some have been found to carry malware. Your privacy may also be compromised with some free VPNs logging your browsing data and selling it to third parties. When it comes to performance and security, free VPNs simply leave a lot to be desired.