While free VPNs may seem attractive, they often impose restrictions on their services, such as data usage limits or restricted server access. In some cases, they may not function effectively within certain countries, so you need to be careful that you choose one you can trust. After conducting tests on over 50 premium and free VPNs, I’ve found a handful of trustworthy services you can use in Russia. ExpressVPN is the best option because of its privacy-focused server infrastructure with over 3,000 global servers including in Europe and Asia to consistently access all your apps. If you get ExpressVPN for Russia and you’re not satisfied, you have up to 30 days to claim a full refund, so there’s no risk in trying it out. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology. Get ExpressVPN for Russia
Quick Guide: Best VPNs for Russia in 2025
Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
3 Easy Steps to Get a VPN for Russia
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
The Best VPNs to Use In Russia (Tested in 2025)
1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN for Russia With TrustedServer Tech for Added Online Privacy
Key Features: ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Russia because it uses RAM-based servers to avoid logging your data. The TrustedServer technology ensures nothing you do on the web can traced. This was proven when Turkish authorities seized one of ExpressVPN’s servers during a criminal investigation and found absolutely nothing. The moment a server loses power, all data on it is deleted. In addition to an audited and proven no-logs policy, ExpressVPN keeps your data safe with:
Secure encryption — pairs military-grade encryption with HMAC authentication and perfect forward secrecy to stop cybercriminals from seeing or modifying your data while it’s transferred on the web. Automatic server obfuscation — makes your connection look like regular traffic, effectively bypassing any VPN blocks on the network you’re using to access blocked sites. Anonymous payment methods — accepts cryptocurrencies to avoid collecting your personal information or credit card details. Network Lock — disables your connection automatically in case the VPN connection fails for some reason, so your data and online activity isn’t exposed accidentally. IP leak prevention — Ensures your real IP is never revealed so your personal data can’t be seen.
If you’re traveling in Russia, you might not be able to access most of your accounts from back home. But ExpressVPN has servers in Finland, Ukraine, Japan, and other countries bordering Russia so you can access: Thanks to ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol, even servers far away from me had fantastic speeds for bandwidth-intensive activities. Plus, its network near Russia in Estonia and Ukraine was the fastest among the VPNs I tested despite being 5,000+ miles away from my location. To connect to the fastest server, just use ExpressVPN’s Smart Location feature. The apps are so easy to use that it took me less than 3 minutes to download it to my iPhone and connect to a server in Ukraine for live news on Ukrinform. Even with ExpressVPN’s maximum of 8 devices, my usual apps like Facebook and Skype sent messages and received calls with no interruptions. One drawback to ExpressVPN is its price. Compared to other VPNs, it’s a bit expensive. The 2-year + 4 months free plan is $$4.994.99 per month but when you factor in how smoothly and reliably it works in Russia, it’s worth it. Another good thing is that ExpressVPN accepts credit card and cryptocurrency payments if you can’t use PayPal in Russia. All ExpressVPN plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested the policy myself so that you can get ExpressVPN confidently for Russia. If you change your mind, it’s easy to get a refund. I asked for my money back via 24/7 live chat and heard back within a minute. It only took 4 days for the funds to arrive in my bank account.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
2. CyberGhost — NoSpy Servers Prevent Third-Parties From Accessing Your Browsing Data
Key Features: CyberGhost has NoSpy servers which it owns and maintains itself to protect your data while online in Russia. Since they’re not rented from third-party server farms, you don’t have to worry about irresponsible operators accessing your information and abusing it. All your browsing activities are protected by CyberGhost’s privacy policy and staff, which means it’s essentially impossible for anyone else to access.
But even with CyberGhost’s regular servers, you’re guaranteed military-grade 256-bit encryption in addition to:
Privacy-friendly headquarters in Romania — doesn’t require the VPN to collect or share your online activities like within the 14 Eyes Alliance countries. Anonymous sign-up — allows you to pay with Bitcoin. WiFi protection — starts a VPN connection automatically when using unsecured Russian public WiFi. IP leak protection — kept my traffic fully encrypted at all times to protect it from Russian hackers and other threats.
This is one of the few VPNs that offers Russia IP addresses, with over 60 virtual servers in Moscow. Though not physically located there, they’re still capable of providing local IP addresses, but without being subjected to the laws and scrutiny of the Russian government. CyberGhost also has servers in Kyiv, Helsinki, and other locations for unrestricted access to platforms like: To test its speeds, I connected to the servers in Ukraine, Japan, and Latvia. The far-away servers were understandably slower due to the distance my data had to travel. But CyberGhost’s servers within 2,000 miles of my location were fast enough to watch YouTube videos in UHD without lag. In under 6 minutes, I was able to install CyberGhost and connect to a server in Russia on all 7 devices including my iPhone, Windows laptop, MacBook, and others. For installation on routers and gaming consoles, CyberGhost’s step-by-step guides and 24/7 live chat are very helpful. CyberGhost’s short monthly plan may seem like a good idea for a trial but it’s more expensive compared to other VPNs and it only comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee. However, CyberGhost’s longer-term plans are very affordable. If you want to try CyberGhost in Russia for free, I recommend the 2-year + 2 months plan for $2.19 per month because of the generous money-back guarantee period — 45 days. I tested this by asking for a refund via live chat after a few weeks and got my money back in 5 days.
3. Proton VPN — Free VPN for Russia With Unlimited Data for Secure Browsing
Key Features: Proton VPN has a free plan that lets you use unlimited data in Russia. For a free VPN, it’s quite impressive that you can connect to servers in 3 countries — the US, Netherlands, and Japan, without being bombarded with ads, too. During my tests with its servers in Japan, Proton VPN’s free version averaged around 66.4Mbps and I experienced smooth WhatsApp video calls, free from lag. However, the premium plan consistently delivered higher speeds, sometimes going above 110Mbps. This supported multiple data-intensive activities when I connected all 10 devices the paid plan allowed. I also found Proton VPN’s app interface quite intuitive across platforms like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Its Quick Connect function connected me to the fastest server and most stable connection in Japan. Depending on your location in Russia and the free servers’ load at the time, you could also be connected to a free server in the Netherlands. You can also use Proton VPN’s customizable DNS settings in Russia with the free plan. This feature bypasses potential DNS-related restrictions that might be enforced in the country. Besides that, Proton VPN also has:
No-log policy — ensures that your browsing history remains confidential given Russia’s stringent cyber laws. Strong encryption — protects your personal data with AES-256 encryption so that no spies can monitor your activities. Kill switch — stops all internet activity if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly.
Although Proton VPN’s free plan includes servers in 3 countries, it isn’t the best to access your regular streaming platforms from Russia. The servers in the US couldn’t unblock most major streaming platforms, but you can access Netflix’s global library and your Disney+ account. Furthermore, all free Proton VPN servers worked with common apps and sites like: If you wish to upgrade to Proton VPN’s paid subscription, the cheapest one is $4.49 per month, and you can pay using a credit card. Signing up only requires your email address and if you don’t like Proton VPN after a few tries, you can ask for your money back within 30 days. You’ll be refunded for the remaining days of your subscription.
4. Hotspot Shield — Catapult Hydra Protocol Keeps Your Speed Consistent in Russia
Key Features: Hotspot Shield’s Catapult Hydra protocol helps you maintain stable speeds in Russia. With other protocols, my speeds fluctuated quite a bit even among servers from the same location. But when I used Catapult Hydra, the free servers in Singapore ensured my speeds never dipped below 60Mbps. This was perfect for watching YouTube tutorial videos without lag. The free plan provides you all the basic security features you need to stay safe online in Russia. For example, the auto-protect feature initiates a VPN connection automatically when you use unsecured public WiFi. Additionally, Hotspot Shield has:
Zero-log policy — ensures your online activities in Russia can’t be traced back to you. Smart VPN feature — excludes some apps and websites from VPN encryption to allow faster connections.
With Hotspot Shield’s free plan, you’ll have access to servers in 3 countries including the US, UK, and Singapore. But as with most free VPNs, you’ll have to upgrade to watch Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, or Hulu reliably from Russia. Still, the free plan worked flawlessly with: Since Hotspot Shield is heavily promoting its 7-day free trial, you might struggle to download the free app at first. If you’re using a Mac, you can download the app directly from the app store. If you’re on a Windows device, you’ll have to create an account and sign in to download the app without entering payment information. The only thing I didn’t like about Hotspot Shield is that the free version shows intrusive and targeted ads. Like Proton VPN, it offers unlimited data, which is great. But the ads were pretty annoying and interrupted my browsing and streaming. Upgrading to a paid plan will remove the annoying ads, let you connect to more nearby servers like in Ukraine and Russia, and access your home content without restrictions. I recommend the 3-year plan as its $2.99 a month. Plus, you’ll have 45 days to ask for a refund.
5. hide.me — Download Torrents Safely in Russia With the Free Plan
Key Features: hide.me allows P2P file sharing in Russia on all its free servers. When I downloaded Abilene Town, the servers in Singapore were understandably the fastest because it’s the closest to me. The 960MB file only took 12 minutes to download. You can get the fastest speeds connecting to a server near Russia like Germany. This is also the only free VPN I know of that provides live chat support even if you’re not a paid subscriber. Not only is it available 24/7, I’m always attended by someone who’s knowledgeable and responds in less than 1 minute. The best part is, you don’t have to provide an email address before you’re transferred to a support staff. To make sure your data isn’t logged, hide.me uses RAM-based servers. Additionally, the free plan also protects you with:
Perfect Forward Secrecy — ensures that each session has a unique encryption key, preventing past session data from being decrypted even if a current key is compromised. Malaysia jurisdiction — isn’t compelled to share online surveillance data with other countries.
The free plan lets you use servers in Germany, Netherlands, and more. But the paid plans will give you access to a broader network in Finland, Ukraine, and other countries. If you’re traveling to Russia and need to access your streaming services from back home, you’ll need to upgrade. With the free plan, however, you can access: The only thing I wished the free plan included was Bolt technology, meant to speed up connection on Windows computers. Still, hide.me was fast enough for everyday browsing, emailing, and text messaging. If you’re looking for one of the best VPNs for fast-paced games like Call of Duty: Warzone, I recommend ExpressVPN. You can also try hide.me’s premium 2-year + 2 months plan at $2.69 a month and use the WireGuard protocol for faster connections, access streaming servers, and more. Plus, you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee. I sent an email and was refunded in 9 days.
6. TunnelBear — Select From a Massive Network of Servers to Avoid Congestion
Key Features: Apart from a few servers in the US and Canada, TunnelBear lets you use its entire network for free in Russia. Unlike with most free VPNs, you’re unlikely to suffer from congested servers since traffic is distributed across its network in 47 countries. Although not one of the fastest VPNs on this list, TunnelBear had reliable speeds averaging 55.3Mbps when I tested its servers within 1,000 miles. This was more than enough to watch Netflix in UHD without any lag since you only need a minimum of 25Mbps. I recommend using a server in Finland, Poland, or Japan to get the best speeds in Russia. With TunnelBear, you’ll get all the basic features you need to stay anonymous while using the internet in Russia. Whether you’re a free or premium user, you’ll have the same military-grade encryption and VigilantBear kill switch protecting you online. Though the servers in the US were unable to access Netflix US and Disney+ in the past, the one in Chicago succeeded during recent tests. Plus, TunnelBear’s free servers also work with sites like Crunchyroll, Crackle, and Funimation if you’re an American traveling in Russia. You can also use TunnelBear to access your regular apps like: However, TunnelBear’s free plan restricts data use to 2GB per month. Considering it can access several streaming platforms, this doesn’t last long. However, you can get an extra 1GB every month by sending a tweet promoting TunnelBear. By upgrading, you’ll get unlimited data, access to servers in Canada, and more streaming platforms like Hulu. The 2-year plan is the best at $4.17 a month but none of TunnelBear’s plans automatically entitle you to a money-back guarantee. So, only upgrade if you’re satisfied with the free plan.
Easy Comparison Table: 2025’s Best VPNs for Russia
Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Warning! Hidden Risks of Free VPNs in Russia
Apart from the best free VPNs I’ve listed here, I don’t recommend other providers because they often:
Lack security features — Most free VPNs don’t have important features like strong encryption and kill switch, which are necessary for your online safety in Russia. Risk privacy — A number of free VPNs are known to collect and sell user-data in the black market, which can lead to various problems including identity theft. Limit data — Free VPNs encourage you to upgrade by limiting how much data you can use in a month or day since there’s only so much you can do with 1GB or 2GB of data. Neglect streaming support — Servers that can access major streaming services like Netflix and Hulu need to be maintained regularly, which costs money so they’re not free. Restrict servers — When there are too few free servers, they can get overcrowded quickly and become slow for everyone.
How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs for Russia
I tested dozens of the best VPNs in 2025 using these criteria to find out which ones work in Russia and can keep your internet activities private in the country:
Large global network — Having a greater number of servers means that a VPN can access a wider range of international content such as news sites and social media apps from Russia. Strong security and privacy features — To safeguard connections from hacking attempts and prevent third-party tracking on the extensively monitored Russian internet, VPNs must have military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and IP leak protection. Fast speeds — All VPNs reduce your connection’s performance to some extent, but I found out which has the fastest servers in Russia and nearby countries for lag-free streaming and smooth online games. Unblocking capabilities — The VPNs on this list have all been tested to confirm they can seamlessly access international news sites and other online services that are banned in Russia. Payment options — Some payment methods like PayPal aren’t available in Russia, so I found VPNs with alternative sign-up options like credit card and cryptocurrency.
Get a VPN for Russia and Connect Today
Free VPNs sound like a great way to stay anonymous online while accessing all your regular apps as you travel in Russia. However, free VPNs limit many aspects of their service like how much data you can use or which servers you can access. With the Russian government banning more and more websites and services, some VPNs simply don’t work in the country. The VPNs on this list are not approved by the Russian government and therefore illegal in the country. If caught, you could be fined 300,000 rubles for using an unauthorized VPN. However, it’s the non-approved VPNs that have policies to protect your privacy in the country and advanced security features. Most of them also have some form of obfuscation technology to prevent firewalls from detecting VPN use. Together, these features prevent third parties from monitoring your activities and intercepting your connections. Please do your research and be aware of the consequences involved in using a VPN not approved by the government. The team at WizCase doesn’t condone illegal activities, but we do believe that everyone has the right to access a free and open internet. The Roskomnadzor is Russia’s federal department for communications, information technology, and mass media, and it maintains a full list of blocked websites. Sites are frequently added to the national block list, so please check it often.
Use a “mirror” site — A mirror site is a replica of the original but with a different URL that’s not known to or blocked by the Russian government. The URL is changed frequently to evade detection, so email the VPN provider to get a working URL. Look for APK files — Some third-party websites host VPN apps that you can download as an APK file to an Android device. Just make sure you’re using a verified website to avoid installing malware. Change your DNS — If a Russian ISP has blocked a VPN website at the DNS level, try changing your DNS to a free service, like Google’s (8.8.8.8). This may unblock the website but your connection won’t be encrypted, so you can be caught. Use Tor — Tor is an anonymous network that lets you access websites not indexed by search engines. Some VPNs have mirror sites that you can access with Tor. However, your ISP in Russia will know that you’re using Tor.
Besides that, Russia has likely banned and blocked at least a large number of apps and websites you likely use on a regular basis. A VPN will allow you to continue using apps like Facebook and WhatsApp, and read international news on sites like Google News. If you have streaming apps on your smartphone to catch a few episodes of your favorite shows while traveling in Russia, chances are, they won’t work without a VPN. This is because most streaming platforms have geo-blocks in place to protect their licensing agreements. So even if you’re a subscriber in the US, you can’t access it in Russia due to rights issues. After testing dozens of VPNs, I’ve found that ExpressVPN is the best for Russia. It protects your privacy, works reliably in the country and has 3,000+ high-speed servers including in Europe and Asia to access all your accounts. It’s also risk-free when you get ExpressVPN for Russia. If you’re not satisfied, you have up to 30 days to claim a refund.
Summary: These Are The Top VPNs That Work in Russia in 2025
Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.