Best VPNs for Nigeria to bypass censorship

Nigeria has a history of online censorship, and according to Freedom House, the country’s digital surveillance apparatus has repeatedly been used to locate and arrest journalists. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the easiest way to protect against such surveillance and keep your online activities private. Of course, there are plenty of other reasons to use a VPN in Nigeria. They’ll also allow you to stay safe on public Wi-Fi networks or access streaming platforms and local sites from back home.

Whatever your reason for wanting a VPN, we’ve got you covered. We’ve used our years of hands-on experience to identify the best VPN providers for people in Nigeria. We’ll explain how to use them, answer some common VPN questions, and give you detailed reviews of each provider’s features, pros, and cons. However, in case you’re short on time, we’ll start with a short summary.

The best VPNs for Nigeria:

1. NordVPN: Our #1 choice for Nigeria. Has a large server network, particularly high speeds, and the ability to beat just about any online restrictions. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try it risk-free.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Nigeria.
2. Surfshark: Best low-cost VPN for Nigeria. Allows unlimited connections and makes it easy to get a Nigerian IP address. Solid speeds and powerful security.
3. IPVanish: Faster than many other VPNs, with a zero-logs policy and a good set of security features. Connect as many devices as you like and stream a wide range of platforms.
4. ExpressVPN: Offers access to 100+ server locations, including Kenya and South Africa. Provides user-friendly apps, a solid privacy policy, and good speeds. Works perfectly in countries with extreme online censorship.
5. CyberGhost: A beginner-friendly VPN with reliable Nigerian servers, customizable security tools and the ability to access a ton of region-locked sites.
6. ProtonVPN: Reliable, high-speed provider boasting roughly 40 Nigerian servers. Excels at beating online restrictions and permits up to 10 connections at a time. Designed with your privacy in mind.
7. PureVPN: Makes it as easy as possible to browse securely and access Nigerian services abroad. Strong security and 24/7 support.
8. PrivateVPN: A no-logs service with decent speeds and exceptional privacy. Has a server in Lagos, Nigeria, and a stealth mode that works nearly anywhere.

How we chose the top Nigeria VPNs

There are hundreds of VPN services, but choosing the right one can be tricky. We’ve searched high and low to find the best VPNs for Nigeria. In order to do this, we narrowed down the options to those that met the following non-negotiable criteria:

• Speed: Each VPN on our list was subject to a 24-hour speed test to ensure it can perform even during the busiest periods. We only recommended those that passed our speed checks and would be reliable for streaming and downloading.
• Functionality: Our functionality testing criteria consider network size, coverage, streaming access, and more. This means we only recommend providers that work for multiple use cases.
• Security & privacy: We assess 10 security and privacy criteria, including logging policies and encryption levels. These things are particularly important when using a VPN in places like Nigeria.
• Ease of use: A VPN shouldn’t be complicated, even with advanced features. We look at app design, platform availability, and feature parity before converting everything into an ease of use score out of 10.
• Value for money: Subscription cost is a key consideration for our value for money assessment, but it’s not the only thing. We look at eight criteria, including connection limits and money-back guarantees, before determining our value score.

This is just an overview, but you can read more detail about how we test and rank the VPNs we recommend in the methodology section below.

Best VPNs for Nigeria compared

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Nigeria.

Best VPNs for Nigeria

At Comparitech, we personally use and test every VPN before recommending them to you. The following reviews are based on those first-hand experiences.

Here’s our list of the highest-quality VPNs for Nigeria:

1. NordVPN

Jun 2025

NordVPN is our top pick for VPN users in Nigeria. It’s fast, reliable, and offers more than 7,000 servers in 100+ countries around the world, including servers in Lagos to obtain a Nigerian IP address. Further, it’s able to securely access a huge range of content, from Netflix to BBC iPlayer. There are even special obfuscated servers (and a brand new custom protocol, NordWhisper) created to beat the world’s strictest digital censorship. In other words, you don’t have to worry about any new online restrictions that are introduced during your visit.

So how quick is NordVPN? Well, it’s regularly among the top contenders in our industry-wide speed tests but we wanted to make sure our data was as up-to-date as possible. That’s why we tested its US servers at multiple times of day on a 250 Mbps connection — the table below shows how this provider did:

Following three tests, NordVPN had an average speed of 203.07 Mbps, making it the quickest VPN service in our list by a good margin. It was highly reliable too, with speeds varying by around 5 Mbps. In other words, this VPN is perfect for any data-intensive task. We were able to stream, torrent, and play online games without any noticeable drop in performance, even during evenings and weekends.

This service keeps you safe using 256-bit AES encryption, an automatic kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, but that’s just the start. NordVPN can also block ads, trackers, and malware outright, and its MeshNet feature securely connects your devices to one another even if they’re on different networks. Mobile users even get built-in tapjacking protection. Most importantly, NordVPN keeps no logs and has had its privacy policy audited by experts multiple times.

NordVPN supports desktop PCs (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and mobile devices (iOS, Android). You can even manually install it on routers if you’d prefer.

BEST VPN FOR NIGERIA:NordVPN is our first choice. It works with popular streaming sites, and has a huge network of servers, superfast speeds, and plenty of security features. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee making it a risk-free option.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is the best budget VPN. Its Nigerian servers are reliable, but you can also try those in Ghana, South Africa, Algeria, or 100+ other countries. This is one of the only major providers that allows any number of connections, and as if that wasn’t enough, it works in restrictive countries like China. Users can access virtually any major streaming platform, and 24/7 support is available via live chat.

When it comes to speed, Surfshark might surprise you. Despite being a low-cost VPN, it’s more than capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with more expensive providers. Still, regular retesting is vital for accurate data, so our team performed three tests throughout a typical day using Surfshark’s US servers. Here’s how it did:

With average speeds of 189.96 Mbps, Surfshark is the second quickest provider we tested. It was quite consistent too, speeds fluctuating by around 8 Mbps over the course of the day. So what does this mean for you? Simply, you’ll be able to browse the internet, watch live broadcasts, make video calls, and torrent without any noticeable decrease in performance.

This provider is one of the best for online privacy. As well as uncrackable encryption, it offers a stealth mode, kill switch, leak protection, tracker-blocker, and automatic wifi protection. It’s even able to switch your IP address regularly to make you harder to track! Surfshark’s privacy policy is very clear: no logs, ever. If you have any problems, support staff are ready to help 24/7 over live chat.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. You can manually configure the VPN on some routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is the best budget VPN. Boasts plenty of privacy features. It’s fast and reliable, keeps no logs, and great for anyone in Nigeria. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish just recently expanded its network, and now offers 2,400 servers across 100+ countries, including a couple in Nigeria itself. It’s a reliable option for accessing popular streaming platforms and even works with services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. Best of all, there’s no limit on the number of devices you can connect and customer support is available around the clock.

With its 25 Gbps servers and WireGuard support, IPVanish is theoretically one of the fastest providers on the market. However, we wanted to see how it held up in real-world scenarios. Below, you’ll find the results of speed tests performed in the morning, at noon, and in the evening on this VPN’s US servers:

This service achieved an average speed of 184.38 Mbps, which is a fantastic result. Its speeds varied by around 7 Mbps throughout the day, which is about average, and shouldn’t even be noticeable. We’ve had great results using IPVanish to live stream, make video calls, download large files, and play online games, and can safely say that it’s ready for whatever you throw at it.

This provider boasts strong security tools and a true no-logs policy, so there’s no need to worry about your privacy. Its apps keep you safe using a combination of 256-bit AES encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch. Users can also scramble their traffic to hide the fact that they’re using a VPN at all (though this only works with OpenVPN). Support staff are on hand 24/7 to help in the unlikely event of any problems.

IPVanish apps can be installed on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Linux and routers require manual configuration. This VPN recently launched a new Advanced subscription tier offering the VPN, secure online storage, and a cloud based browser.

PERFECT FOR FAMILIES:IPVanish has fast and consistent speeds. Lets you secure every device you own and works great with most streaming platforms. Annual plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN users can choose from 100+ server locations, including a couple that are reasonably close to Nigeria. This service provides secure, uninterrupted access to plenty of popular streaming sites, so whether you want to watch Netflix or just browse Twitter, it’ll get the job done. What’s more, this service works almost anywhere in the world, easily sidestepping even China’s Great Firewall.

ExpressVPN has a large network but how do its speeds compare to those of its rivals? To find out, we repeatedly tested its American servers using a 250 Mbps connection. The chart below shows how quick this VPN was at various times of day, and also gives us a better idea as to its reliability during peak times like evenings.

This service managed to provide an average speed of 155.81 Mbps. That’s a result most other VPNs could only dream of and is well above what’s required for uninterrupted streaming, P2P activity, or chatting. ExpressVPN only had 6 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest results too, which is fantastic.

This VPN has a solid security toolkit with 256-bit AES encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch (which it calls Network Lock). Just recently, it added a Threat Protection tab to the settings, allowing users to block ads, trackers, and shady sites automatically. Its custom Lightway protocol was also reworked to support post-quantum encryption. Further, ExpressVPN follows a strict no-logs policy and has proven it with several audits.

ExpressVPN apps are available for the following operating systems: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux. It also offers custom router firmware so you can more easily protect all of your devices at the same time.

GREAT UNBLOCKER:ExpressVPN is very versatile and boasts fast enough speeds for streaming, torrenting, or gaming. Great for streaming. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost offers access to servers in around 100 countries, with roughly a dozen MENA countries supported (including Nigeria). This service is fantastic for newcomers since it lets you know exactly which servers are best for tasks like torrenting, maximizing anonymity, and unblocking your favorite streaming services. CyberGhost permits up to seven simultaneous connections and offers 24/7 support.

Let’s talk about speed. CyberGhost has a large network, which should mean you’re less likely to be assigned a server that’s crowded with other users. We also wanted to see how much impact it had on your base speeds, so we tested its servers in the US at different times of day to get a better understanding of its performance:

As you can see, CyberGhost’s average speed was 145.92 Mbps. This is well above what you’ll need for uninterrupted streaming, video calling, or torrenting, even if you prefer to do so at peak times (like evenings or weekends). There was around 9 Mbps of difference between its best and worst results too, which is about average.

We really like that this service caters to different levels of experience. Novices can just connect as normal to take advantage of uncrackable encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection, but there’s also a smart rules option for more advanced users. This lets you connect automatically when on public Wi-Fi networks or even launch a specific app when the VPN activates. CyberGhost doesn’t keep any logs and isn’t afraid to prove it with third-party audits.

CyberGhost apps are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. This VPN also offers apps for Amazon TV and Fire Stick. Routers can be set up manually.

EXCELLENT VALUE:CyberGhost has thousands of servers worldwide. Features high speeds, live chat support and an excellent security offering. Has a 14-day money-back guarantee on monthly plans and a 45-day money-back guarantee on anything longer.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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6. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN has a truly expansive network, with over 12,000 servers in 115+ countries including Nigeria. A portion of its network is even stored underground in high-privacy countries like Switzerland for added protection against government tampering. Users can access all kinds of geo-blocked platforms including Netflix, DStv, and Amazon Prime Video, no matter where they are in the world.

We’ve had excellent results from this service in the past but it’s vital to retest regularly so that we can provide you with the most accurate idea of the speeds you can expect. Take a look at the table below: it shows ProtonVPN’s US server performance at multiple times of day:

With an average speed of 130.74 Mbps, ProtonVPN isn’t the fastest provider we’ve seen but it’s not too far off. Data-intensive tasks like torrenting, watching 4K video, and playing online games don’t pose any problems whatsoever. Better still, this was arguably the most consistent VPN we saw, speeds varying by just 3 Mbps across three tests.

So what does it offer in terms of security? More than most! For starters, there’s unbreakable encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and automatic tracker-blocking. You can also set up port forwarding or let certain apps pass through the VPN entirely. ProtonVPN has a no-logs policy, has been audited by independent experts, and accepts several anonymous payment methods. In short, it’s one of the most privacy-conscious providers on the market.

ProtonVPN offers apps for Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, and MacOS. Further, it provides manual configuration instructions in case you’d rather install it on your router.

SPEEDY AND SECURE:ProtonVPN has the performance, unblocking ability, and privacy tools needed to browse the web safely in Nigeria. With 24/7 customer support, a high connection limit, and a 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans, it’s a great option for almost anyone.

For more info, read our complete ProtonVPN review.

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7. PureVPN

PureVPN users can choose from more than 6,000 servers in 65 countries including Nigeria. Despite not offering many African locations, this VPN works flawlessly with platforms like DStv, Netflix, and Hulu, so you’ll never be short of things to watch. It also does a great job of bypassing censorship, working perfectly in the UAE and China. In other words, you’ll be able to use social media in Nigeria, even if the government decides to restrict access again.

This is an impressive start but it doesn’t mean much if PureVPN can’t provide the high speeds you require. To see just what it’s capable of, we decided to test its US servers throughout a typical day, keeping a close eye on both its speeds and how much they fluctuated. You’ll find the results in the chart below:

PureVPN achieved an average speed of 68.13 Mbps, which is lower than those of the providers higher in our list but still very competitive. For context, you’ll only need around 15 Mbps to stream 4K video, free from interruption, and most other day-to-day tasks have even lower requirements.

This service tries to be as newcomer-friendly as possible. By default, it keeps you safe with a blend of uncrackable encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch (which stops sending data the moment your connection to the VPN drops). There’s a strict zero-logging policy too, with PureVPN undergoing four independent audits to prove it’s as anonymity-focused as it claims. Further, the apps include a tracker-blocking tool which is now available to all users, not just those on the Plus or Max plans.

PureVPN has its own apps for Linux, MacOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. Looking to protect more than 10 devices? Just follow manual setup instructions to get it running on your router.

SIDESTEP CENSORSHIP:PureVPN works almost anywhere, even in countries where the internet is heavily-restricted. Boasts a solid security toolkit, impressive speeds, and around-the-clock support. Every subscription comes with a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Interested? Learn more with our full PureVPN review.

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8. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN can get you a Nigerian IP address in seconds. It also has servers in another 62 locations, though there’s a real lack of options in African countries. On the plus side, it’s one of the best options for sidestepping regional restrictions, so whether you’re trying to watch TV from back home or avoid government censorship, PrivateVPN would be a fantastic choice. There’s a 10-device limit and 24/7 support just in case you run into any problems.

Now, because of PrivateVPN’s smaller network, in-house management, and the fact that it’s its own ISP, it struggles to match its rivals’ speeds. Our experts wanted to see what this meant for the typical user, so we performed three speed tests on its Americans servers. Here’s how quick PrivateVPN was at three times of day:

This service had an average speed of 64.24 Mbps on a 250 Mbps connection. That’s still fast enough to handle pretty much any day-to-day task, from streaming to making video calls. It was fairly consistent too, with 6 Mbp of difference between its highest and lowest results. Still, if your base connection is significantly slower than ours, you may want to consider a different provider.

This VPN provider is actually its own server host and ISP, which means there’s minimal chance of any outside interference with your data. The apps themselves keep you safe with 256-bit AES encryption, a customizable kill switch, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. PrivateVPN maintains your online anonymity by refusing to log anything at all, but we’d like to see it undergo an audit all the same.

PrivateVPN offers apps for Windows and Mac as well as for mobile users on Android and iOS. However, you’ll need to configure this service manually for Linux and routers.

IDEAL FOR STREAMING:PrivateVPN has fast servers and a high connection limit which makes it ideal for almost any online activities. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

How to use a VPN in Nigeria

VPNs are one of the easiest ways to enhance your online privacy, though they can be a little confusing at first. Don’t worry, follow the simple steps below, and you’ll be browsing and streaming securely in a matter of minutes.

Here’s how to connect to a VPN in Nigeria:

1. Decide which VPN is right for you – NordVPN is our top recommendation.
2. Download and install the VPN software, then log in.
3. Now, let’s connect. In our experience, nearby servers provide the fastest speeds. However, there may be times when you need a server in a distant location (for instance, an American tourist may want to use a US server to gain a Us IP address and stream TV from back home).
4. After a moment, the VPN will let you know if everything has worked properly. From this point on, all of your internet traffic is encrypted and hidden from your ISP and anyone else who might be watching.
5. If you’re trying to access geo-restricted content, you may need to clear your cookies and reload the page for any changes to take effect.

Finding the best VPNs for Nigeria: Our methodology

Not every VPN service has what it takes to get you a Nigerian IP address, beat online censorship, or keep you safe online. To make sure we only recommend the very best VPNs for the job, we carefully considered what each service offered in the five key areas below:

Speed

Every VPN will have some impact on your performance, it’s an unavoidable side effect of the encryption process. However, some services are better-optimized than others, so it pays to weigh your options carefully. So, how do we make sure that we only recommend VPNs that can provide the speeds needed for everyday usage?

For starters, we run multiple speed tests at different times of day. This helps offset some of the inherent randomness of internet speeds and gives us an understanding of how stable the VPN’s performance is. Note that we test US servers on a 250 Mbps connection. Finally, these three results are averaged and normalized, resulting in an overall score out of 10 for each of our top VPNs. See for yourself:

The fastest provider we tested was NordVPN, which achieved a perfect score in this category. Surfshark came in second and IPVanish was third, all three providers within 25 Mbps of one another. That said, it’s important to note that every service in this list is fast enough for day-to-day activities.

Functionality

Our next task was to obtain an understanding of each provider’s functionality. To begin with, we checked how many countries their networks covered and whether they supported split tunneling (the ability to let certain apps or sites pass through the VPN unencrypted). Then, we looked into how many major streaming platforms they could access from abroad and how reliably they did so. Here are our scores:

NordVPN took the top spot here again, scoring an impeccable 9.8 points out of 10. The only thing stopping it from getting a perfect score was that other some other providers cover more countries. ExpressVPN came in second place, for instance, largely due to the size of network.

Security and privacy

A VPN’s main objective is to keep your online activities private. That’s doubly important if you’re in a country where the internet is heavily-censored, like Nigeria. To be sure that we only recommend highly-secure providers, our top picks must offer unbreakable encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. We also look for a no-logs policy and dive deep into each VPN’s audit history. Here are the 16 relevant areas we focus on when assigning security scores:

It’s perfectly okay if some of the technical terms in the table above went over your heard. Below, we’ll show how the best VPNs for Nigeria scored, side-by-side, on security. VPNs with higher scores generally have a stronger privacy focus and fewer avenues for an attacker to exploit.

Surfshark and NordVPN both scored 9.5 points here and share first place. NordVPN could do with strengthening its authentication slightly (though it’s still secure as is, there’s just room for improvement). Surfshark, meanwhile, is based in the Netherlands, a Nine Eyes signatory, and that’s less than ideal. However, as both services’ security toolkits are otherwise robust, neither issue is a dealbreaker.

Ease of use

Here at Comparitech, we’re big fans of services that go out of their way to be as user-friendly as possible. Perhaps they offer servers specifically designed for streaming, 24/7 access to customer support, or an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. We consider the following when assigning scores, but any quality of life features that simplify everyday usage are going to help providers in this category.

Our top scorer here was NordVPN, which earned an impressive 9.6 points. e were impressed by the fact that, despite offering lots of advanced (and even unique) features, it remained simple enough for complete beginners to use. IPVanish came in second place for similar reasons, with ExpressVPN’s automatic obfuscation and general reliability earning its third place.

Value for money

Nobody wants to pay more than they have to for digital privacy. That’s why our team work to make sure that the services we recommend aren’t just fast and secure; they also have to be affordable. In addition to checking the lowest monthly price, we look into various factors such as how often the VPN goes on sale, whether it offers lower rates for students, and how steep its long-term discounts are. Note that to even be considered a spot in our list, providers must include a money-back guarantee.

Surfshark and IPVanish were the top scorers here. They each offer deeply-discounted rates for users who choose multi-year plans and neither has a connection limit, making them fantastic value for families. We were pleased with how reliably they accessed popular streaming platforms too.

Want to know more? Our VPN testing methodology post explains thoroughly how we test and analyze each VPN against criteria such as speed and security.

The status of internet freedom and censorship in Nigeria

According to Freedom House’s Freedom on the Net 2024 report, the internet in Nigeria is ‘partly free’ and actually dropped a point compared to 2023. One particular concern is the approval of the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms. This code mandates that all internet intermediaries remove content that’s deemed to be unlawful within 48 hours of a request from authorities.

The concern here is that this will be used as a tool to limit freedom of expression and a way to censor the media as well as political opponents. Another issue with internet freedom in Nigeria is that journalists and regular internet users continue to face criminal charges for what they post online. This includes criticism of powerful individuals, such as those in government.

When it comes to online censorship in Nigeria, the Nigerian government has blocked some social media platforms in recent years. However, this situation has improved, particularly over the last year. As of 2024, there are few websites and services that are actually blocked in Nigeria.

VPNs in Nigeria: FAQs