Best VPNs for Sri Lanka: For Freedom & Privacy

Is the lack of internet freedom in Sri Lanka leaving you feeling restricted and uneasy? The persistent shadow of government surveillance can taint users’ online experience, causing concern among citizens and visitors alike.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) becomes crucial in such an environment. A VPN creates a secure, encrypted tunnel for your internet traffic, rendering it impenetrable to prying eyes, be it hackers or government entities.

We’ve researched and tested numerous VPNs to find the services that ensure your online experiences in Sri Lanka are secure, unrestricted, and worry-free.

We provide a lot of detail on each of the VPNs that we selected for this article, but if you only have time for a summary, here is our list of the best VPNs for Sri Lanka:

1. NordVPN Our #1 choice for Sri Lanka. Exceptional speeds and leading privacy and security features. Plenty of servers in many countries (including Sri Lanka), so no issues unblocking restricted sites and services. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Sri Lanka.
2. Surfshark Best budget pick. No connection limit, great at unblocking, and it doesn’t keep any logs. Strong suite of security features.
3. IPVanish Reliable, private, and secure. Also good for streaming and downloading. Allows unlimited device connections.
4. ExpressVPN Vast array of servers around the globe that are able to unblock social media sites, communication apps, and geo-blocked streaming content. Secure and private service.
5. CyberGhost A low‑cost provider with more than 10,000 servers in 100+ countries, and easy‑to‑use apps that are great for beginners.
6. ProtonVPN Approximately 52 servers in Sri Lanka. Great for streaming and torrenting. Solid privacy and security.

How we found the best VPNs for Sri Lanka

Not all VPNs are born equal — some suffer from poor security while others are slow and unreliable. In this article, we reveal the best VPNs for Sri Lanka based on tests in the following key areas:

• Network suitability: We started by checking which VPNs had servers in Sri Lanka suitable for accessing local online services. We also assessed each provider’s global presence, as well as their ability to access a range of geo-restricted sites and streaming platforms.
• Speed: To find which VPNs were fastest, we carried out multiple speed tests while connected to each provider’s servers in Sri Lanka.
• Security and privacy: To ensure your online activities aren’t exposed to potentially malicious third parties, we only recommend those that performed well against our 16 different test metrics.
• Ease of use: We found the services with the most user-friendly apps and customer support by evaluating them against ten different metrics.
• Value for money: To gauge each VPN’s relative worth, we considered more than just monthly subscription costs. Our eight test metrics included checking for money-back guarantees, introductory offers, and discounts.

You can read more about our VPN testing methodology further in this article, but for now, let’s take a closer look at the ones we recommend.

Best VPNs for Sri Lanka: Our hands-on review

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

Best VPNs for Sri Lanka

Here is our full rundown of the best VPNs for Sri Lanka:

1. NordVPN

Jul 2025 Works In Sri LankaTested Jul 2025

NordVPN is our top recommendation for a Sri Lanka VPN. It combines robust security with incredible speeds. In our tests for this article, it averaged 197.35 Mbps. This was more than 47 Mbps faster than the combined average speed of the other tested VPNs, and makes it suitable for everything from video calling to gaming. 

NordVPN encrypts internet traffic using the 256-bit AES protocol, and offers leak protection and a kill switch. More interestingly, it provides one-click access to the Tor network and access to multi-hop servers. It has obfuscated servers and a dedicated obfuscation protocol that are effective enough to bypass blocks in China.

The company adheres to a strict zero-logs policy. This means it will not store any user data related to sessions, traffic, or timestamps.

There have been a few instances where NordVPN received official requests to hand over user data from government surveillance agencies. But its no-logs policy helped it evade these summons. Servers were confiscated in at least one instance, but there wasn’t any incriminating data that could be extracted from them. Additionally, NordVPN is incorporated in Panama, which means it doesn’t have to automatically comply with any data retention laws.

Its server network is similarly robust. There are approximately 7,700 servers spread across 118 countries. This provider supports most online streaming service,s including Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. It’s also suitable for torrenting.

A subscription allows for 10 simultaneous connections. NordVPN’s easy-to-use apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, and macOS.

BEST VPN FOR SRI LANKA:NordVPN is our top VPN pick. It’s a great all-rounder that pegs amazing speeds and works well in Sri Lanka. Best-in-class security features and accommodates up to 10 devices. Also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee for a risk-free deal.

Read our review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

Works in Sri LankaTested Jul 2025

Surfshark is a great low-cost alternative to NordVPN. It holds its own when it comes to unblocking and offers a robust set of security features. These include 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, protection against leaks, and a kill switch.

Alongside some of the more standard features, Surfshark also offers automatic Wi-Fi protection, multi-hop servers, and a split tunneling feature. Better still, Surfshark doesn’t keep any logs whatsoever.

This provider is well known for its ability to unblock content, and it’s easy to see why. During testing, we were able to access multiple Netflix libraries, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.

Surfshark operates over 3,200 servers in more than 100 countries, so you have plenty to choose from. It has servers in Sri Lanka as well as in neighboring countries such as India, Malaysia, and Singapore.

While connected to its servers in Sri Lanka, we measured speeds of between 183.5 Mbps and 190.27 Mbps. This is more than fast enough for streaming or video calling without interruption.

Surfshark apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. A huge perk with this provider is that there’s no connection limit, so you can use it on as many devices as you like.

BEST BUDGET CHOICE:Surfshark is a low-cost, reliable VPN. It’s also great at unblocking and boasts a selection of security extras. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark.

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3. IPVanish

Works In Sri LankaTested Jul 2025

IPVanish has two servers in Sri Lanka and 2,400 more in 140 locations worldwide. It allows users to choose between individual servers and lists the ping time and relative load for each of them.

In our speed tests, the provider was both consistent and quick. The results varied by just 5.13 Mbps and averaged 170.91 Mbps overall. This makes IPVanish well-suited to tasks such as streaming, torrenting, and gaming.

The service uses 256-bit encryption on the WireGuard protocol by default. It has a kill switch, split tunneling, and leak protection.

This company is registered in the US, which might be disconcerting for some. However, since this provider is completely logless, IPVanish simply can’t reveal any identifiable info. This includes session history, choice of servers, and bandwidth utilized.

IPVanish works with various streaming services and permits torrenting on all servers. We had no issue accessing Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video during testing.

Best of all, there’s no connection limit whatsoever. IPVanish has apps for iOS and Android as well as desktop support for Windows and macOS.

NO CONNECTION LIMIT:IPVanish is a good family choice. Allows unlimited simultaneous connections. Excellent standard of privacy and security, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of IPVanish.

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4. ExpressVPN

Works In Sri LankaTested Jul 2025

ExpressVPN leverages robust encryption standards. It uses 256-bit AES-CBC with utilization of both HMAC authentication and perfect forward secrecy. Additional security features include an internet kill switch (the company refers to it as a ‘network lock’), which will temporarily stymie all web traffic if the connection to the VPN drops unexpectedly. ExpressVPN keeps minimal metadata logs, but nothing that could identify users.

When it comes to server networks, ExpressVPN offers a large list of options. There are over 3,000 servers spread across 105 countries. There’s an option to connect to servers in Sri Lanka, too, which is handy for local residents trying to access local content and banking services when traveling abroad.

In our tests for this article, ExpressVPN’s slowest and fastest speeds varied by less than 1 Mbps. Such consistent connections are great for smooth gaming and streaming.

ExpressVPN can reliably access some of the most stubborn geo-blocked services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+.

Apps for Android and iOS are available, as well as desktop clients for Windows and macOS. There’s also an easy-to-set-up router app in case you’d like to secure an entire network.

STRONG UNBLOCKER:ExpressVPN reliably circumvents internet censorship and unblocks Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Viber, and more. Also boasts fast connections and a huge range of servers. Try it on a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of ExpressVPN.

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5. CyberGhost

Works In Sri LankaTested Jul 2025

CyberGhost has a large network of more than 10,000 servers in 100+ countries. It has more than a dozen servers in Sri Lanka, which makes getting a speedy, low-latency connection extremely simple. In our speed tests for this article, it averaged 131.81 Mbps overall. As a rough guide, this is fast enough to streaming Netflix in 4K on five devices at the same time. 

The provider is a great option for streaming and works well with a wide range of services. These include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney Plus.

CyberGhost uses 256-bit AES encryption along with 2,048-bit RSA keys and MD5 HMAC authentication. There’s also an internet kill switch included, which acts as an additional security layer, as well as split tunneling and automatic Wi-Fi protection.

This provider has a stated policy of not storing any data, so that should ease privacy concerns. The company is registered in Romania, which means it’s safely out of the reach of any data retention laws. For those concerned with privacy and don’t mind having a Romanian IP address, the company operates its own NoSpy servers.

CyberGhost allows up to seven simultaneous connections and has apps available for Android and iOS as well as desktop clients for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

GREAT VALUE:CyberGhost is great for beginners. Great privacy and security. Vast global server network and comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

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6. Proton VPN

Works In Sri LankaTested Jul 2025

ProtonVPN has around 52 servers in Sri Lanka and more than 12,000 worldwide. This is far more than most VPNs and pretty much guarantees you’ll be able to avoid congestion.

While connected to Proton VPN’s servers in Sri Lanka, we recorded speeds averaging 134.02 Mbps. This is fast enough for everyday online activities like streaming, gaming, or torrenting.

ProtonVPN has the ability to unblock a number of geo-restricted streaming services in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. We had no issues accessing stubborn streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer during testing.

The provider is one of the few to allow port forwarding, making it a great option for torrenters. Other features include a stealth protocol, split tunneling, and multi-hop servers. As you might expect, it also provides strong encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch,

Subscriptions allow users to secure up to 10 devices at the same time. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, and iOS.

Fast Servers:ProtonVPN is a solid all-rounder. Unblocks social media content, most chat and popular streaming services. Vast network of 12,000 servers in 117 countries. Excellent security and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of Proton VPN.

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Our Methodology: Identifying the best VPNs for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a particularly troubling digital landscape, with many ISPs blocking access to encrypted messengers and VPNs outright. Additionally, the country has vaguely worded laws that can easily be used to prosecute unwitting internet users. For this reason, users shouldn’t compromise on privacy when choosing a VPN. But this isn’t the only thing that’s important. To ensure you get a suitably versatile provider, we tested providers in five key areas:

Features

Sri Lankan ISPs have been known to block VPNs if they detect VPN traffic. As such, we started by checking which providers had stealth modes that could obfuscate traffic. Next, we checked whether they had servers in Sri Lanka. These will give you the fastest speeds if you’re in the country, and provide access to local online services if you’re abroad. We checked how many other countries each provider supported and which streaming services they worked with.

Scores for all of the above were weighted and combined to generate an overall score for each provider. This makes a quick comparison possible.

NordVPN scored a perfect 10.0 out of 10 in our tests. It has servers in Sri Lanka and another 117 countries. It can effectively obfuscate traffic and works with all major streaming services. ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and IPVanish are also excellent choices.

Speed

To avoid getting frustrated with slow connection speeds while using a VPN in Sri Lanka, we’ve only recommended suitably quick providers. We found the fastest by carrying out multiple speed tests while connected to their servers in Sri Lanka.

We took measurements using the desktop version of the Ookla speed-testing app. To emulate the experience of the average user, we rate-limited our base connection speed to 250 Mbps (which is roughly the median fixed broadband speed in the US).

We averaged each provider’s results and then converted them to scores out of 10. This makes a side-by-side comparison possible.

NordVPN was the fastest provider overall, though Surfshark was only about 10 Mbps slower. Both providers are well-suited to demanding tasks like 4K streaming and multiplayer gaming. IPVanish is also a good call for anyone who wants fast connection speeds.

Security and privacy

We’ve only recommended VPNs that use 256-bit encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch to keep your activities private. As you can see from the table below, we were also looking for providers with robust no-logs policies and secure protocols.

If the terms used in the table above are unfamiliar to you, don’t worry. The chart below — which combines the scores for each test metric — provides an overview of each provider’s relative security and privacy.

NordVPN and Surfshark each scored 9.5 out of 10. They use strong encryption and have no-logs policies that have been audited multiple times. ProtonVPN is the next-best alternative.

Ease of use

We looked for VPNs that were easy for newcomers to use, and that offered free customer support over live chat. We were also eager to find providers with strong multi-platform support.

We scored each metric according to its relative importance. These scores were then combined and used to generate a chart for direct comparison.

NordVPN scored a winning 9.6 out of 10. It makes life easier for users with task-specific servers, intuitive apps, and excellent customer support. Surfshark and CyberGhost are the best alternatives if user-friendliness is important to you.

Value for money

We all like a good deal, which is why we try to find VPNs that offer good value for money. As the table below suggests, this necessitates taking into account things like free trials, money-back guarantees, and long-term discounts.

As before, we combined the scores for each test metric to generate overall scores for each provider.

Surfshark was the best-value provider overall because it allows unlimited device connections and has a very reasonable two-year introductory offer. NordVPN came in as a close second thanks to its great value long-term plans and regular discounts and deals.

Browsing safely in Sri Lanka: FAQs