Best VPNs for Switzerland: Speed and Privacy

Did you know that your internet service provider can see exactly what you get up to online? Unfortunately, so can the owner of any public hotspot, so it pays to take security into your own hands. This is despite the fact that an individual’s right to privacy is enshrined in Switzerland’s constitution! The good news is that there’s an easy way to stop this kind of snooping; just use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

So what are VPNs? In simple terms, they’re services that encrypt your internet traffic, rendering your activities unreadable. There are other benefits too; VPNs let you spoof your location so that you can regain access to geo-blocked services like SRF and ARD while traveling outside of Switzerland. Now, not every VPN is secure or fast enough for daily use but don’t worry: we’ve done the research for you.

We’ll explore our top recommendations in more detail shortly but if you only have time for a summary, here’s our list of the best VPNs for Switzerland:

We found these to be the best VPNs for Switzerland:

1. NordVPN: Our #1 Switzerland VPN. More than 100 Swiss servers to choose from and exceptional streaming ability. Puts your security first and offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Switzerland.
2. Surfshark: The best budget VPN for users in Switzerland. Works with a wide range of streaming services and refuses to keep logs of your activities. Large network and no connection limit.
3. IPVanish: A speedy, privacy-conscious service that can protect every device you own. Boasts a strong security toolkit and the ability to unblock most Swiss streaming platforms.
4. ExpressVPN: This zero-logs provider boasts first-class obfuscation and speedy servers in 105 countries including Switzerland. Great for beginners.
5. CyberGhost: Novice-friendly VPN with servers designed for watching Swiss TV abroad. Good set of privacy features and 24/7 customer support.
6. ProtonVPN: A security-first VPN with more than 200 Swiss servers to choose from. Suitable for streaming and capable of providing extremely high speeds.
7. PrivateVPN: Reliable service with speedy Swiss servers, a generous connection limit, and a strong focus on privacy. Suitable for any day to day task.
8. PureVPN: Quick, capable, and ready for anything. Makes it as easy as possible to protect yourself online in Switzerland.

The VPN providers we recommend offer a wide range of server locations. This means it’s possible to get an IP address emanating from Switzerland even if you’re currently living in the US, the UK, Australia, Germany, Canada, India, China, Hong Kong, France, Sweden, Norway, Japan, or anywhere else in the world.

The best Swiss VPNs 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 VPN for Switzerland.

Our criteria for Swiss VPNs

VPN services are a dime a dozen but don’t put them all in one category. We’ll explain our testing process at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick overview of some of the non-negotiable features we require before recommending a service:

• Servers in Switzerland and at least 60 other countries
• Support for multiple simultaneous connections
• Reliable speeds for streaming and downloading
• High levels of security, including a no-logs policy
• Apps for all devices, including mobile (iOS and Android)
• Fair pricing and a money-back guarantee
• Live chat-based customer support

The best VPNs for Switzerland

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

1. NordVPN

May 2025

NordVPN is our top provider for Swiss users. There are more than 200 servers in Switzerland (and 6,000+ in another 100 countries), plus this VPN can reliably access all manner of stubborn streaming platforms, from Netflix to SRF. With up to 10 simultaneous connections permitted, it’s a great choice for families. Customer support is available around the clock too, which is always a plus.

NordVPN has long been known as one of the fastest providers around. We wanted to see if that reputation was still justified, so we tested its Swiss servers at multiple times across a typical day. The table below shows how quick it was and gives you an idea as to how much fluctuation in speed you can expect:

With an average speed of 200.63 Mbps and less than 2 Mbps of difference between its best and worst results, NordVPN was both the fastest and most consistent provider we tested. This makes it ideal for data-intensive tasks like torrenting, broadcasting live gameplay, or watching 4K video (and to be honest, you could probably do all three at once without too much trouble).

This provider is headquartered in Panama and does not have to comply with any mandatory data retention laws. In any case, it records no logs of any user activity or session data. All traffic is secured with 256-bit encryption, and additional security features include an internet kill switch and DNS leak protection. It also offers Tor over VPN servers, a custom protocol designed to sidestep country-wide censorship, and the ability to block trackers and ads automatically.

NordVPN apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS, and Linux (both GUI and command line). It can also be manually installed on most routers.

BEST VPN FOR SWITZERLAND:NordVPN is our top pick. Delivers top-tier performance and doesn’t compromise on security. Capable of accessing just about any region-locked site. All plans come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is the best budget VPN for Switzerland. Despite its low price point, it offers access to 3,200 servers in 100+ countries including Switzerland and is one of the only major services with no connection limit. Watching your favorite shows abroad won’t be a problem as this VPN works flawlessly with platforms like Netflix and SRF. Of course, if you have any issues, live chat is available 24 hours per day.

It might surprise you to learn that this low-cost provider has previously ranked very highly in our industry-wide speed tests. Still, Surfshark is constantly optimizing and tweaking its network so we wanted to test it again and see just how quick it is. Here’s how its servers in Switzerland performed throughout the day:

Extremely well, it turns out. Surfshark’s average speed was 192.96 Mbps, just 10 Mbps lower than NordVPN’s. In other words, this service is well-suited to tasks like video calling, torrenting, and streaming. Across three tests, its speeds varied by around 7 Mbps, which shouldn’t even be noticeable; you’re effectively guaranteed a stable connection, even during peak times — just make sure your base connection is fast enough since every VPN will slow you down somewhat.

This provider is especially strong on privacy, with a strict no-logging policy, an anti-censorship NoBorders feature, and support for the Wireguard protocol. Of course, it also boasts 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks. We’re big fans of its ability to rotate your IP address periodically too — this makes you even harder to track while keeping your location the same.

Apps are available for iOS, MacOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Select routers are also supported, but they must be manually configured.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is an affordable option that can protect all of your devices and gives you the ability to browse safely, stream, and torrent from anywhere in the world. It boasts high speeds, and even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish is one of the few VPN companies that owns and operates all of its servers across the globe. This gives it absolute control over all user traffic flowing through its servers. Better yet, it recently expanded its network and now covers over 100 countries, with over a dozen servers in Switzerland. Unlike most other VPNs, IPVanish lets you connect all of your devices at the same time.

IPVanish uses 10 Gbps servers which theoretically means that you’re less likely to be assigned a server that’s operating at or near capacity. To get an accurate view of its overall performance, we ran three tests on its Swiss servers using a 250 Mbps connection (roughly the household average speed in Switzerland). Let’s see how IPVanish did:

This service achieved an average speed of 170.16 Mbps, making it one of the top three-fastest VPNs we tested. There was around 9 Mbps of variance over the span of a day, which is fairly normal, and with results this high, you’re unlikely to even notice it. IPVanish is a great choice for anyone interested in activities that use a lot of data like torrenting or streaming.

IPVanish works with a range of geo-restricted streaming sites, including BBC iPlayer and Netflix. Security features include 256-bit AES encryption with perfect forward secrecy, DNS leak protection, and an internet kill switch. There’s also a proven no-logs policy, the option to scramble your OpenVPN traffic, and newly-added support for multi-hop connections.

Apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows, and MacOS. To use this VPN on Linux systems or routers, you’ll have to set it up manually.

FAST AND RELIABLE:IPVanish has a large network of servers Uncongested network achieves good speeds. Strong security and privacy features make IPVanish a favorite for Kodi and Amazon Fire Stick. 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

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4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has been on the scene for over a decade and it’s easy to see why it’s made it this far. Its network covers 105 countries including Switzerland, it can reliably unblock even the most stubborn streaming platforms, and it even works in high-censorship countries. Users can protect up to eight devices simultaneously and chat directly with support staff, day or night.

This provider claims its custom protocol (Lightway) is faster than OpenVPN and most other protocols thanks to its streamlined codebase. To put this to the test, we measured ExpressVPN’s performance multiple times. These tests were run using the Swiss servers and a 250 Mbps connection. Let’s take a look at the results:

ExpressVPN delivered an average speed of 129.24 Mbps, which is significantly higher than most other VPNs can hope to achieve. If you’re the type of person who likes to multi-task, you’re in luck: this VPN can handle simultaneous streaming, video calling, and torrenting without any issues. With a variance of around 8 Mbps, it’s also extremely reliable, even during busier times of day.

ExpressVPN does not log any records of user activity or source IP addresses. It’s been thoroughly audited and includes every feature you’ll need to browse the web safely. These include 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a brand-new Threat Protection tool that blocks ads and trackers automatically. This VPN even obfuscates your connection as needed without asking you to do anything different.

The company offers intuitive, easy-to-use apps for Android and iOS, as well as clean desktop versions for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. There’s even custom router firmware which makes securing your home network as simple as possible.

HIGHLY VERSATILE:ExpressVPN is a blazing fast and reliable choice which works with all major streaming services. Great security and privacy features and keeps no logs. Includes a 30-day money back guarantee.

Read our review of ExpressVPN.

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5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is one of the most beginner-friendly VPNs around. It has servers in 100 countries and groups these based upon your intended activity. As such, you can tell at a glance which are best for torrenting, watching RSI outside of Switzerland, or playing online games. There’s a seven-device limit which should be enough for most people, as well as 24/7 customer support over live chat.

Let’s talk about performance. CyberGhost has historically done very well in our testing, but even minor changes to the network can have a large impact on your speeds. Our experts tested CyberGhost’s Swiss servers in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon to see how reliable it was at various times of day:

This service provided an average speed of 131.22 Mbps placing it firmly amongst the quickest VPNs we’ve seen. It was slightly more consistent too, speeds varying by roughly 6 Mbps over the course of a day. Needless to say, you should be able to live stream Swiss TV without any noticeable performance issues.

CyberGhost secures all web traffic with 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, an internet kill switch, and DNS leak protection. It does not store user data or logs, including IP addresses. Additional security features include an ad blocker, anti-malware defense, and anti-tracking functionality.

You can access the service on Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, or MacOS. Routers are supported too but you’ll have to follow manual setup instructions.

BEGINNER'S CHOICE:CyberGhost is great for novice users. Great privacy, zero logs and DNS leak protection. Can struggle with some popular streaming sites. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full user review of CyberGhost.

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6. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN operates roughly 12,600 servers in 115+ countries and there are more than 700 in Switzerland alone. It’s a great choice whether you’re looking to stream RSI abroad, torrent anonymously, or just stay safe while on public networks. With multi-platform support and a generous 10-connection limit, it represents great value for families. If you need any help, customer support is available 24 hours per day over live chat.

Every VPN will reduce your speeds, but there’s a world of difference between a well-optimized service and one that isn’t. Our team tested ProtonVPN’s Swiss servers throughout the day on a connection designed to mimic what you’d get in a typical Swiss household. Here’s how they performed:

ProtonVPN delivered an average speed of 133.45 Mbps. For context, that’s enough to download 1 GB file in under a minute, and significantly higher than what’s needed for 4K streaming. It was very reliable too, speeds varying by just 5 Mbps. If you’re looking for a service that offers impressive performance and real versatility, this would be an excellent choice.

This service certainly isn’t short on advanced features. It uses multiple industry-approved protocols, blocks ads and trackers automatically, and can even stop you from browsing unprotected after a connection outage. What’s more, users can set up port forwarding or split tunneling, and connect to Secure Core servers that were specifically designed with privacy in mind. ProtonVPN follows a no-logging policy, has been professionally-audited, and gives you the option to pay in Bitcoin or cash for greater anonymity.

ProtonVPN has apps for Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, and Linux devices. Need to secure an entire network? Check the website for detailed guides to installing this VPN on your router.

TOP-TIER SECURITY:ProtonVPN offers plenty of flexibility when it comes to your connection. It doesn’t keep logs and works with some of the most stubborn streaming platforms we’ve come across. Best of all, paid subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more with our comprehensive ProtonVPN review.

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7. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN differentiates itself from other services by focusing on quality over quantity. It currently offers around 200 servers in 60+ countries, all of which are owned outright and managed in-house for maximum privacy. Users can torrent, play games, or unblock platforms like BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and SRF from anywhere in the world. It’s possible to secure up to 10 devices simultaneously, too.

PrivateVPN has generally provided stable, competitive speeds in our previous tests, though it does sometimes struggle to reach the same heights as its rivals. We decided to check the performance of its Swiss servers periodically to find out just how much impact it is. You’ll find the results in the chart below:

PrivateVPN’s average speed was 52.89 Mbps, which is about in-line with what we expected. This is still fast enough for anything you throw at it (we were able to watch Swiss TV, torrent, and video call flawlessly) but if your connection is significantly slower than ours (250 Mbps), you might want to consider a different provider.

Security features include adjustable encryption (128-bit or 256-bit AES), an app-specific kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. PrivateVPN offers a toggleable stealth mode that allows you to browse securely in high-censorship countries like China too. It follows a no-logs policy but unfortunately, hasn’t been audited at the time of writing.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Manual configuration is required to get PrivateVPN running on your router.

GREAT SPEEDS:PrivateVPN is fast and secure, plus it works with a huge range of streaming platforms. Reliable Swiss server and a generous 10-connection limit. Includes a 30-day money back guarantee.

Read our review of PrivateVPN.

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8. PureVPN

PureVPN is a beginner-friendly, low-cost service with a network of over 6,000 servers in 65 countries including Switzerland. It’s capable of unblocking all manner of stubborn streaming platforms so whether you’re hoping to watch SRF or Amazon Prime Video, PureVPN can handle it. Each subscription lets you connect 10 devices at the same time and provides access to 24/7 support over live chat.

Just like before, we ran three speed tests on PureVPN’s servers in Switzerland. These were performed at different times of day on a 250 Mbps connection, meaning the results we get should be fairly typical for the average Swiss users. The following table shows how well this provider did:

PureVPN managed to achieve an average speed of 138.91 Mbps, which is competitive despite not being the quickest. Activities like streaming, gaming, torrenting, or video calling shouldn’t pose any problems. We would like to see it improve its consistency, though, as there was around 16 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest speeds.

One of PureVPN’s biggest strengths is how easy it is to use. Its kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and powerful encryption are all enabled by default, plus the service doesn’t keep any logs that could identify you or expose your browsing habits. There’s also a tracker-blocking feature which was recently rolled out to all users instead of just Pro or Max subscribers. Unlike most of its competitors, PureVPN has been audited not once but four times; as such, you don’t have to take its privacy claims at face value.

PureVPN apps are available for Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, and Linux. It also supports most routers though you’ll have to configure it manually.

SPEEDY SWISS SERVERS:PureVPN boasts extremely high speeds and plenty of Swiss servers. Not only that, but it has everything you’ll need to browse the web safely. This affordable VPN even comes with a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Why not check out our full PureVPN review?

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Finding the best VPNs for Switzerland: our methodology

Because every VPN is slightly different, it pays to do your research before signing up. Some might not have servers anywhere near Switzerland, for instance, while others might not be fast enough to perform the tasks you have in mind. To ensure we recommend the best possible services for travelers in Switzerland, we created a thorough testing process that focuses on the following five areas:

Speed

The first thing to consider (after making sure each provider had servers in Switzerland) is how quick each of our candidates are. We regularly speed test major VPNs but these tests tend to use American servers. To see what kind of speeds users in Switzerland could reasonably expect, we had to change a few things.

For starters, we ran tests on each VPN’s Swiss servers. These are the closest to Swiss users and will likely provide the best performance. Then, we set up a connection limited to 250 Mbps since that’s roughly the average household broadband speed in Switzerland. We then averaged all three test results and normalized them to get a final score out of 10, as shown below:

NordVPN took the top spot here, averaging nearly 200 Mbps. Surfshark was a close second, with IPVanish earning third place. Note that providers are scored relative to each other, so even VPNs with a low score in this category could potentially outperform most of their unmentioned rivals.

Versatility

We then considered four metrics to get an idea of how versatile our top picks were. To begin with, our team looked into how many countries each supported and how many devices users were allowed to connect simultaneously. Next, we checked whether they allowed port forwarding and how reliably they could access several different Netflix libraries. Let’s see how the best VPNs for Switzerland compared:

ProtonVPN had the highest score, largely due to it covering more countries than any other provider and the fact that it offers port forwarding as standard. PrivateVPN wasn’t far behind but ultimately, its smaller network saw it lose points.

Security and privacy

VPNs are designed to help keep your online activities private and if they can’t do that, they’re just not worth using. At a bare minimum, providers must offer a no-logs policy (ideally one verified by external audit), 256-bit AES encryption or better, a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. In total, we consider 16 relevant criteria when assigning scores in this category; you’ll find them below:

There’s a fair bit of jargon in the above table but don’t worry if some of it went over your head. Below, you’ll find a comparison of our top VPNs’ overall security scores. The higher the score, the more robust the provider’s security offering.

We had a tie for first place between NordVPN and Surfshark, each with 9.5 points. Surfshark is based in a Nine Eyes country, which isn’t ideal, whereas NordVPN’s authentication could do with being strengthened slightly. All the same, neither of these is a major issue given how they excel in every other area we considered.

Streaming

One of the most popular reasons people use VPNs is so that they can stream their usual content while traveling abroad. Unfortunately, streaming platforms know this and have gotten very good at identifying signs of VPN usage. To find which were the most reliable services for this task, we put each provider up against a gauntlet of the most stubborn streaming sites.

NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN all scored 9.2 points here, working flawlessly with every platform we tested. None of these offers specially-optimized streaming servers, which means you may have to try a couple before you find one that works, but in our experience, you’ll gain access on the first attempt most of the time.

Value for money

When it comes to value, we consider more than just a VPN’s monthly price. We also look into, for instance, whether it offers discounted rates for students or emergency workers, how frequently it goes on sale, and how deep its price cuts are if you sign up for multiple years at a time. The table below shows every factor that goes into our scoring decision:

Surfshark and IPVanish had the highest scores in this category (9.7 and 9.6, respectively). These services are two of the quickest and most reliable on the market, plus they offer low-cost long-term subscriptions without limiting how many devices you can connect. In other words, they represent tremendous value, especially if you want to share with family or just have lots of internet-connected devices.

This might seem like a fairly extensive set of criteria but it’s actually only one small part of how we see if a provider is suitable. To find out more, check out our full VPN testing process.

How to browse safely in Switzerland using a VPN

We strongly recommend using a VPN in Switzerland to enhance your overall internet experience. This is easy to do and only takes a few minutes.

How to set up a VPN in Switzerland:

1. Decide on a provider that meets your requirements (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Download the VPN app for your device directly from the provider’s website. Don’t use third-party sites.
3. Open the VPN app, log in, and connect to a server of your choice. If you need a US IP address, connect to a US VPN server. If you want a Swiss IP address, connect to a server in Switzerland.
4. You will receive a notification indicating a successful connection. Your web activity is now encrypted and you will be browsing with a new IP address.
5. If you face any issues once connected, the first step is to try clearing your cookies and cache. If problems persist, contact your VPN provider for further technical support.

Should I use a free VPN in Switzerland?

The major use cases of VPNs are to access geo-restricted or blocked sites, use public wifi safely and securely, access banking and financial services, and crack VoIP services where they’re blocked. This requires ironclad levels of security and blazing-fast speeds – something that free VPNs aren’t going to provide. Such services are notorious for their poor encryption standards, limited IP addresses, and shady practices of data theft and pilferage.

You might think that you’re getting a great deal because of the fact that you don’t need a credit card to sign up and you can use the service as and when you want. But as they say, when the product is free you end up being the product.

Free VPN providers are in the business of making money. They’re not being subsidized by a government grant or another non-profit like the Mozilla Foundation. They earn profits by mining user data to sell to third-party advertisers or constantly inundating you with advertisements. Some egregious providers have also piggybacked on idle user bandwidth to create botnet armies. At the end of the day, one of the core reasons you’re signing up for a VPN is to ensure your privacy and confidentiality on the web. However, such providers will likely do just the opposite of that.

We believe that investing a few dollars each month in a paid VPN service will give you a trouble-free and superior experience.

Why should I use a VPN in the first place?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can be deployed for several reasons. These include safely torrenting files, accessing your favorite movies and television shows abroad, evading government surveillance, and circumventing state restrictions on blocked sites. A VPN is necessary for accessing the unfiltered web amidst all the censorship these days.

A VPN encrypts all traffic flowing to and from your device and tunnels it via an intermediary server in a location of your choice. It works by obfuscating your actual IP address (the one assigned to you by your internet service provider), making it appear that you’re in a different location. By connecting to an appropriate server, you can securely access streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu. Furthermore, the encryption aspect means state-appointed hackers and sleuths cannot determine your digital footprint.

VPN for Switzerland FAQ