Best VPNs for VoIP

Unfortunately, countries with state-run telecoms, like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, often block VoIP to stop citizens from making free calls. This makes it hard to use apps like WhatsApp, Skype, Discord, Facebook Messenger – and even the native chat feature within online games. The good news is that you can overcome this problem and access your home VoIP services when traveling by using a VoIP VPN.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) ensures your online privacy by encrypting your traffic and tunneling it through a remote server location. This allows you to conceal your IP address from the websites you visit to gain privacy. As a result, you can regain access to services like Viber, Skype, MizuDroid, and Signal while abroad in restricted countries. However, not all VPNs are secure enough or fast enough to unblock VoIP services, so you need to choose carefully.

In this guide, we have pinpointed the very best VPNs for VoIP; we’ll explain how to use them and answer some common VPN questions. We’ll go into more detail on each of the providers we recommend later on, but in case you’re short on time, here’s a quick summary.

The best VPNs for VoIP:

1. NordVPN The best overall VoIP VPN. Fast servers in 59 countries. Lightning-fast NordLynx protocol. Apps for all devices. Lots of advanced security features, including a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and obfuscation. 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Best Budget VPN for VoIP. Lets you connect an unlimited number of devices. Ideal for families. Robust encryption and a no-logs policy. Advanced apps for all platforms.
3. ExpressVPN: Highly secure and versatile. Fast for VoIP calls thanks to its proprietary Lightway protocol. Servers in 94 countries. User-friendly apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. No logs.
4. CyberGhost: Superb VoIP VPN for beginners. Clearly labels servers by use purpose. Over 9,000 servers in 89 countries help to prevent congestion. Secure encryption and a kill switch. No logs policy.
5. IPVanish: A novice-friendly VPN that makes it as easy as possible to call friends while abroad. Outpaces many of its rivals and can protect every device you own simultaneously.
6. Private Internet Access: Highly customizable VPN. Lets you implement granular control over the encryption. DNS leak protection and a kill switch. Shadowsocks proxy. Servers in 80+ countries. Fast to make VoIP calls.
7. PrivateVPN: Great speeds for making video or voice calls. No logs policy and a choice of servers in 65 countries. Advanced apps for all platforms. Works with two dozen Netflix regions.

TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for VoIP.

How to use VoIP privately with a VPN

Don’t worry if you’ve never used a VPN before, the process is quite simple. Just follow the steps below, and you’ll be using VoIP services securely from anywhere in no time.

Here’s how to use VoIP apps using a VPN:

1. Subscribe to a recommended VoIP VPN. We suggest NordVPN because it has fast servers in many countries where VoIP services are freely available.
2. Download the VPN app and install it onto the device you want to make VoIP calls on.
3. Connect to a VPN server in a country that is close to you physically but where VoIP is unrestricted. For example, connect to a US server to obtain an American IP address.
4. Launch your favorite VoIP app and try to make a call. You should now find the service unrestricted.
5. If you are still having difficulties, you may need to clear the cookies and cache on your device to remove any location identifiers.

The best VoIP VPNs: at a glance

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

The Best VPNs for VoIP

There are plenty of VPN providers on the market, but they don’t all offer the same level of service. Below, we have included a list of important criteria we looked for when recommending VPNs for VoIP:

• Can reliably access many global locations where VoIP is available and unrestricted
• Can bypass VoIP blocks so that you can communicate for free without fear of surveillance
• Has fast enough servers to make voice and video calls without any lag
• Large global server network that works to bypass regional blocks and censorship.
• Apps for all platforms for you to make VoIP calls on any device you own.
• Robust security features, including AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch.
• A zero-logs policy that promises never to retain records of what users do while connected.
• World-class customer support with 24/7 live chat.

You can read more about how we test and rank the VPNs we recommend in our methodology section below. For now, let’s take a look at the ones that made the cut. 

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

1. NordVPN

Apr 2024

NordVPN is our top choice VPN for VoIP. This veteran provider is based in Panama, a location that is excellent in terms of privacy because it lacks invasive intelligence agencies and mandatory data retention directives. The VPN has a solid no-logs policy, which means it never retains any records about what its users do while connected. This means you can trust it to get around government censorship and VoIP restrictions without fear that there could be a paper trail.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android, so you can unblock VoIP apps and use them from anywhere, no matter which device you happen to own. In addition, the VPN can be installed and used on up to 6 devices simultaneously, allowing you to use it on all the devices in your home or while connected to public wifi.

In terms of security, the VPN has solid AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, obfuscated servers, double-hop encryption, Tor over VPN, and built-in malware filtering. This makes it an extremely safe VPN for bypassing ISP blocks. It also has its proprietary NordLynx protocol, which is designed for fast speeds and makes it ideal for making video calls or streaming in HD.

Finally, this VPN has over 5,500 servers in 60+ countries and those servers work to access VoIP platforms, Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, foreign internet banking services, and much more. This makes it a superb option for gaining online freedom. Plus, this VPN has 24/7 live chat support and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

BEST VPN FOR VoIP:NordVPN is our top pick to unblock VoIP services securely. Superfast NordLynx protocol is great for streaming in HD and playing games that have a VoIP chat feature. No logs policy. Lots of advanced features. Allows torrenting. Works with Netflix, Hulu, and more. Has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a provider based in the British Virgin Islands that has only been around a few years. Since it was launched in 2018, it has gained an incredible reputation for being a cheap VPN that provides an extremely well-rounded and advanced privacy service. What’s more, despite being cheap, it allows you to use the VPN on an unlimited number of devices – making it great for sharing with family members and friends.

Apps are available for all popular platforms. Those apps come with DNS leak protection, a kill switch, obfuscation, malware filtering, ad-blocking, and AES encryption. This makes it excellent for gaining online privacy and makes it secure enough to use for unblocking VoIP services without fear of government tracking in countries like Pakistan, the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Surfshark provides superbly implemented WireGuard connections, which make it fast enough for playing multiplayer FPS games that require you to communicate with teammates via in-game VoIP. Plus, this VPN works to access around 20 Netflix regions, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and many other international streaming services. It also has 24/7 live chat support, which means you can ask questions and get help to set up the VPN at any time of the day.

BEST BUDGET VPN FOR VOIP:Surfshark represents fantastic value for money. Highly secure for using VoIP. Works to access many popular streaming services, including Netflix. Superfast servers in 100+ countries. Works to play VoIP games like PUBG and WoW. Allows torrenting. Lets you use the VPN on all your devices at once. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a provider that has been around since 2009. In that time, it has proven itself to be one of the most reliable and secure VPNs available on the market, serving as a trailblazer that optimized all facets of its service and paved the way for many of the VPNs on this list that came later.

The VPN has apps for all platforms that come with advanced security features, such as DNS leak protection, a kill switch, AES encryption, obfuscation, and more. This makes it ideally suited to accessing and using VoIP apps in countries where its use is banned to make free or private calls.

With ExpressVPN, you get servers located in 94 countries around the world. Those servers are lightning-fast and, coupled with this provider’s proprietary Lightway protocol, allow you to do data-intensive tasks such as streaming in HD, torrenting, or making video calls.

Express is also one of the few VPNs that work to access around two dozen Netflix catalogs, Hulu, iPlayer, and many more popular services. This makes it a fantastic all-rounder for gaining both online privacy and freedom, whether at home or on public wifi. You can install and use the VPN on up to 5 devices simultaneously.

Finally, this VPN has live chat support that is available 24/7, and it has a no-quibbles 30-day money-back guarantee to let you test the VPN on any of your devices risk-free. This includes VPN-compatible routers, for which it has its own software.

HIGHLY RELIABLE:ExpressVPN is a super-versatile and reliable VPN. Unblock anything in 94 countries. Very secure to use VoIP without fear of tracking. Works to access around two dozen Netflix regions. Trusted no-logging policy. Lightway protocol is specifically designed for greater speeds. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN here.

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4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a VPN service that we often recommend to beginners. It might not have as many advanced features as some of our other recommendations, but it does have a kill switch, AES encryption, and leak protection. This makes it safe for accessing and using VoIP apps. It also has apps for all platforms, and you can install it on up to 7 devices to use VoIP or other censored services on any device you happen to own.

The VPN is based in Romania, a location that is good in terms of privacy due to its lack of mandatory data retention directives. It also has a solid no-logs policy, which means it never retains any records of what its users do while connected. Servers are available in 90 countries, and the VPN has over 9,000 in total. This allows it to easily avoid congestion when providing its service to hundreds of thousands of users around the world.

Thanks to its WireGuard implementation, this VPN is ideal for making VoIP calls, gaming, and torrenting at high speeds. Its privacy features will let you use the internet without Wi-Fi hotspots, ISPs, or anybody else tracking you. Plus, this VPN works with Netflix, iPlayer, and other popular services. You can try it out using its generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

EASY TO USE:CyberGhost is ideal for beginners. Works with most popular streaming platforms, including Netflix. Servers in 90+ other countries. Fast WireGuard protocol is great for VoIP calls and videoconferencing. Protects your privacy at home and on public Wi-Fi. No logs policy. Generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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5. IPVanish

IPVanish provides access to over 2,400 self-owned servers in 60 countries. With average download speeds in excess of 300 Mbps, it’s one of the quickest VPNs on the market and more than fast enough for voice and video calls. This service has dramatically improved its unblocking ability in recent years and works in several countries with strict digital censorship (though not China, unfortunately). It doesn’t have any bandwidth or connection limits and provides 24/7 assistance over live chat. We recommend making a note of the support email address just in case the company’s website is blocked wherever you’re going.

This service includes plenty of security tools but never overwhelms novice users. By default, your connection is secured using uncrackable encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch. More importantly, IPVanish follows a true no-logging policy – something that has been confirmed by independent auditors. Newer versions of the app also include automatic tracker-blocking and allow you to let certain websites pass through the VPN unencrypted. We do wish there was a way to sign up anonymously though, as many competing services accept Bitcoin, cash, or gift cards so that you don’t have to provide personal info during registration.

IPVanish supports iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and MacOS devices. Further, it can be manually installed on most home routers (setup instructions can be found on the website).

FAST AND EFFECTIVE:IPVanish is perfect for anyone looking to chat securely during a trip abroad. This speedy-no-logs provider offers around the clock customer support and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee on annual and two-year subscriptions.

For more details, read our full IPVanish review.

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6. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a US-based VPN. It is highly popular and recommended by many people on Trustpilot and Reddit. While its US base may put some privacy advocates off, the VPN has a solid no-logs policy. This means it holds no records about what subscribers do while connected. Subsequently, it has nothing useful to provide the US authorities even if it is served a warrant, a point it has proven in court.

One of the best things about PIA is that it offers a lot of customization options. This allows you to exert granular control over the encryption settings. It also has apps for all platforms that come with DNS leak protection, malware protection, a Shadowsocks proxy, and a kill switch.

Servers are spread across 80+ countries and it has over 10,000 in total. This is a massive network that allows it to avoid congestion and provide superb speeds. Add to this its WireGuard protocol, and you have a service ideally suited to using VoIP services in countries where it is blocked.

If you are interested, you can try the VPN risk-free for 30-days. Each subscription lets you use the VPN on unlimited devices simultaneously, and you can ask questions at any time of day thanks to its 24/7 live chat support.

HIGHLY CUSTOMIZABLE:PIA provides superb speeds for making VoIP calls, gaming, torrenting, and HD streaming. Works with 6 different Netflix regions, including the US. Super-fast for playing games with its WireGuard protocol. No logs policy. Shadowsocks proxy. Unlimited simultaneous connections. 30-day money-back guarantee

Read our full Private Internet Access review

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7. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is a service based in Sweden, a location that is excellent for privacy purposes because it has no mandatory data retention directives that could apply to VPNs. Its network is a little smaller than our other recommendations, consisting of just 200+ servers in 63 countries. Despite this, it does not suffer from congestion and provides some of the fastest speeds we’ve seen, ideal for making VoIP calls privately.

The VPN has a solid no-logs VPN, and it supports consumer rights to torrent. As a result, P2P connections are permitted throughout its network of servers. It is also one of the few VPNs that work to stream on 20 different Netflix regions, iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, and many other international platforms.

PrivateVPN has fully featured apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. This means you can make secure VoIP calls on any device you happen to own. The VPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections, which is more than enough for most power users and households.

In terms of features, the apps have a kill switch, AES encryption, obfuscation, split tunneling, port forwarding, and SOCKS5 proxy. It also has live chat support that is available for around 20 hours per day. You can test it using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

HIGHLY SECURE:PrivateVPN is excellent for gaining online privacy and freedom. Watertight no logs policy. Servers in 63 countries. Fast speeds to stream in HD and play multiplayer games that have a VoIP feature. Strong privacy measures to unblock VoIP without being tracked. Perfect for streaming Netflix and many other services. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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VoIP VPN Testing Methodology

To ensure we only recommend the most reliable, secure, and versatile VPN on the market, our professional VPN auditors use a scientific VPN testing methodology. Below, we have included a list of important features we looked for when recommending VPNs for VoIP:

1. Plenty of fast servers – To get fast enough speeds for data-intensive tasks such as VoIP, videoconferencing, streaming, and gaming, you require a VPN that does not negatively affect your usual internet speed. Our recommendations have a wide choice of servers so that you can unblock VoIP apps while also connecting as geographically close as possible – to get the best possible speeds.
2. A no-logs policy – Our recommendations never track what their users do while connected and keep no records that could ever be used at a later date to identify them and their online habits or data.
3. Apps for all platforms – A choice of apps lets you use the VPN however you desire, whether at home or on public wifi. Our recommendations have apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Firestick devices, and even browsers. Some of our recommendations are even compatible with routers to let you protect every device connected to the wifi in your home.
4. Advanced privacy and security features – To use VoIP apps securely and without being tracked, it is essential for the VPN to properly encrypt your web traffic and conceal the services you are using from your ISP, local networks, and government authorities.
5. Outstanding customer support – We have recommended VPNs with live chat support and plenty of clear setup guides.
6. Value for money – Our recommendations provide an exceptional privacy service at an affordable and fairly priced rate.
7. Superb accessibility – We look for VPNs that provide a well-rounded service with servers located all around the world. We also test those servers to make sure they are useful and work with popular services.

Using VoIP services with a VPN: FAQs