Proton VPN
Proton VPN is the only free VPN we recommend, although we don’t think its no-cost tier is a good option while in Australia. The free version has a US server that allows access to Netflix, Max (previously HBO Max), Hulu and other streaming sites. It also doesn’t impose any data caps, allowing you to use your VPN as much as you want. There aren’t any nearby free servers for Australia (the closest being in Japan), so browsing local content and using a VPN to protect yourself on public networks can severely impact your internet speeds.
The premium version of Proton VPN has 268 Australian servers split between Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. You’ll get 13,600-plus international servers in 122 countries. Proton VPN costs $10 per month, $60 for the first year or $108 total for two years (the one- and two-year plans renew at $80 per year).
Read our Proton VPN review.
IPVanish
IPVanish is easy to use and is an excellent option for first-time VPN users. We didn’t have an issue accessing popular streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu or Disney Plus while in the US. (IPVanish is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Still, the inconsistent speeds we got (a whopping 44% speed reduction in the 2024 speed test) would make watching content on these sites difficult without a high internet speed.
IPVanish’s server network features 2,400-plus servers in 108 countries, which is in line with the thousands of servers in 100 or more countries that most of our top VPN providers offer. The VPN has servers in six Australian cities (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Auckland). It is cheap initially, starting at $13 a month, $40 for the first year or $52 total for the first two years. However, price hikes raise the one- and two-year plans to $90 annually after your introductory term. For the price, it’s hard to justify IPVanish considering its slower internet speeds compared with other VPNs we tested.
Read our IPVanish review.
