With the Iranian government cracking down on internet freedom, you need a VPN to access international news or social media in Iran. Unfortunately, with growing push-back against VPN use, it can be challenging to find VPNs that work in Iran.
To help you along, we’ve picked out the best VPNs for Iran (tried and tested!) that you can use right now:
- NordVPN: Best VPN for Iran overall
- Astrill VPN: Iran VPN with strong stealth protocol
- TorGuard: Customizable VPN for Iran with advanced features
- ExpressVPN: Highly secure Iran VPN with built-in obfuscation
- VyprVPN: Proprietary stealth protocol to bypass censorship in Iran
NordVPN is our best VPN provider for bypassing geo-restrictions in Iran. It offers obfuscated servers to mask VPN use and enhanced encryption features to keep your personal information safe.
Are you running into trouble installing or downloading a VPN in Iran? Below, we go into detail about setting up a VPN in Iran as well as other tips for bypassing censorship!
Censorship in Iran continues to persist, with Iranian authorities actively blocking almost all social media platforms, including WhatsApp, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Iranian citizens also face sophisticated surveillance and data collection.
Attempts to bypass restrictions with a VPN (virtual private network) are still thwarted by the government. For this reason, it can be challenging to determine the top Iran VPN.
We continuously test dozens of VPNs to see if they still work in Iran and can bypass geo-restrictions. Despite rigorous push-back, NordVPN is still the best VPN for Iran at the moment.
If you face any disruptions, any of the best five VPNs for Iran we recommend below will help you out. We also discuss tips and tricks for bypassing censorship in Iran without the use of a VPN.
Which VPN is Best for Iran? Top 5 VPNs That Work
Many VPN services are currently rendered useless in Iran. Against government push-back, it can be a challenge to find VPNs that work in Iran.
Below, we’ve listed the best VPNs for Iran right now. These services have solid obfuscation software as well as stealth features to get around strict censorship.
Keep in Mind:
The government of Iran actively blocks (major) VPN providers. For this reason, we regularly test and update our recommendations. Reach out to customer service if you experience any disruptions and make sure you’ve got multiple VPNs installed, in case your provider gets blocked.
Check our comprehensive table for the most important features of our top five best VPNs for Iran.
| VPN Provider | #1 NordVPN | #2 Astrill VPN | #3 TorGuard | #4 ExpressVPN | #5 VyprVPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of servers | 6000+ | 3000 | 3000+ | thousands of | 700+ |
| Locations (countries) | 61 | 50+ | 50+ | 105 | 63 |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, WireGuard, StealthVPN, OpenWeb | OpenVPN, WireGuard, L2TP/IPsec, PPTP | OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec, Lightway | OpenVPN, WireGuard, L2TP/IPsec |
| Obfuscation | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Mobile app | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| No-logs policy | ✔ | ✔ (stores your IP temporarily) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Kill switch | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Price per month | $ 2.99 | $ 12.50 | $ 4.99 | $ 6.67 | $ 5.00 |
| Purchase | Get NordVPN | Get Astrill VPN | Get TorGuard | Get ExpressVPN | Get VyprVPN |
Below, we offer you a more detailed overview of each VPN’s key characteristics.
1. NordVPN: Overall best VPN for Iran
Why we picked NordVPN:
- Obfuscated servers to hide VPN traffic
- 6000+ VPN servers in 61 countries
- High-level security with 256-bit encryption
- Double VPN and Threat Protection features
While NordVPN has experienced some disruptions in Iran, it’s still the safest and most secure VPN service to use in Iran. If you’re looking for a premium VPN to get you around geo-blocks, NordVPN is your best bet.
Pro Tip:
If you are having issues connecting to your chosen website with NordVPN in Iran, try using the provider’s obfuscated servers and switching between different protocols. Using TCP or UDP protocols along with obfuscated servers can let you access the websites you want with NordVPN.
NordVPN is a verified no-log VPN provider, which means they don’t hold any of your private data. Moreover, NordVPN’s XChaCha20 encryption encrypts each piece of data separately, which makes it more difficult for Iranian authorities to detect your VPN connection.
Another key reason NordVPN is the best VPN for Iran is its obfuscation, which disguises your VPN traffic as normal internet traffic. On top of that, you’ll benefit from DNS leak protection and a range of useful features, including Double VPN (double encryption) and Threat Protection against malware.
NordVPN also has an Onion over VPN feature, which lets you use the VPN in combination with Tor. Since Iran’s censorship is so strict, this might be the only way you’ll be able to go online.
Finally, you won’t need to worry about speeds: NordVPN is the fastest VPN of the moment and won’t slow your connection in any way. All plans are covered by NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee so you’ll get a full refund within 30 days if the VPN doesn’t work like you want it to.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
For a full breakdown of one of the best VPNs for Iran, have a look at our extensive NordVPN review.
2. Astrill VPN: Stealth VPN to bypass the Iran firewall
Why we picked Astrill VPN:
- Excellent stealth VPN to bypass the Iran firewall
- Servers in nearby locations, including Israel, Turkey, and UAE
- Available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux
- Limited free plan for Android users
Astrill VPN is also one of the best VPNs for Iran. While it’s on the expensive side, it’s one of the few VPNs that’s known to bypass censorship in countries with strong firewalls, like China. Hence, it is a worthy contender in our best VPN for Iran list.
You can have 256-bit encryption on all protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard, and custom protocols OpenWeb and StealthVPN. The last two are specifically useful for Iran. Astrill also has DNS leak protection and an automatic kill switch in place. Your IP address gets stored by the VPN, but only temporarily.
Like NordVPN, Astrill supports Onion over VPN (combining Tor with a virtual private network). On top of that, Astrill VPN’s Smart Mode lets you run local traffic on a local IP to conceal the fact that you’re using a VPN.
With only 300+ servers, Astrill doesn’t have as many servers as premium providers, and none that offer an Iranian IP address. Even so, Iranian internet users can connect to nearby servers in Israel, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
- Works in China and other restrictive regions like Turkey
- Very expensive
- Not reliable for unblocking Netflix and other services
While Astrill costs more than other Iran VPNs, there’s a free Android app and a reliable premium plan. When reviewing Astrill, we also found it easy to use and set up.
3. TorGuard: Customizable stealth VPN that works in Iran
Why we picked TorGuard:
- Shadowsocks and OpenConnect to get around geo-blocks
- Customizable VPN best suited to users with some experience
- 30 simultaneous connections on one plan
- Has been shown to work in Iran when other VPNs fail
Though the name might suggest otherwise, TorGuard is not affiliated with the Tor network. However, it still offers excellent obfuscation technology and is one of the few VPN providers that is worth trying to set up in Iran.
Besides OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) and WireGuard), TorGuard offers the OpenConnect protocol. Not used by many providers, it’s a stealth protocol that achieves obfuscation and makes your VPN use look like SSL traffic. They also offer Shadowsocks, which has a higher chance of working in Iran.
Thanks to its many customization features, it’s an Iran VPN that you will be able to get up and running again, even when it’s previously been blocked. On top of that TorGuard has been able to bypass Iran’s DPI firewalls more frequently than other VPNs.
TorGuard’s Premium account lets you have up to 30 simultaneous connections, so you might share with others as a way to save costs. There’s a seven-day money-back guarantee, too.
- Torrents allowed
- Large offer of fast servers
- Some technical knowledge necessary
Read more about our own experience with TorGuard, if you wish to know more details about one of our best VPNs for Iran.
4. ExpressVPN: Built-in obfuscation on all 3,000+ servers
Why we picked ExpressVPN:
- Verified no-logs VPN service
- Bypass censorship in Iran with AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption
- Obfuscation is built-in and activated automatically
- Known to bypass firewalls around the world
ExpressVPN is a renowned VPN provider that is on the pricier side. However, it’s one of the few VPNs that has been known to work in Iran in the past two years, making it a worthy mention in our best VPN for Iran list.
While you might experience some disruptions from time to time, the fact that ExpressVPN has built-in obfuscation on all its servers is a plus. Against even the most sophisticated online censorship systems, ExpressVPN is a VPN that stands a chance.
We consider ExpressVPN as one of the best VPNs for Iran also because of its DNS leak protection, as well as its IPV6 and WebRTC leak protection. This will ensure that your real location is hidden from internet service providers and any other authorities or institutions.
With thousands of servers across 105 countries, you can switch between servers easily whenever you run into any issues. ExpressVPN has nearby servers in Egypt, Israel, and Lebanon.
- Very easy-to-use VPN
- Perfect for anonymous browsing, downloading, and streaming (i.e., Netflix)
- Thousands of servers in 105 countries
Find out more about this provider by having a look at our detailed ExpressVPN review.
5. VyprVPN: Still works in Iran with custom stealth protocol
Why we picked VyprVPN:
- Custom-designed stealth protocol: “Chameleon”
- User-friendly software that’s easy to install
- Logging policy independently audited
- Up to 30 devices connected on one account
The main reason that VyprVPN is one of the best VPNs for Iran, is its proprietary “Chameleon“ protocol. Based on OpenVPN, Chameleon encrypts metadata, which prevents Deep Packet Inspections employed by the Iranian government.
Chameleon is only available to users with a premium subscription but will let you access international news sites, streaming services, and media that are otherwise censored. Moreover, VyprVPN has a strict no-logs policy. They don’t save or store any of your personal data. This has been verified by independent auditing bodies.
VyprVPN is not the fastest Iran VPN in this list but offers all the high-end features you need in Iran: a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and military-grade encryption. The VPN has servers in nearby locations like Turkey and India and supports all major operating systems.
There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee that allows you to see for yourself how Vypr does against Iran’s censorship practices. Should the VPN not perform optimally, you can get a full refund within 30 days.
- Quick servers for a good price
- Netflix and torrenting possible
- Special "Chameleon" technology to protect your data
Have a look at our VyprVPN review to familiarize yourself with this VPN even more.
How We Chose the Best VPNs for Iran
When testing and selecting VPNs in highly censored regions like Iran, we pay attention to several factors to ensure your VPN is up to the required online security standards.
In selecting our best VPN for Iran, we took the following VPN characteristics into account:
- Obfuscation/stealth technology: Many VPNs are blocked in Iran, so this is one of the most important features we look for. VPNs with obfuscation or stealth features will be able to mask your VPN traffic. This, in turn, prevents Deep Packet Inspection and keeps your VPN up and running.
- Strict no-logs policy: This ensures your Iran VPN doesn’t log your activity or collect any private data that might be leaked or shared with others.
- Advanced security features: AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection.
- Nearby servers: The VPN should have servers in neighboring countries to maintain good connection speeds. Not all Iran VPNs offer an Iranian IP address, so we look for nearby servers.
- Price: We aim to include a wide price range so that everyone can find an affordable VPN that suits their needs. It’s a great benefit if your VPN supports unlimited simultaneous connections so that you can share your account with others.
Considering the way Iranian authorities limit citizen’s access to information, it’s essential to choose a VPN that will protect your privacy and online freedom at all times. If you manage to get it set up, NordVPN performs highly on all these fronts.
Can I Use a Free VPN for Iran?
We don’t recommend the use of a free VPN for Iran. While you might be tempted by the option, keep in mind that even the best free VPNs often come with various weaknesses that the best VPNs for Iran do not have.
Free VPN limitations include:
- Limited server locations: It’s unlikely that any free VPN has servers in Iran. Most of the time, free providers only offer a few server locations.
- Bandwidth restrictions: Most free providers will only allow you to use a couple of GBs of VPN traffic per month rather than unlimited bandwidth.
- Security vulnerabilities: Free VPNs are not known for their excellent privacy and advanced security features. In Iran, you don’t want to risk your data ending up with third parties, which is a significant risk that comes with a free service.
The biggest drawback with using a free Iran VPN is that they may log your data. This is risky, given the current political condition in Iran. We tested several free VPNs but weren’t satisfied with most of them.
Pro Tip:
It’s better to pay for a premium VPN for Iran. However, in the current political climate it’s good to have options. Since it can be difficult, or even impossible, to access a VPN, we recommend downloading various free VPNs that can provide back-up when necessary.
The most promising free VPN for Iran is Proton VPN, which we found to have robust security features and unlimited bandwidth (a rarity!).
Alternatively, PrivadoVPN is also worth looking into. It’s a free VPN with all the necessary features, including a kill switch and leak protection.
Even so, when it comes to circumventing internet censorship, we recommend any of the best VPNs for Iran over a free option.
Why Do I Need a VPN in Iran?
You need an Iran VPN because the internet is heavily affected by censorship. News websites and social media are frequently blocked. From time to time, the Iranian government also uses internet shutdowns as a tool of oppression.
To stay safe online and stay informed on current affairs by independent sources, Iranians have taken to online circumvention tools, including virtual private networks. These are some reasons why you need the best VPN in Iran:
- A VPN for Iran encrypts your internet traffic and keeps it safe from the prying eyes of authorities.
- You can use a VPN to access blocked content in your region.
- For VPN users in Iran, it’s an added benefit that most premium VPNs have special technology that blocks spyware.
Censorship in Iran has been a threat to online freedom for years. Following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini in September 2022, internet restrictions have reached new heights.
This means that, at the moment, the Iranian government is pushing back against VPN usage. It can be a challenge to access a VPN provider’s website and download the right software.
Are VPNs Legal in Iran?
No, VPN usage is banned in Iran. The “Protection Bill” has placed all internet usage and infrastructure under the control of security authorities and armed forces.
The government has made it illegal to use and distribute VPNs and proxy services.
As advocates for a free and open internet, we don’t support the criminalization of VPN services. At the same time, we’d like to remind users to stay cautious when purchasing or using one of the best VPNs for Iran mentioned above.
Important:
To the best of your abilities, remain anonymous when purchasing your VPN. Use a secure email account and pay with cryptocurrency if you can.
How to Get a VPN to Work in Iran: Tips
If you find yourself unable to use your Iran VPN properly, you might want to consider an alternative.
1. Use the Tor browser (in combination with a VPN)
The Tor browser is an encrypted browser that routes your data traffic through multiple connection points (nodes). As a result, your internet connection is anonymized.
The Tor browser is often used by bloggers, activists, and journalists in areas with internet restrictions and high surveillance.
You can use Tor to browse the web without the Iranian government being able to trace your activity back to you. You can also use Tor to navigate to the VPN website you’re trying to reach so that you can download it.
NordVPN and Astrill VPN both have Onion over VPN features that allow you to combine Tor with a VPN. This is why we consider them the best VPNs for Iran.
2. Download browser extensions
Several browser extensions are designed to give you access to blocked content, including:
- UltraSurf (Chrome)
- Censor Tracker (Firefox)
Especially for social media content, these extensions can be very useful!
3. Try alternative app stores
Are the Google Play Store and the App Store currently unavailable in Iran? There are a few alternative options you can try:
- Get your VPN for Iran from Softpedia. This platform compiles all sorts of software that is directly available for installation, including VPN downloads. Just scroll down to your preferred VPN and start the installation process.
- Try an alternative App Store, such as TUTUApp. The TUTUApp store has VPNs available for download, including premium ones like NordVPN. However, ensure you only download trustworthy apps, or you might accidentally download malware.
- Check an alternative Google Play Store, like AppBrain. This platform has many VPNs available, from premium ones to free options. Just use the search bar to find what you’re looking for, but make sure you only download trustworthy apps.
4. Check out backup VPNs
In case the best VPNs for Iran mentioned in this article don’t work, it helps to have a backup plan. From experience, we know that these VPNs have worked in Iran at different points in time:
- Private Internet Access (PIA): PIA is not as reliable as NordVPN, but it has a Shadowsocks feature (SOCKS5 proxy), designed to bypass high-level censorship without being detected. Find it in the Settings, under Multi-Hop.
- Windscribe: Windscribe is a freemium VPN with a WebSocket tunnel. This can be used to withstand push-back from the government of Iran. It succeeds at getting around geo-blocks where other providers can’t.
- Atlas VPN: This VPN offers a SafeSwap feature that rotates your IP address constantly – making it more difficult for authorities and third parties to interfere with your VPN connection. The free plan has a data limit of 5GB but the premium plan is decently priced.
Set Up Your VPN Manually
Several of our readers have notified us that the App Store and Google Play Store might be unavailable in (parts of) Iran. If you can’t download the VPN app of your chosen provider, you can still use a VPN.
You will, however, have to set it up manually. On Android, follow these steps:
- Go to “Settings“ on your device.
- Find Connections > More connection settings.
- Select VPN > Add VPN.
- Click on the vertical dots and select “Add VPN profile.”
- Enter your VPN provider’s information and select a protocol.
- Click “Save.”
On iOS, here’s what you do:
- Go to Settings > General.
- Choose “VPN and device management.”
- Click “VPN.”
- Tap “Add VPN configuration.”
- Enter the required information; description, server, account, etc.
- Click “Done“ and make sure your VPN is toggled on.
VPNs to Avoid in Iran
Finally, to give you a complete picture of which VPNs are most suitable for Iran, we’ve included a list of Iran VPNs to avoid. Whether it’s due to incompatibilities with major operating systems or vulnerabilities in the software, we want to make sure you know which VPNs to skip.
| VPN Provider | Why You Should Avoid It |
|---|---|
| Beet VPN | Invasive privacy policy and keeps extensive logs of user data. |
| Hoxx VPN | Logs sensitive information and has an unresponsive support team. |
| Hola VPN | This provider logs all your data and is not a real VPN. |
| Google One VPN | The Google VPN for Iran is not a great choice, as it is expensive and connected to Google (not good for privacy). |
Bypass Internet Censorship in Iran With These VPNs
The Iranian government continues to block news media, social networks, and messaging apps. With an official ban on VPN providers and proxy services, not all VPNs work reliably in Iran. However, NordVPN, our best VPN for Iran will do the trick.
NordVPN’s obfuscated servers will hide your VPN use. On top of that, you can use it together with Tor (Onion over VPN). All NordVPN plans are automatically covered by its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our articles below if you want to learn more about how a VPN can help you bypass censorship in other heavily restricted regions around the world.
- Best VPNs for Lebanon: Secure and Affordable
- Best VPN for Qatar: Top VPNs to Keep You Safe in Qatar
- Best VPN for Israel: Unblock Sites and Stream Freely
Got a question about the best VPNs for Iran? Check out our FAQ section below. Just click a question to view the answer.
The best VPN for Iran is NordVPN. Though the VPN may experience disruptions at times, it is still the most secure and overall reliable option. However, other VPNs that have been known to work are Astrill VPN and TorGuard.
Proton VPN and PrivadoVPN are some of the best free VPNs that work in Iran and can help you access blocked sites.
At the moment, many premium VPNs, including Surfshark have been experiencing issues in Iran. The most reliable alternatives are NordVPN, Astrill VPN, and TorGuard.
No, Facebook and other social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram are banned by the Iranian government. You can bypass these restrictions by using a VPN. Keep in mind that Iran is one of the few places where VPNs are not legal.
Hi dear friend, just want to say express vpn is no longer working in iran.
Hello! Thank you for letting us know. Due to censorship, the situation in Iran remains really unstable when it comes to VPN use, and we're constantly testing and trying to keep our list as up-to-date as possible. At the same time, ExpressVPN is also continuously renewing and updating its servers and systems. It should work again soon, and if there are better options, we'll update our article accordingly!
Thanks for your great article, but the issue is we can't pay for anything internationally due to sanctions. Prices are really affordable and we all love to have a premium VPN like anyone else.
I wish there was a way to use premium ones in a small scale in this situation...
We've been informed about these sanctions. First of all, we're sorry you have to go through all of this! Free access to the internet should be a given for everyone. We hope the free options listed in this article (PrivadoVPN Free and ProtonVPN Free) can help you at least up to some degree.
Hi there,
thanks for this useful information. Can you recommend how to access VPN without needing to connect to the apple app store? (the app store has recently been blocked too)
Hi! We updated our article with new research to reflect this - thank you for letting us know! As for alternatives: you can try to install your VPN manually (though your comment on our "Setting up a VPN on Your iPhone or iPad" article makes me suspect you already tried this), or you can use other ways of getting it. There are alternative app stores out there, like TutuApp, that might help you out.