5 Best VPNs for Afghanistan: Access Uncensored Internet

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ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Afghanistan because of its obfuscation on all ultra-fast servers. Thus, you can bypass censorships, defeat VPN traffic blocks, and get faster internet speeds while staying anonymous against Taliban online tracking.

Since the Taliban is increasingly digital these days, I also chose PureVPN, SurfsharkNordVPN, and PrivateVPN for their military-grade AES 256-bit encryption.

In the rest of this guide, I’ll discuss why these VPNs are your best bet in Afghanistan and how to choose a VPN to protect yourself against the Taliban online.

The Taliban once banned the entire internet in 2001 for fear of obscene images and other non-tolerated content getting shared. Now that the group is back in power 20 years later, there’s nothing to say they won’t do it again.

However, since it needs financial support from the international community, the Taliban isn’t entirely restricting access to the internet (yet). Instead, it resorts to speed throttling and connectivity drops.

Fortunately, ExpressVPN is fast enough to get you even better speeds than your base ISP speeds. The same is true for PureVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, and PrivateVPN.

Furthermore, the Taliban in Afghanistan is known for burning down cell towers.

Having now overthrown the government, it’ll want to take over AfghaNet, Etisalat, Giganet, Insta, and other ISPs.

Most ISPs are leaving so they don’t have to conform to the Taliban’s rules.

Those who are staying might have to conform for fear of getting bombed (which has happened before), having their cell towers destroyed (also happened before), and other violent repercussions.

Thus, I ensured all my VPNs feature 256-bit military-grade encryption, tunnel your data securely, and guarantee internet freedom.

So, if you’re in a hurry to choose the best VPN for Afghanistan, I’ll explain why they stand out below.

Want to Keep the Taliban From Tracking Your Online Activity? Get These VPNs Today

rta sports blocked in afghanistan
You'll need VPN with Afghanistan IP address to stream RTA Sports Live inside or outside the country

The Taliban has gone digital, with accounts on social media platforms.

So, it stands to reason that the group is better at tracking protesters, dissidents, journalists, and everyone else online.

Protect your privacy and eliminate your chances of getting tracked online by the Taliban with these VPNs.

  • ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN’s fast obfuscation on all servers prevents the Taliban from knowing you’re using a VPN while still defeating speed throttling and bypassing censorships.
  • PureVPN – PureVPN’s next-gen quantum-resistant technology on select servers keeps quantum computers away from decrypting your live traffic. You also get a local Afghan IP to securely browse the local web.
  • SurfsharkSecure unlimited devices from the Taliban under one Surfshark subscription with unlimited device connections. Also, unblock content and bypass ISP throttling on its servers.
  • NordVPN – Get reliable obfuscation on NordVPN’s specialty servers to keep the Taliban from knowing you’re using a VPN. Or connect to specialty P2P servers to share files securely without Taliban interception.
  • PrivateVPN – Enjoy reliable encryption against online deanonymization with PrivateVPN. Plus, you get the Stealth VPN to bypass any VPN traffic blocks in Afghanistan.

The short guide to my top VPNs above helps you make a fast, well-informed decision. However, comparing these VPNs for the best value can help with a better-rounded decision.

Thus, I recommend continuing with my mini-reviews below.

Comparisons and Mini-Reviews of My Top VPNs for Afghanistan

After my tests, I narrowed a list of 20+ VPN providers to these five for Afghanistan.

Below, I’ll discuss why these VPNs made the final cut, what makes each VPN provider stand out, and include HUGE discount codes to save on your subscription.

So, let’s go!

ExpressVPN – Fast Obfuscation on 3000+ Servers to Defeat Harsh Censorship

expressvpn connected to kazakhstan

ExpressVPN boasts 3000+ servers in 94 countries to bypass censorship and unblock content while in Afghanistan.

During my tests, ExpressVPN posted the best speeds of these VPNs.

Plus, you get better speeds than your ISP’s base limits once you connect to ExpressVPN. So, throttling isn’t an issue anymore.

The best part of these ultra-fast servers is they all have obfuscation enabled by default. Thus, the Taliban won’t:

  • Know you’re using a VPN
  • Block your VPN traffic to censored websites

That way, you can bypass some of the harshest online censorships, like CNN, BBC news, and PUBG.

expressvpn protocol options
ExpressVPN's protocols, all supporting obfuscation by default

Also, ExpressVPN has the fastest obfuscation speeds on this list.

So, you can stream YouTube, Netflix, and other content fast without throttling from Etisalat, Giganor, Giganet, or other ISPs.

Although ExpressVPN has the second-highest country reach on this list (at 94 countries), there’s no local Afghanistan server.

That means you have to set up split tunneling to protect some apps with the VPN and leave other location-sensitive apps (like banking apps) out of the VPN tunnel.

expressvpn split tunneling settings

Also, you can only use split tunneling on PCs, routers, and Android devices, but not on your iOS device.

what is split tunneling

On a better note, ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for privacy, given its:

These combine to ensure the Taliban never has access to your online data whenever you’re connected to ExpressVPN.

In line with not collecting any user logs, ExpressVPN is outside Afghanistan’s jurisdiction. So, even if it does collect any data (which it doesn’t), the Taliban can’t get it.

On top of that is the AES 256-bit encryption, making it impossible to decrypt your live internet traffic and unveil your identity when surfing the web.

There’s also a Network kill switch to prevent IP/DNS/WebRTC leaks whenever the VPN connection randomly drops.

expressvpn general options

To be sure, I tested the encryption myself and didn’t get any leaks.

expressvpn ipleaks test

Moving on, ExpressVPN can protect your:

  • Mobile devices (Android and iOS)
  • PCs (Chromebook, Mac, Windows, and Linux)
  • Amazon devices (Fire HD, Kindle tablet)
  • Routers

Plus, you can protect five of these devices simultaneously under one ExpressVPN subscription. Of course, that pales to PureVPN’s 10 simultaneous connections or Surfshark’s unlimited offering.

Fortunately, you can extend the device support by getting the ExpressVPN router software which counts as one device.

ExpressVPN plans
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Finally, grab these ExpressVPN discounts to save on your subscription and enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee if you don’t like the service.

Pros

Cons

PureVPN – Local Afghanistan Servers & 6500+ Secure Global Servers

stream agc with purevpn in afghanistan
PureVPN unblocks RTA Sports Live via Afghan IP address

PureVPN is highly impressive for offering a local Afghanistan IP address via a virtual server.

This virtual server option makes sense due to the poor internet infrastructure in Afghanistan and the nature of Taliban rule.

Thus, PureVPN ensures:

  • Faster speeds on its Afghanistan server than you’ll typically get in Afghanistan since the server is placed in a faster location
  • Improved network security since the Afghanistan server is placed in an area with better network infrastructure
  • Data protection against the Taliban since it can’t seize a virtual server that’s not in its location
purevpn virtual server locations

With this Afghan IP address, you can securely log in to local banking apps, buy from local stores, and browse the local web without your data falling into the Taliban’s hands.

On top of that, PureVPN offers spit tunneling if you want some apps to bypass the VPN tunnel. So, you get the complete package vs. what ExpressVPN offers.

purevpn split tunneling

Moving on, PureVPN still has 6500+ fast servers in 76+ countries to:

  • Unblock content in other regions
  • Bypass censorship of social media sites, news sites, and other platforms
  • Stream Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, CNN, and other content without lag
  • Secure your internet experience

Also, PureVPN has specialty P2P servers for securely sharing files without interception from Noor Telecom, Insta, Afghan Cyber, or the Taliban.

quantum resistant servers

However, ExpressVPN does better here since all its servers are P2P-optimized, not just some.

Likewise, PureVPN only provides obfuscation over its OpenVPN (UDP & TCP) protocol. In contrast, ExpressVPN offers obfuscation on all protocols.

purevpn protocol options

Plus, PureVPN suffers a noticeable drop when obfuscation is enabled, unlike ExpressVPN’s ultra-fast speeds with automatic obfuscation.

Still, PureVPN impresses with the same military-grade 256-bit encryption. In fact, it offers some quantum-resistant servers that protect your live traffic against decryption from next-gen quantum computers.

purevpn quantum resistant server locations

Furthermore, the PureVPN kill switch is designed against IP/DNS leaks whenever the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. Thus, the Taliban can’t steal that chance to deanonymize you.

Just to be sure, though, I tested for IP/DNS leaks, and PureVPN held up its promise.

purevpn dns ip leak test
PureVPN encrypts your traffic against IP leaks, even on local Afghan servers

On top of that, PureVPN is an independently verified no-logs VPN provider. In fact, it’s the only VPN provider with a surprise audit enabled.

So, it can get audited at any time by KPMG in the future.

Overall, you don’t have to worry about your VPN IP address, actual IP address, or other internet activity falling into the hands of the Taliban, your ISPs, or hackers.

Additionally, PureVPN supports all the same platforms as ExpressVPN.

It also allows more simultaneous connections (ten) than ExpressVPN (five).

And PureVPN is the more affordable provider of the two.

purevpn pricing
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Despite that, save more with PureVPN’s HUGE discount plans while they last.

Pros

Cons

Surfshark – Bypass Taliban Censorship on Unlimited Devices

surfshark quick connect

Surfshark falls behind PureVPN with merely 3200+ servers and no local Afghanistan servers. However, with decent content unblocking speeds, reliable obfuscation, and unlimited device support, there’s no complaint.

The last point alone gives Surfshark an advantage among multiple Afghanistan residents who need an affordable yet reliable VPN provider to bypass the Taliban’s online monitoring.

Thus, it’s an excellent VPN for journalists, citizens fighting for their rights, and dwellers who want their online privacy back.

surfshark apps and extensions

It’s even more impressive that Surfshark offers unlimited bandwidth on all connected devices. Also, it supports all the popular platforms like:

  • PCs (Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chromebook)
  • Mobile devices (iOS and Android)
  • Routers
  • Amazon Fire HD/Kindle tablets

Setting up the router app means protecting more devices against internet data snooping or online deanonymization tactics and bypassing ISP throttling on these devices.

The router software is also an acceptable way to bypass content blocks on your smart TV to watch CNN news, follow BBC content, and access other blocked western content.

Like ExpressVPN and PureVPN, Surfshark also offers obfuscation to bypass stricter censorship and VPN traffic blocks. Dubbed Camouflage Mode, this obfuscation is only enabled over Surfshark’s OpenVPN protocols.

surfshark protocol options

So, it’s unlike ExpressVPN’s offering. Also, Surfshark’s obfuscation causes a noticeable speed drop, which you don’t get with ExpressVPN.

Still, Surfshark enables AES 256-bit encryption on all servers and across all protocols. There’s also a kill switch in the PC and Android app settings to prevent IP/DNS leaks if the VPN ever randomly disconnects.

surfshark kill switch

Like the other VPNs above, the iOS kill switch is already built into the app, so you don’t have to manually toggle it.

Despite that, I tested for leaks to ensure the kill switch and promised encryption worked. True to form, Surfshark didn’t disappoint.

surfshark ipleak test

Likewise, Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, which is out of the Taliban’s jurisdiction. However, remember that the Netherlands is one of the 14 Eyes surveillance countries.

Fortunately, Surfshark was audited for its strict no-logs policy.

So, it doesn’t collect any data on you and can’t hand that over to the authorities.

Even if it does collect data (which it doesn’t), it’s unlikely that the Netherlands will collect and hand over that data on behalf of the Taliban.

Meanwhile, Surfshark is still the most affordable VPN here.

And when you throw in unlimited device support, you get the best value.

Screenshot MS 1 1
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Still, you can save more with Surfshark discounts plus a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros

Cons

NordVPN – Great Value VPN for Afghanistan With 5500+ servers

nordvpn connected portugal

NordVPN provides great value for Afghanistan users, offering 5500+ servers in 60 countries to unblock content.

Likewise, NordVPN is up there with ExpressVPN in terms of speed.

Thus, you can bypass Giganet or Giganor throttling and unblock content faster.

Additionally, NordVPN takes security seriously by developing an in-house NordLynx protocol to give you the best speed plus premium security.

Only ExpressVPN compares here with its ultra-fast Lightway protocol, which also brings obfuscation.

nordvpn nordlynx protocol

Speaking of, NordVPN only enables obfuscation over its OpenVPN protocols. This puts it with the other providers that suffer a noticeable speed drop with obfuscation.

However, NordVPN uses specialty P2P servers to ensure faster and more secure file sharing. That way, the Taliban can’t intercept files you’re sharing, see what those files contain, or link them back to you.

nordvpn specialty p2p servers

In contrast, ExpressVPN’s servers are all P2P optimized, whereas only a few specialty servers on NordVPN are P2P-optimized (though you can torrent on all servers).

On the bright side, NordVPN uses industry-standard AES 256-bit military-grade encryption. Like the others, it also provides a kill switch in the Android and PC app settings. Also, it has the setting automatically enabled in the iOS app.

nordvpn internet kill switch

Unlike the other providers so far, though, NordVPN offers two kill switches:

  • App kill switch to prevent selected apps and programs from leaking traffic to web servers once the VPN connection drops
  • Internet kill switch to prevent all internet processes from transmitting once the VPN connection drops

I tested NordVPN’s encryption promise on all servers and protocols for any leaks. Fortunately, there were none.

nordvpn ipleak test

Already, NordVPN is a no-logs provider audited by PwC.

Additionally, it’s based in the data-friendly Panama, which isn’t affiliated with Afghanistan or the Taliban. So, your data passing through its servers is safe and won’t fall into any hands.

Moving on, NordVPN doesn’t manage the unlimited device connections that Surfshark provides. In fact, it also falls behind PureVPN’s ten simultaneous device connections.

However, it narrowly edges ExpressVPN out with six simultaneous logins per account.

These logins work across PC, mobile, Amazon Fire tablets, and supported routers.

Moreover, NordVPN belongs to the league of affordable VPN providers.

NordVPN pricing
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Plus, grabbing these NordVPN price deals gives you savings on your subscription.

Pros

Cons

PrivateVPN – Unblock Content Fast and Encrypt Data in Afghanistan

privatevpn dedicated ip servers

PrivateVPN is the least impressive regarding servers, offering only 200 servers in 63 countries. In fact, it doesn’t provide an Afghanistan server to make up for the low numbers.

However, its encryption is also reliable enough to keep the Afghanistan Telecoms Regulatory Authority (TRA) out of your internet data obtainable from ISPs like Etisalat and Afghan Cyber.

Likewise, PrivateVPN gives you more speed and security configuration flexibility than the other VPN apps here.

privatevpn encryption types

For example, you can use OpenVPN protocols over the following encryption standards.

  • AES-128-GCM. Preferred 128-bit protocol for best speed and security.
  • AES-128-CBC. Also secure but doesn’t use authentication, so it’s less secure than GCM.
  • AES-256-GCM. The most secure encryption protocol with slightly lesser speed than the 128-bit protocol.
  • AES-256-CBC. Better security than all other encryption protocols except AES-256-GCM.

Due to the invasive nature of the Taliban and the level of censorship in Afghanistan, I recommend AES-256-GCM every time.

I tested this encryption by checking for IP/DNS leaks on PrivateVPN’s servers. Fortunately, I didn’t get any.

privatevpn ipleak test

On top of that, you can still customize what Stealth VPN ports you want to use. This Stealth VPN is the obfuscation setting on PrivateVPN to bypass strict regional restrictions and firewalls in Afghanistan.

privatevpn enable stealth vpn

Interestingly, you continue to get impressive speeds when using Stealth Mode. This pits PrivateVPN against ExpressVPN on the list of providers with fast obfuscation.

So, you can bypass internet service provider (ISP) throttling and stream content not usually available in Afghanistan without lags or buffering.

Meanwhile, there’s a noticeable lack of the WireGuard protocol on PrivateVPN. Considering this is the best protocol for an ideal blend of security and speed, I’m disappointed it’s not present.

privatevpn protocol options

In better news, under PrivateVPN’s Connection Guard settings, there are two kill switch settings. These are:

  • Kill switch. Terminates all internet transfers once the VPN connection drops.
  • Application Guard. Prevents selected applications from accessing the internet once the VPN loses connection to a remote server.
privatevpn connection gaurd options

Here, it’s only rivaled by NordVPN in providing two kill switches.

However, I’m concerned that PrivateVPN had to provide toggle-able options for its IPv6 and DNS leak prevention when they should be enabled by default.

Plus, it’s unsettling that the unaudited PrivateVPN is based in Sweden – another 14 Eyes country. Also, the VPN provider collects connection logs, which you can see in the app.

access privatevpn log files

The only saving grace is that Sweden won’t compel the VPN provider to work with the Taliban. Still, I’d like to see an independent audit of its no-logs claims soon.

Fortunately, you can use PrivateVPN on ten simultaneous devices.

This makes it the joint second highest for multi-login support on this list, only behind Surfshark.

privatevpn pricing
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Still, save on your PrivateVPN subscription with these AMAZING discounts.

Pros

Cons

The State of Internet Censorships and Regulation in Afghanistan?

Before 2002, the entire internet was banned in Afghanistan by the Taliban.

It believed the internet was being used to spread obscene, violent, and anti-religious content.

When the Taliban was ousted, the new Afghan government brought back the internet. However, it also brought its own censorship of news websites, sites against the Islamic religion, a lot of western websites, social media platforms, and other web services.

Now that the Taliban has retaken power, censorship is bound to get worse with gaming platforms (like PUBG), more news websites (CNN, BBC, etc.), and numerous other platforms added to the ban list.

What Websites and Platforms Are Banned in Afghanistan?

There’s no way to know the exact number of sites and online platforms blocked by the Taliban, but here are some notable picks:

  • BBC. Only the BBC Persian TV channel is available to less than 20% of Afghans who have satellite TV.
  • Voice of America.
  • Deutsche Welle.
  • China Global Television Network.
  • Music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
  • Online forex trading platforms.
  • Social media platforms like TikTok.
  • Online games like PlayerUnknown Battleground (PUBG).
  • Streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer.
taliban bans tiktok

That’s besides hundreds of news and non-news websites banned for sharing “harassing, illegal or offensive” content.

The issue is that this content isn’t well defined. So, those words are used as a blanket to ban any website circumventing the draconian rule.

Can the Taliban See What You Do Online?

The Taliban can see what you do online, considering that internet surveillance was established in Afghanistan before it recently came to power again.

Before the Taliban, the TRA was created in 2004 with the power to:

  • Only license ISPs that agree to abide by Afghanistan’s data invasive laws
  • Demand ISPs monitor your activity and collect sensitive data
  • Request and get the information your ISP collects on you

In other words, this body can find out everything you’re doing online, match your IP address to your identity, and seek you out for arrest.

Plus, media houses can’t report on content that goes against the Afghan constitution, the Islamic religion, or other seemingly anti-state updates. This limits their ability to publish trustworthy news and keeps citizens from knowing what’s happening.

censorship in afghanistan

So, the few independent online reporters who dare go against that are tracked and arrested. With the Taliban now in power, such cases are more rampant, with more journalists going into hiding.

This isn’t an issue with journalists alone. Citizens and dwellers can’t express themselves online or protest harsh conditions without living in fear of arrest or worse.

Do ISPs Throttle Your Internet Speed in Afghanistan?

The internet infrastructure in Afghanistan is so poor that connection speeds are so low. Some ISPs use this to supply lower bandwidth than advertised, further throttling internet speeds when users are seen using a lot of data in a little time.

Thus, Etisalat, Afghan Cyber, or any other Afghanistan ISP can throttle your bandwidth when streaming content, downloading files, or uploading/sharing files.

Luckily, you can put all these online privacy, security, and speed concerns behind you with the right virtual private network (VPN).

Find out how I chose these VPNs to tackle Afghanistan’s internet and privacy issues below.

How I Chose the Best VPNs for Afghanistan?

I narrowed 20+ VPN providers with strict speed, security, strong encryption, and privacy criteria to find the top VPNs for Afghanistan.

You can follow my selection guide below to also evaluate the best VPN to use in Afghanistan. Alternatively, choose one of my top VPNs above, and you’ll be on your way.

Let’s discuss.

Servers

Thousands of servers ensure you can:

  • Connect to a preferred server in the desired country.
  • Avoid server overcrowding in a preferred location like the US, UK, Canada, etc.
  • Bypass ISP throttling by connecting to the fastest servers.
  • Boost your chances of finding your country on the list to unblock websites like home.

Luckily, I discovered PureVPN with a local Afghanistan server to stream 1TV Afghanistan, Faza TV Live, Lemar TV, or other local TV channels whenever you’re outside the country. This local server also allows you to retain access to location-sensitive platforms like your banking apps.

purevpn afghanistan server

Finally, you can secure your local internet browsing with Afghanistan IP addresses even while in the country. That way, you don’t need to set up split tunneling to keep seeing local content, and you get online privacy to protect you from the Taliban or your ISP.

If you’re interested in a VPN with a lot of servers in multiple countries, see how my top VPNs compare:

VPN Provider Servers Countries
ExpressVPN 3000+ 94
PureVPN 6500+ 76+
Surfshark 3200+ 95
NordVPN 5500+ 60
PrivateVPN 200 63

Security

Online security is key against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Especially now that this group proves to be internet-savvy and can seize data from ISPs in the country, you need better online protection.

Thus, look for VPNs with:

  • A Kill switch. To prevent IP/DNS leaks, which could deanonymize you to the Taliban if the VPN connection drops.
  • Reliable encryption. Only choose VPN providers that offer AES 256-bit encryption on all protocols and servers.

Some VPNs I chose (NordVPN and PrivateVPN) even offer two kill switches for extra protection. Likewise, all my top VPNs provide AES 256-bit security on all servers and protocols.

Privacy

Your VPN for Afghanistan should keep your data private and away from your ISP or the Taliban. Some considerations include:

  • Jurisdiction. The VPN provider must not be in Afghanistan or Taliban jurisdiction.
  • No-logs. Nothing can leak to state-sponsored hackers or other unauthorized personnel when your provider doesn’t log data. Bonus points if the no-logs claims are audited.
  • Obfuscation. Obfuscation is vital to prevent the Taliban from seeing you’re using a VPN. Also, you can bypass firewalls and harsher censorship since they can’t block your VPN traffic.

ExpressVPN is the top contender in this area, with obfuscation enabled by default on all servers. Despite that, the VPN provider remains ultra-fast compared to others that suffer a considerable speed drop when obfuscation is enabled.

Likewise, it was audited twice for its no-logs claims and is also based outside Afghanistan‘s jurisdiction.

Speed

Always choose a VPN that ensures speed without sacrificing security and privacy.

Likewise, speed becomes more critical when considering obfuscation, over which the VPN connection speeds are impacted even more. This is why my top VPN choice remains ExpressVPN for the blazing fast speeds it still gets with obfuscation.

For comparison, I recorded how my top 5 VPNs fared in speed tests in the table below.

VPN Provider Protocol Test Server Ping (ms) Download Speed (Mbps) Upload Speed (Mbps) Beats benchmark?
ExpressVPN Lightway – UDP (obfuscation) USA – New York 303 10.4 2.44 Yes (Upload)
PureVPN WireGuard USA – New York 221 6.34 0.77 No
PureVPN OpenVPN – UDP (obfuscation) USA – New York 299 7.87 0.24 No
Surfshark WireGuard USA – New York 239 10.9 2.49 Yes (Upload)
Surfshark OpenVPN – UDP (obfuscation) USA – New York 277 6.45 0.54 No
NordVPN NordLynx USA – New York 307 11.5 0.98 Yes (Download)
NordVPN OpenVPN – UDP (obfuscation) USA – New York 318 7.46 2.12 Yes (Upload)
PrivateVPN IKEv2 USA – New York 306 9.77 1.19 No
PrivateVPN OpenVPN – UDP + 1194 + Stealth VPN (obfuscation) USA – New York 614 12.7 1.63 No

Multiple Device Support

Get better value from your VPN by picking providers that offer simultaneous device connections. That way, you can protect more internet-enabled devices from Talban’s censorship and invasion without incurring additional subscription costs.

Likewise, ensure the chosen VPN providers support the major PC and mobile platforms for seamless data encryption on those devices.

Fortunately, all of my VPN providers work fine over

  • Mobile devices (iOS and Android)
  • PCs (Chromebook, Mac, Windows, and Linux)
  • Select smart TVs
  • Routers
routers supported by expressvpn
Some routers supported by ExpressVPN

Also, you can log in and protect multiple devices simultaneously, as expressed in the table below.

VPN Provider Simultaneous Logins
ExpressVPN Five
PureVPN Ten
Surfshark Unlimited
NordVPN Six
PrivateVPN Ten

Can a Free VPN Work in Afghanistan?

A free VPN won’t work in Afghanistan because free VPN providers lack robust security, reliable encryption, customer support, proper tunneling techniques, and speed.

Thus, your data can still be intercepted by the Taliban, you won’t unblock sites seamlessly and suffer worse internet speeds than before.

Likewise, most free VPNs snoop on you and collect your data. They sell this data to third-party services, another invasion of your internet privacy.

you can't bypass bans with free vpns
You can't get around social media bans reliably with free VPNs

Also, free VPN providers may collect logs and sell that to the Taliban (knowingly or unknowingly), defeating the purpose of connecting via a VPN.

So, suppose the price is a factor. In that case, I recommend Surfshark for its highly affordable plans and usability over unlimited devices without bandwidth throttling. That way, it can be a group buy for a lesser price and provide excellent value.

How to Download a VPN in Afghanistan?

You can get a VPN in Afghanistan from the VPN provider’s official site, official mirror sites, getting the file from a trusted friend, or other approaches listed here.

Knowing different ways to get a VPN is essential when the Taliban starts blocking access to VPN websites. Here are your options.

Download VPN From Official Sites

Try the official website of your VPN provider to download the app.

The top VPN providers usually offer an app download page with links to the app for your preferred platform.

download expressvpn

Also, suppose the apps aren’t banned from the device’s dedicated app stores in your country. In that case, the link can automatically take you to those app store pages.

Check Your Local App Stores

You can also browse your device’s local app stores to check if the VPN app is available before you go to the official website.

This is the best bet for mobile internet users, so you don’t mistakenly install a cracked VPN app from another source.

Get the Program From a Friend

PC and Android users can get the raw program file (or apk file for android devices) from a trusted friend and install it. This is a great alternative when you can’t access the VPN provider’s official site and your local app stores don’t have the VPN you want.

I don’t recommend getting the program files from external sources.

Most of these external sources have cracked and modified the file to include other codes, which could introduce malware to your device.

Use Unregulated Wi-Fi Networks

Suppose the VPN website is blocked in Afghanistan. You can get around this by connecting to unregulated Wi-Fi networks since they’re not under the control of the Taliban. Such networks are present in offices and may only be available to those in embassies or on a business trip to their company branch in the region.

Use Official VPN Mirror Websites

Most internet censorships target the leading VPN websites. So, VPN providers also create official mirror websites that aren’t banned to offer the same functionality as the main website.

I recommend speaking with customer support to get these mirror sites.

For example, I got one from Surfshark customer support.

Fortunately, you can contact customer support via email if you can’t use the live chat feature on the website.

How to Setup a VPN for Afghanistan?

You should enable the kill switch, choose the correct protocols and connect to the suitable servers when using a VPN in Afghanistan. In fact, it’s not always recommended to use the Quick Connect feature on your VPN, depending on what you’re doing on the internet.

Here’s how to set up your VPN properly for better online security, content unblocking, and privacy in Afghanistan.

Enable the Kill Switch

Enable the kill switch to prevent IP and DNS leaks whenever you briefly lose VPN connection to a remote server. Otherwise, brief connection drops can allow the Taliban or your ISP to see your actual IP address and discover your identity.

expressvpn network lock settings

Some VPN providers have the kill switch enabled by default, while others don’t.

So, always check to know what the case is.

Choose the Right Protocol

VPN protocols don’t work the same, and you’ll need different ones for varying tasks.

For example, the WireGuard protocol or its alternatives (NordLynx for NordVPN & Lightway for ExpressVPN) are the best for speed and security.

Thus, it’s preferred for streaming content, bypassing ISP throttling, and regular secure browsing.

expressvpn protocol options
ExpressVPN's Protocols

On the other hand, you’ll need obfuscation protocols (usually enabled over OpenVPN) to bypass brutal censorship and avoid VPN traffic blocks.

The tradeoff here is lower speed.

Overall, I prefer ExpressVPN because it offers obfuscation on all its protocols, even the lightning-fast Lightway protocols.

Connect to a Preferred Server

Once you choose a protocol and enable the kill switch, connect to a VPN server. Here’s a stepwise guide to doing that.

  1. Choose a preferred VPN provider. I recommend ExpressVPN.
  2. Launch the VPN and log in with your account details.
  3. Click the big power button to connect to a smart location (fastest server).
  1. Or, click the three horizontal dots icon near the suggested location.
  1. Search for a preferred location.
  1. Double-click the preferred location.
  2. Wait for the connection confirmation.

How to Get an Afghanistan IP Address?

Get an Afghanistan IP address to access your banking apps, stream Zarin TV Live, or secure your local web experience. Here’s how.

  1. Choose a VPN with local Afghanistan servers. I recommend PureVPN.
  2. Choose your preferred protocol or leave it set at Automatic.
  3. Search for Afghanistan.
search afghanistan server on purevpn
  1. Double-click the location once it comes up.
select afghanistan server
  1. Wait for the connection confirmation.
purevpn connected afghan

Remember to enable the kill switch for all-around protection when the VPN connection drops.

What to Do When Your VPN Isn’t Working in Afghanistan?

You can switch protocols, connect to another server, update your VPN app, or speak with customer support if your VPN isn’t working as expected in Afghanistan.

For a complete overview of what to do in this situation, follow the pointers below in no particular order:

  • Choose a reliable VPN provider. A reliable VPN provider makes it easier to avoid issues or troubleshoot them when they happen. I recommend ExpressVPN as the best option for Afghanistan.
  • Enable the kill switch. Ensure the kill switch is on. Else, you may suffer some IP/DNS leaks that are enough to deanonymize you if the VPN randomly disconnects.
  • Connect to another server. If a server is down, overloaded, or in maintenance, connect to another server to keep using your VPN.
  • Update the VPN app. Look for updates and install them if available. Updates are often sent to fix critical issues and quash bugs that may mess with your VPN connection.
  • Check internet connection. The Taliban sometimes cuts off internet access in Afghanistan. So, ensure your internet connection is solid before poking around the VPN.
  • Switch VPN protocol. If your VPN is working, but you’re still not getting access to some content (obfuscation protocol), don’t have enough speed (WireGuard/NordLynx/Lightway), or not reconnecting fast (IKEv2), switch protocols.
  • Speak with customer support. Customer support should guide you through steps to identify and solve the issue. Fortunately, all my top VPNs for Afghanistan offer 24/7 live chat customer support.

Frequently Asked Questions

ExpressVPN, NordVPN, PureVPN, Surfshark, and PrivateVPN are some notable VPN providers that work in Afghanistan. These VPN providers also maintain mirror websites to grant users continued access if their main websites are blocked by the Taliban or independent Afghanistan ISPs.

ExpressVPN, PureVPN, Surfshark, PrivateVPN, and NordVPN all have Middle Eastern servers. However, most of these VPN providers only have server locations in Israel.

Fortunately, PureVPN has a dedicated virtual server in Afghanistan to get local Afghanistan IP addresses.

There are no specific laws or bans against VPN usage in Afghanistan.

Still, the Taliban government may crack down on VPN providers to prevent users from circumventing its online censorship.

Fortunately, reliable VPN providers still offer mirror websites to access their services, and they’re adept at bypassing the government’s censorship.

ExpressVPN is the best iOS VPN for Afghanistan, owing to its ease of use, premium security suite, and extensive privacy setup.

This VPN provider is outside the Taliban’s jurisdiction, has twice been audited for its no-logs claims, and offers ultra-fast obfuscation on all its P2P-optimized servers.

Likewise, it allows five simultaneous connections across its PC, mobile, smart TV, and router apps.

ExpressVPN’s Android app includes a kill switch that prevents IP/DNS leaks if the VPN connection drops randomly. Also, the VPN provider maintains its ultra-fast obfuscation on all AES 256-bit encrypted servers on Android devices.

Finally, you can simultaneously log in on five Android devices under a single ExpressVPN subscription to protect online activities on more devices against the invasive Taliban.

You’ll need ExpressVPN for PC in Afghanistan since it offers robust security, unblocks content fast, and can bypass VPN traffic blocks.

On top of that, ExpressVPN is easy to set up and use, and you can use it across Windows, Mac, Linux, or Chromebook PCs.

However, if you’re looking for a PC VPN with local Afghanistan IP addresses, PureVPN is the right choice.

Get Online Privacy Against the Taliban

A reliable VPN is your first step to online privacy, anonymity, and internet data security against the Taliban and other Afghanistan ISPs doing their bidding.

Also, you need a competent VPN to bypass strict censorship, unblock content, and defeat bandwidth throttling attempts by your ISP.

Fortunately, ExpressVPN is a complete package that offers speed, security, privacy, and robust encryption in its easy-to-use apps.

Grab an ExpressVPN discount to get started and enjoy a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee on the VPN.

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