NordVPN is the best VPN for Alberta, Canada, and that’s not only for being an easy-to-use VPN. This provider also has hundreds of Canadian servers, thousands of US servers, and 5400+ servers globally to unblock content and secure public Wi-Fi with fast speeds.
But it’s not the only reliable Virtual Private Network (VPN) to use in Alberta.
My tests revealed ExpressVPN, Surfshark, PureVPN, and CyberGhost to be worthy alternatives.
Discover which is the best for torrenting, public Wi-Fi security, local and global content blocking, or your other internet needs in Alberta.
Top 3 VPNs for Alberta (October, 2024)
ExpressVPN unblocks Hulu, CNN Go, Peacock TV, and other geo-restricted content in Alberta without hassle. The VPN service also has automatic and fast obfuscation to hide your VPN traffic from Rogers, Bell, Telus, and the Canadian government.
NordVPN brings automatic Wi-Fi protection to ensure online security across mobile and PC devices in Alberta. Plus, you get Threat Protection against malware attacks and privacy tools to scramble your data from Albertan ISPs.
Surfshark offers the best coverage for travel groups, large families, tourists, students, etc. in Alberta with its unlimited simultaneous connections. It also offers reliable security and privacy features for Alberta residents.
The Canadian government is a part of the 14 Eyes Alliance with the US, collecting user data to share with other Alliance members.
You’re also at the mercy of data collection by ISPs like Rogers/Telus/Bell, school or work network admins, and public Wi-Fi operators.
Get my top VPNs, and you can always stay private online in Alberta, Canada.
Get Top-Level Online Privacy in Alberta With These VPN Providers
You can keep the government/your ISP/network admins out of your online business, unblock content unavailable in Alberta, and stay secure on any network.
Here’s a sneak peek at what these VPNs offer:
- NordVPN – 480+ Canadian Servers & 5400+ Global Servers to Unblock Content in Alberta
- ExpressVPN – Fast Obfuscation to Hide VPN Usage Across 4 Canadian Server Locations
- Surfshark – Reliable Online Privacy and Security Across 100+ Canadian Servers
- PureVPN – 200+ Quantum-Resistant Canadian Servers + Public Wi-Fi Protection in Alberta
- CyberGhost – 480+ Canadian Servers + 9000+ Global Servers for Torrenting & Streaming in Alberta
If that sneak peek intrigued you, wait till you discover how these VPNs transform your online experience in Alberta.
Comparisons and Tests of the Best VPNs for Alberta
I tested 20+ free and paid VPNs for speed, P2P support, online privacy and security, and reliable unblocking in Canada. These five providers rose to the top, but they’re still unique in how they offer curated online experiences in Alberta.
Learn more in my in-depth comparisons and tests below.
NordVPN - 480+ Canadian Servers & 5400+ Global Servers to Unblock Content in Alberta
NordVPN doesn’t have an Alberta server like the others, but it offers 480+ Canadian servers in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
So, while I didn’t get an Albertan IP address, I still got Canadian IPs to access Crave TV and CBC.
I even connected to these servers to bypass NHL game blackouts and stream the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames’ games.
Speaking of streaming, NordVPN’s haul of 5400+ servers in 60 countries makes it desirable to unblock content worldwide. This is the least country count here, but a massive 1900+ US VPN server library means you can watch Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video US, Hulu, CNN Go, and other US-exclusive content from Alberta, as I did.
Furthermore, NordVPN is most recommended for its security offerings in the “Wild Rose Country.”
There’s AES 256-bit encryption (like the others) on all servers and protocols to ensure your online data doesn’t fall into the hands of any third party.
This is important since Canada is a part of the 14 Eyes nations, known for being data-invasive.
I tested this by connecting to a random NordVPN server and launching the Wireshark app. It returned gibberish text rather than actionable data on what I was doing online. So, I’m sure the encryption works!
This encryption extends to public Wi-Fi networks, keeping network admins and hackers out of your internet traffic. I even configured NordVPN to automatically protect my internet data whenever I’m connected to a public Wi-Fi network, and it never failed me once.
Grab these NordVPN discounts to start enjoying its premium security.
Pros
- 480+ Canadian servers to unblock Canada-only content and bypass game blackouts
- 5400+ servers, including 1900+ US servers, to unblock content in 60 countries
- Offers automatic public Wi-Fi protection across PC and mobile apps
- AES 256-bit encryption scrambles internet activity from your Canadian ISP, the government, and others
Cons
- Not the largest country count
- Doesn’t have servers in Alberta
ExpressVPN - Fast Obfuscation to Hide VPN Usage Across 4 Canadian Server Locations
ExpressVPN’s most significant selling point is its fast and automatic obfuscation on all servers and encryption protocols. In contrast, the other VPN service providers I tested only offer obfuscation over their OpenVPN protocols, and it’s extremely slow.
With obfuscation, ExpressVPN ensures you can safely unblock content, bypass VPN traffic blocks, defeat censorship firewalls and use a VPN without detection in Alberta.
That makes it my go-to streaming provider in Alberta since Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and other major streaming services never catch on that I’m using a VPN.
To bolster that, this provider has 3000+ servers in 94 countries (including Canada) to unblock content libraries in more regions than NordVPN.
Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption to keep snoops, your government, internet service providers like Rogers and Telus, and other third parties out of your data. I also tested the feature via Wireshark, and I’m not disappointed.
It extends this encryption courtesy to public Wi-Fi networks.
However, it doesn’t have an automatic setup like NordVPN.
Thus, I had to always remember to manually enable the VPN on untrusted public Wi-Fi.
That’s definitely not as convenient.
I enjoyed ExpressVPN’s P2P support on all servers, ensuring fast and secure torrent download speeds over the Rogers network. Thankfully, the VPN makes it such that your ISP and copyright trolls won’t see the torrent sites you visit or files you download.
However, it’s the most expensive VPN provider I tested for this list.
So, grab these ExpressVPN discounts for some savings on your subscription.
Pros
- Canadian servers in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver to unblock Canadian content from Alberta or abroad
- 3000+ servers to unblock content in 94 countries
- Fast and automatic obfuscation on all servers and protocols
- P2P support on all servers to securely unblock torrent sites and download files
- Uses AES 256-bit encryption for online privacy on public or private internet networks
Cons
- No Alberta servers
- Doesn’t offer automatic public Wi-Fi protection
- Expensive VPN provider
Surfshark - Reliable Online Privacy and Security Across 100+ Canadian Servers
Surfshark is the ideal VPN for many tourists, students, expats, or others traveling to Alberta on holiday, to view sports, enjoy music festivals, or for other reasons. That’s because it offers unlimited simultaneous connections over a single subscription.
The only VPN that comes close is PureVPN, with merely ten simultaneous connections.
Surfshark also impresses with 3200+ servers in 100 countries to unblock content in more regions than the other listed VPNs. Of these, you have 100+ Canadian servers in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
So, while it’s missing an Albertan province server, I had no issues accessing Crave TV and CBC over its Montreal server. It also has 600+ US servers to unblock massive US content libraries, access US-exclusive services like Peacock TV, or get a US IP address.
Luckily, Surfshark is fast, scoring 39Mbps in my tests, higher than NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
Surfshark also has an automatic public Wi-Fi protection feature like NordVPN. This is backed by its military-grade encryption to prevent data leaks.
First, I tested the encryption and confirmed it works. Then, I set up the automatic Wi-Fi service on my iOS device, and Surfshark automatically connected me to a server while eating at Wendy’s on Gaetz Ave!
The only issue I had with Surfshark is that it’s based in the Netherlands, a member of the 14 Eyes Alliance with Canada. But this provider has been audited for its strict no-logs policy, so it won’t have any user data to share with authorities.
On top of all these, Surfshark is highly affordable with our exclusive discounts.
Pros
- 100+ Canadian servers in Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto
- 3200+ servers, including 600+ US servers, to unblock content in 100 countries
- Fast VPN for 4K streaming with 39Mbps speeds
- Offers encryption with automatic public Wi-Fi protection on PCs and mobile devices
- Affordable VPN service with unlimited simultaneous connections
- Audited no-logs VPN service
Cons
- Lacks VPN servers in Alberta
- Not as fast as ExpressVPN on obfuscation
- Based in the Netherlands, a 14 Eyes region
PureVPN - 200+ Quantum-Resistant Canadian Servers + Public Wi-Fi Protection in Alberta
PureVPN is the best option for two main tasks in the Texas of the North:
- Improved online privacy and security.
- Live-streaming content.
Thus, making it the prime pick to watch the Calgary Wranglers lag-free, bypass blackouts on Edmonton Oilers’ games, or catch live news on CBS anytime.
Although it lacks an Albertan server, it makes up for that with 200+ Canadian servers in Toronto, Vancouver, and Quebec – a unique server location to the other VPN services.
PureVPN’s live-streaming prowess is bolstered by its 87Mbps speeds, over twice what the other VPNs managed in my tests, to ensure lag-free real-time content streams. That explains why I deferred to it to watch unblocked CNN Go content from Alberta.
Besides the Canadian servers, it also provides 6500+ servers in 78+ countries to access content in more regions than NordVPN. I’ve successfully streamed Voot (Indian servers), France TV (French servers), and more over this massive server spread!
On top of that, I tested its specialty P2P server section and unblocked The Pirate Bay to download torrent files without setting off any bells (pun intended) at Bell and Rogers.
However, PureVPN doesn’t offer automatic public Wi-Fi protection.
So, always manually connect to a server when on public Wi-Fi for the best security.
The good news is that PureVPN uses an extra quantum-resistance technology on some servers (including Canadian servers) to ensure hackers with next-gen quantum computers can’t decrypt your internet activity.
Interested? Grab our PureVPN discounts which makes it the cheapest VPN on this list.
Pros
- 200+ Canadian servers in Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver
- 6500+ international servers to unblock content fast across 78+ countries
- Fastest VPN for live-streaming content at 87Mbps
- Specialty P2P servers to unblock torrent websites and download files securely
- Quantum-resistant tech + encryption to keep third parties out of user data
- Cheapest VPN provider
Cons
- No servers in Alberta
- No automatic public Wi-Fi protection feature
CyberGhost - 480+ Canadian Servers + 9000+ Global Servers for Torrenting & Streaming in Alberta
CyberGhost is highly beginner-friendly, offering servers optimized for torrenting, gaming, and streaming content. Thus, you can start doing what you love most on the internet without testing each server for compatibility.
Its specialty servers are a subset of the larger library of 9000+ servers in 90+ countries, unblocking content in more regions than NordVPN and PureVPN. Of these, you get 480+ Canadian servers (like NordVPN) in Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto.
These servers aren’t flukes, either, granting me access to Canadian news content and sports teams from “The Sunshine Province.”
The best part is that the streaming servers also show you what services they work best with. So, Albertan users interested in accessing Netflix libraries (Italy, US, Canada, Japan, etc.), Hulu, Disney+, DAZN, Amazon Prime Video, or other content can easily find a relevant server.
On top of that, CyberGhost’s 38Mbps speeds put it ahead of NordVPN and ExpressVPN. I never get anything besides steady 4K and HD content streams across my PC, mobile devices, smart TVs, and other streaming devices on the VPN’s servers.
One of CyberGhost’s standout features is its automatic public Wi-Fi protection, enabled on all servers, and AES 256-bit encryption-supported protocols. I found that it’s easier to set up than NordVPN’s and Surfshark’s, making it the preferred option for this task.
Overall, it may not be as cheap as PureVPN, but it’s more affordable than the rest.
Enjoy these CyberGhost offers with a 45-day money-back guarantee to test it risk-free.
Pros
- 480+ Canadian servers in Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto
- 9000+ servers to unblock content in 90+ countries
- Offers automatic public Wi-Fi protection on PC and mobile devices
- P2P-optimized servers for secure torrent website unblocking and file downloads
- Specialty streaming servers optimized for popular streaming platforms and multiple content libraries
- Beginner-friendly and highly-affordable VPN service for Alberta
Cons
- No servers in Alberta
- Not as fast as PureVPN
How to Set up a VPN for Alberta?
Follow the steps below to set up a VPN for Alberta in less than five minutes:
- Buy a VPN plan if you don’t have one already. I recommend getting NordVPN for Alberta.
- Download the VPN app for your preferred device. I’ll use my Windows PC for this example, but you can also get the mobile apps.
- Launch the app and log in with your account credentials. This is the email you registered with and the password you chose for your VPN account.
- Choose a reliable VPN protocol. I recommend the fastest VPN protocol for Alberta. On NordVPN, go to Settings > VPN Connection and choose NordLynx.
- Enable the VPN kill switch to prevent accidental data leaks on VPN disconnection. For NordVPN, go to Settings > Kill Switch and toggle “Internet Kill Switch.” Leave the “App Kill Switch” unless you know what you’re doing.
- Return to the VPN homepage and search for a suitable server. You can follow our guide to choosing the best server location.
- Click the server to connect.
- Browse the web securely, unblock content from your new server, and enjoy free internet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is a VPN Legal in Alberta?
VPNs are legal in Alberta, provided you don’t use one to commit cybercrimes or break the VPN provider’s terms of use/service. Thus, only use a VPN to encrypt your internet connection, unblock content anywhere in Alberta, play online games with DDoS protection and improve your online privacy. That way, you won’t have any run-ins with the law over your VPN usage.
Can You Use a Free VPN Service in Alberta?
You can use free VPNs in Alberta, but they’re less secure than the premium providers. Most free VPN services you can use in Alberta are also poor at unblocking games, bypassing NHL and other sports blackouts, or offering decent security over public and private Wi-Fi networks.
Enjoy the Unrestricted Web From ‘Berta
Whether you’re traveling to Alberta on holiday, going there for schooling, handling some business in the “Energy State,” or for other reasons, your online privacy and security are paramount.
Thankfully, NordVPN is up to the task, thanks to its Canadian servers, global server spread, P2P support, and impressive online security.
Remember to save more with these NordVPN discounts to start.
