NordVPN is the best VPN for Berlin, Germany, and that’s by a mile. The VPN provider is notable for its Berlin servers to access local content, international servers to unblock websites/social media/search engine results, and reliable online security.
Besides NordVPN, other VPNs that’ll unblock content and keep your internet activities safe from the Berlin government include Surfshark, CyberGhost, PureVPN, and ExpressVPN.
But how did these VPNs come to be?
Follow through as I reveal details of my tests and comparisons of 20+ VPN providers, which yielded this top five.
Top 3 VPNs for Berlin
CyberGhost offers the largest server library in Berlin and globally to unblock content anywhere. It bolsters internet security and delivers performance with servers optimized for streaming, torrenting, gaming, and improved online privacy.
NordVPN has a sizable server count in Berlin, 200+ German servers, and 5200+ global servers to unblock content anywhere. The fast VPN is also secure and reliable for optimal online privacy on social media, websites, and other platforms.
Surfshark unblocks content in 100+ countries, safeguards your internet privacy, and improves your online security on unlimited devices. It’s affordable without cutting corners or compromising user data and internet security.
Between July – December 2020, Facebook blocked/removed 1200+ items in line with requests from German authorities. In the same timeframe, Twitter blocked/removed 118,000+ items, Google blocked/removed 73,000+ items, and TikTok took similar action on 26,000+ items, all at the request of the Berlin-based government.
These are just the platforms we know and in about half a year.
Thus, there’s no telling how much of the internet is restricted in Germany.
On top of that, content platforms like NRK TV, Hulu, CNN, and other notable names aren’t working in Germany. Those that work (like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video) have limited libraries that don’t allow you to enjoy them fully.
Not anymore.
The top VPNs for Berlin are proven to bypass censorship and defeat content geo-blocks from almost anywhere globally. Ready to take them for a spin?
Read the quick summaries below to get started!
Unblock Geo-Restricted Content and Bypass Censorship With These Top VPNs for Berlin
You don’t have to worry about losing your internet data to the German government, getting geo-locked out of your favorite streaming platforms, or looking over your shoulder when downloading torrent files in Germany.
Let my top VPNs help you:
- NordVPN: Enjoy specialized P2P servers to download torrents, 200+ servers in Berlin and Germany to access local content, and 5200+ servers to unblock content anywhere.
- CyberGhost: Get servers optimized for torrent downloads, unblocking content streams anywhere, and gaming securely without leaking your internet activities, no matter what you’re doing online.
- Surfshark: Save more with a VPN that offers unlimited simultaneous device connections, affordable price plans, and the chance to unblock content in 100+ countries.
- ExpressVPN: Employ automatic, fast obfuscation to beat the Berlin Digital Wall, bypass firewalls, defeat censorship, and unblock anything from 94 countries.
- PureVPN: How about some quantum-resistant servers that don’t reveal your internet activities and data, even if they’re hacked with next-gen, quantum-level computers?
Every VPN has a unique standpoint that makes it the best for Berlin.
But trust me, you may only need one.
To help you make a faster decision, I’ve reviewed and compared these top VPNs below.
Find out which is worth your time the most.
Reviews, Tests, and Comparison of the Best VPNs for Berlin
My top five VPNs for Berlin emerged from a larger list of 20+ VPNs tested for speed, security, privacy, device compatibility, and reliability. Here’s how the top five fare against one another.
NordVPN – 240+ German Servers, 2000+ US Servers & 5200+ Global Servers
NordVPN has 240+ German servers, and 56 of these are in Berlin.
That ensures you can get a Berlin IP address to access German content anywhere, connect to gaming peers in Berlin or encrypt your internet connection in Berlin without losing access to local online services.
Besides the Berlin servers, NordVPN also has servers in Frankfurt, giving you an alternative German location if you need it.
Fortunately, these servers are equally capable of unblocking German content and use reliable AES 256-bit encryption. I tested them by unblocking Welt TV N24’s live stream (which I didn’t have access to earlier), ZDF, and RTL – München TV, and everything went smoothly. This is a testament that the servers show I was truly in Berlin and didn’t leak any IP requests to my ISP, which would have suggested otherwise.
To be sure, I did a leak test and confirmed the good news.
But what if you don’t want Berlin or German servers in Germany? What if you want to unblock content (like Voot from India, BBC iPlayer from the UK, etc.) unavailable in Berlin, Germany?
Then you’ll have NordVPN’s 5200+ servers in 59 other countries at your beck and call.
It doesn’t have the largest country count on the list (that would be Surfshark).
Still, it’ll unblock content in some of the commonest countries with large online content libraries.
For example, some of the services I seamlessly unblocked with NordVPN are:
- BBC iPlayer over the UK servers
- Crave TV over the Canadian servers
- Voot over the Indian servers
- France TV over the Paris, France servers
I could go on, but you get the drift already.
The ease at which NordVPN unblocks these platforms, and the quality of content streams, signifies that it’s a fast VPN. But how fast?
Well, it scores 33Mbps on a 45Mbps connection. That ensures 4K streams and explains why I didn’t get any lags when streaming live TV content on N24.
But NordVPN isn’t only good for unblocking content streams.
You can also bypass website restrictions and censorship on social media platforms or search engines in Germany. If the VPN isn’t combating the censorship firewall, use NordVPN’s obfuscated servers to beat the firewall blocks.
However, note that obfuscated servers will slow your connection speeds considerably. The only alternative is ExpressVPN which manages to offer fast obfuscation, but more on that later. Thankfully, there’s an obfuscated server in Germany if you only want to hide your VPN usage from firewalls.
If you like downloading torrent files but are scared of what the German government might say, NordVPN has you covered.
Its specialty P2P servers are thoroughly encrypted and specially optimized to:
- Unblock access to torrent websites like The Pirate Bay, RARBG, and more.
- Defeat ISP throttling to ensure steady, fast torrent download speeds.
- Encrypt your internet connection so Vodafone, Telefonica, Deutsche Telekom, or your preferred ISP can’t see your torrent download activity.
Since your ISP can’t log or block what it can’t see, NordVPN’s solution keeps you private and secure from copyright trolls.
Don’t worry. The VPN provider has a no-logs policy, so it won’t tell your government what you did on its servers. After all, it didn’t collect that information.
Finally, I’m impressed with NordVPN’s ease of use and compatibility across PCs and mobile devices. With its six simultaneous device connections, you can protect multiple devices and unblock content across your devices when you travel to Berlin, Germany.
However, it’s only ahead of ExpressVPN in terms of simultaneous connections.
So, if you’re buying a single VPN for a larger group or to connect more devices, look at the other VPNs I listed.
If you’re an expat, student, or other long-term Berlin resident, you can also set up the VPN on your router to protect all your devices under the same roof.
In fact, you get Smart DNS support (included in your VPN package) to unblock content via your smart TV, gaming consoles, and other units that can’t download a VPN app.
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Pros
- 50+ servers in Berlin & 240+ German servers
- 5200+ servers in 59 countries
- Reliable data encryption against IP, DNS, and internet activity leaks
- Fast VPN: 33Mbps speeds on a 45Mbps connection
- P2P-optimized servers for secure and fast torrent downloads
- Six simultaneous device connections covering smartphones, PCs, routers, and smart TVs
Cons
- Not the most country reach
- Slow obfuscation
CyberGhost – Largest German and Global Server Count to Unblock Content Anywhere
CyberGhost has the largest server library in Berlin (180+) and Germany (1500+). Thus, if you’re looking for a Berlin IP address with the least chance of overcrowding, this VPN is your best bet.
Besides having the most servers in the target area, it also covers one extra German location: Berlin, Frankfurt, and Dusseldorf.
Thus, it allows you options of other German cities to connect to if you need that.
But there’s a catch:
Unlike NordVPN and some of the others, you can’t choose a Berlin server location. So, you can only click the main Germany server location and hope CyberGhost gives you the Berlin IP address.
The only saving grace is that every one of these servers works the same in Germany unless you need the Berlin IP.
For example, I randomly connected to the German servers and unblocked München TV, 3Sat, and N24. I intentionally went for Live TV content where possible since this is the most unforgiving of slow internet connections and would have shown any lag/buffering.
Luckily, I didn’t get any interruptions when unblocking these services with CyberGhost. In fact, the VPN scored 37Mbps in the same speed test, faster than NordVPN and ensuring the same 4K quality if you want it.
One of the reasons to seek a VPN in Berlin is to encrypt your internet connection without losing access to local content like the ones I just unblocked. CyberGhost’s AES 256-bit encryption on all servers and protocols ensures that.
Remember that this encryption also comes in handy when connected to public Wi-Fi networks at the Generator Bar, American Apparel, Hilton Berlin, or anywhere else you find these networks. Otherwise, hackers, malicious actors, and even network admins on these networks can see all you do, hijack your conversations, steal your credit card details, etc.
That said, this VPN provider doesn’t just have the largest server count in Berlin and Germany, but it does generally.
That’s a blessing, meaning you can unblock content almost anywhere via its 9000+ servers in 90+ countries. The only VPN that comes close in terms of servers is PureVPN (6500+).
On these servers, I unblocked access to
- Netflix US
- Amazon Prime US
- BBC iPlayer
- NRK TV
CyberGhost even has streaming-optimized servers in several countries (Germany included) to get a server that’ll unblock content quickly.
Likewise, I like that these servers are optimized for a platform but will work with other platforms. For example, I unblocked CNN Go with a US server optimized for US Netflix!
On top of that, the provider also has torrent-optimized servers.
That’s enough to tell you that it supports P2P torrent traffic, ensures fast torrent downloads, unblocks any torrent website, and keeps your torrent activity away from copyright trolls.
It even has a torrent-supported server in Germany that could mean faster download speeds for you!
With that, it’s no surprise that CyberGhost is an easy-to-use VPN with a user-friendly interface. It maintains the same navigable interface on mobile and PCs, so you’re never lost on your preferred device.
You also get seven simultaneous device connections, one more than NordVPN, to protect all your devices simultaneously.
The best part is that it’s cheaper than NordVPN if you know where to get it.
Luckily, I’ve got these CyberGhost deals to help you save more and get a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- 180+ servers in Berlin & 1500+ servers in Germany
- 9000+ servers in 90+ countries
- Encryption against data leaks and public Wi-Fi hacks
- Faster than NordVPN: 37Mbps on a 45Mbps connection
- Specialty servers optimized for torrenting, gaming, and streaming
- Seven simultaneous device connections
Cons
- Can’t choose the Berlin location directly
Surfshark – 2 German Locations & 3200+ Servers to Unblock Content in 100+ Countries
Surfshark has an undisclosed number of servers in Berlin.
Even though I’m sure it won’t be as much as what CyberGhost manages, it’s impressive that I can directly choose the Berlin server here.
Thus, I don’t have to hope and pray to get the desired Berlin server, as I do with CyberGhost.
On connecting, I first ensured my internet data wouldn’t leak over these servers. Otherwise, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, and other ISP providers/the government still have a front-row seat to everything I’m doing online.
Fortunately, there were zero leaks. You can verify that by seeing that the leak test’s IP address matches the one assigned to me by Surfshark.
Thus, it was little wonder that Surfshark would gain access to the tough-to-crack ZDF, which wouldn’t unblock anywhere but in Germany or over a German server. I also streamed HD quality content on the other platforms (N24, München TV, and 3Sat) I tested with the other providers to ensure it’s not just a one-trick pony.
Furthermore, I considered VPN users who might have been locked out of content they love to stream elsewhere. So, I tested and confirmed that Surfshark could unblock Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video US, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and just about anything from anywhere.
In fact, Surfshark enjoys a better standing than the other VPNs here since it has servers in 100 countries. That’s almost twice as many countries as NordVPN has servers in, and only ExpressVPN comes close (94).
In other words, there’s almost nothing you want to unblock anywhere that you don’t get with Surfshark.
However, it’s not all good news.
For starters, Surfshark only has 3200+ servers in all these countries.
That’s only more than ExpressVPN and may cause overcrowding issues.
Fortunately, the VPN provider is upgrading its servers to 10Gbps speeds to accommodate several users simultaneously.
This would also explain why I got the highest score on Surfshark’s speed test: 39Mbps over a 45Mbps connection and a lag-free streaming experience.
Furthermore, Surfshark doesn’t have specialty P2P servers, joined only by ExpressVPN with this lacking section. I reached out to its fast, 24/7 live chat staff and got a list of the best P2P servers for torrenting.
Even so, I’d prefer if the provider would create a section on the app for this, so I don’t have to ask customer support all the time.
Suppose that’s not much of a dealbreaker for you. In that case, Surfshark is also highly user-friendly and easy to navigate and use.
Its mobile and PC apps are even similar-looking, ensuring you can switch between them without undergoing another learning curve.
The best part is that this highly affordable VPN service offers unlimited simultaneous connections. So, grab a single account to ensure everyone in your family, expat group, or travel party gets a reliable VPN that unblocks content and keeps them safe anywhere.
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Pros
- 2 German server locations, with one in Berlin
- 3200+ servers in 100+ countries
- Reliable encryption against data leaks to ISPs, the government, or copyright trolls
- Fastest VPN tested: 39Mbps on a 45Mbps connection
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
Cons
- No torrent-optimized or P2P-engineered servers
- Second least server count on the list
ExpressVPN – Fast, Automatic Obfuscation for Extra Online Security & Privacy in Germany
ExpressVPN may have just 3000+ servers, the least on the list, but they’re more capable than what other providers here offer.
But before we get to that, this impressive VPN service lacks a server in Berlin, Germany. So, this rules it out of your options if that’s one of the major things you want in your VPN.
Alternatively, it has German servers in Frankfurt and Nuremberg.
If all you want is a German IP or local internet encryption in Germany, these will work wonders for you.
I connected to the Frankfurt server and ran leak tests to ensure Vodafone or the government isn’t still seeing my internet activity.
Afterward, I looked for a Germany-specific content platform to unblock, and I settled on MDR. ExpressVPN beautifully unblocked the HD version of this website!
Now, what makes ExpressVPN’s servers more capable?
They’re all fitted with automatic and fast obfuscation on every protocol.
Thus, hiding your VPN activity from your German ISP, preventing the government from cracking down on your VPN usage, and bypassing censorship designed to block VPN traffic.
Truth be told, other VPNs here (except CyberGhost) also offer obfuscation.
But enabling the feature on them usually causes a massive speed drop (more than half of what they currently offer). Plus, their obfuscation is only possible on the OpenVPN protocols, unlike ExpressVPN, which has it on all protocols.
So, scoring 34.8Mbps on my speed tests puts ExpressVPN close to the top. And that tells you it would be the fastest if every other provider had obfuscation enabled. Better security without losing speed?
I’ll take that any day.
ExpressVPN may not have a Berlin server, but it has capable servers in 94 countries to unblock content there. And thanks to its automatic obfuscation, rest assured that this VPN works anywhere without detection.
This obfuscation, fast speed, and ExpressVPN’s reliable encryption make it a suitable candidate for torrent downloads. However, it doesn’t have specialized P2P-optimized servers like NordVPN, CyberGhost, and PureVPN.
On reaching out to ExpressVPN support, I was told that all its servers are equally P2P-optimized.
Another win for this provider.
You can now unblock your favorite torrent sites, download unlimited torrent files, and not worry about cease-and-desist letters or fines from copyright trolls.
Of all the VPNs I listed, ExpressVPN is the easiest to use.
It has an interestingly simple build, retains the same interface on mobile and PC, and puts all options within a maximum of two clicks and taps.
But why did it feature close to the end?
Well, the lack of Berlin servers, for one. Then, it’s the VPN with the least simultaneous device connections (5) and the most expensive provider.
It makes up for this with a large country reach, fast obfuscation on all servers, and reliable security.
If ExpressVPN sounds like your kind of Berlin VPN, save more with these limited-time deals.
Pros
- 3 servers in Germany
- 3000+ servers in 94 countries
- Reliable encryption against data leaks
- Fast, automatic obfuscation to bypass censorship and firewalls
- 34Mbps speeds on a 45Mbps connection
Cons
- Most expensive VPN provider listed
- Least simultaneous device connections
PureVPN – Quantum Resistant German and US Servers for Robust Online Security
PureVPN is the latest to feature servers in Germany, but none in Berlin.
That’s like ExpressVPN, but it doesn’t even have more than one Frankfurt server in Germany.
Again, this won’t be the best bet for you if you’re concerned about getting a Berlin IP address for specific reasons. If you’re comfortable with the general German IP address, you’re still in luck.
After all, it gets the same obfuscation against Deutsche Telekom’s firewall bans, encrypts your data from Vodafone, and keeps your internet activity anonymous from government authorities.
On top of that, the German server uses next-gen quantum-resistant technology to prevent live traffic hacking, even if quantum computers are used. Now, that’s massive.
But I wouldn’t trust the VPN because it claims all these.
So, I tested the encryption over this German server and got zero leaks.
This gives me enough confidence to connect to this server on public Wi-Fi networks at Ellipse Lounge, Hoppegarten, THE MEAT, or Peter Pane in Berlin.
Otherwise, I might have been at risk of man-in-the-middle attacks, conversation hijacking, or session tracking by network admins and hackers on the network.
Moving on, I unblocked Hamburg 1 to stream Late Night by Bedo, Hamburger Kuchen Schnack, and Heute in Hamburg, all live shows that would have lagged if PureVPN was incapable of maintaining decent live-streaming speeds.
However, I noticed a bit of grainy imagery, so it wasn’t surprising when PureVPN scored 27Mbps on the speed tests, the lowest of this VPN bunch.
Don’t get me wrong: it’s still fast enough to stream HD content without lag, but it won’t get to 4K like the rest of the options here.
Moving on, you’re in luck with PureVPN’s 6500+ servers in 78+ countries to unblock content in more regions.
That server count is only behind CyberGhost’s, and the country reach beats what NordVPN offers. So, you’re in for an even lesser chance of overcrowding while getting servers that unblock content almost anywhere.
I’ve used these servers to watch Netflix US, unblock Hulu, access BBC iPlayer, and stream Peacock TV without issue, even though those services don’t normally work in Germany.
Lest I forget, PureVPN is in the league of NordVPN and CyberGhost by offering P2P-dedicated servers for torrenting and fast gaming.
I’m equally impressed that it has one of such servers in Germany, even though it generally lacks a Berlin server.
Downloading torrents over the local German server doesn’t mean your government will now see your torrenting activity, though.
In fact, it could guarantee you faster speed since the server is nearby, and your data doesn’t have to travel too far to get encrypted.
PureVPN shines the most in the pricing, being the cheapest of all the offerings here. It also packs ten simultaneous device connections, only behind Surfshark.
Plus, you get everything the VPN offers (even the quantum-resistant servers) on its PC and mobile apps.
I know PureVPN is already cheap, but get it cheaper with these fantastic discounts before they run out.
Pros
- 430+ secure servers in Germany
- 6500+ servers in 78+ countries
- Reliable encryption + quantum-resistant server technology
- Specialized P2P servers for faster and more secure torrent downloads
- Ten simultaneous device connections
Cons
- Slowest VPN: 27Mbps on the 45Mbps connection
- No servers in Berlin, Germany
How to Setup a VPN for Berlin?
The best way to set up your VPN for Berlin is to enable the internet kill switch, pick a preferred protocol and connect to your preferred server.
I’ll demonstrate how to do all these using my best VPN for Berlin, NordVPN:
- Purchase your preferred VPN plan. I recommend NordVPN for Berlin.
- Download the VPN app for your preferred device. I recommend downloading from the VPN’s official website or your device’s app store. I’ll use my Windows PC for this example.
- Launch the app and log in with your account credentials.
- Enable the VPN kill switch to prevent IP and DNS leaks if the VPN connection drops. Go to Settings > Kill Switch > toggle “Internet Kill Switch.”
- Choose your preferred protocol. Unless you’re bypassing tough censorship (OpenVPN protocols), I recommend NordLynx for fast browsing speeds and security.
- Go to the NordVPN homepage and search for a preferred server location. I’ll use the United States for this example.
- Choose the main country to get the fastest available server. Or select from a list of the available cities to get more specific.
- Wait for the connection confirmation. Then test for leaks.
- Start browsing the internet securely from your new IP address.
How to Get a Berlin IP Address?
If you want a Berlin IP address, you can follow the same steps as setting up a VPN for Berlin. However, you need to choose a VPN that offers Berlin IP addresses to start with.
Fortunately, NordVPN does, and here’s how to get a Berlin IP address:
- Follow steps 1-5 from above.
- Search for the Berlin server location directly or for Germany and click the Berlin server.
- Wait for the connection confirmation. Then test for leaks. If you’re in Berlin, ensure you get the NordVPN Berlin IP instead of your ISP-assigned Berlin IP address.
- Enjoy the encrypted web from Berlin without letting your ISP see what you’re up to.
Can You Use a Free VPN in Berlin?
You can use a free VPN in Berlin. Still, you risk getting deanonymized online, leaking your sensitive data to German ISPs, and falling into the government’s censorship blocks.
Likewise, copyright trolls can still come after you when you download torrent files, you’ll suffer unreliable unblocking and endure slow internet speeds.
Thus, it’s best to pony up the affordable cost of reliable VPNs like NordVPN, offering ultra-fast speeds, reliable unblocking, and a massive server spread to unblock content anywhere.
Given that it offers six simultaneous device connections, you can even purchase it as a group of travelers/students/expats/tourists and save more per head.
FAQ
Are VPNs Banned in Berlin, Germany?
VPNs aren’t banned in Berlin, and there are no laws against the use of censorship-circumvention tools like VPNs. However, conducting illicit activities behind a VPN is illegal in Berlin, attracting dire consequences when caught.
So, only use your VPNs to safely unblock and stream content, bypass censorship, protect your connections on public Wi-Fi and encrypt your internet data.
Auf Wiedersehen, Content Blocks & Censorship!
It’s time to say goodbye to any content blocks, censorship, unsafe internet practices, or other online security concerns you might have had in Berlin. If you’re traveling to the region, rest assured that my top 5 VPNs can keep your internet activity anonymous whenever you connect to their servers.
Feeling hard-pressed for an option? I’ll recommend NordVPN in a heartbeat.
Given its robust security profile, impressive online privacy, and fantastic server spread, it’s no secret that it’s the best VPN for Berlin.
Grab these NordVPN discounts to save more on your first purchase and test the VPN risk-free for 30 days.
