NordVPN is the best VPN for Guatemala. It pairs the strongest privacy toolkit on this list (Double VPN, obfuscated servers, and a kill switch) with a virtual Guatemala location for local IPs, its NordLynx protocol held 27 Mbps of my 30 Mbps hotel connection, and its 7,000+ servers in 150 countries unblock everything the country restricts.
If not NordVPN, try Surfshark (unlimited simultaneous device connections at a lower price), CyberGhost (largest server count and a 45-day refund window), ExpressVPN (fastest speeds and obfuscation), and PureVPN (best for live streaming services).
If you’re planning to travel in and out of Guatemala and need a solid VPN to access your favorite online resources, you’ve come to the right place.
The 3 Top VPNs for Guatemala
Surfshark
Best for groups on a budget
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Second-fastest at 28 Mbps
- WiFi protection and obfuscation
NordVPN
Best for Guatemala
- Double VPN and obfuscated servers
- Virtual Guatemala location
- 7,000+ servers in 150 countries
CyberGhost
Best for server choice
- 9,000+ servers
- Automatic WiFi protection
- 45-day money-back guarantee
I was in Guatemala last December for my vacation, a lovely country.
However, there are some challenges around internet freedom in the country, with the government censoring many foreign material.
On top of this, journalists and people fighting to better the lives of Guatemalans have to deal with dangerous cartels that can track them down. Therefore, VPN is essential both for the locals and the tourists.
Access Everything You Need When in Guatemala With These 5 VPNs
Before you connect to your hotel WiFi, here’s a quick look at the 5 VPNs to keep yourself safe in Guatemala:
- NordVPN – Best Overall With Privacy Tools and a Guatemala Location
- Surfshark – Affordable Price Plans With Unlimited Device Connections
- CyberGhost – Largest Server Network With a 45-Day Refund Window
- ExpressVPN – Fastest VPN With Automatic Obfuscation
- PureVPN – Best for Live Streaming Restricted Content
I used base internet speeds of 30 Mbps for all the speed tests, enough to test bandwidth-heavy activities like torrenting, streaming, and gaming.
The higher your base internet speeds, the better the VPN performance.
The Best VPNs for Guatemala: Comparisons & In-Depth Tests
In this section, I’ll highlight detailed comparisons of how these VPN providers performed in critical areas to help you make the right decision.
NordVPN - Best Overall With Privacy Tools and a Guatemala Location
| Location | Global Servers | Connections | Average Speeds | Best Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama | 7,000+ | Ten | 27 Mbps | Show Offer |
NordVPN is my first choice for Guatemala because it’s the one option here that offers a Guatemalan IP address alongside both obfuscation and Double VPN, the exact tools a journalist or activist needs there. It also finished within 2 Mbps of ExpressVPN and backs its kill switch with Threat Protection.
Like all premium VPNs on this list, NordVPN features the industry standard encryption that blocks hackers and spies, no matter how sophisticated the machines they may be using. But it goes a step further.
For starters, NordVPN offers Double VPN servers to encrypt your internet traffic twice for an extra layer of protection and obfuscated servers to hide the fact that you’re using a VPN in the first place. That’s exactly the combination journalists and activists need when the Guatemalan government or a cartel is trying to track them, and CyberGhost offers neither.
The one caveat is that its obfuscated servers aren’t as fast as ExpressVPN’s and only work on the OpenVPN protocol.
But if you’re after speed, NordVPN is equipped with the fantastic NordLynx protocol I use to stream 4K content on the hotel WiFi without buffering.
In fact, this protocol averaged 27 Mbps in my tests, just 2 Mbps behind ExpressVPN and ahead of CyberGhost and PureVPN.
You also get a kill switch (two on Windows and macOS) which I always activate because I’m paranoid. I have had my IP leak once before, an experience I never want to relive. Threat Protection is bundled in as well, blocking malicious sites and trackers before they load.
NordVPN also lists Guatemala as a virtual location, which gives you a Guatemalan IP address for local services like Guatevision, Canal Antigua, and Trecevisión from abroad. The hardware isn’t physically in the country, but the IP address is Guatemalan, and it’s something CyberGhost, Surfshark, and PureVPN can’t offer at all.
For everything else, there are 7,000+ servers in 150 countries, a country count nothing else on this list comes close to. That’s why I had no issue catching up with restricted news, TV shows, and movies from my hotel room.
Furthermore, I could use NordVPN on my Android phone and Macbook, as it has native app support for multiple devices with up to ten simultaneous device connections, the same as ExpressVPN and PureVPN and three more than CyberGhost. While this VPN may not be as cheap as Surfshark and PureVPN, it starts at about the same price as ExpressVPN.
Grab your exclusive NordVPN discounts now and enjoy unrestricted internet access in Guatemala, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- 7,000+ servers in 150 countries, including a virtual Guatemala location for local IPs
- Offers double VPN and obfuscation for extra security
- AES 256-bit encryption plus Threat Protection and public WiFi protection
- Reliable kill switch for IP and DNS leak protection
- 27 Mbps with P2P servers for faster downloads and streaming
- Ten simultaneous connections on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux
Cons
- Obfuscated servers are slower than ExpressVPN’s and OpenVPN-only
- Guatemala location is virtual rather than physical
Surfshark - Affordable Price Plans With Unlimited Device Connections
| Location | Global Servers | Connections | Average Speeds | Best Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Netherlands | 4,500+ | Unlimited | 28 Mbps | Show Offer |
Surfshark is your best bet regarding flexibility, as you can connect unlimited devices simultaneously. This would be ideal if you’re traveling to Guatemala as a group and want to avoid breaking the bank by getting a VPN subscription for each person.
Combining Surfshark’s encryption with its automatic public WiFi protection feature, I could move around Guatemala City, connecting to public hotspots in restaurants without fear of being hacked.
The VPN also offers a kill switch (two on Android) that disconnects my internet whenever I switch between networks. This prevented my actual IP from leaking to potential hackers and government agencies that love keeping tabs, even on tourists.
You also get an obfuscation feature to beat VPN surveillance.
Like NordVPN’s, it only works with the OpenVPN protocol, so your speeds will take a hit, but less severely. However, unlike NordVPN and ExpressVPN, Surfshark doesn’t have a Guatemalan server. If a local IP address is a dealbreaker, please choose NordVPN instead.
But if you can live with that, you’ll enjoy the provider’s 4,500+ servers in 100 countries (all of them torrent-friendly) to unblock restricted torrent sites and download files in record times, as I do. In fact, Surfshark averaged 28 Mbps during my speed test, the second fastest after ExpressVPN, over its WireGuard protocol.
For its unlimited simultaneous connection offer and fast speed, Surfshark is still cheaper than ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
Why is it second rather than first? It has no Guatemala location and no Double VPN, and its network is about half the size of NordVPN’s. For a group splitting one subscription, though, that’s a trade worth making.
Check out our amazing Surfshark deals before grabbing your subscription.
Pros
- 4,500+ servers in 100 countries to bypass Guatemalan geo-restrictions
- Unlimited multiple simultaneous connections
- Military-grade encryption + public WiFi protection
- Dependable kill switch for IP and DNS leak protection
- 28 Mbps for 4K streaming and heavy downloads
- Compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux
Cons
- Obfuscation is slower than ExpressVPN’s
- No Guatemalan server, unlike NordVPN and ExpressVPN
CyberGhost - Largest Server Network With a 45-Day Refund Window
| Location | Global Servers | Connections | Average Speeds | Best Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 9000+ | Seven | 26 Mbps | Show Offer |
I checked into Barceló Guatemala City hotel, and the moment I was given the WiFi password, I launched CyberGhost before connecting.
Combining its WiFi protection feature and the solid encryption stopped possible surveillance by the network admin or any hacker lurking around the WiFi network.
Plus, this Guatemala VPN passed my Wireshark test without issues, giving me the confidence to use my cards to make online purchases without fearing that hackers may intercept my details.
CyberGhost’s reliable kill switch also disconnected my internet twice when the VPN connection dropped. That ensured there was no pocket of time when my actual IP address or online activity leaked while connected to various Guatemalan internet providers.
Furthermore, thanks to CyberGhost’s 9000+ servers, I quickly unblocked Japanese Netflix to continue watching the subbed version of The Vinland Saga on my Macbook.
Unfortunately, this VPN app doesn’t have a Guatemalan server, so you may be unable to watch top shows like Ixcanul or La Llorona in some regions.
On the positive side, there wasn’t any buffering despite using the crowded hotel WiFi. This was partly due to the super-fast streaming servers I combined with CyberGhost’s WireGuard protocol which averaged 26 Mbps.
The only other area where CyberGhost failed was the lack of obfuscation.
This makes it a little risky for journalists who need a VPN that hides traces of VPN activity from Guatemalan government agencies.
Add those two gaps together and NordVPN comes out ahead: it brings obfuscated servers, Double VPN, and a virtual Guatemala location, was 1 Mbps faster in my tests, and allows ten connections to CyberGhost’s seven. If you’re after the biggest server pool and the longest refund window to test it, though, CyberGhost remains an excellent pick.
CyberGhost is affordable and compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux. You can also connect up to 7 devices simultaneously for extra flexibility.
Grab our exclusive discounts before the offer runs out to save more on your plans, all backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- 9000+ servers for bypassing blocked content
- Solid encryption for keeping surveillance out
- Kill switch for IP leak protection
- 26 Mbps for buffer-free streaming and fast downloads
- Connects up to 7 devices simultaneously
- Compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux
- 45-day money-back guarantee, the longest on this list
Cons
- No obfuscation
- No Guatemalan server
- Fewer simultaneous connections than NordVPN, ExpressVPN, PureVPN, and Surfshark
ExpressVPN - Fastest VPN With Automatic Obfuscation
| Location | Global Servers | Connections | Average Test Speeds | Best Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BVI | 113 countries | Ten | 29 Mbps | Show Offer |
ExpressVPN’s biggest selling point is the automatic obfuscation which hides traces of VPN use from your traffic on all servers and protocols without losing speed. It’s the only VPN with this feature, making it perfect for journalists and activists in Guatemala.
ExpressVPN has a public WiFi protection feature like other options on this list. However, unlike CyberGhost, which automatically activates on untrusted networks, there are no automatic ExpressVPN triggers for this.
But thanks to the Network Lock kill switch available across all platforms, I didn’t have to worry about my IP addresses leaking whenever the VPN connection dropped. Not even when I switched to the local Tigo Guatemala mobile network, which I learned was under the government’s control.
Moreover, this secure VPN posted the fastest speeds during my tests, averaging 29 Mbps. This was very impressive, considering how packed the hotel WiFi was.
You’ll have a higher chance of scoring similar speeds on its Lightway UDP protocol combined with any speed-optimized servers.
And speaking of servers, ExpressVPN is one of only two options on this list (alongside NordVPN) with Guatemalan IP addresses. This means you can access Guatevision, Canal Antigua, or Trecevisión anywhere.
This premium VPN has native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, and you can connect up to ten devices, the same as NordVPN and PureVPN.
Value is the sticking point. ExpressVPN costs more than Surfshark, CyberGhost, and PureVPN, and NordVPN trailed it by only 2 Mbps in my tests while adding Double VPN and servers in far more countries for about the same price. Journalists who need the fastest obfuscation around will still consider it money well spent, and you can offset some of the cost with these fantastic discounts.
Pros
- Servers in 113 countries, including a Guatemalan IP address to unblock local content
- Fastest automatic obfuscation to hide VPN usage and bypass censorship
- Network Kill switch for IP leak protection
- 29 Mbps for bufferless streaming, gaming, and torrenting
- Connects up to ten devices simultaneously
- Compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux
Cons
- Pricier than Surfshark, CyberGhost, and PureVPN
- No dedicated WiFi protection setting
- No published server count
PureVPN - Best for Live Streaming Restricted Content
| Location | Global Servers | Connections | Average Speeds | Best Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BVI | 6,500+ | Ten | 26 Mbps | Show Offer |
If you can’t afford to miss a single English Premier League game like me when you’re galivanting around Guatemala, PureVPN should be topping your list.
It features 6500+ servers, behind only CyberGhost and NordVPN, including servers optimized for live streaming without buffering. Considering all the crowding, I averaged 26 Mbps over the hotel WiFi, which was impressive.
When I switched to my temporary mobile network provider, PureVPN made it hard for TELGUA to throttle my bandwidth during downloads and streaming. The military-grade encryption played a massive role in making that happen and hiding my traffic from possible surveillance.
PureVPN also offers Secure WiFi, which came through when I tested its security on unsecured public hotspots around the Guatemalan capital.
And to ensure nothing is left to chance, the VPN provider is equipped with a kill switch for IP and DNS leak protection. Thus, disabling your internet connection the moment your VPN connection is interrupted.
There are obfuscated servers, too, to bypass tougher censorship or mask your VPN usage. But my connection speed reduced significantly when I activated it via OpenVPN. Even so, it was faster than NordVPN’s obfuscation.
That said, PureVPN has native Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux apps, allowing up to 10 simultaneous device connections.
PureVPN is also one of the cheapest options on this list, alongside CyberGhost and Surfshark, and you can grab these fantastic deals before they run out.
Pros
- 6,500+ servers to unblock restricted content within Guatemala
- Ten simultaneous device connections
- Military-grade encryption + secure connection on WiFi
- Solid kill switch for IP and DNS leak protection
- 26 Mbps with live streaming support
- Compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux
Cons
- Obfuscation is slower than ExpressVPN
- No Guatemalan servers
How to Bypass Censorship in Guatemala With a VPN?
Getting things rolling with a VPN once you land in Guatemala is easy.
Here’s the step-by-step guide:
- Download and install a reliable VPN. I recommend NordVPN (get discounts) for its privacy tools and Guatemala location.
- Launch the VPN and log in with your details.
- Connect to a VPN server and enjoy secured connections on any network.
How to Get a Guatemala IP Address?
Among all the VPNs listed, only NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer Guatemalan IPs. Here’s how you can get one with NordVPN:
- Download and install NordVPN and log in.
- Launch the app and search for “Guatemala.” It’s listed as a virtual location, so the IP address is Guatemalan even though the server hardware sits elsewhere.
- Click on the result that pops up to connect. Enjoy secured browsing.
The steps are the same in ExpressVPN’s app if you’d rather use its Guatemala location.
FAQ
Is It Illegal to Use a VPN in Guatemala?
It is legal to use a VPN in Guatemala. VPNs provide users extra online security and privacy, keeping them safe from hacking and surveillance. However, using VPNs for illegal activities like downloading copyrighted materials or engaging in illicit trades is frowned upon by the Guatemalan government.
Can a Free VPN Work in Guatemala?
A free VPN can work in Guatemala, but you’ll encounter some problems.
First, free VPNs have limited features like fewer servers, lack of obfuscation, and public WiFi protection, which makes it easy for your devices to be breached.
Second, free VPNs have a reputation for selling user data to make money, which can expose you to data compromise.
Final Word
Having control of your privacy whenever you travel to other countries is essential, and Guatemala is one of those places where things can go wrong if you’re not careful.
NordVPN is my top recommendation for people traveling to Guatemala because of its Double VPN and obfuscated servers, virtual Guatemala location, 7,000+ servers in 150 countries, stable speeds, and device compatibility. Remember to grab these fantastic deals if we’re on the same page, and test it risk-free for 30 days.






