The Iranian government already blocks access to thousands of websites and online platforms. Thankfully, NordVPN helps you regain access with its 7,000+ robust servers in 150 countries.
However, the Iranian government has started cracking down on VPN users and is even chasing a bill to make it legal. This is where NordVPN’s obfuscated servers and NordWhisper protocol come in, disguising your VPN traffic so you can still bypass censorship without your ISP knowing about it.
Of the 20+ VPNs I reviewed for Iran, Surfshark (NoBorders and Camouflage Mode on unlimited devices) and PrivateVPN (Stealth VPN on the cheapest plan here) also came out on top, followed by ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.
So, continue with the rest of this piece to find out why these are the VPNs to use in Iran.
Top 3 VPNs for Iran
Surfshark
Best for families in Iran
- NoBorders mode for filtered networks
- Camouflage Mode obfuscation
- Unlimited devices on one plan
NordVPN
Best for bypassing censorship
- Obfuscated servers and NordWhisper
- Kill switch protection
- Global uncensored access
PrivateVPN
Best for Iran on a budget
- Stealth VPN obfuscation
- Istanbul, Dubai, and Tel Aviv servers
- Ten devices from $2.00/mo
Iran has banned access to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube since 2009.
The government also employs strategic throttling to limit access to the social media channels left to Iranian citizens and residents (like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Clubhouse). On top of that, thousands of other websites are either wholly banned/blocked in the country or filtered so dwellers only see what the government approves.
Thankfully, the VPNs on this list have servers in dozens of countries to bypass this censorship and access blocked websites.
They, likewise, provide obfuscation technology to disguise your VPN traffic as regular traffic, so your Internet Service Provider (ISP) doesn’t monitor/report you to the government.
At this point, I recommend you continue with the rest of this piece to find out how these VPN providers compare and which you should put your money on when in Iran.
Need to Bypass Google, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Other Censored Websites in Iran? Try My Top VPNs!
My tried-and-tested VPNs will get the job done, whether you want to keep your government from snooping on your online activity or bypass the censorship imposed across thousands of sites.
- NordVPN – Unblocks censored content in Iran from 7,000+ servers in 150 countries, with obfuscated servers and NordWhisper to hide your VPN use.
- Surfshark – Enjoy Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode and NoBorders mode to keep your government in the dark about your VPN activity and bypass censorship on unlimited devices.
- PrivateVPN – Switch on Stealth VPN in its mobile or desktop app, connect through Istanbul or Dubai, and cover ten devices on the cheapest plan here.
- ExpressVPN – Outside Iran’s jurisdiction, ExpressVPN’s strict no-logs policy combines with encrypted, remote servers in 113 countries to surf the web from.
- CyberGhost – With virtual Iranian servers that hand you an Iranian IP address, CyberGhost gives you the power to take back your digital autonomy, share files without interception, and unblock access to censored platforms in Iran.
After testing more than 20 VPN providers, I selected these VPNs to see which is best for Iran.
In the rest of this piece, I discuss the criteria for these rigorous tests in which these five came out on top. I also flesh out each provider, giving you the lowdown of features and benefits you stand to enjoy regarding the Iranian internet situation.
Comprehensive Review of My Top 5 VPNs for Iran
In these mini-reviews, I go over each VPN provider’s specific features that make it suitable for use in Iran.
So, let’s get to it then.
NordVPN – Best Value VPN for Iran
NordVPN is designed to bypass the most rigid internet restrictions without triggering VPN traffic alerts, and it gives you two separate tools for the job in Iran: obfuscated servers and its newer NordWhisper protocol.
The obfuscated servers mask the VPN tunnel itself, which matters when the filtering system is hunting for VPN handshakes. NordWhisper takes a different route and dresses VPN traffic up as ordinary web traffic, so it can get through networks that block the standard protocols. NordVPN warns it can be slower than NordLynx, so I save it for days when nothing else connects.
Having two disguises is the main reason NordVPN ranks first here: when the authorities catch up with one, you switch to the other without switching providers.
Behind those tools sit 7,000+ servers in 150 countries, and the obfuscated servers unblock banned content, access the unfiltered web, and bypass strict censorship. This means you can use Facebook, Twitter, Google services, and thousands of other banned websites/online platforms in Iran.
Likewise, you can bypass the frustrating ISP throttling in the country whenever you connect to these remote servers.
That said, obfuscated servers slow your connection more than standard remote servers. However, considering Iran’s often deplorable state of bandwidth throttling, you might still get relatively faster speeds. Over NordLynx, it managed 17 Mbps in my Dallas test below, ahead of Surfshark and CyberGhost.
Moving on, one of the best reasons to use NordVPN is its internet kill switch. This constantly monitors your internet connection so your connected devices stop transmitting to the internet if your VPN connection drops.
The best part of the NordVPN kill switch is you have two at your disposal:
- Internet kill switch – a system-wide kill switch that ends all internet activity once the VPN connection drops and re-enables internet connections when the VPN is reconnected.
- App kill switch – can be modified on a per-app basis to determine which apps the kill switch should work on.
However, I’ll always recommend the internet kill switch over the app switch alone since that provides better protection against IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. I tested a NordVPN server for these leaks, and, true to form, there weren’t any.
Threat Protection also blocks malicious domains and trackers, and on the Complete and Prime plans it checks downloaded files for malware too.
The honest downside is that NordVPN has no Iranian IP addresses; only CyberGhost’s virtual Tehran servers offer those here. For a nearby hop, NordVPN runs servers in Istanbul and Dubai.
That’s not a severe dealbreaker, especially as NordVPN gives you access to its AES 256-bit encrypted servers on ten devices under a single subscription. This applies to your mobile devices, PCs, gaming consoles, router, and even smart TVs.
The provider has some of the most affordable and flexible plans for all the online security, speed, and privacy you get.
US dollars · checked Oct 22
Original pricing screenshot
Offers shown in this screenshot may differ from the current deal.
Still, you can grab more savings on your first NordVPN subscription and enjoy a risk-free, 30-day money-back guarantee. Planning to rely on NordVPN in Iran for the long haul? Our NordVPN promo code guide sets out each plan’s renewal price.
Pros
- 7,000+ servers in 150 countries
- Obfuscated servers plus the NordWhisper protocol to avoid VPN detection
- Fast NordLynx speeds to defeat ISP throttling
- Internet and app kill switches against IP, DNS & WebRTC data leaks
- Threat Protection and an independently audited no-logs policy
- Ten simultaneous connections
Cons
- No Iranian IP addresses
- Obfuscated servers and NordWhisper are slower than NordLynx
Surfshark – Best Iran VPN for Unlimited Connections
Surfshark is my runner-up for Iran. It pairs two anti-censorship tools with a subscription that covers unlimited devices, so a whole household gets past the filters on one plan.
The first tool is Camouflage Mode, its obfuscation, which might lower your internet speeds a little but hides the VPN tunnel itself. The second is NoBorders mode: once you switch it on, it spots a restrictive network and suggests the servers most likely to get through.
So, even if the Iranian government is cracking down on VPN users, it won’t see you tunneling your traffic through a VPN.
Surfshark also maintains an internet kill switch that keeps your IP, DNS, and WebRTC data safe whenever your VPN connection drops.
Speaking of secure remote servers, Surfshark provides 4,500+ servers in 100 countries. None are located in Iran, but Istanbul, Dubai, and Tel Aviv are on its list, and you might not need a local server if you’re concerned about bypassing censorship and enjoying faster internet speeds.
I also appreciate the provision of FREE (shared) Static IPs on Surfshark instead of dedicated IPs, usually a paid add-on.
Now, I don’t always recommend using static IPs, as that might show up in your routine, which can then be tied back to your person.
However, when you’re unblocking access to sensitive services like Swagbucks, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer in Iran, all of which might flag your account for irregular IP addresses, these static servers will come in handy.
A slight concern with Surfshark is that it sets up shop in the Netherlands. Even though that area is a part of the Fourteen Eyes, it doesn’t have strict data retention laws or any data-sharing agreements with Iran.
Likewise, Surfshark has an audited no data logging policy, so when the police visit, they won’t find any user data.
Moving on, I already mentioned you can enjoy a single Surfshark subscription across unlimited connections. It’s the only provider here without a cap: NordVPN, PrivateVPN, and ExpressVPN stop at ten, CyberGhost at seven.
That package works for mobile (Android and iOS), PC (Mac, Linux, and Windows), supported routers (which also cover PlayStation and Xbox), and streaming devices.
NordVPN stays first on this page thanks to a network about 50% bigger than Surfshark’s and NordWhisper as a fallback if Camouflage Mode gets flagged. Surfshark also trailed it in my Dallas test, 13.9 Mbps to NordVPN’s 17 Mbps.
US dollars · checked Oct 13
Original pricing screenshot
Offers shown in this screenshot may differ from the current deal.
Luckily, you can still get amazing discounts on your Surfshark subscription to decrease the initial cost, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. One plan can cover a whole household behind Iran’s filters, and our Surfshark coupon code guide explains why Surfshark’s offers can’t be combined.
Pros
- Unlimited connections on a single subscription
- Camouflage Mode obfuscation plus NoBorders mode for restrictive networks
- Internet kill switch against IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks
- 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, including Istanbul and Dubai
- Static IPs can be an added convenience.
Cons
- No local servers in Iran
- Based in the Netherlands, a Fourteen eyes country
PrivateVPN – Budget Stealth VPN With Servers Near Iran
PrivateVPN costs the least of my five picks, and its case for Iran rests on Stealth VPN, an obfuscation mode that wraps your connection so it looks like regular web traffic rather than a VPN.
PrivateVPN’s own setup guide shows the toggle in its Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS apps (Advanced View on desktop, VPN Settings on mobile), so it’s on the phones most people in Iran actually browse with. Turn it on before you connect rather than after the first failed attempt.
I’ll be straight about the limits. NordVPN’s obfuscated servers and NordWhisper, and Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode and NoBorders, are the more proven tools against Iran’s filtering. With only 200+ servers in 63 countries, PrivateVPN also has fewer fresh IP addresses to fall back on when a batch gets blocked, so I treat it as a capable backup rather than my only way out.
Like every provider here, it has no servers inside Iran. The nearest locations on its server list are Istanbul, Dubai, and Tel Aviv, which keep the round trip shorter than routing through Western Europe; my PrivateVPN Turkey guide covers the Istanbul server.
On every major platform (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux), its kill switch cuts the whole connection, which matters more here than almost anywhere: if the tunnel drops, your traffic stops instead of spilling onto the state-run network. My PrivateVPN kill switch guide shows where to turn it on.
Payment fits the crypto advice later in this piece, too. Alongside cards and PayPal, PrivateVPN’s checkout takes cryptocurrency through Coinify (details in my PrivateVPN payment options guide).
On privacy, it’s based in Sweden, a 14 Eyes member with no data-sharing arrangement with Iran, and it promises zero logs. Unlike the other four providers here, though, it hasn’t had that promise independently audited.
Ten of your devices can share one plan, and the 36-month option comes to $2.00 a month before renewing at $72 a year, which undercuts everyone else here. PrivateVPN wasn’t part of my Dallas speed run below, so I have no figure to set beside the others.
US dollars · checked Oct 23
Original pricing screenshot
Offers shown in this screenshot may differ from the current deal.
Grab these PrivateVPN deals and test Stealth VPN yourself; you have 30 days to ask for your money back.
Pros
- Stealth VPN obfuscation in the Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS apps
- Nearby servers in Istanbul, Dubai, and Tel Aviv
- System-wide kill switch on every major platform
- Cryptocurrency payments through Coinify
- Ten devices on the cheapest plan here ($2.00/mo)
Cons
- Stealth VPN is less proven against Iran’s filtering than NordVPN’s and Surfshark’s tools
- Only 200+ servers in 63 countries
- No independent no-logs audit
ExpressVPN - Best VPN to Unblock and Stream Content From Iran
ExpressVPN offers obfuscation on all its servers in 113 countries. This makes it one of the most reliable VPN providers for bypassing censorship.
It’s interesting to note that ExpressVPN covers fewer countries than NordVPN (113 against 150), and it no longer publishes a server count. However, it edges out the rest with obfuscation on all servers (and protocols), so there’s no special server list to hunt through.
Still, I would’ve loved if the VPN provider had an Iranian server.
Fortunately, located in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN is under no obligation to retain or share data with any government.
Even if it were, its zero data logging policy means that the provider won’t have any user data to share when the Iranian police come knocking.
To support this point, ExpressVPN commissioned and passed two independent audits from PwC and Cure53, both leaders in the cybersecurity space.
NordVPN and Surfshark have since had their own no-logs policies audited more than once, and CyberGhost published a Deloitte audit in 2026, so ExpressVPN no longer stands alone on this point.
Furthermore, Turkish authorities once seized some ExpressVPN servers and found zero user data stored.
On top of that, this VPN provider keeps you safer with an in-house Lightway Connection protocol to ensure the fastest speeds while bypassing censorship in Iran. The ExpressVPN promise is made even better with the Network Lock, a special kill switch for the VPN app.
While you can toggle it on/off on your Mac, Windows, and Linux PCs, it comes as a default for iOS devices. You can also tweak the settings on your Android device, but I recommend always leaving it on.
That way, you’re not a victim of IP/DNS leaks if the VPN connection ever drops. Another exciting thing about ExpressVPN is how well-optimized it is for unblocking tough apps like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and Disney+.
When living in Iran, where access to these services is denied by both the service providers and the government, you need a solution as robust as ExpressVPN to get things working. ExpressVPN also allows you to enjoy premium features on up to ten devices under its Basic plan.
It was also the fastest provider in my Dallas test. What moves it down is value: it costs more than Surfshark, PrivateVPN, and CyberGhost, and now that NordVPN pairs obfuscated servers with NordWhisper for about the same price, obfuscation on every server no longer justifies the bill on its own.
US dollars · checked Oct 23
Original pricing screenshot
Offers shown in this screenshot may differ from the current deal.
Thus, I suggest you grab this massive ExpressVPN discount with a 30-day money-back guarantee while it lasts.
Pros
- Double independent policy audits
- Obfuscation on all servers
- Outside Iranian jurisdiction
- Speed-optimized servers for lightning-fast connections
- Ten simultaneous connections on the Basic plan.
Cons
- Doesn’t have local Iranian servers
- Fewer countries than NordVPN (113 vs 150)
- Pricier than Surfshark, PrivateVPN, and CyberGhost.
CyberGhost – Best VPN for Iranian IP Address
Suppose you’re looking to surf the local Iranian web while keeping the Data Communication Company of Iran out of your data.
In that case, CyberGhost’s virtual Iranian servers are the answer. They sit in data centers outside Iran but hand you an Iranian IP address, the only Iranian IPs on this list. CyberGhost also notes that its apps can’t be downloaded inside Iran, so set it up before you enter the country if you can.
However, CyberGhost has a significant downside: the VPN provider lacks obfuscated servers. Likewise, it offers an OpenVPN protocol (which I mistook for its obfuscation tunnel) on PC but doesn’t bring that protocol for mobile users.
At first, I thought I couldn’t find these, so I asked the support staff.
They told me that CyberGhost doesn’t offer that service yet and didn’t mention if it was coming in the future.
Given how obfuscation is one of the biggest factors for an Iran VPN, the primary saving grace for CyberGhost remains its Iranian IP addresses and strong encryption on other available protocols.
Furthermore, CyberGhost mentions a no logs data policy, and in February 2026 it published a Deloitte audit backing that policy up.
Besides these concerns, CyberGhost impresses with one of the most significant server counts, offering 9000+ servers in 100 countries.
You also get extra peace of mind when you layer your connection over CyberGhost with its automatic kill switch. That way, you don’t leak data if your VPN disconnects while connected to public WiFi at Studio Maher in Tehran, Magiran Burger in Shiraz or anywhere else in Iran.
Furthermore, CyberGhost maintains some specialty, smart purpose servers to get the best speed-protection balance you need in Iran.
Here, you can choose from streaming, gaming, and torrenting servers to bypass ISP throttling, even if you consume a lot of bandwidth.
NordVPN comes close with its specialty servers (Obfuscated, Double VPN, etc.), but even that provider doesn’t make things easier with a smart purpose selection like this one. So, thumbs up to CyberGhost for making your Iranian internet experience even better.
Speaking of bandwidth, CyberGhost never throttles your bandwidth across the seven allowed devices on every subscription.
And being the only VPN provider here with Iranian IP addresses, CyberGhost already provides a lot of value for what it costs.
US dollars · checked Oct 23
Original pricing screenshot
Offers shown in this screenshot may differ from the current deal.
Still, you get to save more with this limited-time deal on CyberGhost, which offers a risk-free, 45-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Virtual servers with Iranian IP addresses
- Extensive library of 9000+ servers in 100 countries
- 45-day money back guarantee
- Affordable VPN with fast servers
Cons
- Doesn’t offer obfuscation technology
- Its Iranian servers are virtual, hosted outside the country
How I Chose the Best VPN for Iran? (Tests and Criteria)
Here’s what to consider when choosing a reliable VPN for Iran:
- Obfuscation to prevent the government from knowing you’re using a VPN.
- Strong encryption to keep your internet data secure.
- Multiple server locations to bypass censorship and unblock content.
- Robust unblocking technology to access content not available in Iran.
- Zero data logging (preferably audited too).
- Ultra-fast servers to bypass government throttling.
- Internet kill switch and other advanced online protection technology.
Following this guide, and a few additional security and privacy features along the way, here’s a breakdown of how each VPN compares in these tests.
Large Server Network
You need VPNs with large server libraries in multiple locations to escape local censorship and unblock geo-restricted content that’s not available in Iran.
Likewise, it’ll be wise to get a VPN with Qatar server locations, so you can access local banking apps and other restricted local content on the secure web.
Looking at my top 5 VPNs, CyberGhost is worthy of mention for its virtual Iranian servers, the only Iranian IPs on this list.
The table below shows how large a server network you get from my top VPN providers, including locations and countries these servers are in.
| VPN Provider | Servers | Locations/Cities | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 7,000+ | - | 150 |
| Surfshark | 4500+ | - | 100 |
| PrivateVPN | 200+ | - | 63 |
| ExpressVPN | Undisclosed | - | 113 |
| CyberGhost | 9000+ | - | 100 |
Such distributed server locations allow you to avoid DDoS attacks targeted at specific regions and give you the flexibility to bypass censorship and surf the web without borders.
Multiple Protocols
You need multiple VPN protocols to balance speed and security, depending on what you’re using the VPN for in Iran. Some protocols are best used when simply unblocking content, streaming via your VPN, or hiding your VPN traffic from your ISP/the government.
From my top 5 VPNs, NordVPN’s proprietary NordLynx and the in-house Lightway Protocol from ExpressVPN afford you the fastest connections with excellent security. When you choose OpenVPN protocols, you don’t get as much speed but have an extra layer of protection.
Here’s a complete overview of what protocols you get on each provider and what it means.
| Protocol | Result | Offering Provider |
|---|---|---|
| NordLynx | Faster connection with improved privacy | NordVPN |
| NordWhisper | Disguises VPN traffic as regular web traffic on networks that block VPNs. | NordVPN |
| IKEv2 | Fast protocol and great on mobile. Best for establishing reconnections | ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, PrivateVPN (NordVPN by manual setup only) |
| OpenVPN (TCP or UDP) | Used for enhanced security. Causes a drop in internet speeds. | NordVPN, Surfshark, PrivateVPN, CyberGhost (PC only) |
| Lightway (UDP and TCP) | ExpressVPN's in-house optimization for fast obfuscation. | ExpressVPN |
| WireGuard | General-purpose VPN protocol for fast tunneling with secure connections. | Surfshark, CyberGhost, PrivateVPN |
| IPSec | Fast and secure protocol to protect VPN data from outside networks. | PrivateVPN (L2TP/IPSec) |
I always recommend super-secure protocols (OpenVPN) for Iran when in doubt about which protocol to use. Alternatively, you can allow the VPN to choose the best protocol based on your internet activity.
Security
The most prominent security feature I look out for is obfuscation.
While CyberGhost doesn’t have any obfuscation yet, and ExpressVPN makes it possible on all its servers with the Lightway protocol, others have specialty settings and names for their obfuscation.
| VPN Provider | Obfuscation Protocol |
|---|---|
| NordVPN | Obfuscated servers and NordWhisper |
| Surfshark | Camouflage Mode and NoBorders |
| PrivateVPN | Stealth VPN |
These servers come in handy to prevent the government/ISPs/online platforms from detecting your VPN traffic.
Speaking of detection, kill switches also come to mind. Without exception, all of my top VPNs offer kill switches. Some (like NordVPN, with separate internet and app kill switches) even offer two.
Finally, choose a VPN provider with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption on every server. So, even if you aren’t connecting to the internet via an obfuscated server, your internet activity is still invisible to your ISP.
P2P Servers
P2P servers are great for sharing files securely on the internet without third-party interference. This feature is impressive for protecting data integrity, especially in a government where all your internet activity might be under surveillance.
Furthermore, P2P servers allow you to torrent sites securely without worrying about legal copyright claims. In our torrenting VPN guide, you’ll also see that these P2P servers can guarantee you better download speeds you’ll need in Iran, where internet speeds are intentionally crawled.
Crypto Payment Support
Banking activities in Iran are exclusively in the hands of the government (according to Article 44 of the constitution), which means the government has a lot of access to your financial records. By extension, they can see what you pay for online, including payments made on VPN websites.
Since crypto payments can’t be traditionally traced like a bank transaction, you get extra anonymity when you pay for your subscription in crypto.
All the VPN providers on this list allow payment in crypto.
You don’t even have to enter a correct name (since verification isn’t required) to make a purchase. So, you won’t be leaking any personal information that way either.
| VPN Provider | Supported Cryptocurrencies |
|---|---|
| NordVPN | Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Dash (DASH), Tron (TRX), Monero (XMR), Ripple (XRP), Tether (USDT) |
| Surfshark | Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Dash (DASH), Tron (TRX), Monero (XMR), Zcash (ZEC), Ripple (XRP) |
| PrivateVPN | Bitcoin (BTC), processed through Coinify |
| ExpressVPN | Bitcoin (BTC) |
| PureVPN | Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Tron (TRX), Cardano (ADA), Binance Coin (BNB), Dogecoin (DOGE), Ripple (XRP), Dai (DAI), Tether (USDT), Bitcoin Vault (BTCV), BitTorrent (BTTC), Nano (XNO), Binance USD (BUSD), SHIBA INU (SHIB) |
Speed
Internet speed throttling is a big issue in Iran, so I made sure to look for VPNs that are optimized for speed. I recommend you do the same when choosing your preferred Iran VPN.
If you’ll be choosing from any of my top 5 VPN providers for Iran, I completed some speed tests so you can see how these providers compare.
For this test, I made sure to:
- Choose a server located in the same place to ensure uniformity
- Use the same protocol to prevent any results disparities
- Use the same speed testing tools
Before that, I tested my benchmark internet speeds to see how much the connection drops on a VPN.
You’ll find the results of my other tests in the table below.
| VPN Provider | Server Location | VPN Protocol | Max. download speed (Mbps) | Max upload speed (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Dallas, USA | NordLynx | 17.0 | 2.76 |
| Surfshark | Dallas, USA | WireGuard | 13.9 | 5.35 |
| ExpressVPN | Dallas, USA | Lightway (TCP) | 23.1 | 4.37 |
| CyberGhost | Dallas, USA | WireGuard | 8.79 | 5.27 |
PrivateVPN joined this list after that Dallas run, so it has no row here.
Can Iranian Police Collect VPN Logs From VPN Providers?
The Iranian police can’t collect your VPN logs or any other online user data from these providers, as these providers are neither within Iranian jurisdiction nor do they collect any user logs they’ll hand over.
How to Download and Install a VPN in Iran?
Depending on availability, there are various ways to download and install a VPN in Iran. Here are some I’ll recommend.
Check Your App Store
This works for mobile, PC, gaming consoles, smart TV units, and even streaming devices.
If your app store region is Iran, you might not see VPN apps (or other apps, for that matter) on your app store. The best bet is to change your region.
However, that might cause you to lose your iCloud music library (on iOS) and keep you stuck in the other region for up to a year (on Android).
Likewise, you might lose access to local Iranian apps and associated services, so it’s worth considering all these options.
Alternatively, if the VPN app you want is banned from your app store, continue with the following methods.
Get the Program Files From a Friend
This method is best suited to PC units and Android devices.
You can get the raw installation file from a trusted friend for your Android or PC device. I’m particular about getting it from a trusted friend or other trusted sources to avoid the dangers of downloading cracked apps, such as malware injection and data theft.
Use VPN Mirror Websites
When access to VPN websites is blocked, you can usually unblock access by using mirror websites provided and maintained by these VPN providers.
Mirror websites redirect to the main website where you sign up, log in, and manage other account activities effectively. The good news is that most of these mirror websites slip through the censorship cracks, so you always get unfettered access to your preferred VPN providers.
Some of the mirror websites maintained by the VPN providers on this list are:
NordVPN Mirror Websites
ExpressVPN Mirror Websites
Surfshark Mirror Website
You can always reach out to VPN customer support to get other mirror sites from which you can download the software on any device.
What Websites and Online Services Are Blocked in Iran?
Iran blocks access to thousands of websites and services across streaming, entertainment, news, lifestyle, social media, and sports categories.
Some of the most notable blocked services you can unblock with a VPN are detailed below.
| Category | Services |
|---|---|
| Social media | Telegram, Twitter, Facebook, Tinder, Tumblr, etc. |
| Blogging | Medium, WordPress websites, Blogger |
| App Store | Google Play Store, iTunes App Store (paid services) |
| Streaming Services | YouTube, YouTube Music, Netflix, Soundcloud, Discord, Twitch, HBO, Pandora, etc. |
| Torrenting | The Pirate Bay |
| News | BBC, CNN, Fox News, CBC Sports, etc. |
| Shopping | Tmall, Taobao, etc. |
What to Do When Your VPN Isn’t Working in Iran?
If your VPN isn’t bypassing censorship, defeating ISP throttling, or securing your internet experience in Iran, do these (in no particular order):
- Get a premium VPN – Free VPNs aren’t well-equipped to defeat Iran’s strict censorship and internet issues. If you’re hard-pressed for a choice, I recommend NordVPN, which you can use on ten devices simultaneously.
- Update the VPN app – A bug in your VPN app might prevent it from working at its best capacity. Look for an update, download, and install it to have things working the right way again.
- Use the app over extensions – VPN browser extensions usually only act as proxies to change your location but don’t encrypt your internet traffic at the same level. You won’t even get specialized features like obfuscation, no ads experiences, and kill switch with the extensions, so you’re less protected. Always get the app.
- Choose obfuscated servers – Some censorships are so strict that standard remote servers won’t bypass them. This is where obfuscated server technology comes into play. Switch to these servers for better luck with bypassing tougher censorships.
- Change remote servers – VPN providers add a lot of standard remote servers because governments like Iran will ban some servers. When that happens, disconnect and reconnect to another server location in the preferred region to use the internet securely. Alternatively, you can set the VPN to automatically connect you to the best server.
- Restart the VPN app – Sometimes, a simple restart is what the VPN app needs to clear its cache and start functioning right again. This is usually an issue when the VPN app has been left running for too long.
- Contact customer support – Fortunately, all the VPN providers on this list have Live Chat support that walks you through any issues. Contact them, and they’ll help troubleshoot your connection problems in no time.
By the end of these pointers, you should already have a handle on your connection issue and be back to securing your privacy in Iran.
FAQ
Which VPNs Have Servers in Iran?
No VPN on this list runs physical servers inside Iran. CyberGhost comes closest with virtual Iranian servers: a Tehran location hosted in data centers outside the country that still gives you an Iranian IP address.
What’s the Best VPN for iOS in Iran?
NordVPN and Surfshark are the two best VPNs for iOS devices in Iran.
Both VPN providers have thousands of servers optimized for speed and offer obfuscation technology to bypass rigid internet censorship and protect your internet activity, and NordVPN’s NordWhisper protocol now works on iPhone too. They also provide dedicated iOS apps that allow you to enjoy their entire suite of features on your iOS devices.
Are VPNs Illegal in Iran?
The Iranian government seeks court orders to go after VPN companies and will sometimes crackdown on Iranians using anti-filtering technology.
Foreigners and expats in Iran are usually spared searches and arrests, so you have nothing to worry about.
However, you can still hide your VPN traffic and activity from the government by paying for your VPN subscription in crypto and choosing obfuscated servers when connecting to the internet. That way, the VPN usage, and history are divorced from your person, allowing you to bypass censorship without detection.
Is ExpressVPN Available in Iran?
ExpressVPN is available in Iran and works well to unblock banned content, bypass censorship, and improve connection speeds in the region.
Thanks to its obfuscated servers on all protocols, ExpressVPN also helps you avoid government, ISP or other VPN traffic detection whenever you’re connected to any of its remote servers.
Can You Use a Free VPN Service in Iran?
Free VPN services don’t offer decent encryption to unblock services or even hide your internet traffic from Iranian authorities. Thus, all data transmitted on the internet (including the files you share) can be openly seen by your ISP or anyone else snooping around your network.
Alternatively, you can choose affordable VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark, which you can use on multiple devices under the same subscription.
Can I Use NordVPN in Iran?
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for Iran, given its obfuscated servers and NordWhisper protocol, which help prevent your government from detecting VPN traffic.
NordVPN also offers security tools such as Threat Protection (to beat ads, malware, and trackers), a double kill switch, and Double VPN servers to keep your connection private and secure.
How Can I Change My IP to Iran?
Unless you’re in Iran, you’ll need an Iranian IP server which you can get from VPNs like CyberGhost. You can also get Iranian IPs from proxy providers. Still, they don’t encrypt your internet connection, and most free proxies are blacklisted.
Do VPNs Work in Iran?
The Iranian government may be cracking down on VPN providers, but they still work well in the region. These VPN providers continually audit and add to their servers, allowing Iranian users thousands of other options to connect to when some get blocked.
This is why you should always choose recommended premium VPN providers. They must keep maintaining their servers at the highest levels of security, obfuscation, and reliability you need in Iran.
Does Surfshark Work in Iran?
Surfshark is a budget VPN that works well in Iran to unblock content and bypass censorship. You can also avoid detection by using the Camouflage Mode on Surfshark, which provides obfuscation. Likewise, you can surf the web without ads or trackers when you turn on the CleanWeb service provided within your Surfshark subscription.
Furthermore, Surfshark provides an internet kill switch that ensures your IP, DNS, and Web RTC details never leak whenever the VPN connection drops. All these make Surfshark a good VPN for Iran.
Now, You Can Bypass Censorship With Ease in Iran
The Iranian government might be hellbent on filtering the internet and throttling your connection speeds. Still, you can get around all that with the right VPN.
You can get around some of the toughest censorships thanks to NordVPN’s obfuscated server technology, best-in-class encryption protocols, and kill switch technology. The fast 7,000+ NordVPN servers in 150 countries also enable defeating throttling and browsing the web faster, and NordWhisper steps in when the usual protocols get blocked.
Get started with NordVPN by grabbing limited-time discount deals that allow you to simultaneously use NordVPN on ten devices.
