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5 Best VPNs for Kazakhstan: Bypass Censorship and Defeat Throttling

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NordVPN does a phenomenal job of bypassing censorship and ensuring internet privacy when browsing the web in Kazakhstan.

For example, given that the country has a largely state-run ISP, Kazakhtelecom, NordVPN’s obfuscated servers make it possible to hide your VPN traffic from the government.

Then there’s Surfshark and ExpressVPN, which have local Kazakhstan servers granting you access to Kazakh TV, Qazsports, and other local content.

Finally, after testing more than 15+ VPNs, the top 5 VPNs for Kazakhstan are rounded off by the duo of Ivacy and PureVPN.

So, keep reading to learn how each VPN compares for Kazakhstan and which is the best for you.

Top 3 VPNs for Kazakhstan

BEST LOCAL SUPPORT
Surfshark
Surfshark Devices

Surfshark offers local Kazakhstan servers to unblock geo-restricted local content and secure your connection while browsing the web locally. Its Camouflage Mode prevents your ISP from knowing you’re using a VPN connection.

4.6/5
Read More
MOST VERSATILE
NordVPN
nordvpn devices 300x158 1

NordVPN allows you to bypass the toughest government censorship without detection using its obfuscated servers. It also provides a kill switch to prevent IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks, so you’re always protected whenever you get on the internet.

4.8/5
Get Discount
MOST RELIABLE
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN different devices

ExpressVPN is audited and proven for its no-logs policy, so it’ll never hand your data over to the government. This VPN provider also does a stellar job at content unblocking, encrypting your internet traffic via multiple protocols, and offering P2P connections on every server.

4.6/5
Read More

The Kazakhstan government shut down internet access on January 5, 2022, showing how easily they can take online access from citizens.

The government also staggered access to social media websites in the same timeframe to prevent citizens from getting their messages to the world.

That’s a sad situation. Fortunately, I tested NordVPN’s obfuscated servers, and they’ll let you get around these tough censorships. Likewise, Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode hides your VPN activity from your ISP and the government.

Speaking of ISPs, Kazakhstan’s internet service provider is mainly state-owned.

That’s why I ensured all the VPNs on this list have a strict no-logging policy and aren’t within the jurisdiction of Kazakhstan.

Furthermore, the final trio of ExpressVPN, Ivacy, and PureVPN also boast military-grade 256-bit encryption, which the Kazakhstan government (or any government) can’t crack to see your internet traffic.

That said, you don’t have to get all of these VPNs for Kazakhstan to stay secure while using the internet there. So, continue reading to find out which is best suited to your needs.

Want to Bypass Government Censorship in Kazakhstan? Look at My Top 5 VPNs!

opening qazaqtv.com using nordvpn

Each of these VPNs does something special to allow you to bypass censorship, access geo-blocked content, and stay anonymous in the Kazakhstan webspace.

Check them out:

  • NordVPN – Best for obfuscated servers to prevent Kazakhtelecom from discovering you’re bypassing censorship with a VPN.
  • Surfshark – Features a Camouflage Mode to disguise your VPN traffic as regular traffic, plus Kazakhstan servers to browse the secure web locally.
  • ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Kazakhstan servers with proprietary zero data logging protocol to keep your user data safe while browsing the web.
  • Ivacy VPN – Promotes internet freedom to help you bypass geo-blocks with ease, plus a kill switch to prevent your internet data from leaking to the government.
  • PureVPN – Gives Kazakhstan citizens and residents an extensive global server network to access any content anywhere.

However, I recommend reading the rest of the guide, where I’ll show you how to enable obfuscation for improved protection, configure the kill switch, and use other privacy-focused features in these VPNs.

Detailed Reviews and Comparisons of the Best VPNs for Kazakhstan

I tried and tested over 15 VPNs for Kazakhstan. Some barely made the mark, others were well off, and a handful performed in flying colors.

I’ll detail below everything I found during my tests to show that these VPNs are worthy for Kazakhstan citizens and residents. I’ll also teach you tips to get the most out of each VPN that made the list.

Let’s get to it.

NordVPN – Best Overall Value for Kazakhstan

nordvpn us server

NordVPN’s impressive unblocking technology is fostered by its 5400+ servers in 60+ countries. However, the VPN provider doesn’t have Kazakhstan servers like ExpressVPN and Surfshark, so you can’t unblock all local content.

The good news is some local channels are available from other countries. For example, I unblocked access to Qazsports and Kazakh TV with NordVPN’s US servers.

accessing qazaqtv from a us server location
I accessed QazakTV from a US server location

You’ll still most likely need local servers when accessing local banking apps, services, and shopping platforms, which is where I’d recommend Surfshark or ExpressVPN instead.

Moving on, it’s no surprise the Kazakhstan government throttles the internet and prevents residents from freely accessing certain services on the web.

Luckily, NordVPN’s fast servers beat such throttling.

Every NordVPN server is optimized for speed, and since it hides your traffic from your ISP, they can’t throttle you anymore.

NordVPN also offers P2P servers over which you can get better download/upload speeds for secure file sharing/downloads.

However, ExpressVPN beats NordVPN (and other VPN providers) in this category with P2P support on all servers, rather than some.

p2p servers on nordvpn

Still, there’s a concern your ISP knows you’re using a VPN and reports you to the government. After all, the Kazakhstan government openly admits it’s cracking down on VPN usage and obtaining court orders to do so.

This is where NordVPN’s obfuscated servers come in.

obfuscated servers on nordvpn

Since ISPs can’t personally monitor everyone on the network, these obfuscated servers ensure you don’t trigger any VPN traffic alerts. Additionally, you get all the safety and encryption features of NordVPN, so your ISP still doesn’t see what you’re doing on the internet.

However, unlike ExpressVPN, NordVPN doesn’t have obfuscation on all its servers. This makes ExpressVPN’s 3,000+ server count more impressive since they’re all obfuscated.

On the other hand, one of the most noteworthy things about NordVPN is it combines a strict no-logs policy with being outside Kazakhstan’s jurisdiction.

This no-logs claim was independently audited twice by PwC, so you can take NordVPN’s word for it. Even if your government reached out to NordVPN, the provider wouldn’t have any data to give.

Finally, don’t forget to utilize the free internet kill switch with every NordVPN subscription. This monitors your VPN connection and stops your internet activities once the VPN connection drops, preventing IP, DNS, or WebRTC data leaks.

The best part is that the provider offers two options: an internet kill switch and an app kill switch. Only NordVPN features the app kill switch on this list, giving you further freedom to customize your internet privacy experience.

kill switch features on nordvpn

For all these features, NordVPN is one of the most affordable VPN providers, presenting multiple price packages to help you choose the one you’re most comfortable with.

NordVPN pricing
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Pros

Cons

Surfshark – Get Kazakhstan Servers on Unlimited Devices

connected to kazakhstan location server with surfshark

Surfshark is one of two VPN providers with Kazakhstan servers out of all the providers on my list. These servers mean you can stream local TV channels and content while accessing local banking services and other region-specific content with a secure internet connection.

Local Kazakhstan servers also provide public Wi-Fi protection at Panfilova street, Almaty Metro, or any other free Wi-Fi spot in Kazakhstan without suffering a data loss, leakage, theft, or malware injection, among other things.

Besides the Kazakhstan servers, Surfshark also allows you to bypass censorship with 3200+ servers in 65+ countries.

These other servers become essential when you want to access websites, apps, and online services your government blocks access to.

Additionally, like NordVPN and PureVPN, Surfshark provides Camouflage Mode as an in-house obfuscation feature to access the Kazakhstan web without raising red flags with your VPN traffic.

The downside to these obfuscated servers is a drop in internet speed. Luckily, Surfshark solves that by optimizing all of its servers for speed, and you’ll still browse the internet without noticing the speed drop.

Furthermore, you can get better speeds to share/download files securely with Surfshark’s P2P servers. The service provider doesn’t have a Kazakhstan-based P2P server, though, but you can turn to ExpressVPN if you need such.

Still, Surfshark is behind NordVPN and ExpressVPN in terms of speed. However, since the provider’s servers have at least 1Gbps speed allocation, you shouldn’t worry about your internet dropping.

kill switch feature on surfshark

Speaking of connection drops, Surfshark’s kill switch is designed to interrupt your internet connection if the VPN disconnects

Otherwise, your device keeps transmitting via your ISP, revealing your IP address and DNS details to Kazakhtelecom.

Moving on, an immediate concern for Surfshark is that it’s headquartered in the Netherlands, which is one of the Fourteen Eyes countries.

However, Surfshark claims the country doesn’t have strong data retention laws and maintains a zero data logging policy.

The VPN service has also been audited twice for that claim by Cure53, so you can believe it’s true. Likewise, the Netherlands isn’t known to share any data with Kazakhstan anyway.

Finally, one of the best things about Surfshark is its support for unlimited connections with unlimited bandwidth on a single subscription.

In fact, no other VPN provider on this list comes close, with PureVPN offering the second-best at ten simultaneous connections.

Screenshot MS 1 1
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While that already makes it an excellent buy for the price, you can still save more on Surfshark with our exclusive discount.

Pros

Cons

ExpressVPN – Best for Advanced Unblocking and Privacy

all location server options on expressvpn

ExpressVPN’s servers across 160 locations in 94 countries are P2P-supported for safe content unblocking and improved privacy.

You should note that only ExpressVPN offers P2P support on ALL its servers, including the one in Kazakhstan, and is the ONLY provider to do so. Thus, you can connect to the local server to download/upload files faster without government interception or choose a foreign server for the same purpose.

expressvpn p2p support
ExpressVPN support confirms P2P support on all servers

These servers are also engineered with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, which tunnels your data over advanced security protocols.

This can’t be reverse-engineered by the Kazakhstan government to see your internet traffic data.

As mentioned, ExpressVPN joins Surfshark in offering a secure server in Kazakhstan to browse the local web securely.

searching kazakhstan server location on expressvpn

Furthermore, you have a better promise of security via ExpressVPN’s PrivateDNS service, which helps secure another aspect of your online experience. In fact, every other VPN on this list also manages its DNS services in-house to prevent third-party leaks.

That beats outsourcing the DNS protection feature to another brand from where your details could leak to the government or be seized.

On the subject of data seizures, ExpressVPN has set up shop in the British Virgin Islands, out of the Fourteen Eyes surveillance countries (unlike Surfshark), and isn’t subject to any data retention laws.

connected to kazakhstan server location with expressvpn

On top of that, the VPN provider has been independently audited by both PwC and Cure53. This makes it the only service to test its transparency with two reputable cybersecurity companies.

Now, like the other VPN providers I’ve tested so far, ExpressVPN also provides obfuscation. Unlike the rest, you get these obfuscation features on all servers you connect to.

I even chatted up a customer support personnel who confirmed that all servers, including the one in Kazakhstan, are obfuscation-ready.

obfuscation feature support on expressvpn customer chat support

This makes ExpressVPN one of the most secure VPN services on this list.

ExpressVPN also impresses with the Network Lock feature, its version of the kill switch. This feature helps keep your IP and DNS details away from the prying eyes of your government whenever the VPN connection drops.

network lock settings on expressvpn

On the other hand, ExpressVPN  is more expensive than others on this list. Even when considering the five simultaneous device connections and dedicated router software, the price still seems high.

ExpressVPN plans
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Fortunately, you can enjoy amazing discounts that make ExpressVPN more affordable.

Pros

Cons

Ivacy – Easy to Use VPN for Kazakhstan

ivacy connected spain server

Ivacy is built to fight against censorship while ensuring online protection. These make a perfect recipe for a Kazakhstan-focused VPN.

But how does Ivacy make all of that happen?

First off, the VPN provider maintains 5700+ servers in 100+ locations from where you can unblock content globally.

It’s a shame Ivacy doesn’t include Kazakhstan in these locations.

Still, since it’s constantly adding servers, there’s a chance we’ll have one in the region soon.

Thankfully, you still get to watch Qazsports, Kazakh TV, and other local channels via other supported server locations, like the USA, Canada, and Ukraine.

On top of that, Ivacy’s P2P support is laudable.

What isn’t as impressive is the really small number of countries where these P2P servers are located.

p2p support on servers with ivacy

Ivacy also maintains fast servers to allow users to escape bandwidth throttling. While the VPN won’t help in the case of a total internet blackout, it’ll help you obtain fast internet when Kazakhtelecom or any other ISP slows down the connection speeds.

Additionally, Ivacy doubles down with dedicated DDoS protection to prevent service disruptions to your device’s internet traffic or specific online platforms.

On top of that is the public Wi-Fi protection for whenever you’re connected to free Wi-Fi networks in available Kazakhstan hotspots.

mini-map of free wifi hotspots in kazakhstan
A mini-map of free Wi-Fi hotspots in Kazakhstan

Fortunately, the list of good news doesn’t end there.

The VPN provider layers its AES 256-bit military-grade encryption over multiple protocols, such as WireGuard, TCP, UDP, L2TP, and IKEV.

These give you the right balance of speed and protection on any server you connect to in Kazakhstan.

wireguard connection settings ivacy
WireGuard is the basic and fastest protocol with the right balance of speed and security

You get the option to tweak these protocols for a preferred connection model or leave it at the automatic selection and let the VPN provider do all the work.

I also spoke with Ivacy’s customer support regarding obfuscation, and they told me it works over their OpenVPN protocols.

obfuscated server support using openvpn protocol on ivacy

I would’ve expected to see a specialty server setting (like NordVPN’s Specialty Servers, Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode, or PureVPN’s Quantum Resistant servers), but it’s not the case here.

Even at that, Ivacy still offers its Internet kill switch safeguard, so you don’t have to worry about transmitting unsecured data to the Kazakhstan government over the internet when your VPN connection drops.

activating internet kill switch feature on ivacy

Although Ivacy is already an affordable VPN provider, it still allows you to log in simultaneously on up to ten devices across mobile (iOS, Android), PC (Windows, Linux, Mac), router, gaming console, and streaming devices.

Ivacy VPN pricing
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But don’t forget to grab these HUGE SAVINGS on Ivacy VPN for your first purchase.

Pros

Cons

PureVPN – Advanced Security on Extended Servers

connected to us server with purevpn

With 6500+ servers in 96+ locations, PureVPN is one of the biggest providers for unblocking content from almost anywhere in Kazakhstan.

This server count resolves into a massive 300,000 IP address library maintained in 78+ countries, making it even more impressive.

However, it’s yet to add a local Kazakhstan server.

Barring that, PureVPN offers obfuscation with its Quantum Resistant servers so you can bypass VPN traffic blocks and avoid ISP detection. Additionally, PureVPN is the only provider to offer these servers whose data can’t be cracked even by quantum computers (or so they say).

customer service chat on obfuscated server support via quantum resistant servers on purevpn

I found that PureVPN brings DDoS protection as a paid add-on during my tests. This isn’t the same as the other VPN providers on this list, which offer DDoS protection as a standard on all servers.

Fortunately, the VPN provider doesn’t play around with other robust security features. It combines industry-standard 256-bit encryption with IP and DNS leak protection. I also looked for an internet kill switch, and I found one that was automatically activated.

You should still check to confirm that yours is activated before browsing the internet, though.

enabling iks in general settings on purevpn

On top of that, PureVPN is audited for its no-logs policy claim by KPMG, and it’s due for a surprise audit anytime.

I like this unique form of auditing from a security standpoint.

It means PureVPN will do all it can to keep to the no-logs policy rule since KPMG can come in anytime for these audits.

Surprisingly, only PureVPN has a surprise audit plan, which makes me trust that it’s always at the top of its security game.

In no way will the VPN provider be able to hand your data over to the Kazakhstan police or government since they don’t collect any data.

Furthermore, PureVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, neither within Kazakhstan’s jurisdiction nor any data-sharing pact with the country. So, even if your ISP knows you’re using the VPN, the government can’t see what you’re doing on the internet.

In other news, after the January 6, 2022 internet clampdown in Kazakhstan, many residents found that their Telegram apps weren’t working anymore.

If that’s still the case for you, PureVPN is precisely engineered to unblock access to content via its servers.

Since all server locations are optimized for up to 20Gbps speeds, you don’t have to worry about slow internet connections, either.

The VPN provider is also in the company of NordVPN and Surfshark with dedicated P2P servers.

p2p support via quantum resistant server on purevpn

If you have a few devices that need internet protection, you’ll appreciate PureVPN’s 10-device support. You get easy-to-use apps on all devices you choose to connect (across major operating systems) and unlimited bandwidth.

purevpn pricing
Image for illustration only. Design, deals, and details may differ. Click on the image for current info.

But before you buy a PureVPN subscription, check these exclusive deals to save more.

Pros

Cons

What Criteria Did I Test the Best VPNs for Kazakhstan On?

I know anyone looking for a Kazakhstan VPN is interested in

  • Privacy
  • Internet data security
  • Unblocking content on the web
  • DDoS service prevention
  • Bypassing government surveillance
  • Using the internet without throttling

Considering the state-run affairs and clampdown on internet freedom, I also checked that these VPN providers aren’t in Kazakhstan’s jurisdictions.

So, here are the criteria for my tests.

Speed

random speedtest while connecting to new york server with nordvpn
Random speed test with NordVPN from a New York server

Internet speed throttling isn’t new in Kazakhstan, especially during social and political unrest. This is why I ensured these VPNs:

  • Are optimized for speed on all servers
  • Will bypass ISP throttling with ease

To test for these, I checked:

  • My internet speeds without any VPN connection (for a benchmark)
  • My internet speeds with each of these VPNs are from the same server
  • My internet speeds when connected to a Kazakhstan-based server (on Surfshark and ExpressVPN)

The results of those tests are provided in the table below.

VPN Provider Server Location Ping (ms) Download speed (Mbps) Upload speed (Mbps)
NordVPN Los Angeles 360 24.10 8.19
ExpressVPN Los Angeles 510 19.70 6.78
Surfshark Los Angeles 440 21.70 5.65
Ivacy Los Angeles 550 16.50 5.50
PureVPN Los Angeles 486 19.70 6.88
ExpressVPN Kazakhstan 308 17.50 6.75
Surfshark Kazakhstan 294 9.24 5.40

Only NordVPN came close to my benchmark download speeds, which shows how fast this VPN provider is. The rest are also fast enough to stream HD content without lag from Kazakhstan, so no worries.

However, if you’re choosing Kazakhstan servers, I recommend ExpressVPN  instead, as it’s almost twice as fast as Surfshark.

Since you’ll also be using obfuscated servers, I tested the connection drop across these specialty servers. In this case, I automatically connected to the fastest obfuscated servers.

VPN Provider Obfuscated Server Location Ping (ms) Download speed (Mbps) Upload speed (Mbps)
NordVPN Turkey 376 7.02 5.13
ExpressVPN Germany 158 19.80 5.66
Surfshark Nigeria 614 9.90 4.21
PureVPN New York 614 11.50 0.69
Ivacy Spain 621 7.91 4.30

Overall, this shows that the next time the government decides to bring your national speeds to an almost halt, you’ll still have access to fast web services over your chosen VPN.

Privacy

Already, most of Kazakhstan’s internet is state-run.

Hence, it’s not hard for the government to find out what you’re doing over the internet.

They might not even need a warrant to do so, so it’s best to find a VPN that gives you control over your internet privacy.

Likewise, none of these VPN providers (except for Surfshark) are located in the Fourteen Eyes countries. Thus, their governments aren’t in any data-sharing arrangements with other governments.

VPN Provider Location
NordVPN Panama
Surfshark Netherlands
ExpressVPN The British Virgin Islands
Ivacy Singapore
PureVPN The British Virgin Islands

So, why did Surfshark make this list, still?

Surfshark has twice passed an independent zero data logging policy audit.

Even if its government requested user data, the VPN provider can’t provide that since they don’t collect such data.

Security

Thanks to the standard AES 256-bit military-grade encryption on all the VPNs here, no one sees what you’re doing over the internet.

These VPNs step things up with the addition of internet kill switches that prevent IP, DNS, and WebRTC data leaks when enabled.

All of these VPNs also offer obfuscated servers.

I’m more impressed with ExpressVPN’s obfuscation technology on all servers, including the local Kazakhstan server.

If you were wondering where Ivacy’s obfuscated servers are, I spoke with the support staff already. Apparently, connecting via OpenVPN protocols on Ivacy ensures obfuscation. This isn’t the same as the other VPN providers on this list which provides a dedicated section for obfuscation.

P2P Server Support

These VPNs offer P2P file-sharing support, which you’ll appreciate when sharing files over the internet. In addition to your ISP and the Kazakhstan government not seeing your internet activity, they can’t intercept the files you send and receive over these servers either.

Server Locations

all location server options on expressvpn

A wealth of server locations let you unblock content from anywhere, bypass censorship, and beat geo-restrictions. The best part is that some of the local online services in Kazakhstan (like Kazakh TV) are also available in other regions, so you can unblock them by connecting to faster servers elsewhere.

VPN Provider Server Count Locations Countries
NordVPN 5400+ - 60
Surfshark 3200+ - 65+
ExpressVPN 3000+ 160 94
Ivacy 5700+ 100+ 65+
PureVPN 6500+ 96+ 78+

Anonymous Payment

The Kazakhstan government has a controlling interest in many of its local banks.

For example, Halyk Bank has leveraged government access to expand its reach and owns 35% of all banking assets in the country.

As such, all of the VPN providers that passed my test offer anonymous payment models, which allows you to escape the scrutiny of the Kazakhstan banking system.

Otherwise, it would be possible to analyze your financial records and determine you’ve purchased a VPN, which law enforcement authorities may act on.

Out of the 22 tier one banks in the country, Kazakhstan-owned corporations have a controlling interest in precisely 50% of these banks.

The rest are partly controlled by some bodies in China and Russia.

banks and ownership in kazakhstan
Kazakhstan banks and ownership

These show that it’s easy for the government to request your financial data and analyze it to find your VPN purchase. Conversely, this is almost impossible to do when you choose alternative forms of payment like bitcoin or another cryptocurrency.

Below, I detail what other forms of secure payment you get from these VPN providers.

VPN Provider Anonymous Payment Option
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)
ExpressVPN Bitcoin (BTC)
Ivacy 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)
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)

How to Use Obfuscated VPN Servers in Kazakhstan?

Obfuscated servers are available across ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Ivacy, PureVPN, and Surfshark. Follow this guide to choose obfuscated servers for Kazakhstan.

Use Obfuscated VPN Servers on PC

  1. Purchase a VPN subscription. I’ll use NordVPN for this example.
  2. Download the PC app and log in with your account credentials.
  3. Click the gear/settings icon in the lower left.
selecting settings thur the gear icon on nordvpn
  1. Select “Auto-connect” and toggle off the “Choose a VPN protocol and server automatically.”
activating auto-connect settings on nordvpn
  1. Under VPN protocol, choose “OpenVPN (TCP).”
  2. Select “Advanced” from the settings sidebar and toggle on “Obfuscated servers (OpenVPN (TCP)).”
activating obfuscated servers in advanced settings on nordvpn
  1. From the sidebar, select “Kill Switch.” Enable the “Internet Kill Switch” for all internet connections or configure the “App Kill Switch” for specific apps.
activating kill switch features on nordvpn
  1. Return to the app home page.
  2. Under “Specialty Servers,” click “Obfuscated servers” to automatically connect to the best available obfuscated server. OR
activating obfuscated servers via specialty servers settings on nordvpn
  1. Click the three horizontal dots near Obfuscated Servers.
nordvpn obfuscated servers settings
  1. Choose your preferred country and server within the list.
  2. Click the “Connect” button.

Use Obfuscated VPN Servers on Mobile

I created this guide using the iOS app, but the instructions are similar on Android devices.

  1. Choose a preferred VPN. I recommend NordVPN.
  2. Download the VPN app from your App Store/Google Play Store.
  3. Launch the app and tap the settings/gear icon in the lower right.
  1. Choose “VPN Connection.”
  1. Tap “Protocol.”
  1. Choose either “OpenVPN (UDP)” or “OpenVPN (TCP).”
  1. Return to the app home page and select “Specialty Servers.”
  1. Tap “Obfuscated Servers” to connect automatically to the best available obfuscated server or the three horizontal dots to choose your preferred obfuscated server.

NordVPN maintains that the iOS Kill Switch is enabled on every connection by default, so you can’t toggle it on or off here.

kill switch feature settings on mobile

However, the same isn’t valid for Android devices. You’ll have to manually toggle it on in the device settings.

Interesting Reads:

Frequently Asked Questions

ExpressVPN and Surfshark maintain a fast and secure server in Kazakhstan to surf the web locally while enjoying the advanced security features of a VPN. 

Since ExpressVPN allows obfuscation and P2P support on all its servers, you can bypass VPN traffic blocks and share files securely on the internet with ExpressVPN’s Kazakhstan server.

The Kazakhstan government is going after VPN providers and other circumvention tools with court orders. Still, it isn’t focusing too much on individuals using them.

In the rare case that the police or other law enforcement agents are set on VPN users, foreign nationals within the country are usually spared such searches and assaults.

You shouldn’t use free VPNs in Kazakhstan, as these providers neither provide you with a secure connection nor other premium unblocking benefits you need from a VPN.

Your internet traffic is still visible to your internet provider and the government, so they have all information on your IP, DNS, and WebRTC data, which can be used to identify you on the web.

It’s best to choose affordable VPN providers like Surfshark, which offers a local Kazakhstan server and unlimited simultaneous connections.

The Kazakhstan government is cracking down on VPN providers in the country. However, some providers like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark still work in the region.

You can install these VPN apps on your devices from your app store, get the app/program files from a trusted friend, or via official mirror/onion sites.

ExpressVPN is the recommended VPN provider for Kazakhstan, with a reliable iOS app encrypting your internet traffic and allowing you to bypass censorship in Kazakhstan.

Furthermore, you get local Kazakhstan servers to browse local content securely only on ExpressVPN.

Likewise, you still get thousands of servers in other countries to unblock content, share files over P2P servers securely, and escape ISP monitoring with obfuscation features on all servers.

The OpenVPN protocol works in Kazakhstan, helping residents and citizens hide their VPN traffic from Kazakhtelecom or other state-based ISPs while securely connecting to the web.

You can find OpenVPN protocols for obfuscation within any of NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and other recommended Kazakhstan VPNs.

Opera VPN isn’t safe to use in Kazakhstan. It doesn’t offer a tunneling protocol (such as OpenVPN or WireGuard), nor does it provide a no-logging policy.

These are essential features to prevent IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks and keep you anonymous on the internet.

Otherwise, the Kazakhstan government may still be able to keep an eye on you and track your internet activity, and you’ll still suffer bandwidth throttling from Kazakhstantelecom.

You can watch all live programs on the Kazakh TV channel with a VPN, and you don’t even have to connect to local Iranian servers to do so.

Thus, you still get access to Culture Talks, News Digest, Faces of Art, Art Global, Travel Hackers, Delicious Kazakhstan, Pride, Grand Buildings, and more.

You can connect to a VPN provider offering local Kazakhstan servers (like ExpressVPN or Surfshark) to get Kazakhstan IP addresses.

You can also get Kazakhstan IP addresses via proxy servers, but they don’t encrypt your traffic as a VPN does, and most proxy servers might already be blacklisted.

The best VPN region for Kazakhstan depends on what you’re doing with the VPN. For example, you can connect to P2P-friendly locations in the USA, Canada, Spain, and the Netherlands to torrent securely or share files online. 

You can also choose a USA server to unblock content on streaming services and bypass geo-restrictions and censorship from your country.

Likewise, some VPNs like ExpressVPN and Surfshark provide Kazakhstan servers, ensuring you can keep browsing the local internet without worrying about your government/ISP seeing your internet activity.

You need a VPN in Kazakhstan to bypass tough government censorship, hide your internet activity from government-owned ISPs, and take back your digital privacy.

VPNs are also essential for circumventing throttling attempts and unblocking services/online platforms usually inaccessible to Kazakhstan residents.

You can do a simple Google search for the query “What is my IP” to find your Kazakhstan IP address. If you’re connected to a VPN remote server, you can also test your IP address using provided VPN tools or simply inspect the connected remote server for its IP details.

Take Back Your Internet Privacy Today

You don’t have to suffer government-sponsored internet speed throttling or see a modified version of the web from Kazakhstan anymore.

Overall, given its obfuscated server technology, NordVPN is my top pick for Kazakhstan to bypass censorship without letting your ISP see your VPN traffic.

It also packs a kill switch that stops your connected devices from transmitting once the VPN connection drops, so your ISPs can’t deanonymize you.

Grab a NordVPN discount here to take back control of what you see on the internet and protect your privacy better.

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