Buying a VPN with Bitcoin introduces an extra layer of privacy and anonymity to your online dealings.
Since Bitcoin transactions are relatively untraceable, buying a VPN with the crypto makes it harder for anyone snooping around your internet traffic to know about your purchase.
In this piece, I discuss the definitive guide to purchasing your VPN with Bitcoin, the common pitfalls to avoid, and why you should bother with buying a VPN with Bitcoin.
Let’s get to it.
Guide to Buying a VPN with Bitcoin
Follow these steps for a seamless experience when buying VPNs with Bitcoin.
Step 1 – Open a Fresh Bitcoin Wallet
This step also applies if you already have a Bitcoin wallet.
Chances are that you opened that wallet with your email address and other identifying information.
If you’re going for total anonymity, we want to eliminate all possible causes of leaks.
Create a new Bitcoin wallet with a burner email address.
You can also create a new email address for other anonymous payments/sending anonymous emails.
Some of the top wallets I recommend based on security and convenience are:
- OPOLO Crypto Wallet – This crypto hardware wallet company in Luxembourg offers its own (free) EAL 6+ encrypted protocol. The hardware wallet also features genuine device checks, anti-theft protection, and provides virus-free usage. Overall, it’s the best for hardware wallet lovers (especially if you have an Android device).
- Electrum – Launched just a few years after Bitcoin, this is one of the longest-standing and most reputable hot wallets. Not the best choice if you want to use other cryptos but one of the best when dealing with Bitcoin.
- Trust Wallet – This is one of the most beginner-friendly, secure wallets for mobile users. It also allows you to manage more cryptos than just Bitcoin. When using the mobile-focused wallet, never lose your recovery phrase.
There are many more wallets than these, but I don’t trust all of them.
The case of Eric Savics, who lost all of his life savings just because he imported his cryptos into the wrong wallet, always comes to mind.
When choosing a wallet, make sure it has social proof behind it, a reliable history, and is highly secure.
Step 2 – Fund Your Crypto Wallet
You need to fund your crypto wallet so you can purchase your VPN.
If you’ll be using a VPN for a while, I recommend setting the account up with $60, at least.
Some of the most affordable VPNs (like Surfshark and IPVanish) sell for less than $3/month if you’re getting the extended plan (usually for a year or more).
With your $60, you’ll get a year’s worth with some change, depending on the provider you choose.
When funding your crypto wallet, avoid using your banking cards.
Even though Bitcoin transactions can’t be traced traditionally, banking and financial institutions can still see where you use your cards.
So, even if they don’t know what you did with the crypto, they can still prove that you bought it.
Again, this is a leak in the anonymity and data privacy armor we plan to build here.
I recommend going via P2P exchange systems to deal directly with the seller and securely send them payments.
Some P2P platforms offer Chipper Cash, Payeer, Payoneer, PayPal, and even physical cash payments, the most untraceable.
You can check out these P2P exchanges to fund your wallets faster and more efficiently:
LocalBitcoins is one of the best P2P exchange platforms.
If you want a face-to-face meeting, you can hand over cash rather than leave another digital footprint when buying your Bitcoins.
PS: An excellent way to find the best wallets is to check what wallets your preferred VPN provider supports.
Step 3 – Launch Incognito Mode on Your Browser
I strongly recommend using your browser’s Incognito Mode if you’re in a country where the internet is heavily regulated.
Incognito mode might be limited in how well it protects your internet data, but it’s better than nothing.
You want to ensure a tiny layer of protection between you and whoever may be tracking your internet activity.
That could be your ISP (Internet Service Provider), employer, or the government itself.
A suitable alternative is to use the Tor browser.
On its own, the Tor browser acts as an advanced Incognito Mode.
It can help protect your internet activity better – though not on the level of a VPN.
If you’re skeptical about setting up Tor browser, follow this simple video guide to get started:
Once you have your Incognito Mode enabled or choose to go via Tor, proceed to the next step.
Step 4 – Choose Your Preferred VPN Provider
Now is the time to choose which VPN provider you want to buy from.
Before we look at anything else, this must be a VPN vendor that supports Bitcoin payments.
Otherwise, they won’t allow you to make payment with the crypto.
Fortunately, some of the best VPN providers offer you the choice to pay in Bitcoin.
In the table below, you’ll see VPN providers that offer Bitcoin payments, their pricing plans, and why they’re the best choices to consider.
| VPN Provider | Best For | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Speed + advanced privacy | Get Exclusive Deals Here |
| PrivateVPN | Unblocking content | Get Exclusive Deals Here |
| Ivacy | Boost internet data privacy | Get Exclusive Deals Here |
| ExpressVPN | Advanced unblocking + speed | Get Exclusive Deals Here |
| SurfShark | Protecting the most devices simultaneously | Get Exclusive Deals Here |
The highlights in the table should help you make a better buying decision based on your needs and budget.
If you’re interested in how and why I chose these VPNs, keep reading.
Step 5 – Make Your Payment
In step #2, I mentioned that you could check with your preferred VPN provider to find what Bitcoin wallet to open.
Again, there are a lot of wallets out there, but not all are supported by all VPN providers.
Before making your payment, check that your VPN provider of choice supports your preferred wallet.
Below is an example of ExpressVPN’s supported wallets:
Follow these steps to make your Bitcoin payment to the VPN provider of choice:
- Go to the VPN provider’s website.
- Choose the VPN subscription plan that you prefer.
- On the payment dashboard, choose Bitcoin/cryptocurrencies.
- Follow the prompts to complete your payment.
Depending on the VPN provider, your subscription should become active within a few minutes to the first 24 hours.
Step 6 – Enjoy Your VPN Service
If you’ve followed all the steps closely, you should now be enjoying your VPN service.
Shop online anonymously, unblock geo-restricted content, protect your online data from snoopers and hackers, and enjoy better internet privacy.
Which VPNs Should You Buy With Bitcoin?
I already listed five trusted VPN providers in the table above, and they all accept Bitcoin payments.
But why did I choose them?
Here are some of the essential things to consider with these VPN providers:
NordVPN
You must really care about your privacy, which is why you chose to pay with Bitcoin.
Combine that with NordVPN’s Double VPN to change your IP twice for deeper internet data cloaking, and you get advanced privacy.
NordVPN does one better, offering some obfuscated servers across its 5300+ servers in 60 countries.
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN goes the extra mile with 256-bit military-grade protection to ensure no one has access to your internet data.
This improves the anonymity model you have already established by paying in Bitcoin.
Military-grade protection (like this one) should dampen your internet speeds.
Still, PrivateVPN offsets that with faster VPN servers that keep you secure and deliver impressive internet connection speeds.
At the heart of this VPN Provider is a geo-restriction circumvention service that gives you access to any gated content you’re trying to check out.
You can now access secure accounts anonymously, even if they were monitored by the government or blocked in your region.
Presenting as one of the most affordable VPNs out there, you also get stellar customer support from a brand that gives you direct access to its team of developers.
Ivacy
Ivacy takes the affordability promise to the next level with limited-time offers, but that’s not the best thing.
Ivacy allows you to stay anonymous on up to 10 devices at a time, which is a great deal when you consider what the VPN provider brings to the table.
From their name, you already know that they’re privacy buffs.
That is why they combine 256-bit security with next-level public Wi-Fi protection and a no-logs policy.
Whether you’re trading Bitcoin securely, buying Bitcoin privately, or avoiding online tracking, Ivacy’s model offers the level of protection you seek.
Ivacy also offers IPv6 leak protection with an automatic kill switch that prevents your devices from transmitting data once the VPN connection drops.
Ivacy may not take the crown when it comes to speed, but it’s no slouch either.
Did I mention already that all Ivacy accounts now offer a free password manager to boost your online security habits further?
The password manager could double as a safeguard to generate and keep secure passwords for your Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency accounts.
ExpressVPN
A list like this isn’t complete without ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer Technology combines its 256-bit encryption to protect you from advanced tracking measures or internet data snooping.
You also get the added advantage of a malware-free, phishing attack-safe browsing experience when dealing with Bitcoins online.
You don’t need to want to use Bitcoins (or other cryptos) to get an ExpressVPN subscription.
The same features work if you were simply masking your true identity to navigate the web anonymously.
ExpressVPN is also known for its advanced content unblocking, often getting access to platforms other VPN providers might not reach.
This is helped by over 3,000 servers and 160 VPN server locations in more than 94 countries.
Worthy of mention, again, is the TrustedServer Technology, which takes zero data logging to a whole new level.
This technology ensures no data is ever written to a hard drive for deletion afterward.
That way, the data can’t get leaked between the time it’s written and before deletion.
For all that ExpressVPN brings to the table, it’s one of the costlier options.
It only allows five (5) devices to connect simultaneously, so the price can still seem slightly high.
If you want advanced consumer-grade level protection and avoid geo-restriction on tested, trusted, proprietary VPN technology, you won’t go wrong with ExpressVPN.
Surfshark
I always maintain that Surfshark is the cheapest VPN provider out there, even though the pricing doesn’t immediately show that.
That’s because they offer unlimited simultaneous device connections on the same plan.
But the price isn’t the only thing that Surfshark brings to the table.
Every install of Surfshark allows you to add a high-level antivirus software that scans your system for existing viruses and keeps more away from you.
This tool helps keep your computers safe from malware designed to track and deanonymize you.
You also get a smart alert tool that lets you keep track of your data on the web and monitor for data breaches.
You’ll always be the first to know if there is a chink in the privacy armor you’re building so you can quickly patch things up.
SurfShark is a master at delivering a clean web experience where you browse without seeing ads and avoid cookie trackers.
This can also save you from adware and malvertising targeted at identifying you online, stealing your data, and even attacking you.
On top of that, you still get access to uncensored internet, organic and unbiased search results, and remarkable speed for the money.
If it sounds too good to be true, I can promise that this is the one time when things are as good as they sound, if not better.
Reasons to Buy From Trusted VPN Vendors
The VPN app providers I mentioned aren’t the only ones offering Bitcoin payments.
Others might have better pricing and more deals than the five vendors listed here.
Here are some of the reasons I chose the trusted vendors that I recommended to you:
Strict Zero Data Logging Policy
I can’t go through the stress of paying a VPN provider with Bitcoin only to have them collect and fumble my data in the future.
You don’t want a part of that, either.
This is why I’ll choose providers with a history of zero data logging.
Most of these vendors (Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN) have been independently audited by either PwC or Cure53, showing that the companies are genuinely dedicated to delivering their promises.
Refund Policy Is Tricky With Bitcoin
Try Bitcoin and other cryptos if you think it takes a while to sort payments and issue refunds with fiat!
The decentralized and anonymous nature of Bitcoin payments means that your payment might get lost in the ether if something were to go wrong.
Though, it’s rare for something to go wrong, especially if you follow my guide above.
Still, I like to leave room for uncertainties.
Luckily, the VPN providers mentioned in this guide have stellar customer support and will walk you through rectifying your failed payments.
Kill Switch Functionality
There are a lot of features that these VPN services jointly bring on board, but I am singling out the Kill Switch functionality.
The kill switch automatically disconnects you from the internet once you lose your VPN connection.
Otherwise, you’ll keep using the internet with your ACTUAL IP address.
The data leaks in that time alone could be enough to deanonymize you, track your current location, fingerprint your browser, and steal your privacy.
You and I don’t want those things, especially after covering your tracks by paying in Bitcoin.
Better still, I like the automatic kill switch feature for improved DNS leak protection so you can keep surfing the web privately, securely, and anonymously.
Non-History of Government Collaboration
This one explains itself.
If a VPN provider is known to work with the government, I don’t do business with them.
That means they can get certain favors from the government, and they’d have to pay back at some point.
I’d hate to see them paying back with my data or yours.
6 Reasons to Buy Bitcoin with a VPN
Some of the reasons are obvious.
Others aren’t so obvious, even though they’re equally significant.
Here are my top six (6) reasons to pay for your VPN with Bitcoin:
Reason #1 – Improve Anonymity of Transactions
Your credit card companies, banks, and other financial institutions know everywhere you spend your money when you go through them.
But that’s not the scary part:
These institutions operate under government laws and licenses, so they can be summoned to give up data on what you’ve been buying.
That is scary, especially if you live in an internet-regulated region.
Introduce Bitcoin to the mix for a decentralized buying approach where you’re the only one aware of that purchase.
This is also why I recommend never paying for the Bitcoin with your cards.
Reason #2 – Protect Your Political Status
Journalists working under a pseudonym can keep their online privacy intact when paying for their VPNs with Bitcoin.
Using fiat currencies opens up doors to investigations that might lead back to them.
The same goes for political refugees, lawyers, and other individuals on the government’s watch list.
Pay for your VPN with Bitcoin and continue avoiding surveillance for longer.
Reason #3 – Bitcoin Isn’t Location-Restricted
What happens when you travel to other countries but don’t have access to your local cards?
Some banks won’t even allow you to access their services outside their designated regions.
If you were using any such banks, accessing your money will only happen over a VPN or when you’re back in the right physical regions.
With the Bitcoin option, you can buy the VPN from anywhere in the world to surf the web anonymously or access geo-restricted services on the go.
Reason #4 – Improved Card Security
VPN providers do their best to prevent data leaks, but what if it happens?
Records of 21 million users across SuperVPN, GeckoVPN, and ChatVPN showed up in a data breach some time ago.
These records showed everything, from randomly-generated passwords to email addresses and payment information.
Such leaks defeat the purpose of buying a VPN in the first place and reinforce why I always recommend buying from a reliable provider.
Still, you can better protect your payment details (and yourself) when you go with Bitcoin as a private payment solution.
Reason #5 – Standardized Exchange Rates
Bitcoin exchanges will usually store your coins with value against the US dollar, the preferred payment currency for VPN providers.
That gives you a seamless payment experience without tacking on unnecessary fees that drive up the VPN service cost.
Suppose your local currency isn’t the USD.
In that case, you might incur additional exchange fees, network transfer charges, and taxes on the payment.
Avoid all of that with Bitcoin and pay the barest minimum at fair exchange rates that you must have negotiated with your P2P vendor.
Reason #6 – Avoid Payment Restrictions
There was a time when some governments and organizations worked to block donations to Wikileaks.
This is how payments to VPN providers can be blocked by the government, ISPs, or concerned organizations.
There are even times when PayPal froze the accounts of VPN providers (here and here), so who’s to say that won’t happen to users, too?
Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about any of that with Bitcoin.
You can buy and use cryptocurrency from almost anywhere in the world.
Used right, no one knows that you’re paying for any VPN, so you’re in the clear there, too.
Can You Buy a VPN With Other Cryptocurrencies?
You can purchase VPNs with other cryptocurrencies besides Bitcoin.
This is dependent on the VPN provider you choose and what other crypto payments they accept.
While Bitcoin is usually the most accessible and commonest crypto, it isn’t the only acceptable payment method for VPNs.
Following the list of VPN providers that I recommended above, here are some other cryptocurrencies that they support:
| VPN Provider | Accepted Cryptos | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP) | Get Exclusive Deals Here |
| PrivateVPN | Bitcoin (BTC) only | Get Exclusive Deals Here |
| Ivacy | Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Dash (DASH), Tron (TRX), and more | Get Exclusive Deals Here |
| ExpressVPN | Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), USDC, BUSD, PAX & GUSD | Get Exclusive Deals Here |
| SurfShark | Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Tron (TRX), USDT, Litecoin (LTC), etc. | Get Exclusive Deals Here |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Downsides to Buying VPN With Bitcoin?
Buying with Bitcoin can prove a hassle with unreliable providers since the payment can’t be tracked nor refunded in the case of a dispute.
However, as long as you buy from a reputable provider, the minimal downsides when paying with Bitcoin shouldn’t cause a problem.
Do All VPNs Accept Bitcoin?
Not all premium VPN providers accept Bitcoin as a form of payment.
HideMyAss VPN is a notable provider that only accepts Paypal and card payments.
VyprVPN and AtlasVPN don’t also offer Bitcoin payment options, but the latter VPN provider is working on bringing that on board soon.
If you want to buy a VPN with Bitcoin, it’s best to stick with trusted vendors like ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, Ivacy, or PrivateVPN.
Is Your Data Anonymous With Bitcoin?
Some Bitcoin exchanges collect user data that can be used to identify you in real life.
This beats the anonymity promise that Bitcoin initially introduces, even though those exchanges promise never to share your data.
You can buy Bitcoin anonymously via peer-to-peer transactions with other vendors who only need to send you the BTC equivalent of how much you pay.
That way, you avoid exchanges and improve your level of anonymity while dealing with Bitcoins.
Does a VPN Guarantee Anonymity?
A common misconception about VPNs is that they guarantee anonymity, but that’s inaccurate.
A VPN can guarantee online data privacy, but anonymity boils down to your online habits.
If you’re browsing the internet with a VPN, your ISP and the government can’t track your internet activity to your person anymore.
That benefit will be defeated if you reveal your personal information online by yourself.
So, even though the VPN has made your connection and data private, you just exposed yourself.
Check out this comprehensive VPN guide to determine what a VPN can and can’t do for you.
Surf the Web Anonymously
If you’ve made it this far, you must have become a mini-authority on buying VPNs with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Get started with the steps outlined above for a seamless buying process and start enjoying the web securely.
If you’re interested in improving your internet privacy, protecting your online data, and staying safe from data breaches, read up on our internet privacy guides and tutorials, too.
