PrivateVPN works in Cuba to effortlessly bypass ETECSA bandwidth throttling, unblock foreign content libraries, secure your internet connection, and evade Cuban government censorship.
However, getting a Cuban IP with PrivateVPN is impossible since it lacks Cuban servers. Luckily, I’ll discuss the best alternatives later in this guide.
Ready to learn how to use PrivateVPN in Cuba?
How to Use PrivateVPN in Cuba?
Here are the simple steps for setting up PrivateVPN in Cuba:
- Choose and pay for a PrivateVPN plan. I recommend the multi-year plan for its massive savings.
- Download and install the PrivateVPN app for Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, Kodi, or iOS (I’ll download the PrivateVPN app for Windows in this guide).
- Log into your PrivateVPN account with your credentials.
- Activate the PrivateVPN internet “Kill Switch” or “Application Guard” to secure your internet connection. Go to Connection Guard > Kill Switch/Application Guard to activate.
- Choose a suitable PrivateVPN protocol. For “Connection Type,” I used the default OpenVPN (TUN+UDP+1194) and AES-256-CBC. This combination is the perfect blend of speed and security.
- Choose a suitable PrivateVPN server location and connect. Go to Dashboard > change > All Servers to access the complete list of PrivateVPN servers. I used a South African – Johannesburg server for this guide.
- Once connected, activate PrivateVPN leak protection. Go to Connection Guard > IPv6/DNS Leak Protection to do so.
- Ensure that your PrivateVPN connection is secure by testing for leaks. I used www.ipleak.net.
- Enjoy unrestricted access to geo-blocked content, browse the internet securely, and avoid government censorship using PrivateVPN. I enjoyed the first season of the popular Netflix-US TV show Band of Brothers in Pinar Del Rio with a PrivateVPN US-Dallas server.
Why Is PrivateVPN Ideal for Cuba?
PrivateVPN offers robust security with military-grade encryption, stealth VPN, two-kill switches, and other relevant VPN features suitable for Cuba.
Here are the key PrivateVPN features that make it ideal for Cuba.
Kill Switch
PrivateVPN offers an intuitive kill switch that terminates your internet connection when the VPN connection drops.
The two kill switches on the PrivateVPN Windows app helped me access sensitive chats from Cuban political activists without risking the Avila link eavesdropping on our conversations during a recent visit to Cuba.
Stealth VPN
This advanced PrivateVPN security feature scrambles your VPN traffic, making it look like regular HTTPS connections, allowing you to bypass ETECSA’s VPN blocks and access restricted content.
While in Santa Clara, I extensively used PrivateVPN’s Stealth VPN feature to access restricted global news TV channels, including Fox News and CNN, with zero issues.
Multi-Device Compatibility
PrivateVPN works seamlessly across various applications and devices, offering VPN apps for PC (macOS, Windows, Linux), mobile devices (iOS, Android), Routers, and streaming software (Kodi).
While on a recent trip to Cuba, I used the Private VPN iOS app to access the restricted NBA League in Cuba with zero issues.
DNS/IPv6 Leak Protection
PrivateVPN offers an advanced DNS/IPv6 Leak Protection feature that guards against DNS and IPv6 leaks when connected to the VPN.
This feature came in handy while vacationing in Santiago de Cuba, increasing my internet speeds while keeping my sensitive information hidden from ETECSA.
Dedicated IPs
PrivateVPN offers 16 free dynamic Dedicated IP servers in 15 countries, including the US, the UK, and Spain, allowing me to bypass CAPTCHAS, securely access restricted business servers, and evade VPN traffic jams.
PrivateVPNs dedicated servers enabled me to unblock restricted streaming platforms and effortlessly bypass ETECSA censorship.
Port Forwarding
PrivateVPN supports Port Forwarding, which enhanced my P2P file downloading experience through torrent seeding. I also used PrivateVPN port forwarding feature to play Minecraft in Cuba with improved multiplayer access and zero buffering.
What’s the Best PrivateVPN Server for Cuba?
Identifying the best PrivateVPN server for Cuba depends on your specific needs.
For example, the fastest PrivateVPN server will differ from the best dedicated IP server.
To access Cuba’s closest/fastest available VPN server, go to Dashboard > change > All Servers > By Closest Server.
Alternatively, to connect to a dedicated IP, go to Dashboard > change > Dedicated IP > By Country/ Closest Server.
Connect to the corresponding region’s server for region-specific content like Netflix US shows that don’t air in Cuba. For example, I watched Wu Assassin, a Netflix-US TV show in Cuba using a PrivateVPN US-Dallas server.
Best PrivateVPN Alternatives for Cuba
PrivateVPN is a solid VPN for Cuba with an intuitive UI and robust encryption protocols. However, it lacks unlimited simultaneous connections, split tunneling, and other features. Here are PrivateVPN alternatives for Cuba that fill those gaps.
NordVPN
NordVPN offers a massive server network (5700+ servers in 60 countries) compared to PrivateVPNs, 200+ servers in 63 countries. This huge server spread allowed me to bypass ETECSA ISP throttling and access geo-restricted content in Cuba.
Additionally, NordVPN offers ultra-fast internet speeds thanks to its NordLynx protocol. This protocol allowed me to stream full episodes of The Good Doctor in HD and 4K without buffering.
NordVPN also offers split tunneling, which PrivateVPN lacks, allowing me to split my internet connection between NordVPN and Cuban ISPs. This improved my internet speeds while protecting my sensitive data from ETECSA surveillance.
Like what you see? Grab this risk-free NordVPN offer today and enjoy NordVPN’s excellent features.
Surfshark
Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections compared to PrivateVPN’s 10 connections. This allowed my traveling party of 15 to use the same Surfshark account without any significant loss in speed or performance.
Further, Surfshark offers an extensive server network (3200+ servers in 100 countries) compared to PrivateVPN (200+ servers in 63 countries), which granted me access to low-ping servers, increasing my downloading speeds.
Enjoy guaranteed internet freedom with this risk-free Surfshark discount.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN offers automatic obfuscation across all its servers and protocols, making it perfect for accessing geo-restricted content and evading VPN blocks in Cuba.
I used ExpressVPN’s US servers to access my social media accounts in Cienfuegos without ETECSA censorship.
ExpressVPN also offers lightning-fast internet speeds thanks to its Lightway protocol. Using Lightway (UDP), I played the bandwidth-heavy Overwatch with my Cuban friends in downtown Sancti Spiritus without lag.
Further, ExpressVPN offers 3000+ servers in 94 countries, more than PrivateVPN’s 200+ servers in 63 countries. I used ExpressVPNs Kenyan servers to catch up on the Kipkeino Classic, an international athletics meet on Citizen TV Kenya.
Grab this ExpressVPN deal for excellent cost savings.
Beat Cuban Internet Censorship With PrivateVPN
Internet freedom in Cuba is almost non-existent, with the government keeping a tight grip on everything online through the state-owned ISP, ETECSA.
Fortunately, PrivateVPN guarantees your online freedom in Cuba with its robust encryption protocols, stealth VPN feature, kill switch, and DNS/IPv6 leak protection.
To enjoy the best that PrivateVPN offers, grab these excellent PrivateVPN discounts and enjoy more internet freedom in the Pearl of the Antilles.
