Austria is one of the most peaceful countries in all of Europe. There is little censorship and government surveillance in the country. However, cybersecurity threats still persist in Austria, along width stubborn geo-restrictions – blocking free access to the internet from around the world. The easiest and fastest way to get an Austrian IP address is through a reliable VPN service with servers in the country. VPNs route your traffic through a secure tunnel to a server in Austria, changing your IP address and allowing you to access local services and online sites from wherever you are.
These issues call for the use of the best VPN for Austria that is powerful enough to bypass restrictions while keeping your privacy protected on the web. A VPN encrypts your data and masks your IP address, thus keeping your online activity hidden from ISPs and data miners.
Additionally, VPNs are the cheapest and simplest tools to access blocked sites in Austria and to bypass geo-blocks. To help you choose the best service, we tested 150+ VPNs to come up with a list of the best VPNs for Austria in 2022.
So without any further delay, let’s get on with our list.
Quick Overview – The Best VPN for Austria
Here is a brief overview of the 6 best VPNs for Austria in 2022:
- ExpressVPN– The Best VPN for Austria. 3000+ servers in 94 countries, including 1 in Austria. Offers fast speed of 88 Mbps on 100 Mbps connection, 256-bit strong encryption, and an excellent unblocking ability for bypassing geo-restrictions in just $6.67/mo (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan). Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to try out the service risk-free.
- Surfshark– Budget-friendly VPN for Austria. Best value VPN costing only $2.05/mo (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan) with 256-bit encryption, CleanWeb, WhiteLister, Multi-Hop, and NoBorders with 3200+ servers in 100 countries, including 1 in Austria. Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, Hotstar & more in Austria. Offers 75.12 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection. Supports unlimited connections and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN – Secure VPN for Austria. Offers top-notch security features like Nordlynx, CyberSec, Double VPN, and 256-bit encryption at the cost of just $3.49/mo (Get 57% Off + 3 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan). Offers 5500+ servers in 60 locations, including 49+ in Austria. Offers a speed of 88.82 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection. Works with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and more. 30-day money-back guarantee.
- IPVanish – Fastest VPN for Austria. Offers a perfect combination of the fast speed of 90 Mbps & high security with 2000+ servers in 75+ countries, including 12 in Austria. Perfect for protecting you from online surveillance and granting access to geo-blocked content at the cost of only $3.99/mo . Offer 30-day money-back guarantees.
- CyberGhost – User-Friendly VPN for Austria. Easy-to-use apps for all OS. 9700+ fast-speed servers offering 71.4 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection including 227 in Austria optimized servers for streaming, gaming, and more for only $2.03/mo . Offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.
- Private Internet Access – Best VPN for Torrenting in Austria. 35000+ P2P optimized servers in 84 countries, including 60 servers in Austria with a kill switch, & SOCKS5 proxy for ultimate security at the cost of $2.03/mo and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
6 Best VPNs For Austria (April 2022 In-Depth Analysis)
We have tested over 150+ VPNs to find the 6 best VPNs for Austria. After thorough testing, we have shortlisted 6 top VPNs. These VPNs have been tested on various performance criteria like security, speed, geo-blocking, money-back guarantee, and more.
1. The Best VPN for Austria – ExpressVPN
Key Features:
- 3000+ servers in 94 countries, including 1 in Austria
- 5 simultaneous connections
- AES-256-bit military-grade encryption
- Internet Kill Switch, Split-Tunneling, and Trusted Server Technology
- Free MediaStreamer SmartDNS
- 88 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection
- 30-day money-back guarantee
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Austria with excellent unblocking ability, a global server network, and advanced 256-bit encryption and security. It currently offers 3000+ servers in 94 countries, including 1 in Austria.
All of these servers are best for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and also for general browsing. So, whether you want to stream geo-restricted content or access blocked websites in Austria, it has got you covered.
What’s best is that all ExpressVPN servers are optimized for streaming. So, you can unblock famous platforms like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, BBC iPlayer, ComedyCentral, and more with this best streaming VPN. ExpressVPN is our top choice for unblocking to watch Austrian TV channels from abroad, including ORF 1, ORF 2, ProSieben.
It also features high-end security features and powerful unblocking capabilities, including the MediaStreamer SmartDNS feature that can unblock almost all popular streaming platforms in Austria. With MediaStreamer you can stream blocked content on devices that don’t have native support for VPN like Smart TV, Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and more.
ExpressVPN is headquartered in the safe jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands – a place with no data retention laws. It is a super-secure VPN as it also follows a zero-log policy to guarantee user privacy.
With ExpressVPN, you also get privacy-boosting features such as kill switch, obfuscation, as well as split-tunneling. It also offers IP and DNS leak protection for maximum protection. We also ran IP leak tests by connecting to its Australia server, and there were no leaks during the entire session.
ExpressVPN supports 5 simultaneous connections on all plans and comes at a price of just $6.67/mo (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan).
There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test it risk-free for 30 days in Austria. For more information, read our ExpressVPN review.
2. Budget-friendly VPN for Austria – Surfshark
Key Features:
- 3200+ servers in 100 countries, including 1 server in Austria
- Infinite simultaneous connections
- AES-256-bit military-grade encryption
- Internet Kill Switch, CleanWeb, and Multi-Hop
- 75.12 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Surfshark is the most budget-friendly VPN for Austria, costing only $2.05/mo (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan). The provider is not only affordable but also packs amazing security and privacy features for Austrians.
It offers a network of 3200+ servers located in 100 countries, including 1 server in Austria. With its local server, you can unblock ORF 1, ORF Sport +, ARD, and more abroad.
With a decent number of offshore servers, you can easily bypass geo-restrictions with Surfshark and gain immediate access to international content in Austria. It is perfectly capable of unblocking popular platforms like Netflix, HBO, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BT Sport in Austria.
Surfshark also supports unlimited devices on one single account, so you can stream on multiple devices at the same time, and share it with your friends and family. It is also compatible with all major platforms like Windows, iOS, Android, Mac, Linux and can be configured on routers.
Like ExpressVPN, Surfshark is also based in the British Virgin Islands, a country free from any mandatory data retention requirements. This makes it a good choice from a privacy standpoint for Austrian users.
Surfshark offers features like MultiHop, CleanWeb, and NoBorders for securely bypassing internet restrictions. It also comes with foolproof protection against IP and DNS leaks, which we also confirmed by connecting to its Australian server.
Surfshark also has a 30-day money-back guarantee to boot, so you can test it risk-free for 30 days and decide for yourself. You can read our Surfshark review for more details.
3. Secure VPN for Austria – NordVPN
Key Features:
- 5500+ servers in 60 countries, including 49+ in Austria
- 6 simultaneous connections
- AES-256-bit military-grade encryption
- Double VPN, Onion over VPN, and Obfuscated servers
- 88.2 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection
- 30-day money-back guarantee
NordVPN is the most secure VPN for Austria with top-notch AES 256-bit encryption, and additional security features like Double VPN, Onion over VPN, and Obfuscated servers that use XOR algorithm technology. The Double VPN feature reroutes your traffic by passing it through 2 servers – making it impossible to track online.
It also features a wide network of 5500+ servers in 60 countries, 49+ of which are in Austria. As such, you can forget about censorship or geo-restrictions blocking your way around the web with NordVPN’s extensive server network at your disposal.
With its Austrian servers, you can also access local content and TV channels like ORF 2, ORF 2 Europe, ZDF, and more from abroad. It is also highly efficient for accessing American streaming services like Netflix US, Hulu, CW, and Amazon Prime in Austria.
NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, a country that has highly privacy-focused laws. For users conscious about their privacy in Austria, NordVPN is a service you can rely on. It also features a kill switch and IP leak protection to enhance user privacy. We tested NordVPN for IP leaks by connecting to its Irish server and found no data leaks during the entire session.
With NordVPN, you can connect up to 6 devices simultaneously and get it at a price of just $3.49/mo (Get 57% Off + 3 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan). There is also a 30-day refund window, so you can test the service risk-free in Austria for 30 days. You can read our NordVPN review for more details.
4. Fastest VPN for Austria – IPVanish
Key Features:
- 2000+ servers in 75+ countries, including 12 in Vienna, Austria
- Infinite simultaneous connections
- AES-256-bit military-grade encryption
- Ransomeware Protection, Online Backup, and File Sharing Controls
- 90 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection
- 30-day money-back guarantee
IPVanish is one of the fastest VPNs for Austria delivering an impressive download speed of 90 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection. It is fast enough for buffer-less streaming, lag-free gaming, and browsing. IPVanish offers a server network of 2000+ servers in 75+ countries, 12 of which are located in Vienna.
You can use IPVanish’s Austrian servers to access local streaming channels like ATV and ATV2 abroad. IPVanish also works with Netflix, SonyLiv, Voot, Vudu, and more.
IPVanish follows a strict no-logs policy. Although Austria is not known to be engaged in mass surveillance, it is still better to err on the side of caution and guard your privacy on the web.
IPVanish also offers a kill switch and IP/ DNS leak protection that we confirmed during testing.
Furthermore, IPVanish also offers split-tunnelling to ensure your privacy remains intact. With unlimited simultaneous connections and 30-day money-back guarantee, you can avail this VPN for $3.99/mo . For more information, read our IPVanish review.
5. User-Friendly VPN for Austria – CyberGhost
Key Features:
- 9700+ servers in 91 countries, including 227 in Austria
- 7 simultaneous connections
- AES-256-bit military-grade encryption
- Wi-Fi protection, Streaming dedicated IPs
- 71.4 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection
- 45-day money-back guarantee
CyberGhost is the best user-friendly VPN for Austria with easy-to-use apps available for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and Linux. Its apps are lightweight and easy to navigate with a detailed dashboard. What’s best about CyberGhost is that it offers dedicated servers for streaming, gaming, torrenting and more. So, you can easily connect to the server according to your requirements.
The provider offers more than 9700+ servers in 91 countries, 227 of which are located in Austria alone. You can rely on its Austrian servers to access local channels like Prosieben Austria if you’re travelling abroad. The provider can unblock pretty much everything online, including torrents, and streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and more.
CyberGhost is based in Romania, a country that is free from data regulation laws. As such, this VPN is pretty good from a privacy standpoint if you’re in Austria. Additionally, it also offers NoSpy servers, kill switch, and IP leak protection to keep you anonymous on the web. We ran an IP leak test after connecting to its Japan – Tokyo servers and found no leaks.
Additionally, it also offers 7 simultaneous connections and a 45-day money-back guarantee for just $2.03/mo . For more information, read our CyberGhost review.
6. Best VPN for Torrenting in Austria – PIA VPN
Key Features:
- 35000+ servers in 84 countries, including 60 in Austria
- 10 simultaneous connections
- AES-256-bit military-grade encryption
- Ad and malware blocking (MACE), Open-source software, WireGuard protocol
- 64 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Private Internet Access (PIA) is the best VPN for torrenting in Austria. with 35000+ servers across 84 countries, including 60 in Austria. All these servers are optimized for P2P so you can securely access torrent sites by connecting to any of PIA’s servers. For better security and anonymity, it also comes equipped with a SOCKS5 proxy and a kill switch.
With so many servers in Austria, you can watch famous Austrian channels like ORF1, ORF 2, ORF 2 Europe from abroad without any hassle. Similarly, you can access US Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Go, and other international geo-restricted streaming services if you reside in Austria.
This USA-based VPN service has an impressive zero-logs policy that helps you protect your online activities from surveillance, be it government agencies, ISPs, or hackers. Moreover, you can use other privacy features like internet kill switch, split tunnelling, port forwarding, and anonymous payment options, including Bitcoin, to protect your digital footprints.
It also offers IP and DNS leak protection, thus taking your privacy a step further. We ran IP leak tests by connecting to its Australia server and found no data leaks.
You can get a PIA subscription at the price of $2.03/mo with additional benefits like 10-multi-logins and 30 days money-back guarantee too. Read our PIA VPN review for more detail.
Verdict
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Austria offering global servers with fast speeds, security, and excellent unlocking ability. It offers fast connection speeds of 88 Mbps on 100 Mbps connection and supports 5 simultaneous connections. There are no geo-blocks that ExpressVPN cannot bypass. With its 3000+ servers, you’ll be able to unblock any site in Austria.
With advanced security features like internet kill switch, RAM servers, and IP leak protection, you will never have to worry about your confidential data leaking in Austria. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so make sure to give it a try risk-free and you can also get 3 months free on its 12 monthly offer.
Test Methodology: How we tested the best VPN for Austria
Not all VPNs offer the performance they promise. Therefore, when it comes to choosing the best VPN for Austria, there are a few criteria that should bear in mind before you purchase the best VPN service. We tested these 6 best VPN for Austria on the following criteria:
- Server network: Make sure the VPN you choose offers a large server network with servers in all major countries, including Austria, so you can access local content from abroad.
- Robust encryption: A good VPN for Austria should use advanced 256-bit AES encryption for data protection to secure it from hackers and other malicious parties. Some other important features include kill switch, IP leak protection, and more.
- Ability to bypass geo-blocks: Make sure the VPN comes with a strong unblocking capability and can help you access major streaming sites in Austria like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more.
- Privacy policy: The best VPN for Austria should follow a no-logs policy for complete online anonymity and privacy. Similarly, it’s best if the VPN is based in a safe jurisdiction like the British Virgin Islands, or Panama – countries with no mandatory data retention laws.
- Money-back guarantee: Make sure to choose a VPN that offers a minimum 30-day money-back guarantee. This way you can use the service risk-free for 30 days and test all its features in Austria.
3 Reasons Why You Need a VPN in Austria
Here are 3 reasons why you need a VPN in Austria:
1. Freedom of Speech
The Freedom House ranks Austria 93/100 – a free country. However, the government still exerts influence on the state media broadcasters, like the ORF. Similarly, local journalists also face a weakening of press freedom with each passing day.
In 2019, an FPO politician threatened an ORF journalist, Armin Wolf on live TV during an interview. “Threats following a critical interview is evidence of an authoritarian attitude,” said Gerhard Moser, chairman ORF.
That’s not all, FPO has also been criticized for “stroking anti-Muslim sentiments” with advertising campaigns and on social media. These are some of the few examples, why you need a VPN to protect your freedom of speech when posting online or interacting with people on social media.
2. Unblock Streaming Platforms
Streaming services are often geo-restricted and only work if you have Austrian IP address. VPNs can change your IP address belonging to a wide range of countries, giving you unrestricted access. With a VPN you can unblock some of the popular geo-restricted sites in Austria like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube TV, and more.
If you’re traveling away from Austria, you can use a VPN to connect to the Austrian server and gain access to local channels like ATV, ATV2, and Prosieben Austria abroad.
3. Torrenting in Austria
Austria routinely blocks torrent websites in the country, and copyright infringement is punishable by law. In 2014, the government banned four P2P sites including The PirateBay, Kinox, and Movie4k.
After local protests and appeals, Austrian courts finally lifted the ban on The Pirate Bay in 2016, but copyright laws are still very much applicable in the country. VPNs keep your identity hidden, which not only allows you to unblock torrent websites but also ensures your privacy remains protected.
Note: We do not condone nor encourage copyright infringement.
VPN Guides for Other Countries
Geo-restrictions are problems everywhere in the world. Here are a few articles focusing on workarounds to problems specific to some countries:
- Best VPN for France
- Best VPN for Italy
- Best VPN for UK
- Best VPN for Australia
- Best VPN for Canada
- Best VPN for Finland
Best VPN for Austria – FAQs
Is VPN legal in Austria?
Using a VPN is perfectly legal in Austria. As long as you are not using a VPN to do something illegal, then you are good to go. You can use one of the best VPNs for Austria to protect your online privacy and avoid your Internet Service Provider (ISP) from snooping around.
With a VPN in Austria, you can also stay secured when browsing online and prevent your ISP from throttling your bandwidth.
Should you use a free VPN in Austria?
Free VPN isn’t a recommended option in Austria for several reasons. First and foremost, free VPNs are notorious for selling user’s data to third-party advertisers. The research revealed that around 40% of the free VPN services leak data which puts users at potential privacy risks.
Most of these free VPNs have third-party trackers embedded in their software, leading to privacy issues. Free VPNs also lack basic features to bypass firewalls and geo-restrictions of most websites. Therefore, it is not recommended for users who want to stream international content.
Additionally, free VPNs also throttle your bandwidth and come with data caps. Therefore, investing in a paid premium VPN like ExpressVPN will go a long way and ensure that you always stay protected online.
Is torrenting legal in Austria?
Torrenting is legal in Austria per se, but copyright laws are applicable. In 2016, the Austrian courts lifted the ban on The Pirate Bay, but downloading torrents in Austria is still a gray area as the country does have copyright laws. So, it’s better to act wisely and use a VPN to protect your identity on the internet while torrenting.
Final Thoughts
Austrian users are much better placed than many of their European counterparts when it comes to online privacy. However, there are prevailing issues that need attention like freedom of speech and geo-restrictions. This is where a VPN comes in. With a VPN, you can not only secure your digital footprint but also access blocked content from around the world.
These best VPNs for Austria are tried and tested, and they comply with the highest industry standards of privacy and security. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Austria if you consider all its different aspects of bypassing geo-restrictions and maintaining privacy in Austria.
Which VPN is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.