The Best VPN for Linux in India in 2023

Linux is a free operating system that allows you to customize your experience. And thanks to its open-source nature, it’s the first choice of all privacy-conscious users. However, various individuals also use reliable VPN services on their Linux devices to boost privacy.

But here comes the real issue. Finding the best VPN for Linux in India has always been a problem since the OS has never been a priority for VPN providers. Even if you find one, most Linux VPNs lack GUIs which can be off-putting for users. Sure, using CLI it is possible to configure and use the VPN, however, it is quite a hassle.

But don’t worry! We have come up with an awesome list of the best VPNs for Linux in India that guarantee straightforward configuration for your Linux device to gain the ultimate form of online security, privacy, data protection, and anonymity. So without further ado, let’s dive deep into the 5 best VPNs for Linux.

Why You Need the Best VPN for Linux in India

Even though Linux is quite secure, protecting your data is still pretty significant. Here are the top 4 reasons why you should get a VPN for Linux in India:

1. Security and privacy: You may not know how many digital trails you leave when using the internet. So, a VPN will encrypt your connection and mask your IP address, making you safe. Moreover, getting a new IP address every time you surf the internet can help you secure yourself from DDoS attacks and doxing.
2. Unblocking websites: If you live anywhere outside the United States, then you can’t access multiple streaming services like Hulu, HBO Max, and Vudu due to geo-restrictions. However, a VPN will help you circumvent these geo-blocks. All you need is the best streaming VPN in India for this purpose.
3. Torrenting: Users of Linux are highly dependent on P2P networks for exchanging ISO files of the operating system. However, P2P networks are often shady, and you might not know what you’re sometimes downloading. However, a VPN for torrenting in India will help you stay secure while torrenting and avoid copyright infringement notices.
4. Avoid ISP throttling: A few internet service providers throttle different types of activities of users. So, if the websites you access are loading normally, but you’re facing constant buffering while watching your favorite TV show, then your ISP is the one to blame. However, a VPN service will help you bypass ISP throttling in India by hiding your internet activities from your internet provider.

Quick Comparison Table: Best Linux VPN in India

Here is a quick comparison of the top 5 best Linux VPNs in India in 2023:

VPNs
Jurisdiction	The British Virgin Islands	The British Virgin Islands	Panama	Romania	USA
Linux GUI	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Linux CLI	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Security	AES 256 Bit	AES 256 Bit	AES 256 Bit	AES 256-bit	AES 256-bit
Leaks	No IP, DNS & WebRTC	No IP, DNS & WebRTC	No IP, DNS & WebRTC	No IP, DNS & WebRTC	No IP, DNS & WebRTC
WireGuard Support	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Servers	3000+ servers in 94 countries	3200+ servers in 100 countries	5500+ servers in 60 countries	9700+ servers in 91 countries	35000+ servers in 84 countries
Speed	85+ Mbps average	80+ Mbps average	82+ Mbps average	75+ Mbps average	70+ Mbps average
Streaming	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and More	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and More	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and More	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and More	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and More
Pricing	INR 551.56/mo (US$ 6.67/mo) (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan)	INR 190.19/mo (US$ 2.30/mo) (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan)	INR 329.94/mo (US$ 3.99/mo) (Get 57% Off + 3 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan)	INR 174.48/mo (US$ 2.11/mo)	INR 174.48/mo (US$ 2.11/mo)
Best For	Best Linux VPN	Budget-friendly VPN	Secure VPN	User-friendly VPN	Torrenting VPN
More Info	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site

5 Best VPNs for Linux in India in 2023 [In-Depth Analysis]

While many VPN providers offer Linux support, most require you to rely on OpenVPN configuration files. Not only that, but you might also find yourself dealing with manual server lists. So after painstakingly filtering out 45+ VPNs, we have managed to compile a list of the 5 best VPNs for Linux in India:

1. ExpressVPN – The Overall Best Linux VPN in India

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Linux in India. This provider has repeatedly proved that it is the most suitable option for offering best-in-class security, privacy, data protection, unblocking, and anonymity on multiple Linux distros.

Even though ExpressVPN’s Linux app doesn’t offer a Graphical User Interface, you can use it with a GUI by installing its browser extension. What we mean is that ExpressVPN’s Chrome and Firefox extensions let you use the VPN without entering any commands in the terminal.

And since the extensions work as a remote control for its Linux app, you can use them to protect your entire Linux device, not just your browser. That’s why we consider it as the best VPN for Linux Ubuntu.

Moreover, ExpressVPN Linux setup guides in India made it quite easy to install the VPN app. Using Ubuntu, we downloaded and installed the file. We then ran the command “expressVPN connect” and were able to protect our data from everyone. This best VPN Linux also offers detailed guides for Debian, Fedora, Raspberry Pi OS, Mint, Kali, Arch, and other distros, and we found them pretty uncomplicated.

As for speeds, ExpressVPN lets us browser, torrent, and stream on Linux without any buffering. When we tested ExpressVPN’s speed in India on its US server, they dropped by 13%. Moreover, it offers unlimited data so that you can perform all your favorite activities without any restrictions.

We received a download speed of 87.78 Mbps and an upload speed of 42.22 Mbps on our 100 Mbps internet connection.

Using these speeds, we could enjoy streaming easily on Linux in–India.

For security, privacy, and data protection on Linux, this provider relies on military-grade AES-256-Bit encryption that keeps you secure from the prying eyes of your government and ISPs. ExpressVPN’s kill switch in India ensures that your online activities do not leak to anyone.  Other features include ChaCha20 encryption and SOCKS5 proxy.

It further ensures it does not your DNS/IP address through its DNS leak protection feature. We tested it by connecting to ExpressVPN’s Germany server, and the VPN did not leak our actual IP address at all. Given ExpressVPN’s no logs policy in India, we also believe it is a safest VPN in India.

This ensured that your IP address would remain safe on all Linux distributions in–India.

All in all, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Linux in India. It costs only INR551.56/mo (US$ 6.67/mo) (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan) and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and also there is ExpressVPN’s free trial in India for users ease, so you can claim a refund if you don’t like the service. You can also reach out to this VPN’s customer support that’s available 24/7 to inquire about the best VPN server for Linux.

Get more details about the VPN in our ExpressVPN review in India.

2. Surfshark – Best Budget-friendly VPN for Linux

Surfshark is the most budget-friendly VPN for Linux. Launched in 2018, the provider has quickly gained the reputation for being one of the most affordable VPNs for Linux, with subscription plans costing as low as INR190.19/mo (US$ 2.30/mo) (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan).

Surfshark has recently launched its new Linux application with a Graphical User Interface. This app is available for Debian 11, Mint 20, and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. Thanks to its compatibility and user-friendliness, it’s a Best VPN for Ubuntu in India.

If you’d like to set up Surfshark on your Linux device, you’ll need to use the Debian or Ubuntu distribution. You’ll also need sudo/root permissions while setting up the client. However, on Linux, you can only utilize OpenVPN in UDP and TCP modes only which is a downside. Since many competitors also allow WireGuard support.

This GUI app is user-friendlier compared to the previous command-line versions. Apart from its smart interface, it is packed with most features available on the Surfshark apps of other operating systems. Now, users of Linux can enjoy features like CleanWeb, MultiHop, and DNS/IP leak protection. It still lacks a kill switch and auto-connect, but we hope to get that shortly.

Along with thousands of servers, Surfshark offers fast speeds as well. When we tested Surfshark’s speed in India on its US server, we faced a speed drop of about 19%. Now, this is not bad since we could still stream our favorite content in HD without any buffering. We received a download speed of 81.32 Mbps and an upload speed of 76.12 Mbps on our 100 Mbps internet connection.

These speeds were fast enough to enjoy data-intensive activities on Linux without delays in–India.

Even though it’s now headquartered in the Netherlands, this provider offers a strict zero-log policy, AES-256-Bit encryption, and split tunneling to ensure the utmost security and data protection of Linux users.

What’s more, Surfshark offers WireGuard in India, the latest and most advanced VPN protocol that is now available for Linux as well. This protocol gives Linux users even faster speed and stronger security.

Furthermore, the VPN keeps users secure by protecting their actual IP address. We went ahead and tested Surfshark for DNS leaks, and you can see in the image below that the VPN didn’t leak our IP address:

Our US IP address remained secure while using Surfshark in–India.

To summarize, if you’re looking for a cheap VPN service in India, then it’s time you get Surfshark. Along with an affordable price, the VPN also offers a full 30-day money-back guarantee to enjoy the VPN risk-free for a month and Surfshark offer free trial in India as well. If you’re unsatisfied with the service, you can cancel your Surfshark subscription in India and get a refund.

To learn more about this provider, check out our Surfshark review in India.

3. NordVPN – Secure and Private VPN for Linux

NordVPN is the most secure and private VPN for Linux. This provider offers some of the most state-of-the-art security and encryption features, such as Double VPN, Obfuscated servers, and Onion Over VPN, which aren’t even available with various top-notch VPN providers.

You download NordVPN’s Debian and RPM packages from its official website. They can cover most distributions such as Linux Mint, Fedora, Ubuntu, and more. You can also access a fan-made Arch Linux port but you’ll need an active NordVPN subscription as well.

NordVPN offers a command-line Linux app to users, but setting it up is easier than manually configured servers. This app offers some of the advanced security features that you get on the NordVPN apps of other OSes. These include an ad-blocker, kill switch, anti-malware function, and NordVPN’s split tunneling in India.

Suppose you prefer doing everything the old-fashioned way. In that case, it also offers an extensive library of tutorials with instructions for setting up NordVPN on Linux in India with PPTP, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols. You’ll also be getting the NordLynx protocol which is one of the fastest tunneling protocols.

Given not many Linux apps offer WireGuard connectivity, it is truly a strong selling point for NordVPN.

Speaking of which, when we tested NordVPN for speed in India by connecting to its US server, the VPN dropped them by about 17%. With them, we could torrent freely, enjoy bufferless streaming, and play our favorite online games like Counter-Strike and Minecraft with low pings.

We received a download speed of 83.82 Mbps and an upload speed of 44.64 Mbps on our 100 Mbps internet connection.

We got the following speeds when tested on our 100 Mbps connection in–India.

By now, it should be clear how important this provider is to your online security and privacy, even on Linux. Among all other features, we tested its DNS/IP securing capabilities, and the VPN did not leak our actual IP address. You can confirm it through the screenshot below:

You can see that our American IP address and location stayed secure while using NordVPN in–India.

In short, NordVPN keeps you secure on Ubuntu, Debian, Raspberry Pi, and other Linux distributions. Although not as cheap as the other providers mentioned above, NordVPN is competitively priced at INR329.94/mo (US$ 3.99/mo) (Get 57% Off + 3 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan). You also get a full 30-day money-back guarantee and a NordVPN free trial in India, so you can test it out risk-free for a month.

To learn more about this provider, check out our NordVPN review in India.

4. CyberGhost – Powerful and User-friendly VPN for Linux

CyberGhost is a user-friendly VPN for Linux. The provider offers purpose-specific modes for streaming, torrenting, and online gaming. It also provides various customizable features for giving the best user-friendly experience to Linux users.

CyberGhost offers a command-line interface to all Linux users and supports Ubuntu, Kali, Centos, Mint, and Fedora distros. Even with CLI, it’s almost as robust and fast as the Graphical User Interface apps. Moreover, the Linux command-line app allows you to sort servers by torrenting and streaming capability.

Installing this VPN on our Linux OS was pretty easy and took about 9 minutes. We used the step-by-step guide available on CyberGhost’s website and faced no difficulties throughout the process.

CyberGhost offers 9700+ servers in 91+ countries and 1353 servers in US. You can select these servers by their suitability for different purposes and enjoy all your favorite activities on the Linux operating system. We connected to its streaming-optimized servers and were able to unblock Hulu, Amazon Prime, Syfy, Showtime, and Netflix with CyberGhost in India.

When it comes to speeds, this VPN is quite reliable. For testing CyberGhost’s speeds in India on our local US server, we got a speed drop of about 25% on our 100 Mbps connection. Considering the fact that we also tested several VPNs that lowered our speeds by 40-50%, these results were great.

We received a download speed of 75.47 Mbps and an upload speed of 69.34 Mbps on our 100 Mbps internet connection.

Streaming and gaming without lags were very easy with this VPN in–India.

As for security, CyberGhost’s headquarters is based in Romania, a completely safe jurisdiction outside 5, 9, and 14 Eyes surveillance. It is also a zero-log VPN with military-grade AES-256-Bit encryption, Wi-Fi protection, dedicated IPs, and an internet kill switch.

Furthermore, it also offers a DNS leak protection feature to its Linux users. We tested it by connecting to CyberGhost’s Canadian server, and the VPN did not leak our actual IP address to anyone:

This ensures that you’re absolutely safe while using CyberGhost on Linux in–India.

Best of all, CyberGhost is very reasonably priced. If you opt for its cheapest plan, you’ll only have to pay INR174.48/mo (US$ 2.11/mo) . Last but not least, CyberGhost offers an impressive 45-day money-back guarantee  as well as CyberGhost’s VPN free trial in India. The app also offers 24/7 customer support, so you can reach out for help with any issues that arise.

To learn more about this provider, check out our CyberGhost review in India.

5. Private Internet Access – Best Torrenting VPN for Linux

Private Internet Access is the best torrenting VPN for Linux. SOCKS5, zero-log policy, and port forwarding features allow this VPN to provide the most optimized torrenting experience on Linux. PIA provides Linux users with a graphical user interface that works on Mint, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, and more.

As a result, that technically means you get an easy-to-use VPN app on which you can enjoy one-click connectivity and access settings without needing to use the command line. This makes PIA great for novice VPN users who aren’t familiar with the technicalities of commands. It is also an open-source VPN for Linux and provides complete transparency.

You will require using the terminal for configuring the VPN app. However, PIA offers a step-by-step guide that can be quite useful for you. Per our tests, it took us about 5-6 minutes to install the VPN and connect to a server.

As for servers, PIA offers an enormous network consisting of 35000+ servers in 84 countries and 50+ servers in US, using which Linux users can easily circumvent geo-restrictions, access torrent clients, and enjoy P2P filesharing from anywhere.

Now, you must be thinking about how fast the VPN really is. Well, PIA is fast on the local servers. When we tested PIA’s speed on one of its US servers, we received a speed drop of only 35%, which is within the normal range while using a VPN. These speeds let us download a 1.5 GB file on uTorrent within 7-8 minutes.

We received a download speed of 65.78 Mbps and an upload speed of 57.16 Mbps on our 100 Mbps internet connection.

Using these speeds, we could torrent without any lags in–India.

As for security, PIA also offers AES-256-Bit encryption, ad/malware blocking, and security protocols such as WireGuard and OpenVPN to protect your online security, privacy, and anonymity.

It also offers a DNS/IP leak protection which protects your actual IP address at all times. We tested this feature by connecting to its Italy server, and the VPN successfully passed our DNS and IP leaks.

This ensured that PIA is safe to use on Linux in–India.

PIA is compatible with other OS like Windows, iOS, Android, and more. You can even install PIA on routers with ease. In case you’d like to test this VPN’s features, you can opt for PIA’s free trial in India for iOS and Android devices.

It only costs INR174.48/mo (US$ 2.11/mo) and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. In case, PIA’s not working in India for you, feel free to get in touch with its customer support available 24/7.

To learn more about this provider, check out our PIA review in India.

Test Methodology: How We Tested the Best VPN for Linux in India

We tested 45+ providers on multiple factors to choose the best Linux VPN in India. Following are the characteristics on which we tested these VPNs:

• Speeds: We conducted VPN speed tests to ensure that the Linux VPNs we mentioned in our guide offers fast speeds to users. All the VPNs we jotted down come with a maximum speed drop of 30%, which is quite normal.
• DNS leak: We tested every VPN for DNS, WebRTC, and IP leaks, and none of the providers we listed above leaked our DNS/IP at all.
• Command-line apps for Linux distros: We ensured that the VPN services we list are compatible with multiple Linux distributions, including Debian, Ubuntu, Kali, Mint, and Fedora.
• Strong security and privacy feature: Security is the primary reason users get a VPN for Linux. All the VPNs listed above offer advanced security and privacy features, including a kill switch, DNS leak protection, a no-logs policy, and more.
• Decent-sized server network: The best Linux VPN should offer thousands of servers worldwide, so you can unblock any streaming service or social media app you like. We ensured that the VPNs above equip fast servers worldwide so that Linux users can get hassle-free access to their favorite content.
• Additional Features: Most of the time Linux apps lack features you’d find in Windows and macOS devices. However, you should always look for features that give Linux apps an extra kick like security or convenience or more.
• Price: Let’s be real. Don’t opt for a VPN that doesn’t provide you with the facilities you need. Ensure the Linux VPN you’re opting for is value for money and gets the job done.

Setting Up a VPN on your Linux in India

As we mentioned earlier, most VPN providers don’t tend to offer GUI-based apps for Linux. However, Command-Line can seem overwhelming at first. On the other hand, it is fairly easy to use, even if you’re not tech-savvy.

Here’s how you can set up a VPN on Linux in India:

1. Setting up Linux PPTP VPN

If you are a coder or have the good old Command-Line Linux working on your system (meaning no network manager), we’re guessing the whole VPN setup process will take you no more than five minutes.

2. Setting up OpenVPN on Linux

While setting up a VPN on Linux is easy, it does not provide the same security level as OpenVPN. Therefore, we reviewed some of the industry’s top VPN service providers for their VPN compatibility.

It appears that most of them only provide OpenVPN for Linux users with a graphical Network Manager. This makes setting up OpenVPN much more difficult than it is to set up PPTP.

Follow these steps to set up an OpenVPN connection using Network Manager:

Does Linux OS distribution matter when choosing a VPN?

No, not really. Distributions like Mint, Kali, and Ubuntu are all Debian-based so more or less they work the same. As a result, you can utilize the same packages since there isn’t much of a difference between them.

On the other hand, if you end up using something like Red hat-based, you’ll need to use RPM packages. This one is somewhat different than the Debian versions. Based on our experience, if a VPN provider offers Debian support, it’ll likely support Red Hat as well.

Linux VPNs That You Should Avoid in India

Various VPNs support Linux operating systems, but that doesn’t mean you should start using them. For example, various free Linux VPN providers generate revenue by selling your personal information. Therefore, the following VPNs should definitely be avoided:

• Unlocator — It supports Ubuntu, but it’s not safe to use. It is known to keep identifiable logs of your usage, which means your online activity could be traced back to you.
• SecurityKISS — While it claims to be a secure VPN for Ubuntu and OpenSUSE, its privacy policy shows otherwise. We have found that the VPN logs your timestamps and IP address on Linux in India, so your anonymity isn’t protected.
• CactusVPN — While this VPN offers WireGuard support for Linux, it sadly failed numerous unblocking tests.
• USAIP — This VPN offers OpenVPN support for Ubuntu, but customer support wouldn’t share a privacy policy. Also, it doesn’t have its DNS servers, so your ISP can still track your activity.

FAQs – Best VPN for Linux in India

Wrapping Up!

The capabilities of Linux as a versatile and powerful operating system are hardly a debatable fact. However, although Linux is more secure than other operating systems, the internet equally exposes all platform users to risks. This is where the role of the best VPN for Linux in India becomes prominent.

Out of all of our recommendations, ExpressVPN is the most reliable and best VPN for every available Linux distribution. The provider is known to offer exemplary VPN services for online security, privacy, data protection, and even reliable unblocking with its 3000+ servers in 94 countries.