For millions of Russians, using a virtual private network (VPN) has become essential for accessing uncensored information and protecting their digital privacy. However, finding a VPN that works reliably in Russia is becoming increasingly difficult. The Russian government has declared most VPN services illegal and has ordered internet providers to block access to them. Many major VPN providers have pulled their servers out of the country in response.
As of 2024, only a handful of trusted VPNs are still able to consistently connect from inside Russia. In this in-depth guide, we‘ll share the best VPNs for Russia that are working hard to keep users safe and secure online. We‘ll dive into the advanced security features and technologies these VPNs use to avoid detection, and provide tips for Russians to maximize their anonymity.
The State of Internet Censorship in Russia
Internet freedom in Russia has been declining for years, but the government‘s crackdown on online dissent has accelerated sharply since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to the Freedom on the Net 2023 report, Russia is now one of the world‘s worst abusers of internet freedom, second only to China and Iran.
Some key statistics paint a grim picture:
- Over 1,100 websites were blocked in Russia in 2024 alone, bringing the total to more than 26,000 since 2012 (Roskomsvoboda)
- 96% of Russians support some form of online censorship (Levada Center)
- VPN usage in Russia surged 27-fold in March 2022 amid blocks of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Top10VPN)
- Russian authorities issued over $1.2 million in fines to VPN providers in 2022 for refusing to connect to a state content-filtering system (Interfax)
Clearly, the Russian government sees unrestricted internet access as a major threat to its power. Using a VPN is now a necessity for Russians seeking outside information and wanting to speak freely online. But it also carries real risks.
The Risks of Using a VPN in Russia
Russia‘s initial ban on VPNs came with a law passed in 2017 that prohibited the use of services that allow access to blocked websites. It was followed by a 2018 law that imposed hefty fines on VPN providers that refused to comply with Russian censorship orders.
While these laws ostensibly targeted VPN companies rather than individual users, the legal landscape is shifting. In December 2022, the Russian parliament passed new legislation that allows for criminal penalties for using a VPN to access banned sites. Repeat offenders could face up to 4 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.
However, enforcing these draconian laws on a mass scale is likely beyond the capabilities of the Russian authorities. Identifying individual VPN users requires advanced technical measures like deep packet inspection (DPI) that are costly and not 100% reliable. The government‘s main focus has been on blocking popular VPN services at the network level and pressuring Apple and Google to remove VPN apps from their Russian app stores.
The takeaway is that using a VPN in Russia is becoming increasingly risky, but is still relatively safe if you choose a secure, trusted provider and follow best practices for staying anonymous. Let‘s look at the best VPNs that are still working in Russia as of 2024.
Best VPNs for Russia in 2024
1. ExpressVPN
Most secure VPN for Russia
If your top priority is security and avoiding detection, ExpressVPN is the clear choice. This premium provider is a leader in VPN obfuscation technology, disguising VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic to make it virtually impossible to identify and block.
ExpressVPN uses several advanced obfuscation protocols, but we recommend the proprietary Lightway protocol for users in Russia. Lightway is open-source, audited, and designed from the ground up for speed, security and censorship resistance. It uses wolfSSL, the world‘s first FIPS-certifiable cryptography library, to provide unbreakable AES-256 encryption.
In terms of privacy, ExpressVPN has one of the strongest track records in the industry. This no-logs VPN has passed three separate security audits by prestigious firms PwC and Cure53. It‘s based in the British Virgin Islands, safely outside the direct influence of Russia and surveillance alliances like the 5/9/14 Eyes.
Additional security features of ExpressVPN include:
- TrustedServer technology (servers run only on volatile RAM, not hard drives)
- Network Lock kill switch (blocks internet if VPN drops)
- Full leak protection against DNS, WebRTC and IPv6 leaks
- Threat Manager app to block trackers and malware
- Anonymous payment options (Bitcoin, Monero)
With servers optimized for Russia in countries like Finland, Estonia and Ukraine, ExpressVPN delivers outstanding speeds despite the long distances involved. It‘s on the pricey side at $6.67/month, but worth every kopek for Russians serious about digital security.
2. Surfshark
Best budget VPN for Russia
Surfshark offers a very impressive set of security features for a mere $2.49/month, making it the best value VPN for Russia. Like ExpressVPN, Surfshark uses advanced obfuscation on every server to hide VPN usage from even the most sophisticated censors.
Surfshark supports the secure and speedy WireGuard protocol, which uses perfect forward secrecy to generate new encryption keys for every connection. This means even if one session was somehow compromised, it wouldn‘t affect the security of past or future sessions. Surfshark also maintains RAM-only servers and has a strict no-logs policy that‘s been independently audited.
Privacy-conscious Russians will appreciate Surfshark‘s CleanWeb ad and malware blocker, as well as the Bypasser split-tunneling feature for routing some traffic outside the VPN. Another nice bonus is the option for multi-hop connections that route your traffic through two separate VPN servers for double encryption.
Surfshark has a massive network of 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, including Russia-adjacent options like Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey. Speeds are excellent, although we did experience a few more dropped connections than with ExpressVPN during our latest round of testing in Russia.
One potential drawback of Surfshark is that it‘s based in the Netherlands, a member of the 9 Eyes intelligence alliance. However, Surfshark‘s transparent privacy policy and no-logs technology should put minds at ease. Overall, it‘s the perfect VPN for Russians on a budget who refuse to compromise on security.
3. CyberGhost
Best VPN for speed and streaming
Sluggish speeds are a common headache when using VPNs over long distances, making it difficult to browse, stream and download safely. Romania-based CyberGhost tackles this issue with a fleet of 24 servers inside Russia that are optimized for speed and stability.
These Russia-based servers use CyberGhost‘s unique NoSpy technology, which involves a dedicated uplink, extra security measures, and sole control by CyberGhost with no third party involvement. They‘re ideal for Russians who want the fastest possible speeds without sacrificing security or privacy.
CyberGhost excels at unblocking popular streaming sites like Netflix, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and DAZN – a huge selling point at a time when more and more entertainment is being blocked in Russia. Dedicated profiles for streaming, gaming and torrenting make it easy to configure the VPN for your needs.
While CyberGhost doesn‘t use obfuscation on every server, it does offer "NoSpy" servers with extra cloaking abilities. Other standout security features include 256-bit encryption, a customizable kill switch, leak protection, and an ad blocker. The clean, user-friendly apps also come with helpful features like a favorite servers list and optimal server location.
CyberGhost boasts a massive network of 7,100+ servers in 91 countries, allowing Russians to access a world of content beyond suffocating domestic propaganda. The provider follows a strict no-logs policy and publishes regular transparency reports. At just $2.19/month, it‘s an outstanding value.
Free VPNs for Russia: Risks and Limitations
We strongly advise against relying on free VPNs in a high-risk environment like Russia. The vast majority of free services lack essential security features, engage in shady data collection, and provide very slow, unreliable connections. Some may even be honeypots set up by the Russian government to ensnare dissidents.
However, if you have no other option, Windscribe is one of the only reputable free VPNs with servers that still connect from Russia. It offers a very generous 10 GB of data per month and has solid security fundamentals. But you‘ll have to upgrade to the paid version for access to the Russia-optimized "Windflix" streaming servers.
ProtonVPN also deserves a mention for its unlimited free plan with VPN connections via Tor, adding an extra layer of obfuscation. The catch is abysmal speeds. For occasional, non-sensitive use, these free VPNs are better than nothing. But we can‘t emphasize enough the importance of using a trusted, paid provider for maximum security and peace of mind.
Tips for Enhancing VPN Security in Russia
No VPN is 100% foolproof against the vast resources of the Russian surveillance state. But by combining a top-tier VPN with security best practices, you can stay safer than most. Here are some tips:
- Use obfuscated/stealth servers to camouflage your VPN traffic and avoid deep packet inspection
- Always connect to servers outside of Russia for the best security and access to uncensored information
- Activate the VPN kill switch to block all internet traffic if your VPN connection drops suddenly
- Pay for your VPN anonymously with Bitcoin or gift cards – avoid leaving a money trail
- Disable WebRTC in your browser and consider using anti-fingerprinting extensions
- Use a secure browser like Tor, Brave or Firefox and opt for a privacy-friendly search engine like DuckDuckGo
- Access the VPN website via Tor to prevent your internet provider from seeing that you‘re researching VPNs
- Set up the VPN on your router to automatically encrypt traffic from all your household devices
- Follow general digital hygiene like using strong passwords, enabling 2FA, and keeping software updated
- Have a backup VPN and communication plan with trusted contacts in case your primary VPN gets blocked
Conclusion and the Future of Internet Freedom in Russia
The war in Ukraine has accelerated Russia‘s descent into digital authoritarianism, with the government determined to maintain an airtight information bubble. Accessing outside sources and freely expressing opinions online now carries more risk than ever before.
However, VPNs remain a crucial lifeline for Russians seeking a connection to the global internet. A secure, trusted VPN can still provide a high degree of privacy and access – as long as you‘re fully aware of the potential consequences.
The VPNs recommended in this guide – ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost – go to great lengths to shield their users in Russia with cutting-edge security and strict no-logs policies. But the battle to stay ahead of Russian censors is an ongoing cat-and-mouse game. Even more advanced tools like Tor and encrypted messaging apps are facing increasing pressure.
If you do decide to use a VPN in Russia, proceed with the utmost caution. Vet your VPN provider carefully, follow the anonymity tips in this guide, and keep a backup plan in case your go-to VPN gets blocked. By acting more like a privacy expert and less like the average Rus user, you‘ll avoid drawing the attention of the authorities.
Looking ahead, it will be crucial to monitor the government‘s evolving censorship techniques and support the efforts of digital rights organizations working to promote internet freedom in Russia. The Tor Project, Fight for the Future, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation are just a few groups at the forefront of this battle.
The future of free speech and access to information in Russia depends on the continued availability of strong encryption and anonymity tools like VPNs. It‘s a future we must never stop fighting for, even in the darkest of times. Stay safe, stay informed, and never stop seeking the truth.
