Best VPN for Canada 2025
Access US streaming, watch CBC abroad, and escape Five Eyes surveillance.
🍁 Quick Picks for Canadians
Best Overall: NordVPN — Fast Canadian servers, excellent US streaming
Best Value: Surfshark — Unlimited devices, great for families
Best Privacy: Mullvad — Outside Five Eyes, no logs ever
Why Canadians Need a VPN
⚠️ Five Eyes Surveillance
Canada is part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. This means data shared with US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand agencies. Canadian ISPs can be compelled to share data, and Bill C-11 expanded government access to internet records.
📺 Smaller Streaming Libraries
Canadian Netflix has roughly 6,000 titles vs 14,000+ in the US. Many shows premiere months later in Canada. Hulu, HBO Max (US), and Peacock aren't officially available. A VPN unlocks the full American libraries.
✈️ Watch Canadian Content Abroad
Traveling snowbirds lose access to CBC Gem, CTV, Global TV, and TSN/Sportsnet. Connect to a Canadian VPN server and access them from anywhere — essential for hockey season.
🏒 Sports Blackouts
NHL blackouts frustrate Canadian fans. Regional restrictions on TSN and Sportsnet can block games. A VPN helps access alternative broadcasts or bypass regional restrictions.
Best VPNs for Canada — Tested
NordVPN
Canadian Performance
- ✓ 480+ servers across Canada
- ✓ Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver coverage
- ✓ Average 520 Mbps speeds
- ✓ Low ping to US servers
Why Canadians Love It
- ✓ Works with CBC Gem, CTV, TSN abroad
- ✓ Unblocks US Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max
- ✓ Panama jurisdiction (outside 5 Eyes)
- ✓ NordLynx = fastest WireGuard
Surfshark
Canadian Performance
- ✓ Servers in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver
- ✓ Average 420 Mbps speeds
- ✓ Unlimited simultaneous devices
- ✓ CleanWeb ad blocker included
Why It's Great Value
- ✓ Cover entire family — one account
- ✓ Cheapest premium VPN ($2.19/mo)
- ✓ Netherlands jurisdiction
- ✓ Great for cross-border shopping
Mullvad
Canadian Performance
- ✓ Servers in Toronto, Montreal
- ✓ Owned servers (not rented)
- ✓ Fast WireGuard speeds
- ✓ No data retention ever
Privacy-First Approach
- ✓ Swedish jurisdiction (privacy-friendly)
- ✓ No email required to sign up
- ✓ Accept cash payments
- ✓ Open-source everything
Transparency note: Mullvad has no affiliate program. We recommend them anyway because they're genuinely excellent for privacy.
Canadian Streaming Services — VPN Access
| Service | Works Abroad with VPN? | Best VPN Choice |
|---|---|---|
| CBC Gem | ✓ Yes | NordVPN, Surfshark |
| CTV | ✓ Yes | NordVPN |
| Global TV | ✓ Yes | NordVPN, Surfshark |
| TSN | ✓ Yes | NordVPN |
| Sportsnet | ✓ Yes | NordVPN |
| Crave | ✓ Yes | NordVPN, Surfshark |
| Netflix Canada | ✓ Yes | Most VPNs work |
Accessing US Streaming from Canada
Canada's proximity to the US means fast connections to American servers. Here's what you can unlock:
🇺🇸 US-Only Services
- • Hulu — Full US library
- • HBO Max (US) — More content than Crave
- • Peacock — NBC content, WWE
- • ESPN+ — US sports coverage
- • Paramount+ — Full US catalog
📚 Larger Libraries
- • US Netflix — 14,000+ vs 6,000 titles
- • US Disney+ — More Star content
- • US Amazon Prime — Different catalog
- • US YouTube Premium — More content
Payment tip: Some US services require US payment methods. Consider Privacy.com virtual cards or US Apple/Google gift cards purchased online.
Five Eyes & Canadian Privacy
What Five Eyes Means for You
As a Five Eyes member, Canada shares intelligence with the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. This includes:
- • Data sharing agreements — Your ISP data can be shared internationally
- • Bill C-11 (Online Streaming Act) — Increased content surveillance
- • CSIS oversight — Canadian intelligence can request ISP records
- • Cross-border data flow — US agencies can access Canadian data
VPN Solution
Choose a VPN provider headquartered outside Five Eyes. NordVPN (Panama), Surfshark (Netherlands), and Mullvad (Sweden) all qualify. Your ISP sees only VPN traffic — they can't report what they can't see.
For Canadian Snowbirds
Spending winter in Florida, Arizona, or Mexico? Here's how to maintain access to Canadian content:
Essential Setup
- 1. Install VPN before leaving — Some services block VPN signups from abroad
- 2. Test Canadian servers — Verify CBC, TSN, and Crave work
- 3. Install on all devices — Smart TV, tablet, phone, laptop
- 4. Keep Canadian payment methods — Subscriptions need Canadian billing
Hockey fans: TSN and Sportsnet work through VPN from the US. Connect to Toronto or Vancouver servers for best results during Leafs/Canucks games.
Speed Expectations
Canada's proximity to major US data centers means excellent international speeds:
| Server Location | Typical Ping | Speed Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (local) | 10-25ms | Minimal (~5%) |
| US East Coast | 20-40ms | Minimal (~8%) |
| US West Coast | 50-80ms | Low (~10-15%) |
| UK/Europe | 80-120ms | Moderate (~20%) |
| Asia/Australia | 150-250ms | Noticeable (~30-40%) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are VPNs legal in Canada? ▼
Yes, VPNs are completely legal in Canada. Using them to access geo-restricted content may violate streaming service terms of service, but it's not a criminal offense. Using a VPN for illegal activities remains illegal.
Can I use a VPN with Bell/Rogers/Telus internet? ▼
Yes. Major Canadian ISPs don't block VPN traffic. Your ISP will see you're using a VPN but can't see your actual traffic. This works on all Canadian providers including the big three, Shaw, and regional carriers.
Which VPN has servers in my province? ▼
NordVPN has the best Canadian coverage with servers in Toronto (Ontario), Montreal (Quebec), and Vancouver (British Columbia). Surfshark covers the same three cities. For other provinces, you'll connect to the nearest major city — Toronto covers most of Eastern Canada well.
Can I bypass NHL blackouts? ▼
Yes, with caveats. Connect to a server outside the blackout region to watch on NHL.tv or ESPN+. For example, connect to a US server for games blacked out in Canada, or a Vancouver server for games blacked out in Toronto. Some streaming apps detect VPNs — results vary.
The Bottom Line
For most Canadians, NordVPN delivers the best combination of speed, streaming access, and privacy protection. Its Panama jurisdiction keeps you outside Five Eyes surveillance. Surfshark wins on value for families with unlimited devices. Mullvad is the choice for maximum privacy.
Whether you're accessing US streaming libraries, watching Canadian content from abroad, or protecting your privacy from Five Eyes surveillance, a quality VPN has become essential for privacy-conscious Canadians.