Is Skype blocked in your country, or perhaps you want to improve your privacy when using the service? A VPN for Skype in the answer. In this guide we compare the best Skype VPNs to use for messaging and VoiP calls.
What are the best VPNs for Skype?
Based on our testing, we recommend these as the best VPNs to use with Skype:
- ExpressVPN - The best overall VPN for Skype. It offers fast servers located all over the world - perfect for unblocking Skype.
- Surfshark - A cheap Skype VPN. It offers servers that provide excellent speeds all over the world at an attractive low price.
- PrivateVPN - Easy to use | Servers in 50 countries | Based in Sweden
- IPVanish - A fast VPN for Skype. This service also offers a strict no logs policy and XOR obfuscation for privacy.
- VyprVPN - A secure VPN for Skype. This service is fast and privacy-oriented, making it perfect to use in countries where Skype is banned.
Once upon a time, Skype was secure because it provided peer-to-peer (P2P) secure encrypted messaging. Sadly, those days are long gone. That's why so many people are turning to a Skype Virtual Private Network (VPN) to use the messenger service securely.
Some governments force Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block Skype because they don’t want citizens using Video over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. The good news is that with a VPN, anybody, anywhere, can access Skype: even in nations like the UAE and China where Skype is restricted.
A VPN for Skype allows you to pretend to be in a different country. This allows you to bypass government restrictions and use Skype messenger to do voice and video calls. In addition, a reliable Skype VPN provides subscribers with encryption. This stops ISPs, governments, and other nefarious actors from snooping in on messages and conversations.
All our VPN recommendations in this guide are perfect for accessing Skype securely, even in places where it is blocked. Because they all have:
- Strong encryption
- A kill-switch (to stop you accidentally leaking unencrypted data)
- Fast servers (for video calls without lag)
The Best VPNs for Skype video calls & messaging
Here's a closer look at the Skype VPN providers we recommend using in 2024:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Skype. This well-known service is the prefect partner for Skype, providing fast servers all over the world to help you unblock Skype securely from anywhere. ExpressVPN is a reliable and trustworthy VPN that we recommend for Skype for a number of reasons. It has fast servers in 94 countries, which means you will always have a server near to you to connect to. This allows you to get the very best speeds available to you; no matter where you are in the world. ExpressVPN has advanced features like obfuscated servers, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. These ensure that you get watertight digital privacy whenever you connect to the VPN. And ExpressVPN will let you overcome ISP bandwidth throttling and VPN blocks in places that block VPNs. We love that ExpressVPN has well implemented military-grade encryption -and that it has a zero-logs policy. This means you can trust it to properly protect your data. And, ExpressVPN recently launched its own VPN protocol (Lightway) as a way of offering even faster, secure VPN connections. The software is extremely easy to use on any popular platform - and you can use it on five devices simultaneously. That means you can easily use it both at home and on public WiFi. Plus, ExpressVPN has 24/7 live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee to let you test the service risk-free. Surfshark is the cheapest Skype VPN on our list. For $2.49 you get a fully-featured, low-cost VPN service that can unblock Skype securely all over the world. Surfshark is a relatively cheap VPN that packs an incredible punch considering the amazing feature-set you get. It is a service based in the British Virgin Islands; a great location for privacy because it is well out of reach of invasive jurisdictions. With a global network of lightning-fast servers in over 60 countries, you'll have plenty of options to choose from for unblocking Skype, streaming content, and torrenting. Thanks to Surfshark's split tunneling function, users can choose to access both local and foreign services at the same time, without having to keep flicking the VPN off. This allows you to get ease of use without ever sacrificing your privacy or security. And Surfshark also has obfuscation (stealth) and a kill switch, which makes it great for using VoIP in secret, or for downloading torrents without being monitored. We love that this VPN lets users install the VPN on an unlimited number of devices - and that it can unblock more Netflix catalogs than any other VPN! It's well worth testing using its 30-day money-back guarantee. PrivateVPN is a Swedish service that is perfect for unblocking censored content and more PrivateVPN is a zero-logs Swedish provider that features a firewall-based kill switch and a per-app kill switch, along with full IPv4 and IPv6 DNS leak protection, all important features for a Skype VPN. And PrivateVPN provides stealth mode which means you can use it in countries that are purposefully banning VoIP – or if your local ISP throttles or completely blocks VPN traffic. If you use Skype on your handheld, you should know that PrivateVPN has very good mobile apps. With servers in 56 countries ,the network's size is good considering the cost of a subscription. And, you can take advantage of this provider's 30-day money-back guarantee to thoroughly test whether this network will serve your needs. IPVanish is a fast VPN to use with Skype. This US-based provider has an excellent no logs policy and speeds to handle data intensive tasks like VoiP calls and streaming. IPVanish is a US-based provider that has a zero logs policy to ensure it never has data to give to the authorities. And this VPN provides lightning-fast speeds for video conferencing and streaming in HD. The software is fully featured with all-important premium features and it even provides XOR obfuscation for bypassing VPN blocks. This VPN can be used on as many devices as you want (simultaneously) and works well on all platforms. OpenVPN encryption is also implemented to a high standard by this VPN. It's well worth testing with its 30-day money-back guarantee. VyprVPN is a secure VPN for Skype that offers advanced privacy and security functions. This makes it great for hiding your Skype usage in countries where it is restricted. VyprVPN is an excellent VPN, perfect for unblocking Skype in countries where it is banned and where there is strict government surveillance. Its proprietary obfuscation (stealth) technology, Chameleon, cloaks your VPN usage as standard internet traffic, and claims to even be able to avoid deep packet inspection. Couple this with robust OpenVPN encryption and kill switch function, and Vypr is sure to keep you protected at all times. VyprVPN was one of the first providers to publish a full and independent report of its zero-logs policy, letting users know that their internet usage stays private. What's more, its app is simple and easy to use, while still offering plenty of customization for more advanced users. Overall, Vypr is a thoroughly privacy-conscious VPN. Try it for yourself with their 30-day money-back guarantee. 1. ExpressVPN
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5. VyprVPN
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The Fastest VPNs for Skype
To avoid lag and stuttering when using Skype's Video call feature through a VPN, you need to make sure your VPN is fast. There are many VPNs available that simply cannot provide the speeds needed for VoIP, but fortunately all our recommendations do. To help you understand what sort of speeds you can expect from our VPN picks, we run regular speed tests on them and display the results in the table below.
| ExpressVPN | Surfshark | PrivateVPN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProPrivacy.com SpeedTest (average) | 100 | 41.0 | 55.5 |
| Performance | 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Reliability | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Speed | 100 | 273.2 | 663 |
What is a VPN for Skype?
A Virtual Private Network is an online subscription service that gives you online privacy and added freedom. A VPN does this by encrypting your internet traffic, so that it can not be monitored by your ISP or the government. As a result, you can make a Skype call and nobody will be able to tell.
A VPN also conceals your real IP address from the websites and services you use. This allows you to pretend to be in a different country to bypass local blocks. If you live in the UAE (or another country that blocks Skype), you can connect to a server in Europe, the UK, or the US to download the Skype app and use it without issues.
The combination of encryption and location spoofing is awesome because it lets you bypass any local censorship imposed by the government or even local network administrators (in work or school, for example). Plus, by pretending to be in a different country, you can also bypass geo-restrictions. This lets you can access foreign content and services that are usually blocked where you live (like the massive Netflix US catalog, for example).
If you're new to VPNs and want to know more about how they work, we'd recommend checking out our VPN Beginner's Guide which looks at the fundamentals so you can make a more informed decision.
What is the best VPN service for Skype calls?
ExpressVPN has the best combination of privacy, ease of use, customer care, server locations, and speeds. There are hundreds of commercial VPNs on the market - and our experts are confident that these are the best services for the job! As such, you will be safe going for whichever VPN most suits your needs. As such, feel free to try them all, and select the one that you prefer.
Free VPNs for Skype
Typically, we don't recommend using free VPNs with Skype. This is because when it comes to data-intensive tasks, such as Skype's video calling service, they leave a lot to be desired. VoIP takes a lot of bandwidth and data throughout and we are yet to find a truly free service that can keep up.
However, if you're wanting a VPN for unblocking Skype for messaging and set on trying a free VPN, we'd recommend checking out our Free VPN page, where you will find the best free services available on the market.
Free Skype VPNs for Oman, UAE, and Qatar
If you live in the UAE, Oman, Qatar or any other country that blocks Skype, we recommend staying away from free VPN services all together. This is because these free services will not only let you down when it comes to speed and performance. But there are also many cowboy apps available on the market that may leak your data, which could land you in hot water.
Free trial VPNs for Skype
Other alternatives that you may be interested in are free VPN trials. These trials give you a taste of a premium VPN service that works perfectly with Skype video calls for a limited time. Most of the VPNs we recommend for Skype offer free trials, so you can go through and test them all.
Cheap VPNs for Skype
Getting a VPN that works with Skype doesn't have to cost the world! It's possible to pick up a VPN that is secure and fast enough to unblock and work with Skype for around $2 per month! If you're interested in learning more, check out our best cheap VPNs list.
How to set up a VPN for Skype
Setting up a Skype VPN is extremely easy. Just follow these simple steps:
- Subscribe to your preferred VPN for Skype.
- Download and install the VPN software, remembering to get the right version for your device.
- Run the software and select OpenVPN encryption. You can also turn on the kill switch and stealth mode (to hide your VPN use from your ISP and make sure that you don’t leak any data if the VPN connection drops out).
- Connect to a server in a country that permits Skype.
- As soon as the VPN connects, you can access Skype from your foreign IP address.
Remember: your VPN also means that all your data is encrypted, giving you digital privacy.
Where is Skype blocked or restricted?
Skype and VoIP services are blocked in a number of places, including:
In addition, Skype suffers from some problems in these localities:
- Egypt – Skype is blocked during times of political unrest - More about Egypt VPNs
- Iran – ISP throttling is known to make Skype unusable at times - More about a Iran VPN
- Jordan – Skype and VoIP services are blocked
- Mexico – Some ISPs block VoIP services, including Skype - More about using a Mexico VPN
- Myanmar – Skype is restricted and has special permissions - More about Myanmar VPNs
- Pakistan – Users must pay to use Skype and it is expensive - More about using a Pakistan VPN
- Panama – Users must pay a government Skype tax - More using a Panama VPNs
- Tunisia – Availability is volatile, like in Egypt (political reasons)
- Vietnam – Access to Skype is limited (coffee shops use VPNs to give people access!) - More about using a VPN in Vietnam
- Russia – Government and telecommunication services are working together to try to ban VoIP services - More about Russia VPNs
- Venezuela - Some ISPs are known to be blocking Skype because they have private VoIP services - More about using a Venezuela VPN
Skype won’t work when connected to VPN
Unfortunately, in some places, ISPs are required to restrict IP addresses associated with VPNs. In addition, places like Iran are known to throttle traffic that appears to be encrypted by a VPN. This can make the traffic so slow that it is impossible to make a VoIP call.
If the VPN server is being blocked by the ISP, the best thing is to contact the VPN directly. It can then provide you with a specific server, or a dedicated server for the job. If ISP throttling is happening via a firewall, the answer is to use the VPN's stealth mode. Stealth mode disguises VPN traffic as regular https. As such, if you live somewhere that restricts VPN use, be sure to select a VPN that has stealth mode.
What else can I do with a Skype VPN?
By allowing you to pretend to be abroad, a VPN gives you complete internet freedom. It allows you to overcome local restrictions, which means that you can access censored websites and services such as Skype. In addition, you can use a VPN to overcome blocks placed by local network administrators. This allows you to access websites that are usually blocked.
Perhaps the best part of having a VPN, however, is that you can overcome geo-restrictions. Doing so allows you to access online content and services from foreign countries. For TV addicts, this means watching BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, Australian TV, or US cable channels and streams such as HBO, Fox, and so forth.
For people who love sports, a VPN opens up a whole world of possibilities. It lets you watch live tournaments and competitions from all over the world! In the end, what you can do with a VPN is practically limitless. If the VPN has a server in the country that you are interested in, you can unblock it!
Skype VPN: Conclusion
When it comes to video messaging and video conferencing, Skype is probably the first thing that pops into mind. With around 300 million active monthly users, the service is insanely popular. In this guide, we've revealed the five best VPN services for Skype.
These VPNs have everything you need to do video calls on Skype securely. They have watertight privacy policies and strong military-grade encryption. These VPNs also have fast servers located all over the world, allowing you to do video conferencing without the signal getting too slow and cutting out.
For using Skype, our top recommendation is ExpressVPN because it is at the top of its game. However, our four other recommended VPNs also provide an outstanding service for Skype.
These VPNs for Skype are all trusted and reliable. They have close to 100% uptime and offer a choice of servers in many locations around the world. With that in mind, you are free to select any of these outstanding Skype VPN services. As such, go ahead and choose a VPN for Skype with confidence, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
For the time being, here's a quick reminder of our picks for VPNs for Skype:
- ExpressVPN - The best overall VPN for Skype. It offers fast servers located all over the world - perfect for unblocking Skype.
- Surfshark - A cheap Skype VPN. It offers servers that provide excellent speeds all over the world at an attractive low price.
- PrivateVPN - Easy to use | Servers in 50 countries | Based in Sweden
- IPVanish - A fast VPN for Skype. This service also offers a strict no logs policy and XOR obfuscation for privacy.
- VyprVPN - A secure VPN for Skype. This service is fast and privacy-oriented, making it perfect to use in countries where Skype is banned.