Ever since a military coup overthrew the government in February 2021, Myanmar has been in a state of political turmoil that has led to a social media ban, internet shutdowns, and internet companies being compelled to hand over data on potentially thousands of users to the military.
Because of this situation, Myanmar is a country where you'll absolutely need a VPN for more than just protecting your online privacy. Whether it's bypassing government censorship, making sure your ISP doesn't sell you out to the military, or just wanting to message your friends and family or watch a film, a Virtual Private Network is essential.
Best Myanmar VPN services
In a hurry? Look no further than the list below to see the VPN services we'd recommend for Myanmar. And for more information about any of our top picks, head on over to our detailed summaries of each VPN service.
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for the job. ExpressVPN has virtual servers offering Myanmar IP addresses and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The best value Myanmar VPN. A speedy service with obfuscated servers, additional security features, and zero-logs.
- Surfshark - A budget VPN that's a great alternative to pricier providers. With sleek apps for all platforms and unlimited simultaneous connections.
- Private Internet Access - The best secure VPN for Myanmar. Includes customizable privacy tools and a zero-logs policy proven in court... twice!
- CyberGhost VPN - The best easy-to-use VPN for Myanmar, and one that's ideal for beginners and experienced users alike.
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What to look for in a VPN for Myanmar
Because of the unstable and repressive political situation in Myanmar, you'll need a provider with top-class security features and a server network that will help you unblock censored content. A good VPN for Myanmar will have:
- A large global server network
- A kill-switch
- AES-256 bit encryption
- An excellent track record on privacy
- Obfuscated (stealth) servers if possible
- Proven ability to unblock content
All the VPNs referenced in this article have been chosen thanks to their security features and their approach to privacy. All that's left to do is discover which one works best for your specific needs and situation.
Obfuscated servers, for example, will obscure your connection and mean that anyone watching can't tell you're using a VPN. In a place like Myanmar, I'd say this is a pretty important feature, but in other locations, this tool might not be as essential. Just be aware that CyberGhost, which is featured in this article, is a great no-logs VPN, but it doesn't offer stealth/obfuscated servers – and therefore might not be the best pick for those who want to completely conceal their connections in Myanmar.
TEST WINNER ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | Private Internet Access | CyberGhost VPN | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Website | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | Private Internet Access | CyberGhost VPN |
Ranking for Myanmar | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Performance | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Reliability | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Free trial | |||||
Total servers | 3000 | 6200 | 3200 | 3386 | 11625 |
Payment | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency |
Unblocks: | Netflix iPlayer Disney+ Amazon Prime Hulu | Netflix iPlayer Disney+ Amazon Prime Hulu | Netflix iPlayer Disney+ Amazon Prime Hulu | Netflix iPlayer Disney+ Amazon Prime Hulu | Netflix iPlayer Disney+ Amazon Prime Hulu |
Supported platforms | Windows macOS iOS Android | Windows macOS iOS Android | Windows macOS iOS Android | Windows macOS iOS Android | Windows macOS iOS Android |
In-depth analysis of the best VPNs for Myanmar
This is a full list of the best Myanmar VPN services:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Myanmar simply because its security and privacy credentials are top notch. It offers a virtual server for users in need of a Myanmar IP address. ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN is our top pick for Myanmar, thanks to superior security and privacy features and a consistent record of unblocking content while keeping its users safe online. The provider allows up to five simultaneous connections at once, so you won't have to log in and out every time you want to use it on another device. ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all customers, which means you can road-test the service without incurring any real cost – just claim your money back if you're not satisfied! Most VPN providers don't have a server in Myanmar, but ExpressVPN bucks that trend. Impressively, ExpressVPN's Myanmar server has OpenVPN UDP and TCP protocols and also Lightway UDP and TCP, which is ExpressVPN's own protocol developed to increase speeds and enhance security. Despite ExpressVPN's sterling security credentials, you might still be worried about physically connecting to a server-based in Myanmar. Luckily, you won't have to worry about anything because the server is actually located in the more stable neighboring country of Singapore. This means that you can be sure there's nothing physical in Myanmar that can be tampered with. Don't worry, even though the server is in a different country, you'll still have a Myanmar IP address. If you're in Myanmar and you need a VPN, then security and privacy are likely going to be your top priorities. ExpressVPN really is top of the class in this department. It has a kill-switch, which will cut your internet connection if your VPN connection drops, and uses OpenVPN AES-256 bit as standard to encrypt your data – which is used by corporations and governments around the world that deal in sensitive data. ExpressVPN, to make things even more secure, exclusively uses servers that run off RAM (a type of volatile memory that requires power to work), which means nothing is ever written to a hard disk. The provider was audited by PwC two years ago in one of the most wide-reaching and detailed security audits performed on a top-tier provider. ExpressVPN doesn't have many equals when it comes to unblocking content either. Its speeds are solid (verging on very quick) and it serves many more countries than any of the other VPNs on this list – 94 to be exact. This means you'll have a lot of choices when it comes to finding the right server and skirting around geo-restrictions enforced by websites. NordVPN is the best value VPN for Myanmar. This privacy-conscious provider will keep you safe and secure while you unblock sites from Myanmar. Nord Demo NordVPN is another provider we recommend regularly here at ProPrivacy, thanks to its proven track record of enhancing user privacy and commitment to a strict no-logs policy. The provider allows up to 6 simultaneous connections, which isn't as much as some others on this list, but it's one more than ExpressVPN, which only allows five. NordVPN has over 5,300 servers worldwide in more than 60 countries. Just like its fellow providers, Nord offers a month-long money-back guarantee, so if you're not happy within the 30-day window you can demand a full refund on your purchase. If you're looking for a VPN jam-packed with top-notch security features, NordVPN might be the perfect provider for you. As well as traditional security tools like a kill-switch, NordVPN provides customers with a Double VPN feature, which reroutes your connection through two servers or an added layer of protection, and Onion over VPN, which affords you the anonymity provided by the Tor network. NordVPN uses AES-256 bit encryption as a standard, and CyberSec – the provider's ad and malware blocker – is one of the best on the market and makes for a much more pleasant browsing experience. As I've already mentioned, NordVPN's servers are obfuscated, which essentially means that they obscure your traffic so it's not even apparent it's coming from a VPN. This is useful for users in countries like Myanmar where internet freedom is under threat. NordVPN doesn't have too many rivals when it comes to providing top-tier speeds. Yes, granted, ExpressVPN is a quick provider too, but NordVPN consistently finds itself at the top of our daily speed tests on a more regular basis than the top provider on this list. This is really vital if you're planning to stream content from various locations around the world and you don't want your VPN buffering. Plus, if you're looking at websites banned by the Myanmar junta, then you won't want to spend any agonizing seconds waiting for it to load. They say you'll either love it or hate it – but personally, I'm a big fan of NordVPN's user interface, which features a map to help you decide which server to connect to. Personally, I think this makes the experience much clearer – and as a fan of maps, I like being able to visualize which part of the world I'm connecting to. Don't let the fact that NordVPN has a load of features scare you off – it really isn't a very difficult VPN to use and the provider simplifies the technical aspects and features into a very palatable package. Surfshark is the best budget Myanmar VPN. The price shouldn't fool you – this VPN is the real deal in terms of both speed and security. Surfshark Demo Surfshark is relatively new on the VPN scene having only been around since 2018, but in that time the provider has garnered quite a reputation for itself as a more affordable alternative to the top providers. Surfshark certainly won't let you down when it comes to features and reliability. Although it doesn't have any servers in Myanmar, Surfshark can unblock content in 65 countries. Personally, I really like Surfshark's user interface, almost as much as NordVPN's; it's really simple to do things like switch between protocols, and the provider identifies the fastest server available for you so you don't have to play a game of trial and error with multiple servers. It's actually pretty decent speed-wise too and usually does comparatively well to the other providers on this list during our speed tests. Surfshark is a no-logs VPN that uses bare metal servers (which means it's the only tenant) that run off RAM. RAM-only servers are good news because it means data is only stored using volatile memory, which is wiped every time the server is powered down. The provider also has a camouflage mode, which hides your VPN connection from your internet service provider (it disguises it as normal traffic) and a CleanWeb tool that functions as an ad and malware blocker. There's also a multi-hop feature which is a bit like NordVPN's Double VPN. Of course, Surfshark has all the standard security features you'd expect from a top-tier provider – like a kill-switch and AES-256 encryption. Surfshark is unique amongst the top providers because it has no limit to the number of devices you can use simultaneously on the same account. This makes it the perfect provider if you've got family and friends who want access sites blocked in Myanmar. Surfshark does a great job of providing a real quality service while not charging customers extortionate rates for access. Surfshark is one of the cheapest VPNs out there – it's less than the price of a cup of coffee every month – yet it's even more reliable than some of its pricier competitors. Despite the low price, Surfshark has also boarded the 30-day money-back guarantee wagon, so you won't have to worry about being out of pocket if you want to trial the software and see how it suits your needs. Private Internet Access (PIA) is a super-secure VPN you can trust to connect you to the sites you want to visit without keeping any logs of your activity. PIA Demo Private Internet Access (PIA) is a super-secure VPN with a no logs claim that's been proven in court more than once. This is great news if you're accessing websites in Myanmar that are blocked by the government and you don't want any record of you doing so. All of PIA's servers are bare metal, meaning it's the only client using it, and the provider deploys AES-256 bit encryption to make sure your data is safe. PIA also has MACE, its ad and malware blocker, and a kill-switch to drop your internet connection if your VPN connection drops, so you never spend any time on the internet without your information being encrypted. In my experience, it's a solid VPN with decent speeds and one that has little trouble unblocking a host of popular social media and streaming sites. Naturally, one of the top countries people who want to unblock content connect through is the USA, thanks to the country's myriad streaming services and social media sites. PIA has more servers in the US than any other provider on this list, so if you're in Myanmar and want American content, this is probably the provider that will suit your needs best. PIA, however, does have a number of servers in other locations around the world, so it's not just US content it's good at unblocking – it has servers in 78 countries overall, which is a bigger spread than NordVPN and Surfshark. One curse of owning a device with a sparsely used operating system like Linux is that you're rarely the priority when it comes to software. Many VPNs, for instance, only provide a command-line client for Linux, which can be frustrating for users. Private Internet Access is one of the few providers that actually has a fully featured VPN client for Linux and is our top recommendation for Linux users. Currently, PIA offers support for Ubuntu, Mint, Arch, and Debian. PIA allows up to 10 simultaneous connections per account, which is a lot more than providers like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, so if you're planning to use your account on multiple devices, or you want to share it with friends and family, PIA would be a solid choice for you. PIA also allows new users to claim their money back after 30 days if they're not satisfied, so there's no risk you'll be out of pocket if you choose to download and then change your mind. CyberGhost is the best easy-to-use Myanmar VPN. A quality service with top-notch encryption that's ideal for VPN newcomers. CyberGhost Demo CyberGhost may not have any servers in Myanmar, but it's still a fantastic choice for unblocking content from around the world, and even has servers optimized for streaming. The only thing I'd pre-warn you about is the fact that CyberGhost doesn't have obfuscated (stealth) servers like the other VPNs on this list, but as I mentioned elsewhere in this article, VPNs are technically legal in Myanmar. CyberGhost has servers in 88 countries, the second most out of all the providers on this list. It actually has 6,900 servers across those locations too, which reduces the risk of congestion and means there's always room for you to connect. If you're in Myanmar then, you'll have a lot of options if you want to unblock websites that are only available elsewhere. CyberGhost tells you what websites certain servers are optimized to unblock too, which is a nice touch to its user interface design. CyberGhost uses AES-256 bit encryption, has a working kill-switch, and is only really let down by the aforementioned lack of stealth servers, which would really come in handy in a place like Myanmar. That's what confines CyberGhost to fifth out of five on this list. That being said, as long as you don't mind someone or something knowing you're using a VPN, then you don't need stealth servers, and CyberGhost's servers will still encrypt your traffic. It might not be as flashy and feature-rich as a provider like NordVPN, for example, but CyberGhost certainly does the job and has all the base-level security features down. The provider claimed in 2018 that over 20 million people use its VPN service every day, and it's got an excellent reputation amongst customers. It's also pretty cheap too, which is a nice bonus – it won't set you back as much as a provider like ExpressVPN will. Most of the VPNs on this list give you 30 days to decide whether you're going to stick with their product or whether you'd like your money back. CyberGhost bucks that trend and gives customers an extra 15 days to decide whether the product is worth it for them. CyberGhost has a simultaneous connections limit of 7, which is higher than NordVPN and ExpressVPN but lags behind Surfshark and PIA – so just bare that in mind if that's one of your priorities. 1. ExpressVPN
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A Myanmar IP address
Best-in-class security
Unrivaled powers of unblocking
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A feature-rich VPN
Unmatched speeds
A unique user interface
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Excellent privacy features
A VPN for friends and family
A budget-friendly provider
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Unblocking US content
The best Linux VPN
One account, lots of devices
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A large server network
Super security for an affordable price
A longer money-back guarantee period
Do I need a VPN for Myanmar?
Myanmar has recently experienced a spike in VPN use since the military seized control in the coup of February 2021. The Japan Times and various other news outlets reported that on the day of the coup, VPN usage in the country spiked 7,200% as people rushed to protect their online privacy and access blocked news and social media sites.
Bypassing government imposed internet blocks and protecting your privacy are the two biggest reasons you need a VPN if you're in Myanmar right now. In terms of privacy, VPNs encrypt all your traffic and send it through a private server before it reaches the internet. This means anyone watching your traffic won't actually be able to see what you're doing. By having your traffic rerouted through a private server in a different country, you can bypass government restrictions placed on the internet by the ruling junta in Myanmar.
In a country like Myanmar, a VPN is a must-have piece of technology that will work to keep you safe when you're online, and will reliably and safely unblock the content and websites you need to get hold of.
How to unblock content safely in Myanmar
Follow the steps below to unblock content in Myanmar:
- Sign up for one of the VPN providers featured in this article.
- Download and install the software onto your device.
- Select a server from a country with content you'd like to unblock.
- Connect to that server.
- Type what you'd like to unblock into the search bar as you usually would.
Now you should be able to view the content that was previously blocked in Myanmar or only available in other countries.
Are VPNs legal in Myanmar?
After the military seized power, it instituted blocks on popular social media platforms such as Facebook, which citizens have still been accessing using proxy links. Although VPNs are technically legal in Myanmar, various reports in early February indicated the regime imposed an order that barred the use of VPNs.
What is clear is that the military has gone to great lengths to control the spread of information from outside Myanmar and take an authoritarian approach to the internet. It's unclear, in these sorts of situations, just how severe the situation will get and how tight the restrictions will end up.
This means downloading a VPN is of paramount importance – unfortunately, if you're in Myanmar and you're on the internet without taking steps to protect your identity or location, you're at risk.
How to get a Myanmar IP address
Few VPNs have servers located within Myanmar. This means that if you want an IP address within the country, you'll have to go with ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN is one of the few providers that has servers located there, but the company doesn't specify exactly how many servers has anywhere on its website. In any case, here's how to do connect to one:
- Sign up for ExpressVPN.
- Download and install the software on your device.
- Head over to ExpressVPN's server list.
- Connect to the Myanmar server.
- You now have a Myanmar IP address.
Don't use a free VPN if you're in Myanmar
The above sentiment is precisely why I'm about to warn you against using a free VPN if you're in Myanmar. Admittedly, not every free service is a bad apple, and there are some good free VPN providers out there, but free VPNs carry risks not typically associated with paid providers. In the past, many well-known free services have been found to:
- Sell data to third parties
- Be filled with malware and ads
- Have shady privacy policies
- House out-of-date privacy and security features
If a VPN company is not raking in subscriptions from users, you have to ask yourself how it makes its money – usually, the answer isn't pretty.
Does a VPN make you truly anonymous?
It's vitally important we answer this question in the context of Myanmar because it's a dangerous place to be online at the moment. The bottom line is this: a VPN can greatly enhance your privacy and anonymity online, but it will never be able to provide you with complete and utter anonymity.
A good example of this is on social media. Yes, a VPN will encrypt your internet traffic and your IP address will be concealed, but if you're using, say, a social media account you created using your real name, then someone watching that account's activity will still see be able to see what you're posting and commenting on. In a country like Myanmar, if you're participating in activity or making statements the government might frown upon, you should definitely still use a pseudonymous account on social media.
A VPN is a great way to improve your privacy and protect yourself to a higher standard, but it's not enough on its own. You still need to exercise caution in what you do and interact with online, especially in a country like Myanmar.
Check out our guide to anonymous VPN services for more details about how a VPN can improve your online privacy, but also how they cannot make you truly anonymous.
What is the fastest VPN for Myanmar
We talked about VPN speeds earlier in this article. You can check these out for yourself by taking a look at our speed comparison table that shows our most recent test results:
ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Private Internet Access | |
---|---|---|---|
ProPrivacy.com SpeedTest (average) | 100 | 85.9 | 62.2 |
Performance | 10 | 9 | 8 |
Reliability | 9 | 8 | 8 |
Speed | 100 | 568.0 | 254.93 |
What about Smart DNS services?
Smart DNS services, like VPNs, are a way to spoof your location and unblock content unavailable in the region you're in. They're often a bit quicker than VPNs too, so they can seem like an appealing option.
However, I'd advise against using a Smart DNS service if you're in Myanmar. Smart DNS services are quicker because they don't actually encrypt your traffic. They offer none of the privacy protections that a VPN offers. And you'll still be able to unblock streaming services and other content with a VPN, anyway.
Final thoughts
The political situation in Myanmar has remained hostile since the coup in 2021, and it's not surprising how many citizens are turning to VPNs to protect themselves online. If you're thinking about joining them, here's a recap of the top VPNs we recommend:
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for the job. ExpressVPN has virtual servers offering Myanmar IP addresses and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The best value Myanmar VPN. A speedy service with obfuscated servers, additional security features, and zero-logs.
- Surfshark - A budget VPN that's a great alternative to pricier providers. With sleek apps for all platforms and unlimited simultaneous connections.
- Private Internet Access - The best secure VPN for Myanmar. Includes customizable privacy tools and a zero-logs policy proven in court... twice!
- CyberGhost VPN - The best easy-to-use VPN for Myanmar, and one that's ideal for beginners and experienced users alike.
FAQs
Below you will find the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about VPNs for Myanmar. If you have any other queries, please don't hesitate to drop us a message in the form below the article.