If you live in Saudi Arabia, or are going to be visiting the country, you are going to need a VPN to keep you secure online. By using a VPN for Saudi Arabia you can unblock censored and geo-blocked websites by pretending to be in a different country. Due to the dangers associated with attempting to access censored content in the Middle East, your VPN must provide watertight privacy.
In this article, we list the best VPN providers for Saudi Arabia and give you some tips on how to stay secure and private online.
What are the Best VPNs for Saudi Arabia?
We have listed the best VPNs for Saudi Arabia below. If you want more information about these services, then be sure to take a look at our in-depth analysis of each VPN.
- ExpressVPN - ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Saudi Arabia. It's the fastest VPN we test and offers a 30 day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The most feature-rich VPN for Saudi Arabia. It's reliable, works with most streaming platforms, and offers obfuscated servers.
- Surfshark - The cheapest Saudi Arabia VPN. You can use it on an unlimited number of devices and it has great security features.
- VyprVPN - The best mid-range VPN for Saudi Arabia. Offers feature-packed apps, obfuscated servers, a kill-switch, and more.
- IPVanish - The most secure for Saudi Arabian VPN. Consistently quick, with strong OpenVPN encryption and zero-logs to worry about.
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Try ExpressVPN – Our #1 VPN pick for Saudi Arabia
Unblocking websites in Saudi Arabia can be dangerous. This is why all the services we recommend have the following features:
- Obfuscated servers
- No logs policy
- Advanced security tools (a kill-switch, DNS leak protection, etc.)
| TEST WINNER ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | VyprVPN | IPVanish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Website | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | VyprVPN | IPVanish |
| Ranking for Saudi Arabia | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Performance | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
| Reliability | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Free trial | |||||
| Total servers | 3000 | 6200 | 3200 | 700 | 2000 |
| 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 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 |
Best VPN Saudi Arabia – In-depth Analysis
We take a closer look at the best VPNs for Saudi Arabia below. These are the best options for securing your online activity, and protecting your privacy, while you're browsing the web in Saudi Arabia. If you want more in-depth reviews for any of these services, you can check out our detailed VPN reviews.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Saudi Arabia. It boasts top-notch encryption and unblocks everything, and offers a stacked feature list that ensures your security is always the priority. ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN is an industry-leading zero logs provider. It comes packed with all the security features you'd need to make sure you never leak data. These features include a kill switch, DNS leak protection, browser extensions (for IPv6 WebRTC leaks), and a stealth mode that ensures your ISP never knows you are using a VPN. It also has obfuscation, which makes it a superb choice for bypassing internet censorship in Saudi Arabia. With ExpressVPN, you can access servers in more than 105 countries
, all of which are extremely fast and will support HD streaming - without any buffering. Plus, this VPN provides access to the most popular services from around the world - including BBC iPlayer and Netflix US. The whole family can enjoy unrestricted content with up to 5 simultaneous connections, as well as compatibility with most devices, and ExpressVPN will keep you secure when using public WiFi hotspots or at home. If you want to unblock VoIP ( or use it more securely) ExpressVPN has you covered. It unblocks Whatsapp calls - which is what you might be in need of. It also works with Skype, IMO, and all other popular VOIP apps. ExpressVPN provides robust OpenVPN with an AES-256 cipher; which is strong enough to keep your data secure and private. Plus, this VPN has a strict no logs policy, which is what we like to see. If you run into any difficulties, an excellent customer care team is available via live chat 24 hours a day. And ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can test it for yourself. A superb all rounder, that provides lightning fast speeds - and that customers come back to year after year. NordVPN is the most fully featured Saudi Arabian VPN. Users can effortlessly protect their digital privacy with sleek apps on all platforms that offer up-to-date security features. Nord Demo NordVPN is a highly subscribed VPN worldwide thanks to its excellent apps for all platforms and dedication to user privacy. The VPN has servers in 111 countries
, which makes it fantastic for bypassing geo-restrictions or government censorship. This VPN works with VoIP apps and instant messengers. And it will let you unblock any social media site that you wish to access. It also works to unblock Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and a large number of international streaming services. We enjoy using this VPN on all devices, and it can be installed on 6 devices simultaneously, which makes it excellent value for money. Plus, this VPN has live chat support to help you when you need it. A VPN with lots of advanced privacy features - well worth trialing using its 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark is the cheapest VPN for Saudi Arabia. Its obfuscation (stealth) tools are invaluable for users in Saudi Arabia, and it also offers great apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. Surfshark Demo Surfshark is a VPN that customers constantly recommend. It is a service that has servers in more than 63 countries across the globe. With it, you'll be able to access plenty of streaming sites with Surfshark, including a truly impressive 15 different Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video, and any other restricted content from around the world. Surfshark is particularly good if you're eager to protect your entire family - or if you simply have a large number of devices you need to keep secure. Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, and is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and even Smart TVs. A no-logs policy ensures your data stays private, and you'll be able to make use of a split tunneling feature, kill switch, and browser extensions, too. Plus, it has its very own stealth tools - which are a vital feature if you want to unblock government censored websites in Saudi Arabia. And, your data is always secure thanks to strong OpenVPN encryption - with a robust AES-256 cipher. 24/7 live chat customer support is available on its website, and Surfshark has a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can change your mind if you want to. A superb VPN that gives you privacy, security and freedom at an extremely low price point. Great for those who have less to spend. VyprVPN is the best mid-range VPN for Saudi Arabia. Users get access to obfuscated servers and a whole host of security features, plus easy-to-use apps for all platforms. VYPR Demo VyprVPN is a service based in Switzerland that has had a full third party security audit of its apps and infrastructure. This makes it a highly trustworthy VPN that is superb for gaining privacy in Saudi Arabia. It is no logs VPN with apps for all platforms that come with the features you need to stay secure, this includes a kill-switch and obfuscation (Chameleon) feature. With servers in over 70 countries and up to five simultaneous connections, you have plenty of options for accessing international content or bypassing local Saudi censorship. Plus, you can easily access Netflix, Disney+, hulu, Amazon Prime - and, with unlimited bandwidth, you won't ever have to worry about slow loads or low-quality streams. VyprVPN employs top-of-the-line encryption and DNS leak protection to keep your traffic secure, and comes with a roster of protocols for you to take your pick from, though we'd recommend sticking to OpenVPN for maximum security. Finally, VyprVPN provides a generous 30-day money-back guarantee, which means you can test it completely service risk-free. IPVanish is the most secure VPN for Saudi Arabia. Packing XOR obfuscation, perfect for concealing your original IP, as well as a zero-logs policy and leak protection. IPVanish Demo IPVanish is a superb service that will provide a secure connection. It is a zero-logs VPN that has apps that come with a kill switch and XOR obfuscation. In addition, it provides OpenVPN TCP over port 443 which conceals encrypted VPN traffic as regular https. With IPVanish you get military grade OpenVPN encryption with a AES-256 cipher, and you get DNS leak protection to ensure you never leak DNS requests to your ISP. However, it is worth disabling IPv6 and reverting back to IPv4 manually if you are connecting using the latest IP standard. With IPVanish you can pick from thousands of servers in over 75
locations – and, because they're all fast, you can use them to stream in HD, to watch Netflix US, to make VoIP calls. If you know you're going to need to make a lot of video calls, IPVanish could be the VPN for you. Unlimited bandwidth also comes in handy when streaming, and IPVanish can access a whole host of popular streaming services including hulu and HBO - so you never have to worry about falling behind on your favorite shows. IPVanish allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections, and you will be able to enjoy dedicated P2P servers and a SugarSync Cloud storage feature; ideal for encrypting sensitive files. Like the sound of it? You can test this VPN for 30 days thanks to its money-back guarantee - so if you have any problems accessing what you need - you can cancel completely risk-free. 1. ExpressVPN
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4. VyprVPN
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How to use a VPN in Saudi Arabia
All of the VPNs we have recommended in this article have simple, user-friendly VPN apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. This makes them easy to use anywhere in the world (including Saudi Arabia).
It's not illegal to install or use a VPN in Saudi Arabia, but the government takes steps to restrict their use and blocks many VPN provider websites, alongside other general methods of censorship.
With that said, bypassing government censorship in Saudi Arabia is riskier than in most places, and could get you in trouble with the law (though as of time of writing, nobody has yet been prosecuted for the use of a VPN). This means that you must use a kill-switch and obfuscation (advanced VPN features that ensure higher levels of privacy).
Below we've listed the steps you'll need to take in order to set up your Saudi Arabia VPN and enjoy freedom online with peace of mind:
- Choose a VPN provider from this article and visit its website.
- Subscribe to the VPN plan that best suits your needs (longer subscription terms usually offer larger discounts).
- Download the VPN software from your VPN's website.
- Install the VPN and login to the app using your credentials.
- Click on the settings icon and ensure that the kill-switch feature has been enabled.
- Turn on the VPN's obfuscation features (stealth mode conceals VPN use from your ISP).
- Check the encryption settings and ensure that you are using a strong protocol such as OpenVPN or IKEv2.
- Connect to a VPN server in a country where you require an IP address (or anywhere outside of Saudi Arabia where they have strong privacy laws).
With the VPN successfully connected, your online habits are now much more private. Your ISP can no longer monitor what you do online and you can bypass local censorship without the Saudi government finding out. In addition, you can pretend to be in a different country to access different Netflix regions.
How to test your VPN before using it in Saudi Arabia
It's always worth taking a moment to test your VPN connection to make sure it is working correctly. You can use our simple ProPrivacy leak test tool to check whether your IP address is being successfully concealed. This will inform you if the VPN is suffering from any critical DNS or WebRTC leaks.
A VPN that leaks your IP address is one that cannot be relied upon to protect your privacy. So be sure to check that the VPN has installed on your system as it is supposed to by checking for leaks.
To run the test, simply load the testing tool page while disconnected from the VPN and follow the instructions on-screen. The VPNs in this guide have been carefully tested by our team of experts to ensure they don't have leaks of this kind, but it is always a good idea to double-check!
What VPN server should I connect to in Saudi Arabia?
To get the best connection speeds, you should always try to connect to a server that is close to you. However, it would also be a good idea to connect to a country that is not politically affiliated with Saudi Arabia.
We recommend choosing a country where it is legal to access the censored content that you wish to view. This will ensure your speeds stay consistently quick as well as make sure that VPN servers are not at risk of being raided by anyone working for the Saudi government.
On the whole, we do not recommend using VPN servers located within Saudi Arabia itself. These are at risk of government raids, meaning you could open yourself up to being discovered writing a blog (or doing anything else) that you wouldn't wish to be caught doing.
Why you should consider using a VPN in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian government has imposed high levels of online censorship and surveillance. Any online content considered divisive or critical of the government, the monarchy, or the county's religious and cultural beliefs is subject to strict control and blocking. ISPs in the country must ensure that any dissenting content is completely censored. And, any websites that carry information about gambling, alcohol, drugs, or nudity are also strictly controlled.
VoIP servers had been blocked in Saudi Arabia since 2013. At that time, the kingdom's Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) blocked all VoIP services in an attempt to protect citizens against content they considered potentially blasphemous, or that would be damaging to national security and peace. Luckily, since then, the VoIP ban has primarily been lifted. However, you do still need a VPN to make Whatsapp calls.
In addition, there are fears that due to Saudi Arabia's close links to the US – and its high levels of wealth – that the country has an invasive level of surveillance technology at its disposal. As a result, it seems likely that the government is placing citizens under constant and intrusive levels of surveillance.
This makes it both difficult and dangerous to evade the blocks that the Saudi government has imposed. This is why it is important to use a highly secure VPN with strong privacy and security features.
Internet restrictions in Saudi Arabia
The main obstacle you must contend with online while visiting or living in Saudi Arabia is internet censorship. Many sites and services are inaccessible, and you will need a VPN to unblock them. There's also plenty of content unavailable inside Saudi Arabia due to copyright geo-restrictions.
The VPNs we've listed have servers in worldwide locations, and you'll be able to pretend to be in any of them with just a few clicks. In this way, you can overcome local censorship and access sites hosted in other countries. For example, you can use a VPN for Netflix and access Netflix content from all over the world.
Saudi Arabia bans websites that are incompatible with their religious beliefs and therefore considered "immoral." This includes any depiction or discussion about homosexuality, pornography, or prostitution.
"Immorality" in Saudi Arabia also stretches to women's rights, which are severely restricted. Gambling websites are also off-limits. With a VPN, however, anybody in Saudi Arabia can securely unblock websites.
How to securely unblock websites in Saudi Arabia
Due to the politically restrictive nature of the Saudi regime, unblocking content could theoretically get you in trouble. Women, LGBT citizens, and other heavily marginalized groups are at particular risk, and could face corporal punishment if caught unblocking censored websites.
It is also important to guard what you write and say in Saudi Arabia. The country is immensely strict, and seemingly innocuous opinions could land you in serious trouble.
Also, Saudi Arabia has banned just about every online chat, voice, and video messaging service imaginable. The main motivation for these bans is to protect the profits of the state-owned telecom company.
Although Saudi Arabia doesn't ban social media sites, it blocks VoIP apps that are integrated with social media services. This includes Facebook Messenger, which is not accessible from the Facebook site or via the app. WhatsApp, Hangouts, Line, Telegram, Snapchat, FaceTime, Team Speak, Wi-Fi Calling, Skype, and Viber are also under control.
With a VPN for Saudi Arabia, anybody in the country can unblock restricted websites and services and use them in privacy. However, because of the nation's politically sensitive climate, you should use a VPN carefully. And if you choose to use a VPN, you do so at your own risk.
Features to consider when choosing a Saudi Arabia VPN
Though there are hundreds of VPNs on the market, not all of them will be suitable for use in Saudi Arabia. This is partly due to the delicate political situation, but also because plenty of VPNs simply don't offer the security and privacy features you need.
To unblock content in Saudi Arabia without fear of punishment, your chosen VPN must provide certain security features.
A VPN is a versatile online service that allows access to censored or blocked website content and services. By allowing users to pretend to be in a different country, citizens living in (or visiting) Saudi Arabia can use a VPN to access websites that are supposed to be off-limits. Religiously contentious websites, blacklisted news sites, pornographic or sexually liberal websites, and geo-restricted foreign services, can all be unblocked using a Saudi Arabia VPN.
To keep you secure, a VPN will cloak your IP address and assign you a new one. Most also use military-grade encryption. This powerful combination of privacy tools will stop ISPs, the government, workplaces, and schools from keeping tabs on your online activity. And this is why a VPN is essential for people living in Saudi Arabia.
Which VPN features you need
Unblocking content in Saudi Arabia requires a top-quality VPN with advanced privacy features – not every VPN will offer the security you need. Our experts have picked VPNs that let you bypass censorship without being tracked by the government. This is important because using a weak VPN will get you in trouble. Here's a quick list of the features you need to stay secure in Saudi Arabia:
- Properly implemented military-grade encryption: Different VPNs will provide different levels of encryption, and we'd recommend only the best to stay secure in Saudi Arabia. Go with OpenVPN encryption whenever you can.
- Kill-switch: A function that will terminate your internet connection automatically if it senses that your VPN has dropped out. This is a useful tool, as it prevents your data from accidentally leaking to your ISP.
- DNS leak protection: A DNS leak would also inform your ISP about the websites you are visiting. That would be a disaster in Saudi Arabia.
- Stealth mode/VPN cloaking: This is a feature that conceals VPN use entirely. It adds an extra layer of security by disguising OpenVPN traffic as regular HTTPS. This makes it incredibly hard for ISPs to detect that a VPN may be in use.
Can I use a free VPN in Saudi Arabia?
Although there are plenty of free VPNs on the market, it is important to remember that the vast majority of them will not protect your privacy. Most free services have dodgy privacy policies that allow them to harvest user data to sell it to third parties. This is the complete opposite of what you want a VPN to do. Some free services have also been found to lie about the encryption they provide, suffer from critical leaks, and even to contain spyware and adware. As a result, it is important to be very careful when choosing a free service.
The good news is that there are some free VPNs out there that are safe to use. However, it is important to remember that these services only provide a free version to advertise the full premium account. As a result, the free plan is a loss-leader that has been purposefully stripped back.
If you can't afford a premium VPN, a free subscription can give you some limited use of a VPN. This can be very helpful, so feel free to check out our recommendations. However, before using one of these free VPNs for Saudi Arabia, remember that they have the following restrictions:
- Fewer server locations to connect to
- Limited connection speeds
- Monthly download restrictions
- No Netflix functionality on the free plan.
If you need unrestricted use of a VPN for free, we urge you to consider making use of the money-back guarantees and VPN free trials provided by the 5 best VPNs for Saudi Arabia in this article. That will allow you to properly experience an unrestricted VPN with vital features such as a kill-switch and obfuscation.
Are VPNs legal in Saudi Arabia?
Having a VPN and using it in Saudi Arabia is not illegal. We can say with confidence that it's far more secure to use a VPN than a proxy in Saudi Arabia. It is also true that many people – including women – use VPNs to manage anonymous blogs from within the country. There is no doubt about it though: it's risky! You should take care if you do decide to follow suit.
Unblocking censored websites and gaining privacy to anonymously write politically contentious content (all things you might want to do with a VPN), is illegal. For this reason, it is vital that your Saudi VPN has a strong privacy policy and excellent software that provides the highest levels of encryption and advanced VPN features (such as a kill-switch, DNS leak protection, and stealth mode/cloaking).
As long as you pick a reliable and trusted VPN from our list, you'll be free to use the internet in privacy. Unblocking content or writing blogs could get you in trouble – so we strongly recommend staying away from untrusted VPNs. Even using one of the highly commended VPNs in this list is risky because of this delicate political situation.
How does Saudi Arabia monitor the internet?
Saudi Arabia uses several methods to monitor internet usage. They use technology to filter websites based on content, directing all international internet traffic through a proxy farm where a content filter is applied. This filter is based on software by Secure Computing and is managed by the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC). The government also infiltrates social media platforms to control information and monitor its use.
Conclusion
Below you can take a final look at our top 5 VPNs. Each of our recommended providers has a money-back guarantee – so that you can test them risk-free and in your own time:
- ExpressVPN - ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Saudi Arabia. It's the fastest VPN we test and offers a 30 day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The most feature-rich VPN for Saudi Arabia. It's reliable, works with most streaming platforms, and offers obfuscated servers.
- Surfshark - The cheapest Saudi Arabia VPN. You can use it on an unlimited number of devices and it has great security features.
- VyprVPN - The best mid-range VPN for Saudi Arabia. Offers feature-packed apps, obfuscated servers, a kill-switch, and more.
- IPVanish - The most secure for Saudi Arabian VPN. Consistently quick, with strong OpenVPN encryption and zero-logs to worry about.
FAQs
Below we have included the answer to some of the most popular FAQs people ask about using a VPN in Saudi Arabia: