Best VPN Countries To Connect To

Choosing the correct location is absolutely crucial to ensuring that you get the most out of your VPN.

Why? Because a lot depends on your server location: your download and upload speeds, latency and even data protection measures, since some countries are strictly against VPN use. By connecting to the right server in the right location, you can unlock a world of possibilities, from accessing exclusive streaming content to enjoying both speedy downloads and uploads.

So, if you want to know which country is the best for a VPN connection, or specifically which location is perfect for streaming, torrenting, or maintaining anonymity, keep reading. I have analysed different countries’ data privacy laws, content restrictions, and other privacy indicators to provide you with the ultimate guide to choosing the perfect VPN location by country. Trust me, I’ve done the hard work so that you don’t have to. Let’s dive in!

1. Switzerland – Best overall

Switzerland is, in my opinion, the best VPN country to connect to, for a variety o freasons.

Firstly, privacy is taken very seriously in Switzerland. What’s more, the country is not a member of the Fourteen Eyes or Five Eyes alliances, which means that it is not subject to intelligence-sharing agreements with other countries. In addition, Switzerland has strict data protection laws, including the Federal Act on Data Protection (DPA), which regulates the collection, processing, and use of personal data. This makes Switzerland a great option for anyone looking to protect their online privacy.

When it comes to torrenting, Switzerland is also an excellent VPN location. Unlike many other countries, downloading copyrighted material for personal use is legal in Switzerland, making it a popular destination for torrenters. However, it’s worth noting that sharing copyrighted material is still illegal and can result in fines or even criminal charges.

While Switzerland may not be the best option for streaming, it still has a few exclusive titles available on Netflix Switzerland, as well as access to Disney+ and Youtube. However, if you’re looking for a VPN location solely for streaming, there may be better options available.

In terms of infrastructure, Switzerland has a well-developed internet network, mostly consisting of fiber optic networks, with excellent broadband and mobile internet speeds. This means that connecting to a VPN server in Switzerland should not significantly affect your baseline internet speed.

Finally, Switzerland’s excellent infrastructure means that it offers reasonbly fast VPN speeds. VPN providers like NordVPN and Surfshark have optimized their servers in Switzerland for speed, ensuring that users can enjoy a fast and reliable connection when connecting to a VPN server in Switzerland.

2. Spain – Best for torrenting

Spain is also great option for VPN users, especially those who are looking to torrent. I remember when I was traveling to Spain, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that downloading copyrighted material for personal use is legal in Spain, as long as it’s not for commercial purposes. This makes Spain  a popular destination for torrenting. So, if you want to download that episode of your favorite TV show or that new album without any worries, Spain is a good VPN location to consider.

When it comes to privacy, again Spain is not part of the Fourteen Eyes or Five Eyes intelligence alliances. The country has relatively strong data protection laws, and the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) is responsible for enforcing data protection regulations. However, some critics argue that the Spanish government has overreaching surveillance powers, especially when it comes to online surveillance.

Sadly, Spain is not a major streaming hub, but it still offers a few Spanish streaming services such as RTVE and Atresplayer. Netflix Spain and Amazon Prime Video Spain are also available, but they offer a smaller selection of content compared to their US counterparts. So, if you want to access a wider range of streaming services, other VPN locations maybe more suitable.

When it comes to infrastructure, Spain has a well-developed internet network, with good broadband and mobile internet speeds. This means that connecting to a VPN server in Spain should not significantly affect your baseline internet speed. VPN providers like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and PrivateVPN have done some work on their servers in Spain for speed, ensuring that users can enjoy a fast and reliable connection when connecting to a VPN server in Spain.

All things considered, Spain is a great VPN country to consider if you’re looking for fast-ish speeds and relaxed laws around torrenting.

3. United Kingdom – Superfast speeds!

The UK is a worthy country to consider when looking at ideal VPN location, especially for those who are looking for the best VPN speeds.

The UK has a famously well-developed internet network, with good broadband and mobile internet speeds. Connecting to a VPN server in the UK should not significantly affect your baseline internet speed. VPN providers like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and CyberGhost have finetuned their servers in the UK for speed, ensuring that users can enjoy a fast and reliable connection when connecting to a VPN server in the UK.

When it comes to speeds, the UK is known for having some of the fastest internet speeds in Europe. The average broadband speed in the UK is around 67Mbps, which is more than enough to stream HD content, browse the web, and play online games without any lag. Furthermore, the UK is home to a number of internet exchange points, which are critical components of the internet infrastructure. This means that VPN providers can easily establish fast and reliable connections to their servers in the UK.

The UK is actually one of teh best VPN locations for streaming – for several reasons.

Firstly, it is home to a variety of streaming services, including Netflix UK, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video UK, and ITV Hub. Many of these services are only available within the UK, which means that if you’re traveling abroad or living outside the UK, you won’t be able to access them without a VPN.

Secondly, it’s usually possible to access non geo-restricted content with a UK conection. Particularly if you’re looking for a European drama.

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4. Panama – Best for privacy

Panama is a great VPN location for different reasons. Firstly, the country has some of the best privacy laws in the world. Panama’s constitution guarantees the right to privacy, and the country has no mandatory data retention laws, which means that VPN providers are not required to store logs of their users’ activities. This makes Panama a popular destination for VPN providers who prioritize user privacy.

Many popular VPN providers have a presence in Panama, including NordVPN, CyberGhost, and VyprVPN. These providers have set up their servers in Panama to take advantage of the country’s privacy-friendly laws and to provide their users with a secure and private browsing experience.

In addition to its strong privacy laws, Panama also has good internet infrastructure, with fast broadband and mobile internet speeds. This means that connecting to a VPN server in Panama should not significantly affect your baseline internet speed.

Additionally, VPN providers that have servers in Panama are able to offer their users a fast and reliable connection for torrenting. This is because Panama has good internet infrastructure, with fast broadband and mobile internet speeds. Furthermore, VPN providers like NordVPN, CyberGhost, and VyprVPN have optimized their servers in Panama for for speed and security, ensuring that users can enjoy a fast and secure connection when torrenting.

As always, check the local laws and regulations before doing anything that may be illegal in a different country. 🙂

5. United States – Best for content

The USA, frankly, has everything from the biggest Netflix library to the most niche sports streaming platforms, making it a great location for anyone looking to access a wide range of streaming services.

However, when it comes to privacy, the US is not the best VPN location. The country is a member of the 14-eyes alliance, which means that it has close surveillance ties with other countries. Additionally, personal privacy laws differ from state to state, making it difficult to assess the overall privacy situation in the country.

Torrenting is also a risky activity in the US. While torrenting itself is not illegal, downloading and sharing copyrighted material can result in strict warnings, fines, or even imprisonment. The US is also known for taking down P2P sharing websites, which can make it difficult to find and download torrents safely.

Despite these privacy and torrenting concerns, the US is still the best VPN location for streaming. The country has access to a wide range of streaming services, and popular movies and TV shows often become available in the US first. If you’re looking to access a variety of streaming services, the US is definitely worth considering as a VPN location. Just be sure to use a quality VPN service to protect your privacy and stay safe while torrenting .

So… How do I choose the right VPN location?

If you’re new to VPNs, then choosing the best VPN server location can be a bit overwhelming, but it’s an important decision that can greatly affect your browsing experience. When I first started using a VPN, I was completely clueless about which server location to choose. I ended up randomly selecting a server and ended up with slow speeds and limited access to the content I wanted to watch.

After some research and trial and error, I realized that choosing the best VPN server location is actually pretty simple. Here are a few tips to help you choose the best VPN server location for your needs:

1. Consider your purpose: Are you using a VPN for privacy, torrenting, or streaming? Each purpose requires a different server location. For example, if you’re using a VPN for privacy, you’ll want to choose a server location in a country with strong privacy laws, like Switzerland or Panama. If you’re using a VPN for streaming, you’ll want to choose a server location in a country with access to the streaming services you want to watch.
2. Look for fast speeds: The speed of your VPN connection can greatly affect your browsing experience. Look for a VPN provider that has servers in locations with fast internet speeds. For example, the UK is known for having some of the fastest internet speeds in Europe, making it a great location for streaming and browsing.
3. Test different server locations: Don’t be afraid to try out different server locations to see which one works best for you. Most VPN providers offer a variety of server locations, so take advantage of this and test out a few different options to find the one that offers the best speeds and access to the content you want to watch.
4. Consider server load: If you’re using a popular VPN provider, certain server locations may be more crowded than others. This can result in slower speeds and a less reliable connection. Look for a VPN provider that offers real-time server load data so you can choose a server location that is not overcrowded.

Is the fastest VPN the one nearest to me?

Generally, yes.

The speed of your VPN connection is affected by a number of factors, including the distance between your device and the VPN server. The closer the server is to your location, the faster your connection is likely to be.

This is because when you connect to a VPN server, your internet traffic has to travel from your device to the server and then back again. The longer this distance is, the more time it takes for your data to travel, which can result in slower speeds.

So, in other words, when you connect to a VPN server that is close to your location, your data has less distance to travel, which can result in faster speeds. This is why the fastest VPNs are often the ones that are closest to your location.

Of course, there are other factors that can affect the speed of your VPN connection, such as the quality of your internet connection and the load on the VPN server. However, if you want to maximize your VPN speed, it’s a good idea to choose a server location that is as close to you. Thankfully, many VPN providers offer a variety of smorgasbord of server locations, so you can choose the one that is closest to your location. Some VPN providers also offer features like automatic server selection, which will connect you to the fastest server available based on your location and other factors.

Which VPN provider has the most locations?

One of the biggest is NordVPN, which currently has over 5,500 servers in 59 countries.

Another popular provider with a large number of server locations is ExpressVPN, which has over 3,000 servers in 94 countries.

And CyberGhost is also known for its extensive server network, with over 7,000 servers in 91 countries. Other VPN providers with a large number of server locations include Surfshark, with over 3,200 servers in 65 countries, and Private Internet Access, with over 29,000 servers in 77 countries. With so many server locations to choose from, these VPN providers offer users a high degree of flexibility and the ability to connect to servers all around the world.