5 best VPNs for France in 2022 (enjoy security and freedom online at full)

France is one of those regions where the authorities employ internet monitoring measures. So, naturally, that makes using a VPN in France inevitable for online privacy.

Although, the country doesn’t apply extensive content censorship. In fact, Freedom House ranks the country’s internet free as ‘free.’ However, the recent data retention laws and the country’s inclusion in the 9-Eyes alliance indicate how the authorities monitor the residents and the visitors within French boundaries.

Thus, if you live in France or plan to visit there and want to protect your internet privacy, you need a VPN.

Precisely, using a VPN encrypts your traffic and makes your online activities anonymous. In addition, a VPN helps you unblock geo-blocked content and apps from anywhere.

But, with hundreds of VPN services available today, it is tough to pick a trustworthy and transparent option. That is why after thorough research and testing, we have compiled this best France VPN list to help you choose the right tool for your browsing requirements in France.

Quick summary of the best VPNs for France

We’ll have a detailed analysis of each service later, but here is a quick summary if you are short on time:

1. NordVPN – Our number one recommended VPN service for France. Boasts an impressive list of features such as AES 256-bit encryption, TrustedServer technology, Network Lock, expansive server network, and split tunneling.
2. Surfshark – Best budget-friendly VPN for France. Bears numerous attractions such as unlimited simultaneous connections, MultiHop servers, camouflage mode, CleanWeb ad blocker, Whitelister, kill switch, Private DNS, and AES 256-bit encryption.
3. ExpressVPN – Affordable option to browse with a France IP address. The provider has several servers in France, military-grade encryption, zero-logs policy, DNS leak protection, double-VPN, and CyberSec ad blocker.
4. Private Internet Access (PIA) –  Boasts the most extensive server network in the industry. It supports all the major devices, allows ten simultaneous connections, split tunneling, a kill switch, a strict no-logs policy, and 24/7 live chat.
5. ProtonVPN – Best free VPN with a France Location. Its main features include open-source apps, firm zero-logs policy, secure core servers, NetShield ad blocker, perfect forward secrecy, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Comparison of the best France VPNs at a glance

In the table below, we have compared the top 5 VPNs for France:

Best VPN services for France – The detailed analysis

After vetting dozens of providers, the following VPNs managed to grab our attention with their superior performance. Thankfully, they all boast servers in France alongside robust security features, so you can unblock any content or app you want safely.

1. NordVPN

Our number one recommended VPN service for France. Its watertight security features, blazing-fast speeds, and stable servers make it perfect in the light of the EU privacy policies.

Visit NordVPN

Over 5,000 servers in 60 countries

P2P torrents

Automatic kill switch

Follows zero-logs policy

Double encryption

6 simultaneous connections

Has web protection

Double VPN feature

30 days money-back guarantee

Pros

• Runs multiple servers in France
• Fast-speed servers
• Dependable security and privacy

Cons

• Windows app is slightly tricky to navigate

NordVPN is a reliable VPN service to bypass France’s content geo-restrictions. That is because it runs more than 230 servers in two France locations. Hence, you can stream French movies and TV shows seamlessly if you have traveled abroad.

Overall, the VPN has over 5,000 servers in 60 other countries. So, you can access blocked content in other regions if you live in France.

VPNs are known to reduce internet speed because of the encryption process. However, NordVPN is among the fastest VPNs that exhibited excellent performance during our tests. The consistent connection lets you stream, torrent, and play online games without buffering or lagging.

Besides, NordVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption to secure your traffic and data. Furthermore, it provides perfect forward secrecy to change your encryption frequently to maintain your anonymity.

As for VPN protocols, NordVPN offers several options. First, it has the NordLynx protocol based on the speed-enhancing WireGuard protocol, strengthened with a NAT firewall. Other supported protocols include OpenVPN TCP/UDP, PPTP, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPsec.

The VPN has a useful customizable kill switch feature that works at both the app and the device levels.

NordVPN strictly follows its zero-logs policy. According to their privacy policy, it does not store any identifiable information. Also, it has undergone independent audits by PricewaterhouseCoopers firm to verify the logging practices. As a bonus, the VPN is headquartered in Panama, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction.

Another remarkable NordVPN feature is CyberSec which prevents intrusive ads, trackers, and malware from installing on your device.

2. Surfshark

Best budget-friendly VPN for France. It boasts blazing-fast speeds with super-strong security.

Visit Surfshark

3,200+ servers across 65 countries

AES-256-bit encryption

Supports P2P

Automatic kill switch

Double VPN

Camouflage Mode

Allows unlimited simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

• Unblocks content and apps in France
• Strictly no-logs
• Maintains your security and privacy

Cons

• Distant servers are slow some times

Surfshark is the best option to unblock streaming platforms from France. Since it operates multiple servers in Paris, Bordeaux, and Marseille, you wouldn’t face problems accessing French content abroad.

Besides, it has over 3200 servers in 65 countries to let you access other regions’ content in France. For example, you can use its US servers to watch popular sporting events like NBA, MLB, etc. It also has reliable, fast-speed servers in the UK, Germany, Canada, Spain, and India.

Besides bypassing geo-restrictions, the entire network supports P2P sharing. Moreover, it offers unrestricted bandwidth, so you can download and share torrents without any issues.

Surshark provides top-tier security features to keep you safe. First, it uses military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, 2048-bit DHE-RSA key exchange, and SHA-512 authentication. Second, just like ExpressVPN, it has 100% diskless servers.

Most importantly, it has a strict no-logs policy assuring no data retention. Thus, even the French government cannot access your activities.

Apart from the standard protocols OpenVPN and IKEv2, Surfshark also offers WireGuard and Shadowsocks, the latest protocols in the industry. WireGuard is known for improving speeds and security. Conversely, Shadowsocks is designed to help you bypass ultra-aggressive internet restrictions like the Great Firewall of China.

Surfshark also offers privacy-oriented features such as kill switch, DNS/IP leak protection, and MultiHop servers. Moreover, its Camouflage mode lets you evade VPN detection technologies.

Surfshark works well with almost all devices, including macOS, Android, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Amazon Fire devices. With slight differences in the layout, all apps are straightforward to use. Fortunately, you can connect unlimited devices with a single plan.

3. ExpressVPN

A reliable VPN option to browse with a France IP address. It is known for its super-fast servers and extra top-notch security.

Visit ExpressVPN

3,000+ servers across 94 countries

AES-256-bit encryption

IPv6 leak protection

P2P optimized servers

Zero-logs policy

TrustedServer technology

Has kill-switch mode

Up to 5 devices at once

30 days money-back guarantee

Pros

• Works remarkably well in France
• Fast-speed connections
• Top-notch privacy and security 

Cons

• Relatively expensive

ExpressVPN is arguably the best French VPN, thanks to its ease of subscription, user-friendly apps, and no-risk money-back guarantee. Once you subscribe to it, you’ll get an activation code and link through your email. After that, downloading and installing the app takes less than three minutes.

It has a massive network of more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries worldwide. This includes several servers in France spread across Paris and Strasbourg. It means you can get a France IP address to access geo-blocked content and apps.

The provider integrates TrustedServer Technology into the entire server network. It ensures that all the servers run on RAM, which cannot retain any data. That’s what they boast already; a strict no-logs policy that they can easily implement due to their privacy-friendly base in the British Virgin Islands. The only information it retains is the data you provide when creating an account, like email and payment particulars.

Regarding security, ExpressVPN uses state-of-the-art features to protect your connections. These include AES 256-bit encryption, SHA-512 HMAC authentication, 4096-bit RSA key, and perfect forward secrecy (PFS).

The kill switch feature has become standard in the industry. ExpressVPN calls it Network Lock that protects your traffic and IP address if the VPN disconnects. Unfortunately, it is not available on iOS devices.

Besides, ExpressVPN also provides DNS leak protection to guarantee your anonymity.

4. Private Internet Access (PIA)

Another great VPN with the most extensive server network. It offers numerous servers in France and unblock French content anywhere abroad.

Visit PIA

Huge server network spread across 84 countries

AES-128/256-bit encryption

Boasts zero-logs policy

Split tunneling feature

24/7 live chat

MACE adblocker

10 simultaneous devices

DNS leak protection

30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

• Operates several servers in France
• Fast and effortless installation process
• Supports anonymous payment methods

Cons

• Unimpressive user interface

Private Internet Access (PIA) is another worthy VPN with over 147 servers in France, enabling you to watch your favorite movies and TV shows. Some of the accessible French channels include TV5 Monde, Arte, France TV, France O, etc.

Besides, the company approximately has over 28,000 servers in 84 countries. We tested it in some locations and got excellent speeds for browsing, streaming, torrenting, and gaming.

Regarding security, PIA gives you the freedom to choose the encryption level you want as it supports both AES 128-bit (default) and AES 256-bit encryption. Both encryptions are secure and will keep you safe online.

In addition, all the apps have OpenVPN as the default protocol, but you can choose between TCP and UDP connections. The exclusion is the iOS that features IPsec protocol. Also, you can manually configure L2TP/IPsec, Socks5 proxy, and PPTP. Recently, the VPN has introduced WireGuard, the newest protocol praised for improved speeds and security.

Besides, PIA supports customized browsing with the split tunneling feature.

Although the provider is headquartered in the US, and hence, is obliged to follow all the laws. That also includes handing over users’ data to the government authorities if requested. The US is also a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance.

However, PIA doesn’t record traffic logs, IP addresses, or anything identifiable, thereby preserving users’ privacy.

All PIA apps have an ad blocker, which you can activate easily via the settings. Besides blocking annoying advertisements, the MACE feature also thwarts malware and trackers.

5. ProtonVPN

The best free VPN with premium qualities to go for France. It doesn’t cap data usage and assures premium security and privacy even to free users.

Visit ProtonVPN

1,600+ servers in 63 countries

AES-256-bit encryption

Strict no-logs policy

Kill switch feature

NetShield adblocker

Allows up to 10 simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

• Has NetShield ad blocker
• Bypass geo-restrictions in France
• Based in a privacy-friendly country

Cons

• No live chat

ProtonVPN has the smallest network on this list, with over 1,600 servers in 60+ countries. Thankfully, it has numerous servers in France to let you access geo-blocked content. Although, it isn’t as fast as its competitors. Still, it offers speeds adequate for most online activities.

The VPN comes with robust security features to protect you when using the internet. These include AES 256-bit encryption jazzed up with 4096-bit RSA key exchange and perfect forward secrecy. Plus, the additional Secure Core feature offers specialized servers that route your traffic through privacy-friendly countries such as Iceland and Switzerland.

Unlike other VPNs such as ExpressVPN and NordVPN, ProtonVPN only offers two security protocols: OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec. However, they are still reliable and will secure your connections.

ProtonVPN’s privacy policy is straightforward and transparent. It does not record users’ identifiable information. Moreover, the provider is based in Switzerland, which is reputed for upholding privacy.

Nonetheless, you can use the Tor over VPN service for superior online anonymity in France. It directly routes your traffic through the Tor Network, eliminating the need to install the Tor browser.

Besides, it offers a dedicated feature to prevent ads, trackers, and malware. Unfortunately, the NetShield feature is only available on the Plus and Visionary packages.

ProtonVPN is an excellent free VPN for France. Although, the free version is limited, supporting only one device and three servers locations. Also, the connection speed is a bit slow compared to the paid packages. Yet, it’s still safer than other completely free VPNs.

What to look out for in a VPN for France

France does not restrict internet usage, but geo-blocks may prevent you from accessing specific sites and services. So, the first thing to consider when choosing a France VPN is the unblocking capability. With a reliable service, you could seamlessly stream content on popular sites like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, etc. Besides, you’ll be able to access your favorite French TV Networks and banking sites if you travel abroad.

Additionally, a reliable VPN should protect your data and traffic from malicious actors on the internet. Some of the critical security features you should look out for include AES encryption, kill switch, and malware blocker. Moreover, it should hide your IP address and change your location so that nobody can trace your activities.

Regrettably, France is a member of the 14-Eyes Alliance, a group of countries that share intelligence information.

Besides, in 2015, the French parliament passed a law, ‘Loi relative au renseignement.’ This law is at the forefront of compromising your online privacy. It compels the country’s internet service providers (ISPs) to monitor users’ activities and report anything suspicious. Hence, you should choose a VPN that employs a strict no-logs policy for retaining any identifiable information.

Another dominant factor that differentiates great and mediocre VPNs is speed. Although many variables affect speed, you wouldn’t want a slow VPN connection. Notably, a VPN with an extensive server network has better speed as the traffic load gets distributed evenly. In addition, connecting to a nearby server provides improved speed as the data packet travels a short distance.

Sometimes things can go wrong even with the best VPN. Therefore, choose a provider with reliable customer service. The team should be knowledgeable and available all the time. Apart from email and phone support, it should also provide 24/7 live chat.

VPNs to avoid in France

Not all VPNs available are good. Some providers collect users’ information and illegally sell it to third parties or hand them over to authorities. Here are some of the services you must avoid if you value your privacy.

1. Betternet

Betternet is one of the top results you’ll get if you search for a free VPN. Apparently, the VPN looks reliable as it offers fast connections and allows several simultaneous connections. However, this is not charity as the company earns money back through its ad platform. It accesses your cookies to barrage you with unending advertisements.

2. Hola VPN

Hola is an Israeli-based VPN service. It rose to prominence for developing a browser plugin that bypasses geo-restrictions easily. However, it was caught engaging in fraudulent activities such as selling users’ data, monitoring browsing history, and diverting traffic.

3. Hide My Ass

Hide My Ass is a free VPN service based in the UK. However, in 2011, the company cooperated with authorities and handed over a user’s login credentials. Ironically, this entire event happened despite claiming a zero-logs policy.

Is using a free VPN okay in France?

Free VPNs are readily available, and a quick search on Google and Reddit will give you infinite options. As the name suggests, these providers don’t charge anything for their services to entice users.

However, you should avoid such options altogether. Since running and operating a server network is expensive, free VPNs have to devise other ways of making money to continue their operations. In most cases, they’ll bombard you with all types of intrusive ads and even sell your data.

To make matters worse, you may likely contract malware with a free VPN. A recent CSIRO study also found that a majority of free VPNs contain malware. Moreover, you won’t get the same customer service or speed as with subscription-based services.

How to get a French IP outside France

After reading about using VPNs in France, you might wonder if you can use the VPN to get a French IP abroad. Of course, this would help you stay connected to your local French stuff regardless of where you go.

So, here’s are some quick steps to use a VPN outside France and get a French IP address.

1. Choose a robust VPN provider and subscribe to it. You can choose any of the best VPNs listed above. But the recommended option that will help you out anywhere is NordVPN.
2. Download the respective VPN client on your device. You can easily install NordVPN on your computers, phones, and routers alike.
3. Open the VPN app, choose a server from France and connect to it.
4. Once your connection establishes, check your IP address. You should ideally see a French IP address, the same that your VPN client shows. If that’s what you see, you’re all set to start surfing French content. (It would be ideal if you clear your device and/or browser cache first.)

But since that’s a paid option, how do I get a French IP address anywhere for free? We hear you ask.

Thankfully, you can still use NordVPN to get a French IP at no cost. That’s because it offers a trial with a 30-day no-risk money-back guarantee. It means you can subscribe to the VPN with ease and request a refund before the 30-day period ends. Then sit back and relax as the VPN provider process the refund for you.

Sounds cool? Check out this detailed guide to get NordVPN free trial to see how to use it for free for a month.

French internet’s future

France is known as a pro-privacy region. Once, its government even fined the social media giant Facebook for illegally tracking users’ data. Regulators also claimed that the company didn’t inform users about the methods to extract personal information.

However, over the past few years, there has been blatant erosion of privacy rights in the country. For example, President Hollande introduced emergency powers in 2015, allowing authorities to conduct raids, arrest, and search electronics without warrants.

Around the same time, the French Constitutional Council approved another law. It compels ISPs to trace online behaviors of suspicious users and provide the information to intelligence authorities.

Consequently, there are worries that the intelligence apparatus can abuse this new law to establish widespread surveillance on French citizens. For example, it allows them to install recording devices and secret cameras in people’s homes. Moreover, they can even mount keystroke logging on devices. Also, the authorities have the permission to store collected metadata for up to five years.

Notably, the United Nations Human Rights Committee raised concerns about the law. According to UNHCR, the law gives authorities excessive powers for unnecessary surveillance. Therefore, it advises the French government to only interfere with people’s privacy according to the established legality, necessity, and proportionality principles.

Furthermore, other advocacy bodies like the La Quadrature du net and Privacy International have condemned the law. They say that the bill is poorly drafted, doesn’t give judicial authorization, and the French parliament mutilates fundamental human rights.

So, these are some reasons you should use a VPN in France. VPNs encrypt your data and route your traffic through private servers. Hence, they prevent snooping by government agencies, your ISP, hackers, and other third parties.

Wrapping up

Using the internet is relatively free in France, but recent laws allow government agencies to invade your online privacy. Also, the country is a member of an alliance that shares intelligence information. That is why you need to use a VPN.

Apart from protecting your data and activities, a VPN also helps you bypass geographic restrictions and access content from anywhere. In addition, if you have traveled abroad, you’ll be able to access your bank and other local content. We recommend NordVPN as the best provider because of its super-fast connections and robust security and privacy features. But you can certainly choose any robust service that best matches your browsing and privacy requirements.

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