When it comes to privacy rights, Spain is very respectable but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use a VPN while in the country.
To start, it will protect you when using public Wi-Fi hotspots, while also enabling you to access streaming services from all over the world. US version of Netflix first comes to mind, but you may also be interested in watching content from BBC iPlayer.
In addition, a VPN will also let you anonymously browse the web and download stuff using BitTorrent without anyone knowing what you’re doing on the Internet.
We’ll stop it here, but there is more. Here are 5 best VPNs for Spain:
Pros
Cons
- 5,000+ servers in the network
- Easy to use - install it and forget it
- One license is good for up to 6 devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Chrome extension is just a proxy
Summary
Its network includes more than 6,200 servers spread across 111 countries, which directly translates into faster speeds. NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the strong 256-bit encryption combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology "doing its thing" in the background.
NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — whether it's accessing a banned site from some country that filters out the internet, torrenting, accessing streaming services, or just wanting to keep a low profile on the web. It also doesn't keep any logs.
We highly recommend NordVPN to anyone looking for reliable service.
Pros
Cons
- Feature-rich yet easy to use
- One of the best VPNs around
- Strong no-logging policy
- Reliable support you can reach 24/7
- Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
- Kinda pricey
Summary
ExpressVPN has great desktop apps for Windows and Mac, mobile apps and browser extensions. Also, it is well suited for video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others.
However, what makes it stand out is its ease of use. We can't emphasize this enough. One could tell a lot of time has been spent making sure even the advanced features are easily accessible. And we love it for that. Plus, let's not forget ExpressVPN's speed which tends to leave other services in the dust.
Pros
Cons
- It's super fast!
- Works with Netflix, BBC and others
- Easy to use apps, browser extensions
- You can try it for free!
- Some advanced features are not configurable
- Not the best for high-censorship countries
Summary
Furthermore, thanks to the availability of browser extensions - Hotspot Shield is also one of our top choices for Chrome and Firefox VPNs.
Your privacy is equally well protected, with the software only collecting some anonymized that help continually improve its service.
There is one caveat though - it won't work in high-censorship countries like China. If you don't need that in the first place, we highly recommend Hotspot Shield.
As that's typically the case with most VPN services out there, the longer you commit - the better deal you get. However, what makes Hotspot Shield even better is the fact that it offers a 7-day free trial of its service. A few other top VPN providers do the same. Plus, its money-back guarantee lasts for 45 days, making for a risk-free purchase. Cause, you can always get your money back. Sweet and just the way we like it.
Pros
Cons
- Reliable download and upload speeds
- Works with Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Lets you use it on unlimited number of devices
- Low number of servers in Africa and Australia
Summary
You can rely on it for streaming and torrenting, with included extra features like CleanWeb and MultiHop, delivering a that much better — and more secure — experience.
Surfshark, the company, is based in the British Virgin Islands and with its zero-logs policy makes for a powerful combo to anyone looking to keep its web whereabouts under the radar.
The service is easy to use and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
Cons
- One the best VPNs for torrenting
- Works well with Netflix
- Simple setup on all popular devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Doesn't work with BBC iPlayer
- Doesn't work in China
Summary
Its desktop apps are not among the prettiest ones, but they get the job done. The important thing is that installation is easy and straightforward, and that no logs are kept by the company.
When it comes to pricing, IPVanish is somewhere in the middle — it's not the most affordable option but also not the most expensive one. As noted, it will be most appreciated by heavy BitTorrent users, and — related — Kodi fans.
Internet is open in Spain, but…
There is always something that spoils the perfect image and the Internet in Spain is not an exception.
According to official stats from 2019, the country has 41.4 million Internet users or 90.7% of the population. All these people can do whatever they want online, though there is some censorship in Spain, which involves the suppression of speech or public communication and raises issues of freedom of speech.
In its 2020 report, Reporters Without Borders placed the country in the 29 out of 180 position with respect to its level of freedom of the press. It cited the Law on Citizen Security, also known as the Gag Law, as one of the main obstacles to freedom of speech.
Still, the government can’t monitor users’ Internet whereabouts without appropriate legal authority, with the constitution providing for freedom of speech and press.
Some of the known issues…
Things around copyright aren’t that clear or work in a different fashion than in other countries.
For instance, in 2014 – the Spanish version of Google News was shut down as continued operation would have required it to pay fees for each news link that it aggregates.
Hate speech is punished with the law regulating this matter involving sentences for those found guilty spending up to three years in prison.
Among those affected are individuals provoking discrimination, hatred, or violence against groups or associations for racist; anti-semitic; or other references to ideology, religion or belief, family status, membership within an ethnic group or race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, illness, or disability. And, for what it matters, this kind of law exists in a few other EU countries, as well.
Another law prohibits publications glorifying or supporting terrorism, and unfortunately, it has been enforced a few times in the past. We say “unfortunately” because we don’t like the idea of anyone promoting terrorism, not that the individuals perpetrating these actions ended up in prison. We had to clear that out.
You need a VPN for Spain
Spain is one of the best countries in the EU for privacy, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use a VPN.
For one thing, even the best laws won’t help you when connecting to public Wi-Fi hotspots, and sometimes – you’ll have to do that. Then, a malicious actor — who is also using that network — could snoop into your traffic and potentially intercept your personal information. That, at least, could happen if you are NOT using a VPN — which would encrypt all the data and make it useless for anyone spying on you.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The best VPNs for Spain (and any other country for that matter) will:
- Protect your privacy from the government and big corporations
- Bypass restrictions imposed by the government or various organizations
- Change your IP address so you get unrestricted access to Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer, HULU, and other video streaming services
- Encrypt and protect private data from cybercriminals
- Download files with BitTorrent anonymously
The top contenders that check all these boxes include the following:
