Eric Goldstein
Updated on: December 5, 2024
Fact-checked by Katarina Glamoslija
Short on time? Here’s the best VPN for Pakistan in 2024:
-
🥇 ExpressVPN
: Gets around Pakistan’s URL web filtering and Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) thanks to an excellent obfuscation feature. It also has a global server network that can access local content from anywhere, including in Pakistan. Each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee
The best VPNs for Pakistan give access to an unrestricted internet thanks to obfuscation technology and a global server network. This combination bypasses Pakistan’s DPI and URL filtering that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) uses to block access to content like popular social media and dating sites and restrict VPN technologies from working properly.
The PTA declared all VPNs used for commercial purposes must be registered with the agency by the end of November 2004. However, the law is on hold due to political disagreements — still, it’s best that all users in Pakistan take any precautionary action to ensure they can access a free and open internet.
In my tests, I found exceptional VPNs for Pakistan. All of my picks have obfuscation, large server networks, good streaming support, and fast speeds. My favorite, ExpressVPN, also has the fastest speeds on the market for all online activities.. Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for Pakistan
Editors’ Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best All-Around VPN for Pakistan in 2024
Approved by our experts
ExpressVPN is the #1 VPN for Pakistan. It’s the best for avoiding DPI technology and URL filtering that Pakistan government censors use to block access to apps like WhatsApp and Facebook, as well as dating sites and other restricted content.
The VPN’s obfuscation allows you to bypass censorship in Pakistan by making your VPN traffic look like regular traffic. With obfuscation enabled, it’s harder for authorities to detect and block your VPN connection. ExpressVPN conveniently supports obfuscation on all servers and protocols. 
ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market, even with obfuscation (most VPNs suffer slowdowns due to the extra layers of encryption that obfuscation uses). So, it’s a great pick if your Wi-Fi or cellular internet are particularly slow in Pakistan. Its fastest protocol is Lightway because it’s very lightweight (and doesn’t use a lot of resources), but ExpressVPN’s customer support recommends using the Automatic option in Pakistan.
If ExpressVPN’s site is blocked in Pakistan, you can email customer support and ask for a mirror link. This is a copy of the site but uses a different URL that isn’t blocked by the government’s filtering. The mirror also gives you access to its 24/7 live chat support, allowing you to quickly resolve any connectivity issues.
ExpressVPN is excellent for keeping all of your online activities private in Pakistan. In addition to adhearing to a strict and independently audited no-logs policy, it also uses RAM-only servers, which wipe all data with each reboot. Finally, the VPN comes with full built-in protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks, ensuring no data slips through the cracks. 
The VPN has servers in Pakistan and in 105 countries around the world. ExpressVPN also works with 100+ streaming sites, including Netflix, Amazon, Max, and local sites like PTV Sports and HUM TV. Plus, it can access apps like Instagram and Telegram.
ExpressVPN provides several paid plans that start at £3.91 / month. It accepts credit cards and cryptocurrencies, which provide an added level of anonymity. All ExpressVPN plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the top VPN choice for Pakistan. It includes obfuscation technology on all servers and protocols, allowing you to access nearly any app or site. It delivers fast speeds with its Lightway protocol and has a large server network. It backs all subscriptions with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Customizable VPN for Avoiding Censorship in Pakistan
Private Internet Access (PIA) offers a couple of ways to internet freedom in Pakistan. It provides obfuscation via the Shadowsocks protocol, which evades DPI and URL filtering, However, it’s only available on desktop and you can connect to just 5+ countries, including the US and UK.
To use any server location, PIA allows you to manually select TCP port 443 via OpenVPN. The Pakistani government is very unlikely to block this port because it’s used for secure HTTPS traffic, so it’s a good option for safely bypassing URL filters. 
It has servers in 91 countries and has no problem accessing apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat from Pakistan. Plus, it works with 30+ streaming sites, including Netflix and Amazon Prime. However, it doesn’t have a Pakistan server location. For safely accessing local content in Pakistan, you can check ExpressVPN.
PIA is very secure and private to use in Pakistan. It has RAM-only servers, full leak protection, and its no-logs policy has passed an independent audit. It uses mirror links in case you can’t access the site from Pakistan and 24/7 available live chat is available. 
Private Internet Access offers affordable plans starting from just £1.57 / month. You can purchase PIA plans with credit cards and even gift cards for better privacy. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a highly-customisable VPN for Pakistan. It uses Shadowsocks protocol for obfuscation and can also bypass internet restrictions in the country via port 443. It’s very secure and has a large server network that can safely access global content from Pakistan. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Editors’ Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. PrivateVPN — Great for Mobile Use in Pakistan
PrivateVPN is a great option for mobile users in Pakistan. Its Stealth mode feature uses obfuscation that bypasses Pakistan’s DPI and ULR blocks and is available on Android and iOS. Plus, it’s very simple to enable — just toggle the switch in the Settings menu.
PrivateVPN’s mobile app lets you manually choose TCP port 443, which is a great alternative if you’re having trouble connecting with Stealth mode on cellular data or your Wi-Fi speeds are too slow in Pakistan.
PrivateVPN has servers in 63 countries that work with all top social media and messaging apps like Facebook and WhatsApp. It also works with 20+ streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
In terms of anonymity and security, PrivateVPN comes with built-in DNS and IPv6 leak protection, which is available on the mobile apps, too. While PrivateVPN has a strict no-logs policy, it hasn’t been audited, and it doesn’t use RAM-only servers like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.
That said, I like that it has Application Guard. This feature lets you pick which apps you want the VPN to shut down if it loses connection, which is pretty handy if you use apps that are blocked in Pakistanin, like messaging apps.
PrivateVPN’s plans are very cheap (£1.86 / month), backed by a 30-day moey-back guarantee, and you have the option to pay with cryptocurrency.
Bottom Line:
PrivateVPN is a solid choice for mobile users in Pakistan. It offers Stealth mode on Android and iOS, and it also lets you manually choose TCP port 443 for more reliable connections. It’s got a good server network, works with many social media and messaging apps, and has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full PrivateVPN review
4. TunnelBear — Beginner-Friendly VPN for Pakistan + A Free Plan
TunnelBear is a user-friendly VPN that works in Pakistan thanks to its obsfucation tool, GhostBear, which evades DPI and URL filtering. Its TCP Override is also very useful as it forces the VPN to use the more reliable TCP protocol in case your ISP in Pakistan is throttling or blocking UDP traffic, which leads to slow or unstable connections.
TunnelBear has servers in 47 countries (it doesn’t have one in Pakistan), which is a lot smaller than ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, but they’re well spread around the globe. What’s more, they all access international social media and messaging apps and sites, and it works with 20+ streaming platforms, including Netflix and Amazon Prime.
TunnelBear has full leak protection, so you won’t have to worry about your data being exposed while browsing from Pakistan. It also audits its no-logs policy annually. Unfortunateloy, it’s missing RAM-only servers.
TunnelBear’s plans start at £3.26 / month, but unlike the rest of the VPNs I recommend here, there’s no money-back guarantee. However, there is a free plan that includes access to its obfuscation feature and all servers. The downside is you only get 2 GB of monthly data.
Bottom Line:
TunnelBear is an excellent option for VPN beginners in Pakistan, offering an easy-to-use obfuscation feature. It works with all popular social media and messaging apps, and has full leak protection. It also has a free plan with 2 GB of monthly data that includes access to the obfuscation feature and all server locations. The VPN lacks a money-back guarantee.
Read the full TunnelBear review here
5. VyprVPN — Reliable VPN for Pakistan
VyprVPN is a reliable choice for users in Pakistan. It circumvents URL filtering in Pakistan and DPI with its proprietary Chameleon protocol which obfuscates VPN traffic.
The VPN has servers in 70+ countries and it works with social media, messaging, and dating apps. It also works with 45+ streaming sites, like Max and Netflix. It even has a server location in Karachi, so it’s great for securely accessing local content, too, like Jazz and Nashpati Prime.
In terms of privacy and security, VyprVPN offers DNS leak protection and an audited no-logs policy. I like how it has a dynamic server switching tool that monitors server load and automatically redirects users to a less crowded server when necessary. However, it doesn’t use RAM-only servers, like ExpressVPN, and you’ll have to manually disable WebRTC and IPv6 traffic.
VyprVPN has plans that start at £5.00 / month and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
VyprVPN is a strong choice for users in Pakistan. It has reliable access to social media, streaming sites, and local content with its Chameleon protocol to bypass censorship. It also has a server location in Pakistan for safely accessing local content and a dynamic server switching tool that helps maintain a stable connection. VyprVPN’s plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full VyprVPN review here
Quick Comparison Table
Editors’ Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
I followed our proven testing methodology so I only included the best VPNs for Pakistan that meet my strict standards. I tested each VPN to evaluate security, privacy, speed, and most importantly, its ability to work with Pakistani’s online filtering and blocks. Below are the criteria I used to rank each VPN:
- I checked if the VPNs work in Pakistan. The VPNs on my list all have obfuscation that allows them to work in Pakistan and get around the country’s DPI and URL filtering.
- I made sure each VPN has a large server network + servers in or near Pakistan. I focused on VPNs that offer servers in Pakistan, which allow you to safely access local content from anywhere in the world. That said, these VPNs also have servers in 90+ countries and can access apps like WhatsApp, X, Telegram, and Instagram.
- I looked for VPNs with strong security features. All the VPNs on my list include security features such as 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and protection against leaks. They also offer advanced security via RAM-only servers and IP leak protection.
- I tested each VPN’s speeds. Although all VPNs slightly reduce speed due to encryption, I made sure the VPNs on my list maintained fast speeds across all servers. ExpressVPN is the fastest.
- I ensured the VPN offered good value. I looked for VPNs that come with simultaneous connections, affordable pricing plans, and credit card payment options (PayPal isn’t available in Pakistan). I also made sure each VPN offers a money-back guarantee, so you can test it risk-free before committing long-term.
VPN Not Working in Pakistan? Try These Troubleshooting Tips
Pakistan is still testing its blocking technologies, but its online rules are getting tighter, which might affect your VPN’s performance. If you’re having any issues with your connections, here are a couple of steps you can try:
1. Switch VPN Protocols
VPN protocols use specific ports to communicate. For example, OpenVPN usually operates over port 1194 (UDP) and IKev2 uses port 500 (UDP) for key exchange and port 4500 (UDP for NAT traversal. Blocking these ports could cause the VPN to malfunction.
The solution is to use a different VPN protocol. Most of the VPNs I recommend here use WireGuard, which is also one of the fastest VPN protocols on the market.
2. Use Port 443
If none of the VPN protocols you tried are working, you can configure OpenVPN to use TCP port 443 (instead of its usual UDP port 1194). Port 443 is the standard port for HTTPS traffic and used by nearly all websites for secure communication — blocking it would be like blocking access to the secure internet, which is why most governments and ISPs avoid blocking it.
3. Test for IP or DNS Leaks
Pakistan’s internet monitoring systems can detect your real IP address even when connected to a VPN if DNS or IP leaks occur. If a leak happens, it can reveal your IP address, and with it, your actual location.
To prevent this from happening, you should enable WebRTC leak protection in your browser and turn off IPv6 traffic. Note that most VPNs come with built-in leak protection. Additionally, make sure the kill switch is enabled to block internet access in case the VPN connection drops unexpectedly.
4. Try Connecting to a Different Server
Connectivity issues might be caused when your Pakistani ISP has blocked specific VPN servers or IP addresses. If that specific IP is blocked, you can simply disconnect and reconnect to the same server location to get a different IP address. Alternatively, you can try a different VPN location.
Obfuscation technology hides your VPN traffic by making it look like regular traffic, allowing the VPN to avoid local firewalls and censorship tools. Also, your Pakistani ISP won’t know you’re using a VPN.
5. Consider VPN Server Load
High server load or congestion can slow down your VPN connection or prevent it from working correctly. This is especially common during peak usage times or when there’s heavy traffic in Pakistan. If your VPN service allows you to view server load or server status,choose a server with lower traffic to improve performance.
6. Check If Your Obfuscation Is On
If your VPN is being blocked due to the nature of the traffic (especially during political unrest or sensitive events), you’ll have to enable the obfuscation feature before you connect to a server and go online.
7. Clear Your Browser’s Cache and Cookies
Websites can sometimes detect your real location through cached data or cookies, even if you’re using a VPN.
So before connecting to your VPN, clear your browser’s cache and cookies. This helps prevent websites from using old data that might reveal your true IP address or location.
8. Contact VPN Provider Support
If you’re still unable to connect, the problem may be with your VPN provider’s servers or services. In this case, you should reach out to your VPN’s customer support team via live chat or email. Many providers have support teams available 24/7 who can provide advice specific to connecting from Pakistan and help you resolve connection issues.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- CyberGhost VPN. CyberGhost VPN is great for streaming and torrenting, and its apps are very user-friendly. However, the VPN doesn’t offer obfuscation or work in Pakistan.
- NordVPN. NordVPN is a secure and fast VPN with lots of extra privacy and security features. It’s also got good streaming support and a large server network in 111 countries. While it has obfuscated servers, they aren’t consistent at bypassing restrictive firewalls.
- Surfshark. Surfshark has lots of additional privacy features, decent speeds, and a good server network in 100 countries. It has an obfuscation tool, but it doesn’t work with Pakistan’s use of DPI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are VPNs legal in Pakistan?
Yes, for now, VPNs are still legal to use in Pakistan. Pakistan has announced and backtracked on plans to ban VPNs even after its Council of Islamic Ideology branded all VPNs as practically immoral.
That said, some VPNs are already inaccessible from Pakistan, meaning you can’t access their site and download the app. The good news is the VPNs I recommend use mirror links and offer great email support that can help you get the VPN on your device.
In the meantime, you must still abide by the cyber laws of the country and avoid any illegal activities while connected to a VPN in Pakistan. If you’re looking for a good VPN for Pakistan, I recommend ExpressVPN — it has servers in Pakistan that provide great speeds, excellent streaming support, and excellent security features.
What’s the best VPN for Pakistan?
ExpressVPN is hands-down the top VPN to use in Pakistan. It uses obfuscation on all servers and protocols, allowing it to bypass DPI blocks and URL filtering by Pakistani ISPs. It’s also the fastest VPN on the market and has the best streaming support.
Can I use a free VPN for Pakistan?
I don’t recommend that you use a free VPN for online activities in Pakistan because most free VPNs don’t offer obfuscation, so they won’t work there. A lot of free VPNs also come with weak security features and have very slow speeds.
It is far better to use an inexpensive premium VPN service like ExpressVPN, which is my top recommendation for Pakistan because it can avoid censorship in the country thanks to advanced built-in obfuscation technology. It also provides the fastest speeds, is extremely secure, and works with all of the popular streaming apps.
Can I watch Netflix Pakistan with a VPN?
Yes, you can watch Netflix Pakistan with a premium VPN that has servers within Pakistan. ExpressVPN is the best choice because it has the fastest speeds out there for streaming in HD and 4K quality. You can even watch other streaming sites within Pakistan like Dawn, HUM TV, and Geo TV.
