Authorities across the globe have become increasingly invasive of our personal data. In France, intelligence agencies no longer need a court order to conduct surveillance, and any ISP can be tracked using “black box” algorithms. As a world citizen, you reserve the right to privacy.
If you live in France or are merely visiting the country, now’s the time to begin thinking about getting a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
A VPN allows you to connect to servers anywhere in the world, which makes it harder for the authorities to pry on your personal data. It also allows you to access geo-restricted content by connecting to servers within that region. This means that you’re able to catch up on your favorite shows anywhere, whether you’re a tourist in France or a French person living or working abroad.
Best VPNs for France: a shortlist
No time to read? Here are our best VPNs for France in 2023:
- The top VPN for France9.7
- Forward-thinking and affordable France VPN9.3
- Cheap France VPN for streaming9.2
- Security-first France VPN8.7
- Most country options8.4
How to get the best VPN for France
- Get a VPN with servers in France. We recommend NordVPN, now 72% off
- After installation, pick a server in France or any other country
- Connect to the VPN server
- Enjoy being safe online!
Why do you need a VPN in France
The main reason to use a VPN in France is to avoid government surveillance. Since it no longer needs a court order to start snooping on you online, there’s always a constant threat that your data may be used against you.
What’s more, France belongs to the infamous Nine Eyes alliance. This means that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has all the rights to collect personal information, which can end up in every member country. If that wasn’t enough, that information might leak, increasing overall damage.
Also, while torrenting is legal in France, violating copyrights can result in fines or even an internet ban if you ignore the warnings. The Hadopi law is also responsible for censorship, blocking P2P tracking, and other websites. The government also cooperates with Google to remove them from search results.
There’s also a problem with geo-blocking. Certain sites are available in select countries only. This applies to the majority of streaming services.
Luckily, using a VPN is legal in France, and it can solve all of the above-mentioned issues. By hiding your real IP and encrypting the traffic, it won’t let the government snoop on you. Also, the best France VPNs unblock multiple content platforms, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more.
Overview of the best VPNs for France in 2023
Let’s take a look at the best VPN options for France in 2023. All services are available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and other platforms.
These top France VPNs come in various combinations of features and prices, meaning you should be able to pick the one that fits all your needs.
1. NordVPN – the best VPN for France
Panama
5800
60
618 Mbit/s
- Unbeatable in terms of security and privacy
- NordLynx protocol for the best speeds
- Great for streaming and torrenting
- No router app
NordVPN is the best VPN overall and certainly the top choice for France. Offering military-grade encryption, a robust kill switch, and leak protection, this service is known for excellent security. Besides, NordVPN is located in privacy-friendly Panama and also has an independently audited no-logs policy.
Its 5800+ servers in 60 countries offer global coverage. 230+ of them are in Paris and Marseille. Most servers are RAM-only which adds even more protection.
NordVPN is also great for unlocking geo-restricted content. You’ll be able to stream multiple Netflix libraries, Peacock, Hulu + Live TV, and other content platforms. This provider gives you the best speeds, so watching in 4K (UHD) won’t be a problem.
Torrenting is allowed on select servers. Downloading even large files won’t take long because of NordVPN’s exceptional performance. There’s also split tunneling (Windows and Android) plus a SOCKS5 proxy at your service.
NordVPN prices start from $3.49/month. All plans give you six simultaneous connections per account. You can try this France VPN for 7-days and use a 30-day money-back guarantee.
For a deeper investigation of NordVPN, read our NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark – a fast and affordable France VPN
Netherlands
3200
100
596 Mbit/s
- Great security features
- Fast speeds
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- No-logs policy not audited
Why is Surfshark VPN on the list of the top VPNs for France? For one thing, it’s a supremely fast service, thanks to its WireGuard tunneling protocol. It also offers unlimited devices per account and asks only $2.30/month.
Surfshark is also highly secure and has all the relevant features to prove it, including bank-grade encryption, a kill switch, and a “stealth mode” against DPI. Better yet, as it’s registered in the Netherlands, it’s not required to comply with any data retention laws. That’s why Surfshark can have a strict no-logs policy, even though the country belongs to the Nine Eyes alliance.
Currently, this provider has 3200+ servers in 100+ countries, one of which is France (Paris, Marseilles, Bordeaux). All servers are RAM-only, meaning all data is wiped out after a reboot.
Surfshark is great for torrenting. P2P activities are allowed on all servers, and downloading large files won’t take long. You can also turn on Whitelister (split tunneling) and decide which apps will use the encrypted tunnel and which will go online without protection.
Choosing Surfshark for streaming is also a good idea. This France VPN unblocks Netflix, Peacock, BBC iPlayer, and other content websites. The speeds should be more than enough for HD or even UHD video quality.
There’s also 24/7 live chat customer support, should you encounter any issues. If you want to test Surfshark, you can get a 7-day free trial. Finally, a 30-day money-back guarantee is also available.
For a deeper investigation of Surfshark VPN, read our Surfshark VPN review.
3. PrivateVPN – cheap France VPN for streaming
Sweden
200
63
251 Mbit/s
- Great security features
- Fast
- Excellent for streaming
- macOS and iOS apps have fewer features
PrivateVPN truly is a fast VPN. There is one important distinction between it and some others on this list: PrivateVPN is very cheap. If you’re a torrenting or streaming fan on a budget, this France VPN may very well be the way to go.
First of all, though, we must note its Swedish registry location. This is a Fourteen Eyes country, so you may wish to go with something a little less risky overall. However, PrivateVPN has a strict no-logs policy, which should negate the jurisdiction impact.
This VPN for France has NASA-grade encryption, a robust kill switch, and DNS & IP leak protection. Moreover, PrivateVPN comes with Stealth VPN and Shadowsocks. These features are invaluable for avoiding firewalls and VPN blocks.
With this provider, you get 200+ servers in 63 countries. While this fleet is far from the biggest, PrivateVPN owns all servers, including those in France.
Unblocking streaming sites is PrivateVPN’s greatest quality. You’ll be able to watch Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and many other content platforms. Most of the time, the speeds should be enough for HD or even 4K video quality and zero buffering.
PrivateVPN is also capable of securing your torrenting activities. P2P is allowed on all servers, and the speeds are good enough for fast downloads. Besides, you can use a SOCKS5 proxy or port forwarding.
The prices start from $2.00/month. All plans offer 6 devices per account. There’s a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you’re still picking the best VPN for France in 2023.
For a deeper investigation of PrivateVPN, read our PrivateVPN review.
4. VyprVPN – the cheapest secure VPN for France
Switzerland
700
64
60 Mbit/s
- Solid security features
- Great for geo-unblocking and P2P
- App for routers
- No anonymous payments
VyprVPN is a France VPN well known for its security and privacy. This provider is located in Switzerland, a country without data retention laws. What’s more, VyprVPN has an independently audited no-logs policy.
From the security standpoint, you’ll get AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and solid leak protection. Additionally, VyprVPN offers malware protection and a custom-designed Chameleon protocol. The latter prevents the firewalls from blocking your VPN connection.
VyprVPN manages a fleet of 700+ servers in 64+ countries, including Paris, France. Just like PrivateVPN, they own all servers and concentrate on quality over quantity.
Torrenting is allowed on all servers, and there’s split tunneling for Mac and Android. Thanks to WireGuard, downloading large files won’t take long. The same can be said about streaming in high video quality. VyprVPN unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu + Live TV, and much more content.
Most importantly, VyprVPN is the cheapest France VPN, with prices starting at $5.00/month. While you get only five simultaneous connections, this limit can be easily lifted off with a router app. There’s no free trial, but a 30-day money-back guarantee should be enough to test this service properly.
For a deeper investigation of VyprVPN, read our VyprVPN review.
5. PureVPN – a France VPN with most country options
British Virgin Islands
6500
71
227 Mbit/s
- 10 simultaneous connections
- Good for Netflix and P2P
- Free trial
- Some of the server locations are virtual
PureVPN is private and secure enough to be among the best VPNs for France. It’s known for its independently-audited no-logs policy, zero leaks, and a reliable kill switch. Additionally, military-grade encryption ensures that no one can snoop on your traffic.
There are 6500+ servers in 71+ countries to choose from. More than 40 of them are in Paris and Roubaix. And even though PureVPN doesn’t have WireGuard, the speeds are good enough for both streaming and torrenting.
With this France VPN, you’ll be able to watch multiple Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and many other streaming platforms. If your internet connection is fast enough for HD or 4K quality, most likely, you’ll be able to do that with PureVPN as well.
When it comes to torrenting, this provider allows it in all countries where P2P is legal. Furthermore, you can turn on split tunneling (Windows, Android) or port forwarding.
Getting PureVPN for $2.08/month only is a good deal because it allows 10 devices per account. You can also try this VPN for 7 days ($0.99). Finally, there’s a 31-day money-back guarantee in case you change your mind.
For a deeper investigation of PureVPN, read our PureVPN review.
6. IPVanish – a VPN for France without virtual servers
USA
2200
51
230 Mbit/s
- Security-oriented
- Fast
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Based in the US
IPVanish is among the top VPNs for France in 2023. While it’s located in the US, a no-logs policy makes up for that. Also, IPVanish offers Tor over VPN, a feature that greatly increases your privacy. There’s also bank-grade encryption, a kill switch, and protection against leaks.
Fast speeds are ensured across all 2200+ servers in 51+ countries due to the presence of WireGuard. Additionally, almost 40 servers are in France (Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille).
Torrenting is allowed on all servers, and a SOCKS5 proxy is also available. Sadly, streaming fans will be able to watch Netflix US only. But the performance will be more than enough for UHD video quality.
The IPVanish price is quite decent, starting from $2.99/month. That’s especially because there’s no device limit. The free trial is for iOS only, but all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
For a deeper investigation of IPVanish, read our IPVanish review.
7. TorGuard – a great P2P VPN for France
USA
3000
48
454 Mbit/s
- Excellent security
- Fast speeds
- 8 simultaneous connections
- Not very good for Netflix
Located right at the center of the Five Eyes alliance group, TorGuard is a remarkably bulletproof VPN for France. This service has NASA-grade encryption, a kill switch, and a Stealth VPN against DPI. Most importantly, TorGuard comes with a solid no-logs policy.
There are 3000+ servers in 48+ countries to choose from. French servers are located in Paris, but TorGuard doesn’t show their exact number. In any case, it’s great that this France VPN has already started implementing 10 Gbps servers into the network.
Alas, while not the best VPN for France, TorGuard is great for torrenting. P2P is allowed on all servers, and you can also turn on a SOCKS5 proxy or port forwarding. Unfortunately, split tunneling is available on Android only.
TorGuard is not the best choice for streaming, though. While the speeds are enough for 4K (UHD), you’ll have to hunt for servers that unblock Netflix. The same applies to other content platforms like HBO Max.
The prices start from $3.89/month. All plans allow 8 devices per account, but you can increase the number by setting up TorGuard on a router. Finally, there’s a 7-day free trial upgradeable to 30 days if you cancel your current VPN.
For a deeper investigation of TorGuard, read our TorGuard review.
The best feature of each France VPN
| NordVPN | The fastest VPN for France |
| Surfshark | Unlimited simultaneous connections |
| PrivateVPN | Inexpensive France VPN for streaming |
| VyprVPN | The cheapest VPN for France |
| PureVPN | The biggest country list |
| IPVanish | UK VPN with bare-metal servers |
| TorGuard | Top France VPN for P2P |
What should I look for in a VPN for France?
France is far from the best country in terms of online privacy. Therefore, you need a solid VPN provider to protect yourself and your information. It should use bank-grade encryption, the best tunneling protocols, and have a reliable kill switch. The best France VPN must also have a strict no-logs policy.
When looking for the top VPN for France, make sure you test their unblocking capabilities. That includes streaming platforms like Netflix France, TF1, M6, TV5 Monde, and others. Without a VPN, you may also have no access to the local versions of your favorite websites and no way of seeing the prices in Euros while shopping online.
France VPN should allow P2P and offer decent performance for fast downloads and seamless streaming. Finally, check if your provider has 24/7 live chat to solve problems quickly.
How we chose the best VPNs for France
In order to find the best VPN for France, we’ve looked for these qualities:
- Privacy. A no-logs policy, leak protection, and a kill switch are a must. In a best-case scenario, a VPN for France should also be outside the Fourteen Eyes in a country without data retention laws.
- Security. Every France VPN should use military-grade encryption and the best tunneling protocols.
- Performance. No matter what you do with the VPN, fast speeds are always needed.
- Servers. A VPN for France should offer servers not far from your location. There should also be enough servers in France.
- Torrenting. P2P should be allowed on the majority of servers. Split tunneling, a SOCKS5 proxy, and port forwarding are highly recommended.
- Streaming. Best France VPNs should unblock different Netflix libraries and other content platforms, such as Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, or YouTube.
- Price. Prices below $4.00/month are considered as low. But don’t forget that each VPN for France has a different bang-for-the-buck ratio.
Which VPN servers in France to choose
Always look for the closest server in France. This will guarantee the top speeds and minimal latency. Usually, choosing the desired country will do the trick because your France VPN will select the optimal server.
However, not every VPN allows choosing a city. This shouldn’t cause concern because France is relatively small. On the other hand, there might be days when the closest server is down or overcrowded. That’s why choosing NordVPN for France is recommended because it allows you to select a server on the city level.
Bottom line
The government surveillance in France is not going anywhere. Also, its Nine Eyes membership is not expiring anytime soon. So what France residents can do?
It all starts with a reliable VPN for France. By using this service, you will protect yourself from third parties that seek to know as much as possible about you. No data retention laws will matter anymore because of the zero-logs policy that NordVPN and other France VPNs offer.
The VPNs we recommend are all solid options. However, some may have things that you don’t like or miss some feature that’s a deal-breaker for you. We hope that this article will help you choose the best France VPN service in 2023.
If you’re in France, which VPNs have you tried before? Did we miss any great VPNs for France? Please let us know in the comments section below.
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FAQ
Is VPN illegal in France?
No, using a VPN in France is totally legal. That being said, you shouldn’t do anything illegal in general, i.e., downloading copyrighted content.
What is the best VPN for streaming in France?
Currently, the best VPN for streaming in France is NordVPN. It unblocks most content platforms and offers top speeds for high video quality and no buffering.
Is free VPN good for France?
We don’t recommend using a free VPN in France. Most of them lack features, show ads, and even log your traffic. If that wasn’t enough, your data could be sold to third parties. In a worst-case scenario, a free VPN will inject malware into your device.
Is using a VPN in France safe?
Yes, using a VPN in France is perfectly safe. All of our recommended providers are leak-free and don’t collect any logs. Also, using a VPN is legal in France, meaning there’s not much to worry about.
Express VPN all the way again! It surely makes it to the top when it comes to comparing VPN providers in different scenarios and areas.
NordVPN sounds good, plus it’s cheaper than ExpressVPN. I’ll definitely look into this one and see what it’s worth ! I’ve heard about Astrill as well, I’m not sure which one would be better.
I thought NordVPN was the best for France, and in general. France is getting more and more restrictive so a VPN is really interesting and useful now. I’d love to try it.
VPN makes it difficult for authorities to pry in your private data. You can also connect to any server across the globe without any trace or interference. With VPN your identity, *location* and sensitive information are safe
My question is this: what’s the big difference between just using my nordvpn client i downloaded and sign into for my Mac vs using this chrome extension. Are they meant to compliment one another or does one supercede another and so on… there’s nothing on the site i can find to definitively. The chrome extension seems buggy
I’ve used NordVPN for almost a year and also relied on it while visiting in France recently. I think its price is very competitive and anyone trying to save money would have a hard time finding a better deal. I think their security is top notch and they have fantastic customer service.
I live in France for 4 years and for me it is necessary to use VPN. After trying out various VPNs, I found out that NordVPN is the best VPN provider you can use to bypass regional restrictions… NordVPN makes it possible to stream any contents quite easily and what is more important, it doesn’t have any IP leaks, and that is why it books a top place in the VPNs world.