Updated on: October 7, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best VPN for Turkey in 2024:
- 🥇 ExpressVPN : It works consistently with ISPs in Turkey, provides the fastest speeds on the market, and has strong privacy and security features. It also accesses 100+ streaming sites, has easy-to-use apps for all major platforms, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Turkey has become increasingly aggressive in restricting VPNs, which help you bypass internet restrictions in censor-heavy countries. The government bans a lot of online content, such as social media and news sites. To make sure that these restrictions aren’t easy to get around, ISPs in Turkey block many of the top VPNs on the market, including their websites.
However, I was able to find some really good VPNs that still work in Turkey. My favorite is ExpressVPN — it’s very secure, it maintains blazing-fast speeds for all online activities, and it’s really easy to use.
NOTE: The availability of each VPN on my list may vary depending on your ISP in Turkey. We recommend trying different sites to download your preferred VPN while in the country (and possibly asking the VPN’s customer support to send you a mirror link via email). However, at least one of the VPNs we’ve listed should be accessible via your ISP’s network.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for Turkey
Editor’s Note: This article is for educational purposes only and shouldn’t be considered as legal advice. Using a government-banned VPN in Turkey may lead to fines or more severe penalties. We at SafetyDetectives don’t condone any illegal activities, including copyright infringement, and recommend doing your own research on local rules and regulations regarding VPNs before using this type of technology.
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Turkey in 2024
ExpressVPN is my top VPN for Turkey, as it works consistently with ISPs in the country. It’s also very fast, very secure, and provides the best value, which is why it’s ranked #1 on our list of best VPNs in 2024. It can access 100+ streaming sites, too, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Max, and Hulu.
This provider supports obfuscation on all of its servers. Obfuscation disguises your VPN traffic as regular internet traffic and helps you avoid detection when using a VPN in Turkey. ExpressVPN’s obfuscation is automatically enabled on its Automatic protocol setting, so it’s very easy to use.
It’s the fastest VPN on the market. This is important because obfuscation slows your connection speeds. In my tests on both local and nearby servers, websites and videos loaded instantly, and there wasn’t any buffering when streaming HD and 4K videos. I also like that it has servers in 105 countries, including Turkey as well as neighboring countries like Bulgaria, Greece, and Cyprus, so you have plenty of connection options to get the best possible speeds.
ExpressVPN comes with high-end privacy and security features to keep you safe and anonymous when using the internet in Turkey. These include an independently audited and confirmed no-logs policy — so, you can rest assured the VPN doesn’t store any of the sites you visit. Plus, it uses RAM-only servers (all data is wiped every time the servers are turned on/off), and perfect forward secrecy (changes the key used to encrypt your data constantly). ExpressVPN includes full leak protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks — I ran over a dozen leak tests connected to servers in different countries and never experienced any leaks.
I like how easy it is to use ExpressVPN. It divides servers into regions, so it’s very easy to find any server location you’re looking for. It also lets you create shortcuts to your favorite apps, which pop up after you connect to a server, allowing you to quickly access your favorite news, social media, or content site.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at $4.99 / month and you can try it risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Turkey in 2024, as it reliably works in the country despite the government’s VPN restrictions. It includes obfuscation on all servers in 105 countries, including in Turkey and lots of other nearby server locations. Plus, it’s the fastest VPN on the market, works with top streaming services, and comes with advanced privacy and security features. All of its plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Customizable VPN for Turkey
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a customizable option for Turkey that works with ISPs in the country and lets you configure your connections to optimize performance on restrictive networks — like choosing 126-bit AES encryption over 265-bit AES for better speeds. It can access 30+ streaming sites from Turkey, too, including several Netflix libraries, Amazon Prime, Max, and Hulu.
PIA lets you route your traffic through port 443 via OpenVPN, which makes it hard for ISPs in Turkey to block it. Also, this port can offer better speeds compared to other ports, making it a good choice for streaming in Turkey or engaging in any other bandwidth-heavy activities.
PIA uses obfuscation, too, which helps it avoid detection in Turkey. It obfuscates your traffic via Shadowsocks proxy servers located in 5+ countries, including the UK and the US. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, provides obfuscation on all servers.
PIA’s speeds in Turkey are good, and I like how it has nearby server locations in Greece and Cyprus. This VPN even has a server location in Turkey itself if you want to privately access Turkish sites from within the country.
PIA provides excellent security and privacy in Turkey. It operates with RAM-only servers and follows a strict no-logs policy, which has been independently audited. Additionally, PIA protects against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks — in my tests, I only saw the VPN’s IP address.
PIA’s plans are very affordable, starting at just $2.03 / month. All of its plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access is a great option for Turkey, especially if you need a customizable VPN. It works well with ISPs in Turkey, its obfuscation gets around VPN blocks in the country, and you can even route your traffic through port 443 for better speeds on Turkish networks. Additionally, PIA accesses 30+ streaming services from Turkey. All plans include 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 — Super Simple VPN for Turkey for Beginners
PrivateVPN is a beginner-friendly VPN for Turkey. It comes with a Simple View mode that lets you quickly connect to a server and allow the VPN to quietly run in the background. The VPN also works with many streaming sites, including 10+ Netflix libraries, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, and Max.
PrivateVPN bypasses censorship in Turkey by disguising your traffic with its Stealth VPN protocol. Unlike with ExpressVPN, you have to manually enable it, but it’s pretty easy to find it — it’s kept in a separate tab in the settings menu, and then, all you have to do is toggle the switch.
This provider is very secure to use in Turkey. It has built-in IPv6 and WebRTC protection, uses perfect forward secrecy, and comes with a no-logs policy, so you can safely go online in Turkey without worrying about surveillance.
PrivateVPN’s speeds are pretty good for all online activities in Turkey. In my tests, web pages took about 2–3 seconds to load, and I only noticed very minor buffering when streaming. Plus, the VPN has servers in 63 countries, which is fewer than ExpressVPN and VyprVPN, but there are nearby servers in Bulgaria and 1 server location in Turkey.
PrivateVPN is very affordable, with plans starting at just $2.00 / month. It backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
PrivateVPN is a great VPN for Turkey, especially for beginners. Its apps are very easy to navigate, its obfuscation works really well in Turkey, and it’s simple to enable. The VPN has servers in nearby countries for getting good speeds for all online activities in Turkey and comes with some advanced security features for privately going online in the country. All plans offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full PrivateVPN review
Bonus. Astrill VPN — Secure VPN for Turkey
Astrill VPN is a reliable choice for Turkey with strong security. The VPN gets around ISP blocks in Turkey thanks to its StealthVPN protocol, which hides your VPN traffic. You can also route traffic through port 443 with OpenVPN for better speeds in Turkey, like with Private Internet Access.
Astrill supports streaming from Turkey on top platforms like Netflix, Max, Disney+, and Amazon Prime. That said, ExpressVPN can access more streaming services from Turkey and works with them more consistently.
The VPN offers full leak protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks, and if you need extra security, you can use its multi-hop feature. This tool routes your traffic through 2 servers, making it very hard for anyone that wants to track your online activities in Turkey to do so.
Its speeds are decent. Websites and HD videos took only 1–2 seconds to load, and I didn’t experience any buffering. Astrill VPN has servers in 56 countries, including nearby locations like Bulgaria and Cyprus, and 1 server location in Turkey.
Plans start at $12.50 / month. There’s no money-back guarantee, but you get a 7-day free trial.
Bottom Line:
Astrill VPN is a secure and reliable option for Turkey. It bypasses VPN blocks on different Turkish ISPs thanks to its StealthVPN protocol, and offers features like full leak protection and multi-hop. It also supports streaming on major platforms and provides good speeds. It lacks a money-back guarantee, but you can test it with a 7-day free trial.
Read the full Astrill VPN review
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 used our proven testing methodology to find the best VPNs that get around restrictions on Turkish networks. I tested each VPN in various real-world scenarios to assess their ability to bypass restrictions, maintain fast speeds, and ensure user privacy. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
- I made sure the VPNs work in Turkey. ISPs in Turkey block VPN traffic and access to most VPNs’ sites — even most of the best VPNs don’t reliably work there. The VPNs I recommend provide obfuscation that gets around ISPs’ restrictions in Turkey.
- I looked at streaming support. The VPNs on my list can all access top streaming sites and apps from Turkey, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Max.
- I tested for fast speeds. Every VPN reduces your internet speeds to some extent because of the time it takes to encrypt your data. Your speeds drop further if you use obfuscation. The VPNs on my list all maintain very fast speeds and had minimal impact on all of my online activities in my tests. The fastest on my list is ExpressVPN.
- I checked for strong security and privacy features. Each VPN I recommend has industry-standard security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and a kill switch, ensuring your online activities in Turkey remain private and secure.
- I only considered VPNs that offer excellent value. Every VPN on my list provides a good balance between features and cost. All the VPNs on this list allow at least 5 simultaneous device connections and come with a money-back guarantee, so you can try them risk-free.
Why You Should Use a VPN in Turkey
Turkey is one of the worst countries in the world for internet freedom, so getting a VPN if you live or travel there is very important.
Protect Yourself From Government Monitoring & Censorship
VPNs scramble all of your online traffic through encryption, which makes everything you do online unreadable to any third party, including the Turkish government. This ensures your online behavior remains beyond the scope of government surveillance. Plus, top VPNs offer obfuscation, too, which hides your VPN traffic, so the government won’t know you’re using a VPN at all.
Express Yourself Freely
Not only does the Turkish government block many news outlets and social media sites, there are reports of people being fined or even imprisoned for speaking out against the government or expressing views that they disapprove of. A VPN makes you anonymous online by hiding your IP address and encrypting your internet traffic, which makes your data indecipherable to others (including the government) and lets you voice your opinions online without fear of repercussions.
Secure Your Online Activities
An unprotected connection puts you at risk of being targeted by hackers, who could steal sensitive personal information (such as your login details and credit card information) or infect you with malware. This is especially true if you often use unsecured networks at public Wi-Fi spots, such as cafes and airports. A VPN protects you against cyberattacks by routing all of your traffic through a secure, encrypted tunnel.
Stream Privately & Buffer-Free
Using a VPN in Turkey allows you to stream content in HD without buffering. VPNs prevent your Turkish ISP from throttling your connection speeds because the encryption process stops them from seeing any of your online activities. The encryption makes it nearly impossible for anyone else to monitor what you’re watching, too (like the government or any bad actors).
How to Use a VPN in Turkey
Using a VPN in Turkey isn’t all that different from using a VPN anywhere else in the world. You just have to make sure that you’re getting a VPN that works reliably in the country — many VPNs don’t work in Turkey due to government restrictions.
- Go to the VPN provider’s website. For ExpressVPN, the address is www.expressvpn.com. If the website isn’t working for you, reach out to its customer support via email and they’ll get you a mirror link of the website (an exact copy of the website that uses a different address so that it’s harder for the Turkish government to block it).
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group. - Pick a plan. I always recommend the longest plan because it provides the best value.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group. - Enter your email address & payment details. ExpressVPN accepts a wide range of payment methods in Turkey.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group. - Download & install the VPN on your device. You’ll get redirected to a page that every app ExpressVPN offers for different OS. From here, click on the app for your device.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group. - Launch the VPN app. Use your activation code, which you’ll find on the download page, to log into your ExpressVPN account. Alternatively, you can have a sign-in link sent to your email.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group. - Get the VPN on your other devices. ExpressVPN has dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Just go to the download page and download the apps you need for your other devices from there.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group. - Connect to a server. ExpressVPN’s Smart Location feature connects you to the fastest server for your location. The Automatic protocol option is automatically enabled in the ExpressVPN app, so there’s no need to enable any special feature to allow the VPN to work in Turkey. That’s it! You can now securely browse the web from Turkey.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- CyberGhost VPN. CyberGhost VPN is a beginner-friendly VPN that provides fast speeds, strong security, and is great for streaming. But it doesn’t work reliably in restrictive countries like Turkey.
- NordVPN. NordVPN is excellent for privacy and security. On top of industry-standard security features, it comes with advanced security features like data breach monitoring and a malware scanner. Even though it has obfuscated servers, it doesn’t work in Turkey.
- Surfshark. Surfshark is a feature-rich VPN with great streaming support and a decent obfuscation tool, but you’ll have to do manual configuration for Turkey, and even then, it probably won’t work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use a VPN in Turkey?
Yes, there are many reasons to use a VPN in Turkey. A VPN gives you your freedom of expression by anonymizing your online activities and protects you from government censorship and monitoring in the country. A VPN also protects your data from other third parties, like advertisers and hackers.
What’s the best free VPN for Turkey?
Most free VPNs don’t work in Turkey because they don’t have the obfuscation tools necessary to avoid the government’s VPN blocks. Free VPNs also come with a ton of limitations that will negatively impact your online experience — they’re often slow, impose restrictions on how much data you can use per day/month, lack essential security features, and provide few server locations. This is why I strongly recommend getting an affordable VPN that works in Turkey like ExpressVPN.
Is ExpressVPN blocked in Turkey?
ExpressVPN is one of the few VPNs that still work reliably in Turkey. It provides the fastest speeds on the market, high-end privacy and security features, and has easy-to-use apps for all major platforms.
How do I get a VPN for Turkey?
Getting a VPN for Turkey is pretty simple: just follow my simple guide. First, you’ll need to find a VPN that works in the country. Then, visit the provider’s official website, get a subscription, and download the VPN app for your device. Finally, open the VPN app and connect to a server by clicking the connect button. That’s it! You can now use the internet more privately and securely in Turkey.
