If you are a journalist or activist, you know that in some countries, you could run into trouble. While you won’t typically have any issues in the western counties, you will definitely run into issues in some of the more restrictive ones. If you are in one of those countries and are an activist or a journalist, connecting to a VPN is not only crucial, it is something you will want to do. We can tell you more about that, shortly. First, though, we ask that you take a look at our list of the best VPNs for journalists and activists.
| Rank | VPN Service | Rating | Server Locations | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 9.8 | 160 |  |
| 2 |  | 9.4 | 87 | |
| 3 |  | 9.2 | 95 | |
Let’s have a look at the biggest reasons to connect to a VPN if you are a journalist or activist. The first reason is to protect your privacy and for your own safety. If you say or do things that are controversial, connecting to a VPN is a must. When you do, you create a layer of encryption that masks your IP address and true location. As long as you are smart with your actions, you can avoid a nighttime knock on your door.
The next reason to connect to a VPN is to help you get around government censorship. As a journalist or activist, your speech could often be censored, as well as others. By connecting to a VPN in a different location, you can make the blocking software think you are located someplace else. That way, you should be able to access the blocked material you want to see.
What is the best VPN for Journalists and Activists?
There are a few factors we used to make our list of the best VPNs for Journalists and Activists. In this case, we looked at safety first.
- Strong encryption levels for to keep yourself safe from prying eyes of governments
- Providers that do not keep logs
- Large networks to help with government and geo-restrictions for journalists and activists
- Support for mobile devices including Android and iPhone
- VPN network reliability to allow for stability
Now, some specifics about our list of the best VPN services to unblock Journalists and Activists.
1. Best VPN for Journalists and Activists: ExpressVPN
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Since ExpressVPN offers browser extensions for Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, they have also included several privacy features to help protect you. That includes re-routing you to a more secure version of the website you entered, location spoofing so that your browser will match the IP address of the area you select, and WebRTC blocking. If you connect to a VPN without this feature, websites can still see where you are. Of course, you could always get another extension to resolve the issue, but having it inclusive is better.
2. Best VPN for Journalists and Activists: NordVPN
When you take a look at encryption protocols, NordVPN has you covered. Instead of dealing with some of the less secure ones like PPTP, the company offers you three different alternatives to use. Whether you like the highly adaptable IKEv2, known as an NGE (Next Generation Encryption) protocol, OpenVPN (which many experts consider to be the gold standard), or the newcomer to the group, NordLynx (a proprietary protocol that uses WireGuard technology), you can find them all with NordVPN. While some may worry about using WireGuard because of the flaws, the company made its protocol to address those issues.
3. Best VPN for Journalists and Activists: PIA
The United States has some excellent streaming services such as Hulu, HBO Now, the US versions of Netflix and Amazon, and more. If you have a fondness for US TV shows and movies, like to travel abroad, or even just want to check out one of the great shows, you can’t go wrong by connecting to a VPN server from Private Internet Access. When you do, you can quickly gain access to all of those services and more by simply selecting a server in the US.
