Best VPN In Spain [Ultimate 2023 Guide In English]

If you are looking for the best VPN to use in Spain for additional security or privacy, this guide is the one for you. It will tell you all about using a VPN to browse the internet in Spain, while also addressing some common questions and concerns.

What Is The Best VPN In Spain?

A VPN is a Virtual Private Network that you can use to browse the internet. The purpose is to establish a network connection that is protected whenever you are using public networks. This encryption happens in real time, and disguises your IP address to make it difficult for third parties to track your data. There are several reasons why you might wish to use a VPN. Some of the benefits include:

Secure encryption of data
Your online activity will remain hidden even when using public networks
Conceals your whereabouts since the location data comes from a server located in another country
Most VPNs will not keep any record of your activities (even the ones that do will never pass this on to third parties)
Location spoofing through which you can also access content that is otherwise only available in some other region
A built-in kill switch that will terminate preselected programs in case the VPN connection is unexpectedly interrupted
Two-factor authentication that will make it harder for third parties to access this connection

In addition to the features described above, there are several other features you should look out for and that you can get at an additional cost. Here are the best VPN networks in Spain, and the features that each offers.

NordVPN

This VPN provider is based out of Panama, and has a strong focus on privacy features. It also has more than 5000 servers and offers some of the fastest speeds in Spain. To ensure maximum security, NordVPN offers military grade 256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection as well as a VPN kill switch. It also does not keep any identifying usage logs, which is a huge plus if you are looking for a service that will not store your data in any form. The novel Meshnet feature will also let you build secure connections with other NordVPN users.

If you are looking for streaming services specifically, this is the right choice. Catch up with your favorite shows on US Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer and other providers. You can configure the VPN with select routers and opt to connect to specialized servers that are used for specific uses like high-speed streaming or gaming.

You can get plans at as low as 2 euros a month, and also get 2 months free on the purchase of a 2 year plan.

This VPN offers the following benefits:

Ability to connect 6 devices simultaneously
Average speeds of 100 Mbps plus all over Europe
30 days money-back guarantee
Operates more than 60 servers within Spain alone
24/7 customer support services that you can access via live chat
Compatible with PC, iOS, Android, Mac, Linux, FireTV
NordVPN’s Threat Protection protects you against malware by scanning files before downloading
The double VPN feature encrypts your internet traffic twice for added security

Drawbacks

Collects some advertising data on mobile
No dedicated router app

Surfshark

Surfshark is a more budget friendly alternative. It is a fast growing network that now has more than 3200 servers in more than 65 countries. Its unblocking potential means that it is fairly easy to access all of your usual content and even hard-to-crack sites like Amazon Prime and BBC iPlayer.

The security features of Surfshark are also top-notch, with a 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, perfect forward secrecy and protection against data leaks. Moreover, you will find options for split tunneling, double VPN, and automatic wifi protection. The VPN also does not maintain any logs of your activity.

The provider offers 3 plans. The cheapest one will cost you only around 2 euros a month, and you can also get 2 months free if you purchase the two year plan.

The Surfshark VPN offers the following benefits:

30 days money-back guarantee
Apps available for Mac, PC, iOS, Android and Linux
Unlimited simultaneous connections (that are hard to find for most VPNs)
Access Spanish content at affordable prices
Camouflage mode that will hide your VPN traffic from ISP

Drawbacks

Configuration options are limited

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is based out of Romania, keeping it out of reach of the mass government surveillance in the 14 Eyes countries. Its network is growing at a fast pace, adding to its already impressive 7000 servers in more than 90 countries. Around 160 of these are located in Madrid and Barcelona in Spain. It also does not lag behind the others on this list in terms of security features, offering 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection and maintaining no logs that can be traced back to individual users.

While the streaming capabilities of the provider were not impressive to begin with, there has recently been a focus on improving them tremendously. You can now securely access US Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, BBC iPlayer among others. You can select the streaming service through the VPN client that will automatically connect you to the right server, saving you time in the process.

The packages for CyberGhost start at around 2 euros a month. Its 45 days money back guarantee is also longer than that of any other provider on this list.

CyberGhost offers its customers the following advantages:

Connect up to 7 devices at the same time
Apps for Android, iOS, Mac, Windows and Linux
Has more than 160 servers in Spain
45 days money-back guarantee
A low-cost option, and has beginner friendly apps
Smart Rules feature can help you set different rules for different networks
In-house servers offered through the NoSpy data center

Drawbacks

Power users might be frustrated by the lack of configuration options
There is the occasional fluctuation in speed

IPVanish

IPVanish is a provider based in the US, and has a network of more than 1900 servers in around 60 countries. Its servers in Spain are located in Madrid and Valencia and number upwards of three dozen. The provider also owns its servers instead of renting them which means that it has the maximum control over the traffic that comes through them.

Security-wise, it fares well. Offering 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, perfect forward secrecy and an optional kill switch, it does not stand behind the other providers on this list.

Packages start at 3 euros a month.

You can avail the following features on this VPN:

Apps available for Android, iOS, Mac and Windows
30 days money-back guarantee
Unblocks all the major Spanish sites from across the globe
Has the best performance for Android-based Kodi devices, making it a popular choice for its users
Uses the SOCKS5 proxy to mask your IP address

Drawbacks

Customer support can get slow at times
Apps are not operational in China
Cannot unblock some major streaming services at present

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a service based in the British Virgin Islands and has a network of around 3000 servers in more than 94 countries. In Spain, it has servers in Barcelona and Madrid. You will find accessing content like Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO, BBC iPlayer among others fairly easy with this VPN. It also offers a unique Lightway Protocol and MediaStreamer feature that will let you access geo-restricted services without having to encrypt your entire connection. This means greater speeds and stability.

Security-wise too, ExpressVPN scores high. It was military grade 256-bit AES encryption and perfect forward secrecy. Its DNS leak protection, kill switch and no-logs policy all go towards additional security and help maintain anonymity. The server does keep some connection logs but not IP addresses so the session data cannot be traced back to any individual user.

You can get a 12 month plan, and get three months free with this subscription. This will cost you around 6 euros per month.

You will find the following features with this VPN:

Apps available for Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux and also some wifi routers
30 days money-back guarantee
Fast servers operational in Madrid and Barcelona
Can easily unblock geo-blocked Spanish content from almost anywhere
Top-notch privacy protection and security features
Built-in malware protection

Drawbacks

Slightly pricey than other options available in the market

A Word Of Caution Regarding The Usage Of VPNs For Streaming

Not all streaming platforms will allow the use of VPNs (remember the infamous Netflix VPN ban). So while you can use a VPN to stream your favorite movies or TV shows, if the app discovers you are using them then it will terminate your connection. Furthermore, for some platforms like Hulu, you will specifically need a VPN that offers servers based in the US since these platforms have restricted content access to US viewers only.

Important Vocabulary You Should Know For VPNs

Kill Switch

A feature that will disconnect you from the internet in case there is any disruption in the VPN connection. This will protect your system from any attacks from third parties.

Split Tunneling

This is a feature that will let you choose which apps you want to secure with a VPN and which apps you want to continue using normally (i.e. on your usual internet connection). You can also save some bandwidth in this process, by sending only say your sensitive data over the VPN and doing all other activities over your regular internet network.

No-Logs Policy

This is when a VPN keeps no record of your online activities whatsoever. This is a major selling point since this is one of the main reasons people wish to opt for a VPN. Not many VPNs offer this however, so make sure you search carefully if this is what you are looking for.

IP Shuffle

This is a VPN feature that will randomize your IP address, making it harder to track your geographical location. This is done by reconnecting you to a different server after a specified interval. The VPN you use will allow you to set this shuffling frequency according to your requirement e.g. you can set it at as little as 10 minutes, to a few hours, to even once a day only.

A multi-hop server is also similar to this in that it will run your internet traffic through two or more VPN servers. Say, you want to connect to the US. Then this kind of server will route you through another country like Canada first, adding another layer of anonymity and protection.

Is Using A VPN Legal In Spain?

The use of VPNs is legal in Spain, as in most countries around the globe. You can use them in order to protect your data or even bypass geographical restrictions on content when travelling or if you are living abroad. However, the legality of use does not mean that you can use a VPN to carry out any illegal activity. For instance, downloading and sharing copyrighted material is illegal, regardless of the channel you use to access this material.

Will A VPN Slow Down My Device?

You can expect that using a VPN will slow down your internet speed to some extent. The nature of VPNs means that there are added layers of encryption in your internet connection since your online traffic is routed through servers in another location. It will take time for your traffic to be encrypted and decrypted and for that data to travel to the VPN server and then back to your device. The nature of this process means that there isn’t much you can do about it.

However, the benefits of using a VPN outweigh this cost and if you are using the ‘right’ service i.e. a high quality one, this lag should not be very noticeable. Moreover, the speed loss will not be very significant for most internet use and will only impact data-heavy activities like gaming or video calling. Even then, there are several ways in which you can improve your VPN speed.

Final Thoughts

While there is a lot of jargon and technical language involved, using a VPN can be fairly easy once you get the hang of it. If you are in Spain, you have multiple options available to you, with each offering adequate protection and security. If you are unsure just reading about it, test out a VPN that you like for a month. If it is not what you require, you can always request a refund. Good luck finding the right VPN for you!