Top 5 VPNs for New Zealand in 2025: Secure, Fast & Reliable
Whether you’re a New Zealander who wants to safeguard their privacy and ignore geo-restrictions on certain content or you’re abroad but want access to New Zealand content, you need a good VPN. The good news is that there are many great VPNs for New Zealand, including most of the big names in this niche, as many of them have dedicated servers for New Zealand.
The slightly more frustrating news is that, as VPNs add and tweak their features every year, figuring out which is the best VPN for your needs right now can be tricky. To help you out with that, we went over the features and characteristics of many of the most prominent VPN services on the market to see how they stack up against each other as of the start of 2025, particularly as far as New Zealand is concerned. So, here is our list of the 5 best VPNs for New Zealand in 2025.
Short on Time? Here’s a Quick Summary of Our Picks:
Fast speeds, excellent security, and a wide range of global server locations, including NZ.
Great value with low prices, high quality, and many servers in the Australasia region.
Unlimited connections, fast speeds, excellent for streaming, and competitive pricing.
Military-grade encryption, no-logging policy, and thousands of servers worldwide for broad coverage.
Strong security and improved long-term local performance with many new servers added.
Best VPNs for New Zealand in 2025 - In Depth Analysis
If you have a few extra minutes and you want to learn a bit more, here’s a more detailed breakdown on each VPN and their characteristics. Keep in mind that no list is fully objective as the best VPN for a given person always depends on that person’s particular needs – whether they need extra security, faster speeds, better stream-unblocking, and so on. So, the fact that we’ve put ExpressVPN at the #1 spot for New Zealand and CyberGhost at #5, doesn’t necessarily mean you should overlook CyberGhost.
1. ExpressVPN - Excellent Unblocking For New Zealand and the Rest of the World
With a monthly price tag of $4.99, ExpressVPN is not the most affordable VPN on this list, but the key features it brings to the table are more than worth it. What’s more, not only does ExpressVPN offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, similar to most other premium VPN providers, but it also offers a 7-day free trial period on iOS and Android devices.
This flexible pricing, together with the vast array of features below, easily shows why ExpressVPN has been a mainstay at the top of the VPN niche both in New Zealand and worldwide ever since its inception in 2009.
Dive deeper into our detailed ExpressVPN review for complete insights.
Key Features
ExpressVPN has one of the best-balanced catalogs of key features of any VPN out there, and that continues to be the case in 2025:
- AES-256 and ChaCha20 military-grade encryption. By utilizing both AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption, ExpressVPN ensures that your data stays safe, whereas most other VPNs only use one type of encryption and not the other.
- Strict no-logs policy. With ExpressVPN you can rest assured that any personal data that goes through your VPN provider isn’t stored anywhere and can’t be accessed or used by any third parties later on.
- Fast and reliable connection. Unlike most of its competitors on this list, ExpressVPN doesn’t use the famous WireGuard protocol. Instead, this service provider relies on its own Lightway protocol which offers lightning-fast speeds and a reliable connection.
- Thorough stream unblocking with fast speeds. With ExpressVPN, a New Zealander can easily access most foreign streaming platforms, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Australia’s 10play, 9now, 7plus, and others. Unblocking TVNZ from abroad is also easily done with ExpressVPN.
- Threat Manager. ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager Feature automatically blocks malicious websites you might accidentally step into and dodges online trackers.
- MediaStreamer. With ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer, you can view unblocked streams even on devices that don’t normally support VPNs, such as a Samsung TV.
- Kill switch. With ExpressVPN’s kill switch, you can rest assured that even if there is a problem with the VPN’s service, the kill switch will immediately shut down your internet connection rather than leave your data exposed to malefactors.
- Split tunneling. Thanks to ExpressVPN’s split tunneling feature, you can pick and choose which apps and data to route through the VPN and which to connect to the Internet directly.
Pros
- Excellent privacy and security features
- Great unblocking capabilities
- Lightning-fast speeds through Lightway protocol
- An undisclosed but good number of NZ servers
- Server obfuscation available
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Only 8 simultaneous connections
- Monthly subscription is pricier than most of its direct competitors
2. Surfshark - Best Value with Peak Streaming Speeds for New Zealand
Surfshark offers arguably the best value-for-money combination of features and pricing of all top-tier VPN options on this list and beyond. With a monthly rate of just $1,99 with the right payment plan, Surfshark is significantly more affordable than ExpressVPN and many other services. Plus, this service also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it even easier to give Surfshark a try basically for free.
This, together with the great speeds, safety tools, and other features we’ll explore below, make Surfshark one of the best options for New Zealanders.
Key Features
Surfshark is much more than merely affordable, as this VPN offers a vast array of features New Zealanders can take advantage of:
- AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption. With the former being a block cipher and the latter a stream cipher, Surfshark offers excellent encryption for any situation.
- DNS leak protection. Keeps you sensitive personal data where it belongs and out of the hands of third parties, hackers, or the government.
- Audited no-logs policy. The VPN doesn’t store any data about your activities online, such as your IP address, DNS queries, browsing history, and more.
- Reliably fast speeds. Thanks to its WireGuard protocol, Surfshark offers both a stable and fast connection, even with continuous use, as speeds never drop below 85%-90% of the initial connection speed.
- Geo-restriction unblocking. With Surfshark, you can easily access most restricted content from other countries, including streaming platforms, such as Hulu, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer.
- Device compatibility. Surfshark is easily compatible with various types of devices, including smart TVs, streaming devices, and the vast majority of operating systems.
- Kill switch. A key feature that automatically shuts your internet connection down whenever your VPN goes offline for whatever reason, thus helping keep your data safe in sensitive situations.
- Split tunneling. Enables you to direct some of your data through encrypted channels while giving the rest of your data and apps an unrestricted access to the Internet.
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Dedicated New Zealand MultiHop servers
- Best price for its value right now
- Audited no-logs policy
- Very fast speeds
- Safe browsing features
- Good stream unblocking tools
Cons
- The exact number of New Zealand servers is not disclosed
- Surfshark’s NZ servers don’t have obfuscation – you’d need to use foreign servers for that
3. IPVanish - Perfect for Unlocking New Zealand Content from Abroad or Vice Versa, All at Excellent Speeds
With a very extensive server fleet in over 100 countries around the globe, including in New Zealand, IPVanish is a great VPN both for accessing Kiwi content from abroad, and from accessing foreign content from New Zealand, all while keeping your data safe. IPVanish does often get overlooked for other, more famous VPN providers, but it does offer everything a New Zealander might want from a VPN and does so at very competitive prices.
Key Features
PVanish brings many features to the table and a couple of innovative solutions, including as far as kill switches are concerned.
- AES-256 encryption. A symmetric encryption algorithm converts all your data into cipher, thus preventing your internet provider and other third parties from reading your data.
- Two types of kill switches. IPVanish utilizes two different kill switches at the same time, each designed to shut down your internet connection whenever your VPN goes offline to protect your data.
- Independently audited no-logs policy. IPVanish is based in the US, which is a country in the Five Eyes Alliance, same as New Zealand. However, IPVanish has an independently audited no-logs policy, guaranteeing your privacy.
- Fast tunneling protocol. Using WireGuard, IPVanish can offer some of the most competitively fast browsing and streaming speeds out there.
- Seamless stream unblocking and speeds. With IPVanish in New Zealand you can easily unblock streaming platforms, such as Max, Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and others, as well as stream at HD quality with little to no buffering issues.
- DNS leak protection. IPVanish utilizes excellent data leak protection tools to make sure your sensible data doesn’t leave any traces on the sites you visit online.
- Threat protection. IPVanish goes an extra step compared to even some other VPNs on this list by adding an ad blocker, dodging online trackers, and auto-blocking malicious websites.
- Split tunneling. Via split tunneling, IPVanish allows you to encrypt certain parts of your data while leaving other data and apps an unrestricted access to the Internet.
Pros
- Strict no-logs policy
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Great kill switch feature
- Excellent stream-unblocking capabilities
- WireGuard is the fastest tunneling protocol today
Cons
- A small and undisclosed number of NZ servers
4. NordVPN - Exceptionally Fast Streaming Speeds in New Zealand with Zero Buffering
NordVPN is many people’s VPN of choice all around the world, and it is certainly a great option for New Zealand too. As of writing this, NordVPN has over 20 servers in New Zealand, in addition to its fleet of 7100+ servers in 118 countries worldwide. This is a big part as to why this Panama-based VPN has been at the top of the game for over a decade, ever since its creation in 2012.
What’s more, contrary to popular belief, NordVPN isn’t all that pricey compared to other VPNs of its class. With the right payment plan, monthly payments can be as low as $2.99, and that’s without considering any special discount the service frequently offers. NordVPN also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which effectively functions like a 30-day free trial, in case you want to sample this VPN’s effectiveness at no cost.
Want the full picture on NordVPN’s features and performance? Jump straight into our detailed NordVPN review.
Key Features
NordVPN has a large assortment of features that puts it at or near the top in most countries around the world, including:
- Very fast speeds. Thanks to its NordLynx protocol, NordVPN is able to not only reach but also maintain lightning-fast speeds. Based on WireGuard technology, NordLynx maintains 90% and above of the initial connection speed throughout any prolonged use.
- Effortless geo-block bypass. NordVPN offers New Zealanders access to the vast majority of foreign streaming platforms, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and others, including otherwise restricted Australian channels like 10play, 7plus, and 9now.
- Kill switch. An advanced security feature that automatically blocks your internet access should your VPN connection drop, thus protecting your digital data.
- Threat protection. A DNS-based tool that filters traffic on NordVPN’s DNS servers and prevents you from accidentally visiting dangerous domains.
- Data leak protection. Protects sensitive private information from both cyber threats, third parties, and the government.
- Split tunneling. Allows you to route some of your data through VPN encryption while giving other apps and data a direct access to the net.
- Specialty servers. Through NordVPN, you can pick special servers, depending on your needs. Some of these include obfuscated servers, Double VPN servers, Onion over VPN (also known as Tor over VPN), and more.
Pros
- 20+ dedicated servers in New Zealand, in addition to over 7100+ servers worldwide
- Reliable no-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Great server speeds
- Server obfuscation
- Great stream unblocking performance
Cons
- There is no router app
- Only 10 simultaneous connections
5. CyberGhost VPN - Top Streaming Performance in New Zealand and Great Privacy and Security Features
CyberGhost has long been known as a great VPN for security but one that is lacking behind the top dogs in terms of speed. This isn’t the case anymore in 2025, however, especially in New Zealand. That is because CyberGhost recently opened a new hub of servers in Auckland, New Zealand. Together with the numerous server locations in Australia, this gives New Zealanders lots of fast servers to choose from.
This, as well as the numerous key features below, is available at competitively low prices too, as CyberGhost’s monthly subscription can be as low as $2.19 with the right payment plan. CyberGhost also offers 14-day and 45-day money-back guarantees, depending on the type of subscription you choose.
Read our dedicated CyberGhost review for a thorough analysis.
Key Features
Some review sites online may tell you that CyberGhost’s feature list is relatively light. This used to be the case, but isn’t quite true anymore, as CyberGhost brings a lot of features to the table:
- Military-grade three-pronged encryption. CyberGhost utilizes three different types of encryption to keep your data safe – AES 256-bit encryption for OpenVPN connections, ChaCha20 for WireGuard, and AES 128-bit encryption for IKEv2 connections.
- No-logs policy. Through CyberGhost’s no-logs policy you can rest assured that your data isn’t stored anywhere, including on CyberGhost itself.
- Malicious content blocker. CyberGhost has incorporated a content blocker to its features to help protect you from data tracking and malicious websites you may accidentally stumble upon.
- Automatic kill switch. Through this kill switch, you can be certain that your data will never be exposed, even in the rare event of your VPN going offline for a while.
- VPN split tunneling. This allows you to customize which apps and data you use are encrypted and which ones can access the internet directly without tripping VPN-sensitive sites.
- DNS leak protection. With CyberGhost’s data leak protection, ISPs are unable to expose your online activities in any way.
- Dedicated servers with great speeds. While CyberGhost is lacking dedicated obfuscated servers, it does have specialized servers for certain tasks, be it streaming, gaming, torrenting, or others.
Pros
- Great privacy and security tools
- A lot of recently-added NZ servers
- Very fast speeds in New Zealand thanks to the recent server base expansion
- Top notch site and stream unblocking capabilities
- 24/7 live chat support
Cons
- Only 7 simultaneous connections at a time
- No server obfuscation
Quick Comparison Table: New Zealand VPN Features
If navigating all the information above is starting to feel a bit convoluted, here is a quick table of the key points most users look for in every VPN.
Regarding the lowest monthly price section, keep in mind that we haven’t factored in any discount deals or exclusive offers every VPN service offers from time to time. Additionally, we’ve taken the monthly prices for 2-year subscriptions as those are the lowest monthly price you can get – if you want a short-term subscription instead, the monthly prices for each of these VPNs will naturally be higher.
| VPN Name | Lowest Monthly Price | Servers Optimized for New Zealand? | Audited No-Logs Policy? | Obfuscation | Streaming Performance | Security Features | New Zealand Payment Methods | Devices Supported | Live Chat Support | Money-back Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | $3.19 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Excellent (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, TVNZ) | AES-256 & ChaCha20 encryption, DNS leak protection, Threat Manager, Kill Switch | Credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Routers | Yes | 30-day free trial, 30-day refund |
| Surfshark | $2.19 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Great (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, 10play) | AES-256 & ChaCha20 encryption, DNS leak protection, Kill Switch, Audit logs | Credit card, PayPal, Crypto, Google Pay, Apple Pay | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Routers | Yes | 30-day refund |
| IPVanish | $2.19 | Yes | Yes | Yes (OpenVPN Scramble) | Good (Netflix, Hulu) | AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, Dual Kill Switches | PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, American Express | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Fire TV | Yes | 30-day refund |
| NordVPN | $3.39 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Excellent (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu) | AES-256 encryption, NordLynx protocol, DNS leak protection, Kill Switch | Credit card, Crypto, PayPal, Prepaid cards | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Routers | Yes | 30-day refund |
| CyberGhost | $2.29 | Yes | Yes | No | Very Good (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu) | AES-256 encryption, No-logs policy, DNS leak protection, Malicious content blocker | PayPal, VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, BitPay, Apple/Google Pay | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Smart TVs | Yes | 14-day refund |
Pro Tip: Free Doesn’t Equal Good
There are free VPN services for New Zealand, as is the case almost anywhere else in the world. However, using a free VPN is usually not a great idea, whether for accessing Kiwi content from abroad or just for protecting your data. That’s because free VPNs have very lackluster security tools (or none at all) and most of their other features are fairly sub-par as well.
There are some relatively decent free options right now, such as hide.me VPN and Proton VPN, but even they are leagues behind their paid alternatives above. Plus, paid VPNs almost always offer free trials too, so, it’s usually much more worth it to just start a free trial with a premium VPN service and see how you like their features instead of risking it with a free and unreliable service.
FAQs about best VPNs for New Zealand
To get a New Zealand VPN, follow these steps:
- Choose a Reliable VPN Provider: Pick a VPN service that offers servers in New Zealand. Some popular options include ExpressVPN, Surfshark and IPVanish.
- Sign Up for the VPN: Go to the website of your chosen VPN provider and sign up for a plan. Most services offer a variety of subscription options, including monthly and long-term plans.
- Download and Install the VPN App: Once you’ve signed up, download the VPN app for your device (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, etc.). Installation is usually quick and straightforward.
- Connect to a New Zealand Server: After installation, open the VPN app and choose a server located in New Zealand. Most VPNs offer a list of countries or cities to select from. Simply choose New Zealand to start accessing local content or protecting your privacy while browsing.
- Enjoy Secure and Private Internet Access: Once connected to the New Zealand server, you can enjoy browsing, streaming, or accessing content as if you were physically in New Zealand, with the added security of a VPN connection.
No, VPNs aren’t illegal in New Zealand and you can use them freely and without hesitation. That being said, there are certain activities one might partake in online which are illegal with or without VPN. So, even with a VPN, it’s still a good idea to follow New Zealand’s laws and stay within your service provider’s terms of service to make sure you don’t walk into trouble.
A VPN is an essential tool to keeping your personal data safe from cyber threats, especially when traveling. They are also a must-have to keep the New Zealand government from surveilling you, which is known to happen, especially with the country being a part of the Five Eyes alliance. Additionally, a good VPN is useful for helping you access geo-restricted sites from other countries or from accessing Kiwi content when you yourself are abroad.
Not every VPN has servers in New Zealand, and of those that do, many have just one or two servers, which does not make for reliably fast speeds. The 5 VPNs we’ve listed above all have sizable Kiwi server presence, however, which is a big reason why they are the 5 best VPNs for New Zealand in 2025.
Even the best VPN out there doesn’t make you all powerful and completely safe on the Internet. No matter how many security tools a VPN has, it can’t protect you from things, such as phishing attacks and other scams, as those rely on human errors and not on lackluster technology. So, even with the best VPNs out there, you’d still want to thread carefully when you’re online and take active steps to keep your data safe.
Additionally, many sites are very sensitive to VPN usage and go far and beyond to detect and restrict access through VPNs, even if the VPN has server obfuscation. This is why VPN services themselves are constantly working to upgrade and improve their own features, but you may still find yourself blocked from certain sites when using a VPN, no matter how good the VPN itself is.