Best VPN for Colombia in 2020

There are endless things to do and places to see in Colombia, from the Andes Mountains to the unspoiled Caribbean beaches. This South American country has some of the world’s finest emeralds and coffee, but violent conflict and human rights violations are still an issue. 

To stay safe from any online dangers while you’re in the country, you should use one of our best VPN for Colombia picks. If you’re in a hurry, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Colombia. Read on to find out why you should use one of our VPNs for Colombia and what features it should have.

There are many benefits to using a virtual private network, which is why we recommend that you invest in one. For starters, it’ll protect you from online dangers, such as cybercrime and surveillance, but there’s much more included with the service. 

VPNs are a great tool for getting past internet blocks. For instance, if you’re denied access to a website or service while in another country, well, that is because of geoblocks. Geoblocking is used to prevent content from one country being accessed by another. Much of the content you see online is based on your geographic location.

If you’re a Netflix binger, you’ll soon notice that the Netflix Colombia library is somewhat different than that of your own country. If you want to access Netflix U.S., you’re going to need a U.S. IP address, and that’s where a VPN comes in. 

Censorship is another form of blocking that you may come across, and it’s getting more popular around the world. Some countries filter a few types of content purely for moral and safeguarding reasons. 

Other countries go a step further and completely dictate what their citizens can and cannot see. Read our piece on China’s Great Firewall to see how bad it can get.

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Best VPN for Colombia 2020

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What Makes a VPN the Best for Colombia

There are many features that make up a VPN, but some are more important when it comes to using one in Colombia. 

Security

To start with, you should make sure you choose one with good security. With that, you’ll ensure you’re protected from any government surveillance and online policing. It’ll also keep you safe from cybercrime, as you never know what dangers are lurking on public WiFi (that’s a good reason to install a decent antivirus, too). 

As part of that security, the VPN should have a kill switch, which will cut your connection completely if the VPN stops working. You need to make sure the VPN doesn’t keep a log of your activity, too, so make sure it has a solid no-logs policy in place.

Server Network 

Although content blocks aren’t a huge concern in Colombia, a good-sized server network will always come in handy. It’ll help you get past any blocks you do come across, including geoblocks. If you want to access Colombian content, you need to pick a VPN that has servers within the country.

Speed

Speed is an important factor because, without it, your only entertainment will be a swirly loading screen. Unlimited bandwidth is just as important. If you have a limit, it won’t take long to reach it, and you’ll be left unprotected once you do. Both of those features are important if you want to stream or torrent. 

Netflix Colombia

If Netflix is on your agenda, be sure to pick one that’s capable of bypassing Netflix’s VPN detectors (read our piece on the Netflix proxy error). There aren’t many VPNs that can, but our best VPN for Netflix roundup can help you pick a suitable one. 

You may also want to consider what devices the VPN is compatible with and how many simultaneous connections it allows. Its ease of use could be a decider for you, as well as its customer service rating. Lastly, prices can vary widely, so that may influence your decision.

ExpressVPN

We’ve chosen ExpressVPN as our winner for Colombia. It has excellent security to keep you hidden from online dangers and government surveillance, enough to be the top choice in our best VPN for China piece, too. It uses AES 256-bit encryption as its default, but it can be increased, if you prefer. 

A kill switch is provided, too, which is enabled by default. Your privacy is not an issue, either, as ExpressVPN has a solid no-logging policy in place. 

ExpressVPN’s server network is large, with more than 3,000 servers covering 94 countries. That gives you plenty to choose from, and there are some in Colombia, too, for content restricted to there.

It’s the fastest VPN on the market, and it comes with unlimited bandwidth, making it an excellent choice for streaming. In fact, it’s our best VPN for streaming because it can get into pretty much any streaming platform that’s thrown its way. It’ll also cover you if you want to torrent. Read our ExpressVPN review for a better look at the service.

Other Reasons We Like ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is available on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and there are browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Safari. It allows up to five simultaneous connections. It’s easy to use, and it’s a great choice if you’re new to the world of VPNs. 

It has a useful knowledgebase, if you need help. There’s also live chat and email support available 24/7, but the email route is the best choice for more in-depth assistance.

ExpressVPN is expensive, especially when compared to its rivals. That said, with the quality of the service, it’s worth every cent. Plus, you can relax knowing that there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you don’t like it.

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CyberGhost

Our second pick is CyberGhost. It has good security set at AES 256-bit encryption straight out of the box. There’s also a kill switch that is permanently enabled. That’s a good thing if you’re likely to forget to turn it on, but you’re unable to turn it off, too. A strict no-logs policy is in place, as well.

Its server count goes up and down quite frequently, but it always has a decent number. At the time of writing, there were 5,500 servers in 90 countries. There are 22 in Colombia, too, so you can access Colombian content.

It has fast speeds, but it can slow down over long distances. Still, they should be fine for most activities, and there are no bandwidth limits. It’s able to get into most streaming services, including Netflix. 

CyberGhost will keep you safe while torrenting, and you can find a “for torrenting” tab within the dashboard, showing all the servers that are up for the task. Take a look at our CyberGhost review for more.

Other Reasons We Like CyberGhost

CyberGhost is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and there are browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, too. The interface is good, easy to use and an improvement to the previous one. 

You can have up to seven devices connected at the same time, but that’s also the limit for installations. Still, seven is a decent number and should be enough.

There’s an extensive knowledgebase for self-help. Live chat and email support is available 24/7. Although live chat is great for simple questions and a fast response, email support is the best option for more technical queries.

CyberGhost is expensive at the monthly rate, but by opting for a longer term plan, you will bring the cost down considerably. A seven-day trial is available for Android and iOS, and there’s a money-back guarantee that covers all platforms, too.

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NordVPN

Up next we have NordVPN. Its security is among the finest on the market. It uses AES 256-bit encryption by default, but you can easily increase it. You also get the use of its optional double-hop servers, which add more protection to the VPN tunnel. A kill switch is included, and there’s a strict no-logs policy in place, as well.

NordVPN’s server count is close to 6,000, and they cover around 60 countries, which gives plenty of choice. Unlike our first two picks, though, there are no servers in Colombia.

Its speeds are good, but it’s similar to CyberGhost because they can slow down over long distances. Unlimited bandwidth is included, and it’s capable of getting into all streaming platforms, too. If you plan on torrenting, you’ll be pleased to know that NordVPN is our best VPN for torrenting, as well. Our NordVPN review has more details on the service.

Other Reasons We Like NordVPN

NordVPN has clients for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, as well as browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. It’s easy to use, and you can have up to six devices connected at the same time.

A handy knowledgebase is accessible if you need help. There’s also live chat and email support available 24/7, and you’ll get good help with either option.

The monthly cost isn’t terrible, but you can save money by choosing a longer subscription. A 30-day refund period is in place, too, in case you decide it’s not for you.

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VyprVPN

VyprVPN is another decent choice for Colombia, mostly because of its excellent security. Newbies will get along just fine, but those in the know can play around with its settings, too. Plus, you’ll also get VyprVPN’s proprietary Chameleon protocol — dependent on the package you choose — which provides an extra layer of security.

A kill switch is included and a no-logs policy is in place. Plus, it’s also worth mentioning that VyprVPN has an additional service called Cyphr, which is an encrypted messaging service for mobile devices. With evidence of communications surveillance in Colombia and the fact that it’s free, it might be something worth looking into.

With fewer than 1,000 servers in 64 countries, VyprVPN’s server network isn’t as good as our first choices. However, it should still be plenty for getting around any restrictions. There are also servers in Colombia, in case you need them.

Its speeds are fine for most activities, and you get unlimited bandwidth. It can get into most streaming platforms and will cover you if you want to torrent, too. Our VyprVPN review goes into more detail.

Other Reasons We Like VyprVPN

VyprVPN works with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Its interface is easy to use, and it’s one of our best VPN for Android picks because of its excellent mobile apps. You can have up to five devices connected at the same time, depending on the plan you choose.

If you need help, there’s a knowledgebase for self-help. Live chat is available 24/7, but you’ll initially be connected to a bot. You can speak to a real person at the click of a button, though. Email support is available 24/7, as well.

The price you pay will depend on the package you choose. The “standard” plan will get you three connections, and the “premium” plan will get you five connections, as well as the use of its Chameleon protocol. 

You can then choose either the monthly or yearly plan, but the yearly one works out cheaper in the end. A 30-day money-back guarantee is in place, in case you don’t like it.

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Windscribe

Our last pick is Windscribe, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad choice. It has many options when it comes to choosing the right plan. For starters, Windscribe has a generous free plan, so generous that it won first place in our best free VPN services comparison. You can also build your own package or just opt for the full paid version; the features vary with each.

Windscribe’s security is good and it can be customized. A kill switch is included, but it’s confusingly called a “firewall.” It includes many privacy features, but some information is logged. However, it’s nothing of true value and can’t be traced back to you.

There are more than 600 servers in 60 countries, which is similar to VyprVPN. That said, if you’re on the free plan, you only have access to a few of them. For example, there are servers in Colombia, but you can only access them if you’re on the paid “pro” plan. Either that, or you can “build a plan” and add locations for $1 each per month.

Adding locations will get you another perk, too. Those on the paid plan get unlimited bandwidth, but the free plan only gets 2GB per month, or 10GB if you enter a valid email. For each location you add, you’ll get an extra 10GB of data.

Its speeds are ok and fine for most activities. Plus, Windscribe has dedicated streaming servers called Windflix servers. They’re built for streaming Netflix and work well. They can be added to your package for the $1 per month, but paid members get access to them anyway. Read our Windscribe review for more information.

Other Reasons We Like Windscribe

Windscribe can be installed on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and there are browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Opera. Its interface is suitable for both beginners and techies, being simple but customizable. You can connect an unlimited number of devices, no matter what plan you’re on, making it our best VPN for multiple devices. 

A knowledgebase, FAQ and setup guides are available for self-help, as well as a Windscribe subreddit. Live chat and email support are available 24/7, but the live chat is controlled by artificial intelligence. It’s good, but you should submit a ticket to the email team if you’d rather speak to a real human. 

The paid plan is quite expensive, especially when you compare it with what NordVPN offers (read our Windscribe vs. NordVPN piece), but you can bring the cost down by signing up for a longer plan. There’s no official refund policy, but if you ask for one within three days of purchase, they’ll give you one. You can use the free plan as a trial, at least.

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Online Censorship in Colombia

Colombia’s internet is mostly free. Political and sensitive content does not commonly get blocked. Social media and messaging services are freely available, too. 

The majority of blocks that take place are implemented to protect minors. For example, content related to sexual abuse or child pornography, or that is deemed as inappropriate, can be blocked by the police or another institution. 

In October 2016, legislation to regulate online gambling sites was approved. It requires all gambling sites to have an operating license. In 2017, ISPs were ordered to block more than 300 gambling sites after they were found to be operating without authorization. 

If you like to torrent, you should take note that torrenting copyrighted content can result in harsh penalties in Colombia. The penal code punishes reproducing, distributing, supplying and offering content without consent, and you could end up with a fine of up to $327,000 and a prison sentence of up to eight years. There are no fair-use standards.

In one instance, a 26-year-old student faced such a sentence after posting a master’s thesis written by another scholar to the text-sharing website Scribd. 

He wanted to share the information with other researchers in case they did not have access to it, but one year later, the author filed a criminal complaint against him. Fortunately, a court cleared him of any criminal charges later on.

Online Surveillance in Colombia

Colombian intelligence agencies, the army and police have a history of engaging in surveillance. Such operations are carried out with little oversight, and journalists continue to investigate and uncover privacy violations.

In 2015, documents were leaked from the spyware company Hacking Team that showed that Colombia was a customer. There is evidence that Colombia purchased a remote control system called Galileo, which is capable of accessing and hijacking targeted devices. 

Also in 2015, testing for a monitoring and analysis platform known as PUMA was announced. With it, telephone lines can be monitored, but authorities said that social networks and chats will not. That said, its intent is to allow interception of telephone and internet communications in real time, and that includes private messages. 

Public officials have been sentenced for illegal surveillance. Members of the dismantled Administrative Security Department were convicted of wiretapping, and the former secretary of the president’s office was sentenced to eight years in prison for illegally intercepting journalists, politicians and civil society group members’ private communications. 

The laws that govern the interception of personal communications is broken in Colombia. Interception is only authorized for criminal investigations and with a judicial order. 

However, service providers have to work with intelligence agencies and provide access to communications history and other data without a warrant. The data must be kept for five years.

Freedom of Speech in Colombia

Although Colombia’s constitution provides for freedom of speech, there are restrictions. Defamation is a criminal offense, and those who are accused of insult can face a fine and up to six years in prison under the penal code. The law also states that anyone who publishes, reproduces or repeats insult or defamation can be punished, too, so be careful.

Article 73 of the constitution protects “journalistic activity,” but journalists face threats and violence, and some have been murdered because of their work. For that reason, many practice self-censorship and avoid topics such as corruption, violence and drugs.

Final Thoughts

We hope we’ve helped you to understand why you need a VPN in Colombia and what features are the most important. With surveillance and speech restrictions, you should make sure you choose one that has good security, including a kill switch. A large server network is beneficial for getting past any restrictions, and good speeds will help with your sanity.

With those features in mind, ExpressVPN is the best VPN service for Colombia. It has excellent security, a kill switch and ensures your privacy is respected. Its server network is large and includes some in Colombia. 

Plus, ExpressVPN has the fastest speeds available and can get into all streaming platforms. Why not give it a go? You can always fall back on the 30-day money-back guarantee.

If you have experience in using a VPN in Colombia, let us know about it in the comment section. We’d love to hear about it. Check our our other VPN articles, too. As always, thank you for reading.

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