Best VPN for Israel 2020: Kosher Providers for the Holy Land

Regardless of what you hear in the news, Israel has a lot to offer. The small strip of land has sacred sites in Jerusalem, scenic landscapes, breathtaking beaches and historic landmarks to explore. Though there are areas to avoid to stay safe, here we’re going to concentrate on protecting yourself online with one of our best VPN for Israel picks.

There are many reasons to use a virtual private network, no matter where you are. The most obvious is to protect yourself from online dangers. Another reason is to access content that’s geoblocked, which basically means it’s restricted to a particular country. A VPN can help by changing your IP address to one from that country.

For instance, if you’re outside of Israel and want to catch up on the local news, you’ll need to get an Israeli IP address.

Any of our best VPN providers can get you the content you want, but there are other things to consider when it comes to Israel.

Best VPN for Israel 2020

Online Censorship in Israel

While geoblocks are usually imposed because of license restrictions, countries can censor websites or services they don’t want their citizens to access. For example, China is one of the worst countries when it comes to censorship thanks to its Great Firewall.

The Israeli government is lenient by comparison. Its citizens can access legal content without too many restrictions. In 2017, a law was enacted that blocks terrorism-related content, online illegal gambling, hard drug sales and prostitution services. Plus, pornography is blocked under a separate law.

There’s also a military censor, officially named the Israel Defense Forces Censor. According to OpenNet Initiative, it’s “authorized to ban […] any material that will or is likely to cause damage to the security of Israel.” With that, you may find that some blogs and news websites are blocked.

It gets its authority from laws that were set by the British Mandate before the state was established. That means journalists working for Israeli media outlets must submit anything related to Israel’s security to the censor before publication, including social media posts. 

Though censorship is enforced throughout Israel, the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza can enforce their own restrictions. That means the restrictions you encounter may vary by location.

Online Surveillance in Israel

Israel has made headlines because of connections between Israeli intelligence companies and the U.S. National Security Agency’s surveillance activities. The technology supplied by the companies can analyze hundreds of millions of communications. 

The connections with the NSA caused concern over whether the companies had practiced their techniques on Israelis, too. Plus, many surveillance laws have been enacted in Israel that allow for unrestricted use of personal information without judicial oversight.

Israel has also been accused of selling Pegasus, a spyware program, to multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia. The countries use it to spy on dissidents and journalists. Targets are sent a text message with an attached link. Once it’s clicked, Pegasus is downloaded, enabling the country to track calls, messages and so on.

Though there’s little information on surveillance of Israeli citizens, the country is capable of engaging in it.

Freedom of Speech in Israel

Freedom of speech is protected in Israel’s basic laws and it’s generally respected, but there are limits. Certain political topics are restricted, and anyone who advocates an academic, economic or cultural boycott can face a civil lawsuit under the 2011 Boycott Law. The media is generally free, too, other than being subject to the military censor.

Torrenting in Israel

Internet service providers used to have to block torrent websites, but the ban was lifted. In 2019, though, Israel’s copyright law was amended so that courts could order Israeli ISPs to block access to copyright-infringing websites. You may need a VPN to access the torrent websites you want and to protect yourself.

What Makes a VPN the Best for Israel

Though you could choose any providers, there are a few features to keep in mind for Israel. To get around censorship and regional blocks, you need to pick one that has a good server spread. The more servers available, the better your chance of bypassing the blocks. 

If you want to access content that’s restricted to Israel, though, you’ll need to pick one that has servers there. 

The VPN’s security is also important because there are many dangers lurking while connected. Free public WiFi hotspots are found throughout the country, and though it’s convenient, it puts you at risk of cybercrime. Good security will keep you safe from prying eyes. Privacy is important, too, and you can ensure it by getting a VPN with a no-logs policy.

Another important factor is speed. Many VPNs are fine for most activities, but if you plan on streaming or torrenting, you should choose one that’s fast. Unlimited bandwidth is beneficial, too, because without it, you could hit the limit, causing the VPN to stop working and leave you vulnerable. 

Other features to think about are which devices the VPN can be used on, how easy the client is to use and how many devices you can connect at the same time. Decent customer service is good to have, too, and prices differ, so you’ll need to make sure it’s within your budget.

1. Best VPN for Israel: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a great all-around service and a favorite at CommQueR.com. It has a massive network of servers that covers 94 countries, including Israel, so you’ll be able to access Israeli content.

It has great security, which can be adjusted to your needs, and there’s a kill switch, which will protect you if the VPN fails by disconnecting you from the internet. It’s enabled by default, but you can change that. ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy, so you can be sure your online activities will remain private.

One of ExpressVPNs best features is its speed. It’s the fastest VPN we’ve tested and it has unlimited bandwidth. That, plus the fact that it can get into all streaming platforms, is the reason it’s our best VPN for streaming and best VPN for Netflix. It also allows for torrenting. Read our ExpressVPN review to see why the VPN is so good.

Other Reasons We Like ExpressVPN

It can be used on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Plus, you can download browser extensions for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari. It’s easy to use and a great choice for beginners because it works out of the box. You can connect up to five devices at the same time, too.

If you run into problems, there’s a useful knowledgebase online. Plus, there’s 24/7 live chat and email support. The help is good, but email is better if you have a more complicated matter to fix.

A downside to ExpressVPN is its hefty price. It’s more expensive than other providers, but the quality of its service makes up for that. It’s worth the money. To make sure you like it, you can take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN Review

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2. NordVPN

Our second choice is NordVPN. It’s an excellent provider that only misses the top spot because of its speed. It’s fast, but if you connect to a server that’s far away from you, it can slow down. Other than that, it’s not much different from our top selection, as you can read in our ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN throwdown.

It has more than 5,000 servers covering 60 countries, giving you plenty to choose from. Plus, there are 17 in Israel. Switching servers is easy, too.

NordVPN has some of the best security we’ve seen, so you’ll be safe from online nasties. It also includes double-hop servers, which basically add more protection to the VPN tunnel (read more about that in our NordVPN review). Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN has a kill switch and a solid no-logging policy.

It also gives you unlimited bandwidth and has no problem getting into streaming platforms. If you’re an avid torrenter, you should note that NordVPN is our best VPN for torrenting.

Other Reasons We Like NordVPN

NordVPN’s easy-to-use clients can be used on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. You can connect up to six devices at the same time.

There’s a knowledgebase at hand if you need to fix a minor issue. For more help, you can use the live chat or email support. Both are available 24/7 and offer useful advice, but live chat is the fastest option.

NordVPN’s monthly cost isn’t bad, but it isn’t great, either. It offers good value for money, but choosing a longer plan will save you money in the end. There’s a 30-day refund period, which you can use to make sure you’re happy with the service.

NordVPN Review

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3. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is next. It has more than 3,000 servers in 59 countries, including 10 in Israel, so you’ll be able to access Israeli content with it. 

It has good security and a kill switch is included. That said, its kill switch is permanently enabled, which is great for protection, but some may prefer to have control over it. A no-logs policy is in place, too.

Like NordVPN, CyberGhost is fast but can get slower over long distances. There are no restrictions to bandwidth and it allows for torrenting. It’s able to get into streaming platforms, as well. Read more in our CyberGhost review.

Other Reasons We Like CyberGhost

CyberGhost can be installed on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It’s easy to use, but it may take time to get used to the interface, even though it has been updated. Up to seven devices can be connected at the same time, which is more than many of its competitors allow and the reason it earned a spot on our best VPN for multiple devices list.

CyberGhost has one of the best knowledgebases available, which is great for fixing minor problems. If you need more help, though, there’s live chat and email support. Live chat is the quickest option, but it’s best to contact CyberGhost via email if you have a more technical issue.

The VPN is priced well, but the monthly rate isn’t good. Your best bet is to subscribe to a lengthier plan because it works out cheaper in the end. There’s a free seven-day trial for Android and iOS that you can use to take it for a whirl. Plus, there’s a money-back guarantee in case you need more time, which is 14 days for the monthly plan and 45 days for longer ones.

Cyberghost Review

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4. VyprVPN

VyprVPN can also be used in Israel. It doesn’t have as many servers as our other picks, but there are over 700 in 64 countries, which should still be enough to circumvent blocks. Some of the servers are in Tel Aviv, too.

VyprVPN has excellent security that’s customizable, which is great for those in the know. It’s still a good choice for newbies, though. Its proprietary Chameleon protocol adds more protection to your connection. It also comes with a kill switch and a no-logs policy. For more information, read our VyprVPN review.

A downside to VyprVPN is its speeds because they can be slow. They should be fine for most activities, though, and there are no bandwidth limits. It allows torrenting and you’ll be able to access most streaming platforms, too.

Other Reasons We Like VyprVPN

VyprVPN compatible with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. The interface is easy to use, but it’s dated, so it could be improved. You can connect up to three devices at a time by default, but choosing the Premium package will get you two more connections.

There’s a handy knowledgebase available for self-help. Plus, there’s 24/7 live chat and email support. That said, none of the help is great, and in our review, we received brief answers to our questions, so keep that in mind if you’re a newbie.

You can choose the Standard or Premium package. The former is the cheapest, but the latter will get you a total of five connections and the Chameleon protocol. Both options have monthly and yearly plans, with the annual ones being cheaper overall. 

VyprVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee that you can use to make sure that you like it.

VyprVPN Review

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5. TorGuard

TorGuard is a great service that has over 3,000 servers dotting 55 countries. Among those are servers in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Switching servers can be annoying, though, because you have to disconnect from the VPN each time.

It has great security, and with different protocol options, it’s tweakable, too. It also has an automatically-enabled kill switch and doesn’t keep a record of your online activities.

It’s fast, but some locations are slower than others. Its speed will also depend on your security settings because higher security will slow it down. It has unlimited bandwidth and allows for torrenting. 

That said, if you want to get into streaming services, you should know that TorGuard isn’t good at doing so because it gets blocked. You can resolve the problem by buying one of its dedicated streaming servers, though.

You can read more about its dedicated IP addresses in our TorGuard review. The main thing you need to know is that they work, which is why TorGuard is listed in our best VPN for travelers piece.

Other Reasons We Like TorGuard

TorGuard compatible with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, but the mobile version of the client can be a pain to set up. The provider allows up to five simultaneous connections by default, but if you need more, you can buy up to 20 more for $1 each per month.

A knowledgebase and a forum are available as self-help options. There’s live chat, too, but it’s run by a basic customer service company, so if you need more technical help, you should contact TorGuard’s support team via email. 

The VPN’s price isn’t bad, but as with its rivals, you’ll save money with longer plans. There’s a seven-day money-back guarantee in case it’s not for you.

Torguard Review

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Final Thoughts

We hope this article has shed light on the Israeli online world. To get around censorship and keep yourself safe from prying eyes, you should choose a VPN with a large server network and great security. Plus, if you want to access Israeli content, it’ll need to have servers there.

ExpressVPN is the clear winner for Israel because of its many servers, including some in Israel, as well as excellent security and privacy. That’s not to mention its speed and ability to get into streaming services. Take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee to see what it’s like.

If you have experience using a VPN in Israel, let us know about it in the comments below. We’d love to hear what you have to say. Visit our VPN archive for more interesting articles. Thank you for reading.