Best VPN for Mexico 2020: Privacy? No Mames Güey

Mexico is a popular destination that receives over 20 million visitors a year. It’s best known for its spicy food, beautiful beaches and tequila. Ancient Aztec and Mayan ruins can be seen across the country and its capital, Mexico City, caters to modern life. Whatever takes you there, you should use one of our best VPNs for Mexico as a virtual sombrero for protection online.

A virtual private network is the only way to be sure you are protected from online dangers, and it can also be useful when trying to access certain content.

If Spanish is your native language, or you at least understand it, you’ll love Mexico’s telenovelas. If not, then you may prefer to stream programs from home. Using a VPN will allow you to connect to a server in your country and stream your favorite shows on services such as Netflix (we have a full guide on watching U.S. Netflix in Mexico, too).

The same goes for those who want to access Mexican content from another country. Look at our best VPN for Netflix piece for more recommendations.

Censorship in Mexico

Censorship is a common issue for many countries, with some being worse than others — read our piece on China to see how bad it can get. Mexico has little internet censorship. It doesn’t block or filter content and social media is available.

That said, in 2018, changes to the Federal Copyright Law were approved. The changes allowed online content to be removed if suspected to be an infringement to copyright. However, the removal could take place without having to prove that an infringement has taken place. Other countries are harsher when it comes to online copyright infringement, as you can read in our best VPN for Germany piece.

Despite there being no bans on content, though, social media platforms and search engines have been sent removal requests.

Facebook has removed content related to a shooting at a school in Monterrey, Mexico, posts that were reported for defamation and items related to the illegal sale of regulated goods. Google has received removal requests for defamation, copyright and other reasons, and Twitter has reported removal requests, as well.

Online Speech

Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Mexican constitution, as is the privacy of personal communications. That said, though defamation was decriminalized at the federal level and in some states, there are still a few places where criminal defamation laws remain.

With those laws in force, speech is not entirely free, and they are often used to intimidate journalists. Some who have published critical reports online have received a lawsuit.

For example, a criminal complaint was filed against the digital news outlet Contramuro.com in February 2018 by the mayor of Zitacuaro, Carlos Herrera Tello, who accused it of an attack against honor. It came after the outlet republished a report about alleged financial irregularities in several companies linked to the mayor.

In August 2011, a math tutor and radio commentator were arrested after spreading rumors about children being kidnapped from a local school and both faced up to 30 years in prison. The rumors were false and the state introduced a new “public disturbance” offense to use in similar cases of provoking panic, though there was worry it could be used too easily against speech.

There have also been threats and violence against media outlets, journalists and bloggers who report on subjects such as drugs, drug trafficking and drug-related violence. Hundreds have been attacked or received death threats or intimidating messages and 12 have been killed. At least four worked online for a web-based news outlet or social media.

The violence has led many reporters and some local media to self-censor or completely avoid reporting on certain stories. With that in mind, it’s probably best to follow suit and be careful what you post. It could be much worse, though, just read our best VPN for Singapore guide for comparison.

Surveillance in Mexico

The government has increased its surveillance powers by using the war on drugs as justification. The 2014 Telecommunications Law partly replaced previous legislation to allow for more surveillance with data retention and real-time geolocation.

Under Article 189, companies, such as internet service providers and mobile networks, must provide users’ geolocation and metadata to authorities. Changes to the National Code on Criminal Procedure in 2016 made it so that a judicial warrant would be required for government entities to use geolocation, though, unless they are doing so to, say, investigate.

Article 190 requires companies to keep records of their users’ metadata for at least two years and give security agencies access to the data any time it is requested. The government sends requests to social media companies and Google regarding user information, too.

The Internal Security Law, which was enacted in 2017, allows the military to perform intelligence activities by any means possible (as long as it’s legal) and says information gathered will be considered a national security interest, meaning the public cannot access it. Human rights organizations have expressed concern over the law.

Many revelations have shown that digital spying technologies meant for investigating criminals were being abused. Citizen Lab found that the software Pegasus was being used in Mexico. It is sold exclusively to governments and evidence shows that the Mexican government has spent at least $80 million on the software.

There were also reports that Mexico was a big client of the surveillance company Hacking Team. It is known for providing offensive intrusion and surveillance technology to governments, law enforcement agencies and other corporations worldwide.

Best VPN for Mexico 2020

What Makes a VPN the Best for Mexico

Many of our best VPNs tend to offer the same features, but some are better at certain aspects than others. For example, they might have better security or customer service. You need to know which features are the most important to have to be safe in Mexico and which services are best for them.

For Mexico, you want good security because it will help keep you protected from surveillance and online policing. There’s always the threat of online attacks, no matter where you are, but the risk is higher in some countries than others.

Free WiFi hotspots are getting more popular, but they can put you at a higher risk of experiencing cybercrime. Read our best VPN for Thailand for an example of that. There’s no way to know how secure the connection is, so the best thing to do is protect yourself with a VPN. A decent antivirus is good to have, too.

You also want privacy, which is different from security, to be high on the list. To make sure the provider respects privacy, you need one with a clear no-logs policy that shows there won’t be a record of your online activities.

Its server spread is another important factor. The more it has available, the better your odds of circumventing restrictions, such as censorship or geoblocks. If you’re after content restricted to Mexico, you’ll need servers there, as well.

Speed is another feature to consider, especially if you want to stream, and unlimited bandwidth is a no-brainer for watching your favorite shows, too. If you don’t have the latter, you can hit the limit quickly and, once you do, the VPN will stop working, leaving you vulnerable.

A few other factors to look at are which devices are supported, how many can be connected in one go, the quality of customer support and ease of use, especially if you are inexperienced with settings. Lastly, its price may sway your decision because some VPNs are more expensive than others.

1. The Best VPN for Mexico: CyberGhost

We’ve chosen CyberGhost as our best VPN for Mexico. It’s a decent service that has good security to keep you safe from online dangers and respects your privacy by having a strict no-logs policy.

It has over 3,000 servers in 59 countries, so you shouldn’t have problems accessing the content you want. That includes 19 in Mexico, giving you plenty to choose from to get Mexican content.

It’s fast, but it can get slower over long distances. The speeds are still decent, though, so you shouldn’t have problems. It also has unlimited bandwidth, meaning you can stream and download as much as you like. Check out our CyberGhost review for a better look at the service.

Other Reasons We Like CyberGhost

CyberGhost can be installed on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. The latest version has an updated interface, which is good, but it may take getting used to. You can connect up to seven devices at the same time, which helped it earn second place in our best VPN for multiple devices piece, but that’s also the limit for installations.

Customer support is available, with an extensive knowledgebase being your first port of call. If you still need help, you can talk to a member of staff via live chat or email 24/7. Live chat is the fastest option but email is best for more technical problems.

The monthly cost is okay, but you’ll save money by signing up for a longer period. There’s a seven-day trial for Android and iOS that you can use to see if you like it. Plus, there’s a money-back guarantee, the terms of which vary depending on the plan you choose. Shorter plans get 14 days and longer ones get 45, but both allow for plenty of time to decide.

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2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN takes the top spot in many of our articles. It provides a great overall service and is the most secure VPN available, with excellent security that you can make even stronger. There’s a solid no-logs policy for peace of mind, too.

There are more than 3,000 servers in a whopping 94 countries, giving you the best chance of viewing the content you want. Some are in Mexico, too, so you can access content from there.

ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market, so loading screens shouldn’t be an issue. There are no bandwidth caps to stop you in your tracks, either. Those features helped it rank first in our best VPN for streaming piece, as well. Have a look at our ExpressVPN review to find out more.

Other Reasons We Like ExpressVPN

If you have little experience using a VPN, ExpressVPN may be the best choice for you. Once you’ve installed it, it does almost everything else for you. You just need to make sure you are connected to a suitable server, which is easy. If you have more knowledge, you can tweak the settings, but make sure you know what you’re doing first.

It can be used on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Plus, there are browser extensions for Chrome, Safari and Firefox. Five devices can be connected simultaneously, which isn’t bad.

If you find yourself in a pickle, live chat and email are available 24/7. The live chat is the fastest option, but the email route is better if you need more in-depth help.

A downside to ExpressVPN is its cost. It’s expensive compared to its rivals, but it is worth it for the quality of service you get. By opting for a longer plan, you can bring the cost down and there is a 30-day money-back guarantee in case it’s not for you.

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3. NordVPN

NordVPN is another provider that’s often recommended here at CommQueR.com. It has some of the best security around, with a great choice of protocols and the option to use double-hop servers, which basically add more protection to the VPN tunnel. Privacy is not overlooked, either, as NordVPN doesn’t keep logs.

You should have no problem finding a suitable server because there are more than 5,000 dotting 62 countries, including 15 in Mexico.

It has good speeds, but, like CyberGhost, it can slow down when connected to a server that’s far away. Despite that, NordVPN is still a good choice for streaming because there are no restrictions on the amount of bandwidth you can use. Read our NordVPN review for a more detailed look at the provider.

Other Reasons We Like NordVPN

You can use NordVPN on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and the setup is simple. The interface is easy to use and you can have up to six devices connected at once.

There’s a large knowledgebase to look at if you run into issues. For more help, you can use the live chat or email to speak to a member of support. Both are good, but the live chat is quicker.

The monthly price isn’t bad, but the longer plans work out to be cheaper in the end. There’s a 30-day refund available, so you can make sure you’re happy with it before completely committing.

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4. Private Internet Access

In fourth place, we have Private Internet Access, which offers good service, even though it hasn’t got all the features its competitors have. The security is good, but it’s set to 128-bit encryption by default. It’s best if you manually change that to the more desirable 256-bit for better protection. That said, doing so may slow down your connection.

There’s no record of your online shenanigans here, either, because PIA doesn’t keep logs.

PIA has many servers — 3,279, to be exact — but they only cover 33 countries, which is a lot fewer than other providers. Still, you should be set for Mexican content if that’s what you’re after because it has 33 servers there.

One of PIA’s best features is speed. That is mostly down to using a lighter encryption by default, though, and it will slow down once you increase the level of encryption. Still, the speeds are okay and switching servers is fast. It also lets you connect to another server without disconnecting from the one already in use first. Plus, there are no limits to bandwidth.

Other Reasons We Like PIA

You can set PIA upon Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It has easy-to-use clients and it’s great for Linux users because it’s the only VPN to have a full client for the platform, which is why it is the best VPN for Linux. You can connect up to five devices at the same time, too.

There’s a decent knowledgebase available, which should help solve most common issues. Overall, though, customer service could be improved. Email support is available 24/7, but there is no live chat. Still, what help is available is thorough, even if slower than that offered by PIA’s competitors. Our PIA review gives more details on the service.

PIA used to be one of the cheapest options available, but its prices increased recently. It’s still a fair price, but other providers offer a better service for about the same price. It’s a smart idea, as it is with other services, to subscribe to a longer plan and save money. A seven-day money-back guarantee is in place, giving you plenty of time to try it.

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5. VyprVPN

Though VyprVPN is not at the top of the list, it does offer good security, with the added protection of its own Chameleon protocol. It has a strict no-logs policy, as well, so you don’t need to worry about your privacy. It also has other cool security options that you can read about in our VyprVPN review.

Its servers cover 64 countries, but the amount available is poor compared to other providers. There are just over 700 in total and some are in Mexico City, which is a plus if you’re after Mexican content.

Its speeds aren’t bad, but it can be slow sometimes. There are no limits to bandwidth usage, though, which is good.

Other Reasons We Like VyprVPN

There are clients available for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, but the interface is dated. That said, it’s still easy to use. You can connect three devices at a time and, if you need more, you can sign up for the premium package to bump it up to five.

If you encounter a problem, you can use the FAQ section to help you solve it. Failing that, you can contact support through live chat or email 24/7. For the quickest response, you should use live chat, but either offer brief answers, which isn’t great.

Its price plan is reasonable and there is a 30-day refund period that you can use to check it out before committing.

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Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you now understand why you should use a VPN in Mexico, or anywhere else you go. When choosing a provider, you should make sure it has great security and servers dotted around the world, so you can access content easily. That should also include Mexico if you want to view content restricted to there.

Our winner for Mexico is CyberGhost because it has good security and many servers to choose from, including 19 in Mexico. Plus, with its seven-day trial and money-back guarantee, you’ve got nothing to lose.

If you have recommendations for using a VPN while in Mexico, pop them in the comment section below. We’d love to hear them. Be sure to check out our other VPN articles, too. Thank you for reading.

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