Ranked for getting through censorship Facts checked 17 Oct 2026 Scores recalculated live
Best VPN for Russia
WhatsApp and YouTube were blocked in February 2026, Telegram is throttled, and Instagram, Facebook, X, Signal and Discord have been blocked for years. In total, 22 of the apps we track are restricted in Russia.
Top pick right now
ExpressVPN 80/100
Obfuscation is automatic on every server.
Why you'd use a VPN in Russia
What is blocked
WhatsApp (blocked), Voice & video calls (blocked), Signal (blocked), Discord (blocked), Messenger (blocked), Viber (blocked), Facebook (blocked), Instagram (blocked). The status page has dates and sources for each one.
Not every VPN gets through
Our records show NordVPN (unreliable), ExpressVPN (unreliable), Surfshark (unreliable), Proton VPN (unreliable), CyberGhost (unreliable) and Private Internet Access (unreliable) here, which is why connection status carries extra weight in this ranking.
Before you connect
Install your VPN before entering Russia. Standard WireGuard and OpenVPN are detected, so an obfuscated protocol is essential.
Is a VPN legal in Russia? Legal with restrictions. Using a VPN is legal, but only approved providers may operate, advertising VPNs is banned, and July 2025 laws added penalties for searching for banned content. Hundreds of VPN apps were removed from Russian app stores.
The top 3 for Russia
#2
NordVPN 75/100
Unreliable
Use the NordWhisper protocol, built for networks with deep packet inspection.
Try NordVPNFull ranking of the 6 VPNs we track
| # | VPN | Score | Connects here | Visitor reports | Website (OONI) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ExpressVPN | 80/100 | Unreliable | Not enough yet | Too few tests | Try ExpressVPN |
| 2 | NordVPN | 75/100 | Unreliable | Not enough yet | Blocked on some networks 1629 tests | Try NordVPN |
| 3 | Proton VPN | 72/100 | Unreliable | Not enough yet | Blocked on some networks 1354 tests | Try Proton VPN |
| 4 | Surfshark | 68/100 | Unreliable | Not enough yet | Blocked on some networks 1202 tests | Try Surfshark |
| 5 | Private Internet Access | 54/100 | Unreliable | Not enough yet | Too few tests | Try Private Internet Access |
| 6 | CyberGhost | 46/100 | Unreliable | Not enough yet | Too few tests | Try CyberGhost |
"Connects here" comes from our Russia status page. Visitor reports count the last 14 days. Website checks come from OONI measurements over 30 days, refreshed 19 Oct 2026; a blocked website doesn't mean the app is blocked, but you'll need to install the app another way.
How we scored
Nobody pays for a position here. Each VPN gets a score out of 100 from these weights, chosen because the main reason to use a VPN in Russia is getting through censorship:
- Stealth / obfuscation
- 45%
- Connects in this country
- 30%
- Privacy & audits
- 10%
- Visitor reports
- 15%
Feature ratings are our editorial scores. If a VPN has too few visitor reports, that weight is shared among the other factors. A VPN that doesn't connect here is capped at 35. How we track
Questions people ask
What is the best VPN for Russia?
On our current scores, ExpressVPN (80/100), followed by NordVPN (75) and Proton VPN (72). Scores weigh getting through censorship most heavily for Russia and update as visitors there report what works.
Is using a VPN legal in Russia?
Legal with restrictions. Using a VPN is legal, but only approved providers may operate, advertising VPNs is banned, and July 2025 laws added penalties for searching for banned content. Hundreds of VPN apps were removed from Russian app stores.
Do all VPNs work in Russia?
No. Our records show ExpressVPN (unreliable), NordVPN (unreliable), Proton VPN (unreliable), Surfshark (unreliable), Private Internet Access (unreliable) and CyberGhost (unreliable). Pick one with an obfuscation mode and install it before you need it.
Why does this ranking change?
Part of each score comes from visitor reports in the last 14 days and from whether each VPN currently connects in the country. When those change, the order changes. The formula is shown on the page.
Sources
We earn a commission if you buy a VPN through our links. It never changes what we report as blocked. How we pick