Best VPN for Serbia in 2024 and Which to Avoid
If you’re worried about censorship or surveillance on your Serbian Internet connection, take some time to research the best VPNs to guarantee your privacy online. Below, we offer a quick but concise buyer’s guide to choosing and using the right VPN for safer browsing and downloading in Serbia.
Don’t leave your right to privacy online in the hands of free VPNs or the Serbian government. Take back control with these top-tier providers:
- NordVPN – Best for Serbia – NordVPN is the best bet for Serbians looking to unblock foreign content. Hide your IP, route your traffic through thousands of servers, and laugh as brute-force attacks bounce off your NordLynx-encrypted connection.
- Surfshark – A novel new VPN that can be had for dirt cheap, yet beats geoblocks every bit as well as the VPN industry veterans.
- ExpressVPN – A premium provider offering the fastest network speeds you’ll find, perfect for streaming in HD.
- CyberGhost – So simple, your бака can use it. Just click “unblock basic sites” and you’re ready to go.
- PrivateVPN – An outstanding choice for power users who like to manually control encryption settings.
Landlocked Serbia is one of the biggest nations in the Balkan peninsula. In this article, we’ll explain how visitors and permanent residents can choose a VPN to use in the country. We’ll start by explaining how a VPN can help unlock content from abroad. We’ll continue by explaining national data privacy and censorship laws. Then we’ll get into what you ought to look for in a VPN – and list the top service providers for Serbia. We’ll cap off by discussing why you might want to avoid free VPNs.
What to look for in a good VPN
The main reasons to get a VPN in Serbia are access to international content, ability to overcome censorship and data privacy. Below, we cover the main VPN features that help succeed at all 3:
- Logging policy – low-quality VPNs, especially free ones, log your data – and either store it locally or sell it to third-party corporations and marketers for a profit. Great VPNs store virtually no logs at all, meaning that they can’t give up your data even if pressured to do so.
- Speed limits – the best VPNs have no restrictions on download and streaming speed, meaning you can enjoy videos, music and more without buffering periods, grainy videos, and other problems.
- Server network size – the more countries a VPN has servers in, the more content you can watch. For example, the US has the best Netflix library; the UK has BBC iPlayer; Eastern European countries have their own online video services. With a quality VPN, you can access all this content (and more) by getting local IPs.
- Encryption – Serbian law asks ISPs to store data for up to a year. A VPN can encode your data, making sure your ISP can’t access it or hand it over to the government.
The best VPNs for use in Serbia
Now that you know what to look for in a quality provider, here’s our list of the top five VPNs for Serbia:
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is the most secure VPN available in Serbia. Its 256-bit AES encryption would take a supercomputer quadrillions of years to crack, meaning your Serbian ISPs can’t see your data or pass it to a third party.
Moreover, NordVPN has an extensive range of extra security measures. For example, its Double VPN specialty servers route your data through two connections and encrypt it twice. Obfuscated servers hide that you’re using a VPN. There’s also a built-in DNS leak test that helps you make sure that you’re not accidentally routing some of your data through your ISP while using a VPN. These features, together with one of the most reliable zero-logging policies in the business, make NordVPN a very safe VPN to use.
The service also boasts one of the biggest proxy networks in the world, with 5,500 servers in 59 countries. This means you can access virtually any content library in the world, and access music and videos at high speeds, with no buffering. You can also enjoy video games at high speeds and low latencies, make high-quality VoIP and video calls, and more, all thanks to the size and quality of NordVPN’s network. This is true even if you’re a beginner-level user with no prior VPN experience. NordVPN makes it easy to navigate its feature set with an easy, intuitive interface.
Read our full NordVPN review.
- Works with Netflix, BBC iPlayer without breaking a sweat
- Over 5,400 servers in 61 countries
- Allows multiple connections (6 devices)
- Extra-secure Double VPN for data encryption
- Great support (24/7 chat).
- Some servers can be slow and unreliable
- Sometimes slow in procesing refunds (but always do).
2. Surfshark
Surfshark makes perhaps the strongest case for never using free VPNs. It is the cheapest provider on our list by a fair margin, but you can get it for less. With Surfshark’s consumer-friendly policy allowing unlimited simultaneous connections, you can split your subscription with a friend or two for deeper savings.
But what do you get in return? How about a rapidly growing network currently numbering more than 3200 servers in 65 countries, protected by 256-AES-GCM encryption via OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, or WireGuard. You can keep Serbian ISPs and government agencies out of your business entirely by hiding your VPN traffic with blanket obfuscation on every server. Or let Surfshark’s automatic smart DNS unblock Netflix any day of the week.
Whatever you do, never mind about logs–Surfshark doesn’t keep them, and couldn’t if they wanted to; due to their RAM-only network infrastructure which continuously purges its databanks.
- Break through harsh censorship to securely access social media and foreign news sites
- One of the first VPNs to implement RAM-only servers
- Unlimited simultaneous connections–Protect your whole family!
- Absolutely no logging of connection data, IP addresses, bandwidth used, or traffic
- Refund requests are simple and fast–no waiting or hassle.
- Server network is not nearly as expansive as major competitors
- New-kid-on-the-block status may not instill same trust as larger providers.
Read our full Surfshark review.
3. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN consistently ranks as a top VPN for a variety of uses, and this time is no exception. Installing the service is as easy as paying for a subscription and downloading the lightweight app that matches your device. The interface is intuitive, with everything always a click away – so even beginners can figure ExpressVPN out in minutes. As an added bonus, you can have up to 3 simultaneous connections, meaning it’s easy to share ExpressVPN across your own devices and with other household members.
On the security front, 256-bit AES encryption protects your data with a selection of 5 military-grade cryptographic protocols. ExpressVPN’s holding company is based in the British Virgin Islands, meaning it’s exempt from the Five, Nine and Fourteen Eyes surveillance agreements between the world’s major powers. There are also additional security measures, like a kill switch that disables your connections if your VPN goes offline and doesn’t reconnect, protecting your unencrypted data. The logging policy is one of the strongest in the business, too.
In addition to being tough on security and being easy to use, ExpressVPN is powerful and fast. 2,000+ proxy servers in 94 countries mean that connections never lag and open up access to content from all over the world. Bandwidth is unlimited, and with no speed caps, you can stream and download content to your heart’s content.
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
- Unblocking Netflix, iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime
- Super fast, reliable connection
- Secure encryption & VPN protocols
- Strict no-logs policy for personal information
- Great customer service via chat.
- Slightly pricier than competition.
4. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a perfect VPN for Serbian residents and visitors who want an easy way to stay anonymous and access more content. The service comes with a suite of apps that make installation easy across all devices: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux and more. You can even install CyberGhost as a browser extension! Once you do, you’ll find it easy to navigate the app’s features via 6 simple configuration files. The profiles, which include Anonymous Surfing, Torrent Anonymously and Unblock Streaming are perfect for Serbian users because they focus on protecting data and opening up restricted services.
Despite being very easy to use, CyberGhost is also powerful. With over 5,900 servers in 90 countries, you’ll be able to watch Hulu, Netflix and other services easily. A selection of 5 encryption protocols makes protecting data easy. A suite of unique features, from “extra speed” to “block ads”, provides extra security and functionality. Last but not least, an immaculate logging policy that doesn’t even keep your e-mail address means that, all told, CyberGhost is one of the top VPN services out despite its ease of use.
Read our full CyberGhost review.
- Unblocks US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube
- 3,600+ servers, 55+ countries
- Apps for ALL devices
- Private: Strong no logs policy
- 45-day no-quibble money back guarantee.
- IPv6 WebRTC leak in macOS
- Doesn’t work well in China.
5. PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN is a newer service that really goes the extra mile for users who stream videos and use P2P clients. Every subscription option comes with up to 6 simultaneous connections; unlimited bandwidth; unlimited speed; unlimited server switches. A large server network that spans over 150 servers in 60+ countries means that you can view any content library you choose easily; all you need to do is choose the right server and connect.
In fact, we found it to be a leader in streaming quality thanks to servers specifically dedicated to unlocking BBC, Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services. This, together with a P2P and torrent-friendly policy, make PrivateVPN a natural choice for all kinds of content: both downloadable and live.
In addition to this, PrivateVPN is strong on security. Its 2048-bit AES-256 encryption protocol is, for practical purposes, impossible for criminals to crack. With a zero-logging policy that stores virtually none of your information, you can use this VPN in Serbia, safe in the knowledge that you’re anonymous and your data – protected.
The truth about free VPNs
If you do your own research when picking a VPN, you’ll find a variety of free options online. Many of them offer decent connection speeds; most offer at least 1 or 2 useful servers (e.g. the US or the UK). The problem is that free VPNs aren’t really free. All of them need to pay for servers, which means they need money – and here’s how they get it. Some show you advertisements and prompt you to upgrade to a paid version of the service. Others actually harvest your personal data and sell it off to corporations, researchers and marketers.
Since staying anonymous is one of the key reasons to get a VPN in the first place, and watching online content with constant ad interruptions is unpleasant, our advice is to save yourself some hassle and go for one of the quality providers on this page. At the end of the day, all of them come with money-back guarantees, so your odds of wasting your money or an inferior zero are slim to none.
Unlocking foreign content with a VPN
Serbia has over 7 million residents, around half of whom are connected to the World Wide Web. The country is also a popular tourist destination, especially for visitors from Europe and CIS countries like Russia and Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, geopolitical licensing means that neither permanent residents nor tourists can access websites like Hulu or view some of the best content on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, etc. A VPN can help you access all these popular services by offering an easy way to get a US, UK, Canadian or other IP. Moreover, the best VPNs have servers worldwide, which means you can watch native content that’s only available in specific countries. For example, getting a Chinese IP to access WeChat will let you watch streaming content that’s exclusive to China.
Data privacy and censorship in Serbia
Serbia’s 2006 constitution does not specifically mention data privacy. However, several articles – like Article 42 (Protection of Personal Data) – do go over data governance. Moreover, Serbia is a member of the European Convention on Human Rights, which means that law enforcement is supposed to follow generally accepted EU laws on data privacy.
The problem is that Serbia doesn’t have many mechanisms for recording or tracking relevant data privacy jurispudence. As a result, it’s hard to say whether local or EU laws are being followed – and according to many sources, like the OSCE, online censorship and data privacy are quickly becoming major concerns inside the country.
For example, Serbian police is allowed to access private data when fighting against illegal hate speech – but the exact definition of “hate speech” is blurry, especially given the lack of transparent controls. This means that officials can access your personal data with virtually no resistance. What’s worse, Serbia requires Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to keep some data for up to a year, meaning there’s no way to hide your online activities without a quality VPN that protects your data.
On the censorship front, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has repeatedly referred to 3rd-party investigators and whistleblowers as “liars”, “deviants” and “provocateurs” since 2015. He’s also accused multiple journalists and publications of taking foreign bribes. Around the same time (2014-2015), a media privatization process resulted in the eventual closing of many Serbian news outlets. As a result, many residents fear that there’s a semi-covert effort to censor and delegitimize journalists inside the country – possibly by accessing their personal data. For now, it’s hard to say much for sure, but international watch dogs are in agreement that neither internet freedom nor data privacy are guaranteed in the country. If you want to be safe, a quality VPN that reliably encrypts your data is a smart decision.
Conclusion
Having read this article, you know all about getting a VPN for Serbia. You understand local laws, know the main benefits of getting a foreign IP and encrypting your data, and which VPN providers are the best fit for the Balkan country. Now you’re ready to stream and download content without limits; to enjoy video games on whichever servers you prefer; to enjoy online anonymity in Serbia and everywhere else.
If you have any further comments, questions or tips, please love a comment below and let us know!
If you need a VPN for a short while when traveling for example, you can get our top ranked VPN free of charge. NordVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. You will need to pay for the subscription, that’s a fact, but it allows full access for 30 days and then you cancel for a full refund. Their no-questions-asked cancellation policy lives up to its name.
