The best VPNs for PayPal: Send and receive money safely

A VPN is one of the safest solutions if you’d like to securely access PayPal. Here’s what you need to know about PayPal restrictions and an up-to-date list of the best VPNs for PayPal.

It’s not uncommon for multiple third parties to be able to see what you’re up to while you’re online. This potentially includes your ISP, the government, hackers, and advertisers. If you’d prefer to keep your data safe while accessing services like PayPal, a VPN is one of the best methods to do so. 

A VPN encrypts all traffic sent to and from your device, switching your IP address with another that matches the server location you’ve selected. Consequently, you’ll be able to access various geo-restricted sites and services in the country you’ve chosen. 

For example, you can use a UK server to access PayPal, BBC iPlayer, or any number of online services from Britain. The same goes for other regions like the United States and Japan, as long as the VPN has a relevant server location. 

Best VPNs for PayPal: 

1. NordVPN: The best VPN for PayPal. RAM-only servers in 60+ countries, fast speeds, streaming access, unique features, custom protocol, and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Our top budget VPN for PayPal. Coverage in 100+ countries, unlimited device connections, and will easily access payment services in various regions. 
3. ExpressVPN: User-friendly apps, custom Lightway protocol, and one of the best VPNs for accessing geo-restricted services worldwide.  
4. Proton VPN: Free VPN servers in a trio of countries, impressive speeds, streaming access, and a watertight logging policy. 
5. Mullvad: Boosts online privacy with a range of advanced features, anonymous sign-up is available, and it has an excellent zero-logs policy. 
6. CyberGhost: Great for streaming, beginner-friendly apps for all devices, large network to choose from, and NoSpy servers.  
7. IPVanish: Provider with speedy self-owned servers in 75+ locations. Works well with PayPal and multiple US streaming services. 

Summary Table

If you’re in need of a VPN for PayPal, there’s a long list of services that will be able to get the job done. We've been able to narrow the field with our inclusion criteria. Here are some of the non-negotiable characteristics we looked for when picking out the best providers for PayPal:

• Servers in the region you’d like to connect to are an obvious prerequisite. PayPal isn’t supported in some countries, but the VPNs we’ve selected have lots of servers to pick from
• Speeds are always important, especially if you don’t have the quickest connection to begin with
• PayPal access, as well as allowing the user to bypass restrictions for further sites and services from abroad 
• Privacy and security, including everything from notable features to available protocols
• In order to qualify for one of the top three positions, the VPN must operate a 100% diskless server network 
• The VPN provider must have also had its infrastructure audited by a reputable third party to place in our top three

For more information about the specific criteria we used for picking the best VPNs for PayPal, check out the testing methodology section found later in this article.

Best VPNs for PayPal in 2023

Here’s a roundup with detailed information about each of the VPNs that have made it onto this list.

NordVPN is our top pick for PayPal, offering a strong combination of speeds and security from a range of locations in 60+ countries. With 6,000+ RAM-only servers in total, it’s ideal if you’re aiming to securely access a payment processor from anywhere in the world.  

The proprietary NordLynx protocol uses WireGuard to increase average speeds to just under 200 Mbps, and it’s capable of accessing a range of geo-restricted streaming services if you’d also like to watch content from abroad. PayPal is accessed easily with NordVPN, no matter the server you’ve selected. It also works well with a long list of additional blocked sites and services, and it has specialty servers for tasks like P2P and Onion over VPN. 

The provider has lots of interesting features, including an ad-blocker and malware scanner, split tunneling, obfuscated servers, and Double VPN. Meshnet is a free private tunnel feature that is available even without a subscription, while a Dark Web Monitor scans for leaked credentials associated with your NordVPN email address.

The provider is based in Panama, and it comes with an audited no-logs policy.  

THE BEST VPN FOR PAYPAL: NordVPN will be able to handle accessing PayPal from a range of locations. That only scratches the surface of what it’s capable of, including streaming and torrenting safely from multiple locations. Unique features, impressive speeds, and comes with a simple 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of NordVPN.

Surfshark has RAM-only servers in 100+ countries, making it a great choice if you want to access PayPal from a region that doesn’t have much VPN support. It’s our recommendation if you’re in need of a low-cost solution, especially if you’d like to take advantage of the ability to connect with an unlimited number of devices. 

Average speeds work out to 188 Mbps, so it’s a great provider for streaming, torrenting, gaming, or anything else that uses a lot of bandwidth. It can access Netflix, iPlayer, Hulu, and many other popular platforms from abroad, and it’s no slouch in terms of security. 

Surfshark comes with applications that have been independently audited. The provider also comes with a kill switch, obfuscation, and strong encryption. 

Jurisdictionally speaking, the Netherlands isn’t great if you’re hoping to avoid the murky Five Eyes intelligence alliance. It’s not a big deal if you just want to access PayPal from abroad, but it might give some users pause for thought. 

THE BEST BUDGET VPN FOR PAYPAL: Surfshark will access PayPal in a variety of different locations, and works well if you’re in need of a trustworthy low-cost solution. Unlimited devices, VPN with servers in 100+ countries, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark.

ExpressVPN has a total of 3,200+ speedy (175 Mbps) servers in 105+ countries, ensuring a smooth experience no matter where you’d like to use PayPal from.  

It has beginner-friendly apps for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS, as well as offering custom router firmware if you’d like to protect every device within your network. ExpressVPN is also compatible with Chrome, Firefox, and Safari browsers, allowing you to control the app with no fuss via an extension.

It’s perfect for accessing a wide range of geo-restricted apps and platforms, whether it’s streaming, online banking, or anything else you can think of. Features include Smart DNS, split tunneling, and obfuscation. 

It’s based in the British Virgin Islands, which is perfect in terms of jurisdiction. Apps and infrastructure have been independently audited for peace of mind, and it uses uncrackable encryption. In other words, it won't leak your real IP address.

ExpressVPN is slightly more expensive than the providers seen above, but you’re unlikely to feel short-changed. 

USER-FRIENDLY PAYPAL VPN: ExpressVPN is a competent provider with user-friendly apps for all devices. Adept at accessing sites and services, fast speeds, custom protocol, and industry-leading customer service. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

Proton VPN has 3,000+ servers in 71+ countries, and it works well with everything from PayPal to US Netflix. The provider is best known for the private email service ProtonMail.

Secure Core servers route your traffic through locations like Switzerland for added security. It is one of the few providers to support port forwarding, and it can access various streaming platforms. NetShield will block malware, ads, and trackers, and a VPN Accelerator allows for average speeds of 320 Mbps.

Proton has a trio of free VPN server locations found in Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States, and they should work to access PayPal, even if speeds are far slower than you’ll find with the premium plan. Despite various limitations seen with the free version, it’s not a bad option for light usage. 

If you don’t mind paying a little extra per month for a subscription, it’s hard to think of many flaws from a security perspective. 

ADVANCED PAYPAL VPN: Proton VPN has free servers, various advanced features, and it won’t let you down if you need to access a payment processor. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Proton VPN.

Sweden-based Mullvad is probably over-equipped if you just plan to use a VPN for PayPal. It may only have 650+ servers in 43+ countries, but it was the fastest provider during testing, with speeds in excess of 660 Mbps. 

Unfortunately, it’s not the best provider for accessing streaming services, so we’d advise looking elsewhere if you plan to use the VPN for watching content via platforms from abroad. 

You’ll still be able to use Mullvad for P2P activities. It supports Tor and can be a great solution for gaming. 

The provider is audited, with a zero-logs policy that doesn’t keep tabs on the user. You’ll be able to sign up anonymously. Advanced features include MultiHop and IPv6 support. Lockdown Mode ensures you’ll never be able to connect to the internet without connecting to a VPN server first.

It’s a little pricer than average, and it recently removed support for port forwarding. It’s still a great option for online payment apps, and Mullvad is audited regularly. 

ANONYMOUS PAYPAL VPN: Mullvad helps to boost anonymity and privacy, with some of the fastest connection speeds on the market. Great for PayPal, heaps of advanced features, and a solid reputation within the industry. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Mullvad.

CyberGhost has a large list of locations to choose from, with 10,000+ servers spread across 100+ countries. It’s easy to access PayPal from various regions, and it’s especially beginner-friendly. This includes everything from installation to using the app itself, which has labeled servers for watching streaming services in a total of 22+ countries. 

Average speeds (296 Mbps) are quicker than much of the competition, so it works well for any number of online tasks. Features include ad blocking and malware filtering, split tunneling, and the ability to use seven devices at the same time. CyberGhost doesn’t log any identifiable information, and it’s based in Romania. 

It comes with a free trial, and there are apps for Windows, Android, macOS, Linux, and iOS. 

While it does lack some features like port forwarding, MultiHop, and obfuscation, it’ll have no issues with accessing services like PayPal. 

SPEEDY STREAMING SERVERS: CyberGhost can access PayPal securely and comes with speedy servers that can be used for streaming in over 20 countries. Large network, Romania-based, and an extended 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost VPN.

IPVanish is our final recommendation if you need a VPN for PayPal. It has apps for all devices, complemented by 2,200+ servers in 75+ locations around the globe. Security is especially robust, and it offers average speeds of 251 Mbps. 

If you’re also hoping for streaming access, it works well with multiple platforms within the United States. IPVanish comes with a sturdy kill switch, as well as advanced security features such as split tunneling, automatic WiFi protection, obfuscation, and a SOCKS5 proxy. It's great for public WiFi networks, offering secure connections during any online activity. 

You’ll be able to connect to IPVanish with an unlimited number of devices, and there are apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, and Chrome OS.

It’s based in the US, so it’s best to be aware that the provider could theoretically come with a number of jurisdictional issues, although it does come with a strict no-logs policy. 

CAPABLE PAYPAL VPN: IPVanish is another solid option for PayPal, streaming US content, or browsing the web safely. Unlimited device connections, sturdy self-owned network, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

Methodology: How we chose the best VPNs for PayPal 

Rather than picking out providers at random, we’ve compiled a comprehensive VPN testing methodology. We test and compare the best VPNs in the business. 

Our strict criteria means that only providers dedicated to digital privacy, with excellent usability and optimal performance can make it onto our list. Below, you can see the criteria we used to pick the best VPNs for PayPal:

• Servers: PayPal is available in over 200 countries, but there are still some regions in which you won’t be able to get access. The VPN needs to have servers in popular regions such as the US and the UK.
• Speeds and performance: Fast connection speeds will ensure no lag, even if you’re connecting to servers located halfway around the world. This will be helpful if you don’t have the quickest internet speeds to begin with. 
• Privacy and security: How does the VPN perform in terms of security and privacy? We look at features, their implementation, and everything from leak protection to encryption and protocols. This is especially important when making financial transactions and online shopping with PayPal.
• Third-party audits: Trust is the foundation of the value that VPNs provide. You are essentially placing more faith in your VPN provider than you are in your ISP. Almost every provider says they are a ‘no-logs' VPN. The only ways to test this claim are either through the courts or through audits. We will only consider providers for our top three positions if they have undergone infrastructure audits from a reputable third party. While this isn't foolproof, it's the closest the industry has to a verification process for logging policies.
• Diskless infrastructure: Again, this is a prerequisite to be considered for one of the top three positions on BleepingComputer. While the data stored on a VPN server should be minimal, it could, theoretically, be accessed if the servers were seized or hacked. Moving processes to RAM means that no information can be physically taken from servers and it is wiped on shutdown. It can also easily be wiped as a part of regular security procedures.

How to use a VPN with PayPal

It’s easy to set up and use a VPN with PayPal, even if it might be a bit daunting for new users. You will need to already have a PayPal account for this method to work. 

Here’s how to set up a VPN for PayPal:

1. Pick a VPN service that works with PayPal. We highly recommend NordVPN.
2. Sign up, and download the relevant VPN app to your device. 
3. Open the app, and sign in with your login credentials. 
4. Select a server in the region you want to connect to. Wait to be connected. 
5. You should now be able to log in to PayPal. 

That’s all it takes to get started. You’ll be able to access sites and services available in the region that you’ve connected to, and your data will be encrypted in the process. If you’re having issues, make sure to clear your browser’s cache and cookies.

Note that the change in IP address might require you to log back into PayPal and/or solve a CAPTCHA.

PayPal VPN FAQs

Can I use a free VPN for PayPal?

It might be possible to use a free VPN for PayPal, but it’s inadvisable for a number of reasons. The payment service is likely to have blocked the IP addresses used by free providers, so it’ll be tough to find a free VPN that can get the job done reliably. 

It’s not a good idea to use a free VPN for anything relating to personal finance, especially as some have been found to contain adware or malware. 

Many free VPNs have sold user data, and others are lacking when it comes to everything from server choice to connection speeds. Bandwidth is usually capped, so it’s always a good idea to stick to a service that doesn’t see your data as a product to be sold. 

Why is PayPal unavailable in some regions?

PayPal is available in over 200 countries, but that does mean that some regions aren’t covered by the payment processor. Some locations don’t have enough users to justify PayPal offering its service, while others have been restricted due to sanctions by countries like the United States. 

The potential for online fraud is another reason why PayPal might not be available in a specific region. Legal issues could also be an explanation, especially if a country lacks the necessary financial regulations for PayPal to safely do business. 

PayPal may only allow the user to send money in certain regions, which is annoying if you’d like to receive payments too. 

Can PayPal detect VPN usage?

PayPal can detect the use of a VPN, especially if it’s a service that isn’t attempting to mask that you’ve connected to a server located elsewhere. Ensure that you stick with a secure VPN that has strong security measures and lots of locations to pick from.

Can I sign up for PayPal if it’s not available in my country?

It’s going to be extremely difficult to sign up to PayPal from abroad, even if you use a VPN to mask your current location. 

If you try to access PayPal from a different region, you won’t be hit with an error message. Instead, users are able to access any version of the PayPal website. As a consequence, you won’t be able to sign up with the service without a payment method linked to a local address. 

It’s not unheard of for PayPal users to be targeted by cyberattacks, such as when a credential stuffing attack occurred between December 6 and December 8, 2022. This led to 34,942 of its users having been impacted by the incident. However, the platform is generally safe, even without a VPN. 

Any users who purchase a VPN subscription with PayPal will be storing their real name, and possibly their address and bank details. Many VPNs allow the user to sign up anonymously with payment methods like cryptocurrencies.   

Is it legal to use a VPN with PayPal?

It’s legal to use a VPN with PayPal, insofar as you won’t be breaking the law if you do so. Bear in mind, VPNs are banned or blocked in some countries, including China and Russia. 

Using a VPN may go against PayPal’s terms of service. A PayPal community moderator notes:

“The use of a VPN, or any sort of proxy, is not permitted when using PayPal. For more information about restricted activities, please take a look at the PayPal User Agreement, which can be found by clicking Legal at the bottom of any PayPal page.”

How does PayPal know where I am accessing it from?

Sites and services like PayPal use your IP address to identify your current location. This makes it easy to find out the country in which a user is based. It makes no difference whether you’re using PayPal’s website or app, the service will still be able to see the user’s IP address. As a VPN masks your IP address, you’ll be able to access various geo-restricted sites and services while it’s active.