The best VPNs for Pakistan in 2026

Surfshark is the VPN we'd install first in Pakistan. Its NoBorders mode is built for networks that restrict VPNs: Surfshark says the app turns it on by itself when it detects a restriction and then shows you servers that work under it. You can also switch it on yourself under Settings, then Advanced. Surfshark runs obfuscated servers as well, which hide your VPN use from your internet provider.

During the January 2026 wave of VPN blocking, a Surfshark spokesperson told TechRadar that its apps had seen a "slight drop" but were otherwise unaffected. Surfshark's advice to anyone who can't connect is to try several servers, because not every server gets restricted at once.

Surfshark lists Pakistan among its 100 countries, which helps if you're abroad and need a Pakistani IP address, though it doesn't say whether that server sits inside the country. India, the UAE, Singapore and Sri Lanka are nearby locations on the same list.

Every plan covers unlimited devices, so one subscription covers a whole family's phones and laptops. The 2-year Starter plan costs $67.23 for the first 27 months, about $2.49 a month, and then renews at $79 a year. Monthly billing is $18.95. New customers on 1-year and 2-year plans get a 7-day free trial on 3 devices, which needs card, PayPal or Apple Pay details, and every plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Proton VPN's free plan includes Stealth, a protocol that uses obfuscated TLS tunneling over TCP to hide a VPN connection from censors, and Proton says Stealth is available on every plan. That makes Proton the best free backup for Pakistan. The free plan has no data cap and no ads, and Stealth runs in the Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone and iPad apps. On Linux you have to turn on Proton Protocols first.

Proton has also been the main target of Pakistan's blocks so far, according to TechRadar. Proton told TechRadar its apps had been restricted since December 22, 2025, and OONI test data showed signs of interference with its website. Proton's advice was to update the app, switch to Stealth, try newer servers with higher numbers or servers in smaller countries, and move between Wi-Fi and mobile data, because internet providers block at different rates. Set it up before you need it and keep a second VPN from another company alongside it.

The free plan covers one device and picks servers in 10 countries for you. VPN Plus adds 10 devices, streaming, and a server list that includes Pakistan, with 28 servers in Karachi. It costs $3.49 a month on the 2-year plan ($83.76 for the first 24 months, then $83.88 a year), $53.88 for the first year or $9.99 billed monthly, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Proton accepts cards, PayPal, Bitcoin and cash in US dollars, euros or Swiss francs, which helps if a foreign card payment fails.

Windscribe gives you the most ways to connect when one gets blocked. Its apps offer IKEv2, OpenVPN over UDP and TCP, WireGuard, Stealth and WStunnel on many ports, and Windscribe says it works in heavily censored parts of the world. When WireGuard stops connecting on your network, you still have Stealth and WStunnel to try.

It's also one of the easier VPNs to pay for from Pakistan. Windscribe takes cards, PayPal, cryptocurrency, local payment methods and cash. Its upgrade page doesn't list which local methods show up for Pakistan, so check at checkout.

The free plan gives 10GB a month once you confirm your email, which is enough to keep messaging apps and social media running through a block. Build A Plan costs $1 a month per location with a $3 minimum, and each location adds 10GB a month. Pro costs $9 a month or $69 a year ($5.75 a month) with no data cap. Windscribe sets no limit on connected devices, and it promises that the price you sign up at is the price you keep paying.

NordVPN makes a sensible second VPN next to Surfshark or Proton, because it uses its own anti-blocking protocol. NordWhisper is built for networks that filter traffic and runs in the Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps. During the January 2026 blocking, NordVPN told TechRadar it hadn't noticed disruptions to its service, and it recommended NordWhisper to anyone struggling to connect.

NordVPN doesn't run physical servers in Pakistan. In January 2025 a spokesperson told TechRadar that it relies on virtual servers for the region and would keep doing so under local rules like Pakistan's licensing plan. One account covers 10 devices. You can pay by card, PayPal, cryptocurrency or local bank transfer, though NordVPN says some methods aren't offered in every region.

Two things to know before you buy. NordVPN's 7-day free trial runs in 15 countries and Pakistan isn't one of them, so you'd rely on the 30-day money-back guarantee for first-time customers. And NordVPN's pricing page refused our requests on November 4, 2026, so we can't quote a current US price. Check the total and the renewal line at checkout.

ExpressVPN suits people who don't want to touch protocol settings. It says it applies automatic obfuscation on supported platforms, which helps when a network tries to block VPN traffic, and it switches on without any action from you. That's useful for relatives who will never open an advanced settings menu.

ExpressVPN lists Pakistan as a virtual location, which gives you a Pakistani IP address from a server located elsewhere. It's one of 214 locations in 113 countries, so there are plenty of nearby servers to try if one stops working.

The 2-year Basic plan is $84 for the first 28 months, about $3 a month, then $99.95 a year. Monthly billing is $15, and Basic covers 10 devices. Website buyers get a 30-day money-back guarantee, while the iOS and Android apps offer a 3-day trial instead. If you buy through an app store, the website guarantee doesn't apply. Daily Pakistan named ExpressVPN among the providers disrupted in early January 2026, so keep a second VPN from another company installed alongside it.

Astrill is the expensive option for people whose usual VPN keeps dropping. Its StealthVPN protocol adds obfuscation that Astrill says makes traffic undetectable to automated firewall systems, it runs over UDP or TCP on a port you choose, and Astrill pitches it at countries with heavy censorship. That matters more in Pakistan than it used to. Amnesty International reported in September 2025 that the country's firewall can block up to 2 million sessions at a time and has been replaced with a system from Geedge Networks, which Amnesty describes as a commercial version of China's Great Firewall.

The cost is the drawback. One month is $30, a year is $180 ($15 a month) and two years are $300 ($12.50 a month). Astrill's refund policy says all sales are final, so buy one month first and test it on your own connection before you pay for longer. It takes cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, Monero and bank transfers, and it has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android, plus router support.