Best Free VPN services for Switzerland in 2023
VPN in Switzerland
Swiss residents and tourists enjoy some of the biggest internet freedoms in the world. From accessing the dark web to pirating movies, it seems like you are allowed to do almost anything online.
However, there are still many benefits to using a VPN when in Switzerland. One of the biggest reasons for using a VPN is to have more control over your digital footprint. With a VPN, you can keep your online activity more secure and better protect your data from the prying eyes of the government or cybercriminals. Another major reason for using a VPN in Switzerland is to access geo-restricted content. For example, streaming websites don’t offer the same content in every country.
In case you don't want to read the entire article, here’s a quick summary of the best VPN services according to our independent tests and research:
- NordVPN Best VPN for general work and entertainment purposes. I found it to be reliable, high-speed, and easy to set up, and it's one that I use daily for work.
- ProtonVPN (Free Version) Proton is often referred to as the single most trustworthy company in the VPN business. They focus on security over anything else and offer the best free VPN available. This is the company behind ProtonMail.
- CyberGhost VPN was voted as the best gaming VPN for 2023 and is one of the cheapest VPN services among the whole top 10.
Best Swiss VPN
RANK
BRAND
DEVICES
STATS
DOWNLOAD
1
6
6 simultaneous devices.
- ● Fastest VPN 2023
- ● Servers: 5300+
- ● Countries: 60+
WHY I LIKE NORDVPN NordVPN has long been regarded as one of the strongest brands in cybersecurity. With one of the largest server offerings on my list and support for most, if not all operating systems, making NordVPN an obvious choice for many. They have 24/7 customer support if you need help getting started. Their app is one of the most well-designed apps I have ever used. NordVPN even accepts cryptocurrencies as payment for extra anonymity.
2
∞
Unlimited simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Cheap VPN 2023
- ● Servers: 3200+
- ● Countries: 65+
WHY I LIKE SURFSHARK: Surfshark VPN is perfect for those who want a cheap and reliable VPN that also has many extra features. "Camouflage Mode" hides your usage from your ISP, "Kill Switch" suspends your connection and protects your information if you temporarily lose Internet access, "MultiHop" to connect from multiple countries at the same time just to name a few. My favorite feature of Surfshark is "Whitelists" which allow the user to exclude specific apps and programs from the VPN connection.
3
10
10 simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Free VPN 2023
- ● Servers: 1713+
- ● Countries: 63+
WHY I LIKE PROTONVPN: ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland and is most known for their e-mail service ProtonMail. They currently offer the safest free VPN services on the market. There is also support for TOR usage and P2P file sharing. I highly recommend ProtonVPN if you are intending to do some extensive online sharing. It goes without saying that Proton does not collect logs of any kind and is completely safe to use.
4
7
7 simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Torrent VPN
- ● Servers: 7400+
- ● Countries: 91+
WHY I LIKE CYBERGHOST CyberGhost VPN is the first choice of many other cybersecurity experts, and the reason is clear; they have the most complete VPN service. An incredible number of extra features that are best suited for the more advanced users but also work flawlessly for every-day purposes like P2P-filesharing. Cyberghost VPN also has the longest stretching money-back guarantee at a full 45 days.
5
∞
Unlimited simultaneous devices.
- ● Robust/Security focused
- ● Servers: 750+
- ● Countries: 43+
WHY I LIKE ATLAS VPN: Atlas VPN is one of the best new free VPN services. With the free version, you get unlimited data, no ads and zero logging. During my speed tests, Atlas VPN performed very well and could compete with mainstream services. Kill Switch, Ad-blocker, and P2P support all included with a regular subscription, which is incredibly cheap for such a robust service.
6
∞
Unlimited simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Netflix/Streaming VPN
- ● Servers: 35500+
- ● Countries: 84+
WHY I LIKE PIA VPN: PrivateInternetAccess is at the top of my streaming tests, which is a great combination with their easy-to-use UI, Open-Source software and built in adblocker. PIA is also perfect for those who want to be able to pay with PayPal which for some reason, many other VPN services do not support. 30-day money-back guarantee, multiple Netflix libraries, and extremely affordable are the three main selling points for this VPN service.
7
10
10 simultaneous devices.
- ● Best VPN for Gaming and Streaming
- ● Servers: 200+
- ● Countries: 63+
WHY I LIKE PRIVATEVPN: PrivateVPN is the strong underdog in the world of VPNs. With a shy number of servers, it is evident that they are focusing on quality over quantity. Overall, PrivateVPN is a very decent choice of VPN, especially if you had enough of the excessive advertising by some of the other more known brands in this list. Setting up the VPN requires extremely little intervention, and you can even pay with Bitcoin.
8
49%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Best Mobile VPN app
- ● Servers: 3000+
- ● Countries: 94+
10
77%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
45 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Fastest free VPN
- ● Servers: 3200+
- ● Countries: 80+
11
85%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
7 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Great free VPN
- ● Servers: 1000+
- ● Countries: 26+
12
68%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
10 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Best reputation
- ● Servers: 91+
- ● Countries: 17+
14
79%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
15 day money-back guarantee.
- ★ Great adblocker included
- ★ Servers: 1800+
- ★ Countries: 20+
15
66%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 5 devices simultaneously
- ● Unlimited usage
- ● 50+ locations
16
70%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Unlimited traffic
- ● Up to 1 Gbps
- ● Free trial
17
85%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 10 devices
- ● Unlimited bandwidth
- ● Countries: 60+
19
$5.00 /user
14 day free trial/money-back guarantee.
- ● Simple Cloud VPN Setup
- ● Site-to-site VPN Tunneling
- ● Easy Server & User Management
21
67%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
7 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 5 devices
- ● Locations: 65+
- ● 24/7 live support
22
80%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 10 devices
- ● Countries: 20+
- ● P2P Optimization
23
66%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
Basic, advanced, and pro plans.
- ● Countries: 22+
- ● Locations: 36+
- ● 24/7 live support
24
79%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Best multi-device VPN
- ● Servers: 1000+
- ● Countries: 200+
Best Free Switzerland VPNs
| Free VPN | Average Rating | Logs | Netflix | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windscribe VPN | 79,83% | No | Yes* | 10 |
| Hotspot Shield VPN | 77,14% | No* | No | 1 |
| ProtonVPN | 76,37% | No | No* | 3 |
| TunnelBear VPN | 71,50% | No | No | 34 |
| FlyVPN | 59% | Yes | Yes | 13 |
| Hola Free VPN | 55,75% | Yes | No | 1 |
| Opera VPN | 52,83% | No | Yes | 4 |
How to choose the best VPN for Switzerland
In Switzerland, there are quite a few VPN service providers to choose from. No matter which VPN you choose, I would recommend taking the following under consideration:
Encryption
VPN service providers should have solid encryption practices in place to keep your data secure. In addition to the encryption types used, it is also important to look at which additional security protocols are implemented. OpenVPN is widely considered to be the best available security protocol used by VPN providers. The next best alternative would be L2TP/IPsec, followed by SSTP.
User logs
If data privacy is one of your top reasons for using a VPN, then you want to make sure that the VPN you use does not store logs. If a VPN provider stores logs, they could be legally forced to share information about your online activity with the authorities. Even if you aren’t concerned about government authorities, logs can also be hacked if cybercriminals were to ever breach your VPN provider’s security measures.
Number of servers
It is important to ensure that the provider you choose has a large server network. Additionally, your provider should have some physically located in Switzerland. This will ensure that your connection remains quick and stable.
Speed
If you plan to use a VPN for streaming videos or performing activities that require a large amount of data, the connection speed is one of the most important factors to consider. In this case, a paid VPN is going to be the best choice.
Apps
Make sure that they offer apps that are compatible with all of your devices. This way, you can rest assured that you are protected and unrestricted on every device you own.
The seat of the corporation
Some countries have better data privacy laws than others. If your VPN provider is located in a country with weak data privacy laws, your personal data could still be at risk. VPN providers headquartered in Switzerland are a great choice because they are not part of intelligence sharing agreements like the Fourteen Eyes. Countries that are part of this agreement can share information with each other about their residents as well as benefit from legislation passed in any member country.
Customer service
If you are new to using a VPN, it may be helpful to choose a provider that has a great customer service department. Some VPN providers will even offer a 24-hour live chat on their websites in addition to phone or email support.
Number of devices
Some providers limit the number of devices that can be connected at once. So, if you plan to share your VPN with one or more people, you should look into this before signing up.
How Switzerland’s Internet Censorship Works
While Switzerland usually ranks high in terms of internet freedom, this may be slowly changing. The Federal Supreme Court has dominion over internet censorship topics and reviews them on a case-by-case basis. In Switzerland, ISPs (internet service providers) need to implement any “voluntary recommendations” coming from the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. This court has taken its first steps in censoring the internet for Swiss residents in recent years.
In December 2002, the Canton of Vaud requested that ISPs block 3 specific websites which were critical of Swiss courts. Some ISPs refused to do so while some are redirecting users to protest pages.
Later, in September 2017, Switzerland passed The Money Gaming Act which blocks online gambling websites. This was done in an effort to save local establishments as they were losing a lot of revenue to online casinos.
While it seems like internet censorship may become a bigger topic for Switzerland in the near future, there are many groups, like the Swiss Internet User Group (SIUG) and the Swiss Network Operators Group, fighting against it.
Are VPNs legal in Switzerland?
VPNs are fully legal to download and use in Switzerland. In fact, not only is it legal to use VPNs but there are also several VPN providers located and operating from within the country. While there are some concerns about internet censorship in Switzerland, Swiss VPN providers lead the way in protecting the privacy of their users. For example, if a surveillance order is issued against an individual, Swiss courts mandate that this information is disclosed to the person in question. Due to the fact that Switzerland is not part of the EU it does not have to participate in EU-sharing agreements with other countries. It is also less susceptible to international influence on its laws which results in more balanced regulations.
Can you get in trouble for using a VPN in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, you will not get in trouble for using a VPN. However, you may find yourself in trouble if you use it to partake in illegal activities like selling drugs or gambling online. So, if you aren’t using a VPN to facilitate any criminal activity, there is nothing to worry about.
What sites are blocked in Switzerland?
Websites that are banned in Switzerland either tend to be critical of Swiss courts or are associated with online gambling. When it comes to online gambling, Switzerland has made this decision to protect local businesses as many of them were losing too much money to these sites. Furthermore, these websites are also known for having weak regulations to fight against fraud and are often used for money laundering schemes.
Some examples of blocked websites are:
- www.appel-au-peuple.org
- de.geocities.com/justicecontrol
- www.swiss-corruption.com
- heritagesports.eu
- helwettia.com
- betspawn.com
- 22bet.com
- eurolotto-service.es
- coinbet24.com
- fortunejack.com
Do any free VPNs work in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, there are a plethora of free VPNs to choose from. However, while many free VPNs work in Switzerland, I would not recommend using one if you can afford a paid VPN service. Free VPNs tend to be less reliable, slower, and have fewer privacy features and protections available. This is due to the fact that they usually have fewer servers, support staff, and IT specialists on hand.
Why is my VPN slow in Switzerland?
VPNs can be slow for a variety of reasons. One of these reasons is the nature of how VPNs work. They encrypt your online activity and route it via a secure server. Since VPNs do not allow you to connect directly to the website or platform, you may notice a lag in your connection as a result of these additional steps.
The distance between you and the chosen VPN server may also contribute to a slower connection. The further away your chosen server is located, the longer it will take for your request to travel to the server and back. As a consequence, surfing, uploading, and downloading speeds may suffer.
Additionally, the number of people using a server at once can influence the speed. If there are many people trying to access a particular server, it must divide the resources between each user. Therefore, you should always avoid full or “busy” servers.
Using the free version of a paid VPN may also be a cause if you experience a slow connection. Some providers prefer to save bandwidth for their paying customers and will throttle your connection.
If using a smartphone, you may also want to double-check that you don’t have too many apps running in the background.
How to unblock Google, YouTube, and more in Switzerland?
Popular websites like Google and YouTube are not blocked in Switzerland and can be freely accessed. However, some of these websites have geo-restrictions implemented for specific content. Meaning, it may not be possible to access a particular resource in your country. This is where a VPN comes in handy. By using one, you can change your IP/location and bypass these restrictions allowing you to access the desired content. In fact, this is one of the most popular reasons for purchasing a VPN subscription.
What To Do If Your VPN Isn’t Working in Switzerland?
If you aren’t familiar with VPNs, it may be easiest to directly reach out to the customer service department for support. But, if you would like some easy self-service tricks, please read below:
- Check that you have turned your VPN on
- Make sure your internet connection is up and running
- Access your VPN provider’s status page to make sure they aren’t down or experiencing any difficulties
- Try accessing a different server
- Flush your DNS cache
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