Published on: October 21, 2024
- 🥇 ExpressVPN : It has servers in Costa Rica and nearby locations, including Puerto Rico and US states such as Florida, Texas, and Georgia. It’s super-fast and works with top streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu, and local services like Sky Costa Rica. Plus. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The best VPNs for Costa Rica offer great server networks and excellent streaming support. They’re great for remote workers who want added privacy and work with many streaming apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
I tested several top VPNs and compiled the best options for Costa Rica. My top pick is ExpressVPN as it offers excellent privacy for remote workers and works with 100+ streaming platforms. Plus, it offers apps that are perfect for both beginners and advanced users.
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Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for Costa Rica
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Costa Rica
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for Costa Rica. It has servers in Costa Rica, many other nations in the Caribbean, and 15+ US locations, including Florida and Texas. This means you can easily locate a server that offers the fastest speeds.
It’s excellent for streaming from Costa Rica. It can access 100+ streaming apps, including popular ones like multiple libraries of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Max, and Hulu. The VPN also works with local streaming and TV sites in Costa Rica, such as Canal 7 and Repretel.
In terms of speed, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market. It comes with its own proprietary protocol, Lightway, which has a lightweight codebase so its speeds are unmatched. I also like that Lightway can resist network changes, ensuring your VPN connection remains stable even when switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data — your connection won’t drop during a meeting or while streaming on the go.
The VPN offers dedicated IP addresses in 25+ locations, including the US, Canada, and the UK, for a small price. With a dedicated IP address, it’s less likely that streaming services will block your access — they typically block shared VPN IP addresses. A dedicated IP address stays the same with each connection, so it also means drawing less attention from websites (when you’re connected to a regular server, ExpressVPN periodically changes your IP address).
ExpressVPN’s split-tunneling feature lets you choose which apps use or don’t use the VPN tunnel. For example, you can route your streaming traffic via the VPN and access your bank account on your regular network. This will get you better speeds, especially on slow Wi-Fi, as it reduces the overall load on your internet connection.
The VPN provides user-friendly apps for all major operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebooks, and Kindle Fire tablets, ensuring your traffic is secure on any device you use in Costa Rica. It also offers a dedicated router app, making it easy to secure all devices on the router’s network under 1 connection.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at $5.49 / month. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is my top pick for Costa Rica. It has a server location in Costa Rica and a great US server network in 15+ locations, so you’ll easily find a server nearby for fast speeds. It can access local and international streaming sites, offers dedicated IP addresses in several US locations, and extras like split-tunneling. Each plan is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great for Customizing Secure Connections in Costa Rica
Private Internet Access (PIA) is great for customizing your connections in Costa Rica. It lets you get faster speeds by switching from 256-AES encryption to 128-AES encryption, which could prove useful if you’re working on unstable Wi-Fi at a cafe or hotel in Costa Rica. Plus, you can set the VPN to automatically connect if it detects an unsecured network, so you never connect to the internet in Costa Rica unprotected.
PIA has a server location in Costa Rica and if you’re looking to get the best speeds possible and ensure a stable connection. If you’re traveling to Costa Rica from a country in Central America or the Caribbean, it has servers in multiple countries in the region — so you can most likely connect to a server in your home country. On top of that, it has servers in every US state.
This VPN is good for streaming from Costa Rica as it works with 30+ streaming apps, such as multiple Netflix libraries, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Max. Plus, it has dedicated streaming servers in 5+ countries, including the US and the UK. These servers are regularly checked to ensure that they still work with the streaming platforms.
I’m a big fan of PIA’s split-tunneling feature, as it also lets you pick which websites or pages bypass the VPN. So, you can exclude websites and not just apps (like ExpressVPN).
PIA offers dedicated IP addresses, too but only in 10+ countries, which is fewer than ExpressVPN. Still, you can get a dedicated US IP address for a small extra cost from several locations, including Florida and Texas.
Private Internet Access has plans starting at $2.03 / month. Each purchase is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access has great customization options, so you can get optimal connections for different online activities in Costa Rica, like streaming and remote work. It has servers in many nearby countries and every US state. Plus, it works with 30+ streaming apps and offers extra features like split-tunneling. Each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Editors' Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Convenient Automation Rules for Costa Rica
CyberGhost VPN lets you automate your connections in Costa Rica with Smart Rules — on desktop. For example, you can set it to automatically start on launch, connect to a server in Costa Rica or a US location, and then open your browser or an app you use for work right after connecting to that specific server location.
Smart Rules also includes an Exceptions tab, which is CyberGhost VPN’s split-tunneling feature. The VPN also offers dedicated IP addresses in 10+ countries including several locations in the US, as well as Canada and the UK.
The VPN has servers in Costa Rica and 11 US locations. That said, you get fewer options for getting a US IP address from Costa Rica, compared to ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, which both have servers in more US states.
This provider has dedicated servers for streaming that are optimized to work with 50+ streaming apps like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+. I like how they’re organized in a separate tab and clearly labeled for each streaming library — you can even search the name of the streaming service (like Netflix), and it’ll show you all available server location options for that site.
CyberGhost VPN’s plans start at $2.19 / month. Long-term plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee and the monthly plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN has great launch automation rules that offer convenience when browsing and working remotely from Costa Rica. Plus, the VPN offers split-tunneling and dedicated IP addresses and has servers in multiple countries worldwide. It also has dedicated servers for streaming and its long-term plans have a 45-day money-back guarantee and the monthly plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
Editors' Note: CyberGhost and this site are in the same ownership group.
4. NordVPN — Great for Remote Work From Costa Rica
NordVPN comes with Meshnet — this feature lets you create a private, encrypted network of up to 60 devices, acting like a local area network (LAN). For example, while traveling in Costa Rica, you can securely connect your work PC to your laptop, accessing files and programs as if you were at your desk, with your activities appearing to originate from home.
This provider is great for streaming from Costa Rica, too — it consistently works with 10+ streaming platforms including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. However, it falls behind ExpressVPN’s streaming support, which covers 100+ streaming apps.
NordVPN has servers in Costa Rica and 5+ US states, including Florida and Texas. You can also get a dedicated IP address from 5+ US cities for a small extra cost.
I like NordVPN’s app-based kill switch, which lets you shut down only specific apps when your connection fails. You can use this for Netflix or Microsoft to ensure your IP address doesn’t leak.
NordVPN has plans starting at $2.99 / month. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN has a Meshnet feature that lets you create an encrypted network of up to 60+ devices for remote collaboration. It also has an app-based kill switch, a good US server network, and great streaming support for 10+ streaming sites. It offers plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Surfshark — Great Privacy Tools + GPS Spoofing Feature
Surfshark offers great privacy for Costa Rica. Its Override GPS location feature on Andriod lets you match your GPS data with the VPN server’s location. This is crucial if you use apps for work that track your location — they will think you’re in the same country as the VPN server, giving you extra privacy and flexibility while working remotely or traveling.
The VPN offers servers in 100 countries, including Costa Rica as well as Florida and Texas. It also offers dedicated IP addresses from 5+ US locations, and countries like the US if you need a stable IP for tasks that require location verification. If you need more options, I recommend checking out ExpressVPN.
Surfshark is a pretty decent choice for streaming from Costa Rica, too. Its servers can access 50+ streaming services, like BBC iPlayer, Max, and Netflix.
Surfshark has affordable plans starting at $1.99 / month. Every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark has a great built-in GPS feature that spoofs your location to match the VPN server’s IP address, which is great for hiding your location and continuous access to work-related and other apps from Costa Rica. It also has good streaming support and affordable plans that have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
I used our proven testing methodology to make sure I recommend the best VPNs for Costa Rica. I checked and tested each VPN for speeds, server network, streaming support, and more. The section below outlines the criteria I applied to pick and rank each VPN on my list:
- I checked the VPN’s server network. The VPNs on my list have servers in Costa Rica and multiple locations in the US, as well as nearby countries like Panama. So you’ll have no problem finding the fastest server for any online activity in Costa Rica.
- I considered fast speeds. Most VPNs slow down your speeds due to the encryption process but top VPNs can minimize these slowdowns. With the VPNs on my list, you’ll experience fast speeds regardless of whether you’re connected to nearby servers or distant ones.
- I reviewed the device support. The VPNs on my list offer apps for popular operating systems, such as Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. Plus, each VPN can be manually configured on a router to secure every connected device — ExpressVPN even provides a native app for routers.
- I checked streaming support. The VPNs that I recommend reliably work with multiple streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+.
- I looked into security features. The VPNs on my list all have industry-standard VPN security features, including a kill switch that disconnects your internet if the VPN connection unexpectedly fails. Plus, they use 256-bit AES encryption to hide your traffic from ISPs and have full leak protection — I never saw any leaks in my tests.
- I made sure the VPN provided a good value. I only recommend VPNs that provide great value with extra features, many device connections on a single subscription, and a money-back guarantee that lets you try the service without risk.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- TunnelBear. TunnelBear is secure and has a decent US network. However, it doesn’t have servers in Costa Rica and lacks the speeds of the VPNs on my list.
- Mullvad VPN. Mullvad VPN has strong security features but offers a small server network and doesn’t work with popular streaming sites like Hulu.
- CactusVPN. CactusVPN is a user-friendly VPN. That said, it has significantly slower speeds than the VPNs I recommend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best VPN for Costa Rica?
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Costa Rica because it has servers in Costa Rica, 15+ US locations, and in countries nearby Costa Rica. Its servers work with local streaming services and international sites like Netflix, and it maintains the fastest speeds on the market.
Are VPNs legal in Costa Rica?
Yes, VPNs are legal in Costa Rica. In fact, travelers, remote workers, and residents in Costa Rica often use a VPN to protect their online privacy and secure their internet connections. However, while using a VPN is legal, it’s important to comply with local laws and regulations regarding online activities.
How to get a Costa Rica IP address?
A VPN with servers in Costa Rica allows access to an IP address in Costa Rica. Once you connect to a Costa Rican server, the VPN hides your IP address and assigns you one that matches the location of the VPN server you’re connected to — in this case, from Costa Rica. The VPNs on my list have servers in the country and reliably work with local streaming sites.
How to set up a VPN in Costa Rica?
Setting up a VPN in Costa Rica is simple. It only requires a few steps:
- Choose a high-quality VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN for its strong security and fast speeds for streaming or other online activities.
- Install the VPN on your device. Navigate to the provider’s site or the app store for the mobile app. Follow the on-screen instructions and it should take just 2–3 minutes to complete the process.
- Launch the VPN app and connect to a server. All the VPNs I mention here have server locations in Costa Rica and other nearby countries.
