Updated on: October 16, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best VPN for Cuba in 2024:
- 🥇 ExpressVPN : Comes with plenty of advanced security features to keep you safe while you surf the web in Cuba. It has the fastest speeds available and works really well for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Plus, it has extremely user-friendly apps for every major device and operating platform, great privacy features, and backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Internet access in Cuba is highly regulated and restricted, whether due to Cuba’s censoring or the US Embargo blocking access to popular sites and services, including Zoom, PayPal, and social media platforms.
Most people use one of the government-approved Wi-Fi hotspots around the country since Cuba doesn’t have a large internet infrastructure. Unfortunately, these hotspots leave your sensitive personal data vulnerable to hacker attacks, they don’t offer any privacy since they require you to log in to use them, and they don’t provide good speeds.
Luckily, there’s a solution to this problem — using a VPN. VPNs hide your real IP address and give you an IP address from another country. This will allow Cubans to connect to a server in a nearby country to browse the web securely. Plus, they come with strong security features to protect you from cyber-attacks while using public Wi-Fi in Cuba.
I spent the past few weeks researching and testing VPNs, and I managed to find the top 5 VPNs for Cuba. My favorite is ExpressVPN, which has advanced security features to keep your data safe, blazing-fast speeds, and tons of server locations near Cuba. That said, every VPN on this list is a great choice for Cuba. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for Cuba
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Cuba in 2024
ExpressVPN is my top pick for Cuba — it has a large server network with servers in 105 countries, including 1 server location in Cuba and countries near Cuba, like the US, Bahamas, Panama, and Mexico. It also has the fastest speeds on the market and excellent streaming, gaming, and torrenting support. In fact, it’s my no. 1 VPN for 2024.
It’s easy to find the server for Cuba or any nearby countries since the apps have a convenient search bar, and all servers are organized by region. For Cuba, simply navigate to the Americas tab and scroll until you find the location you want. Plus, you can select any server as a Favorite for easy access.
ExpresVPN also has some really excellent features for Cuba. One of my favorites is ShuffleIP, which changes your IP address every time you open a new site or app — this keeps your browsing totally anonymous even on the Wi-Fi Hotspots. Threat Manager blocks data trackers and prevents you from visiting malicious sites.
The VPN also has automatic traffic obfuscation, which is enabled by default on all servers and protocols. This security feature provides extra privacy by hiding your VPN traffic, making it look like you’re browsing the web as normal.
I was very impressed with ExpressVPN’s speeds in my tests. All sites loaded instantly, even the ones with many ads. And, I didn’t have trouble watching HD and 4K videos either since they loaded instantly and didn’t buffer. I was also able to play online games without any lag. This is all due to the Lightway protocol, which is proprietary to ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest protocol on the market.
The VPN also has excellent streaming support. It works with 100+ top streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime. You’ll also be able to watch Cuban shows on teleSUR — a local service. What’s more, ExpressVPN supports torrenting on all of its servers in 105 countries.
ExpressVPN has plans that start at $4.99 / month. Each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for Cuba. It has a server location for Cuba as well as nearby unrestricted countries, offers user-friendly apps, and includes advanced security features like ShuffleIP and obfuscation. It also comes with blazing-fast speeds and excellent streaming and P2P support. All of its plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Advanced Privacy Features
Private Internet Access (PIA) has a bunch of advanced privacy features. First, it has PIA MACE, the best VPN ad blocker on the market, which blocks ads, ad trackers, and malicious websites. In my tests, I saw zero ads, and the tool prevented me from accessing suspicious sites. It also has an advanced kill switch that won’t let you access the internet without first connecting to the VPN, making sure you don’t accidentally go online unprotected.
The VPN also has obfuscation through Multihop, which uses Shadowsocks, an open-source proxy. It works reliably in restrictive countries and on restrictive networks, just like ExpressVPN. It’s good for privacy since your traffic first goes through a Shadowsocks server before passing through the VPN server.
PIA works with popular international streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime. It also works with local platforms like Cubavisión and Cuba TV on servers in countries near Cuba, like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama.
It’s excellent for torrenting, as all of its servers support torrenting. PIA has port forwarding, allowing you to connect to more peers to get faster speeds, and there’s SOCKS5 proxy support, which changes your IP address and provides much faster speeds (but doesn’t encrypt your traffic).
I like how customizable PIA’s apps are, especially the Android app. It allows you to change protocols, adjust encryption levels for faster speeds, and manage your connection options. For example, you can set PIA to automatically connect to a server when you connect to an unsecured public Wi-Fi hotspot in Cuba. What’s more, PIA offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can use it on as many devices as you want.
Private Internet Access offers very affordable plans that cost as low as $2.03 / month. All of the plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access is a great choice for strong privacy in Cuba. It has extras like MACE and an advanced kill switch, provides obfuscation through Shadowsocks, delivers great streaming and torrenting support, comes with customizable apps, and offers plans that have 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 — Has Dedicated Servers for Streaming
CyberGhost VPN is excellent for streaming because it works with all popular streaming services, including Netflix and Amazon Prime. The VPN also has dedicated P2P servers in 85+ countries.
I’m a big fan of CyberGhost’s Wi-Fi rules, too, which are extra useful in Cuba. For Cuba’s Wi-Fi hotspots, you can set the VPN to automatically connect to a server. You may also set rules for known Wi-Fi networks, such as if you have a home internet connection or use a specific hotspot regularly.
Also, you get Content Blocker, a feature that blocks ads and malicious sites. In my tests, it prevented me from accessing shady sites, so you won’t accidentally visit a site that contains malware. However, I wasn’t impressed with its ad blocking function, as I saw some ads on media outlets and social media sites. What’s more, I also like its Identity Guard feature that informs you if your email address and passwords have been leaked on the dark web. This is comforting since most internet users in Cuba rely on public, unprotected Wi-Fi, which is much easier to hack than secured Wi-Fi networks.
With prices starting at $2.03 / month, CyberGhost VPN has pretty cheap plans. Its long-term plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee, and the shortest plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN has very good streaming support with dedicated streaming servers, good torrenting support with dedicated P2P servers, excellent Wi-Fi rules for automated connections, and a good malicious site blocker in Content Blocker. All long-term plans have a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
Editors' Note: CyberGhost and this site are in the same ownership group.
4. NordVPN — Secure Downloads & Sharing With Advanced Features
NordVPN provides high-end security for downloading and sharing files. Its ad blocker called Threat Protection, which blocks ads, ad trackers, and connections to malicious sites, also protects your device from malware-infected downloads, so you can download from any source without risking your device.
NordVPN also has Meshnet, which is a unique feature that allows you to create a secure network for up to 60 devices. This means you can share files securely or bypass restrictions, work remotely, game securely, and more.
There are also some pretty great security extras for browsing in Cuba. Double VPN servers route your internet traffic through 2 VPN servers instead of 1, giving you extra encryption (though it will slow down your speeds). Another of my favorites is the advanced kill switch — it includes an app-based kill switch, which lets you choose which apps won’t be able to connect to the internet if the VPN connection is lost.
NordVPN works with all of the top international streaming apps, as well as local ones like Cuba TV and Cubavisión. It also supports P2P traffic on all of its servers and works with popular torrenting clients — plus, it has SOCKS5 proxies which enable faster speeds for downloading.
I also like that NordVPN’s apps have multiple connection automation. For example, you can set up NordVPN to connect you to a server near Cuba whenever you connect to a public Wi-Fi hotspot.
NordVPN’s plans ($2.99 / month) are very competitive, and each purchase is backed with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN’s excellent range of security features is perfect for secure file downloads and sharing. It also has great extras like Double VPN connections and an app-based kill switch, good streaming and torrenting support, and customizable apps. All of its plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Surfshark — Beginner-Friendly VPN With Affordable Plans
Surfshark’s apps are very easy to navigate, as its settings and features come with helpful explanations. They all include a quick-connect button that connects you to the fastest server, and the VPN lists the previous servers you connected to — allowing you to connect to them with 1 click.
What’s more, this is one of the most affordable VPNs on the market. So it’s a great pick if you’re in need of a value-packed VPN for Cuba but are on a budget. Plus, Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so it’s great if everyone in your family wants to safely surf the web in Cuba.
It also has great security extras. One of the best ones is Rotating IP, which changes your IP address every 5 minutes without disconnecting you from the VPN. This is good for privacy, but I like ExpressVPN’s ShuffleIP more since it changes your IP for every new website, instead of on a set schedule. It also has obfuscation called Camouflage Mode, and Double VPN servers that you can fully customize by choosing your own entry and exit servers.
Surfshark offers budget-friendly plans ($1.99 / month), which are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark is great for beginners because of its user-friendly interface. It also has strong security features like Double VPN, obfuscation, and Rotating IP, affordable plans, and 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 followed SafetyDetective’s proven testing methodology to find the best VPNs for Cuba out of dozens of options. I prioritized speeds to combat Cuba’s limited internet infrastructure, security and privacy tools to stay safe on public Wi-Fi hotspots, and more. Here are the exact criteria I evaluated to make my list:
- I looked for servers near Cuba. Most top VPNs don’t have servers in Cuba, so you’ll need a VPN that has server locations near Cuba. All VPNs on this list provide access to servers in countries near Cuba, such as the Bahamas, Panama, and Mexico, and ExpressVPN even has a Cuba server location.
- I chose VPNs that work in restrictive countries. The government of Cuba limits access to the internet. They also disapprove of using VPNs. That said, the customer support agents from my top recommendations confirmed their VPNs work in Cuba.
- I selected VPNs with strong security features. Each VPN on this list has industry-standard security features, like 256-bit AES encryption, IPv6, WebRTC, or DNS leak protection, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch, which disables your internet connection if your VPN connection drops.
- I picked VPNs with fast speeds. All VPNs slow down your speeds because it takes time to encrypt your traffic. But top VPNs are able to minimize the speed loss, so it becomes unnoticeable. ExpressVPN provided me with the fastest speeds in my tests.
- I considered streaming and P2P support. Ideally, you want a VPN that works with all of your favorite streaming services. The VPN should also allow torrenting on its servers, specifically the ones near Cuba.
- I searched for VPNs with good value. The VPN should allow at least 5 connections, have affordable plans, and come with a generous money-back guarantee.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- PrivateVPN. PrivateVPN works in restrictive countries, has good streaming support, and allows 10 device connections. Unfortunately, it’s not as fast as the others on my list and is missing WebRTC leak protection.
- Proton VPN. Proton VPN has servers in 112 countries, including near Cuba, and good streaming support, but it doesn’t always work in restricted countries.
- TunnelBear. TunnelBear is a really user-friendly VPN with cute bear puns all over the app, but it doesn’t work with as many streaming services, is missing some advanced security features, and doesn’t have a money-back guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best VPN for Cuba?
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for Cuba — it has servers in locations near Cuba, provides the fastest speeds on the market, and has industry-leading security features. It also comes with user-friendly apps and excellent streaming and P2P support.
Can I use a free VPN for Cuba?
Maybe, but I don’t recommend this. Many free VPNs have small server networks and don’t have servers near Cuba. Moreover, they lack advanced security features to keep your data safe and have slow speeds.
Instead, I recommend getting a premium VPN like ExpressVPN. It has servers near Cuba, blazing-fast speeds, and advanced security features that will protect your data from hackers when using public Wi-Fi hotspots in Cuba.
Is using a VPN allowed in Cuba?
Yes, you can use a VPN in Cuba. However, it’s a gray area, as VPNs aren’t explicitly illegal but Cuba bans “anonymizing and encryption tools”, which may include VPNs. So, I still recommend researching the local laws to make sure that you’re not doing anything illegal.
Which VPN works in Cuba?
All the VPNs on this list work in Cuba and have server locations near Cuba. My top pick, ExpressVPN, has servers in countries near Cuba, such as Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama, as well as one server location in Cuba itself for staying secure using local services and sites — and it also comes with fast speeds, advanced security features, and user-friendly apps.
