There is a great deal of internet censorship in Qatar, limiting massive amounts of very popular and commonly used sites and web services. This means that if you were to log onto the internet when in Qatar, you won’t be able to use familiar sites like Netflix, Facebook and many, many more.
If you plan on travelling there, sign up for a VPN Qatar can handle in that before you go, you will be able to get around these content blocks, and prevent your activity from being monitored. A VPN will allow you to appear to log on from a different location, thus by-passing the content restrictions. The VPN we recommend is NordVPN.
Best VPN For Qatar get NordVPN today.
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Why Can’t I Unblock Websites in Qatar?
Qatar is one of the most online countries in the Arab region, as its internet user base has soared in recent years. However, they have massive amounts of censorship that many visitors may find surprising. Content that is likely to be blocked can include, but is certainly not limited to:
- pornography
- LGBT content
- content related to sexual health and education
- politically sensitive material
- social sites and communication tools
- dating sites
In addition, the government has surveillance software that they use to monitor and track its internet users. If this doesn’t appeal to you, I highly recommend you sign up for a VPN before crossing into their airspace.
Why Use a VPN in Qatar?
A VPN is a Virtual Private Network, and what it does is give you your own private network through a separate server altogether that the host company provides. This server is safe and secure, and with it they’ll make sure that you can access any content you want, totally anonymously.
In addition, they’ll even encrypt your data, protecting you from things like identity theft and fraud, and conceal your IP address. Your IP address is the code found in any Wi-Fi enabled device that gives servers your location information. By concealing this location information, you can not only get around regional content blocks, but further guarantee your anonymity.
Since most censorship circumvention sites are blocked in Qatar, you’ll want to look into finding and signing up for the best VPN for Qatar before you board your plane since many people find their usual VPN not working in Qatar.
Is Using a VPN in Qatar Legal?
There is often a gray area when it comes to using VPNs, where certain online content is illegal to access. Using a VPN in Qatar is officially 100% legal, although the government takes an active interest in your internet activity and therefore they may instruct internet service providers (ISPs) to block VPN servers. Technically it is legal to use a VPN, as long as you don’t use said VPN to break the country’s laws, such as use it to watch adult content. This means it is very important to find and use a VPN in Qatar that has not been blocked. Make sure to double check with the VPN provider that you choose to use before downloading, because it might be a VPN Qatar has banned use of.
Best VPN for Qatar – Top 5
Not all VPNs are created equal. Here are a few of the more popular companies and how they compare.
#1 NordVPN
NordVPN is another great option for a using a VPN in Qatar, and is almost as good as Express VPN! With a very secure tunnel to tunnel encryption, you can rest assured that your IP address will remain totally anonymous, allowing you to browse anything from politically sensitive material all the way to pornography and dating sites without having to worry.
With NordVPN you will be able to to connect to 6 devices at least, at one single time, meaning if you have a variety of devices in the house, or even other people that want to share the same VPN with you at home, you will all be able to connect at once.
The only issue with NordVPN is that occasionally you may find it to be a touch slow and find yourself connecting from server to server until you find one running at a good speed. For this reason we have given NordVPN 8/10 and knocked off a couple of marks.
Cost:
- $11.95 a month
- $7.00 a month for a three-month plan
- $5.75 a month for a 12-month plan billed annually
Throw in a 30 day free trial and there’s not much to lose.
1 Month
24 Months
12 Months
#2 ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Qatar
ExpressVPN is the fastest, most reliable connection you’ll find with VPN software. If you find your VPN not working in Qatar, you can be sure that this one will! It has plenty of bandwidth, so you’ll be able to use everything from streaming services to communication software totally seamlessly, with no buffering or freezing to slow you down.
They also have a great customer service team, available 24/7 via live chat or e-mail to help you out. Their average e-mail response time is less than 30 minutes, so you’re never waiting overnight for an answer to a question.
In addition, Express VPN works on all of your Wi-Fi enabled devices, and can even be used on more than one at the same time without purchasing an additional service plan. This coupled with the fact that they have server locations all over the world makes ExpressVPN the best choice for circumventing content blocks in Qatar.
With content blocks in Qatar limiting access to the freedom of religious speech as well as watching porn, searching any form of nudity or even making calls via WhatsApp and skype, using Express VPN will give you the ability of using these services and browsing with total anonymity (that means zero logs!). You can browse and surf to your heart’s desire without having to worry about the government watching over your shoulder.
Cost:
- $12.95 for one month
- $9.99 a month – for a six-month plan
- $6.67 a month – for a 15-month plan (includes three months free!)
If you’re not sure about using a VPN, Express VPN has you covered with their 30 day money back guarantee. Plus, if you decide you like the service and get a friend to sign up, you’ll both get a month of service totally free through their referral program.
1 Month
12 Months + 3 Months FREE
6 Months
#3 PureVPN
PureVPN is also ranked relatively high specifically for use as VPN Qatar can work in. Their Gulf VPN server network delivers a particularly high performance, making speeds high. There are also servers surrounding the Qatar area in the UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Bahrain. Though it is not as consistent as some other VPNs such as Express VPN and NordVPN, it is still a very decent VPN service.
The app could do with a bit of jazzing up but overall PureVPN has impressive privacy features and is a reliable way of accessing sensitive information in Qatar.
Cost:
- $10.95 a month
- $9.00 a month for a three-month plan
- $2.80 a month for a 24-month plan billed annually
PureVPN offers a 7-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can have a free trial for one week, risk free!
1 Month
6 Months
1 Year
#4 HideMyAss
HideMyAss is a fast VPN that keeps you streaming and gaming without any lags or delays. It’s successful at unblocking Netflix and other geo-restricted content that you otherwise can’t access from Qatar so you can stay current with your favorite TV shows.
It’s important that a Qatar VPN protect you from surveillance and HideMyAss’ OpenVPN encryption protocols succeed in hiding your internet activity from the authorities and your personal details from hackers.
HideMyAss has fairly good customer service via live chat or email. With servers in almost 200 countries including two within Qatar itself, you can switch your IP address to almost anywhere in the world.
Cost:
- $11.52 a month
- $8.33 a month – for a six-month plan
- $6.56 a month – for a 12-month plan
Plus, there is a 30-day money back guarantee, so you can try it out and then see if you like it enough to continue.
#5 SaferVPN
Another solid recommendation for using a VPN in Qatar is SaferVPN – and we think it’ll give ExpressVPN a real run for its money! With a 256-bit encryption, a fabulous no-logs policy and unlimited bandwidth and speed, you can access pretty much anything and everything you could want to, for as long as you want to – no speed or browsing caps here!
The only downside is that you can only connect to 2 devices at a time on the simple plan – but if you upgrade to the premium plan, you can connect with up to five devices bat any one time.
However, with the 700+ servers, and 36+ countries available, we doubt you’ll be so hung up on the 2 simultaneous devices. It’s also pretty competitively priced compared to other VPNs on the market:
Cost:
- $4.99 for a one month plan
- $3.49 for a 6 month plan (65% savings)
- $2.99 for a 12 month plan (75% savings)
There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.
1 Month
24 Months
12 Months
Qatar VPN – Best Option to Unblock Web Content
Qatar’s internet censorship is some of the broadest reaching you’ll find, with content blocks on numerous popular sites and services. Fortunately, with a VPN, you can not only get through these blocks, but prevent your activity from being monitored and tracked by government surveillance programs.
A great VPN will give you anonymity and speedy dependable connections while protecting your personal information.
There are many, many VPN services available across the market, all with varying reviews. It is important to choose a reliable, secure and fast connection before your arrival, that is readily available in Qatar, and find the right VPN service to fit your needs.
Make sure to sign up for the most reliable connection and ensure unlimited browsing with NordVPN to give you total online freedom.
I was using Express Vpn on this websites recommendations and it was of great help it did work for 2 months but from past month and half i cannot connect to it in qatar. Seems like it has been blocked here. If i am not in qatar it still works but not here. Anyoneelse facing dame problem?
HI SR, I did check with ExpressVPN, they are asking if you can contact ExpressVPN support, they have a live human chat support.
According to ExpressVPN they do not know of any issues or blockage with their VPN servers and Qatar, I’m sure they can help you resolve this issue.
Hi SR, Please get in touch with ExpressVPN directly. (They have a live chat option.) According to our contact, ExpressVPN is NOT currently blocked in Qatar.
IPVanishVPN can be downloaded for Qatar software for free, but the user needs to become a member to enjoy the protection. IPVanish has over 850 servers to choose from, which are located across 60 countries. One of their biggest benefits is that, user can connect as many devices as he likes and they are some of the most affordable VPNs out there. They also offer great support, fantastic encryption and great quality protocols to keep the user safe no matter what he does online. This is an affordable VPN for most users in Qatar.
Even though ExpressVPN tops the list, isn’t the high cost a disadvantage for the user here as a VPN is needed for long-term uses in Qatar?
Hello! You’re correct that IPVanish is a top contender for customers who need a VPN in Qatar. Free versions tend to be a good way to get a glimpse of what a VPN can offer, but they oftentimes are accompanied by restrictions relting to which features and protections are available. We have consistently rated IPVanish among the top VPN services, and it continues to test well in our reviews. We rank ExpressVPN as our top service for several reasons, including its great blend of speed and privacy, but we understand that not everyone can pay their subscription for a long-term plan. That’s why we always include several alternatives, which incorporate different price points, subscription lengths, and features that can fit a wide variety of needs. While we still think ExpressVPN is the top choice, any of the VPN services we list in our article would be great alternatives. Let us know which way you choose to go!
I am in Qatar on business. This post is a lifesaver, you can’t possibly imagine. I’ve been missing out on Netflix and it’s quite exciting to think that is over. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks.
One thing you should try if you’re having problems with access in Qatar is to use IPVanish. They now have a feature where you can use a SOCKS5 proxy in order to access blocked sites. I’ve had success in using this to get past content blocks in China. I can’t “guarantee” it will work in Qatar, but if it works in China……
i use Express vpn and it works good in most of the countries and in Qatar it also good.
Like many other nations in this part of the world, the Internet in Qatar is heavily censored with regards to pornography and a lot of other restricted stuff. Thanks for The heads up
How can I be sure that the government in Qatar won’t be able to detect these VPN’s? I don’t want any trouble.
Hi! As far as we have found in our research, Qatar has not made VPNs illegal. This means a few things for one. The government, while officially not participating in censorship, does set laws that allow ISPs to do so. However, they have not made any overt mention of punishing users who browse with a VPN. Though you may want to add more layers of security (such as Tor) if you’re concerned, you should be able to use your VPN freely without worrying about getting in trouble.
Hello writer! Am Frank. Just moved to Qatar with my family and am very concerned about restrictions, getting arrested or deported over what I browse or download from the internet, so looking for the best VPN for me… Seeing that this Top-5 is 2 years old, which would be your #1 choice today?
I do see that ExpressVPN is #1 overall as of April 15, 2017, but it offers support for only 1 simultaneous computer, and i need at least 2.
Thanks!
Hi Frank, This article was just recently updated and we apologize for not writing so in the article. Actually, ExpressVPN allows you to connect up to 3 devices in a single subscription. So you should have no issues connecting all your devices to the VPN.
Thank you, now I can use Whats app with freedom. Express VPN is really helping me out. You are guys are live savours. Thanks again!!!
I am always left with this question, “Why Can’t I Unblock Websites in Qatar?” until ai came across this post. It has really helped.
Thanks.
Contrary to Blibber’s comment, I use IPVanish here in Qatar and its working perfectly. I even access blocked sites and I love it.
You probably should try IPVanish. Been using that without issues.
IPVanish VPN can be used on all popular platforms and has intuitive operation. Its user friendly.
All three of these are blocked in Qatar
Hi Blibber,
I investigated following your message, and there are subscriptions from Qatar for ExpressVPN just last week. Please get in touch with their customer service so someone can help you. They are very quick to assist.
Facebook and Netflix aren’t blocked in Qatar — there’s even a Qatar version of Netflix. I use both everyday. You can’t get the US or UK version of Netflix though, even with most VPNs these days. A bigger problem is accessing VPN sites in order to sign up in the first place — ExpressVPN is blocked, for example.
Hi McGreig,
You can maybe use a DNS proxy in that case.