The Best VPNs for Portugal
Why Use a VPN in Portugal?
There are many reasons why people who live in Portugal choose to use a VPN. Firstly, using a Virtual Private Network gives you a level of security that you wouldn’t be able to get while using the internet the regular way. You won’t have to worry about using public WiFi hotspots when using a VPN as your private data will be encrypted and is therefore safe from hackers and data thieves. Not only will your connection be safer in public but also at home too, using your own internet connection – which is always at risk no matter how many safety features you use. Your connection is always anonymous when you use a VPN as you can select from numerous IP addresses dotted around the world. This means that you can safely download and stream movies and TV shows anonymously.
Another reason why a VPN can be useful in Portugal is that it allows you to bypass strict geographical blocking. If you have ever tried to watch your favorite local shows online once you have left the country you will have probably experienced geo-blocking. Choosing an alternative IP address allows you to access websites such as US Netflix anywhere in the world.
The Top VPNs for Portugal
#1 ExpressVPN
There’s really nothing negative we can say about ExpressVPN as it always comes up tops for most features. Those looking for a VPN in Portugal which will allow them to watch their favorite local streaming sites while out of the country will not be disappointed with this service as it gives you a fast connection and excellent download speeds. In fact, ExpressVPN boasts over 1700 servers in 100 countries to choose from, meaning bypassing geo-blocks is super easy and fast. Using the very best 256-bit encryption, your private data will be safe and anonymous at all times. In the unlikely event that their servers were hacked, your information would be unreadable. As an added security feature, ExpressVPN provides a kill switch which will shut your connection down if your VPN cuts out for whatever reason.
If you’re not 100% happy with the VPN then you will be able to take advantage of their 30-day money back guarantee: a feature that always gives us confidence in a brand. There are a range of different subscriptions available which will suits all needs and budgets too. If you do decide to stay, however, the company are offering a SPECIAL DEAL to Secure Thoughts readers: which is 3 months free (49% off their annual subscription plan) – check out the full review here. If you have any queries regarding this service in Portugal or have signed up and have encountered any issues, your questions are likely to be answered fast as ExpressVPN offers very good customer service with a quick response rate.
#2 SurfShark
If you have ever tried to download a movie with a slow connection speed or encountered frustrating buffering issues as you stream then you will be fully aware of how important it is to have a fast connection speed. SurfShark provides a very good connection speed for content streamed in Portugal and offers 500 servers in 50 different countries to choose from. One of the best features that this VPN provider offers is unlimited device use, which essentially means that you can use the virtual private network on any of your electronic devices (smartphone, laptop, iPad) to give you the ultimate private and safe connection – most VPN service providers only allow you to connect up to x3 devices at any one time.
SurfShark offers a high level of security and features an ad blocker, malware blocker enterprise-grade infrastructure, and a strict no-logging policy. The no-logging policy means that your details are not stored on their server, so you can remain anonymous and safe at all times. The company provides several packages that are affordable. We found that the two-year subscription plan provided the best value for money on the whole.
Check out the full review here.
#3 CyberGhost
When you’re using a VPN service to bypass geo-blocks on television and movie content then it’s important to stay safe and anonymous. CyberGhost allows you to fully hide your IP address and it does this by sharing the same IP addresses with all of its users so that the address can never be traced back to just one user. Clever stuff. Using high-tech encryption methods, this VPN provider is a safe option for people based in Portugal and have approximately 3,000 servers in many different countries, which gives you access to pretty fast connection speeds. The company offers a range of subscription packages which are suitable for all budgets and if you’re unsure about the VPN, they provide a 60-day money back guarantee. Their customer service team has a fantastic reputation with quick response rates.
You can read the full review here.
#4 NordVPN
Certain types of internet price plans are allowed in Portugal that are usually banned by most net neutrality rules. This means that certain sites might not be accessible to people in Portugal that do not have a subscription to specific packages. An easy way to bypass blurry net neutrality rules is to use a virtual private network provider such as NordVPN which will allow you to choose your own IP address from a variety of addresses located around the world. This brand is marketed as “the internet with no borders” as it allows its users access to geo-blocked content.
NordVPN is renowned for providing tough military-grade encryption and are one of the safest VPN providers on the market as they offer multiple layers of security such as a no-logging policy, a kill switch feature and impenetrable encryption. Users in Portugal can feel safe using this VPN in public areas using shared WiFi as well as at home using their own internet connection. If you’re not sure about the VPN and wish to try another to compare, then you will be pleased to know that the virtual private network provider offers a 30-day money back guarantee.
You can read the full review here.
Privacy Laws & Regulations in Portugal
Portugal is a relatively free country when it comes to the internet and you shouldn’t find your favorite websites censored. They do, however, have blurry rules when it comes to net neutrality. Net neutrality is when internet service providers treat all internet communications the same and do not favor any based on content or cost. In Portugal, they favor this law but also allow internet service providers to offer price packages which gives its users access to certain sites such as social media etc, at an extra cost. This isn’t technically how net neutrality works and residents of Portugal could find themselves paying more to access the websites that they wish.
You can bypass these rules by using a VPN which allow you to choose an IP address from a different country.
Streaming in Portugal
When you use a VPN it means that you will be able to access your favorite Portuguese shows whilst away from home. It will also allow you to access the latest Netflix content using a US IP address and signing into US Netflix.
Here are the most popular streaming sites in Portugal:
If you guessed that this website would be on our list then well done – you’ve recognized that Netflix is one of the largest and most popular streaming sites in the world! Residents in Portugal regularly log into their accounts to access thousands of television shows, movies and documentaries each day and may never have encountered any problems – until they visit another country! Your Portuguese Netflix account is for sole use in Portugal and many of the shows that you currently watch will be unavailable anywhere else. This can be very annoying if you’re midway through a series then leave the country and sign into your account only to realize that it’s been blocked. An easy way to fix this problem would be to use a good VPN provider and login using an alternative IP address. By using the same method, you will be able to access US Netflix too – which is renowned to have better content and show movies as soon as they are released.
On Streema you can watch over 20 Portuguese television channels live. On this website, you will find links to a whole host of entertainment, news, religious, political and cultural sites. You can also catch the latest radio shows on Streema. You might find that Streema is geo-blocked in certain countries, blocking you from watching your favorite local tv shows. You might also find yourself experiencing slow connection speeds too – the easy solution? Use a VPN.
Another super popular website for streaming content online. YouTube is the go-to website in Portugal for music videos, movies, TV shows and videos of cats doing the most ridiculous things – where would we be without it? Using a VPN will ensure that your connection is 100% secure and anonymous so no one can hack into your account whilst you’re online.
Bottom Line – Why You Need a VPN in Portugal
The reasons for using a VPN in Portugal are endless.
Staying Safe Online
When you use public WiFi to do anything involving personal information: online banking, checking emails or using social media, you are leaving yourself wide open to data thieves. Why take the risk when you can use an encrypted service that will keep you totally safe? When your connection is encrypted your data is essentially scrambled, so it’s unreadable in the wrong hands.
Bypass Geo-Blocking
Many well-known torrent sites and download sites have been banned in Portugal. You can bypass this easily by using an alternative IP address from a VPN provider to “communicate” to the internet provider that you’re in a different location. Access US Netflix with a VPN and access your favorite streaming sites when you leave on vacation too.
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