Top 5 VPN Services for New Zealand Use

We reveal the top VPNs, outline the pros and cons, ongoing costs and how to save money. Our feature comparison highlights NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Hotspot Shield, IPVanish and TunnelBear side-by-side

Updated 27 November 2020

VPNs are increasingly popular throughout New Zealand and the cost of buying an annual subscription is falling. This guide is designed to explain what you need to know about VPNs and help you make an informed purchase. 

​Our VPN Buying Guide Covers:

• What to look for when choosing a VPN
• Top 5 Best VPNs Available in New Zealand Right Now
• VPN Comparison: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN vs Hotspot Shield vs IPVanish vs TunnelBear

What is a VPN and how does it work?

Each time you do anything online (browsing the news, checking social media, torrenting, streaming), your basic information is seen by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) as well as the recipient. A VPN solves that privacy issue by acting on your behalf as an intermediary. A VPN lets you go anywhere unnoticed, even geo-blocked places. That level of anonymity is what makes VPNs so valuable. 

Browsing without a VPN

Browsing with a VPN

How much does a VPN cost?

How much you pay depends on the service and the exchange rate between the NZD and USD (as all VPN services are priced in USD). With the right deal, you should be able to get a VPN for about NZ$50 to NZ$80 a year. VPN services frequently promote generous discounts to get new customers.

​Top 5 Reasons to Use a VPN in New Zealand

Recent statistics have shown that most people use VPNs to overcome the ever-growing restrictions imposed by several countries to access certain content. In New Zealand, users also find VPNs extremely useful for:

• Streaming geo-blocked content from other countries (Netflix, BBC, Disney Plus, etc)
• Watching New Zealand content (football, rugby, cricket, etc) while outside of New Zealand
• Staying clear from bandwidth caps and/or throttling imposed by ISPs
• Safely using P2P sharing networks
• Protecting their privacy from snoops

 
The best approach to find the right VPN for your needs:
To find the right VPN, you'll need to first decide what your you need the service for and what will influence your choice. Common factors include:

• Accessing geo-blocked content
• Increasing connection speed
• Torrenting
• Protecting privacy
• Price/value for money
• Accessing a variety of countries' IP addresses 

For instance, you might not be interested in watching content from Netflix USA but browsing with a high level of privacy at an affordable price. Or perhaps, you do want to stream content from specific countries like the UK, Australia, USA etc; in that case, you will need a VPN service that covers those specific locations.

What to look for when choosing a VPN

​It is time to talk about a few aspects concerning what to look for when choosing a VPN. We will not overwhelm you with overly technical aspects, but easy to find information that most VPN providers advertise on their websites.

• The total number of servers. The number of servers is a subjective aspect that gives you an idea of the provider size as well as its ability to handle traffic demand from its customer base. Generally, the more the better.
• Countries where the VPN has servers installed. The importance of this aspect varies from one user to another. If you travel outside New Zealand during rugby season and need access to local content as if you where at home then you need a provider with servers in New Zealand. If you want to access Netflix USA content from New Zealand then you have no option but choosing a VPN having servers in the USA to make Netflix think you are streaming from there.
• Simultaneous connections. Once you sign up for a VPN, you will have to download and install their app on each of your devices. You can install the app on as many devices as you want, but each provider has limits on the number of simultaneous connections allowed.
• Geo-blocking support. If bypassing geo-restrictions is important, this is feature is essential. Not all VPNs can bypass Netflix tough geo-blocking algorithms.
• Torrenting support. Similar than with geo-blocking, not all VPN providers allow torrenting in their servers.
• Native support. Arguably this is one of the most overlooked factors. Pay special attention to what devices are supported by the VPN provider. For instance, do not assume that all VPNs support Android or iOS.
• VPN operation headquarters. This is only important if you are serious about privacy. Certain countries (like the United States) have laws in place that force VPN providers to share certain information if required.
• VPN logging policy. One step deeper on the privacy topic, not all VPN providers have the same policy regarding the information they store. If you need the highest level of anonymity then you should pay attention to this factor.
• Bitcoin payments. Yes, this matters from a privacy standpoint too. Bitcoin payments are untraceable, so if your concern for privacy is that high, then you should choose a provider that accept Bitcoins.
• Kill Switch support. Without diving into technical aspects, it is safe to assert that the kill switch feature is desirable. That said, you will notice that not all VPNs offer this feature on all devices. Since this is a high-level privacy feature, we suggest choosing a provider offering the kill switch on as many devices as possible.

Top 5 Best VPNs Available in New Zealand Right Now

Our VPN provider list is based on 15+ key features, prices, speed and server availability. We have a side-by-side VPN comparison to help you see the difference between providers. Best of all, all of the top five VPN services offer (at least) a 30-day money-back guarantee. This lets you try without risk. 

1. NordVPN Review

Pricing: From USD$3.49/month (3-year plan) - 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
 
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, AndroidTV, Chrome, Firefox, and routers

No other VPN service provider is as committed to New Zealanders as NordVPN, based on the servers available locally. Each server incurs costs, so running dozens of them all over New Zealand is a significant investment. More servers imply more bandwidth and less overload hence happier clients. However, not all NordVPN servers offer torrent support; if downloading torrents is your main focus, you probably need to consider other options. However, if you are looking for a VPN with an unbeatable presence in New Zealand, VPN is arguably the best choice. 
 
NordVPN highlights at a glance:

• Counts with a network consisting of 5400+ servers distributed in 59 countries
• Counts with over 30 servers in New Zealand
• Supports up to 6 simultaneous connections on multiple devices
• Does it count with unlimited bandwidth? Yes
• Can it unblock Netflix? Yes
• Can it unblock Spotify? Yes
• Does it support torrenting? Yes, in selected servers
• Native Support: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, AndroidTV, Chrome, Firefox, and routers

 
NordVPN security and privacy:

• Where is based? Panama
• Logs my traffic? No
• Logs my DNS requests? No
• Logs my IP address? No
• Logs my timestamp? No
• Logs my bandwidth? No
• Accepts Bitcoin? Yes
• Kill Switch? Yes, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android 7+, and iOS, details here

 
NordVPN Pros and Cons:
Pros:

• Widest VPN presence in New Zealand with over 30 servers deployed locally
• Double VPN changes IP twice for added privacy
• Updates Netflix geoblocking algorithm regularly

Cons:

• Torrent support not available on all servers
• Doesn’t offer the fastest speeds

More information: NordVPN New Zealand

2. ExpressVPN Review

Pricing: From USD$8.32/month (1-year plan) - 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
 
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, AndroidTV, Samsung Smart Tv, Sony Smart Tv, Apple TV, Fire Stick, Chromecast, Roku, Chrome, Firefox, and routers

Overview: 
Another top-tier contender in the VPN arena is ExpressVPN. With over 3000 servers worldwide, you certainly have a lot of locations to choose from. Unfortunately, ExpressVPN only counts with one server in New Zealand. However, if latency is an issue, you will be happy to know they count with five servers in Australia. Similar to NordVPN, the specialists of ExpressVPN are constantly monitoring popular streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify in order to guarantee their service can effectively “bypass” their geoblocking restrictions. All in all, you can’t go wrong choosing ExpressVPN, they count with world-class customer service along with one of the most secure services in its class.
 
ExpressVPN highlights at a glance:

• Counts with a network consisting of 3000+ servers distributed in 94 countries
• 1 server in New Zealand
• Supports up to 5 simultaneous connections on multiple devices
• Does it count with unlimited bandwidth? Yes
• Can it unblock Netflix? Yes
• Can it unblock Spotify? Yes
• Does it support torrenting? Yes
• Native Support: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, AndroidTV, Samsung Smart Tv, Sony Smart Tv, Apple TV, Fire Stick, Chromecast, Roku, Chrome, Firefox, and routers

 
ExpressVPN security and privacy

• Where is based? The British Virgin Islands
• Logs my traffic? No
• Logs my DNS requests? No
• Logs my IP address? No
• Logs my timestamp? Yes
• Logs my bandwidth? Yes
• Accepts Bitcoin? Yes
• Kill Switch? Only on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and routers, details here

 
ExpressVPN Pros and Cons:
Pros:

• Torrent support on all servers
• Fast and reliable
• Native support for virtually any device that can connect to the Internet

Cons:

• The VPN logs some of your information
• Only one server is available in New Zealand
• Higher monthly cost than most​

More information: ExpressVPN New Zealand

3. Hotspot Shield Review

Pricing: From USD$7.99/month (1-year plan) - 45-Day Money-Back Guarantee
 
Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome

Overview:
If you have been researching VPN options in New Zealand then most probably you already heard about HotspotShield VPN. With a network consisting of 80 countries and over 3000 servers, you have plenty of options to choose from. One of the differentiating points of Hotspot Shield has to do with its speed. Thanks to their proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol, Hotspot shield claim itself to be the fastest VPN provider regardless of your location. While that sounds enough to become the best provider, it does log timestamps, bandwidth, and even the IP address. Moreover, Hotspot Shield does not offer a native Firefox extension nor accept Bitcoin as a payment method. Despite these disadvantages, if you only concern is raw speed, then Hotspot Shield is among the best VPN providers you can find in New Zealand.
 
Hotspot Shield highlights at a glance

• Counts with a network consisting of 3200+ servers distributed in 80 countries
• Counts with an unknown number of servers in New Zealand  (we assume is only one)
• Supports up to 5 simultaneous connections on multiple devices
• Does it count with unlimited bandwidth? Yes
• Can it unblock Netflix? Yes
• Can it unblock Spotify? Yes
• Does it support torrenting? Yes
• Native Support: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome

 
Hotspot Shield security and privacy:

• Where is based? The United States
• Logs my traffic? No
• Logs my DNS requests? Yes
• Logs my IP address? Yes
• Logs my timestamp? Yes
• Logs my bandwidth? Yes
• Accepts Bitcoin? No
• Kill Switch? Only on Windows, details here

 
Hotspot Shield VPN Pros and Cons:
Pros:

• ​Ultra-fast speeds
• Very easy to use
• Torrent support on all servers

Cons:

• Logging policies
• Offers limited native support​

​More information: Hotspot Shield New Zealand

4. IPVanish VPN Review

Pricing: From USD$6.49/month (1-year plan) - 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
 
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Fire TV, and routers

Overview:
Although IPVanish does not count with an impressive number of servers, it certainly has a lot to offer at an affordable price. Firstly, is the only VPN provider in our list that includes 250GB of free cloud storage on all its plans. That alone is a good reason to consider IPVanish as your provider. But there is more. It counts with 5 servers in Auckland to choose from. Add unlimited torrent bandwidth on all its servers and you have an excellent option for anyone who uses P2P sharing services continually. If all that is still not enough then you will be happy to know that IPVanish is the only VPN on our list that let you connect up to ten devices at the same time. All in all, IPVanish offers a good balance of features at a very good price.
 
IPVanish highlights at a glance 

• Counts with a network consisting of 1400+ servers distributed in 75 countries
• Counts with 5 servers in New Zealand (Auckland)
• Supports up to 10 simultaneous connections on multiple devices
• Does it count with unlimited bandwidth? Yes
• Can it unblock Netflix? Yes
• Can it unblock Spotify? Yes
• Does it support torrenting? Yes
• Native Support: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Fire TV, and routers

 
IPVanish security and privacy: 

• Where is based? The United States
• Logs my traffic? No
• Logs my DNS requests? No
• Logs my IP address? No
• Logs my timestamp? No
• Logs my bandwidth? No
• Accepts Bitcoin? No
• Kill Switch? Only on Windows, macOS, and Android, details here

 
IPVanish VPN Pros and Cons:
Pros:

• 250GB SugarSync® encrypted storage & backup included on all plans
• Up to 10 devices can connect at once
• Unlimited bandwidth for torrents on all servers

Cons:​

• Limited New Zealand servers

More information: IPVanish

5. TunnelBear VPN Review

Pricing: From USD$3.33/month (3-year plan) - 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera

​​Overview:
TunnelBear is a relatively new actor in the VPN scene, mostly known because of its free plan. However, in recent years, the company has made huge efforts to earn users’ trust through its Transparency Reports. TunnelBear philosophy is straightforward: “ we strive to give users a clear understanding of how our service operates so they can make informed choices”. Given that VPNs are widely used to bypassing the censorship imposed in many countries, it’s good to see a company taking such an honest approach. Aside from its “transparency philosophy” advantage, TunnelBear offers one of the most affordable VPN services in New Zealand along with an elegant graphical interface and a handy app called RememBear Password Manager. Sadly, all these benefits are somehow overshadowed by TunnelBear inability to bypass streaming services such as Netflix. Nevertheless, if that is not a dealbreaker for you, TunnelBear can offer a good way to anonymously browse the web and download torrents.
 
TunnelBear highlights at a glance

• Counts with a network consisting of 1800+ servers distributed in 23 countries
• Counts with an unknown number of servers in New Zealand (we assume is only one)
• Up to 5 simultaneous connections on multiple devices
• Does it count with unlimited bandwidth? Yes (paid plan only)
• Can it unblock Netflix? No
• Can it unblock Spotify? Yes
• Does it support torrenting? Yes
• Native Support: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera

 
TunnelBear security and privacy:

• Where is based? The United States
• Logs my traffic? No
• Logs my DNS requests? No
• Logs my IP address? No
• Logs my timestamp? No
• Logs my bandwidth? Yes
• Accepts Bitcoin? Yes
• Kill Switch? Only on Windows, and macOS details here

 
TunnelBear VPN Pros and Cons
Pros:

• Affordable 3-year plan
• RememBear Password Manager app to keep your accounts secure
• Publishes regular, independent security audits of its apps

Cons:

• Logs bandwidth usage
• Does not support Netflix

More information: TunnelBear

VPN Comparison: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN vs Hotspot Shield vs IPVanish vs TunnelBear

Choosing between the top VPN providers isn't easy - our comparison charts help you make the right choice.

Monthly Costs & Free Inclusions Comparison: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN vs Hotspot Shield vs IPVanish vs TunnelBear

Ongoing Costs	NordVPN	ExpressVPN	Hotspot Shield	IPVanish	TunnelBear
1-Year Plan	USD$6.99 per month	USD$8.32 per month	USD$7.99 per month	USD$6.49 per month	USD$4.99 per month
3-Year Plan	​USD$3.49 per month	-	-	-	USD$3.33 per month
Money-Back Guarantee	30 days	​30 days	45 days	30 days	30 days
Free Inclusions	ue			​250GB SugarSync® encrypted storage & backup included on all plans	​3-year Remembear Password Manager

Highlights and Features Comparison: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN vs Hotspot Shield vs IPVanish vs TunnelBear

Ongoing Costs	NordVPN	ExpressVPN	Hotspot Shield	IPVanish	TunnelBear
Servers	5,400+	3,000+	3,200+	1,400+	​1,800+
Countries	59	94	80	75	23
NZ based servers?	30	1	Unknown	5	Unknown
Simultaneous connections?	6	5	5	10	5
Bandwidth	Unlimited	Unlimited	​Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Unblocks Netflix?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Unblocks Spotify?	Yes	​Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Torrent Support?	Selected Servers	Yes	​Yes	Yes	Yes
Native support	​Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, AndroidTV, Chrome, Firefox, and routers	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, AndroidTV, Samsung Smart Tv, Sony Smart Tv, Apple TV, Fire Stick, Chromecast, Roku, Chrome, Firefox, and routers	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome	​Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Fire TV, and routers	​Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera

Privacy Highlights Comparison: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN vs Hotspot Shield vs IPVanish vs TunnelBear

Ongoing Costs	NordVPN	ExpressVPN	Hotspot Shield	IPVanish	TunnelBear
Headquarters	USD$6.99 per month	USD$8.32 per month	USD$7.99 per month	USD$6.49 per month	USD$4.99 per month
Logs Traffic	​No	​No	No	No	No
Logs DNS requests	No	No	Yes	No	No
Logs IP address	No	No	Yes	No	No
Logs Timestamps	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Logs Bandwidth	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Accept Bitcoin	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Kill Switch	​Windows, macOS, Linux, Android 7+, and iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and routers	Windows	​Windows, macOS, and Android	Windows and macOS

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