The Best VPNs for California in 2026

Whether in this state or abroad, the best VPN for California will come in handy on multiple occasions. If you’re there, a VPN will help you preserve your privacy and avoid issues like ISP monitoring, copyright trolls, and geo-blocks. Abroad, you might want a Californian IP address.

In this case, you can use a VPN to claim an IP address from California and access local content – out-of-market NFL matches, perhaps. No doubt, this service brings ample benefits to the table. From privacy and security to unblocking content, torrenting, and anonymous browsing.

Our cybersecurity researchers have come up with a list for you. A special list of the top-rated VPNs to use in California and abroad to achieve all of the said effects. This guide will also contain free VPNs for California that performed well in our extensive tests. Stick around until the end to find out more about our favorite picks.

Best VPNs for California: 5 Premium Options

We’ll assume you already know what is a VPN so we won’t babble about its benefits that much. Let’s get straight to our list and see which providers our team of experts recommends to use in and out of California:

1. NordVPN – the absolute best VPN provider overall
2. ExpressVPN – fast, stable, and secure VPN for California
3. Private Internet Access – servers in all American states
4. Proton VPN – extensive security and privacy in and out of California
5. Surfshark – unlimited simultaneous connections in all plans

We recommend picking NordVPN as the best option in all departments. However, if you’d like to find out more about each provider, read our detailed reviews.

1. NordVPN

Starting with NordVPN, this provider is an absolute beast. You get everything here – from 7,300+ servers in 118 countries to fast and reliable servers in California. NordVPN excels in security, offering options like a Double VPN, Threat Protection Pro, and a solid kill switch.

A Double VPN is our favorite feature because it encrypts your traffic twice. This is handy to enhance your privacy but also keep your ISP from snooping around. NordVPN is often used for safe torrenting in the USA, thanks to dedicated P2P servers whose performance is top-tier.

Speaking of which, NordVPN is currently the fastest VPN for California. In our tests, NordVPN had almost no impact on our internet speeds. With these results, you can even stream Netflix in 4K or watch Pornhub in California without a hitch. NordVPN is privacy-friendly.

On its site, you can easily find the no-log policy that has been audited by PwC and Deloitte a few times. NordVPN also uses RAM servers to add to its trustworthiness, plus Private DNS, to help conceal your DNS queries. Ease of use is its strong point, which is why many users love it.

As the best VPN for California in 2026, the provider works on all devices. You can install it on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and even Firestick. With 10 simultaneous connections, protecting all your devices is a walk in the park – one of NordVPN’s standout features.

In general, this premium VPN for California has no notable downsides. Its price is low too, and with a 70% discount on all of its 2-year plans, you can make significant savings.

Try out NordVPN risk-free thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.

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2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is another all-arounder with an impressive biography. Its history and present are filled with millions of satisfied users who praise its privacy, security, and speed. You’re getting 3,000+ servers worldwide, with 22+ locations in the USA alone – California included.

The VPN uses 10 Gbps servers too, allowing for unrestricted speeds across all devices. It’s suitable for watching Netflix or unblocking Hotstar while also downloading torrents or playing games with no lag. ExpressVPN’s security is no less impressive, which is great.

Users will enjoy 256-bit encryption with a kill switch and DNS leak prevention. Our tests of ExpressVPN showed absolutely no leaks. The entire “deal” is spiced up with Advanced Protection, which protects against malicious sites, trackers, and ads on all systems.

ExpressVPN also offers split tunneling and all plans include Keys, a password manager that we found useful in many situations. One thing to note is that ExpressVPN lacks a Double VPN but on the other hand, has a no-logging policy and over 18 third-party audits.

ExpressVPN is also the best VPN for California for ease of use. Its apps are elementary, fast, and snappy, plus, they look identical on all systems. While it offers “only” 8 simultaneous connections, we reckon they’ll be enough for an average California VPN user with one phone, computer, laptop, and a Smart TV or tablet.

The only downside of this amazing VPN for California is the price. However, you can decrease it by 61% thanks to the 4 free months you get for the 2-year plan. This makes ExpressVPN more approachable, even though it’s still way more expensive than NordVPN.

Visit ExpressVPN

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3. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is ExpressVPN’s sister company, so it must be respectable. Well, it is, especially considering its 30,000+ servers, locations across the entire USA, and ironclad privacy. PIA is stationed in the USA, which many find iffy, but that’s irrelevant at this point.

The provider has one of the best no-log policies around, subsequently proven in court where the authorities couldn’t extract a single bit of data from the provider. We listed it as one of the best privacy-focused VPNs for a reason! PIA’s forte, apart from privacy, is security.

PIA uses 256-bit GCM encryption that you can downgrade to 128-bit GCM for better performance. In addition, it packs the WireGuard protocol that allows the VPN to perform reliably and be one of the top picks for California and abroad. Its speeds are average, though.

However, it’s more than enough for gaming, streaming, or torrenting. We like its addition of Shadowsocks, which PIA uses in its MultiHop feature to obfuscate your VPN traffic. This is useful to bypass censorship and use the VPN in restricted networks in school, for instance.

Private Internet Access also includes things like port forwarding, SOCKS5, and MACE – the latter blocks ads and trackers. Its apps come with an advanced kill switch and split tunneling for added customization. Have we mentioned its unlimited simultaneous connections?

Now we have. This, in conjunction with a “dangerously” cheap 2-year plan with 2 free months, makes PIA nearly the #1-rated VPN for California. Imagine paying just over $2 a month for a powerful provider. It’s not a dream, wake up. You can get this with Private Internet Access.

Visit Private Internet Access

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4. Proton VPN

While NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and PIA are our favorite VPNs with servers in California, we can’t stress how much we love Proton VPN. This Swiss giant smashes ISP monitoring, censorship, and other fluff with Secure Core servers that offer powerful AES encryption.

Besides, Proton VPN also has 3,000+ American VPN servers including those in California. All are RAM-based and offer 10 Gbps performance, which, coupled with WireGuard, makes Proton VPN stable. Again, its performance isn’t otherworldly but that’s why it’s at #4.

Proton VPN’s forte is anonymity, which is exemplified by the fact that it doesn’t keep logs of your IP address and browsing history. You’ll also find many privacy features in the app, such as NetShield which blocks trackers, or IPv6 leak protection for a thick layer of security.

Proton VPN even includes dedicated streaming, torrenting, and Onion over VPN servers. We frequently used them to watch US Netflix, download torrents, and visit the dark web for fun. ProtonVPN’s apps are some of the best around as well, looking modern and high-tech.

They’re equipped with many customization choices, some of which are split tunneling and various connection options. Proton VPN lacks Smart DNS, however, and it’s a tad more expensive than PIA, making this reputable VPN for California a tad inferior in comparison.

However, its recent price reductions made Proton VPN quite a competitor. Its 2-year plan at around $3.6 a month sounds impressive considering it offers 10 simultaneous connections, 24/7 live chat support, unlimited bandwidth, and everything else we mentioned. It is not the cheapest VPN for California, but it is not far from it.

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5. Surfshark

Surfshark is another great VPN for California in 2026 to top off our list. At #5, the provider performs a bit slower than NordVPN and ExpressVPN but everything else is pristine. Let us remind you that it packs unlimited simultaneous connections, which is already majestic.

The provider has over 3,200 servers in 100 countries, too. Its list contains California VPN servers that you can use to get an IP address from this state. Apart from that, Surfshark is the most impressive pick on the list for Netflix, with 30+ unblockable catalogs – more than others.

Surfshark’s MultiHop connections are amazing, and despite two encryption layers, they’re surprisingly fast. The same could be said about its NoBorders mode with obfuscation that makes Surfshark usable in censored regions like China, Iran, Turkey, and Russia.

The provider includes an ad blocker plus an IP Rotation function that alters your IP periodically while keeping your connection active. While it’s based in the Netherlands (9 Eyes), it’s still a no-log service that won’t keep tabs on your internet journey.

Its base version is extremely affordable at just over $2 a month. However, if you opt for a mid-tier plan, which is marginally more expensive, Surfshark includes Search, an anonymous browser, and Antivirus, which works surprisingly well against viruses and malware.

It’s essentially 360-degree security software for a few greens a month, making it a suitable VPN for California if you don’t want to buy antivirus and malware protection separately. Visit its website through the button below and discover Surfshark’s true power today.

Visit Surfshark

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Our Favorite Free VPNs for California

Now, we move on to free VPNs for California. Frankly, these aren’t our go-to options because they lack the features, performance, and security of our premium providers. However, we understand that some people don’t want to pay or simply don’t have enough money to subscribe to a VPN service.

We won’t be defeatists and say you can’t find a good free VPN for California. You certainly can. Most of them, however, are poor and don’t offer exceptional value. Because of that, our experts cherry-picked only two providers we think are suitable for California.

Proton VPN (Free)

We already mentioned this provider as one of the best premium VPNs for California but not as a free provider. Well, the great news is that the company offers a 100% free plan that you can use without bandwidth restrictions! Better yet, security and privacy are fully preserved!

The free version offers the same AES-256-bit encryption, a no-log policy, and OpenVPN/WireGuard protocols. Proton VPN is missing Secure Core servers in the free version and NetShield won’t be there to block ads. We don’t think that’s a huge deal.

Besides, as a free user, you can still take advantage of RAM servers, IP/DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and split tunneling. Mac VPN users can also employ Stealth VPN, which applies obfuscation and masks your VPN traffic. The free version is unlimited but sadly, very slow.

Proton VPN’s free plan limits you to 1 Gbps speeds and offers just a couple of locations. At the time of writing, there are only 5, such as Romania, Poland, Holland, the USA, and Japan but you can’t choose one because you’re automatically assigned the fastest server based on your location. Another drawback is the lack of P2P, which completely blocks torrenting.

Streaming is also a no-go here, so Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services won’t work abroad. We must stress that you won’t get simultaneous connections either, and while the provider will support all devices, you’ll be able to protect only one at a given time. Shame.

So overall, this is far from the most reputable VPN for California but a good choice if your budget is zero. Don’t expect miracles. They don’t exist in the free VPN market.

Use Proton VPN for Free

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Hide.me

Hide.me follows in the very similar footsteps of its competitor. It’s a really free VPN for California with servers in 8 locations – the USA, the Netherlands, Germany, and a few more. The VPN is usable in California and abroad, offering staggering security and privacy.

We love Hide.me’s no-log policy that applies to free users, which is always commendable. There’s also OpenVPN and WireGuard support, and the provider uses full-on RAM servers with 256-bit encryption akin to its premium version. Some features are missing, however.

The free version, as expected, lacks speed but also extras like MultiHop, Bolt Proxy, P2P support, and streaming prowess. It’s a great idea to offer unlimited bandwidth, which Hide.me does, but that often comes with a caveat of P2P/streaming restrictions.

Its apps are simple enough for beginners. It works on all devices but does not allow simultaneous connections. We should warn you that Hide.me is not as fast as it used to be, so do not expect its speeds to be similar to NordVPN. Unlike Proton VPN, it offers 24/7 support.

This is realized through live chat which can be used to get help at any moment. Other than that, Hide.me isn’t impressive compared to the best California VPNs we presented. In the world of free providers, it’s actually pretty good, if not one of the best we ever tested.

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Why Use a VPN in California?

Is a VPN in California necessary? No.

A VPN isn’t necessary and it’s a completely optional extra if you want to improve your online privacy, unblock content, and much more. If you decide to get one and the decision is set in stone, here’s why it’s smart to use a VPN in California, as a tourist or native.

• Bypassing geo-restrictions. If you want to access streaming services and sites abroad that won’t work in your state (BBC, 9Now, Hotstar, …), a VPN can help. It’ll change your IP to another location and permit access. The same applies to bypassing porn blocks as a result of age verification that will strike California. Again, a VPN can aid porn unblocking and allow for free access to Pornhub, XNXX, and other sites.
• Improving privacy. California is no stranger to surveillance and ISP monitoring. You can use this service to encrypt your traffic and become untraceable in seconds. This will prevent your ISP from tracking you and handing your sensitive information to the authorities.
• Torrenting privately. Torrenting and the USA don’t go together well. California is stuffed with copyright trolls and frowns upon torrenting, so doing it without a VPN is unsafe. Encrypting your traffic and then starting a download is sensible and completely safe.
• Avoiding ISP throttling. ISPs can deliberately slow down your internet during bandwidth-intensive activities. This happens during streaming, downloading, gaming, etc. You can prevent this by connecting to one of the best VPNs in California. It will conceal your IP address and prevent your ISP from impacting your connection, thereby, allowing you to fully utilize your internet speed.

How to Get an IP Address from California?

Traveling overseas can be awesome if you need a rest from your everyday life. There’s a caveat – not being able to access local content. Well, if you pick a reputable VPN for California with servers in this state, you have nothing to fear from.

Such a service can provide you with a Californian IP address in seconds, no matter where you are. Here’s how to get a Californian IP address using NordVPN – our recommended pick:

• Get NordVPN if you haven’t already. Pick one of its 2-year plans for the highest savings.
• Install NordVPN on your device.
• Open NordVPN and sign in to the app using your email and password.
• Unwrwap the server list, find the USA, and press the three horizontal dots next to it.
• Click on Los Angeles to connect to a server.

The Bottom Line

Our extensive guide on the best VPNs for California is at its end. We’ve chosen the most reliable picks, such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, PIA, Proton VPN, and Surfshark.

These 5 should satisfy every reader and offer something to look forward to. As you saw, they differ in price as well, but they’re affordable overall, with the price not higher than $4.99 a month.

If you have no budget at all, we have recommended some great free VPNs, such as Proton VPN’s free version and Hide.me. They are great for safety, privacy, and anonymous browsing. With that said, we think you’re equipped with the knowledge to pick the best VPN for your needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yearning to know more about the best VPNs for California? We’ll tackle your questions here.

✅ Are VPNs legal in California?

Yes, they are. VPNs are legal in the USA, no matter the state, county, or city you’re in. Using them “legally” won’t have to worry you. However, doing something illicit is still bad, despite the cover of the VPN. Stay on the right side of the law and you can enjoy your VPN without worries.

❌ Is California a censored state?

No. It’s worth knowing that California doesn’t restrict or censor popular websites and social media, as is the case in China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, etc. However, geo-restrictions are still present, which means some websites won’t work. Also, pornography is a “grey area”.

If you can’t access Pornhub, XNXX, and other adult sites because of age verification, a VPN for California will come in handy. Use it to change your IP to another country and overcome these blocks.

💵 What’s the least expensive California VPN?

While NordVPN is the best one, the least expensive picks are Private Internet Access and Surfshark. They cost just over $2/mo and come with 2 and 3 free months respectively. They have different promotions where the number of free months goes up occasionally.

However, no matter how you “twist” it, these two will be your cheapest providers on the list.