
Puerto Rico has its own country code and its own block of IP addresses, yet most American streaming services treat it as part of the US. Peacock and HBO Max list the island alongside the 50 states. So a VPN here has a different job than in most countries. On the island, it encrypts what you send over shared Wi-Fi in hotels, apartments, and coworking spaces.
Off the island, it works the other way around. A server in Puerto Rico makes your connection look local again, and a US server keeps American services available on a trip abroad. The right VPN depends on which of those two jobs you need it for, but the 5 we presented below do well in both aspects anyway.
Top 5 VPNs for Puerto Rico
- NordVPN: Best overall. US servers in all 50 states and a Puerto Rico location.
- Proton VPN: Best for privacy. Swiss company with open-source apps.
- ExpressVPN: Best for easy setup. Connects in a second or two.
- Private Internet Access: Best budget VPN. Unlimited devices on one subscription.
- Surfshark: Best for streaming. Unblocked Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max in our tests.
Puerto Rico VPNs Compared
| VPN | Puerto Rico location | Speed loss on US servers | Streaming services unblocked | Devices | Price (two-year plan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Yes | 4.7% | 14 of 14 | 10 | About $3.50/month |
| Proton VPN | Yes | 8.8% | 10 of 14 | 10 | Under $3/month |
| ExpressVPN | Yes | 7.0% | 14 of 14 | 10 to 14 | About $3/month |
| Private Internet Access | Yes | 7.7% | 9 of 14 | Unlimited | About $2/month |
| Surfshark | Yes | 10.5% | 13 of 14 | Unlimited | About $2.50/month |
Best VPNs for Puerto Rico in Detail
1. NordVPN: Best Overall VPN for Puerto Rico

Pros
- Puerto Rico location for an island IP address
- US servers in every state
- Unblocked every streaming service we tested
- Shares a home connection with devices abroad
- Independently audited no-logs policy
Cons
- Malware protection only on Complete and up
NordVPN covers both sides of a Puerto Rico connection. It offers servers labeled Puerto Rico for a local IP address, and US servers in 55 cities across all 50 states for everything on the mainland side. It was also the fastest VPN we tested on US servers, with a 4.7% speed loss, so 4K streams and online games work normally.
Beyond speed, NordVPN unblocked every streaming service in our tests, including Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max. Its Meshnet feature also links your own devices over the internet, which helps you get around the Netflix password-sharing ban while you’re away from home.
For extra privacy, Double VPN servers send traffic through two countries, and an outside audit has verified its no-logs policy. The catch is that next-gen antivirus starts at the Complete plan, so choose the Basic plan if the VPN itself is all you want.
On a two-year term, the Basic plan is about $3.50 a month, and a 30-day money-back guarantee covers it, so you can test it without losing money.
2. Proton VPN: Best for Privacy in Puerto Rico

Pros
- Swiss privacy laws
- Open-source apps
- Routes traffic through privacy-friendly countries first
- Puerto Rico and US locations
- Full refund within 30 days
Cons
- Couldn’t unblock Hulu
- No Smart DNS option
Proton VPN is the most private choice for Puerto Rico. The company operates under Swiss law, publishes the code of its apps, and its no-logs policy has been audited every year since 2022. On the paid plan, Secure Core first sends traffic through servers in privacy-friendly countries, and Tor over VPN servers adds the Tor network on top for use with Tor Browser.
As for locations, Proton VPN offers Puerto Rico alongside US servers in 18 states plus Washington, DC. On US servers, it recorded an 8.8% speed loss, enough for 4K and video calls. It unblocked Netflix, Peacock, and HBO Max, but it couldn’t unblock Hulu.
So if Hulu is what you want to keep on a trip abroad, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark is the better choice. There’s also no Smart DNS, so a smart TV without a Proton VPN app requires a router setup instead. Two years of VPN Plus come to just under $3 a month for 10 devices, and Proton VPN refunds the full amount within 30 days.
3. ExpressVPN: Best for Easy Setup

Pros
- Quickest connections we tested
- Plug-and-play apps
- Post-quantum encryption
- Puerto Rico location and dozens of US cities
- Chooses the protocol automatically
Cons
- No multi-hop servers
- Limited customization
ExpressVPN is the easiest VPN to set up and forget. The apps connect in a second or two, keep the settings out of the way, and choose the protocol automatically. Its server list includes Puerto Rico and more than 60 US locations, and it unblocked the 14 streaming services we tested.
On US servers, ExpressVPN recorded a 7.0% speed loss, close behind NordVPN. Its connections also use post-quantum encryption, which protects today’s traffic against attacks by future quantum computers. However, there’s little to customize, and it has no double VPN that would encrypt traffic twice.
If you want traffic sent through two servers, NordVPN or Proton VPN offers that. ExpressVPN’s Basic plan is about $3 a month on a two-year term and covers 10 devices, with 12 and 14 on the higher plans. Current ExpressVPN coupon deals sometimes lower that price further. Every plan also has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. Private Internet Access: Best Budget VPN for Puerto Rico

Pros
- Low price on the long plan
- Unlimited devices
- US servers in all 50 states
- Blocks ads and trackers
- Open-source apps
Cons
- Couldn’t unblock Hulu or HBO Max
- Windows app defaults to a slower protocol
Private Internet Access is the cheapest VPN we recommend for Puerto Rico. It costs around $2 a month on the long plan, and one subscription covers unlimited devices, so a whole household can share it. It also offers a Puerto Rico location and US servers in all 50 states, which helps when a news site or sports stream is tied to one state.
On US servers, PIA recorded a 7.7% speed loss. That figure came on WireGuard, though, and the Windows app starts on OpenVPN, so switch the protocol to WireGuard in Settings for the best speed. Its MACE ad blocker removes ads and trackers, and you can choose the encryption strength and kill switch mode yourself.
Streaming is its weaker side. PIA unblocked Netflix, but it couldn’t unblock Hulu or HBO Max. On the island, HBO Max works without a VPN anyway. Abroad, Surfshark or NordVPN is the safer choice for American TV. Every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Surfshark: Best for Streaming in Puerto Rico

Pros
- Unblocked Hulu and HBO Max
- Ad and tracker blocking
- Masked email on every plan
- Unlimited devices
- Puerto Rico location
Cons
- Some connections take longer
- Renewal price rises noticeably
Surfshark was the strongest streaming VPN in this group after NordVPN and ExpressVPN. It unblocked 13 of the 14 streaming services we tested, including Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max, and it couldn’t unblock only ITVX. It also offers a Puerto Rico location for island sites when you’re away.
Beyond streaming, its CleanWeb feature blocks ads and trackers, and Alternative ID creates a masked email address on every plan, including the cheapest one. There’s no device limit either. Those additions put it in our best VPN rankings as well. On the downside, some connections take several seconds longer than on the other VPNs.
If one hangs, switching to a different server location usually fixes it. Surfshark costs about $2.50 a month on the two-year Starter plan, and current Surfshark coupon codes can lower it further. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies too.
Why You Need a VPN in Puerto Rico
Using a VPN is legal in Puerto Rico, which follows US federal law, and the island doesn’t block websites or apps. A VPN still helps in three situations:
- Shared Wi-Fi. Hotels, short-term rentals, airports, and coworking spaces all run shared networks. A VPN encrypts everything you send over them, so passwords and banking sessions remain private from others on the same network.
- A Puerto Rican IP address from abroad. Puerto Rico’s IP addresses are registered with ARIN, the same registry as the mainland US, but they carry their own country code. A Puerto Rico server lets students and families living abroad use island sites and services as if they were home.
- US services on a trip abroad. Outside the US, streaming services such as Peacock and Paramount Plus detect a foreign IP address and limit what you can watch. A US server makes the connection look American again.
How to Get a Puerto Rican IP Address
The five VPNs in our ranking list Puerto Rico by name, and the setup takes a few minutes the first time you do it. Each time after that, it basically takes seconds.
- Subscribe to a VPN with a Puerto Rico location, such as NordVPN.
- Install the app on your phone, computer, or TV device and sign in.
- Search for Puerto Rico in the server list and connect.
- Open an IP lookup site to confirm the new location, if you want to check.

When a US IP address is enough, a server in Miami or another southern US city is often faster than the Puerto Rico location.
What About a Free VPN for Puerto Rico?
A free VPN covers light browsing, but the limits show up quickly. Proton VPN’s free plan chooses the server country for you, with no way to choose Puerto Rico or the US. Windscribe and PrivadoVPN do let free users choose US servers, but both cap data at 10 GB a month.
And in my tests, I managed to spend all 10 GB in a day with just about four hours of Full HD streaming. Limits differ across the best free VPNs, so check the data allowance before relying on one. For full access without paying up front for long, a refund window works better.
Every VPN in our ranking offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a few offer a VPN free trial on mobile, ranging from three to seven days.
Final Thoughts
For both jobs, NordVPN is our top pick, especially for anyone who splits time between the island and the mainland. Privacy-minded users will prefer Proton VPN, while a large household saves money with PIA and Surfshark.
If streaming abroad is the priority and you want reliable access to your favorite platforms, the Surfshark vs NordVPN comparison settles the choice between those two.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to use a VPN in Puerto Rico?
Yes. Puerto Rico follows US federal law, which doesn't restrict VPNs. Using one for privacy is legal, but illegal activity remains illegal with or without a VPN connection.
Does NordVPN work in Puerto Rico?
Yes. NordVPN works normally on the island and offers a Puerto Rico server location, so it can also provide a Puerto Rican IP address to users connecting from abroad.
Will a VPN give me a US IP address in Puerto Rico?
Yes. Connecting to a server on the mainland, such as Miami or New York, assigns a US IP address that sites treat as coming from that state.
Is a VPN safe for online banking in Puerto Rico?
Yes. A VPN encrypts the connection, which protects banking logins on public Wi-Fi. A bank may ask for extra verification when the VPN server sits outside the account holder's usual region.
Does Puerto Rico censor the internet?
No. Puerto Rico is a US territory protected by the First Amendment, and it doesn't block websites, apps, or VPNs. Any streaming limits there come from licensing deals.