5 Best VPNs for France in 2024

Even though France is a relatively free country, it still has some digital restrictions, like blocked Russian-owned websites. France is notably part of the 9-Eyes Alliance, meaning it shares citizens’ data with the other Alliance members. Plus, due to a new Antiterrorism Law, security agencies now have more sophisticated surveillance capabilities. 

Then you have the typical geo-restriction issues—some local sites are only accessible in France, and lots of global content is unavailable in the country. Fortunately, with a VPN for France, you can avoid government surveillance and Alliance data-sharing. A VPN also allows you to enjoy French content from abroad and geo-blocked services inside France. 

In this article, we’ll cover the 5 best VPNs for France and show you how to get a French IP. Then we’ll explain why you need a VPN, answer some frequently asked questions, and more. 

Best France VPNs - Our Shortlist 

1. ExpressVPN – Our #1-Rated VPN for France
2. NordVPN – Best VPN for France for Privacy and Security
3. CyberGhost VPN – Powerful VPN with Specialized Servers in France
4. Private Internet Access – France VPN with the Largest Server Fleet
5. Surfshark – User-Friendly, Unlimited-Connection French VPN

How to Get a France IP Address with a VPN 

To get a France IP address with a VPN, you must find a provider that offers VPN servers in France. Then, you’ll need to get a subscription and connect to a French server. Here are easy steps to follow:

1. Sign up for a VPN that works in France (we recommend ExpressVPN).
2. Download and install the VPN app on the device(s) you’ll use in France.
3. Open the VPN app and log in to your account to activate it.
4. Connect to a VPN server in France. 
5. And you’re done! You can access the Internet with your new French IP address. 

By getting a France IP from a VPN provider, you’ll be able to browse the Internet safely as if you’re in France, no matter where you’re actually located. You’ll be able to access any French websites and content you’d like! The whole process only takes a few minutes, and you can learn more about how to get a French IP address via our detailed guide. 

The Best VPNs for France in 2024

To find the best VPN for France, stick to the criteria we laid out in our guide on choosing the best VPNs with the most servers. The first criterion you should focus on is the provider’s global server network size. Make sure it offers servers in France, so it can unblock websites both outside and inside France, including sites like Netflix France, ARTE, and FranceTV. 

Next, look for a VPN that offers consistent performance and fast speeds, as well as robust security and privacy features. Some features you should look out for include obfuscated servers (to hide your VPN usage), a kill switch (to ensure your data isn’t leaked if the VPN connection drops), secure VPN protocols, a no-logs policy, and solid encryption. 

The VPN you choose should also offer multiple simultaneous connections, a money-back guarantee, and reliable 24/7 customer support. Lastly, make sure that your provider supports many different devices (like smartphones, tablets, computers, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and routers) so that you can protect all your electronic gadgets. 

Based on the criteria mentioned above, here are the 5 best VPNs for France:

1. ExpressVPN – Our #1-Rated VPN for France

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for France as it comes with a wide global server network of 3,000+ servers in 94 countries and strong content-unblocking capabilities. Moreover, it has multiple servers in Alsace, Marseille, Paris, and Strasbourg, France.

This provider can easily give you access to websites inside and outside of France, including, but not limited to, Netflix France, ARTE, and FranceTV. You’ll also get blazing-fast connection speeds and reliable performance while using ExpressVPN, as it is the fastest VPN on the market. 

ExpressVPN also comes with all the necessary security and privacy features that’ll keep you protected online. Some of them include obfuscated servers, an independently-audited no-logs policy, a capable kill switch, excellent VPN protocols, military-grade encryption, data leak protection, and more. 

Every time you connect to a France server location, you’ll get a brand-new French IP address that’ll hide your real location and data. The same applies to all ExpressVPN’s servers in other countries as well. 

In addition, you’ll get 5 simultaneous connections, which you can use on multiple different devices, including phones, laptops, tablets, routers, PCs, Smart TVs, and more. With ExpressVPN, you’ll have access to reliable 24/7 customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee which you can use as a risk-free trial.

2. NordVPN – Best VPN for France for Privacy and Security

NordVPN is another excellent French VPN provider that you can use to get a French or foreign IP address. It has more servers but narrower coverage than ExpressVPN, offering 5,700+ servers in 60 countries, including 230+ servers in France, located in Paris and Marseille.

This provider can easily unblock websites in and out of the country, including ARTE, Netflix France, and FranceTV. With one NordVPN subscription, you’ll get up to 6 simultaneous connections, which you can use on a wide range of devices, such as laptops, phones, tablets, PCs, routers, smart TVs, and more. 

NordVPN isn’t as fast as ExpressVPN, and it comes with slower speeds on its more remote servers. If you choose a server that’s closer to you, you’ll get medium-fast Internet connection speeds and reliable performance, which is more than suitable for uninterrupted streaming and browsing. 

On the bright side, NordVPN comes with superb security and privacy features, including obfuscation on many of its French servers, a kill switch mechanism, a no-logs policy, secure VPN protocols, AES 256-bit encryption, data leak protection, Double VPN technology on all France servers, an ad-blocker, anti-malware, and more. 

In addition, this VPN for France offers dedicated 24/7 customer support via live chat and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. 

3. CyberGhost VPN – Powerful VPN with Specialized Servers in France

Next in line is CyberGhost, a powerful French VPN service that comes with a whopping 852 French servers in Marseille, Paris, and Strasbourg. All its France servers are P2P-optimized and can give you a secure French IP address. Overall, CyberGhost has a large server network of 9,300+ servers in 91 countries. 

In addition to a French IP, CyberGhost can also give you a foreign one, so it can unblock many sites both outside and inside of France, including FranceTV, ARTE, and Netflix France. It offers medium-fast speed and stable performance, working well on both close-range and remote servers.

This VPN for France supports many devices, allowing you to use it on your phone, laptop, PC, tablet, router, Smart TV device, and more. By purchasing one CyberGhost subscription, you’ll be able to connect up to 7 devices simultaneously, which is more than what both NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer. 

Moreover, CyberGhost comes with great privacy and security features, such as a no-logs policy, 256-bit encryption, secure tunneling protocols, a kill switch, data leak protection, and more. Unfortunately, you won’t get access to obfuscated servers. 

On the bright side, CyberGhost comes with an extended 45-day money-back guarantee on its longer-term plans and a 14-day money-back guarantee on its monthly one. Lastly, it offers 24/7 customer support via the live chat feature on its website. 

4. Private Internet Access – France VPN with the Largest Server Fleet

Private Internet Access (PIA) is known on the VPN market as the provider with the largest server fleet available. It offers thousands of VPN servers in 84 countries, with multiple dedicated servers in France at your disposal. 

Thus, it goes without saying that PIA has the ability to unblock various websites in and out of France, including sites like ARTE, FranceTV, and Netflix France. Unfortunately, PIA is the slowest VPN on our list, offering medium speeds and performance. However, it’s still suitable for streaming and browsing and allows you to tweak your settings to boost your speed a little. 

With PIA, you’ll be fully protected and safe online, as the provider offers robust security and privacy features. Some of the features you’ll get include obfuscated servers, a kill switch mechanism, military-grade encryption, secure VPN protocols, a no-logs policy, data leak protection, a Multi-Hop feature, and more. 

No matter which PIA plan you get, you’ll be able to connect an unlimited number of connections and use the French VPN on all kinds of devices, including phones, laptops, smart TVs, tablets, PCs, routers, and more. Furthermore, you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee and reliable 24/7 customer support. 

5. Surfshark – User-Friendly, Unlimited-Connection French VPN

Surfshark is a formidable France VPN service that comes with an easy interface, making it great for first-time VPN users. It covers 100 countries worldwide with its 3,200+ server network and offers multiple servers in France, located in Paris, Bordeaux, and Marseille. 

With Surfshark, you can unblock websites from all over the world, both inside and outside of France, and get access to sites like Netflix France, FranceTV, and ARTE—no matter where you are. That’s because Surfshark can give you a French IP address or an IP from 99 other countries. 

This VPN for France is one of the fastest on the market and delivers consistent performance. If you get one Surfshark subscription, you’ll be allowed to connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously. You can use your Surfshark VPN on a wide range of gadgets, including phones, PCs, laptops, routers, smart TVs, tablets, and more. 

In addition, you’ll get excellent security and privacy features, such as obfuscation, a no-logs policy, a Multi-Hop feature, data leak protection, a kill switch, effective tunneling protocols, AES-256 encryption, and more. Lastly, Surfshark plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and reliable round-the-clock customer support via live chat. 

Why Do You Need a VPN in France?

You need a VPN in France because it’s part of the 9-Eyes Alliance and is obligated to share your data with the other countries that are members. Other reasons to use a French VPN include the following: 

• Conceal IP Address and Online Activities – VPNs make your Internet connection private, effectively concealing both your IP address and online activity from third parties such as governments, ISPs, and hackers.
• Bypass Bandwidth Throttling – In addition to monitoring your online movements, ISPs often slow down your Internet connection when you use a lot of data at once. Since VPNs hide your activity, they’ll also prevent throttling.
• Find Better Prices – With a VPN for France, you can take advantage of better deals and buy what you want for less money by changing your virtual location to a region with cheaper prices.
• Avoid Local Censorship – Some Russian media outlets are blocked in France due to recent events. Additionally, online casino games on platforms like Bovada and Bet365 are blocked. With a VPN, you can unblock such sites by getting a foreign IP address.
• Unblock Worldwide Content – Streaming services like Hulu and BBC iPlayer, along with many other types of content, are only available in their countries of origin. You can change your location with a VPN to access them.
• Use Public WiFi Safely – Public WiFi networks are unprotected and unsafe. Luckily, if you use a France VPN while accessing public WiFi, it’ll encrypt the connection so it’s safe to use.
• Enjoy Better Gaming – Popular games like Fortnite and League of Legends often have lagging issues. A VPN can help you lower your ping and join less-crowded game servers, improving your gaming experience.
• Shop Online Securely – Online shopping can be dangerous because you provide both personal and financial information for purchases. With a VPN, you’ll ensure that your money is safe, as it’ll encrypt your data.
• Browse Like You’re in France – While traveling abroad, you won’t be able to access Netflix France, France TV, ARTE, or other local French sites. However, by connecting to a VPN server in France, you’ll get a French IP, which will enable you to use the Internet as if you’re home in France.
• Secure Torrenting – Downloading torrents can expose you to hackers who lurk on torrenting sites. By using a VPN to encrypt your connection, you’ll be safe from cyberattacks and data theft while torrenting. 

Can You Use a Free VPN for France?

Yes, you can use a free VPN for France, but we advise against it. Since you won’t be protected online, and the provider might even sell your data to others to make a profit. Also, most free French VPNs come with limited server networks, low data caps, slow speeds, and more drawbacks. 

Moreover, you won’t be able to unblock much content as most free VPN providers only offer servers in a few countries. And they won’t equip you with the security and privacy features needed to fly under the radar of the 9-Eyes Alliance. 

We recommend that you don’t try to use a VPN free of charge; instead, get a premium VPN. That way, you’ll get all the features you need. Plus, only the best VPN services can ensure that none of your data gets leaked or sold. 

Final Thoughts

France is a relatively free country when it comes to online censorship, but it still blocks certain websites and surveils French citizens. Also, many global platforms and sites aren’t available in France, and certain French services are only accessible from home. However, with a French VPN, you can avoid all those issues.

We recommend ExpressVPN to all who want to access the Internet in France safely and keep their data hidden from the 9-Eyes Alliance. This VPN for France will also help you unblock global content and allow you to access French sites while you’re traveling. With ExpressVPN, you’ll be able to stream, game, torrent, and browse without restrictions from anywhere.

That’s it for our guide on choosing the right VPN for France for you. If you have something more to add or ask, feel free to do so via the comments section below. Thanks for reading!