Do I Need a VPN in Canada?

The short answer is yes. In this guide we’ll deep dive into the main reasons we think you should use a VPN in Canada, including:

Stream content from overseas
Get better search results than Google.ca
Use public WiFi without worry
Browse the internet anonymously
Encrypt your traffic for added security
Torrent safely and privately

 5/5

 4.5/5

Let’s cover the basics first and then dive into why Canadians should use a VPN.

What is a VPN?

A VPN is a Virtual Private Network. It’s a way to create a secure, private connection to another network, usually the internet. When you connect to a VPN, all your traffic goes through that secure connection. That means anyone snooping on your traffic (like your ISP or government) can’t see what you’re doing online.

Common Reasons to Use a VPN in Canada

A VPN can be useful if you’re trying to access resources on a network that’s different from your own, or if you’re worried about security threats like identity theft and hackers. This is as true in Canada as in any country given the global nature of the internet but we’ll go into some specific circumstances shortly.

Putting security thoughts to one side, maybe you’re trying to access a website that’s only available in certain countries. And this is likely where you will have heard about VPNs before.

Of course, nothing is perfect. Using a VPN can slow down your Internet connection because of the extra steps involved in routing your traffic. And it’s possible for hackers to get around VPNs if they’re determined enough.

30-day money back guarantee

Are you Expat or migrant hoping to watch TV from your home country?

If you’re an expat or living in a foreign country, a VPN can let you watch TV from your home country even if you’re living in overseas. That’s because when you connect to a VPN, you change your IP address to one from your home country.

To do this, you’ll need a VPN that offers servers in your home country. Not all VPNs offer servers in every country, so it’s important to check before you sign up. Once you’ve found a VPN that offers servers where you want them, simply connect to a server in your home country and start watching TV as if you were at home.

Of course, you can also use a VPN to access region-locked streaming content from anywhere in the world. If you’re trying to watch Netflix US from Canada, for example, all you need to do is connect to a US server and you’ll be able to watch as if you were in the States.

The same goes for other region-locked content, like BBC iPlayer from outside the UK or Hulu from outside the US. Just connect to a server in the country where the content is available and you’ll be able to watch it without any problem.

As one of the world’s most developed countries, Canada has high immigration targets and accepts a large number of immigrants every year. In 2019, for example, Canada admitted nearly 341,000 new permanent residents. This was the highest number of admissions in over a decade! So there are plenty of new residents and citizens who weren’t born and raised in Canada and they likely want a taste of home and to watch some TV from their country.

Practice Languages by Streaming Foreign Content

If you want to learn or practice a foreign language, one great way to do it is by streaming content from that country. If you’re trying to learn French, for example, you can connect to a VPN server in France and watch TV shows and movies from French networks.You can also use a VPN to access content in other languages, like Spanish, Mandarin, or Hindi. This can be a great way to practice your language skills and get exposed to new cultures.

Canada itself is rich in diversity and home to many foreign languages spoken within its very own borders. French, Spanish, and Chinese are just some of the languages that can be heard in Canada. This diversity of language helps make Canada a unique and interesting place to live.

Some Websites are Country Restricted and Not Available in Canada

There are a number of reasons why a website might be country restricted. The website might only be available in the country where it is based, or it might be aimed at a particular market and only available in that country. It could also be that the website is blocked in your country for legal reasons.Whatever the reason, if you’re trying to access a website that’s country restricted, you’ll need to use a VPN.

A VPN will allow you to change your IP address so that it appears as if you’re in the country where the website is available. For example, if you’re trying to access a website that’s only available in the United States, you can connect to a VPN server in the US and then visit the website.

The same goes for websites that are blocked in your country. If a website is blocked in Canada, for example, you can use a VPN to connect to a server outside of Canada and then access the website as normal.

Get Better Search Results Than Google.ca

If you want to get better (or different) search results than you would by using Google.ca, you can use a VPN.

Google is different in each country because it is made to meet the needs of that specific country. The Google you see in America is not the same as the Google you see in Canada. This is because Google tailors its search engine results and other products to better suit the needs of users in each individual country. American users, for example, might be more interested in results from American websites, while Canadian users might be more interested in results from Canadian websites.

Using Public WiFi in Canada

If you’re using public WiFi in Canada, it’s important to use a VPN. This is because public WiFi is not secure and anyone on the same network can see what you’re doing online. A VPN will encrypt your traffic so that no one else can see it, even if they are on the same network as you essentially meaning that you can use public WiFi without having to worry about your data being compromised.

The idea of connecting to a VPN whenever on public WiFi – at the mall, in an airport, wherever – should become the norm for you and is the smart way to go about browsing the internet if you need to use public WiFi for a connection.

Torrenting in Canada

While controversial, there are many legitimate reasons for people wanting to torrent in Canada. Torrenting is popular in Canada because it allows for people to download and share files quickly and easily. While there are many legal uses for torrenting, it can also be used to illegally download copyrighted material. If you’re caught torrenting copyrighted material in Canada, you could receive a significant fine.

If you do want to torrent from Canada make sure you’re connected to a VPN before you do it, for many reasons that we’ve covered in a full torrenting guide to Canada.

General Safety and Security of Browsing with a VPN

Naturally we are huge advocates of using a VPN in daily internet life and we endeavour to help educate others where we can. So whether you’re in Canada or any other country you should use a VPN whenever possible.

With a VPN you can browse the internet anonymously. When you connect, your machine is given a new IP address that is not associated with your real location. This makes it difficult for websites to track your activity and ensures that your personal information remains private. Additionally, a VPN encrypts your traffic so that your personal data isn’t openly and easily available for nefarious actors online.

Do You Need a VPN in Canada?

“Need” could be considered a strong word but if you’re spending a lot of time online then we highly recommend it for all of the reasons (and perks) we’ve mentioned above.

Our top three VPN picks are NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN which are all affordable options and do a stellar job. You won’t go wrong by choosing any of these tried and tested options though there are many others on the market that work well too, you can see all our VPN Reviews for a full overview of what’s available.