5 Best VPNs for PayPal in 2023 – Stay secure and pay from anywhere

VPNs provide privacy and security, and as such, are ideal for use with payment processors such as PayPal. Paying online is a procedure for which you can never have enough protection, so using a VPN when accessing PayPal is always a good idea.

Using a VPN for Paypal will also allow you to access it in locations where it is not available. When you connect to a VPN server, your IP address is switched for one owned by your VPN provider so you will look like you’re in a country that doesn’t block PayPal. 

In this article, we list the best VPNs for PayPal and give you some top tips on how to set your VPN up.

What are the best PayPal VPNs?

We list the best VPNs for Paypal below. Scroll below this list for an in-depth analysis of each of the VPN services listed below.

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Even though there are reports of subscribers being warned or even occasionally banned because of the practice, using a VPN for Paypal continues to be a popular, useful, and secure way to access PayPal services. All the services below include the following features:

• Strong encryption
• A worldwide server network
• Great at unblocking services

List of the Best VPNs for PayPal

We take a closer look at our recommended Paypal VPN services. For more information about any of the services in the list, check out our detailed VPN reviews.

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How to use a VPN with PayPal

All the PayPal VPN services in our list have easy-to-use VPN apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. To use a VPN safely with PayPal, all you have to do is follow the steps below:

1. Subscribe to one of the PayPal VPN services in the list above. They all have the features you need to access PayPal from anywhere.
2. Download the VPNs app on to your device, you will easily be able to find the download on their website.
3. Connect to a server. Sticking to servers within your own country will reduce the VPNs impact on speed, but you will have the choice from a global list if your home country blocks the service or isn’t covered by the VPN.
4. Clear your browser cache or use a private tab and navigate to the PayPal website and log in. 
5. You will now be able to use PayPal as usual!

How does a PayPal VPN work?

A VPN delivers security and privacy regardless of whether you are connecting from home, via an unsecured WiFi network at a coffee shop, or from your office network. This is because all the data transmitted between your device and the VPN server are fully encrypted.

Even if it is intercepted en route (over an unsecured WiFi network, for example), your data won’t be decipherable because of the strong encryption algorithms used by the VPN. This means you can be sure that your private information is kept private.

VPNs also allow you to access sites without revealing your physical location. Many websites use geolocation detection to restrict access to content, but with a VPN you can pretend to be in a different country to bypass those blocks. These are the key features of VPNs that can be very advantageous when using PayPal’s payment service.

Why do I need a VPN for PayPal?

So why would you want or need to use a VPN to access PayPal? Well, there are several reasons that make it very useful. First of all, a VPN adds an additional, important layer of security to any financial transaction performed on the internet, including those made via PayPal.

When using unsecured networks such as a public Wi-Fi connection, using a VPN means that your traffic, your financial information, and all of your confidential data, remain confidential.

Yes, the PayPal website uses secure protocols for its transactions. If you want to find out more about how these secure protocols work, take a look at our article on HTTPS. However, security problems have arisen in the past with these protocols. Even though they may be perfectly sound, if security is a huge issue for you and you feel safer with the additional encryption provided by a VPN, then using a VPN is an ideal solution. For more info on this topic check out our SSL/TLS article.

Secondly, you may want to connect to PayPal without revealing your physical location. Perhaps you are using PayPal while traveling and you don’t want PayPal to know where you are. Additionally, PayPal’s strict security policies may lock you out of your account if they see transactions taking place from a location outside your home country.

Further, PayPal may be unavailable in your country and you may want to spoof your location in order to gain access to otherwise inaccessible PayPal services. Whatever the reason, hiding your location can be very useful when using PayPal.

What Makes a Good PayPal VPN?

When evaluating the VPN providers, we analyzed certain attributes and features to find the best Paypal VPNs. The features we looked for are as follows:

• Strong encryption – All the VPN services in our list provide strong OpenVPN encryption to ensure that your payment details and other personal data are kept secure and private online. 
• Keeps no logs – A no-logs policy is important for privacy, the services listed in this article do not log what you get up to online. 
• Good value for money – We have selected services that offer users good value for money. They all offer users big discounts when signing up for a long-term plan.
• Fast servers – VPN services slow down your internet connection due to the extra distance it travels and the encryption. However, all the services in the list have super-fast servers, so you’ll hardly notice the difference.
• High-quality customer support – All the services in this article provide 24-hour live chat so you can resolve any problems you have.
• Accepts various payment methods – We have chosen services that allow users to pay via different payment methods. 
• Server locations – Server locations are important, as you may need to connect to a server that is based within your home country. All the services in this list have worldwide server networks so you can find the right server.

Can I sign up for PayPal if it is blocked in my country?

Yes, you can use VPNs to spoof their location to the US (or elsewhere) to start a local PayPal there. By linking virtual card services to your PayPal account, you will appear to be elsewhere. This allows you to make international purchases easily, using PayPal to buy an online subscription, software downloads, and other local purchases –  and with the advantage of PayPal’s buyer protection. 

Am I allowed to Use PayPal with a VPN?

As of the date of writing, no mention of VPNs has been found in PayPal’s current user agreement. However, according to some people, PayPal prohibits the use of VPNs to access their services. Browsing online forums indicates that some users have received warnings – and others have had their accounts suspended – after using a VPN. However, many people use PayPal over a VPN without a hitch.

When you use a VPN, remember that PayPal may have methods for spotting VPN use. If multiple PayPal subscribers use the same VPN provider to access the service a VPN IP address could become blocked by Paypal. If that happens, try another server to check if that one works.

It seems unlikely that you will suddenly be cut off from PayPal without first receiving a proverbial warning.  And it seems highly unlikely that you will get in trouble for using a legitimate PayPal account from back home when you are on vacation. 

People who have experienced problems are much more likely to be using a Paypal account from a country they do not live in.

Can I use a free VPN for PayPal?

If you’re thinking of using a free VPN for PayPal, it’s important to know which ones to use, and which ones to avoid. There are countless free VPNs available that promise the world, but will actually do more harm than good. If a free VPN is offering unlimited speeds and data, you can almost guarantee it’ll come with at least one of the following issues:

• Weak encryption: offering little/no security and making it easy for others to see your internet usage.
• Congested servers: only offering a select few servers that are regularly packed with people, leading to queuing and sluggish connections – just because it offers unlimited speed doesn’t mean that it’s fast.
• Invasive privacy policies: Monitoring and selling on your information to third parties as part of their terms of service.
• Malware: some free VPNs have been known to install adware and spyware on users’ devices.

If you want to use a free VPN for PayPal, you must be extremely careful, otherwise, you risk opening yourself up to a cyberattack. The good news is that there are some great free VPNs that offer robust security without sacrificing privacy. However, keep in mind that even the best free VPNs come with restrictions, and are usually stripped-back versions of premium services.

A free VPN will never be as good as a premium VPN, and a good VPN doesn’t have to break the bank. If you’re looking for the best cheap VPN services, then there are plenty to choose from. Unfortunately, these aren’t necessarily guaranteed to perform as well as the suggestions in this article.

The VPNs in this list are tried, tested, and should work perfectly with PayPal, allowing you to get the most out of your VPN without hassle. If you want to ensure your PayPal usage is private and secure, then using one of the services listed above is the best option, and you can utilize their money-back guarantees to test each service and find which one suits you best.

How to pay for a VPN with PayPal

Many VPN providers accept PayPal as a method of payment. In fact, all the providers listed in this article accept PayPal – which makes them easy and fast to subscribe to. Paying with PayPal is advantageous because it has an excellent dispute resolution center, which makes it easier to cancel payments and to seek a refund if you believe you deserve one. Most providers also allow you to renew your subscription via PayPal. So if you are already a subscriber, you can probably set up a recurring payment without any issues.

Is it safe to pay for a VPN using PayPal?

Now that we have clarified that it is possible to pay for a VPN using PayPal, you may be wondering whether it is safe to do so. The answer is that yes, for most people the act of paying for a VPN with PayPal (or indeed a debit or credit card) is not going to create a concerning paper trail. Paying for a VPN using something tied to your name (and potentially your IP address) will create evidence that you purchased a VPN. However, it will not create a way to ascertain what you did with your VPN while connected. 

Of course, depending on your personal threat model, you may prefer not to leave any paper trail at all. Some people like to sign up for their VPN using a fake name and a burner email. Those people will likely prefer to pay for the VPN using vouchers, or a cryptocurrency payment. This is an option, because some VPNs do accept these kinds of payment methods.

However, for the vast majority of people, paying for a VPN with PayPal is not going to cause any real privacy concerns.

How to Test your PayPal VPN for Leaks

Before actually using your VPN to initiate PayPal transactions, it’s always a good thing to test your VPN for leaks. VPN providers may claim to protect your anonymity and data, but there are ways to test their claims. We’ve already tested the VPNs on our list, but don’t just take our word for it. Test them yourself.

There are a multitude of VPN testing sites that will tell you what you look like on the Internet from their perspective. These will include information such as your IP address, your physical location, and your DNS and WebRTC information. You can find detailed information on how to test your VPN for leaks at our Complete Guide to IP Leaks.

How can I ensure that my VPN doesn’t interfere with PayPal’s security measures?

To prevent your VPN from interfering with PayPal’s security measures, we recommend a secure VPN that has strong security measures and plenty of reliable servers. This should prevent PayPal from detecting VPN use, which will allow you to use your PayPal account securely from anywhere without issues.

Generally speaking, we recommend that you connect to a server located in the country where you usually use your PayPal account. That said, PayPal is international, so you may have a better experience when connected to a server that is geographically close to your physical location.

If PayPal is available in the country you are in, but you want the added privacy and security of the VPN (for example if you’re using the internet in a public place or hotel) you may prefer to connect to a server in the same country. This will provide you with an encrypted connection to PayPal, while also reducing latency that could interfere with PayPal’s security measures.

If possible, we recommend using your VPN on a device that you have previously used PayPal on as this should reduce the potential for triggering PayPal’s security measures. 

It is also worth noting that some VPNs may have already been blocked by PayPal. This is why it is important to stick to a secure and reliable VPN provider with decent servers around the world that are compatible with PayPal.

PayPal FAQs

[[post-object type=”accordion” question=”In which countries is PayPal not available?” answer=”According to PayPal’s official <a href=’https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/country-worldwide’>Worldwide Offerings</a> list, the service is currently available in over 200 countries and regions. Countries which aren’t on this list include: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Central African Republic, North Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Timor-Leste, and Uzbekistan.” /]]

[[post-object type=”accordion” question=”How does PayPal know where I am accessing it from?” answer=”PayPal can see your approximate location based on your public IP address. An IP address comprises a set of numerics, and it’s given to each of us by our internet service provider (ISP). These numerics have locations encoded in them, and that’s how PayPal knows where you’re accessing it from.

You can always hide/change your true IP address by connecting to a VPN, which will tunnel your online traffic through a server (or multiple servers) in a different location/country and make it look like you’re coming from there.” /]]

[[post-object type=”accordion” question=”Will PayPal know I am using a VPN?” answer=”A powerful, trustworthy VPN service will use strong encryption and advanced security features to cover your digital footprints online and make your data illegible to snoopers. The same applies to using a VPN with PayPal. However, keep in mind that PayPal nowadays works really hard to detect and block a lot of commercial VPNs, so make sure you use only battle-tested services, like those above.” /]]

[[post-object type=”accordion” question=”Why is PayPal not available in all countries?” answer=”Some of the main reasons why PayPal isn’t available everywhere in the world are:

• Legal challenges – PayPal has to follow all the local laws and regulations of the countries in which it wishes to operate. This can be challenging or impossible in countries where regulations are draconian or lack clarity.
• It’s too risky for the business –  PayPal, like any other business, evaluates the risk of fraud and other financial crime in a place they want to extend their operations. If the management evaluates that the risk is too high in a country, they may choose not to operate in it.
• Respecting international sanctions – PayPal usually doesn’t operate in countries that are under diplomatic, economic, or any other sanctions.
• Lack of demand – Some countries still don’t have enough demand for PayPal services. Alternatively, it’s not possible for PayPal to make partnerships with local financial institutions in some countries. In either of these scenarios, PayPal won’t be available in such a country.” /]]

[[post-object type=”accordion” question=”Is using a VPN with PayPal illegal?” answer=”Using a VPN with PayPal is legal in most cases – as long as it is used for legal activities. Some countries are exceptions to this rule because they have laws that restrict (or entirely ban) the usage of VPNs – North Korea, Belarus, Iraq, etc. Also, using a VPN to hide your identity or location while committing an online crime would be considered illegal, no matter where you are in the world. Conducting any other illegal activities with a VPN, such as fraud or hacking, would naturally be illegal as well.

ProPrivacy is not entitled to give legal advice, and so we always recommend our readers to check the latest VPN laws and regulations in their country, as well as any updates on PayPal’s terms of service, before using a VPN with PayPal.” /]]

ProPrivacy for PayPal Conclusion

VPNs are very useful and versatile tools for anonymity and security on the internet at large. If you are concerned about your PayPal transactions being compromised, or about the location-based restrictions that exist on PayPal subscriptions, then VPNs are the definitive solution.

With a little care and knowledge about the potential drawbacks due to the financial services provider frowning upon VPN usage for accessing their services, you can go a long way to improving your PayPal experience and maintaining your privacy.

The VPNs in this article have been chosen based on the strengths they possess, specifically for use with PayPal services. But the choice of which of the above five VPN services is best for you really comes down to you.

All the proposed services provide either a free trial or a low-cost initial usage plan (with a money-back guarantee), allowing you to experience them firsthand and test their level of anonymity with the tools provided. We hope these recommendations have been informative and will lead you to the best choice for your PayPal VPN.

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