Best VPNs for Qatar – Get Unrestricted Internet

Using a VPN in Qatar will allow you to bypass government censorship and keep your online data secure and private. A VPN service encrypts all of your online traffic, meaning that your hackers, the ISP, and the government cannot find out what you are doing online. VPNs also change your IP address, this allows you to unblock local websites and services when you’re traveling outside of Qatar – so you’ll be able to access your online banking apps as well as local (and international) Netflix libraries.

In this article, we take a look at the best VPNs for Qatar and why it’s so important to have one in the country.

What are the best VPNs for use in Qatar?

We have listed the best VPNs for Qatar below. All of these services have the features you need to stay secure online, but if you need more information about any of the services, scroll down the list for an in-depth look at each section.

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Best VPNs for Qatar – In-depth analysis

With Qatar’s strict approach to internet censorship and restrictions on VoIP and streaming services, a VPN is a vital piece of kit – and can restore some freedoms to folks looking to access the wider web. A VPN encrypts your data, keeping you secure when using public WiFi or browsing at home, and comes with a long list of features to ensure your connection and identifiable information remain private. You’ll also be able to bypass geo-restrictions to check out sites and services from overseas. For more information on any of the VPNs below, head on over to our reviews page.

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Best VPNs for Qatar – Methodology

The ProPrivacy team has reviewed and compared leading VPNs for over 10 years now. This experience, along with our daily performance tests, enables us to list the best VPNs for various purposes and according to user needs.

Choosing the best VPNs for Qatar wasn’t easy due to the country’s stringent surveillance and censorship practices. However, you can rest assured that we prioritize privacy and anonymity when recommending VPNs at all times, especially in cases like this. We started this VPN review by checking that the chosen VPNs maintain a strict no-logs policy, preferably verified through independent audits, to ensure your data is protected. We then moved to the VPN’s encryption standards, along with other important security features, such as a kill-switch, IP leak protection, and multi-hop.

The VPN’s ability to bypass censorship is particularly important in Qatar, where VPN usage can be restricted, so we made sure to list VPNs that apply advanced obfuscation technologies. Thanks to this, they are able to disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic. 

Of course, performance is very important too. There’s no point having a secure VPN if it doesn’t do what it says on the tin. For that reason, all VPNs in this article have a worldwide server network, including servers in Qatar and neighbouring countries. Such extensive coverage ensures high-speed service and reliable connections for all your online activities and large data transfers. Our daily speed tests confirm these VPNs are perfectly capable of maintaining high uptime and seamless performance. 

We are also aware that the user-friendliness of your VPN can make or break your online experience. Aspects such as an intuitive app interface across various devices and responsive customer support are critical for a positive user experience. All VPNs in this article come with sleek apps for all OS and exceptional 24/7 customer service.

Finally, value for money should not be overlooked. VPNs in this article all offer competitive pricing and excellent value for the features they offer, plus they are all backed by a money-back guarantee. Thanks to our comprehensive methodology, users get to choose between VPNs that not only meet the privacy and security demands but also ensure excellent performance and ease of use in Qatar.

Why do I need a VPN in Qatar?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a versatile tool that provides a wealth of benefits – and we’ve taken a look at four of the most pertinent below, particularly for residents of Qatar.

Encryption

We live in an age where our digital privacy is under constant threat – cybercriminals and hackers target your identifiable data to collect and sell, and your traffic is monitored by your ISP as well as the government. Luckily, a VPN’s primary use is in shoring up your online security.

This is done through a VPNs encryption. Your VPN will connect to a server run by the provider, and any information that passes to and from your device is routed through this secure tunnel. As a result, the VPN server acts as a barrier between you and the wider internet, preventing any third parties from snooping on your online activity.

Anti-censorship

Internet censorship is particularly stringent in Qatar, and citizens will encounter restrictions when attempting to access the following content online:

• Pornography
• Criticism of Gulf countries
• Anti-Islamic sites
• Gambling websites
• LGBT content
• Sexual health resources
• Online dating services
• Privacy tools

Qatar is home to an autocratic monarchy where political opposition isn’t tolerated. Despite that, the country’s government hasn’t gone to the same lengths as other Arabian nations in controlling internet access. Freedom House doesn’t feel that the state of internet access controls in Qatar is severe enough to merit its attention.

Journalists in Qatar have been self-censoring stories that cover the above topics to avoid fines and any lawbreaking. However, 2016 saw an independent Qatari new site, Doha News, blocked throughout the country.

Political tensions with other Middle Eastern states in 2017 have made the government of Qatar extremely sensitive to criticism. However, local news sources are unlikely to report on opposition to the government. The external opposition to the Qatari regime actually threatens those who are most likely to protest against government controls more than their near-benevolent government does.

Folks living in Qatar will also struggle to access VoIP services like Skype, WhatsApp, Viber, Duo, and Facetime.

Streaming

Qatar is probably one of the most liberal nations in the Middle East. However, you may find yourself bored by the heavily edited entertainment that the country’s board of censors approves for public display. A VPN can unblock content from around the globe, however.

Sites like Netflix and BBC iPlayer use your IP address to determine which content you can watch. If you’re in the UK, you won’t be able to check out any content in the US Netflix library. By connecting to a VPN, however, you are assigned a new and temporary IP address based in the same location as the server. So, to watch those US shows, you’d simply need to connect to a US server.

A VPN for Qatar – what to consider

We’d recommend any of the VPN providers highlighted in this article – however, if you’re going to be paying for a subscription, you might want to compare your options. If so, we’ve pointed out some of the most important features to keep an eye out for when shopping around.

• Global servers – in order to access content from around the world, and avoid geo-restrictions, a VPN should have a broad network of servers to connect to.
• Encryption – keep your data secure with OpenVPN encryption; this will prevent snoopers from monitoring your activity and your data from falling into the wrong hands.
• Kill-switch – this feature is an invaluable failsafe, and cuts your internet connection in the event that your VPN drops out, preventing you from leaking insecure information, like your true IP address and the sites you’re visiting.
• Money-back guarantee – with a guarantee, you’ll be able to trial the features of a VPN without committing to a lengthy plan. We also recommend that you take advantage of a VPN’s free trial period.
• Obfuscation features – an important inclusion for anyone in Qatar, stealth servers or obfuscation measures will come in handy when accessing content the government or Qatari ISP monopoly has censored.

How to install a VPN for Qatar

Regardless of whether you’re a VPN veteran or entirely new to the technology, getting a VPN set up is quick, easy, and only takes a few moments. We’ve outlined the steps in full below.

1. Subscribe to one of the best VPN services for Qatar – all of our recommendations come with money-back guarantees, so you can test them risk-free!
2. Download and install the VPN software from your chosen provider’s website – this will only take a few moments.
3. Log in to the VPN and manage your VPN settings – make sure your kill-switch and obfuscation are activated.
4. Connect to a VPN server – where you connect will depend on what you want to do. But for the best speeds, choose the closest physical server.
5. Access content, stay secure, and prevent third-party snooping – you’re good to go!
   

Can I use a free VPN in Qatar?

Theoretically, you could use a free VPN in Qatar… but we would advise against it. Free services are usually the offshoots of premium providers and exist to tempt you into purchasing a full subscription. As such, you’ll likely encounter the following limitations:

• Limited servers – a free plan will typically only offer access to a handful of server locations, which isn’t ideal for anyone looking to stream media or access specific content outside of Qatar.
• Monthly data limits – could you get by with a minuscule allowance of 500mb per month? Well, most free plans offer data limits in this range!
• Bandwidth caps – downloading and streaming will be more difficult with a free plan as they often cap your bandwidth. You’ll also be more likely to encounter lag spikes and buffering streams than if you were using a premium service.

And that’s just the good ones! Free VPNs are notoriously insecure. They often lack the encryption necessary to provide effective online privacy and regularly come with invasive and counterproductive privacy policies that mean your data could be at risk – letting the company monitor and sell your internet usage and personal information.

The shadier free services have no real reason to protect your information, and as such can sell it to third parties. This is not what you want from your VPN, free or otherwise.

If you’d still like to check out some free options, there are a number that we recommend, and you can check out our free VPN page for a list of secure free services.

P2P downloading – is it legal in Qatar?

The 2014 cybercrime law is concerned more with the dissemination of “false news” than with matters of copyright infringement. The law obliges local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to keep connection and content logs for 90 days. A prosecutor can order the extension of this period.

The main problem with the law in Qatar is its loose phrasing. The only risk that the cybercrime law might pose to those who access foreign entertainment relates to torrenting. There haven’t been any prosecutions for copyright piracy with peer-to-peer (P2P) downloads in Qatar. However, the cybercrime law does define distributing offensive material as a crime. Unfortunately, the nature of file-sharing protocols means that, while you are downloading a file, you’re also making segments of that file available to others. Therefore, if the Qatari censors haven’t approved the movie that you’re downloading, the authorities could prosecute you for “distributing” that file.

When you access foreign video streaming services, make sure that you don’t copy those movies or shows onto DVDs for others to watch. That could also get you a conviction for distributing restricted content.

Check out our VPN for torrenting page for more information about this topic.

Accessing streaming services with a VPN

The complexities of copyright agreements and national laws prevent video streaming services from making their content available worldwide. The internet is an excellent medium for distributing entertainment. However, video sites have to restrict access to specific countries because they only pay for the right to show content in the locations they agree with copyright holders.

The importance of complying with local censorship standards also means that video services have to restrict cross-border access. A movie from the US may be available in Qatar, but it will be heavily edited to remove dialog and sights that are unacceptable under local laws. Online video sites in Qatar have to ensure that you can only watch Qatari-approved edits of those shows.

The Qatari government won’t bother you if you access a US streaming site in your own home, for immediate viewing. The video streaming site will try to stop you though. That’s why you need a VPN. If you want to watch US entertainment over the internet from Qatar, install a VPN that includes a server in the US. Fortunately, just about all virtual private networks have US-based VPN servers. Once you have installed the VPN, you can easily American streaming services. If you are interested in accessing Netflix, take a look at our Netflix VPN guide.

How to access foreign streaming services?

First, access the VPN app, select a US server, and turn the VPN on. Once it’s running, you will appear to be in the US. Now navigate to the US entertainment site of your choice. All of your communications pass through the nominated US server. It will put its address on all outgoing communications rather than your own.

When you connect to the United States VPN server, US video services should let you watch their content. However, video streaming services realize that people use VPNs to get around their regional restrictions. They try to block requests that are made through VPNs. That is why it’s essential that you choose an excellent service because not all can get around these VPN detection systems. If you have a Netflix subscription and want to get into the entertainment catalog for another country, rather than the Qatari version, you’ll be up against some of the most comprehensive detection systems in the world.

Unblocking Skype, WhatsApp, and other VoIP services in Qatar

Residents of Qatar are currently unable to make free calls from a number of VoIP apps, including Skype, FaceTime, Discord, and WhatsApp. The reason for this is murky, with the country’s primary telecom provider, Ooredoo, claiming to have no hand in the issue. The Qatari government states that VoIP technology is not illegal in the country, but that it is illegal to provide this service without a proper license.

You can unblock free VoIP services with a VPN today!

Unsurprisingly, only two companies have the license to provide VoIP services in Qatar: Vodafone Qatar and Ooredoo. 68% of Ooredoo is owned by the Qatari government, and so it’s speculated that the restrictions on VoIP services exist as a means to protect the government’s commercial interests.

As a result, Qatari residents will need to rely on expensive international calls to keep in touch with friends and family – which is especially egregious during the current COVID-19 outbreak. So, whilst a VPN subscription does come with a monthly fee, it can actually save you money in the long run by unblocking these free VoIP services!

All of the VPNs in this guide can unblock WhatsApp, Facetime, Discord, and more, regardless of the device you’re using. By connecting to a VPN server outside of Qatar, you’ll be able to bypass these strict VoIP restrictions and contact friends and family, at home and overseas.

Conclusion

If you want to access content from around the world, a VPN is a vital privacy tool to have. More importantly, whichever VPN you choose, it must have obfuscation and kill-switch functions to keep you protected in Qatar. Fortunately, all of our choices come with this functionality. Here’s a reminder of the best VPNs for Qatar:

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FAQs

[[post-object type=”accordion” question=”Is it illegal to use a VPN in Qatar?” answer=”Not at all. It is not illegal to use a VPN in Qatar, provided you don’t break any laws whilst doing so! Be especially careful if downloading copyrighted content or accessing sites that might otherwise be restricted without a VPN. And don’t worry about using a VPN to access VoIP services, either, as the Qatari government specifies that citizens can use VoIP services for their own use.” /]]

[[post-object type=”accordion” question=”Can someone tell if I’m using a VPN?” answer=”This is a complicated question, but the short answer is yes, it is possible to tell if you’re using a VPN. Bear in mind, that your ISP won’t know what you’re doing online even if it can tell that you’re using a VPN. The information sent to and from the sites you visit is encrypted. Streaming sites have also gotten particularly savvy at determining when customers are using VPNs – it’s pretty conspicuous when hundreds of folks are sharing the same IP address, after all. Additionally, a service can clock your VPN usage if your account was registered in a different country to where your data is supposedly coming from.” /]]

[[post-object type=”accordion” question=”Can I use a VPN to watch Netflix in Qatar?” answer=”Yes. If you’re traveling for work or vacation in Qatar, but you’re worried that you’ll miss your favorite <a href=’/how-to/christmas-movies-netflix-2021′>Netflix shows</a> while you’re there, you don’t have to be. Just pick a VPN from above that suits you the best (they all work with Netflix), and your favorite Netflix library will work like a charm. Of course, you’ll have to pick a VPN that has a server in your country to be able to access the Netflix catalog from back home in Qatar. But the good news is, you’ll be able to access nearly any Netflix catalog this way.” /]]

[[post-object type=”accordion” question=”Will a VPN slow down my internet in Qatar?” answer=”VPNs inevitably slow down your internet connection to an extent – but to which extent exactly, it mostly depends on the VPN provider that you use. If you pick a fast VPN that has inbuilt mechanisms to offset lags, the slowing down can be unnoticeable. If, however, you pick a VPN with poor speeds, which is common with free VPNs, your data-intensive online activities could suffer so much that it may become impossible to enjoy them.

VPNs encrypt your online traffic and direct it through their servers, which are sometimes very remote geographically. While this protects your data from snoopers and helps you circumvent geo-restrictions, it also takes time. All things considered, it’s impressive how little time some VPNs take to achieve this. Whenever possible pick blazing-fast VPNs.” /]]