Recent changes to copyright laws have given Mexican authorities far-reaching powers that allow them to pre-emptively remove content suspected of infringing copyright regulations without providing proof. Furthermore, in the run-up to last year’s presidential election, authorities turned to fake news and social media to galvanize/manipulate voters.
Organized cybercrime is increasing with Mexico experiencing the second most cyberattacks in Latin America. This is why we recommend signing up with the best VPN for Mexico before heading over the border.
The Best VPNs for Mexico
#1 ExpressVPN
In the current climate of fake news and online political propaganda, ExpressVPN’s commitment to transparency and credibility is both refreshing and endearing. ExpressVPN leads the cybersecurity industry in terms of its commitment to user privacy and the safeguards it has put in place to keep users’ online activities secret.
ExpressVPN’s extensive server network encompasses over 3,000 servers in 95 different countries. While this is by no means the biggest, ExpressVPN has developed zero-knowledge DNS and TrustedServer technology to protect each user’s identity, location, and browsing history.
Military-grade encryption keeps traffic secure while zero-knowledge DNS means no personally identifiable information is ever stored on a server, taking the concept of no-logging to a new level. TrustedServer technology adds yet another layer of security by using only RAM and never writing to the hard drive.
Consistent connections and high speeds make ExpressVPN popular the world over, while its ability to circumnavigate geographical restrictions means it won’t let you down when it comes to accessing live sporting events or streaming your favorite content on Netflix, Hulu, or BBC iPlayer.
In addition to a plethora of servers dotted around the US and Europe, ExpressVPN has one hanging out in Mexico so, if you get addicted to Nosotros Los Guapos on Blim TV, ExpressVPN will be on hand to provide you with a fake IP address so you can carry on watching even after you’ve left the country.
Fast, secure, and technologically advanced, ExpressVPN is surprisingly affordable, especially if you’re willing to commit to a year-long subscription. Everything about ExpressVPN is top-notch, including its customer support, which is why it clinches the number one spot as the best VPN for Mexico.
Find out more about this leading VPN provider by checking out our full review here or simply seize the moment and sign up with ExpressVPN today.
#2 Surfshark
Tucked away on the British Virgin Islands with ExpressVPN is the slick new VPN provider, Surfshark. Bursting onto the cybersecurity scene a couple of years ago, Surfshark made waves with its impressive speeds and heightening security.
Now showing signs of maturity, Surfshark’s server network is rapidly expanding. While still relatively small with just over 1,000 servers worldwide, Surfshark is nevertheless capable of delivering consistent, high-speed connections. Its agility when it comes to bypassing geographical restrictions is also impressive and it’s one of the few VPNs to provide reliable access to popular streaming sites throughout the world, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, and HBO.
Like ExpressVPN, Surfshark uses the latest technology to safeguard user privacy while backing this up with the kind of privacy and no-logging policies that bring smiles to the faces of cybersecurity experts all over the world. Simple language and complete transparency are the names of the game and Surfshark clearly states, “We do not collect IP addresses, browsing history, session information, used bandwidth, connection time stamps, network traffic and other similar data”.
Surfshark offers a range of advanced features, so if you want the added security of sending your traffic through a chain of secure servers, Surfshark’s Multi-Hop feature is the answer to your prayers. You can also make use of Surfshark’s Clean Web feature to avoid annoying adverts, and its Whitelister option to allow safe traffic to bypass the VPN tunnel and improve speeds.
The only real drawback with Surfshark is that it doesn’t have any servers in Mexico so it can’t provide you with a fake Mexican IP address. For everything else and unlimited simultaneous connections, however, Surfshark offers excellent value for money.
If you want to find out more about Surfshark’s habitat and behavior, check out our full review here. If you’re already convinced that this is the best VPN for Mexico, however, you can sign up with Surfshark today.
#3 CyberGhost
CyberGhost’s cute graphics and user-friendly interface might make it appear less serious than some of the other leading VPNs but there’s nothing lighthearted about its top-class security and high-speed connections. Once a free VPN service, CyberGhost got wrapped up in some unpleasantries about its logging policy, dumped its free service and upped its game, making it one of the best VPNs for Mexico and pretty much every other country in the world.
While other VPNs prioritize location, CyberGhost VPN has designed its service around specific activities. In other words, it has six pre-configured profiles available designed to make popular activities like streaming, anonymous browsing, and accessing blocked content as simple as possible.
CyberGhost not only allows torrenting but has servers dedicated to handling P2P traffic to provide the best possible speeds. Its network of over 5,900 servers spans the globe and includes 19 servers in Mexico itself, making it ideal for those accessing regionally restricted Mexican sites from overseas.
With its headquarters in Romania, CyberGhost avoids the mandatory data retention laws affecting VPNs in both Europe and the US, while its no-logging policy is straightforward and robust. Automatic Wi-Fi detection means CyberGhost will kick in automatically when it discovers a public Wi-Fi connection, while a kill switch and DNS leak protection boost its security even more.
CyberGhost is one of the most user-friendly VPNs around, offering cutting-edge protection without confusing the user. It also has some great discounts available on its long-term subscriptions so why not sign up with CyberGhost today? Alternatively, get to grips with the nuts and bolts of this service by reading our full review here.
#4 ZenMate
With many of the same features offered by ExpressVPN, ZenMate has one small advantage which is that it offers one of the best free VPN services around. Admittedly, you won’t get access to all its features, servers, or top speeds, but you will be able to connect to four of its secure servers and mask your IP address effectively.
ZenMate doesn’t have any servers in Mexico but that’s hardly surprising given that is network extends to only 35 countries and 298 servers. While size doesn’t always matter when it comes to VPN networks, the bigger the better. Not only can a larger server network accommodate more traffic without impacting on speed, but a VPN with a lot of different IP addresses also has a better chance of staying under the radar and maintaining its ability to bypass geographical restrictions.
Unlike our other top VPNs, ZenMate is situated in Germany, where data retention laws mean ISPs are legally bound to store information about their users’ IP addresses for 10 weeks. Although Germany itself has a reputation for being privacy-friendly and ZenMate is eager to emphasize this, its laws demand that VPNs must log each user’s original IP address. Admittedly, this is stored as anonymized data, but it still means ZenMate is not a strictly no-logging service.
With both limited free service and cost-effective pricing plans available for its unlimited VPN coverage, ZenMate doesn’t quite get the status of the best VPN for Mexico, but it’s not far off the mark and is recommended as a reliable VPN for Virgin Mobile Mexico. If you think this VPN is worth taking for a test drive, why not sign up with ZenMate VPN today? Read our review to help you decide.
#5 ProtonVPN
Although ProtonVPN doesn’t have a server in Mexico quite yet, it’s on the cards after a customer survey revealed a high demand for Mexican coverage. In the meantime, ProtonVPN users will have to content themselves with connecting to one of the nearby US servers. Just as ExpressVPN uses advanced tools to create its zero-knowledge architecture, so ProtonVPN has developed Secure Core technology to boost user security.
Secure Core is similar to Surfshark’s Multi-Hop feature but ProtonVPN has dedicated servers in countries recognized for their strong privacy laws that act as the buffer. ProtonVPN has also extended this double VPN functionality to every country on its list. In other words, you could connect to the US via a standard VPN server, or with a Secure Core server in Switzerland.
Like ZenMate, ProtonVPN has a limited free service available which gives users VPN coverage for one device, access to three different server locations, and medium speeds. Its paid services are more comprehensive and a lot faster, although it is a little sluggish when establishing an OpenVPN connection. Once you up and running, however, ProtonVPN is almost as fast as ExpressVPN although its high speeds are less reliable.
ProtonVPN isn’t particularly well-known but that shouldn’t put off those looking for a VPN for Virgin Mobile Mexico that will enable them to stream US content while soaking up the sun in Tulum or Puerto Vallarta.
ProtonVPN states that its free service is funded by its paying clients which is possibly why its Plus and Visionary plans sport above-average price tags, ranging from $8 to $24 per month. If you’re looking for a VPN service with encrypted email included, however, then sign up with ProtonVPN today. If you want to know more, read our full review here.
Threats to Online Privacy in Mexico
As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, copyright legislation is causing as much havoc in Mexican cyberspace as it is the rest of the world. One of the most worrying things about authorities’ response to copyright infringements is its ambiguity with vague laws being open to interpretation.
In Mexico, this problem has been exacerbated by the decision to allow law enforcement representatives to remove any content suspected of breaking the national copyright legislation without producing any evidence.
Authorities have even been given carte blanche to “seize equipment such as servers and routers that facilitate access to allegedly-infringing material”. According to some experts, these recent amendments “clearly constitute a measure of prior censorship, in violation of article seven of the Mexican Constitution”.
While the thought of authorities being able to swoop in and seize your laptop simply because you accessed content that violates copyright laws is worrying enough, but the increasing threat of cybercrime offers an even more convincing argument in favor of using the best VPN for Mexico.
Brazil has experienced the most cyberattacks in Latin America, but Mexico manages to secure the unenviable position of being the next in line. Statistics indicate that companies in Mexico suffer a higher possibility of online fraud while emerging threats to private citizens include cryptojacking and phishing attacks.
With organized crime syndicates upping their online game, Mexican cyberspace isn’t getting any safer and heading out there without the best VPN for Mexico is tantamount to entering a war zone without a flak jacket.
Heading Upstream with a Paddle in Mexico
It would seem most Mexicans are happy enough watching Mexican movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime, and there appears to be little homegrown competition to give those international streaming giants a run for their money.
There’s certainly a demand for streaming television shows and movies, however, and Acorn TV branched out into the Mexican market last year, saying, “Given Mexico streams more content than any other Spanish-speaking Latin American country, entering the Mexican market is a key milestone for us and part of our expansion plan.”
Blim TV is one popular Mexican streaming site which relaunched earlier this year and now offers over 32,000 episodes and movies as well as news and entertainment channels like Canal de las Estrellas and Telemundo Internacional.
Conclusion
While ExpressVPN wins our vote for being the best VPN for Mexico, other VPN providers offer reliable, high-speed connections, the ability to create a fake Mexican IP address, and that are agile enough to consistently access blocked content and stream US content from overseas.
Mexico is experiencing a high rate of cybercrime and has the additional irritation of a wide-reaching copyright law that allows authorities to remove content without first proving that it violates the country’s copyright regulations.
Traveling in Mexican cyberspace requires a similarly diligent approach to cybersecurity as traveling in some of the more crime-ridden cities around the country, like Los Cabos for example. Avoid exposing yourself to unnecessary online risks by investing in the best VPN for Mexico today.