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Canada is full of exquisite nature and unique cultural cities, but few are quite as charming as Edmonton. The quirky capital of the Alberta province is not only historically and culturally rich, but it is also home to some of Canada’s top attractions and most beautiful surroundings. Connecting to a VPN is a must, however, if you want to get the most out of the internet and keep your device connected.
Edmonton’s 1.5 million residents welcome more tourists each year, mostly from other parts of the country. Domestic Canadian tourists travel to the Alberta gem to enjoy the tranquil surroundings and visit the largest living history museum and historical park in the country- and to do a spot of shopping in the West Edmonton Mall- the largest shopping mall in all of North America!
One thing the people of Edmonton love about exploring the city is the local government-provided free Wi-Fi connections available in many public areas. Around 14,000 devices connect to it every week. On one hand, this is a great service, but it is also completely unsecured and offers no protection whatsoever.
Other restrictions are the 12-hour time limit and the capped number of simultaneous users, so if you head out on a busy afternoon, you may be out of luck. By installing a VPN on your devices, you need never worry about public Wi-Fi in Edmonton again.
1. Best VPN for Edmonton 2023
1.1 NordVPN – Best Overall Edmonton VPN
Without a doubt, one of the most popular VPNs in Canada and the rest of the world is NordVPN. Considered by many as the industry leader alongside ExpressVPN, the Nord servers have the ideal balance of exceptional connection quality and military-grade security.
Domestic travelers heading to Edmonton would do well to install a NordVPN package onto their devices for their time on the road and when they get back home. The 428 P2P-friendly servers owned and operated within Canada are evenly spread between Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, providing strong and reliable coverage over all of southern Canada.
NordVPN’s running speeds are almost on par with ExpressVPN, so it is still a great choice for anyone who has content streaming as a priority. Someone more concerned about security may be swayed towards this option, thanks to its industry-leading encryptions.
1.2 ExpressVPN – Fastest VPN for Edmonton
Express VPN is Canada’s favorite VPN provider and is our top pick to use in Edmonton. It has thousands of dedicated servers spread across several major Canadian cities to provide solid, even coverage no matter where you go. Whether you live in Edmonton full time or you are just passing through, ExpressVPN has got you covered.
The name may be a slight giveaway, but ExpressVPN is all about speed. No other VPN can consistently provide connections as quickly and as seamlessly as Express can. People who love to stream series or movies are sure to appreciate these lightning-quick connections.
Why risk not getting on the Edmonton Open City Wi-Fi when you could have a perfect personal connection that also keeps your device protected. ExpressVPN may be best known for speedy streaming, but it also boasts more than a few advanced security and privacy protocols.
1.3 CyberGhost – Safe VPN for Edmonton
Originally set up in Europe, CyberGhost very quickly crossed the Atlantic and became one of North America’s most used VPNs. With subscription numbers getting higher each year, there is no doubting it is a force to be reckoned with.
CyberGhost has almost 400 servers in Canada, many of which lie very near to Edmonton, providing great coverage and even better security. It allows for unlimited device connections and has some great family plans.
1.4 Surfshark VPN – Best Budget VPN for Edmonton
Surfshark is the best of three worlds: it is the only VPN provider that comes close to NordVPN and ExpressVPN in terms of speed, it has some of the best privacy protocols on the markets, and it has the best value for money. We would recommend this provider to US visitors to Edmonton or anyone who is concerned about missing their favorite sports. With 336 Canadian servers located in the south of the country and unlimited simultaneous connections, it is easily one of the front runners.
Getting around geo-blockers that major streaming services have in place to restrict content overseas is one of the big reasons a lot of people want a VPN in the first place, and Surfshark is one of the most competent. Whether you don’t want to miss out on Netflix during your time in Edmonton or you are concerned about game licenses for the Oilers, Surfshark has got your back.
Edmonton is full of students on a budget attending one of the best universities in Canada. Surfshark is an excellent choice for balancing entertainment and protection for those all-important studies and reports.
1.5 IPVanish – Edmonton VPN With Many Locations
Last but not least, IP Vanish is an excellent choice for anyone in or going to Edmonton for business reasons. Public networks such as the Edmonton Open City Wi-Fi are not suitable for company devices that may hold sensitive or private information, which is part of what makes a VPN so important.
IP Vanish is primarily concerned with anonymity and privacy when using the internet. Its 30 Canadian servers are P2P-friendly and designed with security in mind. Although it is not the best for streaming, it is ultra-private and secure. If your time in Edmonton is mostly work-related, then it is worth considering IPVanish rather than a provider that has put more focus into the entertainment side of things.
2. Edmonton VPN FAQ
Here are a few FAQs relating to VPNs in general.
2.1 Are VPNs legal in Canada?
Yes, VPNs are perfectly legal in Canada. There are no restrictions in place regarding the use of VPNs, as long as they are not used to facilitate illegal online activity. If something is a crime without a VPN, it is a crime with one. As long as you are browsing responsibly and lawfully, feel free to use VPN.
If you use a VPN to stream content from another location, it may be in breach of the terms of agreement with the streaming platform you subscribe to. Most top-quality VPN providers can let you do this without any sign showing, but some platforms are getting stricter and better at spotting it.
2.2 How do I set up a VPN on my device?
Setting up a VPN is easy- especially when you pick a good provider. Most of them have a mobile app that you can install that lets you control everything about the setup and connection. All you need to do is turn on the VPN setting on your device, log in to the app, enter your subscription details, choose the server you want to connect to, and browse until your heart is content.
You can also add a VPN to your device through the settings. There is a section dedicated to VPNs where you can enter the details provided on the app and secure the connection to the server. Usually, as soon as you set up your server choice on the app, it automatically transfers to your device settings, so you don’t really have to do anything.
2.3 How many devices can I connect to at the same time?
That depends on what VPN you use. All the providers on this list allow for multiple devices, but the exact limit varies.
Surfshark and IPVanish both allow users to connect an unlimited number of devices, making them great choices for family plans and people with a lot of screens. ExpressVPN offers the fewest simultaneous connection of the five choices (five connections available), with NordVPN and CyberGhost just edging it out with six and seven respectively.
2.4 What is it important to hide my IP address when traveling?
An IP address is essential for your device’s identification, and it holds a lot of information. It can tell where your device is located, where it is registered, who it is registered to, and what internet activity it has been involved in. In terms of privacy, someone tracking your IP address is not really what you want.
When you connect to a public network, there is a good chance it is not secure. An unsecured network is accessible by anyone and does not apply many – if any- security protocols. Most people rely on public networks when they travel, or even when they leave the house, so all this information is readily available for anyone with the skills and motivation to find it.
VPNs can change your IP address based on what server you connect to. By doing so, it not only allows you to connect to different content but also hides your information and makes your device significantly more difficult to track or access.
3. Final Thoughts
Whether you are traveling to Edmonton or you live there and want to upgrade your device security, installing a VPN is an intelligent move. Don’t risk it by connecting with unsecured public networks, and don’t suffer because of annoying, unreliable signals.
Any of the five VPN providers mentioned above would be a great choice for use in Edmonton. Regardless of which one you opt for you can rest assured that your device stays connected and protected.
VPN Service
www.nordvpn.com
NordVPN
Review
Price:
$11.95 $3.71/month
Servers: 5500+ in 59 countries
Simultaneous connections: 6
Jurisdiction: Panama
Payment: PayPal, AmazonPay, Crypto, Google Pay, Klarna
Torrenting: OK
Unblocks US Netflix: Yes
Dedicated IP: $70/yr
TrustPilot Score: 4,7/5
Money-back: 30 days
Extra: Double VPN, Obfuscated servers
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www.expressvpn.com
ExpressVPN
Review
Price:
$12.95 $8.32/month
Servers: 3300+ in 94 countries
Simultaneous connections: 5
Jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands
Payment: PayPal, Crypto, AliPay, Klarna,
Torrenting: OK
Unblocks US Netflix: Yes
Dedicated IP: Not provided
TrustPilot Score: 4,7/5
Money-back: 30 days
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www.cyberghostvpn.com
CyberGhost
Review
Price:
$11.99 $2.25/month
Servers: 6600+ in 89 coutrines
Simultaneous connections: 7
Jurisdiction: Romania
Payment: PayPal, Crypto
Torrenting: OK
Unblocks US Netflix: Yes
Dedicated IP: $51/yr
TrustPilot Score: 4,8/5
Money-back: 45 days
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www.surfshark.com
Surfshark
Price:
$11.95 $2.49/month
Servers: 3200+ in 65 coutrines
Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
Jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands
Payment: PayPal, Crypto, Google Pay, Amazon Pay
Torrenting: OK
Unblocks US Netflix: Yes
Dedicated IP: Not provided
TrustPilot Score: 4,3/5
Money-back: 30 days
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www.purevpn.com
PureVPN
Review
Price:
$9.60 $3.33/month
Servers: 6500+ in 140 coutrines
Simultaneous connections: 10
Jurisdiction: Hong Kong
Payment: PayPal, Credit Cards
Torrenting: OK
Unblocks US Netflix: Yes
Dedicated IP: $35.88/yr
TrustPilot Score: 4,7/5
Money-back: 31 days
Visit PureVPN »