If this is going to be the first time you use a VPN provider in Canada, there are a specific set of features you should be sure the provider has before you sign with them.
These features will protect you from snooping by the Canadian government, make sure hackers cannot access your private information and allow you to access websites in any country you choose.
What are these features? These are the basic ones.
The right encryption — Your data must be properly encrypted with any Canadian VPN you use. This encryption stops the Canadian government from spying on you, as well as prevents hackers from accessing your personal or financial information.
This is especially important if you are going to be using your computer or mobile device via any public wi-fi.
Make sure any Canadian VPN provider you are researching offers 256-bit encryption, as this is the type that will protect you the best.
Unlimited bandwidth — A good Canadian VPN will allow you to get online as much as you like and use as much bandwidth as you like while you are on there. A bad one will throttle your speeds and eventually block you if you consume too much.
Only register with a VPN provider that has unlimited bandwidth listed as one of the basic features they provide.
Ability to switch servers at will — Some VPN providers only allow you to access a finite number of servers throughout the month. This can end up being a problem if you want to access a site in the U.K. or Germany, for instance, and you do not have the ability to switch servers to do so.
Servers in many countries — Even though you may only want to access sites in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K., only sign up for a VPN that has servers in many countries.
Over time you will find you enjoy using a VPN so much you will start to look at sites in other countries. If the VPN service you are using does not have servers in many countries, you will be limited in what you can see.
Which are the best Canadian VPN providers? — There are several VPNs offering service to Canadian customers and all of them offer top-of-the-line features.
NordVPN is one of the most popular as it allows payment by Bitcoin, thus protecting your privacy even more. It also offers a massive number of servers, and double data encryption giving you security few other VPNs offer. It also offers a free trial, you just have to search their site a little bit to find it.
Hotspot Shield has been one of the best VPNs for a long time. It has very fast download speeds, good encryption and offers servers in Canada, the U.S. and many other countries. The drawback with Hotspot Shield, however, is it is on the more expensive side.
IVPN also has servers in Canada, has fast performance and offers a full-service three-day trial if you want to check it out. You can also check how fast a particular serving is running on their site for any server you may want to use, allowing you to find one that is as fast as you need.
