5 Best VPNs for Alaska in 2023 for Streaming, Speeds & Privacy

When in Alaska, you can’t access online services from your home country (like BBC iPlayer) without a VPN. You may also have trouble watching local platforms (like Netflix US) or Alaska Nanooks live streams from abroad.

Your privacy is also at risk in Alaska unless you use a VPN. The US government shares data about its citizens with other countries within the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. Plus, you need extra protection against cyber threats, especially when using unsecured public WiFi hotspots.

My team and I tested over 90 services to find the best VPNs for Alaska. The shortlisted VPNs have global server networks to bypass geoblocks easily. They also have fast speeds for bufferless streaming, and advanced security features to safeguard your privacy.

ExpressVPN is my top choice for Alaska. With a super-fast global network in the US and worldwide, you can easily access the content you need without interruptions. The VPN has military-grade encryption and a strict no-logs policy to protect your online activity too. You can try ExpressVPN for Alaska without risk (it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee).

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The Best VPNs for Alaska — Full Analysis (Updated in 2023)

Each shortlisted VPN has a global network to bypass geo-restrictions easily. They also have fast speeds for streaming, torrenting, and gaming without interruptions. Plus, every VPN protects your data from prying eyes with robust encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy.

These services also support major operating systems, allow multiple simultaneous connections, and come with professional live chat support. On top of that, they all offer trustworthy money-back guarantees, so you can get a refund if you’re not fully impressed.

1. ExpressVPN — Impressive Global Network to Easily Bypass Geoblocks in and Out of Alaska

ExpressVPN lets you bypass geoblocks with ease thanks to servers in 94 countries. I had no problems accessing my streaming accounts (like Netflix US, Disney+, and HBO Max) from abroad. So, watching NCIS and The Mandalorian is possible from anywhere. You can just as easily access your international subscriptions — for example I watched BBC iPlayer using a UK server.

The speeds are lightning-fast — perfect for buffer-free streaming. There wasn't a huge drop from my 90 Mbps base speed. My average download speed was 83 Mbps while testing ExpressVPN’s servers in Vancouver and Seattle. I didn’t record speeds slower than 65 Mbps, even on far-away France and UK servers. These are great results because you need only 25 Mbps for UHD streaming. Plus, P2P support and unlimited bandwidth let you torrent without restrictions.

Your connection is secured with military-grade encryption and tunneling protocols. You can choose a super-fast and secure Lightway protocol or OpenVPN — the industry standard for security. Perfect Forward Secrecy also regularly changes your encryption keys, making it even more difficult for hackers to decrypt your information.

Fortunately, the VPN is headquartered in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands — outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. So your data can’t be exchanged with other members of this intelligence-sharing agreement. A no-logs policy means ExpressVPN doesn’t store your information, keeping your data safe from third parties. I also detected no IP/DNS leaks on ExpressVPN’s US servers.

On top of that, the TrustedServer technology (RAM-only servers) erases all your web data from servers on each reboot. Plus, the Network Lock (a kill switch) prevents data exposure by terminating your connection if you get disconnected from the VPN. I didn’t lose my VPN connection during tests, but it helped me once when my laptop automatically went into sleep mode.

Installing and using the apps is super-easy. It took me just a few minutes to install ExpressVPN on my Mac. There’s even a MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) that lets you access US services on devices usually not compatible with VPNs, like PlayStation 5. Also, customer support is available 24/7 via live chat, and there are many easy-to-follow tutorials on the website.

I was disappointed that the plans are quite expensive, starting at $6.67/month. However, ExpressVPN regularly offers fantastic discounts. I subscribed to a 12-month plan and got 49% off, plus 3 extra months of free service.

If you’re not fully satisfied with the service, getting a refund is straightforward, thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tried the VPN for a few weeks and applied for a refund using the online chat. The conversation was brief — I was only asked what made me cancel my subscription. My money was returned to my PayPal wallet in just 3 days.

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2. CyberGhost — Great Speeds for UHD Streaming in Alaska and Beyond

You can stream, game, and torrent at top speeds with CyberGhost. My download speed was above 75 Mbps on Miami, New York, and Chicago servers. That's more than enough to watch Anchorage Glacier Pilots' live streams without buffering. The VPN also provides unlimited bandwidth and P2P support, meaning you can download and share as many files as you want.

There are servers across 91 countries to easily access geoblocked content. The VPN also has many servers dedicated to streaming (for specific platforms and countries). For example, I accessed my Netflix US and Hulu accounts while testing CyberGhost's streaming-optimized servers outside Alaska.

The VPN keeps your online activity safe with AES 256-bit encryption and HTTPS protection that redirects you to the most secure versions of web pages. Multiple security protocols are also available, including OpenVPN and WireGuard — high-speed and secure. Automatic WiFi protection (when enabled) launches the VPN whenever your device detects a new network. I securely accessed my Chase Bank app on public hotspots.

Plus, the VPN is based in Romania (a privacy-friendly country beyond the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances jurisdiction). CyberGhost has a strict no-logs policy too, meaning it doesn’t collect or share your personal data. I also didn’t detect any IP/DNS leaks during my tests. Plus, a kill switch feature prevents accidental data exposure.

Intuitive apps make this VPN exceptionally easy-to-use. It even has servers labeled according to specific functions — streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Plus, you can conveniently reach out to 24/7 live chat support for troubleshooting and general questions. I asked how to use the VPN with my router and received a prompt answer.

One drawback is that monthly subscriptions are expensive and offer a limited 14-day refund period. However, you can get CyberGhost’s long-term plans starting at only $2.19/month. They also come with extended money-back guarantees. I recommend the 3-year plan, which provides the best value for money.

A 45-day money-back guarantee lets you try CyberGhost for free. You can quickly get your money back if it doesn't work out for you. I applied for a refund via email, and the entire sum was back on my credit card 4 days later.

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3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Robust Security Features to Protect Your Online Data in Alaska and Worldwide

PIA protects your online data with advanced security features. There’s even a choice of encryption and security protocols. I use AES 256-bit and OpenVPN protocol to safely log in to my First National Bank Alaska app on public networks. The combination of AES 128-bit and WireGuard is also secure but prioritizes speeds. This makes it an excellent option for streaming 4K content. You can also use a kill switch to prevent data leaks.

It’s possible to avoid ads and pop-ups on Yahoo News and other websites with a built-in ad blocker (MACE). The VPN also follows a strict zero-logs policy, keeping your data private. While testing PIA's UK servers, I detected no IP/DNS/WebRTC data leaks.

Accessing my platforms like Netflix US, Disney+, and HBO Max was quick on all US servers I tried. There’s even a local server in Anchorage, so you don’t have problems watching Alaska Nanooks on your ESPN+ account outside the state. You can also easily access popular international services thanks to PIA’s network across 84 countries. For example, connecting to a UK server lets you stream your BBC iPlayer account from the US.

My speeds were consistently fast for streaming and gaming (although not as blazing-fast as ExpressVPN). I averaged 60.2 Mbps on the US servers I tried — just a 30% drop on my base speed. You also get unlimited bandwidth and P2P traffic support for torrenting without data caps.

The VPN apps might seem quite complicated to inexperienced VPN users due to numerous customization options. Still, they have pre-configured profiles, so you don’t have to change any settings yourself. Besides, the 24/7 live chat is ready to help you with any questions.

PIA’s long-term plans are very affordable (starting at $2.03/month). I went with the 2-year subscription to save more in the long run.

Plus, there’s a reliable 30-day money-back guarantee. Getting a refund is hassle-free if you’re not 100% happy with the VPN. I used a support ticket to request a refund, and my bank account was reimbursed just 5 days later.

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4. IPVanish — Unlimited Simultaneous Connections to Use a VPN on All Your Devices in Alaska and Abroad

You can use IPVanish on all your devices simultaneously thanks to unlimited connection support. I connected the VPN on 13 devices at the same time (including my PC, Mac, and many Android smartphones). All my connections remained stable while testing IPVanish’s Seattle servers. Like CyberGhost, it also has user-friendly apps and 24/7 live chat support.

OpenVPN Scramble (obfuscation) helps you avoid deep packet inspections and strict firewalls. In addition to the no-logs policy, the VPN manages its whole network to prevent third parties from accessing your information. I also enabled the kill switch and the auto reconnect feature in the settings for extra online safety. Besides, there’s a robust IPv6/DNS leak protection and AES 256-bit encryption.

The speeds are good for high-bandwidth activities. My UHD videos loaded instantly, and I watched Scandal on my Hulu subscription without buffering. I even had lag-free Fortnite sessions on a nearby Vancouver server. You can also download and share files without data caps.

I couldn’t access certain streaming platforms, like my Amazon Prime Video account. However, IPVanish’s servers in 75 countries let you bypass geoblocks for many other popular services. I watched shows on my Netflix US, Hulu, and ESPN+ accounts outside the US. I didn’t have issues unblocking BBC iPlayer and other international websites too.

All subscriptions offer similar features, but IPVanish’s long-term plan costs only $2.49/month. The yearly option also offers a money-back guarantee, making it a sure pick.

You can try IPVanish for free, thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee. I used the dashboard on the VPN’s website to easily cancel my subscription. In 6 days, my credit card was reimbursed.

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5. PrivateVPN — P2P-Supported Network for Reliable Torrenting in and Out of Alaska

Network-wide P2P support and unlimited bandwidth make PrivateVPN excellent for torrenting. It's also possible to boost your download speeds by setting up a SOCKS5 proxy and port forwarding. I downloaded a 5 GB file in less than 15 minutes while testing PrivateVPN with BitTorrent and uTorrent apps in Alaska.

You can select the encryption level and tunneling protocols. I chose AES 128-bit and OpenVPN for fast and secure torrenting. The VPN also offers Perfect Forward Secrecy and obfuscation (Stealth VPN) for extra protection. In addition to a kill switch, the Windows app has an Application Guard feature that terminates specific apps if you lose a VPN connection. Plus, there’s a no-logs policy and IP/DNS leak protection.

Even though the setup procedure is simple, the tech support remotely installed the VPN on my Windows laptop and can provide the same service for all desktop applications. PrivateVPN features an online live chat support available for 22 hours a day, in addition to a thorough knowledge base that includes easy-to-follow setup guides.

This VPN doesn’t have the largest number of servers. However, PrivateVPN’s servers are located in 63 countries to unblock worldwide content. I watched the latest season of Succession on my HBO Max trouble-free when abroad. You can also access international platforms and shop on foreign websites using region-specific prices while in Alaska.

All plans have reasonable prices — you can get PrivateVPN for as low as $2/month. I chose the 3-year option as the most budget-friendly.

There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee backing PrivateVPN. I used the online chat and easily obtained a refund. The money was back in my PayPal wallet a week later.

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Tips on How to Choose the Best VPN for Alaska

All VPNs I picked offer global networks to let you access popular US-based and international services. They also offer fast speeds for high-quality streaming and leading security features to protect your privacy. However, if you want to research VPNs on your own, you can use the following criteria as a checklist:

• Global network (with local servers) — Look for a VPN with servers in the US and worldwide to access your services like Hulu and BBC iPlayer.
• Fast connection speeds — You need at least 5 Mbps to stream in HD and 25 Mbps for UHD.
• High-grade security and privacy features — Choose a VPN with top-tier encryption (AES 256-bit), a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy to protect your personal information.
• Easy-to-use apps — Get a VPN with intuitive apps, multiple simultaneous connections, and professional online support.
• Reliable money-back guarantee — Pick a provider with a trustworthy refund policy, so you can easily get your money back if you don’t like the service.

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FAQs on Using a VPN for Alaska

Is it legal to use a VPN for Alaska?

Yes, VPNs are legal in Alaska (and other parts of the US) when used for lawful purposes. They’re also legal in most countries around the world. VPNs are primarily a security tool to protect your online privacy no matter where you are.

However, several countries (like China and Russia) ban or restrict the use of VPNs. So it’s a good idea to check the local laws and regulations beforehand as they can change.

Why do I need a VPN for Alaska?

Using a VPN in Alaska lets you access online content from home. When you’re outside the US, you can also use a VPN with many US servers to access the sites you need. This lets you keep up with the latest shows on your Netflix US and ESPN+ accounts from anywhere.

Plus, a VPN secures your online activity — especially if you often use unsecured WiFi networks. Your private information can be collected and shared with other countries (within the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances). Many ISPs in Alaska also store data about your search queries, downloaded files, and the websites you visit. More importantly, cyber threats are increasing in Alaska and all over the country.

Can I use a free VPN for Alaska?

You can, but it’s not recommended. Many free VPNs have limited security measures and tend to limit your bandwidth and available servers. You usually have to upgrade to a paid plan to access high-speed servers and remove data caps. It’s much better to use premium VPNs with trustworthy money-back guarantees that let you access worldwide content safely.

On top of that, most free VPNs lack advanced encryption and privacy features, leaving your data vulnerable to hackers. Some services sell your personal data and browsing history to third parties for a profit. Even worse, they can infect your devices with malware.

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The Bottom Line

With the finest VPNs for Alaska, you gain the ability to access both local and international services from any location, courtesy of their expansive global networks. These VPNs ensure exceptional speed by providing fast servers, allowing for seamless streaming and gaming experiences. Furthermore, they boast advanced security features that effectively safeguard your personal information against hackers and unauthorized surveillance.

ExpressVPN is my top choice for Alaska, with a vast global network to easily bypass geoblocks. Thanks to its lightning-fast speeds, you can watch your favorite shows buffer-free in UHD. The VPN also has robust encryption and a trustworthy no-logs policy to safeguard your personal information online. Better yet, you can try ExpressVPN for Alaska with confidence since it's backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

To summarize, here are the best VPNs for Alaska