VPN companies offer thousands of servers around the world. The most important thing is to choose the right server location depending on your needs.
Using a VPN service is quite simple. But even experienced VPN users face the problem of finding the right server and connecting to it.
A universal nearby server can offer good speed, but a remote optimized server provides the best conditions for your specific use case.
In this article, we will look at how to choose the right server if you want to play online games without hindrance, view content with geo-blocking, or just want to maximize your privacy.
Why is the location of the VPN server so important
No matter what you do on the internet, the location of your server will affect your work on the Internet in general. This will affect download and upload speeds, latency, security and privacy, as well as the range of content you can access using a VPN.
For uninterrupted, reliable and convenient work on the Internet, the location of the server is the first thing to consider when using a VPN. Here we will tell you how to choose the right server location for your specific use cases.
The best VPN location for a fast and reliable connection
If only the speed and reliability of the connection are important to you, it is best to connect to the nearest server. In this case, data packets from your device reach the VPN server and the desired web page faster, and then return back to your device faster.
The nearest server will have a fast connection that is not interrupted during operation. However, there are several factors to consider before connecting to the nearest server.
The country’s digital infrastructure affects internet speed and VPN connection. Regions with better connectivity and modern network equipment usually offer high speed and reliable connectivity.
The number of VPN servers in a country can also affect the performance of a VPN connection. If VPN servers are always full, there is a chance that you will encounter low speed, packet loss, “jitter” (jitter) and increased latency.
Also, some VPN services show ping or server loading. With their help, you can make sure that you have chosen the server with the least ping or load to ensure high speed.
The best location of a VPN server for accessing geo-blocked content
In some countries, access to popular websites and social networks is blocked. In addition, some services, such as YouTube or Netflix, use your IP address to provide content that is only available in your region. This is due to the lack of broadcasting rights or the effect of copyright laws
To bypass local blockages or access content from a library in another region, you need the IP address of the desired location. VPN allows you to do this by masking your real IP address and assigning a new IP address depending on the server you are connecting to.
Please note that some streaming services block users who use a VPN.
The best VPN server location for privacy and security
VPN services increase your privacy regardless of the server you choose. They offer strong encryption, protection against data leaks, an emergency switch and a strict no-logs policy, so no one can disclose your data and information about you.
Also, some VPN providers use servers with RAM that save data only when you are connected to them. All data is erased at the end of the session or when the server is restarted.
However, in some countries, VPN services are required to track, register or collect user data and transfer it to the authorities upon request. Therefore, when choosing a VPN server, it is best to choose one that is based in a country with strict data protection laws, such as Iceland or the British Virgin Islands. For example, countries that are members of the intelligence alliances “5/9/14 eyes” (Five Eyes Alliance, Nine Eyes Alliance and Four Eyes Alliance) will share information about their citizens among themselves. Here is a list of countries belonging to these unions:
Five Eyes Alliance: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA and UK.
Nine Eyes Alliance: France, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and the countries that are members of the Five Eyes Alliance.
Fourteen Eyes Alliance: Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Italy and the countries of the Nine Eyes Alliance
Alliance member states have tried several times to include backdoors in the software that could compromise your security and privacy. Therefore, many security experts recommend VPN services with headquarters outside the Alliance.
However, a VPN operating in the Alliance countries can still protect your data. For example, some VPN providers may be based in the USA, but have a firm policy of no logs.
However, there is no guarantee that VPN services in other regions will not track your Internet activity. Several countries have anti-privacy rules that require VPN providers to register customer data. Therefore, it is necessary to choose services that protect the privacy of users.
Choosing the Best VPN Server location
Choosing the right server location depends on personal preferences and individual needs on the Internet. If your goal is a fast and reliable connection, you should choose a server closer to your physical location.
To circumvent censorship or unblock geographically restricted content, connect to the server location where this content is available. This applies to both free websites and subscription-based services. And if data protection is your main goal, choose a server with strict data privacy rules.
The best VPN services are usually found in countries such as Panama, Switzerland, Iceland, Romania and the British Virgin Islands. These countries have strict laws that protect user privacy and also prohibit companies from collecting and processing user data.