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Best VPNs for Sweden

Best VPNs for Sweden

By Daniel C. Daniel C. Verified by Sander D. Sander D. Last updated: July 23, 2024 (0)
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Sweden enjoys some of the best quality internet in the world. Do not misunderstand us; we are referring to the technical aspects like availability and speed. The content itself comes with a little bit of dispute, as the European Union’s directives pressure the Swedish government to make the country’s internet less free. However, civil support in favor of privacy opposes this. In Sweden, there is a digital rights movement and this is great to hear. The on-demand music streaming service Spotify was founded in Sweden. Though headquarters have since moved to London, Stockholm still holds specific offices. In all fairness, we should note that of course, service in Sweden is not privileged in any way because of this. Some also remember of the ill fated Pirate Bay raid of 2014 in the country. Sweden’s stance on copyright and P2P is a curious one, and sadly not in the positive sense.

Editor's choice 2024
NordVPN logo
Editor's rating:
(4.5)
Intuitive multiplatform apps
Double VPN and P2P support
Plenty of security features
Large VPN network with consistent speeds
Security
Surfshark logo
Editor's rating:
(4)
Intuitive multiplatform apps
Double VPN
WireGuard protocol
Outstanding device support
Multi-device users
IPVanish logo
Editor's rating:
(4.5)
Unlimited devices
No-log policy
24/7 support
Reliable security tools
Gaming
ExpressVPN logo
Editor's rating:
(4)
Extensive device support
Exceptional speed
Intuitive apps
Convenient extras
Traveling
CyberGhost VPN logo
Editor's rating:
(4.5)
Suitable for all VPN users
Great security features
Seven simultaneous connections
24/7 customer support
Streaming
ZoogVPN logo
Editor's rating:
(4.5)
24/7 customer service
Competitive price
Good connection speed
Based in Greece
Torrenting
Private Internet Access logo
Editor's rating:
(4.5)
Unlimited devices
DNS leak protection
Suitable for all users
Completely customizable
Beginners
TunnelBear logo
Editor's rating:
(4)
Very easy and fun to use
Kill switch and traffic obfuscato
Browser extensions and Chrome blocker
Good speeds

Using a Swedish IP

With harsh weather and climate, you might think of the country as a bad place for internet. Instead, nearly the entire population (94%) has online access. In Sweden a great effort is made to supply connections: more isolated cities have even their own network next to, or instead of ISPs. The country uses IPv4 protocols mostly; IPv6 is also supported and furthermore, it also acts as a backup protocol of sorts, evident from the 2014 usage of Swedish internet. Overall, regardless of where and how you use a Swedish IP, expect quality internet with great stability. Sweden supplies some of the best internet from a technical perspective.

Swedish online privacy laws

Sweden’s legal situation hangs in the air somewhat. The beneficial side of the constitution is that it provides freedom of speech and press to the people, both on and offline. Hate speech is criminalized. However, according to the report of the US Department of State, Swedish law “permits the signals intelligence agency, National Defense Radio Establishment, to monitor the content of all cross-border cable-based Internet traffic to combat “external threats” such as terrorism and organized crime”. Court permission is required to conduct this action, but the definition of external threat is loose somewhat – terrorism and organized crime are merely possible examples.

The same document also reports that “in 2012 parliament passed the EU Data Retention Directive that compels Internet service providers to store data on online communications within the country for six months”. Therefore, if you wish to remain hidden from plain sight and documentation, we suggest you employ the help of a VPN service that encrypts your traffic, applying a highly protective layer to your actions. Sweden being a constitutional monarchy barely (if at all) affects the country’s internet freedom, as the presence of a king is ceremonial.

Internet censorship in Sweden

Sweden actively employs a DNS filter against child pornography. Most famously related to this aspect of Swedish censorship is the case of The Pirate Bay. In 2007, the website was due to be blocked on claims of it containing child pornography. However, the blocking wasn’t actually put into effect. Then, in 2014, The Pirate Bay was actually raided at the Nacka data center of Sweden. The site briefly went offline, and has not been available in full function since. The incident caused public unrest and today there are active digital rights movements in Sweden. Nevertheless, excluding such scandalous events, Swedish and those who connect there enjoy good internet freedom otherwise. If you are an expat living outside the country’s borders, we suggest using a VPN service to connect back home via a Swedish IP to enjoy the Swedish internet from anywhere in the world.

Streaming services in Sweden

Sweden has its ups and down in terms of streaming availability. Spotify – founded in Sweden – is open in full force, and so is SoundCloud. Beatport is also an option, but Naptser is not. Amazon Prime isn’t available either, and Pandora is similarly blocked outside the US, Australia and New Zealand. Better news is that Netflix is open for customers, but with slightly restricted content compared to the selection found in the US. Access to BBC iPlayer is also prohibited in Sweden. There are no big surprises here: the country conforms to the rest of the EU’s availability in terms of streaming services. Generally, it is favorable, but if you use a Swedish IP, you will not be privileged.

Free Swedish VPN trials

 

Sweden is a nice place to connect to. Still, a lot of people wish for advanced privacy on the internet, whether to hide from plain sight or to access restricted content, or for any other reason. Luckily, VPN services offer just this. Today, internet restrictions tighten often – it is wise to bypass these issues. First, we would like to recommend PureVPN. Their purity lies in the clean, composed structuring of their service, great country availability with plenty of server power housed within Sweden, and extended security options. For you non-purists, try taking a look at HideMyAss. Though the name does seem “impure”, we are talking about one of the most accomplished VPN providers today. They have it all; from P2P support, access to (and from) 180+ countries including Sweden and great customer support for a reasonable price. Still concerned about your e-wallet? Check out ibVPN; for a monthly price barely over $3, you get widespread device support and the company’s own smart DNS solution: ibDNS. And because they are seated in Romania, you’re using a VPN service with a favorable legal background too.

 

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