Best Free VPNs for Qatar in 2024 (to Unblock Websites)
Qatar has huge internet coverage. A large percentage of the citizens have access to the internet. However, this comes at a great cost: the government imposes massive internet censorship. The emir of Qatar has placed a ban on several topics, especially those relating to politics and governance. Punishment is swift for anyone caught contravening any of the laws.
This will be worrying if you are traveling to the country or currently live there. However, we bring you a solution to the serious internet restriction in the country: using a VPN.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is software designed to enhance the security of users. It routinely encrypts the network of users, preventing anyone from accessing their data or becoming aware of activities they carry out online.
VPNs come in two categories – paid and free providers. The former has more providers than the latter. However, we have put together a list of the best free VPN providers you can consider if you are in Qatar.
Best Risk-free VPNs for Qatar
Before we bring you a list of the best free VPN providers to check out, you may want to consider using risk-free VPNs. Risk-free VPN providers offer you a semblance of free service for a while. You’ll have to pay for the service at first but will be eligible for a refund within a stated period. The benefit of this is that you’ll have access to all of the services and features the given provider has.
Here are two excellent risk-free providers to consider.
ExpressVPN
Features
- Number of servers: More than 3,000
- Speeds: Unlimited
- Server locations: 160 in 94 countries
- Maximum devices supported: 5
- 24 live chat: Yes
- 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
Pros/Cons
- Fastest VPN out there
- Strict no logs policy
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Few discounts
ExpressVPN has been consistently ranked tops in the VPN industry. Experts and users give it stellar reviews after each trial. The provider does not have a totally free version. However, it gives users a money-back guarantee window to use the service and request a refund.
You will find 3000+ ExpressVPN servers in 94 countries and 160 locations. This wide spread is fantastic because it gives you an almost inexhaustible list of options to choose from if you want to change your IP address. You will be glad to know that this provider has servers in neighboring countries to Qatar. Connecting to any of the servers encrypts your service, preventing government surveillance.
ExpressVPN uses the AES 256-bit encryption model to secure its servers. It pairs this unbeatable encryption system with a network kill switch, split tunneling features, and support for powerful security protocols. In addition, this provider maintains a reliable no-log policy. This means that it does not retain and will not share your online details with third parties. All of these keep you secure in Qatar.
You can connect 5 devices to one ExpressVPN account. In addition, the provider has apps for major device types, including Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux operating systems. As mentioned, its money-back refund process is seamless and trustworthy.
- Pros: Fastest VPN out there; Strict no logs policy; 256-bit AES encryption;
- Lowest price: $6.67
NordVPN
Features
- Cryptocurrency accepted? Yes
- Simultaneous connections: 6
- Dedicated IP-addresses? Yes
- Servers: 5342 in 58 countries
Pros/Cons
- Lots of pricing options
- Netflix support kept up to date
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Slow app
Another provider that makes its way to our two-VPN shortlist is NordVPN. This is an oldie with fantastic and reliable features. It lets you have a go at its service within the 30-day window period it offers. You will be able to use the service and get a refund within the window.
Unlike ExpressVPN, this provider has 5500 servers in 59 countries. Many of these servers are in locations with friendly privacy laws. You simply need to connect to any of them to beat the censorship in Qatar. In addition, the servers are fast and very secure. You will be able to access content without the slightest glitch or buffering.
This provider eliminates every security concern you may have while using the internet in Qatar. It uses the AES 256-bit encryption model to secure its servers. It even has specialty servers that are enhanced for security. These include the obfuscated servers, double VPN servers, and even Tor over VPN servers. In addition, the provider has a kill switch and allows split tunneling.
You can connect 6 devices to one VPN account. This provider offers unlimited bandwidth and data on all connected devices. Finally, if you run into any challenges, you can reach out to its 24/7 customer care response team to handle any questions.
- Pros: Lots of pricing options; Netflix support kept up to date; 256-bit AES encryption;
- Lowest price: $3.71
Best Completely Free VPNs for Qatar
In the list below, we have outlined the best totally free VPN providers you can use for Qatar. Here they are:
Hide.me
Features
- Number of servers: 2000+
- Server locations: 75 locations
- Maximum devices supported: 10
- 24 live chat: Yes
- 30 day money back guarantee: Yes
Pros/Cons
- Has free option
- No log policy
- Secure connection
- Not very cheap
Hide.me is a formidable VPN provider with 1900 servers in 75 locations. It is equipped with lighting-fast speed and “unlimited everything”. It offers users great speed, awesome unblocking ability, and access to the best the internet has to offer. It also gives users a limited free plan to explore.
On the free plan, you get access to 5 locations. Unfortunately, none of these servers are in Qatar. Not to worry, you can connect to servers in Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, US West, and US East to encrypt your network. You will be glad to know that P2P file sharing is supported on servers in all 5 locations.
Furthermore, you get 10 GB of data to use on the service each month. This is a fair offer, especially as it comes at no cost. More so, the data is renewable monthly. Thus, when you exhaust your quota for any month, you simply wait for the next to top up or pay for a plan to access unlimited bandwidth and data.
Hide.me does not throttle your speed as you use the service. In addition, it eliminates ads, trackers, and malware that routinely plague individuals who use free services. Even with the limited functionalities, you will be able to have a great experience using Hide.me.
- Pros: Has free option; No log policy; Secure connection;
- Lowest price: €4.99
TunnelBear
Features
- Cryptocurrency accepted? Yes, bitcoin
- Dedicated IP-adresses? Yes
- Simultaneous connections: 5
- Locations: 28 countries
Pros/Cons
- Unlimited browsing
- Account manager
- Military grade encryption
- Free version allows only 500MB data
TunnelBear is a VPN provider a lot of users have come to love. It provides a moderate service that is affordable. It has three subscription options, with one being free. If you take up that offer, you get 500MB of data to use on the service, no questions asked.
TunnelBear has servers in 41 countries. On this list, you will find one that can spoof your IP address, making it seem like you are outside Qatar. The servers are fast enough to enable you to stream content without having to worry about buffering. However, how close you are to the server you connect to could also impact your speed.
This provider is also big on security. It uses the AES 256-bit security encryption model on its servers. In addition, it maintains a no-log policy and publishes reports of annual audits to that effect.
The provider has some unique features. For instance, you can easily confirm if your IP address has changed to reflect your new location by logging on to bearsmyip.com. In addition, it has a feature known as the GhostBear mode. This mode hides the fact that you are using a VPN. This can come in useful, especially for Qatar. Finally, you also find the Vigilant mode that immediately takes you off the internet after your VPN connection fails.
You can download, install and run TunnelBear apps on 5 different devices with just one account. In addition, this provider has apps for the different device types.
- Pros: Unlimited browsing; Account manager; Military grade encryption;
- Lowest price: $3.33
Can You Use a Free VPN for Qatar?
Yes, you can, but that will be unwise. The free VPNs we have discussed here are some of the best in the industry. However, even they cannot be trusted.
Firstly, free providers typically limit the features users can access. This is mostly in the bid to make them become paid subscribers. Thus, for instance, you only get 5 available free servers on Hide.me.
However, you may be unable to access great security on free providers. You must understand that security should be at the top of your reasons for using a VPN in Qatar. The authorities heavily censor and monitor internet activities. Hence, your VPN provider of choice should have good security features to beat government surveillance. Unfortunately, this is not the case with most free providers.
You will be better served if you paid for a VPN service. There are many out there with varying subscription options. Alternatively, you can explore any of the two risk-free providers we suggested. They are fantastic if you are only visiting Qatar for a short while.
Frequently Asked Questions on VPNs for Qatar
Do I really need a VPN for Qatar?
Yes. Qatar has a well-documented history of internet censorship. It blacklists websites that it believes are anti-government and has been accused of working with some Internet Service Providers to limit what users have access to. In addition, the country is no stranger to human rights violations. It prohibits the formation of political parties, limits freedom of the press, and interferes in elections.
In such a milieu, using a VPN is a necessity. If you are visiting the country or live there but love to access the full range of what the internet provides, then you cannot do without a VPN.
Is a VPN legal in Qatar?
This is a very important question especially considering the internet situation in the country. You’ll be glad to know that VPNs are perfectly legal in Qatar. However, you will need to be on the right side of the law by using your VPN service only for legal purposes. In addition, you should know that some ISPs block access to some VPN websites. Therefore, you need a VPN service that offers obfuscated IP addresses. Unfortunately, you will most likely find that on a paid service.
How can I set up a VPN for Qatar?
The process for setting up and using a VPN for Qatar is straightforward. There are slight variations from one provider to the other. However, the major steps are the same. For free providers, you just need to download and install the VPN app compatible with your device. Some will require that you put in your email address to get started. When you have set up an account, you can choose a server in any of the countries where the provider has servers.
What other benefits can a VPN serve?
With all of the focus on a VPN’s security features, you may be wondering if the software has other uses. Well, it does. A VPN can help you beat geo-restrictions. It allows you to access content available only in regions outside Qatar. Furthermore, you can take advantage of preferential pricing, changing your location to any place where prices of your preferred goods are lower. Finally, a VPN can provide a channel for transferring files online.
Conclusion
Internet freedom is not entirely feasible in Qatar. More so, various content available in other jurisdictions is unavailable in the country. To get around that, you can use a VPN. We have discussed some of the best providers that offer free services. Using them will assure you of a semblance of internet freedom in the country.