Ethiopia ranks #2 globally for VPN demand. Repeated internet shutdowns — Tigray, Amhara, Oromia — have cost $1.9 billion. A VPN installed before any shutdown is your lifeline.
See top VPNs →Surfshark Surfshark is our top pick for Ethiopia because its NoBorders mode was tested during the 158-day social media block of 2023 and continued working when Ethio Telecom blocked Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and YouTube. Ethiopia has only one telecom operator — Ethio Telecom — which is state-controlled, meaning any government-ordered shutdown is immediate and total. Unlimited devices on one plan is key in a country where households share connections.
PrivadoVPN PrivadoVPN is the right choice when the budget is tight. At $1.11/month it is the cheapest paid option on the market. The free plan gives 10GB/month on unlimited devices. Its servers are outside Africa — Surfshark will be faster if you need proximity.
ProtonVPN ProtonVPN is completely free with no data cap. During the 2023 shutdown, VPN usage became widespread across Ethiopia — ProtonVPN was one of the most downloaded. Its APK is available directly on protonvpn.com — critical when Ethio Telecom blocks the Play Store. Enable 'Unknown sources' in Android settings and install it directly.
CyberGhost CyberGhost gives you 45 days to test risk-free — the longest guarantee on the market. Simple app, good for first-time VPN users.
Ethiopia has imposed more internet shutdowns than almost any other country in the world. The Tigray region was cut off for over 987 days. The Amhara region was disconnected for nearly a year in 2023-2024. In February 2023, the government blocked Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and YouTube for 158 days following tensions with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. During that period, VPN use exploded across the country.
The situation is unique compared to other African countries: Ethio Telecom has a near-monopoly on internet access in Ethiopia, with Safaricom only recently entering the market. When the state orders a shutdown, there is effectively one switch to flip. A VPN with strong obfuscation — like Surfshark NoBorders or ProtonVPN Stealth — is the only reliable way to maintain access.
Install before any shutdown. Once Ethio Telecom blocks app stores, downloading becomes impossible. ProtonVPN's APK is available directly on protonvpn.com — official file, no risk. Enable 'Unknown sources' in Android settings and install it directly.