I can’t say this enough, but don’t travel to Cuba without a VPN loaded onto your devices. While I’m firmly of the view that you should never use your device without a VPN in any country, even at home, it’s a different story for Cuba.
In Cuba your device will not function properly and most of your mobile apps will not work without a VPN. This is because Cuba is under sanctions from the USA. If you want your social media and messaging apps to work in Cuba you need a VPN.
If you want to use foreign websites most will require a VPN. If you arrive in Cuba without a VPN on your devices you will need to go through a much more difficult process of adding a VPN while in Cuba.
If you arrive in Cuba without a VPN you will find yourself caught up in a chicken vs egg scenario. You will need a VPN to access the App Store. But you will need to access the App Store to get a VPN.
Getting a VPN after arrival in Cuba is doable. But its a frustrating scenario where I have provided a workaround here on this site. It is much simpler just to have one loaded onto your devices before you arrive.
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The Best VPN For Cuba
The best VPN for Cuba is NordVPN. It’s what I’ve used on all of my previous long-term trips to Cuba. And NordVPN is what I’m using on my current 2 month stay on the island. I’m writing this article now from Nuevo Vedado in Havana using NordVPN.
I use NordVPN over wifi and on Cubacel through my local Cuban SIM card in my phone. NordVPN is the only VPN I’ve found that works on Cuba’s unique wifi and cellular services.
I’ve been friends with foreign diplomats stationed in Cuba and the different VPN’s that they have used were not as good as NordVPN. My NordVPN app worked where their alternate VPNs did not.
Is NordVPN Fast In Cuba?
NordVPN is fast in Cuba. The only limit to speed is the wifi or cellular connection that you have in Cuba. If Cubacel is slow that day or 4G LTE is not available in your area, you will have a slower connection.
If Cubacel is running 4G LTE in your area and isn’t bogged down when you’re trying to use the internet your connection will be fast. With 4G LTE your connection will be fast enough to stream Netflix while using the internet.
The speed limit for NordVPN in Cuba is your Cuban connection to the internet (Cuban Internet Service Provider or ISP).
Ranked against all other VPNs on the market NordVPN is rated as the fastest VPN. NordVPN has the greatest number of servers based in the greatest number of countries around the world.
Can I Use NordVPN On Cellular And Wifi In Cuba?
NordVPN works on all devices and services that connect you to the internet in Cuba. With NordVPN in Cuba I route my internet traffic through the USA for Netflix and Spotify in Cuba. And through Mexico or Argentina for plain internet searches and using other mobile applications.
I use NordVPN on my laptop and on my mobile phone. I can use NordVPN over wifi or cellular and when my laptop is tethered to my mobile phone. NordVPN works in all circumstances in Cuba.
Can I Add NordVPN To A Device While In Cuba?
You can add NordVPN to your device in Cuba. I have articles on this site detailing how to add NordVPN to a device while inside Cuba.
Yet if you would like to see the process in action, you can watch my Youtube channel (@inlovelyblue) as I actually do it on an iPhone I bought for my friend Alvaro’s 74 year old grandmother.
Alvaro’s Grandmother was old and alone. Because the majority of her family had moved overseas. So we tracked down an iPhone on Cuba’s blackmarket and broke into the Apple App Store using NordVPN to circumvent US sanctions.
Now she can FaceTime, iMessage, WhatsApp or video call her relatives with other apps she can now download whenever she wants and it’s all thanks to NordVPN.
Where To Get NordVPN For Cuba?
NordVPN is available at www.nordvpn.com
But if you want a discount you can use my affiliate link. My affiliate link which I use to purchase my own subscriptions for myself and friends (like Alvaro’s Grandma) comes with a discount of up to 63% off.
My affiliate link is available at https://inlovelyblue.com/travel/nordvpn-2/.
Where Can I Get More Information About Cuba?
I’ve made a Cuba Frequently Asked Questions Page (FAQ) available on this website. And I would strongly advise you to read it before travelling to Cuba.
My Cuba FAQ page will save you a lot of time and a significant amount of money on your trip to Cuba. Cuba is not the sort of destination in which you can just arrive unprepared.
Read the Cuba FAQ Page here.
