Best VPN in Bulgaria 2026
7 Jul 2026 · 5 min read · Comments
Bulgarian ISPs are required to retain traffic metadata for 6 months under the ZEPPS. BNT, bTV, and Nova TV are geo-restricted. Bulgaria also has one of the weaker data protection enforcement records in the EU. Here's what that means for privacy in Bulgaria and which VPN works best in 2026.
Bulgaria's Data Retention Under ZEPPS
Bulgaria's Act on Electronic Communications (ZEPPS) requires ISPs to retain traffic metadata for 6 months. Bulgarian ISPs — Vivacom, A1 Bulgaria, and Yettel — must store connection logs, IP addresses, and communication metadata under this mandate.
Bulgaria has one of the weaker data protection enforcement records in the EU. The country received criticism from the European Commission for slow implementation of GDPR enforcement mechanisms and has experienced several significant government data breaches. The State Agency for National Security (DANS) operates broad surveillance powers.
For Bulgarian users, a VPN provides privacy from both ISP retention and surveillance agency monitoring. The 6-month window is shorter than many EU countries, but the overall data protection environment makes encryption valuable.
The Best VPNs for Bulgaria — Compared
| VPN | BG Servers | No-logs audit | BNT / bTV | Price/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN TOP PICK | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | €3.39 |
| Mullvad | ✓ | ✓ | — | €5.00 |
| ProtonVPN | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | €4.99 |
| ExpressVPN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | €6.67 |
| Surfshark | ✓ | ~ | ✓ | €2.19 |
1. NordVPN — Best Overall
NordVPN is the strongest all-around choice for users in Bulgaria. It has servers in or near the country, its no-logs policy has been audited four times by Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers, and it reliably handles both privacy and streaming for Bulgaria.
- NordLynx protocol delivers fast, stable connections — typically under 5% speed loss on nearby servers.
- Threat Protection Pro blocks ads and tracking scripts at the DNS level without requiring a separate tool.
- Panama jurisdiction — outside EU and local legal reach. No user data to produce even if compelled.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Mullvad — Best for Maximum Privacy
For Bulgarian users concerned about DANS surveillance or the country's weaker data protection environment, Mullvad's Swedish jurisdiction and police-tested no-logs policy are particularly compelling. The trade-off remains: no reliable BNT or bTV unblocking from abroad.
3. ProtonVPN — Best Free Option
ProtonVPN is the only free VPN worth recommending. It's based in Switzerland (outside EU data retention frameworks), fully open-source, independently audited, and the free tier includes servers with no data cap. Upgrade to the paid plan (€4.99/mo) for streaming support and multiple devices.
What to Look for When Choosing
- Independent audit of no-logs policy. Named auditors — Deloitte, PwC, Cure53 — or a real police action. NordVPN and Mullvad both qualify.
- Jurisdiction outside local legal reach. NordVPN (Panama) and ProtonVPN (Switzerland) are the strongest options available.
- Servers maintained for streaming. Streaming services actively block VPN IP ranges — you need a provider that refreshes its server pools.
- Avoid free VPNs from unknown providers. Many sell browsing data — the exact problem you're trying to solve.
For most Bulgarian users, NordVPN is the right choice: audited no-logs, Sofia servers, reliable Bulgarian streaming access, and pricing that's accessible in the Bulgarian market. Given Bulgaria's weaker data protection enforcement, the privacy case for a VPN here is stronger than some EU peers would suggest.
