get around geo-blocking VPN

Isn’t it frustrating when you’re blocked from accessing your favorite streaming shows, thrilling sports events, immersive gaming experiences, or exciting gambling platforms just because you’re on vacation? You’re not alone. Most premier online platforms have region-locked content, leaving many globally-minded users in the cold. Worse still, countries like China have intensified the digital divide by placing extensive restrictions on universally popular platforms.

But what if we told you there’s a proven, secure way to this geo-restricted content?

Through exhaustive research and rigorous testing we’ve found a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to be a powerful tool. VPNs reroute your online footprint through international servers, seamlessly replacing your original IP address (a key factor in geo-location) with a new, region-specific one. This tricks most platforms into believing you’re in a ‘permitted’ location.

But there’s more. With rising concerns about online surveillance, VPNs are your armor against prying eyes. They encrypt your digital activities, ensuring they remain invisible to employers, governments, and your ISP. This is particularly helpful in a country with strict internet censorship.

How to avoid geo-blocking with a VPN

With the right VPN, it’s easy to access region-locked services abroad. Just follow the steps below.

Here’s how to get around geo-blocking using a VPN:

  1. Start by signing up for a suitable VPN. We strongly recommend NordVPN, but Surfshark, IPVanish, and ExpressVPN are high-performance alternatives. You can find out why we recommend these providers later in the article.
  2. Download and install the VPN app, taking care to get the right version for your device.
  3. Connect to one of your VPN’s servers in the appropriate country. For example, you’ll need to use a British server to unblock BBC iPlayer or a US one for Hulu.

    Screenshot of NordVPN's Windows app, main screen
    Major VPN providers tend to have servers in at least 60 countries, so the amount of content you can access is virtually limitless
  4. Log in to your chosen service and play previously geo-blocked content. In most cases, it should start immediately, but if not, clear your browser’s cache and cookies, then refresh the page.

If you continue to experience issues, it’s worth contacting your VPN’s support team directly to see if there’s a particular server you should use.

TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for beating geo blocking.

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How does geo-blocking work?

Geo-blocking restricts access to internet content based on the user’s geographical location. In a geo-blocking scheme, the user’s location is determined using internet geo-location techniques, such as checking the user’s IP address against a blocklist or allow-list. GPS location data can also be used on mobile devices.

Geo-blocking can also be implemented via various technologies, including internet addresses, credit card numbers, and other electronic identification means. It enables rights holders and intermediaries (such as Netflix) to segment the internet into different markets, provide access to different content based on copyright contracts, charge different prices, or offer different services to consumers.

When might I encounter geo-blocking?

There are two main situations in which you might experience geo-blocking. One is when you try to use a service like Netflix, Sling TV, or ESPN abroad. Some streaming platforms have different content libraries for different regions, while others are completely inaccessible outside their required countries. For instance, BBC iPlayer prevents you from watching its content abroad, saying “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.”

Screenshot of BBC iPlayer's "Sorry it's due to rights issues" error

This is because streaming services usually only have the right to show their content in specific countries. Other types of sites geo-restrict their content, too. For example, betting websites typically only serve people located in specific countries.

Another situation in which you may encounter geo-blocking is when trying to access content that’s restricted, banned, or against the law in your current location. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re up to no good; some countries have different values, leading them to block things like gambling, dating, and social media.

Depending on where you are in the world, you might find that you can’t even use services that could be considered essential, like WhatsApp, Skype, or FaceTime. All three of these and more are blocked in countries like China and the UAE, which can make it difficult to communicate with friends and family back home.

How can websites and services tell which country I’m in?

Most of the time, services rely entirely on the user’s real IP address to tell where they are in the world. However, more advanced platforms often employ additional verification measures. They could cross-reference your IP address with GPS location data if you’re using a mobile device, for instance, or check your IP address against a list of known VPN servers.

Sometimes, it isn’t even the website you’re trying to access that blocks the connection—it’s the government. For instance, China’s Great Firewall has an expansive list of blocked websites and monitors domestic traffic for specific keywords and recognizable VPN traffic patterns to determine whether you’re trying to access a blocked website.

Can I bypass China’s Great Firewall with a VPN?

It’s especially difficult, although not impossible, to bypass regional restrictions in China. You can’t just install a VPN and start browsing, though, as the government has tried exceptionally hard to block all access to privacy-focused services, including VPN websites. As a result, there are only a few VPNs that reliably work in China.

If you’re planning a trip to China (or any country that restricts access to VPNs), you’ll have to download and install the VPN beforehand. We’d also recommend noting any mirror sites your VPN might operate and instructions on manually configuring the service. This information should be kept in a password-protected file and saved locally on your device since countries with strict online censorship tend to block access to cloud storage platforms.

Not sure if a particular website is blocked in China? You can check before arriving by entering a URL into our Great Firewall tool. Remember: the Great Firewall is updated all the time, so even if a site is accessible right now, it might not be when you get to China.

Can I beat geo-blocking with a free VPN or proxy?

Free VPNs tend to struggle when it comes to unblocking services. They often have smaller networks than their paid rivals so it’s easier for platforms to blacklist all of their IP addresses, and with fewer resources, it’s more difficult to find a workaround whenever new VPN-detection features are introduced. Free proxies have similar performance issues and to make matters worse, they only protect your browser traffic, meaning anything you do in an app will still be visible.

These services usually have huge numbers of users, so you’ll almost certainly experience slow speeds. Even if a free VPN or proxy unblocks your chosen service, you’ll likely have to contend with long buffering times and laggy playback.

Free VPN services have a poor record when it comes to privacy, too. We surveyed the 20 most popular free to use VPNs on the Google Play and Apple stores, only to find that they all included multiple trackers. Not only that, more than half requested more permissions than they really needed, with some also having extremely privacy-unfriendly logging policies. We’d suggest sticking to tried and tested providers rather than choosing one just because it’s free.

Why isn’t my VPN unblocking a particular service?

Some platforms have stricter geo-blocking than others. For instance, a local TV live stream likely won’t have advanced geo-restriction and VPN-detection features built in. However, Netflix, an international network worth billions of dollars, absolutely does. This is why some users encounter errors like “You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy” when accessing geo-blocked services with a VPN.

Even if you see an error, your VPN may be actually capable of unblocking your chosen service. Sometimes, you’ll find that not every server works, so trying a different server is often all it takes. It could also be that the VPN’s built-in ad or tracker-blocker is causing problems, so you may want to turn that off and see if it makes a difference.

If you’re having problems, you can ask your VPN’s support team for help directly. The best providers offer 24/7 live chat, so you can often be up and running in a matter of minutes.

What services can I access abroad with a VPN?

With the right VPN, you can access a huge variety of geo-blocked sites and services from anywhere in the world. Below, we’ve listed some of the types of geo-restricted content you can unblock:

Can I bypass VPN blocks to watch US shows?

If you’re an American traveling abroad, you may find yourself unable to stream your favorite US TV shows. Luckily, despite most streaming platforms cracking down on VPNs, there are still a few providers that excel at beating regional restrictions. Note that while many VPNs prioritize the ability to access US streaming services, they usually also work with platforms from the UK, Canada, Australia, and other countries, at least to some extent.

What VPN allows me to watch Hotstar India?

There are actually quite a few VPNs that work with Hotstar India (also known as Disney+ Hotstar). These include NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN, but in our experience, most major providers with Indian servers have worked. If you’re having trouble using this service, we’d encourage you to contact your VPN’s support team and ask if there’s a specific server that can unblock Disney+ Hotstar.

Is it legal to bypass geo-blocking?

Most countries don’t specifically have laws against using a VPN to access geo-restricted content. After all, VPNs are legitimate privacy tools millions of people use daily; criminalizing everyone who inadvertently tried to watch TV while connected would be madness.

It’s worth noting that using a VPN is against most streaming platforms’ terms of service. Still, even if a service detects that you’re connected (which isn’t guaranteed), there are no real consequences. You’ll usually just be asked to disconnect, rather than banned.

Disclaimer: While we’ve researched this topic extensively, we are not legal experts and cannot account for every country’s laws. As such, nothing we’ve said above should be considered legal advice.

Recent updates: what’s new with our recommended VPNs?

Cybercriminals never rest, so VPN providers can’t afford to either. They’re constantly refining their services, optimizing their servers, and rolling out new features to remain at the top of the pack. Some of the latest updates we’ve seen include significant functional enhancements too, so if you haven’t researched these providers in a while, we’d recommend taking a look below:

NordVPN

  • Improved the existing Meshnet feature, removing file size limits, allowing for asynchronous transfers, renaming devices, and support for Android TV systems (September 2024)
  • Focused on making the browser extension faster and more secure than ever before (December 2024)
  • Launched a Threat Protection feature that can automatically block ads, trackers, malicious downloads, and shady sites (September 2024)
  • Added quantum computer-resistant encryption to the Linux app (September 2024)

Surfshark

  • Upgraded network with 10 Gbps architecture to ensure faster speeds and more reliable performance (September 2024)
  • Rolled out a new static IP address service (September 2024)
  • Introduced split tunneling functionality in the iOS app, bringing it in line with what’s available on Android (October 2024)

IPVanish

  • Added servers in 50 additional countries, bringing its total coverage to more than 100 countries and 135+ cities around the world (December 2024)
  • Became the top provider for South American server coverage (December 2024)

ExpressVPN

  • Launched Identity Defender, a tool aimed at providing credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and personal data deletion services for subscribers in the US (November 2024)
  • Launched an ARM-compatible app for the next generation of Copilot+ systems (September 2024)
  • Partnered with Rhino.fi, offering extended subscription benefits to any Rhino.fi users who sign up (September 2024)

Our Methodology: Choosing the right VPN to get around geo-blocking

Unfortunately, you can’t just use the first VPN you stumble across if you’re looking to access geo-blocked services reliably. First off, there’s no guarantee that your provider will be fast or secure enough. Furthermore, geo-blocked platforms have gotten very good at identifying VPN traffic, so most services won’t work.

With this in mind, our team created a comprehensive testing process that evaluates providers in five key areas of operation. Here’s an overview of each and a short explanation of why each is so important:

Speed

Your VPN could be the best at bypassing geo-restrictions, but if it’s too slow, it’s useless. When looking for the fastest providers for this article, we carried out several speed tests over the course of a day. We used a virtual machine that’s rate limited to 250 Mbps — the median average of fixed broadband speeds in the US.

As you can see from the above, NordVPN, ProtonVPN, and Surfshark were the fastest overall providers.

Server locations

The more countries there are to choose from, the wider the range of platforms you can (theoretically) access. We also look for VPNs with lots of servers in high-traffic areas like the US and the UK, since this helps prevent network congestion during peak times. You can see how the VPNs we tested scored on average across these three areas in the table below.

ExpressVPN and Surfshark scored highest, with PIA coming in surprisingly strong in third thanks to lots of availability globally and in the US and UK.

Value for money

A VPN subscription doesn’t have to break the bank. We found which providers offered the best value for money by measuring them against eight different metrics. These included the monthly cost of subscriptions and the number of permitted device connections. We even look into how often each service goes on sale, since sometimes you may be better off waiting for a seasonal discount.

Security and privacy

VPNs should provide a suite of tools designed to protect you against snoopers. We evaluated providers against 16 security and privacy criteria, including the level of encryption used, whether they keep any logs, and whether they’ve had their privacy claims audited by independent experts.

Ease of use

The best VPNs make it as easy to get connected as possible. We evaluate providers using eight individual criteria related to how easy their services were to use. These included the quality of the app’s interface and the existence of task-specific servers.

Once all the data was in for each category, we created an overall score with which we could compare VPNs providers, you can see the results of this below:

We used these scores as a basis for the recommendations you saw earlier in this article.

How to remove geo-blocking FAQs

Will TOR help unblock geo restricted content?

Yes, changing your location with Tor is as simple as editing a single file. However, the Tor network is particularly slow, which means it’s not exactly ideal for data-intensive tasks like streaming.

Instead, we recommend trying out a VPN. Plenty of these pride themselves on their ability to fly under the radar, and the top providers have been in an arms race to prove that they’re the fastest lately. Setup is easier, too, and you can use a VPN on just about any device, whereas Tor is predominantly focused on desktop systems.

Why does Netflix use geoblocking to maintain different libraries?

Netflix doesn’t have the right to broadcast titles in every country around the world. Instead, it will buy the rights to show a specific TV show in select regions. Naturally, if it broadcasts these shows in countries not covered by the agreement, it could end up in hot water, which is why the service has tried so hard to block VPN users in recent years.

The problem is that this approach prevents users from streaming their usual content while traveling. Moreover, regional Netflix libraries are not equal. American subscribers, for instance, normally have access to almost 6,000 titles, but if they decide to visit Croatia, their Netflix library will shrink to roughly half that.

Is geo-fencing the same as geo-blocking?

No. Geo-blocking prevents an individual from accessing a website or content based on their geographical location. Geo-fencing, on the other hand, uses technology to create a virtual geographic boundary around a specific area. Once someone crosses into that area, they are then able to access certain content or blocked websites.

Is there geo-blocking within the EU?

Yes, geo-blocking within the EU does exist. Geo-blocking is a form of territorial discrimination whereby customers from certain countries are blocked from accessing online content or services based on their geographical location. This can take various forms, such as preventing access to websites, applications, or other digital services and restricting the sale of goods and services within the European Union (EU).

Geo-blocking is used to protect copyright applied by right holders to prevent access in specific Member States.

See also: IP address blockers – the best free and paid services