Best VPNs to unblock GitHub

Depending on where you are, you may find access to GitHub restricted or even blocked entirely. For instance, your college or office might have an overly aggressive content policy that’s getting in the way of your work. Fortunately, there’s a way for you to access GitHub despite it being blocked.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your device’s internet traffic and routes it to one of the VPN’s servers in a location of your choosing. For example, by connecting to a server in the US, you’ll receive a US IP address. As well as allowing you to bypass local restrictions and access GitHub, this means you’ll be able to use services that are normally only available in the US, like HBO Max.

Too short of time to read the full article? Here’s a quick summary of the best VPNs to unblock GitHub:

Best VPNs for GitHub: 

1. NordVPN: Our top pick for unblocking GitHub. Over 5,600 servers worldwide. No-logs VPN with 24/7 support. Specialty servers for improved privacy (double VPN). Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for accessing GitHub. Connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously. Servers in 60 countries for accessing GitHub. Excellent apps, 24/7 support, and a no-logs policy.
3. ExpressVPN: Servers in 94 countries. Fast, reliable connections. Easy-to-use apps and 24/7 support. Secure with encryption.
4. CyberGhost: 6,000+ servers in 90 countries for unblocking GitHub. Very fast speeds. Connect up to seven devices simultaneously. Security includes a strict no-logs policy.
5. IPVanish: Allows any number of simultaneous connections. Use it to unblock GitHub anywhere. Quick and easy to connect to servers. No-logs VPN with 24/7 live chat support.
6. PrivateVPN: Very fast servers for browsing and streaming. Works well with GitHub. Beginner-friendly desktop and mobile apps. Encryption ensures your data’s security.

You might be wondering how we go about choosing the best VPNs for accessing GitHub when it’s blocked. After all, there are many VPNs (free and paid) on the market. We only selected VPNs that were able to meet the following criteria:

• Servers in dozens of countries around the world
• Fast, reliable servers for browsing and streaming
• Strong security with encryption and no-logs policy
• Live chat and email support, ideally available 24/7
• Beginner-friendly apps for desktop and mobile
• A money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free

Best VPNs for GitHub

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for GitHub to access it when it’s blocked:

1. NordVPN

NordVPN stands out by offering an impressive network of more than 5,600 servers — far more than most VPNs on the market. This means you have many options when it comes to unblocking GitHub. There are also plenty of different server types, some of which (Double VPN and Onion Over VPN) offer even greater online security. Unlike some VPNs, NordVPN offers 24/7 support via live chat, meaning help is always there, should you need it.

With NordVPN, you can connect as many as six of your devices simultaneously. Indeed, you can secure a wide range of devices thanks to the healthy selection of apps and browser extensions offered. This is a no-logs VPN that employs 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch to protect your data. NordVPN is headquartered in Panama where it isn’t subject to any mandatory data retention laws.

NordVPN can be downloaded for the following operating systems: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Android TV. Browser extensions are offered for Chrome and Firefox. Compatible routers require manual configuration.

BEST VPN FOR GITHUB:NordVPN has over 5,600 servers in around 60 countries. Easy to unblock GitHub. Very secure service with a strict no-logs policy. Connect six devices simultaneously. Also offers 24/7 live chat support and specialty servers for P2P sharing. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark excels at getting around geographic restrictions, so as well as letting you use GitHub at work, college, or while on public wifi, it’ll also unblock Netflix and HBO Max, wherever you go. This VPN is ideal for sharing with family because it allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. Offering over 3,200 servers in 65 countries, Surfshark provides plenty of choice. In fact, there are even servers optimized for P2P file-sharing as well as MultiHop (Double VPN) servers that offer an extra layer of privacy.

There’s no shortage of features with this VPN. You’ll find 24/7 live chat support, an ad and malware blocker, and even an option to choose which websites and apps can bypass the VPN. Security is another area in which Surfshark offers impressive variety; there’s 256-bit AES encryption, a strict no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. Surfshark even offers an optional “privacy beyond VPN” feature, alerting you if your email address is leaked and allowing you to search the web without ads or logs.

You can use Surfshark apps to secure your Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, and iOS devices. There’s also an app for Amazon Fire TV and browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. It can be used with select routers but this requires manual installation.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is a great low-cost option that lets you connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously – great for sharing with family. Unblock GitHub and many popular streaming services. 24/7 live chat support, beginner-friendly apps, and a strict no-logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has servers in 94 countries which makes it incredibly easy to access GitHub. The entire network consists of more than 3,000 servers in countries including the USA, UK, Australia, and Japan. Better still, this VPN offers unlimited bandwidth which is ideal for browsing as well as streaming and torrenting. As well as GitHub, you’ll find ExpressVPN works well with many popular streaming services including Netflix and Hulu.

A single ExpressVPN account lets you secure as many as five devices simultaneously. The apps are extremely user-friendly, allowing you to connect to a server in seconds. You’ll also find 24/7 live chat and email support available should you need it. Security is another of ExpressVPN’s strong points: this VPN service uses 256-bit AES encryption to keep your data safe. There’s also protection from DNS and IPv6 leaks and a kill switch. Best of all, ExpressVPN protects your privacy by logging no personally identifiable information.

You can unblock GitHub via the ExpressVPN apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux. There are also browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox as well as firmware for routers.

STRONG ALL-ROUNDER:ExpressVPN is a solid choice. Fast, consistent servers for browsing and streaming. Servers in 94 countries for accessing GitHub. User-friendly apps and browser extensions. Uses encryption to secure your data. 24/7 support. Even comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost has a server network that has rapidly grown to become one of the largest on the VPN market. You can use this service to access GitHub from anywhere thanks to its 5,900 servers in 90 countries. What’s particularly impressive is that CyberGhost also offers very fast connections and unlimited bandwidth. This means that you can also use it to live stream your favorite TV shows, movies, and sporting events without any noticeable buffering or lag.

Another reason to consider CyberGhost is its 45-day money-back guarantee; this is far longer than most VPNs offer. 24/7 live chat-based support is available, plus you can connect up to seven devices simultaneously. CyberGhost keeps you safe using 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and automatic kill switch. There’s also a strict no-logs policy and independently-operated “NoSpy servers”, for even greater security.

CyberGhost apps are available for desktop (Windows, Linux, and Mac), mobile (Android and iOS), as well as Amazon Fire Stick and Android TV. Browser extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox. Manual installation is required for use with supported routers.

OVER 6,000 SERVERS:CyberGhost has a vast network of 6,000+ servers spread across 90 countries, making it easy to access GitHub. Very fast and reliable servers. 24/7 live chat support and up to seven simultaneous connections. Strong security with a no-logs policy. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

5. IPVanish

IPVanish allows you to unblock GitHub wherever you are. You can find IPVanish servers in dozens of countries worldwide. With over 1,600 servers and 40,000 IPs on offer, this VPN is great for accessing all sorts of geo-restricted websites and services. One of the best features of this particular VPN is that it allows you to have as many simultaneous connections as you like.

Connecting to an IPVanish server is nice and easy thanks to the “QuickConnect” feature that helps you find the best server based on your location. This VPN also offers impressive security, in part thanks to its strict no-logs policy. Further security features include 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and protection from DNS and IPv6 leaks. 24/7 support is on-hand should you need it.

Signing up with IPVanish provides you with access to apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV. Manual setup is needed for use with Linux and routers.

NO CONNECTION LIMIT:IPVanish lets you access GitHub when it’s blocked. What’s more, it lets you connect all of your devices simultaneously. Offers 1,600 servers and 40,000 IPs. 24/7 support and plenty of security features to protect your privacy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

6. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is one of the faster VPNs on the market, allowing you to browse GitHub or stream the likes of Netflix without interruption. Overall, this VPN’s network consists of around 150 servers. While this is relatively small, these servers are spread across 60 countries, making it easy to unblock all sorts of region-locked websites and services.

This VPN is particularly suitable for novices thanks to its beginner-friendly desktop and mobile apps. There is live chat support and even free remote help and installation should you need it. A PrivateVPN account lets you secure up to six devices simultaneously, all to unique IP addresses. Your security is taken seriously, as evidenced by PrivateVPN’s use of 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. A strict no-logs policy also serves to protect your privacy online.

PrivateVPN offers apps for Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, and iOS. However, you’ll need to follow manual setup instructions in order to use PrivateVPN with routers.

HIGH SPEED SERVERS:PrivateVPN offers fast servers for browsing, streaming, and torrenting. Works with GitHub and plenty of geo-blocked streaming services. Very easy-to-use apps for desktop and mobile platforms. Protects your privacy with encryption and no-logs. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

Can I use a free VPN to unblock GitHub?

We don’t recommend free VPNs for a number of reasons. For one, there’s no guarantee that the free VPN you download will be able to unblock GitHub. Furthermore, the average free VPN typically has a very small network of servers. This means high server load and slow speeds as a result. Indeed, the slow connections are particularly noticeable when downloading, streaming, or torrenting.

It’s also worth mentioning that most free VPNs won’t protect your privacy as well as they should. One of the main concerns is that some free VPNs log your data before selling it to third parties. Even if this isn’t the case, you may well find that your data isn’t encrypted or protected from leaks. Overall, free VPNs lack the performance and security you need and aren’t worth your time.