How to Get Around Geo Blocking and Access Content from Anywhere
Depending on who you are, geo-blocking might serve as a minor inconvenience or a major method of censorship. In all cases, it divides the Internet up along an arbitrary line, with the average “netizen” losing out. Today, we show you how to use a VPN to access geo-restricted content from anywhere and enhance your privacy online.
If you follow the news about internet privacy and freedoms, then you will have heard a lot of discussion recently about geoblocking. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it refers to the restriction of access to web content based on a user’s location. In other words, it means that some websites will be available in the US but not Canada, or that you will be restricted to using a different version of a site when you access it from China than when you access it from Sweden.
It’s easy to beat geoblocking and access your favorite sites abroad with these VPNs:
- NordVPN – Best for Geoblocks – No other VPN comes close to NordVPN’s robust encrypted network, which spans the entire world and allows you to beat geoblocks anywhere.
- Surfshark – Lightweight apps, unlimited connections, blanket obfuscation and exceptional privacy provisions.
- ExpressVPN – Built for speed, one-click interface, split-tunneling and other advance features.
- IPVanish – The classic choice for streamers; responsive network, no logging.
At the end of last year, the EU passed regulations about the practice of geoblocking in order to protect customers, making this a hot topic of late. However, many advocates for internet freedom have argued that these regulations are not complete enough to truly protect users from geoblocking practices.
RELATED READING: Best VPNs for GDPR
This article takes a closer look into the inner workings of geoblocking. Additionally, we’ll show you how to get around geo-blocking in order to access your favorite content from anywhere in the world–completely free of geographical restrictions.
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How do you beat Geoblocking?
The good news is, that it’s possible to get around geoblocks, even for online streaming services like Netflix or BBC iPlayer. You can do this using a VPN, which is software that encrypts all of the data that your device (whether it’s a desktop, laptop, phone, or tablet) sends over the internet. This encrypted data is sent to a proxy server located somewhere else in the world, where it is decrypted and sent on to its original destination. There exists a few alternatives on how to bypass geo-blocking without VPN, for example by using proxy server services or the Tor Browser, however the best success we’ve had for easy and clear media-streaming has been via VPNs.
You can use a VPN to make it appear as if you are located anywhere where there is a server available. So there is almost infinite flexibility in using a VPN to get around geoblocks, as you can “spoof” your location (aka make it look as if you are in that other location) to anywhere that you want. This can let you access sites that you couldn’t use otherwise, access a larger catalogue of content on streaming sites, and save money in online stores as you can avoid the geoblocked prices.
How to choose a VPN to beat geoblocking
When you want to get around geoblocks, there are a few factors that you should look for in a VPN. Although you might be tempted by a free VPNs, we strongly advise you against this as they often have very poor security policies and can make your device vulnerable to misuse. Instead you should find a reputable, trustworthy paid VPN that has the following features:
- Servers in many different countries so you can get around geoblocks of all kinds. You’ll also want plenty of server options to optimize your connection.
- Fast connections so that you can stream video and audio with no buffering or delays.
- Excellent security such as the use of strong 256-bit encryption to keep your data safe.
- Privacy enhancing measures like a no logging policy so there are no records of your internet activities.
- Ease to use software that can be installed on all of your different devices.
Comparison of the Best VPNs to Unblock Geo Blocking and Access Content
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 24/7 Live Chat
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer,
- YouTube,
- Hulu
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer,
- YouTube,
- Hulu
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer,
- YouTube,
- Hulu
Best VPN to bypass any geoblock worldwide
Thinking on these factors above, here are our top recommendations for VPNs to beat geoblocking:
1. NordVPN
- Optimized servers for unblocking Netflix
- Most VPN servers with different IP addresses
- Zero leaks: IP/DNS/WebRTC
- No logs and encrypted connections for total privacy
- Money back guarantee policy (30-days)
- Some servers can be slow and unreliable
- Apps can be a bit cumbersome to use
NordVPN is unparalleled in its ability to beat geoblocks. This is primarily due to their enormous server network, which has grown to encompass more than 5,500 servers in 59 countries worldwide. This makes it easy to pick a virtual IP in a country like the US, UK, or Japan and enjoy local content that would normally be unavailable abroad.
Of course, any proxy can spoof; NordVPN ups the ante with unbreakable 256-bit AES encryption, which is impossible for even a supercomputer to crack. Moreover, you can customize your connection choosing from OpenVPN, L2TP, PPTP, and SSTP, allowing you to dodge various forms of surveillance and censorship.
If that weren’t enough, NordVPN offers specialty servers with dedicated IP addresses to fool VPN blacklists, as well as obfuscation for skating past deep packet inspection. Top it off with the industry’s best no-logging policy, and you have the best overall VPN for beating geoblocking.
Read our full NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark
- Unblock VoIP in oppressive regimes like WhatsApp, Skype, Discord, and more
- Torrent safely on any server, no guesswork required
- Bitcoin, Etherium, and other cryptocurrencies accepted as payment
- VPN home jurisdiction in British Virgin Islands is ideal for privacy
- 24/7 live chat ensures maximum uptime
- Server network is not nearly as expansive as major competitors
- Power users may wish for more settings to fiddle with
Surfshark is a relatively new VPN service, but it’s fast come to prominence as one of the most trusted providers in the industry. Unlike most providers, Surfshark never limits how many simultaneous connections you can have on a single subscription, making this a fine choice for families, offices, student dorms, or anyone with tons of gadgets.
Of course, the VPN fundamentals are in place–and then some. For instance, Surfshark does away with many legacy settings, favoring instead lightning fast tunneling protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, and WireGuard. Moreover, they offer the latest encryption–256-AES-GCM–which is what the NSA uses to guard their own communications.
While Surfshark does have an excellent privacy policy, it’s the makeup of their network (numbering 800+ nodes in 50 countries) which really draws attention. They run RAM-only servers which make it impossible to store records of your activity, meaning you can access all the geoblocked content you want without fear of reprisal.
3. ExpressVPN
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- Super fast, reliable connection
- Secure encryption & VPN protocols
- Strict no-logs policy for personal information
- 24/7 Chat Support
- Max 3 connections simultaneously
- Slightly pricier than competition
ExpressVPN has everything that you need: loads of servers, fast connections, and good security. When you subscribe to ExpressVPN you’ll get access to a huge network of servers that includes more than 3,000 servers in 94 different countries all around the world (including in North, Central, and South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East). These servers offer some of the fastest connections we’ve seen from any VPN, well earning their “Express” namesake, so they’re perfect for users who download lots of large files or stream lots of video in high definition.
Security features include the use of strong 256-bit encryption and a no logging policy, plus there are extra options in the software for DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and an IP address checker. The software is very easy to use and has a simple user interface, and it is available for devices running Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Android, plus some games consoles and smart TVs. If you like the convenience of switching your VPN server from right within your browser, you can use the browser extensions that are available for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari.
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
4. IPVanish
IPVanish offers speedy connections to servers all around the world. For getting around geoblocks the service will give you access to more than 1,300 servers in 60 different countries, including servers in Europe, North America, Central and South America, Oceania, Asia, and Africa. It has a particularly large number of servers in the US so it’s a great choice for users who love watching US American movies or TV shows. The connections are super fast and won’t slow your browsing down.
The service also has great security with strong 256-bit encryption and a no logging policy plus extra options in the software like a kill switch, DNS leak protection, periodic IP address change, and DNS configuration. If you’re an advanced user who wants control over the details of your VPN connection then this service is a great choice. The software is available for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Android.
Read our full IPVanish review.
Geoblocking and VPN blocking
If you’re planning to use a VPN to beat geoblocking, one more factor that you should consider is whether the service you want to use employs VPN blocking. This means that if you connect to your VPN and try to access one of these sites, you’ll get an error message and you won’t be able to access the content. This is currently the case with Netflix and BBC iPlayer, which both set up countermeasures to restrict the large numbers of foreign users accessing their exclusive content with a VPN.
Blocking IP address ranges works by identifying an IP address that is used by a VPN and then blocking nearby IP addresses, as these are likely to be used by the same VPN. Similarly, multiple users accessing a site from the same IP address suggests that these users are part of a VPN, so website systems may block their access as well.
FULL GUIDE: How to get a unique IP address with a VPN
If you want to defeat the geoblocks of Netflix and BBC iPlayer in particular, then you should look for VPN guides for these particular services, as not every VPN provider will work with them. We have guides available for VPN providers that work with both Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Alternatively, if you’re wondering how to bypass geo-blocking without VPN, a popular option is by using the Tor Browser.
What is geoblocking and how is it used?
The term “geoblocking” can refer to several similar issues, all of which are related to limited access to internet sites based on the user’s current location.
Content Restriction
One common form of geoblocking is restricting the access that users have to certain copyrighted material on streaming sites – for example, the fact that a particular movie might be available on Netflix US but not Netflix Germany. Even if you’re a Netflix US customer, if you travelled to Germany and tried to use your Netflix account to watch that movie, you wouldn’t be able to. This kind of geoblocking occurs due to copyright laws. A platform like Netflix might have the rights to show a movie or show in one country (like the US) but not another (like Germany), so they are obliged to prevent customers in Germany from watching that content. Other streaming sites, like HBO Go, PBS, or Hulu, are available only in the US and are not accessible at all by users from other countries. And plenty of countries have a national broadcaster whose content is only available within that country, like the BBC iPlayer in the UK or CBS videos in Canada.
Price Discrimination
The type of geoblocking at the center of the recent EU regulatory controversy dealt with price discrimination. Essentially, online shops would display different prices to different users based on where in the world they were browsing from. In Australia, for example, physical copies of video games tend to be much more expensive than in other countries like the US or the UK. However, retailers take it a step further by jacking up the price of downloadable games to match their physical counterparts. Because different countries also have different currencies and different shipping costs, this kind of geoblocking is often hard for the consumer to detect.
Banned Sites
Finally, another situation where geoblocking occurs is online gambling sites. As gambling laws vary by country and by region, gambling sites must ensure that they are in compliance with the laws in every region that their users access the site from. If the site is not in compliance with laws in a given country, or simply has not confirmed what the laws of that country are, they must turn away users from these countries and not let them access the site.
Will the new EU laws prevent geoblocking?
Geoblocking can be unfriendly or even unfair towards customers. Most consumer advocates agree that it is unfair to charge a higher price for an item just because the buyer accessed a website from one country rather than another. So it is indeed good news that the EU has taken steps to crack down on this practice by online shops.
The new laws prevent ‘unjustified’ geoblocking of prices for physical goods and services, like buying electrical goods online or renting a car. So if you make one of these purchases online, you should get the same price whether you purchase from your home country or another EU country. This is referred to by the European Commission as the “Digital Single Market” strategy, aiming to unify the market experience when purchasing online across EU countries. The idea is that you could buy an item like a dishwasher from another country if the price is better, then arrange for delivery to your home country. You can also use online services like website hosting for the same price across the EU.
However, one glaring omission from this strategy is any mention of digital goods. So if you want to stream movies, TV shows, music, or to purchase a digital copy of an item, then you won’t have any protection from geoblocking. This is partly due to the issue with international copyright that we mentioned above, and partly due to the difficulty of regulating online businesses that may do trade in the EU but be registered elsewhere. Whatever the reason, it is for sure that the EU ruling won’t be forcing Netflix or Spotify to make their catalogues equally available across all countries any time soon.
Another issue with this ruling is that it only applies to buyers and sellers within the EU. If you live elsewhere in the world and experience higher prices due to geoblocking – such as in Australia – then these regulations won’t help you out.
Conclusion
Geoblocking restricts access to a website’s content based on the location of the person browsing the website. This can cause all sorts of problems for users, from the material they want to stream not being available to being charged higher prices in online stores just because of where they live. For this reason, the EU has recently passed laws against some aspects of geoblocking, like setting prices differently in online stores for physical goods being bought from other countries. However, the problem with geoblocking persists for both digital goods (like streaming services) and other places in the world outside the EU.
If you want to beat geoblocking and explore the internet freely and without restrictions, then you can use a VPN. This will allow you to connect to a server in another country and browse the internet as if you were in that country instead of your own. You can access the content you want on streaming sites and save money when shopping online.
Have you had experience with geoblocking causing you problems? What methods have you tried to beat it? Let us know in the comments below.
If you need a VPN for a short while when traveling for example, you can get our top ranked VPN free of charge. NordVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. You will need to pay for the subscription, that’s a fact, but it allows full access for 30 days and then you cancel for a full refund. Their no-questions-asked cancellation policy lives up to its name.
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Nord VPN does not allow you to access SportsnetNow Out of Market. That is not truthful! It doesn’t work no matter what country you set it at!
For us it worked. Maybe get on chat with their support and find out more about this?
At this day and age, VPN is your solution. I travel a lot, and Nordvpn is my best companion