If you are traveling abroad from Chicago, you might find that you are not able to access the content library of the streaming services you are used to watching back home. To securely access websites that are only accessible in Chicago from abroad, the best solution is to use the best virtual private network (VPN) for Chicago.
On top of this, a VPN can also help you if you are traveling to Chicago and want to stream content from the streaming services in your home country. With a VPN, you can secure your traffic and your data even when using public wi-fi hotspots around the world.
So, how does this work?
A VPN can instantly change your IP address and help you in accessing the internet from any part of the world, letting you easily watch the content or access the websites that are otherwise restricted in the country where you are physically present.
To find out which ones are the best Chicago VPN services, scroll down and read more…
In a Hurry? Here Are 5 Best VPNs for Chicago
7 Best Chicago VPN Services
Below are our top recommendations for the best VPNs for Chicago, along with two bonuses:
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers in 94+ countries, including plenty in and around Chicago.
Apart from providing the best speed on almost all its servers, ExpressVPN provides all the essential security features, like a Kill Switch, a strict no-logs policy, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, smart DNS, and the ability to easily unblock various OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, etc.
With its split-tunneling technology, you can send some of your traffic through your encrypted server while sending other traffic through your local ISP’s server.
The use of reliable protocols,, like IKEv2, military-grade encryption, and automatic wi-fi protection ensure strong security for the users.
ExpressVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you try the service risk-free.
- Fastest Chicago VPN
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 5 simultaneous connections
- User-friendly apps
- Network of over 3,000 servers in more than 94 countries
- Top privacy and security
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- More expensive plans
2. NordVPN
Besides the fact that it has over 1,900 servers in the USA (including in Chicago), NordVPN is one of the best VPNs you can find on the market in terms of online safety.
In addition to offering high-grade AES 25-bit encryption, a Kill Switch, a strict no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, and a smart DNS feature, it also provides you double security through its optional double VPN feature.
Moreover, it gives you fast speeds and easily unblocks all major platforms for streaming global content.
NordVPN also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee to provide you with a risk-free trial of the service before being locked into a plan.
- High speeds
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Possible to connect 6 devices simultaneously
- Plans are cheaper than ExpressVPN
- More than 5,500 servers in over 60 countries
- Robust privacy, security, and leak-protection features
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Some issues with UI
3. Surfshark
With servers in 25 US cities, including servers in Chicago, Surfshark is known to be a very user-friendly and budget-friendly VPN.
It easily unlocks most major streaming platforms and provides good server speed for watching content thanks to its smart DNS feature.
Surfshark isn’t far behind other Chicago VPN providers in providing enough privacy and security to its users, offering an ad-blocking feature, automatic Kill Switch, a no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, and 256-bit encryption. Additionally, it gives you a NoBorders mode that hides the fact that you are using a VPN to access the internet in heavily restricted areas.
The most unique feature of Surfshark is its unlimited simultaneous connections. So, if you want to use a VPN on an unlimited number of devices simultaneously through a single user account, this should be your go-to VPN.
- Good speed
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited number of devices simultaneously
- Cheaper subscription plans than ExpressVPN and NordVPN
- Network of over 3,200 servers across 65+ countries
- 30-day refund guarantee
- Apps for Apple products take time to load
- Slower speeds
4. CyberGhost
One of the largest VPN service providers in terms of the server network size, CyberGhost has about 100 servers in Chicago and about 1,200 in the US. It also has different servers optimized for different tasks, like torrenting anonymously and streaming.
Along with other tough privacy and security features like IPv6 and DNS leak control, 256-bit encryption, a Kill Switch, and a no-logs policy, it is one of the few VPNs that supports the new Wireguard protocol that is faster and more secure.
CyberGhost can easily unlock all major streaming platforms and provides enough speed for watching content uninterruptedly.
CyberGhost also provides you with a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is a great way to test its whole network of servers for a month and a half before being locked into a plan.
- Connect 7 devices simultaneously
- Cheapest of all the above recommendations
- More than 7,400 servers across 91+ countries
- Top security features
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- It supports limited options for payment
- Not as customizable
5. UltraVPN
Though it is a smaller-scale VPN service provider with just 100+ servers in over 60 countries, you will still find that you will be able to connect with very good speed when using UltraVPN.
It also provides decent security to its users, with features like protection against data leaks, a no-logs policy, and a Kill Switch. That said, there certainly are a few privacy issues with UltraVPN, including the fact that it is based in the privacy-unfriendly USA.
Like other Chicago VPN services on the list, UltraVPN, too, comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Simultaneous connections to 6 devices
- Servers on all continents
- Good security features
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Cannot unlock some platforms (like Amazon Prime Video)
- Based in USA
- Small number of servers
With a huge roster of 29,000+ servers across 78 countries, with over 50 of them in the US alone, and no limit to bandwidth, you can be assured of the fast speed and connectivity that Private Internet Access VPN offers.
With PIA, you can get all the safety functions that you can ask for with a Chicago VPN, including a Kill Switch, a no-logs policy, 256-bit encryption, and it uses reliable and fast protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Wireguard.
Like others on the list, PIA also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee to all its users.
- No limit to bandwidth
- Simultaneous connections to 10 devices
- Cheapest subscription plan
- Server network of 29,000+ servers in 78 countries
- Great privacy and safety features
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Inconsistent speeds on some servers
7. IPVanish
Similar to Surfshark, IPVanish lets you connect an unlimited number of devices through a single user account, making it a perfect choice for families.
IPVanish has a total of 1,900+ servers in more than 50 countries, with around 1,000 of them located in the US and a whopping 120 Chicago servers; and with no limit to bandwidth, it provides high speeds for streaming live HD and 4K videos with no caps.
IPVanish provides strong security, offering a Kill Switch, no-logs policy, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a strong AES-256 bit encryption.
- High speeds
- No limit over bandwidth
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Server network of 1,900+ servers across 50+ countries
- Great safety and privacy functions
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Doesn’t easily unblock OTT platforms
Why You Need a VPN for Chicago
A VPN is an internet tool that helps you change your IP address by connecting to a remote VPN server. When you use a VPN, you conceal your real location and IP address and appear to be instead in your server location.
The US is a part of the 5 Eyes Alliance (data-sharing). All of the countries in this alliance have the right to track and share online activities, so anyone accessing the internet from the States needs to take special care that their online safety and privacy are intact.
A VPN works by providing you additional security and privacy that your regular internet provider can’t. Also, if you want to stream content from the libraries of the most popular streaming services from different countries, you will want to use a VPN with servers in those countries.
You will need a Chicago VPN server or a Chicago IP address while traveling to the city or outside of the city to keep yourself and your data secure while surfing the internet on any unsecured networks or for watching content available back home on different streaming platforms.
How to Choose the Best VPN for Chicago
To choose the best VPN for Chicago, you first need to determine your priorities. There are certain VPNs with a Chicago VPN server network but they might not have servers in your home country.
Others might offer fast speeds but lack strong security or privacy functions. There might be some streaming-optimized servers that would not allow gaming due to geo-restrictions or the absence of servers in the desired country.
Determine your needs and then check whether the VPN that you are considering passes all your required criteria.
Here are some of the most common features you must look for in your VPN:
Server Network – The larger the server network, the more countries’ content you can access. More servers also mean you are less likely to experience slow speeds and connectivity issues during peak hours.
Local Servers – It’s important that your provider has a good number of VPN servers in your home country so you can easily connect to one for streaming content or simply for security when you are not traveling.
Fast speeds – Good server speed makes sure you can easily binge-watch, gameplay, or download large files quickly. If your reason for getting a VPN is any of these, do get a VPN with reliable speeds.
Bypass geo-restrictions – Your VPN should be able to bypass the geo-restrictions imposed by the streaming services, or else you won’t be able to get access to the content library of different nations through your Chicago IP address.
Security and privacy features – One of the important things to look for in your VPN is its ability to secure you and protect your device and data against malware and cyber-attacks.
User-friendliness – The VPN that you are considering should be compatible with the devices that you intend to use to access the internet. Additionally, if it has fast and user-friendly apps for all major operating systems, that is a huge plus. Also, look for the 24/7 customer support feature while evaluating the VPN options!
Trusted money-back guarantee – To try a VPN risk-free, look for one that has a tried-and-tested at least 30-day money-back guarantee so you can ask for a refund if you are not happy with their service.
How to Get a Chicago IP Address
Getting a Chicago IP address or connecting to one of the Chicago servers takes just a few minutes.
To protect your data and access your blocked content:
- Get a subscription to a good-quality VPN provider. I recommend getting ExpressVPN.
- Download and install the VPN app onto your device and then sign in to it.
- Connect to a Chicago VPN server.
- You are good to go now!
Can I Use Free VPN Providers for Chicago?
If you search for free VPNs, you can get thousands of them easily available to you online. However, do they work? That is not so clear.
Free VPNs are pretty unreliable when it comes to things like getting through geo-blocks or securing your traffic online, which makes them kind of impractical for pretty much any online activity.
Your best bet is to use a reputable premium service from our list, like ExpressVPN. All of the services above offer you a full refund if you cancel within 30 (or 45) days, so it will be like using a premium provider for free for a month or more!
You may also like:
FAQs
The overall best VPN for Chicago, hands down, is ExpressVPN.
All the providers listed above, as my recommendations, have VPN servers in Chicago.
Yes, VPNs are legal to use in Chicago as well as the whole US. In fact, except for in a few particular countries, you can easily use a VPN legally everywhere.
However, make sure you aren’t using your VPN for illegal activities, like harassing someone.
Conclusion
Whether you are traveling to Chicago and seeking a secure connection or wish to access geo-restricted websites and content, a VPN always comes in handy. The best VPNs encrypt your data and online activity and hide them from online snoopers.
A VPN can also provide you with a Chicago IP address by routing your traffic through Chicago servers, giving you access to everything on the web that a Chicago resident can.
So, if you wish to protect yourself and your data from cyber threats or watch content inaccessible to your OTT account, get connected to the best server of the fastest VPN now and enjoy!
