Global communications and global commerce are essential in today’s world, so when you can’t access content, it can be not only frustrating, but it can also curtail your ability to work and access your financials while traveling.
Unfortunately, geo-blocking measures are here to stay, since they allow content providers to prevent access to websites in order to uphold licensing agreements, prevent fraud, target pricing, and uphold local laws for online gambling; and the only way to do all of this is through geo-blocking.
Legal access to these websites can be gained, though, by changing the user’s IP address, allowing anyone to access the sites they want easily. All you need is a high-quality VPN, like ExpressVPN. (Just make sure you comply with the local laws so you don’t get into any trouble!)
In a Hurry? Here’s How to Remove Geo-Blocking
How Does Geo-Blocking Work & What Are the Reasons Behind It?
The short answer to does geo-blocking work is yes, it is an effective way to limit access to a website to a specific location; the caveat is, a good VPN can bypass geo-blocks, making them ineffective. All you need to do is use a quality VPN, like ExpressVPN, to connect to a server in another country, thereby changing the IP address assigned by Internet Service Providers so you can get onto the site you want.
There are several reasons that a website will place a geo-block on its content. Streaming services use geo-blocks to ensure they are upholding all licensing agreements and not violating copyright laws. Financial and workplaces often use geo-blocking to prevent fraud and unlawful access to people’s accounts.
Geo-blocking is an effective way to tailor pricing to the local market by limiting access to a specific location, this is especially common on gaming websites, so using a VPN can save you a bit of cash if you know where to look for better prices.
Finally, online gambling sites find geo-blocks to be an effective tool in restricting access from locations where online gambling is illegal.
What Are the Signs that You’re Being Geo-Blocked?
If you can’t access the website you want, the most likely reason is geo-restrictions. Most websites will either show a proxy error message or provide a message that the website you want to access is not available in your region. Sometimes, however, you just won’t be able to open the site, especially if you are trying to get onto your bank account while traveling abroad.
How Do Websites Block You Based on Your Location?
When you connect to the Internet, your Internet service provider (ISP) gives you an Internet Protocol (IP) address that contains information on your physical location.
If your IP address isn’t on the list of approved IP addresses on the website you want, your access will be blocked. You can get around that block by connecting to a virtual IP address in another country, making it appear that you are in a permitted location.
The IP Address
An IP address is given to you by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), and, similar to a real address, it is based on your actual location. It lets anyone on the Internet know where you are, so it makes it easy for websites to block access based on a user’s geographical location. The only way to avoid geo-blocking is to get a different IP address either through a VPN or smart DNS.
What Is a Virtual Private Network and How Does It Help You to Hide or Change Your IP Address?
A virtual private network (VPN) feeds all of your data through an encrypted tunnel and will re-route that data to an IP address in the country you select via the VPN app. All you need to do to avoid geo-blocking is choose a server in the country that has the geo-blocked content you want to access and you’ll be able to access any website in that location.
Keep in mind, in addition to giving you access to a new IP address, the VPN app also needs to keep your local IP address remains hidden, by preventing IP leaks, a task that only the best VPNs can do effectively.
How to Change Your Location with a VPN (Step by Step)
With the right tool, it’s easy to make IP address changes so you can get around geo-blocking in countries around the world. Just follow these simple steps.
- Select a high-quality VPN, like ExpressVPN.
- Purchase a subscription to the VPN service.
- Download the VPN app onto your device.
- Open the VPN app and connect to a server in the country of your choice from the country list.
- Access geo-restricted content from any geographical location without getting blocked!
How to Choose the Right VPN to Bypass Geo Blocks
There are a few key features you want to seek when choosing a VPN to bypass geo-blocks, as not every VPN has what it takes!
Select a VPN with a large network of servers all over the world so you can have the broadest access to geo-restricted websites around the globe.
Get a fast VPN so you won’t experience any buffering delays or pixelation when you use your VPN to access geo-restricted TV, movies, videos, and games due to poor connection speeds.
Check the VPN’s track record for being able to unblock restricted content, as not all VPN software has the ability to effectively hide your true IP address so you don’t get blocked.
You want a VPN that will keep your VPN connection private and secure from snoopers and hackers, so choose one with first-rate privacy and security features.
Select a VPN that is compatible with your home devices and one that offers multiple simultaneous connections so you can cover your entire household with one subscription.
Make sure the VPN provider offers 24/7 live-chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
While it may be tempting to use a free VPN, the free VPN servers are less likely to be useful, and typically provide a slower internet connection. Free VPN services also may sell your browser history for profit making you vulnerable to snoopers and hackers.
3 Best VPNs to Bypass Geo-blocking
Here are the top VPNs for bypassing most restrictions in 2023:
1. ExpressVPN
The best VPN to use to bypass geographic restrictions is ExpressVPN. It consistently and reliably gets past the toughest geo-blocks out there, even breaking through the Great Firewall of China, and with 3,000+ servers in 94+ countries around the world, you’ll have no problem finding the server location of your choice. Plus, ExpressVPN is exceptionally fast, so you can enjoy uninterrupted streaming of movies and TV on geo-blocked sites.
ExpressVPN is a fully secure VPN offering military-grade 256-Bit encryption, an automatic Kill Switch, and IP and DNS leak protection. A great bonus feature it offers is split tunneling, so you can feed some of your content through the encrypted tunnel while keeping some on your local ISP.
When it comes to privacy, ExpressVPN has got your back. It offers a strict no-logs policy and is based in the privacy-friendly location of the British Virgin Islands.
You can connect 5 devices to your ExpressVPN app at the same time and it is compatible with all major operating systems and devices, including Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Nvidia Shield, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
The support ExpressVPN provides is top-notch and includes 24/7 live chat as well as a guarantee that you’ll get your money back if you cancel within the first 30 days.
- Verified no-logs policy
- Top security features
- Reliably unblocks websites
- Large global server network
- Excellent speed
- 24/7 live-chat support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Higher cost
2. NordVPN
NordVPN has a great track record for unblocking popular streaming sites, including HBO Max, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and many more. It can even get past the Great Firewall of China.
The speed on NordVPN is fantastic, so you don’t have to worry about buffering delays or pixelation interrupting your show, and with over 5,400 servers in more than 60 countries around the world so you can enjoy watching movies and TV on streaming services without any lags.
NordVPN offers excellent security features, including 256-Bit military-grade encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, and an automatic Kill Switch. Extra security features include malware protection, double VPN, obfuscated servers, and dedicated IP addresses. Your privacy is in good hands with NordVPN! It has a strict zero-logs policy and is based in Panama, a privacy-friendly country.
NordVPN allows for up to 6 simultaneous device connections and is compatible with all major platforms and devices, including Windows, Mac OS, Android, Linux, routers, smart TVs, game consoles, routers, and more.
If you have any trouble using NordVPN to unblock content, just reach out to the 24/7 live-chat support for help, and if it’s still not living up to your expectations, you can cancel within the first 30 days and get all of your money back.
- Strict no-logs policy
- Excellent security features
- Reliably get around geo-blocking
- Large global server network
- Excellent speed
- 24/7 live-chat support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- IP addresses in fewer countries
3. Surfshark
This budget VPN offers both reliable service and unlimited simultaneous connections at a low cost. You can count on Surfshark for bypassing geo-restrictions on all of the popular streaming sites, including Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and many more. Surfhshark can even bypass the Great Firewall of China.
Surshark has one of the larger server networks, including over 3,200 servers in more than 100 countries around the world. You have a lot of online content at your fingertips, and while Surfshark is a bit slower than the premium VPNs, it can still keep up with the speed on streaming platforms so you can enjoy uninterrupted viewing.
When it comes to security, Surfshark is loaded with great features, including 256-bit military-grade encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, and an automatic Kill Switch. It also offers lots of great bonus features like double VPN, data breach monitoring, and malware protection. Surfshark maintains a strict no-logs policy and is located in privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands
You can connect as many devices as you want to the Surfshark app and it’s got great device compatibility. It works with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome, Linux, Firefox, Fire TV, Apple TV, and more!
If you need any help, Surfshark offers 24/7 live-chat support to get you on your feet, and you can try Surshark risk-free! It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee!
- Strict no-logs policy
- Excellent security features
- Low cost
- Can bypass geo-blocking
- Large global server network
- Unlimited simultaneous devices
- 24/7 live-chat support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Slower speeds
- Users may experience more buffering
Other Ways To Bypass Geo Blocks
Here are some other ways to reach the same goal:
Smart DNS
When you sign into a website, you are using a domain name, which gets translated into an IP address. Smart DNS allows you to select your own domain name server (DNS) location IP address instead of the one your ISP assigns to you. It’s fast and effective but has limitations in that it does not cover all of your Internet traffic and it does not include any privacy or security features.
Proxy Server
A proxy server allows you to hide your true IP address on specific apps, such as your browser or BitTorrent client, and it does not provide any security or privacy features. If you are looking for an easy way to geo-spoof your location on your entire connection while keeping your online traffic private and secure, you are better off using a reliable VPN service.
Tor Browser
The big advantage of using a Tor network to geo-spoof your location is that it is completely free. Using Tor redirects your online traffic through multiple server locations so no one can tell where you are; however, using a Tor network takes time and can really slow your speed and may be blocked by your ISP as it is illegal in some countries.
VPN vs Smart DNS vs Proxy Server vs Tor Browser to Avoid Blocks: How Do They Compare?
Here’s a breakdown of the benefits and limitations of these geo-spoofing technologies:
VPN Pros:
Keeps your online activities secure and private
Effectively geo-spoofs your location
Easy to use and install
VPN Cons:
Higher cost
Encryption can cause slower speeds
Some VPNs are not compatible with devices like Smart TVs and game consoles
Smart DNS Pros:
Low cost
Fast speeds
Effectively geo-spoofs your location
Compatible with Smart TVs and game consoles
Smart DNS Cons:
No privacy or security features
More difficult to set up
Limited server selection
Tor Browser Pros:
Effective geo-spoofing
Free
Tor Browser cons:
Slow
Can be blocked by your ISP
No privacy or security features
Illegal in some locations
Top Geoblocked Streaming Services Around the World
Why would you want to get around geo-blocking? Here are the top streaming platforms that you can miss out on because of your location!
Netflix
Hulu
Amazon Prime Video
HBO Max
Showtime
BBC iPlayer
SkyGo
CBS
Food Network
NBC
ITV
ABC
ESPN
Pandora
USA Now
Hotstar
BBC Sports
Other Top Geoblocked Websites
Streaming videos isn’t the only reason to bypass geo-blocking. Here are some of the other popular websites where you may encounter geo-blocking.
Bet 365
SkyBet
Steam
NY Times
Washington Post
The Guardian
Banks and financial institutions
Tinder
Match
Instagram
Twitter
Is It Legal to Bypass Geo-Blocks?
Is bypassing geo-blocking illegal? No! It’s perfectly legal to use a VPN or smart DNS to access restricted content, though you do need to make sure you follow the local laws of your country and aren’t in violation of any copyright regulations.
FAQs
Websites use geo-blocking to protect copyright laws, prevent fraud, tailor pricing to a specific location, and limit access to gambling sites in areas where it is illegal.
The easiest way to access geo-blocked content is by using a VPN provider to connect to a VPN server in the county where the website is available. You can also use proxy services, Tor, or smart DNS.
Common services that restrict access based on location include streaming platforms, social media, gaming sites, gambling sites, news sites, and financial institutions.
Conclusion
With so much great content available worldwide, you don’t want your location to hold you back! The VPN industry has the tools you need to access the Internet freely, anywhere in the world, without restrictions. All you need to do is subscribe to a quality VPN and the world of the Internet is yours to enjoy.
