ISP Blocking: How to Bypass ISP Restrictions Effectively

Running into an ISP block is frustrating, but you don’t have to settle for restricted access. Whether it’s for streaming, gaming, or browsing, there are ways to get around ISP blocking. One of the most effective methods I’ve found is a virtual private network (VPN).

Key takeaways

1. Licensing agreements, copyright laws, governmental regulations, or network issues can lead to your ISP blocking websites.
2. If you get an error message or are directed to a different website, there’s a good chance your ISP is blocking the site.
3. ISPs may use firewalls, DNS blocks, or deep packet inspection to block your access to a website.
4. A quality VPN, like ExpressVPN, is an effective tool for avoiding ISP blocks.

ISP blocking explained

ISP blocking occurs when your Internet service provider wants to restrict access to certain websites. There are several legitimate reasons that ISPs block websites, such as protecting copyright agreements or upholding local laws. It could also be due to network traffic issues.

Your Internet service provider has several tools at its disposal for blocking websites, including deep packet inspection (DPI) blocks, Domain Naming System (DNS) blocks, or Internet Protocol (IP) blocks.

When your ISP blocks access to a specific website, you will either get an error message or you will be redirected to another website.

The reasons behind ISP blocking

An ISP website block may occur for any of the following reasons:

• Licensing agreements. Many websites, for example, streaming sites, have country-specific licensing agreements. These website owners protect their agreements by restricting site access to users with an IP from licensed locations.
• Copyright laws. Certain websites may be blocked if there is suspicion of copyright violations, for example, torrenting sites known for offering pirated content.
• Government regulations. ISPs will restrict access to sites banned by the local government. Sites may be blocked for non-compliance with local laws or for having controversial content. This is common in countries with limited Internet freedom; for example, North Korea and China’s Great Firewall heavily restricts Internet access, especially news sites, messaging apps, and streaming services.
• Network issues. You may experience bandwidth throttling or website blocking if your network is strained by heavy online traffic.

How to detect if an ISP is blocking websites

Here’s how to check if your Internet service provider is blocking websites:

• Website block checks. Go to a website like Is It Down Right Now to find out if the problem is with the website or if you’re experiencing an IP block.
• Change networks. Try connecting to the website via a different network, such as public Wi-Fi or your cellular network. If you can access the website using an alternative network, your Internet service provider is likely to blame.

How do ISPs block content?

Here’s how your Internet provider blocks access to specific websites:

• DNS blocks. DNS translates a website’s domain name into an IP address. A DNS block disrupts this process by preventing the resolution of a DNS request, leading to an error message or redirection to a different site.
• Firewalls. A firewall is a set of rules by an Internet provider that limits incoming and outgoing Internet traffic. These rules can automatically block access to specific IP addresses, limiting access to certain websites.
• Deep packet inspection. Censors can use deep packet inspection to analyze pockets of data traveling through your network and use that information to block specific websites, apps, or services.

How to bypass ISP blocking 

The simplest method for bypassing ISP blocking is using mobile data to connect to a different network. If that doesn’t work, here are some other methods you can try:

Tor

Tor network traffic uses onion routing to hide your true IP address, routing your IP address through multiple nodes for maximum online privacy.

The downsides of Tor are that it can be slow, it’s illegal in some countries, and using unknown nodes incurs some security risks.

Proxy

A proxy server serves as an intermediary between your device and the Internet, allowing you to circumvent ISP blocking. By sending your DNS request to a proxy before it goes out into the Internet, it masks your true IP address.

The disadvantages of Proxies are that they don’t encrypt your data and can slow your Internet connection. They also don’t always work, as some ISPs block known proxy servers.

Smart DNS

Smart DNS works by directing your DNS requests to a proxy DNS server to avoid ISP blocks. Since many ISP blocks work by re-directing your DNS requests to another page, this can be an effective way to bypass ISP blocks.

Keep in mind that Smart DNS doesn’t include any security or privacy features, does not mask your real IP address, and is often ineffective at getting past the most advanced ISP blocking.

VPN

My go-to solution to ISP blocking is a quality VPN. Not only does a VPN mask your true IP address by connecting you to a remote server, but it also passes all of your data through an encrypted tunnel, keeping your online activities private and secure.

I’ve also found that it is the most effective tool for bypassing all kinds of blocks, including Firewalls, IP blocks, DNS blocks, and DPI blocks.

So what are the downsides? If you want reliable, quality, and fast service, you’ll have to pay for your VPN subscription.

3 best VPNs for bypassing ISP blocking

If you’ve decided to go the VPN route to avoid ISP blocking, here’s everything you need to know to pick out the best one for your budget and needs:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is my go-to service for bypassing ISP restrictions. Not only does it change my IP address effortlessly, but it also ensures a secure, private, and high-speed connection every time I go online.

Features: One of the things I love about ExpressVPN is its wealth of advanced features. It comes with split tunneling, a built-in password manager, ad-blocking, and malware protection. With 3,000+ VPN servers in 105 countries, I can access blocked websites all over the world.

Speed: When I tested ExpressVPN’s speed compared to my Internet service provider, I maintained an impressive 96% of my baseline ISP download speed locally and 94% on long distances.

Privacy and Security: ExpressVPN does more than remove ISP blocking. It secures my entire online presence with a strict no-logs policy, military-grade encryption, an automatic Kill Switch, and DNS/IP leak protection.

Performance: ExpressVPN’s fast and stable service makes it perfect for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Plus, it’s incredibly reliable at bypassing IP blocks, ensuring unrestricted Internet access.

Streaming: With ExpressVPN’s strong geo-spoofing capabilities, you can unblock regional content libraries on Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and more!

Compatibility: It’s easy to use ExpressVPN on any iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, or Linux devices. You can use 8 devices simultaneously or put the app on your router and cover your whole network at once.

Pricing: At $6.67/month, ExpressVPN is on the pricier side, but in my experience, the premium features and performance justify the cost. Plus, with 24/7 live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can decide for yourself, risk-free.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN offers fast connection speeds, strong security, and premium features without a premium price tag.

Features: NordVPN has fabulous advanced features, including split tunneling, dedicated IP addresses, ad blocking, tracker blocking, malware protection, and dark web monitoring. With over 7,100 servers in 118 countries, you’ll get great access to worldwide content without slowdowns from overcrowded servers.

Speed: NordVPN’s speed is seriously impressive. It maintained 98% of my ISP’s baseline download speed locally and 94% long-distance.

Privacy and Security: Top-notch security features include a no-logs policy, military-grade encryption, DNS/IP leak protection, and a Kill Switch.

Performance: Beyond accessing ISP-blocked sites, NordVPN delivers exceptional performance for streaming, gaming, and torrenting.

Streaming: NordVPN reliably accesses regionally blocked streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more.

Compatibility: NordVPN’s apps are easy to use and work across iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Linux devices. Each account supports 10 simultaneous devices.

Pricing: Starting at just $3.39/month, NordVPN is a great value, and it comes with 24/7 customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it out risk-free.

3. Surfshark

If you want a solid VPN without spending a fortune, Surfshark is a fantastic budget-friendly option. It reliably accesses blocked websites, offers strong security features, and allows unlimited simultaneous devices — perfect for large households.

Features: As a budget VPN, Surfshark doesn’t skimp on advanced features, offering ad blocking, malware protection, dark web monitoring, split tunneling, and more. You can access blocked websites worldwide with its network of 3,200+ servers in 100 countries.

Speed: I got solid speeds in my tests, maintaining 81% of my baseline download speed locally and 79% on long-distance. It’s slower than the premium providers, but it’s still capable of handling most online activities.

Privacy and Security: Your online privacy and security are protected by a no-logs policy, military-grade encryption, DNS/IP leak protection, and an automatic Kill Switch.

Performance: Streaming, gaming, and torrenting all run smoothly with Surfshark. It reliably bypasses ISP blocks, making it easy to access restricted websites worldwide.

Streaming: You’ll be able to access geo-restricted streaming sites such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more with Surfshark as your provider.

Compatibility: Surfshark’s user-friendly apps work with iOS, macOS, Linux, Android, and Windows devices.

Pricing: Subscriptions start at just $1.99/month and include 24/7 live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Can I use a free VPN to remove ISP blocking?

Most ISP blocks can’t be removed with a free VPN, and if you find one that can, it’s likely to have poor connection speeds due to limited data, bandwidth, and speed, or a small network.

In addition, if you’re looking for a secure VPN connection, most free providers don’t have the same high-end security and privacy features that you get with a reputable paid service.

FAQ

How do I get rid of ISP blocking?

If your ISP is blocking websites, your best workaround is a high-quality VPN. A VPN can connect you to a remote server that will get around Internet provider blocks.

Can an ISP block one device?

Yes. Your Internet provider can block a specific device based on its IP.

Can ISPs block IPs?

Yes. ISPs can block IPs.

Conclusion

ISP blocks don’t have to limit your internet access; just use a quality virtual private network (VPN) to bypass restrictions. My top picks, ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark, all offer the speed, reliability, and strong privacy features needed to get the job done.