Coming across restrictions when you try to access content can be very frustrating. One of the most common reasons why you may be unable to watch a video or access a website is that the content is subject to geo-blocks. When this happens, you get an error message telling you that the video is not available in your location. This can affect you not only when you live in a country where the content is not available, but also when you travel. If you try to watch your favorite show abroad, you could also face issues due to geo-restrictions. In most cases, these blocks are implemented due to the licensing agreements between studios and streaming services. In many cases, these agreements establish that the content can only be offered in a specific region. However, dealing with these blocks can make you feel that you don’t really have online freedom, even if you live in a country where there is no heavy censorship applied to the internet.
Geo-restrictions are applied by checking your IP address and once it is confirmed that you are not in the location where the content is available, you are greeted with that dreaded message telling you that you can’t get access. Netflix is known for applying geo-restrictions to ensure that its subscribers can only access the library of their respective country. This means that if you are in Brazil, you can only get access to the selection of content that Netflix offers there. If you try to watch something in Netflix US, you will face restrictions. Apart from licensing agreements, there are other reasons that can lead to geo-blocks. In some cases, the restrictions are in place due to legal reasons, mainly involving copyright infringement. In some cases, the restrictions are not applied in the country, but in your school or work network to ensure that you focus on your tasks and to prevent people from accessing streaming services, which consumes a lot of bandwidth.
In the case of the BBC iPlayer, the service is only available within the United Kingdom because people there, have to pay a fee for a TV license that is meant to fund broadcasting. Geo-blocks can also be due to political or religious reasons as in some countries, certain content may be considered illegal or offensive. Regardless of the reason, it is likely that you want to find a solution to overcome the obstacles and enjoy access to all the content that you want. You don’t have to miss out on the chance to watch a greater selection of content, just because of your location. There is a way to get around geo-blocking and fully enjoy popular streaming services like Netflix, Pandora, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube and more. You will also be able to access different region servers in your favorite games and access the websites that you want. All you need to do is to use a VPN service.
How to defeat geo-blocking with a VPN?
A VPN is a reliable way to unblock online content since it disguises your IP address and makes you appear as if your were in a different country. When you use a VPN, your traffic is encrypted and routed through a server in the location of your choice. If you live outside the United States and wish to access content that is only available there, you just need to connect to a VPN server located in that country. The service that you are trying to connect to, will only see the IP address of the VPN server. Once it sees that you have a US IP address, it will grant you access. VPNs are simple solutions and while there are many servers available and they offer pretty much the same functionality, not all of them are effective. Although there are other options to unblock content such as proxy services, VPNs are the best choice since they also protect your traffic with encryption, this stops third-parties from seeing what you are doing online.
How to choose the best VPN for geo-blocking?
There are some crucial aspects to consider when you are choosing a VPN service that allows you to bypass geographical restrictions. First of all, look for a solution that offers multiple servers in different locations around the world. This will give you more options when it comes to accessing content. Speeds are also important so make sure that you go for a VPN that can support good speeds, which will enable you to stream content without problems. Make sure that there are no bandwidth limits imposed. Last but not least, you need a VPN that is secure and that has a strong commitment to privacy. Look for a VPN that offers strong encryption and that doesn’t keep logs of your online activities. Here are the VPN services that we recommend.
Best VPN for Geo-blocking
ExpressVPN
With ExpressVPN, you will be able to enjoy online freedom when you stream content, play games and more. ExpressVPN combines high level encryption with impressive speeds and a network that allows you to connect to thousands of servers in over 90 countries. To make thins even better, they don’t keep logs of your online activities. ExpressVPN is known for its reliability and while it is more expensive than other options out there, it is worth every penny. Plus, they have a 30-day money back guarantee. You will be able to bypass restrictions and enjoy consistently good performance across all servers. ExpressVPN includes SmartDNS, which also lets you overcome blocks. Furthermore, ExpressVPN is one of the few services that is effective when it comes to getting around Netflix’s blocks.
Private Internet Access
PIA is very popular thanks to its low prices, but it is also worth noting that it has over 3000 servers available in over 30 countries. The speeds are quite good and will allow you to enjoy a great experience streaming or downloading content, as well as playing games or simply, browsing content. PIA doesn’t keep logs of your internet traffic and it uses high encryption to keep your data secure. It also includes additional features like SOCKS5 proxy, which can also be helpful to overcome restrictions.
VyprVPN
VyprVPN is another excellent choice to bypass geo-blocking and it offers advanced proprietary technology that lets you defeat firewalls and Deep Packet Inspection since it disguises your VPN traffic effectively. This exclusive protocol is called Chameleon and it is one of the best things about VyprVPN. Their network has servers in more than 70 locations around the world. VyprVPN doesn’t keep logs of your online activities and it also protects your internet traffic with strong encryption. You will be able to bypass geo-blocks and enjoy access to even more content.
NordVPN
NordVPN is well-known for the top security that it offers and for its no logs policy. Nothing about your activities or use of the service is ever recorded. Plus, they include features like Onion over VPN and double encryption, which will give you even more protection. NordVPN has servers in over 60 countries and it is another solution that works well to overcome the restrictions that Netflix has implemented. NordVPN has excellent software and great customer support. This provider based in Panama brings you security, as well as online freedom.
