You may have noticed that some website content is not accessible in your country or when you’re abroad. By using a VPN, you can gain access to these websites from anywhere in the world without compromising your security or privacy.
Understanding Geo-Restrictions: Why Some Content Is Unavailable in Your Country
There are two main reasons why some content may not be accessible in your country or when you’re overseas. The practice of restricting access based on the region or country is also known as “geo-blocking”.
- Access Regulation by Service Providers
- Government Regulations
Access Regulation by Service Providers
There are two primary reasons why a site operator may restrict access.
- Terms and Conditions: These stipulations may specify the countries in which the content is allowed to be distributed and explicitly prevent its usage in other locations.
- Exclusive Rights: Someone may hold exclusive streaming rights to the content for a specific region. Alternatively, the rights for a certain region may not be up for sale, preventing the acquisition of such rights.
Government Regulations
Some countries have strong internet regulations. A notable example is China. It regulates access to some overseas internet services as a national policy, including social media platforms like Twitter and LINE, search engines like Google and Yahoo, and foreign video services such as YouTube and Netflix. In addition to China, countries with stringent internet censorship include Syria, Iran, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, Cuba, and Vietnam.
Unlocking Geo-Blocked Content: How a VPN Works
VPNs solve the problem because of the following two features.
- Concealing and Altering Your IP Address
- Encrypting Communications:
Concealing and Altering Your IP Address
An IP address is a unique identifier for your device on the internet or a local network. It’s essential in determining the location and other details of website visitors and users of online services. For instance, if you’re attempting to access content exclusive to the US from outside the country, the US-specific content won’t be displayed.
However, by accessing the site via VPN servers based in the US, you can view the US-oriented content.
By employing a VPN, the website will treat you as if you’re browsing from the US, regardless of your actual location.
>>Explore more detailed about VPN
Encrypting Communications
Another crucial feature of VPNs is their ability to encrypt communication content, safeguarding your online privacy. Since the communication content is encrypted, governments won’t know which sites you’re visiting, making censorship impossible.
Of course, governments are aware that VPNs can be used to bypass streaming restrictions, and they sometimes regulate VPN usage as a result. However, the general situation is such that personal use of a VPN, as long as it doesn’t infringe upon government policies or lead to the mass dissemination of procured information, is implicitly allowed.
In the past, there have been cases in countries with strict censorship, like China, where certain VPN services were completely disabled. Therefore, if you’re residing in a country with stringent censorship, we recommend that you mitigate your risks by subscribing to two or more services simultaneously, just as a precaution.
>>Explore more detailed about illegality of VPNs on China
How to Stream with a VPN from Anywhere
To stream is quick 3 steps below.
- Register with a VPN service
- Download and Launch the App and Connect to a VPN Server
- Access Contents You Want to Watch
Check the below articles for details.
How to Stream for Netflix
How to Stream for Japanese Anime
How to Stream for BBC iPlayer and YouTube and ITVX
The Best VPN for Steaming
Here are some excellent VPN services we recommend.
ExpressVPN: Ultra-fast Internet Speeds
| Prices | 1-Month: $12.95 6-Months: $9.99/month 12-Months: $6.67/month |
| No-log-policy and kill switch | Yes |
| Countries and servers | 94/3,000+ |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days |
| 24/7 customer support | Yes |
| Maximum devices supported | 8 |
ExpressVPN has some of the fastest internet speeds of the VPNs we have used. ExpressVPN is consistently found by review sites to be one of the fastest VPNs. Therefore ExpressVPN receives great reviews and popularity. With a network of over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, users have a wide range of options for changing their IP address to different locations. ExpressVPN prioritizes user privacy with a secure no-logs policy and offers additional features such as a kill switch and 24/7 customer support.
After you’ve registered with ExpressVPN, you can use it to easily browse the internet just by downloading their app.
- Place a high importance on internet speed
- Want to use the VPN with the greatest market popularity
\30-day Money-Back Guarantee/
NordVPN: The Ultimate Balance of Price and Internet Speed
| Prices (standard plan) | 1-Month: $11.99 12-Months: $4.99/month 24-Months: $3.99/month |
| No-log-policy and kill switch | Yes |
| Countries and servers | 60/5,500+ |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days |
| 24/7 customer support | Yes |
| Maximum devices supported | 6 |
NordVPN has established itself as a leading VPN service, offering an excellent balance of price, internet speed, server coverage, and global reach. As a result, NordVPN has gained the largest market share worldwide. It consistently receives positive reviews from top experts in the industry. With a vast network of over 5,500 servers across 60 countries, NordVPN provides a wide range of options for changing your IP address to various locations. NordVPN prioritizes user privacy with a secure no-logs policy, along with additional features such as a kill switch and 24/7 customer support.
After you’ve registered, you can easily browse the internet using NordVPN just by downloading their app.
- Want to balance price and internet speed
- Want to use the VPN with the highest market popularity
\30-day Money-Back Guarantee/
SurfsharkVPN: Impressive Experience with Fast-growing Emerging VPN
| Prices (standard plan) | 1-Month: $12.95 12-Months: $3.99/month 24-Months: $2.39/month |
| No-log-policy and kill switch | Yes |
| Countries and servers | 100/3,200+ |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days |
| 24/7 customer support | Yes |
| Maximum devices supported | Unlimited |
Surfshark, established in 2018, has quickly gained a strong reputation and popularity worldwide despite being a relatively new service. While it may have some occasional delays in connecting and slightly weaker region-blocking capabilities compared to ExpressVPN and NordVPN, it offers significant advantages. By opting for the 24-month plan, you can obtain Surfshark at a much lower price than ExpressVPN and NordVPN. Additionally, Surfshark provides unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing you and your family to connect and use all your devices simultaneously. With over 3,200 servers in 99 countries, Surfshark offers a wide range of options. It also boasts a private and secure no-logs policy, a kill switch, and 24/7 customer support.
After you’ve registered, you can easily browse the internet using Surfshark by downloading their app.
- Who want to some constant quality and budget
- Who want to connect with lots of devices
\30-day Money-Back Guarantee/
Other Benefit and Advantages of VPNs
The following list shows cases in which a VPN is especially useful other than streaming:
- Protect Your Privacy: Safely use free public Wi-Fi networks
- Stay Connected Abroad: Access internet services as if you’re at home
- Save big on Subscriptions: Score lower prices on YouTube Premium, Netflix, Spotify, and more
>>VPN Use Cases – When to use a VPN
FAQ
Is it legal to use a VPN?
Yes, it’s generally legal to use a VPN in most countries. However, the legality can vary depending on your location and the specific regulations of your country. Always ensure you’re compliant with local laws when trading cryptocurrencies.
Should I use a paid or free VPN?
We recommend opting for paid VPN services for better privacy and security. Free VPNs may not provide clear information on how they manage log traffic data, and there’s a higher chance they might track your data. Paid VPNs typically offer superior performance, more features, and enhanced security.
Free VPN vs. Paid VPN: Making the Right Choice for Your Security