Have you ever had your eyes set on the best streaming content? Maybe something from the US Netflix library? Or, maybe you would just like to get the latest games before they’re available in your country? Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? However, we need to come to terms with the fact that not every movie, TV show, game or streaming service will be available where you’re located. 

Geo-restrictions and geo-blocks 

There are two obstacles that come in the way of you getting access to some of the best content – geo-restrictions, and geo-blocks. There are times when a certain streaming service, let’s take Netflix for example, is only available within a particular region. It means that Netflix is a geo-restricted service that allows only a few countries to access the service, let alone a couple libraries. 

Other than that, what also gets in the way are geo-blocks. Metaphorically speaking, we could say that Netflix is allowed within China, but the Chinese government imposes geo-blocks. Either way, you are not getting access to it. 

To curb or get past these issues, most users invest in a VPN (Virtual Private Network.) However, the question is, “Will a VPN successfully aid in bypassing online restrictions? Will it be able to unblock popular services like Netflix from anywhere?” 

Can a VPN help access geo-blocked and restricted content?  

Here is the thing, it all depends on the VPN you use. There are many VPN apps in the market, but not all are fit for streaming. For starters, some users require a VPN for Firestick, while others want one to stream on their smartphone. Either way, the VPN you choose needs to support both and more devices, along with other features to get them past the blocks. 

A VPN does help with allowing access to geo-restricted content. It offers a large or limited number of servers that allow you to change your virtual IP addresses, replacing them with a new one. You will be able to change your country location to safely bypass online restrictions placed over media content, streaming services, websites and even apps. 

To choose the best VPN for that, there are a few things you need to look for in the VPN you choose:

VPN servers

Choose one that offers a large or smart coverage of servers. If you’re looking to access the US Netflix, make sure the VPN offers plenty US servers. If it is BBC iPlayer you’re trying to unblock, choose one that also offers a UK servers. In this way, it’s important a VPN offers a diverse selection of servers for both accessing blocked content and for privacy. 

Online privacy and security

Speaking of online privacy, sometimes there are services available in your country, but surveillance methods ruin the entire experience. Choose a VPN that is able enough to protect you and your web-traffic online. It should come with solid encryption to secure your connection, keeping everything private, even from your internet service provider. 

Free trial and money-back guarantee 

A free trial and refund period would be great! It will allow you to test the VPN and make sure it’s working properly. There are a few tips highlighted below to help to check whether your VPN works. 

A logless VPN

The VPN must be a no-logs provider and not store any user data. 

Device compatibility and connections 

Must be compatible with your device. As mentioned above, if you have a particular streaming or gaming device that you like to use regularly, make sure the VPN offers apps for it, or an alternative set up method. Choose one that is compatible with multiple operating systems and one that allows multi-device connections. 

Bypass ISP throttling 

Fast speeds are crucial. A VPN won’t automatically increase your speeds, but will help bypass ISP throttling, which is the reason why your speeds are restricted in the first place and procures unlimited bandwidth. 

How to check if your VPN is working

Now, there are other problems around why a VPN can’t aid in accessing some content, websites or services. Most of the time, it is to do with your VPN not working. Here are a few issues you might notice while connected to a VPN:

• When you connect to a particular server, for example the US server, and you can’t unblock any US based services. It means your VPN isn’t working. However, check other servers to see if they work. 
• A couple of VPN features aren’t doing their job properly, for instance, the Kill Switch or the Split Tunneling feature. 
• Or your traffic and data is still being exposed to third-party websites or even your internet service provider. 

 The number one way to check whether your VPN is working is by conducting a few tests. For this, you will need to issue a leak test. When you connect to a VPN by connecting to one of its servers, you’re basically shielding your physical IP with a new one. 

This new VPN server will then be the reason you have access to foreign or otherwise restricted content. But, if your data leaks, your IP will be exposed and you are then back to square one. 

Here are a few tests you can use to make sure your VPN works: 

• First, conduct a few leak tests. You will need to test the VPN for IP, DNS and webRTC leaks. There are a couple of websites you can use. I ran a couple of tests on ipleak.org, dnsleaktest.com, and browserleaks.com. First, record your physical IP without the VPN, then connect to a VPNs server, and go to the websites mentioned and check if the IP address changed. If it changed, your VPN is working and is not leaking. 
• You can also run a few speed tests. Record your speeds of your internet on speedtest.net, and then check it again after connecting to a server. Your speeds should not exceed lower than 25-26Mbps. 
• If you’re still getting warning signs from platforms like Netflix, then your VPN is leaking. However, it sometimes depends on the server you’re connected to. Some VPN IP addresses are often blacklisted. Try another one and see the results. 

To conclude 

A VPN does help with bypassing online restrictions and allows access to geo-blocked and geo-restricted content. However, as mentioned above, it also depends on what VPN service you’re choosing. By following the testing process and a few other pointers from the guide above, you should be able to successfully unblock any service you want from anywhere in the world, using a VPN. The results always vary, so make sure you keep switching servers to know which ones works the best for you