Want to cut straight to the chase? The best VPNs for Blocked Website right now are NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
Are you wondering why you’re unable to access certain websites? GDPR is what is responsible for most of the difficulties people face when trying to access their favorite websites. What is GDPR, we suggest you want to know.
Well, GDPR is an acronym that stands for General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679. It’s a legal framework enacted in EU law to regulate how personal information is collected and processed from individuals living in the European Union. By this law, all EU visitors are expected to have several data disclosures.
The whole rationale behind the introduction of GDPR is to provide protection for data belonging to European Union citizens and residents. Invariably, this law transcends EU countries alone and applies to all countries that handle EU-related data and this is what is known as the “Extra-territorial effect”.
Why You Need A VPN For Blocked Websites?
When we talk about blocked websites, most people get confused as to why certain websites will want to restrict access to their services. The reasons vary but in most cases what is responsible for most people’s inability to access their favorite websites is because they are blocked by GDPR. For some companies, the reason you haven’t been able to access the reasons is either they haven’t updated their privacy rules or aren’t ready to update them. And to avoid huge fines that accrue from this default, most of such companies resorted to restricting EU visitors’ access to their websites. Examples of websites that are involved in this act include companies providing gaming and news services, among others. You will find the likes of A&E, the Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, Instapaper, Tungle, New York Daily News, etc. in the list of websites that block EU visitors’ access to their websites.
So if you’re living in any of the countries belonging to the EU comity of nations where this law is applicable, you’re most likely not going to be able to access certain blocked websites. And to bypass the blockade, you’ll need a VPN. Hence the question is how you can determine which VPN is best for blocked websites. In this article, we’ll let you into our roundups of the best VPNs for accessing any site blocked by GDPR.
But before we jump into our list of the top VPNs for blocked websites, let’s cover the specifics: how to choose the right VPN for blocked websites.
What Makes The Best VPN For Blocked Websites
As you’re set to choose the best VPN for getting around the blockade imposed by GDPR over your favorite websites, there are some factors you must consider. Here are those factors we advise you don’t joke with:
- Availability of excellent and active customer support
- Availability of a large number of server locations outside the EEA (European Economic Area)
- Strong unblocking potential for blocked websites or content
- Blazing-fast connection speeds that you can trust any day any time you need it
- Formidable and reliable encryption features
- Strict zero-logging policy
4 Easy Steps to Access a Blocked Website
If you’re wondering how you can set up a VPN for accessing a blocked website, here are the simple and easy-to-follow steps for you:
- Purchase one of the VPNs on our list above
- Download a VPN of your choice and install the software on your favorite device
- Select a server outside the EEA and connect to it
- Go ahead and start accessing your favorite websites
Is Using a VPN For Sites Blocked BY GDPR Illegal?
If staying out of trouble is your utmost concern, you most likely want to know this before starting to use a VPN for a blocked website. The truth is generally using a VPN to access blocked sites isn’t illegal. Although this may violate the terms and conditions of service of some websites it can only lead to your account being deactivated or your subscription is suspended if you’re caught. But there has not been any case of someone being prosecuted for using a VPN for blocked websites. However, you must stay away from using your VPN for illicit activities such as stealing other people’s copyrighted material or engaging in illegal transactions on the net. In that case, you’re likely to face the wrath of the law if caught.
Some countries like Russia, North Korea, China, and Iran have high-censored internet regulations. If you’re living in any of these countries you must be ready to stay within the law by minding what you use your VPN for. Stay away from hate speech or sharing of any content that can incite the citizens against the government or arouse violence against the society. By following all these tips, you wouldn’t get into trouble using a VPN.
Why Using a VPN is Important?
A VPN comes in handy for many reasons and these include:
- Helping you to get around all sorts of geographical restrictions
- Hiding your real IP address and location
- Ability to access blocked websites
- Enhancing your online security and privacy while browsing the internet
Best VPN For Blocked Websites
| Brand | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. ExpressVPN | $12.95/month | Fast connection speed |
| 2. NordVPN | $3.29/month | Stability |
| 3. IPVanish | $3.95/month | Security |
#1 ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is, without doubt, one of the VPN services out there that offer blazing-fast connection speed with strong encryption and enhanced online privacy. There is no way our roundup of the best VPNs for blocked websites would be complete without mentioning ExpressVPN even if we don’t have to consider any feature other than the global server coverage that it offers thereby making it easy for their users to access any geo-blocked content or websites from any location in the world.
Apart from being compatible with major platforms such as Windows, Android, Linux, etc., this provider has a vast network of servers spanning 94 countries and all the servers are capable of unblocking blocked websites due to the GDPR. And most importantly, you can have a smooth browsing experience while enjoying the fast speed of the browser at the same time. This feature alone is an additional perk that’s worth mentioning.
The provider’s unblocking ability works well with all sorts of geo-blocks including streaming sites like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, HBO, and Hulu. Not only does this provider offer their users excellent customer support with a 30-day money-back guarantee policy to try out the software, they also provide detailed guides on how you can manually set up the VPN or go about the router configuration.
ExpressVPN takes digital security and privacy to another level by using military-grade 256-bit encryption with perfect forward secrecy, a built-in kill switch as well as DNS leak protection. Another good thing about this service provider is that they don’t monitor or store user’s online activity. However, they do retain some metadata but that doesn’t include your IP address. ExpressVPN is one of our top picks when it comes to choosing a VPN that lets you maintain your privacy online and, in that, it allows you to make payment using a Bitcoin payment option.
Above all, this VPN service allows up to 5 simultaneous connections on a single plan. This is a big bonus for people looking for a way to save few bucks off the extra fee for connecting extra devices to your server. Even if you don’t feel OK with the 5 devices limit and still want to add extra devices, you can connect more devices using an ExpressVPN-supported router.
Pros
- A large number of server locations
- Excellent connection speeds
- Ability to unblock blocked websites and streaming services
- Cross-platform functional apps
Cons
- A bit expensive billing plan
- A relatively smaller number of simultaneous connections
Get started with ExpressVPN today.
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#2 NordVPN
NordVPN made it on our list for so many reasons. Apart from being one of the VPNs you can trust for massive global server locations, it also has stable and fast connection speeds you’ll ever need to have an uninterrupted browsing experience with accessing blocked websites. The best part of this VPN is its ability to beat the detection radar of GDPR.
With a vast network of over 5,400 servers distributed strategically in over 59 countries, this provider doesn’t only make it easy for you to bypass the GDPR’s blockade, it also offers you a wide variety of server options both inside and outside of the EU. Plus, most of the provider’s servers are optimized for streaming geo-blocked sites like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.
NordVPN’sconnection speeds are fast enough for HD streaming and other activities like playing games, sharing files, streaming video or music.
The provider aced our test on digital security and, in that, all their connections are well-secured with 256-bit AES encryption, perfect forward secrecy, automatic kill switch, and DNS leak protection. As for the kill switch, we find this feature especially important in any VPN as it guarantees your connection is protected from the spying eyes of hackers. And in a situation where you have a connection drop, the kill switch freezes your connection to stall any attempt by hackers to breach your network.
Additionally, NordVPN’s automatic WiFi protection feature comes in handy for connecting to the server on the go. The good thing about this feature is that it helps you secure your network from being accessed by hackers.
Most interestingly, the fact that NordVPN is based in Panama works enormously in its favor and, in that, it allows them to maintain a zero-logs policy, meaning they don’t store your records.
Moreover, this provider accepts anonymous payment options like Bitcoin. This is to further ensure your payment information remains completely safe and private.
On top of that, NordVPN has native apps for Windows, Android, and Android TV platforms, macOS, iOS, and Linux. Plus, you can use the VPN on Chrome and Firefox browser extensions.
Although NordVPN allows only 6 simultaneous connections, you can extend the connection by using NordVPN-supported routers. And lastly, the service has a 30-day money-back guarantee for you to test out all the features involved in the service. And, if for any reason you don’t like what you get, you can simply ask for a full refund – no question asked.
Pros
- Extremely fast for browsing the internet
- Compatible with popular device platforms
- Maintains zero-logs policy
- Affordable price offers
- Stellar privacy and security
- Anonymous payment option
- Allows up to 6 simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Doesn’t No way to select a specific server city
Get started with NordVPN today.
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#3 IPVanish
IPVanish is known for being one of the reputable and respectable VPN services in the industry with massive global server coverage and strong digital security across all its servers. Unlike most VPN services, this provider has total control over all of its VPN servers thereby guaranteeing users the privacy of their information and eliminating all worries about whether or not the provider will share users’ information with third parties or government agencies should they demand that information.
With over 1,500 self-owned and operated servers dispersed in over 55 strategic countries across the globe, this VPN service provider has a wide range of connection options to choose from. Not only you’ll be able to explore these enormous connection options but you can also bypass the GDPR’s VPN detection abilities by leveraging this provider’s obfuscation feature that lets you mask your VPN traffic thereby making it appear as real internet traffic.
You can connect as many devices simultaneously as possible to this VPN’s server using one single subscription. And one of the good things about this is that it lets you save a few bucks and lets you provide security for all your devices whether at home or on the go.
When it comes to connection speed, we may not conclude this provider is the best but its speeds are at par with most of the VPNs available on the market. And, in fact, its speeds are fast enough for you to browse any website and stream your favorite content online.
With 256-bit AES encryption and kill switch features, IPVanish’s connections are well encrypted to prevent hackers and snoops from accessing your data. To further enhance the connection security of the server, IPVanish provides users with other security protocols like OpenVPN, PPTP protocols, and L2TP/IPSec protocols, among others.
One of the key reasons you want to use a VPN for browsing the internet is so you can keep your online activity private. IPVanish maintains a zero-logs policy and, by this, it means they don’t store your logs and, as such, there wouldn’t be any data to share with third parties or government authorities should they ask for one. The best part of this VPN service is that it allows you to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously on a single subscription. Plus, you can add extra devices using IPVanish-compatible routers thereby having all your devices protected while surfing your favorite website.
Furthermore, the provider has native apps for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and Amazon Fire TV Stick platforms. And last but not least, this provider offers other amazing benefits like unlimited bandwidth, anonymous torrenting, unlimited traffic, and a zero-traffic logs policy. On top of all that, you can rely on this provider for 24/7 excellent customer support should you have any issue with using the VPN software. However, the refund window of this provider is relatively shorter when compared to other providers. And, in that, they offer only a 7-day money-back guarantee policy.
Pros
- Total control and ownership over their servers, thereby making it easy for them to guarantee you’re the safety and privacy of your data.
- Multi-platform functional and user-friendly native apps
- Solid and reliable connection encryption
- Allows simultaneous connections of multiple devices on a single plan
Cons
- Doesn’t support installation on browser extensions
- Doesn’t have an anonymous payment option like Bitcoin, etc.
Get started with IPVanish today.