Are you an American expat living outside the United States? Having trouble accessing your bank accounts and local streaming services? Perhaps you’re somebody from outside the US and want to get a taste of all the greatness the USA has on offer online. Sadly, plenty of the US’s digital services are geo-restricted. That means you will not be able to access any of them unless you currently reside in the US. To get around this, all you need is an American IP address.
Getting an American IP address spoofs your location to the United States (virtually). With this change, you’ll be able to use what Americans use in terms of online content. In this guide, we’ve included the best way to obtain an American IP address and the best VPNs for the task according to our strict evaluation process.
We’ve divided the guide below into two main parts. A quick guide on how to switch your IP address is first. If you need more info on how the whole process works, we advise you to keep reading after you’re done with the initial setup.
Get an American IP Address outside the US in 5 Minutes
Time needed: 5 minutes
With the help of a VPN app, you can mask your real IP address and appear to be browsing the web from the US of A within minutes. Here’s how anybody can obtain an American IP address:
First, sign up with a VPN provider that has VPN servers in the USA.
A Virtual Private Network is the ultimate location spoofing tool and the easiest way to obtain different IP addresses around the world. Once you connect to a server, the VPN will encrypt your data and enhance your online security.
With military-grade encryption, no malicious entity can figure out what data you’re sending or receiving online. Moreover, the VPN hides your true IP address, which convinces many geo-blocked websites that you are inside their coverage territory.
For example, if you connect to an American server, you’ll receive a US IP address. As a result, you’ll trick American streaming channels into thinking that you reside in the States, granting you full access to their content in the process.
In other words, a VPN acts as a US IP address generator.
Rank
VPN Provider
Features
Links
Best for streaming and privacy
High speed servers in 160 VPN locations
Works for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu
Changing your IP address, in general, has its benefits. First, you get to browse the web anonymously. Second, you get to spoof your location and appear anywhere else in the world.
But why is a US IP address so important? In fact, an American IP is practically the most popular IP address to get online for several reasons. You have no idea what you’ll be able to do when you obtain one. Take a look:
Bypassing Geo-restrictions
The first reason would be geo-restrictions. The United States is a country that hosts the largest number of streaming services in the world.
You name it, US Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO, ABC GO, Sling TV, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and so many more. However, these channels are geo-blocked outside the United States.
They use geo-blocking, in which they restrict your access based on the country you reside in. These channels can determine your location by looking at your IP address.
If it’s not American, you’re not getting in. Let’s give you an example. Hulu is an American channel that only works with US IP addresses.
If anyone’s traffic is coming from outside the States, this geo-error will appear:
“This video is not available to watch in your current location.”
Once you obtain an American IP address, this geo-error message will cease to exist. You’ll find out how you can do so later on in the article.
The American Services
In case you’re wondering what a US IP address can get you when you’re abroad, here are a few American channels:
Netflix (US)
Hulu
Amazon Prime (US)
Disney+ (US)
Sling TV
HBO Now
HBO Go
CW TV
Cinemax
AMC
USTV Now
Cartoon Network
Comedy Central
Fubo TV
Adult Swim
Avoid Blackouts
American sports fans have suffered for years from blackouts. Blackout restrictions mean that you can not stream your favorite MLB, NFL, NHL, MLS, or NBA team due to the fact their games are being broadcasted by your local cable provider.
As we mentioned, changing your IP address will spoof your location even if you reside in the same country. When you connect to a VPN server in a region where the game is not being televised, you’ll be able to watch it through the official streaming service.
Here’s what a blackout restriction looks like (We used NHL.TV as an example):
“Your selection is not currently available in NHL.TV due to local or national blackout restrictions. The full-length replay will be made available after 48 hours.”
A VPN can trick US sports streaming channels into thinking you currently reside in a state where the game is not blacked out, which ensures how important getting a US IP address is.
Increase Online Privacy
Whether you know it or not, Google, Facebook, your local government, and even your Internet service provider is constantly monitoring what you are doing online.
This includes which devices you are using, sites you are visiting, and files you are downloading. When you use a VPN, you get to encrypt all of your Internet traffic. Thus, keep those prying eyes away.
Best VPN to Get American IP Address
There are lots of VPN service providers you can use to change your IP address. What you should look out for is a VPN that has lots of VPN servers in the United States. Here are the best VPN service providers you can use to get a US IP address abroad.
ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands. Its server range includes up to 2000 servers worldwide, including 20 locations in the US. You can’t imagine how easy it is to obtain a US IP address with this VPN provider.
In addition, ExpressVPN protects your device and personal data with 256-bit AES encryption.
If you run into any trouble while operating with its client, you can contact their customer support team through live messaging and they’ll respond quickly.
You can use ExpressVPN in highly censored countries and it’ll work just fine. It also supports 5 simultaneous connected devices.
As for security protocols. you can choose between OpenVPN, SSTP, PTPP, L2TP/IPSec as well as IKEv2.
The service also employs a strict zero-logging policy, which is pretty great for people who cherish their online privacy. Finally, ExpressVPN allows you to test their service out courtesy of their 30-day refund policy.
A VPN like BulletVPN takes your device’s online experience to another level. You’ll be getting an unlimited bandwidth along with superior security protocols, some of which aren’t found in the rest of the providers on our list.
The service is based in Estonia; a country with no data retention laws. Most importantly, it’s out of the reach of the Five Eyes Alliance.
The provider has more than 100 servers across 54 countries, which is a great number compared to what the others have to offer. We’re looking for a US IP address and BulletVPN has more than 15 servers in the United States.
BulletVPN protects user data using 256-bit AES encryption, and it’s one of the few VPNs that work in highly censored countries such as China.
It has amazing speeds and a very professional customer support team. When we contacted them, they answered each and every question we had for them.
With five security protocols, BulletVPN ensures total security and anonymity. Finally, the provider allows 6 simultaneous connections and provides a 30-day refund policy as a way out if the service didn’t live up to your expectations.
To get a US IP address, you must connect to an American server, and Surfshark has dozens of those in the country.
Once connected, your IP will be changed and Surfshark will protect your data using military-grade encryption. Not only that, but it also enhances your privacy using top-level features such as CleanWeb, Double VPN, as well as its automatic kill switch.
Having a US IP address might be the way to access American channels. However, this is not the case with any VPN. Surfshark made sure it optimizes its servers and its entire platform to bypass VPN bans applied by the channels.
With any connection, you get to access the likes of Hulu, US Netflix, and Amazon Prime wherever you may be.
Pros
Huge server network
P2P support
Military-grade encryption.
Unlimited simultaneous connections.
Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, and other top US channels.
Unlocator is based in Denmark, which raises a few questions about its privacy policy. In case you don’t know, Denmark is part of the 9-eyes, a global extension to the Five Eyes Alliance.
The service is quite small compared to the others on our list, granting users access to servers in around 41 countries. These servers are fast, but we witnessed a couple of speed drops while connected to some of them.
As for obtaining a US IP address, Unlocator doesn’t fare too well in terms of options. It only has 3 servers in the United States, which pales in comparison to what the others offer.
Unlocator applies 256-bit AES encryption, provides a kill switch, and users Unlocator Shield for an extra layer of privacy, preventing users from accessing the internet if they’re not connected to the VPN.
Their customer support is very good. Although the provider has set up guides for almost everything, their support team can help you out via live chat.
Finally, the service allows five simultaneous connections and provides a 7-day free trial (No credit card needed). Once that is done, you can continue trying out their service with their 30-day refund policy.
NordVPN offers a lot of features once you subscribe to their service. The service is based in Panama, where privacy is well respected.
This VPN has a wide range of servers around the world, including 15 in the United States. This allows you to bypass regional restrictions and access hundreds of channels no matter where you reside.
Moreover, some servers are optimized for specific duties. You’ll find blazing fast and secure servers for streaming, torrenting, and online gaming.
It boosts your security with high-level encryptions. Not to mention that it allows you to connect to two servers instead of one. This technology is called Double VPN and it encrypts user data not once, but twice.
NordVPN’s customer support is available 24/7, so whenever an issue needs to be solved, they’re there to fix it. We had a couple of questions and they helped us out without a problem.
Other than that, NordVPN allows 6 simultaneous connections. Finally, the provider has a 30-day refund policy in case you change your mind before opting for a long-term subscription.
Pros
Servers in 62 countries
Allows P2P actions
Military-grade encryption.
Six simultaneous connections.
Supports Netflix, Hulu, and other top US channels.
Kill Switch.
Smart DNS feature (SmartPlay).
User-friendly apps.
Browser extensions.
30-day refund policy.
Cons
Some slow servers.
No free trial.
No split tunneling.
Getting an American IP Abroad FAQ
Here’s a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about US IP addresses.
Can I get an American IP Address without a VPN?
You can use Smart DNS proxies instead of a VPN to access US-only sites and apps. Keep in mind though that using a VPN is safer and more issues-free.
Can I get a US IP Address for free?
There are some free VPNs out there you might use to obtain an American IP from overseas, but we generally encourage our reasons not to resort to those free services. The reason behind this is that they’re generally very limited and can even be potentially unsafe to use.
Where can I get a username and password for an American VPN server?
In order to get the username and password for a specific VPN server, you first need to sign up with a VPN service that owns that server. Most VPN services allow for multiple simultaneous VPN connections. Therefore, you can share the same VPN account with friends and family.
Is Geo-Spoofing actually legal?
In most countries, it is perfectly legal to use a VPN. Some regions even encourage their netizens to take extra measures to protect their online security/privacy.
Can I use a VPN to get a US IP on all of my devices?
A VPN helps you get an American IP address with all VPN-compatible platforms. This includes your PC, Mac, Android smartphones and TVs, iPhone, iPad, and even Amazon Fire TV Stick.
For other devices, such as your Apple TV, PS4/PS5, Xbox, Smart TV (LG, Samsung), Roku, and Chromecast, you can either configure VPN on your router or use Smart DNS instead.
How to Change IP Address to USA with VPN
The whole process of getting an American IP address should not take longer than 5 minutes. Once you have installed the VPN app on your device, you can change your IP address to literally anywhere in the world in seconds. For more information on the top VPNs, you can use to get an American IP address, make sure you check out the best VPN for the US.
Streaming gadgets geek. Interested in every little thing there is to know about bypassing regional restrictions. An avid believer in the right to protect online privacy. Charles has also reviewed plenty of VPN service providers and knows how to separate the good apples from the bad ones.
Hello,
I want to order from a website in the US. When I try to make the order it says that I can’t because I’m not from the US. Do you think that changing the VPN will help?
Thank you.
Hi
A VPN is a good thing, bus servíices like Netflix have developed huge databases and check for DNS’s that have great demand or are widely used, thus concluding it’s a VPN server and they block them.
It’s annoying. We pay US bucks , our accounts are in the US, and once we travel,abroad we are done
There must be another way to work around this get blocking.
Hello,
I want to order from a website in the US. When I try to make the order it says that I can’t because I’m not from the US. Do you think that changing the VPN will help?
Thank you.
Hello Ed. Yes, getting a US IP address will allow you to order from an American website.
Hi
A VPN is a good thing, bus servíices like Netflix have developed huge databases and check for DNS’s that have great demand or are widely used, thus concluding it’s a VPN server and they block them.
It’s annoying. We pay US bucks , our accounts are in the US, and once we travel,abroad we are done
There must be another way to work around this get blocking.