How to get an American IP Address from Anywhere

Bernard Hastings | Last Updated:

Technical Writer

Let’s face it, a US IP address is like a goldmine these days. From non-US residents looking to access US Netflix or the Amazon Prime USA library, all the way through to American expats and vacationers in search of a way to access their bank accounts back home, nearly everyone has a need for a US IP address nowadays. And why not? With one, you can bypass all geo-restricted services and websites of probably the world’s richest country in terms of online content. Such a big flex!

So, how do you get a US IP address when you’re outside of the shores of the US? By using a Virtual Private Network, otherwise known as a VPN. For every lock, there’s always a key, and a VPN is the most effective key to unblock geo-locks. It’s able to do that by replacing your real IP address with a US IP address, deceiving websites and services into believing that you’re connecting from the United States. The process is not as complicated as it sounds, trust us. Just read on as we break the whole procedure into bits.

QUICK START GUIDE: how to get an American IP Address to unblock content:

A VPN probably sounds like an advanced tool meant for computer gurus, but its usage is as effortless as it gets. If you’re looking to unblock American content but not sure where to start from, just follow the following easy steps;

  • Get a VPN subscription from a reputable provider. We like NordVPN because of their huge global server count.
  • Download the provider’s VPN client for your device.
  • Install the app and sign in with your login credentials.
  • Connect to a server located in the United States.
  • Start enjoying unrestricted access to US content.

Our recommendations for getting an American IP Address

The market is not in shortage of VPN services these days, but not every VPN out there can be relied on. In this section, we have reviewed the two services we trust the most.

NordVPN – massive server network

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  • Supported Devices:
Money-back guarantee: 30 Days

At a time when a reliable VPN service is becoming increasingly difficult to come by, NordVPN is positively different, guaranteeing a level of reliability that its rivals can only dream of. In total, the provider has more than 5400 servers worldwide, with 1970 being in the United States alone. Obviously, the US enjoys the bulk of NordVPN’s focus, giving users an unlimited number of options for US IP addresses.

NordVPN is also renowned for its incredible streaming abilities. With more than 60 countries covered, the service’s server network is one of the most diversified, so the service is able to unblock popular streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and more. It’s also a big bonus that NordVPN comes with Nordlynx, which is the company’s unique optimized-for-speed protocol. This ensures you don’t experience buffering as you enjoy your favorite shows.

Furthermore, the service is headquartered in Panama – a country that has nothing to do with either the 5 Eyes or the 14 Eyes. This means the provider is able to operate without worrying about an impending visit from law enforcements. As such, you can do whatever you want on the internet and be sure that NordVPN won’t divulge your personal information to government agencies.

Security-wise, there’s no getting past the measures the provider has put in place. Apart from supporting the world’s most reliable IKEv2/IPsec and OpenVPN protocols, the VPN service also employs military-grade AES 256-bit encryption. Bear in mind that this is the same grade of encryption adopted by NASA and the world’s biggest security firms. Consequently, nobody can ever intercept or steal your data.

Finally, it’s nice to know that NordVN cares deeply for its customers. The company runs a 24/7 live-chat support, which means even if you need them in the middle of the night, they will be there to help out. There’re also multiple support channels, attending to the unique preferences of every user. However, if you end up not liking NordVPN, you can request for a refund within the first 30 days of your subscription.

NordVPN Prices:

Below are the latest NordVPN subscription prices, current as at April 2024:

  • 1 Month: $11.95
  • 1 Year: $4.92 (Save 58%)
  • 2 Years: $3.67 (3 Months Free + Save 69%)

Note: All prices are in USD, and are Per Month.

NordVPN Summer Deal - April 2024: sign-up for a 2 Year Plan, get 3 months free, and save a huge 51% off the regular monthly price! WIth this deal you end up paying a very low $3.99 per month. Bargain! Head over to NordVPN now to check out their fantastic Summer Deal while it's still on!

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ExpressVPN – super-fast speeds

view functionality and pricing info for ExpressVPN
  • Supported Devices:
Money-back guarantee: 30 Days

While most people fell in love with ExpressVPN because of its blazing speeds, the VPN service offers a lot more than high speeds. For instance, it has more than 3000 servers across more than 160 locations worldwide. This is really impressive, especially when you take into account that the service also covers 94 countries, which represents the highest number of countries covered by any VPN provider.

Like many privacy-oriented companies, ExpressVPN is also based in the British Virgin Island, far away from the jurisdiction of privacy-invading and intelligence-sharing coalitions. In addition to the safe location, ExpressVPN also maintains a genuine no-logging policy. In the policy, the provider unequivocally states that it doesn’t store the data of any user, which means even if things change in the country and the government suddenly becomes invasive, there’ll be nothing to hand over to law enforcements.

Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN is also a good choice for streaming, not only for its super-fast service, but also for its large server distribution. Even if you’re looking to stream a South African channel, you will find a server in the country. It’s also calming to know that the provider leaves nothing to chance when it comes to security, safeguarding their customers data with strong protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2, as well as the ever-reliable AES 256-bit encryption.

ExpressVPN Deal - April 2024: sign-up for a 1 Year Plan, and pay only $8.32 per month. That's a whopping 35% Discount off the regular monthly price! Head over to ExpressVPN now to take advantage of this hot deal!

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Why Would Anyone Want a US IP Address?

A US IP address comes with many benefits, and opens you up to an endless number of possibilities. For US expats, it allows them to stay connected to home by giving them access to US-only channels. It also allows them to retain access to their US bank accounts online.

For non-US citizens, it allows them to access US-only content. Imagine having access to the biggest Netflix library in the world that is the American Netflix, while residing in an entirely different continent. You can also unblock Hulu, which is a streaming service that is strictly for the United States.

Besides, most people like staying atop of happenings in the United States, due to the country’s gargantuan status as a world power. A US IP address allows them to keep up with major news outlets and stay updated with occurrences in the world’s most powerful country.

Gamers can also reap benefits from having a US IP address. For instance, it means you will always have access to downloadable games as soon as they are released. Not only that, but you would get access to new games that are only available in the United States.

Sport lovers will also be able to watch major sports channels like ESPN and keep up with popular events like the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, and Major League Baseball.

Is there any alternative to a VPN?

While the most effective tool to bypass geo-restrictions is a VPN, it has an alternative – proxy server. There are both freemium and premium proxy servers, but we don’t recommend any of them. Of course, they are capable of bypassing geo-restrictions, but they offer no security benefits whatsoever.

That means no split tunneling, no kill switch, and no encryption protocols. As you would expect, they don’t have a no-logging policy either. If you utilize a proxy server, nothing will stop a third party from accessing your data. For instance, your internet service provider will still be able to see your activity, despite using a proxy server. They will also see the streaming services you’re accessing.

Finally, it’s super easy for anyone to detect your IP address with a proxy server. Needless to say, this is not good for security reasons. Our advice? Don’t use proxy servers to bypass geo-restrictions. Instead, keep things safe and use a VPN. While also not recommended, free VPNs are even better than proxy servers. At least, they provide security benefits and promise to protect your privacy.

How does a VPN protect you?

Apart from helping you to unblock geo-blocked websites, a VPN is also an important tool for digital security. The tool is designed to encrypt your data, thereby preventing hackers and fraudsters from intercepting or stealing your data. With a VPN on your phone or computer, all your messages, banking details, browser history, and personal details will be concealed from potential snoopers.

It should also be said that your connection is private at all times, and there is a compatible client for most major platforms. So, you can use it on your laptop, desktop computer, smartphone, or tablet. With identity theft and cybercrime becoming increasingly prevalent these days, there’s nothing wrong in seeking protection from the best security tools.

PRIVACY ALERT: Websites you visit can see your current IP Address:

  • Your IP Address: 3.140.186.241
  • Your Location: Dublin, US
  • Your Internet Provider: Amazon.com, Inc.

* Scammers, Governments, and Advertisers can use this information to track and target you.

Our recommended vpn service provider for general all-round internet security and online privacy is NordVPN. It offers an excellent selection of online security and internet privacy features, excellent speed, and the ability to unblock your favorite streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer).

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Categories: IP Address

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Our Testing Process

  1. Security
  2. No-Logs Policies
  3. Speed
  4. Streaming
  5. Torrenting
  6. Censorship
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