Streaming While Traveling: How to Bypass Beo-Blocks
While traveling abroad, you might want to take a break from intense exploring by relaxing with your favorite shows and movies. But, you will most likely be greeted with a disappointing message that your streaming service is unavailable in that country. For that, you can say a sarcastic “thank you” to geo-blocks.
They are a massive buzzkill that prevents access to content depending on your location. Luckily, there is an easy way to trick streaming services and enjoy whatever you want on your computer, phone, or tablet while traveling.
So, we’ll guide you through the exciting world of streaming and how to avoid those pesky geo-blocks. We’ll recommend the best tools that will let you enjoy your favorite shows and movies during your downtime.
What are geo-blocks?
To put it plainly, geographical restrictions, or geo-blocking, is a technology that is used to prevent access to content based on your whereabouts. It uses your IP address or GPS coordinates (if you’re using a mobile device) to determine if you’re in a location where the streaming service is available.
Copyright laws and broadcasting agreements are the culprits of geo-blocks. In addition, some countries might use geographical restrictions to block certain content for political or religious reasons. For instance, China, Russia, Venezuela, Pakistan, etc.
What streaming services have geo-blocks?
Essentially, almost all streaming services have geo-blocks. That is most noticeable with Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. While traveling, you’ll see that the content libraries will vary depending on your whereabouts. For example, The Office will be available on Netflix UK, but you won’t find it on the US version of the streaming service.
In addition, some streaming services will be completely inaccessible overseas. As mentioned above, it’s due to broadcasting and copyright agreements. Here are a few of the most popular services that are only available in specific locations:
BBC iPlayer: completely free, but only available in the UK;
YouTube TV: only available in the USA, but even then, the content will vary state-by-state;
Hulu: offers content in the US and Japan. However, they are entirely separate, so your American account won’t work there;
Max: it got separated from HBO Max, and now it’s only accessible if you’re in the US;
9Now: only travelers and locals in Australia can watch it.
So if you don’t want to miss the latest episode of Australian Survivor on 9Now or rewatch Rick and Morty on Hulu, you’ll need a reliable tool to punch through those annoying geo-blocks.
Best way to bypass geo-blocks while traveling
The ultimate weapon against geo-restrictions is a reliable Virtual Private Network (VPN). It’s an application that encrypts and anonymizes your traffic, making you safer online. However, in the case of streaming, the most crucial part is that a VPN can hide your real IP address and provide you with a new one in any part of the world.
That way, you can trick streaming platforms into believing that you are in the right location. So, wherever you might be, a VPN will let you enjoy your favorite shows and movies anywhere.
How to choose the right VPN for streaming while traveling?
The best VPN for streaming should have plenty of servers globally. That will help you unlock more content in various regions. Additionally, great speeds are essential if you want to avoid poor video quality and lagging. Therefore, we recommend choosing VPN services with the WireGuard tunneling protocol. Not to mention, it should have a proven track record of bypassing geo-blocks. While many VPNs claim they can avoid restrictions, users might argue otherwise. Therefore, check Reddit and other reputable sources.
Ideally, you’ll need a premium VPN that has all the right components. For example, many travelers recommend NordVPN or ExpressVPN, as they are the most popular and powerful virtual private networks. However, if you’re traveling on a budget and only have your Android phone with you, you can get the best free Android VPN. We recommend choosing freemium services as they are more secure and have better features compared to completely free VPNs.
Wrapping up
While geographical restrictions acted as a massive barrier in the past, now they are merely a minor nuisance. With a reliable virtual private network, you can easily change your IP address and trick streaming platforms. With a simple tap, you can transport yourself back to the comfort of your home, indulging in familiar shows, movies, and sports events no matter where your adventures take you.
Just don’t forget to do some research and find a VPN that fits your needs. Remember to check their reputation, speeds, server network, and overall reliability. So, get a paid or a free VPN for your device and stream while traveling trouble-free!
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