These days, streaming is replacing cable TV as America’s go-to entertainment avenue. But there’s a small catch.
Sometimes you might find that your favorite movie or show isn’t on your local Sling TV or Hulu. In these cases, you might think you’re out of luck. But that’s not the case and VPNs (Virtual Private Network) can solve your problems.
For example, say if you want to host a Harry Potter marathon. If you’re on American Netflix, you won’t find any of the movies in the Netflix library. But, with a VPN, all you need to do is set your country to Germany then you can go on that 20-hour trip to the Wizarding World.
But with how much freedom VPNs give, you might ask if they’re legal.
So, we check the legalities of using VPNs in this guide.
Real Talk: Are VPNs Legal?
The answer to this isn’t so straightforward; it’s both yes and no. Depending on where you live, they might technically be illegal. Since VPNs work by masking your IP address, certain governments tend to take issue with that.
So, let’s check out whether or not VPNs are legal in your country.
VPNs in the US are Legal
If you’re living in the US, well, you’re in luck. There’s no restriction about using VPNs in the US, regardless of which state you’re living in. Regardless of use, you get to enjoy your VPN-filled life. Need less lag for the game you’re playing? No worries, just use the VPN to switch your IP to a country closer to where the game hosts its servers.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to watch some content on your favorite streaming platform? No worries. All you need to do is do a quick Google search for which country currently hosts the series or movie you’re looking to watch. After that, just switch on your VPN to the best server in the aforementioned country—then you’re good to go.
If you’re living in the US, you have nothing to worry about regarding VPNs.
VPNs in Certain Countries are Illegal
On the other hand, if you’re living in China—you’re out of luck. The Chinese government outlaws the use of VPNs. Because their ISPs (Internet Service Providers) block certain websites (Google, Youtube, and Facebook, to name a few), a VPN can bypass these region blocks. Therefore, the government restricts VPN usage.
Other countries that restrict VPN usage include Russia, the UAE, Belarus, Oman, North Korea, and Iraq.
Do Streaming Platforms Restrict VPN Usage?
There’s a complicated relationship when it comes to VPNs and streaming services. For instance, Netflix has restrictions to try and stop VPNs from working.
However, there’s no strict policy against using a VPN. So, if your preferred VPN can bypass the Netflix restrictions, you’re free to enjoy all your geo-blocked content. In addition, you won’t get your account banned for using a VPN.
However, there’s a catch: low-quality VPNs cannot bypass streaming platform restrictions. So, if you’re on a VPN that comes preinstalled with a browser, you’re probably unable to ignore geo-blocking. But a high-quality VPN won’t give you any issues.
A good VPN can easily access all geo-blocked content. Then, if you’re interested in watching every movie or series you desire, investing in a high-quality VPN can get you what you need.
Our Pick for Best VPN: ExpressVPN
Now that you know the ins and outs of the legalities of VPN usage let’s talk about what VPN can best fit your needs. And, as far as we’re concerned, ExpressVPN is the only choice. After all, sites like PCMag and US News rank ExpressVPN as their #1 VPN service.
Let’s examine what ExpressVPN can offer you.
Has Lightning Fast Speeds
Users with an ExpressVPN subscription can expect speeds averaging about 475Mbps. For reference, the average internet speed across the globe amounts to 42.8Mbps. That means, if you’re on ExpressVPN, you’ll never experience any slowdowns.
You’ll probably experience a speed bottleneck on a lower-quality VPN while watching content. That translates to a lousy viewing experience. For instance, if you’re watching a movie while connected to a poor VPN, you’ll experience a lot of buffering or a blurry, low-resolution stream.
With ExpressVPN, you won’t experience any speed degradation—unless you’re on a gigabit internet connection. That means stream quality won’t be a concern while connected to ExpressVPN. For instance, watching a 4K stream of a foreign film won’t be an issue.
All in all, ExpressVPN will give you unhindered speeds, which won’t cause interruptions while streaming.
Extensive Server Coverage
The other limiting part about VPNs is the number of servers available. If the content you’re looking to watch is unavailable, you’ll need a server in a country that hosts the content.
But with ExpressVPN, you’ve got almost nothing to worry about. ExpressVPN has 3000 servers across 94 different countries. Thanks to their diverse server list, you’ll rarely get locked out from geo-blocked content.
When you use ExpressVPN, you’re getting a stellar service with nigh-unlimited access to almost every content available globally.
Use a VPN to Support Your Streaming Habit
Streaming is your gateway to almost the world’s entire library of movies and tv shows. But specific content might be locked behind country restrictions. And if your favorite film is behind region locks, streaming that movie will be impossible.
However, a VPN can help solve the issue—and ExpressVPN is one of the best choices for that.
Thanks to ExpressVPN, missing a movie or show due to geo-restrictions won’t be an issue. So what are you waiting for? Use a VPN and enjoy streaming movies to your heart’s content.
And if you’re interested in looking up other potential VPNs for streaming, you can read about it in our Ultimate Guide to VPNs.
