Can’t access a site? Websites can be blocked for various reasons. Some countries impose restrictions on specific sites. For example, India and Somalia have banned TikTok, and the BBC is banned in Russia.
Your employer or school administrators may also restrict access to certain websites (like social media platforms). And some streaming services are not available worldwide. For example, you can’t access Netflix from Russia or China, and you can’t access Hulu outside the U.S.
Being blocked from accessing a website can be frustrating. Thankfully, there’s a workaround — use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN allows you to bypass restrictions and access any blocked site. Here’s how to unblock websites from anywhere with a VPN:
- Sign up for a VPN. We recommend NordVPN: its unblocking capabilities and vast server network allow you to access blocked sites from anywhere.
- Download and install NordVPN on your device.
- Log in to the NordVPN app with the account details you used in Step 1.
- Connect to a VPN server in a country where the website you want to access isn’t blocked.
- Now, you can freely access previously blocked websites.
After testing different VPN services extensively, we found that NordVPN is the best choice for unblocking websites from anywhere. Besides its super-fast speeds and excellent unblocking capabilities, NordVPN’s obfuscation technology makes it impossible for anyone to detect you’re using a VPN to access restricted sites.
Continue reading for more detailed instructions on how to unblock websites from anywhere.
Do you find some sites blocked when you try to access them? Your employer or school administrators may be restricting access to sites (like social media, gambling, or porn sites) that can distract you or affect your productivity. Also, some websites — like online banking platforms or streaming services — may be inaccessible in countries where they don’t operate. Your internet service provider (ISP) may also be blocking some sites.
The easiest way to access a blocked website is by using a VPN. A VPN spoofs your location, making it appear like you’re in another city or country. This allows you to access previously blocked sites.
Unfortunately, not all VPNs can bypass restrictions and unblock websites. We’ve tested different VPNs to determine the best options for unblocking websites. And NordVPN emerged on top. Its fast speeds, vast server network, and unrivaled unblocking capabilities allow you to access any blocked site, regardless of your location. With NordVPN, you can unblock news sites, streaming sites, gaming sites, and virtually any type of online content — even if you’re in a country with strict internet censorship.
Below, we provide step-by-step instructions for unblocking websites from anywhere.
How to Unblock Websites From Anywhere
It’s not uncommon to stumble on inaccessible sites. For example, if you try to access BBC iPlayer from outside the UK, you will be greeted with an error message explaining that the service is only available in the UK.
There are many reasons a website may be inaccessible to you. But, regardless of the reason, there are three main ways to unblock websites.
1. Unblock websites from anywhere with a VPN
Using a virtual private network to unblock a site is easy, and it’s the most secure method. When you connect to a VPN, your internet traffic is routed through a secure third-party server. This gives you a new IP address, and, as a result, you’ll appear to be in a different location. When you connect to a VPN server in Paris, for example, any website you visit will assume you’re in France. This makes it possible to access blocked websites.
A VPN also encrypts your internet traffic, masking your private information and allowing you to bypass censorship and geo-restriction. Here’s how to unblock websites on any device.
- Get a NordVPN account: NordVPN has 6000+ servers in 61 countries. This means that you can access sites freely from any part of the world. NordVPN also has excellent unblocking abilities and can bypass different types of restrictions used by governments or at schools and workplaces.
NordVPNOur choiceDeal Save big with 69% off a two-year subscription + three months free!From$ 2.999.3- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
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- Download NordVPN on your device.
- Next, you will need to connect to a VPN server. If the website you’re trying to visit is unavailable in your country, connect to a server in another country where it’s available.
- Open an incognito or private browsing tab in your browser. This ensures the website data and cookies on your browser don’t reveal your location.
- Head to the website you’re trying to unblock. You should be able to access it now.
NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, you can use it to unblock websites for an entire month, risk-free.
2. Unblock websites from anywhere with a proxy
Another way to unblock websites and access content is via a web proxy site or by using a proxy server. Think of a proxy service as a “lite” version of a VPN. It routes your connection through a third-party server and changes your IP address. As a result, you will appear to be accessing the website from a different location. This allows you to browse previously blocked websites.
Compared to VPNs, proxies usually have smaller server networks. As a result, they may be unable to unblock sites that are restricted to particular countries. Also, network administrators in schools and workplaces can implement security policies and configurations that will limit your ability to use proxy servers.
Proxies can also slow down your internet connection more than VPNs since they tend to have limited bandwidth. A proxy doesn’t encrypt your traffic and is generally less secure than a VPN.
3. Unblock websites from anywhere with Smart DNS
Smart DNS tricks websites into believing you’re in a different location. It does this by masking the origin of your DNS queries. While Smart DNS does not change your IP address, it blocks any traffic that could reveal your location. Ultimately, this allows you to unblock websites from anywhere.
Smart DNS doesn’t provide extra security through encryption. It also doesn’t anonymize your connection or safeguard your privacy online, like a VPN.
The 3 Best VPNs for Accessing Blocked Websites From Anywhere
We conducted extensive tests to find the best VPNs for unblocking websites from anywhere. The three VPN providers below can unblock websites regardless of the reason they’re blocked. They also come with solid security and privacy features.
1. NordVPN: The best VPN for accessing blocked sites from anywhere
- Excellent unblocking capabilities
- 6000+ servers in 61 countries, so you can unblock geographically restricted content from different parts of the world
- Strong security features
- Obfuscated servers hide your VPN traffic and allow you to access blocked sites undetected
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Based on our tests, NordVPN is the best VPN for unblocking websites from anywhere. It can bypass all kinds of restrictions, like geographical blocks on websites such as Netflix or barriers put up by your government on news sites. NordVPN’s obfuscated servers allow you to access blocked sites freely without being detected by your network admin.
Besides providing access to blocked websites and services, NordVPN boasts fast speeds. You can stream TV shows or movies and play games online without lags or delays. NordVPN has apps for different devices, allowing you to access blocked sites on desktop or mobile. You can even install this VPN on your router, and access blocked sites on any device of your choice.
NordVPN is quite affordable, too. And, if you act now, you can get a massive limited-time 69% discount and drive the price further down to just $ 2.99 per month.
Interested in learning more about NordVPN and its features? Check out our in-depth NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark: Budget VPN for unblocking websites from anywhere
- One of the most affordable VPNs for unblocking websites
- Offers an unlimited number of simultaneous connections with a single subscription
- Superb unblocking capabilities
- Camouflage mode allows you to use a VPN without being detected
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Surfshark gives you the most bang for your buck among all the VPNs we tested. It can easily unblock websites such as Disney+, thanks to its wide network of 3200+ servers. Surfshark’s servers are fast and reliable — we didn’t experience any connectivity issues during our tests.
Like NordVPN, Surfshark uses strong AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data and offers obfuscation via its Camouflage mode. In Camouflage mode, Surfshark makes your VPN traffic look like regular traffic, ensuring your ISP or network admins can’t see that you’re accessing a blocked site. Surfshark allows you to unblock websites even in countries, schools, or workplaces that crack down on VPN use.
You can even share your Surfshark account with family and friends, as this VPN supports unlimited connections.
Surfshark is one of the cheapest VPNs available today, but you can get a 82% discount on it by clicking the orange button below.
For more information about this VPN service, including details of how it performed in our tests, read our full Surfshark review.
3. CyberGhost: Large server network for unblocking websites in various locations
- Servers are optimized for particular purposes, such as gaming and streaming
- Allows five simultaneous connections
- Offers quality service at a great price
- 30-day money-back guarantee
CyberGhost has an extensive server network — a whopping 11500+ servers in 100 countries. This makes it an excellent option for accessing blocked websites. It also has dedicated servers for high-bandwidth activities. So, you can unblock streaming or gaming sites and enjoy a smooth, lag-free experience.
This VPN performed impressively well in our speed tests. Although there are faster VPNs out there, CyberGhost is no slouch. While CyberGhost can provide access to blocked sites, it doesn’t have obfuscated servers like NordVPN and Surfshark. This means you may be spotted using this VPN to unblock restricted sites. As a result, we don’t recommend this VPN if you’re in a country, school, or workplace with strict rules barring you from accessing particular sites.
One of the reasons we love CyberGhost is its 45-day money-back guarantee — it’s longer than the money-back guarantee period of any other VPN. You have nearly six weeks to test this VPN and decide if it’s what you need. Plus, CyberGhost is super affordable, just like Surfshark. Get CyberGhost at 84% off today and only pay $ 2.03 per month.
Read our comprehensive CyberGhost review to find out what our VPN experts think of this VPN and how they rate its performance.
How to Unblock Websites at School or Work
Schools and workplaces may block particular websites to ensure productivity or to conserve bandwidth. However, you may need to access these websites for legitimate reasons such as school/product research. Here’s how to unblock websites on a school or work computer:
- Get a NordVPN subscription.
- Download the NordVPN app on your device.
- Sign in to your NordVPN account.
- Connect to a VPN server. Since the site is blocked by your workplace or school admin, connecting to a server in your city (or a nearby city) should unblock it.
- Now, you can access content online without restrictions.
Can I Unblock Websites With a Free VPN?
If you want to cut costs, you may consider using a free VPN to access blocked websites. While some top-rated free VPNs are great for everyday browsing, we don’t recommend using one to unblock websites. Free VPNs usually have several limitations. For example, their weak security may leave you exposed if your school, employer, ISP, or government is monitoring the IP addresses of anyone trying to access blocked sites. They’re not ideal for anonymous activities, like getting Pornhub unblocked.
And, even when free VPNs work, there’s a limited number of websites you can block as they usually have significantly smaller server networks. Free VPNs are also more likely to have data caps and bandwidth limits, which can make it impossible to stream or download content online.
There’s also a privacy risk to free VPNs. Many free VPN services have been accused of logging and selling users’ data to advertisers for profit. It’s not worth putting your privacy at risk. Grab NordVPN now for $ 2.99 — less than a cup of coffee — and access restricted content safely.
Why Are Websites Blocked?
Websites can be restricted for a few reasons.
- Workplaces and schools may block particular websites to prevent unproductive activities such as streaming or gaming. They may also do this to restrict the amount of bandwidth being used.
- Oppressive governments may block websites, like news portals or social media, to curb dissent — as it could expose citizens to ideas that are contrary to the official narrative. For example, China’s “Great Firewall” blocks websites that go against the country’s censorship guidelines.
- ISPs sometimes block access to sites that violate local laws. For example, they may block access to free streaming, torrenting, or porn sites.
Final Thoughts: Unblocking Websites From Anywhere
Regardless of the reason a website is blocked, the easiest way to access it is by using a VPN. NordVPN is our top choice for unblocking websites. Its unblocking capabilities are remarkable, plus it’s fast and has an extensive network of servers, which allows you to access geo-restricted content in various countries. Take advantage of NordVPN’s massive 69% discount and unblock any website of your choice now.
If you would like to find out more about unblocking websites with a VPN, check out the articles below:
- Best VPNs for Streaming: Unblock Movies and Shows for Free
- This Video Is Unavailable: How to Unblock YouTube Videos
- How to Unblock YouTube at School or Anywhere: A Quick Guide
Do you have questions about how to unblock websites from anywhere? Check out the FAQ below for quick answers.
Yes, you can unblock websites that may be blocked for various reasons with a VPN. Here is how:
- Get NordVPN.
- Install the VPN app on your device and log in to your NordVPN account.
- Connect to a VPN server in a city or country where the site you’re trying to visit isn’t blocked.
- Visit the website. It should be unblocked now.
Yes, VPNs are legal in most countries. However, there are a few exceptions. VPNs are illegal in the following countries:
- Belarus
- Turkmenistan
- Türkiye
- United Arab Emirates
- Russia
- China
- Iraq
- India
- Oman
- Egypt
- North Korea
- Uganda
- Iran
Both VPNs and proxy servers route your internet connection through third-party servers. However, a VPN also encrypts your traffic to protect your privacy. A premium VPN, like NordVPN, has an extensive network of servers spread out globally, letting you access content from many different locations. On the other hand, proxy servers tend to have small server networks, limiting your ability to access blocked sites.
A VPN gives you a different IP address and allows you to access VPN servers from across the globe. VPNs also encrypt your internet traffic and generally improve your online safety. Smart DNS, on the other hand, tricks websites and services into thinking that your DNS queries are coming from a different location. They don’t offer the added security and privacy benefits of a VPN.
You can unblock a website in Chrome by following these steps:
- Get a NordVPN subscription.
- Install the NordVPN Chrome browser extension.
- Sign in to your NordVPN account on the Chrome browser extension.
- Connect to a VPN server in a city or country where the website you want to visit isn’t blocked.
- The website should be unblocked now.
We recommend using a premium VPN with excellent unblocking capabilities, like NordVPN. While many VPNs are great for everyday use, they’re ineffective at bypassing restrictions and unblocking websites. During our tests, NordVPN allowed us to browse different blocked sites successfully.
A VPN is the best way to unblock a website, whether you’re using a work or school computer. Here’s how to unblock websites on a school Chromebook.
- Get NordVPN.
- Download and install the NordVPN app on your device.
- Connect to a server in a nearby city or country where the site you want to access isn’t blocked.
- Enjoy unrestricted access to any website of your choice.
