How to Get an Indian IP Address from Any Country
India is home to a ton of exclusive content, that majority of which is blocked to anyone without an Indian IP address. Fortunately, you can use a VPN to change your virtual location to appear inside India’s digital borders, allowing you to unblock your favorite Bollywood films, new sites, or Indian accounts abroad.
If you spend a lot of time on the internet, you’ll have realised that some online content is region locked. From streaming services like Netflix to shopping sites for clothes or electronics, you’ll see a different version of a site depending on where in the world you access it from.
In theory, this is a good idea, as it allows websites to have just one URL that it easy to remember, while still serving a number of different localised versions in different languages. But in practice, this can be frustrating for users – sometimes you want to be able to access content from another region, or you want to see a site in a different language than the default language for your area.
In cases like this, what you need is an IP address from the country from which you want to access the site. If you want to see the US version of Netflix, for example, then you need a US IP address. Today we’re going to talk to those of you who want to access content from India.
Need the quick version? Securely spoof an Indian IP address abroad with these VPNs:
- NordVPN – Best for Indian Spoofing – NordVPN is the best way to get an Indian virtual IP address, with numerous high-security servers located in the country and with P2P-optimized connections also available.
- Surfshark – Blanket obfuscation, multi-hop routing, plus unlimited simultaneous connections.
- ExpressVPN – Uncompromised performance, incredible encryption, rotating Indian IP addresses.
- PureVPN – Offers more countries’ virtual IPs than any other, with India well-represented.
- IPVanish – A great choice for streaming Bollywood content–especially via Kodi.
- VyprVPN – Super-high security provider with some of the most advanced encryption on the planet.
We’ll tell you a bit about IP addresses, then show you how to get an Indian IP address from anywhere in the world, then share some recommendations for our favourite services for getting a foreign IP.
How to Use a VPN to Get an Indian IP Address
The best way to get an IP address in India is to use a VPN. A Virtual Private Network works by installing a small piece of software onto any or all of your devices. When you open up the software, you’ll see a list of servers in different countries and you can pick one to connect to. Any data which you send over the internet is first encrypted by the software, and this encrypted data is routed to the proxy server of your choosing.
When the encrypted data arrives at the server, it is decrypted and then sent on its way to its original destination. Because the data is decrypted at this server, it appears to have originated wherever the server is located. So, if you are based in the US but you connect to a server in India using your VPN, then all your web traffic will appear to be from India. This means that you will see the Indian versions of websites and be able to access India-only content.
There are other advantages of using a VPN as well as this location spoofing that are worth knowing about. A VPN is very good for protecting your privacy, as the encryption of your data makes it impossible for your ISP to see what sites you’ve been visiting or what content you’ve been accessing. It will also improve your security by making it much harder for hackers to access your network.
READ ALSO: Are VPNs legal in India?
How We Evaluate VPN Services
If you’re thinking about using a VPN so you can get an Indian IP address, then we have some recommendations for VPN services below. You should be careful when choosing a VPN, as some providers are highly respected and reliable while others are not.
You might be tempted to save some money by using a free VPN, but we think that the security and reliability of a paid VPN is absolutely worth the expense. Furthermore, some free VPN providers have indulged in predatory practises including selling off their users’ data, failing to encrypt user traffic like they claim to, or even using their users’ computers to stage DDoS attacks. Even the more reputable free VPN services have serious limitations like bandwidth caps to contend with.
If you want a safe and solid service, then it’s worth paying for a VPN. We’ve assessed a whole raft of VPN services and picked the best ones for getting access to an Indian IP address. We made our assessment of which VPNs to recommend based on the following criteria:
- Plenty of servers in many different countries including India, so that you can spoof your location to be in any country that you want.
- Fast connection speeds, so that your VPN doesn’t slow down your browsing. This is especially important if you’re going to be streaming video, as this takes a lot of bandwidth.
- Strong encryption and a no-logging policy, to keep you safe and ensure your privacy while you’re browsing.
- Quality software which is easy to use and supports all of the operating systems you might use – Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Our Recommended VPNs
With all these factors in mind, here are our top choices for VPN providers you can use to get an Indian IP address:
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is a service which specialises is getting around region locks to enable your browsing to be truly global. If you like to travel a lot then this provider is for you, especially if you ever go to China as the internet censorship there is very restrictive. With NordVPN, you can browse freely without restrictions.
The connections are not quite as fast as ExpressVPN, but they’re still very useable. The NordVPN network has a massive 5,500 servers in 59 countries including India so you can easily spoof your location. This service works with Netflix too, so that’s worth noting. The software can be used on a big range of operating systems, including XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10, plus Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Chrome OS, Android, and Windows Phone.
Read our full NordVPN review.
- Very affordable plans
- Over 5,400 servers in 61 countries
- No IP/DNS leaks found
- Extra-secure Double VPN for data encryption
- Money back guarantee policy (30-days).
- Automatic server selection can be unreliable
- Apps can sometime be slow to connect.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is a relatively young provider that cuts the fat from the standard VPN offering in favor of methods and policies that just work. And when it comes to spoofing an Indian IP, you’ll find Sufshark every bit as capable as (if not more than) the industry veterans.
Of their 800+ node network, there are 3 server locations in Mumbai, Chennai, and Indore. Each of these is protected by the updated 256-AES-GCM cipher–the very same used by the NSA. And if that’s not enough security, you can opt for multi-hop routing for a double-encrypted Indian IP.
There is no logging on Surfshark’s network as per their policy–but indeed they’re incapable of storing logs due to their RAM-only server infrastructure.
- Unblock VoIP in oppressive regimes like WhatsApp, Skype, Discord, and more
- Over 800 servers in 50 countries worldwide, and constantly growing
- No questions asked money back guarantee
- Logging policy independently audited and verified
- Refund requests are simple and fast–no waiting or hassle.
- Overall, not much to complain about
- New-kid-on-the-block status may not instill same trust as larger providers.
Read our full Surfshark review.
3. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPNs for good reason. It has super-fast connections and a massive network of 3,000+ servers in 94 countries worldwide including India. It uses strong 256-bit AES encryption and the company has a no-logging policy so you know your data will always be kept private. Another big advantage of this service is that it supports a wide range of operating systems, including both new and older versions of Windows (RT, XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10), we well as Mac OS, Linux, and Android.
This is an ideal choice if very fast connections are important to you and you want the best service you can get, even if it is a bit more expensive than other options. It’s also good if you have a whole load of different devices that you want to protect, as the software supports almost any device you could want. It’s one of the few VPNs which works with Netflix, so if you’re planning to watch content on Netflix India then this service is for you.
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
- SPECIAL OFFER: 3 months free (49% off - link below)
- 3,000+ super fast servers
- Very simple and easy to use
- Strict no-logging policy
- Live chat support available.
- Month-to-month plan has high cost.
4. IPVanish
IPVanish is a really easy-to-use VPN, with super-fast connections and plenty of servers. The network covers 1,300+ servers in over 60 countries including India, so you’ll always find a server where you want one. IPVanish has great security, with its strong 256-bit and company-wide no-logging policy. And the software supports platforms like Windows 7, 8, and 10, plus Mac OS, Linux, iOS and Android.
One issue to note is that this service does not work with Netflix, so if you want to watch Netflix India then we would recommend ExpressVPN, NordVPN or VyprVPN instead. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a super-fast VPN which is excellent value, then you should try IPVanish.
Read our full IPVanish review.
5. PureVPN
PureVPN is a full security package, so your VPN comes bundled with lots of extra security software like ad-blocking software, malware protection, and anti-virus software. It’s very simple to use and will keep you safe without requiring a lot of technical knowledge. This means it’s a great solution for those who want a simple security boost or who want to install software to keep less tech-savvy members of their family safe too.
PureVPN has strong 256-bit encryption and 750 servers in 140 countries including India, so you can use it for location spoofing as well as for general online security.
Read our full PureVPN review.
6. VyprVPN
VyprVPN is ideal for those who are very concerned about their privacy. They use double-layered Chameleon protocols to encrypt not only your data, but also the metadata such as the origin and destination of the data packets, which means it’s one of the most secure VPNs out there. This also means that you can avoid “VPN blocking” such as the strategies used in China or by some institutions elsewhere which attempt to prevent people from using a VPN on their network. VyprVPN can get around these restrictions and keep you safe wherever you are.
The network gives you access to more than 700 servers in 70 countries including India and the software can be installed on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Read our full VyprVPN review.
What Is an IP Address?
An IP address, or internet protocol address, is a series of numbers which represents the physical location of any device connected to the internet. Each device on your network has its own IP address, whether it’s a desktop, laptop, phone, or tablet. You’ll generally find IP addresses exist in this form: 199.187.3.2
This is the most commonly used format IPv4, meaning IP version 4.
Every IP address is unique, and the purpose of an IP address is to give a specific identity to a device on a network so that the correct traffic can be routed to that device. Think of your IP address as like a mailing address, but for your computer.
One important point to know is that most IP addresses include geolocation information – that is, they show where in the world your device is accessing the internet from. There are known ranges of IP addresses assigned to each country (you can see the exact details of the IP ranges by country at this website: https://lite.ip2location.com/ip-address-ranges-by-country) so it’s easy for a web page or web service to look at your IP and know which country you’re in.
This is how websites serve different pages to people from different countries. If you visit google.com, for example, you’ll be redirected to one of Google’s regional sites (like google.co.uk or google.co.in) based on the location information in your IP address.
RELATED READING: How to unblock Google anywhere
Why Would You Want an Indian IP Address?
Now you know what an IP address is and how it’s used to serve you content, you can see why it might be useful to have an IP address in a particular country. You could use an Indian IP address for several reasons:
- Visit India-only websites and see Indian content. Websites like Netflix have different selections of content available depending on your location, and there might be specific content which is available on Indian Netflix but not your local Netflix. In this case you could use an Indian IP to access this content. Alternatively, if you’re an Indian expat, then you might want to use an Indian IP to access content in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, or other Indian language rather than in English.
- Get around censorship. Some websites might be blocked by your ISP or by the government, making them impossible to access with your local IP address. Using an IP address in a different country allows you to access sites that would be blocked otherwise.
- Download games or other programs. How frustrating is it when there’s a new game coming out that you want to play, but it’s either not yet available in your region or you can only see a censored or reduced version of it? With an IP address in another country, you can download the game without having to wait for the official release date in your country.
- Improve your security. An extra benefit of using a foreign IP address is that it can protect your privacy by making you harder to track. If you are concerned about security, then it’s a good idea to mask your IP when you’re online.
Internet regulations in India
With a population close to 1.4 billion people, India is home to the second highest number of internet users in the world. In a nutshell, using a VPN in India is not banned by any specific law, so it is not illegal to use those kinds of services while browsing content online. However, there are exceptions to the rule. If users in India use a VPN for illegal activities online, including copyright infringement or accessing banned websites, there may be legal consequences.
In 2016, the government of India broke news about introducing a law that forbids citizens from accessing any website on the list of “banned sites”. Specifically, the new law stated that anyone who was caught “viewing, downloading, exhibiting or duplicating” the content on these sites would not only be asked to pay legal fines, but potentially spend up to three years in prison. It wasn’t long before the Indian government realized that the wording of this law was too broad, and would result in most of India’s internet users facing jail time.
While enforcement of this law is perhaps less strict than it could be, it is nevertheless recommended to take precautions like using a VPN, or avoiding banned sites in the first place. Addictive Tips in no way condones breaking local law, so please use the anonymity provided by your VPN responsibly and safely.
Limitations of using VPN
VPNs are extremely useful at home and while traveling, but they won’t solve all of your online privacy or security issues. To keep your data safe, you’ll still need to follow common sense practices. You’ll also need to adapt to a few limitations VPNs can’t quite get around. Small prices to pay for the privacy and security they offer.
- VPNs tend to be slow – Most VPN services will be slower than your standard internet connection. This has a lot to do with the encryption used to scramble each packet of data as well as the extra distance information must travel to and from servers around the world. Expect a 10-25% loss in overall speed, less with VPN services that work hard to keep their speed scores high.READ ALSO: How to Speed up a Slow VPN
- VPNs won’t protect you from malware – Malware and viruses pass through most VPNs like they don’t even exist. Using a firewall and virus scanner are still recommended if you have a VPN active.
- Devices aren’t automatically protected – You can’t just run a VPN program on your desktop and expect all of your devices to benefit. Each phone, tablet, laptop, gaming console, and device that goes online needs to run the VPN’s software to use the encryption and IP hiding. There are workarounds to this, however, including installing VPN software on your router.
- Device connectability – You can’t connect all of your devices to a VPN at the same time. Most services limited the simultaneous connections to three or five, which means a computer, a tablet, a smartphone, and that’s it. Everyone who access your Wi-Fi is subjected to this limit, which can make it difficult for families to use VPNs together.
Conclusion
With an IP address in India you’ll be able to access the Indian version of websites and to get around regional restrictions on online content. It’s easy to use a VPN to give yourself an IP in India, and using a VPN will also improve your security and protect your privacy. Any of the five VPN services we’ve listed here will keep you safe and let you change your IP address to the country of your choosing. We recommend that you choose a VPN based on your personal needs, whether they are for security, speed, ease of use, or budget.
Alternatively, if you’re in India, we also have a great guide on the best VPNs to use to access blocked sites in India.
Do you use a VPN service to spoof your location? And what are your favourite websites in India that you like to access? Let us know in the comments below!
If you need a VPN for a short while when traveling for example, you can get our top ranked VPN free of charge. NordVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. You will need to pay for the subscription, that’s a fact, but it allows full access for 30 days and then you cancel for a full refund. Their no-questions-asked cancellation policy lives up to its name.
