How to Get a Canadian IP Address in 2024 With a VPN
If you’re traveling outside of Canada, you can keep enjoying local Canadian content by using a VPN with a Canadian server. This guide teaches you how to get a Canadian IP address, plus the most reliable VPN options.
Written by Arthur Sabayi (Writer)
Reviewed by Samuel Chapman (Editor)
Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska (Lead Fact-Checking Editor)
Last Updated: 2024-02-12T22:12:57+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: How to Get a Canadian IP
- The best way to get an IP address for Canada is to use a virtual private network with a Canadian VPN server.
- ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Canada and can unblock geoblocked content anywhere and handle buffer-free streaming.
- NordVPN has hundreds of Canadian servers in three locations, offering seamless content unblocking due to minimal server overcrowding.
- TunnelBear is a free VPN with three server locations you can use to get a free IP address in Canada.
If you want to learn how to get a Canadian IP address, the best way is to use a virtual private network (VPN) with servers in Canada. On top of hiding your true IP address, the best VPN for Canada provides you with multiple safe server options for unblocking content from anywhere in the world, while protecting your internet with encryption.
With a VPN, you can access restricted Canadian TV channels, such as DejaView, from abroad. Furthermore, VPNs have large global server networks you can use to unblock restricted foreign content, like Disney+, BBC iPlayer or Hulu from within Canada.
Although you can also use web proxies to get a Canadian IP address, they don’t offer the same kind of security benefits as VPNs. The best they can do is hide your IP address from web servers, but they don’t encrypt your internet traffic. Streaming services can also easily block web proxies, making unblocking geo-restricted content hard.
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10/26/2023 Facts checked
Our experts reevaluated the best ways to get a Canadian IP address, including the best VPNs, and rewrote the article.
Getting a Canadian IP Address Abroad With a VPN: Quick Guide
You can get an IP address from Canada with a VPN by following these simple steps. We’ll use ExpressVPN as our example, but the steps are similar for any of our best VPNs.
- Subscribe to a VPN
Launch ExpressVPN’s website on your browser, then choose your plan and payment option. Most VPNs have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test the service out before committing.
- Download and Install the VPN
Download and install the VPN on your device.
- Launch the VPN and Connect to a Canadian Server
Find the VPN server list and scroll until you find Canada. You can also use the search function. Tapping the location should connect you, but if not, tap the large power button on the main screen.
The Best Canadian VPN: How to Choose the Right Service
There are three key things to consider when choosing the best Canadian VPN. It should have servers in Canada that can easily unblock restricted local content like Netflix Canada from abroad. Additionally, it should have a large global server network for bypassing geo-restricted content worldwide.
Secondly, the ideal VPN service should be fast enough to handle lag-free streaming, smooth gaming and fast torrenting. Being compatible with commonly used operating systems like Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux is an added bonus. This makes the VPN more convenient for Canadians traveling abroad.
1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN Provider Option
Pros:
- Several Canadian servers
- Good streaming speeds
- User-friendly application
Cons:
- Expensive
ExpressVPN has servers located in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. All three locations can unblock Canadian regional sites — like your bank, TV and streaming services — no matter where you travel. On top of this, ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers across 94 countries, so you can unblock geo-restricted platforms, like BBC iPlayer from outside the U.K. or Sling TV from outside the U.S.
You won’t have to worry about slow speeds when streaming or gaming in Canada or abroad with ExpressVPN. We conducted several speed tests on the Lightway UDP protocol.
In our VPN speed testing, ExpressVPN averaged 66 Mbps while streaming, a 10% gain from our unprotected speeds of 60 Mbps. It’s not unusual for ISPs to throttle user speeds for any number of reasons. If your speed is faster with a VPN than without, that’s proof it can break through ISP speed throttling.
If you’re fond of using multiple devices, you can install ExpressVPN on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux with up to five simultaneous device connections (eight on longer plans). You can read more about the VPN in our ExpressVPN review, or try ExpressVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
2. NordVPN: Largest Number of Canadian VPN Servers
Pros:
- Plenty of Canadian servers
- Unblocks content in Canada
- Fast speeds for streaming
Cons:
- Obfuscated Canadian servers are slow
NordVPN has the highest number of servers in Canada, with locations in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. This makes getting an uncrowded Canadian IP address easier than on the other two alternatives.
Additionally, with over 5,800 servers in 60 countries, NordVPN lets you bypass blocks on major streaming platforms, like Peacock TV, which isn’t available in Canada. The same applies for fans of Canadian shows who live in other countries; NordVPN effortlessly slips past blocks on sites like Crave.
The VPN also performed very well in our speed test, scoring 53 Mbps, a 12% speed drop from our unprotected speed of 60 Mbps. While this was slower than ExpressVPN, we didn’t experience any significant lag when playing video games or streaming 4K content.
You can install NordVPN on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Linux with up to six simultaneous device connections. Read more about it in our NordVPN review, or you can try NordVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
3. TunnelBear: Best Free VPN Option
Pros:
- Free Canadian servers
- Unlimited devices
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Slowest VPN on this list
- Free plan limited to 1GB
TunnelBear is the only VPN on this list with a free version, making it one of the best free Canadian VPN options. It has servers in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Therefore, it’s perfect for Canadians who are on a budget or non-Canadians who want to watch Canuck shows while abroad. TunnelBear has multiple servers in 47 countries, all available on the free plan.
It came up a little short in our speed tests, however, averaging 27 Mbps, a 55% speed drop from our unprotected speed of 60 Mbps. Fortunately, this was still fast enough for streaming HD content and handling regular downloads. The slow speeds are likely a result of overcrowding, which can be common with free VPNs.
TunnelBear has an intuitive user interface across all its apps, compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux. You can also connect unlimited devices simultaneously. This works well for Canadians traveling abroad with multiple devices or in large groups. You can try TunnelBear for free or read our full TunnelBear review.
- 2GB
- 2GB
- 5
- Unlimited GB, five devices, priority customer service
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
Can You Use a Free Proxy Server to Get a Canadian IP Address?
A free proxy server can get you a Canadian IP address, but it won’t be as effective as a VPN. Free proxy servers reroute your online traffic to create the impression that you’re connecting from another location. This isn’t enough to get you in on some streaming sites.
Additionally, free proxy servers don’t provide any form of encryption, so your traffic remains unprotected from your internet service provider. This makes it easy for streaming services to see and block your virtual Canadian IP address, and for anyone to encroach on your online privacy.
Finally, getting a free proxy server that works is challenging compared to a VPN. It involves a sophisticated manual setup process that may be too much if you just want a Canadian IP address to access content. Being connected to a random, potentially unsafe home IP address doesn’t make things better, either.
If you’re on a budget, we recommend using TunnelBear’s free version or using Windscribe, another free VPN option with Canadian servers (read our full Windscribe review for more details).
Final Thoughts
The best way to get an IP address from Canada is by using a VPN that offers multiple servers in Canada. This gets you reliable online security features like AES 256-bit (or equivalently strong) encryption and the ability to unblock geo-restricted content as a bonus.
When choosing a VPN provider, pay attention to the availability of Canadian servers, the connection speeds and compatibility with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. ExpressVPN is our top suggestion, though we also highly recommend NordVPN and TunnelBear.
Are you able to get an IP address in Canada now? Have your connection speeds improved, or has the VPN slowed things down? Leave your comments and feedback below. We appreciate your continued support.
FAQ: Getting a Canadian IP
You can access Canadian sites from the U.S. by using a VPN service that offers servers in Canada. Subscribe to the VPN of your choice, install it on your device and use the VPN connection to access Canadian websites.
You get a Canada IP address from the U.S. by installing a VPN like ExpressVPN on your preferred device, searching for Canadian servers and connecting to virtually switch your location to Canada.
You can get a free Canada IP address using a free VPN with Canadian servers. TunnelBear VPN is a good example, with a free version that offers servers in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.