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How to Get a French IP Address

How to Get a French IP Address With a VPN in 2024: Free & Paid Solutions

Trying to get a French IP address to watch French TV or access Netflix France? All you need is a VPN. The good news is, using VPNs is easy. In this guide, we’ll help you set up a VPN so you can easily access geoblocked French content.

Arjun RupareliaSandra Pattison

Written by Arjun Ruparelia (Writer)

Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Editor)

Last Updated: 2024-02-03T11:18:55+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

You can get a French IP address using a VPN (virtual private network) that has servers in France. When you route your internet traffic through a French VPN server, it makes the website believe that you’re actually located in France.

If a website has geoblocked its content, only viewers physically located in France can access it. With a French IP address, you can access geoblocked websites no matter where you are.

Key Takeaways:

  • You can get a French IP address using a VPN if you want to access geoblocked content that’s only accessible from France.
  • There are several VPNs that have servers in France, but ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Windscribe are your best bets.
  • We recommend ExpressVPN because it’s the fastest VPN and has a ton of security features. If you’re looking for something less expensive, NordVPN is a good alternative. 
  • Most free VPNs aren’t a good idea. However, when you need a free French IP, Windscribe is a great choice.

In addition to confirming access to French servers, you should choose a VPN that also offers good connection speeds and securitywe recommend ExpressVPN. If you’re looking for a solution to access geoblocked content, but haven’t used a VPN before, the following guide will help you get set up in the next few minutes.

  • 12/04/2021 Facts checked

    Cloudwards updated the article to reflect changes in the VPN services.

Quick Guide: How to Get a French IP Address With a VPN

Using a VPN is fairly straightforward. But if you’ve never used one before and don’t know where to start, the following three-step guide will help you set up a VPN so you can access French websites.

  1. Download and Install a VPN

    The first step is to sign up with a VPN service provider — we suggest ExpressVPN. Once you’ve signed up, download and install the app on your device.

    ExpressVPN Compatible Devices
  2. Connect to a Server Located in France

    When you launch the app after installing it and sign in, you’ll see a list of server locations. Look for and connect to a server located in France.

    expressvpn france server
  3. Access Geoblocked Content

    Once you’re connected to a server in France, you should be able to access geoblocked content. For instance, if you’re trying to access the French Netflix library, just go to Netflix and you’ll automatically be able to access French content on Netflix.

    netflix france

What Are the Best VPNs With French Servers?

Only VPNs that have servers in France can assign French IP addresses. Almost all major VPNs have servers in France, but not all of them are equal in terms of connection speeds, security and privacy. Following are the best VPN service providers if you want a French IP.

  1. ExpressVPN — Blazing-fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth
  2. NordVPN — Pocket-friendly VPN with top-notch security
  3. Windscribe — Best free VPN for France

To get a French IP address, France-based servers are necessary, but you should also pay due attention to several other factors. Many VPNs will get you a French IP, but not all of them can bypass geoblocks effectively, especially the Netflix VPN ban

In short, what you need is a VPN that offers a comprehensive feature portfolio to deliver a smooth streaming experience, while still keeping you safe and your online activity private.

Security & Privacy

It’s best to choose a VPN that uses strong encryption and a secure protocol. This ensures that no one can intercept your internet traffic and you can securely use online banking or any other sensitive activities. You should also look for other security features like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and split tunneling, and a strict no-logs policy to ensure online privacy.

Speed

When you connect to a VPN server, your internet traffic has to travel longer because it’s transmitted through an intermediary server, which could impact your connection speed. If you’ve been streaming for a while, you know how annoying it can be to stream at slow speeds. However, when you use one of our fastest VPNs, the reduction in speed will typically be minimal.

Streaming Services

If you want to enjoy some French cinema or watch French TV, you’ll need a VPN that effectively accesses geoblocked websites. Some websites like Netflix have become quite good at identifying VPNs, so not all VPNs can bypass geoblocks on such websites. We discuss streaming at length in our best VPNs for streaming guide, but if you don’t want to jump through hoops, ExpressVPN is a good choice.

The 3 Best VPNs for Getting a France IP Address

Now that you know how to get a French IP address, you need a VPN to get started. Choosing a VPN can feel overwhelming since there are plenty of them out there, but we’re going to make things easier for you. Following are three of the best VPNs for getting a French IP address.

1. ExpressVPN

expressvpn france connected
ExpressVPN is the best VPNs for getting a French IP address.

Pros:

  • Fastest VPN
  • Unmatched streaming performance
  • User-friendly

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • No dedicated IPs

ExpressVPN tops the list for good reason. It has everything you need in a VPN, plus a little more. ExpressVPN has 160 VPN server locations, four of which are located in three French cities (Alsace, Paris and Strasbourg). 

It consistently delivers fast connection speeds, has several security features (like a kill switch, in-app split tunneling and AES-256 encryption) and has a strict no-logs policy. It’s also our most secure VPN, so you really can’t go wrong with ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN comes with all the bells and whistles, and that’s reflected in its pricing. If you’re open to paying a premium for a top-of-the-line VPN, ExpressVPN may be a good choice. If you want to learn more, we have a comprehensive ExpressVPN review, or you could go ahead and try it out using the 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. NordVPN

nordvpn france connected
NordVPN is a pocket-friendly VPN that offers top-notch security.

Pros:

  • Pocket-friendly VPN
  • Excellent security
  • Large network of servers

Cons:

  • No on-call support
  • Speeds can be slow

NordVPN has a large server network of over 5,100 servers, 230 of which are located in two French cities (Paris and Marseille). NordVPN has a lot of the same features as ExpressVPN, but it also offers dedicated IPs on some of its servers which ExpressVPN does not.

NordVPN comes with some terrific security features like double-hop and Onion over VPN servers, which add another layer of security when you’re using a French IP. Fortunately, NordVPN comes at a much smaller price even though the feature portfolio is quite similar. If you’re curious about NordVPN, give our thorough review a read. Or, you could go ahead and try NordVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Windscribe

windscribe france connected
Windscribe is one of the best free VPNs to get a free French IP address.

Pros:

  • Free plan
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Unblocks Netflix

Cons:

  • Slow

When it comes to getting a French IP address, free VPNs might not be the most reliable in terms of security. However, Windscribe is one of the best free VPNs around. If you’re trying to get a French IP address for free, Windscribe is your best bet. It has two server locations in France, though only one is available on the free plan. Windscribe comes with some pretty cool features that you can read about in our Windscribe review.

Security isn’t a concern when you’re using Windscribe. It uses AES-256 for encryption, which is paired with IKEv2 or OpenVPN. Plus, it has a no-logs policy, so your online activity is safe as well. Windscribe also has a paid plan, and if you want a more hands-on experience, you can test drive the paid plan with its three-day money-back guarantee.

Can I Use a Free VPN to Get a French IP Address for Free?

Yes, you can use a free VPN to get a French IP address. You could also use French web proxies to access geoblocked content. However, neither of them are reliable except for a few good free VPNs. 

Plus, it might be hard to find a free VPN with France IP addresses. Windscribe and TunnelBear are both decent providers that have free French servers, so you can use either of them to get a French IP address for free.

What Are the Dangers of Using a French VPN Server?

France implemented the Big Brother Act, a controversial law that the UN termed as “excessively broad,” back in 2015. It allows intelligence agencies to tap phone calls, read your emails or hack your devices. France is also part of the Nine Eyes Alliance, which is a group of nations that share information and intelligence with each other. When you’re using a France IP address, you’re subject to these laws as well. 

This is why it’s important to use a VPN that offers airtight security and has a clear no-logs policy. Using one of the VPNs we’ve mentioned will ensure that you can access French Netflix or watch French Open on France TV without worrying about your security or privacy. On the other hand, if you’re planning to visit France, you may want to give our best VPNs for France guide a read.

Final Thoughts

If you’re trying to get a French IP, you need a VPN that has servers located in France. However, it’s best to also consider a VPN’s level of security, connection speeds and the ability to bypass geoblocks before you pay for one — we recommend ExpressVPN. This will ensure that your internet traffic is safe and secure and that you can stream French content seamlessly.

For similar posts, read our guide on how to get Indian IP address, Mexico IP address, Australian IP address, French IP address, Italian IP address or Nepali IP address.

Have you used a VPN to get a French IP? If yes, which one? Were you able to bypass geoblocks with it? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!

FAQ

  • You can get a VPN for France by signing up with a VPN service provider — we recommend ExpressVPN — and installing its app on your device. However, you’ll first need to make sure that the VPN has servers located in France.

  • You can get a foreign IP address using a VPN. All you need to do is sign up with a reliable VPN service provider, install the provider’s app to your device and connect to a server located in a foreign country.

  • You can change your location in France by connecting to a different country’s server using a VPN. For instance, you can download and install a VPN, launch the app and connect to a server located in the U.S. This will make websites think that you’re actually located in the U.S. instead of France.

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