With the number of content restrictions in Russia, we’re actually wondering why anyone would want to get a Russian IP address at all. However, there are still Russian citizens who need to access content from home, like their local bank or Russian TV channels. Whatever the reason, we’ll show you how to do it safely. 

Key Takeaways:

• Getting a Russian IP address is easy, as long as you use a reliable VPN service.
• CyberGhost is both a very reliable and a very affordable VPN for getting a Russian IP address.
• Surfshark and VyprVPN are both great alternatives, but their speeds aren’t on CyberGhost’s level.

Your IP address contains a lot of identifiable information about you, including your location. This could be something you would prefer to keep private, especially if you want to evade government surveillance. Plus, some websites and services won’t let you access them unless you’re in a specific location. This is known as a geoblock, and in some situations it’s not an easy thing to deal with. 

Regardless of your motivation, getting an IP address in Russia is easy if you use a VPN, or a virtual private network. This will disguise your actual location and instead give you one in the destination of your choice — in this instance, Russia. We’ll show you how to use a VPN for a Russian IP, and what the best options are. 

Get a Russian IP Address With a VPN in 3 Easy Steps

Getting a Russian IP address is very simple. Here is how you do it using CyberGhost as an example VPN, though the process should be the same whichever VPN you use. 

1. Download and Install CyberGhost

   Head to CyberGhost’s website, and from the top menu, choose “VPN apps.” Click the app you need for your device of choice, and then click “download VPN.” Follow the install wizard’s steps to install it (they’re fairly simple).

   

2. Choose a Server in Russia

   When you’ve started up CyberGhost, click the leftwards pointing arrow. It will open a list of servers. Use the search bar to the left to search for Russia. Once you find it, click “Russia” from the list.

   

3. Connect to the Russian Server

   When you see Russia as the server of choice in the menu, click the “connect” button. That’s it — you should now be connected with a Russian IP.

   

Why Use a VPN to Get a Russia IP Address?

There are a couple of reasons why one might want an IP address in Russia, but the most common ones are streaming Russia-specific content and accessing local services such as bank accounts.

When it comes to streaming Russia-specific content, the primary sources are Russia-1 and ivi.tv. There are also a few sports channels that only broadcast national events live within Russia, and you might want to watch them, too. Doing so is possible over the internet by using a VPN.

As far as services go, banking is the big reason why people who are outside the country want to make it seem like they’re in Russia — you can’t access your accounts if you’re not physically there. It’s a system designed to protect against cyberattacks from abroad, but a VPN can help you bypass it. 

Can I Use a Proxy to Get a Russian IP Address?

Technically, yes, you can use a proxy, but you really shouldn’t. Proxy apps are often free, but they’re not a good idea. They don’t have no-logs policies, they don’t encrypt user data and sometimes they’ll even sell your data to advertisers. To add to this, you have no way of knowing they did it.

Also, proxies are notoriously easy to detect, and if a service is using your geolocation to allow or restrict access, a proxy might not help. Tracking your real IP address is easier than you might think, so by all means, steer clear of proxies.

What to Look for in a VPN for Russia

When you’re choosing a VPN to connect to Russia, there are three main things to look for. First is whether or not the service has Russian servers. Not every VPN does (we go into more detail about this in our Russia VPN Ban article), and you might need to go through a few before you find one that has them.

Next, you should note the speeds of the VPN you’re using. We have a list of the fastest VPNs out there, but not all of them have the ability to connect to a Russian server. The browsing speeds can greatly impact your overall experience, especially if you’re using your VPN to stream Russian content.

Last but not least, make sure the VPN you go for is secure and can access geographically blocked content. This is the main reason most people want to get a Russian IP address, so make sure you’re covered on that front and can get access to Russian-only content.

Our Picks: Best VPNs to Get a Russian IP Address

Thanks to a combination of features and speed, these are the VPNs that made the cut — all of them can get you a Russian IP address, and all you have to do is pick the one you like best. 

1. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a very affordable VPN option, but even if you don’t care about cost, it’s still the top choice. Speeds are solid, and the VPN comes with a slew of features that make it a pleasure to use. It does have servers in Russia, and it even has dedicated P2P and streaming servers that should offer improved performance.

Bypassing geoblocks isn’t an issue, and we also like that you can install CyberGhost on various devices, including routers. Pricing is extremely affordable at $2.25 per month on a two-year plan, and it also gets you two free months. It also has a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is excellent in case you change your mind. You can find out more in our CyberGhost review.

CyberGhost Plans

• *The $56.94 price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years.
• Unlimited GB
• 7
• Yes

45-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan, 6-months plan

1-month plan

$12.99/month

6-months plan

$6.99/month

$41.94 billed every 6 month

Save 46%

2-year plan

$2.37/month

$56.94 billed every 2 years

Save 81%

2. Surfshark

The thing that puts Surfshark on our list, aside from the servers in Russia, is the fact that it’s basically a no-limits VPN. There is no limit on the number of devices you can connect, or the amount of data you use throughout the month, or the number of simultaneous connections. This is great if you want to run multiple connections to Russian servers from different devices, without paying for multiple plans.

Speeds are a bit of a mixed bag. For everyday use, such as accessing websites, it’s good, but for streaming via Russian servers, it’s not the best out there, which is why it comes in second on our list. However, it does come with solid geoblock bypass capabilities and a rich feature set, as well as a reasonable price of $2.49 per month on a two-year plan. Find out more about Surfshark in our review.

30-days money-back guarantee

Surfshark Starter

• Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Plans renew: $185.40 for one year, $370.80 for two years
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan + 2 months

1-month plan

$15.45/month

1-year plan + 2 months

$3.22/month

$41.86 billed every year

Save 79%

2-year plan + 2 months

$2.29/month

$59.54 billed every 2 years

Save 85%

Surfshark One

• Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Plans renew: $191.40 for one year, $380.80 for two years.
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$15.95/month

1-year plan

$4.09/month

$49.08 billed every year

Save 74%

2-year plan

$3.19/month

$76.56 billed every 2 years

Save 80%

Surfshark One+

• Everything in One, plus Data removal Plans renew: $215.40 for one year, $430.80 for two years
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$17.95/month

1-year plan

$6.49/month

$77.88 billed every year

Save 63%

2-year plan

$4.97/month

$119.28 billed every 2 years

Save 72%

3. VyprVPN

Our last option is almost as good as the other two when it comes to server availability and the ability to bypass geoblocks, but VyprVPN fails to deliver on the speed front. Whether you’re streaming a show or checking the status of your local Russian bank account, VyprVPN is just not that fast.

If this is something you’re willing to look past, VyprVPN comes with great app compatibility, its own DNS protection, and Chameleon — a VPN protocol that strives to excel in countries with strong internet censorship. Pricing isn’t too bad at $5 per month on the annual plan , but you can find out more about it in our VyprVPN review.

30-days money-back guarantee

Monthly

• Unlimited GB
• 30

1-month plan

$10/month

One year

• Unlimited GB
• 30

1-year plan

$5/month

$60 billed every year

Two year

2-year plan

$3/month

$72 billed every 2 years

More plans

Business

• Includes 3 Users, $99 per year per additional user, Multiple User Management. Global Business Servers, Dedicated Account Manager
• Unlimited GB
• 3

1-year plan

$24.92/month

$299 billed every year

Business Cloud

• Includes 3 Users $99 per year per additional user, Multiple User Management, Your own dedicated server, Fast and easy deployment
• Unlimited GB
• 3

1-year plan

$29.08/month

$349 billed every year

Additional Benefits of Using a VPN

Aside from being able to access geoblocked content, using a VPN for a Russian IP Address has one other big benefit — it adds a lot of security to your internet activity, keeping your identity and data secure. If you’re Russian and want to make sure your browsing activity isn’t being monitored by your internet service provider (ISP), a VPN with Russian servers is the way to go.

Not only do VPN apps hide your actual IP address, but they also encrypt your data, adding another layer of security. A strict no-logs policy, which most quality providers have, means that even the VPN provider won’t know what you’re doing.

Dangers of Using a Russian IP Address

There’s no real danger in changing your IP address to a Russian one, but there are reasons to make sure you have a secure connection. For example, where a VPN provider is based may be of interest to you, especially if your activities will be risky. If that’s the case, you should read our piece on privacy laws.

Online freedom of expression in Russia can have consequences. Defamation is frowned on, and there have been more than 1,000 criminal cases for online activities, such as social media posts. Some have resulted in a prison sentence. We have a guide on how to safely unblock social media in Russia.

Yarovaya law gives authorities access to user data. If a website or service is added to the register of information-dissemination organizers, it has to collect and store users’ metadata and provide it to the Russian authorities.

Communications data, including text, video and audio, must be held for six months, metadata must be kept for three years, and authorities can access those records without a court order. The Russian government has also been found to be using SORM, which is a type of surveillance that monitors internet traffic and phone communication. Read our best VPN for Russia piece for more on the country.

Can Use a Free VPN to Get a Russian IP Address?

Unfortunately, no, you can’t use a free VPN for a Russian IP address. Free VPN apps often have malicious intent, whether that’s selling your user data to advertisers and other third parties or installing malware that monitors your internet activity.

An exception to the free VPN rule is Windscribe, a free VPN which puts just as much focus on privacy and security as paid ones. That being said, Windscribe’s free plan doesn’t allow you to connect to Russian servers — that feature is for users who enroll in one of the paid plans, so unfortunately, getting free access to Russian VPN servers isn’t going to be an option.

Final Thoughts

We hope that by now you understand why a VPN is the best way to connect to servers in Russia and get a Russian IP address. Regardless of your reason to need a connection to Russian servers — whether it’s streaming services or just good old internet security — the three VPN apps above should have you covered.

Do you go for CyberGhost’s overall great feature set and device compatibility, or do you prefer Surfshark’s lack of limitations? Or maybe you don’t want to pay too much for Russian servers, and VyprVPN is your choice. Let us know in the comments, and thanks for reading.

FAQ

• How Do I Find a Russian IP Address?

  You can find a Russian IP address by downloading a VPN and connecting to Russian servers before accessing websites on the internet.

• How Do I Get a Russian VPN?

  You can get a Russian VPN by downloading a quality VPN provider like CyberGhost, Surfshark or VyprVPN, all of which will get you access to servers in the country.

• Are VPNs Legal in Russia?

  Yes, even though VPNs were prohibited from allowing users access to banned websites in 2017, you can use a VPN in Russia.