Website Unblockers
How to Unblock Websites at School, Home, or Work | Avast
Where do content blocks come from? Businesses, schools, and content providers are able to restrict your access from sites and services by checking to see if your IP address has the right permissions. So when you find your access blocked, one way to get around the restrictions is to hide your IP address using either a VPN, a Proxy, or Tor. Beyond those solutions, there are also some quick and dirty methods that can help you out with a one-time unblocking. Read on for all the details on the best ways to unblock your favorite sites.
Method 1: Use a VPN
The easiest and best way to unblock forbidden websites is to use a VPN, a virtual private network that secures and encrypts your data. When using a VPN, you connect to a remote VPN server, and it then connects you to a website, hiding your real IP address and allowing you to bypass many restrictions on the sites you visit.
Avast SecureLine VPN works on Macs, Windows PCs, Android, and iOS devices. Below, we show you how to use Avast SecureLine VPN, but the process of setting up a VPN is similar no matter which brand you choose.
Sign up for Avast SecureLine VPN at its website, or download it right here:
Download the VPN and launch the application on your computer or mobile device.
Click on Change Location to see all the locations you can choose to appear from, and select one where your desired content will be available.
When you first launch the app, it will show that your privacy is not yet protected.
If you want to stream content, select Streaming on the bottom-left to see the server locations that offer the most reliable streaming. From these options, choose a server location from which your blocked content will be accessible.
Connect to the server and enjoy the blocked content you want, while letting Avast SecureLine VPN do the hard work for you!
You can now stream content from your preferred location. Plus, your connection is encrypted for online privacy.
The specifics of VPN setup vary depending on your operating system or device manufacturer. And as with other technology, there are ways to improve a VPN’s performance once it’s installed and running.
It’s easy to use a VPN to unblock websites on your personal computer or mobile device, but it may not be the best option when you’re on a public computer at school or in a library.
Method 2: Use a proxy
Another way to unblock websites is to use a public web proxy. It may not be as fast or secure as a VPN, but a public web proxy is a good option when you use public PCs that don’t allow you to install a VPN. Proxies hide your IP address and route your internet traffic through different public servers and addresses.
There are a few more differences between VPNs and proxies. VPNs encrypt your traffic, while many proxy servers don’t — that’s why proxies may be faster. However, a VPN service can protect you from ISP tracking, government surveillance, and hackers. Proxies don’t, so they should never be used to handle sensitive information (such as your online banking or other personal info).
Further, VPNs work on the operating system level and reroute all your traffic, while proxies work on the application level and only reroute the traffic of a specific app or browser.
One of the most popular public web proxies is HMA. To use it:
Go to the HMA website.
Enter the website URL that you want to visit anonymously.
Click on the More options dropdown menu, and select Encrypt URL and Disable Cookies for more protection.
Click Agree & Connect, and you’re on your way.
HMA will now display a toolbar at the top of the page.
This allows you to choose a location to appear from when you visit a site, which removes content blocks.
You can also use a browser extension proxy, such as HMA’s Chrome proxy extension. This extension has the same functionality as the proxy website, but it’s conveniently located right in your browser. Here’s how to use it.
Go to the Chrome or Firefox web store, and click to download the extension.
When a pop-up appears, click Add extension to confirm installation.
Click the donkey hat in the top-right of your address bar. A box will pop up.
Select Turn on, and then click Disguised as to get a selection of locations.
Choose the location that will let you access the content you want, and you’re good to go!
Method 3: Use Tor
Tor (The Onion Router) is an open-source project comprising the Tor Browser, based on Firefox, and the Tor network. Tor Browser places multiple layers of encryption on your traffic, which is then randomly directed through the Tor network to hide your IP address before reaching the blocked website you want to access. This multilayered system of protection is where Tor gets its name, and with it, you can anonymously unblock access to most websites.
While you can get to almost any site using Tor, your web browsing will be slow. That’s because the Tor network is maintained by volunteers and performance isn’t the top priority — anonymity and privacy are.
If you’re on a school or company network, you might be blocked from downloading Tor. But give it a try and see if you can. Here’s how to use Tor:
Go to the Tor Browser site.
Select the device you’re using and follow the instructions to install Tor.
When Tor first launches, it will give you some configuration options, depending on what country you’re in and what your internet network settings are.
Once you’ve configured Tor (if necessary), go ahead and connect.
Ta-da! You’re in the Tor Browser, and you should be able to access whatever blocked site you were trying to reach.
Which is best for you: VPN, proxy, or Tor? It depends on what type of network you’re on and what content you’re trying to access. All can be good options.
Method 4: Quick-and-dirty ways to get around basic website restrictions
If you just want a one-time bypass at school or work, here are some fast methods to unblock basic website restrictions.
These tips may help you unblock a website without a proxy. Sometimes they work, sometimes not, but they’re worth a try.
Switch between HTTP and HTTPS
Most sites now offer both secure (HTTPS) and insecure HTTP) versions. You can sometimes trick a school or work firewall into unblocking a site by using the HTTP version of an address. So if is blocked, you may be able to get to it by using its insecure address () or vice-versa. However, HTTP is an insecure protocol, and we don’t recommend using it if you can avoid it — especially if you plan to enter any personal details into the website.
Try the IP address
Some crude site-blocking software only targets domain names — but not the site’s IP address. Find your site’s IP address using the Whois lookup tool. There, you’ll find a lot of information about a site, such as who owns it, and what its IP address is. Then, armed with this information, you may be able to get to the website.
For example, instead of accessing Facebook with its domain name, e. g., you may be able to get to Facebook by using the site’s IP address, 31. 13. 71. 36. So you’d type in, and this might work, depending on the type of site-blocking software that’s being used.
Use the Google cache
Google keeps local copies of sites to speed them up when you visit them. This technique is called caching.
If you’re blocked from the original version of a site, you may still be able to reach its cached version. To do this with Chrome, use the following syntax for the address:
cache: To find a cached version of the website:
From your browser, do a Google search for the page you want to find.
Click on the down arrow to the right of the site’s URL.
Click Cached, and if you’re lucky, it’ll open.
Try a URL shortener
You may be able to bypass unsophisticated site-blockers by using a URL shortener service such as Bitly, TinyURL, or These services replace a website’s URL address with a shorter domain name. If your school or business blocks YouTube, the Bitly shortened version might just unblock the video for you.
To use this technique with Bitly, take the following steps:
From your browser, do a Google search for the page you want to find, and copy the page’s URL.
Go to the Bitly website and paste the URL into the “Shorten your Link” window
Copy the resulting shortened URL.
Paste the shortened URL into your web browser’s address bar. With luck, that will take you to the page you want.
How to unblock sites in different places
All the above methods can help you get to the sites you want, but some work better than others depending on if you’re at school, work, or abroad. Let’s go into more detail on what works best in different situations.
How to unblock sites at school
You probably can’t install a VPN on a school computer, making it a bit trickier to unblock websites at school. Nor should you install the Tor browser on a school computer. Schools frown upon Tor’s use, because it can be used to access the dark web.
The best way to unblock sites at school is to use a proxy, such as the HMA web proxy or browser extensions described above. The quick methods above, like using a URL shortener, may work as well.
How to unblock sites at work
If you’re using your own PC for work or have administrative rights on your work computer, a VPN is your best answer to unblock websites at work. But if you don’t have the authority to install software on your PC, or you’re hot-desking, a VPN may not work.
Many companies use their own proxy servers as content filters to prevent employees from accessing certain websites and apps. You can try to circumvent your company’s proxy with a public web proxy — if your company hasn’t blocked these as well. If you can connect to a public web proxy, it should allow you to access the websites you want, despite your company’s best efforts to the contrary.
Your company almost certainly would prefer that employees refrain from installing Tor Browser on company equipment, so avoid using it.
If there’s a website you really want to access and you can’t get around company restrictions, you could open the site on your personal phone (using your mobile data, not the company’s network).
How to unblock sites from different countries
If you are traveling or you want to access a website that blocks access by geolocation, the best way to unblock the website likely is a VPN. VPNs are both fast and effective. If you’re dealing with particularly aggressive restrictions, try using Tor.
Some countries, such as China and its Great Firewall of China, make it especially difficult to access the open internet. While some VPNs work, they often have trouble. In addition, some VPNs are completely blocked, and Tor won’t work at all in China.
How to unblock sites on your phone
Most of the options listed above should work equally well on a mobile device. However, in this case, VPNs really are the easiest option.
Fiddling around with slow web proxies on a 3G network can be a nightmare. Public proxies don’t lend themselves to unblocking websites over the phone. That’s because every time you move your phone, it has to reconnect with the proxy. In addition, a poor connection can make the already slow public proxies unbearably slow.
You can try Tor, but it’s only available on Android phones. A third-party browser, Onion, uses the Tor network, but it’s not nearly as secure as the Tor browser.
Why are websites blocked?
There are many reasons why websites are blocked. Here are the most common ones.
School and work restrictions
Both schools and businesses block some websites for productivity reasons. For example, many schools ban porn, gaming, and gambling sites. And your employer wants you concentrating on work, not sharing cat videos on Facebook.
Another reason schools and business block websites is that they don’t want their bandwidth used for high-demand services. That’s why most block you from watching videos or sporting events. Whether it’s a YouTube video or a football match, both consume bandwidth the provider would rather use for official purposes.
Geo-restricted content
Entertainment services like Netflix have different content available from one country to the next. This usually is because of content licensing agreements. For example, you can watch Star Trek Discovery on Netflix in Europe, but not in the United States. That’s because CBS All Access has the rights to stream in the US, while Netflix has the show’s international rights.
Censorship
Some countries, such as China, Russia, Iraq, and North Korea censor a wide variety of content for political reasons. China has famously blocked many global social media platforms — you can’t use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or even WhatsApp in mainland China without a VPN.
Is it legal to unblock sites?
It depends on your country. Most countries, even China, allow some degree of VPN use. In the west, VPNs tend to be completely legal. There are some caveats.
Streaming, sharing or viewing illegal content — for example, torrenting copyrighted materials — is still illegal.
While it’s not illegal to use streaming services such as Netflix over a VPN, it may breach their terms of use. These services have, on rare occasions, banned users.
Most VPNs promise to not log your use of their service, but VPN providers have shared user information with law-enforcement agencies at times.
Unblock sites with ease
The freedom and security that comes with using a VPN to unblock sites far outweigh many of the possible problems. The other methods to unblock sites may work in a pinch, but nothing can beat the ease of use of a VPN. Whether you simply want to unblock a website, access your home content service while traveling abroad, or protect your online privacy, a VPN usually is your best choice.
Avant SecureLine VPN has servers in 55 locations across 34 countries. With no bandwidth limits and top-tier speeds, it’s got everything you need to unblock and stream video pretty much anywhere. In addition, Avast allows torrenting on some servers.
For security and privacy purposes, Avast doesn’t keep track of what you do online. It also supports a kill switch. When your network connection closes, Avant automatically kills your VPN session as well so none of your personal data leaks out. To get started, why not try it out for free?
The 5 Best Free Chrome VPNs to Unblock Any Website – Nira
Co-founder of Nira
Advertisers, governments, schools, and companies are watching where you go online. While advertisers just want to follow you around and sell you stuff, your school or company might block certain websites so you can’t access them.
This is often done in a heavy-handed, thoughtless way. Either by using algorithms to block entire topics or by blacklisting individual sites. The Chinese government, for example, blocks every Google domain. That includes Gmail. If you’re traveling to China and use Gmail, it’s nearly impossible to do your job while traveling.
You can also find that you’re barred from websites and content based on your location. Netflix, for example, serves completely different content based on your location. You might be halfway through an amazing series and then lose access by traveling to another country. The reverse is worse. I’ve come across amazing shows while traveling, got halfway through, and then lost access once I got home when I didn’t even realize the country access was different.
So how do we get around these restrictions?
Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
Strictly speaking, there’s no such thing as “Chrome VPN, ” but plenty of VPNs have a Chrome extension that lets you control the VPN through your browser. Many are completely free too. If you want easy access to the sites you want, wherever you are, they’re great choices.
First, a word of caution…
Free vs Paid VPNs
Paid VPNs are subscription services. They own servers, have employees, and incur other costs in order to provide the VPN service. Free VPNs get their revenue elsewhere. Some sell your data, some show you ads, some are freemium versions of paid VPNs.
In general, if you’re worried about privacy and security, get a paid VPN. I highly recommend going with ExpressVPN.
If you’re not worried about your private data and just want to get around site blocks without having to pay anything, consider one of the free options.
The 5 Best Free Chrome VPNs
1: CyberGhost – Best for Regular Unblocking
Free Server Locations: Germany, Netherlands, Romania, and United States
Paid Server Locations: 4, 800 servers across 58 countries
Encryption standards: 256-bit AES
Privacy: Logs connection attempts but anonymizes them. Doesn’t log traffic or IP addresses
Connection Speed: Won’t significantly slow down most users’ connection speed.
Pricing: Chrome extension is free. Subscriptions start at $12. 99 a month or $5. 99 a month billed annually.
How it works
Install from the Chrome store and fire it up from the extension bar. Choose your server location by clicking on the one that’s currently active.
Under the hood, CyberGhost’s Chrome extension is built on the Ethereum blockchain, meaning it’s one of the most private options out there.
They do warn you upfront that “this browser plugin is not secure when accessing Flash content and does not protect you from webRTC leaks. ” It’s also not good at unblocking streaming sites.
2: Browsec – Most Convenient
Browsec is faster than most free VPNs, secure, and easy to use.
Free Server Locations: Netherlands, Singapore, United Kingdom, and United States
Paid Server Locations: 12 locations
Privacy: Doesn’t collect personally identifying information but does collect meta-data. It is location in Russia so be warned.
Connection Speed: Up to 100MB/s but you’re more likely to get speeds of 10-15MB/s
Pricing: Has a freemium plan. Premium subscriptions start at $4. 99 per month or $3. 33 per month billed annually
Install the extension and then click on it. You don’t need to be signed in or have an account to use the Chrome extension. Location is reliable between websites, there are plenty of servers to choose from, and the interface is simple and intuitive.
I strongly recommend not using this service for anything sensitive. Since it’s located in Russia, I would assume anything you’re doing is being tracked.
3: TunnelBear – Best for Infrequent Usage
TunnelBear is a real VPN with a Chrome extension. Unlike most premium VPN services, TunnelBear has a free account with a data limit instead of a time limit. If you want a real VPN’s power and control, but only occasionally, TunnelBear will work for you.
Free Server Locations: Access to all paid servers
Paid Server Locations: Servers in 20 countries
Encryption standards: 256 bit symmetric encryption
Privacy: Logs connections but not traffic or IP addresses.
Connection Speed: Fast, connections as 50MB/s even on free plans
Pricing: Free accounts are free forever, paid accounts start at $9. 99 per month or $4. 99 per month billed annually
Install the extension, click on it and you’ll be asked to create an account. All you need is your email address, and when you confirm your free account you’ll get access to the 500MB a month that comes with a free account.
Be warned, doesn’t play that well with some other Chrome extensions — when we tested it, Ghostery and OneTab crashed.
4: HotSpot Shield – Easiest and Most Reliable Unblocking
HotSpot Shield is a freemium tool built around its Chrome extension, with no data or time cap.
Free Server Locations: Germany, Russia, Canada, and Netherlands
Paid Server Locations: India, Singapore, UK, France, and the US are available
Encryption standards: 256 bit AES encryption
Privacy: Collects aggregate activity logs but not traffic or IP addresses
Connection Speed: Usually fast enough but it will slow noticeably for more distant servers
Pricing: Has permanent free accounts, paid subscriptions start at $12. 99 per month or $9. 99 per month billed annually
Install the extension and you’re guided through a five-screen onboarding flow in the extension itself before you connect. You can choose your server by clicking on the one you’re connected to.
You’ll also see options for a cookie blocker, malware blocker, RTC protection, and a tool called Sword that creates spoof traffic while you browse to confuse trackers trying to identify you.
5: Windscribe – Most Flexible Server Locations
Free Server Locations: US, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and the UK
Paid Server Locations: Wider range of global servers as well as dedicated “Windflix” servers specifically designed to unblock Netflix
Encryption standards: 256-bit AES encryption
Privacy: Collects connection logs but not traffic or IP addresses
Connection Speed: Struggles with uptime and distant servers do display a noticeable lag.
Pricing: Freemium plans, paid subscriptions start at $9 per month or $4. 08 per month billed annually
Install and you’re prompted to sign up. Once you create your free account, you’re automatically connected.
You get 2GB of free data with WindScribe, but they do their best to help you make the most of it. The default setting is “Cruise Control, ” which doesn’t use any of your data allowance until you encounter a blocked website. When that happens, Windscribe flicks itself on automatically to get you access, choosing the appropriate server location to get you access.
The custom-tailored servers for Netflix are great too. If your primary goal is to get access to different Netflix regions, definitely consider this VPN, it makes that process super easy.
What if the website you want to view is still blocked?
Websites like YouTube and Netflix are engaged in a kind of arms race with VPN users, many VPNs are blocked by these sites. If you’re doing a lot of unblocking, or you want to unblock sites that are particularly VPN-proof, go with a paid VPN.
ExpressVPN – Best Paid VPN
Living up to its billing, this is the fastest full-featured VPN out there. It has an effective stealth mode so watchers won’t even know you’re using a VPN, solid encryption, and reliably unblocks everything on the internet.
There’s a Chrome extension but you need a subscription to use it. The desktop and mobile apps are easy to use too. It’s priced at $12. 99 a month or $9. 99 per month for a six-month subscription.
If you’re going to be using a VPN heavily, I highly recommend going with ExpressVPN.
How to Unblock Websites and Access Restricted Content
In the age of freedom of expression, the mere fact that you might need to google the phrase “how to unblock websites” seems like a cruel joke.
Fortunately, you can unblock websites quite easily – just use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)!
But that’s not the only way to get through to the website blocked by your school, workplace, or the government itself (I’m looking at you, China). Occasionally, open proxies or simply tinkering with your DNS settings can do the trick, too.
So, with that out of the way, let’s look at 8 methods to let you browse the web freely, bypassing censorship and geo-restrictions.
Unblocking websites: the easy way
Pick a reputable VPN service provider. We recommend NordVPN, now 72% OFF!
Register to get your account
Install their software, and log in using your credentials.
When you connect to their servers, your traffic will appear as if it were coming from another country, unblocking the website.
1. Use a VPN to unblock any site you wantA Virtual Private Network (VPN) is possibly the best method to unblock websites, especially if you need to access restricted content on a regular basis.
In short, a VPN is a tool that encrypts your internet traffic and lets you fake your IP address so that nobody can see your real location, allowing you to access geo-blocked websites, e. g. US Netflix. At the moment, it is also the most popular tool to combat online censorship – instead of accessing a website directly, you are doing so through a VPN server, which means your ISP doesn’t know what you’re doing and can’t block you.
The best thing about VPNs is the fact that they make your online activity completely anonymous. In this way, even your Internet Service Provider won’t be able to track you when you unblock websites that are restricted in your country (or office).
In addition, most top VPN providers offer apps for different platforms. For example, NordVPN has native apps for Windows, Linux, Android, Mac, iOS, and more. This opens a lot of possibilities to unblock sites whenever you want, no matter what kind of device you’re using.
Download NordVPN
Security level: High
Pros
Completely anonymous
High chance of unblocking any site
Allows you to watch geo-restricted content
Offers customer support
Cons
Needs installation
Usually not free
2. Unblock sites with an open proxyIf you’re in a hurry or need to unblock a page on a public computer, using a proxy website is the best way to go.
Just like VPNs, proxies hide your real IP address from the website, as well as the website’s IP address from your government, workplace, or university. Using a proxy is free and requires no installation, making it a perfect tool to get around restrictions at work, school, or a public library. Proxies are also able to unlock some geo-restricted pages, but you won’t have any luck with big streaming services like Netflix.
Proxies have their own drawbacks. Some proxy providers might monitor your online activity or even leak your IP, failing to let you unblock sites at all.
Also, your school or workplace might block proxy websites themselves. Luckily, as the number of proxy sites on the web is huge, you are likely to find one that isn’t blacklisted.
Security level: Medium
No installation required
Usually free
Unblocks some geo-restricted content
Might collect your data
Can be blacklisted by an admin
Might fail to unblock sites
Limited servers
Usually quite slow
3. Install a VPN or proxy browser extensionIf you need to unblock a dynamic site like Youtube, Twitter, or Amazon, a website-based proxy might not be enough. Instead, you can try installing a proxy in the form of a browser extension for your Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. This kind of website unblocker tool will help you browse with ease, letting you choose different servers depending on your needs.
You might also want to try a VPN browser extension as an alternative to installing the program onto your computer. Most big-brand VPNs offer add-ons that you can use with your preferred browser.
Encrypts your connection
High chance of unblocking websites
Lets you access geo-restricted streaming sites
Requires installation on the browser
4. Use an IP address instead of a URLThere’s always a chance that your institution blocks specific URLs instead of IPs. If that’s the case, you can unblock a site with the help of its IP address.
In case you’re not familiar with the terms, an URL is the website address string you see in your address bar (like or), while an IP address is a specific sequence of numbers that is unique to the server hosting the website. You can paste it into the address bar and access the site you need.
However, how do you find the IP address of a website?
Well, there are a few methods. For example, this is what you can do if you’re using Windows:
Type in “cmd” into your start menu
Open a program called Command Prompt
Write the word “ping” and the name of the website you want to unblock (for example, )
Then, all you have to do is press Enter and you’ll have the IP address of the site you want to unblock. Paste it into your search bar and enjoy your restricted content!
Keep in mind that other operating systems have different tools for locating IP addresses. Linux users can find theirs by typing dig into the command line while Mac users can use the Traceroute option.
Security level: Low
Completely free
No installation needed
Doesn’t always work
Complicated for people with no IT knowledge
No encryption
5. Use the Tor Browser to unblock banned sitesThe Tor Browser is a free open-source internet anonymity tool created as a response to online censorship.
By sending your data through a network of volunteer servers, it hides your IP from the destination server and hides the destination server IP from your ISP. As a result, the Tor browser is a great tool to unblock sites.
If you want to give it a shot, download Tor and use it as your regular browser. Keep in mind that your connection speed might plummet while Tor is in use, and that some websites might still be blocked.
100% anonymity
Traffic encryption
Access to the deep web
No access to Netflix
Slower speed
Some sites block Tor nodes
Requires installation
6. View blocked content with Google TranslateEven though this might sound like a joke, you can actually unblock (or rather “access content on”) sites by using good old Google Translate.
Simply paste the website you want to unblock into the field where you would type the text that needs to be translated. Then, click on the link that comes in the translation section and you’ll access the page!
However, be aware that the quality of the content displayed can be disappointing. You might even see only text instead of the usual layout. In addition, you might not be able to click the links presented on the website.
As a result, Google Translate is useful only when you need to unblock a site for its information, e. an article or a forum thread.
Easy to use
Absolutely free
No data encryption
Might not preserve the original layout
Works only on PCs
7. Take advantage of a dynamic IPThis method will help you access sites that specifically block your IP address. However, it will work only if your ISP has given you a dynamic IP address, which changes occasionally.
It’s not rocket science: if you can’t access a particular website, simply restart your router and see whether the page you want to visit is able to load.
Unfortunately, if you have a static IP address, restarting your router won’t work for you. To determine the kind of IP you have (dynamic or static), write it down and compare it with the one you get after the router restart.
Tip: To see your current IP address, type in “what is my IP address” into your browser’s search bar.
Works only with dynamic IP addresses
Useful only in cases when a particular website blocks your IP
8. Use HTML to PDF converter to download restricted contentIf you don’t really need to access a restricted website, i. e. you only need to read its contents, then this HTML to PDF converter may do the trick.
This free tool will take any URL and convert it to a PDF document, displaying the text and pictures as they appear on the site. You can then download the file or simply preview it online.
No way of interacting with the content
Doesn’t allow you to actually visit the site
Best VPNs to access blocked sitesIf you’ve hit a brick wall when trying to access some web page, a VPN is a superb solution to overcome these restrictions. The problem is, it can sometimes be a bit hard to choose the right VPN for you. If you want to unblock particular streaming services, you should instead go directly to pages like best VPN for streaming or best VPN for torrenting. These will guide you in the right direction.
For everyone else, I’ve gathered a couple of VPNs that should be good in most scenarios when unblocking websites.
NordVPN
Based in:PanamaServers/countries:5, 500+ servers in 59 countriesUnblocks Netflix:YesCurrent deal:Get NordVPN, now 72% OFF + 3 Months FREE!
Visit NordVPN
NordVPN is a widely known VPN for unblocking websites. If a page is online with NordVPN, you will be able to access it, even if your government blocks it. This also applies to streaming services that are not yet officially available in your region. Ever wanted to watch that blocked YouTube video or subscribe to Hulu or HBO Max? You will be able to pull this off with NordVPN.
In addition to this, NordVPN has a SmartDNS feature. You can set it up even on devices that don’t even support VPN apps. For more NordVPN features, see our NordVPN review.
Choose NordVPN for:
large server fleet
strong security features
fast connection speeds
independently audited no-logs policy
30-day money-back guarantee
Surfhark
Based in:British Virgin IslandsServers/countries:3, 200+ servers in 65 countriesUnblocks Netflix:YesCurrent deal:Get Surfshark, now 81% OFF!
Visit Surfshark
Surfshark is another great pick if you want to browse the web freely. Although it’s one of the newest VPN providers on the list, it can prove to be an invaluable tool that increases the scope of what content is available to you.
With plenty of servers (including obfuscated ones), it won’t be hard to find one that works for you. Even if you want to access traditionally hard-to-unblock websites like Netflix or DAZN, Surfshark manages to deal with both.
The app constraints don’t restrict it – you can set up their SmartDNS to use it with any device. For more information, read our Surfshark VPN review.
Choose Surfshark for:
Windows and Android OS
AES-256-GCM encryption
Chrome and Firefox browser extensions
NoBorders feature to use in heavily restricted countries
7-day free trial
VyprVPN
Based in:SwitzerlandServers/countries:700 servers in 70 countriesUnblocks Netflix:YesCurrent deal:Get up to 12 months FREE!
Visit VyprVPN
While Vypr most time flies under the radar, it’s one of the best VPNs for unblocking all kinds of websites. All of their servers are owned by them, and they’re using their proprietary DNS servers. They also have a DNS relay system in place, which helps disguise the fact that you’re coming from a VPN.
This approach seems to be working, as we could unblock most of the inaccessible servers with VyprVPN. It wasn’t isolated to geographically restricted store pages. You can also watch foreign Netflix or HBO Max libraries. For more information, read our VyprVPN review.
Choose VyprVPN for:
great security features
good connection speeds
zero-log policy
inexpensive option for long-term users
How to unblock websites at school or work? It’s no secret that institutions like schools, universities, or offices can restrict access to certain websites that are deemed inappropriate or might put a strain on productivity.
However, these restrictions sometimes go overboard. Whether you want to check your emails or take a scroll or two through your social media platform, you may need to have a way to unblock the sites that let you communicate with the outside world.
So, here’s what might work best for you. If it’s your personal work computer, you might be able to install a VPN and use it as much as you please. However, you won’t have such luxury if you’re using a public computer at school or if you don’t have an assigned workstation at your job.
In this case, a proxy website might become your best friend, as it requires no installation. Other good methods to unblock sites at school or work are using IP instead of URL or simply converting the page’s contents into a PDF file.
You may also like to read:
Why are websites getting banned? If you find yourself unable to access a web page, there can be multiple reasons behind it. Luckily, whether you’ve accidentally left the Parental Control filter on or the site got banned by the government, there’s usually a way to fix this problem by yourself.
Censorship. Believe it or not, online censorship is still a huge problem in 2021 – and China is not the only culprit. There are many governments that limit the access to content that might clash with their political or religious views, and a good VPN is one of the few ways to bypass this.
Geo-blocking. The majority of streaming sites offer a different content selection for people in different countries because of copyright agreements. Luckily, you can watch movies unavailable in your own country thanks to proxies and VPNs.
Work policy. Some schools, universities, or offices block access to certain websites that contain unethical, illegal, or inappropriate content. However, even completely safe sites often get blocked in an attempt to increase productivity or to preserve bandwidth.
Is it legal to unblock websites? In Western countries, the usage of tools like VPNs or proxies is completely legal as long as you don’t involve yourself in illegal activities like torrenting copyrighted content.
So, if you simply want to unblock Facebook at work, you won’t break any laws. Sure, you go against your work policy and might still get into trouble, but that’s about it. The same goes for unblocking geo-restricted content on streaming sites like Netflix or Youtube. It is not illegal – it simply goes against the site’s terms of use.
However, keep in mind that every country is different. Countries like China, Saudi Arabia, or North Korea (which are listed as “Enemies of the Internet” by Reporters Without Borders) have much stricter laws in terms of VPN usage. It is smart to research the regulations of your particular country before trying to access restricted websites.
Bottom lineWhether you live in a country where the majority of international websites are blocked or you simply want to watch a Netflix movie unavailable in your region, having lots of options to unblock sites feels liberating. Plus, software tools like NordVPN make the process really simple even for novice users.
It’s good to know that no matter how hard someone might try to enforce online censorship, there will always be people who develop new ways to defend your right to information.
FAQ
How to unblock websites at school?
The fastest and easiest way to unblock websites at school is using a proxy website. It will not only unblock the site you need, but will also make it hard to track your online activity.
Which browser is best for blocked sites?
The Tor browser. Even though other browsers like Chrome allow you to add extensions that unblock sites, Tor does this on its own without the need for add-ons.
Can VPN unblock sites?
Yes. A VPN can bypass most internet restrictions, allowing you to access geo-restricted content or websites banned by your institution.
More VPN guides from CyberNews:How to Bypass VPN Blocks & Stay Undetectable: become a ghost with these proven methods
How to Get a US (American) IP Address: become a citizen without the need to apply for citizenship
How to Bypass Circle with Disney: accept no censorship in your household with these solutions
Frequently Asked Questions about website unblockers
What is the best Unblocker website?
The 5 Best Free Chrome VPNs1: CyberGhost – Best for Regular Unblocking.2: Browsec – Most Convenient.3: TunnelBear – Best for Infrequent Usage.4: HotSpot Shield – Easiest and Most Reliable Unblocking.5: Windscribe – Most Flexible Server Locations.ExpressVPN – Best Paid VPN.
How do you Unrestrict a website?
Use a VPN to unblock any site you want. … Unblock sites with an open proxy. … Install a VPN or proxy browser extension. … Use an IP address instead of a URL. … Use the Tor Browser to unblock banned sites. … View blocked content with Google Translate. … Take advantage of a dynamic IP.More items…•Sep 29, 2021
How do I unblock a website on my computer?
Go to Internet Options in Control Panel and on the Security tab, click on Restricted Websites in the Internet Security Zone, and then on the button labeled “Sites” (See image below). Check if the URL of the website you wish to access is listed there. If yes, select the URL and click Remove.Apr 15, 2020
