Key Takeaways: How to Get a Canadian IP
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.
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
ExpressVPN unblocks any content using servers in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
Pros:
- Several Canadian servers
- Good streaming speeds
- User-friendly application
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.
ExpressVPN Plans
2. NordVPN: Largest Number of Canadian VPN Servers
NordVPN offers over 200 servers in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
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.
Standard
3. TunnelBear: Best Free VPN Option
TunnelBear offers free servers in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
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.
Individual
- 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).