Last fall, six Michigan lawmakers introduced a bill that would make VPNs illegal in the state and require internet providers to block them. It hasn’t moved out of committee, and using a VPN is still legal from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula. Even so, it raised a fair question for many Michiganders.
What does a VPN actually do for them? Mostly, it keeps your location and your browsing under your control. Sports apps, banks, and state services read your IP address to decide where you are, so a weekend in Windsor or Chicago can change what you’re allowed to stream or sign in to.
On campus and library networks, a VPN also hides your activity from the network’s owner. Every VPN below offers a Michigan server, so the choice is about what else each one does well.
Five VPNs With Michigan Servers
- NordVPN: Best Overall. Fastest on US servers in our tests.
- Proton VPN: Best for Privacy. No-logs policy audited every year.
- ExpressVPN: Best for Simple Apps. Servers in all 50 states, including Detroit.
- Private Internet Access: Best on a Budget. The lowest price of the five.
- Surfshark: Best for Streaming. Unblocked US services without an extension.
Michigan VPNs Compared
The speed column shows how much download speed each VPN lost on US servers, and the streaming column covers Netflix US, Hulu, Peacock, HBO Max, Prime Video, and Pluto TV.
| VPN | Michigan server | Speed loss on US servers | US streaming services unblocked | Devices | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Yes | 4.7% | 6 of 6 | 10 | About $3.50/mo |
| Proton VPN | Detroit | 8.8% | 4 of 6 | 10 | About $3/mo |
| ExpressVPN | Detroit | 7.0% | 6 of 6 | 10 to 14 | About $3/mo |
| Private Internet Access | Yes | 7.7% | 3 of 6 | Unlimited | About $2/mo |
| Surfshark | Detroit | 10.5% | 6 of 6 | Unlimited | About $2.50/mo |
The Best Michigan VPNs in Detail
1. NordVPN: Best Overall VPN for Michigan
Pros
- Michigan location and servers in every state
- Top speeds on US servers
- Unblocked Hulu, Peacock, and HBO Max
- Independently audited no-logs policy
- Malware blocking on the Complete plan
Cons
- Higher renewal price
NordVPN has a Michigan location and covers all 50 states, so you can keep a local IP address at home and switch to a neighboring state when you travel. It was also the fastest of the five on US servers, with a 4.7% speed loss. That speed pays off once you leave the state.
On a trip across the bridge to Windsor, Hulu and Peacock stop working, and Netflix switches to its Canadian catalog. NordVPN unblocked Netflix US, Hulu, Peacock, and HBO Max, and Prime Video and Pluto TV detected it only now and then.
Its privacy record is the other reason it leads our ranking of the best VPN services. The no-logs policy has been independently audited, which means outside firms verified that NordVPN keeps no record of what you do online, and the Complete plan adds next-gen antivirus to block malware.
The drawback is the renewal price, which increases sharply after the first term. For that reason, the two-year plan, at about $3.50 a month, keeps the low rate the longest.
2. Proton VPN: Best Michigan VPN for Privacy
Pros
- Detroit servers
- No-logs policy audited every year
- Strict Swiss privacy laws
- Disguises VPN traffic on restricted networks
- Unblocked Netflix US and HBO Max
Cons
- Couldn’t unblock Hulu
- No Smart DNS for TVs and consoles
Proton VPN lists Detroit among its US cities, and it’s the VPN we’d choose if privacy is the main reason you’re subscribing. The company is based in Switzerland, and an independent firm audits its no-logs policy every year. VPN Plus, the plan with the Detroit servers, costs about $3 a month on a two-year term.
On speed, it’s close to the leaders. Proton VPN recorded an 8.8% speed loss on US servers and unblocked Netflix US, Peacock, HBO Max, and Prime Video. However, it couldn’t unblock Hulu, so choose NordVPN or Surfshark if Hulu is what you watch when you’re away from home.
Beyond streaming, its Stealth protocol disguises VPN traffic as ordinary web traffic, which lets it work on campus or office networks that block VPNs. On the other hand, there’s no Smart DNS. As a result, a smart TV without the Proton VPN app requires a router setup.
3. ExpressVPN: Best for Easy Setup
Pros
- Locations in all 50 states, including Detroit
- Connects in a second or two
- Browser extension unblocks Prime Video
- Ad and tracker blocking on every plan
- Quantum-resistant encryption
Cons
- Few settings to adjust
- Renewal costs more than the first term
ExpressVPN has more than 60 US locations, with at least one in every state, and Detroit is on the list. Its apps are the simplest of the five: open one, type Detroit, and you’re connected in a second or two. Speed and streaming are just as dependable.
With Lightway, ExpressVPN’s own protocol, it recorded a 7.0% speed loss on US servers. It also works with Netflix US and unblocked Hulu, Peacock, and HBO Max. Prime Video detected it a few times, but its browser extension unblocked it. As for privacy, Advanced Protection blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites.
Connections use quantum-resistant encryption, as well. That said, there’s little to customize, so users who like to change protocols and ports should look at PIA, which also costs less than ExpressVPN’s roughly $3 a month on the two-year Basic plan.
4. Private Internet Access: Best Budget VPN for Michigan
Pros
- Every state covered
- Low long-term price
- Unlimited devices
- Open-source apps
- No-logs policy proven in court
Cons
- Couldn’t unblock Hulu or HBO Max
- Dated, cluttered desktop app
Private Internet Access has a server in every US state, including Michigan, and it costs about $2 a month on its long plan. That’s the lowest price here, and it’s why PIA ranks among the best cheap VPNs. It also allows unlimited devices, so one subscription covers every phone, laptop, and TV in the house.
Its speed was respectable too, with a 7.7% loss on US servers. Streaming is weaker. PIA unblocked Netflix US, Peacock, and Pluto TV, but it failed on Hulu and HBO Max, so if those two are why you’re subscribing, NordVPN or Surfshark is the better choice.
PIA makes up for it with privacy and control. Its apps are open source, its no-logs policy has been tested in court with no user data to hand over, and MACE, its built-in blocker, removes ads and trackers. You can also adjust protocols and encryption, as our full PIA review shows.
However, the desktop app looks dated and cluttered, so expect a few minutes of exploring before the settings feel familiar.
5. Surfshark: Best Michigan VPN for Streaming
Pros
- Detroit servers
- Unblocked Hulu and Prime Video in the app
- Blocks ads and trackers
- Masked email for sign-ups on every plan
- Unlimited devices
Cons
- Weaker speeds on US servers
- Connections sometimes take a few seconds
Surfshark has servers in Detroit, and it was the easiest VPN for US streaming. It unblocked Netflix US, Hulu, Peacock, HBO Max, Prime Video, and Pluto TV, and it never required its browser extension to do it. Speed is its weaker side. Surfshark recorded a 10.5% speed loss on US servers, behind NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
We also saw this in our Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN comparison. That’s still enough for HD streaming, but NordVPN is the faster choice if large downloads are part of your routine.
Beyond streaming, Surfshark’s features include CleanWeb, which blocks ads and trackers. There’s also Alternative ID, which creates a masked email address for sign-ups on every plan. It costs about $2.50 a month when you commit to its longest term, and that covers unlimited devices.
How to Get a Michigan IP Address
Every VPN in this ranking offers a Michigan server, and the setup is the same on each.
- Subscribe to a VPN with a Michigan location and install its app.
- Search the server list for Detroit or Michigan, then connect.
- Open an IP lookup site and check that it shows Michigan.
- Clear your browser’s cookies, then reopen the site or app you want to use.
Without that last step, many sites keep using the location they stored on your previous visit.
Watching Detroit Sports With a VPN
Michigan’s sports TV changed in 2026. The Tigers left FanDuel Sports Network for Detroit SportsNet, and the Red Wings followed this season. Detroit SportsNet sells in-market streaming to viewers in the Tigers’ home territory, which covers all of Michigan, so the app checks where you’re connecting from.
Meanwhile, MLB.TV blacks out Tigers games for viewers in that territory. Both checks read your IP address, and a VPN changes it. On a trip out of state, a Michigan server keeps your IP address local. For MLB.TV blackouts, the method is the reverse: connect to a US server outside the team’s territory, such as Denver or Dallas.
Phones are less predictable. Sports apps there may also read your GPS location, which a VPN doesn’t change, so a laptop or streaming device is more consistent.
Are VPNs Legal in Michigan?
Yes. Using a VPN is legal throughout Michigan, and no state law restricts it. The one threat is House Bill 4938, the Anticorruption of Public Morals Act. Besides banning a wide range of online content, it would outlaw selling or using a VPN in Michigan and force internet providers to block VPN traffic.
The bill went to the House Judiciary Committee in September 2025 and hasn’t had a hearing since, so none of it applies today. Bills that would require age checks on adult websites also remain in committee. One limit does apply, but it comes from businesses instead of the state.
Michigan’s licensed sportsbooks and online casinos verify your location before you bet, detect VPNs, and prohibit them in their terms. A VPN won’t let you bet from outside Michigan, and trying can lead to a closed account.
Final Thoughts
A Michigan server is the easy part. The differences show up in speed, streaming, and privacy, and NordVPN combines those best, so it’s the one we’d install for most people in the state.
Proton VPN is the better fit if privacy is the whole point, and PIA makes sense when price decides it. All five ultimately have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so tests cost nothing.
FAQ
Is Michigan banning VPNs?
No. House Bill 4938 would require internet providers to block VPNs, but it hasn't received a committee hearing or a vote, so VPNs remain legal everywhere in Michigan.
Which VPN has a Michigan server?
NordVPN, Proton VPN, ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and Surfshark have Michigan locations, mostly in Detroit, so each can connect users to a Michigan IP address.
Can you choose a specific state with a VPN?
Yes. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access list a location in every state, while Proton VPN and Surfshark cover selected states, mostly around large cities.
Does a VPN change your GPS location?
No. A VPN changes the IP address websites see, but a phone still shares its GPS location with apps that request it, including many sports and betting apps.
Does Michigan have an age verification law for adult sites?
No. Michigan hasn't passed an age-verification law for adult websites. Bills requiring one haven't left committee, so adult sites work in Michigan without an ID check.