Getting a Canadian IP address can be useful for several reasons. If you’re leaving Canada on a trip or moving abroad, it can help you access content from home or use your local banking services without issues. Even if you are in Canada, a different IP address will help keep you private while you use the internet.
Whatever the case may be, there are a few approaches to making the switch, but a virtual private network (VPN) is the most convenient and reliable. So, in this comprehensive guide, we’ll run through the simple step-by-step process of acquiring an IP address in Canada with a VPN.
Because VPN services vary in quality, we’ll also provide a shortlist of the best ones to consider for that purpose.
How to Get a Canadian IP Address: Step-by-Step Tutorial
Obtain a Canadian IP address by following the instructions below. We’re demonstrating using the best VPN for Canada, NordVPN, but the steps are largely the same for any premium provider of your choice.
Get a Canadian IP address with NordVPN
- Subscribe to a reliable VPN with servers in Canada: Choose a VPN service that’s great at bypassing geo-restrictions while offering excellent performance and security. Visit the provider’s website and select a subscription plan from the options. Most top services have money-back guarantees, so you can try the service before committing.
- Download and Install: Download the VPN app from its website or official mobile app store. NordVPN and the other services discussed below support a wide range of devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, tvOS, and many Linux distros.
- Connect to a VPN Server: Launch the installed app and sign in with your account details. Head over to the server selection menu and search for a server location in Canada. Click to confirm and wait for a few moments while the VPN activates the connection.
Congratulations! You’re now virtually located in Canada and can use Canadian-restricted content and services.
The 3 Best VPNs for Getting a Canadian IP Address
Canada is a fairly popular VPN location, at least for premium services. So, maybe the random VPN you come across offers Canadian servers. But that’s not your cue to hop on, or you may waste your time — or worse.
The major factors to consider when choosing your ideal Canadian VPN include:
- A network of Canadian servers
- Fast connection speeds
- Excellent unblocking capabilities
- High-level security and privacy
- Strict no-logs policy
- Wide compatibility
- Responsive customer support
The VPN services we’ll discuss below meet these criteria and more. Let’s take a look at each provider in turn.
1. NordVPN
Connect to any of NordVPN’s 300+ servers in Canada, and you have a Canadian IP address from the best VPN on the market. NordVPN’s collection in the country is distributed across Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto.
Those high-performance servers provide exceptional speeds that barely dent your original internet connection. Consequently, you can be sure of smooth browsing and quick downloads. Buffering? We experienced nothing of the sort while streaming, even while connected from far away.
NordVPN should be the top option on your list if you’re looking to enjoy homemade news, shows, and programs on your trips abroad. Geo-restrictions on services like TVA, CBC, and Sportsnet are easily brushed aside, and we found this is also the case for major streaming services.
You can protect most of your devices thanks to the provider’s support for various popular platforms and devices. NordVPN lets you connect up to 10 devices at once. That’s twice the industry average for paid services.
But while it shines in all these areas, NordVPN’s bread and butter is making sure you stay safe and private online. The VPN’s GCM-256-bit encryption turns your traffic into a jumbled mess that prying eyes can’t decipher, for instance. It’s packed with other top-notch tools, including a kill switch and Threat Protection Pro, a feature that eliminates pesky ads and malware.
Nobody else gets to see details of your online sessions because NordVPN doesn’t track or store them on its servers. Its Panaman jurisdiction has no mandatory data retention laws, anyway.
NordVPN’s plans all have a 30-day money-back guarantee attached to them, so you’re not taking any risks. If you don’t like what you see, a full refund is available within that window.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has servers in Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto, making it a great option for obtaining a Canadian IP address.They make up part of its impressive pool of more than 3,000 servers in 105 countries.
We tried to stream an original series on Netflix Canada from half the globe away, and (unsurprisingly, based on previous tests) the provider instantly let us through. Similar attempts with several other streaming services and Canadian TV channels yielded the same positive results.
So, ExpressVPN handles geo-restrictions easily, but do you get smooth, steady connections alongside that? Sure, you do. Thanks to its well-optimized network, 10 Gbps servers, and custom Lightway Turbo protocol, the VPN delivers bufferless streaming and uninterrupted browsing.
You can install ExpressVPN on major computer and mobile operating systems. It also works with gaming consoles, routers, and streaming devices. A single subscription covers up to eight devices simultaneously.
ExpressVPN is also one of the most secure VPNs available. It uses AES-256 encryption, which is the gold standard for data protection. What’s more, it follows a strict no-logs policy that has undergone multiple audits, so you can be sure that none of your online activities are recorded or stored.
On top of that, the provider’s TrustedServer technology wipes its servers clean after each reboot. That way, nothing is stored that can lead back to you. We rate ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager, too — it will get rid of trackers that monitor your sessions.
ExpressVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can give the service a spin within that period to decide if it’s worth the fee.
3. Private Internet Access
PIA has servers in every American state. It doesn’t match that presence north of the US border, but there are plenty of options for getting a Canadian IP address if its unrivaled network is any indication.
It offers next-gen 10 Gbps servers designed to handle heavy loads. Couple that with modern protocols, and you can expect fast connections for browsing, streaming, and more. Even when there are slowdowns in peak usage times, the network’s sheer size means you can switch to a faster alternative in one click.
Unblocking-wise, it’s not quite on the same level as NordVPN or ExpressVPN. But that’s not an issue here, as PIA offers access to Netflix Canada, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more. Similarly, you can stream Canadian TV channels to catch up on local programs on your travels.
What’s particularly impressive is that Private Internet Access allows unlimited simultaneous connections. That means you can connect as many devices as you want on one subscription.
As for security, the VPN is loaded with features. It offers a choice between high-level AES encryption algorithms, as well as an advanced kill switch and DNS leak protection. MACE, its impressive ad-blocker, detects and stops ads at the DNS level.
If you’re especially privacy-focused, PIA’s US headquarters may be cause for concern because that’s a 5 Eyes member. But there’s nothing to worry about — the provider has demonstrated (in court, no less) that it doesn’t store identifiable logs.
Like the other VPNs presented in this guide on how to obtain a Canadian IP address, PIA is confident in the quality of its service. If you’re unsatisfied within 30 days of purchasing a subscription, you can get a full refund.
Other Ways to Get a Canadian IP Address
A VPN does the job pretty effectively, but it’s not the only way to acquire an IP address in Canada. These are two alternative methods:
Proxy Server 🛜
Like a VPN, a proxy server is an intermediary between your device and the internet and reroutes your online traffic through a remote server.
Connect to a proxy server in Canada, and it will fetch requested content and deliver it to you — but there’s no encryption this time. On one hand, it can translates to faster internet speeds. Conversely, that lack of encryption means bad actors can more easily intercept and steal your data.
All differences between proxies and VPNs are explained here for those interested.
Tor Browser 🧅
There’s also The Onion Router or Tor, an open-source platform. The network routes your internet traffic through multiple nodes worldwide, effectively boosting your anonymity.
While Tor can provide a Canadian IP address and is great for the ultra-paranoid, you’d be sacrificing performance big time. You can expect extremely slow connection speeds, making it unsuitable for streaming, downloads, or other bandwidth-heavy activities.
Click here to see why Tor is inferior to a VPN in almost every aspect.
What About Free VPNs? 🆓
Do you need a VPN subscription to get an IP address in Canada? Not necessarily, but we highly recommend it. Here’s why.
For one, they typically only offer small server networks. That means there’s a significantly smaller chance of getting one with Canadian servers in the first place.
Even when that’s available, they’re bound to be congested often. What does that mean for you? Slower speeds and frequent connection drops, and neither is ideal for the activities you need a Canadian IP address. It gets worse when you throw in the data caps and speed throttling that comes with crossing bandwidth limits.
Now, most people primarily use a VPN for privacy purposes. If a provider logs your sessions, like many free VPNs do, what’s the point in getting one? On top of that, they may only have subpar encryption and security features that can only take you so far.
In short, a free Canadian VPN is a gamble. You’re much better off using a premium provider like those discussed above instead. An affordable VPN like NordVPN or PIA offers great value for your money on a tight budget.
Recap
A virtual private network (VPN) is the option you can count on to get a Canadian IP address from anywhere. With it, you can access websites and services exclusive to Canada while protecting your online privacy and data. We’ve outlined the steps to follow in this article.
Additionally, we’ve highlighted the best VPN options to consider. The right choice will have Canadian servers, excellent performance, unblock websites and streaming services, and offer top-of-the-line features.
NordVPN fits these specifications best, which is why we recommend it. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try it out risk-free.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about getting a Canadian IP address from elsewhere.
🍁 How to change your IP address to Canada?
You can change your IP address to a Canadian one using either of these methods: VPN, proxy server, or the Tor network. A VPN is the most convenient and secure option of all three.
⚙️ What can I do with a Canadian IP address?
Here’s what you can do with an IP address in Canada, even if you’re abroad:
- Stream Canadian TV shows, movies, and other programs on Canadian-exclusive platforms like CBC, Crave, and CTV.
- Use banking services, local news websites, and other online services that need a Canadian IP address.
- Take advantage of deals and discounts exclusive to local e-commerce sites.
- If you’re closer to Canada than your home country, a Canadian server can provide better speeds and lower latency.
- Protect your online identity and data by masking your real IP address and replacing it with a Canadian one.
⚖️ Is getting a Canadian IP address with a VPN legal?
Yes, it is. VPNs are legal in Canada, and so is getting an IP address from abroad. However, breaking the law while connected to a Canadian VPN server may result in legal issues.