In our October Paris tests from Europe, NordVPN was the fastest paid VPN, and it covers more French cities than the other VPNs we tested. ExpressVPN and Proton VPN also produced Paris IP addresses, and so did Windscribe and PrivadoVPN on their free plans
French IP Address Quick Start for 2026
- Start a NordVPN subscription, then add the app to each device you plan to use.
- Open the France entry and choose Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, or Strasbourg.
- Check that whatismyipaddress.com lists France as the country.
- Reload the French site you want to use, so it reads the new IP address.
French Cities on Each VPN
French sites check the country of your IP address, so the city affects only local search results and maps.
- NordVPN: Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg.
- ExpressVPN: two Paris locations, Marseille, Strasbourg, and Alsace. Paris and Marseille matched their lookups, and Alsace read Strasbourg, so the five locations cover three cities.
- Proton VPN: 678 servers in Paris and Marseille.
Paris Speed Test Results
We tested from Europe on Windows 11, with a 190.36 Mbps baseline. Each VPN connected to Paris, and we measured speed against a Paris Speedtest server before looking the IP address up on whatismyipaddress.com. Each IP address read Paris, with no IPv6 address showing.
| VPN | ISP shown | Download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | PacketHub S.A. | 178.26 Mbps | 18.16 Mbps | 44 ms |
| ExpressVPN | VPN Consumer Paris France | 172.31 Mbps | 18.21 Mbps | 40 ms |
| Proton VPN | PV SL Hosted Paris | 156.51 Mbps | 18.35 Mbps | 45 ms |
NordVPN lost 6.4% of our download speed, ExpressVPN 9.5%, and Proton VPN 17.8% on a server at 24% load. ExpressVPN’s lookup lists it as a VPN consumer service, which French sites with strict detection can use to block it.
Paid VPNs for a French IP Address
1. NordVPN: Most French Cities
Pros
- 4 French cities
- Android TV app
- Auto-connect on public Wi-Fi
Cons
- Connection issues alongside ExpressVPN on Windows
- No port forwarding for P2P
On a Paris server, NordVPN measured 178.26 Mbps with a 44 ms ping, the fastest paid result in our French tests. The IP lookup showed Paris. Of the paid VPNs we tested, it’s the only one with a Bordeaux location, and its Android TV app brings the French IP address to a television.
Its one fault in our testing was on Windows, where it sometimes wouldn’t connect with ExpressVPN also installed. Using it as the only VPN on a PC avoids that. New subscribers pay under $3.50 a month for NordVPN’s Basic plan when they choose 27 months.
2. Proton VPN: Largest French Server List
Pros
- Paris and Marseille servers
- Port forwarding
- Secure Core servers
Cons
- Noticeable speed loss in Paris
- No Smart DNS
Proton VPN’s 678 French servers are split between Paris and Marseille, with most in Paris. Its Paris server measured 156.51 Mbps with a 45 ms ping, enough for 4K streaming but the slowest paid result. Port forwarding on paid plans puts it among our top VPNs for torrenting. VPN Plus, Proton VPN’s main plan, averages less than $3 a month across 24 months.
3. ExpressVPN: Five French Locations
Pros
- Two Paris locations
- Lookups match Paris and Marseille
- Automatic protocol selection
Cons
- Lookups label it a VPN connection
- Alsace location reads Strasbourg
ExpressVPN’s Paris server measured 172.31 Mbps with a 40 ms ping, the lowest of the paid VPNs. With two Paris locations, there’s a second server to switch to when one is busy. Our PIA vs ExpressVPN comparison covers a cheaper alternative. ExpressVPN’s Basic plan is priced below $3 a month at first and about $100 a year on renewal.
Free Options for a French IP Address
France is on several free plans, and the two we tested matched the paid VPNs on speed:
- Windscribe: two free Paris servers, with Marseille and Bordeaux reserved for paid users. It measured 180.60 Mbps, and free use ends at 10 GB each month.
- PrivadoVPN: a free Paris server that measured 182.81 Mbps and looked up as Paris, with the same 10 GB monthly cap.
- Hide.me: free French servers that measured 174.36 Mbps in Paris, with unlimited data but blocked streaming and torrenting.
The paid VPNs add more French cities, unlimited data, and apps for TVs.
France.tv, Netflix France, and Other French Services
France.tv restricts many of its streams to French IP addresses, including sports such as the French Open and the Tour de France. Netflix switches to its French catalog on a French IP address, and our Netflix VPN guide lists the VPNs it doesn’t block.
Our Verdict
NordVPN is the best VPN for a French IP address. It recorded the top paid speed in Paris, covers four French cities, and leads our VPN rankings. Proton VPN‘s French server list is the largest, and ExpressVPN had the lowest ping. Free VPNs are fine for light use in Paris, within their 10 GB limits. Our France VPN guide covers VPNs for people living in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which VPN has servers in the most French cities?
NordVPN covers four French cities: Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. ExpressVPN has five French locations across three cities, and Proton VPN covers Paris and Marseille.
Which free VPNs include France?
Windscribe, PrivadoVPN, and Hide.me offer French servers to free users.
Why does a French IP address show the wrong city?
IP location databases sometimes list a VPN's IP address under a different city from the one the app shows. Access depends on the country, so a mismatched city rarely affects French sites.
Does a French IP address change Netflix?
Yes. Netflix shows its French catalog to French IP addresses, though it blocks VPN servers it detects, so the VPN has to get past Netflix's checks first.