A virtual private network (VPN) is the simplest, most reliable way to get an Indian IP address from abroad. Unfortunately, the government’s intrusive data privacy laws have forced most VPN services to down tools and remove their physical servers from the country.
Does that mean you must turn to alternative approaches? Not necessarily. Thanks to virtual servers, a handful of the top providers still offer a path to an IP address in India. That way, you can catch up on your favorite Indian-based content and access local services on your trips overseas.
This comprehensive article will show you how to obtain an Indian IP address in a few simple steps. As a bonus, we’ll discuss the best VPNs so you don’t settle for a dud.
How to Get an Indian IP Address With a VPN
You can install a VPN application and get an Indian IP address from the comfort of your home or hotel room, even if you’re thousands of miles away from India. It’s pretty straightforward, and the only requirement is a VPN service with Indian servers. We recommend NordVPN.
Here are step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process:
1. Choose a Reputable VPN Service
Sure, you need a VPN provider with Indian servers, but not just any will do.
Your ideal VPN should offer an expansive network and speedy connections and be capable of bypassing regional restrictions on websites and online services.
What’s more, it should come with top-notch privacy and security features to safeguard your online traffic and mask your digital presence.
2. Register an Account
Once you’ve made up your mind, head to the VPN’s official website to sign up. Explore its subscription options and choose one that suits your preferences and budget. Provide the required information and complete the process by paying for the plan.
3. Download and Install the VPN App
Leading premium services have applications for various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Head to the VPN’s download page and download the appropriate app for your device. Follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
Alternatively, you can download the app from Google Play and App Store to your phone and/or tablet.
4. Connect to an Indian Server
Open the VPN app and enter your newly created account credentials to log in. On the home screen (or dedicated server page), navigate to India and click the country pin to connect to the provider’s virtual Indian server.
Hold on a few seconds while the VPN activates the connection.
5. Verify Your Indian IP Address
You can skip this step if you followed the steps above with our recommended VPN services. Otherwise, you may want to confirm that you’ve actually changed your original IP address and that the websites you visit will detect an Indian IP address.
An online IP-checking tool (like whatismyipaddress.com) does this easily. Just visit the website while connected to an Indian server. If it displays your geolocation as India, you’re all set. Clear your browser cookies if necessary, and you can access your preferred Indian websites and online services.
The Best VPNs for an Indian IP Address — Our 3 Picks
The list below is the result of comprehensive testing of VPNs with Indian servers. There are more of them than you’d think, considering the country’s decidedly anti-privacy stance. Among other features, we looked out for providers with the following:
- Global network of servers, including options in India
- Fast connection speeds
- Excellent unblocking capabilities
- High-level security and privacy functionality
Let’s take a brief look at each of our top choices and what they offer.
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is our favorite provider for obtaining an IP address in India for good reason. The VPN has a massive network that includes India. While it was one of the first leading providers to leave the country when the intrusive CERT-in rules rolled out, it has since added a virtual location in Mumbai.
We’ve been testing this VPN for years, and we find it the best option for streaming region-locked content. NordVPN reliably beats geo-restrictions on Indian services like Netflix India, Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video India, and JioCimema.
As for performance, you simply won’t find a faster VPN service. Thanks to its high-speed servers and custom NordLynx protocol, you can expect seamless browsing and streaming. We didn’t experience any hiccups even while watching online videos in 4K and connected to the Indian server from far away.
AES 256-bit encryption keeps your transmissions unreadable to prying eyes. NordVPN’s security stack is unrivaled and includes features like a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and Onion over VPN. On top of that, a strict no-logs policy ensures nobody else ever gets to view the details of your online sessions.
NordVPN’s customer support is available around the clock to help you out with issues or questions. If you try it out and are unsatisfied, the 30-day money-back guarantee attached to its plans ensures you won’t lose your money.
2. ExpressVPN
Connect to any of ExpressVPN’s servers in New Delhi or Chennai, and you’ll instantly get an Indian IP address from anywhere. They’re virtual servers, like NordVPN’s, and are actually located in the UK and Singapore, respectively.
Don’t want to miss that anticipated cricket game or Indian original show on your vacation abroad? ExpressVPN gets you past the geo-blocks on local TV channels or streaming services. We tested it ourselves and unblocked Netflix India, Amazon Prime Video, JioCinema, SonyLIV, and others hassle-free.
It’s also one of the fastest VPN services on the market, so your connections will be stable and buffer-free. We tinkered with the settings during our speed tests and found its proprietary Lightway protocol to be the best option, performance-wise.
ExpressVPN encrypts your online traffic with the military-grade AES 256-bit algorithm, so you never have to worry about snoopers. It has other layers of security, including a kill switch and private forward secrecy. Plus, multiple security audits have proven that it doesn’t store personally identifiable logs on its servers.
The provider’s apps are lightweight and quite user-friendly. Even complete beginners should have no issues finding their way around.
ExpressVPN offers 24/7 support with responsive agents to assist you when you need it. A 30-day money-back guarantee backs all plans, so you can claim a refund if you’re not impressed.
3. Surfshark
No other provider offers the array of Indian servers Surfshark does. With its 50 virtual servers across locations in Delhi and Mumbai, you have plenty of options to get an IP address in India without any issues.
It doesn’t make a big deal of it, but we’re quite impressed by Surfshark’s ability to circumvent regional restrictions. Every Indian channel and streaming service we tried unlocked with a breeze, with no additional work required. That means you can catch up with the latest episodes of your favorite Indian dramas as soon as they drop without having to be physically present.
The provider’s recent upgrade to 10 Gbps servers means you can expect blazing-fast connections for your online activities. WireGuard is the protocol to go with if you’re looking for stable speeds without sacrificing security.
Speaking of which, Surfshark is loaded with top-notch features to keep bad actors guessing. It employs bank-level encryption and comes with an automatic kill switch, IP/DNS leak protection, and several extras. Its no-logs policy has also been proven true by third-party auditors.
Surfshark doesn’t limit the number of devices you can connect to at once. And when you have issues, it has a support team available all day long. What’s more, there’s a money-back guarantee if you change your mind within 30 days of subscribing.
Why Do the Best VPNs Use Virtual Servers for India?
India has never been what you’d call a data privacy-friendly country. And in 2022, it rolled out a new law that reinforced that stance.
Among other provisions, the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in) rules force VPN services to collect and store extensive customer logs for at least five years. The information they’re asked to keep includes customer names, physical addresses, IP addresses, and usage patterns. It further required them to report “unauthorized access” to social media.
Those rules contradict the core reasons for using a VPN: privacy and anonymity. It was no surprise, then, that most reputable VPN providers with physical servers in India opted to shut them down.
But with so many Indians abroad craving home-based content, many leading providers soon turned to virtual servers instead. Despite providing an Indian IP address, these servers are physically located elsewhere. For example, ExpressVPN’s “Indian” servers are actually in the United Kingdom and Singapore.
Are there any downsides? Since the physical server is located outside India, there’s usually a chance of experiencing slightly higher latency. That said, the top Indian VPNs have optimized their virtual servers to minimize lag and provide better performance.
Can You Use a VPN With Physical Servers for Your Indian IP Address?
We don’t recommend it. As we discussed earlier, India’s recent data privacy regulations require VPN providers with physical servers in the country to store user data for extended periods. It’s a directive that undermines the purpose of using a VPN and could very well expose your sensitive information.
Physical servers located in a specific country are subject to local laws and regulations. In India’s case, it means the provider may hand over information about your online sessions should authorities demand it.
As long as you stick to reputable VPN services (like those discussed in this article), this shouldn’t be an issue, as most have already opted out.
Alternative Approaches for Getting an Indian IP Address
As highlighted in the introduction, a VPN is the most reliable approach to spoof your location and get an Indian IP address. But there are other options:
Proxy Servers
Proxy servers can also mask your IP address and make it appear as though you’re browsing from India. Well, as long as you can find one that offers an IP address in India. They act as intermediaries between your device and the internet, routing your traffic through a server located there.
That said, they don’t have the encryption and security features of VPNs, which means they are much less secure. They’re also largely unreliable and may struggle to beat tough geo-restrictions on some Indian streaming services.
Tor Network
The Tor network is another alternative. Tor routes your internet traffic through a series of volunteer-operated servers or nodes that make it difficult to trace your activity back to you.
While it promises strong anonymity, it’s generally much slower than VPNs or proxies due to the multiple layers of encryption. That’s why it’s more suited for users who prioritize anonymity over speed and reliability.
Tor is certainly not the right option if you’re interested in streaming or downloading large files. Besides, there’s no guarantee that it will exit you through a server located in India.
Can You Get an IP Address in India With a Free VPN?
Using a free VPN sounds like a tempting shortcut to accessing region-locked online content and websites in India. But before you dive headfirst, let’s peel back the layers to see if it’s a good choice. TLDR: it’s not.
To begin with, you’ll have a difficult time finding a free VPN with Indian servers. They usually have limited networks that focus on more popular locations like the US and the UK.
Besides, even if you happen across one, its shallow pool of servers will be congested more often than not — and that usually means slow connection speeds. Besides, most free VPNs have data caps and will throttle your connection due to their bandwidth limits. On top of that, they generally struggle with geo-blocks and network restrictions.
As frustrating as all that seems, it’s the best-case scenario. In addition, there’s a real chance your data gets stolen because many free providers only offer subpar encryption and security functionality. They may even log your sessions to sell to third parties because they’re businesses out to make a profit, after all.
The bottom line? You’re always better off using premium VPN services like those listed above.
Final Thoughts
Thanks to this tutorial, you should now be able to obtain an Indian IP address even if you’re nowhere near the country. We’ve streamlined your choice of an ideal VPN provider with our top picks, with each offering Indian servers and excellent, reliable services.
Our favorite option is NordVPN. The VPN has lightning-fast speeds, unblocks Indian streaming services and websites easily, and will safeguard your online traffic and data. Best of all, if it doesn’t deliver, a 30-day refund window allows you to walk away with your money.