How to Get a France IP Address from Anywhere (in 2024)
There are several reasons why you would need a French IP address. Firstly, you may be traveling outside of France for a short while. While abroad, you would be unable to access local content with your foreign IP address.
Similarly, you could be a lover of French content who happens to live outside the country. Unfortunately, French streaming platforms typically restrict content to users within the country. French Netflix, for instance, is only available to French residents. Thus, if you are outside of the location, you will be unable to access the rich library open on the platform, including the whole Harry Potter movie series.
There are several ways to get a France IP address if you are outside the country. However, we recommend using a VPN service that has servers in France. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) could afford you a France IP address just with a few clicks. More so, it avails you several other benefits, chief amongst them being stellar security features. In this review, we look at how to get a France IP address wherever you are located.
Steps to Get a France IP Address
Your IP address holds information about you. It is tied to your location. Hence, when you connect to the internet, anyone who cares can tell where you are located. With this knowledge, service providers can identify and often block users trying to access unauthorized content.
A VPN steps in here. The average VPN provider has servers in multiple countries. When you log on and connect to any server, you immediately get an IP address compatible with the secondary location. This effectively masks your original IP address. Thus, in this case, regardless of where you are, your IP address will read that you are in France.
As stated earlier, a French IP address allows you to access content available only in France. In addition, you can also decide to get a VPN-provided French IP address even while you are in the country. Furthermore, the new IP address will be encrypted, preventing third parties from accessing your data. The encryption could also help you evade throttling and restrictions from your Internet Service Provider.
Here are a few steps to take to get a French IP address.
- Select a good VPN service. Below, you’ll find a list of some of the best ones to consider.
- Download and install the VPN. A note of warning: Always download and install your VPN app from the provider’s website directly or from your device’s app store. This is to avoid problems later on.
- Run the VPN service, and select a server in France.
- You are good to go!
Best Recommended VPN Services for a French IP Address
No doubt, there are several VPN providers in the market. However, they aren’t all trustworthy. So here are our top recommended providers.
ExpressVPN
Features
- Number of servers: More than 3,000
- Speeds: Unlimited
- Server locations: 160 in 105 countries
- Maximum devices supported: 5
- 24 live chat: Yes
- 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
Pros/Cons
- Fastest VPN out there
- Strict no logs policy
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Few discounts
No one quite does it like ExpressVPN. This provider is well-regarded in the VPN space. This is not without cause. The provider’s features ensure that users have the best experience when connected to the service.
This provider has about 3000 servers in 94 countries and 120 locations. A sizable number of these servers are stationed in France. This gives you a lot of options if you want to get a French IP address. With the French IP address, you can watch restricted shows and access other content on the platform. In addition, ExpressVPN ensures that geo-restrictions do not hamper your experience.
ExpressVPN also employs wonderful security features. It uses the AES 256-bit encryption standard, the best in the industry currently. It has a network kill switch that automatically comes on if the VPN network drops. More so, it operates a reliable no-log policy. With its location in the British Virgin Islands, it will not be forced to share your data with the authorities.
Unfortunately, you cannot use this service for free to access a French IP address. However, it offers multiple subscription options. You can use the provider’s 30-day money-back window to briefly use the service and request a refund before the 30 days are up.
- Pros: Fastest VPN out there; Strict no logs policy; 256-bit AES encryption;
- Lowest price: $6.67
NordVPN
Features
- Cryptocurrency accepted? Yes
- Simultaneous connections: 6
- Dedicated IP-addresses? Yes
- Servers: 5342 in 58 countries
Pros/Cons
- Lots of pricing options
- Netflix support kept up to date
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Slow app
Next on our list is Panama-based NordVPN. This provider offers an all-around top-tier unbeatable service. It performs excellently in terms of security, unblocking abilities, speed, and much more. Therefore, we have no qualms recommending the service for use in getting a French IP address.
You will find 5300+ servers on NordVPN. This is an impressive number. It is even more remarkable that more than 230 of the servers are stationed in 2 French cities. The large spread means that the servers will never lag due to overcrowding. Thus, whether you need to browse, download or stream content, this provider gives you a seamless experience.
NordVPN gets around geo-blocks easily. It is one of the few providers that beats the Great Firewall of China. Hence, it makes sure no one in France can detect that your IP address is VPN-provided. You can also choose to employ the provider’s obfuscation technology or order a dedicated IP address to minimize the risk of exposure. Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN uses the AES 256-bit encryption model and also supports great protocols.
You can use the service on six devices simultaneously. NordVPN has a high device compatibility rate. Whether you are using an Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, or Windows device, you’ll find a compatible NordVPN app.
- Pros: Lots of pricing options; Netflix support kept up to date; 256-bit AES encryption;
- Lowest price: $3.71
Surfshark
Features
- Free trial? Yes
- Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
- Ad blocking? Yes
- Servers: 1000+ in 61 countries
Pros/Cons
- No footprints
- Allows torrenting
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Not the fastest
Third on our list is newcomer Surfshark. It has not been around as long as some of the other heavyweights on the list. However, it is still a formidable service. With Surfshark, you are guaranteed a French IP address that will be useful for whatever you need it for.
This provider recently upped its server count to about 3200 in 59+ countries. These servers are famous for being extra-speedy. Using a VPN service would normally reduce your internet speed somewhat. However, Surfshark’s servers make any speed lag negligible. Hence, when you connect to a French server and obtain an IP address compatible with France, you can rest assured that slow speed will not hamper your experience.
Surfshark recently revealed that its headquarters is in the Netherlands. This region is highly privacy-friendly. Users can rest assured that the authorities will not accede to any of France’s demands for your data. More so, Surfshark uses the AES 256-bit encryption protocol and supports a no-log policy that has been tested and trusted.
This is the only service on this list that allows you to connect unlimited devices to one account. Thus, you can potentially get a French IP address for all the devices you own, with no challenges at all. In addition, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee window, together with affordable prices and plans.
- Pros: No footprints; Allows torrenting; 256-bit AES encryption;
- Lowest Price: $2.49
CyberGhost
Features
- Connected devices at once: 7
- Automatic kill switch? Yes
- One click connect: Yes
- Servers: 5900 worldwide
Pros/Cons
- No logs policy
- 24/7 live chat
- Apps for mobile devices and routers
- No free option
CyberGhost is another oldie in the industry. It keeps reinventing itself to meet the challenges of the times. Thus, at the moment, it has good enough features to grant you a French IP address regardless of your location.
With over 6800 servers, this provider has the highest server count of all the providers on our list. Once you log in and indicate France as your preferred location, you will get connected to one of 324+ servers the provider has in France. The servers are optimized for speed and have fantastic unblocking abilities. Therefore, you can watch French Netflix and Television France from your remote location. The provider similarly allows torrenting and peer-to-peer file sharing.
You will find the AES 256-bit encryption model, a kill switch, NoSpy servers, and support for split tunneling on the security front. This provider also prevents DNS and IP leaks. CyberGhost sticks to a reliable no-log policy. Audit companies have independently verified this
This provider allows you to connect at least 7 devices to one account. CyberGhost’s subscription offers are some of the cheapest in the industry. In addition, it gives you more than the average money-back guarantee window you’ll find on other services. Hence, you have 45 days to use the service and ask for a refund, 15 days higher than what other providers allow.
- Pros: No logs policy; 24/7 live chat; Apps for mobile devices and routers;
- Lowest price: €2
ProtonVPN
Features
- P2P support? Yes
- 30-day money-back guarantee? Yes
- Country of origin? Switzerland
- Servers: 600+ in over 40 countries
- Simultaneous devices: 5
Pros/Cons
- Professional support
- Modern interface and apps
- AES-256 encryption
- Lesser known provider
Last on our list, but certainly not the least, is ProtonVPN. This service is well known for its security consciousness. Similarly, it offers a free service that comes in handy if you need a free VPN. We have no qualms recommending it for use in getting a French IP address.
This provider has just over 1300 servers in 59 countries and counting. This is a small spread. However, the important thing is that some of the servers are in France. Hence, you can rest assured of a French IP address regardless of your location. Furthermore, this provider informs subscribers that its servers stream with 10 GB per second. Hence, users can bypass censorship with ease. Apart from French content, you can also access videos on Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, and the likes by connecting to an appropriate server.
ProtonVPN also has sophisticated security features. It uses the standard AES 256-bit encryption pattern to secure its servers. It employs Perfect Forward Secrecy to preserve previous sessions of your VPN connection. You also get to choose from either OpenVPN, IKEv2 or WireGuard security protocols. Since it is a Switzerland-based VPN, you are assured that this provider will neither retain nor share your online data.
As mentioned above, ProtonVPN has one of the best free versions. It allows you to connect up to 10 devices to its paid plan. You equally get the standard 30-day money-back policy on the service.
- Pros: Professional support; Modern interface and apps; AES-256 encryption;
- Lowest price: €4
What To Consider While Choosing a VPN for a French IP Address
VPN providers all have different areas of strengths and weaknesses. It is essential to choose a provider whose strengths match your needs. Here are the factors to prioritize when selecting your preferred VPN for a French VPN:
Servers in France
Any VPN provider you choose should have servers in France. This is the only way you can be assured of a French IP address. As highlighted above, you’ll need to connect to a VPN server stationed in France to obtain a French IP address.
Furthermore, the more French servers a provider has, the more appealing they should be. A large server spread reduces the possibility of lags and delays while you use the internet.
Security Features
Whatever you need the French IP address for, you should be secure while doing it. The internet brims with all kinds of threats these days. Thus, it is important to be security conscious as you go about your business. Hence, in terms of security, consider the encryption protocol the provider uses – the AES 256-bit encryption pattern is the best. Look out for other features such as a kill switch, split tunneling, etc.
Privacy Policy
You should also confirm the nature of the provider’s privacy policy. For example, you do not want any provider sharing your details with third parties. Hence, verify that your choice provider maintains a steadfast no-log policy. Also, consider where the provider has its headquarters. Providers who are located in privacy-friendly countries should rank highly on your list.
Cost
It hardly makes sense to settle for a VPN service you cannot afford. Thus, one of the first things to confirm is that you can pay the subscription fees of the provider you choose. The idea is not just to pay the initial subscription fees but to be able to meet subsequent obligations. Thankfully, the VPNs we recommend are all budget-friendly. You can also access discounts on the different services.
Conclusion
Ordinarily, you’ll be unable to have a French IP address, except you are in France. However, there is a proven way to overcome this hurdle. This review examines how you can use a VPN to obtain a France IP address, regardless of your location. This guide should be helpful when you are about to make a decision.