Regardless of which end of whatever pond you're on, region blocked content is annoying. Whether you're an ex-pat looking to watch reruns of The Wonder Years, or you're hankering for a dose of Dr. Who, here's the best (and easiest) way to get that content.
One of the big problems with streaming content overseas (or from an overzealous college campus that blocks everything) is that the landscape for doing so changes a lot. Just a few years ago you had to jump through a lot of hoops, but in most cases it's now as simple as a using an extension or web service. First, let's look at our favorite way of getting to the bulk of online content. Then, we'll look at the alternatives that give you access to just about anything you want.
The Easiest Method for Desktop: Hola Better Internet
Hola Better Internet was our initial pick for the easiest way to stream region-blocked content, but we pulled it after it started injecting ads. They've since reversed that decision, which means it's returning as our favorite.
With Hola Better Internet, you just install a browser extension in either Chrome or Firefox and you get access to all kinds of blocked content. It works by changing your location on specific sites. So, when you visit a site that's only available in another country, you simply click on the browser extension's button, change the country, and you can immediately access the site. There's no set up time, no changing of settings, and no slow down to your other internet access.
That said, the free extension is a bit limited. While you can get unlimited access to sites, you're slowed down a little because you're a peer for others. There's a premium membership of $5/month if you're interested in removing this limit, but the free account works really well if you're only streaming the occasional show or two.
For Android and iOS: Hotspot Shield
Steaming blocked content to your Android and iOS devices is a little tricky, but it's doable if you're willing to pay for a service. You have a lot of options for different methods, but the most reliable we found was with a VPN. For this, we like Hotspot Shield.
At its core, Hotspot Shield checks off all the boxes for privacy and security, but most importantly it gives you a pretty simple way to access services like Netflix, Hulu, Skype, and others regardless of where you are. Once you sign up for Hostspot Shield, just tap the "Country" button on the main page, and change it to where you'd like to access the internet from. Once you do, Hotspot Shield installs a custom profile, and all your internet traffic goes through servers in those countries. On mobile, that means you can access these servers through their web sites or through their apps. The whole process takes about 20 seconds to get working and it's easy to turn off when you don't need it. You can check out Hotspot Shield for a week for free. It's $4.99/month or $29.99/year after that.
All that said, nearly any good VPN app will work on mobile and it really depends on which countries you're trying to access. If Hotspot Shield doesn't do the trick for you, Tunnerbear and CyberGhost (which has a ton of country options but no trial period) are both fantastic alternatives that are worth a look. We also like Hola on Android because it's made specifically for streaming blocked content to your Android device. Just like the desktop version, you can hit the Hola button and it'll automatically unblock sites. It's free, easy to use, and doesn't require a lot of work to set up.
For Set Top Devices: Unblock-Us
Unblock-Us has been our pick for the best way to access the Olympics every time, because it's cheap, easy to set up, and works on basically any device that accesses your router. That means that any device you have—whether that's a Roku, PS4, or whatever else—can get access to overseas content. The setup process is a little different for each device, but they have guides for pretty much everything you could possible want to connect. Unblock-Us has a massive list of supported services and constantly updates with guides to unblock current programs (like removing blackouts during the NHL playoffs).
Unblock-Us will run you $4.99/month, but you can check out a week long trial to make sure it works for you. You have a lot of options in this space, but Unblock-Us easily takes the cake on the number of devices it supports and solid customer service.
Alternative Methods
You have a lot of options for streaming blocked content, and depending on where you are and what services you want to access, some other methods are better than others. Here are a few more great options to choose from.
- Proxmate : If you're only gunning to unblock a couple of choice services, the previously mentioned ProxMate is another option. After you install the extension, you'll get access to Pandora, Google Play, YouTube, and others no matter where you are, but you'll need to pay for premium access to sites like Netflix and BBC. You'll need to manually install the extension in Chrome, but once it's installed you're good to go.
- Use Any VPN You Want: Another option is to set up a VPN to reroute your traffic through servers in other counties. Any VPN will do (although you might want to stick with one of these five). If you subscribe to a Usenet service like GigaNews, you might even get a VPN for free as part of the package. This keeps your data a lot more private than the above services, but it will likely slow down your connection.
- Tunnelbear: If you want an incredibly easy-to-use, on-off switch, Tunnelbear works wonders. Simply download the software, flip the switch to the location you want, and you can start streaming immediately. When you want your normal internet back, turn it off. The free version will only get you 500 MB for the month (probably less than an hour of streaming), but $4.99/month gets you unlimited access.
- Set up a Proxy Server: If a browser extension is more your style then using a proxy service is easy enough. The speeds won't be that great, but it's easy to shut off when you're done. You can also try the Tor browser for a few more options.
- Media Hint : Much like Hola Unblocker, Media Hint is an extension for Chrome and Firefox that automatically unblocks content you come across on Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, and Rdio. Unfortunately, it's no longer available directly in the Chrome Store, so you'll have to manually install it.
This should give you access to pretty much any region blocked streaming content out there for right now. As other services pop up we'll give them a shot and update when something simpler (or more encompassing) comes along.
Photos by AdrianNunez and Kentoh.
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