There are many reasons why someone would want to get an Indian IP address when outside of India. For instance, you may want to access geo-restricted Indian video streaming platforms like Hotstar or India TV, or services such as the Bank of India’s online banking from abroad.

The problem is that since the Indian government announced plans to make VPN providers store identifying data on their users (for at least five years), many services have removed their Indian servers entirely. Don’t worry, though: we’ll explain how you can obtain an Indian IP address from the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, or anywhere else in the world using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

How to get an Indian IP address

VPNs make it easy to stay safe online. Just follow the steps below to obtain an Indian IP address and encrypt your internet traffic.

Here’s how to get an Indian IP address from anywhere:

  • Register for one of the VPN services below (we recommend Surfshark).
  • Download the software, taking care to choose the right version for your device’s operating system.
  • Connect to one of the VPN’s Indian server locations.
  • Try visiting a geo-locked Indian site, such as India TV. You should find that any errors vanish and you’re able to access the Indian content as though you were in India.

Don’t have time to read the whole article, here is our list of the best VPNs for getting an Indian IP address:

  • Surfshark Best budget option with good speeds and security. Easy to use and a huge server network. Unlimited connections. Unblocks Hotstar and more.
  • ExpressVPN Speedy servers and top-notch security. Works with Netflix and similar services. Great customer support.
  • CyberGhost Speed and reliability at a low cost. Great for unblocking geo-restricted video streaming sites.
  • IPVanish Fast speeds and good user privacy. No logs and strong encryption. Lets you protect as many devices as you like.
  • PrivateVPN Boasts impressive speeds and privacy credentials. Still has physical Indian servers but claims it simply won’t keep logs.

Best VPNs for an Indian IP address – at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with Surfshark – our #1 choice for gaining an Indian IP address.

Best VPNs for India and Indian IP addresses

VPNs come with several other benefits. First, they encrypt your traffic, making it unreadable by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), network administrators, or hackers. This reduces the likelihood of ISP throttling and prevents companies from tracking your online activities from one website to another. Finally, VPNs enable you to connect to servers worldwide and obtain a real IP address from the region of your choice. This bypasses regional blocking and allows you to use your regular services, even if you’re outside of their designated area.

To find the best VPNs for getting an Indian IP address, we looked for services with the characteristics below:

  • Servers capable of getting you an IP address from India (ideally virtual)
  • Stable, high-speed VPN connections
  • Exemplary online security and encryption features
  • Strong multi-platform support
  • Logging policies designed to protect the user’s privacy above all else

Here is our list of the best VPNs for obtaining an Indian IP address:

1. Surfshark

                    Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

Surfshark is our top pick for getting an Indian IP address. This provider offers virtual Indian servers that actually route your data through the Netherlands, Singapore, or London, so you don’t have to worry about Indian data-retention legislation. What’s more, this VPN works with Disney+ Hotstar, India TV, and a host of Western streaming sites. It even lets you connect all of your devices at once!

On top of being a great service for cord cutters worldwide, Surfshark is also very secure. You get effectively uncrackable encryption, a kill switch, leak protection and a no-logs privacy policy. There’s also a NoBorders mode that still works in places like China, so you should be fine even if India’s online censorship gets worse. Surfshark offers 24/7 live chat just in case you run into any problems.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.

BEST VPN FOR AN INDIAN IP:Surfshark is our top choice. Quick, secure, and affordable, with no logs and no connection limit. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s backed by a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

  • Unlimited devices
  • Strong on security
  • Works with Hotstar, Netflix US, and more
  • No logs policy
  • 24/7 live chat

Cons:

  • Relatively small server network
  • Occasional slow server

Our score:

Read our full Surfshark review.

2. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN has around 3,000 servers globally, in 94 countries. There are also virtual Indian servers (located in Singapore and the UK) that are perfect for streaming Indian content while abroad. This provider offers first-class speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and the ability to protect up to five devices at a time.

This service comes with 256-bit AES encryption enabled by default. It also offers perfect forward secrecy, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch that stops data transferral if you lose your internet connection to the VPN. ExpressVPN doesn’t log any activity or session data, meaning your activities will stay private at all times. With live chat available 24/7, customer support staff can help resolve any issues whenever they occur.

This VPN has excellent multi-platform support, with apps for Linux, Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android devices. It even offers custom router firmware.

USER FRIENDLY:ExpressVPN is a fast and secure service with user-friendly apps for all operating systems. Hard to beat on privacy protections and security. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast speeds

  • Great privacy and security features

  • Works with all major video streaming sites including Hotstar

  • Great customer support

  • Fewer advanced configuration options than some VPNs

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

3. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost offers more choice than many of its rivals, with over 8,000 servers in 90+ countries. While this VPN removed all of its physical Indian servers, it still has a few virtual ones, meaning you can still get an Indian IP address while abroad. In fact, it even has a separate list of streaming servers, including ones that work with Disney+ Hotstar and Netflix India.

CyberGhost aims to offer apps that are as user-friendly as possible, while maintaining your privacy. It includes a kill switch, forced HTTPS, ad-blocking and anti-malware features, as well as 256-bit encryption. Internet users are protected from DNS, IPv6, and port forwarding leaks. This VPN does not log any personally identifiable information and provides free 24/7 support over live chat.

CyberGhost has apps for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. Manual configuration is required for supported network routers.

GREAT FIRST VPN:CyberGhost is simple to set up. Great privacy and security. Reliable in India and works well with popular streaming sites. 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast, reliable speeds

  • Low cost

  • Works with several streaming services

  • No logs policy

  • Won’t work in China, Iran, UAE or Saudia Arabia

Read our full CyberGhost review.

4. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish might not list them on its website, but it does actually have virtual Indian servers, along with 1,900 real ones in a further 60+ countries. This VPN has almost no impact on your connection speed, exceptional multi-platform support, and allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. In other words, you can protect all of your devices with just one account, making it one of the best VPNs for multiple devices.

This VPN uses 256-bit encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch to keep your personal information safe. Users can create a more advanced security setup by enabling the features which block LAN traffic, obfuscate OpenVPN traffic, and connect automatically when on an untrusted network. Best of all, this service doesn’t keep any logs whatsoever.

PRIVACY FIRST:IPVanish refuses to keep any logs and has no connection limit, making it ideal for privacy-minded families. 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans.

  • Great for torrenting
  • Fast speeds
  • Easy to use

Read our full IPVanish review.

5. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN has two servers that are physically located in India. We reached out to the company to enquire about the safety of these and were informed that PrivateVPN would simply abide by its privacy policy. In short, it won’t keep logs, regardless of what the government says. 

This is a highly versatile service that works reliably with popular streaming platforms including Netflix US, Disney+ Hotstar, The Times of India, and India TV. Its security toolkit includes 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks, plus a stealth mode made for bypassing country-wide censorship.  Customer support can be reached 24/7 via live chat, and can even remotely connect to your computer and configure the software for you if you allow them to.

This service offers Windows, Android, MacOS, and iOS apps. It can be manually configured to work on Linux-based systems and selected routers in a matter of minutes.

GREAT SPEEDS:PrivateVPN is a good family choice. Works well in India and allows up to 10 devices on the same account. Fast connections but could do with virtual servers for added peace of mind. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast speeds

  • Works well with streaming services including Netflix

  • Great security and privacy features

  • Still using physical Indian servers

  • Live chat support not 24/7

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

Methodology: Finding the best VPNs for an Indian IP address

Unfortunately, not just any VPN is suitable for getting an Indian IP address. Additionally, if you’re trying to spoof your location, it’s likely you’re interested in accessing geo-restricted services as you travel, which introduces further challenges. To determine which VPNs are best suited to this task, we took the following areas into account:

  • Indian servers: The most important requirement, but one that’s increasingly hard to find. We looked for VPNs that could get you an Indian IP address, ideally through the use of virtual servers, since these aren’t subject to Indian data protection laws.
  • Connection speeds: It’s no use having an IP address from India if your connection is too slow to use! We regularly test dozens of VPNs to find out which is fastest and see how their speeds have changed over time. We only recommend services with better-than-average speeds.
  • Streaming abilities: Region-locked services often try to detect VPNs and block their users from accessing them abroad. Our top VPNs can reliably bypass this kind of restriction and can help you securely access many popular streaming platforms (Netflix India and Disney+ Hotstar, for instance) from abroad.
  • Security and privacy: Above all else, VPNs are privacy tools. We won’t recommend any service without 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, or leak protection at a minimum. We’re especially keen to prioritize those that have no-logs policies, or that regularly improve their security offerings with new features and additional supported protocols.
  • Value for money: It can be difficult to tell how much a given service is worth. Rest easy: we consider each VPN holistically, and if it costs more than similar services without providing an excellent justification for doing so, we just won’t recommend it.
  • Ease of use: All of our recommendations must be simple enough for complete novices to use. Anything else that reduces the barrier to entry is a huge plus, whether it’s a low price point, a lack of connection limits, or multi-platform support.

Believe it or not, this is actually only the beginning of our testing. For an explanation of our full process, check out this guide to our VPN testing methodology.

Many popular VPNs, including NordVPN no longer offer Indian servers or IP addresses, following the Indian government’s change in legislation forcing VPNs to store information on their users. This includes storing usage patterns, IP addresses and user names for up to 5 years.

Can I get an Indian IP with a free VPN?

Free VPNs can seem attractive, but there are numerous reasons to avoid them entirely. First of all, free VPNs almost always have more users than their paid-for counterparts but lack the network size or infrastructure to support this level of demand. As a result, you can expect laggy streaming video, intermittent connections, and possibly even a queuing system or monthly data limit — hardly ideal for people who use the internet every day.

There’s a saying that’s relevant here: “If you aren’t paying for a service, you are the product.” As free VPNs don’t charge the user directly, they’re reliant on making money in other ways. Methods include injecting ads into the sites you visit, using tracking cookies to follow your activities after you disconnect, and even selling your browsing history to third parties without your knowledge.

The truth is that free VPNs often introduce more security risks than they prevent. A recent study showed that many free Android “VPNs” contain malware, and many don’t actually encrypt your traffic at all. It’s not just mobile devices at risk, either: these shady services are incredibly prevalent, and we’ve even seen cases where a widely used free VPN sold its users’ bandwidth to be used in a botnet. Don’t put your trust in a service that doesn’t care about your security; choose a reputable VPN provider with a proven history of protecting its users’ privacy.

What Indian TV can I watch with a VPN?

Once you’ve connected to one of your VPN’s Indian servers, you should be able to start watching Indian TV and video streaming services abroad. We’ve listed some of the platforms you’ll be able to stream below:

  • Disney+ Hotstar
  • India TV
  • Jiocinema
  • YuppTV
  • Spuul
  • Voot

Are there ways to get an Indian IP address without a VPN?

VPNs aren’t the only way to spoof your location, but they are the easiest. If you’d rather not use a VPN, though, there are a few other ways to obtain an Indian IP address.

Use Tor to get an Indian IP address

The first is to use Tor (The Onion Router) Browser. This is a heavily encrypted (and very slow) browser focusing on providing anonymity to its users. As such, it’s often used by journalists, whistleblowers, or simply people looking to browse the Dark Web. However, despite its reputation, the Tor Browser isn’t as secure as many people think, and your online activities can absolutely be traced back to you by certain government organizations.

Then there’s the complexity: changing your location requires several steps and manual editing of settings. If you’re determined to change these settings yourself, you can, but there are far easier ways to get an Indian IP address.

See also: Best VPNs for Tor

Use a proxy to get an Indian IP address

In essence, a proxy server works similarly to a VPN, but there are several differences between the two. First, proxies rarely put as much emphasis on privacy, instead mostly being used to bypass college or workplace firewalls.

Secondly, assuming they encrypt your data at all, this encryption only applies to web browser traffic, whereas a VPN encrypts all traffic from your device. This includes data from P2P programs, gaming clients, and VoIP services like Skype.

Finally, proxy services are far less likely to work with popular video streaming platforms like Netflix. As such, a VPN is the clear winner in terms of versatility and security.

See also: How to get a US IP address

In response, many leading VPNs withdrew their servers from India, switching instead to using virtual servers that still give users an Indian IP address, without requiring the company to keep logs.

So what’s the best location to get a static IP address from? This really depends on what you need it for, and where you are in the world. Generally, the further you are from your chosen server, the slower your speeds will be, so if you live in a distant country, India may not be the best choice.

On the other hand, if you really want to stream Indian TV while traveling and have had difficulty finding an Indian server that works reliably, a static Indian IP address could work. Just be sure to check that your provider follows a no-logs policy (and ideally, doesn’t actually have servers physically in India).

So why might this be? You may simply be too far away from the server, or too many people might be trying to use the same server at once, causing a slowdown for everyone connected. Luckily, these issues are easily resolved: just connect to a nearby server with lower overall load. Hopefully this will fix your problems, but if not, we recommend getting in touch with your VPN’s support team to see if they can give you an idea of when the problem will be fixed.

By connecting to a VPN, any Indian expat can instantly appear to be back home. This allows you to continue enjoying services from back home despite living abroad. As a result, you can login to government portals, use internet banking, or watch Indian TV channels and streaming services from anywhere in the world.

The variety of IP addresses available in India makes an IP address different to a telephone code, which always starts with the same prefix for a country or local area. Luckily, there are websites like Nirsoft that have done the work and put together lists of IP address blocks for specific locations.

Needless to say, no pro-privacy VPN provider is going to agree to this. As a result, there was no other option but for VPNs to shut down their servers in India. The good news is that VPNs still work in India. However, you’ll just need to connect to a server in another country instead.

A virtual server looks as if it’s located in a particular country (in this case India) but is actually physically located elsewhere. This removes the risk involved in that the VPN is no longer subject to India’s data retention laws. It also means you can still access geo-restricted websites and services from India while traveling abroad.