Is Netflix or BBC iPlayer detecting your VPN? The answer is probably yes. This is because VPNs use shared servers and streaming services like Netflix and iPlayer now have the ability to blacklist these VPNs. The workaround is simple. Get a dedicated IP. Here we explore the best dedicated IP VPN services.
Note: if you want a dedicated IP just for streaming, then TorGaurd’s Streaming IP ($11.99/month) is 100% reliable as it uses residential IP addresses.
What is a dedicated IP?
Every internet connection has its own unique IP “Internet Protocol” address. It’s a necessary part of any internet connection. In physical terms, you can think of your IP address computer’s equivalent of home’s postal address. And, normally, your IP address is given to you by your local ISP and you have no control over it.
IP addresses have multiple uses. Just take a look at Wikipedia’s IP Address page, if you want to see some of these. In terms of video streaming, IP addresses matter because they’re used to locate where users are connecting from. Each country has its own range of addresses and streaming services use these to only allow connections from a specific country.
Certain VPN providers now let customers buy dedicated IP addresses in certain countries.
Why do I need a dedicated IP?
If you want to stream Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon, Sky Go, HBO, Hulu (pretty much any major online streaming service ) from another country, you’re going to need a dedicated IP. If not right now, you will do in a few weeks/month.
Netflix and BBC iPlayer are leading the way in blocking connections come from traditional VPNs. The way they block these connections is simple. VPNs share a (comparatively) tiny number only servers with a massive number of customers. This makes it easy for the likes of Netflix and BBC iPlayer to detect the VPN’s servers and IP addresses. When Netflix/BBC iPlayer detects an abnormal number of customers connecting from the same shared VPN server and IP they respond by blacklisting the offending IP address.
The response from VPNs was to begin a game of Cat and Mouse. When one of its IP addresses was blacklisted, they’d remove that connection and create a fresh one for customers to use. ExpressVPN is the king at this.
The game of Cat and Mouse isn’t a long-term solution. Netflix and BBC et al have got quicker and quicker at detecting shared VPN IP addresses. And as the number of blacklisted shared IPs grow, the number of customers connected through the remaining open IPs will increase. Making them even easier to detect.
Getting a dedicated IP from a VPN is the best way to combat the VPN ban. Buying your own dedicated IP means that your VPN connection is unique to you. Meaning streaming services such as Netflix or BBC iPlayer won’t be able to identify you as a VPN user as your IP address will not facilitate an abnormally large number of connections to its services.
The 3 Best Dedicated IP VPN Services of 2020
1. Ivacy
Ivacy is an excellent VPN provider that prices its dedicated IP add-on competitively. It offers dedicated IPs in; Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, UK, US.
Customers will like how up-front Ivacy is about its dedicated IP service. Ivacy guarantees that it won’t share your dedicated IP connection with other customers. The dedicated IP function is supported on its Windows and iOS apps too – customers using a Mac or Android can enter their dedicated IP details directly in the OS’s native VPN settings.
You need to buy a dedicated IP Add-on with your Ivacy subscription. You can get Ivacy for as little as $2.25/month + $1.99/month for the dedicated IP.
Buy Ivacy VPN with a dedicated IP.
