Best VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (2024)

Want to bypass blocks on your school’s internet? Whether you are on campus or in your dorm, a VPN provides privacy and access to services restricted by your college or university.Best VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (1)

Colleges and universities often block access to game servers, social media, blog posting sites, TV broadcasts, and popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, or Twitch. Schools enforce blocks to stop students from becoming distracted, but itcan be hugely frustrating if you have a free period and want to play some Fortnite or catch up on your favorite show.

In reality, anybody on a restrictive Eduroam campus, or any other school network that imposes blocks, can regain access to the whole, unadulterated internet by connecting to a VPN for school. This will let you access any website or service for free on the school’s internet. Best of all, a VPN encrypts your data. This protects you against the threat of hackers and eavesdroppers connected to school WiFi and prevents your activities from being monitored by the school network administrator.

In this guide, we have pinpointed fast, secure, and reliable VPNs that are perfect for using the internet privately in school and regaining access to blocked websites.If you are in a rush, the quick list below will let you pick a VPN that is safe to use at school. You can keep scrolling for detailed summaries that will give you more information and let you choose between these VPNs.

Best VPNs for school:

  1. NordVPN:Best overall VPN for schools. NordVPN is fast and highly secure. Strong encryption protects your data against hackers. Access Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, and other services blocked by your school. Many advanced features, live chat, and includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
  2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for students. Surfshark lets you connect an unlimited number of devices, so you can share your VPN with a group of dorm buddies to split the bill. Solid encryption, fast WireGuard protocol, and unlimited access to popular streaming services.
  3. ExpressVPN: A reliable and secure VPN with a kill switch, servers in 94+ countries, 24/7 live chat support, apps for all popular devices, and the ability to accessyour Netflix account on campus.
  4. CyberGhost:Perfect if you are a total VPN newbie. Private and accesses Netflix while keeping things simple. Fewer advanced features such as split tunneling and port forwarding make it less versatile, but it is perfect for the average user’s needs. 45-day money-back guarantee.
  5. Proton VPN: A highly advanced VPN with split tunneling, port forwarding, a choice of protocols, obfuscation, tracker blocking, malware filtering, a kill switch, and AES encryption. A fantastic option for torrenting. Has a limited free plan.
  6. IPVanish: A US-based provider that provides outstanding speeds. Works seamlessly with KODI systems. Plenty of advanced features and strong AES encryption, but not as good as our other recommendations for accessing streaming platforms.
  7. Atlas VPN: The best new VPN for schools. Fast WireGuard protocol works for streaming nearly every popular streaming service. Provides ad blocking, malware filtering, MultiHop, and split tunneling. Has a limited free plan.

Summary Table

No valueTEST WINNERNo valueNo valueNo valueNo valueNo valueNo value
No valueNordVPNBest VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (2)www.nordvpn.comSurfsharkBest VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (3)www.surfshark.comExpressVPNBest VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (4)www.expressvpn.comCyberGhostBest VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (5)www.cyberghost.comProton VPNBest VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (6)www.protonvpn.comIPVanishBest VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (7)www.ipvanish.comAtlas VPNBest VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (8)www.atlasvpn.com
Ranking1234567
Streaming ServicesNetflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, ITV HubNetflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, ITV HubNetflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, ITV HubNetflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, ITV HubNetflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, ITV HubNetflix, HBO MaxNetflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer
Avg Speed (Mbps)100+ Mbps100+ Mbps100+ Mbps100+ Mbps100+ Mbps100+ Mbps100+ Mbps
Popular sites Unblocked95%88%86%85%87%70%93%
Number of Servers5,4003,2003,0009,308+3,8002,000+750
Simultaneous Connections6Unlimited5710UnlimitedUnlimited
Best deal (per month)$3.09
SAVE 63% + FREE months
$2.19
86% off 2yr starter plan
$6.67
Save 49%
$2.03
SAVE 84%
$4.99
SAVE 50%
$2.50
SAVE 77%
$1.83
SAVE 83%

With so many competing VPNs, choosing the right service to keep your browsing habits private in school can be a real pain. To make things easier for students all over the world, we carefully analyzed the world's leading VPNs to find out which is better to use in school.

Below, we have listed the rigorous criteria we used to find the best VPNs for school:

  • Fast speeds so you can still watch videos, play games, and make video calls.
  • Strong encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS leaks to ensure that the school can’t see what you are doing online.
  • A no-logs policy that promises not to log any personally identifiable information or details about what you do while connected to the VPN.
  • A worldwide network of servers
  • The ability to access popular streams, game websites, social media, and any other entertainment sites you are interested in.
  • Customer support at any time of the day.
  • Apps for all popular platforms to let you use the VPN on tablets, smartphones, and laptops.
  • In order to qualify for one of the top three positions, the VPN provider must operate a100% diskless server networkandhave had itsinfrastructure auditedby a reputable third party.

To learn more about how we test and choose reliable VPNs to use at school, you can scroll down to the methodology section below our summaries.

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Best VPNs to use at school

Here's our list of the best VPNs to use at school:

1. NordVPN

Best VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (9)

Website: www.nordvpn.com

OS: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Linux

Money Back Guarantee: 30 days

Speed: 7.5/10

Value for Money: 9/10

Streaming: 10/10

Ease of use: 10/10

Privacy: 10/10

Customer Support: 10/10

NordVPN is our top recommendation for students at colleges and universities worldwide. It offers robust AES-256 encryption and a strict no-logging policy, so your online activities remain confidential at all times. This allows you to access sensitive information, conduct research, and communicate securely on your school networks without fear of research or important data being intercepted.

In addition to providing high levels of security, NordVPN provides servers in 60+ countries that are lightning-fast. It comes with its proprietary NordLynx protocol, which allows it to provide max speeds of up to 198 Mbps. It’s fast enough for seamless browsing, streaming, and downloading torrents in school.

NordVPN accesses popular games like League of Legends, Minecraft, Fortnite, WoW, Apex Legends, and CoD on any school network. It can provide you with discreet access to Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, and any other platform blocked by your school.

The providerhas diskless servers that it can erase instantly in an emergency. Those servers are optimized for tasks such as streaming, torrenting, and even accessing the Tor network (Tor over VPN). While it does have split tunneling, it does not provide port forwarding, which is useful for seeding torrents.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, meaning you can use Nord at school on any device you happen to own. Those apps have many advanced features such as a kill switch, DNS leak protection, ad and tracker blocking, and protection against malicious websites. Itb has also made its Meshnet private tunnel feature free for everyone.

Live chat support is available 24/7and you can try NordVPN risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee. Overall, we think NordVPN will perfectly empower your educational journey by protecting your privacy, accessingthe sites you crave, and giving your essays and research protection against thieves.

Pros:

  • Lots of useful advanced features
  • Strong AES encryption
  • Fully audited apps, network, and no logs policy
  • More than 5,900 servers in 60+ countries
  • Diskless infrastructure

Cons:

  • Suffered a breach on a third-party server in Finland in 2018. (This caused it to stop renting third-party servers and to upgrade its entire network).

BEST OVERALL VPN FOR SCHOOL: NordVPN is the best VPN for students thanks to its fast speeds and access to popular international services, including social media, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, ESPN, FOX, game servers, and anything else you can think of that has been blocked by your school. Allows torrenting throughout its network. Has a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Readour fullreview ofNordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

Best VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (10)

Website: www.surfshark.com

OS: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Linux

Money Back Guarantee: 30 days

Speed: 7/10

Value for Money: 9/10

Streaming: 10/10

Ease of use: 10/10

Privacy: 9.8/10

Customer Support: 10/10

In our opinion, Surfshark is the perfect low-cost VPN for students, providing a secure and private online experience that is ideal for any school environment. Surfshark allows unlimited connections with a single account. You can share the cost of a subscription with a group of friends, gaining the use of a VPN throughout your academic journey at a fraction of the $2.30 subscription cost.

Surfshark's extensive server network has options in 100+ countries, allowing you to securely access many online resources and bypass school network restrictions without detection. This enables you to play popular games, access social media, use Twitch, Discord, Netflix, HBO Max, iPlayer, or any other service with complete privacy. Additionally, torrenting is allowed throughout its network.

The Surfshark apps come with essential features such as leak protection, a kill switch, split tunneling, and robust AES-256 encryption, enhancing your online security while connected to the school WiFi. Surfshark blocks ads and protects against malware and malicious websites for added security.

Despite being affordable, Surfshark prioritizes privacy. It has a solid no-logs policy and secure apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and even Linux, allowing you to use the VPN on any device you own. You can receive assistance with setting up and using the VPN through its 24/7 live chat support. Finally, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you the opportunity to compare it with our other recommendations.

Pros:

  • Unlimited connections and devices allowed
  • Starts at just $2.30 per month
  • Audited no logs policy and robust AES encryption
  • RAM-only servers for added security
  • Works with Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, and many more

Cons:

  • Monthly subscription is a touch expensive

BEST CHEAP VPN FOR SCHOOLS: Surfshark provides super-fast WireGuard connections that are perfect for streaming, torrenting, and playing games at school. Works to access Facebook, Instagram, and other popular social media services. Strong encryption, and many reliable security features. Servers are available in 100+ countries. Has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our fullreview ofSurfshark.

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3. ExpressVPN

Best VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (11)

Website: www.expressvpn.com

OS: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Linux

Money Back Guarantee: 30 days

Speed: 6/10

Value for Money: 6/10

Streaming: 9/10

Ease of use: 10/10

Privacy: 9.5/10

Customer Support: 6/10

ExpressVPN is a market-leading VPN that has been around since 2009. It offers students a secure and private online experience, making it perfect for privately bypassing website blocks on any school campus, dorm, or hall of residence.

Lightning-fast speeds are powered by ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol, ensuring smooth browsing, unrestricted streaming, and private downloading for students worldwide. Whether you want to conduct research, collaborate online, or access your school portal to use educational resources from abroad, ExpressVPN performs.

ExpressVPN has apps for all popular platforms that you can use to accessa wide range of online services, granting students access to popular games, social media platforms like Facebook, and any other entertainment services you crave at school. It's ideal if you want an IP address from almost any location, with servers found in 105 countries.

ExpressVPN provides high levels of security, DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection, AES-256 encryption, a reliable kill switch, and OpenVPN with obfuscation by default. You can use Netflix, YouTube, Twitch, or any other service privately. You can make free VoIP calls in countries where apps like Skype and Whatsapp are unavailable, such as the UAE.

The encryption provided by ExpressVPN ensures your data is safe against hackers on public WiFi, making it a great VPN to use not just at school, but at coffee shops, hotels, and airports, or to protect your data when you travel back home or go on spring break.

ExpressVPN has apps for tablets, smartphones, laptops, desktops, and routers and those apps are easy for students to use. If you happen to have any issues or need help, you can contact ExpressVPN’s 24/7 live chat support. Plus, you can try it yourself to access websites at schoolusing its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

  • Servers in 105+ countries
  • No logs policy that has been independently verified
  • Diskless servers for added protection
  • Advanced security features like a kill switch, obfuscation, DNS leak protection, and split tunneling
  • 24/7 live chat support

Cons:

  • Quite expensive for what you get
  • Only allows five simultaneous connections

FANTASTIC ALL ROUNDER: ExpressVPN is perfect for students who want a reliable VPN with a proven track record of providing privacy. The VPN is quite pricey, but it has fast servers in 105+countries, reliable encryption, and lets you watch around 20 different Netflix regions. You can test it and compare it to any other VPN using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our fullreview ofExpressVPN.

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4. CyberGhost

Best VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (12)

Website: www.cyberghost.com

OS: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

Money Back Guarantee: 45 days

Speed: 9/10

Value for Money: 10/10

Streaming: 8/10

Ease of use: 10/10

Privacy: 9/10

Customer Support: 9/10

CyberGhost is a reliable and user-friendly VPN service that is perfect for any student or researcher who is new to VPNs. The VPN offers a secure and private browsing experience, without bogging users down with advanced features.

Apps are available for Windows, Android, iOS, and Mac. CyberGhost is easy to install and use on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. Protect your online activities whether on campus, in your school dorm, or in private accommodation.

Although you won’t find any advanced features such as split tunneling, port forwarding, MultiHop, or obfuscation, CyberGhost still has everything you need to prevent tracking and bypass blocks at school. This includes solid AES encryption, a choice of protocols, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch.

This Romanian provider prioritizes privacy with its strict no-logging policy. All your online activities remain completely confidential. It’s perfect for accessing restricted services like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitch, Discord, and Reddit at school. It is safe to use for torrentingor access restricted VoIP services.

The VPN has 10,000+ servers in 100+ countries, letting you get an IP address anywhere in the world. This is useful not just for accessing region-locked services and TV streams, but also to log in to your university’s web portal from abroad (perfect if you're a language student, for example).

CyberGhost VPN provides the speedy WireGuard protocol, which is perfect for playing multiplayer games and streaming Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Max. If you have any questions you can contact live chat support 24/7, and you’re free to test the VPN yourself using its 45-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

  • Fast for HD streaming and gaming at school
  • Easy for beginners to learn to use
  • Strong encryption and a kill switch
  • Allows sevensimultaneous connections

Cons:

  • Lacks port forwarding, split tunneling, MultiHop, and other advanced features
  • The kill switch cannot be disabled on Mac, Android, or iOS

PERFECT FOR BEGINNERS: CyberGhost is easy for newbies to learn. Provides strong encryption and lets you accessanything restricted by your school. Fast speeds thanks to its WireGuard protocol. Provides ad blocking, tracker blocking, and malware protection. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our fullreview ofCyberGhost.

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5. Proton VPN

Best VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (13)

Website: www.protonvpn.com

OS: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Linux

Money Back Guarantee: 30 days

Speed: 9/10

Value for Money: 7/10

Streaming: 8/10

Ease of use: 6/10

Privacy: 10/10

Customer Support: 7/10

Proton VPN is a highly advanced VPN that is perfect for students who torrent, or who want a lot of advanced privacy and security features. It is highly popular with privacy advocates not only because it is based in Switzerland, which has strong data protection laws, but because it was developed by the creators of ProtonMail – an encrypted email service endorsed by Snowden.

The service prioritizes privacy and security above all else, offering a watertight no-logs policy. By using Proton VPN, students can easily bypass school network restrictions and gain access to blocked websites and services without anybody finding out. Engage in unrestricted browsing, and access educational resources remotely with added security.

If you are low on cash, Proton VPN offers a limited free plan that encrypts your data and provides access to servers in three locations. That’s enough to accesssocial media and other websites for free at school. Just bear in mind that the free version is slower than a paid account and doesn't work to access popular streaming services like Netflix.

Proton VPN's paid plan gives you streaming-optimized servers, port-forwarding, split tunneling,AES-256 encryption, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, a kill switch, Secure Core servers, and DNS-based ad blocking. It’s one of the most advanced VPNs on the market, and the best VPN for students who seed torrents.

Servers are available in 69+ countries and work to access social media, game servers, TV platforms, and just about anything else that has been restricted by your school’s internet provider.You can test it yourself using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

  • Free plan is trustworthy, secure, and reliable
  • Many advanced privacy and security features
  • Fast speeds and good streaming access
  • Works with Netflix US

Cons:

  • Quite hard for beginners to use
  • Live chat is for paid users only (and hard to find)

BEST FREE VPN FOR STUDENTS: Proton VPN lets you use its free VPN plan on an unlimited basis to access IPsin three countries. Can be used for free to access Facebook in school. A premium account works to watch Netflix and further streaming sites. Strong encryption, a kill switch, and obfuscation. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our fullreview ofProton VPN.

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6. IPVanish

Best VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (14)

Website: www.ipvanish.com

OS: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Smart TVs

Money Back Guarantee: 30 days

Speed: 8/10

Value for Money: 8/10

Streaming: 6/10

Ease of use: 9.5/10

Privacy: 8/10

Customer Support: 6/10

IPVanish servers are available in over 50 countries, and those servers are self-owned. This allows the VPN to provide impressive average speeds exceeding 268 Mbps. IPVanishoffersseamless and secure browsing for students at any school worldwide.

Its extensive network of over 2,000 servers lets you securely access a wide range of online platforms and services, including games, social media sites, streaming services, and anything else blocked by your school. The only caveat is streaming; although it worked to access Netflix US, it didn't work to watch Hulu. For this reason, you may want to test it with your own streaming services to make sure it works.

IPVanish has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android and they come with IP and DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and obfuscation. It even has a dedicated KODI app to let you stream from your favorite repos without anybody knowing.

Unfortunately, IPVanish does not include tracker blocking, ad blocking, port forwarding, or MultiHop servers. But it is perfect for playing games and using the vast majority of services blocked by your school or in your dorm. Live chat support lets you ask questions at any time of the day.

IPVanish is a trusted VPN service based in America. Admittedly, this may be enough to put some users off because the US is home to the NSA, warrants, and gag orders. It is also true that IPVanish previously helped DHS to perform a targeted attack on one of its users suspected of child abuse. Despite this, IPVanish has a solid no-logging policy that has been independently audited, so it never has any historical data about its user's activities to supply the authorities with.

Pros:

  • Superb speeds for gaming and streaming
  • Works with Netflix US
  • Allows unlimited connections with a single account
  • Live chat support

Cons:

  • Based in the US
  • Not as good as our top recommendations for accessing streams

ALLOWS UNLIMITED CONNECTIONS: IPVanish represents amazing value for money. You can use the VPN on an unlimited number of devices to share your account with friends and family. Simple to use and provides strong privacy and security for your data. Works with Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and most other services blocked by schools. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

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7. Atlas VPN

Best VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (15)

Website: www.atlasvpn.com

OS: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Linux

Money Back Guarantee: 30 days

Speed: 8/10

Value for Money: 9/10

Streaming: 9/10

Ease of use: 10/10

Privacy: 8.6/10

Customer Support: 8/10

AtlasVPN is a provider that was launched in 2019. Since then the US-based service has been acquired by the company behind our top provider, NordVPN. This puts it in great company and means that users can expect the VPN to keep growing in strength. It certainly has over the last 12 months, expanding its network into 48+ countries.

AtlasVPN is ideal for students thanks to its fast WireGuard protocol and strong encryption. It can bypass blocks on game servers, sports streaming services, social media websites, Twitch, YouTube, Reddit, Netflix, and anything else that takes your fancy.

Apps are available for all popular platforms, so you can use the VPN on tablets, smartphones, laptops, and desktop computers. Those apps come with a kill switch, MultiHop connections, split tunneling, ad blocking, tracker blocking, and protections against malicious websites.

The only real drawback is that its kill switch will leak your traffic momentarily during reconnection, so you should pause your torrents until it has reconnected to be sure that your school can’t detect what you download.

With that caveat aside, this VPN is a fantastic option for any student who wants to share their account with friends and family. You can use the VPN on an unlimited number of devices with a single account, which means you can split the cost of a subscription with a group of fellow students.

Live chat support is available on its website, but only for subscribers, so you will need to ask any questions prior to subscribing via email support. You can test it yourself for 30 days using its money-back guarantee, or use it to download 5 GB of data each month for free (two server locations only).

Pros:

  • Fast servers in 48+ countries
  • MultiHop connections
  • Reliable general-purpose VPN
  • Fast average speeds thanks to theWireguard protocol

Cons:

  • Not compatible with routers
  • Kill switch leaks during reconnection
  • The free plan is very limited

AD BLOCK INCLUDED: AtlasVPN is a simple VPN that any student can share with their friends to split the cost. It is fast and works to access social media, games, and streaming services, including Netflix, on any restricted school network. Easy to use and has a free plan that you can use to access Facebook at school without paying a dime. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our fullreview ofAtlas VPN.

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Methodology: How we test the best VPNs for schools and colleges

To find out more about how we test and recommend VPNs you can read our full testingmethodology guide. For added transparency, we have included a list of important features we considered to recommend the best VPNs for schools:

  • Strong privacy and data security: Our recommendations solely consist of providers that prioritize digital privacy by implementing strict no-logs policies and robust encryption measures. Furthermore, we consider additional privacy features such as obfuscation, MultiHop connections, and other valuable elements when assessing the VPNs.
  • Fast speeds: We understand that students want to stream, play games, make video calls, and do other data-intensive tasks. That is why we selected fast VPNs that will not unnecessarily slow down the school Wi-Fi.
  • Reliable support: Not all VPNs provide good customer support for their users. We understand that you may want to help to access specific services or need support with setting up and using the VPN. That is why we only recommend VPNs with excellent live chat and email support.
  • Amazing accessibility: The best VPNs would be able to bypass website blocks, and let you use the internet without any restrictions no matter where you connect. That is why we try to recommend VPNs that work with popular streaming sites and other hard-to-get internet services. Apps must be available for multiple operating systems.
  • Value for money: Not all VPNs offer a well-rounded service at a fair price. We always try to recommend those VPNs that are not only secure, private, and useful, but that are priced affordably. Extra points for providing a secure free plan that anybody can use to get privacy without paying.
  • Third-party audits: To make it into the top three positions in our recommendation articles and guides, the VPN provider must have completed infrastructure audits by a reputable third party and have had their logging policies verified. This ensures that the VPN is working as advertised without the need for doubts.
  • Diskless infrastructure: Our top three recommendations always have a network of diskless servers. This provides additional protection by allowing the VPN to pull the plug and erase a server in case of an emergency (such as if a server is raided by the authorities).

How to play games in school dorms or on campus

One of the main reasons that students want a VPN for school is to play games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, ROBLOX, Among Us, and Minecraft. Many online multiplayer games are blocked by school administrators to prevent students at colleges and universities from becoming distracted. This can be hugely frustrating, particularly if they are also blocked in your dorm, and you need to be able to play games in your downtime to stay on top of your Twitch channel (or just for fun).

The good news is that anybody can use a VPN at school to get around this problem, no matter the security measures in place.

  • Choose a reliable VPN: Start by selecting a reputable VPN service from this guide. Our recommendations offer robust security, high-speed connections, and a wide range of server locations. This will allow you to access game servers with complete privacy on any school campus.
  • Install and set up the VPN: Download and install the VPN app from the VPN's website, Google Play, or Apple App Store. Our recommendations have apps for computers, smartphones, and tablets. Follow the setup instructions provided by the VPN service to configure your connection. (If you have a console, set up a VPN-protected hotspot as this is the easiest way to get connected).
  • Connect to a VPN server: Open the VPN app and connect to a server. This will make you appear to be outside of your school's network bypassing the restrictions.
  • Enjoy unrestricted gaming: With your VPN connected, you should be able to access and play your favorite online games, even in school dorms or on campus. The VPN's encrypted tunnel will help ensure a smooth and secure gaming experience that prevents anybody from finding out what you are doing online.

Remember that although using a VPN can help you access blocked games, it's important to be aware of your school's policies regarding VPN usage. Some institutions may have rules against using VPNs on their networks, so always use a VPN responsibly and in accordance with your school's guidelines. You use a VPN at your own risk, but there is no doubt that using a VPN can allow you to reclaim your freedom and get back to gaming-related activities without disruptions.

Best school VPN – FAQs

Can I use a free VPN at school?

Yes. We have provided a couple of free options in this guide that are completely secure and trustworthy. Be careful when using other free VPNs.

Many free VPNs have invasive privacy policies that allow them to monitor everything you do online. This allows free VPNs to track every website you visit and any unprotected data that passes through its servers from your devices. Free VPNs use this data to profile users and will sell that data to third parties such as marketing companies and data brokers to create a revenue stream.

Free VPNs have been found to lack encryption, suffer fromleaks, have dangerous app and server vulnerabilities, and even concealspywarein their apps.

These free VPNs do not work as they are supposed to and will give you a completely false sense of security. This is dangerous because everything you do online could still be visible to the school network (and the network’s internet provider). Local networks, ISPs, and other eavesdroppers can still detect what you do online.

Many of the free VPNs available in app stores and in Google searches may appear to be safe, and they could even have positive reviews from consumers. This does not mean they aren’t leaking your data and selling it to third parties.

Free VPNs provided by legitimate providers always have certain limitations. They want you to eventually upgrade to a paid plan. The free plan will have slower speeds, download limits, fewer server locations to pick from, and no optimizations for streaming services like Netflix.

If you want to see the difference between the free plan and the premium version, you can compare it yourself risk-free thanks to the VPN’s money-back guarantee. This lets you test the premium version for 30 days and then get your money back if you want to.

What kind of websites are blocked in school?

The websites and online services blocked by schools will vary depending on the specific policies and restrictions put in place by that school, its chosen internet provider, and the legal requirements of the country or region where that school is located.

Generally speaking, schools tend to block websites that are considered inappropriate or distracting for students during school hours. Below, we have included a list of the types of websites that you may find are blocked on campus or in a school dorm:

  1. Social media: Services like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Reddit, are often blocked by schools to prevent students from spending too much time networking on social platforms.
  2. Gaming and entertainment: Many schools block popular game websites, game servers, streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube, TV broadcasts, and other entertainment websites that could distract students when they are supposed to be studying.
  3. Adult content: Any website that contains p*rnography, adult content, or any other content that falls into the NSFW category is likely to be blocked on campus.
  4. Torrenting and file-sharing: Websites associated with illegal downloads and file-sharing are often restricted by schools to prevent students from engaging in copyright infringement and to help preserve the security of the school network
  5. Gambling and betting: Websites related to online gambling, betting, poker, and online casinos are blocked to stop students from being distracted and to minimize the potential surrounding the harms that gambling is known to cause.
  6. Illegal content:Websites that provide information regarding drugs and many other illegal activities are often blocked by schools to protect students and the school against potential repercussions.

What are the names of school campus internet providers?

There are many different services that provide internet connectivity for students, researchers, and educators at schools and educational institutions around the world.

Below we have provided a list of well-known campus internet providers. Note that while your school might be serviced by one of the providers listed below, it could also be covered by another service. This list is not comprehensive.

  • Janet Roaming (United Kingdom)
  • SURFnet (Netherlands)
  • GÉANT (Europe)
  • ACOnet Eduroam (Austria)
  • Jisc (United Kingdom)
  • RedIRIS (Spain)
  • AARNet (Australia)
  • CANARIE (Canada)
  • EduGAIN (Global)
  • Singapore Eduroam (Singapore)
  • eduroam CAT (Catalonia)
  • NORDUnet (Nordic countries)
  • eduID (Switzerland)
  • CARNET Eduroam (Croatia)
  • FhG eduroam (Germany)
  • SUNET eduroam (Sweden)
  • eduroam.pl (Poland)
  • Eduroam.hr (Croatia)
  • eduroam.be (Belgium)
  • Hellenic Academic Libraries Link (Greece)

Is it against the rules to bypass school network restrictions?

Each school and school network has its own rules, and it is important that you understand those rules. When you agree to join the school network, you will be asked to tick a box and agree to your school’s network rules. From that point on, you are expected to abide by those rules, and using a VPN to access websites and services that have been blocked is likely to be against the rules.

For these reasons, you always use a VPN at your own risk, and should try to only use a VPN in a responsible manner that is unlikely to get you in trouble. For example, you should never use a VPN to conceal illegal activities or engage in online harm and criminal activities. You will be able to access multiple popular streaming platforms while using a VPN in school.

Nothing in this article should be taken as legal advice.

Can I get in trouble for using a VPN at school?

Although it is completely legal to use a VPN, and you are well within your right to protect your privacy and the security of your data and online communications with a VPN, you could still potentially be breaking school rules by using a VPN to engage in certain activities.

Using a VPN to bypass blocks could be against your school’s rules, so you could get in trouble for using a VPN to access content that is NSFW, or that has been blocked to stop you from becoming distracted.

A reliable VPN, like the ones recommended in this guide, provides you with strong encryption, so everything you do online will be private as long as you pick your moments and don’t go out of your way to be a rule breaker, you should be able to enjoy unrestricted internet access without getting in trouble.

Can I watch Netflix at school with a VPN?

Yes. When you connect to a VPN you bypass any restrictions placed on the school network. You can use the internet as if you were back home where there are no internet blocks. As a result, you can log in to your Netflix account and watch your favorite shows at school.

VPNs give you privacy, so nobody at your school can monitor what you are doing online. This allows you to bypass network restrictions to watch Netflix – or access anything else – without fear of being found out.

Best VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (16)

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Your Location:

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Best VPNs for school: Unblock sites at college or university (2024)
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