How to Get a French IP Address With a VPN in 2024: Free & Paid Solutions

Quick Guide: How to Get a French IP Address With a VPN

Using a French VPN is fairly straightforward. But if you’ve never used one before and don’t know where to start, the following three-step guide will help you set up a VPN so you can access French websites.

What Are the Best VPNs With French Servers?

Only VPNs that have servers in France can assign French IP addresses. Almost all major VPNs have servers in France, but not all of them are equal in terms of connection speeds, security and privacy. Following are the best VPN service providers if you want a French IP.

1. ExpressVPN — Blazing-fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth
2. NordVPN — Pocket-friendly VPN with top-notch security
3. Windscribe — Best free VPN for France

To get a French IP address, France-based servers are necessary, but you should also pay due attention to several other factors. Many VPNs will get you a French IP, but not all of them can bypass geoblocks effectively, especially the Netflix VPN ban. 

In short, what you need is a VPN that offers a comprehensive feature portfolio to deliver a smooth streaming experience, while still keeping you safe and your online activity private.

Security & Privacy

It’s best to choose a VPN that uses strong encryption and a secure protocol. This ensures that no one can intercept your internet traffic and you can securely use online banking or any other sensitive activities. You should also look for other security features like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and split tunneling, and a strict no-logs policy to ensure online privacy.

Speed

When you connect to a VPN server, your internet traffic has to travel longer because it’s transmitted through an intermediary server, which could impact your connection speed. If you’ve been streaming for a while, you know how annoying it can be to stream at slow speeds. However, when you use one of our fastest VPNs, the reduction in speed will typically be minimal.

Streaming Services

If you want to enjoy some French cinema or watch French TV, you’ll need a VPN that effectively accesses geoblocked websites. Some websites like Netflix have become quite good at identifying VPNs, so not all VPNs can bypass geoblocks on such websites. We discuss streaming at length in our best VPNs for streaming guide, but if you don’t want to jump through hoops, ExpressVPN is a good choice.

The 3 Best VPNs for Getting a France IP Address

Now that you know how to get a French IP address, you need a VPN to get started. Choosing a VPN can feel overwhelming since there are plenty of them out there, but we’re going to make things easier for you. Following are three of the best VPNs for getting a French IP address.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN tops the list for good reason. It has everything you need in a VPN, plus a little more. ExpressVPN has 160 VPN server locations, four of which are located in three French cities (Alsace, Paris and Strasbourg). 

It consistently delivers fast connection speeds, has several security features (like a kill switch, in-app split tunneling and AES-256 encryption) and has a strict no-logs policy. It’s also our most secure VPN, so you really can’t go wrong with ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN comes with all the bells and whistles, and that’s reflected in its pricing. If you’re open to paying a premium for a top-of-the-line VPN, ExpressVPN may be a good choice. If you want to learn more, we have a comprehensive ExpressVPN review, or you could go ahead and try it out using the 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN has a large server network of over 5,100 servers, 230 of which are located in two French cities (Paris and Marseille). NordVPN has a lot of the same features as ExpressVPN, but it also offers dedicated IPs on some of its servers which ExpressVPN does not.

NordVPN comes with some terrific security features like double-hop and Onion over VPN servers, which add another layer of security when you’re using a French IP. Fortunately, NordVPN comes at a much smaller price even though the feature portfolio is quite similar. If you’re curious about NordVPN, give our thorough review a read. Or, you could go ahead and try NordVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Windscribe

When it comes to getting a French IP address, free VPNs might not be the most reliable in terms of security. However, Windscribe is one of the best free VPNs around. If you’re trying to get a French IP address for free, Windscribe is your best bet. It has two server locations in France, though only one is available on the free plan. Windscribe comes with some pretty cool features that you can read about in our Windscribe review.

Security isn’t a concern when you’re using Windscribe. It uses AES-256 for encryption, which is paired with IKEv2 or OpenVPN. Plus, it has a no-logs policy, so your online activity is safe as well. Windscribe also has a paid plan, and if you want a more hands-on experience, you can test drive the paid plan with its three-day money-back guarantee.

Can I Use a Free VPN for France to Get a French IP Address for Free?

Yes, you can use a free VPN France to get a French IP address. You could also use French web proxies to access geoblocked content. However, neither of them are reliable except for a few good free VPNs. 

Plus, it might be hard to find a free VPN with France IP addresses. Windscribe and TunnelBear are both decent providers that have free French servers, so you can use either of them to get a French IP address for free.

What Are the Dangers of Using a VPN France Server?

France implemented the Big Brother Act, a controversial law that the UN termed as “excessively broad,” back in 2015. It allows intelligence agencies to tap phone calls, read your emails or hack your devices. France is also part of the Nine Eyes Alliance, which is a group of nations that share information and intelligence with each other. When you’re using a France IP address, you’re subject to these laws as well. 

This is why it’s important to use a VPN France that offers airtight security and has a clear no-logs policy. Using one of the VPNs we’ve mentioned will ensure that you can access French Netflix or watch French Open on France TV without worrying about your security or privacy. On the other hand, if you’re planning to visit France, you may want to give our best VPNs for France guide a read.

Final Thoughts

If you’re trying to get a French IP, you need a French VPN that has servers located in France. However, it’s best to also consider a VPN’s level of security, connection speeds and the ability to bypass geoblocks before you pay for one — we recommend ExpressVPN. This will ensure that your internet traffic is safe and secure and that you can stream French content seamlessly.

For similar posts, read our other guides for getting the IP address of other countries:

Have you used a VPN to get a French IP? If yes, which one? Were you able to bypass geoblocks with it? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!

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