Best VPN to bypass paywalls in 2026
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A paywall is a digital barrier that limits how many pieces of content, news articles, or academic papers you can access online before paying. You often see them on news sites – some let you read a few articles each month, while others block the content completely unless you pay.
There are many reasons why people want to bypass them. Some think the cost is too high, while others only want to read that one article. No matter your reasoning, there are many ways you can get around paywalls.
My favorite way is to use a VPN. It changes your IP address, allowing you to access paywalled content while also enhancing your online security and privacy. It’s also great to use in conjunction with other methods, as it improves your chance of actually bypassing the paywall.
In this guide, we’ll teach you how to bypass paywalls using a VPN with a step-by-step guide and a list of my favorite VPNs for unblocking restricted content.
How to bypass a paywall using a VPN
- Get a reliable VPN. I recommend NordVPN, now 75% OFF
- Download and install the VPN app on your device
- Sign in and connect to a server in a different country
- Go to a news site and read without paywalls
How does a VPN help avoid paywalls?
A VPN hides your real IP address and makes it look like you’re connecting from another location. When a website limits access based on where you are or how often you visit, that change in IP can sometimes let you read more articles. If a piece of content is blocked in your region, a VPN can help you gain access as well.
I also like using a VPN together with other methods, such as clearing cookies, enabling reader mode, and using private browsing. It increases my chances of bypassing a paywall. Plus, I benefit from an encrypted connection and improved online privacy.
3 best VPNs to bypass paywalls in 2026
While a VPN can help you bypass paywalls, not all VPNs are capable of doing so. You’ll need a reliable VPN with a large server network, fast speeds, and advanced privacy features. Below, you’ll find my top VPN picks for unblocking paywalled content based on weeks of testing and hands-on experience.
- NordVPN – best VPN for bypassing paywalls overall
- Surfshark – budget-friendly VPN to bypass paywalls
- Proton VPN – privacy-focused VPN able to bypass paywalls
1. NordVPN – best VPN for bypassing paywalls in 2026
| Rating: | |
| Servers: | 9,500+ servers in 149 countries |
| Supported platforms: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Current deal: | Get 75% OFF NordVPN + 3 months free |
During my testing, NordVPN stood out as the best VPN for bypassing paywalls. I was able to gain access to restricted articles from major news sites like The New York Times, Bloomberg, and The Telegraph on the first try.
NordVPN has a massive network of over 9,500 servers across 149 countries, which is a major factor as to why it can bypass paywalls in the first place. It ensures plenty of IP options for you to choose from, allowing you to unblock restricted content pieces more easily.
Its advanced features, like obfuscated servers and double VPN, reduce the chance of being blocked or flagged as a VPN user. This is very important if you’re using a VPN for bypassing paywalls, as many websites now use a VPN detection technology.
Other features like Threat Protection block malicious trackers and ads, making your whole browsing session more enjoyable. It also includes scam protection and enhanced dark web monitoring for added security while browsing. You can also get a dedicated IP for better speeds and overall performance.
While NordVPN isn’t the cheapest VPN on the market, its suite of online security tools makes up for it. You can get its most basic plan for just $3.49/month, but there are pricier plans with more advanced features like Threat Protection Pro.
2. Surfshark – affordable VPN for bypassing paywalls on multiple devices
| Rating: | |
| Servers: | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries |
| Supported platforms: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Current deal: | Now up to 85% OFF Surfshark + 3 months FREE |
Surfshark is another solid pick for gaining access to paywalled content, particularly for those on a tight budget. Starting at $2.49/month, Surfshark is one of the cheapest VPNs on the market and lets you connect to unlimited devices at the same time – ideal if you’re reading on your phone, iPad, and laptop at the same time.
Connected to a Surfshark server, I was able to bypass both soft and metered paywalls on popular outlets like Wired and The Economist. Its large network of 4,500+ servers in 100 countries gave me plenty of options to choose from in case the server I connected to was struggling to unblock a website.
Other features that help unblock websites include Dynamic MultiHop and Rotating IPs. Dynamic MultiHop is like a more advanced double VPN, which makes it harder to track your location while Rotating IPs frequently change your IP address. Both reduce tracking by paywall systems.
My internet speed remained stable throughout the entire session. However, I noticed that when connected to servers further away from my physical location, I was running into longer loading times. Despite the slower speeds, it’s still more than enough for reading articles.
It’s easy to use, and you can switch between servers with just one click. While it doesn’t have a map like most other VPNs, you can find the country you need in the search bar.
Surfshark also has quite a few tools to improve your online experience. You can opt for the slightly pricier plans if you want more features. For example, Surfshark One is just a little more expensive than the most basic plan, but you also get an antivirus, personal data leak alerts, and private search.
3. Proton VPN – open-source VPN that bypasses paywalls for privacy-conscious users
| Rating: | |
| Servers: | 20,300+ servers in 148 countries |
| Supported platforms: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Current deal: | Get up to 70% OFF Proton VPN |
Proton VPN is another one of my favorites, and I recommend it for those who want a more privacy-focused VPN solution for bypassing paywalls. Based in Switzerland, a country with strict privacy laws, Proton VPN is built to keep your browsing private and secure, ideal when unblocking restricted content.
What’s more, Proton VPN is built on open-source code and is known for its commitment to transparency. It has undergone multiple third-party audits and verified its no-logs policy, so you can rest assured that your browsing activity is secure.
During testing, I was able to quickly bypass many soft and metered paywalls with Proton VPN. Its Secure Core feature definitely helped. It’s a type of double VPN that sends your traffic through a server in a privacy-friendly country, masking your location and avoiding paywall detection. NetShield is a nice add-on that makes your browsing experience smoother and ad-free.
Overall, Proton VPN was slightly slower than NordVPN or Surfshark, but it hardly makes a difference when you’re reading articles. I’d say that the small drop in speed is a fair trade-off for the extra layers of privacy you get.
I used it on my browser, but Proton VPN supports all major platforms. It’s easy to navigate, and switching between servers takes just one click.
It’s also one of the few VPNs that offers a free version. While it’s quite limited, it could work for bypassing paywalls, although not very consistently. Plus, the free version is missing all of the advanced features that make unblocking possible, so it’s worth considering a premium plan for just $2.99/month.
Comparing the best paywall VPNs
Here’s a quick overview of the best VPNs for bypassing paywalls.
| Best VPN | Ranking | Free trial | Starting price | Money-back guarantee | Servers |
| NordVPN | Yes, 3-day | $3.49/month | 30-day | 9,500+ servers in 149 countries | |
| Surfshark | Yes, 7-day | $2.49/month | 30-day | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries | |
| ProtonVPN | Yes, unlimited | $2.99/month | 30-day | 20,300+ servers in 148 countries |
Can you use free VPNs to bypass paywalls?
I don’t recommend using a free VPN mainly because of privacy and security concerns. Free VPNs usually rely on weak encryption and may not even be encrypted, meaning that your browsing activity could be logged. Also, they probably won’t remove paywalls in the first place, as free VPNs don’t have advanced features to bypass the website’s VPN detection systems.
If there’s a paywall you want to get around, I recommend using a free trial of a premium VPN instead. For example, NordVPN has a 3-day free trial, and Surfshark can cover you for an entire week – great if there’s only one or two articles you want to read.
Types of paywalls and how they work
Simply put, paywalls are tools that help websites control who accesses their content. They work by tracking you with cookies, IP addresses, and other factors. There are a few different types of paywalls:
- Soft paywall. Lets you read a few articles per month before asking to subscribe or buy articles separately.
- Hard paywalls. Blocks all content unless you’re logged in and/or have a subscription.
- Dynamic paywall. Limits your access based on your reading habits (how frequently you visit, how many articles you read, etc).
Some paywalls are easy to bypass while others are nearly impossible. Understanding what type of paywall you’re dealing with can help you get around it more easily.
Is it legal to use a VPN to bypass paywalls?
VPNs are legal in most countries, but using them to bypass paywalls is somewhat of a grey area. This is because paywalls are designed to control access to paid content, and getting around them usually violates the website’s terms of service or even copyright laws.
There’s also the ethical question of whether bypassing paywalls is something you should do in the first place. Technically, bypassing them means consuming paid work without supporting the people who produce it. Either way, it’s unlikely to lead to criminal charges.
Wrapping up
If you want to bypass paywalls, a VPN is a good option. It’s easy and safe. Plus, you get the added benefit of encrypted browsing activities and minimized online tracking. My top pick is NordVPN. It’s fast, affordable, and easy to use – ideal for bypassing geo-restrictions.
Keep in mind that using a VPN to bypass paywalls is somewhat of a grey area. VPNs themselves are legal to use, but using them to gain access to restricted content usually violates terms of service and even copyright laws.
When possible, consider supporting journalism through legitimate means. This doesn’t necessarily mean subscribing or purchasing content pieces separately. You can also gain access with free trials or the public library.
FAQ
Can a VPN really bypass all types of paywalls?
No, VPNs can only bypass some paywalls, mainly the ones that use your IP address to track you.
How do websites detect paywall circumvention?
Websites can tell if you’re trying to bypass paywalls by cookies and unusual IP activity. Some may be relying on VPN detectors to ban VPN users from accessing restricted content.
Can using a VPN get my account banned?
Yes, using a VPN to bypass paywalls can violate the platform’s terms of service, which may result in a permanent ban.
Are there safer alternatives to bypassing paywalls?
Yes, tried and tested methods to bypass paywalls include clearing your cookies, using incognito mode, and disabling JavaScript.
