How to Get a Canadian IP Address Easily in 2024

A Canadian IP address can be your ticket to restricted content or more options online if you live in areas where certain activities are restricted.

However, you may also be a Canadian citizen traveling and looking for ways to get news from home or access streaming and banking websites. As you’re likely aware, these websites often restrict access to foreign IP addresses, meaning you may have a hard time getting a taste of the maple syrup. 

Now for the good news: you can get a Canadian IP address by utilizing a VPN. This is not only useful for the reasons above but it will also do wonders for your overall online security and privacy. 

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of VPN usage and recommend the best VPNs that allow reliable access to different Canadian locations while safeguarding your security. Plus, we’ll briefly touch upon the limitations that come with free VPN use and cover other methods of getting a Canadian IP address such as proxy servers and the Tor browser.

Key Takeaways

• A VPN is the most secure and convenient method to get a Canadian IP address, allowing you access to Canadian content in just a few simple steps.
• Proxy servers and Tor browser are a viable alternative but you have to be mindful of limitations, such as a complete lack of encryption and subpar connection speeds.
• The best VPN for getting a Canadian IP address is NordVPN, and you can snag it for the lowest price by using the 74% off coupon here >

What is a Canadian IP address?

Before getting into the nitty-gritty, let’s define some basic terms first. An IP address is a unique number used for identifying online devices. A Canadian IP address is one assigned to a server located in Canada. 

While that’s all fine and dandy, your IP address is associated with your location and your ISP, which means third parties can easily track you. Fortunately, your IP address is something you can change via a VPN and gain control over which parties know about your online activity. 

A VPN works by creating a connection between your device and a remote server owned by the provider. This creates a secure tunnel that encrypts personal data, thus hiding your VPN address and helping you keep your data safe while also allowing you to sidestep any restrictions. Cool, eh?

Learn more about VPNs by going through our detailed VPN article. 

Why obtain a Canadian IP address?

Putting a cloak over your true IP address and making it appear you’re accessing the internet from Canada is very useful, especially if you’re looking to visit Canadian services and websites from abroad. This includes streaming and online banking services, region-specific discounts, and so on. 

However, the biggest benefit of getting a Canadian IP address is an enhancement to your online privacy and security. Let’s say you’re accessing banking services on an unsecured Wi-Fi network – changing your IP address can help secure your identity and potentially avoid your funds being stolen. 

There’s another easy life hack that’s a “side effect” of changing your IP address: lower prices! 

Discounts for certain goods, hotels, and flights are often location-based. By “faking” your online identity, you can shop online at lower prices and grab incredible discounts. 

Methods of obtaining a Canadian IP address

Installing a VPN is the simplest way, but there are alternatives to go about it. 

For instance, you can use a proxy server that routes your requests through a Canadian server. Or, you can try out the Tor browser that routes your internet traffic through multiple nodes. 

Let’s dive deeper into the strengths and weaknesses associated with each of these methods:

Using a proxy server

A proxy server connects you to a server in Canada, acting like a sort of intermediary that processes your request before it reaches its destination.

Setting this up can be challenging, more so when compared to firing up a dedicated VPN and letting it do the work for you. In Google Chrome, you have to navigate to ‘Settings’, click on the ‘System’ option, and adjust ‘Manual proxy setup’ settings.

This opens up the ‘Network & Internet’ settings in Windows, providing you a way to enter the proxy server’s IP address. You can find a list of Canadian proxy systems online. 

There is a problem here, aside from the sheer inconvenience. 

Compared to VPNs, your traffic isn’t encrypted when going through proxy servers, spelling bad news for your overall security. Your data will be exposed to potential risks, such as theft of information or pesky malware attacks.

All in all, proxy servers will work for providing you with a shiny new Canadian IP address in a pinch, but they’re unreliable for things like torrenting or streaming that require a stronger privacy connection. As such, if your primary goal is streaming, make sure to check out our list of best VPNs for streaming. 

Using Tor browser

Tor browser can also get you there with much more efficiency than a random proxy server. Because it directs your internet traffic through various nodes (including an exit node in Canada if you configure it as such), it’s much safer if you want to hide your online activities. 

Once again, there is a significant drawback you have to be aware of if you’re hyped for this particular method. The act of routing your requests through multiple nodes will have a major impact on your connection speeds, making it unsuitable for activities like streaming or gaming. 

Also, setting up isn’t that simple as you have to download the browser, followed by modifying the ‘torrc’ file manually to set up the exit node located in Canada.

Using a VPN service

VPNs are by far the easiest and most secure approach to snagging a Canadian VPN address. Simply download your VPN of choice, fire it up, connect to a server in Canada, and kick back while you stream Canadian Netflix or do other country-related activities (not ice fishing).

Another positive aspect of relying on a VPN service is that it’s versatile and supports all kinds of devices and systems, including (but not limited to):

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux
• Android
• iOS

Even if you’re a relative beginner and your technical knowledge includes just general browsing, modern VPNs are super simple as you can see in our VPN how-to guide.

It doesn’t hurt to verify your IP address by using websites like whatismyip.com or iplocation.net, which display geographic information and confirm if your IP points to a location in Canada 

Recommended VPNs for a Canadian IP address

With that said, finding a reliable VPN isn’t easy, particularly when you consider the amount of options to choose from. This is why we narrowed it down to the top of the cream. These providers are the best in regards to speed, reliability, and overall security, and also offer a plethora of life-saving security features and other perks – all at an affordable price. 

So without further ado, here are the VPN providers you can rely on to safely provide you with a Canadian IP address:

NordVPN – Most comprehensive VPN provider for Canada

Without a doubt, NordVPN is the best option if you want to exchange your IP address for a Canadian one. This isn’t a surprise since this VPN provider has always shined on all fronts, and our previous experiences were all validated when we conducted a detailed test of NordVPN for Canada.

With an extensive diskless server network consisting of 6,100+ servers across 83 countries and top-notch performance enabled by the NordLynx VPN protocol (based on WireGuard VPN protocol), NordVPN will work for pretty much anything.

This speed test says it all:

Montreal is one out of three locations where NordVPN offers fast connections – you also have the choice of Toronto and Vancouver.

It’s also worth noting that NordVPN is based in Panama, a country that isn’t a member of any international surveillance alliance and has no data retention laws. Combined with the fact that this provider sticks to a strict no-logs policy (logs about your online activities won’t be saved), you have the peace of mind that everything you do online is 100% anonymous. 

NordVPN security features

Besides supplying you with basic protection, NordVPN also implements various security functions that will further boost your online security, including: 

• Double VPN servers: Encrypt your internet traffic through two VPN servers for added security.
• Onion-Over VPN: Route traffic through the NordVPN network and the Tor network. A great option for surfing the Dark Web.
• Obfuscated servers: Hide your VPN usage to overcome censorship and VPN blocks, which is why NordVPN is often recommended as a good VPN for China.
• Threat Protection: Ad blocker that also eliminates trackers and malware. 
• VPN Kill Switch: Cuts your connection if you’re disconnected from your VPN to eliminate the chance of your true IP leaking. 
• Advanced encryption protocols: NordVPN comes with a wide range of protocols including IKEv2, OpenVPN, and WireGuard.

See all NordVPN features here >

All of these functionalities are available across different apps for a variety of systems, ensuring you can protect all your devices. As a bonus, you can make use of the NordVPN extension for all major browsers, including Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.

Best of all, NordVPN is very affordable, and by using the coupon provided below, you can knock down the two-year subscription to around $3.00 per month. If price is one of your major considerations, here’s a ranking of the best cheap VPNs right now. 

Lastly, NordVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it with no strings attached, and you also get the benefits of 24/7 live chat support.

For a full evaluation, check out our updated NordVPN review.

Surfshark – Affordable VPN for Canada

A good alternative to NordVPN is Surfshark, a fully-featured VPN with plenty of security features that is famous for its wallet-friendly price tag.

Even though it’s cheap, it doesn’t make any sacrifices. For example, 3,200+ servers are not something to scoff at, and neither is its ability to support unlimited simultaneous connections (other providers generally support 5-10 connections on a single subscription). 

With regards to speed, Surfshark packs a punch and is only beaten out by NordVPN, as you can see in the speed test. 

You can generally expect Surfshark to be about 60 Mbps slower than NordVPN, which is an impressive feat considering NordVPN is the fastest VPN in the world. Check out speed tests for other locations in our Surfshark for Canada article.

Surfshark security features

The suite of features offered by Surfshark is very impressive, including things like:

• MultiHop: Fancy name for a double VPN that passes your traffic through different VPN servers. 
• Camouflage mode: Classic obfuscation that conceals VPN traffic in order to pass through VPN blocking. 
• CleanWeb: Ad blocker with the ability to eliminate trackers and malicious domains.
• Bypasser: Split tunneling allows you to choose which apps or websites go through your regular internet connection. 

(opens in a new tab)”>See all Surfshark VPN features here >

Good news, Surfshark is a true no-logs VPN with user-friendly apps on all devices and major operating systems. Ultimately, this means that if you choose Surfshark, you won’t feel as if you’re missing out. The speeds are excellent, the security features are all there, and you also get a 30-day money-back guarantee with 24/7 live chat support. 

Wondering if this is the right provider for you? A dedicated Surfshark review will help you decide.

ExpressVPN – The old reliable 

ExpressVPN has been in the game for almost two decades and offers standout features such as solid connections, reliable and straightforward apps, and robust security functions. The experience is a key factor here, while many providers had their share of privacy scandals, ExpressVPN’s track record is squeaky clean and its no-logs policy has been audited and verified plenty of times. 

So, what do you get?

Let’s start with the server network consisting of 3,000 RAM-disk servers scattered throughout 93 countries that all offer capable connections running on its proprietary Lightway Protocol. 

Here’s the speed you can expect:

While generally not as fast as other services on this list, ExpressVPNEwill serve you well for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. You can view other Canada speed tests in our dedicated ExpressVPN for Canada article.

ExpressVPN security features

To boost your security further, ExpressVPN boasts a series of solid features, including (but not limited to): 

• Obfuscated servers: Masks your online traffic and hides VPN usage, which makes ExpressVPN a suitable VPN for UAE and Dubai.
• DNS servers: Protects DNS requests regardless of the type of server you’re connected to.

• Threat Manager: VPN ad blocker that busts ads, trackers, and blocks malicious websites.
• Advanced encryption: All apps support advanced encryption ciphers including AES-256, AES-256-GCM, and ChaCha20. 
• Network Lock (kill switch): blocks all traffic if you’re disconnected from the VPN server, eliminating the possibility of IP address leaks.
• Split tunneling: Choose which websites and apps bypass the VPN to use your regular internet connection. Learn more about this feature in our guide to the best VPNs with split tunneling.

See all ExpressVPN security features here >

ExpressVPN may fall behind its main competitors in terms of speed, but considering its reputation and record, it may be worth a slightly higher price of admission. This is especially true if data security is your main concern. 

As with other providers, you can make use of a 30-day money-back guarantee (useful for test rides) and 24/7 live chat support.

Get the complete picture with our detailed ExpressVPN review.

Security considerations when using a VPN

Despite the substantial boost in overall security provided by VPNs, there are risks involved, primarily if you subscribe to a lesser-known VPN. Not all VPNs are created equal, and some providers log user activities, which means your data can still be compromised by third parties. This is exactly why we recommended VPNs that adhere to a no-logs policy.

It’s also worth mentioning that some threats may bypass your VPN’s security measures, so it’s always best that you stay vigilant when accessing the interwebs. 

Similarly, all the VPNs we talked about feature a kill switch for a good reason. If your VPN connection suddenly drops, your real IP address will be exposed, which is why this feature is a must. 

Troubleshooting common issues

It’s not uncommon to face challenges when using a VPN. 

For example, many users report their VPN connection being rejected. Oftentimes, this is caused by Remote Access Service and Routing not running on the Windows server. To resolve this issue, disable your firewall temporarily and see if the connection is established. 

Then, use the search box and look for ‘Windows Defender’. Click on ‘Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall’. Hit ‘Change Settings’ and choose ‘Allow another app’ and simply add your VPN to the list – easy!

Many users also report performance-related issues. Don’t be surprised as all VPNs do impact connection speeds. To alleviate this problem, eliminate all unnecessary services on your device that are eating up bandwidth, and disconnect any idle devices. 

Can I use a Free VPN to get a Canadian IP address?

The prospect of saving a few dollars per month by installing a free VPN is certainly alluring, but you should never gamble with your online security. Free VPNs generally come with a slew of limitations and risks. Not only do they lack essential security features like kill switches, but they also compromise your privacy and limit your bandwidth. 

Worst of all, many free VPNs earn revenue by selling your data to third parties, so they’re not exactly free – you’re paying with information. 

If you’re still adamant about trying some free options, here’s a list of the best free VPN services you’re safe to try. Do remember you’ll have to contend with slow connections and limitations such as bandwidth caps. 

Legal considerations for using a VPN

Changing your IP address for one in Canada through a VPN is perfectly legal. This isn’t the case with countries where VPN usage is restricted. You should always be aware of local laws and regulations to avoid any legal implications, especially when you’re partaking in activities that violate the terms of service on websites and streaming platforms. 

In most countries, though, the worst thing that can happen if you’re busted when using a VPN is that your account may get terminated. 

Summary – Snag that Canadian IP

A Canadian IP address can open up a world of possibilities. Accessing restricted content, getting exciting discounts, and more is something that you’re bound to enjoy. 

While there are plenty of methods for cosplaying as a Canadian online, a VPN is the best way to accomplish this goal. Not only will you receive a brand-new identity, but you’ll also be able to enjoy the security of encrypted online traffic and a plethora of other security functions for boosting your overall digital safety.

The best VPN for Canada is NordVPN, but you also can’t go wrong if you choose other top providers like Surfshark or ExpressVPN. Speed aside, all of the apps offer something unique, so it’s ultimately a matter of preference. 

With that, good luck on your future Canadian adventure! 

Other Canada VPN guides:

• Best VPN for Canada
• NordVPN for Canada
• Surfshark for Canada
• ExpressVPN for Canada
• Proton VPN for Canada
• Cheapest VPNs for Canada
• Best VPNs for Toronto
• Best VPNs for Vancouver
• Best VPNs for Montreal

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Canadian IP address and why do I need one?

A Canadian IP address is a unique number tied to an internet-connected device in Canada. Some types of content and services are limited to a location, and Canada is not the exception. This is why you may need to “source” a Canadian IP address through a VPN if you need to access region-specific content or services like online banking. 

What is the best VPN to get a Canadian IP address

The best VPN for getting a Canadian IP address is NordVPN. Not only does it provide excellent unlocking capabilities, but is also known for its lightning-fast connections, and military-grade security features.

Can I use a free VPN to get a Canadian IP address?

While possible, relying on a free VPN to access Canadian services and content may open you up to privacy and security risks and limitations such as slower speeds or bandwidth caps. 

How can I verify that my IP address is Canadian?

You can verify your IP address by using free websites like whatismyip.com that display your geographic information.

This guide to getting a Canadian IP address was last updated on July 22, 2024.