Internet monitoring is incredibly common and isn’t only performed by hackers. In fact, your own employer, Internet Service Provider (ISP), and perhaps even government, can see exactly what you get up to online. VPNs enhance your privacy by encrypting your traffic, rendering it unreadable to any third-party observer and preventing this kind of snooping entirely.
You might have tried to use a service and received an error along the lines of “This content is not available in your country”. Usually, if you see an error like this, it’s because the site has checked your IP address and determined you’re not in a supported country. However, by connecting to a VPN, you’re assigned a new, region-specific IP address and can use previously inaccessible services as though you were actually in your chosen country, regardless of your real location. You will find a lot of details on each of the providers below, but if you haven’t got time to read through to the end, here is a summary of the top VPNs to get an Austrian IP address:
How to get an Austrian IP address using a VPN:
Even if you’ve never used a VPN before, getting an Austrian IP address is very simple. Follow the steps below and you’ll be accessing geo-blocked content in no time:
Best VPNs for getting an IP address in Austria:
ExpressVPN Our top Choice! Operates a large network of servers that are fast and reliable for streaming and downloading. Apps are secure and privacy is paramount. Includes 30-day money back guarantee.
NordVPN Low-cost option that is super private and secure. Plenty of servers to choose from for streaming. Unblocks most geo-restricted sites.
CyerGhost Budget provider, fast streaming servers and beginner friendly apps will get you started.
IPVanish No issues accessing restricted and geo-blocked sites. Fast and secure.
PrivateVPN Gaining a following for the increasing amount of streaming sites it can unblock. Fewer servers than other providers here.
Begin by choosing one of the VPNs listed below (we recommend ExpressVPN).
Download and install the appropriate version of the app for your device.
Connect to any of your VPN’s servers in Austria.
Try using a geo-blocked service. It should load almost instantly, although you might have to clear your cookies and cache first. Finally, reloading the page should fix any problems.
Want to watch a specific event live? If so, it’s important to test your VPN with the steps above before it actually begins. This way, if anything doesn’t work as expected, you’ll still have enough time to get help from your VPN’s customer support team and might not have to miss the start.
GET A PAID VPN FREE: Going abroad on vacation and looking for short-term VPN coverage? Why not take advantage of ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee? You’ll have to pay upfront, but you can cancel at any point to get your money back, effectively meaning you can use it for almost a month, completely risk-free.
The best VPNs to get an IP address from Austria
Choosing the best VPNs for a given task is rarely simple, in part because of how many services there are.
1. ExpressVPN
Jan 2023
That’s why, when deciding which VPNs are best at getting an Austrian IP address, we only considered services which met all of the below criteria:
- Offers high speeds and reliable connections
- Has at least one Austrian server
- Uses effectively uncrackable encryption and includes a variety of other security features
- Doesn’t log any information that could identify you
- Has apps for the major operating systems
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.ExpressVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
ExpressVPN provides access to more than 2,000 servers in 94 countries worldwide, including Austria. It offers fast and reliable connections, and enables you to stream live high-definition video without any problems whatsoever. Additionally, ExpressVPN excels at bypassing regional restrictions, meaning you’re free to use platforms like ORF1 and ATV wherever you are in the world.
This service includes 256-bit encryption, a kill switch (in desktop apps), and protects against both DNS and IPv6 leaks. Privacy-conscious users can choose to pay with Bitcoin for added peace of mind but ExpressVPN doesn’t log any personally identifiable information so your activities are kept private either way. Looking for help? Customer support is available 24/7 over live chat.
ExpressVPN offers Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, and Linux apps. It has custom firmware to make router installation as quick and straightforward as possible.
BEST VPN FOR AUSTRIA:ExpressVPN is our top pick for getting an Austrian IP address. It’s reliable, with high speeds, strong encryption, and a major focus on your privacy. What’s more, ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee means you can try it risk-free.
Pros:
- Fast speeds for streaming
- Unblocks ORF1, ATV, ProSieben, and others
- Powerful security and privacy features
- 24/7 live chat
Cons:
- Limited to three simultaneous connections
Read our review of ExpressVPN.
2. NordVPN
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
- Background
- FireTV
Website: www.NordVPN.com
NordVPN boasts the largest network of any major VPN provider, with more than 5,000 servers across 62 countries (including 37 in Austria). This service offers high speeds and can easily unblock stubborn geo-blocked services like Netflix US, so ORF1, ATV, and Go TV don’t pose much of a challenge. NordVPN allows up to six simultaneous connections, meaning you can use it to stream safely whether you’re at home or on-the-go.
This VPN takes your online security seriously. It protects your traffic using 256-bit AES encryption, a customizable kill switch (in all versions but Android), and protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks. Multi-hop, Tor over VPN, ad-blocking, and malware-scanning features are also included. NordVPN has a no-logs policy, but accepts Bitcoin in case you’d like a second layer of anonymity. You can reach support at any time, day or night, via live chat.
NordVPN apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It also works with select network routers but must be installed manually.
POWERFUL AND AFFORDABLE:NordVPN offers multiple Austrian servers, customizable security, a customer-first privacy policy, and fast, reliable connections at a budget-friendly price. It even comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
More servers than most
Advanced security options
Keeps no logs
Excellent unblocking ability
Connecting takes a little longer than with similar services
Here’s our full review of NordVPN.
3. CyberGhost
Website: www.Cyberghost.com
Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS
CyberGhost has 64 servers in Austria which is more than most of its rivals, plus there are more than 3,000 additional servers in 59 other countries. This service is very fast and able to stream live HD video without any noticeable buffering; it even shows each server’s current load so you can choose the fastest one. Additionally, CyberGhost can unblock numerous popular platforms including ATV and Puls 4 from abroad.
This is a very user-friendly service, and better still, all of its security features are enabled by default. These include 256-bit encryption, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, a kill switch, automatic malware-scanning, and an ad-blocker. Plus, CyberGhost doesn’t log any information which could identify you. Should you run into any problems, you can reach support 24/7 over live chat.
CyberGhost has apps for MacOS, iOS, Windows, and Android. Manual configuration is required for Linux systems and select wireless routers.
NOVICE-FRIENDLY VPN:CyberGhost isn’t just a fast, affordable VPN with lots of Austrian servers, it’s also privacy-conscious and includes several powerful security features. A 45-day money-back guarantee is included, so there’s no risk.
Comprehensive, no-fuss security
Fast enough for HD live streaming
Strong unblocking capabilities
Numerous Austrian servers
Few options for advanced users
Here’s our in-depth CyberGhost review.
4. IPVanish
Website: www.IPVanish.com
IPVanish currently has six Austrian servers, and more than 1,100 others in an additional 60+ countries. This service has several features that make it ideal for browsing on-the-go, including lightweight apps for numerous platforms, up to ten connections permitted (most allow six at most), high speeds, and the ability to unblock services like ORF1 abroad.
This VPN keeps your activities private with 256-bit encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch (in desktop apps). However, it also includes more advanced security options like automatic IP address switching, OpenVPN obfuscation, and local traffic blocking. IPVanish doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, so there’s no question of your activities leading back to you. If you need help, customer support is on-hand 24/7 over live chat.
BROWSE SAFELY ANYWHERE:IPVanish makes it easy to get an Austrian IP address. It boasts fast speeds, advanced security options, a no-logs policy, and the ability to protect all of your devices simultaneously. IPVanish includes a 7-day money-back guarantee.
Allows more connections than most
High-speed servers
Strong security and privacy features
Can’t unblock some of the more popular streaming platforms
Doesn’t accept bitcoin
Read our full review of IPVanish.
5. PrivateVPN
Website: www.PrivateVPN.com
PrivateVPN has a fairly small network (88 servers across 57 countries, including two in Austria) but it offsets this by offering higher speeds than most of its competitors. This service is able to unblock several Austrian streaming platforms including ORF1, ATV, and Puls 4 from anywhere in the world, and because of its speed, you can watch with no noticeable buffering. PrivateVPN allows up to six connections at once, so it’s ideal for those with several devices to protect.
This service includes 256-bit encryption, a kill switch (on Windows), and protection against IPv6, WebRTC, and DNS leaks to keep your traffic safe from prying eyes. Further, while PrivateVPN has a strict no-logging policy, it allows users to sign up anonymously with Bitcoin and a throwaway email address. Live chat is available 22 hours a day (3PM-1PM PST) and the staff can even install or configure the software for you remotely if you’d like.
PrivateVPN apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS. Linux systems and select routers are also supported with manual installation required.
STREAM AUSTRIAN TV ABROAD:PrivateVPN lets you flawlessly stream Austrian TV abroad, keeps no logs, is very fast, and prioritizes your security. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Better-than-average speeds
Able to unblock a wide range of services
No logs and strong security
Relatively small network
Doesn’t have 24/7 live chat
Here’s our full review of PrivateVPN.
Can I use a free VPN to get an Austrian IP address?
At first glance, free VPNs can seem pretty appealing, but in reality, they come with several major disadvantages. First and foremost is their speed: these services attract huge numbers of users, and their (often quite small) networks struggle to keep up. As such, you’ll likely experience slow browsing speeds and videos will pause frequently to buffer (if they load at all). Additionally, free VPNs are often blacklisted by geo-blocked platforms, so there’s a chance it won’t work, even if you manage to get a halfway decent connection.
Servers are expensive to maintain, and an international network of them, even more so. So how can free VPNs afford to operate? You’ll find that they almost always insert large, intrusive ads into the sites you visit but the real problem is that some services go even further. By storing tracking cookies on your device, they can collect valuable information about your browsing habits. The resulting consumer profile is then sold to advertisers without your knowledge.
Finally, there’s the security aspect to consider. There’s no easy way to tell if your free VPN is safe or not, and recent research has found that at least one major app store is home to dozens of Trojans posing as free VPNs. Worse still, this study showed that 18% of tested apps never used any encryption at all, meaning they were essentially useless. Your safety isn’t guaranteed with larger providers either, as we found when Hola was caught selling user bandwidth to help run a botnet.
Choosing a reputable, trustworthy VPN that puts its customer’s privacy first is the best way to stay safe online.
Will a VPN let me watch Austrian TV live online?
Regional blocking is widely used, particularly by major streaming platforms. However, most of the time, these services just check the user’s IP address to see if it comes from a supported region. This means that you can bypass their geo-restriction measures and freely access services like Puls 4, ORF1, ATV, ProSieben, and Go TV simply by connecting to an Austrian VPN server first.
It’s worth noting that IP address checks aren’t the only method of geo-restriction. Some services, for instance, ask you to provide a local phone number or will only accept payment methods linked to a local address. This means that Austrians who are currently abroad can still sign up, but people who live in other countries will find it almost impossible.
What else is an Austrian IP address good for?
If you travel fairly regularly, you’ve almost certainly received an automated alert at some point saying that someone has tried to access one of your accounts. These systems are used by banks, Uber, PayPal, and email services (among others), so losing access, even temporarily could cause major problems if you’re in a foreign country. That said, by connecting to a VPN server in your home country before logging in, you can reduce the risk of this happening at all.
Public wifi networks are convenient, but they have a few disadvantages: they’re a prime target for hackers since they’re rarely as well-secured as they should be, they’re often monitored, and they might block certain websites. VPNs let you avoid all three of these problems since their encryption prevents anyone from monitoring your activities, and the ability to route traffic through a server in another country means it’s easy to access any website you like.
Internet restrictions in Austria
Austria has a very free and open internet with just a handful of restrictions. Firstly, websites hosting illegal pornography are blocked, which is standard practice across most of the world. Austria also blocks access to websites hosting hate speech or pro-Nazi or neo-Nazi content.
As in several other countries, ISPs block access to popular file-sharing sites including The Pirate Bay and 1337x. However, as VPNs and other privacy-focused tools like Tor make bypassing governmental and ISP-imposed blocking incredibly simple, this kind of restriction is generally considered ineffective at best and ethically troubling at worst.
