School network administrators often block access to popular game servers like Fortnite, Minecraft, and PUBG. Colleges and Universities do this to prevent users from clogging up the school network’s bandwidth, and to ensure students use the internet for their studies. These restrictions cause frustration for students who want to play Fortnite in their downtime. The good news is that you can easily unblock Fortnite in school with a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

A VPN is an online service that allows you to bypass network restrictions and online geo-blocks. It works by encrypting your traffic and tunneling it to a server outside of the school network. This lets you use the internet while bypassing the restrictions imposed by the school.

Best of all, a VPN is designed to give you online privacy. It does this by handling your DNS requests privately and by encrypting your traffic. As a result, the school admin has no way to tell what you are doing online – leaving you free to unblock Fortnite without anybody finding out.

In this guide, we explain how to use a VPN for Fortnite, and we recommend the best VPNs to unblock Fortnite at school so you can play in your downtime.

How to unblock Fortnite at School with a VPN

Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to bypass school network restrictions is easy as long as you pick a suitable VPN. To play Fortnite at school, you will need a super-fast VPN that doesn’t cause lag. In this guide, we have recommended VPNs that are both secure and ultra-quick.  Follow the steps below to get a VPN subscription with a provider that works to unblock Fortnite:

Here’s how to unblock Fortnite at School in the US: 

  • Select a VPN for Fortnite. We recommend NordVPN because it has over 400 super-fast servers across the US to give you the best possible speeds.
  • Follow our link to subscribe to the VPN at the best possible cost.
  • Choose the VPN subscription length you prefer and download the VPN software.
  • Install the VPN app onto your Fortnite device. There are apps for computers and mobile devices.
  • Choose a server in the US and connect. A server closer to your school will provide better connection speeds.
  • As soon as the VPN connects, you will be able to launch Fortnite and play it as if you were off-campus.

You can take a quick look at the top VPNs to unblock Fortnite below. To make choosing a VPN easier, scroll down for in-depth summaries about each provider.

Best VPNs to unblock Fortnite at school:

  • NordVPN: Our #1 VPN for Fortnite. A super reliable VPN with over 1900 servers in 15 US cities. NordLynx protocol is designed to be fast; perfect for playing Fortnite. Advanced apps for all platforms. Super secure. Outstanding privacy features. Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark: Best budget VPN for Fortnite. Superb value for money. Servers in 60+ countries and 25 US cities. Outstanding speeds for playing Fortnite or streaming in HD. Robust privacy features. Apps for all platforms. Unlimited simultaneous connections. Money-back guarantee.
  • ExpressVPN: A highly reputable service with servers in 94 countries. Wide choice of servers in 15 US cities. Unblocks two dozen Netflix regions. Lightning-fast Lightway protocol to play Fortnite. Robust AES-256 encryption. 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • CyberGhost: Perfect Fortnite VPN for beginners. Extremely easy to use. Apps for all platforms. Servers in 88 countries, including 1200 in 11 US cities. Very cheap when you commit for 2 or 3 years. Works with Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu. Generous 45-day money-back guarantee.
  • IPVanish: Well-known and reputable US provider. Unlimited connections are permitted with a single account. Incredibly fast thanks to its Wireguard implementation. Robust AES-256 encryption. Allows torrenting. Proprietary server network, with servers all across the US to play Fortnite.
  • PrivateVPN: A fast and secure no logs VPN from Sweden. Works to unblock Fortnite in School. Ideal for streaming iPlayer, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and most other international services. Lots of advanced privacy features. 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Hotspot Shield: Lightning-fast Catapult Hydra protocol to play Fortnite. Works with Netflix, iPlayer, and other international streaming services. Servers in 80+ countries. Doesn’t track what you do while connected. 45-day money-back guarantee.

The Best VPNs to unblock Fortnite in School

The online marketplace is saturated with VPN providers, and they are often misleading about the level of service they provide. This can make choosing a VPN confusing.

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

To play Fortnite, you require a VPN that has super-fast servers right across the US. This ensures that you can get optimal speeds – no matter where your school is. A reliable VPN should also provide exceptional privacy, data security, and the ability to access services from all around the world.

Below, we have included a list of the most important criteria we used to pick VPNs for Fortnite. For more information about how we test and review VPNs, please read our full methodology article.

  • A fast global server network, including a wide choice of servers in the US.
  • Apps for all popular platforms to let you unblock Fortnite on any device you own.
  • Excellent reliability and advanced features to keep your online habits private.
  • A no-logs policy to ensure that what you do with the VPN is never recorded.
  • Superb accessibility, with servers that work to stream Netflix, Hulu, iPlayer, etc.

The summaries below provide additional information about each VPN service. All of our recommendations work to unblock Fortnite, but they also slightly. You can use the summaries to pick the perfect VPN for all your needs:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

unblocks fortniteTested Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

NordVPN is a highly reliable provider that has everything you need to unblock Fortnite and other games from school. The VPN is based in Panama, a location that is superb in terms of privacy. It is also a zero logs service, which means it never holds any records of what its users do online.

Apps are available for all popular platforms, and they have a wealth of advanced features. This includes a kill-switch, obfuscation, DNS leak protection, Smart DNS, split tunneling, double-hop connections – and its proprietary NordLynx protocol – which is designed to provide even better speeds.

Servers are located in 59 countries around the globe, which gives it exceptional unblocking capabilities. This includes 1970+ servers in 15 US cities, perfect for streaming Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, or playing games like Fortnite.

Apps are available for all popular platforms, and you can install and use the VPN on up to 6 devices simultaneously. This ensures that you can gain complete privacy and freedom of access on all your devices. The VPN is extremely fairly priced for what you get and you can even try it risk free using its 30-day money back guarantee.

BEST VPN TO UNBLOCK FORTNITE:NordVPN is our #1 choice. Thousands of US servers to get the best speeds at any school in the US. Servers in 59 countries that work to unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and much more. Apps for all platforms. Zero logs. Many advanced privacy features. Outstanding value for money. Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

  • Servers in 59 countries, including in the US for Fortnite
  • Excellent 24/7 live chat support
  • Built-in ad-block and malware protection
  • Works to stream Netflix US, Hulu, HBO Max, and iPlayer
  • Lost of advanced privacy features, and a no logs policy

Cons:

  • A little expensive if you get a one-month subscription

Our score:

Read our full review of NordVPN.

2. Surfshark

unblocks fortniteTested Jan 2023

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark is a VPN based in the British Virgin Islands, a location that is ideal due to its lack of mandatory data retention directives and overreaching intelligence agencies. The VPN is extremely cheap for what you get, and you can install and use the VPN on an unlimited number of devices. This means that you can share the VPN with family and friends if you want to.

Servers are located globally, and this VPN has a fantastic reputation for being able to bypass censorship, geo-blocks, and any restrictions enforced on a local network – such as a college or university. The VPN is particularly good for unblocking Fortnite at School due to its super-fast Wireguard implementation.

The VPN has a no logs policy, which means it never stores any records about what its users do online. It operates completely diskless servers that run in RAM, which means that if it pulls the plug, then all data is instantly wiped. Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Firesticks, and select VPN-compatible routers. Those apps come with many advanced features, including malware protection and adblocking. It also throws in a free Smart DNS service.

In addition to working with Fortnite, this VPN has servers in over 60 countries that work to access Netflix, iPlayer, Disney+, and a wide choice of international TV platforms and services. This makes it great for students from abroad wanting to access services from back home. You can test it risk-free thanks to its 30-day money back guarantee.

BEST BUDGET OPTION:Surfshark is the best cheap VPN to play Fortnite at College or University. Can be installed and used on as many devices as you like. Perfect for sharing with friends and family. Apps for all devices. Many advanced features. Allows torrenting. Works with Netflix US, iPlayer, Hulu, and more. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Servers in 60+ countries, including the US to play Fortnite

  • Exceptionally fast for streaming, gaming, and torrenting

  • Free Smart DNS service is thrown in with every subscription

  • Lets you use the VPN on an unlimited number of devices consecutively

  • Military grade AES encryption and a no logs policy

  • Fewer servers in each location than some competitors

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

This market-leading VPN has been around for 13 years, making it one of the longest-standing consumer VPNs on the market. It is an exceptional service that provides everything you need to gain freedom of access and privacy online. This includes servers in a whopping 94 countries, to let you access vast amounts of censored, geo-blocked, or restricted content.

In addition to providing apps for all platforms that come with AES encryption, the OpenVPN protocol, a kill-switch, and obfuscation, this VPN has a no-logs policy. This ensures it can provide the highest levels of online privacy and data security. It is one of the few VPNs that work to unblock around 20 different Netflix regions – as well as many other popular services.

The VPN is extremely fast due to its proprietary Lightway protocol, this makes it ideally suited to playing online games like Fortnite, or for streaming in HD and torrenting. Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android, and you also get browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

A single subscription lets you use the VPN on up to 5 devices, which is usually enough for the average student. Best of all you can test it and compare it to our other recommendations by making use of its 30-day money-back guarantee.

RELIABLE AND FAST:ExpressVPN is a consumer-favorite VPN. Proprietary Lightway protocol is designed for speed, perfect for streaming and gaming. Unblocks two dozen Netflix regions. Servers in 94 countries including 15 US cities, to get you better speeds at any college campus. 24/7 live chat support. No log policy. Free Smart DNS service. Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Apps for all popular platforms

  • Servers in 94 countries perfect for streaming, gaming, and torrenting

  • Lightway protocol is ideal for playing Fortnite without lag

  • Unblocks 20+ Netflix catalogs, Hulu, iPlayer, and much more

  • 24/7 live chat support

  • 5 simultaneous connections only

Read our full ExpressVPN Review

4. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

This Romanian VPN provider is a decent all-rounder that we most often recommend to beginners. The apps are available for all popular platforms and are extremely uncomplicated and easy to use. Despite this, they still have a fairly decent feature set with everything you need to gain online privacy – whether at home or on public wifi.

Speeds are fast because the VPN has a super-massive network of Tier 1 servers. This allows the VPN to avoid server congestion, making the experience better for all its users. In addition, the VPN has recently introduced WireGuard connections, which improves speeds for playing games like Fortnite or streaming in HD.

A no logs policy ensures that your online habits are never recorded, and the VPN has a kill-switch to prevent you leaking data to your ISP should the VPN connection drop out. This is also one of the few VPNs that work to access Netflix US and other popular streaming services while abroad on vacation.

To ensure that you are always protected on public wifi, it has an auto-connect feature. Plus you can use this VPN on up to 7 devices simultaneously. A superb all-rounder that you can try risk-free using its generous 45-day money back guarantee.

IDEAL FORTNITE VPN FOR BEGINNERS:Easy to use on all platforms. Fast servers in the US and 90 other countries. Excellent for gaming and streaming. Protects against Wi-Fi hackers. Kill-switch and AES-256 encryption. Unblocks Netflix and iPlayer. Exceptional value for money. 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Best Fortnite VPN for beginners

  • Excellent subscription prices

  • Unblocks Netflix US, Disney+, iPlayer, and more

  • Servers in nearly 90 countries

  • No logs policy and robust AES encryption

  • Fewer advanced features

  • Not as fast as the VPN recommended above it

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review.

5. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish is a US-based VPN that prides itself on providing incredibly fast speeds. The VPN owns and operates servers in 17 different US cities. This is better in terms of privacy because it means the company retains complete control over its entire service.

Its excellent WireGuard implementation has put it in the top spot of the fastest VPNs in the world. Needless to say, this makes it an extremely good option for anybody who wants to stream in HD, or play multiplayer games like Fortnite.

Admittedly, being based in the US – which is home to the NSA and gag orders – could be enough to put some users off. However, the VPN has been completely audited by a third-party security company and it has a solid no logs policy. It implements a kill-switch, secure AES 256 encryption, DNS leak protection, and obfuscation. This makes it a superb option for preventing ISP snooping and stopping the school network from tracking what you do on the college wifi.

The only drawback is that this service doesn’t unblock as many international streaming platforms as our other options. However, you can try it yourself thanks to its 30-day money back guarantee. And it does offer exceptional value thanks to its unlimited connection allowance

UNLIMITED CONNECTIONS:A great option for families or students who own many devices. Many fast US servers to unblock Fortnite. Easy to use. Live chat support. Works to stream Netflix US. SOCKS5 proxy included for torrenting. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Servers in over 50 countries

  • Ideal speeds for streaming in HD and gaming

  • Torrenting permitted throughout

  • Zero logs, strong encryption, and a kill-switch

  • Unblocks Netflix US

  • Based in the US

  • Doesn’t unblock iPlayer or Hulu

Read our full IPVanish review.

6. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN is a provider based in Sweden that offers high-quality privacy features and excellent unblocking capabilities. Being based in Sweden is good in terms of privacy because the country lacks mandatory data retention directives that apply to VPNs. Plus, this service has a solid no logs policy that ensures everything you do online remains completely private both now and in the future.

Servers are located in 63 countries, and the VPN has a wide choice of servers across the US to ensure you get the best speeds for playing Fortnite on any campus or dorm. Apps are available for all platforms, and they have a wide set of advanced features. This includes a kill-switch, obfuscation, split tunneling, DNS leak protection, and AES-256 encryption.

Live chat support is available for between 18 and 20 hours per day. If it is closed, you can send an email and they will get back to you as quickly as possible. That said, this VPN is extremely easy to use on all platforms and you can install it using setup guides on Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and select routers.

STRONG ON PRIVACY:An outstanding all-rounder. Praised by consumers. Zero logs policy. Apps for all devices. Live chat support. Kill-switch and obfuscation. Works to unblock tons of Netflix regions. Fast for unblocking Fortnite. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • No logs VPN based in Sweden

  • Optimized for torrenting

  • No logs and robust AES encryption

  • Fully featured apps for all popular platforms

  • Servers in over 60 countries

  • Fewer servers in each location than its competitors

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

7. Hotspot Shield

Website: www.Hotspotshield.com

                    Editor’s Note: Hotspot Shield is owned by Pango, Comparitech’s parent company.

Hotspot Shield is a VPN provider based in the USA that is well known for providing fast speeds. This makes it a good option for those who want to unblock Fortnite or stream HD content on services like Netflix.

The VPN has servers in over 80 countries, and this includes a wide choice of servers across the US. The VPN also allows torrenting, and it provides fast download speeds due to a proprietary VPN protocol dubbed Hydra.

Admittedly, it being based in the US might put some people off. However, this VPN has solid apps for all platforms that come with a kill-switch and strong AES encryption. This makes it robust in terms of security and means you can use it to gain privacy and online security whether at home, in a college dorm, on campus, or using public wifi.

Live chat support is available 24/7. However, it is only available to paying subscribers. The apps can be installed on Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. And the VPN has decent setup guides for VPN compatible routers too. Plus, this VPN works to access Netflix and other popular platforms. You can give it a trial run thanks to its 45-day money back guarantee.

POPULAR SERVICE:No usage logs. Works to unblock international streams including Netflix. Has IPs in 80+ countries, including the US to play Fortnite. Works with iPlayer, Hulu, and Disney+. Excellent speeds. 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Servers in over 80 countries worldwide

  • Super fast Catapult Hydra protocol is ideal for gaming

  • 45-day money-back guarantee

  • No usage logs

  • Easy to use

  • Based in the US

  • Stores some connection logs

Read our full Hotspot Shield review.

In addition to these performance issues, Free VPNs are problematic in terms of privacy and security. Many have lapse privacy policies that allow them to harvest your data. They use this information to create a revenue stream by selling details about your online habits to third parties such as marketing companies and data brokers.

Free VPNs have also been found to contain app vulnerabilities, DNS leaks that cause the VPN to leak your online habits, weak encryption, and even spyware contained within the apps. This makes free VPNs completely unsuitable for gaining online privacy and makes them a serious risk to your online security.

Fortunately, the VPNs we have recommended in this guide all provide watertight privacy levels. By connecting to one of our recommended VPNs, you will be able to play Fortnite without anybody remotely monitoring you, which means you can do so without concerns about being found out.

On the whole, as long as you do so in your downtime, and in a private setting, you should be safe to use a VPN to unblock Fortnite on a school campus. Despite this, we recommend that you consider your school’s rules carefully and that you only unblock Fortnite if you are confident it is safe to do so.

Using a secure VPN to play Fortnite on your university or college’s wifi will probably be the best option for most people, as it is much more affordable. Best of all, you can trial the VPNs in this guide using their money back guarantee to see how they perform. 

The important thing to remember, however, is that a browser extension does not necessarily provide the level of privacy you get with the stand-alone VPN application. Browser extensions are often proxy services that do not encrypt your data. Thus it is worth double-checking with your VPN before using a browser extension to access Fortnite to be sure that you will be getting the privacy you need. 

On the whole, it is much safer to use a proper VPN connection to unblock Fortnite as this will completely conceal your online activities from the school and its ISP.