How to get a Bulgarian IP address from anywhere

Taking a vacation abroad is a great way to reduce stress, but remember: your usual streaming platforms and websites may not be available. bTV is completely inaccessible outside of Bulgaria, for instance, whereas Netflix has drastically different content from one location to another. Luckily, there’s an easy way to sidestep this issue: just connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) with servers in Bulgaria.

This approach makes it seem like you’re still in Bulgaria, regardless of where you are in the world. However, regaining access to geo-blocked sites isn’t the only benefit. VPNs also encrypt your data, preventing it from being read by local ISPs or hotspot owners. That’s a huge advantage, especially since international travelers are frequently reliant on public wifi during their trip.

Want to learn more about our recommendations? Just scroll down! Alternatively, here’s a quick guide to the best VPNs for getting a Bulgarian IP address:

Best VPNs for getting a Bulgarian IP address:

1. NordVPN: The best VPN for a Bulgarian IP address. Lots of Bulgarian servers and excellent streaming capabilities. Offers 24/7 support and doesn’t keep logs. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Bulgaria.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN. Servers in over 100 countries, Bulgaria included. Unlimited simultaneous connections and exceptionally high speeds.
3. IPVanish: No logs and no connection limits. Reliable servers in Bulgaria and 100 other countries. Strong focus on privacy but also great for streaming.
4. ExpressVPN: A fast and reliable VPN capable of beating even the strictest online restrictions. Boasts 24/7 support, a proven no-logs policy, and a vast network of secure servers.
5. CyberGhost: Beginner-friendly VPN with lots of task-specific servers. A good choice for securely watching Bulgarian TV abroad. Doesn’t keep any logs.
6. ProtonVPN: Zero-logs service with top-tier unblocking ability. Known for its strong privacy focus and huge network (13,000+ servers in over 115 countries).
7. PureVPN: This versatile and reliable VPN makes it easy to get a Bulgarian IP address abroad. Steady speeds and the ability to access most streaming apps.
8. PrivateVPN: A smaller service that puts your privacy above all else. Can beat the world’s toughest online censorship and allows up to 10 connections.

How to get a Bulgarian IP address using a VPN

Even if this is your very first time using a VPN, setting up and getting a Bulgarian IP address should only take a few minutes of your time.

Here’s how to get an IP address for Bulgaria:

1. The first step is to choose and sign up for a VPN service that offers servers in Bulgaria. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Next, you’ll need to download one of the VPN’s apps or browser extensions. Be sure to check you’re installing the correct version for your device.
3. Log in to the VPN app (or browser extension) and connect to a server in Bulgaria. You’ll then have a Bulgarian IP address.
4. Go to whichever region-locked website or service from Bulgaria that you’re trying to access. It should no longer be geo-restricted.
5. If the content is still blocked, you’ll need to clear your browser’s cache and cookies. Otherwise, contact your VPN’s support for further guidance.

Looking for a VPN while you’re living or traveling in Bulgaria? Take a look at our dedicated article on the Best VPNs for Bulgaria.

What we look for in a Bulgaria IP VPN

We tested and found the best VPNs for getting a Bulgarian IP address by looking for those that meet the following key criteria:

• Fast and reliable servers in Bulgaria
• Successfully unblocks Bulgarian TV abroad
• Secures internet traffic with encryption
• Doesn’t keep any identifying logs of users
• Customer support via live chat and email
• Apps for all major platforms
• Multiple simultaneous connections per account

You can find out more about our VPN testing methodology further in this article.

Best VPNs for gaining a Bulgarian IP address: At a glance

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for getting a Bulgarian IP address.

Best VPNs for getting a Bulgarian IP address: Our hands-on review

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for getting an IP address for Bulgaria:

1. NordVPN

Jun 2025

NordVPN is our first choice for getting a Bulgarian IP address. It operates more than 7,000 servers in around 100 countries and works with every major streaming service. In other words, it’s an excellent choice for watching Netflix, Disney+, or bTV while on vacation abroad. Users can connect up to 10 devices at the same time and speak directly with support staff via the 24/7 live chat service.

Let’s talk about performance. Streaming requires a fast and consistent connection, so we had to be sure NordVPN could achieve this. That’s why our team tested its Bulgarian servers at three times of day using a 250 Mbps connection (the US average broadband speed). Here are our results:

NordVPN delivered an average speed of just over 194 Mbps, with a daily variance of around 7 Mbps (slightly below the average of 9 Mbps). We were able to watch 4K video without any noticeable issues, and this VPN also performed well with other tasks like streaming, torrenting, and playing online games.

Security is one of this provider’s strongest areas. It uses unbreakable 256-bit AES encryption, backed up by DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, and a proven no-logs policy. Further, there’s automatic tracker-blocking, a tool for transfering files between devices, and a custom protocol designed to provide secure access to the wider internet in countries with extreme censorship.

To connect to a server in Bulgaria, simply download a NordVPN app for desktop (Windows, Mac, or Linux), mobile (Android or iOS), or the app for Android TV. Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also available although routers require manual installation.

BEST FOR A BULGARIAN IP ADDRESS:NordVPN is our first choice for getting an IP address from Bulgaria. With high speeds, powerful privacy features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee, there isn’t much more you could ask for.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is the best budget VPN for anyone who needs a Bulgaria IP address. Its network spans 100 countries, and it’s one of the few services that lets you connect all of your devices at once. We’ve had excellent results using this VPN to unblock stubborn streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ abroad. While its apps are very beginner-friendly, 24/7 support is available via live chat in case anything doesn’t work as expected.

Surfshark might be a low-cost service, but that doesn’t mean you have to put up with slow speeds. In fact, it regularly scores higher than more expensive VPNs on performance. Still, it’s important to retest regularly since providers are always optimizing and tweaking their networks. Below, you’ll find the results of our latest speed tests on its Bulgarian servers:

This provider achieved an average speed of 189.97 Mbps, making it the second-quickest VPN in our list (after NordVPN). That’s well above what’s required for flawless live streaming and will allow you to download a 1 GB file in about 45 seconds. There was only around 7 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest results too, which is great to see.

Unlike most other providers, Surfshark has had its no-logs claims professionally audited. It keeps your online activities hidden from prying eyes using AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, and automatic tracker-blocking. Not only that, it offers a NoBorders mode designed to beat strict digital censorship and can swap your IP address at regular intervals while keeping your server location the same.

Unblock Bulgarian TV abroad with Surfshark’s apps for the following: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. You can also download browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. Manual setup is necessary to use Surfshark with your router.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is our top budget pick. Works with BNT 1, Netflix, and more. Connect an unlimited number of devices at once. Offers 24/7 support via live chat. Highly secure with Double VPN servers. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish just made major improvements to its service, growing its network to cover 100 countries and expanding the number of popular streaming services it can reliably access. Whether you’re hoping to torrent, stream Bulgarian TV abroad, or make video calls, this VPN can handle it. What’s more, it allows users to connect all of their devices at the same time! If you need help, 24/7 assistance is available via live chat.

This is a great start, but it doesn’t mean much if IPVanish can’t provide the speeds you require. We tested its servers in Bulgaria three times (in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon) to see how fast they were and, equally important, how much their performance varied during peak times. Let’s take a look:

This provider did very well in our testing, averaging 181.48 Mbps. That’s more than 10 times what’s needed for watching 4K video, so you shouldn’t notice any problems, even if multiple people in your home are using the internet at the same time. There was minimal variance over the course of the day, too, meaning you’re all but guaranteed a reliable, high-speed connection.

IPVanish boasts a robust set of security features, including uncrackable 256-bit encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch that’ll stop sending data the moment your connection drops. Crucially, this VPN has an independently verified no-logs policy. There are also a couple of newly added features, like support for multi-hop servers and a tool that checks whether links are safe for you to open.

With an IPVanish account, you can access apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV. Linux systems and routers are supported too, but must be configured manually. This provider recently launched an Advanced subscription tier that includes the VPN, secure file storage, and a cloud-based browser.

UNLIMITED DEVICES:IPVanish has servers in 100+ locations including Bulgaria. Unlimited simultaneous connections per account. Works with Netflix US. Protects your privacy with a zero-logs policy and encryption. Long-term plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN puts ease of use at the heart of everything it does. There are servers in 100+ countries, including Bulgaria, and in our professional experience, there aren’t many region-locked sites that this VPN can’t access. It’ll even automatically obfuscate your traffic if it realizes you’re in a country with strict online censorship. There’s an eight-device limit and 24/7 support (though hopefully you’l never need it).

ExpressVPN generally performs very well in our industry-wide speed tests and recently reworked its custom Lightway protocol to support multi-thread connections. Needless to say, we had high hopes going into this round of testing. The chart below shows how quick its Bulgarian servers were at different times of day:

With an average speed of 150.62 Mbps and just 6 Mbps of difference between its quickest and slowest results, ExpressVPN did an incredible job. Our team was able to perform day-to-day tasks like torrenting, watching TV, and playing games without any issues, even during busier periods. In short, this is a fast and reliable VPN that’s well worthy of your consideration.

You can rest assured that your privacy is protected when using ExpressVPN to get a Bulgarian IP address. It offers 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch feature, and protection from DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks. We’re big fans of its newly added Threat Protection feature, which blocks ads, trackers, and shady websites automatically. This provider doesn’t keep any logs and has been repeatedly audited to prove it.

ExpressVPN’s apps are available for the following: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux. You’ll also find browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, while custom firmware is offered for routers.

FAST SPEEDS:ExpressVPN offers fast, reliable servers and works with Bulgarian TV as well as Netflix. Secures your data with high-end encryption. With the 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a beginner-friendly VPN with a lot to offer. To begin with, it has servers in more than 100 countries, many of which are optimized for tasks like streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Additionally, this service works with a wide range of region-locked platforms, from Netflix to Amazon Prime Video and everything in beween. Users can protect up to seven devices at a time, and support staff can be reached day or night via the 24/7 live chat service.

CyberGhost has been around for a long time, so we’ve had plenty of opportunities to try it for ourselves. Our experience has shown that this VPN is among the quickest on the market, but we haven’t tested its Bulgarian servers specifically until now. Below, you can see how quick they were over the course of a typical day:

This provider achieved an average speed of 141.81 Mbps, varying by about 8 Mbps with the slowest speeds in the evening (which is fairly typical). This means that CyberGhost is suitable for virtually any task, even if your family all likes to browse at the same time, or if your base connection isn’t the fastest. Streaming Bulgarian TV simply won’t be a problem.

CyberGhost boasts a very high level of security, with unbreakable 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks enabled by default. It also has a no-logs policy (which has been independently verified) and a customizable smart rules feature that allows the VPN to connect on its own in specific situations. There is a basic obfuscation feature, but this is mostly designed for use on networks that block VPNs, rather than sidestepping country-wide censorship.

To get a Bulgarian IP address, download a CyberGhost app for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, or Android TV. Browser extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox, while manual setup is required for use with routers.

HIGH-SPEED CONNECTIONS:CyberGhost has very fast speeds for streaming. Servers in 100 countries including Bulgaria. Use it to stream Netflix US abroad. Connect up to seven devices at once. No-logs policy and 24/7 support. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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6. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN boasts one of the largest networks we’ve seen, with over 13,000 servers in 115+ countries, and dozens in Bulgaria alone. There’s very little that this service can’t do, seamlessly unblocking major streaming sites like Disney+ and offering P2P-optimized servers all over the world. With a generous 10-device limit and 24/7 support, users can protect their most-used devices and get help quickly when it matters most.

When it comes to performance, ProtonVPN doesn’t disappoint. This provider has long been among the fastest, but we wanted to see what its Bulgarian servers were capable of, so we set up three tests at various times of day. The following chart will let you know how fast they were and illustrate how their speeds changed during busier periods:

Boasting an average speed of 139.96 Mbps, ProtonVPN is significantly faster than you’ll need for any task. Streaming, for instance, was seamless, with no performance issues even when watching in 4K or tuning into live broadcasts. There was only around 9 Mbps between its best and worst results, too, meaning you’re all but guaranteed a speedy connection.

Few VPNs offer as much advanced functionality as this provider. For instance, you can set up split tunneling or port forwarding, block ads and trackers automatically, or use a Secure Core server for even greater privacy. Naturally, there’s also uncrackable encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, and an independently verified zero-logs policy. ProtonVPN even accepts cash and Bitcoin payments, making it as easy as possible to remain anonymous while signing up.

ProtonVPN is available for Windows, Android, Linux, macOS, and iOS. Its website offers manual configuration instructions for installing it on your home router too.

STAY SAFE ONLINE:ProtonVPN has everything you’ll need to secure your connection while traveling abroad. Not only that, but it’s extremely fast and great at accessing region-locked services, plus it has a free plan. Paid subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Take a look at our in-depth ProtonVPN review.

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7. PureVPN

PureVPN has an absolutely colossal network with more than 6,000 servers in 60+ countries, including Bulgaria. Whether you’re looking to torrent, keep your activities private on public wifi, or watch your favorite Bulgarian TV shows, it can help. Plus, with a 10-connection limit, you’ll be able to protect most (if not all) of your devices simultaneously. Need help? No problem: support staff are on-hand 24 hours per day over live chat, and while they can take a few minutes to reply, we’ve never had a problem they couldn’t fix.

If you’re interested in staying up-to-date with Bulgarian TV while traveling abroad, you’ll need a quick, reliable connection. Based on our prior experience with PureVPN, we know it’s capable of this, but we wanted to see what kind of speeds you could expect using its Bulgarian servers on a 250 Mbps connection. Here are the results:

PureVPN delivered an average speed of 127.12 Mbps, which is a pretty solid result. Data-intensive tasks like streaming won’t be a problem, and as there was only 8 Mbps of variability across three tests, slowdown during peak times should be minimal. Our experts were able to participate in video calls, play online games, and torrent without any interruptions, even at peak times.

Let’s talk about security. PureVPN supports the industry-approved OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols and uses encryption that’d take thousands of years to break. There’s also a kill switch, leak protection, and (if you picked the Plus or Max subscription), a tool that blocks trackers automatically. Most importantly, this VPN has proven that it doesn’t keep logs by undergoing four independent audits. We would prefer if there were at least one way to pay anonymously, although this won’t be a deal-breaker for most people.

PureVPN has apps for iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Users can manually install it on most routers too, making it possible to secure every device on your network simultaneously.

EASY TO USE:PureVPN makes it as simple as possible to get a Bulgarian IP address. With top-tier speeds, a solid set of security features, and the ability to access just about any streaming platform, you couldn’t ask for much more. Offers a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Still unsure? Why not read our full review of PureVPN?

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8. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is a smaller VPN service with an emphasis on quality rather than quantity. It offers approximately 200 servers in 60+ countries, including Bulgaria. However, this provider excels at unblocking stubborn geo-blocked platforms, so you’re in good hands whether you want to watch Netflix, bTV, Max, or anything else. Better still, users can secure up to 10 devices at a time and speak directly with support staff over live chat (which is available almost 24 hours per day).

Historically, this VPN has struggled to reach the same top speeds as other providers in our list. That’s understandable given its smaller network and in-house approach to management. However, it doesn’t change the fact that we need high-performance Bulgarian servers. Let’s take a look at how quick PrivateVPN’s servers in Bulgaria were over the course of a typical day:

PrivateVPN had an average speed of 63.05 Mbps. That’s not mind-blowing, but it is enough to stream multiple 4K videos simultaneously, and since most live broadcasts are only in 1080p, you shouldn’t have any issues. Our team were also able to torrent, video call, and play online games without interruption. Just note that if your base connection is significantly slower than 250 Mbps, you may get better results from one of the VPNs mentioned above.

With PrivateVPN, you don’t need to worry about your data falling into the wrong hands. That’s because it offers a no-logs policy, 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. If you’re visiting a country with extreme digital censorship, just activate the Stealth VPN mode to bypass restrictions and regain access to the wider internet. Finally, all network infrastructure is managed in-house to prevent it from ever traveling through a third party’s hardware.

PrivateVPN apps are available to download for the following operating systems: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux. You’ll need to follow the manual setup instructions to use PrivateVPN with your router.

BEGINNER-FRIENDLY:PrivateVPN is easy to use and has very fast servers in Bulgaria for browsing and streaming. Successfully unblocks Bulgarian TV channels and works with Netflix. Uses high-end encryption to keep your internet traffic secure. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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Finding the best VPNs for a Bulgarian IP: our methodology

Not all VPNs offer servers in Bulgaria. This was, therefore, a good starting point in our search for the best VPNs for getting a Bulgarian IP address. However, there are still many factors to consider. Here at Comparitech, we personally test each VPN to see how it fares in five crucial areas. Below, we’ll explain exactly what we’re looking for and why it matters:

Speed

If you’re trying to get a Bulgarian IP address, you’re likely interested in accessing region-locked content (most probably, streaming sites). Now, watching high-resolution video requires quite a lot of bandwidth, so it’s vital your VPN has what it takes to keep up. Luckily, we have a tried and tested process for finding out which VPN are the fastest.

First off, we perform three speed tests on each VPN’s servers in Bulgaria. This allows us to more easily spot results that fall outside of the norm, measure fluctuations in speed throughout the day, and get a more representative idea of each VPN’s speeds. Note that our testing is performed on a 250 Mbps connection since that’s roughly the average household broadband speed in the US. Finally, we normalize the averaged results to get a score out of 10 for each service. Here are our final standings:

NordVPN delivered the highest average speed, earning it a perfect 10 points. Surfshark was hot on its heels, with 9.7, while IPVanish took third place with 9.1. While every VPN in our list was quick enough for virtually any task, these providers had the least impact on our base speeds.

Functionality

Our next task was finding out how versatile each VPN was. To do this, we first looked into how many countries they had servers in, since that determines which platforms and region-locked sites you can theoretically access. Next, we checked how reliably they worked with major streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, since if they’re able to unblock these, they’ll likely work with smaller services too (such as bTV and BNT). Finally, we looked into how many devices each allows users to connect simultaneously. The chart below shows our final results:

As you can see, Surfshark was our top scorer here, boasting an impressive 9.5 points. NordVPN covers more countries, but Surfshark’s lack of connection limits really helped elevate it above the competition and snag first place.

Security and privacy

The primary goal of any VPN is to make sure you’re able to browse the internet safely. For that reason, we refuse to recommend any services that don’t offer industry-approved encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a pro-privacy logging policy, or a kill switch. Of course, that’s just a baseline. We strongly prefer VPNs with even more robust security offerings and tools like wifi protection, a stealth mode, or tracker-blocking. Here are all the factors we consider when assigning scores:

There’s quite a bit of jargon in the table above. If you’re struggling to understand it, don’t worry: most people would! To help out, we’ve created a side-by-side comparison showing each VPN’s final security and privacy score. The higher the number, the more robust its security offering is. Let’s take a look:

There was a tie for first place between NordVPN and Surfshark, each with an impressive 9.5 points. In fact, the only things standing between these providers and a perfect score were that Surfshark is based in a Nine Eyes country and that NordVPN’s authentication could be slightly stronger. Neither is a deal-breaker, though, since these VPNs don’t keep logs and are very strong in every other area we examined.

Ease of use

The simpler and more straightforward a VPN is, the more likely you are to actually use it regularly. Our team prioritizes services that the streamline the onboarding (and cancellation processes) and remove as many limitations as possible. They might, for instance, allow you to secure every device you own, browse freely in countries with repressive censorship, or provide a 24/7 live chat service. Take a look below to see every factor that went into our scoring decision for this category:

Overall, NordVPN had the highest score here. IPVanish followed close behind, with ExpressVPN coming in third place. These services all boast phenomenal versatility, with generous connection limits (or unlimited connections, in IPVanish’s case), reliable unblocking of popular streaming sites, and around-the-clock support. Of course, the lowest score we awarded was an 8.6, which just goes to show how tough the competition was.

Value for money

In a perfect world, you’d be able to get a high-quality VPN without spending a cent. Unfortunately, that’s not the reality just yet. We do, however, want you to spend as little as possible, which is why our team first makes sure that each VPN is actually worth what it charges. The next step is finding ways to reduce the price, whether by taking advantage of a student discount, waiting for the service to go on sale, or scoring reduced rates by signing up for longer periods of time. Our one requirement is that providers offer a money-back guarantee, as this effectively acts as a free trial.

Surfshark took first place here, closely followed by IPVanish. These services both offer extremely significant discounts on long-term plans and neither places any limitations on how many devices you can connect. That’s already great but when you consider that they also work with lots of popular streaming sites and offer top-tier security, they become too good to ignore.

We look for all of the above as part of our VPN testing methodology. This involves hands-on testing of each VPN in a variety of areas be it speed, security, or unblocking.

Using a free VPN to gain a Bulgarian IP address

There are some free VPNs that offer servers in Bulgaria. However, you may find that the number of servers and IP addresses offered are limited. This can make accessing some online content (such as Netflix) more challenging. It’s also worth keeping in mind that free VPNs often engage in bandwidth throttling. The resulting lag and buffering means that they’re just not ideal for streaming.

It’s not just performance issues that plague the average free VPN. Security is another area of concern with many free VPNs failing to encrypt your internet traffic. This leaves you vulnerable to hackers and snoopers. Any good VPN should offer a wide range of security features as well as a strict no-logs policy. Unfortunately, some free VPNs alos log and sell your browsing data to third parties.

In short, we just don’t recommend opting for a free VPN. Instead, why not take advantage of the money-back guarantees offered by the quality VPNs listed above?

Getting a Bulgarian IP address: FAQs