To get an American IP address, simply connect to one of your VPN’s servers in the United States. Every provider we recommend runs servers across multiple US cities, so a nearby option is easy to find. It’s also possible to obtain a US IP address using a proxy server or the Tor Browser, but these methods offer worse privacy and lower speeds, respectively.
Top Rated VPNs for a US IP | June 2026 Benchmark Leaders
Editorial highlights from the full chart. Scores are a use-case-specific blend of 7 inputs — us speed retention, netflix us unblock rate, us latency (p50), chrome browser extension, simultaneous connection limit, dedicated ip option, and disney+ us unblock rate— weighted out of 10 (a use-case score, not each provider’s overall VPN rating).
ExpressVPN leads with the best US speed retention at 85.43% and excels in unblocking both Netflix and Disney+. However, it has high US latency.
Proton VPN offers strong unblocking capabilities for Netflix and Disney+, along with a generous ten simultaneous connections and a Chrome extension.
Surfshark stands out with unlimited simultaneous connections and the best US latency, while also effectively unblocking Netflix and Disney+.
NordVPN provides reliable unblocking for Netflix and Disney+, supports ten simultaneous connections, and includes a Chrome extension.
IPVanish offers unlimited connections and unblocks Netflix and Disney+, but has the weakest US speed retention at 71.02%.
CyberGhost successfully unblocks Netflix and allows seven connections, but it cannot access Disney+.
Total VPN unblocks Netflix and Disney+ but is limited by only one simultaneous connection and lacks a Chrome extension.
Lower-scoring providers from the full benchmark are left off this shortlist. Methodology · Full scorecard dataset · Streaming test drilldown
Why server location matters
Normally, every website you visit can see your IP address. This can be cross-referenced using geolocation feeds and regional registry databases to discover your approximate location and who your ISP is.
VPNs ensure that your real IP address is hidden by sending your traffic through a server elsewhere in the world. As such, site owners can only see the location and IP address of your chosen VPN server. That’s why using an American server makes websites think you’re in the United States.
How to get a US IP address (step by step)
- Clear cookies for whatever website you were on, then refresh the page. This will delete any old session, login, or timezone data, forcing the site to reacquire your location. Expected result: you’re logged out and returned to the homepage.
- Decide which server you’d like to use. Any will work, though generally, the further away it is, the more latency you’ll experience. You may also want to check whether there are servers optimized for the task you have in mind. Expected result: you find a suitable server.
- Connect to the VPN. This usually happens automatically when you double-click a server location, though you may have to manually click the connect button. Expected result: the VPN connects within a few seconds.
- Open Comparitech’s IP address-checker and make sure that your real location isn’t listed anywhere. Expected result: page shows the location of your VPN server.
What our data shows
The top of the table is tightly packed: ExpressVPN (9.0/10), Proton VPN (8.9), Surfshark (8.8), and NordVPN (8.7) are separated by fractions of a point. Every provider we recommend unblocked Netflix US. However, CyberGhost was blocked on Disney+ US in our latest checks, while others like ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN successfully unblocked Disney+ US. What sets them apart is their US speed retention, latency, the simultaneous connection limit, and whether they offer a dedicated IP option.
How can I get a US IP address?
Scored on the General / best overall rubric
- US speed retention
- Netflix US unblock rate
- US latency (p50)
- Chrome browser extension
- Simultaneous connection limit
- Dedicated IP option
- Disney+ US unblock rate
View scoring rules + raw values
Scoring rules
Each criterion has an editorial scoring curve (published in the methodology). The provider's raw measurement is mapped through the curve to a fraction of the criterion's weight; the row of contributions sums to the composite score.
| Criterion | Weight | Scoring curve |
|---|---|---|
| US speed retention | 2.47 | piecewise: 0→0.00 pts, 50→0.25 pts, 60→0.62 pts, 70→1.11 pts, 80→1.61 pts, 90→2.10 pts, 100→2.47 pts |
| Netflix US unblock rate | 2.47 | piecewise: 0→0.00 pts, 60→0.00 pts, 80→1.48 pts, 90→2.22 pts, 100→2.47 pts |
| US latency (p50) | 1.85 | piecewise: 0→1.85 pts, 50→1.67 pts, 100→1.20 pts, 200→0.56 pts, 500→0.00 pts |
| Chrome browser extension | 0.92 | boolean: true → 0.92 pts, false → 0 pts |
| Simultaneous connection limit | 0.60 | piecewise: 1→0.18 pts, 3→0.33 pts, 5→0.45 pts, 7→0.53 pts, 10→0.60 pts |
| Dedicated IP option | 0.48 | boolean: true → 0.48 pts, false → 0 pts |
| Disney+ US unblock rate | 1.21 | piecewise: 0→0.00 pts, 60→0.00 pts, 80→0.73 pts, 90→1.09 pts, 100→1.21 pts |
Raw values + per-criterion contributions
| Provider | US speed retention | Netflix US unblock rate | US latency (p50) | Chrome browser extension | Simultaneous connection limit | Dedicated IP option | Disney+ US unblock rate | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | 85.43 · n=30 → 1.9 pts | 100 · n=10 → 2.5 pts | 62.29 · n=164 → 1.6 pts | Yes → 0.9 pts | 7 → 0.5 pts | Yes → 0.5 pts | 100 · n=5 → 1.2 pts | 9.0 |
| Proton VPN | 82.05 · n=77 → 1.7 pts | 100 · n=5 → 2.5 pts | 64.90 · n=128 → 1.5 pts | Yes → 0.9 pts | 10 → 0.6 pts | Yes → 0.5 pts | 100 · n=3 → 1.2 pts | 8.9 |
| Surfshark | 79.61 · n=60 → 1.6 pts | 100 · n=8 → 2.5 pts | 66.22 · n=143 → 1.5 pts | Yes → 0.9 pts | Unlimited → 0.6 pts | Yes → 0.5 pts | 100 · n=6 → 1.2 pts | 8.8 |
| NordVPN | 77.87 · n=79 → 1.5 pts | 100 · n=19 → 2.5 pts | 65.74 · n=143 → 1.5 pts | Yes → 0.9 pts | 10 → 0.6 pts | Yes → 0.5 pts | 100 · n=4 → 1.2 pts | 8.7 |
| IPVanish | 71.02 · n=72 → 1.2 pts | 100 · n=10 → 2.5 pts | 64.93 · n=141 → 1.5 pts | Yes → 0.9 pts | Unlimited → 0.6 pts | No → 0.0 pts | 100 · n=7 → 1.2 pts | 7.9 |
| CyberGhost | 79.00 · n=50 → 1.6 pts | 100 · n=4 → 2.5 pts | 63.38 · n=125 → 1.5 pts | Yes → 0.9 pts | 7 → 0.5 pts | Yes → 0.5 pts | 0 · n=4 → 0.0 pts | 7.5 |
| Total VPN | 81.82 · n=53 → 1.7 pts | 100 · n=5 → 2.5 pts | 64.50 · n=77 → 1.5 pts | No → 0.0 pts | 1 → 0.2 pts | No → 0.0 pts | 100 · n=2 → 1.2 pts | 7.1 |
Score formula: US speed retention (max 2.5) + Netflix US unblock rate (max 2.5) + US latency (p50) (max 1.9) + Chrome browser extension (max 0.9) + Simultaneous connection limit (max 0.6) + Dedicated IP option (max 0.5) + Disney+ US unblock rate (max 1.2) (out of 10)
How this is scored. Criteria are measured data points chosen for this specific use case from a fixed scoring template, so the same use case always scores on the same criteria. Each raw measurement is mapped through a published editorial curve to a share of its weight, and the contributions sum to a score out of 10. Capabilities that merely enable a result we already measure are left out to avoid double-counting, and a provider missing a criterion is scored against the achievable maximum (shown “/ N”, marked *), never penalised as a zero. Read the complete methodology at comparitech.com/vpn.
Source: Comparitech VPN Intelligence Platform (comparitech.com/vpn), benchmarked continuously; data current as of 15 June 2026. Speed, latency and unblock results are measured from US servers. See methodology.
Speed retention is the clearest dividing line among the leaders: ExpressVPN holds 85.43% of its baseline US speed, with Proton, Surfshark, and NordVPN in the high-70s to low-80s, and IPVanish trailing at 71.02%. Connection limits split the field too — Surfshark and IPVanish are unlimited, NordVPN and Proton allow 10, and ExpressVPN caps at seven.
The one streaming gap is CyberGhost, which was blocked on Disney+ US in our latest checks even though it handled Netflix US without trouble. Otherwise, every provider we recommend cleared both services, so for most people the choice comes down to speed, connection limits, and whether a dedicated US IP matters to you.
What to try if the US IP fails
- Make sure your VPN app is up to date. Outdated software may fail to work as expected or simply refuse to connect, leaving your original IP address exposed.
- Enable DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak protection. If these features are turned off, your real IP address could still be visible in certain situations.
- Check split tunneling settings. You may have accidentally told the VPN not to encrypt any traffic from your preferred browser.
- Verify that your kill switch is enabled. A kill switch restricts internet access any time your connection is interrupted. Without one, unstable wifi could cause the VPN to drop without you knowing, at which point your real IP address would be revealed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a US IP address for free?
Yes, but there are caveats. Free VPN provider tend to have monthly bandwidth caps or limit their functionality in other ways to encourage you to upgrade to a paid plan. Tor, meanwhile, is completely free but will dramatically reduce your speeds, making it unsuitable for high-bandwidth tasks like streaming, torrenting, or gaming.
Why might I need to change my IP address?
People change their IP address for various reasons. These include accessing websites that aren’t available in their country, bypassing state-specific age-verification requirements, evading digital censorship, and enhancing their privacy by stopping ISP snooping.
Are VPNs legal?
VPNs are completely legal in all 50 US states, and in most of the world. However, you’re still liable for whatever you do while connected. So long as you don’t use a VPN to commit crimes, most people have nothing to worry about.
How we tested
Our US-server benchmarks run continuously, around the clock. For speed we run the Ookla CLI from Windows machines on colocated Hetzner bare-metal hardware, take a no-VPN baseline on the same network, and report each provider’s US speed retention (its share of that baseline) alongside median US latency, grouping supported protocols into families and weighting them by how widely they’re used. Streaming checks record whether Netflix US loads and plays through each provider’s US servers. Results recompute every two hours; the figures here are current as of 15 June 2026. Full methodology.
