How to beat the USA porn ban in Virginia, Utah, Texas and more

Since January of 2023, we’ve seen more than a dozen US states (including Virginia, Lousiana, Utah, and Texas) pass laws requiring citizens to provide photographic ID before they’re able to access adult content. Understandably, some US citizens are uncomfortable letting the government know that they peruse adult sites. Others see it as a huge privacy issue, with questions around how safe and secure such verification measures really are. Luckily, you can sidestep this requirement with a VPN.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) encrypt your internet traffic, which prevents the government, your service provider, and network administrators from seeing what you get up to. Then, this data is sent through servers in another location, obscuring your real location and IP address. In other words, you can simply use a VPN server located outside of your home state to spoof your location and access porn sites securely, safely, and without verifying your identity.

In this article we’ll explain exactly how to use a VPN to bypass the porn ban in the US and we’ll list the best VPNs for the job. You can scroll down for a more detailed review of each, but in case you’re in a rush, we’ll start with a quick summary:

1. NordVPN:  The best VPN for beating the US porn ban. Quick, secure, and known for its ability to unblock just about anything. Proven no-logs policy and lots of privacy tools. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Porn.
2. Surfshark: The best budget VPN to securely stream porn in the US. A no-logs provider with strong performance and a fantastic security toolkit. Connect any number of devices. Can access virtually any geo-blocked platform.
3. Total VPN: No-logs service with the ability to beat most online restrictions. High speed servers, strong security, and 24/7 support.
4. ProtonVPN: This reputable VPN puts your privacy first and doesn’t keep any logs. Excels at beating digital censorship and regional limitations.
5. ExpressVPN: A well-respected VPN for bypassing the porn ban. With servers in more than 55 locations around the US, this is a great pick for streaming securely and is an equally good choice for torrenting or gaming.
6. IPVanish: This zero-logs VPN is one of the fastest we’ve tested and doesn’t compromise where security is concerned. As there’s no connection limit, you can secure every device you own simultaneously.
7. CyberGhost: A user-friendly VPN with simple apps and servers specifically designed for maximum privacy. Has a large number of US servers that can access popular geo-blocked streaming services.
8. PrivateVPN: A newcomer-friendly service that offers steady speeds, strong unblocking ability, and a true commitment to your privacy. Secure up to 10 devices at a time.

How to watch porn in America without age verification

A VPN is the easiest and most secure way of accessing adult content in states like Virginia, where it is now restricted. To get started, simply follow the steps below before accessing your chosen adult site.

1. Sign up for a reputable VPN. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Download the VPN app. Our recommendations have at least five simultaneous connections, so they can be installed on any device you use for streaming adult content.
3. Sign in to the VPN app.
4. Select a server in a state where porn is unrestricted. You’ll usually get the best performance from one that’s nearby, but for obvious reasons, you can’t use a server in Louisiana or any other state with restrictions on pornography.
5. Visit your adult site of choice. Because your IP address now points to a different location, the site should not prompt you to verify your age with a government ID (though they may still display an “I am 18” button or similar).

How we find the top VPNs for bypassing US porn blocks

Not every VPN is suitable for getting around online porn restrictions. To complicate things even more, you’ll also need a service that’s fast enough to handle HD video, secure enough to protect your browsing habits from snoopers, and versatile enough to deal with anything else you throw at it. Here are a few of the non-negotiable things we looked for when choosing the best VPNs:

• Speed: Each VPN is tested on US servers throughout the day, in the morning, afternoon, and evening. We then record the average speeds and compare them to the average of the other providers to create our speed rankings.
• Functionality: To assess functionality, we examine the number of servers available, device connection limits, and other criteria.
• Security and privacy: We’ll never recommend a VPN that can’t keep you safe. That’s why we look for features like unbreakable encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and of course, a no-logs policy.
• Ease of use: We evaluate providers on how seamless they make day to day browsing. VPNs score higher for having features like unlimited connections, 24/7 live chat, and servers optimized for access geo-blocked platforms abroad.
• Streaming ability: We look at all aspects of streaming to determine our score. This includes the unblocking ability, speed test results, and whether or not it operates in high-censorship countries.

This is just an overview of our scientific testing criteria. You can read more about the process and see the results of those tests in our methodology section below. First, let’s take a look at the providers that impressed us.

Best VPNs for Porn in the US compared

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 bypassing the US porn ban.

Best VPN for getting around US porn bans

Let’s jump right in with our in-depth reviews of the best VPNs for beating American porn bans:

1. NordVPN

Oct 2025

NordVPN is our #1 choice for bypassing the US porn ban and age verification laws. To begin with, it has almost 3,000 servers spread throughout 20+ American cities, and 8,000+ servers globally. It’s also able to access stubborn geo-blocked sites that most other VPNs can’t, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. In fact, thanks to its obfuscated servers and NordWhisper protocol, you’ll even be able to access adult content in places with extreme online censorship. NordVPN offers 24/7 support via live chat and a generous 10-device connection limit.

Now, even if your VPN can access adult sites, it doesn’t mean much if your connection is too slow to watch anything. With this in mind, we tested NordVPN’s USA servers at multiple times of day using a 250 Mbps connection to see how fast and consistent it is. Let’s take a look at the results:

With speeds of over 200 Mbps in all three tests, NordVPN was the fastest provider we tested. There was a sizeable gap between its average speed (209.31 Mbps) and every other VPN in this list, and just 7 Mbps of variance, which is exceptional. Whether you want to stream adult content, torrent, or play games, this VPN is more than up to the task.

There are all kinds of features designed to keep you safe. These include uncrackable encryption, leak protection, automatic tracker blocking, and a kill switch that’ll stop sending data the moment your VPN disconnects. NordVPN follows a no-logging policy, and while it does collect advertising IDs on mobile devices, these can be easily reset to keep yourself as anonymous as possible.

NordVPN has its own iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Linux apps. It can also be manually installed on a wide range of routers.

BEST VPN FOR BEATING PORN BAN:NordVPN is the best option for evading porn bans. It’s fast, easy to use, and capable of accessing a huge range of content. Not only that, this service comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can try it totally risk-free.

Interested? Find out more in our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is the best way to beat porn bans on a budget. It operates more than 4,500 servers in 100 countries and has a large footprint in the US. Not only that, it excels at beating tough geographic restrictions. We were able to access a variety of adult sites, as well as stubborn platforms like Disney+, Max, and Peacock. Unlike most other VPNs on the market, Surfshark can secure every device you own at the same time. There’s 24/7 support over live chat too, which is always a plus.

Surfshark has a reputation for speed, despite its wallet-friendly price point. Our experts ran three tests (in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon) to see how quick and reliable its US servers really are. Take a look at the chart below to see how it held up on a 250 Mbps connection:

With an average speed of 192.45 Mbps, this service is significantly faster than most others on the market. There was very little difference between its highest and lowest results, meaning you’re all but guaranteed a speedy connection, even at peak times. In our professional opinion, with speeds like these, you shouldn’t experience any issues when streaming, downloading large files, or video calling.

This VPN protects your privacy using high-end encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks. It’s also capable of stopping ads, malware, and trackers automatically. Surfshark follows a no-logs policy and has had its apps and infrastructure audited to prove this. If you’d like, you can even enable the stealth mode or rotating IP feature to make yourself even harder to track.

Surfshark has apps for Linux, Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. Select routers are supported too, but you’ll have to configure the service manually.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is our low-cost pick. It’s affordable but offers a suite of security tools most of its rivals can’t match. Top-tier performance and a true no-logs policy make it ideal for streaming porn anonymously. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Why not take a look at our complete Surfshark review?

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3. Total VPN

Total VPN has servers in 24 US states and its network covers more than 80 countries worldwide. In other words, it’s a fantastic option for accessing geo-blocked content and getting around mandatory age-verification systems. In addition to most adult sites, this service can help you access platforms like Netflix without any issues. You can connect up to five devices at the same time and contact customer support 24 hours per day using the website’s ticket system.

Streaming requires a fast and consistent connection, so not just any VPN is suitable. To find out what Total VPN was capable of, our team performed three speed tests on its American servers, one in the morning, one at noon, and one in the afternoon. All tests were run on a typical 250 Mbps connection since that’s the household average in the United States. Let’s take a look:

Total VPN delivered an average speed of 174.62 Mbps, making the one of the fastest providers in this list. It’s also one of the most reliable, speeds fluctuating by 5 Mbps throughout the day. Whether you’re hoping to stream adult content anonymously, torrent, or anything else, this service is up to the challenge.

This service takes your online anonymity very seriously. For starters, it keeps you safe using unbreakable encryption (AES-256), automatic DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch (on all platforms except Windows). There’s also a Hydra protocol designed to help you browse safely on networks that usually block VPN traffic entirely. Equally important, Total VPN refuses to keep any logs of your activities, meaning it’s virtually impossible for anyone to find out what you get up to online.

Total VPN offers beginner-friendly apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS.

SECURE STREAMING:Total VPN has lots of reliable servers across the United States and has no issue sidestepping most online restrictions so you can access adult content safely. Annual plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out our complete Total VPN review for more details.

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4. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is known for its colossal network, with more than 15,800 servers spread throughout 120+ countries. There are 4,600 servers in the US alone, which is more than most other VPNs operate globally. You can connect up to 10 devices at the same time, speak directly with staff using the 24/7 live chat service, and access a wide range of geo-blocked platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Prime Video.

This provider has a solid reputation where speed is concerned, so we went into this latest round of testing with high expectations. Our team tried ProtonVPN’s servers in the US three times (in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon) using a 250 Mbps connection typical of the average American home. The chart below shows how our results and, equally important, how much fluctuation there was throughout the day.

ProtonVPN managed to achieve an average speed of 157.88 Mbps. That’s a highly-competitive result, and well above what’s needed for streaming 4K video. There was about 7 Mbps between its highest and lowest results but realistically, this shouldn’t even be noticeable. In short, ProtonVPN has the speed and stability for any day-to-day task including unblocking adult content.

There aren’t many providers that can compete with ProtonVPN on privacy. By default, it uses 256-bit encryption to obscure your browsing habits from anyone monitoring the network. There’s also DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, automatic ad and tracker-blocking, and an independently-verified no-logs policy. Better still, split tunneling and port forwarding are included as standard, plus there’s a Stealth protocol that can hide the fact that you’re using a VPN at all.

ProtonVPN has its own apps for iOS, MacOS, Windows, Linux, and Android. Alternatively, you can follow manual setup instructions to get it running on most home routers.

ANONYMITY FIRST:ProtonVPN is a well-respected service  with a strong focus on user privacy. Works flawlessly with major region-locked sites and streaming platforms, doesn’t keep logs, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

Why not take a look at our full ProtonVPN review?

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5. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN arguably has more US server locations than any of its competitors, offering an astounding 55 American locations and 105 supported countries around the world. It’s remarkably well-suited to streaming thanks to its automatic obfuscation, so whether you’re hoping to watch porn securely or catch up on your favorite shows, ExpressVPN is a great choice. Users can secure up to 10 devices on the basic plan and get help with any issues using the 24/7 live chat service.

In March 2025, ExpressVPN revamped its custom protocol Lightway to allow for multi-threading. In simple terms, this should mean that it’s faster than ever before. Our team put this to the test, checking how quick ExpressVPN’s American servers were at three different times of day. Let’s see those results:

As you can see, this provider never fell below 120 Mbps, which is nearly ten times what you’d need to stream 4K video without interruption. Its average was slightly higher, at 127.81 Mbps, meaning you should be able to watch at any time of day, even if multiple people are using the internet at the same time.

This provider has all of the tools you’ll need to access adult websites safely. These include 256-bit encryption, protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, and a kill switch. ExpressVPN doesn’t log any data that could personally identify you. Finally, there’s a split tunneling feature that lets you choose which sites and apps can bypass the VPN’s encryption, as well as a tool that can block ads, trackers, and shady sites automatically.

ExpressVPN apps are available for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux. This provider also has its own custom firmware that makes it very easy to use on a router.

NO STRESS STREAMING:ExpressVPN is reputable, easy to use, and able to bypass just about any online blocking. Whether you’re looking to stream, torrent, or browse the internet anonymously, it’s a great choice. A 30-day money-back guarantee is included.

We cover this service more fully in our exhaustive ExpressVPN review.

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6. IPVanish

IPVanish is another great choice for Americans hoping to beat the US porn ban. There are 3,200 servers across 100+ countries, with several hundred in the US alone. Better still, IPVanish has no problems accessing sites that stump other providers, including Netflix, Max, and Hulu. While this won’t work in countries with extreme censorship, it can secure all of your devices at the same time. If you need help, 24/7 customer support is available over live chat.

In previous testing, IPVanish has delivered impressive results. That said, it’s important to have up-to-date data since VPNs are constantly upgrading and improving their infrastructure. With that in mind, here’s how well IPVanish’s American servers performed throughout a typical day:

We really appreciated this VPN’s consistency. There was just 7 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest results. Further, its average speed was 166.23 Mbps, which means it’s one of the quickest providers available right now. In short, IPVanish is suitable for virtually any task, including streaming 4K video.

There’s no need to worry about anyone monitoring your online activities since IPVanish uses uncrackable encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch to ensure all of your data is properly secured. You can also block local traffic, scramble your data to sidestep some forms of VPN-detection, automatically reconnect, or have the app connect whenever you use an unsecured network. This VPN has a true zero-logs policy, which means it can’t reveal details of your activities under any circumstances.

IPVanish provides apps for iOS, MacOS, Android, and Windows. If you’d like to use it on Linux systems or home routers, you’ll have to configure it manually. There’s also a new Advanced subscription tier that bundles the VPN with 1 TB of cloud storage and a cloud-based browser.

GREAT ALL-ROUNDER:IPVanish isn’t just fast, it’s also secure. These characteristics make it ideal for browsing the web safely, hiding your activities from snoopers, and bypassing privacy-infringing age-verification tools. Sign up for a year to get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out our comprehensive IPVanish review.

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7. CyberGhost

CyberGhost offers access to servers in 100+ countries and nearly a dozen US states. There are even some expressly designed to help you stream geo-blocked platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Paramount+ while traveling abroad. While none specifically mention adult sites, we were able to access them as normal using CyberGhost’s general-purpose servers. You can connect up to seven devices simultaneously, and customer support is available 24/7 via live chat.

From a performance standpoint, CyberGhost has never let us down. While there may be quicker providers on the market, this VPN tends to deliver consistently high speeds that are enough for most tasks. Below, you’ll find the results from our latest testing:

This VPN delivered an average speed of 145.49 Mbps, which places it firmly among the fastest services we’ve tested. Users will be able to stream, torrent, play games, or make video calls without any noticeable performance issues, provided their base connection speed is similar to ours (250 Mbps).

This VPN has a wide range of security tools, including uncrackable encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection, as well as automatic tracker blocking. Although CyberGhost won’t work in China, its random port connection feature might help you bypass less-stringent VPN-blocking tools such as those used by some public networks. This provider doesn’t store any personally-identifiable information, as verified by an independent auditor.

CyberGhost offers apps for Android, Windows, Linux, iOS, and macOS. Users can follow manual setup instructions to get it running on their home routers too.

BLAZING FAST SPEEDS:CyberGhost tops our list of the fastest VPNs and doesn’t disappoint where security is concerned either. Task-specific servers and a no-logs policy make this a fantastic option for beating American porn bans. Comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Still have questions? You’ll find answers in our in-depth CyberGhost review.

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8. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN might only have around 200 servers globally, but don’t let that put you off. This provider owns all of these outright and even acts as its own ISP so that no third parties ever have access to user traffic. On top of all that, PrivateVPN is exceptional at getting around digital censorship – it works against China’s Great Firewall, so Louisiana’s age-verification requirements for adult content don’t stand a chance. Users can connect up to 10 devices at once. There’s live chat-based customer support too but only during European business hours.

PrivateVPN takes a different approach from most of its competitors in that it doesn’t try to achieve the highest possible speeds. Instead, it focuses on providing a stable, reliable connection that’s quick enough to handle day-to-day browsing. Here’s how well its US servers performed across a day of testing:

There was a small degree of variance across our three tests but generally, PrivateVPN’s speeds remained fairly close together. Its average speed was 56.31 Mbps, significantly faster than what you’ll need to watch 4K video without any noticeable buffering or stuttering.

This VPN prevents DNS and IPv6 leaks, secures your data with 256-bit AES encryption (though this can be reduced for higher speeds), and uses a kill switch to ensure you never browse unprotected. Additionally, PrivateVPN has a stealth mode that can beat the world’s strictest online censorship and follows a strict no-logs policy so your activities can’t be revealed under any cirumstances. If you’d like, you can let certain apps pass through the VPN unencrypted, for instance, if you want to download an update as quickly as possible.

PrivateVPN has Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS apps. Linux systems and wireless routers are supported, though you’ll need to follow manual setup instructions to get up and running.

PRIVACY FIRST:PrivateVPN is a novice-friendly VPN with steady speeds, phenomenal unblocking ability, and a real focus on user privacy. In other words, it’s perfect for beating the US porn ban. Not quite sure yet? There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Take a look at our more in-depth PrivateVPN review.

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Bypassing the US porn ban with a free VPN

Free VPNs might seem like a good way to protect your browsing from snoopers, but in practice, they leave a lot to be desired. They often have very low bandwidth limits, which means you’ll usually only be able to use them for a short time each month. Additionally, because there are so many people all trying to access a small number of servers, you’ll almost always notice sluggish speeds. This leads to long buffering times, forced low-resolution video, and often, videos that refuse to play at all – making accessing porn with a free VPN an irritating experience.

There are also security aspects to consider when using free VPNs. While paid VPNs have been extensively tested, there are no such guarantees for free providers. These services often change webpages before you see them, inserting ads with the goal of pushing you towards an ad-free, paid subscription instead.

We’ve even seen free services mislead or outright lie about how private they are in a bid to gain users at any cost. While pricing is an important factor when making a decision, it shouldn’t be the only one. We’d recommend choosing based on privacy policy and reputation, instead of using a VPN just because it’s free.

States that have introduced restrictions on adult content

In the last few years, we’ve seen half of all US states introduce legislation mandating age-verification before access to adult content. Though officials have claimed pornography is a “public health crisis”, academics counter that it doesn’t meet the criteria and that the government is instead trying to “generate policies based on moral values”.

Here is a complete list of US states which block porn via age verification:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Wyoming

How does US porn age verification work?

Because there is no federal law mandating porn sites verify their users’ ages, the exact implementation process is different for each state. However, the days of simple “Are you 18 or over?” popups are behind us, as each adult site is now legally responsible for making sure its visitors from these states are of legal age.

Generally, this means that if you visit an adult site while in a location with age-verification laws, you’ll see a popup like the one below.

Clicking the Check my age button whisks you off to a third-party age-verification company’s website. Here, users are encouraged to create an account and add material that proves their age, most commonly a copy of their government ID, their credit card information, and/or their phone provider’s information.

Here’s the main problem: no online system is unhackable. We can’t prevent employees from these companies leaking personal information, for instance, and there’s no guarantee that their databases are as secure as they believe them to be. Besides, location based-blocking is trivially simple to bypass — just ask the thousands of British people who flocked to VPNs after the UK’s Online Safety Bill was passed in 2023.

If you’re concerned about digital privacy, we’d recommend using a VPN at all times, brushing up on our cybersecurity best practices, and messaging your local representatives to let them know how you feel about mandatory age-verification programs.

USA porn ban: Frequently Asked Questions