You can use a VPN for school to unblock websites on your campus Wi-Fi if the network restricts access to certain content. Schools often restrict or block access to social media sites, gaming platforms, and streaming services for a number of reasons.
Wi-Fi restrictions can be extremely frustrating, especially if you have a full day on campus and can’t freely use the internet. Not only can a VPN help you overcome these blocks, but you can also hide your internet activity so that your school doesn’t know what you get up to on its network.
Our simple guide teaches you how to use a VPN to overcome school Wi-Fi restrictions and enjoy the many other benefits a VPN brings. Here’s what you need to know.
If you want to use Instagram or watch YouTube videos at school, you can easily do so with a VPN. Firstly, you need a VPN with excellent unblocking abilities; any of the VPNs on our list are great options. Once you’ve chosen a VPN download and set up the VPN on as many devices as the device connection limit allows.
After you’ve installed the VPN app, you can open it up and adjust settings. These include activating the kill switch and switching on Auto-Connect so that the VPN always launches into action when you connect to your school Wi-Fi.
With the settings changed, you’ll now be able to connect to a VPN server to overcome your school network’s blocks. We recommend using the Quick Connect option so that you get the fastest connection possible. However, if you want to connect to a specific server, open the server list or map and connect to a specific location.
When the VPN connection is active, you can now visit websites that are ordinarily blocked on your school’s Wi-Fi network. Just remember to switch off the VPN when you no longer need it!
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 6 |
|---|---|
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Boxee Box, Chromecast, ChromeOS, FireOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Roku, Windows |
| Streaming: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouSee, DR TV, Disney+, Plex, Kodi, NBC, ESPN, BBC iPlayer, TV Player, HBO Go, HBO Max, Apple TV |
| Browser Extentions: | Firefox, Safari, Chrome |
Pros:
Fast connection
Zero-log policy
More than 5000 worldwide servers
Cons:
Few payment options
Split tunneling unavaible
6 Devices Maximum
Capabilities:
Unlimited Bandwidth
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Zero Data Logging
Free Version / Trial
Mobile App
Browser Extention
Netflix Approved
Firestick Compatible
NordVPN is a great VPN if you want to unblock websites on your school Wi-Fi. It delivers a large server network of over 5,100 servers in more than 60 locations. This means you’ll have a lot of server options to change your IP address and overcome blocks on your campus network.
NordVPN uses obfuscation on its servers which makes it a great option for use on school Wi-Fi networks. This is because obfuscation hides your VPN use from websites and network providers, meaning no one knows you are using a VPN. If your school has a strict no-VPN policy, then you don’t need to worry about being caught using one with NordVPN.
You can unblock plenty of streaming sites and social media networks with NordVPN. Whether you want to watch Netflix shows on campus or check your Twitter feed during class, you can with NordVPN.
NordVPN has optimized servers for the Tor network meaning you can even access the dark web at school. As well as this, NordVPN supports torrenting, so you don’t need to pause downloads while you’re at school.
NordVPN offers compatible apps for many operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. With 6 simultaneous connections, you can use the VPN to protect all of your devices at the same time.
Best of all, NordVPN comes with a student discount which makes it a great VPN for school. There is 15% off for all students and 18-26-year-olds, which is excellent news.
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 5 |
|---|---|
| OS support: | Android, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Streaming: | |
| Browser Extentions: |
Pros:
Plenty of payment methods
24 hours live chat support
30 days money back guarantee
Cons:
More expensive than competitors
Only 5 simultaneous connections
No servers in Russia
Capabilities:
Unlimited Bandwidth
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Zero Data Logging
Free Version / Trial
Mobile App
Browser Extention
Netflix Approved
Firestick Compatible
ExpressVPN offers more than 3,000 servers across 160 locations. This means you can connect to a server, change your IP address, and overcome firewalls and blocks on your school network.
With ExpressVPN, you can game and stream to your heart’s content during school hours. The VPN service unblocks popular sites like Hulu and Netflix and offers unlimited bandwidth so that you can enjoy the VPN as much as you want.
Connection speeds are second-to-none, meaning that you don’t have to suffer from buffering or lag during live streams. ExpressVPN also comes with an excellent choice of mobile and desktop apps for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. This means you can use the VPN on any device you want at school.
If you are looking to secure your internet connection on your school’s network, you can with ExpressVPN. The service uses military-grade encryption in combination with zero-knowledge DNS servers. This means your VPN activity won’t be exposed to your school network or other third parties.
If you’re worried about your school finding out you’re using a VPN, you don’t need to with ExpressVPN. Firstly, there is a no-logs policy, meaning no record of your VPN use is stored anywhere. Furthermore, ExpressVPN comes with an automatically activated Network Lock kill switch; this means your activity on blocked websites won’t be exposed if the VPN connection fails, as the Network Lock will cut off your entire internet access.
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Streaming: | |
| Browser Extentions: |
Pros:
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Unblocks streaming services
Based in privacy-friendly country
Cons:
No phone support
No 12 month plan
Few payment methods
Capabilities:
Unlimited Bandwidth
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Zero Data Logging
Free Version / Trial
Mobile App
Browser Extention
Netflix Approved
Firestick Compatible
If you want to unblock Netflix at school or university and ensure your online activities are private, Surfshark VPN is an excellent choice. There is a network of over 3,200 servers worldwide, and thousands of IP addresses up for grabs.
Surfshark VPN is one of the best for bypassing blocks on streaming sites. It can provide access to 15 Netflix libraries including Netflix US and Japan. Moreover, it can unblock live sports streaming sites like ESPN+. You can watch live sports games at school with the help of Surfshark.
Surfshark comes with all the VPN necessities we’d expect from a premium service. These features include military-grade encryption, great tunneling protocols like WireGuard, and a kill switch.
If you want additional privacy while using the VPN on your school network, you can send your data via Surfshark’s MultiHop servers. This changes your IP address twice and makes it harder for your school network to detect your VPN use.
Connection speeds are excellent, especially if you use the WireGuard protocol. Even on busy servers, speeds are sufficient for most online activities. There is even torrenting support on most, although not all of the servers, making it a decent choice for fans of P2P sharing.
Surfshark comes with a generous unlimited connections policy, which means you can use the VPN on all of your devices and share your subscription with your friends on campus too. There is support for most devices, including macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. The apps are well-designed and extremely easy to use, making the VPN an excellent choice for novices.
There is a student discount with Surfshark if you verify your status with Student Beans. This means you can save 15% on the VPN and overcome blocks on your school network.
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 7 |
|---|---|
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Roku, Windows, Xbox 360 |
| Streaming: | |
| Browser Extentions: |
Pros:
Located in privacy-friendly Romania
Accepts Bitcoin as a payment option
NoSpy server network
Cons:
Limited Netflix unblocking capability
No phone support
Uses virtual servers
Capabilities:
Unlimited Bandwidth
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Zero Data Logging
Free Version / Trial
Mobile App
Browser Extention
Netflix Approved
Firestick Compatible
CyberGhost boasts millions of worldwide users and for a good reason. The popular VPN service has a network of over 7,600 servers across 94 countries. As well as this, it offers user-friendly clients which enable students to quickly connect to a VPN server on campus.
If you need to use a VPN to overcome restrictions on your school WiFi, CyberGhost is an excellent option. It is great at unblocking sites including streaming services, social networks, and news websites. There are also excellent security features such as military-grade encryption and a kill switch to always hide your internet traffic from your school network.
CyberGhost also offers an excellent data compression feature that is especially useful for use at school. This feature will reduce data traffic and enhance device performance, especially on mobiles.
Connection speeds are fast and reliable, meaning that you’ll be able to stream in high definition no matter where you are. As well as this, you can game and torrent at school since CyberGhost has zero data limits, so that you can carry out data-heavy activities on your campus network.
Every CyberGhost subscription comes with 7 simultaneous connections. This means you can use the VPN on your tablet or smartphone at school and also connect it to your home devices.
The main benefit of using a VPN on school Wi-Fi is the fact that you can overcome blocks on the network. Schools block access to a lot of websites, including social networking sites like Instagram and streaming services like YouTube. So, by using a VPN, you can change your IP, hide your activity from your school network, and overcome any firewalls that your campus has put in place.
Another advantage of using a VPN at school is that you can hide your entire browsing activity from your school network. Even if your school doesn’t block access to certain sites, it can still see what you’re doing online. If you don’t want your school to see your social media activity or watch you when you access your online bank accounts, you can use a VPN to encrypt all your internet data.
Finally, a great benefit of a school VPN is that you can enjoy a faster internet speed. School networks can throttle your bandwidth if you’re consuming too much data. By using a VPN, you hide your activity so that the school network can not deliberately slow down your connection to prevent too much bandwidth usage. This means you’ll enjoy a smooth and more reliable internet connection on campus.
Many schools and colleges put website restrictions in place to ensure their students remain focused on their studies. Others schools do so to maintain connection speeds and reduce bandwidth usage, as constant streaming and downloading can overwhelm servers.
While the restrictions make sense, content restrictions can have negative consequences. Some site and service blocks may mean that students (and teachers) cannot access specific content they need for research. YouTube, for example, offers a host of educational content that may be useful.
Many students may also argue that website blocks negatively restrict access to downtime activities. For example, university students who spend all day on campus need breaks; however, if they can’t chat with friends online or watch Netflix shows, they may get stressed. So, using a VPN to overcome blocks on school networks is extremely useful.
Free VPNs vary vastly from premium VPN services, but there are some decent free VPNs you can use at school. Depending on your needs, there are different free VPNs that can cater to these. For example, ProtonVPN, Tuxler VPN, and Hola VPN are all great VPNs if you want to use the VPN as much as possible. The VPNs come with unlimited bandwidth and can unblock many sites.
However, Tuxler VPN and Hola VPN aren’t as secure as ProtonVPN. Tuxler and Hola use lower encryption standards and are known to log and share data with third parties. If you want totally privacy, ProtonVPN is a better option.
Other free school VPN options include Privado VPN, TunnelBear, and Hotspot Shield. However, these three free VPNs come with bandwidth limits meaning you can’t use these VPNs as much as you may like to at school.
Many school Wi-Fi networks block access to VPN websites which makes it hard to download one at school. In order to enjoy the benefits of a VPN at school, you’ll need to download a service onto your devices before you connect to the school network. This means either downloading a VPN service at home or on another internet network outside of school.
Once you have the VPN set up on your device off-campus, you can use the software as much as you want while you’re at school.
A school VPN is legal. However, it may go against your college or school rules, and you could face negative consequences if you're caught using one.
Yes, VPN use is very prominent on Chinese campuses. It is important to use a VPN carefully when in China, since the government prohibits the use of many providers.
A personal VPN is what is used as a school VPN. All of the providers on our list offer personal VPN plans that can be used on campuses around the world.
Hi, I'm Cliff. I'm based in Cleveland, Ohio, with my wife and two kids.
I have a keen interest in cybersecurity and have been writing about it for around a decade now. Due to my background in computer science, I am familiar ...
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