As the largest country in the EU, Germany is home to a vast internet space with lots of interesting content. TV channels like ZDF and Das Erste (ARD) are very popular, as is Netflix Germany, which offers a plethora of shows and movies to be excited about.
Unfortunately, people outside of this country won’t be able to enjoy this content, as they’ll need a German IP address. An IP address located in this country will let you access local TV channels and streaming platforms.
With it, you can also access banking services restricted to German residents and bet on betting sites, no matter your location. But how do you even get a German IP? Well, you’ll need the help of a VPN, which we’ll talk about in the following article. We promise to keep things short and to the point, so don’t run away just yet.
How Do I Get a German IP: All You Need To Know
As said, you’ll need to use a VPN to get a German IP, but first, you should know what it is. VPN is an abbreviation for Virtual Private Network, a service that lets you hide your original IP and replace it with an IP from another country.
It encrypts your connection and routes it through a VPN tunnel, which grants several benefits. Encrypted traffic cannot be intercepted and read by your ISP, so you get the highest level of privacy.
Second, by changing your IP to another country, you can bypass geo-restrictions and unblock restricted sites legally. Best of all, VPNs work on all devices and platforms, meaning that you can get a German IP on any of your devices by following the steps below.
1. Subscribe to a VPN for Germany
When we say a VPN for Germany, we think about a service that actually has servers in this country. For us, the best provider for this country is NordVPN because it offers 8,100+ high-speed servers in 125 countries.
Needless to say, server coverage in this country is pretty impressive, with servers in three locations: Berlin, Hamburg, and Frankfurt. This is enough to unblock German Netflix or enjoy ZDF and Das Erste abroad.
This is the fastest and most secure VPN with unlimited bandwidth, making it the #1 choice. Besides, it offers a 79% discount for its 2-year plans, so you can save a lot of money by getting its cheapest deal below.
All of its plans are backed up by a 30-day money-back guarantee with no conditions, meaning that you don’t need to lose any money when testing this solution. Thus, just choose a plan, follow the steps, and subscribe.
2. Install a VPN on Your Device
Next, you want to download a VPN app on your device. This is possible only after subscribing, after which you can choose which app you want. For this guide, we’re using our Windows PC, so we downloaded the setup file, installed it, and opened NordVPN’s application.
However, you should know that NordVPN offers one of the best VPNs for Amazon Fire TV Stick, iOS, Android, or even macOS.
Here, you’ll need to sign in by using the credentials you provided when purchasing the VPN. Once you do that, NordVPN will open up with a dashboard that looks like this:
3. Connect to a Server in Germany
From here, everything is simple. You need to open the server list by clicking the Globe icon. You can find Germany on the list or type in the country’s name in the search bar. Either way, once you find it, click once and NordVPN should connect in two or three seconds.
This is indicated by the “Connected” message in the upper portion of the window.
Conversely, you can get a German IP from particular locations. Do this by clicking the three horizontal dots next to Germany and selecting one of the three cities. The result is the same: you’ll get a German IP address no matter your location.
4. Enjoy the Benefits of a German IP Address
Now that you know how to get a German IP address, it’s easy to tune in to ZDF live or watch Netflix abroad. You’ll feel like a proper resident, despite being located somewhere in Europe, Asia, Australia, or even America.
Alternative: Get a German IP Address With ExpressVPN
While we prefer NordVPN due to its 125+ worldwide locations, ExpressVPN is another awesome provider for a German IP. It’s pricier than NordVPN, but with a 61% discount and four free months for the biennial plan, it’s not as expensive as it once used to be.
This provider has hundreds of servers in this country, in two cities: Frankfurt and Nuremberg. Coupled with solid security, excellent streaming servers, and applications for all platforms, ExpressVPN is another VPN worth considering.
It works the same way, though. You need to subscribe to it first, and we recommend using the button above to get a discount on its 2-year plan, which will drop the price to below $4.99 a month, offering a 30-day money-back guarantee in addition.
Immediately after subscribing, you can use ExpressVPN. Open its app, go to the server list, and double-click on Germany. In a few seconds, you’ll have a German IP address the same way, making it easy to enjoy its numerous benefits.
CyberGhost Also Offers a German IP: Check It Out
Aside from being safe, secure, and reliable, CyberGhost has a huge server park. In Germany alone, the VPN has 1,000+ servers in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, and Berlin, making it ideal to get a German IP. CyberGhost sports fast speeds thanks to its WireGuard protocol, which is handy for streaming and torrenting.
The VPN also has features like AES-256 encryption, NoSpy servers, and even a kill switch to prevent IP leaks. Users who decide on CyberGhost can enjoy automatic WiFi protection for added encryption, but above all, we’re talking about very affordable prices for a service like this.
Much like NordVPN, the VPN has an exclusive discount that our readers can claim. The discount is tied to the 2-year plan, where you can get CyberGhost for as low as $2.2 a month – quite an attractive price. That’s not all, as there’s a 45-day refund policy to back up every purchase.
CyberGhost is easy to use. Just subscribe to it, install the VPN, and connect to a server in Germany. Thanks to its snappy apps and fast connection speeds, the German IP will be yours in a second. Now, you can watch the Netflix catalog from this country, enjoy its TV channels, or be anonymous online.
Can I Get a German IP With Free VPNs or Proxies?
Right off the bat, we’ll tell you to avoid free proxies when you want to change your IP or enjoy additional online security. They don’t have additional encryption and lack the security features of NordVPN or ExpressVPN, so they’re not safe to use.
One free proxy you can try is Hide.me Proxy, which lets you change your proxy location to Germany. However, even in this case, the solution is inferior, as it won’t let you unblock geo-restricted platforms like Netflix or Das Erste.
As for other unverified proxies, it’s easy to see that their background is unknown, so in most cases, you’re dealing with malicious services looking to steal your data. Free VPNs aren’t the same, but they’re very similar in terms of security and privacy.
They also lack certain security features, on top of which, they limit your monthly bandwidth, provide slow speeds, and fail to unblock restricted content. Not to mention that free VPNs won’t offer any German servers, so you can’t get an IP from there at ALL!
This means that you should discard free providers and proxies and perform the steps using a bulletproof VPN instead. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost are great choices to begin with.
Conclusion
With that said, you’ve learned how to get a German IP address with a VPN. Simply use NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or CyberGhost, connect to a server in this country, and you’ll get a new IP address ready for use.
Don’t forget that you can change your IP address to any other country on the list, so don’t limit yourself to this one only. For example, you can get a US IP to watch Netflix US abroad or change your IP to the UK and access BBC iPlayer – it’s all up to you.
FAQ
To top it all up, let us answer a few more important questions.
Is getting a German IP legal?
Yes, it is. Using a VPN itself is already legal, so you can get any IP address you want with no legal repercussions. Of course, that is if you don’t plan on distributing copyrighted content, selling drugs, or performing any other illegal activities on the internet.
Can I get a German IP address on my mobile phone?
Yes, you can. As said, these VPNs work on every device, so the steps I presented are the same on your mobile phone. The difference is that you’ll download a VPN from Google Play or Apple Store, while the applications look and function pretty much the same.
How to watch German TV live abroad?
With a German IP address! Follow the steps listed in our article, change your IP, and visit any local channel you want. You’ll be able to tune in to the live stream even when located on the other side of the globe – that’s how powerful VPNs are.
More details can be found in our article explaining how to watch German TV channels from abroad.
Do I need a German IP in this country?
If you live in Germany, you won’t need this IP because connecting to any network there will automatically assign you a German IP – logically. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need a VPN – you do, in fact.
Remember that Germany is part of the Nine Eyes alliance and an EU country. This means government surveillance is active, which means your privacy isn’t the most respected. Let’s also mention that the authorities frown upon torrenting, which can be masked with a VPN.
In short, you DO need a VPN in Germany, but you don’t need to get this IP.
