It’s summer, and you’re on holiday having the best time of your life. However, the appeal of binging on your favorite shows doesn’t go away. Though the internet is full of free high quality videos, you may find that some of the content you’d like to watch may be restricted in that region – and it just happens to be your favorite show or sports match!
Unblockr 101
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Why Geo-restriction Exists
Online video-on-demand services (VOD) use geo-restriction to block access to their content based on the user’s location.
For instance, Netflix blocks content for regional reasons. If you’re in Australia you can only watch Australian Netflix, and American Netflix if you’re in America. This helps separate local viewers from international ones.
Netflix also has contractual agreements with content creators who’d not want their content distributed in certain countries. Content may also be different in certain countries due to local censorship.
Other VOD services (BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO plus and many others) have similar GEO-restrictions in place, meaning you wouldn’t be able to watch all their offerings unless you’re in a specific location.
If you’re looking to access your favorite platform from another region, you’ll need to use a Smart DNS Proxy.
How Smart DNS proxies and VPNs work
A smart DNS service allows you to access content that’s blocked in your region by making it appear as if you’re in an area where access is permitted. It reroutes all your data to a proxy server that’s located in the country where you should be able to access the content (USA, UK, etc).
Let’s say you want to access content that’s restricted in Australia. A proxy server will route your traffic through an unrestricted region, such as the U.K. This portability allows you to watch otherwise restricted sports events, films or stream TV shows. It would even work when (for instance) you’re usually a UK resident but happen to be outside your country of residence – in France, for example. With the right Smart DNS routing your traffic through the UK, you shouldn’t lose access to anything.
Here’s how it works. Every computer is hooked onto the internet through a unique address called an I.P address. Think of every message, tweet or email you send from your device as data that has to come from a unique source, and also receive responses. A smart DNS only tricks a VOD service into thinking your traffic comes from a different (allowed) place, without changing your address.
You can also use a VPN to change your IP. It runs your data through a VPN provider and encrypts it so that you’re safe from any man in the middle attacks. It also hides your real location allowing you to browse anonymously. While arguably safe, many times a VPN would slow down your traffic more than a Smart DNS.
Why You Need Unblockr
Unblockr has 2 different products – a smart DNS and a VPN service.
Its Smart DNS service is simple, fast, cheap and can be used for general surfing, streaming, and gaming. All the while Unblockr’s Smart DNS would protect you from the government snooping your browsing habits. It also supports peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing and torrenting.
The VPN is an extra option if you just want more security.
The service offers configuration guides for various operating systems, such as Kodi, Amazon Fire TV Sticks, Android, Windows, and IOS.
There’s no installation required – just copying and pasting 2 numbers (DNS servers) into your device. If you can copy and paste – you can use Unblockr’s Smart DNS solution! Just follow the simple step-by-step guide for your device.
Pricing
To use Unblockr, you first need to create an account and subscribe to either the DNS service or the VPN service. We recommend the DNS service if you just want to browse the net while seems you’re in a different location. The VPN offers extra security (like encrypting your connection) but it might not be necessary for your needs.
Unblockr is actually unbelievably cheap. It offers a free one-week trial, with no credit card or bank account needed. After the trial you can subscribe to the monthly, half-a-year or yearly options priced as follows:
| 1 Week | 1 Month | Six Months | 1 year |
| 0 € | 2€ | 10€ | 20€ |
Payments are made via PayPal. Once you’ve registered and set up your account, you’ll find your account details in your profile.
Installing VPN Unblockr on PC
NOTE: As we mentioned before, we recommend the Smart DNS option for most users. VPN installation is slightly more involved, though simple enough.
First you would need to download a piece of software called OpenVPN. Then log in to to your Unblockr profile on your browser.
Inside the VPN folder, you can download a configuration files you require. Copy the downloaded files to the Open VPN program files directory as shown below.
Once that set up is done, you’ll be ready to browse with your new IP. You’ll also find configuration for downloading torrents or peer to peer file sharing.
Unblockr VPN for Android
Unblocker recently launched a VPN app for android and Amazon fire devices. Just download from their web portal, and install it. Then log in with your API key – this is an identification number you get when you get an Unblockr account
You’ll be online after you click connect.
Kodi Add-on for Unblockr
If you’ve not heard of Kodi before, it’s an open-source media center that you can use to access a wide range of media content on any device.
Kodi can do a lot. It can create smart playlists out of your music collection and can tag different tracks. It also works with most file formats including AAC, MP3, and OGG.
Its video feature works with ISO, 3D AND H.264 and other formats. But that’s not all, it also streams content over the internet. So yes, you can live stream your favorite TV shows on Kodi, and even record live TV.
You’ll find plenty of channels on Kodi that are free to watch without any restrictions. Most of us, however, tend to watch popular stations.
Sporting channels such as ESPN and BBC’S iPlayer are some of the most common. However, these two and other popular streaming channels are geo-blocked in most areas outside the US and UK. You’d need to use a Smart DNS like Unblockr for Kodi to access them.
Unblockr has gone one better by providing a Kodi add-on that’s easy to set up. Such that, if your Internet Service Provider changes your IP, you don’t have to log in to your Unblockr profile to change your IP there. The Kodi Unblockr addon will do that for you.
This way, you can even take your device to someone’s house or another city without losing the benefit of your Unblockr subscription.
How to Install the Unblockr addon
First download Kodi from the official source, for either Android, Linux, Mac OSX, IOS or windows. Then follow the installation instructions on Unblockr’s official page.
Here’s a glimpse of how it looks after installation:
Technical support
In case of any issues during installation, contact Ublockr through their Facebook page and the admins will respond to any queries you have. You’ll see that it’s an active community forum where you’ll find solutions to most problems you’ve experienced.
This is unlike other VPN/DNS providers that have fully-fledged ‘customer departments’ who don’t get back to you on time.
Why we recommend Unblockr.
First, it’s relatively cheap compared to other DNS/VPN providers. The price shouldn’t be an issue.
Unblockr supports a lot of devices. We’ve only mentioned a few devices you can use with Unblockr, you’ll find more on their support page including how to use it with Amazon firestick. In most cases, you only set it up once and you don’t need to touch it again.
Unblockr’s support is fantastic. There are lots of user guides to go through the installation and for troubleshooting. However, in case you have a particular question or issue, the team at Unblockr will personally attend to you. They are very responsive and answer questions very quickly – sometimes in a matter of 30 minutes! They also allow support through their own Facebook page which can be very convenient. Rarely do companies do that, this is the only one we’ve come across.
In case you feel things are not working out for you, just cancel your subscription anytime without a cancellation fee.
With Unblockr, your privacy is in safe hands. Their privacy policy says that they don’t keep any logs of internet usage when using their services. They also don’t store any other data except your account details, IP address and your country
The Bottom Line
This superfast smart DNS service supports a variety of devices – just set it up once and you’re good to go.
If you’re looking for 100% anonymity and to remain protected as you stream content, then you should consider Unblockr. It’s cheap, easy, safe – and it works!
