Pokémon Go Overview
Pokémon Go is a popular game that involves Pokémons (pocket monsters) that are fictional virtual characters. The player is the Pokémon trainer who has to hunt for and collect all the Pokémons in a certain fictional region. The player has to throw a PokéBall while hunting for these fictional characters for them to catch it. Players will have to train the Pokémons and gather a team that will battle against another users’ team. The player who wins all the challenges is the winner of the league.
If you would like to play this fantastic game, you need to be in a country where this game is available as this game is blocked in certain regions. Likewise, in some locations, the features are limited. If you are in such a location, you will need a VPN to gain full access to the game. A VPN will help you play the game in a country where it is not available and also will help you hunt for Pokémons in different regions.
If You Have Not Played Pokémon Go
Pokémon Go, a fantastic game that involves collecting Pokémons is played by over 140 million people every month. Owned by Niantic, this augmented reality (AR) game was released in 2016 in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.
This is a free game which involves hunting, capturing and training Pokémons and has Android and iOS apps. These virtual creatures will appear as if they are in the real locations of the one who is playing the game. Pokémon Trainers, the players have to catch these virtual creatures and train them to battle each other. This game uses the player’s mobile device’s GPS to locate Pokémons. This game that initially had close to 150 species of Pokémon now has over 500 species.
Pokémon Go is now one of the most popular and most played location-based smartphone games which are growing each day.
Read on to know more about the top VPNs we recommend for Pokémon Go.
Best VPNs to Play Pokémon Go Online
- NordVPN
- Surfshark VPN
- ExpressVPN
- VyprVPN
- IPVanish VPN
1. NordVPN
Top-rated VPN and our top choice, NordVPN will help you unblock Pokémon Go from anywhere in the world. It has 5800 speedy servers in over 60 countries worldwide.
You can securely play the game online with NordVPN’s strong industry-standard encryption. It offers DNS/IP leak protection, kill switch and follows a strict no-logs policy in addition to offering strong 256-bit encryption.
While you can install NordVPN on Windows, Linux, iOS, macOS, Android, Android TV, Chrome, Firefox, and routers, you can connect the VPN on six devices at a time. You can watch movies or play games on six devices at any time. Though you connect six devices at a time, you will not experience slow speeds.
NordVPN is also an ideal choice for games like PUBG and streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more. It offers unlimited bandwidth so that you can stream shows or play games with no restrictions.
Read our NordVPN review to know why it is our top choice.
- 5200+ servers in 62 countries
- Use up to 6 devices
- Next-generation Encryption
- Double VPN Feature
- Strict no-logs policy
2. Surfshark VPN
A pretty new VPN service, Surfshark VPN is one of the VPN services we recommend for Pokémon Go. It comes packed with incredible features like the Camouflage mode that will make the traffic you send and receive look like normal internet traffic and hide the fact that you are using a VPN.
Most of all, you can protect any number of devices with one Surfshark VPN connection. Even if you connect multiple devices at a time, your speed will not slow down. With strong 256-bit encryption, you can enjoy strong privacy and security. In addition, it comes with a strict no-logs policy so that you can browse without fear of your data getting into the wrong hands.
It has a built-in ad blocker and comes with malware protection so that you can browse without distractions. Surfshark VPN also works with Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, Linux, FireTV, Chrome, and Firefox. With Surfshark VPN, you can unblock PUBG and many other games in addition to Pokémon Go. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, CBS, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer are among the streaming services that Surfshark VPN can unblock.
Check out our extensive review of Surfshark VPN to know why we recommend it.
- Connect unlimited Devices
- AES-256-GCM encryption
- IP & DNS leak protection
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free Browser Extensions
- Strict no-logs policy
3. ExpressVPN
The fastest VPN, ExpressVPN is one of the top-tier VPNs well-known for its incredible speeds. You can play your favorite games including Pokémon Go without worrying about slow connection speeds.
Moreover, ExpressVPN also has a huge server network with over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. Strong security is another plus. Whether you are connected to a public WiFi network or a private one, you need not worry about your security or privacy as ExpressVPN offers strong encryption.
Whether you are on the hunt for Pokémon or playing some other game online like PUGB, you can be assured that ExpressVPN will keep you safe online. Likewise, you can unblock streaming services including Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO GO, Sling TV, DAZN, Showtime, and more with ExpressVPN.
Read our full review of ExpressVPN to know more.
- 160 server locations
- Network Lock kill switch
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- VPN split tunneling
- Stream Sports online
4. VyprVPN
VyprVPN is one of the best VPNs for gaming. This VPN uses strong encryption to protect your device and enhance your privacy online. You can stay secure while you play internet-connected games like Pokémon Go and more. VyprVPN will prevent the apps you install from accessing your personal data including your location, IP address, browsing history, etc.
VyprVPN has servers worldwide and manages all its servers without the involvement of any third-party. You will have plenty of IP addresses to connect to as VyprVPN has over 200,000 IP addresses. It also has a NAT firewall to make sure you do not receive any unrequested inbound traffic.
You can install the VPN on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, QNAP, routers, and TVs. While it supports a wide range of devices and platforms, you can connect to the VPN on five of your devices at a time. With VyprVPN, you can bypass censorships of all kinds using its Chameleon protocol.
Read our full review on VyprVPN to know more.
- 160 server locations
- Network Lock Kill switch
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- VPN split tunneling
- Stream Sports online
5. IPVanish VPN
IPVanish is our next choice for Pokémon Go. With over 1300 servers worldwide, IPVanish will offer you a speedy connection for all your gaming needs. You can hunt for Pokémon in any location with IPVanish. It does not stop there and it unblocks many other games and streaming services, as well.
IPVanish has a strong track record of unblocking other services like Netflix, Hulu, CBS, and more. When it comes to simultaneous connections, IPVanish is more generous than other VPN services as it offers 10 parallel connections. You can effortlessly stream shows and play games at the same time without experiencing slow speeds.
IPVanish comes with a kill switch and offers DNS and IP leak protection, in addition to offering 256-bit encryption for strong security. It is compatible with almost all devices and platforms that include Android, Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and routers.
Check out our extensive review of IPVanish to know more.
- 1,500+ VPN servers
- 40,000+ shared IPs
- Unthrottled speed
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Unmetered connections
Why Do You Need a VPN to Play Pokémon Go?
Pokémon Go is one of the most popular games played worldwide. Whether you are a great fan of the game or just a casual player, you need to be aware of the risks involved. You will need to check out the privacy policy to understand what kind of information the device can access. Here’s where a VPN comes into play. A VPN can protect your privacy while you play a game online or while using third-party apps.
VPNs use strong 256-bit encryption to secure your device, be it smartphones or computers. This is why we recommend using a VPN while you play online games like Pokémon Go and PUBG.
VPNs will hide your IP and prevent the app you are using from viewing your location and other personally identifiable data. Using a top-rated VPN is the only easy way to make sure you are secure and anonymous online. You can access any app or game and stay secure online if you are connected to a VPN. You can easily catch Pokémons from any region if you are connected to a VPN as you can access any location by connecting to a server in any country.
As a VPN will route your traffic through its servers located in different countries, you can bypass censorships and unblock the game from anywhere in the world. For instance, if you are in a country where Pokémon Go is unavailable, you can connect to a VPN server in a country where the game is available to hide your location and download and play Pokémon Go.
Change your Location/Region to Play Pokemon GO on Android/iOS Using a VPN
- Decide on the VPN service you wish to use. Choose a VPN service with a good server network and apps for Android and iOS. We recommend both Surfshark VPN and NordVPN for Pokémon Go.
- Once you are subscribed to the VPN, download the app for the device you wish to use.
- Now, you can sign in after you install and launch the VPN App.
- You can then connect to a server in the country in which you would like to play.
- Now you are all set to sign in to Pokémon Go and start hunting for Pokémons!
Spoof GPS Location
While a VPN will help you change your IP address and make you appear like you are accessing the game from the location of the IP address. But Pokémon Go uses the player’s GPS location so to catch a Pokémon from a different location, the players will have to spoof their locations.
So they will need an app to spoof their locations. The process of spoofing one’s location is different for Android and for iOS. Players may have to jailbreak their devices or root their devices to spoof their locations.
Beware of Fake Free VPN Providers While Playing Pokémon Go
With free VPNs becoming more and more popular, you might wonder why to pay for a VPN service while you can get one for free. But you need to understand that many so-called free VPNs are malicious and could pose a threat to your security and privacy.
You could experience loads of random ads as most free VPNs are supported by ads. These ads could ruin your online gaming and surfing experience. This may not happen when you go for a paid VPN service.
The server network of free VPNs will be smaller thereby limiting your options. You will have just a few servers to connect to and servers may not be available in all locations so that accessing geo-blocked content from across the globe may not be possible.
Free VPNs could corrupt your device as they do not come with ad blockers or the NAT firewall. This would result in you getting exposed to viruses.
You cannot expect fast speeds from free VPNs as they are extremely slow. They definitely can mislead you by claiming to be fast but in reality, they do not offer fast connections. They only make such claims to attract customers.
These are a few reasons why you need to avoid a free VPN and why we do not recommend using a free VPN for Pokémon Go.
Go for a paid VPN service like NordVPN or Surfshark VPN to have a safe surfing and gaming experience.
