Wherever you are in the world there is always a reason to want to bypass region blocking. For example, internet users outside the US might want to access Netflix or Hulu; those in the US might want the UK version of BBC iPlayer.

To combat this, VPNs are popular---but they're not the best solution. Here's how to watch geo-blocked videos without VPN software.

Why VPNs Aren't Great for Bypassing Region Blocks

When you connect to a VPN (Virtual Private Network) your internet traffic is forwarded through the VPN server. So, if you're in the UK and you connect to a VPN in the United States, websites will see you as browsing from the United States. The VPN server acts like a middleman.

This allows you to use VPNs to access US streaming services, such as:

  • Netflix US
  • Hulu
  • Pandora

…and many other region-restricted media websites.

But while VPNs have many other uses, they're less than ideal for bypassing region locks.

  • While VPNs are faster than ever, they're slower than connecting directly to a website. You don't connect directly to Netflix---the data is sent through the VPN server. This slows things down.
  • While connected to a VPN, all your network traffic will be sent through the VPN. This slows other internet traffic on your device.
  • You'll want to leave the VPN disconnected because it slows down your connection. When you want to watch a video, you'll have to connect to the VPN. When you're done, you'll want to disconnect.
  • Most importantly, Netflix is winning the war against VPNs. It's time to find a new way to access all the Netflix content you can handle, without relying on a VPN.

Netflix isn't alone. BBC iPlayer in the UK is increasingly winning the battle against VPN providers. As a VPN adds new server IP address, so the streaming services block entire IP ranges in order to prevent unauthorized viewing.

Why a Standard DNS Can't Help

Until relatively recently, you could switch your router's DNS server to access streamed video without relying on a VPN. While the effect was the same for streaming---you appear to be viewing from elsewhere---there was no encryption.

However, as with VPNs, Netflix and other streaming giants got wise to this tactic. As such, standard DNS providers are no longer suitable.

Related: Best DNS for Improved Online Safety

Fortunately, several new methods are available for you to bypass region locks on YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, and other services.

  1. Use browser extensions
  2. Employ a specialist DNS
  3. Use a third-party downloader
  4. Employ VPN-provided DNS

Here's what you need to know about how to watch geo-restricted videos without DNS or a VPN.

1. Use a Proxy Browser Extension

If you want to access region-restricted websites quickly and easily, a proxy server is a good option.

Proxies can be accessed via a website, but it's easier to simply use a browser extension.

To access Netflix, consider Wachee, a browser extension for Google Chrome. This is designed to unblock Netflix and Hulu, wherever in the world you're based. It has a basic option, but if you want HD video you'll need to subscribe. Weekly, monthly, and annual packages are available.

Download: Wachee for Google Chrome (Free)

Proxies are a great option for US residents trying to access BBC iPlayer in the UK. See our guide to watching BBC iPlayer with a proxy for more details.

Encountered blocked videos on YouTube? Use this block-checking tool to find out which countries the video is available in, then set your proxy extension accordingly.

Relying on a proxy browser extension is smarter than simply visiting a standard proxy site.

2. Don't Bypass YouTube Region Locked Videos - Download Instead!

Region-locked content can be frustrating. If a proxy browser extension won't work and a specialist DNS service is drawing a blank, consider downloading the video. While this probably won't work with Netflix, it's a good solution for YouTube.

To bypass region locks on YouTube videos, a downloader can help. One example is ssyoutube.com. To use this:

  1. Copy the URL of the region locked YouTube video
  2. Paste it into your browser's address bar
  3. Click or tap so the insertion point is between the "www." and "youtube"
  4. Add "ss" to the URL (e.g. "www.ssyoutube.com")
  5. Hit Enter on your keyboard, or tap OK on your device

The video will then be downloaded to your device via the ssyoutube.com site, bypassing region blocking.

Note that downloading YouTube videos is a breach of the platform's terms of use.

3. Use Smart DNS for Region Blocked Video Streams

While using a VPN to access region blocked streaming services isn't the fastest option, some VPN services have provided an alternative. Smart DNS can be considered a sort of "VPN lite" solution, which allows access to region blocked content (such as all the Netflix you can watch) without the encryption and IP masking a VPN delivers.

How can you use smart DNS? One option is to find a specialist provider such as www.smartdnsproxy.com. However, if you're already using a VPN you might have smart DNS access without knowing it.

For example, ExpressVPN (MakeUseOf readers can get 40% off our top-rated VPN) offers the MediaStreamer DNS service as part of the VPN subscription. This isn't an encrypted private connection but is a great way to view region blocked videos from all streaming services. Like other smart DNS solutions, it can be used on almost any platform, including games consoles and smart TVs.

Note that other VPN providers offer smart DNS.

Bypass Region Locks and Access All Netflix Content

Accessing blocked content isn't as simple as it was. You can't just visit a proxy and view all your favorite Netflix content anymore.

Solutions like UnoDNS, Tunlr, and MediaHint have fallen by the wayside. These days, you need smarter solutions to region blocking, tools that will give you reliable access to Netflix and other region blocking streaming services.

[NEXT: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-methods-to-bypass-blocked-sites/]