6 Best VPNs for School – Unblock School Wi-Fi with a VPN

Many schools around the world are increasingly denying their students access to certain online materials, such as online gaming, torrent sites and social media communities. Usually, these schools argue that taking this measure has become necessary, as a way of striking a balance between academic work and the use of Internet bandwidth for good reasons.

For most schools, it is necessary to regulate some of the content to which students are exposed because, if not controlled, students would spend all their time downloading, uploading and streaming content fairly.

However, we can see things from another point of view. When a school censors major streaming sites, such as YouTube, it is obvious that it denies a lot of content to its students. You probably know that YouTube is the biggest streaming site on the Internet. This means that it contains hundreds of thousands of learning materials. Thus, when a school firewall blacklists the streaming platform, it does more harm than good to its students.

Why Schools are Blocking Websites?

In order to fully dissect the points raised above, here are the most convincing reasons why schools are implementing Internet filters:  

• Distractions: As stated earlier, there is never a dull moment on the Internet. In other words, students can upload, download, play music, chat with friends, make video calls, stream videos and live shows/events, play online games, etc. All these activities keep students engaged in more ways than one. Since schools perceive these activities as unproductive, students are not allowed to access certain content and websites online. They strongly believe that these activities tend to distract students from learning, which is the primary reason for coming to school.
• Waste of Internet resources: Another factor that forces schools to censor certain websites is that students can potentially consume bandwidth and waste Internet resources. For instance, while online streaming site YouTube offers users a great learning curve, students who always visit the site are potentially using the data bundle of the school to watch its videos. Certainly, the streaming of site content helps visual learners to grasp certain concepts more quickly.
• Copyright concerns: Some schools fear that if their students are using their free Wi-Fi to download and share copyrighted materials, they (the schools) will face legal consequences. When major downloads of copyrighted material are attributed to certain Wi-Fi, the author or publisher may be required to perform further investigations. Upon they realize that these downloads happened in an institution, they can take legal action against the school – not necessarily against the students.
• Exposure to harm: While students can learn a lot about the Internet, there are a lot of criminals online. For example, online predators are always on the lookout for impressionable children in the hope of taking advantage of them. Not to mention the fact that terrorist groups are radicalizing young people on the Internet. In addition, there is a lot of illegal activity on the Internet.
• Threat to morals: Many parents are concerned about the sites to which their children are exposed. They do not want their children to visit sites that challenge the parental values they have tried to instill in them. For example, when a child becomes addicted to visiting pornographic sites, parents say it could turn him into a rapist. This makes perfect sense, as they would be pressured to put into practice what they have exposed their minds to. 
• Unreal lifestyle: Today, many children are dependent on social media, where most users live unrealistic lifestyles. For example, social media users tell lies and post fake photos to become the focus of everyone’s attention. Since children are almost always exposed to it, they are also beginning to live in an unrealistic world. This could lead them to make bad choices.

The Way Out

Although school authorities are not entirely wrong to censor students’ access to certain websites from their Wi-Fi, it is important to note that this decision has serious consequences. As a result, students can miss  many important things. For example, they can learn almost everything on YouTube, so when they are denied access to the site (because the authorities fear that students will only use it to watch the latest music videos), they have deliberately created new barriers to learning. 

6 Best VPN for School – Comparison Table

Top 6 Best Effective VPN for School Firewalls

6. Pure VPN – Great Choice for School

Website: purevpn.com

Money-back guarantee: 31-day

There is no benefit in saying that students rely on the Internet to conduct comprehensive academic research. However, they often minimize the fact that they also use it for their free time. Since many schools do not allow the latter, they often implement Internet blocks. Well, PureVPN enables them to circumvent such restrictions with ease.

As a student, we understand that it is necessary for you to find a balance between your studies and other aspects of your life. As a result, students use the Internet for fun activities. Beyond that, these online blocks prevent them from acquiring certain knowledge and skills. Therefore, you should use PureVPN to overcome this barrier. With 2000 servers in more than 180 server locations, all you need to do is to link to the server dedicated for the website (where that exists) and you will navigate on the site in no time.  

Supported Client Software:  

Features:

• It supports all the operating systems, such as Android, Linux, etc.
• This school VPN also supports a 256-bit encryption
• There are lots of extras, such as DDoS protection, kill switch
• NAT Firewall is enabled
• It has some dedicated IP addresses

Pros:

• The introduction of virtual routers would enable this VPN to connect to 5 devices simultaneously
• Users can connect this VPN to real routers and virtual routers
• This is good for streaming
• With Split-tunneling, a user will devise where to route traffic
• This VPN supports all popular protocols, such as OpenVPN and L2TP

Cons:

• The customer service needs to step up its game
• The introduction of this VPN slows down the connection speed

Even with a few lapses here and there, this VPN service remains one of the best out there. Yes, its main advantage is its speed: The download and upload rates are just superb. Speed is particularly critical as many VPNs tend to slow down your original network speed when both networks sync. More and more schools have implemented these controversial Internet blocks to prevent disputes that could arise as a result of downloading copyrighted materials.

However, preventing students from using certain sites has incalculable consequences. So far, you have seen how PureVPN can help you bypass these restrictions. You should take that bold step by gifting yourself this VPN. That way, you will enjoy all the benefits of having free access to your school Wi-Fi.

Read our detailed review of PureVPN.

    Visit Site    

 

5. IPVanish – Budget School VPN

Website: ipvanish.com

Money-back guarantee: 30-day

In the cybersecurity industry, IPVanish has become a familiar name, because it is the best in terms of speed and ease of use. Just like everyone else, students love to work with web tools that are user-friendly and achieve results as well. Hence, we recommend this for students who need to circumvent their schools’ firewalls in order to stream rich web content.

Supported Client Software: 

Features:

• It has 1500 servers for VPN scattered over 75 locations
• It has a no-log policy
• There is SOCKS5 Web proxy
• Allows the simultaneous connection of unlimited devices

Pros:

• This service offers an excellent connection for security
• It is perfect for streaming sites
• This VPN supports a lot of VPN protocols, such as OpenVPN, IKEv2, etc.
• There is a 24/7 helpdesk team that ensures all users’ challenges are reasonably tackled through chats
• This VPN runs on all the known operating systems
• There is seamless switching between servers, making it super reliable

Cons:

• Timestamping users connection is anything but good

Apart from the benefits that we just identified, users who feel this product has failed them can get their money-back in 30 days. Awesome, isn’t it?  While all web surfers need a VPN, students in the university community need it more. This is especially true since many schools like to restrict their students’ access to certain websites.

But with IPVanish, you will remain anonymous for your school, while bypassing any censorship. With this VPN service that perfectly encrypts your traffic, you won’t have to worry that malicious hackers will compromise your system. Indeed, IPVanish is a must for all students who are looking to navigate safely on sites restricted by their schools.

Read our detailed review of IPVanish.

    Visit Site    

 

4. VyprVPN – Fast Option for Schools

Website: vyprvpn.com

Money-back guarantee: 30-day

It is important that we include VyprVPN on this list because it does an amazing job at unblocking school Wi-Fi. Variety is the spice of life, one says. This simply means that learning isn’t just about what happens inside the four walls of the classroom. A combination of learning, networking and relaxation makes the school interesting.

In the absence of either of these elements, it becomes almost impossible to have a complete student. So, with over 700 servers scattered in 70 locations, you can easily connect to the nearest server and begin to bypass blocked sites. Given that this VPN has over 200,000 IP addresses to give to potential users, circumventing blocked sites in your school becomes so seamless.

Supported Client Software: 

Features:

• It uses industry standard for encryption
• NAT firewall is installed
• It runs on all the popular operating systems
• It is good for torrenting, Netflix, etc.

Pros:

• VyprVPN is the best whenever a student is considering connection speed
• Activities on its network are monitored from a data center, ensuring that it remains secure
• Given that security is a priority, this VPN gives both proprietary and normal encryptions
• It runs on many operating systems
• Its user interfaces are good
• The customer service works round the clock
• It has the reputation of non-logging DNS

Cons:

• Going by monthly subscription, this VPN is a bit costlier

Don’t let your school limit your Internet access, as VyprVPN offers you the rare opportunity to bypass all Wi-Fi restrictions. In a typical varsity community where there is free Wi-Fi, students are almost always forbidden from accessing certain sites. Often, the students get used to surfing the Internet without visiting those cities. But VyprVPN makes it extremely possible for you to bypass such restrictions with a masked IP address. 

Moreover, the service keeps your identity hidden. With the proprietary Chameleon technology from VyprVPN, you can overcome all the Internet filters implemented in your school with ease. When that is done, you can access your favorite sites. You should never let your school limit the value you can derive from the Internet. Let this VPN service help you expand your horizons.

Read our detailed review of VyprVPN.

    Visit Site    

 

3. CyberGhost – Fast and Comfortable VPN for School Usage

Website: cyberghostvpn.com

Money-back guarantee: 45-day

If your school management does not want students to access certain sites, they sure have their reasons. Consequently, you have to take the right step that will ultimately lead to more knowledge. It is obvious that you are at school to learn, so it makes perfect sense for you to remove all barriers to your learning. You can always rely on CyberGhost to help you with that. With over 5,700 servers spreaded in 112 locations around the world, it doesn’t matter what site you wish to circumvent. 

Don’t let the restrictions in your school lead you to despair. In many schools, jamming transmitters are used, thus making it impossible for students to access certain websites from their mobile devices. But then, CyberGhost enables you to bypass Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and any other site you can possibly think of. As a student, one of the advantages of using this VPN is that it can break down restrictions and is affordable. 

Supported Client Software: 

Features:

• It is compatible with many devices
• The connection speed is fast
• It offers Wi-Fi connection
• It supports many VPN protocols

Pros:

• There is a 24/7 customer service, ensuring that they tackle customers’ complaints
• This VPN champions ease of use and reliable connection
• Users who are disappointed with this service get a refund within one month
• It leverages its high-speed to provide users fast streaming experience
• It is also good for torrenting

Cons:

• Its helpdesk team isn’t impressive

With respect to its price, CyberGhost is more affordable than the previous one. Therefore, a student doesn’t have to complain about price this time. Speaking of which, we encourage students to go for annual subscription plan, in order to save some money. We must emphasize that this tech product champions security and anonymity. These benefits are particularly important because if a school finds out that its student are bypassing its firewalls to use blacklisted sites, it could severely punish them.

Read our detailed review of CyberGhost.

    Visit Site    

 

2. ExpressVPN – Universal VPN for School

Website: expressvpn.com

Money-back guarantee: 30-day

It’s no longer news that many schools block sites like Facebook, YouTube and Spotify, which means students cannot access such websites from the school’s Wi-Fi. Is your school one of those that has taken steps to prohibit students from accessing those sites? If yes, you have absolutely nothing to worry about, because you can use ExpressVPN to unlock any social network and entertainment site, and share it with  your loved ones. The steps are quick and easy, as you can get everything done in about 5 minutes. To get started, just subscribe to ExpressVPN, connect to a server location where the website is domiciled and start logging in. 

The VPN services will keep your real IP address hidden and assign you another, which is close to the site you wish to circumvent. With that, you can bypass all those sites that are forbidden in your school. Keep in mind that this is a VPN service, which is better than a proxy server. Regarding the latter, it always gets overwhelmed with heavy traffic. Well, there are some other features of ExpressVPN that you should check out. 

Supported Client Software:  

Features:

• Covers up more than 3,000 servers across 160 locations
• There is an internet kill switch
• It supports many VPN protocols
• It runs on all operating systems, such as iOS, Microsoft, Android, etc.

Pros:

• It has strong 256-bit encryption for data protection
• Also, it has good support for torrenting
• This VPN is good for streaming sites
• Its technical support team is active
• It doesn’t log sensitive info

Cons:

• The monthly subscription of this VPN is relatively costly

Indeed, this VPN for school plays an important role in helping students to do better in learning by bypassing their school firewalls, thus allowing them to access a wide spectrum of websites. Interestingly, buyers who feel that this service didn’t live up to their expectations stand a chance of getting their money back, and there is an option of paying in Bitcoin just to guarantee user anonymity.

We should also not fail to appreciate the excellent work of the helpdesk team. In the cybersecurity industry, many companies now outsource the task of customer service to third-party companies. However, this is not the case with ExpressVPN. So, it’s a good product for students!

Read our detailed review of ExpressVPN.

    Visit Site    

 

1. NordVPN – Multitask VPN for School

Website: nordvpn.com

Money-back guarantee: 30-day

Here comes another VPN service you can use to get access to the blocked websites in your school. In certain schools, the authorities have already blacklisted certain entertainment and social network websites. However, they fail to understand that social networks, for instance, serve as a great learning tool. To make it clearer, there are Facebook groups where professionals meet and share ideas. Yes, that’s another form of learning. In most cases, school authorities argue that they have had to take the extreme step of prohibiting school distractions. 

NordVPN can seamlessly help you maneuver the internet filters by assigning you another IP address. This way, you don’t seem to be accessing the site from the school. Note that you cannot access those blocked sites from your school’s free Wi-Fi because your original IP address is known by the server. However, with another IP address that NordVPN assigns to your device, nothing can stop you from browsing those blocked sites.

Supported Client Software: 

Features:

• It supports lots of devices, such as online game console, routers, etc
• It has important functionalities, such as kill switch, stealth mode, etc.
• Additionally, it comes with double encryption
• It has dedicated IP addresses
• There is a smart DNS service
• Allows the simultaneous connection of 6 different devices

Pros:

• Its connection speed is reliable and fast
• It adheres to its non-log policy, which provides some relief to users
• Its 24/7 customer service is always helpful to users who struggle to use the software
• User privacy and security are guaranteed with this VPN
• For those who are not satisfied with the quality of service, there’s a one-month conditional refund of money

Cons:

• Its monthly renewal fee is a little pricey

As a student who wants to go further to learn, you will certainly need additional protection on the Internet. If we are on the same page, you can trust NordVPN to introduce another layer of security to your data protection. Consequently, no matter how hard your school authorities try, they would never know the student’s identity behind your browser. This is unarguably one of the best VPN products on the market. Indeed, the Panama-based software development firm knows exactly what students need. Why not give it a try?

Read our detailed review of NordVPN.

    Visit Site    

 

Importance of VPN Services for School

In the beginning of this article, we put into perspective why it is important that every student gets a VPN at school. Now, we will shed light on it.

• Public Wi-Fi protection: Many schools around the world make an effort to provide public Wi-Fi. We must emphasize that using such public networks is risky. This reason is that even students can hack your computer just to view your confidential files or steal them. However, VPN for school Wi-Fi helps you to safeguard your data and connection.
• Streaming and gaming: While many students make an effort to have access to streaming sites for the purpose of acquiring knowledge, we must not fail to state that lots of them enjoy playing online games. Most of the time, the school authorities say that such sites drain their internet data bundles. Well, VPN helps you to bypass such restricted sites regardless of what the school authorities do.
• Torrenting: Your inability to access Torrenting sites using your school Wi-Fi is due to copyright restrictions. However, if you need to unlock such sites using your school Wi-Fi, you must get one of the VPN services that we discussed above.

Free VPN vs Paid VPN: Which Should You Go For?

If you have already used free and paid VPNs, you will understand that the disparities between the two services are very different. By all standards, paid versions are far better than free versions. Overall, paid VPNs are better because they:

• Have faster connection speed
• Provide better data confidentiality
• Have widespread servers
• Have standard encryption protocols
• Offer simultaneous connection of devices

In addition to the points listed above, you should keep in mind that using both VPN services has lots of implications. However, using free VPNs exposes you to many problems, as some of them have no reputation. Yes, reputation means a lot in this business. Because they have overhead costs to pay, they often sell their users’ personal information to third party companies. Later, companies will bombard you with emails and advertisements. It is interesting to note that these VPN providers claimed that they have no-log and IP leak policies.

Unlike the free service providers, most premium VPNs have an internet kill switch, a technology that hides your IP address if something goes wrong with your connection. Notice that you cannot guarantee that with free VPNs, as they don’t have enormous resources to implement some of those innovative technologies. Therefore, your school authorities can catch and take disciplinary actions against you for using free VPN services. This is a distinct possibility because you have unique login parameters often tied to your IP address.

So, if something goes wrong with your connection, your real IP address can be exposed, unmasking your identity. Keep in mind that VPN is all about privacy, so any service provider that could potentially jeopardize your safety and security just for monetary gains is not worth giving a try. Once again, paid VPNs are way better than the free ones.

Unblocking Sites Using Best School VPN

To bypass geo-blocked sites from your school, you should follow the steps below:

1. Make a choice from the list of VPNs we reviewed above
2. Visit its site and make a payment
3. Afterwards, download the setup
4. Log into the platform and connect to it
5. From there, you have access to any content of your choice

Additionally, you need to review these points:

• There are some situations where your school filters won’t allow you to download a VPN app. Well, it’s a unique challenge in itself. However, you can bypass it. To fix this, simply load the installation program and other relevant files onto a USB drive. Then, you will transfer the installation program to your computer from the ports. That’s all. 
• It’s not advisable to use a proxy for circumventing school Internet filters. When you do that, it has some consequences. Admittedly, it works a lot like VPN services, but not without some differences. Yes, it can be overburdened, and you can expose yourself, as proxies don’t shield your IP address
• Ensure that your browsers are fast and reliable to be able to unblock the sites. The best bet is to use the well-known browsers, such as Firefox Mozilla, Chrome and Explorer. You may often have to run it from your USB to bypass such Internet filters. 

Overall Conclusion

We cannot overstate the importance of a VPN in everything you do online. Nowadays, e-transactions are on the agenda. It should be noted that when you make these transactions, hackers can intercept them. But with VPN, you are completely safe from the attacks of these cybercriminals.

We have already highlighted the importance of having VPNs for school. If your school authorities denied students access to certain sites, you should act now. In that case, you need a paid VPN. Indeed, going for the free one cannot give you what you need. Simply make a pick from the list of effective VPNs that we reviewed above.

Feel free to classify any of them as the best VPN for school. But don’t stop there. Use them to get unlimited access to rich, educative and entertaining internet content today.