We may earn affiliate commissions for the recommended products. Learn more

Best residential VPNs in 2025

Best residential VPNs

In 2025, I tested over 20 providers, and NordVPN, Surfshark VPN, and Proton VPN stood out as the best residential VPNs thanks to dedicated IP support and strong security features, all at an affordable price. Each of these services will help you avoid detection and remain completely anonymous online.

As online surveillance and geo-restrictions increase, residential VPNs are gaining popularity. Unlike standard VPNs, residential VPNs provide IP addresses tied to real devices with a physical location, making them hard to detect and blacklist. This gives you enhanced privacy and security compared to a standard VPN connection, while helping you to more effectively unblock online content.

🏷️ LIMITED OFFER: Get NordVPN 72% off! 🏷️

Top 3 residential VPN providers

Why VPNpro is Trusted
Justė Kairytė - Barkauskienė Chris Bluvshtein Djordje Djordjevic

Since 2018, VPNpro has delivered unbiased, expert-backed insights through in-house research and thorough VPN testing. Our team ensures every review is fact-checked and reliable. Learn how we maintain these high standards in our testing methods.

What is a residential VPN and how does it work?

Residential VPNs are virtual private networks that route your internet traffic through a physical, residential IP address tied to a device, rather than a VPN server. By assigning an IP address from a regular ISP (internet service provider) instead of a data center, the connection appears more authentic and is harder to detect as a VPN. This lets residential VPN users connect to the internet with real IP addresses from around the world. As a result, unblocking websites and accessing geo-restricted video content is more reliable.

Pros and cons of a residential VPN vs a standard VPN
Pros and cons of a residential VPN vs a standard VPN

Why should you use a residential IP address?

Residential IP addresses are assigned to real devices like computers and smartphones, giving them a higher IP trust score in the eyes of the websites that you visit. As a result, you can unblock websites more easily, avoid detection for VPN usage, and improve your privacy. Here’s how that works:

  • Bypassing geo-restrictions: Some standard VPNs have started to struggle in unblocking websites that use geographical restriction software. However, using a residential VPN IP address emulates a real user on a real device, which tricks websites more easily.
  • Avoiding detection by websites: Some websites, like Netflix, have started using advanced detection methods to identify and block you if you’re using a non-residential, data center IP address. A residential VPN easily slips past detection software by simulating an ordinary internet connection.
  • Improving your gaming experience: By using a residential IP, you can trick geo-restriction software used by online gaming providers and access multiplayer lobbies in other countries. I’ve used this trick while testing to secure easy bot lobbies in COD: Black Ops 6 and play on busier servers in other games while my local servers were empty.

Unblock websites and avoid detection online

Best residential VPN services: detailed list

To choose the best residential VPN servers, I tested over 20 providers with a focus on security, speed, and affordability. However, the most important criteria was to make sure that the VPN provider offered residential IP or at least dedicated IP addresses. Here are the top residential IP providers currently available:

1. NordVPN - best residential VPN in 2025

9.8
review-badge__icon Top residential VPN
Number of countries covered
Number of countries covered:
118
Number of servers
Number of servers:
7100
Support
Support:
24/7, email
  • Dedicated IP addresses
  • 96% download speed retention
  • AES-256 encryption and kill switch
  • Limited to 10 simultaneous connections

NordVPN is the best residential VPN for 2025, helping you improve anonymity and bypass restrictions by securely routing your traffic and masking your IP address. While it doesn’t offer true residential IPs, its dedicated IP addresses simulate the same features.

NordVPN residential VPN features

NordVPN’s robust security toolbox allows it to achieve the same unblocking and anonymity benefits as a residential VPN, but without the price tag. Dedicated IP addresses can be added to your subscription for a one-off fee, ensuring your IP remains fixed and unchanging, even through your VPN protection. Meanwhile, military-grade encryption and a kill switch make sure you won’t be detected by preventing IP leaks and anonymizing your data.

NordVPN has an airtight no-logs policy, meaning your data and online activities won’t be stored. The best VPN providers should ideally be audited as a mark of trust, and NordVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited year-on-year by auditing giants like Deloitte, so it can be trusted. Nothing in the company’s privacy policy raises concerns either.

What I liked

NordVPN’s connections are the fastest in the industry; I saw average speeds of up to 460 Mbps, a speed retention of around 96%. This allowed it to support streaming, gaming, and torrenting securely during my tests. It also could easily bypass geo-restrictions on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. Even the strictest geo-blocks are no match for NordVPN’s robust security tools, with double VPN and obfuscated servers for the toughest challenges.

What I disliked

NordVPN’s dedicated IPs are charged separately (from $3.69/month) as an add-on and not part of your main subscription cost. However, the cost is very low compared to residential VPNs that start at around $40-50/month, so it’s still not a notable drawback. That said, NordVPN isn’t the cheapest dedicated IP provider – Surfshark is cheaper for example. You also get fewer dedicated IP location options than you would with regular VPN server connections.

Price:

NordVPN’s standard plan starts at $3.39/month – this is the best-value two-year plan, which also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can effectively try the service out for free if you like. Dedicated IP addresses cost $3.69/month in addition to your plan, making this an overall very inexpensive way to get the benefits of a residential VPN.

2. Surfshark - fast and reliable VPN with dedicated IP address

Number of countries covered
Number of countries covered:
100
Number of servers
Number of servers:
3200
Support
Support:
24/7, FAQ
  • Dedicated IP address support
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • CleanWeb 2.0 ad blocker included
  • Some features cost extra

Surfshark offers residential-like IP services at one of the lowest prices available. It doesn’t have true residential IPs, but it offers dedicated IP addresses that have the same effect.

Surfshark residential VPN features

Surfshark’s dedicated IP addresses are a standalone add-on too, giving you a stable IP address that is unchanging and not shared with other users. These IPs have strong AES-256 encryption and a kill switch that ensures your true location won’t leak. Thanks to these features and others like dynamic multiHop, which routes your connection via multiple VPN servers, your anonymity will remain airtight.

What I liked

Surfshark is one of the few VPN providers offering unlimited device connections, making it well-suited to families or individual users like me with multiple phones, tablets, and laptops. Dedicated IPs cost $3.75 and, while a little pricier than NordVPN, the overall subscription cost for Surfshark and a dedicated IP is very affordable. Surfshark easily bypassed geo-restrictions on Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer during my tests, with speeds of up to 430 Mbps. I also easily accessed Netflix libraries in the US, UK, and Japan without detection. Features like the CleanWeb 2.0 ad blocker and obfuscated servers were privacy bonuses that left me feeling impressed with the overall offering during in-house tests.

What I disliked

Dedicated IPs are sold separately to your main subscription, but this tends to be the case with all premium VPN providers and the cost isn’t excessive. That said, these IPs tend to only be available in a handful of locations – I tested the US, UK, and Germany. While these are not true residential VPN connections, they mimic the same security benefits and unblocking power.

Price

Surfshark is one of those most affordable residential VPN alternatives, with plans starting from $2.19/month for the best-value two-year subscription. Add on a dedicated IP address, and you’ll pay a little over $6/month for residential VPN features without the exorbitant price tag that usually comes with them.

3. Proton VPN - residential IP VPN ensuring 100% anonymity

Number of countries covered
Number of countries covered:
117
Number of servers
Number of servers:
9900
Support
Support:
Email
  • Robust security features
  • Offers a respectable free tier
  • Secure Core servers
  • Higher average price than others

Proton VPN is an excellent choice for people seeking a residential VPN; while it lacks residential or dedicated IPs for personal use, it has powerful privacy features that easily avoid detection for VPN usage.

Proton residential VPN features

Proton VPN’s server fleet uses secure core servers located in privacy-friendly jurisdictions like Switzerland and Iceland, ensuring that your connection and data is untraceable under multi-nation data-sharing agreements. It’s backed up by security features that emulate residential VPNs, including strong AES-256 encryption, secure VPN protocols like WireGuard, a kill switch, and always-on VPN settings. Tor over VPN servers allow you to leverage further anonymity granted by the super-secure Tor network, and Proton VPN's no-logs policy can be trusted.

What I liked

Proton VPN’s location in Switzerland reassures me that my data is in safe hands and at no risk of third-party data-sharing requests, which is backed by its no-logs promise. Proton VPN’s unblocking power and speeds were excellent in my in-house tests too. I saw 300-350 Mbps average speeds while using the secure WireGuard protocol, which meant I could stream and game without connection issues. This allowed me to unblock Netflix (US, UK, and Japan), Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video without obstacles. I also noted privacy extras like NetShield, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware.

What I disliked

Proton VPN doesn’t offer dedicated IP addresses. However, I included it after in-house testing because its security features are such that it is a strong alternative to residential VPNs. Note that Proton VPN’s prices are also a little higher than alternatives like NordVPN and Surfshark. When I tested the free version, I also noticed that the server selection is much more limited, with connections available in the US, Japan, and Netherlands, so your choice of location is much narrower.

Price

Proton VPN’s Standard Plan costs $3.59/month (billed annually), with a premium price tag for the security features packed into its dashboard. However, if you’re interested in trying it out, Proton VPN also offers one of the best free VPN plans, with no data caps whatsoever – the only trusted free VPN that does so.

Key steps to test a residential VPN

The essential features of a residential VPN include a kill switch, zero IP leaks, and robust encryption. All of the VPNs I’ve recommended come with these features as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. Below, I’ve provided key steps for testing a residential VPN – these are the steps that I followed, but they’re easy to replicate if you’d like to test for yourself:

  1. Sign up for a residential VPN. I recommend NordVPN, now 72% OFF, which surpassed the competition in all areas during my tests.
  2. Verify your IP address. I used whatismyipaddress.com to confirm that my assigned IP address was not linked to a data center or virtual server. I confirmed that my IP was classed as a "private residence" IP address
  3. Run speed tests on your connection. By visiting speedtest.net, I could confirm whether my connection was fast enough for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and any other activities.
  4. Check for IP leaks. Next, I used browserleaks.com to make sure that my VPN connection wasn’t leaking my true IP address, which can expose your real location. My tests confirmed that my true location in the UK was not leaking through the VPN connection
  5. Check if you can unblock content. Now, it’s time to verify whether your residential IP can unblock the sites you need. I verified this by visiting Netflix, Prime Video, and other streaming platforms and seeing whether I could log in, as well as checking whether the content had updated to reflect what’s available in my chosen location.

The best way to get started is with a free trial and money-back guarantee. I recommend choosing NordVPN’s 7-day trial on Android as well as its 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can test out the service for yourself without commitment.

Get NordVPN – best residential VPN for anonymity and unblocking

Compare best VPNs with residential IP

Residential VPN provider Rating Residential IP options Dedicated IP locations Number of servers Price (monthly) Free trial
NordVPN 9.8 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ✅Yes, via dedicated IPs 18 countries, including the United States (6 cities), United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Spain, South Africa 7100 $3.39/month ✅ Yes (7 days, Android only)
Surfshark 9.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ✅Yes, via dedicated IPs 13 countries, including United States, United Kingdom, Amsterdam, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, Italy, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong 3200 $2.19/month ✅ Yes (7 days, Android and iOS)
Proton VPN 8.6 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ✅Yes, via dedicated IPs - 9900 $3.59/month ❌No

The main difference between a residential and regular VPN is the type of IP address assigned to you. Residential IP address providers route your traffic through a residential IP belonging to a real user. In this way, it works in a similar way to a P2P network that you'd use while torrenting. Because you aren’t using a shared IP address from a data center, you’re much less likely to get detected and blocked.

However, it can have an impact on speed and security. Using a regular VPN service with a dedicated IP address can remove these drawbacks. Instead, your traffic is routed through servers that have been specifically set up to optimize and handle VPN traffic. This means generally better speeds with less security pitfalls associated with using somebody else's connection. NordVPN performed best in these areas in my in-house tests, delivering the fastest speeds and most robust security toolkit.

Residential proxy vs VPN

A residential proxy uses IP addresses assigned to real, physical homes by ISPs (Internet Service Providers). These proxies route your traffic through real devices, making it seem more natural to websites. A VPN (Virtual Private Network), on the other hand, encrypts your internet connection and routes your traffic through a server in a different location. However, VPNs generally use data center IPs – these can be detected by websites as belonging to known VPN providers, which can lead to being blocked.

While both tools boost anonymity, the VPN provides additional security because it encrypts your entire connection as opposed to a single application. This makes VPNs a better choice for tasks involving sensitive data or accessing the internet on public networks. Residential proxies are focused more on anonymity and location-spoofing, and they don’t encrypt traffic, which makes them less secure.

Pros and cons of a proxy vs a VPN
Pros and cons of a proxy vs a VPN

I recommend choosing a residential VPN service for streaming, gaming, data scraping, or anything else. However, since residential VPNs are extremely expensive, I recommend choosing a VPN offering dedicated IPs that work the same way and provide the same benefits, but for far cheaper.

Get the best residential VPN – NordVPN

Why should you use a residential VPN?

Residential VPNs combine the privacy benefits of typical VPN services with the advantage of remaining undetected by using an IP tied to a real, physical device. Since you’re not using a shared data center IP address, you can bypass restrictions and avoid detection far more easily. If you’re the kind of person who wants to keep up with their usual streaming habits while on vacation, a residential VPN can help you to stay connected to Netflix, HBO, Sling TV, and more, without the risk of being blocked.

That aside, they can even help you to secure better prices on travel essentials. Different countries pay different amounts for flights and hotels purely based on location. By connecting to a residential VPN and changing your IP address, it’s possible to make savings on flight and hotel bookings. However, a residential VPN doesn't necessarily have to provide a residential IP address. Premium VPN features like dedicated IP addresses and obfuscated servers help you avoid detection by websites. These can successfully change your IP address so that you appear to be in a country where geo-blocks don’t apply or where services can be purchased at a lower price.

Get NordVPN: Inexpensive residential VPN alternative

Can I get free residential VPN IP?

While free standard VPN services exist, finding a free residential VPN is nigh-on impossible. My tests turned up no reliable providers, and none of the free VPNs I checked offered free dedicated IP addresses. What’s more, they were riddled with performance issues that meant they weren’t suited for most tasks I tested them with. For example, low data usage limits and slow speeds made them ineffective for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. In more than one case, my true location was exposed due to IP leaks and generally poor security practices that can also include excessive data harvesting on your activities.

Instead of free residential VPNs, I recommend trying out a premium provider like NordVPN or Surfshark. Both providers offer 7-day free trials on mobile devices, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee that’ll let you try the service out for a whole month without commitment.

Final thoughts

The best residential VPNs give you greater online anonymity and privacy, while making it easier to unblock your preferred websites from abroad. However, the cost of residential VPN services can be very high. Instead, it’s much easier to get a dedicated IP address from a leading VPN provider, which simulates the same connection and gives you all of the same benefits. After testing over 20 residential VPNs including those with dedicated IP addresses, I personally recommend getting NordVPN at 72% OFF with a dedicated IP. It’ll only cost around $10/month by comparison, while ensuring you can avoid IP leaks, remain undetected, and unblock any site from anywhere in the world.



FAQ

Can a residential VPN be detected?

Yes, a residential VPN could be detected in theory, but it's far less likely than when you're using a standard VPN. Using a dedicated IP address helps with this problem by assigning you a fixed, unique IP address that simulates a permanent, physical device. NordVPN is the best residential VPN that offers dedicated IP addresses.

Are residential VPNs safe?

Yes, residential VPNs are the safest VPN service to use because they don't utilize public data centers that can be hacked. They are also less likely to be detected, which is a huge positive for people living in countries with government-controlled internet, like Russia and China.

How do I get a residential IP address?

Residential IP addresses are assigned by internet service providers, but if you're not located in the country where you need a connection, sign up to a residential VPN service. I recommend choosing NordVPN – while not technically a residential VPN, its security features work the same way and it costs around a tenth of the price. Simply sign up to NordVPN and add a dedicated IP address at checkout to enjoy the benefits of a residential IP!

Is dedicated IP the same as residential IP?

No, a dedicated IP is not the same as a residential IP, but it comes with the same benefits. Dedicated IP addresses are not shared with other users, unlike standard VPN IPs. This means you’re less likely to have your IP blacklisted and more likely to fly under the radar as an individual, home user on an unchanging device.

Can I use a residential VPN for Netflix?

Yes, you can use a residential VPN for Netflix and will face less chance of being blocked by Netflix’s anti-VPN software. While the platform is known for being tough on VPNs, residential IP addresses evade detection and allow you to continue unblocking and watching international content libraries.

How much is a residential VPN?

Purpose-built residential VPNs can cost anywhere from around $50/month up to $300/month. That’s why I recommend getting a VPN like NordVPN, Surfshark, or Proton VPN that offer dedicated IP addresses instead. Dedicated IPs give you the same benefit as a residential VPN, but it’ll cost around $10–$15/month by comparison.

default-avatar.

Your email address will not be published.   Required fields are marked *

Thanks for your opinion!
Jump to section