A lot of people try to access location restricted websites which are limited to a certain audience (e.g. U.S. users). An prime example of such a website is Hulu, which is a video streaming service that is restricted for U.S. users. Similarly, services like Spotify and Pandora can only be fully accessed from a certain location. As proxy websites are often unable to bypass the restrictions imposed by such web services, the only alternative is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service.
Best Mobile And Desktop VPN Apps
To bypass restrictions for some of the above mentioned websites some users use services like Tunnel Bear (for Windows, Mac OS X, iPhone and iPad), WorldWideFlix app for Android devices and the Crackle app (for iPhone and Android devices). Let’s take a look at some free mobile and desktop applications for accessing location restricted websites.
Tunnel Bear
Tunnel Bear has gained a lot of popularity within a short period of time. With Tunnel Bear you can get as much as 1.5 GB of free bandwidth per month or acquire unlimited viewing of US or UK restricted websites by buying the paid package. Tunnel Bear is available for Windows, Mac OS X, as well as iOS devices including iPhone and iPad.
Hotspot Shield
A problem with the Tunnel bear service is that it is only free for up to 500 MB of monthly bandwidth, with the option to get 1 GB free after sending Tunnel Bear a Tweet. A better alternative is to use Hotspot Shield (VPN). You can use this service completely free with the ad-supported version or remove the ads by paying for the Hotspot Shield Elite package. Moreover, it provides protection from malware to make sure that your device is not vulnerable during surfing the internet. Hotspot Shield works on the following platforms:
- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Android
- iPhone
- iPad
- Download Hotspot Shield
Expat Shield
This is another Hotspotshield like VPN service that simply require to be launched to enable the VPN connection. It is quite easy to use and I personally found it more convenient to use than Hotspotshield. If you have been facing connection issues because of how frequently Hotspotshield meddles with your connection, then it might be worth trying Expat Shield. Like Hotspot Shield, Expat Sheild is also powered by Anchor Free. It works with the following operating systems:
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
- Windows 7
Spotflux
This is another fine app for desktop and mobile devices. It is perhaps one of the simplest VPN apps to use as all you have to do is to launch the app and click Enable to route your traffic through the VPN service.Spotflux works with Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad and will soon be available for Android devices.
- Windows 7
- Windows 8
- Mac OS X
- iOS (Selected Countries)
- Android (Coming Soon)
WorldWideFlix
A while back I came across WorldWideFlix which is an Android app that helps access restricted websites. While it is not completely free, the app is as good as free at a mere cost of $0.99. The application requires a bit of setting up and is particularly handy for Amazon Kindle Fire devices. You can check the complete instructions and review of this app by clicking on the “WorldWideFlix” link give above.
Crackle
Crackle is a free application for Android and iOS devices that allows watching movies and TV shows for free. The application is provided by Sony Pictures Entertainment and provides its content through a syndication network, which consist of YouTube, AOL, Hulu, MySpace, etc. Crackle has applications for various platforms including the ones mentioned below.
Download Crackle for Windows Phone 7
Download Crackle for iOS (IPhone, iPod and iPad)
While there are many other applications that allow users to access location restricted websites, these are a few of the best that we came across. If you know of a good VPN application that we missed then share it with our readers by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can tip us an app for review at [email protected].
