Most of the times, as a customer, you are given a plethora of choices when it comes to choosing a VPN service. But this scenario is assuming that you are already convinced that you need to have a VPN solution, which means that you have already done some homework and decided it’d be a great solution to one of your problems.

On this article, let’s assume that you don’t even know that a VPN service creative can be a solution to one of your problems, so let’s see things the other way round – let’s start by problems you may have as a user, and see how a VPN service can come handy.

1- You are living abroad and want to access some online resources that are only available to residents of your home country

We are living in a very mobile world now, and you may be away from your own country (be it for travel purposes, or long-term work). It happens that you are homesick. It even happens that there’s that TV show that only your local TV is broadcasting. Let’s say for example that you are a British person traveling to Canada for a few weeks.

There comes a time where you want to watch your favorite BBC program and where you wish you were in the comfort of your home and ready to watch it…You know that BBC iPlayer TV is giving you a way to watch the last 7 days shows online … but you’ve got to be in the UK to benefit from it…

Now you wish you were in England, that’s your problem. And guess what? You can pretend to be in England by using a VPN service creative. Now all you have to do is choose a VPN service that offers UK-based IP addresses, grab some coffee and whatever you like having while watching TV, launch the VPN client, then launch BBC iPlayer.

2- Participate in online sweepstakes

Now let’s say that you are a regular online-deal-hunter. You are surely aware that there’s a lot of sweepstakes and online deals out there that are only limited to one region (usually in developed countries and in big cities).

Let’s say that you are based in Denmark and that the sweepstake is limited to US people.  You know that you can’t “bid” on sweepstakes where the prizes need to be physically sent to your home address – however electronic gifts (amazon gift cards, coupons, …) are perfect for you since all you get is an electronic code that can be redeemed online…

If only you could pretend that you are a US-based person. Bling bling… VPN is your solution. Have your online e-mail address ready, choose a VPN solution, launch it, then enter the sweepstake – if you won, the instructions for redeeming the prize will be sent to your e-mail address…

Those are only a few ideas for using a VPN service creative, now, tell us how you use a VPN service in the comment section.

That means that when someone uses Relakks.com their internet traffic originates from Sweden – and there is no (easy) way to track that person’s connection back to the originating country or ISP. The VPN re-routes all of the client’s traffic through Sweden, effectively ‘hiding’ your internet connection behind a VPN IP address.

How to use it

1. Go to Relakks.com site
2. Sign out for a new account
3. In order to activate your account, you have to purchase one of the two subscriptions: monthly and yearly.
   • The monthly option runs 5 EUR, (about $6.33 USD)
   • The yearly option is 45 EUR, (about $57.04 USD)
4. Set up your Internet connection to use VPN servers (take a look below to see how it is done)
5. Start browsing with Swedish IP address using any browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, etc.)

Installation instructions for Windows XP and Windows Vista

1. Click Start menu and then Connect To.
2. Click on “Set up a connection or network”.
3. Choose “Connect to a workplace” and then click Next.
4. Choose “Use my Internet connection (VPN)”.
5. Type “pptp.relakks.com” in the “Internet address” field.
6. Type “Relakks” in the “Destination name” field.
7. Check the alternative “Allow other people to use this connection” if you want your service to be available for any user using this computer. Click Next.
8. Fill in your username and password. NOTE! Leave the “Domain” field empty.
9. Click Connect to finish the installation and to test your connection.
10. You will no get a notification saying “You are connected”. Click Close. You are now connected to the service.
11. You will see a dialogue box saying “Select a location for the ‘Relakks’ network”. Choose “Public location” for highest security settings. Then click Close.

Relakks alternatives

If you are not happy with Relakks you should know that there are many VPN services that offer access to Swedish IP addresses. The ones that I recommend are HideMyAss, ibVPN, PureVPN, NordVPN.

Have you tried Relakks or other VPNs that offer servers with Swedish IP addresses? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

The solution: bypass the restrictions from your current location. You may do this by:

• Using a hide IP tool that changes your IP address to a United States or United Kingdom IP.
• Subscribing to a VPN service that provides access to a US/UK server
• Connecting to your home computer via VPN and access the Internet as you were home. The elegant, safe, and cheap solution as you don’t have to pay anything. So let’s see how this can be done.

How to build your own VPN network

So you want to create a VPN network of your own? Well, here are a few facts and guidelines to help you out either way.

First, the basics. VPN or Virtual Private Network is a network that is constructed by using public wires to connect nodes. This type of network provides secure and remote access to another enterprise network. If you make a VPN connection of your own, this enterprise network would be yours.

The ownership of the network will be public, but since security-wise, private considerations are prioritized, this type of network provides a safe and secure connection. You will be able to access your own computer from anywhere on the internet like as if you were on your own network.

You can create your own Virtual Private Network using a number of systems and software, some of which will be discussed here. One of the most popularly used methods is via Hamachi (aka LogMeIn) setup. I will show how to set up Hamachi on your home computer and then how to access it from a remote location.

How to set up Hamachi/LogMeIn on your home computer

Here are the steps you need to perform:

1. Go to https://secure.logmein.com/US/products/free/
2. Click on Download button (Download PC version or Download Mac version)
3. Create a user account. You need to provide an email address and a password.
4. Activate your account from your email. A link is sent to you by email. Just click on it and your account is activated.
5. Log in to your account.
6. Click on Add this computer
7. Download and install LogMeIn. Click on the Install LogMeIn button.
   
8. You may get a security warning. Just click Run.
9. The process of the installation of this software started. Press Next and accept the terms. Next, choose the typical installation.
10. Choose a description for your home computer
11. In order to be able to access the computer anytime make sure the following options is checked. (It may not be shown for you!)
12. Choose the installation folder. You can keep it on C:\Program Files\LogMeIn. Click Next.
13. LogMeIn service will be then installed. You may experience some flickering and black screens. Don’t worry! It’s normal.
14. After the setup is finished, you are done!

How to access your home computer from a remote location

One the installation is done, you login back to the LogMeIn website, you will see your computer with the description.

When you need to access your home computer from a remote location you need to login to your LogMeIn account and click on Remote Control below your computer description.

You will be redirected to a page where you will be required to click ‘Install ActiveX Control…’ from the dropdown. Then click ‘Install’ when the security warning pops up.

Voila! Your new VPN is ready!

In the browser, you will be required to enter your Windows username and password (the credentials you are using to log in to your home computer).

Then, you will be able to control your home computer. In order to access restricted sites like Hulu or BBC iPlayer you just need to open a browser and get started as you were home.

What do you think about this method of accessing restricted content? Is it effective? Have you used it?

What’s a proxy?

As you would guess, proxies are some kind of gateways that will allow you to pretend what you are not when surfing the internet. In fact, proxies rewrite some of your internet packets (those that give some information about you, your computer) – so that it gives some privacy. Simply put, the main use of proxies is for hiding the origin or destination of an internet a query.

If we detail it a bit, a proxy can be used for:

Hotspot Shield in a few words: “Free Anonymous Browsing – 100% Security Through a VPN“. More: “It’s FREE!”

This small software creates a VPN – virtual private network between your computer and an Internet gateway. The tunnel prevents snoopers and hackers from viewing your email, instant messages, credit card information or anything else you send over the network.

So, you can use Hotspot Shield not only to hide your IP address but for complete anonymity! It is ideal if you need to change your IP to a US one. There several reasons you might need a US IP address, such as watching videos from Pandora or Veoh, playing an online game Mabinogi, watching Netflix, Hulu, etc.

How to use Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield security application is free to download and is easy to install and use.

After you download the product, you have to unzip the file and launch the setup. Hotspot Shield will be installed in a matter of seconds. When the product starts, the VPN connection is initialized as you will see in the configuration page (to look at all values click Show Config):

To check your new IP address, go to XMyIP.com.

When you are done and you what to use your real IP address Disconnect from the VPN or exit Hotspot Shield.

Hotspot Shield – Pros and Cons

Now, I have listed several Pros and Cons regarding this solutions. Make sure you read them, especially the Cons.

Pros

• It’s free!
• It helps you hide your IP address.
• It uses OpenVPN, not web proxies.
• It uses the VPN technology to achieve free anonymous browsing.
• It is more than a hide IP software; it provides total anonymity (including email, chat, etc.).

Cons

• It has a 3GB limit usage per month (it was more for previous versions).
• You don’t have any guaranty that the traffic is not logged (this is my primary concern). My advice is to use it with care and make sure you read the terms and conditions of using Hotspot Shield.

HotspotShield malware protection

HotspotShield recently added malware protection for its users. The new HotspotShield malware protection function alerts users if they access domains that are known to contain malware. The add-on is available for Windows, Mac, and iOS and uses a database of more than 3 million sites.

Speaking about the new feature, David Gorodyansky, the founder, and CEO of AnchorFree said:

“Malware is one of the biggest threats on the Web — and it’s growing every day. People go to great lengths to avoid desktop viruses, but many of us still leave our browsing sessions unprotected and open to hacking attacks. Merging our powerful encryption and private browsing technology with malware protection now makes Hotspot Shield the world’s most comprehensive Internet security solution — available at no cost to consumers.”

How the HotspotShield malware protection works

When active HotspotShield protection module throws up a warning like the one you see in the screenshot below:

There are two options in the upper right corner of a blocked page:

• Get me out of here that redirects the users to a little-known search engine for similar results.
• Go to the real site that is not recommended for obvious reasons.

How to Watch NBC streaming video with Hotspot Shield

To get NBC’s streaming video player running on your computer, you have to:

1. Sign up for an NBC video account. Just go to and fill in your email address and then set up a password
2. Temporarily, change your system time to Arizona or Mountain time. The location is vital because Hotspot Shield servers are located there. It has to be done to trick NBC servers that you’re using a computer in the continental United States.
3. Start Hotspot Shield.
4. When you start the NBC video player again, it will ask for your location in the United States and the zip code. Important! The system pairs up that zip code with a specific service provider. To obtain a valid zip code post google “(any city) zip code” or take one from here.
5. You are done! You should be able to watch everything NBC is streaming.

How to Watch Fox.com Streaming Video using Hotspot Shield

If you are located outside the US and you are trying to watch your favorite show on Fox.com you’ll get the following message:

Thank you for your interest in FOX.
This episode is currently only available to viewers living in the United States.

Part of the solution is to change your IP with a US IP address. You can do this by using Hotspot Shield. The second part of the answer is that you have to delete your cookies before activating Hotspot Shield and changing your IP.

The explanation is that the first time you visit Fox.com, the site stores your location in a cookie on your computer. Next time to try to connect to the site, the information from the cookie will show your real location even though in the meanwhile you have changed your IP.

How to remove the Fox.com cookie

Here is how to delete your Fox.com cookie for Firefox users:

1. Go to Tool -> Options
2. Click on Privacy tab and then on Show Cookies button
3. In the list box search for Fox.com
4. Click on the item
5. Press Remove Cookies button

After that, you can turn Hotspot Shield on and reload Fox.com.

IP ok. Still not working!

The removal of the Fox.com cookie should solve the IP problem and unlock Fox.com, but you can encounter other issues as mentioned on this forum. Here is what AriXar is saying:

Some people do have trouble with the fox flash player. They passed the IP check, but the video won’t buffer, load or stream at all. It is because fox uses a particular kind of flash player. If you haven’t watched a show on Fox or ABC via their streaming sites, you will not have this addon installed.

If your IP check went fine, you would no longer get the message that you cannot watch the show if you live outside the US. Instead, you will now get a message that you have to install a new flash player addon. If you don’t get this message you can also get the addon here:

Once installed, restart your web browser, and it should work fine with Fox on demand. Now, you should be able to watch your favorite show on Fox.com. Enjoy!

Hotspot Shield connection problems? Try this!

Sometimes Hotspot Shield can’t connect due to unknown reasons. Here is a small tip, proposed by Patrick Soon, that may solve the problem:

1. Install HotSpot Shield.
2. When it has finished installing it will try to open the HotSpot Shield website in your default web browser: .
3. When your web browser opens go to the Address Bar and copy and paste the address into Notepad and save.
4. If you get an error message stating that there is no connectivity then continue to step 5.
5. Go to: Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connection -> Local Area Connection -> Properties.
6. In the General Tab, you will see a short list of ticked boxes.
7. Scroll down the list, and you should find Hotspot Shield Helper Driver
8. Remove the tick from this box.
9. Close and reopen your web browser it should now connect to your default web page.
10. Remember that address you saved as a text document? Copy and past it into the address bar of your browser.
11. Press the refresh icon.
12. The Hotspot Shield Website will now open and assign you an I.P address, i.e., it will connect you.
13. It should now work usually as before.

HotspotShield doesn’t connect with Daemon Error. What can I do?

As far as I know, the Daemon Start Error is thrown if:

1. You have exceeded the 3GB / month bandwidth limit. Here is an article that might help you: Fix Hotspot Shield Pulling Options Looping and Daemon Start Error Problem.
2. The server bans your IP. It is possible that the entire class of IPs (192.xxx.xxx.xxx) is blocked because of (stupid) spammers. If this is your case, write an email to the AnchorFree support.

How to install Hotspot Shield on Windows Vista 64 Bit

The video below shows how to install Hotspot Shield on Windows Vista 64 Bit and how to use HS to access Hulu.com.

As Jono shows in his post, there is a solution to this problem. As Hotspot Shield offers a service for the iPhone which uses L2TP to create the VPN connection, you can use the same connection within Windows Vista (and any other operating system which supports L2TP) to use the same service. Jono describes how to do it:

1. 1. Create a new VPN connection (Start > Network > Network and Sharing Center > Set up a connection or network > Connect to a workplace > Use my Internet Connection (VPN)).
   2. Go to Hotspot Shield for iPhone home page
   3. Click the Get Account ID button
   4. For iPhone, the instructions are clear and straightforward. To solve the problem for Vista 64-bit, we need the following information:
      

      Server: 64.55.144.10
      Account: ureafp (You will get your own account)
      Password: ureafp (and password)
      Secret: password

   5. Enter 64.55.144.10 for the Internet Address. For Destination Name, you can enter anything you want, for example, HotspotShield. Be sure that Don’t connect now; just set it up so I can connect later is ticked.

1. Enter the username and password you got and then click Remember this password and close the window.
2. Go to Start->Connect To and right click on the connection you created and choose Properties.
3. On the Networking tab, change Type of VPN to L2TP IPsec VPN and then click IPsec Settings.
4. Choose the Use preshared key for authentication option and type in the password for the Key (this is what the iPhone calls Secret).

That’s it! For now on you will be able to connect to Hotspot Shield from your Vista 64-bit.

Update: It seems that the latest version of Hotspot Shield (1.22) solves this problem. So, download the newest version!

How to block ads when using Hotspot Shield

One of the cons of using Hotspot Shield is the annoying ads built into HSS monetization scheme. The problem is the massive box on the top of every page users surfs to as well – completely vanquishing an incredible chunk of screen real-estate. It the reason Hotspot Shield is free. By running ads, AnchorFree is paying for the servers they are using.

Here is how to solve this problem and block HotspotShields ads: run Adblock add-on.

First, you should use Firefox or at least use it when browsing using Hotspot Shield. Then download an add-on called Adblock. No need to configure the add-on, it just lodges in place and has a solid, constantly-updated subscription to ad definitions. This solution does not work every time, but it’s still effortless to turn the extension on/off via a button in the toolbar.

You can download Adblock extension from here, or you may use the AdBlock extension for Google Chrome.

Hotspot Shield milestone

On the 6th of January, 2010, AnchorFree announced that they had reached another fantastic milestone: that of surpassing more than a billion monthly page views in November. It is The Wednesday to celebrate for Anchor Free. This milestone is just a reflection of the increasing user base and popularity of the product.

Another significant change was the inclusion of a new member of AnchorFree’s advisory board. This new member is Rick Roth, marketing communications veteran and former worldwide CEO of Ogilvy Action. There is no doubt about the fact that Rick Roth’s years of experience in marketing and brand development will do great things for the corporation. This can only mean faster growth and continued global expansion.

The increasing internet censorship being employed by certain governments has to lead to even higher demand for AnchorFree’s HotSpot Shield as more and more people are anxiously trying to hold on to their right to uncensored internet surfing, yet if they have to do so anonymously under protection from VPNs. Started in 2006, HotSpot Shield has seen exponential growth in its user base and consumer quantity. The consumer base has crossed 7.5 million monthly users worldwide. Hot Spot Shield works on iPhones, as well as personal and public computers at homes, offices, airports and coffee shops around the world keeping the security, identity, and freedom of netizens safe throughout the world.

The one billion landmark was no doubt a result of two significant advances made by Anchor Free in HotSpot Shield. The first was the new release of HotSpot Shield for Windows and Macintosh. The latter allows users throughout the world to view this tool in seven different languages.

Anchor Free and Webroot

Together these two giants announced the release of a better, Ad-free version of HotSpot Shield, which was to be paid for but would allow the user the same security offered by the older Hot Spot Shield which was powered by advertising. It is good news indeed as this means the integration of the Webroot antivirus and antispyware protection with Anchor Free’s superb encryption technology.

Founder and CEO of AnchorFree, David Gorodyansky, was optimistic about the company’s plan to expand the reach of HotSpot Shield to an even broader consumer base.

The most important role played by HotSpot Shield is the ‘democratization’ of the internet space, allowing people over the world access to various websites which may or may not be ‘prohibited’ by law in their respective countries.

Conclusion

To sum up, Hotspot Shield is an excellent free anonymous browsing tool to hide your IP and get a US IP address, but, as with other good things in life, do not abuse it.

Happy Surfing!

If Hotspot Shield does not work for you or it is blocked in your country, you should try some alternative VPN services.

• Yandex.Disk. This is a free access to 10 GB online storage accessible with the aid of any internet connected device;
• Intelligent and automatic email attachments savings by way of the Yandex.Disk;
• Yandex.Music, with approximately 3 million+ tracks online, get easy access to stream-able music online;
• Other various services such as Mail, Maps, other products, and the attribute to reveal more relevant results in your search queries, or simply avoid unwanted marketing.

When compared to Microsoft’s SkyDrive which consists of 25GB free storage, Yandex appears to be a less efficient remedy, however, along with the additional perks, the Russian counterpart showcases exclusive package for end users who are based in Europe, or for Russian speaking expatriates and diplomats abroad.

Sadly, this Yandex service is solely available to citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and or Kazakhstan.

Easily unblock Yandex outside Russia today

The remedy is quite simple and straightforward; you need not be a computer wiz to be able to accomplish this. It simply requires the switching of your online identity to a Russian one. In fact, the Yandex blocking system shall identify each and every user’s location by checking into its IP address.

In order to change your country location, you need to use a VPN tool. This software affords you the ability to set up a connection to a VPN server. So, eventually, you will take in the IP address of the server’s country location.

Essentially, for unblocking Yandex’s restrictions, choose a VPN service that utilizes a Russian, or Ukrainian servers.

Best VPN services that can unblock Yandex outside Russia

Apart from unblocking Yandex, VPN likewise restores your freedom online by letting you access an entirely new world of possibilities. With this kind of service, for example, you have the option to appear as one who is based in the USA, so you can:

• Watch Hulu or Netflix outside the USA.
• Enjoy US TV like ABC, CBS, Fox, or HBO.
• Unrestricted access to US-only services like Roku, Boxee, or even Apple TV.

This VPN client is likewise perfect for safeguarding your online browsing activities when used not only on your PC but on other portable devices such as your iPhone, Android Tablet, or iPad. 

Step 1 – Know the available options

When you decide to choose VPN provider account for yourself, you just try to know more about what all is available in the market for that concern. There is a long list of VPN service providers available in the markets at present. Different users have different needs and priorities may be that is why everyone’s best is different from the other one.

Step 2 – Know what you need

The different priorities of different users could be like:

• Some will need VPN to bypass web world or internet restriction and access blocked sites.
• Others might use it to watch foreign online TV shows.
• Some might think about online anonymity and hiding their IP address.

VPN service providers try to get the largest number of required features in their particular service. They want to please the maximum number of users at the same time.

Step 3 – Know your priorities

But to choose VPN provider for yourself you should check it on the grounds of some criteria. These should include all your priorities and your expectation from the service, like:

• Take a look and find out the available server locations, as you might need the authorization to use the VPN in different locations in the course of time.
• Check the speed of VPN connection by reading the blogs and feedback of existing customers
• Consider closely the VPN account setup process, its installation and configuration should not be too complicated or long.
• Check the reliability of the service which certainly reflects the stability of the connection in the long run. Getting a high speed, easy to install VPN is of no use until it is reliable enough to work for a long time.
• Check the limit on bandwidth, i.e. the traffic offered. Generally, it is five to twenty GB per month but you can have unlimited bandwidth in some premium VPNs if you like.
• Check the technical support and the quality of after-sales service given by the VPN provider.
• Choose the VPN having ultra secure VPN protocols like OpenVPN and SSTP to provide you with the most secure and advanced encryption possible.

Step 4 – Make your choice

Finally, once you are through with the above-said points the next thing to do is to consider the price of the product and finalize your pick. You may find several VPN providers that I recommend. Take a look at each of them and see how they fulfill your needs.

How do you choose your VPN provider? What is the best option for you? Let us know in the comments below.

What is a US VPN service?

A US VPN service is a VPN that offers access to one or more servers located in the United States. A more extended definition includes the VPN services that change your IP to a US one, but the actual server is not located in the United States. They provide basically the same service.

What is a US IP address?

A US IP address is an IP that is assigned to an ISP or hosting provider that provides Internet services in United States. The most common United States IPs have the following format:

• 3.0.0.0 to 12.255.255.255
• 13.0.0.0 to 13.63.255.255
• 15.0.0.0 to 22.255.255.255
• 26.0.0.0 to 32.127.255.255
• 33.0.0.0 to 35.127.255.255

You may find more info regarding the US IP blocks by checking this post.

How to choose a US VPN provider?

Firstly, take a look at the suggested providers from the list below. Your choice depends on your budget and on what you need. For each provider take a look at the number of locations in the United States and the number of IP addresses. Also, I recommend starting with the VPN services that offer a trial. You can easily setup a free account and see how they fit your needs.

List of US VPN services

And, here it is the list of recommended VPN services with servers and/or IPs in the United States:

What you can use a US VPN for

When one connects to such a server all the Internet traffic is redirected to that server. Basically, there are 2 obvious reasons for using a US VPN:

• Unlock geo-restricted sites (sites that are designed and offered to US users) like Hulu, Pandora, Netflix, Spotify.
• Encrypt your Internet traffic and protect yourself from sniffing attacks (this is for US users that already have access to all the above-mentioned sites).

Conclusion

Premium US VPN providers offer a large number of US server options, with unlimited bandwidth and great browsing speed. And, the prices vary from $4 to $15 per month.

Do you know other good VPN services that offer US IP addresses? Feel free to mention them in the comments.

If you are seeking total online anonymity then VPN services are the right way to go. There are several free such services, but as anything free, they come with significant drawbacks (a lot of ads, slow connection speed, etc.).

What if you decide to pay for a premium VPN service? What are your options if you don’t have a credit card as most of the internet users from China, India, etc. don’t. Then, you should use PayPal. Here are the steps you could follow. This is not going to take you 5 minutes, maybe 1 week or 1 month, but it’s a working solution.

1. Create a PayPal account

Go to PayPal.com and create an account. Choose the Personal account and fill in the required info. My advice is to use an email address that you plan to use for a longer period of time. After your account is ready to proceed to the next step.

2. Fill your PayPal account with money

This is the most difficult step, but with a little bit of effort, you should be able to do it. The idea is that you need money to pay for the service and you have to work for them.

There are plenty of forums that offer simple online jobs that can be performed by (almost) anyone. Go, for example, on DigitalPoint forums, to the Services section, and browse for threads with the subjects containing WTH (Want To Hire) string. If you find something interesting that you think you could do, create an account, send a message to the job poster and … start working.

You should be able to easily do $10-20/month that would be enough to proceed to the next step.

3. Find a VPN service that accepts PayPal

There are VPN services that do not accept PayPal payments like Relakks, IPredator, BananaVPN, etc., but others do. Here are 6 such services:

• HideMyAss – from $11.32/month
• ibVPN – from $4.95/month
• NordVPN
• ExpressVPN
• PureVPN

That’s it! Good luck and keep me up to date on your progress!

What you need

Firstly, you need a PayPal, Bitcoin or a bank account. If you are located in a country that is not accepted by PayPal, or you can not have a Bitcoin or bank then this is not for you.

Then, you need to to find out what VPN service is more suitable for your readers:

• Are they looking for a solution that unblocks Hulu or Netflix? Then you need a VPN that offers US IP addresses.
• Are they looking for a UK service to unblock BBC iPlayer?
• How much can they afford to spend on such service?
• Do they need increased security? Then OpenVPN is a must.
• Are they mostly located in China or Iran? Then you need to make sure that the service you refer is available in those locations.

How do you find all these?

Simple! Just pay a little attention to your blog stats and comments. They should offer enough info to help you make a good choice. Anyway, in the long term, you should try different affiliate programs and see what is the most profitable for you.

Another aspect is related to the commission earned by you. Usually, the commission is between 10-20%, but sometimes, for newer services, you can get more.

Top VPN affiliate programs

Here are some affiliate programs you could join:

• HideMyAss – One of the most generous VPN affiliate program on the market. It offers 100% off the first purchase from the monthly plans and 30-40% for the semi-annual and annual plan. The commission is paid via PayPal, bank transfer, and Payoneer Card.
• StrongVPN – It’s one of the most important VPN services on the market. That is, of course, a plus, but there are also downsides: there are a lot of users that are not very pleased with the service due to the high load. By referring StrongVPN you can earn one-month cost for a package purchased – starting from $7 and up to $30 per sale.
• HideIpVPN – Quite popular these days. They offer 15% commission on all payments.
• NordVPN – Similar to HideMyAss program.
• ExpressVPN – Flat fee commissions, from $13 per monthly plan sale to $36 per annual plan sale.
• PrivateInternetAccess – Earn up to 33% in commission on new and recurring sales over the lifetime of a customer.
• PureVPN – 100% for the monthly plan and 40% for the other plans.
• ibVPN  – ibVPN is a new VPN service and offers 25%-50% commission for all payments, including the recurring ones. This is a great offer!

The last step is to start promoting the service. It’s important not just to link to the service or show a banner. You should first try it and write an honest review with pros and cons.

How much could you earn?

This depends on many factors like the number of readers for your blog, the trust they have in what you recommend, the way you present the service, etc. I would say that for an average blog promoting 1-2 services $50-100/month is a possible goal.

What VPN service do you promote? What do you think is the best VPN affiliate program?