When everything is digitally transformed, schools are no exception. Schools nowadays are relying on technology to better their learning experience. However, the increased reliance comes with a higher risk of cyber-attacks and data breaches.
That’s why schools usually block sites and platforms to maximize online security, student protection, and better focus. Also, most schools even restrict bandwidth usage. With that, schools ensure that students won’t crash the network.
98% of schools in the United States filter internet content for a good reason. Is banning all websites the best approach? Many may believe it’s not.
Anyway, a VPN comes into the picture. To bypass all security restrictions, students will need to have access to the best VPN for school. Why? It will hide your real IP address, encrypt your connection, and make it invisible.
Read this detailed guide to learn about the 5 best VPN for school students, along with details on why you need a VPN for school, and what to do if you are unable to bypass a school firewall using a VPN.
Do you have a project in hand? Or just want to explore the digital world for great learning? In any case, one must prioritize security over the internet.
In this section, we are presenting reasons why having unrestricted access to the internet with a VPN can be beneficial:
Let’s start with a disclaimer, i.e. not every VPN is optimal to use on a school’s Wi-Fi. We have discovered numerous VPNs till now, but a few stuck out as the best free school VPNs.
That is why we have ranked the best 5 VPNs for schools that not only offer the traffic obfuscation feature but also provide a reliable kill switch, and are great at bypassing blocks.
Let’s explore each VPN one by one:
| Specs |
| Multihop: Yes Servers in countries – 111 Kill switch – Yes Split Tunneling – Yes Number of devices – 10 Torrenting – Yes Camouflage Mode – Yes SecurityScore – 9.7 /10 Features: Next-generation encryption, malware protection, a strict no-log policy, etc. Supported Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, Router, FireStick, Xbox, PlayStation, Oculus Quest, Kindle Fire, Nintendo Switch, Raspberry Pi, Chromebook, Chromecast, and Android TV |
When we talk about 100% free school VPNs, we always mention NordVPN as our absolute favorite choice. For students of schools and even colleges, NordVPN brilliantly bypasses various blocks.
Other than that, it has specialty servers that offer obfuscation. In addition to this, this VPN comes with various advanced security features including RAM-only servers, an audited no-logs policy, and full leak protection.
Most students love its feature for gaming i.e. Meshnet. This feature allows them to create a private network and link up to 60 devices to an encrypted connection.
Let’s understand with an example, you can use it to connect your school PC to your computer at home. Also, it can be utilized to reroute all of your traffic through it.
NordVPN has both a free version and a paid version. The plan for its paid version includes Basic: $3.59/mo, Plus: $4.49/mo, and Complete: $5.49/mo.
| Specs |
| Multihop: Yes Servers in countries – 91 Kill switch – Yes Split Tunneling – Yes Number of devices – Unlimited Torrenting – Yes Camouflage Mode – No SecurityScore – 9.4 /10 Features: Global VPN server network, no logs policy, 24/7 customer support, split tunneling, P2P support, and WireGuard®. Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS, Android/Android TV, Fire TV, routers, Linux, and browsers. |
Private Internet Access VPN is one of the highly secure VPN for schools that comes with a great browser extension. In addition to RAM-only servers and full leak protection, most individuals like this VPN for its advanced Kill Switch ability.
Also, via the Shadowsocks protocol, Private Internet Access VPN provides obfuscation. This works great with common filters used by schools on their networks to block VPN traffic.
With it, students can connect to secure, worldwide servers and switch their virtual location to almost anywhere with a few clicks.
Want to know how does it costs? Well, the plan of PIA VPN includes 1 Month: ₹ 915/mo, 6 Months: ₹ 570/mo, and 2 Years + 4 Months FREE: ₹ 153.21/mo.
| Specs |
| Multihop: No Servers in countries – 105 Kill switch – Yes Split Tunneling – Yes Number of devices – 8 Torrenting – Yes Camouflage Mode – No Features: Trusted server technology, network lock, kill switch, best-in-class encryption, lightway protocol, private DNS, and no activity or connection logs. Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Smart TV, Apple TV, etc. |
Most websites recommend ExpressVPN as their top recommendation, but according to us, it should be the third number. This is not because of some sort of issues, but because the above-mentioned ones are far better than this.
Fortunately, like any other VPN, it gets around all sorts of network restrictions that a school or college commonly uses on their networks.
It offers obfuscation on all servers and protocols. Consequently, it will help you evade VPN blocks, plus, you don’t even have to lift a finger to make it work.
Concerning its speed, it offers blazing-fast speed. When you use ExpressVPN, you can witness websites and videos loaded right away on nearby and distant servers.
For those who don’t want to spend much can use its 7-day free trial. Whereas to enjoy premium features you can opt for the paid versions i.e. 1 Month: $12.95/mo, 6 Months: $9.99, and 12 Months + 3 MONTHS FREE: $6.67/mo.
| Specs |
| Multihop: Yes Servers in countries – 500+ Kill switch – Yes Split Tunneling – Yes Number of devices – Unlimited Torrenting – Yes (with uTorrent) Camouflage Mode – No SecurityScore: 9.4 /10 Features: Threat protection, VPN kill switch, fire TV kill switch app, split tunneling app and domain, DNS leak protection, and SOCKS5 proxy. Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, Chrome OS, Android, Fire OS, and Router firmware. |
IPVanish is yet another excellent VPN for schools that offers a widespread area of service across the globe. The best part is it covers the regions mostly ignored by competitors.
Are you looking for one that could be shared with your classmates or friends? If so, IPVanish is a great pick. In addition, this VPN is capable of bypassing various blocks. As stated earlier, it boasts a big server network, which means they are not overcrowded and lets you enjoy optimal speed.
Those who do not want their principal to see that they are using a VPN can obfuscate traffic for them. And, if the connection fails, worry not, a kill switch is also available.
Technically, you can try out this VPN for free, but if you are not satisfied with the free version, you can opt for the premium one. The paid plans are as follows: Monthly: $12.99/mo, Yearly: $3.33/mo, and 2-year: $2.19/mo.
| Specs |
| Multihop: No Servers in countries – 6500+ servers in 65 countries Kill switch – Yes Split Tunneling – Yes Number of devices – 0 devices Torrenting – Yes Camouflage Mode – Yes Features: Strong security protocols, one-click protection, protect apps separately, leak-proof privacy, portable privacy, smart server selection, and unblocked locations. Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Kodi, and routers |
PureVPN is another type of VPN that proves to be a solid choice for students who are looking for a VPN that ensures high-class security. This VPN hides the user’s actual public IP address.
Apart from this, it creates a secure tunnel between their device and the remote server. Remember that, these servers are distributed all around the world, meaning, you’re going to be able to explore restricted worldwide content libraries and sites.
PureVPN is a great combo of speed and security. What contributes to this great combination is that it uses the WireGuard protocol.
Anyway, the prizing plan of PureVPN includes Standard: $2.14/mo, Plus: $3.33/mo, and Max: $4.07/mo.
Imagine this: your school’s firewall doesn’t let you use a VPN smoothly. It might be frustrating, we understand that. But, don’t give up just yet. There are still plenty of things you can consider trying to get rid of this issue.
To ease things for you, we’ve mentioned some tips to bypass a school’s firewall using a VPN:
Many schools put restrictions or firewalls with good intentions, most probably to improve student focus and ensure security. On the other hand, having a VPN in school is quite beneficial for diverse learning.
A VPN for school adds an extra layer of protection against potential threats and at the same time, you can still enjoy browsing online.
But if you can’t bypass the school’s firewall, then still there are ways (as mentioned above) to bypass these blocks without anyone knowing.
For now, let’s sign off and remember to browse with responsibility.
