How to get a Spanish IP address from anywhere
10 min read
While Spain hosts a population of almost 50 million people, the number of Spanish speakers worldwide exceeds the latter 10 times. Naturally, for some foreign hispanophones, various restrictions tied to their IP address can complicate access to Spanish content. The simple solution to pass this hurdle is a Spanish IP address that allows access to various Spanish websites and online services. Learn the best ways to acquire a Spanish IP and discover the benefits of your Spanish IP address.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
What is a Spanish IP address?
A Spanish IP address is an Internet Protocol (IP) assigned to a server in Spain. Upon connecting to the internet, every device receives its unique IP address for identification, communication, and other purposes. Because your IP address determines the virtual location of your device, obtaining a Spanish IP means that online entities (for example, websites and online services) see your online traffic as routing from Spain instead of your current location. In addition, masking your IP address gives you more privacy on the web.
Why would you need a Spanish IP address?
A Spanish IP address allows your device to conduct online activities as if you were in Madrid, Valencia, or any other Spanish city. It doesn’t matter whether you connect to it while staying at home, traveling abroad, or being somewhere on the other side of the world; a Spanish IP address opens access to Spanish web content which otherwise would be inaccessible.
The benefits of Spanish IP addresses are listed below.
- Access to your content while abroad. Some service providers may sometimes restrict their content to abide by licensing agreements and other purposes. A Spanish IP address can help you access your subscribed Spanish content (such as online services, publications, sports channels) wherever you are.
- Attainable online services. Financial institutions, media outlets, and other companies may use security measures prohibiting your account access while abroad. In addition, some online Spanish retailers can use geofilters that prevent you from visiting online shops or making purchases. Switching to a Spanish IP address is an easy way to overcome these hurdles.
- Uncomplicated price comparison. Some online vendors might exercise their right to offer special discounts or different pricing, which can vary depending on buyers’ location. Using a Spanish IP address abroad can help you discover the best offers from different retailers, including event tickets, hotel reservations, and other online products.
- Extra privacy and security. Using a different IP to mask your location can offer an additional layer of online security. While a Spanish IP provides access to various content, it also hides your true location, making you less visible to internet websites, and other online entities. Masking your IP is especially beneficial while using public Wi-Fi hotspots, which are popular among hackers as a main entry point to launch various attacks. Moreover, if you’re visiting a country that employs internet censorship, switching your IP address to a Spanish IP address can help you access unrestricted internet.
How to get a Spanish IP address
There are at least several ways to acquire a Spanish IP address. The most popular include a VPN, a proxy server, and a Tor browser. Each of them offers attractive advantages and noticeable drawbacks. Here’s a short overview of each product to help you find the best option.
Use a VPN
Using a virtual private network (VPN) is probably the easiest way to change your real IP address into one in Spain. A VPN reroutes your internet traffic through a server in the country of your choice, in this case, Spain. Some VPN companies may even offer you the option of several VPN server locations in the country, allowing you to choose between Madrid, Barcelona, and other Spanish cities.
Along with the ability to hide your IP address, a VPN offers additional benefits to your online safety. For example, it encrypts all online traffic and data between your computer and a VPN server, providing you with an obscure network tunnel. This tunnel prevents your ISP and harmful actors from tracking your activity online.
Many VPNs, in addition, can support multiple simultaneous connections, allowing you to change the IP address and encrypt data of several different devices at the same time. Furthermore, some VPN providers, including NordVPN, can also offer a connection to the Spanish servers via a supported router. Every device connecting to said router will automatically direct its traffic through the same Spanish server.
Getting your Spanish IP address through a VPN is pretty simple. For example, if you use NordVPN, all you need to do is follow the three simple steps listed below.
- Download the NordVPN app.
- Set up or sign in to your account.
- Find VPN servers in Spain while browsing the country server list on the left side of the window or on the map to the right.
It’s important to point out that VPNs are often subscription-based services, which may seem expensive. And although free VPNs exist, there is a high chance their providers are selling customer data to third parties for targeted advertising. Moreover, free VPN services often lack robust security features, unlimited bandwidth, a high number of servers, reliable encryption protocols, and much more.
Here are the most common pros and cons of a VPN:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Huge variety of servers | Can be expensive |
| Online data encryption | Unreliable providers (free VPN promoters) |
| Multiple connections at the same time | |
| Simple to navigate and use |
While you may be inclined to get your Spanish IP address from a free VPN instead of a subscription-based VPN, remember that there is a high chance you’ll end up browsing in Spain, but the “S” will be silent. Instead, secure your online privacy with NordVPN and all of its web safety features, as well as a 30-day money back guarantee.
Use a proxy server
Another way to hide your IP address and access a Spanish IP is by using a proxy server. Usually free and relatively easy to use, these servers work similarly to a VPN, rerouting your traffic so it looks like you’re connecting from a different part of the world. Getting a proxy server is relatively easy, all you need to do is follow these steps:
- Find a reliable provider to acquire the Spanish IP proxy server’s number and the port number.
- Activate the server by putting the IP address and port number into your device or browser’s proxy settings.
The difference between a proxy and a VPN is their encryption scope. While proxy servers can change your IP address, a VPN, in addition to that feature, can also encrypt your internet traffic. Encrypted internet traffic provides more privacy and security, preventing unwanted monitoring by various online entities. On the other hand, even using a proxy server can pose some risks – since most of them are free to use, just like free VPNs, they have a tendency to monetize their services by selling user data to third parties.
If you are considering using a proxy server, choosing one provided by a VPN company would be smart. Compared to free online proxy server providers, VPN proxies usually offer more benefits, such as better connection speeds, more server locations, and extra protection features.
Here are the strengths and weaknesses of changing your IP via a proxy server:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Usually free | Does not include traffic encryption |
| Simple to use | May get blocked by online sites |
| Unreliable providers (free proxy server promoters) |
Use the Tor browser
If VPNs or proxy servers are not to your liking, you may also consider trying the Tor browser. It is a free online browser that routes your encrypted internet traffic through a number of relays before reaching the final destination. The network picks a random IP address to hide your true location. However, upon request, it allows users to choose a specific country (for example, Spain) if needed.
While Tor exists as a tool to provide online anonymity to as many users as possible, its multi-step setup process may discourage some users from trying it. Nonetheless, here are the steps for configuring your Tor browser to a Spanish IP address:
- Download the Tor browser file (available on the Tor project’s website).
- In your files, find the Tor browser installation folder and navigate as follows: “Browser” > “TorBrowser” > “Data” > “Tor.”
- Find the “torrc” file and open it with a text editor.
- Add the text for the Spain IP address in the editor: “ExitNodes (es) StrictNodes 1.”
- Save the changes and restart the Tor browser.
Like the proxy servers, you can pair the Tor browser with a VPN to combine reliable data encryption and enhanced privacy. The main benefit of such a combination adds additional security because it provides some protection from potentially malicious exit nodes. To make your browsing safer and simpler, NordVPN offers the Onion over VPN feature which eliminates the need to use a separate Tor browser at all. Onion over VPN routes your connection through a VPN server, which then passes it to the Onion (Tor) network, allowing you to have both without the need for a specific browser.
However, using the Tor browser alone might prove counterproductive for some users because:
- The process of selection and configuration of a specific country is more complicated compared to that of a VPN or proxy server.
- Tor can significantly reduce your internet speed due to the high number of relays.
- Tor’s open network can pose a threat to its users because there are little to no safeguards to prevent bad actors from installing malicious nodes.
The reasons for and against acquiring Spanish IP addresses through the Tor network are listed below.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Multiple encryption layers | Reduces internet speed |
| Free and accessible to anyone | Threat of malicious nodes |
| Blocked by some online services |
How to get a dedicated Spanish IP address
A dedicated IP address is an automatically designated IP address assigned to you personally. It provides you with a unique IP address in any country of your choice (as long as it’s on the provider’s list). Having a dedicated Spanish IP allows you to skip repeating CAPTCHAs when connecting to online websites and lowers the chance of possible restrictions. Similarly to the US and other country servers, Spanish servers may be subject to blocking and other roadblocks imposed by some websites and online services.
A dedicated IP address helps you bypass some of the restrictions and makes your connection to the internet safer at the same time. For a nearly seamless, safe browsing experience around the world, consider getting NordVPN’s dedicated IP address.
What is the best VPN for getting a Spanish IP address?
Amongst all the VPN providers, NordVPN emerges as the best option for your internet safety. With more than 90 servers in Spain, NordVPN also provides an opportunity to get your Spanish IP address in your own preferred way: a VPN, proxy server, or dedicated IP address.
In addition to accessible Spanish IP addresses, NordVPN provides extra cybersecurity features that improve online privacy and safety. For example, NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro fortifies user devices against malicious threats while blocking trackers and annoying ads. Another feature, KillSwitch, blocks traffic and real IP address leaks by severing the internet connection whenever a device accidentally disconnects from the VPN server. Finally, NordVPN applies a strict no-logs policy, meaning that it doesn’t log your data from online activities.
Get to know more about how NordVPN can contribute to your online safety by checking out NordVPN reviews.