How to get a Swedish IP address from anywhere
11 min read
Every device that can connect to a network has an IP address that is linked to your approximate physical location. In some situations, for example, when you travel abroad, changing the IP address may be helpful. If you’re a traveler who lives in Sweden, it is useful to know how to get a Swedish IP from anywhere. Read on to learn the best ways to do it.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
What is a Swedish IP address?
A Swedish IP address is an IP that belongs to a virtual or physical server in Sweden. Getting a Swedish IP means your online activity registers as routing from Sweden. This way, you increase your online privacy and may avoid online censorship due to Swedish free speech laws.
An Internet Protocol, or IP, address is a unique number that identifies a device on a local computer network or the internet. A few types of IP addresses – static, dynamic, private, and others – currently exist. Usually, an IP address signifies the physical location from which the device connects to the internet, such as the city you are in or even the area code or the street. If you’re unsure what an IP can reveal, check your IP address and see what information it gives away.
Reasons for getting a Swedish IP address
Using a Swedish IP allows you to use the internet as if you were in Sweden. A Swedish IP is the most beneficial for traveling Swedish citizens. It is also useful for people who like to shop for Swedish products at local prices and those who care about their online security. Here are a few reasons for acquiring a Swedish IP:
- Online shopping. It’s an open secret that the prices for the same clothing or cosmetics items vary in different countries. Changing your IP address while shopping may allow you to avoid overpaying. And that goes for plane tickets as well. In other words, a Swedish IP may save you money.
- Privacy and security. Cybercriminals can exploit your IP address. Changing your IP address to a Swedish one hides your virtual location, making your online activity more secure and private.
- Escaping censorship. Sweden was a pioneer in eliminating censorship and continues to protect freedom of speech. A few restrictions remain, but content legal in Sweden is accessible with a Swedish IP address from all over the world, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.
- Accessing content while traveling. Many streaming services limit their content to certain regions. Changing your IP to a Swedish one allows you to securely catch up on the series you are watching at home in Sweden from anywhere. Moreover, a Swedish IP lets you access Swedish TV channels while traveling and never miss your local team’s game.
How to get a Swedish IP address
You can get a Swedish IP address in a few different ways. Your options include a virtual private network (VPN), a dedicated IP address, and using proxies or the Tor browser. Getting a Stockholm IP address may be easiest because most VPN and proxy providers have servers in Stockholm. However, the location depends on your chosen way of getting a Swedish IP and the service provider because some providers have servers in other Swedish cities and towns. Now, let’s take a closer look at all the options for getting a Swedish IP.
Using a VPN
Probably the safest way to get a Swedish IP address is by using a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN reroutes your internet traffic through servers in other countries. This way, you hide your IP address by changing it to a different one. Yet not all VPN service providers have servers in all countries. First, check the VPN provider’s server locations to ensure your chosen VPN has servers in Sweden. The more servers the VPN provider has in Sweden, the better quality connection you may expect.
Free VPNs often have a limited number of servers in fewer countries. So a free VPN may be tempting but not the best choice for a Swedish IP address. We also advise you to consider why these VPN services are free. If you are not paying, the VPN company still must get money from somewhere. A free VPN may sell customers’ data to third parties for targeted advertising, and the connection may not be as safe as the free VPN provider claims. Paid VPN services offer more reliable connection and protection.
If you choose to change your IP with a VPN, VPNs are usually relatively easy to set up in a few steps:
- Download the chosen VPN app.
- Log in to your account or create one.
- Choose Sweden from the country list.
- Connect to the VPN server.
Most VPNs offer connections on multiple devices, so you should repeat these steps on all the devices for which you want to have a Swedish IP. However, some routers allow VPN connections. Once you set up your router for a Swedish IP, every device connected to the router will also have a Swedish IP.
Take a look at the pros and cons of using a VPN to get a Swedish IP address.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Changes your IP address | The majority of VPNs require a paid subscription |
| Has additional online privacy and security features | Some websites block access when you are using a VPN |
| Provides safe access to home-country content when you are traveling | Multiple users use the same IP address. Although it means that the VPN service provider cannot identify the specific user, especially if the provider keeps no logs, multiple users on the same IP address can impact the reputation of that IP address, so it may end up being blocklisted. |
| A trustworthy and stable connection | |
| Easy to set up |
Using a VPN proxy extension
A VPN proxy extension is another way to mask your virtual location and get a Swedish IP address. It is less secure than a VPN since it encrypts only your browser’s traffic. We suggest using a VPN proxy extension that improves your browsing with an ad blocker and has other security features. However, proxy extensions are not available on all browsers.
If the proxy extension is available for the browser of your choice, and you opt to get a Swedish IP address this way, do some research first. Remember that any app, extensions included, downloaded from websites of doubtful repute may be disguised malware, so choose carefully and check the reviews before using the selected extension. Many free proxy extensions exist, but paid options are more trustworthy.
Whichever VPN proxy extension you choose, it is easy to set up by following a few steps:
- Choose a VPN proxy extension provider and subscription plan.
- Install the VPN proxy extension on the browser.
- Log in to your account.
- Choose Sweden from the country list and connect.
Below, you’ll find the pros and cons of using a VPN proxy extension to get a Swedish IP address.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Changes your IP address | Trustworthy proxy extensions require a paid subscription |
| Some extensions, like the one from NordVPN, work as a lightweight VPN proxy for your browsing | Works only in some browsers |
| Easy to use | Covers only the browser’s traffic |
| Extension can be masked malware |
Using the Tor browser
“Tor” stands for The Onion Router. When using the Tor browser, your internet traffic goes through several servers and changes your IP address. Usually, Tor changes the IP address randomly, but you can set it to a specific location.
However, your connection can slow down significantly while using Tor. Also, the Tor browser provides privacy but not online protection. Be cautious and visit only publicly verified URLs because the Tor network is less regulated and more anonymous than the public internet and doesn’t lack malware, scams, and other online threats. So when you’re using Tor, be wary of possible dangers. We also recommend always using a VPN when browsing with Tor. Remember that not all VPNs are compatible with Tor, but some, like NordVPN, work well.
Setting up Tor with a Swedish IP address is not as easy as setting up other options from our list. Here’s how you can set up Tor:
- Download the Tor browser from the Tor project’s website.
- Install the Tor browser.
- Find the installation folder and go to “Browser” > “TorBrowser” > “Data” > “Tor.”
- Add the following text to make the Tor browser use a Swedish IP address: “ExitNodes (se) StrictNodes 1.”
- Save your modifications and restart the browser.
Getting a Swedish IP address using the Tor browser is complex but provides more privacy than traditional browsers. Here are more pros and cons of using the Tor browser to change your IP address.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Changes your IP address by default | Slows down internet speed |
| Famous for its increased anonymity | Some websites may not be accessible by Tor |
| Covers only the browser’s traffic |
Using a proxy server
Another option to get a Swedish IP address is to use proxy servers. Proxy servers also reroute your traffic to make it look like you are connecting from a server in Sweden. They work similarly to the VPN proxy extension but only change your IP address without encrypting your connection traffic. Remember that a proxy server lacks the security features that a VPN proxy extension provides. However, using proxy servers is usually free, and they are typically easy to set up.
To set up a Swedish IP address by using a proxy server, follow these steps:
- Choose a proxy provider.
- Get the proxy server’s Swedish IP address and port number.
- Put the IP address and the port number into your device or your browser’s settings to activate
Using a proxy server to get a Swedish IP address is easy and affordable. Proxies also help to filter your content, for example, to make a device child friendly. However, using a proxy server doesn’t protect you from various online threats and your ISP logging your activity.
Take a look at the pros and cons of using a proxy server to get a Swedish IP address.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to set up | No traffic encryption |
| Changes your IP address | Servers can crash often |
| Helps filter accessible content | May log your online activity |
Getting a dedicated Swedish IP address
Usually, when you use a VPN, you share the same IP address with other VPN users. However, you can order a dedicated IP address. A dedicated IP address means that you, and only you, will be using that IP address, and it has quite a few pros. Banks and businesses treat a dedicated IP address as more trustworthy and less suspicious than the IP address you’d share with other VPN users. A trustworthy IP address helps you avoid repetitive verification, making online banking and shopping more convenient. A dedicated IP address also helps to prevent CAPTCHAs because you are the only user.
Yet not all VPN providers offer this feature, and the country list for dedicated IP addresses is often short. For a Swedish dedicated IP address, try NordVPN, which has a longer list of countries for dedicated IP addresses than most of its competitors.
Check out the pros and cons of getting a dedicated IP address.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Secure access to your desired location IP | Requires additional payment on top of the VPN subscription |
| No blocklists due to others’ misdeeds | Not every VPN provider offers a dedicated IP service |
| Fewer CAPTCHAs | Limited selection of IP address locations |
| More convenient online banking and shopping |
How to connect to a Swedish server with NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the best VPN service providers for getting a Swedish IP address. NordVPN has 140+ servers in Sweden and offers these advanced security features:
- Double VPN servers
- Threat Protection Pro
- Dark Web Monitor
- Kill switch
- A verified no-logs policy
- Unlimited VPN bandwidth
Moreover, you can set up a Swedish IP address based in Stockholm with the NordVPN app in just a few steps:
- Download the NordVPN app.
- Create an account and choose a plan, or log in to your account.
- Turn on the app.
- Choose Sweden from the country list.
- Wait a second or less for the VPN to connect to the server.
Now you are surfing the internet as if you were in Sweden. Glad surfning!