School WiFi networks are often restricted and blocked from accessing many useful websites and apps. While schools do this to focus learning during school hours, it can be frustrating when you want to access blocked content.
Thankfully, there are many apps that can unblock school WiFi restrictions so you can access blocked websites and apps. In this guide, we’ll cover the top 14 best apps to unblock school WiFi networks on both iPhone and Android devices.
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Why Are Schools Blocking Websites & Apps?
Before jumping into the apps, let‘s first understand why schools block access in the first place.
School IT administrators commonly block access to websites and apps like social media, streaming entertainment, games, and more. They do this for several reasons:
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To prevent distractions during school hours – Sites like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Netflix, etc. can be distracting from learning. Blocking these keeps students focused.
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To manage limited bandwidth – Schools have a finite amount of Internet bandwidth shared across many students and devices. Blocking bandwidth-heavy sites helps ensure critical education sites work properly.
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Limit inappropriate content – Blocking adult-oriented and explicit sites helps provide a safe learning environment.
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Stop potentially dangerous apps – Apps like VPNs that hide network activity are often blocked. Schools want to be able to monitor their own networks.
While blocking provides benefits, it can also be frustrating if you want to access these sites and apps for reasonable purposes. The apps below will help you safely bypass these restrictions.
14 Best Apps to Unblock School WiFi
Here are the top 14 recommended apps to unblock and bypass school WiFi restrictions:
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most popular and highly-rated VPN apps. It works by encrypting your connection and routing it through remote servers, hiding your network activity from local network blocking and monitoring.
Some key features of NordVPN:
- Works on both iPhone/iPad and Android devices
- Allows access to any blocked website or app
- High-speed connections keep streaming videos/music fast
- Strict no-logging policy protects privacy
- 5400+ servers in 60 countries to choose from
- Easy to use with one-click connect
NordVPN has a free trial so you can test it out. And paying monthly is affordable for students if you do decide to unlock full access. It’s an excellent choice for unblocking school networks.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is another highly-rated VPN that can bypass school firewalls and unblock websites and apps. Surfshark offers excellent speeds, privacy protection, and works across unlimited devices.
Key features of Surfshark include:
- Apps for iPhone/iPad and Android
- 3200+ servers in 65 countries
- Unlimited device connections
- RAM-only servers leave no trace of activity
- Split-tunneling to choose what traffic to encrypt
- 24/7 live chat support
Surfshark also offers a free trial to test it out. And plans are very budget-friendly for students compared to other top VPNs.
🏅 Get Surfshark VPN Free Trial
3. AtlasVPN
AtlasVPN is a great free option for students looking to get around school WiFi restrictions. While bandwidth is limited on the free plan, it‘s enough for basic web access and works well for unblocking sites.
Some key details about AtlasVPN:
- Free and paid plans available
- Apps for iPhone/iPad and Android
- 750+ servers in 40 locations
- Unlimited device connections
- Simple quick-connect interface
- Scrambles IP address to hide traffic
The free plan gives 2GB/month which should be plenty to unblock basic sites and apps for free. Paid plans give unlimited access with more countries, higher speeds, and priority support.
4. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is a highly trusted VPN app that keeps no activity logs. It offers a solid free plan that can bypass school firewalls.
Some advantages of ProtonVPN:
- Apps for iOS and Android devices
- Free plan with unlimited bandwidth
- Paid plans for faster speeds
- Strict no logging policy
- Modern VPN protocol for speed
- Built-in ad blocker
The free version only allows connecting to 3 countries. But with unlimited data, it works well for unblocking basic sites and apps. An affordable paid plan opens access to all 50+ ProtonVPN countries and fastest speeds.
5. TunnelBear
TunnelBear is known for its easy-to-use interface and fun bear-themed apps. It works well for unblocking websites and apps on school WiFi networks.
Some top features of TunnelBear include:
- Simple single-button connect
- Apps for iOS and Android
- Free plan gives 500MB/month
- Paid plans for unlimited data
- 20+ countries to connect through
- No activity logging
The free 500MB plan will allow bypassing some lighter restrictions each month. And affordable paid plans give unlimited access with priority customer support.
6. Hide.me
Hide.me is a fast VPN solution that works across mobile devices and computers. The free plan can be used to unblock school WiFi with 2GB monthly data.
Features of Hide.me VPN:
- Apps for iPhone/iPad and Android
- Generous 2GB/month free plan
- 75+ server locations
- Unlimited speed on paid plans
- Apps for Windows, Mac, Linux too
- No activity or connection logs
With apps for all major platforms, Hide.me is very versatile. The free mobile plan has enough data to bypass lighter school blocking. And affordable paid plans unlock unlimited access.
7. Psiphon
Psiphon is an open source VPN tool that’s free on mobile. It’s specifically designed to bypass firewalls and censorship. The unlimited data and speed make it great for jumping school WiFi blocks.
Some key Psiphon features:
- Free iOS and Android apps
- Unblocks sites and apps
- Unlimited data and speed
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Open source software
As an open source tool, Psiphon is completely free without any paid plans. While speeds may be slower than paid VPNs, the unlimited data and access are excellent for unblocking school WiFi restrictions.
8. Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield is a popular free VPN option with decent speeds. It works by acting as a configurable browser-based proxy, and can access blocked sites/apps on school networks.
Some notable features of Hotspot Shield:
- Free Chrome and Firefox browser extensions
- 500MB daily free data
- 70+ server locations
- Easy proxy on/off toggle
- No account or signup required
Just install the browser extension and turn on the proxy to bypass school blocks. The 500MB daily data reset allows regular use for free. It’s simple and hassle-free.
9. Snap VPN
Snap VPN is a fast and easy proxy app for iOS devices. It secures traffic through an encrypted tunnel and hides your IP address. The unlimited free plan makes Snap VPN great for unblocking sites/apps on school WiFi.
Some key details about Snap VPN:
- Free iOS app
- Unlimited monthly data
- No logkeeping or tracking
- No account required
- Simple one-button connect
- Fast proxy speeds
Snap VPN is quick to setup without needing an account. Just tap to connect through US or UK proxies and access restricted sites and apps for free.
10. X-VPN
X-VPN is a popular free VPN tool for iPhone and iPad users. It secures traffic and hides your IP address to bypass firewall blocks. Unlimited monthly data makes it easy to unblock school WiFi restrictions.
Features of X-VPN:
- Free iOS app
- Unlimited monthly data
- No speed throttling
- No signup required
- Access blocked websites/apps
- AES-256 encryption
- Servers in 5 countries
With unlimited data, you can use X-VPN as much as needed each month to freely unblock WiFi access and bypass restrictions.
11. VPN Proxy Master
VPN Proxy Master is a top-rated free VPN app for iOS devices. It allows bypassing firewalls by hiding your IP and encrypting connections. Unlimited data makes it great for unblocking school WiFi.
Here are some standout features of VPN Proxy Master:
- Free iOS app
- No limits on data
- AES 256-bit encryption
- Hides & changes IP address
- Access blocked content
- Simple one-tap connect
- Servers in 8 countries
With unlimited data and easy one-click connection, VPN Proxy Master is quick and reliable for unblocking apps and websites on school networks.
12. Turbo VPN
Turbo VPN is a popular free VPN app for Android devices. It secures traffic with military-grade encryption and hides your IP address. Unlimited data makes Turbo VPN great for bypassing school WiFi blocks.
Some key features of Turbo VPN:
- Free Android app
- No data limits
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Access blocked content
- Simple one-tap connect
- No account signup required
- Servers in 11 countries
With Turbo VPN, just connect to a server with one click to securely access blocked apps and sites on school networks.
13. Speedify
Speedify is a very fast VPN that uniquely bonds WiFi and cellular connections together for added speed and reliability. This makes it great for HD streaming. The free plan can bypass lighter school blocks.
Some key advantages of Speedify:
- Free apps for iOS and Android
- Unlimited free plan with 2GB/month
- Paid plans for unlimited data
- WiFi/cellular bonding for speed
- AES 256-bit encryption
- Masks IP address
By combining WiFi and cell networks, Speedify offers great speeds for streaming video. The free 2GB plan is enough for lighter unblocking, while paid is unlimited.
14. HexaTech
HexaTech offers a free VPN app for iOS that secures traffic with 2048-bit encryption. It hides your IP address to access blocked apps and sites. Unlimited data makes it great for unblocking networks.
Features of HexaTech:
- Free iOS app
- No limits on data
- 2048-bit encryption
- Access restricted content
- User-friendly interface
- No account required
- Servers in 8 countries
With unlimited data and high-grade encryption, HexaTech can freely unblock and bypass school WiFi restrictions.
FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about unblocking school WiFi restrictions:
What is a VPN and how does it unblock WiFi?
A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through remote servers, hiding your IP address and online activity. This allows bypassing firewalls, filters, and access controls since the network only sees encrypted VPN traffic. VPNs essentially let you unblock any site or app a school tries to block.
Is it illegal to use a VPN to unblock school WiFi?
In most places this is a legal gray area. Schools often prohibit VPNs in their policies as they can allow accessing explicit or dangerous content. However, VPNs themselves are not illegal. Unblocking school WiFi with a VPN is common, though use discretion to not access clearly inappropriate sites.
Will a VPN slow down my school WiFi?
Good VPNs will have minimal impact on speed. But some additional latency is expected when traffic routes through VPN servers. For strong unblocking ability, it‘s a worthwhile tradeoff. Opt for a high-speed VPN, test speeds before use, and avoid peak times if speed is critical.
What happens if I get caught using a VPN?
Getting caught will depend on how heavily your school monitors network activity and what tools they use. Many schools block known VPN IPs. A good VPN will work around this with anti-blocking features like IP hiding. Just avoid accessing overtly restricted content. Disciplinary consequences will vary by school policy if discovered.
Can I try these VPNs for free?
Many of the top VPN apps listed offer free trials or plans so you can test unblocking abilities before paying. Start with a good free VPN option to get a feel without commitment or cost. Then consider affordable paid options for unlimited high-speed access if needed.
In Summary
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School WiFi networks commonly block websites, apps, and online services to limit distractions and manage bandwidth.
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VPN apps can bypass these restrictions by encrypting traffic and hiding your IP address from network controls.
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Top free VPN options include AtlasVPN, ProtonVPN, TunnelBear, and Psiphon.
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Paid options like NordVPN and Surfshark offer faster speeds and unlimited access.
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Try out apps with free plans first to test unblocking abilities before paying.
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Use discretely and avoid overtly blocked content to minimize chances of getting caught.
Final Thoughts
Restrictive school WiFi networks can make accessing useful sites and apps difficult during the school day. Thankfully, quality VPN apps provide a safe way to unblock and bypass these limitations.
The top apps outlined above will allow you to freely access blocked content on both iPhone and Android devices. Take care to use these tools responsibly, both ethically and legally. Prioritize education and avoid restricted content when possible.
With the right VPN solution, you can unlock the websites and apps that matter while still staying focused on learning at school. Just don‘t forget to turn off the VPN when class is done!
