Using the best VPN will keep you anonymous and get you access to geo-restricted content, no matter where you are in the world. However, there are very few true fake GPS VPN services on the market. While websites may show you different content as your traffic is coming from a different server, mobile apps with location tracking enabled will still be able to tell your exact position.
Location spoofing is a tricky matter. iOS devices make it almost impossible, and while there are some programs you can use to fake GPS locations while your iPhone is plugged in to your PC, there’s not a good option for location spoofing on the go without jailbreaking your device.
Android offers users a few more options. You can easily download a fake GPS app from Play Store and use it together with any VPN of your choice. However, there’s one provider that blends its premium VPN service with a built-in fake GPS location spoofer, and it just so happens that it’s the cheapest VPN that’s worth signing up to: Surfshark.
What makes a great fake GPS VPN?
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What sets Surfshark apart from its rivals is the fact that it's got a fake GPS system built in. That means that you don't have to trust or rely on any other apps to change your location. However, seeing as there are other apps that can do that, many people might ask why you need a VPN at all.
It all comes down to IP addresses. When you change your location in order to use an app in a way you're not supposed to (Pokémon GO, for example), the app will typically compare your GPS location to your IP address. If your GPS says you're in Spain but your IP address is in New York, the app will notice this and stop you using it – possibly banning your account in the process.
That's why you want to use a VPN to match your IP with your GPS location and avoid any issues – and Surfshark is the only service to do all of this in one app.
The best fake GPS VPNs today
Although Surfshark may be best-known for being a bargain VPN provider that offers a powerful yet simple experience, it's got another ace up its sleeve that no one seems to talk about: in-built GPS location spoofing.
Yes, Surfshark's Android app is the only VPN app on the market that can both route you through encrypted servers as well as give you a fake GPS location. Although it is only available on Android, that's still more than any other provider can say.
Its Android's Mock Locations feature makes the process far simpler than trying to use a VPN in tandem with a dedicated fake GPS app. Plus, keeping it all under one roof means less human error on your part, and more accessing blocked content and location-spoofing fun.
However, Surfshark wouldn't top this list if it wasn't a stellar VPN in its own right, and even without the GPS feature it's a safe choice. With 3,200+ speedy servers in 65 locations with private DNS on every one, plus impeccable streaming performance in our in-depth Surfshark VPN review, it's an excellent all-round privacy solution.
Granted, it's not quite as fully featured as some of the VPNs further down this list, but since it's the only one that can spoof your location without using a separate app, we had to place it first.
And we haven't even mentioned the price – just $2.30 a month when you sign up to an annual plan. Combined with unlimited simultaneous connections Surfshark offers great value, and if you want to trick your apps into thinking you're somewhere else, it should be your first choice.
In our comprehensive ExpressVPN review, we rated the service as the very best on the market – but unfortunately the one feature it lacks is an in-built fake GPS spoofer. However, if you'd rather have ExpressVPN than Surfshark (we don't blame you), it's really easy to combine it with a different fake GPS app to get similar results.
Beyond spoofing your location, though, ExpressVPN handles pretty much every other VPN task with ease. Want to stream Netflix from the USA, France, Japan or pretty much anywhere else? Express has got you covered. You'll also be able to get BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Hulu and loads more.
You'll have private DNS on every server, a wide choice of protocols included its very own Lightway, a kill switch, split tunneling, and a simple but powerful interface that will please newbies and experts alike, all alongside excellent speeds on just about every server.
As a minor fault, Express only offers five simultaneous connections – but you can still install the app on as many devices as you like and simply log in and out to get around this. Plus, five connections should be more than enough for most people.
If you're looking for the best service overall and don't mind having to use another app to adjust your GPS location, ExpressVPN could be the one to go for.
As the biggest name in the VPN world, in our NordVPN review the provider lives up to the hype, delivering an excellent security-focused experience that millions of people trust the world over, together with a strong track record of unblocking streaming services.
One reason for this is its massive server network of more than 5,500 speedy servers pretty much everywhere. If that isn't enough, Nord's focus on security will surely impress you. With powerful encryption your data will be as safe as can be, but it doesn't stop there.
You'll get two kill switches, DNS leak detection, Onion over VPN which utilises the encrypted Tor network, Double VPN which will send your connection through two servers, and a wide range of obfuscated server. The latter are especially useful as a China VPN and UAE VPN.
There's also a great balance of usability, too, and the apps on all devices are simple and intuitive. However, the map-based interface on Android and iPhone can prove to be a little clunky, so we recommend just going straight to the server list. And, of course, it doesn't have a built-in fake GPS feature.
Overall, though, NordVPN is an excellent service, and usually comes in well under $4 a month, offering a great combination of power and value.
Sign up now on the NordVPN website
IPVanish has been one of the top-rated VPNs on the market for a long time now, and although we found it slightly behind the times in our IPVanish review, it's still a worthwhile option – especially as a US VPN thanks to searing speeds in the States.
Again, it doesn't have a built-in fake GPS feature, but will work well with any third-party spoofing app you choose.
While IPVanish's aesthetics are somewhat divisive, we commend the choice of both the distinct color scheme and displaying quite so much information about what the app is doing at any one time. Many rivals keep everything behind the scenes, but IPVanish displays rolling graphs of data used, connection speeds, and tons more.
If you're a streaming fan you'll be pleased too, because IPVanish can get access to Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others. However, we failed to unblock Amazon Prime during our last testing.
Sign up now on the IPVanish website
CyberGhost is hugely popular, with over 10 million users around the world. We can see why, too, as while it lacks a dedicated fake GPS function, it has a unique server filtering feature that we loved in our CyberGhost VPN review, and makes it super easy to get great speeds for whatever you want to do.
Combine that with a vast number of servers – more than 7,800 dotted across 91 countries – and you'll have a huge range of locations to explore when your fire up your third-party fake GPS app.
CyberGhost is also a powerful VPN for streaming, too. During our testing it proved itself by effectively unlocking all the major streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime and Disney+. And while we could access only the US catalog on Netflix, this isn't so unusual even among the top VPN services.
But, while it's got a massive network and decent streaming power, CyberGhost's security features and apps haven't been audited yet. But if you can get past that you will have a still very functional VPN – and we can't forget to comment on how affordable the service is!
Sign up now on the CyberGhost website
Fake GPS VPN FAQ
Is a fake GPS VPN legal?
Using a a fake GPS VPN isn't illegal itself. However, using one to break the law certainly is.
If you're using a fake GPS VPN to trick apps like Pokémon GO, be aware that doing so is probably against the app's Ts&Cs. If you get found out, expect to lose functionality or perhaps even have your account terminated.
What can I use a fake GPS VPN for?
Other than changing your location in Pokémon GO, GPS spoofing is useful for other things.
If you're worried about apps like Messenger, Instagram, Airbnb and Google Maps tracking your location, changing your GPS will keep your true location truly private. Even apps like Uber and Snapchat which use your location for certain legitimate reasons might feel intrusive, so with Surfshark you can keep them at bay until you need to use them.
