Using a VPN to buy cheaper items seems like a good idea, but many companies are becoming smarter and realizing how many people do this. Which is why you’ll struggle to buy certain products and services when using a VPN; you may even risk an account ban.
1 Flight Tickets
I live in a country with high sales tax, so I wanted to see if booking a flight while setting my VPN location to somewhere else was possible. Initially, all was fine; I could reach the checkout page without issues.
However, problems soon arose. When I entered my card details and tried to pay, I kept getting a failed payment message. This was the case when using a browser and the airline’s app. Everything went through straight away when I turned off my VPN.
Buying flight tickets with some airlines is still possible, but this will vary depending on which one you choose. So, be prepared to potentially pay full price.
2 Streaming Subscriptions
Streaming subscription prices vary significantly depending on where you live, and many users have therefore sought to try and pretend they’re somewhere else. But while you’ll find several VPNs to consume content on Netflix and other streaming services, buying your paid plan while connected to one is sometimes challenging.
In the past, I’ve had my payment rejected because the card wasn’t from a bank in the region for which I tried buying a subscription. You also have to debate whether trying is even worth it; even if you were successful, you may get your account disabled if the service provider later finds out.
3 Games
If you enjoy playing video games, you’ll likely have to pay different prices depending on your location. However, while using a VPN to buy these might seem like a good idea, you might still struggle.
When ordering physical games, you may have the price adjusted when entering the shipping address. Online, you’ll likely encounter even worse problems. For example, Steam explicitly states that “using a proxy or VPN is strictly against the Steam Terms of Service.”
If you violate these policies, your account could be restricted. Since VPNs can also slow Steam download speeds, it’s worth turning your VPN off while playing.
4 Software Services
Like streaming services, software subscriptions sometimes vary in price from region to region. Currency conversions could result in a cheaper deal depending on where you’re based, as could waiving VAT for your region.
However, if you’re connected to a VPN, there is no guarantee that your payment will go through. For example, when trying to buy a streaming service, the price might automatically be converted, or your payment could get rejected.
Again, this will depend on the service you’re trying to buy. Nonetheless, while it’s still sometimes possible, prepare for having to potentially pay the full cost.
5 Clothes and Books
One benefit of living in Europe is that it’s very easy to buy clothes and books from other countries. I’m based in Denmark, but some of my favorite clothing brands are in Belgium, Germany, and other parts of the continent. I also use the German Amazon website, which typically results in higher shipping costs.
However, I have rarely had the same success buying clothes on a VPN. The main reason is that unless I plan to travel to Germany and pick up my items, I will need to have them delivered here. Since I have to enter my address, this can sometimes result in a cost adjustment. Most of the time, the hassle isn’t worthwhile.
6 Newspaper and Magazine Subscriptions
While you can get eBook subscriptions and similar packages for magazines, I would much rather buy the physical version. The cost will vary depending on your region, and you can often see how much each magazine costs based on where you’re buying it from.
Logically, you’ll probably want to get it from the cheapest place possible. However, this often doesn’t work. First, you’d probably have to pay a higher shipping fee even if you successfully bought via a VPN. Second, like books and clothes, you’ll probably encounter problems using a “foreign” bank card for your purchase.
Like other physical products, it’s normally not worth the extra effort; I recommend just buying your subscription at full price.
7 App Store and Google Play Purchases
Whether you’re looking for offers on Google Play or want a new app or subscription from the App Store, it’s tempting to use a VPN. However, doing so can be challenging for several reasons.
While your payment may go through, apps may not be available in your country or region. Therefore, you may struggle to use them after your purchase. Therefore, if you buy an app with a VPN, it’s a good idea to ensure you can access it where you live.
You could circumvent this by changing the region on your device, but this becomes difficult if you can’t access day-to-day products and services. For example, if I changed my location to another region, I couldn’t access my online banking.
8 How to Improve Your Chances of Being Able to Buy Items With a VPN
Although you may struggle to buy some products and services with a VPN, you can still try some things to improve your chances. One method that’s worked for me in the past is to switch my browser to Incognito Mode. I’ve often noticed that doing this has helped me surf the web when connected to a VPN because I still get local search results on some devices.
In addition to going Incognito, you should consider paying with a virtual card. Many banking services now offer one-time-use cards. However, don’t try this for recurring purchases. Your next payment could be rejected, so only try this method for physical products.
You might also want to use an alternative payment method, like a digital wallet. However, you should ensure this doesn’t violate the service’s terms and conditions—especially if you use it often.
Buying items with a VPN is still possible, but you may sometimes be out of luck. You should avoid trying any method if it’s strictly against the terms of service; if not, consider putting your browser into Incognito Mode and trying other things.
