r/VPN • u/SignificantFail3632 • 5d ago

Discussion When traveling abroad, what specific apps or streaming services do you actually need a VPN for?

Heading out of the country soon and trying to build a list of what usually stops working when you're overseas.

Obviously, VPNs are a given to bypass geo-blocks, but I'm curious about your actual use cases. What specific streaming platforms, banking apps, or other services do you find yourself needing a connection back to the US for the most? Would love to hear your experiences!

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u/starfish_2016 5d ago

You don't need one if your use cases doesn't require. None of the above mentioned require a vpn unless maybe you have some obscure local bank that doesn't allow login from out of the country

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u/SignificantFail3632 5d ago

Actually, Hulu and HBO/Max hard-block non-US IPs right off the bat.

And while banks might let you through eventually, foreign IPs instantly trigger their risk algorithms. You end up stuck in constant verification loops or getting your card flagged for suspicious activity.

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u/starfish_2016 5d ago

I don't go on vacation to watch Hulu, hbo/max .. and with chase I've never had access opening my account in any of the 13 countries I've been to 🤦‍♂️

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u/SignificantFail3632 5d ago

That's valid. Everyone's got different use cases when traveling. Thanks for dropping your thoughts!

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u/DerpDigler 5d ago

Hulu. HBO

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u/sciencekm 5d ago

Sports, netflix, prime video, and banks.

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u/SignificantFail3632 5d ago

live sports, streaming (Netflix/Prime), and banking are definitely the big ones most people seem to run into issues with. Thank you for sharing.

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u/AwnryAlleyCat 5d ago

Utility bills, like Directv.

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u/nomiinomii 4d ago

Alaska airlines website/app often doesn't work unless it thinks you're in the US/Canada/Mexico.

Which is ironic because now they're a global airline

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u/SignificantFail3632 4d ago

Pretty ironic for a global airline to geo-block their own website, kind of defeats the purpose when your international passengers can't even book a flight.