If you're familiar with VPN and proxy services, then you know that it's possible to change your IP address to virtually any country out there. Some services provide you with access to a few servers in some select countries, while other services have built their reputation on having a large network with access to all kinds of countries. Getting a Bulgarian IP address isn't exactly in the Top 10 list for popular IP locations, but as with any other country, it offers a unique internet landscape that will appeal to some groups.

The first, and most obvious reason to get a Bulgarian IP address is to access Bulgarian websites. Geo-restriction isn't going anywhere soon, and while governments and multi-billion dollar media industries try to tighten their grip on the internet, there are only going to be more blocked sites in the future. You may have discovered that a Bulgarian website you want to access is blocked because the site rejects foreign IPs. You may find that your country has blocked the site because it's been deemed unsafe. It could just be that the website is super slow because you moved halfway across the world. Having a local IP fixes all these problems.

Another advantage, though perhaps more nefarious in nature is that Bulgaria is part of the Eastern block and the laws there are quite different from places like the US, Canada, and Western Europe. Things like P2P and other types of online organizations or hobbyists are definitely the least of the problems of the government, so they tend to go unregulated. If privacy is a concern of yours, Bulgaria might be the country location you're looking for.

VPNs VS Proxies

This of course leads to the choice of whether you want to choose a proxy or a VPN to change your IP address.

Open proxies and web based proxies are free and convenient, but with web based proxies, you'll find it hard to locate one that actually gets you into Bulgaria. Most don't say where your new IP is. Both are easily detected, and may get you rejected from secure accounts or membership websites that are designed to blog spam, fraud, and suspicious activity. Open proxies do come in varying levels of encryption and anonymity, but you're still wagering a large bet that the proxy server in Bulgaria is being monitored by an upstanding citizen who won't spy on, track, or sell your private data.

VPNs are of course more reliable, better maintained, and let you choose your server locations more easily. Many are designed with easy-to-use software, and offer lots of options like port forwarding, split tunneling, or simultaneous login. Cool stuff, I know.

No all VPN services have VPN servers in Bulgaria, so be sure to check before you sign up. Another thing to watch out of when signing up for a VPN service is whether or not you get access to other servers on the network. Some places require you to choose one country location, while others give you free access to the entire virtual private network in addition to your Bulgarian IP locations.