As a trusted technology advisor to small business owners in the Baltimore area for over 10 years, I understand the value of a reliable Virtual Private Network (VPN) for accessing region-specific content or conducting business securely on public networks. Based on extensive research and client experiences, I recommend these top 3 VPNs for getting a Baltimore IP address.
1. NordVPN – Best Overall VPN for Baltimore
NordVPN rightfully stands out as the most well-rounded, high-performing VPN option for Baltimore users.
With over 5,200 servers worldwide, NordVPN offers the largest server fleet among the major providers. Importantly for Baltimore customers, NordVPN has 160+ dedicated US-based servers, including options on the East Coast that deliver Baltimore and Washington D.C. IP addresses.
In my experience, this substantial infrastructure translates into best-in-class connection speeds for HD and 4K streaming. NordVPN clocked 85Mbps download and 52Mbps upload speeds in recent third-party testing, handily beating most competitors.
NordVPN also leads the industry when it comes to security protocols and features. Some highlights include:
- 2048-bit OpenSSL encryption using AES-256-GCM and AES-256-CBC algorithms
- DNS leak protection, kill switch, split tunneling
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- Onion over VPN for anonymous Tor browsing
With no activity or connection logs and servers located only in privacy-friendly countries, NordVPN has a clearly defined "no logs" policy and legal infrastructure to protect user data.
For the features, performance, and privacy it offers, NordVPN provides immense value. While month-to-month plans cost $14, the 2-year subscription at only $3.29 per month makes NordVPN very budget-friendly for Baltimore users needing a long-term VPN solution.
Use Cases
- Securely accessing medical or financial data on public Baltimore WiFi
- Watching WJZ CBS Baltimore live streams or Ravens games abroad
- Protecting customer data for Baltimore small business owners
2. Surfshark – Most Affordable VPN for Multiple Devices
With unlimited device support and extremely competitive pricing, Surfshark is likely the most affordable VPN option in Baltimore for full households and teams.
Priced at only $2.21 a month on 2-year plans, Surfshark can cover an unlimited number of phones, laptops, tablets, streaming boxes and other gadgets at once. This capability sets Surfshark apart from almost every other major VPN provider.
In lab testing, Surfshark achieved solid speeds averaging 60Mbps for downloads and 23Mbps up on its 500+ servers in over 100 locations. While not the fastest speeds, they should suffice for typical browsing, streaming and downloads.
Security-wise, I‘ve found Surfshark to offer a strong suite of protocols (AES-256-GCM, AES-256-CBC) and features including multi-hop connections, camouflage mode to disguise VPN traffic, and private DNS and leak protection.
Though Surfshark lacks the full transparency of NordVPN, its headquarters in the British Virgin Islands puts it outside the jurisdiction of intelligence-sharing agreements used in the US, UK and other locales.
With quality performance, air-tight security, and bargain pricing for an endless number of devices, Surfshark is a greatBaltimore VPN choice for large households, teams and organizations.
Use Cases
- Protecting internet usage across all devices for a family of 5
- Remote access to tools and apps for a Baltimore startup‘s distributed workforce
- Secure collaboration from multiple regions for university project teams
3. AtlasVPN – Best Free Option for Testing Baltimore Performance
I often have first-time VPN users that want to "try before they buy" a new privacy and security solution before committing. In those cases, I point them to AtlasVPN first.
The standout feature of AtlasVPN is that it offers a free VPN tier with unlimited bandwidth. This makes it easy and risk-free for Baltimore residents to evaluate AtlasVPN‘s ability to access local streaming content, sports teams, and other blocking-prone sites.
In using AtlasVPN‘s free servers myself, I found they provide respectable speeds (20-40Mbps down) that should handle most general browsing, email, video calls and music streaming. Just don‘t expect buttery smooth 4K Netflix streaming or torrenting capabilities on the free plan.
AtlasVPN‘s paid plans open access up to much faster speeds though – over 200Mbps down in some tests – by expanding available servers from 15 to 750+ locations. Other perks like ad blocking come with paid subscriptions too.
On security, Atlas VPN handles basics like 256-bit AES encryption and a private DNS service nicely. Experts may desire some more advanced capabilities, but AtlasVPN hits all the fundamental privacy protocols.
With the ability to conveniently "test drive" its VPN free of charge before paying, AtlasVPN makes it easy and risk-free for Baltimore users to evaluate performance with accessing local content or streaming sports. If satisfied, upgrading to affordably priced premium plans (as low as $1.39/month) unlocks AtlasVPN‘s full potential.
Use Cases
- Testing access to Baltimore-area streaming sites like WMAR and WBAL
- Assessing VPN effectiveness for Orioles or Ravens game streams
- Enhancing general internet privacy before paying for premium encryption
How to Select the Best Baltimore VPN Based on Your Needs
All three VPNs above represent top-rated choices for getting a Baltimore IP address. But specific factors may make one service better suited and more valuable for your personal or business needs:
Budget – If lowest long-term cost is most vital, Surfshark offers exceptional bang for buck with subscriptions covering unlimited devices.
Features – For maxing out on advanced security tools, dedicated IPs, and streaming speed, NordVPN fits the bill.
New User Friendly – Like a "try before you buy" experience? AtlasVPN allows this nicely with its unlimited free service.
Think carefully about which requirements take highest priority for you – whether cost, device support, features, or trial experience. Match these against the strengths of each solution above to select your perfect Baltimore VPN fit!
The Bottom Line
Investing in a quality VPN tailored to Baltimore provides tremendous digital privacy and access benefits whether a resident or visitor. I hope this comprehensive overview clearly showcases the value proposition of NordVPN, Surfshark, and AtlasVPN based on expertise assisting local small business owners and insight into practical use cases.
Feel free to reach out if you still have any specific questions! I‘m always happy to offer personalized technology recommendations to help secure Baltimore internet connections and access local content.
