Why US Apps Get Blocked Abroad: Overview
You land in London, open your banking app to check your balance, and see: "This service is not available in your region." Your heart sinks. You try Venmo to send money to a friend—blocked. You open Netflix to relax—the library looks completely different. Welcome to the hidden travel problem nobody warns you about.
This comprehensive list covers 73 apps blocked abroad—from banking and payments to streaming and ride-sharing—plus the VPN solutions that actually bypass these restrictions. Geo-blocking affects everything travelers rely on, and US apps blocked overseas is a common problem most people don't anticipate. This guide focuses on services US-based travelers rely on—for European-specific apps like Revolut, Swish, or BBC iPlayer, see our EU guide. The good news? There's a simple fix.
Key Takeaways
- 47% of VPN users employ VPNs while traveling abroad for access and security
- Banking apps are the highest pain point—Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App are completely US-only
- Streaming libraries vary dramatically: US Netflix has ~6,000 titles vs ~3,000 in many regions
- A 3-minute VPN setup before your trip prevents most geo-blocking frustrations
Why Do Apps Stop Working When You Travel?
When you connect to the internet abroad, websites and apps see your IP address—a unique identifier that reveals your location. Companies use this to decide what content and features to show you. Here's why they block:
Security & Fraud Prevention
Banks block foreign IPs to prevent unauthorized access. Your US login from a UK IP looks like a potential fraud attempt.
Licensing Restrictions
Streaming services pay for content rights per region. Netflix US content licenses don't cover playback in France.
Regulatory Compliance
Financial apps must comply with local regulations (OFAC sanctions, FATCA, GDPR). It's easier to block than to comply everywhere.
Market Segmentation
Companies charge different prices by region. Blocking prevents users from accessing cheaper markets.
Infrastructure Limitations
Some services only have servers in specific regions and can't reliably serve users elsewhere.
The Solution is Simple
Banking Apps Blocked Abroad: Your Most Critical Travel Risk
Banking and payment apps cause the most travel frustration because they're essential and have the strictest geo-blocking. Imagine being stranded abroad with no way to access your money.
Service availability as of December 2025. Policies may vary by account type and change over time.
Payment Apps (US-Only)
Cannot sign in outside US; officially recommends PayPal abroad
Requires US bank + US phone number; no international support
Limited to US and UK domestic transfers only
Major US Banks
Frequently triggers fraud alerts from UK and European IPs
May block access even with travel notification set
UK specifically flagged as high security risk
Blocks foreign rental car and hotel transactions
Investment Apps
Not available in Japan, Canada, Australia, India, most of Asia/Africa
US-only service
US-only service
Canada-only service
Why Banks Are Extra Strict
When your banking app says 'service not available in your region'... via GIPHY
Complete List of Geo-Blocked Services
Beyond banking, here are the major apps and services that won't work—or work differently—when you travel abroad.
Service availability as of December 2025. Policies may vary and change over time.
Filter by Category
| Service | Category | Availability | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyft | rideshare | US only | Completely unusable abroad |
| Grab | rideshare | Southeast Asia only | Regional alternative to Uber |
| Gojek | rideshare | Indonesia/SE Asia | Super-app with multiple services |
| Ola | rideshare | India-focused | India's largest rideshare |
| DiDi | rideshare | Regional apps | Different apps for China, Latin America, Australia |
| Hulu | streaming | US only | No international access whatsoever |
| BBC iPlayer | streaming | UK only | Requires UK IP address |
| Peacock | streaming | Primarily US | Very limited international |
| Paramount+ | streaming | Most of Europe blocked | Regional licensing issues |
| Pandora | streaming | Not in Europe | Music streaming blocked |
| DoorDash | food | US, CA, AU, NZ | US account won't work elsewhere |
| Grubhub | food | US only | No international presence |
| SkipTheDishes | food | Canada only | 55% Canadian market share |
| Swiggy | food | India only | Major Indian delivery app |
| Zomato | food | India only | Indian food delivery |
| Mobile Suica | other | Japan only | Android requires Japanese phone |
| MyChart | other | US only | Healthcare portal blocked abroad |
| Google Pay | other | Global but limited | Can't add foreign bank cards |
Japan's Unique Transit Restrictions
Sports Streaming Blackouts
Real Traveler Horror Stories
These aren't hypotheticals—these are real experiences from travelers who learned about geo-blocking the hard way.
"I have a friend that is stranded in Cyprus, his bank locked his account due to a lot of activity coming from Cyprus, thinking it might be fraud...he no longer had money to pay his bill or food, hospital expenses...he went to the Embassy there to get help, they told him to pay his bill and get a ticket and go home."
— Reddit user on banking lockouts
"After my 5th separate attempt at booking a foreign rental car failed last weekend, I finally called the bank in frustration...I was mildly annoyed since the US Bank Altitude Reserve...is a travel rewards credit card."
— Traveler with a travel credit card
"On a recent trip to the UK, my bank blocked my attempt to use an ATM. Even after doing the travel notification, UK was still blocked."
— US traveler in UK
"VPNs don't work as well as they used to. Last month in Mexico I had numerous stateside providers (Netflix, Amazon, HBO) turn down my spoofing because they were smart enough to detect the VPN."
— Bogleheads Forum, March 2025
"When I started traveling full time, it became an annoyance and hindrance. I got locked out of accounts and spent ages on the phone calling customer service. I couldn't download tax forms or access bank accounts."
— Digital nomad experience
Every traveler who just discovered their banking app doesn't work abroad via GIPHY
Don't become the next horror story
Best VPNs to Bypass Geo-Blocked Apps (2025)
These premium VPNs maintain reliable servers worldwide and bypass geo-blocking effectively. All offer 30-day money-back guarantees—try risk-free. Bonus: VPNs can also help you save money on flights and hotels by accessing regional pricing.
Pricing and server counts as of December 2025. Features and availability may change.
NordVPN
Best for restrictive countries
Best for:Travelers to China, UAE, or countries with strict internet controls
Obfuscated servers that disguise VPN traffic
- Fastest speeds in testing
- Obfuscated servers for China/UAE
- SmartPlay for streaming
- 5 independent security audits
- Slightly higher price than Surfshark
Surfshark
Best value for families
Best for:Families and travelers with multiple devices
GPS Override makes location-sensitive apps work properly
- Unlimited simultaneous devices
- GPS Override (Android) fixes app location checks
- NoBorders mode for censored regions
- Best price at $1.99/mo
- Slightly slower than NordVPN
Mysterium VPN
Hardest to detect
Best for:Privacy enthusiasts and when traditional VPNs get blocked
Decentralized network using residential IPs
- Residential IPs (harder to detect)
- Decentralized network
- Works where traditional VPNs fail
- Crypto payment option
- No iOS app
- Less beginner-friendly
Quick Recommendations by Traveler Type
Casual traveler (1-2 trips/year)
Best value at $1.99/mo, easy to use
Frequent business traveler
Fastest for video calls, obfuscated servers
Digital nomad
Unlimited devices, includes antivirus
Privacy-focused/tech-savvy
Residential IPs bypass stricter blocks
Traveling to China/UAE
Obfuscated servers essential for restrictive countries
All providers include 30-day money-back guarantees
Streaming While Abroad
Travel Checklist: Prevent App Geo-Blocking
Don't wait until you're abroad to discover problems. This checklist ensures your tech is travel-ready.
Your Travel Tech Prep
Install and test VPN
1 week beforeDownload before leaving—some countries block VPN download sites
Set travel notifications on all cards/banks
1 week beforeInclude specific countries and dates; some expire after 24 hours
Add backup payment method
1 week beforeSecond credit card from different bank; notify both. Also backup important data before travel.
Download offline content
1-2 days beforeNetflix shows, Spotify playlists, Google Maps areas
Download regional apps
1-2 days beforeGrab for SE Asia, Deliveroo for UK, local transit apps
Set up Google Voice for verification codes
1 week beforeUS number that works abroad for 2FA texts
Export password manager vault
1 day beforeOffline backup in case you get locked out
Test VPN connection to home country
Day of travelVerify banking app works through VPN
You, fully prepared for your trip with VPN ready to go via GIPHY
Pro Tip: Test Before You Leave
Download VPN Before Restrictive Countries
Entertainment While Traveling
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources
- Global VPN Usage Statistics 2024 (Q2 2024)
- Venmo International Usage Policy (2024)
- Zelle Terms of Service - US Only (2024)
- Netflix Library Size by Country (Dec 2024)
- Consumer Reports VPN Study (2016)
VPN usage is legal in most jurisdictions including the US, UK, EU, and Australia. Some countries have restrictions—always check local laws before traveling. The information in this article is for educational purposes. Service availability and pricing subject to change. Always comply with each platform's Terms of Service.
Last updated: December 2025