Claude is an artificial intelligence chatbot created by Anthropic to be helpful, harmless, and honest. While Claude was designed primarily for users in the US, it can still be quite useful for international users as well. Here’s a guide on how to utilize Claude from outside the United States.
Checking Claude Availability in Your Country
The first step is to check if Claude is available in your country. Claude is currently only available in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. If you are not located in one of those countries, you unfortunately won’t be able to use Claude at this time.
Anthropic intends to expand Claude’s availability to more regions globally, but the timeline for that is still unclear. Be sure to check their website periodically for updates on international launch plans.
Using a VPN to Access Claude
If Claude is not yet available in your country, using a VPN service is the best way to gain access. Here’s how to use a VPN to use Claude:
1. Choose a Reliable VPN Provider
Select a well-known, trustworthy VPN provider that has servers located in countries where Claude is supported. Some top options include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost and Private Internet Access.
2. Download and Install the VPN Software
Download the VPN provider’s software on your desktop or mobile device. Follow the installation prompts to get the VPN app properly set up.
3. Connect to a Supported Country’s Server
Launch the VPN app and connect to a server located in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand. This will make it appear like you are accessing the internet from that country.
4. Go to Claude’s Website or App
Once connected to a supported country’s server, you can now open Claude’s website or mobile app. Claude should be fully accessible as if you were located in that country.
5. Disconnect the VPN When Done
Don’t forget to disconnect from the VPN server when you are finished using Claude. You want to avoid keeping the VPN connected at all times.
Using Claude’s Limited International Beta
In addition to the full public launch in supported countries, Claude has also been opening a limited international beta for people to apply for early access.
To try getting into this beta:
- Go to the Claude website
- Scroll down and look for the “Request Beta Access” box
- Input your email address and country
- If selected, Anthropic will send you an email with instructions on how to download Claude and start using it in your region.
The international beta is still restricted, but provides another option for accessing Claude abroad before the full international rollout.
Signing Up with a US Address
Some users outside the US have reported success signing up for Claude by using a US-based address.
To try this:
- Use a website like FakeAddressGenerator.com to get a US address.
- Input that US address when creating your Claude account.
- You may need to utilize a VPN as well during the initial sign-up process.
Using a US address circumvents the location check and lets you access Claude. Just keep in mind you will still need a VPN afterwards whenever using Claude to appear like you are in the US.
Waiting for the International Launch
If the options above do not work, unfortunately the only thing left is to patiently await the international launch in your country. Make sure to subscribe to Anthropic’s email list for updates on when that may occur.
Also follow their social media channels like LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, etc. Anthropic will promote the international expansion once they are ready, so staying tuned to their channels is key.
You can also reach out to their customer support team to inquire if they have any timeline estimates for when Claude may launch in your specific country.
While frustrating, just keep in mind Anthropic is a new startup still scaling up operations. Expanding Claude globally will take time. But an international rollout is definitely in their plans for the future based on user demand.
The Benefits of Using Claude
To wrap up, here’s a quick recap of why accessing Claude abroad can be worthwhile:
- Claude is very conversational – it’s more natural chatting than with some other AI assistants.
- It excels at explaining concepts and topics in simple ways.
- Claude is ideal for casual web searches, answering basic questions, definitions, and more.
- You can request Claude to generate content like articles, stories, code, and more.
- Claude has a friendly, honest, thoughtful personality.
- It learns based on user feedback, so it continuously improves.
The bottom line is Claude aims to provide an overall pleasant, helpful, harmless experience. With a bit of effort accessing it abroad via the methods above, international users can enjoy these same benefits.
Hopefully this guide has provided some useful tips on how to use the AI assistant Claude outside of the US until it has a full international launch. With a quality VPN service, waiting for beta access, or temporarily using a US address, people across the world can find ways to enjoy Claude’s capabilities.
Conclusion
There are several options for accessing the AI assistant Claude outside of the US where it is currently limited to. Using a VPN service set to countries where Claude is available is the most straightforward approach. Joining the waitlist for Claude’s limited international beta access provides another avenue. And some have luck signing up with a US address, although a VPN is still required for ongoing use. While waiting for the full global launch may be frustrating, taking advantage of these workarounds allows international users to enjoy the benefits of Claude’s natural conversation abilities, knowledge explanations, content generation, and friendly personality even before it officially rolls out in more countries. With a bit of effort, Claude can be a helpful chatbot for users across the globe.
