Streaming services like Netflix or Disney+ have given us all easy access to more TV and movies than ever before, but there’s a catch: some streaming services are only available in certain countries, while others have different libraries depending on where you live, or just charge drastically different prices around the world.
This means you might want to access a version of a video streamer that isn’t available where you are – whether it’s catching up with BBC iPlayer from outside the UK, watching the best of US Netflix from elsewhere in the world, or simply save money by registering as if you were in a country where the rates are cheaper.
The good news is that you can bypass these blocks by using a VPN. Below are the five best VPNs we recommend specifically for streaming TV and movies online – all tested and reviewed by us – and below, more in-depth advice on what to look for in a VPN and the risks involved.
Best Streaming VPN 2023
1. NordVPN
Benefits
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Reliably unblocks popular streaming services
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High speeds
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Independent audit
The inconvenients
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Not the absolute cheapest VPN
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Not unlimited connections
NordVPN is a great choice for streaming thanks to excellent speeds and wide device support.
The service reliably unblocks Netflix in various regions as well as many other streaming services, including BBC iPlayer in the UK. Its SmartPlay feature means you don’t have to worry about choosing the right server: you just choose the country and the apps will select the best server for streaming.
NordVPN apps are available for just about any device you might want to use for streaming, and there’s 24/7 tech support to help you out when you need it.
Thanks to its NordLynx protocol, based on WireGuard, Nord’s connection speeds are among the fastest and the applications are very easy to use.
It’s not the cheapest option and the number of devices using the service at the same time is limited, but if that’s not an issue (and it won’t be for many) then NordVPN is an excellent choice.
You can see the latest NordVPN offers here.
Read our full NordVPN review
2. Surfshark
Benefits
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Unlimited connections
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Audited No-Logs Policy
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Multi-Hop Servers
The inconvenients
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Doesn’t list the services it unblocks
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The price doubles on renewal
Surfshark is a great choice for unblocking streaming services. It doesn’t list the services it unblocks, but it does have thousands of “streaming optimized” servers in 65 countries.
More importantly, we found it to reliably unblock video from various streaming services in our tests, and had no issues with iPlayer every time we tried to watch something.
It will also unlock 15 Netflix regions, as well as Disney+, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and many more.
The reason we put Surfshark above some others here is because it’s a great value package: it doesn’t limit the number of devices you can use, supports supports WireGuard for very fast speeds and has a good selection of apps, including Amazon Fire TV. Just watch for the steep price hike on renewal – a good reason to opt for a longer two-year subscription.
Read our full Surfshark review
3. CyberGhost
Benefits
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Unblocks many video services
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Recent independent audit
The inconvenients
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The price doubles when renewing the two-year subscription
CyberGhost is one of the most trusted streaming VPNs. When we last checked, it was able to unblock every streaming service we tried, including Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and ITV X (another UK-based service). And since CyberGhost has an absolutely huge selection of servers, if the recommended one doesn’t work, you can try a few others.
The other strong point is the performance. With WireGuard available on all of its apps, you can expect fast connections for things like file downloads, 4K streaming, and gaming.
It is a well-established VPN service that is based in Romania. It’s good for privacy, and you don’t have to blindly trust CyberGhost’s privacy policy because Deloitte audited it and found no issues.
Consider the tempting deals on two- or three-year subscriptions and the ability to use the service on up to seven devices at the same time, this is a great option for anyone looking for a capable VPN that won’t break. the bank. Just be sure to cancel that subscription before it renews to avoid paying a higher price for the next one.
Read our full CyberGhost review
4.ExpressVPN
Benefits
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Fast and reliable connections
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Enhanced privacy and security
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Big Unlock
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Additional MediaStreamer service
The inconvenients
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Dear
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No double jump option
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Only 5 connections
ExpressVPN is the one to choose if you’re looking for a premium VPN service that will reliably unblock streaming content, and you don’t mind paying a little more each year.
There are plenty of apps, as well as browser extensions that actually use the VPN service (and aren’t just proxies), and the company claims to not only unblock over 200 streaming services, but also actively monitors and monitors them. make sure they all work.
ExpressVPN also offers a router “app” which is considerably easier to use than others, even allowing you to switch servers without too much hassle. This lets you unblock content on an Apple TV, Xbox, PS5, or any other device that doesn’t natively support VPNs. If you want all your home devices to connect through a VPN, ExpressVPN is the best choice for running over a router. He even now sells his own Wi-Fi 6 router.
In addition to the VPN service, it also offers the MediaStreamer DNS which you can use if you are having trouble unblocking while using the VPN app. This is a handy alternative that has worked for us before when we had trouble accessing iPlayer.
There’s great tech support if you need help, and the proprietary Lightway protocol means you get fast speeds that probably won’t slow down your broadband connection. Privacy and security are also excellent, and the company conducted nearly a dozen audits in 2022, covering its apps and privacy policy.
ExpressVPN lacks a few features, such as double-hop routes that send your connection through two servers instead of one. And if you’re not using the router app, you’re limited to connecting just five devices at the same time.
Get three months free when you sign up for a year of ExpressVPN
Read our full ExpressVPN review
5. Private Internet Access
Benefits
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Audited No-Logs Policy
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Voucher for unblocking streaming services
The inconvenients
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The price doubles at the end of the subscription
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Browser extensions are not VPNs
Private Internet Access is a feature-rich VPN service that should appeal if you’re a gamer, privacy advocate, or want to unblock streaming services. It is also good value for money.
It’s not the fastest or the cheapest, but it has plenty of servers, is highly configurable, and now has a reassuring Deloitte audit that makes its US location a non-issue for privacy-conscious people. .
It’s not our top pick for unblocking streaming services, but it should unblock everything you need and tick enough boxes elsewhere to be worth considering.
See all prices and plans on the Private Internet Access website.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
What to Look for in a VPN for Streaming
The first thing to keep in mind is that accessing any of the streaming services from another country may violate their terms of service, and you could lose your account, so proceed at your own risk. . That said, we’ve yet to hear from anyone whose account has been terminated: these services want you to keep paying, so they only go after VPNs that bypass their blocks, not consumers. .
What you may encounter is that – on occasion – you may not be able to unblock, say, Disney+ with your chosen VPN service. When this happens, use the VPN’s technical support, which is usually available via live chat 24/7, to find out how to fix the problem. Or just try connecting to another server in the same country.
The other thing to look out for when choosing a VPN specifically for streaming services is to check which services the VPN claims to unblock, and in particular which regions you want to use.
Beyond that, fast and reliable service is of course desirable, as is the availability of apps for the devices you want to watch videos on, like Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and others.
Keep in mind that some devices do not support VPN connections natively. It’s possible to set up a VPN on a PlayStation, Xbox, or Apple TV, but it’s definitely not a quick and convenient process, so even if a VPN service advertises support for those platforms, take it it with a pinch of salt.
If a VPN doesn’t sound like the right option for you, it’s worth considering the StreamLocator Hub. Instead of connecting to different servers, this hub projects its own Wi-Fi network that you can connect to and automatically bypasses geo-blocked content.
But for a low monthly price, a VPN is just what most people need to unblock streaming services. Here are what we consider to be the best overall options for watching TV and movies online.
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