Best streaming VPN: At a glance

ExpressVPN

NordVPN

PIA VPN

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The best VPN for streaming can unlock thousands of new TV show episodes, live sports fixtures, and blockbusters unavailable to stream in your country.

And that’s not on top of the other benefits of using a VPN, like supercharged security when online, protection against malware, a password manager, and much more.

Yes, it wasn’t long ago that VPNs were considered niche applications you’d only find installed on a work laptop or the PC of a keen torrent user. But that’s all changed.

These days Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are well and truly mainstream. That’s because the best VPNs will offer a convenient and affordable way to keep all of your online data safe, thanks to military-grade encryption. This will keep your web browsing history locked away from prying eyes, including your internet service provider, like BT, Sky, Plusnet, and others.

But more excitingly, VPNs can be used to bypass regional restrictions to download TV shows and blockbuster movies, or stream sports fixtures from across the globe. VPNs can also swerve restrictions on your Wi-Fi connection – like those imposed by a school, business, hotel, or university – to boost your streaming speeds or unlock certain sites or streamers.

For the best results when streaming with a VPN, you’ll need a good number of server locations around the world, as well as minimal impact on your connection speed. The provider that ticks all of these boxes (and more) is ExpressVPN – our top-rated VPN for streaming.

For a limited time, ExpressVPN is offering 3 months of its VPN service for free. The remaining months of your subscription will be slashed by 49% as part of the incredible discount (easily one of the best VPN deals around!)

In our tests, ExpressVPN provided the fastest connection of any VPN service, making it perfect for bandwidth-intensive tasks like streaming video and playing multiplayer games online.

Not only that, ExpressVPN has a dedicated team that works tirelessly to ensure its server locations are always unblocked for Netflix, Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer, and other popular streamers. This is how ExpressVPN has managed to swerve the crackdown from Netflix (something that isn’t true for all VPN services) so subscribers can still access the vast catalogue of shows and films available on US Netflix, or the cult British comedies only available on UK Netflix for those overseas.

This is one of the reasons this popular VPN was awarded the full five stars in our ExpressVPN review.

ExpressVPN – Get 3 months FREE + save 49%

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When it comes to streaming video, ExpressVPN is the ultimate VPN service that money can buy. It has a tiny impact on download speeds – perfect for streaming, but it also works hard to bring a bevvy of new servers online that aren’t blocked by Netflix!

NordVPN – Get 3 months FREE + save 64%

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If you’re a VPN novice, the beautifully designed apps available from NordVPN make it a brilliant choice to unlock streaming catalogues from around the world. It has software for iOS and Android, Windows and Mac, Fire TV Stick, and even your Wi-Fi router

VPNs are a perfect solution for ex-pats who want to access catch-up and on-demand services that might be blocked in other countries, such as ITV Hub, BBC iPlayer, and All4. If you’re travelling abroad on holiday or for work and are desperate to catch the latest episode of your favourite ongoing show – a Virtual Private Network will unlock access to these services so you can stream live or download on-demand at a later time.

Of course, VPNs also allow you to broaden your horizons and access content not usually available in your country. Streaming services, like Netflix and Disney+, tailor their streaming library to each market. So the selection of TV shows and movies available in the UK is different from France, Spain, United States, and Canada. It’s well known that US subscribers have a much, much larger library of shows and films to stream – often for the same monthly subscription fee as UK users are charged.

A VPN can be a simple way to get more for your money – unlocking thousands of hours of new shows and films. Entire streaming services, like HBO Max, Sling TV, and Hulu, are currently unavailable in the UK due to licensing agreements with broadcasters. Of course, always check the small-print to make sure you’re not breaking the T&Cs of the streamer, but if not, Virtual Private Networks can grant access to some of the best television, sports, films, documentaries, and reality TV on the market.

We’ve got more details on ExpressVPN and the service that it offers below. Of course, it’s not the only brilliant streaming VPN available today. Our complete ranking of the best VPNs for streaming is as follows…

1. ExpressVPN
2. NordVPN
3. PIA VPN
4. ProtonVPN

Scroll down for more information on all of the VPN services listed above, as well as answers to some of the most commonly-asked questions about VPNs, like what a VPN actually is and how they work, as well as extra information on the best VPN for Netflix, the best livestream VPN, and whether it’s legal to use a VPN when streaming. Scroll down for our complete guide to the best streaming VPN, or use the links above to jump straight to the relevant section.

What is a VPN?

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network to use its full title, is a lightweight application that creates a secure, encrypted tunnel for all of your web traffic whenever you go online.

If you’re connected to a busy public Wi-Fi network, like those found in coffee shops and airport terminals, this encrypted tunnel will shield all of your traffic from prying eyes – preventing bad actors from intercepting your personal data. Meanwhile, back at home, it blocks your Internet Service Provider (ISP) from keeping tabs on your online activity …a bit like a supercharged version of the Incognito Mode built into Google Chrome.

If you’re using a work, university or school Wi-Fi network to get online, hiding everything you’re doing online – including the names of the websites, the time you’re spending on each site, any searches online, or personal information inputted into forms – can help you bypass restrictions on blocks. Since everything is encrypted, you can avoid blocks on some activities, like online gaming or streaming (these restrictions are sometimes put in place because these activities use more bandwidth than web browsing)

You might also want to rely on a VPN to keep your internet history from prying eyes of the Government too, with these apps particularly crucial to whistleblowers and sources helping journalists uncover wrongdoing, for example. In some countries, like Turkey or China, a number of the globe’s biggest internet services have been banned due to tough censorship laws. If you’re visiting and need access to the likes of Twitter or Google to continue working, you’ll need access to a VPN.

Switching to an IP address in another country can unlock video streaming opportunities unavailable in your current location

So, what has all of this got to do with streaming?

Well, while encryption and privacy are incredibly important aspects of any VPN service (and the reason that your workplace likely requires you to turn on a VPN before working remotely), it is the ability to manually alter your IP address that make these apps infinitely more exciting. And perfect for video streaming.

Since all of your data is being routed via an encrypted tunnel, it’s possible to redirect your data via any number of VPN server locations dotted around the globe. Why? This changes your IP address – the phone number-like identifier assigned to any device that connects to the internet and contains important data, including information on your current location. By switching to an IP address in another country, like the USA for example, you can unlock video streaming opportunities unavailable elsewhere.

Why are VPNs good for streaming?

It’s the ability to route your internet traffic through servers around the globe that makes VPNs so brilliant for video streaming. By switching IP addresses to appear as if you’re based in another country, VPN users can unlock streaming services that are unavailable in their current location, as well as different shows and movies on their existing streaming video apps.

That’s because streaming services – like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video – offer a different selection of shows and films in each country they operated within. Aside from booking a dizzying number of flights, a VPN is the only way to access all of this content.

There are other streaming services, like HBO Max and Hulu, which aren’t available in the UK yet, which a good VPN can unblock. Likewise, when travelling abroad, a VPN can grant you the ability to access streaming services as if you were sitting on the sofa at home. While BBC iPlayer is available to watch on a number of devices in the UK, if you forgot to download offline versions of your favourite show or movie before travelling, you’ll be locked out of the app.

How to use a VPN for streaming

There’s no difference between using a VPN to stream and anything else you might do online. First up, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve downloaded the correct app from your Virtual Private Network onto the device you’re planning to use. This could include desktop software, or an add-on for your web browser, such as Google Chrome or Firefox. If there isn’t a dedicated app for the device you’re planning to use (some streaming dongles, like Chromecast with Google TV and Roku, don’t offer the ability to install a VPN onto the device itself), then you might need to download and install software from your VPN onto your Wi-Fi router, so that every device connected to your Wi-Fi network is automatically covered by the VPN.

If that sounds a little too technical, it might be worth switching to another device. Once you’ve got the application up and running, you’ll want to enable the VPN (if it’s not enabled by default each time that your device connects to the internet) and then navigate to the streaming service you’d like to watch. If you’re looking to unblock content from a specific country (or use a streaming service only available in select countries worldwide), you’ll need to handpick a server from the list of available options from your VPN. You might need to refresh the streaming service – closing the app on your iPhone or Android, for example – so that it acknowledges that it has, erm, travelled abroad.

What is the best streaming VPN?

Looking for the best VPN for streaming? Look no further than ExpressVPN.

This critically-acclaimed provider ranked highly in our list of best VPNs and best VPN for Amazon Firestick, but when it comes to streaming, it manages to edge out the competition. That’s because ExpressVPN has a dedicated team that ensures its servers across the globe work seamlessly with Netflix, even as the US streaming service has ramped-up efforts to block people abroad from tapping into the vast library of shows and movies available to Netflix subscribers in the United States.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

Brilliant VPN That’s Unmatched For Video Streaming

Things To Know

Money-back guarantee: Yes, 30 days
Customer support: 24/7 live chat
Server locations: 160+
Maximum number of connections: 5
Password manager: Yes

What We Love

• Fastest VPN Connections Around
• Brilliant Apps For All Platforms
• Dedicated Team To Unblock Netflix
• Split Tunnelling Included
• Never Stores Data On Customers

What We Don’t

• Expensive Compared To Rivals
• 5 Device Limit Can Be Restrictive

With apps for a truckload of popular devices – including iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, and macOS, to name a few – you’ll be able to stream from the US Netflix catalogue on a range of gadgets. ExpressVPN even has software for your Wi-Fi router, so you can unlock the perks of its VPN services on devices without the ability to install third-party software, like a Smart TV.

In our testing, ExpressVPN has a minimal impact on download speeds, so you shouldn’t have to suffer through endless loading times before getting stuck into a new binge-able series from Netflix US, for example. After all, if you’re using a server that’s halfway around the globe, it will take longer for your data to be beamed across the planet. That’s something that ExpressVPN minimises as much as possible, something you won’t find with some more affordable rivals.

The ability to stream at close to your normal unprotected internet speeds is one of the reasons that we awarded a full five-stars to this VPN service in our in-depth ExpressVPN review.

But what really pushes ExpressVPN above its rivals is the fact that it works incredibly hard to ensure that it has a steady stream of new servers coming online to escape Netflix’s recent crackdown on VPNs. While some providers struggle to unlock the full catalogue available in the United States, ExpressVPN never runs into an issue.

It also cuts out the hassle that you might have with some VPN providers that don’t specifically go out of their way to bring online new servers that work with Netflix – switching between a number of locations within the country to find one that works. ExpressVPN makes it an impossibly simple tap-and-go.

If you’re only planning to use your VPN to boost your streaming habits at home, this is why you need ExpressVPN in your arsenal.

Of course, it’s not all roses. If you’ve got a truckload of gadgets, the 5 device limit might put you off ExpressVPN. However, the company does offer dedicated apps to install on your router – encrypting every device that you own each time they connect to your home Wi-Fi network.

ExpressVPN pledges to never collect identifying information about its customers, including IP address, online activity, traffic destination, or even the length of each session. For those who want a VPN for privacy benefits, this is immensely reassuring. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention laws. So the company isn’t legally obliged to keep tabs on the browsing habits of its customers.

ExpressVPN accepts a number of payment methods, including Mastercard, VISA, American Express, and Discover. Paypal and Bitcoin are also options to subscribe to the VPN. Unfortunately, unlike NordVPN, there’s no support for Google Pay or Apple Pay for a one-tap checkout on your smartphone or tablet.

However, if you don’t want to pay for a longer membership (you can unlock bigger discounts when you sign-up for a one-year membership, for example) upfront, ExpressVPN has added support for Klarna – so you can break up the payment into smaller instalments.

Get 3 months FREE + save 49%

£10.81 £5.57 View Deal

New ExpressVPN subscribers can unlock 15 months of the award-winning VPN for the price of 12 months. But better than that, ExpressVPN supports Klarna, so you’ll still be able to pay in small instalments – while unlocking the biggest discount!

24/7 Customer Support: Yes | 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Yes

2. NordVPN

NordVPN

An Easy-To-Use VPN With Gorgeous Mobile Apps

Things To Know

Money-back guarantee: Yes, 30 days
Customer support: 24/7 live chat
Server locations: 80+
Maximum number of connections: 6
Password manager: Yes

What We Love

• Affordable Subscription
• Brilliant Apps For All Platforms
• Fast VPN Connection
• Monitors For Password Leaks
• Split Tunnelling Included
• Never Stores Data On Customers

What We Don’t

• Fewer Server Locations Than Rivals

If you’re not all that confident about using a Virtual Private Network for streaming, NordVPN is the best entry point.

The company has one of the most beautifully and intuitively designed apps on the market. Available on both iOS and Android – as well as a host of other devices, including Amazon’s popular Fire TV Stick range, Wi-Fi routers, Chromebooks, and tablets, to name just a few – the app makes it ludicrously easy for newcomers to get connected.

That, coupled with its cheaper monthly cost than ExpressVPN, is the reason that we named NordVPN as the best VPN service money can buy right now.

However, ExpressVPN’s laser-guided focus on ensuring that all of its servers are compatible with Netflix streaming does give it a slight edge when it comes to a VPN dedicated to streaming. That said, NordVPN is still great when it comes to switching to locations around the globe. It has over 5,000 servers spread across 60 countries worldwide, which should be more than enough to unlock the streaming services and sports fixtures that aren’t available in your current location.

Loading up the app, your frequently-used countries will be listed at the top – making it easy to jump back into your favourite series on US Netflix, for example.

NordVPN doesn’t offer connections in quite as many countries worldwide as ExpressVPN (60 versus 94), so those who want to appear in more exotic locations might want to look elsewhere. It also means you’re not going to be able to watch content from as many countries as ExpressVPN, which is a bit of a shame. Thanks to its choice of more than 5,000 servers available globally, even if you stumble across a server that has been blocked in Netflix’s ongoing crackdown on VPNs, you should easily be able to find a replacement with a quick tap or two. It also means you should be able to find a solid connection to a server that isn’t too congested – even at peak times.

NordVPN did have an impact on our download speeds during testing. While there was a slowdown in our internet speed, it was marginal. That said, ExpressVPN still offers the best low-latency VPN connection around, so if you’re already struggling with a sluggish home broadband connection without a VPN, then it might be worth plumping for ExpressVPN to ensure you can still stream at the highest picture quality available.

If you’re looking to save money on your monthly bills, then the small impact on your download speeds might be worth the trade-off. That’s because NordVPN offers some incredible deals, especially if you sign up to its one-year or two-year plans. It also offers free months of its VPN service when you sign-up for these longer plans too, extending the amount of time you’ll have access to this brilliant subscription service.

NordVPN accepts all major credit card providers, including Mastercard, VISA, AMEX, and Discovery. It also lets you pay with PayPal, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay. These options should let you breeze through the checkout process. You can also pay for NordVPN with the most popular cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Get 3 months FREE + save 64%

£9.99 £3.09 View Deal

For a limited time, get three months of NordVPN for free. Even better, the remaining months of your subscription will be discounted by a whopping 64% as part of its blockbuster Christmas sale!

24/7 Customer Support: Yes | 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Yes

3. PIA VPN

PIA VPN

Secure VPN With Some Unique Features

Things To Know

Money-back guarantee: Yes, 30 days
Customer support: 24/7 live chat
Server locations: 100+
Maximum number of connections: 10
Password manager: No

What We Love

• Brilliant Apps For All Platforms
• Feature Blocks Endless CAPTCHAs
• Can Be Used On 10 Devices
• Huge Number Of Payment Options
• Split Tunnelling Included

What We Don’t

• Can Reveal Data On Users

Private Internet Access (PIA) makes some bold claims about its streaming capabilities. It never places a limits on the amount of bandwidth available to its 15 million subscribers, so you shouldn’t see any slowdown when watching boxsets, sports or movies – even at peak time.

PIA has apps available for a wide range of devices, including Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV, games consoles, iOS and Android.

There’s also software to install on your Wi-Fi router, which ensures that every device connected to your home Wi-Fi network will be protected by end-to-end encryption. If you’ve manually changed your IP address to another nation, all of your gadgets will appear abroad too. That’s handy if you’re planning to stream with a device that doesn’t have a dedicated app from Private Internet Access.

If you’re planning to use a Virtual Private Network each time you stream video online, PIA has an incredibly useful feature that’ll save you a headache.

The ability to set a dedicated IP address means you’ll still be able to enjoy the benefits of a VPN – accessing boxsets from overseas, streaming services unavailable in your country – but won’t be confronted with CAPTCHAs and other security checks as your favourite sites think you’re logging in from a variety of locations around the globe (a possible sign of fraud). To avoid this, a dedicated IP address resolves this in the same way as logging in without a VPN prevents these headaches.

When it comes to payment, there is a truckload of options available. Like most of the providers in this list, PIA accepts all major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard and AMEX. Paypal and Amazon Pay are also available, which should make the checkout process frictionless if you already have an account with these providers.

Anonymous payment methods, such as cryptocurrencies are also accepted. PIA accepts a wider variety of cryptocurrencies than some of the other suppliers in this list, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitpay, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash. Uniquely, PIA accepts third-party gift cards from Starbucks, Walmart, Best Buy, and more as payment too.

Get 2 months FREE + save 81%

£8.99 £1.69 View Deal

If you’re willing to sign-up to a longer contract, PIA has some mind-boggling savings available. And with 24/7 customer service and a 30-day money-back guarantee, there’s no reason to be nervous about a three-year deal with this great VPN provider. With features like a dedicated IP address and split-tunnelling, there’s a lot to like

24/7 Customer Support: Yes | 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Yes

4. ProtonVPN

Proton VPN

Solid VPN With Free Subscription Tier

Things To Know

Money-back guarantee: Yes, 30 days
Customer support: 24/7 live chat
Server locations: 85+
Maximum number of connections: 10
Password manager: No

What We Love

• You Can Get Started For Free
• Brilliant Apps For All Platforms
• Split Tunnelling Included
• Never Stores Data On Customers

What We Don’t

• Slower Connection Than Rivals
• Reconnection Needed At Times

ProtonVPN offers a free subscription tier to its service, which makes it a great option for anyone who wants to dip their toe in the water. Better yet, the VPN doesn’t impose any limits on the amount of data that you can use when connected …this is a pretty common ploy used by many free VPN providers to push you onto one of their paid plans after a short trial period.

But that’s not the case with ProtonVPN Free, which makes it a great option when streaming video online, which uses a lot more data than reading text, or even searching for images. Aside from online gaming and video calls, streaming high-resolution video is one of data-hungry activities you can do online.

As you’d expect from a free VPN service, there are some limits imposed on the service. First off, there are only three locations around the world available: the United States, Japan and Netherlands. So, if you’re abroad and want to spoof your location back in the UK to access services not available outside of the country, you’re out of luck with ProtonVPN Free.

There are apps on both iOS and Android, Windows and Mac, which is nice. But the biggest drawback with opting for ProtonVPN Free is that your online traffic is de-prioritised compared to the provider’s paying customers. So, at peak times, you can expect to see your download speeds dwindle as ProtonVPN ensures its paying customers enjoy a buffer-free experience. That’s understandable, after all, this won’t be costing you anything, but if you’re specifically looking to install a VPN to enable streaming from around the world… it’s not ideal.

Like the two providers above, ProtonVPN has strict data protection policies and won’t log any information about your online activity or visits. Nice!

ProtonVPN offers a number of payment options, including all major credit cards and Bitcoin. There’s also support for PayPal, which should make the checkout process faster and painless for those who already have an account with a credit card saved in their wallet. Unlike any of its competitors on this list, ProtonVPN also supports cash payments.

Unfortunately, there isn’t too much information about how this works. The Virtual Private Networks says subscribers will already need an account, then email [email protected] to arrange payment for your subscription plan with cash. Quite how that works isn’t clarified in the company’s FAQ, and it’s not something we’ve yet attempted. However, if you’re desperate to pay with notes for your VPN, then ProtonVPN should be your first port of call.

ProtonVPN Free

£8.50 £0 View Deal

If you’re unsure whether subscribing to a Virtual Private Network, VPN, will boost your video streaming habits – why not try a free subscription to dip your toe in the water? Unlike most free providers, ProtonVPN doesn’t limit the amount of data that you can use, which is perfect for streaming. Your download speeds might be a little lacklustre compared to paid options in this article, including from ProtonVPN itself, but that’s not an issue if you’re using this provider as a trial

24/7 Customer Support: No | One-Month, One-Year, and Two-Year Plans Available | 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Yes

ProtonVPN Plus

£8.50 £4.50 View Deal

If you’re willing to pay its subscription fee, ProtonVPN unlocks a bevvy of brilliant features, including up to 10 devices signed-up with your account, download speeds of up to 10Gbps (that’s 140x faster than the average home broadband in the UK), 1,000 servers in 63 countries, and a dedicated “secure streaming” feature

24/7 Customer Support: No | One-Month, One-Year, and Two-Year Plans Available | 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Yes

How does a VPN work?

For those who don’t know, an IP address is assigned to your device whenever you connect to the internet and contains information about your current location. It’s the reason you’re able to see your address on Google Maps or the way that retailers enable features like Find Your Nearest Store on their sites.

What’s the point of changing your current location, you might ask? Well, some of the biggest streaming services place geographic restrictions on their content, usually due to different licensing agreements in each country. For example, while Tina Fey’s seminal sit-com 30 Rock is available to watch in its entirety on Netflix in the United States, the show is only available via Sky Comedy (either via Sky Q, Sky Glass, NOW TV, Virgin Media or BT TV) in the UK due to different agreements between the broadcasters.

Using a VPN to manually tweak your IP address, you can make it appear as if you’re on holiday in the United States for the evening. Just like when you’re visiting on holiday, your existing UK login credentials will work on all of the Netflix apps, but the catalogue of shows, documentaries, and movies will be completely different.

And it’s not just for Netflix either. VPNs can be used to unlock a bevy of shows and films across a wide range of streaming services, unlock sporting events that aren’t broadcast in your current location, and subscribe to new services that haven’t yet launched where you’re based. Likewise, if you’re away on holiday and some of the online services that you subscribe to aren’t yet available in the country you’re staying in – a VPN can help.

For example, following the UK’s departure from the European Union, Sky Go no longer works for UK subscribers on the continent. If you’re abroad for a few weeks, you won’t be able to watch live broadcasts from terrestrial channels in the UK or download on-demand boxsets ready for the journey back home.

There’s also a slew of streaming services, like Paramount+ and HBO Max, that aren’t currently available in the UK. A number of sports fixtures, including Premier League matches, aren’t available to watch online – no matter how much you’re willing to pay. As such, the only option to access this content is to appear as if you’re outside of the UK with a VPN.

Is it legal to use a VPN?

That depends where you live. In most countries around the world, using a Virtual Private Network is completely fine. In fact, most companies actively encourage employees to use a VPN to ensure that sensitive internal data is shielded from outside eyes, or to access internal software or systems. It’s likely the reason you’ve been provided with a work laptop when working at home, or the IT department has warned you against signing-up to a Wi-Fi network in the nearest Starbucks or airport lounge without switching on the company VPN first!

But there are some countries where VPNs are outright illegal. China, Iran, Russia, Turkey, and the UAE all heavily restrict the use of VPNs. China is known for its tough restrictions on the internet in its country – banning the likes of Google and WhatsApp from operating within its borders. Since VPNs would allow citizens to access these services on their home Wi-Fi networks, it makes sense that China isn’t too happy about this software becoming widely-used.

Some nations, including Belarus, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, and Turkmenistan, have passed specific laws that ban the use of VPNs entirely. So, if you live in any of the countries listed above, you might want to avoid signing-up for one of these services.

Get 3 months FREE + save 49%

£10.81 £5.57 View Deal

New ExpressVPN subscribers can unlock 15 months of the award-winning VPN for the price of 12 months. But better than that, ExpressVPN supports Klarna, so you’ll still be able to pay in small instalments – while unlocking the biggest discount!

24/7 Customer Support: Yes | 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Yes

Is it legal to use a VPN to stream video abroad?

Using a VPN to alter your IP address to unlock different content from around the world can be incredibly tempting.. but is it legal? The good news is – yes. There’s nothing illegal about manually tweaking your IP address to appear in a different location on the planet and using the web as if you were really there. However, it’s worth noting that while it isn’t against the law, it might contravene individual streaming services’ terms and conditions.

For example, using a VPN to access the Netflix catalogue from different countries is against the company’s terms of use. As such, the company reserves the right to terminate your contract when using a VPN. So far, Netflix has purportedly never taken this step with any of its subscribers. In discussions with shareholders, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has said that VPN users are an “inconsequential” problem for the streaming service, suggesting that not a lot of time is devoted to these users.

Netflix has cracked down on servers that enable users to connect to the US catalogue of shows and movies, for example. However, it has seemingly never targeted individuals.

In its terms of service for iPlayer, BBC states that “accessing content from outside the UK that you aren’t allowed to, or helping others do the same” is against its rules. If you break this rule (or any of the others listed on its help pages) the Beeb “can suspend or terminate your use of services and your account”.

Best VPN for Netflix

If you’re looking to stream content from Netflix using a VPN, look no further than ExpressVPN. This critically-acclaimed Virtual Private Network employs a team to constantly refresh its available servers to ensure that none are blocked from streaming on Netflix. In recent months, the hugely-popular streaming service has started to block some VPN servers from accessing its content. As such, some VPNs struggle to work with Netflix – with users forced to constantly refresh their connection, manually trawl through a list of servers, and more. That’s a big headache when you want to binge your favourite boxset after a long day at work.

That’s where ExpressVPN truly excels. It might not be the cheapest VPN on the market, but for those who want fast streaming speeds, a flawless connection to Netflix every time, and apps for every device (iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, Fire TV Stick) in their home …ExpressVPN is a brilliant choice. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test out the streaming service safe in the knowledge that you’ll be able to get a refund if anything goes awry. Of course, it’s worth checking the terms of service of any subscription service that you want to use with a VPN, including Netflix.

Get 3 months FREE + save 49%

£10.81 £5.57 View Deal

New ExpressVPN subscribers can unlock 15 months of the award-winning VPN for the price of 12 months. But better than that, ExpressVPN supports Klarna, so you’ll still be able to pay in small instalments – while unlocking the biggest discount!

24/7 Customer Support: Yes | 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Yes

Best VPN for livestreams

The qualities that make a particular Virtual Private Network good for live streaming are no different to watching series or films on-demand. You’ll need a service that doesn’t negatively impact your download speeds too much – freeing up plenty of bandwidth, so you don’t need to worry about buffering before you start watching. And you’ll need a VPN with servers in a comprehensive list of countries, so that you can position your IP address as close as possible to the action. All of this points to ExpressVPN. This supplier is known for its speedy connections, a dedicated team that works to ensure its servers are never blocked by streaming services looking to stamp out VPNs, and long list of possible servers.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ijq5G02zOtM

Is it worth subscribing to a VPN just for streaming?

VPNs can unlock a wealth of content from across the globe. Just like when you travel abroad, your existing login for Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ will work as expected …but you’ll be greeted with a brand-new catalogue of boxsets and films. For the same monthly fee, you can watch more shows and movies than if you stick in the same location.

And if you want to access streaming services that would otherwise be unavailable to you, then this is only possible with a relocation to another country or a VPN subscription.

Of course, you’ll need to check the small print in the terms and conditions of the streaming service you’re thinking of using with your VPN to check whether it’s all above board. But if you’re struggling to find new shows and films to watch on the catalogues available to you with your current subscriptions, a VPN could be a great way to bring new choices without paying a penny more.

Will a VPN help with streaming video?

Well, that depends. If you’re looking to stream boxsets, blockbusters and sports fixtures that aren’t available to watch in your country …then a Virtual Private Network is your only shot. However, if you’re looking to watch something on BBC iPlayer, Netflix, ITV Hub, or BritBox that’s freely available in your current location, you won’t need a VPN installed. In fact, redirecting your web traffic via the encrypted tunnel provided by a VPN does have an impact on your download speeds. The best providers recommended in this article will all have a minimal impact, but if you have sluggish download speeds on your home Wi-Fi network or 4G / 5G mobile network …it might be better to avoid a VPN altogether.

Of course, that will mean that your data is unprotected. If you don’t want your broadband supplier to know exactly how you’re spending your time, what you’re watching, and more, then it might be worth waiting a few seconds more for your next episode to buffer in exchange for the privacy afforded by a Virtual Private Network, VPN.

What is the best VPN in 2022?

It can be tough to find the Best VPN on the market, so we’ve done the hard graft for you. We’ve tested some of the biggest VPN services on the planet right now to come up with a definitive list of the Best VPN around today. You can read our best VPN guide to find which provider best suits your needs if you’re looking to do a little more than stream video.

ExpressVPN – Get 3 months FREE + save 49%

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When it comes to streaming video, ExpressVPN is the ultimate VPN service that money can buy. It has a tiny impact on download speeds – perfect for streaming, but it also works hard to bring a bevvy of new servers online that aren’t blocked by Netflix!

NordVPN – Get 3 months FREE + save 64%

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If you’re a VPN novice, the beautifully designed apps available from NordVPN make it a brilliant choice to unlock streaming catalogues from around the world. It has software for iOS and Android, Windows and Mac, Fire TV Stick, and even your Wi-Fi router

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