Why Streaming Services Block VPNs
Streaming platforms license content on a country-by-country basis. A show available on Netflix US may not be licensed for Netflix Germany. When platforms detect a VPN, they block it to enforce these licensing agreements. This is an ongoing arms race: VPN providers work to maintain working IP addresses, and streaming services work to detect and block them. Not all VPNs work reliably with all streaming services.
Netflix
Netflix is the most aggressive at blocking VPNs. As of 2026, ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark consistently maintain access to Netflix US, UK, and other major libraries. The key is using their streaming-optimized servers. Cheaper or free VPNs almost always fail with Netflix. If your VPN gives you a proxy error on Netflix, try switching servers within the same country before switching providers.
BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer requires a UK IP address and is relatively straightforward to access with a VPN. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Mullvad all work reliably. The BBC also checks for UK postal codes during signup, so you may need one for initial registration. Once registered, any UK VPN server maintains access.
Hulu
Hulu is US-only and among the harder services to unblock. ExpressVPN and NordVPN both have US servers that work with Hulu. Hulu also requires a US payment method for subscription, which is a separate problem from the VPN access itself.
Speed and Streaming Quality
Streaming in HD requires at least 5 Mbps, and 4K needs 25 Mbps. A good VPN reduces speed by 10 to 20 percent. If your base internet speed is 100 Mbps, you will have no trouble streaming in 4K through a quality VPN. Use servers geographically close to your actual location for the best speeds.