Best VPNs for streaming
Streaming is a major reason for VPN use. It can be tough to see your favourite content across regions and in different countries, and some ISPs throttle streaming too. A VPN can set you free from all that.
But when it comes to streaming, not all VPNs are created equal.
To be successful choices for streaming, VPNs have to offer adequate speed, servers in the countries you need and effective IP spoofing. Many streaming services also use anti-VPN measures, so you need one that works with the main streaming services you want to use.
Our Toplist for Best Streaming VPNS
"A speedy VPN that's very easy to use and covers basic privacy needs well enough"
- Excellent available variety of servers
- Servers are fast and secure
- Offers six connections
- Powerful obfuscation via Chameleon protocol
- 24/7 Live Support
- Netflix unblocking
- 256-bit AES Encryption
- Blazing Fast Connection Speed
- No Logs
- Highest Encryption Available
- No Logs Policy
- 2200 Servers Located in 60 Different, Countries
- Servers number into the hundreds
- BitTorrenting allowed
- Offers a kill switch
That’s why we’ve carefully checked that our top 5 VPNs for streaming will work on all the most popular streaming services, including Hulu, Netflix, Prime Video and BBC iPlayer.
When you’re selecting a VPN for streaming, here’s what you need to consider:
Speed
Does the VPN you’re looking at offer adequate speed? It’s no use having all the best features if it slows your connection to an unusable crawl.
Server location
You need to make sure your chosen VPN has servers in the country you need access to. Typically that’s the USA, or the UK in the case of BBC iPlayer. If it’s somewhere else, check the VPN’s server location list carefully.
Usability and support
You need a VPN that you don’t need to be a tech genius to use. And if it goes wrong for some reason, you need real customer support.
Anti-blocking
Some VPNs use proxy blockers to prevent users from circumventing their geo-restrictions. There are various ways VPNs get round this, including obfuscation that conceals the fact that you’re using a VPN. Make sure the VPN you choose has effective anti-blocking methods.
Works with your streaming service
Double check that your chosen VPN works with the streaming service you want to use! If you primarily want it for Netflix, make sure it actually works there.
Supports your device
Don’t sign up for a VPN that ticks all the boxes, only to find your device isn’t supported. Check that whatever device you’re planning to watch on isn’t an afterthought.
We checked the best VPNs for streaming, examining all the relevant factors. Here’s what we found:
| NordVPN | Vypr | ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | IPVanish |
Speed | Excellent. Nord barely affects speed | Excellent. Vypr barely affects speed | Consistently fastest | Speed barely affected | Speed barely affected |
Servers | Over 5,000 worldwide, dedicated streaming servers | 700+ located worldwide | 1,500+ servers in 94 countries | 1,000+ servers worldwide | 1,000+ worldwide |
Support | Knowledge base, email | Knowledge base, tickets | Guides, live chat, email, tickets, FAQs | FAQs and live chat | Email plus knowledge base |
Anti-blocking | Huge server net plus obfuscation | Powerful obfuscation | Obfuscation | Dedicated servers | Dedicated servers |
Devices | Six devices, four to the same server, | Two or three, depending on account type | Unlimited, but only three devices can connect at any one time | Three to five, depending on subscription | Five simultaneous connections |
1: NordVPN
Nord is consistently among the top VPNs we look at. It has a huge server net, including dedicated streaming servers for major streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and BBC iPlayer. Larger server nets make it more difficult for VPN blocking to work, by increasing the number and location of servers that have to be blocked.
But Nord goes one further, with a suite of features designed to both increase security and allow it to unblock nearly any website. For instance, it uses obfuscation to conceal the fact that you’re using a VPN at all.
Nord explain it pretty well in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJSCC54wVcg
Basically, obfuscation makes VPN traffic look like normal traffic from the outside. So when Netflix or the BBC look at your data, they can’t tell where you’re really from, because you’re using a VPN, and they can’t tell you’re using a VPN because the packets look like normal, unencrypted data.
With dedicated servers for each major streaming service, Nord is a reliable, low-cost option for streaming that also gives you access to a really solid VPN with a ton of cool features.
"A speedy VPN that's very easy to use and covers basic privacy needs well enough"
- Excellent available variety of servers
- Servers are fast and secure
- Offers six connections
2: Vypr
Vypr’s obfuscation protocol is called Chameleon, which gets extra points for style. Unlike some VPNs, which simply set up new servers, then dump them and launch new ones when Netflix gets wise, Vypr has created technology that makes its access to georestricted content reliable in the long term.
Be aware that Vypr’s Chameleon protocol only works with OpenVPN, and isn’t available in iOS at the moment. So if you watch all your HBO on your iPad, this isn’t the answer for you.
If you mostly use desktops, Vypr is a solid choice though. More expensive than Nord and with fewer servers worldwide, it also keeps connection logs for 30 days.
- Powerful obfuscation via Chameleon protocol
- 24/7 Live Support
- Netflix unblocking
3: ExpressVPN
With over 1,700 servers across 94 countries, ExpressVPN reliably outperforms most other VPNs in tests: it’s almost always at least slightly faster than the competition. A little more expensive than the competition, it’s a good choice if watching in HD is important to you: its superior speed means you’re less likely to run into buffering issues.
- 256-bit AES Encryption
- Blazing Fast Connection Speed
- No Logs
4: CyberGhost
While its server net is smaller than Nord or Express, CyberGhost has put a lot of effort into making an easy-to-use interface.
CyberGhost has specific servers for specific streaming services:
Use those and stream what you like. There’s usually little to no speed loss.
- Highest Encryption Available
- No Logs Policy
- 2200 Servers Located in 60 Different, Countries
5: IPVanish
IPVanish reliably streams major services like Netflix. As Netflix adapts its proxy blocker to keep VPNs out IPVanish adapts, ensuring that you’re always able to watch your favorite shows. Like many VPNs it keeps specific servers for streaming.
In addition, IPVanish is an excellent choice for unblocking sports streaming services.
- Servers number into the hundreds
- BitTorrenting allowed
- Offers a kill switch