VPN Provider

Best VPN for Disney Plus: Comparing 27 Providers

Author
Martin Gschwentner
Translation
D Bare
Last update
10. Aug 2023
Ad disclaimer: For links on this page, EXPERTE.com may earn a commission from the provider. This supports our work and has no influence on our editorial rating.

For years, Disney has bought up rights to films and TV series including the Star Wars and Marvel universes. The entire collection can be viewed on Disney's dedicated streaming service, Disney+.

In comparison to Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ content doesn't differ as much from country to country, but licensing rights still play a role. Should you want to watch a film or series that isn't accessible on Disney+ where you physically are you can use a VPN.

A VPN makes it possible to change your virtual location, tricking Disney+ into allowing you to access content that you normally wouldn't be able to. In our comprehensive evaluation of VPN providers, we looked at 27 services to see which allow users to view Disney+ content from abroad. Specifically, we attempted to view US content while abroad, which should serve as a good indicator of how the VPNs performed.

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Disney's media empire is growing.

Best VPN for Disney Plus: Our TOP 5

Of the 27 providers in our sample, 12 allow users to access Disney+ content from abroad. Interestingly, Disney+ appears to be a harder nut to crack than either Netflix (17) or Amazon Prime Video (14).

Below, we've listed our Top 5 VPNs for streaming foreign content on Disney+:

1.

NordVPN

Best Overall 2024
NordVPN
NordVPN
(877,857 )
NordVPN is our number one VPN because it combines speed, ease-of-use, and functionality in a slick package that's also pretty affordable.
5,500+ servers, 60 countries
excellent performance
no logs
6 devices simultaneously
affordable 2-year package
9.4
excellent
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
6
Protocols
5
Contract Period
1 - 24 months
NordVPN 2-year plan
$3.79
monthly price
Visit Website*
30 days money-back guarantee

NordVPN finished first in our overall evaluation, marketing what we feel is the best all-around package. It excels in terms of size, quality, and price. The Panama-based provider also offers access to all important features, including split tunneling, and even won our speed test.

Performance is important to ensure that streaming functions smoothly, especially from a server based in the US. Luckily, NordVPN's speeds are excellent, making streaming enjoyable. Should you want to access content on other streaming platforms, we also had good experiences with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and the BBC's iPlayer.

  • Possible to watch Disney+ and other streaming content

  • Winner of our comprehensive evaluation

  • Fastest VPN from our sample

  • Limited protocol options

Review
9.4
excellent
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Performance
10 / 10
Security & Privacy
9.4 / 10
Bedienung & Features
9.4 / 10
Support
9.4 / 10
Server Network
8.6 / 10
2.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN
(736,465 )
ExpressVPN can impress with a strong performance, a huge server network, and excellently designed applications, but this quality also comes at a higher price.
3,000+ servers
160 cities in 94 countries
reliable performance
good for streaming
secure browser extensions
9.4
excellent
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
5
Protocols
7
Contract Period
1 - 12 months
ExpressVPN 12 Months
$6.67
monthly price
Visit Website*
30 days money-back guarantee

ExpressVPN finished just behind NordVPN, as can be seen in our head-to-head comparison of the two. Its biggest disadvantage is actually its price, which is twice as expensive as comparable NordVPN plans.

Beyond that, the differences between the two are harder to notice. Despite coming in fourth in the speed test, ExpressVPN's performance was excellent, and with 3,000 servers across 94 countries, it has a wider global spread than NordVPN.

In terms of video streaming, the service was reliable, allowing us to watch Disney+ content without any problem.

  • Possible to watch Disney+ and other streaming platform content

  • Excellent performance

  • Intuitive app

  • Pricey

Review
9.4
excellent
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Performance
10 / 10
Security & Privacy
9.4 / 10
Server Network
9.4 / 10
Support
9.4 / 10
Bedienung & Features
8.6 / 10
3.

Surfshark

Surfshark VPN
Surfshark VPN
(207,223 )
Surfshark is one of the cheapest providers on the market, but it's a lot more than a great budget option: the relatively new VPN boasts strong protection, many features, and a great support with 24/7 live chat.
3,200+ servers in 100 countries
unlimited number of devices
many apps (Linux, FireTV, ...)
cheap 24-month plan
expensive monthly plan
8.8
good
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
unlimited
Protocols
3
Contract Period
1 - 24 months
Surfshark 24 months
$1.99
monthly price
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Get 83% Discount

Our price-performance pick, Surfshark, is far more affordable than ExpressVPN (1/3 as expensive), but you won't have to make any sacrifices in terms of performance. On the contrary: Surfshark came in two places higher than ExpressVPN in our speed test, right behind NordVPN.

Such speeds make video streaming enjoyable, particularly for Disney+. Should you want to watch content from abroad at a low price, Surfshark is a solid choice.

  • Possible to watch Disney+ and other streaming platform content

  • Priced affordably

  • Top speeds

  • Server network could be larger

Review
8.8
good
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Performance
10 / 10
Bedienung & Features
9.4 / 10
Support
8.6 / 10
Security & Privacy
8.0 / 10
Server Network
8.0 / 10
4.

ProtonVPN

Proton VPN
Proton VPN
(144,686 )
With its open source philosophy and extra security features, Proton VPN targets security-conscious VPN users. But thanks to its user-friendly interface and suitability for streaming, it's worth a look for a wide audience.
open source & external audits
2,900+ servers in 67 countries
great performance
free plan without data limit
not suitable for China
9.1
excellent
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
1 - 10
Protocols
3
Contract Period
0 - 24 months
Proton VPN Free
$0.00
monthly price
Visit Website*
Free forever

ProtonVPN was our favorite free VPN, primarily because it doesn't impose any data or speed limits upon users, unlike most other free VPNs. Of course, free users only have access to three server locations, but we liked the provider's app, which offers split tunneling and a range of other features.

Unfortunately, video streaming isn't available to Free or Basic subscribers, however, Premium and Visionary users can watch Disney+ and other streaming platform content.

  • Unlocks Disney+ and other streaming platform content from abroad

  • Open-source, externally audited software

  • User-friendly applications

  • Few contact options for getting in touch with support

Review
9.1
excellent
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Performance
10 / 10
Security & Privacy
10 / 10
Bedienung & Features
10 / 10
Server Network
8.0 / 10
Support
7.4 / 10
5.

HideMyAss!

HideMyAss! VPN
HideMyAss! VPN
(86,656 )
HideMyAss' main claim to fame is its impressive server infrastructure, but the VPN also delivers solid speeds and handy features like its IP Randomizer. When it comes to streaming, however, it's not always the most reliable choice.
290 locations in 210 countries
IP Randomizer
strong performance
support with live chat
unreliable for streaming
8.6
good
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
5
Protocols
1
Contract Period
12 - 36 months
HideMyAss! 36 months
$2.99
monthly price
Visit Website*
30 days money-back guarantee

There's more to HideMyAss than a funny name: The eccentric donkey took fifth place in our speed test, has a huge server network spanning 210 countries, and offers plenty of extras such as random IP selection. It doesn't just impress in terms of quantity but also quality. Of course, there are a few missteps here and there, such as the desktop client's lack of split tunneling, but no one is perfect.

HMA did enable us to access content from abroad on Disney+ but had trouble with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Should you already be paying for multiple streaming platforms, you likely won't want to purchase more than one VPN to unlock additional content on them.

  • Streams Disney+ content

  • High speeds

  • Good server infrastructure, even in commonly overlooked areas

  • Unable to unlock Netflix and Amazon Prime Video content during testing

  • Desktop client lacks split tunneling

Review
8.6
good
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Server Network
10 / 10
Security & Privacy
8.6 / 10
Support
8.6 / 10
Bedienung & Features
8.0 / 10
Performance
8.0 / 10

Alternatives

We were able to access content from abroad on Disney+ with more than half of the providers from our sample. Below, we've included the seven alternatives to our Top 5:

hide.me VPN
hide.me VPN
(31,514 )
Hide.me secures its place in our top 10 with good to very good grades in all test categories. The app is filled to the brim with handy features, the performance is solid, and with 10 GB of data per month, the free tier is also worth a look.
78 locations in 49+ countries
many features, incl. split tunneling
free plan with 10 GB monthly
anonymous payment
no recent audit
8.4
good
Data Volume
10 - ∞
Devices
1 - 10
Protocols
7
Contract Period
0 - 36 months
hide.me Free
$0.00
monthly price
Visit Website*
Free forever
Windscribe VPN
Windscribe VPN
(160,845 )
With its flexible pricing and a generous free plan, Windscribe is a solid option for budget-minded VPN users. It also has a nice, lean app with lots of features – but sadly, its performance can't keep up.
lots of features
free plan with 10 GB limit
unlimited devices
weaker performance
smaller server network
7.8
good
Data Volume
10 - ∞
Devices
unlimited
Protocols
2
Contract Period
0 - 12 months
Windscribe Free
$0.00
monthly price
Visit Website*
Download for free
VyprVPN
VyprVPN
(89,181 )
700+ servers in 70 countries
located in Switzerland
good for streaming
weak performance
last audit 2018
7.6
good
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
5 - 10
Protocols
6
Contract Period
1 - 12 months
VyprVPN 12 months
$5.00
monthly price
Visit Website*
30 days money-back guarantee
Hotspot Shield VPN
Hotspot Shield VPN
(1,820,026 )
800+ servers
70+ countries
with free plan
below-average performance
potential privacy issues
7.5
good
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
1 - 25
Protocols
5
Contract Period
0 - 36 months
Hotspot Shield Free
$0.00
monthly price
Visit Website*
IPVanish VPN
IPVanish VPN
(252,068 )
2,200+ servers with 40,000+ IPs
10 simultaneous connections
strong performance
ugly app
potential privacy concerns
7.4
good
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
unlimited
Protocols
7
Contract Period
1 - 24 months
IPVanish 2-Year
$2.92
monthly price
Visit Website*
30 days money-back guarantee
VPN Unlimited
VPN Unlimited
(221,607 )
3,000+ servers in 50+ countries
static IPs available
offers lifetime plan
few features
possible privacy concerns
7.3
good
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
5
Protocols
6
Contract Period
0 - 12 months
VPN Unlimited 1 Year
$4.00
monthly price
Visit Website*
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN
(16,150 )
excellent speeds
simple user interface
well suited for streaming
only 200+ servers
no external audit
7.2
good
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
6
Protocols
5
Contract Period
1 - 36 months
PrivateVPN 36 months
$2.00
monthly price
Visit Website*

How We Tested

To test all 27 services from our sample, we purchased a subscription to each, and thoroughly evaluated their clients and apps. Each review is divided into six main areas, which relate to the most important facets of a VPN:

Installation and Features

We began by looking at the features each VPN offers, as well as the user-friendliness of their apps and clients. In addition, we also noted how many platforms they're available on, both in terms of their desktop clients and mobile apps.

Server Network

When it comes to networks, we compared providers based on how many servers they offer (which impacts performance), as well as the number of countries they have a presence in.

Performance

As part of our VPN speed test, we constantly review all providers from our sample using a 1 GB/s connection with a server in Frankfurt (Germany). To complement this, we also tested each service for a day, to see how surfing and streaming with Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and the BBC's Player was.

The table below shows which providers from our sample give access to US Disney+ content:

VPN

Disney+ USA

VPN

Disney+ USA

Avast VPN

Perfect Privacy

Avira VPN

Private Internet Access

CyberGhost

PrivateVPN

ExpressVPN

ProtonVPN

hide.me

PureVPN

HideMyAss!

Surfshark

Hotspot Shield

TorGuard

IPVanish

TunnelBear

KeepSolid VPN Unlimited

VyprVPN

Mullvad

Windscribe

NordVPN

ZenMate

Security and Privacy

When it comes to privacy, VPN providers like to promise a lot. We ignore "No-Logs" promises and guarantees. Instead, we read between the lines of their privacy policies, check how often a provider submits to external security audits, and determine whether the service or its parent company has been involved in any past scandals. Finally, we conduct VPN leak tests and assess their overall security.

Customer Support

Each provider should offer easy-to-find means for getting in touch directly with their support staff, either via live chat, email, or a hotline. To score high, responses should be competent. For emails or support tickets, it's good to have a reply within 24 hours. Beyond that, VPN services should offer comprehensive and readily searchable help centers with support articles and FAQs.

Conclusion

Mickey Mouse might not be as accessible as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video when it comes to streaming, but there's still plenty worth watching. Should Disney continue to buy up rights for movies and TV programs, there will probably be much more. Of course, the availability of this content will vary from country to country.

Circumventing geo-blocking or restrictions is easy when using the VPNs we've presented above, helping anyone to take full advantage of their Disney+ subscription. Of course, you should keep in mind that our tests reflect a single point in time (a day) and that streaming platforms are aware of VPNs and doing their utmost to counteract them. With that said, we remain confident that our Top 5 will stay a step ahead of the game.

FAQs

Which VPNs unlock Disney+ content?

12 of the 27 services in our sample allowed us to access Disney+ content from outside of our physical location. This is subject to change, however, as streaming platforms do their utmost to reduce the efficacy of VPNs.

Which VPN is best for streaming Disney+ content?

NordVPN finished in first place during our evaluation, offering the best all-around package of the 27 services we examined. In addition to Disney+, NordVPN also makes it possible to watch content from abroad on other streaming platforms. ExpressVPN and Surfshark finished in second and third place.

Is it legal to stream Disney+ content with a VPN?

Yes, even if it conflicts with Disney+'s subscriber agreement which states: "Geographic restrictions will be enforced according to the location from which you are accessing the Disney+ Service, and we may use different technologies and methods to verify your geographic location." Legally speaking, you don't have to fear any consequences, and we're unaware of any cases of accounts being closed for VPN usage.

Which country has the best Disney+ catalog?

This depends on your preferences and is difficult to tell since no good websites exist for comparing content across regions. The amount of available content might be helpful: According to What's On Disney Plus, in 2021, Germany has 176 series and 888 films, compared to 274 series and 889 films in the US.

Top VPN Provider 2024
Sponsored
from $3.79
per month
NordVPN
from $6.67
per month
ExpressVPN
from $0.00
per month
Proton VPN
from $1.99
per month
Surfshark
show all
Author (German Version): Martin Gschwentner
Martin Gschwentner majored in American Studies and Media Studies in Germany, the USA and France and works as a freelance editor in Paris. He is a doctoral student at the Institute for English and American Studies at the University of Paris Diderot, where he is researching the influence of money on US politics. On EXPERTE.com he writes about IT security, data protection and software for the self-employed and small businesses.
Translation: D Bare
* Ad disclaimer: For links marked with an asterisk, EXPERTE.com may earn a commission from the provider. The commission has no influence on our editorial rating.
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Best Overall 2024
Sponsored
NordVPN
5,500+ servers, 60 countries
excellent performance
no logs
6 devices simultaneously
affordable 2-year package
9.4
Review
excellent
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30 days money-back guarantee