Best VPN for Streaming: Comparing 27 Providers

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Netflix was just the beginning; video streaming is growing in popularity, and the number of services offering it seems to increase from year to year. To keep up with all the series and movies that everyone is talking about, as well as pop culture, you'll need more and more accounts.

However, because streaming services' content libraries vary from country to country, this can be complicated. For example, a movie that's available on Netflix in the US might only be available on Acorn TV in the UK or limited to a local media library. You can forget about these regional differences if using a VPN, since they make it possible to access otherwise geo-blocked content from anywhere.

Best Overall 2024
Sponsored
NordVPN
6,300+ servers, 111 countries
excellent performance
no logs
10 devices simultaneously
affordable 2-year package
9.4
Review
excellent
Try NordVPN now
30 days money-back guarantee

Why Stream With a VPN?

Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and others don't acquire global rights for movies and series. Rather, licensing agreements are made country by country, explaining why the content that is available varies based on the viewers' location. So, for example, if you're reading about an interesting Netflix series on an American site, you may not find it in the UK's Netflix catalog. Connecting with a VPN changes that, making it possible to watch that show or movie as if you were in the US.

A VPN doesn't just mask your identity on the internet; thanks to its globally-distributed servers, it also provides users with an IP address from a country of their choosing. Therefore, if you (physically in the UK) connect to a VPN server in the US and then access Netflix, the US catalog will be displayed.

However, not every VPN service is suitable for streaming. The truth is, using a VPN to stream otherwise geo-blocked content from abroad is something of a legal gray area (more on this later), and streaming services do exert some effort in preventing users from bypassing region restrictions.

We assessed 27 VPN providers, comparing how they fared in terms of accessing streaming content from abroad. Due to the massive list of available streaming services, we limited our review to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and the BBC's iPlayer.

Below, we'll briefly introduce you to our Top 5 VPN providers for video streaming:

The Best VPNs for Streaming

1.

NordVPN

Best Overall 2024
NordVPN
NordVPN
(1,000,772 )
NordVPN is our number one VPN because it combines speed, ease-of-use, and functionality in a slick package that's also pretty affordable.
6,300+ servers, 111 countries
excellent performance
no logs
10 devices simultaneously
affordable 2-year package
9.4
excellent
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
10
Protocols
5
Contract Period
1 - 24 months
Black-Friday-Deal
NordVPN 2-year plan
 $3.09
monthly price
30 days money-back guarantee

NordVPN secured first place in our review. The Panama-based VPN delivers a well-rounded package at a fair price. Their elegant, user-friendly app comes with all the most important VPN features, including split tunneling and specialized servers. When streaming, it's also important that VPNs offer fast connections, and with NordVPN, you won't have anything to worry about, since it came out on top in our speed ranking.

During our review, we were able to effortlessly stream content from abroad with NordVPN. And thanks to its top-notch performance, the service didn't stall once—even when accessing servers in the US.

  • Bypasses restrictions on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services

  • First place overall in EXPERTE.com's comparison

  • Fastest VPN in our speed ranking

  • Limited protocol options

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

Surfshark

Surfshark VPN
Surfshark VPN
(207,880 )
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
Get 83% Discount

Surfshark is one of the most affordable and most reliable VPN services on the market. Their 3-year contract costs less per month than NordVPN's lowest-priced monthly rate (and is around 1/3 the cost of ExpressVPN's most competitive monthly fees). When it comes to speed and features, Surfshark is almost on par with the competition.

Fast connections help when streaming video content from abroad, as does being able to access all streaming platforms. Surfshark excelled in both of these areas, making it a practical choice for anyone interested in watching geo-blocked programming on Netflix and the like.

  • Bypasses region restrictions for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services

  • Affordably priced

  • Excellent 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
Server Network
8.0 / 10
Security & Privacy
8.0 / 10
3.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN
(763,095 )
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
30 days money-back guarantee

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN services on the market. To see how exactly it measures up to our overall best-in-show, NordVPN, be sure to check out our head-to-head comparison of the two providers. Although the two services are similar in many respects, in terms of price, they differ greatly: ExpressVPN's most affordable monthly rate is more than twice as expensive as that of NordVPN.

That being said, ExpressVPN did score points for fast speeds and its expansive network of servers. They also didn't disappoint in terms of video streaming; we were able to access content from abroad with every service we tried it on.

  • Bypasses region restrictions on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services

  • Great performance

  • Intuitive app

  • Comparatively expensive

Review
9.4
excellent
Check Review
Performance
10 / 10
Support
9.4 / 10
Server Network
9.4 / 10
Security & Privacy
9.4 / 10
Bedienung & Features
8.6 / 10
4.

ProtonVPN

Proton VPN
Proton VPN
(270,482 )
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
Free forever

When it comes to free VPN services, our first choice is ProtonVPN. You won't need to worry about any data or speed limitations, however, it isn't possible to stream video content from abroad with ProtonVPN's free version. With their Premium plan, however, we were able to unlock all services assessed in our review.

ProtonVPN also scored points with us for its transparent open-source philosophy, user-friendly app, and extra security features.

  • Bypasses region restrictions on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services

  • Open-source and verified as secure by external audits

  • User-friendly applications

  • Few support options

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

hide.me

hide.me VPN
hide.me VPN
(32,535 )
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
Free forever

Hide.me scored at least "good" in all of our assessment categories. We found its user-friendly app particularly impressive owing to its numerous features and settings. They also emerged in the upper third of our speed ranking, taking a respectable 7th place. Unfortunately, we did experience occasional disconnections during our review. In addition, the provider last submitted to an independent security audit in 2015—a more current audit would certainly be desirable.

During our review, we were able to access content from abroad on every steaming service we tried with hide.me.

  • Bypasses region restrictions on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services.

  • Good speeds

  • User-friendly applications with plenty of features and settings

  • Occasional disconnections

  • No independent audit since 2015

Review
8.4
good
Check Review
Bedienung & Features
10 / 10
Support
8.6 / 10
Performance
8.0 / 10
Server Network
8.0 / 10
Security & Privacy
7.4 / 10

Alternatives

Ten of the 27 providers in our VPN review were able to bypass geoblocking on all four streaming services. Apart from our Top 5 listed above, these were:

Windscribe VPN
Windscribe VPN
(157,279 )
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
Download for free
VyprVPN
VyprVPN
(90,152 )
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
30 days money-back guarantee
Hotspot Shield VPN
Hotspot Shield VPN
(1,623,619 )
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
VPN Unlimited
VPN Unlimited
(62,345 )
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
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN
(15,248 )
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

How Does Streaming via VPN Work?

Once you've chosen a VPN provider, using it to access streaming content from abroad is a breeze.

1. Install the VPN's client or app on your device and launch the program.

2. From the server list, select the country in which you want to access streaming content and connect to a server there.

Select a server in the country which you want to stream content from.

3. Once connected, visit the streaming service of your choice. If you were already on the website before you established the VPN connection, you'll need to reload the page.

With a VPN, you can access series or movies that aren't available in your location's Netflix catalog.

4. You can now browse the selected country's streaming catalog.

Things To Remember When Using a VPN for Streaming

For a VPN to facilitate streaming content from abroad, pay attention to the following:

Supported Streaming Services

Not every VPN supports bypassing geo-blocked streaming video content, and not every streaming-enabled VPN facilitates access to all services. Therefore, make sure that the VPN you choose is suitable for the streaming services that matter most to you.

We tested all providers for their ability to stream Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and the BBC's iPlayer in specific regions. In separate articles, we've listed the best VPNs for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.

The table below shows which VPN services from our review worked with each streaming service. Please note, however, that the information below is only a snapshot—a VPN's streaming capability is not set in stone.

Provider

Netflix (USA)

Amazon Prime Video (USA)

Disney+ (USA)

BBC iPlayer (UK)

Avast

Avira

Cyberghost

ExpressVPN

hide.me

HideMyAss

Hotspot Shield

IPVanish

KeepSolid VPN Unlimited

Mullvad

NordVPN

Perfect Privacy

Private Internet Access

PrivateVPN

ProtonVPN

PureVPN

Surfshark

TorGuard

TunnelBear

VyprVPN

Windscribe

ZenMate

Performance

While video streaming isn't very demanding, it still requires a stable Internet connection. Poor quality or constant buffering can instantly spoil any viewing experience. You can find out which VPN services offer the fastest and most reliable connections in EXPERTE.com's VPN speed ranking.

Server Infrastructure

In order to watch movies and series from another country, you'll need to log in to them with an IP address from that country. Therefore, it's important that your chosen VPN has streaming servers in the country where your favorite content is located. Most VPNs have good coverage of Europe, North America, and parts of Asia.

Is It Possible to Stream With Free VPNs?

No. We aren't aware of any free VPNs that allow users to reliably access content from abroad on major platforms. Even "freemium" VPN services, which are streaming-capable, usually don't offer this in their free versions.

Of course, on occasion, it may be possible to access some streaming services with a free VPN, however, reliable video streaming via VPN requires a paid subscription.

Is It Legal to Stream With a VPN?

Streaming video content with a VPN is not illegal. Even though you're not breaking any laws, the truth is, that you're operating in a bit of a gray area. This is because by circumventing region restrictions, you're violating the streaming platform's terms of service. As a result, your account could be blocked if they discover you're using a VPN, however, this is unlikely and we aren't aware of any related account closures or suspensions.

In short, you don't have to fear any legal consequences when streaming via VPN.

Conclusion

VPNs help get the most out of any streaming services that you already pay for. Netflix and others offer different movies and series from country to country. Using a VPN to change your virtual location makes it possible to access a huge selection of new content with the tap or click of a button. While you'll likely be violating the platform's terms of service, you don't have to fear any legal consequences.

That being said, not all VPNs are streaming-capable, and not all streaming-capable VPNs manage to bypass every services' region restrictions. Our Top 5 VPN services made content from abroad available on some of the major streaming services. Just remember to find out whether your favorite service is currently supported before signing a contract.

We assessed the streaming capabilities, as well as a host of other factors, of 27 provides in our comprehensive EXPERTE.com VPN review.

FAQs

Which VPNs are meant for streaming?

It depends on which streaming services you use. NordVPN is our top pick for streaming, and also the winner of our EXPERTE.com review. With it, you can access content from abroad on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and the BBC's iPlayer without difficulty. ExpressVPN and Surfshark are also reliable streaming companions.

Why use a VPN for streaming?

The kinds of content available for streaming varies by location because the rights for movies and series are acquired on a per-country basis. With a VPN, you can borrow a foreign IP address and access Netflix's and other streaming providers' content otherwise unavailable wherever you might be.

How do you watch Netflix with a VPN?

Simply install a VPN program such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark, and connect to a server in the country with the content you'd like to access.

Can you stream with NordVPN?

Yes. During our EXPERTE.com review, we confirmed that NordVPN is capable of accessing content from abroad on streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.

Best Overall 2024
Sponsored
NordVPN
6,300+ servers, 111 countries
excellent performance
no logs
10 devices simultaneously
affordable 2-year package
9.4
Review
excellent
Try NordVPN now
30 days money-back guarantee
Author (German Version): Martin Gschwentner
Martin has been a freelance writer in the B2B sector for more than eight years, specializing in technical case studies for tech companies like Google Cloud. He lives in London, where he runs his own company, GSCRIBE, focusing on customer success stories and employer branding. At EXPERTE, he shares his knowledge about software and strategies that help freelancers and self-employed professionals optimize their business processes and work more efficiently.
Translation: Lisa Torelli-Sauer
* 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.
Continue Reading
Best Overall 2024
Sponsored
NordVPN
6,300+ servers, 111 countries
excellent performance
no logs
10 devices simultaneously
affordable 2-year package
9.4
Review
excellent
Try NordVPN now
30 days money-back guarantee