Whether you’re trying to entree your favourite streaming work from overseas oregon you’re astatine location but suffering dense ISP throttling, a VPN is your champion friend. Slow speeds and blocked IP addresses mean immoderate VPNs aren’t up to the task of making your streaming beingness easier. Of course, you besides privation to marque definite that whichever VPN you’re using, you’re not opening yourself up to information and privateness risks either.
My velocity tests measurement each VPN’s speeds crossed aggregate locations. I measure their unblocking against fashionable streaming platforms including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, and Disney+. I besides trial for information leaks and work done the lengthy privateness policies. This data-driven attack helps constrictive down the galore options to find the champion VPNs for streaming.
TL;DR: These Are the Best VPNs for Streaming
A VPN encrypts your net postulation and hides your existent IP code and location, letting you watercourse anonymously. For example, if you question extracurricular the U.S. and privation to entree Hulu, you’d link to a server backmost location to get a US IP code and unblock it. The champion VPNs for streaming consistently unblock fashionable streaming services and person accelerated speeds for lag-free streaming.
1. ExpressVPN
Best VPN for Streaming
ExpressVPN
Pricing
Starting from $4.99/mo.
Simultaneous connections
8
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV
One of the champion unblockers
Slightly much costly than different VPNs
In my reappraisal of ExpressVPN, I recovered that it combines accelerated speeds and reliable unblocking, making it the champion VPN for streaming. While astir large VPNs person implemented the WireGuard protocol, ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol, Lightway, has adjacent less lines of codification which is reflected successful its awesome performance. I recovered speeds to beryllium highly accordant careless of whether I was connecting to servers successful New York, London, oregon Tokyo. All successful all, you’ll find immoderate 3,000 servers successful 105 countries.
With ExpressVPN, I was capable to entree aggregate Netflix libraries including the U.S. and UK. It besides successfully unblocked Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and ITVX. ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) diagnostic lets you watercourse connected devices including your astute TV oregon PlayStation oregon Xbox console. This no-logs VPN uses 256-bit AES encryption, allows up to 8 simultaneous connections per account, and has arguably the champion 24/7 enactment of immoderate VPN.
2. NordVPN
Best VPN for Gaming Streaming
NordVPN
Pricing
Starting from $3.09/mo.
Simultaneous connections
10
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV
App’s server representation won’t entreaty to everyone
I thought NordVPN was already large erstwhile I reviewed it, but the work precocious expanded its web to 7,000+ servers successful 118 countries. Some 2,000 of these servers are located successful the U.S. crossed good implicit a twelve cities. As such, it’s 1 of the champion VPNs for streaming U.S.-based services including HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix US, and YouTube TV. NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol is built connected WireGuard and has proven to beryllium highly accordant for streaming. For the aforesaid reason, it besides topped our database of the champion VPNs for gaming.
The Smart DNS diagnostic of NordVPN is different crushed wherefore it works with truthful galore antithetic streaming platforms. With a subscription, you tin link 10 devices astatine erstwhile – much than ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. You tin get a Dedicated IP code for countries including the US (prices alteration by subscription level), evading blacklisting. NordVPN is bursting with information features including Threat Protection, which blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites.
3. Surfshark
Best VPN for Extra Features
Surfshark
Pricing
Starting from $1.99/mo.
Simultaneous connections
Unlimited
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV
Works with aggregate Netflix libraries
Servers successful astir 2 twelve U.S. cities
Very costly one-month plans
I’ve recovered that Surfshark is 1 of the champion VPNs for Netflix, accessing much Netflix libraries than astir VPNs. This includes Netflix US, UK, Australia, and Japan to sanction a few. This quality to sidestep strict geo-blocking coupled with immoderate of the fastest speeds of immoderate VPN connected the marketplace makes it a peculiarly bully worth (especially with a two-year subscription, which comes retired to its lowest monthly rate). Better still, it works good erstwhile streaming BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Hulu.
Unlike galore VPNs, Surfshark doesn’t enforce a bounds connected however galore devices you tin link simultaneously. You’ll person 3,000 servers to take from crossed 100 countries, including 22 U.S. cities. If you are successful the U.S., chances are you’ll find a adjacent server for a accelerated transportation for streaming successful precocious resolution. A no-logs provider, Surfshark offers a wealthiness of information features, including MultiHop servers (for 2 layers of encryption) and antivirus protection.
4. CyberGhost
Best VPN With a Free Trial
CyberGhost
Pricing
Starting from $2.03/mo.
Simultaneous connections
7
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV
Struggles to bypass blocks successful China
CyberGhost provides dedicated streaming servers optimized for circumstantial platforms, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. It ranks among the champion VPNs for Disney+ for this precise reason. Of course, it helps that CyberGhost has 1 of the largest server networks of immoderate VPN, covering 100 countries. This includes a peculiarly dense beingness successful the U.S. (11 cities,), which is peculiarly utile if you request to entree a U.S. streaming level oregon crippled server.
The consistency of CyberGhost is acknowledgment to its usage of the WireGuard protocol. High-speed connections let for smooth, interruption-free streaming. A dedicated IP costs conscionable $2.50 a period and is simply a large mode to bypass blacklisting. If you don’t privation your ISP and different snoopers seeing what you’re streaming, cognize that CyberGhost uses high-end encryption. This was 1 of the archetypal VPNs to present transparency reports, detailing information requests received by authorities.
5. Proton VPN
Best VPN With a Free Tier
Proton VPN
Pricing
Starting from $4.49/mo.
Simultaneous connections
10
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, Apple TV
Not arsenic galore features arsenic NordVPN and Surfshark
Proton VPN is vastly underrated arsenic a streaming VPN. Its usage of the WireGuard protocol and VPN accelerator diagnostic assistance marque it 1 of the fastest VPNs around, period. It doesn’t wounded that it has a immense web of 9,000 servers successful 117 countries, making it casual to sidestep geo-blocking erstwhile traveling overseas. Proton VPN offers awesome unblocking too, moving with Netflix, Hulu, and ITVX. That’s not atrocious for a VPN with a heavier absorption connected security.
With Proton VPN, you tin link up to 10 devices astatine once. It offers galore other features, including an advertisement blocker and Secure Core servers for an other furniture of encryption. Many VPNs run no-logs policies yet inactive support non-identifying transportation logs, but this isn’t the lawsuit for Proton VPN. Its transparent no-logs argumentation has been independently audited. It’s 1 of lone a tiny fig of VPNs that accepts outgo successful cash, perchance allowing for anonymous signup if you spell astir it the close way.
6. IPVanish
Best VPN for Unlimited Devices
IPVanish
Pricing
Starting from $2.19/mo.
Simultaneous connections
Unlimited
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV
Search server ping and load
Several caller features marque improvements implicit past iterations
Lacking browser extensions
Since I’ve reviewed IPVanish, it has made immense improvements implicit the years, putting it comfortably among the champion VPNs for streaming. Its web has been expanded to 2,400+ servers. Some 1,400 of these servers are successful the U.S. successful implicit 20 cities. As such, IPVanish is highly suitable for streaming; I was capable to entree the likes of Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu successful testing. You shouldn’t person to contend with lag oregon buffering either due to the fact that IPVanish speeds are consistently fast.
Another happening I similar astir IPVanish arsenic a streaming VPN is that it’s casual to find a suitable server due to the fact that each server’s ping and load is displayed successful the apps. It has unlimited simultaneous connections with each devices benefitting from encryption for a unafraid streaming experience. IPVanish has introduced a fig of intriguing caller features to its lineup, including a unafraid browser, unreality protection, and Double Hop (Double VPN) servers.
Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, IGN's genitor company.
7. PrivateVPN
Best VPN for Unblocking
PrivateVPN
Pricing
Starting from $2.00/mo.
Simultaneous connections
10
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV
Works with galore streaming services
Easy to usage desktop and mobile apps
PrivateVPN is simply a lesser-known supplier but that whitethorn beryllium to its vantage due to the fact that it seemingly flies nether the radar of fashionable streaming sites. Although it lone offers a tiny web of a small implicit 200 servers, these servers screen implicit 60 countries. What’s more, you’ll find servers successful 12 U.S. cities and 3 cities successful Canada. PrivateVPN seldom has occupation bypassing the restrictions surrounding streaming platforms specified arsenic Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, oregon ITVX.
The respectable speeds PrivateVPN provides are much than capable for high-resolution streaming. Getting acceptable up and connected is elemental acknowledgment to PrivateVPN’s beginner-friendly apps and fantabulous lawsuit support. Free distant assistance and installation is disposable to marque things adjacent easier. PrivateVPN has a genuine no-logs argumentation and uses 256-bit AES encryption for anonymous online streaming, though it's lighter connected features than rivals.
How We Picked the Best VPNs for Streaming
Netflix recommends a minimum of 15Mbps for 4K streaming which means that each of the champion VPNs for streaming listed are much than accelerated enough. So portion velocity is important, it’s acold from the lone origin to see erstwhile choosing a VPN:
- Content unblocking: The quality to bypass restrictions of fashionable streaming services including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Prime Video.
- Server locations: Servers crossed dozens of countries worldwide (with an accent connected countries specified arsenic the U.S. and UK) for navigating contented restrictions.
- Fast speeds: High-speed connections and unlimited bandwidth truthful you tin watercourse successful the highest solution without suffering debased resolution, lag-filled streams.
- Strong security: Secures your streaming and browsing with beardown encryption (256-bit AES oregon ChaCha20) arsenic good arsenic DNS leak protection.
- Strict no-logs policy: Absolutely nary identifying logs specified arsenic your browsing past oregon the contented you’re streaming.
- Live chat support: Live chat and email enactment truthful you tin find retired which server works champion with circumstantial streaming platforms.
Keep successful caput that VPN speeds tin fluctuate. Influencing factors see your baseline speed, the existent VPN server load, and the region information has to question betwixt the VPN server and your location. Likewise, a VPN’s quality to entree a streaming level tin alteration without warning. There’s a changeless conflict betwixt VPNs and streaming services. It’s conscionable that immoderate VPNs are connected the winning broadside much often than others.
Best VPN for Streaming FAQs
Will a VPN dilatory my streaming speed?
A VPN usually slows your transportation due to the fact that it encrypts your net postulation and routes it to the VPN server earlier sending it to its destination. However, the quality needn’t beryllium noticeable. The champion VPNs for streaming connection accelerated VPN protocols specified arsenic WireGuard, unlimited bandwidth, and plentifulness of debased load servers, truthful you tin watercourse lag- and buffer-free.
Sometimes, a VPN whitethorn adjacent amended your streaming speeds if your ISP is throttling your bandwidth. That’s due to the fact that the VPN hides your postulation truthful that your ISP can’t spot what you’re doing online (and won’t throttle your streaming arsenic a result).
Why isn’t my VPN moving with Netflix?
If you can’t entree Netflix with your caller streaming VPN, don’t panic. Not each VPN IP addresses enactment with Netflix, truthful effort aggregate servers – determination tin beryllium immoderate proceedings and mistake involved. Be definite to wide your cookies betwixt each attempt. This helps Netflix hide your erstwhile IP address. Finally, your VPN’s enactment whitethorn beryllium capable to supply further guidance specified arsenic circumstantial servers that are apt to enactment best.
Can I usage a escaped VPN for streaming?
Most escaped VPNs enforce information caps and throttle bandwidth, which is acold from perfect if you privation to usage them for streaming. They besides thin to connection precise fewer servers and locations and are little reliable for bypassing blocks. Not to notation the information that escaped VPNs tin deficiency beardown encryption and whitethorn adjacent support logs of your enactment to beryllium sold to 3rd parties. Besides, you tin effort the champion VPNs for streaming risk-free anyhow acknowledgment to generous money-back guarantees.
Mark Gill is simply a freelance VPN writer for IGN, bringing implicit 5 years of dedicated acquisition from Comparitech, wherever helium delves heavy into the intricacies of VPNs. When he’s not investigating VPNs, Mark is an avid gamer with a brushed spot for the Sega Mega Drive, reliving the classics for a dose of nostalgia.
Originally posted:
May 27, 2025 6:27 pm