Best VPN for Streaming
Looking for the best VPN for streaming popular services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer or Disney+ in HD? Fed up of bandwidth throttling and geo-restrictions? Then check out our top recommended streaming VPN providers below.
Our streaming VPN reviews explained
Streaming content is up there with the biggest reasons as to why people use VPNs. We have tested a whole range of premium VPN providers so you can be sure to find an excellent streaming VPN from our expert picks. Often content is blocked due to geographical or licensing restrictions and this is where a VPN can help! Popular services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and HBO can be unblocked via a VPN giving you full access. These VPNs also provide additional user privacy ensuring your IP address is hidden and activity is undetectable by your internet service provider (ISP). This also means you won’t face any annoying bandwidth throttling which is useful if you watch a lot of HD content or use media player software such as Kodi.
Finally, a best VPN for streaming will allow users who live in or are visiting countries with high levels of government censorship to access blocked content with full privacy protection.
What do you need from a VPN for streaming?
We thoroughly test all our recommended VPN providers to ensure they can successfully unblock the most popular streaming channels. Additionally, we check to see if they offer great VPN server availability and high speeds so watching HD/4K content is truly uninterrupted. Our top recommended VPNs for streaming all offer the following:
- The ability to unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ worldwide
- Fast speeds and multiple servers to stream in HD without interruptions
- Secure connections allowing you to stream in private
- Multiple VPN apps which can be used across various devices
- A huge network of servers spread all around the world
Melvyn's top 5 VPNs for Streaming
CyberGhost
CyberGhost are an exceptional VPN provider with industry leading levels of privacy, worldwide server locations ideal for torrenting with user friendly applications that flawlessly unblock US Netflix, BBC iPlayer and other popular streaming services. If you want a super-fast, zero logs, easy to use VPN… then look no further!
Compatible with
Summary
Super-fast, zero logs, easy to use apps and friendly 24/7 customer support… you can see why it’s our number one recommended provider!
Our score:
5.0
★★★★★ 5/5
Price from:
$2.75
per month
NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the best and most popular VPN providers out there. It strikes the perfect balance for privacy concerned users and those looking for lightning fast speeds. It’s great for unblocking content such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer and also supports P2P and torrenting. Add to this its no logs policy and impeccable security, Nord sure does tick all the boxes!
Compatible with
Summary
Outstanding speeds, zero logs, and award winning 24/7 customer support… NordVPN is up there with the very best in the VPN market!
Our score:
4.9
★★★★★ 4.9/5
Price from:
$3.71
per month
Ivacy
Ivacy are a rock solid, highly secure, no logs VPN provider that has recently reinvented itself to be one of the top, yet cheapest, providers. With super-fast speeds from 1,000+ worldwide servers, you can stream HD content from all the popular providers such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ with ease. Their apps are slick and full of awesome features, so putting all these great points together make Ivacy a great all-round option!
Compatible with
Summary
Well polished user-friendly apps, market leading speeds and an outstanding price… Ivacy are major players in the VPN market!
Our score:
4.7
★★★★★ 4.7/5
Price from:
$1.16
per month
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN are a first class, zero logs VPN provider and are one of our top picks if you’re concerned about online privacy. Combining market leading security with excellent speeds produced from its global network of servers, you can safely enjoy torrenting or stream HD content from all the popular providers such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer with ease. Private by name and private by nature… this VPN is hard to beat!
Compatible with
Summary
Exceptionally privacy focused, ultra-quick download speeds and ridiculously competitively priced… you don’t want to overlook PrivateVPN!
Our score:
4.7
★★★★★ 4.6/5
Price from:
$1.89
per month
HideMyAss
HideMyAss, part of the of the Avast family (which are one of the largest security companies in the world!), offer its users incredible speeds from their impressive network of servers for a pretty affordable monthly outgoing. It’s ideal for P2P torrenting or watching geo-restricted content, and their apps are beautifully made and highly user friendly.
Compatible with
Summary
Insane speeds, an impressive network of servers and perfect for streaming geo-restricted content… HideMyAss has masses of potential!
Our score:
4.6
★★★★★ 4.6/5
Price from:
$2.99
per month
Streaming related news
Streaming VPN FAQs...
What is a VPN and why do I need it for streaming?
A VPN (virtual private network) is a simple piece of software which allows you to connect to a different server anywhere around the world. This then changes your ISP location, allowing you to appear in a different country and access your catalogue of choice. Using a VPN when streaming will enable you to change your location to a country who’s content you want to watch e.g. the USA for US Netflix library or the UK for BBC iPlayer.
How do I use a VPN for streaming?
Using a VPN for streaming is very straight forward. Once you have chosen your desired provider simply download their application on to which ever device you want to watch content on and follow the below steps:
- Select a server location for the countries content you want to view (or better still a dedicated server for the channel if your VPN provider has dedicated streaming).
- Connect to the best server available e.g. a UK server for BBC iPlayer or a US server for Netflix.
- Open the media you are trying to watch and stream away!
Is it legal to use a VPN when streaming?
Yes. Unblocking geo-restricted content is perfectly legal in most countries and most providers wont log any of your activity when using a VPN. We recommend you don’t breach any copyright laws with a streaming VPN.
Should I use a free VPN for streaming?
Can I stream on Amazon Firestick with a VPN?
Yes. It’s really easy to use a VPN with your Amazon Firestick for streaming. Most providers we recommend have a dedicated Fire TV application which you can install directly on to your device. If you want more information or to find the best VPNs for Firestick click here.
Do I need a fast connection when using a streaming VPN?
In many cases a VPN can help deliver a consistent and fast connection speed which as well as reducing buffering prevent any bandwidth throttling. A VPN will reduce your connection speed slightly but, in most cases, they deliver more than robust enough speeds for HD streaming, we have speed tested our providers to ensure we only offer the best VPN speeds for streaming.
What if my VPN can’t unblock Netflix?
Most VPNs we offer have proven ability to overcome the infamous Netflix VPN block as they continually try to restrict access to their service. Many providers have dedicated Netflix servers and the best VPN companies work to ensure they are ahead of the game in this respect. If you do come across ‘Proxy error messages’ or have any trouble you should contact your chosen VPN providers technical support team. We also have the best Netflix VPNs here.
Will my privacy be protected with a streaming VPN?
Yes. All of our providers offer the very best top tier privacy and security features. We recommend choosing a provider with military grade AES-256 encryption and our preferred Open VPN protocol. Additionally most of our best streaming VPN providers are zero logs so any activity you do with a VPN isn’t logged or stored so you have full online anonymity.
What is the cheapest streaming VPN?
We offer a wide range of cheap VPN providers that all work fantastically well for streaming purposes. In most cases our VPNs are on special offer and we also get exclusive VPN deals from our providers. Checkout our top 5 list or visit our best cheap VPN page here.
Will a VPN work on my preferred device?
Yes. In most cases all of our recommended VPNs for streaming can be used on any device and operating system that you could possibly own. You can also connect most at router level to protect your entire Wi-Fi network although having the application directly on your device is our proffered method. We therefore recommend VPNs that can be used directly on your Smart TV, Amazon Firestick, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS as well as browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.