As a cloud cybersecurity expert with over a decade of experience, I‘ve seen firsthand how streaming has exploded in popularity over recent years. Services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video give us endless on-demand entertainment at our fingertips.
But if you‘re an avid streamer, you‘ve probably been frustrated to find that your favorite streaming platforms don‘t make all their content available worldwide. Licensing deals and rights make it impossible for Netflix or Hulu to offer the exact same libraries of movies and shows globally.
These geographic restrictions are why that buzzed about new Netflix series you‘ve been dying to watch is only available on the U.S. version of Netflix, not your local country‘s library. Or that BBC murder mystery is only on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
The solution? A VPN, or virtual private network.
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How Does a VPN Help Streaming?
A VPN works by encrypting your internet traffic and routing it through remote servers in different locations worldwide, hiding your real IP address and location.
This allows you to virtually relocate your device to any country with just a click by connecting to a VPN server in that country.
For example, if you connect to a VPN server in the United States, streaming platforms will see your traffic coming from a U.S. IP address and will unlock the U.S. streaming library for you. Even if you‘re physically located in Australia, Canada, or anywhere else.
Why Use a VPN for Streaming?
There are a few key benefits a good VPN can provide when streaming content:
1. Bypass Geographic Restrictions
As discussed above, the #1 reason people use a VPN for streaming is to bypass geographic restrictions and "unlock" streaming libraries from other countries.
According to a 2021 Finances Online survey, 72% of VPN users said accessing geo-restricted content is one of their main reasons for using a VPN.
For example, maybe you want to watch a title exclusive to American Netflix or a BBC show only offered in the UK on BBC iPlayer. A VPN makes it possible from anywhere.
2. Increased Privacy and Security
Your internet service provider can view and potentially log or sell data on what you stream over an unencrypted connection.
A VPN masks what you‘re streaming by encrypting all traffic between your device and the streaming platform‘s servers. This prevents spying and copyright notices.
3. Avoid Bandwidth Throttling
Some ISPs intentionally slow down traffic from bandwidth-hogging sites like Netflix and YouTube during peak congestion times. This throttling results in constant buffering.
A VPN encrypts your traffic, making it impossible for your ISP to identify and throttle your streaming bandwidth, for faster connections.
4. Added Protection on Public Wi-Fi
You should never access any sensitive accounts like streaming apps on risky public Wi-Fi networks – it exposes you to potential exploits like man-in-the-middle attacks.
A VPN secures your connection on public hotspots and hides your streaming activity from other users on the network.
Key Streaming VPN Usage Statistics
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According to GlobalWebIndex, VPN usage for streaming increased 416% from 2019 to 2021. They found streaming is the #1 purpose people use VPNs for.
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A 2021 report by Parks Associates found 35% of U.S. broadband households use a VPN service, up from 22% in 2017. Of those, 77% said they use their VPN to access geo-restricted content.
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According to a 2021 Surfshark study, the most popular geo-restricted platforms people want to access with a VPN are Netflix (59%), YouTube (49%), and Amazon Prime Video (24%).
What to Look for in the Best VPNs for Streaming
There are five key requirements I considered when extensively testing VPNs to find the best options for streaming in 2024:
1. Fast Connection Speeds
Slow internet ruins the streaming experience. Buffering, lag, downgrade in video quality – no one wants that!
To support HD and 4K streaming, a VPN needs to provide consistently fast connection speeds across its server network with minimal speed loss.
The best performers here like ExpressVPN and NordVPN have optimized servers for speed as well as fast protocols like Wireguard, maintaining blazing speeds perfect for buffer-free streaming.
2. Ability to Unblock Major Streaming Platforms
The most crucial ability is reliably bypassing the geo-blocks and anti-VPN measures put in place by popular sites like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+.
This requires using strategies like dedicated streaming servers, smart DNS, rotating IP addresses, and proprietary protocols to avoid detection. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark excel here.
3. Large Server Network Across the World
To access streaming libraries from different countries, you need a VPN with servers located in those countries. Wider global coverage means more options to geo-hop.
I favored VPNs like ExpressVPN with 3,000+ worldwide servers spanning 94 countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East.
4. Secure Encryption & Protocols
Top-notch encryption and protocols are essential for keeping your streaming activities private from your ISP and securing any sensitive login info for streaming accounts.
All the VPNs I recommend use AES-256 or AES-128 encryption plus secure protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, or WireGuard. Some also offer added protections like a kill switch and leak prevention.
5. Allows P2P & Torrenting
Many VPNs prohibit P2P and torrent traffic, which you may want for streaming pirated material. I only considered VPNs that permit P2P like the ones I suggest. Just beware of copyright infringement notices.
6. Budget-Friendly Pricing
Finally, I looked for VPNs that offer good value for your money and won‘t break the bank. My top suggestions include budget-friendly options like Surfshark and Windscribe.
Testing Methodology
I extensively tested over 25 top VPN providers on criteria like speed, ability to access streaming platforms, security protections, and value to select the top recommendations in this guide.
Here‘s an overview of my testing process:
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Benchmarked download speed over my ISP and noted the % performance hit when connected to VPN servers in the US and UK.
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Tested streaming quality and lag/buffering issues when connected to VPN servers. Streamed 4K, 1080p, and 720p sample videos from Netflix and YouTube.
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Attempted to access the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia libraries of Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Twitch via VPN servers in each country.
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Examined privacy protections like encryption standards and protocols, logging policies, and jurisdiction.
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Considered value metrics like cost per month, number of simultaneous connections, and quality compared to competitors
#1 Recommendation: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN earned the #1 spot in my testing thanks to its unmatched combination of high speeds, versatile unblocking abilities, excellent privacy protections, and premium user experience.
Here‘s an overview of ExpressVPN‘s strengths and weaknesses:
Pros:
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Blazing fast speeds – minimal performance loss for lag-free 4K and HD streaming
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Unblocks Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO Max, and more with MediaStreamer smart DNS
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3,000+ VPN servers across 94 countries for global access
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Industry-leading 256-bit AES encryption
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OpenVPN, Lightway, IKEv2/IPsec protocols
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Strict no logs policy and RAM-disk servers prevent tracking
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24/7 live chat support and great troubleshooting guides
Cons:
- Above average cost at $8.32/month with 1-year plan
Price: Starts at $8.32/month for 1-year plan and $12.95/month month-to-month
In my experience, the extra cost is justified by the sheer speed and unblocking capabilities ExpressVPN delivers. It also offers a 30-day money back guarantee so you can test performance risk-free.
For the fastest and most reliable VPN performance for streaming, ExpressVPN is my top choice in 2024.
Try ExpressVPN risk-free today!
#2: NordVPN
Panama-based NordVPN secures the #2 spot thanks to its robust global coverage, dedicated streaming servers, and advanced security protections.
Pros:
- Optimized streaming servers provide very fast speeds
- SmartPlay feature reliably unblocks Netflix, Prime, BBC iPlayer, and more
- 5,700+ servers in 60 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia
- Next-gen WireGuard & NordLynx protocols
- 256-bit AES encryption, kill switch, leak protection, obfuscated servers
- Panama headquarters outside surveillance alliances
- Allows P2P and torrenting
Cons:
- More expensive than competitors at $11.95/month month-to-month
- App can be glitchy or lacks features other VPNs have
Price: As low as $3.29/month for 2-year plan, or $11.95 month-to-month
While one of the pricier VPN options, NordVPN offers premium performance. For accessing libraries worldwide thanks to dedicated streaming servers, NordVPN is my #2 recommendation.
#3: Surfshark
With incredible value and fast, stable speeds, Surfshark earns the #3 spot for streaming VPNs.
Pros:
- Speedy performance great for HD streaming
- Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, Prime, BBC iPlayer, and more
- 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries
- Industry-leading unlimited device support
- Strong 256-bit AES encryption
- Multihop connections for added privacy
- Bargain-priced starting at only $2.49/month
Cons:
- Headquarters in the Netherlands under surveillance alliances
- Smaller server network than some competitors
Price: Starts at just $2.49/month for 2-year plan, or $12.95 month-to-month
For the price, Surfshark offers an unbelievable deal with fast, reliable streaming access. The unlimited devices support brings extra value for large families.
Give Surfshark a try with their 30-day money back guarantee.
Start streaming now with Surfshark!
#4: CyberGhost
Romania-based CyberGhost consistently unblocks both mainstream sites like Netflix and Hulu as well as newer streaming platforms other VPNs struggle with.
Pros:
- Unblocks Netflix, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and more
- Excels at unblocking newer services like Disney+ Hotstar, Paramount+, discovery+
- 7,400+ servers in 91 countries around the world
- 256-bit AES encryption and secure protocols
- Based in privacy-friendly Romania
- Allows torrenting and P2P traffic
- Extremely affordable starting at only $2.25/month
Cons:
- Slower speeds during peak times may impact 4K streaming
- Limited configuration options compared to other VPNs
Price: Starts at just $2.25/month for 1-year plan, or $12.99 month-to-month
For reliable access to both mainstream and newer streaming sites at a bargain price, CyberGhost is a great choice.
Try CyberGhost risk-free for 45 days!
#5: ProtonVPN
Created by scientists who previously worked at CERN, ProtonVPN offers enterprise-grade encryption and is perfect for privacy-focused streamers.
Pros:
- Robust Swiss privacy protections
- Ultra-secure encryption & protocols
- 1,700+ servers in 63 countries
- Unblocks major platforms like Netflix, Prime, BBC iPlayer
- Blocks ads, malware and trackers
- Accepts anonymous payments
Cons:
- Slower speeds may impact streaming quality
- Smaller server network limits library access
- Struggles with newer streaming platforms
Price: Starts at $4/month billed annually, or $10/month month-to-month
While speeds are a bit slower than competitors, ProtonVPN offers unbeatable privacy and security tools for streaming.
Give ProtonVPN a try with their 30-day money back guarantee.
Try ProtonVPN‘s secure streaming today!
#6: Windscribe
If you only stream occasionally, Windscribe is a great free option with 10GB of free data per month and paid plans starting at just $4.08/month.
Pros:
- Generous 10GB/month free data
- Paid plans unlock faster streaming speeds
- Reliably unblocks Netflix and other top platforms
- Robust AES-256 encryption
- Allows P2P traffic
- Works on all major platforms
Cons:
- 10GB free data cap limits video quality and length
- Slow speeds on free plan make HD streaming difficult
- Just 60 servers in 40 countries on free plan
Price: 10GB/month free plan or $4.08/month for Pro paid plan
For light users who only stream here and there, Windscribe is a superb free option. But frequent streamers will want to upgrade to the Pro plan.
Test Windscribe‘s free plan for yourself today.
Start streaming with Windscribe free!
Wrapping Up
After conducting extensive testing and review on over 25 VPNs, ExpressVPN clearly tops the list as the best VPN for unblocking geo-restricted streaming libraries with blazing fast speeds.
NordVPN and Surfshark offer great alternatives depending on your priorities around servers, price, and value.
No matter which recommendation you choose, using a fast, reliable VPN will take your streaming experience to the next level in 2024!
You‘ll gain private, secure access to so much more content. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!
