The Best Streaming VPNs in September 2023 [Updated List]

As geo-restrictions have turned content spread thinner across a number of streaming services, it’s easy to see why you are looking for the best VPN for streaming.

Today more and more people are turning away from traditional cable TV toward online streaming services to watch whatever they want on the go. Hence, VPNs have become a fantastic tool for people who love to stream live TV along with on-demand content online.

So here a question comes Is a VPN worth it for streaming? Yes, the best VPN for streaming can easily unblock geo-restricted content and let you watch the full content available on any streaming platform from anywhere.

A premium streaming VPN, like ExpressVPN, allows you to redirect your traffic through a server in another country, thus working around geo-blocks and giving you unrestricted access to worldwide entertainment. 

However, not every VPN is optimized for unblocking and streaming, so today, we will be discussing exactly which streaming VPNs are worth considering in  September 2023.

How Do I Choose the Best VPN for Streaming?

There are far too many VPNs available in the market, and they all offer different perks to entice you to choose them. However, like most things in life, different VPNs are well suited for different things. So, when it comes to unblocking streaming services, not every VPN is right for the job.

To bring you our top recommendations for the best VPN for streaming, we tested 55+ VPNs and read various VPN reviews UK over the course of 3 months with more than 30 worldwide streaming services and channels.

Listed below are some of the most important features to look for when choosing the best VPN for streaming:

Which VPN is Best for Streaming in 2023 [Full Analysis]

We have spent around 3 months testing and reviewing 55+ VPNs for streaming. We tested each provider with over 30 international streaming services on various devices to come up with the top 5 best VPNs for streaming in September 2023.

Here’s a detailed rundown of our top recommendations.

1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN for Streaming Overall

According to our tests, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming as it unblocks almost all popular streaming services around the world like Disney+ Hotstar. Some of its standout features are its excellent unblocking ability, speed, security, and server coverage these features help in the seamless streaming of Hotstar amazing Shows, Movies like Pop Kaun, Gaslight, RRR, Run Baby Run, Anger Tales and more.

Platforms like Netflix always try to prevent VPNs to unblock their services, but ExpressVPN always remains one step ahead, keeping its servers updated with the latest unblocking mechanisms.

Unlike many providers, ExpressVPN unblocks Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, ESPN+, and other platforms that actively block VPNs. Moreover, due to its streaming capabilities, it can be called the best VPN for streaming Twitch, Channel 4, Channel 5, and more.

ExpressVPN can unblock 20+ Netflix libraries on its servers, making it a great VPN TV streaming.

With ExpressVPN, you get access to over 3,000+ servers in 105 countries, so no matter where you are, you can watch any streaming service you want. So, whether it’s shows, movies, or live sports that you are trying to watch, ExpressVPN’s fast servers are up to the task.

In our tests, ExpressVPN consistently delivered fast speeds regardless of the server location. On a 100 Mbps connection, ExpressVPN offered a blazing-fast download speed of 89.42 Mbps and an upload speed of 84.64 Mbps.

ExpressVPN offered fast speed on a base connection of 100 Mbps.

We tested various ExpressVPN servers while streaming and recorded the following speeds while streaming Netflix with ExpressVPN:

Another feature that shows that ExpressVPN takes streaming very seriously is its MediaStreamer SmartDNS option – a tool that is custom-made to help users to access overseas content with ease on all major streaming devices.

We tested ExpressVPN apps on different clients like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux and loved its mobile apps because of the Quick Connect feature and smart interface that is easy to play around with. In short, it is the best VPN for sports streaming like The Indian Premier League 2023 and even streaming IPL Opening Ceremony 2023 on any compatible device.

While streaming is the priority, security is also great with ExpressVPN as it uses military-level encryption, along with a selection of fast protocols. It means your online anonymity is guaranteed, letting you stream in peace without intrusion from third parties, even your ISP.

If you run into snags while streaming, there is excellent 24/7 live chat customer support that is particularly handy.

This best UK VPN is available for GB£5.1/mo (US$6.67/mo) - Save up to 49% with exclusive 1-year plans + 3 months free. That said, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you want to try the service risk-free.

2. Surfshark: Pocket-Friendly Streaming VPN

Surfshark is a pocket-friendly VPN for streaming that offers great unblocking for a fraction of the price. Surfshark gets the #1 spot in our affordable VPN list, as you can get it for just GB£1.9/mo (US$2.49/mo) - Save up to 77% with exclusive 2-year plan + 30-day money-back guarantee.

Another trick up its sleeve is that with one subscription, you can cover unlimited simultaneous connections.

A single Surfshark account can be used to stream on your laptops, smartphones, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, Roku, and other devices. This means that you can use this best VPN for streaming on Firestick, Kodi, PS4, and more.

We decided to test this ourselves and connected to Surfshark on 12 devices at once, and there was no change in the performance – as we could enjoy streaming without any issues.

Surfshark offers 3200+ servers in 100+ countries so you can unblock a wide range of platforms. Surfshark’s an ideal VPN for streaming MSNBC, Hulu, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, Disney+, and more.

Surfshark is highly capable of bypassing Disney+ geo-restrictions.

Surfshark provides an excellent combo of value and speed. On a 100 Mbps connection, Surfshark gave a fast download speed of 88.14 Mbps and an upload speed of 83.72 Mbps.

Surfshark offers fast speeds on its servers for streaming without buffering.

This best VPN for streaming surprised us with its fast speed. While testing, we faced a speed drop of only 12%. As we were still above the mark of average speeds, we could easily stream in 4K without facing any buffering or lag. Here are the speeds we recorded on Surfshark’s various servers.

With a tempting price and a 30-day money-back guarantee, this cheapest VPN UK is the best VPN for streaming that you should definitely give a try.

3. NordVPN: Largest Server Network VPN for Streaming

NordVPN offers easy unblocking ability due to its largest server network. It offers more than 6000+ ultra-fast servers in 61 countries which ensures great speeds no matter which server you connect to.

NordVPN’s focus on streaming is evident from its SmartPlay technology. SmartPlay automatically reroutes your traffic through an appropriate server to bypass geo-restrictions on streaming services. It is enabled by default in all NordVPN apps and guarantees access to any content you want.

In simple words, NordVPN works with dozens of streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, Peaock TV, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube TV. It is also a great choice in case you want to access regional catalogs of Netflix like the US, UK, and Australia, among others. NordVPN also works great with Japanese Netflix.

We could easily watch our favorite anime series on Japanese Netflix with NordVPN.

During our performance testing, NordVPN gave us above-average speeds with consistency. Even on long-distance servers, our speed was great for streaming in Ultra HD. On a 100 Mbps connection, we recorded a download speed of  86.49 Mbps. 

NordVPN speed results in a 100 Mbps base connection.

Owing to its fast-speed servers, you will have no interruptions while streaming. Here are the speed results of different locations that we tested:

The combination of a large server network with fast-speed servers, and SmartPlay gives NordVPN a cutting edge for streaming.

This best VPN UK offers apps for all major devices and is available for GB£3.81/mo (US$4.99/mo) - Save up to 63% with exclusive 2-year plan + 3 months free for a friend. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can get a full refund within 30 days.

4. CyberGhost: User-Friendly VPN for Streaming

CyberGhost is a user-friendly VPN for streaming and great for beginners as it offers 100+ dedicated streaming servers for different platforms. Its apps are easy-to-use, which is great.

During testing, CyberGhost unblocked Netflix in multiple regions and easily bypassed BBC iPlayer’s geo-locks. Moreover, we could also watch geo-blocked shows and movies on Amazon Prime Video, which is quite tricky.

We tested multiple streaming-optimized servers and normal servers while streaming, and it unblocked each streaming site easily. We did experience a bit of lag while streaming Disney+ as it failed to unblock the site on our first and second try. However, unblocking BBC iPlayer with CyberGhost was a breeze.

With this easy stream VPN’s BBC iPlayer optimized server, we could easily unblock the British service.

In terms of speed, CyberGhost wasn’t the fastest one out there, but it did offer great speeds on its streaming services – fast enough for HD-quality video streaming. While testing, we got an average download speed of 75.47 Mbps on our 100 Mbps base connection. The speed is fast enough to let you stream ESPN+ in UK without any technical interruptions. 

CyberGhost offers reliable speed on its streaming-optimized servers.

Though CyberGhost offers reliable speed on most country servers. Its speeds lag behind ExpressVPN over long-distance servers. Here are the speed results that we recorded on various CyberGhost servers:

CyberGhost also comes with a Smart DNS tool that allows you to stream your favorite platforms and VoD services on Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and other such devices. You can connect 7 devices simultaneously and is available for $2.75/month.

If you ever run into any issues while streaming with CyberGhost, you can get in touch with customer support via live chat which is available 24/7. There is a 45-day money-back guarantee in case you want to try it out.

5. PrivateVPN: Best VPN to Stream on iOS and Android

PrivateVPN is a great option for those who are constantly traveling as it’s the best VPN for streaming movies or shows on iOS and Android devices. Let’s not forget that it’s also a solid VPN for TV.

Despite being a new provider with limited features, we found PrivateVPN to be a real streaming powerhouse. It has 200+ servers in over 63+ locations. 

Despite a small fleet of servers, PrivateVPN did not disappoint during testing as it easily circumvented Netflix’s geo-restrictions in 15+ locations. It seamlessly unblocked US Netflix on our iPhone and enjoyed the content easily.

Overall, we were impressed as PrivateVPN gave us instant access to the US Netflix library on most of the USA locations we tested.

Within 2 minutes, we had complete access to Netflix US on iPhone with PrivateVPN.

After Netflix, ProtonVPN did a clean sweep of popular streaming services such as BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, and others. When it came to Amazon Prime, we had to try a few times before it gave us access to a US-exclusive title.

The only drawback of PrivateVPN is that due to its small server network, it offers inconsistent speed on long-distance servers. Most in-demand servers are overly crowded – resulting in slow speed.

While testing, our download speed dropped by 38% after connecting to its Australia server. On a 100 Mbps base connection, we got a speed of 54.26 Mbps.

PrivateVPN offered decent speed on its servers.

Some of the PrivateVPN servers offered reliable speeds. You can check the table below for speed on some locations that we tested.

Despite its small server network, PrivateVPN is a good service and one of the best VPNs for streaming Netflix and other streaming platforms. And if you’re wondering: “how much does a VPN cost in UK,” then let us tell you that this VPN  comes with an affordable price tag of $2.00/month (Save 85%).

Why Do You Need a VPN for Streaming?

A good quality VPN is definitely worth using for streaming because it enables you to access content that is geo-blocked by services like Netflix, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video. Secondly, a VPN can solve buffering issues that are caused by bandwidth throttling.

In short, using a VPN can significantly improve your streaming experience. With a VPN, you can access thousands of shows and movies that are not available in your country. For example, US Netflix has over 5879 titles, while Thailand only has 4864 titles.

What’s more, some services like Hulu, Peacock TV, Showtime, and NBC are only available in the US. Therefore, you cannot access them outside the USA due to geo-restrictions.

When you use a VPN, it masks your real IP address and tricks the streaming service you are trying to watch from a supported country. This allows you to watch all the content that is not available in your region.

Now that you know the answer to: ‘Do you need a VPN in UK for streaming,’ let us tell you that the best option so far is ExpressVPN to unblock all your favorite channels.

How to Access Different Streaming Services Using a VPN?

If you want to watch a foreign streaming service or content, you will need to set up a VPN. A VPN allows you to bypass geo-restrictions and watch anything you want without any issues.

If you have chosen the VPN you want, follow these steps to use a VPN to access different streaming services from anywhere:

Keep in mind that if you want to watch Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, or other similar streaming platforms, you will need to subscribe to the streaming service first.

A VPN will help you unblock different streaming services, but to watch its content, you will need to subscribe to the service.

Here’s a brief video that shows how easy it is to unblock a streaming service with a VPN from abroad. In this video, we have used the best VPN country for streaming – ExpressVPN to watch Hulu in the UK.

Which Streaming Services Can I Use With a VPN?

These days, there are plenty of choices when it comes to the best streaming services in UK. However, most services are restricted to a few countries. But with the help of a VPN, you can easily circumvent pesky geo-restrictions and watch your favorite shows and movies online.

Here’s a list of streaming services VPNs can unblock:

Platforms
	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
	✔	✔	✔	Inconsistent	✔
	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘
	✔	✔	✔	Inconsistent	✔
	✔	✘	✔	✔	✘
	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘

⚠️ What is the Most Unsafe VPN for Streaming?

Most VPNs are not trustworthy. They sell your data and infect your device with malware. Therefore, if you are wondering which VPNs should you avoid, below is the list of VPNs that are not safe for streaming:

What Other Streaming Services You Can Watch in UK?

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re into sports or entertainment, the best VPN for streaming in UK can help you watch anything you want online. With so many streaming services available, it is only natural that you want to watch everything.

A VPN can help you bypass geo-restrictions and allow you to unblock and stream various platforms and regional libraries regardless of your location. However, not every VPN is up for the task.

We found ExpressVPN to be the best VPN for unblocking streaming services, allowing us to watch various platforms without any interruptions.