To keep yourself busy during the block, you’ve probably spent a lot of your free time watching TV shows and movies on streaming platforms like Netflix, catching up with the good of HBO Max and Peacock, or indulging in the world live TV with FuboTV or YouTube TV. Although modern streaming sites have thousands of TV shows and movies in their catalogs, there is always something you really want to watch that is not available in your region.
What you may not realize is that there is a quick and easy solution to solve this annoying problem: downloading a VPN (virtual private network) application. With one of these services, you have a way to get around geographic restrictions and can watch streaming content that would normally be off limits due to location.
VPN applications can also transform the streaming experience, protecting against problems that affect overall performance, with bandwidth limitation and denial of service attacks being notable examples. However, which VPN service is best for streaming? There are certainly many of them on the market, and before Sunday’s Super Bowl, we rated our favorites in this article.
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Best general VPN for streaming: ExpressVPN
In addition to being the best overall VPN service of 2021, the British Virgin Islands-based company is also the leading provider of unblocked TV streaming content and services worldwide.
As ExpressVPN offers more than 3,000 high-speed servers in 94 countries, it’s really easy to access geo-restricted streaming content and platforms through this service. It is able to unlock Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, Youtube and many other streaming sites.
With applications for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux and other operating systems, ExpressVPN allows you to broadcast TV shows and movies on all devices in your home. You’ll also find your apps incredibly easy to use, especially since you can quickly connect to the server faster with a single touch. But, unfortunately, ExpressVPN only works on five devices at the same time.
Thanks to unlimited bandwidth, you should never experience slow streaming speeds while connected to one of ExpressVPN’s global servers. It also features IP address masking, a network wipe switch, private DNS, AES-256 encryption, a strict no registration policy, an integrated speed test, split tunnel VPN, TrustedServer technology, instruction guides, 24-hour client daily, 7 days a week support and more.
ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming thanks to its high speed servers, compatibility with the best streaming sites, multiplatform applications and great resources.
Best value VPN for streaming VPN for value: Surfshark
Looking for a great streaming VPN that also offers excellent value for money? The provider for you is Surfshark, which charges less than $ 3 a month for a premium subscription.
Surfshark comprises more than 3,200 high-speed servers in 65 countries, which means that you can easily access streaming services in all parts of the globe. It will work with a variety of major streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and many more.
But without a doubt, the most significant appeal of Surfshark is its policy of unlimited devices. As a result, you can use a VPN on all of your connected devices. It supports a variety of operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and Linux. Overall, the Surfshark app looks great and is very easy to use.
Although Surfshark is one of the best streaming VPNs, it is also great for other use cases. Thanks to its malware, phishing, web tracking and ad blocking features, Surfshark will add extra protection to your devices. There is also a non-registration policy, a deletion switch, private DNS and leak protection, a cloaking mode, AES-256 encryption, a multitude of secure protocols, a whitelist function, 24/7 support, 7 days a week and more.
Surfshark is an excellent streaming VPN because it offers thousands of high-speed servers and an unlimited device policy, but it is also the most affordable provider.
Most VPN features for streaming: NordVPN
Nord is another big name in the VPN space, and if you’re looking to unblock streaming sites around the world, you’re definitely in luck, as it offers more than 5,500 VPN servers in more than 59 countries.
Along with an extensive network of servers, NordVPN also provides access to a large list of streaming services. This includes Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, DAZN and others. What’s also useful is that NordVPN has created insightful guides on how to use its platform to access streaming services safely.
Like any other first-rate VPN provider, Nord works on a multitude of operating systems and devices. You can download your easy-to-use VPN client on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux and other platforms. One of the best things about your application is that there is a quick connect button to automatically select the best server available for speed. Although NordVPN’s six-device policy is not the smallest, it still limits users.
NordVPN may have some excellent streaming features up its sleeve, but it is also one of the best VPN services based on its security and privacy features. We are big fans of Double VPN, which uses two VPN servers to route web traffic, and its built-in ad blocking malware. Other useful features include a kill switch, obfuscated servers, split tunnel VPN, Onion Over VPN, support for P2P, a DNS leak test, browser extensions, strong encryption and more.
If you want a streaming VPN with many other unique features, NordVPN is the best provider. It has developed one of the largest networks of VPN servers, offers impressive speeds, works with several streaming services and offers great security protections.
Largest choice of servers: Cyberghost
Cyberghost offers one of the largest server networks in a VPN service, totaling 6,800 servers in 89 countries. Naturally, this makes you a real candidate for all your streaming needs.
It provides global access to several popular streaming services, including Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Hulu, NBC, ESPN and more. Thanks to the high server speeds and unlimited bandwidth offered by Cyberghost, you should enjoy an impeccable streaming experience.
Another great advantage of Cyberghost is its wide range of VPN applications, which are not only available on the main mobile and computer operating systems, but also on smart TVs, game consoles and routers. What’s more, Cyberghost allows you to use your VPN service on up to seven devices simultaneously.
Overall, CyberGhost is a complete VPN service. Its main features include AES-256 encryption, protection against DNS and IP leakage, a kill switch, OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard protocol options, a strict no registration policy, unlimited bandwidth and traffic, 24/7 support, 7 days a week and a 45-day refund period.
Cyberghost is a great choice for streaming, as it provides an extensive network of servers, along with features like kill switch, strong encryption, different protocols, multiplatform applications and more.
Faster VPN for streaming: Hotspot Shield
If you are going to use a VPN for streaming, incredible speeds are absolutely essential. And what makes Hotspot Shield one of the best streaming VPNs is the impressive performance offered by its international servers.
To offer the best possible speeds, Hotspot has developed its own proprietary VPN protocol called Hydra. Explicitly designed for streaming and other bandwidth-consuming activities, it can deliver speeds twice as fast as other VPN protocols.
The Hotspot Shield also operates a global network of more than 3,200 servers, covering more than 80 countries. They provide access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube, Twitch and many other notable streaming platforms.
You can download Hotspot Shield on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, smart TVs and routers. The number of devices on which you can use this VPN varies by subscription. While the Premium plan supports 5 devices, the Premium Family subscription reaches 25 devices. But with prices starting at $ 7.99 a month, Hotspot Shield is not the cheapest VPN service on the market.
Given that Hotspot Shield offers some of the fastest speeds on a VPN service, it is an excellent choice for streaming. It also offers military-grade encryption, unlimited bandwidth, multiplatform applications and more.
Best VPN for many people: IPVanish
For anyone looking for a great streaming VPN, IPvanish is also worth considering because it offers 1,600 servers in more than 75 global locations, 40,000 shared IP addresses and an unlimited device policy.
In terms of streaming capability, IPVanish will unlock Netflix, Disney Plus, YouTube, Kodi, Spotify and many other platforms. However, accessing the BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video was impossible for IPVanish users in the past.
IPVanish has developed VPN applications for virtually all operating systems, such as Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and Linux. It is also very easy to install and use all of these applications, thanks to a variety of configuration guides.
Generally speaking, IPVanish has everything you need (and more) in a premium VPN service. This includes a no-registration policy, advanced encryption, a proxy server, the ability to switch between different connection protocols, easy-to-use VPN applications and 24/7 customer support.
IPVanish offers everything you want in a high-quality streaming VPN, including 1600 servers, access to many of the largest streaming sites, an unlimited device policy and more.
If you want to get the most out of streaming services, you should definitely download a VPN service. They are great at circumventing geographic restrictions and improving streaming performance. After reading this article, you can see that there are many excellent streaming VPNs available. But overall, ExpressVPN is our favorite service for streaming due to its high speed servers, compatibility with the best streaming services, easy to use applications and more.