Hi guys! I know you’re looking for the best VPN for streaming 2024!
Due to content restrictions and geo-blocking, we sometimes need a reliable VPN. It allows us to watch TV shows and movies anywhere in the world without slowing down or losing quality.
In this article, we’ll list the 5 best VPNs for streaming on the market! So you can confidently binge-watch your favorite shows worldwide!
Table of Contents
| Top 5 Best Streaming VPNs in 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 🏅X-VPN | The Best Overall VPN for Streaming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| ExpressVPN | The Most Secure VPN for Streaming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| NordVPN | The Fastest VPN for Streaming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| CyberGhost | The Best VPN for Streaming with the Most Servers | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Surfshark | The Best VPN for Streaming on Multiple Devices | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Do You Need a VPN for Streaming? Why?
Is a VPN essential for streaming? Not necessarily. It depends on what you want to do.
If you only want to watch streaming platforms in your own country, or you don’t care about privacy and security while streaming. Then, you don’t need to buy a VPN at all.
BUT! If you fit into either of the following 2 situations, then a VPN is the perfect choice.
1. Can’t watch what you want in your country/region:
Sometimes, the shows you want to watch are only available in other countries. For example, you can’t access websites like BBC iPlayer or ITVX outside the UK, and Netflix libraries in the US and Japan offer more content than those in Europe.
In this case, you can connect to a server in another location using a free VPN. It looks like you are browsing the internet from that location.
2. Want to enhance the privacy of your online activities
Streaming platforms often track what you watch to recommend content. Also, when streaming on public Wi-Fi, your activities and personal information could be stolen by cybercriminals.
If you want to enhance your privacy, VPN encryption can protect your online activities, just like using curtains at home for more privacy.
So, whether you need a VPN for streaming depends on your actual needs. If you do, you can pick the one that suits you best from the following top 5 streaming VPNs! Every one of them is great, though.
Best VPN for Streaming in 2024: TOP 5!
Choosing the best VPN for streaming isn’t as easy as it seems, as each has its pros and cons.
However, one thing is certain: the best VPN for streaming should have fast speeds, stable connections, and extra strong security. Using these standards, we’ve chosen the top 5 streaming VPNs in 2024 for you!
1. The Best Overall VPN for Streaming: X-VPN
- Best for: People who are looking for the most cost-effective VPN for streaming
- Streaming Services Unblocked: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, Hotstar, YouTube TV, TOD, ITV, TVING, RaiPlay, Virgin Media Television, Channel 4, Sky GO, VPlayer, IPL, ESPN
- Available on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Chrome, Routers
- Simultaneous Connections: 5
- Price: Starting from $0 (Free Plan)
- Servers: 8000+
- Countries: 60
It’s disappointing that someone hasn’t tried X-VPN yet, as it’s the best overall VPN for streaming of these five.
X-VPN has very fast upload and download speeds, just as everyone likes. For example, the response time between our laptop and the server is only 14 milliseconds, which is decent. You can stream all HD content without buffering.
Besides, X-VPN can unlock quite a few streaming platforms. You can access Netflix (USA, UK, Germany), Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. It even works well with Hulu, although that’s often difficult. Basically, X-VPN gives you everything you want to watch from anywhere.
X-VPN pays great attention to protecting users’ privacy and security. It uses standard AES 256-bit encryption (the highest level), has a no-logs policy, and an optional kill switch. So, you don’t have to worry about someone snooping on you while watching your favorite movies.
What you might like the most is that X-VPN is the only VPN in this list with a free version. I understand. Who can say no to something that’s free and works well? But obviously, the paid version of X-VPN will better meet your streaming needs! X-VPN’s premium plan provides dedicated routes for different streaming platforms and performs excellently without buffering or slowing.
If you’re still hesitant about X-VPN, you can try it with a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Nice speed | ❌Now lacks ad and malware blockers |
| ✅4K Ultra HD | |
| ✅Works with many streaming platforms | |
| ✅Offers a free VPN version | |
| ✅24/7 live chat support |
2. The Most Secure VPN for Streaming: ExpressVPN
- Best for: People who care about privacy and security
- Streaming Services Unblocked: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, C4, 9Now, 10 play, and more
- Available on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV
- Simultaneous Connections: 8
- Price: Starting from $6.67 per month
- Servers: 3,000+
- Countries: 105
ExpressVPN is more secure than most VPNs on the market. It uses military-grade AES-256 encryption to keep you safe.
It also has a kill switch, so if the VPN connection drops, you don’t have to worry about hackers seeing what you’re doing. Besides, it’s based in the British Virgin Islands, which has strict privacy laws.
ExpressVPN’s speed is good enough for HD streaming. However, many users have reported that the connection speed of ExpressVPN has slowed down significantly in the past year.
It works better on PCs and Fire Stick. On the phone, ExpressVPN may cause certain streaming platforms to load improperly and make some sites take a long time to load.
ExpressVPN does a good job unlocking streaming content from various regions worldwide, except for Apple TV. For example, when you tried to watch Netflix using ExpressVPN’s Apple TV app, its performance was quite mediocre, even annoying—constantly getting SSL errors.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Great for streaming | ❌Expensive |
| ✅Wide global server coverage | ❌Annoying Apple TV app |
| ✅Fast connections | ❌Unsubscribe only via chat on the website |
| ✅Reliable security features | |
| ✅User-friendly apps | |
| ✅30-day money-back guarantee |
3. The Fastest VPN for Streaming: NordVPN
- Best for: People who care about streaming speed
- Streaming Services Unblocked: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, C4, 9Now, 10 play, and more
- Available on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, routers
- Simultaneous Connections: 10
- Price: Starting from $3.69 per month
- Servers: 6200+
- Countries: 111
NordVPN is really fast for streaming.
Here’s something you might not know: all VPNs can make your internet slower because they encrypt and send data to remote servers.
But NordVPN won’t slow your devices as much as other VPNs. According to a test, the Mac only got 10% slower, and Windows download speed only dropped by 8%. This is fast enough for streaming.
Like the first two VPNs, NordVPN can also easily unlock BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube, and more content.
However, there’s a big problem for users: Some of NordVPN’s streaming apps (like Android TV and Fire TV) don’t have a kill switch. Without a “kill switch,” if the connection suddenly drops, your device might stay connected to the internet, possibly exposing your data.
👉Note: While NordVPN has ad-blocking, it sends its own ad notifications that you can’t turn off, bothering you to join or get their other programs.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Latency-free streaming performance | ❌Suffering a data breach in 2018 |
| ✅Works with many streaming platforms | ❌Pushing its own ad notifications to bother you |
| ✅Large server network | ❌Also expensive |
| ✅Available obfuscation mode | |
| ✅30-day money-back guarantee |
4. The Best VPN for Streaming with the Most Servers: CyberGhost
- Best for: People who need to access many different streaming platforms
- Streaming Services Unblocked: 50+ streaming platforms (Netflix, Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, YouTube TV, Apple TV, and more)
- Available on: Windows、Mac、Android、iOS、Linux、Amazon Fire TV、Apple TV
- Simultaneous Connections: 7
- Price: Starting from $2.19 per month
- Servers: 11,000+
- Countries: 100
CyberGhost streaming VPN is another great choice because it has a dedicated VPN server network in over 100 countries/regions.
These servers are optimized for over 50 streaming apps, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime.
CyberGhost’s speed is not bad. Websites and HD videos loaded instantly, although 4K videos had a slight buffering at the start.
It’s important to mention that CyberGhost’s ad-blocking feature doesn’t work at all. It won’t block ads!
CyberGhost offers 256-bit encryption and some great extra options. However, it lacks proprietary protocols and a double VPN, which means it may not be as reliable as other streaming VPNs in protecting data security and privacy.
According to Google Play’s reviews, CyberGhost VPN’s customer support seems terrible. Many users have said they contacted customer support with issues but didn’t get any response.
Although CyberGhost VPN doesn’t have a free plan like X-VPN, it does offer a 24-hour free trial and a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is also good.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅The most servers | ❌Slow speeds on long-distance servers |
| ✅Unlocks 50+ streaming platforms | ❌Ad-blocking feature doesn’t work at all |
| ✅Good connection speed | ❌Customer support seems terrible |
| ✅Free trial | |
| ✅45-day money-back guarantee |
5. The Best VPN for Streaming on Multiple Devices: Surfshark
- Best for: People who need to log in on multiple devices at the same time
- Streaming Services Unblocked: Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Hulu, DAZN, Hotstar, YLE Areena, AbemaTV, and more
- Available on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV
- Simultaneous Connections: Unlimited
- Price: Starting from $2.49 per month
- Servers: 3,000+
- Countries: 100
Surfshark‘s biggest advantage is that it doesn’t limit device connections. So, you can switch between devices and use the VPN without any limits.
Moreover, given that Netflix has been working hard to ban VPN use for many years, Surfshark’s performance is impressive. It can unlock more content than the claimed 22, including libraries from Denmark, Belgium, and Hungary.
Surfshark’s streaming speed is average. You might need to adjust the connection settings for the best streaming performance, especially for higher quality or distant streaming.
Many people are concerned that Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, part of the global surveillance network. Another thing to be careful of is that IPv6 traffic isn’t encrypted, and Surfshark doesn’t warn you, even though many apps depend on IPv6 to work.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Unlimited devices | ❌Based in the Nine Eyes alliance |
| ✅Unlock various Netflix libraries | ❌Static IP addresses |
| ✅Affordable price | ❌No available phone support |
| ✅30-day money-back guarantee |
How to Choose the Best VPN for Streaming?
Using the above 5 VPNs for streaming will definitely be a great experience!
If you don’t believe us, you can choose other reliable streaming VPNs. However, remember to consider the following factors when choosing the best VPN for streaming:
- Streaming Unblocking Feature: When picking a VPN for streaming, the most important thing is whether it can access the streaming content you want. Ensure the VPN can bypass location restrictions for different streaming platforms.
- Speed and Performance: Look for a VPN with fast servers and minimal buffering for smooth streaming.
- Large Number of Servers: More servers in various countries make it easier to watch content from anywhere.
- Security and Privacy: Pick a VPN with strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and extra security features. If you’re not sure whether your VPN is working, verify it with a VPN test.
- Device Compatibility: Ensure the VPN works with the devices you want to use for streaming.
- Customer Support: Choose a VPN service with 24/7 online support to help with any streaming issues. Otherwise, you’ll get anxious when problems take a long time to resolve.
- Price: It’s important to balance cost with what you need. Look for a VPN that gives you good value in terms of speed, server locations, and the ability to unblock content.
By considering these factors, you can wisely pick the best VPN for streaming.
The Best VPN for Different Streaming Services in 2024
Competition among the best streaming VPNs has never been so fierce, with each claiming to be the best.
As a result, you may be stuck and can’t decide which one to go with. So, we have kindly compiled a list of the best VPNs for different streaming services. Click on the links below to find corresponding advice!
- The best VPN for Netflix
- The best VPN for Hulu
- The best VPN for Disney Plus
- The best VPN for BBC iPlayer
- The best VPN for Amazon Prime
- The best VPN for Hotstar
- The best VPN for YouTube TV
- The best VPN for HBO Max
- The best VPN for ESPN3
How to Bypass VPN Blocks for Streaming Services? 8 Easy Ways!
As you know, VPNs can take you almost anywhere. However, borders still exist. Giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer are using detection methods to block VPNs. But don’t worry. There are 8 easy methods can effectively make your VPN undetectable.
1. Choose the best VPNs for bypassing streaming blocks
It’s funny that to bypass VPN blocks, all you need is a better VPN. The top 5 streaming VPNs we recommend can help you bypass VPN blocks effectively.
2. Switch different VPN servers
The easiest way to get your VPN up and running is to simply switch servers (if you’re lucky!). Keep trying new servers until you find one that works.
Services like X-VPN make this especially easy, as it offers a large number of servers in many countries/regions. X-VPN also offers servers optimized for streaming, which can help you bypass VPN blocks.
3. Change your VPN protocol
Sometimes, streaming services might detect and block specific VPN protocols. So, you can try switching to a different VPN protocol, like changing from OpenVPN to L2TP/IPsec or IKEv2.
4. Use obfuscated servers
Obfuscated servers make it difficult for streaming services to detect VPN traffic by obfuscating it to look like regular network traffic. Also, Obfuscated servers improve data security to some extent.
The strong obfuscation technology of X-VPN is worth mentioning here. X-VPN’s Everest Protocol obfuscates and disguises the entire protocol, making it more difficult for streaming platforms to detect.
Unlike other VPNs, all 8000+ servers in X-VPN’s premium version can be obfuscated, and even the free version can use some of them. Not many VPNs can do this.
5. Get a dedicated IP address
If your VPN is blocked due to regular IP range restrictions, using a dedicated IP address might solve the problem. This is because you’re the only one using it, making it less suspicious. However, dedicated IPs always require extra payment.
6. Switch to mobile data
using mobile data on your phone can help you bypass VPN blocks quickly. By switching to mobile data, you’ll use the IP address given by your ISP, which is usually not blocked by streaming services.
7. Change Ports
If your network stops VPNs by blocking certain ports with a firewall, you can switch to other ports to let VPN traffic through. You can usually find these options in your VPN app’s Advanced Settings or Connection Settings.
💡Extra Tip: Ports 443 and 80 are great for overcoming blocking as they are used for standard HTTPS web traffic.
8. Change DNS Settings
Changing your device’s DNS settings can send traffic through different servers, which helps bypass some ISP content blocks. But it’s risky because the third-party DNS service you use might not be trustworthy.
For added security, choose a VPN with a private DNS service, such as X-VPN. This way, you can bypass DNS-based restrictions without adjusting your device settings.
While the above methods can help you bypass VPN blocks for streaming services, follow your streaming service’s rules and obey the laws where you are.
Conclusion
Honestly, life would be pretty dull without streaming content.
Come use our top pick, X-VPN, to watch your favorite shows and movies safely without any buffering or restrictions!
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FAQs
Do VPNs really work for streaming?
Yes, VPNs work well for streaming. They let you access content from different locations and keep your online activities private and secure.
However, not all VPNs are great for streaming. For a better streaming experience, it’s important to pick a top-notch VPN with fast servers and the capability to bypass geo-blocks on popular platforms.
Are VPNs legal for streaming?
The rules about using a VPN for streaming differ depending on the country and the content you’re watching.
In many areas, using a VPN to access content from other regions is legal. However, using a VPN to watch copyrighted material without permission could be against the law. It’s crucial to know the laws and regulations about streaming and VPN usage where you are.
Can streaming sites detect VPNs?
Yes, some streaming sites can detect the use of a VPN. They do this by keeping an eye on IP addresses and recognizing those linked to VPN servers.
This means some VPN users might have trouble accessing certain streaming platforms. But top-notch VPN companies are always finding ways to bypass these detections, making sure their users can stream without any problems.
Does a VPN improve streaming quality?
Yes, VPNs can improve the quality of streaming. If your ISP limits your internet connection, causing video buffering, a VPN can help with this issue.
Will a VPN slow my streaming speed?
Using a VPN might slow down your streaming speed because of factors like encryption and distance from the VPN server.
However, a good VPN and a well-optimized server can minimize the impact on streaming speed.
