If you can’t do without your favourite shows, getting a VPN is a necessity when travelling or to access content in a different country. However, only the best VPN for streaming allows you to bypass geo-restrictive blocks and enjoy movies without frustration.
Most VPNs would claim that they have high-quality streaming servers, only to leave subscribers disappointed. As fellow movie lovers, we know what it takes to make a VPN suitable for streaming purposes.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the top VPNs that are geared for streaming, and we also share tips on what you should consider.
How Do I Know a VPN is Good for Streaming?
A VPN is a network service that hides your IP address and encrypts communication between your device and the Internet. Its primary intention is to protect users from cyberattacks, but it has gained popularity as a means to stream geo-restricted content.
If you want to know what makes a VPN ideal for streaming, you should consider these factors:
Connection Speed
It’s common sense that you’ll need a speedy connection to ensure uninterrupted streaming. You’ll want to stick to VPNs with high connection speed, particularly for locations that you intend to stream from.
Servers Dedicated to Streaming
Some VPNs have servers that are used exclusively for streaming. They are optimized for speed and accessibility to specific content like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or Hulu. Such servers also bypass ISPs, which are known to throttle streaming activities.
Many Servers
An extensive network of servers usually means you can expect decent traffic speed even at peak hours.
The Best Paid VPN for Streaming
We’ve got our hands on a few VPNs, and these are truly worth your money for streaming purposes.
1. ExpressVPN
The blazing speed of ExpressVPN makes it a clear winner for streaming purposes. ExpressVPN demonstrates consistently impressive speed across most of its servers. You won’t have issues with buffering using ExpressVPN for streaming movies.
Besides speed, ExpressVPN operates in 94 countries with 3,000+ servers, which gives you vast geographical options in streaming. It’s also proven to work with popular streaming services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video.
ExpressVPN allows connecting up to 5 devices with its premium account. You’ll also enjoy a 30 days money-back guarantee policy for its subscriptions.
2. NordVPN
Chances are you've heard of NordVPN as it’s arguably one of the best all-rounded VPNs. As for streaming purposes, NordVPN has a built-in SmartPlay technology that allows you to access geo-restricted content.
It offers high-speed connections for streaming and bypasses throttling enforced by ISPs. It also has a considerably large number of servers in its network, with 5,230 servers in 59 countries.
The obfuscated servers in NordVPN will be helpful if you’re travelling to countries with strict internet censorship. You’ll be able to bypass the internet firewall and stream movies with the obfuscated servers.
NordVPN subscriptions are backed with a 30-day-money-back guarantee policy.
3. Surfshark
With its feature-packed VPN app, Surfshark is a great VPN for streaming and staying safe online. Its No-Borders and Camouflage mode ensures reliable connections in countries like China and staying hidden from ISPs.
Surfsharks demonstrates impressive internet speed in most of its servers. It also unblocks popular streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Video, and BBC iPlayer. You’ll also like the fact that Surfshark offers unlimited device connections on its plans.
You can test-drive Surfshark risk-free for 30-days, and connect to any of its 1,000+ servers in 61+ countries.
4. Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield stands out in the VPN industry with its proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol. It claims that the Catapult Hydra is a superior protocol in terms of speed and security.
Our test confirmed that Hotspot Shield’s blazing speed is ideal for streaming movies. Hotspot Shield grants access to popular streaming services and works with Hulu and Netflix.
Subscriptions to Hotspot Shield are backed with a long 45-day money-back policy, and it supports 5 simultaneous connections.
5. CyberGhost
CyberGhost claims to unblock top streaming sites, and it does so with ease. The VPN app has a list of dedicated servers that are optimized for speed and access to content like Netflix, BBC, Amazon Video, and Hulu.
With CyberGhost, you can bypass ISP’s limited bandwidth with ease and stream movies or TV shows without the dreaded buffering. The fact that CyberGhost has a large network of 5,700 servers in 90 countries means you’ll rarely suffer from traffic issues.
You can claim a refund within 45-days if you feel CyberGhost isn’t living up to its reputation for streaming purposes.
The Best Free VPN for Streaming
Are there any VPNs for streaming that don’t cost anything? Well, there are, but you’ll need to be aware of the limitations of using a free VPN.
1. ProtonVPN
The team that develops ProtonVPN are famous for their efforts in creating ProtonMail, the most secure email service in the world. ProtonVPN has a free subscription plan, but it’s highly limited in features.
The free version of ProtonVPN allows connection to servers only in the US, Netherlands, and Japan. You’ll also find that connection speed is limited in the free plan. While you may stream content on Youtube, you can’t access Netflix with the free subscription.
To enjoy high connection speed, access to major streaming sites and multiple servers, you’ll need to subscribe to the ProtonVPN Plus.
2. TunnelBear
Don’t be deceived by the cartoonish vibe of TunnelBear. It’s a decent VPN with industrial-grade security and no history of DNS leaks. It also offers a free plan that gives you the same bandwidth as its premium plan.
While you’ll have no issues streaming from Youtube, TunnelBear is blocked from paid streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Also, you’ll only have a monthly cap of 500 MB for data usage, which doesn’t sound practical for watching lengthy clips.
Free VPNs are often limited. You’ll need to subscribe to TunnelBear’s premium plan to enjoy unlimited bandwidth.
Summary
Once you’ve figured out the right things to look for in a VPN for streaming, you’ll find that there are some obvious gems in the market. With that said, privacy and security are the fundamentals of a good VPN, and our top picks are the best available.
Stop worrying about missing out on your favourite movies and sign up with any of the VPNs that we’ve mentioned.
