Best VPN for Streaming

Most popular streaming sites have majorly cracked down on VPN providers, so you need to be sure you choose one that still allows you to access sites such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

Our top picks tend to work with most major streaming services, but be sure to check the relevant section of our reviews for the latest updates.

There’s not much point in finding a provider that works with Netflix if your connection isn’t fast enough to stream an entire show without any buffering issues.

Look for the fastest possible download speeds, but reliability also plays a big factor here, so be sure to check that we didn’t experience any connection drops during our tests. A VPN offering quick, consistent performance means you’ll be able to watch all of your favorite shows in buffer-free HD.

The streaming process is made a lot easier if you don’t have to scroll through countless servers trying to find one that works.

Many top-tier VPNs eliminate this problem by offering dedicated streaming servers, so all you have to do is select the relevant country or site (BBC/Netflix/Hulu etc) and you’re good to go.

For the best possible performance, you’ll want to connect to the closest possible server to your physical location.

Consider any needs outside streaming you may have and make sure there’s a decent number of servers in relevant locations. The more servers, the better the performance as there will be less congestion.

You’re not always going to be streaming on a laptop or computer, whether you want to watch Netflix on a tablet whilst traveling or access Hulu through your Smart TV.

Almost all VPN software will work on Windows, MacOS, and Linux machines, along with iOS and Android mobile devices. However, some VPN services are also compatible with other Internet-connected items, such as routers, games consoles and streaming devices, such as the Amazon Firestick.

Nobody wants to use an outdated, confusing app. Look for a VPN with software that’s well-designed, simple and powerful and you will be much more likely to use it all the time.

We share the results of our hands-on testing of each VPN app in the the Ease of Use part of its review. We spend all day testing VPN apps, so hopefully we know a thing or two!

Every VPN will tell you it is doesn’t track your internet activity, often throwing around the term ‘zero logs’ when describing itself.

In reality, delivering high performance across an extensive global network is all but impossible unless at least some user connection details are being monitored. You could waste hours reading through reams of privacy policies and terms of service to find out exactly what’s collected and for how long it’s stored – or you could let us do the boring stuff for you.

Just check the logging policy section of our review to have it all explained in plain language. You should aim for a VPN that does not log your IP address at all and limits timestamp logging to just the date of your connection.

Even the most expensive VPN plans can be made affordable by taking out a longer subscription.

Don’t bother with a one-month plan – 12-month plans typically offer the best value and you can reduce the risk of buyer’s remorse by choosing one with a long refund period.

We’d advise a 30-day no-questions-asked guarantee – they essentially act as a free trial period.

Make the right choice, though, and you hopefully won’t be thinking about a refund at all.