The Best VPNs for Streaming

We’ve tested ExpressVPN with 120 streaming services from all over the world, and our test results show that it unblocks the most out of any other VPN.

Here’s a list of popular global streaming platforms ExpressVPN works with:

ExpressVPN is our #1 VPN choice for Netflix, with access to 18 regions, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, the US, and the UK. Only Windscribe can access more (32).

Unlike NordVPN, ExpressVPN unblocks Netflix India.

And US users will love the VPN’s ability to bypass US sport blackouts, like beating DAZN’s geo-restrictions to watch all out-of-market games on NFL Game Pass, or watching blackout games on MLB.TV.

The only real surprise during our tests was that ExpressVPN still doesn’t with Australia’s Kayo Sports, which is popular for watching the AFL outside Australia.

ExpressVPN has been consistently one of the fastest VPNs since we started testing it in 2016. It’s very rare that we experience buffering or picture degradation during streams, even live ones.

Speeds aside, what is outstanding about ExpressVPN is its formidable compatibility with most devices under the sun.

In addition to the usual native apps for mainstream devices, it offers specific ones for Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, and even for a wide selection of routers (which no other VPN provides).

Combine this with its Smart DNS solution called MediaStreamer (mostly for use with gaming systems), and you’ve got the VPN with the widest device compatibility on the market.

Plus, all the apps are incredibly easy to use, helped by the fact they share the same highly-intuitive interface.

As with ExpressVPN, NordVPN unblocks almost all of the 120 streaming services we tested. Here’s a list of some of the most popular ones it worked with:

NordVPN is particularly impressive at bypassing international streaming geo-blocks, such as those in the UK and Australia.

Its 837 UK servers worked flawlessly with BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, Channel 4 and ITVX.

The same occurred with Australian content platforms like Kayo Sports and SBS On Demand, which NordVPN unblocked in no time.

We unblocked Australian streaming services like SBS On Demand with NordVPN.

Where NordVPN struggles a little is in Asian countries like Korea and Japan, where ExpressVPN excels. We say this because NordVPN failed to unblock popular services like Kakao TV, Wavve, and JioHotstar.

In addition to apps for desktop and mobile, NordVPN has also fully-featured software for Fire TV Stick, Android TV, and Apple TV, making streaming on your Smart TV much easier.

That said, NordVPN is less compatible and less user-friendly than ExpressVPN.

For starters, there is no dedicated router app, which complicates streaming on devices like Roku.

Moreover, the apps are not as neatly-designed as ExpressVPN’s and while the mobile apps are slick and intuitive, we find the desktop and TV apps visually underwhelming compared to other VPNs.

The apps are by no means hard to use, but they’re just a little ‘boring’ and on desktop can’t be resized, therefore taking up more space than necessary.

Surfshark unblocks fewer streaming services than its top rivals, but it nonetheless remains one of the most effective VPNs at beating streaming geo-restrictions.

Here’s a list of the content platforms Surfshark unblocked in our latest streaming tests:

While Surfshark only works with 9 Netflix regions, which is considerably less than Express and NordVPN, we were amazed at the VPN’s ability to unblock Disney+’s worldwide catalog.

In fact, the VPN works with Disney+ through every single server, a feat we haven’t seen in any other VPN service.

Surfshark bypasses Disney+ blocks every time.

If you’re based in the US and using Surfshark with Disney+, you’ll be able to unlock all the Star Hub content that isn’t available with your American subscription.

Surfshark offers the best VPN app for Android TV and excellent native apps for all other streaming devices, including Fire TV and Apple TV.

There is also Smart DNS functionality you can take advantage of, although you’ll only be able to unblock US content.

But, as we’ve already mentioned, what really stands out with Surfshark is its Android app’s ability to spoof your GPS-based location.

A number of mobile apps use your phone’s location services to detect your GPS coordinates and limit access accordingly.

Once activated, Surfshark’s GPS spoofer solves that problem and changes your geolocation to a different state or country, like a normal VPN would.

It’s a very useful feature for Android users and, for example, it allowed us to watch NHL blackout games on the ESPN+ Android app, which uses GPS coordinates to geo-restrict.

We tested Windscribe’s free service with the exact same content platforms as all other VPNs, and found that it worked with 44 of them, which is phenomenal for a free VPN.

Here’s a list of some popular streaming services Windscribe unblocked:

This is an impressive streaming performance from a free service. The company has clearly put in time and resource into unblocking these content platforms, especially those in the UK and US.

However, our expansive testing has also shown that Windscribe struggles with less popular services, for example those in Spain, Italy and Brazil.

Windscribe’s free servers unblock 5 Netflix regions, which no other free VPN can match.

The regions it unblocks are: France, Germany, Romania, Switzerland, and the UK. Sadly, the US Netflix library remains blocked.

One of Windscribe’s main free rivals, PrivadoVPN, does work with the American library but it only works with 2 libraries altogether.

To maximize your Netflix subscription and unlock the most Netflix regions for free, we suggest using both Windscribe and PrivadoVPN.

You can use the free VPN plan on the same devices as the paid subscription, allowing you to unblock streaming services on Fire TV Stick, Android TV, and Apple TV.

This is alongside free apps for desktop and mobile. We were pleased that Windscribe’s streaming performance is consistent on each app – all worked well and without bugs or errors.

As a free VPN, Windscribe’s catch is its limiting 10GB monthly data cap, which will give you roughly 4 hours of high-definition streaming. You can also get an extra 5GB per month if you tweet a Windscribe ad.