Best VPN for Streaming

NordVPN is one of the only providers that still works consistently with both Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Incredibly fast downloads (355Mbps on the UK server) are among the best we’ve seen in our speed tests, meaning you can stream in ultra HD without any buffering issues. A generous limit of 6 simultaneous connections means you can even stream securely on several devices at once.

The simple yet powerful apps are available for the major platforms only, while the lack of city-level servers could be off-putting for some. Privacy-wise Nord is one of our top picks due to a strict zero-logs policy and a ton of advanced privacy features, including a VPN killswitch, DNS leak protection and servers optimized for Double VPN.

Customer support is excellent but responses to email and live chat can be slow. If you’re willing to commit to a 3-year subscription, Nord is incredible value for money, coming in at just $2.75 monthly. Although it does fall short of ExpressVPN in terms of all-round performance, it’s a definite contender for streaming fans looking to keep costs down.

IPVanish’s superb server performance makes it a smart choice for streaming. Download speeds of up to 291Mbps on some local connections are among the fastest we’ve seen, so waiting for shows to buffer will be a thing of the past. It has recently started working with Netflix, although be prepared to try out a few different servers as some IP addresses remain blocked.

The desktop apps can be clunky at times but do a good job of getting you optimally connected to the best possible location. IPVanish is a fully zero-logs provider and comes with an impressive suite of privacy features, including a VPN killswitch and first-party DNS servers.

Customer support is good enough but don’t expect video tutorials or a live chat option. It isn’t a budget VPN but if you commit to a 12-month plan you can reduce the monthly cost by 60% to an affordable $4.87. IPVanish is a great choice for streamers, torrenters and anyone else looking for raw speeds and high level of privacy.

HideMyAss! offers optimized servers for fast, hassle-free access to streaming services. The Liberty Island server works with Netflix and other popular US sites, and in theory, Donkey Town should work with BBC iPlayer, although unfortunately this isn’t currently the case. Superb download speeds of up to 228Mbps on local servers mean you can watch your favorite shows in buffer-free HD.

HMA! falls down when it comes to privacy. An intrusive logging policy means your connection details (including your IP address) can be stored for up to three months, however this shouldn’t bother those just looking to stream securely and hide their browsing history from their ISP.

The well-designed apps are available for all popular devices but we’d love to see some more advanced options to play with. We were impressed by customer support, with quick responses to email and live chat. It’s a reasonable price considering the global scale of HMA!’s server network and the raw speed on offer, and you can save yourself 50% on the annual plan.

VyprVPN offers access to popular streaming services but isn’t quite as reliable as our other picks. It’s currently working with Netflix and iPlayer but lacks optimized streaming servers so it’s often a case of trial-and-error. Performance is middling but downloads of up to 117Mbps on local connections will be sufficient for most people.

The desktop apps are easy to use but could do with an update as they can be laggy. Privacy-wise VyprVPN is a strong choice, with advanced features such as a killswitch and first-party DNS servers. It does keep minimal connection logs for 30 days, but this is a compromise most people will happily live with.
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Customer support is a little threadbare on the site but responses to live chat are quick. All of the best features are restricted to the Premium plan, but it’s currently great value at $4 per month over 12 months (usually $6.67), especially considering the size of VyprVPN’s server network and the fact that works well in high-censorship countries.