The five VPNs we recommend above are the best VPNs for streaming overall.
However, the right streaming VPN for you depends on the specific content platform you want to unblock from abroad.
The table below summarizes which VPNs we recommend for popular streaming platforms around the world, based on our streaming tests.
Streaming Service |
Best VPN |
Netflix |
ExpressVPN |
BBC iPlayer |
NordVPN |
Channel 4 |
ExpressVPN |
Disney Plus |
Surfshark |
Amazon Prime Video |
ExpressVPN |
Hotstar |
ExpressVPN |
Hulu |
ExpressVPN |
HBO Max |
ExpressVPN |
Now TV/Sky Go |
Windscribe |
Kodi |
IPVanish |
DAZN |
ExpressVPN |
Sling TV |
ExpressVPN |
Paramount+ |
ExpressVPN |
Below is a more in-depth look at the seven most popular content platforms and the VPNs we recommend to unblock them.
1. Netflix
A good VPN for Netflix will bypass Netflix’s geographic restrictions.
That means you’ll be able to watch movies and TV shows in the US, UK, Japan, France, and dozens of other countries.
Based on our latest tests, ExpressVPN is the best overall VPN for Netflix.
The VPN has excellent international speeds, responsive customer support, and a 30-day money back guarantee.
It also works with 18 Netflix libraries, including the US.
2. BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer is notoriously difficult to watch for anyone outside of the UK.
In fact, the BBC’s video service is becoming increasingly effective at detecting and blocking foreign VPN traffic.
NordVPN is currently the top VPN for BBC iPlayer. It’s extremely fast and unblocks BBC iPlayer on all its UK servers.
Using NordVPN, you’ll be able to watch UK TV in HD without buffering or slow loading times.
3. Disney Plus
Using a VPN with Disney+ gives you access to movies from Marvel, Pixar, Disney, and more.
Most countries have access to Disney+, but if you’re in the US you can connect to a European server and stream Disney+ Star.
Likewise, users outside the US can access the Disney+ bundle package that includes Hulu and ESPN (with an additional fee).
The best VPN for Disney+ is Surfshark. That’s because it works to stream all Disney+ content on absolutely any server.
Surfshark unblocks Disney+ on all of its servers.
You’ll need a payment method registered in one of the countries Disney+ has launched. If you don’t have this, follow the workarounds in our Disney+ VPN guide.
4. Hotstar
Disney+ Hotstar has video content that is split between Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ and HBO Max in the US. It also has a free version that allows you to stream Bollywood favorites and TV shows, like Koffee with Karan.
ExpressVPN is our favorite VPN for Hotstar. It runs India virtual servers that deliver fast connections speeds into India from abroad.
5. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video has an international content library of over 20,000 movies and TV shows.
With a VPN, you can unblock Prime Video’s geo-restricted content and stream content from other regions. However, you’ll need to connect to a US server and register a new account.
Based on our tests, ExpressVPN is the best choice for Amazon Prime Video. To find out out why — and exactly how to use it — read our instructions for using a VPN with Amazon Prime Video.
We used ExpressVPN to unblock ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ on US Prime Video from the UK.
6. Hulu
Hulu is another difficult streaming service to unblock. All of Hulu’s movies and TV shows are strictly blocked for anyone from outside of the US.
To identify the best VPN for Hulu, we tested a number of randomized US servers from all our top-rated streaming VPNs.
ExpressVPN worked very well with Hulu in our tests.
We found that ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Hulu. Once connected, it gave us access to shows like Fargo, The Simpsons, and The Handmaid’s Tale, all in HD.
7. HBO Max
HBO Max is the premium streaming service of HBO. To watch it, you’ll need an American (or Scandinavian) IP address.
Using a VPN with HBO Max gives you access to all the TV shows and movies from HBO, as well as the full WarnerMedia library.
Unblocking HBO Max using ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for HBO Max. It reliably streams HBO Max from other countries, so you can watch Max Originals like Wonder Woman 1984, Friends, and Game of Thrones from outside the US.