The Best VPNs to Watch Channel 4 from Abroad

One of the easiest ways to watch Channel 4 abroad is on your PC or Mac, as it doesn’t involve changing app store countries.

Channel 4’s mobile app is only available in the British and Irish mobile app stores.

To avoid having to potentially change app store region, which means losing access to existing subscriptions, I recommend streaming Channel 4 via your mobile browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.).

Unlike other streaming services, Channel 4 doesn’t open video links in its app and instead streams content inside the browser.

Streaming in-browser rather than in-app results in lower resolution, but it’s an acceptable compromise considering the pain of changing app store country.

On iPhone and iPad, stick with Safari since it’s built into iOS and uses less battery than Chrome.

On Android phones and tablets, Chrome is the natural pick: both are Google products and therefore work hand-in-hand.

If you have an Amazon account registered outside the UK, you won’t find the Channel 4 app in the Amazon Appstore. This is the case even if you switch to a UK IP address.

To access the Channel 4 app, you’d have to either change your existing account’s region to the UK, or create a new UK account altogether on www.amazon.co.uk.

Since Channel 4 allows you to watch content in-browser, even on Fire TV, you can use your device’s Silk Browser to stream Channel 4 content.

The instructions are near-identical to streaming Channel 4 on PC and Mac.

That being said, the streaming quality in Silk is noticeably worse than on the Channel 4 app.

There is another option to install the Channel 4 app on your non-UK Firestick, if the Silk Browser feels too clunky: sideloading it using the official APK file.

Sideloading is legal and a feature Amazon supports through developer settings, but it does require a few extra setup steps.

Similarly to Fire TV Stick, you can only get the Channel 4 app on Apple TV if you have a UK Apple ID.

Sadly, using AirPlay for Channel 4 content no longer works and any web browser app for tvOS won’t be able to handle Channel 4’s DRM encryption.

In my experience, creating a UK Apple ID is the only realistic option to watch Channel 4 on Apple TV.

Importantly, Apple TV allows a separate sign-in for the App Store: you can therefore use your new UK Apple ID just for the App Store while staying signed into iCloud and Apple TV+ using your existing ID.

If your device doesn’t support VPN apps, the easiest way to access Channel 4 is to use a Smart DNS proxy.

Smart DNS technology works by rerouting your DNS requests through a proxy server, therefore spoofing your location.

That said, Smart DNS isn’t the same as a VPN. It doesn’t encrypt your connections and is therefore less secure. But, it’s a useful tool to stream geo-blocked content on devices like PlayStation and Xbox.

I tested all the Smart DNS proxies offered by major VPN services and the most consistent were NordVPN’s SmartDNS and ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer.

Importantly, in order to set up Smart DNS, you’ll first have to register your real IP address with your VPN service via your online account.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll be able to get the necessary DNS address to use on your game console or Smart TV (if it doesn’t have access to the Google Play Store).

Since instructions vary across VPN providers and devices, follow either NordVPN’s or ExpressVPN’s instructions via the links below:

• How to set up NordVPN’s Smart DNS.
• How to set up ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer.

Roku devices bought in the UK come with British TV channels, such as Channel 4, ITVX, and BBC iPlayer.

On non-UK devices, the only way to use a VPN on Roku is to install it on your router. That’s because Roku doesn’t support VPN apps.

You can’t use a Smart DNS proxy either, since the device’s DNS settings are hardcoded.

On Roku devices, I recommend using ExpressVPN as it’s one of the few services with its own VPN router with dedicated software. The router costs extra, though.

You also have the option to set up a VPN on your router manually, although this is more complex. You must ensure your router is compatible with VPN firmware, otherwise you risk “bricking” it.

For detailed information on how to do this, head over to the VPN router setup guide.

If the reason your VPN isn’t working is because Channel 4 has blocked that British IP address, then connecting to a different UK server may fix the problem.

Another reason your VPN may not be streaming Channel 4 content is because it’s leaking your true IP location. Run a VPN leak test to find out whether this is the issue or not.

If you previously accessed Channel 4, your web browser (or the Channel 4 app) will contain data from that prior visit. This can sometimes interfere with any subsequent attempt to unblock content.

Clearing all cookies and cache will remove any geolocation trackers. Remember to also disable geolocation services in your web browser.

If none of the solutions above worked for you, then the only thing left to do is to get a VPN that will definitely unblock Channel 4.

Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN regularly refresh their pool of British IP addresses in order to keep bypassing the strictest UK geo-restrictions. You won’t go wrong by choosing either.

• Test Conducted: I repeatedly connected to each VPN’s UK servers to see how well they avoided detection from Channel 4.
• Why It’s Important: Channel 4 has aggressive geo-blocks that frequently blacklist common VPN IP addresses.
• Optimal Result: Every UK IP address provided immediate, buffer-free access to Channel 4 on every UK server tested.

• Test Conducted: I measured connection speeds across several global regions, analyzing both short-range and long-range connections into the UK.
• Why It’s Important: High-speed connections are essential for buffer-free, Full HD streaming on Channel 4.
• Optimal Result: A speed reduction of no more than 10% when connected to a UK server from a nearby country, and 20% from locations further afield.

• Test Conducted: I tallied each VPN’s UK server count and city locations, then used IP checkers to verify successful UK IP assignment.
• Why It’s Important: More servers reduce congestion and increase your chances of bypassing Channel 4’s aggressive VPN blocks.
• Optimal Result: A network of hundreds of servers spread across multiple UK cities.

• Test Conducted: I evaluated the VPN’s native apps and advanced features like Smart DNS and router compatibility.
• Why It’s Important: Extensive device support ensures you can stream Channel 4 on hardware that doesn’t natively support VPNs.
• Optimal Result: Native apps for Fire TV, Android TV, and Apple TV, plus a Smart DNS proxy and a dedicated router app.