VPNs are great for protecting your data and identity online, but most people use these services for other reasons, like streaming content from all over the world.

Best for speed

ExpressVPN

Connection speed is absolutely essential for effective streaming, and ExpressVPN offers plenty of speed.

VPNs are valuable tools for improving your online security. They help you to stay safe and anonymous online by shielding your personal data from the prying eyes of authorities and hackers. 

These clever services work by hiding your IP address and rerouting your internet traffic through an encrypted VPN tunnel. This secures your bank transactions, protects your digital identity, and lets you work safely on public WiFi networks. You don’t care about any of this though, do you?

You are probably here for one reason, and that’s to access more of the content you love with the help of a VPN. You can use these popular services to binge-watch all of the movies and TV shows you want, even if they’re not usually available in your location. Once you’ve connected to a VPN, you’ll be able to override streaming geo-restrictions and unblock everything you’re missing out on.

We know you’ve already got a lot of options when it comes to streaming, with the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ pumping out loads of great entertainment at the moment, but sometimes these sites can be cruel. We’ve all been in the same situation: you sign up to a service to watch a particular show, only to realise that it’s not available in your location. 

Luckily, VPNs provide a simple solution to this irritating problem.

What is the best VPN for streaming?

A VPN is the safest, fastest, and most reliable way to gain access to your favourite shows, movies, sporting events, and videos. This doesn’t mean that every VPN is great for streaming though, and some services are better suited to the job than others.

Finding a VPN for streaming is not a simple task, and that’s why we’ve helped you out by lining up a selection of your best options. We know that everyone has a different set of priorities when it comes to connection speed, security, and customer support, and that’s why this line-up offers a bit of everything.

We checked out everything on offer, and ExpressVPN, NordVPN, CyberGhost VPN, ZenMate VPN, and PureVPN have made the cut. It’s really down to you to decide on your favourite option, and we recommend taking your time and carefully considering everything on offer.

These are the best VPNs for streaming in 2021.


Connection speeds • Beginner friendly • Customer service • Apps for streaming services
Pricey • Fewer simultaneous connections than some others
An impressive all-round service that is perfectly suited to streaming.

ExpressVPN

Connection speed is absolutely essential for effective streaming, and ExpressVPN offers plenty of speed.

  • Monthly:
    £10.18/month
  • Six-month plan:
    £7.85/month
  • 15-month plan:
    £5.24/month
ExpressVPN is one of your best options for streaming, and that’s because it offers strong connection speeds and apps specifically designed for your favourite sites.
You can choose from 160 server locations in 94 countries, and switch as often as you like, with no limits. This means you can watch, listen, stream, and enjoy content from censored and blocked websites around the world. You also get unlimited bandwidth, so you can download as much as you want, without your ISP or VPN capping certain kinds of traffic.
Another positive about ExpressVPN is that the service promises that real humans are available at all hours via email and live chat to help you with setup and troubleshooting. This is really vauable for both beginners and advanced users.


Number and range of servers • Secure • Ad blocker • Six simultaneous connections
Expensive if you don’t commit to a long contract • Security breach in 2018
NordVPN works well for most streaming sites, but prioritises your security.

NordVPN

NordVPN provides a bunch of security-focused features to protect you and your data.

  • Monthly:
    £9.68/month
  • One-year plan:
    £5.66/month
  • Two-year plan:
    £4.04/month
  • Three-year plan:
    £2.82/month
NordVPN is probably the best service when it comes to security, but that doesn’t mean it lacks the necessary features for effective streaming.
Buffering is the enemy of binge-watching, and streaming just isn’t an enjoyable experience with a slow internet connection. NordVPN has a massive range and number of servers all around the world, meaning there’s a higher chance you’ll find one nearby. This results in a speedy connection and less buffering.
So whether you’re travelling for business, studying abroad, or staying at home, you can maintain access to your favourite websites and entertainment content with NordVPN.


Server distribution • Strict on privacy • Connect up to seven devices simultaneously • Attractive interface
Customer support gets mixed reviews
A VPN with an attractive interface and a bunch of features that let you stream without much hassle.

CyberGhost VPN

An attractive interface has a big impact on your overall experience, and CyberGhost VPN offers one of the best.

  • Monthly:
    £10.29/month
  • One-year plan:
    £4.59/month
  • Two-year plan:
    £3.09/month
  • Three-year plan:
    £2.10/month
Cyberghost VPN is one of the most popular services on the market, and that’s down to its attractive and easy-to-use interface. This is always nice to have, but it wouldn’t mean much unless CyberGhost VPN also offered advanced features for streaming.
CyberGhost VPN has a fairly large sever network and lets you connect up to seven devices simultaneously. It’s also strict on privacy, with a no-logging policy that should appeal to the security conscious users. It’s the server distribution that really helps with streaming though, as you should always be able to find a decent connection.
Netflix is probably the most aggressive streaming site when it comes to blocking VPNs, but CyberGhost VPN offers a specialised Netflix server to bypass its restrictions.


Server coverage • User friendly • Good value • Military-grade encryption
Cannot purchase additional simultaneous connections
PureVPN offers good levels of security and speed, making it a solid option for streaming.

PureVPN

PureVPN offers around the clock customer support, just in case things don’t work out.

  • Monthly:
    £8.63/month
  • One-year plan:
    £3.29/month
  • Two-year plan:
    £2.32/month
Unless you are very experienced with VPNs, it’s likely that you could benefit from customer support at some point, and PureVPN has a strong reputation for dealing with problems in a timely manner.
Users get decent server coverage, military-grade encryption, split-tunnelling, and the ability to stream content from anywhere. PureVPN celebrates its ability to unblock streaming services on its site, but some users have reported problems with Netflix. This is a constantly changing situation though, so it’s worth keeping an eye on how things develop in the future.
PureVPN also offers decent connection speeds for streaming, unlimited bandwidth, an automatic kill switch, and a no-logging policy.


Free trial • Apps for just about everything • Seriously cheap
Missing some of the more advanced features • Some reports of issues with Netflix
ZenMate VPN is a straightforward service designed for beginners.

ZenMate VPN

One of the cheapest services on the market is a great option for anyone new to VPNs.

  • Monthly:
    £9.49/month
  • Six-month plan:
    £4.69/month
  • 18-month plan:
    £1.99/month
The elephant in the room is ZenMate VPN’s reported problems with Netflix, and some users have struggled to connect to the streaming site. This situation is constantly changing though, so it’s worth keeping an eye on developments.
There are still plenty of reasons to consider in this service, namely the free trial, range of apps, and cheap subscription plans. It might be missing out on some of the more advanced features, but you’ll struggle to find a cheaper service with comparable performance stats.
ZenMate VPN is well worth the investment if you’re looking for something that covers the basic essentials, without breaking the bank.


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