All About Cookies is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some of the offers that appear on this site are from third-party advertisers from which All About Cookies receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
All About Cookies does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products. Information is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
- All About Cookies makes money when you click the links on our site to some of the products and offers that we mention. These partnerships do not influence our opinions or recommendations. Read more about how we make money.
- Partners are not able to review or request changes to our content except for compliance reasons.
- We aim to make sure everything on our site is up-to-date and accurate as of the publishing date, but we cannot guarantee we haven't missed something. It's your responsibility to double-check all information before making any decision. If you spot something that looks wrong, please let us know.
Best Value Streaming VPN
Best for Dedicated Streaming Servers
Fastest VPN for Netflix
- More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost
We recommend Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN if you’re looking for a high-speed virtual private network (VPN) that works well for streaming on multiple platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and beyond. With their fast speeds, high compatibility on various devices, and excellent security and privacy features, you can’t go wrong with any of these VPN providers.
This review will cover the nitty-gritty details about why we chose our top picks. We’ll highlight Surfshark as our best value VPN for streaming content across various platforms, NordVPN as the best VPN for dedicated streaming servers, ExpressVPN for its fast speeds and ability to unlock extensive libraries on Netflix. Let’s dive in.
Surfshark: Best value VPN for streaming
NordVPN: Best for dedicated streaming servers
ExpressVPN: Fastest VPN for unblocking Netflix
Honorable mentions
How to choose a VPN for streaming
How to unblock streaming services with a VPN
Best streaming VPNs FAQs
Bottom line: The best VPNs for streaming
The best VPNs for streaming
- Surfshark: Best value VPN for streaming
- NordVPN: Best for dedicated streaming servers
- ExpressVPN: Fastest VPN for unblocking Netflix
Top 3 VPN services for streaming compared
VPN | |||
Starting price | Starts at $2.29/mo | Starts at $3.99/mo | Starts at $6.67/mo (billed annually) |
Money-back guarantee | |||
Streaming support | Yes — Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more | Yes — Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more | Yes — Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO Max, and more |
Learn more | Get Surfshark
Read Surfshark Review |
Get NordVPN
Read NordVPN Review |
Get ExpressVPN
Read ExpressVPN Review |
Surfshark: Best value VPN for streaming
Who it’s best for
Surfshark is the ultimate choice for anyone on a seeking an excellent value on a VPN for Netflix. It allows for unlimited simultaneous connections and its starting prices is often close to $2.00/mo. Surfshark also unblocks other streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu.
And if you’re living in the U.K. or enjoy accessing streaming content from across the pond, you may be pleased to learn that Surfshark has been rated as one of the best VPNs for BBC iPlayer. Now, would you fancy that?
What we liked
We loved Surfshark’s budget-friendly price. With its affordable pricing range starting at $2.29/mo on the low end, we were pleased that Surfshark offers support for an unlimited number of devices and its compatible with a wide range of operating systems, mobile devices, and even smart TVs. This assortment of features makes it a great option for families looking to stream.
But don’t be fooled by its affordability. Its low cost doesn’t mean poor quality — Surfshark is jam-packed with features that boost your security and privacy. This is great if you want to use a VPN to hide your location while keeping your data secure, and if you like to use a VPN for Netflix and other streaming services.
With its fast connection speeds and a server network totaling 3,200+ in 100 countries, Surfshark makes it easier to connect to a VPN server with speeds to support your streaming habits. No suffering through buffering, we say.
Check out this list of Surfshark's features that make it worth the money:
- CleanWeb: Blocks ads, trackers, malware, and phishing attempts
- Multi-hop: Allows you to route your traffic through several servers at once.
- Rotating IP (Nexus): Lets you change your IP address every five to 10 minutes to evade trackers.
What we didn’t like
We were bummed that Surfshark struggled to unblock Netflix Canada during our most recent round of testing. Netflix is always attempting to stop you from using a VPN with its service, so this may not occur with you, but we thought that was worth sharing.
We also didn’t like that Surfshark is currently headquartered in the Netherlands, a country that’s part of the Nine Eyes and 14 Eyes alliances. If you opt for a VPN that is based in a region with strict privacy laws that doesn’t share intelligence with other countries or potentially participate in government surveillance, then other options may be more suitable for you.
Despite this drawback, Surfshark has never suffered from a data breach, and it has a lot of potential to be a one-size-fits-all VPN solution for most people.
Surfshark specs
Price range | $2.29–$21.99/mo |
Money-back guarantee | Yes, 30 days |
Number of servers | 3,200+ in 100 countries |
Number of connected devices | Unlimited |
VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec |
Unblocks Netflix | Yes |
Unblocks Amazon Prime Video | Yes |
Unblocks Disney+ | Yes |
Unblocks Hulu | Yes |
Unblocks BBC iPlayer | Yes |
Unblocks Max (HBO Max) | Yes |
Learn more | Get Surfshark
Read Surfshark Review |
NordVPN: Best for dedicated streaming servers
Who it’s best for
For those who enjoy watching content on Hulu, NordVPN is an excellent choice as the best VPN app for Hulu. It offers a wide range of servers around the world with quick speeds and strong security and privacy features.
What’s more, if you’re particularly concerned with privacy, you’ll also be pleased to learn that NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, with no data retention laws. This means it operates outside the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances.
What we liked
NordVPN, has fast connection speeds, a high server count with server locations around the globe in 60 countries, strong levels of security and privacy, and compatibility across a plethora of streaming platforms.
NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy too, which is consistently verified by an independent audit performed by a third-party company like Deloitte, for example.
With its fast speeds, NordVPN is ideal for streaming. Based on our testing, NordVPN unblocks Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and more. And we found it among the best VPNs with fast U.K. servers, which is excellent for unblocking access to U.K. libraries across several streaming services.
Lastly, features like SmartPlay (SmartDNS) and a dedicated IP help you securely access streaming content while unblocking geo-restrictions. Here’s a quick look at the standout features NordVPN offers:
- Dedicated IP: Lets you keep an IP address specific to you to access IP-restricted networks, which is great for unblocking geo-restrictions on streaming platforms.
- SmartPlay: Bypasses DNS blocking by switching your DNS servers when you try to access unavailable content
- Double VPN: Provides an additional layer of encryption by routing you through two or more VPN servers
Although NordVPN only covers six devices at once, if you install NordVPN on your router, it secures every device on your network while only using a single slot out of the six available. We thought this NordVPN router setup was a clever way to secure as many devices as you need (as long as they're on the same network).
What we didn’t like
Although we've had success unblocking Netflix with NordVPN, Nord has removed Netflix from its list of supported streaming services. That means that if Nord is ever unable to unblock Netflix, you won't be able to receive support from the site. Even so, you can still use NordVPN to bypass Netflix's password-sharing ban.
NordVPN can be a bit pricey, like ExpressVPN, and costs at least $3 extra when you opt for its Ultimate plan. While it’s great that NordVPN offers monthly payment options, its pricing may not be practical for people who want to save money on a VPN or have a tight budget.
We also found its multi-tiered plans confusing. For example, NordVPN offers three plan types, Ultimate, Plus, and Standard, with a monthly, one-year, or two-year payment plan to select from. That’s nine different price points to consider. For those with decision fatigue, these plan options may be too mind-boggling and confusing for their taste when in a hurry to choose a plan.
NordVPN specs
Price range | $3.99–$15.99/mo |
Money-back guarantee | Yes, 30 days. |
Number of servers | 6,100+ in 60+ countries |
Number of connected devices | 6 |
VPN protocol | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec |
Unblocks Netflix | Yes (unofficially) |
Unblocks Amazon Prime Video | Yes |
Unblocks Disney+ | Yes |
Unblocks Hulu | Yes |
Unblocks BBC iPlayer | Yes |
Unblocks Max (HBO Max) | Yes |
Learn more | Get NordVPN
Read NordVPN Review |
ExpressVPN: Fastest VPN for unblocking Netflix
Who it’s best for
ExpressVPN provides fast speeds with server locations in over 105 countries and it can unblock plenty of streaming libraries. That makes it one of the best VPN for Netflix fans worldwide who enjoy streaming their favorite movies and binge-watching shows. Perfect for people and travelers alike who turn on their VPN, grab some munchies, and binge-watch shows from the U.K. to Japan.
What we liked
Given the quality of ExpressVPN's lightning-fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth, we were astounded by its ability to unblock movies and TV shows on Netflix, as well as other streaming content on platforms like Hulu, Disney+, and others.
Thanks to its compatibility with various platforms, ExpressVPN offers plenty of flexibility whether you're using devices that run on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS — or even devices like smart TVs, gaming consoles, and routers. Thus, it works best with Netflix apps on various devices. Moreover, we were pleased to discover that ExpressVPN is jam-packed with features that uphold your security and privacy.
Take a look at several of ExpressVPN’s highlighted features:
- Lightway protocol: Created by ExpressVPN for faster, more reliable, and more secure connections
- Threat Manager: Blocks apps and sites from communicating with trackers and other malicious third parties
- Private DNS: Private, encrypted DNS is provided on every server.
What we didn’t like
While ExpressVPN is loaded with security and privacy features along with its fast speeds, we were disappointed to find that ExpressVPN has a hefty price range of $6.67–$12.95/mo while only supporting up to eight devices. NordVPN and Surfshark are both much cheaper and Surfshark allows for unlimited devices, so ExpressVPN is probably not the best value option on the list.
We were also bummed when we learned that the modern, fast, and secure VPN protocol WireGuard isn’t available. But if you’re content with using ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol Lightway or IKEv2 and other secure protocols offered, it shouldn’t be a big problem.
ExpressVPN specs
Price range | $6.67–$12.95/mo |
Money-back guarantee | Yes, 30 days |
Number of servers | Unknown number in 105 countries |
Number of connected devices | 8 |
VPN protocol | Lightway, L2TP/IPsec, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 |
Unblocks Netflix | Yes |
Unblocks Amazon Prime Video | Yes |
Unblocks Disney+ | Yes |
Unblocks Hulu | Yes |
Unblocks BBC iPlayer | Yes |
Unblocks Max (HBO Max) | Yes |
Learn more | Get ExpressVPN
Read ExpressVPN Review |
Honorable mentions
We selected our top three picks, ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark, for multiple reasons including streaming support, compatibility with various platforms, server locations available, pricing, and, most importantly, privacy and security features offered.
But if those three picks don’t meet your needs, Private Internet Access (PIA), CyberGhost, and IPVanish are also worth a look:
- Private Internet Access: PIA offers a suite of security features and a broad server network. It allows for unlimited simultaneous connections and includes an ad-blocking feature. Last but certainly not least, PIA’s price is one of the lowest out there.
Get Private Internet Ac
| Read Our Private Internet Access VPN Review - CyberGhost: CyberGhost is another budget-friendly VPN with a lot of features to ensure your streaming session remains secure and uninterrupted. We also like that it’s headquartered in Romania, outside the 14 Eyes Alliance.
- IPVanish: IPVanish stands out with its unlimited simultaneous connections and strong security features. Like the best streaming VPNs, it's able to unblock multiple Netflix libraries.
How to choose a VPN for streaming
When selecting a VPN for streaming, it’s important to consider features that are helpful for streaming support before making a decision.
Look for these important features:
- Fast-speed connections
- A large server network spanning worldwide
- AES 256-bit encryption
- Secure VPN protocols (e.g., WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN)
- No-logs policy independently audited by a third-party company
- 24/7 live chat support or email
- Advanced security features like a kill switch, split tunneling, and smart DNS.
How to unblock streaming services with a VPN
Using a VPN, you cleverly swap your actual IP address with a chosen one, fooling streaming platforms into thinking you're in a different region. This “trick” allows you to bypass geo-restrictions and access content otherwise unavailable to you.
A VPN is a clever trick to hide your online activities and true IP address. Plus, it ensures your internet service provider can't slow down your internet (ISP throttling) by encrypting your traffic.
Finally, obtaining a dedicated IP address, which is an IP address specific to you, can help you unblock streaming content on streaming services that vigorously block VPNs. That’s because it also tricks the streaming platform into believing it’s not a VPN since there’s hardly any traffic coming from your IP address since it isn’t shared.
Read more about the best VPN services available and learn more about other VPN options.
Best streaming VPNs FAQs
What’s the best VPN to use for streaming?
Surfshark, NordVPN, and Surfshark offer the best combination of speed, ability to bypass geo-restrictions, and value for streaming — not to mention excellent security and privacy features too.
Can you stream 4K with a VPN?
Yes, you can, but it requires a VPN with high-speed servers like NordVPN or ExpressVPN. Not all VPNs can handle the bandwidth required for 4K streaming.
Can Netflix tell if you use a VPN?
Netflix tries to block VPNs and encourages users to disable their VPN when using their service to avoid issues, but the best VPN services, like the ones we recommended, are generally successful at bypassing these restrictions.
We’ve noticed that Netflix can be vigilant about blocking VPNs, so sometimes you may need to select various servers until you can access Netflix. Finally, choosing a VPN that offers a dedicated IP or smart DNS feature can also be of great help.
Does NordVPN work for streaming?
Yes, NordVPN is excellent for streaming. It has dedicated streaming servers and can unblock libraries and streaming content on Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu.
Can I use a free VPN for streaming?
Yes, you can use a free VPN to unblock streaming services — just be sure the one you choose is secure. Many free VPNs are known to leak your IP address or other data that may cause a streaming service to block you.
Additionally, some free VPNs collect and sell your data — or worse, infect your device with malware.
Lastly, most free VPNs come with a data limit that gets gobbled up by streaming, especially if you try to stream in HD or 4K. Check out our review of the best free VPNs, like Proton VPN, for secure options that will help you unblock your streaming service of choice.
Bottom line: The best VPNs for streaming
When it comes to selecting the best VPNs for streaming, it’s important to choose a VPN that offers fast connections and a plethora of high-speed servers, along with robust security and privacy features that can help you unblock any restrictions that streaming services may impose.
Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN made it to our top three list of the best VPNs for streaming. And Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, and IPVanish are alternatives that might do the trick if our top three picks don’t meet your needs.
3 best VPNs for streaming
Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
Starts at $2.29/mo | Best value VPN for streaming | Get Surfshark
Read Surfshark Review |
|
Starts at $3.99/mo | Best for dedicated streaming servers | Get NordVPN
Read NordVPN Review |
|
Starts at $6.67/mo (billed annually) | Fastest VPN for unblocking Netflix | Get ExpressVPN
Read ExpressVPN Review |