Best VPNs for Streaming Abroad in 2024

Getting access to your favourite UK TV shows and films while abroad is easy with the right VPN for streaming abroad. With a VPN, you can watch Sky Go, BBC iPlayer, and Netflix while on holiday or travelling for work.

A VPN is ideal for watching news or sports on your phone while on the road too. You’ll get access to UK television while protecting your privacy and security at the same time.

How a Virtual Private Network (VPN) works is that it creates an encrypted tunnel through which a device can access the internet. A VPN keeps your data private and hidden, allowing you to safely access a network remotely. Think of it like an internet firewall.

While most of the VPNs in our list help bypass geo-restricted content (such as streaming media from outside your home country), this isn’t the purpose of our reviews and we don’t recommend it. This is particularly important in countries such as Russia or China where it’s illegal to do so.

If you intend to use a VPN for this purpose, check reviews and use your own due diligence in researching it.

Now, for those of you who are UK residents, looking to watch content from the UK while you’re abroad, let’s break down the best VPNs.

The best VPNs for streaming in 2024

Our top four contenders on the list of the best VPNs for streaming abroad were NordVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and Surfshark. They offered the best overall streaming experience for the money and were favourites for privacy reputation and device compatibility.

Below we’ll go over the details of each:

NordVPN – Best for Overall Stream Experience

• NordVPN’s starting price is £2.79
• Has servers in 111 countries
• Users can connect 10 different devices with NordVPN

You’ve likely heard of NordVPN by now, as it’s probably the most heavily marketed VPN in history.

Still, we wanted to assure you that it really is top of the market for streaming abroad – and that’s because NordVPN is great value, is very reliable, and offers the best overall streaming experience abroad. It provides access to every UK streaming platform and while speeds can vary depending on your server location, it’s generally the most reliable VPN we found.

NordVPN also gives you the most secure network for your data, with nifty features such as Threat Protection Pro, Meshnet, and a dedicated IP. Essentially, it keeps malware away, creates an encrypted network to help share files safely, and maintains your online reputation.

But more importantly, let’s look at the streaming platforms you get access to with NordVPN. While it’s not always easy to gain access to streaming services with any VPN, you should be able to access:

• Netflix
• BBC iPlayer
• Disney+
• Amazon Prime UK

You can binge the latest TV shows on mobile, tablet, and laptop with NordVPN, for just £2.79 a month, along with top-tier security to boot.

What we like:

We loved NordVPN for its consistency, fast speeds, free antivirus tools, and how user friendly it is. Overall, it’s a supreme VPN for streaming UK TV abroad.

What we didn’t like:

We’ve heard that while NordVPN has the most servers and access to 111 countries, some countries, including Malaysia, might experience slower speeds. We also weren’t a big fan of renewal prices. As with most VPNs on this list, you should always check the renewal costs, as they tend to be hiked up after a period of time.

NordVPN Quick Look

Pricing: NordVPN offers three plans: Basic, Plus, and Ultimate. Each is available on terms of one month, one year, or two years.

All plans offer a VPN, but you unlock access to Ad Blockers and Antivirus extras if you pay more. The best-value plans are the two-year term options for Basic (£2.79/ month), Plus (£3.09/ month), and Ultimate (£5.09/ month). You’ll pay more upfront, but will save a lot more in the long run than if you pay monthly.

Server Network: It has over 6,200 servers, located in 111 countries.

Special Features: Offers web and file protection, creates a private encrypted network, a dark web monitor that alerts you of threats, and a dedicated IP.

Performance: NordVPN is considered one of the fastest VPNs out there. Tests show download speeds of around 350 megabits per second (Mbps).

Customer Support: NordVPN offers 24/7 support. You can contact them via email, watch tutorials, or directly via Live Chat.

CyberGhost – Best for Easy Streaming and Reduced Gaming Lag

• CyberGhost’s starting price is £1.92 per month
• CyberGhost has VPN servers in 100 countries globally
• Fantastic uninterrupted streaming and the most comprehensive anonymity

CyberGhost is a VPN confident in providing the best anonymity online, turning your web browser into a cute little ghost while you stream abroad. Though this anonymity is a solid addition, we don’t feel it’s a key feature – the ease of streaming and reduced gaming lag were more significant plus points in our eyes.

CyberGhost has a dedicated streaming tab with specialised servers, offering many UK streaming services abroad without making you work for it. Some examples include:

• Netflix
• BBC iPlayer
• ITV
• Channel 4
• Hulu
• YouTube
• Crunchyroll

CyberGhost also offers some of the best coverage in North America and Europe, but it also lists servers in Australia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, India, and Brazil too. It allows you to protect up to seven devices, while also offering a 45-day money-back guarantee.

What we like:

We like CyberGhost’s streaming specialised server, making it a great VPN for watching UK TV abroad. It has reduced gaming lag too, it’s user-friendly, and offers a substantial 45-day money-back guarantee in case it doesn’t suit you.

What we don’t like:

A dedicated IP costs extra, and you can only have seven devices, compared to NordVPN’s 10 devices. We also found switching servers takes more time than you might think.

CyberGhost Quick Look

Pricing: CyberGhost offers three plans: one month (£10.89/ month), six months (£6.19/ month), and two years + two months (£1.92/ month), making it cheaper than NordVPN.

Server Network: CyberGhost has 11,700 servers in over 100 countries.

Special Features: We love that not only is your internet encrypted, but CyberGhost has a no-logs policy, which means they don’t collect or sell your data.

Performance: While it performs well for things like streaming video, working on Google Docs, and uploading, it suffers in speed a little when switching servers.

Customer Support: CyberGhost offers 24/7 customer support, with email and live chat available when you need help.

Private Internet Access – Best Value for Money

• Private Internet Access starts from £1.67 per month
• It has servers in over 90 locations globally
• Users can secure a near unlimited number of devices with Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is the best-value VPN for good reason – you get one of the cheapest VPNs on the market and it doesn’t skimp on the features it offers either. It has great server location range, easily connects to all UK streaming services, and provides advanced customisation and fantastic privacy.

Where it struggled more than the top two providers was in its download and streaming speeds, testing a little below average. We’d still say it is well worth its value though, easily allowing users to unblock sites including:

• Netflix
• Amazon Prime
• BBC iPlayer
• Disney+
• ITV
• Channel 4

Like NordVPN and CyberGhost, Private Internet Access offers a no logs policy, ad blocking, and a kill switch that helps protect your data should your VPN connection unexpectedly drop.

Other included extras are an email breach scanner and browser extensions that block sites from tracking your data.

What we like:

The value for money is the best on the list, with great privacy and data security tools. Users get unlimited bandwidth and devices, with a quick kill switch and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

What we don’t like:

It has some really slow download speeds, and the customisations can feel overwhelming with too many options. We also don’t like the hidden prices such as the extra dedicated IP cost (£3.83/month) and antivirus add-on (an optional £1.50 at checkout).

Private Internet Access Quick Look

Pricing: There are three Private Internet Access plans to choose from, one month (£9.99), one year (£2.71 per month), and three years + three months (£1.67 per month). It has one of the cheapest plans out there (although you’re tied in for the longest amount of time) while also having a money-back guarantee of 30 days.

Server Network: 34,031 servers in 75 countries.

Special Features: Unlimited bandwidth and unlimited devices is what stands out with Private Internet Access, and we’re always happy to see a no-logs policy.

Performance: Despite offering some great features and low prices, performance is the hurdle Private Internet Access stumbled upon. It got a middle-of-the-road 49% on its download speed.

Customer Support: It offers 24/7 live chat support, community guides, and online guides.

Surfshark – Best for Travel Specific Capabilities

• Surfshark’s starting price is £1.69 per month
• It offers over 3,200 RAM-only servers in 100+ countries
• Surfshark offers the ability to connect unlimited devices

Surfshark is an interesting VPN to add into the mix for those travelling abroad, as even though it’s one of the pricier options, it has some of the best streaming-specific capabilities when you’re abroad.

Surfshark has a wide spread in its 100+ server locations, and has a camouflage and no-borders mode that makes watching UK news, sports, and TV even easier, no matter where you are in the world.

When you couple that with Surfshark’s devices, you’ll be able to make your Windows laptop, Apple iPhone, or any other device into a virtual router. Surfshark also has its very own Apple TV app. You can comfortably stream 4K UK content from the following:

• Netflix
• Prime Video
• Disney+
• BBC iPlayer
• HBO Max
• Hulu
• Crunchyroll
• Roku

Similarly to the VPNs already mentioned, it offers a no logs policy, ad blocking and a kill switch. What adds to Surfshark’s offering is that it offers multi-hopping (like NordVPN), acting as a kind of double VPN in terms of extra privacy. Surfshark is also “dynamic”, meaning it will offer faster streaming of UK content abroad.

What we like:

It supports unlimited devices, and offers the best travel features. Camouflage mode not only hides your IP, it hides the fact you’re even using a VPN.

What we don’t like:

Surfshark has higher prices compared to competitors, and despite being no-logs, it does at first record your IP address when using the VPN, but then deletes it.

Surfshark Quick Look

Pricing: There are nine Surfshark plans to choose from, if you include the three subscription length options: one month, 12 months, and 24 months (the latter is the cheapest per month). If you pick the 24-month package, you can choose from the Surfshark Starter Plan (£1.69/ month), Surfshark One (£2.19/ month), or Surfshark One+ (£3.29/month). The 12 and 24-month packages come with an extra four months free.

Server Network: Over 3,200 servers in over 100 countries

Special Features: Dynamic multihopping, unlimited devices, Apple TV app integration, and no-borders mode.

Performance: Faster streaming speeds than average with dynamic multihop.

Customer Support: It offers 24/7 email and live chat, or you can head over to its VPN guides for support information.

ExpressVPN – Best for Gaming Abroad

• ExpressVPN’s starting price is £6.41 per month
• It has VPN servers in 105 countries
• You can connect up to 8 devices with ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a long-established service with speedy connections. It offers a dedicated gaming VPN for lowering ping, minimising in-game lag, and making using public networks safer.

So if you love chilling in the evening by either streaming your favourite UK TV, or playing online in a multiplayer game, ExpressVPN is a great option for you.

Tests highlight that there is no buffering on videos being streamed abroad. It also unblocks most of the UK streaming essentials, including:

• Netflix
• Prime Video
• Disney+
• BBC iPlayer
• Channel 4
• ITV

So if like us, you can’t stand the dreaded buffer symbol when you’re in the middle of Eastenders, then ExpressVPN is ideal. It has the most expensive starting price on the list, but it comes with high speeds, a password manager, a threat manager, ad blocking, and a kill switch too.

What we like:

We love the no-buffer stream and high speeds that offer low ping and lag for gaming. The password manager is handy and live chat with humans can relieve a lot of extra frustration if you need help. Who really wants to talk to bots?

What we don’t like:

The prices are the highest of all the VPNs we reviewed, and don’t offer the best value for money. If used only for streaming, it’s not as extensive an offering, so we would only recommend it for those who want to stream and play games abroad.

ExpressVPN Quick Look

Pricing: Express VPN has just three plans: one month (£9.97/month), six months (£7.69/month), and 12 months (£6.41/month).

Server Network: Over 105 countries offering thousands of server networks.

Special Features: Fast no-buffer streaming, gaming-specific VPN service, a free password manager and threat management to keep your data safe from malware. It offers great encryption and TrustedServer technology that ensures no data is written onto any hard drives.

Performance: One of the fastest server speeds of all those on our list.

Customer Support: ExpressVPN has 24/7 live chat support with humans (a nice touch).

How to choose the right VPN for streaming abroad

Choosing the right VPN for streaming abroad means choosing a VPN that meets your specific needs:

Speed: A high speed is important if you plan to stream lots of high-quality 4K content. Where you stream from matters too. For example, YouTube uses 16 gigabytes (GB) an hour for 4K content, compared to Amazon Prime, which uses 6.84 GB/hour.

Server coverage: If you want to access UK content, you’ll need to make sure the VPN you pick has servers in the UK. Otherwise you won’t be able to access UK services such as BBC iPlayer.

Multiple devices: You’ll probably want a VPN that works across multiple divides, such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, and even smart TVs (some hotels offer smart TVs, for example).

Privacy and security: It’s important to get a VPN that offers robust security features to protect your privacy. Features such as strong encryption methods, no-logs policies, and a kill switch to protect your data are all factors to consider when picking a VPN.

How to set up your VPN for streaming

Setting up a VPN for streaming is a pretty simple process. To start streaming UK content while abroad, you need to:

1. Choose your VPN provider – sign up for one of the VPNs in our list above.
2. Download and install the VPN app to your device.
3. Use the app to connect to a UK server (or any other server if you want to stream content from other countries).
4. Log in to the streaming service using your details (a VPN will protect your data, so don’t worry about logging on to public networks, as long as you use your VPN).
5. Start streaming your favourite shows!

Is using a VPN legal?

While VPNs are legal in the UK and most countries worldwide, it’s important to be aware that there are countries where using a VPN can get you in trouble. Countries such as China, Russia, and Cuba, for example, ban or heavily monitor VPN usage, and India restricts using one.

Some streaming services (such as Netflix) may block users if they detect a VPN. So there’s a chance (albeit a small one), that you might not be able to use your chosen streaming service abroad if it decides to block you because you’re using a VPN.

In most cases you’ll be fine, but it’s a good idea to be aware that a VPN isn’t a guarantee of accessing any streaming service wherever you are in the world.