Products at a Glance
How We Picked the Best VPN for Streaming
Though not as intensive on your connection as a VPN for gaming, a VPN for streaming can affect your overall connection speeds if you choose the wrong one. We’ve recommended VPNs today that have a minimal draw on your connection, whilst also ensuring security and anonymity. The value for money should also be reflective of any additional features that the best VPNs provide: such as password managing or a Dark Web monitor to keep your details secure.
The other major benefit of using a VPN to stream is the ability to access foreign variations of different streaming services. Many subscription models such as Netflix localize their catalogs, which can mean that you don’t always get the full list of films or TV shows they own. Accessing a different country’s network allows you to see this alternate catalog and watch whatever you like.
On the subject of money, our four VPN choices today span a range of budgets and price points, normally with different subscription tiers to allow you to pick and choose the features you value most.
Product Reviews
- Very fast performance
- Huge range of server locations
- Five-connection limit
With over 3,000 servers in over 94 countries, ExpressVPN is our pick for the best VPN for streaming. Offering great performance and streaming stability, this VPN network is ideal for those wanting a varied and private streaming connection.
Impact on internet connection is minimal, with no noticeable bandwidth issues for most routers. Alongside the VPN connection, ExpressVPN also offers an ad-blocker and password management service in order to keep your data secure in all it’s forms, along with a kill-switch should the site you’re accessing become privy to an attack. You can access ExpressVPN from any device, now including Apple TV, meaning that you can keep your connection secure no matter the circumstances.
Unfortunately, that safety will only extend to 5 devices at a time: ExpressVPN’s main subscription models limit you to a select number of TVs, phones or computers – which can be frustrating for those streaming on multiple devices. However, for unmatched security and a gamut of useful added protection features, ExpressVPN remains our top VPN for streaming!
- Huge server count
- Easy connectivity
- Some inconsistent servers
A well-known and well-regarded brand, NordVPN is a tailor-made VPN for streaming, with it being one of the main draws of the streaming service. With an array of servers across the world, you won’t struggle to stream foreign services using this top brand.
With 5,500 serves across 80 countries worldwide, NordVPN provides plenty of options for connectivity. Their proprietary protocol NordLynx allows for speeds of up to 350Mb/s, meaning you can stream high quality video content without issue, and 256-bit encryption ensures that your connection stays private. We’re also big fans of their Dark Web monitor, which keeps an eye on your credentials and informs you if they are breached or leaked online.
However, it’s not a perfect VPN for streaming: especially on mobile devices, VPN connections are not as reliable as other services. It’s rare to have a total failure, but connections can vanish after protracted periods or distances. Still, we recommend NordVPN as the best affordable VPN for streaming safely!
- Unlimited devices
- Fast connection speeds
- Affordable pricing
- Fewer additional features
For households that require multiple VPNs simultaneously, consider SurfShark. This VPN service offers unlimited device connections, for top-quality streaming security across the board.
SurfShark offers over 3,200 servers in over 100 countries around the globe for you to test these unlimited connections on, even allowing you to do so for 30 days for free. This affordability extends to the overall price of the VPN too, which is helpful for those who want to save on their network security.
However, the overall affordability does affect the quality: other features that NordVPN or Express VPN offer as standard – such as password managers or ad-blocking – are bolt-on extras with SurfShark, which makes for an overall lower value for money. We still recommend SurfShark as a VPN for streaming, thanks to limitless connections which make it incredibly handy for households with lots of devices!
- Highly secure
- Can support seven devices at once
- Varied speeds
Our final pick of the best VPNs for streaming is the Romanian VPN network CyberGhost. Brimming with functionality for a wide range of privacy needs, this system is ideal for streaming.
CyberGhost utilizes a 256-encryption alongside offering support for PPTP, OpenVPN, and L2TP-IPsec protocols, all while being able to block ads and tracking. Whilst this may not mean much to a layman, it makes for incredibly fast, secure and anonymous streaming. It’s server count exceeds 6,000, spread over 110 countries to easily sidestep geo-blocking. It’s easy to navigate, and supports 7 devices at once – a happy median between “too few” and “infinite”.
However, some may find that this VPN system is stretched a little thin, as connectivity speeds can vary from server to server. It’s never bad enough to ruin your viewing experience, but it may cause issues under heavy loads. Regardless, we recommend CyberGhost as a highly secure streaming VPN!
- Fast connections
- Simple interface
- Unlocks many popular streaming services
- Not yet suitable for all devices
Last but certainly not least, we have selected the Hotspot Shield VPN, which is another worthy contender for those looking for a VPN tailored to streaming purposes.
Though Hotspot Shield doesn’t have as many servers (1,500) as some of the other VPNs we have included in this list, it does have something that they don’t, and that is its Catapult Hydra Protocol. In a nutshell, this feature will be able to find rapid connection and exceptionally fast connection speeds, making it well-suited for streaming at all levels, including 4K.
With Hotspot Shield, you’ll be able to access some of the most popular streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube. On top of that, thanks to Hotspot’s live 24/7 chat, you’ll also be able to get in touch with customer service quickly in order to resolve any issues if something goes wrong.
One of the biggest pitfalls of Hotspot Shield is its Catapult Hydra Protocol. Though it helps to ensure fast and speedy connections without buffering, it does, unfortunately, result in less flexibility with regards to VPN configuration. This means that, at this time, this particular VPN is not fully compatible with devices such as Kindle tablets and Smart TVs.
Are VPNs worth it?
Combining cybersecurity with cyber-liberty, VPNs are a highly worthwhile investment – particularly for streaming. With the ability to access foreign variants of streaming services, your options for different shows and films is compounded. Additionally, VPNs offer valuable privacy in the same service. There are many third-party entities online that monitor your online data use, and can use it to steal personal information, defraud you or simply sell to another party for similarly terrible ends. Though VPNs are not able to totally prevent these data thefts, they do utterly reduce their chances by anonymizing your device address to everyone.
Considering that most VPNs offer incredibly low prices for an ongoing service, it’s highly recommended that you invest in a VPN. At best, you’ll have added security and a few more options on your streaming services, but at worst you are protected from a potentially devastating man-in-the-middle attack.
How to Connect a VPN for Streaming
There are two main methods of connecting a device to a VPN for streaming. The first, and more common, is via an app or program. Most VPN providers offer a companion app for your PC and smartphone. Once installed and verified, it’s as simple as making your choice of country or server and connecting – though you may need to grant the VPN permissions on your device.
The other, more cumbersome method of VPN connection is setting it up on your router itself – which still involves a smartphone or computer. You can access your router’s configuration, and establish a connection to a specified server or country’s VPN. Then, you can assign a device – such as a Fire TV stick or PlayStation – to connect with it via the WiFi network. Remember to undo this feature afterwards, if you don’t want that device to stay localized to that server!
Are VPNs private?
Yes: Even your internet service provider can’t track your information when you use a VPN, meaning that you can browse anonymously and safely in a region of your choice. However, some VPN providers do require some data from their clients, so be sure to check in advance if you require total anonymity.
Do VPNs block ads?
Whilst some VPNs offer ad-blocking services as part of their security features, VPNs don’t inherently block ads. They can help you detect non-secure connections and potentially harmful plugins, however, so they are helpful for security.
Our Verdict
Though a cap on connected devices is frustrating, ExpressVPN’s value is clear as the best VPN for streaming. With fast performance and a huge range of servers to choose from, you’re never short of a source for security, anonymity and connectivity!
For more internet security tips and tricks, including how to correctly utilize ad-blockers, stay tuned with us here at PC Guide!