- Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and other popular streaming services
- Slick app for mobile, desktop, smart TVs and streaming devices
- Easiest VPN to use on routers for streaming on devices without VPN support
- Fast speeds for streaming
- Extremely expensive
- Only eight simultaneous connections
- No way to opt out of potentially unwanted premium features
- Fast speeds for buffer-free streaming in 4K
- Vast network of servers offers tons of global streaming options
- Apps for all major platforms
- Lots of privacy features
- Extreme renewal prices
- Clunky AppleTV app
- Limited split tunneling control on Android
- Fast speeds for streaming
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Value-packed VPN for streaming
- Lots of unique privacy features
- Renewal pricing has gotten more expensive
- Issues streaming Hulu on certain platforms
- Excellent for streaming
- Unblocks Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and others
- Fast speeds for streaming
- Vast network of server locations for international streaming
- No 24/7 live chat support
- App design could be more user-friendly
- Struggles with Disney Plus on MacOS
Best streaming VPNs compared
Here's how CNET's top VPNs for streaming stack up side by side.
| ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | Proton VPN | |
| Overall rating | 9 | 8.8 | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| Price per year | $99 (renews at $117) | $60 (renews at $139) | $48 (renews at $79) | $60 (renews at $80) |
| Netflix compatibility | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Disney+ compatibility | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Max compatibility | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Prime Video compatibility | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Hulu compatibility | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| BBC iPlayer compatibility | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Simultaneous connections | 8 | 10 | Unlimited | 10 |
What is the best VPN for streaming right now?
ExpressVPN is currently the best VPN for streaming. It effortlessly unblocks Netflix and other popular streaming services like Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video. The ExpressVPN app -- available for nearly every platform, including dedicated streaming devices like Android TV, Fire TV and Apple TV -- is incredibly easy to use, making it a great choice for VPN beginners.
ExpressVPN can unblock virtually any streaming service on any platform, helping it secure the top spot on our list of the best VPNS for streaming.
NordVPN is the fastest VPN for streaming, with superb reliability and broad device compatibility, including an Apple TV app. We measured a mere 3% speed loss in our latest speed tests with NordVPN, making it excellent for 4K video streaming. It also has a unique feature called Meshnet that you may be able to use to stream more easily while traveling.
Nord's excellent geo-unblocking and fast speeds make it great for streaming
Surfshark is the best value VPN for streaming. Its excellent speeds are great for streaming movies or shows in 4K. It also has apps for tons of streaming devices, including Apple TV, Fire TV and Android TV. You may be able to utilize Surfshark's unique GPS spoofer feature on Android to unblock certain streaming services that use GPS for geo-location, like YouTube TV.
Surfshark expertly unblocks Netflix and other popular streaming services.
Proton VPN is the most versatile VPN for streaming. It offers a free plan that's decent for streaming and doesn't impose any limits on speeds or usage. But Proton VPN's premium tier is one of the best options for streaming, thanks to its fast speeds, excellent geo-unblocking capabilities and expansive global network of servers.
Proton VPN offers tons of servers and can unblock multiple regional Netflix libraries.
Why you should use a VPN for streaming
A virtual private network can be your all-access pass to streaming content from all over the world. VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and route it through a VPN server in a separate location, changing your IP address in the process. This keeps your online activity private, hides your true IP address and can make apps and websites register your connection as originating in a different city, state or even country.
Due to regional licensing agreements, streaming sites like Amazon Prime Video, Max, Disney Plus and Hulu all have unique content libraries that vary by region. Using a VPN can help you access those region-specific libraries. For instance, if you want to access your home Netflix library while traveling outside of the US, you can connect to a US-based VPN server and access the content as if you were at home. Alternatively, you'll be able to access international content that is not normally available in your region. All you need to do is click or tap on the country location you want to stream content from in the VPN app and you're good to go. Changing your virtual location with a VPN can also help you cut through regional sports broadcast blackouts or even save you money on streaming subscriptions.
Picking the right streaming VPN allows you to keep up with new releases and global content without being locked into one regional catalog. However, not all VPNs are equally capable when it comes to streaming. Many streaming services have systems in place to detect and block VPN usage. That’s why choosing the right streaming VPN is crucial. As CNET’s VPN experts, we've rigorously tested a wide range of VPN services over the years, putting them through their paces to see how they perform when it comes to factors like speed, usability, reliability, privacy and streaming.
When evaluating a VPN's streaming capabilities, we test how smoothly the VPN is able to unblock regional streaming content from a wide variety of streaming services through various international server locations across different platforms like mobile, desktop and dedicated streaming devices. Based on that testing, we've designated ExpressVPN as our top pick for the best VPN for streaming, but NordVPN and Surfshark are both worthy alternatives.
Factors to consider in a VPN for streaming: How to choose the right VPN
Based on our years of experience using and testing VPNs, here's what you should consider when choosing a VPN for streaming.
Streaming capabilities
Your VPN’s capacity to access streaming content is the top factor to consider in a VPN for streaming. If your VPN can’t access geo-restricted streaming content, it isn’t fit for this purpose. It’s also important to make sure that the VPN you choose works well for the specific streaming services you want to access. Think about the streaming services you want to watch like Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Max, Hulu, Peacock, Crunchyroll, YouTube TV and Sling -- then try your VPN with those services to see if it works. We've found that ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark all work reliably with each of those streaming services across most platforms.
Keep in mind that a streaming service that works with a specific VPN today may not tomorrow (and vice versa). Sometimes a simple server switch can do the trick and get you access to the content you're looking for. If not, you can alert your VPN's support team to the issue and they may be able to get it resolved. Each of these VPNs will give you your money back within 30 days of purchase, so if it happens to not work as well as you want, you can get a refund. Check out the best VPNs for Netflix and the best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video for more information.
Speed
Your VPN’s speed performance plays a major role in the overall quality of your streaming experience. You’ll need a VPN that’s fast, especially if you’re streaming in 4K or if you’re accessing geo-blocked content from a region that’s a considerable distance from your physical location. Generally, you'll need download speeds of 25Mbps at a bare minimum for 4K streaming, but you'll want at least 50Mbps for reliable 4K streaming. You can get by with far less (10-20Mbps) for HD streaming. All VPNs will slow your speeds somewhat (sometimes by 50% or more), but if your VPN is slowing your connection too much, you may end up experiencing a lot of buffering or lower-quality video playback. A fast streaming VPN will only reduce your download speeds minimally -- ideally by 25% or less on average. As long as your connection is fast enough to begin with, the speed loss shouldn't be noticeable.
Privacy
Regardless of what you’re using your VPN for, privacy is a key consideration for any VPN service. Your VPN should have privacy measures in place, like DNS leak protection, a kill switch, modern encryption protocols and a no-logs policy (ideally one that’s been audited or tested in the wild). A VPN that provides the necessary privacy protections will ensure that your internet traffic is never leaked unencrypted.
Network
A good VPN for streaming should have a network of servers in locations across the globe. If you’re looking to fully optimize your streaming and get access to the largest selection of streaming content, then you’ll probably want to choose a VPN with servers located in the largest number of countries. If you’re looking to access content from a specific region, you should check to ensure the VPN you want to use has servers in the region(s) you need. You can check the VPN’s server page on its website to see what countries it has servers in before purchasing a subscription. Most of our top picks feature thousands of servers in 100-plus countries. To unblock streaming content from a specific country, all you need to do is use the VPN app to connect to a server located in the country from which you want to stream content. For example, to access the US Netflix library, ensure you're connected to a server in the US. Or if you want to access content on BBC iPlayer, connect to a UK server.
Device compatibility
You’ll also want to make sure that the streaming VPN you choose is compatible with the device on which you want to stream content, whether that’s a mobile device, laptop, smart TV or streaming device. Most VPNs are compatible with a wide range of devices, but it’s always a good idea to confirm that the service you’re considering will work with your device. Many VPNs have apps for Fire TV and Android TV that work on streaming devices or smart TVs, but not every provider has an Apple TV app yet. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, PIA and IPVanish are a few of the providers that do have Apple TV apps. (Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Luckily, you can use a VPN on your router if you want to use a VPN with devices like PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles or Roku streaming devices that don't support native VPN apps.
Router installation
It isn't necessary to use a router to stream geo-blocked content with a VPN, but it can help if your smart TV or streaming device doesn't natively support VPN apps. Also, with a VPN router setup, you can protect all of the devices on your network at once while using only one of your allotted simultaneous connections. Installing a VPN on a compatible router can be difficult and even risky if you try it yourself, so be sure you have the technical know-how to do so before proceeding. Alternatively, you can purchase a router with a VPN preinstalled from a company like FlashRouters. If you're an ExpressVPN user, you can purchase the provider's Aircove router or use its intuitive router app on your existing VPN-compatible router.
Cost
VPN prices can vary considerably from one provider to another. A monthly VPN subscription can range anywhere from about $5 to $15 per month. Longer-term VPN subscription plans often feature introductory pricing around $40 to $100 for the first year. But be aware that renewal prices can sometimes double or even quadruple -- with VPN renewal pricing coming in anywhere from $50 to $150 or more per year after introductory term. If you're on a budget, take a look at our list of the best cheap VPNs. You can even use a VPN to save money on your streaming subscriptions because a VPN can help you access more global content without you having to subscribe to as many streaming services.
Sports streaming
If you're a sports fan, you can use a VPN to avoid regional blackouts and stream sports from anywhere. To do so, just connect to a VPN server in a location where the sporting event is accessible online -- whether it’s a specific U.S. city, or a different country -- and you should be able to stream all the sports you want. For instance, you can use a VPN to stream out-of-market NFL games or watch NFL matches while traveling abroad.
How we test VPNs for streaming
We know choosing a VPN for streaming can be a tall task, so we thoroughly tested different providers using different streaming services on several platforms. For each VPN, we evaluated each provider’s streaming performance on mobile, desktop and dedicated streaming devices like Amazon’s Fire TV Stick and Apple TV. After evaluating how easy it was to navigate each VPN app, we connected to dozens of server locations (including the US, UK, Australia, Japan, Egypt, France, Germany and Canada) with each VPN to determine if the service was able to unblock geo-restricted content from different regions around the world on streaming services such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
We noted whenever a VPN was blocked from accessing certain geo-restricted content, and we checked to make sure the VPN connections were fast enough for streaming in 4K and that the streaming experience was smooth and free of buffering when a VPN was able to successfully stream content. Each VPN we’ve listed here is a capable VPN for streaming, but one may work better for you than another, based on your particular needs or budget. Each VPN here also offers a money-back guarantee, so you can try them out before you fully commit to one.
Other VPNs we tested
Private Internet Access
The wallet-friendly Private Internet Access, or PIA, is an open-source VPN provider with a strong focus on privacy. PIA costs just $12 monthly, $40 for the first year (the one-year plan renews at $50 annually) or $79 every three years. Although PIA worked well enough for Netflix and Disney Plus, it struggled with Amazon Prime Video. PIA has apps for nearly every platform, including Windows, MacOS, Linux (with a GUI that's more beginner-friendly than a command-line interface), web browsers, iOS/iPadOS, Android/Android TV and Apple TV.
Despite its affordability compared with many VPN rivals, PIA is tough to recommend for streaming because of its middle-of-the-road speed performance. In our testing, we clocked an underwhelming 49% average speed loss. Folks with fast internet speeds (50 megabits per second or more) should be fine, but slower or more unreliable internet connections like satellite internet might not work as well. (For reference, Netflix recommends a minimum 15Mbps download speed for a single 4K video stream.) Ultimately, PIA is a fantastic VPN with strong privacy features, but its streaming shortcomings limit its appeal for VPN users who want to unblock a wide selection of streaming content.
IPVanish
IPVanish is a decent VPN for streaming if you’re new to VPNs and want a solution that’s simple to use and can help you watch content on various streaming platforms. During our testing, we were able to access Netflix libraries from a handful of regions, along with content on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. Although some VPNs may struggle to deliver across platforms, we were able to access each of the streaming services we tested on each of the devices we tested them on with IPVanish. The main area where IPVanish struggles is its speed. The inconsistency of IPVanish’s speeds -- we clocked a high 44% average speed loss in our 2024 tests -- may put a damper on your streaming experience, especially while watching 4K ultra-high-definition videos.
A monthly subscription to IPVanish costs $13 per month, which is on par with many other VPNs, but its annual plan starts off cheaper than both NordVPN and ExpressVPN at $40 for the first year. IPVanish offers a two-year plan that costs $52 total for the first two years combined. Beware that the one-year and two-year plan prices skyrocket to an absurd $156 per year or $312 total every two years after the initial one- or two-year term. Although IPVanish's renewal prices are only slightly more expensive than ExpressVPN's and NordVPN's similarly excessive renewal prices, IPVanish's unremarkable feature set, average overall performance and sluggish speeds make it comparably unattractive and not an ideal choice for streaming enthusiasts. (Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis).
Mullvad
Mullvad is an excellent choice for privacy-conscious VPN users and posted a reasonable 24% average speed loss in our latest testing. It worked well with Netflix, Disney Plus and Hulu, but it struggled with streaming Amazon Prime Video during our tests and doesn't offer full, native support for smart TVs or streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV Stick or Apple TV. That, in combination with its comparatively small network of servers in just 49 countries, makes Mullvad a tough sell for folks wanting to use the VPN for streaming purposes.
Mullvad requires zero personal information to sign up -- not even an email address -- and costs a flat fee of $5 per month whether you use it for a month, a year or five years. You can pay for and add as many months to your account as you want, but Mullvad doesn't have recurring subscriptions of any sort because it strives to collect as little data as possible. If you're not satisfied with the service, then you can request a refund within the first 30 days of purchase.