What is the Best VPN for Streaming
Sure, determining the best VPN for gaming/streaming will depend partly upon your specific needs, but amidst a crowded market, it’s helpful to know which providers are the standouts. Each of our top recommended VPNs allows you to unblock streaming services with ease while preserving connection speed and fidelity.
Early internet connections were sluggish and awkward, barely suitable for downloading even animated GIFs. As connection speeds increased and hardware became faster, streaming videos and movies went from an occasional thing to a daily activity. In 2014, Netflix and YouTube consumed 50% of all the internet traffic. When you add torrenting and a few other movie streaming sites, that number jumps to 64%.
Need a quick answer? These are the best VPNs for securely unblocking and streaming movies online:
- NordVPN – Best VPN for Movies – NordVPN stands out from the crowd due to its absolutely gargantuan server network, allowing you to spoof tens of thousands of IPs to bypass geoblocks and enjoy your favorite movies. Buffer-free streams, even in HD; no logging.
- Surfshark – Encryption on every server, unlimited simultaneous connections, responsive network.
- ExpressVPN – A bit more expensive, but offers the fastest VPN speeds you’ll find anywhere. Unblocks Netflix US like a champ.
- CyberGhost — Great for beginners, it has an intuitive interface and specialized servers for streaming.
- IPVanish – Your Firestick’s best friend, used heavily in the torrenting community as well.
- VyprVPN – The primary pick for anyone living in a country with heavily censored internet.
- PureVPN – Ever wanted to spoof into Uzbekistan? You can with the widest-reaching network in terms of countries available.
Streaming videos are here to stay, and if you want to keep your activity private and secure, you need to incorporate a virtual private network into your daily routine. VPNs use data encryption to help protect your activity from bandwidth throttling, spying third parties, and information-hoarding ISPs. You can also use a VPN to access geo-restricted content to stream videos from any country in the world!
| NordVPN | Surfshark | ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | IPVanish | VyprVPN | PureVPN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $13.99/mo (1 month), $2.99/mo (2 years) | $15.45/mo (1 month), $1.99/mo (2 years) | $12.95/mo (1 month), $6.67/mo (1 year) | $12.99/mo (1 month), $2.19/mo (2 years) | $12.99/mo (1 month), $2.19/mo (2 years) | $10/mo (1 month), $3/mo (2 years) | $15.95/mo (1 month), $1.69/mo (5 years) |
| Speed | Excellent speed; known for consistent performance | High speed | Very fast, especially for international connections | Decent speeds | Moderate speeds, can be inconsistent | Average speeds but stable | Good speeds, but can slow with international use |
| Security | AES-256, NordLynx protocol, strict no-logs policy | AES-256, WireGuard, IKEv2, NoBorders feature | AES-256, TrustedServer tech, no-logs policy | AES-256, WireGuard, no-logs audited | AES-256, no-logs policy | AES-256, no-logs, Chameleon protocol | AES-256, no-logs policy, Quantum-Resistant encryption |
| Ease of Use | Intuitive apps, strong device support | Easy navigation, great for beginners | Simple interface, good app design | Easy to use with categorized servers | Simple, but lacks some advanced features | Clean interface, stable connection | Slightly complex, but lots of customization |
| Customer Support | 24/7 live chat, email support, knowledge base | 24/7 live chat, email support, video guides | 24/7 live chat, email support, video guides, knowledge base | 24/7 live chat, email support, knowledge base | 24/7 live chat, phone support, knowledge base | Live chat, email support, knowledge base | 24/7 live chat, email support, knowledge base |
How to Choose a VPN for Streaming
Picking the best VPN for online movie streams is more complicated than just comparing speed tests. You have to take things like encryption strength into account, look at server distribution, and keep an eye on logging policies and software compatibility. There’s a lot of information to digest before you sign up, which is why we’ve made the process a little easier.
Below are the most important criteria to keep in mind when looking for the best video streaming VPNs. We used the same features to select our recommended services, ensuring you’ll always have fast and private access to HD videos and low-latency gaming no matter where you are.
- Logging policy – Online privacy is built upon the VPN’s user logging policy. With no logs, your data is never stored and can’t be accessed by third parties or government agencies like the 5, 9, and 14 Eyes countries.
- Speed – Encryption can slow your internet speed by as much as 20%. To make sure your streaming videos never stutter, we’ve selected the fastest VPNs that deliver top speeds without sacrificing privacy.
- Server network – Your physical location within the VPN server network determines the lag you’ll encounter—closer means less lag. It also lets you select from a larger list of virtual locations so you can stream videos from other countries.
- Blocked file types – Lower-quality VPNs often block P2P networks and torrent traffic, both of which are frequently used to download and stream videos. All of our recommendations below allow all types of traffic without exception.
- Bandwidth restrictions – Streaming video eats up a ton of bandwidth. To ensure your stream doesn’t end in the middle of the movie, our recommended VPNs have unlimited bandwidth with no throttling or other restrictions. Just like with streaming, unlimited bandwidth is also important when looking for the best VPN for gaming.
- Device compatibility – Video streams aren’t just for desktop PCs. If you want to watch videos on a tablet or TV box, you’ll need to be able to install VPN software on the same device. Most good VPN providers have custom apps for popular operating systems, including Android and iOS.
- Able to bypass VPN blocks – It’s commonplace for major streaming services to employ methods to detect and block VPN traffic. While it’s almost always bound to be a game of cat and mouse, the best VPN providers are usually able to stay a step ahead of VPN blocks. For example, it’s easy to bypass Netflix blocks with a VPN.
- Price – It’s completely justified to think about your budget when picking a VPN for gaming or streaming. But we highly recommend that you avoid free VPNs, as these are often less secure and private than premium offerings. Fortunately, there are plenty of cheap VPNs to pick from.
- Simultaneous device usage – It’s important to keep this in mind when picking out a VPN because it could limit how many of your devices can access the VPN at once. For example, if you have three devices that you’ll want to stream or game from through the VPN at the same time, ensure that the VPN supports multiple simultaneous connections; at least three in this case. Some VPNs can be used from a router—if you have lots of devices, and especially if some are game consoles, router support is something you should look for.
The Best VPNs for Streaming Video Online
Here are our top VPNs for fast, secure, and buffer-free streaming of movies and TV series, even in HD and 4K quality:
1. NordVPN
NordVPN has the speed and security to make it one of the top VPNs on the market. It also offers the largest network of any VPN provider, with over 6,500 servers in 110+ different countries! You’ll never have trouble finding a fast and lag-free node to connect to, no matter where you’re located. This also makes it easy to access geo-restricted content on services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube. Streaming all of this HD content is easy, too, as NordVPN doesn’t restrict P2P or torrent traffic and offers unlimited bandwidth for all accounts.
Privacy is the other high point of the NordVPN experience. The company has one of the best zero-logging policies around, covering everything from traffic to time stamps, bandwidth logs, and even IP addresses. Full DNS leak protection and an automatic kill switch also keep your identity locked down, even if something goes wrong.
Netflix’s blocking efforts have managed to force a lot of VPN users to switch off their service to stream videos. With NordVPN, that’s almost never the case. The company goes to great lengths to ensure fast and reliable access to Netflix from any country at any time.
Read our full NordVPN review.
- Optimized servers for unblocking Netflix
- Fast and stable connections
- Allows up to 6 devices to be connected at once
- Retains no metadata of your browsing
- Live chat support is available.
- Apps can sometime be slow to connect.
2. Surfshark
When it comes to unblocking streaming sites, Surfshark seems to punch well above its weight class. After all, it’s a “budget” VPN, yet it can unblock 14 international Netflix libraries.
Surfshark makes use of only the most modern privacy provisions–cutting outdated protocols out in favor of OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, WireGuard, wrapped in unbreakable 256-AES-GCM encryption. If that weren’t enough to spoof the IP you need, every network node is capable of enabling Camouflage obfuscation and NoBorders anti-censorship.
What’s more, Surfshark offers this level of protection without bogging your connection down with unnecessary overhead. With their diskless network (numbering 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries), you can count on snappy response times for buffer-free streams. It also works to wipe your identifiable metadata, giving some serious credibility to Surfshark’s no logging policy.
- Unblock 15 international Netflix libraries, including the US and Japan
- One of the first VPNs to implement RAM-only servers
- Unlimited simultaneous connections–Protect your whole family!
- Zero logging policy ensures your activity can't be used against you
- Support staff manned by actual human beings 24/7.
- Speeds occasionally suffer a noticeable drop
- Relatively young VPN still has to prove itself trustworthy over the long haul.
Read our full Surfshark review.
3. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has a well-deserved reputation for incredibly high speeds. The service delivers some of the fastest connections to and from cities around the world, covering the entirety of its network of thousands of servers in 105 different countries. You’ll always be able to find a latency-free server in the location you need, whether it’s near your home or on another continent to bypass geo-restrictions. If your video streams start to get sluggish, ExpressVPN offers built-in speed test software in several versions of its apps, allowing you to evaluate your server and find a better connection when necessary.
ExpressVPN delivers all of these speed benefits without sacrificing privacy or anonymity. All data that leaves your device is secured with 256-bit AES encryption backed by a strict zero-logging policy on all traffic, DNS requests, and IP addresses. Your local connection will also be secured by DNS leak protection and an automatic kill switch, ensuring your identity is never leaked.
Netflix has started a crusade to block VPNs from accessing its streaming services, which can put a serious dent in your movie watching abilities. ExpressVPN constantly works to bypass those blocks, however, which means you’ll maintain reliable access to the Netflix website and its video streaming apps. ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs to use with Netflix!
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
- Unblocks US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and Amazon Prime
- Super fast servers (minimal speed loss)
- Supports ALL devices
- Strict no-logs policy
- Customer Service (24/7 Chat).
- Limited configuration options
- Power-users configuration options.
4. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a great choice for streaming fans. They have a huge network of servers all over the world (in 100 countries, to be exact), so you can easily connect to one that will give you access to your favorite shows and movies, no matter where you are. Plus, their speeds are blazing fast, so you can stream without any buffering or lag. They also have a strict no logs policy, meaning they don’t track what you do online, which is great for privacy.
If you’re looking for a VPN that will let you stream smoothly and securely, CyberGhost is definitely worth checking out. Their strong encryption keeps your connection safe from snoops, and their easy-to-use apps make it simple to get started. Whether you’re into live sports, movies, or online games, CyberGhost can help you enjoy them all without restrictions.
5. IPVanish
Keeping your activity hidden is what IPVanish does best, and it provides that security while delivering incredibly fast speeds. The company runs a network of over 2,400 servers in 135+ different locations, complete with over 40,000 shared IP addresses available to all users. Those numbers alone provide plenty of anonymity for your online video streams, but IPVanish also features 256-bit AES encryption, a solid zero-logging policy, and both kill switch and DNS leak protection features for added peace of mind.
Keeping clear access to movie streams is easy with IPVanish. You’ll get unlimited bandwidth with no speed caps or throttling, which is perfect for HD and 4K content. There’s also full access to both P2P and torrent traffic downloads and free access to the Kodi media center and all of its movie and TV show add-ons. IPVanish is the perfect VPN for high-speed and high-quality video streams.
Read our full IPVanish review.
6. VyprVPN
When you want to stay anonymous and break through online barriers, VyprVPN is the way to go. The service offers some of the most unique solutions to privacy and censorship issues in the online community, largely thanks to its proprietary Chameleon technology. Chameleon takes pre-encrypted data and wraps another layer of encryption around the meta information. This helps defeat deep packet inspection, a method commonly used by governments and ISPs to look through VPN encryption to track user activity. Chameleon makes it virtually impossible to trace anyone’s connection, making it easy to slip through ISP throttling efforts and break through censorship firewalls in places like China or the Middle East.
Another excellent privacy feature is the fact that VyprVPN owns and operates its entire network of servers, over 700 in 70 different countries, comprised of over 300,000 IP addresses. VyprVPN handles all hardware maintenance and software upgrades, as well, which keeps third parties out of the picture. When you combine that with 256-bit AES encryption, zero traffic logs, and DNS leak protection features, you’ve got the perfect recipe for a private, secure, and anonymous online experience.
Read our full VyprVPN review.
7. PureVPN
PureVPN does more than just provide encryption, virtual location switching, and other VPN exclusive services. If you’re looking for an all-in-one internet security suite, PureVPN is definitely the choice for you. Some of its more notable extra extras include a built-in ad-blocker, web filtering options, malware protection, anti-phishing features, and even anti-virus scanners. To use all of these incredible bonuses, all you have to do is download PureVPN’s software, sign in, and start browsing.
As for its VPN specific features, PureVPN doesn’t pull its punches. You’ll get complete kill switch and DNS leak protection, as well as 256-bit AES encryption to lock down all of your information. PureVPN also owns and operates its entire network, over 6,000 servers in 65+ countries. Third parties never have access to your data, and with PureVPN’s excellent zero-logging policies, you’re guaranteed a safe and reliable connection to the internet.
PureVPN’s best features:
- Extra features include anti-virus protection, web filters, ad blocking, and anti-phishing measures
- Custom apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and even Chromebooks
- No restriction on torrent or P2P traffic and completely unlimited bandwidth
Read our full PureVPN review.
How to Defeat ISP Throttling with a VPN
There are hundreds of ways to access HD movie streams online, everything from Netflix to YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and Kodi. Depending on the method you use, your local ISP might deploy throttling efforts to help them save on bandwidth costs.
These throttles silently decrease your download speed whenever you start streaming a movie. If your videos frequently buffer despite having fast internet service, you could be a victim of ISP throttling. Test your internet speed before and after to find out.
Fortunately, there are some really great VPNs that stop this sort of buffering. A VPN’s encryption alone is often enough to defeat ISP filters, as it masks the type of traffic you’re using by default. Instead of “Kodi stream from X website”, your ISP simply notices the traffic and passes it along unhindered.
DID YOU KNOW? How to Bypass Netflix Bans With a VPN
Even with encryption, some ISPs can persist in throttling HD video streams, often resorting to slowing down all VPN traffic. Follow the tips below to stop ISP throttling so you can resume your high quality movies without interruption.
- Change ports – Port monitoring is a common method of controlling internet traffic. If you use a different, unmonitored port, however, you’ll often get by without being noticed. If your VPN software allows it, try switching to TCP port 80 or TCP port 443.
- SSH tunnels – A more complex method of bypassing VPN blocks is to wrap your traffic in an additional layer of encryption, obscuring the fact that you’re using a VPN. You can quickly make an SSH tunnel on Linux and Mac systems, though Windows will take some extra configuring.
- SSL tunnels – An alternate to SSH tunnels above that accomplishes nearly the same thing. SSL tunnels are offered by NordVPN, but you can also download the stunnel software and set things up from there. It’s more complex than the other methods and can be a little slower, but it’s practically guaranteed to bust through VPN throttling efforts.
Need a more detailed guide? Follow our tips on how to bypass VPN blocks to get your HD streams back on track.
Get Faster Speeds from Your VPN
ISP throttling isn’t the only thing that could be slowing down your connection. There are a dozen or more weak points between your screen and the stream you’re downloading, and if any one of them fails, the only thing you’ll be watching is a buffering image. If you’ve ruled out throttling but still aren’t getting the speeds you should be, try the tips below.
- Experiment with different encryption types – VPNs rely on the OpenVPN protocol to manage traffic, as it offers the best balance of speed and privacy. You can switch to other VPN protocols if you’re willing to trade a bit of privacy in exchange for speed. If your VPN offers the option, try switching to L2TP/IPSec or PPTP protocols.
- Switch VPN servers – Factors such as server load and physical distance can have a tremendous impact on connection speeds. This is crucial as you explore what is the best VPN for streaming and gaming. If you don’t need access to a particular country’s IP addresses, pick a VPN server closer to your location to help reduce lag. You can also try a less populated server to see if that speeds things up.
- Use a different device – Not all hardware can handle HD, 4K, or ultra HD content, especially tablets and smartphones. If your video playback is stuttering instead of buffering, chances are it’s a hardware issue, not a problem with your connection speed. Try the same stream on a laptop or desktop PC to see if that solves the issue.
- Plug in a network cable – Wireless internet is convenient, but it’s notoriously spotty, especially if you’re far away from the broadcast point. If you’re watching a stream on a computer and experience frequent buffering, grab a network cable and plug directly into the router. Wired connections are far more reliable than Wi-Fi, and often faster, too.
Get Better Video Streams with Kodi
Services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Go provide good quality movie streams at reasonable prices. Each one has its drawbacks, however, including content availability and restrictions based on geographic location (learn how to beat geoblocking to get around that). Many of these company’s apps are notoriously sluggish on certain devices, as well, making them far from perfect solutions for easy and convenient video streams.
Kodi is a free and open-source media center app that aims to change all of that. Through Kodi and its thousands of unofficial add-ons, you can access NFL life streams and other sports, TV shows, movies, broadcast channels, and international content, all from the comfort of your favorite device. There’s no subscriptions to mess with or content restrictions to bypass, either. With Kodi, all you have to do is download and start watching.
To get the best video streaming experience out of Kodi you’ll need to install the right add-ons. Before you dive in, though, make sure you’re running a solid VPN on the same device. Kodi is perfectly legal to use, but a number of ISPs have flagged it as potentially harmful, which can result in bandwidth throttling or even copyright infringement notices. With a VPN you’ll never have to worry about either of those. Our recommended services above work extremely well with Kodi. You can also check out our list of the best VPNs for Kodi for a few more suggestions.
Below are some of the most useful video and movie streaming add-ons for Kodi, complete with instructions on how to install them.
- Stream Live TV with Kodi add-ons – Watch live TV channels, sports, and more.
- UK Turk Playlists – An immense variety of live streams, movies, TV shows, and more.
- TVAddons Alternatives – HD video streams for all of your movie needs.
- Stop Kodi Buffering with a VPN – Maintain top speeds for your movie streams.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best VPN for unblocking streaming platforms?
The best VPNs for streaming are those with a proven ability to bypass geo-restrictions on popular platforms like Netflix and Hulu. Look for VPNs with a large server network, optimized streaming servers, and high-speed connections. Some top picks include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark.
How does a VPN improve streaming quality?
A VPN can improve streaming quality by bypassing ISP throttling. Internet service providers sometimes limit your bandwidth when they detect streaming activity. A VPN encrypts your connection, and that makes it harder for them to track what you’re doing, which limits their ability to negatively affect your internet speed. This can lead to a smoother streaming experience with fewer buffering interruptions.
Can a VPN reduce lag in online gaming?
Yes, in certain situations. If your ISP routes your connection inefficiently or throttles your gaming traffic, a VPN can create a more direct, faster path to the gaming server. However, this depends on the VPN’s server location, speed, and stability. Some gamers even use VPNs to connect to servers in different regions for access to region-specific events or games.
Which VPN is the best for gaming and streaming?
Gaming and streaming require similar low-lag server access. So, the best VPN for gaming could also be the best for streaming. Some providers, such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN, offer servers optimized for both. These servers focus on minimizing latency while maintaining high-speed connections. They can handle both activities simultaneously, so they’re a great choice whether you’re looking for a gaming VPN or a streaming VPN.
Is using a VPN for streaming against the terms of service?
While using a VPN is legal in most countries, some streaming platforms’ terms of service prohibit circumventing geo-restrictions. This doesn’t mean you’ll face legal consequences, but the platform may block your connection if it detects that you’re on a VPN. To avoid this, choose a VPN known for its obfuscation features so that your VPN traffic is disguised as normal traffic.
Can a free VPN work for streaming or gaming?
Free VPNs often struggle with streaming and gaming, and that’s not mentioning the privacy concerns. Many have limited servers, slower speeds, and strict data caps that make them unsuitable for high-bandwidth activities. They might also lack the privacy features of premium VPNs. If you’re serious about streaming or gaming, investing in a reliable, paid VPN is worth it for consistent performance and peace of mind.
If you need a VPN for a short while when traveling for example, you can get our top ranked VPN free of charge. NordVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. You will need to pay for the subscription, that’s a fact, but it allows full access for 30 days and then you cancel for a full refund. Their no-questions-asked cancellation policy lives up to its name.
