The Best VPNs for Streaming

Streaming requires fast speeds to ensure the best video quality. If you want to watch video from other regions, the provider will also need to help make that possible. The following features will help to provide the best experience when binging your favorite shows or movies:

• Region unlocking support: Even if you don't think you'll use the feature, choosing a provider with region unlocking often means they understand the optimizations need to ensure a smooth streaming experience. Netflix and other companies are notorious for falsely blocking people from streaming even in their own region due to VPN use, so being able to protect against that is important too.
• Broad server selection: If you're looking to view content from other regions, you'll need a server there to accomplish that. So choosing a provider with a varied server selection maximizes content potential while also giving you plenty of alternatives should the server you're using slow down.
• Multi-platform support: There's a good chance you watch video on different devices depending on where you are. You might catch a TV episode on your phone on the bus commute, use a smart TV or laptop at home, and then switch to a tablet for bedside viewing at night. Choosing a VPN which supports all of the device types you use ensures you're always protected.
• Multi-device support: If you have a family or friends you share your streaming accounts with, be sure that your VPN provides enough connections to protect everyone. Otherwise, you might have the kids bugging you about why they can't find that cool show from the UK on their tablet or have to constantly switch your VPN between devices as you go about your day.

We'll start this off by saying we're not legal experts. The most accurate answer will also likely depend on your location.

That said, most of the concerns when it comes to using a VPN for streaming is when you access content intended for regions other than your own. 

Typically, this creates licensing concerns for the content providers and may also violate the terms of service for the streaming platform you're using.

That said, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service in question, the liabilities on your end are a bit of a grey area at best. So always use caution and understand that the ability to stream from other countries may come and go, even on the best providers, as streaming services and VPNs play cat-and-mouse games with security.

We only recommend a handful of free VPN providers. But even they probably aren't ideal for streaming.

This is because streaming HD or 4K video can be extremely bandwidth-intensive and most free plans either limit your transfer speeds or the amount of data you're allowed to transfer in a given period. 

This means there's a good chance that your video won't look great or will buffer. If it does look good, you might only get an episode or two into your favorite show before you hit your data limit.

In all, it's typically worth paying for even an entry-level VPN service if you plan to stream video.

If you have a good provider, this shouldn't worry you at all.

Here at Informr, we frequently use our VPN to stream 4K video with no problems. It's all a matter of finding a solid VPN service that is optimized for video streaming.

Check VPN reviews to ensure speeds are typically snappy before signing up and then test things using a free trial if one is available.

If things start out snappy and crisp but slow down over time, you might try connecting to a different server to see if it resolves your issue. Servers often offer varying performance throughout the day as people connect and disconnect from different regions or time zones.

This will depend on the VPN service you choose. However, most of the big names out there make it super simple. 

Our review summaries for each VPN break down the user experience to let you know what to expect. So if you're worried about it being too complicated, look at one of our beginner-friendly recommendations and you should be good to go!