Using a VPN for streaming: what to know before you pay

If you've searched for something on this site and found it's streaming in another country but not yours, you've probably wondered about a VPN. Here's an honest look at what one does, what the catch is, and what to check before you pay.

What a VPN actually does

A VPN (virtual private network) sends your internet traffic through an encrypted connection to a server run by the VPN company. Websites and apps see that server's address instead of yours. If the server is in another country, services generally treat you as if you're there, and that's why a streaming app may show you a different catalogue.

VPNs weren't built for streaming. Their original and still most common uses are privacy and security: protecting your traffic on public Wi-Fi, keeping your browsing private from your network provider, and letting staff reach their company's network from home.

Is it legal?

Using a VPN is legal in the UK, the US and most of Europe. A few countries restrict or ban them, so if you're travelling, check the rules where you are.

Legal isn't the same as allowed, though. Most streaming services' terms say their catalogue is licensed for the country you're in, and many specifically forbid using tools to appear to be somewhere else. Using a VPN to watch another country's catalogue can therefore break the terms you agreed to, even though it isn't a crime.

Will it work?

Not always. Streaming services know where their content is licensed (see why shows differ by country), so many of them actively detect and block addresses that belong to VPN servers. Depending on the service and the day, you may get the other country's catalogue, your own, or an error message telling you to switch off your VPN. VPN companies keep changing servers to get around this, so results vary over time. No VPN can honestly promise that every service will work in every country.

What to check before you pay

• A money-back guarantee. Many VPNs offer a refund period. Read its length and conditions, then test the services you care about during it.
• Servers in the countries you need. Use the Where to Stream page to see which countries carry a title, and make sure the VPN has servers there.
• Apps for your devices. Check it supports what you actually watch on: a smart TV, a streaming stick, a games console, your phone.
• The price after the introductory deal. Long plans are often heavily discounted for the first term and renew at a higher price.
• How many devices you can connect at once. This matters if the whole household will use it.
• Its privacy policy. Look for a clear "no logs" policy, ideally checked by an independent audit, and where the company is based.

Alternatives worth trying first

• Another service in your own country. A title missing from your subscription may be on a different one where you live.
• Renting or buying it. Often the cheapest legal route for a single film. See stream, rent or buy.
• Waiting. Licences change every month, so it may come to your country later.

VPNs to compare

If you decide a VPN is right for you, these providers all offer apps for the common devices and servers in many countries. Compare their current prices and refund terms directly: