Table of Contents
Our Top Tested Picks
Proton VPN
IVPN
Mullvad VPN
NordVPN
Surfshark VPN
TunnelBear VPN
CyberGhost VPN
Mozilla VPN
Private Internet Access VPN
Hotspot Shield VPN
Best for Privacy Wonks
Proton VPN
- The best free VPN subscription
- Numerous advanced privacy tools
- Strong customer privacy stance
- Slick, accessible client
- Excellent speed test scores
- Awkward ChromeOS implementation
ProtonVPN offers the best free subscription tiers we've seen, plus it's compatible with popular streaming services such as Apple TV+ and Hulu.
Best for Flexible Pricing
IVPN
- Flexible, affordable pricing
- Powerful multi-hop system
- Privacy is baked into its account system
- Strong stance on transparency
- Offers few server locations
- Multi-hop and account ID features might confuse some
IVPN boasts a unique approach to multi-hop connections and a privacy-first account system. Unfortunately, in our testing, many streaming services blocked the VPN service completely or limited access for IVPN users.
Best for Bargain Hunters
Mullvad VPN
- Affordable
- Requires no email or account information
- Radically transparent
- Multi-hop, split tunneling, and port forwarding
- Awkward desktop interface
- Servers in a small range of countries
- Pay-as-you-go system may confuse some customers
Mullvad's excellent VPN secures your connection and protects your privacy for an unbeatable price. That said, VPN application doesn't play well with top streaming services such as Disney+ and HBO Max.
Best for Premium VPN
NordVPN
- Multi-hop, split tunneling, and Tor connections
- Excellent design
- Traffic routing and file-sharing with Meshnet
- Built-in antivirus tools
- Expensive
- Lackluster malware-blocking results
- Limited utility of free Meshnet traffic routing
It's a privacy juggernaut, at a premium price. In testing, many streaming services including Amazon's Prime Video and HBO Max functioned well while connected to a NordVPN server.
Best for Protecting Many Devices
Surfshark VPN
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Large global server presence
- Multi-hop and split tunneling tools
- Intriguing potential in Surfshark Nexus
- High monthly price
- Some issues with IP rotator feature in testing
- Privacy policy needs clarification
Surfshark VPN is expensive, but the app works with streaming services such as Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, and VRV.
Best for First-Time VPN Users
TunnelBear VPN
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Excellent privacy policies
- Annual independent audits
- Friendly, approachable design (with bears!)
- No multi-hop connections
- Split tunneling not available on all platforms
- Data limit on free subscription
Easy to use and easily affordable, TunnelBear servers also work well with almost every streaming service we tested.
Best for Frequent Travelers
CyberGhost VPN
- Large, well-distributed server fleet
- Allows up to seven simultaneous connections
- Several add-ons, including antivirus
- Outstanding speed test scores
- Newly completed third-party audit
- Expensive
- Confusing privacy policies
CyberGhost offers the largest VPN server network we've seen, and in testing, the VPN app worked with Amazon's Prime Video, Apple TV+, CuriosityStream, HBO Max, Kanopy, and Paramount+.
Best for Consumers of Conscience
Mozilla VPN
- Helps support nonprofit Mozilla
- Powered by privacy hawk Mullvad VPN
- Simple, classy design
- Multi-hop and split tunneling
- Few server locations
- Gathers some user information
- Expensive compared with Mullvad VPN
Mozilla VPN protects your privacy, however, in testing almost all of the major streaming services blocked or limited access for Mozilla VPN users.
Best for Power Users
Private Internet Access VPN
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Split tunneling and multi-hop
- Numerous server locations
- Completed third-party audit
- Expensive
- No free version
Private Internet Access offers a robust VPN service but only Apple TV+ and Kanopy allow streaming with its VPN servers.
Best for General Users
Hotspot Shield VPN
- Numerous server locations
- Slick, approachable client
- Open Netflix access in all tested regions
- Hefty services bundle
- Expensive
- Slowest VPN we've tested
- Free version supported by targeted ads on Android
Hotspot Shield VPN looks great, has an excellent network of servers, and it was the only VPN service allowed by every streaming service we tested.
You can use a use a VPN to keep your browsing details private while navigating your online world, but you may hit a roadblock when trying to watch your favorite movies or television shows. Streaming services and VPNs just don’t play well together, and streaming companies are constantly updating and changing their policies when it comes to blocking or limiting access for VPN users. At the same time, VPN services work to keep streaming content available for their customers.
![How a VPN Works](https://cdn.statically.io/img/assets1.ignimgs.com/thumbs/userUploaded/2018/5/17/maxresdefault-1526584135409.jpg)
Why Streaming Services Block VPNs
Many streaming services have licensing agreements with their content holders stating the specified content is only available in certain countries or geographical territories. When a subscriber uses a VPN and tries to watch or listen to content that isn’t available in their region, they're likely violating a licensing agreement.
Another reason streaming services block traffic coming from VPN servers is to comply with local law. Some governments block certain content from users within their country.
It's a sticky situation for all parties because subscribers may feel they should be able to access their entire content library regardless of their location. Streaming services have to please their rights holders (and not get on the bad side of governments). VPN services have to find ways to keep streaming services unblocked to please their customers. As a result, streaming services and VPNs engage in a near-constant battle of cat and mouse when it comes to blocking and unblocking IP addresses.
What You Can Watch
Some streaming services, like Netflix, let VPN-using subscribers watch original and select licensed content. So if you’re in Atlanta using a VPN server located in the Netherlands, you can still watch hit series like Stranger Things or k-dramas like Vincenzo.
Recommended by Our Editors
Some VPN services manage to evade detection and allow access to the entire Netflix library for the VPN server's region. Other streaming sites block VPN users from their service completely, even if the user’s region matches their home region.
VPNs vs. Streaming Sites
If you're looking to watch videos using well-known streaming platforms, we put together a chart of VPN services and their ability to log in to some of our top-rated streaming sites. We have not tested how much content you can view from region to region. This chart simply notes which services have VPNs wholly blocked and which VPNs can access streaming programming.
Open: Content played normally
Blocked: Content did not play
Limited: Subset of content available and played normally