We tested every major VPN against Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more. These are the four that consistently unblocked the most platforms without buffering, throttling, or failed connections.
We tested every VPN in our review set against 12 streaming platforms including Netflix UK, Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, ITVX, and Channel 4. Each VPN was tested multiple times across different server locations. We measured connection reliability, streaming quality, and whether sessions stayed stable over a full film without disconnecting or dropping quality.
The rankings below reflect streaming performance specifically — a VPN ranked lower overall for privacy or speed may rank higher here if its streaming reliability justifies it.
Streaming platforms actively block VPN IP addresses. The best streaming VPNs refresh their server IPs regularly and maintain dedicated server pools — this is why some VPNs that work today may not work next month without updates.
No VPN in our test set unlocked more streaming platforms than ExpressVPN. Across 15+ Netflix regions, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and ITVX — every test passed without a single failure. The MediaStreamer smart DNS feature also lets you unblock content on smart TVs and games consoles that don't support VPN apps natively. The trade-off is price — it is the most expensive VPN in our review set.
NordVPN is our highest-rated VPN overall and performs excellently for streaming. It reliably unblocks Netflix UK, Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Where it edges ExpressVPN is on speed — NordLynx delivers consistently faster connections, meaning 4K streams load instantly and stay stable. SmartPlay is enabled automatically and handles most streaming platforms without any manual configuration.
CyberGhost takes a different approach — instead of trying any server and hoping for the best, its app lists dedicated servers for specific streaming platforms. You see "Netflix US", "BBC iPlayer", "Disney+ UK" as server options and connect directly. In testing, these dedicated servers worked reliably. It is the most beginner-friendly option for streaming, and at under £2/month on a long plan it is excellent value for what it delivers.
Surfshark is the pick for households. Unlimited simultaneous connections means every TV, phone, laptop, and tablet in the house is covered under one subscription. Streaming performance is solid — Netflix UK and US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Amazon Prime all unblocked reliably in testing. It does not match ExpressVPN's breadth for obscure regional platforms, but covers everything most people actually watch. At £1.69/month it is hard to fault.
| Platform | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | CyberGhost | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix UK | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Netflix US | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| BBC iPlayer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Disney+ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Prime | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hulu | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| HBO Max | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ITVX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Channel 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 15+ Netflix regions | ✓ | Partial | Partial | Partial |
| Smart TV / Console DNS | ✓ MediaStreamer | ✓ SmartPlay | Limited | Limited |
Get ExpressVPN if you travel frequently and need access to streaming content from multiple countries, or if you watch platforms beyond the mainstream. Nothing unblocks more.
Get NordVPN if you watch 4K content and speed matters, or if you want an excellent all-round VPN that also happens to perform well for streaming. Better overall value than ExpressVPN.
Get CyberGhost if you are new to VPNs and want the simplest possible streaming setup — pick the platform, connect, watch. Also the best choice if budget is tight.
Get Surfshark if you need to cover multiple devices in a household and want solid streaming performance at the lowest monthly cost.
Looking for something different? Browse our other category guides.
Top picks ranked on jurisdiction, audit quality and no-logs credentials.
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