CBS is the most watched network in America, but if you try to tune in from other countries, you’ll find that the content is geo-restricted. To use CBS All Access in Europe, the UK, Canada, Australia, or anywhere else in the world, you’ll have to connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
VPNs encrypt your data and enable you to route it through a server of your choosing. This greatly increases your online security, but there are other benefits too. Because you’re assigned a temporary IP address from your chosen server, you can trick websites into believing you’re in a different location. For example, by connecting to an American server, you can unblock most US-based streaming platforms, including CBS All Access.
We get into plenty of detail on each of the providers we recommend in this post, but in case you only have time for a summary, here is our list of the best VPNs for watching CBS All Access:
- NordVPN Our #1 pick for CBS All Access. Large server representation in the US. Great streaming speeds and takes privacy seriously. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- CyberGhost A budget provider with servers that are fast enough for HD streaming. Apps are easy to use and secure.
- ExpressVPN Operates hundreds of fast servers throughout the US that can unblock CBS All Access with ease from almost anywhere. Solid privacy and security.
- IPVanish Prefered by Kodi users for their remote-control friendly apps. Fast and secure.
- PrivateVPN New and upcoming provider with excellent unblocking abilities. Fewer servers than others, but makes up for it with speed.
- Hotspot Shield Fast and reliable, this service makes it easy to stream CBS All Access from abroad.
How to watch CBS abroad (outside the US)
Even if you’ve never heard of a VPN before, they’re very simple to set-up and use. Follow the steps below to watch CBS All Access online from anywhere.
Here’s how to trick CBS All Access location from outside the US:
- Sign up with a VPN that unblocks CBS All Access. We recommend NordVPN however CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are two suitable alternatives.
- Download and install the VPN app or browser extension for your device.
- Open the VPN app or browser extension and connect to a server in the US. This will provide you with an American IP address for watching CBS All Access abroad.
- Go to CBS All Access and sign in with your cable provider or CBS All Access account.
- You should now be able to play videos on CBS from outside of America. If you’re still encountering restrictions, try clearing your browser’s cookies.
The best VPNs for CBS All Access
Not every VPN is created equally, however. Some are faster than others, some offer more security features, and some are entirely unsuitable for streaming live, high-definition video. To find the best VPNs for CBS All Access, we looked for services that met the following criteria:
- Has numerous American VPN servers
- Offers high speeds and consistent connections
- Capable of unblocking popular streaming platforms including CBS
- Uses a wide range of security features, including strong encryption
- Maintains minimal logs, or ideally, keeps no logs whatsoever
Based on these criteria we have put together our list of the best VPNs for watching CBS All Access abroad:
1. NordVPN
Jan 2021
Unblocks CBS All AccessTested Jan 2021
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.NordVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
With over 1,800 US servers, NordVPN offers more choice than most similar VPN services. Each of these servers is optimized for high-definition streaming and offers lightning-fast speeds, and as this VPN can unblock popular platforms like Netflix, NBC, and Hulu, your choices are almost limitless. Six simultaneous connections are permitted, so you can protect all of your devices with a single account.
NordVPN offers anti-malware and ad-blocking features, as well as a highly versatile kill switch. It features 256-bit AES encryption, DNS protection, and keeps no logs, making it a strong choice for privacy-focused users. Additionally, advanced users have the ability to use two VPNs at once, or connect to Tor over VPN.
This provider has apps for iOS, Android, Linux, MacOS, and Windows. NordVPN also works with some routers, although it must be manually configured.
Pros:
- Over 1,800 servers in the US can unblock just about anything
- The fastest VPNs we’ve tested, making it perfect for HD streaming
- Solid privacy and security
- Personal data is protected as it has a strict no-logs policy
- 24/7 live chat support available
Cons:
- No true server selection in the app, only server location can be chosen
Our score:
BEST VPN FOR CBS ALL ACCESS:NordVPN is our #1 pick. Works reliably with CBS All Access and most popular streaming sites. Connects up to 6 devices simultaneously. Strong security and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full NordVPN review.
2. CyberGhost
Unblocks CBS All AccessTested Jan 2021
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.Cyberghost.com
Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS
CyberGhost works differently to most VPN services; while you can manually choose a server, you can also pick one that’s suited to a particular task. These tasks include safely browsing the internet, torrenting anonymously, and unblocking streaming services such as CBS All Access, NBC, and SKY GO.
Despite its novice-friendly interface, CyberGhost includes several security features for more advanced users. For instance, there are options to force HTTPS, block ads and malware, or cut traffic when the connection to the VPN is dropped. This provider uses 256-bit encryption, keeps no activity logs, and protects against DNS, IPv6, and port forwarding leaks.
Android, iOS, Windows, Linux and MacOS apps are available. CyberGhost can be manually installed on a selection of supported routers.
Pros:
- Over 700 servers in the US to get around most geo-restrictions.
- No issues unblocking US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more
- Beginners find their apps easy to set up and use.
- Steady speeds and unlimited bandwidth
- Strong on security
Cons:
- Doesn’t work reliably in China or UAE
- Few advanced configuration options
Our score:
BEST BUDGET OPTION:CyberGhost is affodable and easy to use. Great for beginners. Good on privacy, offering a secure network. Streams HD video reliably. 45-day money back guarantee.
Read our full CyberGhost review.
3. ExpressVPN
Unblocks CBS All AccessTested Jan 2021
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.ExpressVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
ExpressVPN has servers in 20 cities. This makes it easy to watch regional coverage from all over the country. Plus, thanks to its high speeds, you can experience flawless HD live streams. Additionally, ExpressVPN can unblock a host of popular streaming platforms including the content library of Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu.
This service keeps your online activity secure using 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, and DNS leak protection. You can use the Tor-accessible version of the site and pay in bitcoin should you wish to remain anonymous. ExpressVPN doesn’t keep any logs and includes a kill switch that drops your internet connection in case the VPN connection is lost.
ExpressVPN offers apps for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Manual installation is required for various wireless routers.
Pros:
- Servers in 20 US cities can unblock geo-restricted content from almost anywhere
- Server speeds are great for HD streaming and fast downloads
- High-end security features with good privacy protection
- Also unblocks Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer
Cons:
- Limited advanced configuration may disappoint power-users.
- Slightly higher cost than some of its rivals
Our score:
STREAM CBS ANYWHERE:ExpressVPN boasts high speeds and the ability to unblock plenty of major geo-restricted streaming services. Top privacy features and keeps no logs. It even comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full review of ExpressVPN.
4. IPVanish
Unblocks CBS All AccessTested Jan 2021
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.IPVanish.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
IPVanish has risen to popularity thanks to its high speeds and ease of use. It has more than 650 US servers, and its speeds are fast enough to stream live, HD content without any buffering. IPVanish is capable of unblocking several popular platforms including CBS All Access, NBC, and CW TV, making it a strong choice for fans of US programming.
With 256-bit encryption and a no-logs policy, IPVanish keeps your online activities private. Users can avail themselves of the kill switch, IP switching, traffic obfuscation, and local blocking features, to increase their security even further. Five connections are allowed at once, so one IPVanish account can lock down all of your home’s devices.
There are IPVanish apps for Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Windows, and MacOS. Manual configuration is required for Linux devices and supported network routers.
Pros:
- With around 650 US servers it can unblock just about any streaming site in HD speeds
- All the security and privacy features you need for most situations
- Works well with Sky Go and other popular services
- Standout favorite among Fire TV Stick and Kodi remote control users
Cons:
- No live customer support
- Need to manually configure third-party apps (like OpenVPN) to get it working in China
Our score:
LARGE NETWORK:IPVanish is great for families that need multiple simultaneous connections. Good at unblocking most geo-restricted content. Recommended for their high standard of privacy. Could do with a live support option. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full IPVanish review.
5. PrivateVPN
Unblocks CBS All AccessTested Jan 2021
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.PrivateVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
Despite having a smaller server network than some of its rivals (just ten in the US), PrivateVPN is fast enough for online streaming HD video with no problems. It excels at unblocking streaming platforms too, so you can use it to access sites like Amazon Prime Video, Yahoo View, and Netflix.
PrivateVPN uses 256-bit AES encryption coupled with DNS and IPv6 leak protection to keep your traffic private at all times. There’s also a kill switch to help protect users with inconsistent internet connections. This service doesn’t log any details of your activities. Support is available 24/7 via live chat and the staff are capable of remotely troubleshooting any issues, with your permission.
This VPN offers dedicated apps for MacOS, iOS, Windows, and Android. Linux systems and routers must be configured manually.
Pros:
- Unblocks almost all geo-restricted streaming content that we’ve tested
- Can connect up to six devices simultaneously
- Strong security and privacy features and decent speeds
Cons:
- Fewer servers to choose from than other providers higher on this list
- May need support assistance in locating the best server to choose
- Support staff are good, but only operate during European business hours
Our score:
GREAT SPEEDS:PrivateVPN is easy to use. Allows up to 6 devices on the same account. Offers a smooth streaming experience. Fast connections but could do with having more servers to chose from. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full PrivateVPN review.
6. Hotspot Shield
unblocks cbs all accessTested Jan 2021
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.Hotspotshield.com
Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS
Hotspot Shield provides access to more than 3,000 servers in over 70 countries, making it an ideal VPN provider for watching region-locked content abroad. In fact, as well as unblocking CBS All Access, Hotspot Shield lets you use services like Netflix US, Hulu, and All 4. With up to five simultaneous connections allowed, you can stream on whichever device you prefer.
This service has quite a strong security offering. It secures your traffic with DNS and IPv6 leak protection, 256-bit encryption, and a kill switch. You can also choose to connect to the VPN automatically while on unsafe networks, or allow traffic from certain sites bypass the VPN entirely. Hotspot Shield doesn’t log any identifiable information after you’ve disconnected. While the apps are particularly user-friendly, live chat-based support is available 24/7.
Hotspot Shield provides apps for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS.
Pros:
- Fast enough for streaming live HD video
- Powerful security features
- Good unblocking ability
Cons:
- Some past privacy issues
- No support for Linux or routers
Our score:
PERFECT FOR STREAMING:Hotspot Shield lets you watch CBS All Access in the highest possible quality. What’s more, it offers advanced security features, high-speed connections, and a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Hotspot Shield review.
Can I use a free VPN to watch CBS All Access?
While there are hundreds of free VPN providers available, we strongly advise against their use. First of all, free VPNs often provide a substandard experience because they have fewer servers and yet more users than premium services. Second, streaming sites have been cracking down on VPN usage in recent years, so there’s a good chance that a free VPN wouldn’t work, even assuming you had a decent download speed.
It’s easy to forget that free VPNs are businesses. Despite their rhetoric about protecting privacy, they exist to make money. As there are no upfront fees, free VPNs use several different ways to profit from you. Their money-making methods range from putting ads onto the sites you visit, to selling details of your activities to third parties without your knowledge.
There are good reasons to be skeptical: in recent years, we’ve seen free VPN providers knowingly install malware, lie about their encryption protocols, and even turn their users’ computers into part of a botnet. In order to keep yourself and your personal information safe, we recommend using a reliable VPN with a history of protecting its users’ privacy.
Can I make a CBS All Access account from outside the US?
There are two ways to sign in to CBS: using your cable provider’s details or using a CBS All Access account. If you usually reside inside the US and your cable subscription includes CBS, you can watch online for free.
However, if you’re not a US resident, things get a lot more difficult. While CBS accepts various payment methods, it checks to see if the card or PayPal account you use is registered in the US. Further, even if you manage to sign up to one of the supported cable providers like Hulu or YouTube TV, the CBS site checks your location via the browser. This type of verification often considers more than just your IP address, and can potentially tell if you’re using a VPN or not.
Currently, if you live outside of the US, you’ll need an American friend or relative willing to share their login details with you. Otherwise, the stacked verification methods make it all but impossible to watch CBS from abroad.
VPN for CBS All Access FAQ
⭐Can I watch CBS All Access outside the US?
CBS All Access is only available in the US and Canada. You can sign up from anywhere, provided you have a payment method linked to an address in one of these countries, but if you’re outside of North America, you won’t actually be able to watch anything.
This all changes when you connect to a VPN, though. If you were to use an American server, it’d change your IP address, which is what platforms like CBS All Access use to tell which country you’re in. For all intents and purposes, this would make you indistinguishable from someone who really was in the US. As a result, you’d be able to watch CBS All Access (and most other region-locked American services) from abroad.
⭐Why is my VPN not working with CBS All Access?
CBS is a particularly stubborn service, and blocks many VPNs outright. However, you could still see errors even if your VPN is working perfectly. For instance, if you’re using an ad-blocker, videos won’t play until you turn it off. Confusingly, it appears that all kinds of privacy addons can cause this same error message. As such, if you use Ghostery, Privacy Badger, or any similar tracker-blocking browser extensions, you’ll likely have to disable these before streaming. Some VPNs even offer ad and tracker-blocking features of their own, so make sure to turn these off too.
Still having problems? The quickest fix is usually to try a different server, but if you’ve tested a few already, we’d recommend getting in touch with your VPN’s support team. They’ll be able to tell you whether there are specific servers to use. If none work, unfortunately, there aren’t many other options except for trying another VPN entirely.
⭐Does CBS All Access block VPNs?
Yes, like most major streaming services, CBS All Access tries to prevent VPN users from watching anything. However, its detection measures aren’t perfect and popular providers are constantly finding workarounds to any new blocks that are put in place. Put simply, if a multi-billion dollar company like Netflix can’t fully block VPNs, nobody can.
⭐Is it legal to use a VPN with CBS All Access?
It’s not actually against the law in most countries to access geo-restricted content from abroad. This means that the worst that can happen is you’ll have your account banned. However, this is extremely unlikely, since using a VPN isn’t expressly prohibited by CBS’ own terms of service.
Interestingly, these acknowledge that the location detection features that CBS use are not infallible, and as such, you may not be able to access services that you should. We can assume then, that as long as you’re in the US, there’s no issue with you using a VPN to get around this issue.
⭐What can I watch on CBS All Access?
In addition to the regional live streams, CBS also offers more than 10,000 on-demand episodes of TV shows. Below is a small selection of what you can expect to find in the CBS All Access library:
- The Big Bang Theory
- Big Brother
- Jericho
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
- NCIS
- Star Trek
- Twin Peaks
Contents [hide]
- How to watch CBS abroad (outside the US)
- The best VPNs for CBS All Access
- 1. NordVPN
- 2. CyberGhost
- 3. ExpressVPN
- 4. IPVanish
- 5. PrivateVPN
- 6. Hotspot Shield
- Can I use a free VPN to watch CBS All Access?
- Can I make a CBS All Access account from outside the US?
- VPN for CBS All Access FAQ
- Can I watch CBS All Access outside the US?
- Why is my VPN not working with CBS All Access?
- Does CBS All Access block VPNs?
- Is it legal to use a VPN with CBS All Access?
- What can I watch on CBS All Access?
Sadly, ExpressVPN does not work for CBS Access. It did at first, but for the last week or so it hasn’t worked using Amazon Fire or Roku. I have been going back and forth with Customer service, and this was there last response, “I totally understand your wish to be able to stream CBS on your TV. I was able to double check the streaming service you would like to access with MediaStreamer. However, it seems that CBS is not currently listed under the list of accessible streaming services with MediaStreamer. I apologize for this inconvenience, I will have this query submitted as a feature request on our end to have it prioritized for future unblocking of streaming services with the MediaStreamer DNS service. “. So, for a week they had me running around trying different things only to finally be told it doesn’t work on their Media Streamer service – Gee thanks. It does work fine on a PC. I just wanted to clarify your review is all. Now to start my own review of other VPN services.
Hi Dave, thanks for reaching out. Just to clarify – you’re using Media Streamer, not the VPN itself? I’ve been assured that ExpressVPN should still work with CBS All Access, so you might have more luck with the actual app, rather than Media Streamer. Hope this helps, Ian
We use both the VPN and with our Samsung TV that has Roku and Fire TV we have to use Media Streamer. CBS Access worked up until a week ago. I contacted support and we have been going back and forth doing different things. Last night they told me that it wasn’t supported. So why did we spend all this time on something that wasn’t supported? Support is what I am most disappointed with and had very high expectations from all the reviews and research I did. UPDATE – Being the life long geek that I am – I don’t let issues stop me. I found that there is an app for Fire TV and have installed it and had it working for 1 day so far. My only beef with it is that unlike the Media Streamer, since it engages the VPN, it does not stream smooth. It continually stops to fill the buffer back up. Roku – I installed a virtual router on one of my PC’s and shared the VPN connection – more buffering issues, but it works. Why wasn’t I told about these by support and have to figure it out for myself? I have expressed my disappointment, but not sharing my solutions with them. I will continue looking at alternatives though as, overall, the product isn’t meeting my expectations.
I live in Costa Rica and have wifi. I have no cable services in US for tv. I can pay for CBS All Access with an American account and address. Will I be able to watch Super Bowl LIII if I download a VPN on my tablet here in Costa Rica?
Hi Lynne, you’re correct. As long as you use one of the VPNs capable of unblocking CBS All Access, it doesn’t matter where you’re physically located. Thanks, Ian