Best VPNs for US expats to watch American TV abroad in 2025

Are you struggling to watch your favorite TV shows while abroad as a US expat? Catching up on the latest and greatest shows from back home can be a challenge. Most international locations receive US TV shows one season behind or sometimes not at all, and most US TV streaming channels block access to internet users outside the country. But don’t worry; a VPN is the tool you need so you can watch US TV in Europe and beyond.

Think of a VPN (Virtual Private Network) as your secret weapon, a tool that allows you to appear as if browsing the internet from a different country, allowing you to watch your home contact while traveling abroad. As a bonus, they also encrypt your internet traffic, keeping your data safe and your online activities hidden from snoopers.

We’ve done extensive research and thoroughly tested VPNs to find the best ones for American expats abroad. Our comprehensive guide will reveal the top VPN providers that reliably bypass geographic restrictions and unblock US TV shows.

We’ll discuss each of the best VPNs for watching US TV abroad in more detail, but if you’re in a rush, here are our top picks:

Best VPNs for US ex-pats:

1. NordVPN Our first choice VPN for US expats. Blazing-fast speeds, an excellent security record, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for US expats.
2. Surfshark A great budget VPN for expats that doesn’t skimp on speed or security features. Unlocks most US streaming content.
3. Total VPN A reliable, secure VPN that boasts incredible streaming ability as well as a ton of US servers. Offers 24/7 support and doesn’t keep any logs.
4. ProtonVPN A huge choice of US servers that work to access home services from abroad. Excellent security and commitment to user privacy.
5. ExpressVPN Secure provider that works with US Netflix and most of the major US TV networks. RAM-only servers in 105 countries and always-on obfuscation.
6. IPVanish Allows unlimited device connections and has fast US servers. Very popular with torrenters and Kodi users. Great for streaming.
7. CyberGhost Low-cost performer that unblocks the majority of US streaming sites. Good security features and fast speeds.
8. PureVPN The VPN is secure and reliable despite being low-cost. Great for streaming and has a large server network.
9. PrivateVPN Good for US expats wanting to stream. Strong on security and privacy with effective obfuscation and helpful customer support.

Best VPNs for US ex-pats: Our hands-on review

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for US expats to watch American TV abroad.

Our criteria for finding the best VPNs for watching American TV abroad

To find the best VPNs for American ex-pats to watch US TV abroad, we carried out a series of tests in the following areas:

• Speed: We performed multiple speed tests while connected to each VPN’s US servers.
• Streaming ability: We scored providers on their compatibility with US streaming platforms, as well as their US server availability.
• Value for money: We used eight unique criteria to gauge whether providers offered good value for money.
• Security and privacy: We used 16 different criteria for calculating providers’ security and privacy scores.
• Ease of use: We used 10 individual metrics to evaluate how easy each VPN service was to use.

You can read about our full testing process later in the article. We’ll also take an in-depth look at the data obtained from the tests. First, let’s take a closer look at the providers we’ve recommended.

The best VPNs for US expats

Here is our list of the best VPNs for expats to watch US TV from abroad:

1. NordVPN

Aug 2025

NordVPN is our number one choice VPN for watching US TV abroad. The company has more than 1,970 servers in the United States, and more than 7,200 in its network overall.

Within the US, servers are available in 19 different locations. We used these to test various streaming services, such as the US content libraries of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, as well as US-only services like Hulu. NordVPN worked with each of them without issue.

If you want to access US platforms using a device that doesn’t support VPN software natively, NordVPN can help with its smart DNS service. This is useful for games consoles and older smart TVs.

To find out how fast NordVPN’s US servers were, we carried out three-speed tests over the course of a day. For reference, our download speed when not connected to a VPN server was 502.06 Mbps.

The provider was extremely quick in all three tests, with an average download speed of 403.8 Mbps. By contrast, the average speed of the other providers was 237.8 Mbps — which is not far off half that of NordVPN.

This veteran provider is a good choice if you go to a country with strict government controls on internet access. It works well in China, thanks to its obfuscated servers.

Other specialty server options include one-click access to the Tor network, and Double VPN, which passes your traffic through two servers in different locations and places double encryption on your connection.

NordVPN is one of the few providers that has its own connection protocol — dubbed NordLynx — though OpenVPN is also available. NordVPN recently introduced post-quantum encryption, available when using the NordLynx protocol.

You can download and install a NordVPN app on Windows, Mac OS X, macOS, Android, Linux, and iOS. The system can also be installed manually on set-top boxes and routers. If you just want to have your browser covered by the VPN, try the extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

Apps include built-in leak protection; a kill switch; app-based split tunneling; and automatic wi-fi protection. All NordVPN plans offer an allowance of 10 simultaneous connections to each customer.

As an added extra, you can choose to have your own dedicated IP address. This means that whenever you connect to the service and wherever you connect from, you will be represented by the same substitute IP address on the internet. The company offers dedicated addresses in four locations.

To access US sites, you would need to ask for a dedicated IP address from Buffalo. Getting a dedicated IP address will let you run your own media server, such as a Plex Server. That means you can store movies and documents back home and access them all from a storage-limited mobile device abroad.

BEST VPN FOR US EXPATS:NordVPN is our #1 choice. An exceptionally fast and secure VPN that works well with US streaming content. Solid security and privacy features. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a strong choice for expats thanks to its reliable speeds and strong unblocking ability. This VPN not only works with major platforms like Netflix US from abroad but also allows you to access region-locked services like NBC, Hulu and Paramount Plus from anywhere.

Like NordVPN, the provider offers a smart DNS service VPN-incompatible devices. Unlike NordVPN, Surfshark has no connection limit, meaning it’s perfect for those who visualize needing to connect more than 10 devices simultaneously.

To find out how fast Surfshark’s US servers were, we carried out three speed tests over the course of a day. Note that our base connection speed during testing averaged at 502.06 Mbps.

Like NordVPN, Surfshark was very fast. Its average download speed was 378.47 Mbps, which is far faster than the combined average speeds of the other providers. In practice, you’ll be able to use Surfshark while gaming, streaming or torrenting.

This service prioritizes your security and privacy using 256-bit encryption; and ad, tracker and malware blocker; a kill switch; and protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks to keep you anonymous online.

Notable Surfshark features include the availability of static IP addresses in six countries (one of which is the US), multi-hop connections where users can specify the entry and exit servers, and the option to rotate through IP addresses without having to break the VPN connection. The provider’s NoBorders mode obfuscates traffic so that it can bypass blocks in countries such as China.

Surfshark also has an ID generation tool that can create a fake persona — complete with name, date of birth, and address — in a few clicks. Addresses are available in the US, making it useful if you need to create an account when accessing US TV services.

Subscricptions are competitively priced, with the cheapest costing the equivalent of $2.19 a month. Users can pay for these in cryptocurrency if they want but, as no personally identifiable information is logged, they can’t be traced either way. Should you need any help, you can reach customer support 24/7 over live chat.

Surfshark has apps for Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, and Linux devices. Note that all apps — including the one for Linux — have a full GUI.

BEST BUDGET CHOICE:Surfshark is an affordable VPN that makes streaming a breeze and doesn’t limit you to a set number of devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark

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3. Total VPN

Total VPN is a natural choice for any American expat who wants to catch up on TV from back home. It has more than 1,800 servers in 80+ countries, with two dozen US locations. Not only that, it’s capable of accessing platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, Hulu, and Peacock, with no problems at all. There’s a five connection limit, which is a little lower than average but should be enough for most users, as well as 24/7 customer support (via the ticket system on its website).

If your primary goal is to stream live TV or watch at higher resolutions, you’ll need a VPN that’s quick enough to make it happen. To make sure we only recommend the best of the best, our team tested Total VPN’s American servers at various points throughout a typical day (morning, noon, and afternoon). This way, we can monitor its speeds but also keep an eye on its slowdown during busier periods. Let’s see how this provider did:

With an average speed of 323.9 Mbps, Total VPN was significantly faster than most other services we’ve tested; in fact, only NordVPN and Surfshark were quicker this time around. In practical terms, this means that you shouldn’t experience any stuttering, buffering, or lag when streaming, even if you’re doing other things in the background (torrenting, for instance, or hanging out in a voice call).

Total VPN has a robust security toolkit, ensuring you can stream your favorite American TV shows without compromising on privacy. It uses 256-bit AES encryption (currently considered uncrackable by industry experts), prevents IPv6 and DNS leaks automatically, and includes a kill switch (on every platform except Windows) that will ensure you never browse the web unprotected. Most importantly, this provider follows a strict no-logs policy. Finally, it offers a special Hydra protocol that was designed to help you evade anti-VPN filters on public wifi networks.

Total VPN provides apps for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows devices.

WATCH US TV ABROAD:Total VPN works with a wide range of US streaming apps, boasts strong security features, and has a strict no-logs policy. Better still, it offers a 14-day money-back guarantee on short-term plans and a 30-day guarantee on anything longer than a year.

Want to know more? Check out our complete Total VPN review.

4. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is based in the privacy-friendly country of Switzerland and has an impressive reputation due to being developed by the makers of Proton Mail. Its no-logs policy has been independently audited, and the company is committed to providing subscribers with online privacy.

In recent years, the provider has been rapidly expanding its server network. It now has more than 11,100 servers in 117 countries. This includes the US, where it has 2,600+ servers in 17 cities.

During testing, we were able to access US TV services from abroad without issue. The provider also worked with Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Peacock.

To find out what sort of speeds the provider was capable of, we carried out several tests while connected to its US servers. Note that our base connection speed during testing averaged at 502.06 Mbps.

The provider got faster during the day, reaching a top speed of 264 Mbps. Overall, it averaged at 249.58 Mbps, which makes it the fifth fastest VPN we tested and more than fast enough for streaming, gaming, downloading, and day-to-day use.

ProtonVPN apps — which are available for for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux — are impressively designed. New users will be able to quickly establish a connection, while old hands will find plenty of settings to keep them occupied.

Features include AES encryption, a kill switch, a choice of protocols, obfuscation, and split tunneling. ProtonVPN is one of the few VPNs that allows port forwarding, though this is mostly useful for torrenters or those hosting a gaming server. Leak protection is on by default, and we can confirm that it works as expected.

Tor over VPN servers are available, as are multi-hop connections. These make use of ProtonVPN’s own Secure Core servers, which are housed in company-owned and operated data centers in privacy-friendly countries such as Iceland and Switzerland.

The security provided by ProtonVPN makes it a reliable option to prevent ISP snooping and government surveillance and it will protect you against hackers on public wi-fi. This makes it an excellent option if you live in or travel to a country that blocks websites or VoIP services.

Live chat support is available for subscribers in the members area of the website, and you can try the VPN using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

PRIVACY FIRST:ProtonVPN is a secure and highly advanced VPN. It has a choice of US servers that work to access home services from abroad. It has apps for all platforms with reliable privacy features, including a kill switch, obfuscation, multi-hop, and AES encryption. Allows torrenting. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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5. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN enables users to access Netflix USA, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video when overseas, and it can easily unblock online video from all the major US TV networks.

However, not all of ExpressVPN’s US servers work with every US streaming outlet — be sure to ask the 24/7 live chat support which ones to use with your favorite channels.

You may notice that ExpressVPN is a little pricey. However, you will need the extra-strength encryption and cloaking methods of ExpressVPN if you go to places such as China or Iran, where advanced censorship stops most VPNs from working.

Very few VPNs offer sufficient protection in China, so if that’s where you are headed, you will find that ExpressVPN’s price is worth every cent. The Chinese authorities regularly scan internet traffic and try to block VPN-protected connections, but ExpressVPN consistently stays one step ahead.

If you subscribe to sports channels in the USA, it is important to have a choice of locations through which to connect. When you connect to the service, ExpressVPN lets you choose a city, not just a country. The company has servers in 15 US cities, including a location in Los Angeles that routes through Hong Kong.

To find out how fast ExpressVPN’s US servers were, we carried out multiple speed tests. You can see the results below. Note that our download speed when not connected to a VPN server was 502.06 Mbps.

Speeds were consistent across tests, which is a good measure of reliability. Overall, the provider’s average speed was 193.7 Mbps. This was a little lower than the combined average speeds of the other VPNs, but a respectable result nevertheless.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Kindle Fire devices, and certain wi-fi routers. If you have a device that doesn’t support VPN apps, ExpressVPN subscribers can use the included MediaStreamer smart DNS service to unblock content instead, but without the security provided by a VPN.

EASY STREAMING:ExpressVPN has robust security and the ability to stream major streaming services including US Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and Amazon Prime. Great privacy features and keeps no logs. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

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6. IPVanish

IPVanish is based in the United States and offers decent speeds for connections to the USA from anywhere in the world. It can access US TV channel web services, and it’s great for Kodi. This VPN service can also access Netflix USA, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus and others from overseas.

IPVanish has over 1,000 servers in the USA, spread across 20 cities. You can opt for a city and let IPVanish choose a server for you, or select a particular server within the city. For example, Atlanta has 160 servers to choose from.

If you like playing online games abroad, IPVanish could be your best choice. It has servers located very close to all of the major game servers in the USA, which means less latency. For example, IPVanish has 12 servers in Seattle, very close to Steam’s West Coast base, and 59 servers in Ashburn, just a couple of miles from Steam’s East Coast HQ.

We tested IPVanish’s US servers several times over the course of a day using a virtual machine with an average download speed of 502.06 Mbps. You can see the results below.

The provider exceeded 230 Mbps in all three tests and had an average speed of 242.9 Mbps. This makes it a good choice for everything from gaming to video calls.

IPVanish operates a dynamic IP address system. When you connect to a server, you get allocated a new IP address to represent you for the duration of the session. While connected, you are the only person using that address. When you disconnect, that address goes back into the pool, and someone else will use it. You almost never get allocated the same address twice.

The VPN service gives users the option of using the WireGuard, OpenVPN, or IKEv2 protocols. Opting for OpenVPN allows you to leverage the Scramble function, which will obfuscate traffic that needs to bypass VPN blocks. For general use, however, WireGuard is faster.

Multi-hop connections are available, with users able to specify entry and exit locations. There’s also a kill switch; automatic public wi-fi protection; an ad, tracker and malware blocker; and split tunneling.

Leak protection is enabled by default, and the provider has an independently audited no-logs policy.

IPVanish makes apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. The VPN can run on Amazon Fire devices, but you must manually set those up. The same goes for many home routers.

You get unlimited simultaneous connections with all IPVanish subscriptions. The cheapest plan costs the equivalent of $2.19 a month. However, for an extra $1.10 a month you get 1TB of cloud storage and access to a secure sandboxed browser. This essentially makes the VPN free, because 1 TB of cloud storage usually costs $3.29 (or more).

I love the Unlimited plan because of the cloud-based browser. This lets you browse the web via a live video feed of a session that happens on an IPVanish server. This means that local networks and ISPs have no way to monitor what you do online. The remote browser is also handy for bypassing blocks on a work computer that won’t let you install a VPN due to company policies.

I used the remote browser to get an IP address in the US, but it also works to get an IP address in 10 different countries, and everything you do in the browser will remain confidential, meaning you can watch YouTube or play a game at work without being found out. It also works to bypass censorship in countries with many blocks.

UNLIMITED DEVICES:IPVanish has a large network of servers. Allows unlimited simultaneous connections. Recommended for their high standard of privacy and solid unblocking ability.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

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7. CyberGhost

CyberGhost offers excellent streaming speeds and a slick service. The software can circumvent access blocks on most US TV channels’ websites as well as those from the big-name platforms like Netflix USA and Amazon Prime Video.

We particularly like that CyberGhost has a whole selection of servers that list which particular platforms they work best with. There are 21 servers specifically for US-based services.

In terms of its regular servers, CyberGhost’s network is more than 10,000 strong. It has over 2,000 servers in the USA, which are located in 11 cities.

We carried out speed tests while connected to one of the provider’s US servers. You can see the results below. Note that our base connection speed during testing averaged at 502.06 Mbps.

Although our connection speed without a VPN was a little slower than with the previous providers, CyberGhost still managed to achieve an impressive set of results. Overall, its average speed was 266 Mbps — which was faster than the combined average of the other providers.

The security measures included in the VPN service are excellent, and the company offers free extras to its customers, such as an immunizer against ransomware attacks.

CyberGhost employs strong session establishment encryption by giving its RSA cipher a 4096-bit key. Data exchanges are protected by AES encryption with a 256-bit key.

Users can choose between the WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2 connection protocols. There’s an optional kill switch; ad, tracker and malware blocker; and leak protection.

Other features include public wi-fi protection, split tunneling; and the option to automatically connect when certain apps are launched.

CyberGhost’s account management procedures are designed to provide total anonymity. The company doesn’t collect payment itself, and you are only identified on the CyberGhost computers by an account number. All the company knows about you is your account’s expiration date.

When you want to subscribe for another period, you load up your account with more credit at the payment processing company. If you want even more privacy, you can opt to pay with Bitcoin, which means you can’t be traced through your bank account.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac OS X, macOS, iOS, and Android. You can set up the VPN manually on Linux and some routers and set-top boxes. You are allowed to connect to the service seven times concurrently. This is a stylish piece of software, and the company is so confident that you will enjoy using it that they offer a 45-day money-back guarantee.

VALUE & PERFORMANCE:CyberGhost has a simple but effective set-up. Great privacy, fast speeds, zero logs and DNS leak protection. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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8. PureVPN

PureVPN is a formidable option if you want a low-cost VPN that works to watch US TV platforms from abroad. The VPN starts at just $1.96 per month and, for that price, you get WireGuard connections and US servers that work to access Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, Peacock, and nearly every other service we tested it with.

To make life easier, PureVPN maintains a list of servers optimized for particular streaming platforms. Connecting to one of these servers automatically launches the website of the associated platform.

PureVPN has servers in over 71 countries overall, which means you can also use it to access popular international services. This makes it a fantastic all-rounder for watching Canadian TV, British TV, or anything else that takes your fancy from around the globe.

It also allows torrenting, and you can get port forwarding if you need it, albeit at a small extra cost each month. Reassuringly, the provider has a no-logging policy that has been independently verified four times

To find out how fast the service was, we tested its speeds while connected to a US server. You can see the results of our tests below.

PureVPN’s average download speed was 167.2 Mbps, which is a decent enough result — albeit a little slower than the combined average speed of the other providers that we tested. If you have a decent base connection speed (ours was 502.06 Mbps), then you’ll be able to enjoy US TV interruption-free.

PureVPN apps are available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Firestick, and they offer everything you need to gain online privacy at home, work, or elsewhere. The provider also has a Linux app with a GUI or with a command-line interface.

The PureVPN dashboard is relatively easy to navigate, though it’s not particularly compact compared to some.

Features include a kill switch, tracker blocker (note that there’s no ad or malware blocker), and a choice of the OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 protocols. Split tunneling is on a per-app basis and there’s optional dark web monitoring.

Unusually, PureVPN has always-on obfuscation. This enables users to connect in restrictive countries like China without having to take any additional steps to disguise their traffic. Leak protection is built-in, which seems a more sensible approach than making it optional.

The only slight drawback is that the live chat support is slow to respond. However, this is a pretty small drawback considering this VPN’s cost and its effectiveness for getting an IP address on either the West or East Coast of America. You can try the VPN yourself using its risk-free 31-day money-back guarantee.

LOW COST:PureVPN lets you watch Netflix, ABC, ESPN, Hulu, HBO Max, and many other platforms abroad. Starts at just $1.96 per month. The VPN is secure and reliable despite being low-cost. Apps provide a no-logs policy, AES encryption, a killswitch, and DNS leak protection. 24/7 live chat support. 31-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

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9. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is a good option for streaming video from US sites to overseas locations. The company offers an effective stealth mode and can circumvent regional restrictions on most US TV websites. It can also access Netflix USA and the Netflix libraries for the UK, Canada, Japan, Spain, Brazil, Italy, and France.

The provider has a relatively modest 200 servers in 63 countries overall. This includes the US, where it has servers in 12 US cities.

To find out how fast these servers were, we carried out several speed tests while connected.

PrivateVPN averaged 80.9 Mbps overall. While this is still fast enough for watching US TV without interruption, you might like to opt for one of the faster providers in this list if you have a slow connection speed (for reference, ours was 502.06 Mbps).

Apps are easy to use, and we like that there are two options for viewing the dashboard: simple and advanced. The simple view makes it obvious to new users how to get connected.

For those with more VPN experience, the Advanced View provides connection details that users can manipulate. As well as switching between protocols, users can change the level of encryption used on their data. Dropping it will increase connection speeds.

The app’s kill switch is enabled by default, as is leak protection. An optional Application Guard allows users to specify particular apps that should be closed down if the VPN is disconnected.

Although PrivateVPN is based in Sweden, all of its support staff speaks excellent English, so you won’t need to worry about language skills when you need to contact them for help. PrivateVPN’s Help Desk is one of its strong points, and it is available online during Swedish business hours. If you aren’t tech-savvy, the support technician can take control of your computer and fix the problem for you.

A second strong point of PrivateVPN is its commitment to privacy. The company was founded by torrenting enthusiasts, and they are still campaigning against European laws that try to trace users or block downloading activities. The service keeps no logs at all, and all payments are processed by a third party. You are only identified on the PrivateVPN system by an account number.

PrivateVPN allows each customer 10 simultaneous connections, which is more than enough for most people. Apps are available for Windows, Mac OS X, macOS, Android, and iOS. You can also install the VPN on Amazon Fire devices, Linux, and manually on some set-top boxes and routers.

PRIVATE CONNECTIONS:PrivateVPN is a good family choice. Works with US Netflix and allows up to 10 devices on the same account. Small network of servers but strong unblocking ability. 30-day money back guarantee.

Read our full review of PrivateVPN.

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How to watch American TV abroad

Using a VPN to access your favorite shows is simple. Below is our guide for US expats wanting to watch American TV abroad online.

Here’s how to watch US TV abroad:

1. Sign up to your chosen VPN provider. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Download the relevant app for your device from the VPN provider’s website or an official app store.
3. Install the app and log in using your new credentials.
4. Connect to a server in the US, this will give you an American IP address. The exact server location doesn’t matter unless you want to unblock streaming websites restricted to a specific US region.
5. Navigate to the stream you’d like to watch and enjoy!

If you run into any issues, try clearing your cookies and cache, connecting to a different server, or contacting your VPN’s customer support team for extra assistance.

Using a free VPN to stream US content abroad

When streaming online content, having a reliable VPN service can make a huge difference in your overall experience. While free VPNs may seem convenient and cost-effective, they often come with limitations that can hinder your streaming experience. For example, free VPNs may have data limits that restrict how much content you can stream, fewer server locations that limit your access to certain regions, and slower speeds that result in buffering and lagging.

Also, free VPNs may not be able to consistently unblock popular streaming platforms like US content, which can be frustrating if you’re trying to access specific shows or movies. To avoid interruptions during streaming and gain access to a broad range of US content, opting for a well-known paid VPN service that provides fast speeds, an extensive server network, and dedicated streaming features is advisable.

These types of VPNs are designed to enhance your streaming experience by providing reliable connections, unrestricted access to content, and advanced security features to keep your data safe. So, if you want to get the most out of your streaming experience, it’s worth investing in a high-quality VPN service.

How to watch US TV abroad FAQ