How to beat the UK porn ban with a VPN

As of July 2025, the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) requires porn sites to implement strict age verification methods. With this legislation in place, millions of consenting adults will be forced to share personal details with adult sites. With data breaches all too common these days, it’s not unreasonable for users to be wary of sharing their personal, sensitive details online. Luckily, you can bypass both blocks and any ID requirements by using a VPN.

When you connect to a VPN, your data is encrypted and routed through one of the VPN provider’s servers in a location of your choosing. Connecting to a server in another country will provide you with a different IP address. This makes it appear as if you’re browsing outside the UK, bypassing the UK porn block and ID requirements entirely. Furthermore, a VPN protects your online privacy by preventing your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the UK government from snooping on your internet activity.

In this article, we’ll talk you through the best VPN to use to beat the UK porn ban, how to use them, and also answer some common VPN questions, but if you’re short on time? Don’t worry! Here’s a quick summary.

The best VPNs to bypass UK porn restrictions:

1. NordVPN: Our top VPN pick to beat UK porn restrictions. Unblock porn sites and stream securely. Over 7,000 superfast servers worldwide. Features live chat support and specialty servers, including Double VPN. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for porn ban.
2. Surfshark: Top budget choice for bypassing UK porn ID restrictions. Excellent unblocking abilities and provides apps for all the most popular platforms. Keeps no logs and packs plenty of security features.
3. Total VPN: A speedy, newcomer-friendly option that bypasses most regional restrictions with ease. Doesn’t keep logs and offers a high level of privacy.
4. ProtonVPN: This VPN has a proven no-logs policy, very high speeds, and a great set of security tools. Ideal for streaming or browsing adult sites safely.
5. ExpressVPN: Fast and reliable servers in 105+ countries. Bypass the UK porn block and access most geo-restricted content. Excellent apps, 24/7 customer support, and strong security with encryption.
6. IPVanish: Reliable VPN for browsing and streaming. Use on all of your devices simultaneously. Quick and easy to use and protects your privacy with a no-logs policy.
7. CyberGhost: Beat the UK porn ban with CyberGhost. Over 10,000 servers in 100+ countries. Offers fast streaming with unlimited bandwidth. Connect up to 7 devices. User-friendly and secure with a strict no-logs policy.
8. Private Internet Access: Military-grade encryption, servers in over 80 locations, includes a kill switch, and allows you to connect unlimited devices simultaneously.
9. PrivateVPN: Fast servers in dozens of countries for streaming adult content. Apps are easy to use for beginners. Strong security, including encryption and a kill switch.

How to beat the UK porn ban with a VPN

Beating UK porn blocks or ID requirements is surprisingly quick and easy. Just follow the step-by-step guide below, and you’ll have access to your favorite sites in no time.

Here’s how to beat UK porn restrictions with a VPN: 

1. Choose a VPN service with servers outside the UK – we particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Select and download the appropriate software for your operating system. The best VPNs offer apps for desktops and mobile, some also offer browser extensions, so be sure to pick the correct format for your device.
3. Clear the cookies and cache in your browser. This ensures that the site you’re trying to access forgets your UK IP address.
4. Open the VPN app or browser extension and connect to a server outside the UK, i.e. connecting to a server in the US will give you a US IP address and bypass the UK porn ban restrictions.
5. You will now be able to access adult content without restriction!

How we found the best VPNs to beat the UK porn ban

While many VPNs will be able to beat the UK porn ban, not all are fast and secure. In order to find the best VPNs for avoiding porn restrictions we tested providers in all the following areas:

• Speed: If you want to stream porn in the highest resolution possible, then you’re going to need a fast VPN. We carried out multiple speed tests while connected to each provider’s servers in France.
• Streaming capabilities: The best VPNs for streaming porn have large server networks and are reliably able to overcome blocks. They also offer handy features such as an ad-blocker and traffic obfuscation.
• Security and privacy: To keep users’ online activities safe while streaming porn, VPNs need a suite of privacy and security features. We evaluate providers against 16 different criteria to make sure we don’t miss anything.
• Ease of use: If you want to access porn quickly and effortlessly, you’ll want a VPN that’s easy to use. To measure this aspect of each service, we use 10 different metrics, including the onboarding and cancellation process, customer support, and usability.
• Value for money: If you don’t currently pay for porn, you’re unlikely to want to pay over the odds for a VPN service in order to watch it. We use eight criteria to work out which providers offer the best overall value.

The above is just a summary. You can see the full details — and the results — of our tests later in the article. In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at the ones that made our list.

Best VPNs to beat UK porn restrictions compared

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 beating the UK porn ban.

Best VPNs to beat UK porn blocks

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for beating the UK porn ban:

1. NordVPN

Aug 2025

NordVPN is our top pick for unblocking porn sites in the UK as well as other restricted content and popular streaming services. It has some of the fastest speeds in our testing and is one of the largest server networks of any VPN (over 7,000 servers in total).

NordVPN offers excellent 24/7 live chat support and securely accesses Netflix and BBC iPlayer. You can use NordVPN on up to 10 devices simultaneously.

The provider performed exceptionally well in our speed tests, which we carried out while connected to its servers in France. Over the course of a day, it averaged a download speed of 191.25 Mbps, more than 67 Mbps faster than the combined average of the other providers that we tested.

Needless to say, NordVPN is easily capable of streaming porn in 4K (provided that your base connection speed is up to it).

Having tried out NordVPN’s various apps and browser extensions, we can say they’re easy for anyone to use. In particular, connecting to a server takes a matter of seconds.

NordVPN offers impressive security features. In addition to 256-bit AES encryption and DNS leak protection, it offers specialty servers, including Double VPN and Onion Over VPN.

Headquartered in Panama, NordVPN provides peace of mind with a strict no-logs policy.

You can download NordVPN apps for Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux, and Android TV. Browser extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox. Manual setup is required for Linux.

BEST VPN TO BEAT THE UK PORN BAN:NordVPN is our top choice. It has over 6,000 servers and allows you to access most adult content. Use on up to 10 devices. 24/7 live chat support and lots of security features, including specialty servers. A 30-day money-back guarantee makes it risk-free.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a low-cost provider that has been busy building a solid reputation in the VPN industry. This service is adept at unblocking almost any content you want from anywhere in the world. For example, it easily bypasses restrictions imposed by ITV Hub, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.

Surfshark has been expanding its server network (it now operates more than 3,200 in an impressive 100+ countries) and continuously strives to provide faster, more reliable connections.

The provider is notably quick and outperformed all of the other VPNs on this list when tested using its servers in France.

Surfshark’s average of 197.19 Mbps means it’s suitable for streaming porn in the highest resolution available. It’s also well-suited to gaming and torrenting applications.

This provider prioritizes privacy and keeps no logs. It offers a full suite of security features, including 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, leak protection, and a kill switch.

Extras include split tunneling, obfuscated servers, and multi-hop VPN. Plus, Surfshark sets no limit on the number of devices you can connect to under one account.

Apps are available for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android.

TOP BUDGET CHOICE:Surfshark is excellent at unblocking restricted sites and has no limit on the number of devices you can connect. Large server network in around 100 countries. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

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3. Total VPN

Total VPN is an extremely versatile service that places major emphasis on ease of use. Simply select one of its servers outside of the UK (there are 1,800 to choose from, in 80+ countries) and you’ll be able to use whatever region-locked platform you feel like, from Prime Video to Netflix. Customer support is available via a ticket system on Total VPN’s website, and users can secure five devices simultaneously.

A sluggish VPN connection causes more problems than it solves, so it’s vital we only recommend providers that are quick enough. Our team put Total VPN’s French servers to the test, checking their speeds in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon to see just how fast they were. Note that these were performed on a 250 Mbps connection. You’ll find our results in the table below:

Total VPN’s average speed was an impressive 186.43 Mps, putting it firmly amongst the fastest providers on the market. This result is well above what you’ll need for any day-to-day task, so you’re in good hands whether you want to stream, torrent, or play fast-paced online games. There was 14 Mbps of variance over the course of the day, which we’d like to see reduced but this is far from a major issue.

There’s no point in using a VPN that can’t keep your browsing habits private. Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about this with Total VPN. Its unbreakable encryption and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks prevent all kinds of snooping, plus there’s a kill switch on most platforms. This service refuses to log details of your activities and even supports the Hydra protocol, which was specifically designed to hide the fact that you’re connected to a VPN. Finally, users can choose to let certain websites pass through the VPN (or only allow them to be visited if the VPN is active).

Total VPN has its own apps for iOS, Android, MacOS, and Windows.

ANONYMITY FIRST:Total VPN is perfect for anyone who’s never used a VPN before. It’s privacy-focused, fast, and able to unblock virtually any geo-blocked service (including adult sites). Annual plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, while shorter plans offer a 14-day guarantee instead.

Check out our Total VPN review for more info.

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4. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is a well-respected service with a lot to offer. For starters, it has the largest network around (13,000+ servers in more than 120 countries). Additionally, it’s one of the best at bypassing regional restrictions, so you can use adult sites, stream Netflix, or play geo-blocked games without any issues. Each plan lets you connect 10 devices at the same time and provides access to 24/7 live chat, just in case anything doesn’t work as expected.

This all sounds very promising but is ProtonVPN actually fast enough for streaming adult content? To find out, we ran three speed tests at different times of day using this VPN’s French servers. The table below shows how quick each was and allowed us to account for slowdown during busier periods like evenings or weekends. Take a look:

ProtonVPN had an average speed of 169.41 Mbps. For context, this means it’s one of the fastest providers we’ve tested and much faster than is needed for 4K streaming. It was highly reliable too, speeds only varying by around 6 Mbps. No matter what data-intensive task you have in mind, rest assured that ProtonVPN is quick enough to handle it.

This provider prides itself on it security offering. To begin with, it uses unbreakable 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch that stops sending data the moment your connection drops. There’s also split tunneling and port forwarding functionality included as standard, alongside automatic ad and tracker-blocking, a stealth protocol, and an independently-verified zero-logs policy. In other words, ProtonVPN is a phenomenal choice for anyone who needs privacy.

ProtonVPN has its own apps for Linux, Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. What;s more, it can be manually installed on a wide range of router firmware.

SIDESTEP CENSORSHIP:ProtonVPN can help you securely access virtually anything and won’t be stopped by regional limitations on adult sites. Offers strong security, great performance, and a 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans.

Take a look at our full ProtonVPN review.

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5. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers in 105+ countries, making it ideal for beating governmental snooping. Known for its consistently reliable servers, the provider keeps users safe online.

Speed-wise, the provider averaged 113.2 Mbps in our three tests, which is more than fast enough to buffer-free streaming — even when viewing porn videos in 4K.

Aside from porn sites, ExpressVPN is excellent for streaming and works with services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. It offers unlimited bandwidth with no throttling, which is evident in its strong performance.

One of the main reasons ExpressVPN makes our list is that its apps and browser extensions are very accessible and easy to navigate—even for people with no previous VPN experience.

We’re also impressed with the fast and efficient live chat support offered, available 24/7. ExpressVPN is as secure as it is fast, with 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. This VPN service is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands and states it doesn’t keep any identifying logs of its users.

ExpressVPN apps are available for the following: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux, and routers. Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also offered.

FAST AND RELIABLE VPN:ExpressVPN unblocks most restricted content including porn sites in the UK. It’s fast and offers a variety of apps as well as 24/7 support. Strong security with encryption and a kill switch. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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6. IPVanish

IPVanish is a high-quality VPN with a network of servers in key UK locations. At the time of writing, it has around 2,000 servers in 140+ worldwide locations. Aside from adult content, this VPN lets you securely access geo-restricted content, including Netflix, Sky Go, and several other UK TV platforms.

One of the standout features of this US-based service is that it allows any number of simultaneous connections. When connected to the provider’s servers in France, we measured an average speed of 150.87 Mbps.

IPVanish’s fast speeds mean you’ll have no buffering issues while streaming porn or anything else — particularly if you already have fast internet.

You can use IPVanish on desktop and mobile thanks to the user-friendly apps on offer. There are various ways to search for servers, including via a map and filtering by region and latency.

IPVanish secures your data with 256-bit AES encryption. Other security features include DNS leak protection and a kill switch. The VPN service also offers a no-logs policy, ensuring your personal information and online activity remain private.

IPVanish apps are available for desktop (Windows, Mac) and mobile (Android, iOS) as well as Amazon Fire TV. Manual configuration is required for both Linux and routers.

NO DEVICE LIMIT:IPVanish is a good value VPN that allows you to beat the UK porn ban. Connect all of your devices simultaneously. Safe to use with encryption and a no-logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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7. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a fast and secure VPN service that has more than 10,000 servers in 100+ countries allowing you to bypass the porn restriction in the UK with no problems.

Offering unlimited bandwidth and traffic, CyberGhost allows for stress-free streaming in high definition. What’s more, you can secure up to 7 devices simultaneously via a single CyberGhost account.

In our tests, the provider averaged 132.43 Mbps while we were connected to its French servers.

While this isn’t as speedy as some providers in this list, it’s very quick compared with the VPN market as a whole. Most importantly, it’s fast enough for HD, and even 4K, streaming.

CyberGhost is perfect for new VPN users. It features user-friendly apps and browser extensions that are quick and easy to use.

Selecting a server is simple, and you also have the option of activating various features, including an ad blocker. On the off-chance that you encounter an issue with CyberGhost, you can contact customer support via live chat 24/7.

Aside from being able to beat the UK porn block, CyberGhost can also keep you safe online. It secures your data with 256-bit AES encryption and protects you from DNS and IP leaks.

There’s also a kill switch, ensuring your internet traffic is cut should the VPN connection drop. Finally, this Romania-based VPN service has a strict no-logs policy, so you’re protected from ISP and government monitoring.

CyberGhost offers apps for Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire Stick, and Android TV. Browser extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox. Linux and routers require manual setup.

VAST NETWORK OF SERVERS:CyberGhost is another solid choice. It’s highly secure, privacy-focused, and fast enough for high quality streaming, plus it allows up to seven simultaneous connections. Plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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8. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is an excellent VPN for getting around the UK porn ban. It offers almost 12,000 servers in over 91 countries across the globe. These are capable of evading geo-restrictions that prevent access to porn sites in the United Kingdom and streaming platforms more generally.

PIA has apps for desktop and mobile, and you can use it on unlimited devices at the same time, allowing you to share the account with others.

PIA keeps your privacy watertight with 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. To ensure you enjoy the best online experience, it also offers an ad blocker and malware blocker.

WireGuard support helps you experience solid speeds while streaming, and customizable encryption settings can improve speeds even further.

In our tests, PIA was fast enough for streaming porn in high resolution, though it’s nice to know that there are options for a speed bump if needed.

When you need support, PIA is contactable 24/7, and if you’re on the fence about PIA, you can try it risk-free for 30 days.

SOLID SECURITY OFFERING:Private Internet Access protects your privacy with 256-bit encryption, lets you tweak your encryption for faster streaming, and has apps for all major platforms. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

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9. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is another VPN service that is great for private browsing. What makes this a particularly attractive option is that it has very fast servers and owns all of them outright.

Speeds are decent — and certainly good enough for streaming porn without interruption on Porn Hub, XVideos, and others. In our tests, PrivateVPN achieved a respectable average download speed of 93.84 Mbps.

While the provider only has a network of around 200 servers, these are spread across 63+ countries, allowing you to securely access geo-restricted services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer from anywhere. What’s more, PrivateVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections.

You can connect to PrivateVPN via one of the service’s easy-to-use apps. The app interface couldn’t be simpler to navigate, although there is an advanced menu should customization be desired.

PrivateVPN is a very secure service, keeping your activities private with 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy. For greater security, you can choose to sign up anonymously with a throwaway email address and cryptocurrency payments.

PrivateVPN apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. Manual setup is required in the case of Linux and routers.

UNINTERRUPTED STREAMING:PrivateVPN has fast servers for buffer-free streaming. Unblock porn in the UK or anywhere else. Beginner-friendly with the option of anonymous signup and payment. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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What is the UK porn ban?

The UK’s porn ban refers to new rules under the Online Safety Act (OSA) that require strict age checks on any site that shows porn. These aren’t just casual warnings—they’re meant to block kids from even seeing explicit content unless they prove they’re adults.

Any platform that either hosts or links to porn now has legal duties. Sites that publish their own content (defined as “Part 5 services”) and platforms that host user uploads or searches (“Part 3 services”)—including generative AI services—must prevent minors from stumbling into adult content.

Part 5 sites had to start implementing these rules from 17 Jan 2025. Meanwhile, risky user-based platforms had to implement these changes by 25 July 2025. The focus? “Highly effective” age checks that go beyond a simple “Are you 18?”

Many porn sites likely already had age-verification tools that have been gathering dust since the first proposed UK porn ban was introduced under the Digital Economy Act 2017, and then abandoned in 2019.

How does the UK porn ban work?

The OSA’s new rules allow porn sites a choice of so-called “highly effective” age verification methods, such as:

• Photo ID matching: Users upload a government ID that’s checked for authenticity and age.
• Facial age estimation: AI analyzes a selfie to estimate if someone’s over 18.
• Mobile network checks: Confirms age using data from phone carriers.
• Open banking: Verifies age through a user’s bank account (which requires them to be an adult).
• Credit card checks: Ensures the user holds an adult-only payment method. Debit cards do not qualify.
• Digital ID services: Uses verified third-party ID systems to confirm age.

The law expects these checks to happen before users see anything explicit, meaning no NSFW previews before age checks. Services must also make sure they don’t provide information or links to VPNs or other methods to bypass these protections.

Platforms also have to consider accessibility, user privacy, and work with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to enforce any data protection requirements. Any service that fails to comply with these requirements would risk fines of up to 10% of their global revenue, or an outright ban by all UK ISPs.

Bypassing the UK’s porn ban with a VPN: FAQs