Best VPNs to watch Indian TV shows abroad: Stream from anywhere

Are you an Indian expat feeling disconnected from home, unable to view the dramas on Hotstar, or catch the cricket on Sony Liv? Perhaps you’re on holiday, yearning for a slice of home with Eros Now or Jio Cinema, but facing the ‘access denied’ roadblock? These platforms are geo-restricted to India, but there’s a workaround: a VPN designed for watching Indian TV can be your ticket back to your entertainment.

VPNs aren’t just about unblocking content — they cloak your online activities with encryption, making it impossible for ISPs, intrusive eyes, or digital eavesdroppers to trace your steps online.

The catch? A recent mandate requires VPNs in India to maintain logs, prompting many to pull their servers out of the country. But don’t worry. Our exhaustive research and rigorous testing have uncovered those VPNs that still offer virtual server routes to India, allowing you to indulge in anonymous streaming of your Indian shows.

In a hurry? Here are the best VPNs to watch Indian television shows online from outside India:

1. NordVPN: Best VPN to watch Indian TV shows abroad. Has a virtual server for Mumbai and market-leading speeds. Excellent at unblocking streaming services. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Best value VPN for Indian TV. Works great with Indian and international streaming services. Virtual servers for Mumbai and Delhi. Allows unlimited device connections.
3. IPVanish: Robust location-evading technology means your internet activity will stay private. Works with Indian television and most major streaming platforms. No device connection limit.
4. ExpressVPN: Servers in 105 countries. Has a virtual server for Chennai. Robust security and user-friendly apps. Decent speeds and great for streaming.
5. CyberGhost: Great connection speed and well-designed apps make this VPN suitable for internet streaming and unblocking. Suitable for those with no VPN experience.
6. ProtonVPN: A fast and reliable service that works with Hotstar and many other popular platforms. Lots of advanced security tools, 24/7 support, and a generous connection limit.

Criteria for selecting the top Indian TV VPNs

There are lots of VPN options out there, but relatively few of them can provide the Indian IP address needed for accessing Indian TV. Fewer still are fast enough for streaming. To find the best VPNs to watch Indian television shows and channels, we tested each provider in the following areas.

• Network suitability: We started by checking which VPNs could provide Indian IP addresses via virtual servers. We then checked whether these IP addresses could be used with Indian and international streaming services.
• Speed: If you want to stream in high resolution — but don’t want to wait for chunks of video to load — it’s a good idea to choose a fast VPN. To make this decision easier, we speed-tested each provider while connected to their virtual servers in India.
• Security and privacy: We’ve only recommended VPNs that are able to protect your connection while streaming Indian TV. We sorted the wheat from the chaff using 16 different security and privacy criteria.
• Ease of use: To get you access to your favorite Indian TV shows with the minimum of fuss, we looked for VPNs that were easy to use. This involved testing them against 10 different ease-of-use criteria.
• Value for money: During testing, we look beyond the base subscription price and take into account any deals, discounts and guarantees. In all, we used eight metrics for calculating each provider’s relative value for money.

The above is just a summary — you can read about our full testing process in the methodology section later in the article. For now, let’s take a look at the VPNs that were most impressive.

Best VPNs for Indian TV shows: At a glance

We’ve tested and compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Indian TV Shows.

Best VPNs to watch Indian television shows online

Don’t miss out on your favorite Indian TV shows and channels while traveling abroad. Here’s our list of the best VPNs you can use to watch Indian TV shows from anywhere:

1. NordVPN

Jun 2025

NordVPN operates more than 7,400 servers in 118 countries. For India, it runs a virtual server providing IP addresses in Mumbai. When tested, this worked well with Eros Now, Sony Liv, and Hotstar. NordVPN also excels at accessing international platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.

In terms of performance, NordVPN was faster than any other provider in this list. It averaged 196 Mbps across the three tests and never went below 195 Mbps. This makes it suitable for just about any online task you can think of. 

You can connect 10 devices at a time, and with performance like this, you shouldn’t have any problems even if you’re streaming 4K video on all of them simultaneously.

One of the best things about NordVPN is its specialty servers. These provide options for multi-hop connections, one-click access to the Tor network, and obfuscation. The provider is also notable for its two custom connection protocols — NordLynx and NordWhisper. NordLynx is best for streaming, while NordWhisper is designed for users connecting from restrictive countries.

The provider secures your traffic using unbreakable encryption, IPv6 and DNS leak-prevention, and a kill switch which makes sure that unexpected outages won’t leave you browsing the web unprotected. It also follows a strict zero-logs policy, a fact backed up by multiple external audits.

NordVPN has its own Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, and iOS apps. Users are permitted up to 10 simultaneous device connections. Additionally, the service can be manually configured to work with just about any router. Need help? Support staff are on hand 24 hours per day via live chat.

BEST VPN FOR INDIAN TV:NordVPN is our number one choice VPN for accessing Indian TV channels from anywhere. It’s a reliable veteran provider with fantastic speeds, top-notch security, and unparalleled accessing abilities. Works with a wide range of region-locked streaming services and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is an extremely versatile VPN that offers access to around 3,200 servers in 100+ countries around the world. It has two virtual server locations for India — one in New Delhi and one in Mumbai.

During testing, these worked well for accessing Voot, Sony Liv, and Hotstar. We also had good results with a range of other platforms, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

The provider achieved consistently high speeds in our tests, with an overall average of 184.59 Mbps. This makes it a great option for all online tasks.

Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous device connections, which opens up the possibility of sharing an account with friends and family. Other features include multi-hop servers, an effective stealth mode, static IP addresses, and an ID-generation tool.

What’s more, Surfshark takes your security seriously. Users are protected from DNS and IPv6 leaks, and their connections are secured with uncrackable encryption, tracker-blocking, and a kill switch. This VPN doesn’t keep any logs either, so there’s no need to worry about privacy. If you need help, reach out using the free, 24/7 live chat service.

Surfshark has its own Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, and Android apps. It can also be manually installed on supported routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN FOR INDIAN TV:Surfshark offers excellent value for money with unlimited device connections, excellent speeds, and two virtual server locations for India. It performs reliably well with most streaming platforms. Try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish has around 2,400 servers globally, with 10 virtual servers in India for anyone who’s interested in getting an Indian IP address or watching their favorite shows from abroad. Notably, all of these servers are owned outright, so there’s next to no chance of outside interference.

While connected, we had no problem accessing Hotstar and Sony Liv. The provider also worked well with Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix.

This VPN lets you connect as many devices as you like, meaning it’s ideal for sharing with family. Moreover, it’s fast enough to let multiple users stream at the same time. In our tests, its average speed was 167.22 Mbps. This would permit up to six devices to simultaneously stream 4K video.

This service uses 256-bit encryption along with perfect forward secrecy and DNS leak protection. It doesn’t log any user data and supports the WireGuard protocol — though users can also choose to scramble OpenVPN traffic if they’d prefer. The recently created Advanced subscription comes bundled with a huge 1 TB of cloud storage and access to a secure browser for extra peace of mind.

You can make use of dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Customer support is available around the clock via live chat.

GOOD FOR STREAMING:IPVanish is a popular choice for those who want to keep their internet connection private. Fast speeds and strong unblocking capabilities give it further value. Try it with a 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries overall. For India, it has virtual servers in the UK and Singapore, which provide IP addresses in Chennai and New Delhi, respectively. These worked well with Hotstar as well as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Speeds while connected to ExpressVPN’s virtual servers for India ranged from 121.91 Mbps to 125.92 Mbps — which is a difference of just 4.01 Mbps. This means you’ll be able to consistently stream Indian TV in high resolution throughout the day.

While connected, ExpressVPN keeps you safe with 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection. It obfuscates connections automatically, which means you’ll be able to bypass blocks in restrictive countries such as China.

Other features include an unwanted content blocker and a choice of connection protocols — one of which is ExpressVPN’s home-grown Lightway protocol. This claims to offer protection against future quantum computer attacks.

You can use ExpressVPN on Android, Windows, iOS, macOS, and Linux. A single account allows for up to eight devices to connect at the same time. Customer support is available 24/7 via live chat.

EASY TO USE:ExpressVPN is designed to be as simple as possible. That said, it’s highly secure and has exceptional streaming ability. Comes with smart DNS and its own router firmware. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is very easy for beginner users to get acquainted with. It offers a simple user interface and allows you to select servers optimized for a specific purpose.

As promised, these servers worked with the specified platforms. You can use CyberGhost’s regular servers to access platforms that aren’t specific in the streaming section.

CyberGhost’s speeds varied between 122.21 Mbps and 137.5 Mbps in our tests, which is a little more variable than we’d like. Nevertheless, it achieved a solid 131.88 Mbps on average, which is more than enough for bandwidth-hungry tasks. 

This VPN is packed with security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, an internet kill switch, anti-malware defense, and an ad-blocker. It doesn’t store logs of any nature.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. A single account allows for seven devices to connect concurrently, and customer support is available 24/7.

BEGINNER FRIENDLY VPN:CyberGhost offers optimized servers fast speeds, a well-designed user interface, and virtual servers in India that won’t compromise your privacy. Try it with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our in-depth CyberGhost review.

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6. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN has an expansive network, with more than 12,000 servers in 117 countries. For India, it runs 29 virtual servers that provide IP addresses in Mumbai. Users can choose between individual servers to optimize their connection.

While connected, we could access a wide range of streaming platforms, including Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and Netflix.

The service includes an automatic ad-blocker, meaning you’ll spend more time watching and less time waiting for shows to start. Support staff are available 24 hours per day over live chat, and in our experience, they usually reply in seconds.

Tested download speeds were great, with an overall average of 141.77 Mbps. This is fast enough to enjoy streaming, gaming, and video calling without interruption.  

When it comes to security, ProtonVPN is one of the best. It includes a wide array of features such as split tunneling and port forwarding functionality, a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and of course, uncrackable encryption. There are even specially-optimized Secure Core servers that route your traffic through multiple countries for the highest level anonymity possible.

Most importantly, ProtonVPN follows a proven no-logs policy and allows you to sign up anonymously by paying with Bitcoin or cash.

ProtonVPN has apps for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android. If you’d prefer to secure an entire network, you can manually install it on most types of router.

FAST INDIAN SERVERS:ProtonVPN has more features than many of its rivals and provides an exceptionally high degree of security. Works with most region-locked streaming services and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on paid subscriptions.

Check out our complete ProtonVPN review.

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VPN for Indian TV testing methodology

We selected the best VPNs for watching Indian TV shows abroad by testing them in the following key areas:

Network suitability

We started with the obvious question — could the VPN provide Indian IP addresses? If so, we went on to test it with Indian and international streaming services. The tallies for each provider were then converted to overall scores out of 10 for comparison.

NordVPN was able to access the most streaming services, which is a result that matches our own experience of using the provider. Surfshark, IPVanish and ExpressVPN all scored an impressive 9.7 and are excellent alternatives if you want lots of streaming options.

Speed

Slow servers cannot provide HD video without buffering and diminishing quality. Unfortunately, most VPNs do not invest in fast servers capable of streaming Indian TV shows abroad. To find the fastest providers, we carried out multiple speed tests while connected to their virtual servers for India.

Before testing, we rate-limited our base connection speed to 250 Mbps to better match the average US home broadband speed. Test measurements were taken using the desktop version of the Ookla speed-testing app.

Once the results were in, we averaged the speeds for each provider. These averages were normalized and converted to scores out of 10. This makes a direct comparison easier.

The fastest provider was NordVPN, with Surfshark in second and IPVanish in third. While all VPNs will slow your connection a little, these three providers will slow it the least — which is particularly important if you have sluggish internet to begin with.

Security and privacy

A VPN is primarily designed to give you online security and privacy. With this in mind, we’ve only recommended VPNs that provide advanced features like AES encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and obfuscation. The table below shows which features are offered by which VPN.

Each of the above metrics was given a score based on its relative importance. These scores were combined to generate an overall score out of 10 for each provider.

NordVPN and Surfshark scored highest overall. Both providers use strong encryption and RAM-only servers. They also have highly effective obfuscation and audited no-logs policies. ProtonVPN and ExpressVPN are excellent alternatives if you’re keen to keep your online activities secure and private.

Ease of use

Despite providing a wealth of online protection and security features, some VPNs are still remarkably easy to use. We looked for those with apps designed to be straightforward as well as providing solid customer support. You can see the other metrics we test against in the table below.  

As before, each metric was scored, and these scores were summed to generate the chart below.

NordVPN’s score of 9.6 was the highest. The provider combines cleverly designed apps with a strong customer service team, making the overall experience pleasingly hassle-free. IPVanish and ExpressVPN are also good choices for those with no previous VPN experience.

Value for money

The most expensive VPN isn’t always the best, and the cheapest VPN isn’t always a great deal. We assessed several criteria when calculating value-for-money, including subscription costs, device limits, money-back guarantees, and any free trials. You can see where the providers differed in the table below.

Again, we scored each metric and summed the results to generate overall scores out of 10.

Surfshark offered the best value overall. It combines keenly priced two-year subscriptions with unlimited device connections. IPVanish also allows unlimited connections, though its subscriptions are marginally more expensive.

How to stream Indian TV shows and channels with a VPN

There are lots of streaming platforms that host Indian content. Some of these are Hotstar, Jio Cinema, Sony Liv, Eros Now, and Zee 5. You will need to sign up for these providers before trying to log in from anywhere. Most of them require an Indian payment method, but it’s recommended that you check with the individual service before any attempts.

Once you have access to an Indian streaming service, follow these simple steps to access it anywhere in the world:

How to use a VPN to stream Indian TV shows and channels 

1. Settle on one of the VPNs we’ve recommended in this list. Our favorite is NordVPN.
2. Proceed to download and install the native VPN app directly from your chosen provider’s site or an official app store.
3. Open the VPN app and connect to a server in India. Wait for the connection to be established.
4. Navigate to your provider’s website — so if you’re trying to log in to Hotstar, go to its site and log in with your account credentials.
5. Congratulations. Now you should be able to stream all the TV shows you want!

If you have any issues, try clearing your cookies and cache before reloading the page. Alternatively, try connecting to a different server or contacting your VPN’s support team for more assistance.

Accessing Indian TV with a free VPN

Free VPNs are always a tempting option as they offer a frictionless sign-up process without any upfront payments. But we advise that you refrain from going down this route. Lots of streaming services, such as Hotstar, have invested in rigorous internal security to prevent VPN usage. This means only the best providers are able to overcome restrictions, and free services just can’t keep up.

In addition, free VPNs don’t usually offer servers in India, and since you need an Indian IP address to stream TV shows and channels online, you’re unlikely to be able to obtain a stable one through a free provider.

What’s more, free VPNs are known to shortchange users. They rely on invasive tactics to earn money, such as bombarding their users with advertisements, injecting tracking cookies to investigate browsing habits, log data to sell to third parties, or even bundling together idle user bandwidth for use in botnets.

To protect your digital footprint, we maintain that you should invest in a VPN provider that’s known for its high standards of security and privacy, such as the ones we’ve recommended in this article.

Why do so many of these providers offer virtual Indian servers?

In April of 2022, the Indian government released new regulations that force companies to store logs for servers located in India. The new regulations, which were published by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), require detailed logs to be stored for 180 days, with other identifying data needing to be stored for 5 years. The rules came into effect on June 27.

Due to these new regulations, the vast majority of no-log VPNs have had to withdraw their servers from the country. This is because, under the new regulations, it is impossible for VPN providers to provide a no-logs service while complying with the surveillance law.

As it has become impossible for VPNs to maintain servers in India while also promising their users watertight privacy levels, it is likely to become much more difficult for VPN users to get an IP address within India. As a result, VPNs may seek to offer virtual servers in the country as an alternative way of providing access to Indian services, such as TV platforms.

It is also worth noting that the new regulations published by CERT-In increase the potential for security risks in India. Forcing companies to store data about their customers for 5 years will increase the opportunity for hackers to steal that customer data. NordVPN commented:

“From what it seems, the amount of stored private information will be drastically increased throughout hundreds or maybe thousands of different companies. It is hard to imagine that all, especially small and medium enterprises, will have the proper means to ensure the security of such data.”

Indian TV VPN FAQs

See also: 7 Best VPNs for India