How to live stream Al Jazeera online from anywhere with a VPN

Qatar-based Al Jazeera only came into existence in 1996 but it’s rapidly established itself as one of the leading media outlets across the world. Its core audience lies in the Middle East and the wider Muslim world, where many consider it an iconoclastic organization that discusses topics and issues other channels might not. This brand of journalism has also attracted the ire of several governments around the world who accuse it of being biased and unjust. For this reason, the Al Jazeera livestream is blocked by many countries and you’ll need a VPN to access it.

Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN encrypts all the traffic flowing to and from your device and routes it via a server outside your current location. This means the host website – Al Jazeera in this case – will be unable to detect where you’re actually located. This will open up a bunch of content that was previously unavailable to you. A VPN will also secure your connection, making it almost impossible for government agencies or hackers to steal data.

We cover each of the VPNs in some detail below, but in case you don’t have time to read the whole article, here is a summary list of our top picks:

1. NordVPN: Our top choice. Veteran provider with a vast network of superfast servers. Unblocks Al Jazeera and most other popular geo-restricted and censored sites. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Best budget alternative. Fast, secure, and especially effective at bypassing regional restrictions. Surfshark provides an excellent way to access Al Jazeera while abroad.
3. ExpressVPN: Plenty of fast servers in the US and Europe. No issues unblocking Al Jazeera while maintaining your privacy.
4. CyberGhost: Great value with easy-to-use apps that are great for beginners. Servers are great for streaming in high quality.
5. IPVanish: Great privacy features like automatic IP address switching. Good speeds for streaming.
6. Private Internet Access Servers in 80+ countries, including Saudi Arabia. WireGuard protocol provides lightning-fast streaming speeds.

How to unblock Al Jazeera online from anywhere

Setting up a VPN is a very simple process. If you haven’t signed up with a VPN provider already, we recommend you do so wherever you are in the world. Not only will a VPN allow you to access content from abroad, but it will also protect your privacy online. If you’re not sure how to access Al Jazeera using a VPN, just follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Here’s how to unblock the Al Jazeera live stream from anywhere:

1. Sign up with a suitable VPN provider with a strong privacy policy that can unblock Al Jazeera. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Download the appropriate app for your device.
3. Log in and select a server in a country in which Al Jazeera is not blocked.
4. Wait for your VPN to connect.
5. Visit the Al Jazeera website, and the content should now be unblocked!

If you’re still having difficulties, try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies, then reload the page.

The best VPNs for accessing Al Jazeera

Our list of the best VPNs for Al Jazeera is based on the following factors:

• Large number of server locations in Europe and the US
• Excellent encryption standards
• Speed and stability of connection
• User experience
• Apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS.

Read more on our methodology and how we test the VPNs we recommend. For now, let’s take a closer look at the ones that made our list.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for watching Al Jazeera from anywhere:

1. NordVPN

Apr 2024 Unblocks Al JazeeraTested Apr 2024

NordVPN is our first choice for an Al Jazeera VPN. It has been in the business for over a decade, making it a veteran in the space. It’s the fastest VPN we’ve tested and is popular with users because of its advanced features and tons of options. This provider works with a whole bunch of streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer, while supporting torrents at the same time.

NordVPN operates with a true zero-logs policy. It retains absolutely no data about user behavior or timestamps. In some cases, it’s also received official requests from government authorities to hand over some customer information, but the policy meant it was simply unable to comply. Privacy-conscious users will be pleased.

The company operates more than 5,400 servers in 60+ countries with options to select servers based on your specific web requirements, including streaming video, stringent privacy, or complete anonymity. There’s a particularly large selection of servers in Europe and the US.

NordVPN encrypts internet traffic via the 256-bit AES protocol by default and uses 2,048-bit SSL keys. This means it’s in the top tier of VPNs when judged from an encryption standpoint. Needless to say, you don’t need to worry about any data leaks.

There’s support for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android.

BEST VPN FOR AL JAZEERA:NordVPN is our top recommendation. It records incredible speeds, unblocks Al Jazeera and other blocked streaming services, and has great privacy and security credentials. Plans are risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our in-depth review of NordVPN.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a solid budget alternative that puts its users’ privacy first. It doesn’t keep any logs (a fact that has been verified by third-party auditors), accepts three popular cryptocurrencies, and even offers multi-hop servers for even greater anonymity.

It’s equally strong on security, with a customizable kill switch, 256-bit encryption, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks built-in. Users can also enable the CleanWeb feature to block ads and scan for malware automatically.

This VPN has around 3,200 servers in 100+ countries, so you’ll always have plenty of choices. While it does have the occasional slow server, most are fast enough to watch live TV without any issues.

Surfshark offers apps for MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and Windows. Some network routers are supported too, although manual installation is required.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark not only lets you access Al Jazeera from anywhere, but it also makes sure you can do so without worrying about who might be watching. This speedy VPN keeps no logs, allows any number of connections, and provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

Unblocks Al JazeeraTested Apr 2024

ExpressVPN is a simple, easy-to-use VPN, but don’t let its minimalistic design fool you into thinking you’re getting a substandard product. It’s fast, secure, and private, making it a popular choice with users.

The company operates an impressive 3,000+ servers spread across 94 countries, including a wide choice in Europe and North America. There are no reported instances of content restrictions for Al Jazeera in these two continents, so you should be good to go.

ExpressVPN stores minimal metadata logs but nothing that could be used to identify users. If you’re still feeling queasy about the metadata storage, then we recommend you sign up for the service via a burner email account and pay with Bitcoin. That’ll keep you well hidden.

Encryption protocols are robust, and the service leverages 256-bit AES-CBC with both HMAC authentication and perfect forward secrecy. An internet kill switch temporarily halts all web traffic if the connection drops unexpectedly. ExpressVPN unlocks geo-restricted content on Netflix. It’s also compatible with Hulu and BBC iPlayer, and it supports torrents.

There are apps for Android and iOS as well as desktop support for Windows and MacOS.

HIGHLY SECURE:ExpressVPN reliably unblocks Al Jazeera as well as many other blocked streaming services. It boasts fast speeds for buffer-free HD viewing, along with total security and privacy. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our review of ExpressVPN.

4. CyberGhost 

Unblocks Al JazeeraTested Apr 2024

CyberGhost works well with beginner users as it’s easy to set up and comes with a huge selection of servers. There are over 9,000 servers spread across 90+ countries, including thousands located in Europe and the US. Plus, the company is constantly adding new cities to its network.

Encryption standards are strong, CyberGhost uses 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default, along with 2,048-bit RSA keys and MD5 HMAC authentication. There’s an internet kill switch included, which means web traffic will be halted if the connection drops.

Apps are available for both Android and iOS, as well as desktop support for Windows and MacOS.

GREAT VALUE:CyberGhost is easy to use. A well-priced solid performer. Good at unblocking Al Jazeera but may and other geo-blocked streaming sites. Comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our full review of CyberGhost.

5. IPVanish

Unblocks Al JazeeraTested Apr 2024

IPVanish is a similarly robust VPN that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to both speeds and privacy settings. The only time the service will store any information is when you register an account for the very first time. Nothing after that, and no metadata retention, either. So there’s zero data on its servers that could potentially identify you.

IPVanish uses 256-bit encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default, SHA512 authentication, and a DHE-RSA 2,048 key exchange with perfect forward secrecy. The encryption standards are definitely some of the most stringent out there. And the perfect forward secrecy means that even if your account is compromised, your past session data and internet history will still be hidden.

Another way of shoring up the service is via an internet kill switch. That means if the connection drops for some reason, IPVanish will temporarily block all traffic to and from your device until it is restored. So there aren’t any open windows where hackers could potentially swoop in.

Servers are optimized for speed and stability – there are over 2,000 of them spread across 75 locations around the globe, including hundreds in Europe and North America. You won’t find it a problem to maintain an adequate connection.

IPVanish is an excellent choice to unlock content on BBC iPlayer and permits torrenting too. There are apps for both iOS and Android, as well as desktop support for Windows and MacOS.

It’s also a recommended option for Kodi because it allows users to download the Android APK directly to their device. The interface is also remote control friendly for Kodi devices that lack a keyboard and mouse.

UNLIMITED DEVICES:IPVanish has a large network of servers. Handles simultaneous connections well, so is good for families. High standards of privacy and security. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of IPVanish.

6. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is a top-notch VPN for streaming Al Jazeera from anywhere. It features servers in over 80 locations worldwide, including servers in Saudia Arabia. Users will benefit from PIA’s use of the WireGuard protocol, which ensures ultra-fast streaming and online gaming, perfect for uninterrupted viewing of Al Jazeera.

PIA uses 256-bit encryption to keep your connection watertight, which is essential in places like Saudi Arabia, with heavy internet censorship. It also includes a kill switch, malware blocking, ad blocking, DNS leak protection, and it doesn’t collect logs. You can also adjust your encryption level as required to produce even faster speeds.

Each plan includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 support. You’ll get a 10-device connection limit, and it has apps available for almost any platform you can think of.

ADJUSTABLE ENCRYPTION:Private Internet Access has over 10,000 servers worldwide, 24/7 support, and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Private Internet Access.

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Some VPNs to avoid

Strong encryption parameters and an internal commitment to safeguarding user privacy rank amongst the principal factors that people analyze when choosing to buy a VPN. After all, you’re spending money to remain anonymous so you better get what you’re paying for. However, some abhorrent services fork over user data without a second thought. That’s a major ethical violation, and our recommendation is to avoid these providers.

Here are two such examples:

1. PureVPN

Media reports indicate that paid VPN provider PureVPN collaborated with the FBI to uncover a case of online blackmail.

The FBI roped in PureVPN after a complaint was lodged. The investigation showed that a PureVPN user – Ryan Lin – was using the service to try and cover his digital footprint. He had tried to extort money from a woman after hacking into her Google Drive and iCloud accounts.

While we certainly don’t condone Ryan’s behavior, PureVPN did have a ‘no-logs’ policy at the time, and we believe they should have been more transparent.

2. HolaVPN

In 2015, Israel-based Hola, a popular Chrome VPN extension that once boasted a user base of almost 50 million, illegally turned this critical mass into a massive botnet army.

The bandwidth was used by the VPN provider for things like hacking attacks and the distribution of copyrighted content. And that’s with users completely in the dark. We recommend you avoid Hola at all costs.

Using a VPN is completely legal and ethical, and millions of people across the world enjoy this right. When a company says they safeguard user data, we expect them to live up to this commitment. If there’s a violation of this agreement, there shouldn’t be any looking back.

Al Jazeera VPN FAQs