Best VPNs for UK expats: Unlock British streaming services abroad

Living in a foreign country can be tough. After all, you have to build an entirely new circle of acquaintances, while dealing with all the necessary paperwork and often, a language barrier. One less-heard about problem though, is that when you go abroad, you lose access to streaming platforms from back home. Don’t worry: there’s a quick and easy fix! After connecting to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) server in the UK, British expats can start watching BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and Now TV in a matter of minutes.

There are other benefits too. VPNs encrypt your internet traffic, preventing it from being read or censored by local ISPs, public hotspot owners, or the government. This means that you’ll be able to communicate freely with people back in the UK, even if you’re in a country where VoIP services and Western social media platforms are normally inaccessible.

Looking for the short version? No problem. Here’s a brief rundown of the best VPNs for British expats or anyone hoping to unblock British streaming services during a trip abroad:

1. NordVPN: The #1 choice for UK expats! A great option for anyone looking to access British content securely, regardless of their location. Works with BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Sky Go, and most other streaming platforms. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for expats.
2. Surfshark: The best budget VPN for streaming UK TV. A privacy-conscious service with a large network and no connection limits. Very easy to use but offers 24/7 support just in case you have any issues.
3. Total VPN: Speedy service with strong streaming abilities and servers in 85+ countries. Suitable for novice users and comes with its own antivirus software.
4. ProtonVPN: Fast, reliable, and easy to use. A great option for streaming British TV abroad, though you’ll need the paid plan to do so. Lots of advanced security features and one of the largest networks around.
5. ExpressVPN: No-logs VPN with a great reputation. Works with British platforms like Channel 5 and ITVX and blocks ads automatically.
6. IPVanish: A quick and responsive VPN with lots of reliable British servers. Great for streaming UK TV, unblocking messaging apps, or torrenting. Lets you connect as many devices as you like.
7. CyberGhost: Beginner-friendly VPN with servers specifically designed to access British streaming platforms. Highly-customizable security, 24/7 customer support, and some of the fastest speeds we’ve seen.
8. PureVPN: An affordable option for UK expats. Outperforms most other VPNs on the market and does a great job of accessing iPlayer, ITVX, and other streaming platforms while abroad.
9. PrivateVPN: Boasts steady speeds and powerful security features, plus the ability to access all manner of British services including Channel 4, BBC iPlayer,and Now TV.

How I identified the best VPNs for British expats

There are hundreds of VPNs on the market, and nobody wants to spend their valuable time trying multiple providers until they find one that fits. Luckily, you don’t have to; I’ve taken care of the hard part, personally testing dozens of leading VPNs and evaluating them on the five main areas laid out below. This approach ensures that only the very best VPNs for expats make the list.

• Streaming ability: I attempted to access some of the UK’s most popular streaming platforms, on both mobile and desktop devices, to see which VPNs were the most reliable. I also tested providers with popular international services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
• Speed: There’ll almost always be some slowdown when using a VPN but some providers are better-optimized than others. I carried out multiple speed tests at varying times of day using a home broadband connection to get the most realistic indication of each VPN’s performance.
• Security & privacy: A VPN’s prime goal is to protect your activities from prying eyes. To make sure that they’re up to the job, I evaluated each candidate against a list of 16 separate criteria. This included checking their encryption standards, included safeguards, and supported protocols, as well as examining their audit histories.
• Ease of use: Ideally, VPNs would be extremely beginner-friendly while also giving experienced users all of the tools they need. Providers were scored based on factors like how easy it was to sign up, how generous their connection limits were, and how many different platforms they support.
• Value for money: My final challenge was to ensure you’re actually getting your money’s worth. I looked into each VPN’s lowest monthly price, their connection limits, and whether they offer discounts for students. Note that to be eligible for recommendation, providers have to offer a money-back guarantee.

See also: How to watch British TV in Spain

Best VPNs for UK Expats compared

I’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – the #1 choice for UK Expats.

Best VPNs for UK expats

Without further ado, let’s dive right into the reviews of each service, starting with my first choice, NordVPN:

1. NordVPN

Jan 2026 unblocks UK platformsTested Jan 2026

NordVPN is the best option for Brits living abroad. It has roughly 440 servers in the UK and a network spanning more than 120 countries, so you’ll have plenty of options. I was pleased to see that it worked not just with major British platforms like Netflix UK and BritBox, but also regional services like STV Player, which are often overlooked. You’ll be able to connect up to 10 devices at once, and there’s 24/7 assistance over live chat just in case you need it.

To get the most accurate idea of the speeds an average users can expect, I tested NordVPN’s British servers three times (morning, midday, and afternoon) using a home broadband connection that averaged around 120 Mbps. NordVPN achieved an average download speed of 95 Mbps, making it significantly faster than any other provider in this list. Let’s take a look at its speeds throughout the day:

Accessing geo-restricted content is great, but the main purpose of a VPN is to keep your online activities private. NordVPN gives you plenty of ways to achieve this thanks to its powerful encryption, independently-audited no-logs policy, and customizable kill switch. It also offers a few more advanced tools for users who like to get their hands dirty; these include ad and tracker-blocking, dark web monitoring, and a special obfuscated protocol called NordWhisper that was designed to work in high censorship environments like Turkey and China.

NordVPN boasts split tunneling functionality, too. This means you can specify which apps have their data encrypted by the VPN and which don’t. That’s handy, for instance, if you want to access Netflix UK without losing access to your current location’s streaming apps. In this instance, you could just select “Disable VPN for selected apps”. Alternatively, choose “Enable VPN for selected apps”, and add Netflix.

In my professional opinion, NordVPN’s apps are very beginner-friendly, though there are quite a few tabbed menus to navigate, which can be a tad confusing at first. This VPN supports MacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux systems, plus it can be manually installed on most home routers in case you need to protect more than 10 devices simultaneously.

BEST VPN FOR BRITISH TV:NordVPN is my top choice. Boasts hundreds of reliable British servers plus it works well with major streaming services including BBC iPlayer and Netflix. Also offers extremely high speeds and a 30-day risk-free, money-back guarantee.

Read my full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Unblocks UK platformsTested Jan 2026

Surfshark is my top low-cost VPN for British expats. It’s a reliable and versatile provider with 4,500 servers spread across 100 countries (with more than 400 in the UK alone). It works with a ton of popular UK streaming services including BBC iPlayer, Channel 5, and Sky Go, though staff are happy to help via live chat if you’re having problems. Best of all, this VPN can simultaneously protect all of your devices.

Surfshark boasts a NoBorders mode designed to beat extreme digital censorship but this reduces speeds so for the purpose of fair testing, I didn’t enable it. Following three tests at different times of day, this VPN achieved an average speed of 90.84 Mbps. That’s a solid result (making Surfshark one of the fastest VPNs in this list), and certainly quick enough to be able to stream British TV in the highest possible quality. There was quite a high degree of variability though, and I’d prefer to see that reduced in future.

Surfshark doesn’t keep logs and I know that for sure as it’s been repeatedly audited. Its encryption is top-notch, plus it can block ads, trackers, and malware automatically. This service even offers an IP address rotation feature, split tunneling functionality, and the ability to hide your device from others on the network. Further, it can activate on its own whenever you use an unfamiliar network – that’s helpful if you find yourself relying on public Wi-FI hotspots often.

The apps are near-identical, regardless of whether you’re on desktop or mobile. My only complaint is that they devote quite a bit of space to features that are only included with a Surfshark One subscription. For instance, standard users won’t have access to the antivirus app, private search engine, or new Alternative ID tool (that generates fake personas so you can sign up to services anonymously), yet each has its own tab on the main screen.

Still, with apps for all major platforms, a great set of security tools, and a shockingly low monthly price, Surfshark remains a fantastic option for any expat. It supports manual router installation too (check the website’s support section for instructions) and offers 24/7 customer support over live chat. If you want to securely stream British TV without breaking the bank, you could do a lot worse than Surfshark.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is affordable, quick, and secure, ensuring you’ll never have to trade privacy for convenience. Expats can connect as many devices as you like and stream UK-only video from anywhere. 30-day money-back guarantee included.

Read the full Surfshark review.

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3. Total VPN

Unblocks UK platformsTested Jan 2026

Total VPN is a sleek, easy to use service that’s perfect for anyone looking to dip their toe into the world of VPNs. The apps are about as intuitive as they come and work with major UK streaming platforms like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and All 4. There are servers in 85 countries (including some less commonly-seen locations like China and Russia), but you can choose a server in London or Coventry to get a UK IP address. Each account lets you connect up to five devices and live support is available 24/7.

I tested Total VPN’s London servers in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon to get a better idea of its performance and consistency. This VPN delivered an average speed of 85.8 Mbps, which is more than you’ll need for video calling, gaming, or streaming 4K content. Its performance did vary by roughly 24 Mbps though, meaning your speeds could be nearly 30 percent slower depending on what time you go online; naturally, I’d like to see this number reduced.

Now, you’ll be pleased to hear that this service doesn’t compromise on your security. All traffic is shielded using 256-bit AES encryption (which is currently considered uncrackable), a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. Total VPN also follows a strict no-logging policy, meaning you don’t have to worry about anyone seeing what you get up to online. There’s even a special Hydra protocol that can help you hide the fact that you’re using a VPN at all.

Total VPN apps are particularly easy to navigate and available for iOS, Windows, MacOS, Android, and tvOS. Subscriptions are available for a year and cost the equivalent of $1.59 per month. While this is great value in itself, subscriptions also include free software; namely, Total AV and Total AdBlock.

INCLUDES ANTIVIRUS:Total VPN is another great option for expats. It has servers in 85+ countries, including the UK. Works to access internet banking, streaming services, Skype, Facebook, and much more. Easy-to-use apps and low-cost subscriptions that comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full Total VPN review.

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4. ProtonVPN

Jan 2026 Unblocks UK platformsTested Jan 2026

ProtonVPN has a stellar reputation on privacy, having been created by the company behind Proton Mail, a privacy-first email service used by journalists and activists the world over. It does offer a free plan but I’d recommend upgrading as soon as possible since this grants access to 24/7 customer support, 15,000 servers in 120+ countries, a 10-connection limit, and the ability to access a ton of British streaming platforms while traveling abroad.

One of the first things you’ll notice is that ProtonVPN looks a little different to its rivals. Users can choose a server location using the list on the left or the map on the right, and it’s possible to quickly toggle key features like NetShield, split tunneling, and port forwarding. It is a little unusual to have the kill switch in the quick access bar though, since you’ll generally want this active at all times.

To get an accurate understanding of ProtonVPN’s performance, I tested its London servers at various points during a typical day. This service delivered an average speed of 86.8 Mbps with a variance of just over 1 Mbps. As such, ProtonVPN was the most consistent provider in this list by far. It’s suitable for any day to day task, including streaming UK TV, BBC iPlayer, and ITVX. See for yourself:

As expected, ProtonVPN excels at keeping you safe. It uses unbreakable encryption, a kill switch, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection to secure your activities and follows a strict no-logs policy, all but guaranteeing your privacy. That’s only the beginning though; this provider also boasts ad and tracker-blocking, a Stealth protocol capable of beating China’s Great Firewall. It also supports split tunneling and port forwarding as standard, which isn’t something most other providers can say.

One of ProtonVPN’s biggest strengths is its simplicity. Monthly plans cost $9.99 , and there’s around a 50 percent discount on annual or biannual subscriptions. That’s it – no frills, no optional extras, no fuss. Every plan comes with a 30-day guarantee as well, allowing you to try the full version of the service without any risk.

ProtonVPN has apps for iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and MacOS.  It supports most routers too, though you’ll have to configure your connection manually. Still, that’s a small price to pay to protect every device you own.

FULLY FEATURED:ProtonVPN caters to tech-savvy users who need advanced privacy features. With servers available in over 120+ countries, it’s ideal for bypassing restrictions to watch iPlayer and other UK TV services abroad. 24/7 live chat support in the member’s area. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in my full ProtonVPN review.

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5. ExpressVPN

Unblocks UK platformsTested Jan 2026

ExpressVPN is a well-known provider with user-friendly apps and servers in 105 countries. Unfortunately, it only offers English server locations so while it can unblock most UK streaming platforms, it’s not suitable for accessing smaller regional platforms like STV. This is a fairly niche use case, though, and during hands-on testing, I found that ExpressVPN worked with a huge range of popular streaming apps, including Netflix UK, iPlayer, and My5.

One of the best things about this service is that it’s intuitive and offers a virtually identical experience regardless of whether you’re on mobile or desktop. ExpressVPN even automatically obfsucates your data if it realizes you’re in a country with extreme digital censorship like China or the UAE.

ExpressVPN has its own custom VPN protocol named Lightway, which it claims has lower speed loss than OpenVPN when using distant servers. To see what this provider is really capable of, I tested its London servers three times, resulting in an average speed of 83.2 Mbps. Even if lots of people share your internet connection, you should be able to live stream UK TV with no noticeable lag or buffering.

ExpressVPN has just a few customizable settings. This doesn’t mean that it lacks the security of its rivals, just that most of its privacy features are enabled by default. These include powerful encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks. This VPN can beat virtually any online restriction thanks to its obfuscation and can block ads and trackers automatically. ExpressVPN doesn’t keep logs and has been audited several times for your peace of mind. You can even pay in Bitcoin for added anonymity if that helps sweeten the deal.

This provider used to be considered one of the pricier options on the market. Recently, though, it switched to a tiered pricing system, allowing it to offer significantly lower prices while increasing its connection limits.

ExpressVPN is unique in that it has its own router app. This means you’ll be able to block ads and take advantage of the kill switch on all of your devices, even those that don’t normally support VPNs. There are, of course, traditional apps for Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, and Android as well – up to 14 of these can be connected at once (depending on which plan you choose).

HIGHLY VERSATILE:ExpressVPN is fast and easy to use, with a strong security focus, a large network, and great unblocking ability. It even comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you change your mind.

Read the full review of ExpressVPN.

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6. IPVanish

Unblocks UK platformsTested Jan 2026  

IPVanish has servers in all four UK countries (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales), with a network spanning more than 100 locations. It has no problems accessing stubborn streaming sites like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Hayu, and Disney Plus from abroad, plus this is one of the only VPNs with no connection limits. You can chat with support staff at any time using IPVanish’s 24/7 live chat service.

I wanted to see what kind of speeds IPVanish was capable of, so I tried out its UK servers at three points throughout a typical day. This VPN achieved an average speed of 83.8 Mbps, making it ideal for data-intensive tasks like video-calling, playing online games, or streaming British TV abroad. Here’s a breakdown of its speeds in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon:

There’s no need to worry about your privacy with this service. IPVanish keeps you safe using unbreakable encryption, protection from DNS and IPv6 leaks, and a kill switch that stops sending traffic if your connection drops suddenly. You can also take advantage of its ad and tracker-blocking tool, link safety checker, or OpenVPN obfuscation, or activate the split tunneling feature; this will allow you to let specific apps and websites pass through the VPN unencrypted.

IPVanish has its own MacOS, iOS, Windows, and Android, with manual configuration required for Linux and routers. There’s also a newly-added Advanced subscription plan which includes the VPN, 1 TB of secure file storage, and a cloud-based browser for roughly a dollar more each month.

IDEAL FOR STREAMING:IPVanish has fast servers in the UK, values your privacy, and easily unblocks most British streaming services. You’re free to protect as many devices as you like, and long-term subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Why not check out the full review of IPVanish?

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7. CyberGhost

Unblocks UK platformsTested Jan 2026

CyberGhost is, in my professional opinion, one of the most newcomer-friendly VPNs available right now. It boasts a network spanning more than 100 countries and splits its server list so that you know exactly which are best for torrenting, playing games, or unblocking British streaming sites like ITVX. Up to seven devices can be protected simultaneously and there’s 24/7 customer support just in case.

The overall design is fairly straightforward. Simply hit the arrow on the home screen to open the server selection menu or access the settings. From a user’s standpoint, it can be a little tricky to find a specific option since they’re spread across multiple tabs and the “privacy settings” and “smart rules” areas aren’t actually located in the settings menu. Still, it’s unlikely you’ll need to visit these sections often after initial setup.

So just how fast is CyberGhost, really? I checked its performance three times while connected to a British server and recorded a final average speed of 120.3 Mbps. That’s an incredible result, nearly 10 times what’s required for 4K streaming. In short, you shouldn’t experience any playback issues when watching UK TV abroad.

CyberGhost makes staying safe online nice and easy. Your traffic is hidden using unbreakable encryption, plus there’s a kill switch and protection from DNS and IPv6 leaks. Its more advanced features include ad and tracker-blocking, split tunneling functionality, and customizable smart rules that can tell the VPN to automatically connect in specific situations.

This VPN doesn’t keep any logs of your activities, publishes regular transparency reports, and has been audited several times. While its obfuscation can help beat some forms of VPN-detection (for instance, on public wifi), it can’t get around censorship in places like China, the UAE, or Russia.

CyberGhost apps are available for iOS, Android, Linux, MacOS, and Windows. It can also be manually installed on most routers. This VPN offers monthly, six-month, and annual subscriptions, with a couple of optional addons: an antivirus app for Windows systems and dedicated IP addresses. Neither of these are crucial but it’s nice to have the option, especially when they’re only a few dollars more each month.

Beginner friendly apps:CyberGhost makes watching British TV simple. Delivers decent speeds, streaming-optimized servers, and 24/7 customer support via live chat. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read my full CyberGhost review.

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8. PureVPN

Unblocks UK platformsTested Jan 2026

PureVPN would be another great choice for any UK expat. It has around 6,000 servers in 60+ countries globally, and plenty to choose from in the UK. In fact, if you move over to the shortcuts tab, you can even see which servers are best for unblocking British platforms like BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, and Now TV, among many others. There’s a 10-connection limit, plus 24/7 live chat in case you need help.

The desktop apps make getting connected quick and easy. Simply hit the Location tab on the left then choose a location on the right. Alternatively, you can pick a recently-used location in the middle part of the screen. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the London servers support port fowarding too, making them ideal for UK torrenting or gaming!

I decided to test PureVPN’s London servers at different times of day, keeping an eye on both its top speed and its consistency. With all data recorded, this VPN achieved an average speed of 81.5 Mbps. That puts it firmly in the middle of the pack, but more than capable of streaming UK TV from abroad. You shouldn’t notice any issues, even if multiple people are using the internet at the same time.

This VPN does a great job of keeping your online activities hidden. To begin with, PureVPN uses uncrackable encryption backed up by DNS and IPv6 leak protection, as well as a kill switch. It supports a wide range of industry-approved protocols and refuses to keep any logs that could identify you. Best of all, PureVPN automatically obfuscates all OpenVPN traffic, helping you browse safely in places like China. Additional features include tracker-blocking and split tunneling support.

PureVPN users can sign up for a month, a year, two years, or (in a rare inclusion) five years. Monthly pricing is about what you’d expect, with multi-year plans coming in at just over $2 per month. There are also enhanced subscriptions that come bundled with a password manager, file encryption tool, and data removal services; naturally these cost a little more. I’d rather that the apps didn’t devote quite so much space to these exclusive features but it’s nice to know they’re available.

This VPN has Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, and iOS apps. Additionally, PureVPN’s website has step-by-step instructions for setting up your home router. There’s a generous 10-connection limit but if you’d like to stream British TV on games consoles or older Smart TVs, having the option to install it on your router is a huge plus.

AMAZING VALUE:PureVPN lets expats access BBC iPlayer and other British TV platforms without breaking the bank. Easy to use on all devices. Rock solid no-logs policy and robust AES-256 encryption. Comes with a 31-day money-back guarantee so you can try it for yourself.

Find out more in the full PureVPN review.

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9. PrivateVPN

Unblocks UK platformsTested Jan 2026

PrivateVPN isn’t as well known as the other providers we’ve seen but in my opinion, it’s one of the most versatile services out there. Not only does it own, host, and manage its entire network (200+ servers in over 60 countries), it’s able to access major streaming sites like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and All 4. Users can chat with support staff at most times of day, and are allowed up to 10 simultaneous connections.

When you first open PrivateVPN, it looks almost identical to most other VPN apps, with one exception. Clicking the Advanced View button reveals a ton of additional info and settings. These are all well-described and most can be toggled on or off for maximum ease of use. Most people should be fine using the Simple view but be aware that the stealth mode is only visible in Advanced view – this is required to use the web safely in high-censorship countries.

Now, I’ve previously seen PrivateVPN struggle to match some of its rivals’ speeds. This time around, its UK servers returned an average speed of 71 Mbps, with just 6 Mbps of variability throughout the day. That’s still competitive, and significantly faster than is required for any day to day task like streaming, torrenting, or making video calls. Let’s take a look at the full results:

Private by name, private by nature: this VPN uses unbreakable 256-bit AES encryption to shield your browsing habits from snoopers. It also boasts a customizable kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy (though it hasn’t been independently-audited yet). There’s also a Stealth VPN mode capable of beating the world’s strictest digital censorship. Unfortunately, while WireGuard connections are supported, users have to configure these manually. This is a bit strange considering most other VPNs just have native WireGuard support.

Subscribers have three plans to choose from: monthly, quarterly, or annual. That’s it: there are no addons or enhanced packages so if you’re looking for simplicity, you’ve found it. PrivateVPN is a little cheaper than other services, at around $10 per month. Still, choosing longer plans drives that price down even further, with the annual plan costing just $72 and giving an additional two years of coverage at the time of writing.

This VPN has its own Windows, Android, iOS, and MacOS apps. Linux systems and routers are supported but require manual setup. There are detailed guides in PrivateVPN’s extensive help section and staff are on-hand to walk you through the process via live chat. This is only available during European business hours, though, so you may want to schedule your installation for when you know help will be available.

FAST SPEEDS:PrivateVPN offers stable speeds and puts your anonymity above all else. Follows a strict no-logs policy and has a great track record when it comes to streaming. Reliable but a bit pricey. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read my full PrivateVPN review.

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Streaming British TV FAQs