Best VPNs for Now TV in 2024: Stream outside the UK and abroad

Most streaming services aren’t available worldwide. Now TV has recently launched in the US, which is a step in the right direction, but it remains inaccessible in most countries other than the UK. Try to watch anything, and you’ll see an error reading, “Sorry, the region you’re trying to watch NOW in isn’t supported.” The good news is that you can use a VPN for Now TV to continue streaming your favorite shows while on vacation abroad.

There are other benefits, too. When traveling, you’re more reliant on public wifi. Aside from being a privacy nightmare, you’re subject to whatever arbitrary restrictions the hotspot owner imposes. VPNs encrypt your traffic, keeping your activities hidden and allowing you to sidestep content-filtering systems. They’re a great tool whether you’re looking to stream Now TV, communicate safely with people back home, or beat country-wide censorship.

Now, VPN providers love to brag about how advanced they are and how they offer the most complete protection against online threats. The problem is finding out what’s true and what’s just marketing hype. With that in mind, our team of experts has personally tested dozens of high-profile services, evaluated their performance and security offerings, and created a meticulous review of each. We’ll cover everything from their logging policies to how well they work with Now TV below. For now, though, here’s a quick rundown of our top picks:

Best VPNs for watching Now TV abroad:

1. NordVPN: The best VPN for Now TV. Combines fast speeds with powerful security tools and a proven no-logs policy. Works flawlessly with most region-locked services including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. Also includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Basic) works perfectly for Now TV.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for streaming Now TV abroad. A strong choice for families thanks to its impressive performance and unlimited connections. Packed with privacy features.
3. IPVanish: Speedy zero-logs VPN with lots of servers in the US and UK. Better for streaming than it’s ever been. Includes all of the security tools you’ll need to watch Now TV safely abroad.
4. ExpressVPN: This service works just about anywhere (even China) and unblocks all kinds of streaming apps including Now TV. Perfect for novices, doesn’t keep logs, and full router support.
5. CyberGhost: Boasts special servers designed to unblock Now TV UK. Also delivers ultra-high speeds and a high degree of customization where security is concerned. Offers 24/7 support.
6. PureVPN: A fast and versatile service that’s more than capable of streaming Now TV. Simple apps and a high connection limit make it ideal for sharing. Has been audited multiple times.
7. Private Internet Access: Has lots of British servers capable of unblocking Now TV. Doesn’t keep logs, impose a connection limit, or compromise on security. Plus it’s very affordable!
8. PrivateVPN: No-logs provider that puts your privacy first. Exceptional streaming ability and obfuscation despite its smaller network. Ideal for watching Now TV, torrenting, or gaming.
9. ProtonVPN: No-logs VPN from a well-respected company. Fast enough for any day-to-day task, with a powerful set of privacy tools. Works well with many British platforms like Now TV.

Scoring criteria: How we found the best VPNs for Now TV

Unless you’re really into computer networking, you probably have better things to do than spend all day checking what competing VPNs have to offer. Luckily, you don’t have to. Our experts have been doing this for years and know exactly how to tell if a VPN is safe, speedy, and suitable for watching Now TV abroad. Stick with us, and you’ll be streaming your favorite shows in no time.

So, how do we separate the best VPNs from the rest? It all starts with personally testing each potential recommendation. We use a variety of VPNs for several days, run exhaustive speed and unblocking ability tests, and note down any unique features (or any that are conspicuously absent). Our team also pays close attention to which security tools are included and whether they’re available on both desktop and mobile to ensure you’re protected wherever you go. Here’s a quick look at our key concerns, but we’ll describe our methodology in more detail later.

• Streaming suitability: Our primary concern is ensuring each VPN works with Now TV. There’s a solid chance you’ll want to watch something else at some point, though, so we also test them against popular platforms like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. If a VPN can reliably access stubborn services like these, it’ll likely work with most other platforms. We will only recommend the best streaming VPNs.
• Speed: You’ll need around a 25 Mbps connection to stream 4K video without issues. Our team tested each VPN’s British servers at differing times of day and averaged the results to see how much slowdown each VPN caused. Note that our testing was done on a 48 Mbps home broadband connection to better reflect the performance an average user should expect.
• Security and privacy: One of a VPN’s main goals is to hide your online activities from snoopers. As such, we’ll never recommend services which aren’t capable of keeping you safe. Our team verifies that our top picks use powerful encryption, include safeguards like a kill switch, and follow no-logs policies (ideally with independent verification).
• Ease of use: Another key concern is ensuring our recommended VPNs suit beginners. That’s not to say we reject any that offer advanced functionality; we prefer VPNs with well-organized apps, 24/7 customer support, and a clear focus on making day-to-day operation as seamless as possible.
• Value for money: One of the first things people consider is price. We look into what each VPN offers relative to similarly-priced competitors and then check to see whether it’s possible to lower the cost via student discounts, signing up during a sale, or choosing a longer-term subscription. Money-back guarantees are non-negotiable, too—you deserve to try the service for at least a week before committing to anything.
• Our expert reviewer’s professional rating: Finally, our reviewer assigns each service they test a score based on their experience using it. This is used alongside the scores from all categories above to create a single, representative rating for each provider.

Best VPNs for Now TV: Your at-a-glance guide

From our research, we’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Now TV.

Top VPNs for streaming Now TV abroad

Let’s dive right into our reviews, starting with our first choice, NordVPN:

1. NordVPN

Oct 2024 Access Now TVTested Oct 2024

NordVPN is the best overall service for Now TV. First, it has a huge network, with hundreds of servers in countries where this platform is available (the UK, the US, and Italy). It’s also one of the most reliable options for accessing region-locked streaming platforms, even when traveling abroad. We’ve had great results testing it against services like Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and ITVX. What’s more, every server works with Netflix – if NordVPN can’t access the local catalog, it’ll just default to the US version of the site instead.

One of the things we like most about this VPN is that its interface is nice and simple despite the amount of advanced functionality on offer. The main screen shows the locations you used recently and your current connection info. Clicking the globe icon on the left lets you select a different location or use one of the specialty servers (designed for torrenting, accessing the dark web, or beating country-wide censorship). Even the settings are easy to navigate; they’re grouped into four tabs, and each option has a short description of what it does, so you’ll never accidentally change something important without realizing it.

We’re pleased to reveal that NordVPN does an excellent job of keeping you safe. It boasts unbreakable encryption, industry-approved protocols, and safeguards like a kill switch. As such, your online activities are shielded from shady hotspot owners, your ISP, and oppressive governments. NordVPN has even been professionally audited to prove that it doesn’t keep logs and recently introduced Meshnet, a feature that lets you send data from multiple devices through a single IP address. That’s particularly noteworthy because it means you can stream Now TV on devices that don’t support full VPN apps (like games consoles or some Smart TVs).

While every VPN will slow your connection to some degree, they’re drastically faster than they used to be. NordVPN, for instance, delivered average speeds of 46.9 Mbps on a 48.57 Mbps connection – that’s barely any impact. This was the best performance we saw (though several other providers in this list came close). You shouldn’t notice any buffering, lag, or stuttering, even when torrenting or watching live 4K broadcasts.

Users can sign up for a month, a year, or two years. As you might expect, there are steep discounts for longer subscriptions, and we’d encourage users to consider these as the one-month plan is at the higher end of the pricing bracket ($12.99 USD). Further, NordVPN offers Plus plans for a little extra, including a password manager, breach scanner, and malware detection. In contrast, the Ultimate plan provides all this, encrypted cloud storage, and identity theft insurance.

NordVPN has iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS, and Linux apps. Most of its functionality is present in every version of the app, and mobile users can even take advantage of tap jacking protection (where shady apps try to trick you into clicking on invisible pop-ups). Alternatively, you can manually install this VPN on most popular router brands.

Note: We have a guide on what to do if NordVPN isn’t working with NowTV.

BEST VPN FOR NOW:NordVPN is our top choice. A reliable, high-speed choice with impeccable streaming abilities. Puts your privacy first and offers around-the-clock support. All plans include a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

access now tvTested Oct 2024

Surfshark is the best VPN for anyone looking to stream Now TV on a budget. Its network covers 100 countries, including the UK, the US, and Italy, and its unblocking ability is second to none. In fact, as well as Now TV, you can use platforms like Amazon Prime Video, ITVX, Sky Go, and Paramount+. Additionally, unlike most other services, Surfshark lets you connect any number of devices simultaneously. In other words, it offers exceptional value.

We’re big fans of this VPN’s design. You’ll use only one tab regularly, featuring a quick connection button, server selection menu, and even a speed tester. Crucially, you can choose a static IP and multihop servers here too. The settings menu is neat and easy to understand since each option has a line of text explaining what it does. Our only complaint is that of the app’s six tabs; four are devoted to features only available with Surfshark One plans.

This is one of the most security-focused VPNs we’ve tested, and that’s saying something. It uses unbreakable encryption, prevents IPv6 and DNS leaks, and includes a kill switch that stops sending data when your connection drops. Further, independent experts have verified its no-logs policy several times. That’s a great start, even without Surfshark’s automatic tracker-blocking and censorship-busting NoBorders mode. You can even have this VPN change your IP address periodically while keeping your location the same! In practical terms, this means it’s virtually impossible to track your activities during longer sessions.

We regularly run speed tests on an ultrafast server to monitor VPNs’ performance. Surfshark took first place in our most recent testing as the fastest VPN, but we wanted to see how well it did on regular household Wi-Fi. Across three times of day, it delivered average speeds of 45.5 Mbps; that’s a reduction of about 3 Mbps compared to browsing without a VPN, which is negligible. As such, this VPN can handle any day-to-day task, from streaming Now TV to torrenting.

There are three subscription terms to choose from: one month, one year, or two years. The monthly plans are a little pricey, but you can drastically cut costs by signing up for longer. In fact, at the moment, two-year plans come with around 80 percent off, meaning you can protect yourself for just over $2 per month on average. There are also two enhanced plans, Surfshark One and Surfshark One+. These cost a little more but include extras like a private search engine, an antivirus app, and a brand-new personal detail generator (for signing up for things without providing your info).

Surfshark has apps for Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, and iOS. Its website also offers detailed instructions for installing it on a router. If you’re having trouble, just let customer support know—they’re ready to help via live chat, day or night.

Note: Read our detailed guide on what to do if Surfshark isn’t working with Now TV.

BEST VALUE VPN:Surfshark offers great value for money, with exceptional streaming ability, strong security, and no connection limits. Best of all, it comes with a proven no-logs policy and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

access now TVTested Oct 2024

IPVanish operates roughly 2,400 servers across the world, with locations in over 60 countries. These include Scotland, England, the US, and Italy, so unblocking Now TV won’t be an issue. Of course, this VPN is capable of much more than just helping you stream; it’s also an excellent option for torrenting or securely using public wifi during a trip abroad. As if that wasn’t enough, it also boasts a low price point and a complete lack of connection limits.

Beginners won’t be overwhelmed by this service, either. Its main screen provides everything you’ll need to connect quickly and displays important info such as your IP address and protocol. Unlike most other providers, IPVanish tells you the current load of each server and roughly the level of ping you can expect. There aren’t a ton of settings to play with but they are grouped into tabs and well-described. We liked that there’s a direct link to the help section of IPVanish’s site, too, since this means get help as quickly as possible.

Let’s talk about security. IPVanish ensures your activities can’t be intercepted using 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection. There’s even an independently-audited no-logs policy for additional peace of mind. This VPN can connect automatically any time you use an unfamiliar network and users can specify apps or websites that they’d like to pass unencrypted. That’s helpful, for instance, if you want to watch Now TV without losing access to services that are only accessible in your current location. The latest versions of the app also include Threat Protection, which blocks ads and trackers by default.

This VPN has long been known for its high speeds (as evidenced by its ranking highly in every industry-wide test we’ve performed in recent years). That said, we wanted to get a feel for how well its British servers performed and whether it was quick enough for live or 4K broadcasts on a home broadband connection. With average speeds of 44.7 Mbps, it wasn’t the fastest we saw (that honor went to NordVPN), but it wasn’t the slowest either. There shouldn’t be any noticeable drop in speed and naturally, if your base connection is faster, you’ll get even better performance.

This VPN offers monthly, annual, and two-year plans. At around $13, the one-month subscriptions are a little expensive, but as you might expect, the longer you sign up for, the lower the price. At the time of writing, the two-year plan costs $52.56, which works out at just $2.19 per month. There are no hidden costs, either, since IPVanish doesn’t have optional add-ons, enhanced subscriptions, or anything similar.

IPVanish has apps for iOS, Android, MacOS, and Windows. It also works with Linux systems via the OpenVPN network manager and can be manually installed on most routers. Step-by-step guides are available in IPVanish’s help section, and 24/7 support via live chat is available.

Note: Check out our troubleshooting guide if IPVanish isn’t working with Now TV.

UNLIMITED CONNECTIONS:IPVanish is perfect for Now TV thanks to its high speeds, beginner-friendly apps, and unlimited connections. There’s a strong set of security tools as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

Access Now TVTested Oct 2024

ExpressVPN has one of the largest networks we’ve seen, with servers in a stunning 105 countries. It’s the only provider on this list with at least three locations to choose from in every region where TV is now available. US locations include Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York. In the UK, you can connect in London and The Midlands. Of course, it can access a wide range of other platforms, from Amazon Prime Video to Netflix and everything in between. Users will appreciate that finding a server that works rarely takes more than one attempt.

Having tested numerous similar products over the years, we can safely say that ExpressVPN has one of the simplest interfaces. The main screen is devoted to getting you connected as quickly as possible. If you have to change location, you’ll notice that servers are sorted alphabetically and separated by continent to make finding the one you want nice and easy. We really liked that the options menu was clear and concise about what each feature does, though arguably, three of the seven tabs could be removed without impacting users too much.

This provider takes care of security for you. Its encryption and leak protection are active by default, and obfuscation kicks in automatically when ExpressVPN detects you’re in a country with strict online censorship. Recently, this VPN added a Threat Manager feature capable of blocking ads, trackers, and malicious sites, though you’ll have to activate this in the settings. There’s also a kill switch, split tunneling functionality, and a custom protocol named Lightway that keeps your activities private even when switching between networks. ExpressVPN has been audited no less than four times, so when it says “no logs,” you know it means it.

The key question is whether ExpressVPN is fast enough to meet your needs. To find out, we tested its British servers three times at varying times of day. This returned average results of 44.5 Mbps, just 4 Mbps slower than the tests we ran with no VPN connected. That’s a speed reduction of around 10 percent, which shouldn’t even be noticeable to most users. It’s almost high enough to watch two 4K streams simultaneously! Here are our full results:

Now, this isn’t the cheapest VPN option around. Its monthly plan is on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, and even if you sign up for a year, you’ll still be paying around $6.67 on average each month. However, it goes on sale frequently, and several ways to pay anonymously (Bitcoin and prepaid cards) exist. Plus, we’ve personally tested its guarantee and were always able to get a refund without any fuss, so there’s no harm in trying it.

ExpressVPN is the only provider with its own custom router firmware. This means you can secure all of your devices at once without losing access to features such as the kill switch or tracker blocking. It also lets you sidestep the eight-connection limit, which is a huge bonus. Naturally, there are apps for iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and MacOS, too.

Note: We have a guide on what to do if ExpressVPN isn’t working with NowTV.

LAG-FREE STREAMING:ExpressVPN is a quick and reliable service. Unblocks all major online streaming services including Now TV and BBC iPlayer. Great security and privacy features. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

access now TVTested Oct 2024

CyberGhost really goes the extra mile to make streaming as simple as possible. It boasts thousands of servers across 100 countries and even tells you which is best for accessing a given service. For instance, to unblock Now TV, just click the arrow on the main screen, open the For streaming tab and select the server labeled Optimized for: Now TV UK. It’s also worth mentioning that the general-purpose servers are great for watching TV too, so even if you don’t see your favorite platform listed, you may still be able to watch.

This VPN’s design is pretty familiar: your standard main screen with location select and quick-connect buttons. However, what really sets it apart from the competition is its segmented server list. Users can instantly tell which are suitable for streaming, torrenting, or playing online games, and if you really need a dedicated IP address, you can access yours here too. It can be a bit tricky remembering whether the option you need is in the Smart rules, Privacy settings, or General settings menus, but experienced users may find having more options a benefit in itself.

CyberGhost delivered middle of the pack results in our comprehensive performance testing and its British servers replicated these findings with an average speed of 45.04 Mbps. That’s nearly fast enough to watch multiple 4K streams at the same time, though you may experience a little buffering now and then. Other day-to-day tasks like torrenting, gaming, or making video calls shouldn’t cause any issues either, making this a solid all-rounder option. The full test results are below:

Short and medium-term pricing is roughly in-line with the rest of the market (around $13 per month or $7 for a six-month plan). However, there’s a significant price cut if you pick the two year plan, and the cost drops even lower since this VPN currently offers an extra four months free. As such, those with multi-year subscriptions pay a little over $2 monthly on average. Users can also add a dedicated IP address to their plan for $2.50 per month, or get an antivirus app/automatic updater for just a dollar extra (though this only works on Windows at the moment).

CyberGhost has its own Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android apps. This service can also be installed directly on your home router in case you need to secure more than seven devices simultaneously. If you need help, just contact support staff using the 24/7 live chat service.

Note: Here’s what to do if you’re having trouble with CyberGhost on Now TV.

EASY TO USE:CyberGhost is perfect for beginners. Works with many popular streaming platforms, including Now TV and Netflix UK. Operates roughly 600 British servers and boasts lots of security features plus a strict no-logs policy. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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6. PureVPN

access NowTVTested Oct 2024

PureVPN has one of the larger networks we’ve seen, boasting over 6,000 servers in around 65 countries. Naturally, this includes the United States, United Kingdom, and Italy so streaming Now TV won’t be a problem. In fact, users can even access more stubborn platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer as well. There aren’t servers specifically designed for streaming but you can favorite those that you know work for faster access in the future. Best of all, this VPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections, making it ideal for families.

At first glance, this service’s apps look a little different from the competitions’. Take a second, though, and you’ll realize the changes are fairly minor. There are tabs on the left-hand side (instead of being tucked away in an expandable menu) and the panel on the right just tries to funnel users to signing up for the enhanced subscriptions (more on these later). We do like how clean the server menu is, though: it lets you quickly sort the list to see which support torrenting or port-forwarding. Our only complaint is that two of the three tabs in the settings menu are virtually empty, whereas the first has around 10 items – a minor issue but one worth noting.

When it comes to security, PureVPN has you covered. It’s been professionally-audited four times, proving beyond all doubt that its no-logs policy is legit. User activity is kept private using uncrackable encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch (shortened to IKS in the settings). This service also supports port forwarding, which can help improve speeds when torrenting, LAN traffic blocking, and tracker-blocking (though it lacks the ad-blocking functionality offered by some of its competitors).

You might be surprised to hear that PureVPN outpaced most of its rivals, its British servers delivering average speeds of 46.83 Mbps. This wasn’t news to us, though; this VPN took second place in our industry-wide speed tests recently. So what does this mean for the average user? When you’re using this day-to-day, you’re unlikely to notice any lag, stuttering, or buffering even when watching live broadcasts or ultra-HD video on Now TV. Here’s a breakdown of PureVPN’s performance at different times of day:

This provider has four standard subscription terms: one month, one year, two years, and five years. Prices start at around $13 and get lower the longer you sign up for. At the time of writing, the five-year plan works out at just over $2 monthly, which is an 82 percent discount. For a little more each month, you can upgrade to the Plus plan which includes a password manager and file encryption tool, or the Max plan, which has all of this and a personal data removal tool.

PureVPN apps are available for Android, Windows, MacOS, and iOS. This is one of the few providers with a graphical Linux app too, which is great since it’s aimed at beginners (who are likely less comfortable using the command line). It’s also possible to manually install this VPN on most home routers.

Note: Check out our troubleshooting guide if PureVPN isn’t working with Now TV.

WATCH NOW TV ON A BUDGET:PureVPN is fast, secure, and great for watching Now TV. Also supports platforms like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and Netflix. Strong encryption and a no-logs policy. Offers a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PureVPN review.

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7. Private Internet Access

access now tvTested Oct 2024

Private Internet Access provides access to servers in 91 countries and is the only major VPN with a presence in all 50 US states. For context, VPNs tend to have around a dozen to choose from, so this is something special and will allow you to get a US IP address from anywhere in the country. It’s a great choice for watching Now TV and other popular streaming platforms abroad, even working with stubborn services like Netflix (though it sometimes struggles). Better still, it recently removed its connection limit, meaning it’s capable of securing every device you own at the same time.

No surprises here, PIA’s apps are fairly standard-looking. There’s the ever-present quick-connect button and a way to change location on the home screen. What is unusual is that you can click an arrow to extend the app downwards, revealing info about your connection’s performance and quick access to a handful of settings. We question the usefulness of being able to toggle desktop notifications or change the theme from the main page, though we do appreciate being able to “snooze” (deactivate for a set period of time) the VPN. After all, this prevents you from forgetting to turn it on again later.

Private Internet Access supports two secure protocols, OpenVPN and WireGuard. Its encryption is considered uncrackable and it boasts a two-tier kill switch. The first functions as normal (stopping traffic after an unexpected loss of connection) while the second blocks all non-VPN traffic outright. This VPN also blocks ads, trackers, and malware with its MACE feature. It can obfuscate your traffic using Shadowsocks or a SOCKS5 proxy, though bear in mind this won’t be enough to browse freely in places like China. PIA has a no-logs policy and multiple audits under its belt.

This VPN delivered impressive speeds in our testing, coming in just slightly slower than NordVPN, which took first place. Across three times of day, its British servers averaged 46.65 Mbps which is a slowdown of around 2 Mbps as compared to our baseline test. That’s truly exceptional, and ensures you won’t have to put up with laggy, low-resolution streams just to keep your browsing habits private. Here’s a breakdown of its performance at three times of day:

If you’re concerned about price, you’ll be pleased to hear that PIA is actually one of the cheapest providers on the market. Its monthly plans are around a dollar cheaper than most of the competition while its annual and three-year terms cost $3.33 and $1.98 per month, respectively. It’s also possible to add an antivirus app (Windows only) for $1.49 per month, or get a dedicated IP address for an extra $5 monthly. These addons come with long-term discounts too, which is almost unheard of.

Private Internet Access offers Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, and Android apps. Notably, it lets you choose between a graphical or command-line-based app on Linux. Users can also manually install this VPN on their router to help secure devices like Smart TVs or consoles.

Note: We’ve created a guide on what to do if PIA isn’t working with Now TV.

CONSISTENT CONNECTIONS:Private Internet Access is a reliable choice for streaming Now TV. Boasts quick servers, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and novice-friendly apps, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

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8. PrivateVPN

Access Now TVTested Oct 2024

PrivateVPN refuses to be pulled into a debate about network scale. Instead, it focuses on acquiring and managing its own hardware, with 200 fully-owned servers across 60+ countries. As such, it’s able to roll out patches and optimizations quicker than rivals who rent their hardware. Not only that, but it provides some of the most consistent-unblocking ability we’ve seen, accessing stubborn platforms like Prime Video, Hulu, and ITVX without any issues at all. It’s also capable of accessing the most popular Netflix regions. This VPN allows subscribers to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously, allows torrenting, and works well for just about any everyday task.

When you first open the app, it’ll look fairly barebones with a quick-connect button, server selection, and little else. We’d encourage you to switch to the Advanced View for regular usage, though: this unlocks the settings menu and lets you view important info about your connection. Technically, there’s just one page of options (each toggleable and well-described), though there are a couple of tabs for more in-depth management of advanced features which we’ll discuss shortly. It’s also possible to start a chat with support staff directly from the app so that you don’t have to waste time searching for the live support popup on PrivateVPN’s website.

PrivateVPN, as you may have guessed, takes privacy seriously. It follows a zero-logs policy, uses high-end encryption, and provides a kill switch that can be customized to close specific apps when connection is lost. Further, there’s a Stealth VPN feature capable of beating ultra-strict censorship in countries like China or the UAE. Our only complaints are that while WireGuard is technically supported, these connections have to be manually configured. Additionally, PrivateVPN’s apps still allow PPTP connections which are no longer considered secure compared to newer protocols.

Now, PrivateVPN did deliver the lowest speeds overall, but still managed to provide a respectable average of 43.92 Mbps. That’s more than enough for streaming Now TV (even in 4K) and as someone who’s tested many similar services, I can safely say that most VPNs would slow down your connection far more than 5 Mbps. On the plus side, PrivateVPN’s performance was remarkably consistent, with less than 2.6 Mbps in variance across three times of day. Take a look at our full testing results below:

In the real world, price impacts a customer’s decision pretty heavily. PrivateVPN’s monthly plans are quite a bit cheaper than most of the other VPNs’ we’ve covered so far (roughly $10 per month). It also offers three-month plans for around $18 and a three-year plan which comes with a staggering 85 percent discount. That works out at $72, which breaks down to just $2 per month on average. Every single subscription comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

PrivateVPN provides apps for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS. However, if you want to use this service on Linux systems or routers, you’ll have to follow its manual configuration guides. Support staff are happy to walk you through the setup process over live chat – just be aware that this is only available during European business hours.

STREAMING-FRIENDLY:PrivateVPN is perfect for streaming thanks to its fast speeds and reliable unblocking ability. Works almost anywhere in the world and refuses to keep any logs. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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9. ProtonVPN

Access NowTVTested Oct 2024

ProtonVPN is a freemium provider from the company behind privacy-centric ProtonMail. Now, while you can use this service for free, it won’t allow you to stream or even choose a location. Upgrading, however, grants access to servers in 112 countries, unlocks your speeds, and increases your connection limit to 10 in addition to unblocking Now TV, BBC iPlayer, and many other British TV platforms. You’ll also be able to speak directly with staff in the event that you run into any problems, which is a huge, often-overlooked benefit.

This service’s main panel is dominated by a map, though there’s also a list of available locations on the left. Despite the apps’ slightly hacker-esque appearance, the settings menu is neatly-organized, and the vast majority of options have toggle switches, which helps keep things simple. We liked that it’s possible to activate port forwarding and ad-blocking directly from the main page but would rather see the kill switch somewhere it’s less likely to be clicked accidentally.

Drawing on our years of experience, we know that VPNs must provide uncrackable encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch to properly secure your connection. ProtonVPN has all of these, plus an independently-verified no-logging policy. There are a couple of advanced features too, like Secure Core servers (which are stored in a high-security data center), split tunneling support, and an accelerator that can boost your speeds. Best of all, this service offers a Stealth protocol that’ll help you watch Now TV on networks that normally block all VPN traffic automatically.

How did ProtonVPN fare in real terms? In a word, great! Its British servers delivered remarkably consistent speeds across an entire day, culminating in an average result of 45.98 Mbps. This puts it in fourth place overall, which is impressive given it’s going up against much larger, better-known services. It did only have two British locations (for UK IP addresses in London and Manchester) but many of its servers were streaming-optimized, so we can look past this. Here are our testing results:

This VPN has a limited free plan, but for the best experience, you’ll want to pay for access to the full version. Monthly plans are priced at around $10, while the annual and two-year subscriptions come with discounts of around 50 percent. It’s not the cheapest for long-term coverage but far from overpriced given how well it performs. There are also Proton Unlimited plans; these cost a little more but include cloud storage, a password manager, and encrypted calendar and email apps. Will everyone need these features? No, but it’s still nice to have the option (plus it’s cheaper to get these services this way instead of signing up to each individually).

ProtonVPN has apps for all major platforms including Windows, iOS, MacOS, Android, and Linux. Further, a wide range of routers are supported, giving you the ability to protect devices that don’t support VPNs or that have limited access to third-party apps. Live chat-based support is available 24/7.

ADVANCED USERS:ProtonVPN is an impressive all-rounder that caters to tech-savvy users. It is highly secure, has a no-logging policy, and works great with most streaming platforms. 24/7 live chat support is available and all paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ProtonVPN review.

Methodology: Identifying the best VPNs for Now TV

There are hundreds of VPNs competing for your attention, but that’s kind of a double-edged sword. On one hand, more choice is good; however, it does mean more research is needed, and a lot of people just don’t have the time. Our experts first made sure that services were capable of reliably accessing Now TV from abroad, then applied our stringent set of criteria to disqualify any potential recommendations that fell short. Those that remained were evaluated using the tests set out below.

Streaming ability

Now TV is branching out into other locations but it’s predominantly known for being a British service. As such, VPNs had to offer many servers in the UK (though Italian and American servers were a bonus). We’d also prefer these were spread across multiple cities instead of all clustered in one place – this allows subscribers to use whichever is closest to them, thereby minimizing latency which can impact the streaming experience. We assigned each VPN a score out of 10 based on these factors before moving to our second phase.

It might surprise you to learn that accessing Now TV is actually just the starting point of our testing. That’s because if you’re interested in this platform, you’ll probably want to use others at some point. Our team pitted candidates against a gauntlet of tricky streaming services including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and ITVX to see how well they performed. Another score out of 10 was awarded based on the results. At this point, both scores were normalized and weighted, giving us a single, clear score representing each VPN’s streaming ability. Take a look:

We really do have a mixed bag here. IPVanish narrowly managed to take the top spot, though there was fierce competition from NordVPN and Surfshark. Conversely, three of our candidates delivered overall scores of less than four. PIA had the lowest, at just 2.44 out of 10. Despite having a good number of British server locations, it struggled with streaming platforms that many of its rivals didn’t, like Amazon Prime Video and Hulu.

UK server speed

According to industry standards, you need a connection of about 2.5 Mbps to watch standard-definition video without any issues. This increases to 5 Mbps for live 1080p broadcasts and around 25 Mbps for flawless 4K streaming. Now, despite their claims of being the fastest, you’d be surprised just how many VPNs fall short of these relatively low expectations.

This is why our team runs two kinds of tests. The first is on an ultra-fast server, which is helpful for showing a service’s maximum possible speeds. For real world tasks like watching Now TV abroad, we also perform speed tests using servers in the relevant location, while on a fairly standard home broadband connection (averaging 48.57 Mbps). We performed three tests at varying times of day using each VPN’s British servers, got the average speed, and normalized the results to provide us with an overall score out of 10 for each provider.

We don’t often see perfect scores but NordVPN managed to achieve one regardless. It was the fastest overall, with minimal difference in speed throughout the day. PrivateVPN, on the other hand, was the slowest and accordingly, received the lowest score: just 4.6. It’s worth remembering that every service in this list is fast enough for streaming Now TV, it’s just that on this occasion, PrivateVPN fell short compared to its competitors.

Security and privacy

It’s easy to forget, but VPNs are privacy tools. If a service can’t adequately secure your data, it’s not worth using. To determine whether a provider can truly be trusted with your internet traffic, we evaluate it on 15 factors. These include whether it keeps connection or activity logs, the strength of its encryption, which country it’s based in, which protocols it supports, and whether it’s possible to sign up anonymously.

As ever, these scores are weighted and normalized, allowing us to compare providers’ security side by side, which is what we’ve done below:

NordVPN and Surfshark were tied for first place, each scoring 9.5 points out of a possible 10. NordVPN lost out due to slightly weaker authentication than we’d like, whereas Surfshark lost points due to being based in a Nine Eyes country and not having its own protocol. Even PrivateVPN, which got the lowest score, still delivered an impressive 8.6. It’s also worth mentioning that this service has benefits that aren’t accounted for in testing, such as owning its own infrastructure, though.

Ease of use

User-friendliness is a tricky thing to quantify, which is why it’s often overlooked in reviews like these. However, we at Comparitech know that if a service is a nuisance, you’re probably not going to use it regularly. That’s why we look out for features that’ll make your experience as seamless as possible, whether it’s streaming-optimized servers, a total lack of connection limits, or just a high degree of unblocking consistency. Here are all of the things we examined when assigning ease of use scores for our top VPNs:

The good news is that none of our recommendations scored less than an 8.6 out of 10. PrivateVPN’s lower score here was largely due to its lack of task-specific servers and the fact that it occasionally struggles with some streaming platforms, but it’s still very easy to use. Meanwhile, NordVPN and PureVPN each scored 9.6 for their well-designed apps, excellent consistency, and straightforward signup/cancellation. Here’s how every service stacked up:

Value for money

Ideally, you’d be able to get top-tier security and access everything you could ever want without paying a cent. Unfortunately, that’s not really how it works. Still, the best VPNs aren’t always the most expensive. Our team dives deep into the pricing structure, connection limits, and sale frequency of potential recommendations to make sure you’re really going to get your money’s worth. We also check whether there are any discounts for students or first responders. Plus, to even be eligible for a spot in our list, VPNs must offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Once again, we weigh and normalize these scores. Surfshark was our top performer in this category, with a near-perfect 9.7 out of 10. Conversely, ProtonVPN scored just 7.4 due to its higher than average monthly price and lack of discounts. Of course, it does offer a remarkably robust free plan which helps offset this a little.

Advantages of using a Now TV VPN

It goes without saying that the most obvious advantage of using a Now TV VPN is that you can watch Now TV from anywhere! However, you may not be aware of the other benefits of using a Now TV VPN:

Access geo-blocked content

With the best VPNs for Now TV, you’re not limited to a single streaming service. Many are also capable of unblocking other popular UK streaming platforms such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and Sky Go. In fact, because these VPNs offer servers in dozens of countries worldwide, you can access international streaming services as well, be it Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Stan, or TSN.

Bypass bandwidth throttling

Some ISPs engage in bandwidth throttling to manage their networks. This may happen when you’re streaming, torrenting, or playing online games, for example. By using a Now TV VPN, you can hide your online activity. Your ISP won’t know when you’re engaging in more bandwidth-intensive activities, allowing you to bypass the ISP throttling. You may benefit from improved connection speeds as a result.

Improved online security

When you connect to a VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted, preventing hackers and snoopers from accessing your data. The best VPNs for Now TV, however, provide more than this. You can expect protection from leaks and a kill switch that cuts your internet traffic in the event that the VPN connection drops. A VPN is particularly vital if you’re connecting to unsecured public Wi-Fi when abroad.

Online anonymity

Closely related to security is anonymity. You can’t really have one without the other with a VPN. Encryption is a key part of helping you maintain online anonymity. However, a VPN should keep minimal logs. One thing that the best Now TV VPNs have in common is that none of them keep logs by which you can be identified as a user. Some have even had their no-logs policies independently audited to prove this.

Evade internet censorship

Not only can a Now TV VPN allow you to bypass simple geographic restrictions, it can also help you evade internet censorship. If you find yourself traveling abroad to some countries, such as China or the UAE, you’ll find many internet use restrictions. Some of the VPNs we’ve covered in this post have obfuscated servers for navigating this. Just be sure to check that VPN use is legal in your location first.

Note: We are not lawyers; nothing in this article should be taken as legal advice. Remember that illegal online activity is still illegal, even when using a VPN. Always seek legal advice if you are unsure.

Watch Now TV abroad: FAQs