Best VPNs for Streaming

Top-rated VPN for streaming 2025

Best VPN services for Streaming 2025

To be included in the ranking of the best VPNs for streaming, a network must meet specific requirements such as a fast connection, the presence of servers optimized for streaming or the geographical extension of the servers.

All the services we will see respect the highest standards of security and privacy; each can be recommended to unlock a specific platform or for specific uses.

1. NordVPN

The service best known to the general public for quick access to foreign media catalogs (such as Netflix USA, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max) is NordVPN. This service continually strives to provide new servers and IP addresses to bypass geoblocking systems applied by streaming services.

NordVPN’s network comprises over 6,200 fast servers in 104 countries, ideal for exploring any foreign catalog. To keep the connection speed high and also support 4K streaming, it uses the NordLynx protocol, an evolution of the WireGuard protocol always designed to provide the best network connection, even when the chosen server is very far away (such as those on the west coast of the United States).

NordVPN has specific servers for streaming, can also use Smart DNS to unblock catalogs on Smart TVs and always maintains an absolute level of privacy thanks to the presence of personalized and secure DNS, the strict no-logs policy and the use of AES-256 encryption on every connection made.

It is currently one of the best solutions for Netflix USA and SkyGo and supports all other major platforms.

NordVPN is a subscription starting from €3.69 per month (2-year Standard plan); those who want to test it can rely on the Satisfied or refunded formula to try it for free for 30 days and quickly obtain a refund in case of problems.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark has over 3,000 servers in 65 countries, which suits any use scenario. They all support unblocking streaming content and offer the same degree of speed and security, thanks to the WireGuard protocol, a strict no-logs policy, and advanced encryption (AES-256).

This VPN for streaming allows you to install a Smart DNS on Smart TVs and can be added to any device. No restrictions exist on the number or type of devices associated with a single account.

Those who use the PC to connect to streaming platforms can also use the browser extension, which works similarly to the app but is limited to the browser (the encrypted tunnel will not involve other apps).

Surfshark works on:

Surfshark is available for €1.99 per month (the first 28-month plan). There is a 30-day Satisfied or Reimbursed formula for those who want to test the service first. The complete guide to Surfshark is available at this link.

3. CyberGhost

CyberGhost ( full review here ) is another valid choice for those who use VPNs frequently for streaming, want to change servers often, and always get the best speed in any network condition.

This virtual private network comprises one of the largest networks (over 11,600 servers in 100 countries ), covers any country and has servers optimized for the various streaming services, as well as no-spy ones and those dedicated to P2P.

Its basic features include a strict no-logs policy, the WireGuard protocol, the split tunnel, and an innovative triggering function (which starts the VPN on its own with a specific app from the PC).

Smart DNS is available for Smart TVs for lovers of TV series and films from the living room. It is designed to immediately unblock foreign catalogs without going through the virtual private network (however, it is always recommended, considering that it can be easily combined with Fire TV Stick).

CyberGhost can unblock the following streaming services:

CyberGhost is a subscription starting from €2.19 per month (2-year plan plus two extra months). Thanks to the 45-day money-back guarantee formula, you can always request a refund from support in case of problems unblocking streaming content.

4. PrivateVPN

The PrivateVPN network is not large (200 servers in 63 countries). Still, it ensures high connection speeds thanks to the WireGuard protocol and the availability of servers in the most convenient and famous locations (such as in the United States, for example).

The app is available for various devices and can be installed on a Fire TV Stick. This allows you to change the server and final IP address with a simple touch on the screen or by selecting the connect button.

There is no Smart DNS on PrivateVPN, a shortcoming partly mitigated by an app for Apple TV and Android TV (including the Fire TV Stick and Google Chromecast with Google TV).

This service unblocks the most used streaming platforms:

The price of PrivateVPN is €2.08 per month, with a three-year subscription. As with other similar services, it supports the Money Back Guarantee formula.

5. ExpressVPN

To unblock all streaming services with high connection speeds, you can rely on ExpressVPN.

This virtual private network has a network of over 6,000 servers in 160 different countries. The secret of its speed lies in using the Lightway protocol, a modified version of WireGuard designed to be light and simple to manage even at a long distance from the server, easily accessing streaming services from the United States.

There is no shortage of Smart DNS, the kill switch (one of the most important systems for the security of your browsing data) and the automatic connection system, designed to favor maximum speed in all network conditions.

ExpressVPN works with all popular streaming services, as seen in the table below:

The most accessible subscription costs €6.28 per month (12-month plan), possibly using the Satisfied or Reimbursed formula to request a return if problems are encountered.

Streaming with Free VPN, which one to choose?

Streaming with free VPNs is possible, but it has some limitations. Fast servers, anonymous IP addresses, and resources are required to unblock foreign catalogs and prevent them from being intercepted by geo-blocking systems integrated into the platforms. All this requires an investment of financial resources within the reach of only the best-paid VPNs, which have various revenues.

Despite this, if you want to try a free service, the most recommended are PrivadoVPN and Windscribe, which work well as long as you tolerate some limits.

As an alternative to free private virtual networks, you can consider trying a subscription service with the Satisfied or Reimbursed formula: this way, you get a complete and unlimited service to test on your favorite platforms for 30 days and then request a refund.

Which VPN is for football and sports streaming?

For streaming football and sports, it is advisable to choose a server very close to your country to be able to benefit from excellent speeds and delays reduced to a minimum, especially if the event is live and further problems such as network saturation and the transmission server (not attributable to virtual private networks ).

The best VPN services for live (live) streaming sporting events are Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN. You can rely on any service mentioned in the guide to watch sporting events on demand.

How to choose a VPN for streaming

To choose a good VPN for streaming, consider the following parameters and verify that the chosen virtual private network respects them.

Ability to unlock content

This is the most important feature. Some services cannot unblock specific streaming platforms. Before proceeding, it is therefore advisable to analyze the unlocking table and verify that the chosen service displays the catalog without problems.

The only services that work with all major platforms are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and PrivateVPN.

Speed

All the premium services mentioned offer fast connections, support the latest generation VPN protocols, and are supported by 10 Gbps servers and specific servers for unblocking streaming content.

The fastest-selling services are ExpressVPN and NordVPN, which provide 10 Gbps servers.

Size of the network

Having a large server network is a significant advantage when it comes to streaming: with a wide choice, each user can always select a fast server or a specific server for the country in which to appear.

Evaluating only the network extension and availability in various countries, CyberGhost, Surfshark, and NordVPN are the best VPN services.

Compatibility with devices

All the services mentioned in this guide have apps for smartphones, tablets and laptops and are installed on Fire TV Stick and other multimedia devices (such as Google Chromecast with Google TV).

Surfshark is the only service that can be installed on unlimited devices. PrivateVPN, on the other hand, does not provide Smart DNS support.

Select the best server for streaming

When connecting to a VPN for streaming, it can be useful to follow a few simple rules always to get the highest speed:

• Select the closest server, especially if the streaming comes from Italy or nearby countries.
• Use servers on the west coast of the United States in apps where you can select the city.
• Select servers dedicated to streaming in apps clearly showing the section or category of servers intended for online playback.
• Indicate the specific server for a platform to unlock the content quickly.
• Change the server every 2 hours to prevent blocking systems from intercepting traffic and recognizing the VPN connection.

These tricks will allow you always to obtain high performance and maintain stable playback of streaming content on any platform.

Why use a VPN for streaming?

There are essentially two reasons to use a VPN for streaming:

• See foreign content in your country: a VPN is used to view catalogs that are otherwise not accessible from your country’s territory. This is the most common scenario where the various services invest most of their resources.
• See your country’s content abroad: Those who travel abroad frequently for work can benefit from using a VPN to access their country’s websites. For this scenario, there must be at least one server in your country, which is even better if two are in different locations.

All the services in this article work for both scenarios, providing a wide choice of servers for unblocking streaming services and multiple servers on your country’s territory.

The VPN doesn’t work in streaming, what to do? Useful tips

If your VPN doesn’t work properly during streaming or freezes during playback, it’s worth trying one of the following tips before contacting customer support:

1. Check service compatibility: using the above tables, you can check if the chosen streaming service works with the VPN.
2. Change server or location: if there are multiple servers for the same country or various locations (cities) it is worth changing locations regularly.
3. Use anonymous browsers: it may help to avoid official apps and browsers used daily and rely on browsers dedicated only to VPN streaming, without any data, access or cookies saved;
4. Opening and closing the app: Opening and closing the VPN app will restart the connection and solve any temporary problems.
5. Use double VPN: if the service allows it, it is worth testing double VPN, using the one compatible with the service to be unblocked as the final server. You will obtain a slightly lower speed but will be sure not to be intercepted.

These tips will solve most of the problems you may encounter with VPN services when used for streaming.

Final thoughts on best VPN services for streaming

When choosing a VPN for streaming, it is always best to use a service compatible with the platform you want to use, with a good quality/price ratio, excellent connection speed, and complete features designed for watching video content online (such as servers optimized for streaming or unlimited devices).

The most complete services are NordVPN and ExpressVPN, followed closely by Surfshark and CyberGhost, which are excellent for those looking for an extensive network and servers optimized for each platform.

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