This guide was created to inform you about all that is involved when using a VPN on BBC iPlayer. It is particularly helpful for anyone who wants to enjoy this UK-based streaming platform when travelling overseas.
While BBC iPlayer has an award-winning range of TV shows and movies, you can only access it from the UK. That is unless you use one of the VPNs featured in this guide. We will explain how these VPNs work, and we’ve even created a handy comparison that will let you see the best VPN for BBC iPlayer on the market.
The iPlayer is a streaming platform from the BBC, which is a public media corporation based in the UK. The iPlayer is only available in the UK and its streaming services are not designed for users overseas.
As a result, the BBC has taken various measures to try and stop you from using a VPN to access its iPlayer from outside the UK. However, as we’ll shortly discover, some VPNs have managed to overcome these geo-restrictions. We’ll show you how to use BBC iPlayer with VPN so that you can continue watching your favourite shows no matter where you are.
It’s worth noting that beyond keeping your video entertainment accessible, VPNs also do a great job in improving your online security. This is because they work to keep your web use completely private so that no one can see who you are. As a result, your data won’t be sold off to some third-party company and you’ll be kept at a reduced risk of any hacking attempts.
Before we get into how to set up a VPN for BBC iPlayer, it is best to start with the basics. A VPN is a ‘virtual private network’ that redirects your web traffic to a remote server. From here, it will encrypt your data to make it look like it is coming from a server based in one of the web service’s accepted locales.
So if you want to use a VPN for iPlayer, select its main server, or the best country for BBC iPlayer VPN, which is the UK, and then you can start watching the streaming service. This is because your internet service provider will be shown as being in the UK and then the geo-restrictions will be lifted.
You can download a VPN as an extension to your computer browser, as an app for your mobile device, or even directly to your smart TV. So now that you know the basics of how to watch BBC iPlayer with VPN, it’s time to take a look at which VPN providers give you the best service for unblocking this streaming channel.
We’ve found that BBC iPlayer is easily one of the hardest streaming services for most VPNs to unblock. While many VPNs can unblock the likes of Amazon Prime and Hulu without too much of a problem, iPlayer seemingly requires a little more expertise.
Thankfully, we’ve found that the following VPNs can all get past iPlayer’s geo-restrictions with relative ease. So here is a quick comparison of how these VPNs fare in terms of their cost, download speeds, and the range of UK servers that are used to redirect your web traffic.
| VPN | Monthly cost | Number of servers | Hulu access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express VPN | $12.95 | 3,000+ | Yes |
| Nord VPN | $12.99 | 5,800+ | Yes |
| CyberGhost VPN | $12.99 | 5,700+ | Yes |
This is a VPN that makes light work of BBC iPlayer’s geo-restrictions to let you access the streaming service from all over the world. This is due to the fact that Express VPN has some of its 3,000 servers in UK locations such as London, the Docklands and the Midlands.
Making this even easier is the fact that Express VPN has a cool Smart Location feature that lets you find the right server for the task at hand. The download speeds aren’t exceptional, but they are fast enough to cope with even the longest binge-watching session.
We should note that Express VPN is good for accessing many other UK-based streaming platforms such as ITVX, All 4, BT Sports, Now TV, as well as the likes of Disney Plus, Prime Video and so on.
Naturally, you’ll get to enjoy all of the privacy and security that you’d expect of any decent VPN. It’s not the cheapest out there, but it shares similar expected monthly costs for any quality VPN on BBC iPlayer.
You simply can’t fault Nord VPN for its ability to unlock all of the streaming giants. Not only can it let you watch BBC iPlayer from outside the UK, it can also handle Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, as well as Netflix in most countries - something that other VPNs fail at. Plus when you consider that this VPN unlocks other UK streaming platforms like All 4 and ITVX, you’ll understand why it made our shortlist.
All of this is possible because Nord VPN features an impressive number of 44 servers based in the UK alone which makes it pretty easy to find the best BBC iPlayer VPN location. Plus it’s packed with extra security features including kill switches, DNS leak protection, and a cool double VPN server option.
So why isn’t Nord VPN the top of our list? Well, like Express VPN, it requires a relatively high monthly fee. Moreover, some people might find that its user interface is a little complicated. As long as that doesn’t bother you, we’d have no hesitation in recommending Nord VPN for anyone who wants more privacy and freedom over how they use BBC iPlayer.
SurfShark VPN features literally thousands of servers across the world, and these include servers in UK locations such as London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow. This means that you can simply download this VPN to your device and then enjoy the full range of BBC iPlayer content, no matter where you are in the world.
You will also enjoy some of the fastest download speeds around with the SurfShark VPN; its average speed of 950 Mbps is more than enough to handle any streamed TV show. Plus you can even use unlimited devices simultaneously with this VPN, which is good news for anyone sharing a household with other UK TV fans.
SurfShark VPN also includes a range of features to keep your web traffic secure. These include a private DNS and a handy split tunnelling feature, which means that you can apply the VPN to iPlayer but not another web service. Again, there is a monthly fee that is similar to the others, but we think that it is definitely worth a closer look.
Our guide has revealed that there are plenty of decent VPNs which can all allow you to watch BBC iPlayer from overseas. This means that you should be able to watch all of your favourite TV shows and movies from this UK streaming platform from the convenience of your smart TV, computer, or mobile with full privacy and security.
Remember that this streaming platform isn’t the easiest to unblock by all VPNs, so expect the monthly costs to be higher for the service. Free BBC iPlayer VPNs simply won’t always be the trick, so you get what you pay for. Still, it’s a small price to pay to be able to enjoy this streaming service at your personal convenience. Consider which of these BBC iPlayer VPNs is best for your needs, then sit back and relax.
Most VPNs tend to have a few problems unlocking this streaming platform, but with the best VPN for streaming, it’s a cinch. Read our guide to learn which ones you can use.
Not all VPNs for BBC iPlayer are made equal. Check out our guide to see which is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer so you can enjoy more freedom in how you watch this streaming platform.
Not only will we show you what the best VPN for BBC iPlayer is, but we can also tell you why you’ll in fact need it. The good news is that the pros outweigh the cons for having a VPN. Review our guide to find out what they are.
Be sure to read our guide to see if you can get a free BBC iPlayer VPN. After all, the best VPN providers will usually require a monthly fee, but this isn’t to say that you can’t sometimes get something for free.
Not everyone knows what is required to use a BBC iPlayer VPN. This guide will tell you how to make use of the best VPN for BBC iPlayer, and if a TV license is necessary.
