I’ve tested 20+ streaming VPNs, and Norton VPN is unmatched

Cozy Sunday nights are non-negotiable. Whether I'm locked in to the latest HBO drama or half-watching a trashy Australian reality show no one has heard of yet, my living room is my happy place. Plus, as a big reader, I'm always excited for the next book adaptation – and I’ll readily admit I get genuinely grumpy if I have to wait to watch a show that's been available in another country for six months.

For me, a VPN isn’t just a piece of software to test – it’s the only reason I’ve seen every season of "The Traitors" without having the ending spoiled on X. It’s also what lets me keep up with my favorite series when I’m traveling for work, ensuring I’m not stuck watching TV shows in a language I don't even speak.

I’ve spent years fine-tuning my streaming game so that when I finally sit down with my cat on my lap, everything just works. I’ve done the hands-on testing so you don’t have to.

For my money, Norton VPN is the best VPN for streaming. It outperformed every other VPN in our testing, unblocking every streaming service we threw at it. It's affordable and easy to use, covering a range of platforms.

My top recommendations

• Best streaming VPN overall: Norton VPN | jump to review
• Best for features: NordVPN | jump to review
• Best for privacy: Proton VPN | jump to review

What to look for

When deciding which VPN to put your money behind and subscribe to, these are the four different factors I would suggest keeping in mind.

Ability to stream: It sounds obvious, but when looking for a streaming VPN, you want one that is actually consistently able to unblock all the streaming services you wish to watch. Not every VPN service is up to the task, but if the provider you're looking at can consistently unblock trickier services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime, you're onto a winner.

Great speeds: Nobody enjoys the dreaded buffering experience. You'd be pretty frustrated if you got it from your internet provider in this day and age of superfast broadband, so keep your expectations high from your VPN. Routing your traffic through a different country is bound to slow things down a little with physical distance being a hindrance, but we've put them through their paces (and speed tests) to see which come out on top.

Ease of use: Virtual Private Networks may sound a little complicated to the non-tech savvy, but where streaming is concerned, it should be fairly straightforward. Still, some VPNs are clunkier than others, so it's important to find one you feel confident you can use effectively.

Customer support: If you do happen to find yourself in deep water, stuck on how to set up or use your VPN, you'll definitely want the reassurance that one you choose offers excellent customer support. This means everything from how readily available it is, different means of contacting the support team, and, of course, how helpful it proves to be.

Meet the testing team:

Tested and written by:

Tested and written by:

Alice Marshall

I installed and tested all the VPNs in this guide – and a lot more that didn't make the cut – to see how they performed under real-life conditions. The bulk of my testing was using my whole Apple ecosystem of a 2024 MacBook Pro, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and an Apple TV 4K. I also used a Windows laptop to check some more techy features, and even borrowed a friend's Amazon Fire TV Stick to get a good range of results. I won't lie, I loved doing it – I've got a lot of experience writing about both VPNs and streaming from my work at Cinemablend and TechRadar, so it was great fun to sit down and get stuck into unblocking shows I've never seen before!

Reviewed, tested, and edited by:

Reviewed, tested, and edited by:

Mo Harber-Lamond

My day job is reviewing and writing about VPNs. I wrote Tom's Guide's NordVPN and Surfshark reviews – the process of which involved a lot of streaming testing. Doing the streaming tests for VPN reviews is one of the most exciting parts of the process. Not only do I get logins for almost every streaming service under the sun, but I get to provide my readers with truly useful, unbiased information that helps them pick the right VPN. I don't just trust a VPN when they say they can unblock Japanese Netflix – I test it out for myself. During the editing process of this page, I also added some more under-the-hood knowhow that I've gained from over five years working with VPNs.

Reviewed by:

Reviewed by:

Michael Simon

As a Contributor who handles VPN reviews for the core team, I penned Tom's Guide's ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access reviews – and I've used dozens of others in my time as a tech journalist. My focus is on the technical detail, and I love getting to know the ins and outs of every VPN I get my hands on. Just like everyone who has a part in creating Tom's Guide's VPN coverage, I also undertake streaming tests. After all, the more results we have, the better a picture of each VPN's reliability we can build.

Reviewed by:

Reviewed by:

Olivia Powell

I've worked closely with the Tom's Guide VPN team for a few years now, and I'm also the author of Tom's Guide's Proton VPN review. Fittingly for this guide, I did a lot of the legwork for our previous round of VPN streaming testing, and recorded most of the results you'll see quoted on this page. Beyond streaming, I've spent a lot of time analyzing the design and interfaces of all the VPNs we consider featuring on pages like this one. I specialize in finding small details that that could improve – and a number of VPNs have updated their designs with my published suggestions in mind!

The best streaming VPN overall

Norton VPN has undergone a massive transformation over the last 18 months, and it's now a serious VPN option. Streaming has been a large part of its focus, and it's reaping the rewards as Norton VPN unblocked every streaming site I tested it with – a feat no other VPN managed.

All regions of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ were unblocked, along with a host of regional services. Nearly every service was unblocked first time, only a couple needed multiple attempts.

This means I feed even my most embarrassing TV additions. I’ve watched "Married at First Sight Australia" months before for it to hit the UK airwaves, and enjoyed shows on Netflix like Baz Luhrmann’s "Elvis" which is available in Argentina but not where I live.

Two-year plans start at $2.49 per month (roughly $60 upfront), making Norton VPN an affordable choice. You can protect either 10 or 20 devices on one plan, depending on your subscription tier, and its apps are easy to use – albeit a little simple for techy users.

But it's positioning itself as a provider that is accessible for all. There's rarely any need to get stuck into the settings if you're just interested in using your VPN for streaming. The server drop-down menu, and the connect/disconnect button are front and centre, plus apps look the same on all devices so navigating different platforms is easy. There's also a quick select option for fastest and most recent servers.

All of Norton VPN's apps are super simple and easy to navigate, while the Apple TV and Fire TV apps are some of the simplest I've tried – but predictably, as with all streaming devices, there's very little to "do" in the app besides connect and exit.

Norton VPN isn't the fastest VPN I've tested, but its 1,010 Mbps WireGuard speeds, and 514 Mbps OpenVPN speeds are still good, and more than fast enough for uninterrupted 4K streaming.

NORTON VPN IN ACTION

The best streaming VPN all-rounder

NordVPN is a close second to Norton VPN when it comes to streaming. It unblocked Netflix libraries around the world and Disney+ in my testing. As well as this, it unblocked BBC iPlayer, and other geo-restricted, free platforms like Australia’s 9Now and Ireland’s RTÉ Player. However, NordVPN failed the US YouTube test, and I couldn't unblock Amazon Prime Video in Australia and New Zealand – it was successful in other regions though.

Like Norton VPN, NordVPN isn't the very fastest VPN I’ve ever seen but it's still quick, and disconnections are incredibly rare. I never need to get into the weeds of the more complicated settings like some other products.

NordVPN used to get criticised for its map interface but the company has upped its UI game, particularly on its smartphone apps, and I think it’s super easy to find the country you’re looking to connect to. Its native Apple TV VPN app is very slick, but Norton VPN's apps are a touch simpler, and more suited to beginners.

One drawback to NordVPN is that you are limited to 10 devices. It sounds like a lot but once I added my phone, my TV, my tablet and media streamer to my other household devices, I quickly got through them. Norton VPN also has 10 on two of its plans, but Norton VPN Ultimate increases this to 20 – ideal for families or larger households.

Two-year NordVPN plans start at $3.09 per month ($83.43 upfront, pre-tax). This isn't the most expensive, but skews higher than most VPNs on this list.

Beyond streaming, NordVPN has a ton of extra features, that's why it sits top of our best VPN guide. There's Double VPN, Onion over VPN, post-quantum encryption, and my personal favorite, Threat Protection Pro – which NordVPN has just rebranded.

NORDVPN IN ACTION

The most private streaming VPN

While streaming is the focus here, Proton VPN could be a reliable choice for anyone particularly privacy conscious. It’s packed full of privacy features and has the biggest network of servers on this list, with 20,000+ across 191 locations and 145 countries. In simple terms, this means it’s highly likely you’ll find a server in a country you wish to connect to and you’ve got options in the unlikely event one fails to unblock.

In testing, I encountered a few issues with Proton VPN, but on the whole it performed pretty well. It unblocked all regions of Netflix and Disney+, and passed the YouTube test. It had no trouble with regional services either.

I think Proton VPN has the balance perfectly down where its apps are concerned. It was once a bit cluttered, but a lot of the kinks have been streamlined, and it marries together in a smart interface that doesn’t hide away from the fact privacy is this VPN’s primary focus.

With the option to collapse its map design to just a list of countries, Proton VPN has some of its main features, Secure Core, NetShield, and its kill switch sitting just above the list ready for you to activate. As I mentioned before with NordVPN, although privacy might not be your top concern, if you happen to be streaming from a non-legitimate source, you may appreciate the extra layer of security with these tools.

There’s also the very handy tab called "Profiles." This is essentially a "favorite" system, allowing you to save a server/protocol etc. combination that you like and want to use in the future. This could be particularly handy if you find out only a particular combination works for a certain site. Set up your Profile, and there's no need to hop around – you can go straight to the one that works for you.

Proton VPN sits firmly in the middle when it comes to price. A two-year plan costs $2.99 per month ($71.76 upfront).

PROTON VPN IN ACTION

🔒 Read our in-depth Proton VPN review for all the details.

The best streaming VPN for beginners

ExpressVPN used to be my go-to VPN across the board, and that included streaming. And it’s still pretty good, hence its #4 spot on this list. It's the simplest VPN I've used, and it's also not as expensive as it used to be. However, as with almost any VPN, watch out for renewal price hikes.

A 28 month ExpressVPN plan starts at $2.49 per month ($69.72 upfront, pre-tax).

On my Mac, the main feature is a big "On" button and a Smart Location. Clicking the current server showed all my options, and clicking on the star icon let me "favorite" the most reliable. Simple server selection is a must – if you're globetrotting for fresh TV shows, you don't want to be glued to your VPN's settings.

The apps are similarly simple on other devices, and I found the Chrome extension perfect for streaming on my laptop. Again, it’s very straightforward to use and allows me to hop from one location to another without having to flit between multiple windows. Sure, it’s only about two clicks fewer than usual, but every bit of streamlining helps.

It's not all roses, though. On non-Windows devices, the Lightway Turbo setting isn't available, and subsequently peak speeds aren't quite as impressive. However, unless you really rely on gigabit Wi-Fi, you won't notice a difference – my 150 Mbps connection felt as speedy as ever, no matter what device I was using.

ExpressVPN did record some failures in my tests. Most notable was Netflix in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. No other VPN on this list had trouble with Netflix, so this is disappointing from ExpressVPN.

EXPRESSVPN IN ACTION

The best streaming VPN for speed

Windscribe is a new addition to this list. It's packed with customization and has strong privacy credentials. Its streaming unblocking power has greatly improved, and its speeds are astronomically fast – exceeding 2,000 Mbps in my testing.

It's the only VPN on this list that has an unlimited connections policy. So no matter how many devices you have in your household, Windscribe can cover them all. Its server spread is on the smaller side – similar to Norton VPN. All major locations are covered, but it's not an expansive list.

Windscribe's apps are highly customizable, but they aren't the most intuitive out there. Its dashboard features an on/off button, sat above its server list. For beginners, this isn't too complex. But if you want to access its extra features, you'll need to delve into settings and this can be tricker for the less experienced user.

When it comes to unblocking, Windscribe faired well. It did fail the YouTube test, and struggled here and there with Amazon Prime Video. But it unblocked Netflix first time in all locations, and delivered strong results when unblocking regional services like BBC iPlayer and 9now.

Privacy and security are a priority for Windscribe, and it protects your data with post-quantum encryption. Its no-logs policy has been proven in court, and its R.O.B.E.R.T threat protection provides effective phishing, malware, and ad blocking.

Price is Windscribe's biggest drawback. All features are included in one subscription, but it costs $5.75 per month ($69 upfront) for a 12-month plan. That makes it the most expensive VPN on this list by some way.

WINDSCRIBE IN ACTION

Are VPNs legal for streaming?

The short answer to this is yes, although it does come with a couple of caveats. Using a VPN may violate the licensing agreement for whatever streaming platform you're using, and may lead to your account being terminated (although we've never actually heard of this happening).

Some streaming services, like Netflix, will only show you TV shows or movies that it has a global license for if it detects your VPN use. Other streaming services, like 10 Play or Amazon Prime, will simply not play any content if your VPN use is detected.

Additionally, if you're looking to stream live UK TV content using BBC iPlayer, you will need to have a valid TV licence. If you don't, you may be subject to a fine or prosecution for doing so.

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Do I need a VPN for streaming movies?

The answer to this question depends on a couple of factors – namely, whether or not the movie you want to stream is available in your region.

If it is, then you should be okay – although using a VPN is a good way to keep your data secure while online, so you should consider using one even if you don't need to spoof your location.

If the movie you want to watch is available on our chosen streaming platform, but not in your current region, then you will need a VPN to spoof your location to one where it is available.

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Does VPN make streaming faster?

While a VPN cannot improve your internet connection speed, a VPN with good speeds won't slow you down during streaming sessions. Going for a VPN with high speeds that you won't be subject to lag and buffering when connected to it.

The only way using a VPN can actually speed up your internet connection is if you experience throttling by your ISP. This means that your ISP is purposefully slowing your connection to conserve bandwidth if its decided that you're using too much. By using a VPN, you conceal your internet traffic from your ISP, preventing them from seeing what you're getting up to (whether this is HD streaming, gaming, or torrenting) and throttling your connection.

Based on our speed and real-world test, none of the VPNs on this list should slow you down, and all are capable of exceeding 1,000 Mbps.

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How does a VPN work for streaming?

Using a VPN for streaming is simple. First, boot up your VPN, then select a server in the country you want to stream content from.

Once you're connected, log in to your chosen streaming service, and select whatever movie or TV show you want to watch. Then you should be good to go!

If your VPN is detected, you may have to switch servers to get it working again. However, with our top rated streaming VPN, Norton VPN, my VPN use was not detected at all during streaming tests.

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