You probably would have heard of VPN before, there is a possibility that you might have even used a VPN service in the past. But
What is a VPN?
VPN is the acronym for Virtual Private Network, a network meant to secure your web footprint and help you access otherwise blocked servers or content on the internet.
VPNs was initially used only by reputed agencies and big corporate houses in order to secure their data and online footprints. Since these organizations started working remotely, it created the need for a secure internet pathway with only authorized access. Otherwise, such organizations were at the risk of getting hacked.
VPN services are popular in 2020, specifically because of the anonymity it provides. VPNs allow a safe connection with websites and applications you intend to access.
How Does a VPN Work?
Let us rewind to comprehend the functioning of internet! To access any website, you need to input the website URL in the address bar of a browser. This URL contains a domain name that accesses the website’s IP address. Any device that is designed to connect with the internet in some form has an IP address.
When you type in the website’s URL on your web browser, some of your data is sent to the website’s server you intend to access. That server then grants you database access to the website for surfing as per your request. Along with your IP address, some of the sensitive data is also sent to the server. This data can be intercepted by hackers who can target your device and extract all your data.
For example, imagine you are sitting at a café and you log in to your bank account using the public Wi-Fi. Any potential hacker or individual with knowledge of networking/hacking having access to this public Wi-Fi network can easily get a hold of your passwords, your IP address, and other data on your device.
However, if you use a VPN, no such data will be accessed by the server on the other end thus limiting access to you. The websites you visit also gather your information but tend to do so for analytics purpose only.
It’s not a threat to your data but if you find the need to secure your online identity, VPN is the solution. A VPN incorporates an extra server, which routes your data through their server and sends the website access request from their own server. This step hides your location anyone tracking would be led to the VPN server’s location.
There have instances when government agencies often try to track your location or gather more information about you for your online activity. Using a VPN will mislead them and protect your online identity.
When you try to access any website or online application, your VPN service provider creates a secure channel which encrypts your data to maintain your anonymity. As such even if someone intercepts your data, brute-forcing the 256 AES encryption will take a number of years to crack it.
By changing your location, encrypting your data, and ensuring privacy, VPNs come in handy to keep your digital identity safe and secure.
How To Choose A VPN For Streaming?
While it is advised to stay away from free VPN providers as they provide service at the cost of bandwidth restriction and data limits, choosing a VPN service for streaming will depend on a few personalized factors.
Preferred Streaming Site
A few VPN service providers are blocked by streaming service providers such as Netflix and Hulu. The choice of your streaming site will have an impact on which VPN service you can use. For instance, if a leading service provider is blocked by Amazon Prime Video in the UK, you will not be able to access that content even with a purchased membership.
Check our article on free Streaming sites:
- Best Free Sports Streaming Sites
- Best Free Cartoon Streaming Sites
Connection Speeds and Server Locations
The higher the number of server locations, the better will be your connection speed. When purchasing a VPN service especially for streaming, you need to make sure the service offers a higher number of connections to get that decent speed during peak hours.
Customer Support
When you commit to a VPN service, you will be paying a huge sum for the package you choose. There is a good chance you wouldn’t be facing any issues but in case you do, the best possible case will be to contact the customer service and resolve your issues. Hence, it becomes imminent to get a VPN service that offers a responsible 24/7 customer service. And the easiest way to check for customer service responses is user reviews!
Do You Need a VPN for Streaming?
VPN services do more than just offering a secure connection to websites. With their wide array of server locations, these service providers can literally open up a back door to websites or other content blocked in your region. So, the best VPN for streaming can open up a whole new world of streaming content for you to overcome geo-restrictions.
As these VPN services offer the feature of finding and connecting to a server of your choice, you will be able to access shows blocked in your region by logging in from a location where the content is unblocked.
If the content of your choice is blocked at your location, the only way to enjoy those shows is using a VPN service. There are some free VPN for streaming twitch but with capped limits.
Let’s get acquainted with the best VPNs for streaming you can start using today!
Best VPN Services for Streaming
1. NORD VPN
NordVPN is quite affordable and easy to set up on all supported devices. It is available in over 59 countries with more than 5400 servers. It gives you a wide range of server locations to choose from whenever you wish to re-route.
It doesn’t apply any speed or bandwidth limits to its users meaning your connection speed will depend upon server distance, device load, or original internet speed. You can enjoy Netflix and many other content streaming websites worldwide.
It safeguards all your internet data with next-generation encryption, worth mentioning considering the no-bar bandwidth or speed offered. Nord VPN changes your IP address twice to provide blanket protection. Apart from VPN it also works as an ad blocker. This is rated as one of the best VPNs for streaming Twitch and gaming by users worldwide!
Feature Overview
Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Firefox, Android TV | Number of Servers: 5400 | Server Locations: 60+ | Maximum Devices Supported: up to 6 | Security Protocols: IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard, L2TP/IPSec | Money Back Guarantee: 30 days | Encryption: 256 – bit AES encryption
Highlights
- Onion router over VPN
- IP masking
- Double IP protection
- Strict no-logs policy
- No Data Leaks
- Trustpilot rating of 4.4 / 5
Pros
- Double IP protection
- No DNS leakage
- Accepts Cryptocurrency as payment
- Updated Netflix support
Cons
- Not all servers support torrent
- Server hacked in the past
Check out the subscription prices and offers of Nord VPN here
2. Cyber Ghost
CyberGhost has a wide range of server locations in over 90 countries. Security and online privacy features are also robust compared to most other VPNs. They offer accessibility for up to 7 devices under one VPN membership.
Not only does it boast of a wide range of servers, CyberGhost also brings rapid download speeds even while streaming 4K videos. It can easily unblock streaming services using Cyber Ghost, bypassing the geo-restrictions, and secures all your online activities.
It further offers a 45-day money-back guarantee and price bands are created to benefit the long-term buyers. CyberGhost also offers automatic blocking features for all connections if it detects any suspicious activities or errors in its network.
Feature Overview
Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Firefox, Console, Amazon Fire Stick, Android TV, Apple TV, Smart TV | Number of Servers: 6200 | Server Locations: 88+ | Maximum Devices Supported: up to 7 | Security Protocols: IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard, L2TP/IP Sec | Money Back Guarantee: 45 days | Encryption: 256 – bit AES encryption
Highlights
- Preferred for Netflix
- No logs policy
- Auto Kill Switch
- Up to 7 simultaneous connected devices
- IP and DNS protection
- Trustpilot ratings of 4.8 / 5
Pros
- Great for streaming Netflix
- Supports multiple platforms
- High security protocols
Cons
- Expensive small term plans
Check out the subscription prices and offers of CyberGhost here!
3. IP VANISH
IP VANISH focuses on providing all the latest features at a base cost, just what makes it stand out among the leading VPN service providers.
Access to over 1500 anonymous servers spread across 75 locations provides IP VANISH the capability to go around censorship filters. It delivers fast and unrestricted internet access to you anywhere on the earth.
IP VANISH can unblock the US, UK, and other Netflix libraries. The privacy offered is among the best with access to top internet protocols such as IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, and many others. Also, it provides an uncapped bandwidth supported by multiple devices.
Further equipped by secure socket tunneling protocol, it is controlled by Microsoft and can easily bypass firewalls and proxy servers. This protocol utilizes the SSL 3.0 channel to send information making IP VANISH safe for banking transactions and e-commerce purchases as well.
Its zero-log policy helps provide targeted security to you irrespective of your web activities. This policy combined with encryption and backups will come in handy in case of data loss. You can safeguard all your files and documents with SugarSync secure cloud storage.
Feature Overview
Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, amazon fire tv, Linux, ChromeOS | Number of Servers: 1500 | Server Locations: 75+ | Maximum Devices Supported: Up to 10 | Security Protocols: IKEv2, OpenVPN, L2TP | Money Back Guarantee: 30 days | Encryption: 256 – bit AES encryption
Highlights
- High speed and uptime
- Zero traffic logs
- 24/7 customer support
- Latest Security Protocols
- Trustpilot rating 4.7 / 5
Pros
- Supports a lot of devices
- Offers 250GB of encrypted backup
- 256 – bit AES encryption
Cons
- Poor Client Application
- Lacks Features
- Lacks Optimized Servers
Check out the subscription prices and offers of IP VANISH here!
4. Surf Shark
Surf Shark is a new VPN service provider in the mix. But with the features on offer, value, and support, it’s an excellent service for first-time users. It provides servers in over 63 countries totaling more than 1700 servers while offering multiple basic features as well as advanced services.
Surf Shark stands out with its optimal in-built location feature which finds the fastest server for you. It allows you to access torrents without having to connect to a P2P server. Apart from a secure internet connection, Surf Shark also keeps your internet exploring free of trackers, ads, and phishing attempts.
A huge up to date Netflix library makes this one of the best VPNs for streaming movies or series. Surf Shark allows its users to browse Netflix libraries in over 25 countries.
Compared to other VPN service providers, Surf Shark is the only provider that offers unlimited access with a single membership plan.
It also utilizes specialized servers for secured P2P traffic. So, if you are using a P2P app, you will be auto connected to the most adjacent available P2P server. The most common P2P connections include streaming players like VLC, popcorn time, Bit torrent, and uTorrent.
Feature Overview
Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Firefox, Amazon Fire Stick | Number of Servers: 1700 | Server Locations: 63+ | Maximum Devices Supported: Unlimited | Security Protocols: IKEv2, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec | Money Back Guarantee: 30 days | Encryption: 256 – bit AES encryption
Highlights
- 15 Netflix libraries
- Whitelisted
- Removes phishing websites
- No log policy
- Kill switch
- Unlimited device support
- Trustpilot rating of 4.3 / 5
Pros
- Unlimited connections
- Simple user interface
- High speed test scores
Cons
- Weak social media presence
- Inadequate customer support
Check out the subscription prices and offers of Surf Shark here
5. Express VPN
As long as you are on this planet with a stable enough wired network connection, Express VPN has you covered. With over 3000 servers in more than 94 countries, 97 per cent of the Express VPN servers are physical ones, helping provide ultra-low latency and exceptional speeds.
Express VPN is popularly considered to have the fastest and most stable speeds in the VPN domain. The overall difference between peak and average download speeds are less than 7%. It will unblock content from Hulu, Disney Plus, BBC player, and Amazon Prime Video. Express VPN can even crush Netflix’s geo-restrictions.
Using the Media Streamer DNS of Express VPN, you can unblock Amazon Prime on devices that don’t even support VPNs. Express VPN servers run on RAM only, hence all the data is cleared with every reboot.
The user interface is extremely simple to use, it has just one button to start the connection. Express VPN is not just one of the best VPNs for streaming, it is among the best around!
Feature Overview
Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Firefox, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo | Number of Servers: 3000+ | Server Locations: 160 | Maximum Devices Supported: 7 | Security Protocols: IKEv2, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec | Money Back Guarantee: 30 days | Encryption: 256 – bit AES encryption
Highlights
- DNS Support
- Supporting platforms
- Server locations
- Consistent connection speeds
- Uses only RAM
- No logs
- Trustpilot rating of 4.7 / 5
Pros
- Exceptional speeds and uptime
- Advanced security on both app and server
- No logs
- Runs on RAM
Cons
- Servers are not labelled
- Prices are higher
Check out the subscription prices and offers of ExpressVPN here
6. VYPR VPN
VyprVPN is arguably the best VPN for streaming movies. Given the wide range of security protocols in use, the chances of getting hacked are close to impossible. Apart from providing unrestricted access to streaming content, VyprVPN application ensures that our connections are always secure.
This application will automatically kick-in whenever you access unknown Wi-Fi. Be it downloading or streaming, this VPN service provider will offer extreme with only 5% falls on average. It provides high-end encryption to protect your device and your data from external threats using NAT Firewall to ensure reusable private IP addresses.
Some of the servers are located in other countries and not where they show on the server dashboard. Although this may lead to minute queries on the data usage and monitoring, speed and uptime remain largely unhindered. VyprVPN is one of the best VPNs for streaming Netflix in 2020!
Feature Overview
Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, ChromeOS | Number of Servers: 700+ | Server Locations: 70 | Maximum Devices Supported: 5 | Security Protocols: Chameleon, PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN | Money Back Guarantee: 30 days | Encryption: 256 – bit AES encryption
Highlights
- Chameleon protocol
- No log DNS
- Vypr cloud service
- Public Wi-Fi protection
- Kill switch
- NAT Firewall
Pros
- Strong security features
- No access logs
- Security features
Cons
- No anonymous payments
- Stores Users source IP address for 30 days
Check out the subscription prices and offers of VyprVPN here
7. Turbo VPN
Turbo VPN offers free VPN for streaming with access to 8 server locations. It currently offers services only on Android and iOS. Turbo has released teasers of Amazon Fire TV and Chrome OS support versions to be launched soon. Turbo VPN is arguably the only leading VPN service provider in the mobile devices niche.
The developer Innovative Connecting supports VPN application development services, security reinforcement services, network acceleration services and engineering integration services.
Turbo VPN features high uptime and more than satisfactory speeds for streaming, especially with the paid version where you get to use all 29 server locations and purportedly also get better speeds. These features make it one of the best VPNs for streaming on Android and iOS with its user-friendly app and simple functions.
Note that, this VPN is not for PC usage and it does not support VPN services on Windows or macOS. However, you can still use an Android Emulator to run the app on your PC. This is one of the rare services which is better when free!
Feature Overview
Platforms Supported: Android, iOS | Number of Servers: 29 | Server Locations: 26 | Maximum Devices Supported: 5 | Security Protocols: PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN | Money Back Guarantee: 7-day Free Trial | Encryption: 256 – bit AES encryption
Highlights
- High uptime
- Encrypted connectivity
- Supports all IP based applications
- Trustpilot rating of 4.7/5
Pros
- Simple one-tap connection
- No log data
- Handy app
Cons
- Limited device support
- Frequent connection timeout
Check out the subscription prices and offers of TurboVPN here
Conclusion
Services provided by all the VPN companies are mostly similar. Choose the VPN service that provides the best connection speed at your location – this should be your top priority. Higher the number of servers the better will be connectivity speeds. Also make sure to check if your streaming app/s supports the VPN services you intend to use!
