You can stream BBC iPlayer for FREE from anywhere with a VPN. But, because it’s toughened up its geoblocks, many VPNs can’t access it anymore. I’ve spent months testing 300 VPNs to determine which can consistently access BBC iPlayer. My top pick is ExpressVPN for its lightning speeds and excellent unblocking abilities, but any of the VPNs on my list are fast and reliable for accessing BBC iPlayer. And you can try all my VPN recommendations for FREE for a limited period, thanks to risk-free money-back guarantees. Request a refund during the guarantee term and it’s yours, no questions asked. Get BBC iPlayer With ExpressVPN Now! Start Streaming BBC iPlayer Now!
Why You Need a VPN to Watch BBC iPlayer
Your IP address tells the sites you visit which country you’re in. If BBC iPlayer detects that you’re using a non-UK IP, it’ll deny you access with this error message: This is geoblocking – restricting what you can view based on your location – and BBC iPlayer is particularly efficient at it, but I’ve found five VPNs that can beat BBC iPlayer’s tough geo-restrictions and anti-VPN software. It’s easy. Simply connect to one of your VPN’s UK servers and you’re allocated a UK IP address. Your virtual location then changes and it’ll appear to BBC iPlayer that you’re in the UK. You can now stream as much Noughts + Crosses or This Country as you like.
The Best VPNs for Watching BBC iPlayer - Updated 2023
To watch all your favorite BBC shows, you need a VPN that can guarantee a reliable connection to BBC iPlayer. After many months of research and testing, I’ve decided on my five best VPNs for unblocking iPlayer around the world.
1. ExpressVPN - Best VPN for Unblocking BBC iPlayer
With exceptional streaming features, ExpressVPN is my top pick for watching BBC iPlayer from around the world. Test out ExpressVPN’s streaming capabilities for yourself risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee You can use the MediaStreamer feature to watch the best of British TV on your big screen. It enables streaming on devices that don’t support a native VPN app, like smart TVs. Following a step-by-step guide on the ExpressVPN website, I had BBC iPlayer up on my LG smart TV in minutes. I had no problem accessing BBC IPlayer from the US with each of ExpressVPN’s four UK server locations. Plus, my colleagues in China broke through the Great Firewall to watch BBC iPlayer in the world’s most censored country. This reliability would be meaningless if ExpressVPN didn’t have the speed to match. I was pleased to discover that ExpressVPN lived up to its name. My quick connect UK server provided an exceptional download speed of 35.71 Mbps, which proved to be more than fast enough for smooth streaming. ExpressVPN’s built-in speed test for Mac and Windows made it easy for me to find the UK servers with speeds over 25 Mbps, so I could watch Blue Planet II in Ultra HD, knowing there would be no interruptions or long loading times. Unlimited bandwidth and data mean I didn’t experience any dropped connections, even when streaming over four hours of EastEnders. I reached out to the 24/7 live chat team to ask how many devices I could connect at once – 5 – and found them to be helpful and polite. They were exceptionally knowledgeable about the streaming services ExpressVPN can unblock, and were able to point me towards the best streaming server, too. Want to know more? Explore our ExpressVPN review to see the full results of our research and testing. Stream BBC iPlayer With ExpressVPN Today!
2. CyberGhost - Dedicated Profiles for Easy Streaming
With CyberGhost, you’ll find it easy to stream BBC iPlayer from anywhere. Just a few clicks is all it takes to connect to a UK server and stream some great British TV shows. Each server is labeled with the streaming services it can unblock, so all you need to do is type “iPlayer” into the search field and it will automatically display the best server. See how easy it is to connect to BBC iPlayer with CyberGhost for yourself while enjoying a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. I managed to beat BBC iPlayer’s geoblocks and anti-VPN software with a random selection of CyberGhost’s 500+ UK servers. Plus, CyberGhost’s optimized BBC iPlayer server gave me access to the platform several times with reliable speeds. Unfortunately, the Great Wall of China proved problematic for CyberGhost. Our researchers in China failed to access BBC iPlayer, no matter which UK server they tried. As far as speeds go, although the 13.91 Mbps from the UK server was not fast enough for smooth 4K streaming, it was sufficient for buffer and lag-free streaming in HD. I put the unlimited data and bandwidth to the test by watching an entire series of Jonathan Creek, and I enjoyed a crystal clear picture with no frozen pixels. Plus, there were no long loading times between episodes, as my speed remained steady with no dropped connections. You can connect the VPN to 7 devices simultaneously. I put this to the test by connecting all of my family’s devices and because you get unlimited bandwidth, our connections didn’t falter. I’ve tested hundreds of VPNs, and I’ve found CyberGhost to be one of the easiest to use. But, if you do have any problems connecting, live chat support is on hand day or night with helpful and speedy advice. Want to know more? Explore our CyberGhost review to see the full results of our research and testing. Stream BBC iPlayer With CyberGhost Today!
3. PrivateVPN - Small but Dependable Streaming Network
PrivateVPN’s network may be compact, but it offers reliable speeds and unblocking strength that rivals some larger providers. I tested PrivateVPN’s two UK servers on multiple occasions, and each time, I was able to skip past BBC iPlayer’s geoblocks. Plus, the dedicated server for BBC iPlayer guaranteed a dependable connection, even during peak times. PrivateVPN gives you a 30-day money-back guarantee that allows you to try out all it has to offer, risk-free. While not as fast as the other VPNs on this list, the 11.51 Mbps download speed from the UK server allowed me to stream Pose in HD with no buffering or lag and minimal loading time between episodes. Thanks to unlimited data and 10 simultaneous device connections, the whole family can stream as much as they like from BBC iPlayer without worrying about being dropped from PrivateVPN mid-binge. Want to know more? Explore our PrivateVPN review to see the full results of our research and testing. Won’t last long: Save up to 85% today Stream BBC iPlayer With PrivateVPN Today!
What else can a VPN do?
The ability to unblock BBC iPlayer and other global content is a major benefit of premium VPNs, but there is more to them. A premium VPN provides:
Complete protection of your online privacy and sensitive data with advanced security features, including military-grade encryption, leak protection, an automatic kill switch, and a zero-logging policy. Anonymous streaming, browsing, and torrenting, even in countries with strict online censorship. Peace of mind that your sensitive data is protected every time you go online, including when connected to unsecured WiFi networks. Malware and adware blockers. Access to a widespread global server network. The ability to bypass local network congestion and throttling.
Our guide to VPNs has some excellent information about the additional benefits of using a VPN.
Can BBC iPlayer detect a VPN?
BBC iPlayer uses anti-VPN software that compares your IP address against a database of known VPN IPs. If it finds a match, your connection is blocked and your server is blacklisted. This isn’t a problem for the VPNs on my list, as they regularly update their IP addresses to prevent detection. If you have a problem connecting to BBC iPlayer with any of the VPNs on this list, simply disconnect from your current UK server and reconnect to your VPN with a different one. This assigns you a new IP address that isn’t blocked. Take a look at our comprehensive guide to the best VPNs for BBC iPlayer.
Can I watch BBC iPlayer on my phone with a VPN?
Absolutely! Each of my recommendations has excellent mobile apps, so you can stream BBC iPlayer on your phone, tablet, laptop, and more.
Is using a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer illegal?
In the majority of countries, using a VPN to stream content is perfectly legal. However, countries with heavy internet restrictions, like China and Russia, can be a bit of a gray area. Russia has banned VPNs entirely, while China only blocks them. You can still use a VPN in China, but you need to install it before you arrive. We tell you everything you need to know about the legality of using a VPN in your region with our guide.
Do I need a TV license to watch BBC iPlayer?
When signing up for an account with BBC iPlayer, you will be asked if you have a UK TV license. However, you don’t need any proof, you just need to check a box confirming TV license ownership.
Bottom Line
Outside of the UK’s borders, you’re unable to access BBC iPlayer and all of its great content unless you use a VPN. With a top-class VPN, like ExpressVPN, you’ll have no problem obtaining a UK IP address that can fly past BBC iPlayer’s geoblocks. I’ve thoroughly tested each of my VPN recommendations, so I can confirm that they have the unblocking power and the speed required for the smooth streaming of BBC iPlayer from anywhere around the world. Stream BBC iPlayer Now!
To summarize, the best VPNs for unblocking BBC iPlayer are:
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