Best VPN for BBC iPlayer: These 5 Are Working Flawlessly

BBC iPlayer is the most popular streaming platform in the United Kingdom. While it offers a boatload of fun shows, movies, and entertainment programs, it’s also known for live streams of many sports events. And you know what? It’s completely FREE!

That is if you live in the UK, where you can watch BBC iPlayer simply by accessing its site. However, people outside the queen’s land will need the best VPN to unblock and access the platform.

Top 5 VPNs for BBC iPlayer :

1. NordVPN
2. ExpressVPN
3. CyberGhost VPN
4. Proton VPN
5. Surfshark VPN

The trick is that not every VPN will work, as BBC iPlayer is highly efficient at detecting VPNs. So, before you get a BBC iPlayer VPN, you need to know which one to go for to achieve the best possible streaming experience.

Thankfully, we’re here today to help you with that decision as well as show you how to use a VPN for BBC iPlayer and make sure you get it up and running.

Top 5 VPNs for BBC iPlayer That Work in 2024

Before divulging the list of my favorite Virtual Private Network services for BBC iPlayer, let me give you a quick disclaimer. The providers you’re going to see here are premium ones, so they require a paid subscription to work. The reasons for using premium providers are numerous.

They offer unlimited bandwidth and great speeds, and they REALLY work with BBC iPlayer – you’ll have proof of that below. Now, let me tell you more about them:

1. NordVPN

If you aspire to watch BBC iPlayer from anywhere, the greatest VPN is NordVPN. With its 6,300+ servers in 111+ countries, you’ll most likely be more than impressed. In addition, NordVPN has servers in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Manchester, with at least 440 of them in total.

Nevertheless, this provider is very fast, which ensures a smooth streaming experience on every platform. It doesn’t have any dedicated streaming servers but rather offers P2P, obfuscated, and Double VPN servers that add to security.

To be honest, NordVPN doesn’t need streaming servers because it already works well as it is. In terms of security, the VPN is jam-packed. You get Threat Protection for clearing out malware/trackers coupled with the NordLynx protocol and bank-grade encryption.

Since it’s based in Panama, NordVPN stores no logs either, so you can enjoy the highest level of privacy. Furthermore, NordVPN is easy to use and its modern-looking apps leave no one indifferent, especially because of its exceptional device compatibility.

With 10 simultaneous connections, 24/7 live chat support, and the ability to unblock Netflix, I think this is a pretty good choice for the purpose. Heck, it’s not even that expensive, with the 2-year plan being the cheapest deal on NordVPN.

Costing less than ExpressVPN and a bit more than CyberGhost, NordVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans. If you don’t mind VAT in certain countries and occasional connectivity issues on Windows, this is a solid choice for BBC iPlayer fanatics! You can find more information in our NordVPN review.

Get NordVPN for BBC iPlayer

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2. ExpressVPN

My second favorite VPN for BBC iPlayer is ExpressVPN. I mean, this service works with the streaming service 10/10 times and offers some of the fastest speeds you can get, resulting in a flawless and lag-free streaming experience.

ExpressVPN’s speeds are accompanied by a huge number of servers in the United Kingdom. Having servers in London, East London, Wembley, and Docklands, you’ll have no issues accessing BBC iPlayer. It is anything but a coincidence that we consider it the best VPN in the United Kingdom.

Another great thing about ExpressVPN is its security – if you care about it. It has 256-bit encryption coupled with a kill switch and the Lightway protocol for exceptional security and blazing-fast performance.

Storing zero logs is also a part of ExpressVPN’s business. To that, we should add easy-to-use applications for all platforms, letting you use this VPN even on iOS/Android smartphones or Linux, Windows, and macOS computers.

To make things better, ExpressVPN has 8 simultaneous connections on a single subscription, with 24/7 support that works round-the-clock. While not the most affordable service, ExpressVPN has no particular flaws that would make you think twice before getting it.

And even then, it has a 48% discount and 3 free months for its 12-month plan, which makes it much cheaper. You shall not forget about its 30-day money-back guarantee either. It’s going to let you use it to access BBC iPlayer outside the UK without the risk of losing money in the first 30 days.

Unblock BBC iPlayer With ExpressVPN

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3. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is ExpressVPN’s brother company and it follows in its footsteps relentlessly. However, instead of 3,000 servers, it has around 12,000 of them in 100 countries, covering the United Kingdom with hundreds of fast-speed servers.

To be accurate, CyberGhost has 750+ servers on British soil, and they’re based in Berkshire, London, and Manchester. Moreover, the VPN has dedicated streaming servers for different platforms, which, of course, include BBC iPlayer. That’s why it occupies a very nice spot in our list of VPNs for streaming.

Thus, with a single double-click (no pun intended) on this server, you can unblock the platform in a blink of an eye. Sure, CyberGhost isn’t faster than NordVPN, but the whole streaming experience on BBC iPlayer is pretty good – even when talking about sports live streams.

CyberGhost is extremely secure as well, packing 256-bit AES encryption, WireGuard support, and a dependable ad-blocker. Based in Romania, CyberGhost stores no logs, making sure your browsing activities are private.

Unlike NordVPN, it comes with a meager 7 simultaneous connections but offers applications for all platforms. Although, I don’t like that it isn’t as user-friendly and it doesn’t work in China. Still, its 24/7 multi-language support sort of balances things out.

And its price is, by far, the cheapest on this list. Its 2-year plan is particularly good, costing below $2.5 a month and offering a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is rather impressive. For this price, I promise you, you won’t find a better VPN than this one!

Stream on BBC iPlayer With CyberGhost

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4. Proton VPN

Proton VPN is an amazing pick with over 8,200 servers in 111+ countries. This Swiss provider unblocks BBC iPlayer easily, thanks to ample server locations in the United Kingdom. One of its key features is WireGuard, which allows for faster speeds and more stable connections.

Having tested it a hundred times, we found that Proton VPN’s streaming prowess is undeniable. People can also use this BBC iPlayer VPN to unblock other UK channels, such as ITVX or Sky TV. Moreover, Proton works with Netflix and Hulu if you’re in the UK.

This provider’s speed is slower than NordVPN, for example. However, you get unlimited bandwidth, plus support for torrenting that diversifies what you can do with this service. Proton VPN’s Secure Core servers are a great example, as they boost your privacy.

These servers are owned by Proton VPN, which is key to avoiding third-party interference. Privacy-wise, the provider doesn’t skimp on anything. It uses RAM-only servers physically protected against hazards. The no-log policy is there too, which is a huge relief.

Proton VPN doesn’t keep a speck of logs, so expect the highest privacy level each time you use it. Like NordVPN, Proton VPN has 10 simultaneous connections and works on all devices; including Firestick TV, Apple TV, and “ordinary” Smart TV systems.

The price isn’t the lowest but 01net lets you save over 55% on Proton VPN’s 2-year plan. If you want to commit for shorter, the annual plan is a great value too. Finally, there’s the free plan with unlimited bandwidth, alas, with no UK VPN servers to speak of.

Unblock BBC iPlayer Anywhere With Proton VPN

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5. Surfshark

Surfshark is known for offering plenty of servers in the UK, which allows you to watch BBC iPlayer anywhere. While this is the last provider on our list, it doesn’t mean it’s bad. In fact, its servers in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Glasgow are some of the best here.

They’re fully capable of unblocking BBC iPlayer anywhere, and with WireGuard support in place, you can enjoy high-quality streaming buffer-free. Surfshark isn’t the fastest compared to NordVPN or ExpressVPN but it’s more than great for this purpose.

Another thing to mention is that you get NoBorders Mode. This feature obfuscates your VPN traffic and allows you to unblock BBC iPlayer in China, for example. Surfshark is pretty secure if that’s what you want, plus, it includes a CleanWeb ad blocker to keep ads out of your eyesight.

You’ll enjoy its AES-256 encryption coupled with an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, and even MultiHop. The latter is very important for doubling your encryption, while DNS/IPv6 leak protection will prevent potential leaks that could endanger your privacy.

Speaking of that, Surfshark stores absolutely no logs. In our article about the pros and cons of VPNs, we highlighted how important a no-logs policy is, as it means that the provider stores no information related to your activities online, IP address, and geolocation.

Plus, Surfshark has unlimited simultaneous connections, which allows you to protect as many devices as you want concurrently. Other features include 24/7 support through live chat, apps for all platforms, and Surfshark One – a mid-tier plan with virus protection.

All in all, we’re talking about an affordable BBC iPlayer VPN with a 2-year plan that costs merely a few dollars a month. If we add a 30-day money-back guarantee to the equation, we get a solid provider that will serve you more than well considering the money you’ll give.

Stream on BBC iPlayer With Surfshark

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How to Use a VPN to Unblock BBC iPlayer

Once you know what is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer, using one is pretty simple. For this guide, I’ll use NordVPN to show you how to use such a service, but I’ll show you proof that all VPNs work with no issues.

Here’s how to unblock and watch BBC from anywhere in the world:

1. Subscribe to a VPN

As said, NordVPN is my favorite VPN that works on BBC iPlayer. I recommend grabbing its 73% discount and 3 months free for the biennial plan so that you can save a lot of money. Subscribing to a VPN is pretty simple, though.

Subscribe to NordVPN

Once you choose the subscription plan, you’ll need to use the preferred payment method to make a payment and register an account using your credentials. This gives you the possibility to download VPN applications for different devices.

2. Install a VPN on Your Device

Here, you can choose any device or platform you want. I use Windows, but if you use an iPhone or any Android phone, you can download all 5 VPNs from Apple Store or Google Play. On Windows, you can download the application directly from the VPN site.

It’s a setup file that you need to install by following the on-screen steps, after which, you need to open the application and sign in using the credentials you provided earlier. Doing so, you’ll arrive at the dashboard that resembles this look:

3. Connect to a VPN Server in the UK

To unblock BBC iPlayer using a VPN, you need an IP address from the United Kingdom. To get it, you need to connect to a server in this country. I’ll show you how to do it in NordVPN but the process is exactly the same on all 5 providers.

Just open the server list by clicking on More Connection Options. Scroll down and select the United Kingdom. After clicking or tapping it, you’ll get a British IP address for watching BBC iPlayer abroad.

This is indicated by NordVPN showing “Connected” in green in the top-left corner, meaning that the connection is successfully established.

4. Visit BBC iPlayer and Enjoy!

Once you go through all of that, you’re free to visit BBC iPlayer and watch it outside the UK free of charge. And now, here’s proof that our VPNs really work:

NordVPN:

ExpressVPN:

CyberGhost:

Proton VPN:

Surfshark:

Best Free VPN for BBC iPlayer: Will It Ever Work?

When looking to access BBC iPlayer outside the UK, using a quality VPN is a must. Besides, low-quality VPNs tend to be detected by BBC iPlayer, so even if you connect to a UK server, you’ll still get an error message saying that you’re not located in the UK.

This happens more often than not with free providers. In my numerous tests, I found out that a free VPN service that works with BBC iPlayer simply doesn’t exist for many reasons. One is that a free Virtual Private Network is easily detected by the site, which I already pointed out.

The second reason is that free VPNs usually don’t have any servers in the UK. Just check out Proton VPN, Hide.me, and many other free providers, and you’ll find that UK servers aren’t on their lists.

When you can’t get a UK IP, you can’t unblock BBC iPlayer – it’s that simple. Even if free VPNs worked with BBC iPlayer, you’d encounter issues like limited bandwidth and slow speeds, which is all but great for streaming.

For example, Windscribe gives you 10 GB of monthly bandwidth while TunnelBear drops it to just 2 GB a month. Moreover, many free providers are known for intrusive logging, so we have providers like Hola VPN and Betternet that pose a threat to your privacy.

Add to that weak encryption, limited server park, and poor device compatibility, and you get a well-crafted recipe for disaster. Thus, if you want to access BBC iPlayer abroad, I strongly advise getting one of the best BBC iPlayer VPN providers I talked about.

They offer no performance/bandwidth limits, they have excellent security, and they’ll work with BBC iPlayer no matter your location.

Summary

BBC iPlayer is home to fantastic shows, movies, and sports streams. If you’re not residing in the UK or you’re living on another part of the planet, getting the best VPN for BBC iPlayer is a must. Thankfully, we have 5 great recommendations that will get you very far.

Not only will they work with BBC iPlayer but they’re also great for Netflix or simply for preserving your online privacy and enjoying anonymous browsing. They also have P2P capabilities and no-logs policies, making them that much more valuable.

If you remember, all VPNs have at least a 30-day money-back guarantee. Hence, if you’re not satisfied or you don’t want to watch BBC iPlayer abroad anymore, you can get a FULL refund during this period and not lose a single cent!

Try NordVPN Today

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FAQ

Want to know more about the best BBC iPlayer VPN providers? Here are a few more answered questions:

My VPN isn’t working with BBC iPlayer, what should I do?

If your BBC iPlayer VPN isn’t working, you should most likely switch to another one. Remember that free VPNs won’t work but the same could be said about some paid services that don’t bring the required level of quality.

However, if you have one of the VPNs from our ranking, yet you still can’t access BBC iPlayer, you should try connecting to another British server. In 99% of the cases, that will solve the issue of VPN not working with BBC iPlayer.

Can I watch Wimbledon on BBC iPlayer?

YES! One of the best things about BBC iPlayer is that it offers sports streams, which include events like Wimbledon, Premier League, and The Champions League. Besides, you can watch both live streams and replays on BBC iPlayer, so you can enjoy watching sports all year round.

Is BBC iPlayer free?

Of course. BBC iPlayer is completely free and it works as long as you’re located in the United Kingdom or you have a UK IP address with a quality VPN. You don’t need to pay anything and it doesn’t have any kind of subscription plan.

Instead, you just need a free account, and after verifying it through your email, you can watch stuff on BBC as much as you want.

How to watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK?

Get a British IP address with a VPN! Choose either NordVPN, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Proton VPN, or Surfshark, follow the steps above, and you’ll get it working. This is THE only way of watching BBC iPlayer abroad, as free VPNs and proxies will not work.

How to watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN on my phone?

The same way as described in the article. You’ll just need to install a VPN on your phone. All our VPNs support iOS/Android devices, so that’s pretty simple. Now, just connect to a server in the UK, visit BBC iPlayer, and enjoy watching the content you like.

Don’t forget to make a free account on BBC iPlayer, as this will allow you to access its content. Without an account, you can’t watch anything, be it on your PC or mobile phone.