BBC iPlayer, the national broadcaster of the UK, give us hundreds of fantastic TV shows, movies, news and sports coverage in super HD quality. Most surprisingly, this amazing streaming platform is completely free to watch in the UK if you have a valid TV license.
However, without a decent VPN, it can be challenging to access BBC iPlayer content from other regions/locations. Even VPNs that offer UK IP addresses face the risk of being blocked by BBC’s strict security protocols.
Be at ease; few affordable VPN providers can deceive the BBC website making you appear in the UK and allowing you to watch the content from any location outside the United Kingdom. In this regard, We’ve compiled a list of the best vpn to watch BBC iPlayer App.
Before going to subscribe a VPN service, checkout the in-depth analysis of the best VPN for BBC iPlayer, a quick guide to unblocking BBC iPlayer using a VPN.
Our current top pick for the best BBC iPlayer VPN is SurfShark. It hasn’t always been this way, but right now it’s a really strong, affordable provider with great speedy UK Servers and an incredibly user-friendly UI on PC, mobile, streaming devices, Smart TVs, and more.
VPNs to Access and Watch BBC iPlayer (Outside UK)
- SurfShark: 360+ UK VPN Servers (4 Locations) @ [Surfshark_Price]
- NordVPN: 440+ British Native Servers (4 Location) @ [NordVPN_Price]
- PureVPN: 600+ Servers in London, Maidenhead, and more @ [PureVPN_Price]
- CyberGhost: Choose from 792+ Servers in the UK @ [CyberGhost_Price]
- iProVPN: 150+ Servers to Access BBC iPlayer @ $1.30/month
Steps to Unlock BBC iPlayer In USA and other Regions
To get around the BBC iPlayer’s Geo-restrictions, all you need to do is to get a VPN for any of your devices that you have like Smart TV, Mac, smartphones. You can binge watch in no time if you just follow these easy steps, generally applicable on all devices:
- Subscribe for a SurfShark Or any other from our list.
- Download and install the respective app for your device.
- Login and connect to the UK Server.
- Now open the BBC iPlayer app and enjoy watching thousands of exciting contents absolutely free!
With SurfShark, you can easily setup VPN on your supported routers which will allow you to access BBC iPlayer on all the devices in your network. So, you don’t need to download and install VPN on each of your devices, especially those which don’t support native installation of the VPN, such as Smart TV and Roku devices.
Why Would I Need a VPN For Watching BBC iPlayer?
Like any other streaming platform, BBC iPlayer is an on-demand service that delivers thousands of TV shows and movies, but what sets it apart from the competition is that it is absolutely free, but only in the UK. You will therefore require a VPN to get around the Geo-restrictions applied to the platform’s content if you are not physically located in the UK.
Once you have access to the BBC iPlayer content library, you can watch amazing British television series like Peaky Blinders and Doctor Who, Sally Rooney’s Normal People and Conversations with Friends, as well as US popular series like Gossip Girl and much more.
So, subscribe to one of the best BBC iPlayer VPNs from our list and enjoy watching all the exciting content freely from anywhere, anytime.
How to Watch BBC iPlayer Abroad with (UK Server) VPNs
Our selection of VPN providers checks all the necessary boxes to be considered the Best BBC iPlayer VPN, with networks spanning around the globe, including Great Britain. You will be able to stream every iPlayer jewel no matter what you decide.
Let’s have an in-depth look at the best VPNs for BBC iPlayer identified by our thorough research.
1. SurfShark: Quickest Service To Unlock BBC iPlayer
Surfshark performed well throughout our field test, unblock streaming from Netflix, Amazon Prime video, and Disney+ in addition to the BBC iPlayer. Fortunately, Surfshark has all the necessary VPN capabilities and is still reasonably priced. With 256-bit AES encryption and protocols like IKEv2, OpenVPN, and WireGuard, your viewing and browsing experience will be secure, no matter which device you use this VPN. Moreover, Surfshark has dedicated applications for most devices which are remarkably simple to use, making accessing iPlayer and other services a breeze.
Together with all of that, Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing your entire family to binge-watch at once. Additionally, using its Smart DNS function, you can even set up a VPN on a device that doesn’t natively support it, such as Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and Apple TVs.
2. NordVPN: Most Cost-Effective BBC iPlayer VPN
NordVPN is the most cost-effective option to unblock BBC iPlayer outside the UK out of all the VPNs we tested. Only the lack of a dedicated router app keeps it from taking the top spot on the list. More than 5500 servers, many of which are dedicated streaming servers, are located across 60 different countries, including many in the UK.
Thanks to NordLynx, a modified version of WireGuard, that will not allow you only be able to access pretty much any content you want, but you also shouldn’t experience any buffering. In terms of security, NordVPN is certainly one of the most secure VPN service providers. It has a reliable kill switch, RAM-only servers, and cutting-edge AES-256 cipher. NordVPN protects your privacy and encrypts your data even when the connection stops thanks to these robust features.
For all those big screen lovers, NordVPN also boasts a SmartPlay feature which is another name for SmartDNS that allows you to watch your favorite content from BBC iPlayer and other platforms on your Smart TVs, Roku devices, and even on gaming consoles, that do not support the installation of the VPN application by its OS design.
3. CyberGhost: Fast BBC iPlayer VPN With Several UK Servers
Out of its 9,200 servers spread over 91 countries, CyberGhost is one of the VPNs with the most UK-based servers spread over 700+ locations in London, Manchester, and Berkshire. With this enormous selection of servers, it’s easy to unblock BBC iPlayer. It is quite unlikely that you won’t be able to use BBC iPlayer right away using CyberGhost.
CyberGhost guarantees complete online privacy by combining untraceable AES-256 encryption with a strict no-logs policy. Moreover, it only provides WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 as its tunneling protocol, which is the most secure and fastest one available to make your streaming experience lag-free.
4. Private Internet Access: Solid VPN To Stream BBC iPlayer
Even though Private Internet Access has been operating for more than ten years, it’s continuously getting better. In our testing phase, it effectively unblocked BBC iPlayer, In addition, it’s a wonderful a streaming VPN that unblocks a variety of regional libraries from all the well-known platforms, like Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and others.
You may connect up to 10 devices at once with PIA VPN, making it an excellent value for money if you want to share this VPN with your friends and family. All of these devices are guaranteed extremely safe thanks to the use of DNS leak prevention, a kill switch, and 256-bit AES encryption.
5. iProVPN: First Class VPN For BBC iPlayer
For those who don’t want to compromise on security for a better streaming experience, iProVPN is an excellent option. iProVPN ensures a fantastic experience on BBC iPlayer with secure protocols, cutting-edge encryption, and fast speed – thanks to its fastest servers across 20 countries.
Using iProVPN’s in-house developed Lightway protocol, it is impeccable that you may face buffering while watching your favorite content on BBC iPlayer and any other streaming platform. It also has a Smart Location server feature which ensures that you are able to block BBC iPlayer every time you put it on trial. This Smart Location feature also works with other streams including Disney Plus, Prime Video, and UK Netflix.
BBC iPlayer Not Working with VPN, But Why?
As we have already mentioned, the BBC iPlayer is only available the UK and you have to use a VPN to watch it from other parts of the world. However, even using a VPN with UK server, we experiences some issues but Don’t worry! There are several solutions to cater problems. If your VPN is not allowing you to access content on BBC iPlayer, follow these instructions:
- Make sure your VPN is connected to UK server.
- Try a different server based in the UK.
- Clear your browser cookies or try different web-browser.
- If using mobile device, turn off Location services.
- If everything fails, contact your VPN provider’s customer service.
How Did We Select Top BBC iPlayer VPNs
Our Experts make sure to take into account each of the following factors when choosing the VPNs that work for watching BBC iPlayer from anywhere:
Streaming Capabilities: Unblocking BBC iPlayer’s Geo-restrictions was, of course, the most crucial factor in selecting the VPNs. We assessed each VPN service provider on a number of well-known platforms, such as American Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, and ensured that it worked.
Performance/Speed: You need a VPN that offers lightning-fast UK based servers if you really want to stream in the highest resolution. This will guarantee that you won’t experience any unpleasant buffering while binge-watching. The VPNs in our list won’t let you down during streaming in 4K HDR.
Security: A VPN must be able to protect your online data with the advance level features, even if you merely want to use it to access BBC iPlayer from abroad, such as AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, kill-switch, and many others.
Budget-Friendly: It’s one of the most important considerations when choosing a VPN for BBC iPlayer, but we have only listed VPNs that are reasonable in terms of the services they provide for a monthly, yearly basis.
Customer Support: It’s an essential to have access to some type of customer service if you experience any problems during unblocking BBC iPlayer, that offer live chat and a dedicated knowledge base for BBC iPlayer users.
Yes, you need to assure the BBC that you have a valid TV license, but you are not compelled to show evidence. To sign up, you can use a VPN that offers at least one reputable UK server to access BBC iPlayer’s content. However, you are required to enter a UK postcode during sign-up and have to answer the following simple question before you start to stream on BBC iPlayer.
I have a TV license. Watch now.
I don’t have a TV license.
So, make your choice accordingly, if you want to stream the content, as BBC iPlayer is only available to those who have a valid UK TV license, but don’t worry proof is not required.
Most likely not. The majority of free VPNs merely don’t provide the capabilities required to use BBC iPlayer. In most cases, you’ll only have access to one UK server, with very slow speeds and bandwidth. Because of this, it is difficult to stream much content and free VPNs use this to their advantage to entice you to pay for their premium service. Another issue is that they have a history of selling user information and inundating you with invasive advertising.
Therefore, a Free VPN is a no-go area for unblocking any streaming platform including BBC iPlayer. It’s highly recommended to get a low-cost premium VPN for fast and secure platform access, like Surfshark which is only available for as low as $2.49/month.
There is an enormous amount of excellent content available on BBC iPlayer, including blockbuster movies, sports, news, jokes, award-winning dramas, comedies, and soap operas. The most popular shows airing right now on BBC iPlayer include but are not limited to Rain Dogs, Beyond Paradise, Wild Isles, EastEnders, and many more.